Nora Goes To Bruxelles
SCENE 1: Nora revisits Uncle Ernie, she has blood shot eyes and frazzled hair (then again, so does Ernie...)
Nora: My son can't speak,
But I know what he says.
I know you don't listen,
But you will hear me!
You're a danger to society,
You should be put out of my misery.
When you're with your brother,
You might drink and swear,
But not around the boy.
No, not around my boy.
(dragging sweaty fingers through her hair)
NEVER around my son!
[Nora pulls a flashy revolver out of her purse and shakily
approaches Ernie]
If you come near us,
If you look at my son,
I WILL END IT!
You'll never be around my boy.
No, not around my boy.
NEVER around my son!
[Ernie looks Nora in the eyes, grinning. He stares her down as she
holds the gun to his face.]
SCENE 2: Nora and Tommy are packed, she confronts Frank.
Nora:
Now we are packed.
Now we are gone.
Now make your choice.
Will you come with us?
Will you follow me?
Or stay with your brother?
Frank:
He isn't worth it.
How absurd he can be.
I will come with you.
I love you.
Nora:
Then let's be gone.
I've booked the plane.
We're off to Bruxelles.
Whatever waits in Bruxelles,
We shall soon see.
SCENE 3: The plane
Pete (narrating):
Welcome to the air.
You can go anywhere.
Let your senses soar,
To the horizon and beyond.
[Frank kisses Nora's cheek, Nora clutches Tommy's hand]
[Diversion into the mind of Tommy]
Tommy:
Father, we are flying.
I can see you.
I can feel you.
Father?
[Captain Walker is sitting beside Tommy, Then the
stars go by and Tommy turns into little Tommy and sits in his
father's lap. They fly over Twin Tower Bridge; around Big Ben;
then out of the city over fields; passing running horses on a
stormy, lightening filled night; suddenly the sky is clear again
and they fly over the channel.]
[Back to reality]
Nora:
Tommy, you're flying.
Do like it?
Do you feel just like your dad?
[Tommy is grinning so big that you think his seat can't contain his smile]
Tommy can you hear me?
Listen while I tell you.
Oh, how I loved your dad.
And now I love you,
But you'll never go.
No, I'll never let you go.
Your mind isn't empty,
You know what I mean.
Tommy write your symphony,
But when you are healed,
You won't fly.
I won't let you fly.
You are my flesh.
You are my son,
And forever I will hold you close.
[Nora gathers Tommy in her arms and pulls him to her lap]
Pete (still on the plane):
Now we have landed.
Now you are here.
What will come next?
Where will you go?
What will you do?
Follow your guide.
Follow your son's lead.
Listen to the voice inside.
You've heard it before.
SCENE 4: in the scuzzy motel
[Frank took Tommy out early for man-to-man bonding time. Nora wakes up in a fright, searching
for her son.]
Nora:
Tommy where are you?
Tommy where are you?
Frank, Tommy!
Frank?
I am alone.
The room is dark and cold,
Yet I sweat.
They aren't here.
Where could they be?
I don't know if he'll be back.
I live only to wait.
[After frantically searching the motel and the neighborhood, she grabs the only faithful
thing left, her bottle of brandy. She drags herself along
the streets]
Soon I will sleep.
Soon I will die.
I only wish I knew,
Where you lie.
Is your head safe on a pillow?
Or crudely placed on the floor?
My only hope,
My only prayer,
Is that you're not
Sprawled in a street somewhere.
[Her agitation picks up, she pulls at her hair and pushes herself drunkenly forward]
Tommy I can't hear you!
It's been so long since I've been near you.
Tommy I don't feel you!
If your alive or not,
I wish I knew.
I'll soon depart.
I'll soon be gone,
And we will again be one.
[She collapses on a grafetied bench. Pete leans on a street light with John. He
puts out his cigarette and walks to Nora. He takes her bottle
and lets it smash in the street. Then he drags her to her feet
and takes her to her room.]
Pete (in Nora's room):
You are not lost.
You are not gone.
Wait and see.
There is still life.
There is still time.
Wait for your son.
Hold on tight,
To your light.
Wait to see.
[Frank bursts through the door. He pushes Tommy in, slapping him on the back jovially. He walks
past Nora, not noticing her state, to the refrigerator where he
pulls out a beer and then plops to watch tv]
[Nora runs and kisses her son, who still stands by the door. She cries over him and
then flashes red as she turns to glare at Frank.]
Nora:
Where did you go?
What did you do?
Not even a word!
Can you see me?
Or do I surmise,
That you don't feel me.
You don't feel my temper rise?!
Do you hear me?
Can you see the red in my eyes?
I was dead,
You took my life away.
Now you bring him home,
But you don't care to hear what I say!
You don't love me.
The caring's gone.
You should've left,
When you took away my son!
[Frank tries to speak, Nora doesn't let him.]
I don't need you.
I can't live this way.
Go on now!
Get out of our life.
Your on your own now.
Isn't that wanted,when you
met that girl in Glasgow?
[Frank turns to Pete]
Frank:
She is my wife.
They are my life.
What have you done?
What could you have said?
Foolish notions,
You've put in her head!
She won't last without me.
They can't live without me.
They need me!
[Nora ignores Franks and turns her attention to Tommy]
Pete:
I didn't have to say a thing.
She's following her voice inside.
She knows what she's doing.
She's not alone.
She has her guide.
And She has Tommy.
They don't need you.
Now, step outside.
There is nothing you can do.
[Frank wants to fight back, but he looks into Pete's eyes, and decides to
retreat.]
[Nora rocks Tommy on the floor]
[Pete puts one hand on Tommy's head and with the other he pushes back Nora's
sweaty bangs and lets it rest on the back of her head.]
SCENE 5: Nora has a job in a factory.
Nora (to herself):
I'm still not whole.
I thought I would be.
I don't know what comes next.
I have my boy.
I have my life.
But I miss something else,
Something greater.
My son is not whole,
When he is well,
Then I will be whole.
The machines chant to me.
They speak.
I hear their voice.
They tell me it will come,
That my son can hear,
But it is up to him.
I can not do it.
It must come from within.
Maybe it is the same with me.
Maybe I do not hear,
But it is up to me.
Maybe I do not see,
And it is up to me.
It must come from within.
I feel the pull.
It tugs at my heart,
I wish I knew.
SCENE 6:Nora comes home after work.
[Nora finds Tommy and Pete staring in the mirror together,
Pete stares at Tommy's reflection.]
[Nora stands by Pete with a questioning look.]
Pete (to Nora with out moving):
He hears,
He sees,
He feels,
He speaks,
But he fears.
He needs answers.
How can he be saved?
Nora:
I know.
I hear,
I see,
I feel,
But I fear.
I need answers.
How can we be saved?
Pete:
I feel it.
But where is it?
What am I searching for?
Can I find it?
I thought it was in me.
Is it in me?
Tommy's mind:
See me.
Feel me.
Touch me.
Hear me.
See me!
Feel me!
Touch me!
Heal me!
SCENE 7: still in front of the mirror,
Nora looks into the mirror where Tommy stares. She sees the
glowing orb now. Pete sees it too. Tommy follows it out the
door, Nora and Pete follow. {SONG: "FROM YOU"} They
follow it out of the city and through the pastures, they begin
climbing a hill (because there's no mountain, the cammera angle makes the hill look tall).
The glowing orb flys into the sun and the three of them stand on top of the hill,
looking at the sun. An airplane flys behind them (camera pans with the music).
Suddenly they are on the airplane, flying home.
At the terminal Pete meets his family. Nora meets some friends and the song turns
to "From Him, we get the story" etc. The whole airport gathers at the windows
and looks up. People (including Nora, Tommy, Pete's family, and now Frank joins them)
pile out of the building, staring up. The whole city of London
stops to look up and sing. The camera pulls away to a view of the
world in the sun's light. Then it comes back to Nora and Tommy
with Frank behind her. Nora and Tommy are hugging and singing and
she is crying (but not sweaty) because he is healed.]
THE END