Blind Faith

‘Blind Faith’ continued...

Written by ??; Directed by ??; (as "fanscribed" by Janet)

{Scene changes to Gary standing in a phone booth talking to Marissa. Vadim is standing about a foot away waiting patiently.}

Gary:
The guy at the hospital sent him to a shop a few blocks away but he never showed up.

Marissa:
Well, Gary, call the police.

Gary:
Marissa, what am I supposed to tell them? I mean, he’s only been gone 10 minutes. We’ll retrace out steps and then we’ll hope we find him.

Marissa:
Listen, Gary, there’s only so much you can do.

Gary:
Thanks, but don’t worry about us. We’ll be just fine. We’ve got everything under control.

Marissa:
Be careful, Gary.

Gary:
All right. Good-bye.

{Gary hangs up the phone and steps away from the phone booth.}

Gary:
Look, Vadim, do you see anything that would attract a kid—

{Down the street the three teens are leaving the warehouse. Gary and Vadim walk down an intersecting street.}

Vadim:
No, just abandoned buildings. (pauses to "point out" a slick spot on the sidewalk) Slippery.

{The three boys see them.}

Boy 2:
That’s the guy from the tunnel.

Boy1:
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, don’t worry about it. Remember, his eyes -- he’s blind.

{Gary & Vadim approach the boys.}

Gary:
Who are those kids?

Boy1:
It’s cool, man, don’t worry.

Vadim:
Three boys -- just teenagers. It’s not the boy in the paper.

Gary:
Take me to them.

{Vadim takes Gary’s arm and walks him over to within a couple of feet of the boys.}

Gary:
Excuse m—excuse us.

Vadim:
Uh, ask one question?

Gary:
You guys didn’t see a kid around here—a 9-year-old? I think he might be in trouble.

Boy1:
Oh, yeah? What kind of trouble?

Gary:
I’m not sure but I need to find him.

Boy1:
I’m sorry, man, we haven’t seen anybody around here.

Gary:
Well, look, he just came from the hospital. He must have come this way. Are you sure?

Boy1:
No, I’m positive, man. We haven’t seen anybody.

Boy 2:
Sorry about that.

Gary:
Well, look would you do me a favor? His name’s Nate Calvin. If you see him, tell him to go to the hospital right away.

Boy1:
Sure thing. You got it, Chiefy.

Gary:
All right. Thanks, guys.

Boy1:
Take it easy. Later.

{Boys start to walk away.}

Gary:
Hey, Vadim. What did you say? It’s three guys right?

Vadim:
Three boys. (nods his head)

Gary:
Chiefy.

{Flashback in black & white to the seconds just before the accident. Boy 1 saying Ok Chiefy.}

Gary:
Hey!

Vadim:
Excuse, uh one—one more question.

Boy1:
No problem.

Gary:
Yeah, just one thing. Which one of you might be Cameron?

{Boys panic and start to run.}

Gary:
Vadim, grab one of them.

{Vadim reaches out and gets hold of Boy 2.}

Boy 2:
Get off me!

{In the struggle to free himself Boy 2 bumps into Gary and knocks him to the ground.}

Vadim:
Wait, Mr. H. I’ll be right back.

{Vadim chases teenager down the street. Gary struggles to rise to his feet and staggers into the middle of the street. A trash truck approaches honking it’s horn at him without slowing down. Gary stumbles backward and slips, falling on his back. As he rolls over he feels something under his ribs. Takes right glove off in order to feel it better -- it's the ball that Nate dropped earlier.}

Gary:
Nate.

{Hears Cat meowing behind him. Cat is sitting on pipe outside warehouse where Nate is trapped.}

Gary:
Cat?

{Cat meows again.}

Gary:
Cat?

{Cat meows third time.}

Gary:
Cat, where are you? Cat? Nate, can you hear me?

Nate:
Gary? Help! Help me! I’m up here!

Gary:
Nate? Talk to me. What’s going on?

Nate:
I’m locked inside this old warehouse!

