Jacob's Ladder Page #8

JACOB stares at her as she bursts back into the BEDROOM

carrying four trays of ice cubes. She hurries into the

BATHROOM and dumps them in the tub.

JEZZIE (V.O.)

He's coming right over.

JACOB:

Coming here?

JEZZIE (V.O.)

Goddamn it. Get in here. I can't

stand around waiting.

She rushes out of the BATHROOM and pulls JACOB out of bed.

He is shaking violently and she has difficulty navigating

across the room and undressing him at the same time. She

maneuvers him into the BATHROOM next to the tub. He looks

down at the ice cubes floating in the water.

JACOB:

You're out of your mind. I'm not

getting in there. I'd rather die.

JEZZIE:

That's your decision.

JACOB:

Look at me. I'm ice cold.

JEZZIE:

You're red hot, damn it. Get in

there. I've got to get more ice.

She runs out of the room. The door to the apartment slams

shut. JACOB sticks his toe into the water and pulls it out

again instantly.

JACOB:

Oh Jesus!

He sticks his whole foot in and grits his teeth as the ice

cold water turns his foot bright red. He keeps it in as long

as he can and then yanks it out, quickly wrapping it in a

towel. JACOB rubs his foot vigorously to get rid of the

sting and stares at the water, afraid of its pain.

INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT

JEZZIE is running up and down the CORRIDOR knocking on doors

and collecting ice cubes from those who will answer. She

hurries back to the BATHROOM with several PEOPLE behind her

carrying additional ice trays. One of the MEN is shifting

the trays in his hands to avoid the burning cold.

INT. JACOB'S BATHROOM

As JEZZIE enters the BATHROOM, JACOB is sitting on the rim

of the tub with the water up to his calves, shivering

vigorously.

JACOB:

I can't do it.

JEZZIE:

What kind of man are you?

She unloads two trays into the water.

JACOB:

Don't gimme that.

JEZZIE:

Lie down!

JACOB:

(pleading)

Jezzie! My feet are throbbing!

JEZZIE:

(calling out)

Sam, Tony, come in here.

JACOB:

Hey, I'm not dressed.

SAM:

You got nothin' we ain't seen before.

SAM and TONY grab hold of JACOB who wrestles to get away.

JACOB:

Get the hell off me.

TONY:

He's like a hot coal.

SAM:

It's for your own good, Jake.

JACOB:

Let go of me, you sons of b*tches.

The TWO MEN struggle with JACOB and force him into the

water. TONY winces when the water hits his arm. JACOB nearly

flies out of the tub. The TWO MEN fight to hold him down.

JACOB screams and cries for the MEN to let him go but they

keep him flat on his back.

JACOB:

(continuing)

I'm freezing! I'm freezing! Goddamn

you!

TONY:

(his hand turning red)

Sam, I can't take it.

SAM:

Don't you let go.

TONY:

Jez, get help. My hands are killing

me.

JACOB:

Help me! Help me!

JEZZIE:

(to TONY)

Here. I'll do it.

TONY:

Take his legs.

SAM:

Run your hands under hot water.

MRS. CARMICHAEL comes in.

MRS. CARMICHAEL

I have some ice from the machine.

JEZZIE:

Bring it in.

MRS. CARMICHAEL

Is he all right?

JEZZIE:

He doesn't like it.

MRS. CARMICHAEL

I don't blame him. What should I do

with the ice?

JEZZIE:

Pour it in.

MRS. CARMICHAEL

On top of him?

JEZZIE:

He's melting it as fast as we dump it

in.

MRS. CARMICHAEL

Okay. My husband's got two more bags.

He's coming. They're heavy.

TONY helps her pour the ice into the water. JACOB yells.

JACOB:

Oh God! You're killing me! Stop!

INT. A BEDROOM - NIGHT

CUT TO JACOB lying in a BEDROOM we have not seen before. He

is tossing and turning in his bed as though struggling to

get out. Suddenly he sits up and looks over at the window.

