A Place by the Fire

A PLACE BY THE FIRE

Written by Pat

Turman

FADE IN: EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX SWIMMING POOL - DAY

There are only two people in the pool, the sun sparkling off the surface of the water around them.

DAVE REIFSTECK is in his 20’s. Nothing about Dave’s appearance would cause him to stand outeither negatively or positively: not fat, not skinny. Not ugly, not attractive.

ANDREW, Dave’s three-year-old son, is also in the pool inside a kid’s float shaped like a horse. His straight blonde hair hangs in his eyes.

Dave is standing next to him, the water up to Dave’s chest.

ANDREW Horsey!

Andrew shakes its head, trying to make it gallop.

ANDREW Where’s Mommy?

DAVE

Making you a birthday cake.

ANDREW Chocolate? DAVE Chocolate with onions in it.

Andrew grimaces, causing Dave to laugh.

DAVE Not really.

ANDREW I’m four.

He slowly and carefully holds up four fingers.

DAVE

Tomorrow you’ll be four.

ANDREW

Where’s Mommy?

DAVE

Aren’t you having fun with Daddy?

ANDREW I want Mommy.

DAVE

(trying to hold his son's interest)

Andrew, you wanna sit on the diving board?

GROWN-UP ANDREW (V.O.)

Intrigued, the boy gazed in awe and wonder at the sacred shrine.

INT. ANDREW REIFSTECK’S BEDROOM - DAY

GROWN-UP ANDREW is sitting up in his unmade bed wearing his sleeping attire (shorts and tshirt), an open laptop on his lap. He resembles, of course, the little boy in the pool. He leans back and sighs in frustration.

ANDREW (V.O.)

Why’s he writing purple prose in the third person?

He is a young man in his early 20’s. His straight blonde hair, covering his ears and hanging in his eyes, is unkempt and needs washing.

Andrew leans forward and starts typing again. As he types, there’s a RUMBLE-unidentifiable at first.

EXT. VACANT FIELD - NIGHT

A TRAIN is traveling at quite a rapid speed. It whizzes by a lone figure standing dangerously close to it.

DR. ADELL (V.O.)

Andrew, why did you want to kill yourself?

INT. DR. ADELL’S OFFICE - DAY

The psychiatrist, DR. ADELL, and Andrew are alone. The plastic greenery and pastorals on the walls make the room feel generic and clinical.

Andrew is wearing t-shirt and jeans.

Dr. Adell, bookish, in his 50’s, exudes a slight preoccupied weariness.

ANDREW

Gotta joke for you: Two bears are taking a shower. One of them drops the soap. The other one says “That’s okay. I do it all the time.”

Andrew waits to see if Dr. Adell laughs. He doesn’t.

ANDREW Get it?

DR. ADELL No. I’m afraid I don’t. Why did you want to kill yourself?

Dr. Adell looks at his notes.

DR. ADELL

You thought about jumping in front of a train?

ANDREW

That’s ‘cause there’s nothing to get.

DR. ADELL

I’m not sure I follow.

ANDREW

It’s a joke with no punch line. You tell it to people just to see if they laugh. Most people do. Why is that?

DR. ADELL

I don’t know.

ANDREW

You don’t know?

You’re a psychiatrist.

Dr. Adell removes his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose.

DR. ADELL

Andrew, we’re getting off the subject. What have you been doing since you got out of the mental institution?

ANDREW I washed dishes, then a temp worker. Right now I work the graveyard shift at a warehouse.

INT./EXT. ANDREW’S USED TOYOTA COROLLA - NIGHT

Andrew is driving to work. He’s wearing grungy work clothes and a badge that says:

SOUTHWEST WAREHOUSE & DISTRIBUTING TUSCON BRANCH ANDREW REIFSTECK

DR. ADELL (V.O as Andrew drives)

How long have you been doing that?

ANDREW (V.O.)

A couple of months. My dad worked there. He got me the job.

DR. ADELL (V.O.)

So why did you want to kill yourself?

ANDREW (V.O.)

It was the path of least resistance.

DR. ADELL (V.O.)

What do you mean?

ANDREW (V.O.)

I don’t know.

Everything got too hard.

DR. ADELL (V.O.) Hard how?

Andrew puts on his turn signal.