{Cat meows.}

Gary:
Cat?

Nate:
I’m on the third floor. I’m locked inside a room.

Gary:
All right.

{Gary finds his way to the pipe Cat was sitting on. Uses it to find his way along to the warehouse.}

Nate:
You’re almost there. There’s a door. Go through it and climb up the stairs.

Gary:
Nate, I’m coming. Door.

{Feels his way along the pipe and follows Nate’s directions to the door. Enters the warehouse. Scene switches back and forth between Gary finding his way along the floor and Nate locked in the office on the third floor.}

Gary:
Nate!

Nate:
I’m in here!

Gary:
All right, hang on now.

Nate:
Something’s blocking the door. You got to get me out.

Gary:
All right.

{Gary kicks a piece of pipe on the floor. Picks it up and uses it to help himself find his way across the room to the stairs.}

Gary:
Marissa does this, I can do this. Listen to me. Nate, keep talking so I can—I can use it to find you here.

Nate:
You got to go across the room and then up the stairs.

Gary:
All right. Nate, can you tell me what’s down here?

Nate:
There’s lots of junk—tables and cans and junk.

Gary:
Is this a doorway?

Nate:
There’s a hallway and then the stairs.

Gary:
All right. Here I come. Nate.

Nate:
Gary?

Gary:
Hang on Nate. I’m coming up.

{Gary climbs the stairs still using the pipe to feel his way along. Scene shift briefly to Vadim returning to where he left Gary. Looks around but doesn’t see anyone.}

Vadim:
Mr. H.! Where are you?

{Scene switches back to the interior of the warehouse. As Gary climbs the stairs the rags burst into flames behind him.}

Nate:
Gary?

Gary:
I’m coming. All right, here we go. Nate? Aaah.

{Gary stumbles over something on the floor. Falls to his knees but gets right back up again.}

Gary:
Nate, I’m upstairs. Where are you?

Nate:
Over here. There’s something blocking the door.

Gary:
Listen to me. I want you to keep talking, all right?

Nate:
I’m all the way across the room, blocked in an office.

Gary:
How’d you get up here, Nate?

Nate:
Blake Molinaro chased me here. He wanted my money.

Gary:
Hang on. I’m going to get you out of here, all right? (Still feeling his way across the floor) Keep talking to me.

Nate:
They shoved some desks and stuff against the door so I can’t get out.

Gary:
Nate?

Nate:
Over here. (Stands in front of door) I’m right here.

Gary:
Hang on buddy. I’m coming.

Nate:
There you got it. (Gary removes one of the pallets from in front of the door.

Gary:
Here?

Nate:
Throw them off. Two more to go. There’s a huge desk. Watch out! One more.

{Gary throws the last pallet on the ground and moves the desk enough for Nate to open the door. Nate rushes out and leans against Gary’s chest. Gary puts his hands on Nate’s shoulder & head. Breathing hard from the exertion.}

Nate:
I thought I was going to freeze in there.

Gary:
No, buddy, I wouldn’t let that happen.

Nate:
How did you know where to find me?

Gary:
Here…(reaches into his jacket and takes out the ball) Your lucky ball?

Nate:
Whoa!

Gary:
Come on, let’s get out of here, huh?

Nate:
I need to go to the hospital and see my mom.

Gary:
Sure thing, kid.

Nate:
Okay, this way. Watch out for that can.

{Nate stops up short at the top of the stairs. The stairway is fully engulfed in flames.}

Gary:
Nate…what is it?

Nate:
Fire.

{Flames are everywhere. Nate sees no way to escape. Gary has the paper tucked inside his back pocket. Gary & Nate look for escape route.}

Nate:
What are we going to do?

Gary:
Listen to me, Nate. I want you to look around, see if you can find a fire escape. Check the windows. Can you do that? All right, go.

{Nate goes to nearest window. Gary coughs from the smoke.}

Gary:
Anything?

Nate:
Not yet. I can’t find anything. What are we going to do?

{Nate returns to Gary. A small blast staggers Gary. He leans down and takes the paper out of his pocket. Hands it to Nate.}

Gary:
Listen to me. Look, you see that paper? I want you to open it up and read the headlines to me.

Nate:
But why?

Gary:
Just read me the headlines. There might be something to help us.

Nate:
Land Bill Proposed.

Gary:
All right, go on, go on. Next one.

{Nate hesitates. See headline: Warehouse Fire Kills Two}

Gary:
Nate?

Nate:
What is this? What kind of newspaper is this?

Gary:
Is there something about the fire, Nate?

Nate:
The newspaper says we’re dead. It says no one came to help us and we’re dead.

Gary:
Listen to me, Nate. Stay calm. You know your lucky ball, how you got that? That paper, it tells me what might happen. If I know what might happen, then I can stop anything from happening at all. Do you understand? I don’t have time to explain. Just read me the story, all right.

{Windows burst and cans explode.}

Nate:
Two Chicago residents died yesterday in a 4-alarm blaze that tore through an abandoned Southside building. Nate Calvin, 9, and local restaurant owner Gary Hobson died in the blaze that broke out shortly before noon…

Gary:
Come on, keep reading, Nate.

Nate:
According to fire officials: The victims were apparently unaware of a fire escape that was blocked by office equipment.

Gary:
Office equipment. Look, see if you can find any windows or anything that would be covered by desks or chairs—anything.

{Nate looks around and points.}

Nate:
There’s some shelves and stuff over there. (Leads Gary over to them.)

{Scene shifts to exterior. McGinty’s van pulls up with Vadim and Marissa.}

Vadim:
Here is the spot, but no Mr. H.

{Vadim looks up and spots the flames coming out of the upper story windows.}

Vadim:
Oh, no.

Marissa:
What?

Vadim:
Fire!

Marissa:
What? Fire?

Vadim:
Fire. Fire! Building is on fire.

{Both exit the van.}

Marissa:
Oh no, Gary.

Vadim:
It’s a big building. Stay here. I’ll go and look for Mr. H., okay?

Marissa:
Be careful, Vadim.

{Vadim enters the warehouse. Looks around the lower floor and goes toward the small hallway. Small explosions occur while he’s looking around in the smoky room.}

Vadim:
Mr. H.! Where are you.

{Enters small hallway.}

Vadim:
Mr. H.! Mr. H.!

{Exits the warehouse coughing.}

Vadim:
Marissa, it’s too much smoke. I can’t see anything.

Marissa:
Is Gary in there?

Vadim:
I can’t tell. Let’s go and call the fire truck.

{Takes Marissa by the arm to lead her to the open van door.}

Marissa:
I’m fine, I’m fine. Just drive. Hurry!

{Scene switches back to third floor of the warehouse. Gary & Nate still searching for an escape route. Gary tips over some shelves.}

Nate:
It’s not a fire escape.

Gary:
Listen to me, Nate. Look around, see if you can see anything at all that might be blocking a window.

Nate:
There’s some file cabinets over there. (Leads Gary to next pile of furniture.)

Gary:
Take me to them.

{Another explosion in the background rocks the room they’re in.}

Nate:
Stay right there.

{Nate walks over to the wall. Pulls down some paper and looks out a now uncovered window.}

Nate:
It's a window. I see a fire escape!

Gary:
Nate, can we get out?

Nate:
I don’t know. It’s all on fire.

{Scene shifts to the street where the three teens are walking toward the warehouse where they left Nate.}

Blake (Boy 1):
You know what I think? I think we should go up there, steal that kid’s money, and then lock him up there for another couple hours. By now he’s probably crying like a little baby. (Looks up and sees the flames & smoke.) Oh, man.

Cameron:
Oh, man.

Blake:
Your cigarette.

Cameron:
Hey, Nate’s in there, man. We got to get help now.

Blake:
No way. That kid’s a goner. You’re nuts.

Cameron:
We’re the reason he’s in there!

Blake:
No one’s going to find that out, are they? Are they, Cameron?

