Shillelagh (3) Mom, it's graduation! A few of us are going out, that's all. CAROL Promise me, you'll be back before midnight. CYNTHIA I'm eighteen, not eight, remember? Besides, I haven't had a midnight curfew since grade school. CAROL You've got job interviews coming up next week. CYNTHIA (hugs her) You worry too much. I'll be fine. CAROL You never did tell me what your father said. CYNTHIA (darkens a moment) It's not important. Just gave me an envelope. Probably a graduation card. CAROL You didn't open it? CYNTHIA For what? Like something he writes matters to me? Gave up on that a long time ago. SOUND EFX as a horn blows outside. CYNTHIA Gotta run. CAROL Cynthia, wait. CYNTHIA (insistent) Mom, they're waiting! CAROL One more hug? CYNTHIA (smiles) Always got time for that. ANOTHER ANGLE as they hug. Carol kisses her cheek before relinquishing the embrace. MUSIC soft in background. CAROL Take care of yourself. Don't ever lose hope that things can get better. CYNTHIA Mom, are you all right? Sounds like the last time you'll ever see me. CAROL (trying to brighten) Just hard letting go, that's all. CYNTHIA (laughs lightly) Well, don't wait up! Cynthia kisses her cheek before she leaves. Carol stares out the window. A knock at the door sends her racing to see what Cynthia forgot. TJ steps in quickly and shuts the door behind him. TJ I thought you'd be on your way to the airport. CAROL What have you been doing? Stalking me? TJ Look, I get a certain percentage of the money. Gotta protect my assets. CAROL This won't work, TJ. It can't. TJ (exasperated) Fine. We'll calll it off. See ya round. (he goes to leave) By the way, this wouldn't have anything to do with your ex showing up today? CAROL It's over between Bill and me. TJ (grasps his head) Carol, you make me crazy sometimes. I thought we had something going. CAROL The nights are fine, TJ. They're great, as a matter of fact. But the days ... the days go on forever. And as much as I care about you ... once I'm gone, they're gonna look real hard at where I've been ... who I was seen with. TJ How many people know about us? CAROL If only one person ties us together ... that's enough to call the whole thing off. TJ What do you want to do? Drop it and let your daughter struggle the rest of her life? She's already got a broken home. And more guilt in that beautiful head than a teenager can handle. Breakups aren't nice. There's always gonna be a hurt party on one side or the other. But why put her in the middle any longer? There is a way out. This is the way out! CAROL You're right. I know you are. I need to make a decision and stick to it. But you don't know what it's like! A part of me is being ripped away like it never existed. TJ You gave her a home and a solid foundation to build on. Don't take that away from her. CAROL You care about her, too. Don't you, TJ? TJ Like she was my own. I'll watch over her. I promise. And I'll get pictures to you on a regular basis. CAROL (resolutely) All right, then. (tosses him the car keys) You better go out the back. Down the alley ... TJ Don't worry. I know the routine. See you in San Diego. He leaves. Carol stands quietly looking around the home she'll never see again. She picks up a picture of Cynthia. CAROL It's not much. But it's all I have to leave you, honey. Until I get this behind me. WIPE TO: EXT. A mountainous road overlooking the city. Cynthia is lying on a blanket with several friends and staring up at the twinkling stars. CYNTHIA This is so great! I can finally think about the future. PEGGY What's so great about a future here? CYNTHIA I mean after college. I can travel. See the world. Take my mom along. DAVE Take your mother with you? Boy, those apron strings are tight. CYNTHIA You don't understand. She's been stuck here all her life. Because of me. She's never had the chance to spread her wings. Fly on her own. DAVE (pretending to soar majestically) You mean like this? CYNTHIA Don't get so close to the edge, Dave. It's a long way down. DAVE (looks over the edge) Yeah, you'd need big wings to keep from hitting the bottom. SOUND EFX as the