LEGACY
Written By Jafei Pollitt
FATHER
SON
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY.
SON sits next to his sick FATHER in a hospital bed. SON holds his hand and quietly sobs.
SON
Please, Dad, don’t go.
FATHER’s hand squeezes the SONS and SON looks up wide-eyed.
SON
DAD!
FATHER’s eyes slowly open
FATHER
Son.
SON
(Tears streaming down)
Dad! Please don’t leave me, Dad.
FATHER
(weak)
I have to, son. My body is too weak.
SON
But Dad, I need you.
FATHER
I’ll always be with you. In here.
FATHER faintly points to SONS chest.
SON
It’s not the same.
SON’s eyes downcast.
FATHER
Before I go, I want you to have something.
SON looks up.
SON
No, dad, I don’t need anything from you.
FATHER
I need you to carry it on. Be my legacy and keep it close.
FATHER takes his other hand that has been clenched together and brings it over to his SON.
FATHER
Do you promise to cherish this? And never sell it or give it away.
SON
Yes, Dad, of course.
FATHER
Good. There will be people who try to take it from you. Bad people.
FATHER slowly opens his palm to reveal a toenail clipping on a little chain.
FATHER
For you.
SON
Um.
FATHER
To keep me in your heart.
SON
What is it?
FATHER
A piece of me. A piece of the family.
SON
Is that a toenail clipping?
FATHER smiles.
FATHER
Yes. Good eye, my boy.
SON
Oh, uh, yeah. Okay.
SON tries to take the toenail clipping from his FATHER’s palm without gagging.
FATHER
I love you.
SON
I love you too, Dad.
Pause.
SON
Is this really what you wanted to give me?
FATHER
What do you mean?
SON
No - nothing. Nevermind.
FATHER
What. You don’t like it?
SON
No! I do! It’s just, uh, not what I was expecting.
FATHER
Okay, nevermind, give it back.
SON
No, Dad! I love it! I love you!
FATHER
You have no appreciation for family heirlooms.
SON
Wait.
FATHER
What.
SON
This isn’t your toenail?
FATHER
(proud)
It’s your great, great grandfather's. The german one.
SON
The nazi one?
FATHER
Oh please.
SON
You’re giving me a nazi’s toenail?
FATHER
HE’S NOT A NAZI!
SON
Nazi.
FATHER
He killed ONE GUY and that makes him a nazi?
SON
He killed a little girl.
FATHER
You know what? Give it back. I’ll give it to your sister.
SON
Okay.
FATHER
Ungrateful bastard.
SON hands back the toenail. FATHER places it back in his palm and lies down.
FATHER
(stubborn)
Goodbye.
SON
What?
FATHER
Tell your mother I never really forgave her for that thing she said in '79
FATHER closes his eyes and the monitor goes blank.
SON
DAD! NOOOOOOOOO!
SON cries into the open air.
END