Brad’s Status Page #17

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BRAD:

Oh, shut the f*** up.

Craig looks at Brad with a perplexed grin.

CRAIG:

What?

Brad is suddenly defensive. *

(CONTINUED)

BRAD'S STATUS - Pink Revision - Sept. 29, 2016-Page 104

137 CONTINUED:
137

BRAD *

I just... I’m trying to be real *

with you. I mean, it’s like... *

what is your deal? *

CRAIG *

What do you mean? *

Suddenly, they are approached by a YOUNG MALE STUDENT.

MALE STUDENT:

Excuse me, Mr. Fisher. My name’s

Mark - and I’m a big fan of yours.

I love your books and everything

you do...

BRAD:

(interrupting)

Like do you know what I do? I *

actually help people. And like - I *

dunno - like why would you treat me *

like this? *

CRAIG *

Treat you like what? *

BRAD *

What am I to you? Hunh? *

MALE STUDENT *

I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?

CRAIG:

No, no, no.

MALE STUDENT:

Is it possible to get a picture?

BRAD:

My mother died - you never said *

anything, man. Like - you follow *

me on Facebook. I... I dunno. I *

just don’t know. *

(CONTINUED)

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CRAIG *

I’m confused. What’s going on? *

BRAD *

Are you my friend? You know? Are *

we even... what are we? All the *

sh*t-talking. Like right now I’m *

feeling like... I just know what *

I’m feeling and it’s not... *

Brad rises from the table. *

CRAIG *

What the f***? Are you okay? *

BRAD *

Thanks for helping my son. But *

it’s like... I’m just done - with *

this. Whatever this is. *

Brad takes a TWENTY from his pocket and sets it on the table. *

Brad turns and walks to the exit, in a hurry. *

Craig and the Male Student, mouths agape, watch him go.

138 EXT. AZALIA’S - NIGHT 138

Brad exits the restaurant and lets out a long EXHALE.

He rubs his fingers through his hair, shakes his head. Worst

case scenario. Then walks off, into the night.

139 EXT. HARVARD BRIDGE - NIGHT 139

CLOSE on Brad - as he heads toward the CONCERT HALL.

NARRATOR:

The entire walk, Brad could only

think about what Craig’s take-away

would be - and what he would tell

everyone.

BRAD'S STATUS - WHITE VERSION - Sept 13, 2016 -Page 106

140 INT. NICK PASCALE’S HOUSE - DAY 140

Craig regales his wife, Diane and a few other GUESTS.

CRAIG:

It was embarrassing. He’s out of

his mind. He’s completely lost it.

141 INT. NICK PASCALE’S HOUSE - DAY 141

Craig talks to Nick and Nick’s Husband.

CRAIG:

He was the golden boy in college -

and now I’m the one who’s winningprizes and getting recognized.

He’s overcome with jealousy.

142 INT. NICK PASCALE’S HOUSE - DAY 142

Craig chats with Jason and his Wife.

CRAIG:

He’s insane. He’s a pedophile.

looks old.

He

Jason and his Wife, nod, solemnly.

143 EXT. CONCERT HALL - NIGHT 143

Brad crosses the quad to the concert hall.

NARRATOR:

Why did he let Craig get to him?

After all these years, why didn’tBrad have a stronger sense of self?

Why couldn’t he sustain a feelingabout himself? Or even a point ofview?

144 EXT. CONCERT HALL - NIGHT 144

Brad stands at the BOX OFFICE, lost in thought.

NARRATOR:

Why was he always elsewhere, in hishead, puffing himself up or tearinghimself down? Enough.

(CONTINUED)

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144 CONTINUED:
144

TICKET SELLER:

Sir. Your ticket.

Brad snaps out of it. He takes his ticket and goes.

145 INT. CONCERT HALL - NIGHT 145

A small concert hall, mostly filled. Brad stands at the

back, looking for Troy.

He spots him, sitting alone, near the front.

MOMENTS LATER:

Brad appears by Troy’s side.

TROY:

(surprised)

Dad?

Brad gives Troy a smile and takes the seat next to him.

TROY:

What about your dinner?

BRAD:

I’d rather be with you.

Troy nods - as the AUDITORIUM LIGHTS GO DOWN.

The LIGHTS GO UP on the stage - a group of about THIRTY

STUDENT MUSICIANS are seated.

Then, Ananya, with her flute, and Maya, with her violin, walk

onto the stage.

BRAD:

Those are the girls from last

night.

TROY:

I know.

The musicians begin to play DVORAK’S “HUMORESQUE”.

The music is beautiful, soothing, smooth.

ON BRAD - as he listens, lost in thought.

Brad looks over at...

Troy, sitting still beside him, enjoying the music.

(CONTINUED)

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Brad takes Troy in with a proud, melancholy smile.

He then turns his attention to the stage.

ON STAGE - Ananya, on her flute, and Maya, on her violin, are

playing their duet.

ON BRAD - as he listens, he looks increasingly stunned.

BRAD:

(loud whisper)

They’re so good.

TROY:

Shh. Dad.

Brad sits back in his seat, taking it in, really listening.

NARRATOR:

The music is beautiful, Brad

thought.

The concert continues.

Ananya and Maya are extraordinarily talented.

NARRATOR:

These girls are beautiful.

ON BRAD - he is visibly moved.

NARRATOR:

He could love them and never

possess them.

The entire orchestra joins in - the music is gorgeous.

NARRATOR:

Just like he could love the world

and never possess it.

A dam of emotion bursts. Brad is now crying in his seat.

NARRATOR:

He still did love the world.

Deep, cathartic tears.

Troy looks over and sees that his father is crying.

TROY:

Dad?

(CONTINUED)

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145

Brad tries to get a handle on his emotions.

He wipes his eyes and smiles reassuringly to Troy.

BRAD:

I’m okay.

Brad looks back toward the orchestra.

He begins to become emotional again.

LATER:

The very last moments of the performance. *

The musicians finish. It’s over.

The audience begins to politely CLAP.

Brad just sits there, spent. He starts to CLAP, too. In *

deep appreciation. *

We HOLD on Brad and Troy clapping for a moment. *

146 EXT. HARVARD BRIDGE - NIGHT 146

Brad and Troy walk in silence back to their hotel. We HEAR *

the noise of the passing CARS. *

147 INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT 147

Brad is emotionally spent. He sits on the bed, still in his

dinner clothes, exhausted.

Troy is checking out the MINI-BAR.

(CONTINUED)

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TROY:

You want some chips?

Brad shakes his head.

Troy watches him for a second.

TROY:

Ananya said you met up with her

last night.

Brad looks up, sharply.

BRAD:

Yeah, I couldn’t sleep. It was

just a drink.

TROY:

(nods)

Dad. Are you having some kind of

nervous breakdown or something?

Brad looks at Troy and lets out an amused exhale.

BRAD:

No.

(beat)

It’s just... sometimes I have

doubts. I worry that people look

at me - and think of me as a

failure.

(shrugs)

But the feeling passes.

Brad gives Troy a strained smile.

Troy opens a bag of chips and sits down beside Brad on the

bed.

TROY:

When we were walking around today

and you were embarrassing me - I

kept thinking - if I go to this

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