BROOKS (V.O.)

I saw an automobile once when I was young. Now they're everywhere.

EXT -- BREWSTER HOTEL -- DAY (1954)

Brooks comes trudging up the sidewalk. He glances up as a prop-driven airliner streaks in low overhead.

BROOKS (V.O.)

The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry.

He arrives at the Brewster. It ain't much to look at.

INT -- BREWSTER HOTEL -- DAY (1954)

A WOMAN leads Brooks up the stairs toward the top floor. He has trouble climbing so many stairs.

WOMAN

No music in your room after eight p.m. No guests after nine. No cooking except on the hotplate…

BROOKS (V.O.)

People even talk faster. And louder.

INT -- BROOKS' ROOM -- DAY (1954)

Brooks enters. The room is small, old, dingy. Heavy wooden beams cross the ceiling. An arched window affords a view of Congress Street. Traffic noise drifts in. Brooks sets his bag down. He doesn't quite know what to do. He just stands there, like a man waiting for a bus.

BROOKS (V.O.)

The parole board got me into this halfway house called the Brewster, and a job bagging groceries at the Foodway…

INT -- FOODWAY MARKET -- DAY (1954)

Loud. Jangling with PEOPLE and NOISE. Brooks is bagging groceries. Registers are humming, kids are shrieking.

WOMAN

Make sure he double-bags. Last time your man didn't double-bag and the bottom near came out.

MANAGER

You double-bag like the lady says, understand?

BROOKS

Yes sir, double-bag, surely will.

BROOKS (V.O.)

It's hard work. I try to keep up, but my hands hurt most of the time. I don't think the store manager likes me very much.

EXT -- PARK -- DAY (1954)

Brooks sits alone on a bench, feeding pigeons.

BROOKS (V.O.)

Sometimes after work I go to the park and feed the birds. I keep thinking Jake might show up and say hello, but he never does. I hope wherever he is, he's doing okay and making new friends.

INT -- BROOKS' ROOM -- NIGHT (1954)

Dark. Traffic outside. Brooks wakes up. Disoriented. Afraid. Somewhere in the night, a LOUD ARGUMENT is taking place.

BROOKS (V.O.)

I have trouble sleeping at night. The bed is too big. I have bad dreams, like I'm falling. I wake up scared. Sometimes it takes me a while to remember where I am.

INT -- FOODWAY -- DAY (1954)

BROOKS (V.O.)

Maybe I should get me a gun and rob the Foodway, so they'd send me home. I could shoot the manager while I was at it, sort of like a bonus.

INT -- BROOKS' ROOM -- DAY (1954)

Brooks is packing his worldly possessions into the carry bag. Undershirts, socks, etc.

BROOKS (V.O.)

But I guess I'm too old for that sort of nonsense anymore.

INT -- BROOKS' ROOM -- SHORTLY LATER (1954)

Brooks is dressed in his suit. He finishes knotting his tie, puts his hat on his head. The letter lies on the desk, stampe3 and ready for mailing. His bag is by the door.