Dear John (11 page)

Are you serious?

(off Savannah’s nod)

What’s he expecting, a hug? Has he forgotten what I did to him at the beach?

SAVANNAH

No. He hasn’t forgotten.

John finishes his coffee. Then he abruptly stands.

JOHN

Thank you. For the coffee.

He turns to leave. Stops.

JOHN

Sorry. But I didn’t come out here...

(he trails off)

Well I’m not sure why I came out here. But it wasn’t to shake Randy’s hand and tell him it’s all water under the bridge, okay?

Savannah stares at him oddly. Then she glances at something past him.

John follows her gaze to a picture, perched on the mantle over the fireplace.

John walks over. Picks the picture up. Stares at it.

It’s a WEDDING PHOTOGRAPH OF SAVANNAH AND TIM.

John can hardly believe his eyes. Savannah stands over his shoulder, watches him look at this picture of her in a flowing white wedding gown.

SAVANNAH

He really does want to see you.

John puts the picture back on the mantle. He looks over at her, genuinely torn.

JOHN

Well... where is he?

179       
EXT. CHARLESTON CITY STREET
-- DAY

Savannah and John walk down the street. None of it is audible, but Savannah is doing the talking, and John’s doing the listening.

Finally they reach their destination. John looks up.

They are at the GASTONIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

180       
INT. HOSPITAL ATRIUM
-- DAY

Savannah walks through the hospital doors out to a small solarium. She still doesn’t look back at John.

SAVANNAH

He hates being trapped inside, so he comes out here as much as possible.

They come up on a 14 YEAR OLD BOY sitting on a bench nearby.

14 YEAR OLD BOY

Hello, John.

John does a double take.

JOHN

Alan?

But Alan’s already focused back on the NINTENDO DS in his hands. John can hardly believe it’s him.

JOHN

Wow. You’ve gotten big.

TIM

Yeah, they grow up fast, don’t they?

John turns to find TIM sitting in a wheelchair. He looks much older -- his skin is pale, almost translucent, his hair is gone, and he’s lost a lot of weight.

Savannah kisses him hello, hands him a thermos of coffee. They make some small talk, then she turns to Alan.

SAVANNAH

Alan? Let’s go get a soda, okay?

Alan follows her inside. She glances back at them before she goes, but doesn’t say a word. John and Tim are all alone.

TIM

You must wanna kick my ass, huh?

John just stares at Tim... at how different he looks there in his wheelchair.

JOHN

Not really much I can do about that right now, is there?

TIM

(with a grin)

All part of my master plan.

JOHN

Yeah?

(as he surveys the hospital)

Helluva plan.

TIM

Thanks. You want some jello? It’s lime today. The menu said cherry but that’s what they do, they keep you on your toes here.

JOHN

I’ll pass.

TIM

I love her. Just so you know.

John glances at him, surprised by the sudden shift in topics.

TIM

I’ve loved her for as long as I can remember. Whatever my life was like before I fell in love with her, it’s gone now, wiped away. I want you to know that. It probably doesn’t matter to you, but it matters to me.

John has no idea how to respond.

TIM

I am sorry, though. For how it happened, with you so far away. I am sorry for what I did--

JOHN

Tim...

TIM

No. Let me finish. I’m sorry for what I did. But I wouldn’t undo it. Because now...

(he trails off)

...well, now I know Alan will always have somebody to take care of him, no matter what. Now I know he’ll always be in good hands. And as much as I like you, John... I’m his father, so he’s the most important thing in the world to me.

(then, directly to John)

And I think that’s something you, especially, can understand.

Just then a NURSE interrupts, bringing Tim his afternoon cocktail of drugs. It’s an obscene amount of pills.

TIM

Oh, look. Hors d’ouvres.

The nurse smiles -- obviously she likes him. She hands over the pills, lets him start on them while she preps his arm for a shot, pulls out a large 10 gauge needle.

NURSE

You sure you wanna do this out here?

TIM

You know I do. I’m from Charleston -- we do all kinds of shit in courtyards.

(then, to John)

She still loves you, you know.

