ANCHORS AWAY

Written by,

Scott Nitzel

Based on a true story

(619) 846-8517
SDNITZEL@yahoo.com
WGA # 1335886
INT. AIRPORT – DAY - 1997

ESPEN (4), POV is from inside a blue backpack. There’s

bouncing because she’s being smuggled through an airport
while on the back of her father, GRAYDON WALLACE -- They’ve
come to a stop –- She hears:

AGENT (O.S.)
(British Accent)
I need to see your passport. Did
you pack your own bag?

GRAYDON (O.S.)
Yes.

AGENT (O.S.)
Has anyone asked you to carry
anything onto the plane for them?

GRAYDON (O.S.)
No.

AGENT (O.S)
Has your bag remained in your
possession since you packed it?

GRAYDON (O.S.)
Yes.

ESPEN’S POV is bouncing as they’ve begun moving again -- soon

they stop and the zipper comes down allowing her to see out –-
Her POV is an AMERICAN AIRLINES JET parked at the gate.
Graydon’s face, (mid 30’s), leans into her view.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
(whispering)
Sweetie, don’t get out yet. Can you
stay in for just another minute?
Look, that’s our plane.

We focus in on his eyes.

EXT. U.S./MEXICAN BORDER - DESERT – PRESENT DAY

SUPER: 13 YEARS LATER

We see Graydon’s eyes –- He then looks through his binoculars

off into the distance.

Off in the distance we see...

Outback of San Diego in the desert calmness where...

(CONTINUED)
 2.
CONTINUED:

ERNESTO and ROSA, two illegal immigrants, are hoisting their

bicycles over the wall using rope.

Ernesto’s determination can’t be broken, not even the weight

of lifting the heavy bike.

The first bike is pulled over and lowered to the ground.

BACK TO:

Graydon has spotted Ernesto and Rosa –- he lowers his

binoculars and we see he’s surrounded by…

Several MINUTEMEN patrolling the border from a hilltop.

Pickups, flags, and guns.

GRAYDON
(yells at the crowd)
I got ‘em.

Graydon heads to his Jeep.

EXT. DIRT ROAD – CONT’D

Ernesto and Rosa, wearing helmets, are riding their bikes –-

Rosa looks back at the wall -- success is almost theirs.

INT. GRAYDON’S JEEP – CONT’D

Graydon is driving fast. His DOG is bouncing around the back

seat.

(We don’t see what’s in the front passenger seat)

Graydon pulls in front of Ernesto and Rosa forcing them to
stop –- He exits Jeep and hands them water and food.

Graydon returns to the Jeep -- Ernesto and Rosa continue

biking.

GRAYDON
(to dog)
They think those helmets and bikes
make ‘em look like locals.

He sits back comfortably to daydream.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Escaping from a bad thing.

(CONTINUED)
 3.
CONTINUED:

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. A BOAT – DAY - 1991

SUPER: 17 YEARS EARLIER IN GREECE

Approaching a Greek port town.

Sitting on deck, MANUELA SCHMAROTZER, Tour Guide, 25, lonely,

stares at a dated picture of better days with herself and a
boyfriend.

Standing on deck at the bow is Graydon, (30), chatting with a

WOMAN.
There’s an angle to the metal handrail and Graydon slowly
rubs his fingertips back and forth over it then neurotically
attempts to smooth it out with his palm.

GRAYDON
… And until he can admit to
cheating with the other woman it’s
not going to work out for you to
get back together.

WOMAN
I’m seeing it.

Graydon sees the beautiful Manuela across the deck standing

up preparing to depart the boat.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
You didn’t say what you’re doing
here.

GRAYDON
I’m exploring for a cozy village. A
simple girl. A place to stay
awhile.

Graydon urgently wants to connect with Manuela.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Good luck to you too.

We only see the top half of his body as he slowly walks to

the exit positioning himself near Manuela –- They make eye
contact.
 4.

INT. MANUELA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Manuela and Graydon have just finished having sex –- He sees

her SWITCHBLADE knife under her pillow -- He gets out of bed
to enter the bathroom.

MANUELA (O.S.)
Why do men run out the door just
after sex? You’re so primitive.

GRAYDON
I’m just trying to see myself in
the mirror.

His image in the mirror is but a faint shadow.

MANUELA (O.S.)
I hope you were careful.

GRAYDON
You said you were on the pill.

EXT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

SUPER: ONE HOUR EARLIER

Graydon and Manuela are seated at a romantic town square with

candlelight tables.

b.g. on television at bar is news of the Civil War in

Yugoslavia with fierce Serbian bombing.

Graydon will constantly stare into her eyes, as though he’s

eye gazing, knowing this shows affection.
GRAYDON
I’m Graydon Wallace from San Diego.

MANUELA
Manuela.

GRAYDON
Well Manuela, I like your accent.
Where are you from?

MANUELA
Home is still the Black Forest of
Germany.

(CONTINUED)
 5.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
What did you most want as a child
from your mom and dad that they did
not give you?

MANUELA
(shocked by his
aggressive question)
What the hell? You mean like a car?

GRAYDON
Was it not enough love? No peace,
too much yelling? No respect?

WAITER approaches with menus.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
We’ll have a bottle of good local
white wine. Make it a sweet one.

Waiter leaves.

MANUELA
Why ask this?

GRAYDON
Because whatever it is. That’s what
will anger you the most if I do it.

MANUELA
Then it’s abandonment. When I was
two my brothers and I were sent to
live at my aunt because our father
didn’t want us around.

GRAYDON
Well OK. And mine is that they
didn’t give me enough space.

MANUELA
How so?

GRAYDON
They always made me leave my
bedroom door open.

INT. HOUSE – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

PATTY and MARCUS, two thieves in their 20’s, have located the
WALL SAFE in this German décor house.

(CONTINUED)
 6.
CONTINUED:

Using a Sawzall, Marcus, with a TOOTHPICK in his mouth,

begins cutting through the wood studs around the safe.

BACK TO:

EXT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Restaurant is packed –- Manuela and Graydon are eating.

MANUELA
What did you expect this night?

GRAYDON
Honestly. To learn stories about
your x boyfriends. To hear how
sadly you have been abused in
someway, like most girls have been.
To discover which force of life you
are from, love or fear.
(beat)
What are you looking for?

MANUELA
My Prince. I never give up on him
coming.

GRAYDON
Why do you want to be with a man?

MANUELA
I wish I could be free of my desire
to be with a man.

Her body makes a strong shaking motion, which is an

overpowering adrenaline rush.
GRAYDON
(concerned)
What was that?

MANUELA
Sometimes I get freaky strong
adrenaline rushes. It’s a need to
be in motion.

CUT TO:
 7.

EXT. HOUSE – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

An evil-mangled-faced SKUNK passes by the front of the house

–- Just as Patty and Marcus are carrying the safe outside the
front door.

BACK TO:

EXT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

The restaurant is nearly empty –- Manuela and Graydon are

cheerfully drunk.

MANUELA
I’m impressed how open you are to
hearing me. Did you know all our
wounds come from our past lives?

Graydon is still eye gazing into her soul and her heartbeat
is rapidly increasing.

GRAYDON
Oh God don’t go there.

MANUELA
It’s attractive when a man fights
for love. Is that you?

GRAYDON
I don’t like to be vulnerable.

MANUELA
(waving her finger at
him)
You don’t get off so easy. What
are you looking for?

GRAYDON
In a relationship I just can’t be
the fallback guy ever again. If
you need to have those secret
lunches with past lovers then I’m
gone. I’d like to meet a soul
that’s free. Personally, I’m
trying to live in the now, letting
go, not being ruled by fear. I
want to see the world but I have a
fear of being out of my comfort
zone, like being away from good
food, a shower, a latte. I haven’t
figured out how to let go and just
see what happens.

(CONTINUED)
 8.
CONTINUED:

Graydon slides back in his chair.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Well, I’m going back to my room.

MANUELA
But I’m not finished with my
drink.

Graydon picks up her wine glass and chugs the final sips.

GRAYDON
(getting up)
I grew up playing with G.I. Joe’s
and guns and you played doll houses
and tea parties, so how are we
supposed to get along together?
(walking away)

Graydon sees her sexy legs and returns.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
(holding his hand out
to her)
Let’s be a tornado in each other’s
lives and stay together.

INT. MANUELA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Graydon is still trying to find himself in the mirror.

GRAYDON
Why do you sleep with men so fast
if you want them to stay?
MANUELA (O.S.)
What are you a Psychologist?

GRAYDON
Yes. That’s why I’m so screwed up.
Thank you for finally noticing.

Graydon returns to bed.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
I have phobias that you won’t
imagine. But I’ll be glad to share
them with you.

MANUELA
You and I are supposed to have
adventure together.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 9.
CONTINUED:
MANUELA (CONT'D)
Do you want to drive my car to
Germany and meet my mother?

INT. MANUELA’S CAR – DAY

Graydon’s driving. Up a deserted Yugoslavian dirt mountain

road they go.

Top of forest there’s a CABIN -- small sign “Restaurant”

nailed to it.

GRAYDON
Why would you travel with me so
spontaneously?

MANUELA
I want to empower myself not to
think things through so much. And I
want to trust myself that if
something goes wrong I can take
care of it.

They exit car –- all is quiet. No other automobiles or

people.

Manuela opens cabin door -- sees thirty armed SERBIAN’S in

combat gear sitting at tables -- a moment of silence as the
Serb’s are shocked to see them.

MANUELA (CONT’D)
(loudly)
Has anyone seen Bob?
(turning back to Graydon)
Let’s get out of here.
Manuela drives off with both laughing as the Serb’s exit the
cabin.

GRAYDON
Way to diffuse the situation
beautiful girl.

MANUELA
I like you calling me beautiful
girl.

EXT. FOREST – DAY

Manuela and Graydon are picnicking with wine and a baguette.

In the distance they watch the destruction of a village being
shelled by tank bombs.

(CONTINUED)
 10.
CONTINUED:

We see Graydon talking.

MANUELA (V.O.)
At twelve, with his parents out, he
dug holes in their prizewinning
manicured backyard and cutup all
his dad’s lumber to build a pig
pen. Seems he had a problem with
authority. When his mother told him
to mow the lawn he would use a
hammer to tap on the sparkplug
until it cracked, keeping it from
starting. Seems he was lazy. Most
men try to sell me why I should
date them, but Graydon, he had a
different approach. His stories
were of High school and being the
cofounder of the Virgin Hunter’s
Club, with he and his buddies
competing for the most points by
year’s end.

MANUELA
Nobody looked for me.

GRAYDON
You ran away for two weeks?

MANUELA
And nobody looked for me. I came
home and they didn’t even know I
was gone.
(beat)
I fantasize about being important.
The fastest sprinter in the world.
Taking the lead on the final lap
in Monaco. Overtaking a high jacked
plane and landing it safely. But
recognition has eluded me.

She gets another overpowering adrenaline rush –- hands

Graydon her camera.

MANUELA (CONT’D)
(standing)
Get a picture of me with the bomb
smoke in the background.

Manuela drops her pants to her ankles. We see her confidently

exposing her bare butt.

(CONTINUED)
 11.
CONTINUED:

MANUELA (CONT’D)
I have a collection of these bare
butt shots made into big posters.
Usually when I see a famous
mountain I like to do it, but
Serb’s bombing a village will be
just fine.

Graydon snaps a picture.

DISSOLVE:

EXT. BORDER CROSSING – DAY – WINTER

A bridge over the Rhine River –- A SWISS FLAG on one end and
the GERMAN FLAG on the other.
Hills and forest.

Panning up a hill we see Graydon jogging on a trail in the

forest.

Down the trail he runs –- past a fence where on the other

side we see Patty watching Marcus beat on the stolen safe
with a sledgehammer in frustration.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
You learn a lot about a girl when
you share a small bedroom at her
mother’s house for an entire
winter. That naked photo album of
every guy she slept with is
something that I can respect, but…

MANUELA (O.S.)
We would have won that war if you
Americans would have stayed out.
You will never be the center of my
universe, Graydon. Whenever I need
to get over a man I Just find
someone else to sleep with.

Still jogging.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
For now I’m stranded and unemployed
in the Black Forest of her little
village called Laufenburg on the
banks of the Rhine River.

BELLS clang from a clock tower -- echoes through the valley.

(CONTINUED)
 12.
CONTINUED:

We see at street sign KAISERSTRASSE. (A pedestrian only

street and the main attraction to this village; lined with
boutique shops)

SKINHEAD TEENAGERS drinking beer.

Graydon jogs onto Kaiserstrasse.

Ahead on Kaiserstrasse we see an OLD PETITE WOMAN, 75,

aggressively swinging her purse at FOUR TEENAGERS who are
riding their skateboards up onto a wooden bench –- the old
woman feels they are vandalizing public property –- a CROWD
OF ADULTS circles around this activity –- nobody will assist
the old woman.

One skateboarder taunts the old woman by skating past her and
screaming into her ear -- then another skates past screaming
into her ear -- she swings her purse -- she is too slow to
hit them.

Graydon leisurely passes through the crowd -- lowers his

shoulder and body blocks a skateboarder sending him tumbling.
Graydon continues towards…

INT. NATURKOST – CONT’D

Naturkost is a small health food store.

GRISELDA SCHMAROTZER, 50’s, is at her desk falsifying her

accounting ledger.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
The financial muscle of the family
is this organic food boutique owned
by Manuela’s mother, Griselda
Schmarotzer.

EXT. NATURKOST

GRAYDON (V.O.)
A three-time divorcee that boasts
she’ll never cry for a man again.

Graydon enters store.

INT. NATURKOST – CONT’D

GRISELDA is doing paperwork at the counter.

(CONTINUED)
 13.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
Good morning, Griselda.

GRISELDA
Guten Morgen.

He takes five pieces of black licorice from a jar -- places

coins next to the register.

GRAYDON
How old is this Laufenburg?

Graydon attempts to smooth out the corner of the counter top

with his palm.

GRISELDA
More than a thousand years. There’s
still parts of the stone wall that
they built back then to protect the
village.

Manuela is organizing honey jars on a shelf.

GRAYDON
How ya doing baby?

MANUELA
I had a talk with God. I promised
him that I wouldn’t have sex with
you anymore until you married me.

GRAYDON
I’m returning to my work in San
Diego. Are you coming with me?

MANUELA
Are you leaving us?

