BEGINNERS
Written by
Mike Mills
INT. HAL FIELDS HOME.
A single daisy stands in a vase in an empty kitchen.
INT. HAL'S BEDROOM
OLIVER FIELDS clicks on the light to the closet. He looks at
the rack of his parents' clothes.
He begins to put some in a box marked "home", some in a box
marked "thrift".
INT. HAL'S BATHROOM
Oliver enters the bathroom and flushes bottle after bottle of
pills and liquids down the toilet. Next he struggles as he
looks over the old toothbrush, hairbrush, all the bottles and
tubes besides the sink. He stares for a beat, then throws
them all away.
INT/EXT. HAL'S TRASH AREA
Oliver hauls trash outside, adding it to a very large pile of
bags. An older Jack Russell Terrier, ARTHUR, follows him.
INT. HAL'S OFFICE
Oliver and Arthur sit on the office floor surrounded by
papers, boxes, books and trash bags. He finds a photo of HAL
FIELDS in an open Jean jacket, no shirt, it's attached to a
personal ad application which he begins to read.
CUT TO PAST
EXT. LARGE EMPTY PARKING LOT NIGHT
In the dark, OLIVER FIELDS has a tape recorder and
microphone, he follows ANDY as he excitedly prepares, a group
of friends looks on.
ANDY
Okay. Is it on? (recorder)
OLIVER
Yeah yeah.
ANDY
This is for our friend Hal Fields.
Hal. We love you.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 2.
CONTINUED:
Andy quickly lights a rack of large fireworks, they shoot up
into the night and explode - smoke - more explosions -
everyone's laughing. Oliver looks up at the fireworks,
recording the sounds, happy.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
CUT TO PRESENT
EXT. HAL'S DRIVEWAY - NIGHT
Oliver has packed his car, he leans down to Arthur.
OLIVER
You're coming to live with me now.
Arthur looks at him.
OLIVER
This is my car.
Arthur hops in.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Oliver's car drives down Sunset boulevard.
INT. OLIVER'S HALLWAY - NIGHT
Oliver and Arthur enter, he's carrying a box, his house is
dark and lonely.
INT. HAL'S DINNING ROOM
Oliver enters his dining room, Arthur in tow.
OLIVER
This is the dining room where
people come and eat sometimes.
The dog listens intently. Oliver moves on, the dog follows.
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM
Oliver and Arthur enter the living room.
OLIVER
This is the living room.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 3.
CONTINUED:
Oliver looks around, the dog looks with him.
INT. OLIVER'S BATHROOM
We see the door open revealing Oliver and Arthur continuing
their tour.
OLIVER
That's the bathroom.
The dog looks.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Arthur lays next to Oliver in bed. Unable to sleep, Oliver
looks to the ceiling.
CUT TO NARRATED SEQUENCE
STILL BLACK AND WHITE AND COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SUN, THE
STARS, YOSEMITE, GEORGE W. BUSH FLASH BY:
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is 2003. This is what the sun
looks like, and the stars, nature.
This is the President.
NOW PHOTOS OF THE SUN, STARS, NATURE, ETC. FROM 1955 FLASH
BY:
OLIVER V.O.
And this is the sun in 1955, and
the stars, and nature, and cars,
and phones, and movies, and the
President. These are what pets
looked like. These are fireworks.
This was smoking.
PHOTOGRAPHS, CROPPED IN ON FACES FROM 1955, VERY FAST
SEQUENCE OF PEOPLE KISSING:
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
This is what it looked like when
people kissed...
FAST SEQUENCE OF FACES FORM 1955 LAUGHING:
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
...When they were happy...
SEQUENCE OF FACES CRYING:
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 4.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
...When they were sad.
FAST SEQUENCE OF MARRIAGE PHOTOS FROM 1955:
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
My parents got married in 1955.
SHOT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, SHOT OF AN OLD HOUSE:
OLIVER
He was a museum director - she
fixed up old houses.
1955 STILL PHOTO OF A BABY BEING BORN:
OLIVER
They had a child, and they stayed
married for 44 years...
A SEQUENCE OF STILL SHOTS OF FRENCH TOAST IN DIFFERENT STAGES
OF BEING EATEN, THEN STILL SHOTS OF STRAWS THAT JUMP CUT INTO
CIGARETTES, THEN LIVE ACTION CLIP FROM THE TELETUBBIES, AND
THEN RAPID FIRE THROUGH STILL SHOTS OF EVERY PRESIDENT FROM
1924 TO 2003 AND BACK.
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
...Until she died in their bed,
after four months of cancer and
eating French toast for every meal
and watching the Teletubbies
everyday and confusing white straws
for her cigarettes and skipping
back and forth through time inside
her head.
INT. HAL'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY
Hal fields sits on a couch, in a purple sweater, looking into
camera, struggling for words.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Six months later, my father told me
he was gay. He had just turned 75.
HAL
I'm gay.
Same camera angle, Hal still looking into camera we jump cut
to him wearing a robe.
OLIVER V.O. (CONT'D)
I always remember him wearing a
purple sweater when he told me this
but actually he wore a robe.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 5.
CONTINUED:
HAL
I'm gay.
Same angle, we continue to jump cut through Hal talking to
camera, each cut in different clothes, and with each cut his
line has a different inflection.
HAL (CONT'D)
I'm gay.
Jump cut, new outfit.
HAL (CONT'D)
I loved your mother, but, uh... now
I want to explore this side.
Jump cut, new outfit.
HAL (CONT'D)
I don't want to be just
theoretically gay, I want to do
something about it.
New outfit and inflection.
HAL (CONT'D)
...I want to do something about
it...
New outfit and inflection.
HAL (CONT'D)
...I want to do something about it.
INT/EXT. VARIOUS - DAY
A live action "portrait" of Hal, looking into camera, first
in old clothes, then jump cut to new all black outfit.
OLIVER (V.O.)
He changed all his clothes.
EXT. PARK - DAY
The camera moves through a large group of men and streamers
gathered for Los Angeles Pride event.
OLIVER V.O. (CONT'D)
He got a boyfriend, Andy, a
physical trainer who was also
studying for his professional
pyrotechnic license.
Camera lands on Hal beaming with pride, his arm around Andy
who looks into camera and says.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 6.
CONTINUED:
ANDY
Since I came out to my father, he
never speaks to me. That's why
I've been always attracted to older
men.
Hal and friends laugh warmly at Andy. We cut to live action
"portraits" of a priest, a therapist, the Primetimers, his
movie-night club, and the large L.A. Pride group, all looking
into camera.
OLIVER V.O.
He found an out gay priest to guide
him spiritually. He saw a therapist
for the first time. He joined the
Primetimers. Movie night.
Los Angeles Pride, and then...
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM
We see Hal's living room, empty of furniture in the morning
light.
OLIVER V.O.
Four years after he came out, he
died in this room...
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. OLIVER'S KITCHEN - MORNING
Oliver enters, followed closely by Arthur. Oliver walks
through the kitchen - Arthur follows him. Oliver walks
through the living room - Arthur follows. Oliver makes a
circle through the house - Arthur follows.
Oliver sits, looking down at Arthur.
OLIVER
Look, its lonely out here, so you'd
better learn how to talk with me.
Arthur's face looks up at him filled with a dog's love and no
words.
ARTHUR SUBTITLE
While I understand up to 150 words -
I don't talk.
Oliver leans down, pushing his head into Arthur's.
OLIVER
I know. I know.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 7.
CONTINUED:
CUT TO PAST
A SERIES OF QUICK MEMORIES...
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY
Camera follow's Oliver down a long corridor.
INT. ICU ROOM - NIGHT
Oliver sits as HAL lays in a coma on a ventilator. The room
is dark, Oliver uses a flashlight to quietly read to his
father.
INT. ICU ROOM - DAY
QUICK CUTS. A nurse opens the shades. A DOCTOR and two nurses
stand over Hal, everyone's nervous. Hal is struggling with
all the tubes down his throat. Oliver is trying to help him
breathe, talking into his ear.
Oliver is ushered out of the room. The nurse draws the
curtain.
MOMENTS LATER: Oliver sits with Hal, now off the ventilator
but still very weak and disoriented. Oliver coaches his
breathing.
OLIVER
Calm. Calm, calm breaths.
Hal coughs.
INT. ICU ROOM
It's the middle of the night, Hal is connected to many I.V.s
in both arms, still disoriented, he's tangled up in the
tubes, trying to pull them out of his arms. He wakes up
Oliver.
HAL
Oliver! Please help me with all
these ropes.
Oliver rushes and helps him.
OLIVER
Pop, Pop, stop -- you're gonna hurt
yourself.
A NURSE quickly enters and helps hold down his arms.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 8.
CONTINUED:
NURSE
Mr. Fields, we're going to have to
secure your arms again.
She puts his hands in restraints, Oliver helps.
HAL
You two married?
OLIVER
No, Pop.
HAL
Why not? She's great.
The nurse smiles, embarrassed, and continues with her job.
OLIVER
She's a great nurse in the
hospital, we don't really know her,
you're very high on drugs.
HAL
You always have some very good
reason, haven't you?
OLIVER
No, Pop, I just don't want to be
like you and mom.
(aside to the nurse)
Thank you...
CUT TO PAST
INT. OLIVER'S CHILDHOOD HOME 1978
IN THE KITCHEN: We see 10-year-old Oliver watching his mother
GEORGIA and father kiss quickly, politely, and then his
father leaves quickly. Hal remains in silhouette through the
shot.
DIFFERENT DAY, IN OLIVER'S BEDROOM: Oliver watches Hal and
Georgia kiss, and Hal leave - more like a performance than
anything real.
DIFFERENT DAY, IN PARENT'S BEDROOM: Oliver watches Hal and
Georgia kiss and Hal exit, quick and dry.
10-year-old Oliver studies them each time.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 9.
CONTINUED:
DIFFERENT DAY, OLIVER'S BEDROOM: Georgia quickly opens the
door and finds Oliver drawing.
GEORGIA
Oliver!
He turns and Georgia shoots him with her finger, Oliver falls
to the ground.
GEORGIA
Olly, you can do better.
He gets up and she shoots him again - He falls more
dramatically, knocking his head on the floor.
GEORGIA
That's good.
His mom looks at him affectionately.
CUT TO PRESENT
EXT. ECHO PARK STREET - NIGHT
Oliver walks Arthur across a lit field, towards the dog park.
EXT. DOG PARK - NIGHT
Everywhere dogs and their people are playing. Oliver and
Arthur sit on a bench like two humans. Oliver watches the
action, Arthur stares at Oliver.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Go have your own experiences with
your own people. I'll be right
here...
Arthur stays by Oliver's side.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
I'm a human. I'm not a dog.
And you're a Jack Russell, that's a
breed. Your personality was created
by this guy John Russell, a hunting
enthusiast, in the 1800s. And he
bred your ancestors to have stamina
and courage for the hunt. You think
you're just you, and you want to
chase the foxes, but other people
planted that in you years ago.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 10.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Now, somewhat arbitrarily, you are
considered very cute by us humans,
and we keep breeding you not to
chase foxes, but to be cute, and we
put you in movies and television
shows, and you, you're chasing
tennis balls cause there as close
to a fox as you're going to get.
Arthur stays by Oliver's side.
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE
CU on Oliver's hands as he draws a T-shirt that reads:
"My personality was created by someone else and all I got was
this stupid T-shirt."
Reveal that Oliver is in a design office. LIZ, 30's enters,
they IMPROV hellos.
JUMP CUT thru a series of Oliver's drawings. A speech bubble
that reads: "A fair amount of failures." He draws portraits
of girls with dates: "Ellen O. 1984-1988" -- "Julie P. 1988-
1989" -- "Liz B. 1993 - 1995" -- "Lynette I. 1995" --
"Amanda Y. 1996-2000" -- "Yuki H. 2000" -- "Christina S.
2001" -- "Michelle M. 2001-2003"
Oliver stops drawing, lost in his thoughts...
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
In the dark I.C.U. room, Hal is still attached to many I.V.s,
Oliver is helping Hal look at a book of Japanese rock gardens
with a flashlight.
OLIVER
Want me to read this? I found it in
your books.
HAL
Yeah, alright. Give me the
flashlight.
Oliver opens it, they look at a few pages together, photos of
serene gardens.
OLIVER
Nice.
HAL
Oh, that's nice.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 11.
CONTINUED:
Hal keeps peeking at a bouquet of flowers in the corner of
the room. Hal takes the flashlight from Oliver and guides it
to the flowers.
OLIVER
Oh, Andy brought those for you.
HAL
Oh, yeah?
Hal continues to direct the light across the room, we follow
the circle of light as it moves a cross a wall landing on a
painting.
HAL
Oh, who did that painting?
OLIVER
Well, I don't know. Its just a
painting on the wall.
Hal continues exploring, Oliver's enjoying his father's
curiosity, he lands on some photos displayed on the table.
HAL
A--, and these?
OLIVER
They're just photos, Pop.
HAL
But how do they relate to the
exhibit?
OLIVER
They're just personal photos.
They're not art.
Hal slowly moves the flashlight up the wall, across the
ceiling to a strange assortment of fire detectors,
sprinklers, sensors, all laid out against the acoustic tile
ceiling. Hal points up. Oliver looks for a beat, then...
OLIVER
Uh, well that's the water sprinkler
thing.
HAL
Well, its beautiful.
OLIVER
What is?
HAL
Putting the Japanese gardens there.
It's just beautiful.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 12.
