Captain Fantastic Page #12

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 71.

86 CONTINUED:
86

Jack and Abigail, also in the first row, now turn to see Ben

and his family. Jack's face turns bright red, but there isnothing he can do now.

Ben nods at Jack. Jack looks away, at the priest.

The priest eyes the newcomers for a second, then continues.

PRIEST (CONT’D)

I did not know Leslie personally. And

I am poorer for it. But I understand

that she was a loving mother who gave

up her law practice to raise her

children. Leslie loved her mother,

Angela, her father, Jack, and their

dogs, Harvey and Little Bear. They

have told me that she also loved

gardening. And classical music.

Particularly Glenn Gould's version of

the Goldberg Variations. And walks in

the moonlight on the beach. And she

loved her husband Ben and their

children

BEN:

I'll take that as my cue, if I may.

Before Jack can stop him, Ben jogs to the front of thechurch. He stands directly in front of the priest.

BEN (CONT’D)

First off, Leslie practiced

Buddhism. Which, to her, was a

philosophy and not an organized

religion. In fact, Leslie abhorred

organized religion, thought it the

single most dangerous fairy-tale

ever invented, used to strike fear

and obedience into the hearts of the

innocent and uninformed. She saw it

not just as a source of injustice,

but as a crime against humanity. To

her - the only thing worse than death

would have been the knowledge that

her rotting flesh was to be trapped

for all eternity in a box in the

middle of a f***ing golf course.

At this, there are audible GASPS from the congregation.

Jack pushes his way out of the pew and whispers to someUSHERS IN BLACK SUITS.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 72.

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86

BEN (CONT’D)

Though the absurdity of being

eulogized by someone who didn't even

know her has exactly the kind of

comedic flourish that she would have

cherished.

Ben looks at his kids. They nod at him, encouraging him tocontinue.

BEN (CONT’D)

If nothing else. Leslie had a sense

of humor.

Ushers in black suits, guided by Jack, now inch toward thepodium.

USHER:

Sir? Please?

Ben ignores them. He takes a piece of paper from his jacket.

BEN:

I want to read you all something. So

you know what I mean. I found this

after her death. It's Leslie's Will.

And I quote, "In the event of her

death, Leslie Abigail Cash, as a

Buddhist, wishes to be cremated. Her

funeral, such as it is, shall be a

celebration of the life-cycle, with

music and dancing. After, it is her

expressed desire that her ashes shall

be taken to a nondescript location,

preferably public and heavily

populated so as to be utterly

unremarkable. At which point her

ashes, promptly and unceremoniously,

are to be flushed down the nearest

toilet." End quote.

Ben looks up at the mourners.

BEN (CONT’D)

Now THAT's comedy.

The ushers rush Ben. He resists, but there are too many menfor Ben to fight and he is overpowered.

BEN (CONT’D)

I'm not finished! You're not

listening. She did not want this!

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 73-74.

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The ushers drag Ben toward the entrance of the church.

BEN (CONT’D)

Let go of me! This is against herwishes! She was my wife!

Bo gathers the kids and they follow as their father isdragged - fighting - out of the church.

87 EXT. ST. JUDE’S CHURCH. DAY. 87

Ben sits on a bench next to the front doors of the church.

The children, despondent and dazed, sit farther off, on agrassy knoll.

The church doors open and PALLBEARERS, followed by Jack andAbigail; Harper, Dave and their kids, and various otherRELATIVES, accompany the casket to the waiting Hearse.

The CONGREGATION moves to their cars, giving the family theirprivacy.

Jack looks up to find Ben, not three feet away.

JACK:

You are the worst thing that hasever happened to my family.

The kids straggle up.

BEN:

Jack, you remember yourgrandchildren.

Only now does Jack see the kids. In an instant, he softens,

bending down to embrace his grandchildren.

JACK:

Come here, guys. I’ve missed you allso much. Come here.

He and Abigail wade into the kids. Abigail looks dazed. Orseverely medicated.

ABIGAIL:

It's so nice to all be together.

