INT. DOCTOR BESHOVICH’S OFFICE - 6PM
Calum walks into Doctor Beshovich’s office.
CALUM RODGERS
You wanted to see me Doctor
DR BESHOVICH
Yes, Calum. It’s a while since we last spoke
CALUM RODGERS
About five years. Before the court case.
DR BESHOVICH
Yes, the court case. Does it make you feel mad?
CALUM RODGERS
What sir?
DR BESHOVICH
The court case. The fact that you lost your job and your reputation. The fact that it was all over the news that you were unstable and it resulted in Igor “six fingers” McGinnity being freed from prison. Does that make you mad?
CALUM RODGERS
Not anymore sir
DR BESHOVICH
What about the fact that you had to leave your lovely house in the suburbs to live in a small mouldy one bedroom apartment?
CALUM RODGERS
At least I have somewhere to live Dr Beshovich
Doctor Beshovich stands up and walks out from his desk
DR BESHOVICH
How about if I was to throw this glass of water in your face?
He throws a glass of water in Calum’s face
DR BESHOVICH
Does that make you mad?
CALUM RODGERS
Well, to be honest, I didn’t wash my face this morning. Thank you sir.
DR BESHOVICH
How about if I was to stand on your toe like this
He stands on Calum’s toe
DR BESHOVICH
Does that infuriate you Calum?
CALUM RODGERS
No doctor. I played soccer against Bonecrusher Harris when I was younger. He was six feet six inches tall and when he stood on your foot you would know about it.
DR BESHOVICH
And if I squeezed your nose like this?
He squeezes Calum’s nose
DR BESHOVICH
Does that make your blood boil?
CALUM RODGERS
Well sir it was a bit chilly today. Sometimes I feel as though something like that makes you feel warmer
DR BESHOVICH
Goddamn it. Is there anything that infuriates you Calum?
CALUM RODGERS
Well sir. When I had a car and I was driving and a person in front of me was driving twenty miles below the speed limit. That irritated me. I even blew the horn once, but I no longer have a car.
DR BESHOVICH
I think you need to let that inner rage out Calum. Hit me. Hit me.
CALUM RODGERS
Why sir, I couldn’t do that. After all, you’re not charging me for this session which I thought was very kind of you.
Doctor Beshovich holds his hand to his eye.
DR BESHOVICH
Miss Stanley. Miss Stanley. He hit me.
Doctor Beshovich roles around on the ground and Miss Stanley enters.
MISS STANLEY
Shall I call the men in white coats sir?
INT. LOCAL BAR - EVENING
Julius Spector is seated at a bar. He notices Calum’s other friends in a group around a table. He approaches the group
JULIUS SPECTOR
It’s five past six. Where is Calum?
GINA
Oh, he texted to say he isn’t coming. He has an appointment with a psychiatrist.
JULIUS SPECTOR
Which psychiatrist?
GINA
Doctor Beshovich
JULIUS SPECTOR
Oh no.
DIEGO
What?
JULIUS SPECTOR
Don’t you see. There going to take him away.
ELENORE BIGLEY
What can we do?
DIEGO
I have a friend who owns a fire truck
JULIUS SPECTOR
What’s he doing with a fire truck?
INT. DOCTOR BESHOVICH'S OFFICE - EVENING
Two strong men in white try to restrain Calum
DOCTOR BESHOVICH
Put him in a straight jacket. There’s no telling what he’ll do.
The two men proceed to put Calum into the straitjacket
DR BESHOVICH
Look, Miss Stanley. He’s struggling. I told you he was angry. Make sure you get this on video as evidence.
Miss Stanley takes out her phone
CALUM RODGERS
Let me go. I didn’t do anything
DR BESHOVICH
That’s what they all say.
Take him away
EXT. OUTSIDE DOCTOR BESHOVICHS OFFICES - EVENING
The two strong men dressed in white escort Calum out of the offices and place him in the back of an ambulance. Before they can climb in, the van pulls off to reveal the driver and another man in their underwear.
A fire truck passes by all four of them and sprays them with water.
INT. FRONT OF AMBULANCE - EVENING
Gina, Diego and the journalist are in the front of the van
GINA
I’ve suddenly got a good idea for a movie
DIEGO
Yeah?
GINA
A talking horse
JULIUS SPECTOR
I’m pretty sure that’s been done before.
GINA
How about a talking donkey?
DIEGO
Why that’s a great idea. I bet nobody thought of that before.
JULIUS SPECTOR
All you need now is a talking ogre.
GINA
I bet you’d make a good actor Mr Spector. You could play the ogre.
INT. BACK OF THE AMBULANCE - EVENING
The ambulance comes to a stop and all of Calum’s friends check on him. He is groggy. They untie his strait jacket
DIEGO
How are you feeling Calum?
CALUM RODGERS
Dazed. Doctor Beshovich is not a good man. Thanks for helping me. Right now I could sleep...
Calum dozes off.
INT. RAMIREZ HOUSEHOLD - DAY
Edgar is sitting on the couch drinking beer and looking at the television
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Come here son
Reluctantly Bertie approaches Edgar. Edgar grabs him and forcibly wrestles him into his arms. He then has one hand on a can of beer and one arm around his son.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
That’s a good lad
The quarterback throws a good pass.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Did you see that son? What a pass.
Edgar drinks the last of the beer in the can.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Go get your Father some more beer from the fridge.
Bertie goes into the kitchen and checks the fridge and then goes back to the living room.
BERTIE
There’s no more beer
EDGAR RAMIREZ
What do you mean there’s no more beer? I bought two dozen cans last night. Why you... Have you been drinking my beer?
BERTIE
No
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Have you thrown it down the sink. I ought to...
BERTIE
You’re going to hit me like you do mom. Aren’t you?
EDGAR RAMIREZ
You better get money off your mother and go get me some more.
Santina comes down the stairs.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
There she is. Come on honey we’re out of beer. Where’s the fifty bucks Regina lent you?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I gave it to a homeless woman on the street who seemed to need it more than you did.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Nobody needs beer more than I do.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Edgar, we’re spending a fortune on beer as it is. I’ve had to beg my mother for money. Can’t you give it a break for just one night?
EDGAR RAMIREZ
A break? How dare you? I am the father of your children and the king of this household. You will do what I tell you or else.
BERTIE
You’re going to hit her again. Aren’t you? You bully.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Why I ought to hit you for a start
Bertie runs out of the living room and out the back door and down the street.
INT. CALUM'S APARTMENT - EVENING
Calum is awoken to the sound of someone banging on his front door. Groggily he climbs out of bed and approaches the door to find Bertie standing there.
BERTIE
Come on Calum, you’ve got to help my mom.
CALUM RODGERS
Your mom doesn’t need my help or want it.
BERTIE
I’m afraid my Dad will hit her. You’ve got to come.
CALUM RODGERS
What about the police?
BERTIE
They won’t help
CALUM RODGERS
And I’m the first person you asked?
BERTIE
No, there was Mr Kominski, Mr Clayton, Mr Doberman and Mrs Hinkel. Please help me Calum?
CALUM RODGERS
Oh, alright.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET NEAR CALUM’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Bertie is riding his bike while a jaded Calum is running alongside him.
CALUM RODGERS
I don’t think I can make it
BERTIE
Yes you can
CALUM RODGERS
You do realise, your Father will tear me apart?
BERTIE
Well, when he’s tearing you apart, me and my mom and Francesca can make a quick getaway.
Calum sees a bunch of kids, one of whom has a bike
CALUM RODGERS
Five bucks for the bike kid
KID WITH BIKE
Get real. Do you know how much bikes cost these days?
CALUM RODGERS
Fifty bucks and I’ll bring it back
KID WITH BIKE
Deal
Calum quickly hands over the money and takes the bike.
Another kid (Ronnie) is walking towards the kids
KID WITH BIKE
Hey Ronnie, that guy just took your bike.
CUT TO:
I/E. RAMIREZ HOUSEHOLD - NIGHT
Calum can hear shouting before entering the house.
Inside house
Calum and Bertie can see Santina in a distressed state on the couch with Edgar standing over her.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
What are you doing here?
CALUM RODGERS
Mr Ramirez, I suggest you leave the house and leave your wife alone.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Or what?
CALUM RODGERS
Or eh... I’ll start singing. Trust me. You don’t want to hear me sing.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
You always were a wuss. Why I ought to tear you apart.
Edgar starts moving towards Calum and Calum slowly backs away
CALUM RODGERS
You wouldn’t want to do that.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Why not?
CALUM RODGERS
Because then your son’s school won’t have a janitor.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
You are replaceable, worthless, useless and yellow.
Calum picks up a vase and tosses it at Edgar. Edgar catches it.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Not my vase
Edgar tosses it to the ground
Calum picks up a plastic toy dinosaur and tosses it at Edgar who throws it to the ground.
Edgar reaches Calum and aims a punch at him but Calum ducks out of the way.
CALUM RODGERS
At least lets agree to Queensbury rules. I did do a little training in school.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Ramirez rules. There are no rules.
CALUM RODGERS
Mr Ramirez, I think you’ve had one too many.
Edgar punches him in the stomach, winding Calum. Edgar aims another punch but Calum ducks out of the way again.
KITCHEN
Calum enters the kitchen and tosses a tub of margarine at Edgar followed by a teddy bear. Edgar throws them to the ground.
CALUM RODGERS
Can’t we just resolve this amicably like grown ups?
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Once your head is under my butt we can be as amicable as we want.
CALUM RODGERS
You do realise that you could get a criminal record for assault
EDGAR RAMIREZ
It’s self defence.
Edgar catches Calum on the chin and Calum falls to the ground.
BERTIE
You leave Mr Rodgers alone.
Bertie is standing behind Edgar who turns around. Bertie has a baseball in his hand.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Or what?
Edgar reaches for a baseball bat.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
It’s time to show my wimpy son how to play ball.
BERTIE
You’re forgetting the first rule in baseball that Mrs Sanchez taught me.
EDGAR RAMIREZ
Oh yeah? What’s that?
BERTIE
Always wear a helmet.
Bertie throws the ball. Edgar swings and misses and the ball strikes him on the forehead, knocking him to the ground.
INT. RAMIREZ HOUSEHOLD (SANTINA'S BEDROOM) - NIGHT
Santina climbs into bed. She looks at her tablet on the dresser alongside a half read book. The book is entitled “Men are from Mars. Women are from Venus. She takes the tablet and tosses it in the direction of the waste bin. It misses. Santina throws the entire package into the bin. She takes the book and starts reading.
INT. LOCAL HOSPITAL INFORMATION AREA - DAY
Santina approaches the information desk.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I’m looking for a Calum Rodgers. I believe he was admitted last night.
NURSE REGINA
Oh yes, the concussion
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Is he going to be ok?
NURSE REGINA
I can’t say. He’s on ward 13 in the Washington wing.
CUT TO:
INT. WARD 13 OF LOCAL HOSPITAL - DAY
Santina enters the room in which Calum is located. There are four beds there. Two elderly men are asleep and another bed has been vacated. Beside Calum are two large machines and a worrying beeping noise can be heard. Calum is asleep. Santina has now become more worried for Calum’s health.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I’m sorry Calum. I’ve been horrid to you. I thought Edgar was the one but now I see how wrong I was. Even if you aren’t the prettiest or the strongest or the bravest or the richest... Well at least...
A nurse enters the room and takes away some of the equipment.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Is he going to be ok?
NURSE ONE
He’s free to go.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Not before I’m through with him.
Calum opens one eye. He reaches for his phone and turns off the beeping noise coming from it.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Why, you horrible, horrible man. You made me worry about you. I knew it wasn’t serious you coward.
Santina starts to charge out of the room.
CALUM RODGERS
Santina, come back please
She leaves the room. Calum hurries after her.
Hospital corridor
CALUM RODGERS
I’m sorry Santina
Santina comes to a stop with her back to Calum
CALUM RODGERS
I know I’m not perfect. I know I can’t guarantee you a comfortable life and that I have many many faults, but I do love you and always have. We didn’t always get on but the key to a good relationship is compromise and...
Santina turns around
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Oh just shut up.
She slowly walks closer to him before kissing him on the mouth.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I don’t like it when men speak with their mouths full or hog the duvet.
CALUM RODGERS
I hope you don’t make toast into little heart shapes too.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
No but I do like to sing Barry Manilow songs in the shower.
CALUM RODGERS
Oh, I think I can just about put up with that.