At First Sight

EXT. VALLEY - DUSK

Gold light dappling across a valley that seems to reach on forever.

We ease back, revealing more - taking in the visual feast - finally

discovering a seated figure facing out over the valley - a DOG at

his feet.

VIRGIL ANDERSON, life ahead of him - someone seemingly at ease with

himself. As we watch. him a moment - SOUNDS become prominent -

whistle of the wind through the grass - a bird's wings as it takes

flight - a tree branch creaking under its own weight. And as he sits

there, listening, we see the last rays of sunlight slip from the

day.

BLACK - and our TITLES come up.

Then out of the darkness come a pair of HEADLIGHTS. - and we're:

EXT. NEW YORK TURNPIKE - INTO PINECREST - DUSK

An old BMW 2002 making its way up the Taconic Parkway.

INT. BMW - DUSK

On the radio:
Whitney Houston's "I'll Always Love You". AMY TREMONT,

30's, driving, on the phone.

AMY:

I'm lost Betsy, and you know me -

I don't wear lost well - wait, wait I'm losing you...

(the cell phone glitches)

I'm pulling over before you disappear forever.

Amy pulls off the side of the road. Wrestles with a map and the

phone.

AMY:

Sign? I was looking for a sign? There's no...

Her attention is caught by something off camera. She stares out into

the night..

HER POV - A small iced over pond - and in the middle - moving about

is Virgil, ICE SKATING - hockey stick in hand - moving about the

rink with an imaginary puck.

AMY (O.S.)

(distracted)

Yes... I took the first ..... no, no, I'm listening...

Virgil winds up and takes a slap at the ice with his stick - throws

his hands up in the air like he just scored.

Amy smiles, peers off down the road. A sign: BEAR MTN. SPA AND

RESORT 1.4 miles.

AMY:

Wait, I got it - yeah. No don't call me.. right,

unless you hear from Atlanta. And fax me the

designs - I want to tinker with them a bit more

... I'm going to rest - bye - I'll see you in a week.

Beep she hangs up. Looks back out to the pond. It's empty. Shrugs -

about to pull out - that love song still blaring.

AMY:

Oh p-lease, Whitney.

CLICK - she shuts off the radio - and pulls back out onto the road.

EXT. BEAR MTN. HEALTH SPA - NIGHT

Amy pulling luggage out of her car. She takes a breath - clearly

she's exhausted - and starts towards the entrance.

INT. BEAR MTN. HEALTH SPA - RECEPTION DESK - NIGHT

Amy at the front desk with the Night Manager CAROLINE, 30'S,

annoyingly fit.

CAROLINE:

… we have a full weight room, lifecycles,

stairmasters, a spa, yoga, aerobics, spin classes...

AMY:

I'm really just looking for a quick fix, here.

Do you have anything that just involves lying down?

CAROLINE:

A massage.

AMY:

Great. I'll have one a day. Not too early.

INT. BEAR MTN. - MASSAGE WAITING AREA - NEXT DAY

Amy enters, wearing sweats, she checks her watch - looks toward a

closed door - about to grab a magazine when she hears from behind

the door:

WOMAN'S VOICE

Virgil, Oh God..., right there. Yes.

Amy's interest piques - the woman's murmur continuing - deep

ecstasy.

WOMAN'S VOICE

Yes there - a bit more...

(a small bell DINGS)

--wait - wait, you can't stop - one more minute - noo!

VIRGIL'S VOICE

Sorry, Susan - time's up.

I've got someone waiting.

And the door opens - and we see a woman, 60's,

SUSAN, Bette Midler type, backing out of the room.

SUSAN:

Virgil, you have to come live with me.

VIRGIL'S VOICE

And what would your husband say?

Amy, you out there? - c'mon in.

SUSAN:

That's it - I'm getting a divorce.

Amy smiles as she passes Susan and enters.

INT. VIRGIL'S MASSAGE ROOM - DAY

Virgil has his back to us as he prepares the table. The room is very

ordered - every vial, bottle, towel has its exact spot.

VIRGIL:

Hey, Amy, I'm Virgil - why don't you

get ready - hop up on the table.

Amy sees Virgil - his head turned slightly away - she drops her

sweats and lies on the table, face down - pulling the sheet to cover

herself.

AMY:

Sounds like you're a genius at this.

VIRGIL:

(laughs)

That's right.. Mozart, Einstein, Virgil Anderson, massage therapist.

Now I'm going to start working somewhat deep -

you let me know if you want anything deeper.

AMY:

Deeper is good - where I come from,

all you get is shallow.

VIRGIL:

I like that - deep it is.

CLICK - he hits a button on a CD player and as we hear the soulful

aria "Mira, 0 Norma" from Bellini's Norma.

VIRGIL:

First time in Pinecrest?

AMY:

Came in late last night..

missed the town completely.

VIRGIL:

If you came in broad daylight,

you could still miss the town completely.

Dissolve to:

Slow moving cuts of Virgil, working long strokes over Amy's body - -

his hands gracefully LENGTHENING and STRETCHING her muscles.

VIRGIL:

Too much compute? work.

AMY:

Uh-huh.

VIRGIL:

Bad chair - you should think about a change.

AMY:

(quiet)

Absolutely.

Virgil reaches his hands all the way down her spine and makes a move

that causes Amy to release a very deep guttural sound.

VIRGIL:

Too deep?

AMY:

No.. ..... just right.

Amy is now lost in another world - as Virgil shifts - working gently

- not caressing - but molding - like a sculptor.

A moment and Amy, surprisingly, begins to cry - softly. Virgil stops

- takes a step back.

VIRGIL:

I - I'm sorry - it was too deep...

She cries for another few beats - then takes a breath.

AMY No - it.. it's not you..

It's just things have kinda built up,

I don't know why I'm crying.. look,

this is embarrassing...

VIRGIL Don't be embarrassed -

you obviously needed it.

We should stop for today.

AMY Yeah, thanks.

You always make the girls cry.

VIRGIL:

Not since grade school.

I'm going to go now - unless you'd like me to stay.

AMY:

Could you - just for a minute?

VIRGIL:

Of course, whatever you need.

Virgil sits next to her - then reaches out - takes her hand and

starts a slow comforting massage - we see Amy visibly relax.

AMY:

You ever feel like a Martian's

invaded your entire body?

VIRGIL:

Every day.

Amy, closes her eyes - smiling slightly in thanks.

INT. VIRGIL'S MASSAGE ROOM - LATER

CAMERA pans slowly over to Amy asleep - and on the click of the door

- her eyes dreamily open.

AMY:

Virgil?

INT. BEAR MTN. HEALTH SPA - LATE DAY

Hallway outside the massage area. Amy exits the change room, now

wearing her sweats - pulling on her sneakers.

VIRGIL (O.S.)

(calling out)

Hey Caroline, you look incredible today.

CAROLINE (O.S.)

(laughing)

Quite a compliment, Virgil. See ya tomorrow.

VIRGIL (O.S.)

See ya.

Amy looks down the hall - sees a glimpse of Virgil rounding the

corner. She chases after hi~n into the reception area where she sees

him exiting the door and moving of f down the driveway.

AMY:

Virgil - wait...

He's gone. Hopping along, tugging on her last sandal - she decides

to go after him - fighting her way through a large tour group just

checking in.

EXT. BEAR MTN. SPA - LATE DAY

Virgil in the distance, moving his way towards the main street. Amy

exiting the building - trying not to slip on the ice as she, hurries

after him - trying to get close enough to call out.

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