I Forgot, Script (Final)

8/8/2019 I Forgot, Script (Final)

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Kevin Hu, Sadiq Khwaja, Tamer Radi, and Dominic Vitello

Alzheimers Disease Ms. Swionteks 5th Period Anatomy

Characters

Alex VitelloAlex is a sixty-six-year-old man who enjoys flying

planes as a hobby. He is married and has three kids.

During the day, he works as a business executive.

Hes proud of his education, and feels that his Yale

degree certifies that he is intelligent and in perfect

mental condition. In the past, he has been

emotionally stable, although he has recently had

problems controlling his temper, and he has felt a bit

low. He has had trouble recently with his memory,

but he is in denial, insisting that his mind is

completely sound.

Adjectives: Classy, class-conscious, well-

educated

Jay RadiJay is a sixty-four-year-old man who was in Alexsgraduating class from Yale. They have been best

friends. Whereas Alex is proud and confident, Jay is

more tempered and more logical. Jay has a paranoia

issue, and is always afraid of the worst. During the

day, he works as a doctor.

Adjectives: Pessimistic, loyal, persistent

Dr. HuDr. Hu is a fifty-year-old psychotherapist who

studied medicine in China before immigrating to the

US. He has a strong accent. He is extremely sarcastic,

to the point of bitterness. He likes to eat food, and is

constantly reminded of his motherland.

Adjectives: Asian, cranky, and impersonal

Dr. KhwajaDr. Khwaja is a sixty-five-year-old

neuropsychologist who studied medicine in Pakistan

before immigrating to the US. He has a strong accent.

He is passionate and deeply involved in his work, and

often gets emotional. He has recently become less

organized, and is flustered whenever others point this

out.

Adjectives: Asian, passionate, and self-

conscious

PRE-TITLE

Alex boards the plane and flies it. Alex and

Jay converse over the radio.

Jay: Hey Alex, you know the Yale reunion

is in a few weeks, right?

Alex: Yeah. I dont think I can go, though.

Jay: Why not?

Alex: I need some time with my family, and

you know how the business world works I

dont know when the next time will be when

Ill have a day off.

Jay: I see. How is Ellen?

Alex: Ellen?

Jay: You know, your daughter?

Alex: obviously flusteredOh, right. That

Ellen. She is doing all right.

Jay: Alex, are you okay? You havent

seemed normal these past few days.

Alex: Yes, Jay. I am okay.

Jay: Youve been having some memory

problems lately. And face it: youre getting

old. Were not in our minds primes

anymore.

Alex: aggravatedJay, Im fine.

Jay: You even forgot your daughters name.

Alex: angry Jay! Im fine, okay? We both

know that Im intelligent, and that my brain

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is in pretty good shape. I went to Yale, for

crying out loud. Stop exaggerating my

problems! You keep making up symptoms

to diseases that you want to believe I have!

Silence

Alex: Im sorry, Jay. I didnt mean that.

Jay: Thats okay, Alex. I understand.

Youve been really stressed out lately.

Alex: Uh, Jay, have you ever flown a plane

before?

Jay: No. Why?

Alex: I just realized that what goes up, must

come down. And I dont think I ever learned

how to land this thing.

Jay: Alex, youve flown plenty of planes by

yourself before. Ive seen you land.

Alex: Well, this isnt good. I remember

pressing a button a button that like, puts

down the uh, the things, the rolling things ona plane

Jay: Wheels?

Alex: Yeah, wheels. Jay? Jay?

Jay: Alex, dont panic. Ill call for help.

Alex:panicking Jay, I dont know what Im

doing!

Jay: Alex, hang in there. Dont touch any of

the controls. Alex?

The plane dips downward and is about to

crash.

Alex: I forgot, Jay. I forgot.

The plane crashes.

TITLE

SCENE 1

Dr. Khwaja and Jay are talking outside of

the hospital.

Jay: emotional Im so worried. Will he be

okay? Whats going on right now?

Khwaja: He will be okay. He just needs a

few casts and a few stitches, and then some

physical therapy and rehabilitation. It is

amazing that he has survived, at his age.

Jay: Thank you. Im sorry, whats your

name?

Khwaja: My name is Dr. Sadiq Khwaja. I

am a licensed neuropsychologist, and I will

be one of the doctors treating your friend.

Jay: Pleasure to meet you. Wait, youre aneuropsychologist?

Khwaja: Yes. It was very strange that your

friend forgot how to properly fly a plane,

and I will be running tests on him to see if

he has any problems with his brain.

