The Morning After

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In Chapter 33 of SPIRAL, Andy wakes up on the floor of porn star Savannah's floor after a three-day drug and booze binge wracked with pain and has a spiritual awakening: he realizes if he keeps doing his, he's gonna die ...


INT. LIVING ROOM - DAWN
Andy sits in the dimly lit living room
on the floor against the couch,
his legs under the coffee table.

The pill bottle stands on
the table with the cap open.
He drains his drink.

ANDY (V.O.)
I couldn't crash.
I took three tuinals and slept for an hour.
Then I threw them up.
I didn't want to take any more,
I didn't want to O.D.
My puke was a color I'd never seen before.
bone in my body was just fucking aching
to lie down and shut off,
but it just fucking wouldn't.

Andy closes his eyes and rubs his temples.

ANDY (V.O.) (cont'd)
My brain was doing cartwheels,
I hallucinated about how nice it would be
to lie on a cold, metal slab.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Bright sunlight streams through the windows.
Birds chirp outside. A car horn HONKS.

Andy is fast asleep on the floor
under the coffee table.

A FEMALE VOICE is heard
outside the window.

FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
Hurry up, honey!
be late for school!

YOUNG GIRL (O.S.)
(shouts)
Okay, Mom!

He stirs. His eyes open.
He looks at his watch,
gingerly stands up.

His body is wracked with pain.
After three days of chemical intake,
he's completely, utterly toxic.
Head pounding. Dry mouth.

He tries to walk.

ANDY
Fuck.

INT. SHANNON'S BEDROOM - DAY
Andy regards the aftermath.
Shannon is sprawled on top of the bed,
still fully clothed,
mouth open, out cold.

Dex is on the floor, a wet spot
around his lifeless body. Urine.

Music thumps softly on the stereo.

ANDY (V.O.)
They call it a spiritual awakening.
moment of clarity. A wake-up call.

INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Andy opens the medicine cabinet
and takes out a bottle of aspirin.

He SHAKES out three and downs them.
Turns on the faucet, drinks from it,
SPLASHES his face with water.

ANDY
I knew there and then that if
I continued doing this,
I was gonna die.

INT. SHANNON'S BEDROOM - DAY
Andy stands looking at Shannon
sprawled on the bed.
He turns his head, looks at Dex.

ANDY (V.O.)
They were the only friends
I had in the world,
but I wanted to live.
(whispers)
Goodbye, you guys. I'm sorry.

EXT. ANDY'S MANSION / DRIVEWAY - DAY
Andy gets out of his car and
squints in the bright sunshine.
He goes into the house.

INT. ANDY'S MANSION FOYER - DAY
It's dark in the huge, lobby-like foyer.

Andy closes the huge wooden front doors
behind him and sinks
to the floor in a heap.

Fights back tears.