written by Luke Baxter
INT. CHAPEL – FUNERAL
JACK (30s) sits in a pew, surrounded by fellow MOURNERS.
Everyone is dressed elegantly. They all wear BLACK.
JACK, V.O.
I miss you.
A PREACHER is giving a sermon from the pulpit.
JACK, V.O. (CONT’D)
Today, I was reminded of Javier’s funeral, and it made me think of you.
A man, JAVIER, smiles from photos, playing on a slideshow at the front of the church.
JACK, V.O. (CONT’D)
I’ll never forget that day. How great you were to me.
DEEDEE (30s), sitting beside Jack, squeezes his hand and smiles at him. He squeezes her hand back.
JACK, V.O. (CONT’D)
We got him a white coffin.
REVEAL: WHITE COFFIN. CLOSED.
JACK, V.O. (CONT’D)
Nothing fancy. Simple. I would have gotten him something a little more fancy, but funerals are supposed to be for the dead, not the living.
(beat)
Just a simple, white coffin.
EXT. CEMETERY – CLOUDY
Jack and Deedee are walking up a grassy hill, towards Javier’s coffin, about to be buried. It’s very windy.
DEEDEE
God, it’s so cold.
JACK
Yeah.
DEEDEE
Do you think we picked out the right coffin?
JACK
I don’t know. Why?
DEEDEE
The coffin you pick out for someone’s important.
JACK
It is?
DEEDEE
Yeah.
JACK
I mean, it’s going in the ground.
DEEDEE
Well, yeah, but –
JACK
And it’s not like they’ll know.
DEEDEE
Listen, Jack –
JACK
The paint’s gonna chip away, the wood’s gonna decompose –
DEEDEE
Okay, hold on –
JACK
It doesn’t matter what fucking coffin we got him. It’s just a fucking box, okay?
Deedee stops walking.
DEEDEE
Wow.
JACK
Look, I –
DEEDEE
Just shut the fuck up, Jack, okay?
JACK
I’m sorry!
DEEDEE
I mean, are you trying to be insensitive, or – ?
LEE
I’m sorry, okay?
Look, I’m sorry, okay?
Look, I – I don’t know!
DEEDEE (CONT’D)
– are you just a real natural at it?
DEEDEE (CONT’D)
You don’t know what?
JACK
I don’t know if we got him the right coffin! It’s a coffin.
DEEDEE
Yes, it’s a fucking coffin. I know that.
JACK
Don’t be a bitch.
Jack turns around and starts walking up the hill again.
Deedee follows.
DEEDEE
Wow, what’s wrong with you?
JACK
I’m fine.
DEEDEE
Sure you are.
JACK
I am. I’m fine. I –
(deep breath, nicer)
Good service.
DEEDEE
Yeah.
JACK
It’s cold.
DEEDEE
(sigh) Yeah, it is.
They continue to walk in silence up the hill, hugging their jackets to their bodies.
LATER — Deedee and Jack reach the coffin. It’s being suspended over a rectangular HOLE in the ground. Ten or so MOURNERS stand around it, with a PRIEST in the middle of everyone.
PRIEST
Today, we are remembering Javier. The Lord’s love –
The priest rambles on, as Jack looks around at all the fellow mourners. Everyone is dressed in black, somber, and looking to the ground.
Then, he looks down at the now-open coffin.
REVEAL: JAVIER IN COFFIN
Jack swallows. Tears fill his eyes. He blinks. Deedee puts an arm around him. He shakes her off and wipes his eyes, looking forward. His breathing begins to quicken.
DEEDEE
(whispered)
Jack –
SERIES OF SHOTS:
> A CHIP in the paint of the coffin
> Javier’s FACE. His SKIN CELLS are collecting.
> His lips are GLUED TOGETHER.
> The coffin lies, SUSPENDED, over the hole.
JACK
Oh my God.
Jack breaks away from the burial and goes back down the hill. Deedee follows. The other mourners glance at each other, worried. The priest continues talking.
EXT. CEMETERY – GRASSY HILL
Jack is running down the hill, Deedee following behind him.
DEEDEE
Jack! Wait up, okay? God, slow down.
Jack reaches the bottom of the hill. He looks around, confused. He is crying. Deedee reaches the bottom of the hill but keeps her distance.
DEEDEE (CONT’D)
Jack?
JACK
We should have gotten him a better box.
DEEDEE
Jack –
JACK
We should have gotten him a better box.
DEEDEE
It’s a good box.
JACK
No “box” is good.
DEEDEE
Okay.
JACK
He’s in a box…
DEEDEE
Jack –
JACK
He’s in a box!
DEEDEE
(moving toward Jack)
Hey, come here.
JACK
(moving away)
No.
