The Unfolding Ballad
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FADE IN SLOWLY:
EXT. LAKESIDE - DAY
WE SEE trees, snowfall, and a handsome YOUNG MAN, 20, who
sits in the snow dressed for autumn. He is depressed with
cold hands seeking warmth inside his pockets.
SUPERIMPOSE - DECEMBER 31ST, 2001
EXT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - DAY
New Jersey suburbia. A large American flag dangles on the
property. The young man enters through the front door.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - DAY
The young man strolls throughout like a tourist.
LIVING ROOM
He discovers a family portrait. We don't see this photo,
though the young man studies it thoroughly. Then, SOMEONE
enters through the front door. The young man freezes.
Unseen, the person walks upstairs and returns to the outside
shortly, oblivious to the young man's presence. The young
man walks to a window to watch the person leave in a car.
EXT. LAKESIDE - NIGHT
TYM (the young man) slowly falls asleep in the snow.
EXT. HILLSIDE - FANTASY - DAY
WE SEE two rainbows, flocks of birds, flowers, and sunshine.
A unicorn appears from beyond the hillside. An obvious
dreamlike image.
EXT. LAKESIDE - MORNING
A pair of black boots CRUNCH the snow. A MAN dressed in
black marches towards him.
Tym fakes sleeping and shuts his eyes tight.
The man in black, a mysterious one, suddenly arrives by Tym
standing above him. From inside his black overcoat he pulls
out a handgun and sets it besides Tym. The man's face is
hidden. The man in black walks away, vanishing. Tym opens
his eyes. He grabs the gun where he expected it to be.
EXT. INTERSTATE - DUSK
Tym walks the shoulder lane to home.
EXT. DELAWARE MEMORIAL BRIDGE - DAY
Tym walks across the bridge, high above the Delaware River.
EXT. VANDERSLICE HOME - NIGHT
A Lincoln Navigator with Delaware tags pulls into the
driveway. BRIAN VANDERSLICE, 38, readies to exit the
Navigator. Tym sneakily approaches Brian and fires six
bullets at close range into him.
INT. VANDERSLICE HOME - NIGHT
HOLLY VANDERSLICE, 38, Brian's wife, has heard the shots,
terrified as she approaches her front door.
EXT. VANDERSLICE HOME - NIGHT
Tym is aiming the gun at the front door. He shoots once.
WE HEAR Brian's blood dripping into a puddle already
existing.
Snowflakes begin to fall from the sky.
End titles.
FADE OUT:
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - MORNING
The season is summer. A phone RINGS. Tym ignores it. He
opens his eyes to "8:46" on a clock radio. An airplane soars
above the house ROARING.
INT. DAMON'S - MORNING
Tym is in a booth in a popular restaurant called Damon's, an
upgrade from Denny's. The entire interior is black and white
while breakfast is served. It's jammed packed.
He looks around and sees the round, alluring brown eyes of a
young woman seated nearby. Her name is LEVITIA, 20. She's
with her MOTHER. Levitia wears a red top -- the only person
donning the color. Half Mexican and half white, her long
auburn and dark brown hair complements her outfit with
perfection.
Then, her eyes meet Tym's. Tym looks away. So does the
Levitia. They play this game two more times and Tym almost
smiles to himself. She does as well.
A WAITRESS delivers two glasses of water.
WAITRESS
And your water has arrived.
She slips him her phone number.
TYM
Thank you... for the water.
The waitress smiles and flees.
GABRIEL GROOM
sips the hottest cup of coffee. At 49, he's among world's
greatest homicide detectives, carrying a dark intellect, and
seated behind Tym in the adjacent booth. Their backs are to
each other.
His cell phone RINGS. Gabriel answers it.
EXT. STREET - NORTH PHILADELPHIA - MORNING
TY KENT, a thug residing from North Philly, is on the other
end of the line making threats. The SOUND of Damon's is all
we hear.
INT. DAMON'S - MORNING
Tym chews some gum briefly and sticks a quarter onto it.
Then he stamps it under the table. ANGELA, the blonde
hostess, awaits for Tym's attention. With her is HOPE, a 28
year-old beauty.
ANGELA
Can you do me a favor, old friend?
TYM
Depends.
ANGELA
Do you mind if she sits here and
eats with you?
HOPE
I won't bite.
TYM
Sit.
HOPE
Thanks.
ANGELA
(to Hope)
Don't worry. He's really a nice
guy. And I'll send the waitress
for you as quickly as I can, all
right?
HOPE
Thank you.
Angela leaves.
HOPE
You sure you don't mind me sitting
here?
TYM
I'm sure.
Hope gently and smoothly caresses her forehead.
HOPE
(quietly to herself)
God damn it.
TYM
Are you cold?
HOPE
No, not in July.
A beat.
TYM
I can tell you right now you're not
from around here are you?
HOPE
And how can you tell that?
TYM
Where are you from?
HOPE
Brooklyn.
TYM
Really?
HOPE
Wouldn't wanna be from anywhere
else, so, really. Where'd you
think I was from?
TYM
I pictured you as one of those rich
Martha's Vineyard citizens or from
The Hamptons.
HOPE
That's funny. No, I'm from
Brooklyn, born and raised.
A beat.
TYM
You ever think of time as being a
countdown instead of a progression?
HOPE
(puzzled)
Ummm, no.
TYM
Where we're not actually going
forward, but backwards.
Hope thinks it over.
HOPE
Were you one of those prodigies of
some sort, on his way to M.I.T.,
trying to discover something as
much as impossible as it is
ingenious like, the speed of
darkness?
Tym thinks it over. At this point, we know Gabriel is
furious.
CLING! Hope is startled as Gabriel hammers a fist onto his
table.
GABRIEL
(subtitled thoughts)
Niggers. They must be annihilated.
All of them. But him first.
Gabriel rises and leaves Damon's.
TYM
You have a headache?
HOPE
Yeah, but a migraine it seems like
though.
TYM
Well, congratulations.
HOPE
Excuse me?
TYM
Your newborn. She must be, or he
must be nine, eleven months old by
now.
HOPE
Son of a bitch -- wait -- do I know
you?
TYM
Doubt it.
HOPE
Then how do you know this? Am I
still showing a little?
TYM
Not at all. I remember you from
the hospital
HOPE
You really remember me?
TYM
Really.
HOPE
Wow. That's amazing that you can
remember me, a total stranger, from
that long ago.
TYM
Well, I have this, memory thingy.
It's perfect. Everything or
anything of interest just stays
with me.
HOPE
Hmm. I've never heard of that
before.
Hope grins and doesn't believe any of it.
TYM
What's that like, being a mother?
HOPE
The greatest. I believe every new
life conquers any new death.
Remember that if you will.
TYM
I will. A boy or girl?
HOPE
Girl.
TYM
Name?
HOPE
Carly.
TYM
And where is he?
HOPE
He is, I-don't-care.
TYM
(carefully asked)
Why?
HOPE
He hit me. He struck me so hard I
now have an ongoing dilemma with
these sinister headaches.
TYM
There's these two dummies lost in
the woods. I mean, they're
certified dumb. Vivid and
blatantly. I mean, these two dumb
bastards are the dumbest beings
that have ever existed on Earth.
So they're walking and walking
without a clue of where they are.
Then they come across a river. Not
a real river. More like a stream
you know, a creek, that type of
thing. And Dummy Number One asks
Dummy Number Two, "How the hell are
we gonna get across this river?"
Dummy Number Two says, "Why don't
you go look for some branches,
twigs, sticks, logs, anything to
make a bridge?" So he goes and is
gone without thinking twice about
it. About three hours later, this
dummy returns with enough branches
to build another Brooklyn Bridge.
But when he gets back he sees his
friend, Dummy Number One already
across the river. So he's pissed,
real pissed, and he says, "Shit!
Now how am I gonna get across the
river?"
Tym is about to deliver the greatest punchline ever.
TYM
And Dummy Number One says --
(pause)
-- "You dumb motherfucker! You are
across the river!"
Hope CRIES OUT laughing. She attracts much attention.
HOPE
Oh my God!
TYM
You okay?
She calms.
HOPE
Wow. That was so lame and cute.
TYM
Yeah. My brother told me that
joke.
HOPE
(appreciative)
You're a diamond with a pulse.
TYM
What's your name?
HOPE
Hope.
TYM
Without you there's no hope for me.
HOPE
Oh, god. Congratulations, you're
Asshole Number 3,000.
Tym shivers.
TYM
Are you cold?
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - MORNING
BEDROOM
Gabriel loads a clip into a Desert Eagle. BLAM! He fires
and shoots a pillow on his bed.
KITCHEN
Gabriel stands at the counter and sips on a cup of coffee.
His wife, MARY, enters the two-story house and into the
kitchen with two bags of groceries. She looks to be 30, but
in fact is closer to 45, over-wearing her make-up, wanting to
be noticed.
MARY
Hi.
GABRIEL
(quietly)
Hey.
We instantly assume the couple is on the brink of a divorce.
Mary puts away the groceries.
MARY
Bianca called. She's engaged now.
(a beat)
Your son called also. He's doing
fine.
Mary stops to declare Gabriel's complete attention.
MARY
Gabriel, Look at me.
He refuses.
MARY
(furious)
GABRIEL!
Gabriel, unmoved, gently puts down his cup.
MARY
I want you to retire.
GABRIEL
That is an impossibility.
MARY
I just told you your son called.
He's out there, God knows where
exactly and you stand here showing
not a hint of curiosity. You're
neglecting my son! My son! It's
nothing at all to you.
GABRIEL
He left.
MARY
Listen, he --
GABRIEL
-- He left.
A beat. Mary moves closer and more solemn.
MARY
So he could be starving right this
minute and you wouldn't give a
damn?
GABRIEL
He left.
She moves closer.
MARY
He could be dead, God forbid, and
you wouldn't care?
A beat.
GABRIEL
(boldly)
He left.
Mary SMACKS Gabriel across the cheek.
MARY
God damn and fuck you, Gabe!
GABRIEL
No, fuck you.
There is absolute silence.
GABRIEL
(subtitled thoughts)
Nobody can understand how I feel.
MARY
Leave. You leave, now.
Everything is still.
MARY
Gabriel I want you TO LEAVE NOW!
LEAVE!!
Gabriel rushes to the bedroom.
BEDROOM
Gabriel equips himself with a gun.
EXT. GABRIEL'S HOME - MORNING
Gabriel hurries to his car and speeds off.
EXT. DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA - DAY
Gabriel is the sole person standing still and erect within
the vast mobile pedestrian crowd.
His finger is on the trigger of a gun.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA SKYLINE - DAY
Establishing where we are, the City of Brotherly Love never
looked so grand when represented.
EXT. DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA - DAY
Gabriel begins to march across the street into oncoming
traffic. Cars SWERVE, BRAKE, and SKID, avoiding life
threatening collisions. He's pacing for a group of BLACK
TEENAGERS with an intention to shoot and kill. The group
finally spots Gabriel coming from the chaos in the street.
They meet. Gabriel stares at them, and they stare back,
startled.
GABRIEL
The only reason you niggers get to
see another day, get to breathe
another breath, is because I chose
not to. Remember me always.
TEENAGERS
We're struck as they are, viewing our personal fear of death
and reaction in their own eyes.
EXT. STREET - NORTH PHILADELPHIA - DAY
Gabriel's car brakes hard. FOUR YOUNG BLACK MEN, a crew, are
hanging out on a corner in front of a deli. Gabriel goes
directly after one of them, tackling him to the sidewalk
following with a gun to his head.
GABRIEL
Where is he? No. Tell him to
come.
The man YELLS in pain. Gabriel reacts almost pulling the
trigger.
In SLOW MOTION, the three other black men each draw their own
pistols simultaneously.
Gabriel looks over realizing his own life is not for trade.
He withdrawals.
INT. GYMNASIUM - NIGHT
A 4th of July party in progress. EVERYBODY in town has
attended. A microcosm of America's population is here. Hip
hop music BLARES loud enough to deafen. Four wall-to-wall
American flags decorate each side of the gym's interior.
There's even a bar set up. Tym enters and it's like a
celebrity sighting. Everyone knows him shaking hands as he
fights through the crowd like a snake in a grassland. He
eventually runs into JEFF, 21.
TYM
You've seen her around?
JEFF
What?
TYM
(louder)
Have you seen her?
JEFF
No!
RAVEN, 18, sits with Angela, bored.
ANGELA
Look who just stepped in the
building.
Raven smiles.
ANGELA
You're in love.
RAVEN
I don't even know him all that
well.
Tym bumps into KAREN, 19, an attractive, short brunette
carrying a seductive aura.
KAREN
Hey, what's your name?
TYM
Who wants to know?
KAREN
(moves in skin tight)
I do.
TYM
Okay. Listen carefully, cause I'm
serious, okay? If you really wanna
know, call me, and I'll tell you
everything about me you wanna know.
KAREN
Okay, what's your number?
TYM
If you really wanna know, you'll
find that out without my help.
KAREN
Why don't you just tell me?
Tym shakes his head, no.
ANGELA
Stay here.
Angela heads for Tym.
ANGELA
Raven's over there. She wants to
talk to you.
TYM
Where? Oh, I see.
On his way to Raven, Tym shakes hands with SAMMY, 21 and
Laotian. There he also runs into RON, 20, a black guy who
raps.
RAVEN
What's up?
TYM
You tell me.
RAVEN
Nothing at all.
TYM
How are you feeling?
RAVEN
I'm fine, thank you.
