Big Fish Page #19

Day becomes night.

JENNY (V.O.)(cont’d)

As for the girl, the common belief wasthat she’d become a witch, and crazy atthat. She became something of a legendherself.

We REVERSE to find FOUR KIDS looking in through the rustyiron gate with flashlights. A beat, then they run away.

JENNY (V.O.)(cont’d)

And the story ended where it began.

INT. JENNY HILL’S KITCHEN - PRESENT DAY

Will and Jenny are still sitting at her table, a pitcher oficed tea between them.

WILL:

Logically, you couldn’t be the Witch,

because she was old back when he was

young.

JENNY:

No, it’s logical if you think like yourfather. See, to him, there’s only twowomen: your mother and everyone else.

WILL:

You didn’t become crazy.

JENNY:

Well, therapy. And one day I realizedI was in love with a man who could

never love me back. I was living in afairy tale.

Will smiles to hear it called that.

104.

JENNY (cont’d)

People aren’t like they are in stories.

They hurt each other without meaningto. They are kind and unbelievablycruel at the same moment. Like me,

now. I’m not sure I should have told

you any of this.

Her composure is starting to break.

WILL:

No, I wanted to know. I’m glad I know.

A long beat, both staring at their iced tea. Jenny isworking herself into more of a state by not talking.

JENNY:

I wanted to meet you for the longesttime. I did.

(a smile)

I envied you so much. The way Eddiewould talk about you when you were atMissouri, that award you won.

Congratulations, incidentally. And

when you got the job at the A.P.,

everything, he was so proud of you. I

mean, that’s the thing. Every momenthe loved you.

She’s fighting tears, not the first ones she’s shed overthis.

JENNY (cont’d)

And as brightly as the sun would shinewhen he was with me, every time he leftit disappeared. I wanted to be as

important to him as you were, and I wasnever going to be. I was make-believe

and his other life, you, were real.

ANGLE ON Will, sorting through his swirling thoughts.

JENNY (cont’d)

You knew that, didn’t you?

CUT TO:

INT. WILL’S CAR - DAY / DRIVING

Will skips through the stations on the radio, but ultimatelyturns it off. He’s trying to think.

105.

EXT. BLOOM HOUSE - DUSK

Will walks up the front steps. There’s a subtle change to

his expression, a dark cloud lifted. He unlocks the door.

INT. BLOOM HOUSE FOYER - DUSK

It’s half-dark and quiet in the house, no talking, no TV.

Will sets his keys on the table.

INT. KITCHEN - DUSK

Will looks in. Empty.

WILL:

(calling out)

Hello? Mom? Dad?

INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - DUSK

We follow Will, looking into his and Josephine’s room. He

aims for the guest room at the end of the hall.

INT. GUEST ROOM - DUSK

Looking over his shoulder, we see his father’s bed is empty.

The sheets are in a tangle on the floor.

A beat, then Will half-runs back down the hall. Back down

the stairs.

INT. FOYER - DUSK

Headed out, Will grabs his keys off the table. We LOOK

RIGHT, where the “MESSAGE” light blinks on the answering

machine.

INT. HOSPITAL ENTRANCE - NIGHT

The hospital is so new, it’s not even finished -- thick

plastic hangs from exposed framing. There’s no one at the

information desk, so Will forges ahead.

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - NIGHT

Will reads a directory board, trying to decide the best placeto start. Then, behind him -JOSEPHINE

(O.S.)

Will!

He turns to see his wife at a payphone. She hangs up. She

was calling him.

106.

WILL:

What happened?

JOSEPHINE:

Your father had a stroke. He’s

upstairs with your mom and Dr. Bennett.

WILL:

Is he going to be okay?

A beat. How can she answer?

He half-smiles, realizing the idiocy of his question. Of

course his father’s not going to be okay.

WILL (cont’d)

What I mean is, will he get back to theway he was when...

She cuts him off -

JOSEPHINE:

No. He won’t. I’m sorry.

And like that, it’s done. We HOLD ON Will, reeling from the

news.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

Edward sleeps peacefully, just an oxygen tube under his nose.

There are no beeping monitors, no blinking lights. It’s

mercifully quiet.

Sandra squeezes Will’s hand tightly. She’s holding herselftogether, but it’s been a tough day.

Dr. Bennett has just gone through the details for the thirdtime.

SANDRA:

I don’t suppose one of us could staywith him. In case he...

(beat)

In case he wakes up, one of us shouldbe there.

WILL:

I’ll stay. Why don’t you go home withJosephine and I’ll stay tonight.

SANDRA:

(to Dr. Bennett)

That’s okay?

107.

DR. BENNETT

It’s fine.

SANDRA:

(to Will)

You’ll call if...

WILL:

I will. I’ll call.

A beat.

WILL:

Mom, do you want some time with Dad?

SANDRA:

Yes. Thank you.

A nod, then Will holds the door for Dr. Bennett and Josephineas they leave. Sandra is alone in the room with her husband.

She neatens his hair. Holds his hand. As she kisses his

fingers, she tweaks her chin with them -- his signature move.

TRANSITION TO:

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - NIGHT

Sandra waits outside the women’s restroom. Her face is a

study in strained composure -- acknowledging the inevitablebut refusing to surrender to it.

Josephine emerges.

JOSEPHINE:

I’m sorry. It seems every hour I haveto...

SANDRA:

I know. It was the same when I was

carrying Will. Like clockwork.

The two women start to walk, no hurry.

SANDRA:

Do you like it, being pregnant?

JOSEPHINE:

I do.

SANDRA:

I loved it. It sounds peculiar, but Iloved every minute of it. I did.

(MORE)

108.

SANDRA (cont'd)

Eddie was travelling a lot, so he wasgone, but I felt like I always had apiece of him with me. A little part ofhis soul inside me. I could feel it.

It was alive and kicking.

Sandra has accidentally evoked a storm of emotion. She

struggles to keep it in check. Almost a whisper...

SANDRA:

I really miss that.

With a few breaths, Sandra tries to hold on. Hold back.

JOSEPHINE:

Don’t stop. Don’t.

A beat, then Sandra finally melts. Josephine holds her. The

two women stand together in the hallway, letting the momentbe.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

Will sits in a chair beside the bed, working through thecrossword puzzle. A KNOCK as Dr. Bennett enters with his

overcoat and bag, ready to leave for the night.

DR. BENNETT

Glad to see you’re not trying to have aheartfelt talk. It’s one of mygreatest annoyances, when people talkto those who can’t hear them.

WILL:

My father and I have an advantage. We

never talk.

Dr. Bennett smiles as he checks Edward’s chart.

WILL (cont’d)

How long have you known my father?

DR. BENNETT

Thirty years. Maybe more.

WILL:

How would you describe him?

DR. BENNETT

(re:
chart)

Five-eleven. One-eighty. Regulatedhypertension.

(beat)

How would his son describe him?

109.

Tables turned, Will searches for an answer. He doesn’t have

one.

Dr. Bennett hangs the chart back on the bed.

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