GRAYDON
(touching her shoulder)
Is that what you want?

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. BEACH – SUNSET

SUPER: SAN DIEGO

SURFERS and BEACH WALKERS.

(CONTINUED)
 14.
CONTINUED:

Through an open window we enter the bedroom of Manuela and

Graydon.

Manuela and Graydon enter their bedroom –- begin removing

their clothes.

(Manuela is nine months pregnant and wearing a diamond ring)

They sit on their bed facing each other -- The SUNSET between
them in the b.g. -- A breeze blows their curtains.

MANUELA (V.0.)
I am a socialist.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
I am a Republican.

MANUELA (V.0.)
I aspire to be vegan. Meat stinks,
you’re cruel.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
My tongue explodes for BBQ steak.
You bore me.

MANUELA (V.0.)
The dolphins are our equals.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
I speak in Tongues when I pray.

MANUELA (V.0.)
I didn’t know you were a homophobe
before we married.
GRAYDON (V.0.)
Give me a scenic green pasture and
I’ll rip it up with my motorcycle
nobbies. Most of my money is hiding
in a safe deposit box and I’ll
never tell you.

MANUELA (V.0.)
It’s very likely that I will cheat
on you, and I will try hard to hide
it from you. Did you know that
you’re a rebound guy?

GRAYDON (V.0.)
It’s highly likely that I will have
sex with other women.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 15.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (V.0.) (CONT'D)
You’ll find out and I’ll beg for
your forgiveness. How have you lied
to me?

MANUELA (V.0.)
I will stay in this until the
darkness becomes too strong.

MANUELA (CONT’D)
You don’t respect me.

GRAYDON
You should have told me all this
before we got married.

EXT. FOREST – DAY

Marcus takes one final swing with the sledgehammer at the
safe -– drops to his knees in failure and anguish.

INT. SWIMMINIG POOL – DAY

We see ESPEN, infant girl, submerged underwater.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Hey little girl. We call you Espen.
After a swim your heart was beating
so loud I heard it from three feet
away.

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

We see Espen, (infant), in recovery with life support tubes

in her chest and mouth. Manuela, Graydon and DR. JONES are at
her side.

DR. JONES
She would have died before she was
one year old. Her heart would have
given up by then.

Dr. Jones leaves.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
You had a dark blue ring around
your mouth. I knew something was
wrong. Your mom took you to a
Homeopathic herbal freak that
couldn’t find it. I don’t think he
even owned a stethoscope.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 16.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (V.0.) (CONT'D)
I found a real doctor. You were
born with a hole in your heart, and
you had open-heart surgery with a
gore-tex patch sewn over the hole.

MANUELA
(to Graydon)
Thank you for saving our daughter’s
life.

EXT. BEACH – DAY

Manuela walks into ocean for a swim –- she steps on a

STINGRAY and it hits her foot with its poisonous tail –- she
screams.
CUT TO:

EXT. LIFEGUARD STATION – SAME

Manuela in great pain with her foot down a bucket of hot

water –- Graydon and Espen (1) are near.

MANUELA
I hate this place.

GRAYDON
All you want is to go back home.

MANUELA
I feel so trapped here. I hate this
country. Your crime. Your traffic.
Your hectic pace.
PROTESTER JANET with a bullhorn walks past…

PROTESTER JANET
(like she rules the world)
Hey you down there. Don’t go any
closer to those seals.

GRAYDON
And I don’t want to be married to
you anymore.

MANUELA
What for bullshit you are!

(CONTINUED)
 17.
CONTINUED:

PROTESTER JANET
(angry)
You need to stay fifty feet back
from the seals.

GRAYDON
I’m willing to work out a deal
where both of us move back to
Germany, but live separately. Let’s
write a contract where Espen lives
with me half time, that’s all I
care about, and we have shared
custody.

MANUELA
No, No, I’m her mother so she shall
live with me fulltime. I wouldn’t
want you to have her half time.

GRAYDON
Hey, I looked into it. Sorry but I
did. And I need joint custody or
your immigrations won’t let me live
there. And Espen living with me
half time is a good thing.

MANUELA
I won’t sign anything.

GRAYDON
Fine then, we can stay here. I
certainly will not agree to move
back to your crappy little cow
village without a contract.

I know you’ll try to screw me out of my time with Espen

without one.

PROTESTER JANET
You’re getting too close to the
seals.

GRAYDON
(at Protester Janet)
Would you mind shutting your pie-
hole please? I mean since when did
your cause become more important
than my day at the beach? You know
what I’d really like to do? Get
some dynamite and blow this whole
area up forcing you to make a
shift in your life, ya pisser.
 18.

INT. BEDROOM – DAY

Graydon is looking at several postcards he has found hidden

under Manuela’s sweaters.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
Betrayed because she’s lonely or
we argue too much. Accepted. But
that she thinking about her High
School sweetheart and gets wet is
what haunts me.

Places postcards back under a pile of sweaters.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. AIRPLANE – DAY

We see the EDGE of the U.S. Eastern seaboard as the airplane

leaves it behind.

INT. AIRPLANE – DAY – CONT’D

Manuela, Graydon, and Espen (2), are seated in the airplane.

MANUELA (V.0.)
We held our positions for a year.
I even faked a life threatening
blood disease to play on his
sympathies. We wrote and signed a
parenting contract so she’d be
living with him half her time.
Even though we wouldn’t be living
together we agreed not to start our
divorce until after he was secure
that German immigrations would
leave him alone.

We see that Manuela is writing (left handed) this into her

journal.

MANUELA (V.O.) (CONT’D)

So I’ve led him to believe.

EXT. DORFLINGER BACKERY - DARK

Graydon walking towards the bakery –- a nearby street lamp is

his only source of light.

(CONTINUED)
 19.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON (V.0.)
My someday to be ex-wife got to
return to her Germany where she
signed up for welfare. And I wake
up at 4:30 to fulfill my new
destiny.

Graydon stops and looks up at the stars -- enjoys the

serenity of the moment.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Only for you Espen.

Enters the bakery.

It’s noisy.
Several BAKERS in all white clothing -- running with bags of
flour -- removing loaves of hot bread from the oven --
placing them onto wooden shelves.

Graydon hangs his coat on a hook -- the FOREMAN runs up to

him with a stack of orders to fill.

FOREMAN
Hier, und macht schnell.

EXT. REAR ENTRANCE TO GROCERY STORE - DAY

Graydon is unloading cartons of bread from the back of his

delivery van.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
I saw things that I hope you never
will.
Adjacent he sees a FARMER in the back of his trailer kicking
out several squealing PIGS -- a BUTCHER runs up to each pig
with an electronic prod zapping each pig to its death.

GRAYDON (V.0.) (CONT’D)

And I would meet people that have
probably never ventured out of this
valley.

An ANGRY FAT GERMAN WOMAN confronts him.

ANGRY FAT GERMAN WOMAN

(yelling and tapping
on her watch)
You are four minutes late.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 20.
CONTINUED:
ANGRY FAT GERMAN WOMAN (CONT'D)
Herr Dorflinger will hear from me
on this matter.
(waving her finger in his
face)

EXT. A STREET – DAY – SNOWING

Graydon and Espen are sitting on a bench people watching –-

we see ALPINE COWS being herded by a YOUNG BOY with a stick.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
No matter how sincerely I could
tell your mom that I wish her luck
in finding a new love, I can’t say
that to her, she doesn’t want to
hear it, even if it’s true, and
unfortunately she doesn’t feel the
same way about me.

Graydon sees JO, 28, strutting his direction. She is a tall

sexy woman wearing a leather Harley jacket, leather biker
boots, and dark sunglasses. With her nose in the air she
doesn’t see the WET PILE OF COW DUNG she steps into.

GRAYDON (V.O.) (CONT’D)

If I find a new lover too soon
she’d just as soon kick my head
off. So for now I would like just
one good friend.

Graydon’s laughing as Jo approaches.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Where in the heck are you from?
JO
Santa Monica. Why the hell are you
here?

GRAYDON
I live here. Why are you here?

JO
Cause I just am. Why?

GRAYDON
(laughing)
You won’t last two weeks here.

CUT TO:
 21.

INT. IRISH MERMAID PUB – SAME DAY

The owner is JACKIE, 50’s, a rough-cut former boxer from

Ireland. Graydon, Espen and Jo are seated –- Jackie serves a
beer to Jo.

JACKIE
(Irish accent)
Somebody stinks bloody terrible.

GRAYDON
So, I’m dying to know why you’re
here Jo?

JO
I can’t pay my credit card bills. I
owe like thirty grand. So I’m over
here hiding out with my German
girlfriend. I don’t have much
money. Not even enough to get back
home.

Jackie is towel drying a beer glass.

GRAYDON
Hey Jackie, weren’t you looking for
some help?

GRAYDON (V.0.) (CONT’D)

Those two became my closest
confidants. Jackie, owner of the
Irish Mermaid Pub hiding from his
tax debt due back in Ireland, and
Jo the lesbian hiding from her
creditors back home as well. They
spoke English. Really nothing else
in common.

INT. GRAYDON’S APARTMENT – DAY

Espen and Graydon are sitting at a table.

GRAYDON
I have something for you.

He hands her three pair of girls’ underwear.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Feel how soft they are. You can
start wearing those instead of
these...
(holding out a
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 22.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (CONT’D)
diaper)
...big baggy diapers if you just
tell me before you need to go to
the bathroom.

A positive smile from Espen.

EXT. FIELD – DAY

Flowers blowing in the wind –- summertime.

INT. GRAYDON’S APARTMENT – CONT’D

We see Graydon’s apartment full of Espen’s toys –- he dozes

off for a mid day nap.
He dreams…

EXT. A COBBLESTONE STREET – DAY (DREAM)

We see SIX pair of hairy female legs exiting MINI VAN onto a
cobblestone street -- wearing BIRKENSTOCKS and WOOL SOCKS.
The feet SHUFFLE not sure which way to go.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
I had such a dream that afternoon.
Six Ecofeminists absconded me.

INT. JUDGE JAEGER’S OFFICE - DAY

A dismal gray office. Manuela is seated with JUDGE JAEGER,

frail.
MANUELA
The child has been living only with
me.

JUDGE JAEGER
And did you breast-feed your baby?

Manuela nods.

JUDGE JAEGER (CONT’D)

Where can I contact your husband?

MANUELA
Don’t know. Strong chance he went
back to the U.S.

(CONTINUED)
 23.
CONTINUED:

JUDGE JAEGER
(begins writing)
I’m giving you sole custody for the
one-year separation period.

INT. DUNGEON - NIGHT (DREAM)

Graydon is standing -- his wrists are shackled to chains from

ceiling -- ECOFEMINISTS are standing around him.

HEDVIG
BACK OFF. I’m going to harpoon the
fucker.

All back away -- HEDVIG harnesses a WHALE HARPOON pointed at

Graydon -- she pulls the trigger -- all scream -- harpoon
fires.

CUT TO:

Graydon is on his back tied to a MEDIEVAL STRETCHER --

Ecofeminists are enjoying relentlessly stretching him.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
They thought I was a train
conductor and wanted to know where
I was delivering the nuclear waste.

EXT. PASTURE – DAY (DREAM)

BAVARIAN FARMER BERNARD, 60’s, is running through his green

pasture –- falls -- gets up to see…

GRAYDON (V.0.)
Frustrated about grabbing the wrong
guy they abandoned me.

Graydon tied to the chest of a LLAMA -- his hands and legs

wrapped with Duct Tape around the llama’s neck. His face is
covered in spit.

Graydon’s POV is looking up at the Llama’s face just as it

SPITS on him again.

INT. BEDROOM – DAY

Graydon awakes from his dream sweaty and scared.

 24.

EXT. COURTHOUSE - ESTABLISHING – DAY

Resembling a Stalinist style facade.

INT. OFFICE – DAY

Graydon enters an office with TWO SECRETARIES working.

GRAYDON
I’m wondering if a divorce was
started in my name?

SECRETARY #1
Are you the American?

GRAYDON
Graydon Wallace. Yes, I’m
American.

SECRETARY #1
Just last week we received your
wife’s request for a divorce.
(handing him a 3 page
letter)
Here’s your copy.

Graydon scans it over.

GRAYDON
(shocked)
She has an attorney AGAINST me?
(beat)
Does the judge have time to talk
with me?
SECRETARY #1
Judge Jaeger retired yesterday.
Don’t know when the new one
starts.

SECRETARY #2
You must go see Herr Essberger.

GRAYDON
Who’s Herr Essberger?

SECRETARY #2
A social worker. Judge Jaeger sent
the case to him for a
recommendation. We didn’t know how
to reach you.
 25.

EXT. FEDERAL BUILDING - ESTABLISHING - DAY

Three-stories.

INT. FEDERAL BUILDING - DAY

Graydon reaches top flight of steps -- locates Herr Jurgen

Essberger’s office halfway down a long carpeted hallway --
knocks and enters.

GRAYDON
Herr Essberger, it’s good to meet
you. I’m Graydon Wallace.

ESSBERGER, 50’s, recognizes the name.

ESSBERGER
Ah, Herr Wallace. Sit please.

Graydon hands Essberger a piece of paper.

GRAYDON
I want you to know how active I am
with my daughter. Here’s the phone
number to the kindergarten that
Espen will be going to next year.
And here’s the phone number to her
doctor’s office. Both places will
tell you that I am more involved
with my daughter than Manuela ever
was.

Essberger is impressed with Graydon’s efforts.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
And I want you to hold onto
something.

Hands him Espen’s American passport.

ESSBERGER
There’s no need.

GRAYDON
If I have my daughter’s passport I
won’t get any visitation because I
could run off with her. Right?

ESSBERGER
(taking passport)
All I have is this desk and the
drawers don’t lock.

(CONTINUED)
 26.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
It’ll be safe. Now I want to see my
daughter.

ESSBERGER
You must go to the judge and ask
for visitation rights.

GRAYDON
But there’s no judge.

Essberger shrugs his shoulders as if he doesn’t know what

else to do.

EXT. U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL – ESTABLISHING - DAY

A sign “U.S. Consulate General Munich Germany” on gate.

INT. U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL – CONT’D

Manuela approaches EMPLOYEE, female, behind glass window.

MANUELA
I want to prevent my husband from
getting a passport for our
daughter. I have custody by a judge
here.

