CHARLIE MALLOY’S GOLDEN KEY

by

Allan Amenta

Allan Amenta403 E. Vickie AvenueSanta Maria, CA 93454805) 922-7010aa34ferry@verizon.netWGAw No. 1188005

FADE IN

EXT. HOTEL PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Men and women are leaving their cars and walking toward the hotel. They are people in their late Forties.

There is a festive mood as other cars enter HONKING horns, and new arrivals wave and SHOUT to each other.

INT. ENTRANCE TO HOTEL BALLROOM - NIGHT

Over the doorway leading to the ballroom is a large banner that reads: 30TH REUNION CLASS OF 1977 FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL

By the doorway is a registration table where several men and women are signing in classmates and their guests and handing out ID tags. Others wait in line to be signed in.

EXT. HOTEL PARKING LOT - NIGHT

CHARLIE MALLOY pulls into a parking space and gets out of his car. He is twenty-one, well-built and athletic, but not your thick-necked, iron-pumping jock.

He begins walking toward the hotel.

INT. REGISTRATION TABLE - NIGHT

More classmates arrive for registration. In and around the waiting line, some greet each other and embrace. Others shout and laugh as they recognize old classmates. Still others wear doubtful faces, as though uncertain they recognize those with whom they are speaking.

ON TWO WOMEN CHATTING

SALLYI’m so embarrassed, Joan.

My old boyfriend, Tim Gerhart,came up to me, and I didn’t recognize him until he toldme his name. I hadn’t seen himin years. He’s so overweight. I feel awful.

2

JOANIf you think that’s bad, Teresa Sedgwick stopped my husband, Jack, and told himshe remembered when he sat next to her in Algebra class. Imagine! Jack grew up in Kansas,not here. She didn’t even giveme a second look, and we wereboth in the school band.

SALLYWe do change a bit over time, Joan.

JOANMaybe In fifty years, Sally. But not all that much in thirty.

A male classmate passing by overhears her.

MANDon’t bet on it, ladies.You should meet my wife.

He keeps on walking. Sally and Joan exchange looks.

SALLYWho the heck was that guy?

JOANIf I say I never saw him before, I’ll probably discover by the end of the night that he was my junior prom date.

HELEN PULASKI joins them.

HELEN(pointing to Sally)

Let’s see, you’re Sally.(pointing to Joan)

And you’re Joan. Do I pass the memory test?

JOANThank God someone has a good memory. And I know you, too.You’re Helen--ah, Helen --

3

HELENHelen Pulaski. You got it. Speaking of memory, I have a neighbor who’s been taking memory improvement supplements for years. So one day I asked her for the name of her pills. And guess what?

Joan and Sally eye each other.

HELENShe couldn’t remember.

The three women burst out laughing.

HELENDear Abby once said that if you’re going to a class reunion, you better bring along a sense of humor

SALLYShe got that right.

INT. HOTEL FOYER - NIGHT

CHARLIE MALLOY enters and heads toward the ballroom. As he approaches the entrance, he is stopped by a hotel SECURITY MAN.

SECURITY MANWhere do you think you’re going, young man? This is a private affair.

CHARLIEYes, Sir, I know.

SECURITY MANAre you with your parents?

CHARLIEI have an invitation.

(hands him invitation)

The security man inspects the invitation, then eyes Charlie with a puzzled look.

4

SECURITY MANI hope you know this is a high school class reunion,and not a get-together of yourold kindergarten buddies.

CHARLIEI know that. Or else I wouldhave brought my box of crayonsand construction paper. I do like your sense of humor.

SECURITY MANTell that to my wife.

(handing back the invitation)All right, Son. Go on in.

(pointing)The registration table is over there by the doorway. But if they bounce you, don’t blame me.

CHARLIEI won’t. Thank you.

Charlie heads toward the registration table.

ON REGISTRATION TABLE

It is busier than ever as the registration workers sign in more classmates and hand out ID tags.

Charlie approaches the table. Several men and women eye him quizzically.

FIRST WOMAN AT TABLENext, please.

CHARLIEMalloy. Charles Malloy.

