Jacob's staircase by: Daniel Francis
By Daniel Francis
10 Nov 2009
Father Voice over:
His name is Jacob, and he's my son. He's nine years old, and he was very sick.
And right now he's lying there on that hospital bed.
I gave him a few of his comic books last night.
They still sit there next to him on his bed.
His bed that he fell asleep on.
: INT – Hospital - Last night:
Jacob's father walks into the room where Jacob is staying, Jacob's eyes grow bigger when he sees his dad.
Dad:
Here you go son.
Hands a few comic books of Superman and Green Lantern to his son.
Jacob:
(cough)
Thanks Dad.
Dad:
You need anything else?
Jacob:
No, this should be fine.
.....
Dad?
Dad:
Yes son?
Jacob:
You look tired.
Dad:
No, I'm fine.
I'm not going anywhere.
Jacob:
but i am aren't i?
A soft silence falls in the room
It's okay.
I'm not afraid.
Dad:
I know you're not, your tuff.
Just like these guys.
The Dad picks up the comic books.
Just like Superman.
Do you know why he's the greatest Hero, son?
Jacob:
Why?
Dad:
Because he only does what he feels is right.
He knows he could take over the world if he wished;
but, he chooses to save us, to help those that are in need of help.
He's not even from this planet but he represents the best of what we all could be.
Of what we all could be if we just cared.
If we just felt instead of thought.
Do you want me to read these to you?
Jacob:
Yeah.
Dad:
Alright, sit back son.
Jacob sits back on his bed.
His dad brings the pillow forward so he can rest easier.
(the following words are from Superman: For all seasons written by Jeph Loeb.)
Dad:
Spring: Folks tend to call him "The man of Steel" nowadays. I guess that he's the most famous person in the world...
Not that he was ever interesting in being famous in the first place.
"Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound."
"Change the course of mighty rivers."
"Faster than a speeding bullet."
We knew he was a special, but...
People will talk.
Believe it or not, there was a time before all that.
When he ws just...
...a man's son.
My son.
Jacob Rayner.
Jacob's eyes are closed, but he smiles when he hears his name.
His dad stops reading from the book and lays them both on the table next to him.
Dad:
Goodnight my little superman.
The Dad kisses his son on his forehead and gets up.
Jacob:
Night Dad.
His dad turns off the light and gets up and walks towards the door.
Jacob:
Dad?
Dad:
Yes?
Jacob:
I love you.
Dad:
I love you too, son.
Dad:
I'm going home to pick up a few more of your things, I'll be back early in the morning, and Rachael the nurse will be watching you for the next few hours so be good.
Jacob:
I will.
Goodbye Dad.
Dad:
Goodnight Son
But Jacob didn't hear those words for he's already asleep,
His dad shuts the door.
:INT :Hospital :Later that night:
Jacob is sleeping in his bed when he hears a tapping at the window.
tap tap. tap
Jacob gets up, he has no hookups attached to his body so he walks towards the window and as he opens up the blinds, he sees a big red S.
He takes a few steps back.
And this man that is covered in the shadows except for the giant S on his chest flies into Jacobs's room.
Jacob walks back to his bed, he isn't afraid,
He knows this man, his name is Superman.
But he's keeping his distance.
All of a sudden the door begins to glow Green, and it opens.
This time he sees a man that has a glowing green around him.
He knows this man from his books. He's Green Lantern.
They stand next to each other as the light turns on thanks to Lanterns ring that formed into a hand, and after turning on the lights he waves to Jacob.
Jacob can only wave back with a stare upon his face.
Jacob now looks over at his two comic books lying on the table next to his bed.
Jacob:
How can this be?
Superman:
We heard your dad talking about us, And since he's sleeping we thought we would keep you company.
Jacob:
Are you for real?
Green Lantern:
This is something more real then your usual real, this is something beyond reality, and it craves more creativity than dreaming.
Superman:
You see, Jacob, we're here to.
Jacob:
I know why you're here.
Green Lantern:
You do?
Jacob:
I do.
You're here to recruit me, to ask me if I want to be apart of the Justice League.
To fight crime and evil side by side with you two.
But I also understand this is all a dream, isn't it?
Superman:
In a way, yes.
In a way it's more real then anything you have ever experienced.
But it's a good dream.
A dream where you have total control over it.
Anything you want, you have it.
Jacob:
And how is that possible.
Green Lantern:
With this.
Jacob:
Cool.
Green Lantern hands him a Green Lantern ring.
With that, anything you imagine will be made real before your eyes.
Green Lantern:
The ring picked you because you are fearless.
Superman:
So we have some time, what do you want to do Jacob?
Jacob:
I want to fly.
Superman:
That's always a favorite.
Any certain place in the city?
Jacob:
Yeah, over my house.
Green Lantern:
Consider it done.
Green Lanterns hand and ring glows green, as does Jacob's ring.
And Superman shows them the window.
As Jacob, and his two favorite super heroes Superman and Green Lantern take off towards the black night.
EXT: Jacob's Home: Moments later
The two super heroes' and Jacob are hovering over his house.
Jacob looks sad, so Superman and Green Lantern take him down and through his bedroom window. Green Lantern opens the window ahead of time and they enter into his bedroom.
There Jacob looks at some of his pictures.
One picture stops Superman from walking around and makes him just stand there and at it.
It's a picture of Jacob's parents. His mom with long black hair, always with a smile on her face, and his Dad holding onto his wife so tightly. Not knowing she would pass a few months later.
