LAST TURN (treatment/synopsis)

LAST TURN

(treatment/synopsis)

Aaron (25) and his father, Jake (50) run Gates Enterprises: an exotic import conversion business. This finances their true passion—stock car racing. He has won many trophies and awards and has just earned a spot on the NASCAR circuit. Aaron needs to win one more race to win the Winston Cup.

One car, for their biggest client in Dallas, is shipped to Los Angeles instead of Houston, the natural choice to get it in time is Aaron.

A helicopter hovers high over a lonely, straight stretch of desert highway. A black Ferrari rapidly comes into view.

Aaron’s point of view: digital speedometer reads: 260 kph.

The troopers intercept him. “This is the Arizona State Highway Patrol. Pull over, now”, one trooper barks over a loudspeaker.

Too late; an RV ambles onto the two lane road in front of him. Aaron, the pro he is, narrowly manages to avoid hitting it. Then one of the Ferrari's tires explodes. The car lurches, slides, flips and then rolls, end-over- end. The Ferrari, battered, bent and shattered, comes to rest in a cloud of dust.

Hospital doors fly open. The EMTs fighting to save Aaron's life hand him off to the emergency room doctors.

In ICU, Aaron recovers from two fractured lower vertebrae, four broken ribs, a punctured lung and both legs broken, and a fractured wrist.

He returns home, a broken man—in both body and spirit. The family business is about to go under. Doctor Benjamin (60) orders him to an additional six weeks of bed rest, then the hard part-physical therapy. Aaron may never walk again.

Aaron and Nick Castle (25), his old racing rival, pull into ‘The Pit Stop’ cafe, an old hangout. Some of the old gang is there.

They don’t engage with Aaron. Some are careful not to mention racing or Aaron’s accident. But, he knows they mean well even if he doesn’t need or want their pity.

Aaron, many empty beer and whiskey bottles by his wheelchair, ponders all the trophies he has won over the years. He trashes his apartment throwing and breaking all of them.

A physical therapist, female (30) guides Aaron as he struggles even the most basic movements with his legs. He stands briefly, steps forward, his legs buckle. His arms are too weak. He lands on the firm mat. His face smacks hard against it.

Aaron quickly wheels himself out into the courtyard. He recollects his NASCAR wins, the wreck and his therapy sessions.

He eyes the busy street. His hands brace the wheels. He reaches for the brake. A small tennis shoe comes into his view. “Will you please tie my shoe, sir?” a female (19) with her arm in a sling, pleads. “Sure. But it’ll cost you a dollar”, quips Aaron.

The bright-eyed teenager grins wide. “Brynn”, scolds her mother (35) as she hurries up to her side. “But, momma he helped me tie my shoe. He couldn’t possibly rape and murder me—Natalie.

Besides, he’s too cute.” Brynn laughs. “Thank you”, she tells Aaron. “I’m sorry about her. It’s the meds she’s on,” Natalie apologizes. “Her arm?” Aaron asks. “No. I’m not doing this”, Natalie bristles, then hurries away.

Brynn happens by the physical therapy room. She sees Aaron struggle to his feet while holding onto walk. He falters. He lays on the mat. “I can’t.” Aaron blurts. “’I can’t’ is just another way of saying ‘I won’t’”, chides Brynn. She blushes then Aaron sees Brynn later in the hospital cafeteria. “You have no idea what I’ve been through. You’re just a kid.” Aaron explodes.

“A kid who’s been on kidney dialysis for years”, Brynn erupts.

“What do you want from me?” Aaron implores. “I know what you’ve been through. I didn’t realize who you were the other day but I know now. I want you to stop making excuses.” Brynn says  tearfully. He pulls himself up, stands in front of her, cups her face in his hands and kisses her lips. “I will.” He whispers. A broad smile stretches her mouth. She embraces him. “That’s the spirit.” She says while kissing him.

