Doubt

DOUBT A screenplay by John Patrick Shanley based on his stage play 1. 7 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING, THE BRONX. LATE OCTOBER, 1964. We’re on Beach Avenue. On the left, a block of apartment buildings glow gold in the sun. On the right, private houses. Some trees, some leaves falling. The apartment buildings are five stories high, the private homes two stories. It’s a clean, peaceful place. There’s not a soul to be seen. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - EARLY MORNING An old man plays a zither. INT. AN APARTMENT BUILDING BEDROOM - MORNING 12-year-old JIMMY HURLEY is asleep. He’s all boy, rough working class haircut, freckles. His MA comes in, still in nightclothes and shakes him. SHE TURNS ON THE LIGHT. MA Jimmy, come on. You’re serving today. The boy wakes and Ma leaves. He sits up in his pajamas. WARREN (O.S.) Christeeeen! Where’s my pants? MA (O.S.) On the bed. If they had teeth, they would’ve bit you. WARREN (O.S.) If my pants had teeth they’d be in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington. Jimmy gets out of bed. EXT. JIMMY’S BEDROOM WINDOW - MORNING There’s a fire escape. EXT. NOW WE SEE THE WHOLE ALLEY - MORNING Which is formed by these apartment buildings. It’s a strange, gloomy, expressionistic sight. Nothing but fire escapes facing each other to the left and right, a 30 foot gap of cracked concrete between. The TITLE APPEARS: (CONTINUED) 2. DOUBT EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING. A MAN OUTSIDE PLAYS THE ZITHER. JIMMY WALKS OUT TO A BEAUTIFUL DAY. ZITHER MAN Jimmy! Go to the store, buy me the newspaper and cigarettes. JIMMY Can’t. Serving mass. I’m an alter boy. EXT. SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH AND SCHOOL - DAY It’s old brown brick, more school than church in appearance. Trees. Nice place. Kevin is coming out of the candy store across the street. He and Jimmy greet each other as Jimmy heads for a side door. JIMMY Hey, Kevin! KEVIN Hey, Jimmy! INT. EMPTY CHURCH - DAY The organist sits down and prepares for mass. INT. A CHANGING ROOM BEHIND THE ALTAR - DAY A closet, a bench. It’s dimly lit. Jimmy is staring up at a painting. He turns at the sound of a door. DONALD MILLER rushes in. He’s also 12, a bit chubby, black. JIMMY There you are. Overslept. DONALD JIMMY Well, you made it. I’ll do the cruets if you light the charcoal. (CONTINUED) 3. DONALD You think I’m fat? JIMMY You’re alright. What? Clothes don’t fit? DONALD No, they fit. Donald moves to the closet; he begins to unbutton his shirt. Jimmy exits with the candle snuffer. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY The Hurleys step out of their building. MA You’re gonna be going to the bakery after mass. I am? WARREN Why don’t you go? MA I’m gonna be making breakfast. WARREN I can make breakfast. MA When have you ever? Funny man. Another man greets a woman on her way to church. INT. IN THE CHANGING ROOM - A TABLE - DAY Jimmy fills the cruets with water and wine. Donald lights the charcoal in the incense burner. Jimmy carries the cruets past Flynn, who is preparing for the service. JIMMY Good morning, Father. INT. THE CHURCH - THE ORGANIST PLAYS - DAY The choir sings HOLY GOD WE PRAISE THY NAME. (CONTINUED) 4. EXT. THE STREETS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH - DAY PARISHIONERS, all working class people, are walking church. Everyone is dressed quite nicely. The older wear hats, the younger women have napkins pinned to hair. The men are in jackets and ties; they’ve used tonic; some wear hats. People say good morning