The Next Three Days Page #4

ERIT:

I know you won't want to hear this...

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 20.

35 CONTINUED:
35

MICK:

-- Erit, go put somebody to sleep.

*

She stares unbelieving, then walks off in a huff.

Thanks.

JOHN:

MICK:

Had to be done.

(long beat)

I am really going to pay for that.

*

John has to smile.

36 EXT. THE HILL DISTRICT -- NIGHT (DUSK) 36

John drives through a rough part of town on their way home.

He stops at a light and notes the dealers on the corner. A

flashy car pulls up, hands are slapped; call the driver DAVID.

He takes a roll of cash from the dealer, looks around, catches

John staring. John looks away quickly and drives off.

37 INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT 37

John sits at his desk, surrounded by boxes of documents and

photographs. As John sifts through the evidence...

38 INT. LARA'S OFFICE - THE PAST -- NIGHT 38

Lara and her boss ELIZABETH argue loudly.

39 EXT. PARKING GARAGE - THE PAST -- NIGHT 39

It's RAINING outside. ELIZABETH stands at her car door in a

small, partially covered garage -- maybe a dozen spots. She

turns toward camera -A

FIRE EXTINGUISHER comes right at camera, making a terrible

impact and

ELIZABETH collapses to the floor.

40 EXT. PARKING GARAGE - THE PAST -- NIGHT 40

Lara turns, holding the fire extinguisher.

41 INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM -- CONTINUOUS 41

As he flips through a handwritten witness statement.

WHITE 9-10-09 21.

42 EXT. PARKING LOT - THE PAST -- NIGHT 42

Lara's car speeds out of the parking lot. A male co-worker

steps out of the rain just as her car passes. He stops as

he sees ELIZABETH'S BODY lying beside her car.

*

*

43 INT. BRENNAN HOUSE - BATHROOM - THE PAST -- DAY 43

Lara tries to scrub the blood off of her coat.

44 INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT 44

The phone beside him SHRIEKS. John picks it up.

45 EXT. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ENTRANCE -- NIGHT 45

It's late; prime time for the ER. John runs in.

46 INT. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - SEVENTH FLOOR -- NIGHT 46

John enters breathlessly and finds the Nurses' Station.

JOHN:

Lara Brennan; my wife. She was sent

up here. Brennan. B-R*

*

DUTY NURSE:

(finds name in roster)

She can't have visitors.

*

JOHN:

That's ridiculous; I have to see

her.

*

I'm sorry.

DUTY NURSE:

John turns away and heads down the corridor to find her

himself. The Duty Nurse sees this and takes off after him:

DUTY NURSE (CONT'D)

You can't go down there!

John shoves open a door, moves on to the next.

DUTY NURSE (CONT'D)

You can't be in here!!

Lara!

JOHN *

*

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 22.

46 CONTINUED:
46

HOSPITAL SECURITY GUARD #1

(running up)

I got him!

Lara!

JOHN:

A long-haired doctor, BECSEY, steps into his path.

DR. BECSEY

What's going on?!

JOHN:

My wife attempted suicide.

HOSPITAL GUARD 1

Let's go.

DUTY NURSE:

(hands doctor chart)

She's not allowed visitors.

JOHN:

I have to see her!

DR. BECSEY

Why isn't she in the ER?

HOSPITAL GUARD 1

I'm not asking. Now.

DUTY NURSE:

She's a transfer from County

Jail.

Please.

JOHN:

Two minutes.

Becsey is not unmoved. He shares a look with the nurse.

47 INT. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - PRIVATE ROOM -- NIGHT 47

DR. Becsey opens the door for John.

standing outside.

Note a prison guard

DR. BECSEY

Two minutes.

Becsey leaves. A uniformed female prison guard looks up

from her magazine and keeps her eyes on John. He looks to

his wife, who's attached to an I.V. and monitors, pale and

weak, her arm bandaged where she cut it open along the artery.

Lara opens her heavy eyelids and John glimpses something

terrible in her eyes: she's tortured to be alive. He kneels

beside her and puts a hand on the bed. She takes his little

finger, wraps her fingers around it.

WHITE 9-10-09 23.

48 EXT. BRENNAN HOUSE - FRONT PORCH -- NIGHT 48

John opens the door to let Jenna out; she looks considerably

older.

JENNA:

I'm sorry. He just keeps pretending

he's asleep.

JOHN:

(reaching for his wallet) *

Don't worry about it.

JENNA *

It's okay.

JOHN:

I insist. I kept you out on a school

night.

JENNA:

I'm not in school anymore.

She offers a sad smile and leaves without the cash.

49 INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT 49

Luke lies in the crook of his father's arm, his own arms

full of penguins, turtles, a black dog and an opossum. John

reads him a letter, the yellow envelope open on the bed.

JOHN:

And give a big hug to Pengui, Little

Pengui, Big Turtley, Little Turtley,

Kiki and Opossumy. Lots and lots of

love, Mommy.

(beat)

You gonna give them hugs from her? *

(no response) *

Should we write her back? *

LUKE:

...When is she coming home?

JOHN:

Soon honey. Soon.

LUKE:

(thinks for a moment, then:) *

Can I have a quarter?

JOHN:

Can you have a quarter?

(CONTINUED)

WHITE 9-10-09 24.

49 CONTINUED:
49

Luke points at the glass coin dish on night stand.

JOHN (CONT'D)

Ohhh. Sure, but you can't spend

those. They come from the cottage

where Mommy and I used to take you

when you were a baby.

LUKE:

Then can I have them all?

JOHN:

...Sure.

He hands Luke the jar, and hoists up him and his animals.

50 INT. LUKE'S ROOM -- NIGHT 50

Luke sets the coin jar on his nightstand. John tucks him in

with his animals, then switches off the lamp. John looks

back before closing it and watches Luke lie awake, staring

at the jar, lost in confused thoughts of his mother.

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