Harbinger Vignette 4

INT. HOME OF JUNE & JOSEPH – DAY

It’s a bright winter day outside. The open floor plan home exhibits the typical party decor for a 2 year old. A dozen close guests shuffle around the place snacking or assisting with the festivities. Among the crowd are familiar members of the family, like Mom, Ann, Elise, and JT. Many are CALLING OUT to grab the attention of the birthday boy.

JUNE

Here comes our birthday boy! Say hi to everyone Ian.

IAN (2 years old) has brown hair, brown eyes, and a round, preoccupied face. He’s wearing a snazzy, comfortable outfit. He PATTERS tippy-toe style across the linoleum toward the kitchen, disinterested in the visitors and carrying a stuffed animal firmly in his hands.

IAN

PPP-p. PPP-p. PPP-p.

JOSEPH

That’s right – that’s a puppy!

ANN

So, still no words yet?

JUNE

No. But he makes a lot of sounds that we recognize.

AUNT DAWN (early 20s) whose features vaguely are reminiscent of June’s, emerges from the crowd carrying a CRYING infant toward her. 

DAWN

Here you go sis. I think we have a full code brown situation here.

JUNE

Oh. Come here little Hazel. Let’s get you cleaned up.

Ian comes wandering in, but stops short, covers his ears, eyes wide, and sharply heads away from the source of the CRYING.

JOSEPH (to Dawn)

He’s a bit sensitive to loud noises – especially crying.

DAWN

Maybe we could open presents to distract him.

JOSEPH

Not until June comes back with Hazel.

Ian paces the floor, deftly avoiding the guests. Dawn makes several attempts to get Ian to wave “hello”, her perky mother NONNA (mid 50s), briefly joins the effort.

NONNA

Should we have him start opening gifts?

JOSEPH

Ahh, sure, now that June’s back.

DAWN

Oh good!

(Loudly)

Okay everyone – Ian’s going to be opening gifts now. Find a seat in the living room!

Guests drift and filter into the living area, sorting themselves into available seating surfaces. Joseph takes Hazel from June as she leads Ian by the hand to a spot in the middle of the room near a mountain of vibrantly packaged gifts.

NONNA

Oooh, how about starting with this one?

Nonna pushes a gift bag with tissue paper and a tied handle in front of Ian. She teases a bit of tissue out to try to spark his interest. Ian pushes it aside and turns his body, making ready to leave. June readjusts Ian to face the gifts.

DAWN

Mom, try taking it out for him.

Nonna swiftly unties the handle and pretends to fish around inside the bag, then pulls out a train. The guests FEIGN excitement. Ian tosses a sheet of tissue behind him, not showing any excitement for the toy.

NONNA

And there’s a card…

Ian treats the card with the same respect as the tissue. June picks it up to open and read aloud with Ian.

JUNE

Oh look, it’s from Nonna and Nonno! Say thank you.

Ian doesn’t react. June puts the card in front of Ian, who shakes his head and brushes the card aside.

DAWN

Okay, how about we try another gift?

Dawn picks out one of the largest presents in the pile and slides it in front of Ian, who starts slapping the top of it with his hands.

JUNE

Let me help you with that, sweetie.

June turns the box to its side to more easily open the paper at its seams. Ian kicks a bit at the floor and box. Starts flapping his hands and shaking his head, clearly frustrated with the situation.

IAN

BB-rk. Cpp! BB-rk. Cpp!

JOSEPH

Alright, let’s take a break and get your cup.

Joseph hands Hazel off to Dawn. Then swoops in and lifts Ian up on his feet, pats his bottom to scoot him along toward the kitchen. Ian charges away, MOANING as he goes. June gets up.

JUNE

We’ll be right back.

Ian seats himself in a quiet corner of the kitchen behind the cabinets, sheltered from the guests. He rocks slightly as he lines some objects in front of him.

Joseph and June crouch down beside Ian. June rubs Ian’s back gently.

JUNE (CONT’D)

Don’t you want to come back and see all the nice things the family brought you?

IAN (Sharply shakes head)

Nnn. Nnn.

JOSEPH

It’s okay. We know it’s loud. You can stay here and play for a bit. 

Joseph stands, turns, then shoos away the curious onlookers with a reassuring gesture.

JUNE (Aside)

Should we be concerned? 

JOSEPH

Well, all this family and activity is overwhelming.

JUNE

Not just that. What about all the other things we’ve noticed…?

JOSEPH

Oh. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have him looked at. It’s almost like he puts too much effort trying to speak.

Ian is now calm, adroitly stacking items, and smiling sweetly.

JOSEPH (CONT’D)

Isn’t he just so precious in his own little world there…?

