FADE IN:               A BLACK VOID               Whooshing sounds and crashes can be heard.                                   KARL GLOGAUER (V.O.)                             (in a panic)                         Oh, Jesus!  Oh, God!  Oh, Jesus!                         Oh, God!  Oh, Jesus!  Oh, God!  Oh,                         Jesus! Oh, God!  Christ!  What's                         happening to me?  I'm fucked.  I'm                         finished.  The fucking thing                         doesn't work.  Oh, Jesus! Oh, God!                         When will the bastard stop bumping?                                                       FADE TO:               INT. MIDDLE CLASS HOME.               Middle-aged man bursts in through the front door.                                   EMMANUEL GLOGAUER                             (frantically)                         Mia!  Mia!  Where are you!  Where                         is the boy!!                An unattractive middle-aged woman comes down the stairs.                                   MIA GLOGAUER                         Now, Emmanuel.  You must calm down.                         This will do the boy no good.  The                         doctor says that he must rest now.                                   EMMANUEL                         But I do not understand.  Why would                         he do such a thing?  In the eyes of                         the Lord, this is a serious sin.                          Why?                                   MIA                         He won't talk to me.  I have been                         asking him again and again myself -                          Why?  He won't answer.  He just                         lies there.  If you ask me, he just                         does this for the attention.  No?                                   EMMANUEL                         But Mia, to hang himself ...                                                       FADE TO:               BLACK SCREEN               FADE IN SLOWLY THE TITLE "BEHOLD THE MAN" IN BLOCK LETTERS.               BTM THEME MUSIC BEHIND.  FADE TITLE TO BLACK.               FLASH SMALL PICTURES OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT VARIOUS               RANDOM POINTS ON THE SCREEN.  SAVE SHOTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION               FOR THE END OF TITLE SEQUENCE.               SHOW CREDITS OPPOSITE SPACE USED BY PICTURES.                                                       CUT TO:               INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT               Two people are lying in bed.  The slender feminine one sits               up, turns to her partner and gets on top.  She begins to kiss               her partner.                                   KARL GLOGAUER                             (sleepily)                         What?  What?  Monica?  What the                         hell?                                   MONICA BLANK                             (with a devilish lilt to                              her voice)                         Now, Karl ... just relax ... you are                         gonna love this.                She begins to make love to him.  Kissing him.  He struggles.                                   KARL                         Dammit!  Stop!  (pushing her away)                          I have Communion in the morning.               MONICA sits back and stares at Karl.                                   KARL (CONT'D)                         What time is it?                                   MONICA                         What fucking time is it?  It's time                         for you to wake up.  Time for you                         to forget about this mumbo-jumbo                         religion bullshit and live in the                         real world.                          You know the real world ... where                         couples fuck any night if they want                         to - where couples can stay in bed                         on a Sunday and have a late Brunch                         - where couples can discuss their                         relationship rationally and come to                         some conclusions.  That real world!                                   KARL                             (getting up)                         Oh no, not again.  You're not                         sucking me into this discussion                         again.  I am not defending a                         religion that millions subscribe to                         - I'm not ...               MONICA stands up and begins wrapping herself in the               bedspread.                                   MONICA                         That's what you see this as?  A                         discussion on religious philosophy?                          You bastard.               KARL stands and moves to the window.  He turns his back to               MONICA, and stares out of the window.  Each arm is stretched               out touching the vertical jamb on each side of the window               frame - creating a "T" effect with his body.                                   KARL                         Maybe you'd be happier if I just                         died. How's that for a life                         changing event? Your emotional                         "obligation" would be completed.                          (a beat)  Or you could end up back                         where I found you - fucking townies                         for drug money.               MONICA sits back on the bed.  The wind is knocked out of her               sails.  She begins to cry.                                   MONICA                         I don't believe you said that.               KARL grabs his clothes and starts walking out of the room.                                   KARL                         Yeah.  Yeah.  (a beat)  I gotta get                         some air.  When I come back either                         be asleep or be gone.               Karl leaves the room.  Monica sits alone on the bed, silently               weeping.  Camera centers on Monica in frame and slowly pulls               back.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               EXT. IN THE YARD OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOL - AFTERNOON.               Boys running - shouting - playing games.  It's recess.  One               boy, who looks about 9 years old, stands alone staring up at               the crucifix atop the building.  An older man approaches. He               appears to be a brother of the order administering the               school.  He touches the young boy on the shoulder.  The boy               doesn't respond.   The older man kneels down next to him.                                   BROTHER PAULUS                         Karl, we missed you at choir                         practice today.               KARL doesn't move.  He continues to stand looking up at the               crucifix.                                   KARL                         I wasn't feeling well, Brother                         Paulus. So I spent the time                         praying.               