Frequency Page #15

FRANK:

It's okay, Chief.

(beat)

C'mere.

Johnny shuffles over, Frank lifts him up on his knee -

brushes the hair out of his face...and gets an idea.

EXT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Streetlights flood the tree-lined street. Frank & Johnny

standing next to the little red bicycle.

FRANK:

Okay, partner, whatta you say we tame

this bronco.

CLOSE ON:

Johnny's eyes:
SHAME & FEAR - doesn't want to disappoint his

father again, but too scared to get on the bike. Frank

reaches out, holds Johnny's hand.

JOHNNY:

I'm scared.

FRANK:

Don't be scared. This time I'm right

behind you if you fall.

JOHNNY:

Daddy, Daddy, I can't.

FRANK:

No, but we can. We can do it together.

Spirit and guts, Chief.

A long beat. Johnny takes a deep breath, nods OK, slowly

getting on the bike. Frank's holding on to the seat.

FRANK (CONT'D)

Take your time. I'm not gonna let go

'til you say okay.

Johnny takes a gulp of air, starts pedaling. Slowly moving

forward. The bike picks up some speed.

FRANK (CONT'D)

You ready?

JOHNNY:

Wait...

FRANK:

I'm right here behind you...

Frank's still running alongside, holding on to the seat.

JOHNNY:

Okay!

Frank lets go. Johnny keeps pumping those little six-year

old legs. A bit wobbly at first, but he's gonna make it. On

Johnny's eyes:
determination & self-confidence.

FRANK:

(clapping)

Yes! That's it! You got it, you got it!

Way to go, Chief!

JOHNNY:

I'm doing it! I'm doing it!

ON FRANK'S FACE

The proud father.

FRANK:

(under his breath)

Atta boy.

OVERHEAD SHOT:

Johnny blissfully riding around Frank in a big gentle circle.

Frank slowly spins around keeping his eyes on his Little

Chief.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - STUDY - NIGHT - 1998

John walks in the front door, takes off his coat...

The house looks different. Cleaner, furnishings less ragged.

John moves through his home, taking in the subtle changes.

He reaches the study. And there, beside the desk, is

something that makes him stop:

A PHOTOGRAPH on the wall beside the desk -- FRANK, JULIA &

FOURTEEN YEAR-OLD JOHNNY SULLIVAN.

JOHN:

Oh my God...

The picture changed. John aged from 6 to 14. Julia's

hairstyle and clothes changed from 60's to 70's. Frank's

hair receded and grayed. Jon is staring at evidence of a

history that didn't exist before.

John grabs the old family scrapbook he found in Frank's

trunk. Opens it, unfolds "FIREMAN KILLED" CLIPPING.

The main headline still reads: "OCTOBER 13, 1969. AMAZIN'S

TAKE GAME 2. 2-1 LEAD. SEE SPORTS."

But the sub headline now reads: "FIREMAN RESCUES RUNAWAY FROM

INFERNO"

John turns, stares at the radio questioningly. He starts to

sit down at the desk when he spots something on the front

edge of it. WORDS CARVED INTO THE WOOD, 29 YEARS AGO by fire

fighter Frank Sullivan. The day John saved his father's

life:
I'M STILL HERE CHIEF

The last letter is missing. But then a patch of wood starts

to morph - as if it were being carved by an invisible knife.

A BURST OF STATIC. RADIO CRACKLES TO LIFE.

FRANK (O.S.)

(through radio)

...can you hear me?

CUT TO:

CLOSE ON FRANK:

One hand on the squawk bar, the other holds the jack-knife he

is using to finish carving the letter F.

JOHN (O.S.)

(through radio)

Dad...?

FRANK:

Chief?! Is that you?

INTERCUT FRANK AND JOHN

JOHN:

Yeah, it's me.

FRANK:

You're the voice of an angel, Johnny. If

you hadn't told me, no way I would'a ever

made it.

Frank cuts himself off in mid-sentence.

JOHN:

Dad, you there? You okay?

FRANK:

Yeah. I'm okay.

(beat)

What about you? I want to know. About

you. And your mom.

John hesitates for a moment. Lights up a smoke.

JOHN:

We're doing all right, Dad. We're doing

good.

FRANK:

Tell me.

JOHN:

It's hard to explain. Something happened

today. It was like a dream. And when I

woke up I had all these new memories.

Good times. Times we never had before.

FRANK:

I'm glad.

But John looks troubled. Something bothering him. He takes

a hit off his cigarette.

JOHN:

Dad, I gotta tell you this...cause you

should know. Cause I still remember.

FRANK:

What, Johnny? What is it?

JOHN:

What it was like when you died in the

fire...

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