Captain Fantastic Page #5

BEN:

We can't go to Mommy's funeral. We

have to do what we're told. Some

fights, you can't win. The powerful

control the lives of the powerless.

This is how the world works. It's

unjust and unfair. But too bad. We

just have to shut up and accept it.

Ben looks back at the kids. They look devastated.

BEN (CONT’D)

Well, F*** THAT.

Ben hit's the cassette player, and cranks up "Immigrant Song"

by Led Zeppelin.

He turns back toward the kids and yells over the music.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 25.

31 CONTINUED:
31

BEN (CONT’D)

So they know we're F***ING COMING!

All the kids stand and yell in excitement.

Ben peels out and jerks the wheel to the right, swerving - in

the middle of the empty country highway.

OVER THE MUSIC:

32 EXT. COUNTRY HIGHWAY. DAY. 32

On a country highway, Steve the Bus slowly winds its way downthe snow-peaked Cascade Mountain range.

33 INT./EXT. STEVE - MOVING/STOPPED. COUNTRY HIGHWAY. DAY. 33

There's nothing but thick forests of Douglas Fir and Spruce,

as far as the eye can see. From the back of the bus, Zajastands.

ZAJA:

Road kill! Dad! Stop Steve!

Ben slowly pulls the bus over and Zaja jumps out.

34 INT. STEVE - STOPPED. COUNTRY HIGHWAY. DAY. 34

Ben opens the doors and Zaja climbs back on the bus. Sheopens a towel and shows her dad what she found: a smashedsquirrel, stiff with rigor mortis. She looks elated.

ZAJA:

And I don't have one like this!

Ben tries to smile.

35 EXT. HIGHWAY I5. PORTLAND, OREGON. DAY. 35

Steve the Bus, now on Highway I5, passes Portland, Oregon.

Snow-capped Mount Hood appears in the distance.

36 INT. STEVE - MOVING. DAY. 36

Now past the city and into the Cascade Mountains south ofPortland. Kielyr looks up from her book.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 26.

36 CONTINUED:
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KIELYR:

What's a "bordello?"

Ben looks over to see Kielyr reading "Lolita," by Vladimir

Nabokov.

BEN:

A whorehouse.

KIELYR:

Oh.

BEN:

I didn't assign that book.

KIELYR:

I'm skipping ahead.

BEN:

And?

KIELYR:

It's interesting.

BODEVAN:

Illegal word!

ZAJA NAI:

Dad! Kielyr said

"interesting!"

Dad! She said "interesting!"

BEN:

"Interesting" is a non-word. Youknow you're never allowed to use it.

Be specific.

KIELYR:

It's... disturbing.

BEN:

More specific.

KIELYR:

Can I just read?!

BEN:

After you give us your analysis.

KIELYR:

There's this old man. Who loves this

girl. But she's only

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 27.

36 CONTINUED:
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BEN:

That's the plot.

Kielyr pauses, considering how to articulate her feelingsabout the book.

KIELYR:

Because it's written from his

perspective, you sort of understandand sympathize with him. Which isamazing. Because essentially, he’s achild molester. But his love for her

is beautiful. But it's also kind of a

trick, because it's so wrong. He'sold and he basically rapes her. So itmakes me feel.... I hate him and I

feel sorry for him. At the same time.

Ben smiles.

BEN:

Well done.

Kielyr rolls her eyes and goes back to her book.

NAI:

What does "rape" mean?

BEN:

When one person, usually a man,

forces another person, usually awoman, to have sexual intercourse.

NAI:

Oh.

BEN:

Who's hungry?

All the kids say, "Me!"

NAI:

What's sexual intercourse?

BEN:

When a man sticks his penis in awoman's vagina. Anyone spot anyanimals yet?

This baffles the 6-year old Nai.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 28.

36 CONTINUED:
36

NAI:

Why would a man stick his penis in a

woman's vagina?

BEN:

Because it gives them both pleasure.

And the combination of a man's spermand a woman's egg creates a baby andcontinues the human race.

NAI:

But that's where she pees.

BEN:

Pee comes not from the vagina, butfrom the urethra, which is within

the outer labia. But yes, generally

speaking. That is where she pees.

This seems to further confuse Nai.

NAI:

I'm sad.

BEN:

So am I. So is everyone. Everyone!

Keep an eye open for game of anykind.

37 INT. STEVE - STOPPED. NIGHT.

Somewhere south of Eugene, Oregon, Steve is parked just offthe highway, hidden in the brush.

Ben watches his children sleep.

37

38 INT. BANK. MORNING.

A BANK TELLER counts some bills in front of Ben, who's now

dressed in a vintage suit. Ben looks over at his kids, allwaiting patiently on a bench.

They are all dressed in second-hand clothes. The boys insuits, the girls in dresses and frilly shirts.

Ben takes the bills and joins the others, but everyone isfrozen, just staring at the other BANK CUSTOMERS.

BEN:

Now what?

38

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 29.

38 CONTINUED:
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Zaja looks deeply disturbed.

ZAJA:

What's wrong with everyone?

BEN:

What do you mean?

KIELYR:

Are they sick?

BEN:

Who?

NAI:

Everyone is so fat.

Ben looks around the bank. His kids are right. The othercustomers, without exception, are all overweight.

BEN:

Yes, they are.

NAI:

Fat like hippos.

ZAJA:

That's not nice to say.

NAI:

But look.

KIELYR:

You can think it, but we don't make

fun of people, right Dad?

BEN:

That's right. We don't make fun ofpeople.

VESPYR:

Except Christians.

ZAJA:

Yeah, we don't make fun of people.

Except Christians.

BEN:

We really shouldn’t make fun of themeither. Although it’s hard not to.

Come on.

GREEN (9.2.2014) 29A.

A38 Omitted A38

GREEN (9.2.2014) 30.

39 INT. STEVE - MOVING. DAY. 39

On the edge of town, heading back toward the freeway - the

FLASHING LIGHTS of a police car behind them.

KIELYR:

Dad?

The SWIRLING POLICE LIGHTS visibly alarm the kids.

NAI:

Are they going to stop us from

rescuing Mom?

Ben pulls Steve over. He looks back at his kids.

BEN:

This. Right now. This is your first

real test. Be calm. Remember your

training.

40 EXT./INT. STEVE - STOPPED. DAY. 40

Ben opens the doors and OFFICER HAYES peeks in.

BEN:

Afternoon, Officer.

OFFICER HAYES:

License and registration, please.

Ben reaches into the glove compartment and pulls out his

papers.

OFFICER HAYES (CONT’D)

You know why I pulled you over?

BEN:

No, sir.

OFFICER HAYES:

Your left rear brake light is out.

I'm going to check the computer.

Officer Hayes looks around the bus. The interior of Steve is

clean and organized and he sees nothing suspicious.

But then he looks at the children. He stares at them long

enough to make Ben nervous.

OFFICER HAYES (CONT’D)

No school today?

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 31.

40 CONTINUED:
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Bo stands and addresses the officer.

BODEVAN:

Man, by his sin, has become separatedfrom God, and only through personallyaccepting the gift of reconciliationpurchased by Jesus at the cross canhe regain his fellowship with God.

Nai jumps out of his seat.

NAI:

Jesus is the way, the truth, and thelight!

The officer stares at the kids.

BODEVAN:

We're home-schooled.

(to Ben)

Father? May I?

Ben looks at Bo. He has no idea what Bo's doing.

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