FATHER'S EYES

Written by

Incognito_Informant

7/24/2020

Incognito1Informant@gmail.com
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived
forwards.” -Søren Kierkegaard

FROM THE BLACK WE HEAR--

The THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of a helicopter. PANTING.

FADE IN:

EXT. VIETNAM JUNGLE - AFTERNOON

JIMMY CORBETT (19) has a wide jaw, wavy hair, and is sweating
profusely.

Jimmy looks as the chopper flies right over him.

He covers his eyes as the sunlight shines down.

He spins the cap off his canteen.

Jimmy pours water on his face and into his mouth.

He shakes the canteen more and nothing comes out.

He puts the cap back on.

Jimmy reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small picture.
We see a family photo of a father, mother, and a baby.

From the brush, two Vietnamese soldiers aim their guns at

Jimmy.

Jimmy lifts up his gun...

BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.

JIMMY
Shit.

Jimmy’s eyes are WIDE, as he stares at blood gushing from his

chest.

JIMMY (V.O.)
So this is how it ends?

We stare into his eyes.

INT. ARMY BARRACKS - NIGHT

Jimmy is lying in his bed, reading a book.

 2.

JIMMY (V.O.)
What about my friends?

CHARLIE (19) is carrying a can of shaving cream and a big

grin. He points over to...

CONNOR (19) who is sleeping, mouth open, hand hanging off his
bed.

Charlie tip-toes over to Connor. Jimmy follows.

PPSSSSHHHWWW. The shaving cream pours out into Connor’s palm.

Charlie turns around to another sleeping PERSON and pulls a

feather out of their pillow.

He uses the feather to tickle Connor’s nose.

Jimmy and Charlie laugh as Connor unconsciously smears

shaving cream over his face.

JIMMY (V.O.)
Will they be okay? Are they okay?

EXT. ARMY DEPLOYMENT STATION - DAY

There’s a caravan of five parked buses and hundreds of people

surrounding.

JIMMY (V.O.)
And how will my momma take it? I’m
her only son.

Jimmy is dressed in his uniform and his mother, SAIORSE (40),

is wearing a reserved, flowery dress.

We watch Jimmy throw a big duffle bag under the bus.

Jimmy wades into the crowd and heads towards Saiorse.

JIMMY (V.O.)
Could I at least say goodbye one
last time?

Saiorse begins to cry.

JIMMY
Oh, momma.

Jimmy wipes away her tears.

JIMMY (CONT'D)
It’s gonna be okay.
 3.

SAIORSE
I love you sweetie.

JIMMY
I love you mom.

They hug. Saiorse hugs so tight. Maybe if she hugs tighter

she can actually stop him from going. But she can’t.

Jimmy releases the hug and holds her by the shoulders.

JIMMY (CONT'D)
Really, I am going to be fine. I am
going to write and keep you updated
on everything.

SAIORSE
You’d better write every day.

JIMMY
I’ll do my best.

SAIORSE
I am sad you’re going but I know
you’re doing something good. I just
love you so much. I’m so proud of
you.

They hug again.

The bus HONKS twice.

They break their hug and look over at the bus.

BUS DRIVER
Last call for Fort Dix!

Jimmy and Saiorse look back at each other.

SAIORSE
I’m going to miss you.

JIMMY
Me too.

Jimmy kisses his mother on the cheek.

Then he walks over to the bus and steps on.

INT. ARMY BUS - CONTINUOUS

Jimmy takes a window seat and looks out in the large crowd,
to spot the reserved, flowery dress.
 4.

He waves.

JIMMY (V.O.)
Can I see her again?

EXT. ARMY DEPLOYMENT STATION - CONTINUOUS

Saiorse spots Jimmy waving from the bus.

She waves back.

EXT. ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL - NIGHT

Jimmy, in a blue suit, is walking out of the school with...

KAITLYNN (18), who has freckles and curly red hair, and is
holding up her long, red dress.

JIMMY (V.O.)
I’ve only had one shot at love.

Behind them is the school entrance with a sign saying “Class

of 1968 Prom.”

They are giggling as they walk over to Jimmy’s car.

INT. JIMMY’S CAR - NIGHT

Kaitlynn looks into Jimmy’s eyes. They kiss.

KAITLYNN
I love you.

JIMMY
I love you too.

KAITLYNN
Come to Binghamton with me.

JIMMY
I can’t.

KAITLYNN
What do you mean?

JIMMY
I leave for basic training in a
month.

KAITLYNN
What does that mean for us?
 5.

JIMMY
I’ll still love you, but I think
it’d best if you move on.

