Loose Ends by Jamie Nicholas

3205 Los Feliz Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90039

EXT. PARK, DREAM SEQUENCE - TWILIGHT The park is full of books, antiques furniture and toys from the forties, and old photographs. A thin fog softens the scene. JACK OLSEN, 81, wrinkled and balding, stares at a chess board and taps his finger on the stone chess table. He wears a dress shirt and tie with a sweater vest over both. Jack reaches for the white rook, gently touches it with his finger and stares at the board. Suddenly he grabs his bishop and knocks away a black pawn-- it dissolves. He looks up at his companion. A ten-year-old BOY wearing dog tags studies the board, looks at Jack, then moves the black queen to the white bishop. The bishop dissolves. Check. BOY The boy

Jack stares at the board then moves his white rook. move his queen to another open square. Checkmate. BOY (CONT'D)

Jack looks at the boy and the white chess pieces dissolve into the fog. INT. DOCTORS OFFICE - DAY In an off-white, plain room decorated in medical charts and cancer photographs, there is a patient chair, desk, stool, and sink. Jack waits in the patients chair. DOCTOR PEREZ, 41, enters carrying Jacks chart. He has a chiseled face that always smiles, and wide open eyes that watch his patients closely as they speak. DOCTOR PEREZ Hello again, Mr. Olsen, what can I do for you? Im dying. JACK

Dr. Perez studies Jack for a moment and looks through his chart. DOCTOR PEREZ May I ask how you know this?

2. JACK For years Ive had this dream where Im in a park full of furniture and Im playing chess with Death. Only its not Death-- its a little boy. And Ive won every time. Jack leans forward and Dr. Perez tilts in toward him. JACK (CONT'D) Last night I lost. Dr. Perez sits back, writes a note on the chart, and rubs his eyes. DOCTOR PEREZ And what are you dying of? Jack sits back in the chair and places his hands on his legs. JACK Thats where you come in. I was hoping you could run tests. Dr. Perez stands. DOCTOR PEREZ Ive had ten years of medical school and an extensive practice, but dreams arent my area of expertise. JACK Im well aware, Doc. the medical exam. I just want

DOCTOR PEREZ Now Jack, tests are expensive and you may not be fully covered. JACK Since Im dying it wont matter anyway. Dr. Perez sits down at the desk, takes out his pen and begins writing on the chart. DOCTOR PEREZ All right then. Ill have the nurse do some blood work, well get and ultra sound, catscan, x-rays... the works.

3. INT. JACKS HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY The out of date house appears trapped in the seventies with mustard yellow furniture, green carpet, and brown floral wall paper that compliments the faux wood cabinets of the open kitchen. The brick fireplace mantel is covered in photographs. only piece of new furniture is the television. The

Staring at his chess set, Jack carelessly moves pieces around the board. DAN, 51 and balding but still thin, enters through the garage carrying four bags of groceries. He takes them to the kitchen, which is open to the living room, and begins putting them away. Hey Dad. DAN

Jack turns the bishop around in his hands. JACK Did you get the eye drops? Dan places some orange juice in the refrigerator. DAN They were all out. JACK You checked all the medicine aisles? Dan unloads eggs and bread onto the counter. Yes. DAN

JACK You looked at the counter? Of course. DAN

Jack puts the bishop down. JACK Did you ask someone? Dan stops.

4. DAN

No.

JACK Damnit Dan, you never ask. Dan stares at the cans of soup and vegetables he unloads. JACK (CONT'D) (to himself) Shouldve sent the kid with a note for the pharmacist. Dan ignores him. DAN Lindsey was wondering if youd like to join us for dinner tomorrow night. Jack picks up the king and wipes it off. JACK I have a few errands to run tomorrow and need you to drive me. Then I have to wait for a phone call. Dan puts three tuna cans in the cupboard. DAN You havent seen Lindsey and the kids for a couple months. JACK Ill pencil you in for next week, but I make no guarantees Ill be around. There is a pause. Dan finishes with the groceries, recycles the bags, then starts unloading the dishwasher. Jack places his chess pieces into their case and slides the board and case underneath the coffee table. JACK (CONT'D) Im making my funeral arrangements. Dan adds another glass to the cabinet. JACK (CONT'D) Ill be dead soon, so I figured Id take care of it now. (MORE)