SERIES OF QUICK CUTS:

1. Andrew taking an exit off the freeway.

2. Andrew parking his car under a sign that says:

SOUTHWEST WAREHOUSE

3. Andrew asleep in bed. His alarm clock goes off.

ANDREW (V.O. during quick cuts)

Gotta get up when you don’t want to. Go to a shitty job you hate. Go home. Go to bed. Get up and do it all again.

4. Andrew driving to work again.

5. Andrew taking the exit off the freeway again.

6. Andrew parking under the sign again.

INT. DR. ADELL’S OFFICECONTINUED

Andrew and Dr. Adell alone, continuing their conversation.

ANDREW

Tell me about the dream with your father when you were little.

EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX SWIMMING POOL - CONTINUED

Little Andrew is sitting on the diving board, still inside his horse float. Dave is treading water under him. Andrew is slightly shivering.

It just seemed too hard. It seemed easier just to end it.

DR. ADELL

DAVE

Did you know Daddy is walking on water right now? Watch.

Dave raises his hands over his head and lets himself sink vertically to the bottom. After a few seconds, his head emerges up out of the water. He treads water for a second.

DAVE

See? The bottom’s way down there.

ANDREW (amazed)

Where’s the floor?

DAVE

I just showed you. Watch.

Dave again lets himself sink vertically to the bottom and emerges a few seconds later. He notices Andrew is shivering.

DAVE

You cold?

Andrew nods yes, his shivering increasing.

DAVE

You won’t be if you get back in the water with Daddy.

ANDREW I want Mommy.

DAVE

Don’t you like being with Daddy?

ANDREW I want Mommy.

DAVE

Fine. Be a little baby.

Dave disappears under water again, Andrew’s shivering increasing by the second. Dave reemerges.

DAVE

I thought you were a big boy.

Dave sinks to the bottom again. This time he stays there.

DR. ADELL (V.O.)

What’s the dream about?

Little Andrew looks down at Dave at the bottom of the pool. Dave’s hand reaches up to him, air bubbles escaping from Dave’s mouth.

GROWN-UP ANDREW (V.O.)

I’m a little kid and I’m watching my father drown.

Dave extends his hand up to Little Andrew. DAVE

INT. ANDREW’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Grown-up Andrew wakes up from his nightmare.

DR. ADELL (V.O.)

What do you think it means? Did you witness your father almost drown when you were a boy?

ANDREW (V.O.)

No. It never happened. Both my parents are fine.

INT. REIFSTECK KITCHENMORNING

Dave, still alive and noticeably heavier than in the swimming pool, is seated at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee. He’s looking at the employment section of the classified ads of the ARIZONA DAILY STAR.

JAN REIFSTECK(Dave’ wife and Andrew’s mother), is still attractive but is now graying with circles under her eyes.

JAN Anything?

Dave shakes his head no.

INT. ANDREW’S BEDROOM - DAY

Andrew’s ALARM CLOCK GOES OFF. He turns it off and sits up on the side of his bed, another night at his mundane job ahead of him.

INT. REIFSTECK LIVING ROOMNIGHT

Dave and Jan are silently watching TV. Andrew comes in wearing his work clothes and badge.

JAN

Your plate’s in the fridge. You’ll have to heat up the rolls separately.

ANDREW

Thanks.

DAVE

Don’t work too hard.

Andrew goes out the front door.

CUT TO:

SAME SERIES OF QUICK SHOTS AS BEFORE:

1. Andrew once again driving to work.

2. He puts on his turn signal.

3. He takes his exit off the freeway.

4. He parks under the sign at the warehouse.

INT. DR. ADELL’S OFFICECONTINUED

DR. ADELL

Do you have any aspirations, Andrew? Any goals? Anything you’d like to see yourself doing in five years? Ten years?

ANDREW

I wanna go home.

DR. ADELL

I’m sorry? ANDREW (louder)

I wanna go home.

DR. ADELL

(looking at his watch)

Well, we’ve still got-

ANDREW

I wanna go home to Georgia.

DR. ADELL

Georgia?

ANDREW

That’s where I’m from. I wanna feel the way I felt when I was a kid. I wanna look up my godfather.

DR. ADELL

(slightly sarcastic)

What I meant was:

What do you want to do with your life?

What kind of work do you want to do?

Have you thought about a career?

ANDREW I know what you meant.

DR. ADELL

Why your godfather?

ANDREW

He used to be Dad’s best friend.

DR. ADELL

When was the last time you saw him?

ANDREW

Fourteen years ago. We didn’t keep in touch after we moved to Arizona. Dad didn’t keep in touch with him.

DR. ADELL

Couldn’t you just call him?

ANDREW

No. I wanna see him.

Like something out of GROUNDHOG DAY...

CUT TO:

SAME SERIES OF QUICK SHOTS:

1. Andrew’s alarm clock going off . . .again.

2. Andrew driving to work . . . again.

3. Andrew putting on his turn signal . . .again.

He slows down to take his exit. Only this time...

He swerves back onto the freeway.

Like a bat out of hell, he drives past his exit.

He violently and exuberantly rips off his badge, tearing his shirt as he does so.

MUSIC is heard for the first time as he drives off into the black of night.

FADE OUT CREDITS END

FADE IN. . .

On a beautiful, sunlit morning in the woods. Rays of sunshine make their way between the trees onto the ground. It takes a moment but before long our eye focuses on a NO TRESPASSING sign posted on one of the trees.

We can’t be sure but there suddenly seems to be a shadowed figure that emerges from behind one tree and quickly darts behind another.

EXT. TWO-STORY HOUSE - MORNING

While not a mansion, the house--very secluded in the woods-- would be considered nice by any standard. There’s another NO TRESPASSING sign posted to a nearby tree.

An old, battered, rusted-out, black and white Ford Scout with a cracked windshield is parked in front.

The figure darting between the trees, still very much on his guard, walks towards the house. We see that it is Andrew.

He is wearing his work clothes, torn shirt and all, now ragged and filthy.

He walks onto the front porch and RINGS THE BELL...nothing. The muffled sounds of a BASEBALL GAME are heard from inside the house. He rings again...still nothing.

The long shadow of a man holding a rifle glides into view.

Oblivious to the man behind him, Andrew goes over to a window and looks in. Suddenly...

BANG!! A GUN SHOT!!

Scared out of his wits, Andrew turns around. Looking into the sun, he’s only able to make out the silhouette of the man pointing his rifle straight at him.

MAN WITH RIFLE WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT!!??

Andrew tries to speak but can’t, understandably flustered.

MAN WITH RIFLE

Didn’t you see the NO TRESPASSING signs!? Beat it before I call the cops!!

ANDREW Gus?

MAN WITH RIFLE Who the fuck are you!?

ANDREW

Are you Gus Rine?

MAN WITH RIFLE

Who are you!?

ANDREW

I’m Dave Reifsteck’s son. Andrew?

The man takes a few steps forward out of the sun.

Gus Rine, in his 50’s, has retained most of his good looks. He has a heavy, grey stubble to go with his mustache. An Atlanta Braves baseball cap, a permanent part of his wardrobe, is on his head.

Although not a hermit, we sense he is definitely reclusive.

GUS

(putting the rifle down)

What’re you doing here, kid? You’re lucky I didn’t blow your head off.

INT. GUS’ KITCHEN - LATER

It’s a mess. The sink is full of dirty dishes. Empty beer cans are strewn about. Cereal boxes are left out, half-eaten bags of chips, etc.

Gus and Andrew are seated at the kitchen table. Andrew has showered and shaved and wearing clothes that if they don’t quite fit, at least they’re clean.

Gus, a can of Coors in his hand (the only brand he drinks), watches Andrew scarf down frozen pizza and potato chips.

GUS

Sorry, kid. I’m not much of a cook.

ANDREW

This is great. Where’s Robin?

GUS

We got divorced. Four years ago.

ANDREW (crestfallen)

What happened?

GUS

It’s a long story. I called your dad when you were in the shower. That’s a nice little stunt you pulled.

ANDREW (defensive)

I called so they wouldn’t send out the search parties.

What’d he say?

GUS

He wants you to call him.

ANDREW (taking a bite of pizza)

I lost my cell phone.

GUS

You can use my phone. Where’s your car?

ANDREW (his mouth full) Texas I think.

INT. GUS’ BEDROOM - NIGHT

Andrew is sitting on the edge of the bed talking on the phone. It’s an old phone plugged into the wall and resting on the night stand. Like his kitchen, Gus’ bedroom is a mess. Clothes are strewn about the floor and on the unmade bed.

