List of Lasts" - a short film by Devon Leaf

All right. That more comfortable? Totally. The pain from you stabbing a needle into my arm is so much better now that you've beat just today. How do you do it? You're a miracle worker. Hey, Ann. I thought you didn't want to hear I was working. Is that all right? I'm doing just fine. Looks like one of us is going to have to change. I mean, looks like you're wearing it well, but I've got to tell you the truth. I think I'm really rocking the hospital chic look. I'm Archie, by the way. Piper. Pleased to meet you, Piper. So, I was reading these old magazines down in the lobby, and there's this new trend in hospital garb that... Listen, Archie. I'm not in the mood for your stupid little jokes. Sorry. Understood. What are you working on? I call this my list of lasts. Things I want to do before I'm gone. So, a bucket list? You can call it that if you like. What's on it? Well, here's a good starter. Eat a cheeseburger with fries. Man, it allowed me to do that for months. Here's one for the heart. Go dancing. My late wife and I used to go dancing all the time back in the day. This one? Watch the sunset one last time. That's my favorite. I like those. Thank you. Me too. So, what are you doing here? You don't look sick. Well, looks can be deceiving. What's wrong with you? Nothing's wrong with me. I fainted. Probably just dehydrated or something. Here's a little unwanted advice. Next time, you may want to drink some water before you pass out. I hear it's all the rage. You are all set. Just have some discharge papers laid aside and you are free to go. You got someone coming to pick you up? No. My family's out of town. Shit. That sucks. Well, do you want to get something to eat? I'm starving. I could eat. Okay. What if I help you with that list of yours? Pardon? You know, the whole helping people thing? I want to help you finish everything on that list you made. I mean, come on. You said it yourself. Helping someone turn things around for you. Look, I know this isn't going to magically fix me, but... I'm bored. And I've got a car. And I'm ancient and can't drive. So why not? Plus, I mean, you deserve to finish that list. Alright. But there's no quitting. I do not want to die with my list only half completed just because you got bored. Okay. Deal. How are you doing this morning? I'm fine. Sorry. Thank you. Look what I got for us. I thought we could make, like, a little book of memories. That's really lovely, Piper. Okay, don't get all sappy on me. Hey now, you're the one with the picture book. Yeah. Whatever. What's the first thing on the list? Um, let's see. Tears on Fire. What? The name of my band. Tears on Fire. Good God. Oh, that's so bad. I bet your family does not let you live that one down. I think I told you that my family's out of town, didn't I? Well, that's not true. My family's not out of town. My kids just stopped showing up. At first, I thought, well, they're busy. Just bad timing. I mean, they got their own lives to lead now. Their own kids, their own things to deal with. I tried to believe, but they were just waiting for me to get better. But now, it's up to them. I'm just a burden. I ran away from home when I was 15. I mean, is it really running away if no one's chasing after you? I don't know. Maybe I just ran away because I knew nobody would care. My dad cares more about his bimbo girlfriend than if I'm alive, and my mom left me with him when I was just a baby, so she's even worse. The two people in this world who were supposed to love me, to care for me, to make sure I was safe and okay, they couldn't care less. And that really messes with your head, you know? You start to think that maybe if you were better, she would have stayed. Maybe if you were easier to love, he wouldn't have to date someone half his age. And you realize that no one's ever going to care for you. Not really. Not in the way you need them to. I wasn't in the hospital because I fainted. I was there because I tried to kill myself. I just... I realized that the only person who cared about me was me. And once I realized that, I just stopped caring too. Well, aren't you going to say anything? It's just enough to know that somebody's listening. I'm listening, Piper. Piper, thank you. Thank you for showing me kindness even when no one showed it to you. Thank you for making me feel alive when I thought I couldn't be saved. And even though we didn't complete my list, I hope you'll be able to start one on your own. I know I can't be there to help you, but Piper, you are so strong. You've always been so proud of you, Piper. Much love, Archie.