ALEXANDRA ASSISTANT BAUER BRETT CB DALE DARCY DOCTOR ENGLISH_TEACHER FATHER GINA GIRL HAROLD HENRY INTERVIEWER JOHAN JONES MAN MELODY MRS_HALL OFFICER OFFICER_1 OFFICER_2 PRINCIPAL REPORTER SEARCHER SECRETARY SENNETT SIDNEY TAPE WAITRESS


SIDNEY
There was a brilliant
way about Velouria. She had a virginal
quality that contrasted
her ice cold outer
shell. Looking back, I
realize I was the only
one to notice. Yeah,
she was a bitch for sure. Her
breasts Her cheekbones...
Her legs. She saw it all in the
mirror every morning and was well aware
of the power held
therein. No one could touch
her or intimidate her. She rarely looked
anyone in the eye. I once saw Brad Dorsey
Captain of the soccer
team, crying by his
locker. She dumped him after
one date and took his
balls with her. From that day forward
he never played sports
again. This was a prime
example of the witchery
she cast. But I wasn't attracted
to her pale beauty. I was more turned on by
the little girl within. It was this thought
that I masturbated to
every afternoon. And not her thighs or
flat stomach. I imagined her breaking
down and begging me to
never leave her,
because I was the only
one who truly understood
the Velouria within. And when I finished, I looked at the small
puddle of cum I had
generated and wondered why did I just waste
this on a table top?
GIRL
How old were you when
this story took place?
SIDNEY
I was umm 6th Grade.
GIRL
Eww.
SENNETT
Sidney, I asked the
class to write an
essay on the meaning of
life.
SIDNEY
I thought this was
appropriate for that
topic.
SENNETT
Well, it's not. It was
highly inappropriate.
SIDNEY
Well... Okay.
JONES
She's going to fail
you.
SIDNEY
I just hate her, you
know?

JONES
Hey look, I don't like
her much either but it
doesn't mean she's a
bad teacher. She had a book
published.

SIDNEY
A romance novel.
JONES
Still, you're going to
have to figure out a
way to get a passing
grade from her. You better rewrite
those essays.
SIDNEY
You know what it is? It's her... it's her
limited definition of
20th century writers. What about... what
about Hunter S.
Thompson? What about David Foster
Wallace? You know?
William Gibson? You know, someone
contemporary.
JONES
Sidney. I went to a
meeting earlier today
and I fought for you. But she thinks you've
targeted her, and let's
face it, she's right.
SIDNEY
What if I wrote a
novel?
JONES
No one's questioning
your ability. It's your
subject matter that's
getting you in trouble. You know what they
would do to me if I printed half
the stories you've
submitted for the
school paper? Okay. Let's say you did write
a novel. What would it
be about?
SIDNEY
It's about a suicide
victim from a small
town.
INTERVIEWER
Did you think when you
wrote it that it would
go on to have this kind
of success?
SIDNEY
No, I mean. I didn't even know I
could make a living off
of it, honestly. I was
just hoping that one person would buy
it, one person would
want to read it.
INTERVIEWER
But millions of people
have bought it.
Millions.
SIDNEY
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER
To that point how do
you follow up a book
like Suburb in Tragedy?
SIDNEY
I can't think about it
that way, I just keep
writing.
INTERVIEWER
And when can we expect
your next book?
SIDNEY
Soon.
GINA
Okay, you have a eleven
o'clock at Sushi-Dan, Porterhouse. A one
o'clock live interview
with JNN, flight is at
five. And
SIDNEY
And?
GINA
Dr. Bob says you still
haven’t contacted the
therapist you
recommended and that he will
reschedule the MRI
again. Thoughts,
comments?
SIDNEY
I'll do the MRI, I'm
not seeing a therapist.
I need a divorce
attorney, not a shrink. How did you feel about
the interview?
GINA
Oh, best one you've
ever done. Ready?
TAPE
he didn't have a lot
on him, he just had a duffle
bag. I mean, he just
had basically
everything he owned. I asked him one time, I
asked him where he was
headed? And he looked at me and he just said May
25th. That was it, May
25th.
BAUER
He was a lunatic. You could tell just by
looking at him. He was
ranting, raving. The next thing we know
there's a fire in the
corner.
OFFICER
What'd he look like?
BAUER
I don't know, he was
ahh... Early
mid-thirties, white. Kinda filthy.
ASSISTANT
Big. Big beard.
BAUER
Big beard. Yeah. Sunglasses. Kinda...
Yeah he was
obviously... You could
tell he was like
mentally, you know,
slow.
SEARCHER
What is your name?
BAUER
Bauer, David Bauer.
SEARCHER
Mr. Bauer. Sit down. Is this the man that
you're referring to?
BAUER
Yeah. Yep, that's him.
SEARCHER
Are you sure?
BAUER
Yeah, I'm positive.
SEARCHER
Mr. Bauer, tell me if
this sounds familiar. Man, walks into a
store. He's a drifter, wants
to be dressed Searches the
establishment for a
certain section of
books. Which contain
particular literature
that he deems
unreadable. He takes these books. Takes out a can of
lighter fluid.
MAN
Fire.
SEARCHER
But he's not alone when
he does this. There's a
hound dog. An old hound dog, about
this tall. Did you
happen to see this dog?
BAUER
Well it's against
library policy to allow
pets into the building,
so no.
SEARCHER
I wonder what he did
with the dog.
BAUER
I don't know, maybe he
left it at home like a
normal person.
SEARCHER
If he had a home that
would be a wonderful
option.
BAUER
You'll have to excuse
me for not having a lot
of sympathy for a guy who walks
in here and burns
books in public places.
SEARCHER
Yeah, neither do I.
However there is
something I know that
you don't.
BAUER
Yeah, what's that?
SEARCHER
I know why he burned
the books.
BAUER
Why?
SEARCHER
Because he wrote them. Good day, Mr. Bauer.
SIDNEY
Can I help you with
something?
BRETT
Ahh yeah, I need to
talk to you.
SIDNEY
If you're looking for a
book on "How-To please
your woman..." the card
catalog is just over
there.
BRETT
Oh yeah. I liked your essay the
other day.
SIDNEY
Oh yeah? Why?
BRETT
Cause it was honest. All the rest were bull
shit, but yours was
honest.
SIDNEY
Right. We wouldn't be caught
dead talking to each
other in the halls. Yet here we are, for
the very first time and you want to talk
to me about my
homework?
BRETT
It's a compliment,
Hall. And plus that's not
true. We hung out once
in the 5th grade. I was running away from
home, you lent me an
extra bicycle.
SIDNEY
You remember that?
BRETT
Yeah, I remember that
dip-shit. We rode up to
that hill over by the
winery. It's... It's umm,
actually what I'm here
to talk to you about.
SIDNEY
I'm surprised you're
bringing that up that was a really
long time ago.
BRETT
You remember what we
did when we got there?
SIDNEY
You had a paper bag. It
was ahh... wrapped up
in tape. Right? It was kinda bulky. We buried it. On
Farmers Peak. You wouldn't tell me
what was in it.
BRETT
Right, well I need it
back.
SIDNEY
What do you want me to
do about it?
BRETT
Look, I don't know that
area, alright. All the
hills look the same to
me. Never been back since.
SIDNEY
Oh you need my help.
BRETT
Yeah. Yeah, Hall. Alright? I
need your help, there I
said it.
SIDNEY
I don't know, man. I
mean, the day after we
hung out you pretended like
nothing every happened. I saw you in the halls
you laughed in my face. You were an asshole
then, you're an asshole
now. Tell me one good
reason why I should
care.
BRETT
You're right, forget
it.
SIDNEY
Oh come on. Please, please don't
throw away my comic
books.
MRS HALL
Haven't you outgrown
those things?
