Hero Page #23

BERNIE:

(O.S., diminishing)

GETCHER GODDAMN HANDS OFFA ME. ALL

I WANNA DO IS TALK TO THE GUY.

BUBBER and everybody turn toward the sound of the commotion.

BUBBER'S P.O.V.

of an unidentified MAN (BERNIE), obscured by the bodies of the

two SECURITY OFFICERS who are hurriedly hustling him off the

ward.

BERNIE (O.S.)

HEY, HOLD ON, BUDDY. THIS IS

AMERICA FOR CHRISSAKE! I GOT

RIGHTS!

BUBBER:

is frowning when a DOCTOR reassures him...

DOCTOR:

All under control. An unfortunate

man. Security will look after him.

BUBBER nods and turns back to SICK KIDS who seem transfigured

from BERNIE'S gruesome vision to children radiant with hope.

Much of their appearance, at least, was attitude, despair.

ANGLE ON BERNIE:

A solitary figure.

INT. WARD/HOSPITAL - DAY

A 14 year old ALLEN lies comatose in an intensive care room,

tubes in his nose, arms, and chest, monitors all around him,his

arms and legs in casts and traction.

BUBBER leans over the unconscious boy speaking intensely while a

DOCTOR hovers next to him and REPORTERS and CAMERAMEN jockey for

position at the foot of the bed.

BUBBER:

Listen, kid, you gotta hang on.

I know you're scared, we all get

scared, but that's when you have

to fight...

DOCTOR.

I'm afraid he can't hear you. He...

BUBBER:

He can hear me...

As he leans closer to ALLEN, BUBBER puts a hand out without

turning away from the boy,and waves away CHUCKY who has oozed

in close with his camera. This is private. Understanding, GALE

puts a hand on the lens and pushes the camera aside.

BUBBER:

Listen...

(eyes flicking to

Allen's I.D. bracelet)

Allen, you're in the darkness there

and it's scary. The doctors are

working on you but the tough part

is for you. You can't quit!

GALE can't hear what BUBBER is saying as he leans even closer

to ALLEN and grips the boy's hand.

CLOSE ON BUBBER AND ALLEN

BUBBER:

I know you don't know it, but

you're a hero. Sometimes you

don't know how brave you are...

and sometimes you don't know...

you can do something... until

you... until you surprise yourself

and... do it. But I know you've

got the stuff, I know it in my

heart. I want you to struggle

kid... for yourself, for all of

us.

(vulnerable)

For me. I... I really need you

to do this for me. I need you to

get well, Allen.

Did an eyelid flicker? Did the boy hear?

GALE'S eyes glisten with emotion as BUBBER rises, shaken.

EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY

A CROWD is waiting for BUBBER, MEDIA PERSONNEL among them.

BERNIE comes up behind a TV CAMERAMAN and taps his shoulder.

BERNIE:

Hey, buddy, you're with the media,

right? I got a story for you.

Something fantastic. That guy

Bubber, he's a fake, he...

THE CAMERAMAN is turning to consider BERNIE when there's a

sudden EXCITEMENT. The CROWD surges toward the hospital

entrance. VOICES cry out "He's coming! Here he comes!"

THE CAMERAMAN turns toward the doors leaving BERNIE helpless,

caught in a surging tide of people.

BERNIE:

HEY! WATCH OUT! HOLD ON! FOR

CHRISSAKE!

INT. LOBBY/CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - DAY

BUBBER and his entourage of DOCTORS, MEDIA PEOPLE and SECURITY

GUARDS are surging toward the front door of the hospital like

an excited amoeba. GALE is close to BUBBER in the crush.

GALE:

(emotional)

You were... very... inspiring.

BUBBER:

(alarmed)

A script! I thought we just walked

through everything...

GALE:

Read it. It'll be fine.

They're being swept through the front door of the hospital, the

whole amoeba. A CHEER GOES UP.

EXT. FRONT STEPS/HOSPITAL - DAY

BERNIE is being tossed about like a cork in stormy seas.

Buffeted about by happy ONLOOKERS full of good will, only BERNIE

is surly, obnoxious.

BERNIE:

Quit shovin', lady. Hey, watch yer

elbow. YOU'RE ALL NUTS FOR CRYING

OUT LOUD! WHATSA MATTER WITH YOU?

ANGLE ON BUBBER:

being jostled as his BODYGUARDS are shoved back into him,

CAMERAS push toward his face, HANDS reach out desperately for

him. But, in a dramatic contrast to BERNIE, BUBBER thrives on

the energy, laughing, reaching out to touch the hands that reach

for him, thriving on the vibe.

TEENAGE GIRL:

I LOVE YOU, JOHN BUBBER!

BUBBER:

HEY, WE ALL LOVE EACH OTHER, DON'T

WE?

OLD WOMAN ONE:

GOD BLESS YOU, JOHN! GOD BLESS YOU!

BUBBER:

GOD BLESS US ALL!

BERNIE'S VOICE (O.S.)

YA GODDAMN PHONY!

BUBBER stiffens imperceptibly. Dld he hear that right? Was

there a discordant note in the cacophony' of VOICES singing his

praises from every direction?

BUBBER'S POV

A sea of shining faces filled with love and admiration surges

in front of him. And yet, that VOICE again, a sour note of

contraction...

BERNIE'S VOICE (O.S.)

BUBBER, YA GODDAMN FRAUD! THAT'S

MY SHOE AND MY MONEY!

ANGLE ON BUBBER:

Hearing it, looking around urgently, but all he sees are

ADMIRERS thrusting at him as he's borne, as if on a tide, toward

his limo. Nobody else seems to have noticed BERNIE'S VOICE.

INT. WAITING LIMO

As the door slams shut, the cheering is suddenly faint. BUBBER

sinks back in the opulent seats while FACES distort themselves

against the smoked glass, trying to peer into the sanctuary.

Then, as the limo pulls away, BUBBER hears the VOICE again

muffled by the thick glass. He turns, looks out the rear

window. He sees the CROWD receding behind him, a confusion of

SPECTATORS and... is that that hitchhiker (BERNIE) being

restrained by a COP?

Rate this script:1.6 / 9 votes