They both look into the massive crowd. Jay-Z's hit from the
2001 summer, "Izzo (H.O.V.A)" starts an instant buzz. Raven
is into the music. A YOUNG MAN approaches her.
YOUNG MAN
(reaching out for Raven's
hand)
Come on.
She smiles and dances with the young man. Then red, blue,
and white strobe lights begin to FLASH ON AND OFF.
INT. LEVITIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Levitia reads a novel. Shortly her concentration strays
elsewhere thinking of someone. She feels a chill and rubs
her arm.
INT. GYMNASIUM - NIGHT
Tym feels a chill and rubs his arm. The DEEJAY, black and
26, stops the music. Everyone boos him.
D.J.
Yo this is what's up. It's about
time for that time. Financed,
sponsored, brought to you and all
that good stuff by my man who put
together this party, no other than
-
His mic cuts off. The deejay points to Tym. Tym makes
himself known to all and bows. The deejay taps the mic and
sound returns.
D.J.
-- who will now provide you and I
with another surprise outside. So
we gonna take this party out onto
the football field where we got
somethin' special set up for this
special 4th of July celebration.
Knah'mean? Let's go!
A DRUNK yells out --
DRUNK
U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!!
The party follows the chant as they exit the gym.
RAVEN
(to Tym)
What's the surprise?
TYM
It's not really a surprise, but I
do have one that I have to give to
you, personally.
RAVEN
When?
TYM
An hour and a half or two.
Angela arrives to pick up Raven.
ANGELA
Come here, I gotta show you
something!
She drags her away. Tym is left alone and the gym is nearly
vacant. The strobe lights keep FLASHING and the gym is
emptied. Tym sits in the same spot. He notices not too far
away a GIRL crying her heart out silently. She's screaming,
yet nothing is heard.
EXT. FOOTBALL STADIUM - NIGHT
The party is set on a high school football field.
D.J.
Okay I'm gonna need a countdown for
the surprise, aight? Here we go.
PARTY
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!!
Tym sits high up in the bleachers, alone. On zero, the
deejay cues the music's return while professional red, white,
and blue fireworks shoot up into the sky. Tym looks down on
what he has created, impressed.
INT. LEVITIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Levitia is glancing out her window and can see the fireworks.
It puts a smile on her face.
EXT. ROADSIDE - NIGHT
A lonesome area. Gabriel leans against his car seeing the
fireworks. During each firework he empties a round from his
gun into the air. Distraught, he twitches quite often.
GABRIEL
(subtitled thoughts)
Lord Jesus, please warn everyone
about me.
INT. GABRIEL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Ready for bed, Mary pulls back the covers. She wonders about
a bullet hole in her pillow.
EXT. FOOTBALL STADIUM - NIGHT
Directly across from Tym, a figure is noticed in the opposing
bleachers. A MAN, unidentifiable. The fireworks light up
everything in sight but him. It's as if he is a shadow.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
Upper middle class Delaware suburbia. A brand new home. The
room is extremely neat with many symmetrical arrangements.
RAVEN
How did you set up that party
tonight?
TYM
Why?
RAVEN
I just wanna know. You know, I
don't even know you and I'm in your
bedroom. That's somewhat of a bad
combination.
TYM
You know I'm not gonna do anything
to you.
RAVEN
I'm not assuming anything. I just
wanna know who's bedroom I'm in.
TYM
I understand, but I'm not like
other guys. So, don't worry. I'm
cool. He's by the window now.
RAVEN
Yeah, that's the same thing Michael
Jackson said in the Thriller video.
A beat.
RAVEN
What? What are you looking at?
Tym sees someone walking to the front door. A MAN dressed in
black wearing a ski mask.
TYM
Shhh. Call the cops.
Tym stands at the top of the stairs looking down into total
darkness. Light from the bedroom contrasts the visibility of
the two floors. From the darkness below comes flying a sharp
and shining blade! It passes above Tym's shoulder. Running
footsteps are heard downstairs. Tym chases after them.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
Tym charges out of his house holding a gun ready to shoot
anyone in sight but fails to find a single soul.
INT. GABRIEL'S CAR - NIGHT
He's approaching Tym's house. Two state police cars are
already parked there. Along with Gabe is RICHARD, 27, a very
tall and novice detective.
RICHARD
What's this about?
GABRIEL
Could be something, or it could be
everything.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
Tym and Raven sit on the front steps. Raven remains scared.
TWO STATE POLICE OFFICERS are talking things over on the
driveway. Gabriel arrives and joins the officers. Richard
walks to Tym and Raven.
RICHARD
You two okay?
Raven nods, yes. Tym's attention is directed at Gabriel.
RICHARD
All right, can I get your name?
RAVEN
Raven.
RICHARD
And your boyfriend here?
TYM
We're just friends. What's your
name?
RICHARD
My name?
TYM
Yeah.
RICHARD
Detective.
TYM
Okay, Dick. You two the back up?
RICHARD
No, we're actually looking for
someone and my partner believes
this guy that broke into your house
tonight could have something to do
with that.
TYM
And you don't?
RICHARD
I face facts, but he's supposedly
the best. As prime as they come.
The highest of the highs in this
line of work.
TYM
What makes him so special?
RICHARD
Never has let one murder go
unsolved. Never. If his badge
pissed all the other cops would
need umbrellas for theirs.
So, can you briefly describe the
night for me?
RAVEN
I'm gonna go.
Raven leaves. She is too stressed out.
EXT. VANDERSLICE HOME - DAY
Gabriel rings the doorbell. He feels on a bullet hole in the
door. Holly Vanderslice opens the door.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
Thank you for coming.
INT. VANDERSLICE HOME - DAY
LIVING ROOM
Holly and Gabriel both sip on hot cups of coffee.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
For so long I've wished that I
should have opened that door, just
so we could see each other and feel
each other just one last time even
if it meant my life as well. I was
empty. Not to know why my husband
was murdered, it's really hard to
grasp. And I haven't yet still.
And to live without him didn't
serve a purpose. But somehow, now
I know there's hope. Mr. Groom, I
have a request.
GABRIEL
What is your request?
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
I need you to find the person who
took my husband from me, and I need
you to kill him.
GABRIEL
Holly, I swear to you on my son's
life, it is done. It's only a
short matter of time now.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
Thank you.
INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - DAY
Tym walks down different aisles throwing his arm out,
randomly selecting three books. At a table he skims through
pages.
BOOK #1 - WE SEE disturbing pictures from The Holocaust of
World War II.
Tym chooses the other book.
BOOK #2 - WE SEE pictures of blacks lynched in the early 20th
century.
Tym returns the two books.
GABRIEL
sits at table reading a book on U.F.O.'s.
TYM (O.S.)
E.T. wanted for murder?
Tym comes INTO VIEW sitting across from Gabriel. They
finally meet face to face.
GABRIEL
No, he is not.
Gabriel stares at Tym's book.
TYM
Physics and that stuff. Figured
I'd finally crack the great mystery
of time travel.
(a beat)
You don't have the slightest clue
who I am, do you?
GABRIEL
And you know who I am? A lot of
people do.
TYM
Were you abducted by aliens before?
GABRIEL
Young man, I'm not in any mood to
be taken lightly.
TYM
Detective Groom, I'm gonna look you
the eyes and try to let you know
how serious I am. I'm gonna take
somebody's life, and I want you to
solve the case since you're the
best. That simple.
Gabriel sets aside his book.
GABRIEL
You are serious?
TYM
Swear to God and all I am.
GABRIEL
And you're challenging me?
(speaks in Italian;
English subtitles)
Young and dumb.
TYM
Call it whatever you choose to, but
someone will surely die.
GABRIEL
This challenge, I am honored to
accept. But, you listen to me and
you listen with both right and left
ears. To ask what you're asking
for is to ask for death. You think
you know me, no. Maybe you knew
me. But you don't have a fuckin'
clue what I would do to you. I beg
you to reflect your intentions.
TYM
(speaks in Italian;
English subtitles)
That is an impossibility.
A beat.
GABRIEL
A nigger recently killed my
brother. You're gonna kill someone
else's brother or son or father.
You and that nigger will become the
same to me.
(Italian; subtitled)
Wherever you will be, I will be.
TYM
Would you spare my life if I told
you that someone is trying to kill
me and that I am just taking the
law into my own hands?
GABRIEL
Then you should notify an
authority. Is this the true reason
why you are here?
TYM
No. My situation is very
complicated. No one can understand
what I am going through.
(Italian; subtitled)
That's all I have to say.
GABRIEL
(Italian; subtitled)
Then it is done?
Tym rises to leave.
TYM
Much sooner than you'll ever think.
EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY
Gabriel is interrogating Raven.
RAVEN
He's funny, gentle, yet bold and
direct. Everybody likes him. Very
unselfish. But, I guess you can
say he's a little weird. Not in a
bad way though. He's just probably
on another intellectual level than
most of us, or probably all of us.
Like, he might just say something
out of the blue like --
EXT. PARK - DAY
Tym is leaning down, feeling the ground.
TYM
I can feel the earth rotating.
EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY
RAVEN
But, he's harmless.
INT. GABRIEL'S OFFICE - DAY
Tym is interrogating Richard.
RICHARD
He can be very intimidating. Ever
since his brother was murdered they
say he lost knowledge of himself.
I never knew the real him, but you
can easily tell he's very distant.
(a beat)
A couple months back, when we uh --
when I first got assigned to him,
we went to a house to arrest an old
man who had killed his own niece.
He let's us in and confesses,
casually gets ready to go to jail
for the rest of his life, leaves
the room and comes back firing a
shotgun bigger than a tree.
Gabriel takes him out without fear
or hesitation. It's over within
seconds. But, by the time I
finally realized what had just
happened, Gabe walks up to the old
man who's dead already, and --
INT. OLD MAN'S HOUSE - DAY
Gabriel approaches the corpse of the OLD MAN.
RICHARD (V.O.)
He empties a clip into the man's
skull.
Gabriel shoots. Then he calmly walks by Richard and exits
the house.
RICHARD (V.O.)
When he's finished he walks past me
without any eye contact whatsoever.
INT. GABRIEL'S OFFICE - DAY
RICHARD
Killings kill him inside. Your
friend might just be one of the
most dangerous men on Earth. But
what do I know?
INT. GABRIEL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Mary's in bed half sleep. Gabriel sits next to wife and is
delicate.
GABRIEL
(subtitled thoughts)
I need you.
(speaks)
Mary, I need you.
(subtitled thoughts)
If we are none, then suicide is my
only option.
(speaks)
Everything will change. I'll give
you all my heart and apologize for
all there is to take back.
(kisses her)
You just have to understand the
promise I made. This last one and
it is done. You will have me back.
Bear with me.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - LATER THAT NIGHT
BEDROOM
Gabriel and Mary are under their covers. Gabriel awakens to
a sense of danger.
DOWNSTAIRS
Gabriel peeks through a window downstairs. He sees a YOUNG
MAN dressed in black across the street slowly pacing.
Gabriel has a gun armed ready for anything.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Tym and Raven prepare to dine at a table for two. They are
mute at first. Then, their waitress arrives, an Italian
belle named BIANCA, 21, who's very lively with tons of
smiles.
BIANCA
You two ready to order yet?
RAVEN
I'm sorry. I still can't decide.
BIANCA
No problem. Take your time.
TYM
I'll have a cheeseburger, with no
cheese.
BIANCA
(smiling)
So, you just want a regular
hamburger?
TYM
Yeah. Please.
Tym notices Bianca has nothing to write down the order.
TYM
You keep all your orders in your
head?
BIANCA
Yup.
TYM
You sure you won't mess up ours?
BIANCA
I'm sure. I got this!
TYM
Oh. Okay then.
Bianca begins to leave.
TYM
Wait a sec. By any chance do you
remember me?
BIANCA
(scrutinizes his face)
Can't say I do. Can't say I don't.
TYM
(Italian; subtitled)
But, I do look familiar?
BIANCA
(surprised and impressed)
Yes you do.
(Italian; subtitled)
Are you fluent?
TYM
(Italian; subtitled)
That depends on what we're talking
about.
Tym gazes into her eyes.
BIANCA
(Italian; subtitled)
Are you flirting with me?
Tym gazes even more.
BIANCA
(Italian; subtitled)
Your date doesn't understand a word
of what we're saying, does she?
TYM
(Italian; subtitled)
We're not together. Just friends.
Bianca glances at Raven and doesn't believe it. She then
flaunts her engagement ring. It's priceless.
BIANCA
(Italian; subtitled)
And what about my fiancee? Nice
try though.
TYM
(Italian; subtitled)
Congratulations.
BIANCA
Do you need anything else?
TYM
I just wanna say one more thing,
about Gabriel.
(Italian; subtitled)
If you care to save him. I suggest
you call him.
Bianca's smiles disappear. She leaves. Raven wonders about
infinite possibilities.
RAVEN
I don't even wanna know.
ANOTHER TABLE
We're looking over the shoulder of a MAN dressed in black.
He is alone. WE SEE Tym and Raven's table.
EXT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Walking to Tym's car, a Lexus GS430.
RAVEN
Okay, I lied. I wanna know. What
did you say to the waitress?
TYM
It was personal. Do you wanna
drive?
RAVEN
Sure.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
The Lexus approaches a red light. Raven and Tym are the only
ones around.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Bianca returns to the table to collect the bill. She finds
at least five hundred dollars cash in tips.
INT. LEXUS - NIGHT
There's complete silence. Tym turns to Raven. She looks at
him.
