The Kite Runner Adapted by David Benioff From the novel by Khaled Hosseini June 11, 2006BXT. LAKE ELIZABETH PARK - DAY 1 TITLE CARD: California, 2000 We trail a five-year-old BOY as he runs toward Lake Blizabeth. A lamentation of swans occupies the muddy bank, cleaning themselves, paddling in the shallow water and trumpeting their alarms. The cygnets huddle around their mothers. The boy runs into the midst of the birds and they rise with a terrible beating of wings, squawking as they fly, a great and violent explosion of white feathers. AMIR (34) stands by the lake, watching the swans. He has a certain elegance, a professorial demeanor heightened by the smattering of gray in his thick, dark hair. He walks back to a picnic area where dozens of AFGHAN- AMERICANS grill lamb, drink tea, and gossip. Elsewhere in the park, FOLKS of all ethnicities relax and enjoy the sunshine. CHILDREN are everywhere, playing soccer in the grass, eating yoghurt and cookies, chasing each other in games of tag. Amir sees his wife, SORAYA, standing apart from the others, watching the children. Her thick black eyebrows are like the arched wings of a flying bird. Amir takes her hand, Alone together, they walk away from the picnic, away from the laughing children and the bored mothers gnawing on chicken bones. EXT, VESTIBULE, AMIR'S BUILDING ~ DAY 2 A package waits beneath the mailboxes. Soraya checks the label and hands the box to Amir. SORAYA Is that what I think it is? amir checks the label and nods. Clearly this is a significant package and they're both excited, though perhaps Soraya's happiness is a bit more forced than Amir's. SORAYA (cont'd) Are you nervous? They head up the stairs. (CONTINUED )