Manuela slides the judge’s signed order to employee.

EMPLOYEE
Yes, we can block him from getting
her a U.S. Passport.
Manuela snickers with delight.

EXT. ALLEY – DAY

The evil-mangled-faced SKUNK is chewing the face of a

SPONGEBOB DOLL suspended in the alley by strings –- WILHELM,
40’s, looks out through his apartment window.

WILHEIM
(to skunk)
I hung him there to scare you off,
bastard.

Skunk aggressively rips the face off.

(CONTINUED)
 27.
CONTINUED:

WILHELM
(to wife O.C.)
Honey look. He ripped the face
right off of SpongeBob.

We see a MAILMAN walking past and follow him upstairs into a

building –- see a sign on door Law Office of Uta Kessler –-
Mailman opens door –- we see Graydon sitting across from UTA
KESSLER, 50’s, while she scans over his contract.

UTA
This parenting contract you and
your wife wrote isn’t valid.

GRAYDON
Why not?
UTA
Because it’s not signed by a judge.
It’s useless.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING – DAY

Graydon is in the hallway looking at nameplates on doors --

locates Herr Vogel’s office -- enters.

GRAYDON
Herr Vogel, sorry about how I’m
dressed, but it’s urgent we talk.

VOGEL
Come in.

HERR VOGEL, 30’s, is at his desk.

GRAYDON
I heard you’re the new family
judge.

VOGEL
Who told you?

GRAYDON
A secretary across the street.

VOGEL
Nobody’s should know that.

(CONTINUED)
 28.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
I need your help. Can you write a
visiting schedule so I can see my
daughter? It’s been two months
since my wife last let me see her.

VOGEL
Do you have an attorney?

GRAYDON
I hired Frau Ute Kessler.

VOGEL
I can’t do anything until I move in
across the street and officially
start.
GRAYDON
When will that be?

VOGEL
In March.

GRAYDON
That’s three more months!

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

Graydon is quietly observing Espen’s bedroom, missing her,

looking at her toys and her books.

INT. IRISH MERMAID PUB – SAME NIGHT

(Graydon is wearing a trendy ski coat)

The pub is crowded -- Jo is working the bar –- pours Graydon
a beer -- nods in the direction of Patty and Marcus seated at
the end of the bar.

JO
I think you’re looking for her.

GRAYDON
What do you mean?

JO
(snorts through one
nostril)
Drugs. Her name’s Patty and that’s
her boyfriend Marcus.

(CONTINUED)
 29.
CONTINUED:

Graydon takes his beer and strolls over to Patty and Marcus.
Marcus has a TOOTHPICK in his mouth. Patty is resting her
head on the bar counter.

MARCUS
Meine liebe Katze.

And then sticking his tongue into her ear.

GRAYDON
Are you guys doing OK?

PATTY
(desperate)
Can you break a safe open?

MARCUS
Shut up. Ahhh, you are American?

GRAYDON
Ja. You been there?

MARCUS
No, never enough time.

And downs his last sip of beer -- staggers away –- Patty

plops her head onto Graydon’s shoulder.

GRAYDON
What are you on Patty?

PATTY
Heroin.

GRAYDON
Wow, must be exciting. I’d like to
get something.

PATTY
Like what?

GRAYDON
What can you get me?

PATTY
Heroin, Ecstasy, Speed.

Touching her shoulder.

GRAYDON
What can you get me tonight?
 30.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Graydon is lying on his bed, eyes open, moonlight through a

window onto his face.

(We hear three different voices)

VOICE 1 (V.O.)
The only way to win custody is if
the mother’s prostituting or
involved with drugs.

VOICE 2 (V.O.)
The mother must be prostituting or
using drugs.

VOICE 3 (V.O.)
If she’s not a drug using whore you
don’t have a chance.

EXT. A BRIDGE - DAY - BITTER COLD

Graydon and Jo are walking together over a bridge.

GRAYDON
I just don’t think that two packets
is enough to make a difference in a
custody battle. I need at least
three to make it look like the Nazi-
buttchip has a serious drug
problem.

JO
I hope you know what you’re doing.
Graydon sees a DRUNKARD under the bridge -- stops to watch
him -- drunkard looks up at Graydon. We see the drunkard’s
ORANGE JACKET and St. Louis Cardinal’s BASEBALL CAP. He
becomes irritated that Graydon and Jo are watching him.

INT. IRISH MERMAID PUB - NIGHT

(Graydon is wearing a red plaid hunting jacket)

Graydon is becoming sickly, thin, from stress -- his skin is

scary-white. He holds Patty’s HAND -- places money into it.

GRAYDON
My drugs are all gone. Can we get
some more?
 31.

EXT. KAISERSTRASSE - DAY - SNOWING

Kaiserstrasse is deserted: Graydon is standing alone holding

a BAG with gifts inside -- Espen rounds the corner -- sees
Graydon -- runs towards him -- We see Manuela is wearing her
LONG BLACK JACKET -- Espen jumps into Graydon’s arms –- hugs
–- he shows the bag to Manuela.

GRAYDON
These are presents for Espen. Do
you mind if we stop in at my friend
Jo’s so I can wrap them?

INT. JO’S APARTMENT – CONT’D

Jo opens door -- they enter.

JO
Hello Espen, I haven’t seen you in
so long.

GRAYDON
Jo, this is Manuela?

MANUELA
Merry Christmas Jo.

JO
A Merry Christmas to you.

Graydon removes his coat -- removes Espen’s coat –- lays them

on a chair. Manuela removes her jacket -- lays it on Espen’s
coat -- Jo knows this is her cue.

JO (CONT’D)
Come everyone and see the view over
the Rhine.

INT. LIVING ROOM

ALL looking at the view of Switzerland and the Rhine.

GRAYDON
(to Manuela)
I’m going to go wrap those
presents.
 32.

INT. FOYER

Graydon unrolls gift wrapping paper -- puts on his gloves --

from his fanny pack removes a Swiss army knife –- cuts a four
inch long slit into the lining of Manuela’s coat -- opens the
lid off the Kodak container -- removes the three drug packets
-- slides them one by one down into the bottom of her coat
lining.

EXT. KAISERSTRASSE – SAME DAY – SNOWING

Graydon watches Manuela and Espen, with her GIFTS, in the

distance walking away.

EXT. A BOAT – DAY - FLASHBACK

Approaching a Greek port town.

Manuela walks towards Graydon -- he sees the logo of a

“seagull flying over a crescent moon” on the front of her
jacket –- she walks past him and they make eye contact –- she
exits the boat.

EXT. APOLLO TOURS - FLASHBACK

The sign in front of this small business reads, “Apollo

Tours” with a logo “Seagull flying over a crescent moon.”

INT. APOLLO TOURS - FLASHBACK

Graydon is carrying a napkin with a hand drawn picture of a

seagull flying over a crescent moon on it –- he approaches
FEMALE RECEPTIONIST.

GRAYDON
This morning I was on a boat and
one of your guides was working
there. About so tall. Long hair.
(touching her shoulder)
Do you know who she is?

RECEPTIONIST
Ah Yes.

GRAYDON
(touching her shoulder)
If I write a letter will you give
it to her?

(CONTINUED)
 33.
CONTINUED:

RECEPTIONIST
Bring me your letter and I will
have it taken to her.

BACK TO:

EXT. KAISERSTRASSE – DAY - SNOWING

Graydon watches Manuela and Espen disappear round a corner

and out of his sight.

EXT. RHINE RIVER – SAME DAY

(Sound of an Alp Horn across the valley)

Graydon watches DUCKS paddling towards him for food.

He follows a path along the rivers’ edge -- stopping where

the current is swift.

Across the river we see a SWISS MAN standing alone in the

mist blowing through an ALP HORN. The sound is tranquil.

Graydon enjoys the stillness of the moment -- holds the

little Kodak container -- tosses it into the river -- it
float away -- tosses in his gloves -- watches them float
away.

INT. IRISH MERMAID PUB- DAY

Graydon is seated at the bar -- Jackie pours him a coffee.

JACKIE
I noticed your lovely wife has been
working at her mum’s store.

GRAYDON
Ahhh, Welfare scammer has a job!
Jackie I got to run.

EXT. A FENCE – SAME MORNING - SNOWING

Graydon is hiding behind a wooden fence peeking through a

crack -- sees the clock tower -- gongs nine times. He smiles
when he sees Manuela exit her car wearing the LONG BLACK
JACKET walking into the Naturkost.
 34.

EXT. PHONE BOOTH – SAME DAY - SNOWING

Graydon and Marcus are walking towards the phone booth.

GRAYDON
I’ve been thinking about your
problem trying to get inside that
safe. Maybe you know someone an
hour or two outside of town? An
aunt or grandparent. Install the
safe in the wall of their house. I
mean frame it in. Drywall and paint
around it. Like it belongs there.
Call a locksmith. Tell ‘em there’s
been a death and the combinations
lost.
MARCUS
(excited)
Get them to open it for me.

At phone booth -- Graydon hands Marcus a short script.

Marcus dials the police.

GRAYDON
Try to sound old. And angry.

MARCUS
(studying the script)
I’m not giving you my name but I’m
angry. I caught my son doing drugs
with his girlfriend last night.
They told me where they bought the
drugs.
(beat)
From a woman working at Naturkost.
Her name is Manuela.
(beat)
Ja, and she stores her drugs down
inside of her coat. We just drove
by the store and she is definitely
working there right now.
(beat)
No, I’m not giving you my son’s
name, I will deal with him, you go
arrest the drug dealer.

INT. A CAFE - SAME AFTERNOON

Cafe is crowded.

(CONTINUED)
 35.
CONTINUED:

Graydon is near a window drinking coffee watching the

entrance to Naturkost. A green and white police car slowly
passes in the direction of Naturkost -- he gets excited at
the possibility of a bust -- grabs his coat and scarf -- but
the cop car doesn’t stop.

INT. A CAFÉ – NIGHT – CONT’D

Cafe is now emptied.

Graydon is still watching the storefront from the café.

Manuela locks the door to Naturkost -- walks to her car.

Graydon’s plan has failed.

INT. POLICE STATION – DAY

Graydon is walking through the halls.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
It’s funny how everyone I’m meeting
has some purpose to me, not just a
friend, but someone to use. Last
summer while relaxing in one of
those naked German spas I met Heino
Haefner, an undercover detective.

He reaches Heino’s office -- Doors open -- Graydon enters --

HEINO, 30’s, is doing paperwork.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Hey Heino, I just need a minute of
your time, that’s all just a
minute.

HEINO
Take a seat.

GRAYDON
Heino, I believe my wife is dealing
drugs. I just want the police to
check it out and talk to her.

HEINO
Do you have proof of this?

GRAYDON
Yes I do.

(CONTINUED)
 36.
CONTINUED:

Heino reaches into a drawer -- removes a hand held tape

recorder.

HEINO
Mr. Wallace is here this January
1997 and filing a complaint against
Frau Manuela Schmarotzer.

Graydon is alarmed that Heino is making such a formal report.

HEINO (CONT’D)
Why do you believe she’s involved
with drugs?

GRAYDON
I’ve seen drug use in their house,
but I thought it was only her
younger brother. But a few weeks
back I heard rumors that you can
buy drugs from Manuela.

HEINO
Rumors from whom?

GRAYDON
Young people in the pubs.

HEINO
But we need proof.

GRAYDON
That’s what I wanted, proof. So I
started asking people in the pubs
if they could get me some drugs.
If they said yes, then I’d ask them
what part of town we’d have to go
to. If they said up to the
BERGSTADT, which is where Manuela
lives, then away we’d go.

HEINO
Did this work?

GRAYDON
About two weeks ago, I met this
guy and we took a ride up…

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

(A continuation of the earlier scene when Graydon met Patty

in The Irish Mermaid Pub for the first time.)

(CONTINUED)
 37.
CONTINUED:

(Graydon was wearing his trendy ski coat)

Graydon is driving and wearing GLOVES (same pair he threw

into the Rhine), Patty is his passenger.

HEINO(V.O.)
(interrupting)
Where did you meet him?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
In that heavy metal bar. The
Tequila Bar.

HEINO (V.O.)
What did he look like?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Short black hair, a mustache,
maybe twenty.

HEINO (V.O.)
And where were you sitting?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
At a table in the back corner.

HEINO (V.O.)
Was he sitting on your left or
right?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
On my left.

HEINO (V.O.)
What time was it?
GRAYDON (V.O.)
Around six o’clock.

Graydon drives past Griselda’s house.

GRAYDON
(pointing at Griselda’s
house)
Do you know those people?

PATTY
No.

GRAYDON
My X wife lives there.

(CONTINUED)
 38.
CONTINUED:

HEINO (V.O.)
What was he wearing?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
He had on a blue jacket and black
pants.

HEINO (V.O.)
Go ahead.

We see the street sign AHORNSTRASSE (dead ends)–- Graydon

turns right.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
It was dark but I remember turning
right on Ahornstrasse then stopping
at the end of the street.
Parks –- he looks in rear view mirror for a cop –- hands
Patty forty Deutsch Marks -- Patty runs into the last house
on the right.

HEINO (V.O.)
What kind of drugs did he say he
could get you?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
It was Heroin.

Graydon digs through his FANNY PACK -- removes a small black

plastic Kodak film CONTAINER -- pops off the lid.

HEINO (V.O.)
Then what?

Patty returns –- shows him two small paper PACKETS -- Graydon

holds out the plastic container.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
I told him that I changed my mind.

INT. HEINO’S OFICE – CONT’D

GRAYDON
But he wanted some for himself. So
I waited.

HEINO
Which house?

(CONTINUED)
 39.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
It was the last one on the far
right. Then about ten days ago I
met another guy who had a
connection up on the Bergstadt.

HEINO
Where did you meet him?

GRAYDON
The Pool Hall above The Lamm.

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

(A continuation of the earlier scene in The Irish Mermaid Pub

when Graydon asks Patty to buy him drugs for the second
time.)

(Graydon is wearing his red plaid hunting jacket)

He’s parked outside of a ten-story apartment building --

Graydon’s hands are on steering wheel -- wearing his GLOVES –-
Patty is running up to the stairs to the third floor. The
lights to the stairwell are on with large windows at the
stairwell allowing Graydon to see her.

