LABOR OF LOVE by M. Night Shyamalan FADE IN: EXT. ROUTE 476 - OUTSKIRTS OF PHILADELPHIA - NIGHT A three lane highway relegated to one lane. The serpentine line of cars bottlenecks as it slithers by. An arch of ORANGE AND RED FLARES outlines the area of shattered glass and twisted metal. We are at the site of a gruesome car accident. An ambulance and four police cars are on the scene. Two cars are involved in the crash. The first, a SILVER CADILLAC with its front caved in a perfect semi-circle; there is no-one inside the car. The second car is a different story entirely. A DARK GREEN HONDA PRELUDE crushed against the concrete median that separates the South-bound lanes from the North-bound lanes. All the windows have imploded. The original seventeen foot length of the car, compressed to ten. The hood has folded back into the front seat. This car is not empty! Through the sliver that used to be a window, WE SEE a female hand, purple, swollen and bloody. Some drivers have stopped their cars on the shoulder and have walked over to the flares. A set of cops wave them back. POLICE OFFICER Get back in your cars and continue with the traffic. There is nothing you can do. (beat) Get back in your cars... CUT TO: OFFICER PIERCE speaks to a female OFFICER DANA. OFFICER PIERCE What's the story? OFFICER DANA She's been dead about ten minutes. The jaws are on the way... Ran a license check. Her name is Ellen Parker. Forty-two years old. OFFICER PIERCE What about him? Pierce gestures to a HISPANIC TEENAGER who is cuffed behind his back and being led to a police car. OFFICER DANA D.U.I. OFFICER PIERCE Shit... How old is he? OFFICER DANA Seventeen. It's his grandfather's car. On his way back from drinking with the 'boys'. Pierce lets it sink in. OFFICER PIERCE Who do we contact for her? Dana checks the papers in her hand. OFFICER DANA Her husband. Maurice Parker. They live in Wynnewood. Married seventeen years. Pierce looks back at what remains of the HONDA PRELUDE. Beat. OFFICER PIERCE There isn't any good left in the world, Dana. Not one damn thing. CLOSE UP of the hypnotic RED AND BLUE LIGHTS that consume the highway. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ROAD - EARLY MORNING "TWO WEEKS EARLIER" Just AFTER DAWN. A gentle mist hangs in the air. The calm suburban streets wait to be flooded with a sea of middle class homeowners on their way to work... A woman's REEBOK CROSS-TRAINERS move along the sidewalk... long, brisk steps, steps people have when walking with a purpose... The Cross-Trainers enter the doors of a bakery store seconds after a man turns a window-sign from "CLOSED" to "OPEN"... This happens with precision timing, not losing a step... a well practiced routine. CUT TO: INT. ANGELO'S BAKERY - MORNING ANGELO, a large man, black slicked hair -- has laid out three identical loaves of RAISIN BREAD on the counter. ANGELO Very good batch today. We finally see the person standing in the REEBOK CROSS TRAINERS... MRS. ELLEN PARKER, a woman in her forties with a heart-warming smile and wise glint in her eyes. The kind of woman that somehow becomes more beautiful with age. She carefully squeezes each loaf. Her hand hovers over the middle loaf. ELLEN That one. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN - MORNING Twenty minutes later. The basket of the "chosen" raisin bread is placed on the center of a table. Ellen covers it with a cloth napkin. The eggs sizzle in a pan. We find Ellen cooking breakfast. A stunning African Grey Parrot sits proudly on Ellen's shoulder. CLAUDE is a breathtaking creature with grey feathers and a cherry red tail. The DOOR BELL RINGS. CUT TO: FRONT DOOR where a delivery man hands over a bouquet of VIOLET ORCHIDS. Claude, still perched on Ellen like a clothing accessory, spreads his impressive wings defensively. The delivery man scans the far wall to find a collection of bird photographs. A dazzling collection of all kinds of birds, elaborately framed and hung. Ellen signs the release and closes the door. She takes a deep smell of the violet orchids and looks down the hall to the open bedroom door with a glowing smile. We CATCH A GLIMPSE of a man dressing. CUT TO: KITCHEN Where Ellen and her husband are eating breakfast. Claude is now in a cage in the hallway. MR. MAURICE PARKER eats a buttered piece of raisin bread. He is a man in his late forties, neatly combed hair, his New York Times folded into a manageable rectangle. This is a man who has been seated a great deal of his life... the type of man who breaks into a sweat when taking out the garbage. He feels a stare and looks up to find his wife with that glowing smile. He smiles back. Ellen gestures with her eyes to the violet orchids now displayed proudly on the window ledge. MAURICE Yes? ELLEN The flowers... they're beautiful. Maurice studies them. MAURICE They are... who sent them? Beat. This takes Ellen by surprise. Maurice catches the expression. MAURICE You thought I sent them? ELLEN (disappointed) There was no card. Maurice reaches over and searches the bouquet. MAURICE Have I forgotten something? Is this a special day? ELLEN (flat) It's just a regular day. Maurice pulls out a small bent card from between the stems. MAURICE It's from Dan and Kate Wilkins... for dinner last week... Maurice hands Ellen the card, she looks at it uninterested. MAURICE It's a special day isn't it? ELLEN Well, I'm sure it's not Christmas, because you'd be worried about how much money we don't have to spend on each other... I know it's not New Years, because you'd be going on and on about wearing a tuxedo and how much you don't like to dance... and I'm sure it's not our anniversary, because I didn't find an envelope with a hundred dollars cash on my bureau with a note that says, 'Pick out something pretty'... Yes -- Maurice -- I'm virtually certain it's not a special day today. Ellen begins to eat. Maurice stares at her... MAURICE You're mad at me... You were beaming a minute ago, but since I didn't send the flowers... now you're mad at me. Beat. MAURICE Why would I send flowers? What's the occasion. Ellen instantly becomes emotional. ELLEN Occasion? Because you love me... That's the occasion. Ellen returns to eating. Maurice stares at her quietly. CUT TO: INT. BOOKSTORE - MORNING A SHAFT OF LIGHT penetrates the darkness of a room... growing LARGER as the door swings open. Ellen steps in first followed by Maurice. Ellen goes straight for the blinds. BURST OF LIGHT stab the room. The spines of the BOOKS catch the light... rows and rows of books cradled by a maze of mahogany book shelves. This is an old-fashioned store with antique chairs at select places. A coffee table sits near the window with a set of deep cushioned sofa-chairs. This store is a home... Maurice moves behind the counter and TURNS ON THE RADIO. CHOPIN FLOWS from the old speakers atop the corner shelves -- delicately. Ellen opens the door to the store and locks it in that position with a slanted piece of wood... The store is now open. CUT TO: INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY Half a dozen people wander the isles. Maurice's eyes drift to a pair of eleven year olds who have sauntered into the store. One boy disappears behind "Philosophy" and reappears momentarily with his sweat-shirt zipped up to his neck -- a rectangle is outlined under his shirt. MAURICE I see that! Maurice comes around the corner -- the boys HAUL ASS out of the store. They're long gone before Maurice reaches the door. He yells after them. MAURICE I'm getting a Doberman! Two! Ellen who is sitting in the back room doing the accounts, comes out when she hears the commotion. ELLEN You've been saying that for two years; I think they know you're bluffing. Maurice inspects the "Philosophy" section. Maurice looks up as a young man, early twenties, hurries in. KRIS REDDY walks past Maurice, his black locks of hair peeking out from under his Philadelphia Eagles cap. KRIS (to Maurice) Lizy Bennett? ELLEN Hi Kris. Kris waves as he removes his jacket. He is wearing a PARKER BOOKS T-shirt underneath. He pins an "Assistant Manager" tag on. Maurice thinks to himself. MAURICE Lizy, Eliza... Elizabeth Bennett... (the answer comes to him) Pride and Prejudice. KRIS You're amazing. MAURICE It has to be a full character's name. KRIS They called her 'Lizy' in the book... (beat) Sorry I was late. My jeep died on the way over from the paper. MAURICE They printed your article on, 'Dry Verses Can Dog Food'... Very enlightening. KRIS Pulitzer, here I come. Kris notices as Maurice goes back to searching the isles. KRIS What happened? MAURICE Never have children. If they're not a burden to you, they're a burden to someone else. ELLEN (on the end of his words) Kris, go to the pharmacy. Ask Mr. Donnavan to get you a large bottle of Geritol... Tell him, Maurice has officially become a grumpy old man. KRIS What'd they take this time? MAURICE Nietzsche!... As if they're going to read Nietzsche. Maurice moves back behind the counter clearly irritated. ELLEN They pick on you because they can get a rise out of you... children can sense those things. Kris quickly opens his black shoulder bag and pulls out a mini-tape recorder. He talks into it -- dead serious. KRIS Monday -- August 24... Juvenile delinquency -- Are the victims to blame? CLICK. The tape recorder returns to the bag. Ellen stares at him curiously. KRIS Story ideas. I'll forget them otherwise. Ellen nods with realization. Ellen and Kris turn their attention to Maurice who is mumbling to himself angrily. He looks out the window to the street to see a familiar group of school boys waving at him tauntingly. CUT TO: INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - NIGHT DIMLY LIT. Red and gold paper mache lanterns are sprinkled around the room. WE FIND Ellen and Maurice polishing off a dish of General Tso's Chicken. MAURICE Two thousand square feet... We can add a used book section. Ellen is not listening. She is staring at a young couple two tables over, who can't take their eyes off each other. MAURICE Next door is a jewelry store with a full-time security guard... He stands outside all day. Let's see them try and take Nietzsche then... Maurice finally notices Ellen is not listening. MAURICE Ellen? ELLEN (snapping out of it) What? MAURICE The new store? ELLEN Honey, I told you. If it makes you happy, we should just do it. MAURICE It's a tremendous amount of work -- moving. ELLEN We can do it together. Maurice needed the support. His face brightens. CUT TO: LATER An empty table. The dishes have been cleared. Maurice and Ellen are opening their fortune cookies. MAURICE What's your's say? Beat. ELLEN ... Love is shown through actions not just words. MAURICE What's that? That's not a fortune... You will be rich... That's a fortune. What you have is a statement. ELLEN What it is -- is the truth. MAURICE I don't follow. Beat. ELLEN Maurice, what would you do for me? What would you do for our love? I'm not talking about saying, I'm talking about doing. Maurice notices the STRAIN IN HER VOICE. MAURICE Is this going to be similar to the flower incident? ELLEN (very emotional) Sometimes people need to see things done for them -- because sooner or later they don't believe the words anymore. MAURICE (raising his voice) You don't think I love you? Customers react. ELLEN (lowering the volume) I want to be shown... (beat) Maurice would you do anything for me? MAURICE Yes. ELLEN Anything? MAURICE What do you want from me? Would I swim across an ocean for you?... Would I walk across the United States for you? Yes... Yes I would. You know that. ELLEN (soft) No I don't. I don't even know if you'd walk across the street for me. Maurice is getting redder by the second. The entire restaurant hangs on his response... MAURICE So what have you done for me that's so earth-shattering? The waiter closest to the table cringes with Maurice's words. Ellen drains of color. She stares at him in complete and utter disbelief. She drills him with this iron glare for an eternity then grabs her purse and heads to the exit. Maurice stares at the table for a moment to gather what's left of his dignity and follows her out. The waiter moves to the table and clears the aftermath. He sees Ellen's fortune crumpled next to her tea cup. He unravels it. The fortune reads... "YOU ARE A FRIENDLY AND GENEROUS PERSON." CUT TO: INT. BEDROOM - DAY The room is LIT BY ONE BEDSIDE LAMP. Maurice is sitting in bed wearing a robe. Reading glasses at the end of his nose as he rubs a yellow cloth over a SILVER MEDALLION. The medallion has a raised picture of a lamp, the kind Aladdin uses, seated on an open book and the words BOOK SOCIETY - 1992. Maurice meticulously rubs away the smudge marks. Ellen is at the edge of the bed -- as far from Maurice as possible. Her back is to him as she sleeps under the covers. She speaks without turning around. ELLEN Why do you polish that thing all the time? MAURICE You're talking to me? ELLEN Why do you polish it? Maurice studies the impressive silver medallion. MAURICE A Book Society Award is a very prestigious thing. ELLEN Why are you polishing it -- in bed -- in your pajamas -- at 11:15 at night? Are you going to show it to someone? MAURICE No. ELLEN Then why? MAURICE There's no reason. ELLEN Exactly. No reason. No occasion. It just makes you feel good to do something for it, to express your pride and affection for it some how... (beat) How come you'd do that for a piece of metal and not for me? Maurice has no answer. He just stares at his hands. ELLEN'S face can be seen under the covers facing away from Maurice. Her eyes are red. The tears roll off her nose and land on the pillow unseen and unheard. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN - MORNING The kitchen table is mockingly empty. No bread. Not even a crumb. Maurice, dressed for work, eyes the table with great resolve. He rubs his hands together ceremoniously. MAURICE I can do this. Maurice moves to the fridge and gets out two eggs, onions, green peppers and mushrooms. CLAUDE is chirping INCESSANTLY FROM THE HALL. The pile teeters precariously in Maurice's arms as he moves to the counter. Next the pans come out -- He tries to pull the bottom pan from the cabinet -- CUT TO: BEDROOM Ellen is seated in bed, arms crossed -- equal resolve in her face. A LARGE METALLIC CRASH OF POTS ECHOES FROM DOWNSTAIRS. Ellen grabs her robe. CUT TO: HALLWAY Ellen gently takes Claude out of his cage. She kisses him. The bird, once frantic, instantly at peace. ELLEN (whispering) You missed mommie... worried when I didn't come down... my baby... so sweet. Ellen feeds the bird as she peeks around the corner, careful not to be seen. Maurice is desperately trying to cook an out of control omelette. It spills over the sides and SIZZLES on the range top. He tries to scoop it up with the pan, tilting it further -- further -- the entire omelette slides onto the range. Maurice frantically tries to wrangle it back in. Man vs. Egg. Man losing. Ellen has to keep herself from laughing. Her expression changes to pity as she watches the chaos unfold. CUT TO: INT. BAKERY - MORNING Ellen scrutinizes a new three loaves of raisin bread. ELLEN That one. Angelo smiles and packages the chosen loaf. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN - MORNING A defeated Maurice is eating an apple. He looks up with surprise as Ellen walks into the kitchen from the back door, a bag under her arm. She glances at him and then moves to the counter where she prepares the bread for serving. Ellen looks down into the trash to find the rebellious omelette sitting uneaten. The bread gets laid out in its usual basket, in its usual manner. Maurice says nothing as Ellen pulls two eggs from the fridge and cracks them on a sizzling pan with expert ease. ELLEN Onions? Maurice smiles warmly at his wife's back before moving to her and hugging her from behind. He whispers in her ear. MAURICE Why do you put up with me? Beat. ELLEN Love... has something to do with it. Maurice reaches over and turns off the stove. He then turn Ellen around and kisses her long and hard. Ellen pulls away gently and stares into his eyes. Maurice looks very emotional. MAURICE I do love you... very, very much. ELLEN Show me. MAURICE (with all his heart) I will -- I promise. Ellen kisses Maurice and returns to the eggs. Maurice continues to hug her from behind. The MORNING SUN pours into the kitchen covering Ellen and Maurice in a golden bath. CUT TO: INT. EMPTY STORE - AFTERNOON A large black man wearing a dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows TURNS ON a switch. A SET OF TUBE LIGHTS FLICKER TO LIFE. CARL STONE leads Maurice out to the main room which is presently a cob-web infested, barren space with a few discarded packing boxes left in the corners. Maurice runs his fingertips against the wall. MAURICE History and the arts will be here... His hand makes a grand swirl pointing to another area. He says the next two words with great awe as if he was saying something holy. MAURICE The Classics... Carl watches curiously as Maurice walks around in a trance. He moves to the bay window that over looks the street. MAURICE We'll have a hand-painted sign... (another grand swirl) ... Parker Books. Maurice's already bright eyes, brighten even more as he spots the security guard strolling up and down the front of the jewelry store. The guard catches his stare and waves. Maurice is aglow... He turns to Carl. MAURICE This is my dream... it's finally here. Carl has to smile -- rarely does he see someone so happy. CUT TO: INT. OFFICE ROOM - AFTERNOON We are in Carl's cramped upstairs office... just enough room to walk amongst the file cabinets. Maurice holds his pen over the documents before him. MAURICE I wish my wife were here. She should see this... (stalling) She had a doctors appointment in Blue Bell. That's a one and a half hour drive. Ellen's been going to that doctor since she moved to Pennsylvania... CARL (understanding) We could do this tomorrow? MAURICE Ellen gave me strict orders to sign it... We invited some friends over -- you see, for a celebration. Carl smiles patiently, he's seen this before. Maurice gathers his strength as he puts pen to paper... He scribbles his signature quickly and let's the pen drop to the table top as if all the energy drained from his body. He looks up to Carl with powerful eyes. MAURICE Every journey begins with one step right? Beat. CARL Enjoy your party Mr. Parker... Your new store will be waiting for you Monday morning. Carl and Maurice shake hands like best friends. CUT TO: INT. HOUSE - NIGHT A wine chiller sits proudly on the coffee table. The SOUNDS OF LIGHT CONVERSATION float through the room. About ten friends and family have gathered. Maurice sits on the sofa nearest the window. He's listening to the drone of TED PRICE. Ellen is not present. TED ... So she says the "L" word, after two dates, the "L" word! She says 'Don't you believe in true love? Love that can conquer all?' I say, 'Whoa, hold on. Just so we're clear on things, I think love these days is shit. It don't mean a thing and it don't stand for nothing. Shit.'... You know what she says, 'Fine, but how do you feel about kids?' Everyone near the SOFA LAUGHS. A CAR LIGHT DANCES ON THE CURTAINS... Maurice quickly pulls the curtain aside and watches as the car pulls past the house and around the corner. Maurice turns back from the window hiding his concern and without missing a beat... MAURICE It's nice to see you don't have any scars from your divorce. This brings on another ROUND OF LAUGHTER. THE TELEPHONE RINGS. Maurice rises from his seat -- but is waved off by ADELLE MATLIN who picks up the phone right away. Adelle is Maurice's niece, early thirties, very attractive and always smiling -- except at this moment. Ted begins another one of his stories -- the words are incoherent as Maurice watches Adelle carefully... Adelle turns her back to the room as she talks and then DISAPPEARS into the kitchen stretching the phone cord around the doorway... Something is definitely wrong. Maurice steadies his gaze at the door of the kitchen... eternal seconds pass before Adelle appears again. She looks different -- ghostly. She glances up for a fraction of a second locking eyes with her uncle -- she immediately looks away. Maurice watches Adelle move to her husband GERALD and whispers in his ear. Gerald changes instantly -- taking on the same ghostly transformation -- his eyes dart to Maurice. Ted's story is cut off as Maurice speaks LOUDLY... MAURICE What's wrong? The room goes SILENT as all eyes fall on Adelle and Gerald. GERALD (shaking) Maurice, can we go into the dining room? Beat. MAURICE What's happened to my wife? This hits everyone in the room like a bomb. A dread hangs over every passing second... Gerald crumbles under the moment... Adelle begins to cry. GERALD There was a car accident... Drunk driver. Some of the crowd reacts. A women covers her mouth. The moment is unbearable. MAURICE (to himself) Please God -- don't do this. Gerald cracks -- the tears start to flow from his eyes. GERALD Maurice, it was serious... I don't know how to -- Gerald buries his face into the heels of his palms as if trying to contain an explosion in his head. GERALD Oh Jesus, please help me... She didn't... Ellen didn't make it... Ellen's dead Maurice. Maurice closes his eyes shut tightly... like a child scared of the dark. Adelle blacks out, knocking over the wine chiller on the way to the ground. In less than a minute the room has transformed from a celebration to a mourning. Everyone is frozen staring at Maurice for their cue... A child in her mother's arms begins to cry as if aware of the circumstances. EXTREME CLOSE UP. Maurice opens his eyes slowly. The room stays still as Maurice stares at Ellen's HAT sitting on the piano. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. PARKER HOUSE - MORNING A "FTD" Florist truck pulls up. A delivery man, moves with an extravagant bouquet of flowers to the front door. He RINGS THE DOOR BELL. No answer. KNOCKS. No answer. The delivery man looks to the ground and searches, before placing the bouquet on the porch. WE NOW SEE that the porch is completely covered with flowers, bouquets and wreaths. The delivery man tip-toes his way through the maze of condolences and moves to his truck. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN - MORNING Maurice waits, as the SOUND OF THE FLOWER TRUCK FADES AWAY, then looks into Claude's cage. Claude sits on the highest perch and continues to call to his mother. Maurice stares at the pile of untouched food on the floor of the cage. MAURICE Eat the food Claude... CUT TO: LATER Maurice seated at the kitchen table. He looks at the bouquet of flowers still seated on the window sill. The violet orchids are all dead and shriveled up. DISSOLVE TO: INT. PARKER HOUSE - NIGHT The house feels abandoned -- lifeless. THE HOUSE IS SILENT EXCEPT FOR THE FRANTIC CHIRPING OF CLAUDE FROM THE HALL. His hopeless cries punctuating the air every few seconds. CUT TO: BEDROOM Maurice sits in a chair facing Ellen's wardrobe closet. The LIGHTS IN THE ROOM ARE OFF. The room is lit only by the LIGHT FROM THE HALLWAY STREAMING IN AT AN ANGLE. Maurice gets up and with a great deal of uncertainty, opens the closet. Maurice stares at the collection of hanging dresses. He reaches out and pulls the cloth of a floral dress towards him... He closes his eyes and smells the cloth... his face tightens in pain... both hands cling to the dress tightly... he tries desperately, can't fight it -- Maurice Parker begins to cry. His hands grab frantically at the rest of the dresses -- pressing them to his face and chest. MAURICE Oh God... I'm sorry Ellen... I'm so sorry... He hugs the dresses as if they were her. His weeping turns to a torturous wail of grief... all the love, all the anger spilling out in this one moment. He falls to the ground yanking all the dresses down with him -- they collapse atop him... He buries his face in his wife's clothes... The MUFFLED SOUND OF HIS CRIES ECHOES through the lonely house. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. PARK - MORNING The neighborhood park. The trees in full bloom. Maurice walks down a path leading to the open fields. Only mothers with strollers and the elderly are out this early. CUT TO: PARK BENCH Maurice is seated on a park bench. Across from him is an ELDERLY COUPLE -- in their seventies. The OLD WOMAN is frail with tiny eyes that disappear when she smiles. The husband is a skinny man with a baseball hat that makes him look like a little boy. Maurice watches them silently as they sit and hold hands... Their warm laughs and whispered conversations stinging him. He watches as the old man gets up. The old woman tries to make him stay, but he playfully pulls away. She shakes her head like a shy school girl as the old man walks back down the path by himself. The old woman glances Maurice's way. OLD WOMAN Good morning. MAURICE Good morning. The old woman glances at the empty baby carriage standing next to the bench. OLD WOMAN Is it a boy or a girl? MAURICE Oh, that's not mine. Maurice gestures to the woman and baby who are sitting on a blanket in the grass. MAURICE I don't have kids. OLD WOMAN You should. Children are a blessing from God. I have four. The old woman studies him. OLD WOMAN Are you okay? Beat. MAURICE Is that your husband? She nods, "Yes." MAURICE You look so happy -- how long have you been married? OLD WOMAN Forty-seven years. This hits Maurice hard. OLD WOMAN Are you married? This hits Maurice even harder. MAURICE (this is painful) Yes... Seventeen years. The old woman looks down the path for her husband. MAURICE Where did he go? OLD WOMAN He's getting my sweater from the car. I said there was a breeze. (shaking her head) I told him not to go. Beat. MAURICE May I ask you a question that might sound strange? OLD WOMAN Yes. Beat. MAURICE How do you know he loves you? The old woman looks at him oddly. MAURICE I mean besides... time -- how did you know ten years ago -- twenty years ago? She thinks hard... tough question. No answer for a moment then -- The old woman sees something out of the corner of her eye -- her husband is walking up the path with her white lace sweater over his arm... She smiles as the answer comes to her. OLD WOMAN Because he shows me... he's not much for words, but he shows me. Maurice sits back -- her answer lingers in the air like a haunting voice. Maurice watches as the old man comes back and drapes his wife with the sweater. The old woman waves as they continue down the path... hand in hand. CUT TO: INT. DOCTORS OFFICE - DAY An obese woman with a hacking cough sits to the left of Maurice... To the right, a man with a patch over his eye. NURSE Parker... Maurice Parker. The nurse sticks her head outside the glass divider till Maurice stands up. CUT TO: EXAMINATION ROOM DR. ROYCE checks a chart. Maurice watches him from his perch on the examination chair. DR. ROYCE So what's the deal Maurice? MAURICE Pardon? DR. ROYCE I mean why the sudden voluntary visit -- usually it takes gun- point to get you in here... MAURICE Routine, I assure you. I just wanted to gage my health. Am I healthy? DR. ROYCE Yes -- you are. MAURICE I'm going to ask you a question that may sound peculiar. Dr. Royce folds his arms and waits... What's this all about? MAURICE How far could an individual walk if they had no athletic training -- you understand, just an ordinary person? Dr. Royce stares at him suspiciously. DR. ROYCE I know what you're getting at. MAURICE You do? DR. ROYCE I've seen it before. MAURICE You have? DR. ROYCE You're feeling old and you want to start exercising. A lot of men your age feel the need to recapture their youth. Don't feel embarrassed about it. MAURICE (playing along) Okay. DR. ROYCE You should start slow and easy -- fifteen minutes a day. MAURICE No. How far in one attempt -- what's the farthest someone like myself could walk? The doctor is confused again. MAURICE Just for curiosity sake that's all? DR. ROYCE I don't know -- maybe twenty miles... Of course I'm not recommending that... if someone like you had to I mean... that's how far they'd probably get before encountering serious physical walls. MAURICE Twenty miles? I see. Maurice thinks about it carefully as the doctor returns to the chart. CUT TO: INT. AAA AUTO CLUB - DAY A hip young woman with her forehead wrapped in a headband chews away on a stick of gum. JOSELLE leans over the counter with Maurice and studies a map. JOSELLE Each inch represents 150 miles... MAURICE Making the grand total? JOSELLE Damn baby, relax. I'm getting to it. (taking on a rehearsed tone) From Philadelphia following the route highlighted to Pacifica California -- you're traveling an estimated three thousand two hundred miles... Maurice is a bit pale. He follows the yellow highlighted highways winding it's way across the U.S. MAURICE Three thousand miles?... How many times does twenty go into three thousand? JOSELLE What was that? MAURICE Perhaps there's another route? JOSELLE This is the route approved by triple A. Even if you followed back roads the entire way, you'd still be looking at roughly the same distance... Joselle studies his concerned expression. JOSELLE Don't worry baby, it shouldn't take you more than five days if you just stop to sleep and eat. MAURICE By car right? Joselle scrunches her face in exaggerated shock and takes a step back to look Maurice up and down. JOSELLE How else you gonna get there on the ground? Maurice gives her a sad expression. If she only knew. CUT TO: INT. NEW STORE - DAY The future Parker Books. The room sits as empty and barren as before. Maurice sits on the floor against the far wall. He stares at his new store. His gaze turns to the window where the guard strolls by. The guard doesn't notice him. Maurice looks terrible, his eyes red and framed by bags... his skin a yellowish white. He moves to his feet and TURNS OFF THE LIGHTS. CUT TO: INT. BOOKSTORE - AFTERNOON Kris unloads the last of a shipment of books. He moves to Maurice who sits by the window to the street. Maurice points to a chair across from him and Kris takes a seat. MAURICE Why do you want to be a journalist Kris? What sparked your interest? Beat. KRIS I want to reach people. Nobody listens to me. This is my way to reach them. MAURICE To reach people, you have to feel something first... You write about the wrong things. How can you feel for dog food? The people at the Gazette don't respect it, and neither do you. KRIS This is a ghost town. Nothing ever happens. MAURICE Write from your heart. That's why the classics are great. Beat. KRIS Why are you telling me this Mr. Parker? Maurice looks out the window and picks up an envelope from the coffee table between them. He hands it to Kris. MAURICE Your bus is arriving. Kris opens the envelope and finds money. MAURICE It's one month's pay. Kris gets up. A shock of adrenaline hits him. KRIS Are you firing me? MAURICE No. No... I won't be here for a while. The store will be closed in the interim. Kris grabs his coat, shifting his attention between the window and Maurice? KRIS You going on a trip Mr. Parker? MAURICE Yes. KRIS Where? MAURICE California. Kris moves to the door. KRIS That's cool. What day are you arriving? Beat. MAURICE I'm not sure -- sometime in January I think. Kris stops cold. The door to the street half-open. KRIS When are you leaving? MAURICE Tomorrow. Kris is seriously confused now. Maurice decides to end the confusion. MAURICE I'm walking there Kris. KRIS Walking where? MAURICE California. Kris' jaw hits the floor as the bus pulls to a stop across the street. Kris pulls up his sleeve and glances at his forearm. KRIS The hairs on my arm are standing up... Something strange is happening. MAURICE I always knew you had good instincts... (beat) Goodbye Kris. I'll see you when I get back. Kris hesitates before darting out of the store, across the street and into the bus. Kris takes a seat in the back and digs into his bag and pulls out the tape recorder. CLICK. KRIS Thursday, September 25... 'The Death Of A Spouse - Can It Drive You Insane?' CUT TO: EXT. WYNNEWOOD PENNSYLVANIA - DAWN A BRILLIANT RED HUE BLANKETS THE HORIZON. The suburbs come to life... Men and women leaving for work... School buses picking up their cargo of passengers... Store owners opening their businesses... CUT TO: PARKER BOOKS A group of eleven year old boys including the two kleptomaniacs we saw earlier, are standing before a closed door staring at a sign. They look at each other before heading down the block. The sign reads: CLOSED - OWNER OUT OF TOWN. CUT TO: INT. HOUSE - MORNING The house is eerily silent. Three things lay on the dining table. A shoulder bag filled with clothes. A carrying bag with personals. And a set of maps. Maurice checks the locks on all windows... He places all the food in the refrigerator into a trash bag... He pulls out a drawer and loosens a side panel, a wad of money flops out. Maurice pockets the bills... Maurice walks through the hall with a portable cage. He stops before Claude's hanging cage... no movement, no chirping. Maurice stares emotionally for a moment before reaching in and carefully removing CLAUDE'S LIFELESS BODY from the bottom of the cage. Maurice looks down at the lost pet in his hands. MAURICE I know how you feel. CUT TO: EXT. HOUSE - MORNING Maurice buries the bird in the backyard. CUT TO: DINING ROOM Maurice sits at the table... the essentials laying before him. He clings to a wallet size photo of Ellen. Maurice stands and gathers his things. CUT TO: EXT. PENNS LANDING - DAY Maurice stands at the edge of the water. Recreations of historical ships are docked in the harbor. The old fashioned sails and masts sway in the gentle breeze. The SOUNDS OF A STREET VENDOR catch Maurice's ears. He turns to see a funnel cake booth in a row of food stalls. CUT TO: EXT. TWENTY YEARS EARLIER - DAY (FLASHBACK) The harbor is jammed with people. A street fair is in full swing. The SOUNDS OF A LIVE BAND MIX WITH THE CRIES OF THE STREET VENDORS... MAURICE -- EARLY TWENTIES... Skinny, dark rich hair. He yells out from behind a booth of paperback books. YOUNG MAURICE Three dollars a piece... Two for four dollars! All the classics! A young woman emerges from the crowd of browsers. Maurice begins to speak but is caught off guard by YOUNG ELLEN'S beautiful features. Maurice manages a few words. YOUNG MAURICE Can I help you? Beat. YOUNG ELLEN My father owns the food stall over there. Maurice looks over to find an enormous man serving food. YOUNG ELLEN You look thirsty. Ellen places the soda she had at her side on the table. Maurice is completely flustered. YOUNG MAURICE Hi, I'm Ellen. Ellen places her hand out. Maurice grabs it instinctively and shakes. YOUNG MAURICE Maurice. Ellen looks at the full table of books. YOUNG ELLEN Not doing too good huh? Maurice nods "no." YOUNG ELLEN It'll pick up. I've been coming to these things my whole life... people don't want to carry things as they walk around... you'll sell as the fair starts to end... Ellen waits for Maurice to say something but nothing comes out. YOUNG ELLEN You don't talk much do you? YOUNG MAURICE I read a lot. Ellen's father BELLOWS FOR HER OVER THE CROWD. Maurice jumps at the sound. YOUNG MAURICE I better go... (Ellen starts for her booth) ... Come over if you get hungry. Ellen disappears into a sea of people. Maurice stands in awe for a second before snapping out. He shakes his head to himself. YOUNG MAURICE I read a lot? CUT TO: LATER - IN THE FAIR The people are filing out of the street. Maurice is a whirl wind of activity as people wave dollar bills at him calling out classical titles. Maurice glances over to Ellen's booth. She is watching him with a big smile. Maurice gestures to the line with a shocked expression. Ellen laughs. CUT TO: FOOD STALL The booths are packing up. Ellen helps pack away the remaining food. A book is placed in front of her on the counter. The book is "Romeo and Juliet." Ellen looks up to see a very shy Maurice standing before her. Ellen gives him a smile that melts him. MAURICE Are you trying to tell me something? Beat. Maurice eyes Ellen's dad who throws him deadly glances. Maurice is very intimidated. He whispers to her. MAURICE (barely audible) Walk with me? ELLEN You like to take walks? MAURICE No. But I want to take a walk with you. Ellen looks at him carefully... looks right through him. ELLEN You just said something very sweet. CUT TO: EXT. THE EDGE OF THE WATER - DUSK The water reflects the lights from the harbor. Maurice and Ellen are standing very close. MAURICE What are you thinking? Ellen looks out onto the water. ELLEN It's one of those thoughts you keep to yourself. MAURICE Please tell me. Beat. ELLEN I was just thinking that if we actually became a couple -- this was a beautiful place to begin things. Maurice is bright red. Ellen giggles at his shyness. Maurice gathers his strength and looks her straight in the eyes. Maurice leans forward and kisses her softly. CUT TO: EXT. PENNS LANDING - MORNING (PRESENT) Maurice, tears in his eyes, stands in the spot they stood many years before. MAURICE (softly) I love you Ellen. On this empty dock... on this hot day in September... with no witnesses and no fan-fare, Maurice Parker takes the first steps of his journey. SUPERIMPOSED ON THE SCREEN: SEPTEMBER 26, 1993 CUT TO: EXT. STREET - DAY A topless CHERRY RED WRANGLER JEEP pulls out of a mechanic's garage and moves down route 32. Kris Reddy is at the wheel. A "Daily Gazette" sign flaps from his roll-bar. Kris changes the station on the radio as his eye catches a man walking on the opposite side