BEST WATCHED ON A FULL SIZED SCREEN
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10 to 15 PAGE SCRIPT READERS VERSION:
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THERE’S STILL LOVE
BY JOSEPH LEO PALERMO
(C) 2016; JLP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
913 King Drive
Saint Charles, Missouri 63303
636/346-2930
josephpalermo2012@gmail.com
FADE IN
SCENE 1: INT. 1972 FORD GALAXY 500 STATION WAGON - NT (1976)
1-1 CLOSING IN - At a drive-in, the young and innocent BECKY MARSHAL (17) and BRUCE CARSON (17) are in the front seat sitting close. The stormy night punctuates their current drama. Becky is on the verge of tears.
BRUCE
(Reading)
In addition, it is not acceptable
that a female of minor age and
two males of minor age status,
be allowed to live by themselves.
1-2 CLOSE Becky’s mind begins to reel.
BRUCE (VOS, reading)
Therefore, effective June 14, 1976,
Miss Becky Marshal, Michael Marshal
and Jimmy Marshal will be moved from
their current residence . . .
1-3 TIGHT MEDIUM Bruce finishes.
BRUCE
. . no later than June 14 . . that’s
Monday. That’s day after tomorrow!
(Considers, looks
at envelop)
This letter came today! Son of a
bitch!
1-4 MEDIUM Becky and Bruce. Becky is physically tensing.
BECKY
(Defiance)
My aunt and uncle in Dittmer,
Missouri.
(Desperation kicking in)
That’s where they want me to go.
Bruce, I can’t. They don’t know
the situation. They can’t make me
go there.
1-5 CLOSE BRUCE from BECKY - Bruce trying to think of a solution.
BRUCE
Okay, there’s something . . . about
. . . getting a . . .status of
emancipation for minors that qualify
. . . but, it’s Saturday. There’s not
even time for me to call Charlie. She
would know. She deals with this kind
of thing all the time. She would know
what to do. Becky, I don’t even know
where Dittmer is.
Becky looks forward, sad but staying strong. Her nod indicates a resignation.
BECKY
It’s a ways out there. I’ve got your
address. I’ll write you.
1-6 CLOSE as Becky keeps from crying and moves into a tight and meaningful kiss with Bruce. They hold each other with great passion.
CUT TO BLACK
SLOW FADE IN
SPECIAL 1 - Actual archived news video of August 29, 2005 during the Hurricane Katrina ravaging of St. Bernard Parrish in Louisiana, USA.
SCENE 2 EXT. MARSHALL’S TRAILER - NT
2-1 WIDE over the exterior of BECKY MARSHALL’s trailer as the hurricane winds pound and waters rise almost to the windows, the TITLES - AUGUST 29, 2005.
2-2 LOW MEDIUM TRACKING with winds blowing and rain hammering, 6’2”, scrawny BO PIERRE (40) stays low to the rooftop as he maneuvers towards a hatch looking thing.
SCENE 3 INT. MARSHALL’S TRAILER - NT
3-1 CLOSE on radio as living room lights flickering as weather radio sounds alerts. We move to see MEDIUM of BECKY MARSHALL, now 47, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, hair frazzled, smoking a cigarette, and with a very “rode hard and put away wet” look to her, is on the landline phone with her best friend SHELLY really beginning to think she should have left for safety.
BECKY (Cautious)
Bo’s up ‘ere on the roof.
(Half hearted joking)
Cain’t never get ‘im to do anything
I want ‘im to.
There’s a loud creaking sound, Becky looks to front window.
3-2 Becky’s POV of water almost to the top of the windows. We FOLLOW as a very large alligator swims by, thumping the glass.
3-3 CLOSE Becky looks scared and looses phone contact with Shelly.
BECKY
Holy shit! You ain’t gonna believe
this, but . . Shelly? Shelly?
3-4 WIDE as The windows give way and water floods the room.
3-5 CEILING VIEW - The tailer fills quickly with raging water washing everything everywhere. The alligator can be seen moved in by the inflow. Becky screams and climbs on the couch.
3-6 FULL as two dogs are crying as they trying to swim.
3-7 MEDIUM as Becky is tossed viciously in the water. She tries to get and stay above water. The back of the alligator is seen thrashing across the room once.
