MICHAEL (Mike) BROOKS (30's), tired, dark rings under his
eyes, sits on a visitor's chair; in front of him a DOCTOR
(50's) sits behind his desk.
Mike thinks deeply, slowly scratches his jaw...
A heavy silence lasts for a moment...
MIKE
I'm... I'm not sure what I'm supposed
to do...
DOCTOR
There isn't much you can do...
MIKE
I mean, why are you laying it on
me?... What?...
DOCTOR
Mr Brooks, nowadays, with the help of
machines, a man can be kept alive
almost indefinitely... We can put a
patient in an induced coma, keep him
there for years... The only question
is: how long do we do it?...
MIKE
Why does it have to be my
decision?... I mean, I can't...
You're telling me there's no cure,
right?..
DOCTOR
None that modern science knows of...
Your father's not gonna be cured, and
he won't get any better... He cannot
eat on his own, and pretty soon he
won't be able to breathe on his
own... So the question is: does it
make sense to keep him alive?
MIKE
Why do you have to involve me in
this?... I mean, doesn't the
hospital?... Or the State?...
DOCTOR
We need to have your blessing to
unplug him.
MIKE
My "blessing"?...
DOCTOR
Your green light, if you prefer. You
represent your family.
MIKE
I dunno... I'll have to see with
them... We have to...
DOCTOR
Your mother and sister said they will
revert to your decision...
Mike sighs loudly, looks away in the distance.
MIKE
Is there any other sensible option
here, doctor?...
The doctor shakes his head slowly...
DANIEL (Danny) BROOKS (70's, slim, still handsome for his
age) lies unconscious on a bed, breathing through an oxygen
mask, an IV line going out of his arm.
Mike stands close to him, contemplates his face...
Then he slowly gives him a kiss on the forehead...
With misty eyes, he looks at the doctor, and nods...
The doctor nods back at him, then goes on his way...
A PRIEST recites his final blessings...
Mike, his mom (SONIA, late 60's, elegant woman) and his
sister (NELL, 30's, sweet face) stand solemnly, with a small
group of close family and friends.
The coffin is laid to earth...
Mike wears dark glasses, conveniently masking his teary
eyes...
Nell sobs quietly, wipes her tears with a handkerchief...
Sonia gazes at the coffin with a mortified frown, like she's
building up an implosive rage. She doesn't shed a tear...
The coffin is covered with earth...
Mike and Nell hug their mom who remains expressionless...
Sonia does the dishes, Mike stands nearby.
MIKE
Let me do that for you, mom... Why
don't you get some rest?
SONIA
It's OK... I'm almost done...
She keeps washing the dishes, with a somber face.
Mike gazes at her, not knowing what to do or say...
5 LIVING ROOM - LATER5
They sit on two opposite couches. Mike sips a cup of tea,
Sonia hasn't touched hers.
MIKE
You wanna travel somewhere?... Europe
or something?...
SONIA
Absolutely not!... I'm so happy the
condolences are over, so I can
finally have some quiet now...
MIKE
What are you gonna do?
SONIA
Nothing... I just need to rest for a
while, you know... Just do nothing...
Sleep...
MIKE
Um... Yea... That sounds really
unhealthy...
(MORE)
MIKE (cont'd)
Why don't you go out, mom?... Go on a
trip or something, get some fresh
air, see some new faces... We gotta
put you out there, "on the market",
you know, find you a new husband!...
Sonia's frown doesn't flinch.
SONIA
Sorry Mike, I just... I don't feel
like laughing... I appreciate what
you're trying to do, but...
MIKE
Hey mom, come on...
SONIA
I think I just need some time alone,
Mike...
MIKE
Are you sure?... I took a few days
off from work, so I can stay over if
you want; help with the chores and
stuff...
SONIA
Thanks, but I really, really need
some time on my own... Please...
Mike gazes at her, worried...
Mike leaves his mom's house, heads for his...
He buckles his seatbelt, starts the engine, when his phone
rings...
He grabs it, the caller ID reads: "COUSIN TONY".
He starts the ignition, takes the call on the car
speakers...
MIKE
Tony, what's up?
TONY (O.S.)
Hey Mike! How are you doing?
MIKE
Good, not bad; and you?...
TONY (O.S.)
Good, good... Hey, am I catching you
at a bad time?... You have a
minute?...
