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FADE IN:
More crowds of people enter from the stairs into the overly
packed lobby. The wall hung with inspirational quotes, a
series of actors' portraits. A playbill that says, "A foreign
fugitive".
CUT TO:
JASON
Thanks, do you think people in the
cast think I'm holding them up too
much?
JESSICA
Yes, you kept asking if it was good
enough instead of doing something
about it.
JASON
Oh, well do you think Matthew was
happy with the speech at least?
JESSICA
Sure, now get in costume, I don't
want you holding us up on the
opening night.
Jessica walks off as Jason is reading the note.
JASON
Yeah, I just wanted your...
Jason takes the note and crumples it into his pants pocket.
He Shuffles by actors as if not to be seen.
Jason is stopped by, MATTHEW (21), he appears bright, driven,
and in control. He is glowing in a white t-shirt. Leaving the
conversation he was having and approaches Jason.
MATTHEW
Jason! Excuse me one moment. Where
are you going? I want you to go
over that speech for me.
JASON
I was just gonna do that, I just
need to get some fresh air.
MATTHEW
Did you see the new notes I had for
you, I told Jessica to give them to
you.
JASON
Yeah, I read them over.
MATTHEW
It makes sense right? About you
giving the speech to the audience?
3.
JASON
To the audience...Hey, would you
mind telling me if you think I'm
ready for tonight?
MATTHEW
What do you mean?
JASON
I don't know, maybe if I didn't
know that mom and Derrick are
coming I'd be less anxious.
MATTHEW
No, no it's fine, they're just...
they can't wait to see you. All
they do is talk about you and
tonight therein for one surprise.
JASON
Surprise?
JESSICA (O.S.)
House is open!
MATTHEW
I meant show, now I need you to get
dressed and go over that speech
some more, got it?
JASON
Yeah... got it.
Jason begins to walk off but Matthew stops him.
MATTHEW
What's the matter?
JASON
(casually)
Nothing, I just... no I'm good,
let's do it.
MATTHEW
Alright, don't go anywhere so no
one thinks you left.
JASON
OK.
MATTHEW
You're gonna do great, don't worry
so much.
4.
JASON
(sincerely)
Yeah, I will... Thank you.
As John exits into the bathroom. Jason turns looking into the
empty lobby and smiles. As Jason begins to walk to the
downstairs door, the double doors are opened and he catches
something out of the corner of his eye.
It is DERRICK (43), solid and optimistic, yet has a naivety
to him, dressed in light colors, and JANE (43), appears to be
very shy and withdrawn, dressed in all black. They make eye
contact with Jason. Jason smiles, but Jane checks her watch
and pretends not to notice, and leads Derrick to the stairs.
DERRICK
Jason...What are you doing here, we
didn't know you came to watch your
brothers play?
JASON
He didn't tell you I was gonna be
here?
DERRICK
Oh, no sorry, Jason he didn't but
that's great, you're here...you
look good!
JASON
Thanks...Hi mom.
JANE
(Politely)
Hi, Jason.
DERRICK
So you'll be sitting up there in
the audience then? Why not sit with
us? If your mom would want to?
JASON
Oh, no that's fine I came with a
friend, so I wouldn't want to leave
him behind or anything...
DERRICK
That's great you have, I mean you
brought a friend with you...
JANE
I think the show is starting to
begin, let's get up there now,
don't want to be late.
6.
DERRICK
Oh, let's try and say hi to Matthew
before his show starts.
(Pause)
So we'll see you up there then I
guess?
JASON
Yeah, you will.
DERRICK
It's good to see you again, Jay.
Jane begins to walk up the stairs as Derrick follows. Jason
stands still looking at them, Derrick gives him a wave.
Jason slowly walks out the double doors.
Lost in thought, his eyes shift back and forth. He looks down
the long gravel road and shakes his head as he takes another
drag.
The door to the theater opens and it is Jane. She walks down
the steps as she pulls a pack of cigarettes from her purse
and lights one.
Jason notices and shuffles behind the corner, staring at her.