5. JACK (CONT'D) That way my passing will be even more of a relief to you. Dad... DAN

JACK Dont expect much in the way of money, though. I was never a stock broker. There are no hidden millions in some secret inheritance account. Dan furrows his brow and stares out the window. DAN Ill be here at ten. INT. FUNERAL HOME - DAY This is the happiest looking funeral home anyone has ever seen. Large windows around two thirds of the room allow light to flood over the antique white carpet. Sample coffins line the pastel yellow walls, each coffin varying in wood and fabric types. Scattered fake floral arrangements have differing cheerful color schemes, some resting on stands while others lie on the coffin lids. Jacks hand signs his name at the bottom of a contract. THOMAS (O.S.) If you decide to upgrade the tombstone or coffin, come back any time and we can rework the contract. Jack puts the cap back onto the pen and slides it over to THOMAS WILKES, 39, a robust and tan athlete with overly white teeth. He keeps a supply of hand cream on his desk and habitually cracks his knuckles. JACK And what if I decide to down-grade? Dan, sitting next to Jack in cushioned chairs, shifts. Thomass smile remains intact, though he places the contract inside of a folder file and folds his hands over it. THOMAS We have a no refund policy.

6. Jack smiles. JACK In your line of work, Im not surprised. Dan stands and moves to shake Thomass hand. DAN Youve been very helpful, Mr. Wilkes, thank you. Thomas takes Dans hand and stands. Jack rises as well.

JACK It was nice doing business with you. Id love to become a regular customer... Thomas lets out a guffaw. JACK (CONT'D) Ill just recommend you to all of my friends. The ones I have left, that is. They shake hands and Dan and Jack leave. INT. CAR - DAY Dan drives Jack in his Dodge Intrepid down the highway. Pictures of Dans kids and wife are taped to the dashboard while Vietnam dog tags hang on the rearview mirror. The two sit in silence until Dan starts flipping through radio stations. No sports. crap. Sure Dad. JACK I cant stand that DAN They

Dan finds a jazz station and leaves the radio there. listen to the music and stare at the road.

Dan glances at his father a few times while watching the road, then he changed lanes. JACK You didnt check your blind spot.

7. Dan ignores this comment and speeds up the car. JACK (CONT'D) Im glad I took care of the funeral arrangements with the way youre driving. DAN Stop it, Dad. JACK Its not like you care anyway. DAN Thats enough! Dan turns the radio off. DAN (CONT'D) I dont want you to die. Silence follows, Jack turning to look at Dan. DAN (CONT'D) As much as you criticize and ignore me and take me for granted and never see your grandkids. And despite the fact you think I do nice things for you simply for an inheritance-- I still love you. And I would prefer you stick around so someday you might figure that out. Jack faces the window and taps his finger against the glass. His breathing is the only sound in the car for some time. DAN (CONT'D) I just thought you should know. Jack turns to Dan, tears standing in his eyes, and smiles. Fine. too. JACK Ill leave you the house

Dan pauses then they quietly laugh. Jack turns the radio back on and they watch the road, the smiles lingering on their faces.

8. INT. JACKS HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Jack places the black queen onto the now fully set up chess board. He stares at it for a moment then begins reading the obituaries in his newspaper. The wall phone rings. Hello? JACK

There is a pause as a woman is heard breathing and sniffling slightly. Hello? JACK (CONT'D) I can hear you breathing.

LINDSEY (O.S.) Dad, its Lindsey. JACK Well hello Lindsey. Im sorry I couldnt make dinner, Im waiting for a phone call. Lindsey hesitates, breathes heavily, and lets out a slight sob. Lindsey... JACK (CONT'D)

LINDSEY (O.S.) Dans dead. She sobs openly on the other line. What? JACK What are you tal...

LINDSEY (O.S.) (between cries) Car accident. A kid ran into the street. Dan swerved into oncoming traffic. It hit him head on and sent him into a tree. A truck. Jack slides down the wall, eyes wide and hands trembling. LINDSEY (CONT'D) I have to go, the kids just came home.

9. A click is heard at her end of the line, but Jack remains still, the busy tone buzzing in his ear. He hangs up the receiver. Jack gets up and moves back to the couch, staring at the chess board and picking up the white king. The phone rings. Jack races to answer it.

JACK Hello? Lindsey NURSE (O.S.) Mr. Mason, this is Dr. Perezs office calling. Your test results are in. Jack mutters then remains silent. NURSE (O.S.) (CONT'D) Everything is normal and that mole on your... well... it isnt cancerous. She pauses. NURSE (CONT'D) Congratulations, Mr. Mason. going to live. Youre

She hangs up the phone and Jack does the same. He walks over to the chess board and realizes hes still holding the white king. He lets the piece fall onto the board and scatters the rest of the pieces. A gold glint catches Jacks eyes and he walks over to the fireplace mantel, finding a small gold frame behind the large picture of his wife. In the picture is Jack-- younger with hair-- and the little boy from the dream. Jack tears open the frame and reads the handwritten label: Jack and Dan, 1965. THE END