"THE LAST DANCE"
by Charles Deemer
FADE
IN:
INT.
HOSPITAL - ROOM - DAY
EMIL,
late 60s, is in bed. The usual life-support
paraphernalia
is attached to him.
At
his bedside is ALICE, 40s. She holds his hand.
Emil's
eyes are closed. Alice clearly has been crying.
On
a bedside table is a photograph.
THE
PHOTOGRAPH shows young Emil and his date, posing on the
dance
floor at a high school prom. Written on the photograph
is
"Class of 1954."
Emil's
eyes open.
ALICE
I'm here, Dad.
He
gestures with his free hand.
ALICE
What is it?
Another
gesture, to come close.
Alice
leans forward, putting her head close to her father's.
He
whispers but too quietly for her to hear.
She
moves an ear to his lips.
ALICE
Say it again.
Emil
talks softly.
ALICE
Are you sure?
Alice
listens as Emil whispers.
ALICE
I understand.
More
whispering.
ALICE
I'd better write this all down,
Dad.
2.
INT.
JENNIFER'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
JENNIFER,
20s, is on the phone.
JENNIFER
What am I paying you for? I want
you to catch him at it. I want
proof! ... Just a minute, I have
another call coming in. ...
Hello?
INT.
ALICE'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Alice
is on the phone.
INTERCUT:
ALICE
Hi, sweetie. Can I talk to Ted?
JENNIFER
(cautiously)
He's not here.
ALICE
When do you expect him?
JENNIFER
He didn't tell you?
ALICE
Tell me what?
JENNIFER
We split up, Alice.
ALICE
My God! When did this happen?
JENNIFER
It's been happening for months.
He moved out last week. He's
staying with Bill. I have his
number if you want it.
ALICE
I have it. Jennifer, I had no
idea. I'm so sorry. Is it--?
JENNIFER
I have a call on the other line.
I'll talk to you later, okay?
ALICE
I'm just in shock.
3.
JENNIFER
I'll call you. Bye. ... You
there?
... Look, he's probably seeing
someone at work. Do your job and
find out who. My lawyer says we
need a picture of them together.
The more compromising the better.
EXT.
BILL'S HOUSE - FRONT YARD - DAY
TED,
20s, is mowing the lawn with a push mower.
A
car pulls up to the curb. Alice gets out.
Ted
sees her and stops mowing.
TED
Hey, Mom. What's up?
ALICE
I just talked to Jennifer.
INT. BILL'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Ted
and Alice sit at a small table over coffee.
TED
I'm not sure I blame her, all the
overtime I've been working. The
competition is ruthless in
advertising, and they gave me my
first important account. I'm
trying to be a good company man
here and not screw up. It's for
our future. Well, maybe just mine
now. What a mess.
ALICE
You're just like your father.
An
awkward silence.
TED
How's Popo?
ALICE
The doctor says it won't be long
now. Dad wants me to do something
for him. I can't handle this. I'm
going to need your help.
TED
No problem. What is it?
4.
ALICE
It sounds crazy. You know Popo.
There's an old record he wants to
listen to. I wrote it down. If
it's not in the attic at the old
house, I don't know where you'd
find it.
TED
I thought he sold the old house.
ALICE
The renters have an option to buy
but they've never used it. A lot
of his stuff is still in the
attic. Here, I wrote it down.
She
brings out a slip of paper from her purse.
ALICE
(reading)
"Blue Velvet" by The
Clovers. It
came out in 1954.
TED
I think I heard of them. I'm sure
there's a CD of their best hits.
ALICE
No, it has to be the original 45.
He was very clear about that.
TED
Why?
ALICE
I have no idea.
TED
You'd need an old phonograph to
play it.
ALICE
I know. What?
TED
I didn't say anything.
ALICE
(almost losing it)
The way you're looking at me.
What am I supposed to do?
(MORE)
5.
ALICE (CONT'D)
It's like his dying last wish or
something. I need some support
here.
TED
Take it easy, Mom. If it's not in
the attic, I bet we can find
everything we need on Ebay.
ALICE
That would take too long,
wouldn't
it? The doctor said it will be
over any time now.
EXT.
BILL'S HOUSE - FRONT YARD - DAY
Ted
is back to mowing the lawn.
EXT.
BILL'S HOUSE - STREET - DAY
A
car pulls to the curb down the street.
INT.
CAR - DAY
In
the car is JOE, 40s. He shuts off the engine.
He
watches Ted from half a block away.
He
fetches binoculars, watching Ted through them.
EXT.
BILL'S HOUSE - GARAGE - DAY
Ted
is putting the push mower into the garage.
He
goes inside the house from a door off the garage.
INT.
CAR - DAY
Joe
starts the car.
EXT.
BILL'S HOUSE - STREET - DAY
Joe
pulls the car closer to the house and parks again.
INT.
CAR - DAY
Joe
at the binoculars.
He
sees Ted inside, on the phone.
INT.
BILL'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Ted
on the phone.
6.
TED
Could I come right over then?...I
really appreciate this. See you
soon.
He
hangs up.
EXT.
BILL'S HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY
Ted
comes outside and gets in his car in the driveway.
INT.
CAR - DAY
Joe
starts the car. He watches Ted back up.
EXT.
BILL'S HOUSE - STREET - DAY
Ted
drives off down the street.
Joe
pulls behind him.
INTERCUT:
FOLLOWING TED
Ted
drives through town. Joe stays on his tail.
Ted
enters a residential area.
He
pulls into a driveway. Joe parks at the curb down the
street.
EXT.
OLD HOUSE - STREET - DAY
Ted
gets out and goes to the door.
INT.
CAR - DAY
Joe
watches with binoculars.
He
sees something interesting. Puts down the binocs, picks
up
a camera.
EXT.
OLD HOUSE - FRONT PORCH - DAY
RACHAEL,
30s, has opened the door to find Ted.
INT.
CAR - DAY
Joe
snaps away.
INT.
OLD HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY
Rachael
shows Ted the drop-down ladder to the attic.
7.
RACHAEL
It's probably all cobwebs and
spiders up there.
TED
Is there a light?
RACHAEL
I think so. It's been so long
since I've been up there. Do you
want a flashlight?
TED
I'll call if I need one.
He
starts up the ladder.
EXT.
OLD HOUSE - STREET - DAY
Joe
waits in the car.
INT.
OLD HOUSE - ATTIC - DAY
Ted
pulls the cord to a bare light bulb. Light floods the
small
attic.
Rachael
was right, it's a mess. Stacked boxes, a couple of
trunks.
Ted
hardly knows where to begin.
EXT.
OLD HOUSE - STREET - DAY
Joe
looks at his watch.
INT.
OLD HOUSE - ATTIC - DAY
Ted
finds a phonograph that plays 45 records. He puts it
aside
to carry down.
He
keeps looking.
He
finds an album of photographs. He opens it.
Photographs
of his granddad as a young man.
He
comes to the same photograph that's at Emil's bedside.
Emil
and his date posing on the dance floor, "Class of 1954."
INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
It
is 1954, the high school prom.
EMIL,
17, dances with WANDA, 16.
8.
ON
STAGE are THE CLOVERS themselves, five black men in
matching
purple suits. They are singing "Blue Velvet."
As
they sing, they step through a choreographed routine in
the
doowop style of the era.
ON
THE DANCE floor, Emil holds Wanda close.
EMIL
Wanda, I want to ask you
something.
WANDA
What?
EMIL
Will you marry me?
Wanda
looks shocked, then ecstatic. They stop dancing and
embrace.
WANDA
Yes!
INT.
OLD HOUSE - ATTIC - DAY
Ted
stares at the photograph. He closes the album.
EXT.
OLD HOUSE - STREET - DAY
Joe
drums his fingers on the steering wheel.
INT.
OLD HOUSE - ATTIC - DAY
Ted
roots through a box. He finds an envelope marked "For My
Grandson,
Ted. PRIVATE!"
He
stares at it, as if unable to believe his eyes.
He
cautiously opens the envelope -- and finds a key. And a
folded
note.
WANDA (O.S.)
Did you say you were looking for
old records?
INT.
OLD HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Ted
is going through a box of 45 records. On the floor
beside
him is the 45 portable phonograph he found in the
attic.
WANDA
Jerry brought them down last year
and forgot to return them.
9.
Ted
lights up.
TED
Bingo!
He
brings out an old 45 record: on the Atlantic label, "Blue
Velvet"
by The Clovers.
EXT.
OLD HOUSE - FRONT PORCH - DAY
Ted
comes out, carrying the phonograph and record. Wanda
follows
him onto the porch.
WANDA
Give Emil a hug for me.
She
embraces Ted.
INT.
CAR - DAY
Joe
snaps photos of them in an embrace.
JOE
(to himself)
Now we're cookin'.
He
stops and smiles. Mission accomplished. Or so he believes.
He
starts the car.
EXT.
OLD HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY
Ted
gets into his car.
Backing
up, he has to stop as Joe's car drives by.
EXT.
DOWNTOWN - BANK - DAY
Ted
pulls into the parking lot of a bank.
INT.
OLD HOUSE - ATTIC - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Ted
reading the note he found.
EMIL (O.S.)
(voice strong)
You have authorized access to a
safety deposit box at the
downtown
branch of the bank.
INT.
BANK - DAY
Ted
enters the bank. He goes to a counter.
10.
EMIL (O.S.)
Ask for Sam. He knows about the
arrangement.
Ted
is led to a desk. He shakes hands with SAM.
EMIL (O.S.)
There'll be more details when you
open the safety deposit box.
Sam
leads Ted toward the safety deposit area.
INT.
JENNIFER'S APARTMENT - DAY
Joe
is showing Jennifer the photographs.
JENNIFER
I didn't know Ted liked older
women. Do you know who she is?
JOE
Nope.
JENNIFER
She looks familiar. How long was
he there?
JOE
Long enough to make whoopee.
JENNIFER
Must you? This isn't easy for me.
She
stares at a photograph.
JENNIFER
This house looks familiar.
JOE
You said you needed them
together.
I delivered.
Jennifer
looks up from the photo.
JENNIFER
I'll write you a check.
EXT.
DOWNTOWN - BANK - DAY
Ted
comes out of the bank.
EXT.
HOSPITAL - PARKING LOT - DAY
Ted
pulls into the parking lot.
11.
INT.
HOSPITAL - WAITING AREA - DAY
Alice
is on the phone.
ALICE
Jennifer, I'm sorry to bother you
again. I can't find Ted. He has
to come to the hospital right
away.
INT.
JENNIFER'S APARTMENT - DAY
Jennifer
on the phone. She's still looking at one of the
photographs.
INTERCUT
ALICE
I thought he may have stopped by.
JENNIFER
I'm so sorry about Popo.
ALICE
If you hear from Ted ...
JENNIFER
I'll tell him. Alice?
ALICE
Yes?
JENNIFER
I meant to come by. I always
liked Popo.
ALICE
It's not too late.
JENNIFER
I don't know if Ted would want me
there.
ALICE
Of course he would. He still
loves you, dear. I have to run.
JENNIFER
Alice?
ALICE
Yes?
JENNIFER
Did Popo ever sell the old house?
12.
ALICE
He rents it out. Why?
JENNIFER
What's the address again?
ALICE
You've been there.
JENNIFER
Only once, a few years ago.
ALICE
1733 3rd Ave. You're perfectly
welcome to come to the hospital.
As far as I'm concerned, you're
still part of the family.
JENNIFER
Thank you.
She
hangs up. She stares at the photograph.
The
number on the house, behind the porch where Ted and
Rachael
embrace, is 1733.
INT.
HOSPITAL - ROOM - DAY
Alice
sits at Emil's bedside.
The
old man is propped up on a pillow. His eyes are open.
Ted
is setting up the old 45 phonograph. Emil watches.
TED
Okay, I think we're ready. Popo?
Emil
nods.
Ted
puts on the old record.
"Blue
Velvet" by The Clovers begins to play.
Emil
smiles.
Alice,
seeing her father's reaction, looks relieved.
Emil
gestures to Ted. He moves close to his grandfather.
Emil
speaks, too low to be heard. Ted puts an ear at his
mouth.
TED
I found it.
13.
Emil
whispers again.
TED
I can't believe you did this. The
timing is perfect.
ALICE
What are you talking about?
Emil
whispers. "Blue Velvet" is still playing.
Jennifer
enters.
JENNIFER
Hi, Popo.
Ted
moves back and sees Jennifer.
TED
I'm glad you came.
ALICE
We all are, dear.
JENNIFER
(to Emil)
How are you feeling?
Emil
makes a gesture. No one understands.
He
gestures again, bigger. The gesture is difficult for him.
JENNIFER
What's he want?
ALICE
I think he wants you two to
dance.
Emil
nods, gestures again.
TED
(to Jennifer)
May I have this dance?
JENNIFER
Ted, I'm not sure ...
TED
It's just a dance.
JENNIFER
I'll do it for Popo.
They
begin dancing.
14.
Emil
smiles.
"Blue
Velvet" continues to play.
TED
I'm quitting my job.
JENNIFER
What?
TED
You were right to kick me out.
I've been married to the agency.
Well, I'm getting a divorce.
JENNIFER
You can't afford to quit your
job.
TED
Actually, I can. I'm thinking I
might go back to school and get a
teaching certificate.
JENNIFER
How?
Ted
smiles at her.
INT.
BANK - SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Sam
sets a safety deposit box on a small table in front of
Ted
and leaves.
Ted
takes out the key. He opens the box.
Another
folded note. He picks it up.
Under
the note, money. Stacks and stacks of money. Big bills.
There
might be a quarter million dollars in there.
Ted
unfolds the note and reads.
EMIL (O.S.)
There comes a time in every young
man's life when he feels trapped.
When he wonders if he's made the
right choices in life.
INT.
HOSPITAL - ROOM - DAY
"Blue
Velvet" still plays.
Ted
and Jennifer are dancing.
15.
EMIL (O.S.)
By then he's usually too
committed
to a lifestyle to start over. I'm
giving you the means to start
over. I've done very well, as you
know, and normally this would
come to you in my will. But I
wanted to keep this part of it a
secret between us, and maybe
you'll appreciate not having to
wait for the courts to handle my
estate. You're my only grandson,
Ted, and I love you dearly. I
want to give you a little help in
starting over, whenever that time
may come. It happens to all of
us.
We make mistakes. We get stuck in
the obligations of life. I hope
when your time comes, you can use
this to start over and do it
better the second time around.
JENNIFER
Ted, how can you afford to quit
your job?
Emil
watches them dance. Ted and Jennifer morph into...
INT.
HIGH SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Young
Emil and his date, his future wife, dancing to "Blue
Velvet."
The
Clovers on stage, doing their choreographed routine.
TED (O.S.)
Popo gave me an incredible gift.
And I don't want to be married to
my job, Jen. I want to be married
to you.
INT.
HOSPITAL - ROOM - DAY
Ted
and Jennifer dance.
Alice
watches, smiling.
"Blue
Velvet" plays, near the end now.
Emil
seems far away. Then he closes his eyes.
FADE
OUT