Dear John (4 page)

42        
INT. MR. TYREE’S
-- HALLWAY -- SAME

Savannah’s heading to the bathroom when John pulls her into his bedroom. He gently pins her against the wall, kisses her on her shoulder, her neck, her lips.

Savannah starts to get into it. She glances out in the hall, sees Mr. Tyree standing over the sink, his back to them but still only feet away.

JOHN

Don’t worry. He gets very focused.

Back in the bedroom, John can’t keep his hands off her. She grins up at him.

SAVANNAH

Yeah, so do you.

She makes her escape by slipping out from under his arm, but John grabs her by the waist, pulls her onto the bed.

Savannah laughs, rolls right over him back onto solid ground. John makes a couple of playful swipes at her legs. She puts a hand on his forehead, mockingly holds him at arm’s distance.

Then John breaks free and Savannah SHRIEKS, ducking by him again, jumping into --

43        
THE CLOSET
--

-- where she slides the door shut and holds it closed, laughing harder now.

But then, when she realizes what’s surrounding her, the smile wipes off her face. She stares at the clothes hanging in this closet. Clothes she’s never seen John wear.

Here are ACU uniforms, PT uniforms. A set of dress greens. A set of dress blues.

She’s alone in this four foot box, surrounded by these reminders of who he is, and where he’s going.

An impromptu End-Of-Spring-Break party is taking place on the beach. Plenty of people are around the bonfire, including Randy and Susan and her boyfriend.

Savannah’s neighbor, Tim, is over on his deck behind them, grilling burgers and chatting with a couple KIDS. Nearby, his son Alan has his nose in his Game Boy, as usual.

45        John appears from over the sand dunes, looks around for Savannah. But he can’t find her anywhere.

Then he glances up the beach, sees a LONE FIGURE on the pier.

46       
EXT. BEACH
-- BONFIRE -- DAY

-- through the flames, Randy ignores the girl YAMMERING next to him as he watches John head up the beach, alone.

47       
EXT. BEACH
-- DAY

Savannah sits on the sand, her back to John.

JOHN

You’re missing the party.

She startles, tries to wipe her tears away before he sees.

SAVANNAH

It’s managing just fine without me.

JOHN

(noticing the tears)

What’s wrong?

She wipes her eyes again, tries to pretend she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. John’s not buying it, though.

Savannah SIGHS, gives up the act. She looks straight at him.

SAVANNAH

I’m dying, John.

John reacts. But Savannah rolls her eyes.

SAVANNAH

Sheesh. I’m not dying, you sap. Do I look like I’m dying?

John glares at her, not amused. Savannah shrugs.

SAVANNAH

I’m just sad cause it’s almost over.

John turns. Knows she’s not talking about Spring Break.

JOHN

Savannah. It’s not almost over.

SAVANNAH

I leave tomorrow. I have to be in class on Monday and christ,
you
--

JOHN

Don’t worry about me. Twelve months until my commitment is up and I’ll be back for good.

SAVANNAH

Yeah, but come on. A lot can happen between now and then--

JOHN

(interrupting)

You think I don’t know that?

She pauses, looks over at him. He stares out at the water.

JOHN

Trust me. I know that.

Then he turns back, looks her straight in the eye.

JOHN

I promise. Alright? I promise -- I’ll see you soon.

In one impulsive motion, Savannah jumps up into his arms and kisses him. She grins, over the moon.

SAVANNAH

Okay. Fine. I guess I’ll see you soon then.

48       
EXT. BEACH DUNES
-- DAY

John and Savannah walk back towards the party together.

JOHN

I’ll be out of the army before you’re out of school. I’ll be right there in the audience when you graduate.

SAVANNAH

Graduation may take me a little longer now, though. I think I’m gonna switch majors.

(off his look)

It just hit me this week, actually, spending all that time with your Dad. You’re gonna laugh but -- I want to teach special education. I want to help people.

John does laugh.

JOHN

You don’t say.

SAVANNAH

I don’t know why it took me so long to realize it. I grew up next door to Alan. He’s always been drawn to me for some reason, and--

But John interrupts her. Something is nagging at him.

JOHN

What does hanging around my Dad have to do with anything?

Savannah pauses. Takes a breath, looks for the right words.

SAVANNAH

Well... I just think there’s an explanation for why he is the way he is...

(off his darkening face)

You know what? Forget it. Come here.

She tries to kiss him, but John shrugs her away.

JOHN

Savannah. What are you saying?

SAVANNAH

I dunno, okay? I guess I’m just saying I grew up next door to a boy with autism, so I kinda have a frame of reference here--

JOHN

Whoa whoa. Autism? Wait, you think my Dad’s like Alan? You think he’s retarded or something?

SAVANNAH

Alan isn’t
retarded
, John, he’s severely autistic. But there are milder cases, ones that go undiagnosed all the time -- there’s something called Asperger’s Syndrome, and I think your Dad may--

JOHN

So that’s what you’ve been doing this whole time, isn’t it? You’ve been studying him.

SAVANNAH

No, John, that’s not true--

JOHN

I’ve lived with him my whole life, okay? I’ve put up with him my whole life. I know he’s not normal. You think I need you to tell me he’s not normal?

She grabs at his hand, but he rips it from her, then turns and walks away.

SAVANNAH

John, wait! John!

49       
EXT. PARKING AREA
-- DAY

Randy sits on the back of his truck with a cooler full of beer. He sees John stalk back towards the house.

RANDY

Leaving so soon, big guy?

John just keeps walking, in no mood to chat. Randy stands up, a little bit drunk.

RANDY

You need to relax, my friend.

Here, have a beer, join the party.

(tosses John a beer)

Incoming.

The can just hits John on the chest, drops to the ground. He glares at Randy, who finds it funny even though he probably shouldn’t.

Then Randy glances past him, sees Savannah emerge from the dunes, distressed and upset.

RANDY

Whoa, what happened to her?

JOHN

Just get out of my way.

RANDY

Ho, slow down, tough guy. Let me make sure she’s okay...

JOHN

And then what? What are you gonna do if she’s not?

(off his silence)

Get out of my way. I’m not gonna ask you again.

John tries to walk through him, but Randy doesn’t budge. John takes a deep breath -- then walks around Randy -- but Randy steps in front of him.

So John tries to step around him --

-- and Randy makes the mistake of pushing him back with one hand.

So John snaps. He snatches his hand, yanks it behind Randy’s back, gives him a quick, debilitating shot to the solar plexis.

Susan’s boyfriend Jerry jumps off the truck and charges at John, but one quick right jab sends him straight into the sand too.

Then there’s a voice from behind -- HEY! -- and then a hand on John’s shoulder -- and John reflexively swings his elbow up -- causing a nose to audibly CRUNCH.

John turns to find Tim, already sunk to his knees, his nose already a bloody mess. It’s all over in a few seconds.

Savannah hurries up, takes in all three guys, crumpled over and in pain. She looks up at John, aghast.

SAVANNAH

What’d you do?

John looks back at her. Regret already flashes on his face. But there’s nothing he can say. So --

50       
EXT. ROAD
-- DUSK

John tromps down the side of the road. Headlights from the occasional car illuminate him as they pass by.

But this time, none stop for him. John walks home, alone.

51A       
EXT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE

Once again, Mr. Tyree’s office light is the only one on.

51       
INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- NIGHT

John shuts the front door behind him.

The door to his father’s office is cracked. John walks over, thinks about pushing it open... but decides against it. Too much to deal with. He continues on to his bedroom.

52       
EXT. SAVANNAH’S BEACH HOUSE
-- THE NEXT DAY

John KNOCKS on the door, but there’s no response. The driveway is empty, the lights inside are all out. He KNOCKS AGAIN, knowing it’s no use...

VOICE FROM BEHIND

I’m not sure if she’s left yet.

He turns to see Tim next door, taking the garbage out. He has a serious shiner and his nose has been set.

TIM

She normally says goodbye before she goes back, but--

JOHN

(noticing his face)

Jesus.

Tim waves him off, gingerly touches his nose.

TIM

When this thing comes off I’m gonna look so tough, you have no idea.

JOHN

Tim... I swear, I didn’t realize it was you back there--

TIM

It’s my fault. I don’t know what I was thinking, sneaking up behind an angry Green Beret like that.

John just focuses back on Savannah’s house -- feels too guilty to look him in the eye.

JOHN

If you see her... will you give her a message for me?

TIM

Sure. Wanna write it down?

He pulls a pen out of his pocket and a tossed away phone bill from the top of the garbage, hands them to John.

Tim heads over to dump the trash out, gives John some privacy. John writes something down. It doesn’t take long. Then he folds the paper and as he holds it out to Tim --

53       
INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

Mr. Tyree pulls two trays of lasagna out of the oven. John walks in, nods hello to his Dad.

MR. TYREE

I didn’t know if anybody else might be coming, so I made double.

John glances at the two trays, surprised at the divergence from the norm.

JOHN

Okay. I’ll set the table.

MR. TYREE

Already did.

John walks into the dining room. It’s been set for three.

John pauses. Then removes one of the settings. Mr. Tyree watches him from the kitchen, but doesn’t say anything.

54       
INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUS
E
-- DINING ROOM -- LATER

One of the lasagna trays is empty, the other sits untouched. John’s just pushing his food around, watching his Dad.

JOHN

Guess you’re gonna have some leftovers for once.

Mr. Tyree shrugs. Considers the untouched lasagna.

MR. TYREE

I’ll freeze that. Have it next Sunday.

He nods to himself, satisfied with his plan. Then goes back to his dinner. John keeps watching him...

...until something out the window catches his attention.

There’s Savannah, getting out of her car in their driveway. John’s out of his chair and out the door before Mr. Tyree even has a chance to look up.

55       
EXT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

John hurries out to greet Savannah.

SAVANNAH

Got your note.

She holds it up. We still can’t see what it says.

SAVANNAH

Short and to the point. I like that.

JOHN

Listen... I’m really sorry--

SAVANNAH

I’m the one who needs to apologize.

John glances at the house. Mr. Tyree quickly turns back to his dinner. John SIGHS.

JOHN

I’ve been watching him today...

SAVANNAH

John. Really. I’m not a doctor. I have no idea what I’m talking about.

She turns his head away from his Dad, back towards her.

SAVANNAH

I’m headed back to school, so I just wanted to see if--

John kisses her, interrupting. Finally he pulls away.

JOHN

I made you a promise, didn’t I?

Savannah grins, pulls a sealed envelope out of her purse.

SAVANNAH

Well you wrote your first letter to me. So I wrote my first one to you.

John takes it, starts to open it. Savannah stops him.

SAVANNAH

Don’t read it till I’m gone, okay?

John nods. Tucks the note carefully in his back pocket. Then he takes Savannah by the hand and pulls her towards the house.

JOHN

Come have some lasagna. My Dad made extra for you.

SAVANNAH

I can’t stay long.

John looks back at her. Smiles sadly.

JOHN

I know.

MONTAGE OF IMAGES
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56       
INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

Mr. Tyree, John, and Savannah sit down to eat, together.

SAVANNAH’S VOICE

Dear John...

57       
EXT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

John and Savannah make out like teenagers.

SAVANNAH’S VOICE

Two weeks together. That’s all it took.

58       
INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

Mr. Tyree is watching John -- who’s watching Savannah -- who’s driving away.