of the street... Kris turns back to the road -- mind racing... BRAKES SCREECH as the jeep slows and then RUMBLES over the island separating the lanes... making a U turn across a four lane highway. CUT TO: EXT. STREET - DAY Maurice wiping his brow with a handkerchief. The Wrangler jeep rolls up next to him as he walks. Maurice doesn't stop walking as Kris leans over the passenger seat. KRIS Phileas Fogg? MAURICE (looking ahead) ... Round The World In Eighty Days. ... Hello Kris. KRIS You're amazing... What are you doing Mr. Parker? MAURICE I told you. Beat. Cars HONK as they pull by the slow duo. KRIS You're walking to California? MAURICE Pacifica, California -- it's a coastal city. KRIS Oh, a coastal city. That's good. Kris looks around to see if anyone else sees the lunacy in this moment. MAURICE Ellen told me that she didn't know if I loved her. KRIS She knew you loved her. MAURICE She wasn't certain... I never really showed her. Beat. KRIS I'm really lost. What does this have to do with walking? MAURICE I said, 'I would do anything for her'... and she didn't believe me. I said, 'I'd walk across the country for her'... she didn't believe me. Maurice looks to Kris rolling along beside him. He sees the worried expression on his face. MAURICE I need to show her how much I love her Kris. KRIS Why know? MAURICE Because I should have shown her before... Everyday, I should have shown her. Beat. KRIS Pacifica, California... that's a long ways away. MAURICE So I've been informed. Kris tries to act calm, but it doesn't last long. KRIS Shit Mr. Parker. You can't walk across the United States -- it's over three thousand miles. Maurice takes his time with the response. Kris waves more cars to pass them. MAURICE Ellen got up every morning and went to the corner store to get me my bread for breakfast... Everyday. Now that's about a quarter mile each way... 17 years... that comes to about three thousand miles... (he smiles to himself) And you know what Kris? KRIS What Mr. Parker? MAURICE She never ate a slice. Maurice picks up speed -- surer with every step... Kris slows the jeep to a stop and reaches into his bag. The mini tape recorder goes on with a CLICK. KRIS Thursday, September 26... 'The Question We Never Ask - What Would We Do For Love?' Kris watches through the windshield as Mr. Parker disappears down Route 32. CUT TO: EXT. PARKER HOUSE - AFTERNOON The wreaths, flowers and bouquet have now tripled in number. They spill onto the lawn and walkway. A neighborhood dog rummages through the more colorful bouquets. CUT TO: INSIDE The abandoned house. A TELEPHONE RINGS CONTINUOUSLY. It stops after a string of rings. It BEGINS AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS. CUT TO: INT. BOOKSTORE - AFTERNOON The dark bookcases echo the RINGS OF THE TELEPHONE. The answering machine finally picks up. MACHINE (ELLEN'S VOICE) Hello you've reached Parker Books -- our store hours are eight to six... CUT TO: INT. ADELLE'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON A center-city Town house. Wall to wall books, "Cognitive Psychology", "Physiology of Behavior", "Abnormal Psychology", "Clinical Psychology", the titles cover every shelf and every tabletop. Adelle Matlin hangs up the phone, and moves to the living room where her husband is reading a paper in his recliner. ADELLE Something's wrong. I'm worried. Gerald looks on with an assuring smile. GERALD He probably just went somewhere. ADELLE Where? GERALD For a walk. I don't know. Beat. ADELLE Uncle Maurice? Are you kidding? He hates walking. CUT TO: EXT. MOTEL - NIGHT Nighttime. The empty street ECHOES with the TIRED SHUFFLE OF MAURICE'S FEET. Maurice stops in this tracks and picks up a CRUSHED COKE CAN FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. He places it upright at the place where he stands. Maurice immediately walks off the highway into a small MOTEL PARKING LOT. CUT TO: INT. MOTEL - NIGHT A motel clerk checks his wooden keys. CLERK Pool times are 11 am to 5 pm, there's cable in every room with two premium channels. HBO and CINEMAX. Pay Per View Channels can be -- MAURICE I need a bed and I need Tylenol... that's all. CLERK The room comes with two twin Sealy Posturepedics... but the Tylenol will be extra. Maurice stares at him with exhausted eyes. CUT TO: THE INSIDE OF A FLORAL PRINTED ROOM Maurice's shoulder bags are on the bed... The WATER IS RUNNING IN THE BATHROOM. Maurice gently moves his hands under the bathtub head, checking the temperature. He sits on the edge of the tub. Maurice peels off his shoes with great pain. They slide across the dull white tiles into the corner. The once well kept English Loafers could be mistaken for trash now. Maurice rubs his barefeet with both hands -- grimacing from the pain. The tub is almost filled. Maurice stops the tap. The steam from the water fills the room. Maurice raises his legs with great effort and submerges each leg into the steaming water. His eyes close with great relief as his body melts into the tub. Maurice lays his head on the side of the tub... It only takes ten seconds before Maurice's SNORING fills the bathroom. CUT TO: THE OUTSIDE OF THE QUAKER MOTEL ON ROUTE 32 The neon MOTEL SIGN THROBS RED. SUPERIMPOSED across this image are the words: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA... MILE 26 CUT TO: EXT. MOTEL - MORNING Maurice looks down the highway... eyes squinting to block out the sun. The road winds and dissolves into the horizon... Maurice looks back the way he came -- a second of indecision... the moment passes. Maurice takes a deep breath before moving to the CRUSHED COKE CAN. He moves to the exact spot where he left the road the night before and begins walking again... CUT TO: INT. NEWSPAPER BUILDING - MORNING The elevator BELL dings, letting off a cargo of newspaper personnel. FRANK AND SETH are two of them. They make their way to the desks... a sea of desks pressed against each other -- each desk has a computer. Frank and Seth come to their corner and stop before a young man, Phillies cap turned backwards, sitting behind an IBM 486 DX... fingers flying over the keyboard. FRANK Someone's got a hot story. SETH What time did you get in? Kris Reddy keeps typing. He spits out the answer after a few seconds. KRIS Five... Couldn't sleep. FRANK What's this one about Kris? 'Blinds or Curtains - The Eternal Question?' SETH No, no... 'Boxers Verses Tight Undies - The Battle Continues.' Frank and Seth crack up laughing. Frank reaches for the printouts... Kris immediately covers them with his hand. He stares up with a smile. KRIS Read about it on Sunday. CUT TO: EXT. STREET - DAY Maurice exits an athletic store in a small town. On his feet a new pair of sneakers. CUT TO: EXT. STREET - DAY Maurice as he walks down a winding highway. His new sneakers shuffling slowly. A SHARP PAIN SHOOTS UP MAURICE'S LEG. His knees buckle. The shoulder bags tumble to the ground followed by Maurice himself. From a distance it looks like he's been shot. Maurice grabs the back of his thigh and tries to straighten his leg out... His face frozen in a painful expression. Maurice rubs his legs slowly -- working the cramp out. He relaxes a bit as he finally straightens his leg. Maurice sits there motionless -- eyes glazed... defeated. The SOUNDS OF A BIRD snap him out of his trance. He looks up to see a PAINTED BUNTING, a bird about six inches in height FLY DOWN from a tree and land on a rock next to him. Maurice stares at the beautiful bird curiously. Its body splashed with brilliant blues, reds and greens. It looks out of place in these mundane surroundings. Maurice looks around the skies to see no other birds. The Painted Bunting chirps a few times before taking flight into the air. It circles over Maurice before disappearing behind the trees. Maurice smiles. He pulls himself to his feet with great effort. Maurice opens all of his bags and begins emptying the essentials -- the maps, food, a canister of water. Maurice reloads one bag and pulls it over his shoulder with great effort. At his feet, are the rest of his belonging -- piled on the side of the road. Maurice painfully begins walking again. WE PULL BACK on Maurice's figure walking on the highway... the pile of disregarded things laying by the side... The highway is endless... winding it's way for miles and miles into a fixed dot in the distance. CUT TO: INT. ADELLE'S HOUSE - MORNING Sunrise on Pennsylvania. Gerald picks the Philadelphia Gazette off the front porch. CUT TO: DINING ROOM Gerald flips open the paper as he waits before an empty plate. GERALD Smells good, honey. CUT TO: KITCHEN Adelle puts the finishing touches on a stack of pancakes. She sets up two plates and brings them into the DINING ROOM Gerald's eyes remain glued to the paper. Adelle comes to the table, holding the golden pancakes over the table. She notices the strange look on his face. ADELLE What is it? GERALD Adelle... Maurice is in the paper. She stares silently at the paper laid out on the table. The headline beams at her: A PHILADELPHIA NATIVE'S LABOR OF LOVE Adelle is shocked. She gazes at an old picture of her uncle printed underneath the headline. ADELLE Oh my God. She STORMS off into the kitchen with the golden pancakes. Gerald looks down at his empty plate longingly. GERALD Honey. CUT TO: INT. POLICE STATION - DAY SERGEANT DALLY pretends to be concerned. DALLY What would you like us to do? ADELLE Put out a P.B.S.... Or whatever it's called. DALLY A.P.B.... He isn't breaking any law. He's a grown man... He can crawl on his hands and knees to China if that's what he wants to do. ADELLE Sergeant, I'm a psychologist and I know the difference between normal whims people have and actions that clearly display psychological problems... My uncle lost his wife and it devastated him. DALLY We're very sorry about that. Some of our men were on the scene of the accident. ADELLE I think my uncle is suffering from a condition called Mania which is linked with depression. It is a time when an individual will act over-confident, and will act out impractical, grandiose plans. Sometimes these plans can be dangerous. DALLY How long does this... Mania last? ADELLE A couple days to a few months if untreated. Dally digests this information. DALLY Look, I'll see if anyone has spotted him recently. If I get any information, I'll call you. ADELLE Thank you. DALLY Don't wait by the phone. If he's really been walking this whole time, he's out of our jurisdiction... Adelle looks very emotional... on the verge of tears. DALLY Don't worry he'll be back. He's in his forties. He's had no physical training... He'll be back by the end of the week. CUT TO: EXT. HIGHWAYS - DAY A floating DOT moves along a flat stretch of road... DISSOLVE TO: EVENING The sun drops behind rolling hills. The DOT has become LARGER, sprouting arms and legs... DISSOLVE TO: NIGHT Darkness has fallen. The DOT has materializes into MAURICE. CUT TO: MOTEL A clerk hands over a set of keys in exchange for money. DISSOLVE TO: ROAD - MORNING Maurice walks back onto the highway and steps next to an old boot that has been used as today's MARKER. Maurice starts walking from that point. DISSOLVE TO: DRUGSTORE Maurice grabs two handfuls of small green boxes. He places them on the table. The cashier stares down at the eight boxes of Ben-Gay and rings it up. DISSOLVE TO: ROAD Maurice standing at the entrance to a tunnel that pierces the side of a mountain side. Maurice makes "The sign of the cross" and walks into the darkness... DISSOLVE TO: EXIT OF TUNNEL Maurice appears on the other side with a smile of relief. He's awed at the beauty of the landscape. Tiny clusters of buildings far in the distance wrapped in a blanket of green for miles on every side. DISSOLVE TO: MOTEL Maurice asleep in the bathtub. DISSOLVE TO: ROAD - DUSK It's raining hard like gun-fire from the sky. Maurice sits on the edge of a road rubbing his legs. His hair matted to his head. The rain pelts the ground in forceful waves. DISSOLVE TO: SUPPLY STORE At a cash register, Maurice slaps ten more boxes of Ben-Gay down on the counter. A teenage girl with braces looks at him like he's Charles Manson. DISSOLVE TO: MOTEL Maurice sleeps. His barefeet are propped up on his bag. His feet are swollen and red with fresh blisters. A pack of ice is wrapped around his knee with an old shirt... The picture of Ellen clutched in his hand. DISSOLVE TO: ROAD Two joggers pass Maurice as he sees a flashing school sign. It is a suburban town. The fallen red and orange leaves cover every flat surface. SUPERIMPOSE: ELKHART, INDIANA... MILE 598 CUT TO: EXT. SCHOOL - DAY A line of cars pulls around a semi-circle driveway. Maurice watches as parents drop off their children. A couple of ten year old boys walk by. BOY Nice sneaks. Maurice realizes they're talking to him. MAURICE They are? BOY 2 Sure man, High-Top Nike Cross Trainers with heel supports and air cushioned soles -- They're nasty. The boys keep walking. Maurice looks down at his sneakers with new-found pride. After a while, Maurice's attention switches back to the cars. One car in question catches Maurice's eye. A woman consoles a small child who doesn't want to leave the car. She wipes his tiny tears with her hand and hugs him tenderly. The little boy's head cradled in her arms. CUT TO: EXT. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) The Parker house many years ago. The house semi-furnished. Ellen carefully hangs her first bird photographs on the wall; a striking aerial photo of a GOLDEN EAGLE. Wings spread, soaring high over a mountain range. MAURICE I thought we both wanted the same things. ELLEN I've changed my mind. MAURICE You can't change your mind. Beat. Ellen takes a seat on the only sofa. ELLEN I want children. MAURICE You've just decided, is that right? ELLEN Yes. Young Maurice is visibly upset. MAURICE Ellen, there are two kinds of people in the world -- ELLEN Please not, 'The two kinds of people' speech. MAURICE ... People that were made to be parents, and people who were not made to be parents... My parents, were people who were not made to be parents but had kids anyway. I don't want us to be that way Ellen. ELLEN You can change. MAURICE Face it Ellen, I'm not the type of person who reads bedtime stories. But you love me anyway. ELLEN (upset) Don't be so sure. Ellen fiddles with her dress. She bites her bottom lip as she tries not to cry. ELLEN (shaky voice) What if something happens to one of us? We'll be all alone. Maurice loses his hard demeanor and moves next to her. He lays his hand across her shoulder. MAURICE Nothing will happen to us. It's a bleak picture, I know, but we're going to be together till were old and grey and you don't remember my name anymore. Maurice lifts her chin with his hand gently. She blinks her eyes and a tear rolls down her cheek. He takes a deep breath. MAURICE Let me think about it okay. Ellen brightens up immediately. MAURICE I'm not saying anytime soon. I'm just saying that maybe we can consider it down the road sometime. Ellen gives her patented glowing smile. She hugs him with all her strength. She whispers in his ear. ELLEN I love you Maurice Parker. CUT TO: EXT. INDIANA GRADE SCHOOL - DAY (PRESENT) Maurice walks away from the school, shuffling through the piles of leaves that block the walkways. A child and her father walk down the path towards him. Maurice looks away painfully. THE CHILD'S SOFT LAUGHTER POUNDING IN HIS EARS as he quickens his pace. CUT TO: INT. LIQUOR STORE - DAY JACKSON LIQUOR WHOLESALERS. For the kind of people who buy whiskey by the crate. Maurice has his map unfolded over the cash register. CASHIER I can show you the main roads, but that'll add ten miles to your trip. Do you mind ten miles? MAURICE I mind. CUT TO: OUTSIDE OF LIQUOR STORE The parking lot of the store looks like a used truck lot. Every kind of supped-up truck one could possibly imagine is on display here. Maurice passes a CANARY YELLOW FLATBED PICK-UP with a group of men drinking a newly purchased case of beer. Maurice gets about ten feet past them when he stops, hesitates and then heads back to them. MAURICE Excuse me, who's truck is this? The man sitting on the hood of the truck, has dark hair and hasn't shaven in days. This unfortunate gentleman is named DENNY. DENNY Mine. MAURICE Are you and your friends planning on driving soon? Denny gives Maurice a greasy curious look. He squints his glazed eyes. DENNY Yes we are. Who the fuck are you? Maurice, doesn't look scared, in fact he looks angered. MAURICE You don't know me from Adam, but I want you to do something for me. I want you to wait until you sobered up before you get behind the wheel. I know this is out of the ordinary, but one man to another, would you do me that favor? Silence. Then everyone in the group BURSTS OUT IN DRUNKEN LAUGHTER. DENNY Are you a preacher? MAURICE (seething with anger) No, I just don't want anybody dying because I didn't say something when I had the chance. Denny's face goes blank. No emotion. His steady gaze almost terrifying. DENNY I'll drive my truck shit-faced if I want to. You better turn around and walk away preacher. You don't know who you're talking to. Maurice looks around at the hostile faces and decides on a retreat. Denny watches Maurice with predatory eyes. CUT TO: EXT. ROAD - DUSK Maurice practically hobbles his way down a road lined by towering pines. He stops to take a drink from his canister and keeps walking. The SOUNDS OF A CAR GROW IN THE DISTANCE. Maurice doesn't turn his back. The CANARY YELLOW TRUCK pulls over the ridge with a load full of passengers. It gains distance on Maurice. Maurice hears the ENGINE and waves HIS ARM IN THE AIR -- signaling for it to pass him. Maurice walks ten more feet before turning around. Maurice's face instantly changes when he sees the demented grins through the windshield of the truck. Maurice turns and quickens his pace... The truck picks up pace... Maurice breaks into a run... The truck speeds up, passes Maurice and stops in front of him. Panic fills Maurice as he watches the truck unload it's drunken passengers. Eyes scan the forest on either side for a way out. Maurice decides to stand his ground. MAURICE (to himself) This is Indiana -- nothing's going to happen to you. DENNY You need a ride, Preacher? The men walk up to Maurice. MAURICE No thank you I'll walk. A tall lanky gentleman gestures to Maurice's shoulder bag with his beer can. Some beer sprays Maurice's feet with the gesture. WIL Where you coming from? MAURICE Look gentlemen, I'm late, I need to -- DENNY I've been thinking -- who the hell is this preacher guy? Coming up to me and my friends? Looking like he wanted to kick my ass for drinking? Denny gives Maurice that inhuman stare. Maurice is clearly frightened. DENNY Then I figured it. You're angry. You lost somebody, because some asshole was drinking. Maurice is frozen. DENNY Maybe you lost a son? A sister? A wife? Maurice looks up for a millisecond. Denny doesn't miss it. DENNY (stepping closer) A wife?... Did someone piss drunk run into your wife? Crushed her like a bug. Snapped her bones? MAURICE That's enough. Maurice is red with anger. Denny loves it. DENNY Oh the preacher's getting angry again... (Denny goes ice cold) Tell me something. Did she die instantly or did she feel every torn muscle and shattered bone? Were you there to help her? Or were you safe at home when the windshield sliced into her face -- MAURICE I'll kill you! Maurice swings. Denny easily avoids it. Maurice doesn't see the first BLOW COMING, IT HITS HIM IN THE CHEST -- Maurice gasps for air as he buckles to the dirt. Hands grab -- restrain. A POWERFUL KICK IN THE RIBS -- ANOTHER... LAUGHTER... ANOTHER SET OF VICIOUS KICKS... The road and forest begin to spin... A PAINFUL SLASH ACROSS HIS FACE... Maurice prepares for the next blow... it never comes. RED AND BLUE lights swirl... Maurice looks up, barely focusing -- a man leans over a car door... The image becomes clearer -- a POLICEMAN stands poised -- gun aimed directly at the men hovering over him. POLICE OFFICER (distorted and slowed) Step away from him now! CUT TO: INT. INDIANA POLICE STATION - EVENING OFFICER MERRIL GREY -- balances a phone on his shoulder as he spreads a new coat of mayonnaise on his hoagie. OFFICER GREY Need an I.D. check on a Maurice A. Parker... Grey reads Maurice's license. OFFICER GREY Driver's number 22 184 877... (listening) He was assaulted by a group of men just outside Elkhart, Indiana... CUT TO: INT. PHILADELPHIA POLICE STATION - EVENING Sergeant Dally, the officer Adelle spoke to earlier, listens on the other end of the phone his mouth agape. DALLY How is he?... That's good. Gesturing to a young officer at another desk to come over. Dally, cups the phone. DALLY Call Adelle Matlin... tell her we found her uncle. CUT TO: INT. PHILADELPHIA GAZETTE BUILDING - EVENING The sea of desks are empty. One empty desk is lit -- Kris Reddy's desk. THE CRACKLE OF A SHORTWAVE/C.B. UNIT FLOATS THROUGH THE LARGE UNOCCUPIED ROOM from an adjacent room. The VOICES OF DALLY AND OFFICER GREY ARE DISTORTED BUT AUDIBLE. WE MOVE TO the back room to find Kris writing furiously in front of an elaborate C.B. setup. He jots down the words as fast as they're said: "Maurice Parker... Elkhart... Route 80... Precinct 18..." The transmission gets cut as the phone conversation ends. Kris quickly rolls the chair across the room and grabs a map off the shelf. The map gets pinned under two coffee cups and a ceramic frog as Kris traces the route from Philadelphia to Indiana... He sits up straight in astonishment as his eyes hit the KEY of the map. KRIS Jesus -- he's walked six hundred miles. Kris glances at the hairs on his arm and smiles. CUT TO: LATER Kris at his computer and in the 'zone.' Fingers flying over the keys passionately. On his desk is a cardboard box filled with letters all shapes and sizes on the verge of overflowing the top of the box. One the side of the box are the words, "Labor of Love - Fan Mail." CUT TO: INT. INDIANA POLICE STATION - MORNING DAWN IN INDIANA -- the sun spills over the horizon. CUT TO: EXT. INDIANA POLICE STATION - MORNING Maurice and Officer Grey are seated on the front stairs of the precinct drinking coffee when ADELLE MATLIN DRIVES UP. Adelle steps out of a RENTED TOYOTA CELICA. Her tense -- frightened eyes betray her mental state for the past ten hours. She walks to the stairs. GREY Mrs. Matlin... good morning. Maurice slowly gets up. Adelle is in shock as she looks at the stranger before her. Maurice stands in a 'COLTS' football T-shirt, faded jeans and sneakers. His left cheek is black and blue, and his arm and side are bandaged. ADELLE Uncle Maurice, you're wearing sneakers? MAURICE High-top Nike Cross-Trainers with heel support and air-cushioned soles. They're nasty. Adelle wasn't sure what that meant. She shakes it off and hugs Maurice. She is visibly relieved to have him in her arms. GREY My shift ended an hour ago. Adelle notices the ROSE in Grey's hand. Grey catches her glance. GREY It's for my wife. ADELLE What's the occasion? Grey looks to Maurice -- they exchange a knowing smile. GREY No occasion. Adelle notices the WINK exchanged between Grey and Maurice. GREY You can use the conference room, if you want to talk. ADELLE That won't be necessary. GREY Fine. ADELLE We can talk on the way back -- I rented a car. Beat. MAURICE It'll be kind of hard to talk, since you'll be in the car and I won't. Adelle gives Maurice an angry glare -- Maurice holds his ground. GREY The conference room is down the hall on your right. CUT TO: INT. POLICE CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING File cabinets in the corners. A small rectangle table takes up ninety percent of the space in the room. Maurice is seated -- his legs extended straight on another chair. Adelle paces the front of the room. ADELLE And your store? What about your new store? What about all your dreams? MAURICE I have new dreams now. ADELLE I don't accept that. MAURICE Maybe one day -- after you've been married twenty years you'll understand. ADELLE Uncle Maurice -- I spent all our frequent flyer miles on a one way ticket here... I have a rented car outside, just listen to me. (beat) Come back with me now, and if you still want to do something like this in a year -- maybe we'll plan a car trip across the country -- Gerald and I will come along -- MAURICE I have to walk -- by myself -- all the way -- every inch. ADELLE It's impossible. MAURICE It's what she asked for... It's what I'm going to do. ADELLE She was being symbolic. What if she asked you to fly to the moon? MAURICE You'd be visiting me at Nasa. Adelle changes gears. She takes a seat next to Maurice and studies his legs and tired face carefully before uttering the words. ADELLE (whispering) What if you don't make it? MAURICE I'll make it. ADELLE If you really want to do this... plan it out. Rest up. Train for it. Build up your body. Plan every stop along the way. How much money? Time? Really do it properly. This is all so -- by the seat of your pants. MAURICE No it's not. ADELLE Why did you take the back roads