A mind is a natural resource that you cannot afford to waste. What you make from it is who you are. The fine line of time sometimes becomes invisible, while at the same time you feel it as real.
Year after year, you drive back and forth to work. Nothing ever happens in your life except that changing lifestyle of growing old. Sometimes out of the ordinary events make your day longer, you wish it would not be everlastingly.
You learn to develop a normal routine and accept that ever-changing interval of growing old. Dreams make you desire for peace and happiness. You want it to last forever, but a brain is a natural resource that you cannot afford to squander on dreams. This could happen to anyone that lives, but it happened to TEDD BEANAK. Could it happen to you?

[Act One of Four Acts] The Day That Never Ended © 2011
By Joe Vojt
An original teleplay
One-hour television program
Registered WGAe No. R20850

ACT ONE


FADE IN:


EXT. ROAD – LATE AFTERNOON FALL 1988

While driving home from work, TEDD always wanted the trip to end. Normally he would be ready to enjoy the weekend, but events occurred changing his life.

TEDD
(thinking)
I am always one out of a hundred
other people on the road. This has
become the standard.

Slowly the daylight activity became hurried and then it turned dark.

TEDD
The sun sets quickly in the fall
as it reaches the far end of the
horizon. Grabbing hold of nature
is a daily routine.

With that, all the cars turned on their source of power.

TEDD
Those headlights piercing into the
pitch black setting confirm the
transition of change.

Mixing within the crowded highway of life was normal. For Tedd id was an everyday event.

TEDD
I am forced to blink my eyes for
some unknown reason. The dark sky
has divided in front of me. In the
middle of this maze a clear visible
red strip appeared.

This caused the fresh blanket of dew to withdraw.

TEDD
No sign of wetness, the roads are
dry. Total darkness has finally
settled in.

The cars headlights started their piercing action with methodical vigor.

TEDD
Most of the cars continue their race.
This routine has been the accepted
way of society.

On each side of this spectrum, a halo of two crystallizing clouds became visible.

TEDD
I feel a chilling force penetrating
through the car. At the same time
it cast a fresh blanket of dew on
the road.

Tedd never experienced this variety of transformation.

TEDD
I am trying to look through the gray,
but all I find are the countless
huge barren silhouettes of trees.
Fall has started, by reaching out
with its vast new power.

Without warning, the dew spread quickly covering everything, including his car.

TEDD
I am forced to slow down, but I
can keep moving. This does not
make sense. I hear the effects
of a thousand wipers running in
unison.

He was puzzled how he could hear those sounds.

TEDD
The massive wipers must be openly
motivated to run in continuous
labor. Each is trying hard to
fight back what can not be seen.

Even with his vision being impaired, nothing phased those machines of steel.

TEDD
The frenzy of red lights add to
the blinding affect. Truly a sign
of how effective the dew has become.

Tedd was irritated by this new delay, because after a week of work he wanted to get home and unwind.

TEDD
Traveling through any typical night,
like this proves that mankind
remains powerless. Especially when
it comes against the simple weapon
known as Mother Nature.

Looking up at the darkened sky, he tried to find that clear red strip.

TEDD
It vanished. How can that be!

Scanning the area, the blanket of dew disappeared.

TEDD
(puzzled)
Not a single sign of wetness
remains. The roads are again dry.
I cannot believe what I do not
see.

All the cars regained their normal speed continuing on the highway of life. They maneuver in and out of the pack creating their own passage.

TEDD
(taking a deep breath)
Finally, I am able to break out of
that controlled traffic pattern.
Now there are few lights to guide
me home. Being on my familiar
country road makes me feel at ease.

Tedd races toward his own goal. The area he calls home can be seen spread over a vast region that was once prosperous in farming.

TEDD
I am glad my home is in a small
peaceful valley. This suburban
community is inhabited with
around 35,OOO people.

The residential makeup includes representative families living happily in this geographic region.


TEDD
This modern development is great,
because it did not destroy its
vast farming enterprise. During
the daylight this scenic landscape
encompasses humanity.

Tedd felt living between the vast mountain ranges is a small community was his own paradise.

TEDD
During the day, I enjoy watching
the river cut a slow path down
though the mountains. Even with
its small size it has the power of
dividing a large city from our
peaceful community.

Thinking about his home on Fridays became normal.

TEDD
On a clear day, I see those vast
ranges rolling off into the distance.
It keeps me motivated for coming home
after a long work week.

Finally, Tedd was able to relax, listing to some soft music in the background.

TEDD
I can at last pick my own speed.

With the slower pace, for some reason he moved out of the dark into a massive bright glowing yellow light.

TEDD
Why am I forced to almost low down?
What is going on now?

Getting accustomed to the brightness Tedd watched a huge mist of spiraling water swirled straight up into the air.

TEDD
I cannot believe my car is
completely covered with water.

