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Pete Pan
by John Parkman (jparkman@mn.rr.com)

Rated: R   Genre: Drama   User Review: ****
He is a man who never grew up. She is a woman who grew up too fast. Together, can they start again?


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



FADE IN:

EXT. EARTH RISE FROM THE MOON - DAY
                                                            
We open with the gorgeous shot of the EARTH RISE,our lovely
blue marble in space, as seen from the surface of the moon.
                                                            
As we slowly begin moving towards the EARTH, we HEAR a man's
voice:
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
You have to admit...
      (a long beat)
...it's a beautiful world.
                                                            
We continue ZOOMING in towards the EARTH as music plays. We
see oceans and continents, then ZOOMING closer still, we
begin to see the outline of the United States. CLOSER
still, we continue ZOOMING down, moving towards the Midwest,
down towards the region of North Dakota.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
No matter where you live...
                                                            
We're HIGH above a white landscape now. Nothing in sight
except for miles of white, snow covered, treeless prairie.
As we slowly DESCEND, a small black dot begins to take on
the shape of a very SMALL TOWN, seemingly located in the
middle of nowhere in this deserted landscape.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
Each place its beauty.....each
life its mystery.
                                                            
 
INT. JAIL CELL - NIGHT
                                                            
ANGLE from inside a prison cell, looking out a window. We
are CLOSE UP on the full moon, with its depressions and
ridges.

As we pull back, we pass through the bars of the window in
the jail cell. Pulling back further, we SEE the moon from
the MAN'S POV, as he lies on the top bunk of the jail cell.
                                                            
The MAN looks peaceful, contented, smiling to himself as he
admires the full moon.
                                                            
This MAN is JACOB PETERSON, JAKE to his friends. He is
fifty three, handsome, fit, sprouting a short beard stubble
that makes him look younger than he is. Still smiling to
himself, he closes his eyes and begins to dream.
                                                            

2.

As the DREAM BEGINS:
                                                            
A YOUNG JAKE and a PRETTY YOUNG GIRL are riding horses in a
rolling pasture. All around are PRAIRIE DOGS, looking like
cute, fat squirrels, sitting up on their hind legs, popping
up and down out of their holes, watching.
                                                            
Suddenly, we HEAR a loud BANG, sounding like a gun shot.
                                                            
DREAM ENDS as we DISSOLVE to:
                                                            
 
INT. JAIL CELL - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE sits up, whimpering, startled awake from his dream.
Somewhere in the prison, a jail door slams shut.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
Things have a way....
      (a beat)
...of working out.
                                                            
As we stay CLOSE UP on JAKE in the top bunk, we HEAR a
younger man's voice in the dark coming from the lower bunk.
                                                            
                       YOUNGER MAN
Dreaming?
                                                            
JAKE turns slightly from the top bunk, looking down. We SEE
a figure in the lower bunk, covered by a blanket, but no
face.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Go back to sleep.
                                                            
JAKE rolls on his back and puts his hands behind his head,
looking out at the moon again.
                                                            
 
EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD - NIGHT
                                                            
CLOSE UPS as we pan across a row of pretty high school girl
CHEERLEADERS shaking their pom-poms, leading a cheer.
                                                            
                       CHEERLEADERS
      (in unison)
Who you gunna fight for? RUGBY -
RUGBY!
Who you gunna win for? RUGBY -
RUGBY
                                                            
YOUNG JAKE plays quarterback, as two football teams line up

3.

against each other. We HEAR grunts and helmets smacking.
Referee whistles, the cheerleaders, a small crowd in the
bleachers huddled against the autumn cold.
                                                            
                       YOUNG JAKE
      (under the center)
Green forty seven! Green forty
seven!
                                                            
A running back and a tight end shift positions.
                                                            
                       YOUNG JAKE
      (loudly)
Hut! Hut!
                                                            
The ball is snapped. YOUNG JAKE drops back and throws a
pass. Touchdown. The small crowd cheers.
                                                            
 
INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
                                                            
High school graduation. The gymnasium is filled with
parents and graduates in caps and gowns. Four students are
on the stage along with several dignitaries.
                                                            
                       SUPERINTENDENT
      (at the podium)
And now it is my pleasure to
introduce to you our Valedictorian
of 1970...
                                                            
YOUNG JAKE stands and walks to the podium and begins
speaking.
                                                            
 
INT. SCHOOL PROM HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - NIGHT
                                                            
Pop music from the 70's as kids, all dressed up, dance.
YOUNG JAKE dances with the PRETTY YOUNG GIRL.
                                                            
As they dance, several guys pat YOUNG JAKE on the back,
murmuring congratulations.
                                                            
                       PRETTY YOUNG GIRL
Come out tomorrow. We'll go
riding.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
If we could see the future....
                                                            
 

4.

INT. CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
YOUNG JAKE and a PRETTY YOUNG GIRL are parked on a hill
overlooking a moonlit farm, making out.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...we wouldn't understand it.
                                                            
 
INT. MENTAL HOSPITAL - DAY
                                                            
YOUNG JAKE sits in a chair, staring vacantly out the window.
Wearing a hospital robe and slippers, he looks gaunt and
seriously medicated. His parents, CARL PETERSON and NORMA
PETERSON, walk in and sit beside him.
                                                            
                       CARL
Son.
                                                            
                       NORMA
You can't go on blaming
yourself....
                                                            
                       CARL
Yup.
                                                            
                       NORMA
      (pats Jake's arm)
Maybe you can come home soon.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...things happen......they always
do....
      (a long beat)
...... sometimes you need to get
away.
                                                            
 
EXT. CALCUTTA - INDIA - DAY
                                                            
OLDER JAKE has long hair and wears a backpack. The streets
of CALCUTTA are throngs of vendors, beggars and prostitutes.
JAKE is wide-eyed and thrilled with the adventure. He
stops to buy a book from a small bookseller.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
They say that traveling broadens
the mind ....
                                                            
 

5.

EXT. KHAJURAHO TEMPLE OF SEXUAL CARVINGS - INDIA - DAY
                                                            
JAKE stands with his backpack. We PAN the 'SEX WALL' of
Tantric Yoga carvings, then move to CLOSE UPS on the various
STONE CARVINGS of sexual positions.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...maybe so.
                                                            
 
INT. ASHRAM IN INDIA - DAY
                                                            
A fantastic ASHRAM, high in the mountains of India. JAKE and
a small group of MEN and WOMEN are chanting in the early
morning light, all NAKED. The men stand in a large circle.
The women are within the circle, each kneeling in front the
men. The men have small colored cloths hanging on their
penises, covering them. As they all chant together, we SEE
the colored cloths RISE as the men achieve erections.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
Remember that TV show, Dragnet?...
                                                            
The chanting continues and the colored cloths DESCEND as the
men relax their erections. The women begin another low
hypnotic chant and the men RAISE their cloths again.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...Sergeant Joe Friday... "Just
the facts, ma'am."...
                                                            
The chanting stops. The WOMEN disperse into small cubicles
surrounding the room, drawing a drape over the doorways.
Each MAN walks to a separate cubicle and enters. We HEAR
sounds of LOVEMAKING.
                                                            
A small bell CHIMES in the ashram and the sounds of
lovemaking die away. , The MEN emerge from one cubicle, then
enter the adjoining one. Sounds of LOVEMAKING begin again.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...34 per cent of women don't have
orgasms....
      (a beat)
...men... on average... 3 minutes
or less.
                                                            
 

6.

INT. FANCY HOTEL BALLROOM - LONDON - NIGHT
                                                            
A luxury hotel. A live orchestra PLAYS in a ballroom. A
crowded room of well-dressed older people dance and mingle.
JAKE is dancing with a WOMAN IN HER 60's who is wearing
expensive jewelry. They laugh as they dance together.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
If I was a businessman...... I
guess I saw a market niche...
                                                            
 
INT. HOTEL BEDROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE and the OLDER WOMAN are drinking champagne and
flirting. As we SEE them begin undressing, we tilt up
towards a gilded ceiling. We HEAR the woman, slowly at
first, moaning in pleasure, her moans rising higher and
higher, faster and faster.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...and I learned to dance.....
                                                            
 
INT. HOTEL BALLROOMS - NIGHT
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
... and life is a dance.
                                                            
A MONTAGE of fancy hotel ballrooms in Thailand, Singapore,
Australia, Japan, Miami etc. Various ELDERLY DOWAGERS are
all dancing with an OLDER JAKE, looking now to be in his
30's. JAKE is light on his feet, twirling, dancing..
                                                            
 
EXT. AMAZON JUNGLE - DAY
                                                            
An OLDER JAKE, bearded and weathered, is traveling up an
Amazonian river in a wooden dugout canoe. With him, an
assortment of TRIBAL MEN wearing colorful bird feathers and
headdresses. All around are exotic jungle animals and
plants.
                                                            
LATER, they sit, eating around an open fire in the jungle,
when a stream of army ants swarms into the camp. Everyone
RUNS, swatting at the ants, HOLLERING with the pain of the
bites.
                                                            
 
INT. JUNGLE HUT - DAY
                                                            
JAKE, emaciated and covered with bites, is curled in a fetal

7.

position on a grass mat, SHIVERING with fever. We HEAR
jungle monkeys and bird calls. JAKE'S eyes roll back in his
head, and we enter a DREAM:
                                                            
DREAM BEGINS:

YOUNG JAKE and THE YOUNG PRETTY GIRL are horseback riding
again. They stop at a stream, tie up the horses and picnic
on a blanket. They are very much in love and happy.
                                                            
DREAM ENDS as..
                                                            
JAKE wakes up frightened. A huge SNAKE crawls over his leg.
He freezes in terror but remains motionless as the snake
crawls off.
                                                            
 
EXT. SMALL TOWN RUGBY CEMETERY - DAY
                                                            
A funeral is in progress. Jake's father, CARL PETERSON
dressed in an old fashioned black suit, CRIES softly,
desperately trying to stifle back his tears, as men so often
do. This is NORMA PETERSON'S funeral. As the casket is
lowered into the ground, several of Carl's old friends
comfort him.
                                                            
MILES and MILLIE, both in their 70's, Carl's small town
neighbors and friends, are walking back to their car, parked
behind the black hearse.
                                                            
                       MILLIE
      (judgmentally)
A shame....
                                                            
                       MILES
      (shaking his head)
Some damn jungle somewhere...
                                                            
 
EXT. AMAZON JUNGLE - DAY
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
With or without us....
                                                            
JAKE and his tribal companions are bushwhacking their way
along in the jungle, slashing vines and crossing streams.

From a distance, we HEAR a tribal man sing out a loud noise.
The tribal men SPEAK to each other excitedly in a strange
language. They stop, put down their loads, and wait.

A tribal runner appears through the jungle, running, and
SPEAKS rapidly.
                                                            

8.

                       MAN (V.O. continues)
....the music plays on.
                                                            
 
EXT. CENTRAL AMERICA - DAY
                                                            
An even OLDER JAKE is climbing a Mayan temple pyramid.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continueing)
As the song goes....
                                                            
We hear MUSIC from Country Joe and the Fish.
                                                            
From the top of the pyramid, a vast jungle canopy stretches
out for miles, a beautiful sight. As the sun drops into the
ocean, we see JAKE in intense conversation with a local
village SORCERER. The sorcerer, dressed as any other
Guatemalan villager, but with burning intense eyes, puts out
his brown LEATHERY HAND containing a handful of small
mushroom caps.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
..."Take A Trip and Never Leave
the Farm."
                                                            
 
EXT. TOP OF MAYAN PYRAMID - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE eats the mushrooms as he sits on top of the pyramid. He
rubs his eyes. Above, the sky blazes with stars.

From JAKE'S POV: SOUNDS of the jungle stretch out in time;
STARLIGHT flashes and strobes with incredible intensity.
Slowly, a beautiful MAYAN PRINCESS and THE YOUNG DREAM GIRL
materialize and dance in front of him. Then suddenly, JAKE
is flying over the jungle treetops. He lands in a jungle
clearing. Beside him, a magnificent black JAGUAR and sits
inches away from his face. The jaguar melds into the face
of the YOUNG GIRL.
                                                            
We SMASH CUT to DAWN breaking over the ocean. We HEAR the
sound of gentle surf lapping against the sand. JAKE is
waking up on a beach near the ocean's edge. He has no idea
how he traveled there. In his hand is a beautiful colored
stone.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
Sergaent Joe would tell you....
                                                            
We SEE a MONTAGE of JAKE: in a jungle, he sits with tribal
men as they pound a vision vine; in a desert he is eating
peyote buttons; he is smoking in an opium den in Japan,
                                                            

9.

                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...there is a politics TO
consciousness...
                                                            
JAKE walks a Tokyo street at night. Huge NEON SIGNS are
strobing, flashing advertisements for various alcoholic
beverages.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
...and a politics OF
consciousness.
                                                            
As JAKE walks the Tokyo street, we SEE Japanese policemen
roughly dragging some elderly opium smokers, sedate and
serene, out of an opium den and pushing them into the back
of a police wagon.
                                                            
 
INT. SMALL NEW YORK APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
CLOSE UP on bedside alarm clock. 3:30 AM in a small New York
apartment bedroom. We SEE and HEAR two young WOMEN giggling,
both wide awake and talkative, in the bed with an older
JAKE, unshaven.