MIKE
Yea, sure... What's on your mind?
TONY (O.S.)
Again, all my condolences for your
old man, you know how much I loved
the guy...
MIKE
Yeah, yeah, thanks... I saw you at
the funeral...
TONY (O.S.)
Yeah... Um... His Facebook account,
you kept it open, right?
MIKE
His what?...
TONY (O.S.)
His Facebook account?
MIKE
Um... Yea, yea, I... I posted the
eulogy there... I thought it was
practical for... You know...
Relatives abroad and all...
TONY (O.S.)
Yea, yea, sure... Um, listen... Don't
take this the wrong way but, could
you please avoid posting from this
account to my children's pages?
Mike is baffled.
MIKE
What?!...
TONY (O.S.)
Again, God rest his soul, but that's
kind of freaky, man, you gotta
admit... It's really weird...
MIKE
What are you talking about, man?
TONY (O.S.)
The comment on my daughter's page.
MIKE
What comment?
TONY (O.S.)
You know, Allison's graduation photo?
"Way to go, ace! Uncle Dan's so proud
of you!"?... Come on, man... That
even sounds like him. He used to call
her that... That's kind of creepy,
man, you gotta admit...
MIKE
Tony, I have no idea what you're
talking about!...
TONY (O.S.)
I'll send you a screenshot... Look,
maybe you were still accidentally
logged into your father's account
when you posted this?...
MIKE
No, no, I haven't posted anything of
the sort! I'd remember that!... I
didn't even know she graduated, for
Chrissake!... Congratulations by the
way...
TONY (O.S.)
Yea, thanks, but... I mean, I had to
re-explain to her that her great-
uncle had passed away, and that
someone was speaking on his behalf...
She was kind of freaked out, you
know...
MIKE
Well, didn't you show her the eulogy?
It's on the front page. That should
clear out any misunderstanding...
TONY (O.S.)
Well, no, I couldn't find it... You
know, at one point, I started to
wonder myself if...
Mike sighs painfully...
MIKE
Listen, Tony... I really don't know
what to tell you, man...
TONY (O.S.)
So it wasn't you?...
MIKE
No, it wasn't me.
TONY (O.S.)
Then maybe Nell?...
MIKE
Um... Yea, it was probably Nell...
I'll ask her... She was really
shaken, you know... I mean, we all
were...
TONY (O.S.)
Sorry, sorry again for stirring this
up... I understand, everyone has a
mourning process... Maybe that's your
own way of honoring him, and... And I
respect that, I do, but... You know,
at one point, I thought you were,
like, in denial or something...
MIKE
Oh I can assure you, there's
absolutely no denial in what we've
been through, Tony!... His last days
were excruciating... These last
years...
TONY (O.S.)
Yea, I can only imagine what...
MIKE
No, I'm not sure you can... I truly
hope, God forbid, you'll never go
through anything like that with your
own parents...
TONY (O.S.)
Um... I'm so... So... Sorry,
really... It was so stupid of me
to...
MIKE
No, no worries...
TONY (O.S.)
I just... Forget everything I said,
man... Just get well and we'll see
you soon. OK?...
MIKE
Yea, sure... See you soon, cous'...
TONY (O.S.)
Bye, take care...
They hang up; Mike remains all dubious...
Mike sits at his computer.
His father's account has been indeed active on Facebook!
There are recent "likes" and comments, among which the one
his cousin was telling him about, "Way to go, Ace!"...
He tries to log into his dad's account but gets a "wrong
password" error message.
He double-checks the password in a small notebook, re-enters
it, but still gets the same error message.
MIKE
What the Hell?!...
He grabs his phone...
Nell watches TV distractedly, comfortably plunged in her
couch, when her phone rings.
The caller ID shows "MIKE".
She turns off the TV, gets the call...
10 INTERCUT BETWEEN MIKE & NELL:10
MIKE
Hi sis!
NELL
Hey Mike...
MIKE
So... How're you holding up?
She sighs...
NELL
I'm OK, I guess... I think I've dried
out all my tears... At least, he
stopped suffering now...
MIKE
— ①
INT. HOSPITAL, DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY1
MICHAEL (Mike) BROOKS (30's), tired, dark rings under his
eyes, sits on a visitor's chair; in front of him a DOCTOR
(50's) sits behind his desk.
