Before Midnight

FADE IN:

INT. AIRPORT - AFTERNOON

Jesse and 14-year-old Hank are walking through an airport in

Greece.

JESSE:

So you got everything?

HANK:

Mmm-hmmh.

JESSE:

You going to play video games the

whole flight, or do you think you

might actually crack a book?

HANK:

Probably read some.

JESSE:

If I write you an email, don't be

scared to write me back, okay? It

won't kill you to let your old man

know what you're thinking about and

what's going on, you know?

HANK:

Yeah.

JESSE:

If we want, we could try Skyping

once a week or something.

HANK:

All right...

JESSE:

You got the drawings for your science

deal?

HANK:

Yeah, think so.

JESSE:

Alright, well they turned out great

by the way. Like, really great.

HANK:

Thanks.

They've arrived at the concession stand. Hank grabs a couple

of snacks.

2.

JESSE:

Is your computer charged?

HANK:

Yeah.

JESSE:

What do you think's the first thing

you're gonna do when you get home?

HANK:

I dunno.

JESSE:

I really cherish this communication

we have. You know, it's just - your

answers are so...

HANK:

(interrupting)

What?

Jesse is paying.

JESSE:

Just keep practicing the piano, okay?

You're really good and they spend so

much time at that school of yours...

just remember that music is actually

something you will use in your life.

Right, and don't forget to - you

want those sesame things, right?

They're really good.

HANK:

Yeah.

JESSE:

Right.

(to cashier)

Yassou. Here you go. Thank you.

Okay.

He gets the change and they head to the gate.

JESSE (CONT'D)

I'll probably make it over there in

October, you know? Try to see you

in that first recital and then

hopefully catch a soccer game while

I'm there.

(to cashier)

Efharisto.

3.

HANK:

I might not even play soccer this

year.

JESSE:

Oh, that'd be a big mistake.

me.

Trust

HANK:

I'm not that good.

JESSE:

Oh, no, you're pretty good.

are.

You

HANK:

I mean, I missed summer training

camp, so the chances of me starting

are minuscule.

JESSE:

Yeah, well, just tell the coach the

situation - your dad lives in Europe,

you really wanted to be there, blah

blah blah. Blame me. My parents

stink, but I'm really serious.

HANK:

But I'm not serious, Dad. I don't

care that much.

JESSE:

Well, you don't have to decide right

now. You know, just think about it.

All I'm saying is that team sports

are important, you know?

They've arrived at the security line.

JESSE (CONT'D)

Here we are. I love this airport,

don't you?

HANK:

It's awesome.

JESSE:

I know, it's cool, right? You excited

about seeing your mom?

HANK:

Yeah, and all my friends.

4.

JESSE:

Yeah, right. What about your boarding

pass, passport...? Okay. You feel

confident about making the connection?

HANK:

Yeah, I've done this before.

JESSE:

Yeah, but not with a tricky connection

like this. Just remember, when you

land, you stay in your seat. Somebody

from the airline's going to come get

you and take you to the gate, right?

HANK:

It's not a problem.

JESSE:

Okay. All right. Oh, boy. Well,

looks like maybe we should just do

this thing, huh? Okay. Come here.

They hug.

JESSE (CONT'D)

I'm gonna do my best to make that

recital, okay?

HANK:

You know, I wouldn't bother.

JESSE:

What makes you say that?

HANK:

Look, I'm not being mean, but it'd

be easier if you didn't come to the

recital.

JESSE:

How come?

HANK:

It'd just be better if you visited

on another weekend.

JESSE:

But... I want to see you play.

HANK:

Look, it's because Mom hates you so

much. She'd be really stressed if

you were there, and then it'd be

tense for me.

5.

Jesse motions to the person behind him to go ahead.

HANK (CONT'D)

We wouldn't have any time to hang

out, anyway.

JESSE:

Don't worry about her, we'll figure

that out, we can... Just don't want

you to worry about it. You know? I

mean... you know how much I miss

you, right?

Hank nods.

JESSE (CONT'D)

Why do you think she still hates me

so much?

HANK:

I don't know. I think she hates

Daniel more than she hates you.

Hank playfully punches Jesse.

HANK (CONT'D)

Hey, don't worry about it. I'll

figure something out. We should

just do this though.

JESSE:

Yeah. But I mean, is there anything

I can do to help?

HANK:

I don't know.

JESSE:

But you know that I love you, right?

HANK:

Yeah.

JESSE:

Right, okay.

HANK:

Yeah, I know. This has been the

best summer of my life.

JESSE:

Really?

HANK:

Yeah!

6.

JESSE:

Well, me too. See, I told you, I

told you this whole Greece thing was

going to be great.

HANK:

And it was.

A final moment.

JESSE:

Okay. All right. I love you, pal.

HANK:

I love you too, Dad.

JESSE:

Okay, shake my hand. All, right,

go.

HANK:

Bye.

JESSE:

Bye. See ya.

(sighs)

He goes into security. Jesse watches him walk away, and

then slowly heads toward the exit.

EXT. AIRPORT - AFTERNOON

We follow Jesse back through the airport as he finds his way

to the parking lot, revealing Celine, standing outside of

the car, talking on the phone.

CELINE:

(speaking french)

Oui, oui.

(continues in french)

Okay.

As Jesse and Celine settle inside the car, the camera pans

over toward two 6-year-old girls who are asleep in the back

seat. That's right, twins NINA and ELLA. They start driving

away from the airport.

INT. CAR - AFTERNOON

As they hit the highway, Celine lowers her volume as she

wraps up her conversation.

7.

CELINE:

(into phone)

Okay. Bon. Très bien. Merci.

Oui, oui, Lucia. Au'voir.

(hangs up, speaks

french)

JESSE:

What's going on?

CELINE:

They voted against it.

JESSE:

What, the wind turbines?

CELINE:

Six months dealing with those people,

they were all for it. Everyone agreed

it was great for the region...

JESSE:

Oh. So what happened?

CELINE:

...And now they've decided that they

don't like the way it looks on that

hill. It's ruining their view.

JESSE:

No, no, I thought it was a done deal.

CELINE:

It was! It practically was-

JESSE:

Well, can-

CELINE:

That's what's so infuriating.

JESSE:

Can they do that?

CELINE:

Yes, of course. They've done it.

That's it. It's over, fini.

JESSE:

I'm sorry.

CELINE:

No, no, it's just so frustrating. I

can't take it anymore.

(MORE)

8.

CELINE (CONT'D)

(beat)

I'm gonna take that job with Remy.

JESSE:

No. No, you don't want to work for

him.

CELINE:

Why not?

JESSE:

For the government?

CELINE:

Well, I think this government is

different. We need laws. That's

the only way anything is going to

happen.

JESSE:

It's not the only way. You guys

have been getting a lot of good work

done.

Rate this script:4.5 / 15 votes