autumn

SUMMER
One day I’m reading a book at the
corner deli and this guy sits down
and starts asking about it. Now
he’s my husband!

TOM
This is funny to you?

SUMMER
What would have happened if I went
to the movies instead? If I went
somewhere else for lunch? If I
showed up to eat ten minutes later?
Tom, it was meant to be, just like
you said. And as it was happening,
I knew it. I could feel it, sure as
the sun. And I kept thinking to
myself “Holy shit. Tom was right.”
You were right about all of it.

31EXT. RESIDENTIAL SCHENECTADY STREET – SPRING 2006 – DAY 31

Caden and Olive walk along. Caden holds a tax envelope. His
face has pustules on it. The gaunt man follows.

OLIVE
What’s wrong with your face, Daddy?

CADEN
It’s pustules. It’s called
sycosis. Spelled differently than
psychosis, but it sounds the same.

OLIVE
I don’t know what that means.

CADEN
Well, there’s two different kinds
of psychosis. They’re spelled
differently. P-s-y is like if
you’re crazy and s-y is like these
things on my face.

OLIVE
You could have both though.

CADEN
I could. But I don’t.

OLIVE
Okay, pretend we’re fairies. I’m a
girl fairy and my name is …
La-ru…lee. And you’re a boy
fairy and your name is Teeteree.

CADEN
Ok.

OLIVE
What’s my name again?

CADEN
La-ru-lee.

(CONTINUED)

SYN, NY – GOLDENROD REVISIONS – JULY 30, 2007 28.

31CONTINUED:31

OLIVE
No. I said … La-ru-la…ay.

32INT. SCHENECTADY POST OFFICE – SPRING 2006 – CONTINUOUS 32

Caden and Olive are at the back of the long line of people.

OLIVE
Pretend we fight each other. And I
say stop hitting me or I’ll die.
And you say okay, but you’re
fibbing. And you hit me again.

CADEN
Okay.

OLIVE
Okay. Let’s go. Hit me.
They pretend to hit each other. Olive makes hissing and
roaring noises. She stops.

OLIVE (CONT’D)
Okay. You have to stop hitting me
now or I will die.

CADEN
Okay.
He stops.

OLIVE
No! Pretend you’re fibbing!
Remember?
He mock hits her again. She falls.

OLIVE (CONT’D)
Now I have to die.

(BEAT)
Pretend you say you don’t want me
to die.

CADEN
I don’t want you to die.

OLIVE
(compassionate whisper)
But I have to.

CADEN
But I’ll miss you.

(CONTINUED)

SYN, NY – GOLDENROD REVISIONS – JULY 30, 200729.

32 CONTINUED: 32

OLIVE
I have to. And you’ll have to wait
a million years to see me again.
Caden tears up at this and tries to conceal it.

OLIVE (CONT’D)
And I’ll be put in a box. And all
I’ll need is a tiny glass of water.
And lots of — tiny pieces of
pizza. And the box will have
wings, like an airplane.

CADEN
Where will it take you?

OLIVE

(THINKS)
Home.