Heads turn and ears perk up. The people at the table study Charlie closely and begin whispering with each other.

MAN AT TABLEMalloy? You must be Charlie’s son, Charlie Junior.

More eyes are on Charlie with more whispering and buzzing as he signs in and attaches his ID tag to a lapel.

5

SECOND MAN AT TABLEWell, I’ll be damned! You’re the spitting image of your Dad.I thought you looked familiarwhen you walked in

(looks around)Where is he? Love to see himafter all these years.

People begin crowding around Charlie.

FIRST WOMAN IN GROUPYou look just like Charlie didat your age. Oh, he was such a dear! I’m just dying to see him.

The buzz around Charlie gets louder.

FIRST MAN IN GROUPWe haven’t seen your Dad sincehe came back from Californiafor his mother’s funeral. That was years ago. But he’s neverattended any of our reunions.

SECOND MAN IN GROUPHe’d better show up for thisone, or we’ll never forgive him.

SECOND WOMAN IN GROUPHe is coming, isn’t he?

CHARLIEWell, I --

Charlie is interrupted by former athletes JAKE MIDDLETON, DAVE TRYON, and NICK DIMOPOLOUS, who snatch him away and begin guiding him toward the ballroom.

JAKE MIDDLETONWhile we’re all waiting for your Dad to show up, we’ll fillyou in on some of his exploits.

INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT

The buzz and speculation about Charlie Malloy continue among separate groups in different sections of the ballroom.

6

WOMAN IN GROUP 1His son is here, but not Charlie.Do you think he’ll show up?

MAN IN GROUP 1Who knows?

MAN IN GROUP 2Maybe Charlie isn’t with us anymore. Maybe he’s Gone. You know, departed. Passed on.

SECOND MAN IN GROUP 2I think we would have heardif he had bought the farm.

WOMAN IN GROUP 3Maybe he got some kind of disease and his family doesn’t want anyone to know.

MAN IN GROUP 3That’s probably why his kid ishere. It’s Charlie’s way of staying in touch. At least we know he gotan invitation to the Reunion.

SECOND MAN GROUP 3

Staying in touch? Hell, We never heard from him after graduation.

In another part of the ballroom, Charlie is surrounded by the former athletes who escorted him in. Each is contributing a story about the Charlie Malloy they remember.

NICK DIMOPOLOUSYour Dad was the greatest all-round athlete Franklin High ever had. And also the brightest and most talented student.

JAKE MIDDLETOWNAnd the last four-letter manwe ever had, too -- football,basketball, baseball, and track.If we had had soccer and hockey teams, he would have won letters in them, too.

7

DAVE TRYONIn football, your Dad coulddo it all, run, pass, punt, block, tackle, you name it.

JAKE MIDDLETONRemember that big game with Wilson High. Unbelievable!

(puts an arm around Charlie)Picture this, Kid. We’re two points behind, with fifteen seconds left and the ball on the two-yard line. Your Dad starts running toward thegoal line, but he can’t find a hole to score because he’s surrounded by the whole damn Wilson team.

NICK DIMOPOLOUS can’t resist chiming in.

NICK DIMOPOLOUSCharlie’s trapped. Absolutely trapped. So what does he do? He starts scampering like crazyin the opposite direction, you know like that wrong-way Riegels

guy in that Rose Bowl game way back. Scared the crap out of us. That was it, we thought. Game over. Wilson High wins.

DAVE TRYON What happened next was incredible.Charlie stops running, turns around, glances at the goal posts, and drop-kicks the ball between the uprights for a field goal to beat Wilson by a point. Nobody had ever seen a drop kick before. Charlie always used his brain. That’s why the coach let him call his own plays.

NICK DIMOPOLOUSBut you know something. All thatsuccess never went to Charlie’shead. In fact, he said somethingabout his achievements I’ll neverforget. He said enjoy the memory, but don’t live in the past.

8

JAKE MIDDLETONLike Nick here said, he never had a swelled head. But sometimeswe couldn’t figure out what was going on in that head of his. He was always thinking, like he was on Cloud 9 or something.

