"STOLEN SUMMER" by Pete Jones FADE IN: EXT. O'MALLEY FRONT YARD - MORNING MARGARET O'MALLEY, an auburn haired, sunburned 38-year old mother of eight, stands outside next to the running station wagon. Two children sit in the front seat while three are crammed into the back seat. Margaret is waiting on her two youngest boys to fill the two way back seats that face backwards. KATIE, 4 years old, with strawberry blond hair, rosy cheeks, and a pot belly, sticks her head out the window. KATIE Mom, I told them to be ready by nine twenty. They just don’t listen. Margaret ignores Katie. Katie pops back into the car. CUT TO: INT. PETE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS PETE, 7 years old, who looks like a poster boy for Ireland, lays on his stomach in front of the board game "All Star Baseball". He spins the dial. The dial lands on nine, which is the number that coincides with a strikeout. SEAMUS, nine years old, blondish brown hair, white skin, crystal blue eyes, angelic smile, jumps to the air in celebration. SEAMUS Another comeback stopped. PETE Reggie Jackson stinks! SEAMUS We gotta get going. Mom's gonna freak. Seamus heads for the door. PETE What should we tell her? Seamus looks back at Pete. Pete's hand me down plaid pants barely fit him and fall as he stands up. SEAMUS You couldn't find your belt. Seamus takes off down the stairs. Pete, with one hand holding up his pants, follows him down the stairs. Seamus runs out the front door and past his mom. MARGARET Why are you late? Seamus, never breaking stride, climbs into the station wagon through the back window. SEAMUS Pete couldn't find his belt. Pete runs past his mother. MARGARET Why are you late? PETE Seamus lost my belt. Pete never breaks stride. He jumps into the back of the station wagon. Margaret turns and walks to the car with the kind of steam that only eight kids in 18 years can produce. She opens the car door, sits down, calmly puts the car in reverse, and turns her head for the reverse shoulder check. And then all hell breaks loose. Margaret screams at the top of her lungs. MARGARET God gives you 168 hours in a week. Can you not give him one full hour back? Is that too much to ask? Katie at four years doesn't understand rhetorical questions. KATIE I've been ready for three hours. EDDIE, 14, brown curly hair, brown eyes, athletic, is at the point in his life when he realizes he has more answers than his mom. EDDIE (to Katie) Shut up you kiss ass. Margaret, with no hesitation, stops the car and smacks Eddie across the face. Eddie winces while TOMMY, 17, also dark haired and dark eyed, laughs. Margaret puts the car in drive and cruises down the street like one big, happy family. WE FOLLOW the camera through the front of the car to the back. PATRICK, 18, blondish brown curly hair and green eyes, holds MOLLY, six months old, in the front seat. Car seats have yet to be invented. MARY, 17, auburn haired like her mother and Tommy's twin, sits behind the driver seat because she has learned the long hand of Margaret's wrath cannot reach her in that seat. Tommy reads Eddie the Bazooka Joe joke from his gum wrapper and the two laugh. In the back seat facing out, Pete and Seamus sit. Seamus holds electronic football in his hand and the electronic sound of electronic football players running reverberates throughout the car. WE GO TIGHT on PETE. PETE (V.O.) My dad is a fireman. WE PULL BACK and see all of the kids hang out the window and wave at JOE, 40, who is Dark Irish, handsomely weathered, and happy to be at work when his wife takes the kids to church. WE GO TIGHT on JOE as he waves back to the kids. JOE (sarcastic to fellow firemen) I wish I could be with them more. PETE (V.O.) And my mom? WE GO TIGHT on MARGARET. PETE (V.O.) And my mom? She's a part time cook, maid, and nurse. But her full time job? She's a front line sergeant in God's army. Pete screams as Seamus scores another touchdown on electronic football. EDDIE Goddammit, would you two shut up with that game! Katie puts her hand over her mouth with the sound of the swearword. Tommy prepares for battle by holding back his laughter. Margaret erupts. MARGARET The lord's name in vain? Son of a bitch. At forty miles an hour in front of the firehouse Margaret lunges her open fist into the backseat and starts swinging like a tornado. Kids scurry, hoping to avoid the path of the tornado. The wagon swerves into the other lane. Joe and his buddies watch from their lounge chairs outside the firehouse. He takes a swig from a plastic cup. JOE Dying in a fire sometimes doesn't sound so bad. The station wagon pulls up to church and the children jump out like clowns from a small car. Margaret drives off as the children exit the station wagon. Patrick lifts Katie up to the basin of holy water. Katie splashes water on her forehead and makes a sign of the cross. Patrick, annoyed, puts her down and points his finger at her. He gently touches the water with his index and middle finger and slowly makes the sign of the cross. Katie shakes her head in agreement. Seamus dips his hand in the water and fake sneezes on Pete. Pete punches him in the shoulder. Margaret walks in and proceeds to lead her ducklings down the aisle as the heads in church turn to watch. Each kid genuflects, some better than others, and sit. Pete sits between Seamus and Patrick. He looks at Margaret. She smiles and winks at him. Pete looks up to the life-size Jesus hanging high behind the altar. WE SLOWLY go TIGHT on JESUS hanging on the cross. PETE (V.O.) My cousins' families are similar to mine. Except some of the dads are cops. In my world, there's Irish Catholics, and then there's everybody else. The only part of this picture that doesn't fit for me is Jesus. From what I've learned, and according to my brother Seamus I've learned shit, that's why I'm in second grade, but from what I've learned, Jesus is not Irish Catholic. My dad says that's only a technicality, like Knute Rockne, but, still, Jesus is not Irish Catholic. He is Jewish. I don't know any Jewish people, they don't go to Holy Cross, but if I ever meet a Jewish person, my mom says my job would be to convert them to Catholicism. So they could go to heaven. I have decided this summer, the summer of 1976, I will help a Jewish person get to heaven. It will be my holy quest. CUT TO: INT. KEENEY/JONES FUNERAL HOME - A FEW DAYS LATER REVERSE CAM - Looking out through Jesus's eyes. A WAKE. An Irish wake. Two little boys approach the casket. They kneel in front of the casket. Seamus looks at Pete. Pete's eyes are wide in anticipation. Seamus nudges Pete. Pete nudges Seamus back. Seamus makes the sign of the cross and Pete copies him. The two stand and walk away. WE FOLLOW them through the crowd. The boys continue to walk through the crowd but WE STOP at a circle of men holding drinks. JOE, holding a Rum and Coke, is talking out the side of his mouth. JOE So? What do I do? Go up to Aunt Maggie. Hey Aunt Maggie, did I mention Uncle Jim owed me a nickel? The other men laugh. Joe's fat brother, ROGER, answers as if he's Jim's wife. He pulls out a coin ROGER I know things are tight, Joe, but this is cheap. Even for you. Roger hands Joe the nickel. JOE Well, we'll call it even. That idiot. You know if he was up a nickel with the book, he would have lived to collect. The men laugh heartily. JOE A new way to fend off death. Be up money with your bookie. ROGER May old Uncle Jim be in heaven thirty minutes before the devil knows he's dead. JOE He might need more time. What if the devil has extradition rights? All of the men laugh. A man hands Joe a drink. He finishes the drink in his right hand as he accepts the fresh drink in his left hand. Seamus and Pete come running back through the crowd. Margaret, standing with four women and smoking, calls them over. MARGARET Did you pray for your great uncle's soul? Pete looks at Seamus. Seamus looks down at Pete. Pete looks up at his mom. PETE We didn't know his soul. The women laugh. WOMAN Cause he didn't have one. MARGARET Go back up there and pray to Jesus for the soul of your Uncle