BLACK WINGS

                                                                                           Written By 

Registered Write Safe                                                       2828 Tennis Club Drive
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     she303@aol.com 

			              BLACK WINGS

FADE IN

EXT. STATE ROAD - DAY - 1955

A blazing sun beats down on a parkway with speeding cars.

INT. CAR

DAVID, 30'S, drives on the parkway, his face and clothes  moist from the overpowering  heat of the sun.  He turns off the parkway and onto a country road.  As the car turns the bend of the road, we see  

Buzzards feeding ravenously on a dead animal on the road.
The vultures hold their position until the last few seconds that the car is upon them, when with a burst of speed, the vultures fly into the air, their black spanning wings beating in unison.

David drives through.  

In the rear window, he sees the buzzards hurriedly return to devour their meal.

David turns on the car radio.  Country music is played.
He turns to other stations, frowns and turns off the radio.

					DAVID (V.O)
		Not too many pills when you're driving.
		Doc warned me.
 
FLASHBACK

PENSACOLA BEACH - DAY

It is cloudless sunny early morning.  

The beach's sand is white as snow.

A swarm of seagulls take off and fly toward the curtain of the sky.

Several couples stroll hand in hand at the edge of the water.

David lays on a blanket and smiles as he relaxes under the penetrating and soothing warmth of the sun.  
He gets up , walks into the blue water, swims a distance and comes to a buoy.  As he grasps the sea-weeded mark, he smiles.

FLASHBACK
 
David, at the age of twelve, and IRVING, his older brother of  fourteen swim to a buoy.

IDA, their mother stands at the beach and stares out toward the boys.

					IDA
			(shouting)
		You're going out too far.  If you
		don't come out of the water this
		instant, we'll never take you to
		the beach again.

David and Irving exchange smiles , as they ignore their mother's threat.

FLASH FORWARD

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT 

David drives along the road, his face twisted with pain. 
He takes a bottle of pills from the glove compartment and swallows some.

He turns off the road and pulls up to a restaurant.  

A sign reading; "TRADER JOHN'S" hangs precariously atop of an old building whose cedar blocks are blackened with age. David enters 

THE RESTAURANT

It is dark and smoke-filled.  A juke box plays loud and raucous music.

Several men and women sit at a bar, their faces dark and drooped as they drink whiskey.

David takes a seat at the end of the bar.

DELILAH, A nubile young woman bartender approaches. 

					DELILAH
		What's your pleasure?

					DAVID
		A beer.

					DELILA
		What kind?

					DAVID
		Something light.

					DELILA
		Coming right up.

Delilah serves him a beer.

David takes several large gulps. 

					DELILAH
		Are you here on a vacation?

					DAVID
		Just passing through.

Delilah smiles and tends to other patrons.
					(a beat)
The bar empties out, leaving just Delilah and David. 

					DELILAH
		I was only sixteen when I left
		home.  My parents were alcoholics and
		with the sixty dollars I had earned
		on some odd jobs I was glad to be on 
		my way.

					DAVID
		Life has some unforeseen turns.

					DELILAH
		I came here to marry a Navy pilot, but
		he was killed in a plane crash.

					DAVID (V.O)
		Not an unusual fabrication.

					DELILAH
		So then I meet this Lingerie salesman. 
		He tells me that he's in love with me
		and wants to marry me...

					DAVID
		...And?

					DELILAH
		I had my boss checks him out.  Turns out 
		he was married and had four kids.

					DAVID
		It's not always the luck of the draw.

					DELILAH
		There's not much of a draw here.
		I plan on moving to a big city soon.

					DAVID
		I wish you luck.

					DELILAH
		Where do you come from?

					DAVID
		New York.

					DELILAH
		I've never been to New York...I'll
		be right back.  Hold the fort.

Delilah leaves the bar and walks to the Lady's room.

David's face is wrinkled with pain.  He takes out several pills from a bottle and swallows them.  After a beat, Delilah returns to the bar.

					DELILAH
		I'll be closing soon ...A night cap?

					DAVID
		No Thank you.  I've got to get going.

					DELILAH
		Where are you staying?

					DAVID
		I haven't checked in anywhere. 					I might just get back on the road.
			
					DELILAH
		You look very tired. You can get a good 
		night's sleep at my place if you like.
		It's right next door.						
					DAVID
		That's very kind of you.  I won't be
		a burden.

					DELILAH		
		It's been some time since I met someone
		like you.  

David and Delilah exchange smiles. 			

INT. DELILAH'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Delilah and David enter the house.

David scans the apartment.

The decor is conservative, with everything in its proper place.

					DELILAH
		Would you like some coffee?

