Danny Collins Page #10

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(then)

I pulled some strings. You have

an interview in two hours.

Hope pops out of the bus.

HOPE:

It has a SHOWER!!!

And she’s back inside. Tom turns back toward Danny.

TOM:

Do you really think that we

haven’t looked into every school-

(CONTINUED)

56A.

52 CONTINUED:
(4) 52

DANNY:

Well you haven’t looked into this

one.

TOM:

And how exactly do you know that?

(CONTINUED)

57.

52 CONTINUED:
(5) 52

DANNY:

(quietly)

Because you can’t afford it.

Tom steps forward, he’s had enough.

TOM:

You know what-

SAMANTHA:

(sharply)

Tom.

Tom goes quiet, then:

TOM:

Stephen, would you mind your

f***ing business please.

Behind them, their nosy LANDSCAPING NEIGHBOR slips out of

frame.

Samantha motions towards Danny to continue. Danny takes

the opportunity.

DANNY:

People wait two years to get an

interview. You have one in two

hours.

Samantha looks at Tom. Tom says nothing.

DANNY (CONT’D)

Just give me one day to do

something good for you. Then I’m

gone forever. You’ll still go to

heaven ‘cause you’re so damn

tolerant, and I’ll still go to

hell because you can’t buy

redemption. Everyone wins.

Tom looks at Samantha. She clearly wants this. He

shakes his head. There’s no stopping this train.

DANNY (CONT’D)

If you guys want to bring any

friends, there’s room.

A53 INT. TOUR BUS - LATER A53

The THREE ADULTS awkwardly sit in the enormous bus as

Hope runs around like a maniac.

57A.

53 EXT. NEW COMPASS SCHOOL - TWO HOURS LATER 53

Like many top private schools in Manhattan, it’s a

mansion converted into a school. It looks like a place

superheroes in an X-Men prequel should attend.

The TOUR BUS sits outside.

58.

54 INT. NEW COMPASS SCHOOL - LATER 54

The family stands in the middle of the school, staring.

It’s awe-inspiring.

HOPE:

This is a school?

SAMANTHA:

I’m not sure, Baby.

A MAN (40’s) ENTERS in workout clothes. This is the

HEADMASTER, RYAN KURTZ. He’s reading from a CLIPBOARD.

KURTZ:

Sorry to keep you waiting. And

sorry I’m dressed like Jack

LaLanne, I’m elastic-only on the

weekends. I’m Dr. Kurtz, the

headmaster here-

TOM:

Tom Donn-

KURTZ:

(re:
Danny)

Holy cow, you really are Danny

Collins!

Kurtz beelines for Danny. Tom continues introducing

himself, even though Kurtz is no longer listening.

TOM:

(to no one)

--Tom Donnelly, my wife, Samantha,

our daughter, Hope, my balls are

in my wife’s purse, if you’re

lucky you can meet them later.

Samantha smiles, smacks him. Danny shakes Kurtz’s hand.

KURTZ:

Wow, seeing you in person is way

different than talking to you on

the phone.

DANNY:

Good to meet you, Doc.

Kurtz turns to Tom.

KURTZ:

And you must be Hope.

(CONTINUED)

59.

54 CONTINUED:
54

Tom.

TOM:

(not that amused)

Kurtz feigns confusion, turns toward Samantha.

KURTZ:

Then... you must be Hope.

Samantha.

SAMANTHA:

KURTZ:

Then who’s Hope?

Hope, of course, finds this routine hysterical.

HOPE:

I’m Hope! I’m Hope!

that’s me, I’m Hope-Over

here,

Easy, Baby.

SAMANTHA:

Kurtz smiles.

KURTZ:

Let me show you guys around.

We’re only half speed during our

summer camp programs but you canstill get a sense of the place.

They follow him off.

do.

Danny holds still, unsure what to

C’mon, you.

KURTZ (CONT’D)

You started all this.

Danny hesitates, looks toward Tom.

throws up his hands in defeat.

Tom, exasperated,

55 INT. NEW COMPASS SCHOOL - MOMENTS LATER 55

Kurtz leads them through the unbelievable facilities...

technology-filled classrooms and a college levelgymnasium catch the eye.

Hope runs ahead, excited.

Hope!

TOM:

She’s fine.

KURTZ:

(CONTINUED)

60.

55 CONTINUED:
55

Samantha keeps her eye on Hope as she talks to Kurtz (who

reads Hope’s paperwork as he walks).

SAMANTHA:

When first grade started, she

really started having trouble.

