Act
II
FADE IN
INT. CHANCE HARPER’S CAR – DAY
CHANCE whistles a non-descript tune as he drives. He turns the corner and there, just a half block away, is the jewelry store that had just recently been robbed.. There are five police cars and two ambulances parked at odd angles in front of the store. A uniformed police officer is in the center of the street trying to direct traffic past the scene while several other police officers begin erecting a perimeter with yellow crime scene tape. Some of the people who had been hostages earlier stand on the sidewalk in front of the store speaking with other policemen.
He follows the single-file line of cars as they snake past the officer directing traffic, then he pulls over and stops alongside the curb just a short distance past the alley near the jewelry store.CHANCE (to himself as he slows down)
Okay, Chance, don’t get side-tracked.
Grabbing his Leica camera, he opens his car door.CHANCE (to himself)
Unless it’s for a really good reason.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE JEWELRY STORE – DAYCUT TO:
Chance exits the car, closing the door behind him. He walks to the back bumper where he composes and shoots a couple of pictures of the people and action around the crime scene, then walks toward the jewelry store. He gets a dozen or so paces before another policeman holds up his arm to stop him right in front of the alley.
CHANCE fumbles in an inside pocket of his beat-up trench coat.POLICEMAN Sorry, sir, but that’s as far as you go.
THE POLICEMAN examines the ID, looks at Chance, looks back to the ID again, then hands it back to him.CHANCE Actually officer, I’m with the press.
(locates his press ID, hands it to the policeman)
I just wanted to get a couple of photographs here — you know, the people and stuff.
The policeman moves away toward other onlookers. Crowd control is beginning to be a problem. Chance composes a few more photographs of the curious crowd that’s gathering, the policemen at their various tasks, the hostages near the store entrance still being questioned. Engrossed in the moment, he doesn’t notice the WINO approaching him from the alley in the background.POLICEMAN Okay, but you’re gonna have to get your pictures from right here. I can’t let anyone go any closer until the scene is secured.(shrugs) CHANCE
No problem.
THE WINO hung over, shuffles toward Chance with short, unsteady steps, clutching an empty wine bottle in an old, crumpled brown paper sack. He ignores everything else happening around him and homes in on Chance until he is only a few feet from him.
CHANCE starts. He had been completely oblivious to the approaching man. He turns to him now.WINO (raspy voice, note entirely sober)
I knew they were bad.
CHANCE gives the wino his full attention as the light begins to dawn in his mind: this old man saw the perpetrators, and nobody else knows.CHANCE I beg your pardon?Those three guys. I knew they were no good, all dressed in black like that. WINO
THE WINO slowly shakes the empty wine bottle back and forth.CHANCE You saw the guys that robbed this place?
He pauses, then looks down at his hand clutching the wine bottle in the bag.WINO (sadly)
Nobody pays attention to an old homeless guy.
He punctuates the word “drunk” by pounding his chest with the fist clutching the bottle, causing him to stumble and nearly lose his balance. Chance grabs hold of one of the old man’s arms to steady him. The wino squints his eyes at Chance like he can’t quite get him in focus, then with his free hand grabs one of Chance’s lapels and clings to it. Chance releases the man’s arm.WINO (CONT.) An old drunk!
CHANCE jerks his head to the side and back to escape the smell of the wino’s breath, his nose crinkling up, then recovers and gently tries to loosen the man’s grip on his lapel while helping him to remain balanced.WINO (exhales toward Chance’s face)
Woooooo.
Chance stretches his arm out to pull his coat sleeve away from his watch face, then pulls his wrist up to read the time.CHANCE (repeating)
Did you see the guys that robbed this place?(ignoring the question) WINO
What time is it, anyhow?
Chance winces. It’s getting close to exhibit time at the museum.CHANCE
Ten minutes to eleven.
THE WINO releases Chance’s lapel.
He partially raises the bottle, then closes one eye and squints into the bottle opening for several seconds, carefully inspecting its interior, not entirely steady on his feet. Disappointed, he drops his arm to his side again, the bottle held loosely in his fingers. He slumps his shoulders and hangs his head.WINO (slowly, jabbing his finger into Chance’s chest
every couple of words for emphasis)
Time to have a drink!
