OVER BLACK

PAT
What, are you kidding me? Sundays?
I love Sundays. I live for Sundays.
The whole family's together. Mom
makes braciole. Dad puts the jersey
on. We're all watching the game.
Yeah, it drives me crazy, and yes,
I was negative.

FADE IN ON:

INT. KAREL PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY/PAT'S ROOM - DAY

PAT SOLATANO stands in the middle of his room, his back to
camera.

PAT (CONT'D)
You didn't even know that I loved
it, Nikki, but I did. I just didn't
appreciate it, or you, before."
There is a knock at the door.




MALE ORDERLY (O.S.)
Come on. Time to go.

PAT
I lost all that. I blew it. But you
also blew it. We can get it back.
We're gonna get it back. It's all
gonna be better now. I'm better now
and I hope you are, too. And I'm

GONNA APPRECIATE--"
Another knock at the door. Pat ignores it.

PAT (CONT'D)
Hey, I'll be there in a minute,
okay?

MALE ORDERLY (O.S.)
Doctor's waiting. Let's go.

PAT
I'll be there in a minute.
Pat returns to his speech.

3.






PAT (CONT'D)
That's true love.
See glimpses of Pat's room: mayonnaise jar filled with water,
black trash bag strewn on the bed, handwritten sign taped to
Pat's wall, "EXCELSIOR".

INT. PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY/ HALLWAY - DAY


PAT HURRIES DOWN THE STAIRS.



INT. PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY/ DISPENSARY - DAY


PAT HOLDS SMALL PAPER CONTAINER WITH PILL.

TIPS HIS HEAD BACK AND DUMPS THE PILL INTO HIS MOUTH.
DRINKS WATER, OPENS MOUTH WIDE AND STICKS HIS TONGUE OUT to
show he swallowed.

PAT WALKS, SPITTING OUT THE PILL. PILL LANDS ON FLOOR.






INT. PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY/ROOM - DAY


A GROUP OF PATIENTS SEATED IN A CIRCLE WITH A DOCTOR, HAVING

A GROUP THERAPY SESSION. PAT IS INCLUDED.

DANNY
Yeah, that's when I had long hair.
People say I talk about my hair too
much.





DANNY SITS BETWEEN TWO OTHER MALE PATIENTS.

DANNY (CONT'D)
And it was just the way I wanted
it, but he cut it back too far. He
cut this side back too far trying
to even it up. I didn't tell him to
do that. I said, "Just cut it the
way you cut it...."

PAT
Once you get in the right frame of
mind, I think anything's possible.
I think we get, we so often get
caught in this state of negativity
and it's a, it's a poison like
nothing else.

4.



EXT. PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY - DAY

PAT works out: drinks water from his plastic mayo jar, does
squats, sit ups, push ups --

A WOMAN'S FOOT STEPS INTO FRAME NOT FAR FROM HIS FACE -- WITH

RED TOE NAILS IN A WHITE FLAT SANDAL --
Pat looks at the foot -- then looks up --
HIS MOTHER, DOLORES SOLATANO, dressed in a dress.

INT. PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY/HALLWAY - DAY


CAMERA TILTS UP OVER A MALE DOCTOR, DR. TIMBERS, AS HE WALKS

WITH DOLORES. PAT FOLLOWS. CAMERA MOVES BACK WITH THEM.

DR. TIMBERS
...technically, you can take him
out against our recommendation,
but you assume a lot of liability
in the eyes of the court. And he's
just getting used to the routine
here.

DOLORES
I don't want him to get used to the
routine here. Eight months is
already long enough.



INT. PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY/OFFICE - DAY


CS - A FORM WITH THE HEADING:

HOSPITAL DISCHARGE APPROVAL FORM

PART OF THE FORM, WHICH STATES:

ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE HOSPITAL BEARS NO LIABILITY

DOLORES SIGNS HER NAME.



INT. DOLORES'S CAR - DAY


PAT CLOSES THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR, GETTING INTO THE FRONT

PASSENGER SEAT. DOLORES IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE, DANNY APPEARS., CARRYING A SUITCASE.

PAT
Hey, Mom. Can we give Danny a ride
to North Philly?

DOLORES STOPS THE CAR.

5.



DOLORES
What? I don't understand.

PAT
Mom, no, it'll be fine. It'll be
fine.

DANNY OPENS THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND GETS INTO THE CAR

WITH HIS SUITCASE.

DANNY
I guess everybody's leaving today!
Hello, Mrs. S. An honor to finally
meet you. Pat told me all about
you, how God made you rich in