THE SMALLEST GESTURES
by
Greg Molesky
[email protected] 778.929.2739
INSERT TITLE CARD
White on black, which reads:
PART 1 LEO’S GARDEN
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN: EXT. LEO’S GARDEN - DAY
A lovely fall morning. Crisp blue cloudless sky, light breeze swaying through the treetops, every tree a burst of glorious fall foliage.
LEO
(mid 80s) sits on a small wooden bench, gently tending the tomatoes in his suburban garden -- watering, pulling off dead leaves, using his fingers like a hoe, casually tilling the earth. He smiles, in his own personal heaven.
CLOSE ON TOMATOES
A mélange of colorful family heirlooms, various sizes and shapes, most ripe and ready for harvest.
LEO picks the ready ones, carefully sets them into a small wicker basket, leaves the few remaining ones on the vine for further ripening.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo enters the kitchen, removes the tomatoes from the basket, carefully sets them down on the countertop.
He starts his morning breakfast ritual -- two pieces of toast, small bowl of fruit, yogurt, cup of coffee -- then sits down at the living room table.
His furniture, bric-a-brac, everything is elegant, newly dusted, in its proper place.
He switches on his computer tablet, props the screen up, clicks to open the daily newspaper website.
A pop-up ad quickly hijacks the article he’s reading.
2.
AD MODEL GIRL (V.O.) Hi! How would you like to...
LEO (dismissing window) No, I would not.
A beat, then another bigger, louder ad quickly wipes across, fills the screen.
AD MAN (V.O.) If you’re looking for a new truck, well today’s your lucky day!
LEO (dismissing window) But not yours.
He takes a sip of coffee, a bite of toast, gets a few lines of reading in, scrolls down the page.
An even louder, more obnoxious ad appears -- a concert promotion for an underage girl in her underwear, gyrating onstage amidst a circus of half-naked dancers, gigantic video screens, mindless explosions.
LEO Oh for Pete’s sake.
He turns off the tablet with a great sigh, reaches over to the other side of the table, picks up a stationary pad, fine ink pen.
He carefully sets up a fresh piece of paper, writes the date at the top of the page, begins:
LEO “Dear Editor...”
He takes a big sip of coffee, considers, continues.
LEO “In this age of so-called high-tech gadgetry...”
Suddenly, a DEAFENING BOOM! rocks the entire house, shakes his coffee cup, rattles the framed photographs on the fireplace mantelpiece, knocks one over completely.
LEO What the?!...
He rises, walks over to his front window.
3.
LEO’S POV
The house next door is being demolished by a gigantic Caterpillar excavator -- loud, beastly, belching thick black smoke.
LEO sighs deeply, shakes his head in disgust, in dismay.
MAIN CREDITS MONTAGE
Over “AUTUMN LEAVES” by Stan Getz.
Vintage photos of structurally intact, perfectly useful character homes circa 1940s,
Interspersed with their modern day demolition, one after another wantonly destroyed,
Followed by rapid time-lapse shots as they’re rebuilt and replaced with more modern, character-less designs.
END MONTAGE
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo’s granddaughter ANNA (early 30s) -- a dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty, and feisty fireball to boot -- enters, carrying a big bag of groceries.
The sound of the demolition next door punctuates the scene throughout, a continual CRASHING and SMASHING of staccato bursts of metal-on-wood.
ANNA (singsongy) Hell-o grandpa! Where are you? (louder) You know, your special coffee and chocolate are getting harder and harder to find anymore!
She enters the kitchen, puts a large foil-covered glass tray in the fridge.
ANNA Grandpa! Hell-o? Where are you?
4.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Leo stands watching the demolition activity behind a half- drawn white lace curtain.
LEO’S POV
A CHINESE WOMAN (late 40s) exits her champagne colored Lexus SUV, stands on the sidewalk in front of the house, watches the demolition.
Despite the luxury car and jewelry, her wardrobe leaves a lot to be desired -- a mish-mash of mismatched Mervyns sale rack mish-mashery.
She regards the work for a long beat, snaps a few photos with her smartphone, then takes a selfie against the demolition backdrop, phone extended on a monopod.
She turns suddenly, looks up toward Leo’s bedroom window, aware she’s being watched.
LEO quickly moves away from the window, lets the curtain fall back into place. Anna is standing in the doorway.
ANNA Grandpa! What the heck are you doing? Didn’t you hear me come in?
LEO (startled) Huh? Anna! Oh, yeah, I mean no, I’m ready. I’m, I’m getting ready. How are you sweetie?
He gives her a peck on the cheek as they embrace.
ANNA Good, good. Let’s get going, I have to be back in the office by three.
The LOUDEST BAM! so far, as a big part of the house next door collapses.
ANNA (grimaces) Oof. I forgot that was today.
Leo puts on a cashmere sweater, leather jacket.
5.
LEO Don’t get me started. Why do they have to tear it down? There was nothing wrong with that house.
ANNA Come on, I’m getting a friggin’ headache.
Leo checks out his image in his full-length mirror, smooths down his whole dapper appearance from shoulders to knees.
Anna adjusts his collar.
ANNA Looking pretty darn good for eighty (cough-cough).
LEO (teasing) That’s not what you’re wearing is it?
She slaps at Leo playfully. Another loud BAM! They cover their ears, hasten their exit.
LEO Let’s go before I have a heart attack.
CUT TO:
INT. ANNA’S CAR - DAY
Anna drives, Leo in the passenger seat, holding several stamped envelopes. He looks out his window, at the passing construction, wearing a frown and a scowl.
ANNA I’m thinking of a word...
LEO Fakakta.
ANNA Fa wha?
LEO Fakakta. Means, too many condos. Roughly translated.
ANNA Not even close.
6.
LEO Hit me.
ANNA Lasagna. As in, I made you a big lasagna. It’s in the fridge, bottom shelf.
LEO You made lasagna?
ANNA Well, technically, mom made it. But I wrapped it. Well, I helped wrap it. Well, actually, truth be told...
LEO I keep forgetting you studied law for two years.
ANNA Hey, I dropped out!
LEO Can we stop at the post office please? Just the drive-through box is fine.
ANNA No problem. What’s the gripes du jour?
Leo gives her a hard glance, considers, then relents.
LEO Fair enough. (shuffles through letters) Let’s see... well, for starters, there’s the movie theatre demolition...
ANNA They’re tearing down The Hollywood? No!
LEO No vote, no hearing, nothing.
ANNA That’s where I had my first real second base kiss.
LEO TMI. Then there’s gas leaf blowers...
ANNA A grandpa classic!
7.
LEO ... and, of course, housing and over- development.
ANNA You still on that?
LEO It’s important. Who are all these condos for anyway, huh? They’re half empty! Meanwhile, look at you, living in a shared house, tiny room, can barely afford your rent. Makes no sense.
ANNA I like my housemates. We have a lot of fun together. Barbeques, beer parties... beer parties...
LEO In my day, when people your age had a decent job, they could afford to buy a good starter house. A house wasn’t a... commodity.
ANNA So what difference do letters to the editor make? Why don’t you just be more direct?
LEO Direct like what?
ANNA I don’t know, go to meetings at city hall or something. Stand up! Voice your opinion!
LEO City hall. I’d sooner join the mafia. Less corrupt.
ANNA I think you just like to see your names in print. That’s the real cause here.
Leo smiles, busted.
LEO Notice how I’m not arguing with you.
ANNA And who are today’s writers?
8.
Leo reads the return addresses, proudly.
LEO Well first up, there’s the always hopeful Wilkins Micawber... followed by our good friend Harold Skimpole... and last, but not least, the illustrious Mister G. Oliver Fish.
ANNA (genuinely amused) Oh my goodness grandpa gravy gracious! What am I going to do with you?
Leo smiles, pats Anna’s knee lovingly.
Leo stares out the window as they continue driving. The skyscraper building cranes and high-rise glass condos reflect off the windshield, onto his somber face.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOCAL HARDWARE STORE - DAY
Leo and Anna walking in a quiet, older, tree-lined neighborhood. They arrive at the local mom-and-pop hardware store, but the front door is closed, locked.
Anna reads the flyer in the front window:
ANNA “Maryann passed away peacefully after a brief illness, with her family at her side. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to everyone for all of your condolences, and for all of your friendship and kindness over the years.”
LEO She was barely 65.
ANNA That was quick. We were just here like three weeks ago.
Leo regards the “FOR SALE” sign hanging in the bottom of the window, with a “SOLD” sticker over it. Next to that, an image of a condo tower “COMING SOON.”
LEO (a grumble) Yeah. Too quick.
9.
ANNA All things must pass, grandpa, all things must pass.
This is small comfort for Leo.
ANNA But I’ll always be here for you. I promise.
Anna hugs Leo, wraps herself on his arm as they continue up the street.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSY CITY STREET - DAY - ESTABLISHING
Swarms of shoppers crowd the street and intersections, hastily going in and out of all the various corporate shops like mindless ants on a honey stick of consumerism.
INT. BIG BOX HARDWARE STORE
Leo and Anna stand in front of a display of plastic, newfangled multi-functional hoes. Leo holds one up.
LEO What is this, a crêpe maker? I want a hoe for crissakes.
A CLERK overhears, walks over.
CLERK (way too cheerful) Well sir, unfortunately we’re all sold out of our traditional hoes at the moment. However, this particular model is also an edge trimmer, and, for just two hundred dollars more, you can easily snap on various motorized components -- and... (demonstrates) ... voilà! it transforms into a tiller, weed wacker, and post hole digger!
She hands the contraption to Leo. He plays with all the gears, pressing buttons, moving levers, trying hard to break it.
LEO Can I get Facebook on this thing?
10.
CLERK (chuckles) No sir. (suddenly serious) Not yet anyway.
LEO Well never mind then. Come on, let’s go.
Leo heads off. Anna shrugs a shrug of mild befuddlement and apology at the clerk as they exit.
CUT TO:
EXT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY
Leo steps up onto his porch, turns to wave good-bye to Anna, who sits in her car, idling at the curb.
The SOUND OF THE EXCAVATOR next door, dropping loads of mangled house scrap into a large dumpster, drowns out their conversation.
ANNA See you on Wednesday for your doctor’s appointment! Don’t forget!
LEO What?!
ANNA I. Am. Coming. Over. On. Wednesday!
LEO Yes, yes! Good luck!
Leo bends down, picks up a small white plastic “Meals on Wheels” container. He scans the porch, looking for something else, can’t find it, gives up, goes inside.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
DEMOLITION SOUNDS continue across the cut. Leo enters the kitchen, sets the container down on the countertop. He removes the items, puts them in the fridge.
He removes the lasagna Anna brought over, puts it in the oven, fiddles with the dials, setting the time and temperature.
11.
A loud BANG! from the demolition next door. He turns toward, growls loudly at the wall, blood pressure rising.
He stops, silently counts to ten, gathers his composure. He looks at his watch, taps his fingers, then up at a clock on the wall.
LEO (sotto voce, a little game he plays with himself) Well, I suppose one little one won’t hurt...
SERIES OF SHOTS over “MINOR SWING” by Django Reinhardt.
CLOSE ON WINE GLASS as a generous pouring of a ruby red Brunello splashes into the large crystal goblet, fills nearly to the brim.
CLOSE ON STEREO as Leo turns up the volume to drown out the demolition sounds.
CLOSE ON LEO’S HANDS as he cracks his knuckles, rubs his palms together briskly, twirls a pen expertly through his fingers like some kind of literary gunslinger.
CLOSE ON LEO sitting at the living room table, smiling, writing, sipping wine, dancing in his seat to the music, fully immersed in a wine and writing groove.
WIDER in the background, through a side window, we see the house demolition continue unabated, demolition activity and sounds sync’d to the drum beat of the song.
DISSOLVE TO:
12.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - A FEW HOURS LATER - DUSK
Demolition noise dissipates across the dissolve. The BEEP BEEP BEEP of heavy machinery backing up morphs into the sound of the OVEN TIMER going off.
Leo lies face up on the couch, passed out, snoring, GQ magazine spread out open across his chest, almost empty wine glass on the coffee table.
He slowly awakens, comes back to reality. He sits up, briskly rubs his face, musses his hair, cringes as he massages a small pain under his left armpit.
Leo rises as his CELL PHONE RINGS, ringer set to loud. He looks at the number, answers, puts it on speakerphone.
LEO Hey, what’s up sweetie?
ANNA (V.O.) Nada. I was bored at work and I was thinking about you so I thought I’d just say hi. Hi.
LEO Ah, that’s nice.
Leo enters the kitchen, turns on the light, turns off the timer. He puts on an oven mitt, opens the oven, pulls the lasagna tray out, sets it on the stovetop.
LEO Say, did you happen to see my hoe when you came over?
ANNA (V.O.) The broken one? Yeah, it was on the front porch.
LEO Hmm. Well, it’s gone now.
ANNA (V.O.) Did you look on the porch?
Leo peels back the foil on the tray. Stone cold. He looks at the oven dials. Forgot to switch the oven on.
13.
LEO (grumpy) Of course I looked on the porch. Why else would I ask you?
ANNA (V.O.) (grumpy right back) Well, maybe it’s somewhere else, I don’t know.
LEO Listen I gotta go, my dinner’s ready. Can I call you back later?
ANNA (V.O.) Sure. Love you.
LEO Love you too.
Leo grabs a knife and fork, cuts out a small bite of cold lasagna. He takes another bite then covers the tray, puts it back in the fridge. He grabs an apple, takes a bite, then turns off the light, exits.
SERIES OF SHOTS
Over solo piano of “AROUND MIDNIGHT” by Bill Evans.
VARIOUS SHOTS of the interior of Leo’s house as evening dissolves into night, the silent, dark rooms like an empty museum after hours, highlighting the shadows, the emptiness, the loneliness of living alone.