Tears begin to roll from Kaitlynn’s eyes.

KAITLYNN
But--

JIMMY
You can’t be worrying about me when
you should be worrying about your
classes.

KAITLYNN
Will you at least write?

JIMMY
I think it’s best you completely
move on.

Kaitlynn reaches for her purse and pulls out a little box.

KAITLYNN
I got you this. Now, it’s something
for you to remember me by.

Inside is a GOLD CROSS. He rubs it. He’s choked up.

JIMMY
I’ll always remember you.

They hug.

JIMMY (V.O.)
I wonder how she is now. Has she
found someone?

INT. LIVING ROOM - CORBETT FAMILY HOME - DAY

Jimmy is sitting on the couch watching Gunsmoke, a western TV

show.

JIMMY (V.O.)
This show’s been on for 13 years.
Will it outlive me?

SAIORSE (38) walks out from the kitchen, and heads for the
front door.

After a moment, Jimmy’s eyes widen. He shoots up and heads

for the front door.
 6.

Saiorse is holding the mail. She’s flipping through the

letters as Jimmy watches.

She gets to a letter with the seal of the U.S. Army.

JIMMY
You weren’t supposed to see that.

She opens the letter and reads what’s inside.

SAIORSE
You’ve enlisted?

JIMMY
Yes...I’m sorry you found out this
way.

Saiorse begins to cry. Jimmy holds her close.

SAIORSE
What about your father?

JIMMY (V.O.)
That was really dumb of me.

EXT./INT. GUIDANCE OFFICE - ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

We see Jimmy wearing washed denim jeans and a plaid shirt.

He is walking down the hallway and enters a room with a sign

on the door: “Guidance Office.”

JIMMY (V.O.)
Other than my parents, and grammy,
Mr. Daugherty was someone who
really believed in me.

He walks through the office and arrives outside Mr.

DAUGHERTY’s personal office.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Mr. Daugherty (32), is wearing a white pocket shirt with a

black tie. There’s a pen in his shirt pocket and he’s wearing
horn-rimmed glasses.

DAUGHERTY
Come on in.

Jimmy takes a seat opposite Mr. Daugherty.

JIMMY
How are you Mr. Daugherty?
 7.

DAUGHERTY
I’m doing very well Jimmy. How
about yourself?

JIMMY
Good.

DAUGHERTY
Great. Well, I wanted to meet with
you today to talk about your
future.

Jimmy nods along.

DAUGHERTY (CONT'D)
Now, I want to be completely honest
with you if that’s ok?

JIMMY
Please.

DAUGHERTY
You don’t really have the grades to
get into any big or top of the line
colleges, but you might be able to
swing getting into some mid or
lower tier colleges.

Again, Jimmy nods.

DAUGHERTY (CONT'D)
That said, I also took into
consideration your financial
situation. And with your government
benefits, if you were to attend a
mid to lower tier college or
university, you could likely go for
free.

Daugherty slides his chair closer to Jimmy and leans in.

DAUGHERTY (CONT'D)
Now, my personal recommendation
would be that you give it a shot
and apply. Having a bachelors these
days, no matter where it’s from, is
valuable and it can really help
you.

Daugherty lower’s his speaking volume and looks directly at

Jimmy’s eyes.
 8.

DAUGHERTY (CONT'D)
Going to college is the most sure
fire way to get a draft deferment
for someone in your position.

JIMMY
I appreciate your help Mr.
Daugherty. I really do.

Jimmy adjusts his posture to sit up straight.

JIMMY (CONT'D)
But I was thinking I’d actually
enlist in the Army.

Daugherty leans back in his chair.

DAUGHERTY
Well.

JIMMY
Listen, I know it’s dangerous, but
I feel this need to do it. I’ve
felt this way for years. There’s
something deep inside me that
decided I am going to do this.

DAUGHERTY
Listen. I’m a guidance counselor,
not a decision maker. That’s you.
But I want you to know that I
believe you can get into college,
excel, and go out into the world
and really make something of
yourself.

JIMMY
I’m gonna.
(beat)
By serving my country.

Daugherty stands up and walks over to Jimmy.

DAUGHERTY
Well kid, I got a whole helluva
lotta respect for you and your
decision. Make your country proud,
and be sure to write, okay?

JIMMY
I will.

JIMMY (V.O.)
Maybe he was right?
 9.

EXT. CORBETT FAMILY HOME - DAY

There’s a beautiful, recently cut, green lawn surrounding

this Levitt house, which looks exactly the same as all the
others on the street.

JIMMY (V.O.)
I loved our quaint little home.
Especially in the fall.