CHANCE feels for the old man, but time is getting short if he’s going to make the museum opening. He hesitates a second, weighing his options, then stuffs his hand into his pants pocket, pulling out one of the $20 bills he won with the scratcher.
He extends the folded bill toward the wino who grabs for the money, but Chance pulls it back before the wino can take it.CHANCE Tell you what . . .
THE WINO peers at Chance suspiciously. He’s street-wise and knows this “gift” is going to cost him something, but he really wants that drink.CHANCE Ah ah ah, not so fast. Let’s make a deal.
CHANCE smiles disarmingly.WINO (suspiciously)
What’s the deal?
EXT. BOARDING HOUSE – DAYCUT TO:
Bryan knocks on the front door then folds his hands behind his back and rocks up and down on the balls of his feet, waiting. He’s still dressed in his slacks, shirt and tie from work. Inside he HEARS FOOTSTEPS pounding down the stairs.
Mrs. Johnson opens the door.JESSICA (loudly o.s. through the door)
I’ll get it.
He is interrupted by Jessica’s arrival as she skids into view and crowds in front of Mrs. Johnson, who feigns annoyance.BRYAN (brightly)
Hi . . .
Bryan examines her. She’s dressed in white tennis shoes, black jeans and a light blue pullover shirt with pretty pink and yellow flowers on it. Her hair is neatly drawn back in a pony tail.MRS. JOHNSON Jessica, really!(ignoring the rebuke) JESSICA
Hey, Bryan! I’m ready to go.
He turns to Mrs. Johnson and raises an eyebrow in silent question, Is she ready to go? She places her hands on Jessica’s shoulders and smiles broadly.BRYAN (nods approval)
I guess you are!
JESSICA cranes her head to look up at Mrs. Johnson.MRS. JOHNSON And when do expect to be back, young lady?
JESSICA Um . . .
She pauses, looks back to Bryan for
help. Bryan chuckles.
BRYAN (to Mrs. Johnson)
Four o’clock? I thought maybe we would grab a burger or hot dog or something after we look around the exhibit.Yeah! JESSICA
(nodding approval) MRS. JOHNSON
That’s fine.
(mock sternness to Jessica)
I expect you to behave yourself, young lady.
JESSICA mock pouts, folding both arms across her chest.JESSICA (looking up at Mrs. Johnson again)
I will, Mrs. Johnson.
(mischievously, looking back at Bryan)
I won’t give him any trouble!(winking) BRYAN
That’ll be the day.
BRYAN extends his hand to Jessica and she contentedly folds her tiny hand inside his.
BRYAN AND JESSICA turn and descend the porch steps and walk down the sidewalk toward his car.BRYAN We’re off.
MRS. JOHNSON steps out onto the porch and waves goodbye to their retreating backs.
BRYAN AND JESSICA continue walking as Bryan half turns back toward her.MRS. JOHNSON Have a good time!
They reach his car, a late model two-door Chevrolet parked along the curb. Bryan opens the passenger door for Jessica and waits while she gets in and fastens the seat belt, then closes her door and walks around the front of the car to the driver’s door. He opens it, waves to Mrs. Johnson, then settles himself into the car, starts it and pulls away from the curb.BRYAN Thanks. We’ll see you about four.
JESSICA waves goodbye through the car window.
MRS. JOHNSON waves back and watches them drive off. Her expression is peculiarly sad as she turns back into the house and shuts the door.
INT. BRYAN’S CAR – DAYCUT TO:
Jessica reaches over and turns the radio on, an alternative music station. MUSIC plays LOUD. Bryan turns it down a few notches.
BRYAN looks over at her as she stares straight out the windshield, sympathy in his face, but something else, too — determination. He is not going to give up his fight to adopt her. He reaches over and pats her hand on the seat.BRYAN (lightly)
We do need to be able to hear ourselves think.(suddenly) JESSICA
She doesn’t think they’re gonna let you be my dad, you know.
JESSICA begins to tear up, her heart troubled.BRYAN (comforting)
Well, we’ll just see about that now, won’t we?
Bryan reaches up and gently wipes a tear from her cheek with the back of his fingers.JESSICA I don’t want to live with the Petersons, Bryan. I mean, they’re nice, and I know they like me, but I only want to live with you. I want you to be my daddy.