Mike thinks deeply, slowly scratches his jaw...
A heavy silence lasts for a moment...
MIKE
I'm... I'm not sure what I'm supposed
to do...
DOCTOR
There isn't much you can do...
MIKE
I mean, why are you laying it on
me?... What?...
DOCTOR
Mr Brooks, nowadays, with the help of
machines, a man can be kept alive
almost indefinitely... We can put a
patient in an induced coma, keep him
there for years... The only question
is: how long do we do it?...
MIKE
Why does it have to be my
decision?... I mean, I can't...
You're telling me there's no cure,
right?..
DOCTOR
None that modern science knows of...
Your father's not gonna be cured, and
he won't get any better... He cannot
eat on his own, and pretty soon he
won't be able to breathe on his
own... So the question is: does it
make sense to keep him alive?
MIKE
Why do you have to involve me in
this?... I mean, doesn't the
hospital?... Or the State?...
DOCTOR
We need to have your blessing to
unplug him.
MIKE
My "blessing"?...
DOCTOR
Your green light, if you prefer. You
represent your family.
MIKE
I dunno... I'll have to see with
them... We have to...
DOCTOR
Your mother and sister said they will
revert to your decision...
Mike sighs loudly, looks away in the distance.
MIKE
Is there any other sensible option
here, doctor?...
The doctor shakes his head slowly...
INT. HOSPITAL, PATIENT ROOM - DAY2
DANIEL (Danny) BROOKS (70's, slim, still handsome for his
age) lies unconscious on a bed, breathing through an oxygen
mask, an IV line going out of his arm.
Mike stands close to him, contemplates his face...
Then he slowly gives him a kiss on the forehead...
With misty eyes, he looks at the doctor, and nods...
The doctor nods back at him, then goes on his way...
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY3
A PRIEST recites his final blessings...
Mike, his mom (SONIA, late 60's, elegant woman) and his
sister (NELL, 30's, sweet face) stand solemnly, with a small
group of close family and friends.
The coffin is laid to earth...
Mike wears dark glasses, conveniently masking his teary
eyes...
Nell sobs quietly, wipes her tears with a handkerchief...
Sonia gazes at the coffin with a mortified frown, like she's
building up an implosive rage. She doesn't shed a tear...
The coffin is covered with earth...
Mike and Nell hug their mom who remains expressionless...
INT. BROOKS'S RESIDENCE - DAY4
Sonia does the dishes, Mike stands nearby.
MIKE
Let me do that for you, mom... Why
don't you get some rest?
SONIA
It's OK... I'm almost done...
She keeps washing the dishes, with a somber face.
Mike gazes at her, not knowing what to do or say...
5 LIVING ROOM - LATER5
They sit on two opposite couches. Mike sips a cup of tea,
Sonia hasn't touched hers.
MIKE
You wanna travel somewhere?... Europe
or something?...
SONIA
Absolutely not!... I'm so happy the
condolences are over, so I can
finally have some quiet now...
MIKE
What are you gonna do?
SONIA
Nothing... I just need to rest for a
while, you know... Just do nothing...
Sleep...
MIKE
Um... Yea... That sounds really
unhealthy...
(MORE)
MIKE (cont'd)
Why don't you go out, mom?... Go on a
trip or something, get some fresh
air, see some new faces... We gotta
put you out there, "on the market",
you know, find you a new husband!...
Sonia's frown doesn't flinch.
SONIA
Sorry Mike, I just... I don't feel
like laughing... I appreciate what
you're trying to do, but...
MIKE
Hey mom, come on...
SONIA
I think I just need some time alone,
Mike...
MIKE
Are you sure?... I took a few days
off from work, so I can stay over if
you want; help with the chores and
stuff...
SONIA
Thanks, but I really, really need
some time on my own... Please...
Mike gazes at her, worried...
EXT. OUTSIDE BROOKS'S RESIDENCE - DAY6
Mike leaves his mom's house, heads for his...
INT./EXT. MIKE'S CAR - DAY7
He buckles his seatbelt, starts the engine, when his phone
rings...
He grabs it, the caller ID reads: "COUSIN TONY".
He starts the ignition, takes the call on the car
speakers...
MIKE
Tony, what's up?
TONY (O.S.)
Hey Mike! How are you doing?