After a moment, Ian happily knocks down the stack with a CRASH, scattering pieces across the floor.

FADE TO:

EXT. MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING – MORNING

Beneath an overcast sky and from a distance June and Joseph can be seen exiting a bland building hand-in-hand. June’s left hand dangles by her side, filled with a stack of photocopied papers, occasionally BRISTLING in the breeze. They walk stoically down the walkway and across the parking lot.

The dull SCOURING of pavement beneath their feet comes to a stop as they approach and enter their car sharing nary a gaze, closing the doors with a dampened THUD behind them. 

INT. VEHICLE OF JUNE & JOSEPH – MOMENTS LATER

Only the HUMMING of the engine and RUMBLE of the road are heard as June and Joseph sit in quiet tension for a few moments. Gray, diffused light glints through the windows, as silhouettes of utility poles pass rhythmically by. 

At long last, Joseph removes a hand from the steering wheel to rub his temple and releases a stressed SIGH.  

JOSEPH

I don’t know if I can go back into work today. I feel…raw.

JUNE (Weeping)

We can’t say that we didn’t have any idea. We kind of expected this, didn’t we?

After wiping her eyes and nose with a tissue, June lethargically leafs through the papers she had been carrying.

JOSEPH

I know. Though we were figuring this could’ve been just temporary – a phase. But now we know it’s indefinite…

JUNE

But we’re not going to love him any less.

JOSEPH (Softly)

No, of course not. But this isn’t going to make life easy on him.

June SNIFFLES.

JOSEPH (CONT’D)

I mean, doesn’t every parent want their children to have an easy life…?

JUNE

…Or at least easier than we had growing up.

Joseph faintly nods and June returns her focus to the papers from the appointment.

JUNE (CONT’D)

(Factually)

It’s not rare – numbers are increasing. And more services are available now than they were even a few years ago.

JOSEPH

And we have direct access to resources that many people don’t.

JUNE

Like what?

JOSEPH

My sisters and our neighbors that work throughout the school district. Teachers, paras, special ed, principals, nurses. 

JUNE

Right.

June FLIPPING to the final pages of the packet.

JUNE (CONT’D)

There’s a list of books and blogs here from other parents that we should check out.

JOSEPH

No thanks. I mean, you can. I’d rather not.

JUNE

Why? Don’t you think it could be helpful?

JOSEPH (Stiffly)

Maybe, but I don’t want to read any of those.

JUNE

That doesn’t seem sensible. Why not? 

Joseph slowly pulls the vehicle off to the side of the road and weakly POPS the gear shift into park. Eyes now streaming tears down his cheeks to his chin.

JOSEPH

Because those people don’t know Ian. And I don’t want my expectations to be prejudiced by what others say that OUR SON with Autism will and won’t be able to do.

Joseph lowers his dribbling face and attempts to bury it in the crook of his arm. June, watery-eyed too, reaches out a consoling hand to rub Joseph’s back.

FADE TO:

EXT. HOME OF JUNE & JOSEPH – AFTERNOON

The warm glow of a summer sun bathes the lush lawn beyond the shadow of a large blue house. An open expanse of deck extends from the rear egress of the home. 

A dozen or so family members are hovering around an oversize patio table loading up plates with their favorite options. Joseph (about 50 now) is working the grill. 

JUNE

Ian…? Ian, would you like to say something to your guests?

Ian (now 18), is lean and bespectacled, with the same brown hair and eyes of his youth. 

IAN (Reticently)

Uh, yes…AHEM. Okay, so I uh, I want to thank you all for coming to my party, today. To my graduation party. And, uh, for making my Eagle Scout.

(Pause)

So, uh, yeah. Thanks for coming. And for the gifts. Hope you had fun.

JOSEPH

There are also mason bee houses for each of you, like the ones from Ian’s Eagle project.

Guests greet and congratulate Ian enthusiastically. Ian nods and smiles coolly in response. 

NONNO (mid 70s) is a tall, friendly looking gentleman. Hand extended, he greets Ian with a firm shake.

NONNO

Wow, Eagle Scout and High School Graduate! So, what are you going to do now?

IAN

I’m going to college. And become a writer. 

NONNO

Really? What type of writing do you want to do?

IAN

Fantasy novel series. For younger readers. 

NONNO

I’m young enough, right? Looking forward to reading them all!

Nearby guests MURMUR, impressed by Ian’s plans for the future. Hazel (now 16), with her unmistakable, long auburn hair, smiles widely and hugs Ian vigorously from the side. Ian mirrors her smile, his head turned safely away from hers, mildly pats Hazel on the shoulder. 

FADE OUT