Every Breath

by Mark Fellows

FADE IN:

INT. MASTER BEDROOM -- PREDAWN

The room is dark.

JULIE

HUH!

She quickly sits up in bed, breathing heavily. JULIE (26), button-nosed with tired eyes, looks over to her husband, Alex (27), who is sound asleep. Her breathing calms.

In the distance is a faint infant cough. Julie jumps out of bed. Racing down the

HALLWAY

Her feet pound the hardwood floors. She runs into the

BABY'S ROOM

The LCD on the respirator dimly lights the room. She leans over the crib to their six-month-old BABY.

BABY

Cough! Cough!

A tiny oxygen mask rests on the baby's chin. Julie quickly puts it back over the baby's mouth and nose. She pulls over a chair and sits holding the mask in place.

INT. MASTER BEDROOM -- MORNING

Alex, tall, dark, and handsome, awakens to an empty bed. He slowly rolls out of bed and walks out.

INT. KITCHEN -- MORNING

Coffee pours into a mug, Alex takes it and exits.

INT. BABY'S ROOM -- MORNING

Oxygen flows through the breathing apparatus. Julie sleeps on the crib railing with her hand holding the mask in place.

Alex casually enters.

ALEX

Morning, sunshine.

He hands her the mug. She slowly wakens.

JULIE

The mask fell off again.

ALEX

I'll look at making it more secure.

With tear-filled eyes, she stares at the baby.

JULIE

There's got to be a better way.

INT. HOME OFFICE -- DAY

Alex studies topographical maps of oil fields in California. Julie enters.

JULIE

The Doctor is here.

She takes his hand.

INT. BABY'S ROOM -- DAY

A long needle is flicked by a finger. Alex and Julie enter. She sees the needle and turns into Alex's arms. DOCTOR (50), grey-haired and distinguishing gold-rimmed glasses, with needle in hand.

DOCTOR

It's just her weekly treatment.

Doctor turns to the crib and sticks the baby with the needle as it cries.

DOCTOR

I know it hurts, but it's the only way.

INT. KITCHEN -- DAY

Next to a water cooler, the kettle whistles, Alex removes it and pours coffee for the three of them at the table.

ALEX

When will she get better, Doctor?

DOCTOR

It's going to take a long time.

JULIE

But she's so helpless.

DOCTOR

I know. There is a new treatment.

JULIE

We'll do it.

DOCTOR

I must tell you, it's in the beginning stages. The long-term studies are not in. We do not know what the side effects are, and it is very expensive.

JULIE

Money doesn't matter when it comes to our baby's health.

ALEX

I have to ask. What is the cost?

DOCTOR

It's well over $100,000 and insurance companies are not going to pay for the treatment until it is proven.

JULIE

That's okay, we'll do it anyway. Whatever we have to do, we'll do it.

His pager rings.

DOCTOR

You must excuse me, I need to tend to the O'Malley's child.

INT. FRONT DOOR -- DAY

Doctor straps on a red backpack and puts on clear goggles.

DOCTOR

Here's a recent article on the new treatment.
(hands them a medical journal)
Remember she is not alone. This happens to all newborns.

He exits.

INT. CALIFORNIA BASEMENT -- DAY

Alex pulls out an air filter covered with black soot from the furnace. He replaces it with a light pink one. He then turns to four tall oxygen tanks and checks the attached hoses and levels. All is okay.

INT. BABY'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Julie reads the journal.

ALEX (O.S.)

What does it say?

He leans against the door.

JULIE

It speeds up the growth process so when she is in contained environments she won't need a mask. It will get her off the mask within two months.

ALEX

What's the down side?

JULIE

Her heart could grow too fast and she could have a heart attack.

He looks at his daughter.

ALEX

What do you want to do?

JULIE

I know if we stay the course she only has a fifty percent chance of survival and that's normal for all newborns ...
(turns to Alex)
... but she's ours. I want to give her the best chance possible.

ALEX

Then we'll do it.

JULIE

But where are we going to get the money?

The baby's breath fogs the mask.

ALEX

I'll get it.

INT. HOME OFFICE -- DAY

Alex, in front of a computer, talks into the attached camera.

ALEX

How's the exploration coming along?

On the screen is a video conferencing display. In the box is HAL, covered by a hat, goggles (same as Doctor's), and scarf around his nose and mouth. Wind pushes against him.

HAL

We've done the seismic tests and haven't found anything. We're gonna start heading back.

ALEX

What about the Carrizo Plain site?

HAL

We're not gonna be able to make it over there, the winds are too strong up on the mountain.

A gust nearly knocks Hal over.

ALEX

Hal, I know it's windy, but you've got to go there - I need to know. I have to find out today.

HAL

Okay, I'll go there myself. I'm out.

The screen goes black.