ANDREW

Dad, I hated it.

DAVE (through the phone) You know what I went through to get you that job?

ANDREW

Why should I show them any loyalty?

They sure didn’t show you any.

DAVE

When’re you coming home?

ANDREW Gus said I could stay as long as I wanted.

DAVE

I don’t want you staying there.

ANDREW Why not?

DAVE

I just don’t. Why don’t you go visit Robin?

ANDREW

Why didn’t you tell me they got divorced? DAVE

I’m sure she’d love to see you.

Can I call her? She just lives in Atlanta.

ANDREW Dad, I don’t even have a car.

DAVE What happened to your car?

ANDREW I told you, it ran out of gas.

DAVE

Fine. You just stay put and I’ll be there to come take you home.

ANDREW (determined) You can come if you want, but I’m not going back with you. I’m a grown man, Dad.

DAVE

That’s it?

SILENCE, as Dave takes this in.

DAVE For how long?

ANDREW

I don’t know.

DAVE (angry)

Lemme talk to him.

ANDREW Hold on.

Andrew puts the phone down.

DAVE (O.S.) (through phone)

Andrew!

Andrew picks the phone back up.

ANDREW What?

DAVE (heartfelt, awkward)

INT. GUS’ SPARE ROOM - NIGHT

Andrew, shoes off, is lying on the bed writing in a notebook.

There are only a few furnishings in the room. A cheap landscape hangs crookedly over the bed. An old wooden desk sits in the corner.

It seems cleaner than the other parts of the house-probably because it is seldom used.

There’s a KNOCK on the door...

I’m glad you’re okay... ANDREW Hold on, I’ll get him...

Gus comes in. GUS

Well, he’s comin’.

Gonna try to be here by the end of next week.

ANDREW

He is? GUS

Yeah. I don’t think he’s planning on staying though. Just long enough to take you home.

ANDREW

I told him, I wasn’t going back with him. GUS

Kid, maybe that would be the best thing.

ANDREW

GUS

I don’t

sounds

Let's talk about it in the morning, okay? You've had a long day.

ANDREW Okay. GUS Great. I’ll let you get some sleep. Need anything?

I'm not exactly used to having company.

I’m not gonna just sponge off you. I’ll get a job, I promise.

know,

pretty halfbaked.

ANDREW

I’m fine. Sure you don’t mind me using your notebook?

GUS

Knock yourself out. You keepin’ a diary or something?

ANDREW

Something like that.

GUS

Great. Well, get some sleep. We’ll talk about it in the morning.

Gus walks to the door.

ANDREW Gus?

Gus stops and looks at him.

ANDREW

How come you and Dad didn’t keep in touch?

Gus thinks how to answer.

ANDREW

That’s okayGUS

No, it’s just... that’s something you’ll have to ask your dad. It’s nothing I wanted. Good night.

ANDREW

Good Night. And thanks. GUS

See you in the morning.

Gus leaves, closing the door behind him. Andrew begins writing in the notebook.

EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT FLASHBACK

Gus, much younger and strikingly handsome, sits alone in front of a campfire. He is listening to the sound of a boy receiving a SPANKING. The boy is trying hard not to cry.

Dave (also much younger) and Andrew (now about ten) come out of a nearby RV camper. Dave is putting his belt back in his jeans. Andrew is rubbing the seat of his pants.

As they have a seat by the fire, Andrew quickly rubs away any tears before Gus sees them.

A bottle of Jim Beam Bourbon is perched conspicuously between Gus and Dave atop a blue and white cooler. Dave picks up his mixed drink off the cooler and takes a drink.

GUS

You caught him playing around in my Jeep. So what?

DAVE

Then he lied about it. That’s one thing I won’t put up with. He knows that. He shouldn’t have been playing around in it anyway. It’s brand new.

GUS

Kids are the biggest liars on the planet. It’s not the end of the world.

DAVE

I know it’s not the end of the world.

What, I’m supposed to let him just get away with it?

GUS

No. Just keep it in perspective.

DAVE Let’s just drop it. I’m going to bed.

Dave finishes his drink.

DAVE

Good night. Good night, Son. We’ll discuss this further in the morning.

Dave gets up and goes back inside the camper.

GUS Sounds like your dad’s pretty pissed. You lied to him?

Andrew nods yes.

