Captain Fantastic Page #5

On top of the opened envelopes are welcome letters from every

university.

14 EXT. SMALL TOWN BAR. DAY. 14

In the front of the bar, Ben dials a number on the house

phone. We don't see who he's talking to (but will come to

realize that it's HARPER, his sister).

HARPER (O.S.)

Ben?

Immediately, from the tone of Harper's voice, Ben can tell

something is very wrong.

BEN:

What is it?

Silence.

BEN (CONT’D)

Harper.

Ben hears a sharp, irregular exhalation of breath. Whatever

is wrong is serious enough to be very difficult to say.

BEN (CONT’D)

Tell me.

HARPER (O.S.)

Leslie killed herself last night.

The blood drains from Ben's face. He is frozen for a moment.

No reaction whatsoever.

BEN:

How?

Another pause.

BEN (CONT’D)

Harper, tell me.

HARPER (O.S.)

She jumped out of a window.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 12.

14 CONTINUED:
14

Now Ben swallows. But nothing else. No emotion whatsoever. He

nods.

HARPER (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Ben?

Ben hangs up the phone.

A14 INT. STEVE - MOVING. DAY. A14

Ben drives in silence. He looks in the rearview mirror, at

Bo, Vespyr, and Kielyr. They stare out the window, completelyunaware of his recent phone call.

15 INT. TIPI. NIGHT. 15

Illuminated by candles and kerosine lamps, all the kids sittogether, dressed for bed, staring expectantly at theirfather.

Ben takes a deep breath.

BEN:

Last night. Mommy killed herself.

She jumped out of a window. Your

mother is dead.

As the reality of Ben's words hit them, utter devastationpasses over the children's face. And then, in a matter ofseconds, they all burst into tears, snot comes out of theirnoses, tears roll down their faces, some of them are almost

hyperventilating. Grieving openly and deeply, it's likesomething out of Greek Tragedy. Elemental. Primal.

ZAJA:

What's going to happen to us?

BEN:

Nothing is going to change. We'll

continue living exactly the same

way. We're a family.

Rellian stands. He yells. Savage, guttural shouts. They're

fierce and pained, like a trapped animal.

RELLIAN:

Mom! Mom!

He picks up a knife, but just paces, red-faced, not knowingwhat to do with it.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 12A.

15 CONTINUED:
15

Bodevan moves to stop his brother, but Ben holds Bo'sshoulder.

Rellian takes the knife and stabs, over and over again, intothe side of a cabinet. Harder and harder.

(CONTINUED)

GREEN (9.2.2014) 13.

15 CONTINUED:
15

RELLIAN (CONT’D)

F*** you! F*** you! Mom! Mom! Fuckyou, Mom, you f***ing...!

Rellian drops the knife and runs out of the Tipi.

16 INT. TIPI. NIGHT. 16

LESLIE's face. Smiling. Giggling.

She is leaning over, swaying back and forth, dragging herlong auburn hair across Ben's face.

She dips down and kisses him. Over and over again. She's

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