Jim. He needs your prayers. PETE So I've heard. But Mom, how do we know our prayers will help Old Uncle Jim get to heaven? MARGARET Faith. Now go ahead. SEAMUS Mom, we can't go back up there. We already prayed to Jesus for his soul. Mom looks at Pete for affirmation. Pete looks up to Seamus. He looks back up to Mom. MARGARET Did you pray to Jesus? Pete looks at Seamus. Seamus gives him that scared look of having to look at that dead body up close again. Pete looks at the dead body. He looks back at his mom. He nods his head in the affirmative. MARGARET Well, nobody can have too many prayers. Go again. Pete and Seamus head toward the casket. PETE How did she know I was lying? SEAMUS You weren't convincing. And she's got some kinda built in lie detector. PETE How many lies do we get till we go to hell? SEAMUS Forty-seven. PETE I don't think I have many left. And I got my whole life ahead of me. SEAMUS That one doesn't count. You just nodded. Nodding up and down in China is like saying no. PETE Things are upside down in China. Seamus begins to nod yes but changes it to a shake. Margaret watches the boys as they approach the casket. The boys approach the dead body. PETE What's faith? Seamus's eyes are bugging out. SEAMUS A word grown ups use when they don't have the answer. CUT TO: INT. CLASSROOM - NEXT DAY WE GO TIGHT on an ELECTRONIC FOOTBALL GAME. WE HEAR the noises of the game. WE PULL BACK to see Pete playing the game in the back of the room. A nun stands at the front of the class and is talking to the class. NUN This summer, take time to reflect on your past year in the second grade. And how you can make third grade better. The electronic defense tackles Pete and makes a double click noise. PETE No! JIMMY Yes! NUN Mr. O'Malley? Do you disagree with me? PETE No, Sister Leonora Mary. I agree. The bell rings. The kids scream with happiness. School's out for the summer. NUN See you at church. And next year in third grade. The boys run for the door. NUN Mr. O'Malley, may I speak to you for a moment? The boys stop. Pete looks at them. The guys don't hesitate. They run out of the room. Sister Leonora Mary and Pete are alone. PETE Yes, Sister Leonora Mary. NUN How many times did I have to pull you by your ears to the front of the class and give you the ruler? Pete looks around for the answer. PETE A lot! NUN Probably too many times, don't you think? Pete nods. NUN I don't enjoy having to do that, you know. Pete looks at the ground and scratches the back of his neck. NUN I think this is an important summer for you. This is the summer that you can choose to keep following the devil's way, or create a new path toward Jesus. Which path do you want to take? PETE The Jesus path. NUN Good. I expect to see a difference in you next year. PETE You will, Sister Leonora Mary. I've got a plan. A quest! NUN Good! You may go. Enjoy your summer, I know you will. PETE You too Sister Leonora Mary. Pete heads toward the door. He turns around. PETE Do you know where I can find a synagogue? CUT TO: INT. SYNAGOGUE - LATE AFTERNOON Pete stops his bike outside the synagogue. He looks to the top to see if there is a cross. No cross. A small family walks out of the synagogue. The men wear yarmukles. Pete stares at the yarmukles. He walks his bike to the door. He tries to open the door and maneuver the bike through the door. He is unsuccessful. A bearded, tiny gray man with glasses opens the door. Rabbi Kenny Jacobsen smiles at the young leprechaun. RABBI May I help you, son of Saint Patrick? Pete looks at him weird but shrugs off the name calling. He notices the rabbi wears a yarmukle also. PETE Whadaya got on the top of your head? RABBI It's a yarmukle. PETE Doesn't really block the sun. RABBI No but it covers bald spots. The rabbi leans over, takes off the yarmukle, and shows Pete his bald spot. PETE It does cover the bald spot. My old Uncle Jim could have used that. RABBI So what can I do you for? Pete looks around. PETE Jewish people go here? The rabbi nods. PETE I'm looking to see if I can help Jewish people get to heaven. RABBI A noble endeavor. PETE A quest! RABBI A noble quest! What can I do to assist your quest? PETE Well, I just wanted to check out the synagogue. But there's no bike rack. Don't kids go here? RABBI Yes. But not for school. How 'bout I hold onto your bike in the back of the Temple as you look around? PETE Thanks. Pete enters the temple with Rabbi Jacobsen following him with the bike. The place is round and expansive. Pete looks around. After looking, Pete heads to the back of the temple where the rabbi waits for him with his bike. PETE No cross? RABBI No cross. PETE I find the cross fun to look at. Sometimes I think about climbing the wall at Holy Cross and unscrewing the nails, and letting him go. Makes mass go faster. You should think about putting in a cross. RABBI I'll look into that. So what are you thinking? PETE That this is where the quest starts. RABBI Well, if I can be of service, you let me know. My office is just over there. I've got to get home to my family. I have a boy around your age. How old are you? PETE Seven. Almost eight. RABBI He's six. Almost seven. PETE You can have a family? RABBI Yes. PETE Then what do they call you? RABBI Well, my boys call me father. But my congregation calls me Rabbi. Rabbi Jacobsen. Rabbi Jacobsen puts his hand out. Pete shakes it. PETE I'm Pete. Pete O'Malley. Nice to meet you Rabbi Jacobsen. RABBI Nice to meet you. The rabbi and Pete head out of the temple. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN TABLE - LATER THAT NIGHT The O'Malley's sit at the dinner table. Three things are a constant at the dinner table. Meat, potatoes, and chaos. Katie starts to yelp. KATIE Can I have your attention? Please. I got something to say. Please! Everyone at the table slowly quiets down. JOE Better make this good Katie. KATIE I will. The room is quiet. Katie looks at everyone. KATIE Today. I was on my bike. And I pedaled my bike to the O'Connors. And I pedaled back. And it was sunny. Everyone stares at her. KATIE That's it. Eddie shakes his head in amazement and grins. EDDIE Katie, you need to come up with a more exciting story. KATIE I will. EDDIE You know, like maybe crash your bike, and get really bloody and do the wounded soldier back to the house. MARGARET Eddie! The older kids laugh. PETE Anyone know what a yarmukle is? JOE A beanie? Patrick looks at Pete. PATRICK Jewish people wear them. It's traditional headwear. SEAMUS Like feathers for an Indian? PETE What's it for? JOE To hide their horns. The older kids laugh. Margaret winces. PETE They got horns? MARGARET No. They do not have horns. Joe, please. The young ones don't need this. Let's change the subject. JOE Patrick, your Uncle Charlie says he could get you an interview over at the city planners office. PATRICK No thanks. MARY What about the fire department? JOE That's always there. Well, kid, what the hell are you going to do? The kids react to the word hell. PATRICK I've applied for some scholarships. I should hear about them soon. Until then, I can keep life guarding. Saving money. JOE Life guarding? I've raised a professional lifeguarder. In Chicago. Work three months a year. EDDIE And he doesn't even look like Sheila Moran in his suit. Tommy blushes. EDDIE Sheila! Oh Sheila. Save me! Joe laughs. JOE Don't let her old man catch her saving you. TOMMY Eddie doesn't know what he's talking about. I don't like her. Mary speaks matter of factly. MARY Francis Demos told me Sheila likes you so all you need to do is ask her out. Patrick gets up from the table as Tommy, Mary, and Eddie continue to talk about Sheila Moran. Seamus is bent over showing Pete where the horns protrude from the head. Katie feeds the cocker spaniel her mashed potatoes under the table while Molly drinks from the bottle in Nancy's arms. Joe watches Patrick walk out of the room. He looks at Margaret for some answer. Margaret shrugs her shoulders. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - NEXT DAY Pete and Seamus walk down the tree lined city block in their neighborhood. The two sip milkshakes. PETE There's nothing better than a bubble gum milk shake. How come that girl looks at us so funny when we order it? Seamus shrugs. PETE I mean, it's a two for one. Ice cream shake, and then the bubble gum sinks to the bottom, and when the shake's done, you got a whole pack of bubble gum to chew. All for the price of one shake. Seamus takes the lid off the cup and tries to finish the shake in one big gulp. He succeeds. Seamus now chews on a wad of gum. Pete and Seamus pass a lemonade stand. Ten cents a cup. Pete motions to the lemonade entrepreneurs that his shake has bankrupt him for the day. PETE You ever feel that there's more out there? Like there's more for you to do than just play ball and eat ice cream? Seamus shakes his head. He blows a bubble. Pete blows a bubble. SEAMUS You gonna play baseball at 11? Pete shakes his head. SEAMUS You heading over to the synagogue? Pete nods. Seamus blows a bubble. SEAMUS You know, this whole thing's kinda weird. You going there, the quest. Pete nods. SEAMUS Well, at least you know it's weird. Pete and Seamus walk down the street in silence. Enjoying another day without responsibility. CUT TO: INT. SYNAGOGUE - LATER THAT MORNING Pete knocks on the door of Rabbi Jacobsen's office. RABBI Come in. PETE Hey Rabbi Jacobsen, Pete O'Malley. We met the other day. The rabbi stands up from his desk. He puts his hand out. Pete shakes it. RABBI Mr. O'Malley. How are you today? PETE I'm good thanks. Ready to start my quest. But I thought I might ask you for your permission first. RABBI What are your plans? PETE Sort of a "lemonade-free trip to heaven" stand. The rabbi chuckles. He stops. RABBI Enterprising. Pete shrugs off that word. PETE Yep. Jewish people gotta like lemonade? RABBI Very much so. I believe Moses set one up at Mount Sinai. Again Pete shrugs off that statement. PETE I figured I might set up the stand right at the door. And I'm not going to charge. RABBI A future car salesman. PETE Right. OK then. Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes. RABBI You know, Jewish people believe in heaven. It's just that we believe it's not open yet. PETE Well, maybe I can get the people that don't want to wait. The rabbi laughs. CUT TO: EXT. SYNAGOGUE - MINUTES LATER The rabbi walks back to the door. He turns back to look at Pete taping the poster to the wall. FREE LEMONADE. FREE TRIP TO HEAVEN. The rabbi laughs. He opens the door and heads into the synagogue. Pete takes a seat at his stand. CUT TO: EXT. SYNAGOGUE - HOURS LATER The rabbi watches Pete through a window in the synagogue. Pete looks around. No business. He looks around again. He pours himself a cup of lemonade and gulps it. He puts the lemonade back in its place. CUT TO: EXT. SYNAGOGUE - END OF THE DAY The rabbi walks out to the stand. Pete looks dejected. RABBI Rome wasn't built in a day, Pete. Pete doesn't understand. PETE How do you make any money here? I'm free, and still nobody. The rabbi pats Pete on the top of the head. RABBI I envy your youth. Come back tomorrow. Pete looks at all of his stuff. RABBI I'll store your office right here inside the front door. For free. Pete smiles. PETE You and I seem to be the only two on this block that care about free stuff. RABBI Because we're the only two that realize that you can't buy what we have to offer. It's free. Pete and the rabbi place the desk, chair, and poster inside the synagogue. Pete shakes the rabbi's hand and rides his bike home. CUT TO: EXT. SYNAGOGUE - NEXT DAY Pete sits at his stand. The rabbi parks his car on the street 100 feet from Pete's stand. The rabbi doesn't want to block Pete's storefront billboard. The rabbi steps out of his car. His secretary, Julie, a pretty, voluptuous, middle aged woman who obviously was waiting for the rabbi, walks out the door and greets the rabbi. Pete watches her. JULIE Rabbi Jacobsen, you've received six messages. RABBI Door to door service. Julie, I don't pay you enough. Julie hands the rabbi his telephone messages. The rabbi reads them and laughs. JULIE Members of the congregation don't seem to think this stand is a laughing matter. It's against Judaism. RABBI Most of the members don't seem to notice this temple, except during the high holidays or when they need something. Pete's giving us free advertising. JULIE But he's advertising Christianity. RABBI No, he's advertising thought. He's asking people to have a cup of free lemonade with him and maybe get some insight into how to get to heaven. Doesn't seem like this neighborhood cares about that. I wish a thousand Pete's opened up stands on this street. Seamus rides his bike up to the stand. SEAMUS Hey. PETE Hey. Seamus gets off his bike and pours himself a cup of lemonade. PETE Don't pour it all. Seamus looks around. As if there was a public stampede for Pete's lemonade. Seamus waves to Rabbi Jacobsen. The rabbi walks toward the stand. PETE Rabbi Jacobsen, this is my older brother Seamus. He's nine. The rabbi shakes Seamus's hand. RABBI I'm Rabbi Jacobsen. I'm forty-four. How many are there? SEAMUS Eight. But my oldest brother might go to college, so then there will be seven. And maybe we'll get his room. RABBI Quite a flock. PETE Got a dog too. Wanna cup of lemonade Rabbi? RABBI No thanks. PETE Mam? JULIE No thank you. RABBI Well, you keep up the... YOUNG BOY Rabbi! Rabbi! A young boy comes running full speed around the corner. YOUNG BOY Rabbi! Rabbi! The rabbi's face turns white. RABBI What is it Steven? The sounds of fire engines roaring fill the air. A huge fire engine turns the corner and races past. STEVEN Rabbi, your house is on fire. Big fire! The Rabbi doesn't hear the last line. He takes off in a full sprint back the way Steven came. Another fire engine races past. WE FOLLOW the fire engine. WE PASS OVER THE TOP of the FIRE ENGINE to the other side where JOE O'MALLEY hangs on. WE FOLLOW THE FIRE ENGINE up the block where people stand outside watching a house burn. The rabbi reaches the house at the same time the fire engine does. RABBI My boys! Where are my boys? David? Danny? The rabbi furiously searches the crowd. Joe O'Malley reaches the rabbi. A quick exchange between the two. The rabbi takes off toward the stairs of his house. Two other firemen catch him and hold him back. Joe motions to the firemen to pull him back and the rest of the crowd to the other side of the street. He grabs a couple of other firemen who aim the hoses at the front door. Joe runs into the house and disappears into the smoke. A CLOSE SHOT on Pete and Seamus, who have been watching from the corner. Mrs. Jacobsen arrives. The rabbi grabs her. Mrs. Jacobsen starts to cry. Everyone watches for Joe to reappear with two boys in hands. The firemen hose the flames. The rabbi makes another run for the house, but this time policemen hold him back. The rabbi goes limp as the two policemen hold him up. The rabbi's eyes are fixated on the front door. Where there is just smoke, the outline of Joe O'Malley appears. He has a child, Danny, wrapped in a blanket in his arms. He runs down the stairs and across the street. He hands the boy off to the paramedics. Danny is suffering from smoke inhalation but is OK. His parents surround him. The rabbi screams at Joe. Joe can only read his lips. David! David! My other boy! David! Joe looks back at the house. The flames rage uncontrollably and the other houses are now in danger of catching fire. The rabbi grabs Joe by the shoulders and screams. This time Joe's eyes are only on the fire. Joe takes off toward the house. A firemen tries to stop him but Joe bounces off him like a running back. As he reaches the front steps, an explosion knocks him back ten feet and flames roar out the front door. Firemen trample Joe as his coat catches on fire. They stamp out the fire while they hold him down. Joe rolls over and stares at the Jacobsens. Mrs. Jacobsen is hysterically crying as the rabbi stares aimlessly. The rabbi turns slowly and buries his wife's head in his chest. Danny, his youngest son, stares over his oxygen mask and up at his parents. Joe stands up and is