Bringing Home Amanda

Act one

Scene opens at one end of a long, almost deserted, hospital hallway. It is white and cold feeling. At the far end of he hall sits a lone man, he is wearing a navy suit jacket and jeans, looking slightly disheveled, but as though he has just come from a work place. He is hunched over with his head in his hands.

A door opens across from him and a doctor comes out, he’s wearing all white and almost entirely blends in with the hallway. The waiting man (Gavin) snaps to attention when the door opens and rises to speak with the doctor. Words are exchanged but we’re too far away to hear, the doctor places a hand on Gavins shoulder when he starts to cry heavily. He begins to double over with weeping and the doctor tries to support him but he sinks to his knees and continues to weep, his face in his hands.

camera begins to move slowly down the hall towards Gavin and the doctor

GAVIN v/o

It is a strange thing, beginning a story at the end, but how else

Will we learn that every ending breeds a new beginning? This is

The ending, but this story has a beginning as well.

#2

(hallway fades into bar scene)

Gavin is sitting at the bar, engrossed in his drink when a woman catches his eye. She’s a brilliant red head, her blouse is slightly more open than it should be and her skirt is slightly askew, the side seam in the front. She sits a couple seats away at the bar and puts her head in her hands. She rubs her temples, obviously exhausted. Gavin signals the bar maid over and whispers something, passing her a five dollar bill. The server pours and passes a drink to the red head who looks up hurriedly. The server motions to the Gavin who smiles and waves a little. The woman looks slightly sheepish, but she motion him over. He gets up, bringing his mug, and sits down beside her.

GAVIN

I’m Gavin.(He reaches over and shakes her hand)

There’s an awkward moment while he waits for a response, he raises an eyebrow to encourage her.

WOMAN

Amanda, thank you for the drink Gavin.

This is followed by another bout of silence while Amanda takes a swig from her beer.

GAVIN

Well, you looked like you needed it.

AMANDA (laughing)

I don’t know if I should be insulted or not.

Gavin

Don’t be, we all have those days. Want to talk about it? I’ve been know to give helpful advice to beautiful strangers.

Amanda

It’s nothing, just a bad day, they seem to come in flocks of some kind

Gavin

Aint that the truth

Amanda

I just . .. don’t want to be here!

Gavin

The bar?

Amanda

No, here I like. I mean, I don’t want to be anywhere my parents want me to be.

Gavin

Ahh, spoiled child searching for independence syndrome?

Amanda

(opens her mouth to say something, closes it, takes another swig)

I suppose that’s it.

Gavin

Admittance is the first step to recovery, that’s what they say. So let me guess, they want you to be a doctor?

Amanda (rolls her eyes)

A lawyer

Gavin (laughs)

Even better. But you secretly want to be a plumber, no, a veterinarian?

Amanda (laughs)

A painter

Gavin (whistles)

Oh, slightly cliché, but a perfectly respectable predicament

Amanda

So, advice?

Gavin

Have another drink

#3

Back to the white hallway where the camera rolls into the hospital room. Gavin is bent over the bed cradling Amandas broken body close to his chest, her hair is very short now, above her shoulders. Gavin sobs, his body wracked with it.

Gavin v/o

All stories also have a middle

#4

Image of Amandas pale bloodied face fades into an image of her sleeping, snuggled between cotton sheets and breathing lightly. Her hair is once again long. pan out Gavin is sitting beside her, watching her sleep, he’s grown a shallow beard and his eyes twinkle with love and admiration. He touches her red hair, splayed out around her on the pillow. She stirs and opens her eyes.

Amanda(smiling)

Stop staring

Gavin

I cant help it, your to beautiful.

Gavin leans down and kisses her, he lays down beside her and Gavin wraps his arms around her. Amanda rests her head on his chest and holds up one hand to admire her diamond engagement, and plain wedding band. She fiddles with them.

Amanda (quietly)

We should have at least told them

Gavin

They wouldn’t have allowed it

Amanda

I know we did the right thing, I just wish they could have been there

Gavin (smiling)

Big weddings cost too much anyway

Amanda

I just don’t want to be angry with them forever, they are my parents after all

Gavin (frowning now)

They practically disowned you Mandy . . .

Amanda gets out of the bed and walks away in a huff

Gavin (calling after her)

Mandy? Amanda!

She slams the bedroom door as she leaves

#5

We fade back to the hospital room, time has passed, Amanda still lays on the table and Gavin is sitting in a chair beside her, he stares at her intensely as the doctor approaches

Gavin (monotone)

She looks like she’s sleeping, I half expect her to open her eyes. Any moment . .. (trails off)

Doctor

Is there someone you would like me to call? A family member perhaps?