RAVEN
What?
TYM
There's something I need to tell
you.
RAVEN
Spit it out.
Tym wants to so bad, but remains unspoken. Suddenly, two
fire engines with their sirens SCREAMING come speeding fast
from behind. They run through the red light in a flash and
disappear down the road.
A beat.
Bang. Bang! Gunshots afar. Another one. BANG! Closer.
BANG! The shooter can't be found. BANG! The passenger side
window cracks. And so quickly, Tym is shot in shoulder.
TYM
AHH!!
Tym continues to HOLLER obscenities in pain.
RAVEN
(at the sight of blood)
Oh my God!
Raven reacts.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Tym's yells are heard. Raven's chaotic reaction as well.
Nobody is around to help. The Lexus finally takes off.
INT. GABRIEL'S OFFICE - DAY
At his desk, Gabriel reads a U.F.O. book. In walks Tym with
his arm in a sling, helping himself to a seat. Gabriel
continues to read. Tym picks up a photograph of Gabriel and
Mary from the desk.
TYM
Is your wife worth living for?
They say ever man grows up to marry
his own mother. That true?
GABRIEL
You married?
TYM
Not even close.
GABRIEL
Car wreck?
TYM
Yeah, something like that. He shot
me.
GABRIEL
Who?
TYM
I need your help. Find out who
shot me.
GABRIEL
And then?
TYM
You remember.
GABRIEL
Yes I do.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Gabriel and Mary are out for dinner.
GABRIEL
I asked myself earlier today if you
were worth living for.
MARY
Am I worth living for, Gabe?
GABRIEL
I almost gave up once. My brother
was the only real connection I ever
had growing up. When he was
killed, all things just shut down
like that.
(snapped his fingers)
His maker still walks unpunished.
That got to me. But, I hate no
more. Whatever you want, whatever
I can do, all except one, and it's
yours. I'm so sorry for losing
knowledge of us.
MARY
I missed you.
GABRIEL
Missed?
MARY
Reflect. Your son. Your love just
ran out. My Gabe, my husband, the
one I know, I missed dearly.
GABRIEL
I'll do my best to keep you from
feeling that ever again.
INT. GABRIEL'S OFFICE - DAY
Gabriel and Richard consult.
RICHARD
Gabe, I think you should look into
this a little more carefully.
GABRIEL
Call me, Gabriel.
RICHARD
Gabriel?
GABRIEL
Yeah. For now on, you and
everybody else can call me,
Gabriel.
RICHARD
He's going to do something to
somebody. We're supposed sit back
and wait for that?
GABRIEL
He's not gonna do a damn thing.
RICHARD
Why isn't he?
GABRIEL
He's not getting paid.
Richard looks puzzled.
GABRIEL
There's no contract. He's no
assassin.
RICHARD
Look, I'm not the novice you make
me and all the rest out to be.
That wasn't my assumption neither.
GABRIEL
Calm down.
Gabriel goes to refill a cup from a coffee machine.
GABRIEL
A killer, a murderer, same
similarity, same difference, takes
life from here --
(points to his heart)
-- and not from here.
(points to his brain)
If you're making threats, you're
questioning yourself.
If you're a killer, your mind
doesn't talk, but your heart does.
He's not ready yet.
RICHARD
Let's say you're right --
GABRIEL
-- I am.
RICHARD
He's not ready. And when he is?
A beat.
GABRIEL
Some day that'll be.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Tym is sitting alone in a booth. His focus is a YOUNG COUPLE
not too far away. It somewhat saddens him. A BLONDE
WAITRESS drops off the bill. She's gone in a split second.
Tym pulls out a few bills from his pocket. In need of some
more change he reaches under the table and grabs the quarter
he placed there sometime before. Suddenly, Karen, the girl
from the 4th of July party, takes a seat across from Tym.
Her friend, STEPHANIE, 19 and blonde, sharing the same
personality as Karen, squeezes herself next to Tym.
TYM
(to Stephanie)
Let me see your hand. Stephanie
give him her hand.
TYM
Pay close attention. Listen
carefully. I'm going to touch your
hand, okay?
STEPHANIE
Only my hand?
TYM
Yeah. Just your hand for now. I'm
gonna touch your hand and you tell
me whether you hear me touching
your hand or you feel me touching
your hand.
STEPHANIE
(unsure of what to expect)
Okay?
Tym takes his index finger and as gently as possible grazes
down onto Stephanie's hand.
TYM
Did you hear that?
STEPHANIE
No, I felt it.
TYM
Okay, okay. Listen real carefully.
Matter of fact close your eyes. She
closes her eyes. Tym touches her
hand again the same way but even
more gentle this time.
STEPHANIE
Holy shit!
She opens her eyes.
TYM
Did you hear it?
STEPHANIE
Yeah, that was kinda' freakish.
You have a sexy, smooth touch. Why
are you here all alone?
TYM
Why, what's up?
KAREN
What are you doing tonight?
TYM
What I do every night, nothing.
STEPHANIE
Why not do something for a change?
TYM
Something sounds interesting at the
present moment. Whatever something
may be.
KAREN
Let's go then.
TYM
Where are we going?
STEPHANIE
To our apartment.
TYM
Where's that at?
Karen pushes out her chest. On her tightly fitted navy blue
t-shirt reads, "Delaware" in gold.
KAREN
(smiling as usual)
Just on the U. of D. campus.
STEPHANIE
Come on.
Stephanie grabs his hand and drags him to the register to pay
the bill, and then out of the restaurant.
The blonde waitress returns to Tym's table agitated not to
find a tip.
EXT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Tym releases his hand from Stephanie.
TYM
Wait a sec.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
In the kitchen, Tym finds his waitress. She turns around and
we see her face of sorrow. He shoves a wad of cash into her
hand.
TYM
Thank you. All right?
WAITRESS
(extremely appreciative)
Yes.
Tym leaves. The waitress celebrates the death of her pain.
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
Tym, Karen, and Stephanie have just started smoking weed from
a bong.
STEPHANIE
Here.
Tym takes the bong. He inhales with pride. Ten seconds
later he's coughing chronically. The girls giggle at him.
KAREN
God damn. You okay?
Tym falls head first on the couch.
STEPHANIE
Jesus Christ, why do all guys suck?
There's not one guy worth shit out
there.
KAREN
What about him? Does he suck?
STEPHANIE
No, not him. Every guy but -- hey,
you what the fuck is your name?
Tym rises to attention.
TYM
No, I do not suck. I am a true
gentleman.
KAREN
Are you high yet?
STEPHANIE
Nope. Are you?
KAREN
I don't know.
Karen starts laughing hysterically. She's high.
STEPHANIE
Yes, you are bitch.
(to Tym)
Yo, you there, why are you guys all
such certified assholes?
TYM
I wouldn't know.
At this point, all three have taken their turns inhaling some
effective marijuana.
KAREN
Maybe he's the one for us all?
STEPHANIE
If you could choose between one of
us to fuck right now, who would you
choose?
Tym has a grim look on his face. His cheekbones then rise
and a smile forms.
TYM
Lovely.
Following is heart-pounding laughter. Tym glances up and
sees Karen doing ballet dances.
TYM
Why the fuck is she doing ballet?
(laughing continuously)
Oh my god!
KAREN
Let's take him.
STEPHANIE
Where, the bedroom?
KAREN
No, not yet.
INT. ROOM - NIGHT
Tym is high again on the floor and facing the wall, inches
from it. His eyes are closed ninety percent of the time.
STEPHANIE (O.S.)
When do you wanna go back home?
TYM
(very much out of focus)
Home? Yeah back home, right? We --
KAREN (O.S.)
My dad said he'll get our tickets
whenever, so whenever. Like that's
anytime soon.
TYM
-- don't have any sales tax in
Delaware.
So you go and get a apple pie from
Burger King for 99 cent, that's all
you gotta pay. No dollar and eight
cents or whatever the fuck you pay
anywhere else. Yeah none of that
shit, right? Yeah so I collect a
lot of pennies.
STEPHANIE (O.S.)
What the hell is he talkin' about?
KAREN (O.S.)
I don't know.
TYM
Yes you do ladies. You just said
that --
(finally realizes he's
been talking to himself)
-- Oh, shit they're not even
talkin' to me.
Tym laughs harder than ever.
STEPHANIE (O.S.)
You're not in Kansas anymore, or
Delaware either. We're in New
Orleans sweetie.
KAREN (O.S.)
Come on, let's get him up and at
it. Take him out on the balcony.
Everything is revealed and we actually are in New Orleans, on
Bourbon Street. Karen and Stephanie help Tym out on the
balcony.
STEPHANIE
With that weed he won't be able to
walk.
TYM
Shit, I can see red and purple and
all those colors. My eyes are
closed, but I can still seeee!
Tym's legs are extremely numb. It takes a while to get out
on the balcony. WE SEE Karen and Stephanie wearing dozens of
beads around their necks.
OUT ON THE BALCONY
A busy Friday night on Bourbon Street. Not like Mardi Gras,
yet still NOISY and crazy.
KAREN
You see, we're in New Orleans.
TYM
Get the fuck outta here, we are!
Then I gotta greet the south.
(shouts)
All confederates can go to hell!
A "fuck you" is tossed back up at him. A beer bottle SMASHES
into the wall too close to Tym. Karen and Stephanie quickly
retreat with Tym.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Tym is curled up on the bed -- paranoid. He's dropped acid.
Stephanie and Karen attend to him like nurses.
TYM
Are you mad at me?
Tym looks like he's chewing his own tongue. His eyes bulge a
little. And he sweats like a marathon runner.
KAREN
No.
STEPHANIE
That acid fucked him up.
KAREN
How much longer do we have of this?
STEPHANIE
When did he first trip?
TYM
Are the cops after me?
KAREN
No. There are no cops.
STEPHANIE
It was like, one o'clock, right?
KAREN
Yeah. So we got until midnight of
this shit?
TYM
Are you mad at me?
STEPHANIE
Nobody is fuckin' mad at you.
Stephanie and Karen find the situation humorous. A beat.
TYM
Are the cops after me?
KAREN
No.
A beat.
TYM
Are you mad at me?
KAREN AND STEPHANIE
No!
A beat.
TYM
Are the cops after me?
STEPHANIE
Nope.
A beat.
TYM
Are you mad at me?
KAREN
No, I'm not.
STEPHANIE
You think he's just fuckin' with
us?
Karen takes off her top, and in her bra, she directs her
chest in front of Tym's eyes.
KAREN
See if he gets hard.
TYM
Are the cops after me?
STEPHANIE
Yes they are. We better run.
TYM
(frightened)
Are they?!
KAREN
No, they're not. Nobody is after
you or us. Okay?
TYM
They're not?
STEPHANIE
No, they're not.
KAREN
What's it look like Steph?
STEPHANIE
Nothing. Wait. Kiss me.
KAREN
Parisian style?
STEPHANIE
Hell yes. French kiss for the
French Quarter.
They kiss. A beat.
TYM
Are you mad at me?
KAREN
Jesus Christ!
STEPHANIE
No, we're not mad at you.
A long beat. There is silence.
TYM
Did she call yet?
KAREN
Did who call?
STEPHANIE
That's it. Time to go.
INT. LOUIS ARMSTRONG INT'L AIRPORT (NEW ORLEANS) - DAY
Tym sits alone in the boarding area.
INTERCOM
Gabriel Groom please report to Gate
D7. Gabriel Groom please report to
Gate D7. Departure for B.W.I. is
preparing for take off. Gabriel
Groom please report to Gate D7.
Tym, stunned, looks to the right, then looks to the left, and
back to the right. He continues to search for the detective.
A small crowd is approaching Tym. Ending his search is
AMANDA BYRD, 20, a gorgeous tall black girl with the
smoothest light caramel complexioned skin. She drags along a
large suitcase and a backpack. She wears small shirt,
exposing her belly ring, and wears tight blue jeans revealing
every sexy curve in her figure. Her eyes are even decorated
with the mildest touch of glitter. She's the finest thing in
all of New Orleans. Amanda moves against the crowd at an
angle no one else walks. She is headed for Tym.
She settles her things three seats away from Tym.
AMANDA BYRD
Can you watch my things while I go
grab a bite to eat?
Tym is stunned by her beauty and elegant voice and presence.
He finally nods, yes, slowly.
AMANDA BYRD
Nevermind. It's okay.
TYM
You don't trust me?
They instantly act like they've known each other since grade
school.
AMANDA BYRD
Well, you didn't look like you
cared. You'll watch them for me
though?
Tym politely nods, yes.
AMANDA BYRD
Thanks.
She retreats. Tym begins looking around in search of Gabriel
Groom. No sign of him. Tym then stares at Amanda's luggage,
wondering who she is and where she's coming from.
Amanda returns with a value meal from Popeye's. She says
nothing as she puts her wallet in her backpack. Then she
starts to dine. An AIRPORT EMPLOYEE walks past pushing an OLD
WOMAN in a wheelchair. He's eyeing Amanda down.
AIRPORT EMPLOYEE
Damn. Lookin' good, are we not?
OLD WOMAN
Oh, thank you kindly.
Amanda, after seeing the man once for a split second, she
never looks at him again. She hates the attention.
TYM
Not your type?
AMANDA BYRD
Nope.
TYM
The food good?
AMANDA BYRD
Yup.
TYM
What's your name?
Amanda smiles in flattery.
AMANDA BYRD
My friends call me Birdy. But,
Amanda Byrd. That's me.
