FADE IN;

EXT - COUNTRY; AFTERNOON

OPENING CREDITS; Wrong Lane; Hexus [8:55]

ESTABLISHING LONG SHOT; Waist high grass sways with the blowing wind.

ARC SHOT; In the middle of it all sits a narrow dirt road, which sports trees on either side at regular intervals, like light posts on a city street.

ECU; a set of hands tying a shoe.

DOLLY OUT; as JADE BURKE stands and stares at the long road still ahead of her. She sighs and continues walking. A backpack resting on her shoulders.

As the opening credits end; she arrives at a bungalow house.

EXT - BUNGALOW; CONTINUOUS

Jade walks slowly towards the bungalow, taking everything in.

The bungalow is very modest, yet low key. Not something you would expect from a retired sheriff. It’s very small for someone with money.

A large willow tree resides in the front yard.

Jade pauses and stares at it for a beat.

				HENRY
					[OFF SCREEN]
		You made it.

				JADE
					[TURNS]
		Huh?

We now see HENRY BURKE standing at the front door.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		You made it.

Jade nods as she begins walking over.

				HENRY
		I thought your flight arrived at five.

				JADE
		I took an earlier flight.

				HENRY
		You should have called, I would have 
		picked you up.

				JADE
		I had the cab drop me at the end of 
		the driveway.

				HENRY
		That’s almost two miles. Why didn’t
		you have the cab drop you off here?

				JADE
		No reason.

They walk inside.

DISSOLVE TO;

INT - BEDROOM; DUSK

Jade leans against the wall, staring out the window. Her eyes are fairly red from crying.

Henry appears in the doorway.

				HENRY
					[SOFTLY]
		Jade?

Jade turns her back on him and wipes her eyes.

				HENRY
		Jade, are you alright?

				JADE
		Yeah.

Henry enters the room, stepping closer to her.

Jade looks at him.

				HENRY
		I — I just wanted to tell you — I’m
		glad you’re here.

A sad smile forms on his face. He wants to hug her but there’s an awkward pause.

Jade hugs him.

Henry hesitates for a second before putting his arms around her, indicating that hugs between the two were few and far between.

In Henry’s eyes, there is a trapped sadness.

DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - BACK PORCH; DUSK

ESTABLISHING SHOT; Trees are scattered, giving solitude where it’s need. At the far end of the yard is a pond where Lilly pads have made their home.

Jade sits on the back porch and stares at the surroundings.

Henry walks over.

				HENRY
		Jade!?!

Jade takes a moment before looking at him.

				HENRY
		Do you want anything?

				JADE
					[SLIGHTLY SMILES]
		No; thanks.

Henry sits in the chair next to her.

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		So, what’s going on with you, Jade? 

				JADE
		I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.

				HENRY
		You’re not talking a lot.

				JADE
		I’m conserving my energy.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		I’m happy you’re here.
					[SMILE FADES]
		I just hate to see you like this.

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		Listen, Dad, there are still a few
		things I have to do. I have to write
		a will.

Henry says nothing.

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		Thank you.

				HENRY
		For what?

				JADE
		For not saying “There’s plenty of
		time for that” or something similar.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		Well, you’re welcome.

They sit in silence, watching the sun set.

DISSOLVE TO;

INT - KITCHEN; DAWN

Henry is busy making coffee.

Jade strolls in wearing a police sweatshirt.

				HENRY
		Would you like some waffles, Jade?

				JADE
		Is this morning?

				HENRY
		Yeah, it’s morning!

				JADE
		Sometimes I can’t tell anymore.

Henry pours two cups of coffee and hands one to Jade.

				HENRY
		Is that my shirt?

				JADE
					[TAKES THE COFFEE]
		Yeah.
Jade notices a baby monitor set sitting on the counter.

				JADE
					[POINTS TO BABY MONITOR]
		What’s with that?

				HENRY
		It’s your old baby monitor. I thought 
		we could use it, you know, in case you 
		needed me during the night. You won’t 
		have to shout.

				JADE
		Oh!

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		Hey, do you want to play “let’s have 
		dinner for breakfast”?

				JADE
		I’m all played out, Dad.

				HENRY
		It’s like the old days!

				JADE
		Yeah, but, I’m not a kid anymore, I 
		don’t have the energy.

Henry smiles as he walks outside.

Jade follows.

EXT - BACK PORCH; CONTINUOUS

They both sit.

After a moment, Jade notices a funny smell.

				JADE
		What is that smell?

				HENRY
		What smell?

				JADE
					[SNIFFS CUP]
		Did you spill maple syrup in my coffee?

				HENRY
		That’s maple nut crunch.

				JADE
		Maple nut crunch?

Henry nods.

				JADE
		Maple nut fucking crunch! Are you 
		going to tell me that Juan Valdez is 
		down in Bogota right now with a field 
		full of maple nuts? I don’t fucking 
		think so!

				HENRY
		It’s the flavor of the coffee, Jade.

				JADE
		Coffee doesn’t need a flavor, it needs 
		a cup, that’s all it needs. Maybe a 
		saucer underneath, that’s it!

Henry looks at Jade.

				JADE
		Did I miss a fucking meeting with the 
		coffee?

Henry is about to answer, but Jade doesn’t let him.

				JADE
		It seems you can get every other 
		flavor but coffee flavored coffee.

Henry has no response for that.
	
				JADE
					[PAUSE/SIGHS]
		I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have exploded 
		like that. It’s only coffee.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		It’s alright. Just — 
					[FLUSTERED]
		What’s with the profanity?

				JADE
					[SHRUGS/PAUSE]
		Do you ever get bored just sitting 
		here?

				HENRY
		I don’t get bored. I think a lot.

				JADE
		About what?

				HENRY
		About all the fun times we’ve had 
		together. The memories make me happy.

				JADE
					[SLIGHTLY SMILES]
		Is this still your favorite time of 
		day?

				HENRY
					[SLIGHTLY SMILES]
		Yeah, I think it is.

				JADE
		What else do you like?

				HENRY
		You know what I like.

				JADE
		No, I don’t!

				HENRY
		Change the subject!

				JADE
		Just name one more thing you like!

				HENRY
		Why do you want to know?

				JADE
		I’m interested.

				HENRY
		Jade, there’s nothing interesting 
		about me. I’m very average.
					[BEAT]
		The only extraordinary thing about 
		me is you.

				JADE
		Well, I think you’re anything but 
		average.

Henry takes that statement to heart.

				JADE
		What’s wrong?

				HENRY
		It’s been a long time since anybody
		has compliment me.

They both smile.

				HENRY
		So, Jade, maybe a game of chess later?

				JADE
		I’m sorry. I just — haven’t felt much 
		like playing lately.
					[BEAT]
		I do miss playing chess with you.