here? They're not safe. You'd know that if you'd planned. Beat. MAURICE I've all ready gone six hundred miles... I can't do it again. ADELLE If you can't redo these six hundred miles when you're rested and ready, how are you possible going to walk another two thousand-five hundred miles in your present condition? Maurice is stumped. He looks unsure. He instantly looks on the verge of tears. MAURICE Nothing's going to happen. ADELLE Uncle, the way I was told, if that police car didn't happen down that road, you would be dead right now. That guy Denny, had jumped bail in another state, he's dangerous... They'll be other Dennys, if you don't plan. Maurice stares down at the table -- the life draining from him with every word she says. ADELLE Ellen, deserves you to do this right. Really make it -- if you're going to do it. She deserves it. CUT TO: INT. CAR - DAY The RENTED TOYOTA CELICA turns out of the police station onto the main road. Adelle holds a cushion in the air as she looks in the rearview mirror. ADELLE Do you want this? It's a long ride. Maurice is stretched out in the back -- his legs propped up on a blanket. Maurice shakes his head "no" silently. His sad eyes watching the passing scenery. The speeding car swallows up the miles effortlessly. Maurice watches the Jackson Liquor Wholesalers whiz by... The painful hills he climbed, gone, in an instant... The school where he watched the children being dropped off, swishes by in a blink... all those miles lost. Maurice shuts his eyes in pain. CUT TO: EXT. GAS STATION/REST STOP - DAY The rented Toyota Celica is parked at the convenience store. Maurice is seated in the back staring out at the eighteen wheelers that come in and out of the parking lot. He glances in to Adelle who is gathering food. Maurice's dull eyes are about to shut when something catches his attention. He sits up and stares out the window with great intensity. Maurice watches as a large truck pulls into the parking lot, across it's side in blazing red -- "Jackson Liquor Wholesalers - Since 1945" Maurice scans the area... gas station ATTENDANTS... A BEARDED HOMELESS MAN laying next to a heating unit... KIDS eating fast food on old picnic tables... Maurice's gaze steadies on the TRUCK, as the driver fills the tank with gas. CUT TO: A PHONE BOOTH INSIDE THE CONVENIENCE STORE Adelle is on the phone. ADELLE We'll figure everything out when we get there... Oh, he's going to need a lot of help with this... He wasn't even going to come with me, I had to tell him that he could do the walk later if he plans well... I know, but by that time I'll have gotten him some treatment... I just want to get back home before he changes his mind. CUT TO: CAR - LATER Adelle gets in the front seat of the car keeping the bag of food on the passenger seat. She starts the car as she talks into the rearview mirror. ADELLE You want something to eat? She stares at Maurice covered in a blanket with his back to her... an unresponsive blob. ADELLE I know you're feeling a lot of emotions right now. It's okay to be mad. It's okay to feel helpless. It's part of the healing process. I understand. I do. Adelle puts the Celica into drive and pulls out onto the highway. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ADELLE'S HOUSE - EVENING Evening in Philadelphia. The rented Toyota Celica pulls into the driveway. The front door of the house opens. Gerald walks out to greet them. A tired Adelle slips out of the car and hugs Gerald. ADELLE He was exhausted -- slept the whole way. Adelle and Gerald move to the back door of the Celica. They open it and stare at Maurice covered by the blanket. Adelle shakes the blanket. ADELLE Uncle Maurice we're home... Uncle Maurice. Adelle shakes Maurice, who stirs a little as he wakes. His feet slide out from under the blanket -- Adelle stares curiously at the ARMY COMBAT BOOTS that dangle out. ADELLE Uncle Maurice? Adelle pulls aside the covers... THE HOMELESS MAN, from the gas station, sits up. ADELLE'S SHRILL SCREAM BLASTS THROUGH THE AIR. Gerald and Adelle stumble back as the large, bearded man struggles out of the car and looks around the quiet neighborhood. HOMELESS MAN So this is the City of Brotherly Love. The homeless man raises his hand. He holds up MAURICE'S WELL POLISHED BOOK SOCIETY MEDALLION and kisses it lovingly. Adelle and Gerald stare back speechless. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ROAD - MORNING JACKSON WHOLESALER'S PARKING LOT. The truck from the gas station, the only vehicle parked before the store. CUT TO: EXT. ROAD - MORNING Maurice back on the road. His limp only slightly visible at this point in the day. The bandages rubbing him with every step. The highway takes him around a beautiful bend of trees. THE AIR IS FILLED WITH THE SOUNDS OF BIRDS. Maurice spots a YELLOW WARBLER, a striking bird about eight inches long with vivid yellow feathers. It sits elegantly on a nearby branch. He walks towards it -- it stays in position. Closer. The bird chirps back at him. Maurice is within arms reach of the bird. MAURICE Ellen would have loved you. Maurice looks closer -- and notices it's wings. The feathers bend back -- a dark area at the center. MAURICE How did that happen? Maurice watches the bird hop around the branch -- unable to fly. CUT TO: INT. PARKER KITCHEN - FIFTEEN YEARS EARLIER (FLASHBACK) The kitchen is a different color. The refrigerator and appliances are brand new. Ellen walks in -- something cradled in her hand. Maurice looks up from his paper to see Ellen move to the sink and lay a motionless bird on the counter. ELLEN (shaky voice) It must've hit the window... I think its neck is broken. MAURICE Don't bring it in here -- it probably has all kinds of diseases. Ellen finds an eye dropper from the table and fills it with water -- she lets a few drops fall into the birds mouth. CUT TO: BEDROOM Evening, just before bed. Maurice is reading. Ellen is monitoring the bird closely. It lays on the bedside table -- wrapped gently with a hand towel. A morsel of food is lowered into its mouth with a pair of tweezers. The bird stares blankly at the ceiling. MAURICE It isn't going to make it Ellen. Let the poor thing go quietly. ELLEN It'll make it. Her delicate hand rubs the bird's stomach. CUT TO: LIVING ROOM The GRAPHIC IMAGES of the TV FLICKER on Maurice's face. He glances back to Ellen who talks to the bird cradled in her arms. ELLEN (softly) You must miss flying. Being way up there in the clouds looking down at all of us. You miss that don't you? You miss playing with your friends and talking with them... In the SOFT LIGHT of the lamp -- Ellen has transformed into a mother rocking her child to sleep. CUT TO: KITCHEN Maurice is reading his paper. ELLEN Maurice! Maurice! Come out here. Maurice looks through the window to see Ellen waving to him frantically. CUT TO: BACKYARD Ellen points to the ground. The little bird awkwardly walks around the porch. The bird's wings BURST into motion -- flapping hard -- catching the wind. Ellen jumps up and down, bursting with pride, as her little child takes flight. MAURICE I don't believe it. Ellen hugs Maurice. ELLEN All he needed was love. Once you have that, you can do anything. Young Maurice and Ellen watch the bird soar into the blue sky. CUT TO: EXT. STREAM - DAY (PRESENT) Maurice is kneeling at a stream by the side of the road. He gently clears away the dirt from the Yellow Warbler's feathers. MAURICE You'll be all right. A couple days and you'll be up there again. Maurice carries the bird back to the trees. He lays it back on the branch. He stares at it's beautiful coat with a smile. MAURICE Ellen would have loved you. CUT TO: INT. ADELLE'S KITCHEN - DAY Adelle is on the cordless. Her fingers tapping on the kitchen table angrily. Gerald moves around her as he sets two plates at the table. ADELLE Yes I understand, it does sound humorous, but this is a very serious situation. Gerald is cooking. He gently flips the chicken breast in a butter and garlic sauce. GERALD This smells good. ADELLE Why am I such an authority? GERALD (under his breath) Here comes the resume. ADELLE I received my B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, my P.H.D. from Bryn Mawr College. I worked three years at the Boston University School of Medicine, during which time I had articles printed in the "Journal of Educational Psychology", "American Journal of Psychology", "Psychology Review" and "Science"... So I think it's safe to say my opinion is valid. Gerald brings the sizzling pan over and divides the steaming dish into both plates. ADELLE Look, please find him for me... Officer, I tried... but I brought back the wrong person. Gerald quickly scoops some rice onto both plates. His mouth is watering as he goes for the utensils. Adelle abruptly stands at her place. ADELLE Stop laughing! Gerald gets into his seat at the table just in time to see Adelle angrily hang up the phone. She stares off into space before unconsciously cleaning the table. Adelle picks up both plates of food... GERALD Adelle -- Gerald's heart sinks as Adelle pops open the trash can with a tap of her foot and dumps the picture perfect meal into the garbage. She goes to the sink and rinses the plates completely preoccupied with her thoughts. She mumbles to herself as she shuts off the water. ADELLE He says he admires him. Adelle storms out of the kitchen. Gerald sits at the empty table with a fork in his hands. He shakes his head in disbelief. CUT TO: EXT. MIDWEST HIGHWAYS - DAY The land is flat. From the roads one can see endless fields in all directions. When the wind blows, the crops bend in unison, changing the shape and texture of the land for a moment and instantly changing back with a snap of the wind. Maurice takes in the beauty of the land through a painful grimace. Occasionally clutching his right leg in moments of extreme pain. Maurice rests on an abandoned tractor by the side of the road and watches the wind change the fields. He closes his jacket as the gusts become stronger. DISSOLVE TO: HOTEL The clock clicks past 11:30 am. Maurice is still in bed -- the curtains drawn. He crawls out from under the sheets and downs two pills with a glass of water. He looks bad. His face pale, his eyes at half-mast. He wipes unnatural sweat from his brow and melts into the bed again. DISSOLVE TO: STREET Just after dusk. A small town's main road. Maurice quietly passes under the street lights. He stares up and tightens the hood on his parka as the first SNOWFLAKE falls into the SHAFT OF THE STREET LIGHT. Soon thousands of flakes fall into the light... DISSOLVE TO: GAZETTE BUILDING Kris fields calls frantically as the LIGHTS BLINK ANXIOUSLY on his phone. The front page of the Gazette is posted on his pin up board. It reads... "HE MARCHES ON..." Underneath is A PICTURE of Maurice standing outside his bookstore holding up THE BOOK SOCIETY MEDALLION proudly. A teenage boy gets off the elevator and maneuvers an enormous bag over his shoulder... emblazoned across his back are the words "MAIL ROOM." The boy comes to Kris and empties the bag on Kris' desk without a word. Hundreds of letters cascade down swallowing the table top and covering Kris who stares in awe as the letters keep coming. DISSOLVE TO: MOTEL Maurice is COUGHING PAINFULLY. He crouches over the edge of the bed and holds his side with every strain. Maurice looks worse than ever. His hair and shirt are soaked with sweat. The coughing attack stops. Maurice take a couple deep breaths before laying back down. His feet are visible -- sticking out from beneath the sheets. They look like someone has beaten them with a stick, swollen and bruised. They disappear under the sheets. DISSOLVE TO: SNOW COVERED ROADS that stretch into a white oblivion. SUPERIMPOSE: ELM CREEK, NEBRASKA... MILE 1,564 CUT TO: EXT. STREET - DAY Early morning. The branches of the trees are encapsulated in ice. The snow piled ten inches on every surface. Maurice, buried deep beneath three layers of clothes, looks around. His breath materializes with every step. He forces a weak smile at the magical landscape before him. White. Pure. Peaceful. The SOUNDS OF A VOLVO STATION WAGON urges Maurice to the side of the road. As it passes a little girl waves from the passenger window. Maurice puts on a brave face and waves back. Another CAR ENTERS the picture -- A DARK BLUE FIREBIRD rises over the hill in the opposite lane moving fast, too fast. SLOW-MOTION as the Firebird skids over the ice and the snow -- the driver desperately trying to gain control... The mother in the Volvo hits