escorted toward the ambulance as other firemen storm the house with more hoses. A CLOSE SHOT of PETE. His face is void of any emotion other than a look that says he thought his dad was dead. A CLOSE SHOT of SEAMUS. Tears stream down his face. As his dad clears the crowd and reaches the ambulance on his own two feet, Seamus takes off in a full sprint and covers the fifty yards in seconds. Pete stands still. SEAMUS Dad! Dad! Dad! Joe looks up and before he knows it Seamus is jumping into his arms. Joe puts Seamus down instantly and starts to scream. JOE What the hell are you doing here? Jesus Christ Seamus! Jesus Christ! Seamus's face turns white. Joe looks up and sees Pete standing on the corner frozen. JOE And you brought your brother? Joe slaps Seamus across the face. JOE How many times have I told you not to chase fire engines! It's dangerous. You could have killed yourself and your brother. Go home! And wait for me in your room! Seamus turns around and walks toward Pete. Seamus reaches Pete, who is still frozen. Seamus never looks up from the pavement. SEAMUS Come on. Pete looks at his dad, who now sits on the back of the ambulance as paramedics care for him. Pete looks further at Rabbi Jacobsen. Danny Jacobsen, six years old and bald, catches Pete's eye. They look at each other. Pete turns and walks away. CUT TO: INT. FAMILY ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT The O'Malley family sits around the TV and watches the news, which is reporting live from the fire, which still simmers in the background. WE GO UP THE STAIRS AND DOWN THE HALLWAY to Pete and Seamus's room. They both sit on their beds staring quietly at the ceiling. Seamus throws a tennis ball to himself. The front door opens and screams of DAD fill the house. Pete turns and looks at Seamus. Seamus fixates on the rotation of the ball as it leaves his hand. He repeats this over and over. Joe enters the bedroom and closes the door behind him. Pete and Seamus sit up. Joe grabs a chair and flips it around so he's leaning forward on the back of the chair. JOE How many times have I told you boys? Seamus begins to speak. Joe cuts him off. JOE People die in fires. You don't chase fires, you run away from them. That family lost a ten year old boy in that fire today. PETE Rabbi Jacobsen's son died? Joe nods. JOE What were you two doing in that neighborhood? Pete and Seamus stay silent. JOE You're both grounded. You can't leave this block. If I find either one of you outside this block or hear that either one of you left this block, you will get a whooping that you will still feel on your sixteenth birthday. SEAMUS But the baseball field... JOE That's it. Joe stands up and exits the room. Seamus gets off his bed and grabs his glove. He starts to pound the ball into his glove. PETE I'm sorry. It's my fault. Seamus stares out the window. CUT TO: EXT. BACKYARD - HOUR LATER Joe sits in the backyard alone on a lounge chair drinking an Old Style beer. A floodlight illuminates the backyard. The backdoor opens and shuts. Joe continues to stare out. Pete grabs a chair, spins it around like his dad, and leans forward on the back of the chair. Nothing is said for a few seconds as Pete stares out. Joe doesn't look at Pete. JOE What are you doing up? PETE Couldn't sleep. (Pause) Dad, Seamus was only in the area because he was checking up on me. Joe takes a big sip from his beer. PETE I'm on a quest. To meet a Jewish person and help them get to heaven. Joe takes another sip from his beer. JOE Jewish people can't go to heaven. PETE Mom says they can be converted. Through Jesus. I asked Father Kelly and he said that is the role of a good Christian. Joe takes another sip. PETE So I've been going over to the temple on Oakley. Looking for Jewish people. I met Rabbi Jacobsen. He's like a priest over at the synagogue. He's been real nice. And I feel really bad for him now that his son has died. Silence. JOE How old are you? PETE Seven. And a half. You know. JOE You should be playing baseball and going to the pool. And asleep by nine. PETE Seamus was just seeing how things were going. JOE Don't go to that synagogue anymore. You go to church. Let the Jewish people take care of themselves. PETE But I'm on a quest. JOE Not anymore. The Jews will be Jews. And Christians will be Christians. Don't try to change things at seven and a half. Pete stares out at the backyard. JOE Get to bed. CUT TO: INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - LATER Margaret lays in bed watching "The Tonight Show" when Joe walks out of the bathroom. He jumps into bed and watches TV with her. MARGARET How bad was it? Joe shakes his head. MARGARET Joe, I can't raise these kids alone and I've gained too much weight to find a new husband. Joe laughs and squeezes her stomach. JOE Too much weight? You're skinnier and more beautiful than the first day I met you. Margaret laughs. MARGARET Your charm worked on me when I was a teenager. I see what I see. Tell me about the fire. JOE It was a fire. They're never good. Margaret knocks on the wall that the bed lays against. She turns her head and faces the wall. MARGARET (sarcastic to the wall) Tell me about your day. (As wall) Well, it was a day like any other day. I stood firm, attached to the floor. JOE Whaddaya want from me? MARGARET Not the tough guy I'm being interviewed I did my job routine. Joe touches Margaret's stomach and rubs it. JOE If you were skinnier when we met, I don't remember. And there's no way I liked it. Margaret pushes his hand away and rolls over. Joe twists the pillow in half and stares at the ceiling. JOE Did you know Pete was going to a synagogue to convert Jewish people? Margaret laughs. JOE I'm not finding that as funny. Margaret rolls over and faces Joe. MARGARET Pete is searching for meaning in his life. JOE He's seven. Baseball is the only meaning in a seven year old's life. MARGARET Some kids are destined for greater things than baseball. JOE I don't know honey. Sounds like Pete's looking for a recipe to get beat up. I told him to leave those people alone. Don't let him go over there. MARGARET I can't watch these kid's every move. Molly needs my constant attention. All I know is he walks out of the house in the morning, and when he comes back, he's clean and nobody's calling to say he was trouble. JOE Now that's parenting 101. My kid's clean and nobody says he's trouble. Am I going to have to work and raise the kids? MARGARET Don 't start with me Joe. Margaret rolls over. Joe spoons up against her. JOE Maybe we should bring another kid into the world who's clean and doesn't cause any trouble? MARGARET Well, if you're looking for my womb, I think it fell out over there when I was dusting. Have at it. Joe rolls back over and watches "The Tonight Show". CUT TO: EXT. FIREHOUSE - A FEW DAYS LATER Joe sits on a lounge chair outside of the firehouse with a few other firemen playing cards. Roger, his brother and fellow fireman, is studying the sports page. ROGER The Sox hit lefties hard. Zisk loves lefties. No comments. ROGER I think you gotta take the Sox tonight plus one fifty. They're a good bet. A buck to win a buck fifty. JOE Why you try to convince us? You never bet against the Sox. Ever. ROGER I like their lineup. It's explosive. JOE You ever think about betting the other team. When you're betting, don't let your heart get in the way of a good decision. ROGER Yeah, but when your heart and mind are in together, it's a sure bet. JOE Funny how your heart and mind always say Sox. JACK Gin! Joe throws his cards down. JOE Shut the hell up Roger. Jack's crushing me cause of you. (To Jack) You should be a garbage man the way you pick up every card I throw. You do that to piss me off, Jack? Jack adds the score. JACK I do it to win. Five hundred to two twenty. At a nickel a point. Fourteen bucks you owe me. Joe goes into his pocket and fishes out fourteen dollars. Rabbi Jacobsen walks up the driveway with his son Danny. The rabbi has two tinfoiled trays and Danny carries two bottles of red wine. RABBI Gentlemen. The men get quiet. Joe walks over to help