screeching of tires races by. Everyone turns to see a familiar car disappear around the bend. PEGGY Isn't that your mom's car? CYNTHIA (thinking quickly) Looked like it. But she's at home. Anybody got a cell phone? LAURA I do. Help yourself. Cynthia dials, then listens intently for several moments. CYNTHIA There's no answer. SOUND EFX as Dave runs to the other side of the clearing. A loud rending noise and crash is heard. DAVE Whoever it is better slow down around that curve. Oh, my God! The car went over... CYNTHIA What? She gets up and runs to see. An explosion is heard and everyone races for their cars. CYNTHIA It can't be Mom. It just can't. WIPE TO: EXT. Side of the road farther down the mountain. A guardrail is missing as the teens jump from their cars. Another car is already parked closer to the open support and Cynthia recognizes her father as he disappears over the embankment edge. CYNTHIA Dad, what are you doing? Don't go down there! BILL I swerved to avoid her. Princess, that was your Mom's car. If she's alive ... she needs help fast! CYNTHIA I'm going with you. Several of her friends hold her back. BILL Not this time. PEGGY You can't, Cynthia. It's too steep! DAVE (to Laura) Call 911. Hurry! LAURA (dialing swiftly) I want to report an accident ... BILL (calling back through the darkness) I see her coat, Princess. I can get to her. CYNTHIA Dad, be careful! ANOTHER ANGLE as the car explodes, threatening to shake Peggy and Cynthia over the edge. Debris flies in all directions as the girls scream. CYNTHIA (looking back in horror) Dad... DAVE (unthinking) Nobody could have survived that. LAURA (shoots him a dirty look) They'll be okay, Cynthia. PEGGY (hugs her tightly) Rescue's on the way. FADE TO: INT. Airline Terminal. It is a little past midnight. Several passengers are seated waiting for the call to board. A little boy is curled up, asleep in a chair next to a young woman. Although asleep, he twitches every few moments as though bothered by a disturbing dream. Carol smiles at the woman, who smiles back guardedly. CAROL Is that your little boy? WOMAN No, we're just traveling together. He's one of the refugees from Kosovo. CAROL You're relocating him, then? WOMAN Second time around. He's a special case. CAROL I can't imagine what he's been through. WOMAN Seen more than his share. Both parents were killed in the initial raid. CAROL Well, I'm sure he's in good hands with you. WOMAN I can place him. But I can't erase what goes on over and over in his head. That's something to haunt him the rest of his life. CAROL Must be hard starting over at such a young age. WOMAN It's really hard at any age. Some adults spend years getting over childhood traumas. Guilt. Fear. A nurturing home environment keeps them off the street sometimes. But parents really play a very critical role in building tomorrow's generation. Often they don't even notice the little things that children pick up on. Nonverbal signals. Shared experiences missed in childhood can't be replaced once they're grown. And little ripples of apathy can sow great seeds of dissension. CAROL (thinking long and hard) What about protecting them from hardships? Doesn't that count for something? WOMAN (eyes twinkling) Protect them from life? Sharing it with them is much more important. Carol stands and glances at the ETA board. The plane is beginning its final descent to the runway. The roar of the engines draws her attention to the large plate glass windows facing the field. CLOSEUP of the woman's face as she EFX morphs into St. Patrick. Then DIFF ANGLE as he fades out along with the boy asleep beside him. CAROL (turns back) Thanks for the advice... She stands, looking around in bewilderment, then heads away from the terminal toward the nearest exit. WIPE TO: INT. Carol's apartment. Cynthia is saying goodbye to her classmates as they leave. The rescue squad leader eyes her suspiciously. LEADER Are you sure you'll be ok here tonight? CYNTHIA I'll be fine. PEGGY I'm staying with her. CYNTHIA There's no need ... LEADER I think it'd be best if she did. CYNTHIA I can manage. PEGGY Are you sure? CYNTHIA Positive. LEADER (nods to Peggy) You've got our number. Don't be afraid to use it. CYNTHIA I will. Thanks...