| "The Man" Excerpt |
| The Man FADE IN: INT. NICE SUBURBAN HOME, UPSTATE NY - MORNING Average family, in an average home, on an average morning. Everybody getting ready for their day. Lots of positive, loving energy. No dysfunction, here. Picture perfect. THE MAN, 35, clean cut, good looking, dresses well, casual, for work. THE WIFE, 3-4 years younger, pretty, domestic; a career R.N., in her whites. Short blonde hair. THE DAUGHTER, about 10, pretty, smart, well-adjusted. Maybe looks more like mom than dad. Busy banter: THE WIFE I'm working a double, today. THE MAN Don't kill yourself with kindness for others. A smile. She chuckles, pinches him and shrugs. THE WIFE Everyone's out sick. Largest hospital in the county and you can't find a healthy health care professional anywhere. The Daughter comes in with her book pack. Chirps in: THE DAUGHTER That's called irony. We're learning about it. It's when a thing seems one way but turns out the other. THE WIFE That's good you learn now, because life's full of it. THE MAN It sure is. (then:) Oh, you meant irony. The Wife and Daughter frown and giggle. EXT. THE MAN'S HOUSE The Man comes out, briefcase in hand, a snap in his step. Scoops up the newspaper and, without looking, flips it back to his Wife, who has followed him outside. THE WIFE How'd you know I was behind you? THE MAN When are you not? She hears his double meaning and smiles. THE MAN Besides, how could I start my day without a last kiss? THE WIFE And you wonder why I love you so much. THE MAN I don't wonder, I gloat. He unlocks his Volvo, slings his briefcase in as we FOLLOW her around the car to his door. Usual morning warning: THE WIFE Have a great day and don't let anything bad happen to you. THE MAN Okay. The happy kiss. The KEY goes in the IGNITION and we go... UNDER THE HOOD where we FAST-SNORKEL up through the engine stuff to the battery wire that has been severed and reattached onto the coil and ignition where there awaits... the BOMB. THE DAUGHTER Wait! BY THE CAR The Daughter running out to join in a group hug. And the daily family affirmation: THE FAMILY IN UNISON "Together forever, there's nothing we can't do." THE DAUGHTER "But alone or apart, we're done for, and oh, so blue." Ominous and sad. A group laugh, a final hug, and Dad gets in his Volvo. Mom with an arm around her daughter as... IN THE CAR He reaches for the IGNITION KEY. Turns it. UNDER THE HOOD The Bomb. The CAR STARTS... No explosion. But a red light flicks on. And a TIMER starts ticking down: 059... 058... 057... EXT. CAR The Man shuts his car door, lowers his window for last goodbyes. The Daughter reaching in, hugging him tightly. He returns it, tries to pull away. She won't let him. THE DAUGHTER No. I wanna hold you eternity. She might get her wish if she doesn't let go. UNDER THE HOOD 048... 047... 046... AT THE CAR The happy Wife, gently tugging. THE WIFE Come on, sweetie, Daddy's late. But her girl has picked today to play don't-let-go. So, Dad reaches out and tickles her. And Mom joins in. Squealing girlish delight -- until she can't take it anymore and lets go. The Man reaches for the gearshift. But "his little girl" leaps from Mom and grabs on again! UNDER THE HOOD 033... 032... 031... BY THE CAR The Daughter giggling. The Man looks to his Wife for help. THE WIFE Honey, Daddy has to go. He's got a date with destiny. The Man throws her a smiling, questioning look. But The Wife has a plan. She leans closer to her giggly girl. THE WIFE Remember? You read about it last week. THE DAUGHTER Uh-huh. Good people have good destiny, bad people die. THE WIFE But sometimes it gets confused and you get... THE DAUGHTER Irony! Big laughs from them all. Enjoying life, while... UNDER THE HOOD Destiny and irony are coming fast: 021... 020... 019... BY THE CAR The Daughter finally lets go. The Man quickly pulls away. THE MAN Love you both. Air-kisses as they watch him head for the corner. The Wife seeing something with alarm. Calling out: THE WIFE Hey! IN HIS SIDE MIRROR Daughter and Wife receding. Wife mimes putting on his: THE WIFE Seatbelt! PAN TO -- the Man looking back. A wave out, acknowledging and reaching for the seatbelt. But it may not help much: UNDER THE HOOD Time is running out. 011... 010... 009... IN THE STREET The Wife and Daughter heading back for the house. Happy. IN THE CAR The Man tugging on the seatbelt, but it won't come up. A quick look down reveals... THE SEATBELT is stuck in the door. He's CUSSING UNDER HIS BREATH. WIDER, IN THE CAR Coming up on the stopsign. A cursory look. But he's really more concerned with that...damned...seatbelt... AT THE HOUSE The Wife taking a last loving look up the street. Her face falling. Taking a step for the corner. Urging him to: THE WIFE Look out... The Daughter now sees Mom's concern. Fear surging. THEIR POV A DUMPTRUCK is coming at the intersection, moving fast, as the Volvo does a rolling stop -- then turns into its path. IN THE CAR The Man is opening his door to free the belt as he makes the turn. Looking up just in time to see... THE DUMPTRUCK BLOWING its HORN and-- IN THE INTERSECTION WHAMMMMM! The BIG TRUCK HITS the front corner of The Man's Volvo, hard, and in such a way that... FROM ABOVE The driver's door flaps opens sharply. A blur. THE WIFE AND DAUGHTER seeing the CRASH! SCREAMING as they run for... THE ACCIDENT The DUMPTRUCK shoving the Volvo up onto the median. Taking out trees and shrubs as... UNDER THE CRUMPLED HOOD 002... 001... 000. The detonator is done. THE INTERSECTION CABOOOOOOOM! The Volvo... EXPLODES like hell itself! A FIREBALL climbing the sky! THE WIFE AND DAUGHTER Pushed back by the impact and fear. The horror. Then running again. Not seeing... IN THE STREET The Man on the pavement, having been thrown clear. Dazed, but apparently okay. Sitting up as... HIS POV The TRUCK DRIVER bails out of his cab, running for his life. FLAMES sweeping over car and truck and... BOOOOOOOOOM! Both go up in SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS. Huge. THE MAN Standing slowly. Probably in shock. And... THE WIFE AND DAUGHTER Devastated. Unable to look a moment longer, turning away. Mother shielding her daughter from the awful truth -- which turns out not to be true at all. For now she sees... THE MAN walking toward them. Essentially unhurt. THE FAMILY rushes together. Hugging. Daughter crying. Wife checking over her man to see that he's okay. Grateful tears. WIDER, IN SLO-MO Pieces of FIERY CAR raining. Violent. Complete. THE MAN, IN SLO-MO turning back toward the FLAMEBALL that was his car. Emotions running deep. If not for fate's intervention... ON THE CRASH - BACK TO SPEED A final VIOLENT EXPLOSION rocks the street. THE FAMILY jumps, startled together, as a retired NEIGHBOR comes up. THE NEIGHBOR Never seen a gas tank go up like that, before. Good Christ. (then) You're mighty lucky, neighbor. He looks at The Man, then walks on to marvel at the raging flames. The Man staring... |