Clean Slate (2)
Michael J Norman

 

SARAH
Ah, I see.
 (beat)
Well it was really something what he did last night.

CASEY
I know I find out new things about him everyday.
(beat)
He’s full of surprises.

Casey and Sarah come to the deck of the boat.

SARAH
Here ya go, we have drinks for ya.

Casey walks over and gives Brandon a drink.

BRANDON
Thanks.

Casey stares at him in admiration.

BRANDON
What?

CASEY
(smiling)
Nothing.

Then she wrapped her arms around him.

JIM
Okay, and away we go.

They pull away from the dock.

EXT.BOAT-DECK-MOMENTS LATER

They are anchored far out in the lake. Jim and Brandon are fishing while Sarah and Casey are making sandwiches for lunch in the cabin.

SARAH
So how long have you known Brandon, if you don’t mind me asking?


CASEY
No that’s okay. Not that long actually.

AMY
He’s cute.

Sarah and Casey laugh.

CASEY
Yeah he is cute.

SARAH
He’s in love with you.


CASEY
What makes you say that?


SARAH
It’s the look.

CASEY
What look?

SARAH
The one that’s in his eyes when he looks at you.
(beat)
You can see it.
(beat)
Not to mention that you’re in love with him back.

CASEY
Excuse me?

SARAH
Oh come on Casey, we’re all women here. It’s okay.




CASEY
I don’t really know what it is. I just know that I hate being away from him.

SARAH
Oh it’s definitely love.

She walks over and puts her arm on Casey’s shoulder.

SARAH
I remember, that’s how I felt about Jim. I still do.

Amy walks on deck, the boat is anchored in the middle of the lake.

Amy wraps her arms around Brandon’s neck and kisses him on the cheek. Brandon gets a strange feeling. A feeling of pain coming from Amy. He looks a little confused.

AMY
Thanks for saving Max.
BRANDON
I didn’t save him.

AMY
(whispers in his ear)
It’s okay. I know your secret.

BRANDON
(whispers back)
What secret.

AMY
You’re an angel.

BRANDON
What?

AMY
An angel. My angel, you’ve come for me.

BRANDON
Come for you?

AMY
It’s okay, I’m not afraid. I’m just glad I won’t feel pain anymore.

She kisses him one more time on the cheek and runs off.

Below deck Sarah and Casey are talking. Casey sees Amy kiss Brandon on the cheek.

CASEY
Your daughter is so cute.

SARAH
Yeah. She’s my little angel. I don’t know what I’m going to do when she’s gone.

CASEY
Gone?
SARAH
She’s got leukemia. The doctors say that there isn’t much more they can do for her. It’s just a matter of time now before she gets really sick.

CASEY
I’m sorry.

SARAH
She keeps saying that an angel is coming to take her up to make it better.
(beat)
I just wish I could have as much hope and strength as she does about this.

INT.CABIN-LIVING ROOM-NIGHT

Brandon and Casey are cuddled up on the couch together.

CASEY
I had a good time this weekend.
(beat)
I don’t want it to end.

BRANDON
It doesn’t have to.

Casey looks at Brandon. Pondering the meaning of what he said.

CUT TO:

Casey is in the bedroom with the lights out. She hears the floor squeak and looks at the door.

Brandon is standing in the door way.

CASEY
Is everything okay?
BRANDON
Yeah, everything is fine.

Casey pulls back the covers on the empty side of the bed. Brandon gets in.

CUT TO:

Casey is resting her head on his chest. Brandon hears something, like Casey is crying.

BRANDON
Casey, are you crying?

CASEY
Yeah.

She says in a soft voice.

BRANDON
Why?

CASEY
I don’t know, I can’t explain it. I’m just so happy right now.

She sits up and looks at Brandon in the face.

CASEY
I can’t figure out what it is that I am feeling. I just know it feels good.

Brandon touches her cheek and wipes away her tears.

BRANDON
Don’t question it. If it feels good then just go with it.

