Redemption Centre

8/6/2019 Redemption Centre

1/12

THE REDEMPTION CENTRE

a short screenplay

by

Raphael Levy and Jane Sorensen

FADE IN:

EXT. SMALL EAST COAST TOWN -- MORNING

A quiet seaside tourist town wakes up to an overcast day.

Seagulls' SQUAWKS are heard around us. Several fishing boats

make their way out of the harbor.

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK#1

A tight city street strewn with small shops and eateries

comes alive. Pedestrians meander along, cars WHIZ by.

DEMPSTER, late forties, unshaven, with a matted head of thick

brown hair, sleeps under a thickly woven wool blanket.

He wakes up, his eyes spark open, he rolls out from

underneath his blanket, wearing an old pair of black leather

boots, stained green beret pants and a loose fitting cotton

sweater.

INT. SMALL DINER -- LATER

ROSE, early thirties, sits at a booth across from SEAMUS,

early thirties, wearing a Public Security outfit.

SEAMUS

(gets up)I better not be late on my first day.

ROSE

Okay. Have fun.

Seamus leans over and gives her a kiss. In the background,

Dempster takes a seat in the neighboring booth.


2/12

SEAMUS

What time are we meeting the real

estate agent?

ROSE

For the third time, six thirty.

SEAMUS

Right. Okay, see you later.

Seamus walks off. Curiously, Rose looks towards Dempster.

P.O.V. ROSE

Dempster attempts to perfectly line up his cutlery.

A waitress, JULIANNE, mid-thirties, approaches Rose's table.

JULIANNEGood morning, Dempster.

DEMPSTER

(stutters)

Gggood morning, Julianne.

Julianne stops at Rose's table and sets the check down.

JULIANNE

Here you go.

ROSE

Thank you.

JULIANNE

You're not from around here, are you?

ROSE

(getting up)

No, we just moved in from Maple

Ridge.

JULIANNE

Ontario! Well, welcome to Halifax.

ROSE

Um no, BC actually.

(handing bills)

Here you go. Keep the change.

JULIANNE

Thank you! Come again.


3/12

ROSE

(starts off)

We will. Excuse me, can you tell me

where I can find the art gallery?

JULIANNE

Yeah. Take a left out here, walkthree blocks. You can't miss it.

ROSE

Thank you.

Rose exits. Julianne returns to Dempster's table and sets a

cup of coffee in front of him.

JULIANNE

Here you go. Your eggs'll be ready in

just a couple.

DEMPSTER

Thththank you.

Dempster slides it to his right directly in front of the

spoon. He turns his gaze out toward the waterfront.

P.O.V. DEMPSTER

Boats rock gently against the pier. Sea gulls fly around in

search of a meal.

INT. DINER -- LATER

Dempster eats a cheese omelet with meticulous care. He takes

a sip of his coffee, and sets it back, taking time to ensure

perfect placement relative to the spoon.

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK#2 -- LATER

Seamus stands tall over a frail HOMELESS MAN #1. He hands him

a citation.

SEAMUS

(curtly)

I'm just doing my job.

HOMELESS MAN#1

So am I.

SEAMUS

(walking off)

I don't think this can be classified

as a job.


4/12

HOMELESS MAN#1

(hushed)

Asshole.

CUT TO:

INT. DINER -- CONTINUOUS

Standing with his backpack over his shoulder, Dempster

reaches into his left pocket, pulls out a few loonies and

quarters, and neatly lines them up on the table. He heads

out.

JULIANNE (O.S.)

See you tomorrow Dempster.

DEMPSTER

Bbye.

Dempster exits, the door CHIME sounds.

EXT. BEACH -- LATER

The sun hangs clear above the horizon creating a glitter of

lights across the harbor. Dempster looks out at the

waterfront holding a manual camera. He frames and snaps

several pictures. A frail smile comes over his face.

EXT. BEACH FRONT WALKWAY -- LATER

An older man, BARTHOLOMEW, prepares his news stand for the

day. Dempster approaches.