INT. BABY'S ROOM -- NIGHT

The side railing is down as Julie leans on the bed reading to the baby.

JULIE

Chug, chug, puff, puff the little train rumbled over the tracks as she was delivering things to the boys and girls over the mountain.

Alex stops in the doorway.

JULIE

But all of a sudden, she slowed to a stop and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move.
(turns to Alex)
Just reading to her.

ALEX

How's her breathing?

JULIE

It's good. You know what I don't understand is why this happened? Why is it this way? I have pictures of my great-great-grandmother when she was a baby and none of them have her hooked up to machines like these.

ALEX

I guess it's just a side-effect of progress.

JULIE

Is it worth the price?

ALEX

The doctors are working on a solution.

JULIE

It's a solution, but it doesn't fix the root of the problem.

The videophone rings, but Alex does not move. It rings again.

ALEX

I need to take that.

Alex goes into the

HOME OFFICE

The videophone rings again, he hits the function key and Hal pops up.

ALEX

Hey, Hal. What did you find?

The wind pushes Hal backward.

HAL

I checked everywhere. There's nothing here.

ALEX

Did you go deep enough?

HAL

I went a thousand feet down.

Alex pounds his fist on the desk.

ALEX

Did you test the dry lake bed? How about the dunes area?

HAL

I did.

ALEX

What about the trench area? I need to find that oil, Hal. I need that bonus.

HAL

I've checked every place you wanted. I didn't find anything, Alex.

Alex hangs his head and slumps in his chair.

ALEX

Alright, thanks for looking, be careful on your way back, it looks gusty out there. Out.

He throws a notepad across the room.

JULIE

No luck?

ALEX

Don't worry, I'll find a new oil field, and when I do -
(pulls Julie onto his lap)
That bonus will pay for all the treatments she needs.

Julie sadly grins.

JULIE

I'm going to sleep.

She kisses him and leaves.

Alex starts studying the maps on the wall. One map has oil rigs covering 60% of it and many more rigs in the Pacific Ocean.

Alex sips his coffee. He goes to the

KITCHEN

And pours another cup.

INT. BABY'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Alex enters and looks after the baby. He adjusts the mask, kisses her and leaves.

INT. HOME OFFICE -- LATER

Alex looks at the maps and savors his coffee.

ALEX

I can't believe he didn't find anything. There's got to be oil there.

He quickly turns in his chair and dials the videophone.

INTERCUT - INSIDE HAL'S VAN

Hal answers.

HAL

Hey, I just got everything packed. I thought you'd be sleeping by now.

ALEX

No, I can't. I want you to look again.

HAL

Why? I've already checked the entire area.

ALEX

Because all my data says there's a reserve there. I've got to find that oil field. My daughter's life depends on it.

HAL

I know, Alex. I know, but there is nothing. I've searched every inch of the area. There's nothing here. I'm sorry. I'm heading out, see you when I get back.

Hal ends the video call.

INT. BABY'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Baby's mask fogs while she breathes.

Alex gently caresses her face.

ALEX

So small. So precious. You don't deserve any of this. None of you newborns do. How did we let it get so out of hand?
(looks into a mirror)
Of course, I just add to it.

He puts a blanket over the baby. Alex falls into a chair. He notices a pinwheel attached to the end of the crib.

Alex blows on his cold hands. He picks up a remote control and presses a button. The furnace kicks in.

He sips his coffee and looks at the pinwheel that begins to move. Becoming transfixed his eyes slowly turn to the vent then back up to the pinwheel, which now quickly spins round and round. Setting his coffee down, he intensely watches the rotating blades and then focuses on the light in the background.

HAL (V.O.)

The winds are too strong up on the mountain.

ALEX (V.O.)

I know it's windy, but you've got to go there ...

INT. HOME OFFICE -- NIGHT

A chart of California comes out of the printer. Alex starts circling the red spots that represent high wind areas.

He walks up to a white board and starts drawing. Finished, he smiles proudly and walks away.

On the board, a diagram of a windmill with lines running to an electrical substation then to a house.

INT. BEDROOM -- MORNING

Julie sleeps as Alex runs in.

ALEX

Julie, wake up. I did it, honey. I did it.

JULIE

What? What are you talking about?

ALEX

I figured out how we're going to get the money for Lucy's treatment.

JULIE

Really, you found that oil field?

ALEX

No, I found wind. I'm going to use the wind for power and she's going to get her treatments.

JULIE

That's great, but do you think your boss will go for it?

ALEX

Of course he will, it's a great idea.

INT. KITCHEN -- DAY

Alex pours water from the water cooler and walks to the

HOME OFFICE

He rolls the white board to his desk. Alex adjusts the computer camera and dials a number. On the computer screen a box opens and MR. REYNOLDS (60), an old goat in a black suit, sits behind his desk.

