Philip
FADE IN:
INT. NEW YORK BAR - NIGHT
It's 2 A.M. and the bar is closed. ALEX sits alone at the bar and the bartender is nowhere to be seen.
He drinks the shot in front of him, then looks around surprised that the entire establishment is void
of people. The lights are dim, but the shiny high-end shelves with backlit walls emphasize the
worldwide variety of hard liquor bottles and serves as contrasting light on Alex's face. He stares
at his reflection in the mirrors behind the bottles on the wall.
ALEX
(yelling)
Where is everyone! Where'd you all go! Goddammit.
Alex puts his head down and uses his arms as a pillow. He falls asleep, then snorts a little which
wakes him right back up, he raises his head with tired eyes looking around again. He pops off the
ritzy chrome stool and heads toward the restroom sign at the end of the bar knocking a knee in
the attempt.
ALEX
Ah fuck!
CUT TO:
Alex comes out of the bathroom struggling with his pant zipper, he stops to concentrate on
winning the battle. He zips it up catching the tip of his finger, he winces.
ALEX
Figures.
He looks up to see PHILIP sitting in his spot with two coffees. Alex gains his composure and goes
to engage the stranger.
ALEX
You're on my seat.
PHILIP
Coffee?
ALEX
How'd you get in here? The bar is closed.
PHILIP
What are doing in a gay bar? You're not gay.
ALEX
How the fuck do you know what I am or not am? Ok this is
too fucking weird.
Alex heads for the exit.
PHILIP
Wait. I need your help.
Alex pauses, turns around, walks back to the bar and sits next to Philip.
ALEX
I'm too drunk to be doing this right now. But shoot. You got my
curiosity up.
PHILIP
I'm stuck here. I need to help someone to be able to move on.
Alex moves in closer to Philip to get a better look at the stranger's face. Then leans back to his own
space again.
PHILIP
The coffee is getting cold.
Alex downs the coffee in front of him, then slams the cup on the bar shattering it.
ALEX
Shit. Guess that was too hard. You look familiar.
You don't know me so why tell me something
fucked up as if you do?
PHILIP
About that. I'm... I have special abilities.
ALEX
What, like a Psychic?
PHILIP
Yeah, something like that. So why this bar?
ALEX
Because I feel safe here. They're nice, and fun and I made a
couple friends who would make sure I would get home without a
scratch. One of them being the bartender, but I don't where the fuck
everyone went. So, what brings you in here at... fucking closing
time anyway?
PHILIP
You.
ALEX
Me? Who are you?
Alex stares intently at Philip. He turns his head and stares back at Alex just as intently.
ALEX
You look a lot like Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Philip holds his stare and smiles. His smile relaxes, then he looks away at the back mirror to look
at himself. Alex follows suit also glancing over via the mirror to look at Philip looking at himself.
PHILIP
I am. I'm stuck, and I need your help.
Alex falls off his stool, stands right back up wide eyes and he turns white from fear.
ALEX
No fucking way this is happening right now. Somebody
slipped me something strong or something.
PHILIP
No. You're right about your friends here, they would never.
I need an answer in a few minutes, or I go back to waiting.
Will you help me?
ALEX
I don't believe in ghosts, and you're a celebrity look-alike
hired to play an elaborate prank on me. So where are the cameras?
PHILIP
I'm here to help you, so you can help me find my heaven. My paradise.
ALEX
Like in the movie It's a Wonderful Life? Get the fuck out of town.
If you don't tell me what's really going on I'm calling the police.
PHILIP
That was an angel trying to get his wings. This is different. My heaven
was hidden when I fell, then I died before I could find my way back
again, and the Universe, which is actually alive, has given me a
chance by helping a soul back to light. Only way for The Universe to
stay balanced is for us to help each other. So, what do you say?
Alex faints, falls off the stool and hits the floor hard.
CROSSFADE:
We see two PATRONS pick Alex off the floor and take him to a booth. They push him in gently, and
the bartender MILAS rushes over to tend to Alex.
MILAS
What happened to him?
PATRON
I don't know, he just collapsed off the chair.
MILAS
Strange. He's breathing. He seems ok. I've got this.
The patrons acknowledge Milas and go back to their area of hang out. Milas taps on Alex's cheek.
Alex wakes up, then sits up. Alex takes a deep breath.
MILAS
Alex, you scared the shit out of me. You ok, what happened?
ALEX
Thanks, Milas. I'm alright. I think I'm going to be alright.
I've gotta go.
Milas has a concerned and confused expression at the same time, but before Milas can get
answers, Alex leaves in a hurry.
MILAS
I'll call you later!
CUT TO:
INT. AA MEETING ROOM - DAY
We see Alex at the podium addressing a small group of people.
ALEX
Hi, my name is Alex, and today is my one-year anniversary
of being sober.
The room bursts out in applause.
ALEX
(picks up a cup of coffee from the podium shelf)
Thank you. And I want to thank a fast friend I met one night exactly
one year ago, today who needed my help as much as I needed his.
To Philip who found his light again, and his paradise. You're my hero.
Alex and everyone together say TO PHILIP! then drink their coffee simultaneously in congratulatory
celebration.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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