HEINO (V.O.)
What did he look like?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Tall, about thirty, with long brown
hair. He had an Eastern European
accent and dressed in ratty
clothes.
HEINO (V.O.)
Did you know his name?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
I never asked.

HEINO (V.O.)
Which drugs could he get?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Ecstasy, Speed. He drove me up the
Bergstadt and

HEINO (V.O.)
(interrupting)
He drove you?

(CONTINUED)
 40.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Yeah.

HEINO (V.O.)
In what kind of car?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
A Volkswagen.

HEINO (V.O.)
Which kind?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
It was small but I don’t know the
model. I remember his head was
touching the ceiling.
HEINO (V.O.)
What color was the car?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
A dark gray.

HEINO (V.O.)
Then what?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
He took me to the front of this
tall apartment building just a
block from the Kindergarten.

HEINO (V.O.)
Which building?

Graydon sees a sign UNDERGROUND PARKING on his left side.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
He parked outside the entrance to
that underground parking. It was
the building straight ahead.

HEINO (V.O.)
We know about this one. We’ve been
watching it.

Pops the lid to his Kodak CONTAINER.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
He walked up the stairs to the
third floor, I know ‘cause I could
see him from the car.

(CONTINUED)
 41.
CONTINUED:

HEINO (V.O.)
Did he buy you drugs?

Patty enters car –- she drops one small PACKET into the
container.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
No, I told him I was scared and
backed out, but he went in for
himself.

INT. HEINO’S OFFICE – CONT’D

Graydon and Heino continue filing the complaint.

GRAYDON
A week ago, I met this girl that
could take me up to the Bergstadt
for drugs.

HEINO
Where did you meet her?

GRAYDON
Upstairs in Cafe’ Oberle, that’s
where the characters hang out when
it’s raining. She was broke so I
offered to split a gram of cocaine
with her.

HEINO
What did she look like?

GRAYDON
Long greasy black hair, medium
height, ugly.

HEINO
Where was she when you met her?

GRAYDON
At a round table by the window.

HEINO
Did you get her name?

GRAYDON
Yeah, but I forgot. I wasn’t trying
to remember.

HEINO
Go ahead.

(CONTINUED)
 42.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
I was following her directions and
she told me to slow down right
before Manuela’s house. I couldn’t
believe it. She told me to park and
I backed in directly across from
Manuela’s.

HEINO
Then what happened?

GRAYDON
I got nervous that Manuela might
see me with her, so I told her that
I changed my mind. But I’m sure she
was looking right at Manuela’s
house.
HEINO
Then what?

GRAYDON
I drove her back into town and
dropped her off, but she was
definitely going to meet Manuela.

HEINO
That’s still not enough to go on.

GRAYDON
That’s what I was thinking. Then
yesterday I was helping a friend
move into her new shop.

HEINO
Which friend?
GRAYDON
Claudia, she’s moving her shoe
store to the Kaiserstrasse, just
across from the Mona Lisa ice
cream.

INT. UPSTAIRS ATTIC – DAY - FLASHBACK

Graydon is inside a dusty storage attic with a couple naked

MANIKINS by the wall –- he’s looking out the window onto the
Kaiserstrasse below. PEDESTRIANS and SHOPPERS.

(CONTINUED)
 43.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON (V.O.)
I was upstairs taking a break and
looking out her window when I saw
Manuela out the corner of my eye.

HEINO (V.O.)
Where did you see her?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
She was coming from the other end
of Kaiserstrasse. I noticed her
because she has this goofy, fast
paced military walk. Her arms were
swinging and she was bouncing up
and down. It sticks out from the
crowd.
HEINO (V.O.)
What time was it?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Just before two o’clock.

HEINO (V.O.)
What was she wearing?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
A long black jacket. She was
walking along the other side of
the street when she abruptly
turned into a small alcove, the
one just next to the Mona Lisa. I
saw her walk up to a guy and it
looked like she handed him money.

HEINO (V.O.)
Did you see the guy?

EXT. A BRIDGE – DAY - CONT’D – BITTER COLD - FLASHBACK

To the drunkard under the bridge wearing an ORANGE JACKET and

St. Louis Cardinal’s BASEBALL CAP.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Not his face.

HEINO (V.O.)
What was he wearing?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
He had on an orange jacket and a
St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap.
 44.

INT. UPSTAIRS ATTIC – CONT’D - FLASHBACK

Graydon looking out window onto Kaiserstrasse.

HEINO (V.O.)
Did he take the money?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
I say so. Then he handed something
small to Manuela and she quickly
shoved it down into her coat.

HEINO (V.O.)
Where into her coat?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
On the right side, near the
bottom.

HEINO (V.O.)
The right side?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
She’s left handed.

HEINO (V.O.)
Then what?

INT. HEINO’S OFFICE – CONT’D

Graydon and Heino continue filing the complaint.

GRAYDON
She took off.
HEINO
Which way?

GRAYDON
The way she came.

HEINO
You think it was drugs?

GRAYDON
It looks that way.

HEINO
Hmm, I’ll give this tape to my
secretary and she’ll write up a
report.

(CONTINUED)
 45.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
But I just want someone to talk
with Manuela, so she stops.

HEINO
I think it’s a good idea if you
talk to her.

INT. FEDERAL BUILDING - DAY

Graydon in a hallway walking towards Immigrations -- hallway

is lined with EASTERN EUROPEANS seeking asylum.

He enter a doorway marked Immigrations –- to the counter

across from FRAU ZUCKERMAN, an old disciplinarian type.
GRAYDON
I need to see FRAU ZUCKERMAN.

ZUCKERMAN
I am Frau Zuckerman.

GRAYDON
I’ve been living here a year, so I
need to get a stamp for another
year.

ZUCKERMAN
Give me your passport?

He slides his passport over the counter.

ZUCKERMAN(CONT’D)
One moment.
(walks away)
Graydon catches the attention of a BOY, 5, with a BLACK PATCH
over one EYE and hiding behind his father’s leg. Graydon
makes a couple of goofy faces -- boy comes out with a big
smile –- Zuckerman returns reading Graydon’s file.

ZUCKERMAN (CONT’D)
Ah so. Are you still living with
your wife?

GRAYDON
No, we’ve separated.

ZUCKERMAN
Why are you still in Germany?

(CONTINUED)
 46.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
I’m helping raise our daughter.

ZUCKERMAN
Does she live with you?

GRAYDON
No, not yet.

ZUCKERMAN
You’re wife has custody?

GRAYDON
I’m trying to get custody. There’s
just no judge.

ZUCKERMAN
You cannot stay here without
custody.

GRAYDON
Are you going to kick me out?

ZUCKERMAN
We have no treaty with the United
States that will allow you to stay.
(filling out a short form)

GRAYDON
The new judge starts in March. Will
you give me enough time to see him?

ZUCKERMAN
I give you until March 25. Six
weeks.
Handing Graydon his carbon copy of the notice.

GRAYDON
Then what?

ZUCKERMAN
(retuning his passport)
You must show me that you have
custody.
 47.

EXT. FEDERAL BUILDING – SAME DAY - WINTER

Graydon is exiting the building –- He sees Heino driving up

towards the entrance –- Graydon cautiously hides himself
behind the door.

DISSOLVE:

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR – DAY - SPRING

We see that Graydon has strapped Espen’s CHILD SEAT into his
car. Graydon is tan, healthy looking again –- He enters the
courthouse.

INT. JUDGE VOGEL’S OFFICE – CONT’D

(Formally Judge Jaeger’s office)

Judge Vogel has four chairs lined up facing his desk.

Manuela’s attorney, MR. KLAGER, 50’s, long hair, poorly
dressed in a sweater with a tear in the shoulder. Uta Kessler
and Klager take the middle chairs separating Graydon and
Manuela.

As everyone sits…

KLAGER
(abruptly)
My client is leaving on the Mother-
Child Program tomorrow.

GRAYDON
(whispering to Uta)
What’s that?
UTA
When mothers are stressed, Germany
gives them with a three week
vacation.

GRAYDON
No way. I’ve only seen my daughter
twice in the past five months.

Vogel searches for his hand held tape recorder.

KLAGER
We believe that Graydon has planted
drugs on Manuela.

(CONTINUED)
 48.
CONTINUED:

UTA
(at Klager with surprise)
Drugs?

VOGEL
And how do you know this?

KLAGER
My client felt something down in
the lining of her jacket. She
pulled out two small packets with a
white powder inside. She was
shocked and immediately took it to
the police.

VOGEL
When did she go to the police?
KLAGER
Three weeks ago.

EXT. FEDERAL BUILDING – DAY – FLASHBACK

(Continuation from earlier scene)

Graydon is exiting the building -- Heino pulls up -- rolls

his window down.

HEINO
Where are you going?

GRAYDON
Hey Heino.

HEINO
I went into work today and your
name came up on my computer screen.

GRAYDON
Why?

HEINO
Your wife was in this morning. She
had three packets of white powder
and said she found it inside of her
jacket. She thinks you put it
there.

GRAYDON
She’ll say anything to make trouble
for me.

(CONTINUED)
 49.
CONTINUED:

HEINO
You didn’t do that?

GRAYDON
Of course not.

HEINO
Says there’s a tear in her coat.

INT. JUDGE VOGEL’S OFFICE – DAY - CONT’D

Graydon, Manuela, and the attorneys argue in front of Judge

Vogel.

VOGEL
When could Graydon have planted
these drug?

KLAGER
We don’t know. He was alone with
her back in December.

UTA
(laughing)
She carried drugs around for over
two months? I don’t think so.

MANUELA
The only way to know is if he
gives his fingerprints to the
police.

VOGEL
(to Graydon)
What do you say about this?
GRAYDON
Judge Vogel. The first time I
came to Laufenburg I witnessed
drug use in their family house.
Manuela even bought drugs when we
were in San Diego so we could use
them together, and it’s a common
rumor around here that you can buy
drugs up at their house. I even
talked with the police about this.
They told me that I should talk
with Manuela directly, so I did.
TWICE. The first time was about a
month ago when I saw her outside
the office supply store on
Rhinestrasse. I told her then that
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 50.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (CONT'D)
it was obvious what she was doing
and she should be more careful.
She laughed at me. The second time
was just two days later outside by
that Turkish deli. I told her that
I was onto her drug dealings and
if she didn’t stop I would talk
with the police, and with
Essberger. She got really mad and
said I’LL FIX YOU and stormed off.
Well, it appears that she is
trying to fix me.

MANUELA
(angry and tapping her
chest)
Who did you talk with, me?
GRAYDON
And now you’re going to deny it?

Both attorneys are confused.

VOGEL
At this time I am not qualified to
make a decision about custody.
This case is too difficult. I will
give you my decision in one week.

Manuela and Klager exit -- Graydon and Uta follow behind.

GRAYDON
(to Uta)
What do you think his decision
will be?
UTA
To get a recommendation from a
child psychologist.

GRAYDON
Ah shit, how long will this take?

UTA
Maybe three months.

INT. POLICE STATION – DAY

Graydon enters DETECTIVE MAIER’S office.

(CONTINUED)
 51.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
I have a letter from you Detective
Maier.

DETECTIVE MAIER
Sitzen Sie bitte.

Graydon sits -- sees a large clear BAGGY with three purple

and blue square pieces of paper inside it lying on the desk.
The three square pieces of paper are unfolded and flattened
out -- Graydon picks up the large baggy -- laughs.

GRAYDON
So it’s now THREE? Manuela said in
court that it was two.

Maier pushes his thumbprint onto a piece of paper.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Let’s do it.

Graydon follows him into the fingerprint area.

He presses his fingertips onto a pad of black ink -- rolls

them onto a white card -- washes his hands at the sink.

Maier and DETECTIVE SCHMIDT are looking over the fingerprint

evidence.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
I did not buy any drugs. Ich
niemals droggen kaufen.

MAIER
(to detective Schmidt)
Nur Puwder.
DETECTIVE SCHMIDT
(to Graydon)
It’s not drugs. Only white powder.

GRAYDON
I’m enjoying this more and more.
After my prints don’t match, I want
an apology.

INT. IMMIGRATIONS - DAY

Graydon is rubbing the edge to the counter top with his

fingertips.

Frau Zuckerman approaches with his file.

(CONTINUED)
 52.
CONTINUED:

ZUCKERMAN
I can’t give you more time.

GRAYDON
I have a child here, doesn’t that
matter?

ZUCKERMAN
No.

GRAYDON
I have never asked for money from
this German shit system. LOOK, I’m
not like these other foreigners,
I’m self supporting.

ZUCKERMAN
(filling out a form)
I’m giving you one more month,
until April 25 to show me that you
have custody.

EXT. RHINE RIVER – SAME DAY

Graydon and Jo are skipping stones across the river.

GRAYDON
Half a century ago families could
have stood right here dreaming
about escaping to the other side
for safety in Switzerland. A simple
narrow flow of water was a worthy
barrier. I know that if I had
Espen’s hand right now I would put
her on my back and swim with such
raw force that I’d leave a wake
slapping the other shore.

INT. WOODSHOP - DAY

CARPENTERS building wood furniture. Graydon enters wearing

blue painter’s overalls and carrying a tape measure -- walks
past FEMALE RECEPTIONIST raising his tape measure for her to
see -- she allows Graydon to proceed. (continues in later
scene)
 53.

INT. ESSBERGER’S OFFICE - DUSK

Graydon knocks on Essberger’s door -- slowly turns the knob --

the door opens. All is quiet except for a CLEANING LADY
vacuuming down the hallway.

GRAYDON
(whispering)
Herr Essberger, are you here?

He enters -- closes the door partway -- sees a stack of plain

white paper on the desk -- sitting in Essberger’s chair he
writes, “MR. ESSBERGER, I STOPPED BY TO ASK YOU”

He opens Essberger’s left top drawer -- swished the contents

from side to side -- shuts the drawer just as the cleaning
lady barges in -- she sees Graydon writing a letter -- picks
up the trash bag and walks out.

Graydon opens second drawer down –- under papers he finds

Espen’s PASSPORT -- removes it -- looks at her picture –-
smiles -- places it back in the drawer -- crumples the letter
and stuffs it into his pocket -- exits.

INT. IMMIGRATIONS - DAY

Graydon is squaring off with Zuckerman.

GRAYDON
Frau Zuckerman!
(touching her shoulder)
Can you please just give me one
more month?

ZUCKERMAN
No extension. You have final notice
now.

