addie's gift

7/28/2019 Addie's Gift

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ADDIE'S GIFT

by

Michael Stucky

[email protected]


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Fade In:

INT. RETIREMENT HOME - VISITORS LOBBY - DAY

Four year old ADDIE fidgets in a chair while her seven yearold brother SCOTT sits in the next chair, incessantly flippingthrough channels with the lobby TV's remote.

SCOTTYou like that?

(changes the channel)Or that?(changes it again)

Or that?

Their mother PAM arrives and takes the remote from Scott.

PAMScott. Take a break.

Pam shakes her head at Scott then turns to the TV.

HER POV

On the TV, a MATRONLY WOMAN interviews a NOVELIST.

MATRONSo then you're saying our stories --they help define us?

NOVELISTMore to the point, I believe that itis our stories that make us human.

The Matron smiles, nods knowingly.

BACK TO SCENE

Addie yawns, can barely keep her eyes open.

ADDIECan we go?

Just then an ORDERLY comes their way pushing a wheelchair inwhich sits Pam's father TOM. Pam pulls her children closefor a few whispered instructions.

PAM

Okay you two, Grandpa Tom is cominghome with us for a little while.You have to promise me, you'll behave.

Scott rolls his eyes and groans. Curious, Addie stares ather grandfather sitting stiffly in the wheelchair and reachesout to gingerly touch his arm.

ADDIEMom, is Grandpa -- frozen?


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Pam takes Addie's hand.

PAMNo Baby. Grandpa had a stroke andhe, he can't talk right now.

SCOTTIs that why we have to keep him?

Scott touches Tom's arm and gets no response.

SCOTTI think he is frozen

(beat)Like a popsicle.

PAMThat's enough young man.

Pam squats in front of her silent father.

PAMI'm sorry Dad.

(glances toward kids)They're too young to -- you know.

Pam stands, grasps the wheelchair's handles, turns it aroundand heads toward the lobby's exit with both children in tow.

INT. PAM'S HOME - KITCHEN - DAY

Pam flips pancakes on an electric griddle while talking on aphone held, shoulder to ear.

PAMI don't know for how long he'll bewith us, Louis. I'm talking to theinsurance people on Monday but we'lljust have to see, I guess.

(responds to question)Baby sit? You're on. I'm sure I'llneed a break by this weekend.

Pam hangs up and calls her family to breakfast.

THE HALLWAY

PAM

Who wants pancakes?

She gets no response and goes looking for her kids.

THE FAMILY ROOM

She finds Scott playing video games. SKIPPER the family doglies next to Scott watching him play games.


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PAMScott, breakfast is ready.

SCOTT(still playing)

Okay.

PAMWhere's Addie?

Scott shrugs and keeps playing.

PAMOkay, but if you don't come soon,I'm giving your pancakes to Skipper.

Skipper's ears perk up.

SCOTT(huffs)

Okay, I'm coming.

THE HALLWAY

Pam marches Scott toward breakfast and pauses at the doorwayto the guest room. Peering in, Pam watches quietly as GrandpaTom, with trembling hands, closes little Addie's fingersaround the gilded handle of an old magnifying glass.

Addie smiles up at Tom. Tom rests his hands and is motionlessonce again. Pam and Addie's eyes meet and Pam nods for Addieto come out of the room. She does. Pam picks up Addie andexamines the gift her father has given her daughter.

PAMDid Grandpa give you the magnifyingglass Baby?

ADDIENo, it's a Story Glass Mommy, not a'magifying' glass.

PAMStory Glass?

(beat, shrugs)Come on Baby we got pancakes waiting.

INT. THE KITCHEN SINK (SHORT TIME LATER) - DAY

Pam wipes a plate dry and sets it in a drain board and thennotices something through the window over the sink.

PAM'S POV

EXT. THE BACK YARD - DAY

Little Addie plays with Skipper. She peers through her StoryGlass at the side of the dog's head and giggles.


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4.

BACK TO SCENE

EXT. KITCHEN WINDOW - DAY

Pam stares out the window with a curious look on her face.

INT. KITCHEN TABLE (SHORT TIME LATER) - DAY

Pam sits at the kitchen table reading from the newspaper.She pauses and slowly turns around to find Addie standing

behind her holding the magnifying glass to Pam's head andlooking concerned.

PAMWhat are you doing Addie?

ADDIEWhy are all your stories sad, Mommy?

