Tapping Page #8

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Po lays in a hospital bed. He has a brace covering his ribs,

and a tube connected to a bag of medicine beside him. Po

looks around. For being in a car that flipped, he's pretty

good looking. The doctors went ahead and removed his

stitches, leaving a scar running through his eyebrow.

Po unhooks his morphine. He sighs. Then he groans. Pushing

through the pain, Po stands up. He comes to his door.

A nurse walks in. She's very surprised that Po is up.

NURSE:

Well, you look like you're in a

hurry!

PO:

(indecipherable)

My Mom.

Po's voice is gone. He starts to say it again. The nurse puts

a hand on his shoulder.

NURSE:

Your neighbor is completely fine.

And so is your mother. You'll see

her in a minute. But first I need

you to sit down.

She motions back to his bed. He sits down on it. She gets his

medicine.

(MORE)

*

*

***

YELLOW 05/24/2017 49.

CONTINUED:

NURSE (CONT’D)

Lift your gown.

Po lifts his gown, and the nurse tapes his medicine to his

chest. She gets it all connected to his veins. She pulls down

the gown, and helps him up.

NURSE (CONT’D)

Would you like to see your mother?

PO:

Yes.

INT. MARY'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

The nurse helps Po into his mother's room. Mary sighs when

she sees Po OK. Mary wears a neck brace, and is propped up.

NURSE:

She has a very severe case of

whiplash. She's lucky her neck

isn't broken.

Po shakes his head, holding back tears as he comes up to his

mother. He drops into the chair next to her.

PO:

(Disbelieving, quietly)

He shook you? I...

A tear goes down Po's face, then his mother's.

PO (CONT’D)

Is David safe?

Po's Mom blinks slowly. Yes.

PO (CONT’D)

OK. I'm calling the police. Enough

is enough. It's not worth it, Mom.

We can't do this anymore. I mean,

look at you.

Po's Mom motions towards a pad on a small table next to her

bed. Po holds it up for her to write.

Not much I can say about that.

Po smiles, almost laughing. He hugs her.

(MORE)

*

*

YELLOW 05/24/2017 50.

CONTINUED:

PO (CONT’D)

I love you, Mom.

EXT. OUTSIDE RESTAURANT - EVENING - MOMENTS LATER

Po walks through the pouring rain to one of his favorite

restaurants. He's been here with Avery. Po walks in.

INT. RESTAURANT - EVENING - CONTINUOUS

Po, dripping wet, stands in line for takeout. Luckily, the

hospital gave him jeans, and a sweater to wear over his

medicine, which is on his chest. It's his turn.

PO:

I'd like a small chicken zinger.

RESTAURANT RECEPTIONIST

To go?

PO:

Yes.

He pays, then goes and stands by the glass door, watching the

rain fall from the skies.

A car drives by outside. It squeals to a stop.

EXT. RESTAURANT - EVENING - CONTINUOUS

The car's window rolls down. Avery is driving.

INT. RESTAURANT - EVENING - CONTINUOUS

Po watches as Avery gets out of the car. She walks into the

building. They both stand there, silent, expressionless,

dripping wet, staring at each other.

AVERY:

What gives, Po?

A tear goes down Po's face.

PO:

(crying)

I'm so sorry I dragged you into my

life.

(MORE)

***

*

*

YELLOW 05/24/2017 51.

CONTINUED:

Avery's face softens. She leads Po to a booth and they sit

down.

PO (CONT’D)

(recomposing himself)

Avery... you should leave me. I

just... it's not right for me to do

this to you. I'm unpredictable, and

so is my life. This just... maybe

our destinies are pulling apart

right now. I just...

A tear goes down Avery's face.

AVERY:

Po, I don't know what happened to

you.

She rubs his face. His bruises, his scar.

AVERY (CONT’D)

But I know that I'm not gonna leave

you just because your Dad abuses

you and you're to scared to call

the police. Po, I love you. I

genuinely care about you. I want to

grow old with you. And if you want,

we can live right here and take

care of your mother.

AVERY (CONT’D)

David can grow up and have a real

future. We'll both go to college

together and live happy, American

lives.

A beat. Po smiles. He pulls out his phone.

AVERY (CONT’D)

Who're you calling?

PO:

The police.

He waits. The receiver picks up.

PO (CONT’D)

(into phone)

Hello. This is Po Black. I live on

2155 Gardens.

(MORE) (MORE)

52.

CONTINUED:
(2)

PO (CONT’D)

My mother is in the hospital, I

have various injuries, and my fiveyear-

old brother is staying with my

aunt. What is your procedure for

domestic abuse?

A beat. Avery looks very sad, thinking about Mary.

PO (CONT’D)

(into phone)

Yes, I believe my Father is at

home.

A beat. Avery holds Po's empty hand.

PO (CONT’D)

(into phone)

I'll be right there.

He puts the phone is his pocket and sighs with relief. Avery

nods to him.

AVERY:

Now what?

PO:

I need to get to my house.

AVERY:

I'll drive.

EXT. PO'S HOUSE - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER

Po and Avery pull up to the house around the same time as the

police. They get out. A police officer walks up to him.

POLICE OFFICER:

Are you Po Black?

PO:

Yes.

POLICE OFFICER:

And whose that?

She gestures to Avery.

PO:

This is my girlfriend, Avery.

(MORE)

53.

CONTINUED:

Avery subtly rolls her eyes.

AVERY:

(very quietly)

I guess we're done making up.

POLICE OFFICER:

Do you have a picture of your

father?

PO:

No, but... If you find anyone in

there that's not my father...

they're probably worth questioning.

Avery smirks. The police officer nods.

POLICE OFFICER:

Is he armed?

PO:

No.

The police officer nods. He goes and talks to the other

police officers.

Po sees his father open the blinds a little bit. He then goes

and locks the door.

The police move up to the door. There are two of them. Two

more stand behind a car, waiting with guns just in case

there's a problem.

Po and Avery hold hands.

A police officer tries to open the door to the house. He

can't; it's locked.

POLICE OFFICER:

Mr. Black, open the door! We can

ourselves, but we'd rather you open

it!

No response. One of the officers pulls a small kit out of her

pocket, and uses it to open the door. The two officers walk

in.

From outside, Po's Dad is heard screaming.

(MORE)

**

*

*

**

PINK 05/18/2017 54.

CONTINUED:
(2)

PO'S DAD (O.S.)

They're lying! I don't know what

they told you, but they're lying!

A beat.

PO'S DAD (O.S.) (CONT’D)

GET OFF OF ME!

The two cops come out a moment later. With Po's Dad in

handcuffs.

PO:

(to Avery)

I've been envisioning this for

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