The Descendants Page #32

---

COUSIN SIX:

It's inevitable, Matt. You know that.

We'll get out of debt -- the taxes and

maintenance have been leaching us for

far too long.

(CONTINUED)

106.

The Descendants PINK Shooting Draft 4/11/10 Draft

122 CONTINUED:
(3) 122

MATT:

I don't want it to go to Holitzer. I

don't want it to go to anyone. I want

to keep it.

COUSIN SIX:

For Christ's sake. We can't move

without your approval. And we don't

want to.

Hugh tries forcing Matt's hand. Matt resists.

COUSIN HUGH:

Your head's not right, Mattie. Your

head's not right. You want a couple

days to think it over? Take a couple

days.

MATT:

I don't need a couple days. I have the

authority, and this is what I want. I

haven't wanted something in a long

time. We have other businesses we're

converting to corporations. We can

figure it out.

COUSIN SIX:

But it's utterly unproductive land. It

doesn't generate enough income to pay

the goddamn taxes.

COUSIN HUGH:

You're the trustee. You know better

than anyone we only have seven years

left.

MATT:

Then I have seven years to figure out

how to keep it.

Cousin Hugh draws a long breath, looks up at the sky, then

back at Matt.

COUSIN HUGH:

We'll come after you. Just because

you're a lawyer doesn't mean the rest

of us would be afraid to come after

you. But nobody wants to do that.

We're family.

(CONTINUED)

107.

The Descendants PINK Shooting Draft 4/11/10 Draft

122 CONTINUED:
(4) 122

MATT:

People will be relieved, Hugh, the

whole state. I sign that document,

it's over. End of the line. Something

that was ours to protect will be gone.

Even though we're haole as sh*t and go

to private schools and clubs and can't

even speak pidgin, let alone Hawaiian,

we still carry Hawaiian blood, and

we're still tied to this land. And our

children are tied to this land. It's a

miracle that for whatever bullshit

reason 150 years ago, we own this much

of... paradise, but we do. And for

whatever bullshit reason now, I'm the

trustee. And I'm not signing. And if

you sue me, it'll only make us closer.

Cousin Hugh releases a long breath more like a belch, quickly

picks his nose, exchanges a look with Cousin Six. Then he

brings his fingers to his mouth to WHISTLE.

COUSIN HUGH:

All right, everybody, listen up.

Cousin Mattie has an announcement. Get

ready.

Rising to his feet, Matt scans the faces of his relatives.

123 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY 123

From the way Matt, Sid and the girls are positioned around

the room, we can tell their presence there is now way of

life. Scottie snoozes on the little sofa. We may notice

that Elizabeth is even more shrunken.

A KNOCK is followed by --

A VASE OF FLOWERS

appearing in the doorway, topped by blonde hair and held by

thin bronzed arms. It's JULIE SPEER.

MATT:

Julie. What are you doing here?

He rises to help her find a spot to put the flowers. She

nods to the girls.

JULIE:

I know we just met, but I was thinking

about you guys these past few days, and

I knew your mom was here. I don't

know. I just felt I should stop by.

(CONTINUED)

108.

The Descendants PINK Shooting Draft 4/11/10 Draft

123 CONTINUED:
123

MATT:

You remember Alex. This is Scottie.

Sid. This is Mrs. Speer.

JULIE:

Julie.

SCOTTIE:

Were you friends with my mom?

JULIE:

No, we never met. But I know a lot

about her.

As they now do often, Matt and Alex exchange a look.

MATT:

Well, we appreciate your coming by.

The flowers are lovely.

SID:

(heading to the door)

Scottie, Alex. Let's go to the

cafeteria.

The girls follow Sid's prompt, leaving Matt alone with Julie,

standing, a dying woman between them.

MATT:

I, uh, I'm not sure how much you know

about my wife's condition, but she's

going to die very soon. Any minute,

really. That's sort of why we're all

here.

JULIE:

I know. That's why I came. Because I

know. I came because my husband

wouldn't. And that just didn't seem

right. I thought someone from my

family should come.

Wow.

MATT:

I'm sorry I came to your house like

that. Just barged in on you.

JULIE:

It's all right. I assume you're angry.

Of course you are. I'm angry too.

Rate this script:4.0 / 6 votes