Captain Fantastic Page #4

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 18.

22 CONTINUED:
22

NAI:

We don't hate Nana and Grandpa, but

the rest of her tribe are fascist

capitalists.

KIELYR:

You're just repeating whatever Dad

says.

NAI:

I'm writing down everything you say.

In my mind.

KIELYR:

You don't even know what a fascist

is.

NAI:

Violent nationalist militants,

supported by big business andthey're totalitarian single-partydictators.

Kielyr pauses for a second, surprised by the accuracy ofNai's description.

VESPYR:

We're her family. We have to go.

KIELYR:

Grandpa said we can't.

Ben takes venison off the fire and cuts it into small pieces.

KIELYR (CONT’D)

What will happen if they arrest you?

Will they take us away from you?

At this, all the kids turn to look at Ben.

BEN:

There is that possibility.

Zaja comes out from the greenhouse.

ZAJA:

Dad. I think Rellian ran away again.

23 EXT. FOREST. EVENING. 23

Ben walks silently through the forest.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 19.

23 CONTINUED:
23

He finds Rellian sitting on a rock by an old tree. Relliandoesn't turn to look at his father.

RELLIAN:

How'd you find me so quickly?

Ben points to the earth, Rellian's shoe prints in the dirt.

BEN:

You don't want to be followed, youshould take off your shoes.

Rell is silent.

BEN (CONT’D)

Mom's illness had nothing to do withyou guys. It was chemical. She lovedyou very much. None of this is yourfault. But I can't help you. Unlessyou talk to me.

RELLIAN:

All we do is f***ing talk! Why won’t

you let us see Mom?

BEN:

Come here, buddy.

Rellian bolts up and dodges Ben.

RELLIAN:

I hate my f***ing sh*t-ass life!

Rell storms back in the direction of the Tipi and Ben

follows.

A23 INT. TIPI. MORNING. A23

Ben awakes and climbs down the ladder to the floor of the

Tipi.

The children are gone, their beds empty.

24 EXT. TIPI MORNING. 24

Ben opens the Tipi to see his kids, like they're on a trainplatform waiting to depart, all standing out in front of theTipi; they've got old suitcases and duffel bags, packed andready.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 19A.

24 CONTINUED:
24

NAI:

We want to see Mom.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 20.

24 CONTINUED:
24

ZAJA:

I want to give a speech. Tell Mommythat I love her. For the last time

ever.

VESPYR:

We want to honor her life.

Without saying a word, Ben immediately carries their luggageback to the Tipi.

KIELYR:

We're her family. We have to go. Weneed a ritual. To heal.

VESPYR:

For the grieving process.

ZAJA:

Plus Grandpa can't oppress us.

RELLIAN:

It's the least you can do.

Ben stops. He looks at Rellian.

BEN:

What does that mean?

RELLIAN:

You know.

BEN:

No. I don't.

RELLIAN:

Forget it. But I know.

VESPYR:

We're strong. We're ready.

KIELYR:

We are defined by our actions, notby our words.

At this, Ben smiles.

NAI:

That's your favorite sentence. InEnglish.

His arms loaded with their belongings, Ben opens the Tipi anddisappears inside.

GREEN (9.2.2014) 21.

25 INT. TIPI. MORNING. 25

Ben is unpacking one of the kid's suitcases, shoving clothesback into a chest of drawers.

NAI:

If we're defined by our actions. Thenwe have to go.

RELLIAN:

New business!

BEN:

Point of order.

RELLIAN:

My name is Rellian. I move to make anamendment.

BEN:

The Chair recognizes the assembly.

RELLIAN:

New business. The assembly wishes toattend our mother's funeral. I move

to vote.

BEN:

Is there a second?

NAI:

Seconded.

BEN:

Is there a discussion?

All the kids shake their head no.

BEN (CONT’D)

All in favor of voting to attend yourmother's funeral please signify bysaying "aye."

All the kids say, "Aye."

BEN (CONT’D)

All opposed please signify by saying"nay."

Silence.

BEN (CONT’D)

Nay.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 22.

25 CONTINUED:
25

Ben stares at his kids. More silence.

BODEVAN:

Dad. Majority.

VESPYR KIELYR:

Give us the Mission! The Mission!

ZAJA:

We want the Mission!

NAI:

"Mission:
Rescue Mom!"

Ben stares at his kids. He shakes his head no.

26 OMITTED 26

27 OMITTED 27

28 EXT. GRANITE ROCK. DAY. 28

Ben leads the kids as they climb up the face of a verticalgranite formation. They all wear climbing harnesses,

carabiners around their belts, and are tied onto the brightorange climbing rope, following Ben as he makes his way upthe face. It's an expert grade and they're all struggling.

Without warning, Rellian slips - plummeting at least ten feet

-falling hard. The rope catches and he swings, spiralinginto the granite face. He smashes his hand against the rock,

but finally manages to steady himself, grabbing hold of theface with his other hand.

RELLIAN:

F***!

Rellian is shaking, trying to catch his breath. He looks

down. Hundreds of feet below are a cluster of massive rocks.

ZAJA:

If you hit the rocks below you,

you'll die from blunt force trauma.

Or internal bleeding from massive

bone fracturing or splenic flexure of

the large intestine.

BEN:

Yes, thank you, Zaj.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 23.

28 CONTINUED:
28

RELLIAN:

My hand.

Ben stares down at Rell.

BEN:

You're alive.

Rellian stares at his hand. No bones are sticking out, but

it's throbbing.

BEN (CONT’D)

S.T.O.P. Stay calm. Think. Observe.

Plan.

Rell looks around; there doesn't seem to be anywhere to grab.

He stretches out his leg, but the one edge he sees is too farto reach.

RELLIAN:

It's too far.

BEN:

Know that you can make it and you

will.

RELLIAN:

I can't. My hand.

The other kids wait, looking up at Ben for guidance. Ben

doesn't move.

BEN:

There is no cavalry. No one will

magically appear to save you in the

end.

Rellian grits his teeth. He stretches out his leg again. Buthe's losing balance. Right before he slips, he pushes offwith his other foot and swings, just managing to land on thefar edge that seemed too far. As soon as he lands, he swingsand leaps again, finding a hand hold with his good hand. Helooks up at his dad and nods.

Ben smiles.

Then continues to climb.

29 EXT. GRANITE ROCK. DAY. 29

The rain is now POUNDING as Ben bandages Rellian's hand.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 24.

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29

Rell flexes his fingers. He grimaces and without looking at

his father, plops down on a rock, joining his brothers andsisters.

For a long time, Ben watches his kids.

They all just stare at the ground. Clothes soaked. Exhausted.

Depleted. Emotionally numb.

BEN:

Class time. We’re going up to the

glacier.

Without a word of protestation, they drag themselves up and

trudge toward the bus.

30 EXT. CASCADE MOUNTAINS. DAY. 30

Steve the Bus is high in the Cascade Mountains, winding down

a country highway.

31 INT. STEVE. DAY. 31

Ben glances into the rearview mirror. All the kids lookabsolutely despondent. Listless and lost. Staring out thewindow. Or at nothing.

Ben slams on the breaks. He stares at a sign: an arrow points

to the right and an arrow points to the left. He grabs the PA

radio and flips the switch.

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