JAKE gets up and heads into the bathroom. As we pass by the
dresser, we SEE a mirror, razor blade, two straws and a
small pile of cocaine.
As he finishes the toilet, JAKE washes his face, and from
his POV: we SEE a medicine cabinet crammed with pills,
tubes, razors etc.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
I was wearing out.......I unpacked
in New York.
                                                            
JAKE looks up from washing his face. He swings the medicine
cabinet shut and we're staring into his face in the mirror.
His eyes are bloodshot. He looks like hell.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
Street cocaine in America...
      (a beat)
....11 per cent cocaine...
                                                            
Jake stares into his face in the mirror, saddened by what he
sees. lifting first one eye then the other, as he puts in
eye-drops.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
The 89 per cent...
      (sigh)
...chemical roulette.
                                                            
 

10.

INT. NEW YORK CITY APARTMENT - 3 YEARS LATER - DAY
                                                            
Slowly we pan around a different apartment. This one a
large, loft-type high-rise apartment, tastefully furnished.
There are books everywhere, mostly on bookshelves, but also
stacked on the floor and open spaces. There are framed
pictures of JAKE, taken all over the world in exotic
locales.

One wall hanging seems oddly out of place amongst all the
photographs. It is a perfect Indian arrowhead, set against
a soft green cloth, in an elaborate and beautiful frame.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
I got serious about my health...
                                                            
Panning around the kitchen, we see organic fruits and
vegetables, a juicing machine, neatly stacked vegetarian
cookbooks etc...a kitchen obviously belonging to a dedicated
gourmet.
                                                            
INT. BAR. AFTERNOON
                                                            
We SEE JAKE in a bar, drinking, smoking, and laughing with
several young women.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
...in my own way....
                                                            
INT. APARTMENT. LATE AFTERNOON.
                                                            
Panning the apartment, we SEE in one corner, an elaborate
hydroponic growing setup with two large marijuana plants
growing under high-tech lights.
Beside it, a high-tech terrarium in which we SEE a crop of
small mushrooms growing.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
....and my intoxicants.
                                                            
Continuing our pan around the apartment, we see a blue work
shirt with the name "Jake" stenciled in RED, draped over the
back of a chair.
We HEAR a man SNORING LOUDLY. As we continue our pan, we
stop CLOSE UP on JAKE, sleeping on the sofa.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O. continues)
I had money...not rich of
course...but enough...
                                                            
We SEE a MONTAGE of poverty in Calcutta, China and Brazil.
                                                            

11.

                       MAN (V.O.)
....what is enough?...
      (a long beat)
....experience is worth more than
money.
                                                            
DREAM SEQUENCE BEGINS AGAIN:
                                                            
YOUNG JAKE and THE PRETTY YOUNG GIRL are finishing their
picnic. They get on their horses and ride hard and fast,
laughing, the wind in their faces.
                                                            
DREAM SEQUENCE ENDS as:
                                                            
A clock radio CLICKS on. We HEAR a jabbering TALK RADIO
PERSONALITY:
                                                            
                       RADIO PERSONALITY
      (frenzied rant)
"...the trouble with drugs in our
country today is we need to take
these pinhead, drug crazed dopers,
and lock them up and throw away
the key..."
                                                            
JAKE wakes with a snort, sits up, rubs his face, and clicks
off the radio.
                                                            
 
INT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT
                                                            
A grimy garage break room, with plastic furniture and
vending machines. JAKE punches a time clock. We HEAR noisy
garage sounds, car horns.
                                                            
A skinny young man, CHARLIE, with greasy hair and acne,
walks in.
                                                            
                       CHARLIE
You look like hell.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (smiling)
Then I'm in the right place.
                                                            
                       CHARLIE
      (eyeballing Jake's
       book)
What book you got now?
                                                            

12.

                       JAKE
      (walking out)
Love Secrets of the porno stud
Charlie Moscowitz.
                                                            
Charlie starts to say something, but unable to think of
anything clever for a retort, turns red and embarrassed.
                                                            
 
INT. PARKING BOOTH - NIGHT
                                                            
In a tiny parking garage TOLL BOOTH, JAKE reads a book,
munching on a bag of carrot and celery sticks. As cars come
and go, he takes in tickets and hands out change.
                                                            
A black luxury car pulls up slowly and carefully to the
booth. An elderly, but still attractive woman, wearing
expensive jewelry, is driving.
                                                            
Jake puts down his book. We see the title is something on
Quantum Physics.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (takes the ticket
       without noticing
       the woman)
Nine fifty.
                                                            
The woman pays, then she looks hard at Jake in the booth.
                                                            
                       ELDERLY WOMAN
      (surprised)
Jakob?
                                                            
Jake looks at the woman, cocks his head and smiles.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Yes?
                                                            
                       ELDERLY WOMAN
      (flustered but
       excited)
How are...I haven't seen you
since...Edith...Edith Fallwell...
                                                            
A car behind her honks impatiently.
                                                            
Stumbling over something to say, the woman slowly pulls
away, trying hard to look back over her shoulder.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (to himself)
Miami?
                                                            
 

13.

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK - NIGHT
                                                            
After midnight. The city still a cacophony of noise and
people. JAKE walks a bit, then stops by a sidewalk ATM
machine and withdraws money. As he walks away, a ragged,
wild-looking PANHANDLER approaches him from the shadows of a
doorway.
                                                            
                       
Spare a dollar for a homeless vet?
                                                            
Jake reaches into his pocket. He has only the fresh $20's
he withdrew from the ATM.
                                                            
                       JAKE
What war did you serve in?
                                                            
                       PANHANDLER
      (cackling madly)
War against drugs.
                                                            
JAKE lets out a spontaneous laugh and hands him a $20 dollar
bill.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (laughing)
Take care, my friend.
                                                            
 
INT. BAR - NIGHT
                                                            
A topless bar. Several women with silicone breasts dance on
a stage. JAKE enters and takes a seat alone at the bar.
                                                            
                       BARTENDER
      (nods)
Jake.... the usual?
                                                            
JAKE nods. The bartender pours a Dewar's Scotch on the
rocks. As JAKE drinks, several women, old and young, pause
and whisper in his ear as they pass by.
                                                            
SUZIE, an attractive woman in her 30's, a dancer, takes the
bar stool beside Jake.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
I'm off at 2.
                                                            
JAKE doesn't answer, but smiles.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (to the bartender)
One more, Ricky.
                                                            
 

14.

INT. JAKE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
CLOSE UP of the lit end of a joint. It glows brightly as a
pair of lipsticked lips draws hard on it. We pull back to
see SUZIE from the bar.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
      (exhaling a cloud
       of smoke)
I swear...this stuff you grow is
lethal.
                                                            
On a WIDE SHOT, we see a bookshelf crammed with books and a
maze of high tech video equipment, including a video camera
that has a green light glowing. On a monitor we SEE the
VIDEO IMAGE of both JAKE and SUZIE in the bedroom. In the
video monitor, we SEE JAKE standing, looking at a neatly
organized bookcase. SUZIE stands behind him, caressing him.
                                                            
Over their shoulders, we PAN along several rows of books.
Various titles dealing with drugs and religious experiences.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
      (looking over
       Jake's shoulder)
Somethings different.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (soft chuckle)
Organized them.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
      (in a stoned
       giggle)
By what...naughty or nice?
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (running his hand
       along a row of
       books)
Interests....
                                                            
JAKE turns around. He and SUZIE begin kissing. As they
kiss, JAKE is slowly undressing Suzie, backing her up
against a large bookcase on the far wall. As he does so...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (between kisses)
...and you, my pretty young
thing...
      (moving backwards)
..., belong over here.
                                                            

15.

JAKE has SUZIE pressed up against the bookcase.

As they kiss, we SEE this bookcase is filled with books on
SEX. JAKE raises SUZIE'S hands above her head on each side
and attaches a bondage cuff, which is fastened to the
bookcase, to each wrist.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
      (looking at the
       cuffs)
Tell me ...
      (moaning)
...how many women have you killed?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Let's just say...
                                                            
JAKE kneels, and begins licking SUZIE'S crotch. He attaches
cuffs to each of her ankles. His face to her crotch, he
reaches between her legs and slowly pulls out a large coffee
table sized book, which grazes her crotch as he pulls it
out. We SEE a book on Tantric Sex.
                                                            
                       JAKE (continueing)
...you won't be the first.
                                                            
JAKE stands, holding the book between her legs, rubbing it
slowly back and forth, nibbling on SUZIE'S neck. SUZIE
moans.
                                                            
                       JAKE
The Tantras believe you can screw
yourself into enlightenment.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
      (moaning heavily)
God......show me the light.
                                                            
 
EXT. SMALL TOWN - DAY
                                                            
From HIGH ABOVE, we SEE the same small prairie town we saw
in the opening, surrounded by white snow in all directions.

In front of a charming, old fashioned house, surrounded by a
porch, an elderly man, CARL PETERSON, moves with an obvious
limp in one leg, shoveling snow off the sidewalk. Along the
sidewalk, rows of tulips hang low, bent under the heavy
spring snowfall.
                                                            
A car, driven by MILES, the neighbor, drives slowly and
stops in front of the shoveling CARL. The car window comes
down.
                                                            

16.

                       MILES
      (shouting out the
       car window)
Wet snow. You sure about
shoveling that, Carl? Gonna melt
in a few days.
                                                            
                       CARL
      (snorts)
You never know.
                                                            
MILES mutters something under his breath, shakes his head,
and drives off. CARL leans on his shovel, struggling to
catch his breath.
                                                            
 
INT. JAKE'S NEW YORK APARTMENT - DAY
                                                            
It's mid-morning. JAKE and SUZIE lay in each other's arms in
bed. The phone rings.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (sleepily)
Yeah...(pause)...OK, fine, no
problem. Be there in half an
hour.
                                                            
JAKE nuzzles SUZIE awake.
                                                            
                       JAKE
I've got to go. Let yourself out.
                                                            
 
INT. GARAGE BREAK ROOM. - DAY
                                                            
Wedged between the snack machine and the coffee machine, a
TV BLARES. A weatherman is announcing that a late spring
snow storm has been battering the upper Midwest.

JAKE punches the time clock machine, as EDDIE, a paunchy man
in his 50's, with great teeth and a thin mustache, enters.
                                                            
                       EDDIE
Appreciate it, Jake. It's Harry's
girl again...another asthma
attach...he's down at St. Lukes
now.
                                                            
                       JAKE
No problem. Tell Harry not to
worry.
                                                            
 

17.

INT. PARKING GARAGE BOOTH - DAY
                                                            
JAKE sits reading, taking tickets, reading. EDDIE comes to
the booth.
                                                            
                       EDDIE
Call in the office, Jake. Some old
timer asking for Jacob ...for a
second, I almost hung up....didn't
know who the hell he mean't.
                                                            
EDDIE steps into the booth and JAKE heads to the office.
                                                            
 
INT. GARAGE OFFICE - DAY
                                                            
A small office, desk stacked with papers, a real mess. An
auto parts calender with a topless model hangs on the wall.
JAKE gazes around for a second and then picks up the
telephone.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Yeah...Jake here.
                                                            
                       MILES (V.O.)
Jakob?......Miles Nielson...from
Rugby...
                                                            
As JAKE listens, we SEE concern spread over his face.
                                                            
                       MILES (V.O. continues)
...it's Carl.
                                                            
 
INT. MILE'S KITCHEN - DAY
                                                            
As MILE'S VOICE OVER continues, we SEE MILES, standing in
his kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee, looking out his
window. Outside, we SEE CARL in front of his house,
shoveling snow. Mile's wife, MILLIE, sits reading the
newspaper at their kitchen table.
                                                            
As MILES continues to look, we SEE CARL collapse on the
sidewalk, falling into the snow.
                                                            
                       MILES (V.O. continueing)
...he's in intensive care.
                                                            
 
EXT. OUTSIDE AN AIRPLANE - HIGH OVER THE PRAIRIE - DAY
                                                            
We are HIGH over the snow covered prairie again, which

18.

stretches for miles and miles with nothing in sight in all
directions. The turbo prop plane makes a sharp and steep
right turn. Passengers grab their armrests. Then a noisy
and bone rattling landing. A metal stairway is rolled out
and placed against the side of the plane.

JAKE emerges as the daylight fades, wind whipping snow
against his overcoat.
                                                            
 
INT. AIRPORT - EARLY EVENING - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE stands at a small counter, signing paperwork with the
CLERK at the car rental desk. The airport is mostly
deserted. A janitor sweeps. Two teenage girls greet their
parents and collect their luggage, which comes out on a
small conveyor belt right located right inside the terminal.
                                                            
                       CLERK
So...your return date will be...?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Don't know. Probably a week.
                                                            
 
EXT. LONELY HIGHWAY - FADING TWILIGHT - NIGHT
                                                            
We SEE a wind swept brown patch of ground beside the
highway. A prairie dog stands, visible in the moonlight,
peeping out of his hole, the wind blowing his fur.