SIDNEY
Sorry, Dad. I got it. What's next, you gonna
throw away my CD's, my
books, everything in my
room? Hey dad, you want
something to read? I
got a comic
MRS HALL
You have any ideas
about who you're taking
to prom?
SIDNEY
Not this one. I'm not going to prom. How does that look?
MRS HALL
Why not?
SIDNEY
Because it's a
segregated ritual
wherein the unpopular
people are
ostracized by the beautiful
ones.
MRS HALL
Oh my God. Are you Dr.
Phil. Your Father and I have
great memories from
prom night.
SIDNEY
Yeah, me.
MRS HALL
Get over it.
SIDNEY
Alright. Brandi. Okay. Hi. Brandi. There you go.
HENRY
Ahh, it's a pleasure to
meet you, Mr. Hall.
SIDNEY
Hey.  Hey ahh... What's your
name.
HENRY
My name's Henry Crow. I've read your book so
many times. It's really affected
the way I think about
things.
SIDNEY
Is that Crow with an 'E'?
HENRY
Yeah.
SIDNEY
An E, yeah.
HENRY
I think I know what I'm
supposed to do now.
SIDNEY
Sorry, what was that?
HENRY
The core of our nation
is etched inside these
plastic smiles. Endless
rows of nowhere houses. This is how we live.
It's also how we die.
SECRETARY
Sidney? Sorry for the wait.
Harold's ready for you.
HAROLD
lawyers are only
trouble. Listen, I got
to go. A great writer has just
entered the room. Alright. Love you. Bye. Sidney, my dear boy.
Don't take this the
wrong way, I say it as
a friend. You look like
shit. You look like one of
those lost children on
milk cartons. You've been number one
on the New York Times
best seller list for
eight months. And
still no smile. Please tell me what
ails you. What can I
do?
SIDNEY
I'm having panic
attacks, Harold.
HAROLD
That's good. All of my
clients have panic
attacks.
SIDNEY
You know, none of your
other clients have my
kind of pressures.
HAROLD
None of my other
clients have your kind
of talent. If you weren't having
panic attacks, I'd be
very worried.
SIDNEY
It's different this
time. I'm seeing
things, things that
aren't there. Like right now it looks
like you're not wearing
pants.
HAROLD
I'm not wearing pants. Sidney. Do you know
what I have in this
folder?
SIDNEY
No.
HAROLD
It starts with the
letter P.
SIDNEY
Protest letters?
HAROLD
No. Not protest
letters. Christ man! Forget about Montana.
Everything that we have
worked for everything that we
have talked about has
come down to this. Open it. The Pulitzer Prize. You're a finalist, we
find out the winner
later this month.
SIDNEY
Pulitzer?
HAROLD
Good, you've heard of
it. Whatever you want, it's
not as important as
what I'm doing right
now. Love you, bye bye. Oy, my mother. So, can
I get a fucking smile
now or what?
SIDNEY
This guy, Francis...
Bishop, should I be
worried about him?
HAROLD
Francis Bishop is the
literally equivalent of
Valium. Forget the other guys,
you're a shoe-in.
SIDNEY
Prologue to Paris. That's a good title.
HAROLD
No. No. That's a bad
title. That's the worst title
since 'Gone with the
Wind.' More importantly I'm
throwing a big party
tonight. There's going
to be women. Alcohol. Women
drinking alcohol.
Promise me you'll come.
SIDNEY
I don't do parties,
Harold, you know that.
HAROLD
Well, that a damn
shame. Cause you're
going to be the guest
of honor.
SIDNEY
Even worse.
HAROLD
So that's a yes?
MELODY
It's late and I'm
confused. I'm confused about a
boy who writes the most
beautiful stories in
his school newspaper. I read each one
carefully and paste it in my journal
when I'm done. And then I think about
approaching him. But quickly realize
that I'm not very good
at being social. And he's clearly not
good at being social. I guess I'd tell him
that he's the most
talented person I've
never met but I have met him. Maybe that was a dream.
Love Melody.
JONES
I don't think anyone
named melody goes to
this school.
SIDNEY
Melody might not even
be her real name. Do you recognize the
handwriting at all?
JONES
It's nice, very
elegant. I should only
be so lucky with my
students.
SIDNEY
What do you think? I
mean, what should I do,
who is she?
JONES
Maybe you already met
her, have you met
anyone recently?
SIDNEY
Not really, I mean I have to find her
though.
JONES
Oh, I have a great
idea. So you walk up to every
girl that crosses your
path, both inside and
outside of class
SIDNEY
Yeah?
JONES
And you shout,
"Melody!" "Melody!" See
what happens.
SIDNEY
That's... that's it?
That's your advice?
JONES
Yup.
SIDNEY
Seriously? Melody? Melody? Melody. Hey. Melody? Melody? Melody! Melody? Melody? Melody? Melody?
Melo? Melody? Melody? Melody?
Melody? Ahh excuse me. Pardon the
announcement. Umm, but
would anyone named. Melody, please report
to the front office I repeat anyone named
Melody, ahh please report to
the front office immediately. This
is a urgent matter. Ahh anybody who writes under the
pseudonym Melody
SECRETARY
Get off the
SIDNEY
Just... Just come to
the front
HAROLD
you savages, go eat
some hor d’oeuvres. Feed on the blood of
the young, whatever it
is you do. Here, all the greats
drink whiskey. It's a
fact.
SIDNEY
How soon before I can
go?
HAROLD
Do you believe this,
it's like throwing a
party for Silvia
Plath. Come on. I have to talk to you
about something. The
big P. I need you to be
encouraged by it. I want you to embrace
it. It means a lot to a
lot of people. Not least of which,
should be you. You
deserve it.
SIDNEY
Yeah, and what about
Bishop?
HAROLD
He's a hack. The guy
writes six mediocre
books. All of a sudden he
comes up with one that
people actually buy. It's bull shit. You need
to get your head
straight. Take a vacation, finish
your second novel. Get
inspired.
SIDNEY
It's hard, I'm telling
you Harold. It's hard
to get inspired.
HAROLD
You want inspiration,
I'll give you
inspiration. Ladies and gentlemen You attention please.
SIDNEY
No, don't
HAROLD
Mr. Sidney Hall Is a finalist for the
Pulitzer Prize! Give it
up for Mr. Sidney Hall!
SIDNEY
You. You had to do that,
huh? You just had to do
that.
HAROLD
That wasn't so bad, was
it? Listen, Sidney. Whether you believe it
or not, I'm on your
side. I understand what
you're going through. I've had three of the
ugliest divorces in
American history, and I
survived them all. They're like enemas,
they're uncomfortable
and evasive, but the
next day you feel like
a new man. You need to find
yourself a muse. Loosen
up, you know what I
mean? I'll round back to you
in a bit. Don't leave,
I want you to meet my
daughter.
SIDNEY
Fine. Hey, hey. Excuse me.
Yeah. Umm... Could you
umm. Could you send this
drink, while you're
there, could you send
it over to that girl right there. Black
hair. Thank you.
WAITRESS
This is for you from
the gentlemen in the
corner. Right there.
ALEXANDRA
Is this from you? You couldn't just walk
fifteen feet and give it to me
yourself. You had to send it over
from a safe distance?
Is that part of the Sidney Hall
mystique?
SIDNEY
What's your name?
ALEXANDRA
Alexandra.
SIDNEY
You don't wanna take
the drink, I'll
gladly take it from
you.
SIDNEY
Okay, you have to leave
Louis Chang alone.
I don't even want to
see you looking at him.
That goes for Greg and
Pyat and all the other
goons.
BRETT
What do you care about
him for? I mean, look
at him, he's asking for
it.
SIDNEY
I don't see him asking
for it.
BRETT
Fine, whatever Hall.
Look you better shed some
serious light on the situation if
I'm going to throw away
one of the few things I
have to look forward to
everyday.