				HENRY
		It’s okay. I like having you home. I 
		miss you when you’re gone.

				JADE
		You miss me?

				HENRY
					[NODS]
		Everyday.

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		I don’t want to be somewhere else 
		anymore. I’m not waiting for anything 
		new to happen. I’m not looking around 
		the next corner, no next hill.

				HENRY
		That’s your kind of happiness, isn’t 
		it?

				JADE
		Yes. Today is one of my better days.

				Henry
		Okay, what is thee best day you’ve had?

				JADE
		You mean, ever?

				HENRY
		Yeah, best day ever!

				JADE
		The day you took me down to the pound 
		to get a dog. I must have been five 
		or six.
				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		Five.

				JADE
		Yeah, so I had it narrowed down to two
		different dogs and I couldn’t decide
		which one to get. And you suggested we 
		take the Pug home. A few years later 
		I found out you only wanted that dog 
		because you liked his name.

				HENRY
					[LAUGHS]
		Frank the Pug!

				JADE
		I loved that dog.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		He never left your side, followed you
		everywhere you went.
					[PAUSE]
		What was your worst day?

				JADE
		My worst day — 
					[SIGHS]
		The day he died. I never told anyone 
		this before, but he died in my arms.

Henry is heartbroken.

				JADE
		All we did that day was go for a walk 
		around the house. We were lying on 
		he couch, he fell asleep and never
		woke up.

Jade sniffs. She looks away from Henry and wipes her eyes.

They both fall silent for a moment.

				JADE
		Okay, your turn. What’s your best day 
		ever? And you can’t say when I was 
		born because that’s too easy.

				HENRY
		My best day — 
					[SMILES]
		When you told me you had one of your 
		stories published.
				JADE
					[SURPRISED]
		Really? 

				HENRY 
		Yeah.

				JADE
		You always told me that writing was a 
		waste of time.

				HENRY
		Well; I lied.

				JADE
		Oh, now you tell me this!

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		You were leaving the next day to go 
		live in a shitty little apartment in 
		New York City to finish writing a 
		book. You already had an agent who 
		was set to publish it once it was 
		finished. I know I didn’t show it, 
		but I was extremely proud of you that 
		day. I still am.

				JADE
		What was your worst day?

				HENRY
		Same day!

Jade falls silent.

DISSOLVE TO;

INT - LIVING ROOM; AFTERNOON

Henry and Jade sit, playing a game of chess.

				HENRY
		You okay?
					[PAUSE]
		Jade?

				JADE
					[LOOKS UP]
		Hmmm?

				HENRY
		You okay? You don’t seem like yourself.
				JADE
		Just been thinking. Life sure is 
		funny.

				HENRY
		Well, that’s a profound thought. 
		How do you figure?

				JADE
		I don’t know; except here we are 
		living our lives and someplace else 
		on Earth, a billion other people 
		live their lives.

				HENRY
		That’s a rather obvious statement.

				JADE
		Life can be a lonely thing; even with 
		married people.
					[BEAT]
		Sometimes when you’re in a person’s 
		arms, you feel a million miles away 
		from them.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		Well, I like that.

				JADE
		I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, we 
		all believe what we want to believe; 
		live our own little lives while other 
		people live entirely different ones.
		We sit here in this room, while a 
		thousand people are dying all over 
		the world. Some with cancer, some 
		with pneumonia, some having heart 
		attacks. I bet someone is dying 
		right this second of a car accident.

				HENRY
		This isn’t a very stimulating conversation.

				JADE
					[MOVES KNIGHT]
		It’s just — we all live and don’t 
		think how other people think or 
		live their lives or die. We wait 
		until death comes to us.
					[BEAT]
		Protect your queen.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		You sound like Ray Bradbury.

After a minute, Henry moves his queen to protect it.

Jade now studies the board, then moves her bishop.

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		Do you ever just stop and think?

				HENRY
					[MOVES A PAWN]
		About what?

				JADE
					[MOVES A ROOK]
		About life. Why things happen?

				HENRY
		I try not to.
					[MOVES A KNIGHT]
		Everything happens for a reason. I
		know it’s not original, but I think 
		everything ends up how it should.

				JADE
					[MOVES HER QUEEN]
		Do you really think it’s a possibility?

				HENRY
		Yes!

				JADE
					[LOOKS UP]
		How can you say that?

				HENRY
		That’s not the answer you wanted?

				JADE
		Can you at least give me some comfort?	

				HENRY
		As you get older, you realize that 
		life is no picnic. The past always 
		looks better. What it all comes down 
		to is this; Is the joy of it worth 
		the inevitable pain?

				JADE
		You can’t possibly think that life is 
		fair? This has nothing to do with
		fairness, good or bad, right or wrong. 
		It just is. A happy ending cannot come 
		in the middle of the story.

				HENRY
		There are no happy endings because 
		nothing ever ends.

				JADE
		Dad, you need to get your life together 
		again. Let go of things you don’t want 
		to. Just live life as it comes every 
		day. I know it will be hard, but — 

				HENRY
		Do you feel comforted?

				JADE
		Yes!

				HENRY
		What does it matter then?

				JADE	
					[SIGHS/PAUSE]
		If there is one constant in this entire 
		universe, it’s death. We are all going 
		to die, it’s just a question of how and 
		when. In the end, time is going to hunt 
		you down and make the kill!

				HENRY
		I believe that time is a companion who 
		goes with us on the journey and reminds 
		us to cherish every moment because they
		will never come again.

DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - BACK PORCH; DUSK

Jade and Henry sit, watching the sun set.

Henry drinks Heineken beer right from the bottle .

Holding a plastic glass of apple juice, Jade drinks through a straw.

				JADE
		Are you afraid of the boogie man?

				HENRY
		I’m not afraid of the boogie man, 
		per say.

				JADE
		I knew you were going to say “per 
		say”

				HENRY
		You knew?

				JADE
		Yeah! Why don’t you say “pervious”?

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		I don’t know what it means.

				JADE
		Neither do I, but it sounds good, 
		doesn’t it?

				HENRY
					[NODS/PAUSE]
		Do you believe in God?

				JADE
		That’s a complicated question.

				HENRY
		No, it isn’t. Do you believe we are all 
		a part of God’s plan?
					[BEAT]
		I like to think so.

				JADE
		I don’t know what I believe in anymore. 
		If He exists, He’s certainly forgotten 
		about me.

				HENRY
		Don’t you think that’s a bit childish?

				JADE
		What’s childish? Believing in God, not 
		believing in God?

				HENRY
		No, that He’s forgotten about you.

				JADE
		Do you honestly think He ever takes 
		into consideration the people who get 
		left behind?

