At First Sight Page #22

AMY:

Are you finished?

DUNCAN:

Not even close. Let me tell you something

- you can't change people to solve you.

You tried to do it with me - you tried

to do it with Virgil. You ever think

some of the things you try to fix

- ain't broke.

And he's gone - as Amy slumps into a chair - confused, tired - then

slowly she starts to hear:

TAP - TAP - TAP...TAPTAP - TAP

The SOUND of a CANE in the stairwell! Amy's heart starts racing -

she takes a breath - jumps up quickly and moves her way over to the

door - unlocking it and swinging it open:

AMY:

(excitedly)

Virg .......

The CANE - being held by Ethan - as he taps his way down the stairs.

ETHAN:

Hey Amy.

AMY:

Hi, Ethan. Sorry - I thought...

ETHAN:

He's not coming back is he?

AMY:

No - he's not.

Ethan sees she's covered in dust - looks past her into the loft.

ETHAN:

Whatcha doin'?

He looks past her at the sculpture half repaired.

AMY:

Cleaning up a mess - going to start over.

EXT. PINECREST - SUNSET

Virgil walks the path, Sophie following close behind. By the way he

walks, counting steps, touching landmarks, we realize he is using

sight very little.

EXT. HIDDEN VALLEY - SUNSET

Coming through the clearing, to the plateau where he took Amy, the

leaves now starting to turn golden colors - he stops - stands over

top of the pond.

VIRGIL'S POV - A retinal spark. The view across the valley, with

white clouds against the bluest sky.

His hand reaches out - to touch the edge of the world - to touch the

horizon.

And as he drops his hand, we see the clouds start to race by - while

the blue sky goes golden then drifts into darkness. Virgil doesn't

move from the spot. The screen goes almost black - then slowly the

sun starts to rise in the east.

Virgil makes no movement. A long beat - then - as the sun moves

across him - he realizes it's day. He stands and unfolds his cane.

It's clear he has returned to being completely blind.

As he turns and starts his way down the hill we hear:

VIRGIL (V.O.)

Growing up blind - I had two dreams.

One was to see. The other - to play

for the New York Rangers.

INT. LECTURE HALL - N.Y. EYE INSTITUTE - DAY

Virgil stands at the podium speaking - dark glasses on, cane in

hand.

VIRGIL:

After the 'miracle' of my short period of

sight - I realize - I'd rather play for the Rangers.

(laughs from the dark)

It's not that it was so awful - I saw many

things - some good, some back some that

I'm already forgetting.

INT. WEBSTER'S LAB - NYU

VIRGIL (V.O.)

But I realized that our eyes aren't what

make us see. We only live in darkness

when we don't look - look at what is

genuine about ourselves - genuine

about others - you don't need eyes for that.

Virgil sitting with three young blind children - working through

Braille with them. Webster watches from the corner of the room.

EXT. NYU - DAY

Virgil - small brown bag in one hand - cane in the other - exits the

building and makes his way across the street to Washington Square.

EXT. WASHINGTON SQUARE - DAY

Virgil - taking in the sun - finishing off the last of his sandwich.

Balling up his paper bag - he taps his cane out - finds the garbage

can nearby - and tosses the bag - rim shot - it misses, hits the

ground. A hand reaches into frame and puts the bag in the garbage.

Virgil looks up - senses the presence.

VIRGIL:

Did I miss?

VOICE (O.S)

By a mile.

VIRGIL:

Amy?

ANGLE ON Amy:
watching Virgil - realizing his sight is gone.

AMY:

Ray told me you were living in town

- said I could find you here.

(beat)

I rushed, didn't I? Fourteen steps

to the tree and I made us smash

right into it.

VIRGIL:

We tried.

Amy sits next to him.

AMY:

I finished the sculpture.

I'd love you to see it.

VIRGIL:

Figure of speech.

AMY:

Figure of speech. Virgil - when I

first met you - you saw more than

any sighted person I've ever known.

I didn't mean to take that away from you.

VIRGIL:

Amy. I saw ... I actually saw

the horizon. You did that for me.

It's out there. You showed me you

just have to reach for it..

Amy smiles - her hand goes out - hesitates - then lands lightly on

his.

AMY:

You want to walk?

VIRGIL:

See what we see?

AMY:

Yeah. Just see what we see.

Virgil smiles, nods. As he stands - he takes her arm - and as they

walk off into the park, we slowly FADE to BLACK and just LISTEN,

listen to the SOUNDS of the day - the percussion of the city.

THE END:

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