This left him ill prepared as to what was about to happen.

TEDD
Why am I being drawn into the
glowing pattern of water? At the
same time the yellow hue keeps
growing.

This broke the solidness of the pitch-black nighttime.

TEDD
What now? The glow has separated
into two piercing rays of lights.
More like enormous cat eyes are
staring at me.

Like a magnet, his car was drawn closer into the light pattern. As the force of water volume increased, the car became totally swamped.

TEDD
Turning the wipers on high, has
not helped. The wipers are not
capable of cleaning the fierce
spray. Even with the motor
grinding it does not help.

Tedd had this eerie feeling of the unknown.

TEDD
Tonight for some strange reason
the ride home has been far from
routine. I am forced follow the
stream because I am not in control.

Dead in front of him, he saw two large lights staring at him.

TEDD
For some reason, I feel like a spell
captured me.

Slowly he continued driving within a tunnel of water. Suddenly without warning, his car's speed increased.

TEDD
What in the world is causing my
pace to increase? At the same time
the spray is escalating and even
the glow is getting brighter.

While the frantic wipers kept on trying to over come the furry. Tedd heard his heart rate increasing.

TEDD
Wow, I finally recognize what is
in front of me.

He slowly passed an oversized wheeled tractor pulling a giant wooden water barrel.

TEDD
Does two large floodlights mounted
on top of the rear fenders are
misleading at night.

A breath of fresh air could be heard coming from Tedd.

TEDD
What a relief!

The road began quickly drying.

TEDD
A small amount of water continues
spinning off the wheels. My rear
window remains wet. This set up is
used to water farm crops during the
growing season or sever dry spells.

It was pitch black again. The trance was broken.

TEDD
This has been an interesting ride.
Why would that tractor be out at
night watering what?

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DRIVEWAY

Pulling into the driveway of his modern living complex, he sat on 33 Riverside Circle allowing his heart to settle down.

TEDD
I feel odd about my ride home today.

What bothered him, why did a common every day occurrence affected his thinking.

TEDD
That sensation held me confined.

He sat there waiting. For some reason Tedd did not want to move.

TEDD
(thinking)
How many years since I moved
into this development? They have
been enjoyable years.

Normally Tedd would be ready to benefit from the weekend, but this trip home was different. It took him longer to recover.

TEDD
Driving has always been the
boring part of my lifestyle.
I am always glad that the journey
ends. This afternoon was not boring.

Slowly getting out of his car, the chill of the evening surprised him. It was colder then he expected. Moving quickly into his house was not a normal event.

DISSOLVE TO:


INT. HOUSE

TEDD
Home at last. Nothing like the
comfort of my house. The ride for
some reason was more stressful
then I have ever experienced.

Walking to his couch, he tried to relax until he realized how serene it was.

TEDD
Seeing no one is home will give me
a chance to unwind and rest. I do
appreciate it.

Getting up he headed for the shower.



INT. BATHROOM


TEDD
The hot water feels great. It helps
to ease my tense muscles and brain.
Boy do need it tonight.

Once out of the shower Tedd felt comfortable. While walking into his bedroom a cold chill passed through his body.


INT. BEDROOM

TEDD
I know after a steaming hot shower
the air feels cold, but there is
something different about it.

Somehow, he knew this was the same chill he felt cutting through his body while outside.

TEDD
It is odd no one is home. What I
need to do first is relax. My bed
offers the best comfort of home.

While in bed sleep took over, but for unknown reasons his subconscious mind remained activate.

TEDD
Why is my family of five not home?

What started out as a simple rest, lasted till the early morning hours. STARTLED, he jumped out and stood wondering.

TEDD
(quietly)
No sounds from the kids, no running,
or screaming.

Slowly stretching he looked at his night table clock.

TEDD
Seven o’clock, already, it feels
great.

He knew something was not right. That dead silence was extremely unusual in his household.


TEDD
Where could my family be? Normally at
this time they would be busy with
typical activities.

Getting up.

TEDD
What I love about the fall is the
sun breaking up the morning dew.
That power remains fascinating.

Standing motionless near his bedroom window, the full sun's strength began attacking the dew.

TEDD
Those morning rays have a way of
warming my body. It sure feels
invigorating.

Relaxed he enjoyed his peace, at the same time he missed his wife MARY. Even the four kids where nowhere to be heard.
TEDD
(talking quietly)
It was nice of my family to give me
extra rest. Maybe they had no choice.

Why his family was not home continued lingered in his thoughts.

TEDD
With no one is home, now it is
too quiet.

Tedd began walking back and forth.

TEDD
The morning feels unusual.
Something does not seem to fit.

Little did he suspect that it would be unlike any day he ever lived through. He decided to look for a note.

TEDD
I cannot find anything, no clue
indicating where my family is.
This is truly unusual and has
never happened before.



