Reasons
[A man sits on a beige couch with a woman cuddled up under his arm. The two are watching television, whatever they are watching is almost inaudible although it does sound like a sporting event. The man and woman are recognizable as Dan and Maggie respectively – baby Brandon’s parents.]
[Each is comfortable clothes sweatpants a t-shirts and the windows around the room give the feel of night time as the dark blue hue leaks in even through the curtains.]
[The couple has some empty beer bottles in front of them on the coffee table.]
Maggie: I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.
[Dan shifts eyes off the television and onto Maggie without turning his head.]
Dan: About what?
[Maggie is silent for a moment, but does not turn to face him.]
Dan: What?
Maggie: You’re going to think I’m nuts.
Dan: I think you’re crazy for saying you want to talk about something and then not talking.
[She smiles at this comment and then shifts her head so she can make eye contact with him.]
Maggie: Promise me, you won’t get all gruff with me… I’m being honest with you here.
Dan: I promise, now tell me.
[She takes a deep breath and then begins.]
Maggie: Well, at first, I chalked it up to it just being a new environment for us and my hormones being out whack after having the baby… But I keep hearing and seeing glimpses of strange things and find things moved…
[Dan looks skeptically at Maggie with an eyebrow raised.]
Dan: So you think… We have ghosts?
Maggie: I know it sounds crazy, but I just can’t explain these things.
Dan: I can…
Maggie: Oh, you can, huh?
[Maggie is becoming agitated with his lack of concern, rising up a bit from her more comfortable, previous position.]
Dan: Yeah, your glimpses of whatever is the shadows and your eyes playing tricks on you, the sounds are outside noise or the house settling and you’re just forgetting where you leave things.
You’re paranoid because you’re in a new place and you have a wonderful family to worry about – it’s heightening all the things that would not previously be disconcerting.
[Maggie has eased herself back down because the explanation – in particular the last part – makes perfect sense. She could be overreacting because of her desire to protect Brandon.]
Maggie: Yeah, you’re probably right.
[And with that thought Maggie pushes herself up using Dan’s chest as her base.]
Maggie: I’m going to take a peak in on Brandon.
[Without turning from the television’s glare, Dan responds.]
Dan: Okay, cutie.
[Maggie finishes getting up at shuffles offscreen to the right. Her footsteps are audible as she climbs up the steps. As soon as she is out of sight, Dan leans forward grabbing his opened beer bottle and takes a swig.]
Dan[under his breath]: Ghosts.
[He rolls his eyes before leaning back onto the couch.]
Dan: C’mon!
[He says lowly, but with force at the game on television. He shakes his head again with s slight grin.]
Dan: Losing it…
[A moment passes and footsteps become audible again coming down the stairs.]
Dan: Wasn’t a very long look-in… He must be sound asleep. Can you grab me a beer from the fridge?
[The footsteps continue through the obscured hallway behind the wall and into another room where we hear shuffling for a moment, which then stops.]
[Footsteps begin again on the stairs and Dan rises up confused. He takes a step towards the opening, but as he does so Maggie has appeared climbing down the last step.]
Maggie: What’s up?
[Dan chuckles at himself.]
Dan: Now you’ve got me doing it.
[Maggie takes a step into the room although not sharing Dan’s joking approach.]
Maggie: Doing what?
Dan: Acting all paranoid. I must have mistook your footsteps upstairs for footsteps in the hall – I thought you came down the stairs and were in the kitchen.
Maggie: See!
Dan: See what? You just implanted the idea in my head and automatically took what I heard and assigned it to something else. It only proves my point.
[Maggie shakes her head.]
Maggie: Whatever… I’m going to get another beer, you want?
Dan: Please.
[Dan turns back and sits down on the couch. As Maggie walks into the kitchen the sound is almost identical to before. Dan just shakes his head before focusing back in on the television.]
Dan: Bunch of mumbo jumbo.
[Fade.]
[A short distance away a young man is limbering up and stretching in a pair of black basketball shorts and white t-shirt. The young man is Brandon. His brown hair sits mussed on top of his head as he stretches his calves. Simultaneously, he is fiddling with the headphones connected to his IPod.]
[The day outside is indeed perfect for a run aesthetically, there are few clouds in the blue sky, the sun is shining brightly. As Brandon hopes in place getting his legs limber, he pops in his headphones. He takes a deep breath and presses play and begins his run.]
Got to love this – just myself and my thoughts. No poking, no prodding, no instruction, just me and as far as my legs can take me.
[He breathes deep through his nose and a smile crosses his face.]
I wonder what Uncle John was anxious to talk to me about last night… I mean how much insight could I possibly provide on his dead wife… Who knows?
I do feel bad for the guy, I mean that’s really rough. I guess he doesn’t have anybody else to really talk to about that kind of stuff. This business gives you plenty of enemies, not really a sound supply of friends and there’s a lot of movement.
Perfect for me…
[He reaches a street corner and turns right – instantly heading uphill.]
