Signs Page #15

Beat. Graham thinks it over.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

...There are all different ways you

can tell that there's someone really

there watching out for us. You see

signs. Sometimes they're little ones.

You think of someone. The phone rings.

They're on the phone... Sometimes

they're big, like fourteen lights

hovering over Mexico City.

(beat)

Sure, there are a lot of people

watching this who think this could

be a bad thing. But there are a lot

of people watching this, who think

it's a miracle. A sign of God's

existence. It's all in how you look

at things Merrill.

(beat)

What you have to decide is what kind

of person you are? Are you the type

who believes in miracles and looks

for signs or are you the kind who

believes, things just happen by

chance?

Beat. Merrill is deep in thought.

MERRILL:

I was at this party once. I'm on a

couch with Sara Mckinney. She was

just sitting there, looking beautiful

and staring at me. I go to lean in

and kiss her and I realize I have

gum in my mouth. I turn and take out

the gum. Stuff it in my paper cup

next to the sofa and turn around.

Sara Mckinney throws up all over

herself.

(beat)

I knew the second it happened. It

was a miracle. I could have been

kissing her when she threw up. That

would have scarred me for life. I

may never have recovered.

Merrill looks at the TV screen. Beat.

MERRILL:

I'm a miracle man. Those lights are

a miracle.

Graham smiles.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

There you go.

Beat.

MERRILL:

(whispers)

So which type are you?

Beat.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

Do you feel comforted?

MERRILL:

(whispers)

Yes.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

What does it matter then?

The two of them turn back to the silent screen of the

television. It's a long beat before Graham speaks.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

Do you know what Colleen's last words

were before they killed her?

Beat. Merrill turns and stares quietly at his brother.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

She said, "See", and then her eyes

glazed a bit and she said... "Tell

Merrill to swing away."

Merrill's mouth opens a bit. Graham turns and chuckles at

his expression.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

Do you know why she said that?

Merrill nods, "No."

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

Because the nerve endings in her

brain were firing as she died, and

some random memory of us at one of

your baseball games popped into her

head.

(beat)

There is no one watching out for us

Merrill. We're all on our own.

Graham turns back to the television. Beat.

THE LIGHT OF THE TELEVISION FLICKERS ON THE FACES OF THE TWO

BROTHERS AS THEY SIT WATCHING IN SILENCE.

CUT TO:

INT. FAMILY ROOM - DAY

Graham's eyes open. DAYLIGHT FILLS the family room. He is

alone on the couch. Alone in the room.

He looks to the television. It's not there.

Graham moves to his feet and look around the room. His eyes

stop on an EXTENSION CORD that runs from a wall outlet in

the family room, across the front hall, and under a closet

door.

Graham moves to the door. WE HEAR MUFFLED TELEVISION VOICES.

Graham opens the CLOSET.

Merrill looks up. He's seated on a kitchen chair with the

television on a roll-away stand crammed in with him.

MERRILL:

For the kids protection. All they

were doing was watching TV from five

a.m. I felt like they were getting

obsessed like you said. They should

be playing furry, furry rabbit or

tea party or something right?

GRAHAM:

What's furry, furry rabbit?

MERRILL:

(points)

That's a game isn't it?

(beat)

Anyway...

(points at the TV)

There's been some interesting

developments.

GRAHAM:

What time is it?

MERRILL:

Eleven a.m. They're gone.

Beat. Graham looks at the TV screen. There's a daylight shot

of Mexico City. The skies are empty above it.

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