Brad’s Status Page #2

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BRAD:

He’s an academic. Two hundred

thousand dollars maybe.

MELANIE:

It’ll help pay for Troy’s college.

Is that why you’re worrying about

money? We’ll be fine. We’ll

figure it out.

BRAD:

Thank god we only had one kid.

MELANIE:

Oh my god.

BRAD:

How much do you think your parents

are worth total? Four? Five?

Split in half. Then taxes. That’s

like 1.5, 1.2.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

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BRAD (cont'd)

And they’ll probably have health

care sh*t to pay for - those senior

living places can eat up the whole

entire thing in no time...

MELANIE:

What is wrong with you?

BRAD:

I just feel like we’re running out

of time here. There’s no more

potential - this is it - we’ve

plateaud - and clearly there’s not *

gonna be some windfall out of

nowhere that’s gonna change the

situation...

MELANIE:

We’re not poor, Brad.

BRAD:

In some circles. Yeah.

MELANIE:

What circles? The one per cent?

Please. Go to sleep.

Brad rolls over, then rolls back to her.

BRAD:

I can’t.

MELANIE:

Stop thinking about this.

BRAD:

We didn’t work this hard to end up

dying in a flophouse. You know?

MELANIE:

(turning away from him)

You’re freaking me out. Enough.

We have a great life.

BRAD:

I think you should talk to your

parents and get some clarity.

The grandkids don’t need the money.

Especially Steve and Vanessa’s.

I’ve seen their posts. They live

like Saudi Arabian princesses. They

have their whole lives ahead of

them anyway. You and I are done!

(CONTINUED)

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MELANIE:

Please shut up.

Brad shuts up. He stares into the middle distance.

11 EXT. SACRAMENTO NEIGHBORHOOD - DAWN 11

The sun is rising over Brad’s residential neighborhood -

modest, but attractive homes.

A YOUNG CYCLIST barrels down the center of the empty road.

SPRINKLERS go off at a nearby house.

A NEIGHBOR closes his trash can and pulls it up the drive.

*

*

11A EXT. BRAD’S HOUSE - DAWN 11A *

ESTABLISHING SHOT as a CAR drives by. *

12 INT. BRAD’S HOUSE - MORNING 12

A few images of the house.

A FRAMED PHOTO of Brad, Melanie and their son, Troy - in thephoto, maybe nine years old. They are all smiling.

A SUITCASE on ROLLERS is placed by the front door.

13 INT. TROY’S BEDROOM - MORNING 13

Troy, now 17, sits in a towel on his bed, with his BULLDOG.

Troy stares lovingly at the dog.

CLOSE on Bulldog as he lifts his neck so Troy can scratch it.

TROY:

I know you get mad when I go away.

Please don’t piss on the bed.

Brad opens the door.

BRAD:

We have ten minutes.

TROY:

(rising)

Yeah, I’m ready.

on my clothes.

(MORE)

I just gotta put

(CONTINUED)

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TROY (cont'd)

(as BRAD lingers)

Can you give me a second?

BRAD:

(surprised)

Troy - you suddenly have the body

of a man, man.

(CONTINUED)

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TROY:

Please don’t be weird, Dad.

stressed.

I’m

14 INT. MELANIE’S CAR - TRAVELING - DAY 14

Melanie drives, talking to Troy, who sits in the back.

is in the passenger seat, looking out the window.

Brad

TROY:

I have it, Mom.

phone.

It’s all on my

MELANIE:

Will you forward it to your dad? I

don’t think he has any sense of theschedule. Do you Brad?

(no response)

I don’t think he has any idea. So

it’s really on you, honey...

*

CLOSE ON BRAD - he is lost in thought.

and Troy continue to talk in the b.g.

We can HEAR Melanie

NARRATOR:

The entire ride to the airport,

Brad kept thinking about hisprotege, Chris Kanew - and about

how Chris Kanew had quit that week.

And all the things he said.

15 INT. CHIPOTLE - LUNCH 15

Brad sits at a LUNCH PLACE with a young colleague, CHRIS.

BRAD:

So wait - I don’t understand?

Sounds like you’re quitting.

CHRIS:

(solemn nod)

I am quitting. I got another jobactually. I start in two weeks.

What?

BRAD:

Where?

CHRIS:

San Francisco. At City National.

In their brokerage office.

*

(CONTINUED)

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BRAD:

Wait a minute. You’re getting into

banking?

CHRIS:

(nods)

I’ve loved working with you, Brad.

I’ve learned a lot from you. But I

think this job has made me... kindadepressed. And I actually think Ican do more good by just making alot of money - and giving it away.

Instead of spending all my timeasking other people for their moneyto give away. You know?

Brad stares at him, floored.

16 INT. MELANIE’S CAR - TRAVELING - DAY 16

As Melanie and Troy chat, Brad stares out the window, sinkinginto a deep funk.

NARRATOR:

As he remembered the exchange, Bradfelt a hot flush of humiliation.

He felt exposed in some essentialand embarrassing way. It seemed so

obvious that his life’s work was an

absurdity. It might as well betattooed across his face.

Brad absently covers the invisible tattoo on his forehead. *

17 EXT. SACRAMENTO AIRPORT - DAY 17

Brad pulls their bags from the trunk.

Troy a big hug.

Melanie comes gives *

MELANIE:

Call me all the time. I want to

know everything. This is so

exciting! I love you!

TROY:

Thanks, Mom. Should be cool.

Melanie approaches Brad. She’s emotional.

(CONTINUED)

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MELANIE:

I can’t believe this.

crazy.

This is

BRAD:

He’s not leaving yet.

looking at schools.

We’re just

MELANIE:

(in tears)

I know. It just feels like a big

moment. I’m so jealous. I wish I

didn’t have this stupid conference.

(composes herself; smiles)

The flight info’s all on your phone- the hotels - it’s all there. Be

happy. Be present. Okay?

(hugs BRAD)

And take pictures. I love you.

Melanie gives Troy one last kiss, then gets back in the car.

They wave her off.

18 INT. SACRAMENTO AIRPORT - DAY 18

Brad hands his and Troy’s tickets to a TSA OFFICER.

TSA OFFICER:

The economy entrance is that line. *

BRAD:

Well, what is this?

TSA OFFICER:

Business, first class only.

you TSA Pre?

Are *

*

BRAD:

No, but I have a Silver Flyer card. *

Sorry.

TSA OFFICER:

Brad nods and shuffles off, with Troy in tow.

19 INT. AIRPORT GATE - DAY 19

Brad and Troy sit in the crowded terminal, waiting for theirflight to board. Troy listens to music.

(CONTINUED)

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Brad watches - a YOUNG FATHER, nearby - playing with his

TODDLER SON.

After a moment, Brad turns to Troy and motions for him to

take off his headphones. Troy does.

BRAD:

You know what I’m thinking? Let’s

try for an upgrade.

TROY:

What do you mean?

BRAD:

This is a big moment. You’re gonna

go find your college. You and me -

how many trips are we gonna have

like this again? Let’s fly

business.

TROY:

Business. Really? Okay.

BRAD:

I have a lot of miles I think.

Might cost a little money. It’ll

be fun. Let’s make this f***ing

special. Right?

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