To Fall In Love (6) HELLO? CHRISTIAN MAY I SPEAK TO AIR? AIR THIS IS SHE. CHRISTIAN HI. IT'S CHRISTIAN. AIR (HAPPY VOICE) HI AND GOOD MORNING. CHRISTIAN CHEWS HIS LIP NERVOUSLY. CHRISTIAN GOOD MORNING. I'M CALLING TO SEE IF YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TONIGHT. THAT IS OF COURSE IF YOU WEREN'T BUSY, OR ANYTHING. AIR ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO GO OUT WITH ME AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED? CHRISTIAN I'M POSITIVE. AIR IN THAT CASE, I WOULD LIKE THAT VERY MUCH. WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND? CHRISTIAN WELL, IT'S KIND OF A SURPRISE. AIR (EXCITEDLY) OKAY. CHRISTIAN I'LL PICK YOU UP AT SEVEN, IF THAT'S OKAY? AIR THAT'LL BE FINE. I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT. CHRISTAN OKAY. BYE-BYE. AIR BYE. CHRISTIAN IS VERY EXCITED. HE WALKS BACK INTO HIS BEDROOM. CUT TO: INT. CHRISTIAN'S BEDROOM -- MOMENTS LATER HE PUTS THE PHONE ON IT'S RECEIVER AND LEAVES HIS ROOM. FADE TO: INT. STAIR CASE -- MOMENTS LATER CHRISTIAN HURRIES DOWN THE STAIRS AND INTO THE KITCHEN. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER HE CALLS OUT FOR WILFRED, BUT SEES HE IS NOT THERE. CHRISTIAN LEAVES THE KITCHEN AND HEADS TO THE LIVING ROOM, AGAIN CALLING OUT FOR WILFRED. CUT TO: INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER CHRISTIAN STOPS IN HIS TRACKS, STANDING QUIETLY. WILFRED IS STILL SITTING IN THE ARMCHAIR, WRAPPED IN THE SAME BLANKET, IN FRONT OF THE FIREPLACE THAT IS NOW FILLED WITH COLD ASHES. HE APPEARS TO BE SLEEPING PEACEFULLY. SLOWLY, CHRISTIAN WALKS OVER TO HIM. CHRISTIAN (SOFT WHISPER) WILFRED? WILFRED DOESN'T ANSWER. CHRISTIAN (BECOMING SCARED) WILFRED! HE REACHES OUT TO PULL AT WILFRED'S ARM. THE COLDNESS OF WILFRED'S ARM ALARMS CHRISTIAN. HE KNEELS CLOSE TO WILFRED AND, IN A FEW SECONDS, REALIZES HE IS NOT BREATHING. CHRISTIAN (IN ANGUISH) NO! IN DESPAIR, HE LAYS HIS HEAD IN WILFRED'S LAP AND BEGINS TO CRY UNCONTROLLABLY. FADE OUT. FADE IN: EXT. CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE -- AFTERNOON A CORNIER'S CAR AND DR ALLEN'S CAR SITS IN THE DRIVE WAY. THE CORNIER IS LEAVING. INT. CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE-FRONT ENTRANCE WAY -- CONTINUOUS DR.ALLEN (TO CHRISTIAN) CAN I SPEAK TO YOU FOR A MOMENT? CRISTIAN (SAD) SURE. INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER CHRISTIAN WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND SITS ON THE SOFA. DR. ALLEN FOLLOWS BEHIND, SITTING ON THE SOFA BESIDE CHRISTIAN. DR.ALLEN (VERY NERVOUS) I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS ACCEPT TO COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY IT. WILFRED KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE. CRISTIAN (CONFUSED) WHAT? DR.ALLEN YEAH. HE CAME TO SEE ME ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO AND WE DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD A TUMOR. WE TRIED EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD TO SHRINK IT, BUT EVERY TIME WE RAN TESTS WE DISCOVERED MORE AND MORE OF THEM, UNTIL THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO. CHRISTIAN STANDS UP AND BEGINS PACING. CRISTIAN WHY DIDN'T HE TELL ME. DR.ALLEN STANDS UP. DR.ALLEN HE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW. HE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO WORRY ABOUT HIM. CHRISTIAN SLOWLY BEGINS TO CRY. CRISTIAN I NEED TO BE ALONE. DR.ALLEN (PAUSE, THEN) I UNDERSTAND. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH I'M SORRY. CHRISTIANS STANDS THERE SAYING NOTHING. DR. ALLEN LEAVES THE HOUSE. CUT TO: EXT. CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE -- NIGHT AIR WALKS UP THE SIDE WALK LEADING TO CHRISTIAN'S FRONT DOOR. THE HOUSE IS MOSTLY DARK ACCEPT FOR THE LIGHT COMING FROM A BACK ROOM. SHE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS CHRISTIAN OPENS THE DOOR. HE LOOKS AS IF HE HAS BEEN CRYING ALL DAY. AIR (SOFTLY) HI. CRISTIAN HI. AIR I HEARD WHAT HAPPENED SO I CAME BY TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE OKAY. CRISTIAN I'M SORRY, I SHOULD'VE CALLED YOU TO CANCEL OUR DATE. AIR THAT'S OKAY. CRISTIAN WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME IN? AIR I'D LOVE TO. INT. FRONT ENTRANCEWAY -- MOMENTS LATER CHRISTIAN LOCKS THE DOOR AFTER LETTING AIR INSIDE. CUT TO: INT. GLASS ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER CHRISTIAN LEADS AIR TO A ROOM MADE OF MOSTLY GLASS. THE ONLY LIGHT IN THE ROOM IS THAT OF A BURNING FIRE PLACE. A CHERRY WOOD TABLE AND CHAIRS IS THE ONLY FURNITURE IN THE ROOM. CHRISTIAN LAYS ON A COMFORTER THAT IS SPREAD OUT ON THE FLOOR. HE STARES AT THE STARS ABOVE. ANGLE ON: STARS AIR SITS BESIDE HIM. CRISTIAN I'VE BEEN LAYING HERE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY HEAVENLY FATHER IS SO MAD AT ME. AIR WHY DO YOU THINK HE'S MAD AT YOU? CHRISTIAN TAKES A DEEP BREATH. CRISTIAN BECAUSE HE HAS TAKEN EVERYONE I HAVE EVER LOVED AWAY FROM ME. AIR LAYS BESIDE HIM. SHE TOO STARES AT THE STARS ABOVE. AIR (PAUSE, THEN) I REMEMBER WHEN MY PARENTS DIED. IT WAS THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY SISTER AND MY GRANDPARENTS, I FELT SO ALONE. IT WAS LIKE HEAVENLY FATHER STOLE THE BIGGEST PART OF MY LIFE FROM RIGHT UNDERNEATH ME. IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO PRAY AGAIN, BECAUSE I WAS SO MAD AT HIM AND I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM. UNTIL, I FOUND MYSELF SLOWLY LOSING FAITH IN HIM. SHE TURNS ON HER SIDE FACING CHRISTIAN. AIR WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, DON'T LET THIS CAUSE YOU TO LOSE FAITH IN HEAVENLY FATHER, BECAUSE HE DOES EVERYTHING FOR A REASON. EVEN IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, OR KNOW WHAT THAT REASON IS. TEARS BEGIN FALLING FROM CHRISTIAN'S EYES. CRISTIAN IT'S JUST SO HARD BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER HANDLING MY PARENT'S AND MY SISTER'S DEATH WITH WILFRED HERE TO HELP ME. BUT NOW I FIND MYSELF