				HENRY
		Yes, I’m sure He does.

				JADE
		What does all this psycho babble have 
		to do with me?	What does this have to 
		do with anything? 

Henry looks at her.

				JADE
		What does this have to do with me, with 
		my sanity, with my being here?

				HENRY
		You are Jade Burke. Nobody can take that 
		away from you, not even God.

				JADE
		Death is a loss.

				HENRY
		Death gives life value. It completes you 
		as a person for a life afterwards.

Jade looks at the yard.

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		Listen, I’ve been thinking about — 

Jade motions with her hand, indicating death.

				HENRY
					[SOMBER]
		Yeah.

				JADE
		I’d like to be cremated.

				HENRY
		Okay.

				JADE
		There is one other thing.

				HENRY
		What’s that?
				JADE
		When it is time for me to go; I want
		you there.

Henry falls silent.

				JADE
		I don’t want to die alone.

Henry remains silent.

				JADE
					[LOOKS AT HIM]
		Promise me.

				HENRY
		I promise.

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		Do you think I made a difference?

				HENRY
		People don’t like to die without some 
		sense of accomplishment.

				JADE
		I amounted to nothing. Is that something?

				HENRY
		You're in the same situation as me.

				JADE
		Am I?

				HENRY
		Look at the way you're dressed.

				JADE
		What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?

				HENRY
		Well, it's not very dignified.

				JADE
					[SMILES]
		May I remind you, this is your shirt.

Henry smiles.

Jade finishes her juice, then points to Henry’s beer bottle.

				JADE
		I’d like some of that, thank you.

				HENRY
		Jade, do you think that’s wise?

				JADE
		Dad, I really don’t think it’s going
		to make a difference.

Henry pours some of beer into her glass.

				JADE
		Do you remember that big tractor tire 
		that hug from the tree?

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		You mother would get hysterical because 
		you would swing back and forth like a 
		wild monkey trying to get higher and 
		higher.

				JADE
					[GRINS]
		Then I smashed into the tree head on.

				HENRY 
					[LAUGHS]
		You scared the hell out of her that day.

Jade looks at Henry. She has a question but isn’t sure how to frame it. She sighs helplessly.

				HENRY
		Jade? What is it?

				JADE
					[HESITATES]
		How come you never got married again?
		After — After Mom died?

				HENRY
		I could never be with anybody else — I 
		remember when I first met your mother,
		she didn’t like me. She seemed to keep 
		everyone at a distance. 

Jade looks at Henry.

				HENRY
		But I was in love with her, so I tried 
		everything to make her fall for me. Then 
		I went to see her and said 'Tell me that 
		you don’t love me right now and I will 
		leave and never come back'
					[SMILES]
		And at that single moment she fell in love 
		with me. I really don't know why.
					[PAUSE]
		It's funny.

				JADE
		What's funny?

				HENRY
		That it only takes a single moment to 
		know if you love someone.

				JADE
		Maybe.

They both smile for a moment.

				HENRY
		What about you? How come you never got 
		married?

				JADE
		I — It’s not something I wanted. I don’t
		like being attached, being tied down. I
		wanted my freedom. I — 
					[SIGHS]
		I saw what you went through and I didn’t 
		want to go through the same thing. Or let 
		him, for that matter.

They sit in silence for a moment.

Jade sighs, her eyes are fill with pain.

				HENRY
		You in pain?

				JADE
		A little.

				HENRY
		Are you cold?

Jade nods.
				HENRY
		I think it’s time for us to go inside.

				JADE
		Okay.

Jade struggles to get up, but fails at the attempt.

Henry stands and helps her out of the chair.

Jade stands there for a beat, then gives him a hug.

Henry returns the hug.

CUT TO;

INT - BEDROOM; NIGHT

A storm blows out from the Pacific. It carries no rain, but electricity.

Jade lies awake through much of it, watching the light in the bedroom curtains alternating brighten and fade.

RIPPLE DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - FOREST; AFTERNOON

DREAM SEQUENCE; SHADES OF BROWN

Jade runs through the forest.

Gun shots are fired, breaking branches on the trees as she reaches them.

EXT - FOREST CLEARING; CONTINUOUS

Jade comes to a clearing and finds nowhere else to go.

Footsteps are heard behind her.

She turns, is hit in the face and she falls to the ground.

A MAN looms over her.

				MAN
		You want to be a witness?

He aims a gun at her head.

				MAN
		Witness this.

He pulls the trigger.

CUT TO;

INT - BEDROOM; MORNING

Jade bolts awake, drenched from the nightmare. She swings the window open and leans out.

It is a drizzly morning.

She is asthmatic and must rely on a Sabutimol inhaler to control the effects of the cold damp air is having on her.

DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - KITCHEN; AFTERNOON

CLOSE: An old SNAPSHOT – A young Henry and Jade on a skating rink, frozen laughter on their faces.

Vague CHIRPING of birds in deep background.

PULLING BACK FROM SNAPSHOT TO REVEAL a table full of snapshots and family memories, time marching on.

PULLING BACK FURTHER TO REVEAL HENRY, sitting at the kitchen table in front of the gallery of snapshots, healthy, strong, yet a gleamy stare in his eyes tells another story.

Jade wanders into the kitchen.

Henry notices and watches her every move.

Jade makes her way to the fridge for a drink and retrieves the apple juice. As she pouring it into a cup, she begins to cough, causing her to knock over the juice.

Henry gets up from the tale to assist her.

The coughing finally subsides.

				HENRY
		Okay?

				JADE
		I just want this to be over with. I 
		don’t want it to drag on. It’s just 
		too much, especially for you. I’m 
		ruining your life. I just want it 
		to stop while I can still remember 
		what everything looks like.

				HENRY
		It’ll get better.

				JADE
		Dad, it’s only going to get worse!

				HENRY
		Come on, Jade, be positive!

				JADE
		You be positive, I’ll be realistic!

				HENRY
		Jade, I know this is difficult for 
		you, but — 

				JADE
		You have no idea how difficult — 

				HENRY
		Do you think it’s any easier for me?

				JADE 
		You have no idea how bad it is at 
		night. I hate waking up in pain and 
		needing you to get my pills. The pain 
		gets worse. I hate not being able to 
		manage the pills myself and having 
		to bother you.

				HENRY
		At least you’ve had time to prepare 
		for this.

				JADE
		Dad, I am having a very bad day! I am 
		having the worst damn day of my whole 
		damn life! So if it’s not too much to 
		ask, will you just back the fuck off!?!

				HENRY
		Hey, I need you cool. Are you cool?

Jade grabs the paper towels and throws it across the kitchen.

				JADE
		I’m cool!

Jade wanders off into the living room.