TRUDY WILCOX, DOLLY HENDRICKS, and BARBARA SABATINI approach. Trudy pulls Charlie away.

TRUDY WILCOX You men have monopolized the boy

long enough. Now it’s our turn.

The women gather around Charlie.

DOLLY HENDRICKSYour Dad was some guy. National HonorSociety, Class President, Valedictorian.

BARBARA SABATINI

All the teachers loved him.He was so smart. And polite.

TRUDY WILCOXAnd the girls went wild over him,like Cynthia Loomis who married him.

(tucking Charlie under his chin)Look at the gorgeous son they produced.

DOLLY HENDRIXHow is your mother? Pretty as ever, I’ll bet. Is she here tonight?

Charlie is quiet for a moment.

CHARLIEShe died. A long time ago.

The women groan in unison.

DOLLY HENDRIXOh, we’re so sorry. We never heard. Such a wonderful person. So that’s why we haven’t seenCharlie all these years.

(hesitant)Did he ever re-marry?

9

CHARLIENo.

A tipsy JOE COLLINS blusters his way in, glass in hand and his eye on Charlie.

COLLINS (surly)How’s your big-shot father? Still think he’s the king of the hill? I suppose he feels too important to come back to see us little folksin the old hometown.

CHARLIEYou must have him confusedwith someone else.

Overhearing Collins’ remark, his classmate, JERRY BAUMAN, pulls Charlie aside.

BAUMANDon’t listen to that loser,Kid. He was always jealous ofyour Dad, who was a real winner.

CHARLIEI know.

Collins skulks off to the bar to refill his glass. TrudyWilcox joins Charlie and Bauman.

TRUDY WILOXCollins never amounted to much. And he’s a good candidate formembership in Alcoholics Anonymous.

JERRY BAUMANSo you’re Charlie, Junior. You’re the image of your Dad. I was on the track team with him.Pole-vaulting, believe it or not.

(glancing at Collins)That Collins schmuck’s beenholding a grudge against himall these years. Your Dad beathim out for quarterback, and for captain of the baseball team.

10

BAUMAN(continue)

Even worse, the creep tells everyone your Dad stole his girl, Cynthia, who your Dadlater married. Isn’t that a laugh?

TRUDY WILCOXAnd Gladys Hickman tried to make us all believe she and your Dad were an item. That’sanother laugh. But to this day she still fancies him.

(nods toward the bar)

That’s her boozing at the bar near Collins. She’s become quite a lush. Probably could drink him under the table any day of the week.

ON GLADYS HICKMAN AND JOE COLLINS - CHARLIE’S POV

GLADYS is drinking by herself, her back turned to the crowd, while the sullen Collins drinks and glowers at everyone.

ON CHARLIE AND OTHERS

Charlie glances at Collins sympathetically, then speaks quietly to Trudy and Jerry.

CHARLIEIt must be agonizing to thinkthe way Mister Collins does. All that hurt and animosity inside. He needs help.

JERRY BAUMANHe’s beyond help.

CHARLIENo one’s beyond help.

JERRY BAUMAN(turning to the others)

Will you listen to the young maven here. How old are you, Kid? Seventeen? Eighteen?

11

CHARLIETwenty-one.

ON JOE COLLINS Joe Collins, pretty much in his cups, is obnoxiously horning in on conversations, backslapping classmates, and making a nuisance of himself.

Everyone tries to avoid him.

Finally, he returns to the bar for a refill. He takes his

drink to an empty table and sits alone, sullen and morose.

ON SCENE

Charlie excuses himself, leaves the others, and approaches Collins.

CHARLIEMind if I join you, Mister Collins?

Joe looks up blearily

COLLINSFor what, to give me a lotof crapola about the glorydays of your illustrious Dad?Where is the big-shot, anyway?

CHARLIEIf you’ve got a moment, I justwanted to talk.

COLLINSWhat’s a snot-nosed kid likeyou got to tell me, huh? Howto win the lottery, maybe?

That’ll be the day. I’d offeryou a drink, but you don’t look like the drinking type.

(eyes Charlie sullenly))Okay. My office hours are now open. So sit. What have I got to lose?

CHARLIEThanks.

