The script

MICHAEL KURZER

EXT. STUDIO LOT, CULVER CITY CALIFORNIA –
Camera opens at 20 feet looking down at what looks like a block of brownstone houses on a New York City street. Camera slowly pulling back and panning slightly to the right. On the street are around 20-30 dogs and cats attached to leashes and some housed in little wire fence pens. As the camera gives us a wider view, we see that we are not actually in New York, but on a movie studio lot. The studio sound stages can be seen in the background. There are animal shelter volunteers and employees, both male and female, wearing solid green polo shirts, with a little white logo. The shelter employees are talking to people who are viewing the animals. A sign reads “ADOPT-A-PET FAIR - CULVER CITY ANIMAL SHELTER”

GIRL #1 (V.O.)
Over here Janelle.

CUT TO:

Three puppies are fenced in by a 1’ tall wire fence. They are jumping and trying to reach the woman from the shelter standing nearby talking to a potential adopter.

JANELLE
They’re so cute! What kind are they?

GIRL #1
I don’t know, but I want the little one with her ears flopped back.

Camera at ¾ shot showing girls looking down at the dogs.

JANELLE
Why did someone give these puppies away?

Camera switching to close-up on Janelle.

WOMAN FROM SHELTER
These animals have special needs. (the woman picks up one of the puppies) Careless breeding left these guys with birth defects. (she gives a sigh as she realizes that the attention of the girls has gone elsewhere.)

Camera shows ¾ on girls as Girl#2 notices another small brown dog nearby and turns to pet it. Camera then goes to a close-up on the brown dog.

GIRL #1
That one is adorable.

We see Girl#1 moving to walk towards the other dog. The camera focuses on an older dog tied to a small leash under a chair. Girl #1’s legs pass by the dog as we focus in on the dog. We see other little legs passing by to and fro in front of the dog without noticing the dog under the chair. The dog is a white poodle, looking somewhat dingy. The dog has a dirty pink bow. It is a hot day, and the dog is lying on its belly with its head up and panting heavily. There is a sign taped to the leg of the chair. In magic marker, the sign says, “This little precious came to us when mama had to go into a nursing home. She is used to being spoiled.” The scene closes as the shadow of an approaching person appears over the dog and we see the back of a pair of female work shoes with medium heels standing over the dog.
CUT TO:

INT. JOSEPHINE SCHLEBOPNIK’S APARTMENT -
An old television fills the frame. It is flickering, grainy and then goes black. Then suddenly it is on again and the grainy picture returns. The picture on the screen is a sail boat race.

CUT TO:

A full shot of the room showing an older woman sitting on a couch watching the television. Her arms are crossed. There is a fan blowing, but the windows are closed. The room is a rather dark cramped little apartment. There are boxes everywhere. A few pictures are hung crookedly on the wall. The furniture is 1950s era, and the couch and chair are covered partially by cloth sheets. There are several small clocks and statuettes on the tables. There are also two fancy lamps and a candy dish on an end table. Once again the television goes black. The woman picks up the candy dish and throws it at the television.

CUT TO BLACK (2 seconds)

CUT TO:
EXT. FRONT OF 1960’s ERA APARTMENT COMPLEX -
Camera shows a sign on the exterior of the building reading “Sunnyside Assisted Living Center.”

CUT TO:

Mrs. Schlebopnik standing in the doorway. She leaves the building.

CUT TO:

Reverse angle as she is pulling a little two-wheel metal basket grocery cart. She violently pulls it down the steps.

CUT TO:

EXT. BRIDGE –
The camera now shows a roadway and sidewalk on a bridge over a concrete flood channel. We see the old woman entering the frame with the cart in tow. Cars are moving by quickly on the roadway.

CUT TO:

INT. GROCERY STORE –
The camera is now inside a large grocery store looking down a long aisle. We see the woman enter from the bottom of the frame moving down the aisle.

CUT TO:

The camera shows her picking up a piece of fruit and inspecting it. She frowns and puts the fruit into her cart.

CUT TO:

Full shot of woman at the checkout counter. People are annoyed at her as she counts the coins from her coin purse and holds up a line of about six people. We see a man in the background continuously switching lines trying to find one that is moving faster. Someone sighs loudly and she turns slowly with her hands shaking and extends her middle finger.

CUT TO:

EXT. BRIDGE –
We see the same bridge and roadway shown earlier. This time the woman enters from the other side of the frame on her return trip. She stops in the middle of the bridge.

CUT TO:

Angle from below the bridge looking up as the woman peers down over the side.

CUT TO:

Close-up shot and pulling back showing dirty muck flowing down the concrete riverbed, actually a sewage channel.

CUT TO:

A reverse angle on the woman looking down.

CUT TO:

Close-up on her hands gripping the railing tightly. She is squeezing the rail.

CUT TO:

¾ shot of woman turning away from the view and closing her eyes.

CUT TO:

Camera shows her moving into frame pulling the cart on the other side of the bridge. The sun is going down and it is getting darker. Cars continue to drive by quickly.

CUT TO:

Close-up on a street sign on a corner. The camera pulling back as the woman enters the frame. She pauses for a time looking up at the sign, studying it. She looks left and then right. She heads to the right.

CUT TO:

Camera facing the woman as she struggles to pull the cart down the sidewalk. She suddenly stops.

CUT TO:

Reverse angle as she slowly stops.

PAN UP TO:

The same street sign above the woman.

CUT TO:

Full shot facing the woman running in a more frantic pace pulling her cart. Items are falling out of the cart onto the walk as she rushes.

CUT TO:

Reverse angle of woman now out of breath as she slowly approaches the same street sign. Her cart is nearly empty at this point. The camera pulls out to show her items strewn across the walkway around her.

CUT TO:

Camera facing the woman as she begins to run again.

CUT TO:

Reverse shot on the woman as a bike screeches to a halt nearly running into the woman. She screams and falls over tipping her cart across the sidewalk.

CUT TO:

Camera pans over various grocery items strewn across the street and we see a man standing over his bike and reaching to help the woman.

CUT TO:

Reverse angle of a man approaching motionless woman on the ground.

DAVE
Are you okay? (panicking and trying to call a number on a cell phone) Damn cell phone.

JOSEPHINE

(Begins to move) My head….. My back….. (moaning).

DAVE
Thank god. (sighing in relief)

Dave kneels over the woman and helps her to her knees.

JOSEPHINE
Who are you? Wait a minute. (She squints) Harold is that you?

DAVE
No.

JOSEPHINE
What happened?


CUT TO:

Reverse shot as the man helps Josephine to her feet.

DAVE
I thought you might be…

CUT TO:

Close-up of woman’s reaction while Dave is talking.

JOSEPHINE
Dead?

DAVE
Can I help you get to a hospital?

JOSEPHINE
Don’t be ridiculous, Harold. I’m fine.

DAVE
Uh. I'm Dave.

JOSEPHINE
These are my groceries? (realizing they are scattered about)
CUT TO:

Groceries scattered around an empty cart. Dave begins to pick them up. There are broken eggs on the sidewalk.

DAVE
(Collecting the groceries) I'm sorry. I’ll buy you new groceries.

JOSEPHINE
I had a can of pickled beets.

DAVE
I don’t see any beets. This looks like a melon. (picking up a smashed melon)

JOSEPHINE
I didn’t buy a melon……no. (refusing to look at the melon).

Dave finds a bag surrounded by several vials of pills on the ground. He gathers them and puts them into the bag.

DAVE
These are your pills?

Josephine silently takes the bag.

DAVE
Can I help you get home?

JOSEPHINE
I know where I'm going.

DAVE
Please, lady. I'm really sorry about this. Just let me help you get home.

JOSEPHINEYou always tried to be helpful, Harold. Walk me home, then.

DAVE
Okay. Where do you live?

JOSEPHINE
(Looking confused for a moment) Sunnyside apartments.

CUT TO:

Dave walking while holding the handlebars on his bike. The woman is walking alongside pulling her cart. They are walking on the sidewalk down a street lined with similar looking apartment buildings.

DAVE
This looks like the place. (pointing to an orange apartment complex)

JOSEPHINE
No. It’s not on the corner.

DAVE
Are you sure?

JOSEPHINE
I know where I’m going. (moves slowly toward the orange apartment while squinting her eyes)

There is a distant sound of a dog barking.

JOSEPHINE
Willie is that you? (calling out)

DAVE
I didn’t hear anyone.

JOSEPHINE
He got out last night.

DAVE
Willie is your dog?

JOSEPHINE
Have you seen him?

DAVE
I don't think so. What kind of dog is he?

JOSEPHINE
He's a poodle. A white miniature poodle.

DAVE
Was he wearing a collar?

JOSEPHINE
Hmm. No, but he has a pink ribbon bow. He doesn't much care for pink, though. That’s probably why he left.

CUT TO:

Josephine moves closer to the front door of the orange apartment complex.

DAVE
It says “Sunnyside Assisted Living Center.”

JOSEPHINE
I told you, Harold, this is my apartment. (in an incredulous tone, referring to the same orange apartment complex)

CUT TO:

Dave reaches to ring the doorbell, but before he can ring the bell, the door opens to reveal a large man.

ORDERLY
Mrs. Schlebopnik, remember what I said about going out at night?

JOSEPHINE
I was with my nephew.

DAVE
Actually, I'm not.....(to ORDERLY) er, um, I hope it’s okay if I help my aunt to her room.

ORDERLY
Make it quick. Visiting hours are over.

CUT TO:

INT. MRS. SCHLEBOPNIK’S APARTMENT ROOM –
From behind we see Dave and the old woman enter her room.

DAVE
Nice place.

JOSEPHINE
You don’t mean that. I know I haven't opened my boxes. The TV doesn’t work and there's nothing to eat but crackers.

DAVE
Again. I'm really sorry about your groceries. (Looking at the mess on his clothing).

CUT TO:

Josephine pulls some items from a box.

JOSEPHINE
Willie’s leash. Had I been using this, he’d still be here. And his bowl. (She hands the bowl to Dave and he examines it and blows the dust off Willie’s bowl).

DAVE
I should be getting back.

JOSEPHINE
Leaving so soon?
CUT TO:

Josephine nods and fumbles through a box and pulls out a pad and pencil. She begins to make a list while talking.

JOSEPHINE
What have you been up to Harold?

DAVE
Harold? When I ran into you, I was on my way to find a birthday card for my son.

JOSEPHINE
I didn't know you had any children?

DAVE
Just the one.

JOSEPHINE
I always thought of Willie as an only child. Spoiled rotten.

DAVE
I'm sure you'll get the little guy back.

ORDERLY
Visiting time is over.

DAVE
I was just leaving.

JOSEPHINE
Here is a list of groceries. Don't forget to check the apples carefully before you choose them.

DAVE
My pleasure, Mrs. Schleboberkin.

JOSEPHINE
Josephine.

DAVE
See you tomorrow, Josephine.

FADE TO BLACK:

CUT TO:

INT. DAVE’S APARTMENT HALLWAY–
The camera shows an apartment door. The door is opened and as it opens the sound of music can be heard over the chatter of people. People are leaning against the walls of the living room in the apartment smoking, drinking and laughing. The camera moves around the room showing the mess. People are sitting on the sofa making out. The camera makes a complete circle around the room looking back at the door where we see Dave standing in the doorframe. Dave is smiling with his mouth, but his eyes show his disappointment.

CHRISTIAN
What up? You made it.

DAVE
I didn’t know I was invited.

CHRISTIAN
Of course you’re invited. You live here. I’ll get you a beer.
CUT TO:

Dave walks into the room in between a few girls standing near the television set.

DAVE
Hi. I’m Dave.

CHARLOTTE
Hi Dave. You don’t have a drink.

DAVE
I just got here.

CHARLOTTE
Do you know Christian?

DAVE
Some days I'm not so sure.

CHARLOTTE
You’re Dave! (emphatically).

PARTY GIRL #2
You’re Christian’s roommate?

DAVE
Yeah. We're roommates.

CHRISTIAN
Here’s a beer. Did you meet Charlotte?

DAVE
Charlotte? (Charlotte waves)
CUT TO:

Christian examines Dave’s clothing. He finds a stain from the groceries on Dave’s shirt.

CHRISTIAN
You need some new threads, dude.

DAVE
Can we talk in the other room?

CHRISTIAN
Sure. (A woman calls Christian’s name from the bedroom). Hang on a sec, be right back.

CHARLOTTE
So, Dave, what is it you do again?

DAVE
I’m studying architecture.

CHARLOTTE
That's great. I love dinosaurs, too.

DAVE
Actually, that’s paleontology.

PARTY GIRL #1
Charlotte, you’re so stupid.

CHARLOTTE
I’m not stupid, you bitch. Aren't you a little old to be a student?

DAVE
Thanks.

CHARLOTTE
Sorry.

DAVE
It's okay. I’m not the usual college kid. I started working construction when I turned 16, and next thing you know I’m…

CHARLOTTE
No wonder you're built so solid.
CUT TO:

Reaction on Dave’s embarrased face, then a few quick cuts to other people at the party smoking and knocking stuff over.

CUT TO:

INT. DAVE’S BEDROOM
We see Christian going into Dave’s dresser drawer and pulling out some money and counting it and kissing it. The walls in Dave’s room are covered in drawings of bridges and buildings. We then see a girl standing in the doorway.

PARTY GIRL #3
I’m ready, Christian.

CUT TO:

INT. DAVE’S LIVING ROOM –
The girls have wandered away from Dave. A man with a blue cap approaches.

CHUCK
I didn’t wanna say nothin’ while they were here, but that girl was totally givin’ me the eye.

DAVE
She totally was. How you doin, Chuck?

CHUCK
Not bad. You fish, Dave?

DAVE
Not really.

CHUCK
Lots of good fishin’ up north. Not so much in these parts.

DAVE
Up north?

CHUCK
Yeah. Tahoe. You been there?

DAVE
I’ve been to the airport in Reno.

CHUCK
Nothing like being out on the lake. Maybe we go up there sometime.

Camera shows Dave’s reaction as his eyebrows raise.

FADE TO BLACK:
FADE IN:

EXT. COURTYARD ON COLLEGE CAMPUS –
An open grassy space on a college campus. There are many large conifer and pine trees surrounding sculptures. Dave is seated on the ground up against a large tree trunk. Across the courtyard from Dave is a water fountain. Dave has a sketchpad on his lap and he is working on a drawing. Suddenly Dave is struck in the head with a hard yellow rubber ball. He picks it up to examine the toy. As he lifts the ball, a little white poodle with a pink bow immediately grabs it on one end and begins to play tug o’ war with him. His sketch pad falls on the grass. The dog wins the contest and retrieves the ball.

DAVE
(To the dog) I wasn’t trying that hard.

CUT TO:

A woman approaches. She is talking on a cell phone.

AMY
Willie! I’m sorry (to Dave). No. I’m not talking to you (to the phone). I was talking to a guy, here. What do you mean, what guy? I don’t know his name…….

AMY
(Laughing and talking into the phone) I hit him with Willie’s ball. Tell him what? Shut-up.

Dave continues to play with the dog.

AMY
Look, I’ve gotta go. I gotta go. I know…..I know…..Bye……..Bye.

Amy hangs up the cell phone.

AMY
My mother.

DAVE
Cute dog.

AMY
I've been taking her everywhere. Everywhere, except to the office. You know, I actually got her at work. Just last week, the animal shelter had an adopt-a-pet fair. But she’s probably hating me now because I’ve been so busy lately. I'm a lawyer. An entertainment lawyer. Movie stars. That should make my life fun, right? Yeah. Not fun. Boring as hell. Are you a prof here?

