Harry of Brooklyn: working sreenplay

Harry of Brooklyn

Opening

the phone call

driving slow, mom crying everyone secretly knowing

coney island hospital, fearing the guard

the hassidics, beginning of shabbat day of rest

My narrative:

My Grandfather suffered a massive stroke at the base of his brainstem. He was unconscious, but still alive breathing with the help of a respirator. I was realistic and knew that his chances for survival were slim.

But while everyone else was talking about him in the past tense as if he were already gone, I held on to hope.

I visited him every day. I could to talk to him, play music for him, and hold his hand. On my last visit I felt something was different. He seemed to ever so slightly open his eyes and look at me. When I reached out to touch him he motioned as if to say, “let me sleep”. The next day he passed away. I am not sure if my interpretation of his subtle movements were real or imagined, but the memory is beautiful and haunting to me.

Focus on eyes

Song: Paolo Nutini “Autumn”

Fade out

In the beginning

Harry was born in the lower eastside on March 19, 1921, two days before the start of spring. His father picked him up from the hospital in a Rolls Royce. As his mother holds him in her hands, she whispers sweet words of Yiddish. When he was two years old, they packed and moved to Brooklyn where he would spend the rest of his life.

Song: art garfunkel reworking of “just over the Brooklyn bridge” less cheesines

http://mp3shake.com/en/Art_Garfunkel/65879-Just_Over_The_Brooklyn_Bridge_mp3_download.html

Young years

Sam and Harry

Harry doesn’t know what to make of his father, Sam. As a ten year old, they would walk along the street together. Harry would often look up at him with wonder and awe. One day everything would change. As a young lady passes by, his father whispers, “I could have her.” Harry knows this sixteen year old girl and he has respect for women in spite of the vulgar example that his dad led. It is then that Harry knows he will not follow in his father’s footsteps.

You did not want to cross Sam Stern, his temper was legendary. Once when a guy refused to pay up for a paint job, Sam covered the place in black, sticky tar. Sam held many jobs, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and for some reason he always had money for new toys, like a speed boat or fancy car.

Whenever Harry’s dad stopped by, he always as handed him a one dollar bill. At that time, it was enough to do just about anything on Coney Island. First stop was a Nathan’s for a five cent Hotdog. Five cents would also buy you admission to a Freak Show. With names like Zippo and Pippo and the Bearded Lady, Harry felt like he was on another planet.

Harry and his family

Harry loves and adores his four sisters, especially Ellie who has Down’s Syndrome. He watches out for them and felt lucky to have them. In the fall of 1927 two of his sisters got “the cough”. They stayed in bed and waited for the doctor to visit. The doctor examines the girls. Quietly, he takes mama aside. Everyone already knows, but as the doctor confirms this, the family enters a mourning for what they know will come.

Song: Eva Cassidy “Fields of Gold” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMpJG7yj5d0

Harry and friends

Harry Stern is a feisty kid, with brown eyes and kinky layered hair. The year is 1929 and he’s eight years old. He’s known around his neighborhood as the best stickball player in Brighton Beach.

Harry and his friends are always getting' into trouble, but this year is different from all the rest. The game goes like this. Each person selects a card from the deck. The one with lowest card loses. The loser has to go over to Old Morry’s house, knock on the door and ask if “joe blow” is home. Morris is a bitter old man and all the kids like to pester him.

Harry wasn’t used to losing, but this time he does. Harry reluctantly walked over to Morry’s . The plan was to knock on the door ask for “joe blow” and run as fast as he can before Morry catches him and whacks him a rolled up newspaper. Harry is successful and everything goes as planned. Wheww!!

Harry makes it back to the Park and the guys convince him to take another try. Being that Harry never loses, he figures that there is no way he could lose again.

But Harry’s luck had run out. He lost. His faced turned white. What was he going to do?

Quick on his feet, he came up with an idea that just might work. He headed home to see his little sister Jesse. He told her that he needed to get dressed up like a girl. Jesse got out the lipstick and Harry stepped into a dress.

He lightly knocked on Morry’s door. As Harry’s eyes met his, he sweetly asked in a falsetto voice “is Joseph Blow home?

Morry was caught off guard leaving Harry with enough time to get away.

Skippy

Skippy was much like Sam. He fathered five pups and left them with their mother. Skippy lived in Harry’s apartment and frequently relieved himself on the family couch. He was “King of the Neighborhood” or at least that’s what he thought. This is a common delusion among most dogs.

The Chimp

Harry came home from school to a very big surprise. A chimpanzee greeted him at the door. Harry’s father, had bought the monkey from a guy who did sidewalk shows. His father figured that if a monkey could be trained to grind an organ and act like a kid, he could probably be trained to retrieve beer from the ice chest. The chimp’s name was Chump. “Chump the chimp”. Unfortunately, things weren’t working out and his father was talking about getting rid of Chump. Harry couldn’t lose Chump. He was his new best friend. Once again he needed a idea.

Harry asked his father if Chump could stay if Chump brought in some money. His father agreed for the time being. Harry recognized Chump had a lot of strength and thought that he might make a good boxer.