But he knows you can’t allow what you’ve lost – what’s behind you chase you down and bring you down. You know this as well. You’ve seen it firsthand what happens when a person becomes consumed with regret and loss.
You’ve got to leave it behind you – no matter how much it chases after you. I’ve managed to do that because I’m like Uncle John, I’m strong.
Although it does feel like I’ve got something nipping at my heels.
[He takes a quick glance over his shoulder as he reaches the top of small hill – the ground flattens out. After the quick turn, he smiles and shakes his head, clearing the thought from his mind.]
It can’t catch you – whatever it is as long as you just keep running. You keep striving to live. To survive… And to be more.
To be great. To be legendary. To inspire.
God, I want so badly to inspire. To show that you can persevere and overcome the worst this world throws at you.
[His pace begins to pick up – the sweat is forming on his brow as his legs pump faster.]
Show everyone you leave whatever is in your past… Behind. You cannot change the past, you can change the future. And that’s why you keep striving, keep running.
[He starts to slow down as he approaches traffic intersection where the light is against him. As he reaches the corner he jogs in place.]
And part of reason you keep going is that you know there’s something there… Nipping at your heels.
So you cannot slow down – you are constantly running to keep ahead. It drives you.
[After a second of stopping, the light changes and Brandon starts off across the street. To his left behind a mini-van on the street, our eyes catch a black mass or shadow peaking out from behind the van before ducking back again.]
[Fade out.]
[Late evening, the sun is setting down on a partly cloudy day. The sun is turning the horizon a combination of orange and purple as it sinks below the horizon.]
[The historic landmark – the Kobe bell – the symbol of peace and friendship between Seattle and Kobe, Japan, constructed as a gift in 1962, in part, to heal old wounds from World War II. The structure is distinctly Japanese in its architectural style.]
[From behind the bell itself we see a pair of black shoes walking along and making their way to the edge of the structure. Into the view appears, the Minstrel wearing a charcoal grey suit with pinstripes and grey shirt beneath the suit jacket. The ever-grinning mask of the Greek comedy smiles at the camera as he turns the corner.]
I told you, I had something special planned, but I guess not every was a fan of my work… Eh, Paz?
[His snickering is audible as he moves closer.]
Well Court, your little tirade on behalf of all the ladies in the locker room was surely appreciated.
Especially by me, Court, thanks for the clarification – you really set me straight sweetheart. Thank heavens, I have you to help me change my ways.
[He gives a thumbs up with his right hand as his methodical words reek of sarcasm.]
But all kidding aside, Court… Thanks. Your thick, cheap perfume has probably killed too many of your brain cells for you to comprehend what you’ve done, but I think you’ll understand when it’s…
[With his tone turned almost guttural, he raises each hand up and slaps them together dead center.]
Slapping you in the face.
[He chuckles before turning and leaning back against the railing of the Kobe Bell.]
Oh, Go Go, we had so much fun last week did we not – so much so, that good ole’ Art has pinned us against each other. I hope you’ll be able to show… I hope the concrete wall wasn’t too much.
But I know you’ll be there – dragging yourself to the ring if you have to because you’re all heart kid.
[He taps his chest when he says this – once again with a biting sarcasm.]
Even if it’s not your own.
[He laughs and covers his mouth after a second, but continues his giggling.]
Whoops – sorry to beat a dead horse… Dead kid… Damnit!
[He snaps his fingers in mock frustration at his lack of restraint.]
Go Go, I’m sure you are wondering why did I do what I did? Why were you the target?
Well, honestly, there’s a ton of reasons, but I’ll give you two for now… First, I’ve always wanted to toss someone into a concrete wall.
[He holds out his hands and counts on his left hand – one.]
Cross that one off the bucket list, but I could have done that to anyone…
[He pulls down his second finger.]
Second, frankly, you make me sick. Your whole life – your attempt to inspire – your total underdog mentality…
Sick, sick, sick.
And frankly, if it weren’t totally illegal – I may have ripped little Frankie’s heart right out of your chest to put an end to your whole saga.
[He makes this statement almost whisper soft, but with careful emphasis on each word.]
Need to speak to the Congressman about that one, huh?
[Just as quickly the tone changes back as he snickers at this comment.]
See, you are everything I hate in this world – you are the consummate dreamer.
This…
[He gestures to the Kobe Bell behind him.]
Is supposedly a symbol of peace and friendship… Only to the f----- hippies.
[He points back at the camera.]
That is a symbol of the end of turmoil, chaos and destruction…
Unfortunately, for you Go Go – your personal torment is only beginning. Your chaos has only just started. The destruction is only going to get worse. I’ve only just started this chase… This war. This is your nightmare.
So cheers, lovely.
[He mocks tipping a drink ceremoniously.]
Enjoy these next couple of days, recuperate because come Chain Reaction – this isn’t funny, this isn’t a joke. And there’s no salvation from Frankie or Jesus Christ.
Just me and you… That’s no laughing matter.
[Fade out.]