the rabbi with the trays. Roger takes the wine from Danny. RABBI My wife, my son, and I wanted to thank you for your bravery and kindness. The rabbi looks down at Danny. Danny's White Sox hat covers his bald head. DANNY Thank you. The men, still quiet, nod. Jack takes a tray from Joe and the other tray from the rabbi. Joe puts out his hand. JOE Rabbi, Joe O'Malley. I'm sorry for your loss. The men nod in agreement. RABBI Thank you. My son David was a good boy. The rabbi looks at the shiny red fire trucks. RABBI He loved you firemen. Never understood why I couldn't be a fireman on the side and park the firetruck outside the house. The men laugh. Danny smiles. Joe nudges Roger and points to his head. Roger nods knowingly and walks into the firehouse. RABBI My wife figures the best way to thank a man is through his stomach. She baked some lasagna for all of you in appreciation. DANNY It's real good. Joe looks at Danny. JOE I bet it is. (To Rabbi) My guys love a good meal, but I wish your wife wouldn't have. We were just doing our job. RABBI A heroic job you do. My wife wanted to thank you personally. My synagogue will want to thank you formally. Joe looks down. Not heroic enough to save your other son, Joe thinks. RABBI I don't know if you're allowed to drink red wine on the job, but lasagna just isn't as good without a fine wine. JACK Nothing is as good without a fine wine. Roger comes back with a plastic firehat and button. ROGER This is for you. A deputy fire chief. Danny takes off his White Sox hat and hands it to his dad. He puts on the firehat. DANNY Thanks. ROGER You're welcome. You a big Sox fan? DANNY Huge. Zisk crushes the ball. ROGER Especially against lefties. You wanna check out the firetruck? Danny looks at his dad excitedly, His dad nods. Roger takes Danny by the hand and walks back into the firehouse. The other men follow. Joe stays out with Rabbi Jacobsen. The rabbi breaks the silence. RABBI It is Jewish custom to sit chiva at the house of the deceased. It is a sign of support to the family of the deceased. JOE Like a wake. RABBI Yes, like a wake. I know you are a busy man, but if you have time, I would be honored if you could stop by and sit for a few minutes with my family and friends. JOE You bet. RABBI Obviously, it is not at my home. But at my brothers on 2243 Damen. JOE 2243? RABBI Anytime after seven PM all week. Danny is on the back of the truck. DANNY Dad! Check me out! RABBI Children realize life is about living. And death is about life. Do you have any children of your own? Joe laughs. JOE Yep. I've got children all right. Eight. RABBI Eight? A blessed man. Joe rolls his eyes as if the blessing isn't always so. RABBI The O'Malley clan? By any chance, is a beautiful young redhead named Pete yours? Joe nods in embarrassment. RABBI Your bravery has been passed on. He's the most earnest, delightful young man I have ever met. JOE I found out he's been a nuisance at your temple and I've reprimanded him. He won't be bothering you anymore. RABBI Your son is a welcome sight at the temple. Danny screams as he sits in the rear driving seat. Joe and the rabbi look at Danny. JOE Do you mind if I ask? Joe points to his head. RABBI Luekemia. Chemotherapy. JOE I'm sorry. So sorry. RABBI God has a plan. A mysterious plan for my family. Joe and the rabbi watch Danny. RABBI If you can find time, we would love to have you at my brother's house. Bring Pete. It would be good for everyone spirits to see a child so full of life like your son. Joe smiles. JOE He's full of something. CUT TO: INT. O'MALLEY FAMILY ROOM - LATER THAT DAY Pete and Seamus lay on the floor playing "All Star Baseball". Katie dances around to music from the record player. Baby Molly sleeps in the crib. Patrick walks in the door with the day's mail. Katie runs over and grabs the mail from him. KATIE Getting the mail is my job. She punches him, hands over the mail to Katie, who takes it over to the table. She rifles through the mail. Katie can't read. KATIE Bill! Bill! Bill! Looks like all bills. Katie gets up and starts to dance. Patrick sits down and looks at the mail. A few pieces of official mail are addressed to him. Patrick opens them up and reads them. Patrick crumples the paper and leaves it on the table. He walks away from the table. CUT TO: INT. O'MALLEY KITCHEN - EARLY NIGHT The family sits at the dinner table. Tommy and Eddie are missing from the table. The kids eat pot roast and roasted potatoes. JOE The boys game started at six? SEAMUS Doubleheader. Uncle Roger, Billy, and Roger junior are going. Joe looks at Margaret. She nods. JOE You finish your chores? SEAMUS Yep. Joe nods. Pete looks at his dad. JOE Rabbi Jacobsen invited you and me to a... a... chivas at his house. PETE Rabbi Jacobsen? Chivas? JOE Yep. Like a wake. I told him we would be there. Joe looks at Margaret. She smiles. PETE How's he doing? JOE It's gotta be tough. PETE Yeah. JOE We'll go and then catch the second game. PETE Yeah. We'll do that. SEAMUS Tell Rabbi Jacobsen I'm sorry for him. PETE I will. JOE You know he's got a boy your age. I met him today. He'll be there. Pete nods. CUT TO: INT. O'MALLEY KITCHEN - AFTER DINNER Joe and Margaret still sit at the table. Joe drinks a beer while Margaret drinks coffee. Mary rocks Molly. Seamus stands at the sink scraping food and washing dishes. He hands them to Pete, who stands on a stool and rinses the dishes. Pete hands the dishes to Katie, who places the dishes in the dishwasher. JOE The rabbi's other kid has leukemia. MARGARET We've been blessed. I don't know how we've been so lucky, but I'm not to question it. JOE Stupid electrical wiring. Those damn old houses weren't built for modern wiring. Patrick walks by. JOE Hey, lifesaver, why don't you sit down? Patrick takes a seat. JOE So, your mother thinks you got some news? Patrick plays with his fork. PATRICK Maybe I'll take a look at the job over at the city planners office. Joe pauses. JOE It's a good job with nice benefits. I'll talk to Alderman McManus about it. Patrick stays silent. JOE Well, don't go there with that attitude. The alderman's doing us a favor. So don't go acting like a punk. From the kitchen, Katie mimics her dad. KATIE Yeah, don't go acting like a punk. Patrick stays silent. JOE A lot of kids your age don't have a chance like this. PATRICK A lot of kids my age go to college. Not to work. JOE Yeah, and when they graduate, they're four years behind you in the working world. All they've learned from college is how to smoke pot and sleep. PATRICK The good jobs nowadays require a college degree. JOE A city job is a good job, and all it requires is hard work and a good attitude. PATRICK The Irish way. Get a city job, work hard, have forty kids, retire on a crap pension in the same house you lived in all your life. JOE You wanna be some hotshot bigshot, have one point two kids, live in the suburbs in a big house with no love to fill a closet, and retire to Florida to die like a raisin? PATRICK Yeah, what if do? JOE Then go ahead. Be like the Jews. Have no more than two kids because it's not economical to have more. Make every decision based on money. Raise your kids to base their life on the size of their wallet. Raise them to worship the almighty dollar, not God. PATRICK No, Dad, I shouldn't raise my kids to base their worth on the size of their wallet when I can teach them to base it on how much booze they can handle without puking. Joe gets up and cracks Patrick. The kids run to their mom. JOE You ungrateful, smartass prick. You got all the answers at eighteen, don't you? PATRICK No, but maybe if I work a city fucking job, I'll have all the answers at forty. Joe cracks Patrick upside the head and knocks him over. The kids scream. Patrick gets up. He thinks about charging his dad, but decides to walk out of the kitchen and out of the house. The kids cry. Margaret shakes her head. Joe finishes his beer. CUT TO: INT. O'MALLEY STATION WAGON - AN HOUR LATER Pete and Joe drive in the wagon. The White Sox broadcast blares from the radio. They drive in silence. CUT TO: INT. RABBI JACOBSEN'S