DEEDEE
(stopping)
Okay. I’m not gonna move any closer.
JACK
(after a beat)
I’m sorry, I – I don’t know why, I –
DEEDEE
Your friend just died, sweetie.
JACK
Yes.
DEEDEE
Your friend just died.
JACK
Yes. That happened.
DEEDEE
It’s really cold, do you want to go inside somewhere?
JACK
No. No.
DEEDEE
How can I help, Jack?
JACK
You’re doing fine.
(beat)
I smell smoke. Someone must be having a bonfire, or something.
DEEDEE
Okay, sure. Focus on that.
Jack closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
DEEDEE (CONT’D)
(i.e. Breathing)
Good.
JACK
(after a beat, calmer)
He’s in a box.
Deedee holds out her arms. Jack runs to her and gives her a hug. He breaks down, crying.
DEEDEE
It’s okay… Shh…
She holds him, as he cries.
JACK, V.O.
I’ll never forget that.
SHARP CUT:
INT. FUNERAL HALL
The sounds of the crying and wind are silenced, replaced by Jack’s singular sniffling. He is looking down at someone in a coffin (hidden), speaking to them.
JACK
How great you were to me. I hope you like your, uh, “box”. It was important to me that we get you something a little better than Javier’s. I don’t know, I just… I love you, sweetheart. And I miss you already.
Jack leans down and kisses the person in the coffin. He sniffs.
He walks away. As he walks away –
REVEAL: DEEDEE IN COFFIN
CUT TO BLACK
TITLE CARD: “I’M FINE”
INT. CHAPEL – FUNERAL
Jack sits in another, smaller chapel. Mourners sit around him, all in black. Someone poorly plays “Amazing Grace” on the piano.
REVEAL: BROWN COFFIN. CLOSED.
“Amazing Grace” clunkily drags on.
LATER — A preacher speaks of the Lord’s Great Love from the pulpit.
LATER — Deedee’s MOTHER and FATHER stand at the doors of the church, shaking the hands of people passing by.
Jack waits in line to give his condolences.
MOURNER
If you need anything, just ask. Whatever you need.
MOTHER
Thank you.
MOURNER
Sure.
The mourner walks away, and Jack walks up to the mother and father.
MOTHER
(hugging Jack)
Oh there you are, kiddo. We were wondering where you’ve been.
JACK
Well I’ve been here. Nice service.
MOTHER
Yes it was.
FATHER
Yeah.
MOTHER
How about you stand next to us, Jack?
JACK
No, that’s okay.
MOTHER
(firm look)
Jack.
JACK
(after a beat)
Yeah, okay.
FATHER
She always gets her way.
The mother and father chuckle and the mother hits the father on the shoulder playfully. Jack smiles. They begin to greet more mourners, shaking hands, Jack now included.
INT. PUB – NIGHT – LATER
Jack sits in a nearly-empty pub, drinking a BEER alone.
Indistinct MUSIC plays in the background. The occasional clatter of BEER GLASSES CLINKING.
He takes a swig, finishes his drink. He asks the bartender for another.
INT. NICE HOUSE – WAKE – EARLIER
Jack stands – red solo cup in his hand – amongst the mourners. He watches them pass by. Music plays quietly in the background.
Jack takes a drink from his red solo cup. He eyes a vegetable tray.
LATER — Jack is eating a carrot from the vegetable tray.
MIKE (30s) walks up to him, holding out his hand for a shake.
MIKE
Hey buddy.
JACK
Hi, how are ya?
MIKE
Good, good. How are you?
JACK
I’m –
MIKE
Oh man, that’s a dumb question. Sorry.
JACK
– fine.
No, that’s alright, I asked it first.
MIKE
Okay.
(beat)
Well, how are ya?
JACK
Good.
MIKE
Good.
JACK
Yeah.
MIKE
She was a special lady.
JACK
Yeah, she was.
Awkward silence.
MIKE
Well hey, I just wanted to say goodbye before I took off –
JACK
Oh you’re taking off?
MIKE (CONT’D)
– I have to –
Yeah, I have to put the baby to sleep.
JACK
Okay.
MIKE
Yeah, she’s three months old now. I can’t believe it, she –
Jack patiently waits, as Mike talks about his kid. He nods along.
INT. PUB – NIGHT
Jack is nearly alone in the bar, drinking his beer. The bartender stacks some chairs in the background. It is almost closing time. The indistinct music continues to play.
INT. NICE HOUSE – WAKE
Jack is holding Deedee’s mother, as she CRIES. He is expressionless.
JACK
(stroking hair)
Shh…
LATER — Jack is shoving RED SOLO CUPS and PAPER PLATES into a TRASH BAG, cleaning up. The music has silenced, and the majority of people have left. Jack looks at one of the cups for a second and picks it up. He smells it. And then he drinks what’s in the cup.