CASEY
I lo-

Brandon puts his finger on her lips.

BRANDON
You don’t have to. You don’t have to. I already know.

Brandon touches her face.

BRANDON
You are so beautiful.

He gently brings his hands down her neck. She takes off her gown.

Brandon starts to kiss her neck. He lays her back on the bed. Barely touching her body with his tongue, he moves down her neck to her chest.

She claws the back of his head.

CASEY
I love you.

A stray tear falls down Casey’s cheek.

Brandon makes his way back up her neck and sees the tear falling down her cheek.

BRANDON
Are you okay?

CASEY
I’m just so happy.

BRANDON
You’re crying.

CASEY
It’s because I can’t contain it.

BRANDON
I want to make you cry every night.

CASEY
I love you.

They begin to passionately kiss. Clawing at each other.

CASEY
I don’t want to stop crying.

EXT.CABIN-DAY

Brandon is loading the car. Casey walks out to him.

BRANDON
Did you get everything?

CASEY
Yeah, I think that’s all of it.

She pulls him in.



CASEY
Thank you for such a great weekend.

INT.CAR-SOME TIME LATER

Brandon and Casey are quiet.

Casey
What are you thinking about?

BRANDON
Amy.

CASEY
You know?

BRANDON
That she’s sick? Yeah I know.

CASEY
It’s heartbreaking. She such a wonderful kid.

Brandon continues to be quiet.
EXT.COLLEGE-PARKING LOT-SOME TIME LATER

Brandon gets the bags out of the back of the car.

BRANDON
Well that’s it.

CASEY
Thank you.
(beat)
When am I going to se you again?

BRANDON
You don’t have to worry about that. ‘Night.

Casey walks off to the dorm.

INT.DORM-CASEY’S ROOM-MOMENTS LATER

Casey is laying in her bed in the dark. She’s thinking about Brandon.

Her door slowly opens and Brandon enters. He quietly walks over to her bed. Slightly startled she wakes up to see him standing there.

CASEY
Brandon?

BRANDON
I can’t spend the night without you.

She pulls her covers back. Brandon undresses and crawls in with her. He wraps his arms around her.

CASEY
I could stay like this forever.

Mary enters the room and grabs her purse off of a table by the door.
She sees them sleeping together and quietly turns around and leaves.

EXT.DORM-DAY

Casey and Brandon are standing outside of her dorm the next morning.

BRANDON
So what are you doing later?

CASEY
Spending time with you I hope.

He smiles and walks away occasionally looking back at her.

EXT.COLLEGE-ROOF-NIGHT

Casey is sitting between Brandon’s legs, and he has his arms around her.

CASEY
I can’t get over how you make me feel.

BRANDON
You say that like it’s a bad thing.

CASEY
No it’s a good thing believe me.
(beat)
It’s just…

BRANDON
Just what?

CASEY
I still don’t know you even though I feel in my heart like I know everything there is to know about you.
Brandon kisses her. They sit there quietly looking at the stars.

INT-DORM-CASEY’S ROOM-MOMENTS LATER

Casey walks in and shuts the door behind her. She doesn’t know but SAL, dressed head to toe in Eddie Bauer, is in her room.

SAL
Hello.

She turns around startled.

CASEY
Oh, Sal.
(beat)
How did you get in?



SAL
Mary let me in.

CASEY
I wasn’t expecting you.

SAL
I just couldn’t wait to see you.

Sal walks over to her and tries to kiss her. She backs away.

CASEY
Sal, I’m sorry but I’m just real tired.

SAL
Okay, well lets go to bed.

CASEY
Sal, I would really like to sleep alone tonight if it’s okay.

SAL
Um, okay. Is everything alright?

CASEY
Yeah, fine I’m just real tired.

SAL
Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then.

She sees him to the door.

He tries to steal another kiss, but she closes the door before he gets a chance.

