Captain Fantastic Page #15

Jack holds open the front door - Abigail helps Vespyr, on

crutches and in a neck-brace, into the foyer.

They are followed in by the rest of the kids.

And then finally, by Ben, carrying luggage.

109 Omitted 109

GREEN (9.2.2014) 90.

110 OMITTED 110

111 OMITTED 111

112 EXT. LAWN. GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE. DAY. 112

On the massive grass lawn in the back of their grandparent'shouse, Ben watches as his kids run Jack through a serious

full-body, hardcore functional training routine: they’re all

shouting orders at him, teaching him how to move from lungesto Burpies into Plank.

JACK:

Why is this called a Burpie? Am I

supposed to burp?

Nai finds this hilarious.

NAI:

No! Because it makes you want to

vomit! If you do them enough.

RELLIAN:

No burping!

BODEVAN:

No stopping!

VESPYR KIELYR:

No vomiting allowed! No throwing up!

All the kids are laughing; everyone is having a great time

with their grandfather.

Abigail appears in front of Ben, blocking his view.

GREEN (9.2.2014) 91.

113 INT. GARAGE. GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE. DAY. 113

The enormous garage is filled with all kinds of athleticequipment and ephemera: his-and-her bicycles, golf trophies,

golf carts.

Abigail is on the floor of the garage, fishing around in a

cardboard box. She passes a photograph to Ben.

It is a photograph of Leslie at her High School Prom. She hasa bleached blonde streak in her hair, frosted eyeliner, andboth her dress and her date's tuxedo are the height of 1980sfashion.

ABIGAIL:

That boy, what was his name? Dean?

Derek?

BEN:

Dirk. Dirk Modzelewski.

ABIGAIL:

Lord, you're right. He was as dumb

as paint. Cute, though. I think she

was just with him for the sex.

Ben looks at Abigail, not sure whether or not to laugh.

Abigail smiles and they both crack up.

ABIGAIL (CONT’D)

There's all kinds of stuff in here.

Take what you want.

Ben reaches into the box and pulls out another photograph.

This one is of Leslie at her Law School Graduation.

ABIGAIL (CONT’D)

And there's also this.

Abigail passes over a handwritten letter.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 92.

113 CONTINUED:
113

ABIGAIL (CONT’D)

Right before you called about getting

her treatment, she sent me two

letters. No return address. I wanted

you to see. Read here.

Abigail passes over another letter and points to a paragraph.

BEN:

(reading)

"You don't need to come get me

anymore. Burn the other letter. What

Ben and I have created here may be

unique in all of human existence.

We've created a paradise out of

Plato's Republic. Our children shall

be Philosopher Kings. It makes me so

indescribably happy. I'm going to get

better out here. I know I will.

Because we are defined by our

actions, not our words."

Ben stares at the letter.

A113 OMITTED A113

114 INT. MEDIA ROOM. GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE. NIGHT. 114

Ben walks into a media screening room. All the children are

watching television on a huge screen.

Ben stares at his kids for a moment.

BEN:

Remember the night when we slept on

the glacier. The full moon. Bright

like it was daytime. Mom made rabbit

stew. With the wild ramps that Zaj

collected.

Rell turns up the volume on the television. Ben speaks over

it.

(CONTINUED)

114 CONTINUED:

GREEN (9.2.2014)

114

92A.

BEN (CONT’D)

That was the spring when we foundthose black bear cubs. Someone shot

their mother. And Mom wanted to keepthem. But we let them go.

Rell turns the volume up again. It's now blaring.

BEN (CONT’D)

We gave you that. At least.

Ben nods. And he then leaves the room.

GREEN (9.2.2014) 93.

115 INT. LIVING ROOM. GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE. MORNING. 115

Jack and Abigail sit on a sofa in their living room, right

outside of Jack’s office.

Jack kisses Abigail's hand.

116 EXT. LAWN. GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE. MORNING. 116

The kids sit in a circle on the lawn, staring at Ben. They

look stunned.

NAI:

Like forever?

BEN:

Nothing's forever.

ZAJA:

But like, not going home.

BEN:

Yes. Like not going home.

KIELYR:

Dad.

NAI:

You don't love us anymore?

BEN:

Of course I love you.

NAI:

Then why are you doing this?

BEN:

BECAUSE I love you.

The kids try to comprehend what they've just been told.

NAI:

No.

VESPYR:

But we want to live with you.

Ben stares at his children. The moment stretches.

BEN:

I almost got you killed.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 94.

116 CONTINUED:
116

VESPYR:

The tile just popped out.

Ben shakes his head no.

BEN:

You don't understand.

VESPYR:

Fine. Then explain. Explain.

NAI:

Use your words.

Ben smiles. Wrestling with his guilt and culpability rendersBen mute for perhaps the first time in his life. He tries toarticulate his thoughts. He fails.

BODEVAN:

Dad.

Ben looks up at Bo. He looks so lost.

BEN:

Yeah.

BODEVAN:

You okay?

Ben stares. Almost like he's talking to himself.

BEN:

Mom was so sick. I knew it. I did. I

knew. I should have....

He doesn't finish his sentence.

BODEVAN:

Mom was chemically imbalanced.

BEN:

I thought. It would help her. Ireally thought she'd get betterthere.

BODEVAN:

It's not your fault.

BEN:

It was too much. Living in thewoods. For that long.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 95.

116 CONTINUED:
116

NAI:

I don't want to live here.

VESPYR:

This house is a vulgar display ofwealth.

KIELYR:

And an unethical use of space.

NAI:

Why can't we just stay with you?

Ben focuses on his kids.

BEN:

If you do. I'm going to get one ofyou killed.

BODEVAN:

This can't be the only choice. Dad.

Dad?

Ben is silent.

NAI:

Dad!

Ben doesn't seem to hear them. His eyes are dead. He looks soold, suddenly.

The kids look at each other, unsure how to proceed.

117 INT. FOYER. GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE. DAY. 117

Ben ambles, disorientated, into the hallway.

Abigail stands as soon as she sees him.

Ben appears suspended, just sort of shuffling in place; hehas no idea where to go next.

Abigail rushes over and pulls him into a hug. She pats the

back of his head, soothing him like he's a child.

Jack doesn't move. He stares down at the floor, giving themsome space, trying to be as respectful as possible.

GREEN (9.2.2014) 96.

118 INT. GAME SIMULATOR ROOM. GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE. NIGHT. 118

The room is dark and Rellian, in his pajamas, a shotgun inhis hands, stands next to Jack. On the wall in front of them

is another projected outdoor scene: four ducks fly over apond.

Rellian fires and hits two ducks. Immediately after he fires,

analysis appears on the screen: hit position, gun swing,

changing flight velocity, entry of target trajectory.

JACK:

Look at that! We'll make a marksman

of you yet.

RELLIAN:

I got two!

Rellian beams.

JACK:

See how when you stop your swing,

you're no longer on the target? Okay,

hold on.

Jack presses a button on the console and now the simulatorshows the replay in slow motion.

JACK (CONT’D)

Good entry point on the trajectory.

But right there. Can you tell me whyyou missed?

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