It is open and the shade is flapping. Cold air is blowing in

and he is shivering.

JACOB:

Damn! You and your fresh air.

He jumps out of bed and goes over to the window. He pushes

at the frame and it comes flying down with a loud bang. A

woman in the bed sits up. It is SARAH.

SARAH:

What was that?

JACOB:

It's freezing.

SARAH:

I'm not cold.

JACOB:

Of course not. You have all the

blankets. It must be ten degrees in

here. I'm telling you, Sarah, if you

want to sleep with fresh air, you

sleep on the fire escape. From now on

that window is closed.

SARAH:

It's not healthy with it closed.

JACOB:

This is healthy? I'll probably die of

pneumonia tomorrow and this is

healthy.

He settles back into bed and pulls the covers back over to

his side. He lies quietly for a moment, thinking.

JACOB:

(continuing)

What a dream I was having. I was

living with another woman ... You

know who it was?

SARAH:

I don't want to know.

JACOB:

Jezebel, from the post office. You

remember, you met her that time at

the Christmas party. I was living

with her. God, it was a nightmare.

There were all these demons and I was

on fire. Only I was burning from ice.

SARAH:

Guilty thoughts. See what happens

when you cheat on me, even in your

mind?

JACOB:

She was good in bed, though.

SARAH:

Go to sleep.

JACOB:

She had these real beefy thighs.

Delicious.

SARAH:

I thought you said it was a

nightmare?

Suddenly, out of nowhere, we hear the tinkling sound of a

music box. A YOUNG BOY enters the room, carrying a musical

LUNCH BOX in his arms. He is wearing a long T-shirt nearly

down to his ankles. We recognize him from his photograph. It

is GABE.

GABE:

Daddy, what was that noise?

JACOB:

(surprised to see him)

Gabe?

(he stares curiously at

his son)

What are you doing ... ?

GABE:

There was a bang.

JACOB:

It was the window.

GABE:

It's cold.

JACOB:

Tell your mother.

GABE:

Mom, it's ...

SARAH:

I heard you. Go back to sleep.

GABE:

Will you tuck me in?

SARAH:

(not happily)

Oh ... all right.

She starts to rise. JACOB stops her and gets up instead. He

whisks GABE upside down and carries him into his

GABE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

BEDROOM, licking his belly and tickling him all the way.

GABE laughs and snuggles into his pillow as soon as he hits

the bed. JED, 9, and ELI, 7, are both in bunk beds across

the room. JED looks up.

JED:

Dad?

JACOB:

Jed. It's the middle of the night.

(he kisses GABE and goes

over to JED in the lower

bunk)

What's up?

JED:

You forgot my allowance.

JACOB:

Your allowance? It's five A.M. We'll

talk at breakfast.

JED:

Okay, but don't forget.

Suddenly another voice pipes in from the top bunk.

ELI:

I love you, Dad.

JACOB smiles.

JACOB:

What is this, a convention? I love

you, too, Pickles. Now go back to

sleep.

He turns to leave.

GABE:

Wait ... Daddy.

JACOB:

Now what?

GABE:

Don't go.

JACOB:

Don't go?

(he smiles)

I'm not going anywhere. I'm right

here, Gabe.

(he looks at his son

tenderly)

Come on, go back to sleep. You can

still get a couple of hours.

He hugs him warmly and then walks to the door.

GABE:

... I love you.

There is deep emotion and seriousness in GABE's words. JACOB

is struck by them.

GABE:

(continuing)

Don't shut the door.

JACOB nods and leaves it a tiny bit ajar.

GABE:

(continuing)

A bit more ... a bit more.

JACOB adjusts the opening enough to please GABE and make him

secure. GABE smiles and cuddles in his bed.

INT. SARAH'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

JACOB settles back into bed. SARAH turns over and gets

comfortable. JACOB lies on his back facing the ceiling. He

pulls the blankets up to his neck. He is overcome with

feelings of sadness and longing.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes