A Surprise Visit

Written by:

Gary Joseph Kadaronak

 

Story by:

Matt C Krasnoff

 

 

FADE IN

 

EXT. RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

The front lawn is a bit long at a house in a nice neighborhood.

The garage door opens and reveals RICK standing with his walk behind lawnmower. Once the door is fully open, Rick pushes the mower out onto the driveway.

There is a flash of lightening followed closely by a thunder crack. Rick stops, turns around and pushes the mower back into the garage. Rain begins to fall as the garage door closes.

 

INT – LIVING AREA – DAY

In the house, Rick sits at a desk using the computer.

Rick’s wife WENDI walks past him.

RICK

Hello Honey.

There is no reply.

 

EXT. RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

The front lawn is a little taller. Rick’s garage door opens and he pushes the mower out onto the driveway. He steps back into the garage then leans down and grabs a portable gas container.

When he lifts the container he seems to move it very abruptly, almost throwing it into the air. After gaining control of the container he shakes it, the container is obviously empty.

Rick looks at his watch, looks to the sky and sighs with disappointment.

RICK

Oh, I’ll never make it back in time.

He then puts the container back down and puts the mower back in its place. The garage door closes.

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Rick enters the living room, picks up a automotive magazine and plops down on the couch.

Wendi enters the room behind Rick, she pauses with an aggravated look towards Rick and leaves the room.

Rick turns around but sees nothing.

 

EXT. RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

Rick’s front lawn has had a growth spurt. The garage door is open, the mower is in the driveway with the gas cap off. Rick’s car is parked by the mower and the trunk is open. Rick lifts out the gas container and fills the mowers tank.

Rick begins pulling the cord over and over. Numerous tries and the mower will not start.

Rick examines the mower, when he inspects the spark plug wire it breaks in half. He looks at it a moment with a blank stare then shakes his head.

The garage door closes.

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Rick is on the phone.

RICK

What time do you close?

(beat)

RICK

Okay, I’ll bring it by tomorrow so you can try to match it up.

 

EXT. RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

Wendi has parked in the driveway and has walked around to the passenger side of her car. She opens the door and retrieves a few shopping bags.

As she begins to walk towards the house, the bags shift in her hands, she is able to hold on to them but something falls out from one of the bags and lands in the grass.

Wendi grows irritated as she has to continue searching through the long blades of grass to try and find what she has dropped.

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Rick is on the couch watching the television. He hears the front door abruptly open then slam shut. Wendi heavily walks from the front door into the living room.

WENDI

Are you gonna just sit around and wait for the homeowners association to fine us for the lawn.

Wendi proceeds out of the room.

RICK

No, I’ve been try . . . ing . . . to get …  the mower…

Too late, Wendi is already gone.

 

INT. DINING AREA – DAY

A dining room chair is upside down and Rick tightens one of the legs. He flips the chair back over and confirms his repair.

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Wendi comes home and finds Rick asleep in the living room recliner. She shakes her head and exhales in disgust.

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Rick leans down and closely listens to one of the stereo system speakers. He moves to the other side and puts his ear to the opposite speaker. He moves the speaker out and turns it where he finds one of the wires is not attached.

Rick fixes the wire and the stereo sound increases as he slides it back into place.

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Wendi walks past and finds Rick playing a video game. She speaks with a sarcastic tone.

WENDI

I hope you’re having fun.

Rick looks sadly confused.

 

INT. KITCHEN – DAY

Rick lays under the kitchen sink cabinet, banging tools and other odd noises echo from inside.

Rick climbs out and tries the hot water faucet, no water.

Rick leans down, looks into the cabinet and studies the situation.

 

INT. KITCHEN – DAY

Rick sits at the kitchen table eating some popcorn.

Wendi enters the kitchen, walks to the sink and reaches for the faucet.

Rick sees what she is doing and tries to speak with a mouth full of popcorn.

RICK

The hot water is . . .

Wendi turns on the faucet, no water only some very strange loud noises that cover up Rick’s words.

Wendi turns off the faucet.

WENDI

You know it took us a long time to save up for this house, the least you could do is to try and keep it in good condition.

RICK

I tried to fix it but I think it takes a special tool.

WENDI

Special tool huh?

Wendi closes her eyes in frustration, Rick can not find any words to reply.

WENDI

I have plans with my sister tonight and I think it might help to get out of here for a while, I don‘t know when I‘ll be back.

Rick is still speechless as he watches her walk away. He drops his head in despair.

 

INT. EMPLOYEE LUNCH ROOM – DAY

Rick is at work with a CO-WORKER in the lunch room.

CO-WORKER

Any idea what happened?

RICK

None at all, that’s what is so frustrating. I can’t even get her to talk to me anymore.

CO-WORKER

How long has this been going on?

RICK

It’s been about two months, just before she stopped going to church with me.

CO-WORKER

I‘m glad you‘re not giving up.

RICK

I made a vow and want to do whatever I can to work this out and make her happy again. I just have to figure out how before it gets any worse.

CO-WORKER

Well I‘ll be praying that a solution comes your way soon.

 

EXT. RICK AND WENDI’S FRONT PORCH – DAY

Wendi walks up to the front door of her house where she finds a note taped to the front door. She curiously removes the note and reads it.

The note simply says, “Sorry I missed you, I hope to return before it is too late, Jesus”.

Wendi continues to look over the note and is obviously confused as she walks inside.

 

INT. DINING ROOM – DAY

Wendi steps up to the dining room table and sits down in the chair that Rick had previously fixed. She pauses with an inquisitive look and wiggles back and forth, the chair stays solid.