TOM:

We’ve had her working with a

private tutor once a week and I do

exercises with her every night.

She has a really hard time

focusing, retaining information-

DANNY:

(interrupting)

It’s been a real struggle.

Tom looks at Danny, shocked by his chutzpah. Kurtz

lowers the clipboard, looks at Samantha and Tom.

KURTZ:

Most schools try to train children

like Hope to fit into their

systems. We prefer to tailor a

program to fit the child’s needs.

(to Danny)

We call that our IEP.

TOM:

And that’s--?

DANNY:

Individualized Educational

Program, right? IEP?

They all look over at Danny, glasses on, studiously

reading notes from his stationary pad.

KURTZ:

You’ve done your homework, Mr.

Collins.

Kurtz leads Samantha into the next room. We hang on

Danny who smiles, proud of himself.

TOM:

You having fun?

DANNY:

Little bit of fun, yes. I’m very

excited.

Danny walks past Tom. Tom SIGHS, follows after...

(CONTINUED)

61.

55 CONTINUED:
(2) 55

A56 INT. NEW COMPASS SCHOOL - MOMENTS LATER A56

We PAN off a line of children’s SHOES until we land on a

final pair:
those belonging to Hope. She is mesmerized

watching a ROOMFUL of ballet students, dancing in unison.

He parents are watching her.

SAMANTHA:

And so this whole place is just an

elementary school?

KURTZ:

(confused)

Elementary and middle. We’d carry

Hope until 8th grade, then we’d

place her in-

TOM:

I’m sorry, I’m sorry. We live

over an hour outside the city.

How would she even-

DANNY:

She’ll have a driver. Every day,

to and from school. Everything

will be taken care of, through

college. It will be in writing.

KURTZ:

A more formal interview is

required, obviously. But

considering Mr. Collins’ generous

donation and what I see in Hope’s

records... I suspect the interview

will go well.

(then)

I don’t usually come in on a

Saturday, if you catch my drift.

He smiles at Danny, turns back to Tom and Samantha.

KURTZ (CONT’D)

You have a lot to discuss. But

trust me:
you want this. This can

change the course of Hope’s life.

(then)

You’ve got a good grandpa here.

If things could possibly get more complicated, they just

did.

(CONTINUED)

61A.

A56 CONTINUED:
A56

KURTZ (CONT'D)

I’ll give you all a minute.

He EXITS. The family is left alone. A beat, then Danny

CLAPS.

(CONTINUED)

62.

A56 CONTINUED:
(2) A56

DANNY:

Okay, so that concludes theeducational portion of the day,

now for the fun stuff-TOM

Whoa, whoa, what are you talkingabo-DANNY

I asked for a day, Tom-TOM

But-DANNY

--and you agreed to give me a day.

Samantha, he did agree to give mea day, didn’t he?

SAMANTHA:

I don’t know if “agreed” is theright word-DANNY

Samantha.

SAMANTHA:

He agreed to give you a day.

Danny smiles.

DANNY:

Well last I checked - day ain’t

over yet.

Tom and Samantha share a look.

56 OMITTED 56

57 OMITTED 57

58 OMITTED 58

59 OMITTED 59

60 OMITTED 60

61 OMITTED 61

63.

62 EXT. TOM AND SAMANTHA’S HOUSE - LATER 62

The TOUR BUS pulls to a stop in front.

63 INT. TOUR BUS - CONTINUOUS 63

We PAN through the back of the bus, now FILLED TO THEBRIM with bags from Toys R Us.

On the van’s couch, Hope is asleep on Tom’s lap. She

clutches MULTIPLE TOYS in her arms, as well as the

remnants of something that was formerly ice cream. She’s

clearly had the day of her life.

Samantha opens the door to the bus, steps out.

SAMANTHA:

Here, I’ll take her.

You sure?

TOM:

SAMANTHA:

I’m carrying one of your kidsalready, what’s another?

Tom smiles. She takes Hope, turns to Danny.

Um, so...

SAMANTHA (CONT’D)

Her eyes well up.

SAMANTHA (CONT’D)

I want to say something but I’m

afraid I’m going to be too nice.

Danny smiles, takes her off the hook.

DANNY:

Goodnight, Samantha.

SAMANTHA:

Just... thank you. I think.

definitely. Thank you.

Yes,

She awkwardly EXITS, carrying Hope (and some toys) withher.

ON DANNY AND TOM

Alone. Father and son, facing off. No one speaks. It’s

a Mexican standoff. Finally - surprisingly - it is Tomthat makes the first move.

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