Danny Collins Page #7

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SAMANTHA:

How did you-

DANNY:

I hired someone to track him down

years ago. Never got up the nerve

until now.

Danny puts the bagels on the table.

HOPE:

I want a bagel, can I have a bagel

Mommy!?

As Samantha starts cream-cheesing a bagel for Hope, she

looks at Danny.

SAMANTHA:

Wow. I mean... wow on so many

levels.

HOPE:

Too much cream cheese Mommy-

(CONTINUED)

36A.

39 CONTINUED:
39

Samantha realizes what she’s doing.

(CONTINUED)

37.

39 CONTINUED:
(2) 39

SAMANTHA:

Sorry, Baby.

DANNY:

How far along are you?

SAMANTHA:

Six months.

DANNY:

Boy or girl, do you know?

SAMANTHA:

Boy.

DANNY:

A boy. Wow.

SAMANTHA:

On so many levels.

(beat, then)

I have to call him.

DANNY:

Of course.

She walks over to the counter, keeping an eye on Danny.

DANNY (CONT’D)

So... Hope, what grade are you in?

HOPE:

I just finished the first grade.

My teacher is named Mrs. Williams.

Her aunt died last week so we had

a substitute. He had a mustache.

Why are you on TV?

DANNY:

Because I’m a singer.

HOPE:

Are you a good singer?

DANNY:

No, not really.

HOPE:

I didn’t think so.

SAMANTHA:

Hope!

DANNY:

(smiling)

Why didn’t you think so?

(CONTINUED)

38.

39 CONTINUED:
(3) 39

HOPE:

Because when you were on the TV,

Daddy said “Shut it off,

Samantha,” and Mommy turned it off

really fast, and then Mommy said,

“Tom?” and Daddy said, “No” and

that was that.

Samantha starts to say something, but then starts talking

into the phone (he’s gotten on the line). As she talks,

she steps out of the room.

SAMANTHA:

Hey, so... your fa... Danny

Collins just showed up at the

house.

(long beat)

Uh-huh. I know. Having bagels in

the kitchen with Hope.

(beat)

What was I supposed...

(beat)

Yes. Okay.

She hangs up, returns into the kitchen, puts on a big

fake smile, and announces:

SAMANTHA (CONT’D)

He’s coming home.

HOPE:

Yay!

Danny looks at Samantha. She SHRUGS.

40 INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER 40

Hope is watching television, completely absorbed.

Danny and Samantha sit awkwardly on the couch behind her,

watching her watch the television.

SAMANTHA:

I have so many questions.

DANNY:

Ask away.

SAMANTHA:

I can’t think of any of them now.

Hope SCREAMS at the TV.

SAMANTHA (CONT’D)

Hope? Calm, okay?

(CONTINUED)

39.

40 CONTINUED:
40

Danny looks at Hope... currently running around in small

circles, dancing. It’s partially adorable, partially

manic.

DANNY:

She seems... energetic.

SAMANTHA:

Severely hyperactive. Learning

issues, behavioral stuff, we do

the best we can but it’s a battle--

why are you here?

The question’s delivery catches Danny by surprise.

DANNY:

I’m making some changes.

SAMANTHA:

It’s a little late for that, isn’t

it?

DANNY:

Maybe. I hope not.

Samantha leans back, thinks for a moment. Then:

SAMANTHA:

My husband is the best man I’ve

ever met. Solid. Kind. Funny.

We’ve had one fight. Twelve

years, one serious fight. Two

years ago, I got backstage passes

to one of your shows, thought it

was time he should... at least

meet you.

(then)

He disagreed. He disagreed

strongly.

DANNY:

So this isn’t going to be pretty?

SAMANTHA:

No. I wouldn’t imagine it will

be.

DANNY:

Well, if you could help grease the

wheels at all-

SAMANTHA:

Mr. Collins, my parents are dead.