Time passes, he is glaring at her. They simultaneously smoke.
The door of the theater opens again and it is Derrick
followed by Matthew. Jane immediately puts out her cigarette
and embraces Matthew and they speak joyously. Finally, they
all three enter the doors.
Jason slowly walks to the doors, peeping in, and enters.
JASON
You lied to me, Matt. They had no
idea I was gonna be here.
MATTHEW
What? Of course, they knew, you
know how she can be.
JASON
I just saw them.
(beat)
Why wouldn't you tell them that I'm
in your show, that you wanted me
in!
MATTHEW
(whispered)
Look can we talk about this after?
JASON
I just wanted them to want to come
to the show knowing that I was in
it.
MATTHEW
(whispered)
Look, I'm sorry but now they do
know, and they're still here. Now,
please Jay, get dressed... for me.
We only have so much time left.
Jason begins to exit.
JASON
Fine. Thanks, Matt.
MATTHEW
Jay don't be like this...we're
here, we did it, together.
Jason exits.
MATTHEW
All right, I need all of you
changed for Act 2, and... no,
that's all.
(Beat)
That's all, let's go, let's go
people we have a show to finish!
Actors scurry off down the steps. Matthew shakes a stage cart
and drops to the ground.
JASON
Thank you.
(Pause)
I guess you didn't know that I was
actually in the play?
JANE
No, we never spoke about you...
JASON
Never?
JANE
Sorry, Jason, I didn't mean it like
that, of course, we spoke about
you.
JASON
Yeah... it's been a while I guess.
JANE
That's okay, it's good to see you,
with your brother again.
JASON
Yeah, it's good to see him and
you...
Jason steps a foot closer to Jane.
JANE
Well, maybe we should get going,
don't want to miss the show...
JASON
Maybe we can just talk for a
second, mom, it's been two years.
JANE
Oh, Jason, I think maybe it's time
I get back up there, Derrick is
waiting on me.
JASON
Are you mad at me for not telling
you, I was going to leave?
JANE
Jason, this isn't a proper time to
talk about this. Now please, I must
get back-
12.
JASON
I'm sorry, OK, I'm sorry I left, I
just needed to get away for a
while.
JANE
That's alright Jason, I'll be
seeing you up there now...
JASON
Just... would you say something to
me, please mom, something!
JANE
Jason, I'm sorry but I have to go
back in...goodbye now.
Jane paces up the steps and into the door. Jason looks dazed
and slowly begins to around the corner and the audience
members stare at him.
JASON
Don't you people have a show to get
back to!
The audience members begin to walk to the theater doors and
Jason waits for them to all enter. He pats his pants pockets
frantically, pulling out the pockets. He quickly enters the
backstage door.
Jason puts on his sweatshirt and throws the hood over his
head. He comes to the door and puts his ear to it and slowly
cracks the door open and looks through it.
We see actors rehearsing their lines and Matthew faced the
opposite of him speaking to Jessica.
Jason quietly creeps out the door and heads to the downstairs
door. He quickly opens the door and slams it behind him.
Matthew quickly looks over to the downstairs door, it is
closed.
JESSICA
What did you just say?
BEN
(smiling)
Jason just left.
The crew and actors stop and stare at each other.
JASON
I never left you hanging...
MATTHEW
Yes, you did! And now the one time
you can show the decency to be here
for me...
JASON
This isn't about you!
MATTHEW
... and for you're family, you want
to leave, Again!
JASON
(walking off)
Don't you yell at me, I'm still
your big brother, don't forget
that.
MATTHEW
My big brother... A real fine big
brother you've been to me Jay,
right? Leaving me in the dirt and
not telling no one where you were
going.
JASON
I didn't leave because of you!
MATTHEW
That's right! You left because of
our mom...
JASON
No, it's not about her...
MATTHEW
...That's exactly what this is
about! You can't take seeing her
because you feel guilty but she
feels just as guilty as you do. And
now your gonna leave and never to
be heard from for another two
years, you selfish piece of shit!
