At First Sight Page #7

VIRGIL:

I don't get it - am I missing the sign

that says it's help the handicapped week.

Virgil starts to move away. Amy stops him.

AMY:

I thought you'd be excited. What's the problem?

Virgil turns on her.

VIRGIL:

No problem. That's the whole point

here Amy - there is no goddamned problem.

And Virgil turns and bumps into a stationary bike, he SHOVES it off

to the side, and makes his way out of the gym.

INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY

Virgil enters, visibly upset - passing a CO-WORKER coming out of the

shower.

CO-WORKER

Hey Virgil.

Virgil steams right past him - not answering - hands feeling down

the lockers - finding his - he tugs it open - pulls off his shirt

and throws it in. He takes a breath, settles himself - then SLAMS

the locker door shut.

EXT. JENNIE'S SCHOOL

PARENTS are picking up their CHILDREN from Jennie's school. As

Jennie helps the last of the kids into her mother's car - she looks

up to see Amy across the street.

JENNIE:

Amy, right?

Amy nods - starts towards her.

AMY:

I'd like to talk to you if

I could -- about Virgil.

JENNIE:

Something wrong?

AMY:

Sort of. There's something I don't

understand. You see I spoke to a doctor

who's apparently doing breakthrough

work on cataracts -

(Jennie turns to Amy)

- but when I brought it up to Virgil he acted as if...

JENNIE:

What don't you understand?

AMY:

If I was blind almost all my life --

and there was even a remote possibility

I could see - I'd jump at it.

JENNIE:

When there's something you've adapted to,

accepted - you'd just want to change

it without even thinking about it?

(beat)

We're very comfortable here, Amy.

Virgil has everything he needs.

AMY:

I thought just maybe he'd like to not

be falling over things for the rest

of his life. Look, I see...

JENNIE:

(cuts her off)

Yes you do and Virgil doesn't. He spent

the first eight years of his life having

his eyes prodded, pierced and poked by

doctors, faith healers, spiritualists,

shamans and medicine men. My father had them

lined up out the door. It hurt and disappointed

us all and it almost killed him. He doesn't

need to go through that again. Now - maybe

you understand.

And she turns on her heel and is gone.

EXT. VIRGIL'S COTTAGE - LATE DAY

Amy making her way up to the porch - hearing from inside.

VIRGIL (V.0.)

No, no - why - why?!

She hurries up the steps, reaching the open door where she sees

Virgil, his head in his hands.

VIRGIL (V.0)

I can't believe you're doing this to me.

AMY:

What - Virgil?

Virgil turns sharply - Sophie jumps up - starts barking.

VIRGIL:

Sophie - stop it. Amy? C'mon in - it's just

the Rangers. I could check better than these

guys today.

AMY:

They lost?

VIRGIL:

I prefer to think of it as not winning.

I thought you would have been long gone

after that outburst from my evil twin

brother. We've had him committed you

know. Rikers Island - hard time.

(standing)

Can I get you something - - Coke - beer?

AMY:

No - I - I'm fine. I just wanted apologize

for stomping around in life like Bigfoot today.

Virgil turns towards Amy.

VIRGIL:

Amy, you see the big tree outside?

How far is it from my front porch?

AMY:

Guessing, about thirty feet.

VIRGIL:

To you. But to me, it's fourteen steps exactly.

Fourteen steps and I arrive right where I want

to be. But -- if I run or rush, I'll lose count

and slam into it.

AMY:

I'm sorry. Told you - can't leave well enough

alone. I - I guess I should get back, start to pack...

VIRGIL:

Rushing into trees again?

Off Amy's smile we CUT TO:

EXT. VIRGIL'S HOUSE - NIGHT

On the Porch - the two of them - sipping glasses of wine - we see

their dinner - Hungry Man beef entree - each category of food in

it's own perfect little compartment.

AMY:

You know this dinner - this is really quite...

VIRGIL:

Ordinary?

(she laughs)

It's an acquired taste - trust me.

Jennie thinks it's the only way I'll

know where my food is. But I have a

secret weapon.

(holds up a little bottle)

Hot sauce! Let's you know you're eating

something - like some.

He starts to sprinkle liberally on Amy's food. Amy, laughing grabs

the bottle.

AMY:

That's OK - I'll do it.

Don't want to overdo it.

She puts the bottle down - looks to Virgil - sips her wine. Time to

face it.

AMY:

Virgil - I have to go home tomorrow...

VIRGIL:

Wait, wait - you smell that?

AMY:

No - what?

VIRGIL:

The winter pines - it's so strong at

night - drifts on the wind - wait -

hear the breeze then...

AMY:

There.

Amy closes her eyes - takes in the scent - and they both sit there -

close - taking in the night air - enjoying the moment.

And on Virgil's face we see him lost in thought.

INT. VIRGIL'S HOME - NIGHT

CLOSE ON VIRGIL - eyes closed - we hear a sound - like night

crickets. His eyes slowly open.

He rolls over - his arm reaching out for her:

But there's no one there. Virgil sits upright.

VIRGIL:

Amy?

Amy is sitting in a chair by the window.

AMY:

I'm here - trouble sleeping.

VIRGIL:

C'mere.

And she crawls back into bed, Virgil takes hold of her and as she

settles into his arm, he strokes her face gently - a blind man's

version of watching his lover fall to sleep.

BLACK - then we hear voices

INT. VIRGIL'S BEDROOM - MORNING

CLOSE ON:
Amy's face - the voices awaken her - cutting into her

dreams.

She looks out the doorway - sees Virgil and Jenny arguing on the

front porch. She can't hear what they are saying - but it's clear

there's a problem.

INT. VIRGIL'S LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Amy pulling a robe around herself - comes into the room - as Jenny

turns on her heel and walks away from Virgil.

EXT. PORCH - MORNING

Virgil stands there a moment - taking in what just happened. Amy

steps out onto the porch.

AMY:

Everything alright?

VIRGIL:

Yeah, yeah. Morning - Look,

something I want to say...

AMY:

The leaving thing - I know - hate it too.

VIRGIL:

The other night - when we were dancing -

being with you - I felt different -

special - I don't know - whole.

AMY:

That was whole?

Virgil puts his hand out - she takes it - he turns to her.

VIRGIL:

(smile)

Just for a second I felt like I could see

you - all of you.

(beat)

What you said about this Doctor, this eye guy -

I know how important it is to you...

AMY:

(turns to him)

Are you sure you want to do this?

VIRGIL:

We're just going to talk to the guy

- what could it hurt?

Off Amy's smile:

SMASH TO:

EXT. GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE - MORNING

A soaring shot. Amy's car - travelling across the bridge - heading

towards Manhattan.

AMY (V.0.)

You're going to love the city

- so many things to see.

INT. CAR - MORNING

Virgil in the passenger seat - windows open - taking in all the

sounds - new and exciting. Amy watches him as she drives.

VIRGIL:

(laughing)

Waitwaitwait - he hasn't said he

can even do anything yet.

AMY:

I know I just feel good about this.

(Amy looks to him - sees him feeling

the light against his face)

Virgil, before you lost all sight,

do you remember seeing anything at all?

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