DAVE
Student.

AMY
Really? I wish I was back in school. So you’re an artist? (Dave turns his sketchpad face down). Let me guess…you were capturing this gorgeous fountain?

DAVE
No, but it's nice. (Willie barks)

AMY
Shush, Willie! My mother tells me I should just quit and go back to school. Maybe I should start my own business. Maybe I should be an artist, too. I used to be an excellent painter. God, my life sucks now. But I’m not a quitter.

Willie barks.

AMY
You seem like a nice guy. (Amy’s cell phone rings) I’ve gotta get this. Let me give you my number. Maybe we can talk again sometime. (She takes out a piece of paper from her purse and a pen. She writes her number). Come on Willie! (to the phone in a false sounding cheerful voice) How’s it going? I’m just taking Willie for a walk…

Amy and Willie leave while Amy talks on her phone. Dave picks up his sketch pad. He looks ahead at the water fountain sculpture and begins to sketch.

FADE TO BLACK:

CUT TO:

EXT. A BIRD BATH OUTSIDE JOSEPHINE’S APARTMENT –
Josephine is starring down at the bird bath from her upstairs apartment window. Her face is sullen. She can hear voices coming from the hallway.

VOICE #1
You call this a toothbrush?

The camera begins to slowly zoom towards Mrs. Schlebopnik’s eyes in a sad vacant gaze.

VOICE #1
You have my toothbrush.

VOICE #2
Shut up, you old man.

VOICE #1
Don’t tell me to shut up! I haven't brushed my teeth.

VOICE#3
I can’t sleep.

VOICE #1
Where is my toothbrush?

VOICE #3
Be quiet.

VOICE #1
Get me my shoes.
CUT TO:

We see older people wandering in the halls of the apartment. They wander back and forth while we continue to hear the voices. The voices may be coming from the people wandering the halls but their mouths are not moving. The people are checking to see if doors are locked and knocking on them seemingly at random.

VOICE #2
Shut up! It's too hot.

VOICE #1
Where is my toothbrush? Start the car, Maureen.

VOICE #3
I can’t sleep. What time is it?

VOICE #1
It's too dark in here. Where is the light.

VOICE #2
Shut the hell up!

The water in the bird bath begins to overflow the sides of the bath and cascade down like a fountain. We see a close-up of Mrs. Schlebopnik in the water. She is struggling to keep afloat. The birds are circling above. The water begins to swirl. We continue to hear the voices.

VOICE #1
Let's get in the car.

VOICE #2
You don’t have a god damn car.

VOICE #1 begins screaming.

VOICE #2
I'm gonna kill you if you don't shut up!

VOICE #3
You're making it worse.
CUT TO:

Other people in the water float near Josephine. They begin to swirl towards the center of the bird bath. Their voices are disappearing and fading out as they approach and disappear down a drain at the center of the birdbath. Josephine approaches the drain and goes under water. We then see her floating in a swiftly moving river. The sky is dark. She goes under a bridge. She looks ahead. The camera pulls back and we see that she is approaching a massive waterfall. Just as she approaches the fall, someone calls her name and she awakens.

DAVE
Josephine. (voice calling from a distance) Josephine (voice is closer).

CUT TO:

Josephine is sitting at a table in a recreation room at the retirement home.

JOSEPHINE
You startled me, Harold.

DAVE
Sorry.

JOSEPHINE
It’s nice to see you, though. What brings you here today?

DAVE
I bought you groceries. (Dave begins unpacking the groceries) I wasn’t sure if I could pick the fruits to your standards. Someone at the store helped me. And I didn’t forget…the pickled beets. (smiling)

JOSEPHINE
These are fine, thank you. Would you like one of my apples?

DAVE
Sure.
CUT TO:

Josephine hands an apple to Dave and they begin to eat the apples.

JOSEPHINE
I love crisp apples. They remind me of fall days back on Long Island. I met my husband there at a party on the beach. Bertran. He was a stage director.

DAVE
You were an actress?

JOSEPHINE
I was a dancer.

DAVE
Really?

JOSEPHINE
Yes. Your mother never mentioned this?

DAVE
No.

JOSEPHINE
What is that you have there?

DAVE
It’s a sketchpad.

JOSEPHINE
I can see that. What are you sketching?

DAVE
Just a few things. I’m studying architecture.

JOSEPHINE
Wonderful. I had no idea anyone in the family had that talent.

There is an awkward pause.

DAVE
I’ve been thinking about your dog.

JOSEPHINE
Harold, have you seen Willie?

DAVE
Josephine, there is something we have to get straight. I’m not your nephew. My name is Dave. We met for the first time the other night when I almost hit you with my bike.

Josephine pauses for a bit seeming a little confused.

JOSEPHINE
I know that. You remind me of Harold.

DAVE
I’m sorry.

JOSEPHINE
What do you have to be sorry for? It’s me who doesn’t have any family. Willie and I get along just fine. (sighs)

DAVE
I’d like to help you find your dog.

ORDERLY
Time for dinner, Mrs. Schlebopnik. We’re having yams tonight. Yum.

CUT TO:

Dave starts to pack up his things.

JOSEPHINE
(Licks her lips sarcastically) Please come back to visit sometime, Harold…Dave.
Dave smiles.

