This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page
people involved:
Thomas Thompson
Father Flannell
Sister Kathleen
Sister Madeline
Sister Hester
others:
Elderly Man
Policeman
The first thing that we hear is a rather loud crash. We see a view of
a small two-lane road. There are many trees all over the place, and no
signs of any houses. The road seems to be one that is not traveled on very
often. Following the narrow lanes, we soon see that two cars have bashed
into each other.
After a few moments, THOMAS slowly gets out of his car. It is far from being a bad accident, but he seems to be a bit shaken up. He is around thirty and appears to be a lively and troubled person. THOMAS starts to walk over to the other car in order to see if the others are OK. He gets a dizzy spell, though, and leans up against the car.
Suddenly, FATHER FLANNELL gets out of the driver's seat of his car. THOMAS looks surprised to see that his is involved in an accident with a priest. He can't quite believe his eyes.
THOMAS: Huh?
He is even more surprised when he sees that three nuns are getting out of the car, too.
THOMAS: Oh, God.
FATHER FLANNELL, an elderly soft-spoken man, looks himself over and
sees if any of the nuns are hurt. Everybody seems decent.
SISTER KATHLEEN is especially quick to get out of the car, but mainly to
see what the extent of the damage is. She seems stubborn and playful.
SISTER MADELINE seems very calm, maybe too calm, as if she expected something
like this to happen sooner or later anyway.
The third nun, SISTER HESTER, simply looks like a nervous wreck. She is
in far worse shape than the cars are in.
FATHER FLANNELL looks down the road, and then starts to walk over to THOMAS.
FATHER FLANNELL (concerned): Hey--are you OK?
THOMAS straightens himself up a bit.
THOMAS: Yeah. (He pauses.) Yeah, I'm fine. Are you OK?
FATHER FLANNELL: Yeah, I'm OK.
THOMAS: How about the, uh.....nuns there?
THOMAS slowly walks over to the father and the sisters.
SISTER MADELINE: I'm fine.
FATHER FLANNELL: Are you all right, Sister Kathleen?
SISTER KATHLEEN: Looks like it. I guess.
FATHER FLANNELL: Sister Hester?
SISTER HESTER looks at them slowly, calmly almost smiling, and then starts crying hysterically.
FATHER FLANNELL: It's all right.
He puts his arms around her, and checks for bruises on her face and arms. She keeps on crying like a child. THOMAS looks on as the father continues consoling her. SISTER KATHLEEN turns to THOMAS.
SISTER KATHLEEN (sarcastically): She's always like this.
FATHER FLANNELL: You don't have a scratch on you. You'll be fine. (To the others) She just got scared.
FATHER FLANNELL opens the back door of their car and lets her sit
down with her legs dangling out. He keeps talking to her quietly.
SISTER KATHLEEN and SISTER MADELINE walk over to the front of the car to
see the damage. THOMAS follows.
SISTER KATHLEEN: How did this happen?
THOMAS: Easy. You people were driving around the bend too fast and the speed made your car go out of your lane and into mine.
SISTER KATHLEEN (annoyed): What?!
SISTER MADELINE: We weren't speeding.
SISTER KATHLEEN: For your information, you were the one who was out of the lane. I saw the whole thing from the front--
THOMAS (getting flustered): So did I!
SISTER KATHLEEN: .....and you were speeding!
SISTER MADELINE: That's right!
THOMAS (agitated): No way! (He paces.) You're not going to pin this on me. No, sir!
SISTER MADELINE: But she's right!
THOMAS: No, she's not!
SISTER KATHLEEN: Father Flannell never drives fast. At least not with us in the car.
THOMAS: This is not my fault!
FATHER FLANNELL leaves SISTER HESTER for the time being, and walks over to the others.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Then whose fault is it? It's certainly not ours.....
FATHER FLANNELL: Is everyone OK here?
THOMAS: Yeah.
SISTER MADELINE: Uh-huh.
SISTER KATHLEEN: We already went through all that. Everyone's fine. (She looks at SISTER HESTER in the car.).....except maybe her.....
FATHER FLANNELL looks over the damage for the first time. Both front ends are quite scratched, but there is little doubt that the cars can be driven.
FATHER FLANNELL: Oh, my..... This doesn't look very good. This doesn't look very good at all.....
SISTER KATHLEEN: You said it.
THOMAS (trying to be reasonable): Look, I'm really sorry..... I mean about the whole.....situation. The last thing I would have wanted would be to get into an accident with.....uh.....
FATHER FLANNELL puts his hand on THOMAS' shoulder.
FATHER FLANNELL: It's all right.
SISTER MADELINE: What?
SISTER KATHLEEN (snappy): What do you mean, it's all right? Look what he did!
THOMAS: Hey, I told ya--I didn't do anything!
FATHER FLANNELL: It's all right.
THOMAS turns all of his attention to FATHER FLANNELL.
THOMAS: Didn't you see exactly what happened?
FATHER FLANNELL: Yes. Yes, I did.
THOMAS: Good.
FATHER FLANNELL: You were out of your lane.....
THOMAS: What?!
FATHER FLANNELL: .....and the speed of your car made you cross over the lines even more, and then you hit our car.
SISTER KATHLEEN (confidently): See.
THOMAS: That's ridiculous! You were going just as fast as I was!
SISTER MADELINE (calmly): Not true.
They calm down some. SISTER KATHLEEN glances up and down the road, looking for a car to pass by.
FATHER FLANNELL: It doesn't matter, anyway. We forgive you.
THOMAS: What?
SISTER KATHLEEN: What did he say?
FATHER FLANNELL: It doesn't matter. What's done is done. (He pauses.) Perhaps we were both going too fast and we were both out of our lanes.
THOMAS: Maybe.
SISTER KATHLEEN stares at the Father.
SISTER KATHLEEN: You're just saying that because you don't want to argue.
FATHER FLANNELL: Shush.
They wait a few moments. FATHER FLANNELL walks over to check on SISTER HESTER.
FATHER FLANNELL: Are you OK, Sister Hester?
She nods.
THOMAS (To SISTER HESTER): I'm really sorry about all this.....
She nods again.
FATHER FLANNELL: What are ya gonna do? These things happen.
THOMAS: Yeah.
