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"Looking Down From Above"
By
Stewart Wadwell
EXT. BRIDGE - DAY
A TALL BRIDGE spans a passageway into a busy city port. Cars
and trucks cross over every few moments.
On either sides of the bridge are small LEDGES used by
engineers and city workers when working on construction.
One of these small ledges, huddled into a corner is a
silhouette that does not look like a worker from the city...
EXT. LEDGE - CONTINUOUS
A WOMAN moves over to the corner of the ledge and PEERS over.
She is in her mid thirties, attractive but sophisticated
looking. Her long brownish hair blows in the wind as she
holds a handkerchief to her teary eyed face.
RALPH (O.S.)
Hi there.
STUNNED, the woman stumbles back into the corner.
A middle-aged man stands on the adjacent ledge. SHORT,
ROUNDISH with RUFFLED HAIR, he wears a TRENCH COAT which is
obviously one size to big and ROUND glasses that sit
incorrectly on his nose.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Nice day out.
He looks up to the sky. Not a cloud to be seen.
RALPH (CONT'D)
A bit windy though.
The woman is in AWE.
WOMAN
(stuttering)
w-w-w-what?
RALPH
(louder)
I said Nice...Day...Out
He covers his mouth trying to be heard over the traffic.
WOMAN
I...I guess so.
Tears continue to flow down her cheek.
RALPH
So what brings you here...
WOMAN
Leave me alone!
RALPH
Right, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt
you.
He waves her on to whatever she was going to do, and turns
around. He has a CLUMSY, SMILING face on him as he looks up
to the heavens.
The woman continues to stare across at this stranger with a
PUZZLED look on her face.
She finally turns back to the job in hand.
RALPH (CONT'D) (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Do you come here often?
She steps back again.
WOMAN
What?
RALPH
Do you..
WOMAN
(interrupting)
I heard you! What kind of question is
that?
RALPH
Sorry! Sorry! I have a problem with my
inner monologue. I tend to just blurt
things out. I swear people must think I
have Teretes Syndrome.
WOMAN
Who are you?
RALPH
Oh my! I apologize...my name is Ralph.
He extends his hand over the gab between the ledges.
The woman quickly backs away.
WOMAN
Why are you here! I swear, if you make
one move towards me, I'll jump.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Are you a cop?
RALPH
(ignoring her last question)
It's not that bad is it?
WOMAN
I promise I'll do it.
Ralph chuckles to himself.
RALPH
It's okay. I'm not coming over there.
He SIGHS to himself.
RALPH (CONT'D)
It's days like this, I'd love to be out
fishing with my boy or sitting in my
backyard reading a good book.
The woman continues to dab at her face.
RALPH (CONT'D)
I mean, it makes life worth it when you
can leave all the troubles behind you and
spend an evening watching the sunset with
the ones you love. Am I right, or am I
right?
No answer.
Ralph starts SHUFFLING through his pockets.
RALPH (CONT'D)
(quietly)
It's a pity I can't enjoy that
anymore...Oh well.
WOMAN
What?
Ralph takes a small crumpled CANDY WRAPPER from his trench
coat pocket.
RALPH
Lifesaver?
He pops one into his mouth and offers one over to the lady.
RALPH (CONT'D)
These things are great. Everybody loves a
Lifesaver.
The woman shakes her head. With a SHRUG, he places the candy
back into his pocket.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Gotta love the smell of summer.
He peers over the edge and gives out a short WHISTLE.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Phew, that's a fair drop.
A truck drives by overhead.
WOMAN
What did you say?
RALPH
(shouting)
I said it's a fair drop.
He's pointing down.
WOMAN
No. What you said a second ago, about not
being able to enjoy it anymore.
RALPH
Oh...that.
He scratches his ruffled head.
RALPH (CONT'D)
It might take a while to explain. You got
time?
He winces with that question.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Sorry.
The woman backs away and slouches down shaking her head in
disbelief.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Tell you what...under the
circumstances...for both of us, I'll give
you the breakfast bar version.
He pauses.
RALPH (CONT'D)
You see, over the last week I have lost
my wife, my job, my house and my best
friend...and the kicker? My goldfish
died.
He sighs.
RALPH (CONT'D)
I'll give you the pieces, you put it
together...My wife cheated on me, my best
friend betrayed me, his brother fired me,
and no one fed my fish. It was like a
sick twisted version of Three's Company.
RALPH (CONT'D)
I'm not boring you am I?
WOMAN
No...you're not.