Tedd started aimlessly pacing. Walking from room to room, he stopped in the living room.


INT. LIVING ROOM

Occasionally he looked outside when he spotted what appeared to be a maintenance worker on his front lawn.

TEDD
(Muttering)
It has to be a mistake, but you
never know, with my overtime
hours the lawn task has fallen
behind.


Taking a closer look.

TEDD
Mary must have hired someone to
spruce up the place. For fall coming
the yard does not look bad.

Walking around was an old habit he learned from his mother. It was her nerves tendency in passing time.

TEDD
Might as well have something to eat


INT. KITCHEN

TEDD
Nothing like bacon and eggs with
coffee to settle the stomach.

Having finished eating he headed to the living room. It was his favorite comfort place.


INT. LIVING ROOM

Tedd sat back in his beloved easy chair. With little self-control, he fell asleep. This was unusual, because he never adapted this routine before.


A sound of heavy POUNDING quickly woke Tedd. Sitting up he waited and listened wondering where the sound was coming from.

TEDD
(dazed)
Must be the kids playing, making up
for lost time. No, it is not the kids.
The noise appears to be coming from
the roof.

Being bothered by this, he quickly dressed and rushed outside.

DISSOLVE TO:


EXT: FRONT YARD

Looking up he could barely see.

TEDD
Why is he pounding on the top part
of the my roof? It looks like the
same man that I saw earlier working
the front lawn.

Tedd had a hard time trying to figuring out why anyone would want to work on the roof so early in the morning.

TEDD
The sun is reflecting what looks
like shiny squares of material.
They are visibly sticking on the
peak.

TEDD
(Shouting)
Hey you, what are you doing up
there?

No response, like it had fallen upon deaf ears.

TEDD
(Shouted louder)
Can you hear me up on the roof?
What is going on?


With no response, that uneasy feeling began creeping into his body. Tedd decided to walk into the house feeling something was not right.

DISSOLVE TO:


INT: HOUSE

Closing and locking the door.

TEDD
I better check with the police
about that character on my roof.


Picking up the phone, as he began dialing the number the operator IMMEDIATELY cut in. A clear voice instantaneously rang through the receiver.

TEDD
(thought)
Why did the operator instantly
respond? I only dialed the first
two digits. Maybe I hit the O
by mistake.

OPERATOR
How may I help you sir?

TEDD
I'm trying to reach the
Southville police station.

OPERATOR
I will connect you sir.

The phone rings.

POLICEMAN
Southville Police Headquarters.

TEDD
My name is Tedd Beanak I live on
33 Riverside Circle. I need some
help.

POLICEMAN
What seems to be your problem
Mr. Beanak?

TEDD
There is a man working on top
of my house.

POLICEMAN
Have you tried talking to him?

TEDD
Yes, he has not been responsive.

POLICEMAN
We will dispatch a patrol car, but
first we must finish processing our
morning shift. Will that be okay
with you?

TEDD
Sure not a problem thank you.

Hanging up Tedd sat wondering what was going on.

TEDD
First, the operator cut in and
then there was something different
about the police response. Oh well
things change all the time.

The noise from the roof distracted him. He clearly heard it bouncing through out the rooms. It was like a huge echo chamber vibrating between the ceiling and walls.

TEDD
Maybe it is a good thing my family
is not home. This would have raised
a lot of questions, I could not
answer.

He decided to checkout children’s bedrooms.



INT. HOUSE CHILDREN’S BEDROOMS

Looking for something Mary might have left for him.

TEDD
Nothing, the more I look the less
I find. Even their clothes are
missing. Everything is neat and
clean, no toys on the floor.
Almost like...

Tedd stopped and walked back into the living room.


INT. LIVING ROOM

TEDD
(Thinking out loud)
This has to be a dream. I remember
kissing them all before leaving for
work yesterday. Now nothing, no
sign of life.

Tedd sat trying to assure himself he had a wife and happy family. Relaxing in his easy chair waited for the police was not easy as he.

TEDD
The noise finally stopped, now it
is too quiet.

Getting up he walked to the window, he could not see anything or anybody. Tedd decided to get another cup of coffee.


INT. KITCHEN

Once in the kitchen he poured himself a fresh cup of coffee.

TEDD
Nothing like a little caffeine to
settle my nerves. Maybe it is over.
Finally I can relax and that is a
good thing.

He tried to understand the full scope of his situation. Nothing came to his mind. From where he sat, the backyard came into view. Now the man was working on the backyard.

TEDD
I’ll be the it looks like the same
man digging in the ground. His
movements appear to be deliberate.

Standing he wanted to get a better look.


TEDD
For some unknown reason he is
placing similar plates into the
ground.

With this observation, Tedd became curious. Quickly standing he left his coffee cup on the table while running toward the front door.


END OF ACT ONE