the BRAKES as the Firebird spins into her lane... Maurice yells out. MAURICE No! The cars IMPACT with a sickening CRUNCH -- BACK TO REAL TIME: The Firebird spins into a guardrail, breaking through it and coming to a stop in a bank of snow. The Volvo isn't so lucky. It flips from the impact... sliding on its roof, driving through the snow, down the road... It comes to a rest a hundred feet away. SILENCE. STILLNESS. The entire event took only seconds. Maurice runs frantically after the Volvo. The windows are SHATTERED. Snow has packed into the over-turned car. No one can be seen inside the vehicle. Maurice kneels down and punctures the wall of snow with his hand. His arm disappears up to the shoulder. His face grimacing with the strain. His arm comes out slowly... A few MUFFLED SOBS ARE HEARD BEFORE the little girl breaks through the wall of snow and slides out of the window. She lets out a DESPERATE GASP for air as Maurice pulls her out by the wrist. Maurice clears her mouth and face and watches as she coughs. MAURICE (panting) It's okay. It's all over. Maurice lays her gently against a snow bank, before moving to the other side of the car. DRIVER (O.S.) Is she okay? Maurice looks up to see the driver of the Firebird walking towards him. He looks dazed. Maurice doesn't waste another second and plunges his arm in the snow... deeper than before. His cheek pressed against the snow, almost laying flat on the ground. MAURICE (frantic) Oh no... she's wearing a seat-belt. Maurice fishes around... his teeth clenched... He lets out a POWERFUL GRUNT as he pulls back with all his strength -- a woman's WRIST appears first, then the tangled hair and then the body spills out onto the road next to Maurice. The driver appears over the Woman and Maurice and loses it when he sees them. DRIVER It wasn't my fault. It wasn't my fault. Maurice, out of breath, clears the woman's face and mouth -- no movement. No sound. MAURICE Come on... please... Maurice holds her nose and breaths into her mouth... MAURICE Please... She doesn't respond. CUT TO: A FRIGHTENING FLASH The mother's UNCONSCIOUS face turns into ELLEN. Her lifeless eyes -- her bruised cheek and forehead. Her neck at an awkward angle. Maurice stares down at his wife in horror. MAURICE No Ellen... don't die... CUT TO: THE MOTHER being revived by Maurice. He pushes her chest in counting... push, count, breath... push, count, breath... The mother's BODY TWITCHES, slightly at first -- then obviously... The mother let's out a FEW PAINFUL COUGHS. She takes a breath. Life quickly returns to her body. Maurice places her head in his lap and hugs her, lightly rocking back and forth. The tears streaming down his red face. MAURICE Everything's going to be fine Ellen. I won't let anything happen to you. I love you sweetie. Everything's going to be different now. The SCENE BACKS OUT as Maurice comforts this stranger in his arms. CUT TO: EXT. ROAD - AFTERNOON The police have descended on the scene. Traffic has been blocked off in both directions. The LIGHT thrown by the ambulances tints the snow and fields a THROBBING RED. Maurice's face can be seen in the shadows of the backseat of a police car. OUTSIDE THE CAR OFFICER HANSEN AND OFFICER TANDY converse. HANSEN What's his story? TANDY His name is Maurice. He's dancing around everything else. HANSEN Red flag, man. TANDY If he's in trouble with the law -- fine. Not our problem. He yanked two people from a car wreck, let's give him some space. Hansen looks in at the drawn, exhausted face of Maurice through the window. Hansen opens the back door. HANSEN Maurice, you need anything? Which way were you headed? We can drive you. MAURICE No thank you officer. I'll walk. Hansen throws a sharp glance to Tandy. Hansen turns back to Maurice. HANSEN Grub? Food? How about food? Our dime at the local diner... Maurice mulls this offer. HANSEN Come on man, you're a hero. In Nebraska we don't let hero's walk around with empty stomachs. Beat. MAURICE ... I need to be brought back here. HANSEN Deal. CUT TO: INT. DINER - EVENING The end of the meal. Maurice sits in a booth across from Hansen and Tandy. They watch as Maurice coughs violently into his napkin. HANSEN You look like shit Maurice. Maurice takes a couple strained breaths. MAURICE Getting old. TANDY How long have you been footing it Maurice? Beat. MAURICE Too long... (looks around) Excuse me gentlemen. Maurice gets up and heads to the bathroom. Hansen and Tandy stare at Maurice's shoulder bag laying on his seat. HANSEN Red flags man. TANDY Not our problem. HANSEN Why so vague? Why so evasive? He could be somebody hot. TANDY Not our problem. HANSEN It's going to look beautiful when he turns out to be that animal who paid a visit to the Steadman's house. TANDY This guy's not a murderer. HANSEN If he is, half the town has seen us take him out for dinner like a couple of jack-asses. That makes Tandy think. HANSEN If he's clean, he'll never know about it. Tandy looks to the men's bathroom door. TANDY Do it quick. Hansen instantly reaches over and begins rummaging through the shoulder bag. Hansen pulls out a little folder. He opens the folder to reveal an old certificate. Hansen shows Tandy the worn piece of paper. HANSEN A marriage certificate? Who the hell carries their marriage certificate around? TANDY Maurice and Ellen Parker... it was issued in Philly... Mr. Maurice Parker has come a long way from home. Why? Hansen returns the certificate and folder to the bag and leaves the booth quickly. CUT TO: LATER Maurice returns to the table to find only Tandy seated. Maurice sees Hansen in the phone booth at the far end of the diner. TANDY Hansen's whipped. Has to call his wife every two hours or she'll go ballistic when he gets home. CUT TO: PHONE BOOTH HANSEN P-A-R-K-E-R. Right. Get on the horn with Philly. Call me here. CUT TO: INT. PHILADELPHIA POLICE STATION - EVENING Sergeant Dally packs his things to leave. He sees the light on LINE 1 LIGHT UP on his phone. He ignores it. The clerk sticks her head around the corner. CLERK Line one Sarg. DALLY I'm not here. Dally zips his coat. CLERK It's the Nebraska state police. DALLY Nebraska? CLERK You know somebody named -- Maurice Parker? Dally freezes. He shakes his head as he unzips his jacket. DALLY (smiles) That son of a bitch made it to Nebraska. Dally grabs the phone. CUT TO: INT. GAZETTE BUILDING - EVENING The C.B. CRACKLES WITH THE VOICE OF SERGEANT DALLY AND THE NEBRASKA POLICE. MICHELLE, a very introverted intern, stares at the radio astonished. CUT TO: A SMALL SIDE OFFICE It now has "KRIS REDDY" etched on it's door. Kris looks up from his desk at Michelle who stands in the doorway bright red. KRIS What is it? Michelle just points down the hall. CUT TO: OFFICE Michelle scribbles down notes. C.B./NEBRASKA POLICE ... He saved a little girl, and her mother. Pulled them right out of the car... Kris stands, jaw hanging wide open. KRIS Where is he? Michelle checks her notes. MICHELLE (very soft voice) Umm, Elm Creek, Nebraska. Kris practically falls over. Michelle scribbles down more quotes. MICHELLE This story is big huh? KRIS Mammoth. MICHELLE The Gazette's small huh? Beat. KRIS What are you saying? This story is too big for this paper? MICHELLE (flustered again) Umm, no. It's just that -- KRIS God damn, you're right... You don't say much Michelle, but what you say is golden. Kris' mind is racing as the C.B. conversation continues. CUT TO: INT. DINER - NIGHT Hansen scoffs down his third dessert. Maurice stares at him oddly. The PAY PHONE RINGS. Hansen jumps to his feet too quickly. He tries to recover. HANSEN (too excited) I was expecting a call. Hansen moves to the phone. Tandy winks at Maurice with a smile. TANDY Whipped. CUT TO: PHONE BOOTH Hansen listens carefully to the officer on the line. OFFICER (ON PHONE) ... I'm on first name basis with half the city of Philadelphia... Hansen, apparently this guy Parker lost his wife and went a little fruity. I spoke with his niece, Adelle Matlin and she says to restrain him. That he's dangerous to himself. She says to call when we have him in the station. HANSEN Good work. CUT TO: EXT. POLICE CAR - NIGHT The ride progresses in silence. Hansen and Tandy in the front seat. Maurice's head is pressed against the back-seat window. His eyes begin to shut slightly as sleep overcomes him. The car goes over a BUMP. Maurice jars awake. He glances out the window to see a highway sign swish by in the HEADLIGHTS. 'ROUTE 80 EAST'. East? Maurice looks around quickly at the passing scenery. MAURICE Where are you taking me? Hansen and Tandy exchange looks. HANSEN I'm going to drop off Tandy at the station and then drop you back. TANDY That's all right isn't it? MAURICE Sure. Hansen looks back to the road. The drive continues in silence. Tandy checks his watch just when a CLICK -- A HARD WIND -- AND A METALLIC SLAM in quick succession shakes the car. HANSEN What the hell was that? Tandy looks back -- Maurice is GONE. The back seat empty. Tandy stares out the blackness of the back window. TANDY Shit! He jumped! HANSEN Jumped where? TANDY Out of the car. He jumped out of the god damn car! CUT TO: EXT. FOREST - NIGHT Maurice staggers through the naked trees. Thin trees every few feet with no branches. The snow ankle deep. Maurice braces himself against a trunk, checking his hands. His vision blurs as he stares down at his scraped bloody palms. The forest clears quickly into an open field. Far in the distance across the field of white is a small pointed building standing alone. The glow of a LIGHT can be seen through the windows. Maurice trudges through the deeper snow. Stumbling many times. The frigid wind pushing him to his knees. Maurice keeps moving -- the field seems endless... CUT TO: DRIVEWAY Maurice's feet hit the snow of the driveway, just as his legs buckle -- his face HITS the snow hard. He manages to roll over on his back with great effort. He stares up at the pointed building -- the dull light becoming duller... something blocks the light. A man. Maurice feels himself rise into the air as two powerful arms scoop him off the ice. A PRIEST carries him into the doors of a CHURCH. CUT TO: INT. BACK ROOM OF CHURCH - NIGHT A dimly lit cathedral. Six foot six, FATHER BERCHMAN walks down the center isle of the cathedral, through a cloth curtain and into a BACK ROOM where Maurice is sitting in a chair wrapped in a blanket. MAURICE What did they ask? FATHER If I had seen you. By the way I'm sorry about your wife. They told me. MAURICE Thank you... I'm sorry you had to lie. It must have been difficult. FATHER I asked the officers if you had committed some crime... If they had said 'yes', you would be speaking with them right now. This is the father's own room. Very sparse as one would expect. He moves to his bureau and retrieves some pills. FATHER Take these, and if you're up to it, try to explain how it is you came to be sitting here. Maurice follows the father's instructions and tightens the blanket around his shoulders. MAURICE I'm walking for my wife. Beat. FATHER To where? MAURICE Pacifica, California. FATHER From where? MAURICE Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FATHER I see. Beat. The father nods as if this is not shocking news. FATHER Why? MAURICE Do you believe a person's soul lives on after their death? FATHER Most certainly. MAURICE And that that soul takes part of the person they were on this earth with them. FATHER That's a reasonable assumption. MAURICE I don't want my wife's soul having any doubts. FATHER Doubts? About what? MAURICE About my love for her. The father nods with understanding as if everything became very clear with that statement. FATHER You don't have to prove anything to her. MAURICE I'm not proving to her. I'm showing her. And I know I don't have to. I want to. I've realized, love is about giving. I'm alive, I can still give to her. I want to give her everything I can. The father studies this stranger before him with great admiration. MAURICE There are some people, including those officers, that are trying to stop me. They mean well. But they don't understand. I wouldn't either if I were them. Maurice struggles with the last words. He slumps back -- physically drained. The father gets up and takes the empty glass of water from Maurice's hands. FATHER I want you to stay here a few days until you're better. You're no use to your wife in this condition. The father moves for the curtain. MAURICE You think I'm crazy too. The father turns and smiles warmly. FATHER I have spent my life dedicated to love. Love of God. Love of