GUS

Yeah, if you get caught, best thing to do is come clean and admit the truth. You know, I did some pretty bad shit myself growing up.

ANDREW Like what?

GUS

Maybe when you’re older. But I always considered the consequences. Know what that is? Consequences?

ANDREW

We have’em at school. It’s what happens to you when you’re bad.

GUS

ANDREW

Gus throws back the rest of his drink.

GUS Time for bed.

Gus stands up and picks up the bucket full of sand to throw on the fire.

GUS Don’t worry. Your dad’ll get over it.

Consequences can be good or bad. What I’m saying is this: Be good. If you can’t be good, be careful. Good words to live by, kid. Say it.

If you can’t be good, be careful.

Tomorrow we’ll go for a ride in my Jeep. How’s that?

He tousles Andrew’s hair.

ANDREW Can I do it?

Gus hands Andrew the bucket.

GUS Remember like I showed you.

Andrew struggles but manages to carry the bucket of sand over and begin pouring it on the fire. It’s very important to him that he do it right.

INT. GUS’ BEDROOM - DAY

Andrew is sitting on the edge of Gus’ bed, on the phone with his dad again. The room isn’t any cleaner than the last time we saw it.

DAVE (through phone) No. That’s final. I’m coming to get you and we’re leaving.

ANDREW

Why? He said we’d be his guests. He said we could stay as long as we wanted. It’d be like old times.

DAVE No. I’m not staying.

ANDREW Why? What do you have against him?

DAVE Nothing.

ANDREW

So stay a week or two. Just til I can find a job.

DAVE (heavy sigh through phone)

I’ll stay on one condition.

ANDREW

I’m not going back with you, Dad.

DAVE

No, it’s not that.

ANDREW Then what?

DAVE

I’ll stay if you promise to go back on your medication.

ANDREW How long?

DAVE

You have to stay on it the whole time we’re there.

ANDREW

No, I mean how long will you stay?

DAVE

I don’t know, a week.

ANDREW Make it a month.

DAVE Gus won’t let us stay that long.

ANDREW He said we could stay as long as we wanted, Dad.

DAVE Two weeks. Deal?

ANDREW Deal.

INT. GUS’ LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Gus is sitting in front of the TV, watching baseball and drinking a beer.

Most of the furnishings in the room are old, as if the room were frozen in time from the 1990s. The TV (big and boxy) is nestled into an entertainment center complete with a VCR, DVD player, and stereo with a turntable.

Andrew comes bounding down the stairs.

ANDREW

All settled. He’ll be here a week from Sunday.

GUS Great! Want one?

Gus indicates his beer.

Andrew jumps up and runs to the kitchen. We hear him opening the fridge, pulling out a beer, and opening it. He comes back in the living room with his can of Coors and has a seat. They both drink their beers.

GUS

C'mon, we need a hit!

INT/EXT. GUS’ FORD SCOUT - DAY

With Gus behind the wheel, he and Andrew (in the passenger’s seat) are parked on the side of a suburban street. They are looking at a house on the other side of the street. Just your average suburban neighborhood.

GUS

There it is.

ANDREW

Those bushes are new.

GUS

When was the last time you were here?

ANDREW

Fourteen years ago. Seemed bigger when I was a kid.

Andrew suddenly gets out of the Scout and starts walking towards the house. Gus gets out and follows him.

GUS

Where you goin’?

ANDREW

I just wanna see inside.

GUS

Not sure that’s a good idea.

ANDREW

It’ll just take a minute.

Andrew walks onto the front porch and rings the doorbell. He waits only a couple of seconds and rings it again.

The door is opened by a balding, middle-aged AfricanAmerican man.

MAN

I’m sorry, we’re not interested.

ANDREW

I’m not selling anything, Sir. Hi, my name is Andrew.

Andrew holds out his hand and the man reluctantly shakes it.

MAN

Hi. Reuben. What can I do for you?

ANDREW

Well, this is the house I grew up in. It kinda has a lot of memories for me.

REUBEN

Okay.

ANDREW

So, I was just wondering, Sir: Would you be okay with me looking around inside?

It’s just, it would mean a lot to me.

REUBEN

I’m sorry, but my wife’s not feeling well.

ANDREW

GUS

Andrew, let’s go.

ANDREW

Like those bushes there. You planted those, right?