CUT TO:

INT. DAVE’S APARTMENT –
We see Chuck sitting on the couch watching the television. We see Dave enter the living room behind Chuck. Chuck looks back at Dave.

CHUCK
Hey bud, what’s up.

DAVE
Hi Chuck. Where’s Christian?

CHUCK
Kitchen, dude.

Dave begins to walk to the kitchen.

CHUCK
While you’re there, get me a beer, would ya bro?

CUT TO:

Dave enters the kitchen to find Christian leaning on the counter and talking on the phone.

CHRISTIAN
No, baby. No. She doesn’t mean anything to me.

DAVE
Christian.

CHRISTIAN
One sec. (to Dave)

DAVE
We really need to talk.

CHRISTIAN
Gotta go, babe. Love ya. (Hangs up phone). Before you say anything, I want you to know I’ve got my share of the rent money. I got a job and it’s not a porno movie, if that’s what your thinking.

DAVE
It’s not the rent…

CHRISTIAN
Is it about this? (Christian holds up the piece of paper with Amy’s number.) I found it on the table. I thought it was mine.

DAVE
You called this number?

CHRISTIAN
I thought it was mine!

CHUCK
(Calling from the other room) Yo, how about that beer?

DAVE
(Yelling back at Chuck): Shut the hell up!

CHUCK
Fine, no beer then. I’ll take a wine cooler if you got it.

CHRISTIAN
I didn’t know the number was yours. Don’t worry. She didn’t pick up. Usually if I find a number around here it’s mine.

DAVE
Give me that. (Snatches the paper from Christian).

CUT TO:

Christian leaves the kitchen carrying a couple of beers out to Chuck. Dave picks up the phone and dials the number. It rings several times and hits voicemail.

AMY (V.O.)
Hello, you’ve reached Amy. I’m not here, so leave a message.

DAVE
Hi, uh… Amy. This is awkward. We met the other day in the sculpture garden. I’m Dave. How’s it going? Uh, I was wondering if….. if you might like to….

CUT TO:

We see Chuck and Christian having a beer on the couch in the living room.

CHUCK
Who’s he talking to?


CHRISTIAN
A girl. Hard to believe.

CHUCK
Yeah.

Dave enters the living room.

CHUCK
Sorry about that man.

DAVE
It’s fine. Christian and I have to talk about our living situation.

CHRISTIAN
What about the girl? Is she hot? She sounded hot. So you asked her out? Way to go bro. What did she say?

DAVE
She didn’t say anything. I left a message.

CHRISTIAN
You too?

The phone rings. Christian answers it.

CHRISTIAN
Yo? (covers the mouthpiece) Damn. She asked for you. (hands the phone to Dave)

DAVE
Hello.

AMY
Hi. Dave?

DAVE
Yes.

AMY
You’re the guy I hit with the ball! I guess I never got your name. I’m such a dolt. You’re the artist!

DAVE
Yeah. Architect.

AMY
Listen. I’d love to get together sometime. I have to say I’m really busy with work. (Dog is barking in background)

DAVE
Well, how about coffee?

AMY
That sounds nice. Where and when?

DAVE
Sunday, 1 o’clock at the campus café, near where we met.

AMY
Okay. I can do Sunday.

DAVE
Just one thing.

AMY
What is it?

DAVE
I was wondering if…

AMY
What is it???

DAVE
Would you mind bringing your dog along?

CUT TO DAVE'S BEDROOM EARLY MORNING

We see Dave sleeping in close-up. We see a shadowy figure enter in the background of Dave’s bedroom. We see the figure is Christian, who is searching through Dave's wallet while he is sleeping. Dave opens one eye slowly. Christian continues to look for money in Dave’s pants. Dave springs to his feet and grabs Christian from behind. He wrestles him to the floor.

DAVE
This is the last time!

CHRISTIAN
I was going to pay you back.

DAVE
With what?

CHRISTIAN
Come on, it’s my birthday.

Dave releases his grip on Christian and they both sit up exhausted.

DAVE
Happy birthday.

CHRISTIAN
Did you get me anything?

DAVE
Aww. Just keep the damn money.

CHRISTIAN
I thought you might say that.

DAVE
Did your mother send you anything?

CHRISTIAN
A hundred.

DAVE
Not bad.


CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPUS CAFÉ –
The camera is focused on the dog sitting under a chair. The dog is on a leash tied to the chair. The camera pulls out to reveal an outdoor café. Amy is sitting in the chair. Dave is seated directly across from her. It is mid-afternoon.

AMY
Can I tell you what happened to me this week?

DAVE
Okay.

AMY
We were closing a deal. I didn’t get any sleep the night before. So I’m bringing the final draft to my boss and I realize I printed the wrong version. I go back to my desk and realize that I saved an old draft over the final agreement.

DAVE
Ouch. What did you do?

AMY
I sat and cried for ten minutes.

DAVE
I’m sorry.

AMY
Then I called my boss and told him what happened.

DAVE
That must have been tough.

AMY
It worked out in the end. We found a hard copy that was close enough and went line by line to get it done. They signed the deal at two-thirty in the morning. I was at work the next day at seven.

DAVE
I don’t know how you do it.

AMY
So tell me about yourself. What complicates your life?

DAVE
You don't wanna know.

