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    counterpane

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    David's headlights illuminate the weed and refuse strewn front lawn of Sherry's once beautiful house. Piles of circulars litter the front walk and patio.

          

      DAVID TAKES TOMMY IN HIS ARMS, -

          

      carefully keeping him bundled. As they approach the gloomy entrance, further signs of abandonment are visible, cracked window panes, plywood over the windows, broken lawn chairs etc.

     

      DAVID, MANNY, ROSY AND JEAN –

          

      move in a funeral like procession towards the door.

          

      FROM THE REVERSE POV - INSIDE THE HOUSE -

          

      the door slowly creaks open to the silhouettes of David and  Tommy. David throws the light switch, hesitates, shadows flit  by the baseboards, then he steps in followed by Manny and the two women.

          

      THE INTERIOR OF THE ONCE LAVISH HOUSE -

          

      is the essence of abandonment. Sheets and dust covers hide the furniture; the rugs are rolled up; cobwebs cover parts of the walls and the SOUND of scurrying animals can be distinctly heard.

               

      ROSY AND JEAN -

          

      move about the house opening windows and taking the white ghostly dust covers off the furniture. David holds Tommy in his arms. 

          

      DAVID    

      This was your mother's house.

          

      TOMMY    

      It's so beautiful. Why didn't    

      you live here Dad?

          

      DAVID    

      Tommy, I just couldn't handle    

      the pain. I'm so sorry for.

          

      TOMMY    

      Pain, but Dad you're a soldier.

          

      DAVID    

      It's not the same.

          

      TOMMY    

      I'm tired now, can I go to bed?

         

      DAVID CARRIES TOMMY -

          

      down the hall into the once lavish bedroom as -

          

      ROSY AND JEAN -

          

      move quickly in front of him, removing more dust covers from the furniture and the bed.

          

      MANNY -

        

      flicks a few cobwebs from the door jambs as Rosy throws the windows open to the - CLEAR STARRY SPFX SKY.

          

      David lays Tommy on the bed, Jean takes the sheet off the -

          

      THE PORTRAIT OF TOMMY.

          

      Rosy motions the group to the door, where they wait. David dims the lights.

           ROSY    

      (holds Tommy's hand)    

      Tommy, did you remember your prayers?

      She pulls the covers around Tommy, who drops the -

          

      TOY SOLDIER -

          

      he had been clutching. Rosy kneels by the side of the bed.

          

      TOMMY    

      Dear God, please bless my family,    

      Daddy, Rosy, Jean and Manny.    

      Thank you for letting me spend some     

      time with my Dad before I have to go.

      David cannot withhold the tears in his eyes and neither can anyone else.

          

      TOMMY (cont'd)    

      God, I know that heaven is a beautiful    

      place and I will be happy there, just    

      like mom. But I would really like    

      to stay here unless you really don’t need me.

          

      SUDDENLY A SOFT GLOW FILLS THE ROOM.

          

      In the background of the painting Sherry's face glows. In awe, the group moves back into the room.

          

      DAVID 

      We need you Tommy….   

      I don't remember that.

          

      TOMMY    

      (long beat)    

      She's here, Dad.

          

      THE MELODIOUS, SOFT VOICE OF SHERRY STARTS A HYPNOTIZING CHANT

         

      THAT ONLY TOMMY HEARS.     

      "AND SOMETIMES SENT MY SHIPS IN FLEETS

          

      ALL UP AND DOWN AMONG THE SHEETS;

          

      OR BROUGHT MY TREES AND HOUSES OUT,

          

      AND PLANTED CITIES ALL ABOUT."

          

      From TOMMY'S POV, the picture wavers as though in mist or fog; the star over the shoulder grows brighter. A smile covers Tommy's face as the light from the star hits the dresser.

          

      TOMMY    

      The drawer, Dad.

      DAVID    

      The drawer?

          

      TOMMY    

      (pointing)    

      In there.

          

      David opens the drawer and hesitates. The pain is obvious as all he sees is Sherry's comb and other personal effects.

          

      DAVID    

      Just some old things.

          

      TOMMY    

      Keep looking, Dad.

          

      David spots the -

      GREEN CAPSULE THAT SHERRY HAD TOSSED INTO THE DRAWER LONG AGO.

          

      David puts the capsule in Tommy's hand and he beams.

          

      TOMMY - throws his arms around David. Manny, Rosy and Jean gather around.

         

      A LITTLE STAR TWINKLES BRIGHTER THAN THE REST -

     

          

      THE SUBJECTIVE CAMERA ON TOMMY, PULLS BACK, OUT THE WINDOW AND UPWARD INTO THE SKY AND THE HYPNOTIZING CHANT CONTINUES.

      "I WAS THE GIANT GREAT AND STILL

          

      THAT SITS UPON THE PILLOW HILL

          

      AND SEES BEFORE HIM, DALE AND PLAIN,

          

      THE PLEASANT LAND OF COUNTERPANE".

          

     

      MUSIC UP:

         

     

          

      FADE OUT:

      IN THE ENDING CREDIT SEQUENCE

          

      INSERT:

          

      THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF COUNTERPANE -

          

      A pawn, a vassal, a patchwork quilt, a coverlet.

     
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