St. Vincent Page #15

OLIVER:

Oh. I’m really sorry, Vin.

VINCENT:

Never understood wwwwhy people

sssssay that.

OLIVER:

They don’t know what else to say.

VINCENT:

Welllll, it’s a sh*t saying. How

‘bout, “What was she like?” “Do

you miss her?” “What’re ya gonna

do now?”

Oliver has no words.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

Listennnn. Do yourself a favor,

kid, and get a life. Oookay. Stop

living mine. It hasn’t been for

sh*t.

OLIVER:

That’s not true.

Vin lashes out.

VINCENT:

The hhhell do you know about me?

You act like I’m some kinda role

model. Are you stupid?

94.

Oliver strikes back.

OLIVER:

Yeah, I’m stupid. Mostly for

thinking you were more than just a

drunk, mean, old man.

Oliver starts to tear.

VINCENT:

Don’t cry while your fighting.

OLIVER:

Don’t teach me any more gems, Vin.

Save ‘em for the nobody left in

your life.

Toe to toe. Vin backs down.

VINCENT:

I gotta be mmme, kid.

OLIVER:

Yeah. That’s the sad part.

Oliver walks off. Vin stares at the box.

VIN’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Vin’s sitting on the bed. The box, next to him. He

talks to it.

VINCENT:

I loved you to the moon there,

Sandy.

Then...

VINCENT (CONT’D)

So...what nnnnnow?

Vin inspects the room: packed full of sh*t, memories,

pictures. It hasn’t been touched since she left.

Vin grabs a picture of himself and a FEW MARINES posing

in Ho Chi Minh. He studies it. Then throws it in a bag.

He grabs another picture...then another. Throwing

everything in site, all the memories, pictures,

knickknacks into the bag. Purging.

EXT. VIN’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Vin drags two full trash bag loads of junk across the

lawn. He dumps them into trash barrels.

95.

INT. OLIVER’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Oliver watches Vin from his bedroom window. He shuts the

blinds and sits on his bed. Thinking.

INT. ST. FRANCIS DE SALES - LIBRARY - DAY

Computer lab. Oliver, Ozinski and OTHER STUDENTS are

working on computers, wearing headsets. Oliver digs in

his backpack and pulls out Vin’s Vietnam picture. The

one Vin tossed in the trash.

He flips the picture over, reads the handwritten

inscription:
“la Drang, Vietnam, 1965. Sgt. Vincent

Canatella.”

Oliver pecks on his keyboard:

Insert - Google search bar typing: “Sgt. Vincent

Canatella.”

The search reveals several pages with headings: “War

Hero,” “Bronze Star,” “Sgt. Canatella Rescues Two

Officers,” “The Battle of la Drang.” Etc.

Oliver clicks on the first link and starts reading. A

picture of a younger Vin pops up. He’s a proud looking

soldier.

Oliver hits Ozinski. He leans over and looks.

OZINSKI:

(too loud)

That’s the old f***er.

Oliver nods. Everyone and their mother heard that.

INT. CRESPI’S CLASS - LATER

Crespi’s concluding class. As kids shuffle out.

CRESPI:

Two weeks, children. The grand

stage, as they say. Our “Saints”

assembly. Don’t forget to invite

your parents, significant others,

etc., etc.

Crespi stops Oliver and Ozinski.

CRESPI (CONT’D)

No expletives in your presentation,

Ozinski.

OZINSKI:

My name’s Robert, sir.

96.

OLIVER:

He doesn’t like Ozinski, Brother

Crespi. Never has.

And with that the two boys walk off.

INT. BANK - DAY

Vin’s being escorted through the vault by his favorite

banker, Terry. He’s looking through a file.

TERRY:

She rented the box about eight

years ago, Mr. Canatella. Prepaid

to the end of this year actually.

They stop in front of a row of safety deposit boxes.

TERRY (CONT’D)

I have to key in with you.

Terry puts his key in the slot of a small box. Vin pulls

his key out of his jacket. Keys in. It opens.