A lone tree’s leaves are turning to a bright orange.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CORBETT FAMILY HOME - CONTINUOUS

There’s picture of two young parents and a baby.

The calendar is open to October. The first and second are

crossed out.

A color photo shows a young United States Army officer in

uniform. He has beautiful blue eyes and an infectious smile.

YOUNG JIMMY (3), is sitting criss-cross as he watches The

Cisco Kid, a western, on the television. He has the same blue
eyes as the ones in the photo of the older officer.

JIMMY
I really did like Western’s, huh?

SAIORSE (25), Jimmy’s mother, enters and is flipping through

envelopes.

AILEEN (54), Jimmy’s grandmother, is sitting on the couch

watching Jimmy.

Saiorse sits down next to Aileen.

The last envelope has the seal of the United States Army.

Saiorse TEARS it open. She sighs as tension in her face is

released.

SAIORSE
Jimmy come here sweetie, it’s a
letter from your father.

Jimmy turns his head so fast it almost flies off.

YOUNG JIMMY
Papa?

Jimmy runs over to the couch and plops himself next to

Saiorse.
 10.

Saiorse is holding a letter dated “September 15th, 1952.”

SAIORSE
(to Jimmy)
Would you like me to read it to
you?

YOUNG JIMMY
Yes, please.

SAIORSE
Dear Saiorse and Jimmy...

YOUNG JIMMY
That’s me.

SAIORSE
I am doing very well in Korea. So
well in fact that I have become
quite a mogul, as I have been
hoarding candy bars. Men treat a
single candy bar like a one-hundred
dollar bill here. But I’ve only
amassed so many because I’m saving
them for you.

Jimmy leans against his mother and she rubs his head as she
continues to read.

JIMMY
Mommy?

SAIORSE
Yes, my sweetness?

YOUNG JIMMY
Where’s daddy?

SAIORSE
Well, I’m not sure exactly. He does
say he is going to be going to
Pyongyang real soon though.

AILEEN
Why’s that?

SAIORSE
He writes that they’re hoping to
capture the city, and if they do it
might end the war.

AILEEN
Well that would be a blessing from
heaven.
 11.

SAIORSE
I pray that this is true.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CORBETT FAMILY HOME - DAY - WEEKS LATER

Jimmy is once again seated criss-cross applesauce as he

watches The Cisco Kid. Except, now, he’s dressed as a cowboy.

The calendar is still open to October. Now all of the days

are crossed out except the 31st, where there’s a drawing of a
Jack-o-lantern.

We can see into the kitchen where Saiorse is preparing

dinner.

Then there’s the sound of a car pulling into the drive way
and then two doors slam.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Saiorse walks over to the door with a bowl of candy. Young

Jimmy follows shortly after.

There are two United States Army officers standing at the

door.

Young Jimmy stands and listens.

OFFICER
Good evening ma’am.

The officer takes off his hat.

OFFICER (CONT'D)
I’m afraid your husband, Sean
Corbett, was killed-in-action on
October 12th, during the Battle of
White Horse.

Everything goes silent.

The bowl of candy falls to the floor.

Sobbing, Saiorse turns around to Young Jimmy, grabs his hand,

and hugs him. Jimmy is overwhelmed, and is crying because his
mother is.

JIMMY (V.O.)
I really wished that was a trick.

We travel through Young Jimmy’s eyes and come out to...

 12.

EXT. KOREAN FOREST - DAY

SEAN (26), an Irish-man with a wide jaw and curly hair that
peers out from under his helmet, is hiding behind a tree.

He runs out from behind the tree a few feet forward, only to
hide behind another tree. He does this again. And again.

He gets an angle on a Chinese soldier over twenty yards away.

He aims his rifle. BANG. The Chinese soldier falls over.

Again, Sean runs out from behind a tree. BANG.

Sean hides behind a tree. His left hand is covering a spot on

his right thigh. Blood is seeping out from under his hand.

He peers out from behind the tree. He sees a rifle sticking

out from behind a distant tree.

He aims his sights on the tree. BANG. BANG.

Sean sits down, back against the tree. He closes his eyes and
takes a deep breath.

Again, he turns around and aims. BANG.

A CHINESE SOLDIER lowers his gun and sees a body lying on the
ground.

We stare deep into Sean’s fading eyes. They take us back

to...

EXT. VIETNAM JUNGLE - DAY

Jimmy lies on the ground, as we stare into his lifeless eyes.

JIMMY (V.O)
My time’s come. I’m a soldier
now...forever. I’ll hold this gun
‘til kingdom come.

THE END