SIDNEY
Does that mean you'll
stop?
BRETT
Yeah, I'll stop. But if he ever grows
enough balls to start
up with me, I swear to
God...
SIDNEY
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah...
You'll shove his dick
up his ass or whatever. He's not going to start
with you. We have a deal?
BRETT
I'll pick you up
Saturday. You live over on Cedar,
right?
SIDNEY
Yeah.
BRETT
Across the tracks, as
my Dad would say.
SIDNEY
Dad?
FATHER
Yeah?
SIDNEY
Never mind. No! No, no, wait! Jameson.
MELODY
Hello?
SIDNEY
Hi. Hi, is this... Is
this Melody? Shit. This guy is good. This guy's really
fucking good.
ALEXANDRA
You sir... have been
drinking since I met
you. It's a very bad habit. And incidently I'm
getting kinda tired of pretending like
we don't know each
other every time we go
out in public.
SIDNEY
I'm sorta married.
ALEXANDRA
Are you sorta
divorced. Sorta
separated?
SIDNEY
You're Harold's
daughter.
ALEXANDRA
I think he can handle
it. You're his meal ticket,
so
SIDNEY
Maybe today.
ALEXANDRA
Okay. I think you
should take one of
these and some of this You get some sleep, and
then tomorrow's going
to happen.
SIDNEY
I'm tired of sleeping. My entire life I can't
think of one,
positive dreaming experience,
only nightmares.
ALEXANDRA
Is there any particular
nightmare that I can
help you with?
SIDNEY
Well there's this one,
recurring one.
ALEXANDRA
Yeah?
SIDNEY
Yeah. Where I'm being
followed. Everywhere I go, he's
with me. And I get
claustrophobic. Like he's strangling
me. Like he knows all the
bad things that I've
ever done. And he's coming to
judge me. And when I wake up from
this nightmare he's still there. And I don't know what
he wants. But he knows everything
about me. That's what
scares me the most.
JOHAN
Good morning.
SEARCHER
Mr. Tidemann. I wonder if you by
chance, know this man. Have you seen him
recently, Mr. Tidemann? I'd like you to take a
good long look of this mug shot
because it was taken
very recently.
JOHAN
Okay. So?
SEARCHER
So? No one has
Claimed to see or hear from
Sidney Hall in over
five years. And yet here he is,
posing for the New York
City Police Department. Now how is that
possible? He was booked under
another name.
JOHAN
What do you want from
me?
SEARCHER
What I want to know,
Mr. Tidemand, is if
there are things that
you make other than these
beautiful wood trolls.
JOHAN
It's a trick.
SEARCHER
What is?
JOHAN
I think you know what
I'm talking about.
SEARCHER
I'm not after you Mr.
Tidemand. I'd like to
offer you a trade. You give me the
information about the
documents you forged
for Sidney Hall. And I
give you my word you will never
see me again.
JOHAN
Alright, but just so
we're clear. This conversation is
being recorded on both
sides of the table.
SEARCHER
Fair enough.
JOHAN
was here a few
months ago.
SEARCHER
And?
JOHAN
I made him a couple
ID's, a passport and a
drivers license.
SEARCHER
And what else?
JOHAN
He didn't look good.
He said he had some
loose ends to tie up.
SEARCHER
Did he say where he was
going?
JOHAN
No, that's all I know.
SIDNEY
Hey! Hey!
MELODY
No crossing the street.
SIDNEY
Okay. Okay. I just ahh. Is your name Melody? Have we met before?
MELODY
Yes. We met.
SIDNEY
When?
MELODY
In the first grade. You
gave me a Valentines
Day card on the wrong
day. And then on the actual
Valentines day, you
kissed me. And I told
on you. And I would have kissed
you back, the next
day but we moved. We
went south for a little
bit.
SIDNEY
Now you've moved back? Why do you keep running
away from me?
MELODY
I don't know. Because
it's fun. Maybe I'm afraid.
SIDNEY
Afraid of what?
MELODY
No crossing the street.
SIDNEY
Alright. Alright I
won't. I just. When can I cross the
street?
BRETT
What the fuck you
doing, Hall?
SIDNEY
I was having a moment.
Until you showed up.
BRETT
Well come on let's go. You wanna smoke?
SIDNEY
No.
BRETT
What's that, a journal?
SIDNEY
Yup.
BRETT
How long you kept one
of those?
SIDNEY
Since I was five.
BRETT
I wasn't lying to you
before. About the
essay. I loved that shit, man.
All that stuff you rant
About in the school paper,
shit makes me laugh. You should write about
me.
SIDNEY
Oh yeah? What would
that be about?
BRETT
My father.
SIDNEY
Your father? What about
him?
BRETT
You know who my father
is?
SIDNEY
Yeah, he's a judge. So what, doesn't mean I
should write a book
about him. Doesn't make you any
more interesting
either.
BRETT
Whatever, man. You'll
be singing a different
tune tomorrow.
SIDNEY
What happens tomorrow?
JONES
May I come in?
SIDNEY
Yeah.
JONES
Your elevator's stuck
again.
SIDNEY
Oh Duane, it's six in
the morning.
JONES
Not in Oklahoma.
SIDNEY
Great.
JONES
The night served as a
tragic setting in the
town of Oklahoma
City where an aspiring
writer, Henry Crowe
committed suicide in
front of his parents. After a failed attempt
to kill his step-father
with a 9mm handgun he turned the gun on
himself and shot
himself in the head
SIDNEY
I don't understand.
JONES
The only thing found on
his person was a paperback copy
of Suburban Tragedy by
renowned author, Sidney
Hall. He owned no less than
eight copies of the
novel and according to
friends often quoted
passages from the
book. Henry Crowe is one of
many in a growing
allegiance of Suburban
Tragedy followers who take the book so
literally that they
will attempt to mimic
it's message. and expose the
underbelly of Suburban
America no matter what
the cost. The book has already
been banned in school
libraries and teaching
curriculum in Montana. And this incident will
undoubtedly spiral its
resistance upwards. Possibly at a national
level.
SIDNEY
How young was he?
JONES
22. This book has inspired
more people than you
can possibly.
SIDNEY
Inspired people to do
what? Kill themselves?
JONES
Listen to me. Whatever happens over
the next few weeks,
this is not your fault.
SIDNEY
They'll make it my
fault.
JONES
Maybe. For a news
cycle. You don't read the
internet anyway okay,
so just... just
continue that. Continue that, alright.
DALE
Now this book is essentially
Feeding our youth a
dangerously blind
idealism. Promoting
disrespect for our
elders. A generation bred on
entitlement. And the fact that it's
being included in our
school curriculum is a
dangerous sign of the
times.
REPORTER
How do you feel about
the book burnings in
Oklahoma?
HAROLD
Well you have to buy
'em in order to burn
'em. So, maybe
sales will go up. Next?
REPORTER
Any validity in the
comparisons between
Henry Crowe and the
lead character in Mr.
Hall's book?
HAROLD
No. No. No. The character in
question kills himself
with a knife. Not a
gun. And any comparison
between the two is
ridiculous horse shit. Next?
REPORTER
Do you think this book
will become Federally
censored? And might it have an
effect on the Pulitzer
nomination?
HAROLD
I highly doubt that it
will be taken
seriously. And I couldn't care
less about Senator
Dales campaign for
fascism. If he doesn't like the
book, don't read it.
REPORTER
Do you think he's read
it?
HAROLD
I really don't give a
shit. But don't quote
me on that. But enough about me, at
this time Sidney would
like to make a
statement. Please hold all of your
questions until after
he's finished.
SIDNEY
It saddens me that a
life has been lost.