A car barrels past, swirling snow in its wake. The prairie
dog pops back down into his hole.
                                                            
INT. RENTAL CAR. CONTINUING
                                                            
JAKE drives, the radio plays "Don't Worry, Be Happy." He
snaps it off and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a new
package of cigarettes. He lights one, takes a few drags,
coughs, and throws it out the window.
                                                            
 
EXT. ABOVE THE HIGHWAY - FADING TWILIGHT - NIGHT
                                                            
From HIGH above the highway, we SEE Jake's car zoom past.
Ahead, an endless thin ribbon of BLACK HIGHWAY, etched into
the white snowy landscape, disappearing into the horizon.

As we ascend higher, we SEE the car top a hill and a small
town appear, lights twinkling.
                                                            
 

19.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
CARL PETERSON, looking all of his 86 years, thin and
white,lays in the bed, his breathing labored, tubes in his
nose, monitors glowing beside the bed.

A CHAPLAIN and MILES and MILLIE, are in the room when JAKE
enters. They exchange somber greetings and then quietly
exit, leaving JAKE alone with CARL.
                                                            
JAKE sits beside Carl's bed. CARL turns his head and opens
his eyes.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Hey Pops. How you feeling?
                                                            
                       CARL
      (weakly)
Like an old dog.
                                                            
                       JAKE
You know...(pause)...you can't
leave yet...we're still going
fishing sometime.
                                                            
                       CARL
Been saying that for twenty
years...
                                                            
                       JAKE
Maybe time we bought some bait.
                                                            
                       CARL
      (closing his eyes)
Visit your mother yet?
                                                            
                       JAKE
I will. I was thinking...I'll take
some time off.... till you get
back on your feet.
                                                            
                       CARL
      (snorting gruffly)
Not me who needs to get on his
feet.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
We're inside Carl's house, full of old fashioned furniture,
neat as a pin. There are framed pictures everywhere. We go
CLOSE UP on one: a framed photo of a young man and woman

20.

holding a baby Jake.

Swinging around the room we SEE a wide bookcase shelf, above
the television, with two small books standing alone on the
oddly empty shelf: a Bible, and Black Beauty. Two plaster
statuettes of the Virgin Mary stand on each end as bookends.
                                                            
JAKE puts his suitcase down and stands silently studying the
house he hasn't set foot in years.
                                                            
 
EXT. SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
Up the partially shoveled sidewalk, walks BEVERLY OLSON, an
attractive woman, slim and fit, appearing to be in her late
40's. Beside her walks ERIC, her son, 17, dressed all in
black, sporting a nose ring, looking like this is the last
thing on earth he wants to be doing.
                                                            
BEVERLY carries a covered casserole dish.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (to Eric)
It's been years....I remember we
all thought he was going to be a
senator or something...
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (smirking)
Yeah right.
                                                            
BEVERLY rings the doorbell. JAKE answers the door. They
look at each other for a long moment. Finally, BEVERLY
speaks:
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (flustered)
Hello Jacob.....I'm so sorry about
your Dad...
                                                            
Jake stands looking at this woman, not sure who she is.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Beverly Olson! Class of 70?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Beverly!...why sure...
      (they exchange an
       awkward hug)
                                                            

21.

                       BEVERLY
I know..I'm sorry...it's been such
a long time......Oh...this is my
son, Eric. I don't think you've
met.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Hey Eric, nice to meet you.
                                                            
ERIC ignores JAKE'S outstretched hand.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Come in, come in.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (awkward pause)
You look good...I saw a car out in
front and.... -
      (she pauses,
       realizing she is
       gushing)
...no,...we don't want to bother
you now... but...anyway, we're
just up the street (she points) -
you know, if you need anything.
                                                            
BEVERLY and ERIC are backing down the sidewalk, leaving.
Halfway down the sidewalk, BEVERLY realizes she is still
holding the casserole dish.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (foolishly)
Oh...here...there aren't many
places to eat in town.
                                                            
JAKE steps outside and takes the casserole as they say
goodbye.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Thanks...maybe we can - you know,
catch up sometime?
                                                            
 
INT. MILES HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
From MILES POV: MILES is peering out his kitchen window from
behind a curtain at JAKE, BEVERLY and ERIC as they back down
the sidewalk. MILLIE works a crossword puzzle behind him on
the kitchen table.
                                                            
                       MILES
There's that Olson kid.
                                                            

22.

                       MILLIE
      (without looking
       up)
Mind your own business.
                                                            
                       MILES
Guess Jacob probably sell the
place - if Carl...
                                                            
                       MILLIE
Don't go writing on Carl's
headstone.
                                                            
                       MILES
...all things considered.
                                                            
MILES watches, as JAKE grabs the shovel and begins shoveling
the remainder of the sidewalk.
                                                            
 
INT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
From behind a curtain, BEVERLY is also watching JAKE shovel
the sidewalk, unconsciously playing with her hair as she
looks.
                                                            
Suddenly, we HEAR a ruckus from down the hallway. SMOKE
pours out from under a door. BEVERLY shrieks and rushes
into the room.
                                                            
Inside, ERIC bats a dirty shirt at a sofa that is in flames
at one end. A small dog spins around in circles, barking at
the sofa.

BEVERLY runs down the hall to the laundry room. She
frantically fills a bucket with water and rushes back,
flinging it onto the sofa, extinguishing the flame.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (shouting)
Jesus H Christ, Eric...
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (defensively)
I didn't...
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (angry)
Do I smell pot?
                                                            
ERIC glares.
                                                            

23.

                       BEVERLY
You could've burned the house
down!
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (insincerely)
Sorry.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
What's going to become of you?
                                                            
BEVERLY glares at ERIC, trying to control her anger.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I know you say all the kids
do...but....Jesus, Eric...grow up.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE sits in a chair beside CARL'S bed, reading while his
father sleeps. MILES knocks lightly on the door and walks
in.
                                                            
                       MILES
      (whispering)
He asleep?
                                                            
JAKE nods and puts down his book. MILES sits in a chair
beside him.
                                                            
An awkward moment. They have little in common to talk
about. They sit studying CARL, watching the monitors
charting his vital signs.
                                                            
                       MILES
So - you still living in New York
City then?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Last couple of years - overseas
for a while before that.
                                                            
                       MILES
That so? - Whereabouts?
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (hesitates)
Korea, Thailand - a few other
places.
                                                            

24.

                       MILES
The wife and I went on a cruise
couple of years ago ...
      (long beat)
...saw a lot of water.
                                                            
They sit silently. At last, MILES gets up.
                                                            
                       MILES
Well... guess I'll go.
      (at the door he
       turns)
Don't worry about your father,
son... Known him for 50 years...
he's a tough old bird.
                                                            
JAKE looks to CARL sleeping, looking like a frail old child.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Right. Thanks.
                                                            
A NURSE enters. Visiting hours are over. JAKE gets up to
leave and then pauses. He starts to kiss Carl on the
forehead, but stops. He turns and leaves.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE sits on the living room sofa, looking through an old
scrapbook. We SEE pictures of him in his high school
football uniform, vacation photographs in Yellowstone etc.
                                                            
JAKE goes into the pantry and scrounges around in the
cupboards, looking for liquor. He finds one small bottle of
Creme de Mint, empty.
                                                            
 
EXT. BAR ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - NIGHT
                                                            
RED NEON lights trim a low, cement block bar on the edge of
a highway. Country music can be heard inside. The parking
lot holds a few pickup trucks.
                                                            
JAKE pulls into the parking lot and heads for the door.

Halfway there, he spins in a circle, suddenly uncertain. He
walks back to his car and lights a joint. He smokes a bit
and then heads into the bar.
                                                            
 

25.

INT. BAR - NIGHT
                                                            
Several couples shuffle around a dance floor. A loud
jukebox plays country music. Two cowboys, in jeans, boots
and hats, play pool. At the far end of the bar, two men in
their fifties, KARL and STEVE, both overweight, sit
drinking.
                                                            
JAKE takes a seat at the bar near the door and orders a
Scotch, straight up.
                                                            
At the far end of the bar, KARL is trying hard to decipher
who has just walked in. It dawns on him.
                                                            
                       KARL
      (nudging Steve)
I'll be god damned if that ain't
Jake Peterson sitting down there.
                                                            
                       STEVE
      (looking)
No shit...you think so?
                                                            
                       KARL
Last I remember ...he was in the
loony bin.
                                                            
                       STEVE
      (drunkenly)
Good football player....
                                                            
KARL and STEVE grab their beers and head down to meet JAKE.
From a distance, we SEE them clapping JAKE on the back,
ordering more drinks from the bartender, pulling JAKE with
them into a booth in the back of the bar. A country music
song plays as we SEE them talking. Another round of drinks
is delivered to their booth.
                                                            
They are getting good and drunk, swapping stories. An
attractive older woman, MARSHA, walks by, a much younger man
hanging on her neck.
                                                            
                       KARL
      (eyes following
       Marsha's
       curvaceous figure)
Marsha Nielsen...you remember
her?...about five years younger
than us...maybe you don't since
you were all loco and shit ...got
a shit load of insurance money
when Junior Nielsen died in that
grain elevator explosion - ain't
            (MORE)

26.

                       KARL (cont'd)
been nothing but young meat ever
since.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (drunkenly)
I knew this girl in India ...could
squeeze your dick ....I swear to
God... locked you up like a dog in
heat till she was done.
                                                            
KARL and STEVE take big swigs off their beers, MARVELING.
                                                            
                       JAKE
What's Bev Olson's story?
                                                            
                       STEVE
Locked up like a nun.....
      (a beat)
....I tried.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Got a kid now.
                                                            
                       KARL
Husband died...shit ..it's been
years....cancer of the balls I
think it was...moved back couple
years ago...
      (takes a big swig
       of beer)
....Jesus, kids are freaky
today...
                                                            
JAKE looks at his watch and stands up.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Guys...been fun...but I gotta
go...
                                                            
                       KARL
      (throws his arm
       around Jake)
Good to see you again Jake...
      (slurring)
...hope your old man pulls
through.
                                                            
JAKE nods his head.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Thanks for the walk down memory
lane....next time you're in New
York, give me a ring...
                                                            

27.

KARL and STEVE find that a real hoot..."Next time they're in
New York" they SHOUT, laughing.

As JAKE leaves, KARL and STEVE are still WHOOPING up the
idea of them in New York.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
Early morning. The sun is streaming in the kitchen windows.
JAKE has slept on the sofa, in his clothes. He gets up,
rubbing his eyes, feeling his hangover, and goes into the
kitchen and makes coffee.
                                                            
 
INT. LATER - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is finishing his shower. He shaves, and dresses. In
the kitchen, he pours another cup of coffee. He checks the
refrigerator. Takes out a milk cartoon, smells it, frowns,
and pours it down the sink.

He remembers Bev's casserole and takes it out. Inside is a
pot roast. He eats it cold.
                                                            
JAKE takes his coffee and sits in the living room, gazing
around the room. We SEE a MONTAGE of photographs again,
stopping on one of JAKE and THE PRETTY YOUNG GIRL, all
dressed up on a date.

He opens a small hutch under the television and takes out a
scrapbook. Inside are newspaper clippings and more photos.
As we SEE over his shoulder, he turns a page. We briefly SEE
a newspaper clipping with the HEADLINE "Tragedy At Linguist
Farm".

JAKE quickly closes the scrapbook. His eyes travel back to
the picture of him and THE PRETTY YOUNG GIRL on the
bookshelf.
                                                            
 
EXT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE holds a cup of coffee and the empty casserole dish as
he gets in his car and begins driving away. We see BEVERLY
coming down her sidewalk and throwing JAKE a hand wave to
stop.
                                                            
JAKE stops and rolls down the window.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
How's your Dad?
                                                            

28.

                       JAKE
      (nodding)
They got him on pain meds...he was
sleeping last night.
      (a beat as he
       remembers the
       casserole dish)
...oh here... thank you... it was
very good.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I was going to cook steaks
tonight...it's just Eric and
me...I thought... since you were
alone,...
                                                            
                       JAKE
sounds fine...
      (softly)
...except I'm generally a
vegetarian.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (not sure if he is
       pulling her leg)
Really? ...Well - I'll just kill
plants then - nothing with parents
- are you serious?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Steak sounds fine...I enjoyed the
pot roast...
      (then, looking up
       into Bev's eyes)
...you know, change can be a good
thing.
                                                            
JAKE starts driving off, then stops.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (hollering back)
Oh...what time?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (pleased)
How bout 7?
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
                                                            
JAKE walks towards CARL'S room. Obviously something is
wrong. We HEAR an alarm buzzer at the nurse's station and a
nurse, ahead of him, hurries towards CARL'S room.
                                                            

29.

JAKE is met at the door of his father's room by a DOCTOR,
who takes him back into the hallway.
                                                            
                       DOCTOR
Your father's had a stroke. I'm
afraid he's slipped into a coma.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL - LATER - DAY
                                                            
It is much later in the afternoon now. JAKE has spent the
day sitting beside his father's bed. He sleeps in the
chair.

