*Kenneth Lonergan's YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (2000) Final Draft Linney & Ruffalo

Description

Vintage original Final Draft script
from the 2000's drama,
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
, released in 2000 by Paramount Classics.
Written and directed by by Kenneth Lonergan,
a single mother's (Laura Linney) life is thrown into turmoil after her struggling, rarely seen younger brother (Mark Ruffalo) returns to town. The cast includes Rory Culkin, J. Smith-Cameron, Matthew Broderick, Amy Ryan, Michael Countryman, Adam LeFevre, and Halley Feiffer.
Written directly for the screen by Kenneth Lonergan, this Final Draft script consists of 99 pages on white stock that were 3-hole punched and bound with one (most likely two) brass brads with a semi-glossy white cardstock front and back cover. This script is complete in very fine+ condition without any missing pages, tears, stains or other flaws, nor are there any handwritten notations present within.
This was Rory Culkin's first major movie role. Kenneth Lonergan was impressed on the whole with his acting ability, but had such a difficult time getting him to laugh, or even smile on camera, that he had Mark Ruffalo tickle him a few times. The scene with Rudy (Culkin) walking home from school in the pouring rain was created by the local fire department spraying a hose from their highest ladder. Lonergan
, a first-time director, had protection from studio interference by his Executive Producer and friend, Martin Scorsese.
They had met when Scorsese's then-girlfriend, Illeana Douglas,
had auditioned for one of Lonergan's plays. Lonergan
plays Minister Ron in two major scenes counseling Terry at Sammy's house, and then counseling Sammy in his office. Since Lonergan had a lot of dialogue in those two scenes, he turned over the directing to Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo
, respectively. Matthew Broderick,
a friend of Lonergan's
, was the first actor cast in this movie. He visited Lonergan at his apartment, read the part of Brian, and asked if he could audition for it. Lonergan then told him the part was already his. One of the reasons why Lonergan
cast Broderick
in the film was because they are high school buddies, as the two have known each other since they were 15 years old.
The pool scene with Terry and Rudy was shot at a local bar, where the crew often hung-out after shooting. The real exterior of the bar is shown as Terry's truck turns into the parking lot.
Laura Linney was nominated for the Academy Award for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" and Kenneth Lonergan was nominated for the "Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen" award (but neither had won).