CONTINUED:
Oliver looks from the ceiling to the rock garden book. The
ceiling and the gardens look the same. Oliver is moved by
Hal's confusion. ANDY, 45-years-old, physical, boyish, storms
into the room.
ANDY
Hal.
HAL
Andy!
Andy gets on the bed opposite Oliver. He gives Hal a big kiss
on the lips. Hal glows. Oliver backs away slowly. Andy picks
up Hal's hand, turns it palm up and presses his face into it.
ANDY
I brought something for you.
Oliver watches from outside the room as Andy excitedly pulls
a portable tape player out of his bag.
ANDY
We made a recording for
you.
HAL
Oh, God.
Andy pushes play, on the recording we hear Andy's voice:
ANDY ON TAPE
This is for our friend Hal Fields.
Hal. We love you.
We hear voices HOOTING, and then large FIREWORKS, LAUGHTER
and CLAPPING.
Oliver watches his father's happiness from a distance.
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE
CU on Oliver's hands drawing bright streaming colors of the
fireworks.
LATER: Oliver get's to his real work, pulling out a few 8X10
photos of a band "The Sads". There are some instructions on
record company letterhead - he is to do an album design for
their new record - they want him to draw portraits of the
three members.
Oliver begins to do quick portraits of them based on the
photo.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 13.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Jesus, Liz. Another band that
wants portraits.
LIZ
Well, at least it pays the rent.
OLIVER
You do something decent once, and
that's all people ever want.
JUMP CUT through the different portraits developing. It's not
what Oliver want's to do.
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE - LATER
Elliott and Shauna let themselves in. Elliot grabs a stool
and sits down.
ELLIOTT
Hi Liz.
Oliver continues to draw, as Shauna and Elliott try to get
his attention.
ELLIOTT
Oliver?
OLIVER
Yeah?
ELLIOTT
The pen is not your friend. The
paper is not your friend. The
party is your friend. We're your
friends. Your friends are your
friends.
INT. OLIVER'S LIVING ROOM
Elliot is now dressed as a cop and Shauna as a large chicken,
they are dancing with no music as Oliver sits on a couch
depressed dressed as Sigmund Freud, complete with wig-beard-
glasses-pipe.
SHAUNA
I got the skills... he's got the
moves...
ELLIOTT
I got the moves... you've got the
skills...
10/29/07 14.
INT. OLIVER'S FRONT DOOR
Oliver, Elliott, and Shauna are leaving. Arthur can't believe
he's being left behind. It's actually the first time they
will separate.
OLIVER
Arthur, you haven't been invited to
this party. You're gonna stay and
look after the house.
Oliver tentatively shuts the door, takes three steps, Arthur
begins to howl. Oliver tries to ignore it, but stops again.
He looks back at the house and the howling.
CUT TO:
INT. OLIVER'S CAR - DRIVING
Arthur, victorious, sits in Elliot's lap in the front seat,
while Oliver drives and Shauna is squeezed in back in her
chicken outfit.
ELLIOTT
You remember when Oliver was funny?
And he could actually, like, talk,
in complete sentences?
SHAUNA
Funny? Funny? I don't think so Fun
maybe, but not funny unless, like,
serious is funny. Then he's'
fucking hilarious.
Elliot and Oliver laugh.
SHAUNA
But, lovable. You are very
lovable.
ELLIOTT
Yeah, very lovable.
INT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
Oliver carries Arthur, they all enter a costume party, making
their way through the crowd of people in all kinds of
disguises, music blaring, Oliver slides into the less
populated kitchen. A woman rushes up to Oliver, surprised to
see he has a dog.
FEMALE PARTIER
So cute, does he do tricks?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 15.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
His name's Arthur - he doesn't do
tricks.
In the background are a couple dressed as JULIAN and ETHEL
ROSENBERG, we see them observe Oliver and Arthur.
PARTIER
No? Arthur, SIT!
Arthur promptly sits down. Oliver's totally surprised.
PARTIER
He's so cute. Shake!
Arthur sticks out his paw. Oliver doesn't like seeing Arthur
blindly perform.
PARTIER
Oh my god, he's so cute, I want
him.
OLIVER
(in Freud accent)
Does it make you feel powerful to
order my dog around? Maybe give
you a sense of power?
PARTIER
Oh, you're being a therapist!
Freud!
OLIVER
Thanks, yeah. Very good.
Oliver picks up Arthur and escapes the kitchen. The
Rosenberg's are still watching.
LATER...
Oliver and Arthur sit in a chair next to a couch where a man
dressed as a witch, complete with green face and long black
hair, is lying back as if in a traditional analysis session.
LONG-HAIRED MAN
Well, I didn't ask for this. Who
would ask for this? This color.
This nose. This cheek, this chin.
You know, this is my life. This
isn't a story. This isn't a
joke...
Oliver is playing along, but he's really not emotionally
ready for this party. He feels very far away.
OLIVER
Yeah.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 16.
CONTINUED:
LONG-HAIRED MAN
I'm so glad you came, Doc. Just
really good to get this stuff off
my chest.
OLIVER
(in Freud accent)
I'm sorry. Our time is up, uh...
for this week. Thank you for
coming in.
The witch moves on.
Oliver sits with Arthur in his lap, alone, lost in all this
joviality.
We see that the woman dressed as Julius Rosenberg is watching
him.
Just as Oliver is about to get up, she plops herself down
onto the couch, ready for her session.
OLIVER V.O.
Oh, I was just- I was gonna take a
break, actually.
She pulls out a writing pad, oblivious. Oliver can tell she's
not going to give it up.
OLIVER
(back in accent)
Well, I guess we should start with
your mother.
The woman writes on her notepad and shows it to Oliver:
"Never had one."
OLIVER
Well then your father.
She mimes shooting herself in the head and dying.
OLIVER
I don't understand. You can't
talk? Is it a mental problem? Do
you need analysis?
She writes on her pad: "I have laryngitis"
OLIVER
That's a physical problem.
She smiles at him, looks at him a little too long, Oliver is
more and more pulled in by her playfulness - she writes:
"Why are you at a party if you're sad?"
CU on Oliver, surprised and impressed by her observation.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 17.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
I was doing such a good job of
hiding it. How could you tell?
Ethel holds up her notebook. She has drawn TWO EYES.
Oliver's taken by her.
OLIVER
Clearly, I'm gonna need a drink.
You?
She smiles and nods.
OLIVER
You, stay here, yeah?
Oliver moves to--
INT KITCHEN
Elliot and Shauna are deeply engaged in conversation with
someone dressed as a pickle and someone dressed as much less
colorful chicken.
ELLIOTT
No, its just not a natural color
for a chicken.
SHAUNA
No.
ELLIOTT
(motioning to Shauna's
COSTUME)
And look, you see what happens when
you free yourself from the cage,
walk away from the factory.
SHAUNA
You just have no real color.
YOU'RE LIKE--
Oliver slips past, hands Arthur to Elliot. He scoops ice
from the bucket and starts filling two cups.
ELLIOTT
Hey, hey.
SHAUNA
(COUNTING CUPS)
Uh-oh, one. Uh-oh, two.
ELLIOTT
Two drinks.
SHAUNA
What does that me--, one, two.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 18.
CONTINUED:
ELLIOTT
Well that's two, two people.
SHAUNA
Two people. A girl and a guy?
ELLIOTT
Hopefully.
SHAUNA
Yeah, wow, making moves.
Oliver leaves Arthur in Elliott's arms.
OLIVER
Watch him OK?
Oliver begins to leave his drinks. We see his POV of the
woman dressed as Julius Rosenberg waiting on the couch.
Oliver slips into one of his memories...
CUT TO PAST
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM/INT. HAL'S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT
INTERCUT: The phone RINGS, wakes up Oliver, he turns on the
light, answers the phone. PRE-CANCER Hal talks excitedly.
OLIVER
Hello?
HAL
Oliver?
OLIVER
Yeah.
HAL
I'm not sorry I woke you!
I went to Akbar tonight.
OLIVER
You did?
INT. AKBAR - NIGHT
Hal and his friends, BRIAN and ROBERT, make their way through
a crowded gay club. Hal is by far the oldest, and most
excited, man there.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 19.
CONTINUED:
HAL (V.O.)
They had wonderfully loud music. In-
sit, in-sit, in-sit. What kind of
music is that?
OLIVER (V.O.)
Probably house music?
INT. HAL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Hal gets a pad and pen to write this down.
HAL
"House music."
INT. AKBAR - NIGHT
A bunch of Young Gay guys dance. Hal is on the side, dancing
by himself, hands in the air twinkling his fingers.
OLIVER (V.O.)
So did you meet anyone?
At the packed bar, Hal drinks alone.
HAL (V.O.)
Young gay men don't go for older
gay men.
INT. OLIVER'S HOUSE CONTINUOUS
Back to Oliver in bed, on the phone.
HAL (V.O.)
You have it easy.
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
Oliver snaps out of his memory. He makes his way through the
crowd and delivers the drink to her. He looks at her a little
too intensely, then blurts out.
OLIVER
Would you like to dance?
She happily nods yes. They walk to the dance floor, we think
Oliver's going to be shy, but he breaks into a kinetic,
angular, dance. She's surprised with us - she laughs, they
have a good time.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 20.
CONTINUED:
JUMP CUT THROUGH THE NIGHT: Oliver, "Julius", Elliott and
Shauna are talking to a magician. "Julius" picks a card, the
magician mixes it into the full deck, pops a card into the
air, it is hers. Shauna and Elliott can see that Oliver's
coming alive.
LATER. They dance again, now they're sweaty, the dance
floor's packed - it's the pinnacle of the party.
INT. PARTY BATHROOM - NIGHT
The party's winnowing down in the background - "Julius" and
Oliver look at each other in the mirror for a beat, and then
simultaneously take their wigs off, revealing their true
selves.
OLIVER
Hello...
Shes mouths a silent "hi"...
OLIVER
Can I give you my number?
She pulls out her pad and pen and hands them to him.
OLIVER
Thanks.
As he writes, Oliver spies Arthur sitting in the corner of
the bathroom, staring directly at him.
ARTHUR SUBTITLE
Tell her the darkness is about to
drown us unless something drastic
happens right now.
Oliver looks to her.
OLIVER
I feel bad dragging Arthur to the
party. I should get home. It was
really nice meeting you.
She writes on her pad: "Au Revoir"
OLIVER
(CHUCKLES)
Au revoir. Yeah.
He leaves.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE PARTY - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 21.
CONTINUED:
Oliver and Arthur walk up the empty street - Oliver kicking
himself for missing his chance with her. His phone rings.
OLIVER
Hello?
ON THE OTHER END: Silence. A little breathing, the party in
background.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Is that you?
BEEP.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
One beep means yes?
BEEP.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
I've always wanted to have a phone
call with someone who doesn't
talk...
BEEEEEEEEEEEEP.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
You want to do something?
BEEP
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Now?
BEEP.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Okay, I'm parked just right up the
street.
BEEP. They hang up. Oliver is filled with hope.
CUT TO: "Julius" walking out into a pool of street light.
They smile at each other, but don't say anything. They get
into his car.
OLIVER
Okay. You point - I'll drive.
Oliver starts the engine. She points forward and they head
off. At the light she points left, he follows. Down the
street she points right...
OLIVER
This way?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 22.
CONTINUED:
She nods. Oliver drives up on the sidewalk before the
street, heads down it for half a block, then takes her right.
We can hear them laughing.
EXT./INT. HOTEL ROOM LOBBY - NIGHT
Oliver, Arthur and the woman enter a very fancy hotel lobby.
Oliver is impressed. She mime's giving him a tour but still
doesn't talk.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)
Oliver and the woman open the door and enter her suite. They
look at each other nervously.
OLIVER
Nice place.
They sit on her bed. She steals his pipe, put's it in her
mouth -- writes on her pad and shows it to him.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Oh, my mother. My mother died five
years ago.
ANNA
(in a hoarse whisper)
Oh merd.
OLIVER
Oh, you spoke.
ANNA
(A WHISPER)
I'm not supposed to.
She writes and present him with a new question.
OLIVER
My father died two months ago,
almost three.
She looks at him with sincere empathy and surprise. Oliver's
opened up, an now everything gushes out, he barely knows what
he's saying.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
He, he was gay.
She's very surprised.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
He was gay the whole time they were
married.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 23.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER (CONT'D)
He came out after my mother died
and, uh... he was 75 years old.
There's a quiet moment of deep connection.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Sorry.
She mouths "No" (don't say sorry). She reaches out and gently
runs a finger across Oliver's brow and the outline of his
face, he's so vulnerable, she lovingly/mischievously squishes
his face together and messes up his hair. Then she leans in,
and they kiss for the first time - delicately.
ANNA
(WHISPER)
Can we just sleep?
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Sure, sure.
They lay down, she takes his arm and pulls him into spooning
her. He pulls the covers over them.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - THE NEXT MORNING
Oliver wakes, still in his clothes. ANNA is already up. She
waves and Oliver smiles.
Anna holds up her notebook: "Who are you?"
OLIVER
Oliver.
She writes again: "Go to NY. Audition. Back Thursday."
OLIVER
How long are you here when you get
back?
Anna holds up one finger.
OLIVER
A year?
Anna shakes her head and smiles. She gestures smaller.
OLIVER
A month? Right. And then?...
She pantomimes a camera rolling, and herself acting.
OLIVER
You're filming here. Acting.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 24.
CONTINUED:
Oliver smiles as he interprets her gestures.