She sits down at her desk and starts to write. She feels like someone is watching her. She looks out her window and sees Brandon’s silhouetted figure on the roof of the adjacent building.

INT.COLLEGE-CLASS-DAY

Brandon is sitting at his desk writing. Casey walks in and sits next to him.

CASEY
Hey.

BRANDON
Hey. What’s up?

CASEY
Nothing?

Casey is kind of distant.
BRANDON
Are you okay?

CASEY
Yeah, I’m fine.

Brandon notices that she is acting different but dismisses it.
BRANDON
What are you doing tonight?

CASEY
Oh, I’m sorry but I’m busy.

BRANDON
That’s okay.

CASEY
I’m going to be busy for the next few days.

BRANDON
No problem. You know where to find me.

INT.COLLEGE-HALL-SOME TIME LATER

Casey is walking through the hall and meets Mary and Jen.

MARY
So, Sal came in early.

CASEY
Yeah, and I don’t appreciate you just letting him in like that.

JEN
So what are you going to do about Brandon?

CASEY
I don’t know. I’m just going to take a few days and figure out what to do.

MARY
Casey, he’s a janitor for god’s sake. Sal is more than he could ever dream of being.

CASEY
Look just butt-out.
JEN
Mary, let her do what she’s got to do.

INT.COLLEGE-CASEY’S DORM-NIGHT

Sal knocks on the door and Mary answers.

MARY
Oh, Sal come in.
(beat)
Casey is in the bathroom getting ready.

JEN
So tell us what Europe was like.


SAL
It was nice.

Mary looks out the window and sees Brandon walking toward the dorm with an envelope in his hand.

MARY
Look, I’ll be right back I have to get something out of my car.

Mary leaves.

EXT.COLLEGE-DORM-MOMENTS LATER

Mary stops Brandon at the door.

MARY
Brandon, right?

BRANDON
Yeah.

MARY
I’m sorry but Casey told me to tell you something.

BRANDON
What?

MARY
That you and her are over.

BRANDON
What are you talking about?

MARY
You see she already has a boyfriend who has come back
in town. Let’s face it, you’re a janitor did you think it could really work.

INT.COLLEGE-CASEY’S DORM-AT THE SAME TIME

Casey walks out of the bathroom.

CASEY
Hey, Sal.

SAL
Hey honey.

JEN
Sal was just telling me about his trip to Europe.

CASEY
Oh, nice. Where’s Mary?

JEN
She said that she had to run out to her car for something.

Casey looks out the window and sees Mary talking to Brandon.

CASEY
I’ll be right back.

Casey runs out the door.

CUT TO:

Casey bumps into Mary in the lobby.

CASEY
What did you tell him?

MARY
I did you a favor, Casey. I mean a janitor really.

EXT.COLLEGE-DORM-MOMENTS LATER

Brandon is sitting on the front steps by himself obviously upset.

Casey sees this and approaches him with caution.

CASEY
Hey. You mind if I sit here?

Brandon says nothing.

CASEY
Okay, so you’re not going to talk?

BRANDON
Just what do you want me to say?

CASEY
I don’t know.

BRANDON
Mary told me everything.

CASEY
Yeah, well she had no right.

BRANDON
So when were you going to tell me?

CASEY
I don’t know. Until I got things sorted out I suppose.

BRANDON
Yeah, well don’t bother.

Brandon gets up and starts to walk away. Casey goes after him.

CASEY
Wait! Brandon, please wait!

He stops and turns around. She catches up to him.

BRANDON
I’m not sure I want to hear what you have to say.

CASEY
Pleas just give me a second.

Casey is starting to cry.

CASEY
(crying)
You came into my life so unexpectedly. I never wanted this to happen. Sal and I have been together for two years, and he never once made me feel the way you make me feel.

BRANDON
When were you going to tell me, Casey?! When?!

CASEY
(crying)
I don’t know, Brandon I just need to figure out what’s going on.

BRANDON
Yeah, well you just do that.

