2. EXT. - DALLAS, TX - PLAYGROUND - DAY 1
Several children are playing in the park.
JULIE MILLER (5) and CHARLIE GOLDMAN (6) playing off to the
side of the playground. Charlie is sitting "Indian-style"
and slouching, wearing thick glasses that are big for his
face.
Julie keeps moving around on her knees, taking different
dolls and handing them to Charlie, and instructing him on
what to do. Charlie keeps taking whatever he is handed,
staring at her blankly, but obviously happy to be with
Julie.
Charlie smiles at Julie every time she looks at him.
SALLY ANSON (40’s) sitting on a bench, in a nurses outfit,
off to the side of the playground reading a book. She
glances at Julie and Charlie playing and smiles warmly.
Julie pretends to point at a spot on Charlie’s shirt and
then playfully honks his nose, then runs away which turns
into a game of tag.
Julie and Charlie play on the playground equipment without a
care in the world.
After some time playing Charlie and Julie both run up to
Sally and each give her a flower. Sally smiles, thanks them,
and gives them both hugs.
Julie’s mom, BEATRICE MILLER (20’s) walks up to the
playground wearing sunglasses to try to cover up a bruised
left eye that is still visible around the sunglasses.
BEATRICE
Julie, it’s time to come home. Say
goodbye to Ms. Sally and Charlie.
Sally waves hi to Beatrice, but stops when she notices
Beatrice trying to hide a bruised eye. Beatrice,
embarrassed, shakes her head "no" to Sally.
Julie runs up to Beatrice and points at the bruise,
concerned.
YOUNG JULIE
Mama, what happened to your eye?
BEATRICE
Um, Mommy bumped her eye by
accident. Time to go, we don’t want
to make your father upset.
(CONTINUED)
3. CONTINUED: 2.
Julie runs off to the car and Charlie runs up to Beatrice
and gives her a hug and kiss. Beatrice hugs Charlie and
kisses him on the forehead.
Beatrice awkwardly waves goodbye to Sally and then departs
quickly. Sally watches Beatrice leave shaking her head with
concern. Sally then looks at Charlie, smiles sadly and then
reaches out for his hand.
SALLY
Let’s go home Charlie.
Charlie smiles back at Sally and nods his head.
INT. - BEATRICE AND JULIE’S HOME - EARLY EVENING 2
Julie is laying on the floor coloring with an old box of
broken crayons. She’s drawing a picture of her holding hands
with her mom and dad.
Beatrice walks by her towards the kitchen and starts
cooking.
BEATRICE
What are you drawing sweetie?
YOUNG JULIE
I’m drawing a masterpiece for
Daddy.
BEATRICE
Well I’m sure he’ll like that.
(Mumbles)
If he ever comes back home.
Julie admires her work.
BEATRICE (cont’d)
Charlie and Ms. Sally should be
here any moment--
A knock comes from the front door.
BEATRICE (cont’d)
Come in!
Sally and Charlie enter through the front door.
SALLY
Hello everyone!
(CONTINUED)
4. CONTINUED: 3.
YOUNG CHARLIE
(Imitating Sally)
Hello everyone!
Charlie runs over to where Julie is drawing and joins her.
YOUNG JULIE
Hi Charlie! Do you like the picture
I drew for my Daddy?
Julie holds up her drawing and Charlie nods.
Sally walks into the kitchen and Beatrice greets her with a
hug and a forced smile, then goes back to her cooking.
SALLY
That smells wonderful!
BEATRICE
Thanks.
SALLY
Where’s Benjamin?
Beatrice shrugs with irritated sigh, without looking away
from the stove.
BEATRICE
I don’t know where that man is.
He’s been gone for a couple of
days.
SALLY
Did y’all got into another fight
again?
Beatrice pauses her cooking for a moment and stares into
space with a furrowed brow, then sighs and goes back to
cooking.
SALLY (cont’d)
(Quietly)
Did he hit you again?
BEATRICE
I should have left him alone about
needing to provide better. At least
he’s trying to find a job.
SALLY
Beatrice, honey, there’s no excuse
for him to hit you! None!