We DISSOLVE into the DREAM:
                                                            
JAKE and the PRETTY YOUNG GIRL, are again riding horses in a
hilly pasture. It is a beautiful day and they laugh as they
ride. The GIRL rides ahead of JAKE, riding fast,in a gallop
- when suddenly we SEE the horse stumble and the GIRL go
flying over the horses head.
                                                            
DREAM END as:
                                                            
Another ALARM is sounding somewhere in the hospital. A
doctor is being paged. JAKE awakens with a start, uncertain
for a moment where he is.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - LATER - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE checks the time. Almost 7 PM. He watches CARL'S
shallow, raspy breathing.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (on the phone)
Listen, Beverly...Dad's taken a
turn for the worse....(pause)
...maybe another
night?.....thanks....I'll just
grab something in the cafeteria.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - LATER - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE sits beside CARL'S bed, eating vending machine
sandwiches. Several elderly people, old friends of CARL'S,
come and go, each giving JAKE awkward greetings.
                                                            
 

30.

INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAWN - DAY
                                                            
The sun is peeking over the horizon. JAKE sits at the
kitchen table, lost in thought, staring out the window.
                                                            
He takes out an address book, looks up a number, and picks
up the telephone.
                                                            
 
INT. PARKING GARAGE - DAY
                                                            
It is early morning at the parking garage. EDDIE is in his
office, a grimy mess as always. A lot of commotion goes on
as cars honk and tires squeal. The television set from the
break room BLARES loudly in the background.
                                                            
                       EDDIE
      (shouting to no
       one in particular)
Turn that goddamn thing down!
                                                            
The telephone RINGS.
                                                            
                       EDDIE
      (barks into the
       phone)
Yeah...A-One parking.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is on the telephone.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Hey Eddie......not so
good...thanks...what can anybody
do?
      (Jake frowns as he
       listens)
I'll call you when I get back to
New York.
                                                            
 
EXT. CEMETERY - DAWN - DAY
                                                            
JAKE pulls into the city cemetery and parks. From a
distance, we SEE him get out and walk slowly through the
headstones. He stops at one and seems to be talking to
himself.

Gradually, over the early morning bird songs, we HEAR him
sobbing softly.
                                                            
 

31.

EXT. DESERTED FARM - DAY
                                                            
It is still early morning. The sun comes up on a lovely old
farmstead with rolling hills and deserted buildings. JAKE
drives past the farmhouse slowly, then down a dirt road. He
parks and begins walking into the pasture.
                                                            
We recognize this scene as the same one that plays out in
Jake's recurring dream.
                                                            
JAKE sits and lets out a soft whistle. Several prairie dogs
pop up out of their holes and stand on their hind legs,
alert for danger, as the camera goes CLOSE UP on their cute
faces.
                                                            
JAKE lays back and closes his eyes. A DAYDREAM begins ....
                                                            
DAYDREAM reverie:
                                                            
....we SEE JAKE and the PRETTY YOUNG GIRL riding horses
again, the horse stumbling, the girl flying over the horses
head. She stands up, brushes herself off, shaken but
unhurt. Suddenly, we HEAR a horrid SCREECH of pain from the
horse as we turn back to the horse and see his leg bone
jutting out, broken.
                                                            
DAYDREAM reverie ends:
                                                            
JAKE wakes from his reverie with a shudder. Overhead, a hawk
flies. We SEE a lone cloud in the sky, its shaddow moving
across the pasture, gradually covering JAKE as he sits.
                                                            
JAKE stands and walks quickly back towards his car.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
                                                            
JAKE sits reading a book beside his father's bed. We HEAR
the steady beep of CARL'S heart monitor...when suddenly, it
changes into a steady monotone.
                                                            
A flurry of activity, as nurses and a doctor attend to CARL.
                                                            
                       DOCTOR
      (to a nurse)
He's a DNR. There's nothing more
we can do.
                                                            
Within a minute, CARL is dead.
                                                            
 

32.

INT. CARL'S HOUSE - SEVERAL DAYS LATER - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is rummaging through Carl's closet. He pulls out a
suit hanging in the closet. He tries it on...it is
old-fashioned and short in the sleeves. He finds a thin tie
and puts it on.
                                                            
 
INT. FUNERAL HOME - DAY
                                                            
Inside the chapel, somber MUSIC plays. A number of people,
most elderly, mill about, chatting quietly. A few farmers
and their wives are there looking stiff and awkward in their
formal clothes. At the front of the chapel, CARL lies in an
open casket.
                                                            
As a MINISTER finishes speaking, MILES gets up.
                                                            
As Miles begins speaking, we DISSOLVE into:

It is WWII,somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. We are in a
B-29 Flying Fortress. Four throbbing propeller engines make
a terrible racket. Young men are yelling at each other,
firing machine guns in the gun turrets. Japanese Zero
fighter planes are zooming nearby, firing bullets that hit
the plane.
                                                            
                       MILES (V.O.)
      (his voice
       catching as he
       speaks)
...Carl and I served in WWII
together...we were both B-29
gunners in the Pacific. Carl was
never a man to waste words. We
was returning from a bombing raid,
when a Zero come up behind us from
nowhere. He was peppering us
pretty good and I could hear Carl
in the tail gunner letting him
have it. Then, just like that,
they were gone and everything went
real quiet like. I raced back to
check on Carl, in the tail gun
turret. I knew right away it was
bad. There was blood all over...he
was hit in the leg and blood was
spurting out. I screamed out,
"Jesus Christ, Carl"...
      (turns to Minister
       saying "Sorry
       Reverend")
"Carl!" I says....you've been hit!
            (MORE)

33.

                       MILES (cont'd)
Carl just calmly looked up at me
and said, "Yup."
      (chuckles)
...we was 2 hours getting back to
the base and Carl didn't say
another word the whole way back.
      (smiles to himself)
...come to think of it, Carl never
said another word about it for the
rest of his life. He used to say,
"Words don't mean nothing. It's
action that counts." God speed,
old soldier.
                                                            
MILES sits down and we see the MINISTER motioning to JAKE,
offering him an opening to speak if he wants to.
                                                            
JAKE walks to the front of the chapel.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Dad always said that life was what
happened while we were busy making
plans for it....and he was never
one for long winded speeches....
      (to Carl's casket)
I'm here Pops. Say hi to Mom.
                                                            
 
INT. LAWYER'S OFFICE - DAY
                                                            
The sign in front of a small bungalow type house says 'Lew
Walters, Attorney At Law'.
                                                            
Inside, LEW WALTERS, a short man in his 70's with a shock of
white hair, greets JAKE warmly, ushering him inside his
office. On the wall hangs a huge stuffed fish.
                                                            
                       LEW
It was a nice funeral, Jake.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Short...he always said funerals
were too long and too full of
lies.
                                                            
                       LEW
      (smiles)
We can finish up the remainder of
the will if you're ready...
                                                            
                       JAKE
Can't be too complicated. He kept
things simple.
                                                            

34.

                       LEW
You might be surprised about a
couple of things...
                                                            
                       JAKE
Surprised?
                                                            
                       LEW
      (looks down at the
       will)
....Well, first, I guess you might
be a surprised to learn that your
father made some good investments
over time....some stocks, a few
bonds...and a piece of real estate
over in Minot he sold a few years
ago to that new shopping center
development bunch...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (surprised)
Minot!...He used to preach that
the only reason to go to Minot was
to get to Montana.
                                                            
                       LEW
I know... 'You scratch my back,
I'll scratch yours'...thought
folks should spend their money in
their own town, with their own
neighbors...
                                                            
                       JAKE
What's the bottom line here, Lew?
                                                            
                       LEW
As the only child, it's no
surprise that most everything
passes on to you... a few things
here and there going to the church
and the VFW....but all in all
      (flips a couple of
       pages of the will)
...well, at the current values ..
without the house ....looks around
two ..maybe two twenty five or
so...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (puzzled)
225..what?...thousands?
                                                            

35.

                       LEW
Give or take.
                                                            
                       JAKE
He didn't buy new socks until both
pairs were worn out...
      (letting the idea
       settle)
....you said WITHOUT the house?
                                                            
                       LEW
Yes, the house....well, Carl makes
this quite clear....the house is
to be sold unless your want
it....in which case, he stipulates
that you live in it for one year
before title transfers to you....
if not, he stipulates the house be
sold and the proceeds given to the
VFW.
                                                            
JAKE stands and paces.
                                                            
                       JAKE
No offense, Lew...but I can't say
I had THAT on any agenda.
                                                            
                       LEW
No...I suppose you didn't.
                                                            
JAKE sits, lost in thought.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Any reason..?
                                                            
                       LEW
      (carefully)
Not formally....Jake...I believe
Carl thought you spent your life
running from your past.
                                                            
JAKE sits silently.
                                                            
                       LEW
Just need you to sign a few things
now... no need to make a decision
right away....take some time and
think about it....ok?
                                                            
 

36.

INT. CARL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
A stormy night, rain pouring down, thunder rolling in the
distance. Boxes are everywhere in the living room. From
another room, we HEAR grunting noises. We SEE JAKE climbing
down an attic ladder, carrying more boxes.
                                                            
JAKE sits looking through old photographs and memorabilia. A
half empty bottle of Scotch sits on the end table.
                                                            
We DISSOLVE into a SERIES of childhood scenes:...CARL and
NORMA as newlyweds; baby Jacob's arrival; Jake's 10th
birthday party; Jake's high school football pictures; Jake
and the pretty young girl dressed up for the prom...
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - LATER - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE is asleep on the sofa. There is a soft KNOCKING at the
front door. JAKE shakes himself awake, and opens the door
to find BEVERLY standing there, looking like a drowned
kitten, holding a broken umbrella.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I saw lights on....
      (sighs)
... thought maybe you could use
some company...
      (a beat)
...or maybe I could.....unless I'm
interrupting you?
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (smiling)
Please....just going through some
things....would you like a drink?
                                                            
BEVERLY steps into the house.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I need one.
      (looking around)
Hard, isn't it?.. all the
memories... I hate looking back
..just fills me with regret.
                                                            
JAKE pours two drinks. They move to the sofa. BEVERLY picks
up a picture of a young Jake standing on a dock with a pair
of water skis.
                                                            

37.

                       BEVERLY
Look how young...
      (a beat)
...I mean... we all were so...
                                                            
                       JAKE
Naive...
      (tracing a line
       down his check)
...let me get you a towel....you
got the mascara thing...
                                                            
JAKE gets up and brings back a towel.
                                                            
                       JAKE
What's going on with you?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (towels off her
       hair, wipes her
       face)
Nothing serious... I just worry
...
      (she takes a big
       drink of Scotch)
I caught ERIC smoking pot the
other day.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Just youthful curiosity...
                                                            
JAKE takes a drink. He is struck by how beautiful she
suddenly appears.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (laughing)
Remember high school? God, we
were dumb....and YOU... such a
straight arrow...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (laughs)
Never got past first base....never
even tried.
                                                            
BEVERLY is starting to relax. She picks up a picture off
the side table, and as she does, a half-smoked joint rolls
onto the floor.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (embarrassed)
I'm sorry.....
      (she reaches and
            (MORE)

38.

                       BEVERLY (cont'd)
       retrieves the
       joint)
...is this?....
                                                            
                       JAKE
Yes...pot...helps me relax....
      (a long beat)
...you want some?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
No...I smoked once...
      (pauses, puts on a
       mischievous face)
...well, maybe just a little...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (coyly)
I promise not to tell.
                                                            
We SEE a MONTAGE of JAKE and BEVERLY drinking, smoking,
laughing, looking at pictures and reminiscing.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (checking her
       watch)
Eric will be back...
      (laughs)
I swear...I don't have a clue what
he REALLY does most of the time.
                                                            
As they say goodnight at the door, BEVERLY weaves, catches
herself on the door. She is tipsy. Impulsively, she turns
and kisses Jake, then breaks it off, embarrassed.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Oh God...I'm drunk and stoned...
                                                            
                       JAKE
You want me to walk you home?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (slurring)
I'm fine...Eric will wonder...
      (hiccups)
oops...probably thinks I'm out
trying to get laid.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (laughing)
Kids are pretty bright.
                                                            
BEVERLY starts to walk away, stops and turns.
                                                            

39.

                       BEVERLY
I'm sorry. You just buried your
Dad. Doesn't seem right to be
laughing and...
                                                            
                       JAKE
shhhh...just what the doctor
ordered.
                                                            
BEVERLY kisses him again.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
A bright sunny morning. JAKE is making coffee in the
kitchen when he looks out the window and SEES a man, BUD,
walking around the yard, with a clipboard, looking at the
house. JAKE goes out to meet him.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (puzzled)
Can I help you?
                                                            
                       BUD
Sorry, didn't mean to disturb you.
Bud...Bud
Bowlinski...appraisals....heard
you might be selling this place.
                                                            
                       JAKE
News to me.
                                                            
                       BUD
That so? I guess I'm premature
then...
      (pause)
....well, I'll be out of your hair
then....
      (hands Jake a card)
...let me know if you decide to
sell...
      (walks off, then
       turns)
...oh...that cottonwood there, she
could use some trimming if you ask
me.
                                                            
 
INT. LEW'S OFFICE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE sits in the waiting room. Lew's SECRETARY, a young
girl, still in high school, watches him out the corner of
her eye. Finally, she can't contain her curiosity any more.
                                                            

40.