12

Charlie smiles and sits down.

COLLINSSo talk! What pearls of wisdomare you going to drop in my lap?

CHARLIEThe past. Sometimes it can be a big albatross around

your neck.

COLLINSFrom where I’m sitting, Kid,the future don’t look none too bright, either.

CHARLIEYou’re not going to have much of a future if you keep onhating. It’s not healthy.Hate eats away at your soul.

COLLINSWhat the hell do you know about it? You’re still wet behind the ears.

CHARLIEWell, I know this. That hatreddoesn’t hurt the one who ishated but the one who’s doingthe hating. Your old classmate,Charlie Malloy, isn’t being hurt by your hate. You are. And your family. Hate alienates people.

Collins takes a swig of his drink.

COLLINSOh, so that’s why people walkon the other side of the street when they see me coming?

(suddenly blustering)You know, I used to be a damn good athlete.

CHARLIEI know, Mister Collins.

13

COLLINS(surprised)

You do?

CHARLIEYes, I know all about that

touchdown pass you caughtin the last seconds of thegame with Eastwood High.

Collins is touched and begins to soften.

COLLINSSo your Dad told you about it. Well, that’s something. Really something. Nice to hear.

(warmly)Call me Joe. You know, in thatgame, he threw the most perfect pass you ever saw. And with only six seconds to play. He really was good. The best all-around athlete we ever had.

(suddenly becomes maudlin)Hell, kid, I don’t know whereI went wrong. They say I’m a loser, and maybe they’re right.

CHARLIENot a loser, Joe. Just a little lost.

COLLINS(choking up

Lost? Well, too late to find myself. Too late for lots of things. My wife and kids hardly talk to me.

CHARLIEIt’s never too late, Joe.

COLLINSI wouldn’t know where to start.

He is about to swallow his drink.

CHARLIEYou can start by saying no to this.

14

Charlie gently lifts the glass from Joe’s hand and puts it aside. Joe is startled but strangely offers no resistance

CHARLIEAnd I’ll pass on some advicefrom your classmate, Charlie Malloy.

COLLINSMaybe it’s too late for yourFather’s advice.

CHARLIECharlie Malloy doesn’t believe in dwelling on all those touchdowns and all the cheering. Enjoy the memory, but don’t live in the past. Let the dead bury the dead.And there’s something else he would want you to know.

Charlie bends close to Collins and whispers in his ear.Collins’ eyes light up, and soon, tears begin to trickle down his cheeks.

Charlie continues to talk to Joe, but we don’t hear what he is saying.

Nearby, Collins’ wife, SANDRA, who is chatting with some classmates, glances at her husband and Charlie. Charlie pats Collins’ shoulder, and the emotional Collins responds by squeezing Charlie’s arm gently.

CHARLIEI’d better go now. You’ll befine. Trust me.

As Charlie walks off. Sandra Collins watches him quizzically.Then she approaches the wet-cheeked Collins.

SANDRAHaving another one of yourdrunken sob fests? You’re pathetic. What did that boy say to you, anyway?

Collins is silent. But his sulleness has vanished. Sandra is puzzled and impatient.

15

SANDRAWell?

COLLINSYou’ll only laugh, Sandra.

SANDRATry me.

COLLINSHe said, never forget thatGod loves you, even if youbelieve no one else does.Imagine a kid saying that.

Sandra is surprised and shaken.

SANDRAHe said that? The Malloy kid said that?

COLLINSYeah, and some other things, too. I don’t know why, but it all rang so true. Not only what he said, but the way he said it. He listenedto me, too. He really listened.

(laughs ruefully)When was the last time anybodyreally listened to me? And he didn’t scold, or criticize, or blame. I, I --

He breaks down and can’t finish. Sandra stares at him, her face struggling with conflicting emotions. Finally, she embraces him.

A woman rushes in shouting excitedly.

FIRST WOMANHey, everybody, they’re gettingready for the Class Prophecies.Grab yourself a seat.

SECOND WOMANMust be something new? I don’tremember them doing that before.

Classmates head for their seats, some grousing and grumbling.