PAULUS gently turns KARL by his shoulders to face him.                                   PAULUS                         Do you have a note from Nurse?  (a                         beat) You know that it's school                         rules to have a note when you miss                         class.  Do you have a note?               KARL is slow to respond.  He looks down at his shoes and               clears his throat.                                   KARL                         No, Brother Paulus, I didn't go to                         Nurse - I just prayed alone in the                         back of the church.               PAULUS stands.  He put his hands on his hips and looks down               at KARL.                                   PAULUS                         Oh, no ... no ... no.  This will be a                         problem.  You need a note, you                         know. School rules.  What shall we                         do?  What shall we do?                          Well, you must come to my office                         and we will discuss this further.                         Perhaps a penance must be done.  (a                         beat)  Are you expected home soon?                                   KARL                             (quietly)                         No, Brother Paulus.  My parents                         told me to stay here until 6pm and                         pray.  They will pick me up then.               A hint of a smile plays at PAULUS' lips.                                   PAULUS                         Oh, good.  We have plenty of time                         for both your penance and your                         prayers to Jesus for forgiveness.                          Come along then.               They begin walking slowly toward the door � PAULUS in the               lead.  The shadow of the crucifix seems to point the way.               They begin to ascend the stairs.  PAULUS enters first, stops,               turns and beckons KARL.  As KARL reaches the top of the               steps, he turns and looks back at the children laughing and               playing in the yard.  A single tear streaks his cheek.                                   PAULUS (CONT'D)                         Come on.  Quickly then.  Don't                         dawdle. Let us not make Jesus wait.               KARL turns back toward PAULUS and follows him into the               darkness of the church.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               INT. NEIGHBORHOOD BAR - EARLY EVENING               The bar is packed with a college crowd.  At one end of the               bar, two students are having an animated discussion.  One is               KARL, apparently in Grad School.  His companion, the stockier               of the two, occasionally stops talking, shouts out a word in               what appears to be Russian and the both of them drain shot               glasses of a clear liquid.  They slam the glasses back on the               bar and the bartender refills them.  At the other end of the               bar is an attractive girl who appears very disheveled and               either drunk or stoned.  She turns and looks toward KARL and               his friend.  It's a younger MONICA.                                   KARL                             (passionately)                         ... you understand, Headie?                          Therefore, the divinity of Christ                         is the basis for all Western                         civilization.               His companion looks directly at KARL.  Deadpan.  A beat.                                   JAMES HEADINGTON                         Can you possibly be as fucked up as                         you sound?               They look at each other.  A beat.                                   HEADINGTON                             (at the top of his lungs)                         SPUTNIK!               They grab for their drinks and drain the glasses again.               During this, MONICA walks over to them.  She stands behind               KARL looking at HEADINGTON, trying to smile.  KARL turns and               looks behind him.  His eyes lock on MONICA's.  Her eyes lose               their focus and she begins to faint.  KARL springs up to               catch her.  While this is going on, a street punk enters the               bar.  He looks around and notices the commotion caused by               MONICA and KARL.  He rapidly moves toward them.                                   LITTLE LEO                             (angrily)                         Yo, Yo, Yo, Bitch!                He pushes KARL aside and grabs MONICA by the front of her               blouse, pulling her up.                                    LEO                          Don't you be passin' out now.  You                         still owe me for the last pop I                         fronted you. Lessee them Benjamins,                         baby.                 Karl goes at LEO.  Leo senses this, turns his head, pulls out               a knife and flicks it open in one smooth move.                                     LEO (CONT'D)                              (to KARL.) )                         Yessir, you white motherfucker.                          Come on.  Stick your nose where it                         don't belong.  (a beat)  Are you                         fuckin' deaf. Back off or you best                         be sayin' your prayers to Jesus,                         nigger.                As LEO slashed the knife at KARL, HEADINGTON grabs a heavy               ashtray off the bar and swings it LEO, hitting him in the               back of the head.  LEO drops like a stone.                                   HEADINGTON                             (quite pleased with                              himself)                         Well, I guess that's one argument                         he couldn't refute.                               (to KARL.) )                         Why don't you grab the lovely lady,                         my friend, and, like the good                         shepherd said, get the flock out of                         here.  (Suddenly.) GULAG!               As HEADINGTON drains his glass, KARL collects MONICA in his               arms and heads for the door.  Before they exit, he turns back               and looks at HEADINGTON.  HEADINGTON gives him a smile and a               wink.  Then he grabs KARL's glass and drains that one. KARL               and MONICA exit.  Moments later, LEO begins to stir.               HEADINGTON looks down at him, then he beckons the bartender.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                         Excuse me, my good man, - another,                         please. (a beat)  But this time                         could you leave the bottle.                                                       CUT TO:               EXT.  A BEACH - MUCH LATER IN THE EVENING               KARL and MONICA are sitting side by side looking out at the               crashing surf.                                   