RALPH
Dare I ask?
She starts crying again.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Why do I have that affect on women?
WOMAN
It's not you...I don't know exactly.
Ralph looks shocked.
RALPH
You don't know!
She looks up abruptly
RALPH (CONT'D)
Go on...
WOMAN
I don't know. I mean, I'm not happy,
that's for sure. I'm finding every day is
a struggle for me. I just can't keep
doing it anymore.
She wipes her face with the back of her hand.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
I guess, I guess I'm scared.
RALPH
Of what?
WOMAN
Are you a religious man?
RALPH
Some say so, yes.
WOMAN
Well...I don't have the energy to live
anymore, but I'm so scared of death. I'm
just so confused.
RALPH
Well...why don't you start at the
beginning.
Ralph sits down.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Why are you so sad? Have you lost
something you love? What about your
family?
WOMAN
My husband loves me, my two great kids
love me. I couldn't of asked for anything
more.
RALPH
But...are you?
WOMAN
No! I'm the luckiest woman in the world.
RALPH
Okay then. You're job. Let me guess,
you're a lawyer?
She laughs a little.
WOMAN
Well, yes and no. I work at a law firm. A
huge one. Something I have spent my whole
life to do. It's important to me, but
really...I wonder if I'd be missed if I
was gone. I've always wondered how long
it would take before they noticed. I've
always guessed around six or seven days.
RALPH
Sounds like that firm from that
movie...what was it called. You know, the
one with that Cruise fellow...
He shakes his head...
RALPH (CONT'D)
Anyhow. I'd think you would be surprised.
WOMAN
Have you ever wondered if you have chosen
the right path in life?
RALPH
(smiling)
I think at one point, everyone has.
WOMAN
I have so many questions that I can't
answer. Am I a good mother? A good wife?
RALPH
Have you ever cheated?
WOMAN
No!
RALPH
Well, you're one up on my ex.
WOMAN
I turn on the TV, and it's all doom and
gloom. Red this, Yellow that. Don't be
afraid. Be afraid. Be vigilant...but
carry a first aid kit. Be strong, but
expect the worst. Be prepared, but we can
never be ready. It just doesn't make
sense. I worry about my kids. Their
future? How can I protect them? From
themselves?
RALPH
The best thing a mother can do, is be a
good mother to them...and I know you are.
Both pause and look out over the bay.
RALPH (CONT'D)
You can't change the world, but you can
help the next generation understand what
we are doing wrong.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Have you talked to your husband about
this?
WOMAN
No...I can't.
RALPH
Can't?
WOMAN
He's got a lot more to worry about.
RALPH
Have you thought about tomorrow? What
will your family do without you?
WOMAN
It will be hard to start with, but in the
long run it will be easier for them.
RALPH
You know...I wish I was back in your
position. Back when things could be
fixed, or come to a better solution for
everyone...
He looks up.
RALPH (CONT'D)
You have a chance...a choice to make.
Here, another fork in the road lies. You
can take the shortcut, jump, and all your
worries will be gone like that.
He SNAPS his fingers.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Or you can go the scenic route, discover
more about who you are, more about the
love in your family. Talk it
through...you may be surprised what your
husband has to say.
WOMAN
I...I don't know.
RALPH
Look, you have a great husband and
fantastic kids with a great future. If
you jump, your family is jumping with
you.
WOMAN
You...think so.
RALPH
I know so.
He gives her a WARM smile.
RALPH (CONT'D)
You've made this decision before, and
you've always made the right decision.
Why change now.
She gives him a puzzled look.
RALPH (CONT'D)
Lucky guess.
She finally gets up.
WOMAN
Well...I can't swim anyway.
She pauses.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
You think it can get better?
RALPH
If you let it... Everyday is a chosen
road along the path of life. Everyone is
allowed a pit stop once and awhile.
He gives her a WINK.
WOMAN
What about you?
RALPH
Who knows...I like to take things, well
one...step at a time.
He turns back to her.
RALPH (CONT'D)
I think I've just made another decision.
The woman laughs, and turns to pick up her purse from the
corner.
WOMAN
Thank you...
She turns back to find the ledge EMPTY. She draws her hand to
her mouth in a GASP. Slowly, she peers over the edge...
Nothing but some passing DOVES.
She looks up at the empty ladder leading away from the ledge.
She grabs the fist ring of the ladder and starts climbing.
FADE OUT:
THE END.
Original Idea, sometime in 2002. Rewritten March 18th/19th 2004.
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