3-8 CLOSE Becky goes under briefly then pops up, working her way onto the couch, standing. Bo’s arm reaches down from above, grabs her by the front and struggles to pull her up through a trap door in the ceiling.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE 4 INT. CARSON HOME - DY
4-1 MEDIUM 83 year old, white haired, Alzheimer’s disabled MRS. CARSON sits in her antique chair at her card table watching reporting on Katrina’s aftermath and the plight of the survivors on a projection TV. MOVE FOR TWO as her caretaker son, BRUCE CARSON (now 47), has three day whiskers, is partially bald and bespectacled brings her a cup of coffee in a delicate looking cup with matching saucer.
BRUCE
Here you go, mom.
Mrs. Carson is startled by the perceived sudden appearance
of Bruce but smiles and reaches for the coffee and saucer.
MRS. CARSON
(Nervous reaction)
Ohhh, ha ha . . . you scared me.
Ha! Thank you.
Mrs. Carson takes a sip then puts the coffee and saucer on
the card table.
MRS. CARSON
Ahhhh. Mmmm. Good. Ha ha. Thank you.
A quick mother/son peck on the lips and FOLLOW Bruce moving
to his corner table taking a moment to see the latest
Katrina news, then sits to start his computer work.
4-2 CLOSE computer screen comes up with many headlines about Hurricane Katrina. The screen is scrolled down a bit.
4-3 TIGHT MEDIUM Bruce looks studious. He cocks an ear backwards to the television report, glances once, then back to computer screen.
BRUCE
The entire world has been captured
by Katrina.
4-4 MEDIUM Phone on Mrs. Carson’s table rings. She waits for the message machine to kick in.
MACHINE
(Bruce’s voice)
Hello. You’ve reached 555-2827. At
the tone, please leave your message.
Thank you.
Mrs. Carson answers it.
MRS. CARSON
(Kindly)
Hello?
4-5 MEDIUM Bruce looks at his mom with annoyance then shakes his head.
MRS. CARSON (VOS)
Yes he is, just a moment.
4-6 MEDIUM TWO Mrs. Carson holds the phone out for Bruce angrily and quietly pointing a finger at him.
MRS. CARSON
(Commanding whisper
and glaring look)
You tell them you can’t go! Go on,
tell ‘em.
Bruce comes and takes the phone receiver.
BRUCE
Hello?
Female Voice (VOP)
Hi, Bruce. It’s C. J..
BRUCE
(Happy to hear
from her, the
outside world)
Hey, C. J.! How’s it going?
C.J.
I was just calling to see if you
were going to be at the script read
through meeting Sunday.
BRUCE
(Shoots a slight
glance at his mother,
a little defiance
in his voice)
Yeah, more than likely.
C.J.
Great! This is the final reading
and it’s always better when you’re
there to read a role. You really
should do more acting.
Mrs. Carson pokes the air at him with her finger. Bruce stays calm with a slight “no” head shake.
BRUCE
Yeah. Maybe when I’ve got more time.
Anyway, see you Sunday?
Mrs. Carson is angry. Bruce finishes the call.
C.J.
Sure. Thanks again!
BRUCE
Sure. Bye.
(Hangs up)
MRS. CARSON
(guilt tripping)
I see how it is. Put me last. Just
go on and put me last! Well, we’ll
see about that.
(looks away indignantly).
4-7 TWO MEDIUM Bruce near Mrs. Carson, puts arm around her shoulder.
BRUCE
(Calmly)
Okay, to begin with, the rule is
to wait until we know who’s
calling before we answer the phone.
continued
MRS. CARSON
(Realizes)
Yeah. I know. I’m sorry. I forgot.
I’m sorry.
Gives her a little hug for reassurance. Bruce really
loves his mother and it’s extremely difficult watching
her mentally deteriorate as she is.
BRUCE
I know, sweetie. Mom. You know ..
I am here almost everyday, all day.
I can’t work because I have to be
here. I .. I do need .. some time
off once in a while?
4-8 TIGHT MEDIUM Mrs. Carson looking at Bruce and realizing she’s being selfish, her expression slowly turning to one of sadness.
