by Jamie Linden
No you don’t. You haven’t said a single bad word the entire time I’ve known you.
SAVANNAH
Well I think them. There’s a never-ending stream of cuss words going on up here.
JOHN
Oh yeah? What are you thinking right now?
SAVANNAH
I can’t say. But it’s filthy, I swear.
Savannah grins, looks him in the eye. They are very close now.
SAVANNAH
I have faults, John. I have plenty of them. You’ll see.
John steps even closer. Thunder RUMBLES in the distance.
JOHN
Hope so.
Savannah does not take her eyes off of him. Their faces are just inches apart. They are having a moment.
Then... she grabs his hand again.
SAVANNAH
C’mon.
35 INT/EXT. HALF-BUILT HOUSE -- DAY
The concrete slab is set and the wooden framework is mostly complete, but there’s not even a roof yet. Nevertheless, Savannah gives John the grand tour under the open night sky.
SAVANNAH
This is gonna be the boys room back here... and then -- oh, come here, I want to show you this.
(heading into another
‘room’)
The Mom is a great cook, so this is gonna be a huge kitchen, and there’s gonna be a separate pantry here and one of those marble islands here--
Right then, RAIN DROPS BEGIN TO FALL on the nonexistent marble island, light at first but getting heavier quickly. Savannah looks up at the open sky.
SAVANNAH
-- oh, and a roof up there.
They duck under a nearby overhang. John builds some makeshift seats with a few crates. Savannah studies him as he works.
SAVANNAH
Where’d you get your scar?
There’s a decent sized scar on one of his eyebrows. He reflexively brushes it with his hand.
JOHN
Knife fight. Five years ago. The guy was going for my eye.
SAVANNAH
Oh my god. That’s terrible.
JOHN
Why? He missed.
John helps her up on one of the crates.
SAVANNAH
Can I touch it?
John nods. She slowly runs her finger over his eyebrow.
SAVANNAH
The way people act around you -- the way they treated you at the restaurant. It’s like they’re scared of you.
JOHN
They’re not scared of me. They’re scared of who I used to be, maybe.
SAVANNAH
And who was that?
JOHN
Somebody different.
The rain begins to come down even harder.
SAVANNAH
When did you change? When you went into the army?
JOHN
Partly.
SAVANNAH
And the other part?
John looks away. Shrugs.
JOHN
Still working on the other part.
SAVANNAH
Well how much longer is it gonna take? Cause we got less than two weeks left here.
John doesn’t answer. Doesn’t want to think about that. Savannah steps closer to him. Looks him in the eye.
SAVANNAH
So you used to be tough. And maybe you still are. But you don’t scare me one bit, John.
JOHN
No? Well you scare me.
Then he kisses her. It starts small, but it builds into something much bigger. It becomes so intense that it’s a struggle to catch their breath.
JOHN
Jesus.
SAVANNAH
You shouldn’t... take the Lord’s...
name in...
(as he kisses her harder)
Oh Jesus.
The rain around them gets heavier and heavier. So do they. Savannah is conflicted -- half the time she’s in the moment, half the time she’s trying to take herself out of it.
SAVANNAH
John... John. Hold on -- John, it’s just... it’s too perfect. And if we do this... if we do this now, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to recover.
John hesitates, pulls back. Savannah cringes.
SAVANNAH
That makes no sense. I know it makes no sense, but--
JOHN
It’s okay, I understand. You don’t have to explain.
She looks up at him, looks into his eyes, looks at his scar.
SAVANNAH
That’s the thing. I feel like I don’t have to explain anything to you.
She kisses him, pulls him down beside her.
SAVANNAH
And that... that scares me.
They lay together, there on the crates, while the rain pelts the wooden frame around them.
35A EXT. DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON -- DAY
Savannah and John go somewhere interesting.
36 EXT. HALF-BUILT HOUSE -- DAY
The rain has stopped, the sun is out. Savannah arrives again, bright and early and ready to work.
A few other volunteers are already here. Savannah heads over to say hello -- and her mouth falls open.
There’s John, up in the rafters, fitting a beam into it’s frame. He grins at her, nods a silent hello.
37 EXT. BEACH -- IN THE OCEAN -- ANOTHER DAY
John holds his surfboard for an unsteady Savannah, teaching her how to balance on it.
A wave comes and John loses his grip. Savannah falls into the water, disappears below it.
John looks around, can’t find her. Then she suddenly pops up behind him, pushes him down under the surface.
38 EXT. BEACH -- SAME
Savannah’s friend Susan, her boyfriend Jerry (Yellow Shirt), and Randy watch warily on as Savannah and John splash in the water, laughing and kissing, completely unaware of the world around them.
39 INT/EXT. HALF-BUILT HOUSE -- ANOTHER DAY
The roof is being tar papered, the walls are being stuccoed. John is sealing the front kitchen ocean window into its frame when there’s a RASP on the glass. He looks up to find Savannah standing outside, grinning down at him.
John opens the window for the first time and pulls Savannah right through it into the house.
40 INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE -- DINING ROOM -- ANOTHER DAY
Three places have been set for once. Savannah, John, and Mr. Tyree eat their meatloaf in an easy silence.
41 INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE -- KITCHEN -- LATER
As Mr. Tyree carefully measures out the exact right amount of detergent, then begins to load the dishes into the sink --
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.
44 EXT. BEACH -- DAY
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 HOUSE -- 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