Jacob:
That's my mom.
She passed a way a few years ago.
Superman:
I'm sorry.
Jacob:
It's okay, she's happy where she is.
She told me the night after she died.
I told Dad about it, it seemed to help him for the moment.
Jacob walks out of his room and heads for his Dad's room.
He opens up the door and sees his dad sleeping in his bed.
Jacob (continued):
Look at who I'm with Dad!
Look!
He holds out his ring. But his Dad does not wake.
Superman:
Sorry, son, but he can't hear you.
Jacob:
Why not.
Green Lantern:
Because he's dreaming about you. He's dreaming about the day you and your parents went to the park and he gave you those five underdogs.
Jacob:
I remember that, it felt like I was flying.
I want to leave my Dad a message, you said this ring could do anything right?
Green Lantern:
That's right.
Jacob lowers his head and whispers something into his father's ear. He walks out with Green Lantern and meets up with Superman outside.
Superman:
You ready to head back to the hospital?
Jacob:
Yes sir, I'm ready.
Superman, Green Lantern and Jacob fly into the night sky once again and head for the Hospital. Along the way, Jacob touches his ring, and the middle part of the ring glows. And a beam comes out of the ring and heads for his fathers window.
INT. – Jacob's House -- Continuous:
His Dad awakes from his sleep.
Dad:
Jacob?
He stands up and walks out of his room.
Jacob?
He heads for Jacob's room.
He sees that his window is open, so he walks over to it and shuts it.
A picture frame falls off Jacob's dresser.
Jacobs' father picks it up.
It's the one Superman and Jacob were looking at earlier.
The one with his wife, Jacob's mother in it.
His father runs into his room to get his jacket and keys.
He heads out to his car.
EXT.—Hospital Roof -- Moments Later
Superman, Green Lantern and Jacob land on the hospital roof.
A few stories up from his window.
Superman:
Before we go, we wanted to give you this.
Superman hands out a patch.
Green Lantern:
It's the official patch of the Justice League.
You are as of this moment a full time member.
Jacob:
Wow!
Thank you.
Superman:
Puts his hand on Jacob's shoulder.
It's going to be alright son.
We'll watch over your dad.
He's a good man.
Jacob:
Thank you.
Green Lantern:
But, before we go.
We wanted to leave you in good hands.
Green Lantern and Superman turn away and between them flies a woman.
A woman with long black hair, who wears nothing but white.
She is up there in the sky.
To anyone else, she would be a beautiful Angel.
To Jacob, she is his beautiful mother.
EXT. -- Hospital parking lot -- Continuous
Jacobs father is now at the Hospital, he's running towards the doors.
EXT. – Hospital Roof -- Continuous
Jacob walks over and tugs on superman's cape.
Superman kneels down and gives Jacob a hug.
Superman:
Good Journey!
Green Lantern and Superman are flying away now.
But before they leave, Green Lantern yells out some last advice.
Green Lantern:
Your ring has enough power for two more thoughts.
Use it wisely son.
Jacob:
I will Mr. Lantern.
INT. -- Hospital Main lobby. -- Continuous
Jacobs father is now inside running towards the elevators.
EXT. -- Hospital Roof -- Continuous:
Jacob looks up at his mother flying so high.
With just a little bit of power left in his ring he knows he can't fly. But that's alright, he'll make a staircase. He closes his eyes for a moment and then he opens his eyes and sees a green staircase forming from his thoughts. Before Jacob is a Green staircase leading to his mother in the sky.
INT. Hospital Fourth Floor. Continuous:
Jacobs father is now exiting the elevators and is running towards his son's room.
EXT. -- Hospital Roof -- Continuous:
Jacob:
Mom?
Mother:
Come here Jacob.
As Jacob hugs his Mom he takes off his ring and makes a fist with the ring inside his little hand. He looks down at his glowing hand and he wishes his last wish, He does this and then he lets go of the ring only for it to disappear.
As he watches the ring disappear, the staircase slowly fades away from his feet, but he is safely in his mother's loving arms. They are both hovering over the hospital roof.
INT. Hospital Room. Continuous.
Jacobs father opens the door to his son's room where he is blinded by a
flash of green and white that are shooting through Jacob's window outside.
Jacob's father covers his eyes, as the flash grows dimmer and then it was over.
INT. Hospital Room. Later that morning:
Father Voice over:
His name is Jacob, and he's my son. He's nine years old, and he was very sick.
And right now he's lying there on that hospital bed.
I gave him a few of his comic books last night.
They still sit there next to him on his bed.
His bed that he fell asleep on.
His bed that he never woke up on.
But that wasn't the only thing sitting there next to his comics.
On top of the comic that I set down before I kissed him goodnight.
Last night I had a dream about my son; I was giving him underdogs at the park.
He was up in there in the air thinking he was flying.
And then that dream was taken from me and replaced with a dream about Jacob coming to the house and telling me that he was going away with Superman and Green Lantern to fight evil in the galaxy.
He told me he wasn't afraid, and that I shouldn't be either.
And that he loved me.
Jacob's father pulls out a patch from his jacket.
And then when I got to the hospital earlier this morning there was this with his belongings.
A Justice League patch with Jacob's name on it and a plastic Green Lantern ring.
I asked the nurse, she knew nothing about it.
She didn't recall it being there an hour ago when she came in and checked on him.
But here it sat.
And now it's within my hand.
And soon this patch will be put upon my jacket.
In remembrance of my son: Jacob.
