Paul puts on his coat and hat, scowls at the Grizzly bear that is still seated at the breakfast table eating his mound of food. Paul turns and leaves for work.
INT. - OFFICE – 11AM
Paul works in a bustling maze of cubicles. The man is nodding while on a conference call on his headset. His BOSS leans into his cubical.
BOSS
Paul! Just need you for a minute. We’ve been reviewing the numbers for last quarter and things just don’t add up. We need you to go over them again, and I need a report by tomorrow.
PAUL
But I can’t do that unless I work all night.
BOSS
Do what it takes. This is important to the senior team. See you in the morning, Paul.
As the Boss leaves, Paul throws down his headset.
PAUL
Great, just frickin’ great.
INT. – LIVING ROOM – 9PM
Paul enters through the front door and locks up behind. He settles the burgeoning laptop case on the floor with a sigh. The defeated man surveys the room. Through the doorway he sees his wife sitting at the dining room table with a fantastic setting for two. Paul relaxes seeing and hearing no sign of Marvin.
PAUL
Thank you honey, I’m glad he’s gone.
VIOLET
What dear?
PAUL
The bear, he’s gone?
VIOLET
Lord, no! Who do you think cooked this wonderful food?
Marvin emerges from the kitchen with a hot steaming roaster pan.
VIOLET
Look at that!
Violet is bursting from her chair with excitement. She gives a small clap as the bear settles the pan down and removes the lid.
VIOLET
My word!
PAUL
Honey we have to get rid of the bear, I have work to do.
VIOLET
Just another night sweetheart… You know he cooked this meal for you? He wanted to say thank you. Isn’t that nice?
PAUL
Yes, Violet dear, but he’s gone tomorrow?
VIOLET
If you insist, he’s gone tomorrow.
Violet silently mouths unseen words to Marvin reassuringly.
INT. – BOSS’S OFFICE – 9AM
The boss is flipping again and again through the paper stack in his hand. He gets out a pen and starts to mark through several pages. Paul sits and watches from across the desk nervously. The frazzled man lacks any real sleep. The report slams violently to the desk.
BOSS
Paul, these numbers, these reports, they just can’t be right.
PAUL
What?
BOSS
This isn’t like you. You’re off your game.
PAUL
Just a couple of tough nights, nothing I can’t get a handle on. Let me run them again.
BOSS
Sorry Paul, I don’t have the time. I’m bringing in an outside consultant; someone who can get the job done right. I didn’t want it to come to this, but, you’re fired.
PAUL
What? Just like that?
Marvin enters the office. The boss jumps up with a look of concern. Paul is in a daze from the news and doesn’t look over.
BOSS
You’re a little early. Can I have you come back in five?
Marvin nods and starts to exit, Paul turns and they lock eyes.
PAUL
Jesus Christ there is a bear in here! Run! Run!
BOSS
Now Paul, please, calm down.
PAUL
What? You know this bear?
BOSS
(Asks slowly.)
You, know, this bear?
PAUL
He’s ransacked my trash, dirties up my bathroom, and basically taken over my home. I hate that damn bear.
BOSS
That makes this particularly awkward.
(To Marvin)
Please just five minutes?
Marvin nods, waives apologetically and exits.
PAUL
What the hell is he doing here?
BOSS
We were looking for an expert. He has a really impressive resume.
PAUL
He-replaced-me?
BOSS
You still get your severance; it’s not the end of the world.
PAUL
I can’t believe this!
INT. – LOCAL DIVE BAR – 11PM
Paul is sitting at the bar with a drink in his hand and his head hung low. The BARTENDER is washing up glasses behind the bar. The place is mostly barren with a few quiet patrons sitting farther down the bar.
PAUL
What am I going to do? How is this even possible?
BARTENDER
Look at it this way, mac, with the bear at work, he can start paying rent. Until you get another job.
PAUL
No way, that bear is gone.
BARTENDER
What do you have against him anyway?
PAUL
Everything, he’s taken over everything, destroying my home, taken away my only means to make a living. Hell he’s taken my garage where I park my car.
BARTENDER
I see your beef. Maybe you have to defend what’s yours, just don’t go breaking any laws.
Paul scoffs angrily.
BARTENDER
Look you better get home, it’s late.
INT. – LIVING ROOM – 12AM
Car lights shine through the windows flooding the living room. The lights shut off and a moment later the front door shakes gently. The clicking of the locks being undone is heard, The portal creaks open. Paul stumbles through the door, broken and drunk.
PAUL
(Weakly.)
Violet?
Paul looks around as he enters the house, no fancy dinners, no bears, and for the moment no wife.
PAUL
(Louder.)
Violet?
Violet rushes out in her robe, closing the door behind her. It is clear she is a little distressed, but Paul is not able to discern that immediately in his drunkenness.
PAUL
Violet, I have some bad news.
Paul studies her more closely. Violet ties her robe and tosses her hair several times. There seems to be a gleam of sweat on her forehead.
PAUL
What is wrong, are you okay? Are you feeling well?
VIOLET
Fine, yeah, fine, what?
PAUL
I’ve got some, bad, um, bad news.
VIOLET
Okaym shoot.
PAUL
I’ve lost my job.
VIOLET
(Empty of Emotion)
Oh no, I’m sorry baby.
PAUL
You’ll never guess.
Paul collapses onto his couch.
PAUL
That damn bear stole it from me.
VIOLET
Oh no, honey you should calm down, things aren’t that bad.
Paul overhears rustling from the bed room. He tilts his head up.
PAUL
Is someone in our room?
VIOLET
(Nervous.)
No, no, not that I’m aware of.
PAUL
I heard something…
VIOLET
No baby, just me and you.
Paul jumps up and marches to the bedroom barging through the closed door. Marvin is lying contentedly in the bed smoking a cigarette. The Grizzly waives his paw at the man and grunts.
PAUL
You, with, you, that? Huh?
VIOLET
Honey, I’m sorry, he’s just so big and powerful.
PAUL
I can’t believe this! I’ve lost everything! AHHHH!
Paul collapses on the floor weeping. FADE OUT
EXT. – OUTDOOR ITALIAN CAFE – MIDDAY
Bob
Sterr is seated comfortably at a table speaking to the audience.
BOB STERR
This study is just one of many ongoing research projects looking at the impacts of our civilization and its impact on the future of the Grizzly bear. In my next film I plan to look deeper still into this subject. Marvin is a curious case. Could Marvin be the beginning of a new evolution in the animal world? I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am terrified. Terrified.
(Shivers)
Only time will tell. I’m Bob Sterr.
As he reached for his glass the waiter comes over to refill his cup. Bob waits as the waiter tops him off and then gives him a thankful waive. FADE OUT.
FADE IN – INT. – MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - DAY
Sidney is standing arms crossed in front of a large bear display in the museum.
SIDNEY
The work of Bob Sterr is still underway, however, we have learned that this project has been put on hold. An official statement from Marvin’s agent indicated he was unwilling to work on a sequel under the current contract.
Just before the airing of this program we were contacted by Dr. Sterr’s offices and were delighted to hear that he has been able to start work on his next documentary series. The project tentatively titled ‘Grizzly Jesus’ is expected to wrap up this year. We look forward to sharing it with you. I’m Sidney Wellspur, for Natural Nature.
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