A pause. SISTER MADELINE walks over to SISTER KATHLEEN.
SISTER MADELINE: What do we do now?
SISTER KATHLEEN shrugs.
THOMAS: We should wait for someone to pass by--have them get a cop.
FATHER FLANNELL: Oh, really?
THOMAS (dumbfounded) : Of course.
FATHER FLANNELL: I've never been in an accident before.
THOMAS: Really?
FATHER FLANNELL (proudly): Never. (He pauses.) I have a clean record.
THOMAS: I should hope so.
FATHER FLANNELL: Well, there was that one time there--back in 1973. I was walking over from the rectory to give a noon mass, and just as I was crossing the street, the ten 'o clock mass was letting out. (He pauses.) I nearly got run over.
SISTER MADELINE: I remember that.
THOMAS: That's too bad.
FATHER FLANNELL: Yeah, you should have seem the cars tearing out of the place!
THOMAS: I can imagine.
FATHER FLANNELL: Half of them don't even wait to get to holy communion--just vroom!
THOMAS: Jeez.
FATHER FLANNELL: Ahh, you get used to that.
THOMAS: Yeah.
There is a long pause as they stand around. SISTER KATHLEEN and SISTER MADELINE seem more concerned with the damage than with anything else. FATHER FLANNELL and THOMAS wait, as though looking for words. Frustration builds. Finally, the Father breaks the silence.
FATHER FLANNELL: I guess this road doesn't get traveled on very much.
THOMAS loses his temper a bit.
THOMAS: Yeah, I know what you mean! Does anybody know that this road exists, or what? Jesus Christ!
FATHER FLANNELL and the nuns slowly look at each other, and then at THOMAS. They are a little shocked, and THOMAS realizes what the tone of his voice has created. He walks back toward them.
THOMAS (slowly): Hey.....I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry I said that.....in that tone of voice.
FATHER FLANNELL looks at the sisters, as though for advice.
FATHER FLANNELL: It's all right..... But, young man, you should never speak the Lord's name in that way.
THOMAS: Yeah, I know.
FATHER FLANNELL: It's disrespectful to Him..... (He points up)..... and to Him.
THOMAS: Uh-huh.
FATHER FLANNELL looks up the road and moves closer to THOMAS.
FATHER FLANNELL: Are you Catholic?
THOMAS looks up the road for a car.
THOMAS: What?
FATHER FLANNELL: Were you.....born and raised a Catholic?
THOMAS (thinking): Um.....yeah.
FATHER FLANNELL: Then you should have known better than to have mocked God.
FATHER FLANNELL walks back to the sisters.
Not long after, THOMAS comes closer to them.
THOMAS (concerned): I wasn't mocking God. I was just.....I don't know. What was I supposed to do? I mean, we're all waiting here..... waiting for someone.....and nobody's coming. And I'm angry.....so I just said the first thing that came into my mind. So I said it. (He pauses.) There's far worse things I could have said.
After a while, the sisters talk to each other.
SISTER MADELINE: Well, at least it's a decent day out.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Yeah.
SISTER MADELINE: The convent looks so good this time of year. All the leaves fall by the statues--all those different colors. So pretty.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Yeah. It gets cooler out now. Not as hot.
SISTER MADELINE: Yeah.
SISTER MADELINE looks over at SISTER HESTER.
SISTER MADELINE: How are you doing, Sister Hester? Feeling any better?
SISTER HESTER (slowly): Yes. Much better.
SISTER MADELINE: That's good.
THOMAS: Good.
SISTER MADELINE: Are you comfortable?
SISTER HESTER: I'm OK.
A pause.
FATHER FLANNELL looks up the road.
FATHER FLANNELL: You know, I don't think that anybody knows we're here. There's no house around.
THOMAS: Well, if no one drives past soon, I'll walk up the road and see what I can do.
FATHER FLANNELL: Thanks.
THOMAS: I think it's best not to touch the cars until the reports are made out.
FATHER FLANNELL: I agree.
A pause.
SISTER MADELINE chats with SISTER KATHLEEN.
SISTER MADELINE: Doing anything tonight?
SISTER KATHLEEN (thinking): There's not much doing tonight. Let's see--Wednesday night.....well, bingo was LAST night..... No..... I'll probably just hang out tonight and keep quiet. Finish reading that mystery book I started..... Pray a little..... watch Dynasty.....
SISTER MADELINE: That's nice.
The feelings between the characters are, by now, quite comfortable. They seem capable of getting along with each other.
FATHER FLANNELL breaks the silence this time. He walks closer to THOMAS.
FATHER FLANNELL: Well, I must say that you seem like a pretty decent young man.
THOMAS: Thanks.
FATHER FLANNELL: I mean, I suppose many people kind of lose control of themselves in this kind of a situation. They just see their car has been hit and they start forgetting about everything. They start screaming, and before you know it, the other guy is yelling at the other, and they start blaming each other and start fighting. It's awful.
THOMAS: Yeah. I know what you mean. We're handling this quite well.
FATHER FLANNELL: Right. That's because we're good, thinking people and we know that arguing is going to get us nowhere.
SISTER KATHLEEN gives FATHER FLANNELL a funny look, as though she was hoping for an argument.
FATHER FLANNELL: Are you from around this area?
THOMAS: Yeah. I'm from Spotswood. Not too far from here.
SISTER HESTER gets out of the car and stands up to stretch. She always looks rather wrecked.
FATHER FLANNELL: Oh, then you might have heard of Monsignor Reynolds--he's the pastor at St. John's there. He's a very good friend of mine. I've known him for years.
THOMAS: No--I don't think I've ever seen him.....
FATHER FLANNELL: What is your name?
THOMAS: Thomas. Thomas Thompson.
FATHER FLANNELL: Thomas. I always liked that name. Whenever I hear that name, I can't help but to think of Saint Thomas.
THOMAS: Saint Thomas?
FATHER FLANNELL: Yeah, you know--Saint Thomas--from the Bible.
THOMAS: Oh.
FATHER FLANNELL: Thomas was known as the doubter. He was probably the most skeptical one of all of Jesus' followers. He had to see everything for himself. You must remember. He wanted proof.
THOMAS: He was a fisherman, right?