INT - LIVING ROOM; CONTINUOUS

Jade walks slowly past a bookshelf.

Something seems off.

Jade pauses for a moment, reading the titles.

One Fell Swoop, No Lullabies, Strive, Mien Hertz Brennt, Die Schweigsame Mehrheit, Dark Enough Without Me, Swingset.

Every book she’s ever written.

She continues through the living room and stops in front of the fireplace. She stares at all the photos sitting on the mantle.

ECU; family photos, some of Jade and her mother and others of Jade as a youngster. In all the photos, the child, like the mother, looked happy. In love with life.

Henry approaches her quietly, then stands next to her.

				JADE
		I forgot about these pictures.

			HENRY
		Memory is a funny thing. Recollections
		come and go. I’ve found that memories of 
		the spirit linger long after memories 
		of the brain have faded.

				JADE
		I thought we were more haunted by them!

				HENRY
		Perhaps.

				JADE
					[LOOKS AT HIM]
		How come you remember things and I don’t?

				HENRY 
		You left and I stayed. So, I remember — 
		even if you don't.

				JADE
		It can’t be total amnesia. I do remember 
		some things.

				HENRY
					[SLIGHTLY SMILES]
		See!

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		Colors change, participants are erased, 
		added and erased again. Even the most 
		vivid memories are not quite how things 
		actually happened.

			HENRY
		When someone you love dies, you don’t 
		lose them all at once. You lose them 
		in pieces over time, like when the mail 
		stops coming. What I remember most to 
		this day is your mother’s scent and how 
		I hated it when it began to disappear. 
		From the kitchen, from her clothes and 
		then, finally, from the bed sheets and 
		pillowcases.
					[SIGHS]
		I think we should say what we want to 
		say in these last few weeks.

				JADE
		Dad, it’s over. It’s like it never 
		happened.

				HENRY
		I’ve got my thoughts, I can remember.

				JADE
		So, what good does it do you now? You’re 
		no better off than I am. I’ve had what I 
		wanted. I haven’t come this far in life 
		to worry about death. I am ready to die.

				HENRY
		I’m astounded!

				JADE
		Astounded?

				HENRY
		Yes, I’m amazed. You’re going to die 
		soon and you go on like this.

				JADE
		I have made a lot of progress as a 
		person. Progress, not perfection.

				HENRY
		Are you blaming me for everything 
		that’s gone wrong in your life?

				JADE
		No, it’s not all your fault. But stuff 
		happened; that made it hard. I mean, 
		you can’t possibly think that life is 
		fair, hmm? What about cancer? What about 
		famine? Hitler? Earthquakes?
					[LAUGHS]
		Fair? Come on.

				HENRY
		Look, Jade, I know you get your smart 
		mouth from my side of the family, so 
		I’ll give you a break. But point check, 
		you’re going too far.

				JADE
		Oh, was I mean? You can’t take it?

				HENRY
		Jade, I’m not upset because you’re 
		mean. I just can’t imagine how 
		incredibly painful it must be to 
		be you.

				JADE
					[DISMAYED]
Oh, stop, this is beneath even you.

Jade walks away.

DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - BACK PORCH; DUSK

It’s an unseasonably warm evening. There’s a taste of salt air.

Jade appears in the doorway.

Henry sits on the back porch. He doesn’t acknowledge she’s there.

				JADE
		Dad!?

Jade takes a few steps towards him, then stops.

				JADE
					[SIGHS]
		I’ve been thinking. This isn’t good. 
		It’s a bad way to die. It makes us 
		mean.
					[PAUSE]
		You listening, Dad?

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		Yeah, I’m listening.

				JADE 
					[ALMOST CRYING] 
		I don’t mean what I say, I don’t mean 
		what I do.

Henry shifts in his chair.

				JADE
		I don’t know why I said those things. 
		I guess I wanted to hurt you. I guess
		I’m getting old fast, repenting fast.
					[BEAT]
		Whatever the reason, I want you to 
		know, I’m sorry. I was an idiot. I — 
					[PAUSE]
		— ah, the hell with it.

Jade sighs.

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		Thanks, Jade.

				JADE
		Don’t mention it.

Jade slouches into the chair next to him, almost as if half the bones in her body were made of rubber.

There’s a brief silence.

				JADE
		Ever wish you could freeze frame a 
		moment in your day, look at it and 
		say; “This is not my life”?
					[PAUSE/SIGHS]
		I feel miserable. Thirty three years 
		of my life gone by and what have I 
		done?

				HENRY
		We all come with a past. A package 
		and we can’t discard that package.

				JADE
		I tried running away from my past, 
		but it kept catching up with me.

				HENRY
		You were just being your inquisitive 
		and curious self.

				JADE
		I really don’t feel like myself anymore.

				HENRY
		Are you feeling okay? I mean — 

				JADE
		I should be. I don’t have any reason 
		to complain. You’ve been supportive 
		and I have everything I could possibly 
		need. I just don’t really care about 
		anything anymore and I hate feeling 
		like this. It’s not me.

				HENRY
		You’ve felt like this for a while?

				JADE
		I just — 
					[SIGHS]
		I feel like I’m letting you down.

				HENRY
		Look, Jade, you’re great. You’re a 
		very smart, interesting, somewhat 
		unusual woman.

				JADE
		Dad, I know you’re trying to make me 
		feel better and I appreciate that, but; 
					[SIGHS]
		I need more than reassurance at this 
		point. It can be depressing to be with 
		someone who insists on cheering you up.

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		When I found out you had Huntington’s 
		disease; I hated you for that.

				JADE
					[SURPRISED]
		What?

				HENRY
		I did. I hate having to go through
		this. First your mother and now you.

Jade is speechless.
				HENRY
		You remind me so much of your mother.

Jade sighs like she had heard it a thousand times before.

				HENRY
		Like it or not, you are my daughter
		and I love you.

Jade tries to smile, but cant seem to pull it off.

				JADE
					[VOICE OVER] 
		I was starting to feel a connection 
		with him — something that I hadn't 
		felt in a long time. I’m all he’s got 
		in this world. My mother died 15 years 
		ago and I don’t have any siblings. He
		will be very lonely when I’m gone. I 
		think we spend our whole lives trying 
		to please our fathers, but I was 
		beginning to believe — you can't.

RIPPLE DISSOLVE TO;

INT - KITCHEN; MORNING

DREAM SEQUENCE; SHADES OF BROWN

INT - KITCHEN; EARLY MORNING

This kitchen is a disaster. Dishes are piled high in the sink and all over the counter.

Coffee is brewing in the pot.

Henry, dressed in a brown sheriff uniform, searches for a clean coffee mug. After several failed attempts, he finally finds one. He rinses it out, just to be sure, then fills it with fresh coffee.