                       SECRETARY
Excuse me, Mr.Peterson, do you
mind if I ask you a question?
                                                            
                       JAKE
No...
      (he can't help but
       flirt with such a
       cute young girl)
...but I'm busy Saturday night.
                                                            
                       SECRETARY
What?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Sorry...little joke
                                                            
                       SECRETARY
Aren't you the guy who once
killed...
                                                            
                       JAKE
What!?
                                                            
                       SECRETARY
..you know...like totally killed
Minot Ryan in that football
game?...you were the quarterback,
right?....Jacob Peterson?....your
picture is in the gymnasium...
                                                            
                       JAKE
Is it?
                                                            
                       SECRETARY
      (marveling)
Do you know we've never beaten
them since?
                                                            
Suddenly LEW is escorting a client out the door. He greets
JAKE, motioning him into his office.
                                                            
                       LEW
Heard Bud Bowlinski was over ...I
apologize for that...Bud's so damn
aggressive....I mentioned I MIGHT
need an appraisal on the house ..
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (surprising
       himself)
I'm going to keep it.
                                                            

41.

                       LEW
Well! The town can always use some
new blood....so to speak..., you
know what I mean.
      (long pause)
Jake...my fiduciary duty under the
law...you'll have to actually live
in the house...for a year...we're
straight about that?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Be good to get out of the city for
a while....
                                                            
                       LEW
      (leaning forward)
Jake....it's none of my
business....what happened was a
long time ago.... but you sure
about this?
                                                            
                       JAKE
I need to take care of some things
in New York.
                                                            
They shake hands. JAKE leaves. As he passes the SECRETARY,
we overhear her on the phone chattering.
                                                            
                       SECRETARY
      (on the phone)
...he's cute....in an old sort of
way.
                                                            
 
INT. SUZIE'S APARTMENT NEW YORK CITY - DAY
                                                            
SUZIE is romping, half-dressed, on the bed with a young man
when the phone rings. She jumps up to answer it.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
Hello.
                                                            
A frown comes over her face.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
I'm sorry Jake.
      (a long beat)
You're kidding. A year?
                                                            
The young man comes up behind her and is fondling her
breasts.
                                                            

42.

                       SUZIE
      (listening)
Ok...all of them?
                                                            
 
EXT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE is walking up BEVERLY'S sidewalk, dressed in Carl's old
suit and carrying a large present. BEVERLY answers the
door, dressed up in an attractive red dress.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I didn't know men still bought
women presents.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (mischievously)
Romance lives.
                                                            
BEVERLY opens the present. It is a new umbrella. She
laughs.
                                                            
 
INT. JAKE'S NEW YORK APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
We are CLOSE UP on a women's painted fingernails. They pick
up a scissors. As we go WIDE SHOT, we see SUZIE in Jake's
apartment. She turns on the stereo, smokes a joint and
dances around. Moving to the bedroom SUZIE begins cuts down
the marijuana plants and then begins snipping the mushrooms
in the terrarium, placing them into a bowl.
                                                            
 
INT. JAKE'S CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
A song plays on the radio, filling the void. Both JAKE and
BEVERLY seem shy with each other.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Eric?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Probably out smoking pot...
      (laughs)
...like his mother.
                                                            
BEVERLY looks positively radiant. JAKE feels himself
suddenly happier than he has been in a long time.
                                                            
 

43.

INT. JAKE'S CAR - LATER - NIGHT
                                                            
As they drive out of town, it's a beautiful evening on the
prairie. The sun is setting in a glorious blaze of color.
                                                            
They arrive at a little restaurant beside a picturesque
lake.
                                                            
 
INT. RESTAURANT BAR - NIGHT
                                                            
BEVERLY and JAKE sit at a linen cloth table overlooking the
lake. At the edge of the lake, two cranes stand in the
shallow water, catching fish.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Tell me about California.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Why dig up the past?
                                                            
                       JAKE
What brought you back?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Death I suppose.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Your mother?
                                                            
JAKE takes a drink, leaning back, waiting.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (after a long beat)
Well...after I married Darrel...
                                                            
We DISSOLVE into:
                                                            
INT. SUBURBAN HOUSE SAN DIEGO - DAY
                                                            
A YOUNG BEVERLY is getting dressed in her suburban SAN DIEGO
bedroom. In the bed, snoring LOUDLY, is DARREL, looking
unattractive in white t-shirt and jockey shorts.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY (V.O.)
      (continuing)
We did the usual things... bought
a house in the suburbs, had a
kid....
                                                            
As BEVERLY finishes dressing for work, we SEE a 10 year old
ERIC standing in his pajamas in the bedroom doorway.
                                                            

44.

                       ERIC
Mommy, where are you going? It's
Saturday.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I know sweetie. Mommy has to work
today. But Daddy is going to take
you to the water park, remember?
                                                            
As BEVERLY enters the garage, trying to get to her car, we
SEE two HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES, a water Jet Ski, etc.
The garage is packed with stuff. She can barely get to her
car.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY (V.O. continuing)
We were ...in debt....you
know...buying all the toys. I was
working two jobs.
                                                            
EXT. CHEVY SUBURBAN - DAY
                                                            
DARREL and YOUNG ERIC are in the car. They pull up and park
at a water slide amusement park. As YOUNG ERIC plays in the
water, DARREL goes to a desk phone. He chats on the phone,
smiling and laughing.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY (V.O. continuing)
I had clues...of course. I simply
choose to ignore them.
                                                            
EXT. WATER PARK LATER - DAY
                                                            
DARREL and a bosomy, YOUNG WOMAN are kissing and hugging in
a far corner of the pool. YOUNG ERIC watches them for a
while, then gets out of the pool and goes to the telephone.
                                                            
INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
                                                            
We SEE BEVERLY hard at work in a high rise office. She
answers the phone. Anger crosses her face. She picks up
her car keys.
                                                            
EXT. WATER PARK - DAY
                                                            
BEVERLY stands outside the fence at the water park, watching
DARREL and the YOUNG WOMAN.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY (V.O. continuing)
The cancer made the inevitable
easier...
                                                            
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
                                                            

45.

BEVERLY stands beside a hospital bed. In the bed, DARREL
lies, under a sheet, his legs apart and knees in the air.
BEVERLY, with a disgusted look on her face, lifts the sheet
and gazes between his legs.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY (V.O. continuing.)
Testicular cancer....ironic isn't
it?
      (a beat)
....Eric took Darrel's death
harder than I did...
                                                            
INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY
                                                            
An OLDER ERIC ,14, with spiked colored hair, nose ring, and
a surly defiant attitude, sits in the principal's office at
school. BEVERLY sits beside him, angry.
                                                            
                       PRINCIPAL
....Eric used to be a top student
but..if this behavior
continues....
                                                            
                       BEVERLY (V.O. continues)
Then Mom passed away, so....I
thought a change would be good for
both of us.
                                                            
DISSOVLE BACK TO:
                                                            
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE and BEVERLY are finishing desserts over drinks. Most
of the other patrons have left.
                                                            
 
INT. JAKE'S CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE and BEVERLY are pulling up outside Beverly's house.
Moonlight fills the car as Jake kills the engine.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
So you're going back to New York?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Probably this weekend.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
And you're coming back?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Seems so.
                                                            

46.

                       BEVERLY
You say change is good.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Do I?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Maybe the place will grow on
you...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (studying her face)
It already has....
      (a long beat)
...Beverly....you're a terrific
woman....but I'm not a man.... a
woman like you...
                                                            
BEVERLY puts her finger over his lips, looking into his
eyes.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (kissing him)
I'm a big girl...
                                                            
 
INT. BEVERLY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
BEVERLY undresses in the moonlight. She studies herself in
the mirror, running her hands along her hips, turning
several times, studying her naked profile.
                                                            
She gets into bed and begins reading, but quickly puts the
book down and turns out the light. We SEE her hands slide
beneath the covers and HEAR her muffled sighs of pleasure.
                                                            
 
EXT. DOWNTOWN SIDEWALK - DAY
                                                            
BEVERLY and WENDY, a tall, thin women in her 40's, emerge
from a small cafe.
                                                            
                       WENDY
So...tell me. Did you sleep with
him?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
We talked. He's sweet...
      (a beat)
...I wanted to though.
                                                            
BEVERLY and WENDY enter a small insurance company office.
                                                            
 

47.

INT. INSURANCE OFFICE DOWNTOWN - DAY
                                                            
BEVERLY and WENDY are working at their desks. We SEE through
the window JAKE'S car pull up outside.
                                                            
                       WENDY
Thats him?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (looking up)
He's coming in!
                                                            
BEVERLY nervously touches her hair.
                                                            
JAKE walks in, flashing a big smile. He asks BEVERLY to step
outside.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Come to New York.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (surprised)
What?!
                                                            
                       JAKE
For the weekend. A package
deal... some good food, the
theater.....
      (a beat)
...we'll have you back Monday.
When was the last time you had a
night out in the big city?
                                                            
From WENDY'S POV, inside the office: BEVERLY squeals with
delight and hugs JAKE.
                                                            
 
EXT. PRAIRIE HIGHWAY - DAY
                                                            
JAKE and BEVERLY driving on the highway, an OLDIES ROCK SONG
on the radio. A PRAIRIE DOG suddenly darts in front of the
car. JAKE swerves desperately to avoid hitting it, just as
a SEMI-TRUCK barrels over the top of a hill.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (screams)
Jake!
                                                            
JAKE yanks the wheel, the car fishtails. The semi-truck
narrowly ROARS past them.
                                                            

48.

                       JAKE
      (shaken)
Christ...
                                                            
JAKE slams his fist on the steering wheel. He pulls the car
to the side of the road and stops. In the rear view mirror
we see the prairie dog jerking in its death throes.
                                                            
JAKE and BEVERLY sit silently, hearts pounding, as the
realization of how close death came, settles over them. We
SEE from HIGH OVERHEAD, their car parked on the side of the
highway, miles of empty space in all directions.
                                                            
 
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY
                                                            
BEVERLY reads a magazine while JAKE, lost in thought, gazing
out at the prairie below. He puts a pillow against the
window and drifts off to sleep.
                                                            
DREAM SEQUENCE begins again...
                                                            
The dream picks up where we last left off, with the YOUNG
JAKE and the YOUNG GIRL distraught over the horse's broken
leg. The horse, on its side, bellowing in pain, tries to
stand, but can't.
                                                            
We SEE JAKE and the GIRL racing into a farmhouse, yelling
for help. From the barn, the girl's FATHER comes running.
There is hurried conversation and the FATHER disappears into
the house. He emerges carrying a rifle. They pile into a
car and race down a road that follows a pasture with barbed
wire fence.
                                                            
We SEE the FATHER inspecting the horse, shaking his head. He
motions for JAKE to take the YOUNG GIRL away. Jake has to
fight to move her away from the scene. She cries
hysterically. Around the pasture, we SEE PRAIRIE DOGS
sitting up in their holes, warily watching.
                                                            
As JAKE and the GIRL walk away, we HEAR a rifle SHOT ring
out. Then all is silent in the pasture.
                                                            
DREAM SEQUENCE ENDS AS:
                                                            
                       FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Sir?
                                                            
JAKE stirs from his sleep.
                                                            
                       FLIGHT ATTENDANT
We're approaching New York...you
need to raise your seat back.
                                                            
 

49.

EXT. TAXI - DAY
                                                            
JAKE and BEVERLY ride in a taxi. Traffic is heavy, car
horns are honking. A CACOPHONY of city noises as they creep
along in traffic. Trash on the sidewalks, homeless beggars
sleeping in doorways, an ambulance, siren BLARING, trying to
weave in and out of traffic.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I miss the city.
                                                            
                       JAKE
We'll fix that tonight.
                                                            
 
EXT. NEW YORK CITY HOTEL - DAY
                                                            
In a MONTAGE we SEE JAKE and BEVERLY enjoying themselves in
New York: sightseeing, shopping, eating in restaurants, at a
Broadway show, dancing romantically in a hotel ballroom.
                                                            
 
INT. JFK AIRPORT - NIGHT
                                                            
BEVERLY and JAKE are standing at the edge of the security
screening line.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Eric will meet you?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (nodding)
I had a wonderful time.
                                                            
                       JAKE
It's always here.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (kissing him)
Drive safely.
                                                            
 
INT. JAKE'S APARTMENT - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is surrounding by moving boxes. Books are everywhere.
As he packs, we see a variety of souvenirs from all over the
world; photographs from Bangkok, a carving from Africa, an
opium pipe from India etc.
                                                            
In a corner, the marijuana plants hang, drying. JAKE holds
a framed picture of the YOUNG GIRL from the dream, standing
beside a horse. He carefully wraps it and places it in a
box.
                                                            
 

50.

INT. PARKING GARAGE OFFICE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE and EDDIE are talking.
                                                            
                       EDDIE
      (handing Jake a
       paycheck)
That's it then. Let me know if
you need another job.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (looking around)
Do me a favor?
                                                            
                       EDDIE
What's that?
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (handing back the
       check)
Tell Harry his daughter is going
to be fine.
                                                            
                       EDDIE
I'll do that.
                                                            
JAKE gets up to leave.
                                                            
                       EDDIE
Tell me...
      (looks out at the
       garage and back)
...what was this all about?.
                                                            
                       JAKE
...parking cars, Eddie.....parking
cars.
      (he turns to leave)
.. ever been to North Dakota?
                                                            
                       EDDIE
      (shaking his head)
...let me know if it moves to Palm
Beach.
                                                            
 
INT. JAKE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                                                            
The apartment is packed up. Except for the furniture, the
place is all boxes. JAKE and SUZIE are sharing a drink
together. Outside, the night skyline glows.
                                                            

51.