Jessica shakes her head No, getting the tears in check and wiping her other eye with the back of her hand.BRYAN Hey, you know what my dad always used to tell me?
Cupping his hand under her chin, he turns her face toward him.BRYAN He’d look at me when I got upset or discouraged and he’d say,
(imitates his father)
Son, it’s not over till it’s over.
BRYAN (CONT.) It’s not over till it’s over, Jess.
(withdraws his hand and concentrates on driving)
Everything is going to work out somehow. I don’t know how, exactly. I just know it is. It has to.BRYAN (CONT.)
(looks back to Jessica)
You believe me, don’t you, honey?
JESSICA wipes the remnants of the tears
from her eyes with both hands.
BRYAN not trusting himself to speak because of the emotion choking him, smiles back at her and then focuses his attention on the road and traffic in front of him.JESSICA (nods and smiles weakly)
I do believe you, daddy.
EXT. MUSEUM – FRONT STEPS – DAYCUT TO:
A crowd of about 40 people, mostly women and children, is gathered on the steps leading up to the front entrance of the Xa Museum of Natural History, a modern three-story building. It has no windows on the ground floor, just two glass doors for the entrance. The second and third floors have several windows visible, each protected by iron security bars to prevent unauthorized access. Most people are standing. Some are sitting and look like they’ve been there for a while. At the main entrance to the museum are two uniformed, armed security guards, the museum curator ROBERT WAINRIGHT, dressed in a dark brown three-piece suit with a white dress shirt and coordinating tie, and TONY REYES, the farmer whom Chance was with when he hit the dinosaur bones in the field, dressed in a western-cut suit and a western-style dress shirt complete with a bola tie. He doesn’t look comfortable dressed up.
EXT. MUSEUM – FRONT STEPS – DAY (CONT.)
The buzz of dozens of different conversations fills the air as everyone waits for the museum doors to open and admit them all inside. Reyes and Wainright are having an animated, good-natured conversation about something but their words are lost amid the multitude of conversations taking place. Wainright laughs at something Reyes says, then pulls a gold pocket watch on a gold chain from a vest pocket and clicks open the face cover to look at the time.
INT. CHANCE HARPER’S CAR – DAYCUT TO:
Chance is driving slowly past the front of the museum. He looks out the passenger side window at the crowd gathered on the museum steps. He looks at the time on his watch — it’s two minutes past eleven. On his left he sees a municipal parking lot and pulls his car into the first driveway he comes to. He rolls down the driver’s side window and takes the offered ticket from the automatic dispenser and tosses it up on the dash as the parking gate lifts to let him through. Spying a parking space not too far away, he drives into it and parks the car, grabs the Leica and hastily exits the vehicle.
EXT. PARKING LOT – DAYCUT TO:
Chance jogs through the parking lot to the street, quickly checks traffic and crosses at a break between cars to the museum steps. He stops to take a picture of the scene in front of the museum.
EXT. MUSEUM – FRONT STEPS – DAYCUT TO:
Wainright pulls the pocket watch out again and checks it. It’s 11:05. He closes the lid and replaces it in his vest pocket, then turns to address the waiting people.
WAINRIGHT raises his arms above his head to attract the attention of the people.
THE CROWD becomes somewhat quieter as they turn and look at Wainright.WAINRIGHT (loud, addressing the whole crowd)
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?
WAINRIGHT motions with his hands for the audience to be quiet. His P.O.V. as Chance begins to make his way through the crowd up the museum steps.
REYES seeing Chance walking up the museum steps, breaks into a big, toothy grin and waves to him.WAINRIGHT (CONT.) Ladies and Gentlemen, please, may I have your attention?
CHANCE nods acknowledgement to Reyes’ greeting and stops to take a couple more pictures of Wainright and Reyes. The crowd is quiet now and the sound of the shutter carries all the way up the museum steps
WAINRIGHT with the people quieted, drops his arms.
WAINRIGHT’S P.O.V.
Bryan and Jessica sprint across the street from the parking lot through a break in the traffic, Jessica’s hand held tightly by a protective Bryan, and join the attentive crowd.
