Anthony Douglas #17

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FADE IN

Int: Bedroom - Night

Anthony sleeps in his bed. He tosses and turns, looking at a long, restless night's sleep. He opens his eyes and sits up, dressed in gray sweats. He walks to the window and sees his sister standing under a Sahuaro cactus. Anthony opens the door to the outside, a bewildered look on his face. As he walks outside, the sun comes up and he looks 17 again.

ANTHONY
Isabelle?

ISABELLE
(laughing)
Come on, Anthony. Let's do some riding.

ANTHONY
But, you're dead?

ISABELLE
(giggles)
No I'm not! Come on!

Anthony walks toward Isabelle. As she takes his hand, a light turns on in the house. Anthony's mother walks out, holding a phone.

MOTHER
Anthony, you take care of your sister now!

ANTHONY
(turns and looks at his mother)
Sure. . .Mom?

MOTHER
I'll have dinner ready in a couple of hours. I have to pick up your father at the site tonight. The Ram's getting work done on it.

ISABELLE
I wanna come, Mom! David's there!!!

MOTHER
You know. . .

ANTHONY
(confused)
Isabelle. . .David's in California. He's working in the Fresno County DA's office.

MOTHER
(laughs)
Anthony, stop making stuff up! Go on! Go riding, but be back at 4:30.

ISABELLE
Yes, mother.

Mother walks back into the house.

ISABELLE
Seriously. . .she worries too much.

ANTHONY
(confused)
Maybe she should.

ISABELLE
(punches Anthony)
You were always a downer. Come on. . .I want to go to Putsch Ridge.

Isabelle drags Anthony toward the stable.

CUT TO: Inside Anthony's bedroom.

Anthony stands and watches Isabelle dissappear. He shankes his head and hears voices behind him. He turns and sees his door open. Mother is standing looking at him. She shakes her head.

MOTHER
It's friday night. Can't you start dressing for Temple already?

ANTHONY
(really confused)
Mom, it's 1:30 in the morning.

MOTHER
Don't talk back. (She walks to his closet) I'm sure you have something nice you can wear.

ANTHONY
Mom. . .what are you doing?

MOTHER
[looks at Anthony and smiles]
I'm raising you to be a good man! A good, honest, G-d fearing man and I want you to look the part as well. You are my handsome young man and you'll make a good whatever you want to be some day.

ANTHONY
(sighs)
I know. Thanks Mom. I'll start getting ready for Temple.

MOTHER
Good boy.

Mother walks out of the room. Anthony takes the suit and walks into the bathroom. A few minutes later he walks out in the suit. He stops and looks in the mirror.

ANTHONY
(shakes his head in disgust)
What the hell am I doing? [Anthony walks into the living room. Everything is empty. He slowly walks into the dining room and sees dinner for four ready on the table.] This can't be! What the hell is going on? What the. . .

Anthony stops and looks up. He realizes something, then runs out the door.

Ext: Anthony's ranch house - 5:45 PM, 10 years earlier[/b]

Anthony runs toward the road. He stops at the gate. His mother's Trans Am convertible begins to turn into the driveway. As it crosses the other lane on the left hand turn, a lifted Yellow Ford F-350, coming from the blind spot, barrels into it, running over it like a monster truck and flips sideways on the road. Anthony watches in horror.

ANTHONY
[screaming and running to his mother's car
Mom! Dad! ISABELLE!!!

Anthony reaches the car, but it's too late. All three occupants are dead, crushed by the F-350. Anthony looks at the F-350. The driver's door opens and a drunken man falls out, uninjured. He looks at the carnage. Anthony starts walking toward him, but suddenly, Anthony 10 years younger tackles the drunk and starts beating him.

ANTHONY
screaming
What did you do??? Look at this! I'll kill you!

Anthony watches himself beating the drunk. He mouthes the words younger Anthony says. Then, he turns away and looks at the car.

ANTHONY
(quietly)
I should have gone with you! I should have died with you. My selfishness is the reason I'm here. Because I didn't want to go!

CUT TO: ANTHONY'S BEDROOM

Int: Anthony's Bedroom - Present time

Anthony stares into space. It is present day. A cold, sweaty face looks at the cathedral ceiling. Anthony sits up and opens the drawer of his nightstand. He pulls out a .44 Desert Eagle, loads a clip and pulls back the hammer. He sits with it in his hand. He looks at a family picture and puts the gun in his mouth.

ISABELLE'S VOICE
(pleading)
Anthony, don't do this!

MOTHER
Anthony! No! You. . .

ANTHONY
(near tears)
I can't live like this!!! I can't live with this guilt and. . .

FATHER
(stern)
Son, put the gun down!

ISABELLE
Anthony, please. . .look at me.

Anthony looks up to see his sister's face and body. She kneels down and kisses him, then smiles. Anthony is near collaspe. He falls backward into bet. He looks at his hand to feel his sister's hand on it.

ISABELLE
It's not your time, yet.

ANTHONY
(emotionally cold)
When will it be?

ISABELLE
Don't rush things.

Anthony looks around, but there is silence. He looks at the gun in his hand and throws it. He stands up and looks out the window to three headstones. An eerie calm over his body, Anthony opens the door and walks out to the porch.

ANTHONY (V.O.)
Why must this happen? When will I get a solid night's sleep? When will I be allowed to be at peace?

Anthony sits in a rocking chair. A coyote runs by. A breeze blows, and the cloudless night allows the moon to make it look as bright as day.

FADE TO BLACK

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