FATHER FLANNELL: Yes, that's right. A fisherman. (He pauses.) By the way, what is it that you do for a living?
THOMAS (casually): Me? I'm an atheist.
There is a moment of silence.
FATHER FLANNELL and the sisters begin to look at each other. Suddenly, SISTER HESTER lets out a hysterical scream and falls down like a board, flat on her back.
SISTER MADELINE: Sister Hester!!!
SISTER KATHLEEN and SISTER MADELINE are the first to try to help her. THOMAS is rather shocked. He and the father help SISTER HESTER back into the rear seat of the car, along with the other sisters' help.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Help her in.....
FATHER FLANNELL: Careful..... be careful.....
SISTER MADELINE taps SISTER HESTER on the cheeks, trying to bring her back to consciousness. THOMAS keeps watching with a surprised look on his face. He can't quite believe that the woman has actually fainted. After a few moments, SISTER HESTER comes out it. She still looks completely dazed.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Poor Hester.
SISTER HESTER looks like she'll be OK, but the two other sisters keep near her. FATHER FLANNELL looks at THOMAS, concerned. THOMAS is dumbfounded by the whole thing. He is speechless. He holds his arms out as if to say "What can I say?"
THOMAS: Um.....
FATHER FLANNELL: You shouldn't have said that. (He pauses.) You shouldn't have said that word.
THOMAS: I didn't know.....
FATHER FLANNELL: Sister Hester is very sensitive about that kind of thing.
THOMAS: I'm really sorry.
THOMAS turns to the sisters, and especially to SISTER HESTER.
THOMAS: I'm sorry.
SISTER KATHLEEN gives him a sarcastic look.
There is still more silence now. Everyone seems accustomed to not seeing any cars going by.
FATHER FLANNELL and THOMAS glance up and down the road anyway. Their waiting seems quite pronounced now. Nobody knows what to say.
THOMAS: You know, father.....um.....I'm not a..... uh.....
FATHER FLANNELL: Hmmmmm?
THOMAS: I'm not an.....
THOMAS looks over at SISTER HESTER.
THOMAS: You know. I mean..... I am..... but not for a LIVING.
FATHER FLANNELL (a bit sarcastically): Ohhh--not for a living. I see. Then what do you do for a living?
THOMAS: Well..... I'm a teacher, actually.
FATHER FLANNELL: Oh? What exactly do you teach?
THOMAS: Driver education.
FATHER FLANNELL: I see. (He pauses.) It's just that teaching requires so much intelligence, and I believe that you have that. But I would have expected a little more respect from you.
THOMAS: I'm really sorry--like I said.
A pause.
FATHER FLANNELL: What caused you to become a non-believer, anyway?
THOMAS: What do you mean? I'm not a non-believer.
FATHER FLANNELL: I don't understand. You just said that you were an--you know--and I just assumed.....
THOMAS: I believe in plenty of things. I just don't believe ..... (He motions at the clothing of the father and the sisters, and holds out his arms at a loss of words.)
FATHER FLANNELL completes THOMAS' sentence.
FATHER FLANNELL: You just don't believe in God, that's all. The most important thing of all.
THOMAS (confused): Well..... yeah. (He tries to chuckle at the awkwardness in the air.) What are ya gonna do?
FATHER FLANNELL (getting very serious): I'm surprised at you. I really am. (He shakes his head.) I'm ashamed of you.
THOMAS looks very concerned.
FATHER FLANNELL: Here you are..... your whole life ahead of you. Everything ahead of you.....and yet, NOTHING ahead of you. Tell me, what's the point? (low) I admit that I haven't talked to many..... atheists in my time, but I can get a picture of what your sad, battered minds must be like. Don't get me wrong..... (He motions to the nuns.) Our minds get sad, too. But at least we believe we're COMPLETE. What do you have to really console yourself with? Who's taking care of you? Who's really taking care of you, Thomas? I take it you don't believe in guardian angels, either.
THOMAS (low) : I don't.
FATHER FLANNELL: I figured that. So, in other words, you don't believe that you're being watched. You're left wide open. You're on your own. Nobody but yourself is guiding you, then!
THOMAS: That's right.
FATHER FLANNELL: That's horrible! How can you ever take a breath in peace? And feeling that no creator's eyes are on you?
THOMAS (thinking): I don't know. I'm alive, aren't I? I'm breathing.
FATHER FLANNELL: (He holds THOMAS' arm.) That's just it! You are alive! You are breathing! WHY? What caused it? That's the question! Appreciate the gift that has been given to you. Trust in God. Trust in the Lord.
THOMAS looks noticeably sad.
FATHER FLANNELL: Trust in the Holy Spirit, whether you can feel it or not!
A short pause. For the time being, FATHER FLANNELL and THOMAS seem to have completely forgotten that they have been involved in a car accident. No cars are coming by, either.
THOMAS looks rather distressed, as though he is struggling to express something.
FATHER FLANNELL: Trust..... and faith.
THOMAS: I don't know. (He pauses.) You people are all alike.
FATHER FLANNELL: What? What's that supposed to mean?
THOMAS: You..... you have to change people, right? If someone doesn't look at life in almost exactly the way you do, then they have to be changed.
FATHER FLANNELL (correcting him): We don't look at it that way. We don't try to change people. We just try to .....convert them.
THOMAS: Oh.
FATHER FLANNELL (firmly): We try to help people.
FATHER FLANNELL walks over to the sisters.
Soon, THOMAS follows him.
SISTER KATHLEEN: (Referring to SISTER HESTER) She'll be all right. She was just shaken up..... (She looks at THOMAS) ..... AGAIN.
THOMAS: Sorry.
FATHER FLANNELL: She should be OK to sit up now.
SISTER MADELINE suddenly spots something up the road.
SISTER MADELINE (excited): LOOK! There's a car coming!
Sure enough, a medium-sized car comes down the road. It is being driven by an elderly man who is wearing a suit.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Yeah, it is a car!
SISTER MADELINE: Quick, let's wave it down!
FATHER FLANNELL: Don't worry. He'll see us.
SISTER MADELINE starts to walk on the road and toward the approaching car. THOMAS motions for her to stay back, and he waves his arms for the car to stop. The elderly man slows down. He looks a bit surprised to see the father and the sisters standing and waiting. THOMAS starts to cross the road. Suddenly, the man speeds up and drives right by everyone without looking back.
THOMAS (yelling and waving): Hey!
THOMAS backs away to avoid being hit.
THOMAS: HEY!!
The others look on, amazed.
THOMAS: Shit! I can't believe that! Unbelievable!
He walks back to the group and leans up against their car.
THOMAS: He saw me! Nobody is gonna tell me he didn't see all of us waiting here! He looked right at me! He knew what happened!
SISTER MADELINE shakes her head in disbelief. A pause.
FATHER FLANNELL: He must have been in some rush.
THOMAS: What rush?! What rush?! He just didn't give a damn!
SISTER MADELINE: I saw him see us.
SISTER KATHLEEN: That's something.
THOMAS: It's ridiculous!
FATHER FLANNELL: I guess he just didn't want to get involved.
THOMAS: This is nothing for him to get involved in! All he had to do was stop and let me ask him to call somebody--the cops, or a gas station, or something!
SISTER MADELINE: It's peculiar.
THOMAS: It's stupid, that's what it is!
They pause a few moments.
FATHER FLANNELL: You would think that..... I don't know. Well.....
SISTER KATHLEEN: What?
FATHER FLANNELL: You would think that..... (He refers to his white collar, and to the sisters' clothing.) .....Well, that after seeing..... a man of the church, and sisters--he would stop.
THOMAS: Yeah, you would think that, wouldn't you?
FATHER FLANNELL: Well, it's common sense, really. I mean..... seeing a few of God's helpers in need of a little assistance.....
SISTER MADELINE: It's shameful, what he did.
THOMAS agrees.
THOMAS: It is. Who knows? Maybe he was another--
SISTER KATHLEEN and SISTER MADELINE (yelling) : DON"T SAY IT!!
FATHER FLANNELL: Shhhhh!!
The father points to SISTER HESTER.
THOMAS: Sorry.
SISTER KATHLEEN shakes her head and watches SISTER HESTER, who was just about ready to scream again. A long pause as they search for more words and look around. No cars are coming.
FATHER FLANNELL eventually breaks the silence.
FATHER FLANNELL: Well, one thing is for sure.....
SISTER KATHLEEN: What's that?
FATHER FLANNELL: God sure works in mysterious ways, doesn't He?
SISTER MADELINE: Yes.
SISTER KATHLEEN: You can say that again.
THOMAS: Yeah..... if you call what he does working.
FATHER FLANNELL: What do you mean by that? Of course He's working. He works a lot.
THOMAS: Even overtime?
FATHER FLANNELL: Listen, I don't know his exact hours, but he's busy, that's for sure. He's working right now--I know that.
THOMAS: Prove it.
FATHER FLANNELL (confused): There are certain things that even a priest can't quite..... I mean, just look at everything that's around you..... You can see that God works hard and watches over everything and everyone.
SISTER MADELINE walks over.
THOMAS: He watches over everyone?
FATHER FLANNELL (confidently): Of course.
THOMAS: He's watching over us right now?
FATHER FLANNELL: Yes.
THOMAS: Well, then how did he ever allow us to get into this accident? He was supposed to be watching us then, too--right?
FATHER FLANNELL: Hold on.
THOMAS (persisting): Right?
FATHER FLANNELL: Wait a second.
SISTER MADELINE: Never put the Lord to the rest!
FATHER FLANNELL: That's right.
THOMAS: Why?
FATHER FLANNELL: Because.
SISTER MADELINE: You're not supposed to.
THOMAS: Says who?
SISTER MADELINE: Says the Bible.
FATHER FLANNELL (sternly): No tests.
THOMAS: Really?
FATHER FLANNELL: Yep.
THOMAS (thinking): How about a quiz?
FATHER FLANNELL: Nope. None of that.
SISTER MADELINE: Right.
THOMAS paces a little and glances up the road.
THOMAS: Well, that's pretty crummy, isn't it? There's all these questions..... and you can never seem to get to whoever's making the big test in the first place.
FATHER FLANNELL (thinking): Well..... a lot of that is just truly beyond us. (He pauses.) Look at it this way. At least you have yourself to test. Test yourself.
There is a long pause. Everyone continues waiting.
FATHER FLANNELL breaks the silence.
FATHER FLANNELL: Well, now what?
SISTER KATHLEEN shrugs.
THOMAS looks confused, as usual.
THOMAS: I guess we should exchange information on our own.
FATHER FLANNELL: What do you mean?
THOMAS: We should write down each other's license plate numbers and driver's license numbers and all that. We'll forget about the police. We'll handle this ourselves--and get on our way. We all have things to do today. I'll need the name of your insurance company, and I'll give you mine.
They reach for their wallets.
FATHER FLANNELL: I'll give you the phone number of the church--just in case there are any problems.
THOMAS: Good idea. I'll give you my home phone number.
They start writing things down.
THOMAS: What was your name again?
FATHER FLANNELL: Father Flannell. Walter Flannell.
THOMAS (writing): Walter.....Flannell.
FATHER FLANNELL: And what's your last name?
THOMAS: Thompson.
FATHER FLANNELL: Thomas.....Thompson. (He checks his paper.) Is that spelled right?
THOMAS: Yeah.
FATHER FLANNELL: Are you married, Thomas?
THOMAS: No, I'm not.
FATHER FLANNELL (low): Oh..... I'm surprised.
THOMAS: Why is that?
FATHER FLANNELL: You seem like an interesting kind of person. I figured you'd come into contact with a lot of young women.
THOMAS (A bit surprised): Really?
FATHER FLANNELL: Yeah.
THOMAS: The truth is..... I don't.
FATHER FLANNELL puts his hand on THOMAS' shoulder.
FATHER FLANNELL: There's plenty of fish in the sea.
THOMAS: Yeah..... if you're looking to meet a fish.
FATHER FLANNELL: What?
THOMAS: Hmmm. I do have some friends--I've known them for years. But I hardly ever meet anybody new. People in general, I mean.
THOMAS and FATHER FLANNELL look at each other for a moment. A pause.
FATHER FLANNELL: Did we do everything we were supposed to?
THOMAS: Yeah.
FATHER FLANNELL: So I did pretty well for my first car accident, didn't I?