TRYING TO HANDLE HIS AND THEIRS ALL OVER AGAIN. CHRISTIAN WIPES THE TEARS FROM HIS EYES. CRISTIAN PART OF ME IS SAYING I SHOULD BE HAPPY BECAUSE I'M RICH, BUT I WOULD RATHER BE POOR AND HAVE MY FAMILY BACK, THAN TO BE RICH AND ALL ALONE. AIR PLACES THE BACK OF HER FINGERS ON CHRISTIAN'S CHEEKS AND RUBS THEM IN A CIRCULAR MOTION. SHE THEN TURNS TO THE PALM OF HER HAND AND RUBS HER THUMB IN THE TEARS BENEATH CHRISTIAN'S EYE, SLOWLY WIPING THEM AWAY. AIR YOU'RE NOT ALONE. YOU HAVE ME. CRISTIAN (PAUSE,THEN) WHY ARE YOU HERE? AIR BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M HERE FOR YOU WHEN EVER YOU NEED ME. CHRISTIAN SMILES. CRISTIAN THANK YOU. NO MATTER HOW HARD CHRISTIAN TRY'S TO HOLD IT IN, HE BEGINS CRYING NON STOP. AIR TAKES HIM INTO HER ARMS AND JUST HOLDS HIM. AIR YOU'RE WELCOME. SLOWLY FADE OUT: FADE IN: EXT. CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE -- NIGHT A GROUP OF CAROLERS SING OUTSIDE CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE. AIR, BISHOP HODGES, AND TWO ELDERS FROM THEIR CHURCH APPROACH THE FRONT DOOR FOLLOWED BY AMBER, JULIE, JESSICA, JASON, MATT, AND SEAN. CHRISTIAN OPENS THE DOOR BEFORE AIR HAS A CHANCE TO KNOCK ON IT. AIR (TO CHRISTIAN) HOW ARE YOU? CRISTIAN A LITTLE BETTER. ELDER JOHNSON IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU? CRISTIAN I'M OKAY, BUT THANK YOU. AIR (PAUSE,THEN) WE CAME TO SEE IF YOU WANTED TO GO CAROLING WITH US. CRISTIAN (HESITANT) I DON'T KNOW. AIR COME ON IT'LL BE FUN. BESIDES YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE ALL BY YOURSELF. BISHOP HODGES WHO KNOWS YOU MIGHT ENJOY YOURSELF. CRISTIAN (SMILING) OKAY. CHRISTIAN GRABS HIS COAT AND LOCKS THE FRONT DOOR, SHUTTING IT BEHIND HIM. CUT TO: EXT. STREET -- MOMENTS LATER THE CAROLERS GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE SINGING CHRISTMAS SONGS. WHEN AN AMBULANCE SOUNDING IT'S SIRENS COMES WHIZZING PASSED THEM. IT STOPS IN FRONT OF THE JENKINS' HOUSE. TWO PARAMEDICS EXIT THE AMBULANCE, PULLS OUT A GURNEY AND RUNS UP TO THE FRONT DOOR. CHRISTIAN BEGINS RUNNING TOWARDS THE AMBULANCE. THE OTHERS FOLLOW BEHIND HIM. TIMMY GREETS CHRISTIAN HALF WAY. MELANNIE RUNS BEHIND TIMMY CRYING AND CARRYING A DOLL. CHRISTIAN PICKS UP MELANNIE AND HOLDS HER IN HIS ARMS. CRISTIAN (TO TIMMY) WHAT HAPPENED? TIMMY I DON'T KNOW SHE WAS COOKING AND THEN SHE JUST FELL. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STOVE. CRISTIAN (TO MELANNIE) IT'S GONNA BE OKAY. THE PARAMEDICS ROLL SISTER JENKINS OUT OF THE HOUSE AND ONTO THE AMBULANCE. PARAMEDIC (TO CHRISTIAN) WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE WITH THEM IN THE AMBULANCE? CRISTIAN SURE. CHRISTIAN LOOKS AROUND FOR AIR. CRISTIAN (TO AIR) CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND FOLLOW US TO THE HOSPITAL? AIR YEAH. NO PROBLEM. CHRISTIAN, TIMMY, AND MELANNIE FOLLOW THE PARAMEDIC INTO THE AMBULANCE. THE SIRENS SOUND, AS THE AMBULANCE DRIVES OFF. CUT TO: INT. HOSPITAL -- LATER NURSES AND DOCTORS GREET THE