OLIVER
And after?...
She makes a casual tossing motion with her hand.
OLIVER
Just somewhere else. Where?
Anna only shrugs. She writes more, and tosses the notepad on
his lap. Oliver reads: "Can I see you again?"
He's very happy.
OLIVER
Yes.
INT. HOTEL HALLWAY
They walk down the long hallway, Oliver carries her bags,
Anna holds onto Arthur's leash. Oliver reaches out and holds
her hand. They stop and kiss - gentle and comfortable with
each other.
EXT. ANNA'S HOTEL, RED HALLWAY - DAY
Oliver now alone with Arthur - heading home, he's happy.
CU on his face as he remembers...
REPEAT SCENE: Oliver and Anna's first kiss, tentative and
delicate.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Oliver's POV: Hal and Andy kiss lovingly.
INT. HAL'S KITCHEN - DAY
Oliver's POV: Andy comes up behind Hal doing the dishes,
kisses him. Hal smiles very happy.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
Oliver's POV: Andy kisses Hal in the Hospital.
CUT TO PRESENT
10/29/07 25.
INT. OLIVER HOUSE ENTRY WAY
Oliver and Arthur enter his home, much more alive than the
last time we saw him come through the door.
OLIVER
Hello house, (Low voice) hello
Oliver.
INT. OLIVER'S DINING ROOM - DAY
Oliver makes two piles of mail, one says Oliver Fields, one
has a yellow forwarding sticker that says Hal Fields. The Hal
Fields pile is much bigger.
OLIVER
Jesus, Pop, you get so much mail.
Oliver slows and stares at his father's magazine - The
Advocate. Two attractive, shirtless men on the cover under
the title: America's Sweethearts. Oliver's lost in memory...
DOCTOR LONG (O.S.)
Hal, its remarkable how well you've
recovered from being on the
ventilator.
INT. HAL'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Hal sit's on top of his hospital bed, wearing one of his all
black outfits, looking much healthier. A doctor sits on his
bed, Oliver listens from the side.
HAL
But...?
DOCTOR LONG
The bronchoscopy revealed a mass
about the size of a quarter. It is
located in your lower right lung.
CU on Hal taking this in.
DOCTOR LONG (CONT'D)
I'm afraid the biopsy showed it's
cancerous.
HAL
Uh-huh. I see.
DOCTOR LONG
It appears to have spread... to the
large hilar lymph nodes in your
chest and liver.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 26.
CONTINUED:
DOCTOR LONG (cont'd)
With the already weakened state of
your heart and lungs...
As Dr. Long talks about treatments, Oliver drifts back from
the conversation, slowly retreating to a window in the far
corner, as we continue to hear Dr. Long speak, we see
Oliver's thoughts, fixating on "a mass about the size of a
QUARTER"
WE HEAR:
DR. LONG (O.S.) (CONT'D)
... Surgery isn't possible given
its location. We can start
radiation treatments and see if
you're strong enough for Chemo. You
will be able to go home.
WE SEE:
SHOT OF A QUARTER ON BLACK
SHOT OF TWO DIMES AND A NICKEL
SHOT OF 5 NICKELS.
SHOT OF 25 PENNIES.
We cut back to Hal's face, stoically digesting the news.
DOCTOR LONG
Do you have any questions?
HAL
No. Thank you.
As the doctor leaves. Oliver takes his father's hand.
OLIVER
I'm sorry.
HAL
Well, let's not rush out and tell
everyone.
OLIVER
Andy?
HAL
No need to get him up a tree.
Hal takes a moment and composes himself. In his eyes we can
see that he knows there is an end to his life.
HAL (CONT'D)
Can you read me something?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 27.
CONTINUED:
Hal hands Oliver his Advocate magazine, he begins to read
from "Tough Guys Do Dance."
OLIVER
The Brazilian ballet star is
already known not only as a skilled
partner, but also as a gifted and
versatile dancer, who adeptly
fields roles ranging...
Camera tracks out of the room, leaving the two men alone...
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE - DAY
SERIES OF CU JUMP CUTS: We see Oliver's hands as he draws a
series of silhouetted figures hanging from trees, others
happily beheaded, all with talking bubbles that say, "Let's
not rush out and tell everyone"
JUMP CUTS: Oliver draws another severed head, then a woman
smoking next to the words, "First lung cancer."
JUMP TO LATER: Oliver tacks his drawings to the wall, looks
at them.
He looks down and pets Arthur, as we hear...
CUT TO PAST
OLIVER V.O.
Yeah, he's fine. He sleeps on your
bed.
HAL
But is he eating?
INT. HAL'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Hal sits on his bed fully dressed, Oliver is visiting.
OLIVER
Yeah, yeah, he's eating.
HAL
Oh God, I worry so much about--
As Andy enters, his hands mysteriously cupped together.
HAL
Oh here we are...
Andy shows Hal his cupped hands.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 28.
CONTINUED:
HAL (CONT'D)
What have you got in there?
ANDY
A slug.
HAL
Oh, Andy, you can't bring that kind
of thing in here.
ANDY
Oh I can look.
Andy flashes open his hands, revealing nothing. He snorts and
laughs.
HAL
Fuck you.
Oliver watches with amusement. NURSE SOPHIA enters...
HAL
It's time for inspection...
The nurse works her way between Andy and Hal to take his
pulse.
NURSE
Hello, Mr. Fields.
HAL
Hello.
Andy feels interrupted, strangely hurt by the nurse. The
nurse begins to take Hal's vital signs.
ANDY
I'm Andy. Hal's boyfriend
NURSE
I'm Sophia.
Andy gets more and more upset.
ANDY
You know, I have the right to be
here as much as anyone else.
Hal lovingly cuts him off, trying to ease the tension.
HAL
Go take a walk. Calm yourself.
Andy walks out, feeling embarrassed and rejected.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 29.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
What was all that?
HAL
Oh, Andy hasn't had it easy. Be
nice to him.
To everyone's surprise, Andy storms back in with a bouquet of
flowers, dumps them on Hal's chest, kisses him triumphantly
and leaves again.
HAL
(knowing he stole them)
Andy, where did you get these?
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM NIGHT
JUMP CUTS: Oliver helps a group of Hal's gay friends and Andy
get settled. They're jovial, they come with drinks and
flowers, the room gets very full. Oliver hands out cups,
offers wine, Andy lifts his paper cup and makes a toast.
ANDY
Guys, guys, this is to us. Cheers.
A NURSE suddenly enters.
STRICT NURSE
Drinking's not allowed in the room.
All the guys freeze.
HAL
Oh, it's not?
She shakes her head no, the party stops, she leaves. Oliver
instinctively polite, starts packing up their cups.
OLIVER
I'm sorry.
Moans and complaints from the group.
HAL
No, no, no. She's a wonderful
nurse. (he pauses a beat, then
raises his cup again) Here's to
health care.
Hal swigs back his wine. They all laugh, grab their cups and
toast.
EVERYONE
To health care!
Hal looks happy, Oliver smiles but can't believe his dad.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 30.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
What did you do with my father? He
was so polite.
HAL
Oh, I invited him - but he never
returns my calls.
The guys drink merrily. Someone shoves a cup into Oliver's
hand, pours him a drink.
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. OLD MELROSE BOOKSTORE - NIGHT
Oliver, Elliott and Arthur are shopping in a very old and
crowded used book store. Oliver picks up a stack of magazines
as Elliott interrogates him.
OLIVER
Two, four, six, eight...
ELLIOTT
That's it? That's all you're gonna
tell me?
OLIVER
I'm gonna meet her at her hotel
again. You happy?
ELLIOTT
Yeah, I'm very happy. Are you
happy?
Oliver drops his books on the counter to check out.
OLIVER
(to shop owner)
Here's eight...
Turns to Elliot.
OLIVER
We haven't actually had a
conversation yet, so, you know...
EXT. STREETS NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
The three are now in Oliver's car.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 31.
CONTINUED:
ELLIOTT
You're thinking about her all the
time.
OLIVER
And you know that because?
ELLIOTT
Because you're not talking about
it. I know you.
There's a pause, then the truth.
OLIVER
It's true. It's embarrassing. I'm
38 and falling for a girl again...
CUT TO PAST
INT. GEORGIA'S BEDROOM - DAY
Georgia works at her writing table. Young Oliver, bored,
watches her.
OLIVER V.O. (CONT'D)
It's like I lost the instructions
or I, I never had them...
Young Oliver walks up to Georgia.
YOUNG OLIVER
Where's Pop?
GEORGIA
At the museum.
YOUNG OLIVER
Is something wrong with you guys?
Georgia is startled, she hides her feelings with humor.
GEORGIA
What're you, in the FBI?
YOUNG OLIVER
No.
GEORGIA
The CIA?
YOUNG OLIVER
No.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 32.
CONTINUED:
GEORGIA
KGB? (Oliver shakes his head, no)
SLA? (no) PTA? (no) BMW?
Oliver sits silently.
GEORGIA
There is nothing wrong with me and
Pop.
Georgia's mask breaks revealing sadness. Oliver can see it,
she can see he sees it. Georgia gets up and leads Oliver out
of the room.
GEORGIA (CONT'D)
C'mon.
INT. CHILDHOOD HALLWAY - DAY
They stand in front of his bedroom door.
GEORGIA
When you feel bad, you go into a
room and scream - loud as you want,
for a minute or two, then it's out
of you. It's called catharsis.
She opens the door, pushes him inside, and closes the door.
INT. OLIVER'S CHILDHOOD ROOM - DAY
Young Oliver pauses, confused in his room. He doesn't scream.
INT. CHILDHOOD HALLWAY - DAY
He comes back out. Sheepish.
OLIVER
I don't feel like screaming...
Georgia, never ruffled.
GEORGIA
You will...
CUT TO PRESENT
EXT. HOLLYWOOD STREET - LATE AT NIGHT
Oliver and Arthur watch from the car as Elliott gets a can of
spray paint, heads to a blank wall across the street and
sprays a large tag on a wall. He then runs back to the car,
looks proudly at his work.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 33.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
What the fuck is that?
ELLIOTT
L-E-IT, Elliot
OLIVER
Well, that's ridiculous.
ELLIOTT
I know! (Getting his criticism
more) You're not very supportive.
OLIVER
Well, its just copying something
someone did, like, 30 years ago in
the Bronx.
ELLIOTT
Well yeah. I'm part of a tradition
of civil disobedience, something
bigger than myself.
Oliver can't believe Elliott said that.
EXT. NEW STREET
Elliott drives along-side Oliver who's walking with a spray
paint can, terrified as he's never done this before. He
tries to spray, nothing comes out.
OLIVER
How does it work?
ELLIOTT
Shake it, you have to shake it.
Oliver shakes it awkwardly, then sprays across the wall:
1985 BUSH FINDS JESUS
Oliver runs back to the car, exhilarated.
ELLIOTT
What was that?
OLIVER
Historical consciousness... you
know, something bigger than myself.
Elliott scoffs.
OLIVER
Let's do it again.
Elliott drives off. Oliver's coming to life.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 34.
CONTINUED:
WE HEAR:
ELLIOTT (V.O.)
Okay, but when you see her, don't
tell her that you painted
historical consciousness on the
wall...
WE SEE: more of Oliver's graffiti on different buildings:
1983 CHICKEN MCNUGGETS
2003 BRITNEY SPEARS MOST GOOGLED
EXT. OLIVER'S HOUSE DAY
Oliver exits his house alone, down his front stairs to the
street. Halfway down, he hears now familiar sound of Arthur
barking and howling. Oliver can't believe it.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM
Anna is sitting on the bed, gently petting Arthur.
ANNA
He's sweet. He misses your Dad.
She stops. Gets up, nervous, and walks past Oliver into the
next room. Oliver follows her in. They pause uncomfortably,
Anna suddenly leans in and kisses him. Before it goes to
far...
OLIVER
Maybe we, we could, um, just talk
for a second.
ANNA
Right.
They awkwardly break apart. Anna goes to a chair, Oliver
follows. While nothing has really been expressed between the
two, Anna seems to understand the problem.
ANNA
Well, my name is Anna. You're
worried you can't trust me because
you don't know who I am. I get it.
That makes sense to me.
She falters, looks at him vulnerably. Oliver abruptly kisses
her. She pushes back. They pause. She traces his brow slowly
with her index finger, the way she did their first night.
JELLY ROLL MORTON'S "SWEET JAZZ MUSIC" PLAYS
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 35.
CONTINUED:
CUT TO POST SEX:
The music carries us, they lie in bed, naked. Anna innocently
leans over and takes Oliver's arm and bites down hard. He
grimaces. She stops and kisses it, admiring her teeth marks.
She gets up, sits at a side table and finds her cigarettes.
Oliver watches her.
The music seems to bend and slow down, this continues as we
fall into memory...
CUT TO PAST
INT. GEORGIA'S BEDROOM
CU on young Oliver's hand pushing on a record making the
bending, slowing sounds.
GEORGIA
Oliver, stop it.
Oliver stands up bored, Georgia's in the connecting bathroom
getting ready to go out.
OLIVER
This music's old.
GEORGIA
It's black, black music is the
deepest cause they suffered the
most, them and the Jews.
Oliver plops down on the bed, listening to her.
GEORGIA
In my next life I'm gonna marry a
good hot blooded Jew - someone full
of emotion.
OLIVER
I'm Jewish right?
Georgia comes and sits with him, caresses his hair as she
talks with him.