MR. REYNOLDS

Ah! Alex. There you are, right on time as usual. So tell me, where is this new field you have found for me?

ALEX

I haven't found a new field, Mr. Reynolds.

MR. REYNOLDS

That's very disappointing. You know I don't like being disappointed.

ALEX

I know, but I've found something better. Wind - the wind will produce the energy we supply.

MR. REYNOLDS

Wind? We're an oil company. We drill and refine and make energy.

ALEX

You just said it yourself - make energy. And we can do that with the wind.

MR. REYNOLDS

Yeah, enough to turn on one light bulb.

ALEX

No, I think we could do more than that. Let me show you.

Alex turns to the white board.

MR. REYNOLDS

You'll never create the power needed to light up an entire city. Only oil can do that, so stick to what I pay you for.

Mr. Reynolds disconnects his video link. Alex's screen goes black.

ALEX

But that won't fix the problem.

Julie stands in the doorway.

JULIE

He didn't like your idea?

Alex goes to her.

ALEX

He doesn't think the wind can create the needed energy ...
(holds her)
... but it can Julie, it can.

JULIE

Then prove it to him.

ALEX

How?

Baby coughs. Julie looks deeply into Alex's eyes.

JULIE

I don't know, but you've got to - for Lucy.

She exits.

Alex paces the room, stops and stares at a lamp.

His eyes move down to the cord that is attached to a loaded multi-plug power strip. That single strip is plugged to the wall outlet.

He turns to all of the office machines and back to the single outlet powering them.

ALEX

You want more power. I'll give you more power.

INT. GARAGE -- DAY

A light, clock, coffeemaker, TV, radio and toaster intertwined in a maze of electrical cords that run across a table to copper coils that are attached to bicycle gears with a chain attached to a shaft; at the end is a three-spoke pinwheel.

Across the room, Alex turns on a box fan, which blows wind to the pinwheel that slowly begins to turn. Alex turns the light on. It doesn't light. He bends the pinwheel blades -- they start to turn faster. The light slightly glows.

He moves the bicycle gear shift, which changes gears and spins the generator 20 times faster. The light, clock, coffeemaker, TV, radio, all turn on. BING!

At a white board, Alex starts to write out the mathematical equations of wind speed needed for pinwheel rotation to produce megawatts needed per household. He then draws a pinwheel superstucture that can pump out 20 megawatts of power.

Alex looks at the board gaping.

He starts the videophone and Mr. Reynolds appears.

MR. REYNOLDS

What is it Alex?

ALEX

I have your power, Mr. Reynolds, and it's free.

MR. REYNOLDS

Free?

ALEX

Let me show you.

Alex starts to explain his work with the contraption and white board ending on a big dollar symbol. Mr. Reynolds nods with acceptance.

INT. CALIFORNIA BASEMENT -- MONTHS LATER

Alex takes out the soot-covered air filter and puts in a fresh pink one. He checks the one oxygen tank then walks up the basement stairs as Julie reads to the baby.

JULIE (O.S.)

The little engine tugged and pulled, huffed and puffed. I think I can. I think I can. Up, up, up. Faster and faster the little engine climbed as it reached the top. Down in the valley lay the city.

Alex closes the hatch to the basement. He grabs a red backpack and puts it over his shoulders. He walks down the hallway to the side door.

JULIE

And the little engine smiled and seemed to say as she puffed steadily down the mountain. I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.

She closes the book and looks in the crib.

There is a sound of the side door closing.

She kisses the baby and leaves.

In the crib the baby sleeps, mask-free.

INT. HALL CLOSET -- DAY

The closet door opens, a hand reaches down pulling out a red backpack. Walking away, Julie puts it over her shoulders. Clang! Something falls to the ground. Julie stops and picks up the clear goggles (same as Doctor's) that fell. She continues out the door.

EXT. BACKYARD PATIO -- DAY

From the house Julie approaches Alex. Their backs to the house. Their voices are muffled.

JULIE

What are you looking at?

ALEX

I used to hear stories of my great-great-grandfather being able to see those mountains.

A brownish haze completely covers the distant mountains.

JULIE

When will we be able to see the mountains again?

ALEX

(inhales from an oxygen mask)
I'm hopeful it will be within our lifetime.

Alex and Julie both have oxygen masks over their faces and goggles covering their eyes. They breathe in the oxygen that comes from the red backpacks. Behind them, their home is covered in heavy plastic. It is a bubble house.

DISSOLVE TO:

Tract homes are covered by plastic bubbles.

DISSOLVE TO:

A distant desert plain. Whooshing sounds. The sun shines down. Propeller blades pass in front of the sun. Gigantic windmills stand together in a wind farm.

DISSOLVE TO:

A visibly clearer city. The sun sets as the city lights appear.

FADE OUT:

Copyright © Mark Fellows 2005