Montage: Aaron at physical therapy, he seems stronger then falters Brynn gasps and covers her mouth. He struggles back up on the parallel walking bars. Brynn cheers him on. He gives her a ‘thumbs up’ sign. She is on dialysis; looks weaker; sicker.

The doctors and Natalie talk. She is in tears. Aaron jogs a short distance—with a slight stiffness in his back. The physical therapist smiles and pumps her fist in the air. Dr. Benjamin discharges Aaron but cautions against racing. Aaron, Brynn and Natalie depart the hospital.

Natalie walks with Aaron to his front door. She takes him aside.

“I realize she’s growing up. I just don’t believe a relationship is in her best interest right now”, cautions Natalie. “Ms. . .” Aaron starts. Natalie cuts in, “Now you can knock that ‘Ms.’ stuff off right now. I’m not much older than you.” “Natalie, I understand.” Aaron says. “Do you?” Natalie snaps. “Absolutely.”

Aaron injects. “She’s sick and you believe, justly so, that this will distract her from getting better.” Aaron continues. “That’s just it. She might not get better. Face it. I have.” Natalie cries. “What? You’re giving up on her?” Aaron retorts. “No. You don’t get to do that. I’m her mother. It’s on me.” Natalie cries. Aaron injects, “What you forget is this is what Brynn wants. This is what she needs. We both deserve this. I love your daughter I want to be with her, come what may.” “I see that you

honestly believe that. As long as Brynn is okay with it, I’m okay with it. But, if I believe for a second that you aren’t good with her, I’ll put an end to this, whatever it is. Got it?”

Aaron and Brynn go on a date.

Aaron sees an ad at the carnival about an upcoming minor race.

First place is fifteen thousand dollars. “Easy. . .” Brynn interrupts, “What?” “. . . does it.” Aaron sighs. He takes down the poster, folds it and puts it in his pocket.

When Aaron arrives home, there is a message from Natalie about Brynn. She is very ill and is in the hospital. He sees Brynn in the hospital. The doctor informs Natalie and Aaron that Brynn has a life-threatening illness, a complication of a failing liver. He and Natalie embrace and cry. He goes back home. He tosses and turns. He pulls the folded up ad out of his back pocket. He throws it in the trash.

Brynn is out of the hospital. She looks very ill, weak and jaundiced. Natalie gets a letter from her insurance company.

It says: she has to pay ten thousand dollars for the deductible in order to keep Brynn on her insurance after she turns 20.

Aaron tells his dad about Brynn, their relationship and her condition. “Besides her being sick, you’re more seven years older than that girl, Aaron. You crazy?” Jake scolds. Aaron asks him if he could borrow the money. Jake tells him the business is failing. Aaron shows him the race flyer. Jake talks him out of it. He tells Aaron that he will see if he can raise some funds. A few days later, he tells Aaron he tried but, couldn't get a loan. Aaron storms out of the house before

Aaron, in a beat up old race car, drives fast on a dirt track--a practice track behind the defunct drive-in movie theater.

Jake, in a headset. Aaron has on a racer’s helmet with visor and built-in headset. “Alright, son. Remember all we're doing today is shaking the rust off you. Okay?” Jake informs. “You act like this is my first time.” Aaron quips. Aaron struggles to maintain control of the Gate's team dirt track racer. “Son? You okay?”

Jake asks. “Yeah. Just takes some gettin'; used to; been awhile. That;s all. I'll be fine, dad.” Aaron quips. “Come in so we can tighten the strut.” Jake demands. “Sounds good to me.” Aaron just gets the last word from his lips, the strut comes loose. Aaron fights it into the turn with all he has. The racer careens into the wall of hay bales, bounces and flips. The sprint car lands on its side. Jake and the entire crew rush to help him.

Brynn, Natalie, Jake and the crew wait in the hospital. The doctor bursts through the double doors to the ER. “Why in the world would you let him race again, Jake?” Dr. Benjamin scolds. “He’s a grown man, Doc.” Jake retorts. “Well, he’s damn lucky. He’s only got a little knock on the head, nothing too bad. Maybe knock some sense into him.” Dr Benjamin informs the room. He turns on his heel and departs.