AMY
Oh my god. Are you married?

DAVE
No. I'm not married.

AMY
Then, try me.

DAVE
Okay. I'm sorta living with my son.

AMY
What do you mean sorta. You have partial custody?

DAVE
Actually, he's a grown man. Sorta.

AMY
He's sorta a grown man?

DAVE
It's my fault. I’m told I never set boundaries when he was kid.

AMY
So what's wrong with him?

DAVE
Where do I begin? He and his friends throw nightly parties in our apartment. The place smells like beer and cigarettes. I have to hound him to pay the rent. He steals from me. He doesn’t work. Well, he almost never works.

AMY
Why don't you kick him out?

DAVE
That’s a good question. Maybe it's guilt. I don't know. The bizarre thing is that I think I enjoy the drama. That or the alternative would just depress me.

AMY
That’s screwed up.

DAVE
Tell me about it.

AMY
I feel better with you having told me that. How screwed up is that?

DAVE
Pretty screwed up.

Willie barks.

AMY
So why did you want me to bring Willie? Not that I wouldn't have brought him anyway. (picks up Willie and starts to kiss him)

DAVE
Okay. You might think this story is a bit strange, but there is something that has got my mind spinning and I have to get to the bottom of it.

AMY
And this involves Willie?

DAVE
A week ago I am on my way to the store. I’m on my bike. Out of the blue comes this lady pulling a grocery cart. I come screeching to a stop. The bike hits the cart and the woman falls over.

AMY
Oh no.

DAVE
Luckily, she fell into some flowers, but her groceries went everywhere. I helped her get up and she seemed to be fine.

AMY
So what does this have to do with my dog?

DAVE
I helped her get back to her apartment. On the way she starts calling for her dog. I didn’t see a dog with her, but she tells me her dog ran away.

AMY
And how does this relate to Willie?

DAVE
That's the thing. The dog’s name is Willie.

AMY
Willie is a common name.

DAVE
And she describes the dog as being a white poodle with a pink bow. (Camera pans down to Amy’s dog)

AMY
But Willie wasn’t a lost dog. Her owner had to go into a nursing home.

DAVE
Josephine, the lady, she lives in assisted living in Culver City.

AMY
Oh my god. Did they take her dog away from her?

DAVE
She doesn’t have any family. She kept calling me her nephew.

AMY
What do you think I should do?

DAVE
Maybe you could come along with me to visit her. We could bring Willie and find out for sure whether it's her dog.

AMY
What if it is her dog? I can’t give up my best friend.

DAVE
I can’t tell you what you should do.

AMY
(Amy sighs and thinks for a moment) You're right. It's the right thing to do. (rubbing Willie's ears)

CUT TO:
EXT. MRS. SCHLEBOPNIK’S APARTMENT –
Camera shows reverse shot of Amy and Dave as they approach the door to the assisted living center. Amy is carrying her dog. It is now cloudy but not raining.

ORDERLY
Can I help you?

DAVE
We’re here to see Mrs. Schle...Schlebob. We're here to see Josephine.

ORDERLY
No pets in the building.

DAVE
Maybe you could bring her out to meet us.

ORDERLY
Mrs. Schlebopnik hasn’t been feeling too good lately. You should come back another time, without the dog.

AMY
Look mister, this poor woman lost her dog. At least let her see the dog.

ORDERLY
That’s her dog? She doesn't have a dog. No pets.

Amy and Dave look at each other.

DAVE
Yeah. Well....

ORDERLY
She’s in bed. She might be asleep.

DAVE
Please. This would mean a lot.

ORDERLY
(reluctantly). Come with me.

CUT TO:

INT. MRS. SCHLEBOPNIK’S BEDROOM -
We see Mrs. Schlebopnik in bed. She is in a semi-lucid state.

JOSEPHINE
Who’s there?

DAVE
It’s me. Dave.

JOSEPHINE
Harold. (nodding her head) Dave.
Willie barks.

JOSEPHINE
Willie? Is that you?

Amy brings the dog closer to the bed. The woman reaches out her hand. Willie licks her hand. Amy lets the dog climb onto the bed.

JOSEPHINE
Where have you been?

AMY
Hello Josephine, I’m Amy. I adopted Willie.

JOSEPHINE
What? Willie, is this true?

AMY
From the animal shelter in Culver City.

JOSEPHINE
Thank you for bringing him back to me.

Amy's eyes become teary.

ORDERLY
You can’t have that dog here.

JOSEPHINE
Oh, Willie. It’s wonderful to have you back.

Mrs. Schlebopnik begins to fall asleep.

ORDERLY
You guys should get going. Let her get some rest.

DAVE
What about the dog?

ORDERLY
The dog goes. Like I said, no pets allowed.

Amy picks up Willie. Willie licks Amy’s face. Amy and Dave head for the door.

CUT TO:

EXT. SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF MRS. SCHLEBOPNIK’S APARTMENT
We see Amy and Dave walking on the sidewalk in front of the apartments.

DAVE
At least now we know. I guess it worked out okay. She can’t keep the dog, anyway.

AMY
I still feel bad about all of this.

DAVE
It’s not your fault.

AMY
I know.

DAVE
My place is just around the corner from here. Would you like to come up for some coffee?

AMY
Okay. Why not?