GRAYDON
I have a child here, what’s wrong
with you?

ZUCKERMAN
You must be out of Germany within
six weeks.
(begins filling out a
form)

GRAYDON
If I’m not?

(CONTINUED)
 54.
CONTINUED:

ZUCKERMAN
The police will arrest you and take
you to the airport.

INT. VOGEL’S OFFICE - DAY

Graydon and Manuela are seated across from Judge Vogel.

MANUELA
I want ten thousand dollars from
him before he visits Espen.

GRAYDON
(to Judge Vogel)
I don’t have that kind of money
anymore. Get this, I have a job
here, and everything is wonderful
for me. I’m secure here and I’m
staying here, and I know my
daughter wants to see me.

VOGEL
He gets his daughter this Saturday.
Shall we make it 10:00 am?

MANUELA
(storming out)
At this point I have to say no.

GRAYDON
Can she do that?

VOGEL
For a while.

EXT. KAISERSTRASSE - 10:00 AM - RAINING

The clock tower hit 10 o’clock -- Kaiserstrasse is packed

with FARMERS selling from their makeshift tents. Graydon is
waiting outside -- sees Manuela under her umbrella and
walking alone through the crowd.

MANUELA
I have good news for you.

GRAYDON
Where’s Espen?

MANUELA
She has an ear infection. Drink a
latte with me?
 55.

INT. COFFEE SHOP – CONT’D

Graydon and Manuela are seated.

MANUELA
Unless you feel like you’re going
to win, how about you give me
custody, then you can have some
visits?

GRAYDON
Maybe so.

MANUELA
My other alternative is to move
away with her, change our names and
have no contact with you.
A WAITRESS brings two cappuccinos to the table.

MANUELA (CONT’D)
I’ve wanted Immigrations to remove
you.

GRAYDON
Why?

MANUELA
To be rid of you. But I don’t want
that anymore. If they did, I think
you would kidnap her.

GRAYDON
(touching her shoulder)
Why did you sign our parenting plan
back in San Diego?
MANUELA
(chuckles)
An attorney said just sign
anything, get back to Germany and
then decide what you want. We’ve
both done some unfair things.

GRAYDON
Sorry about that. I know you’re not
using drugs.
(sips drink)
I’m sad that I’ve not seen Espen at
her kindergarten. Would it be OK to
pick her up there this Wednesday?
Spend a little time with her.

(CONTINUED)
 56.
CONTINUED:

MANUELA
Shall we bring our attorneys
together next week to give me
custody?

GRAYDON
I’ll see what her schedule is. Can
I pick her up at Kindergarten?

INT. KINDERGARTEN – DAY

Graydon enters.

MANUELA (V.O.)
Wednesday. At three o’clock.
Graydon finds Espen (4), jumping up and down on a couch. She
is surprised to see him –- jumps into his arms.

EXT. KINDERGARTEN – CONT’D

Graydon and Espen exit -- Manuela is waiting.

MANUELA
What are your plans today daddy?

GRAYDON
Play Frisbee. Eat dinner.

All reach the passenger door to Graydon’s car.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Would it be OK if I brought her
back to school in the morning?
MANUELA
Well.

Graydon opens the door -- Espen rushes into her car seat.

MANUELA (CONT’D)
Look at her go, she really wants to
be with her daddy.

ESPEN
Komm daddy.

MANUELA
I suppose it’s OK.

(CONTINUED)
 57.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
Is it nine o’clock when she starts?

MANUELA
(to Graydon)
Can I have a hug?

They hug -- he opens his door.

MANUELA (CONT’D)
Have fun with daddy.

Espen motions to Manuela to shut her door.

MANUELA (CONT’D)
She wants to get rid of me already.
He drives off -- looks in his rear view mirror and sees
Manuela walking away.

EXT. AUTOBAHN – DUSK

We see an aerial shot of a RED MERCEDES racing up the

Autobahn -- HEAR its high performance engine.

INT. ESSBERGER’S OFFICE - DAY – FLASHBACK

Graydon is sitting at Essberger’s desk finding for some paper

and writes: MR. ESSBERGER I STOPPED BY TO ASK YOU.

He opens the second drawer down on the left -- lifts up some

paperwork -- is shocked to discover that Espen’s passport has
been removed.
He searches through the top drawer, bottom drawer, but there
isn’t any passport to be found. He looks in obscure places
like under his flowerpot, behind the wall heater, and
throughout the closet.

INT. GRAYDON’S HOUSE – NIGHT - FLASHBACK

A map of Europe is spread out on the table –- Graydon is on

the phone -- his forehead resting on the table –- exhausted.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
Paris? Madrid? Just get out of
Germany. It’s about minimizing my
time in the air, using New York or
Montreal. All booked.
(raising his head in hope)
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 58.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (V.0.) (CONT'D)
Does KLM fly out of Amsterdam?
(beat)
Perfect. Amsterdam to Vancouver
Canada, Thursday at 3 p.m. Book two
tickets. My last name is Vallace,
with a V.

EXT. IRISH MERMAID PUB – DAY - FLASHBACK

There are tables that Jackie places outside in the summer.

Graydon and Jackie are seated at one of them having a drink

watching Jo place a naked MANIKIN under a car tire with its
legs sticking out giving the illusion that a person has been
driven over.
JACKIE
Why did you change your name on the
reservations?

GRAYDON
From a W to a V? Easy mistake. If
Interpol tries to find my name in
the computer it won’t come up. But
there’s one problem I haven’t
solved, I don’t have a passport for
Espen, so they’ll never actually
sell me that second ticket. I only
reserved it so there might be a
seat left open.

JO
Make me a deal and I’ll buy your
car.
A car creeps past with the driver alarmed by the legs
sticking out.

GRAYDON
(enjoying that the
driver is worried)
I never would have made it through
this without you, Jo.

INT. CAR RENTAL – MORNING - FLASHBACK

Graydon is signing the rental agreement.

GRAYDON
Can I drop it off in Berlin?

(CONTINUED)
 59.
CONTINUED:

CAR RENTER
Yes, the location of our rental
offices are in the glove box. It’s
the red Mercedes just outside the
door.

EXT. AUTOBAHN – DUSK

We again see an aerial shot of the RED MERCEDES racing up the

Autobahn -- HEAR its high performance engine.

INT. RED MERCEDES – CONT’D

We see TWO LARGE BOXES on rear seat –- Espen is enjoying a

bag of M&M’s -- Graydon holds her hand.
GRAYDON
I missed being with you these last
months. I wish your mother would
have let me see you.

ESPEN
Mommy war nicht nett.

GRAYDON
Sometimes she isn’t nice. Did you
like living at grandma Griselda’s
house?

ESPEN
Ja, aber nicht mit Kai.

GRAYDON
You don’t like your uncle Kai?
ESPEN
Nein, er ist nicht freundlich.

GRAYDON
He’s not friendly to you?

ESPEN
Nein.

He rubs his hand over her forehead and through her hair.

GRAYDON
I promise that you will never have
to see your uncle Kai again.

(CONTINUED)
 60.
CONTINUED:

ESPEN
Gut.

We see Espen smiling.

INT. RED MERCEDES – CONT’D

Still driving -- We see 10:30 pm on the digital radio.

GRAYDON
We have to take an airplane ride to
get to grandma and grandpa’s house.

Using his right hand to simulate an airplane taking off, then

landing.
GRAYDON (CONT’D)
We go up and over this big ocean,
when we land we’ll see grandma and
grandpa. It will take a whole day
to get there.

ESPEN
(holding up her last
two M&M’s)
I save one for grandma and one for
grandpa.

They approach a border guard station, dark and abandoned -- a

sign Holland mounted above -- drives through.

GRAYDON
I hope I never step into Germany
again.

INT. IBIS HOTEL SUITE – MORNING

Graydon opens the curtains. A blue and white KLM plane lands
at the nearby runway -- he grabs his blue backpack.

GRAYDON
I have a game for us. I only have
one airplane ticket, but I know
away for both of us to get on the
plane. If you will sit in this
backpack, only for a minute.

He holds it open -- Espen crawls inside and sits.

(CONTINUED)
 61.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
It’s not dark in here at all.
(zipping up the
(backpack)
Now I’m only zipping this up about
three quarters of the way.

Puts on the backpack -- looks in the mirror at the bulge from

inside.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Can you feel me tapping your butt
with my fingertips?

ESPEN
Yeah.
GRAYDON
I’ll keep doing that so you know
that I’m right here. Are you
comfortable?

ESPEN
Yeah.

GRAYDON
One more thing. When you’re in the
backpack you can’t talk.

INT. SCHIPHOL AIRPORT - KLM RESERVATION DESK - DAY

Graydon is conservatively dressed wearing a white Oxford

shirt, khaki colored pants, and penny loafers (a look of
trust).
GRAYDON
We have a reservation for Vallace.
My wife isn’t sure she will make
it, but please hold her reservation
‘til the last minute, and if she
shows she can pay for it with her
own credit card.

Sliding his blue American Passport and credit card to the

TICKET AGENT.

TICKET AGENT
Is the child flying with you?

(CONTINUED)
 62.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
(whispering so Espen can’t
hear)
No. Her grandma will pick her up.

Ticket agent places Graydon’s two large boxes onto a conveyer

belt -- hands Graydon ONE airline ticket.

INT. MAIN TERMINAL – DAY – CONT’D

Graydon and Espen are walking hand in hand -- sees an

overhead camera –- he’s scanning the terminal, searching.

He studies the Passport Control area, which he must go

through, in the distance. There is one CONTROLLER checking
passports and tickets.
They sit near the entrance to the terminal -- he holds the
backpack open.

GRAYDON
When I say, go ahead and get into
the backpack.

ESPEN
OK.

He waits for an opportunity but there is a steady flow of

PEOPLE walking past -- he sees a sign for the RESTROOM.

INT. MAIN TERMINAL – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon exits the restroom -- Espen is inside his backpack –-

he is tapping the bottom of the backpack with his fingertips.

INT. PASSPORT CONTROL BOOTH – CONT’D.

Graydon is holding his passport and ticket in his RIGHT hand

when he reaches passport control. There are three PEOPLE in
line before him -- a MAN gets in line behind him.

Graydon is worried that the man may see movement from the
backpack so he begins SWISHING it from side to side.

Graydon holds out his passport and ticket –- the controller

waves him through.

He enters a large seating area -- scans surroundings, the

room is crowded -- sees an escalator -- takes escalator --
enters a restroom.

(CONTINUED)
 63.
CONTINUED:

Unzips the backpack -- Espen exits –- they hug.

INT. LARGE SEATING AREA – CONT’D

They are watching the planes lift off. Graydon looks upon the
TV monitor -- sees KLM to Vancouver Gate G7.

INT. G WING – DAY – CONT’D.

Walking down the G Wing they pass Gate G1 on their right

side. Graydon stops to observe the layout -- tight security --
TWO MEN checking the passports of a PASSENGER, five feet
behind them is the X-RAY machine and metal DETECTOR.

GRAYDON
(to Espen)
I’ll have to use the crowd of
passengers to take you out of the
backpack unnoticed between security
and that X Ray machine. What do we
have there, five feet? Then put you
back in unnoticed before boarding
the plane. Definitely need a crowd.

INT. GATE G7 – DAY – CONT’D.

This gate has its own x-ray machine and metal detector.

The FLIGHT ATTENDANTS and SECURITY are just setting up, and
many of the PASSENGERS are crowding together. Graydon sees
another restroom.

INT. RESTROOM – DAY – CONT’D.

GRAYDON
If you go in one more time I will
buy you the biggest bag of M&M’s.

Espen quickly starts working her way into the backpack.

GATE G7: Graydon walking with his backpack on –- passes TWO

POLICEMEN harnessing machine guns -- he takes his place in
queue -- several passengers line up behind him -- he is
tapping the backpack -- holds out his Passport for the
SECURITY OFFICER.

SECURITY OFFICER
I only need to see your ticket.

(CONTINUED)
 64.
CONTINUED:

Hands ticket to the Security officer.

SECURITY OFFICER (CONT’D)

This is the wrong Gate, you’re on
KLM.

Points across G Wing -- returns the ticket.

SECURITY OFFICER (CONT’D)

You’re at gate G6.

A surge of panic -- Graydon glances out the window and sees a

PLANE that is not KLM -- he backs out of line -- quickly
crossing over to Gate G6 where a blue and white KLM plane is
parked at the gate.

INT. GATE G6 – CONT’D

All passengers have already boarded. FIVE SECURITY MEMBERS

are resting against the glass window of G6 -- they see
Graydon approaching -- jump to attention.

GRAYDON
Has everyone boarded already?

SECURITY
Is this your flight?

GRAYDON
Yeah, but I can’t find my wife.

SECURITY
Maybe she’s already on the plane.

GRAYDON
(slowly walking away)
No, I have her ticket. I need to
find her.

INT. AIRPORT - KLM RESERVATION DESK – CONT’D.

Graydon and Espen are at the counter with a TICKET AGENT.

GRAYDON
I missed my flight.

TICKET AGENT
Shall I reschedule?

(CONTINUED)
 65.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
When’s the next flight to
Vancouver?

TICKET AGENT
(reading data from
her computer)
We only have one a day, and it’s
always the same time. But tomorrow
it’s fully booked.

GRAYDON
What a day this is.

TICKET AGENT
I can put you on our waiting list.
We often have cancellations.
GRAYDON
Good, and where do I get my boxes?

TICKET AGENT
Vancouver. Your boxes made the
plane.

INT. GRAYDON’S HOUSE – DAY - FLASHBACK

Jo is watching. Graydon has two large cardboard boxes, each

about a square yard in diameter. He has filled one of the
boxes full with Espen’s books, clothes and toys.

GRAYDON
After Espen and I land in the
States these two boxes will be
waiting for us at baggage claim.
I’ll stack them onto a cart, pull
out my Swiss Army knife.
(demonstrates with his
Swiss Army knife)
Cut a doorway into the empty box.
Espen crawls inside and I push the
cart through Customs.

EXT. IBIS HOTEL - ESTABLISHING – CONT’D.

Graydon and Espen exit hotel shuttle bus.

 66.

INT. IBIS HOTEL – RECEPTION – DAY

GRAYDON
Can I get my same suite?

He rubs Espen’s head.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
And charge a big bag of M&M’s
from the gift shop.