REUBEN

I’m sorry. Like I said, my wife’s sick, and we weren’t expecting any visitors.

He starts to close the door.

ANDREW Wait!

The man stops and looks at him.

I won’t stay long. I just want to see if it’s the same way I remember it.

ANDREW

It’ll just take a second. GUS Andrew, let’s go!

Gus grabs Andrew’s arm and starts pulling him off the porch but Andrew wrests his arm free.

ANDREW Hold on, Gus!

REUBEN

Look, man. I don’t even know you. I’m not letting you in my house.

ANDREW I told you who I was!

REUBEN Can you please just leave? I’m busy right now.

The man closes the door.

GUS

He doesn’t want us here. Let’s just go!

Andrew rings the bell again. The man, visibly upset, opens the door and looks at Andrew.

ANDREW

I could’ve looked around and been gone by now!

MAN

Do you want me to call the cops?

ANDREW

Are you serious!? What’s your problem!? REUBEN Okay. I’m calling the cops.

He pulls his cell phone out of his pocket.

ANDREW

You don’t have to call the cops! Forget it!!

Andrew storms back to Gus’ Scout. Gus looks at the man at the door. GUS

I’m sorry.

REUBEN

Are you leaving now?

He holds his phone up, ready to make the call. GUS

Yes, we’re leaving.

Gus follows Andrew to his Scout as Reuben stands by the door watching to make sure they drive off.

I/E. GUS’ SCOUT - CONTINUED

Gus drives in silence as Andrew stares out the window.

GUS (finally)

What the hell was that all about?

ANDREW

All I wanted was to go inside and look around. It woudn’t’ve taken two minutes.

GUS

Well, he didnt want you to. And seeing as how it was his house, you have to respect his wishes.

Andrew doesn’t reply. They drive in silence a few more seconds.

GUS

So your dad’s bringing your...

Andrew looks at him.

EXT. GAINSEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY - DAY

Gus’s Scout drives into the parking lot and parks. Andrew gets out. He’s dressed somewhat nicer. He’s still in jeans but has a nice shirt on.

INT. GAINSEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY - CONTINUED

Andrew walks up to the circulation desk. The LIBRARIAN at the desk is a middle aged woman with a somewhat pompous air.

LIBRARIAN

Can I help you?

ANDREW

Yes, I’d like to apply for a job.

CUT TO: MONTAGE

Of Andrew applying for jobs at various places. All in long shot (we don’t hear what’s said), we see Andrew--in the same nice shirt and jeans-going into Walmart, Walgreens, Home Depot, a local bar, a mom and pop restaurant.

Sometimes we see him talking to a manager. Sometimes we see him filling out an application, sometimes we see the manager looking over the application before mouthing the words “I’ll let you know” and then walking away.

The MONTAGE ends with Andrew at Burger King sitting across the table from AMY, a Burger King manager. She’s a very pretty blonde girl in her mid to late 20’s. Andrew sits staring at her as she looks over his application.

AMY

Can you start Friday? Come in at 11? Leave around 7?

ANDREW

Yeah, that’d be great.

AMY Great! Lemme go get your uniforms.

Amy gets up and leaves, taking Andrew’s application with her. Andrew seems both happy and relieved.

INT. ANDREW’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Andrew is sitting on the bed writing into a notebook.

INSERT...

...of the notebook page Andrew is looking at. It says:

He erases the $150 written for food and writes in $170.

INT. BURGER KING - DAY

There’s a pretty big crowd waiting to be served.

Amy, the manager, is serving customers at the front counter. A 20- something GIRL, wearing a drive-thru head set, comes out of the drive-thru station and looks back at the kitchen.

DRIVE-THRU GIRL (yelling back to the kitchen) I need those two fish sandwiches right away! ANDREW Coming!!

Andrew, alone in the kitchen, is very flummoxed and not sure where to put his attention. There are beepers going off everywhere. He is obviously not very good at his job yet. He goes over to the vat on the side, slaps the beeper to shut it up, and pulls up two fish out of the hot grease.

AMY (O.S.)

Andrew, where are those whoppers!?

Andrew goes over to the patties burning on the grill. He slaps the beeper to shut it up and frantically takes the patties off of the grill and onto a metal tray. They are burned to a crisp.

CUSTOMER #1 (O.S.)

Miss, how much longer?

AMY (O.S.) They’re coming, Sir.

