Adaptation to Film

Incarnations of Burned Children

By

David Foster Wallace

PAN IN FROM ABOVE:
1. EXT. COUNTRY HOME - SUNSET
2. INT. THE DADDYS BARN, a yelling distance away from the house.
DADDY cutting wood, attentively, leaving the screams of the electric saw to drown out any other thought. Then a pause in the cutting but distant screams continues. The sounds of the MOMMY and CHILD. He drops the machine to the dusty ground, with its blade spinning still. Busting through the back porch door into the kitchen where the situation faces him.
3. INT. KITCHEN
The stove’s blue flames flare and a pot is on the floor, with steaming water branching out around it. The CHILD standing in the midst of scene, while his mother is hysterical, unsure of where to even begin. Kneeling in the burning water, she calls out to God.
DADDY rushes to the CHILD, lifts the boy from the water, and puts him in his right arm, rushing to the sink for the cold water. With his left hand, he throws the dishes out and sets the boy in. DADDY immediately starts running water over his red skin. The screaming continues as DADDY frantically wants to put out the burning skin. He yells towards MOMMY.

DADDY

Get towels and gauze! Towels and guaze! Quickly! Now!

MOMMY runs out of the room.
DADDY, working around the screams and hot things all around, is focused on his son, whose screams have become as regular as breaths. This time he does not focus on the screams, because he knew he would become frozen. He notices the oak tree outside swaying in the wind, and allows the screams to fade out.
4. EXT. OAK TREE - OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN WINDOW
A BIRD hears the multiple screams and observes through the window the MOMMY dancing around waving her arms about with white things in her hands. The DADDY is singing to the CHILD.

5. INT. KITCHEN
DADDY, assessing the inches of burns and blisters, sees red skin fading to pink and this eases his worry a bit. The burns were everywhere and CHILD is still screaming to the same extent as before. DADDY assumes his cries are now because of the surrounding fear. DADDY tries to calm him down.

DADDY

I am here. I am here. I am here.

He repeats the three words over and over, almost becoming a song. The DADDY cannot look at the MOMMY. He only focuses on the CHILD. Not positive if he is doing the right thing but wetting the towel anyway, he wraps the CHILD up tight, like a baby and pulls him out of the sink.
6. EXT. THE OAK TREE
The BIRD watches the DADDY now dancing closely with the child and the MOMMY following the steps, wanting to be involved. The DADDY sets the CHILD down on the table. The MOMMY continues to move her arms about, up and down from her mouth to her head and then waving around. Noises are coming out of the MOMMY’S mouth.
INT. KITCHEN
DADDY sets the child on the table to get a closer look at the damages. Unwrapping the CHILD from the towel, he sees steam coming from the diaper.

DADDY

God Dammit!

DADDY removes the diaper so quickly he does not realize his hands were burnt in the process. The diaper sloshes to the floor still steaming. MOTHER starts wailing out in despair. There is now blood and hanging skin where the diaper once was.

MOMMY

My God! Oh my God, Oh my God!

DADDY reacting as quick as he can, ignores the cries of MOMMY and wraps the child back up in the towel, running to his truck.
EXT. THE OAK TREE
The BIRD watches DADDY running to the truck with CHILD in his arms. The truck speeds off flicking mud up into the air. The BIRD looks back through the window at the MOMMY who is now sitting up against a wall, on the floor, hands on her shaking head. There was silence.
7. INT. DADDYS TRUCK
DADDY still in disbelief of what was happening, hums to his CHILD who has stopped crying. He knows how long of a trip it is to reach the Hospital. Looking closer at his child, he realizes there are no screams. There are no breaths. DADDY removes his foot from the gas pedal and allows the truck to slowly move to a stop on the side of the road. He places his head on the CHILD and begins to cry and rock the baby side to side. DADDY looks up, It is silent and there are no cars or buildings around.
8.FLASHBACK-EXT. BASEBALL FIELD
The ball is hit and goes flying for the outfield. DADDY stands up and yells.

DADDY

Go! Go! Yeah! Thats my Boy!

The CHILD had sent the ball flying into the outfield and ran all the way to second base. He then points towards the stands at his DADDY. DADDY is clapping and almost crying with excitement and love.
9. EXT. COUNTRY ROAD
The truck door opens and the DADDY comes out with the child and walks into the field. Falling to his knees, he places the CHILD down and says a prayer. He returns to his truck, grabbing the gun on the ride side of his seat. Walking back to the child, he kneels back in the same position over the child, and pulls the trigger.
PAN OUT FROM ABOVE
DADDY falls slightly on top of the CHILD in the towel. The wind blows the long grass and the truck door still open.