Perspectives on a Comet (Screenplay)

FADE IN:

EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT

The Pacific Ocean stretches toward an ominously black horizon. A blue-white star blazes fiercely against the canvas of stars, winking above the rocky shoreline and grassy dunes below.

NATHANIEL stands in front of a park bench, gazing skyward through binoculars. He lingers on the star, frowning, his body tense. After a long pause he lowers the binoculars, collapsing onto the bench behind him. He covers his eyes with his hand, drawing in a shuddering breath.

NATHANIEL

(quietly) Fuck. Fuck! No...

His shoulders shake as he cries, the ominous star an unblinking, uncaring witness to his distress.

EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT

MARCUS (40s, formal business attire, tie, wristwatch, coat) is businesslike as he strides toward the ocean from the dunes, eyes flicking upward to that blazing star. As he approaches he fumbles with the buttons of his coat, undoing them. He flings his coat to the ground and loosens his tie, also abandoning it. He unbuckles his watch from his wrist with increasingly frantic energy and lets it fall from his fingers before unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. As he sheds these items his step grows lighter, relaxing, then grinning.

Marcus stops short behind the bench, seeing Nathaniel’s slumped posture. His grin flees as he regards the younger man. He glances between Nathaniel’s back and the sky, contemplative. After a lengthy pause he approaches.

NATHANIEL (early-to-mid 20s, casual clothes) hears the crunch of shoes behind him. He watches Marcus approach from over his shoulder. Sitting on a beachfront bench with a set of binoculars perched on his knee, the younger man spreads his arms out along the back of the bench, both straightening his posture and taking up space. By the time Marcus is standing over him Marcus has unbuttoned the top buttons and the sleeves of his shirt. He tugs his shirt from his waistband, gaze fixed on the sea.

NATHANIEL

Find another spot.

Marcus looks from the sea to Nathaniel. He reaches up and rubs his scalp.

MARCUS

(murmuring) I couldn’t take it.

NATHANIEL

I’m sorry?

Marcus scoffs, as if what he speaks of should be obvious.

MARCUS

I couldn’t take it!

He musses up his hair, pulling and twisting it in different directions. Nathaniel watches on, eyeballing Marcus with increasing unease. Marcus finishes and comes around to the front of the bench, sitting. Nathaniel is forced to move over. His shuffling nudges his jacket and binoculars further down the bench.

NATHANIEL

I said find another spot, asshole!

Marcus ignores him. His head tips back, eyes closed, hands falling to his sides, uptight energy spent. His chest rises with a deep breath, and then another.

MARCUS

(firmly) I couldn’t take it.

NATHANIEL

You’ve said that.

Marcus’s head lolls toward Nathaniel. Considerably more relaxed, he addresses Nathaniel with greater calm than before.

MARCUS

I’m Marcus.

NATHANIEL

Hi Marcus. Fuck off.

MARCUS

We should know each other’s names.

NATHANIEL

Did you not hear me?

MARCUS

You’ve told me to fuck off [and] find another spot. But there’s nowhere to go.

NATHANIEL (CONT’D)

[And] you’re still here...

Marcus’ expression sobers a moment.

MARCUS (CONT’D)

No going anywhere anymore.

He shrugs away his solemnity. His expression lightens, almost cheerful. Marcus offers Nathaniel a grin.

NATHANIEL

Are you insane?

MARCUS

No. (pause) I’m sane. Terribly, terribly sane.

They sit together in silence, watching the ocean.

NATHANIEL

I’m Nate.

MARCUS

Hi, Nate.

Nathaniel reaches for the binoculars atop his jacket and offers them to Marcus. Marcus accepts but doesn’t look through them, though he does glance skyward. He gestures vaguely at the blazing star overhead.

MARCUS (CONT’D)

Pretty crazy, huh?

NATHANIEL

Yeah.

Marcus fiddles with the binoculars. He stands, raising the binoculars to his eyes. He gazes up at that distant star, larger in the sky than it was moments ago.

MARCUS

... So why this spot?

Nathaniel sniffs.

NATHANIEL

This is mine and my girlfriend’s bench. We had our first date here, our anniversary... (hesitating) ... I even proposed here.

MARCUS

Ah.

Marcus passes the binoculars back to Nathaniel.

NATHANIEL

Why’d you pick this spot?

Marcus regards Nathaniel with pride.

MARCUS

Closest beach to where I work. Worked. I quit.

NATHANIEL (CONT’D)

That’s it?

MARCUS (CONT’D)

Work’s all I had. And it’s supposed to strike off this coast, so I thought...

AIR RAID SIRENS sound, distant. Nathaniel and Marcus look inland toward the sound.

Nathaniel drops his head and covers his eyes, shoulders shaking.

BEAT. Marcus extends a hand to Nathaniel. Nathaniel, peeking, sees the offered hand and pushes it away. Marcus clicks his tongue in disapproval.

MARCUS (CONT’D)

Come on. I know a better spot.

Nathaniel looks up at Marcus. His hand lowers, cupped as if ready to hide his face again in an instant.

NATHANIEL

This is our spot. I can’t leave our spot.

MARCUS

Is she coming?

Nathaniel hesitates. He shakes his head.

MARCUS (CONT’D)

Sounds like your spot, not hers. Come on. I know a better one.

Marcus’ hand remains outstretched. Nathaniel regards it mistrustfully.

NATHANIEL

What’s it matter if I die sitting?

MARCUS

That the new excuse?

Marcus withdraws his hand. Planting his hands in his pockets, he turns back to the ocean, regarding coast in either direction. He turns to his right and starts walking.

Nathaniel drums his fingers on the bench. He retrieves his phone from his pocket and flips it open, gazing at a woman’s name in his contacts. He looks between the phone screen and Marcus’ retreating back.

NATHANIEL

(quietly) Shit.

Nathaniel puts the phone aside. Rising from the bench, he jogs after Marcus.

NATHANIEL (CONT’D)

Wait!

Marcus stops, turning. Face-to-face, their shadows stretch away from them toward the distant sound of sirens, as if fleeing the blue-white light which blazes across them. A distant RUMBLE begins to swell. Neither are looking toward that approaching star, fixed as they are on the person in front of them.

MARCUS

Together then?

Nathaniel nods. Together they turn, lifting their faces to the flickering blue-white light. The RUMBLE is now a roar.

Nathaniel leans in to shout beside Marcus’ ear.

NATHANIEL

(shouting) I wish this wasn’t happening!

MARCUS

(shouting) I wish I’d traveled more!

FADE TO WHITE:

THE END