4-9 INSERT FLASHBACK of Mrs. Carson and a 14 year old young Bruce in the car enjoying a laugh together, 1972.
4-10 CLOSE Mrs. Carson loves her son more than anything. It saddens her to think she’s a burden on him.
BRUCE (VOS)
You are mobile. You can go to the
bathroom by yourself, you can get
something to eat by yourself. You
can go lay down anytime you want.
4-11 TIGHT MEDIUM Bruce hates this too.
BRUCE
Mom, . . . I need . . . some time
for myself.
4-12 MEDIUM TWO Mrs. Carson hugs Bruce’s arm with great affection.
MRS. CARSON
I know. I know. I’m so sorry, honey.
I hate this. I just hate this more
continued
MRS. CARSON(Continued)
than anything.
(Emphasizing)
You’re a good son. Better than
most. I’m such a burden. You deserve
so much better than this.
Bruce hugs her.
BRUCE
Shhhh. Mom, it’s okay.
4-13 INSERT the back of 12 year old Bruce’s head with his dying father as his dad lays on the couch in the midst of a heart attack.
DAD
Bruce, you take care of your mother,
you hear me?
4-14 CLOSE Bruce nodding as his dad’s words echo in his ears. He kisses the top off mom’s head.
BRUCE
You’ve always taken care of me when
I needed it. I don’t know what I
would have done without you when my
back was out. We’ve always got each
other, mom.
MRS. CARSON (VOS)
Thank you, honey. Thank you.
4-15 They give an affectionate kiss on the lips and Bruce goes back to his chair. Mrs. Carson goes back to watching TV. The phone begins to ring. She looks to it and goes for it but stops, remembering. She looks at Bruce with a smile.
MRS. CARSON
Ha! I almost did it again.
(giggle)
Okay, wait for it.
continued
Answer machine.
BRUCE’S VOICE
Hello. You’ve reached 555-2827. At
the tone, please leave your message.
Thank you.
SHELLY BURNS(Voice over machine)
Bruce, it’s Shelly Burns? I know
it’s been years, but . . . God, if
you’re there, please pick up.
Mrs. Carson, nods triumphant at her completion and grabs the receiver.
MRS. CARSON
(Kindly)
Hello? Yes, he is. Just a moment.
(Holds the phone
towards Bruce)
Bruce is up and to the table, accepting the receiver.
BRUCE
Shelly! Yes, it’s been a long time.
Since Joannie’s wedding, I think.
What’s up?
Mom wants to be helpful and hands him the whole phone. He walks back over to his table with it and sits.
SHELLY (VOP)
Bruce . .thank God. Okay, I was on
the phone with Becky and we got cut
off. Now I can’t get hold of her.
4-16 TIGHT MEDIUM Bruce. Seems a big deal about nothing.
BRUCE
Well . . maybe . . . was she on a
cordless, or a cell phone?
SHELLY
Yes. A cordless.
continued
BRUCE
Maybe the battery died?
SHELLY
No. No, you don’t understand. I’m
sorry, I’m all over the place. She’s
never called me back. She could be
dead.
BRUCE (Surprised)
Dead?? Now, . . Shelly, why would
you think that?
SHELLY (VOP)
We were on the phone when Katrina
hit.
4-17 CLOSE Bruce as he takes in what was just said.
BRUCE
Wha .. when . . when Katrina hit?
(Pause)
Shelly, are you telling me Becky
was in Hurricane Katrina?!
SHELLY (VOP)
Yes! The last thing I heard her say
was how fast the water was rising
outside her trailer. She sounded
scared!
4-18 Beyond Bruce, we see Mrs. Carson is listening, trying to understand. We also hear Shelly through the phone.
MRS. CARSON
Bruce. Is something wrong?
Bruce gestures to mom to hold on.
SHELLY (VOP)
I’ve been on all the websites
listing survivors and I can’t find
her name!
Bruce gets to his feet, eyes searching.
continued
BRUCE
. . .okay. Alright. Where exactly
was she?
SHELLY (VOP)
She was living in St. Bernard
Parrish. It was, like, one of the
first areas hit. Bruce, she’s like
my only sister! I can’t find her!
I’m scared! You and I are the only
family she’s got! We have to find
her!
CUT TO