VeStranded Productions

EXT. CITY BUS STOP - MID DAY - WINTER

People wait at the bus stop. It is a cold winter night.

A YOUNG WOMAN (20’s) carries a baby in a papoose, and is holding a THREE YEAR OLD GIRL hand. They are sitting on the bus stop bench.

The little girl is bundled up in a winter coat with a hood. She can barely put her arms down. Her eyes peek out over the scarf that is around her neck and covering the lower part of her face.

A man is in a long trench coat very business like with a brief case and a newspaper under his arm stand in front of the bench where the woman sits.

TWO YOUNG MALES (18 and 19 years old) stand outside the bus shelter freezing because they only have hooded sweet shirts on. They are smoking their cigarettes and bouncing back and forth to try to keep warm.

OLD BENNY (mid 60’s) walks up to the shelter. He walks past the two young males and they watch him and whisper to each other. Old Benny steps into the shelter where the woman and the business man sit.
Old Benny stands at the entrance of the shelter and turns around so his back is facing the people sitting on the bench. He leans on the wall of the shelter and sighs.

A bus pulls up and the business man slips out of the shelter trying not to touch Old Benny.
The bus doors open and the man enters the bus.

Old Benny turns and sits on the bench.

The young child stares at him wide eyed. Her hood on her coat covers most of her head and she just stares. Her mother taps her but the child does not budge.

Old Benny realizes the child staring.  He pulls his hands from deep in his pockets and waves at her and smiles.

The little girl waves back, barley moving.

The woman switches seats with the child. The child peeks around her mother to keep looking at Old Benny.

Old Benny starts talking to an imagery friend. 

                                                                 OLD BENNY
                                                     I know she is still looking at me... 

The mother now stands up, grips the 3 years old hand and steps close to the entry way of the shelter. She sticks her head outside the shelter and looks down the street. Then holds out her arm and pulls back the sleeve of her large winter coat, to check her watch. Then looks down the street again. 

                                                            OLD BENNY (CONT’D)
                                                       I know she thinks I'm crazy... 

The little girl peeks around her mothers legs to watch Old Benny. The woman continues to looks down the street. Finally she sees the bus. She looks relieved and just stands there waiting. 

                                                            OLD BENNY (CONT’D)
                                         Maybe if you stop talking to me people would think I was so crazy! 

The bus stops and the doors open the woman steps onto the bus and sits in the seat. The small child puts her face up against the window and watches Old Benny as the bus pulls away. Old Benny waves to her.

The two young men finish their smoke and step into the shelter.

                                                             YOUNG MALE #1
                                                When does the 15 get here man?

Young male #2 looks at his watch. 

                                                             YOUNG MALE #2
                                                         It‘ll be her soon.

                                                             OLD BENNY
                                               Why don't you shut up. No one is talking to you. 

                                                              YOUNG MALE #2
                                                       What did you say old man?

                                                               OLD BENNY
                                                                      Nothing I was telling him to shut up. 

                                                               YOUNG MALE #1
                                                                 Me? 

                                                                OLD BENNY
                                                                No him! 

                                                                 YOUNG MALE #2
                                             What the hell is wrong with you old man?

                                                                  YOUNG MALE #1
                                      Why don’t you shut up old man. You’re starting to piss me off.
                                                                                   (Looking at male #2)
                                                              When the hell is that bus getting here?

                                                                   OLD BENNY
                                                              Don't you get on it!

                                                                 YOUNG MALE #2
                                                              Hey are you drunk or something? 

                                                                    OLD BENNY
                                                    Shut up I said, no one is talking to you. 

Old Benny jumps up from the bench. 

                                                                   YOUNG MALE #2
                                           Look you old bastard, why don't you just claim down. 

                                                                    OLD BENNY
                                            I mean it you shut up, or I will ring your neck.

                                                                    YOUNG MALE #1
                                                           Hey ass hole. 

The young male #1 shoves Old Benny. Old Benny falls to the bench. Scarred. The young male #1 grabs Old Benny by coat.

                                                                     OLD BENNY
                                             I don't want any trouble. I just wish he would shut up. 

Young male #1 slugs Old Benny in the mouth. 

                                                                     YOUNG MALE #1
                                                        Why don't you shut up you crazy bastard. 

Old Benny brings his hands up to cover his face. He is coward on the bench.
Young male #2 pulls on the man ones sweet shirt.

                                                                      YOUNG MALE #2
                                      Leave him alone he is whacked out of his mind. Here comes the bus. 

Young male #2 lets go of Old Benny's coat and steps backwards slowly. 

                                                                                                          YOUNG MALE #1
                                                                             Come on!

The bus stops and the door opens. The two young males get on the bus. BUS DRIVER #1 (late 40’s) greets the two man then sees Old Benny still covering his face on the bench. 

                                                                      BUS DRIVER #1
                                                                         Benny! Benny!

Old Benny uncovers his face, his lip is bloody. Bus Driver #1 gets up from his seat and steps off the bus. 

                                                                  BUS DRIVER #1 (CONT’D)
                                                   Are you alright? What happened to you? 

                                                                      OLD BENNY
                                                   Samuel...that damn Samuel. 

Bus Driver #1 helps Old Benny up and walks him over to the bus. 

                                                                    BUS DRIVER #1
                                                    I’ll drop you off at the soup kitchen. 

They climb the bus stairs and Old Benny sits in the seat behind the bus driver. Bus Driver #1 shuts the door and the bus pulls away.