A beat.
TYM
Can I ask you a question, Amanda?
AMANDA BYRD
Yup.
TYM
Does that bother you when we look
at you in that five to ten, sex
offender way?
AMANDA BYRD
I wouldn't know, cause those kind
don't exist to me.
TYM
And which kind does?
AMANDA BYRD
I guess your kind.
TYM
Is that why you asked me to watch
your stuff out of all the people
around here?
AMANDA BYRD
(obviously lying)
No.
(confesses)
Okay, I took my chances.
TYM
What do you think the odds are
against you?
AMANDA BYRD
You're asking me what I think
you're thinking about me? Something
like that?
TYM
Exactly like that.
AMANDA BYRD
(puzzled; she stares into
his eyes)
I don't know.
TYM
A few months back, they would be
certain.
AMANDA BYRD
What are you engaged now?
TYM
No, I'm just -- are you?
AMANDA BYRD
Not even close.
TYM
I have to say this. I just have
to. I must say that you're the
second most amazingly beautiful
girl I have ever seen. I know
that's coming from nowhere and a
little too aggressive but, it's the
God's honest truth.
AMANDA BYRD
I don't really care for those
comments but I should say thank you
anyway I guess.
TYM
No, you don't have to. It just
came out. That's the way I am.
AMANDA BYRD
But only second? Who's the first?
TYM
I have no idea.
AMANDA BYRD
You don't know who she is?
TYM
I only saw her once.
AMANDA BYRD
Kinda' like Nessy or Big Foot
sighting or the unicorn.
TYM
Unicorn? What do you mean?
AMANDA BYRD
A unicorn. The one thing you might
seek but never find. I wish all
the luck for you though. But I get
it now. When we land there's no
living happily ever after for us,
is there?
TYM
Well, if you weren't going to
Frisco.
AMANDA BYRD
You're not going to San Francisco?
TYM
I'm on my way to B.W.I..
Amanda Byrd rises, collects her things.
AMANDA BYRD
I might miss my flight.
TYM
It's okay. I already missed mine.
AMANDA BYRD
(risen)
Hold on. You went through my
things didn't you?
TYM
Guilty.
AMANDA BYRD
(smiling)
I should whip your ass right now,
you know that?
With anyone else she would do exactly that. But Tym has
earned her respect. She grins at him, thinking of a
farewell. Tym looks down feeling some guilt. Amanda Byrd
walks to a help desk. Tym looks up to watch her walk every
step.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - DAY
Gabriel enters and sees Mary sitting together with their SON,
18 years of age, and very uncertain of what Gabriel's
reaction will be. Gabriel goes to stand next to his son. He
puts a hand on his shoulder.
GABRIEL
All I have love for resides in this
room, right here and right now.
Gabriel wraps an arm around his
son.
MARY
(cannot stop grinning)
Just like old times.
GABRIEL'S SON
Just like old times.
GABRIEL
Like old times.
(subtitled thoughts)
The depression has finally arisen.
(to his son)
I'm never gonna leave you again.
BEDROOM
Gabriel prays alone on his knees.
GABRIEL
(whispering)
I beg you Lord, please forgive me
for all I have done. Please, Lord.
Please, Lord. Pleas, Lord.
Please, Lord. Thank you.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. PARK - DAY
WE SEE a tree. The leaves have turned into a scheme of
oranges, yellows, and reds with some falling to the ground.
It is autumn. Tym sits on a bench drawing the most precise
portrait of Levitia.
BIANCA (O.S.)
You got a lot of talent. Who is
she?
Walking her dog in the park, she's stopped to take a seat.
TYM
Someone I saw and caught an endless
glimpse of.
BIANCA
How long have you been into art?
TYM
A half hour, forty five minutes
tops.
BIANCA
Yeah right.
TYM
I'm serious. This is my first
ever. I'm working off my memory.
BIANCA
You're that quick?
TYM
As quick as the speed of darkness.
BIANCA
Speed of darkness? What the hell
does that mean?
TYM
It's simple, yet complicated.
BIANCA
It's like physics stuff?
TYM
Yeah. How the hell do you know?
BIANCA
My dad's a physics professor.
A beat.
TYM
You have no clue at all who I am,
do you?
BIANCA
(laughs)
No. Not at all. Are you famous?
TYM
(Italian; subtitled)
What's your father's name?
A beat. Bianca recollects Tym very well now, smiling.
BIANCA
(Italian; subtitled)
Professor Sianni.
She waves her engagement ring.
TYM
You do remember.
BIANCA
How's your girlfriend?
TYM
I told you then we weren't
together. When's your wedding?
BIANCA
New Year's Eve.
TYM
Do you love him?
BIANCA
Of course I do.
TYM
Enough for a marriage?
BIANCA
Enough for a marriage.
TYM
How do you know if you love
someone?
BIANCA
When you feel it. When I take
whoever's voted Sexiest Man Alive
or whoever has the most potent mojo
formula or whatever and can't see
myself with them and only my
fiancee, then I know I love him.
You in love?
TYM
Love is anything I am willing to
die for. To take away my life and
someone's agony during the same
moment. That's love.
BIANCA
You in love?
TYM
I'm in love with myself. And they
call it being cocky.
BIANCA
Why did you say those things about
Gabriel?
TYM
You remember that too?
BIANCA
Yeah and I went to see him with
your words. And he told me not to
worry. That it was a joke.
Tym almost smiles.
TYM
It was a joke.
BIANCA
Some joke. Think I should go now.
I miss my fiancee.
TYM
Before you go --
(Italian; subtitled)
-- where can I find your father?
INT. PROFESSOR SIANNI'S OFFICE - DAY
Tym enters glancing around at the several physics posters on
the walls.
TYM
Mister Sianni?
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Professor.
A bearded man of 50, who speaks with an Italian accent.
TYM
You know some things about physics,
huh?
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Everything there is to know.
TYM
Not everything. You interested in
time travel?
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Are you from the future?
TYM
I don't think so. Are you from the
past?
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Everyone is.
TYM
You sure?
Tym goes into his pocket and takes out a crumbled and folded
piece of notebook paper.
TYM
I can take you faster than the
speed of light.
PROFESSOR SIANNI
How?
TYM
With the speed of darkness.
Sianni explodes in a wicked sounding laugh. Tym expected it.
TYM
You take a box, sealed shut.
Inside we have darkness, total. If
I punch a hole in the box, what's
inside? Light now.
Sianni is beginning to understand and take it seriously.
TYM
The darkness has, must, and always
will leave before the light enters.
Therefore, it is faster.
PROFESSOR SIANNI
But darkness is nothing. It is
only the absence of light.
TYM
There is something I found in
darkness that no one else who has
ever lived even thought about.
It's all on this sheet of paper.
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Where does this darkness travel to
when exiting the box?
Tym unfolds the paper and tries to smoothen the creases. He
then hands it over to the Professor and simply leaves.
TYM
You're welcome.
At the door.
TYM
Oh and remember --
(Italian; subtitled)
-- use salt. It works best with
salt.
INT. PHILADELPHIA INT'L AIRPORT - BAGGAGE CLAIM - DAY
Tym is sitting and waiting patiently. He also is enjoying the
sight of traveling strangers.
GABRIEL (O.S.)
I haven't forgotten you.
REVEAL AT LIGHT SPEED, Gabriel seated with his back to Tym.
Tym, shocked, remains silent.
GABRIEL
What do we do? What do we do? If
you were ever serious about
murdering another man or woman, let
it be the past. I don't have much
to say, but trust that I know how
you must have felt.
TYM
Feel. How I always feel.
GABRIEL
Enough! You're nothin', my friend.
Death is foreign to you.
TYM
Would you like a countdown for the
challenge?
A beat.
GABRIEL
Sittin' here in an airport thinking
about murder. You know what you
bring to me? The soul of September
the eleventh in the year two
thousand one Anno Domini. If you
wanna add to those storm of
murders, I'll fuckin' kill you and
join as well.
TYM
What do you know about that day?
GABRIEL
First hand horror is what I lived.
TYM
I was there. I was down there.
GABRIEL
Then why add to the killing?
(a beat)
This nation will never forget.
TYM
Yes they will. I won't.
GABRIEL
If I ever see you again, that'll be
another day, my friend.
Gabriel rises to leave.
TYM
Detective.
He turns around.
TYM
I haven't any friends.
GABRIELLE VANDERSLICE, very witty and sarcastic at 10,
approaches Tym.
GABRIELLE
Who are you waiting for?
TYM
The only person I love.
GABRIELLE
What's her name?
TYM
His name is Galileo.
GABRIELLE
You love a boy. My uncle loves a
boy too.
TYM
No, no. Galileo is my brother.
He's flying in from a place far far
away. Who are you waiting for?
GABRIELLE
My aunt. She's flying in from Los
Angeles. She's my mother's sister.
My mother doesn't have any
brothers, so my uncle who has a
boyfriend is my daddy's brother.
TYM
And where's your mother and father
now?
GABRIELLE
My mother's in the ladies room and
my daddy died.
Her mother appears. She is Holly Vanderslice. Tym is
unaware of who she is.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
(to Tym)
Hi. Sweetie, leave the young man
alone.
TYM
She's okay.
GABRIELLE
Do you wanna hear something scary?
TYM
Yeah.
GABRIELLE
My friend told me that there's this
star in the sky, right? And during
a certain time of the night on one
day of the year, if you look at the
star, you die.
TYM
(grinning)
That's not true.
GABRIELLE
Yes it is! It's true.
TYM
I don't believe it.
GABRIELLE
I swear to you it's true. It's
true.
TYM
When I can I see this star?
GABRIELLE
It happens once every winter.
TYM
I won't believe it until bin Laden
looks at it.
GABRIELLE
It's true.
(a beat)
It's true.
INT. GABRIEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Gabriel sips on a cup of coffee reading the obituaries in the
newspaper. Richard walks in and interrupts.
RICHARD
Mister Kent just called.
Gabriel pays full attention.
RICHARD
The son of a bitch used his cell
just like you said he would. His
cell, Gabriel. And I got him on
G.P.S., right here in New Castle
County, Delaware.
Gabriel leads the way to the nearest exit.
GABRIEL
You can call me, Gabe.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Tym sits in a booth with his brother, GALILEO, 22, who wears
a stylish pair of prescribed glasses.
TYM
That little girl scared the shit
outta me.
INT. GABRIEL'S CAR - NIGHT
Speeding on the highway.
GABRIEL
I know he has two cousins that live
in Wilmington. That's where we're
going.
RICHARD
Should I expect gunfire?
GABRIEL
Always.
EXT. ROW-HOME - WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - NIGHT
Gabriel and Richard walk to the front door. Their guns
drawn. Richard knocks. A TEENAGE BLACK KID answers. He has
a freshly bruised eye.
RICHARD
Get your hands up! Get your hands
up! Now!
The boy raises them.
RICHARD
What's up? Yes or no, is Ty here?
TEENAGE BOY
No.
RICHARD
Listen to me. Don't lie, all
right?
The boy understands.
RICHARD
Where is he?
The boy knows the cops are asking him to rat.
TEENAGE BOY
Damon's.
RICHARD
Thank you.
GABRIEL
Get some ice on that eye.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
TY KENT
His face hides inside the hood of a black sweatshirt.
Gabriel walks in then stops to search for his target. It
doesn't take long to spot him.
Gabriel's directly between Ty Kent and Tym's table.
EXT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Richard is making his approach via back entrance.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
Gabriel finally greets the eyes of Ty Kent. His intentions
are to make the arrest.
Ty Kent pulls out two alarming guns from under his table and
fires without questioning. Everyone ducks and reacts
instantly.
Gabriel reacts dodging death.
The bullet ZIPS past and hits Tym's brother in the back of
his head.
Richard enters and hunts down Kent, shooting him to his
demise.
Tym has accompanied the BLOOD and his brother. His hands
cover the wound at the rear of the head.
TYM
(repeatedly)
GOD, NO! OH, GOD, NO!
He hugs his dead brother tight.
GABRIEL
(yells to Richard)
Is he dead?!
RICHARD
Kent is gone.
TYM
I did it I did it I did it I did it
I did it I did it...
Gabriel attends, placing a hand over Tym's shoulder. Tym
silences. He understands death well and knows there is
nothing he could possibly do.
Tym looks up and WE SEE the emptiest expression on his face.
He takes a finger coated with his brother's blood and wipes a
tear track running down one of his eyes.
His soul has abandoned him.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. HILLSIDE - FANTASY - DAY
The unicorn sprints across the frame within the dreamlike
images.
EXT. TREES - MORNING
Naked trees. Leafless. We're getting very close to winter.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - MORNING
In bed, Tym looks at Levitia's portrait posted on the wall.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - MORNING
BEDROOM
Gabriel stands to his feet for the first time of the day. He
has a slight smirk on his face. Mary, in the bed, makes a
move -- she turns to see Gabriel.
GABRIEL
Mornin'.
MARY
Good morning.
KITCHEN
Gabriel's son is cooking eggs. Gabriel walks in.
GABRIEL
Eggs? Wanna make me some?
GABRIEL'S SON
How many?
Gabriel picks up a newspaper nearby.
GABRIEL
Make it three. Scrambled.
INT. LEVITIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Levitia brushes her beautiful and shining hair in front of a
mirror. She is dressed casually in BLUE for a party. From a
look of disappointment, she tries to smile but the happiness
is false and expires quickly. Her SISTER bombards through
the door.
SISTER
Come on, we're ready!