DEMPSTER

G-g-good morning, Bartholomew.

BARTHOLOMEW

Dempster. How was your weekend?

DEMPSTER

Ffine.

Dempster hands a photograph to Bartholomew.

BARTHOLOMEW

(admiring)

Very nice.

Bartholomew swaps pictures on the side wall.

ANGLE ON PICTURE


5/12

a shot overlooking the harbor. An inscription above the

picture "DEMPSTER'S PICK OF THE WEEK".

BARTHOLOMEW (CONT'D)

(handing him

newspaper)You've earned your week again.

DEMPSTER

Th-Thank you.

Dempster walks off.

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK#2 -- CONTINUOUS

Seamus hands a citation to a HOMELESS MAN #2. He turns away,

walks a few steps, and writes up a ticket on a parked car.

CUT TO:

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK#1 -- AFTERNOON

The street bristles with afternoon traffic. Dempster sits on

the sidewalk reading the newspaper. In front of him, a black

cap containing several coins.

Behind him, sits the "REDEMPTION CENTER". People enter

carrying empty six-packs and bags of pop bottles.

ANGLE ON NEWSPAPER

We catch snippets of headlines:

-Employment top priority for Premier

-Fishing stocks in further decline

-Mayor tightens finance grip

Dempster folds up paper carefully and sets it down. He opens

his knapsack and pulls out a thick black photo album and a

white placard sign. He neatly arranges them on the sidewalk.

SEAMUS (O.S.)

Excuse me, sir.

Dempster looks up casually. Seamus stands above him.

DEMPSTER

Yes?


6/12

SEAMUS

You realize pan handling and

loitering on city property are

against the law?

DEMPSTER

I'm raising mmmoney.

SEAMUS

(writes up citation)

Yes, I can see that. It's illegal,

though. I'm going to have to fine

you. Name please?

DEMPSTER

Ddempster. But, I'm trying ttto raise

money ttto save the corals.

SEAMUSYes, I'm sure you are. Last name?

DEMPSTER

Wharf.

SEAMUS

(hands him ticket)

I don't make the rules. You've got

thirty days to settle the fine.

Seamus walks away. Dempster appears flustered.

A cheery couple, CLARA and ALEX, early twenties, approach

Dempster and hunker down on the sidewalk with him.

CLARA

Hi, Dempster!

DEMPSTER

Hhhi Clara.

CLARA

Alex, this is the guy I was telling

you about. Take a look at his

pictures. They're amazing.

ALEX

(looking through

album)

Wow. These ARE nice. You took all

these?

Dempster nods.


7/12

CLARA

Dempster sells them to raise money

for a foundation that aims to save

the Corral.

ALEXCool. How much are they?

DEMPSTER

You dddecide what you ddonate.

ALEX

Five okay for these two?

DEMPSTER

Yes. Ththank you.

Alex hands him the money. Dempster takes it and slips it intohis right pocket, and pulls out the pictures for him.

EXT. SIDEWALK#1 -- LATER

Dempster sits eating a sandwich. Rose kneels down to look at

the photo album.

ROSE

These are nice. What are the

corrals?

DEMPSTER

Corals.

ROSE

Oh. Why do they need saving?

DEMPSTER

I used to fish off Cape Breton.

STOCK FOOTAGE: FISHING BOAT WITH DRAG NET OUT

DEMPSTER (V.O.) (CONT'D)

We used to pull them all up with our

nets.

STOCK FOOTAGE: NET BEING WINCHED IN WITH FISH AND DEBRIS

DEMPSTER (V.O.) (CONT'D)

We dddidn't know they protected the

fish. Then the fishery ccccollapsed,

and we lost our jobs.


8/12

ROSE

And you want your job back, one day.

DEMPSTER

I want tttto fix what I broke.

ROSEWhat you broke? It's not your fault.

DEMPSTER

Wwwe're all responsible.

