Scenes 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 - Official Première Script Release of "Better Left Unsaid" - A Feature Film to be Produced on Steemit!
100% of Steem Dollars Received Will Be Used in the Making of the Film
"Better Left Unsaid"
Story and Screenplay by @brian-rhodes
Original Music by @dan-atstarlite
Working Title by @jrcornel
Scenes 50, 51, 52, 53, 54
INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY WARD HAMILTON- NIGHT
Charlie's sitting on edge of a hospital gurney. The curtains
are pulled around his bed. He's despondent, staring at the
pill bottle in his hand. Contemplating.
The Doctor pulls back the curtain.
DOCTOR
Mr. Leonard.
Charlie looks up to see the Doctor standing at the foot of
his bed. He has a clip board in his hand.
DOCTOR (CONT'D)
Your vitals are as good as can be
expected.
(Beat)
I'm afraid there's not a whole lot we
can do now except to try to make you
as comfortable as possible. It's time
Mr. Leonard.
As the Doctor speaks a flat gurney being pushed by an orderly
passes behind him with what appears to be a body covered in a
shroud.
DOCTOR (CONT'D)
However, I'm going to give you a
blood transfusion to get your
hemoglobin up. And I'll prescribe a
higher dose hydromorphone tablet...
to use when the pain becomes
overwhelming.
(Beat)
Other than that, no alcohol. Just
relax. Get lots of rest.
(Beat)
Ever go fishing Mr. Leonard?
CHARLIE
(Perplexed)
As a kid?
DOCTOR
Well maybe now's the time to take it
up again.
They shake hands.
DOCTOR
The nurse will be with you shortly.
The Doctor exits. Charlie sits thinking.
INT. STOKERS' UPSTAIRS - DAY
Charlie's propped up in bed, listening to music over a
Bluetooth speaker from laptop, trying to relax. Concerned
Curtis has outed him to Boston. Doesn't know what to expect.
Suddenly... A knock at the door, anxiety kicks in, shuts the
music down, collects himself, opens the door.
BOSTON
Hi.
Charlie is thrown.
BOSTON (CONT'D)
Is... this a bad time?
CHARLIE
(Awkward)
No. I was expecting Jake! Come in!
Just listening to some tunes.
Boston enters, backpack over his shoulder.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
Grab a seat!
(Nervous)
Want a beer?
BOSTON
Sure.
Charlie heads into kitchen. Boston sits.
BOSTON (CONT'D)
You missed the show last night.
Fridge opens and closes.
CHARLIE (O.S.)
Yeah. Sorry.
Fizz of bottle lids popping. Charlie enters with two beers.
Hands one to Boston.
CHARLIE
A problem came up yesterday.
Thinking on his feet.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
I only got back a short time ago.
BOSTON
Yeah.
(Beat)
Jake saw you.
Charlie throws back some pills? His unsettledness shows.
BOSTON
What are they for?!
CHARLIE
Oh! Sorry. Just for some stomach
problems. Too much partying over the
years.
An uncomfortable silence.
BOSTON
Should you be drinking that.
Boston points to the beer in Charlie's hand.
CHARLIE
Probably not. Old habits are hard to
break.
Nonetheless, Charlie sets the beer down, he has to ask.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
So... how's Curtis?
BOSTON
Don't know. He never came home last
night.
Charlie's confused.
BOSTON (CONT'D)
We share a place.
Charlie has a sinking feeling.
BOSTON (CONT'D)
You know, Curtis doesn't think you're
really interested in setting up a
meeting for me with anyone.
Charlie's ready for the worst.
CHARLIE
Oh.
BOSTON
He thinks you were just trying to be
nice.
CHARLIE
What else did he say?
BOSTON
Nothing.
Charlie's relieved.
CHARLIE
Well, I still need to hear your
tunes... and if they're good, the
offer still stands.
Charlie sits on the bed, picks up his laptop.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
Name a tune. Any tune.
Boston thinks for a moment.
BOSTON
'Come Again'. Ian Thornley.
Charlie's fingers tap on keyboard, the song plays.