KARL                         You OK?  Warm enough?                                   MONICA                             (staring out to sea)                         I don't know if I can do this.  (a                         beat) Sometimes I think it would be                         so easy to stop, and then ...               KARL looks at her.                                   KARL                         I know it won't be easy, but it can                         be done.  You said you wanted to                         get control of your life.  You can                         do it. (a beat)  And I'll help.               MONICA finally looks at him.                                   MONICA                         You hardly know me.  Why would you                         do this.  You saw the kind of stuff                         that's in my life.  (gestures back                         over her shoulder)  Leo.  And                         others just as bad. I've done a lot                         of things this past year I'm not                         proud of.                               (a beat)                         And there are things I don't                         remember that I probably would get                         sick over.  And you probably would,                         too.               MONICA stares out at the sea again.                                   MONICA [CONT'D]                         Someday you'd find out - a                         conversation you overhear at that                         bar or a knock on the door - and                         then you'd leave and I'd be lost.                          Because by then I'd have put my                         faith in you.  My life in your                         hands.                KARL puts his hand over hers.                                   KARL                             (quietly)                         None of that matters.  What you                         did.  I don't care.  I have a                         feeling.  (a beat) I will always be                         with you.                KARL gathers MONICA in his arms.  She nestles her head in the               crook of his arm.  Silently, they stare out over the ocean.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               INT. AN OFFICE - AFTERNOON               EMMANUEL and MIA GLOGAUER are seated in two chairs on one               side of a desk.  Seated behind the desk is BROTHER PAULUS.               Behind the GLOGAUERs in a chair against the wall sits a boy               of about seven.  It is KARL.                                   MIA                         So you think singing in the choir                         will help our Karl become more                         accepted with the other children?                                   PAULUS                             (patiently)                         In cases like this, when you have a                         smaller child with difficulties in                         the socialization process, a                         creative outlet like choir is just                         the activity to bring out - to                         blossom, as it were - the natural                         tendency for cooperative play and                         friendship.                MIA and EMMANUEL look at each other.  Karl sits quietly in               his chair.  He is wringing his hands.  The scratches on the               back of each hand get redder until blood wells up and reddens               his fingernails.                                   EMMANUEL                         If you think this will help...  What                         will be involved?  Is this to                         happen during school hours?  Will                         there be an additional cost?                                   PAULUS                             (smiles)                         One question at a time, please.                          Now, practice will occur between 3                         and 4 pm three times a week.                MIA and EMMANUEL stir.  PAULUS can see the beginnings of a               protest.                                   PAULUS[CONT'D]                         Now I know that is after regular                         school hours, but I must stress the                         importance of this to young Karl's                         development. And for the first                         month, Karl must also stay for                         additional instruction from 4 to 5                         pm on those days.  He is behind the                         rest of the choir.  I am willing to                         do this to help Karl assimilate                         into the group quicker.  And no,                         Mr. Glogauer, there will not be any                         additional charges.                                   MIA                         Then it's settled, no?  It will                         begin immediately?  As you say,                         Brother Paulus, there is no time to                         lose in the development of young                         Karl.  Emmanuel, you surely agree.               EMMANUEL has turned and is looking back at KARL.  EMMANUEL               seems uneasy about this solution.                                   EMMANUEL                             (turning back)                         Mia, are you sure ...                                   MIA                             (sternly)                         Emmanuel, what are you proposing -                         you know better than the Brother                         whose job it is to teach and mold                         young boys?  You have another                         solution?  You, perhaps, have money                         to take him to a psychologist?                                   EMMANUEL                         No, No.  I meant nothing.  Of                         course I agree.  It's the best                         thing.  We will make the                         appropriate arrangements to pick                         him up at the later time.                MIA rises and shakes PAULUS' hand.                                   MIA                         Thank you, Brother Paulus.                EMMANUEL also rises.                                   EMMANUEL                         Yes, indeed.  All our thanks.                In the background, KARL sits silently.  Wringing his hands.               His eyes seem to be staring somewhere off in the distance as               if he was not present in the room.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               EXT. A STREET WET FROM THE RAIN - LATE AT NIGHT               KARL is walking; looking up at a lighted 5th floor window. A               figure appears at the window.  It's MONICA.                                   KARL                             (to himself)                         Oh, shit.  Can't she leave me                         alone? She's always crowding me.                          Crowding me. I'm only one man.  I                         can't do this anymore.                