EXT. IBIS HOTEL - NEXT MORNING

Thunder.

INT. SUITE – MORNING

Graydon and Espen were asleep -- thunder wakes them both.

ESPEN
Where are grandma and grandpa?

GRAYDON
Good morning Sweetie. We’ll be
there tonight.

INT. JUDGE VOGEL’S OFFICE - DAY

Judge Vogel is dictating into his hand held recorder.

JUDGE VOGEL
…and I officially revoke his
weekend visits.

INT. MAIN TERMINAL - DAY

Dressed in the same clothes as the day before. Graydon exits

the restroom wearing his backpack -- passes a CLEANING LADY
with a mop -- smiles at her.

Graydon approaches passport control -- waved through -- he

sees the escalator.

INT. LARGE SEATING AREA – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon and Espen stop at the TV monitor -- see Vancouver

Gate G5 -- he takes a second look to confirm this.
 67.

INT. GATE G5 – DAY – CONT’D.

They are early and the gate is vacant of any other people.
They are at the X ray machine and metal detector.

Espen is watching Graydon strategize.

GRAYDON
OK Espen baby I got it. We walk
past security over there. I set the
backpack down here, unzip it and
you come out. I’ll place the empty
backpack through the X ray machine,
you and I walk through the metal
detector there and into the waiting
room behind this wall. Sound fun to
you?
He notices a sign on the X ray machine: NO HUMAN OR ANIMAL
BONES ALLOWED THROUGH MACHINE

INT. JO’S APARTMENT - DAY

Jo is standing at her window -- blows a puff of cigarette

smoke -- a green and white police car circles around in front
of her apartment and parks.

INT. G WING - DAY

Graydon is walking towards gate G5 -- Espen is in the

backpack –- he is tapping on the bottom of the backpack with
his fingertips -- humming a tune for her to hear.

At Gate G5 there is a delay and nobody is passing through

yet. Graydon positions himself towards the back of the line –-
an ASIAN WOMAN, 40’s, is suspiciously staring at him from her
seat -- Graydon notices this -- slowly moves away from her.

ESPEN
Ich habe angst.

GRAYDON
You’re afraid?

ESPEN
Yeah.

SECURITY begins checking passengers -- line moves forward.

(CONTINUED)
 68.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
Can you stay in just a couple more
minutes?

ESPEN
Nein. I want out.

GRAYDON
(backing away from the
crowd)
Right now?

ESPEN
Yeah.

INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM & CUSTOMS – CONT’D

Espen is inside backpack –- Graydon reaches bottom of stairs -
- area is vacant except for one CUSTOMS OFFICIAL standing
behind his counter.

GRAYDON
I missed my flight.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL
(walking towards x-
ray machine)
Let’s run your bag under the x-ray
machine.

Graydon quickly turns around.

GRAYDON
(looking back at
stairs)
I want to wait for my wife. Maybe I
should go get her.
(walks towards stairs)

CUSTOMS OFFICER
Come see me after you find her.

He walks halfway back up the stairs -- turns walking back

down them -- the customs agent is gone -- Graydon steps over
a security chain -- walks around a partition –- two big glass
sliding doors open -- Graydon enters the main terminal.

GRAYDON
Want to go shopping?

ESPEN (O.S.)
For candy?

(CONTINUED)
 69.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
That too. But you need some
clothes.

INT. IRISH MERMAID PUB - DAY

Jackie is seated with TWO POLICEMEN.

JACKIE
He went for help at the U.S.
Embassy in Berlin. That’s all he
wanted me to know.

INT. HAIR SALON - NIGHT

Espen and Graydon are both getting haircuts. Espen’s shirt
allows us to see the SCAR on her chest from her heart
surgery.

INT. SUITE - NIGHT

Espen is asleep -- Graydon dials the phone –- rings several

times before Manuela’s voice comes on the answering machine.

MANUELA (V.O.)
If this is you Graydon, I’m trying
to help you, please call me back…
BEEP.

GRAYDON
It’s Graydon, I’m still in the area
and I’m just trying to find a way
to keep Espen in my life.
Graydon hangs up -- looks out the window and weeps.

EXT. CAR RENTAL AT AIRPORT - DAY

Graydon and Espen drive off in a white HATCHBACK –- The

license plate is a bright ORANGE (Dutch - different color
than other European plates).

Pan over to airport.

INT. SCHIPOL AIRPORT - DAY

A fax comes across from INTERPOL. Graydon’s picture and name

are on it, and WANTED FOR KIDNAPPING.
 70.

EXT. DUTCH BEACH - SAME DAY

Espen holds out a handful of Seashells.

ESPEN
Hold these for me daddy.

Graydon is sitting in the sand -- holds out his hand -- Espen

drops in the shells -- pulls Espen in to sit on his lap -- a
ship disappears into the horizon.

GRAYDON
That big thing out there’s the
ocean and I’m having a little
trouble figuring out how to get us
across to the other side.
He watches an OIL TANKER heading out to sea.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
People were able to cross over that
thing hundreds of years ago, and
they didn’t need an airplane. Maybe
we need a boat.

ESPEN
Daddy, am I pretty?

GRAYDON
(squeezing her)
Absolutely so pretty.

ESPEN
Come chase me daddy.
(running off)

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR – DAY

Roadside -- Espen is sleeping -- Graydon runs his finger

across a map of Europe.

GRAYDON
Rotterdam. Where I could look for a
boat. If that doesn’t work, I can
take a ferryboat across the channel
to England. I think they hate the
Germans.
(folding the map)
Maybe I could find a sympathetic
sailor to help us get home.
 71.

EXT. ROMA ANTICA - PIZZA PARLOR - ESTABLISHING – NIGHT

A quaint family pizzeria.

INT. ROMA ANTICA – CONT’D.

Graydon is sitting alone watching Espen with delight -- she

is seated at the bar between two DUTCH BOYS her same age.

A PIZZA MAKER spins his DOUGH into the air -- the three
children LAUGH while staring with amusement.

DUTCH BOY #1
(to Espen)
Wat een gekke meneer he.
(translated: he’s the
funniest man)

ESPEN/DUTCH BOYS
(giggle).

ESPEN
Why does he throw the pizza up like
that?

Boy shrugs his shoulders.

DUTCH BOY #1
Dat weet ik niet.
(translated: I don’t know)

GRAYDON (V.O.)
I haven’t seen you play with other
children in eight months. Now
you’re communicating with a Dutch
boy that doesn’t speak your
language. How do you know how to do
that?

EXT. HYDROFOIL - RAMSGATE ENGLAND - DUSK

The hydrofoil has docked.

PASSENGERS are walking off. CARS are driving off.

CUT TO:
 72.

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR - DUSK

Graydon drives the last car exiting the Hydrofoil. He’s

approaching Customs.

Espen is hiding in the hatchback.

GRAYDON
Are you ready to play fort again?

ESPEN
I’m taking a nap.

Graydon reaches behind and flips the back seat up hiding her -
- turns the radio on low and holds out his PASSPORT and PINK
CUSTOMS FORM.
RADIO
…Mike Tyson bites off a piece of
Evandor Holyfield’s ear during last
night’s heavyweight title match…

CUSTOMS
How long will you be staying in
England?

GRAYDON
Only four days.

CUSTOMS
Are you here on business?

GRAYDON
No, I want to see that town where
Shakespeare grew up.
CUSTOMS
(stamping his passport)
Enjoy your stay.

Driving forward. FIVE CUSTOMS AGENTS grouped together -- one

jumps out and raises his hands for Graydon to stop -- Graydon
rolls his window back down -- agent leans in.

CUSTOMS (CONT’D)
Are you visiting anyone here?

GRAYDON
No. Just want to see Stratford.

CUSTOMS
How many days will you be there?

(CONTINUED)
 73.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
Four.

CUSTOMS
And where are you from?

GRAYDON
Dallas, Texas.

CUSTOMS
And what do you do for work?

ESPEN (O.S.)
(coughs)

GRAYDON
I’m a school bus driver.
CUSTOMS
Follow this road out.

Graydon drives off.

GRAYDON
They’ll never think we made it off
the mainland. Big advantage.

Graydon sees an AIRPLANE descending in the near horizon.

EXT. GROVE END BED & BREAKFAST - MORNING

The sun is rising -- NEWSPAPER BOY bicycles past throwing a

newspaper -- it smacks into the front door.

INT. BREAKFAST ROOM – CONT’D.

Graydon and Espen are eating breakfast. The owner’s are

HUSBAND & WIFE, 60’s. The husband is sitting with them --
wife pours coffee.

GRAYDON
Where I can find a boat to Iceland?

HUSBAND
I don’t think you can do that from
anywhere around here.

GRAYDON
Darn. I have two more weeks
vacation and I’d like to see it
before we return to the States.

(CONTINUED)
 74.
CONTINUED:

WIFE
Are you having fun traveling with
daddy?

ESPEN
Ja.

Wife becomes suspicious why Espen speaks broken German and

Graydon not.

GRAYDON
We’ve been living in Germany a few
months. She’s forgotten some of her
English.

WIFE
Where’s your mommy?
ESPEN
With Oma.

GRAYDON
She’s waiting for us in Boston. All
these port towns and no boat to
Iceland?

HUSBAND
Not that I know of.

GRAYDON
Is there an airport nearby?

HUSBAND
Just up the hill.

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR - SAME MORNING

Graydon is driving on a country road –- turns into small

AIRPORT -- sees small propeller planes.

Graydon sees INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT painted on the terminal –-

smiles -- turns into a parking lot -- circles around to face
the terminal –- stops.

Graydon now sees the two police cars that were following him.

EXT. PARKING LOT – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon steps out of the car -- one policeman approaches.

(CONTINUED)
 75.
CONTINUED:

POLICEMAN
What are you doing here?

GRAYDON
Just looking at planes.

POLICEMAN
You’re not in any kind of trouble.
Do you have your passport with you?

Graydon leans in car for his passport -- smiles at Espen.

GRAYDON
Hi sweetie.

Hands his passport to policeman.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Here ya’ go.

POLICEMAN
I have a report of an American
national trying to get to Iceland.

Graydon shrugs his shoulders -- policeman writes his name and

passport number onto a FAX -- Graydon leans in and sees
“AMERICAN NATIONAL” typed onto the fax.

POLICEMAN (CONT’D)
Are you staying here in town?

GRAYDON
No.

POLICEMAN
Wait inside your car please.
And walks to other police car -- the two policemen chat --
Graydon sits in his car.

The policeman returns.

POLICEMAN (CONT’D)
(returning his passport)
It must be a coincidence.

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR – CONT’D

The AIRPORT is behind them -- Graydon looks back –- they

aren’t following him -- punches accelerator.

(CONTINUED)
 76.
CONTINUED:

He makes a series of radical turns -- sees a street sign for

LONDON -- takes the on-ramp.

GRAYDON
This is too difficult without a
passport for you. Maybe I need to
buy one on the black market.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAR – DAY – CONT’D

We see the orange Dutch plates on the rear of the car.

EXT. LONDON ZOO - DAY

Graydon is chasing Espen who’s screaming –- frightened by the
screams a flock of BIRDS fly from a tree –- two ZEBRAS are
startled and run -- a TORTOISE humping another TORTOISE falls
upside down onto his shell.

They stop to rest -- Espen’s mouth drops open -- she runs.

GRAYDON
Do you want to ride that pony?

She runs for the pony.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Man, what is it about little girls
and horses?

INT. 5 STAR SUITE - NIGHT

Espen is asleep. Graydon is admiring her from the living room
-- Wimbledon tennis highlights on the TV in background.

GRAYDON
Maybe in a couple years you’ll be
able to stand on the other side of
the net and hit tennis balls back
to me.

He dials the phone.

INT. GRISELDA’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Manuela answers the phone.

(CONTINUED)
 77.
CONTINUED:

MANUELA
Manuela.

GRAYDON (O.S.)
It’s just little me.

MANUELA
Are you all right?

GRAYDON (O.S.)
Of course. We’re BOTH fine.

MANUELA
Where are you?

GRAYDON (O.S.)
Still in the area looking for help.
MANUELA
(demanding)
From who?

GRAYDON (O.S.)
The U.S. State Department and my
consulate.

MANUELA
Don’t try to go back to the U.S.
The police are waiting for you
there. Come back and there won’t be
any problems. We can go to the
prosecutor’s office together and
talk with them.

INT. 5 STAR SUITE – CONT’D

Graydon on phone.

MANUELA
(stalling)
You know, I’m thinking of going
back to school, and getting my own
place, and you know it’s taken me a
long time but…

Graydon removes the phone from his ear -- looks at it –-

hangs up.
 78.

EXT. BALCONY – DAY

Espen and Graydon are on balcony of their suite eating

chocolate covered strawberries. Graydon is admiring a RED
GERMAN PASSPORT with his picture but with the name Norbert
Bruhn.

ESPEN
Why did mom love you?

GRAYDON
She thought I was different. I was
her first American boyfriend. Maybe
she was infatuated with that. We
did the craziest thing of all, we
made you the first day we met.
ESPEN
Did you ever love mom?

GRAYDON
(hesitant)
We tried sweetie. But we were not
meant to be lovers forever. I will
love you forever, is that good
enough?
(beat)
In fact, I’ll tell you the truth if
you always tell me the truth.

ESPEN
OK.

GRAYDON
Expect no less than ten boys to
crush your feelings and make you
cry for days. But get to know us,
it’s worth it.

ESPEN
I want you to dance with me. Throw
me up high like a ballerina.

GRAYDON
I’ll put some music on.

EXT. ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE - MORNING

Green meadows.

Graydon’s new rental car (now blue) passes by.

 79.

INT. CAR – CONT’D

Graydon is driving and focused on the road. Espen’s POV from

the passenger seat is her father’s profile –- she studies his
face.

ESPEN (V.0.)
All I know is to trust you. But
why? Just don’t let me down.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
Like other young boys, the part of
my brain that learns to communicate
is attacked, literally attacked by
testosterone for the first three
years of my life. That’s why you
girls talk so much more.
ESPEN (V.0.)
But WHY is there more than just one
religion? And WHY can’t I fly up to
the stars? I’m probably already as
smart as you.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
If a girls talking to me too much,
I remind her, “Babe, my brain was
attacked by testosterone, remember?
So can I watch more sports?”

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Have I answered all your questions
sweetie?