THOMAS: Yeah, you did fine.
SISTER KATHLEEN slowly walks over to them.
FATHER FLANNELL: I hope this is my first and last one.
THOMAS: I hope so, too.
The two awkwardly prepare to shake hands.
THOMAS: Well.....
They begin to shake hands. SISTER KATHLEEN comes right between the two.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Hey, you know, we never decided whose fault this all was.
The father and THOMAS gaze at each other, a bit dumbfounded.
FATHER FLANNELL: Um......
THOMAS: It doesn't matter, really. Both of our insurance rates will probably go up anyway.
THOMAS slowly shakes hands with FATHER FLANNELL, and nods at SISTER KATHLEEN. They all begin to walk back to their cars. THOMAS turns and looks back at FATHER FLANNELL in a concerned way. He refers to SISTER HESTER.
THOMAS: You sure she's gonna be OK?
SISTER KATHLEEN shakes her head, no. FATHER FLANNELL nods his head, yes.
FATHER FLANNELL: Yeah, she'll be fine.
THOMAS: Good.
FATHER FLANNELL keeps looking at THOMAS.
FATHER FLANNELL: You know, maybe it was God's will that we got involved in this little.....predicament.
THOMAS looks at him and shrugs.
THOMAS: I doubt it.
They get into their cars. The cars move back onto the road and begin traveling in opposite directions. THOMAS quickly waves and takes off. The father drives away more slowly. Both cars drive off. As soon as we lose sight of them, a police car slowly drives by. The officer is obviously unaware of the accident that had just taken place.
THE END
person involved:
Rick Caspor
others:
Mrs. Plebbin
Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston and Tracy
Mr. and Mrs. Yankers
Mr. and Mrs. Hatch
Mr. Angelt
Mr. Cellick
Mr. Elton
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks
Mr. and Mrs. Bankel and Ricky and Sally
Mrs. Ripore
Mr. Caspor
The first thing that we hear is a rather loud crash. We fade in on a
view of a suburban street. Split-level houses are on each side, and we
see that the street is actually a dead end court. A sign on the corner
says "Fairley Court." Around sixteen houses can be seen. The
houses at the end of the court--those in the circle-- are somewhat larger
than the others. There is a tree in front of each house; the lawns are
generally well-kept. In fact, a few sprinklers are running. No one seems
to be around.
In the direct middle of the court, a car seems to be parked crooked. As we move in closer, we see that the car is up over the curb and that the front has been driven into a telephone pole. A young man who looks to be around eighteen years old is in the car, huddled over in the front seat. His tape deck is still playing something loudly by Bruce Springsteen. For a short time, nothing much happens. Then things start happening almost too fast for words to describe. During the course of the next two minutes or so, around fifteen people will gather by the car.
Within about twenty seconds after we hear the initial crash, an elderly woman--MRS. PLEBBIN, walks from behind her house, where she was pulling out weeds. She looks stunned and concerned. It is her house that is closest to the accident. It is her pole that the kid hit. MRS. PLEBBIN rather reluctantly approaches the car. In the meantime, garages and doors are opening, people are looking out of their windows, walking outside to look down the block.
It is not long before we see seven or so adults and handful of children coming from the upper part of the court. Still another six people are walking or running over from the circle end. A few houses down, a middle-aged man, MR. JOHNSTON, is seen instructing his wife and little girl to wait on their porch, while he goes to see what happened. MRS. JOHNSTON is in her bathrobe. In fact, several of the neighbors who are to arrive are shabbily dressed.
Throughout this scene, there is continual chatter among everyone--the dialogues here are the ones that the camera merely centers on. MRS. PLEBBIN reaches the car first, but backs off. She is frightened because the young man in the car is not moving. MR. JOHNSTON rushes right by her and right up to the kid.
MR. JOHNSTON (to MRS. PLEBBIN): It's all right. Someone has to do this.
He opens the car door and reaches for the kid. He tries to turn him over and sees his face.
MR. JOHNSTON: Rick.....Rick Caspor.
MRS. PLEBBIN (hysterically): IS HE DEAD?
MR. JOHNSTON (plainly): I really don't know.
MRS. PLEBBIN (crying): Is he all right?
Most of the others have reached the car by now, and are asking each other about what might have happened. Clearly, no one knows anything about the accident. A few of the children are close to crying.
MRS. PLEBBIN: I said, is he all right?
MR. JOHNSTON: I said I don't know.
He taps RICK on the cheeks and his eyes open up.
MRS. PLEBBIN (pestering): Huh? What? What did you say?
MR. JOHNSTON (relieved): He's all right.
MRS. PLEBBIN: He's all right?
MR. ELTON stands right near MRS. PLEBBIN.
MR. ELTON: Is he OK?
Others join in on the initial commotion.
MR. CELLICK: What the hell happened here?
MR. JOHNSTON: Yeah, he's OK.
MRS. HATCH: How did this happen?
MR. RODGERS: I don't know. I just heard that awful crash.
MRS. RODGERS: Terrible.....
MR. YANKERS: .....just as long as Rick is OK.
MR. ANGELT: It's a shame.
MR. JOHNSTON: I'll need help here.
MRS. PLEBBIN: What?
MR. ELTON: He's not trapped in there, is he?
MR. JOHNSTON: Um.....no. He's OK.
RICK (low): Am I all right?
MRS. PLEBBIN: Did he just say anything?
MR. ANGELT: It's a real shame.
MR. RODGERS: Yeah.
MR. HATCH: Look at that telephone pole.
MRS. RODGERS: .....terrible.
MR. JOHNSTON (frustrated): Will somebody give me a hand here?
MR. ELTON: Oh.....Oh, sure.
RICK: Am I OK?
MR. CELLICK: Yeah, you're OK. (to the others) He's OK.
MRS. PLEBBIN: Are you sure?
MR. JOHNSTON: Help me here.
MR. JOHNSTON and MR. ELTON lift RICK out of the car and try to stand him on his feet. RICK looks quite dazed. They walk him over to the curb by the car and lay him down on the grass by the sidewalk.
MRS. RODGERS: He doesn't look too good.
MR. ELTON: He'll be fine. He's just a little shaken up. Lay him down on the grass..... here.
