Opose Issue 2

Page 1
1. Carson lies in bed, feverish, tossing and turning. Sweat stands on his forehead and cheeks and there's a metal bowl beside him.
2. Shaun sits on the edge of the bed, watching him. He holds a bowl of chicken noodle soup in one hand.
Shaun: Shh… everything's going to be okay. This will all end soon.
3. He wipes the sweat off of Carson's brow with a damp washcloth.
Carson: You said that before.
4. Shaun looks down at the soup.
Shaun: Well, it's true.
5. Carson opens his eyes a bit, squinting at Shaun.
Carson: When?
Page 2
1. Shaun pulls a full spoonful of soup from the bowl.
Shaun: Sooner than you'd think.
2. He holds the spoon out to Carson, his free hand under it to catch any drips.Carspn looks at it, not wanting any.
Shaun: Now, open up.
Carson: What is it?
3. Shaun shrugs.
Shaun: Chicken noodle soup. Come on, you have to eat something.
4. Carson turns away from it, onto his side. He hunches his shoulders, his back the only thing showing.
Carson: I don't want it. I'll just throw it up.
Page 3
1. Shaun grabs his shoulder, pulling him back.
Shaun: That doesn't matter.
2. Carson lies on his back again, wincing a little.
Shaun: You may throw it up, but you'll still get some nutrients from it.
3. He pours the soup into Carson's mouth.
Shaun: So eat it.
Page 4
1. The moon rises.
2. Carson sleeps, still sweating, his metal bowl removed.
3. Shaun paces in the living room, his cell phone up to his ear.
Shaun: Yeah, I'm not going to be in for a little while. I'm helping a friend. Turns out he's really sick.
4. Shaun checks Carson's temperature.
Page 5
1. Carson sleeps.
2. Shaun sits on the roof of the building, just looking out over the city. There are a lot of equally spaced trees, rooftops, and the major part of the city in the distance. It's a clear and sunny day.
3. Carson sits up in bed, finally looking healthy; he's reading a smaller book than before, Jailbird by Kurt Vonnegut jr.
4. Shaun stands in the doorway.
Shaun: How are you feeling?
5. Carson smiles at him from his bed.
Carson: A lot better, actually, thanks.
Page 6
1. Shaun smiles.
Shaun: Good.
2. Shaun bends down, one leg in the air as a counterbalance as he picks a book off of the floor.
Shaun: Your books are probably all overdue by now; you want to return them with me?
3. Carson straightens up, a bit of panic in his face.
Carson: The library?
Shaun: Yeah.
4. Carson blushes and looks away, trying to hide his face in his book.
Carson: No, I'm okay. You go ahead.
5. Shaun pulls the book down, studying Carson.
Shaun: Come on. I'll be right there beside you, you'll be fine.
Page 7
1. Carson swings his thin, bare legs out of the bed and to the floor.
Carson: It has nothing to do with my addiction. I just… I don't want to go outside, okay?
2. Shaun looks at him inquisitively.
Shaun: What, you're not afraid, are you?
3. Carson crosses his arms, defensively.
Carson: What? No!
4. Shaun leaves the room, smiling, one hand waving behind him.
Shaun: Then get dressed and let's go!
5. Carson doesn't move, looking a bit scared, eyebrows raised.
6. He looks to the ground, still unsure, but less afraid.
Page 8
1. Carson stands in his room, wearing nothing but an ill fitting t-shirt and his boxers. He is still excrutiatingly thin.
2. He picks his tattered jeans off of the ground.
3. He pulls them on.
4. He checks the door, making sure it's completely closed by pressing his eye to the crack.
Carson (whispering): Shaun?
5. He pulls his t-shirt off, over his head.
Page 9
1. There is a large scar on his side, going right underneath his protruding ribs. He touches it tenderly.
2. He buttons up a cowboy style shirt.
3. He grabs a plaid scarf as he opens the door.
4. He pokes his head out.
Carson: Shaun? Are you ready?
Page 10
1. Shaun has picked up the majority of the books, the pile tall and hard for him to hold onto. He smiles when he sees Carson.
Shaun: Here we are!
2. Shaun puts the books into a plastic grocery bag.
Shaun: You look a lot better than when I first got here. I think you may actually be okay.
3. Carson smiles uncomfortably.
4. Shaun opens the door.
Shaun: Let's go.
Page 11
1. Carson looks out but doesn't take a step.
Carson: Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to go without me?
2. Shaun steps passed him.
Shaun: No way! It's a gorgeous day! You should get some color, some vitamin d!
3. Carson looks terrified.
4. He puts one foot outside.
5. His converse touches the ground.
6. Carson sighs, outside.
Page 12
1. A car roars past right by the steps. Shaun looks down at it, perfectly fine, but Carson is petrified, his back straightening.
2. Shaun leans against the hand rail on the balcony, watching the car go.
Shaun: There's no way that's legal.
3. He turns around, but he's alone on the balcony.
Shaun: Carson?
4. He opens the door to the apartment.
Shaun: Carson?