CUT TO:
EXT. DAVE’S APARTMENT -
We see Dave and Amy approaching and entering his apartment building.

CUT TO:

INT. DAVE’S LIVING ROOM -

DAVE
Have a seat on the couch. I’ll be back in a minute.

Dave goes into the kitchen. Amy looks around the apartment and eventually sits on the couch. Willie finds an interesting smell inside the couch and buries his nose deep inside.

AMY
Stop it, Willie. Get out of there.
CUT TO:

Dave returns from the kitchen carrying two mugs.

AMY
I think Willie found something in your couch.

DAVE
That doesn’t surprise me. You might want to sit at the table instead.

AMY
So this is the place? It doesn’t look as bad as you make it out to be. I’ve seen much worse.

CUT TO:

Amy begins to peer into the bedrooms.

DAVE
Thanks.

AMY
Do you think Willie would rather be with her?

DAVE
No. I mean I don’t know. It doesn’t matter, anyway. She can’t have a dog.

AMY
I know. It just bothers me to think about it.

CUT TO:

They enter Dave’s room while drinking the coffee.

AMY
(Smiles) (Now looking at the drawings in Dave’s room) So these are the pictures you draw for school. Can I see the one you were drawing in the sculpture garden when we met?

DAVE
I haven’t finished it yet.

AMY
I promise I won’t be a critic.

DAVE
I’m sorry. You’ll have to wait for that one.

AMY
Do you ever draw people? (moving closer to Dave)

DAVE
No. But there is a reason for that.

AMY
What’s that? (moving even closer)

DAVE
I’m studying architecture.

AMY
I like this one. It reminds me of my parents’ house.

DAVE
My house, I mean my ex-wife's house, now. I built that house.

AMY
You built the house yourself?

DAVE
Yes. (looking into Amy’s eyes) I mean I had a crew.

Dave notices that Amy is very close to him. They look at each other for a few seconds and are just about to kiss when the front door opens. Christian enters the apartment carrying unfolded cardboard moving boxes. He struggles to get all the boxes into the apartment. Christian comes out from the bedroom.

CHRISTIAN
I didn’t know you were gonna be here. I was going to surprise you.

DAVE
Amy. This is my son, Christian.

AMY
I know.

DAVE
Really? Most people don’t figure that out right away.

AMY
No. I mean I know Christian.

DAVE
You know each other?

CHRISTIAN
Yeah. Um. We met at a party.

DAVE
You left a message on her machine, didn't you recognize her voice then?

AMY
We didn't say much to each other when we met. I don't think I ever got her name.

DAVE
And what happened at this party? (Amy and Christian look at each other. Amy looks at Dave.)

CHRISTIAN
I’ve been a lousy roommate and I’m getting out of your hair, back home to Jersey.

DAVE
With your mother. What about your job?

CHRISTIAN
Guess what? No job. Mom's gonna put me up until I get back on my feet.

DAVE
So you’re really leaving? Tonight?

CHRISTIAN
Yep. Chuck’s up in Tahoe on a fishing trip. He’s letting me borrow his truck. I haven’t told him yet that I’m driving it cross-country. That’s why I’m in a rush.

DAVE
What should I tell Chuck when he gets back?

CHRISTIAN
I'll send him some money when I start working.

DAVE
You can't steal your best friend's truck.

CHRISTIAN
I told you, I borrowed it from him.

AMY
I’ll let you guys discuss this. (begins to pick up her things and Willie)

CHRISTIAN
No, I don’t want to interrupt anything.

AMY
It’s okay. I have to get up early for work anyway.

DAVE
I’ll walk you to your car.

AMY
Nice to see you again, Christian.

CHRISTIAN
Yeah. It's good to see you're doing well.

CUT TO:

Dave, Amy and Willie leave the apartment and walk downstairs to the street. They walk around the corner to Amy’s car.

CUT TO:

EXT. IN FRONT OF DAVE’S APARTMENT BUILDING -
DAVE
I keep forgetting that you're a lot younger than me.

AMY
I'm sorry you had to find out about that.

DAVE
It wouldn’t have worked out between us anyway.

AMY
Why not?

DAVE I hate cell phones.

AMY
Really?

DAVE
And lawyers.

AMY
Well, I’ve never been into dirty old men.

DAVE
Too bad.

There is an awkward pause as Dave and Amy look at each other.

AMY
I really do need to wake up early.

DAVE I’m sorry.

Amy smiles and gets into her car. Dave smiles and waves briefly and turns and begins to walk back to his apartment.

FADE TO BLACK:
CUT TO:

INT. JOSEPHINE’S APARTMENT AT NIGHT
Josephine lays in her bed. She hears voices in the hallway. She imagines herself in a pool of swirling waters.

QUICK CUT
Back to Josephine in her bed. She reaches for her pills on her night stand, accidentally knocking over the bottle.

QUICK CUT
Josephine counts out two pills and then swallows them with a glass of water.

QUICK CUT
Josephine laying down in bed. The voices continue.

QUICK CUT
Josephine reaches for her pills while muttering.

QUICK CUT
Josephine swallowing more pills.

QUICK CUT
Josephine counting two more pills and swallowing them.

