 |
| 1. |
EXT.
RAMSAYS' BACKYARD - DAY (FAMILY VIDEO) |
| |
We open with the jerky movements of a hand-held video camera. We hear SANDRA RAMSAY's playful, off-camera comments as she chronicles the action. A younger DOUG RAMSAY,40, carries TINA,10 — afflicted with severe cerebral palsy — from the back porch to a rusted, apple-red 1964 Chevy pickup sitting on cement blocks. The passenger doors are missing. KEITH MARTEL,25, who has Down's syndrome, stands in front of the truck, a garden hose in his hand, wearing a gleeful smile of anticipation. Doug places Tina in the passenger seat and straps her in. He walks around the car to the driver's side and asks Keith if he's ready. Keith gives him the thumbs-up sign. Doug instructs Keith to turn on the hose. Keith presses the nozzle and begins to spray the car windshield with water. Doug leans into the car and turns on the ignition. There is no sound save for the motion of the moving windshield wipers. Tina begins to laugh. She is delighted by the wipers. Keith is delighted to be contributing to her laughter. Doug and Sandra join the chorus of laughter. |
| |
The video is rewound to the moment where Tina begins to laugh at the wipers. After a few moments of laughter it is rewound again. More laughter. We have no idea who is rewinding the tape, who is watching, where it is being watched. |
| 2. |
EXT.
FIRE TOWER - DAY |
| |
Saskatchewan: the present. Autumn. Doug, 42, stands at the top of the tower. Keith, 27, is beside him. They lean over the tower railing and peer down below, grinning like two boys on the verge of a prank. Keith leans over even further and waves. Doug gently places his hand on Keith's shoulder. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Careful, now. |
|
| |
Sandra waves back. She's at the foot of the tower, crouched next to Tina, 12, who sits in a wheelchair. Tina's deterioration is in stark contrast to the video images from only two years before. Her head is slouched to one side, her eyes are partially crossed, her mouth is slack and drooling. Her body is a twisted tangle of misshapen limbs. Sandra holds Tina's hand, which is curled into a fist, and lovingly massages Tina's fingers. Sandra has short, black hair and an angular face, a blend of studiousness and chiselled sorrow. |
| |
KEITH (O.S.) |
| |
|
Ready? |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Ready! |
|
| |
Keith now holds a large, colourful bird crafted out of plastic and wood. He releases the bird, which slowly, gracefully drifts down. As soon as the bird is released Doug and Keith race down the tower stairs in order to reach the ground before the bird lands, laughing as they jostle each other to see who'll reach the bottom first. |
| |
Sandra is at the foot of the tower, trying to engage Tina. |
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Look, sweetheart. Look up. |
|
| |
Sandra tilts Tina's head up, but Tina is oblivious to the bird. She kisses her index finger, then taps Tina's nose twice: her signature kiss. Keith has reached the bottom first and is about to catch the bird when Doug tackles him. More laughter as Keith and Doug roll on the ground. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
You make a lousy mama bird, y'hear me? A lousy mama bird. |
|
| |
Sandra grins and shakes her head as if watching two irrepressible adolescents. Tina moans gently. Doug and Keith dust themselves off. Keith holds the bird in his hand. He crouches by Tina. |
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
Did you like it, Tina? Did you like the way it flew? |
|
| |
Keith stands and imitates a bird in flight. He leans over and whispers into Tina's ear. |
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
I have a surprise for you. Soon. Really soon. |
|
| |
Doug arrives, reaches over and lifts Tina out of the wheelchair. Tina cries out in pain: a wrenching cry. Doug and Sandra both react with quick, almost involuntary winces. Doug begins to carry Tina over to the same apple-red Chevy pickup seen in the opening video, only now it is rust-free and completely refurbished, RAMSAY'S HARDWARE written in bright yellow letters on the doors. Keith is close behind, pushing the empty wheelchair, holding the bird in one hand. Sandra rolls up a blanket and picks up a thermos. |
| |
They reach the pickup, where Doug straps Tina into her seat. Keith lifts the wheelchair into the back. Doug helps roll it into a custom-made harness beneath the cab window. Sandra places the blanket and thermos in the front seat. Keith has found a long length of string in the back of the pickup and has attached one end to his kite-like bird. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
What's that you're cooking up there? |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
I'm taking my bird for a walk. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
You're taking her for a fly. |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
(grinning) |
| |
|
She's not a fly. She's a bird. |
|
| |
Doug playfully pushes Keith away. Keith mounts his bike. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Need a lift? |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
(smiling) |
| |
|
I got my bike. |
|
| |
Sandra's heard this routine a thousand times before. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
I could give your bike a lift, too. |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
No, thanks. |
|
| |
Keith coasts to the front of the pickup. |
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
Bye, Tina. |
|
| |
(whispers) |
| |
|
Watch this. |
|
| |
He waves at Doug and Sandra and pedals off, across a short stretch of field and onto the road. He still holds the bird in one hand. He is furiously pedalling his bike. The bird flies behind him, soaring skyward, rising higher and higher as Keith pumps his legs and unfurls more string. Doug smiles, his eyes locked onto the bobbing bird. |
| 3. |
EXT.