Espen nods her head YES. Graydon places his hands together --
slowly raises them upwards -- spreads them apart making an
arch.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Espen, THIS IS YOUR WORLD. So I
will tell you anything that you
want to know.

Espen slowly raises her hands together -- spreads them apart

making an arch.

ESPEN
This is my world.

EXT. BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT - ESTABLISHING - DAY

Graydon drives up to the airport.

 80.

INT. BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon and Espen ride escalator to the second level. Off

escalator at GIFT SHOP he watches security -- sees two
doorways side by side; one marked for CITIZENS of NORTHERN
IRELAND, and the other door (right side) is for OTHER
PASSENGERS.

There is a PODIUM outside the RIGHT door with a TICKET AGENT

standing behind it -- As TRAVELERS pass he notices she is
ONLY checking for airline tickets, and not passports.

GRAYDON
So Check Point Girly-Girly is only
looking for tickets, not passports
huh?
He tries to look behind her through doorways -- PASSENGERS
walk through -- place their LUGGAGE on a conveyor belt --
walk through a metal detector.

EXT. ARDEN HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT

A resort.

INT. SUITE – NIGHT

Graydon looking out window at the AIRPLANES landing nearby --

Espen is sleeping –- Graydon gets out his well used map.

GRAYDON
(frustrated)
I need a ticket so we can get past
Check Point Girly-Girly. Damn it,
how do I get a ticket for her?

Graydon circles Glasgow –- chuckles -- locates phone number

from NOTE PAD -- dials phone.

AGENT (O.S.)
Jersey European Airlines.

GRAYDON
Do I need a passport to fly from
Birmingham up to Glasgow?

AGENT (O.S.)
No. That’s a domestic flight. You
won’t need a passport.

(CONTINUED)
 81.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
Great. I’d like to reserve two
tickets for tomorrow, and my last
name is Vallace with a V.

INT. SUITE - 6:30 AM

The hot water is running in the sink and the mirror is

steamed.

Graydon in boxer shorts and writes 4th of July 1997 on the

mirror.

GRAYDON
So in my own little way I’m
declaring independence from
England.

Passes Espen who is sleeping.

Opens the curtains -- daybreak.

INT. AIRPORT - JERSEY EUROPEAN TICKET COUNTER - 8:00 AM

AGENT hands TWO TICKETS to Graydon.

AGENT
Two tickets to Glasgow.

GRAYDON
Thank you.

He sees the American Airlines ticket counter.

INT. AMERICAN AIRLINES TICKET COUNTER – CONT’D.

Graydon hands the AGENT (female) his passport.

GRAYDON
You should have one reservation for
Vallace, to Chicago O’Hare.

AGENT
(taps her keypad)
Will you be checking any baggage
with us?

GRAYDON
(hands her a credit card)
Nope, just a carry-on.

(CONTINUED)
 82.
CONTINUED:

Agent walks away.

Graydon runs his fingers through Espen’s hair -- agent

returns -- places Graydon’s credit card on counter.

AGENT
I’m sorry sir but your card was
denied.

Panicked, Graydon quickly pulls a WAD of old receipts from

his wallet.

GRAYDON
That’s not possible, my card worked
fine this morning, look at all my
receipts.
Agent grabs a blank credit card receipt -- begins writing his
credit card number on it.

AGENT
It’s OK, I’ll fill one out the old
fashioned way and you can work it
out with your bank when you get
home.

INT. AIRPORT – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon and Espen on escalator.

INT. SECOND LEVEL – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon has his TWO domestic tickets in hand –- He and Espen

reach the AGENT, she reads the TWO tickets –- lets them pass.
They enter an area dimly lit with THREE SECURITY OFFICERS --
Graydon lays his empty BACKPACK onto the conveyor belt --
they pass through the metal detector.

Graydon is retrieving his backpack.

FEMALE OFFICER
Where are you flying?

GRAYDON
Just up to Glasgow.

FEMALE OFFICER
(pointing)
Go LEFT down THAT hallway.

(CONTINUED)
 83.
CONTINUED:

Moving forward Graydon sees an ARROW pointing left for

Domestic flights and right for International flights.

He turns to see that the Female Officer isn’t watching --

they go right.

INT. CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA – DAY – CONT’D.

The room is packed. Espen is crawling through the big pit of

colorful plastic balls -- Graydon is looking at the clock on
the wall above the restrooms -- it’s 10:20 -- he lays his
head back and closes his eyes.

DISSOLVE:

INT. CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA – DAY – CONT’D.

We see the clock at 11:10 -- Graydon exits the men’s restroom

with Espen inside the backpack.

Briskly he enters a series of hallways -- downward and around

corners -- he is flashing his EYES from left to right
anticipating trouble -- the hallway opens up into a wider
hallway –- continue -- ahead are TWO MEN showing their
passports to an OFFICER standing behind his PODIUM

Graydon holds out his passport -- the officer waves him past -
- continues down hallway. He can see his American Airlines
JET through the windows -- a surveillance CAMERA on the wall -
- he turns down hallway -- nearing his gate.

(This is the point where the opening scene began).

Another security checkpoint -- he begins tapping the bottom

of his backpack -- holds out his ticket for the AGENT
standing behind a podium. The agent scribbles “46” onto
Graydon’s ticket and hands him a boarding pass.

AGENT
I need to see your passport.

Graydon raises his passport over the podium -- his hand is

trembling uncontrollably -- the passport is vibrating up and
down -- agent removes it from the hand.

AGENT (CONT’D)
Did you pack your own bag?

GRAYDON
Yes.

(CONTINUED)
 84.
CONTINUED:

AGENT
Has anyone asked you to carry
anything onto the plane for them?

GRAYDON
No.

AGENT
Has your bag remained in your
possession since you packed it?

GRAYDON
Yes.

Agent returns his passport.

Graydon walks behind podium -- sees x-ray machine; it is

unmanned and turned off -- enters waiting area behind secured
glass barrier.

Area is packed with other PASSENGERS.

Graydon spins around twice looking for a secluded area to let

Espen out, but there isn’t one -- he spots an open area next
to the window.

He slides the backpack off his shoulder resting it on the

window ledge -- facing it out towards the window -- an OLD
COUPLE just five feet away -- Graydon blocks their view by
kneeling next to the backpack -- unzips it fully and spreads
the material open.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
(whispering to Espen)
Sweetie, don’t get out yet. Can you
stay in for just another minute?
Look, that’s our plane.
(beat)
I’m going to quietly sing you a
song.
(begins humming a tune)

INTERCOM
At this time we’d like to begin
boarding.

Graydon zips up the backpack and swings it onto his shoulder

–- he shows another AGENT his boarding pass -- follows the
crowd down the final hallway -- a small backup near the
entrance to the plane -- a group of FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
standing nearby smile at Graydon.
 85.

INT. AIRPLANE – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon enters -- rushes to restroom -- set the backpack on

the countertop -- unzips it.

ESPEN
I’m thirsty.

INT. POLICE STATION – DAY

Manuela is sitting with a POLICEMAN.

MANUELA
(desperate)
Believe me. Graydon is extremely
suicidal.

EXT. A BOAT – DAY - FLASHBACK

Manuela flashes back to the scene on deck approaching a Greek

port town. Graydon approaches her, we see his entire body,
he’s limping and using a cane.

MANUELA
On top of that he pretends to be
something he’s not. Like the day we
met he had this fake Australian
accent and told me he was injured
playing soccer for their national
team and was left behind. Quite
charming and believable. Good
enough to end up in my bed that
night.

INT. AIRPLANE – DAY

Espen is on Graydon’s lap looking out the window.

MANUELA (O.S.)
Probably why you’re having trouble
catching him.

CAPTAIN
(through intercom)
We are presently cruising at thirty-
three thousand feet and just
passing over Iceland.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 86.
CONTINUED:
CAPTAIN (CONT'D)
We ask that you just sit back and
enjoy your flight.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. CHICAGO O’HARE - DAY

Their airplane breaks through the clouds -- landing gear

opens.

INT. CHICAGO O’HARE – DAY

Graydon and Espen are holding hands walking through airport --

empty backpack slung over his shoulder –- sees surveillance
CAMERAS.

CUT TO:

INT. CHICAGO O’HARE – CONT’D.

Graydon is continuing down hallway past Duty Free -- Espen is

not at his side -- she is inside the backpack.

INT. IMMIGRATIONS & CUSTOMS – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon reaches a doorway -- smack into the busy Immigrations

area -- loud and crowded.

The shortest line has twenty people -- we see security

OFFICERS carrying walkie-talkies, standing behind watching
for anyone acting suspicious -- Graydon sees restrooms.

INT. MEN’S RESTROOM – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon passes an elderly JANITOR cleaning the sink -- enters

Handicapped stall -- Espen out of the backpack -- he is
sweating and nervous -- catches his breath.

INT. IMMIGRATIONS & CUSTOMS – DAY – CONT’D.

Graydon reenters -- Espen in backpack -- lines are short –-

sees IMMIGRATIONS OFFICER with no line –- takes it.

(CONTINUED)
 87.
CONTINUED:

OFFICER
(taking passport and
customs form)
Where are you arriving from?

GRAYDON
Birmingham, England.

OFFICER
(looking through
passport)
How long were you out of the United
States?

GRAYDON
Fifteen days.
Officer returns to FIRST PAGE -- slides passport under his
scanner -- taps computer -- flips to the middle of the
passport and stamps ADMITTED.

Graydon enters baggage claim -- notices that one of his shoes

are UNTIED and the leather lace flipping side to side –- He
pauses and considers tying it but doesn’t.

A CUSTOMS AGENT standing behind his podium and a second AGENT

searching through a bag -- Graydon smiles approaching the
agent.

AGENT
Is that all you have?

GRAYDON
This is it.

AGENT
All right, keep going.

Through a DOOR -- squeezes through a CROWD –- frantically

scans for a place to let Espen out -- too crowded.

He barges through an exit leading outside -- hit by the

sunlight -- success.

INT. UNITED AIRLINES TICKET COUNTER - O’HARE – SAME DAY

Graydon and Espen approach counter. Two FEMALE AGENTS working

together on one computer.

GRAYDON
Do you have any cheap flights to
San Diego?

(CONTINUED)
 88.
CONTINUED:

AGENT #1
(tapping her keypad)
I can route you through Salt Lake
City leaving in forty-five minutes.

GRAYDON
How much?

AGENT #1
For you and one child?

GRAYDON
Ahuh.

AGENT #1
Two hundred for each of you.
GRAYDON
(handing her a credit
card)
My name is Wallace with a W.

She enters his name into computer.

AGENT #1
Do you have ID with you?

He hands her his driver’s license -- other agent runs his

credit card.

Both agents are staring into the computer screen -- looking

puzzled. Graydon’s credit card is approved -- an electronic
receipt is being printing -- Graydon is rubbing the side of
Espen’s head when they return his credit card and driver’s
license.
Agents continue staring at the screen -- whispering to each
other -- agent dials her phone -- other points at Graydon’s
backpack.

AGENT #2
Is that your only bag?

GRAYDON
That’s it, and it’s empty.

Agent hangs up the phone -- looks back into the screen.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
Is there a problem?

(CONTINUED)
 89.
CONTINUED:

AGENT #2
No, we just need to have security
look inside your bag.

Graydon looks down the terminal -- sees a CONVEYOR BELT and X-

RAY MACHINE -- points towards them.

GRAYDON
Don’t they check it over there?

Agents look around for security to arrive.

AGENT #1
Yeah, but this is an extra security
measure that we take.

GRAYDON
This doesn’t seem normal.

AGENT #2
It’s just an extra precaution.

GRAYDON
(sensing something’s
wrong)
I need to use the bathroom. Would
you tell me where it is?

Agents look at each other -- confused what to do.

AGENT #2
If you can just wait a minute we’ll
have everything ready for you.

GRAYDON
(reaching for his
backpack)
I need to go really bad.

AGENT #1
(pointing)
They’re over by that back wall.

GRAYDON
(taking Espen by the
hand)
I’ll be right back to get my
tickets.
 90.

EXT. TERMINAL – DAY – CONT’D.

Just before Graydon enters SHUTTLE VAN he turns back -- sees

two SECURITY OFFICERS walking from their car to a MAN
standing next to a young CHILD -- Graydon carrying Espen
enters shuttle van.

VAN DRIVER
Are you hotel guests?

GRAYDON
Yes.

They walk to back of the van –- Graydon looks out rear window
at the two security officers.

VAN DRIVER
I’m not supposed to pick anyone up
here, this is for drop-off. Usually
you get on down below. But I’ll
make an exception.

INT. SUITE - NIGHT

Espen is asleep. Graydon is looking at her -- he hears

explosions blasting off in the distance -- pulls back the
curtains -- sees fourth-of-July FIREWORKS. A feeling of
freedom.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

Graydon and Espen are sitting on top of a PURPLE RENTAL CAR

the looking over a huge golden wheat FIELD swaying with the
breeze -- hear crickets. Graydon appears happy and enjoys
sharing this moment with his daughter.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
In a few years I will take a career
test to appraise what a suitable
job is for my personality. A farmer
will be atop the list. Now, I will
not be insulted by this, and
perhaps it may explain my
compulsion and fascination with
watering plants.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 91.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (V.0.) (CONT'D)
I could also get revved-up about
driving a Combine and pooping out
bails of wheat while my sexually-
deviant sweaty wife sits on our
porch wearing a short skirt gazing
at me with pride while stirring us
glasses of lemonade. Add in that
fine Georgian accent and I may not
mind getting yelled at.

EXT. FREEWAY – DAY – (OPEN DESERT)

Five cars at high speed in the fast lane and all are
tailgating each other. Panning from the lead car back we see
that all DRIVERS are male with a FEMALE napping in each
passenger seat.
GRAYDON (V.O.)
We’re in a rare but wonderful five-
man high-speed road-rally male-
bonding-experience with each guy
inherently knowing that nobody
brakes and the lead driver falls
off after a few miles with the next
guy assuming his role of the Ginny
pig to a speed trap.

INT. GRAYDON’S CAR – CONT’D

We see Graydon driving and focused on the road rally –- Espen

in passenger seat drawing with paper and Crayons.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
If all those wives stay asleep then
nothing should stop me from riding
this thing all the way to San
Diego.

ESPEN
Let’s pull over and play Frisbee.

Graydon is comically pulled out of his trance.

