12 and Holding Page #8

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JIM (CONT'D) (cont’d)

(half crazed)

I went to work today. For the

first time in weeks. It was as if

I had just gotten out of college!

I was fearless! I went after

accounts I had avoided for years

because I thought they were out of

my league. I spoke to presidents,

vice presidents, business managers,

sales reps. I was amazing. I was

magic. But when I came home to

share the news with your mother, I

discovered her asleep. When I

looked around the house, I realized

that her “office”, for lack of a

better word, was also piled up.

So, I took to the house. I have

made it my duty to clean this place

from top to bottom. Even if it

takes me all night, I don’t care.

Jacob?

JACOB:

(frightened)

Yeah?

JIM:

Will you join me? Join me in this

celebration of life. A symbolic

gesture of cleaning out the old and

bringing in the new.

JACOB:

Do I have to?

JIM:

(thrown for a loop)

No, you don’t have to.

JACOB:

Good night, Dad.

Off Jim’s look -

EXT. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - DAYS LATER - NIGHT

Parents and students file inside. A large SIGN above the

door reads, JEFFERSON JUNIOR HIGH FALL RECITAL.

47.

INT. SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - CONTINUOUS

A packed audience listens to A GIRL (12), standing center

stage and singing “The Rose”. She is not nearly as good as

she thinks she is, but she sings full throttle.

We FIND Malee, sitting in the flute section and playing along

with the rest of the orchestra. She looks to the front row,

but Gus is no where to be found.

The girl finishes her song, and the crowd politely applauds.

Mr. Farmer crosses to the microphone.

MR. FARMER

I’m sure Bette Midler would be most

impressed with that rendition.

The crowd laughs. Mr. Farmer didn’t mean for it to be a

joke.

MR. FARMER (CONT'D) (cont’d)

Anyway, our next soloist is Malee

Chung. She will play the theme

from “Love Story” on the flute.

The crowd applauds as Malee rises and crosses to the

microphone.

MALEE:

Thank you, Mr. Farmer.

Malee spots Gus, walking down the aisle. He scurries into

the front row and sits. Malee lights up.

MALEE (CONT'D) (cont’d)

There’s actually been a change.

I’m not going to play the theme

from “Love Story”. Um... this is a

song...

Mr. Farmer, waves to Malee from off stage. Malee looks at

him. Mr. Farmer mouths something to her.

MALEE (INTO MICROPHONE) (CONT'D)

(to Mr. Farmer)

What? I can’t hear you?

Mr. Farmer throws up his hands.

(CONTINUED)

48.

CONTINUED:

MALEE (CONT'D) (cont’d)

Anyway. This is a song by The

Doors.

At the mention of The Doors, Gus’ smile instantly fades. The

coincidence is just too great.

Malee starts to play “Light My Fire”. She is good. Mr.

Farmer and the audience seem pleased by her euphonious

performance. Even Gus is won over. He appears entranced by

the music.

INT. SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - LATER THAT NIGHT

The recital is over. Most of the audience has filed out. A

few remain, offering their congratulations to the musicians.

Malee stands with Leonard.

MALEE:

Where’s Jacob?

LEONARD:

Couldn’t make it. He...

GUS (O.S.)

Malee.

Malee spots Gus, heading towards her.

MALEE:

Oh my God! He’s coming over.

LEONARD:

Who?

MALEE:

Shut up! Leave now.

Malee pushes Leonard behind her just as Gus approaches.

GUS:

You were awesome.

MALEE:

Really? Be honest. I’d rather you

tell me I sucked then lie.

GUS:

You were great.

Leonard peeks around Malee’s back.

(CONTINUED)

49.

CONTINUED:

MALEE:

Excuse me for a second.

Malee turns around and pinches Leonard.

LEONARD:

Ow, ow, ow alright. I’m going.

Leonard walks off. Malee turns back around with a big smile

on her face. She plays coy.

MALEE:

So you really enjoyed it?

GUS:

Yeah. Good song. What made you

pick it?

MALEE:

(covering)

Oh, uh... my mother was humming it

all last week. Big Doors fan.

GUS:

Really? Is she here?

MALEE:

No.

GUS:

She missed out.

MALEE:

You’re so sweet.

GUS:

Yeah well, I have to go, but thanks

again. I had a great time.

Gus gives Malee an innocent kiss on the check and then walks

off. Malee melts. She stands frozen, clutching onto her

flute in ecstacy.

EXT. STREET - MORNING

With fire and determination, Leonard jogs. Unfortunately, he

is quickly winded by the run. He bends over, gasping.

SUPERIMPOSE SHOT OVER SHOT: Leonard appears, running past

his old, weaker self. Stronger, he makes a few more yards

and then is forced to stop.

(CONTINUED)

50.

CONTINUED:

He leans over for air, and we SUPERIMPOSE another SHOT OVER

SHOT of Leonard, weeks later, running past his weaker self.

(This series of shots repeats a few more times, illustrating

the progression of time and weight loss.)

INT. LEONARD’S HOME - STAIRCASE/KITCHEN - DAY

Leonard runs up and down the stairs, sweating like crazy.

Grace appears, watching him around the corner. She shakes

her head and then returns to the kitchen.

GRACE:

That boy is going to bring the

entire house down.

PATRICK:

Let him be. He’s looking good.

I’m proud of him.

GRACE:

(to the girls)

Girls, have you decided what you’re

going to go as for Halloween?

SARA:

Either a witch or a princess.

GRACE:

That’s nice. Haley?

HALEY:

I’m going to go as a marble.

GRACE:

What do you mean, a marble?

HALEY:

You know, like a bag of marbles,

but just one marble.

INT. JUVY HALL - CONVERSATION BOOTHS - LATE AFTERNOON

Jacob and Jeff sit across from each other on the phone. Jeff

has two black eyes and a fat lip. He is crying profusely.

Jacob doesn’t appear at all sympathetic.

JEFF:

I’m really sorry, man. I...

(CONTINUED)

51.

CONTINUED:

JACOB:

You just think about what I said.

Get out of my sight. And send

Kenny in on your way out.

Jeff rises and walks to a door, leading to the jail. A

moment later, Kenny enters, looking pissed off. He sits

across from Jacob and picks up the phone.

KENNY:

What did you say to him?

JACOB:

I thought you’d both like to know

that Halloween was Rudy’s favorite

holiday.

Jacob picks up some pictures and presses them against the

glass.

JACOB (CONT'D) (cont’d)

These are pictures from every

single Halloween since we were

five. You see how happy he was?

KENNY:

Stop it.

JACOB:

After we’d go trick or treating,

we’d sit in our room and swap the

candy we hated. Rudy loved

Snickers, I Almond Joys.

KENNY:

Almond Joy sucks.

JACOB:

What sucks is that I’ll never get

to sit in my room and swap candy

with my brother ever again. Thanks

to you.

KENNY:

Why are you doing this?

JACOB:

To remind you.

(CONTINUED)

52.

CONTINUED:
(2)

KENNY:

How could we forget? You been

coming here for months to “remind

us”.

JACOB:

No one is forcing you to talk to

me.

KENNY:

Anything to get out of my cell.

JACOB:

Is your cell small?

KENNY:

Yes.

JACOB:

So is a coffin.

KENNY:

You’re not the only one who wishes

he was still alive. I’d do

anything to bring him back, but I

can’t. It’s not easy being in

here. Hell, you saw Jeff.

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