Bless The Beasts And Children

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In Chapter 29 of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey goes to visit her severely mentally handicapped son Burke at the assisted living facility where he lives, which ends in disaster ... and we realize this is the reason she turned to a life crime, as the joint is VERY expensive ...


INT. ASSISTED CARE FACILITY - DAY ROOM - DAY - FLASHBACK
A large, airy room. Very fancy.
Lush carpeting. Plush furniture.
The best that money can buy.

Several SEVERELY RETARDED CHILDREN
sit on the floor and listen to a
PLEASANT-FACED NURSE read them a story.

But it’s hard to tell if
any of them are really listening.

Each locked away in
their own private world.

In a faraway corner,
in front of a big picture window,
Kelsey (30) sits with BURKE (10), her son.

He’s also severely retarded,
with that faraway look
in his eyes. Restless.

Together they’re assembling Legos.
Making a big building of some sort.
Kelsey’s doing most of the work, however.

KELSEY
Good job, Burke.
Now why don’t you show me
where that piece would fit.

Burke stares off into space.
Sticks the Lego brick he’s
holding into his mouth.
Starts sucking on it.

KELSEY
Take the Lego
out of your mouth, Burke.
That’s dangerous.
You might swallow it.

He looks at her blankly.
Pops it in his mouth.

KELSEY
BURKE, NO.

Burke starts CHOKING.
Face starts turning RED.

KELSEY
(looks around)
Somebody HELP, he’s CHOKING --

Out of nowhere, a pair of
BURLY ORDERLIES appear.
GRAB Burke.

Try to get the piece out of his throat.
He starts going into CONVULSIONS.
Writhing and rolling around on the floor.

KELSEY
HELP HIM, HELP HIM!

Big Orderly gives him The Heimlich,
CRACKS his chest from behind.

The Lego goes FLYING out of his mouth.
But he’s still WRITHING and SCREAMING.
They pick him up and take him away.

Kelsey watches them go.
In complete shock. Numb.

A KINDLY DOCTOR (60’s)
comes up to her.
Touches her shoulder.

KINDLY DOCTOR
Not to worry, Ms. Hazard.
He’ll be just fine.

KELSEY
Wh-where are they taking him?

KINDLY DOCTOR
To his room.
They’ll give him a sedative.
Not to worry.

KELSEY
Can I go see him?

KINDLY DOCTOR
It’s best if we leave
him alone so he can rest.
Why don’t you come back tomorrow?

PUSH IN ON Kelsey’s face.
Horrified. Heartbroken.

KELSEY
I have to go -- out of town --