5. He steps inside.
Shaun: Come on, this isn't funny.
Page 13
1. Carson sits on the couch, curled up in the fetal position, shivering.
Shaun: Carson?
2. Shaun kneels beside Carson. Carson doesn't look at him.
Shaun: You okay?
3. Shaun reaches out to touch Carson, but he flinches terribly.
4. Shaun pulls his hand back.
Shaun: My God, what happened to you?
5. Carson looks up, pulling his head out from behind his knees.
Carson: I can't go outside...
Page 14
1. Carson sits upright, Shaun sitting beside him. His knees are still up by his chin and he continues to shiver.
Carson: Ever since my accident. I went inside and I never came out, only to go to the library and that took a lot of effort. Effort and time. I can't do anything. I feel... I feel so scared whenever I'm out there.
2. Shaun's eyebrows knit.
Shaun: Accident?
Page 15
1. Carson looks over at him.
Carson: I was in a car accident a few years ago. It almost killed me. I was going to college at the time and when that happened... I dropped out. I couldn't go while I was healing up and I got so behind in my studies. And then I couldn't go outside. Everytime I hear a car, I think it's going to hit me. I feel as if it's after me. I... I'm not crazy, am I?
Page 16
1. Shaun ruffles his hair.
Shaun: No, you're not crazy.
2. Carson smiles, sadly.
Shaun: A bit agoraphobic, but definitely not crazy.
3. Shaun holds out his hand, Carson stares at it as if it were some kind of foreign object.
Shaun: But I'm not going to give up on you. I'm going to help you through this.
4. Carson stares at Shaun, tears welling up in his eyes.
5. He looks away from him, trying to hide the wetness with his hair.
Carson: No. You've done far too much for me already. You should go, live your own life. I don't want you to waste your life making sure I'm okay.
Page 17
1. Shaun shrugs, smiling. He's stood up, but he hasn't taken his hand away.
Shaun: I'm a nurse. It's my goal, my dream, to make people all better.
2. Carson takes his hand, shyly.
Shaun: You're helping me to fulfill my goal, so thank you.
3. Holding his hand, Shaun walks Carson to the door.
Shaun: Now, we're going to try this again. This time, I won't let go of you. If you get scared, you'll squeeze my hand, right?
4. Carson nods.
5. Shaun opens the door, looking outside again.
Shaun: I'll help you through this. If I know you're scared, we can head inside one of the shops until you feel better.
Page 18
1. Shaun draws Carson down the stairs.
2. Carson squeezes Shaun's hand as they go.
3. Shaun looks to him, worried.
Shaun: You okay? Do we need to go in?
4. Carson gets extremely close to Shaun's broad back.
Carson: No. I'm okay. Let's keep going.
5. They continue to walk.
Page 19
1. A car drives past and Carson hides behind Shaun.
Shaun: You sure about that?
2. Carson's knuckles are white, he's holding on so tightly.
Carson: Yeah, let's just get this over with.
3. They keep going, holding hands.
4. As they walk, tears stream down Carson's face. He's absolutely terrified, but he tries to hide it from Shaun.
Page 20
1. A few punk kids stand on the other side of the road, watching them.
Kid 1: Faggots!
2. Shaun flips them off.
Shaun: Don't pay attention to them.
3. They get to the library.
4. Carson sprints inside, leaving Shaun behind with the bag of books.
5. Shaun puts the books in the book drop.
Page 21
1. Carson is folded over, his hands on his knees as he pants.
2. Shaun stands before him a smile on his face.
Shaun: You did good. We didn't have to stop once.
3. Carson smiles up at him.
Carson: I wanted to.
4. Shaun wipes the dampness off of Carson's cheeks, surprising him.
Shaun: Don't worry, we'll keep working on it. Pretty soon, you'll be an all new person.
5. Carson rubs his neck, standing back up. He keeps his eyes on the ground, a sad little smile on his face.
Carson: A whole new person, huh?
Page 22
1. Shaun's eyes widen.
Shaun: Oh shit! I didn't mean it like that!
2. Carson smiles, waving him off.
Carson: Don't worry about it. I need to be a new person anyway.
3. Shaun smiles at him.
Carson: The person I've been has been really quite horrible.
Shaun: You haven't been that bad.
4. Carson smiles, his first genuine smile.
Carson: You're a good friend, you know that? I know I was really awful to you when we were kids, I don't know why you even thought about helping me.
Page 23
1. Shaun shrugs.
Shaun: As bad of a friend you were then, you shaped me into who I am today, so thank you for that.
2. Shaun hurries deeper into the library.
Shaun: Now come on! Let's get you some books.
3. Carson watches Shaun as he goes into the shelves of books.
4. He smiles awkwardly and slowly follows.
Page 24
1. Shaun looks through the CD collection.
2. Carson walks through the shelves.
3. They meet back up in the checkout section, both of them with piles of materials in their hands.
4. They stop as Carson has to go back outside.
Shaunkay, now we have to get back home. Soon you'll be able to do this without me.