BROTHER'S HOUSE - MINUTES LATER Pete and Joe enter the house. A lot of people sit quietly. The rabbi's brother greets them. JEFFREY I'm Jeffrey Jacobsen, Kenny's brother. We're glad you could make it. Pete hands Jeffrey some flowers. The room is void of any flowers. Jeffrey looks around for a place to put the flowers. JEFFREY I'll bring this in the kitchen. Thanks. Can I get you anything to drink? JOE Scotch. JEFFREY I'll check to see if I have any scotch. If not? JOE A beer. JEFFREY I'll check to see if I have any beer. If not? JOE You know what, I'm fine. JEFFREY You sure? JOE Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks. Jeffrey looks at Pete. PETE No thanks. People sit on the couch. A picture of David sits prominently on the table. A handsome young boy. Joe works his way over to Mrs. Jacobsen, who sits on the couch. Mrs. Jacobsen, a pretty but plain dark haired woman, shakes Joe's hand. JOE I am sorry for your loss, Mrs. Jacobsen. MRS. JACOBSEN Thank you. Pete stands quietly next to his dad. A gentlemen gets up from the couch facing Mrs. Jacobsen and motions for Pete and Joe to sit. They sit. Small, quiet conversations take place around them. Pete and Joe sit quietly. Rabbi Jacobsen enters the room with Danny. He walks over to Joe, who has stood up to greet the rabbi. Joe puts out his hand. The rabbi shakes his hand, but also moves in to hug Joe. Joe moves in unexpectedly for the hug. The rabbi picks up Pete and hugs him. Pete laughs. RABBI My family is grateful to you. Joe nods. Danny waves to Joe. Joe waves to him. Danny looks at Pete. DANNY You wanna check out my room that I'm sharing with my cousin? Pete looks at his dad. Joe gives him the OK. Pete and Danny take off. CUT TO: INT. DANNY'S ROOM - SECONDS LATER Danny shows Pete his autographed glove. Sandy Koufax! DANNY My dad says it's rare cause Mr. Koufax rarely signed things. PETE Yeah. Was he good? DANNY I think so. Danny hands Pete another glove. DANNY This was my brothers. You wanna play catch? PETE In the house? Danny grabs a tennis ball. DANNY Yeah. It's just a tennis ball. PETE Sure. Danny fires a strike. PETE How'd you lose your hair? DANNY Leukemia. It's cancer. I take this medicine that makes me lose my hair. PETE Does it hurt? DANNY No. The hair just fell out. I used to have black hair. PETE I've got red hair. DANNY My friend Charlie's got red hair. They throw the ball back and forth. PETE I'm sorry about your brother. DANNY Thanks. You know, since my cancer, he didn't beat me up as much. We had fun together. Do you have any brothers? PETE Four older brothers. DANNY Wow. You must get your butt kicked? Pete nods. PETE My older sister's worse. My brothers just punch me in the gut. She pulls my hair. That hurts. I wish I were bald then. Danny smiles. PETE Was the fire scary? DANNY I don't know what happened. David was watching cartoons in the TV room. I was upstairs playing baseball. And then I noticed a lot of smoke. I opened my door but there was a lot of fire. I tried to open my window, but I couldn't. I couldn't see the fire anymore because the smoke got so thick. And then your dad came in. He saved my life, I think. It was nothing like the fire drills you do in school. PETE Where do you go to school? DANNY Briarwood. How 'bout you? PETE Holy Cross. Going into third grade. DANNY I'm going into second. I missed a lot of first grade with all of the chemotherapy. That's what they call the cancer medicine. The boys throw the ball back and forth. PETE What's it like to be Jewish? DANNY I don't know. Good. PETE I'm Catholic. DANNY What's that like? PETE Noisier. DANNY Things are usually noisier around here. But everyone's really sad. PETE My Uncle Jim died a few weeks ago. He was old. He was really my grandfather's brother, but we still called him Uncle Jim. DANNY I got an uncle like that. Harvey. PETE You would have thought my uncle's funeral was a birthday party. DANNY Sounds like fun. PETE Yeah it is. My mom says that people are sad because they love the person, but are happy cause they get to go to heaven. Jewish people can't go to heaven. DANNY Why not? PETE Cause they're Jewish. God doesn't let Jewish people in heaven. Danny's quiet. PETE If you're interested, I think I can show you how to get to heaven. DANNY Yeah? PETE Yep. I would just have to convert you. DANNY How do you do that? PETE I don't know. I haven't converted anyone before. DANNY What can I do in heaven? PETE Anything you want. They call it paradise. DANNY Sounds good. When can we start? PETE Tomorrow. DANNY I got my last chemotherapy treatment on Friday. So that gives us all week. PETE Fine. Let's meet at your dad's synagogue. DANNY OK. The boys toss the ball back and forth. CUT TO: INT. O'MALLEY STATION WAGON - LATER Pete and Joe sit in the wagon. JOE Danny's a good kid, huh? PETE Yeah. His medicine makes him bald. But it doesn't hurt. I'm gonna convert him. Joe shakes his head. JOE Leave him alone. PETE He wants to. JOE But his parents don't. Look, he's Jewish. His family's Jewish. If they wanted to be Christian, his parents would change. PETE But it's a quest. JOE The quest has been called off. PETE I promised Danny. We're meeting at the synagogue. JOE Well, I'm breaking that promise. You can't go converting Jewish kids the same way they don't go converting you. PETE But he wants to. JOE I said no. No more lip from you. Do not go to that synagogue and do not bother Danny or his family anymore. Do you understand me? Pete doesn't answer. JOE Do you understand me? If I find out you've been going over there, you will get the spanking of a lifetime and be grounded until you're sixteen. Do you understand? PETE Yes. The lights of the local baseball field illuminate the night. Joe turns into the parking lot. CUT TO: EXT. SYNAGOGUE - NEXT DAY Danny, with his White Sox hat covering his bald head, stands outside the synagogue. DIFFERENT SHOTS of Danny waiting. Danny finally decides Pete is not showing up. He gets on his bike and turns the corner back toward his uncle's house. As he passes an alley, Pete pops out and almost scares Danny off his bike. Pete sneaks back into the alley. DANNY What are you doing? PETE Our quest has to be done in secret. Our mission is now undercover. DANNY Why? PETE Cause. DANNY What's our mission? PETE To get you to heaven. DANNY Right. How we gonna know I got to heaven? PETE We'll just know. DANNY So what are we gonna do? PETE We got to set up some tests. DANNY Like school. PETE Yeah. But those tests aren't fun. What's the purpose of making it to heaven if the tests aren't fun? DANNY Have you taken any of these tests? Pete thinks. PETE Since I'm Catholic, I don't think I have to. It's just automatic. DANNY That's cool. PETE Yeah. But you know what. For my first communion next year, I have to complete first communion training. DANNY What's communion? PETE This piece of bread that is Jesus. DANNY And you eat it? PETE Yep. DANNY Gross. PETE I watch people eat it and they don't gross out. And my brothers say it tastes like wheat bread. DANNY Not as good as white. So I should do the first communion training. PETE I haven't done it yet, so I don't know what it is. DANNY Darn. PETE But we can make up our own. The kids think. DANNY How about something like Bruce Jenner and a decathlon? Win the decathlon, go to heaven. Pete thinks. PETE Yeah, something like that. DANNY And then we should have a gold medal ceremony. Gotta have a medal. PETE Communion can be your medal. DANNY The Jesus wheat bread? PETE Yeah. DANNY I'd rather have a medal. PETE We can talk about it later. Let's go, we can't be spotted. DANNY Why can't we spotted? PETE We're undercover. DANNY Right. CUT TO: INT. ELEVATED TRAIN - MINUTES LATER Pete and Danny sit on the Elevated Train that runs from Chicago's north side to its south side. Pete looks out the window. They pass a car wash. Danny looks up and down the aisle. DANNY My parents don't let me on the El without them. PETE Father Kelly always talks about a risk reward. I think you'll be OK if your parents find out. We'll just explain the risk was worth the reward. DANNY