He walks away leaving Casey there crying.

She starts to walk up the stairs to go back into the dorm, she sees an envelope, “To: Casey”.

She sits down on the step and picks up the envelope, opens it and pulls out a letter.

BRANDON (V.O.)
Dear Casey; Ever since you came into my life, I have finally felt peace with everything. You are my inspiration and will always be. Love, Brandon.

She continues to cry.

INT.COLLEGE-CASEY’S DORM-MOMENTS LATER

Casey walks in her room. Mary and Jen are sitting on the bed next to Sal.
Mary stands up.

MARY
So did you get that thing taken care of?

Casey walks over to her, she stares Mary in the face. Without warning, she slaps Mary across her cheek.

CASEY
You bitch!

SAL
Casey, what are you doing?

CASEY
You nosey little bitch. You couldn’t just keep out of this could you?

MARY
C’mon Jen lets get out of here.

Mary and Jen leave the room.

SAL
What’s going on?

CASEY
Look, Sal I should of told you this earlier, but I wasn’t expecting you to get here early.

SAL
Tell me what?


CASEY
I’ve been seeing someone else.

SAL
I see.

Sal sits down on the bed. Casey sits next to him.

CASEY
I’m sorry-

SAL
No, don’t. I don’t want to hear this.

CASEY
I’m sorry Sal. I didn’t-

SAL
I’m not hearing this. No, I’m not hearing this. Casey tell me I’m not hearing this.

Sal looks a Casey.

CASEY
I’m sorry Sal.

SAL
I have to get out of here. I have to go.

Casey sees Sal to the door.

CASEY
Sal?

He stops, hoping it’s just a bad dream.

SAL
Yeah?

CASEY
I’m really sorry.
SAL
Yeah, well me too.

She shuts the door.

CUT TO:

Casey is on her bed holding the letter from Brandon. She lays down, closes her eyes and starts to cry.

INT.COLLEGE-JANITOR’S CLOSET-DAY

Pappy is working in the janitor’s closet. The door is half open. Casey walks in.

CASEY
Hello?

PAPPY
Hello.

He turns and sees that it’s Casey.


PAPPY
Oh, hey darlin’.

CASEY
Hey Pappy. Have you seen Brandon?

PAPPY
No, he said something about going to the lake for a few days.
(beat)
Is everything okay?

CASEY
No, not really.

PAPPY
Sit down for a minute.

He pulls out the chair behind the desk and Casey sits down. Pappy sits down on a bucket in front of her.

PAPPY
Look. Men are stupid.

CASEY
Excuse me?

PAPPY
Men are stupid. If there is one thing that I’ve learned
in all my years, it’s that men are stupid.
(beat)
He loves you. I know he does, and he can try to run from that as much as he wants, but it’s goin’ to do no good.

CASEY
How do you know?


PAPPY
I’m a man aren’t I? I’ve been there, I know the feeling, the look. He’s in love with you alright. The sooner he can admit that to himself, the better he’ll be.
(beat)
Look, I’ve got no one. Brandon has been like a son to me. I know him. He’s a loner, he doesn’t want to believe that he’s in love.

CASEY
Why?

PAPPY
It makes him vulnerable. He has to let down his guard,
PAPPY(CONT’D)
which leaves you open to hurt him.
(beat)
But it’s just a chance that he has to take.

CASEY
What if he never takes the chance?

PAPPY
Oh he will. You are too much to resist.
(beat)
But he might need some help to come to that realization.

Pappy gets up and walks out the door.

PAPPY
Hang in there kid, he’ll come ‘round.

We hear Pappy O.C. walking down the hall singing his usual Frank Sinatra. Then dead silence.
Casey runs to the door and looks down the hall. Pappy is on his knees leaning against the wall.

CASEY
Pappy!

She runs up to him. He’s holding his chest.

CASEY
Oh Pappy, hold on.

She yells down the hall for anyone who will listen.

CASEY
Help! Somebody help!