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Gabriel is making coffee. His son walks in, dressed for a
party.
GABRIEL
Going out?
GABRIEL'S SON
Yeah.
GABRIEL
Need some dough?
GABRIEL'S SON
Nah, I don't need anything.
GABRIEL
(offers a hundred dollars)
Here. Take it.
GABRIEL'S SON
Nah, I don't need it. Really.
GABRIEL
(softer)
Take it.
He takes it.
GABRIEL
Be careful driving.
His leaves and is on his way. Mary walks in. She grabs a
mug and stares into Gabriel's eyes. They both are waiting
for the coffee.
MARY
He just left?
GABRIEL
Yeah.
MARY
Do you know where he was going?
GABRIEL
Nope.
Smiles. Suddenly they clash into the most passionate
kissing. Gabriel ends up lifting her close to the sink. She
breaks the faucet and a fountain drenches them both. They
ignore it with a giggle and their newlywed days make a
return.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym remains under covers. He slowly rises and takes a deep
breath. YOUNG PEOPLE are heard outside. Then, the phone
RINGS. Tym peeks through the blinds and sees a party across
the street. The phone continues to ring.
INT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
The party inside is a zoo. Levitia is with Raven on a cell
phone.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The phone is ringing, but Tym watches everything that moves
outside.
INT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
Levitia finally disconnects.
RAVEN
He never picked up?
Levitia shakes her head, no.
RAVEN
I promise when I see him, I'll tell
him you were looking for him.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym backs away from the window and returns to bed.
EXT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
Levitia exits. She's the only one outside.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym puts on a pair of in-ear headphones and listens to his
discman.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
Levitia rings the doorbell. As time progresses without an
answer, she knocks.
INT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
BEDROOM
Tym opens his eyes to the last knock.
FRONT DOOR
He comes downstairs to open the door. No one is there. Tym
SLAMS the door shut.
INT. GABRIEL'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
Gabriel and Mary fuck. By the sink, they're soaking wet.
Mary climaxes.
She's in ecstasy after an orgasm.
MARY
(soft whisper)
Fuck. My heart could explode.
GABRIEL
I'm sorry for everything.
MARY
Shhh. Right now if we went any
further down, we would be in
Elysium.
(a beat)
You're still inside of me.
GABRIEL
Hold me.
She hugs him tight.
GABRIEL
We are forever.
MARY
And ever.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - DAY
Tym sits completely still on his bed. He is depressed. His
left arm twitches with a balled fist.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym is in bed listening to his discman.
INT. VANDERSLICE HOME - NIGHT
It's raining outside. Pouring. Holly Vanderslice
sorrowfully glances out the window.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - SAME NIGHT
Tym stands looking out the window on the rainy night. On his
window the rain that hits it FLOWS UPWARDS. Tym is attracted
to the patterns of the raindrops.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
In the dark Tym draws a portrait of Hope.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym has a long stare to the floor. He then begins to cry.
INT. GABRIEL'S BEDROOM - DAY
Gabriel and Mary make love under their sheets.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym punches a hole in the wall.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym sits on his bed.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
I haven't spoken a word in five
days.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym draws a portrait of Amanda Byrd. His artwork is perfect.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym draws a portrait of Karen.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - SUNRISE
Tym draws a portrait of Stephanie.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - MORNING
Tym finishes a portrait of Bianca. Then he posts it on the
wall where the others are on display.
INT. GABRIEL'S BEDROOM - MORNING
Gabriel and Mary cuddle. They have just had sex.
MARY
I'm anxious to see Bianca in her
wedding gown. She's grown to be so
beautiful. You're still going,
right?
GABRIEL
Of course! I'm there before you
are. I wouldn't miss it for an
Eagles Super Bowl. What made you
think I would?
MARY
I don't know, I just wasn't so
sure.
GABRIEL
Mary, it's over. For good.
MARY
Forever?
GABRIEL
And ever.
MARY
Kiss me.
They kiss and are at it again.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym rests on the bed. He doesn't blink.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
Loneliness is a cold feeling.
EXT. STREET - MORNING
We're looking down on the street from a few feet up. A cloud
of dust swallows everything.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym takes a deep breath.
EXT. VANDERSLICE HOME - DAY
Gabriel rings the bell. Holly Vanderslice answers with a
fresh hot cup of coffee for Gabriel.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
Come on in.
GABRIEL
Thank you.
INT. VANDERSLICE HOME - DAY
They sit in the living room.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
So?
GABRIEL
I need to ask you a question.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
Please do so.
GABRIEL
Is there anything at all you can
remember that was somehow
overlooked?
A beat.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
My memory isn't so good. But,
fault us for being human and
whoever killed my husband walks
free.
GABRIEL
No. That's not going to ever
happen.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
How can you be so sure if you're
still looking for leads at this
point in time?
A beat.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
(frustrated)
He kills my husband and there isn't
shit anyone can do about it?! I've
been trying to be so strong for my
daughter, for me.
Gabriel stands to give her a hug of comfort.
GABRIEL
I will not break my promise. I beg
you to trust me.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
Okay.
GABRIEL
Okay?
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
Okay.
GABRIEL
Do you need anything? Anything?
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
No, we're doing fine.
GABRIEL
I apologize. I've avenged my
brother and now I will make sure
your wounds too are healed as well.
The phone RINGS.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
Excuse me.
She leaves the room. Gabriel looks at the family photos
nearby. He takes out his gun just to familiarize himself
with it again. In walks in GABRIELLE.
GABRIELLE
Are you gonna find my daddy's
killer?
GABRIEL
Yes I will.
GABRIELLE
I used to hear her crying a lot
when I go to sleep. Have you ever
shot anyone before?
GABRIEL
(hesitant)
Many people.
GABRIELLE
And you killed them?
GABRIEL
Most.
GABRIELLE
You don't believe in second chances
very much, do you detective?
GABRIEL
No, I guess not.
GABRIELLE
And you're a firm believer in the
death penalty?
GABRIEL
Loyally.
GABRIELLE
I think you're very shallow. No
offense.
GABRIEL
You're a special little girl.
GABRIELLE
I know, but when you do catch my
daddy's killer I don't want you to
kill him too. Any man sad enough
to kill another man, must not care
for his own life, so why give him
what he wants? I'd rather see him
suffer, forever.
GABRIEL
And ever?
GABRIELLE
Yup.
They smile in agreement.
INT. DAMON'S - DAY
Gabriel taps Bianca, who's working, on the shoulder from
behind.
BIANCA
Hey! How are you?!
GABRIEL
I'm good, I'm good. I'm doing
good. And yourself?
BIANCA
I'm excited.
GABRIEL
Well, I'm excited for you.
BIANCA
Want your coffee?
GABRIEL
No, I just stopped by to ask you
something real quick.
BIANCA
About?
GABRIEL
The kid. The young man, that
dropped my name before, you haven't
seen him in here lately, have you?
BIANCA
Can't say I have. I don't really
remember his face. I see so many
almost everyday.
GABRIEL
You're sure?
BIANCA
Afraid so. Is something wrong?
GABRIEL
No! Nothing like that. Just
needed to discuss a matter with
him. No biggie.
BIANCA
How's Mary?
GABRIEL
She is better than ever.
Congratulations again. I'm so
proud to see you grow up out of
harm's way.
BIANCA
Thanks.
GABRIEL
New Year's Eve?
BIANCA
Yup. New Year's Eve it is.
INT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
BEDROOM
The room is very messy now. Weeks have past and Tym's facial
hair is visible. He scratches the itchy little hairs that
are growing. Then, he goes into the hallway where it is
pitch black.
He now always walks with his head tilt down. We are
following him.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
I can see in the dark.
He reaches the kitchen, opening the fridge. Light. He
drinks orange juice straight from the carton. The door on
the fridge closes and it is pitch black again.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
My memory permits it.
He returns to his bedroom and listens to his discman.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - MORNING
Tym looks at himself in the mirror.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
Fuck you.
EXT. STREET - MANHATTAN - MORNING
A row of PEOPLE are staring at us with exhausted faces. They
are all coated with a grayish dust from head to toe.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - MORNING
Looking in the mirror, Tym reveals a knife. He scratches his
itchy beard with it.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - DAY
Under his covers he's alarmed and his complete attention is
locked on the door that is open about a foot wide.
THE DOOR
No one is there. Suddenly, a MAN coated in the grayish dust
glides through the opening to peak through. Terrifying. Tym
shuts his eyelids as tight as possible and PANTS.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym walking back and forth on the same path.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
I haven't been outside in two
months and I now know what hate is.
I should use my knowledge. If I
step into the world you all should
thank me for not taking your lives.
He finally speaks. His voice has changed into a raspy
whisper.
TYM
I don't give a fuck. I don't give
a fuck about anything at all.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The phone RINGS. Tym looks over his portraits on the wall.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
I'm never going to see her again
and so there was nothing else to
live for.
EXT. STREET - MANHATTAN - MORNING
A FIRE FIGHTER rests on a curb, covered in dust. He has a
blank stare that never varies.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym sits on his bed.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
See what I see. Feel what I feel.
And you will wish to kill what I'll
kill.
INT. TYM'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
Tym talks on the phone in the dark.
SAMMY (V.O.)
Yo, you tryin' to come out wit' us
tonight?!
TYM
(into phone, raspy)
Yeah.
SAMMY (V.O.)
Aight -- I'll come pick you up in
about fifteen.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. TYM'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Sammy's black 1997 Acura pulls up.
INT. ACURA - NIGHT
SAMMY
It's cold out there, ain't it?
TYM
Yeah.
SAMMY
Sup, G? I ain't seen you in a
minute, G?
TYM
I'm all right.
INT. ACURA - LATER
Traffic is pretty heavy. The night seems to move too fast
for Tym. He's sightseeing like a tourist in his own town.
EXT. BANK - NIGHT
Sammy stops to use the ATM machine outside. A state police
car parks nearby shutting off its lights.
INT. ACURA - NIGHT
Tym can't help but to notice the cop's presence. Sammy
returns.
SAMMY
Yo, tell me why the machine don't
work! That's crazy, yo! Let me
call Jeff.
Sammy makes a call on his cell.
SAMMY
(into phone)
Yo, where you at?
(a beat)
Aight, I'm almost my sister's
house, so where you wanna meet up
at?
(a beat)
Salem Woods? What street?
(a beat)
Aight. I should be there in like,
half hour.
(a beat)
Aight.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX - NIGHT
Sammy parks the Acura. They get out.
SAMMY
Damn, it's cold!
Sammy enters a code in the box outside of the apartments.
SAMMY
Yo, why it's not workin'?
He repeats the code over and over. Then he makes a call.
SAMMY
(into phone)
Yo, what's the code to get in?
(a beat)
I been pressin' that!
(to Tym)
Yo, G, hit the code. 3-0-6-7-8.
Tym punches it in and the door opens. He wants to smile.
SAMMY
Oh shit.
INT. LINDA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
LINDA, 24, opens a knocking door. She's gorgeous with blonde
streaks, and a bit taller than her brother, Sammy.
LINDA
What's up, y'all?
Tym sits on a sofa in front of the TV. He's hypnotized by a
steaming meal of steak and macaroni & cheese in a chair next
to him. Sammy and Linda head for the kitchen. Linda hands
Sammy a bag full of weed.
SAMMY
Where's --
LINDA
-- Sleeping.
Sammy sits down at the table, opens the bag, and smells the
weed. Linda tosses two more bags on the table.
SAMMY
Let me get another bag.
LINDA
No! Your ass is gettin' just one.
SAMMY
Damn Linda.
Sammy transfers portions of the weed into his own bag. Linda
takes the seat next to Tym, returning to her meal.
LINDA
Your dad is so nice. Every time I
see him he gives a dollar to my
kids.
TYM
(raspy)
He never gave me a dollar.
Linda smiles. Sammy's done.
SAMMY
Aight, let's go.
Sammy tosses a ten dollar bill next to Linda.
INT. ACURA - NIGHT
On the road, driving.
SAMMY
What's your driving record like?
TYM
Okay.
SAMMY
Cause mine got suspended, man. I
can't get pulled over.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
A state police car pulls out of a coffee shop onto the road,
tailgating the Acura. The police car switches lanes to the
right and all stop for the oncoming red light.
INT. ACURA - NIGHT
SAMMY
Aw, shit. Don't look at him, yo!
Sammy's cell RINGS.
SAMMY
(into phone)
Yeah, I'm almost at 7-Eleven now.
EXT. 7-ELEVEN - NIGHT
A state police car is parked in the lot. Sammy's Acura
drives by the store on the road.
INT. ACURA - NIGHT
SAMMY
Damn, yo! This shit is crazy!
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
We're in a middle-class housing development. Sammy's Acura
parks behind a black Mazda. They get out and get into the
back of the Mazda.
INT. MAZDA - NIGHT
Inside is Jeff and Ron. Jeff is on the passenger side.
RON
You got the blunt, right Sammy?
SAMMY
Yeah, man. Had to go to Exxon to
get one.
RON
Why?
SAMMY
Fuckin' cops were just sittin'
there at 7-Eleven.
JEFF
Damn. I haven't seen you since --
TYM
-- Fourth of July.
JEFF
Yeah! That party was fuckin'
perfect. I never got a chance to
thank you for that.
TYM
You're welcome.
RON
That shit was hot, wasn't it? Yo, I
heard some shit about you though.
TYM
Who?
RON
You.
TYM
Like what?
RON
Nothin', man. I just heard some
shit about you.