My heart goes out to
Henry Crowe's family
and friends. I empathize with them,
and hope that brighter
days will appear sooner
rather than later. That said I apologize for
nothing. I cannot predict what
reaction any particular
Individual may or may
not have to something I
have written. Nor can I live in fear,
or restraint anytime I write a
word on a page. I can only hope, that
in time the books I write will have a positive
impact. It is sickening to see
that some congressmen
are using this boy's
family during their time of
grief for political
gain. It's shameful. Furthermore I'm sorry Furthermore
HAROLD
That'll be it, Ladies
and Gentlemen. Thank
you all for coming.
DOCTOR
There is some evidence
of scar tissue on the
side of your brain. I think you're having
partial seizures. It could be from
trauma. Could be the result of
a serious blow to the
head, has anything like that ever
happened to you? Last
week You called me, you
claimed to be seeing
things 'outside the
realm of reality. Hallucinations. Are you
still experiencing
these aberrations?
SIDNEY
I'm... I'm sorry I have
to go.
DOCTOR
Sidney, there's
medication you can
take.
BRETT
Hey Hall, I don't have
all day.
SIDNEY
Look man, you don't
have to tell me
whatever's in the box,
it's fine, it's your
right. I would like a little
gratitude.
BRETT
You want something
else, Hall? The Louis
Chang deal ain't enough
for you?
SIDNEY
No. No. That's not what
I'm saying. I just
don't like being
treated like shit.
BRETT
You like Melody
Jameson. I saw you
talking to her in the
street.
SIDNEY
You know her?
BRETT
Yeah dude, she's my
little sister's friend.
SIDNEY
What she like, what
she interested in? Is
she cool, does she
read?
BRETT
Does she read? Yeah,
she's "Hooked on
Phonics." Dude, I don't fucking
know, Hall. Jesus
Christ man, I'm not
into girls who like Long walks on the beach
and all that shit. I mean I could
introduce you to her.
If you're having
trouble.
SIDNEY
I'm not having trouble.
BRETT
Oh yeah. Yeah right.
You really sealed the
deal in the street
there. God knows you're too
pussy to ask her out, I
might has well do it
for you.
SIDNEY
Alright, out of sheer
Curiosity, what would
you do?
BRETT
My sister's birthday is
this coming weekend. I
can take her to the
fairgrounds for ice
cream or something. Coax Melody to tag
along. And you can show
up out of the blue and
boom.
SIDNEY
Next weekend, right?
BRETT
Yeah. So, you think you
can grow a dick and a
pair of balls by then? Not that it'd matter
anyway, she's as prude
as they come. It'd take a crowbar to
get those legs open. Alright, thanks again
man. Oh shit. Umm. Here, hide this. Now.
Go. Now.
SIDNEY
Yeah. Yeah, okay.
BRETT
What are you doing
here?
FATHER
Your sister told me
where you were. The
question is what are
you doing here?
BRETT
Hanging out with a
friend.
FATHER
Your mother has been
worried about you
all-day. She called the
God damn police.
BRETT
Overreact much?
FATHER
Get out of the car!
What the fuck do you
think you're doing?
BRETT
I'm just hanging out
with a friend.
FATHER
You are driving home
with me! Say goodbye to
your friend.
BRETT
Hey I gotta go, man.
I'll... I'll come back
for the car later.
FATHER
Come on...
SIDNEY
Yeah that's cool.
BRETT
Remember Hall, you hold
the key. Alright. You
hold the key.
FATHER
You hold the key. You
can hold this fucking
key! Get in the car!
SIDNEY
Okay. Alright. You're a
peeping tom. You're a stalker. A peeping tom-stalker. Sidney, what are you
doing? Are you really going to
depend on Brett
Newport?
JONES
I'm riding the Limited
Express. One of the crack
trains of the nation. Hurtling across the
prairie into blue
haze and dark air go
fifteen all-steel
coaches holding a
thousand people. I read a story he did
in the fifth grade about his dying
grandfather. And it was raw, but
articulate. It was Brilliant. And I
thought he plagiarized
it.
SEARCHER
And what did you do?
JONES
I had him stay after
Class and I confronted him
about it. I told him he couldn't
possibly have written
that story. And I wanted to know
where he copied it
from. And you know what he
said? He said I'll take that
as a compliment.
Then he ran out to
catch the bus. Now that's the thing
about Sidney. You become a fan,
first. Then you spend the rest
of your life trying to
become a friend.
SEARCHER
I have a theory that
he's been burning
copies of his books in libraries and
book stores across the
country. Why is that funny?
JONES
Sidney was a purist. He never went on line
or anything like that.
So there's a world
where may actually
believe that he could burn
all his books in
existence.
SEARCHER
Let me show you
something. He nearly burned down
the west wing of a
library a few weeks
ago, in the city. Someone fitting his
description was then
seen in Harrisburg.
On a freight train.
Then West Virginia. And then a similar
store fire in Oklahoma
City. Each time moving
further west. Does that mean anything
to you?
MRS HALL
It's for you.
SIDNEY
No. No. Not now.
MRS HALL
It's a girl.
SIDNEY
A girl?
MRS HALL
Someone named Melody.
SIDNEY
Melody? Ahh, give it to
me.
MRS HALL
You know her?
SIDNEY
Yeah, I do.
MRS HALL
You go to school with
her?
SIDNEY
Yeah. Hi.
MELODY
How do I accidently
meet you tonight if you
don't show up to the
fair?
SIDNEY
I thought it was too
contrived.
MELODY
Look, I know I've been
standoff-ish. But I'm
the one who wrote you
in the first place. So
don't be such a wuss.
SIDNEY
Okay, well. Where
should we meet.
MELODY
Outside your front
door.
SIDNEY
Aren't I supposed to be
the one giving you the
flower.
MELODY
Normally, yes. But since I wear the
pants in this
relationship, it's the
other way around.
SIDNEY
So how we getting
there? Are we taking
your parents car?
MELODY
Shh.
SIDNEY
What? Why am I shh? Why
do you want me to shh?
MELODY
Push it.
SIDNEY
Push the car? Why don't we just start
the ignition. That's
what people do.
MELODY
Shh. Just do as you're
told.
SIDNEY
We're stealing it...
We're stealing it.
MELODY
We're borrowing with
the intent to return.
SIDNEY
That's stealing. That's
still stealing.
MELODY
Hop in.
SIDNEY
Hop in? What do you
mean hop in? Don't you think you
should turn on the
lights?
MELODY
Do you like it?
SIDNEY
No. This is like the
worst sundae I think
I've ever had.
MELODY
It tastes like tape.
SIDNEY
Tape. Yeah.
MELODY
I used to chew on tape
when I was little.
SIDNEY
Eww. Yeah. Let's just
throw the tape-ice
cream in the trash. So ahh, tell me...
Tell me, umm. How do you know about
my short stories, if
you don't even go to my
school. Is that like a thing
you do? Read all the school
newspapers in the
county.
MELODY
I get them from Darcy.
I keep tabs on ya.
SIDNEY
Aspirations?
Inspirations?
MELODY
Photography. I love Annie Leibovitz.
She's like my hero. I
love Bob Dylan. I love horror movies.
SIDNEY
You sure you're a girl?
MELODY
Umm, old Atari games
and traveling
everywhere. You?
SIDNEY
Uhh, that's a tough
list to follow up. I guess I've really
just been writing,
reading, all my life. I wanna write a novel.
Something that's going
to shake people up.
MELODY
Well if you wanna write
a book worthwhile, you
have to see the world.
Have experiences,
right?
SIDNEY
Yeah.
MELODY
You should get on that,
Sidney. Be sure to take
me with you too.
SIDNEY
Okay.
MELODY
Let's win something. Hey, can we play?
SIDNEY
You ever played this
before?
MELODY
No. I'm really
competitive.
SIDNEY
Okay. Alright. Mine's
not going. Mine's not
going. Alright.
MELODY
I win. Thank you. Could I actually have
one of those?
JOHAN
It's not a prize, mind
you. But you're welcome
to have a look.