INT - FRONT FOYER; CONTINUOUS 

Jade wanders through the front door.

Henry meets her at the front door.

				HENRY
		Where have you been?

Jade pulls off her jacket and hangs it up

				JADE
		Out.

				HENRY
		Out where?

Jade kicks off her shoes, pushes past him and wanders into the kitchen.

Henry follows her.

INT - KITCHEN; CONTINUOUS

				HENRY
		You were with him, weren’t you?

				JADE
		I hate it when you do that. You know 
		he has a name and yet, you refuse to 
		use it.

				HENRY
		You were suppose to be home at ten.

				JADE
					[LOOKS AT CLOCK]
		I am, it’s not even nine.

				HENRY
		PM! This is my house and I make the 
		rules. If I say you’re home at ten, 
		that’s when you walk in the door. No 
		excuses.

				JADE
		You can’t tell me what to do.

				Henry
		Yes, I can — I’m your father!

				JADE
		Since when?

				HENRY
					[HOLDS IN ANGER]
		You spent the night with him, didn’t you?
					[RAISES FINGER]
		And don’t lie!

				JADE
		Well, you won’t let me have sex with 
		him here, so you left me no choice.

				HENRY
		You’ve got no respect for me or anyone 
		else. You’re out there blowing your 
		mind on drugs — 

				JADE
		You treat me like I’m twelve. My friends 
		don’t have to be in until midnight.

				HENRY
		You use to be such a sweet little girl. 
		How did you turn into such a problem?

				JADE
					[SHRUGS]	
		I dunno. Maybe it’s all those drugs you 
		think I’m taking.

				HENRY
		I just want you to succeed in life. Right 
		now, you’re a failure at everything.

Jade, frustrated at that remark, turns her back on him, grabs a jug of apple juice from the fridge and drinks it right from the container.

				HENRY
		It’s time you started to take things 
		seriously.

				JADE
		I do take things seriously.

				HENRY
		I mea other than writing.

				JADE
		Writing is important.

				HENRY
		No, it’s not. It’s getting in the 
		way of things that are important.

				JADE
		It is — 

				HENRY
		You need to get a real job and earn 
		some money.

Jade says nothing.

				HENRY
		It’s time to get serious.
					[PAUSE]
		I’ve been asking you all week to clean 
		this mess, so you better get it done.

				JADE
		I’ll get around to it.

				HENRY
		When?

				JADE
		When I get around to it!

				HENRY
		Today!

				JADE
					[WITH ATTITUDE] 
		If I have time. My schedule is pretty 
		filled up for the next couple of 
		months!

				HENRY
		You better make the time!

				JADE
		If I can!

				HENRY
		You can and you will!

				JADE
					[SARCASTICALLY]
		What are you going to do? Ground me?

				HENRY
		I would if I thought it would do any 
		good. You don’t listen to me as it is.

				JADE
		You ask for the impossible!

				HENRY
		You’re the one making things difficult. 
		You defy me every chance you get!

				JADE
		I don’t do it to hurt you.		

				HENRY
		It’s not me you’re hurting. You totally 
		lack motivation and — 

				JADE
		Dad, we’ve had this discussion already.
		Don’t you think I miss having direction 
		and ambition? Now I’m just —

				HENRY
					[RAISES FINGER]
		You listen!

				JADE
					[RAISES VOICE]
		I’m still talking!

				HENRY
		Now I’m talking! You have no right to 
		invigorate your ego!

				JADE
		Don’t you talk to me in that — 

				HENRY
		Shut up! 

Jade takes a step back, slightly surprised at his remark.

				HENRY
		I am sick of you feeling sorry yourself 
		and only yourself. You better start 
		thinking about something else other 
		than your own spoiled ass. This isn’t 
		a joke anymore. You have crossed a 
		line I don’t think you’ll come back 
		from. Do not start a war with me here. 
		You won’t win it!
					[BEAT/RAISES VOICE]
		Do you know how hard it is for me 
		to make all this work?

				JADE
					[RAISES VOICE]
		Do you think it’s easy for me? 
					[SHOUTS]
		I don’t want to do it anymore!

				HENRY
		You’re still underage and legally, 
		still my responsibility. You have 
		wanted to leave ever since your 
		mother died.
				JADE
					[SHOUTS]
		Bullshit! That’s a fucking lie! Do 
		you ever think that maybe I have to 
		do something for my life?

				HENRY
		No, this is your life!
					[PAUSE]
		You had better get your shit together.  
		I want this mess cleaned up, today, and 
		I want that attitude of yours to stop.

				JADE
					[SHOUTS]
		Fuck that!

				HENRY
					[SHOUTS]
		Don’t you ever talk to me that way!

Henry puts down his coffee mug.

				Henry
		All of this stops, today!

Henry grabs his hat and walks out the door.

Jade drops the apple juice container on the counter and walks off to her bedroom.

The apple juice container slowly topples over and spills across the counter.

RIPPLE EFFECT TO;

EXT - PATH; AFTERNOON

Henry and Jade are walking together.

Jade walks with a quad-cane.

				JADE
		What’s your favorite holiday?

				HENRY
		Thanksgiving.

				JADE
					[SMILES]
		Same here.

Henry smiles. He takes her hands in his.

				JADE
		Do you ever wonder why I stopped
		coming home?

				HENRY
		I realize you’re not a child anymore; 
		you have a life of your own.

Jade looks up at him.

				HENRY
		There are times when I wanted to sit 
		and talk to you. Not as your father, 
		but as another human being.

				JADE
		I don’t know if you’ve noticed; but 
		our little family isn’t doing so good.

				HENRY
					[SIGHS]
		I wish I’d done a better job. Could you 
		possibly accept my apology?

				JADE
		Dad, you make it sound so formal.

				HENRY
		Well, I’m sorry.

Jade takes it to heart.

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		You can hate me if you want, Jade. I 
		mean, in fact, I wish you would.

				JADE
		I don’t hate you, I’m bigger than that.

Henry smiles.

				JADE
		It’s only childhood. I just can’t 
		believe that you would do that. I 
		mean, not only did you — 

				HENRY
		Well, there was no one else around!

				JADE
		You should have had more kids!

				HENRY
		Spread the pain?

				JADE
					[SMILES]
		Yeah1

				HENRY
		Listen, Jade, if you want me to stay
		somewhere else tonight, I’d totally
		understand

				JADE
		I think that maybe it might be — 

				HENRY
		That it might be hard for you because —

				JADE
		As a matter of fact, after what I’ve
		learned, I’m thinking maybe that’s a 
		good idea.

				HENRY
		Tonight is not a great night for this. 
		But if I could make this	offer, if you 
		would give me a little leeway here.