EXT.CABIN-DECK-SOME TIME LATER

Brandon is standing on the deck looking out over the lake.
Casey walks up on the deck. Brandon looks over at her. Casey is standing there crying.

BRANDON
What?

Casey doesn’t respond, just cries harder.

BRANDON
What?! What is it?!

He runs up to her.

CASEY
It’s Pappy.

INT.HOSPITAL-EMERGENCY ROOM-SOME TIME LATER

Brandon and Casey run in the hospital, up to the front desk.

BRANDON
We’re looking for an older man. Came here from the college.
NURSE
Over in curtain three.

CUT TO:

Brandon and Casey walk in behind the curtain. Pappy is lying there motionless. He walks over and holds Pappy’s hand. Pappy moves slightly.

BRANDON
You’re gonna make it Pappy.

PAPPY
Oh, no need to lie to me kid. I know.

Brandon looks at Casey.



BRANDON
Casey, go outside for a minute.

CASEY
Why?

BRANDON
Just do it.
Casey leaves upset.

BRANDON
Pappy, don’t talk like that.
(beat)
What if I could save you?

PAPPY
You need to face reality kid. I’m not a young man, my time here is done.

BRANDON
But--

PAPPY
No buts kid. Just do me a favor.
BRANDON
What?

PAPPY
Listen to me carefully kid. Promise me you won’t let Casey get away. She really loves you,kid.
(beat)
Promise.

BRANDON
Pappy, I can save you, you hear me? I can save you.
Look I can save you. I have this power, all you have to do is say the word and you’ll

BRANDON(CONT’D)
walk out of here with me. You are all I’ve got.

PAPPY
Listen to me kid. I want to die. It’s my time, I want to be done with this life. Now promise me!

BRANDON
I promise.

PAPPY
It’s my Louise.

BRANDON
Go Pappy. Go to her. Don’t be scared.

PAPPY
Oh, it’s so nice. I’m coming Louise. I’m coming.

Pappy releases his last breathe. There is a slight smile on his face.

A doctor runs in behind the curtain when he hears the heart monitor flat-line.

He checks Pappy’s vitals. Nothing.

DOCTOR
Help in here!

The doctor starts CPR.

BRANDON
No! Don’t!

Brandon stops the doctor.

BRANDON
Don’t, he didn’t want this.

The doctor stops and turns off the monitor.

Brandon takes his hand and gently runs it down Pappy’s face, closing his eyes.

CUT TO:

Brandon storms out of the hospital door and Casey follows.


CASEY
Brandon, wait.

Brandon turns to her.

BRADNON
What do you want, Casey?

CASEY
Please, can we talk?

BRANDON
I have nothing to say to you.

CASEY
Can you just hear me?

BRANDON
What? What are you going to say that’s going to take back the fact that you had a boyfriend and you kept it to me?

Brandon walks up to her.

BRANDON
I trusted you. I trusted you. I don’t come from money like you and your friends. You see you’re no better than they are.
(beat)


BRANDON(CONT’D)
See, I shouldn’t be mad at you. No, I should be mad at myself for trusting you. So I guess it’s not your fault. I that what you want to hear
from me, that it’s not your fault? Where there you heard it.

CASEY
No that’s not what I want to hear.
She is crying.

BRANDON
Well I really don’t care what you want to hear, or have to say.

He walks away and leaves Casey crying.

Brandon starts to walk down the street. Casey runs after him.

BRANDON
Look, Casey…

He takes her by the arm and leads her down this alley where they can be in private.
BRANDON
…I’m sorry. It’s just—

Brandon is interrupted by a MAN’s voice.

MAN
Hey.

BRANDON
What?

The MAN is several feet away down the alley pointing a gun at them.


MAN
Give me all your money.

Brandon pushes Casey behind him and then starts to slowly walk to the MAN.

MAN
What are you doin’?!

BRANDON
You won’t shoot.

MAN
Don’t you test me, I will!