MELODY
Johan Tidemand. It's kinda beautiful.
DARCY
Hey Melody. Can I talk
to you?
SIDNEY
You make these
yourself?
JOHAN
From time to time. It's
a little hobby of mine,
when I travel.
SIDNEY
How much ahh, how much
would you want for
this? I only have ahh
JOHAN
Keep it.
SIDNEY
Thanks.
JOHAN
You're welcome.
BRETT
Hey Hall!
SIDNEY
Hey man. Where you been
all week?
BRETT
I was sick, dude. So umm You still... you still
have that thing?
SIDNEY
Yeah. Yeah, I can bring
it to the finals on
Monday if you want.
DARCY
How's it going?
MELODY
What do you mean?
DARCY
You know what I mean.
Come on.
MELODY
I'm gonna marry him.
SIDNEY
So this is it?
MELODY
Guess so.
SIDNEY
Please, don't leave.
MELODY
There's no room for me
here anymore.
SIDNEY
I don't know what that
means.
MELODY
It means when I'm with
you I don't feel like a
person. I feel like
Sidney Hall's wife.
SIDNEY
That's not true, Mel.
MELODY
It is true. When I'm
with you it's just all
about you. Either your sad or
depressed or jealous or
angry. And those just aren't
attractive qualities in
case you wanted to
know.
SIDNEY
Mel, you're losing me.
I just lost the
Pulitzer to Bishop, a
kid killed himself
because of something I
wrote how am I supposed to
feel right now? Huh?
MELODY
See?
SIDNEY
What?
MELODY
It's all about you
again.
SIDNEY
How am I supposed to
feel?
MELODY
That kid didn't kill
himself because of you
or for you. He killed
himself for the cause.
SIDNEY
You're not going to
take the
MELODY
Which left you a really
long time ago.
SIDNEY
Where you staying?
Where you staying?
MELODY
There's nobody else if
that's what you're
asking?
SIDNEY
Please, stay the night. Stay tomorrow? Yeah?
ALEXANDRA
Hey, you weren't at the
party last night. I thought we were
supposed to meet up.
SIDNEY
Listen, Alexandra.
ALEXANDRA
Sidney, I've been doing
some thinking. I think
we should become more
serious.
SIDNEY
What does that mean?
ALEXANDRA
Means that, what were
doing is fun but I know it's not
long term
SIDNEY
I can't do that and you
know it.
ALEXANDRA
I want to fall in love
with you, Sidney.
SIDNEY
Please don't.
ALEXANDRA
I think I already am.
SIDNEY
Well when you are finished
Falling in love with me. You know where the door
is.
ALEXANDRA
Are you fucking
SIDNEY
Melody.
GINA
No, Gina. Remember?
Personal assistant who
you haven't called in a
week.
SIDNEY
Melody.
GINA
Drink this. Come on.
You're okay. Oh, looks like
someone's been busy.
SIDNEY
it's just words.
GINA
By the looks of it,
enough here for ten
books.
SIDNEY
Problem is, there's
only ten pages worth
reading.
GINA
Okay... Which ten?
SIDNEY
Doesn't matter which
ten. It's all just first pages and
first sentences. There's no middle.
There's no end. Characters keep
switching their
Identities. If I could tell you
there's life and
death and plot twists. And generations of
richly drawn
characters And hope, and courage. And regrets. This is one long
intoxicating masturbation
session with no climax. When am I going to
climax?
GINA
Okay. Let's get you to
bed, alright. When was the last time
you slept?
SIDNEY
I need you to do me a
Favor alright... burn 'em.
GINA
What?
SIDNEY
Burn 'em
GINA
Sidney, I'm not
burning your book. Okay you're being drunk
and pretentious and I'm
going to slap you in
the face.
SIDNEY
you have to destroy
it.
GINA
People work their
entire lives in this
industry just to get a taste
of your praise and
accolades. You just want to throw
that away? I'm not
doing it.
SIDNEY
Fine. I'll just do it
myself.
GINA
Okay.
SIDNEY
Fire. Fuck. Jesus.
PRINCIPAL
Good morning students. This is your Principal
speaking. I have very sad news. A student here are
Aubrey Field, Brett
Newport, passed away
last night. His cause of death is
unknown at this time
but he was a good
student and a great
athlete. I would like to extend
my codolences on behalf
of myself and the
school facility to his
friends and family and I would like to
ask if everyone if they
could please rise for a
moment of silence.
MELODY
I wish I could have
been there. Just five minutes
before he did it. I
would have shaken him
and just said you have your whole
life ahead of you. Good things outweigh
the bad.
SIDNEY
That's just not true
for some people.
MELODY
I always felt like
there was something
going on in Darcy's
house. Just something a little
off. Secrets, you know?
SIDNEY
I've got to get out of
here.
MELODY
I'll go with you.
SIDNEY
No, no, I mean like.
Like I gotta get out of
here.
MELODY
Yeah. Me too.
SIDNEY
Really?
MELODY
Yeah, really. My parents said they'd
give me the old Pacer
so can leave after the
school year.
SIDNEY
Where would we go?
MELODY
We can just go west.
SIDNEY
Just go west? I mean
just
MELODY
I found this thing the
other day in a
magazine. Here, I tore it out. It's really cool
though. Don't you
think. It's in the
middle of nowhere. The sky is like really
blue, it's not all
polluted.
SIDNEY
Where is it?
MELODY
I don't know. Just
somewhere in the
western hemisphere.
SIDNEY
Well that narrows it
down.
MELODY
No, but really,
seriously. We're going
to go here one day.
When we're old. Like
30. And it'll be on
this date. What's today?
SIDNEY
May 25th yeah
MELODY
May 25th. Okay, so on May 25th,
when we're 30 years
old. We'll go to this
house. And sleep on the lay of
the land, until the sun
rises and we'll bathe
in desert hot springs
before a Tortoise
attacks us.
SIDNEY
What if we're not
together anymore. We'll be together. I
mean, of course, we're
going to be together.
MELODY
It doesn't matter. Even if we're not
together anymore. Even if we have
different families.
Other lives. We just have this one
night together. Our night. And what
happens in the desert
stays in the desert.
SIDNEY
But we still don't know
where it is.
MELODY
That's just a small
detail. Any ways, it's
all about beginnings. And you already have a
beginning.
SIDNEY
Yeah, what's that.
MELODY
Well you want to write
a novel, don't you?
SIDNEY
Yeah.
MELODY
Well how about this? A high profile judges
son, kills himself in
front of the fam'. And you may have been
one of the last people
to see him alive. If that's not a
beginning to a great
book, I don't know what
is.
SIDNEY
No. Stay. Shit. Ahh shit. Come
on.
OFFICER 1
Sir! Sir.
SIDNEY
Yeah, we're good. Thank you. I'm good.
OFFICER 1
Sir. Sir, I need to you
stay right there.
OFFICER 2
I got it.
OFFICER 1
Step back to the car
for me.
SIDNEY
Is there any way I can
get a lift somewhere?
OFFICER 1
Sir, we're not a taxi.
We're arresting you.
Open container.
SIDNEY
I was just laying down
there, that's not even
mine. It's alright, Homer.
What are you going to
do with my dog?
OFFICER 2
Animal control is going
to take care of him.
SIDNEY
Please don't hurt my
dog.
OFFICER 1
Watch your head.
SIDNEY
Please don't hurt my
dog!
CB
Roger that, bringing
him around now. Haven't
seen this one before.
His name is Brett
Newport. It's a New York ID.
953383 That's Brett Newport.
953383.
JONES
Good evening ma'am. My
name is Duane Jones, I
teach English at the
High School.
MRS HALL
Something wrong?
JONES
Oh no. No, no. Not at all. As a matter
of fact, Sidney's one
of our brightest
students. I was wondering if I
could speak with him.