GEORGIA AT 50
You're a quarter, I'm a half, your
father's none. He has the least
emotions, You'll have more emotions
than him, but I'll have the most
emotions.
She likes that she has the most emotions. They head out.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 36.
CONTINUED:
GEORGIA AT 50
You get to play chauffeur but just
to the bottom of the hill.
EXT. OLIVER'S CHILDHOOD CAR
10 year old Oliver's in the driving sear, Georgia smokes and
admires his handling of the car.
GEORGIA
You're turning into a wonderful
driver.
Oliver's proud.
INT. LACMA ART MUSEUM STEPS DAY
Oliver escorts Georgia up the large steps of the museum. The
crowd from an opening gathers at the top.
INT. DAVID SMITH GALLERY LACMA DAY
Georgia and Oliver approach a David Smith sculpture. After
staring at it's angels for a beat, Georgia begins to do an
angular modern-dance-pantomime of the sculpture, imitating
it's shapes with her body. Oliver locks up with
embarrassment. A confused and concerned museum guard
approaches.
SECURITY GUARD
Excuse me Mrs. Fields....
GEORGIA
What? You're not allowed to
interact with the art?
SECURITY GUARD
It's just that...
OLIVER
C'mon.
Still embarrassed, Oliver takes Georgia's hand and walks her
away from the guard.
GEORGIA
You too? You like being a good
citizen?
OLIVER
No.
CUT TO PRESENT
10/29/07 37.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER
Anna's sits in her kimono. Oliver's buttoning his shirt.
ANNA
Can you toss me my camisole.
Oliver throws a sweater.
ANNA (CONT'D)
No, my camisole.
She throws the sweater back at him. Oliver looks around
helplessly. He grabs a flower out of a vase and hands it to
her.
OLIVER
Camisole?
Anna laughs.
ANNA
You don't know what a camisole is?
OLIVER
I was brought up by these animals
and they didn't like questions.
They're both smiling now.
OLIVER
They were very frowned upon. So I
had to guess.
Anna takes this in.
ANNA
You can ask me anything.
OLIVER
Anything?
CUT TO: Oliver and Anna at the window.
OLIVER
What's out there?
She points.
ANNA
That's a tree.
OLIVER
Yeah.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 38.
CONTINUED:
ANNA
And cars.
OLIVER
Uh-huh.
ANNA
Another building like this one.
OLIVER
Right.
ANNA
People in the building like us.
Half of them think things will
never work out. The other half
believe in magic. It's like a war
between them.
Oliver smiles. He moves away from the window.
OLIVER
How do you know so much about
people?
ANNA
Oh. Well, you have to learn how to
read their faces.
She climbs onto his lap, straddles him.
ANNA
For example... here is mad.
Anna passes her hand across her face, and she's "mad".
ANNA
Happy...
Her hand passes again and she's "happy".
ANNA
Sometimes its just nothing.
OLIVER
Oh yeah?
She points at her blank face.
ANNA
This is nothing... And they are
good at looking one way and being
another way.
Her playfulness is very meaningful to Oliver, he's in love.
10/29/07 39.
EXT. FREEWAY PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS
They walk through a caged-in freeway overpass - Oliver is
carrying Arthur while blindfolding Anna with his hands. Over
this we hear the sounds of the quiet hotel room and an
intimate conversation between them.
ANNA (V.O.)
You don't know me. I like that.
OLIVER (V.O.)
No, that's not true.
ANNA (V.O.)
Oh yeah?
OLIVER (V.O.)
Yeah, you have blonde hair that
goes down to about here. You smoke
in non-smoking rooms.
Oliver is still covering her eyes, leading her to a certain
point, the busy sound of the freeway fading up...
OLIVER
Okay, open your eyes...
HIGH ANGLE on huge trucks and traffic racing just beneath
Oliver and Anna's feet under the overpass. The trucks lay on
their horns as they pass, scaring and thrilling them.
MOMENTS LATER: they walk alongside the LA river together, arm
in arm, happy. The intimate conversation continues in voice
over.
ANNA (V.O.)
Oh yeah? You drive on the sidewalk.
You were raised by animals.
Sometimes you look very alone, like
you just got here.
They meet up with friends on the banks of the river.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Yeah, you see, you don't know me at
all.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL HALLWAY
Oliver and Arthur are leaving, walking down the long hallway
together. Arthur seems to stop and look up at Oliver.
ARTHUR SUBTITLE
She's unlike any girl I've ever
met.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 40.
CONTINUED:
Oliver stops and looks at Arthur.
OLIVER
Someone flashy walks into your life
and you're just gonna fall for it?
ARTHUR SUBTITLE
Are we married yet?
OLIVER
No, uh, it doesn't work like that.
There are other steps, it's
complicated.
They look at each other a beat and then walk on together.
ARTHUR SUBTITLE
I hope this feeling lasts.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S HOSPITAL BATHROOM - DAY
Oliver is shaving Hal's face.
HAL
What happened with Michelle?
OLIVER
You know... I don't know.
HAL
She seemed great.
OLIVER
She was great.
HAL
Maybe you should take out a
personal ad, where you explain your
situation?
OLIVER
My situation?
HAL
Yeah, I mean, you want to be in a
relationship but you can't stay in
one.
OLIVER
That's your fatherly advice?
Personal ads?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 41.
CONTINUED:
HAL
Well, a lot of people use them... I
did.
OLIVER
What?
HAL
If Andy wasn't going to be
monogamous, why should I be?
OLIVER
Jesus, Pop.
HAL
Jesus yourself.
INT. HAL FIELD'S HOUSE- DAY
Hal's friends hold up a hand-made "WELCOME HOME" sign in the
living room. Oliver helps Hal walk to his crew, Andy at the
center holding Arthur.
HAL
Hello house (Answers back in deep
voice) Hello Hal.
Andy holds Arthur. Hal and Arthur kiss. They've clearly
missed each other.
JUMP CUTS: Oliver takes bottles of pills and syrups and
inhalers out of a Sav-On bag. He makes a chart of the
medicine, the dosage, and puts the pills in a dish. It's
emotional job for him.
INT. HAL'S DINING/KITCHEN
Oliver watches as Andy sneaks up behind Hal with his hands
cupped closed. Hal turns and smiles.
HAL
Oh God, what have you got this
time?
ANDY
It's a green caterpillar.
HAL
No, no, no, you don't have a green
caterpillar.
ANDY
Oh yeah I do.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 42.
CONTINUED:
Andy opens his hands to reveal he actually does have a green
caterpillar.
HAL
Oh my God. Gross! Oh, Jesus...
(LAUGHING)
Andy puts the caterpillar down on the saucer of Hal's tea
cup, gives him a big kiss, and starts to leave...
HAL
Hey, you going?
ANDY
Yeah, Michael's in town.
HAL
Oh. Right.
Andy waves goodbye and leaves. Hal is sad but covering it
up. He catches Oliver watching.
OLIVER
I thought he was your boyfriend?
HAL
Well, at least I'm the number one
boyfriend.
Hal grimaces in pain, doubles over.
OLIVER
Pop.
HAL
Oh, my stomach.
OLIVER
Alright, come on. Come on.
Oliver tries to clear the couch of books and dogs for Hal to
sit down.
OLIVER
Arthur, down.
HAL
Well, let's say, when you were
little, you always dreamed of some
day getting a lion?
Oliver eases Hal down onto the couch.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 43.
CONTINUED:
HAL
And you wait and you wait and you
wait and you wait and the lion
doesn't come. Then along comes a
giraffe.
Oliver helps Hal get his feet up.
HAL
You can be alone or you can be with
the giraffe.
OLIVER
I'd wait for the lion.
Oliver grabs the oxygen tubes and puts them on Hal's face.
HAL
That's why I worry about you.
Hal looks at Oliver with love and concern.
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE - DAY
CU on Oliver's hands as he writes "THE HISTORY OF SADNESS".
CUT TO him drawing an explosion with the caption: "EARTH
BEGINS (SADNESS NOT YET INVENTED)". He draws a man and a
woman with the caption: "FIRST COUPLE TO MARRY FOR WRONG
REASONS." He draws a spilled glass - "INVENTION OF ALCOHOL,
ANCIENT EGYPT." He draws a man's face and torso: "FIRST GAY
MAN ACCUSED OF BEING MENTALLY ILL." He draws a man labelled
"PRESENT" having been crushed by a giant boulder labelled
"PAST."
Oliver stops drawing, thinking of a conversation with his
father. CUT TO: Hal on his couch (previous scene) talking to
Oliver.
HAL
You want me to be with someone like
me. I like Andy cause he's not like
me... he's fun.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL HALLWAY
Arthur runs down the hotel hallway, followed by Oliver, they
come to a corner and Anna jumps out, scaring them, they laugh
and continue on together.
10/29/07 44.
INT. MELROSE BOOK STORE NIGHT
Oliver and Anna are in the overcrowded used book store we saw
earlier. Oliver sees her down the aisle.
OLIVER
Hey, what did you get?
She puts the cover of Liv Ullman's "Changing" over her face -
Ullman's face on the cover becomes Anna's.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Liv Ullman. Very serious.
ANNA
And I found this crazy book.
She holds an old copy of THE JOY OF SEX in front of her face.
OLIVER
That's kind of a classic American
thing.
Anna opens the book to a large drawing of a couple having
sex.
ANNA
Maybe we can figure out some
classic American things to do.
Oliver takes the book and flips through the pages.
OLIVER
Yeah, Like page 75?
ANNA
Uh-huh.
OLIVER
Or 75 all the way through, through
80.
LATER...
Oliver, Anna and Arthur sit at the end of an aisle looking at
a book on "Old Hollywood". The book has a photo of Louise
Brooks from the Twenties.
OLIVER
(READING)
Louise Brooks, star of silent
screen... effectively banned from
Hollywood in early Thirties, ended
up working as a salesgirl at Saks
Fifth Avenue.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 45.
CONTINUED:
Anna listens. Oliver turns the page, we see a photo of
Veronica Lake.
OLIVER
Veronica Lake.
ANNA
Oh I love her.
OLIVER
She was a pin-up model and a film
star... Success was short-lived...
series of broken marriages... She
struggled with mental illness and
alcoholism. She died of hepatitis
at the age of 53.
ANNA
All these actor stories end sad. I
can tell you that already. It's
not a good life.
Oliver closes the book, they share a look, and something
vulnerable. Anna changes the mood, pulls out The Joy Of Sex,
skips through the pages as she talks.
ANNA (CONT'D)
So. Now I want real Mexican food.
She stops on an illustration she likes.
ANNA (CONT'D)
And I want to try page... 46.
EXT. STREET TACO TRUCK - NIGHT
Oliver, Anna and Arthur walk up to a typical L.A. Taco truck
on the side of the street. There is nothing fancy looking
about it.
ANNA
No.
OLIVER
Yeah.
ANNA
Really?
OLIVER
It's really good.
JUMP CUT: They're sitting on milk crates by the truck, ready
to take their first bite, Anna dives in un-selfconsciously,
we're not sure what she thinks.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 46.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
What do you think?
ANNA
It's so good.
Oliver's so relieved.
OLIVER
It's good? Oh, I wasn't sure you'd
like it.
ANNA
Why?
OLIVER
You're an actress and staying in
that fancy hotel.
Anna can barely swallow her huge bite...
ANNA
I like this place.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM
They lie on the bed, continuing their conversation, side by
side, looking up at the ceiling together.
ANNA
I used to love hotels. But now I'm
always in a new apartment or... in
another hotel somewhere.
OLIVER
How do you keep hold of friends...
or boyfriends?
ANNA
It makes it very easy to end up
alone - to leave people.
OLIVER
You can stay in the same place and
still find ways to leave people.
She reaches up with her hand, their fingers intertwine.
ANNA
You are like that? Its what you do?
Oliver nods yes. They know each other much better than either
one knew.
ANNA
So we are the same?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 47.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Yeah, I guess so.
The look to each other.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S HOUSE - OLIVER'S ROOM - NIGHT
Thumps and loud 1920's music wakes Oliver in the middle of
the night. He turns the lights on, discombobulated.
He gets up, works his way through the dark house. Turning on
lights.
OLIVER
Pop?
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Hal's awake, he's taken down dozens of books from a wall to
wall bookshelf. A huge physical task. MARIA a nurse is with
him. Oliver's dumbfounded.
HAL
Oh, did I wake you? Yeah. (Handing
Maria some books) Thank you Maria.
(to Oliver) And now that you're
here, uh, would you please put
those up there?
OLIVER
What are you--? Pop. What?
HAL
I'm reorganizing.
OLIVER
Prednisone makes you crazy.
HAL
I'm just not sleepy. I feel great.
INT. HAL'S OFFICE
Oliver and Hal are sitting at either side of his desk, Arthur
is in hal's lap. The sound from last scene bleeds over...
OLIVER (V.O.)
Pop, you should rest.
Hal looks sick but energized, he shuffles his desk of papers.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 48.
CONTINUED:
HAL
As soon as I finish these papers.
Right, papers? (In a different
voice) Right, Hal. As soon as
you're done, you can rest.
Oliver can only sit and worry.
CUT TO PRESENT
EXT. ELYSIAN PARK
Anna, Oliver and Arthur are walking in Elysian park, a view
of downtown behind them. Oliver's looking at her face, she
notices.
ANNA
What?
OLIVER
Nothing, you're pretty.
ANNA
No...
OLIVER
Yeah.
ANNA
Jewish girls are not pretty. They
can be "interesting", or cute, but
not pretty.
OLIVER
You're kidding right?
