Flight Page #27

We hold close on WHIP’s face as we hear the metallic clang of

prison doors shutting. On the sound we cut to...

INT. FEDERAL PENITENTIARY -- CELL -- DAY

We pan across the concrete cell wall, looking at a small,

personal photo collage. We see a photo of NICOLE and SHEILA

and a few other AA FOLKS surrounding WHIP who sits in front

of a birthday cake in the common room of the prison. We see

a photo of WHIP’s DAD as an airman. We ultimately land on a

photo of NICOLE. We recognize it as the photo WHIP took on

the porch of the Whitaker Farm.

We pan down to find WHIP writing in a journal. A GUARD comes

to the front of his cell.

GUARD:

Whitaker, you got a visitor.

WHIP looks at the GUARD and nods before taking a last glance

at the photo of NICOLE.

EXT. FEDERAL PENITENTIARY -- GUEST YARD -- DAY

WHIP sits at a lone picnic table in a fence-enclosed

courtyard. He checks his watch and looks up.

WHIP stands and walks towards us, towards his visitor. As he

gets closer we see a smile break across his face. A smile we

haven’t seen since he first saw NICOLE. We reverse to see...

WILL -- WHIP’s 17 year old son stands next to a GUARD.

GUARD:

You have 40 minutes.

WHIP:

Knuckles, you’re looking good.

(beat)

I sent you something for your

birthday.

WILL:

Yeah. I got it.

Another beat as they can’t find a way in to a conversation.

148.

WHIP:

This is a real surprise; a great

surprise. I haven’t seen you-

WHIP chokes up. WILL nods. It’s intense. WHIP motions to

the table and they both sit. WILL pulls out a notebook.

WILL:

College counselor thought I should

come and interview you.

WHIP:

Great. An interview. Okay.

WILL:

I’m writing essays for college

applications.

WHIP studies him and laughs...WILL nods and tries to smile.

WHIP:

Listen Will, it means everything to

me that you came here. You are an

amazing kid and you deserve great

things...

Again WHIP has to tamp down his emotions.

WILL:

So can you help me with this essay?

WHIP:

Yeah. Of course.

WILL pulls out a small voice recorder and clicks it on...

WILL:

This essay. I have to do an essay

called, “the most fascinating

person I’ve never met.”

The two men just look at each other.

WHIP:

And that’s me?

WILL nods, both men are struggling to keep it together.

WILL:

Can we pick up where we left off?

WHIP nods, unsure as to where this is going.

149.

WHIP:

Okay.

WILL:

Who are you?

WHIP:

Good question.

WHIP smiles...a great, familiar question. He begins to

alternately laugh and sob as there is great relief in the

promise of a connection with his son.

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