| | (As the title and opening shot plays, music begins ("Wind that Shakes the Corn" by the Irish Rovers). When camera focuses on JAMES, the music fades into the background.)
EXT: A graveyard on a hill. Weeds choke most of the graves, rendering the names illegible. It is grey and windy, and obviously cold. Camera pans to skeletal tree, which rattles violently in a sudden gust of wind, then shifts slowly to a cornfield next to the graveyard, which shakes and rustles as it bows against the wind. Shot widens to include trees, cornfield, and graveyard, including a black metal fence with a high scrolled arch over the gate. Camera then zooms in on this gate and the figure standing there.
The man standing at the gate is wearing a black trench coat and a fedora clamped firmly down over his hair. His eyes are hidden beneath the brim of the hat as he looks up at the hill, but the general air is one of infinite sadness. One hand rests lightly on the gate. The wind lifts his hat slightly and his eyes can be seen. It is JAMES.
JAMES
(whispers softly, barely audible)
I should have been there for them. Why I survived when they didn't, I'll never know. But I should have died.
He grips the top of the gate slightly.
Camera zooms in on his hand--strong, powerful, careworn--as it rests there for a second, then slowly travels down the gate to rest on the latch. For a second, the fingers fumble with the catch, but then slowly they draw away. Camera zooms out to include JAMES's face, the look of pain and sorrow, as he turns away.
JAMES
No...no. I have a long way to go...before I can forgive myself enough to go in there.
He heaves a sigh and blows a kiss towards the top of the hill, then turns to go and nearly knocks over a young man standing behind him. The young man is wearing a black cloak with a hood pulled up over his head, partially shadowing his face and hiding his eyes. In his left hand is a bouquet of flowers. Although neither one knows the other, it is HARRY.
HARRY
Sorry...I'm sorry...
JAMES
No, no, it's my fault. I'm sorry, I'm a little preoccupied.
(Hesitates, then looks down at the flowers)
Do you know someone buried here?
HARRY
(Nods. Quietly)
My parents. And most recently my godfather.
JAMES
(With sincerity)
I'm sorry about that. When did your parents die?
HARRY
When I was a baby.
(Hesitates, then)
They were murdered.
JAMES
I'm sorry.
HARRY raises his eyes to look at JAMES, who steps back, startled. Briefly, a face--that of LILY--flashes across his vision, giving him the same look, before it is replaced by HARRY, who speaks.
HARRY
Who...I mean, do you know someone who's buried here?
JAMES
(Shakes his head slightly to clear it, then nods)
My wife and son...and I think my best friend.
HARRY
(Surprised)
You think?
JAMES
(A touch reluctantly, as though he isn't sure he wants to share this)
I...I kind of cut myself off from the world when my family was killed. I went so far as to move out of the country to get away from the pain...but I've decided to re-enter the world. I asked someone if they had heard of him and they said he was dead.
HARRY
(With obvious compassion)
I'm sorry.
(Brief pause as he looks up the hill, then back at JAMES)
Were you going in?
JAMES
No, I...I just left.
HARRY
Okay. I suppose I'll see you later then.
HARRY turns and opens the gate, then slowly advances through the graves. Camera stays on JAMES as he raises his eyes to the hill, watching HARRY's progress, then sighs, turns, and walks away. As he does so, the music comes back in and plays the final few lines of "Wind that Shakes the Corn".
Fade to black.
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| | Posted 4/2/2008 4:39 PM - 7 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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