FADE IN:
EXT. NEW ENGLAND CITY-SUNNY SPRING DAY
Three somber and sad high school students walk down a street, strewn with fancy Victorian houses. They all wear backpacks, which seem to weigh on them, making them hunch forward.
CHAD is wearing a black Ramons T-shirt, black jeans, and black boots. A small BRUISE that looks almost healed is seen under his left eye.
Kris is wearing a purple sundress. Two strands of her golden hair are braided around her head in a coif.
Daniel is wearing a polo shirt and khakis.
They pause, and turn, weighed down so heavily with their backpacks that they all seem to swivel like robots to a two-story beige brick house.
They slowly trudge their way up to the white portico. Chad rings the DOORBELL. A moment later MRS. SACHS appears, wearing a red blouse and dark slacks. She is middle aged. She smiles upon seeing the kids.
MRS. SACHS
Come on in. Make yourselves at home.
Nathaniel is still getting dressed. I’ll let you in, in just a second.
Mrs. Sachs collects three chairs from the kitchen and walks back across the marble foyer, to Nathaniel’s bedroom. She stays in the bedroom for a few minutes and then walks back to the foyer.
MRS. SACHS
He’s ready.
They take off their backpacks and carry them in hand, and slowly walk back to the bedroom after kicking off their shoes. Mr. SACHS is bleach-white, and hooked up to a respirator. There is also an IV connected to his arm. Despite his condition, his room is happy. The flowered curtains are open and the window is raised. The room is bright, almost aura-like.
A PRINTING of Van Goht’s Two Cut Sunflowers hangs on the far wall. Mr. Sachs seems unaware that anyone has entered his room. Chad coughs. Mr. Sachs eyes flutter open, and a smile is tying to penetrate his face.
MR. SACHS
You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
Sit down will you? Did you bring the camera?
Chad nods, and takes a camcorder out of the duffel bag. He flips it on, and begins recording.
MR. SACHS
Today may very well be my last day on earth.
I know you’re wanting me to impart words of wisdom,
but the only thing I can tell you is this:
I sure picked the damned wrong time to be an atheist.
They chuckle.
MR. SACHS
And the question you’re wanting to know my dear friend Chad, is if I’m going to leave you forever. I can only answer that I don’t believe in ghosts or the afterlife. I think the belief in ghosts is just another way for us to pretend that life goes on after death. But if such things were true, and I could come back as anything, I think it would be a spider. Not an ugly spider, but a pretty yellow one, that even housewives don’t make their husbands snuff out. But this isn’t about me. I want you to share in my fifteen minutes.
Chad hands the camera to Daniel, and Daniel begins recording him.
CHAD
I know you don’t want this to be about you.
But there are so many things you’ve done for us.
You helped me get clean.
And I don’t want this to turn into a cliché,
but you believed in me when my parents didn’t (pointing to his bruise).
And now… it’s all over. Now it doesn’t even matter.
Daniel’s EYES become moist, he turns away. Mr. Sachs whispers something to Daniel and he turns the camera to Kris, who looks a little embarrassed and out of sorts.
KRIS
Chad’s…Chad’s right. I just want to thank you so much.
I got accepted to Harvard law school. You were right!
TEARS roll down Kris’s eyes. She walks over to Mr. Sachs and slowly leans over. She pecks his cheek softly. Mr. Sachs blushes.
MR SACHS
What the hell are you guys doing?
You’re acting like I’m dying or something!
Gee wiz, I’ve got full-grown men crying on camera,
I’ve got a fine little dame kissing my cheek.
Hell, if I’d a known this I would have died every day for the last 40 years!
They smile and chuckle softly. Daniel hands the camera to Kris and she begins recording him.
DANIEL
This is going to sound bad. That I’m making light of everything.
But when you pass, can you meet us somewhere?
MR SACHS
I can’t even remember my anniversary.
I doubt I’m going to do any better when…
DANIEL
Meet us at Central Park! Please Nathan!
MR. SACHS is briefly silent. A single tear rolls out of one eye. We see, TWO CUT SUNFLOWERS.
MR. SACHS
How am I going to tell you apart from all the bums their, Daniel?
Daniel walks to Mr. Sachs and leans down to give him a hug. Mr. Sachs falls silent again, and his eyes close. Kris drops the camera and runs over to check his pulse. She remains calm, and sighs a long sigh of relief, but walks to the door and calls for Mrs. Sachs.
EXT. CENTRAL PARK-SUNNY DAY
The students wander aimlessly around the park. They appear despondent.
KRIS
Guys, let’s go. I know this sucks. We’ll never forget him.
But let’s not do this to ourselves. He wouldn’t want that.
Daniel and Chad are furiously digging around under a bench, glancing here and there. They both finally sigh, and stand up, brushing soil from their knees.
CHAD
You’re right. He wouldn’t want us doing this.
The three make their way out of the park. On each of their backpacks, in the same spot, are three bright, yellow SPIDERS.
FADE OUT
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