At First Sight Page #18

VIRGIL:

This look - this look I love.

Amy leans forward and kisses him - and he soon forgets it even

happened. As they kiss we pull slowly back and away as the sun goes

deep gold and we start to hear what sounds like rain:

We cut to:

INT. AMY'S LOFT - NIGHT

And they are still kissing - and we realize they are in the shower -

together - kissing - exploring - very sensual. As Virgil moves to

kiss her neck - her breasts - Amy's head tilts back in to the spray.

AMY:

Virgil - it's raining.

And he moves up again - looks her in the eyes - and for a moment his

eyesight shudders ever so slight1y - it goes away and they kiss

again.

EXT. AMY'S LOFT - MORNING

Amy and Virgil on the street - each hailing separate cabs.

AMY:

So - eight o'clock tonight.

VIRGIL:

Eight o'clock - building opening -

I haven't forgotten.

She blows him a kiss and she's gone. Virgil watches her cab pull

away - clear something is bothering him.

HIS POV - his vision going in and out. Then clear, then clouded

again.

INT. DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB - DAY

Virgil's massage room. Not as organized as he had at Bear Mtn..

Virgil is working on an OVERWEIGHT MAN - his back is splotchy from

too much sun.

Virgil massaging - becomes preoccupied with his skin's imperfections

- losing his concentration.

OVERWEIGHT MAN:

Hey, Virgil - I'm the one supposed

to fall asleep here.

VIRGIL:

Yes - sorry.

He closes his eyes - gets back into his rhythm.

INT. ATHLETIC CLUB - LATER

Virgil, pack over his shoulder leaving for the day - about to cut

through the weight room - when it suddenly comes to a halt.

His POV - his vision fading in and out - and then suddenly quick

flashes of black. On the final BLACK:

We smash to:

INT. NEW YORK HOSPITAL - DAY

Virgil at the desk. The Nurse looks up.

VIRGIL:

Daphne - I need to see Dr. Aaron

- right away. It's an emergency.

INT. NEW YORK HOSPITAL - EXAM ROOM - DAY

Dr. Aaron is again examining Virgil on the Electroretinogram. Done,

Aaron pulls the machine out of the way. Looks at Virgil - rubs his

hand across his face.

VIRGIL:

What does that mean?

AARON:

What?

VIRGIL:

What you just did?

Virgil imitates him.

AARON:

It means - the machine is only registering

sparks of activity - retinal sparks -

followed by nothing. How long has this

been going on?

VIRGIL:

I don't know - first I thought I was

tired - some blurs - occasional cloudiness

but it's been getting worse. Today I'm

getting complete blackouts.

AARON:

Your retinal function is down ten

percent. I'm afraid - your retinal

disease seems to have returned.

VIRGIL:

You're afraid. What does that mean - I

thought you corrected it. You told me

I was a 'seeing person'.

AARON:

Now, you've every right to be upset.

Maybe you didn't have the blood vessels

to supply enough oxygen to the retinas.

- Possibly some trauma - there are so

many variables...(beat)

to be honest, I don't know. I wish to God I did.

Virgil stands, anxious - starts pacing.

VIRGIL:

OK. You're the expert. Tell me - what

do we do now - how do we repair this?

AARON:

Virgil. I -- I wish there was a

nice way to say this.

Virgil backs away - doesn't want to hear it.

VIRGIL:

No - there is no nice way to say it is

there. No nice way to let the man know

it's all over - that.. he's going blind again!

AARON:

Virgil, I understand what...

VIRGIL:

No you don't! Don't ever say that.

You'll never understand. Ever!

Aaron stands there - says nothing - tries to let Virgil's anger

dissipate. A long moment.

VIRGIL:

How long?

AARON:

Hard to say.

Month - few weeks -

(beat)

Days.

Virgil stands there stunned - then looking to Aaron.

VIRGIL:

God, what do I tell Amy?

What do I tell her?

On Virgil's face.

INT. EYE INSTITUTE HALLWAY - DAY

Virgil steps into the hall - Sees:

A FIVE YEAR OLD BOY - blind - eyes half shut - hands reaching out,

plodding it' a half circle over to where his mother waits for him.

And we see the realization on Virgil's face of seeing his past - and

what he will return to:

EXT. STREETS - DAY

Virgil RUNNING, RUNNING, best he can - through the crowded street -

hands out - bumping into people - desperate - scared - trying to run

from himself - from his fate.

WHAM - he comes to a stop - out of breath - he looks left - right -

where do you go - then sees something off screen. His face torn with

fear - he moves forward - hand out - reaching to a window - to his

own REFLECTION.

And we push slowly in on the reflection as he touches the window -

his hand on his face - a face he may never see again - and a cloud

passes overhead and his reflection is gone.

EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAY

Virgil stands at the site - amidst the rubble and mud. His Father

walks slowly over to him - raising his arms to embrace him.

Virgil takes a step back - not, ready - his father stops,

understands - looks his son up and down.

FATHER:

You look good. Hey - how do I look?

VIRGIL:

I need some answers. Why'd you leave? Because

I'm blind - or because I quit trying to see?

FATHER:

To the point - I like that -

something you got from me.

VIRGIL:

Cut the bullshit - "dad". I don't hear from

you for over twenty years - then you find

out I can see and all of a sudden you show up?

FATHER:

(looks around)

Hey. Virge - can we talk about this later, huh...

VIRGIL:

No, not later. Now! Was my blindness so

wrong that made you tear our family apart.

Virgil's riled his father. He steps towards Virgil tries to speak

under his breath.

FATHER:

Every morning I woke up and looked at you

and saw my own failures. If I couldn't get

my own son to see then...What difference

does any of this make - you can see now

- hell, I knew you could.

Virgil watches his father - this stranger. His eyes start to well.

VIRGIL:

I'm going blind again.

His Father looks at him - stunned. He reels from the news - takes a

step back.

FATHER:

No...

VIRGIL:

The doctor told me today. You're the first

person I've told. I wanted to come see

you before it was completely gone.

FATHER:

(speechless)

A beat and Virgil's father takes another step back, then turns and

walks away - forever.

EXT. NEW BUILDING - LATE DAY

Virgil standing across the street. Trying to take in the building

EXT. NEW BUILDING - LATE DAY

Standing at the front as a security guard opens the door.

GUARD:

Sorry the building doesn't open until tonight.

VIRGIL:

I know. I'm Virgil Anderson...with Roswell

Tremont. We did the lobby. I'm here to

check some details for tonight.

GUARD:

Oh, okay, sure Mr. Anderson.

INT. LOBBY - LATE DAY

The lobby is pretty, straightforward. Open - a few plants - a large

central check in desk. Simple - unobtrusive - nothing exceptional or

unique.

Virgil moves his way about the lobby - looking at it carefully from

every possible angle - his hand grazing across walls, entranceways -

desperately committing as much as he can to memory - finally ending

up in the middle of the room in a final attempt to absorb as much as

he can.

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