				JADE
		You want to stay out tomorrow night!?!

				HENRY
		If that would work for you.

				JADE
		Well, tomorrow night is the night we 
		usually watch TV together. Maybe
		Saturday night.

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		Okay.

				JADE
		You’ll stay out of the house?

				HENRY
		I’ll stay out all night.

				JADE
		Where are you going to stay?

				HENRY
		Maybe at the Hilton.

				JADE
		Love the Hilton. Mind if I tag along?

				HENRY
		Not at all.

				JADE
		We’ll stay in the same hotel room.

				HENRY
		You’re not making this easy for me, 
		Jade.

				JADE
		I understand, Dad, but I have to be
		hard on you.

				HENRY
		Yeah!

				JADE
		After what you did to me, let’s make
		it a whole weekend at the Hilton!

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		Okay. I deserve it!

				JADE
		And we’ll have that special Sunday
		brunch you love.

				HENRY
		All you can eat for fifteen hundred
		bucks.

Jade smiles as she shivers.

				HENRY
		Are you okay?

				JADE
		I’m cold.

				HENRY
		I think we should go back.

				JADE
		Okay.

DISSOLVE TO;

INT - BEDROOM; NIGHT

Jade is in bed.

NURSE BETTY checks her pulse.

Henry appears in the doorway.

				NURSE BETTY
					[SMILES]
		Hi.
					[PAUSE]
		Come on in.

Henry slowly walks over.

				NURSE BETTY
		It’s fast.

				HENRY
		I’m not surprised. We had a long walk.

Nurse Betty hands Jade a pill with a glass of water.

				NURSE BETTY
					[TO JADE]
		To help you sleep.

Jade takes it.

Henry and Nurse Betty make their way out of the room.

Nurse Betty turns the light off.

A small nightlight slightly shines on Jade.

INT - HALLWAY; CONTINUOUS

Nurse Betty takes Henry into the hallway and closes the door.

				NURSE BETTY
		She really is your baby, isn’t she?

				HENRY
					[SMILES]
		Yes, she is.
					[PAUSE]
		Isn’t there anything else we can do
		for her?

				NURSE BETTY
		Well, she’s pretty comfortable now.

				HENRY
		No, I mean — 

				NURSE BETTY
		No. Jade has come home to die.

				HENRY
		I can’t let that happen. No parent 
		should out live their child.

				NURSE BETTY
		She has a D.N.R.

				HENRY
					[HEARTBROKEN]
		Do not resuscitate.

				NURSE BETTY
		She’s made her choice. The worst is so 
		often true. The best thing you can do 
		for her right now is to love her.

Henry nods.

				NURSE BETTY
		The most important people in a person’s 
		life are also that person’s biggest 
		frustrations. We are often hardest on 
		those who love us most — we trust them 
		not to abandon us, even if we aren’t 
		always polite or nice. It may seem you 
		don’t make a difference, but you do.

				HENRY 
		This may be the hardest thing I’ve ever 
		done, but I’m glad I’m doing it.

Nurse Betty smiles and walks away.

Henry pauses before entering the room.

INT - ROOM; CONTINUOUS

Henry stands in the doorway.

The moonlight shines through. It’s soft glow makes an eerie blue shade on Henry’s face.

He steps in without turning on the light, walks over and sits on the edge of the bed. He switches the baby monitor on.

Jade looks up at him and smiles.

Henry returns the smile.

				HENRY
					[SIGHS]
		I wish I had been a better father.

				JADE
		You did fine.

				HENRY
		No, I didn’t even do fine. I wanted 
		to do more for you, Jade. If I could 
		take it all back, I would.

				JADE
		You didn’t fail; I failed!

				HENRY
					[SURPRISED]
		What?

				JADE
		You did what you could. I thought I 
		could handle everything. I was wrong!

				HENRY
		It was me as well, being over-protective.

				JADE
		I’m sorry for being such a — 
					[SEARCHES FOR WORD]
		— shit to you after Mom died.

Henry smiles.

				JADE
		If I could leave now, with what I have, 
		on my own terms, I would be happy.

				HENRY
		Don’t run out on me now!

				JADE
					[SMILES]
		I can barely walk!

				HENRY
		Thanksgiving is coming!

				JADE
		If you could, would you want to know 
		when you were going to die?

				HENRY
		No, I wouldn’t.

				JADE
					[SMILES]
		Not knowing is a luxury.

				HENRY
		I’m going to miss you when you’re gone.

				JADE
		Distance is a function of the mind. 
		You can’t mourn forever.

				HENRY
		I know.

For a moment, Jade’s guard drops and her face betrays how weary and shattered she is.

				HENRY
		Tell me what you want me to do and 
		I’ll do it.

				JADE 
					[SOFTLY]
		When it’s my time to go, let me.

Henry’s eyes almost fill with tears.

				JADE
		You’re the only thing here that I 
		care about. I’ve got nothing to 
		fight for. And if I don’t want to 
		live here, why should I have to? I 
		don’t care how much better off I am 
		than everyone else.

				HENRY
					[SLIGHTLY SMILES]
		I think you’re my new hero.

				JADE
		I’m the last person you want for a 
		hero.

				HENRY
					[SIGHS]
		You want to know how I feel? How I 
		always felt around you? Small. You 
		have this way — this cheerfulness and 
		good humor. You are bright, clever and 
		funny with a sense of irony. I figured 
		you always knew that. Then I thought; 
		maybe you don’t know that. Who would 
		have told you? Not me. The only thing 
		I ever told you was what a pain in the 
		ass you were.

				JADE
		I am a pain in the ass!

				HENRY
		Even a pain in the ass needs someone 
		to take care of them. I didn’t do that. 
		I didn’t and I should have.

				JADE
		Well, I never asked for help, so — 

				HENRY
		But you needed it, didn’t you?

				JADE
		I’m sorry I make it so impossible to 
		love.

				HENRY
		You make it impossible for me not to 
		love you.

Jade sits up and gives Henry a hug.

Henry returns with such force, we get the impression he doesn’t ever want to let go.

				JADE
		Can you rad me a story?

				HENRY
		What?

Jade lets go of him.

				JADE
		Can you read me a story like you use 
		to before I went into my jerk phase?

				HENRY
					[PAUSE/SMILES]
		Sure.

Jade leans over the opposite side of the bed, pulls out a book from underneath it and hands it to him.

Henry stares at the cover.

One Monster After Another by Mercer Mayer.

				HENRY
		I can’t believe you still have this.

				JADE
		I remember when Mom gave it to me. I 
		must have been, what, four?

				HENRY
		Yeah!
					[SMILES]
		Scoot over.

Jade slides over in the bed.

Henry lies down next to her and opens the book.

