Feathers McGraw End Of The Line Script

Inside The Forbidden Room

INT. FEATHER'S ROOM- NIGHT

Cut to an overhead shot of Feathers laid in bed staring up into the frame, his eyes wide open, a clock ticking. He's restless. He blinks and sits up.

INT. HALLWAY- NIGHT

Cut to a wide shot from the side as Feathers' door opens to the left side of the frame. To the right: the forbidden room. Feathers creeps across the frame to a standstill outside the door. A close up is shown and held of the dusty doorknob. He reaches out and holds it. He thinks as the ever ticking clock ticks with his heartbeat. He breathes and prepares for the worst that could be hidden inside. He tightens his grip on the handle and turns it gently.

INT. FORBIDDEN ROOM- NIGHT

We're shown the other side of the door as it's opened and Feathers peeks in. The door is fully pushed open and he steps inside.

Cut to a close up of his foot stepping onto white carpet as the door shuts behind him. The room is dead silent. The only time Sasha's house had been silent. The ever present ticking of a clock but a memory. His foot lifts off the carpet and takes another step forward.

The silent room is dark, but the child's bed is clearly visible. Beside, an empty IV pole. Plush penguins scatter the room, untouched, un-cuddled and get well soon cards litter the headboard.

Feathers steps towards the bed and picks up a small croquet penguin. It's small beady eyes mirror his. He holds it in his flipper and a small tag dangles. He holds it up to read: "Lancashire Zoo"

With the plush still in his arms he approaches the bedside over to the alarm clock decorated with stickers. Its hands perpetually rest, frozen at 4:45.

Cut to Feathers looking at the table, in the foreground is the back of a picture frame. His gaze is diverted from the clock to the frame. He digs in his pocket and holds out his deflated balloon. He looks down at the balloon then up at the picture.

We cut to see what he's seeing: a small boy in Sasha's arms at the Lancashire Zoo. In his gentle grip, a fully inflated balloon with the words "Best day ever".

The light flicks on

SASHA

I haven't been in here for years.

Feathers whips round, stuffing the balloon in his pocket and placing the penguin toy back on the bed.

SASHA

I kept his things up around the house, but couldn't handle the room. His place at the table, his towel in the cupboard. Couldn't bare the room.

She walks over and sits on the bed, reaching for the plush penguin and holding it. She looks up at Feathers, stood motionless

SASHA

I'm not angry at you for coming in here. If anything I'm relieved you did. Having you here, caring for you, it was like having him back. I knew you would come in this room at some point. We took him to the Lancashire Zoo to enjoy his birthday early. Went on about it for weeks before and days after. It was all he spoke about, how the real penguin shared his birthday with him.

She brushes the fabric of the toy penguin's face with her thumb as she continues.

SASHA

Hugh and people on the news say that McGraw is a crook and a criminal to be feared. I don't know if you know him personally, I imagine you're close family or something because there can't be that many penguins in this area of the world. If I ever got to meet him... I wish to one day meet him, I wouldn't be afraid of him. I would give anything to thank him for making my boy's last days his best. You know?

She looks over at Feathers, her eyes a bit sore. Feathers steps close to her and puts his flipper on her hand still resting on the small plush of himself. They share the silence. The silence is no longer an anxious void of noise, but a peaceful note.