Brandon gets within arms reach of the man’s gun. Then BANG he shoots. The bullet flew right through Brandon’s chest without leaving a mark.

MAN
No way man! It don’t work like that!

Brandon reaches out and takes the gun and the man runs off. Brandon looks back to see Casey standing with a scared look on her face holding her chest.

BRANDON
Casey?

She moves her hands to see that she is bleeding. She falls to her knees. Brandon runs up to catch her before she hits the ground.

BRANDON
Casey!

Brandon cradles her in his arms. Brandon begins to cry.

BRANDON
(crying)
Oh, Casey.

Casey tilts her head back and lets out her last breathe.

Brandon looks up to the sky. He places his hands on her chest and concentrates intently, as if he is trying to push his soul in her body.

Suddenly Casey wakes and looks at Brandon.

CASEY
What happened?

Brandon falls backward. He is feeling weak and faint.

CASEY
Brandon?!

Brandon can’t stand up. He’s feeling the pain in his chest. He clenches where the scar is over his heart.

Casey runs up to him.

CASEY
What’s wrong?!

BRANDON
I don’t know, Casey.

INT.HOPITAL-MOMENTS LATER

Casey enters the hospital emergency room door with Brandon hanging on her.

CASEY
Help! Please, help!

Hospital staff runs to help her. The same doctor as before runs up.

DOCTOR
What’s wrong?

CASEY
(crying)
I don’t know, I don’t know.

The staff places Brandon on a cot and wheels him off down the hall.
BRANDON
Casey?! Casey?!

CASEY
Brandon, I’m right here she grabs his hand.

BRANDON
I’m sorry, Casey. Don’t leave me.

CASEY
I won’t.

The doctor stops her at some double doors.

DOCTOR
You’ll have to wait here. I’ll be back as soon as I know something.

CASEY
(casey)
Help him.

The doctor gives her a look that says “I’ll do my best”, and runs through the doors.


CUT TO:

Several hours later the doctor enters the waiting room to see Casey staring out a window. A NURSE walks up to the doctor.

NURSE
She’s been like that for hours. Just staring out the window.

DOCTOR
Thanks for watching out for her.

The doctor approaches her. Casey hears him.
CASEY
Is he okay?

The doctor sits down next to her.

DOCTOR
He’s stable. I have to ask, does he have any family to contact?

CASEY
No, I’m all he’s got.

DOCTOR
Well, we’re not sure what it is. It seems to be centered around a scar that he has on his chest. Do you know what that’s from?

CASEY
No, he doesn’t like talking about it.

DOCTOR
We can’t pinpoint the problem, but he seems to be showing all the signs of someone…

The doctor pauses.

CASEY
Of someone what?

DOCTOR
Dying.

Casey starts to cry.

CASEY
Can I see him?

DOCTOR
Yeah, I’ll take you to him.
CUT TO:

The doctor and Casey enter Brandon’s room.

Casey sees Brandon a sleep with tubes entering his body from all different directions. She approaches the bed and holds his hand.

The doctor quietly exits the room and the nurse walks up.
DOCTOR
Let her stay here as long as she want’s. She’s all the family he’s got and he doesn’t seem to have much more time.

NURSE
Okay, I’ll keep an eye on them.

DOCTOR
Thanks.

The doctor stares at them through the room window for a moment, and then walks off.
CUT TO:

In the room Casey is crying, stroking Brandon’s hair.

CASEY
Please don’t.

She kisses his lips.

INT.HOSPITAL ROOM-HOURS LATER

Brandon wakes up and sees Casey a sleep in a chair next to the bed holding his hand.

Brandon moves waking Casey.

CASEY
Brandon?

She looks at him to see him trying to sit up.
CASEY
What is it?

BRANDON
I have to get out of here.

CASEY
But you can’t.

Brandon starts to pull out tubes from his body.

CASEY
You can’t.

She tries to stop him. He holds her hand.