Jay: I see.

Khwajas phone rings. He picks up.

Khwaja: Hello? Ah yes. The friend? Yes, I

am actually talking to him right now. The

psychotherapy department? Yes, I will send

him. Yes. Thank you.

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Khwaja: Ive been asked to take you to the

psychotherapy department, where you are to

meet one of your friends other doctors. He

will ask you a few questions.

They walk.

Khwaja: Here we are. I will see you soon!

SCENE 2

Jay enters a room, where he sees Dr. Hu

lounging on a chair.

Hu: Please. Take a seat.

Jay: Thanks.

Hu: So. My name is Dr. Hu. I am a trained

psychotherapist. Your little buddy, Alex? I

will be his therapist. First, I have a few

questions to ask you.

Jay: Sure.

Hu: First of all, how come you didnt catch

him when the plane crashed?

Jay: What?

Hu: Oh, sorry. Too soon. Bad joke.Laughs

to himself. Anyway.Monotone drone. What

is your relation to the subject?

Jay: Friend, and classmate.

Hu: How long have you known the subject?

Jay: About thirty, forty years.

Hu: Okay, actually, this form is so stupid. I

remember, back in mother China, we never

had to use stupid forms like this. We would

just ask useful questions, and get answers

quickly. Stupid American bureaucracy. So

let me ask you. Has Alex had problems with

memory lately?

Jay: Yes, actually. He didnt recognize the

name of a family member, and obviously, hedidnt remember how to land a plane.

Hu: Very interesting

Jay: Really? Whats interesting, doctor?

Hu: Nothing. I was just kidding. Have you

noticed any emotional problems?

Jay: Yeah. Hes been a pretty angry person

lately. And also, hes a business executive,

and he used to be on top of his game. He

would be the first to work and the last to

leave. He would be innovative, and

Hu: Come on, youre not giving him a

eulogy yet. What other emotional problems?

Jay: He doesnt seem to have the same drive

anymore. And he doesnt sleep well.

Hu: I see. Well, I think this paints a pretty

clear picture. Have you ever seen those

pictures of the rice paddies that Chinese

artists drew? The masterpieces?

Jay: No?

Hu: Oh well, never mind. Anyway, I

believe your friend Alex may have the

Alzheimers Disease.

Jay: Thats what I was afraid of

Hu: Symptoms of Alzheimers disease

include memory loss, confusion, loss of

initiative, increased anxiety and aggression,

outbursts of anger, problems recognizing

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friends and family members, and

restlessness.

Jay: You sound like you have that

memorized.

Hu: My mother made me memorize the list

when I was twelve.

Jay: Oh. Well, these all sound like

symptoms that Alex has. Ill do some

research when I get back home. Thanks, Dr.

Hu.

Hu: You dont need to thank me with words.

Thats what money is for.

Jay exits.

SCENE 3

Khwaja enters.

Hu: Hey, Dr. Khwaja. So, I think he has

Alzheimers.

Khwaja: Who?

Hu: Alex.

Khwaja: I thought Alex was in the Planned

Parenthood department

Hu: No, thats Dominic. Alex is the guy who

crashed his plane.

Khwaja: Oh, right right right. Yeah, that

makes sense.

Hu: Well, work with him and tell me what

you think later.

Khwaja: Got it. Ill see you later, Dr. Hu.

SCENE 4

Alex is in a hospital bed. Jay is at his side.

Jay: Alex, I have something serious I have

to talk to you about.

Alex: What is it? Is everything okay?

Jay: Yes, but very deeply emotional well,

the past few months, whenever Ive been

around you, Ive gotten this feeling.

Alex: Do you want to talk about it?

Jay: Whenever I talk to you, or email you, or

call you, I I start to feel I feel

Alex: Yes?

Jay: Worried, I guess. Worried that youre

not okay.

Alex: Jay, are you trying to tell me

something?

Jay: No I mean, yes. Yes, I am.

Alex: Come on, Jay. Weve been friends for

ages.

Jay: I know, but I just dont want to say

this. It might make things awkward between

us.

Alex: Spit it out, Jay.

Jay: Okay. Alex, I I feel silence. I feellike you have Alzheimers Disease.

Alex: shockedWhat? No! calmerWell,

thankfully, youre not a doctor.

Jay: Actually, Alex, I am.

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Alex: What? Okay, okay, maybe I am losing

it. Maybe. But Im not convinced.