CUT TO:
INT. LEO’S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Leo sits in the bathtub, sipping a glass of red wine, a tricked out bed tray table stretched across the tub as a writing desk.
A few islands of bubble froth scattered here and there, but most have long since dissolved into the soapy murk.
He reads his letter, makes a few copy edits, but his facial expressions show he is mostly unhappy with it.
He stares into space for a long beat, sipping his wine, thinking. Nothing comes.
14.
He pushes the tray forward, out of harms way, then rises, slowly, with great difficulty, trying hard to keep his balance, to not slip and fall.
He takes a step forward out of the tub onto the bath mat but suddenly
HIS OTHER FOOT SLIPS, LOSES ITS GRIP and he quickly grabs at, clutches a side metal pole, has to use all his upper body strength to regain his balance, steady himself.
He takes a deep breath, then carefully steps out of the tub, hand gripping the pole until he is safely out.
He puts on his bathrobe -- lush, full-length, fluffy, powder blue, with a large “L” monogram over the breast pocket -- then plops down on the covered toilet seat, exhausted.
He takes a few moments to catch his breath. He smiles to himself, simultaneously saddened and amused by the difficulty and danger of the simple task of getting out of the tub, just another minor indignity of being old.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Leo enters the bedroom, looks out the window.
LEO’S POV
The house next door is completely toppled, nothing left but a gigantic gaping foundation hole.
LEO rubs his chin, considers, then slips on his powder blue slippers, exits.
EXT. HOUSE NEXT DOOR
Leo shuffles up the sidewalk, stands before the lot.
The yard is littered with broken concrete, wood scraps, the dumpster on the street overbrimming with rubbish.
The cement staircase leading up to where the front door used to be remains inexplicably intact, in front of the foundation hole.
15.
Leo walks up to the edge of the hole, lingers, staring into the dark void, into the abyss.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAWN
VARIOUS SHOTS of a new autumn morning coming to life... moms pushing giggling squealing babies in strollers... squirrels hurriedly gathering nuts... backpack-laden teenagers talking loudly, mock fighting, kicking at piles of leaves.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Neighborhood sounds continue across the cut. Leo lies in bed, smiling, half asleep, luxuriating in his high thread count white linen sheets, enjoying the sounds of young life outside.
He looks over at the clock on his nightstand: 729AM. He takes a deep breath but before he can exhale BAM! the HEAVY MACHINERY next door starts up.
Leo exhales with a growl, throws back his sheets, steps out of bed.
LEO Son of a f...
A LOUD BANG! muffles his profanity.
EXT. HOUSE NEXT DOOR
The excavator works away, clearing away more debris. Workers busy themselves, setting up rebar down in the foundation, noisily unloading wood, other construction materials from a large truck.
INT./EXT. LEO’S HOUSE
CONSTRUCTION SOUNDS continue across the cut. Leo is in the kitchen, at the sink, filling the coffee pot with water, still in his bathrobe.
He turns on the radio loud to drown out the construction noise, but the commercials are worse.
16.
RADIO JINGLE (V.O.) “You forgot to buy some food now it’s late / You’d like a tasty snack but it’s late...”
He turns off the radio, grumbles loudly. He looks outside the kitchen window, to his garden, then stops, freezes.
LEO’S POV
His wooden fence is partially knocked over, collateral damage from the demolition, debris and dust scattered all throughout his backyard.
Worse, the first two rows of his tomato plants closest to the fence have been knocked over, crushed by wood scraps.
LEO stands outside in his bathrobe, in front of the tomato plants, aghast, barely able to keep his anger in check.
He touches the broken stems, leaves, smashed tomatoes tenderly, holding back his tears.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo rushes back inside, slamming the door behind him. He paces between the kitchen and living room, mumbling a steady stream of incoherent profanity.
He absentmindedly pours a cup coffee, then sits at the living room table, starts writing furiously, his pen and gestures in sync with the CONSTRUCTION CACOPHONY.
A POUNDING SOUND gradually rises from the noise, morphs into KNOCKING at the front door. Leo rises, walks briskly to the door, opens to reveal
TOM (late 20s), thin-bearded hipster, kind of shabby, gentle countenance, kind smile, holding a white Meals on Wheels container.
TOM Mornin’ Leo, howsit going? Want me to...
LEO No, no, sorry, just give it to me, don’t interrupt my train of thought.
Tom hands the container to Leo.
17.
TOM No worries. Hey, before I forget, I wanted to tell you...
LEO Shsh shsh, no, no, we’ll talk tomorrow or whatever.
TOM Sure okay, that’s fine, I...
LEO Good, thanks.
Leo shuts the door, sets the container down on the coffee table, hurries back to the dining room table, resumes his manic writing.
DISSOLVE TO:
A FEW HOURS LATER...
The radio is on very loud, something quick and snappy, like “ORNITHOLOGY” by Charlie Parker.
CLOSE ON Leo’s writing, a dozen plus pages scattered about the table, another dozen crumpled up, strewn about the table and floor. His work has quickly grown from letter to manifesto.
DISSOLVE TO:
MONTAGE
Leo sits on the couch, body sunk in, feet propped up on the coffee table, excitedly editing a handful of pages.
He eats directly from the Meals on Wheels container, sloppily shaking Frosted Flakes from the single-serving box into his mouth, followed by glugs of milk, coffee, wine chasers.
He rises, paces between the living room, dining room, kitchen, mumbling to himself, testing his phrasing aloud, shuffling the pages around, making changes.
END MONTAGE
DISSOLVE TO:
18.
A FEW HOURS LATER...
Leo sits at the dining room table, still in his bathrobe, reading the last page of his draft.
He finishes reading, sets the page atop the other pages, then lifts the stack, shuffles it neatly. He sighs a huge sigh of satisfaction, then finishes off the rest of his wine, sits back, smiles.
Suddenly, the sound of a car with SOUPED UP MUFFLERS blasting bass boomy CHEESY ASIAN RAP breaks his celebratory mood.
LEO’S POV
Next door, the CHINESE WOMAN exits her SUV, greets TWO HIP HOP FASHIONED YOUNG MEN standing next to their pimped out Honda Civic.
The Two Young Men help the Woman with something from the trunk of her car -- a large, colorfully painted ceramic frog planter.
The Woman stops to talk to the construction foreman, who greets her dotingly. The Two Young Men set the frog down on the top step of the cement staircase.
CLOSE ON THE FROG as all take a step back, admire.
MATCH CUT TO:
EXT. HOUSE NEXT DOOR - NIGHT
Leo stands in his housecoat and slippers, staring at the frog, his letter/manifesto in his bathrobe side pocket.
THE FROG stares back at Leo.
LEO scratches his chin quizzically, stares at the frog.
THE FROG stares back at Leo.
19.
WIDER
Leo lifts the frog, places his letter underneath it, sets it back down.
He surveys the lot. “Wet Cement” signs are randomly posted along the foundation’s perimeter.
Leo takes a step, moves toward the foundation hole, inches forward to get a closer look, but then suddenly he WHOOPS!
SLIPS ON THE MUD and falls into the pit landing PLOP! smack dab flat on his back in the wet cement, bathrobe and slippers and all, stuck like a bug in amber.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY (THE NEXT MORNING)
Leo awakens with a start, sitting at the dining room table, still in his bathrobe, unshaven, disheveled, groggy, as Anna enters.
ANNA Grandpa! What the hell are you doing?! Get dressed! We’ll be late!
LEO What?
ANNA It’s Wednesday, you have a doctor’s appointment!
LEO It’s not Wednesday.
ANNA Yes it is! Look at you, you haven’t even shaved. Git git git going!
LEO (mumbling) I’ve been tired, a little tired...
ANNA Just get dressed, let’s go!
20.
Leo rises, heads toward the upstairs staircase. Anna notices his new letter on the dining room table, picks it up, starts to read.
ANNA “What do the words ‘neighbor’ and ‘neighborhood’ mean?” Wow, this is a long one. I hope you’re getting paid.
Leo races back.
LEO No no no, you can’t see that yet!
ANNA What’s the topic?
Leo grabs the pages away from her.
LEO Housing, over-development, you know the story. Justjust wait outside, I’ll be right out.
Anna lingers.
LEO Go on, git. Git.
Anna eyes Leo suspiciously, walks away in exaggerated slow motion, playfully grabbing at the letter. Leo smacks her fanny hard with the pages.
LEO I said GIT!
ANNA Ouch! Fine. I’ll be in the car.
Anna exits. Leo stops, grimaces, massages a sharp pain under his left armpit.
INT. LEO’S BATHROOM
Leo splashes his face with cold water, massages his face, combs his hair. He opens his medicine cabinet, shuffles various bottles around, pulls aside a fake plastic panel, finds a hidden prescription bottle.
Anna honks her car horn, startling Leo.
21.
ANNA (O.S.) Let’s go!
Leo looks around to make sure no one is watching, removes a couple of pills, takes a sip of water, downs the pills. He takes a couple of deep breaths, calms.
CUT TO:
INT. ANNA’S CAR - DAY
Anna and Leo driving, in stop and go traffic.
LEO Turn right here.
ANNA I know the way.
LEO Yes, well I planned these streets, and there’s a right way to go and a wrong way to go. Go right.
She takes his advice with a loud snort and rolled eyes.
As they turn, they immediately come upon a construction worker girl holding up a stop sign, in front of a new high-rise development.
Anna purses her lips, bugs her eyes out, turns to Leo. Leo turns, stares stone faced at her for a beat, then turns back around.
LEO (after a beat) Oh yes. That reminds me.
ANNA (muffled) Hmmm?
LEO I need to get some bread.
ANNA (muffled) Bwead?
LEO Yeah. To feed the ducks at the park.
22.
Anna holds the face, checks it out in the rear view mirror.
ANNA (muffled) Quack. Quack quack.
Leo’s mouth betrays a small smile.
CUT TO:
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - DAY
Leo sits before DOCTOR PAUL in an examination room.
DOCTOR PAUL I’m a bit concerned about your blood pressure, Leo. It’s a little high today.
LEO I’ve been feeling antsy lately, not sure why. Maybe it’s the full moon.
DOCTOR MIKE Alright. Well, let’s wait until the blood work comes back next week and then we can see what’s what.
LEO Alright, thanks Paul. Say uh, in the meantime, can you give me a couple of refills? I’m out of uh just about everything.
DOCTOR MIKE Sure. Back still hurting?
LEO Yeah, everything hurts. I won’t give you the full organ recital. It’s, it’s all the same, more or less.
DOCTOR MIKE Okay, Kristina will take of you at the front desk.
LEO Thanks, Paul.
Doctor Paul exits. Leo rises, has another sharp pain under his left armpit.
23.
He rides it out, waits for another. Nothing thankfully. He takes a deep breath, puts on his shirt.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Anna and Leo sit opposite in a casual, old fashioned diner, finishing lunch.
ANNA So what did the doctor say anyway?
LEO Nothing really. Just a checkup. Change the oil, rotate the tires, you know.
Leo holds the restaurant survey.
LEO How was your meal?
ANNA Not bad. Hit the spot, I guess.
LEO Scale of one to ten.
ANNA Seven. Maybe eight.
Leo fills in the card.
LEO Service?
ANNA Good enough.
LEO I’ll put down five.
ANNA She wasn’t that bad.
LEO Well, she never brought me more coffee.
ANNA You didn’t ask.
24.
LEO That’s her job to ask, not mine.
ANNA Just, why didn’t you ask for more?! This is what I mean, about being direct. Say what you mean!
Leo schluffs her off.
LEO Ready for some dessert?
ANNA Nah.
LEO Nah? You, no dessert? How ‘bout we split something?
ANNA I’m on a financial diet for the next few weeks.
LEO You don’t need a financial diet, you need a boyfriend, that’s what you need.
ANNA What the heck does that have to do with anything?
LEO A man takes care of his woman. Makes sure she’s got enough money, is well fed.
ANNA (after a beat) Grandpa... do you think I’m... fat?
LEO You want me to be direct?
ANNA Yes! (considers) No. (reconsiders) Okay, mostly, mostly direct. Actually...
LEO No.
25.
ANNA You were going to say yes though, right?
LEO Actually, I think you’re too thin.
ANNA Not compared to other women.
LEO Just find a guy who likes you exactly the way you are, no matter what you think.
ANNA Dating’s hard in this town. (looks down, sighs) Lots of guys are pigs, too.
LEO No nice guys at work?
ANNA No, not really. At least ones that aren’t married already. Or gay. (now chipper) Hey, I brought you something!
She reaches into her big purse, rummages around, pulls out a pair of headphones, big DJ style ones, hands them to Leo.
ANNA Should help cut down on the noise next door. They’re wireless, so you can wear them anywhere in the house.
Leo puts them on.
ANNA MC Grandpa is in the house!
LEO Thanks honey. Lunch on me.
ANNA Oooh! Okay, dessert then! (loudly) Waitress! (smiles big) See? Now that’s direct!
CUT TO:
26.
EXT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY - ESTABLISHING
Front view of Leo’s house, from the sidewalk. A charming example of postmodern suburban architecture, with elegant trim, well-manicured lawn and shrubbery.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo sits on his living room couch, spot reading his letter, nodding, satisfied.
CONSTRUCTION NOISE suddenly BAM! resumes, a non-stop pounding of hammers, heavy materials being dropped, etc.
Leo reaches over, grabs the DJ headphones, puts them on. He dials in a song, something fast and edgy, like “THE SEARCH” by Russell Gunn.
He rises, sets the letter down on the coffee table, straightens the pages, considers.
He rises, goes to the kitchen, looks out the window at his damaged tomato plants, growls.