MIKE
Good, not bad; and you?...
TONY (O.S.)
Good, good... Hey, am I catching you
at a bad time?... You have a
minute?...
MIKE
Yea, sure... What's on your mind?
TONY (O.S.)
Again, all my condolences for your
old man, you know how much I loved
the guy...
MIKE
Yeah, yeah, thanks... I saw you at
the funeral...
TONY (O.S.)
Yeah... Um... His Facebook account,
you kept it open, right?
MIKE
His what?...
TONY (O.S.)
His Facebook account?
MIKE
Um... Yea, yea, I... I posted the
eulogy there... I thought it was
practical for... You know...
Relatives abroad and all...
TONY (O.S.)
Yea, yea, sure... Um, listen... Don't
take this the wrong way but, could
you please avoid posting from this
account to my children's pages?
Mike is baffled.
MIKE
What?!...
TONY (O.S.)
Again, God rest his soul, but that's
kind of freaky, man, you gotta
admit... It's really weird...
MIKE
What are you talking about, man?
TONY (O.S.)
The comment on my daughter's page.
MIKE
What comment?
TONY (O.S.)
You know, Allison's graduation photo?
"Way to go, ace! Uncle Dan's so proud
of you!"?... Come on, man... That
even sounds like him. He used to call
her that... That's kind of creepy,
man, you gotta admit...
MIKE
Tony, I have no idea what you're
talking about!...
TONY (O.S.)
I'll send you a screenshot... Look,
maybe you were still accidentally
logged into your father's account
when you posted this?...
MIKE
No, no, I haven't posted anything of
the sort! I'd remember that!... I
didn't even know she graduated, for
Chrissake!... Congratulations by the
way...
TONY (O.S.)
Yea, thanks, but... I mean, I had to
re-explain to her that her great-
uncle had passed away, and that
someone was speaking on his behalf...
She was kind of freaked out, you
know...
MIKE
Well, didn't you show her the eulogy?
It's on the front page. That should
clear out any misunderstanding...
TONY (O.S.)
Well, no, I couldn't find it... You
know, at one point, I started to
wonder myself if...
Mike sighs painfully...
MIKE
Listen, Tony... I really don't know
what to tell you, man...
TONY (O.S.)
So it wasn't you?...
MIKE
No, it wasn't me.
TONY (O.S.)
Then maybe Nell?...
MIKE
Um... Yea, it was probably Nell...
I'll ask her... She was really
shaken, you know... I mean, we all
were...
TONY (O.S.)
Sorry, sorry again for stirring this
up... I understand, everyone has a
mourning process... Maybe that's your
own way of honoring him, and... And I
respect that, I do, but... You know,
at one point, I thought you were,
like, in denial or something...
MIKE
Oh I can assure you, there's
absolutely no denial in what we've
been through, Tony!... His last days
were excruciating... These last
years...
TONY (O.S.)
Yea, I can only imagine what...
MIKE
No, I'm not sure you can... I truly
hope, God forbid, you'll never go
through anything like that with your
own parents...
TONY (O.S.)
Um... I'm so... So... Sorry,
really... It was so stupid of me
to...
MIKE
No, no worries...
TONY (O.S.)
I just... Forget everything I said,
man... Just get well and we'll see
you soon. OK?...
MIKE
Yea, sure... See you soon, cous'...
TONY (O.S.)
Bye, take care...
They hang up; Mike remains all dubious...
INT. MIKE'S HOME - DAY8
Mike sits at his computer.
His father's account has been indeed active on Facebook!
There are recent "likes" and comments, among which the one
his cousin was telling him about, "Way to go, Ace!"...
He tries to log into his dad's account but gets a "wrong
password" error message.
He double-checks the password in a small notebook, re-enters
it, but still gets the same error message.
MIKE
What the Hell?!...
He grabs his phone...
INT. NELL'S HOME - DAY9
Nell watches TV distractedly, comfortably plunged in her
couch, when her phone rings.
The caller ID shows "MIKE".
She turns off the TV, gets the call...
10 INTERCUT BETWEEN MIKE & NELL:10
MIKE
Hi sis!
NELL
Hey Mike...
MIKE
So... How're you holding up?
She sighs...
NELL
I'm OK, I guess... I think I've dried
out all my tears... At least, he
stopped suffering now...
MIKE