16

FIRST MANWho the hell can rememberwhat we wrote thirty years ago? And who cares, anyway.

SECOND MANSo we’ll all be surprised.

FIRST MANWhen do we eat? I’m starved.

FIRST WOMANThe Reunion Committee’s cooked up some kind of show first.Later on, there’s a big buffet.

At a table JACK HENSON is fussing with a slide projector while two other men are setting up a screen.

Everyone hastens to chairs arranged for the screening. As they begin settling into their seats, MITCH DALTON, the Master of Ceremonies, picks up a microphone.

MC DALTONWelcome classmates, and spouses,partners, and significant others.And even you insignificant others.Welcome to the thirtieth reunionof the class of 1977, FranklinHigh School. Before you overdoseon too much boozing and schmoozingWe’re going to open the officialproceedings with those prophetic words you wrote in our yearbook in those days of your callow youththirty years ago. They’re your words, so I should warn you, throwing rotten tomatoes in this direction is not only unseemly, vulgar, and rude, but strictly prohibited.

Moans, groans, and heckling from the audience.

MC DALTON(continued)

Besides, I just bought this suit for the occasion.

As the MC continues, Charlie heads for the adjoining patio.

17

EXT. PATIO - NIGHT

Charlie exits the ballroom to breathe in the cool summer evening air on the patio.

INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT

MC DALTONYes, We’re going to do somethingwe’ve never done before. We’re going back to the past to readyour future, way back in time to have a peek at those plans, those prophecies you made in aa weak moment of delirious and delusional adolescence.

He is greeted with more moans, groans, and heckling.

MC DALTON(continued)

You see, this Reunion committee is more sadistic than the previousones, who thought they were so compassionate. That is to say, they didn’t have the guts to embarrass those folks who never became President, or millionaires, or the head of General Motors as they had predicted. But we have guts.

HECKLERSounds more like gall to me.

More groans from the audience.

MC DALTONAnd just to show you that we’re not the low-tech dinosaurs our kids think we are, we’re going high tech. That is, if you consider 35-millimeter slides high tech in these digital days.

(turning to Jack Henson)

So let’s have a big hand for Jack Henson, who put together this lavish, stupendous, colossal production you’re about to see.

18

MC DALTON(continued)

He’s the same all-thumbsJack Henson who flunked all his science, math, and shop courses. He’s now selling pretzels for a living on the corner of Main and Broadway. And he’s offering discounts to all his classmates.

Jack Henson waves victoriously amid laughs and wild cheering.

MC DALTON(continued)

Okay, Jack, lights out. Startcranking up our time machine.

SERIES OF SLIDE PHOTOS

The series is in alphabetical order with yearbook photos and future plans of classmates appearing on the screen.

But we get only a sampling, during which one group of letters will DISSOLVE and skip to a later group to suggest the passage of time. For example, the A’s and B’s will skip to the the G’s, then to the J’s, etc.

During the screening, there will be a variety of reactions from the audience -- laughs, cheers, groans, applause.

SAMPLING OF PHOTOS AND PROPHECIES

SLIDE 1: BRIDGET ANDERSON, FUTURE PLANS: To become a nurse like my Aunt Clara.

SLIDE 2: MICHAEL ATKINS, FUTURE PLANS: To go on to college.

SLIDE 3: SAMUEL BARONI, FUTURE PLANS: To learn how to fly.

SLIDE 4: SARAH GILPIN, FUTURE PLANS: To be a dress designer.

SLIDE 5: MARVIN JESPERSON, FUTURE PLANS: To become a doctor.

EXT. PATIO - NIGHT

As the slide program continues in the ballroom, Charlie is enjoying the fresh air on the patio.

19

Suddenly a tipsy GLADYS HICKMAN sidles up to him, a drink in her hand. Her speech is slurred.

GLADYSWell, young man, you sure havebecome the talk of the evening.

(staring incredulously)My God, if you’re not the spittingimage of your father.

CHARLIEEveryone keeps telling me that.

Her eyes crawl over him lasciviously. She moves closer.

GLADYSThe only reason I came tonightis because I thought your Dadwould be here. But I got a feeling he’s a no-show likeall the other times.