He goes out to the dining room, opens a side cabinet drawer, removes a small stationary set. He sits, writes a quick note, then seals the small envelope.
He takes off his headphones, picks up his cell phone, dials a number.
EXT. HOUSE NEXT DOOR - NIGHT
CLOSE ON LEO’S HANDS as he walks toward the cement steps, carrying the small envelope.
LEO (V.O.) Hi Phil, it’s Leo... how you doing?... good, good, thank you... yeah, yeah...
He takes the envelope, which has the word “Invitation” in fancy script embossed on the front, sets it under the ceramic frog.
LEO (V.O.) Listen, I need your help with a little something...
27.
We stay on the frog as Leo’s hands exit frame. A few nighttime sounds rise up in the mix -- crickets, light wind, car in the distance. A soft, “Ribbet, ribbet.”
CUT TO:
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY - THE NEXT MORNING
The front DOORBELL rings. Leo opens the door to reveal LILY, the Chinese woman from next door, holding the invitation.
LEO Ah, hello. Please, come in.
Lily enters cautiously, timid yet friendly.
LILY Thank you. Thank you very much.
LEO I’m Leo, this is Phil. He’ll be joining us today.
Phil (mid 80s) poker faced, nods, smiles a quick smile, then switches quickly back to poker face.
Lily bows politely.
LILY Nice to meet you, Leo. I am Lily. Nice to meet you, Phil.
Leo motions toward the dining room.
LEO Please, have a seat.
All enter the dining area, sit. Leo has set out glasses of water for all. Phil nervously begins reading from a notebook, clearing his throat often.
PHIL So. Yes. In the matter of the residents here presiding, specifically in regards to 35312 Dunbar and 35314 Dunbar, I would like to call attention to the breech of property that has recently occurred and to the physical and emotional damage that my client has suffered.
Phil pauses, proud of his elocution.
28.
Lily smiles, unsure of the purpose of the meeting, unsure of the meaning of what is being said.
LILY I, I don’t think I understand.
LEO Oh. Uh, I am the client.
Lily nods, but is still confused. She pulls out a English to Chinese pocket translator, sets it on the table in front of her, slowly enters a few keystrokes.
PHIL My client is not interested in a long legal protraction...
Leo interrupts, clears his throat, begins to read his letter.
LEO What do the words ‘neighbor’ and ‘neighborhood mean? Throughout the course of civilization, whenever humans gather in social groups with the intention to...
Anna enters, carrying a bag of groceries.
ANNA Hell-o grandpa! Sorry I didn’t call first, but I was in the...
Anna notices the meeting.
ANNA Ooops! Sorry.
Leo gives her a couple of shoo-ing motions. Anna blows him a sarcastic kiss, tip-toes into the kitchen, starts to put away the groceries.
LILY I’m sorry, I am... misrepresented of the situation. Is this a legal... (she looks down at her pocket translator) ... event?
Anna pauses, furrows her brow, pretending not to listen, but not trying very hard.
LEO Yes. Yes, you could say that.
29.
Anna peers out to the dining room, catches Leo’s eye, gives him a quizzical but undeniable stink eye. Leo quickly turns away.
PHIL To reiterate my previous iteration, the physical damage of this breech, not to mention the emotional damage my client has suffered. It... I, um...
He looks down at his papers, has lost his place, his train of thought.
PHIL One second, one second, I’ll remember...
Leo turns toward Anna, her face scrunched up in anger. Leo shirks then quickly rises, helps Lily from her chair.
LEO Let’s uh, let’s talk about this at a later date, after you’ve had some time to read our, our...
PHIL Deman...
LEO (one eye on Angry Anna) Proposal, our proposal.
Leo hands Lily Phil’s paperwork as he hustles her out the front door.
PHIL We’ll be in touch!
LILY Uh, okay. Thank you, thank you. Very nice to meet you.
LEO Yes, same here. Thank you.
Lily exits. Anna stands in the kitchen archway, arms folded, primed.
ANNA Is Phil your... lawyer?
LEO He’s just trying to help, Anna.
30.
ANNA Help with what? Fixing your carburetor? He’s a retired car mechanic!
PHIL Hey! I watch a lot of lawyer shows. I know a thing or two about, about torts!
Phil gets Anna’s daggers. He hangs his head, afraid to look directly at her, moves to quickly exit.
PHIL I uh, uh, have a doctor’s appointment, or something like that, probably, talk later Leo, bye Anna.
Phil exits through the back door. Leo moves the chairs, starts straightening up.
ANNA What the hell was that all about?
LEO That, is all your fault.
ANNA What?
LEO You have no one to blame but yourself.
ANNA What are you talking about?!
LEO You told me to be direct.
ANNA And?...
LEO They destroyed my tomato plants!
ANNA Oh for Pete’s sake! There’s better ways to be direct than fake lawsuits!
Anna moves to exit.
LEO (magniloquent) I have suffered emotional distress.
31.
ANNA Not gonna argue with that.
LEO Thank you.
ANNA That wasn’t a compliment. You may want to consider suing someone else, though. For the emotional distress part.
LEO Who’s that?
ANNA Yourself.
Anna exits. Leo scrunches up his face. He looks down at his letter on the table.
LEO (a grunt, pissed) Eh.
He flips through the pages, sighs, never had the chance to deliver his masterpiece. He walks over to the front window, something having caught his attention.
LEO’S POV
Anna is on the sidewalk, chatting with Lily, slowly leading her back inside.
ANNA I’m so sorry. He’s been under a lot of pressure lately. He’s really a sweet man, he really is...
BACK TO SCENE
Leo freaks.
LEO Shit. Shit!
He quickly moves away from the window, races away like a little kid in trouble.
Anna re-enters with Lily. Lily hangs back in the doorway. Leo is nowhere to be seen.
32.
ANNA Hell-o, grandpa! Where are you? Wait right here, Lily. I’ll go find him.
LILY Thank you.
Anna enters the kitchen, no Leo. She heads down the hallway, to the bathroom, knocks on the closed door.
ANNA (all fake nice) Grandpa honey? Are you in there?
LEO (O.S.) (fake nice right back) Yes, Anna my dear. What is it?
ANNA Lily is back. I thought it would be nice to have some tea and, and talk things through. You know, nice. Nice.
LEO (O.S.) I’m sorry Anna honey, can she, can she come back later? I think I have a little bit of a stomach flu.
ANNA Oh, that’s too bad. (Exorcist voice) Get out here now!
LEO sits on the toilet seat, fully clothed.
LEO I’m really not well Anna. I think I had some bad... kiwi fruit this morning or something.
He waits a few long beats for Anna’s response, then flushes the toilet, makes a short burst of flatulence sounds with his mouth and palm, moans lightly.
LEO I’m going to be in here awhile.
He waits for her response. Still nothing. He puts his ear up to the door, hears muffled sounds of Anna and Lily at the front door.
33.
ANNA (O.S.) Okay, here is my number too. I’ll call you later, we can all talk then.
LILY (O.S.) Okay, thank you Anna, thank you.
Leo waits, listening. He makes a few more fake flatulence sounds, actually does fart a little, flushes the toilet again. He turns on the faucet, fake washes his hands. He waits a few more long beats, then opens the door.
Anna stands, tapping her fingers on the door frame.
ANNA I’m thinking of a word...
LEO Abbondanza!
ANNA More like... passive-agressive.
LEO That’s two words. Hyphenated, but still two w...
ANNA How about, shameful?
LEO I still like abbondanza better, it’s my favorite w...
ANNA Lily’s gone. (smartypants) Feeling better?
LEO (relieved) Yes. I mean, no. I mean, not really. I need to lie down.
ANNA Good idea.
She moves aside to let Leo pass.
ANNA Eight pages on being a “good neighbor”...
Leo turns, sees that Anna is holding his letter.
34.
LEO (in his defense) Double-spaced.
ANNA Eight pages of, of attacking! on what it means to be a friendly neighbor!
She tosses the pages on the toilet seat.
ANNA And you call yourself a Canadian!
She exits. Leo looks at the pages, scattered about the toilet. Un-Canadian. That one hurt.
FADE TO BLACK.
EXT. LEO’S GARDEN - DAY
A few moments before dawn. The final inky stains of night dissolve into the pastel blue and pink filtered clouds, highlighted by the angular rays of the sun.
The trees have started dropping their leaves in grand fashion. There’s a fragile dewy frost on Leo’s grass, his garden, the leaves of his tomato plants.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo stands in his bathrobe before his open fridge. He’s dishevelled, unshaven, looks like crap. He peers inside, it’s mostly empty.
He adds some water to the coffee pot, then opens a bag of coffee beans, shakes them into the grinder. But there’s barely a tablespoon of beans, not enough to make a pot.
He pulls his cellphone out of his pocket, dials Anna’s number. Gets her voicemail. The sound of CARPENTERS HAMMERING from next door fades up. Leo stops, considers. The sound is actually someone KNOCKING at the front door.
He shuffles to the front door, opens it to reveal Tom, holding a Meals on Wheels container.
LEO Hey, Tom. Come in. Set it down on the coffee table if you don’t mind.
Tom enters.
35.
TOM Sure thing Leo. Hey, I wanted to tell you, I fixed your hoe, hope you don’t mind.
He hands the hoe to Leo.
LEO I was wondering where that went. Well, thank you very much, that was very nice of you. How much do I owe you?
TOM No worries. It was fun. I have a little workshop and garden, so, yeah.
He sets the container down on the coffee table, notices a Maxim magazine carelessly hidden behind Leo’s GQ.
TOM (flipping through pages) Catching up on all your fall fashion? Or, lack thereof?
Leo smiles.
LEO Well I am, after all, just like you, a man, made of flesh and blood.
TOM Oh goodness. I did not need to hear that.
LEO You kids act like you invented sex or something.
TOM Please, stop. I’ll pay anything.
Tom regards the house, Leo’s matching disheveledness.
TOM Everything okay these days?
LEO Yeah yeah. Yeah.
TOM We’re kind of trained to pay attention when things are... different. If a client is depressed, starts hoarding food, things like that.
36.
LEO I’m good. I appreciate your concern. I’m just feeling lazy.
TOM Know the feeling, dude. Alright then. I’ll let myself out.
LEO Thanks.
He moves to exit, then turns back around.
TOM Ooops, almost forgot. Next week’s menu.
He hands Leo the menu.
LEO Oh. The excitement is more than my heart can handle.
TOM I hear ya. My car smells like Monday Meatloaf all the way to Thursday Turkeyloaf.
LEO Huh. I thought they both were meatloaf.
TOM Actually I think it’s just some kind of generic loaf.
Tom exits, shutting the door behind him. A beat, then he knocks again. Leo shuffles over, opens the door.
TOM Sorry. The bill.
He hands Leo an envelope.
LEO That will be all, Thomas.
TOM Later.
Tom heads down the sidewalk as Leo shuts the door. Leo opens the bill, takes a few steps toward the dining room, when the DOORBELL RINGS.
37.
Leo stops, grunts, shuffles back to the door, opens it to reveal Lily, scowl faced, arms crossed.
LILY How come you don’t like me?
LEO (taken aback) I, I like you.
LILY No you don’t!
LEO Yes I do. I really do. In fact, I was thinking we should try to be friends, good neighbors...
LILY No. I can read in your eyes, you are not telling the truth. You are lying. You don’t like me.
LEO I just said, let’s be friends, didn’t I? Good neighbors, right?
LILY It is because I am Chinese?
LEO No! Like I just told you...
LILY I don’t believe you. (eyes him suspiciously) There is something else. Say what it is!
Leo takes a deep breath.
LEO There’s nothing.
Lily can wait forever.
LEO Alright. Fine. You really want to know?
LILY Yes, I do.
38.
LEO Okay. First, your construction crew totally destroyed my entire garden.
LILY I did not know that. And?...
LEO And...
Leo takes another deep breath.
LEO And... you dress like shit.
Lily toggles between shock and anger.
LILY That’s not nice! That is not a friend!
LEO Yes it is. As your friend, I would expect you to tell me if something looks bad on me. And so, I do the same for you. As your friend.
LILY I, I...
LEO Lily. You dress like shit.
Lily storms off.
LEO We can go shopping together. As friends.
LILY With you? Never!
LEO (trying to apologize) Lily. I’m... I’m...
Lily stops, turns.
LEO I’m a mean, old son of a bitch. And I’ve been a mean, old son of a bitch for a long time now.
LILY Ah. Now, I can believe you.
39.
LEO Good! So what do you say? Let’s go shopping.
LILY No.
Lily walks away, in a huff.
LEO (sotto voce) Stupid.
LILY Excuse me?
LEO Nothing. Just talking to myself.
Lily continues on her angry way.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Leo enters, removes his bathrobe, moves toward the bathroom, then stops, looks out the window.
LEO’S POV
Lily is checking herself out, from head to toe, in her SUV side mirror. She regards her shoes, hikes up her pant leg, does a few poses.
She turns suddenly, aware she’s being watched.
LILY’S POV
The curtain in Leo’s window falls back into place.
LILY straightens her posture, huffs, gets into her SUV.
WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.) I do not need to take that kind of (bleep)ing (bleep) from that... that... that ape!
MAN’S VOICE (O.S.) He’s not an ape. He’s a chimpanzee, you idiot! And his name is Mister Bingles!
CUT TO:
40.
CLOSE ON TELEVISION SCREEN
A trash talk show, where a CIRCUS RINGMASTER in full circus ringmaster regalia sits with MISTER BINGLES, a FAT WOMAN, and a HOOKER.
FAT WOMAN I don’t care what the (bleep) he is! I hate him!
Mister Bingles sticks his tongue out at the Fat Woman.
HOOKER Look, why don’t you just shut the (bleep) up you fat (bleep)!