				HENRY
		One Monster After Another. Story and
		pictures by Mercer Mayer

Jade smiles as Henry turns the page.

				HENRY
					[READING]
		“One day, Sally Ann wrote a letter to 
		her best friend Lucy Jane. She put it 
		in an envelope and put the envelope 
		into her mailbox.”
					[TURNS THE PAGE]
		“But before the mailman came, a Stamp 
		Collecting Trollusk crept up to the 
		mailbox, stole the letter and gabbled 
		away with a smirk on his snerk.”
					[TURNS THE PAGE]
		“But before the Stamp-Collecting Trollusk 
		could tear off the stamp and collect it, 
		a Letter-Eating Bombanat flew out of 
		Nowhere and snapped up the letter.”
					[TURNS THE PAGE]
		“Over the Blue Ocean of Bubbley Goo the 
		Letter-Eating Bombanat flew.”

Henry turns the page as we;
DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - HENRY’S BEDROOM; MIDNIGHT

Henry sits in bed reading a book.

Through the baby monitor, he can hear Jade coughing.

RACK FOCUS from Henry to the baby monitor.

He hears a glass fall.

				JADE
					[FILTERED]
		Shit! Dad.
					[LOUDER]
		Dad!

Henry instantly responds.

INT - JADE’S BEDROOM; CONTINUOUS

Henry rushes in.

Jade is sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed. Her clothes are drenched. She looks up, fear in her eyes.

Henry crouches next to her and puts his hand on her forehead. He can feel her stiffen beside him.

Jade makes a fist.

				HENRY
		You’re burning up!

He checks her hands.

				HENRY
					[CONFUSED]
		You’re hands are freezing!

Henry grabs a thermometer from the night stand and proceeds to take her temperature.

Jade leans against Henry, her coughing continues.

He puts his arm around her.

The thermometer beeps.

Jade takes it out of her mouth and looks at it, then passes it to Henry.

				JADE
		I think it’s broken.

Henry looks at it and is stumped at the result.

				HENRY
		We need to get you covered!

Henry begins to get up.

Jade grabs his arm.

				JADE
					[QUIETLY]
		Don’t go!

				HENRY
		What?

				JADE
		Don’t go!

				HENRY
		Jade, I need to get you covered up.

				JADE
		Don’t leave me.

Jade is about to burst into tears.
							
Henry sits down next to her. The words form in his mouth, but he can’t get them out.

Jade presses her head against his chest.

Henry’s arms fall around her and comforts her.

				JADE
					[WHISPERS]
		Don’t let me die.

Henry’s eyes fill with tears.

DISSOLVE TO;

INT - LIVING ROOM; MORNING

Henry sits facing the windows. He looks over at Jade.

Jade sits in a wheelchair next to him watching to rain coming down. She looks really sick, like she has a fever. She is tired from the weight of her illness, her eyes are dull. Her fists are clenched, the muscles in her forearms tremble.
				JADE
		This rain is — what’s the word I’m
		looking for?

				HENRY
		It’s oppressive; torrential?

				JADE
		It’s torrential, but the word I was
		looking for was oppressive. With four 
		days in a row, you think it’s never 
		going to end.

				HENRY
		My father use to say, “If the rain 
		keeps up, it won’t come down1”

				JADE
		Hmmm, not a funny guy.

				HENRY
		I agree.

Jade is about to say something, but changes her mind.

				HENRY
		Jade, what is it?

				JADE
		Well, frankly, I don’t know what I’m 
		doing here! I mean, I know what I’m 
		doing here!

				HENRY
		Jade; relax. You can’t keep anything 
		from me at this point.

				JADE
		Listen I don’t know how to say this — 

				HENRY
		What?

				JADE
		I don’t know what I’m doing here and I 
		don’t know — 

Jade stops talking.

Henry waits for her to continue.

				HENRY
					[PAUSE]
		You were saying?

				JADE
		Oh. I was saying, I don’t know where 
		we’re going with all this.

				HENRY
		Come on, Jade, what’s really going on?

				JADE
					[PAUSE]
		I’ve been having some doubts.

				HENRY
		About what?

				JADE
		Before I came here, I thought I was 
		ready to die.

Henry looks at her.

				JADE
		I’ve valued the time we’ve spent 
		together. You’ve always been very 
		important to me. I want to live 
		more, to squeeze more life into 
		the time I have. I find myself 
		reluctant to leave this place. Now 
		I’m not so sure I want to die. I 
		don’t want to leave you.

				HENRY
		It’s a little late for that.

				JADE
					[SARCASTICALLY]
		Gee, you think so? I’m tired of 
		being followed around like some 
		patient.

				HENRY
		Jade, you are a patient!

				JADE
		Now why you gotta go and do that? 
					[BEAT]
		I’m trying to make a point!

				HENRY
		So make it already!
				JADE
					[SIGHS]
		I should have never stopped coming 
		home.

				HENRY
		Well, you’re home now.

				JADE
		I’m just — depressed because I can’t 
		live. I’m very tired of the pain and 
		everything that comes with it. I’m 
		not afraid of dying, just afraid of 
		dying alone. Right now mostly I want 
		it to be over quickly. The lack of 
		control is intolerable.

				HENRY
		It’s very difficult for me because I 
		have to take over everything and watch 
		you lose your independence.
					[PAUSE]
		I don’t want you to die.

				JADE
		This is a little awkward for me as 
		well, Dad. I haven’t been to one since 
		Mom’s funeral. 
		
				HENRY 
		Really!?!

				JADE
					[NODS]
		I’m going to need a lot of practice.

				HENRY
		Well, I’ll cover for you because I’ve
		been to three funerals this year and
		I’m not a morning person.

				JADE
		Well, just go to bed early and you’ll
		be able to get up on time that day.

				HENRY
		That was a joke.

				JADE
		Oh, you mean it was a bad pun.

				HENRY
		Puns aren’t really good or bad, 
		they’re just puns, that’s what 
		they are.

				JADE
		Well, don’t defend then, Dad. Maybe
		you’re just not a punny person.

				HENRY
					[GRINS]
		That’s a bad pun.

				JADE
					[GRINS]
		That’s a slap in the face.

				HENRY
		Pun, you’re going to your room now!

				JADE
					[GIGGLES]
		Punish me!

				HENRY
					[LAUGHS]
		Okay!

				JADE
		Well, don’t puntificate.

				HENRY
		Okay.

They sit in silence for a moment.

				HENRY
		You never did answer my question the 
		other night.

				JADE
		Which was?

				HENRY
		Are you scared?

				JADE
		The only thing I’m scared of is 
		tomorrow. I don’t live for tomorrow. 
		Never saw the fun of it!

Henry slightly smiles.

