At First Sight Page #3

VIRGIL:

Anyways, I was in the neighborhood --

actually the whole town's my neighborhood

-- and since you've never been to our

illustrious village, I thought maybe we could

go into town - see what we see.

AMY:

See what we see?

VIRGIL:

Figure of speech

.

AMY:

You mean right now, tonight?

VIRGIL:

Great - I'm blind and you're deaf - what a pair.

EXT. MAIN STREET - EVENING

A few store windows lit up. Some people eating dinner at a

streetside cafe. Virgil, holding Amy's arm as they walk down the

street.

WITH AMY AND VIRGIL WALKING:

VIRGIL:

... the Mechanic at the top of the street is Doug - smokes too

much - but a good guy. Three steps down is Carlson's hardware

- he's got a laugh like a donkey - we sometimes listen to games

together - he's a Devil's fan. And just up ahead should be Grady's

junk shop - he calls it "antiques"...

Smells like junk. I'd hate to see what it looks like

.

A woman bustles past, NANCY BENDER, weighed down with groceries.

VIRGIL:

(intuitively)

Hey Nancy.

NANCY:

Hey Virgil - got that book in for you.

VIRGIL:

Nancy's our librarian, brings in

any braille book I want.

NANCY:

(to Amy)

The guy's nuts about the pyramids -

anything he can get his hands on...

VIRGIL:

Thank-you Nancy - you should get your

groceries home - your ice cream's melting.

Nancy laughs - as she moves off.

AMY:

Nice place - you seem to know everyone here.

VIRGIL:

Moved here when I was eight.

My family figured it would be a

good place for me to grow up.

Tell me what you see.

AMY:

Well, there's a good structure to the

town - genuine lines, good use of space.

To be honest I'd find a better balance

to a lot of these buildings. But that's me.

VIRGIL:

What's you?

AMY:

The architect in me - can't leave well

enough alone. Art school in college -

I made the arms for the Venus DeMilo.

(realizing he probably doesn' t understand)

see, the Venus De Milo has no arms and...

VIRGIL:

(laughs)

I know the Venus De Milo has no arms, and

the Mona Lisa has this captivating smile

and David doesn't wear a fig leaf.

AMY:

How do you...

VIRGIL:

I may not have been a lot of places -

but I read about things, then make an

image up here -- (points to his head)

--that works for me.

Grazing his hand across a telephone pole - Virgil stops - turns to

Amy.

VIRGIL:

This is the end of the street.

We should turn back.

AMY:

What about past the end of the street?

What's out there?

He turns around.

VIRGIL:

(shrugs)

Nothing.

AMY:

No - there's an old run down

building off to the side...

VIRGIL:

Must be the old firehouse.

It had a fire so they shut it down. (Amy laughs)

Honest to God.

(intrigued)

What else do you see?

AMY:

A wall of shrubs -

a field with an interesting configuration of trees.

The wind has picked up a bit.

VIRGIL:

Tell me how you see it.

AMY:

(enjoying the game)

OK, sure. Let's see - long and elegant. Like --

like a woman dancing with two lovers, trying

to decide which one she loves.

Virgil stops a moment - takes in the image.

AMY:

What?

VIRGIL:

It's just - the image you just

gave me - "Dancing trees. - I like that.

Virgil stops - his head c*cks slightly.

VIRGIL:

We should go - it's starting to rain.

AMY:

(looking around)

There's a bit of a breeze but--

KABOOM - thunder - and the rain just drops.

INT. FIREHOUSE - NIGHT

They run in laughing - Amy closing the door behind them as Virgil

moves his way into the center of the room - stands where the

moonlight from a high window hits the floor. Water runs down the

outside glass, causing the light to ripple across him. The room is

empty - almost surreal.

AMY:

I can't believe how fast it happens...

(she sees Virgil - his head cocked towards the ceiling)

AMY:

Virgil?

Virgil's head turns toward her.

VIRGIL:

You like rain - I love the rain.

AMY:

(moving to him)

What were you just doing there?

Virgil slowly moves his head about, sensing the room.

VIRGIL:

Listening - the rain - it brings out the

contours of everything, gives life to

a room I can't see.

WE SEE SLOW MOVING CUTS of the building as Virgil describes what he

hears.

VIRGIL:

You hear it?...on the roof dripping down the

walls on every side. On the right, on the

drainpipe, it's drumming with a deeper,

steadier sound - - like a timpani - echoing

across the room - tells me the room is large

- open. You feel it - in your chest? On the left,

the rain says... (he listens)

...a fire escape, with it's own rhythm

- ping - ping. Then listen - there...

(he points)

--what's that - over there...?

AMY:

Looks like it's...

VIRGIL:

No, listen for it - not what it

looks like - what it becomes.

Come here.

Amy moves closer - Virgil puts his hands out on her shoulders -

turns her to the sound.

VIRGIL:

Now just listen to it - shut out

everything but that sound -

do you hear it?

Amy strains to listen - closes her eyes - her head instinctively

turning - no in unison with Virgil's

AMY:

Yes - there - it's soft - like a shimmer

VIRGIL:

The wind blowing the rain against a window.

AMY:

(smile)

Like a cymbal. It's like our own

percussive symphony, isn't it?

Amy opens her eyes - looks about the room - listening.

VIRGIL:

The world is invisible to me - with my touch it comes

alive. But only one thing at a time. But when it's raining,

I feel everything at once. Sometimes, I wish it could

rain inside rain all around us.

AMY:

(musing)

"Einfuehlung."

VIRGIL:

What?

AMY:

Einfuehlung - it's an architectural term.

It means to share an empathy.

Been a long time since I felt that.

And as they stand listening to the rain, playing its music - Amy

watches him - fascinated by him - then shivers slightly.

VIRGIL:

You're cold, we should go.

AMY:

No, I'm fine, really. It was just something passing

through me - can't explain it - a good thing.

Amy smiles at him - then quietly realizes

he can't see it. She moves close, her

hand reaching out and taking his.

AMY:

What you just showed me … how

I feel - makes me smile.

She takes his hand - hesitates - then puts it on the side of her

face.

VIRGIL:

I see it now. Thank-you.

We hold a beat - enjoying the symphony of rain - then cut to:

EXT. BEAR MTN. LODGE - MORNING

The sun warming the cool morning air. The school bus pulling away to

reveal Virgil making his way into work.

VIRGIL (V.O.)

I thought after yesterday,

you'd never get up on my table again.

INT. MASSAGE ROOM - NEXT DAY

Amy on the table. Virgil squirting oil in his hand - preparing.

AMY:

You kidding? today, I'm looking

for a complete nervous breakdown.

VIRGIL:

I love a challenge.

And as he places his palms carefully on her back - working her back

slowly we hear opera play quietly in the background.

DISSOLVE TO:

Virgil's hands on the small of her back - something amazingly

sensual about how he works her muscles. Amy speaks to him in low

tones - in a state of complete relaxation.

AMY:

Can I ask how long you've been blind?

VIRGIL:

Of course, most people avoid the subject. You tell them

you're blind and they act surprised. "You're blind? Reallv?

I didn't know - you hide it so well." And then they wave their

hand in front of your face just to make sure. (beat)

It started when I was a little over a year old.

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