LEO lies stretched out in his bed in his bathrobe, watching TV, papers and magazines scattered about, food plates and various drink glasses on the nightstand, eating a pint of Häagen-Dazs straight out of the container.
LEO Oh, do not let her talk to you like that girl.
BACK TO TELEVISION SCREEN
FAT WOMAN No, why don’t you shut up you (bleep)ing whore!
FAT WOMAN (rising) Well how ‘bout I just kick your (beep)ing ass?
The screen goes suddenly blank.
LEO holds the remote, sets it down, sighs. He sets the ice cream on the nightstand, grabs a prescription bottle, shakes out two pills, tosses them back with some wine.
He takes a deep sigh, turns off the light, lies unmoving, staring up at the ceiling, into absolute nothing.
CUT TO:
41.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
CLOSE ON LEO’S FRONT DOOR as the DOORBELL RINGS. Leo’s hand enters frame, opens the peephole to reveal Anna, arms folded, face pouty, angry.
WIDER
Leo, disheveled, unshaven, in his housecoat, opens the door, then immediately walks toward the dining room, expecting Anna to follow.
LEO Well I tried to be a good neighbor and it blew up in my face. Do you have any other big ideas?
Anna remains on the porch.
ANNA Is that right?
LEO Yes, I tried. And, I was also direct. So I hope you’re happy now.
ANNA Really? Telling people they dress like shit is being a good neighbor?
LEO (busted) How... wh, wha?...
Anna moves aside to reveal Lily standing behind her, on the sidewalk.
LILY Are you ready to go shopping?
LEO (taken aback) Yeah, uh, sure. Just give me a couple of minutes to...
LILY Oh. I am sorry. I am talking to Anna.
ANNA Let’s go!
They head off. Anna turns back to Leo.
42.
ANNA See you later!
Leo watches them leave for a long beat, expressionless, finally closes the door.
CUT TO:
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - A FEW HOURS LATER
Leo lies fast asleep on the couch. Anna sits on the edge of the couch, smiling tenderly, watching him sleep. She looks over at the coffee table, takes a quick glance at the new letter he’s been writing.
She turns to Leo, rubs his forearm, gently wakes him.
Leo smiles, happy to see his Anna angel. Then remembers their last scene, turns on his grumpy.
LEO What’s up?
ANNA I brought you your coffee. And a chicken salad sandwich, your favorite. I don’t know why though.
She hands him the wrapped sandwich.
LEO Thanks. I’ll have it later.
She sets it down on the coffee table, then picks up his new letter.
ANNA So, this is your plan? Doubling down?
LEO I have feelings. I have... rights.
ANNA You have the right to remain silent, too.
LEO Such insolence.
ANNA Oh, thank you.
43.
LEO I don’t think that word means what you think it means.
ANNA Well, I’ll be sure to look it up when I get home later.
Leo snatches the letter away from her, sets it back down.
LEO Well, you can tell your new little friend that it’s illegal to work past seven at night. No construction noise after seven.
ANNA Oh. Is that what insolence means?
Leo growls. Anna growls back, bigger. Leo growls again, but starts to cough.
ANNA It’s two o’clock in the afternoon grandpa, why don’t you get dressed, put on your big boy pants?
LEO I’m comfortable just the way I am.
ANNA Okay. Well, I still love you.
She gives him a light kiss on the forehead.
ANNA Gotta run. Call if you need anything.
She rises, moves to exit. Leo pauses.
LEO Anna...
Anna turns around, shrugs quizzically.
LEO I’m... I...
He tries to apologize, but it’s just too hard. He lifts the bread, opens the sandwich.
LEO You forgot the cheese.
44.
Anna rolls her eyes, shakes her head, exits.
Leo sits up, takes a bite of the sandwich. It’s pretty good. He takes another bite, picks up his new letter, then rises, slowly, with many cracks and pains and accompanying grunts, heads toward the dining room table.
He stops, hears Anna outside, chatting with Lily. He peeks out the living room curtain.
LEO’S POV
Lily models her new more fashionable clothes for Anna. Anna laughs, applauds. They hug, good new friends.
LEO lets the curtain drop. He goes to the dining room table, sits, eating the sandwich. He studies his new letter, sighs deeply. He sits for a long beat, then pushes the letter aside.
LEO Big boy pants.
He pulls out another invitation note, begins to write.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOUSE NEXT DOOR - THE NEXT DAY
The construction workers are gathered, arranging the side wooden frame for the house. They slowly lift it off the ground, set it into place.
Lily stands near the front stairs, watching the work. She notices Leo’s new “Invitation” envelope beneath the frog. She lifts the frog, removes the envelope.
She looks up at Leo’s bedroom window. The curtain does not flutter. No peeping Leo.
She opens the envelope, reads the note, considers.
CUT TO:
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY
Leo stands in the kitchen, before his coffee machine, waiting for the pot to fill. Something outside in the backyard catches his attention. He looks out the window.
45.
LEO’S POV
The Two Chinese Hip Hop Young Men from next door are working at setting up Leo’s fence, fixing the damage. The larger of the two suddenly turns, notices Leo watching.
BACK TO SCENE
Leo pulls back from the window, watches as the larger man walks toward his back door, knocks hard, menacingly.
Leo takes a deep breath, opens the door.
YOUNG MAN You Leo?
LEO Yes.
He holds out a greeting card sized envelope.
YOUNG MAN Here.
Leo takes the envelope.
YOUNG MAN Almost done.
He walks back to the fence, continues working. Leo studies the card, closes the door, heads back inside.
CUT TO:
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM - DAY
Over Duke Ellington’s snappy “DIDJERIDOO.”
CLOSE ON LILY’S CARD atop Leo’s big oak dresser. It’s a lovely homemade heart-shaped card, with an embossed image of a butterfly on its fragile tissue cover, and adorned with lace.
CONSTRUCTION HAMMERS pound in beat with the tune, over sounds of Leo getting ready -- in the shower singing, toweling off, opening his dresser drawers -- all the while humming along with the tune.
46.
WIDER
Leo stands before his full-length mirror, dressed to the nines, folded pocket handkerchief and everything. Even he can’t help but notice how sharp he looks.
LEO Damn, Leo.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo sits on the living room couch, hands on knees, ready to go. He checks his watch, then a beat. The song fades down, hammers stop, then a beat. MANTELPIECE CLOCK softly ticking. Then a KNOCK ON THE FRONT DOOR.
Leo rises, opens the front door to reveal Lily. She’s elegantly dressed, in a brand new outfit, looks great. Leo almost doesn’t recognize her.
LILY Ready?
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DUSK
Duke Ellington song fades back up in a softer, lighter tone, as Leo and Lily walk down the neighborhood sidewalk, on their way to the main drag.
LEO Do you like jazz music, Lily? There’s a wonderful little club just around the corner on Broadway.
LILY Yes, that sounds very nice.
They walk for a bit.
LEO So... we are friends then?
LILY Well, your letter was very convincing. The words were very... polite. But, from a legal place, the jury is still outside.
47.
LEO (chuckles) Fair enough. (with a bow) I throw myself on the mercy of the court. (stops, thinks) But then, why did you agree to go out with me?
LILY Your granddaughter says you are not really mean, you just need to get out of the house more often.
LEO So this is a... pity date?
LILY We are on a date?
LEO I sure hope so. I could use your arm.
Lily smiles, takes his arm, helps him on their way, as they turn the corner onto Broadway.
EXT. JAZZ CLUB
Leo and Lily stand before the club. Only it’s not a jazz club anymore, it’s a medical marijuana dispensary. A gigantic green marijuana leaf logo covers the entrance.
Leo is reading the sandwich board out front.
LEO “Do you suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, arthritis? Come in and see if you qualify.” That’s why I listen to jazz music, it makes me forget all that stuff.
He turns to Lily.
LEO What do you say Lily? Want to get high?
LILY (not sure if he’s serious) I never take pot.
LEO Me neither.
48.
He holds out his arm for her to take.
LEO You look very nice, by the way.
Lily takes his arm as they continue up the street.
CUT TO:
INT. FOLK CLUB - NIGHT
A young guitarist-folksinger sits onstage in the half- empty darkened club, singing a song about new friendship, love lost, the swiftness of life.
Leo and Lily sit at a candle-lit table near the back. The waitress brings over two glasses of red wine. They lift their glasses to toast.
LEO Cheers.
LILY Ganbei.
Leo tilts his head quizzically.
LILY Means same thing. Cheers.
LEO Ganbei.
They each take a sip. Leo nods toward the stage.
LEO My wife and I used to come here every Saturday night many many years ago when it was a dance hall. There was a small orchestra. It was quite something.
Lily smiles, a good listener.
LEO We’d get all dressed up. She’d do her hair up in all these beautiful designs. She had the most lovely dresses. Very elegant.
Leo takes another drink.
49.
LILY How long were you married?
LEO 51 years.
LILY Wow. That is wonderful.
LEO Yeah. She was sick for many years, with dementia. We never had what they call the “golden years.”
LILY I understand.
Leo grows silent, loses himself in thought.
LEO Have you ever been married, Lily?
LILY One time, yes. My husband died two years. From industrial accident.
LEO I’m sorry.
LILY Accidents are quite common. He was very successful. Very good luck with business. But. So after everything, some time, I think, I will move back here.
LEO You’re from here originally?
LILY Oh yes. My family was born here, mother and father, then me too and my brother. They moved back to China during the war. So this land is my... (tries to find the right word) ... family land?... homeland?
LEO Homeland.
The folksinger finishes his song. Leo and Lily applaud.
50.
FOLKSINGER Thank you very much, thank you. This next one’s by the great Lightnin’ Hopkins and it’s called “Lonesome Road.”
He starts to play. Leo holds his hand out to Lily.
LEO Would you like to dance?
Lily pauses, listens to the song for a beat. Not really a dance number. She considers, then smiles, rises.
LILY Okay. Sure.
Lights and atmosphere take on a MAGICAL GLOW as Leo and Lily start to dance.
FOLKSINGER “You know I had to go down this lonesome road / Had to go down this lonesome road by myself / You know I had to go down this lonesome road / Had to go down this lonesome road by myself / I guess ol’ Lightnin’ will make it / Ain’t got nobody else”
Their ballroom dancing moves paint a poetic contrast to the blues tune. Leo is a smooth dancer, graceful as Gene Kelly. He spins and dips Lily, as much as a man of his age can. Lily is left breathless.
The folksinger smiles, watching them dance. He takes a harmonica solo, finishes the song.
Leo tilts Lily, pulls her back up, bows before her. The small group applauds. Lily smiles a wide grin, a little embarrassed, yet totally enthralled.
CUT TO:
INT. DINER - NIGHT
A 24 hour, old school hippie diner, with a random array of whatnot art and curios on the walls, every seat filled with young hipsters, laughing, flirting, very much alive.
Leo and Lily sit in a booth near the back, sharing a large slice of chocolate meringue pie.
51.
LILY This is as good as you mentioned it would be.
LEO It better be, for twelve bucks. When did this town become New York City expensive?
LILY We are now what they call a world-class city. So everything is more money. House, food...
LEO ... pie.
LILY Even pie.
Leo looks over at a nearby table of young men, dressed in gangster haute couture. He leans in, whispers to Lily in a serious tone.
LEO Lily, there is something important I must ask you.
LILY (serious, nervous) Yes?
LEO I will just be direct. Are you... in a gang?
LILY (confused) Am I?...
LEO It’s just, well, I saw those two tough guys at your house. Are you some kind of lady Chinese gangster leader?
LILY I, I don’t... (finally gets his joke) Oh! You must mean my nephews.
LEO The gangsters, with the loud music and hip hop car?
52.
LILY No no no no, they are not gangsters! They are nice boys! They have helped me with moving, my visa, the paperwork...
LEO It’s okay, I’m not going to judge you or turn you in to the police. I can keep quiet, just as long as you, you know...
He glances at the check, pushes it toward her.
LEO ... you take care of me.
Lily laughs, her first loving one of the evening.
LILY Okay! It’s a deal. I will buy your... loyalty, for one piece of pie.
LEO Thank you, godmother.
He takes her hand, kisses it. Lily blushes. They share another bite of pie.
LEO I do have one serious question, tho.
LILY Okay.
LEO Tell me about the stairs.
LILY The stairs?
LEO You left the front stairs from the old house. Everything else except the stairs. Is this a Chinese custom, or?...
LILY Yes. I mean, no. It is not a custom.
FLASHBACK TO:
53.
EXT./INT. HOUSE NEXT DOOR - DAY
Over a soft jazz instrumental of “HOUSE WHERE NOBODY LIVES” by Tom Waits.
A lovely summer pastel afternoon, early 1960s. Two young children, a BOY and GIRL, play on the front lawn of the house in a small inflatable swimming pool, laughing and splashing and carrying on.
LILY (V.O.) For many years, I am sure that this house was filled with love, and laughter, and dreams.
Their FATHER pulls up to the curb, gets out of his car. The children race toward him, jump into his arms.
He carries them up the front stairs into the house, past the ceramic frog, which is MAGICALLY there on the steps, then into the kitchen, into the arms of their MOTHER.
LILY (V.O.) People running up and down the stairs. Mother, father. Children. Good friends. Relatives. Neighbors. Mailman. Milkman.
Their mother lifts the children, seats them on the countertop, gives them each a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie, gives her husband a fresh kiss.
LILY (V.O.) Many times, there is good news, good times. Sometimes, bad news, bad times. There are times where life is dark, and very sad. Where it seems like nothing is good anymore.
The children run out the back door, into a graduation party scene for the boy, who is now MAGICALLY eighteen years old, his sister at his side, teasing him, playing with his graduation cap and gown.