She teeters a bit, and Charlie tries to steady her.

CHARLIEAre you all right?

GLADYS(leaning on him)

You know, I had quite a thing for that Dad of yours. Did he ever mention me, Gladys Hickman? I was one of the cheerleaders doing all those goddamned cartwheels and back flips whenever he scored touchdowns for dear old Lincoln High. I even got laryngitis a coupleof times from all the yelling

and screaming I did.

She leans on him more intimately and grazes his cheek with her hand.

GLADYS(continued)

Your Dad sure scored a lot of touchdowns. Trouble is, I could never get him to score with me.

20

GLADYS(continued)

Oh, we smooched a few times, but that was about it! The real apple of his eye was thatCynthia Loomis.

CHARLIEYes, I know.

GLADYSYour Dad didn’t know what he was missing.

(breathing heavily)Tell you what, Honey. Let’s makeup for his big mistake and his egregious error of omission.

(pointing)The big blue job over there.That’s my car. Plenty of room for doing a little more than smooching. I’m not that old, really. You know, Fortyish is considered young these days.

She places her hands on his cheek, rubs her body against his, and gazes sensually into his eyes.

Suddenly, a sharp, angry voice.

STEVE HICKMAN (O. S.)For cripes sake, Gladys, he’s only a kid! Don’t you ever get tired of robbing the cradle?

Still clinging to Charlie, she turns as her husband,

STEVE HICKMAN, approaches.

GLADYSWhat’s the harm? You’re not jealous of a kid, are you? Hell, he’s the son of a classmate. And it’s a reunion. Party time, Steve. Lighten up.

STEVEYeah! I know your kind of partytime. Act your age. You’re old enough to be his mother.

21

STEVE(turning to Charlie)

Sorry, kid. She gets carried away sometimes. Thinks she’sstill in high school

Charlie smiles. Gladys wraps an arm around him.

GLADYSWell, I’ll give him a big hug for the road, anyway. Nothing wrong in that.

She squeezes Charlie tightly, and her hand begins caressing the back of his neck.

GLADYS(whispering in his ear)

It was more than a crush on your Dad. I loved him. Still do.

CLOSE ON HER HAND

Her hand moves along the back of Charlie’s neck, then stops momentarily. The movement continues, but cautiously, and unsurely.

CLOSE ON GLADYS’S FACE

Her eyes express uncertainty.

TIGHT ON HER HAND

It again grazes along Charlie’s neck.

ON SCENE

Gladys peers deeply into Charlie’s eyes, then gasps.

GLADYSI think I’m going to be sick.

She hastens back to the ballroom. Steve Hickman is at a loss. He glances at Charlie and shrugs.

STEVEWomen! Who the hell can figure? You’ll find out when you’re a little older.

22

Steve soon follows Gladys. Charlie waits a moment, then moves to the patio doorway and peers into the ballroom.

INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT

The slide show has now reached the names beginning with the letter M, and the MC is concluding his comments about another classmate.

ON SLIDFILM SCREEN

JENNIFER MAGGIORE

FUTURE PLANS: To play violin in the Boston symphony orchestra

MC DALTONSo our would-be violinist for the Boston Symphony, Jennifer Maggiore, instead became the mother of six wonderful children.

(a beat)Which proves that she continuedto fiddle around anyway. With herhusband, that is. Let’s hear itfor Jennifer.

JENNIFER MAGGIORE stands up to a burst of applause.

MC DALTON(continued)

We’re still on the M’s, and next up is the man who unfortunately isn’t here at the moment. But we have high hopes he’ll show up soon. He’s a man none of us will ever forget, a man close to our hearts, the only student in our school’s history who ever earnedletters in four sports, and yet had the brains to become a National Honor student and our Class Valedictorian -- the one, the only, the great Charlie Malloy!

The room explodes with applause.

23

ON SLIDE-FILM SCREEN

As the applause continues, the screen displays images of Charlie Malloy as star of football, baseball, basketball, and track.

They evoke loud CHANTING by his classmates.

GROUPCharlie! Charlie! Charlie!