MRS HALL
Make it quick, he's
grounded.
JONES
Well, I'm not getting
any younger. I almost got into an
accident on Route 9
because my mind was so
scattered. I was thinking about
you and all the trouble
you get me in. I hope you appreciate
it. Why didn't you tell me
you started writing a
book.
SIDNEY
Oh, I don't know. It's
just something I was
working on. I thought I'd ask
you I was curious about
your thoughts on it.
JONES
Well I've read what you
have this far. And I thought it was,
manipulative. It manipulated me
through the first
chapter. It forced me through
the second. It dared me to reach
the third. It was honest. Personal. Valid. I
loved it. I want to know what
happens next.
SIDNEY
You do?
JONES
Yeah. Of course your choice of
subject matter is is a bit
controversial. And as brilliant as the
pages are right now,
you're going to get
some angry criticism
for it down the road.
SIDNEY
Down the road? What do
you mean?
JONES
I took it upon myself
to send your pages out
to some friends of mine
who are in the
publishing business.
SIDNEY
Umm... Wha... Did
anyone respond?
JONES
Yes.
SIDNEY
Who?
JONES
Porterhouse.
SIDNEY
Porterhouse? What did they say?
JONES
They said it was
strong. They want to meet with
you, as soon as
possible. There could
be money involved.
SIDNEY
Really?
JONES
Yeah, now ahh any
Situation a professional
writer would call upon
someone to, meetings Negotiate and things
like that and seeing how
you're inexperienced in
those sort of things, I
was just wondering if... just wondering
if
SIDNEY
You want to be my
agent?
JONES
Yes. If you'd have me.
SIDNEY
Please. Please, yes.
Of course.
JONES
That's great. This is
great.
SIDNEY
Blowing my mind, I
don't even know what to
say right now.
JONES
We meet with them
tomorrow at one.
SIDNEY
One o' clock? What
about class?
JONES
Fuck it.
 OFFICER
Brett Newport! Newport! You posted
bail.
SEARCHER
Mr. Hall.
SIDNEY
You bail me out? Well what do you want?
SEARCHER
I'd like ask you some
questions. Are you hungry? There a diner just down
the road and if you're
hungry I'd like to buy
you a meal.
SIDNEY
Look man You wanna take me out
on a date or something,
that's cool, I'm easy. You're just gonna have
to get my dog out too,
or otherwise I'm not
going anywhere.
SEARCHER
I've already taken care
of that.
SIDNEY
Okay. Let's eat.
SEARCHER
Mr. Hall, I've been
searching for you
for the better half a
year. I'm a big fan. I've studied both of
your novels. Suburban
Tragedy and State of
Execution. I find them to be
extraordinary forms of
map work.
SIDNEY
Map work, huh? You're a psycho fan,
aren't you?
SEARCHER
No. No. Maybe a little. Life is not very
interesting if we're not
a bit psychotic.
SIDNEY
Look. I'm not a writer
anymore. You understand what I'm
saying, I don't have
any money. There's nothing I can
give you.
SEARCHER
That's not what
interests me. I've come here with the
intention of presenting
you with a deal. In return for me
posting your bail. I would like to ask you
a favor. However I need you to
say yes to this favor
before I actually tell
you exactly what it is.
SIDNEY
No. No way. You have to
tell me what it is
first.
SEARCHER
You're not really in a
position to bargain,
Mr. Hall. Your propensity for
starting fires in
public places has you at a
disadvantage. But don't
worry, what I ask you,
it will not take long.
SIDNEY
Oh great, now why'd you
have to go and say
that First it was a favor,
and now it's a
time-consuming favor.
SEARCHER
Well there's nothing to
be afraid of, it may
even be therapeutic.
SIDNEY
Therapeutic? Do you have
any idea what kind of
fucked up things I'm
imagining right now?
SEARCHER
Then I suggest you say
yes.
SIDNEY
Yes! Sure! Jesus Christ,
just tell me what it
is before I have a
heart attack already.
SEARCHER
I want to write a book
about you.
SIDNEY
Say again.
SEARCHER
I want to write your
biography. Your life.
SIDNEY
You want to write a
book about me?
SEARCHER
I would like to write a
book about you.
SIDNEY
Absolutely not. No.
No-no-no.
SEARCHER
Yes-yes-yes.
SIDNEY
Have you ever written
anything before?
SEARCHER
I know what you've
written. And I happen to think
you're one of the best
writers of our time.
SIDNEY
Don't get ahead of
yourself, I'm not...
that would be Francis
Bishop. Have you ever read Francis
Bishop. Won the
Pulitzer the year it
was nominated.
SEARCHER
Maybe he didn't deserve
it.
SIDNEY
No, he ahh he deserved it
alright. His follow-up book was
proof enough of that. My follow-up was
self-indulgent and
pretentious you want to write
about the greatest
writer of our time I
suggest you write about
Francis Bishop.
SEARCHER
I'm no good at
autobiographies
SIDNEY
Look, I don't know what
to tell you then. You're Francis Bishop? Nah. The badge you
flashed me.
SEARCHER
The badge. To tell you
the truth I got this at a dollar
store and it must be a
very good replica because I've never
had a single person ask
me a question about it.
SIDNEY
A dollar store? You
mean like
"Just-a-Buck?"
SEARCHER
"Just-a-Buck."
SIDNEY
Hold on... Do you mind
if I see this?
SEARCHER
No, please. No.
SIDNEY
Oh my God. This is not
real. This is fake. You're
outta your fucking
mind. How many people have
you shown that to?
SEARCHER
Just about everyone
from here to New York
City.
SIDNEY
Wait. Wait. You impersonated an
office of the law. You
know that's illegal,
right?
SEARCHER
I showed that to real
police, they didn't
even flinch.
SIDNEY
You're crazy man. I
thought I was fuckin'
nuts. You're fuckin'
crazy.
SEARCHER
You know I always
wanted to get into
investigative
journalism, I never
really did, but I went full out on
this. And or it could have
something to do with a
mid-life crisis, I'm
not sure which.
However nonetheless, here I
am.
SIDNEY
Wow. You have a family?
SEARCHER
A son. Very handsome son.
MELODY
What are you doing
here?
SIDNEY
Visiting my wife.
MELODY
Well she's busy. What is that? You found it?
SIDNEY
I bought it. For you. And we can go there
whenever you want. We can go there right
now. It's yours. You wanna
go there right now?
MELODY
I can't do that.
SIDNEY
Why?
MELODY
Because we're not kids
anymore, Sidney. I can't just get in a
car and go off forever.
SIDNEY
What about What about being
spontaneous. Going west?
SIDNEY
Remember we used to
talk about that? New
beginnings.
MELODY
I have a career.
SIDNEY
You're a photographer.
You can shoot from
anywhere. I can write from
anywhere.
MELODY
Sidney.
SIDNEY
Don't do that, please,
just if you don't want
to go west, we don't
need to go west we can go north,
south, east, Europe,
Asia. Wherever you
want. I just want to be
with you.
MELODY
I'm pregnant. It's yours. So no. I can't just go
west. I don't get to be
spontaneous anymore. Do you even care?
SIDNEY
Of course I care.
Don't... Don't do that.
Please. Please.
MELODY
Because if you care,
things need to change.
SIDNEY
I will change
everything. I'll change
anything you want.
MELODY
Are you cheating on me?
SIDNEY
No.
MELODY
This is your only
chance.
SIDNEY
I'm not cheating on
you.
MELODY
This is the only
time to tell me.
SIDNEY
I'm not cheating on
you.
MELODY
I get it, we haven't
been together. This is your one
get out of jail free
card.
SIDNEY
I'm not... Please
I'm.
MELODY
I promise.
SIDNEY
You're my best friend.
I miss you so much. Please. Just give us a
chance. I want to bring up this
child with you.
