by Michael C. Keith
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
GIRL about 10 years old is in bed. She is covered in a gray blanket that reaches just above her mouth.
The room is empty and its furnishings are stark. Décor suggests pre-WWII era. A sole window looks out onto the wall of a neighboring brick building.
EXT. WINDOW – DAY
Tree limbs intersect the space between the hospital and the brick building. It is early autumn.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
MAN enters room and sits next to the bed. He stares forlornly at its motionless occupant and sighs deeply. The patient moves to his sound.
MAN
Hello, Sweetie. How you doin’, Buttercup?
MAN pushes GIRL’S hair from her eyes and smiles at her tenderly.
GIRL
Papa, I had a dream that when all the leaves were gone, I went to heaven.
EXT. VIEW FROM WINDOW – DAY
Tree limbs sway with colorful leaves. Some are falling.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
MAN
You’re going to get better, darlin’. Don’t you think
like that. Besides, I bet some of those leaves stay right
where they are.
GIRL
But they won’t because winter is coming, and they’ll
get blown away. I want to come home. Please, can I,
Papa, before all the leaves fall?
MAN
Don’t you fret, little sweetheart.
GIRL
(with sniffle)
Oh, Papa, heaven was nice in my dream, but
when the last leaf fell, I was there and you and
Mama weren’t.
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY – DAY
MAN speaking with DOCTOR.
DOCTOR
(grimly)
She’s so weak, I’m afraid she could go in a matter of days.
A week or two at most. I’m so sorry . . .
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM. A WEEK LATER – DAY
GIRL’s condition has clearly deteriorated. MAN sits beside her.
GIRL
Look Papa, nearly all the leaves are gone.
EXT. VIEW BEYOND WINDOW – DAY
Tree is nearly leafless in the gloomy light.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
MAN
There are still leaves on it, honey, and
they’re not going anywhere . . . promise.
EXT. BRICK BUILDING ADJACENT TO HOSPITAL – EARLY EVENING
MAN on ladder pasting individual leaves to wall of the brick building.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
MAN in room with dying girl.
MAN
See, honey, the leaves are still there.
GIRL
(in breathy whisper)
Love you, Papa.
MAN
(tears fill eyes)
Love you, too, baby.
EXT. VIEW BEYOND HOSPITAL WINDOW – DAY
A single snowflake drifts among bare tree limbs.
INT. GIRL’S HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Emptied of personal effects. The bed is newly made.
EXT. BRICK BUILDING WALL –– DAY
Last pasted leaf falls away and floats skyward. Camera follows leaf on its upward trajectory.
The End
Category: Screenplays