TITLE: Whilom Promise

FADE IN:

Play Theme song above Song for Jesse^_^_^_^

               INT. MISS BENNIT'S HOUSE -- DAY

               The crowd is squeezed into the living room chatting with 

               each other, not caring or paying no attention to the          closed, flowerless casket in the middle of the room.

                                     MAN 1

                         She has no family left

                                     WOMEN 1

                         No one has even been in this house 

                         for the last ten years, mostly 

                         people came to see inside her house

               NEIL sits with JAYDEN.  The room goes quiet slowly as an 

               old man stands beside the casket looking down on it.  Neil 

               and Jayden witness through the crowd the man place a red 

               rose on top of the casket.  People are silent with 

               curiosity, but before anyone builds the courage to ask the 

               man a questions he exits.

               EXT. MISS BENNIT'S BACKYARD -- AFTERNOON

               Jayden sways on a old swing as Neil approaches.

                                     JAYDEN

                         Who do you suppose that man was?

                                     NEIL

                         Everyone there we all knew, towns 

                         folk wanting a reason to socialize, 

                         but I never seen him before.

                                     JAYDEN

                         You think he knew her from before, 

                         before her gardens turned gray, when 

                         she was young like us?

                                     NEIL

                         I suppose he could be any number of 

                         people

                                     JAYDEN

                         But the way he looked at her 

                         casket, he saw deeper then the wood 

                         she laid in, he seemed to see a life 

                         now withered away that his heart 

                         missed as much as his memories.

               Neil moves from behind the swing to sitting in front of her.

                                     NEIL

                         You find it romantic asking the 

                         questions only your imagination can 

                         answer?

                                     JAYDEN

                         I find a distant lover who never 

                         stopped loving romantic. I wonder if 

                         anyone will place a rose on my 

                         grave.  Will you?

                                     NEIL

                         You think you will die before me?

                                     JAYDEN

                         We've been friends for so long now, I 

                         picture you being at my funeral.

                                     NEIL

                         Well I want to see you before you 

                         die.  How about this, I will give 

                         you a rose before you die, when your 

                         ill I will stay by your side, you 

                         wont die alone.

                                     JAYDEN

                         You promise?

                                     NEIL

                         I promise

               INT. JAYDEN'S APARTMENT -- NIGHT

               Neil walks slowly through the hall following her. 

                                                                    CUT TO:

               Neil close to Jayden's face.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               Jayden standing close to Neil in the doorway

                                                                    CUT TO:

               Jayden placing her hand on Neil's face

                                                                    CUT TO:

               Them laughing on the couch.

                                                                  FADE OUT:

               Jayden kisses Neil

                                                                  FADE OUT:

recommend song: Song For Bob

               EXT. WEDDING -- AFTERNOON

               Jayden stands next to her GROOM on an overcast day.  Neil 

               walks up to the newly weds.

                                     NEIL

                         congratulations

               He first shakes the groom's hand

                                     GROOM

                         You're friend of Jayden's?

                                     NEIL

                         I go way back with Jayden

               Jayden gives him a disappointing look.  Neil pauses, 

               looking her in the eyes.

                                     JAYDEN'S MOM

                         Neil!  We have not seen you in 

                         years!

               Jayden looks off to her side breathing heavily as her MOM 

               puts her arm around him and drags him off to introduce             him to family.  Jayden excuses herself.

                                     JAYDEN  (off screen)

                         That was the last time I saw Neil

                                                                    CUT TO:

If you really want to get into it go to song: Song for Bob 3:30ish min into song

               INT. JADYN'S BED -- NIGHT

               Jayden, now an old women, lies with her DAUGHTER next to her

                                     JAYDEN (con't from off screen)

                         I thought about writing him after 

                         your father and I's divorce

                                     DAUGHTER

                         First loves always stay with you

                                     JAYDEN

                         I think that young girl inside 

                         still dreams he will keep his promise

                                     DAUGHTER

                         Mom

                                     JAYDEN

                         I imagine I'm still hanging in 

                         there for him to come, I don't want 

                         to die without that rose.

                                     DAUGHTER

                         Mom those promises had their 

                         purposes at that time.  People 

                         change.

                                     JAYDEN

                         I suppose with love so young your 

                         heart grows into a mold, and you 

                         carry that mantel with you forever

               Jayden stares out the window at the beads of water falling 

               on the window glass.

                                     JAYDEN (CONT'D)

                         I suppose he could be dead for all 

                         I know.  But still I'm waiting.

               INT. JAYDN'S BED -- LATER

               Jayden falls a sleep.  The candle next to her blows out.

               INT. MISS JAYDEN'S HOUSE -- DAY

               All around are family members, and friends. A casket decorated by flowers sits center room.

               ANGLE ON EXTREME-CLOSE UP

               An aged hand places a rose on the top of the wood casket.

                                                                  FADE OUT:

                                           END