STAY Page #7

Sam looks at Dr. Schlegel, who nods. Sam pushes the play

button.

For a moment there is nothing but static. In the background

we hear a murmur of voices and distant sirens. After a few

seconds of this a female voice:

FEMALE VOICE:

Stay Henry stay stay stay Henry

stay stay stay Henry stay stay stay

Henry stay stay stay Henry stay

stay stay Henry stay stay stay

Henry stay.

EXT. DORMITORY

Sam and Dr. Schlegel stand alone on the steps while the

paramedics stand in front of the ambulance, smoking

cigarettes and watching the COLLEGE GIRLS stroll by.

SAM:

Now what?

DR. SCHLEGEL

Not much we can do at this point.

We don't have the manpower for a

stakeout or anything like that.

I'll notify the police but they

won't do anything.

SAM:

Why not?

41.

DR. SCHLEGEL

Because they're New York City cops,

that's why not. They've got more

important things to do than look

for depressed college students.

SAM:

Then I'll find him.

DR. SCHLEGEL

Okay. If you spot him, give me a

call and we'll pick him up for you.

But do me a favor, Sam?

SAM:

What's that?

DR. SCHLEGEL

Be careful. A guy this far gone's

got nothing to lose.

INT. CAR - NIGHT

DRIVER'S POV

We're on the ramp leading up to the Brooklyn Bridge. The

Gothic towers, massive and imposing, rise above us. It's

late, traffic is light, and we're moving fast.

INT. CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE -- LATE AFTERNOON

Henry sits, head bowed, eyes closed, in a forward pew of the

enormous cathedral. An enthusiastic blonde TOUR GUIDE is

leading a group of Midwestern TOURISTS up the nave, pointing

out the sights.

TOUR GUIDE:

The largest stained glass window,

above the entry-way -- looks like a

kaleidoscope, doesn't it? --

contains over three thousand

separate pieces of glass. Some of

the best craftsmen from around the

world have worked on the Cathedral

of St. John the Divine, but it's a

long way from finished. It won't be

complete for at least another

century.

The tour group exits the cathedral, leaving Henry alone in

the building. He raises his head toward the ceiling.

.

42.

HENRY'S POV

The roof of the cathedral is so high, and the lighting so

poor, that it's impossible to see the ceiling.

From somewhere inside the building a BABY'S howl echoes.

Henry looks around, wondering where the sound is coming from.

He gets up and begins to follow the noise.

Everywhere he goes statues of the saints stare down at him,

unsmiling.

No matter where he stands, the baby's howl seems just as far

away. He walks up the nave, toward the entrance.

The cathedral is very dark, the nave very long. His footsteps

echo off the stone walls. Finally he reaches daylight and

exits.

EXT. CATHEDRAL

Henry examines the hallucinogenic peace fountain on the

cathedral's grounds. Saint Michael, winged and victorious and

sword-wielding, has just decapitated Satan, whose headless

body is plunging into the abyss.

Henry walks over to the fenced-off garden behind the Peace

Fountain. The one PEACOCK in Manhattan lives in this garden.

Henry, behind the fence, watches it strutting about, fanning

its gorgeous array of feathers.

BOY (O.S.)

Mommy, is that man going to die?

Henry wheels about. The small BOY we last saw holding a red'

balloon stands a few yards away, holding his MOTHER'S hand.

He has a new red balloon.

Both mother and child stare at Henry. Finally the mother tugs

her son away, but the child continues to stare over his

shoulder at Henry.

INT. SAM'S APARTMENT -- NIGHT

Sam sits at the kitchen table. The documents, from Henry's

folder are spread out before him: transcripts, application

materials, etc.

43.

Sam studies a passport photograph of Henry for a moment then

continues to sift through the material while Lila, sitting on

the opposite side of the table, eats take-out Chinese food.

.

SAM:

(examining a memo)

He refused to take the mandatory

swim test. Maybe he's afraid of

water.

LILA:

(chewing)

Mm.

SAM:

Citations for Studio Art.

Apparently he's an accomplished

painter.

LILA:

Did you ever hear from Beth Levy?

SAM:

No. Listen to this: "Of all the

students I have encountered at

Columbia, Henry Letham has the most

fertile imagination. If he

maintains his concentration he will

create new worlds with his art."

LILA:

Clearly that professor wants to

f*** Henry Letham.

Sam, still paging through the documents, laughs.

SAM:

There's the graduate student

cynicism I know and love.

LILA:

What exactly are you doing, baby?

Sam looks up at her.

SAM:

What do you mean?

LILA:

You're letting this kid take over

your life. It's not your job to

track down missing students.

44.

Sam is quiet for a moment.

SAM:

Whose job is it?

LILA:

I just don't think it's healthy to

be so obsessed with one patient.

SAM:

I don't think it's healthy, either.

But if I don't help him, no one

else will. He's alone in the world.

LILA:

Maybe you're right. Maybe I am a

cynic. But it seems to me that he's

using you.

(beat)

You want your fortune cookie?

SAM:

It's all yours.

Lila cracks open the cookie and pulls out the fortune.

LILA:

(reading)

"Your troubles will cease and

fortune will smile upon you."

Sam slowly looks up at her. All the color has drained from

his face.

LILA (CONT'D)

And not a moment too soon, that's

all I can say.

(noticing Sam's

expression)

What's the matter, baby? Sam?

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY -- NIGHT

Sam stands outside an apartment door, holding the Henry

Letham folder. He rings the doorbell. No answer. He rings

again. He bangs on the door. No answer.

.

SAM:

(yelling)

Beth?

Finally the door opens, still chained.

45.

SAM (CONT'D)

(quieter)

Beth? It's Sam. Are you okay?

DR. BETH LEVY unchains the door and walks back into the

apartment. Frizz-haired and overweight, Beth looks bad. She

obviously hasn't showered in days, or changed her clothes.

INT. BETH'S APARTMENT -- CONTINUOUS

Sam follows her inside, closing the door behind him. The only

light in the apartment is from the streetlights.

Beth sits on the floor, her back against a sofa.

SAM:

How you feeling? I'm sorry, I

should have come earlier.

Beth is not paying any attention to him. Sam sits down a few

feet away from her.

SAM (CONT'D)

Beth?

(forcing a laugh)

They've got you doped up on some

serious painkillers, huh? What are

you on, Vicodin? Percoset?

BETH:

There was no surgery.

SAM:

What do you mean? The appendectomy--

they decided not to operate?

BETH:

I made it up.

SAM:

You... why?

BETH:

Do you want to play? Can we play a

kissing game?

She begins crawling toward him on her hands and knees.

BETH (CONT' D)

I always wanted to kiss you. Let's

play a kissing game. Okay?

46.

Sam holds up his hands.

SAM:

Beth...

She stops abruptly and sinks back on her haunches.

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes