Jack
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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"JACK'S ARM"
Screenplay by Patrick Fanning
1 EXT. PINK ELEPHANT BAR - NIGHT 1
Brothers Jack and Gordon are leaving Jack's bachelor party.
Jack is the younger, "badder" brother, with hipper hair,
earring, and distinctive tattoo on his right forearm. Gordon
is the older, "gooder" brother, in more conservative clothes.
Both are drunk.
The bar's neon sign fills the screen with a pink, unfocused
glare. As the brothers sing, the sign comes into focus and
the camera pans down to pick them up, coming out the door at
the last verse.
GORDON (V.O.)
Remember this one? (sings)
Two Irishmen, two Irishmen were
digging in a ditch. One called the
other...
JACK (V.O.)
(Over Gordon's singing)
Oh yeah, I got it.
GORDON
...a dirty son of a ...
JACK
Bishop Murphy had a dog, he taught
it how to hunt. Gave it to his
girlfriend and it bit her on the...
GORDON
Country boys from Donegal were
sitting on a rock. One got excited
and bit the other's...
JACK
Cocktails at Paddy's bar are ten
bucks a glass. If you don't like
it, kiss old Paddy's...
GORDON
Ask Sister Mary to teach you how to
spell. If she won't do it, she can
go to ...
JACK
Hello operator, give me number
nine. If they don't answer...
GORDON & JACK TOGETHER
Give me back my dime.
JACK
God, I'm drunk. Why did I let you
talk me into a bachelor party?
GORDON
I'm your big brother. It's my job
to screw up your wedding any way I
can.
JACK
Well, you're doing a kick-ass job.
You okay to drive? If you kill me,
I'll never forgive you.
GORDON
I'm fine. I'm not as wasted as you.
(He falls flat on his back
and cracks his head on
the pavement)
JACK
Fucking lightweight
(Pause for editing)
Get up and drive then.
Fade to black.
2 INT. CAR - NIGHT 2
First dream starts.
Fade in. Gordon is driving in the rain, the lights from
oncoming cars making it hard for him to see. The radio is
blaring rock'n'roll. Jack is in the passenger seat, his head
out the window in the rain. He pulls it in and turns off the
radio.
JACK
You sure you're okay?
GORDON
I'm fine.
JACK
I could drive.
GORDON
No way. Even with a concussion, my
reflexes are better than yours.
JACK
You're such an ass.
GORDON
You know it's true. Even when we
were kids... Basketball, soccer,
whatever: I always won.
JACK
You only won because you were two
years older. I could kick the shit
out of you now.
GORDON
Any time, Jackie.
JACK
God, you're a prick. You always
have to be the first, the biggest,
the fastest, the smartest.
GORDON
Hey, it's not my fault I'm the
talented one. It was the luck of
the draw.
JACK
Bullshit. You had that first born
head start, and you made the most
of it. I've been living in your
shadow all my life. You got the new
clothes, the new bikes. I had to
ride your rusty old Schwinn till
sixth grade.
GORDON
Whatever. You never had to fight
for anything. I broke ground for
you: curfews, girls, college. By
the time you came along, I'd
knocked over all the high hurdles
for you.
JACK
Thanks for nothing. You got all the
attention.
To this day, Mom and Dad defer to
you, and hardly notice I'm alive.
GORDON
You're such a baby! You forget that
I had to let you tag along after
me, trying to keep up, falling down
and then running to Mom to blame me
for it. You even followed me to
college, sucking up to my teachers,
hitting on my ex-girlfriends, using
my popularity to join my clubs?
JACK
Excuse me, I didn't realize they
were your personal, private clubs.
GORDON
That's not the point. Why don't you
live your own life instead of a
pale imitation of mine?
JACK
Imitation? I'm nothing like you.
I'm free... I'm different. I don't
look like I stepped out of a
fucking GAP ad.
GORDON
That's all superficial bullshit.
You're a scared little boy in a
poser's body. You're only getting
married because I got married at
your age. You'll probably be
divorced in two years, just to
follow the same pattern.
JACK
I have my own pattern. I have my
own music, my own dogs, my own
motorcycles--you're not into any of
that. And my Jeanie is nothing like
that bitch you married... who
dumped you, by the way, because she
couldn't stand living in your
shadow any more than I can.
GORDON
You're just jealous of me, admit
it. Always have been and always
will be, till death do us part.
You're a second rate version of me,
and you'll never measure up because
you just don't have what it takes.
JACK
You are so full of shit. The only
reason my life looks like yours is
because you look at everything
through Gordon-colored glasses.
You're the center of the universe
and all the rest of us are just bit
players in the Gordon Show.
GORDON
The Gordon Show?
JACK
Yeah, you fucking prick: the Gordon
show is just the inside of your own
asshole. You've got your head up
your butt so far you're seeing
reruns.
(Looks forward)
Oh fuck...look out!
Oncoming headlights flash, cars skid and crash. Fade to
black.
3 INT. HOSPITAL/AUTO SHOP - NIGHT 3
Second dream-within-a-dream starts.
Fade in from black to Gordon's POV, lying on his back,
looking up at a woman in mechanic's coveralls and a nurse's
cap, a grease smudge on her cheek, wiping a big wrench with a
greasy rag. In the background we see a typical hospital room.
Whenever the camera shows Gordon, he is in an auto shop, in a
bed made up on the stripped chassis of a car. If the nurse is
in the same shot, she is now in old time nurse attire of
white dress and tall cap.
NURSE
...that's good. You're coming out
of it. Hi there. Do you know where
you are?... You had an accident and
were hurt pretty bad. Almost
totalled. We're going to have to
scrounge for parts, maybe a whole
front clip, but we'll get you back
on the road.
Fade to black and back up again. Gordon is in the bed made up
on the chassis of the car, looking up at the nurse/mechanic,
who is putting sandpaper on a D8 air sander. We hear the
compressor chugging in the background.
NURSE
Your brother didn't make it. I'm
very sorry. He was totalled almost
completely. Try not to think of it,
you need your strength to survive
all the body work we're going to
do.
She fires up the sander and approaches the lens with it. Fade
to black and back up to the nurse/mechanic.
NURSE
Your arm was crushed in the
accident. Fortunately, your brother
was a perfect tissue match and his
donor card was up to date. We were
able to bolt his right arm onto
your shoulder.
GORDON
Jack's arm?
NURSE
Yes. After some healing time and
physical therapy, you should have
full use of it.
GORDON
I don't want it. Cut it off.
NURSE
Don't be silly. That would just add
to the labor charges, and your
brother would be a total loss. Is
that the way you want to remember
him?
4 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT 4
Gordon is in bed, light bandages around his right shoulder.
His bare right arm has a different skin tone than his left,
and we see Jack's tattoo on it. Jeanie, Jack's fiancee, is
visiting him.
GORDON
It's nice of you to visit me,
Jeanie. After what happened... I
wouldn't blame you...
JEANIE
Oh no, I... I know you didn't...
you were both...
GORDON
Anyway, it's good to see you.
JEANIE
I feel like we're family, even
though Jack and I never actually
got married.
GORDON
I know, I feel very close to you
to.
(He's coming on to her a
little, takes her hand
with his left hand.)
JEANIE
How are you doing? I' mean, does it
feel...
GORDON
Like my own arm? No, it's like when
your arm falls asleep: ten pounds
of dead meat.
(pounds lightly on his
right arm.)
Full of pins and needles.
JEANIE
Can you move it?
GORDON
A little.
(Moves his right arm with
effort)
The physical therapist gave me
exercises to do. They say it will
get better and better.
JEANIE
(touching his right hand)
Do you mind... is it okay?
GORDON
Go ahead.
She takes his right hand in hers.
JEANIE
It's so strange. My fiance's arm on
his brother's body.
GORDON
I'll give you family visitation
rights. You can be with Jack's arm
any time you want.
She looks at Gordon as if for permission, as is to say give
me a moment alone with it. He looks away, giving her privacy
with the hand.
She places the hand on her breast and hugs it. She puts the
hand on her cheek and closes her eyes. Suddenly she startles
and looks afraid. She thrusts the arm away. Gordon cries out.
She bolts from the room.
GORDON
Jeanie, wait! Come back! What's
wrong?
(To an empty doorway)
Jeanie!
5 INT. JEANIE'S KITCHEN - NIGHT 5
Gordon is clumsily chopping onions. Jeanie is at the stove
stirring something.
GORDON
(Sniffling from the onion
fumes)
Thanks for inviting me to dinner. I
really appreciate it.
JEANIE
(Holding her hands to her
heart, batting eyelashes,
etc.) Oh, you're crying!
I'm touched!)
GORDON
It's the onions.
JEANIE
Here, hold still.
(She wipes his eyes with a
dish towel)
Close up on Gordon's right hand, clenching the knife
spasmodically.
GORDON
Damn it!
JEANIE
(Surprised, thinking he's
mad at her.)
What's the matter?
GORDON
I cut myself!
He puts his finger in his mouth. She leads him to the sink.
JEANIE
Don't drip on the onions. I'll get
a bandaid.
6 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT 6
Gordon and Jeanie are in bed. Gordon is stroking her with his
right arm.
GORDON
Does that feel good?
JEANIE
Mmmm.
(Nods her head, eyes
closed)
GORDON
How about this? Do you like this?
JEANIE
Oh yes.
Gordon continues to stroke her.