Once again, John’s taken by surprise.

TIM

Trust me, it’s plain as day. She’s never quite looked at me the way she used to look at you. I wish that wasn’t the case, but I’ve had plenty of time to make my peace with it, believe me.

He grins at John as the nurse uncaps the needle.

TIM

Now you have plenty more time to make yours.

John stares at him, confused, unsure what he means by that, exactly. Then the giant needle enters Tim’s arm and his jaw clenches. John backs away, trying to give him some privacy.

JOHN

Well... I should probably go, Tim.

But... good luck.

TIM

Thanks, John. Good luck to you, too.

181       
OMIT

181A     
EXT. SAVANNAH’S CAR
-- PARK OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

Savannah and John walk back to the car, but Alan hurries over to a WOMAN IN THE PARK who has a dog that Alan wants to pet.

WOMAN IN THE PARK

Go ahead, he’s friendly. His name is Bosco.

Savannah just watches him, a far away look in her eyes.

SAVANNAH

He needs to get out of there. Out of this hospital.

She watches people come and go through the front doors.

SAVANNAH

There’s a company in Texas that’s gonna start testing a new vaccine in June, but of course the health care company won’t pay for it, those--

She stops herself. Takes a deep, calming breath.

SAVANNAH

It’s an experimental treatment, the vaccine. No health care company in the world pays for experimental treatments.

John watches her carefully. She just sits there, perfectly still.

SAVANNAH

My parents sold the beach house a year ago to help with the medical costs and we’ve already gone through most all of it. We opened up a charitable foundation for donations, we’ll do some fundraisers, but...

She looks back at him for the first time. Smiles humorlessly.

SAVANNAH

Told you life was expensive.

But the smiles slowly fades away. She stares right at John now, looking for answers.

SAVANNAH

What am I gonna do, John? If he doesn’t make it... what am I gonna do?

John opens his mouth to respond --

--when the back door flies open and Alan jumps in.

ALAN

Time to go! Dinner in 45 minutes!

Savannah turns back to him. Instantly finds a smile for him, going from morose to upbeat in two seconds flat.

SAVANNAH

Well... I guess we should get going then, huh?

182       
EXT. FAMILY HOME IN LENOIR
-- INSIDE THE CAR -- DAY

Savannah turns her car back onto the dirt driveway. John sits in the front seat next to her, and Alan’s in the back, his nose in his videogame as usual.

As soon as she pulls up to the house, though, Alan bolts out, heads straight for the stables. Savannah calls after him.

SAVANNAH

Dinner in 24 minutes now!

Alan waves as he disappears inside the stable. Savannah stares after him for a beat, then turns to John.

SAVANNAH

You hungry?

183       
INT. FAMILY HOME IN LENOIR
-- KITCHEN -- NIGHT

John, Savannah, and Alan finish off plates of beef stroganoff and potatoes au gratin. John’s impressed.

JOHN

I didn’t know you were such a good cook.

SAVANNAH

I’m not. My mom is. She made it, wrapped it up, left it in the freezer. All I do is heat it up.

Alan finishes first, slams his fork down like it’s a race.

ALAN

Can I be excused?

Before Savannah can even finish nodding, Alan’s out the door, back to the stables. John watches him through the window.

JOHN

He still loves those horses, huh?

SAVANNAH

Oh, he’ll be out there till bedtime, same as every other night.

John turns around to find Savannah opening a bottle of red wine, pouring a glass for each of them.

JOHN

You drink now?

SAVANNAH

Just a glass of wine or two after dinner. Tim got me started a few years ago.

She hands him his glass. John watches her take a long sip.

JOHN

When did you two get started?

Savannah looks away. Then she stands up, goes over to the window.

JOHN

Was it before he got sick? Or was it because he got sick?

Savannah still doesn’t look back at John, just keeps staring out the window. When she finally speaks, her face is blank.

SAVANNAH

Does it matter?

John stands silently behind her in the kitchen.

SAVANNAH

I kept writing you letters, though.