Jay: sighs Im quite convinced, actually.

Alex: Anyway, Jay, Im bored. Tell me a

story. I want to get my mind off of things.

Jay: Okay, let me think. Pause So there was

once a German doctor. It was the year 1906,

and he had discovered a bunch of weird

clumps and tangled bundles of fibers in a

womans brain. [[[5]]]

Alex: Gross

Jay: And his name was Dr. Alois Alzheimer.

[[[5]]]

Alex: Okay, Jay, not funny. You really want

to talk about this, dont you?

Jay: Im concerned, Alex.

Alex: Fine. Tell me how Im at risk for

Alzheimers Disease. Convince me.

Jay: Well, doctors arent entirely sure what

makes certain people at greater risk than

others [[[2]]]

Alex: So what gives you the authority to tell

me?

Jay: Well, here are a few findings from

recent studies. Lets see thinking People

in urban areas are at greater risk. Men andwomen are at equal risk. Caucasians are at

greater risk than Asians. But you might be

right about one thing studies suggest that

people with a higher level of education are

at a lower risk. [[[2]]]

Alex: Ha! There you have it. I cant have

Alzheimers.

Jay: Lower risk, Alex. Five percent of

people between the ages of 65 and 74 have

Alzheimers, and the proportions increasedramatically with age. Almost half of people

over the age of 85 may have the disease.

Alex, five million people in America have it.

[[[4]]] Why do you think youre immune?

Alex: I dont know, Jay! Leave me alone! I

want to rest.

Jay: sighs Ill see you later tonight.

SCENE 5

Khwaja is looking for his office and

stumbles into Hus office on accident. Hu is

doing Tai Chi, accompanied by old Chinese

music.

Hu: in Chinese (And then, we release the

chi)

Hu sees Khwaja and is startled.

Hu: Khwaja, you have interrupted me. This

makes me unhappy.

Khwaja: Im sorry, Dr. Hu. I was

Hu: Dr. Khwaja! I challenge you to a battle.

Khwaja: incredulously A battle?

Hu: Not a martial arts battle. That would betoo simple. No, we must fight like real men.

I will destroy you with my Pikachu

Khwaja: Dr. Hu, Im really sorry, I was just

trying to get to my office and I I forgot

where I was going.

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Hu: Khwaja, your office and my office are

so far apart. I made sure of that when they

designed the hospital.

Khwaja: Honestly, Dr. Hu. I just got lost.

Hu: Shame.

SCENE 6

Khwaja finds his office. Jay is waiting

inside.

Khwaja: Oh, Jay. Please, have a seat.

Jay: Thanks.

Khwaja: So, youre a doctor. Lets talk

details. What do you know about

Alzheimers?

Jay: Not much, to be honest. I dont deal

much with the brain or the mind. Im a heart

surgeon.

Khwaja: Okay. Well, some of what I tell youshould be a review from medical school.

Jay: Shoot.

Khwaja: Alzheimers patients have two

types of abnormal structures in their brains

that consist of misfolded proteins. [[[10]]]

Jay: So, like prions.

Khwaja: Oh, you know about prions?

Jay: Yeah. I read about diseases caused by

misfolded proteins, like Mad Cow Disease

and CJD, in a book calledDeadly Feasts.

Khwaja: I see. Well, anyway, the two

abnormal structures are amyloid plaques and

neurofibrillary tangles. [[[10]]]

Jay: Whoa, that sounds complicated.

Khwaja: I wont go into complicated detail.

These two structures disable brain cells,

especially in regions of the brain that are

used in memory. [[[10]]]

Jay: I see. Wait, I read somewhere that

Alzheimers patients have clumps and

tangled bundles of fibers. Are these what

youre talking about?

Khwaja: Pretty much. The clumps are made

of amyloid, a protein thats also involved in

Parkinsons and Huntingtons Diseases.

Neurofibrillary tangles, on the other hand,

are really only known as the primary marker

of Alzheimers. [[[10]]]

Jay: Marker? What does that mean?

Khwaja: Basically, if you find

neurofibrillary tangles in a patients brain,you are probably dealing with Alzheimers.

The tangles mark the patient.

Jay: Okay, that makes sense. So you said

that these structures are especially present in

regions of the brain used in memory?

Khwaja: That is correct. Actually, a recent

study showed that high numbers of

neurofibrillary tangles in the nucleus basalis

of Meynert are associated with lowneuropsychological test scores and long

disease duration. [[[7]]]

Jay: Nucleus basalis of Meynert?

