Ida Tarbell Page #5

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At the door stands MRS. HAMMOND, a middle-aged LANDLADY

holding a broom in one hand. She hands Ida a telegram.

12.

LANDLADY:

This came for you earlier.

Ida opens the telegram, reads it in an instant.

LANDLADY:

(nosy)

Letter from home?

IDA:

Yes. You could say that.

LANDLADY:

Good news, I take it?

IDA:

(smiles)

Thank you, Mrs. Hammond. Good night.

Ida closes the door on her. Looks again at the telegram.

It reads:
“FATHER SICK. COME SOON. LOVE, WILL.”

CUT TO:

EXT. TARBELL HOUSE - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT

A simple farmhouse located on the edge of town. The Tarbell

family homestead. Title: Titusville, Pennsylvania.

IDA (V.O.)

Good to see you, brother. I got here as

soon as I could.

INT. TARBELL HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT

Ida enters, is greeted by her brother WILL TARBELL. He’s now

fortyish, bespectacled and balding. Prematurely middle-aged.

WILL:

Good to see you too.

IDA:

Is he really dying?

WILL:

He’s been dying for 10 years. I think it’s

just his way of getting us to visit.

IDA:

Where is he?

WILL:

Upstairs, torturing his doctor. Go on up,

see for yourself.

13.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

An old man lies sleeping in a darkened room: FRANKLIN TARBELL

(78). Ida stands watching him from afar. Finally, the old man

stirs, reaching instinctively for his rusty old rifle.

FRANKLIN TARBELL

Who goes there?

Ida steps out of the shadows, hands raised.

IDA:

Don’t shoot. It’s your only daughter.

FRANKLIN TARBELL

(a weak smile)

Ida Belle. Come closer. Let me see you.

Ida pulls up a chair next to his bed.

FRANKLIN TARBELL

Now there’s a sight for tired eyes.

IDA:

What did the doctor say?

FRANKLIN TARBELL

(dismissive)

Doctors, what do they know? One says eat

all you can, another says take nothing but

milk and honey. So I do the opposite, and

drink only whiskey.

Ida smiles. A nice moment between them. He reaches over,

taking down a folder containing all of her clippings.

FRANKLIN TARBELL

I’ve kept all of your articles. They’re

very good, Ida. Very good!

IDA:

You’re my father. You have to say that.

FRANKLIN TARBELL

I say it because it’s true.

(beat)

What happened with that job in New York?

IDA:

I got it. Mr. McClure hired me.

FRANKLIN TARBELL

A very wise man. What do you say to a

little jigger of rye to celebrate?

(a wink)

I won’t tell if you don’t.

14.

TIMECUT -- LATER

Ida and her father quietly sipping whiskey together.

FRANKLIN TARBELL

Remember when you used to come to work with

me at the shop? I’d give you the reins,

you’d sit up on my lap. You always wanted

to drive the wagon, didn’t you? Even then.

(Ida smiles)

Ida, there’s something else I need you to

do for me now.

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