BRANDON
I need your help with something that I have to do. I need you Casey, I can’t do it without you.
(beat)
Do you trust me?

CASEY
What is it?

BRANDON
I’ll explain everything on the way. They put my clothes in the closet over there.

Casey runs over and grabs his clothes from the closet, and helps him to get dressed. Brandon reaches over and turns off the heart monitor, then rips the patches from his chest.

On their way out the door the nurse sees them. She runs up to them.

NURSE
What are you doing?

Brandon has his arm draped around Casey’s shoulder.

CASEY
We’re leaving.

NURSE
I can’t let you do that.

CASEY
Look, he’s dying. He has something he wants to do. I’m not going to deny a dying man his last wish. We are leaving this hospital.

The nurse looks at Brandon. Brandon shoots her a look of “Please let me go”.

NURSE
Okay, look take this wheel chair.

The nurse runs to a corner and pulls out a wheelchair.

NURSE
I’m going to loose my job for this.

CASEY
Thank you.

NURSE
Go, get him outta here before a doctor comes.


INT.CAR-MOMENTS LATER

Brandon and Casey are in the car leaving the parking lot.

CASEY
Where are we going?

BRANDON
Take me to Jim and Sarah’s. I have to see Amy.

CUT TO:

As they get into the trip.

CASEY
What are you?

BRANDON
I don’t know.
(beat)
You know that scar on my chest?

CASEY
Yeah.

BRANDON
Shortly after my parents death, I felt alone. I didn’t want to live, couldn’t see anything worth living for. It’s from a gun.
(beat)
But after it happened all I remember is waking up. I don’t remember anything between the shot and waking up. I woke up and there was the scar.

CASEY
So are you an angel?

BRANDON
No, I don’t think so. I don’t know what happened to me.
(beat)
Since the accident I’ve had these powers. This ability to heal. That’s how come Max is okay and…

Casey rubs her chest.

CASEY
And why I’m still alive.

BRANDON
Yeah. But after I healed you I got sick. I realized that by healing something or someone, I was taking time off my own life.

CASEY
So you’re dying because of me?

BRANDON
No, I was already dead.

They pull up to the Amy’s house.

CUT TO:

The front door.

Jim answers the door to see Casey barely able to hold up Brandon.

JIM
What’s wrong?

BRANDON
I have to see Amy.

Sarah walks up.

SARAH
What’s wrong.

JIM
It’s Brandon, he says he has to see Amy.

BRANDON
Please, I beg you. There isn’t much time.

Jim helps Casey with Brandon.

CUT TO:

The door to Amy’s room opens. Amy is in bed. She is a pale white. She has now hair, there’s a wig laying next to the bed.

SARAH
Amy, Honey?

Amy wakes up to see everyone at her door. She looks at Brandon.

AMY
Is it time? Have you come to take me?
(to everyone but Brandon)
He’s my angel that I told you would come for me. He’s come to make it stop.

Everyone looks at Brandon in confusion. Brandon walks the best he can by himself over to Amy’s bed and sits down.

BRANDON
I’m not taking you.

AMY
Why? Did I do something bad?

BRANDON
No, honey you didn’t do anything bad.
(beat)
There’s more work for you to do here.

AMY
But…

BRANDON
Lay back and close your eyes. Trust me.

Brandon places one hand on her chest ant the other on her forehead. The others are still at the door, Brandon’s body is blocking Amy from their sight.

JIM
What is he doing?

CASEY
It’s okay, he’s helping her.

Sarah watches as tears fill her eyes.

SARAH
Oh, God.

Brandon begins to concentrate. He tenses every muscle in his body, trying to give Amy every ounce of his life that he has left, hoping it’s enough.

The others see Brandon tense up. Jim and Sarah try to approach Brandon. Casey stops them and shoots them a look of “It’s okay”.

JIM
He’s hurting her.

Jim tries to approach the bed once more. Sarah stops him.

SARAH
Don’t, don’t.