Wendi reaches over and slides a magazine in front of her and begins slowing flipping the pages. She pauses when she turns the page to an article with the headline, “When will Jesus be returning?”.

Wendi ponders as she makes her way to the couch and turns on the television. A preacher is speaking when the television comes on. He is talking about forgiveness and being prepared for when Jesus returns.

Wendi looks over and sees the note from the door, she picks it up with a very inquisitive look.

Wendi now notices a book on the coffee table about plumbing. She slides up to the edge of the couch and picks up the book. She opens the book to a bookmarked page and finds a circle around a plumbing tool.

RICK (voice over)

. . . it takes a special tool.

At the same area of the coffee table she now finds a receipt from a lawnmower repair shop. When she looks at the receipt she sees that Rick has a lawnmower spark plug wire on special order.

 

EXT. FRONT LAWN – DAY

The front lawn is still waiting to be cut.

RICK (v.o.)

I’ve been try . . . ing

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Wendi is now in deep thought. She now sees a bible on the end table, she lovingly reaches over and picks it up. She lightly flips through the pages and quietly speaks.

WENDI

It has been too long.

Wendi now slides down and kneels at the coffee table and closes her eyes.

WENDI

Father forgive me, I don’t want to live this way any more. I want things to be the way they used to be with you and with Rick. Thank you for showing me that I have been seeing things from the wrong perspective.

Wendi looks up with a tear in her eye and a peaceful smile on her face.

Suddenly the door bell rings, this startles her. She looks over again at the note then she curiously stands and makes her way to the door.

Wendi slowly opens the door. Outside stands a Mexican/American man holding a work bag, he wears a name tag with the name “Jesus” on it.

Wendi inquisitively looks around.

WENDI

Hello, umm?

Wendi curiously points at his name tag.

MEXICAN/AMERICAN

It‘s Jesús. (pronounced in Spanish)

WENDI

Pardon?

JESÚS

My name is Jesús, are you okay?

WENDI

Oh yes, yes, I was just expecting someone else.

JESÚS

Oh okay, is Rick here?

WENDI

No, I’m sorry, he won’t be home for a couple hours.

JESÚS

Oh good, perfect.

WENDI

Can I help you with something?

JESÚS

Well yes, I picked up the part for his lawnmower for him and wanted to fix the sink so he doesn’t have to buy that special tool.

WENDI

Thank you, thank you, come on in.

Wendi shows Jesús to the kitchen.

WENDI

Did Rick ask you to do this for him?

JESÚS

No, no, it’s just that since he has always been so good to me, I wanted to return the favor a little bit.

WENDI

Can I get you a drink or anything?

JESÚS

Sure just a drink would be fine.

Wendi goes to the refrigerator and Jesús kneels down and begins working on the sink.

Jesús continues under the sink. Wendi sets a drink on the counter then turns the radio onto a Christian station and begins humming along while she straightens up a few things.

After a short time Jesús finishes under the sink, gets up and then turns on the water faucet.

JESÚS

There you go, poor Rick told me all the things he tried to get this fixed but it’s much quicker and easier with the right tool.

WENDI

Thank you again, thank you so much.

(beat)

More than you know.

JESÚS

Not a problem, I’m just glad I could come by while there was still time.

Wendi smiles.

WENDI

I think the timing was just perfect.

Jesús heads towards the front door.

JESÚS

By the way, who were you expecting today?

WENDI

Oh, ahh, I know this will sound strange, but ahh, Jesus.

Jesús laughs.

JESÚS

Yeah I get that a lot, I should probably spell my name differently. But anyway, I think he has already been here today.

Wendi smiles.

WENDI

Yes he has.

Jesús opens the door.

JESÚS

Oh and don’t forget to give this to Rick.

Jesús reaches in his bag and gives Wendi the lawnmower spark plug wire.

WENDI

I will.

Jesús exits and shuts the door.

 

INT. LIVING AREA – DAY

Wendi sits in a chair reading her bible with a big smile on her face.

Rick walks in through the front door.

Wendi excitedly rushes to meet him and gives him a big hug.

WENDI

I love you so much, I am very sorry for how I have been recently.

RICK

Oh, wow, I love you too.

WENDI

I have been misinterpreting a lot of things lately and now I need to make everything right with you and God.

RICK

I’m relieved that’s all it was.

WENDI

I’m gonna run up and get ready so I can go to church with you tonight.

Rick smiles big.

RICK

I’d like that very much.

WENDI

By the way, your friend Jesús came by and fixed the sink.

Wendi pick up the lawnmower part from a table and hands it to Rick.

WENDI

And he also went by and picked up your lawnmower part.

RICK

Who?

WENDI

Jesús, your friend, from?

Rick slowly replies.

RICK

I don’t know anyone named Jesús.

Both Rick and Wendi look very puzzled.

RICK

But I did . . .

The doorbell rings and Wendi opens the door.

RICK

. . . call a plumber.

A man stands in the doorway in an Aaron’s Plumbing uniform.

PLUMBER

Hi, I’m here from Aaron’s Plumbing. I have a work order to repair your kitchen sink.

Rick and Wendi look at each other in deeper amazement.

WENDI

Sorry, ahh, someone has already come by and fixed it.

 

EXT. RICK AND WENDI’S HOUSE – DAY

The Aaron’s Plumbing van pulls away revealing Rick and Wendi’s front lawn, it is perfectly mowed and edged.

 

FADE OUT

 

Copyright © 2011 Gary Kadaronak