LILY (V.O.) That is life. But this quickly passes, and soon the good times come back.
The girl steals his graduation cap, dashes into the house, bursts out the front door, passing the frog on the stairs, and is now MAGICALLY thirty years old, in a wedding dress, running into a waiting car with her husband, Just Married.
54.
LILY (V.O.) So always, there is hope. Always there is happiness. Always, inside all of life’s happenings, there is love.
A large gathering of family and friends follow after them, showering them with rice, confetti. The girl and her new husband get into the car, speed away, as all wave bon voyage.
LILY (V.O.) So, I wanted to honor that. That tradition. The spirit of the family before me.
FLASH FORWARD TO:
EXT./INT. HOUSE NEXT DOOR - NIGHT
Leo and Lily stand in front of her house, their date over.
LEO That’s lovely. Mary and I knew Shirley and Mike quite well. We were all best friends for many years, before they passed. I’m sure they would appreciate your sentiments very much.
Lily smiles.
LILY Well. It is late.
Leo takes Lily hand in both of his hands.
LEO Thank you for a wonderful evening, Lily.
LILY Thank you Leo. I am beginning to think that maybe you are a nice man.
Leo stifles any rejoinder. They share a tender moment.
LEO Well, it is late. Good night.
LILY Good night.
55.
Lily heads toward her car, Leo toward his house. Leo stops, turns, suddenly all shy like a teenage boy.
LEO Hey uh, Lily, I... I’d really like to see you again.
Lily smiles shyly, then turns tough guy.
LILY I will have to discuss this with my lawyer first, of course.
LEO Of course.
LILY Goodnight Leo.
Leo smiles, winks.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo enters his darkened house, hangs up his coat.
He stops, notices the full moon light shining onto his fireplace mantelpiece, onto the picture that fell over a few days ago, when the demolition first began.
Leo picks up the photo, turns it over.
ON THE PHOTO
Leo’s wife Mary, as a young teenage girl, circa 1940s.
LEO regards the photo lovingly. He sets the photo back on the mantelpiece, then takes a seat in a corner rocking chair, turns on the lamp beside him.
He rubs his eyes and face as the mantelpiece clock softly strikes midnight. He sighs deeply, then grimaces as a slight pain hits his chest, his heart. He massages his left armpit for a few beats, settles.
He takes a few deep breaths, settles deeper. He removes an old photo album from the side table shelf, sets it on his lap, opens it.
56.
ON THE PHOTO ALBUM
Black and white photos, some faded light brown. Leo turns the pages...
Full pages of Leo and Mary on their wedding day, early 1950s... leaving the church, in the backseat of their wedding car... at the reception hall, champagne toasts, cutting the wedding cake, dancing...
The photos gradually change from black and white to faded Kodachrome color as Leo turns the pages... vacations together, lying on the beach, hiking in the woods... laughing, teasing, kissing...... years, decades pass...
Finally, an incomplete page of Leo and Mary in their later years.
ON THE LAST PHOTO
Leo with his arm wrapped lovingly around Mary, who looks slightly confused, scared, the first signs of dementia in her eyes.
LEO cries, honest tears of joy and loss.
FADE TO BLACK.
INSERT TITLE CARD
White on black, which reads:
PART 2 A HAPPY DEATH
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - MORNING
Golden bolts of dawn sunlight streak through the front window, surround Leo, who is still in the rocking chair, fast asleep, the photograph album in his lap.
The sound of someone KNOCKING at the front door stirs him from his sleep.
57.
LEO (disoriented) Wh, what...
LILY (O.S.) Hello, Leo? Good morning...
Leo blinks open his eyes, still half in dreamland. He looks down on his lap, notices he has wet himself.
LEO Oh shit...
Lily comes to the front window, peeks in, albeit reservedly, can make out the outline of Leo’s body in the chair.
LILY Hello? Sorry to bother you so early. I made you something for morning breakfast. May I come in?
Leo panics, embarrassed.
LEO Shit! No! No! Go away, goddmammit!
He grabs a nearby towel, puts it over his crotch.
Lily moves away from the window with a start, then heads off, half-confused, half-angry.
LEO I mean, come back later, Lily... I, I...
Leo rises, bumps into the side table, hits his knee on the coffee table.
LEO Ouch! Shit! Lily, wait...
He stumbles as he moves toward the dining room and then POW! he’s knocked to his knees, having a full-blown HEART ATTACK, crashing and smashing bric-a-brac from the coffee table on his way to the floor.
LEO (desperate, short of breath) Lily, wait... Lily...
Lily turns, hearing the crashing, then slowly walks back to the front window, peers inside.
58.
LILY Oh my gosh...
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY
Lily sits outside Leo’s room as Anna and her mother, ROSINA, Leo’s daughter, arrives.
Lily rises, Anna greets her with a loving hug.
ANNA Mom, this is Lily, grandpa’s neighbor.
ROSINA Thank you Lily for, for being there.
Lily bows.
LILY He is in here, sleeping.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
Leo lies sleeping, his countenance peaceful, attached to a couple of monitors, basic IV drip.
The three women enter. Leo stirs. Rosina moves in closer toward Leo, takes his hand.
ROSINA Sorry dad, we didn’t mean to wake you.
Leo’s eyes light up bright, filled with joy.
LEO (can only whisper) Rosina.
Rosina kisses his forehead.
Anna is busy setting up a vase of flowers, a bright yellow and dark red and orange carnation bouquet, on the other side of bed. Leo regards Anna lovingly.
LEO Bring them closer.
Anna brings the bouquet up to Leo. He soaks in their colors, then pulls one out, hands it to Rosina.
59.
ROSINA You look really good, dad.
LEO I’m a good looking guy.
ROSINA The best.
LEO Sorry I’m not such good company today. I’m a little tired.
ROSINA Rest all you want, we’ll be here.
Leo turns to Lily, smiles.
LEO Have you met my girlfriend, Lily?
Lily blushes.
ROSINA Yes, I have. You’re a very lucky man. She saved your life.
Leo smiles.
LEO Yes. Very lucky. I’m going to take a little nap. I’m a little tired.
Rosina nods. Leo closes his eyes, drifts off with a small peaceful smile on his face.
Anna settles into a chair on the other side of Leo’s bed. Rosina and Lily also sit, next to Leo.
Rosina takes Lily’s hand, nestles it in both of hers. All keep silent vigil, smiling, hopeful, each lost in their own thoughts, their own personal prayer for Leo.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY
We hear the soft chatter of Anna and Rosina coming up the walkway with Leo.
ANNA (O.S.) Got it?
60.
LEO (O.S.) Yep, I’m good.
ROSINA (O.S.) Here I’ll get the door. Anna help him up the stairs.
LEO (O.S.) I’m fine, I did this in the hospital, remember?
ANNA (O.S.) Well, let me help anyway.
We hear the KEY IN THE LOCK and then the door swings open. All enter, including Lily, who walks behind the group carrying two large bags of groceries. Leo walks with a wooden cane, for minor support.
LEO Ah. Home sweet home.
ROSINA Have a seat, dad. I’ll make some tea.
Leo carefully sits down into the rocking chair. Lily heads into the kitchen with Rosina.
LILY I will prepare a few things for lunch.
LEO Oh, thank you Lily. That’s very kind of you, but, it’s not really necessary.
Lily stops, taken aback.
LILY Oh.
Anna leans down, into Leo’s ear.
ANNA (softly) Grandpa, do you remember that movie we watched, oh I don’t know, maybe three, four years ago, about the four Chinese families and the women and their cooking?
Leo jogs his memory, nothing comes.
61.
ANNA The four Chinese women, and two of them started all kind of kung fu jumping off the wall shit in the kitchen, with the flying butcher knives and long forks and everything -- all because of what was said about their cooking? Hmmm?
Finally it dawns on Leo.
LEO Oh yeah. (to Lily, with great respect and fear) Lily, the kitchen is yours.
LILY Thank you!
Lily smiles brightly, starts to unload the groceries. Rosina is going through Leo’s cabinets, searching for tea, finds a cache of concealed red wine.
ROSINA I didn’t know you were running a wine store on the side, dad.
LEO It’s for special occasions.
ANNA Yeah, like, afternoons.
ROSINA Well the doctor said no more special occasions. And no more coffee too.
LEO Yeah yeah, you said that two times in the car already.
ROSINA Yes well, you never said anything back.
LEO Hey, I know, why don’t you just bury me out in the backyard right now? I don’t mind. I’ve got all the tools in the shed.
ANNA First thing after lunch. You don’t want to be buried on an empty stomach.
62.
Rosina turns on Leo’s electric tea kettle as Lily starts to prep a gigantic meal.
ROSINA Do you need any help?
ANNA Well, if you can grab him by the legs, I’ll lift him from the shoulders...
Leo turns, shoots Anna a look.
ROSINA I was talking to Lily.
LILY Oh no. No. Thank you. I have everything I need. Go be with your father.
Lily smiles the facial equivalent of cracking her knuckles to get down to work.
Leo turns to Anna.
LEO (whispers) Why don’t you go in there and make sure she understands the right way to do everything, where everything goes and all that, know what I mean?
ANNA Ah, good idea.
Anna sits, unmoving.
LEO Well... go on.
Anna looks down at her phone, absorbed, types in a few letters.
ANNA Ah!
LEO Ah.
She shows her phone screen to Leo.
ANNA So that’s what insolence means.
63.
MONTAGE
Over “HOT HOUSE” by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
CLOSE ON THE STOVETOP as Lily has all four burners going with steaming pots and pans and woks, expertly adding ingredients and spices, every motion perfectly timed like a bebop jazz drummer.
Rosina sets the living room table. Anna helps Leo to the table, into his chair. All sit.
Lily brings out one finished dish after another, serves their plates to heaping. Then sits, joins the feast.
Toasts and smiles abound as the food warms their hearts and stomachs.
Lily beams, cooking for others her deepest expression of friendship, of love. She turns toward Leo, who is smiling at her with great warmth.
Lily blushes.
Leo lifts his glass of water to Lily, to the chef, then bows slightly.
Lily does the same.
Both drink, continue holding their mutual glance of affection.
END MONTAGE
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LEO’S HOUSE (A FEW HOURS LATER)
Everyone has left. Leo sits at the living room table in his bathrobe, cupping a steaming glass of hot tea.
He smiles, still glowing from the meal, being with his family, the simple fact that he is still alive.
He takes a few sips, then reaches toward a small stack of photo albums, opens one up.
He stares at the photos on the page for a long beat, then reaches over to the other side of the table, picks up his stationary pad, fine ink pen.
64.
He carefully sets up a fresh piece of paper, looks at the photos, stares at the blank page.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - DAY
Doctor Paul enters, head down, looking at Leo’s thick chart.
DOCTOR PAUL So uh, Leo. I’m, uh, looking at your tests and to be perfectly honest, there’s a few things that concern me. It’s uh, quite serious. Now, there’s some room for encouragement...
Leo interrupts, politely.
LEO Paul. You were with us, when Mary died.
DOCTOR PAUL Yes, yes I was. I had just finished my residency if I recall.
LEO Yes. A young man. You’re still a young man.
Doctor Paul smiles.
LEO You were very good to her, through everything. Through it all.
DOCTOR PAUL Well, that’s my job.
LEO It was more than that. We both know that. A lot more.
Doctor Paul takes in the full memory.
DOCTOR PAUL Yes. I understand.
Leo looks at Paul directly, with kindness, like a good friend, knows this part of his friend’s job must be horrible.
65.
LEO So.
Doctor Paul smiles, summons up the courage.
DOCTOR PAUL More... sooner, than later.
LEO Green bananas?
Doctor Paul pauses. He places his hand on Leo’s hand, speaks softly, modulates his voice with gentleness, with compassion, as if saying goodbye to a loved one.
DOCTOR PAUL No.
Leo takes a deep breath, then sighs. A long beat passes as they share the moment.
LEO Thank you, Paul. I think I’d like to go home, to be at home.
DOCTOR PAUL I’ll make all the arrangements.
Doctor Paul studies Leo’s eyes, directly, unashamedly, takes in his dignity. Leo smiles, the heaviness of the moment dispelled by the simple act of holding hands with a friend.
A few tears stream down Doctor Paul’s face, which he does not brush away.
EXT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE
Leo stands on the front steps of the entrance, lost in his thoughts. People scuttle about in all directions all around him, a non-stop stream of entering and exiting, of coming and going.
Leo snaps back to reality. He looks out at the street, the passersby, the busyness.
He looks up into the cloudy sky, takes in a full snoot full of crisp fall air. He lifts his collar, walks down the steps, then stops.
66.
An elderly woman in spangly attire plays ukulele on the sidewalk, spangly tip hat on the ground in front of her with a makeshift placard which reads “CHANGE.”
She strums a single chord, mumbles along to the song in her head.
Leo listens attentively, tosses a quarter into her hat as he walks away, but then suddenly stops. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out all his change, then all the bills in his wallet, puts it all in her hat.
The woman nods her appreciation, Leo smiles. As he heads off, the woman waits a beat, gathers the money, and then quickly heads off.
FADE TO BLACK.
A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD up in a tree, singing its three-trilled song.
INT./EXT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY
CLOSE ON THE LIVING ROOM TABLE, open photo albums, next to a stationary paper, a pen. On the paper, the date, a few doodles, otherwise all white space.
Sound of KNOCKING on the front door.
TOM (O.S.) Hellooo... Meals on Wheels...
He knocks a few more times, then tries the door, lets himself in.
TOM Hello, Leo?
The house is empty. Tom regards the living room table, Leo’s pages, as he heads into the kitchen, a little bit on guard, just in case.
He sets the food container down on the countertop, then looks out the window, smiles.