ANNA
That's what my mom told me.
OLIVER
She did not.
Anna laughs. As Anna continues to explain, the sound begins
to fade down...
ANNA
No, you're right, this girl at
school told me that. And I went
home and my mom said, `Anna, who
told you that?
And Oliver's narration fades in over them walking...
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 49.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is what it looks like when
Anna tells me about being Jewish in
2003. And when I tell her that my
mother was Jewish. And then my
father turned in his gay badge when
my mother turned in her Jewish
badge. And they got married in
1955.
CUT TO NARRATED SEQUENCE
STILL PHOTOGRAPHS FLASH BEFORE US:
PHOTOS OF GEORGIA IN 1938, F.D.R., BUSINESS MEN...
OLIVER (V.O.)
My mother didn't know she was
Jewish until she was 13. It was
1938. This is what people looked
like.
THEN LIONS AND GIRAFFES FROM 1938. THEN ADOLF HITLER ON TIME
MAGAZINE COVER.
OLIVER (V.O.)
And lions and giraffes. This man
was Man of the Year.
THEN GEORGIA'S FATHER IN 1938, GEORGIA'S SWIM TEAM PHOTO.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Her father tried to hide that they
were Jewish. This is the swim team
that asked her to leave once they
discovered that she was Jewish.
THEN A QUICK SERIES OF ANGLO LOOKING FEMALE MODELS AND PIN-
UP'S FROM 1938.
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is what pretty looked like in
1938.
NOW A STILL PHOTO OF HAL IN 1938.
OLIVER (V.O.)
My father realized he was gay when
he was 13. It was 1938.
THEN A SERIES OF PHOTOS OF MALE MODELS IN SWIM SUITS AND
EXERCISING.
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is what pretty looked like.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 50.
CONTINUED:
THEN PHOTOS OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL, G.I.'S FROM W.W.2, AND
JAMES DEAN.
This is the high school where they
first met. This is the war they
both went to. And this man was
popular when they met again.
NOW A PHOTO OF A PUBLIC RESTROOM.
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is the only place my father
could hide and have sex in the
Fifties.
NOW HISTORICAL FILM FOOTAGE OF GAY MEN BEING BUSTED BY THE
VICE SQUAD IN THE 1950'S AND BEING LOADED INTO PATTY-WAGONS.
OLIVER (V.O.)
My father said if you got caught my
the Vice Squad you could lose
everything...
This is everything.
A RAPID-FIRE SEQUENCE OF FACES AND PEOPLE FROM 1950'S
ADVERTISEMENTS - EVERYONE HAPPY AND ENJOYING THEIR CARS,
FAMILIES, MEALS AND HAIR PRODUCTS.
NOW A STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF A PSYCHIATRISTS COUCH.
OLIVER (V.O.)
My father laid down on a couch like
this and told the psychiatrist all
his problems in 1955. The doctor
told him that homosexuality was a
mental illness, but it could be
cured.
AND THEN A MEDICAL MODEL OF A HUMAN BRAIN.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Not everyone got cured.
A MAP OF 1950'S LA, WITH SMALL ARROW POINTING TO THEIR HOME
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is where my parents lived in
1955.
ANOTHER ARROW SUPERS ON VERY CLOSE TO THEIR HOME.
TITLE: THE MATTACHINE SOCIETY
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 51.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER (V.O.)
And this is the home where the
first gay rights group was secretly
meeting.
NOW A STILL PHOTO OF AN EMPTY CHURCH FROM THE 1950'S.
OLIVER (V.O.)
While they were reciting their
vows, here in this church...
AND THEN A STILL FROM ALLEN GINSBERG'S 1955 APARTMENT.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Allen Ginsburg was writing his
famous poem, Howl, blocks away in
this room.
AS WE SLOWLY ZOOM INTO GINSBERG'S APARTMENT, HISTORICAL
RECORDING OF HIM READING HOWL FADES UP AND OVER THE NEXT
SCENE.
ALLEN GINSBERG (V.O.)
Who let themselves be fucked in the
ass by saintly motorcyclists and
screamed with joy. Who blew and
were blown...
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE - DAY
GINSBERG'S READING CONTINUES OVER: Oliver flips through a
mock-up he made for "The Sads" - it's all the happy faces
from 1950's advertising that we saw in the last scene. One
face per-panel.
LATER: the three members of "The Sads" and a RECORD COMPANY
REP arrive. Jelly Roll Morton piano plays, we see but do not
hear the meeting take place. The Sads look at the designs,
which include many of the "History Of Sadness" drawings we
have seen now in CD cover format - and no portraits of the
band. It's clear that The Sads are not into Oliver's work.
CUT TO: After the meeting, the RECORD COMPANY REP talks to
Oliver alone.
RECORD COMPANY LADY
Just do the portrait of them, it's
an album cover, right? That's what
they want. Yeah?
Oliver's very disappointed but polite.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 52.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Yeah. Right.
CUT TO:
EXT OFFICE BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
Oliver and Arthur leave the office, defeated.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Oliver walks into Hal's living room, carrying his full tray
of medication.
OLIVER
Here, Pop.
HAL
Oh, God.
OLIVER
I know, I know. Come on.
Hal begins taking his many pills, with each one he pings his
glass with a teaspoon as he swallows. The room is cluttered
with books. Oliver picks up a toppling pile of files from a
paper-filled side table.
HAL
Hey, no, no, no. That's the Gay
Pride Day stuff. Just leave those.
OLIVER
Alright.
Oliver begins to neaten a messy pile of books on top of a
chair.
HAL
And that's for gay book club. You
better leave those too.
OLIVER
But what about this chair? Is it
gay?
HAL
The chair's not gay. Obviously.
Hal gets up and walks to the kitchen, his oxygen cannon cord
is attached to the pump behind him, stopping him short.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 53.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Pop, Pop, the cord won't go that
far.
HAL
Oh, to hell with it.
Hal pulls off the oxygen and keeps walking, frail but
determined. Andy enters with a large pilates ball.
HAL
Oh, hey what's that?
ANDY
Now that you're out of the
hospital, you'll have to exercise,
get you back into shape.
Oliver can't believe it.
HAL
That's a great idea.
ANDY
Okay, let's try it. I'll, I'll show
you how.
Hal's still heading to the sink.
HAL
Yeah, later on, I'm gonna make
myself some tea.
ANDY
Okay, I'll clean it up. It's a
little - yech.
Andy walks out, Hal pours water into a kettle, in front of
him on the window sill is the same vase from the first scene
of the film, with some dead daisies in it.
HAL
Your mother's vase needs some
flowers.
Oliver looks at them frustrated and uneasy...
INT. STAPLES - DAY
Oliver and Hal walk amongst all the products. Hal wears his
portable oxygen and grabs different kinds of papers, dumping
them in the basket Oliver holds.
OLIVER
Pop, you just got out of the
hospital, you should take it easy.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 54.
CONTINUED:
They're in a new isle, Hal continues his march.
OLIVER
You need to tell Andy that
you're... not well.
Hal, continues on, avoiding looking at Oliver.
HAL
You'll tell him, won't you?
Oliver's flabbergasted, but his dad's vulnerability is clear
to him.
OLIVER
Me?
HAL
Please?
INT. HAL'S GUEST HOUSE - DAY
Andy's on an elliptical trainer, through a window we can see
Oliver approaching with the weight of the world on his
shoulders. Andy see's him, can immediately sense that
something is wrong.
OLIVER
Hey.
Oliver approaches seriously, this makes Andy nervous, he
stops his workout. Oliver tries to find his words.
ANDY
You know that I tried to have sex
with women?
OLIVER
Yeah?
ANDY
Yeah. I wanted you to know I
tried, it just, it didn't work.
OLIVER
Hey, I don't have a problem with
gay guys.
ANDY
Have you ever had sex with a man?
OLIVER
No.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 55.
CONTINUED:
ANDY
I heard that if a man hasn't had
sex with another man, he's always
afraid of gay men. You know,
they're a threat.
Oliver's blown away by the logic.
OLIVER
I don't know Andy.
ANDY
I didn't want you to feel
threatened, I don't want to have
sex with you. What I do, most
people wouldn't even call it sex.
Andy's relieved he got this off his chest, all tension is
relieved for him, Oliver is just confused.
OLIVER
Okay, okay.
ANDY
Hey...
Andy gives Oliver a big sweaty hug. Oliver leaves.
INT. HAL'S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Oliver enters as Hal's finishing the dishes.
OLIVER
I couldn't tell him.
HAL
That's okay.
OLIVER
No it's not. You can't hide this
from him. He loves you.
HAL
For someone with so much
relationship advice, you seem
awfully alone.
Oliver, angry but at a loss for words, takes the flower vase
and leaves, Arthur follows.
EXT. HAL'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Oliver and Arthur exit a side door, go to a planter full of
daisies and cuts some for his mother's vase. He looks back
Arthur.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 56.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Just act natural. When he's not
looking, we'll make a run for it,
okay?
CUT TO PRESENT
EXT. GRIFFITH PARK
We cut to Arthur sprinting up a trail in Elysian park. Oliver
and Anna chase after him. In contrast to the previous scene
there is lightness and laughter here.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM NIGHT
The three enter, the phone is ringing, Anna is staring at it
with dread. Oliver looks at her, he finally moves to pick it
up.
ANNA
Don't, don't.
It keeps ringing.
ANNA
It's my dad.
They both watch the phone as it rings and stops.
OLIVER
He's that bad?
She picks up the phone, and gestures for Oliver to pick up
the line next to him.
ANNA (CONT'D)
I'll be my dad, you be me.
OLIVER
OK.
ANNA
(In a deep man's voice) Honey?
She gestures again, Oliver picks up the phone on his side of
the bed. Anna turns away, he can only see her back across the
bed. He turns away too.
OLIVER
Oui?
Anna continues to talk in a different voice.
ANNA
C'est toi, cheri?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 57.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Oui Papa.
ANNA
You never call me back.
ANNA
You know, I can't stop thinking
about, you know, about it. Doing
it.
OLIVER
Doing what?
ANNA
Killing myself. You are the only
one I can tell that to.
Oliver breaks role, turns around looks at her.
OLIVER
You should tell mom about that, not
me.
She just looks at him. Back into phone.
ANNA
You are my girl.
They hang up. She's embarrassed, she lightens the mood to get
out of this intimacy.
ANNA
Now I have to kill you.
OLIVER
Just as it was going so well.
ANNA
I know. I'm sorry.
She tosses a pillow over his face and pretends to shoot him
twice. She pulls the pillow back tentatively, he's smiling.
OLIVER
Hey Anna?
ANNA
Hey Oliver?
OLIVER
How do you feel about vandalism?
It's the last question she thought he'd ask. She's amused.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 58.
CONTINUED:
ANNA
I don't know. Pretty okay.
EXT. LOS ANGELES STREETS/INT. CAR - NIGHT
Anna, Oliver, Elliott, Shauna and Arthur drive up Sunset
Blvd. They arrive at Alvarado, park and get out. Above them a
well lit large blank/white billboard. As Oliver and Elliott
get spray paint cans from the back of the car...
ELLIOTT
Oliver, don't write any of that
serious stuff, okay? Just write
something funny. Girls like funny.
EXT. ROOFTOP
The gang get to the top of the stairs, on to the roof where
they can see the large blank billboard towering in front of
them.
SHAUNA
You know what? Here, give me
Arthur. We'll just stay here and
get arrested. You know, that's
good.
Oliver leaves Arthur with her, and Anna and Elliott and him
head off to the billboard. They climb it's structure, it's
high and a bit scary. On the top is a gang plank looking over
the city. Anna is happy she came. Elliott goes to paint the
back side of the billboard. Oliver meets up with Anna, over
looking the city.
OLIVER
You okay?
ANNA
Yeah. I'm gonna stay here with my
new friend (the handrail she
holds).
OLIVER
Okay.
Oliver walks out and writes big letters across the billboard.
YOU MAKE ME LAUGH BUT IT'S NOT FUNNY.
He makes his way back. Anna's not where she was, he looks and
finds her in the gangways between the two billboards with a
view to downtown below her.
ANNA
C'est beau ici.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 59.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Yeah.
He comes to her, wanting to get beyond the romance somehow.
OLIVER
I'm trying to impress you.
ANNA
(Gasps ironically) Really?
She walks to him and puts her hands around his head, somehow
it's more intimate and vulnerable now.
ANNA
It's working.
They kiss.
MOMENTS LATER. They're at the bottom of the ladder. They all
run back to their car.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL - NIGHT
Oliver, Anna and Arthur walk down the hallway. Arthur bolts
ahead suddenly, getting free of Oliver, he runs to and OLD
MAN - wearing all black and looking just like Hal. Oliver
runs up to stop Arthur.
OLIVER
Arthur, Arthur. I'm sorry.
We see the old man's face, it's not Hal, but it the
resemblance hits Oliver too. The man is struggling with his
hotel key card.
OLD MAN
Oh. No problem. No problem. What's
with this card?
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Uh, do you mind?
Oliver swipes the man's key, the door opens.
OLD MAN
Thank you.
He disappears. Oliver looks overwhelmed by this ghost. Anna
senses what's happened. She leads Oliver to their room.
INT. ANNA'S ROOM - NIGHT
Oliver sits on the bed, sinking. Anna watches him. She comes
to him, hugs him.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 60.
CONTINUED:
ANNA
He looked like your dad?
OLIVER
Yeah.