ROAD - DAY |
| |
Keith pedals his bike through a gentle rainfall. A large tractor trailer honks behind him. Keith pulls over. The truck is a feast of colour, the first in a convoy of a travelling carnival. Keith watches the trucks pass by, soaking in the graphics on the trucks - animals, clowns, the bearded lady - as he waves to the drivers. Some honk. |
| 4. |
INT.
DOUG'S PICKUP - DAY |
| |
Doug drives through the rain. The only sounds heard are the wipers, and Tina's laboured breathing. Sandra reaches toward the steering wheel, leaning over Tina, and adjusts a lever. The wipers speed up. She leans back in her seat. A moment later, she leans over again and adjusts the wiper lever. The wipers move even faster. Sandra waits, looks at Tina. She leans over once again, adjusts the lever. The wipers move at full speed. The rhythm is frantic. |
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
(singing) |
|
| |
The wipers on the bus go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The wipers on the bus go back and forth, all through the town. |
| |
She looks at Tina with unblinking hope. Tina doesn't respond. Doug initiates another round of the song. Sandra accompanies him, but they soon peter out when they realize it's in vain. Doug keeps his eyes on Tina instead of the road. Suddenly, there's a sickening thud. Sandra screams. |
| 5. |
INT.
RAMSAY'S HARDWARE STORE: BACKROOM - DAY |
| |
Keith is about to take off his jacket but can't resist running his hand along a newly-finished bird house set on a work table. He is surrounded by hardware supplies. In the background is a small fridge and an old tabletop hockey game that sits on two makeshift supports. |
| 6. |
EXT.
ROAD - DAY |
| |
Doug and Sandra stand by the side of the road, gazing at a dog that is still breathing but not long for this world. CRAIG PIERCE,40, an RCMP officer, stands to one side. Craig — with thin hair and thick biceps — is tall and broad-shouldered. His patrol car is parked behind the pickup, where Tina still sits. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
I didn't see it coming. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Don't go blaming yourself. |
|
| |
Craig nods sympathetically, pulls out his revolver and shoots the dog. Sandra winces. Doug looks at the pickup to see if Tina has registered the sound of gunfire. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
What the hell did you do that for? You could've given Tina a coronary. |
|
| |
CRAIG |
| |
|
I was thinking about the dog. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
He's just doing his job. |
|
| |
CRAIG |
| |
|
How fast were you going, Doug? |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
(hesitates) |
| |
|
I don't know. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Not fast, with the rain and all. |
|
| |
CRAIG |
| |
|
You keep your eyes on the road. |
|
| |
Sandra smiles appreciatively. Doug still has his eyes on the dog. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
I'll clean this up. |
|
| 7. |
INT.
RAMSAY'S HARDWARE STORE - DAY |
| |
Keith is in the front of the store, choosing between two small paint brushes. He's now wearing a carpenter's apron and takes the task at hand very seriously. DARRELL, 21, creeps up behind him. Darrell's black hair looks like it perpetually needs to be washed. He still has the residue of adolescent acne. He is wearing a fall jacket and is carrying a can of new paint in each hand. |
| |
DARRELL |
| |
|
Boo! |
|
| |
Keith is startled, turns around and is relieved to see it is Darrell. |
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
What are you doing here? It's Sunday. We're closed on Sundays. |
|
| |
Darrell holds up the paint cans. |
| |
DARRELL |
| |
|
I came to pick up my fringe benefits. |
|
| |
He places the paint cans down and puts a hand over Keith's shoulder. |
| |
DARRELL |
| |
|
The way I figure, minimum wage is okay for people with minimum brains. People like me deserve more. |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
You're stealing. |
|
| |
Darrell grabs a brush out of Keith's hand. |
| |
DARRELL |
| |
|
Now you, what you're doing. That's stealing. |
|
| |
Keith grabs the brush back. |
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
Dougie lets me. |
|
| |
DARRELL |
| |
|
Then this'll have to be our little secret. You can keep a secret, can't you, Keith? |
|
| |
Keith nods. Darrell mirrors Keith's nod. |
| 8. |
INT.
