The Next Three Days Page #10

The MAJOR plays John the CCTV video from the corridor. He

flips between two camera positions at either end of the hall.

The crowd of visitors shuffling toward the visiting rooms

obscures the view of the elevator.

MAJOR:

So, you are where in here?

JOHN:

...In the middle there.

MAJOR:

In the middle. Can you point to

yourself?

JOHN:

(looks)

It's hard to tell. I think that's

me there. Why?

He freezes the tape and points to a blurry figure in the

background.

MAJOR:

So that's not you there. By the

elevator?

JOHN:

(looks)

....No.

(points to another person)

I was over here. You want to tell

me what's going on?

MAJOR:

You want me to tell you?

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 52.

148 CONTINUED:
148

JOHN:

Yes.

The Major holds the piece of the key that jammed in the lock.

MAJOR:

You know what a bump key is?

JOHN:

Sorry.

Major puts it on the desk and just stares at John. Finally:

MAJOR:

If this was you, you might want to

think about what's going to happen

to your kids if both of their parents

are in prison.

The major stares right through him.

149 INT. COUNTY JAIL - CORRIDOR -- DAY 149

John heads toward the exit, accompanied by a guard. As he

nears the elevator he sees a technician climbing a step

ladder, holding a new CCTV camera.

150 INT. COUNTY JAIL - ENTRY HALL -- DAY 150

Face chalk white, John heads for the exit, fighting the urge

to run. The door opens just before he gets there and Collero

steps in, Quinn holding the door for her. John charges past,

noticing neither of them -- but Quinn recognizes him. Quinn

turns and watches as John doubles over the short wall nearby

and vomits.

DETECTIVE COLLERO

-- The worst date you've ever been

on? This was worse. And this guy? *

He really thinks he is doing great. *

Then he's driving me home and I know *

he's going to try and kiss me, so I

pretend to fall asleep. I mean, I'm

actually snoring, right in his car. *

Does that stop him? *

John turns and notices Quinn, behind the door, watching him.

They lock eyes. Collero realizes that Quinn isn't paying

attention and wonders what he's looking at.

DETECTIVE COLLERO (CONT'D)

...What?

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 53.

150 CONTINUED:
150

John turns and walks away. Quinn keeps watching.

DETECTIVE QUINN:

Did I tell you not to date cops?

Collero's eyes find John as well. He disappears around the

corner.

151 INT. T-TRAIN -- DAY 151

John rides home, devastated that his plan has failed, and

wondering what he will do. He checks over his shoulder to

make sure he isn't being followed.

152 INT. BRENNAN HOUSE -- DAY 152

John sits on the bare wood floor of the living room. His

head turns as he hears someone POUNDING on the front door.

He throws a look to the garage, thinks about the gun;

dismisses the idea. Then he hears the voice: his brother.

MICK (O.S.) *

Let me in, a**hole!!

153 EXT. BRENNAN HOUSE - FRONT PORCH -- CONTINUOUS 153

Mick bangs again. *

MICK (O.S.) *

Open up!

(more banging)

Your car is in the garage, I know

you're in there!

154 INT. BRENNAN HOUSE -- CONTINUOUS 154

John doesn't move. As we pull back we see that the living

room and dining room have been stripped of every bit of

furniture, save an old TV set sitting on a box. John knows

he can't let his brother see this.

The MALE NEIGHBOR in the house to the south opens his door

and looks out and scowls.

MALE NEIGHBOR:

What's your problem? He's not home!

MICK *

Not home? So you're saying I'm blind?

MALE NEIGHBOR:

No, I'm saying you're an idiot.

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 54.

154 CONTINUED:
154

Mick pounds on the door aggressively. Then just gives up. *

MICK *

You know what? You're right. I am

an idiot.

And he walks off to his car.

155 EXT. BRENNAN HOUSE -- CONTINUOUS 155

John leans back against the wall, in the middle of the bare

room, and listens to his brother's car start and drive away.

156 OMITTED 156

AND AND:

157 157

158 INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM -- EVENING 158

John stands, staring at his wall, now a vast collage, layer

upon layer of photographs and notes. And no answers.

LUKE (O.S.)

...Dad?

159 EXT. PARK -- DAY 159

John sits on a bench, frustrated and lost. Luke trots up.

LUKE:

Can I have my cookies?

JOHN:

You hungry? You want your sandwich?

LUKE:

No.

John hands him two packaged cookies. Luke runs off and hands

them to Carrie. Her attractive young mother, Nicole, sitting

a couple of benches down, calls and draws John's attention.

NICOLE:

Carrie!

(to John)

I'm sorry. She just already has it

all figured out.

(John nods awkwardly)

Nicole.

JOHN:

I remember.

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 55.

159 CONTINUED:
159

NICOLE:

(knows he doesn't)

Really?

JOHN:

(smiles and admits)

I remember your daughter.

NICOLE:

She's hard to forget.

(digs in her bag)

Oh, this is for you. Luke was

supposed to bring it home.

Hands him an envelope. He opens it and sees a birthday

invitation with jungle animals on the cover.

JOHN:

He has his father's memory.

NICOLE:

It's for Carrie's birthday party.

Please come; I'd love to meet your

wife.

*

*

JOHN:

I'm afraid she can't be there.

...It's complicated.

NICOLE:

I understand. With me, too. Carrie,

come on, time for lunch.

(to John)

We're going to the cafe on the corner,

would you like to join us?

JOHN:

Oh, we're pretty...you know....

Busy?

NICOLE:

John smiles, busted.

NICOLE (CONT'D)

Come on, we owe you for the cookies.

JOHN:

That's true. And I made those

cookies.

NICOLE:

And learned how to pre-package them.

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 56.

159 CONTINUED:
(2) 159

JOHN:

Which requires a considerable amount

of machinery. Come on, Luke.

They walk toward the street, the kids trailing behind.

Neither John nor Nicole speak for a moment.

NICOLE:

Do you trade off time with Luke?

JOHN:

No. Luke and I are together full

time.

NICOLE:

Wow. I guess that's why I see you

so much.

JOHN:

She'd like nothing better than to be

here. With him. Lara. She really

misses...all this.

NICOLE:

I guess it's all about priorities,

isn't it?

JOHN:

No. She's not like that. She'd...

(has to admit)

She's in prison.

NICOLE:

Oh.

JOHN:

I don't tell most people.

NICOLE:

I understand.

JOHN:

She's innocent. She didn't kill the

woman.

NICOLE:

...Good. I mean, I'm sure she didn't.

Nicole doesn't know what else to say.

JOHN:

We should really be getting home.

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 57.

159 CONTINUED:
(3) 159

NICOLE:

(feigns disappointment)

Oh, okay.

JOHN:

(waving the envelope)

Thanks for the invitation. We'll

try and make it.

NICOLE:

That would be great.

John heads back and scoops up Luke. Nicole watches, trying

not to look dumbfounded.

160 INT. BRENNAN HOUSE -- LATE AFTERNOON 160

John and Luke enter, John sorting through the mail. Nothing *

from Lara.

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