					DAVID
		No thanks.

Delilah goes to the refrigerator, takes out a bottle of milk and pours herself a glass.

					DELILAH
		This helps me unwind.  Do you want a
		glass.

					DAVID
		No thanks.

					DELILAH
			(taking several gulps.
		Why don't you stay a while?

She approaches David and kisses him lightly.  He slowly pulls away.

					DAVID
		You're a very beautiful and desirable
		woman and...

					DELILAH
		...What's wrong?

					DAVID
		I'm a very sick man and this is my...
		
					DELILAH
		...Is there something I can do for you?

					DAVID
		You've been doing it. 

					DELILAH
		And you've been very good company.

INT. DELILAH'S BEDROOM - MORNING

David finishes dressing.  He stares at Delilah who is in bed in a deep sleep.  He strokes her hair lightly and smiles as she turns and moans. 

EXT. HOUSE

David approaches his car.  He enters and starts and enters the car.

				DAVID (V.O)
		Must keep an eye open for a diner.  A
		good hot cup of black coffee will keep 
		me awake.

David starts the car and drives on the road.  He turns on the car radio.  It plays country music.  He turns to other stations that also play the same music.  David frowns and turns off the music.  Tears start to well in his eyes as he shakes his head

FLASHBACK

EXT. LINCOLN CENTER - NIGHT

It is a starry night.  People enter several theaters.

The Metropolitan Opera House stand TALL and GRAND.

INT. METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

At an intermission, patrons walk along the posh rug floors.

David, dressed in a tuxedo enters the ground floor.  He walks a distance and bumps into TOM WOLF, a young man in his late forties, his trim figure and crew cut hair belie his age.  At his side is MARY, a young beautiful woman.     
David and Tom shake embrace.

					TOM
		Good to see you Dave.  How's the writing?

					DAVID
		Still plugging away. 
          
David stares at Mary and smiles.

					TOM
		Sorry, this is Mary.  Mary, this is
		David Taylor, the famous writer.  
  
David shakes Mary's hand.

					DAVID
		It's a pleasure.

					MARY
		I've enjoyed reading one of your books.

					DAVID
		Which one?

					MARY
		The Verification.  I found it at Tom's 
		house.  I think it's a masterpiece.		

					DAVID
		Well thank you.  I need all the good 
		reviews I can get.
					
					MARY		
		I moved to the city recently and this 
		is my first time at the Met.  It's so
		wonderful.

The end of intermission bell rings.  Patrons return to their seats.			
		
					TOM
		Join us for a drink after the performance.

					DAVID
		Thanks for the invite.  I've got some work 
		to finish up at home.

					TOM
		You'll have time to do it later I'm sure.

					DAVID
		But...

					TOM
		...I'm not taking no for an answer.

EXT. OPERA HOUSE - NIGHT

The wind is cold and the snow pours heavily down the streets.

Tom, Mary and David wait at a street corner as cars whiz by.  Tom hails a taxi and they enter the taxi and drive off.

INT. LOUNGE - NIGHT

Several patrons, some in formal dress sit at tables and booths.

David sits with Tom and Mary at a corner booth.

Mary's cheeks are flushed with excitement as she speaks.

					MARY
		Actually it was my first interview and
		I was hired the same day.  What luck!

					TOM
		They knew what they were getting.

					DAVID
		I'm pretty sure of that.

					MARY
		Who would think that I'd be sitting here
		tonight in New York with two of the most 
		handsome and charming men.

Tom grabs Mary's hand and they exchange smiles.
	
					MARY
			(getting up)
		Please excuse me.  

Tom and David rise.  Mary leaves the table

					DAVID
		Where did you find this angel?

					TOM
		She was hired by our company.  I've got
		something to tell you.

					DAVID
		About Mary?

					TOM
		Mary told me that she's very keen about 
		you and she'd like to see you again.

					DAVID
		But what about you and...

					TOM
		...I don't mind really and I know she'll
		be in good hands with you.

David is stunned, as he shakes his head.

					DAVID
		Are you sure?

Tom nods his head.

MONTAGE

David and Mary leaving a Broadway theater.

Dining at Sardi's

Dancing at The Pierre

Ice skating at Wollman's Ice Skating Rink. 

Jogging on The East River Parkway

Shopping at Bloomingdales

Making love in David's Apartment

Attending a birthday party for Tom at his apartment.

INT. DAVID'S STUDY - NIGHT

David works on a computer.  He rereads a page and makes several revisions.  He takes a drink from his coffee mug and reads several pages.  

