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.