KARL looks up at the window again.  MONICA has opened it               wide.  She is leaning out - looking down at the street.  She               looks up and her eyes lock on KARL's.  They stare at each               other for an eternal moment - MONICA blows him a kiss - then               she dives out headlong toward the street.                                   KARL (CONT'D)                             (running toward her)                         NO!                MONICA is silent - her arms spread like an angels wings - and               then she hits the pavement with a dull thud.  KARL gets there               seconds later.  He drops to his knees next to her crumpled               body.  He tries to gather her in his arms.  He pulls her               close and throws his head back.                                   KARL (CONT'D)                             (anguished)                         No!  JESUS!  NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               INT. THE FOYER OF THE GLOGAUER RESIDENCE - LATE AFTERNOON               EMMANUEL and MIA GLOGAUER can be heard in the kitchen -               arguing.  The clock strikes 6.  The front door slowly opens.               It is a nine year old KARL.  His face shows the tracks of               tears.  His clothing is not buttoned quite right.                                                       CUT TO:               INT. GLOGAUER KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS               EMMANUEL is sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his               hands - looking down.  MIA is pacing the room and shouting               things like, "How could you!", and "She's young enough to be               your daughter!", and "I hate you!".  EMMANUEL is silent. KARL               stands quietly in the doorway watching.  MIA stops pacing and               looks at him.                                   MIA                             (crossly)                         And what do you want, young man. (a                         beat)  You're late.                          Do you want to hurt me, too?  Will                         it make you as happy as your                         father?                KARL says nothing.                                   MIA (CONT'D)                             (approaching KARL)                         Well? Answer me.  Answer me, God                         Damn you!               MIA slaps KARL across the face.  Once.  Twice.  Three times.               Tears well in KARL's eyes.  He looks beseechingly at his               father.  His father looks up and then looks away.                                   MIA (CONT'D)                             (deadly quiet)                         You disgust me.  (louder.)  The                         both of you.  Spineless, sick,                         depraved leeches. Drain me of all                         my youth and cast me aside.                MIA gets directly in KARL's face.                                   MIA (CONT'D)                             (quietly again)                         And you.  You almost murder me at                         your birth.  And you are still                         trying to kill me today.                MIA spits in KARL's face.  She stands and crosses to               EMMANUEL.  She looks down at him.  He still has his head in               his hands.                                   MIA (CONT'D)                             (to EMMANUEL)                         You sicken me the most.  I almost                         feel sorry for you.  (a beat.                          Looking at EMMANUEL.)  I am                         leaving.  I will come back for my                         things.  Later.                MIA grabs her coat and, without a backward glance, leaves               through the back door.  KARL, with MIA's spit still on his               cheek, approaches his father.                                   KARL                         Father.  Please.  (He begins to                         cry.) There is something I must                         tell you.                          (He begins to speak faster, trying                         to push the words out.)  About                         Brother Paulus and choir                         practice.  The reason I am always                         late is ...               EMMANUEL stands, still preoccupied with his own plight.                                   EMMANUEL                         Not now, Karl.  Don't you                         understand what went on.  How can                         you be so uncaring - unfeeling -                         selfish.  It's always about you.                          It always was.  You are the reason                         I did this to your mother.  Why                         can't you be normal.               EMMANUEL walks out of the kitchen into the foyer.  The front               door slams.  KARL is alone standing in the center of the               kitchen.                                   KARL                             (to the empty room)                         But he has been - touching me.                          With his hands.  And his mouth.                          (tears are streaming down his                         face.)  And he makes me touch him,                         too.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               EXT.  A MEADOW - AFTERNOON               KARL, MONICA, and HEADINGTON are having a picnic.  They are               laughing.  KARL pushes HEADINGTON and he falls over, still               laughing.                                   KARL                         Headie, you are most definitely an                         asshole.                                   MONICA                             (to KARL)                         Now don't be too hard on him.  I                         think it's romantic - time travel                          to the past in a bubble. (She                         bursts out laughing.)  Human beings                         floating back to correct the                         mistakes we made and "make right                         what once went wrong".               MONICA falls over laughing.  HEADINDGTON tries to look hurt,               but doesn't quite pull it off.  KARL, in the spirit of the               moment, has stood and is waving his arms "floating" about                looking off in the distance.                                   HEADINGTON                             (very professorial)                         Laugh if you must, but when they                         award me the Nobel prize - "Dr.                         Headington, we are pleased ... blah,                         blah, blah ... Here is a check as a                         token of ... blah, blah, blah ... You                         are truly a giant among men." I                         may not even acknowledge that I                         know you.  Perhaps I will pass the                         two of you outside on the street                          selling apples to pay for a single                         night's rest in a warm bed and I                         will look - (He stands.)  