SAMMY
Who gonna roll this?
(in his hand is a Phillies
Blunt)
Ron, you can roll.
RON
Nah, Jeff roll the best blunts.
JEFF
Yeah I got it.
(takes the cigar)
Ron, let them here those rhymes.
RON
Nah, wait 'til we start blowin'.
Jeff rolls a blunt like a pro.
JEFF
This is a science.
INT. MAZDA - LATER
Ron inhales a blunt.
RON
(rapping)
Yo, as I smoke this weed it's like
I'm dreaming/ I call it treason
when I be leanin' in the Lex wit'
demons pullin' me left to right
like the winds in the snowy season/
don't go believin' everything you
hear about me/ I'm iced out wit'
bling on one hand wit' four rings
like an Audi/ right now we about to
get high as the clouds be/ don't
ever doubt me/ don't let me catch
you sleepin' like I palmed ya
fuckin' house key/ cause what I
love the most is gone/ what's
second ain't an attraction at all/
my dog/ do you understand what I'm
rappin' at y'all --
JEFF
Stop! Stop! Pass-the-fuckin'
blunt.
RON
Why you always be cuttin' me off,
man? I was flowin'. Shit.
JEFF
Dude, this ain't a studio. We're
here to smoke --
(mocking his rap)
-- and not clap at ya' raps/ ya'
African descendant of a black bat.
RON
African Black bat?
(laughing)
The fuck are you talkin' about?
You white Wild E. Coyote lookin'
mothafucka'.
Everyone is laughing.
JEFF
Dude, we're high as a kiddy kite.
RON
That shit was hot though, right?
Yo, y'all high?
JEFF
Fuck yeah we high, dude.
RON
This the sixth mothafuckin' blunt
of night. And I'm high as shit.
Oh shit!
ANGLE ON TYM
his left leg is twitching. He is
laughing hysterically.
TYM
Why is my leg twitching like that?
RON
Let's do that shit we was doin'
last time.
JEFF
Aww, damn.
RON
Sammy, let me see your phone.
Sammy gives Ron his phone. Ron passes it to Jeff. Jeff
dials a number. It's on speaker phone.
RON
Who'd you call?
JEFF
Aaron.
AARON (V.O.)
Hello?
JEFF
(tough voice)
Yo.
AARON (V.O.)
Hello?
JEFF
Yo, this Aaron or what?
AARON (V.O.)
Yeah. Who is this?
JEFF
You know who this is punk.
AARON (V.O.)
No, who is this?
JEFF
I'm just gonna tell it to you like
this. You grow up and let's talk
and handle this like grown men.
AARON (V.O.)
Dude, what are you talking about?
JEFF
If I ever catch you messin' around
with my girl, it's over for you.
AARON (V.O.)
Who's your girl?
JEFF
Motherfucker, don't act stupid.
Don't act like you still write with
crayons, dude. You know exactly
what the fuck I'm talkin' about,
dude!
Everyone in the car is keeping their laughter to a near
silence.
AARON (V.O.)
Whoever your girlfriend is, I'm
sorry, okay?
JEFF
(furiously)
This AIN'T A GAME! I'M DEAD
FUCKIN' SERIOUS! YOU TOUCH MY GIRL
AND IT'S GOODNIGHT. NIGHTY NIGHT ON
YOUR LIFE! YOU UNDERSTAND?!
AARON (V.O.)
(frightened)
DUDE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! WHOEVER YOUR
GIRL IS, I'M SORRY! OKAY? I'm
sorry, dude. I really am.
JEFF
I'm serious.
AARON (V.O.)
I know you are! So please, accept
my apology and let's move on.
JEFF
No, I don't think so. I'm not yet
satisfied.
AARON (V.O.)
No, dude. Listen to me. I don't
want any trouble.
WE HEAR Aaron sniff. He's crying.
JEFF
You crying, dude? I don't like
grown men crying? For real. That
shit makes me vomit. You must be
messin' with my girl then.
AARON (V.O.)
(pure anger)
LOOK, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!
YOU WANT TO COME GET ME, THEN COME
AND GET ME!
He hangs up. Jeff, Ron, and Sammy all burst into their
greatest laughter. Tym barely gives up a giggle, familiar
with Aaron's degree of anger. He eventually laughs hiding
any suspicion.
INT. MAZDA - LATER
Tym shakes hands with Jeff and Ron, a farewell.
RON
(shaking Tym's hand)
Stay alive.
JEFF
(shaking Tym's hand)
Stay alive.
EXT. CONVIENENCE STORE - NIGHT
Sammy's Acura pulls up to get gas. Tym walks into the 24
hour convenience store.
INT. CONVIENCE STORE - NIGHT
The first thing he sees is Hope at the ATM machine inside.
He pauses briefly, thinks of what to do, then walks past her.
Tym acts like he's shopping nearby. She walks past him.
TYM
Rootin' for the Eagles this Sunday?
She smiles, but says nothing, walking to the register. Hope
has no recollection of him.
TYM
Guess not.
WE HEAR a giggle from Hope. Tym gets a hot dog and walks to
the register.
At the register, Hope is buying cigarettes and aspirin. Tym
slides his hot dog over on the counter.
TYM
Can you pay for me?
HOPE
(with a smirk)
I don't think so.
A beat.
HOPE
(smiling)
Can you pay for my cigarettes.
TYM
Those are bad for you. I would,
but they'll kill you. So, I'm
actually doing you a favor by not
paying for them.
HOPE
I'm trying to quit.
TYM
Oh yeah? That's the same thing I
said when I first started smoking
crack.
Hope briefly SCREAMS in laughter.
HOPE
That's not something you wanna be
saying in the public.
A beat. She receives her change. She and Tym make awkward
eye contact, then everything proceeds to as they were. She's
gone and Tym pays for his hot dog.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
I could not say more. Another
night I will drastically regret.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym lies on his bed, aiming a gun under his chin.
INT./EXT. DEPRESSION MONTAGE - NIGHTTIMES
CUT TO SEVERAL PEOPLE sharing the same faces of depression.
All races, male and female, in all shapes and sizes, they all
are connected in a way. All depressed and suicidal.
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
How are you doing?
TYM (V.O.)
(raspy whisper)
How am I doing? I don't want to
live anymore. And yet, I can't
bear to bring myself to take my own
life. Do you know what that feels
like?
(a beat)
It is the coldest feeling, not
wanting to live, and not wanting to
die. For you it is not
understandable. Let me be.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym on his bed.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
Death is certain.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Tym holds his bleeding brother in his arms.
EXT. TREES - DAY
WE SEE leafless trees. It begins to snow.
INT. GARAGE - DAY
Sunlight has yet to reach inside. It's pitch black. A metal
SCRAPING is heard though.
INT. RESTAURANT - FANTASY - NIGHT
Formally dressed, Tym sits across from Levitia. Disgusted,
she rises to leave.
INT. GARAGE - DAY
The door opens electronically. The BRIGHTEST light SHINES
through. Tym holds a shovel.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - DAY
Several inches of snow cover the earth. There is a silence
that would allow a feather hitting the ground to be heard.
Tym looks around. No one is to be found.
Tym begins to shovel his neighbor's driveway. He puts much
effort into shoveling.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
I punish myself for my sins.
Hoping that somehow things will
change.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - LATER
He shovels another neighbors driveway.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - EVEN LATER
He's shoveled several driveways.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - SUNSET
He's shoveled as much as his body could give. He walks back
to his driveway and tosses his shovel to the side. Then he
walks in the garage and closes the door.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - SUNSET
Exhausted and then some, he lies down on the bed. His head
turns to see a small bird standing on a dresser. There is a
great confusion about the moment.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym strikes a match and lights a candle. He stares into the
flame. Slowly he dissolves into a very emotional cry. He is
seriously thinking about suicide.
EXT. SKY - MORNING
An entire background of blue sky. An unidentifiable MAN,
burnt and bloody, free falls.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
We now know why Tym cries under the lit candle.
EXT. STREET - MANHATTAN - MORNING
A WOMAN is dead on the ground from a severe head wound. Her
eyeballs are entirely are black, suffering from an 8-ball
hemorrhage.
INT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
BEDROOM
Tym opens his window to get hit by the cold air. Tym stands
by a mirror.
TYM (V.O.)
(raspy)
Look at me.
He looks into the mirror.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
Why haven't you killed me yet?
What do you wait for so long?
You'll never get what you want.
HALLWAY
Pitch black. The bathroom light is turned on by Tym. He
shuts the door behind him when he enters.
BATHROOM
On the toilet he ponders, and revealing a sharp knife.
EXT. SKY - NIGHT
An empty sky. There is ONE STAR alone in the heavens above.
INT. TYM'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Frozen. He's trying to choose between life and death.
EXT. SKY - DAWN
The morning's first approach, yet still dark.
INT. TYM'S HOME - DAWN
BATHROOM
Tym turns the tub's faucet on the coldest setting. He lets
the water fill up the tub.
He then soaks an arm in the freezing water, numbing it. His
face now reads anger. No turning back. He puts the knife over
the arm now.
HALLWAY
Sunlight is barely making it through. The hall is empty.
BEDROOM
No one there.
LIVING ROOM
No one there.
DINING ROOM
No one there.
KITCHEN
No one there.
LAUNDRY ROOM
No one anywhere to stop him.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - SUNRISE
Life is dead outside also. The small bird flies out of Tym's
window.
INT. TYM'S HOME - SUNRISE
BATHROOM
Tym has the knife over a prominent vein. But he puts the
knife on the floor.
TYM
(subtitled thoughts)
Why me? Why should I take my own
life?
BEDROOM
He reaches under his pillow and pulls out his gun. He puts
on a dark grey hooded sweatshirt and is gone.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
We're in Gabriel's neighborhood. Tym is walking down the
street with his hood on. Gabriel drives by. With him is
Richard.
EXT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Gabriel parks in the driveway. They exit.
RICHARD
I think the Eagles can really take
it all the way this year.
GABRIEL
Yeah. They were lookin' good.
Really hittin' hard, I tell ya'.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
They enter.
GABRIEL
Make yourself at home. You know.
Yadda, yadda, yadda.
RICHARD
I got you.
GABRIEL
Food, drinks. Anything but my
wife.
RICHARD
Got you.
GABRIEL
I'll be back.
Gabriel heads upstairs.
BEDROOM
Mary is asleep. Gabriel peeks through his window. HE SEES
Tym out front on the sidewalk casually holding his gun.
EXT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Tym stares at the door.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
BEDROOM
Tym looks up at Gabriel. He finally walks away.
KITCHEN
Richard is drinking a glass of water.
GABRIEL
You remember that kid who talked
about possibly killing me?
RICHARD
Yeah, I do, vaguely.
GABRIEL
I think after the wedding tomorrow,
I'm gonna arrest him.
RICHARD
Really? On what?
GABRIEL
The murder of Brian Vanderslice.
You want a real drink?
RICHARD
You can arrest just any ol' body,
can't you?
GABRIEL
God damn right I can. I'm Gabriel
Groom. How about that drink?
RICHARD
Sure. But, after the wedding?
GABRIEL
After the wedding.
RICHARD
I'll be ready.
GABRIEL
And after that, I'm turning in the
badge and gun and all of it.
Retiring.
RICHARD
No shit.
GABRIEL
Finally gonna do it. After the
wedding.
INT. BALLROOM - DAY
The Wedding.
Bianca marries STANLEY GIBBS, 25, a handsome black man with a
charming smile.
PASTOR
You may kiss the bride.
Stanley and Bianca finalize their marriage with a long kiss.
BIANCA
tosses her bouquet into a crowd of women.
STANLEY
speaks with Gabriel with champagne.
STANLEY
I'll tell you, those Eagles are no
joke.
GABRIEL
Their defense is too strong for
anyone else in the league.
STANLEY
It's so good everyone forgets how
nice of an offense they have.
GABRIEL
Good point. That's true. Very
good point.
MARY
is sitting at a table with several other WOMEN.
MARY
Me and Gabriel's honeymoon was --
oh my God! So amazing. We kinda'
experienced that night again a few
weeks ago too.
Everyone laughs.
MARY
He's always been so devoted.
STANLEY AND BIANCA
they dance to a slow Soul song from the 70's that a
professional BAND and ORCHESTRA plays.
MARY
MARY
Today's his birthday.
WOMAN
Are you serious?!
MARY
Yeah. Bianca and I have a little
surprise for him.
GABRIEL
he whispers an earful into the BAND LEADER's ear. Gabriel
gulps down a glass of wine. The band plays a familiar tune.
GABRIEL
(singing)
I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day.
Gabriel has a mic and sings the Temptations, "My Girl." He
approaches Mary like a true heartthrob of the stage.
GABRIEL
When it's cold outside, I've got
the month of May --
The second verse begins.
GABRIEL
-- Stanley, get some of this!
Gabriel throws Stanley the mic.
STANLEY
(sings to Bianca)
I don't need no money, fortune or
fame. I got all the riches baby,
one man can claim --
A bunch sing the rest.
MANY
(singing)
-- I guess you say, what can make
me feel this way? My girl, my
girl, my girl. Talkin' 'bout my
girl. My girl!
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
has a drink with Mary.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
I want to thank you again for
inviting me. I really needed this.
MARY
You don't have to thank me or Gabe.
Tell you what, let's make a toast.
A toast to all love.
HOLLY VANDERSLICE
I can drink to that.
Their glasses clash.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym stands still looking out his window into the sky.
INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
Gabrielle is talking to Gabriel.
GABRIELLE
You don't believe me, do you?
GABRIEL
Wait a sec. You're saying that
there's a star tonight out that if
I stare at it at a certain point in
time, that I'll die.
GABRIELLE
Exactly, Gabriel.
GABRIEL
You've been drinkin' tonight?
GABRIELLE
Nope.
GABRIEL
Wanna taste a little?
BIANCA
has a mic and everyone's attention.
BIANCA
I just want to say thank you to
everyone here today, the caterers,
the band, family and friends. This
has to be the absolute greatest day
of my life.
I've never felt so complete, but
that's because I've been around so
many inspiring people all my life.
To my boyfriend, Stanley, I love
you.
GABRIEL
(shouts)
Husband, Bianca. To your husband.
BIANCA
Oh my god!
She can't help but laugh. Laughs all around.
BIANCA
My god, I'm sorry. To my husband,
Stanley. I love you so much. To
my father, I love you. And
Gabriel, who's been so supportive
to each and everyone around him.
I'm sure most of you will agree.
He's also responsible for most of
this wedding. My wedding. But you
all don't know that today is also
his 50th birthday. And to show how
much we all appreciate you --
CATERERS roll out Gabriel's birthday cake.
BIANCA
-- I've gotten together with many
people here today, and others, and
we have all pitched in --
Mary sneaks up behind Gabriel, kisses him on the cheek and
shoves a set of car keys in his hand.
BIANCA
-- and purchased a brand new Lexus
just for you. We love you, Gabriel.
We all love you. Happy fiftieth.
He receives a standing ovation.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym readies to leave the house, putting on a black hooded
sweatshirt.
INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
The mood is calmer than before. People casually chat with
each other.
GABRIEL
I know you're mostly responsible
for these keys.
PROFESSOR SIANNI
It's nothin'. Don't worry about
it.
GABRIEL
Thank you. So, what have you been
up to these days?
PROFESSOR SIANNI
I'm working on something big in the
lab on campus.
GABRIEL
Oh yeah?
PROFESSOR SIANNI
I truly believe I am onto
something. Very close to a new
discovery in science.
GABRIEL
I wish you the best then.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA SKYLINE - NIGHT
Establishing the current location.
EXT. SOUTH STREET - SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - NIGHT
A CROWDED night out on the busiest street in the city for
partying.
Tym has his finger on the trigger of a gun.
Tym marches towards a GROUP of peers. At random he aims and
shoots a young man. Everyone on South Street scatters in
panic. Tym disappears in the chaos.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
The doorbell rings. Gabriel's son runs downstairs to open to
answer. He opens the door and there is Tym with his hood
worn horrifically over his head.
INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
GABRIEL
It's time!
Everyone shouts the countdown to the New Year.
ALL
9... 8... 7...
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Tym shows a knife in a flash and stabs Gabriel's son in the
chest. He falls to the floor a few steps in the house.
INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
Continuing the countdown.
ALL
3... 2... 1... Happy New Year!!
They all give each other the traditional kisses of New
Year's.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Tym walks inside and retracts the knife from the body. Blood
is reaching all over the floor. Tym feels for his heart,
marks the spot in his memory and stabs him in the heart. Tym
leaves the knife in the body.
INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
A PHOTOGRAPHER sets up Bianca's family for a picture. The
photographer uses an old fashioned camera from late 40's.
A MAN wearing a badge walks up to Gabriel. He whispers in
his ear, "someone is here to see you." Gabriel senses bad
news but within the current atmosphere he refuses to let
anyone see it on his face.
EXT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
Richard awaits for Gabriel. Gabriel walks out pacing
quickly. Richard whispers in his ear "bad news." Gabriel's
face turns into stone. He manages to convert his anger and
sorrow into a forced smile.
GABRIEL
Thank you.
INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
Bianca, Mary, Holly, Gabrielle, and Stanley are about to take
a picture together.
BIANCA
Where's Gabe? Wait for Gabe to
take the picture.
INT. TYM'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Tym is in the dark. WE HEAR water running in the tub.
INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
Gabriel whispers a request in the band leader's ear.
Gabriel takes Gabrielle by the hand into the middle of the
dance floor. They are alone. Then, the band and orchestra
plays the sensual sounds of the Tango. Gabriel is teaching
Gabrielle how to tango.
They almost finish the entire tango, then Bianca gestures to
ask Gabriel permission to tango. They begin to tango. They
stop the dance shortly. Bianca's wedding dress restricts her
from proceeding.
Beautifully, Mary glides into Gabriel's presence. They
finish the tango together.
CLOSE ON BOUQUET
TILT UP to see Levitia, dressed in an exotic WHITE dress, is
the one who caught the bouquet.
GABRIEL AND MARY
their tango flows melodically.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
INT. GABRIEL'S CAR - NIGHT
Gabriel and Mary are joyfully smiling at the night.
INT. TYM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tym sits on his bed with a stare seeing past everything.
Parts of him still bloody from murdering.
INT. GABRIEL'S CAR - NIGHT
Gabriel pulls into his driveway. The front door is cracked
opened.
MARY
Why is the door opened?
EXT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Gabriel lags letting Mary reach the front door first.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Mary looks inside seeing her dead son with a knife in his
chest, pale, and in a pool of blood. She INSTANTLY CRIES
OUT. Gabriel walks inside and physically prevents her from
touching the body.
MARY
(screaming)
Who did this?! Who did this?!
Gabriel turns numb. He walks outside. Mary cries, forever
it feels like, rightfully so.
EXT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
Mary can be heard crying in the background. Gabriel needs
the fresh air outside. His cell phone RINGS. He doesn't
answer, but it keeps ringing.
In the midst of everything, he somehow answers the phone.
TYM (V.O.)
I killed them. I confess. The
case you haven't solved yet is
because of me. Now you're perfect
again. Your son. I killed him
tonight.
You know who this is and you know
where to find me. I am not sorry.
Tym disconnects. It begins to snow.
INT. GABRIEL'S HOME - NIGHT
BEDROOM
Gabriel opens a drawer. In it WE SEE only a gun and a badge.
He chooses the gun, leaving the badge behind.
DOWNSTAIRS
Mary is curled up in a ball on the floor. Gabriel walks
downstairs and kisses her on the forehead.
MARY
Where are you going?
A long beat.
GABRIEL
Nowhere.
Gabriel gets on his knees and kisses his son on the forehead.
EXT. GAS STATION - NIGHT
Dead quiet with no one around. Gabriel is pumping gas. Next
to his pump is Hope doing the same. Hope finishes and throws
away a new pack of cigarettes. She sees Gabriel and Gabriel
sees her.
HOPE
(with a joyful smile)
Happy New Year.
Gabriel simply nods.
EXT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
Gabriel's car parks outside. The front door is cracked
opened. Gabriel walks straight it with his gun out.
INT. TYM'S HOME - NIGHT
Silent and dark. Gabriel strolls throughout like a tourist.
Everything is NEAT. He walks upstairs. He enters --
TYM'S BEDROOM (A PIGSTY)
-- and sees Tym hanging by a noose from the ceiling fan.
He's twitching severely, still alive, and suffocating.
Gabriel paces directly in front of Tym, staring him in the
eyes.
INT. GABRIEL'S CAR - NIGHT
Gabriel is driving with an empty expression on his face. Tym
lying in the back seat barely conscious. There's a silence.
TYM
(distorted voice)
Where are you taking me?
No answer.
TYM
Why U.F.O.'s?
A beat.
GABRIEL
Because I believe they don't exist.
None of this exists.
EXT. HILLSIDE - NIGHT
We're at the same place Tym has envisioned several times
before where the unicorn once was. Gabriel parks.
He helps a handcuffed Tym out into the middle of the field.
No one is around.
A pair of black boots CRUNCH the snow.
THE MAN IN BLACK
walks to where he is unnoticed by Gabriel or Tym. He reveals
himself fully for the first time. He is Brian Vanderslice.
GABRIEL AND TYM
stand like a duel in the Old West. In between them within
the background, a bolt of lightning suddenly STRIKES without
sound.
Tym forms tears.
TYM
(Italian; subtitled)
Tell my mother, I tried my best to
be capable of loving her.
GABRIEL
Okay, my friend.
Gabriel shoots Tym in the shoulder. Tym doesn't move an
inch. Gabriel shoots him again, this time in the chest, in
the heart. Tym falls immediately to the snowy earth.
INT. LEVITIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Levitia, dressed in RED silk pajamas, sets her bouquet next
to a portrait of herself, the same one Tym drew in the past.
On the portrait is her name, signatured by Tym.
LEVITIA
(liking the sound of her
own name)
Levitia. Levitia.
She smiles grandly.
EXT. HILLSIDE - NIGHT
CLOSE ON TYM
He doesn't blink, yet a tear cascades from his eye as if even
when dead his sorrow carries on.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
INT. PHYSICS LAB - DAY
Professor Sianni is staring at a homemade device. Two thick
rays of light, parallel to each other, are shining bright.
One ray of light is red, the other is blue. Bianca walks in
holding a salt shaker.
BIANCA
Is it ready?
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Yes.
Professor Sianni takes the salt shaker and sprinkles salt on
top of the two light rays. The impact of the salt onto the
rays creates magical sparks. Something struck him. He is
amazed.
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Bend down and look.
Bianca sets her eyesight parallel with the height of the
rays.
Professor Sianni sprinkles some more salt on top.
WE SEE, salt normally falling through the red ray of light.
But, there is a delay in the blue light, like salt freezes
within it. A delay of two or three seconds.
Professor Sianni keeps sprinkling salt amazed. He begins to
laugh. A wicked and distinct sound. He is too happy.
BIANCA
Oh my god.
PROFESSOR SIANNI
Do you see it?!
BIANCA
What does this mean?
Professor Sianni keeps laughing, and laughing, and laughing.
PROFESSOR SIANNI
The speed of darkness.
The professor continues to laugh...
SHARPLY CUT TO
BLACK:
EXT. LAKESIDE - MORNING
Tym has awakened from a dream. He coughs viciously in the
middle of a peaceful silence. Then he reaches into his
pocket and pulls out a handgun. Using the gun as a pencil he
inscribes three words in the snow we don't see. Tym throws
the gun into the lake.
EXT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - MORNING
Tym hesitates to knock on the door. He finally can do it.
Alice, 47, answers.
ALICE
Hello.
TYM
Hi.
A beat. Tym's voice is RASPY. He has a cold.
ALICE
What can I do for you?
TYM
Is Anne home?
ALICE
No, she isn't right now. Though,
she should be back any moment now.
She remembers he is someone expected.
ALICE
You're... ?
Tym nods, yes.
ALICE
Come in, please. Get out of the
cold.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - MORNING
ALICE
Would you like some tea? You sound
like you're getting the flu.
TYM
Yes, please.
ALICE
Come inside the kitchen.
KITCHEN
Alice puts water in a tea kettle and onto the stove.
ALICE
So you're coming from Delaware?
TYM
Yes.
ALICE
How was the traffic coming up the
turnpike?
TYM
Fine.
ALICE
Me and my sister used to go down to
Rehobeth Beach all the time one
summer. We both met our husbands
on the same day down there.
(a beat)
So, what is it you have to show us
regarding my sister?
Tym reaches into his pocket, pauses, then takes out a
crumbled and folded piece of notebook paper. He hands it to
Alice. She reads it. Slowly what she has comprehended sinks
in and she bawls in sorrow.
Tym is ashamed to look on. Frozen.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - MINUTES LATER
The tea kettle is BOILING.
Alice is fixing two cups of tea with a sad look on her face.
She fights against powerful tears battling her inside.
ALICE
Were you with her?
TYM
No.
She hands him his cup of tea. He doesn't say "thank you."
A beat.
In walks in two girls at the front door. Who we know as
Raven is actually ANNE VIBLE. Along with her is who we know
as Angela, the hostess from Damon's. Her actual name is
ADRIENNE. They walk into the kitchen.
ADRIENNE
Hello all.
ALICE
Hey Adrienne.
ANNE VIBLE
What's up?
ALICE
You two want some tea?
ADRIENNE
No, thank you.
ANNE VIBLE
I'll have some.
Alice pours another cup. Anne walks next to her. Adrienne
tries smiling at Tym. Tym ignores it. It bounces right off
of him.
ANNE VIBLE
Alice, who's the guy in our
kitchen?
Alice looks at Anne once seriously. Anne now knows who he
is.
ANNE VIBLE
It's all gonna come back you know?
ALICE
Dear, it never really left.
(to Tym)
Please, show her.
Tym reaches into his pocket and pulls out the same notebook
paper. He hands it to Anne. She drops the paper to the floor
after reading it.
ANNE VIBLE
(crying)
No! No! I didn't want to read
that!
ALICE
Anne, calm down!
Alice comforts her and also restraining her as she throws a
brief tantrum.
ANNE VIBLE
Fuck you! GET THE FUCK OUTTA OUR
HOUSE!
ALICE
Anne, no. No. No. No.
Anne is in all tears now. All sadness and no anger.
ANNE VIBLE
Why does this happen? Why does
this happen? To me? Why?
ALICE
I don't know, sweetie. I don't
know.
Adrienne is looking at the paper on the floor.
ALICE
(whispering to Anne)
Stay strong. Stay strong. Always
stay strong.