She wants to take care of him, she lays him back on the bed,
helps him take his coat off, she's sitting on him, caressing
him - Oliver is overwhelmed by memory.
OLIVER
Somewhere along the line, he
stopped admitting to himself that
he was sick.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
A SERIES OF REPEAT ACTIONS ON DIFFERENT DAYS:
1. Camera tracks with Oliver helping Hal into the Cancer
Center. Hal is full of life.
SAME ANGLE TWO MORE TIMES, DIFFERENT DAYS, DIFFERENT CLOTHES
AND EXTRAS.
2. Hal arrives at the cookie plate in the Cancer Center
Lobby.
SAME ANGLE TWO MORE TIMES, DIFFERENT DAYS, DIFFERENT CLOTHES
AND EXTRAS.
3. CU on the cookie plate.
SAME ANGLE TWO MORE TIMES, DIFFERENT DAYS, DIFFERENT COOKIES.
4. Hal sits happily eating his cookie. He is chipper, alive,
without self-pity.
SAME ANGLE TWO MORE TIMES, DIFFERENT DAYS, DIFFERENT CLOTHES
AND COOKIES.
INT. RADIATION ROOM
Hal looks into camera (Oliver's perspective) as he pulls his
shirt off, the radiation machine is in the background. Hal
grandly introduces Oliver to the Technician.
HAL
Oliver, this is Blake. He's a
wonderful man.
CU of the small round registration tattoos on Hal's chest
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 61.
CONTINUED:
HAL
Look. I finally got a tattoo.
Registration purposes of course.
CUT BACK TO PRESENT
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM
Anna still straddles Oliver, she's moved by his story.
ANNA
Good for him.
CUT BACK TO PAST
Oliver continues to tell Anna about Hal.
INT. COUNTERPOINT BOOKSTORE
OLIVER (V.O.)
He did a lot of shopping. Bought
all these books.
SAME ANGLE AND LOCATION, JUMP CUT THROUGH 3 DIFFERENT DAYS OF
HAL LOOKING FOR BOOKS.
JUMP CUT THROUGH 3 DIFFERENT SETS OF BOOKS BEING PUSHED
TOWARDS THE CASH REGISTER.
OLIVER V.O.
And new clothes.
INT. MENS CLOTHING STORE DRESSING ROOM.
SAME ANGLE, MENS DRESSING ROOM, 3 DIFFERENT DAYS, OLIVER
BRINGS DIFFERENT CLOTHES TO HAL IN THE DRESSING ROOM.
INT. STAPLES STYLE STORE - DAY
Hal buying more and more paper, Oliver helping him.
OLIVER (V.O.)
He was obsessed with Staples.
INT. NURSERY
JUMP CUT THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT DAYS, OLIVER HELPS HAL BUY
PLANTS.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 62.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER (V.O.)
He bought a lot of plants.
CUT BACK TO PRESENT
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM
Oliver's very emotional now, as is Anna.
OLIVER
He had a lot of parties.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Oliver arrives at Hal's, there is a party going on, Oliver is
surprised, he carries groceries with him.
HAL
Well, glad you could make it.
OLIVER
I thought I was making dinner?
HAL
It's movie night.
Oliver and Hal make their way through a crowd of Hal's gay
friends. They're in party mode.
PARTY GUEST
Hal, you look wonderful.
HAL
Oh, I'm turning the corner on this
thing.
We loose Hal and Oliver in the group...
INT. HAL'S DINNING ROOM - ANOTHER DAY
Twelve of Hal's gay friends sit around the table in an
assembly line of paper folding-envelope stuffing-labeling,
stamping...
OLIVER (V.O.)
He had these political letter
writing parties, there was an out
gay congressman he was
supporting...
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 63.
CONTINUED:
Hal leads the guys as they put the letters together.
INT. HAL'S HOUSE (BACK TO MOVIE NIGHT PARTY)
BACK TO Oliver and Hal, arriving in the kitchen with the
groceries.
OLIVER (V.O.)
He started telling everyone that he
was getting better.
They're finally almost alone.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Why're you telling them you're
"turning the corner"?
HAL
Well...
OLIVER
You have stage 4 cancer?
HAL
It's not as bad as it sounds.
OLIVER
Pop. There is no stage 5.
HAL
That's not what it means.
OLIVER
What does it mean?
HAL
It just means it's been through 3
other stages.
Oliver doesn't know what to say, he looks through the door at
all of Hal's friends -- happy, laughing, partying. He looks
back at Hal, ready to fight him more, but for the first time
we can see fear and doubt in Hal's face.
OLIVER
What movie are we watching?
HAL
"The Life of Harvey Milk." He was
the first openly gay politician...
OLIVER
Yeah I know who Harvey Milk is.
HAL
Good, good.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 64.
CONTINUED:
Hal heads back to the party, leaving Oliver alone in the
kitchen overwhelmed.
MOMENTS LATER: Everyone is crowded onto the couches, they're
watching the Harvey Milk film.
INT. HAL'S OFFICE
Hal paces and dictates to a secretary.
OLIVER (V.O.)
He hired a secretary that he could
dictate to.
LIVE ACTION PORTRAIT OF THE SECRETARY LOOKING INTO CAMERA.
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
He wrote an essay about religion...
INT. HAL'S DINNING ROOM - ANOTHER DAY
Hal works with his secretary as Oliver looks on. Hal pulls
the lap-top to himself and reads what he has dictated...
HAL
Eventually Jesus grew old. He could
no longer walk far and he could no
longer preach in a loud voice. One
day he announced to his apostles
that he was departing. The three
disciples prayed with him, gave him
water, bathed and fed him. After
gasping for breath for several
days, one morning, just as dawn
came, Jesus passed away.
OLIVER
You re-wrote Jesus' death?
They all laugh.
HAL
It was so violent, we need new
stories.
Oliver goes over and kisses Hal on the head.
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM
Oliver enters and sees Hal and Andy taking a nap together on
the day bed. Hal wakes up and waves at Oliver.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 65.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER V.O.
For the first time I saw him really
in love.
Oliver waves back at his father.
ANNA V.O.
He sounds amazing. But that must
have been crazy for you.
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM
Anna hugs and kisses Oliver. She's both overwhelmed by his
need and sympathetic to all that he's lost.
LATER THAT NIGHT: The room is dark, Oliver is asleep. Anna is
nervously awake. She quietly gets out of bed, puts her pants
on, and sneaks to the door. Arthur wakes up and hops to her
wanting to follow.
ANNA
Stay here.
She starts to close the door, Arthur scratches, she tries
again, he scratches. She opens the door, Arthur trots out
into the hallway - Anna catches up with him.
INT. HOTEL HALLWAY
A troubled Anna walks down the hallway with Arthur.
INT. HOTEL BALLROOM
A dark empty ballroom, filled with tables. Anna sits in the
dark and smokes.
INT. HOTEL ROOM
Oliver wakes up, slowly figures out that Anna is not in bed.
OLIVER
Anna?
INT. HOTEL HALLWAY
Oliver, now in clothes, sleepily looks for Anna.
10/29/07 66.
INT. HOTEL BALLROOM
Oliver enters the ballroom, Arthur trots to him. He see's
Anna across the room - full of heavy feelings. He sits by
her.
ANNA
I couldn't sleep, I wanted to walk
around...
Oliver's petting Arthur. He's confused and hurt.
ANNA
You've lost so much. What if I
can't make up for that?
OLIVER
If this is too much, then we should
just stop.
Oliver gets up and starts to leave, Anna's surprised. She
catches up with him puts her arms around him from behind.
ANNA
Wait, wait.
She forces him to stay there.
ANNA
I don't want to stop.
They hold this pose in silence for a beat, then,
surprisingly, he hoists her over his shoulder, and carries
her back to their room. She laughs, they've made it past this
trouble.
CUT TO PAST
EXT. LARGE PARKING LOT - DUSK
Andy shouts...
ANDY
Ready?
Andy has a set-up of large fireworks ready to go, Hal and
twelve friends stand by, Oliver's behind.
EVERYONE BUT OLIVER
YES!
Mock enthusiasm.
OLIVER
No!
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 67.
CONTINUED:
The fireworks go off.
BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM
IT IS INCREDIBLY LOUD. Big fireworks explode, the guys laugh
and HOLLER. Hal raises his arms up in the air in celebration.
HAL
Again!
EVERYONE
AGAIN! AGAIN!
As Andy lights up some more.
BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM
Oliver covers his ears, he yells out...
OLIVER
FFFFFUUUUCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!!!!
He's still yelling after the explosions stop.
The guys, all sensing the insanity laugh and yell back at
him.
GUYS
FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!
Oliver's laughing now - the noise, the absurdity. Hal and
Oliver make eye contact. Hal yells less strongly than the
others but trying...
HAL
FFFFFFUUUUUCCCCKKKKK!!!!!
They keep eye contact. They are bonded, happy, out of their
normal confines. Oliver comes to Hal, yelling again.
OLIVER
FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!
HAL
FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!
OLIVER
FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!
HAL
FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!
CUT TO LATER: All the guys spread out across the parking lot
looking for Arthur who must of fled during the explosions.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 68.
CONTINUED:
EVERYONE
Arthur! Arthur... Arthur...
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM MORNING
Arthur runs towards camera chasing a tennis ball that Anna
threw for him. He runs back and jumps onto the bed, waking
Oliver. He's sleepy, she's happy, wants him to wake up.
ANNA
Ah, you're awake! Arthur says it's
time to get up, he says he has the
day off.
OLIVER
He talks to you too?
ANNA
Yeah.
OLIVER
Your English is not so perfect. And
he said ten minutes.
INT. MOONLIGHT ROLLER RINK - NIGHT
Hard cut Oliver and Anna roller-skating to carousel music.
They're having a great time being terrible at it.
Oliver and Anna join Elliott and Shauna on the side of the
rink. Arthur is half hidden in a duffle bag at their feet.
OLIVER
You okay? (to Anna) You did really
well.
ELLIOTT
Yeah, I can't believe that was your
first time.
OLIVER
(To Arthur) You watching all the
humans going around and around.
The manager of the rink suddenly arrives, upset.
MANAGER
Excuse me. There's no dogs allowed
in the building. You need to remove
him from the premises please.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 69.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
If I leave him on his own, he loses
all control.
MANAGER
I'm sorry. There's no dogs allowed
in the building.
OLIVER
Yeah, but if I leave him in the
car, he cries, he howls. I can't
leave him in the car.
ELLIOTT AND SHAUNA
C'mon, it's her first time!
ANNA
(ANGRILY)
A ca vas! C'est bon!
MANAGER
I don't know what she's saying but
I don't like it.
OLIVER
She is just talking in French.
She's saying it's OK, it is such a
small dog.
MANAGER
You need to remove the dog from the
premises or I'm going to have to
call the authorities.
OLIVER
You're gonna call the authorities?
ELLIOTT AND SHAUNA
Fuck it, steal the skates, just
leave.
ANNA
Dans ce pays! On ne peut pas
amener un chien. On peut rien
faire. Mais c'est con...
EXT. MOONLIGHT ROLLERINK BACK DOOR - CONTINUOUS
Oliver, Anna and Arthur make their way out the door and down
the street in their skates.
INT. MAIN HOTEL HALLWAY
They roll down the main lobby hallway, Arthur running behind,
dodging people as they go.
10/29/07 70.
INT. UPSTAIRS HOTEL HALLWAY
They struggle to skate down the hotel hallway, past a maid.
OLIVER
Sorry, excuse us, sorry.
They enter Anna's door.
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Oliver, Anna, Arthur enter on their skates. Still very
playful, they skate around the big room. The phone rings.
Anna's face falls, they both know it must be her father. She
muster's on trying to have a good time. Oliver goes and
unplugs the phone.
OLIVER
He shouldn't do this to you.
The phone in the next room keeps ringing. He awkwardly skates
to it and unplugs it. He returns.
Oliver skates to her concerned.
ANNA
Even if we don't answer, he's still
in here (points to her head).I go
somewhere else, he's still here.
Oliver can relate.
OLIVER
Your leaving soon?
ANNA
Yeah.
OLIVER
I think you should come to my house
and move in with me.
ANNA
Would you want a strange girl like
me?
OLIVER
Yeah, a lot.
She's very moved.
ANNA
Do you cook?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 71.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Yes (not so sure).
She laughs. She almost cries as she thinks this over. She
skates to him, puts her arms around him.
ANNA
I would love that.
They kiss.
OLIVER
But now I'm going to have to kill
you for sure now.
ANNA
Why?
OLIVER
Cause I'm falling in love with you.
The sound in the room fades down, Oliver's narration fades in
over the shot of them embracing in their skates.
OLIVER V.O.
Anna and I are in a relationship in
2003.
STILL PHOTOS OF THE SUN IN 2003, THE STARS, LIVE ACTION SHOT
OF OLIVER AND ANNA EATING, TALKING AT NIGHT IN BED:
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is what the sun looks like and
the stars. This is what it looks
like when we eat. When we tell each
other the stories in our heads.
THEN STILL PHOTOS OF L.B.J., GEORGES POMPIDOU, THEN SUN IN
1971, ANNA'S CAT, ANNA'S PARENTS IN THE 70'S, ANNA'S
POSTCARDS OF PARIS-LONDON-BERLIN-NEW YORK CITY:
OLIVER (V.O.)
I was born in 1965. Anna was born
in 1971. This is what the sun
looked like. Her pets. Her parents.
She left home when she was 16. She
lived here and here and here.
