Scenes 11, 12, 13 - Official Première Script Release of "Better Left Unsaid" - A Feature Film to be Produced on Steemit!

in original-script •  7 years ago 

100% of Steem Dollars Received Will Be Used in the Making of the Film

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"Better Left Unsaid"
Story and Screenplay by @brian-rhodes
Original Music by @dan-atstarlite
Working Title by @jrcornel
Scenes 11, 12, 13

(The following script is formatted for desktop viewing only)

    INT. RESTAURANT TORONTO - NIGHT

      Charlie and Harriet, at quiet table, finished eating.

                          CHARLIE
                Thanks for helping me out.
                     (Angry)
                Christ! All that paperwork... just to
                die right!

                          HARRIET
                It's done now. Everything's in order.
                Forget it.

      The server approaches, returns Harriet's Credit Card and
      receipt.

                          HARRIET
                     (To server)
                Thank you.

      Server smiles, exits.

                          HARRIET (CONT'D)
                Come on.
                     (Beat)
                Let's get out of here. There's a cafe
                around the corner.

      She leans in.

                          HARRIET (CONT'D)
                The coffee here is shit.

      Charlie smiles, goes to finish drink, second thoughts.

                          CHARLIE
                Hold on.

      Pulls out prescription pill bottle, washes two pills down
      with remainder of scotch.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                OK.

      Harriet waits. Puts pill bottle away, they get up, exit.

      EXT. STREET TORONTO - CONTINUOUS

      Charlie and Harriet enter onto sidewalk.

                          HARRIET
                This way.

      Walking side by side slowly, Charlie works up courage.

                          CHARLIE
                I checked out his website.
                     (Beat)
                He's still in Hamilton.

      Harriet stops. But before she can speak.

                          CHARLIE
                Hold on. I know what you're going to
                say... "Just leave it alone".

      He collects his thoughts.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                But I can't. It's my last chance.
                I've got to try and help him out at
                least.

      Harriet begins walking again. She's frustrated.

                          HARRIET
                Do you really need to put yourself
                through this... now?

                          CHARLIE
                     (Enthusiastically)
                But it looks like he's doing OK. He
                sings. Plays guitar. Writes!
                     (Pauses)
                And he has a regular gig in a bar...
                and get this... a bar I played in the
                early days.

                          HARRIET
                Look. I'm happy for him. But, can't
                you just be satisfied with knowing
                that and let him be?

      They continue walking, Charlie mulls it over.

                          HARRIET (CONT'D)
                You're not still thinking of meeting
                him are you?

                          CHARLIE
                I might. Maybe just a leg up... from
                a stranger.

      Walking on, Harriet shaking head intensely. Charlie stops
      her.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                Why are you so against it? What, am I
                bad for him or something?

                          HARRIET
                No. I don't! But showing up after 25
                years... you have to be prepared for
                the worst... and you're not!

                          CHARLIE
                So, what's the worst?
                     (Sarcastically)
                He tells me to fuck off?!

                          HARRIET
                No. It's the damage you could cause
                him!

      Charlie's taken aback, the thought never crossed his mind.

                          HARRIET (CONT'D)
                It could be too much for him... both
                of you.
                     (Sincerely)
                Charlie. Like it or not, the time for
                making it right may have run out.
                Just let things be.

      Charlie's upset.

                          CHARLIE
                Look... can we pass on coffee? I need
                some time alone... to think.

                          HARRIET
                Charlie, I'm sorry if I...

                          CHARLIE
                No. No. Good advice.

      Charlie's confused, wind taken out of him.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                I never... Yeah, I just need time to
                think.
                     (Beat)
                I should go.
                     (Beat)
                Can I call you a taxi?

      Harriet nods no. Charlie hugs her, kisses her cheek.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                Good night.

      Charlie walks away. Suddenly Harriet's concerned.

                          HARRIET
                Charlie?!

      He stops, no looking back. Harriet's emotional.

                          HARRIET (CONT'D)
                Why do I feel this is good-bye?

