naykdpoet

RE-UNION

© COPYRIGHT 2015-16 This script may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author

 

Logline:

Marshall, a 51-year-old, single, gay male and, 24-year-old, attractive gay Justin while attending Marshall’s best friend Brad’s 50th birthday party, are soon to find their flirtatious gestures of mutual physical attraction harbours a 20-year-old surprise of unimaginable emotional consequence that neither could have possibly imagined.

FADE IN: INT. CONDO-APARTMENT – FESTIVE PARTY ATMOSPHERE – EVENING

Standing in the middle of the well-appointed living room, surrounded by a small number of well dressed partiers, fifty-one year old Marshall, holding a bottle of beer, congratulates Brad who is celebrating his 50th birthday

MARSHALL
(joyously)
Congratulations Brad, who’d of thought we’d make it this far ah? (pausing) The big five-0, damn!

BRAD
(sheepishly)
Thanks man, yah, who’d of believed it. Frankly, I don’t feel it – I mean, in here (points to his head) I’m still 20 years old

(shakes his head, clinks
glass to Marshall’s bottle)

Thanks and thanks for throwing
the surprise party (drinks)

Marshall drinks while scanning the room then pauses when he spots an attractive young man (JUSTIN) talking to another partier

MARSHALL
(inquisitively)

Brad, who’s that hot look’n kid

(gestures bottle in direction toward Justin)

BRAD
(unawares)

Who, which guy? Coz, if he’s
good looking he’s mine! Remember,
it’s my birthday party!

(looks to direction pointed)

I don’t know, I’ve not seen him before,
he must have come with someone but, if
he’s not attached he’s mine!

(both laugh at the speculation walking away in different directions)

INT. BOTTLE CLUTTERED KITCHEN – LATER

(Marshall walks into kitchen to get a beer from the fridge, Justin follows behind and leans against the kitchen counter next to the fridge.)

MARSHALL
(surprised to see Justin)

Hi, how’s it goin?

JUSTIN
(coyly and speculative)

Not bad, and you?

MARSHALL
(nervous tone)

Good, and you.. (pauses) I mean great!
(pauses) So you a friend of Brad’s, I’ve
seen you before?

JUSTIN
(confidently)

No, no I came with Angie
(gestures with drink toward living room)

She and I were out for coffee this
morning and she invited me to come along

MARSHALL
(turning toward living room)

Yah, I know Angie. How did you come
to know her. She’s kinda old for
you isn’t she (subtle laugh)

JUSTIN
(smiling at the comment)

No, no, she’s just a friend. I met her
at acting class. We had to do an impromptu
together and we just hit if off – she’s
great. (Turns to face Marshall)

How about you, what brings you to Brad’s
birthday party?

MARSHALL
(leans against the counter next to Justin)

Who me, o shit, I’ve known Brad for over
twenty years now. We’ve to hell and back
together. (pausing) Frankly, we are both
surprised we’re still kicking at fifty.

JUSTIN
(flirtatiously questioning)

What, you fifty? Come on, you don’t look a
older than forty-nine (laughing)

(Marshall turns abruptly and fains a punch to Justin’s gut. Justin responds by grabbing Marshall. The two jostle playfully until Brad enters the kitchen)

BRAD
(jokingly, questioning)

Ok you two, no fighting in the Kitchen.
I thought you didn’t know each other, either
that or you’re getting there

(leans into Marshall’s, whispering angularly)

I thought I told you he was mine!

(Marshall shrugs his shoulders)

JUSTIN
(confused)

What, what’s goin on between you two?

BRAD
(looking directly at Marshall)

Oh nothing, nothing..just a private joke

(turns to Justin coyly)

So, my name is Brad, I am the birthday boy.
And who might you be? (extends hand-shake)

JUSTIN
(shaking Brad’s hand)

I’m Justin, I came with Angie. We..

(Marshall interrupts)

MARSHALL
(turning to Justin)

Oh, right.. I never did introduce myself

(Brad abruptly leaves the kitchen pissed
at Marshall who introduces himself to Justin
in the background)

INT: APARTMENT-CONDO – LIVING ROOM COUCH – LATE EVENING

BRAD
(annoyed, sarcastically)

So you, Justin; seems you both hit it off.
You gonna be seeing more of him?

MARSHALL
(apologetic)

Look Brad, I’m sorry. I know it’s YOUR birthday
and I know YOU’RE upset with me but, shit man, I
didn’t expect that to happen. It just did.
And no, I mean I don’t know if he’s truly even interested. I mean he’s just a twenty-four year old kid, what would he want with an old-fart like me? But, I’d be lying if I didn’t say it wouldn’t be great but…(pauses and embraces sulking Brad)

INT: MARSHALL’S BEDROOM – EARLY NEXT MORNING

(Marshall, asleep in his bed, gets abruptly woken by the sound of his cell-phone ringing. Looking at the alarm clock reading 9:30 he becomes annoyed at being woken so early after such a late night before.)

MARSHALL
(pissed)

Yah, who is it…what do you want?

VOICE ON PHONE (JUSTIN)
(nervous, apologetic)

Oh, sorry, did I wake you? It’s me Justin

MARSHALL
(joyful,surprised,attentive)

Oh, Justin, hay sorry for that, it’s
just that I got home late and hoping to
sleep in…sorry. So, how are you? How’d
you get my number by the way? (laughs)

JUSTIN
(apologetic)

Sorry Marshall, shou, should I call back? (pauses)

MARSHALL
(calmly)

No, no it’s ok Justin, so…

JUSTIN
(mildly anxious)

I got your number from Angie, I hope you
don’t mind??

MARSHALL
(slightly elated)

No, no problem, in fact it’s good to hear
from you, I’m glad you thought to call
even if it is early. So, what’s up?

JUSTIN
(mildly flirtatious)

Well, I was thinking, especially now that
I’ve got you up; you wanna get some breakfast?
I know a great little spot – Dunk’n cafe’.
You know it?

MARSHALL

Yah, 31st and Queen right?

JUSTIN

Right, for eleven, I’ll meet you there?

MARSHALL
(elated)

Sounds good, see you there, at eleven!

(Marshall leans back into the bed pausing to take in what just happened then, looking at the alarm clock, realizes he better get moving. Joyfully jumps out of bed for the bathroom.)

EXT.: OUTDOOR – CAFE’ PATIO – MID-MORNING

(Marshall, greeted by the Hostess, sees Justin waving, walks to his table trying not to look outwardly as excited as he felt inside. He couldn’t help but notice Justin’s stunning blue eyes. His wearing a tight-fitting, robin-egg blue T-shirt, making them even bluer. Fidgeting, he tried desperately to conceal his joy in having met such a good looking young man who, apparently, wants to get to know him better.

Marshall’s last relationship of ten years ended just two years prior and figured at fifty-one, the likelihood of ever meeting someone and falling in love was unlikely if not improbable. Especially with someone as young and wholesomely good looking as Justin.)

MARSHALL
(nervously putting napkin on his lap)

So Justin, surprise! I didn’t
expect to hear from you so soon, and
I don’t just mean early (laughs nervously)

JUSTIN
(confidently)

Yah, sorry about that. It’s just, I
enjoyed meeting you yesterday, and, so
I hope you don’t mind?

MARSHALL

No, not at all. If anything, I should be
grateful. Besides being a beautiful sunny
morning, I get the pleasure of breakfast
with a good looking young man!

JUSTIN
(bashfully)

Well thanks, and I with a hot looking man.

(Waitress appears at the table to take their order.)

EXT.: OUTSIDE – STREET NEXT TO CAFE’ – TWO HOURS LATER

MARSHALL
(shyly questioning)

So Justin, that was great. So, what’s up
for the rest of this glorious day?

JUSTIN
(non-committal)

Well, not really sure. I promised
Angie I’d help get her new apartment
organized. (laughing) The price I have to
pay to get your number out of her.
I promised I’d do anything she asked
to get it. But it’s been well worth it!

(appreciative)

I hope I’m not being too forward<?>

(Marshall is surprised when Justin embraces and, gives him a slight kiss on the cheek before pulling away)

JUSTIN
(sheepishly hesitant)

So, can we see each other again? I’d really
like to if you do?

MARSHALL
(trying to hide enthusiasm)

Great! Yah, I’d like that, anytime. Give me a
call and we can set something up.

(Justin turns to walk away, pauses, then turns back, facing Marshall, slight hesitation, gives a quick kiss on the lips, pauses, looks into Marshall’s eyes for a reaction, turns and walks away smiling. Marshall, a bit dumbfounded sheepishly waves goodbye, watches Justin walk away.)

LATER SAME DAY

INT.: BRAD’S APARTMENT – MESSY CLUTTER – LIVING ROOM

BRAD
(appreciative)

Thanks Marshall for showing up. I can’t
believe the mess just ten people can create
after just a few drinks. I mean look at this
place…

(scans the messy apartment)

MARSHALL
(poking through the clutter)

Not a problem Brad, the least I can do since
we couldn’t do it at my place

BRAD
(interrupts)

Right, I know, the renovations. When’s
that shit gonna be finished?

MARSHALL
(shaking his head)

Yah, I know, seems it’s been going on forever
but look, I need to talk to you about that kid
Justin, he..

BRAD
(interrupts)

What? Don’t tell me, not already? You just met the
kid last night and there’s already drama

(continues cleaning, shakes his head)

MARSHALL
(perplexed)

Well no! There is no DRAMA. It’s just that I really
don’t know how to react to him.

BRAD
(questioning)

What do you mean, he is coming on to you<?> I’d
say go for it! It isn’t every day a hot young
guy is gonna want to jump those old bones (laughs)

MARSHALL

Ha, ha, ha.. have your laugh. No, really it’s more
than that. Look, we met for breakfast this
morning – his idea not mine. Well, when we’re saying
our good-byes sort of thing; he up and kissed me on
the lips..

BRAD

So! What’s the big deal? The kid obviously likes
you.

MARSHALL

Well it’s just that; when he kissed me, something about it seemed kinda of strange. Almost like I had been kissed by my brother or something, I don’t know..

BRAD

What? Get a grip man, you’ve just been on your own for a little too long and your scared. Maybe you just have
to take the lead and slow him down a bit. I know if it were me he’d be knowing the colour of my bed-sheets by now.

MARSHALL

Again, very funny. Well, what ever it is I know there is something odd about this whole thing.

BRAD

Bottom line: do you like him? And if you do I’d say; just go with it and see what happens. After all he is just twenty and you could just be the soup d’jour

MARSHALL

Thanks! You’ve been a great help.. Bastard!

TWO WEEKS LATER:

PHONE CONVERSATION: JUSTIN CALLS MARSHALL

JUSTIN

So look, Marshall I want you to come over tonight

MARSHALL

Justin we were just out last night?

JUSTIN

But I’ve got a surprise for you.. And no it’s not that… (sexy, mischievous laugh)

MARSHALL

Justin.?

JUSTIN

Ok, then tomorrow night, be here for 8 sharp

(hangs up before Marshall can respond)

NEXT DAY:

INT.: JUSTIN’S APARTMENT HALL DOOR – 8PM

(Marshall arrives at Justin’s apartment to find an envelope tacked to the door with his name on it. He opens the envelope to find a note: “ MARSHALL, surprise: the door’s unlocked, come in, follow the arrows Love Justin”)

INT.: JUSTIN’S APARTMENT AND BEDROOM

(Marshall enters, the room has enough light to just notice paper arrows taped to a path of arrows that lead to Justin’s bedroom – he opens the closed door, it’s dark, he enters the room, lights flash on.)

JUSTIN
(laying naked on the bed)

SURPRISE! Now come here you big hunk of man

MARSHALL
(taking off clothes)

Justin, what the…

INT.: JUSTIN’S BEDROOM – A SHORT-TIME LATER

(Marshall and Justin naked, making out but Marshall visibly having difficulty)

MARSHALL
(rolls away, troubled)

Justin, stop for a minute, wait

JUSTIN
(confused)

What, what’s the problem Marshall? Is it too soon?
I know you wanted to hold off but,

MARSHALL

No, no, it’s not that, truth: I don’t know, something else. Give me a minute….

(Marshall pulls a bed sheet around his waist and goes out the bedroom. Justin sitting up in the bed, looks confused and left wondering what was wrong. Marshall exits bedroom and walks to the living room. As he passes a bookshelf he sees a picture of a women. Taking a closer look, the women seems strangely familiar to him. Taking the picture back to the bedroom.)

MARSHALL
(inquisitively, holding the picture up)

Justin, who is this picture of?

JUSTIN

That’s my mother, she’s living in Winnipeg, why?

MARSHALL
(slightly anxious)

What’s your mother’s name?

JUSTIN

Rachial. Why? Marshall what’s goin on? Tell me

(Marshall does not reply, places picture on night-table, puts on his clothes and abrutly leaves)

JUSTIN
(pleading, naked, running)

Marshall? What’s going on, what did I do?

(Justin, still naked, crying, stands at hallway door watches Marshall leave.)

HOURS LATER:

INT.: MARSHALL’S APARTMENT – SMALL ROOM FULL OF BOXES

(Marshall rummages through old boxes, pulls out old picture album dated 1980-90. Scouring through pages – comes to a picture of him with and the girl he met during a business trip to Winnipeg. Peeling picture from the album then turns picture over to see written: `Me & Rachial – Winnipeg – 1983’)

MARSHALL
(crying)

SHIT! Shit, shit, shit…

NEXT EVENING:
INT.: SMALL NEIGHBOURHOOD GAY BAR 

MARSHALL
(sitting at bar with drink)

My turn I guess, thanks for coming.

BRAD
(just seating at bar)

A friend in need. And let me guess..

MARSHALL

Cut it out, shut-up, and just listen: without
going into all the sorted details I think I know
what’s holding me back with Justin ..

(turns to face BRAD)

He’s my son!

BRAD

(shocked)

What! What the fuck are you saying? How do you know this?

(Marshall pulls picture from pocket, throwing on the bar in front of Brad)

BRAD
(takes, inspects picture)

Wow, you were pretty good looking back then, what happened? (laughs)

MARSHALL
(sullen)

Not me you idiot, the girl. The girl in the picture is Justin’s mother – Rachial, the same Rachial I had sex with while on a business trip to Winnipeg back in the early eighties.

BRAD
(shocked, surprised)

Holy shit man, fuck! Are you certain? How could that be? I mean what the fuck are the chances?

MARSHALL
(looking at picture)

Beats the fuck out of me!

NEXT DAY – EARLY EVENING

INT.: MARSHALL’S APARTMENT – COMPUTER ROOM

(Marshall doing a facebook search `Rachial Dawson, Winnipeg, Man.’. Rachial Dawson profile picture same as Justin’s picture. Makes a phone call)

MARSHALL
(nervous)

Hello, Rachial Dawson? (pauses)

WOMEN’S VOICE (RACHIAL)

Yes, whose calling? Hello..

MARSHALL
(hesitant, voice shaking)

Rachial, I don’t know if you’d remember
me but, back (pausing) god, years ago
we met, there in Winnipeg. It’s me
Marshall, Marshall Hewitt. Do you recall?

WOMEN’S VOICE (RACHIAL)

Marshall? How could I forget? But why,
why now, after what: twenty, twenty-four
years ago?

MARSHALL
(nervous)

Well Rachial, it’s hard to explain on
the phone but, I need to talk to you
and, and if you don’t mind, I’d like
to come to Winnipeg.