THE CROWD applauds and nods.WAINRIGHT (CONT.) My name is Robert Wainright. On behalf of the Xa Museum of Natural History I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out today to celebrate the grand opening of our new, exciting dinosaur exhibit, featuring the awesome Tyrannosaurus Rex, the mightiest predator of the dinosaurs.
CHANCE joins Reyes on the top step. The two shake hands warmly.WAINRIGHT (CONT.) (after applause ends)
In just a few seconds we’re going to open this door and step back in time 65 million years to the last part of the Cretaceous Period, a time when dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex roamed North America and Asia.
CHANCE’S P.O.V.WAINRIGHT (CONT.) (o.s. in b.g.)
His was an alien world, completely different from the world we know today. The Rocky Mountains were still forming, Europe and Asia were continuing their split from North America, forming the Atlantic Ocean, and North America itself had moved north from the tropics to about its’ current position. The climate was warm and moist, and there was a tremendous amount of volcanic and seismic activity. Dinosaurs thrived; they were the dominant life form, and king among them was Tyrannosaurus Rex.Hey man, I thought you weren’t going to make it! REYES
(turning to look out over the crowd with Reyes) CHANCE
You might say I got side-tracked.(raises his eyebrows) REYES
Oh?A jewelry store was robbed a couple of miles from here. I was driving by it while the police were trying to piece together the crime, so. . . CHANCE
(pats camera)
. . .I stopped to take some pictures.(shaking his head) REYES
Man, are you always where the action’s happening?(ruefully) CHANCE
That’s not necessarily such a good thing.
As he finishes his statement to Reyes something across the street catches his attention. Standing on the curb, CAROL and her 9-year-old daughter ANN wait for a break in traffic so they can cross.
WAINRIGHT nods to the two security guards. They move to each side of the large double glass front doors of the museum, swing them out and hold them; the new dinosaur exhibit is now open.
CHANCE’S P.O.V.REYES (aside to Chance)
Here we go.But suddenly, without warning, these magnificent creatures were gone. Wiped out. Extinct. Why? WAINRIGHT (CONT.)
Carol sees the traffic break, takes Ann’s hand, and quickly crosses.
WAINRIGHT (CONT.) (voice over)
There are other questions to be answered as well. How long did it take for this species to die out? What role, if any, did early man have in their demise? What took their place?
Carol and Ann join the people on the
museum steps. As they do, Chance’s attention is again diverted to the street.
A dark blue sedan is turning into the parking lot. Chance watches as the
driver locates a parking space and pulls into it.
STONY, BART and RED get out of the sedan and amble across the parking lot to the street.WAINRIGHT (CONT.) (voice over)
And what of Tyrannosaurus Rex? What was this magnificent creature really like? Was he predator? Scavenger? A little of both?
CHANCE AND REYESWAINRIGHT (CONT.) (voice over)
Well, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we can ponder those questions and many more, as we enter into the world of Tyrannosaurus Rex right here in the Xa Museum of Natural History. As we prepare to go inside, I’d like to take just a moment to offer public thanks to the man who set much of this exhibit in motion by a chance discovery over a year ago.
Chance grins lopsidedly at Reyes
CHANCE’S P.O.V.CHANCE (aside to Reyes)
That’s you.
The three robbers have crossed the street and are mingling with the crowd on the steps.
WAINRIGHT smiles broadly as he recounts the story.WAINRIGHT (CONT.) (voice over)
A local son; a farmer who has worked his plot of land outside of town for over twenty years, who, while plowing his field last year, was nearly jolted off his tractor when the plow hit a huge bone — a bone, we would discover days later, that was a thigh bone of the most complete and well-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever found in the world to date.
THE CROWD turns to look at Reyes as they all applaud. Some even whistle and whoop.WAINRIGHT (CONT.) The man who selflessly donated that skeleton to our museum where, after months of painstaking research and reconstruction, it is now available for your study and viewing pleasure. That man is here with us today. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in extending a heartfelt “thank you” and home town appreciation to the discoverer of the prize display of our exhibit. . .
(turns to Reyes, extends his arm)
Mr. Tony Reyes!