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Khwaja: Its a group of nerve cells in the

basal forebrain. The basal forebrain is

important in the production of acetylcholine.

Jay: Whats acetylcholine?

Khwaja: It is good you ask that question.

That brings me to another point.

Alzheimers Disease is also characterized by

reduced production of neurotransmitters,

which are chemicals used for

communication between nerves.

Acetylcholine is one neurotransmitter. Two

others linked to Alzheimers are serotonin

and norepinephrine. [[[3]]]

Jay: Im guessing neurotransmitters travel

between one nerve cells axon terminal and

another cells dendrite?

Khwaja: You are correct, my friend. Well,

where was I?

Jay: You were talking about the causes of

Alzheimers.

Khwaja: Ah, yes. Sorry, Ive been a bitscatterbrained lately. When all the things I

was just talking about happen, the brain cells

lose connection, so the cells slowly lose

their function and die. [[[10]]]

Jay: Thats kind of scary. So Alexs brain

cells might be dying?

Khwaja: That is what we believe.

Jay: sighs I dont know what to do Hewont believe me. Hes in denial.

Khwaja: When you have a mental disorder,

you often dont want to believe it.

SCENE 7

Khwaja is sitting in Hus office. Silence for

a few seconds.

Hu: Well? Why are you not talking?

Silence.

Hu: Confucius said, Be not ashamed of

mistakes and thus make them crimes.

Silence.

Hu: Well, if you are not going to talk, I am

going to watch Korean soap opera. New

episode: so good!

Khwaja: Okay, Ill talk.

Hu: Oh thank you. I thought I was really

going to have to watch the Korean drama.

Khwaja: Im not myself lately.

Hu: Having girlfriend problems? Thats why

arranged marriage is such a good idea.

Khwaja: No. I just Ive been really

disorganized lately, and I keep missing

appointments and getting lost, and its

getting to me. Im just getting old, I guess.

But its frustrating. I keep waking up at

night, and Im anxious. I dont even know

why.

Hu: Hmm, I know what will help.

Khwaja: excitedly What? You do?Anything!

Hu: Acupuncture.

Khwaja: Really?

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Hu: No, you fool! You are a doctor, not an

old Chinese grandmother. Think like a

doctor.

Khwaja: I think its just a normal part of

aging.

Hu: How would you know? Youve never

aged before.

Beeping. Khwaja looks at his cell phone.

Khwaja: Oh, I have to see my patient.

Hu: Take care of yourself. Drink tea, it helps

with memory.

Khwaja: Really?

Hu: No, you fool!

SCENE 8

Jay and Khwaja are next to Alexs bed.

Jay: Alex, do you remember the information

about Alzheimers I gave you yesterday?

Alex: Yeah. To test my memory, I tried to

remember as much as I could. Alzheimers

is a brain disorder that worsens over time.

There is a gradual decline in memory and an

impairment of at least one more area of

intellectual function. [[[6]]]

Jay: What are the early symptoms?

Alex: Well, the easy one is memory loss.Other ones include disorientation, difficulty

performing familiar tasks, problems with

planning, trouble with language, personality

changes, changes in sleeping habits, and

poor judgment. [[[9]]]]

Khwaja looks concerned.

Jay: Well done.Are you convinced yet?

Alex: Maybe

Jay: What are the middle symptoms?

Alex: Uh, let me see. Anger, wandering,

problems recognizing family members,

inability to learn or cope with new

situations, lack of self-control [[[9]]]

Jay: Alex, youre matching with a lot of

these

Khwaja looks very concerned.

Alex: Well, I know I dont have any severe

symptoms, like weight loss, seizures, or

inability to swallow or communicate. [[[9]]]

Those are symptoms that lead to death. Did

you know that Alzheimers disease is the

seventh most frequent cause of death among

American adults? Its the fifth most frequent

for those over the age of sixty-five. [[[4]]]

Jay: Thats rather frightening. Are you

convinced that you have the disease yet?

Alex: Fine. I have to admit that Ive been

worried about it its just that Ive refused

to acknowledge it.

Khwaja looks very, very concerned.

Jay: Dr. Khwaja, you look concerned.

Khwaja: Yes to be honest, Ive beenhaving many of the same issues lately. And

Im getting old. Alzheimers isnt a normal

part of aging.

Jay: Do you think you might have it?

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Khwaja: Perhaps

Hu walks in.

Hu: Aha! So there we have it. Perfect.