(CONTINUED)
5. CONTINUED: 4.
BEATRICE
If I showed him more support things
would be better.
Beatrice glances over at Julie.
BEATRICE (cont’d)
I know he wants to be able give her
more--
SALLY
You’re not the problem! He needs to
stop drinking, get a job, and take
care of his family!
Both Charlie and Julie are both coloring on the floor, in
the prone position.
Julie repeatedly looks over at Sally and Beatrice out of the
corner of her eye, trying to listen in on their
conversation, while continuing to color.
Charlie stops drawing and sits up on his knees, watching
Beatrice and Sally talking in the kitchen.
Julie sees that Charlie is listening to Beatrice and Sally,
gets up on her knees in front of Charlie blocking his view
of the kitchen.
YOUNG JULIE
Charlie, do you think my dress is
pretty?
Charlie stares blankly at her dress for a few seconds and
then shrugs with an "I don’t know" expression.
Julie puts her hands on her hips and frowns.
YOUNG JULIE (cont’d)
You’re supposed to tell a girl she
looks pretty when she asks!
Charlie is staring off into space and holding his shirt
halfway up his belly with left hand while playing with his
bellybutton with his right hand.
YOUNG JULIE (cont’d)
Charlie! I’m talking to you!
Charlie snaps out of his daydream and looks at Julie.
(CONTINUED)
6. CONTINUED: 5.
YOUNG CHARLIE
I have a belly button, right here!
Julie giggles.
YOUNG JULIE
You’re so silly Charlie!
Charlie and Julie giggle at each other.
Red and blue alternating lights suddenly penetrate the room,
shining on Julie’s face.
Julie looks towards the front window, confused. Red and blue
alternating lights are filling the room through the front
window.
Beatrice walks towards the window holding her drink, with
Sally following right behind.
A knock comes from the front door.
Beatrice opens the front door to see a POLICE OFFICER (20’s
or 30’s) standing just outside the door.
Police officer takes off his hat with a sad face.
Sally walks up a couple of steps behind Beatrice.
OFFICER
Mrs. Miller?
Beatrice nods suspiciously.
Officer holds up an old mugshot of BENJAMIN MILLER.
OFFICER (cont’d)
Ma’am, is this your husband?
Benjamin Miller?
Beatrice, indignant, puts one hand on her hip.
BEATRICE
Yes Officer. What in the world has
he done now?
OFFICER
I’m very sorry to have to tell you
ma’am, but your husband was
involved in an armed robbery of a
convenience store.
The officer hesitates for a second.
(CONTINUED)
7. CONTINUED: 6.
OFFICER (cont’d)
There was gunfire exchanged and
your husband has been shot dead.
Beatrice, drops her drink and covers her mouth and begins to
cry heavily.
Sally steps in quickly to grab Beatrice from behind while
Beatrice collapses. The Officer also reaches out to also
prevent her from falling.
Julie is sitting on her knees in shock.
Charlie, seeing looks at the commotion at the front door,
looks at Julie, back to the door, back to Julie, kneels down
by Julie’s side and puts his arm around her. Julie’s lip
begins to quiver. She looks down at the completed family
drawing she is holding in her hands, and then drops it to
the floor.
The drawing falls to the floor.
2 tear drops fall onto the drawing in slow motion, one after
the other.
YOUNG CHARLIE
I’m here Julie. I’ll protect you.
EXT. - DALLAS - HIGH SCHOOL PICNIC TABLES - DAY 3
Charlie (15) is sitting at a picnic table eating his lunch
out of a brown paper bag and drawing childlike drawings of
himself and Julie holding hands with crayons. NATE (17),
Julie’s boyfriend, and FIVE JOCKS (15-17), all wearing
football jerseys, walk up to Charlie.
Charlie starts to look up but when he realizes it’s Nate, he
quickly looks down at the table and tries to put his drawing
pad away.
Nate leans over Charlie intimidatingly and grabs the drawing
pad out of Charlie’s hands and pushes him off balance with
his other hand.
NATE
What’cha drawing retard? More
pictures of you and Julie?
Charlie tries to reach out to grab his drawing pad away from
Nate, but isn’t quick enough.