We see Josephine with her eyes in a fixed gaze as she lays in a rushing river crashing over a waterfall. The camera focuses on the rushing water.
FADE TO BLACK
CUT TO:

EXT. OUTSIDE MRS. SCHLEBOPNIK’S APARTMENT BUILDING –
Dave pulls up on his bike at the Sunnyside Assisted Living Center. It is a bright sunny day. Dave is carrying flowers. He opens the door and is met by the ORDERLY.

ORDERLY
Flowers? You’re late.

DAVE
What do you mean?

ORDERLY
It was three days ago.

DAVE
I think you have me confused with someone else.

ORDERLY
I remember you. You came last week with the girl and the dog…to see Mrs. Schlebopnik.

DAVE
Yes. Is she okay?

ORDERLY
Hah. I don’t know. She’s dead.

DAVE
(slowly sitting down on the steps) How?

ORDERLY
She was sick. You name it, she had it.

DAVE
I knew she wasn’t feeling well, but I thought….

ORDERLY
Her family cleaned out her apartment yesterday. Check the dumpster out back if you’re curious. I don’t think they kept a thing.

DAVE
I can’t believe it.

ORDERLY
Believe it.

DAVE
And she had a family?

ORDERLY
Looked like money to me. Makes you wonder why they kept her in this dump.

DAVE
She said she didn't have a family.

ORDERLY
You look like a smart enough fella. But maybe you didn’t notice that she wasn't exactly playing with a full deck. Alzheimer’s, I think.

CUT TO:

EXT. DUMPSTER BEHIND APARTMENT –
We see Dave’s shoes as they enter frame and stop. The camera pans up to reveal Dave in front of a large dumpster filled with various items from Mrs. Schlebopnik’s apartment. He climbs the side of the dumpster and looks down into the pile of items from the apartment. A photo album captures his eyes. He picks it up and dusts it off and begins to flip through the pages. The book is filled with old black and white picture. He comes to a picture of a poodle with a pink bow.

CUT TO:

EXT. DAVE ON HIS BIKE IN THE CANYON –
Dave rides his bike quickly down the canyon, carrying the flowers in his mouth.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMPUS CAFÉ –
The bike stops at the campus cafe. Amy is seated at a table with Willie in her lap. She sees Dave approaching and smiles. But she sees the distressed look on his face and quickly stops smiling.

DAVE
I thought you might be here.

AMY
Dave. (somewhat surprised) Are you okay?

Amy’s cell phone begins to ring. She thinks about answering for a second but turns it off instead.

DAVE
Josephine passed away.

AMY
What? When? (She puts Willie on the ground and stands up)

DAVE
Apparently it happened a few days ago.

AMY
I didn’t know she was that sick.

DAVE
She had Alzheimer’s Disease. Her memory wasn’t so good, but she seemed healthy. I wanted to bring her flowers. I hope you don't mind…

Dave hands Amy the flowers. Amy gives Dave a hug.

DAVE
It turns out that she actually had a big family.

AMY
That's nice to hear.

DAVE
Not really. Her family threw all of her stuff in the trash behind her apartment.

AMY
She deserved better.

DAVE
Makes me wonder about my own fate.

AMY
Dave, you're not that old.

DAVE
I hate to say it, but I probably deserve worse.

AMY
You've got time to make things right.

DAVE
(Dave looks up as if deep in thought) She always referred to Willie as a he. But Willie is a she, right?

AMY
Yes. I thought that was odd, too.

DAVE
And the orderly said no pets were allowed there. She couldn’t have a dog.

AMY
He did say no pets.

DAVE
(Dave opens his backpack and pulls out the photo album and turns to the page with the dog) I found this in the dumpster.

AMY
You climbed into the dumpster?

DAVE
Look at the picture.

AMY
They threw away her photo album? (She examines the photo). The dog looks a little like Willie.

DAVE
Read the caption.

AMY
"Summer in the Hamptons, 1946. Willie looking princely." She could have given a new dog the same name.

DAVE
Maybe. (Dave pulls Willie's leash and bowl from his backpack)

AMY
So she used an old bowl. The dog wouldn’t care. (Amy pauses) Could it be just a coincidence? I feel like we might have confused her.

DAVE
I think she just wanted to believe it was her dog.

AMY
She had me convinced.

DAVE
Me too. Well, I guess I should be on my way home. Chuck is due back from his trip. I want to get there before he calls the police to report his truck stolen.

AMY
Dave?

DAVE
What?

AMY
Do you think I’m shallow?

DAVE
No.

AMY
Do you think I talk too much on my cell phone?

DAVE
Absolutely.

AMY
Do you think one day you might not hate lawyers so much?

DAVE
I don’t know. Us dirty old men are pretty set in their ways.

CROSSFADE:

EXT. CAMPUS COURTYARD –
A bright sunny day. We see Amy and Dave sitting under a tree with Willie nearby. Dave is sketching. He turns and shows the drawing to Amy and the camera. The drawing is of a large stone arch bridge. As the camera moves into the bridge, we see the water under the bridge come alive. People walk along the bridge. A log raft comes into frame slowly and we see a young woman on the raft resembling Mrs. Schlebopnik. Also on the raft is a little white poodle with a pink bow. The camera follows the raft into a reverse angle as the raft heads out to a calm sea in a brilliant sunset.

THE END

A rough demonstration.

I have been trying to finish putting together an animated film by scanning pencil sketches and coloring them using Adobe Photoshop.