(hugs Peggy) I appreciate all you've done. PEGGY Call you in the morning? CYNTHIA Yeah. I'd like that. DIFF ANGLE as Cynthia closes the door. She stares vacantly at the apartment as though seeing it for the first time. CYNTHIA (breaking down) I can't do this. Mom, why were you on the road? Did you think I couldn't take care of myself? ANOTHER ANGLE as she sinks onto the sofa. Clutching one of the throw pillows she sobs into it. Regaining her composure, she notices the shillelagh setting beside the coffee table. Picking it up, she runs her fingers gingerly over its surface. Then she pauses to read the inscription. CYNTHIA "Wish in need, God's mercy receive." (looks up) Where were You, God, when my mother went over the cliff? DIFF ANGLE as a shadow appears at a corner of the kitchen. It is Carol. Her face is distraught over her daughter's lack of faith. But she holds her tongue, knowing Cynthia needs to face the pent up emotions that have driven her to such despair. CYNTHIA Where were you when my Dad went down that cliff after her? CLOSE UP as Carol's eyes widen at the revelation. CYNTHIA I don't understand how you can just sit back and watch. My whole family's gone. (shakes the shillelagh violently) A wish in need? Shoot, if I only believed it could happen... I'd wish for understanding why it happened! ANOTHER ANGLE and EFX as Cynthia furiously throws the shillelagh across the room. Carol sees the shillelagh glow as it careens into a small table, knocking over a lamp and sending a moderately sized book to the floor. CYNTHIA (quickly racing over to pick up the lamp and book) Mom, I'm sorry. Cynthia picks up the book and notices it's her mother's bible and lies opened to a particular section Carol had marked. She begins reading aloud. CYNTHIA "Then the Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said: Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? (pauses) I will question you, and you tell me the answers! Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it? Into what were its pedestals sunk, and who laid the cornerstone. While the morning stars sang in chorus, ... CAROL (finishing for her) And all the sons of God shouted for joy? DIFF ANGLE as Cynthia looks up and sees her mother. Shocked, she presses her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming in joy. Carol joins her and gently places the Bible back on the table. CYNTHIA (whispering in disbelief) You're alive! CAROL Very much so. CYNTHIA I thought you were gone forever. CAROL Someday perhaps. But not for a very long time. CYNTHIA Why were you in the car? Where were you going? CAROL (pained) I wasn't in the car, Cynthia. I cooked up a stupid scheme that backfired. CYNTHIA (shocked) What? CAROL You needed a chance at college. I didn't have the money. CYNTHIA I don't understand. CAROL I made a deal with TJ. He agreed to fake my death in a car crash. Then my life insurance would have covered you through four years of college. CYNTHIA Mom, no! CAROL It was the only way I could think of to get that kind of money. CYNTHIA And you thought college could replace you in my life? CAROL No, honey. It's not that. I guess ... I wasn't thinking too straight. CYNTHIA (hugs her tightly) I'm just glad you're alright. Don't ever scare me like that again. Promise? CAROL That I can promise. SOUND EFX as telephone rings. CYNTHIA I'll get it. Probably Peggy calling to make sure I'm ok. CAROL (straightening the lamp) Make it short. We'd better call the police and let them know I'm alright. CYNTHIA (into phone) Yes, this is she. (pauses) I can hold. DIFF ANGLE as she absently plays with a white envelope beside the phone base. Turning it over, she recognizes it as the one her father had given to her at graduation. She tears it open gently and drops the phone as a large amount of money falls out. CAROL (startled) What is it? Carol retrieves the phone and listens intently a moment. CYNTHIA Mom, it's cash! CAROL (into phone) Hello? Is anybody there? CYNTHIA I