Insert coney island 1920’s 30’s research

Harry borrowed his friend Mikey’s boxing gloves and brought Chump over to the ring over in Coney Island. The famous Max Baer was knocking out guys left and right. As chump‘s turn came, up Harry got more and more nervous. Chump was about one-eigth the size of Max. The bell rang and the fight was on. But not for long, because Chump hopped on to Max’s shoulders from behind. Disoriented, Max stumbled. Chump turned around and sprung his little arms. Fifteen hits to the face in one minute was enough to take down the Bear. Chump was a champ and Harry was rich.

Duddy’s House

Harry and Duddy were first cousins, so they hung out occasionally. Duddy lived on the second floor of his building. The window was directly above a bus stop. People were always standing, waiting for the bus. As two wisecrackers, Duddy and Harry loved to harass people. They would each take a turn with their pea shooters. The object was to hit someone without the person knowing what happened. Harry was a good aim and he spotted the perfect victim. A man with no hair. The pea ricotched beautifully off of his shiny bald head. What Duddy and Harry did not expect was revenge.

The steaming red man knew exactly where that pea came from. He was sick of people taunting a man no hair. He stormed up the stairs and pounded the door as hard as he could. Harry and Duddy hid under the bed and held their breath. Three minutes later the racket stopped. The door stayed hinged and Harry survived another day.

Yiddish, the Secret Language

Harry’s parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. They spoke a secret language that they taught to him, Yiddish. All of his friends knew the language and this allowed them to communicate secretly with each other. When the boys from Sheepshead bay came on to Harry’s turf all of his guy’s were ready. Although the Sheepshead Bay boys were older and stronger, Harry’s crew had the edge. Larry was based on the roof and the rest of the guys spread around the block. Each boy was armed with a pocketful of rocks. Larry would give up the positions of the Sheephead Bay boys calling out in Yiddish…….

Shlomo the homeless guy

Unfortunately Harry and his friends weren’t always the “good guys”. Shlomo slept on park benches and wandered the neighborhood, never bothering any body. Harry’s group liked to practice their aim by taking pot shots at him. He would normally never fight back, but one day he did. The rock flew directly into Harry’s mouth chipping his front tooth. Mistakenly Harry ran to his father, who was an expert at revenge and showed him his tooth. Harry wanted revenge but not the kind that Sam would bring. Shlomo was beaten senseless and left for dead. Harry held great power, but from that day on he knew he had to be careful with its use.

Song : Bruce sprinsteen (acoustic) “the wrestler”

repeat for glimpses of my struggles

Before he leaves for the war

Dream sequence: Before Harry met Sylvia there was Marie, the professional roller skater.

Army Signal Corps

Harry works up in the poles, behind and below, the war is raging. In the barracks Tony says, “Harry I should let you have some of this French girl” Getting an STD was not on Harry’s wish list. The young French girl he spent time with was only a friend, who helped pick out gifts for the young American girl, Sylvia, waiting at home. Harry would always remain faithful.

incorporate philosophy of anne frank , despite everything i still believe people are good

As he looks through the daily reports, he reads “Max Klein killed in action” It was his best friend and the words hit him like a bullet.

Harry goes out for a walk alone and as he shuffles along he breaks down into uncontrollable tears. He thinks about all they had been through together. As an atheist there is not much solace only acceptance. His tears begin to recede. He sits down and looks up toward the stars.

Song: bruce springsteen “tom jode”” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DEtA5fhk4k (album version)

repeat for glimpses of my hell

The Return Home

The wedding at the Handwerkers (Nathan’s)

montage of photos, glimpses of joy

Song: Ben Folds “The Luckiest”

repeat for glimpses of my wedding

Watch Shop

Harry had become a watch repairman, a profession that requires patience and a deft touch. His coworkers come from all walks of life. A young black man named Claude Brown works in the shop. Claude would later go on to write the classic book Manchild In the Promisedland. But before his fame he would frequently rob the store. It was something everyone knew, but no one would say.

Mr Fujiyama was another character of the shop. He was a new immigrant who struggled to understand the American way. Mr. Fujiyama asked Harry why Americans would waste so much money on birthday gifts. When his young son turned 1 years old, he decided to give him a practical toy to play with. He believed that his son would find enjoyment with cardboard. More specifically it was the cardboard that is left after a roll of toilet paper is finished. It was ingenious, melding the ideas of recycling, thrift, and fun.

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struggle between "natural" and "unnatural", eastern western, vitamins medicine

heart problems, solgar vit, gary null, the psychologist, dr unger, "I don't understand" the date with the nurse

Fill in later years (vitamins, tai chi, feeling like a kid again)

The evolution to who he ultimately became

Shuns money

Shuns fame

Values simplicity

Man of peace

Quiet inspiration

Ending

Funeral: insert my eulogy

Return to my narrative:

song: "Let it be me" Ray la montagne play softly

He left behind in body what seemed like a shattered family. I began to forget , continued my own suffering, and drifted thru life, with occasional moments of clarity. Slowly guided by his inspiration, not always knowing it came from him…. In what seemed like an instant, but took a lifetime…. I too begun to wake up.

start softly, slowly turn up

Song: Louie Armstrong “what a wonderful world” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI&feature=related

End

For Grandpa

relationship between grandpa and I

my sickness

my adolescence- phone conversations

bm

father figure - lack of