JEANIE
(Moans with pleasure)
The arm never forgets.
Gordon looks upset. Jeanie grabs his head and kisses him
passionately. It's unclear whether she didn't notice his
reaction or is trying to make up for upsetting him.
7 INT. BEDROOM - AN HOUUR LATER 7
Jeanie is asleep next to Gordon.
GORDON
(Moans)
Jeanie's eyes open. She raises up on one elbow and watches
Gordon. His right hand crawls up to his neck and weakly
grasps it, trying to strangle him.
GORDON
(In a strangled, trying-to
scream-in-a-nightmare
voice)
No, Jack, no!
His left hand emerges from the covers and pulls the right
hand down. The right hand starts creeping up again. Still
asleep, Gordon rolls over so he's lying on the right arm,
pinning it under him. Throughout, Jeanie is watching without
expression, not intervening.
8 INT. SHOP - DAY 8
Gordon is cutting a picture frame at the chop saw. He makes
one cut and places the piece of molding to the side. Close up
of his left thumb sticking over the cut line of the saw. His
right hand pushes the yellow safety button and yanks the saw
blade down, cutting off his left thumb. He collapses to the
floor, writhing, curling around his injured hand.
9 EXT. EMERGENCY ROOM PARKING LOT - DAY 9
Gordon's right hand is cradling his left hand, which is
heavily bandaged. He walks out of the emergency room, up to
Jeanie, who is leaning against the sign pillar, smoking.
GORDON
They finally let me go. I feel like
Frankenstein. They keep having to
sew parts back on me.
JEANIE
You were lucky they could save the
thumb. There was so much blood, I
thought at first your whole hand
was cut off.
GORDON
It's like Jack's arm has a life of
its own. Like it's out to get me.
JEANIE
(Blowing him off)
You're just clumsy with it still.
It'll get better. Just keep using
it.
GORDON
(Holds his right hand in
front of her face)
Talk to the hand. Tell the hand to
behave.
JEANIE
(laughing, stubbing out
her cigarette)
What about our hike Saturday? Are
you still up for that?
GORDON
Sure. I've been looking forward to
it all week.
10 EXT. HIKING TRAIL AT THE COAST - DAY 10
Close up of "Danger, Keep off the Cliffs" sign. Jeanie leads
Gordon around a fence with a "Closed" sign on it.
GORDON
I don't know about this.
JEANIE
Don't be a lightweight. Jack and I
went this way lots of times.
They walk out a trail toward the cliff edge. Cut to a low
angle shot of Jeanie grasping a fence post.
JEANIE
Be careful here. It gets really
narrow, but you can hold on to
this.
Close up on Gordon's right hand holding on to the post. It
spasms, lets go, and falls out of the frame.
JEANIE
Gordon?... Gordon? Where are you?
High angle shot shows Gordon's body far below at the base of
a cliff. Fade to white.
11 INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT 11
Second dream-within-a-dream ends.
Fade in from white. Camera looks up from Gordon's POV to
ceiling of real hospital room. The nurse from the previous
scenes comes into frame, in contemporary nurse's costume.
NURSE
Hey .. You're awake.
(Smiles)
How're you feeling?
GORDON
(Mumbles incoherently, his
voice dry and raspy)
NURSE
You had us worried there for
awhile. That was quite a knock on
the head.
(Helps him sip some water)
GORDON
(Touches his head where a
bandage is no in place.
He looks at his right arm
and realizes it is his
own.)
My brother's arm...
NURSE
Your brother is in the ICU. He's
stable, but his kidneys have been
damaged.
GORDON
He's alive?
NURSE
For now, but he desperately needs a
kidney transplant, and since you're
hid nearest blood relative...
GORDON
Take it. Take my kidney. Take
whatever you need.
NURSE
(Smiles)
You're a wonderful brother. I wish
more people had your heart. In
fact, now that you mention it, we
do need something else.
GORDON
Anything.
She brings out the wrench and rag from the previous shop
scene.
NURSE
We'll need one of your lungs...
couple of retinas... six feet of
lower bowel... six quarts of 30
weight bone marrow... your 4-barrel
Holley human heart, 700 R4
transmission...
Fade to black.
12 EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT 12
First dream ends.
Fade in from black, Gordon's POV, looking up at Jack, just
after the fall in the first scene.
JACK
Hey! You okay? Gordon? Can you hear
me?
GORDON
Mmm...
JACK
You really cracked your head.
You've been mumbling. Something
about my arm. It didn't make any
sense.
GORDON
Can't drive.
JACK
Well, yeah, no way you're going to
drive tonight. Give me you keys and
I'll take you to the hospital.
GORDON
No, no hospital.
JACK
You really should get checked out.
GORDON
Just call a cab. For both of us.
FADE OUT.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.