Frequency Page #16

Both men are silent for some moments. The hum of static. A

breath, then --

JOHN (cont'd)

We needed you. I needed you. So many

times...I wished for you. But you

weren't there for me.

(beat)

Mom tried. But she was hurting. I used

to hear her, every night, for years,

crying herself to sleep.

Frank grips the radio mic, stunned.

FRANK:

I didn't think...

The static grows. John leans into the mic

JOHN:

Well, you think about it. And you

remember, cause I don't wanna lose you

again. I don't ever want Mom...

John's voice cracks, choking back the tears.

FRANK:

(over static)

You won't. I swear to God you won't. I

love you, son.

A blast of static. The signal is gone. It is quiet.

John leans back. Takes a breath. Reaches out for the phone.

CLOSE ON PHONE'S THREE SPEED DIAL BUTTONS.

John HITS #3.

JULIA'S VOICE

(through answering machine)

Hi, this is Julia. Please leave a

message after the tone.

JOHN:

Ma, it's me. Call me. We gotta talk.

As John slowly hangs up the phone, something catches his eye.

Something that wasn't there yesterday.

LONGBRANCH BOYS' CLUB SWIMMING TROPHY...A GREAT SUMMER.

INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ROOM - LATE NIGHT - 1969

Through several glass windows a CLOCK READS: 11:52 PM.

Julia and other medical personnel are working on a heart

attach victim and they are winning. She is in charge and she

is impressive. Cool...efficient...expert.

A sixth sense causes her to look up to see:

FRANK.

Standing behind the windows. Motionless. Gazing at his

wife.

Julia holds on him for a split second, concern and surprise

etching across her face. She turns back to her work, then

says something to another ER nurse, who nods okay. Satisfied

the patient is out of the woods, she peels off her gloves and

heads for the door.

INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ROOM/HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Julia steps through the door as Frank approaches.

JULIA:

Frank...what's wrong?

FRANK:

Nothing. I just wanted to see you.

He takes her in his arms, snuggling his head against her

neck, losing himself in the scent of her hair.

FRANK (cont'd)

(whisper)

I'm not goin' anywhere, Jules. For the

rest of your life.

It's hard to tell, we can't see his face, but it looks like

Frank is crying.

JULIA:

Frankie, what is it?

But Frank is silent. So they just stand there, holding each

other. And then Julia notices the burn and scrape marks on

Frank's arms and neck.

JULIA (cont'd)

I got a bad feeling today...I was

worried.

FRANK:

I'm here. Bruised but not broken.

Frank pulls his head back, looks into his wife's eyes and

kisses her on the mouth. It's a long kiss.

As they come up for air.

JULIA:

Where's Johnny?

FRANK:

I tucked him in at Gordo's.

JULIA:

You give him his drops?

FRANK:

One in each ear.

(beat)

What would you do without me?

JULIA:

Probably marry some rich doctor and never

have to work...

Julia sees something through a glass door that stops her

short. A YOUNG INTERN is standing over a gurneyed PATIENT.

The YOUNG INTERN is changing the I.V. BAG.

JULIA (cont'd)

What's he doing? Frank, I gotta...

He knows she's back on the job. Waves "no problem."

INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CUBICLE - CONTINUOUS

Julia interrupts the Young Intern as he hooks up the bag.

JULIA:

Excuse me doctor, is that Benazepril?

INTERN:

Yes.

Julia quickly shuts off the I.V.

JULIA:

I gave this patient 50 mills of Benedryal

on admittance.

(unhooking I.V. bag)

Mix them and he's dead.

INTERN:

Why wasn't I made aware?

JULIA:

It's in his chart.

The intern steps back: "Oh sh*t." Julia takes charge.

The patient stirs: a SCRAGGLY HIPPIE, looks kind of like

Pacino in SERPICO. A breathing mask covers his bearded face.

Barely conscious, his eyes focus on Julia.

After a quick double check of the patient, Julia looks up.

Through the glass door she can see Frank watching.

FRANK:

(mouthing to words)

I love you, Bud.

JULIA:

(mouthing back)

I love you more.

The clock on the wall now reads: 12:01 AM.

And the LEGEND reads:

OCTOBER 13th - WORLD SERIES TRAVEL DAY

INT. FUNERAL HOME - DAY - 1969

SURREAL IMAGES. SOMEONE'S POV...

MEN and WOMEN, standing and sitting, seen only from teh waist

down. All wearing dark cloths and speaking in hushed voices.

A recognizable VOICE? The edge of a CASKET? A NIGHTMARE.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT - 1998

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