NOW STILL PHOTOS OF FOUR DIFFERENT YOUNG MEN, 3 DRAWINGS OF
OLIVER'S X'S:
OLIVER(V.O.)
She had three serious
relationships. She left all of
them. I had four serious
relationships. I left them too. Or
let them fall apart.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 72.
CONTINUED:
STILL PHOTOS OF W.W.2 GI'S SEEN BEFORE, AND THE PUBLIC MENS
ROOM SEEN BEFORE. LIVE ACTION SHOT OF ANNA FEELING TROUBLED,
LIVE ACTION SHOT OF ANNA WALKING BY THE RIVER LOOKING INTO
CAMERA HAPPY.
OLVIER (V.O.)
We didn't go to this war. We didn't
have to hide to have sex. Our god
fortune allowed us to feel a
sadness that our parents didn't
have time for and a happiness that
I never saw with them.
NOW LIVE ACTION SHOT OF OLIVER AND ANNA TALKING AT NIGHT,
LIVE ACTION SHOT OF OLIVER AND ANNA RUNNING BACKWARDS IN
PRETEND SLOW MOTION. THEN ANNA'S EYES LOOKING INTO CAMERA,
HER EAR, HER FEET, ANNA SAYING "I LOVE YOU".
OLIVER (V.O.)
We didn't know how we learned the
stories in our heads but sometimes
they stop running and I can really
see Anna's eyes in 2003. Her ears.
Her feet. This is what it looks
like when she says, I love you, in
2003.
LIVE ACTION SHOT OF ANNA CRYING WITH OLIVER, LIVE ACTION SHOT
OF OLIVER HUGGING HER AND ANNA SAYING SOMETHING WE CANNOT
HEAR.
OLIVER (V.O.)
This is what it looks like when she
cries. When she tells me there's
always a new empty room waiting for
her. They used to make her feel
free. Now they make her feel the
opposite of free.
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE - DAY
Oliver's at his desk, looking at photos of himself and his
mother at a museum exhibit from the 70's. We see young Oliver
and Georgia, an exhibit of stuffed animals, a quote on a
wall. Oliver goes to his notebooks, looks through them till
he finds a small rainbow sticker. He puts it on the table and
thinks...
CUT TO PAST
EXT. HAL'S DINNING ROOM
Oliver's helping Hal take his medication, Hal deals with is
mail.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 73.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Next one.
HAL
Lord.
With each swallow he pings a glass with a fork. Hal opens a
letter from a gay rights organization, he hands Oliver the
rainbow sticker we just saw.
HAL (CONT'D)
Here, that means gay pride.
OLIVER
Yeah, everyone knows that, here.
He gives Hal another pill, another reluctant difficult
swallow, another ping.
HAL
No they don't.
OLIVER
Everyone knows about that Pop.
HAL
Don't be ridiculous.
Hal's hiding something, he doesn't look Oliver in the eyes
when he asks...
HAL
Did you know, about me?
Oliver shakes his head no.
OLIVER
No, I just thought you and mom
weren't in love.
HAL
We loved each other.
OLIVER
But you were gay that whole time.
HAL
I learned how not to be.
OLIVER
For 44 years?
HAL
I knew I was gay, though, at dinner
parties I was looking at the
husbands not the wives.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 74.
CONTINUED:
HAL (CONT'D)
I couldn't have survived if I
didn't know that. I just chose not
to follow those instincts.
OLIVER
What about sex? You guys had sex?
HAL
She didn't think I was the greatest
lover, but we made do. Look, I
liked my life, the museum, our
house, that's what I wanted.
OLIVER
And mom? You wanted mom too right?
Frustrated and angry, Oliver takes the pill tray into the
kitchen, leaving Hal behind.
HAL
Yes, stop that.
HAL
She proposed to me you know.
This draws Oliver back into the room.
HAL
I said - look I love you and we're
great buddies but you know what I
am. And then she says, that doesn't
matter. I'll fix that.
Oliver's never heard this part of the story before.
`HAL
I thought. Oh, God. I'll try
anything.
SCREEN FILLS SOLID PINK.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Sex.
SCREEN FILLS SOLID RED.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Life.
SOLID ORANGE.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Healing.
SOLID YELLOW.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Sunlight.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 75.
CONTINUED:
GREEN.
OLIVER (V.O.)
NATURE
TURQUOISE.
OLIVER (V.O.)
Spirit.
WE SEE STILL PHOTOS OF THE FIRST GAY PRIDE FLAG, THE 1977 SAN
FRANCISCO GAY PRIDE PARADE.
OLIVER (V.O.)
The first Gay Pride flag was made
in 1978 by a man named Gilbert
Baker. He gave a meaning to each
color.
NOW STILLS PHOTOS OF CARTER, A LEGO FIGURE, SUPERMAN, PETS:
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
This man was President. This was
invented, this is what movies
looked like. Pets.
HISTORICAL FOOTAGE OF HARVEY MILK'S BODY BEING CARRIED AWAY
ON A STRETCHER.
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
On November 27th, 1978. Harvey Milk
was shot and killed.
STILL PHOTOS OF THE MUSEUM EXHIBIT OF STUFFED ANIMALS.
OLIVER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
One week later, my father opened
his annual Museum Christmas
Exhibit. He collected stuffed
animals from people in the
community, and put them on display.
My father printed a quote from The
Velveteen Rabbit in large type on
the wall...
NOW A STILL PHOTO OF THE QUOTE ON THE WALL OF THE MUSEUM.
OLIVER V.O.
...`The stuffed rabbit asked - What
is real? And the Horse said, "Real
isn't how you're made. It's a thing
that happens to you. When a child
loves you for a long long time not
just to play with, but really loves
then you become real...
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 76.
CONTINUED:
NOW WE SEE HISTORICAL FOOTAGE OF GAY MEN BEING LOADED INTO
PATTY WAGONS BY THE VICE SQUAD IN THE 1950'S:
OLVIER (V.O.)
...And the rabbit asked, 'Does it
hurt?' And the horse said,
'Sometimes.' 'Does it happen all at
once like being wound up, or bit by
bit?'...
THEN HISTORICAL FOOTAGE OF CASTRO STREET DURING THE 1977 GAY
RIGHTS PARADE:
OLIVER (V.O.)
...'It takes a long time. That's
why it doesn't happen to people who
break easily...
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM
Oliver enters to find Hal and Andy dancing humorously to loud
opera music. Hal dances free, without restraint, full of
life.
OLIVER (V.O.)
...Generally by the time you are
real, most of your hair has been
loved off, and your eyes drop out
and you get loose in the joints.
But these things don't matter at
all because you are real and you
can't be ugly, except to people who
don't understand.'"
The music blares as Arthur greets Oliver. Hal comes to
Oliver, Andy continues to dance.
HAL
Andy's moving in.
OLIVER
Yeah? Is that a good idea?
Hal hugs Oliver.
HAL
Just be happy about it.
Oliver can't just be happy about it.
CUT TO PRESENT
10/29/07 77.
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE
HARD CUT TO: Oliver's design for The Sads tacked on his wall -
a clumsy drawing of a man and a woman with the caption:
"First couple too in love to feel sad."
Reveal a Sads band member looking at the design in disbelief.
The rest of the band looks at Oliver's wall of designs -
there are no portraits of them. We cut into the meeting mid
melt-down.
OLIVER
This is the idea, is that it's the
history of sadness.
Oliver spreads out an impossible long CD panel design.
OLIVER
Here, this could be your...
The panels go on and on.
OLIVER
Your gonna need a big CD box.
JUMP CUT: Later, Oliver's still trying to talk the band into
his idea.
Four billion years ago, Earth
begins. And the idea is that
sadness has not been created yet.
JUMP CUT: Oliver and the RECORD COMPANY REP now alone.
OLIVER
I'm sorry.
RECORD COMPANY REP
I'm sorry too.
They shake hands and she leaves.
JUMP CUT: Oliver's now alone with Arthur in his lap.
OLIVER
Well, that went well.
ARTHUR SUBTITLE
Are we married yet?
EXT. OLIVER'S HOUSE
Oliver's car stands in front of his house. He gets Anna's
suitcase out of his car.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 78.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Come on Arthur.
INT. OLIVER'S FRONT DOOR
They enter his house, it's her first time there. She's
nervous, but tries to get over it.
OLIVER
This is the living room.
He leads her into the dining room.
OLIVER
Dining room.
Oliver points to a photo of his parents when they were in
their 50's.
OLIVER
There are my parents. My mom. Hal,
Georgia, this is Anna - Anna - Hal,
Georgia.
Anna's overwhelmed feeling increases, she continues to try to
roll with it.
ANNA
Hello.
INT. OLIVER'S STAIRWELL
Oliver continues his tour, leading her up the stairs to his
room.
OLIVER
These're the stairs.
ANNA
Yeah?
OLIVER
They go up.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM
They enter, Anna's churning, he shows her some drawers in his
dresser that he emptied out.
OLIVER
I emptied these for you. I'll get
your case.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 79.
CONTINUED:
Anna looks around, not able to deal with the intimacy,
stability and generosity.
OLIVER
Are you okay?
She want's to be, she hides it all by initiating sex with
him, physical and fast.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT (LATER)
They sleep.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM - DAWN
Oliver wakes up, he figures out he's alone again. Feelings he
was trying to overlook come to the surface now.
INT. OLIVER'S LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Oliver comes into the living room finds Anna on the couch.
Feelings of hurt and mistrust well up in him.
Nervous at Oliver's look, feeling in trouble, she tries to
reconnect.
ANNA
You OK?
OLIVER
Are you?
ANNE
I couldn't sleep, I didn't want to
bug you.
Oliver can't overcome his mistrust of her and the whole
situation. She tries to defend herself, honest and
vulnerable.
ANNA
I was nervous, and excited. I kept
thinking, maybe I'm not so lost.
OLIVER
Why were you crying yesterday?
They're miles apart.
INT. OLIVER'S OFFICE - DAY
Oliver deep in thought, something building in him...
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 80.
CONTINUED:
CUT TO PAST
REPEAT MEMORY: Young Oliver watches his mother and father go
through the motions of kissing.
CUT TO PRESENT
EXT. OLIVER'S HOUSE- NIGHT
Oliver and Arthur stand outside his house at night.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM
Oliver notices Anna's drawers are still empty.
INT. OLIVER'S DINING ROOM
They eat, their connection is broken. Oliver is moody and
distant.
ANNA
You okay?
OLIVER
Yeah.
CUT TO:
INT. OLIVER'S KITCHEN ROOM - MORNING
Oliver alone in the kitchen, brooding. Anna enters in her
Kimono.
ANNA
You seem so unhappy with me.
OLIVER
Well are you happy here?
ANNA
Maybe I'm not perfect at it. I
don't really know what I'm doing...
but I want to be here.
He's silent, distant, confused. She's hurt by his silence and
mistrust and leaves.
10/29/07 81.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM
WE SEE BUT DON'T HEAR: Oliver and Anna talking/arguing
through a series of jump cuts. The sound comes back for the
last line.
OLIVER
I don't know Anna. I don't think
this is what I am supposed to feel
like.
Anna looks crushed and surprised.
ANNA
Okay. I will go back to New York
then.
She gets up to go.
EXT. OLIVER'S HOUSE DAY
A cab is picking her up, Anna looks back up at Oliver's
house, hoping something will happen, nothing does, she puts
her suitcase in the trunk and gets in.
INT. OLIVER'S LIVING ROOM DAY
Oliver paces by his door. He rests his head against the door,
lost in a confused sadness, we cant tell he's crying.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - DAY
Oliver's POV as he pushes Hal's wheelchair down a cold
hospital hallway.
INT. DOCTORS' OFFICE - DAY
Inside a small doctor's office, Hal, Oliver and Dr. Long have
a meeting.
DR. LONG
Hal, you don't need to come in for
any more treatments.
Stoic and irreverent, Hal feigns surprise.
HAL
Have I done something wrong?
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 82.
CONTINUED:
DR. FLASTER
It's best that you stay home.
Hospice can help you more now, any
more treatments would just -- cause
more pain.
HAL
I see.
DR. LONG
I'm sorry, I wish we could do more.
HAL
You did an excellent job Dr. Long.
Thank you... for... For coming to
the party.
Oliver's devastated.
INT. HAL'S HOME - DAY - LATER
JUMP CUTS: From Hal and Oliver's POV we jump through time as
two men deliver and set up a hospital bed in Hal's living
room. And the nurse puts sheets and a blanket on the bed.
EXT. HAL'S STREET - DAY
Oliver wheels Hal's chair in outside the house, taking him to
see a view of the canyons. Hal's face reveals he's finally
stopped denying the end is near.
INT. HAL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Oliver and Hal sit side by side in his new hospital bed, it's
dark and quite and Oliver has his hand in Hal's.
HAL
You always wanted to hold my hand
when you were little. I couldn't,
you know. I was afraid it would
look funny. I wanted to be close,
you know and my father certainly
was never close with me. God, I
hope I wasn't like that.
OLIVER
I can barely remember you from when
I was little.
HAL
I guess I was at work.
CUT TO PAST
10/29/07 83.
INT. MUSEUM OPENING 1978
Young Oliver walks behind Georgia as she meanders through the
crowd, feeling alone. She turns and finds Oliver on her tail.
A fancy woman is talking pretentiously about a painting.
Georgia's critical and amused, she sidles up to the woman and
gently places her head on the woman's shoulder.
FANCY WOMAN
Oh!
Georgia smiles at her, casually unnerving. Oliver pulls her
away.