ROSE looks at him with warm admiring eyes. She moves over

beside him, sits down on the pavement, and takes the album

into her lap.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY -- LATER

Seamus waits in the hotel lobby. He looks at his watchanxiously. Rose strides through the front door.

SEAMUS

(taps watch)

Where have you been?

ROSE

(peeved)

Did you ticket a homeless man today?

SEAMUS

Sure, I ticketed lots of them. Why?

ROSE

So, it was you.

SEAMUS

What are you talking about?

ROSE

You ticketed this one guy, Dempster.

SEAMUS

Dempster?

ROSE

Yeah, you have to cancel his ticket.

SEAMUS

Whoa. Slow down, Rose. What's going

on?

ROSE


9/12

You have to cancel it. Most of the

money that guy raises goes directly

to the Ecology Action Center for the

corals off Cape Breton.

SEAMUS

Oh. Him. Yeah, I remember him.Downtown by the Redemption center.

You didn't actually believe his

story?

Rose gives him a cold, hard stare.

SEAMUS (CONT'D)

(guilt-ridden)

What do you want me to do? The

ticket's already written. There's

nothing I can do about it now. He'll

have to contest it in court.

ROSE

That's not right.

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK#1 -- CONTINUOUS

Dempster packs up his bag.

EXT. HOTEL -- CONTINUOUS

Rose and Seamus walk out in heated debate. Seamus points to

his watch. The frame is SILENT.

INT. MARITIME MUSEUM OF THE ATLANTIC -- LATER

Dempster enters the museum and approaches the kiosk. DAVE,

the kiosk manager sits relaxed behind the desk.

DEMPSTER

Dave, I have bbbbad news.

DAVE

What is it, Demp?

INT. CAR -- CONTINUOUS

Seamus sits behind the wheel. Rose has a phone to her ear.

ROSE

The Ecology Action Center. Thanks.

(pause)

Hello. Are you open now? Where are

you located?


10/12

(pause)

Thanks you.

(To Seamus)

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

Downtown.

INT. MARITIME MUSEUM OF THE ATLANTIC -- LATER

DAVE

I'm sorry to hear that, Dempster. But

I understand, you've got to look out

for yourself, too.

DEMPSTER

As sssoon as I cccan pay it offf.

I'll cccome back.

DAVE

Okay. In the meantime, I'll see aboutgetting you a street charity permit.

I feel bad, I wish I had thought of

that before.

DEMPSTER

It'sss okkay.

Dempster walks off. Seamus and Rose storm in, they walk

right past Dempster and up to the desk.

ROSE

Pardon me, but do you know a homeless

man by the name of Dempster?

SEAMUS

Dempster Wharf.

DAVE

That's him right there. Dempster!

Dempster turns around slowly.

ROSE

Hello Dempster. Remember me?

DEMPSTER

Yyyeah. Rrrose, right?

ROSE

Yes, that's right.

(points to Seamus)

This man, who ticketed you, is my

husband.


11/12

SEAMUS

(sheepish)

Hi. I wanted to apologize.

Dempster remains stoic.

SEAMUS (CONT'D)

Rose explained things and, well, if

you don't mind, I'd like to pay off

your ticket.

Dempster appears dumfounded. A QUIET beat.

DAVE

That's really kind of him. Isn't it,

Dempster?

Dempster smiles. Seamus hands him cash.

DEMPSTER

Th-thank you.

ROSE

You're very welcome, Dempster. We

have to go see about a house, now.

But, when we're all moved in, we'd

like you to come over and take some

pictures. We'll pay you of course.

DEMPSTER

Ssure.

Rose and Seamus exit waving BYE. Dempster, smiling, pulls out

a several small bills and change out of his right pocket and

sets it on the kiosk counter.

DAVE

(smiling)

How long are you going to keep doing

this, Dempster?

DEMPSTER

(raising paper)Until the hheadline ch-changes.

EXT. PIER -- LATER

Dempster snaps pictures of the tranquil harbor. The sun sets

behind him.

FADE TO BLACK:


12/12

THE END

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