Vin stares at Terry until...

TERRY (CONT’D)

I’ll be outside, sir.

Vin opens the door to the box. There’s only one thing

inside of it:
a trifold pamphlet. He pulls it out.

Unfolds it.

It’s a life insurance policy. Vin leans against the

boxes. Shakes his head at the blessing.

MONTAGE OF OLIVER RESEARCHING, VIN MOVING ON

EXT. OLIVER’S HOUSE - DAY

Ozinski waits on his bike outside Oliver’s house. Oliver

comes running out, jumps on the back of the bike. Amelda

waddles out after him, holding a jacket. She puts the

jacket on Oliver. And they take off.

STREETS - LATER

Oliver and Ozinski ride through traffic. Hauling ass.

EXT. THE BUCK - NIGHT

Ozinski’s bike is parked in front of the bar.

97.

INT. THE BUCK - NIGHT

Oliver and Ozinski are sitting at the bar drinking

Shirley Temples. Oliver is interviewing Gus and Linda.

GUS:

Oh heck, he won the Bronze Star in

in Vietnam. Pulled two officers

out of an ambush in la Drang. Only

a few got outta there.

LINDA:

It’s famous. He never told ya

about it?

OLIVER:

No, ma'am.

Oliver takes notes.

EXT. RACETRACK - PARKING LOT - DAY

Vin’s car. Charisse is driving. Vin directs.

VINCENT:

Therrrre’s a spot.

It’s handicapped.

CHARISSE:

I ain’t parking there.

Vin pulls a handicapped parking placard from the glove

box. Hangs it on the rear-view mirror.

VINCENT:

Best thing that ever happened to

me.

Charisse pulls in.

INT. RACETRACK - BREEZEWAY - LATER

Zucko’s walking down a quiet breezeway, whistling. He

turns a corner.

CRACK! He’s hit in the face with a cane. Falls

backwards, dazed, bleeding from the mouth. Teeth are

gone.

Vin hovers above him, waving his cane.

VINCENT:

That’ssss the for the elder abuse,

a**hole.

Vin tosses an envelope on Zucko’s chest.

98.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

There’s my dues. Plus interest.

Don’t come around no more. I’m

done with the horses.

Vin walks off, a spring in his step.

INT. ST. FRANCIS DE SALES - GYMNASIUM - ANOTHER DAY

The chin-up bar. Oliver’s pulling with all his might. A

CROWD OF CLASSMATES, lead by Ozinski, scream him on from

the ground.

OZINSKI & CLASSMATES

Oliver! Oliver! Oliver! Oliver!

Coach Mitchell smiles, watching in anticipation.

Oliver strains, pulls, twists. And finally, his chin

goes over the bar. The kids erupt in cheers. Oliver

drops like a sack of potatoes.

EXT. ST. FRANCIS DE SALES - SIDEWALKS - DAY

Oliver is walking towards a new Jaguar parked in parent

pickup. It’s his dad, David, waiting.

INT. FROZEN YOGURT SHOP - LATER

Oliver and David are sitting in the window eating frozen

yogurt. David’s trying to connect.

DAVID:

So. How’s things?

OLIVER:

Good. Can’t complain.

DAVID:

Mom. Good?

OLIVER:

Yep.

DAVID:

Friends?

OLIVER:

Dad. We don’t have to small talk.

Whatever happened between you and

mom, that’s your deal. I don’t

want to be in the middle. We can

just be us. Okay?

DAVID:

Got it.

99.

They eat...in comfortable silence. Then...

DAVID (CONT’D)

How’s school?

Oliver smiles.

EXT. SUNNYSIDE RESIDENCE FOR THE ELDERLY - ANOTHER DAY

Oliver is interviewing Nurse Ana. David’s sitting on the

lawn a few feet away, waiting. Oliver scribbles in his

notebook, lots of notes.

EXT. MAGGIE & OLIVER’S HOUSE - NIGHT

David carries a sleeping Oliver into the house. Maggie

holds the door open.

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