CHANCE AND REYESVOICE FROM CROWD Yeah Tony!Thank you, Tony ANOTHER VOICE FROM CROWD
Reyes, extremely embarrassed, feels his face color red.
Taking Reyes by the upper arm, he gently guides him toward Wainright.REYES (nudges Chance)
Come up there with me, man. You’re the one that hit it.(shaking his head) CHANCE
No way, this is your moment.
Reyes reluctantly walks up to Wainright and shakes his proffered hand. Chance moves around, taking pictures where the angle and lighting seem good. The applause slowly ceases.CHANCE (CONT.) (grinning)
Go on. Besides . . .
(pats camera again)
. . .I’ve got pictures to take.
The crowd applauds again briefly. Chance continues to seek good photo angles. But there’s something about the three men who just walked up. He doesn’t know what, but something keeps nagging at him and he pauses occasionally to look their way. They don’t seem to notice.REYES (to Wainright)
Thank you, Mr. Wainright.
(nervously, to crowd)
And thanks to all of you for coming.
Several in the crowd laugh briefly.REYES (CONT.) (more confidently)
I just want you all to know how proud I am to be a part of all this. Wow, who’d have known, huh? I mean, what guy expects to find something like this in his cotton field?
Everyone laughs, then applauds briefly again as Wainright motions with his arm for everyone to follow him as he and Reyes turn and walk through the doors into the museum. In unison, the crowd begins to follow.REYES So thank you, Mr.Wainright, for inviting me here today. Now who wants to go in with me to see how it looks?I do! CHILD’S VOICE FROM THE CROWD
CAROL AND ANN are at one side of the crowd moving toward the entrance. Carol holds Ann’s hand tightly. She doesn’t want to get separated from her daughter here. They haven’t seen Bryan and Jessica.
BRYAN AND JESSICA are near the opposite side of the crowd moving toward the entrance. Bryan likewise holds Jessica’s hand, keeping her close to him. Other parents are doing the same with their children. They haven’t seen Carol and her daughter.
INT. MUSEUM – AREA NEAR T. REX EXHIBIT – DAYCUT TO:
Wainright guides Reyes toward the Tyrannosaurus Rex exhibit. It is free-standing with a thick velvet rope cordoning off a rectangular area around it, and lit in such a way as to make it appear mysterious and dangerous at the same time. It’s magnificent.
Reyes glances over his shoulder and sees Chance entering the museum. Chance trots over to the two men.
They have reached the T. Rex and are standing by one of the velvet ropes, waiting for the crowd to make its way inside and over to them.WAINRIGHT (as they walk)
You didn’t introduce your co-discoverer to the crowd, Mr. Reyes.(sheepishly, looking at Chance) REYES
I . . .(interrupts) CHANCE
My choice, Mr. Wainright.(cocks an eyebrow) WAINRIGHT
Oh? And why is that, Mr. Harper?I’m a photojournalist. A pretty good one, I think. It’s my job to take pictures of people and things that are newsworthy, interesting to the public — in the limelight, you know? It works better for me if I’m not. CHANCE
EXT. MUSEUM – NEAR FRONT ENTRANCE – DAYWAINRIGHT (nods understanding)
We have something very interesting for you, Mr. Harper.(grins) CHANCE
Interesting is good.CUT TO:
The crowd funnels to pass through the front doors, bringing Carol and Bryan closer together. They still haven’t noticed each other. Then:
CAROL looks where Ann is pointing, spots Bryan and Jessica.ANN (tugs Carol’s arm)
Mommy, isn’t that man from your work?(looks around) CAROL
Who, dear?(pointing toward Bryan) ANN
Over there.
INT. MUSEUM – T. REX EXHIBIT – DAYCAROL (emotionless)
Hmpf. Not any more.CUT TO:
The people near the front of the crowd are joining Wainright, Chance and Reyes at the T. Rex exhibit and many more are crossing the cavernous room toward them.