MR. CELLICK: What the hell happened, anyway?
MR. ANGELT: I don't know.
MRS. HATCH: Did anyone see this happen?
MR. ANGELT: I don't think so.
MRS. PLEBBIN: I was out weeding in the back..... and I heard that crash! I knew something had happened.
MR. HATCH: That's what I heard. It was that crash! It was like..... Boom!
MRS. PLEBBIN: Yeah! Just like that!
MR. RODGERS: It happened so fast.
MR. CELLICK: We heard it all the way down at the end of the block! You know where we are.
MR. ANGELT: Yeah, me too.
MR. JOHNSTON and MR. ELTON in particular keep watch over RICK. They bend down beside him.
MR. YANKERS: I heard the noise from inside my house! My wife, too!
MRS. PLEBBIN (starting to repeat herself): Yeah, I was out in the back.....
MR. RODGERS (cutting in): I was all the way on the side of my house.....
A pause.
MR. HATCH: Hey, how's the kid doing?
MR. JOHNSTON: He's a little..... dazed.
Almost everyone is standing by RICK. A few of the neighbors look at the car.
MR. ANGELT (touching the car): The damage isn't too bad.....
MR. CELLICK: No..... Besides, how fast could a kid go on a court like this?
MR. ANGELT: That's true. Lookit here. Mainly this headlight is shot..... A nice bump here..... This one isn't bad.....
MR. CELLICK: Yeah. That one there..... that can be hammered out.
MR. and MRS. BANKEL approach the scene with their two young children.
MR. BANKEL (a bit distanced): Hello.
MR. CELLICK: How are you?
MR. BANKEL: Pretty good. Pretty good.
MRS. BANKEL: Hello.
MR. CELLICK: Hello.
They gaze around, looking for words.
MR. BANKEL: Well..... what happened here?
MR. CELLICK (shrugging): A little..... accident.
MRS. BANKEL (looking around): How could.....
MR. CELLICK: We don't know what's going on yet.
MR. ANGELT: Yeah. Rick Caspor there--you know the kid who lives in the green house there--
MR. BANKEL: Yeah.
MR. ANGELT: Number nine.
MR. BANKEL: Yeah. Yeah, we've seen him.
MR. ANGELT: ..... he just bashed into this telephone pole here.
MR. BANKEL: God.
The children innocently look on. Some of the small kids have begun playing by the accident. MRS. BANKEL is truly perplexed.
MRS. BANKEL: .....but how could.....
MR. CELLICK: Like I said, Miss--we don't know nothing yet.
MRS. BANKEL (shaking her head): .....ridiculous.
MR. ELTON suddenly cuts in.
MR. ELTON: Jesus, did anyone call an ambulance?
MR. HATCH: Do we really need one?
MRS. RODGERS: I did. I mean, I told my son to call one--right before I walked out the door. I told Bert. You know--my nineteen year old.
MR. ELTON: You don't think he'd forget?
MRS. RODGERS: No, no.
MR. JOHNSTON: It's gonna take an ambulance a while to get here. It always takes a while.
RICK is laid out on the grass. Many of the neighbors stare down at him, shaking their heads. RICK looks pretty good, though. Thirteen year old TRACY JOHNSTON approaches RICK slowly.
TRACY (quietly): Hi, Rick.
TRACY turns to one of the other children who are standing near her.
TRACY: You know.....sometimes he baby-sits for me.
MR. JOHNSTON quickly turns around, surprised to hear his daughter's voice.
MR. JOHNSTON (angry): What--what are you doing here?! (louder) What are you doing here? I told you to stay on the porch with Mommy!
TRACY: Mommy and me came because we saw that Rick wasn't bloody or anything.
MR. JOHNSTON (fuming): I don't care what you saw! I told the two of you not to come over here!
MRS. JOHNSTON cuts in sharply.
MRS. JOHNSTON: What's the difference? We were curious!
TRACY: It doesn't really matter, does it?
MR. JOHNSTON: It certainly does matter! It matters to me! I didn't want--
MRS. JOHNSTON (yelling): Oh, big deal! Big deal!
MR. JOHNSTON: It is a big deal! I'm the father in the family!!
MR. ANGELT steps in, hoping to prevent the argument from building any further.
MR. ANGELT: It's all right, Hal.....
MR. JOHNSTON: Not to me, it's not. (to TRACY) Did you at least lock the door?
TRACY: I, um.....no. We just ran over.
MR. JOHNSTON (comically furious): With the door left wide open?! So just anyone can just walk right in? What do you call this? Every week we read in the papers about all the robberies that are going on, and that's what you do!!
MRS. JOHNSTON: Dear Lord in heaven.....
TRACY: But Mommy was worried and everything. We just wanted to see if Rick was OK.
MR. JOHNSTON (trying to calm down): No excuse. No excuse at all. I'll talk to both of you later. You leave the records on, the TV on, the lights on! Everything on, everything open! You don't know what it is to pay all the--
MRS. JOHNSTON: Oh, shut up! How often is it that somebody gets into an accident on this block?
A number of the other neighbors chuckle at the rather typical family spat. They try not to show the JOHNSTONS that they have created a small scene.
MR. JOHNSTON: All right, let's just forget about it! Now is not the time--just..... forget about it.
MRS. JOHNSTON: My husband thinks that things like this happen all the time.
MR. ANGELT: No, that's silly. (He pauses.) Of course, I remember going back around eight years ago, back when my wife and I lived in Bayonne..... Some boy named Smithman got drunk and hit our Volkswagen. Just skimmed it, though.
MR. HATCH: Look at what happened to my Ford two years ago! Some guy hit it while I was parked.
MR. ANGELT: Where was this--at the mall?
MR. HATCH: No it happened right up here on Jensen street. Some guy was driving through the neighborhood--he was lost, looking at a map while he was driving. He hit my car from behind.
MR. ANGELT: My God.
MR. HATCH: You never know about that?
MR. ANGELT: No, I never heard about it.
MR. HATCH: It wasn't a major thing or anything. I mean, there really weren't any people home at the time. This happened on a weekday--not like today. On a Sunday.
MR. ANGELT: Oh, I see. No one was around.
MR. HATCH: No. And my wife loved that Ford, too. It never looked the same after that accident. She got really upset about that. My wife doesn't drive much, you know.