                       SUZIE
What about the furniture....
      (wistfully)
...your bed...
                                                            
                       JAKE
All yours...if you want it...
                                                            
                       SUZIE
Man created storage.
                                                            
                       JAKE
They're just things.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
And... a year from now?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Will be a year... from now.
                                                            
                       SUZIE
I'm going to miss you...god damn
it..
      (suddenly teary
       eyed)
...and I hate fucking saying that.
                                                            
They drink, looking out at the city, silent in their
thoughts.
                                                            
 
EXT. JAKE'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
                                                            
Two young guys in coveralls are hauling boxes out the
building and loading them in a small U-Haul truck.
                                                            
 
EXT. TRAVELING MONTAGE - DAY
                                                            
MUSIC plays as we SEE Jake's U-Haul truck working its way
through city traffic. Later, we SEE JAKE on the interstate.
ROAD IMAGES unfold: JAKE driving, SMOKING a joint, SINGING
to the radio, fast food joints, WELCOME state road signs,
coming and going.
                                                            
 

52.

EXT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE'S U-haul truck, bug splattered and road weary dirty,
pulls up in front of Carl's house. The day is cloudy and
dark and the house looks smaller, shabbier. The little town,
after New York, looks still and lifeless.
A long pause as JAKE sits behind the wheel, fully realizing,
for the first time, what he has committed to.
                                                            
Suddenly, a rainstorm bursts forth. JAKE rushes with an
armful of boxes and trips on the sidewalk. We hear BREAKING
GLASS as the boxes crash down.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
We HEAR the rain continue to beat down outside. The radio
plays LOUDLY as he unpacks the few boxes he managed to get
into the house before the rain.
                                                            
Outside, the U-Haul leans to one side with a flat tire. A
SAD LOVE SONG plays on the radio. JAKE sits, staring out at
the rain.
                                                            
 
INT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
From her living room window, BEVERLY SEES the U-Haul parked
in front of Carl's house. She takes her new umbrella and
opens the front door, just as a squirrel dashes across the
front lawn. Seeing it, the small dog RUSHES between her
legs out the door ahead of her.
                                                            
BEVERLY calls, but he has run out of sight, barking. The
wind is driving the rain hard. She calls again...then
trying to decide whether to retreat or not, she looks down
the street to Carl's house. She begins walking quickly down
the street.
                                                            
BEVERLY knocks on Carl's front door. Inside, we HEAR rock
and roll music playing LOUDLY.
                                                            
Getting no answer, BEVERLY opens the door and calls out:
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (looking around)
Jake?
                                                            
The main floor is deserted. BEVERLY walks in. She calls out
again:
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Hello?... Jake?
                                                            
 

53.

INT. CARL'S HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is working in a small workshop in the basement, cutting
wood for a bookcase. He has ear mufflers on his head as he
saws. He stops, cocks his head, as he hears BEVERLY'S voice
calling out.
                                                            
Coming up the basement stairs, JAKE startles BEVERLY.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
That truck is leaning...
      (smiles)
...you're back?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Most everything is still in the
truck....
      (gives Beverly a
       hug)
... let's have a drink!
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Middle of the morning?
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (laughing)
Be a bad girl.
                                                            
Jake opens a bottle of champagne. He pours two in a couple
of small jelly glasses.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (raising her glass)
To the year ahead...
                                                            
                       JAKE
or..like the sailors...
      (raising his glass)
'To our wives and
girlfriends....may they never
meet'!
                                                            
BEVERLY frowns.
                                                            
Suddenly, a flash of lightening, immediately followed by a
LOUD clap of thunder, rattles the house. Then the lights go
out.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (laughing)
Remind me not to really piss you
off!
                                                            

54.

In the half light of the darkened living room, JAKE and
BEVERLY begin kissing. As they grow more passionate, they
move to the bedroom, groping with each other's clothing
                                                            
We HEAR a loud KNOCKING on the front door. JAKE and BEVERLY
stop kissing and stare at each other. BEVERLY is suddenly
flustered and embarrassed. They quickly reassemble their
clothes. JAKE goes to the door.
                                                            
 
EXT. FRONT DOOR - DAY
                                                            
ERIC is standing in the rain, crying.
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (sobbing and angry)
Is she here?
                                                            
BEVERLY, hearing Eric, rushes out of the bedroom, still
tucking her blouse.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
What is it honey?
                                                            
                       ERIC
It's Bennie!
                                                            
 
INT. VETERINARIAN'S OFFICE - DAY
                                                            
BEVERLY, ERIC and JAKE sit anxiously in the vet's waiting
room. Outside the rain beats against the windows.
                                                            
A door opens. The VET steps out and asks them into the back.
Bennie lays motionless, bloodied, matted from the rain, on
a silver steel operating table.
                                                            
                       VET
I'm sorry....there was nothing I
could do....internal bleeding.
                                                            
ERIC runs to the table, sobbing.
                                                            
BEVERLY goes to comfort him, but ERIC shrugs her off. Then
he charges into Jake, pushing him hard.
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (screaming)
You killed Bennie!
                                                            
ERIC runs out of the office.
                                                            
 

55.

INT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
ERIC and BEVERLY are eating dinner in silence. ERIC sits,
head down, picking at his food, sullenly.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Honey...I'm so sorry. It was my
fault...
      (a beat)
...we'll get you another dog.
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (glaring)
I don't want another dog!
      (a long beat)
You were fucking him, weren't you?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (angry)
Eric! Don't you...
                                                            
ERIC throws his plate against the wall. He stomps off to
his bedroom and slams the door. BEVERLY sits stunned as
tears roll down her checks.
                                                            
 
INT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - LATER - NIGHT
                                                            
BEVERLY lies awake in bed, unable to sleep. We HEAR ERIC
crying, down the hallway. She gets up, walks down the hall
and knocks softly on Eric's door, opening it slightly.
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (muffled)
Leave me alone.
                                                            
BEVERLY pauses, wanting to comfort her son, feeling shut
out. She closes the door and returns to her bedroom.
                                                            
 
EXT. BEVERLY'S BACKYARD - DAY
                                                            
A windy, cloudy, damp day. ERIC and BEVERLY take turns
digging a hole underneath a large cottonwood tree in the
backyard. Beside them, lies Bennie, covered with a brown
bag.
                                                            
We HEAR only the wind and the shovels as they bite into the
earth. Done, ERIC gently lifts Bennie and lays him in the
hole.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Should we pray?
                                                            

56.

ERIC says nothing, but when BEVERLY reaches for his hand, he
doesn't resist.
                                                            
                       ERIC
You do it.
                                                            
As we HEAR BEVERLY'S voice indistinctly, from a WIDE SHOT,
we SEE JAKE, standing at a distance, watching. JAKE is gone
when they finish and turn to go into the house.
                                                            
 
EXT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is hauling boxes from the U-Haul into the house. As he
works, MILES, from next door, wanders over.
                                                            
                       MILES
Give you a hand, but Millie...
      (glancing back at
       his house)
...won't let me pick up anything
heavier than my pecker.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (laughing)
Thanks.. I can handle it...
                                                            
                       MILES
      (continuing)
...had a heart
attack...what...guess, it's been
three years now...
                                                            
As JAKE hauls another load of boxes into the house, MILES
follows him in.
                                                            
                       MILES
Been seeing you and Miss Olsen
together...and her boy...what's
his name?...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (setting some
       boxes down)
Eric.
                                                            
                       MILES
Eric is it? ...all in
black?....Damn kids look like
spooks.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Tough being a teenager.
                                                            

57.

                       MILES
Maybe so. Good stint in the Army
would set 'em straight.... if you
ask me...
      (to himself)
...course nobody asks me
anymore...get bossed around like a
damn dog.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Miles...you and Dad... you knew
each other pretty well?
                                                            
                       MILES
Much as anyone I guess. Carl
never wasted two words when one
would do.
      (pauses again)
...why?
                                                            
                       JAKE
He ever mention me living here?
                                                            
                       MILES
No...
      (seriously)
...said one time he thought you
were a damn fool for never
settling down...
      (winking)
...think he just wanted some
grandkids.
                                                            
In the background, MILLIE YELLS: 'Miles!...where are you?"
                                                            
MILES turns to leave, then stops.
                                                            
                       MILES
He did go on sometimes ....said
you had been in more countries
than the Pope...
      (laughs)
...and caused twice the
mischief....
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - LATER - DAY
                                                            
Surrounded by boxes, JAKE is unpacking, placing things
around. He picks up an small intricate, African carving of
a man and a woman. The man has an exaggerated WOODEN
ERECTION. JAKE places it on a shelf. Beside it, one of

58.

Carl's plaster statues of the Virgin Mary seems to be
staring directly at the erect penis. JAKE takes a dusting
cloth and drops it over her head.
                                                            
 
INT. GROCERY STORE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is pushing a grocery cart. Several people give him
long looks, thinking he looks vaguely familiar.
                                                            
JAKE fills his cart with all kinds of unusual vegetables:
rutabagas, large bags of carrots, artichokes, fennel bulbs,
etc. It looks like a farmer's market on wheels.
                                                            
As JAKE stands looking over some sickly looking cantaloupes,
he stops a young, PIMPLY-faced STORE CLERK
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (holding a
       cantaloupe)
Mexican?
                                                            
                       STORE CLERK
Don't know...I just unpack them.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (eyed the kid's
       pimples)
They use a lot of bad shit on
their produce.
                                                            
                       STORE CLERK
I could ask the manager.
                                                            
                       JAKE
OK.....
      (pointing to his
       face)
...juice of papaya, twice a
day...dries them right up.
      (gives the kid a
       thumb up sign)
                                                            
As JAKE waits, a BOOMING rings out.
                                                            
The voice belongs to BILLY BENSON, an obese man, who comes
waddling down the aisle.
                                                            
                       BILLY
Jacob Peterson! I heard you were
back....
                                                            
BILLY is boisterously pumping JAKE'S hand.
                                                            

59.

JAKE is taken aback by the size of BILLY. He knew Billy as
a skinny kid, always sick.
                                                            
                       JAKE
For a while....
                                                            
                       BILLY
Its been ..what?... thirty
years?...
                                                            
                       JAKE
You....look....
      (struggling for
       words)
... well nourished.
                                                            
                       BILLY
      (patting his huge
       stomach)
Married life...you know...
      (pause)
You?...ever get married...
                                                            
                       JAKE
Nope...just me...
      (holding up the
       cantaloupe)
...and my fruit... These Mexican?
                                                            
                       BILLY
      (frowning)
Gosh darn if I know...get them
from a distributor down in Iowa.
                                                            
As JAKE finishes at the checkout counter, BILLY leans in
conspiratorially.....
                                                            
                       BILLY
      (pulling out a
       small Bible)
Have you met our Lord, Jesus
Christ yet, Jake?
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (smiling)
Better....met his Dad....
      (whispers)
....guess what....He's a She.
                                                            
JAKE picks up his bags and walks out.
                                                            
 

60.

INT. CARL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE stands in the kitchen washing vegetables. He runs a
number of them through his juicer, making an incredible
RACKET. He takes the juice and heads into the living room.
                                                            
In the living room, drinking his juice, JAKE flips through
TV channels. He stops on a documentary.
                                                            
                       DOCUMENTARY NARRATOR (V.O.)
"In the strange world of quantum
physics, time runs neither forward
or back.....past, present, future
are one and the same..."
                                                            
Suddenly, an incredible WIND GUST shakes the house. The
front door flies open, banging back and forth.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (running for the
       door)
Jesus!?
                                                            
A STORM is breaking outside. As he stands holding the door,
looking out at the storm, a HUGE tree branch CRASHES through
the living room window. The branch, full of wet leaves,
completely fills the living room.
                                                            
From JAKE'S POV: the living room sofa, where he was sitting
moments ago, has been impaled by a tree branch a foot thick.
                                                            
 
EXT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
Two workmen are busy with chainsaws, cutting the fallen
cottonwood tree. Another is installing a new window. A
furniture van pulls up and two men lift out a new sofa as
JAKE watches from a distance.
                                                            
 
INT. LEW'S LAW OFFICE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE sits across from Lew's desk.
                                                            
                       LEW
Well, that about completes it.
Everything in your name now...
except for the house. That will
transfer...
      (he check a
       calendar)
..shall we say next May 27th?
                                                            

61.

JAKE nods.
                                                            
                       LEW
It's a small town, Jake.
                                                            
                       JAKE
I read.
                                                            
                       LEW
I could use a few more
bookshelves...if you get bored...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (smiles)
Don't know the word, Lew.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is in the workshop, working his bookcase. The room is
full of tools...planers, band saws, table saws etc....all
organized, neat a pin.
                                                            
 
INT. BASEMENT LATER - DAY
                                                            
Jake works efficiently, measuring, cutting. He appears to
know his way around woodworking tools.
                                                            
JAKE breaks, sits, and LIGHTS a joint. On the radio, an old
rock and roll tune. He starts dancing as he smokes. The
air is thick with smoke.
                                                            
Suddenly, a VOICE at the top of the stairs, CALLING OUT.
                                                            
                       ERIC
You down there?
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (waving at the
       smoke)
Who is it?
                                                            
ERIC stands at the top of the stair, SNIFFING. He can smell
the marijuana smoke drifting up..
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (calling out)
Eric.
                                                            
JAKE stands at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at ERIC,
                                                            

62.