Youve both gotten past denial.

Khwaja: Dr. Hu? You knew?

Hu: The whole time.

Jay: So whats next?

Hu: First, well have to test you to see if you

really have Alzheimers. Ill give you a few

neuropsychological exams to assess your

intellectual function, including memory tests

and naming tests. Ill also see if your

symptoms are so severe that they prevent

you from everyday activities. If these two

steps pass, I will make sure that its

Alzheimers and not something else thats

causing you problems; youll need blood

tests, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans.

[[[1]]]

Alex: Is there a cure for Alzheimers?

Hu: Unfortunately, no. But there are

treatments that will slow down brain

degradation and suppress some of the

symptoms.

Khwaja: Ah, yes.

Hu: Donepezil, rivastigmine, and

galantamine are three drugs that will treat

mild or moderate symptoms. They slowdown and inhibit the action of

acetylcholinesterase. [[[11]]]

Jay: Acetylcholinesterase? That word seems

to contain acetylcholine.

Hu: Well done, Captain Obvious.

Acetylcholinesterase breaks down

acetylcholine, which is a necessary

neurotransmitter. So by inhibiting

acetylcholinesterase, the drugs maintain a

healthy level of acetylcholine, increasingbrain function.

Jay: It makes sense!

Hu: Of course. Memantine is a new drug

that regulates levels of glutamate, which is

another neurotransmitter involved in

memory. [[[11]]]

Alex: So if I take all of these drugs at the

same time, will it be like a super drug? I

know that AIDS victims take drug cocktails.

Hu: I would not recommend taking multiple

acetylcholinesterases at the same time. With

drugs, its not like one plus one equals two.

It could equal three, or fifty, or negative one

million. Confucius said that To go beyond

is as wrong as to fall short. I say we start

both of you on donepezil, one of the

acetylcholinesterases, and memantine. Areputable study has shown the combination

of donepezil and memantine significantly

improves brain function in Alzheimers

patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

[[[8]]]

Khwaja: How about Ginkgo biloba? Ive

heard it helps.

Hu: It may, but scientists havent found

anything significant. Drinking green tea mayhelp though.

Khwaja: Really?

Hu: No, you fool! Well, Dr. Khwaja, I think

you should order the drugs.

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Khwaja: Ill do that right away.

Hu: Well, I think we are finished here. Lets

not get too sentimental with goodbyes.

Alex and Jay: Thanks Dr. Hu!

Hu: Yeah, yeah. Feel better soon.

Hu exits, and quickly returns.

Hu: And also, my Pokemon challenge still

holds.

Alex: Pokemon?

Khwaja: Long story.

Jay: Tell us!

Khwaja: Oh, I forgot.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE FROM BLACK TO AERIAL

FOOTAGE; CALM AND HAPPY MUSIC

IN THE BACKGROUND. PLAY

CREDITS ON THE FOOTAGE.

Pre-Title: Dominic, with Sadiq filming.

(Tamer voice-over).

Scene 1: Tamer and SadiqScene 2: Tamer and Kevin

Scene 3: Kevin and Sadiq

Scene 4: Tamer and Dominic


Scene 6: Tamer and Sadiq


Scene 8: All

Filming

Day 1: (Dominic and Sadiq, Pre-Title and

Credits) Dominic and Sadiq will arrive at

the airfield. Sadiq will film Dominic

entering the plane. Dominic will take off and

start flying. He will read his lines in the Pre-

Title section and pause, to accommodate

Tamers radio conversation. Dominic will

pretend to crash the plane. Sadiq will stop

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filming here. Next, Dominic will continue

flying for a bit, and Sadiq will hold the

camera against/out of a window to get aerial

footage for the Credits.

After Day 1, Sadiq should lend his camerato Dominic for Day 2.

Day 2: (Tamer and Dominic, Pre-Title

voiceover and Scene 4)

After Day 2, the Pre-Title should be

complete. Try to have the files so far

uploaded to Dominics computer so that

Dominic can work on editing. Dominic

should hand off the camera to Sadiq in class

for Day 3.

Day 3: (Kevin, Tamer, and Sadiq, Scenes 1,

2, 3, 5, 6, 7) When one person is not acting,

he can be filming. After Day 3, Sadiq should

hand off the video to Dominic in class.

After Day 3, Dominic should upload the

files to his computer and edit.

Day 4: (All, Scene 8) After we are donefilming, we should stay and help Dominic

edit.

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I Forgot, Script (Final)

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