CLOSE ON JOE COLLINS

He gradually joins in the chanting.

ON SCENE

GROUPCharlie! Charlie! Charlie!

Soon the chanting builds to a crescendo.

As the chanting continues, suddenly ex-cheerleader LORETTA CARLSON, now heavier than in her high school days, leaps to the floor exuberantly and performs a cartwheel to boisterous applause.

She straightens up a bit unsteadily, then begins yelling one of the school’s familiar cheers.

LORETTA CARLSONFranklin, Franklin Franklin High!Charlie! Charlie! He’s our guy!

Her classmates go wild, particularly the men.

FIRST MANAtta girl, Loretta!

SECOND MANHow about an encore, Loretta?

Loretta obliges, but this time stumbles. Several men rushto her aid as everyone cheers.

WOMANShe was always a showoff.

24

SECOND WOMANWhat do you expect from an ex-cheerleader? Even so, you got to hand it to her.She did it without any helpfrom Jenny Craig.

With some difficulty, MC Dalton finally quiets the audience. He scans the room expectantly, then glances at his watch.

MC DALTON Well, I’m inclined to believe that good old Charlie must have been indisposed, And maybe that’s why his son is here as sort of a proxy.

(scanning the room)Where are you young Malloy?

Heads turn, and soon everyone sees Charlie silhouetted in the patio doorway. He waves and they all wave back.

MC DALTON (continued)

Even though we haven’t seen Big Charlie for ages, we’re sure that whatever future plans hewrote down thirty years ago have come to pass. Okay, Jack, next slide, please.

ON CHARLIE

As the projector beams the next image, Charlie begins backing into the patio.

ON SCENE

MC DALTONOkay, folks, now for the moment of truth. Let’s have a look at Charlie’s prophecy.

ON SLIDE-FILM SCREEN

The words Charlie Malloy wrote 30 years before in the class yearbook appear on the screen. They read:

25

CHARLES MALLOY

FUTURE PLANS: TO FIND THE GOLDEN KEY THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO ETERNAL LIFE.

ON AUDIENCE

There is dead silence as Charlie’s classmates read his prophecy. Then, gradually, a collective GASP.

ON JOE AND SANDRA COLLINS

They exchange looks of incredulity.

COLLINSThat kid -- he’s, he’s --I can’t believe it.

Suddenly, a chilling scream o. s. from Gladys Hickman.

ON GLADYS HICKMAN

Screaming, she dashes wildly toward the patio.

GLADYSCharlie! Oh, Charlie!

EXT. PATIO -- NIGHT

Charlie takes a last look into the ballroom, scans the faces of his classmates, and speaks quietly.

CHARLIEFarewell, dear friends and classmates. It’s been wonderful seeing you all again. I hope someday you, too, will find what I have found.

Charlie walks away, then vanishes into the night.

Moments later, Gladys Hickman rushes on to the patio. She looks around anxiously, breathlessly. Tears gush down her cheek.

GLADYSCharlie. It’s you, isn’t it?Where are you?

26

Joe Collins and his wife appear at the patio doorwayand observe Gladys. Joe begins scanning the skies.

COLLINSThanks Charlie. I won’t forget what you said. Never.

ON GLADYS

Gladys falls to her knees.

GLADYSOh, Charlie! Charlie! Take me with you. Please!

(sobbing)Must I wait another thirty years?

FADE TO BLACK

Over Black SUPER the following words:

“Yet some there be that by due steps aspire To lay their just hands on that golden key That opens the palace of eternity.”

-- John Milton, Comus 1:13

“If I desire to remain on this plane for one hundred, two hundred, or five hundred years, I can. It is possible to accomplish this because life is eternal.”

-- Joel Goldsmith, The World Is New

DISSOLVE TO

SUPER THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

Charlie Malloy’s wife died in California a few years after their marriage. They had no children. He never remarried. He spent the ensuing years searching the world’s sanctuaries and solitudes, seeking out spiritual masters and mystics, and studying the world’s scriptures and esoteric literature for answers to the riddle of life and the mystery of death. His search ended when he finally found the Golden Key.

FADE OUT

THE END