PAMStop it Addie or I'm putting thatthing away. Do you hear me?

Addie sulks out of the room. Pam shakes her head.

INT. THE GUEST ROOM - NIGHT

Pam finishes unpacking her father's suitcase and finds aframed photograph which she studies with a growing smile.

PAMOh I remember this. This was on thelake. What was I . . . Addie's age?

PAM'S POV

The photo shows Pam, as a little girl, sitting together withher young mother SUZANNE in a canoe on the lake.

BACK TO SCENE

PAM(touches photo)

Mom was so pretty.

Pam sets the photo on a dresser, turns and meets Tom's stoicgaze. She bends down.

PAM(looks into his eyes)I miss her too.

Pam takes hold of his chair and pushes Tom out into the --

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

PAMLet's get you cleaned up for bed.


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Pushing Tom down the hall, Pam glances over into the --

INT. FAMILY ROOM - NIGHT

Where Scott sits playing video games while Addie kneels behindhim holding the magnifying glass to the back of his head.

PAM(quietly scolding)

Addie.

Scott turns back and growls, pushes Addie away with one arm.

SCOTTStop that. Mom, she's bugging mewith that stupid thing again.

PAMWhat have I told you about that Addie?

ADDIE(of Scott)

His stories are all stupid anyway.

Pam takes the magnifying glass away from Addie.

ADDIEMom!

PAMYou'll get this back when you canlearn to act sensible, young lady.

ADDIEI don't want to be says-bull.

Pam points up the hall with magnifying glass in hand.

PAMRoom.

ADDIEBut . . .

PAMGo.

INT. THE GUEST ROOM (SHORT TIME LATER) - NIGHT

Pam wheels Tom back into his room, parks his wheelchair andturns around to set the magnifying glass on top of thedresser. But she hesitates, holds the glass up, looks at itand then glances back at her father.

She shrugs and slowly swings the magnifying glass to theside of Tom's head where she moves it's lens into focus.Pam chuckles at herself and then something happens.


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PAM'S POV

The Story Glass fills with a strange swirling image thatsoon reveals a memory from Tom's past.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE - EXT. SUNLIT CORNFIELD - DAY (1920'S)

TOM'S POV (AS A SMALL CHILD)

Many years past, Tom's youthful mother ADDELINA bends down

and picks us up to hold us close and point out across thefield to where a young man approaches in the hot sun.

ADDELINALook Tommy; who's that? Is thatDaddy?

Pudgy little hands clap in front of us and we GIGGLE O.S.

ADDELINAIt is Daddy, isn't it, Tommy?

BACK TO SCENE

Astonished, Pam pulls the magnifying glass quickly away. Shestares down at the glass instrument in disbelief.

PAM(softly)

No -- way.

Yet, she does it again even as she reminds herself . . .

PAMThis can't possibly be real.

Pam holds the Story Glass up to Tom's head again and --

PAM'S POV

The Story Glass pulls in another memory from long ago.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE - EXT. THE MOUNTAIN LAKE - DAY

TOM'S POV (AS A MAN)

It is a glorious summer afternoon. The mountain lake, almostpainfully perfect, shines in the sunlight. A sweet voice,

filled with love calls us to turn around.

SUZANNE O.S.Tom?

We turn and there they are. Beautiful, young SUZANNE andLITTLE PAM sit in the canoe, posing for a photo in the magicallight of golden hour. Little Pam waves.


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LITTLE PAMPicture Daddy!

We tilt down to peer through the camera's top viewfinder andsnap the shot. Suzanne protests.

SUZANNETom, are we going for that canoeride or are you taking pictures allafternoon?

We put the camera down and climb into the canoe, pick up apaddle and soon glide along the shore. Suzanne's hair, hatand blouse glow in the shimmering sunlight.

BACK TO SCENE - END OF FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

Pam slowly lowers the Story Glass and is startled to findlittle Addie watching her from the room's doorway. Addiesmiles knowingly.

ADDIEGrandpa has the best stories, doesn't

he Mom?

Pam nods, smiles, wipes tears away and can barely speak.

PAMYes --

Pam hugs her father and shares a smile with Addie.

PAMYes he does Baby. He really does.

Pam turns tearfully to Tom's ear.

PAM(whispers)

I love you Daddy.

Tom closes his eyes and leans into Pam's hug.

FADE OUT:

The End.

addie's gift

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