Right. CUT TO: EXT. OAK STREET BEACH - MINUTES LATER The beach is pretty full. Lake Michigan's waves crash weakly against the rocks. Gymnastic rings are set up at the north side of the beach along with an area filled with weights. Elevated five feet above the beach is a paved area for runners and bikers. PETE If we see my sister, just start running. DANNY How am I gonna know it's your sister? PETE I'll be running. DANNY Right. The boys look around. Two teenage girls in bikinis walk past them. The boys smile. The girls smile back. Danny does his best Fonz impression. Pete laughs. PETE Bruce Jenner is faster, stronger, and can jump higher than anyone else. So that's how we should do this. DANNY OK. I'm fast. PETE But first, you need to be baptized. My baby sister just got baptized. We all got baptized. I don't remember mine, but I've seen pictures. Danny nods. CUT TO: EXT. LAKE MICHIGAN - MINUTES LATER Pete is trying to pick up Danny by his ankles. He lifts Danny up and they both fall into the water. Pete, determined to do it right, then grabs Danny by the ankles and lifts. Danny's head, along with his shoulders, wade back and forth in the water. PETE Amen! Pete lets go of Danny's legs and Danny crashes completely into the water. Pete falls in also. They both wipe away the water from their faces. PETE I think it would have been easier if you were a baby. DANNY Let's get started. What should we do first? CUT TO: EXT. OAK STREET BEACH - LATER A SERIES OF SHOTS. Pete counting as Danny runs toward him. Danny hanging from a ring as Pete counts him down. Pete and Danny talking to a man with weights. Danny trying to lift the weight. He can't. Pete tries. He can't. They take off some of the weight. Danny lifts the weight over his head. Danny climbs a small hill of rocks. Pete waits for him at the bottom, about six feet below. Danny jumps, hits the sand, and rolls. CUT TO: EXT. OAK STREET BEACH - LATER Pete and Danny alternating turns drinking from a thermos. DANNY Nine down. One to go. PETE This one's gotta be tough. DANNY Some of those were tough. PETE Yeah, but the last one's gotta be real tough. Something that takes strength, speed, and courage. DANNY I don't know. PETE What can't you do well? DANNY I'm not a strong swimmer. Pete looks out to Lake Michigan. A buoy signals the spot where the lifeguards don't want you to swim past. PETE Swim out to the buoy. Danny looks for the buoy. DANNY I can't even see the buoy. Pete points to it. DANNY I can't get there. PETE You're going to have to if you wanna win the decathlon. Pete and Danny head toward the water. PETE Look, I'm not asking you to do something I can't. When I was your age, I could swim to the buoy. DANNY Do I have to get to the buoy and back under a certain amount of time. Pete looks at the buoy. He looks at Danny. PETE What do you think? DANNY No. PETE Getting there and back is enough. Danny smiles. PETE Don't worry. I'm here. And there are lifeguards everywhere. Danny starts swimming. He dips his head in the water and slowly one arm dives in the water while one arm raises out of the water. He brings his whole head out of the water to breathe, dips his head in the water, and repeats the process. Halfway to the buoy, he tries to pick his head up to see where the buoy is. He begins to sink and panics. His arms start to flail. Pete dives into the water as Danny turns his body so he can float on his back. Pete reaches Danny and grabs him. PETE You OK? DANNY I couldn't make it. And then I remembered what my swim teacher taught me about floating. But I don't think I could float there and back. PETE No, I don't think so either. Can you make it back? Danny nods and rolls over to his front. Danny starts swimming in and Pete follows him. CUT TO: INT. EL TRAIN - MINUTES LATER Pete and Danny sit on the El. Danny's dejected. PETE In one day you passed nine tests. God's gotta be happy with you. DANNY Yeah, but I don't know how I'm gonna pass the last one. That's tough. PETE Look, we got all week. Trust me. You can do it. DANNY I hope so. I really want to go to heaven. PETE You will. Do kids die from what you have? Danny nods. DANNY The first time I took chemotherapy, two other boys and a girl took it with me. When they started me on it a second time, I was the only one. The others died. PETE How do you know? DANNY I asked. The nurses got all quiet. Grown ups always get quiet when they talk about death. PETE Not at my uncle's funeral. DANNY Sometimes I hear my parents talk about it late at night and they cry. I feel so bad. And now with my brother, my mom cries all day and night. I don't want her to be so sad if I die. PETE No, I wouldn't want that either. DANNY So if I can convince her that I'm going to paradise, maybe she won't be so sad. Pete nods. The boys look out the window. CUT TO: EXT. LAKE MICHIGAN - THE NEXT DAY Danny swims out toward the buoy. He doesn't make it. He floats and waits for Pete. He follows Pete back to the shore. PETE I don't understand. You look like you're going to get there, and then you don't. DANNY I don't know. PETE But you swim back to shore fine with me. DANNY I know. PETE So what is it? DANNY I look up to see where the buoy is, and I can't see it. And then I start to realize how far out I am and... PETE What if I go with you? DANNY No. I gotta do it alone. PETE Well maybe if you don't look up. DANNY But then I don't know where I am. PETE We'll figure this out. CUT TO: EXT. LAKE MICHIGAN - NEXT DAY Danny puts on the goggles. But he still can't do it. CUT TO: EXT. OAK STREET BEACH - MINUTES LATER Pete puts on the goggles. He looks out toward the buoy. PETE I can see fine. Pete hands the goggles to Danny. Danny puts them on and looks toward the buoy. DANNY I can see it from here. But when I get in the water, I can't see it and then everything starts getting really fast and I can't go any further. Pete plays with the sand. Danny scoops sand and throws it. PETE Stand up. Danny stands. Pete raises Danny's hands over his head. Pete then raises his hands over his head. He measures the difference. PETE You stay here and watch me swim to the buoy. I'll be right back. Pete swims out to the buoy. CUT TO: EXT. LAKE MICHIGAN - MINUTES LATER Pete swims ashore. PETE It took me fifty strokes there, and fifty five strokes back. One hundred and five strokes. DANNY So? PETE Your problem is when you look up and you can't see the buoy, you get scared and panic. DANNY I don't get scared. PETE Yeah you do. DANNY No I don't. PETE Listen. All you have to do is count your strokes. You don't need to look up. Can you count to fifty? DANNY Yeah. PETE Well, I'm a little bigger so it's going to take you a few more strokes. Can you count to sixty? DANNY Yep. PETE Well then, just count to sixty strokes and then swim back. It might take you a few more strokes on the way back. DANNY I can do that. But I'm real tired and I need to get back for my treatment this afternoon. PETE Right. Tomorrow. Tomorrow you complete the decathlon. CUT TO: INT. HOSPITAL - THAT AFTERNOON Danny sitting in a chair with IV's stuck in him. He's watching the White Sox. Through the door window, a doctor speaks to Rabbi Jacobsen and his wife. DOCTOR This last treatment will weaken his immune system greatly. The red blood cells don't seem to be responding, so we upped the dosage. RABBI What's the prognosis? DOCTOR I don't know. If this treatment doesn't work, I don't think there's anymore we can do. MRS. JACOBSEN Why? Isn't there a stronger dosage or more intensive treatment? DOCTOR This is the most intensive treatment. And a stronger dosage would kill him. Mrs. Jacobsen goes to speak but the rabbi grabs her hand. He squeezes it. The Jacobsen's enter the room. DANNY The Sox are getting clobbered Dad. RABBI They've been getting clobbered all my life. DANNY Mine too. The rabbi squeezes his wife's hand. CUT TO: EXT. SYNAGOGUE - NEXT MORNING Pete sits in the a doorway hidden from plain sight. The rabbi walks up to Pete. RABBI Danny told me I might find you here. PETE I don't know how he knew I would be here. The rabbi smiles. RABBI Danny