PARAMEDICS AT THE DOOR OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM. NURSE CROFTS (20'S) LEADS CHRISTIAN, TIMMY, AND MELANNIE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHERE SISTER JENKINS IS BEING ROLLED TO. NURSE CROFTS (TO CHRISTIAN) ARE YOU HER SON? CHRISTIAN BRIEFLY LOOKS BACK TO SEE WHERE SISTER JENKINS IS BEING ROLLED TO. HE TURNS HIS ATTENTION BACK TO NURSE CROFTS. CRISTIAN NO, BUT I'M A GOOD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. NURSE CROFTS DO YOU KNOW IF SHE HAS SOME TYPE OF INSURANCE? IN THE B.G. AIR, AMBER, JULIE, JESSICA, JASON, SEAN, AND MATT ARE SEEN ENTERING THE HOSPITAL. CRISTIAN I'M NOT SURE. SHE STARTED A NEW JOB ABOUT A MONTH AGO, BUT I'M GONNA PAY FOR EVERYTHING NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS. NURSE CROFTS ARE YOU SURE? CRISTIAN NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS. NURSE CROFTS IN THAT CASE I JUST NEED YOU TO COME WITH ME TO FILL OUT SOME PAPER WORK. CHRISTIAN LOOKS AROUND AND WALKS TOWARDS AIR. CRISTIAN COULD YOU STAY WITH THEM JUST FOR A MINUTE? I HAVE TO FILL OUT SOME PAPER WORK. AIR (NODDING HER HEAD) YEAH. GO AHEAD. CRISTIAN THANK YOU. CHRISTIAN KNEELS DOWN IN FRONT OF A TEARY EYED MELANNIE AND TIMMY. CRISTIAN AIR IS GONNA STAY WITH YOU TWO SO THAT I CAN FILL OUT SOME PAPER WORK, OKAY? THEY BOTH NOD IN UNISON. CRISTIAN (TO MELANNIE) SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY. HE GIVES HER A HUG BEFORE FOLLOWING NURSE CROFTS. CUT TO: INT. HOSPITAL -- LATER EVERYONE IS SITTING IN HOSPITAL CHAIRS ACCEPT FOR AIR AND CHRISTIAN. THEY ARE STANDING ALONG A WALL FACING EACH OTHER. MELANNIE IS ASLEEP IN AMBER'S LAP AND TIMMY IS ASLEEP AGAINST MELANNIE. THE TWO ELDERS AND BISHOP HODGES WALK OVER TO CHRISTIAN. ELDER JOHNSON (TO CHRISTIAN) WE HAVE TO GET HOME, BUT WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW. CHRISTAN OKAY. THANKS FOR COMING. ELDER JOHNSON YOU'RE WELCOME. ELDER SCOTT (TO CHRISTIAN) WE'LL KEEP HER IN OUR PRAYERS. CHRISTAN THANK YOU. BISHOP HODGES AFTER I TAKE THEM HOME, I'LL BE UP FOR A LITTLE WHILE. SO IF YOU NEED ME LET ME KNOW. CHRISTAN I WILL AND THANK YOU BISHOP HODGES. THE BISHOP AND THE ELDERS SHAKE CHRISTIAN'S HAND. THEY SAY GOODBYE TO THE OTHER TEENS BEFORE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL. CRISTIAN (TO AIR) I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH. THAT'S ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER. AIR I THINK SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY. SHE SPEAKS TO HIM, AS IF SHE IS ABOUT TO CRY. AIR I ALSO THINK THAT THEY ARE VERY LUCKY. LUCKY TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU IN THEIR LIVES. SHE LOOKS INTO HIS EYES. AIR CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE TRULY ONE OF A KIND AND BECAUSE OF THE LOVE THAT YOU SHOW FOR THEM. MAKES ME BELIEVE AND KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE JUST FINE. DR. ALLEN ENTERS THE ROOM. HE SHAKES CHRISTIAN'S HAND. DR.ALLEN I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME BAD NEWS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT HER APPENDIX RUPTURED AND WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE IT. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT SHE SLIPPED INTO A COMA BECAUSE OF THE FALL WHEN SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STOVE. CRISTIAN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DR.ALLEN IT MEANS THAT WE ARE GONNA KEEP AN EYE ON HER AND DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO HELP HER RECOVER. DO YOU KNOW WHERE TIMMY AND MELANNIE ARE GONNA TO STAY? CRISTIAN I'M GONNA TAKE THEM HOME WITH ME. DR.ALLEN THEN I SUGGEST THAT YOU GO ON HOME AND COME BACK TOMORROW MORNING. THEY CAN SEE HER THEN. CRISTIAN BUT I..... DR.ALLEN THERE'S NO USE IN SITTING HERE ALL NOT WORRYING YOURSELF TO DEATH. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I'LL HAVE SOMEONE CALL YOU RIGHT AWAY. CHRISTIAN TAKES A DEEP BREATH. CRISTIAN OKAY AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. DR.ALLEN THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR. DR. ALLEN PATS CHRISTIAN ON THE BACK AND WALKS AWAY. CRISTIAN (TO AIR) CAN YOU GIVE US A RIDE? AIR OF COURSE. CHRISTIAN THANKS EVERYONE WHO CAME. CUT TO: INT. CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE-GUEST ROOM -- LATER AIR HELPS TIMMY INTO ONE OF THE TWIN BEDS. CHRISTIAN WALKS IN CARRYING MELANNIE. HE LAYS HER IN THE OTHER BED AND TUCKS HER IN. CHRISTIAN KISSES BOTH OF THEM ON THE FOREHEAD AND TELLS THEM GOOD NIGHT, BEFORE HIM AND AIR LEAVE THE ROOM. INT. CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE-FRONT ENTRANCE WAY -- MOMENTS LATER CRISTIAN THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE HOSPITAL AND FOR BRINGING US HERE. AIR ANYTIME. CHRISTIAN SMILES AT HER. AIR TOMORROW NIGHT WE'RE GONNA GO AND HELP OUT AT SISTER MCHENRY'S SHELTER AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WANTED TO COME WITH TIMMY AND MELANNIE? TO KIND OF TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THINGS FOR A LITTLE WHILE. CRISTIAN WHY NOT? AIR GREAT. I'LL CALL YOU TOMORROW. CRISTIAN OKAY. CHRISTIAN OPENS THE FRONT DOOR. AIR GIVES HIM A HUG. CRISTIAN BE CAREFUL. AIR I WILL. CRISTIAN GOOD NIGHT. AIR GOOD NIGHT. CHRISTIAN WATCHES AIR UNTIL SHE GETS INTO EXPLORER AND DRIVES OFF. CUT TO: INT. HOSPITAL -- MORNING CHRISTIAN, MELANNIE, AND TIMMY STAND OUTSIDE SISTER JENKINS' ROOM. CRISTIAN (TO MELANNIE) REMEMBER, YOUR MOM IS SLEEPING, BUT SHE CAN HEAR EVERYTHING YOU SAY. MELANNIE OKAY. CHRISTIAN OPENS THE DOOR AS THEY WALK IN. MELANNIE TAKES HER BACK PACK OFF AND SITS IN A CHAIR NEAR SISTER JENKINS' HOSPITAL BED. SHE TAKES OUT A BOOK. TIMMY SITS NEXT TO HER. ANGLE ON BOOK READS "THE THREE LITTLE PIGS". MELANNIE (TO CHRISTIAN) MOMMY ALWAYS READS ME THIS WHEN I'M SICK. SO I'M GOING TO READ IT TO HER. CHRISTAN (SADLY SMILING) THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA. SHE SLOWLY BEGINS READING WITH HELP FROM TIMMY. CHRISTAN I'M GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS SOME TIME ALONE WITH YOUR MOM. I'M JUST GOING TO THE CAFETERIA. TIMMY OKAY. CHRISTIAN LEAVES THE ROOM SHUTTING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM. CUT TO: INT. CAFETERIA -- MOMENTS LATER CHRISTIAN LEAVES THE CAFETERIA LINE CARRYING A CUP OF ORANGE JUICE. WALKING TOWARDS THE TABLES, HE SEES MRS. CUNNINGHAM SITTING ALONE AT A TABLE HOLDING THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER FACE. CHRISTIAN WALKS UP TO HER. CHRISTAN HOW ARE YOU? SHE HOLDS HER FACE MORE CAUTIOUSLY, AS IF SHE WAS TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING. MRS. CUNNINGHAM (SOFTLY) HI CHRISTIAN. CHRISTAN CAN I JOIN YOU? MRS. CUNNINGHAM BECOMES VERY NERVOUS. MRS. CUNNINGHAM (HESITANT) SURE. A NURSE WALKS OVER TO THEIR TABLE. NURSE (TO MRS. JENKINS) WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE DOCTOR TO GIVE US A PRESCRIPTION FOR YOUR EYE AND YOU'LL BE OUT OF HERE IN NO TIME. MRS. CUNNINGHAM THANK YOU. NURSE YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME. CHRISTAN WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR EYE? MRS. CUNNINGHAM SLOWLY REMOVES HER HAND FROM OVER HER FACE. ANGLE ON MRS. CUNNINGHAM'S FACE. HER RIGHT EYE IS BLACKENED WITH LITTLE RED CUTS ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF IT. MRS. CUNNINGHAM HE DOESN'T MEAN TO. CHRISTAN WHO? MRS. CUNNINGHAM (SADLY) MY HUSBAND. A FEW TEARS FALL FROM HER EYES. CHRISTIAN SITS IN SILENCE. MRS. CUNNINGHAM I DON'T KNOW WHY HE DOESN'T ACCEPT HIM FOR WHO HE IS. CHRISTAN ACCEPT WHO? MRS. CUNNINGHAM (PAUSE,THEN) AARON. HE'S ALWAYS TALKIN' ABOUT HOW AARON CAN'T PLAY FOOTBALL LIKE A NORMAL BOY, HOW AARON CAN'T SHOVEL THE SNOW LIKE A NORMAL BOY, OR HOW HE CAN'T DO THIS ,OR HOW HE CAN'T DO THAT. AARON TRIES SO HARD TO PLEASE HIS FATHER. YOU'VE SEEN OUR FRONT YARD. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRONT YARDS IN VALLEY SPRINGS. HOW DOES HE EXPECT AARON TO SHOVEL ALL THAT SNOW BY HIMSELF? SHE WIPES HER TEARS AWAY WITH HER HAND. MRS. CUNNINGHAM WHY CAN'T HE LOVE AARON FOR WHO HE IS? HIS SON. CHRISTIAN HANDS HER A NAPKIN FROM A NEAR BY TABLE. CHRISTAN DOES HE HIT AARON? MRS. CUNNINGHAM SOMETIMES, BUT I FIND MYSELF BEING AARON'S SHIELD MOST OF THE TIME, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HIM TO HURT MY SON. CHRISTAN YOU NEED TO TELL SOMEONE. MRS. CUNNINGHAM NO! I CAN'T. HE'LL KILL ME. CHRISTAN SOMEBODY NEEDS TO...... MRS. CUNNINGHAM I CAN'T. SHE GET'S UP REALLY FAST. MRS. CUNNINGHAM YOU CAN'T TELL ANYONE CHRISTIAN. YOU JUST CAN'T. PROMISE ME YOU WON'T TELL ANYONE. CHRISTIAN REALIZES HOW SCARED SHE IS. CHRISTAN (PAUSE,THEN) I PROMISE. SHE PLACES HER HAND ON CHRISTIAN'S SHOULDER. MRS. CUNNINGHAM THANK YOU. SHE LEAVES THE CAFETERIA, LOOKING AROUND TO MAKE SURE NO ONE SAW HER TALKING TO CHRISTIAN. CUT TO: EXT. JAKE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT JASON FOLLOWED BY MATT AND SEAN ARE WALKING UP TO JAKE'S FRONT DOOR. JASON KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. JAKE (V.O.) COME IN! JASON OPENS THE DOOR. JAKE (V.O.) I'M UP HERE. INT. JAKES HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER THE THREE BOYS RUN UPSTAIRS. INT. JAKE'S ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER JAKE IS FUMBLING THROUGH ONE OF HIS CHEST DRAWERS. HE TURNS AROUND TO GREET THE THREE BOYS. ANGLE ON : JAKE'S FACE. HIS HAIR IS A MESS AND HIS EYES ARE BLOOD SHOT. JAKE I'LL BE READY IN A MINUTE. HE PUTS ON A WHITE T-SHIRT THAT HE PULLS FROM THE DRAWER. JAKE ANYONE WANNA JOIN ME FOR A DRINK. ALL THREE REFUSE TO HAVE A DRINK. SEAN (CONCERNED) I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE DRINKING EITHER. JAKE POURS LIQUOR IN A SHOT GLASS THAT IS ALREADY HALFWAY FULL. JAKE SEAN WHEN I WANT YOUR OPINION, I'LL SAY SEAN, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION? JASON HE'S RIGHT YOU DON'T LOOK TOO GOOD. JAKE I'M FINE! JASON YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE BEEN DRINKING ALL DAY. JAKE SO I HAD A FEW DRINKS, AND? JASON (IRRITATED) AND! YOU SHOULDN'T BE DRINKIN' LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF KIDS AT THE SHELTER. JAKE OH HERE WE GO. DON'T ACT LIKE YALL NEVER DRANK BEFORE. MATT AFTER SEEIN' WHAT IT'S DOIN' TO YOU, I'M ABOUT TO STOP. JAKE NOTHING'S WRONG WITH ME. I'M FINE. JAKE STUMBLES A BIT. JASON LOOK AT YOU. JAKE WHAT EVER. JASON THAT'S IT. YOU'RE STAYIN' HERE. JASON LEAVES THE ROOM. SLOWLY MATT AND SEAN FOLLOWS HIM. MOMENTS LATER THE FRONT DOOR IS HEARD BEING OPENED AND SHUT. INT. HALLWAY -- MOMENTS LATER JAKE WALKS TO THE EDGE OF THE STAIRS. JAKE (SHOUTING) LEAVE THEN! WHO NEEDS YOU ANYWAY? IN A MOMENT OF RAGE HE THROWS THE BOTTLE OF LIQUOR HE IS HOLDING DOWN THE STAIRS. IT SHATTERS TO PIECES AFTER HITTING THE WALL. CUT TO: FULL SHOT ON CHRISTIAN'S MOVING NAVIGATOR. IT TRAVELS DOWN A SLIGHTLY LIT TWO LANE ROAD. BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD ARE ENCOMPASSED BY SNOW COVERED TREES. THE NAVIGATOR SOON CROSSES AN OLD 50 FT BRIDGE. THE RAGING WATERS OF THE VALLEY SPRINGS RIVER ROARS BELOW. THE SOUNDS OF CRACKING WOOD CAN BE HEARD, AS THE NAVIGATOR MAKES IT'S FINAL WAY ACROSS THE BRIDGE. IT PULLS INTO A PARKING LOT ON THE SIDE OF SISTER MCHENRY'S SHELTER. EXT. CHRISTIAN'S NAVIGATOR -- NIGHT AIR IS HELPING A LITTLE GIRL GET ON A HORSE TO GO HORSE BACK RIDING. SHE WALKS OVER TO CHRISTIAN WHEN SHE NOTICES HIS NAVIGATOR. AIR (TO CHRISTIAN) HEY YOU. CHRISTAN HI. CHRISTIAN GIVES AIR A HUG. AIR (TO MELANNIE AND TIMMY) AND HOW ARE YOU TWO? TIMMY OKAY. MELANNIE REACHES INTO HER POCKET. MELANNIE LOOK WHAT CHRISTIAN BOUGHT ME. ANGLE ON : MELANNIE'S HAND. SHE IS HOLDING A LITTLE REINDEER ORNAMENT WITH A NAME TAG THAT READS "RUDOLPH". AIR THAT IS TOO COOL. MELANNIE I KNOW. SISTER MCHENRY WALKS UP GREETING CHRISTIAN, MELANNIE, AND TIMMY. SISTER MCHENRY (TO MELANNIE AND TIMMY) WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO INSIDE AND PLAY GAMES WITH THE OTHER CHILDREN? MELANNIE (EAGER TO GO INSIDE) YEAH. SISTER MCHENRY