The door opens and Mary appears with a bouquet of flowers.  She places the flowers in a jar and hurriedly walks to David.  She embraces and kisses him.  They are mesmerized with each other.  

					MARY
		How'd it go today?

					DAVID
		Good, but better now that you're
		here.

					MARY
		Guess what?

					DAVID
		The suspense could kill me.

					MARY
		I'm getting two weeks vacation and I 
		haven't even been with the company a 					year.  Can you imagine?
		
					DAVID
		Who could say no to you?

					MARY
		We could take that vacation we talked
		about.

					DAVID
		It'll be wonderful and...

David starts to wince, his face twisted with pain.

					MARY
		The headache?

					DAVID
		It comes and goes.  I'll be allright.

					MARY
		You told me that you were going to see
		the doctor.

					DAVID
		I will.  I promise.

INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE

David sits in a chair in front of a desk facing Dr. Gould, a middle age man wearing thick glasses.  

David's face droops, anxiety and dread coursing through his veins.

The doctor studies a file for a moment and turns to David.  His face is wrinkled as he speaks.

					DR.GOULD
		We've checked it out thoroughly...

					DAVID
		...And?

					DR. GOULD
		The tumor on your brain is inoperable.

					DAVID
		How much time do I...

					DR. GOULD
		...One or two months if you're lucky.

					DAVID (V.O.)
		Must think of how to tell Mary and make 
		the borrowed time not too hard for her.											

EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY

The park is very green.

Couples walk hand in hand.

Bikers and roller-skaters speed through the roads.

Children swing on swings.

An old man sits on a bench and feeds pigeons.

Pushcart vendors dole out refreshments

David and Darcy walk on the grass

					DAVID
		It's rotten luck and it couldn't
		have come at a worst time.

					MARY
		I've taken a leave of absence from
		my job.

					DAVID
		Why would you do that?

					MARY
		Because I want to take care of you.

					DAVID
		I've loused up many things in my life,
		and now I've done it to you.

					MARY
		We're going to lick this.  You'll see.

They stop.  Mary looks into David's eyes, tears dwelling in her eyes.  She kisses David passionately.

WEEKS LATER

INT. DAVID'S APARTMENT DINING ROOM - NIGHT 

David, in a bathrobe sits with Mary at the table.

Mary appears drawn and weary as she starts to clear the  dishes from the table.

					MARY
		You've hardly eaten a thing.

					DAVID
		Darling, I only wish that I could just
		for your sake.  

					MARY
		You haven't even tried.  You've just 
		given up.  

					DAVID
		I've made all the necessary arrangements.  

					MARY
		You what?

					DAVID
		I've never loved anyone like I love you.
		You'll be well taken care. 
		
					MARY
		Why are you telling me this?

					DAVID
		I'm going on a trip for a little while.

					MARY				 
		By yourself?

					DAVID
		I'm very unhappy when I see what my sickness
		is doing to you.  It'll be just a short
		trip.

					MARY
		I don't believe what I'm hearing.  And 
		how will you take care of yourself?

					DAVID
		Dr. Gould told me that trip wouldn't 
		change anything for me. 

Mary breaks down in tears.				

					DAVID
			(embracing Mary)
		I'll be back in no time.

FLASH FORWARD

David drives on the highway.

Lights beam from a distance.

David steps hard on the accelerator and glides up to a small diner.  He parks the car and enters

THE DINER

He takes a seat at a booth.  A waitress approaches and hand him a menu.	

					DAVID
		I'll just have a strong cup of coffee.

					WAITRESS
		Yes Sir.

The waitress brings a pot of coffee and pours a cup for David.  She writes up the check and places it on the table.

					DAVID
			(taking several sips from cup)
		Thanks.  How far to the next town?

					WAITRESS
		About ten miles...Are you all right?
		Can I get you an aspirin?			
			
					DAVID
		No Thanks.

					WAITRESS
		There are some motels along the road.

					DAVID
		Okay.

David finishes his coffee.  He places a bill on the table and pays his check at the cash register.

EXT. DINER

David is at his car.  He takes several deep breaths and smiles.

					DAVID (V.V.)		
		Just ten more miles. Must try to make it.

David enters his car.  He starts it and drives onto the parkway.  His face is masked with pain.  He opens his  window.  The howling wind sounds like the soothing chords of a harp.  He can hardly keep awake.  The harp's heavenly chords are lulling him to sleep.

					IDA
			(voice ringing)
		You're going out too far.

					MARY
			(soft and enticing)
		It's my first time at the Met.

					DAVID
		Mary! Mary!

The pain stops.  The harp plays softly. 

The heavenly clouds envelop David into their arms.

FADE OUT

                         THE END