Jim and Sarah hold each other as they watch.

They watch as Brandon suddenly goes limp, slowly falling on the floor, revealing Amy to everyone. She has color back in her skin and has long beautiful blonde hair on her head.

Casey runs up to Brandon and cradles him.

CASEY
Brandon?

Brandon looks at her.


BRANDON
Take me to the cabin.

Sarah and Jim run over to Amy’s bed. Amy sits up with a smile on her face.

AMY
I told you he was my angel.

Casey helps Brandon up off the floor.

AMY
What’s wrong? Are you okay?

Brandon looks at Amy over his shoulder.

BRANDON
I’m fine honey. I have to go.

Casey helps him out the door. Jim turns around with tears in his eyes and sees that they have left.

He runs out the door. Casey is helping Brandon down the stairs.

JIM
Wait.

Jim helps him to the door.

JIM
What are you?

BRANDON
No one special.

JIM
But…

Jim is lost for words.

BRANDON
Take care Jim.

Jim is crying.

JIM
Thank you.

Casey and Brandon leave.

CUT TO:

Jim and Sarah are upstairs sitting on Amy’s bed. The three of them are crying as they hold each other.

EXT.CABIN-MOMENTS LATER

Casey puts Brandon on the deck. Casey is cradling Brandon.

BRAONDON
Please don’t leave me.

CASEY
I won’t.

They sit on the steps holding each other.

CASEY
You gave her your last bit of life, didn’t you?

BRANDON
I didn’t deserve it. I abused my life and tried to end it. I don’t deserve it. It was hers all along.

Out on the water of the lake this light appears.

CASEY
What’s that?

She looks at Brandon. Brandon shoots her a look saying “It’s time”.



CASEY
(crying)
No, Brandon. No, please.

BRANDON
I have to. It’s time.

CASEY
(crying)
I love you Brandon. I don’t want you to go.

They stand up. Brandon looks her in the face. He wipes away her tears.

BRANDON
I don’t want to go. But I have no choice.

They walk down to the edge of the water together.
CASEY
I’ll never forget you.

BRANDON
Look, I want you to know something.

He touches her cheek.

BRANDON
You gave me a reason to want to live. You fill every whole I have inside.
(beat)
They say that you can’t take anything with you. But how you make me feel inside. I’ll take that with me. That’s all I need to take with me.

Brandon looks at Casey, then he steps onto the water.

Brandon walks out on the water of the lake toward the light. He looks back at Casey.

She’s on her knees at the shore crying. He waves to her and walks into the light.

As the light disappears, a cool breeze comes by whispering in Casey’s ear, in Brandon’s voice;

BRANDON
I love you.

Casey falls onto her knees crying.

INT.DORM-CASEY’S ROOM-NIGHT

Casey is sitting in her dark room looking out the window.

It’s raining outside, hard with bursts of lightning.

She stares at the roof of the adjacent building with a stray tear coming down her cheek. Then…

…a burst of lightning reveals a figure standing on the roof of the building.

She is unsure at first, but another burst reveals the figure again.

EXT.COLLEGE-ROOF-SAME TIME

Brandon is standing on the roof looking up letting the rain hit his face.

Cupped in his hands is Frank. He covers Frank in his hands and closes his eyes. A bolt of lightning comes from the sky. A head pops out of a white bird. Brandon slowly opens his hands to reveal a beautiful white dove. He lifts his hands up to the sky and the bird flies away.S
CUT TO:

Casey walks out on the roof of the building. Brandon is standing there soaked.

CASEY
Brandon?

She walks up to him.

CASEY
Oh god, Brandon.

Brandon says nothing. He touches her cheek.

CASEY
How-

Brandon stops her by touching her lips.
They kiss.

BRANDON(V.O.)
No matter how bad things seem, there is always something worth living for.

THE END

 

 

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Copyright © 2000 Michael J Norman
Published on the World Wide Web by "www.storymania.com"