FOLLOW ME THEN. SISTER MCHENRY TAKES MELANNIE BY THE HAND. TIMMY FOLLOWS BEHIND THE TWO. AIR (TO CHRISTIAN) I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GO HORSE BACK RIDING, WANNA COME? CHRISTAN (SMILING) SURE. THEY WALK OVER TO WHERE THE HORSES ARE. EXT. WOODS -- MOMENTS LATER AIR AND CHRISTIAN ARE RIDING HORSES SLOWLY ALONG A SNOW COVERED PATH. AIR HOW ARE MELANNIE AND TIMMY HOLDING UP? CHRISTAN THEIR DOING A LOT BETTER THAN I THOUGHT THEY WOULD. AIR AND YOU? CHRISTAN I'M JUST TAKING IT ONE DAY AT A TIME. AIR THAT'S GOOD. CHRISTAN AND HOW ARE YOU? AIR I'M GOOD. SMILING. AIR FOR NOW ANYWAY. THEY COME ACROSS A CLEARING COMPLETELY COVERED IN SNOW. FULL SHOT : ON CLEARING. THE SNOW THAT COVERS THE CLEARING LOOKS PRACTICALLY UNTOUCHED. NO FOOTPRINTS OF ANY KIND HAS DISTURBED THE ICY POWDER. LOOKING AT THE CLEARING. AIR THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. CHRISTIAN GAZES OVER THE CLEARING. AIR DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE KIDS AND WE USE TO MAKE ANGELS IN THE SNOW? CHRISTAN (A LITTLE EMBARRASSED) I NEVER DID. AIR NEVER? CHRISTAN NEVER. AIR STEPS DOWN FROM HER HORSE. AIR WELL, THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING. SHE TIES HER HORSE TO A TREE. AFTER TAKING OFF HER COAT SHE FALLS BACK INTO THE SNOW, AND BEGINS MAKING AN ANGEL IMPRINT IN THE SNOW. A FEW SECONDS LATER SHE STANDS UP TO VIEW HER WORK OF ART. AIR THERE'S NOTHING TO IT. NOW YOU TRY. CHRISTAN WHAT? NOW? AIR YES NOW SILLY. CHRISTIAN HESITATES BEFORE GETTING OFF OF HIS HORSE, TYING HIM TO AN OPPOSITE TREE. HE TOO TAKES OFF HIS COAT JUST BEFORE FALLING BACK INTO THE SNOW AND MAKING AN ANGEL. SOON AFTER HE STANDS UP TO LOOK AT HIS ANGEL. CHRISTAN (SHAKING HIS HEAD, BUT NOT BRAGGING) NOT BAD FOR MY FIRST TIME. AIR OH YEAH. I BET I CAN MAKE MORE THAN YOU. CHRISTAN I BET YOU CAN'T. THEY BOTH RACE TO MAKE ANGELS, AS IF THEY WERE LITTLE CHILDREN. SIDE BY SIDE, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, UNTIL THEY HAVE NO MORE ROOM TO MAKE MORE. AFTER ALL IS DONE, THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CLEARING. LOOKING AT ALL OF THE SNOW ANGELS. AIR (SMILING) WE'RE SURROUNDED BY ANGELS. FULL SHOT : OVER THE CLEARING WHEN CHRISTIAN TURNS AROUND TO GLANCE OVER THE ANGELS, A SNOWBALL COMES CRASHING INTO HIS BACK. AIR STARTS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM. HE QUICKLY KNEELS DOWN AND MAKES A SNOWBALL, THROWING IT AT AIR AS THEY BEGIN SNOWBALL FIGHTING. CUT TO: EXT. JAKES HOUSE -- LATER JAKE IS WALKING OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR. HE STUMBLES A LITTLE, AS HE MAKES HIS WAY DOWN THE STAIRS. HE GETS INTO HIS JEEP CHEROKEE AND DRIVES OFF. FULL SHOT ON JAKE'S JEEP AS HE TURNS THE CORNER. CUT TO: EXT. CLEARING -- MOMENTS LATER AIR AND CHRISTIAN ARE STILL SNOWBALL FIGHTING UNTIL THEY BOTH FALL TO THE GROUND LAUGHING AND ALMOST OUT OF BREATH. CHRISTAN YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH FUN IN A LONG TIME.
Copyright © 2001 Tony Green |