LEO is relaxed in an Adirondack chair in front of his garden, legs covered with a thick blanket, scarf around his neck, photo album, stationary pad in his lap.
67.
TOM walks toward Leo, carrying two small milk cartons. Leo is oblivious to Tom’s presence until he’s right next to him.
LEO Thomas.
TOM Hey Leo. Doing some writing?
LEO Trying to.
TOM What’s the topic, what’s your theme?
LEO Not exactly sure. That’s where the trying part is coming in.
TOM Mind if I see what you got?
LEO Sure.
ON LEO’S NOTEBOOK
Leo’s transcription of the birdsong:
CONK-LA-REEE OH-KA-LEEE
A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD up in a tree, sings its three-trilled song:
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Oh-ka-leee! Oh-ka-leee!
BACK TO SCENE
Tom looks up into the tree, then back to the notebook.
TOM Pretty good.
LEO It’s just a warm-up exercise, really.
68.
Tom hands the notebook back to Leo, along with one of the milk cartons. They both pop their cartons open, then swig it down like a couple of cowboys in an olde tymey saloon.
TOM You know, I do a little bit of writing myself.
LEO Huh.
TOM I find I get into the flow quicker if I loosen up a bit, just relax. Deflate my ego a bit, know what I mean?
Leo takes another drink of milk, Tom does the same.
Leo pauses, inhales deeply, holds it for a beat, then exhales deeply.
LEO Ahhhhh.
TOM Yeah, something like that.
Leo adjusts his butt cheeks a bit in his chair, which is accompanied by a SOFT SQUEAKY sound.
Tom nods, then sniffs a few sniffs, catches a whiff of something not particularly pleasant. Leo takes another deep breath, followed by another SOFT SQUEAK.
LEO (by way of explanation) I think I’m getting the hang of this.
Tom stifles a gag, turns, inhales a more fresher sampling of air.
TOM I should probably know this by now Leo, but, are you lactose intolerant by any chance?
LEO I don’t think so, no. (beat) Wait, I take that back. Yes, yes, I think I might be.
69.
Leo turns, looks Tom over from head to foot, then mumbles to himself.
LEO Huh. Huh.
TOM How’s that?
LEO What’s that?
TOM Just now. What was that all about?
LEO Oh, uh, I was just thinking about something. Someone.
TOM Someone me someone?
LEO Huh? Uh, well, yeah actually.
TOM (laughs) Well?...
LEO (after a beat) I bet I can guess your girlfriend’s name.
TOM (cocky, knowingly) You’re on.
Leo tears off a new piece of stationary paper, poises his pen, stares at Tom for long beat.
LEO No peeking.
Tom turns away as Leo hides his handwriting, then folds the paper in half, hands it to Tom.
LEO Alright.
Tom opens the paper. It’s blank. He blushes, slightly.
TOM Ouch.
70.
LEO You need to step up your fashion game, son. What are you, like a 42?
TOM I don’t know. Large usually, I think.
LEO Large, usually...
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Leo has a gigantic mound of shirts, pants, and coats piled on his bed.
LEO Let’s start you out with one of everything and take it from there.
He helps Tom put on a winter coat, something outdoorsmany and classy, Eddie Bauery.
Tom admires himself in the mirror, feels a boost of confidence.
TOM Damn, Leo. A perfect fit.
LEO Now that’s what I’m talking about.
Leo smiles, shares in Tom’s elation, confidence.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LEO’S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Over “ALMOST BLUE” by Chet Baker, a soft instrumental.
Leo is out in the bedroom, putting on his pajamas. A few beats, then he enters the bathroom.
He takes a good look in the mirror, studies, touches the lines in his somber face. He plays with his face flab, picks it up, lets it drop, picks it up, lets it drop. He chuckles, amused.
He looks over to the counter, notices his writing tray table, wine glass, half empty bottle of red wine.
71.
He’s suddenly hit with a heart spasm, not as bad as before, but still painful. He opens his medicine cabinet, finds his hidden prescription bottle, takes it out.
But he does not open the bottle. He rides the pain out, does not massage his chest. Finally, settles.
He opens the bottle, slowly empties all the pills into his hand. Then tosses them into the toilet bowl.
He flushes the toilet, simultaneously pouring in the rest of the bottle of red wine. The mixture flushes.
LEO Direct.
Clear water refills the bowl.
FADE TO BLACK.
EXT. BAYSIDE PARK - DAY
A crisp sunny autumn afternoon. A large flock of ducks land on a small lake in unison, stirring up the water. A large flock of crows take off from a high treetop in unison, head off.
VARIOUS SHOTS of dogs running, fetching... tons of young children playing on the monkey bars, slides, swings... young couples walking on the pathway, hand in hand, stopping for a quick smooch, continuing on...
LEO sits on a park bench, watching all the action, smiling, taking it all in, occasionally jotting a line into his notebook. He pauses, underlines the last thing he wrote.
ON HIS NOTEBOOK
ABBONDANZA
BACK TO SCENE
A large group of weekend LANCE ARMSTRONG WANNABES in Spandex fly by Leo, the playing children, far too close for safety.
A group of POWER JOGGER YUPPIES in Spandex walk on the pathway, pass Leo, talking loudly, arrogantly.
72.
YUPPIE #1 Housing values on this street went up 12% in the last six months alone...
YUPPIE #2 That’s amazing...
YUPPIE #3 I’ve got an app on my phone that lets me know whenever a new property comes up and it automatically puts in a bid for me...
YUPPIE #1 Amazing...
Leo frowns, sighs, turns his attention back to the children.
LEO’S POV
A small boy, barely able to walk, chases after a Monarch butterfly with his older sister.
The Yuppies walk toward where the children are playing, are actually their children. They engage, are totally into them, totally into being awesome parents.
One parent pushes her young son gently on a swing, who giggles uncontrollably with each push up.
LEO smiles, watching the families play, smiling a little bigger with each of the boy’s giggles.
He picks up his pen, begins writing, furiously.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY
Leo and Anna enter, Leo using his wooden cane to push the door open. Anna has her hands full, big bag of groceries and lunch leftovers in one arm, Leo on the other.
ANNA You can have my leftovers, I just went grocery shopping.
Leo takes a seat on the couch, settles in with a big sigh, slightly out of breath, as Anna heads into the kitchen.
73.
ANNA That was a pretty darn good lunch. I am frickin’ stuffed!
She starts to hum a little singsong to herself.
Leo sits, catches a glimpse of Anna putting the food away, listening to her humming. He smiles to himself, enjoying the moment, enjoying her simple presence.
Leo starts to hum, a counterpoint to Anna’s song.
ANNA (O.S.) Awfully quiet out there...
Leo hums a little louder, so she can hear. Anna re- enters, joins him on the couch, crashes into the pillows.
ANNA Ahhhhh! I need a fuggin’ vacation or something.
She rubs Leo’s arm tenderly, notices his new writings on the coffee table, casually thumbs through the pages.
ANNA (teasing) “Dear Editor. What is up with kids these days? With their baggy pants and rap music and and cell phones and and and burgers and fries and gyrating hips and and and... I just don’t get it!”
LEO I think you might actually enjoy these.
He picks one out of the pile, hands it to her.
LEO They’re more like essays, that go with photos from the old days.
Leo watches Anna read, engrossed.
ANNA Wow, this is really great grandpa. It’s very... poetic, and thoughtful. And I thought you were just a crankypants old coot. You’re actually a real writer!
LEO Thank you? I think?
74.
She gives him a quick peck on the cheek. He sifts through the pile, pulls out another set of pages.
LEO Here’s another thing I’m working on. Brand new today. Care to spell check it?
ANNA As always! Hey, this looks official. Another legal document from Barrister Phil?
LEO Sort of. I wanted to keep it simple. Let me know if I hit the mark.
She starts to read.
LEO Out loud. I want to hear how the words sound.
ANNA “Dear Anna...”
She smiles wide, lifts her eyebrows and forehead twice.
ANNA “You have always been the sweetest most caring granddaughter a man could ever hope for.”
She pauses, shoots Leo a sideways look.
ANNA “Nothing has brought me more happiness since the death of your grandmother than to watch you grow from a charming, playful young girl into a beautiful caring young woman.“
She reads further, to herself, too touched to read aloud. Tears well.
ANNA Oh my god. You’re... you’re giving me your house?
LEO I talked it over with your mother. She has her own place. She’s happy, Gary’s happy. It’s all paid off so, all you gotta do is pay the taxes and bills.
75.
Anna is overwhelmed with emotion. She hugs Leo with all her might.
ANNA Thank you so much, grandpa. I, I don’t know what to say.
LEO That’s a first.
She slaps him playfully.
ANNA Why are you doing this... now?...
LEO Well, I’m afraid after I die in two weeks, they’ll turn this place into a condo -- with me inside!
She slaps him again, a little harder.
ANNA That’s not funny!
LEO No no no. They’re not going to turn me into a condo. Of course not.
Leo touches Anna’s hand gently.
LEO But I do have just two weeks left, sweetheart. Three tops.
Anna looks at Leo. Their eyes connect, deep. She lets it sink in. Two weeks. That kind of time flies by so fast. He’ll miss the holidays. Her next birthday. He’ll never see her marry.
LEO I’m going to make this as direct as I possibly can. I love you to pieces. You are my pure pure sunshine. You are the very love in my eyes.
Anna breaks down, snuggles herself into Leo’s chest.
A long tender beat passes.
LEO You know, you’re supposed to ask a dying man if he has any final requests.
76.
Anna lifts her head, dries her tears with Leo’s sleeves.
ANNA (can barely get it out) Do... do you have any...
LEO I’m thinking of a word...
SMASH CUT TO:
NEIGHBORHOOD MONTAGE
EXT. GREEK PASTRY SHOP - DAY
The shop sign on the front window reads “SERANOS” in bold red letters. Chet Baker’s “LOVE WALKED IN” fades up at the cut.
Anna opens the front door, helps the cane-assisted Leo into the shop. Anna is never more than six inches away from Leo, continually embracing him like a puppy child.
They joke with the clerk, order one of everything -- chocolate covered rum balls, honey cake, lemon cake, baklava, you name it.
Anna and Leo exit, relax back into a bench just outside the shop. They open the box of goodies, sample and share each and every one, get down to some good old fashioned people watching.
ON THE STREET
Old people, young people, couples, singles. Black, white, short, tall. Pretty, ugly, fat, skinny. Well-dressed, what-were-you-thinking dressed. The whole parade of life.
BACK TO SCENE
Anna nestles up to Leo, as he drapes his arm around her shoulders, enjoying every last moment of life with his granddaughter, every last drop.
A Magician stops before their bench, does a quick sleight of hand coin trick twelves inches in front of their eyes, blowing their minds, then walks away.
Leo and Anna share a look of astonishment, then turn to regard the Magician. But he’s vanished. They turn, and there’s the Magician, now walking the opposite way, smiling, winking.
77.
EXT. TOY STORE
Leo and Anna play with various snow globes, puppets, wind up toys, both like a couple of young kids, as if seeing the world for the first time, with fresh eyes.
EXT. USED BOOK STORE
Leo and Anna chat with the book store owner, who is showing them an elaborate pop-up book. He opens the pages carefully. All take delight in the workmanship, the art, as the pages magically, delicately unfold.
EXT. STREET
Leo and Anna continue down the street. Shops lock up for the day. One by one their lights fade out. Streetlights come to life as evening falls.
Song fades down to just the sound of a squeezebox. No words, nothing left to say.
Leo and Anna continue down the street, into the shadows.
END MONTAGE
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Leo comes out of the bathroom in his pajamas, gets into bed, sits upright.
He opens a photo album from his nightstand, opens it.
ON THE PHOTO ALBUM
Scenes of the bustling city, of the street that he and Anna were on earlier, from the 1940s through 1970s.
LEO grabs his writing pad and pen from the nightstand. He reflects on the day’s outing, smiles, begins to write, sailing.
SONG fades down.
FADE TO BLACK.
78.
EXT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY
The Mailman drops a small package, magazine, a couple of letters into Leo’s mailbox.
He steps off the front porch, smiles as he passes a six- year-old Girl Scout BROWNIE, cute as a button, carrying two boxes of cookies. Her mom stands on the sidewalk, smiling proudly.
The Brownie reaches up on her tippy-toes, rings Leo’s doorbell. A long beat passes. She rings the bell again. Finally, Leo comes to the door.
BROWNIE Hello Mister Leo. Here are the two boxes of cookies you ordered!
LEO Oh, aren’t you sweet!
Leo looks at the mom, smiles, waves hello, then takes the two boxes of cookies.
BROWNIE Thank you... (forgot her speech) ... thank you very much for helping support the Girl Scout Brownies.
LEO It’s my pleasure. What is your name?
BROWNIE Ella.
LEO Well thank you very much, Ella. I really love these cookies very much. They are my most favorite thing in the world.
Ella’s eyes go wide with joy.
ELLA Really?
LEO Really truly.
ELLA Wow! Okay! Um, bye-bye.
79.
LEO Bye-bye.
Leo waves to Ella’s mom as Ella heads down the walkway. He takes the mail out of his mailbox, heads back inside.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE
Leo heads into the kitchen, mail under his arm, gets down to the first order of business -- opening the cookies.
He puts the mail down on the countertop, removes a wine glass from the cupboard, then stops, realizes he’s a sober man now.
He stifles a grumble, then opens the fridge, grabs the milk, pours a drink into the wine glass.
He leafs through the mail, opens a letter size manila envelope, removes several packages of seeds -- tomatoes, squash, strawberries, spinach, a few flowers.
He sets the packages aside, opens the winter edition of a men’s clothing catalog. He leafs through the pages, stops at a double-page spread.
ON THE MAGAZINE
A family gathering at Thanksgiving, very Normal Rockwelly yet modern, everyone in their Sunday best.