His mom is too. I’d like my

daughter to know her one remaining

grandparent, I would.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

40.

40 CONTINUED:
(2) 40

SAMANTHA (CONT'D)

I’d like my husband to know his

father. And I’ll admit to being a

little star-struck by you. But in

a minute, my husband is going to

walk through that door. And when

he does, I’m confident that this

will be the last time I ever see

you. And despite your celebrity,

and despite what I want for my

family, I will not try and stop

that. You did this to yourself.

Shame on you.

Danny NODS, understanding.

DANNY:

That was good.

SAMANTHA:

(emotional)

I’ve been practicing it in my head

since you gave me the bagels.

Danny smiles.

DANNY:

He married well.

SAMANTHA:

Yeah, I’m pretty great. You see?

You really missed out.

And just then:
the FRONT DOOR opens. There stands TOM

(40). Handsome. He wears boots, work clothes, clearly

fresh off a construction job. He could not be dressed

less like the man currently sitting on his couch.

HOPE:

Daddy! Daddy!

Tom’s eyes remain fixed on Danny as he hugs Hope (who is

becoming overwhelmed by all the excitement).

HOPE (CONT’D)

(hyper)

Look who it is! It’s the man from

TV! It’s the man from the TV that

we saw singing, and Mommy said

“whoa” and he brought bagels-

TOM:

Hope, easy.

HOPE:

He brought bagels and Mommy called

you and now you’re home early and-

(CONTINUED)

41.

40 CONTINUED:
(3) 40

TOM:

(calmly)

Hope?

She looks up at him. Tom begins an adorable father-

daughter calming ritual; the whole time never breaking

his “if looks could kill” stare at Danny.

TOM (CONT’D)

Your favorite flower is a-

HOPE:

Rose!

TOM:

To smell it you breathe through

your...

She takes a deep breath through her nose. It’s all a bit

surreal:
watching a man settle his daughter with a

nursery rhyme while staring daggers at his long-lost

father.

TOM (CONT’D)

(rhyming/glaring)

Keep it in, long as you can go,

then let it out, in one... big...

blow.

Hope lets out her breath, a bit settled.

TOM (CONT’D)

(to Samantha)

Hi Honey.

SAMANTHA:

Hi Baby.

TOM:

(to Danny)

Could I speak to you outside for a

second?

DANNY:

Of course.

Danny stands, offers his hand to Samantha.

DANNY (CONT’D)

If I have, then I am truly very

sorry to have missed out on you.

SAMANTHA:

(formal)

Thank you for the bagels.

(CONTINUED)

42.

40 CONTINUED:
(4) 40

DANNY:

(smiling)

Okay.

Tom guides his daughter towards Danny.

TOM:

Hope, say goodbye to Mr. Collins.

HOPE:

Goodbye to Mr. Collins.

TOM:

Mr. Collins, say goodbye to Hope.

Danny kneels down, takes a knowing last look at hisgranddaughter.

DANNY:

(sad smile)

Goodbye to Hope.

He stands, follows Tom out the door.

41 EXT. TOM AND SAMANTHA’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS 41

Tom closes the door behind them. They stare at eachother for a long beat. A really long beat. Finally:

DANNY:

You’re so tall.

TOM:

(calmly)

I’m sorry. What exactly do youwant?

I just-DANNY

TOM:

Are you sick? Is that why you’re

here? Are you dying?

No.

DANNY:

I’m not sick.

Danny takes a deep breath, contemplating. Then:

DANNY (CONT’D)

You have every right to be angry-

(CONTINUED)

43.

41 CONTINUED:
41

TOM:

I’m not angry, I’m really not.

I’m a little confused, and

strangely not interested. So if

you have anything to ask me, go

ahead, because this will be the

last time we see each other.

Danny NODS.

DANNY:

What do you do for a liv-

TOM:

I work construction. Local

residential. Not my dream job but

it’s steady and Princeton wasn’t

exactly in the cards. What else?

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