At First Sight Page #15

WAITER (O.S.)

Here ya go Virgil.

Virgil turns - the Waiter stands there holding a glass of wine -

placing it carefully into Virgil's hand:

VIRGIL:

Cheers, Kevin.

AMY (0.S.)

(over the noise)

Virgil!!

Virgil embarrassed, turns - can faintly hear Amy's voice over the

music. Searches the room - bopping bodies - balloons being bashed

round - lights dim. The number of drinks he's had isn't helping.

AMY:

Virgil--over here!!

Amy, standing with Duncan and Betsy.

DUNCAN:

Maybe he's blind again.

AMY:

Don't even think it. C'mon - I want the

both of you to meet him - he'll never

find us here.

With VIRGIL - smiling as he sees Amy, Duncan and Betsy move towards

him.

AMY:

Virgil - I'm sorry - I went to get

Duncan. Duncan - Virgil. And this is

Betsy.

DUNCAN:

Hey Virgil good to meet you.

BETSY:

Heard a lot about you.

VIRGIL:

Heyyy! Yeah. Good to meet you.

Virgil thrusts his hand out - colliding it into Duncan's.

VIRGIL:

Sorry - things still get a

little cockeyed sometimes.

DUNCAN:

(holding up his drink)

Few more of these and I'll be the same.

VIRGIL:

Lemme get Kevin - my man -

he'll top you up. KE-VIN!!!

AMY:

Virgil!

VIRGIL:

What?

Uncomfortable - everyone stops.

AMY:

Nothing. It's ok.

DUNCAN:

Amy, in Atlanta tomorrow...

AMY:

Duncan - I told you...

DUNCAN:

I spoke to Falk and he...

AMY:

(can't hear)

What?

Duncan pulls Amy in close to talk - shutting Virgil and Betsy out.

BETSY:

Amy said you had great hands.

VIRGIL:

(laughs)

She did, did she.

Virgil holds them up in front of his face - tries to see them. Then

looks past them and watches Amy and Duncan - more importantly looks

at Duncan's hair, his clothes. It's clear he's becoming aware of

appearances. His own especially.

As they break their tete a tete.

BETSY:

You know my father was blind for several

years, he had cataracts as well.

Somehow this comes out patronizing.

VIRGIL:

Really. I'm surprised I don't

know him. It's a club you know.

Kevin, the African American waiter comes up.

KEVIN:

Yes.

Virgil throws his arm around Kevin.

VIRGIL:

Kevin - Duncan here the birthday man

- could use himself a drink. Kevin here

tells me he's black - did you know that

- I mean look at him - look at me -

isn't that the damnedest thing. He's black.

Amy is mortified, Kevin laughs.

KEVIN:

I'll get you a drink.

Virgil looks to Amy.

VIRGIL:

What's that look?

AMY:

What look?

VIRGIL:

I've never seen your face that way

before. It's.. .weird. What does it mean?

Before she can answer - a dance song breaks out - Betsy wraps her

arm around Duncan's.

BETSY:

Come on Duncan - let's dance -

move those old bones.

Duncan only acknowledges Betsy's contact with a raised eyebrow to

Amy.

DUNCAN:

What the hell it's my birthday -- nice to

meet you Virgil - see you at the opening.

And they're gone onto the floor. Virgil watches him - sees the ease

with which Duncan moves, handles things.

VIRGIL:

Opening?

AMY:

The lobby we designed. Virgil - you can't...

VIRGIL:

Let's dance.

Virgil takes her arm and pulls her out on the floor. Amy - ready for

one of Virgil's wild dances takes hold of his hand. The music

blaring, Virgil starts to get into it - Amy starting to relax - then

Virgil slowly notices how everyone else is dancing - more

conservative.

He's even getting some looks from people. Slowly he winds down -

tries to mimic what everyone else is doing - ends up in just a slow

shuffle.

Amy watches him - sees he's uncomfortable - moves to him - but

Virgil turns on his heel and strides away. Amy follows after him.

INT. LOFT - CORNER - NIGHT

Virgil stands near the glass doors leading to an outdoor balcony.

Amy comes up to him - finds Virgil facing a wall - eyes shut.

AMY:

What are you doing?

Virgil's head c*cks slightly towards her - just like when he was

blind.

VIRGIL:

I feel like Rip Van Winkle.

I've woken up from a thirty year sleep

- and the world's passed me by.

AMY:

It's just dancing. Who cares?

Virgil whirls on her - his hand on her shoulder to steady his look

at her.

VIRGIL:

No-no-no-no. It's not the Goddamn dancing.

I wanted to come here tonight - show you I

could "fit" in. Like the big boys do. Big

seeing boys. Yes. Well, I don't. Don't.

AMY:

It's just going to take time.

You weren't ready. We shouldn't have come.

VIRGIL:

No - I - me, shouldn't have come.

You want me to see - but you know what

- you know what - sh*t - I don't belong

in the wonderful world of seeing.

Amy reaches out to him.

AMY:

Virgil … look ….

Amy realizes what she just said - Virgil pulls his arm away.

VIRGIL:

No, I won't. I'm tired of looking.

F*** looking and the horse it came in on.

And he spins to get away from her and takes a step crashing right

into the sliding glass door which explodes in a shower of little

crystals.

The party slams to a halt - Amy stands stunned. Virgil shaken - tiny

cuts on his face.

AMY:

Oh my God, are you alright?

Virgil slams his eyes shut.

VIRGIL:

Yeah, I'm just fine. Take me home.

INT. AMY'S LOFT - NEXT MORNING

Virgil, small nicks on his face, wakes up - rolls over - feels the

empty bed beside him. Looks up to see Amy pulling her coat on -

suitcase at her side.

AMY:

Didn't want to wake you.

VIRGIL:

You're going.

AMY:

I'll only be a couple of days.

VIRGIL:

This isn't working.

AMY:

What - we're not working - your eyes

- what's not working?

VIRGIL:

I get up every morning - I look in the mirror

- and I stare at a total stranger. I stare and

I stare - and no matter how hard I look - I

don't see Virgil there anywhere. And the more

I look at you...

AMY:

What? You don't see me?

VIRGIL:

I saw you better when I was blind.

AMY:

Well, you're not blind any more.

I'm sorry if that disappoints you.

(beat)

I've got a plane to catch. I'm going

to go before we say things we don't mean.

And she grabs her bag and is out the door. As we hold on Virgil's

face.

AT THE WINDOW - Virgil looking out - watching Amy get in the cab.

As she drives away we see Virgil watch the car recede - then his

hand goes out.

HIS POV - his hand grasping at the tiny disappearing cab - trying to

hold onto it like in Times Square - trying not to let it go.

INT. FALK BOARD ROOM - DAY

CLOSE ON - Amy's sketches. The Mall has been integrated into the two

large trees - giving it shelter and shape.

FALK (O.S.)

I love it.

Amy and Duncan sit across from Falk, a man in his 40's - earned

everything he's got - no bullshit kinda guy.

FALK:

But we already cut those trees down.

EXT. NYU CAMPUS - DAY

Kids milling about. A young couple neck unabashedly against a wall.

We see this is Virgil's POV - he's watching - people together.

INT. NYU HALLWAY - DAY

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