was on hold. It was the hospital. CAROL Not anymore. They hung up. CYNTHIA (recalling) They had the strangest music on hold. Sounded almost Irish. CAROL (fishing through the money) Where did this envelope come from? Is this the one your father gave you? CYNTHIA Yes! CAROL (counting quickly) There's enough here to cover two full years of college. CYNTHIA (tearing up) He saved it for me. CAROL (grasping a thought) I think we better call the hospital back. CYNTHIA You think he's there. CAROL Wouldn't hurt to check it out. (grasping the shillelagh) You got your wish. Maybe there's one left for me. CYNTHIA Mom, you don't think that thing has any kind of (gestures with her hands) "power" do you? CAROL I'm not sure what's going on. (begins dialing) But if Bill's at the hospital... we need to be there with him. WIPE TO: INT. hospital room. Bill is resting comfortably in bed as Cynthia and Carol enter. NURSE Please, don't stay too long. He's been through a lot. He needs his rest. CYNTHIA (assures her) He's got the rest of his life for that. CAROL (nods to nurse) Don't worry. We'll only be a minute. BILL (groggily) Hey, Princess. How's it going? CYNTHIA I'm fine, Dad. Mom's here. BILL Your mother? She wouldn't want to see me. CAROL I beg to differ on that. Cynthia told me you went down that cliff to rescue me. BILL (tries to grin) Pretty stupid, huh? CAROL Very heroic in my book. It took a lot of courage. CYNTHIA Dad, I got the money. BILL That's for college. And I don't want to hear any argument from your mother... CAROL (glances at Cynthia) You won't. CYNTHIA (acknowledges the look) You'd better get some rest, Dad. We've got a lot of things to talk over ... once you're out of here. BILL They said it was a miracle I even survived. CAROL We can all use divine intervention now and then. CYNTHIA (grins) Got that right. I'm gonna wait outside. (kisses her father's cheek) But I'll be back tomorrow. BILL Thanks, Princess. I'll be looking for you. She leaves and Carol starts to go. CAROL I'd better be going, too. The nurse said not to stay too long. BILL (as she turns to leave) Hey! CAROL Yeah? BILL I never meant to hurt either one of you. CAROL I know that now. BILL I only wish you'd known it then. CAROL (putting her fingers over his lips) Hold that wish. You might need it for retirement. BILL That's something I could look forward to ... with you. CAROL That's a whole lotta wish. BILL You're worth wishing for. CAROL (smiles) You know the old saying. Be careful of what you wish for ... BILL I just might get it? CAROL (pauses) You ... might. She leaves and Bill closes his eyes with a smile on his face. DIFF ANGLE in the hallway as Carol heads toward the exit. An old patient smiles at her as she passes him. He is seated, grasping a walking stick, which makes her think of the shillelagh. Suddenly, she stops dead certain it's the same man she saw in the diner. CAROL (seating herself beside him) Don't suppose there's any point in my looking for the shillelagh back home? ST. PATRICK You're bright and perceptive, my dear. Despite your lack of so-called "higher education". SPECIAL EFX as he morphs from the patient status to his true clothing. CAROL You're not really here, are you? ST. PATRICK Are you? Or are you really in an airline terminal? Basing your life's direction on other people's decisions. CAROL That was you in the terminal with the little boy. ST. PATRICK Yes, I must confess for a moment you had me worried. CAROL Me worry you? I've been to the end of my rope and back in the past twenty-four hours. ST. PATRICK (enervated) And what did you discover? CAROL I had the answers inside me all along. ST. PATRICK Very good. And you didn't need a bit of book learning to teach you that. CAROL Are you saying Cynthia doesn't need to go to college? ST. PATRICK Never hold back an inquiring mind. The directions it chooses to go are entirely up to the person. Where they wind up is quite another matter. CAROL Seems like a circle. ST. PATRICK Sometimes it is. But circles go places. They rarely stand still. CAROL I won't see you again, will I? ST. PATRICK Never's a