Aaron, with head bandaged, tries to get out of bed the nurses struggle to make him stay. “Come on, it’s just a little bump on the head.” Aaron implores. “Doctor’s orders.” Nurse returns. “Oh my God. Why, why, why?” Brynn cries. Tears stream down her face.

Natalie, arms folded, waits in the closes the door. “You idiot.” Brynn blasts. She slaps his chest then, buries her head in his chest. He embraces her. “I can’t. . . will not quit on you. I’m going to get you what you need.” He soothes. Natalie

Aaron, at the shop office, searches through the file cabinet. “Dad, really? So old-fashioned” Aaron quips. He takes out a file and places it on the desk. He opens the file marked 'Insurance'.

He reads two different policies. One is the fire insurance on the business the other is his own life insurance policy.

He puts all that aside. He finds his broken trophies, melts them down and sells the silver and gold to a pawn shop.

Brynn takes a turn for the worse.

Aaron then proceeds to the Gates’ Arizona Garage. He piles all the paper, plastic and wood in the center of the floor. Next, he places paint, paint thinner and gasoline next to that. He then pulls the cutting torch up to the pile. He brings a metal beam up to the pile. He lights the torch. He starts to cut the metal beam. Sparks fly into the pile. Some of the paper starts Natalie frantically searches for Aaron. She stops by Jake’s and they arrive at the shop. Natalie finds the insurance policies in Aaron’s car seat. As she reads them, her worried expression turns to realization, then horror.

Jake starts yelling at Aaron. Aaron tells them both to leave him alone. Natalie tells him that if he goes she goes too. Then Brynn dies anyway—of a broken heart. “So, what is any of this going to do, son? He is overcome with joy at this. He turns off the torch, grabs her and rushes them all outside just as the torch gas bottles explode. “Whoa. That was close. You kinda distracted me. I didn’t want to be in there when that happened.”

Aaron quips. Natalie gives him a sideways glance. The shop, engulfed in flames. Jake shields his eyes from the intense glare. Glass pops, car tires blow out gasoline tanks explode.

The flames rage higher. Fire trucks arrive.

Jake and Aaron set up the practice track. “Now don’t lie to me boy. What the hell happened the other night?” Jake snaps. “Dad,” Aaron hesitates. “Oh never mind. At least the insurance company believes it was an accident. I guess I’m gonna retire now. Thanks.” Jake interrupts. “Don’t mention it—ever again.”

Aaron quips. Jake and Aaron have a long overdue laugh.

The race starts. Aaron has his work cut out for him. He hasn't been in a race for more than two years. He's almost like a rookie.

Thirty laps in and Aaron is struggling to keep up. He comes in for a pit-stop. His dad reminds him that this happened in one race he won his rookie year.

Aaron is pumped up. He closes in on the lead. He was dead last in a field of forty racers. Now, he is in twelfth place.

A major crash takes out most of the field in front of him. His dad deftly guides him through it.

Aaron is in first place with only one lap to go. Coming down the backstretch, to the finish line, Nick Castle bumps him from behind. Aaron has a blowout, spins, clips Nick's car; sending it into the wall. Aaron's car spins. He crosses the finish line backwards. Aaron regains control and takes a victory lap.

He has won the race, saved Brynn's life and his own.

Jake runs across the infield to winner's circle. He picks up Aaron coming out of the window of his car. Aaron lifts Brynn out of the stands. They kiss. She embraces him. Natalie joins the celebration at the winner’s circle. Jake showers them all with champagne. Flashes from cameras light up their beaming Aaron grasps the trophy, stuffed with cash in addition to the check and raises it over his head.

Montage: Brynn, in a hospital bed, shows her transplant scar;

Aaron, Brynn, Natalie and Jake, surrounded by friends at a formal dinner—Aaron and Brynn’s wedding reception;

Brynn in a hospital bed—giving birth, Aaron grins as he holds Brynn’s hand.

-The End-