                       ERIC
      (going down the
       stairs)
The front door was open....Mom
wanted me to give you this....
      (holding a CD)
                                                            
JAKE takes the CD: Greatest Hits of the Doobie Brothers.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Thanks. Great.
                                                            
ERIC is sniffing the air again.
                                                            
                       ERIC
You're burning one. I can smell
it.
                                                            
Jake laughs.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (hesitates)
Guess so.
      (a beat)
You want to join me?
                                                            
                       ERIC
Dude!
                                                            
JAKE motions ERIC back up the stairs.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Give me a minute...let me wash up.
                                                            
JAKE and ERIC climb the stairs into the living room. JAKE
goes into the bathroom. We HEAR water running.
                                                            
ERIC wanders over to a bookcase and stands studying a row of
books. Over his shoulder, we SEE the books are all titles
on drugs.
                                                            
We HEAR a toilet flush and JAKE enters back into the living
room.
                                                            
                       JAKE
You like to read?
                                                            
                       ERIC
Some.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Just a second.
                                                            

63.

JAKE heads into the side study.
                                                            
As ERIC stands looking at more books, he turns. In the
reflection of a mirror on the wall, ERIC SEES JAKE in the
study, removing a large dictionary from a shelf. We see the
dictionary has been hollowed out inside. ERIC watches as
JAKE opens the dictionary and removes a bag of marijuana.
                                                            
JAKE walks back into the living room with the bag of pot.
                                                            
Expertly, JAKE rolls a joint. JAKE takes the CD and puts it
into the stereo. Doobie Brothers MUSIC. JAKE and ERIC
smoke the joint, listening to the music.
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (pointing)
You read all these books?
                                                            
                       JAKE
You don't buy CD's and not play
them, do you?
                                                            
ERIC walks over to the bookcase, pulling out different
titles. He pulls out a book: LSD, My Problem Child.
                                                            
                       ERIC
You do acid?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Not any more.
                                                            
                       ERIC
We did some mushrooms last summer.
      (laughs)
...down at Balta Lake. My friend
Stephan puked all over a girl.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Mushrooms are not a party game.
                                                            
ERIC frowns as if he has been chastised.
                                                            
JAKE gets up and pulls a book off the bookcase: 'Food of
the Gods' by Terence McKenna.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Learn something.
                                                            
                       ERIC
Cool... thanks....
      (a beat)
....sorry about the other day.
                                                            

64.

JAKE makes a smoking motion with his hand.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Our little secret?
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (smiles)
Course.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Eric....take care of your Mom. She
loves you...you know that.
                                                            
ERIC and JAKE stand looking at each for a long moment.
                                                            
                       ERIC
You too.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE is sleeping but obviously having a nightmare. He
tosses and turns, mumbling in his sleep.
                                                            
We DISSOLVE into his DREAM:
                                                            
We're back in the pasture, just after the young girl's
father has shot the injured horse. The YOUNG GIRL breaks
away from JAKE and is running hard, crying. All around,
prairie dogs are popping up and down in the holes, watching.
                                                            
Then, we're inside the farmhouse. The YOUNG GIRL emerges
from a back room carrying two rifles. She stops and looks
at JAKE and hands him one of the rifles. Together they
leave and get into a car. The YOUNG GIRL, with a fierce
look on her face, drives fast, out the farmyard, heading
towards the pasture.
                                                            
DREAM ENDS:
                                                            
JAKE awakens in a sweat. Through the bedroom window, a full
MOON floats in the night sky.
                                                            
 
EXT. BEV'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
A beautiful day, birds singing, squirrels scampering around.
BEVERLY is in her back yard, turning over soil, preparing a
garden plot. In the background we HEAR a phone ringing. She
stops and hollers for ERIC.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Eric! Get the phone!
                                                            

65.

The phone goes on ringing. BEVERLY puts down her shovel and
heads into the house.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE on the phone.
                                                            
                       JAKE
I was hoping we could watch a
movie tonight...
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (pleased)
...not a foreign film is it? I
hate subtitles.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (joking)
No subtitles....just blood and
guts and gratuitous sex....
                                                            
 
INT. BEV'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
BEVERLY puts down the phone and looks around for ERIC. She
checks his room. Empty. She moves around the house
looking, finally finding him outside, under a tree, some
distance from the house. He is reading a book.
                                                            
BEVERLY starts to say something about the phone, but then
pauses, and smiles subtly, pleasantly surprised to see Eric
engrossed in reading a book. She heads back into the house.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE and BEVERLY are on the sofa, watching the movie,
Phenomenon. Between them, a bowl of popcorn. Two bottles
of wine sit on the end table, empty. The movie ends and JAKE
puts on some music.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Want to smoke a little?
                                                            
BEVERLY looks at JAKE with mild disgust.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Aren't you supposed to leave that
behind when you get your AARP
card?
                                                            

66.

                       JAKE
Keeps me young.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Drugs make me stupid.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Depends on the drug....depends on
you.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (studying Jake
       closely)
You're Peter Pan....you've never
grown up.
                                                            
Jake smiles. He has heard it before.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Growing up is overrated.
                                                            
JAKE lights up a joint, offers it to BEVERLY. She first
demurs, then changes her mind.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
What the hell...
                                                            
BEVERLY takes a drag on the joint. A moment later, she
thinks she hears something outside, and panics, waving at
the air.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
See...I'm paranoid already. What
kind of example am I for Eric?
                                                            
                       JAKE
What do you want for him?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I want him to be happy...go to
college...
      (laughs)
...get rid of the nose ring.
                                                            
                       JAKE
He's young. Happiness comes with
age.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
And you're happy?...smoking pot
and ...and....what DO you do all
day?
                                                            

67.

                       JAKE
      (laughs)
I like to read....that makes some
people nervous.
                                                            
As BEVERLY takes another drag on the joint. Suddenly she
gets the giggles. She can't stop laughing.
                                                            
                       JAKE
What's so funny?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I was remembering Eric ...when he
was 6 or 7...he used to have a
Peter Pan outfit...dressed him up
for Halloween...little green vest
and wings...
      (laughing
       hysterically)
....I was picturing you...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (taking the joint)
Ok, Tinkerbell...enough of
that....you need to start acting
more...
      (moving to kiss
       her)
mature ..
      (nibbing on her
       neck)
...responsibile.
                                                            
They begin to make out passionately. Liplocked, they move
to the bedroom. From the stereo, Jimi Hendrix SINGS, "Let
me take you higher." We HEAR giggling in the bedroom.
                                                            
 
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
                                                            
A maintenance man mowing the grass, tips his baseball cap,
as JAKE walks into the cemetery. JAKE carries three
bouquets of flowers. He places one each on CARL and NORMA
PETERSON'S graves. For a long moment, JAKE knees on the
grass, silently. Then he walks to a far corner of the
cemetery and places another bouquet on a grave site. As we
PULL BACK to a wide,high shot, we SEE Jake crumple to the
ground, sobbing, overcome with emotion.
                                                            
 

68.

INT. BEV'S HOUSE - EVENING - NIGHT
                                                            
BEVERLY is in the kitchen, preparing dinner. In the living
room, ERIC and STEPHAN are engrossed in a video game on the
TV screen.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Stephan...do you want to stay for
dinner?
                                                            
STEPHAN looks at ERIC, wondering what he should say.
                                                            
                       STEPHAN
No thanks...I've got to be going.
      (whispering to
       Eric)
...there's a party at Steve's farm
tomorrow night.
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (glancing towards
       the kitchen)
Let me work on it.
                                                            
 
INT. BEV'S HOUSE - LATER - NIGHT
                                                            
ERIC and BEVERLY sit at the dinner table. BEVERLY reads a
newspaper as she eats, not expecting any conversation, as
usual.
                                                            
ERIC finishes his dinner and begins clearing the table.
BEVERLY looks up from her newspaper.
                                                            
                       ERIC
Thanks for the dinner.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
      (suspiciously)
What's wrong?
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (impishly)
Nothing's wrong...just trying to
help out.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Are you in some kind of trouble?
                                                            
Eric smiles as he takes the dishes into the kitchen.
                                                            

69.

                       ERIC
      (from the kitchen)
So how you getting along with
Jake?
                                                            
BEVERLY looks up from her newspaper, surprised. ERIC seldom
asks about her about anything these days.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
He's different.
                                                            
ERIC returns for another load of dishes.
                                                            
                       ERIC
He's cool.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
I saw you reading the other day. I
like that.
                                                            
                       ERIC
Yeah?...Jake gave it to me.
                                                            
ERIC takes another load of dishes into the kitchen.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
What's it about?
                                                            
                       ERIC
Plants.
                                                            
In the kitchen, ERIC is putting the dishes into the
dishwasher, smiling to himself.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
JAKE is sitting in the kitchen in the early morning
sunlight. He holds a framed shadow box. He opens it and
removes an arrowhead and holds in his hand, studying it. He
gets up, takes a small baggie from a drawer and goes into
the study. He reaches for the large dictionary and opens
it. He takes out a bag of mushroom caps and puts a handful
into the baggie.
                                                            
 
EXT. DESERTED FARMHOUSE - DAY
                                                            
Jake drives into the farm, passing the house, and continuing
down a sloping dirt road. He parks and sits, quietly
contemplating what he is about to do.


70.

He gets out, climbs over a fence and walks into the pasture.
He walks for some time until he passes over a hill and sits
down in a secluded spot. From his jacket pocket, he removes
the baggie and begins chewing the mushroom caps.
                                                            
 
EXT. DESERTED FARMHOUSE - LATER - DAY
                                                            
As JAKE sits, we HEAR meadowlarks sing and SEE prairie dogs
all around. Light and sound begin to distort as the
mushrooms take effect. JAKE lies back and closes his eyes.
                                                            
 
EXT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
The day is sunny and clear. We SEE Carl's house from a
distance. Out of nowhere, a FREAK windstorm BLOWS through
the town, rattling windows, kicking up dirt. As we SEE the
front porch of Carl's house, the front door blows open and
swings, banging on its hinges.
                                                            
 
EXT. DESERTED FARMHOUSE - LATER - DAY
                                                            
JAKE lies in the pasture as:
                                                            
DRUG VISION begins:
                                                            
As colors flash and SOUNDS intensify, we see JAKE and the
YOUNG GIRL riding their horses again. We REPLAY the DREAM
SEQUENCE as they ride; the horse breaks its leg; the father
shoots the horse; the girl, in anger gets two rifles from
the farmhouse.
                                                            
The YOUNG GIRL is driving. She and JAKE bounce along in a
car. They stop. We SEE a pasture full of prairie dogs,
popping up and down in their holes, watching. The YOUNG
GIRL hands JAKE a box of cartridges and a rifle. She opens
the car door and, using the door window as a gun rest, aims
and begins shooting.
                                                            
We SEE prairie dogs being hit, one by one. JAKE sits
watching for a minute, then takes the other rifle, opens his
door and steps out. The car, parked on a slope, slants down
towards the pasture. JAKE rests his rifle on the car roof,
aims, and begins SHOOTING.
                                                            
The YOUNG GIRL is crying as she shoots, round after round.
JAKE, feeling the rush of revenge, continues shooting,
swinging his rifle from side to side, across the car roof,
as he puts one prairie dog after another in his gun-sight
and fires.
                                                            

71.

We SEE JAKE and the YOUNG GIRL,in a LONG SHOT, both firing
away, killing prairie dogs. Then, CLOSE IN, we SEE the
YOUNG GIRL stop. Her hair hanging down, her eyes full of
tears. As she STARES at the ground, her eye catches the
sunlight GLINTING off something bright in the dirt. She
steps out and reaches down for the object. It is a
perfected shaped arrowhead. Excited, she suddenly STANDS
UP, just as JAKE SWINGS his rifle. It is too late. He
FIRES just as her head comes into view over the roof of the
car. BANG. The YOUNG GIRL tumbles backwards, dead.
                                                            
 
EXT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
ERIC walks down the street, carrying a book, whistling. He
stops in front of Carl's house, staring at the open front
door.
                                                            
ERIC walks up the sidewalk and stands on the porch.
                                                            
                       ERIC
      (calling out)
Jake?
                                                            
Nothing. As ERIC steps through the open door, a WIND GUST
suddenly swirls around the porch.
                                                            
                       ERIC
Anyone home?
                                                            
ERIC moves into the living room and places the book on a
table. He walks to the bookcase, studying the titles.
Turning to go, he again glances in the MIRROR and, SEEING
into the study, spots the large dictionary on the desk.
                                                            
On an impulse, ERIC walks into the study and picks up the
dictionary. Inside is a bag of marijuana and a large bag of
mushroom caps. Nervously looking around, he takes a handful
of mushrooms and puts them in his pocket.
                                                            
 
EXT. DESERTED FARMHOUSE -LATER - DAY
                                                            
Jake lays on his side, whimpering softly. "Laura, Laura".
For a long beat, he lies there.
                                                            
As JAKE sits up, we SEE and HEAR drug induced COLORS and
flashes of light, rifle sounds, prairie dog whistles.