RAMSAYS' HOUSE: KITCHEN - DAY |
| |
Doug and Sandra sit at the kitchen table. Sandra sips coffee as Doug repairs an old blender. We hear a cartoon playing in the living room. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
I was thinking of going fishing this afternoon. Taking Tina along. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
She's in no shape to go fishing. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
It's not like I'm stiff competition. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
I'm going to call Dr. Kovacs. |
|
| |
Sandra looks at Doug, anticipating a strong reaction. Doug uses silence to state his case. |
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
There must be something she can do. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
We don't need Kovacs. She's cut her up plenty. What we need are painkillers. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Well maybe Dr. Kovacs can give us new painkillers. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Son of a bitch! |
|
| |
Doug pulls his hand back and begins to suck on a cut finger. Sandra begins to laugh. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
What's so funny? |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
That thing's older than me. Don't you think it's time you threw it out? |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
A minor tune-up's all she needs. |
|
| |
Sandra stands up and heads out of the kitchen. |
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
You need a bandaid. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
(calling out to her) |
| |
|
I'm taking her fishing. |
|
| 9. |
INT.
POST OFFICE - AFTERNOON |
| |
Albert, an avuncular postal worker, hands a small package to a gleeful Doug. |
| |
ALBERT |
| |
|
You make me feel like Santa Claus. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
(grinning) |
| |
|
I'm not gonna climb onto your lap, Albert. |
|
| 10. |
INT.
INSIDE DOUG'S PICKUP - AFTERNOON |
| |
Doug slides into his seat and shows Tina the package. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Maybe this'll help. It's this herbal remedy I read about. They have this 1-800 number so I called 'em and the woman on the other end, she sounded real positive. Me, I'm a hard sell, but I - |
|
| |
Doug stops in mid-track and simply squeezes Tina's hand. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Everything's worth a try, right? |
|
| |
Tina stares straight ahead. Doug raises her hand with his, as though in victory. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Right. |
|
| |
He lets go of her hand and turns on the ignition. |
| 11. |
EXT.
LAKE - LATE AFTERNOON |
| |
Doug and Tina sit on a small dock, fishing. Tina's rod is attached to her wheelchair. Doug sits on an overturned bucket, savouring the silence, the tranquility, the time with his daughter. He hestitates before he finally speaks it's as if he's reluctant to shatter the peace. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
No more operations, okay? You have my word. No more. |
|
| |
Doug looks at Tina. She moans softly. He lovingly brushes a lock of hair behind Tina's ear then begins to hum a lullaby-type melody. He carries the tune in ways that tell us he has sung it to her a thousand times before. Only now he sings alone: in his look he wills her to join in. She sits stone-faced. Suddenly, Tina's rod starts to bob: she's caught a fish. Doug starts to reel it in. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
(smiling) |
| |
|
Well, I'll be damned! Look what you just did! |
|
| |
He looks at Tina with a parent's pride, then struggles to sustain his smile as the moment washes over Tina. |
| 12. |
EXT.
RAMSAYS' YARD - NIGHT |
| |
Doug, Sandra, Tina and Keith sit around a fire, roasting marshmallows. Keith carefully roasts the marshmallow at the end of Tina's stick, which is wedged into the side of her wheelchair. He removes the golden marshmallow and holds it before Tina triumphantly. |
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
There. Nice and brown. |
|
| |
He hands the marshmallow to Sandra, who feeds it to Tina by pushing small bits into her mouth. |
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
All that's missing is a big mug of hot chocolate. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Is that a hint? |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
It's a thought. |
|
| |
Keith's own marshmallow is now in flames. He waves it in front of Tina, vainly trying to get her attention. |
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Whoa! |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
She likes watching fires! |
|
| |
Doug and Sandra both watch Keith trying to grab Tina's attention with the burning marshmallow. Both can see it's having no impact whatsoever. Sandra finally speaks. |
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
I called Dr. Kovacs. She said she can see us tomorrow. |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
The carnival is here. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
I told you. We don't need Kovacs. What we need are alterna - |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
We need help. She's getting worse. |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
She can still go, can't she? To the carnival? |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Yes. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
(simultaneously) |
| |
|
No. (BEAT) She's in no shape to go the carnival. |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
She went last year. Remember? On top of the ferris wheel? |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
How can you talk about ferris wheels when she's looking like this? |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
We can make it better. Without Kovacs. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
How? |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
We can go to the carnival. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
We haven't tried that herbal medicine, have we? |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
We've tried a dozen different herbal treatments. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
This one might do the trick. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
She needs a helluva lot more than herbs right now. |
|
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
Maybe the bumper cars. |
|
| |
SANDRA |
| |
|
Will you please shut up about your god damn carnival! |
|
| |
Sandra storms off. Doug begins to walk after her, then thinks better of it. He returns to Tina's side and carefully wipes the bits of marshmallow around her mouth. Unwittingly, it becomes an unspoken, private moment until Keith interrupts. |
| |
KEITH |
| |
|
Maybe the carousel. |
|
| |
DOUG |
| |
|
Maybe. |
|
|
|