{Scene changes back to Gary & Nate on the third floor of the warehouse.}

Gary:
Listen to me, Nate. I want you to climb out that window and down those stairs as fast as you can, you understand me?

Nate:
What about you?

Gary:
Just don’t worry about me. I’ll be right behind you.

Nate:
But, Gary…

Gary:
Nate, you just go!

{Nate climbs out the window. Gary stays behind and has coughing spell. An explosion knocks him into some shelves and off his feet leaving him stunned. The paper falls out of his pocket and catches fire. Headline reads: Warehouse Fire Kills Bar Owner. Scene changes to street. The three teens look up and see Nate running down the fire escape.}

Blake:
Okay, there. You happy?

{Another explosion as Nate hesitates three quarters of the way down the fire escape. Looks down and sees the older boys. Runs the rest of the way down and drops and rolls into the street before approaching them.}

Nate:
Gary! Somebody, please, help! There’s a guy up there! He’s blind!

{The teens and Nate look at each other. Cameron starts toward the warehouse.}

Blake:
Where do you think you’re going, Cameron?

Cameron:
Hey, let go of me, Blake. (Struggles to free himself.)

Blake:
That guy can put us in jail, man!

{Cameron frees himself and goes to the warehouse. Nate is on his heels.}

Boy 2:
What a stupid kid.

Blake: If he wants to go up there and get burned, let him. (Both boys leave)

{Cameron starts for fire escape. Nate is right behind him. Cameron puts a hand on his shoulder and stops him.}

Cameron:
Get back, Nate.

Nate:
Cameron, we’re got to help him. Please.

Cameron:
You stay here, Nate.

{Cameron enters the burning building.}

{Scene change to street. McGinty’s van pulls up. Vadim and Marissa find Nate. Look toward building.}

Vadim:
I think it’s Nathan Calvin. Nathan! Where is Gary?

Nate:
He’s trapped in the building.

{Scene changes to Gary on the third floor of the building. Gets halfway to his feet. Removes the sunglasses & bandages. Sits down. Another explosion. Gary coughs some more. Cameron climbs in through the window that Nate climbed out of. Helps Gary to his feet.}

Cameron:
We’re got to get out of here.

Gary:
Who is that?

Cameron:
It’s Cameron. All right, we’ve got to climb out. All right, let’s go this way.

{Cameron takes Gary by the arm Guides him out of the room.}

Gary:
How big is the fire?

Cameron:
It’s bad, man. Come on. We got to hurry.

Gary:
Why are we going up?

Cameron:
We can’t go down now. There’s too much fire.

{Behind them there is the sound of broken glass falling.}

Cameron:
Come on, man. I got you.

{Gary coughs again.}

Cameron:
We’re going up. (Leads Gary up the fire escape to the roof of the warehouse)

Gary:
What?

Cameron:
The fire escape fell off. (They continue on up to the roof. Gary stumbles once.)

Gary:
What?

Cameron:
Come on. There’s a step.

{They take a step down from the fire escape to the roof. Cameron walks to the edge of the roof and looks across. A siren wails and a horn blares as the fire department approaches.}

Gary:
Where are we?

Cameron:
We’re on the roof. All right, listen. There’s another building. It’s about 6 feet away. We’re going to have to jump across. There’s a ledge here. (Cameron leads Gary to the edge and helps him find the ledge with his hand.

Gary:
What about the fire engine?

{Cameron leads him away from the edge.}

Cameron:
There’s no time! We’ve got to go now. Just don’t even think about it, okay?

Gary:
Listen to me. You go by yourself…

Cameron:
No, no, no. I’m not leaving you here man.

{Turns Gary around to face in the right direction.}

Cameron:
We’re going together, all right? Let’s do this. Three steps, and then we jump, all right? Ready, set, go!