JASON
Selfish! I'm not leaving you, I'm
not leaving them, I'm leaving this
shit... I don't want to be an
actor! I never wanted this!
(MORE)
16.
JASON (CONT'D)
I want some fucking peace in my
fucking head, for once and I can't
get it here!
(Beat)
I couldn't stand to be around her
anymore, never showing me the time
of day and obsessing over you...
MATTHEW
She never obsessed over me...
JASON
Yes, she did, that's all she did
for you and me, She refused to
recognize me as her son and instead
treated me how my piece of shit
father treated her!
(Pause)
MATTHEW
So this is how you want it to be,
right?
JASON
Matthew, please just stop and let
me leave.
MATTHEW
Excuse me? What did I hear because
it sure seems like you can't just
do one more thing for me, not like
you ever did much but just, for
once Jason, I'm begging you...Come
back inside with me...
JASON
...I cant! I cant! I can't do this
anymore Matt, I got my... goddamn
mother out there watching me fail
once again and my brother having to
save my ass. People looking at me
in the audience... look I'm better
off where you found me.
MATTHEW
Don't you say that shit, you're my
brother for chrissake. Look at me,
it doesn't have to be like this, we
can make this right again?
JASON
It was never right for me only
right for you!
(MORE)
17.
JASON (CONT'D)
What do you want me to do, she
doesn't want me here, she never
wanted me anywhere!
MATTHEW
She needs you, she might not
realize it but she does. She hasn't
been right since you left. She
doesn't sleep, she barely eats...
JASON
She was like that even when I was
still there!
MATTHEW
But not like this Jay, not like
this.
(Beat)
JASON
I haven't felt right since I been
gone either but when I saw her
tonight she looked at me like she
didn't even know who I was and
couldn't just speak to me like I
was her son. She refused to just
look me in the eye and tell me the
truth...that my mother doesn't even
love me anymore.
MATTHEW
She loves you, Jay... I love you,
Derrick loves you, we all do.
JASON
I... Matt, I don't know...
MATTHEW
Jay...I just wanted my big brother
back and now you're here and I want
you to stay, please.
JASON
Matt, I don't know...
MATTHEW
...you got people in there that
care about you...
JASON
...Yeah?
18.
MATTHEW
Yes really, You got family in
there, friends... We all want you
here jay, so please don't go now,
please don't.
(Pause)
Jason stands there in tears looking at Matthew and they
embrace. Holding each other tightly.
MATTHEW (CONT'D)
I love you man.
JASON
I love you too.
Jessica bursts around the corner in a panic.
JESSICA
Matthew, we go on in... 2 and half
minutes! We need you two right now!
MATTHEW
OK!
She exits begrudgingly and Matthew looks faintly at Jason.
MATTHEW (CONT'D)
I don't think I need to ask you if
you want to go back in?
JASON
I'm going back in but I need you to
be there by my side.
MATTHEW
Yeah, I can do that.
Arms wrapped around each other smiling, they enter the
theater together.
JUDGE BICKHAM
Order! Order in this court right
now!
(pause)
Now to bring this case to an end we
must first get the verdict from the
jury. Has the jury reached a
verdict?
Jane suddenly rises off-balance holding a piece of paper.
There is silence and she looks around at the audience.
JANE
Yes.
21.
JUDGE BICKHAM
Go ahead and give the verdict to
the bailiff.
JANE
(softly)
OK.
The BAILIFF grabs the verdict from Jane and brings it on
stage to Judge Bickham.
JUDGE BICKHAM
Now if the defense can stand.
Matthew and Jason rise out of their seats, simultaneously.
JUDGE BICKHAM (CONT'D)
And now can Madam clerk, publish
our verdict.
MADAM CLERK (30), bright and beautiful grabs the verdict.
MADAM CLERK
The state of Pennsylvania vs
Michael Doyle, case number
0887374cf as of the charge of
second-degree murder. We the jury
find as follows as to the
defendant, in this case, the
defendant is not guilty of second-
degree murder.