EXT. MUSEUM – NEAR FRONT ENTRANCE – DAYWAINRIGHT (CONT.) (to Chance)
We’ve prepared a special presentation and demonstration for you down in the basement where we actually assembled the Rex. We thought you’d like to take some pictures of the process we went through to get it all put together properly, how we handled missing pieces of the puzzle, things like that.I’d like that. After the public exhibit? CHANCE
Absolutely. WAINRIGHT
CUT TO:
STONY, BART AND RED remain close together near the back of the crowd as they inch their way toward the museum entrance. The people around them buzz with excited chatter about the museum and the dinosaur exhibit they’re about to see. Stony and Bart are watchful but calm. The younger Red is nervous and doesn’t seem to be able to stay still for more than a second or two at a time. Stony knows he needs to calm him before he seems out of place.
STONY, BART AND RED (CONT.)
Stony swings his arm around Red’s shoulder in mock friendship.
Stony throws his head back and guffaws, joined quickly by Bart.STONY (teasing jovially)
Hey, don’t be so nervous, buddy. It’s not alive, you know!
Both men laugh again. Red, true to his name, flushes in embarrassment and hangs his head to hide his face. Some people near them giggle, some smile, others shake their head with disapproval at the childish taunts. Stony pulls Red closer and leans to his ear.BART (teasing)
Should we have brought your teddy?
Red nods agreement. Stony takes his arm from around Red’s shoulder and slaps him good-naturedly on the back. Red grins sheepishly.STONY (quietly to Red)
Chill, brother. Things couldn’t be going better.
(jerks him off balance slightly)
Huh?
BRYAN AND JESSICA are nearly to the front entrance. So is Carol and Ann. Jessica tugs Bryan’s arm to get his attention. Bryan leans down toward her.
Bryan glances up and notices Carol and Ann, only a few feet away, for the first time.JESSICA (quietly)
Isn’t that lady from your work?
JESSICA looks quizzically at Bryan.BRYAN (to Carol, surprised)
Carol.
(awkward pause, then to Jessica)
Jessica, this is Carol, the office manager where I work. I mean, where I used to work.
They reach the entrance and press through to the inside.BRYAN (CONT.) (to Carol)
Carol, this is Jessica, my . . .
(pauses, choosing his words)
. . . the little girl I hope to adopt.(cheerily to Carol) JESSICA
Hi!
(looks at Ann)
What’s your name?(smiles) ANN
I’m Ann.(extends her hand to Ann) JESSICA
I’m Jessica. I’m 8.(pumps Jessica’s hand) ANN
I’m 9. We’re here to see the dinosaurs.(finishing the handshake) JESSICA
So are we. Hey, maybe we can look at stuff together.
(looks up at Bryan)
Could we?
INT. MUSEUM – NEAR ENTRANCE – DAYCUT TO:
Before Bryan can respond Carol does.
Carol starts to walk away with Ann.CAROL Annie, honey, we don’t have as much time on our hands as Mr. Hart and his . . .
(pauses)
. . . friend. Let’s let them enjoy the exhibit by themselves.(disappointed) ANN
All right.
Carol stops, turns back to Bryan.BRYAN (coolly)
And how is it you have so much time on your hands today, Carol?
Abruptly the two girls break from their adult companions and hug each other. Carol steps over to Ann and takes her hand.CAROL (icy mock smile)
Dan let me take a long lunch today so I could take Ann to the opening. She loves dinosaurs.(excited) JESSICA
Me too!
CAROL AND ANN walk away toward the T. Rex skeleton.CAROL (to Ann)
Come on, sweetheart. They’re getting ready to start.
Carol doesn’t respond, just keeps walking.ANN (to Carol)
I like her, mommy.
BRYAN AND JESSICA follow a dozen paces behind.
The two walk on toward the skeleton.JESSICA (to Bryan)
That lady doesn’t seem to like you very much.(grimly) BRYAN
I know.
(brightens, points ahead to the Rex)
Would ya take a look at that!
STONY, BART AND RED enter the museum. They pause, ostensibly to look around at the various displays, models and dinosaur re-creations in the huge room, but actually to see how many security guards or policemen are inside. Stony smiles in satisfaction; this will be a walk in the park.
Stony and Bart guffaw again softly, then all three walk toward the T. Rex skeleton where everyone is gathering around the waiting Wainright.RED (whistles low)
This stuff is awesome.(quietly, jabs Bart with his elbow) STONY
Not as awesome as today’s take, huh?
FADE OUT.
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