FATHER
Thanks for helping, Jack.
JACK
(a little buzzed)
Yeah, sure. It shouldn’t take much longer. Is there anything else I can do for you?
FATHER
No, go home. Are you good to drive?
JACK
Yeah.
FATHER
Great.
JACK
Yeah.
The father pats Jack on the shoulder. Suddenly, TEARS fill his eyes. He wipes his eyes and stands up straight.
FATHER
Sorry.
JACK
No, of course. Um… Do you need anything, too, or…?
FATHER
No, no, it’s just… I just kinda wish I could… you know…
JACK
Trade places with her?
FATHER
(after a beat)
I don’t know…
Awkward silence. Jack is expressionless.
FATHER (CONT’D)
How are you doing, are you okay?
JACK
Yeah, I’m okay.
(beat)
I think I’m gonna take off. I, uh… Yeah.
FATHER
Yeah, okay. Thanks for coming.
JACK
Sure.
Deedee’s father gives Jack a hug. Jack looks uncomfortable.
Awkward pat on the back.
Jack hands the garbage bag to Deedee’s father and walks away.
The father begins to CRY.
Then, he sniffs, stands up straight, and begins stuffing more cups and plates into the trash bag.
INT. PUB – NIGHT
Jack is drinking in the bar. He is alone, except for one
OTHER GUY (40s). They sit on opposite sides of the bar.
BARTENDER
Hey guys, we’re closing up.
BAR GUY
Okay, thanks John. How’s the new baby?
BARTENDER
She’s beautiful.
The bartender takes out a cell phone and shows a picture to the other guy at the bar. Jack watches them with disdain, drunk.
BAR GUY
Wow, she really is.
BARTENDER
Yeah. Thanks.
BAR GUY (CONT’D)
Congratulations.
The other bar guy pulls out some cash and counts it out. He throws it on the counter.
BAR GUY (CONT’D)
Have a good one.
BARTENDER
Yeah, you too.
The bartender goes back to stacking chairs. The other guy finishes up his beer in one Great Chug and then catches Jack looking at him. Uncomfortable, he sets his beer down, grabs his jacket, and starts to head out.
JACK
(slurred)
Why the fuck were you looking at me?
BAR GUY
I’m sorry?
JACK
(after a beat, mumbled)
Never mind.
The bar guy leaves, keeping an eye on Jack as he does. Jack finishes his beer, grabs his jacket, and angrily leaves, without paying.
INT. JACK’S BEDROOM – PITCH BLACK
Everything is in shadows. Jack walks into his bedroom and throws his jacket on the floor. He is definitely drunk.
He collapses onto his bed with a moan.
LATER — It is MORNING.
Jack opens his eyes, yawns. Then, he silently looks at the
EMPTY SPACE on the bed next to him. He takes a deep breath.
Then, very suddenly, he begins to POUND HIS SHEETS, attacking them fiercely. He begins to CRY. He clutches the sheets and presses them to his face.
He is SOBBING…
INT. SUPERMARKET – A FEW HOURS LATER
Jack, unshaven and unkempt, is picking out some CARROTS from the grocery store. Suddenly, MIKE calls out to him from the other side of the vegetable section.
MIKE
(walking over)
Hey! Jack!
JACK
(less than thrilled)
Oh. Hey.
MIKE
How are you?
JACK
I’m fine. How are you?
MIKE
Good, good.
JACK
That’s good.
Awkward silence.
MIKE
Well, hey, I should probably get back to it.
JACK
Yeah. Okay. Good seeing you.
MIKE
You too, buddy. Catcha later!
JACK
Yeah, you too.
Mike walks away.
Jack looks down at the carrots, expressionless. He picks up a bundle with a sigh. Suddenly, his breathing begins to quicken. He CLENCHES THE CARROTS tightly in his fist.
Something is wrong.
He tosses the carrots into his cart and walks away.
EXT. GROCERY STORE – DAY
Jack walks out of the store, bent over, hands on his knees.
He is breathing quickly. He closes his eyes and takes a slow, deep breath…
Silence, except for the sound of a firetruck passing in the background.
FLASHBACK:
EXT. CEMETERY
Deedee is trying to calm Jack down after Javier’s funeral.
Jack takes a deep breath with his eyes closed…
PRESENT MOMENT:
Jack opens his eyes. His breathing has slowed. He straightens up, looking around. He is calm.
Jack walks back into the grocery store.
CUT TO BLACK
Luke Baxter is a spitfire actor and Cinema major at San Francisco State University. He has appeared on the show Chatroom and writes screenplays that will one day be advertised so much, that you’ll get sick of hearing the name Luke Baxter.
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