Gavin (shakes his head)

There’s no one. I’m an Orphan, and we havnt spoken to Amandas parents in what, 6 years?

Doctor (sighing)

Perhaps this is the time to make peace. (glances at Amanda) for both of you

Doctor exits

Gavin v/o

And another story begins fades out to black bloody in laws.

#6

fades into image of the inside of a front door

The door bell rings, there’s a few minutes of silence and the doorbell rings again. This time there is the sound of footsteps and Gavin comes to answer the door. camera is in a fixed position the entire time, we only see Gavin’s back and over his shoulder There is a little old lady standing on the doorstep holding a casserole.

Neighbor

Good afternoon Gavin, I wanted to express my sincere condolences about your lovely wife. I heard about it on the news last night.

Gavin

Thank you Mrs. Hoggale.

Neighbor (smiling)

I baked you this casserole (hands it to Gavin)

Gavin

Thank you very much

Neighbor

She was a lovely girl, and so young

Gavin

Thank you

Gavin closes the door before the woman has a chance to say anything else. He turns to the camera and leans back against the door, closing his eyes and taking a long shuddering breath. The door bell rings again and without opening it Gavin leaves the scene

fade through black

#7

Gavin sits in his living room on his couch, he’s looking through an old photograph album. camera zooms in on picture slowly from over his shoulder it’s a picture of their wedding day. Amanda looks beautiful in her dress, they’re both smiling, but besides them and the priest, there’s only one person around as a witness, it has become apparent that they eloped. Gavin runs a tentative finger over Amandas face.

Shot of Gavins face, he’s smiling as he remembers, and a single tear slips down his cheek. He flips the page and a picture falls out. Gavin leans down and picks the picture up, his hand is shaking as he looks at it. It’s a picture of Amanda and three other people who will be revealed to be her parents and brother. Fades into

#8 – flashback

Gavin is holding a picture frame, staring at the picture intently. Amanda walks into the room (her hair is still long) and stops when she sees him.

Gavin

Why is this here

Amanda (looking flustered)

I miss them, they’re my family, why cant I keep a picture of them?

Gavin (still calm, but forced)

They ruined our lives Amanda, Made us run of to marry as though we were ashamed

Amanda

But we’re not, and I love them Gavin, they’re out family

Gavin (loosing temper)

No! they’re not!

(he throws the picture frame angrily against the wall

Not mine. You’re all the family I need.

He glares at the broken picture for a moment, and then huffs out of the room. Amanda is crying. She goes over to the mess and crouches down, picking up the picture and gently sweeping the broken glass off of it, we see it is the same picture that Gavin has just found in real time. It fades from Amandas fingers holding the picture to Gavins, we see his face, he looks miserable. Fades into

#9

Outdoor shot of Gavins house, it’s night time and we hear crickets chirping and the like, then there is the distant sound of a car hitting garbage cans and a cat yelping, and then the telephone ringing

KURT v/o

Hello?

Gavin v/o

Hi Kurt, its me, sorry for calling so late

Kurt v/o

Who is this?

Gavin v/o

Its uhh . . . Gavin

Kurt v/o

Gavin Marten? Hell, it’s been what, 5 years?

Gavin v/o

6

Kurt v/o

And now you phone me out of the blue at 2 am

Gavin v/o

Ya, um, stuff has happened

Kurt v/o

Stuff?

Gavin v/o

Amanda’s dead

#10

inside Gavin is sitting at his kitchen table with the photo album open in front of him, looking at an old photo of Amanda, him and some friends.

Kurt v/o

How?

Gavin

Does her family still live in the same house?

Kurt v/o

Yes, never moved, I think they thought Mandy would come back someday. Did you guys ever get married?

Gavin

Ya, in Vegas two days after we left.

Kurt v/o (laughing)

Sounds like something you two would do. (serious again) when did it happen.

Gavin

Last night.

Kurt v/o

When’s the funeral?

Gavin

Four days, I’m coming down there so I can tell her family in person. She wanted to be buried in her families plot. But it’s too expensive to fly us both back, so I’m driving in ahead of her. don’t say anything yet ok?

Kurt v/o

Ok, sure. You know, her family could lend you some money, its no object for them.

Gavin (cringing)

No, I can do it on my own.

Kurt v/o

This is pretty heavy man, I’m sorry.

Gavin

Thanks

#11

switch to Kurt at home in bed

Kurt

I’ll see you soon

(hangs up phone and looks to his wife sleeping next to him)

We’ll miss you Mandy.

He turns out the light.