{Cameron pulls Gary along and they run for the edge of the roof. Cameron gives Gary a push and they jump. Another explosion rocks the building just as they are airborne. They land in a trailer filled with bundles of insulation. Traffic such as Roadway 18 wheeler truck pass by behind them. Cameron helps Gary to his feet. Scene changes to the street below. A firefighter has Gary by the arm and is leading him to his friends. Vadim sees them approach and goes over to get Gary.}

Vadim:
Mr. H., I’m here.

Gary:
Vadim?

{Gary leans toward Vadim who puts an arm around him. Pats Gary on the back and leads him to Marissa.}

Vadim:
Yeah.

Gary:
Hey.

Vadim:
Miss Clark

Gary:
Marissa?

{Marissa reaches out for him. Finding his arms she follows them up to his shoulders and pulls him to her for a hug.}

Gary:
You got a smile on your face?

Marissa:
Really big.

{Gary stares at the street behind her as his eyesight starts to return. Pulls back and sees Marissa crying.}

Gary:
Marissa?

Marissa:
Yeah?

Gary:
I can see. (Reaches out to hug Marissa. Vadim stands behind him.) I can see.

{Cameron and Nate approach from behind Vadim.}

Cameron:
So, you okay?

Gary:
Yeah. Thank you.

Cameron:
You’re welcome.

Gary:
I, uh.. Come on, let’s go home. Yeah, let’s go home.

Vadim:
Mr. H. we were so worried.

{Vadim puts an arm around Gary. Gary puts his arm around Marissa. They walk off together. Cameron and Nate follow them. Scene shifts briefly to the exterior of the hospital then to Mrs. Calvin’s room. She’s sitting on the bed. Nate is standing next to her and Gary stands in the doorway.}

Mrs. Calvin:
I’m perfectly fine.

Nate:
Really?

Mrs. Calvin:
Mmm-hmm. Perfectly fine. Those are the doctor’s exact words.

Nate:
And you’re coming home? See, I told you you’d be ok.

Mrs. Calvin:
You sure did, you little peanut. (Tweaks Nate’s chin.) Come on up here. (Pats bed)

{Nate sits cross legged on the bed with his Mom.}

Nate:
I would have gotten you flowers for when you woke up, but stuff happened.

Mrs. Calvin:
What kind of stuff?

Nate:
It’s a secret. (Looks toward Gary)

Gary:
Let’s just say that, uh ,you can be very proud of your son.

Mrs. Calvin:
I always am.

{Cameron enters from behind Gary. Crosses the room and hands a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Calvin.}

Cameron:
Mrs. Calvin? Uh, I’m Cameron Ahern. I know Nate from around the neighborhood.

Mrs. Calvin:
Oh, well, these are very thoughtful. Thank you, Cameron.

Cameron:
They’re not from me. I’m just the delivery boy. They’re from Nate.

Mrs. Calvin:
Well, Nate, you just said that…They’re very beautiful but where’d you get the money for these?

Nate:
I-I didn’t.

Cameron:
No, I kind of owed him a big favor.

Mrs. Calvin:
Oh. They’re very beautiful

Cameron:
Hey, Nate do you play Playstation?

Nate:
Sure.

{Gary leave quietly and unnoticed as the two boys talk.}

Cameron:
I’ve got racing games, fighting games. You should come over.

Nate:
Cool man. You mean that?

Cameron:
Of course.

{Scene: Time lapse of Chicago skyline across the street from McGinty’s. Scene: Gary’s loft. Gary asleep on his back. His right arm is propped on a pillow by his side. The bandage is gone.}

Woman on radio:
Weather for today and tomorrow…

{Gary awakens, winces some as the light hits his eyes and he reaches for the switch on the radio. Cat meows and newspaper thumps.}

Woman on radio:
Overnight lows in the mid- to high teens, southerly winds at…

{Gary turns radio off and gets out of bed. Crosses to door and opens. Cat is sitting there looking up expectantly.}

Gary:
Hey, Cat. How you doing? Come on in and have some breakfast.

{Waves Cat in. Picks up paper and closes the door. Cat meows.}

THE END

Many thanks to Janet for sharing her fanscription of "Blind Faith" – Thank you!

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