MELODY
If we want this to
work, we need to get
back to this moment. The rest of our lives
have to be as true as
this moment was. Here.
SIDNEY
Look Francis, you
know I'm a fan of
yours. I like your writing. I
really do. I'm not
exactly the kind of guy
that opens up.
SEARCHER
You do realize that
both your books are
still on the New York
Times bestseller list.
SIDNEY
I had no involvement in
the release of that
second novel.
I know it was a
success. I know that
they hailed it some
sort of stream of
conscious bible. But it's just a bunch
of unfinished
sentences.
SEARCHER
Unfinished sentences.
SIDNEY
Unfinished sentences.
SEARCHER
Probably some of the
most honest writing
that you have ever
done. That's why it's even
bigger than the first
book.
SIDNEY
I wrote a story, people
bought it.
SEARCHER
Mr. Hall. You have
become the story.
You are the story now.
SIDNEY
Bull shit.
SEARCHER
You know what I think
bull shit is. I think
bull shit is. It's people who wander
around the country
pretending to be other
people. You wake up in the
morning, you look in
the mirror.
SIDNEY
I don't care what you
tell yourself, you're
going to be Sidney Hall
period.
SEARCHER
I mean, some writers
they don't even find
their voice, until
they're I don't know
what. And here you are out
wasting your time, what
are you age 30? But what do I know?
What do I know.
SIDNEY
You don't know anything
about me.
SEARCHER
I'd really like to. Mr. Hall. I understand your
reservations about the
biography. I respect
your decision. I do suspect however,
that once I leave here,
you're not going to be
contacting me. So before I leave,
there's something I
want you to know. This has been a very
personal journey for
me. I want you to
know my son probably
wouldn't alive today if he hadn't ran
and we picked up a book
called Suburban Tragedy
out of my study. His mother passed away
recently and he he didn't really
speak to anyone until
he read your book. So I guess you could
say that you brought my
son back to me. And he is everything to
me. He's all I've got. Our paths never crossed
again. It's been an honor
meeting you. Only for a
brief moment.
SIDNEY
Francis. You deserved it.
Pulitzer. You really did, it's a
great book.
MELODY
You should really call
your Dad. Your mom walked out on
him. Just in case you wanted
to know. Okay, I'll change the
subject. So I was thinking of
names.
SIDNEY
Names?
MELODY
For our baby.
SIDNEY
Baby names? The little nugget.
MELODY
If it's a girl...
Helen. Which is really
pretty.  And then if
it's a boy. Homer.
SIDNEY
Homer? Homer. No.
MELODY
You don't like it?
SIDNEY
Homer, no. He'd going
to get his ass kicked
with that name. You can't let him.
MELODY
Why, I like it.
SIDNEY
I don't know about
that. Is it like Homer
in the Odyssey, Homer?
Or is it like Homer
Simpson?
MELODY
No, it's neither...
It's our Homer. It's his own thing.
SIDNEY
Doh.
MELODY
Just think about it, I
think it's nice. Do you recognize him?
SIDNEY
Umm, no. I thought it
was... someone
MELODY
Are you okay?
SIDNEY
Yeah. I saw a Doctor few
weeks ago.
MELODY
What for?
SIDNEY
Nothing, it was just
a checkup. Some, you know,
headaches I've been
having.
MELODY
Well we know where
those come from.
SIDNEY
Yeah, I'm fine.
MELODY
You're not fine. You're
obviously not fine if
you had to go see a
Doctor about it.
SIDNEY
I promise. It's
nothing.
MELODY
Alright. Well I have to
go to the bathroom. This conversation isn't
over. Okay.
JONES
Sidney... Sidney. I'm still your friend,
Sidney.
ENGLISH TEACHER
He writes about
confrontation, but in
real life he avoids it.
HAROLD
Sidney... You lost the
Pulitzer to Bishop.
HENRY
The core of our nation
is etched inside these
plastic smiles. Endless
rows of nowhere houses.
HAROLD
Are you fucking my
daughter, Sidney? Are you fucking my
daughter?
GINA
You have to talk to the
press, Sidney. You
can't avoid them
forever.
MRS HALL
You should be ashamed
of yourself.
HAROLD
Are you fucking my
daughter?
ALEXANDRA
Hi Sidney. Are you married, are
you not married? What's
going on? Cause I'm getting a
little confused. Where
is she?
MELODY
Hey there was a long
line... Thanks for
waiting. Umm, I think I decided,
I'm just going to have
the Risotto.
ALEXANDRA
She wants the Risotto.
MELODY
What's going on?
SIDNEY
She's a hallucination.
ALEXANDRA
Yeah I'm a fucking
hallucination, Sidney! What's going on is
I've been fucking your
husband. In case you didn't
already realize that.
Or I don't know, is he
your husband? Is he not your
husband? Cause I can't
really tell, sometimes
when he's fucking me so
hard. I assume he's not your
husband. Then here you
guys are having a great
dinner. Wow you're so
surprised because he's
never done this before. I fucked your husband
in case you didn't get
that
MELODY
across your little
princess brain baby!
SIDNEY
Melody!
MRS HALL
What is this? What are
you doing?
SIDNEY
I'm leaving.
MRS HALL
What do you mean you're
leaving?
SIDNEY
I'm leaving, that's
what I'm doing. I'm
leaving tomorrow, for
good. You're not leaving, the
hell you are!
MELODY
I'm getting the rest of
my things.
SIDNEY
Stop it, just let me
explain myself! Just
talk to me. Talk to
me.
MELODY
Explain what! That
you're a fucking liar
and a cheat!
MRS HALL
With what money, you
can't even afford to get
on a bus.
SIDNEY
I sold a book.
MRS HALL
What do you mean you
sold a book?
SIDNEY
I got an advance on a
book I'm writing.
MRS HALL
For how much?
SIDNEY
That's none of your
business, how much.
MRS HALL
It is my business!
MELODY
How many were there?
How many were there!
SIDNEY
Please, don't do this.
MELODY
Two! Four! Ten! How
many!
SIDNEY
It didn't mean anything
to me! You're the only one in
my entire life that
means anything to me.
MELODY
Don't give me bull
shit!
SIDNEY
Everything is your
business. You go
through my things. You breathe down my
neck! I can't breathe
when I'm around you!
MRS HALL
I've put every dime
I've ever earned, I
have put towards you!
SIDNEY
That's Dad's money.
It's called disability. It's not bull shit!
MELODY
Get the fuck away from
me.
SIDNEY
Alright.
MELODY
You got to be fucking
kidding me! This can't be fucking
happening.
SIDNEY
You wanna hit me? You
wanna slap your son? Come on, do it again.
MRS HALL
Don't you disrespect
me!
SIDNEY
Maybe this is a
blessing in disguise. Finally talk about the
things we never get
to talk about.
MELODY
I'm feeling
claustrophobic.
MRS HALL
You don't get to choose
when you leave me! You don't get to choose
when I had you! I
didn't have a choice! I didn't get a choice
when I had you! You don't have a
choice!
FATHER
Stop!
MRS HALL
Let go of me! Why are
you defending him! He's leaving me!
FATHER
Velouria... Velouria Let him go.
MRS HALL
No.
SIDNEY
Lights won't come on. Hello! Can anyone hear
me!
MRS HALL
Is it because of the
journals?
SIDNEY
It's not just one
thing, mom. It's not
just one thing. Hello! Hello! Can
anybody hear me! Mel? Mel, honey? Where's
your inhaler? Where's your inhaler? It's not in here. It's
not in your purse. Alright. Did you leave
it at the restaurant. Alright, just listen
just breathe. We're
going to be out of here
real soon. You'll be out of here
real soon. Just relax. Can anybody hear me!
MAN
Yes! You're down there?
SIDNEY
Hello! Hello! My wife
and I have been trapped
in the elevator for
quite some time now.