OLIVER
Let's go home.
CUT TO: Oliver and Georgia heading away through the gallery.
GEORGIA
What about your father? What will
he possibly do without us?
INT. MUSEUM HALLWAY
As they're making their way out of the museum an formal older
lady stops them.
OLDER WOMAN
Georgia? You leaving?
GEORGIA
Yes Mary, it's an emergency,
Oliver's appendix has ruptured.
OLDER WOMAN
Oh dear.
They look at Oliver who's mortified.
GEORGIA
He's a very composed child.
OLIVER
Let's go.
Oliver pulls her away before she starts any more trouble.
EXT. STREET/INT. GEORGIA'S CAR
Georgia's in drivers seat, they're at a stoplight.
GEORGIA
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 84.
CONTINUED:
Oliver points left and she turns...
GEORGIA
Aha. The infamous left.
Up a new street, they arrive at the next stop.
GEORGIA
And?
Oliver points left.
GEORGIA
Left again. Going in circles. I
like it.
Irreverent but heavy, they drive on.
INT. OLIVER'S CHILDHOOD HOME
Oliver and Georgia enter. She heads down the hallway to her
room, Young Oliver follows behind. She walks down the hallway
to her bedroom, enters and closes the door.
CUT TO PRESENT
INT. OLIVER'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Oliver lies on his bed in the half darkness. He's been there
a while, Arthur staring at him.
CUT TO PAST
INT. ANNA'S HOTEL
Oliver remembers Anna on her hotel bed the night they met,
messing up his hair, kissing for the first time.
BACK TO PRESENT
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM
Oliver feeling the most lost, can't help but look at Arthur
who's staring him down.
ARTHUR SUBTITLE
We knew it wouldn't work even
before we met her.
Oliver get's this more than ever. Something changes inside of
him, he picks up his cel phone and dials.
ANNA
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 85.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Anna? Where where you?
EXT. ELLIOTT'S HOUSE - DAY
Oliver arrives with Arthur in a hurry.
EXT. ELLIOTT'S DOOR - DAY
Oliver hands Arthur, a dog bed, and a bag of dog food to
Elliott.
OLIVER
Hey.
ELLIOTT
Hey.
OLIVER
(TO ARTHUR)
You're going to take care of
Elliott. I'll be back in a couple
of days.
(TO ELLIOT)
Good luck.
ELLIOTT
Alright.
OLIVER
Okay? Thanks.
Elliott closes the door. Oliver heads back to his car and
Arthur's howling begins. It's an incredibly sad and desperate
howl. Oliver gets to his car, the howling doesn't stop,
Oliver can't ignore it. Oliver get's out of the car, heads
back to house to get Arthur.
EXT. OLIVER'S CAR - DAY
Oliver and Arthur drive up to a new house. Oliver looks at
Arthur with guilt.
EXT. ANDY'S BACKYARD - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
Oliver watches Andy cry as Arthur licks him all over.
ANDY
He remembers me.
It's true, Oliver's surprised.
10/29/07 86.
EXT. ANDY'S HOUSE - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
Andy closes the door, Oliver walks the first ten feet, to his
surprise, silence. He walks to the edge of the yard, silence.
He tentatively gets into his car, silence. He drives away.
INT. TAXI CAB - NEW YORK - DAWN
Oliver sees the Manhattan skyline as they cross the bridge
into Manhattan.
EXT. 2ND AVENUE - CONTINUOUS
Oliver crosses the cold New York avenue.
EXT. AVENUE B AND 10TH ST. - CONTINUOUS
Oliver passes a bodega with flowers - he pauses.
EXT. ANNA'S STREET - CONTINUOUS
Oliver now with a bouquet of flowers in his hand, looking for
the right number, finds her building. On his way to the door,
he has doubts about the flowers, he decides to throw them
away.
Oliver rings her buzzer, no answers, a stranger leaves the
building and he catches the door before it close, he enters.
INT. ANNA'S DOOR
Oliver makes it to her door, he knocks, there's no answer. He
pulls out his phone and calls her.
INTERCUT BETWEEN THEM:
ANNA (V.O.)
Hey.
OLIVER
Hey. Look I'm so sorry... But I'm,
I'm at your front door. I'm in New
York.
Anna, still in bed, sits up and feels something.
ANNA (V.O.)
I'm in Los Angeles.
Oliver's flabbergasted she's not behind the door.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 87.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
You, you're in LA?
Anna laughs, but is touched.
OLIVER (CONT'D)
You said you were coming here?!
ANNA
Yeah, but I didn't leave.
OLIVER
Fuck. I'm in your building.
Anna laughs.
ANNA (V.O.)
Okay. See the window? Near the
radiator?
Oliver looks around and sees the radiator - goes to look.
ANNA
There is a hide-a-key behind it.
INT. ANNA'S APARTMENT.
The door opens, Oliver tentatively enters the empty room.
The apartment is very spare, barely lived in. A lone couch,
clothes on a rack, a few personal photos taped to the wall.
OLIVER
Okay, I'm inside. Wow, there's like
nothing here.
ANNA
No.
Oliver moves forward into the kitchen.
ANNA (V.O.)
This is my kitchen. It's where I
eat.
Oliver follows her tour, while she's not there, it's
strangely intimate.
ANNA (V.O.)
This is my bathroom. It's very
fancy.
The bare, poor bathroom is not fancy.
ANNA (V.O.)
Outside my window...
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 88.
CONTINUED:
Oliver walks and looks out her window.
ANNA (V.O.)
... That's my neighbor's roof. The
room at the end is my bedroom...
INT. ANNA'S BEDROOM
Oliver enters her bedroom.
ANNA (V.O.)
That's my closet. Those are my
clothes and my pictures.
There is a single rack holding up some clothes. Her pictures
are taped to the wall. Oliver sits on her bed.
ANNA
Why do you leave everyone? Why did
you let me go?
Oliver thinks for a moment.
CUT TO PAST
INT. OLIVER'S CHILDHOOD HOME - NIGHT
REPEAT MEMORY: Oliver watches his mother walk down the
hallway, very alone, and enter her bedroom - it feels like
some gesture of hopelessness.
WE HEAR OLIVER'S ANSWER OVER THIS IMAGE:
OLIVER (V.O.)
Maybe because I, I don't really
believe that it's gonna work. And
then I make sure it doesn't work.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S LIVING-ROOM - DAY
Hal lies in the hospital bed set up in his living room.
JUAN, a young handsome and probably gay hospice nurse is
gently helping him take his morphine. Hal looks at Juan with
love and affection. Oliver watches from the kitchen door.
HAL
Isn't Juan's hair wonderful.
JUAN
Thanks. I use this great mousse.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 89.
CONTINUED:
HAL
Well it's terrific.
JUAN
Do you wanna try some?
Hal turns shy and young.
HAL
Oh, no.
JUAN
Just a little bit?
HAL
I don't think so.
JUAN
Come on. Just try a little bit.
It'll be fun.
HAL
(LAUGHS)
Yeah?
JUAN
Yeah.
HAL
How do you do it?
JUAN
Okay, I'm going to show you how.
Juan steps away and grabs his mousse, puts a little in his
hand and sits back down on Hal's bed. He begins to spread
it gently through wisps of Hal's white hair. Oliver watches
Hal close his eyes, and deeply enjoy this simple affection
and camaraderie with another gay man.
JUAN
There.
HAL
Is that it?
Hal looks into camera which is Oliver's POV.
HAL
How do I look?
Oliver's filled with love, happiness, regret.
OLIVER
Great. You look great.
CUT TO PRESENT
10/29/07 90.
INT. ANNA'S BEDROOM
Oliver's still on her bed, his heart and mind is somewhere
else.
CUT TO PAST
INT. HAL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Hal's unconscious on his hospital bed. Some of Hal's friends
gather around his hospital bed as Hal's gay priest gives him
his Last Rites - Oliver and Juan watch in disbelief in the
background.
INT. HAL'S KITCHEN - LATER
Oliver's alone in the kitchen, his head on the table -
asleep. Juan walks to him and wakes him.
JUAN
Oliver. He's gone.
Oliver gets up. He can now see to the hospital bed, Hal's
lifeless profile. Oliver is lost.
Oliver goes to Hal, puts his head on his chest and cries.
CUT TO NARRATED SEQUENCE
CUT TO BLACK
OLIVER (V.O.)
Once you make the call, you have
less than an hour before two men
come and place the body into a bag.
WE SEE STILL PHOTO OF A CHECK TO THE NEPTUNE SOCIETY, A JAR
OF PEANUT BUTTER, A METAL ASH CONTAINER.
OLVIER (V.O.)
They charge 1485 Dollars for
cremation and deliver the remains
in a small metal container, the
size of a jar of peanut butter. You
will need to get a death
certificate.
NOW HAL'S DEATH CERTIFICATE, CREDIT CARDS, PHONE BILLS,
INSURANCE STATEMENTS, MORTGAGE STATEMENT, TAX FORM
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 91.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER (V.O.)
You will need to make copies and
send them to cancel every credit
card, phone account, utility, gym
membership, every insurance policy,
mortgage, to settle their taxes.
A FAST SEQUENCE OF STILLS OF HAL'S MAIL PILING UP, THEN LIVE
ACTION SHOT OF A HAND WRITING THE OBITUARY. STILL PHOTO OF A
TRASH BAG, HAL'S PURPLE SWEATER.
OLIVER (V.O.)
You will have all their mail
forwarded to your address. You will
write their obituary. You run it
with a photo in the paper for two
dollars a word. You will wonder if
it's right. You'll throw a lot of
their stuff away. You'll bring a
lot of their stuff to your house.
This is the photo my mother kept in
her bedroom.
A STILL PHOTO OF DOROTHEA LANGE'S FRAMED DAISY PHOTOGRAPH.
THEN, MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THE PHOTO WITH DIFFERENT HANDS AND
DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS OF DAISIES FLASHES BY.
OLIVER (V.O.)
When I was a kid I thought that was
my arm giving her daisies. Now I
make a new mistake and think it's
her arm giving me the daisies,
saying, here, here's simple and
happy. That's what I meant to give
you.
EXT. ANDY'S HOUSE - DAY
Oliver arrives at Andy's door. Andy answers, Arthur's jumps
up to see Oliver.
OLIVER
Hey.
ANDY
Hey.
OLIVER
Arthur...
Oliver picks him up, he gets all of Arthur's stuff, he's a
little cold to Andy.
OLIVER
Thank you... Thanks.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 92.
CONTINUED:
ANDY
It's cause I'm gay, isn't it?
Oliver stops and looks back.
OLIVER
What?
ANDY
You never called or came to see me?
Oliver falters, not know how to say it, then...
OLIVER
No. No, it's because my father
loved you so much.
This hits Andy hard. Oliver turns to leave but can't. He
turns back, goes to Andy and they hug.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM
Oliver and Arthur arrive, happy and relieved, Oliver jumps on
his bed and Arthur follows.
OLIVER
Arthur... hey. Hey, how've you
been?
INT. OLIVER'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Oliver opens the front door to Anna.
OLIVER
Hey.
She's a bit tentative, but she's here and happy.
ANNA
Hey.
OLIVER
Come in, come in.
Arthur runs up and Anna bends down to greet him. They missed
each other.
Anna walks in and Oliver follows.
ANNA
The living room.
She heads to the dinning room.
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 93.
CONTINUED:
ANNA
Dining room...
Oliver laughs nervously. In the dining room, Hal's old boxes
are still stacked along the walls. Oliver leans forward and
pulls something out of a box.
She looks at a personal ad application, with the picture of
Hal in the open jean jacket we saw at the beginning of the
film.
ANNA
Oh. Crazy picture...
OLIVER
Yeah.
ANNA
Can I read it?
OLIVER
Sure.
ANNA
I'm looking for sex with the hope
it turns into friendship or a
relationship. But I don't insist
on monogamy.
CUT TO PAST
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
We see REPEAT SHOTS of Hal, and in every shot he's looking at
camera. Hal telling Oliver he's gay, Hal napping with Andy
and waving at Oliver, Hal after Juan put in his hair mousse
looking at Oliver, Hal showing Oliver his radiation tatoo...
ANNA (V.O.)
I'm an old senior guy, 78, but I'm
attractive and horny. I'm an art
historian, now retired.
MORE REPEAT SHOTS: Hal with Andy at the L.A. Pride picnic,
Hal playing with Arthur on his couch.
ANNA (V.O.)
And in addition to art, I like
houses, gardens, parties, and
walking with my Jack Russell.
I'm 5'11", 160 pounds. I'm trim,
gray hair, blue eyes, hairy cheest.
CUT BACK TO THE PRESENT
(CONTINUED)
10/29/07 94.
CONTINUED:
OLIVER
Chest...
ANNA
(LAUGHS)
Chest? I like giving and, and
what?
Oliver finishes reading for her.
OLIVER
I like giving and getting rubdowns
and then going into mutual soft
stuff.
They both smile.
ANNA
I have a nice house with food,
drinks, friends and me. If you
are willing to try an older guy,
let's meet and see what happens.
She looks at the photo again.
ANNA
He didn't give up.
They look at each other, more vulnerable and willing than
we've seen them.
INT. OLIVER'S HALLWAY
Anna walks down the hallway, Oliver follows her.
INT. OLIVER'S BEDROOM
Anna and Oliver sit side by side on his bed.
OLIVER
What happens now?
ANNA
I don't know.
OLIVER
How does that work?
They look at each other, they smile.
CUT TO MAIN TITLE