MRS. HATCH: Just to the mall and food shopping..... and Bingo once in a while.
MR. ANGELT: Yeah?
MR. HATCH: Yeah.
MR. ANGELT: Well, we were gonna sue that Smithman kid a few years ago.
MR. HATCH: Yeah?
MR. ANGELT: But that family could never afford much. They turned out to be bums, the whole bunch of them. They never belonged in this nice neighborhood.
MRS. HATCH: No.
MR. HATCH: They must have been lousy.
Nearby, MR. CELLICK converses with MRS. PLEBBIN.
MR. CELLICK: Yeah, luck--I'm telling you. That's what so much of it is about.
He pauses and takes out his wallet. He pulls out a few little tickets.
MR. CELLICK: Here, look at this. (He pauses.) Did you watch the lottery on TV last night?
MRS. PLEBBIN: No. I missed last night--I saw it the other night. You should have seen. I was so close.
MR. CELLICK: Really?
MRS. PLEBBIN: I almost screamed.
MR. CELLICK: Was it the four numbers--the Pick-4?
MRS. PLEBBIN: Oh, no, no. This was the Pick-3.
MR. CELLICK: Oh.
MRS. PLEBBIN: I missed it by one number.
MR. CELLICK: That's what always happens to me!
MRS. PLEBBIN: It happens to me all the time.
MR. CELLICK: Well, last night, I--
MRS. PLEBBIN: I had three-seventy-two. (She pauses) No, three-seventy-three. Three- seventy-three and three-seventy-two came out!
MR. CELLICK: That's a shame, isn't it? If you had three-seventy-three, that would have been great because that number would have paid higher. You know, because of the two threes.
MRS. PLEBBIN: Yeah. That's right. That's right.
MR. CELLICK: Well, I missed the Pick-4 last night.
MRS. PLEBBIN: Oh, God.
MR. CELLICK: I always play the numbers on my license plate--one-three-nine-six.
MRS. PLEBBIN: What came out?
MR. CELLICK: One-three-nine-two! I just missed the last number. That whole number would have paid almost four hundred dollars!
MRS. PLEBBIN: .....shame.
MR. CELLICK: And I played it straight and boxed, too! That would have given me even more.
MRS. PLEBBIN: Yeah, it happens all the time.
MR. CELLICK: It sure does. Jesus, I could have taken that money and used it to go to Atlantic City!
A few of the neighbors' heads turn as they see a man coming out of his house. The house is green, and is about a block up the street. The man walks out to his driveway, looks at the gathered crowd, and slowly walks toward everyone else.
MR. YANKERS (To the others): It's Mr. Caspor!
MRS. YANKERS: It's Rick's father.
MR. RODGERS: Jeez, I didn't even think to call him in the first place. I didn't even know he was home.....
MR. ELTON: Well, what with all the commotion.....
MR. CASPOR'S face gets extremely serious and worried as he nears the group and sees his son's car. The others see his nervousness. MR. CASPOR picks up his pace.
MRS. JOHNSTON: It's all right, Mr. Caspor. Rick is OK. Just a little accident.
MR. CASPOR: What the hell happened?
MRS. JOHNSTON: He somehow hit the telephone pole here.
MRS. RODGERS: Don't worry. He's OK, though.
MR. CASPOR: Is he hurt?
MRS. JOHNSTON: No, not really.
MR. CASPOR (concerned): Not really?
MR. ANGELT: Don't worry--someone called an ambulance. You know, the first aid squad or whatever--just in case.
MR. CASPOR: Rick--
MR. CASPOR kneels down by RICK. In the meantime, MRS. PLEBBIN and MR. CELLICK are still chatting.
MRS. PLEBBIN: By the way, how is your wife?
MR. CELLICK: Oh, she's fine--fine.
MRS. PLEBBIN: How is her back?
MR. CELLICK: Oh, her back is much better now. Yeah, we had to take her to the chiropractor every four days for a while there.
MRS. PLEBBIN: Did she have a relapse?
MR. CELLICK: Muscle strain! Muscle strain. You know--she's always trimming the bushes, working in the garden. I think the trouble starts when she bends over to pull out all the damned weeds.
MRS. PLEBBIN: I go through that, too.
MR. CELLICK: We all do. Getting older now, you know.
MRS. PLEBBIN: That's right. (She pauses.) Just as long as she's feeling better.
MR. CELLICK: Oh, she's better. Much better. Well..... Just her knee has been acting up lately.....
MR. CASPOR talks to his son.
MR. CASPOR: Rick..... Rick.
RICK: Dad.....
MR. CASPOR: How do you feel?
RICK: Not too..... bad.
MR. CASPOR: Good.
MR. JOHNSTON cuts in a moment.
MR. JOHNSTON: He looks good already.
MR. CASPOR: Does anything..... hurt?
RICK: No..... maybe my side just a little.
MR. CASPOR: Which side?
RICK: My right one. It's not too bad. Ohhh.....
MR. JOHNSTON: Just don't lay on it a while.
MR. CASPOR positions RICK a little better.
MR. CASPOR: Here..... just lay this way now.
RICK rolls on his side a bit.
MR. CASPOR: Good?
RICK: Yeah. That's better.
Many of the neighbors keep on chatting and watching from a short distance away. MR. CASPOR just stares at RICK and shakes his head.
RICK (groaning): Ohhhhh.....
MR. CASPOR looks at the car and at RICK and keeps shaking his head.
MR. CASPOR: Too much. Too much.
RICK: Hmmm?
MR. CASPOR: Nothing.
RICK turns a little and sees many of the others staring at him. He also sees his car.
RICK: Ohhhhh. Shit. My car.....
MR. CASPOR (bluntly): Don't worry about the car. I just want to know how it happened.
A pause.
RICK: I'm not sure what happened.
MR. CASPOR (instructing): Think.
RICK stares off at the chatting neighbors.
RICK: As long as I'm all right, what's the difference?
MR. CASPOR (getting upset): You just don't get into an accident like that on your own block.
MR. YANKERS cuts in.
MRS. YANKERS: Excuse me, Mr. Caspor. Do you need anything? Can we do something? Band-Aids?