      He looks back, looks her in the eye.

                          CHARLIE
                I just need some time.

      Charlie turns, walks away. Harriet's left remorseful.

      INT. GAY BAR TORONTO - NIGHT

      The club's packed, dance music playing. Charlie's standing in
      dark corner, upset, takes a couple of pills, washes them down
      with beer. A hustler cruises, Charlie's waves him off
      politely.

      Eugene enters. Charlie sees him. Eugene gets beer, starts
      circulating, he's popular, sees Charlie, lights up, heads
      straight for him, man-hug.

                          EUGENE
                You're back! You good?

                          CHARLIE
                Yeah!

                          EUGENE
                You scared me man!

                          CHARLIE
                Sorry.
                     (Beat)
                Have to cut back on the Scotch.
                Sticking to beer now.

      A favourite dance tune plays, Eugene dances in place, a good
      dancer, he knows it, attracting attention.

                          EUGENE (CONT'D)
                     (to Charlie)
                Come on!

      Grabs Charlie's arm, Charlie resists.

                          CHARLIE
                Not tonight.

      Eugene stops.

                          EUGENE
                What the fuck?! You never say no.

      Charlie's awkward about it.

                          EUGENE
                You sure?

      Eugene persists.

                          EUGENE (CONT'D)
                We've been friends a long time.
                     (Beat)
                What's wrong?

      Charlie's smiles. Shakes head no.

                          CHARLIE
                Nothing.

      Charlie continues to put him off.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                Just trying to figure some shit out
                over a beer. That's all.

      An awkward pause. Charlie pulls cash from his pocket. Peels
      off a couple of bills. Tries to slip them into Eugene's
      pocket. He refuses. Charlie tries again, acts fatherly.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                Go have some fun. I just need to be
                alone for a while.

      Charlie tries again and again Eugene refuses.

                          EUGENE
                Look. I know you're trying to help.
                But it's never been about money. That
                was your idea.
                     (Anxious)
                Now what's wrong?
                     (More anxious)
                Did I do something?!

                          CHARLIE
                Hell no!
                     (Sincerely)
                You saved my friggin' life!
                     (Smiling)
                Come to think of it, maybe I should
                be pissed off!

      Eugene smiles. Pause.

                          CHARLIE
                Look. I'm just trying to find a way
                to... fix something I screwed up.

                          EUGENE
                What that?

                          CHARLIE
                It's complicated.

                          EUGENE
                Try me?

      Looks Eugene in the eye, pauses.

                          CHARLIE
                I have... a son.

      Eugene's mind, tripping, putting pieces together.

                          EUGENE
                Whoa! Now it makes sense.
                     (beat)
                And?

                          CHARLIE
                Well... the last time I saw him... he
                was a baby. He doesn't know I exist.

      It gets difficult.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                And, I'd like to see him again... but,
                scared I might fuck him up.

      He feels stupid.

                          CHARLIE (CONT'D)
                Aah shit! Forget it. Never should
                have brought it up.

                          EUGENE
                You are full of surprises! First, I
                find out you're a Rockstar and you
                don't want me to tell nobody. And now
                you got a son and keeping that secret
                too!

      Eugene moves in closer.

                          EUGENE
                Look. I hated my Dad for throwing me
                out at 16. I told him I was gay.
                Then, I'd be asking myself, "How
                could he do that"? He's my Dad! I'm
                his son!

      Holding back anger.

                          EUGENE (CONT'D)
                But, I never got my answer. He died.
                The son of a bitch.
                     (Beat)
                Now, I bet your son's asking himself
                the same question. "Why"? And
                Charlie, you know why.
                     (Beat)
                So, you need to tell him. He deserves
                to know.

      Puts arm around Charlie's neck. Pulls him close.

                          EUGENE (CONT'D)
                Love you man.

      Plants a kiss on Charlie's forehead.

                          EUGENE (CONT'D)
                Come on. Let's get out of here.

      Eugene leads him across dance floor, arm across Charlie's
      shoulder, Charlie's now calm, they exit.

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