BOSTON
Awesome!
Boston listens, lightens up.
BOSTON (CONT'D)
Nice sound for a little box.
Charlie smiles. They listen.
BOSTON (CONT'D)
I'd have never figured you for a
'Thornley' tune.
Boston lights up.
BOSTON
Maybe we have the same taste in
music?
Charlie is flattered.
CHARLIE
Maybe. I've got a good song library.
Started putting it together... in 75,
when AC/DC was still just AC!
Charlie laughs at his own joke. Boston laughs, but doesn't
get it.
BOSTON
Before I was born.
It hits home with Charlie.
CHARLIE
Yeah. Before you were born...
Charlie tries to lighten up.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
Who else you follow?
Boston thinks for a moment.
BOSTON
Arcade Fire, Drake, Green Day, Adele,
Ed Sheeran, 1975...
Charlie's overwhelmed, only heard of a few.
CHARLIE
That's cool. So, maybe not as good a
library as I thought.
Charlie's confidence builds.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
You... always lived around here?
BOSTON
Born here.
CHARLIE
Never strayed far huh?
Boston shrugs.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
Family still around?
BOSTON
Don't know about my Dad. Never knew
him. Lived with my Mom and step dad
till five or six. That's when Mom
died. Moved out on him shortly after
that. We never got along.
CHARLIE
Sorry to hear that.
BOSTON
You married?
CHARLIE
Nah!
(Beat)
Being on the road took its toll.
BOSTON
Jake was saying you played the
Furnace way back.
CHARLIE
Did he?
Charlie reminisces.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
That's a long while ago.
Charlie hesitates realizing the age gap again.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
And what about you? Why music?
Boston thinks for a moment.
BOSTON
Helps me forget.
(Beat)
Let's me be me.
Guilt overtakes Charlie, choking up, holds it back.
BOSTON (CONT'D)
Hey, if you could be anywhere in the
world right now, where would it be?
Charlie needs to exit.
CHARLIE
Umm... the can! Hold that thought.
Charlie exits to the washroom. He composes himself.
CHARLIE (O.S.) (CONT'D)
What about you?
The toilet flushes. The tap flows and stops.
BOSTON
Massey Hall. On stage.
Charlie enters lit up.
BOSTON
You play Massey and you're with the
greats. Oscar Peterson, Gordon
Lightfoot, Rush, Tragically Hip...
Neil Young! What better crowd to be
in with?
Charlie gives him a devilish nod.
CHARLIE
I played Massey... once.
Boston is impressed.
BOSTON
Really?
Charlie nods.
CHARLIE
Lost in the Massey archives
somewhere. Like a lot of us.
(Beat)
Music changes. Audiences change. You
change.
(Beat)
It's tough to stay on top. Some do.
Some don't.
(Regretfully)
I didn't.
Boston tries to cheer him up.
BOSTON
(Perky)
There's always a comeback!
Charlie shakes his head, smiles weakly. Suddenly, Charlie
perks up.
CHARLIE
Hey! You ever been fishing?
CUT TO:
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
MUSIC OVER: Charlie riding along a country road on his
motorcycle, Boston sitting behind, two fishing poles sticking
out of a pannier, big smiles on their faces.
EXT. RIVER BANK - DAY
Boston and Charlie stand on the bank fishing.
CHARLIE
My Dad and I fished here when I was
half your age.
BOSTON
You lived in the Hammer?
CHARLIE
For a while. My Dad worked the mill.
Boston casts, poorly. Charlie smiles.
BOSTON
So, what did you catch?
CHARLIE
Nothing.
Boston's confused.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
No fish could live in it then. It was
polluted.
BOSTON
Then what was the point?
CHARLIE
To go fishing!
Boston chuckles.
BOSTON
What's this? Some sage grade wisdom
or something?
CHARLIE
You laugh? But just you wait.
BOSTON
I don't get it.
CHARLIE
You will.
Boston laughs again, casts poorly.
EXT. RIVER BANK - MONTAGE
MUSIC OVER: Shots of the two casting again and again enjoying
each other's company.