DISSOLVE TO;

INT; LIVING ROOM - DUSK

Jade still sits staring out the window. She is in a trance of emotional overload where bliss and panic seamlessly blend.

Henry walks in with a cup of coffee.

He stands there a beat, watching Jade before sitting next to her.

They stare out the window.

				JADE
		I don’t think I’ll make it through 
		the night.

Henry nods and takes a deep, almost gulping breath that seems to settle him a little.

				HENRY
					[TIGHT VOICE]
		Maybe we can pretend we’re going to 
		see each other tomorrow.
					[STARES AT JADE]
		Just for pretend.

Jade tries to smile, but the end result is a short whopping cough. She spits a little blood.

Henry assists her.

He picks up a glass of water and bends the straw.

She sips once and swallows as if it hurts.

				HENRY
		Good?

Jade nods, almost like a zombie, then smiles at his gesture.

He returns the smile.

After a beat, Henry puts his hand on Jade’s.

Jade, still looking out the window, grabs a hold of his hand.

Henry glances at Jade smiles.

DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - CHURCH; WINTER; DAY

A bright day, the sun glistening on the snowy ground.

Some of the signs of the solemn side of Christmas.

Mourners park their cars while others enter the church.

				HENRY
					[VOICE OVER]
		In the end, Jade had never drawn a 
		breath that was free of pain. Every 
		time she got a lungful of air, she 
		coughed raggedly out of control. She 
		sipped away on the eve of Thanksgiving. 
		I already miss her voice, her sardonic 
		view of the world, her amused cynicism.
					[TIGHT VOICE]
		It had been coming a long time.

INT - CHURCH; CONTINUOUS

The mourners take their places.

				PRIEST 
		For the Burke family and its friends, 
		we gather in sorrow and to celebrate 
		God's eternal way, to lay Jade Burke 
		to her eternal rest.

Henry’s grief at losing Jade is being held just below the surface. His face twists briefly. Grief. Rage. You can’t really tell.

DEREK walks to the front of the church and faces everyone.

				DEREK
					[PAUSE]
		Jade used to prefer funerals.

Some of the mourners smile.

				DEREK
		I had a speech all prepare but I think 
		today I’m going to speak from the heart.
					[PAUSE]
		When fate’s got it in for you, there’s 
		no limit to what you may have to put up 
		with. Jade was a wonderful listener. She 
		had the ability to make anyone think what 
		they were saying was the most important 
		thing in the world. Some of you remember 
		her fabulous hospitality — her enormous 
		capacity for joy. 

				DEREK
		Of course, there was her amazing courage, 
		grace and dignity. She was dealing quietly 
		with the indignities of her disease. She 
		wanted to be loved, like everyone, for 
		herself, not for her wealth. Pick your 
		favorite of her stories and remember her 
		that way. As for me, you may wonder how 
		I'll remember her, what I thought of her. 
		Unfortunately there I run out of words. 
		Perhaps you will forgive me if I recite 
		one of Jade’s works. 
					[READING]
		“I’ll slip away quietly from the noisy 
		crowd when I see the pale stars rising, 
		blooming, over the oaks. I’ll pursue 
		solitary pathways through the pale 
		twilight meadows, with only this one 
		dream: You come to!”

DISSOLVE TO;

EXT - FRONT YARD; DUSK
Rise Above; Life, Sex & Death [4:03]

Henry says good bye to the last of the mourners. He waves as the pull out of the driveway, then steps inside the bungalow.

INT - LIVING ROOM; CONTINUOUS

Henry walks to the mantle of the fireplace and stares at the photos. Desolation withers his face. He stands there, taking all the photos in. Then his face falls apart. He goes breathless and fights the tears. Finally, he takes a deep breath.

He collects himself and picks up Jade’s urn.

EXT - BACKYARD; CONTINUOUS

Henry stands at the edge of the porch, staring at the yard. He slowly makes his way to the pond at the far end of the yard.

EXT - POND; CONTINUOUS

Henry stares at the Lili pads in the pond. His reflection in the water catches his attention. He fixes his gaze on it.

A slight breeze picks up, disturbing the water and rustling the trees around him.

Henry briefly looks away from the pond and the breeze grows stronger. 
He looks at the urn in his hands, then removes the lid. He scoops out a handful of Jade’s ashes and holds it up.

A gust of wind picks the ashes up. The ashes float up into the air.

A slight smile forms on his face.

The ashes soar up into the sky and travels up and down, then covers the camera lens

FADE TO;

END CREDITS	Sadness; Porno For Pyros [2:33]

Sadness; Porno For Pyros [2:33]

i got the devil in me
	it’s just a cloud
it’s sadness
	it’s just a cloud
then i find compassion
and i find
it vanishes
these thoughts i have they seem
to pass me by
	it’s a cloud

i was praying
	it’s a cloud
hope is just another name
	for a prayer
	it’s a cloud

i want to find some laughter
when they laugh they cant kill you
these thoughts i have they seem
to pass me by
	like a cloud

fuel and release!
Happiness is good for an hour

i hate him for all the things he’s done!
because i love him so!
i got the devil in me!
It’s sadness!
	It’s just a cloud

Rise Above; Life, Sex & Death [4:03]

I must be the loneliest man alive
When I’m all alone, I sit behind the keys
An ivory alter stands in front of me 
When you love someone, the party’s just begun
You tear down some walls and
You make some room in your heart
When you lose that one, the pain has just begun
You try to build that wall back up
But your bricks just keep falling down
Don’t let them hit the ground

Rise above, rise above
Though it hurts so much to think of
Rise above, rise above
Though it hurts so much inside

If you keep the faith keep the love
You soon grow wings of a dove and you will rise
You will rise above
Sometimes I feel like I’m trapped in an Egyptian Sphinx
A Hare Krishna thing
Pinned up against a wall
A man throwing knives as he laughs from center ring
And when I bleed the cut will surely flow
And suddenly my thoughts are real
I must be the loneliest man alive

Wrong Lane; Hexus [8:55]

The girl wants to go home, she was wrong
She thought she could fight all of it all
The life that she once knew, she wishes she’d go to
It use to be so peaceful, everything she’d do
She’s in the wrong lane, she’s fallen in the wrong
She has to find her way out of it all
She wishes she was where she was before
She has to find her way, her way out of it all
The clouds start to roll in, it will start to get dark
She made a mistake when she was young
She has to find her way out of it all
She has to look back up at her fall to find her way out of it all
Looking back at the time, the time that she was in
The time that she was in peace and she was never dim
Looking around and looking far away
Trying to climb up her fall that she had fallen in
Being where she is, being how she was
Looking back at all, all of it all
Seeing all the people around her, climbing up the wall
She just wonders why she had to fall