humanity. And here you are living through love. Bathing in it. Using its strength, its magic, its ability to overcome any barrier... If you are crazy, I hope my insanity is not far off. Maurice's eyes well up instantly. CUT TO: EXT. CHURCH - WESTERN HIGHWAY - DAY Father Berchman wraps one powerful hand around a tiny silver cross dangling from his neck. The other hand waves high into the air at the shrinking figure of Maurice Parker walking through the snow. DISSOLVE TO: HIGHWAY The long trek continues. The black tar of the roads peek out in spots as the SUN BEATS down on the flatlands. Maurice drapes his worn scarf around a melting snowman. DISSOLVE TO: RESTAURANT We are looking inside a fancy Center-City Philadelphia restaurant. Adelle and Gerald are seated by an enormous bay window. A waiter comes to their table with their main course. Gerald watches the food being served with great anticipation. Gerald's eyes drift out the window to the magazine stand on the sidewalk... He squints to see better. Realization hits hard... His eyes light up. He looks to Adelle and back to the magazine stand. In a mad race for time, Gerald begins to devour the food on his plate. The waiter and Adelle watch him in shock. Adelle glances out the window. Her eyes squint... then light up. She jumps to her feet and grabs Gerald by the arm, a fork full of food drops to his plate. Gerald looks back at his full plate longingly as Adelle pulls him out of the restaurant. The waiter looks out the window to the magazine stand. He squints. CUT TO: MAGAZINE STAND The NEW YORK TIMES are hung like stockings around the border of the stand. On the front pages, a singular headline stands out among the others: "A JOURNEY OF THE HEART" A large PHOTO OF MAURICE is next to the headline. DISSOLVE TO: DINER A red-headed waitress slices a credit card through the machine and waits... Green computer letters blink - "This account has been closed." The waitress returns with the card -- she shakes her head "No" at Maurice who digs into his wallet for cash. DISSOLVE TO: MOTEL Maurice slides two twenties across the counter to the motel manager. Maurice checks the remaining bills in his wallet... only a few bills left. In the motel room we find Maurice sitting over the edge of a bed buckled over in a coughing attack. It finally stops. Maurice flops back to the pillows, completely drained. DISSOLVE TO: ROADS The flatlands have vanished. The roads now serpentine through mountain ranges. VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN RANGE; Maurice moves like a grain of dust over the black line of the road. Maurice rests every half mile. He labors up every incline with ultimate effort. He braces himself with a branch serving as a make due crutch. Maurice spots a small town nestled in the arms of the mountain range. He begins the journey to rest. DISSOLVE TO: GROCERIES Maurice pays for his food with the last few bills in his wallet. DISSOLVE TO: ROAD Another stick serves as a walking cane. The multi layers of clothes have been shed for a short-sleeve shirt. Maurice follows a dirt road that breaks free of the mountains and into the open country again. SUPERIMPOSE: COALVILLE, UTAH... MILE 2,472 CUT TO: EXT. DRIVEWAY - DUSK A dust covered mailbox at the end of a long dirt driveway. Maurice wipes the mailbox clean with his hand. The name emerges like an ancient inscription from beneath the mud... "CALDWELLS." CUT TO: FRONT DOOR Maurice tentatively moving to the front door. His hand instinctively clutches his empty stomach. The wind blows gently. Maurice shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath. He opens his eyes slowly to see a dinner table being set. Potatoes, gravy, fresh baked bread... floating through the half open window to Maurice's thankful smile. THE SOUNDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS CAN BE HEARD INSIDE. The first LIGHT KNOCKS go unheard with all the commotion. HARDER. The door squeaks open. Maurice puts on his best smile... the door opens wider -- no one stands before him. BOY (O.S.) Hi. Maurice looks down to find an adorable little boy, black hair, big eyes and an even bigger grin. This is three year old ISAAC CALDWELL. MAURICE Well, hello. ISAAC I'm Isaac... I'm three. MAURICE I'm Maurice Parker... I'm much older than three. Are your parents home? Beat. Isaac thinks. ISAAC You know what, I can play baseball with my brothers when I'm bigger. MAURICE Is that right? ISAAC You know what... I'm just little now, but I'll be big soon. MAURICE You'll probably be bigger than your brothers. ISAAC Yeah! Isaac is happy with this thought. Maurice looks up as MRS. CALDWELL comes to the door. MRS. CALDWELL Who are you talking to Isaac? Mrs. Caldwell stops as she stares at Maurice. MAURICE Hello, I'm Maurice Parker. I'm just passing through and I need to conserve what little funds I have... I need some food and a roof to sleep under for one night... Now I don't look like much, but if there are any things that need to get done around the house -- Mrs. Caldwell doesn't listen, but instead yells behind the door. MRS. CALDWELL Dave... you're not going to believe who's here. Maurice looks at her oddly. MR. CALDWELL comes to the door; his face lights up. MRS. CALDWELL This is Maurice Parker -- the one walking for his wife. Mr. Caldwell is completely floored. So, for that matter is Maurice. Mr. Caldwell puts out his hand with awe. MR. CALDWELL If that ain't fate?... Hi, I'm Dave Caldwell. I do the copy for the anchor on the evening news down here. MAURICE Evening News? MR. CALDWELL We did a piece after your story ran in the New York Times. Maurice is truly surprised. MAURICE New York Times? Mrs. Caldwell ushers Maurice in the doorway by the elbow. MRS. CALDWELL Someone said they spotted you in town... Mr. Parker, you're a celebrity. CUT TO: INT. CALDWELL KITCHEN - NIGHT The Caldwell family dinner... all twelve of them. Ten children talk and reach for food. Maurice sits at the end talking, enjoying and sharing. Isaac sits next to him proudly. Maurice has blended in as another member of this family. CUT TO: INT. CALDWELL GUEST BEDROOM - NIGHT An inviting room. The kind prepared for visiting grandmothers and grandfathers to stay in. Maurice checks himself out in the mirror... his borrowed pajamas fit nicely. He moves to the window and stares at the moon lit landscape... enormous, endless, dwarfing. The rocking chair CREAKS as Maurice melts into it. He rubs his calves slowly, the pain evident in his face. His head leans back after a moment... on the verge of sleep. The SOUND OF TINY FOOTSTEPS stirs him. He looks to the doorway to find Isaac standing quietly at the door in his baseball P.J.s. MAURICE I thought you were asleep. ISAAC You know what... I remembered you were here and I woke up. Isaac walks silently to Maurice... Tip-toeing all the way. MAURICE Your parents would want you to be in bed. ISAAC You tell stories? MAURICE Oh no... I'm not good at that. Very bad in fact... Too late. Isaac climbs up into Maurice's lap with great effort. Maurice looks down at Isaac who waits patiently for him to begin. MAURICE I would be exceedingly boring. Isaac waits. MAURICE I don't do these type of things. Isaac -- still waiting. MAURICE See there are two kinds of people in this world. (beat) ... Just a short one okay? Isaac gets in position, cradled in Maurice's arms. Maurice searches for something to say. MAURICE There was a boy named Isaac who wanted to play baseball, but he was too small and no one would let him play... but he kept practicing by himself -- waiting... He went to every game and sat in the stands with his glove. ISAAC You know what... maybe I ran onto the field and hit a home run. MAURICE Who's telling this story? Isaac points to Maurice. MAURICE Good, now the team had this great big player -- Big Billy. He was the best. He had them in the World Super-Bowl-Championship of little kids baseball. But right before the game, the second best player on the team was suspended because he played a prank on a nice man who owned a book store... When that boy grew up he was convicted on burglary charges and spent fifteen years in prison -- where he belongs. Isaac didn't understand that last part. MAURICE Anyway, Big Billy needed another player so he yelled into the stands. 'Who can play baseball?' And there was a little voice that yelled out, 'Me, I can play.' Everyone turned to see a little boy standing with a glove. ISAAC (beaming) That's me. MAURICE Right. But everyone saw how small Isaac was and laughed... but not Big Billy. He stared at Isaac carefully and then told him to join the game. It came to the end of the game. It was the eleventh or twelfth inning or whatever is the last inning of a game... ISAAC Nine. MAURICE Okay nine. Big Billy's team was losing and he was on base. That's when Isaac came up. He could barely hold the bat... Big Billy winked at Isaac... The ball was pitched -- Isaac hit the ball hard. It soared up and out over the stadium. Everyone cheered. Isaac hit a home run and won the game. After the game, Isaac asked Big Billy why he let he play. Big Billy smiled and said, I wasn't always Big Billy, I was Little Billy first... Isaac and Big Billy went off after the game and read a classic book together. The end. ISAAC You know what -- that was a really good story... Tell it again. Maurice has to smile as Isaac looks up anxiously. MAURICE There was a boy named Isaac who liked to play baseball... WE BACK OUT as Maurice rocks back and forth in his chair. Isaac falling asleep in his arms. CUT TO: EXT. CALDWELL DRIVEWAY - MORNING The family dog "Max", scurries up and down with great excitement. Max can sense something big is happening. The Caldwell clan, one and all has gathered at the end of their driveway. Maurice is escorted out by Isaac who clings tightly to his hand. Mr. Caldwell meets Maurice halfway and pulls him aside. MR. CALDWELL That's a nice watch. Maurice looks down at his beat-up Seiko. MR. CALDWELL I've always wanted a watch like that. MAURICE (unstrapping it) It's yours. MR. CALDWELL No. I won't take it unless I pay for it... Let's see, that's a pretty nice watch -- I can see that. Maurice watches him suspiciously as he pulls out an envelope from his jacket pocket. MR. CALDWELL Let's say I give you what's in this envelope for that beautiful watch. Maurice is handed the envelope. He opens it to find a thick PILE OF CASH, TENS AND TWENTIES. MR. CALDWELL I really want that watch. MAURICE This isn't right. MR. CALDWELL This is my only chance to get a watch like that. It would mean a lot to me and my family. Please take it. It really isn't that much. Maurice stares into the envelope emotionally and hands over the watch tentatively. MAURICE This is a loan. Mr. Caldwell straps on the watch and then hugs Maurice. The rest of the family say their good-byes. Isaac won't let go of Maurice's hand as he walks out into the street. MR. CALDWELL Isaac, come back here. Isaac just holds on tighter. After Maurice and Isaac have walked a few steps out into the street, Maurice kneels down. MAURICE I have to go now. Isaac's bottom lip protrudes as he tries not to cry. Maurice has to hold back a few tears himself. He hugs Isaac tightly. MAURICE (whispers) Why didn't I meet you fifteen years ago? Maurice pulls away from Isaac slowly. Isaac runs to his mother's arms. Maurice waves good-bye to the Caldwells as he heads down the road. CUT TO: EXT. ROAD - DAY Maurice stops, bends down to the road and picks up a TORN WHITE PAPER STREAMER that spiraled its way to his feet. He looks ahead and finds both sides of the street lined with parked cars. Some of the cars are decorated with white streamers. CUT TO: OUTDOOR WEDDING A beautiful canopy of flowers sits at the end of ten rows of lawn chairs. Maurice watches from near the cars. He smiles as the young bride and groom nervously say their vows. Everyone LAUGHS warmly as the groom stumbles over his lines. CUT TO: INT. CHAPEL - DAY (FLASHBACK) Moments before the ceremony. The guests are seated. The ORGAN is PLAYING. CUT TO: SIDE ROOM Young Maurice sits on a chair in a tuxedo staring out the half-open door to an OLD MAN who tries to gain his balance by holding onto the wall. Maurice is upset. He runs his fingers through his hair. THE DOOR OPENS wide as Young Ellen comes in. She is wearing her WEDDING GOWN. White lace, tight at the arms and waist -- she looks stunning. ELLEN What's wrong? They said something was wrong? Maurice stares at his rented shoes. MAURICE I'm fine. Ellen moves to him and kneels before him. She lifts hi