LEO pauses, turns toward the dining room, regards the big oak table, family pictures on the mantelpiece, loses himself in thought.
LEO’S POV (FLASHBACK)
The dining room MAGICALLY TRANSFORMS, filled with all of Leo’s family members -- wife Mary, daughter Rosina, her husband Gary, young baby Anna.
A roaring fireplace illumes, warms the scene.
It’s Thanksgiving, and dinner is underway. The table is completely covered with a feast of turkey, stuffing, salads, pumpkin pie, wine bottles, you name it. The whole nine Thanksgiving yards.
All are in good spirits, laughing, sharing the joy.
80.
LEO stands in the kitchen doorway, smiling, a friendly ghost, soaks them all into his soul.
LEO’S POV
His glance comes to rest on Mary, playing with baby Anna. She pauses, looks over to Leo, smiles a smile that only a lifetime of loving marriage can bring about.
LEO returns her smile, eyes moist with happiness.
LEO’S POV
Mary returns her attention to baby Anna, bouncing her on her knee, making baby sounds, much to Anna’s delight.
A LARGE LOG in the fireplace settles, lightly crashes down onto the flaming logs beneath it. A beat, and then the other logs also crash down, then all quickly MAGICALLY EXTINGUISH, turn to ash, VANISH.
FLASH FORWARD:
BACK TO PRESENT DAY
Lights dim in the dining room. The Thanksgiving scene quickly fades away.
Leo stands in the doorway, deeply moved by the memory, its peculiar vividness. He sighs a bittersweet sigh.
He looks down at the countertop, the magazine, the seeds. He turns, looks out the window, to his backyard.
LEO’S POV
His lawn is almost completely covered over with leaves, needs a raking big time. Most of his garden is now way past harvest, any remaining tomatoes left on the vine now beginning to wither.
LEO fiddles with the packages of seeds, rearranges them on the countertop, then suddenly SENDS THEM FLYING into the dining room with a great angry existential sweep of his forearm.
81.
LEO Son of a BITCH!
The reality of his impending death hits him hard, here, now, alone with his memories, the speediness of life a real raw feeling, a tangible emotion he can feel in his body.
LEO Why? Why?!
He marches into the living room with heavy angry steps.
LEO I’m not done! I’m not done, goddammit!
He turns, then turns again, not sure where he’s going, still raging, and then POW! is brought to his knees with a sudden spasm in his heart.
He falls down to the floor, clutching his heart, rides out the first wave of pain.
He struggles to rise, gets halfway to his knees, then slowly and painfully crawls across the floor on all fours, toward the staircase.
He grabs hold of the banister, uses all his upper body strength to lift himself to his feet, eating the pain the whole way.
LEO (gasping) Okay, fine... okay, okay, fine... okay, okay, just please...
He slowly works his way up the staircase, one painful step at a time.
LEO Just, please, please... just please... just to the bed... just to... the bed...
He stops on every step to catch his breath, determined to continue, at any cost.
Suddenly, a gentle KNOCK at the front door.
TOM (O.S.) Hello, Leo. You decent?
Leo exhales a great sigh of gratitude.
82.
LEO (to self) Thank you thank you thank you. (louder) Come in. Come in!
Tom enters, sees Leo halfway up the staircase, holding on for dear life. He sets his container down, rushes up to help him.
TOM Leo! You alright, man?
LEO (thinly) Yeah, just tired. My heart’s a little weak. That’s what the doctor says.
TOM Well let’s get you into bed, okay?
LEO Good idea.
Tom lifts Leo onto his shoulder, carries his entire weight, as he gently guides him upstairs.
TOM Easy does it...
Leo smiles as he notices Tom is dressed in his clothes.
LEO Nice shirt.
TOM Yeah? I like it too. I have good taste. In friends.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Tom and Leo reach the top of the staircase landing, just outside the bedroom.
LEO Right in here.
Tom gently guides Leo to the bed, steadies him on the edge of the mattress, moves his body sideways.
TOM How’s that?
83.
Leo falls down onto his pillows with a great sigh.
LEO Good, very good.
He breathes three deep breaths, stabilizes. He massages his chest, still in pain.
TOM What can I do for you, Leo? Do you need anything? Want me to call your doctor or something?
Leo takes another deep breath, rides the pain out.
LEO Not yet. Let me just rest here for a minute. Just, a minute.
Leo pats Tom’s hand.
LEO You’re a fine young man.
Tom smiles.
TOM You thirsty
LEO Yeah, pretty thirsty.
Tom moves to exit.
TOM I’ll go get the box.
LEO Actually, there is something you can do for me. Do you have an extra minute?
TOM Yep, you’re my last client, so I’m totally free. What do you need?
LEO There’s a rocking chair by the coffee table downstairs. Can you bring it up, put it in that corner over there?
TOM Can do.
84.
Tom heads downstairs.
LEO Oh, and there’s some photo albums on the dining room table, could you bring those up too? Actually, bring everything on the table, paper, pens, all that stuff.
TOM (O.S.) Got it.
Leo straightens himself up, props himself up with a few pillows, smooths back his hair.
LEO Oh, much better.
He looks around the room, as if for the first time, as if for the last time, taking in the furniture, photographs, draperies, bric-a-brac -- all their little details
Tom returns, arms full with the rocking chair, Leo’s writings, the meal container. He sets the papers and pens down on the bed, puts the rocking chair in the corner.
TOM Alrightee.
Tom opens the meal container, pulls out a piece of paper.
TOM Well well well. Look at Mister Big Shot here, on the Special Diet list now. I guess it’s not what you know but who you know, eh?
LEO Money helps too.
TOM I’m obliged to give you this document, gives you all the blah blah blah about the diet. Want me to read it to you?
LEO Maybe later.
TOM Okay. Here, check this out.
He removes a small covered bowl from the container, opens the lid.
85.
TOM Wild strawberries. Last of the season. Super saturated with goodness.
LEO They look great.
TOM Grew ‘em myself.
Leo takes a small, dark red strawberry.
LEO Tell me something, what do you do in civilian life?
TOM Me? Sustainable permaculture.
LEO What’s that?
TOM Organic farming.
LEO Well why didn't you just say that?
TOM I guess it makes it sound more important. It’s all about sustainability, figuring out how to make sure there’s enough good healthy food for everyone to eat.
LEO Sounds like a good job.
TOM It doesn’t feel like work, to be honest. Better than sitting in some corporate office working for some yahoo. Hey, you should come out to the farm some time, I’ll show you around.
LEO We can go now if you want.
TOM I’m not so sure you’re up for a road trip at the moment, amigo.
86.
LEO (chuckles) No no no. I can’t leave this bed anymore.
He looks at Tom, directly. Tom lets the words sink in. He swallows hard, realizes he is going to lose a favorite client, a good friend.
Leo displays a visage of courage and kindness, a moment his young friend can remember for the rest of his life.
Leo eats the strawberry.
LEO Tell me about it. Draw me a mental picture.
TOM Sure. I can, I can do that.
EXT. FARM - DAY (FANTASY SEQUENCE)
A beatup red 1969 Chevy pickup truck enters the main gate to the farm, passing through the archway, overhead sign, “Three Saints of the West Organic Farm.”
Tom is in the driver’s seat, Leo the passenger. The scene unfolds as they slowly drive up the dirt road.
INTERCUT - LEO’S POV
It’s harvest season. All around, people doing chores, chatting, smiling.
TOM (V.O.) It’s a 120-acre organic farm, surrounded by hundreds of acres of protected forest and agricultural fields. Everything borders a beautiful lake.
They pass rows of lettuce, cabbage, other vegetables growing in fields alongside the road. One worker on a tractor waves at Tom and Leo as they pass.
TOM (V.O.) This farm used to be owned by some of the earliest homesteaders in this territory. The first settlers built a log cabin, which we use as a recreation center.
87.
They pass a small log cabin, where several mothers sit on the front porch in rocking chairs, cradling and nursing their babies.
TOM (V.O.) The farm produces strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, melons, greens, you name it. We’ve also got orchards of peach, plum, apple, pear, and cherry. We sell everything at the farmers markets and at local stores all over the area.
They continue to the back of the log cabin, to the main house, come to a stop.
Tom comes around, helps Leo out of the truck. Leo is instantly surrounded by a handful of children, eager to make a new friend.
A pretty young girl wearing a makeshift flower garland greets Leo warmly, hands him a glass of mint tea.
The children take Leo by the hand, lead him past the main house, out back.
TOM (V.O.) We also manage a small flock of laying hens, produce ten acres of grains and beans, and have over thirty acres of hay and pasture.
SCENE WIDENS to take in the full view of the back acreage that Tom describes. There’s a dozen small homes, a couple of yurts, several greenhouses, and rows and rows of ripe green plants as far as the eye can see.
TOM (V.O.) There are a number of people who have built simple homes here, and we have a school as well, where we teach farming and permaculture.
The children lead Leo into a small schoolroom, set him into the visitor’s seat of honor.
TOM (V.O.) Many people play music, create art, write poetry. And we have a couple of big festival events a couple times a year.
The Teacher leads the children in a folksong:
88.
ALL SING “May there always be sunshine May there always be blue skies”
A Young Boy approaches Leo, sits by his side, nudges Leo to sing along. Leo smiles, obliges.
ALL SING “May there always be mama May there always be me”
The Young Boy pulls over a small bowl, offers Leo some wild strawberries.
ALL SING “May there always be rivers May there always be green trees”
Leo looks into, studies the boy’s smiling eyes. They have the same twinkling glow as Tom’s eyes.
ALL SING “May there always be papa May there always be me”
END FANTASY SEQUENCE
BACK TO SCENE
Tom smiles, eyes twinkling.
Leo’s eyes are bright, filled with life.
He smiles at Tom, satisfied to know that the world is not going to hell in a handbasket, that it’s in good hands -- the hands of the fine young man who’s been delivering his food to him for the past couple of years.
He puts his hand atop Tom’s hand, gently massages it.
LEO That was a wonderful journey, Thomas.
Anna stands in the bedroom doorway, has been there awhile, her eyes moist.
ANNA Wow.
Tom turns, regards Anna.
ANNA Do me next.
89.
Tom blushes. Then Anna blushes. Then Leo looks back and forth between Tom and Anna, laughs heartily.
LEO Of course, of course. Why didn’t I think of this before.
Tom moves to rise.
TOM Well, I should probably...
Leo grabs Tom firmly by the shoulder, presses him back down to the bed, whispers in his ear.
LEO Get her number, you frickin’ idiot.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Anna lies on the couch, covered with a crocheted blanket, reading one of Leo’s photo album essays.
She has her personal items spread out on the coffee table and floor -- clothes, purse, hair brush, makeup case -- is clearly spending her spare time there.
ON THE PHOTO ALBUM
Leo and Mary, about the same age as Anna is now, standing in front of their garden.
LEO (V.O.) Those in love understand one another best through Nature’s most sublime, most poetic language -- Silence. Who can know the taste of chocolate by talking about it? Who can know the love found in a kiss with mere words?
CLOSER
Mary smiles wide, beaming up at Leo, both as happy as two people can possibly be.
LEO (V.O.) How can I ever describe the beauty in my dear one’s eyes? How deeply she touched my soul? How she truly saved me?
90.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Anna stands in the doorway, holding the photo album, Leo’s essay. She catches a glimpse of Leo in the bathroom, reflected off his dresser mirror, brushing his teeth, rinsing his mouth.
Leo grabs his cane, turns the bathroom light off, slowly works his way to the bed. He moves significantly slower, more cautiously, than he previously has. He has a couple days worth of stubble on his face, looks genuinely tired.
Anna steps into the room.
ANNA Need a hand?
LEO I think I got it, thanks. Actually, could you pull the covers back please? Just the top quilt.
ANNA Sure.
Anna walks over to the bed, pulls the quilt aside. Leo slips into bed, sits up. He takes a few deep breaths, out of breath.
LEO Whew. Thanks sweetie.
He reaches over to his nightstand, picks up a nasal cannula for his oxygen, secures it into his nostrils.
He settles, picks up another notebook off his nightstand, opens to a new page.
Anna crosses over to the other side of the bed, sits. She stares at Leo, lost in her love for him, sarcastic claws fully retracted.
Leo suddenly gasps for air.
LEO You’re... stepping... on my... oxygen cord...
Anna doesn’t move.
ANNA Not gonna fall for that one again.
91.
Leo gasps.
LEO No... really... this time... you are...
Anna pauses, then gives a sideways glace down to her feet, never moving her head.
Leo catches the glance, smiles, satisfied. He returns to his notebook, stares off into space, thinking.
ANNA You are so immature.
LEO Thanks. What’s on the agenda tomorrow?
Leo looks back and forth between Anna and his notebook a couple of times.
LEO Huh? Anything fun?
Anna remains silent, smiling. Leo pauses, sets his notebook down.
LEO What’s up?
ANNA Huh? Oh, nothing. Just staring at you. You got a problem with that?
LEO (smiles) I guess not. It’s kinda nice to see someone who still appreciates true beauty these days.
Leo returns to his writing. A few beats pass. Then he puts his pen down, turns to Anna.
LEO I have a final request.
ANNA Another one? Jeezo peezo, how many final requests does somebody get?
Leo smiles mischievously.
92.
LEO I think it’s like a three wish genie thing.
ANNA I see.
LEO Can you set the alarm clock back? Tonight’s daylight savings.
ANNA Oh yeah. You sure that’s what you want to use your second wish on?
LEO (considers) Yes.
Leo returns to his writing as Anna picks up the clock, fiddles with the time, sets it back down. She lingers for a beat, staring at the clock, lost in melancholia.
ANNA Time sure does fly.