WOMEN’S VOICE
(confused)

You Winnipeg? Marshall, what is this
about, please tell me?

MARSHALL
(reserved)

Well I guess. Let me just say it has to
do with us back then, that night we met
and…, well you know, we had sex and..

WOMEN’S VOICE
(whispered, sullen)

I see, I see. So when?

MARSHALL
(assuredly)

The next possible flight. Don’t worry I
will call you when I arrive and we can
set up a time a place to meet. If that
sounds alright with you?

WOMEN’S VOICE
(whisper, quiet)

I guess. Let me know. (hangs up)

(Marshall hears phone disconnect, waits, listens to dial tone)

TWO DAYS LATER – MID-DAY 

INT.: WINNIPEG – SMALL DINER – RESTAURANT BOOTH

(Marshall anxiously awaits Rachial whom, to recognize is only recall of Justin’s picture. She walks into the small diner [he sees the image of the Rachial as he knew twenty-years earlier but then morphs to the late forty-year-old women she is today] He greets her with a wave, a hug-friendly kiss on the cheek. They both sit nervously…)

MARSHALL/RACHIAL

So good.. You too, how..

(both laugh nervous)

MARSHALL
(growing anxious)

Sorry Rach…, as you can guess I’m pretty
nervous..

RACHIAL
(calming)

Relax, I’m a mess inside and; after
your call, it conjured up thoughts
I’d thought long forgotten. So…

MARSHALL

So. So, yah well where to start.. Let’s see,
Justin! Yah, Justin, why don’t we start there?

RACHIAL
(surprised)

What, what do you know of Justin, my son?

MARSHALL
(angry)

You mean OUR son! You, me, that night
we had sex. Why didn’t you tell me you
became pregnant, had a boy, my boy!

RACHIAL
(disturbed)

What are you saying? How do you know this,
how do you know Justin?

MARSHALL
(calmer)

We, he, me we met at a friends birthday
part. My best friend Brad. It was his
50th birthday and seems Justin knows a
mutual friend of Brad’s.

RACHIAL
(questioning)

So, so you met Justin there. How did you
come to find out that he was my son?

MARSHALL
(quiet, saddened )

What you don’t know Rachial,
after us, I came out; I’m a gay man.

RACHIAL
(quiet sardonic laugh)

MARSHALL
(questioning – hurt)

What are you smirking at? And so is your son!
There, smirk at that! Yah. Your son, our son,
is Gay! And, and he doesn’t know it yet, but,
he’s in love with me – his father!

(sullen, sad, reclining)

There! Have your little laugh.

RACHIAL
(quietly crying)

I’m sorry. How, why, what are you saying?
First, I know Justin is Gay and, (slight laugh)
I, after we met, thought you might be too.

MARSHALL
(surprised)

What?! Why??

RACHIAL
(calm, explanation)

That’s not important now but, at the time
when I found out I was pregnant, I wanted
to call but, I thought then; you might be Gay. That you wouldn’t want the burden
of knowing.

(sad, apologetic)

I’m sorry, I guess I was wrong. But, you
said Justin was in-love with you. How?
You and Justin?

MARSHALL
(calm, explanation)

Well, as you can imagine, when I first
met him I had no idea of any of this.
He was just this good looking boy,
friend of friend and, well we got to meet
and things kind of happened.

RACHIAL
(shocked, concerned)

You slept with…

MARSHALL

(interrupts)

No! No! We, he, well, it seemed we had
immediate chemistry. I mean as much as
I was attracted to him I knew, I knew
something was wrong about it.

RACHIAL
(calmly inquisitive)

So, when did you realize he was my son, our son?

MARSHALL
(pondering)

I saw your picture, at his apartment.
He planned a surprise. It was to be
our first time. I couldn’t. He had
your picture on a shelf. I wasn’t sure
it was you ‘til I asked your name. I
found the picture we took that night.
Though it seemed to be, I had to call you,
just to make sure.

RACHIAL
(quietly)

I guess I owe you an apology<?>

MARSHALL
(understanding)

Big time!

WEEK LATER – EARLY AFTERNOON

BRAD’S LIVING ROOM

BRAD
(anxiously, inquisitive)

So, how did it go with her; Rachial?
Is it true? Is he your son?

MARSHALL
(resigned)

Yaup! Seems it’s true! Justin is my boy!

BRAD
(sarcastically)

Ho-ly Shit! Marshall – a dad and with his little…

MARSHALL
(interrupts, slightly angry)

Don’t! Don’t you. It’s bad enough without
you mocking the situation. You think I
want this? You don’t know the half of it!

BRAD
(apologetic)

Sorry man, just seems like out of the Movies.
So what are you gonna do? Are you going to tell him?

MARSHALL
(explaining)

Well therein lies the rub. Rachial filled
me in on what Justin was like without a
father. She never spoke of it but Justin
always questioned it. He grew to resent and
bad-mouth even the idea of a father. She knew
it was his way to deal with the emptiness.

(pensive pause)

But face it, I have to tell him either way.

BRAD
(sullen)

Yah. I guess your right. Sorry!

LATER THAT AFTERNOON

PHONE CONVERSATION – MARSHALL CALLS JUSTIN

JUSTIN
(answers cell excited)

Marshall, hay, good to hear you. How was the trip?
Did you get your work done?

MARSHALL
(anxious)

Hi, Justin, yah, no problem. The trip went well.
Hay, look what are you doing tonight?

JUSTIN
(jokingly)

Hmm, let me see<?> I think I have a date
with a hot man… hold on, oh yah, I’m
Talking to him now! Hello… (laughs)

MARSHALL
(impatient)

Ha, ha, ha, very funny. Well look then;
Let’s meet up at Dunk’ns, say seven? Good?

JUSTIN
(curious)

Sure seven, good but, what’s up? You
sound a bit upset. Is everything alright?

MARSHALL
(consoling)

Yah, fine, no problem – see you at seven.

{MUSIC FAKING THE BOOKS Lali Puna}

SAME DAY – EARLY EVENING:

[SILENT DIALOGUE SCENE]

INT.: DUNK’N CAFE

(Marshall and Justin engrossed in heated conversation. As Marshall explains, Justin becomes visibly upset. The more Marshall explains the more Justin becomes angry and crying, lashes out at Marshall and storms out of the restaurant. Marshall embarrassed, sitting alone… (others look toward the commotion))

{MUSIC ’95 AKA MAKE THINGS RIGHT Lemon Jelly}

A WEEK LATER – MID AFTERNOON:

INT.: JUSTIN’S APARTMENT – KNOCK AT DOOR

(Unknown to Justin, Marshall had called Rachial asking if she would come to Toronto, to help straighten out the situation. She feels obliged to come and goes directly to Justin’s apartment.)

JUSTIN
(opens door, surprised)

Mom! Holy shit, what are you doing here?!

RACHIAL
(enters apartment)

Well I think you know the answer;

JUSTIN
(angry)

Marshall!

RACHIAL
(sternly)

Yes, Marshall – your father! Whether you like it or not. In a way this is really all my fault; I should have told you about him long ago but, frankly, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought all this to happen. But, it has and now it’s my time to set things straight (slight laugh) no pun intended

MOMENTS LATER: KNOCK AT DOOR

(Justin opens the door to find Marshall waiting, both return to living room where Rachial greets Marshall with a hug and both turn to Justin looking a bit perplexed by it all. Then all three have a group hug)

FADE TO CLOSE : The End

CLOSING VIDEO MONTAGE (Soundtrack to be selected)

(Series of short clips reflecting the aftermath of the reunion between Rachial, Justin and his new found father Marshall. Then enters Brad who has always had his sights on Justin and is now striking up a friendship. All live happily ever after)

PRODUCTION CREDITS

RE-UNION

© COPYRIGHT 2015-16 This script may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author