MR. CASPOR: No, thank you, Mrs. Yankers. We're OK.
MRS. YANKERS: He isn't cut or anything?
MR. CASPOR: No--thanks.
MRS. YANKERS: OK.
MR. CASPOR turns back to RICK and stares coldly at him. RICK stares back. Finally, he breaks the silence.
RICK: I don't know, Dad. I don't know. I might have been daydreaming.
MR. CASPOR: Daydreaming?
RICK (slowly): I don't know. I was just driving around. Then I came down the block. I was just driving and thinking. You know..... I might have drifted a little.
MR. CASPOR heats up.
MR. CASPOR: Drifted?! You don't drift when you're driving!
RICK: Like I said..... I don't know.....
MR. CASPOR: What were you thinking about--if you were thinking at all?
RICK (giving in) : I was just driving. I was thinking about..... school..... and how I'll be graduating soon. I was wondering about what I'd do after that. About what kind of job I would try and find this summer. I'm tired of working at the gas station. I wanted something more..... I don't know. I have no luck yet. And I still don't have a girlfriend.
There are curious looks from those who are watching and not chatting. A pause, and MR. BROOKS cuts in.
MR. BROOKS: I guess he was daydreaming.
There is a moment of silence, and then MR. CASPOR'S anger erupts. He glares at no one in particular.
MR. CASPOR: Goddamn it, why can't you daydream at home? Why do you have to do it out in the open? Why can't you ever do things like you're supposed to?
He tries to calm down as he sees the neighbors paying attention.
MR. CASPOR: That's the trouble with you kids today! Heads are too much out in the clouds! You have to know what you're doing and think at the same time!
MR. YANKERS steps in and tries to ease the pain of the situation.
MR. YANKERS: Listen, the main thing is Rick is going to be all right.
A few of the neighbors quietly say good-bye and begin to walk down the street to go back to their homes. MR. ANGELT approaches MR. BROOKS.
MR. ANGELT: How are you?
MR. BROOKS: Pretty good. Haven't seen you in a while.
MR. ANGELT: Well, you know how it is. Everyone in the family comes and goes. Who goes to school, who goes to work.
MR. BROOKS: Yeah, it's like that with everyone on the block. Everyone watches for themselves. I see Mr. Johnston once in a while outside, but I haven't talked to him in a while, either.
MR. ANGELT: No--who has the time anymore?
An awkward pause.
MR. BROOKS: At least the lawns look pretty good this year.
MR. CELLICK slowly walks over to MR. ANGELT and MR. BROOKS.
MR. CELLICK: Hello. I don't believe I've ever actually introduced myself to either of you. I'm Mike Cellick--up the block.
They all shake hands.
MR. ANGELT: Oh, yes. I've seen you with your wife.
MR. CELLICK: I have two boys, too. You've probably seen them playing.
MR. BROOKS: So you are the new people.
MR. CELLICK: Yeah, the other nice people--the Turnels--they moved, and we moved in.
MR. BROOKS: How do you like it here?
MR. CELLICK: It's good. I mean, my kids can go to school, they can walk right there. The church is close, too. And the neighbors, everyone on the block seems nice. My wife and I haven't had much of a chance to get around to everyone much yet.
MR. ANGELT: Who does?
MR. CELLICK: In time I'm sure we'll meet everyone. We've only been here eight months now.
MR. BROOKS: Most of the time nice people move in.
MR. YANKERS walks over to the other men.
MR. YANKERS: Jeez, I wonder where the ambulance is? We should all write a letter to the local paper. The kid could be dying here.
RICK tries to get up, but MR. JOHNSTON pushes him back down.
MR. JOHNSTON: No, Rick--just be patient.
MR. ANGELT starts talking to MR. JOHNSTON.
MR. ANGELT: Hello, Ted.
MR. JOHNSTON: Hello.
MR. ANGELT: You know, I keep forgetting. What is it that you do for a living?
MR. JOHNSTON: Oh, I'm still in real estate. I sell it, live in it. That kind of thing.
MR. ANGELT: Good money in that?
MR. JOHNSTON: Pretty good.
A pause.
MR. ANGELT: I remember you and me were the first ones to move in on this block. It was nothing but practically rocks then. That was around sixteen years ago.
MR. JOHNSTON: (slowly) Yeah, time goes.
MR. ANGELT: I take it your kids are out of school now.
MR. JOHNSTON: They're in college now, you know. Always changing their damn colleges too. My boy is looking to move out to one in Texas now. He doesn't know what he wants to do.
MR. ANGELT: What can you do?
After a long pause, MR. CASPOR bends down and talks quietly to RICK.
MR. CASPOR: Look at this. You ever play this?
RICK: Not yet.
MR. CASPOR: I played seven-ninety-two last night, but six-ninety-two came out. One of these days, Rick, and we'll hit it big and we won't have to worry about things like your car accident here, and things like that.
RICK: That would be nice.
A pause.
MR. CASPOR: Let's face it. The damn ambulance isn't coming. I really don't think anybody called one. All the neighbors like you though, Rick. They really do.
RICK: I know. Look, I'm all right to stand up and go inside. I'll be all right.
RICK slowly stands up.
MR. ANGELT: He's OK.
MR. BROOKS: Is he all right, Mr. Caspor?
MR. CASPOR: Yes, he's fine.
RICK: I'm OK.
MR. CASPOR: I'll take him inside and let him lie in there. He'll even be back at school soon enough. Maybe even tomorrow.
The remaining neighbors look pleased and they all begin to say a quick good-bye to each other. Before they leave, MR. CASPOR turns to everyone.
MR. CASPOR: By the way, I want to thank everyone for coming out to see what happened. That was nice.
The remaining people acknowledge him.
MR. ANGELT: That's OK, Mr. Caspor.
MR. CELLICK: As long as he's all right.....
MR. JOHNSTON: No problem.
They all walk away and head for their houses.
MR. CASPOR and RICK are left alone. After a pause, MR. CASPOR leads RICK toward their house.
MR. CASPOR: We have good neighbors. They were always good to us through the years. (a pause) Yes sir, it was good to see the neighbors again. Let's see--it's been a long time, that's for sure. I get to thinking of when you smacked up our old damn Pontiac down the other end of the block last year. Remember that one?
THE END