From behind, we HEAR a young girl's voice. Turning, Jake has
a vision of the YOUNG GIRL, looking the same as his vision
on the Mayan pyramid.
                                                            

72.

The YOUNG GIRL reaches for his hand, and places something in
it. As she touches JAKE, he tumbles over backwards and a
NEW VISION BEGINS:
                                                            
We SEE a party. Young people. Night in a wooded grove. The
images are blurry. We recognize ERIC, laughing and
drinking. Laughter amongst the kids. Then a terrible
SCREAM.

We FADE into BLACK.
                                                            
 
EXT. DESERTED FARMHOUSE - TWILIGHT - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE lays asleep on the ground. The sun is setting in a
blaze of color. JAKE slowly awakens, unsure of where he is.
As he gathers himself, he realizes he holds something in
his hand. It is a beautiful colored stone.
                                                            
As JAKE sits, slowly regaining his normal consciousness, we
FLASH BACK briefly through the VISION of ERIC and the party.

JAKE stands quickly and begins running back towards his car.
                                                            
 
INT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
ERIC and BEVERLY are watching TV. The phone RINGS.
                                                            
                       ERIC
I'll get it.
                                                            
ERIC answers the phone, looking at BEVERLY as he talks.
                                                            
                       ERIC
Sounds good. Let me check.
                                                            
He holds the phone against his chest...
                                                            
                       ERIC
There's a party at Steve's...
                                                            
A strange chill seems to pass through BEVERLY. She
hesitates , puzzled.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Don't make it too late.
                                                            
 
INT. STEPHAN'S CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
STEPHAN drives. ERIC, in the front seat, fiddles with the

73.

radio. Two high school GIRLS ride in the backseat. They are
driving out into the countryside. A Jack Daniels whiskey
bottle passes around.
                                                            
                       GIRL
Oh, turn that up. I love this
song!
                                                            
Music fills the car as they barrel along a country road.
                                                            
 
INT. JAKE'S CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE is driving fast. We SEE his car top a hill and the
small town comes into view. Suddenly, we HEAR thump, thump,
thump. JAKE stops and gets out. He looks at a flat tire.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Christ!
                                                            
JAKE grabs the keys, opens the truck and pulls out the spare
tire. As he sets it on the ground, we SEE that the spare
tire is also flat.
                                                            
HIGH ABOVE, we SEE JAKE'S car moving down the road, leaning,
thumping along on the flat tire. As JAKE pulls onto the
highway, sparks fly off the tire rim.
                                                            
 
EXT. STEVE'S FARM - NIGHT
                                                            
STEPHAN's car pulls into the farmyard, continuing past the
farmhouse, and into a grove of trees just beyond. There are
a number of cars and trucks already there. A large group of
kids are partying around a huge BONFIRE.
                                                            
We SEE a MONTAGE of CONVERSATIONS and DRINKING as ERIC,
STEPHAN and the two GIRLS pile out of the car and join the
group.
                                                            
ERIC motions to STEPHAN. Together, they walk off a short
ways. Surreptitiously, ERIC takes out a handful of mushroom
caps.
                                                            
                       STEPHAN
All right..Dude!
                                                            
                       ERIC
How many should we eat?
                                                            
                       STEPHAN
Enough to see God,...
      (laughing)
...and maybe get laid.
                                                            

74.

They both CHEW on the mushrooms, rejoining the party.
                                                            
 
EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
                                                            
JAKE'S car weaves down the highway, sparks flying in the
black night. A pair of headlights appears in the rear view
mirror.
                                                            
A pickup truck driven by KARL, is suddenly beside JAKE, in
the passing lane. KARL is POINTING madly towards JAKE's
rear tire. JAKE slams on his brakes and pulls the car to
the side of the road and jumps out.
                                                            
 
INT. KARL'S PICKUP - NIGHT
                                                            
KARL pulls his pickup to a stop and gets out.
                                                            
                       KARL
Jake! You dumb shit....you're
driving on a...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (jumping into
       Karl's truck)
Let's go!
                                                            
 
EXT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
KARL pulls up fast in front of BEVERLY'S house. JAKE jumps
out, rushes up the sidewalk, and begins pounding on the
door. BEVERLY opens it.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Jake! What is it?
                                                            
JAKE looks around the room. Everything seems quiet, normal.
On the TV, a the news PLAYS in the background.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Where's Eric?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
He's with his friends. Why?
What's wrong Jake?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Where did they go?
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Jake...tell me what's going on?
                                                            

75.

                       JAKE
Ill explain later...find out where
they went!
                                                            
Beverly goes to the telephone and looks up a number.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Mrs. Parker? Hi, Beverly Olson.
I'm looking for Eric and ...
      (suddenly feeling
       foolish)
...well, I know he went with
Stephan ...
      (a beat as she
       listens)
...yes.....Steve Lindquist's?..do
you know where their farm is?
                                                            
As Beverly listens, she takes notes on a piece of paper,
then hangs up.
                                                            
                       BEVERLY
Jake...what's going on?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Let's go.
                                                            
 
EXT. STEVE'S FARM - PARTY - NIGHT
                                                            
The party is in full swing. MUSIC plays LOUDLY, the bonfire
roars. The kids mill about, talking and drinking.
                                                            
A boy and a girl, arm in arm, kissing, walks towards STEPHAN
and ERIC, who stand talking to the TWO GIRLS.
                                                            
                       STEPHAN
      (mumbling to Eric)
I am so wasted man...
                                                            
                       PARTY KID
      (to Stephan)
Dude...move your car. You're
blocking me.
                                                            
STEPHAN tosses his keys to ERIC.
                                                            
                       STEPHAN
Here.
                                                            
ERIC laughs too loudly, puts his arm around one of the girls
and walks to STEPHAN'S car. ERIC and the GIRL kiss for a

76.

moment. Then, ERIC slides into the driver's seat.

From ERIC'S POV: the dashboard ZOOMS in and out of focus.
MUSIC distorts in time. ERIC starts the car.

Grabbing the floor shift, he moves it. We see CLOSE UP that
he has put it into REVERSE instead of forward.

The GIRL, meanwhile, has WALKED behind the car. ERIC steps
on the gas. The car LURCHES backwards. We HEAR a scream as
the car CRUSHES the girl against another car.
                                                            
 
EXT. BEVERLY'S CAR - NIGHT
                                                            
From ABOVE, we see JAKE and BEVERLY in the car as it RACES
down a country road. Inside, JAKE is gesturing and talking
animatedly.
                                                            
We SEE the car stop at a dark crossroads, farmhouse lights
twinkling in several different directions.
                                                            
We SEE the dome light come on as they check directions on
the paper. Then, in the distance, we SEE the FLASHING
LIGHTS of a fire truck and an ambulance, tearing along a
dirt road,in the distance. We SEE BEVERLY'S car quickly
turn and accelerate in the direction of the flashing lights.
                                                            
 
EXT. STEVE'S FARM - NIGHT
                                                            
As JAKE and BEVERLY pull into Steve's farm, the FLASHING
LIGHTS of the fire truck and ambulance STROBE off the trees
in the dark. A POLICE CAR arrives. Medics are loading the
GIRL into the ambulance. All around, kids are huddled
together, crying. To one side, ERIC stands trembling and
weeping.
                                                            
 
INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
                                                            
A hospital waiting room. A large crowd of kids sit, bleary
eyed, some crying. JAKE and BEVERLY sit with ERIC, who
cries softly, staring at the floor.
                                                            
Two police officers stand in the hallway, quietly talking to
several kids, taking notes. An officer approaches ERIC and
motions for him and STEPHAN to step outside.
                                                            
 
INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
                                                            
In a small room, a POLICE sergeant sits talking across a

77.

table with STEPHAN. We see STEPHAN CRYING and TALKING
rapidly between sobs. JAKE, BEVERLY and ERIC sit on a bench
outside of the room. In the interrogation room, a telephone
RINGS. The sergeant picks it up.
                                                            
                       POLICE SARGAENT
I'm sorry to hear that.
                                                            
He hangs up the phone.
                                                            
                       POLICE SARGAENT
Ms Miller died five minutes ago.
                                                            
 
EXT. CARL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
We SEE two POLICE CARS with lights FLASHING pull up outside
Carl's house. With them, a POLICE DOG. Together they enter
the house.
                                                            
 
INT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - ONE MONTH LATER - NIGHT
                                                            
In the living room, the local news is ON TELEVISION:
                                                            
                       TV NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
...in a Pierce County courtroom
today, Eric Olson was sentenced to
one year of prison in the drug
related death of Susan Miller...
                                                            
BEVERLY, in her kitchen, stands by the toaster. She stares
out the window, waiting for the toaster to pop up.
                                                            
                       TV NEWSCASTER (V.O. continues)
...and in a related, but separate
development, Jakob Peterson, was
also sentenced to one year in
prison for possession....
                                                            
Bread pops up from the toaster. BEVERLY absentmindedly
punches the bread back down, and returns to staring out the
window. We see SMOKE rising out of the toaster.
                                                            
 
INT. JAIL CELL - ONE YEAR LATER - DAYBREAK - DAY
                                                            
JAKE lies sleeping in his cell bunk.
                                                            
We DISSOLVE into his DREAM:
                                                            

78.

We are back in the dream pasture. JAKE and the YOUNG GIRL
are lying on a blanket. JAKE rests his head in the GIRL'S
lap, as she strokes his face. A DREAM within a DREAM
begins:
                                                            
DREAM within the DREAM:

JAKE and the YOUNG GIRL are once again in the car, shooting
prairie dogs. As JAKE shoots over the roof of the car, a
HAWK, flying overhead, SWOOPS low, catching his attention.

JAKE lowers his rifle, watching the hawk. The YOUNG GIRL,
spotting the arrowhead, stands and turns to JAKE, showing
him her amazing find. They put down their rifles and admire
the arrowhead.

The DREAMS END as we DISSOLVE back to the prison:
                                                            
A HORN sounds loudly. The lights in the prison are coming
on.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
My father used to say, "A Man is a
kid till kids make him a Man."...
                                                            
We see JAKE open his eyes and smile. He lifts his left
hand, and for the first time, we SEE a WEDDING BAND on his
finger. He spins it, admiringly.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
...I always thought he was
clueless....
                                                            
As JAKE swings his legs over the edge of his bunk, we SEE
the jail cell is completely FILLED with BOOKS. On a metal
shelf sits a beautiful colored stone.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (looking down)
You awake down there?
                                                            
Looking through the bars of the jail cell, we SEE ERIC open
his eyes and smile in the lower bunk.
                                                            
Noisily, the jail cell doors all begin to slide open. We
SEE JAKE and ERIC, in orange prison outfits, rise, grab
their towels and toiletries, and walk into the hallway
together,
                                                            
                       JAKE
Sleep well?
                                                            

79.

                       ERIC
      (nods)
You?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Like a kid.
                                                            
 
INT. CARL'S HOUSE - DAY
                                                            
BEVERLY is dressing. She checks herself in the mirror,
smiles, pleased with how she looks. She goes into the
kitchen, removes a dish from the refrigerator and carries it
into the living room. She stops to grab three new hardcover
BOOKS. She heads out the door. We SEE that she is living in
Carl's house.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
...maybe he had it right.
                                                            
 
INT. JAIL CELL - DAY
                                                            
JAKE and ERIC, freshly showered and shaved, are each
checking themselves in the mirror in the cell.
                                                            
JAKE and ERIC walk down the prison hallway, heading for a
door at the far end.
                                                            
                       JAKE
I'm proud of you. You worked
hard.
                                                            
                       ERIC
You could join me.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (to Eric)
Funny...I just realized....
                                                            
                       ERIC
What?
                                                            
                       JAKE
I don't know where Dartmouth is.
                                                            
                       ERIC
New Hampshire.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Guess we should take a road trip.
                                                            

80.

                       ERIC
      (smiling broadly)
I've got a little free time next
week.
                                                            
JAKE and ERIC stand before a guard, who does a cursory check
on them.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
Peter Pan never grew up....
                                                            
JAKE throws an arm over ERIC'S shoulder as they push through
the door at the end of the hall.
                                                            
                       MAN (V.O.)
...but I finally did.
                                                            
As JAKE and ERIC walk into the visiting room, a beaming
BEVERLY, looking for all the world like a proud mother and
newly wed wife, sits waiting.
                                                            


FADE OUT.


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From Kevin Date 6/22/2005 ****
yes, awesome

From Kevin Date 6/16/2005 ****
read it over snd thought it was probsbly more imaginative than most of scripts in this website, shpuld be in top 5 or top! number 1

From Kevin Date 6/11/2005 ****
great job, i loved it. i wish i couls write a screenplay like this. a lot of people have don peter pan, but this one really got me into it, greaat job

From Kathi Parkman Date 6/10/2005 ****
This is a wonderful screenplay. I only wish I could write as well as you! It held my attention, was never boring, imaginative with a great twist at the end. Bravo!!!


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