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THE BENCH
Written By: Matt Layden
04/05/06
EXT. PARK - DAY
It's summer, there's a slight breeze. There are kids
playing on the playground, with their parents talking to
each other, but watching their kids at the same time. It's
a bright and sunny day, no clouds in sight.
A man dressed all in white with a white hat, sits on a
nearby park bench, overlooking the bay. He sits there by
himself, just admiring the scenery. Beside him on the
ground is a briefcase, it's black. The man looks young, mid
20's, with black hair. He has a strong face and is
handsome. He glances at his watch, it appears as if he's
waiting for someone, or something.
A homeless man, dressed in raggedy clothing, dirty and old,
with a beard walks over to the bunch. He is pushing a
shopping cart, it's full of random garbage. He mumbles to
himself as he takes a seat next to the man in white.
HOMELSS MAN
Do you have a dollar?
The man in white looks at him with disgust.
MAN IN WHITE
Can't you dress
(pause)
Appropriate for the situation
The homeless man looks over at the man in white.
HOMELSS MAN
Where's the fun in that? I've
already made ten dollars today.
MAN IN WHITE
What are you going to do with
money? It's of no use to you.
HOMELSS MAN
I like fucking them, you know.
They think they're all high and
mighty over individuals. When in
reality, they're all cattle for
the slaughter.
The man in white looks up at the sun over top their heads.
Then back to the homeless man.
MAN IN WHITE
I have hope for them.
The homeless man laughs.
HOMELSS MAN
For these people? These people
who mock you? How the heaven can
you have hope for them?
MAN IN WHITE
For the same reason you damn
them.
The homeless man laughs yet again.
HOMELSS MAN
You amaze me you know that? I see
a sin on every street corner. If
I turn my head, I'll point three
out to you right now.
MAN IN WHITE
The ais more good then evil in
this world.
HOMELSS MAN
That what you think. You know,
I'm not such a bad guy. It's the
people here that give me the bad
image.
MAN IN WHITE
I know what you're capable of.
I've seen the torture. I've seen
the look on the faces you cast
into damnation.
HOMELSS MAN
They deserve it. In my world,
everybody is either a rapist or a
murderer. Back in the day, you
and me weren't all that
different. I was you're right
hand man. Now? Now, it's black
and white, up and down, good and
evil. Who made it that way?
MAN IN WHITE
You did.
HOMELSS MAN
No, you see that's where you're
wrong, I didn't make it that way.
I simply made an alternate place
for people to go.
Those people, those people made
me into what I am today.
MAN IN WHITE
If you have to keep telling
yourself that.
The homeless man takes out a cigarette. He offers it to the
man in white.
MAN IN WHITE
If you know that I'm going to
reject it, why bother to offer?
HOMELSS MAN
I thought maybe today would be
different.
The homeless man places the cigarette between his lips and
lights it. He pauses in between his speech to take a drag
from the cigarette.
HOMELSS MAN
Nice day today isn't it?
MAN IN WHITE
Beautiful.
HOMELSS MAN
Too bad it has to end.
A blue ball rolls beside the man in white. He looks over to
it and sees a young boy pick it up. The young boy looks in
the eyes of the man in white and smiles. The boy then runs
back to his friends to play.
HOMELSS MAN
Cute...real cute.
MAN IN WHITE
It doesn't have to end.
HOMELSS MAN
You know something. People call
me the devil. I'm sure what I'm
going to tell you, you already
know, but I'm telling you this
anyway.
(pause)
The word devil comes from "deus",
which is Latin. It means God.
When you speak of the devil, you
speak of God. People in this
world actually believe that you
created this world. They actually
think that you created
(pause)
Me.
The man in white looks over to the homeless man.
HOMELSS MAN
What would it do to them, if they
ever learned the truth. If they
ever found out that it wasn't you
who created them but me. That it
was I who made life, it was I who
created this world and it was I
who created you.
The man in white looks back to the beautiful scenery across
the bay.
HOMELSS MAN
Do you think it would create
chaos here? Would it officially
be the end of the world?
MAN IN WHITE
You don't understand. Good will
always prevail. Light always
breaks through the darkness. It's
not about who is more powerful,
it's about who they accept.
The blue ball yet again rolls over to the bunch. This time
it's on the homeless man's side. The young boy again comes
to grab it. Before he runs back to his friends, the
homeless man stops him.
HOMELSS MAN
Listen boy, would you like an
apple?
The homeless man pulls an apple from under his raggedy
clothing. The apple is dark red, and looks delicious. The
young boy stares at it, his eyes widen. The boy drops the
blue ball and stares at the apple. He stares at the
apple...
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END
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