She has asthma. She can't breathe very
well. We don't have her
medication.
MAN
I'll call 911, but it
might take a few, okay?
SIDNEY
Just hurry. Please. Honey, just hang in
there, it'll be
alright. It'll be
alright. Please. I'm sorry... I'm so
sorry. Mel... I failed You deserve so much
better than this. You deserve more than
me. I'm right here. Can you
hear that? Can you hear
that? They're almost here,
just a few more
minutes, okay?
Alright. I'm here. I'm right
here with you. Just
calm down. Breathe.
REPORTER
The entire Southwest on
watch.
SEARCHER
I'll be back, the day
before. We'll get some dinner,
I'll take you out. I
look forward to meeting
her.
REPORTER
Sidney Hall was
recently declared
deceased has reemerged an
hour ago
SEARCHER
Alright, I love you
Too Alright, goodbye.
REPORTER
Renowned author was
admitted to Taos General
Hospital, in Taos, New
Mexico. This is the
first time the notoriously
reclusive Mr. Hall has
been heard from or seen
in public in over seven
years. Those at the hospital
say his condition is
critical.
SEARCHER
Hello?
DOCTOR
When we regained
consciousness, we asked
him who he wanted us to
call. You were the only
one he mentioned. You're the only person
he wants in the room.
SEARCHER
What happened to him?
DOCTOR
There are indications
of scarring on the
right side of his
brain. His liver is barely
functioning. And he has a history of
seizures. Simply put He's been going for
years with no
medication or
treatment.
SEARCHER
Is he going to be
alright?
DOCTOR
His body is failing
him, Mr. Bishop. But his mind still
seems sharp. He claims
it's the comfiest med
he's slept in, in
years.
SEARCHER
Well I guess I'll go in
then.
SIDNEY
Hi Homer. Everything's
going to be fine. Haven't seen her in a
long time. Almost
forgot.
SEARCHER
Mr. Hall.
SIDNEY
Call me Sidney for fuck
sake.
SEARCHER
Okay.
SIDNEY
Where's Homer?
SEARCHER
He's at the house. I promise you I'll take
care of him until you
get out of here.
SIDNEY
You see that, right
there? There's a package It's just a portion of
my writings. And scribblings. Just
stuff from over the
years. It's yours if you want
it. Use it. Do what you
want with it. There are three
reasons why I called
you here today. One is that I want you to write
this little book of
yours. Two. is that there's
something undocumented
that I need to get off
my chest. And the third is You're the only person
I know.
SEARCHER
Where do you want to
start?
SIDNEY
We'll start with the
person Suburban Tragedy
is based on. His name was Brett
Newport. And this is
how I killed him. What's in it?
BRETT
None of your business. Here, hide this. Now!
Go.
FATHER
Get out of the car!
BRETT
Remember, you hold the
key. Alright... You
hold the key!
SIDNEY
He wasn't in school on
Monday. He was probably
grounded and beaten
which would have
explained the
bruises I saw on his face
later that week.
BRETT
You still have that
thing?
SIDNEY
Yeah. Yeah. I can bring
It to the finals on
Monday if you want. I stared at that lunch
box for over half an
hour. What was the best way
to go about this.
Melody was was still forefront
on my mind. Somehow I felt
obligated to bring
closure to this current
Development. Even now, deep down I
knew that once I opened
that box it would ultimately
not be the ending or
rather the beginning of
something very
unfortunate.
BRETT
Did you watch it?
SIDNEY
Look man, it's ahh...
it's really none of my
business.
BRETT
Did you watch it?
SIDNEY
There, documented on
Video was Brett's Father,
Judge George Newport,
having sex with an
underage girl. When it was finally
over. He would arrange
for a car to take her
back to school middle-school by the
looks of it. And then just minutes
after the Judge left. It all came together. Smart kid. Who would have known
underneath that football
helmet was such a damaged
soul. A soul that may
well have been on its
way to greatness had it not been
stilted by an
upbringing I couldn't
even begin to imagine.
BRETT
I'm gonna kill him, I
swear to God next time he tries
to touch me, I'm gonna
take a knife and I'm
gonna stab him in his
fucking neck.
SIDNEY
Okay, look man if you turn the tape
into the authorities,
he won't be around
anymore. You know?
BRETT
He rapes Darcy.
SIDNEY
Okay... You're going to
have to turn in the
tape as soon as
possible.
BRETT
She doesn't say
anything, but I know he
does it. Because I can hear her
cry, some nights,
through the wall.
SIDNEY
Listen. Listen, this
has to end. Alright. This has to
end and that's why we
dug it up. Right? That's why we dug it
up. So this can end.
BRETT
I'm gonna stab the
fucking bastard.
SIDNEY
Listen to me man, don't
do anything stupid.
Alright? Just wait until Monday, we'll
turn it in. I'll go in
with you. Okay, I'll go with you. I should have turned
that tape in. I should have listened
to his words and taken
them more seriously. But I didn't. This is Melody.
MELODY
Hi.
SIDNEY
Are those my notebooks? What's going on?
MRS HALL
I found this in your VCR
SIDNEY
No... no, it's not what
you think.
MRS HALL
I don't know what to
think. I don't know if it's
porn or some black
market S&M shit but
it is much sicker than I
imagined you to have.
After watching this I thought I better
read your journals,
because I better get
some insight into my
son. And all I read about
was drugs and
masturbation and Black High
School teachers and
let's not forget about
the beautiful
passages about your mother,
the whore! The High
School Cheerleader that got knocked
up by the Tight End.
SIDNEY
You don't understand,
alright. Just give me. Stop it. No! No!
MRS HALL
Don't understand? Fuck you! you will learn about
respect when you write
about your mother! Maybe next time you'll
think twice!
SIDNEY
No! No! Stop it! Stop
it!
MRS HALL
Fucking.
SIDNEY
No. Brett called me to
ask when we should
meet up. And I had to
tell him the tape was
gone. And he hung up on me.
He died on an unusually
cold Sunday. Stabbed himself, in
the stomach. There were rumors he did it to
avoid military school. But I knew the truth. I killed him.
SEARCHER
You can't blame
yourself for that.
SIDNEY
I may not have been
There when the knife went
in, but I was there
ever since. He's been with me.
Watching me. I know the entire
course of a person's
life can change, in a
millisecond.
MELODY
do something
SIDNEY
I'm trying to, let me
do something.
MELODY
Sing... Sing
SIDNEY
Sing what? Sing?
MELODY
Sing.
SIDNEY
What do you want me to
sing? What do you want
me to sing? I'll sing
anything you want.
Alright... I'll sing. If today was not a
crooked highway. If tonight I could
finally stand up tall. If tomorrow wasn't such
a long time. Then lonesome would
mean nothing to me at
all. Stay with me...
Stay with me. If only my love was
standing by me. If I could hear her
heart a-softly
poundin'. If only she was lyin'
by me. I'd lie in my bed once
again. Stay with me. I only know the first
verse. I don't know the
second verse. You want me to keep
singing. I'll keep
singing for you. If today was like a
crooked highway. If tonight I could
finally stand up tall. If tomorrow wasn't such
a long time. Then lonesome would
mean nothing to you at
all. Breathe. Honey? Honey?
Sweetheart. Mel? Mel? Mel... Wake
up. Come on, breathe.
Oh no. Once Melody left me it dawned on me,
looking out at all
those wonderful city
lights. I was just one of those
millions of city
lights. A tiny little pixel.
Buried within the white
noise of life. Blinking on for just a
brief second in time. I didn't want to be a
martyr. I wanted to be nobody. And I walked out of
that apartment with
only the clothes on my
back. To become nobody. I
never returned again. I just keep replaying
that scene. Hoping against hope.
That the ending would
change. That she would just
wake up and say Sidney I'm not leaving you
just yet. I'm still pregnant.
SEARCHER
Sidney.