CLOSE ON NOTEBOOK PAPER
It reads:
"ANGELA VIBLE 103RD FLOOR WTC SOUTH,
MOTHER OF ANNE VIBLE, WIDOW TO AARON VIBLE
LOVE YOU ALICE, MY ONLY SIS
I LOVE YOU ALL
GOD BLESS"
Adrienne picks up the paper and hands it back to Tym.
ALICE
Don't give up. I love you, Anne.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - LATER
Anne sits next to Adrienne on a sofa. Alice and Tym are both
in chairs.
TYM
I always wanted to be a cop.
(a beat)
The first had just collapsed and I
found myself behind a car. And it
must've just flew right under my
eyes. When the streets first
started to clear and you could see
just a little, I read it. Nothing
came to my mind then but for some
reason I picked it up. I don't
know why. And a cop --
EXT. STREET - MANHATTAN - MORNING (FLASHBACK)
Who we know as Detective Gabriel helps Tym get on his feet.
He's dressed in a suit and his N.Y.P.D. badge SHINES.
TYM (V.O.)
-- helped me up. I remember his
badge was looking good as new, the
first thing he had cleaned off.
And I saw my brother on the ground.
He wasn't moving at all.
The Detective assists Tym on standing his brother up. The
detective yells to a man. That man is Richard, who in
actuality is not a cop.
TYM (V.O.)
He barely breathed.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - MORNING
ADRIENNE
When did he die?
TYM
The hospital was more than full.
But we managed to get there. On
foot.
INT. HOSPITAL - MORNING (FLASHBACK)
Chaos. Tym struggle to keep his brother on his feet.
TYM (V.O.)
I was holding him up in my arms.
WE SEE Hope lying on a bed. She is pregnant enough to see
with our own eyes. She's suffered a wound to her head. Tym
looks around and finally sees Hope. They make eye contact.
Hope gestures for Tym to join her. Tym walks to her holding
his brother up. Hope stands and helps Tym lie his brother on
the bed. He and Hope hug with great emotion.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - MORNING
TYM
He was dead for at least an hour
already. I held my own brother in
my arms. He died there in my arms.
A beat. Tym takes a sip of tea.
TYM
This tea is good. And I like
coffee. Can't be both can you?
A beat.
TYM
I walked back down there as close
as I could get and grabbed as many
sheets of paper I could stuff in my
pockets. For the past few months
I've spent tracking down who they
belong to. None of them belonged to
anyone who died, except three.
Four survivors. The rest the papers
were just information. And you
were at the bottom of the pile, but
first I grasped. And that's why
I'm here.
Tym clears his throat.
TYM
Damn, this tea is good.
His voice clears tremendously.
ALICE
My sister taught us the recipe.
TYM
I'll drink to that.
Tym raises his tea cup as if it was a wine glass.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - LATER
Anne sees Alice and Adrienne to the front door. Anne
receives hugs from each. Anne walks back into the living
room.
ANNE VIBLE
Do you want some more tea?
TYM
If you don't mind.
ANNE VIBLE
I don't.
INT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - EVEN LATER
Anne hands Tym a cup of tea like a waitress.
ANNE VIBLE
Drink now while it's too hot to
really clear up your voice.
TYM
Drink it now? You crazy?
ANNE VIBLE
It really helps.
Tym drinks. It's extremely too hot for him and he tries hard
not to show it.
ANNE VIBLE
So... who are you?
TYM
What do you mean?
ANNE VIBLE
I mean, who are you? What do you
like to do? What kind of music do
you listen to?
TYM
I had a friend from Philly who
introduced me to soul music years
ago. I got hooked right away to
the sounds of Philly and Motown and
stax. You ever listen to any soul
music?
Anne shakes her head, no.
TYM
The Delfonics? Stylistics? Harold
Melvin and the Blue Notes? None of
them?
Anne, done from looking confused, shakes her head, no once
again.
TYM
Well, the Temptations?
ANNE VIBLE
Of course. My girl?
TYM
Yeah. I love soul music.
ANNE VIBLE
Anything older I like is Lynyrd
Skynyrd, The Beatles, Led Zepplin.
TYM
Of course those too.
ANNE VIBLE
What's your favorite movie?
TYM
(immediately answered)
The Godfather.
ANNE VIBLE
You're like real mature.
TYM
Is that bad?
ANNE VIBLE
No, I just look at you and could
think differently.
TYM
Bad.
ANNE VIBLE
(laughs; she has her mom's
final message in front of
her)
No. It's not bad.
You know I had a dream about you
once. When you first called. I
dreamt that you had rang the
doorbell seconds after calling
saying you were here, and I had
just got the shower feeling fresh.
And I had opened the door, and
standing there was my mom like you
had returned her to me and she
never was dead. I woke up and I
asked God if he could please return
my mom for me. I prayed she wasn't
dead for a month at least. And
it's weird because I look at this
paper, and it feels like she's
still alive and wrote this last
night maybe or even this morning.
I miss her so much.
A beat. Tym finishes his tea, gulping it down.
TYM
I had a dream last night.
Tym chuckles.
ANNE VIBLE
About what?
TYM
I can't remember. I'm not sure. I
killed a man. But, I don't know it
was very confusing. It had all of
my ex's in it though. That was
somethin' special. My last ex was
getting married.
FLASHCUT TO SHOTS of Karen, Stephanie, Amanda Byrd, and
Bianca.
ANNE VIBLE
You hook up with a lot girls a lot
in real life?
TYM
Not since.
ANNE VIBLE
What else?
TYM
My brother died again. It was a
fuckin' nightmare.
ANNE VIBLE
Are you still -- suicidal?
TYM
It's like for the longest time, I
was that goldfish in his tank stuck
on the ocean floor of the Pacific.
I told myself when I left here I
was gonna kill myself.
A beat.
TYM
I can't get that day out of my head
and I never will. And there is
nothin' for me to live for.
ANNE VIBLE
Please, don't do it.
TYM
I used to ask myself why was I
still living? What was the use?
And you were the reason then.
Tomorrow I'll ask myself that same
question, and I won't be able to
answer it. I don't wanna see
tomorrow so that I'll ask myself
that question.
ANNE VIBLE
I used to want to kill myself. But
you can't.
TYM
Why not?
A beat. She can't answer.
TYM
I'll go home, numb my left arm in
the coldest water, open up my vein,
and fade away. No one will ever
notice.
ANNE VIBLE
I'll pray for you.
TYM
I'm going to go now.
ANNE VIBLE
I want to apologize for screaming
at you earlier.
Tym walks to her, touches her on the shoulder.
TYM
You don't ever have to apologize to
me.
She cries and hugs him farewell.
ANNE VIBLE
Thank you for bringing my mom back.
Thank you.
EXT. VIBLE RESIDENCE - DAY
Tym walks to his car. Not a Lexus, but an old Mazda. Tym
waves from inside his car. Anne waves back. Then she takes
down the American flag posted up on the property and walks
back inside.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA SKYLINE - DUSK
Establishing where we are.
EXT. NORTH PHILADELPHIA - DUSK
Tym walks into a restaurant for a cheesesteak.
INT. RESTAURANT - DUSK
Ordering.
TYM
A large cheesesteak, with ketchup.
That's it. No, make it two. Two
cheeseteaks with ketchup.
EXT. ROW-HOME - NORTH PHILADELPHIA - NIGHT
Tym is at the door. A MAN who we know as Stanley Giibbs
answers. He's very happy to see Tym. They shake hands.
EXT. INTERSTATE-95 SOUTH - NIGHT
Tym drives into Delaware from Pennsylvania.
EXT. TYM'S REAL HOME - NIGHT
A lower middle class house. Another car is parked in the
driveway.
INT. TYM'S REAL HOME - NIGHT
KITCHEN
A woman, who we know as Holly Vanderslice, washes the dishes.
She is Tym's MOTHER. Tym walks in and puts a cheesesteak in
the refrigerator. His mother stares at him. Tym refuses to
acknowledge her presence. Silence throughout.
GABRIELLE'S BEDROOM
Tym walks inside to see his sister asleep under the covers.
Tym sits on the bed.
GABRIELLE
Don't get me sick.
TYM
I got you a cheesesteak. A real
one. Not the imitation brand
neither. It's in the frig'.
GABRIELLE
Your voice cleared up.
TYM
Yeah.
GABRIELLE
I'll eat it tomorrow. I'm too
tired tonight.
Tym cringes to the sound of "tomorrow." He kisses his sister
on the cheek.
TYM
Goodbye, Gabrielle. Get your
sleep.
TYM'S BEDROOM
Tym is praying, crying also.
TYM
God, please. Forgive me, please.
I can't live anymore. I'm sorry
but I'm nobody. I fuckin' hate
this feeling. I have nothin'.
God, please... I beg you...
HALLWAY
Tym passes by his mother's bedroom. The door is half opened,
but dark inside.
TYM'S MOTHER (O.S.)
Do you remember the night you were
downstairs crying and I was praying
for you? What were you crying
about?
(a beat)
Were you afraid?
Tym never wanted to reflect on that night ever again. He
stays silent and continues on.
BATHROOM
Tym runs cold water in the tub.
KITCHEN
Tym grabs the sharpest knife he can find. He's heading back
upstairs... then... THE PHONE RINGS RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.
He pauses.
He answers.
TYM
(into phone)
Hello?
(long beat)
Yes.
Tym hangs up. He drops the knife and falls to his knees. He
cries, then laughs, then cries, then laughs. So many
emotions run throughout his soul during the moment.
TYM
(to himself)
It's over. You do work in
mysterious ways.
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
The interior is very colorful. Not black and white like in
Tym's dream. Tym sits in a booth alone. A GROUP of college
students wearing "University of Delaware" sweatshirts
collaborate right beside Tym. There's at least 15 of them.
COLLEGE STUDENT #1
Dude, you gotta come to this party
tonight. Fuck studyin'! We don't
have classes for another two weeks.
It's fuckin' New Year's Eve. We're
gettin' drunk.
COLLEGE STUDENT #2
Dude, we even got fireworks. None
of those bullshit snap crackle and
pop toys we used to play with back
in the fourth grade neither. This
is gonna be the greatest night of
our young lives.
COLLEGE STUDENT #1
The way this country felt for so
long, tonight is for the nation.
Our nation. Yours and mine.
COLLEGE STUDENT #3
Okay. I'll go.
The group YELLS in the college frat style.
COLLEGE STUDENT #1
That's what I'm talkin' about dude.
We need more patriotic partyin'
motherfuckers like you.
TYM
Where's the party at?
COLLEGE STUDENT #1
Dude! Dude, you're coming to.
TYM
Where's it at first?
COLLEGE STUDENT #1
We got the Bob.
TYM
At the Bob?
COLLEGE STUDENT #1
At the Bob! All night long.
TYM
I'll be there.
COLLEGE STUDENT #1
Cool dude.
He and Tym shake hands.
COLLEGE STUDENT #2
This night is never going to end.
The college group clears out one by one. And like they were
a gift wrapping, they break apart and WE SEE a girl, Levitia
of Tym's dream. She wears a pink sweater with tight light
blue jeans. She stands there smiling ... and sits across
from Tym. Her real name is MICHELLE.
MICHELLE
Can I go too?
TYM
Yeah. How are you?
MICHELLE
I'm good. And you?
TYM
I'm good if you're good.
EXT. LAKESIDE - MORNING
DOLLY towards the inscription Tym left in the snow. In his
signature style, it reads:
"GABRIEL GROOM R.I.P."
INT. DAMON'S - NIGHT
MICHELLE
I'm Michelle.
GABRIEL
So, who are you?
MICHELLE
(sarcastically)
I'm Michelle.
Gabriel smiles.
GABRIEL
I mean who are you and what --
MICHELLE
-- do I like to do?
GABRIEL
Yeah.
MICHELLE
Music. I like listening to all
kinds of music, watching movies,
shopping, just hanging out. The
usual stuff around here. Oh, and I
also like writing poetry.
GABRIEL
Really?
MICHELLE
Yeah.
GABRIEL
Can you poetize right now?
MICHELLE
Poetize? Yeah I think I can
poetize.
(reciting from memory)
I will never explain the feelings
That were running through my mind
That moment I first saw you Someone
whispered something kind A tingling
sensation everywhere Just staring
into your eyes You were so
unbelievable I was mesmerized You
may not know who I am But I saw
those looks you sent I was hoping
the feeling was mutual All the
signs from above was meant I gazed
into your eyes You gazed into mine
The moment was unforgettable
Everything was going to be just
fine I want to be in your arms Hope
you feel the same Maybe someday we
will meet and I will learn your
name...
EXT. PARK - NIGHT
Fireworks light up the sky in the distance. Gabriel and
Michelle sit on a bench under a light post. Michelle glows.
MICHELLE
Happy New Year.
GABRIEL
Happy New Year to you.
MICHELLE
Is this where we kiss?
A beat.
MICHELLE
I like you Gabriel. You wanna know
how I know?
GABRIEL
How?
MICHELLE
Because I don't know. That's how.
I just do. You seem cool and the
type of company I need right now.
So... tell me everything about you.
GABRIEL
You have no idea the feeling I felt
hours ago, last year, and for
months it lasted. Stagnant,
depressed.
A beat.
CLOSE ON MICHELLE
Her beauty is on focus.
GABRIEL (O.S.)
You saved my life.
INSTANTLY, the snare of The Delfonics' classic,"La, La, Means
I Love You" SNAPS hard.
STAY CLOSE ON MICHELLE
She's happy to be his savior, after wondering what he meant.
FADE OUT:
The first verse of "La, La, Means I love You" begins when
the screen goes black.
THE END
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