LEO You’re too young to be able to say that.
ANNA Doesn’t feel like that anymore.
She lays her head down on the bed, pushes her nose up against Leo’s hand like a puppy dog, a couple of times, until Leo puts his hand on her head, strokes her hair.
Anna closes her eyes, drifts off to sleep.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM - NIGHT (A FEW HOURS LATER)
The room is dark. A light on in the bathroom, the door slightly ajar. Leo lies sleeping on his back, no longer wearing his nasal cannula.
The light in the bathroom turns off. A figure in the bathroom exits, takes a seat in the rocking chair. Leo stirs, opens his eyes a crack.
93.
He takes a closer look at the figure in the rocking chair, bathed in the full moon light streaming in from the window.
It’s Mary, about the same age as when she died.
She sits staring out the window, lit like a glowing angel, saying nothing, a blank expression on her face.
Leo rises, walks toward her, sits on the edge of the bed, a few feet away from her.
He moves his hand as if to put it atop hers, but pulls back, inexplicably, enthralled by her presence.
Mary turns her gaze from the window to the floor, still expressionless, never making eye contact with Leo.
LEO (whispers) Mary. My dearest Mary. I have missed you so very much.
Mary remains silent, expressionless, head down. The curtain in the window flutters slightly.
Leo turns his gaze toward the window and is suddenly JOLTED FORWARD and INSTANTLY TRANSPORTED to
A DARK FOREST
Leo walks along a trackless path, dressed dapperly, full suit and tie, the forest a dense wasteland. The sound of CHANTING TIBETAN MONKS fades up, their voices EERIE, as if something bad is about to happen, very soon.
Leo turns fearfully to acknowledge the SUDDEN NIGHTMARISH SOUNDS and PHANTASMAGORIC FLASHES of gnarling animals, criminals, terminally ill, insane, coming at him from all ten directions.
The more Leo walks the MORE INTENSE and frightful and closer the sounds and images become.
Finally, he can walk no further, it’s too intense. He stops to face the demons, throwing his arms into the air, ready to sacrifice his body to them.
LEO (screams) ARRRRHHHHH!!!
94.
The eyes of the animals and demons go wide as they slowly approach Leo, intent on devouring him completely. The INTENSITY increases ten fold, then one hundred, and then
SMASH CUT TO:
BACK TO SCENE
Sound and image collapse into TOTAL SILENCE. Leo awakens to find himself in the rocking chair, facing the window.
Mary is gone. The room is almost completely dark.
The curtain in the window flutters, slightly. The full moon is gone, replaced by a small waning sliver. The air is cool. Leo shivers, shuts the window.
The silence is total, the only sound Leo’s BREATH AND HEARTBEAT, eerily out of sync with his actual breathing, his movements.
He turns toward his bed, sees a figure under the covers. But it’s too dark to make out its features.
He rises, slowly approaches the figure. He clicks the switch on his nightstand lamp, but the light does not turn on.
He tries it a couple of times, still nothing.
Leo moves closer to the figure, HEARTBEAT AND BREATHING LOUDER, FASTER, even more out of sync with his movements.
The figure is unmoving, breathless, folded hands atop its chest, the bedding.
Leo moves in even closer, studies the figure’s features. A beat, and then the LAMP SUDDENLY SWITCHES ON, slowly, in slow motion, illumes the figure in the bed:
It is Leo, his Death Double. Pale, still, breathless.
Leo turns to acknowledge the sudden sound of the ROCKING CHAIR CREAKING and as he turns the LIGHT GOES OUT.
He turns back around to face his Death Double but his point of view is now suddenly back to lying in bed. Heartbeat and breathing sounds suddenly stop.
The window is slightly open, curtain fluttering. Full moon light streams in.
95.
Leo pauses, nervously reaches over to click the switch on the nightstand lamp.
It turns on.
He exhales deeply, exhausted, sweat across his forehead. He clutches at his heart, massages it deeply, grimaces in pain. The pain gradually fades.
LEO (whispers) Mary. Mary.
A tear streams down his cheek.
FADE TO BLACK.
EXT. LEO’S GARDEN - DAY
Cloudy, overcast gray skies. All the trees are stripped bare of their leaves. Leo’s garden has gone to seed, the last few tomatoes rotting on the vine, everything now left for the crows.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Leo sits up in bed, his caregiver SANDY finishing up shaving his face. He looks frail, exhausted, a slight dimming of life light in his eyes.
SANDY There we go, handsome.
LEO Thanks, Sandy.
She hands him his nasal cannula, which Leo puts into his nostrils. Sandy brushes his hair back, then musses it up. She holds up a mirror.
SANDY What do you think?
Leo looks at himself in the mirror, then back to Sandy with rolled eyes.
SANDY I think it’s kind of cute, personally. Girls like a wind swept kind of motorcycle guy.
96.
LEO My bike’s out back, let’s go.
She brushes his hair back to normal.
SANDY That would be great!
She touches his hand lightly, collects her things, moves to exit.
SANDY Okay Leo, see you tomorrow. Call me in the meantimes if you need me to bring anything.
LEO I have everything I need, thanks.
Sandy exits. Lily appears in the doorway, knocks lightly.
LILY Would you like a visitor?
LEO Absolutely, please.
Lily enters, pulls several large Tupperware containers out of her bag.
LILY I made you some dinners for a few days. I hope you like it.
LEO Oh yeah, I like your cooking very much, thank you.
Lily is not assured. He just “likes” her cooking?
LEO Seriously. I really like it.
Her demeanor does not change.
LEO Lily, I love your cooking.
Lily smiles with the magic word.
LILY Ah, okay then!
97.
She pulls out a small container, opens it, expertly balances a small bit of greens on a pair of chopsticks.
LILY Try this.
Lily feeds Leo.
LEO Wow, that’s great! That’s really great, Lily.
LILY So you like it?
LEO Oh yes, I love it!
He’s got the game down now. He opens his mouth wide like a baby in a high chair, gestures toward the container.
Lily pauses, stares at Leo, his open mouth.
LILY You look like shit. You need lunch. I will go heat everything up.
Lily starts to pack up the food. Leo closes his mouth, frowns, sighs.
LEO Before you do that, I have something for you, Lily.
He gestures toward his open closet.
LEO There’s a box on the bottom first shelf, right there on the right.
Lily rises, enters the closet. Leo sneaks another bite of greens as Lily moves boxes around.
LEO See it?
Lily pulls at a box.
LILY This black one?
Leo pops open another container, steals a potsticker.
98.
LEO Right beneath it, the big brown one.
Lily puts her hand on the box.
LILY This is it?
LEO (mouth full) No, no. Further back...
He steals some more greens, then closes the containers.
LEO Oh wait, nevermind. My bad. It’s right over here.
Lily exits the closet. Leo points to a large box on the side table.
LILY This?
LEO That’s it. Bring it here, please.
Lily moves to set it down on the bed, then looks back and forth between the containers and Leo suspiciously.
Leo smiles, tries to look innocent, but overdoing it.
Lily shakes her head, was not fooled. She smiles, pushes the box toward Leo.
LEO No no, it’s for you.
He turns the box so that it faces Lily.
LEO Open it.
Lily slowly opens the box, delicately, like a little girl opening her birthday present.
ON THE BOX
Inside, a treasure trove of neighborhood memorabilia -- architectural drawings, maps, programs from concerts, other gatherings, all decades old. A virtual time capsule of the neighborhood since it was built.
99.
Lily slowly goes through the items.
LILY (O.S.) Wow, this is amazing. This is this neighborhood.
LEO (O.S.) Yes, since the beginning.
LILY (O.S.) Did you take these photographs?
LEO (O.S.) Most of them, yep. Back in the day, you did everything -- surveys, assessments, reports, photographs, everything.
INTERCUT STOCK FOOTAGE
Circa 1940s through 1960s... the hustle bustle of city life... people shopping, streetcars, kids playing in the park... all the while the city grows bigger and bigger... more houses, more concrete, more people...
LEO (O.S.) I was on the team that helped design many of the city’s streets and neighborhoods, including this one.
ON PHOTO
It’s Leo, with theodolite and tripod, in front of his and Lily’s yards, before their houses were built. It’s just a cleared field, wide open, marked off with survey stakes.
LEO (O.S.) That’s both our lots, if you can believe that.
LILY (O.S.) It’s just dirt. Just, pure land.
LEO (O.S.) Pure land.
BACK TO SCENE
Lily carefully puts the items back into the box, as if they were delicate pieces of lace.
LILY This is... a gift?
100.
LEO Yes.
She takes his hand.
LILY (proudly, a little teary) I will treasure this in my new home, in a special place where everyone can see. So they can understand the history of this neighborhood.
Leo smiles.
LEO Our neighborhood.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LEO’S HOUSE - DAY
Late afternoon, just before evening. It’s quiet, no construction noise, the only sound that of the softly TICKING mantelpiece clock.
Rosina is asleep on a loveseat in the living room. A Hospice Nurse sits on the couch reading, her knitting in front of her on the coffee table, next to various prescription bottles, basic medical paraphernalia.
Anna is in the kitchen, preparing Leo lunch. She puts half a piece of toast and a small bowl on a tray table, passes silently through the living room, walks upstairs.
INT. LEO’S BEDROOM
Leo lies in bed, sleeping, wearing his nasal cannula. He looks thin, weary. There are long gaps in his breathing. A vase of flowers, greeting cards decorate the room.
Anna enters softly, sets the tray table down on a side table. She sits on the edge of the bed, touches Leo’s forearm lightly.
Leo takes a deep inhale of oxygen, opens his eyes. A beat, and then a big smile as he recognizes Anna.
ANNA I brought you some soup. Butternut squash, your favorite.
101.
Leo smiles, then nods a small no thank you. He swallows hard, moves his head up slightly, can only whisper.
LEO How are you, sweetie?
ANNA Good, good. No soup? Are you sure?
Leo nods.
ANNA Okay. Any special requests? (lump in throat) I mean, do you need anything?
Leo smiles big, stares into Anna’s eyes. He takes in another big inhale of oxygen, rallies his energy to speak clearly, with some strength.
LEO I have everything I need.
ANNA Okay.
She brushes Leo’s cheek tenderly. He puts his hand on hers, massages it lightly.
ANNA Would you like me to read to you?
LEO Yes.
Anna crosses to the rocking chair. Next to the chair, her various personal items where she’s been sleeping, keeping vigil -- purse, tea cup, blanket, pillow.
She picks up a small paperback book, crosses back to the other side of the bed, sits.
ANNA This is a book of poems Tom gave me.
Leo smiles, thinking of Tom. Anna flips through the pages.
ANNA There’s one I really like, where is it, where is it... ah, here we go...
102.
She clears her throat, takes hold of Leo’s hand. She reads slowly, carefully, exploring the beauty of each word, of each phrase.
ANNA “What was lovely remained lovely. All the vestiges of last week’s rain were present in the smallest gesture, a turn of a slim wrist, the catcall intonation of voices heard at a distance, saying things we knew once to be true.”
She pauses, looks at Leo, who is smiling brightly. She returns to the book. Leo exhales long, deeply, gently.
ANNA “They are true still, but not for us, so we must search these landscapes for new truths, and what was once the guide will be a guide no longer.”
Anna exhales deeply, closes her eyes. She looks back at Leo. He has passed.
Her countenance goes slowly from a smile, to shock, to sadness, to big tears.
She sits, holding her gaze on Leo’s face, holding his limp hand, letting her big tears roll down her face.
Finally, she lowers her head. Simultaneously humbled, honored, devastated.
FADE TO WHITE.
EXT. LEO’S GARDEN - DAY
Blue sky and light snowfall fill the entire screen.
We follow the flakes as they slowly fall, settle on Leo’s garden, onto the hard winter earth.
A light dusting of snow begins to accumulate on all the trees and plants.
The snowfall grows heavier, gradually fills the blue sky, the entire scene.
DISSOLVE TO:
103.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY
“IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING” by Stan Getz fades up.
A beautiful clear Spring morning in the neighborhood, a few streets over from Leo’s house.
An architect stands, plans in hand, in front of an older character home. He’s gesturing his vision for a new home on the lot to a young Chinese couple and demolition construction foreman.
CAMERA ASCENDS over the treetops, travels to
EXT. LILY’S HOUSE
Lily steps outside onto her front porch, water can in hand, waters the flowers in the frog planter.
Her house is complete, a modern, elegant addition to the neighborhood.
She closes her eyes and smiles, takes in a deep breath of the slightly chilly Spring air.
CAMERA ASCENDS over her house, travels to
EXT. LEO’S GARDEN
Anna sits on a small wooden bench, carefully tending to a row of tomato plant sprouts, casually tilling the earth.
CLOSE ON TOMATO SPROUTS delicate, two-leaf shoots, unfolded just that morning.
ANNA looks to the left, looks to the right, makes sure no one is looking, and then breathes lightly on the smallest, most delicate grouping of sprouts.
CLOSE ON TOMATO SPROUTS as they MAGICALLY GROW FOUR INCHES in just a few seconds.
104.
ANNA smiles mischievously, overly pleased with herself. She pauses, feels like someone is watching her, looks over her shoulder.
ANNA’S POV
Tom stands behind her, leaning on a hoe, wearing a seed pouch, in front of a small row of tilled earth.
He crosses his arms, looks at her quizzically, wondering if he really just saw what he thought he just saw.
ANNA stares at him blankly for a long beat, then teasingly pulls the strap of her shirt slightly off her shoulder, shoots him a come hither look.
TOM takes a step forward, puffs up his chest, shoots her a big bolt of alpha male power.
ANNA laughs, hopelessly in love. She winks coquettishly, blows him a kiss, then turns, gets back to work.
FADE OUT.
THE END.