JACK:

We’ll take the children to the

ceremony. And see you back at thehouse after.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 73-74A.

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BEN:

They’re my kids. They’re staying with

me.

Jack stares at Ben for a moment. Then he addresses his

grandchildren.

JACK:

Children. I’m sorry it’s turned outthis way. But your father hasdemonstrated that he is unfit to

attend the funeral.

BEN:

I won’t allow you to bury her.

JACK:

You follow us. I will have youarrested.

Ben laughs.

JACK (CONT’D)

Who do you think the local policeare going to listen to? A long-

standing member of this community?

Or a hippie. Dressed like a clown.

Jack faces Ben for a moment. Then he takes Abigail by the armand they move to their limousine.

BEN:

I'm not a hippie.

The kids watch as their grandparent's limousine disappearsinto the distance.

BEN (CONT’D)

Everyone back on Steve! Let's go!

VESPYR:

Where are we going?

BEN:

We're going to stop the funeral.

RELLIAN:

He said no. Dad!

But Ben's already on the bus, the engine running.

GREEN (9.2.2014) 75.

88 OMITTED

88

89 EXT. CEMETERY. DAY.

89

The long line of black cars funnel into the rolling hills of

a cemetery.

90 INT. STEVE - MOVING. DAY.

90

Ben is keeping a fair distance, but still following the

funeral procession of black cars.

BODEVAN:

We can't go. Dad!

VESPYR:

Listen to us!

NAI:

Why can't we go to Mom's funeral?

ZAJA:

Because of dad.

NAI:

Because of his speech?

ZAJA:

Yes.

BEN:

Everyone shut up! And sit the fuckdown! I want silence. SILENCE!

KIELYR:

BODEVAN:

No! Dad, stop Steve!

Dad! You heard grandpa! He'llhave us arrested if we show

up.

BEN:

They will not stop us from savingMom!

KIELYR:

VESPYR:

Let's go home. Let's just go

Dad! Abort the mission!

home!

ZAJA:

Yeah, abort mission!

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 76.

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90

BEN:

We are rescuing Mom!

BODEVAN:

Mom is dead! She's dead! Okay?! Thisis not what she would have wanted youto do!

BEN:

They have no right!

Bo now yells.

BODEVAN:

I don't want to lose you!

This stops Ben. He looks at Bo.

BODEVAN (CONT’D)

We can't lose you too.

Ben finally hears his son.

And it breaks his heart.

91 OMITTED 91

92 EXT. HIGHWAY RV "CAMPGROUND." DAY/EVE.

Ben sits outside the bus, playing his guitar in front of asmall fire.

92

Zaja tries to sneak on the bus.

BEN:

Hey, get your flute. Let's play.

Zaja stares at him; she seems to be hiding something behindher back.

BEN (CONT’D)

What have you got there?

She opens her hands revealing a dead lizard.

ZAJA:

I have work to do.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 77.

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Zaja climbs on the bus.

93 EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET NEAR "CAMPGROUND.” NIGHT.

A quiet street, lit by a long line of street lamps. Rell is

throwing rocks at one of them.

Bo walks out of the darkness.

BODEVAN:

It's okay to be sad about Mom.

Rell just keeps flinging rocks at the light.

RELLIAN:

She wanted to be flushed down the

toilet.

BODEVAN:

Mom was sicker than any of us knew.

RELLIAN:

Dad MADE her crazy. That's why shekilled herself. She wanted to leave.

She didn’t want to live in the forest

anymore. Dad is dangerous.

Bo laughs.

RELLIAN (CONT’D)

Mom had psychotic episodes. She hadhallucinations. Of smashing our headsin. With rocks. I heard them talkingabout it.

Bo stares at his brother, absorbing this new information.

RELLIAN (CONT’D)

You think you know everything. Youthink our lives are so great. You

think Dad is perfect! Nana and

Grandpa's lives. They're much better.

Rell turns and races back toward the RV Camp.

93

94 EXT. HIGHWAY RV "CAMPGROUND." NIGHT.

Ben walks out of the bus and finds Bo, reading.

BEN:

You want to play some music?

94

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