I will                         look - (MONICA and KARL stop and                         stare at him.)  And I will ignore                         you!  Why?  Because today, the 15th                         of June, you ridiculed my idea of                         sending a human back through time.                          (He throws his hands out to each                         side.)  And leave me a broken,                         disheartened man. (He drops his                         hands to his sides.)  Not to                         mention thirsty.                They all laugh and fall to the blanket.  MONICA rummages               through the cooler.                                   MONICA                             (To HEADINGTON)                         I hate to say this, O Exalted One,                         but I think we are out of beer.                          And wine. And that small bottle of                         vodka you stuffed in here.  We do,                         however, have some of my diet Coke                         left.                HEADINGTON springs up.                                   HEADINGTON                             (in a mock panic)                         Oh, no.  This will never do.  I                         must go on a quest.  (a beat)  Yes.                          A quest. This will look really good                         in my memoirs.                         (He picks up his fanny pack.) I                         will go into town and attempt to                         corner and capture the wily Samuel                         Adams.  I will do this at great                         personal risk.  I will return with                         the booty and we can continue this                         pleasant diversion. (He winks at                         KARL.)  So you two - be good.  (He                         starts to leave.)  And remember �                         this will be an entire chapter in                         my autobiography.                HEADINGTON leaves with a flourish.  KARL and MONICA lay side               by side on the blanket.  Still laughing.                                   KARL                             (sobering - looking up at                              the sky.)                         He can do it, you know.                                   MONICA                             (turns her head toward                              him)                         Do what?                                   KARL                         Time travel.  I've seen it.  Only                         once and it was a small test.  But                         he can do it.                                   MONICA                         No!  You saw him send a human back                         in time?  A real live kicking,                         screaming test subject?                                   KARL                         Well, no.  It was a mouse and he                         was inside this little "bubble",                         and he popped right into a pillow.                                   MONICA                         What?                                   KARL                         Then later we got a mouse and sent                         him back.  That became the mouse I                         saw earlier.  Oh, shit does it                         sound as confusing to you as it                         does to me.                                   MONICA                             (laughing)                         Not at all, daring.  You saw a                         friend of yours make a sweet little                         rodent appear and disappear.  And                         he told you it was time travel.                          And you believed him.  A friend,                         might I add, who has never been                         adverse to playing a joke or two on                         you in the past.  Were you two                         drinking?                                   KARL                         Yes, but ...                                   MONICA                         Sweetums, you've been had.                                   KARL                             (laughing as well)                         Oh, boy.  I feel like such a chump.                          (a beat)  I believe things way too                         quickly.                                   MONICA                         Never change.  Please.  That's one                         of the reasons I love you so.                They lay back next to each other - KARL with a contented               smile on his face.  Moments pass.                                   KARL                             (Looking at the sky)                         Have you ever been happier than we                         are now?  School is over.  The                         summer stretches before us with                         endless opportunity for fun.                          Headie and I have been accepted                         into Doctoral programs for                         September.  I have a teaching                         assistant job lined up.  You will                         get that job as admin to the                         Chairman of the Psychology                         Department.  Headington is going to                         be committed ...                MONICA sits up and swats him.  They begin to wrestle.  KARL               pins her down.  He presses down to kiss her.                                   MONICA                         Wait - what's this?  (She puts her                         hand on his chest.)  What are you                         wearing?                MONICA tries to unbutton KARL's shirt.  KARL pulls away and               turns.                                   MONICA (CONT'D)                             (Trying to turn KARL back)                         What is it?  Are you hiding                         something? Come on.  Show Mama.                KARL turns back and unbuttons his shirt.  About a half dozen               crucifixes dangle from a chain around his neck.  MONICA               stares at them and then looks at KARL.                                   MONICA (CONT'D)                         I don't understand.  I've never                         seen you wear so many before.                                   KARL                             (sheepishly)                         I always have.  I just took them                         off before you could see them.                          It's just an important part of what                         I believe.                                   MONICA                         I understand.  (She puts her arms                         around him.)  It's the little                         quirks like this that make me love                         you more.                They fall to the blanket in a passionate embrace.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:
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