long time. CAROL I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. ST. PATRICK There now, my dear. (pats her hand) You take care of yourself. And if you find someone needing a bit of luck, be sure to lend them some of yours. Cynthia walks around the corner and looks puzzledly at her mother. CAROL I know. I'm coming. I just stopped to talk to a patient. CYNTHIA (looking around) Where? Carol looks beside herself at an empty chair. CAROL (smiles and rises to join her) You'd be surprised how fast patients recover here. CUT TO: EXT. Hospital. It's dark, lit by occasional lampposts dotting the sidewalk. St. Patrick is glancing up at the top floor of the building. He grasps his shillelagh and begins walking toward the parking lot at the far end of the hospital. ST. PATRICK Come, little one. Your work's done here. Time we moved on. SPECIAL EFX as he vanishes into a green mist. MUSIC UP with theme as title appears in smoke, "Adventures in Paradise". TITLE FADES. CAMERA MOVES THROUGH SMOKE into EXT. MID-MORNING. Middle school playground. Sixth through eighth graders are engaged in various activities. Nancy Hawks, a seventh grade red-haired girl, is seated with her friend, Scott Rainey, a blonde-haired boy with glasses. He is the same grade level, but confined to a wheelchair. Both are in the shade of a large tree watching their classmates. DIFF. ANGLE as two school supervisors keep a close eye on the playground. Jillian, a tall, attractive spinster-looking woman is conversing with George, the physical education instructor. JILLIAN George, don't you think we ought to get them involved? GEORGE (shrugs) Believe me, every week it's the same thing. Scott's quick. But his special needs can't overshadow the rest of the class. I do what I can. JILLIAN (sighs) At least he's got Nancy. GEORGE Yeah, but she can't be his bodyguard forever. DIFF. ANGLE as a soccer ball bounces at Nancy. NANCY I've got it (catches the ball, then turns to Scott) You choose, Scott. Who gets it? SCOTT (glancing quickly around) On the end ... Franklin. Hurry, or you won't stand a chance against those two. ANOTHER ANGLE as two boys descend on Nancy. They yank the ball away and scowl menacingly at Scott. MARTIN We don't need your advice. Martin bounces the ball off Scott's head. TIM We can handle the team just fine ... on our own. NANCY (quickly) Pick on somebody your own brain size, like an ant. MARTIN (teasing Scott) Whatsa matter? Gotta have her fight all your battles for you? ANOTHER ANGLE as George motions the boys away. GEORGE Tim! Martin! Let's keep the game moving. They move off as the coach nears. GEORGE Everything ok? NANCY Just everyday cat and mouse, Coach. SCOTT (tries smiling) Didn't mean to interfere with the game. GEORGE No problem, Scott. Looked like you were talking plays with Nancy. NANCY Told me to throw to Franklin. SCOTT I just thought ... GEORGE (breaks in) Well, it was a good thought. You're a born strategist, Scott. Maybe you can help me plan a few plays later. SCOTT You mean it? GEORGE Definitely. I'll catch you after practice. SCOTT Gee, thanks. ANOTHER ANGLE as Coach moves off. CAMERA PULLS BACK to show St. Patrick standing behind Scott's wheelchair. SCOTT (unaware of St. Patrick behind him) You think he really means it? ST. PATRICK He's a good man. Recognizes talent when he sees it. NANCY (gasps as she's startled to see St. Patrick) Where did you come from? ST. PATRICK (smiling) A wee little place on the other side of the ocean. NANCY I meant just now. SCOTT I didn't see him walk up either. ST. PATRICK (to Nancy) And what would be the color of flowers on the hill behind your fair head? Nancy starts to turn, but is caught by St. Patrick's stare. NANCY I don't know. I didn't notice. ST. PATRICK If you missed all of their beauty ... why would you notice an old man with a shillelagh? Sometimes it's important to notice the details. SCOTT Good point. NANCY So what's a shillelagh? He hands her the shillelagh. She turns it over, admiring the workmanship. ST. PATRICK Most are for walking, but a few ... a very select few ... are for wishing. CLOSE SHOT as