We hear the SOUNDS of a BIRTHDAY PARTY: people singing, or prompting DANIEL to blow ... We hear a child SQUEAL in deligh
GOING HOME Written by Allan Michael Brunet
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Film begins in darkness. We hear a female voice. It is the voice of the COUNSELOR. Calm, reassuring, quiet COUNSELOR (V.O.) Mr. Sauvé? SLOW FADE IN 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY TIGHT SHOT on the face of a MAN. This is DENIS SAUVÉ. He is staring blankly at the ground in front of him. Mid to late thirties; you can tell from the first sight of this face that this is a man who is experiencing intense grief, but he has locked it all tightly up inside. COUNSELOR (softer, still off camera) Denis. SAUVÉ blinks, his stare still far away. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) You were telling me about the accident. SAUVÉ does not react. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) Do you remember anything else about that night? Nothing. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) Mr. Sauvé? Beat. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) Denis? Beat. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) Do you know where you are?
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This brings SAUVÉ around a bit. It seems a strange question to him: of course he knows where he is. SAUVÉ In my house. The COUNSELOR takes a moment to consider this answer. COUNSELOR No. No, you’re not. Startled, SAUVÉ looks up at the COUNSELOR for the first time. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) This is important. You must remember. Where are you? SAUVÉ I He looks across the living room. Sees the piano with the photos of his family on its cover. The table covered in flowers and sympathy cards. Looks out the window and sees his yard, the swing set, toys that were not picked up. The first snow flakes of winter are just beginning to fall. COUNSELOR What else do you remember from that night? Slowly, SAUVÉ’s gaze comes back, settles on some middle ground somewhere not far in front of him. SAUVÉ I was at my mom’s. We hear the SOUNDS of a BIRTHDAY PARTY: people singing, or prompting DANIEL to blow out his candles or open a present. COUNSELOR It was Daniel’s birthday. SAUVÉ He just turned six. He We hear a child SQUEAL in delight and surprise. High-pitched and sustained, it sounds very much like tires SCREECHING.
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COUNSELOR It’s not your fault, Denis. You need to know that. Pause COUNSELOR (CONT’D) After dinner, you left. Baby Sarah was sleeping SAUVÉ Daniel was so excited. Now we hear other VOICES. Memories from the night of the accident. DANIEL (V.O.) Can I sit in the front Dad? Please? SAUVÉ I was driving. COUNSELOR You were. AMANDA SAUVÉ (V.O.) Daniel, we talked about this. You’re still too little. SAUVÉ I He closes his eyes. It is too much for him. SAUVE (V.O.) Oh I don’t know, honey. Six is a big number. Maybe he’s big enough to sit up front with his old man. The COUNSELOR does not move. She does not remove her gaze from SAUVÉ, does not blink. COUNSELOR Do you remember where you are? SAUVÉ looks up at her. He still does not understand the question.
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COUNSELOR (CONT’D) How did you get here? SAUVÉ opens his mouth to answer and stops. He blinks. Looks around. He cannot remember how he got here. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) You were driving. SAUVÉ (slowly remembering) It was raining. SOUND of RAIN and WINDSHIELD WIPERS. COUNSELOR The road was slippery. SAUVÉ I didn’t realize how cold it was up there. COUNSELOR It’s much colder in the hills than in the valley. SAUVÉ I wasn’t expecting it. COUNSELOR No. We hear the SOUND of the CAR swerve, lose traction. CRASH. COUNSELOR (CONT’D) How could you? SAUVÉ But they were COUNSELOR You - were. He is taken aback by this. Looks at her. SAUVÉ We -
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COUNSELOR Yes. SAUVÉ But He looks around, as if suddenly surprised to be where he is. COUNSELOR Do you know where you are? He seems frightened somehow. SAUVÉ (increasingly confused) Where - ? COUNSELOR Do you remember now? A shadow passes in his eyes, we hear the faint SOUND of RAIN and broken WINDSHIELD WIPERS. SAUVÉ I He starts to shake his head slowly. COUNSELOR There’s someone here you need to see. SAUVÉ’s eyes widen. He sees someone just behind the COUNSELOR. His eyes lock on the new person. All SOUND STOPS. The room becomes SILENT. A SMALL BOY steps out from behind the COUNSELOR. DANIEL Daddy.
... you will have to see the film to know the rest ...