INT. COURTHOUSE - DAY

Graydon hands a CLERK his divorce PACKET -- it’s thick.

(CONTINUED)
 92.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
Hi, I’m filing for divorce. I think
my paperwork is in order. And this
is my declaration.

Clerk STAMPS a case number -- hands Graydon a case schedule.

CLERK
Here’s your case schedule.

Graydon runs his finger down the case schedule.

GRAYDON
My first court appearance isn’t
until November. Good.

EXT. A LAKE - DAY

Graydon is paddling a canoe with Espen leaning over feeling

the water and Lily pads pass through her fingers -- A quiet
serine moment is interrupted -- We hear a TELEPHONE ANSWERING
MACHINE being used...

GRANDMA (V.O.)
You’ve reached the Wallace’s,
please leave us a message. BEEP.

MANUELA (O.S.)
It’s Manuela. I received Graydon’s
divorce papers so he doesn’t have
to hide any longer. No matter
what, I will return to Germany
with her. It may take me a week or
a month, but you can never trust
me.
(the sound of the phone
being slammed down.)

INT. GRAYDON’S JEEP – DAY - CURRENT YEAR

Graydon (late 40’s) is driving away from U.S./Mexican border.

We only see him, and the dog in the back seat.

GRAYDON
I was so angry that I fantasized
about burying your mom alive,
throwing that last shovel full of
dirt over her frightened face. But
then I would feel sorrow for her
and soften up, because of things
like she got caught shoplifting
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 93.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (CONT'D)
clothes because her father
wouldn’t give her any pocket
change.

For the first time we see Espen (16) in the passenger seat,
and we realize that Graydon has been telling her this story.

ESPEN
I shoplifted once.

GRAYDON
When? Where?

ESPEN
About two years ago. Just an ink
pen.
GRAYDON
Why?

ESPEN
Wanted to see if I could get away
with it.

GRAYDON
Did you feel guilty?

ESPEN
(thinking for a moment)
I want to hear more about mom.

INT. GRANDPARENT’S HOUSE – NIGHT - 1997

Graydon is sitting alone in the dark surveying outside the

window.
GRAYDON (V.0.)
When my parents and daughter fall
sleep I secretly go into my
special Ops, reconnaissance, night
surveillance program. At first
sight of a police raid we’ll be
two blocks south where I keep a
car parked for such pleasantries.
I am above law enforcement,
smarter than law enforcement, and
I don’t trust law enforcement.
It’s interesting to open the part
of my brain that can think like a
criminal. Why would someone go to
all the trouble of setting up a
drug house and not have built an
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 94.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (V.0.) (CONT'D)
underground tunnel for escapes? Or
not place a body inside of a
sleeping bag before dragging it
away leaving all kinds of forensic
evidence?

EXT. BEACH - DAY

We hear a portable radio on the beach.

(RADIO)
…We are receiving reports that
Princess Diana has been involved in
a fatal car accident in Paris…

Graydon in the ocean watching Espen build a sandcastle.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
A sandy beach makes me yearn for
places like Tahiti or anyplace with
the serenity of swaying palms and a
chance to be lonesome. I could go
to an island with my daughter and
never let anyone find us, raise her
all by myself and avoid the
bullshit of court.

Graydon dives into ocean –- what he sees underwater.

INT. WOODSHOP – DAY – FLASHBACK

(Continuation from earlier scene with Graydon wearing blue

painter overalls –- walks past receptionist raising his tape
measure –- she allows him to proceed)
Graydon enters the employee lounge -- he is alone.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
My daughter and I will change our
names.

We see several personal BAGS lying beneath the lunch tables.

One is an old green denim bag with a German flag stitched
into the side of it -- he open the top flap -- inside next to
some clothes he finds the red German passport.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
I just become a German. A German
who has married an American girl
living over here
(laughs)
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)
 95.
CONTINUED:
GRAYDON (V.O.) (CONT'D)
and we just happened to have a
daughter that was born three years
ago.
(chuckles at his good
fortune)
Get my art kit out and make this
into something I can use in the
U.S. to get a driver’s license.
Stop off in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota. They won’t know what a
German passport should look like.
(stuffs passport into his
back pocket)

EXT. BEACH – DAY – CONT’D

Back to Graydon swimming in the ocean.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Internet and private detectives.
They are mere obstacles that I can
out maneuver. I could snap my
fingers and we’d be in Tahiti where
she’d become fluent in French and
I’d own my own fruit- smoothie bar
dropping chucks of mangos and
papayas into my blender for happy
tourists.

EXT. MOUNTAIN’S – DAY - CURRENT YEAR

Espen (16) hiking reaches an area with a view of the valley

below –- we see her SCAR from the surgery.
ESPEN (V.O.)
Were you going to change my name?

GRAYDON (V.O.)
Emily. I even called you that a
couple of times to see how it fit.
I have a birth certificate,
immunization forms, and a whole
slew of stolen German stamps that I
used to make everything look
official.

Espen’s POV is Patty wearing a BASE jumping wingsuit flying

through the valley but descending to her death crashing into
the trees below.
 96.

INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE – DAY

SUPER: TWO MONTHS EARLIER

Patty is bald and crying as the DOCTOR tries to comfort her

from the bad news with a shoulder squeeze.

EXT. MOUNTAIN – DAY

Patty and Marcus (TOOTHPICK in his mouth) are on a cliff.

Patty is wearing the wingsuit. Her terminal illness is
obvious in her appearance.

Marcus demonstrates his oral control by retracting the

toothpick completely into his mouth before kissing Patty on
her lips.
PATTY
Don’t want to suffer anymore.

She jumps off cliff.

EXT. MOUNTAIN – DAY

Espen sees Patty hit the trees.

GRAYDON (V.O.)
I was even looking for a way to
stage our death. I had settled on
overturning a rented canoe.

CUT TO:

EXT. BEACH – DAY – CONT’D

Graydon surfaces from underwater –- sees Espen still building

her sandcastle.

INT. GRISELDA’S HOUSE – NIGHT

We see Griselda talking into the phone.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
(sad)
I got the news today from my own
mother. Manuela was killed in a car
accident.

CUT TO:
 97.

INT. GRANDPARENT’S HOUSE – DAY

Graydon is watching Espen draw with Crayons.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
A head-on no survivor type.

INT. GRISELDA’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Griselda hangs up the phone with a positive expression of,

“They believed my lie.”

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. INDOOR POOL – DAY

Graydon is holding Espen while she splashes and attempts to

stay afloat.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
It was a good summer. Three months
together. You caught a fish, flew a
kite, started to read, and picked
out your Halloween costume.
(beat)
You were just about to advance from
Guppies to Starfish in your swim
class, so on a rainy morning I took
you to practice.

TWO ELDERLY WOMEN with swimming caps are doing laps –- a

LIFEGUARD walks by.

EXT. PARKING LOT – DAY - RAINING

Several police cars enter the parking lot.

INT. POOL – DAY

Espen and Graydon are holding onto the edge of the pool.

GRAYDON
I think we should get out soon.

(CONTINUED)
 98.
CONTINUED:

ESPEN
Oh daddy, let’s stay longer.

CUT TO:

POLICE enter lobby.

CASHIER
They’re still in the pool.

TO POOL:

Graydon extends his arm and Espen grabs on -- he pushes off

towards the deep end.

POLICEMAN enters the pool area –- Graydon and Espen appear to

be gone –- then emerge from under the water.
POLICEMAN
We have to take the child away.

ESPEN
No!

GRAYDON
We’re going to do this right and
not upset my daughter.

POLICEMAN
You agree to turn her over to us?

EXT. PARKING LOT – DAY – CONT’D.

Surrounded by POLICE, Graydon kneels down to Espen.

GRAYDON
Sweetie, these people are friendly
and I want you to ride with them.
I’ll see you shortly.
(stands up)

POLICEMAN
This is far enough.

Espen being escorted away by a FEMALE OFFICER –- Espen looks

back at Graydon -- a gust blows through her hair -- they wave
at each other –- DETECTIVE QUINN steps in front of Graydon
blocking his view of Espen.

DETECTIVE QUINN
See you in court.

(CONTINUED)
 99.
CONTINUED:

Graydon peeks around cop but Espen is gone.

INT. JUDGE RAMERMAN’S COURTROOM - DAY

(Graydon is wearing a suit)

Court is underway.

ATTORNEY BELUGA, female, standing with Detective Quinn -- TWO

LAW CLERKS behind bench.

(The large courtroom is otherwise empty).

JUDGE RAMERMAN, male, (50).

GRAYDON
Your honor, I am simply in search
of a forum. I don’t have a forum in
Germany, and that’s why I have
brought this case to you.

RAMERMAN
(interrupting)
Did you have an attorney in
Germany?

GRAYDON
Yes I did, but…

RAMERMAN
(interrupting)
If you had representation you had a
forum.

Ramerman searches through paperwork -- raises up one piece.

RAMERMAN (CONT’D)
This order was signed back on
August fifth.

GRAYDON
If an order was signed back on
August fifth then I should have
been available to argue, but
somebody snuck down here and worked
it out without me present. I’d say
this whole thing has been handled
poorly.

RAMERMAN
This case has not been handled
poorly.

(CONTINUED)
 100.
CONTINUED:

GRAYDON
(pointing to Beluga)
Is this my wife’s attorney?

RAMERMAN
Do you have anything else to add?

GRAYDON
Yes, I believe that if you make a
decision in this case that you will
be taking jurisdiction over the
child.

RAMERMAN
(ponders a moment)
No.
(at Beluga)
When is the mother arriving?

BELUGA
Tomorrow evening at 7:30, your
honor.

GRAYDON
(at Beluga)
So she is alive?

BELUGA
Very much so.

GRAYDON
Your Honor, my daughter has done
very well while living with me, and
she is happy. If you order her back
to Germany she will be living with
a mother on welfare, and she will
be without her father, for I cannot
return to Germany.
(exuberant)
I know I did the right thing by
bringing my daughter back here.

RAMERMAN
I’m sure you do.

GRAYDON
I’m sure that it’s important that I
don’t piss you off, but I insist
that you allow the child to remain
with me until we can sort through
this.

(CONTINUED)
 101.
CONTINUED:

BELUGA
Can I say something?

RAMERMAN
(at Detective Quinn)
Where is the child now?

DETECTIVE QUINN
She’s been transported downstairs
here to our office.

BELUGA
Your Honor, I guess there was a
problem at the pool. The police
thought they were going to have to
jump in after the child.
GRAYDON
That’s a lie. Detective Quinn over
there even shook my hand and
thanked me for cooperating.

RAMERMAN
(raising his hand)
Germany has jurisdiction of the
child. Here’s what I’m going to do.
I’m placing the child in the
custody of DSHS until the mother
arrives.
She can return to Germany with the
child, and there will no contact
between the child and the father
while she is in the custody of
DSHS.

EXT. BLUE SKY – DAY

Graydon looks at a JET flying high overhead. He thinks that

Espen may be in it and he’s letting her go from his life for
a long time.

DISSOLVE:

INT. OFFICE – DAY

SUPER: ELEVEN YEARS LATER

FRAU MOHR, a German social worker, is sitting at her desk on

the phone.

(CONTINUED)
 102.
CONTINUED:

FRAU MOHR
Your welfare payments end this
month, Manuela.
(beat)
Unless we can get a hold of the
father there’s nothing else we are
able to do for you.
(beat)
Give me his address and I’ll write
him.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Graydon, now 46, is cooking an omelet.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
I received a certified letter from
a Frau Mohr demanding I begin
paying support directly to their
government. The same government
that was one week away from
extraditing me. I was so upset by
this slap in the face that I wrote
her my sincerest thoughts in
return. Dear Frau Mohr, I woke up
this morning and ate a tasty
omelet.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – DAY

Graydon is just about to drop the LETTER into the postal drop
box –- he hesitates –- drops it in.
GRAYDON (V.0.)
Pulled my pants down and took a big
crap. Then wiped my ass with your
letter, which I’m sending back to
you.

FADE OUT:

GRAYDON (V.O.) (CONT’D)

I never received another bill.

FADE IN:
 103.

EXT. GRAYDON’S BEACHFRONT HOUSE – DAY

Espen, 16, dressed in swimwear and grabbing a water bottle

from the refrigerator.

To the television where the news is showing footage of a

harpooned WHALE alongside a ship.

PROTESTER JANET (V.O.)

As soon as the Japanese ship
harpoons the whale we are firing
a large dart into the whale's
skin. Thus injecting one-thousand
CC's of AIDS tainted blood into the
dying whale.

To the Interview of Protester Janet.

PROTESTER JANET (CONT'D)
So my crew and I are notifying
Japan and all whale eaters around
the world of the possibility that
the whale meat you're buying is
probably AIDS infected. And we're
asking you to stop supporting the
slaughter of these magnificent
mammals.

Graydon is near a window.

ESPEN
Dad. You’ve had this same T shirt
on for three days.

GRAYDON
I haven’t showered for three days
either.

Graydon looks out window and sees MATTHEW, 16, waiting on the
beach with his surfboard.

GRAYDON (CONT’D)
So what do you want from this guy?

ESPEN
(kissing him goodbye)
Romance. Adventure. For him to
surprise me with little things.
(grabs her surfboard and
exits)

GRAYDON
I want it to work out.

(CONTINUED)
 104.
CONTINUED:

The television is on in the b.g. and we see a NEWS REPORTER

with several police cars parked along a freeway onramp.

NEWS REPORTER
Police here along I-15 have
discovered twenty marijuana plants
growing on the hillside just behind
me.

GRAYDON
(chuckles)
I planted them there just so I
could enjoy watching you make a big
story out of nothing.

EXT. BEACH – CONT’D

Espen with her surfboard approaches Matthew.

GRAYDON (V.0.)
The following year, after your
mom’s welfare ended, and after
being kicked out of school in
Germany for bad behavior…

ESPEN (V.O.)
…I moved in with my father whom I
hadn’t seen for twelve years.

Espen and Matthew walk to the water.

ESPEN
Some relationships are for a
reason. Some relationships are for
a season. Some for a lifetime.
MATTHEW
You must have been talking with
your dad.

ESPEN
He says that we want them all to be
for a lifetime, but if they aren’t
its painful.
(beat)
I don’t want him to know that I’m a
real person. I want him to think of
me as his daughter.

CUT TO BLACK.