wanted me to tell you that he wouldn't be able to complete the decathlon today. Pete stares at the Rabbi, hoping to be able to figure out how much the rabbi knows. RABBI You see, the medicine Danny's taking... PETE Chemotherapy. RABBI Yep. Chemotherapy. It zaps him of his strength. And weakens his ability to fight off disease. PETE Sounds like bad medicine. RABBI Yes it does. But that's how doctors fight cancer. PETE My oldest brother wants to become a doctor. My mom always tells me to do my homework so I can be smart and become a doctor. RABBI It's a noble profession. PETE My dad thinks they play too much golf. And they charge like assholes. RABBI I hate to disagree with your dad, but he probably wouldn't want you using that word. PETE Seamus says you can use swear words if you're quoting someone. RABBI Seamus sounds like a fine journalist. Is your oldest brother going to college to study medicine? PETE No. He can't afford college. RABBI Higher education is expensive. But worth it if you work hard. PETE Rabbi, when do you think Danny will be better? RABBI I did not study medicine in college, but even if I did, I don't think I could answer that. It's in God's hands now. PETE Well, you're close with God. Hopefully that rubs off a little on Danny. I hope he gets better, we've got some unfinished business. RABBI I hope so too. Praying for Danny is all we can do now. PETE OK. I'll pray to Jesus, you pray to God, and hopefully somebody listens. RABBI That's a deal. Pete jumps on his bike. PETE See ya later Rabbi Jacobsen. CUT TO: INT. HOLY CROSS CHURCH - MINUTES LATER Pete sits by himself in a pew at church. Father Kelly, 71, snow white hair, skin cancered face, cantankerous old man, notices Pete and walks over. FATHER Mr. O'Malley? Are you lost? PETE Hey Father. No, I promised a friend I'd pray for him. He's sick. FATHER Well, maybe I can say a prayer for him also. Father Kelly sits down next to Pete. PETE His name's Danny. He's got cancer. Father Kelly does the sign of the cross. He closes his eyes. Pete stares at him. Father Kelly opens one eye at Pete. FATHER You finish your prayer? Pete nods. FATHER Well, let me finish my prayers without you bothering me. Pete stands up and walks toward the altar. Father Kelly watches him. FATHER Where are you going? PETE Just checking out how this place looks from your seat. Pete takes a seat in a chair to the left of the altar. Father Kelly stands and walks toward the altar. FATHER That's my seat. Don't mess it up. PETE You get nervous with everyone looking at you? FATHER I'm used to being looked at. PETE You ever get nervous that you won't know what to say or you'll forget what you wanted to say? FATHER No. PETE How do you get paid? FATHER That's between me and the IRS. PETE Do you get the collection money? FATHER No. Someone tell you I did? Pete shakes his head. FATHER Do you need to get home? Pete shakes his head. PETE Your job's to help people to get to heaven, right? Father Kelly nods. PETE How do you know if you've done your job good? FATHER Well. I pray that I do it well. Why? You have any complaints? PETE You ever actually seen someone in heaven? Father Kelly shakes his head. PETE Then how do you know if the people you're helping made it to heaven? FATHER Faith. PETE Faith? FATHER Yep. Believing in something completely without actually having proof of it. Faith. I don't have any proof of heaven, but I have faith it exists. PETE What's the best way to get to heaven? FATHER By believing in Jesus and doing as he taught us. PETE How do we know if we're doing that? Is there some test? FATHER Life is a test. PETE But then you need to die to figure out how you did on the test? Father Kelly laughs. He nods. He opens the altar and fills the chalice with hosts. PETE Don't you just once want to know if one of the people you prayed for made it to heaven? FATHER In due time. Father Kelly finishes filling the chalice with bread. PETE What's the purpose of communion? FATHER To have a piece of Jesus be a part of us. PETE Why do I have to wait till third grade for that? Wouldn't that help me now? FATHER The Church believes that Catholics should fulfill a few requirements before they earn communion. PETE Like passing a few tests? FATHER Yes. PETE So if I pass all the tests, I get to have communion. FATHER Yes. PETE Thanks Father. You've cleared up a few things for me. Pete runs off the altar. FATHER Good, glad the grilling is over. CUT TO: INT. O'MALLEY KITCHEN TABLE - THAT NIGHT The family sits around the table. MARGARET Rabbi Jacobsen wanted to see if he could stop by after work. I said fine. Pete's eyes light up but he doesn't want to say anything that would get him in trouble. JOE This gratitude stuff is becoming intrusive. MARGARET If the only fault you can find with a person is that they go overboard with kindness and gratitude, I can live with that. KATIE Me too. JOE Yeah. Yeah. (To Patrick's chair) Where's knucklehead? KATIE He said he'd be home late for dinner. JOE Oh yeah. Did he say why? KATIE He told me to mind my own business. JOE He's probably sitting on his ass reading a book in that lifeguard tower. Where the others? SEAMUS Tommy and Eddie have a game up north. Another doubleheader. And Mary's eating at a friends. The doorbell rings. Pete and Katie run to get it. Pete lets Katie open the door. Rabbi Jacobsen stands with a tray of rugala, a Jewish pastry. RABBI Hello. I know Pete, and whom may I ask are you? Katie puts her hand out. The rabbi goes to shake her hand but she put her hand out to take the tray. RABBI This might be too big for you. KATIE I handle bigger trays than that in the kitchen. How do you think I feed eight kids? The Rabbi nods and hands the dish to Katie. She carries it into the kitchen. PETE How's Danny doing? RABBI He's doing better. Still not ready to play but he said to say hi and he'll stop by to see you when he can play again. Pete looks back to see if his dad heard that. He didn't. PETE Come on in. We're just eating dinner. The rabbi follows Pete into the kitchen. Seamus sits eating his potatoes. He stands up and shakes the rabbi's hand. SEAMUS Rabbi Jacobsen. RABBI Seamus. Nice to see you. Joe stands up and shakes the rabbi's hand. The rabbi walks over and says hello to Margaret and pats little Molly on the head. MARGARET Would you like some dinner? There's plenty. The rabbi looks at the well sliced pieces of ham and huge bowl of mashed potatoes. RABBI No thank you. My wife knows when I've been eating other people's dinner. She considers it a form of adultery. Margaret laughs. MARGARET How 'bout some coffee? RABBI Sure. Katie stands up and walks toward the coffee pot. KATIE Black? Cream? Sugar? RABBI Two sugars. Thank you. KATIE You're welcome. JOE Please sit. The rabbi takes a seat at the table. JOE How's your little boy? RABBI Hanging in there, thank you. He just finished more treatment and hopefully this works. JOE We hope so too. Margaret comes back with the rugala on a plate. Katie hands the rabbi his coffee. Margaret takes a bite of the rugala. MARGARET It's absolutely delicious. The rabbi takes a little. RABBI She can't get mad at me if I'm eating her own stuff. Rugala, a Jewish pastry. My favorite. Margaret hands the rugala out to the boys and Joe. They're all very happy. JOE So what's going on? RABBI Well, remember when I told you that my congregation will want to formally thank you for your bravery. JOE There's no need, Rabbi. And that's the end of that. RABBI Well, maybe Margaret and you would like to talk about it more in private? Joe looks at the boys. Seamus's busy eating his rugala and Pete stares at the rabbi. JOE That's OK. RABBI Well, you personally showed bravery beyond the call of duty when you saved Danny, and if it weren't for the gas pipe blowing up, you were going back in against the wishes of your partners. Joe is embarrassed and quiet. RABBI The firemen saved the fire from spreading and many of the people from my temple live in that neighborhood. Patrick enters the front door. He walks into the kitchen. MARGARET Patrick, I would like you to meet Rabbi Ja