I felt terrible about it, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t stop writing to you. I couldn’t stop trying to tell you.

She turns away from him. John doesn’t move.

JOHN

I tried to write back, you know.

While I was holed up in the hospital after I got shot, I started to write you a bunch of times. Never sent any of them, though. Never even finished them.

Savannah turns back around. Finally looks at him.

SAVANNAH

You were shot?

John nods. Savannah’s face is pained.

SAVANNAH

Where?

John pauses. Then he stands up, slowly removes his coat and tie. Unbuttons his shirt.

Maintains eye contact with her the whole time. Underneath his shirt is an army issue wife beater.

His neck wound is visible, round and only a quarter of an inch wide. Hard to believe it’s so small. Savannah touches it lightly -- the tip of her thumb completely covers it up.

She steps around him, looks for the exit wound. She GASPS when she sees it -- it’s larger, covered with scar tissue. She brushes it with her hand.

When she finally looks up at him, tears are streaming down her face. She touches his left eyebrow, just like she did back at that half-built house in Charleston seven years ago.

SAVANNAH

So many scars...

She starts to cry harder now. John lets her.

SAVANNAH

I’m sorry, John.

John looks away, still doesn’t respond.

SAVANNAH

Why do these things happen to us?

Huh? What’d we do to deserve all this?

She pauses, trying to regain her composure.

SAVANNAH

It’s like those two weeks we spent together were too perfect, you know, and so now we have to pay someone back for it. I think we’ve been paying someone back for it ever since.

John looks away. Savannah wipes her eyes, pours them each a new glass of wine, tosses away the bottle.

SAVANNAH

C’mon. There’s something I want to show you.

184       
INT. FAMILY HOME IN LENOI
R -- LIVING ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

John sits on the couch with his glass of wine. Savannah comes into the room with a thick folder, sits next to him.

SAVANNAH

I saved every single one of them.

John opens the folder. Flips through all the letters he ever wrote her. The memories flood back.

The very last letter is on the back of an old phone bill. He flips it over-- it’s just four words: I LOVE YOU. JOHN.

SAVANNAH

Even your first.

John looks over at her. They are suddenly very close, their faces just inches apart. They are having a moment.

Then Savannah accidentally knocks her wine glass over. She rescues the folder of letters, but her blouse and John’s undershirt are doused.

SAVANNAH

Shoot. I’m sorry.

JOHN

Don’t worry about it, it’s a two dollar undershirt.

She looks down at her own blouse, which is much worse off.

SAVANNAH

I...I should get this soaking, though.

She heads down the hall. John stands too, walks --

185       
INT. FAMILY HOME IN LENOIR
-- UPSTAIRS BATHROOM --

-- and turns on the faucet, starts spot rinsing his shirt.

BUT IN THE MIRROR’S REFLECTION -- he can see Savannah through the cracked door of the bedroom across the hall. She’s topless, with her back to him.

Although he tries, he cannot turn away. Savannah senses him staring, looks over her shoulder. Caught, John waits for her to cover herself and close the door. But she does neither.

Instead, she holds his eye contact, willing him to continue watching her. And then, slowly, she turns around.

They stand there facing each other through the reflection, with only the narrow hallway separating them. Neither one of them moves. Neither one of their gazes waver.

Suddenly the front door CRASHES OPEN and shatters the quiet.

ALAN

Bedtime!

Savannah turns, grabs a shirt to pull on. John walks out of the bathroom just in time to see Alan hurry up the stairs.

JOHN

Goodnight, Alan.

Savannah comes into the hall, dressed now. Calls after him.

SAVANNAH

Take a bath and brush your teeth, okay? I’ll be up in fifteen minutes to tuck you in.

ALAN’S VOICE

Twelve minutes! Gotta be in bed in twelve minutes!

SAVANNAH

So I’ll be up in twelve minutes then.

Savannah grins over at John. Looks at him hopefully.

SAVANNAH

Only twelve minutes. If you wanna stay I could... make coffee, or...

John sighs. Knows what’s left unsaid when she trails off. He looks back at her... and then he makes his mind up.