she and Scott notice the inscription. SCOTT "Wish in need ..." NANCY (finishing) "God's mercy receive." What's that supposed to mean? ST. PATRICK (voice only) Remember details! Nancy circles the tree in vain. St. Patrick has vanished as mysteriously as he arrived. SCOTT Any sign? NANCY Nothing. It's like he was never here. SCOTT (taps the shillelagh against his wheelchair) Oh, he was here all right. The question is ... why? FADE TO: INT. GRETA HAWKS, Nancy's mother, is visible at one end of an executive conference room. She is a medium height, expertly coiffured and dressed, middle-aged woman. She is also part owner of a top computer software corporation and busily engaged in outlining sales plans for the next quarter. A number of corporation members are seated around her, intense on her presentation. GRETA All right, I think we can agree on where we're headed. The new X-20 needs to be in testing by week's end.Production needs to be finished by the end of the month. Then, introduction will hit its deadline right on time. If you see any delays or problems cropping up...don't wait. E-mail either me or Gary (nods at her co-owner) at the first sign of trouble. DIFF. ANGLE as GARY PERKINS, nods in agreement. He is a conservatively dressed executive, at first glance firmer in decisions than Greta. In actuality, his personality is far warmer than his counterpart. GARY We don't want tidal waves off the shoreline... unless they're good consumer responses. GRETA (as cell phone rings) Can we take a minute and look at the time line? Everyone starts looking nervously at each other. They realize it's not their cell phone as Greta switches the ringer off on her phone. GRETA Sorry about that. We have a lot to get through this afternoon. No interruptions. GARY (nods in agreement) Definitely. Fewer the breaks ... the more we can accomplish. GRETA Now, let's get a closer outlook on budget projections. DIFF. ANGLE as CAMERA ZOOMS IN on cell phone on the table. CLOSE SHOT as VIEW SHIFTS to a hand holding another cell phone. Nancy snaps the phone's power off and clicks it to her belt. Scott is peering intently into the woods with special infrared binoculars. Late afternoon shadows are already turning the forest into an adventurous playground. SCOTT Any luck? NANCY She must be in a meeting. Mom's good about checking back though. She'll get the message I left on voice mail. SCOTT You're sure you want to do this? NANCY We've been planning for weeks. I know a really good trail through the thickest part. She wheels him down the hill in back of her house. He liberally applies the wheelchair's brake at various points to make sure he doesn't run into a small stream at the forest's crosspoint. SCOTT Just make sure it's easy access. I don't want to get stuck in the dark out here. NANCY Hey! I got you covered. (taps a small bag at the back of the chair) We've got food and water in here. SCOTT (dryly) Oh, at least for several hours. NANCY (taps her knapsack) Emergency provisions. SCOTT Why do I feel like a wagon train heading west? NANCY And the best part ... (holds up the shillelagh that was securely tucked at the side) a weapon to fend off the strongest opponent. SCOTT (taking it from her) This? Please ... NANCY I already wished an adventure on us. SCOTT You what? Don't tell me you believe what it says? CLOSE UP of the inscription. NANCY Couldn't hurt to try it out. SCOTT (turning the shillelagh over and gripping it tightly) Well, I wish I could stand on my own two feet for a change. NANCY (face whitens in horror) Scott, you can't wish that. Out of the corner of his eye, Scott notices the SPECIAL EFX as the shillelagh faintly glows green. SCOTT (pleased with himself) Too late ... already done. NANCY (tries to explain) That's in God's hands. SCOTT Not according to this. (he wields the stick like a sword) Maybe it's time a wish of mine did come true. At that moment, the wheelchair hits a stone and almost tips over. Nancy manages to steady it, but Scott drops the shillelagh over the side of a large ravine along the path. NANCY
Copyright © 1985 Emmett O Saunders Iii |