CUSTOMER #1 (O.S.)

This is my lunch hour. I don’t have all day.

AMY (O.S.)

Can I help the next person?

CUSTOMER #2 (O.S.)

Yes, I’d like two #2’s. And could you hold the mustard on one of them?

AMY (O.S.)

No problem. And what would you like to drink on those?

Hands shaking, Andrew has successfully pulled the burned meat off the grill. He sets the spatula down near the grill and burns his finger.

DRIVE-THRU

GIRL (O.S.)

STILL DOWN TWO FISH!!

CUSTOMER #1 (O.S.)

Mam, how much longer?

AMY (O.S.) It’s coming, Sir! Andrew, do the fish!! And hold the mustard on one of those whoppers!!

Andrew, now dressing the buns, takes one of them and throws it away. He runs to take the two fish buns from the toaster that has been beeping for almost a minute.

As he does so, his apron catches the corner of the metal tray and the 12 pieces of burnt meat fall onto the floor with a loud CRASH!!

Before Andrew can even react, Amy is back in the kitchen.

AMY (to Andrew) Go do your fish!!

She expertly lays down 12 patties onto the grill and hits the timer.

INT/EXT. GUS' SCOUT - DAY

Andrew, in his Burger King uniform, is driving to work. He pulls into the Burger King parking lot and parks. He shuts off the engine and looks at the store through the rear view mirror.

Finally, he starts the engine back up and drives away.

INT/EXT. GUS’ SCOUT - DAY

Andrew, still in his Burger King uniform, is parked across the street from the house he grew up in. He stares silently at the house.

The owner of the house, the man

Andrew had a confrontation with earlier, looks out his window at Andrew parked across the street.

Andrew sees him and drives off.

INT. GUS’ LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Gus and Andrew are sitting watching TV, Gus with a Coors in his hand.

Andrew jumps off the couch when he hears a CAR drive up.

EXT. GUS’ HOUSE - CONTINUED

Dave gets out of his white Ford Windstar SUV as Andrew rushes out of the house to greet him. As already stated, Dave is noticeably heavier than he was in the flashbacks.

ANDREW Hey Dad!

Dave gives his son an awkward hug.

Gus comes out of the house, hanging on the porch to give father and son a moment alone.

DAVE

You have any idea what you put your mother and me through?

ANDREW

I’m sorry. What took you so long?

DAVE

I stopped in Atlanta for a bite.

ANDREW

We coulda fed you. C’mon.

DAVE

Lemme get the bags first.

ANDREW

We’ll get’em later. Come say hi to Gus.

Dave, seemingly reluctant, follows Andrew onto the porch. Gus and Dave shake hands. They’re both on eggshells.

DAVE (nervous)

Gus.

GUS

Good to see you, Dave.

Dave takes out his wallet.

DAVE

Listen, I wanna thankGUS

Put your money away, Dave. You’re my guest. C’mon in.

Andrew and Dave follow Gus into the house.

INT. GUS’ LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

DAVE

(still nervous) I probably should’ve driven further last night. That’s another reason I’m late.

GUS

(to Dave)

Wanna beer?

DAVE

Oh, that would be great.

GUS Andy? ANDREW Sure.

Gus leaves to get the beers.

DAVE (to Andrew) You drink beer now?

ANDREW Drinkin’ beer ain’t drinkin’.

They have a seat. Dave inadvertently sits in Gus’ Lazy-Boy.

GUS (O.S.)

Any trouble finding the house?

DAVE

(loud so Gus can hear)

Nope. Not with my GPS.

GUS (O.S.) Your what?

ANDREW Dad, that’s Gus’ seat.

DAVE

Oh. Sorry.

Dave gets up and has a seat on the couch next to Andrew.

INT. GUS’ GAME ROOM - LATER

Gus comes in, followed by Andrew and Dave. All three have their beer in their hand.

DAVE

...her boss is a real jerk. She took off last Christmas so she couldn’t get off to come with me.

Gus turns on the light.

DAVE

Wow. No wonder Andrew likes it here.

This is the first time we’ve gotten a good look at Gus’ game room.

It’s very well furnished. There’s a pool table, vintage jukebox, a pinball machine, and a bar (conspicuously, no booze).

In a corner is an old Macintosh computer. Hanging on the walls are several trophy-sized fish and a business degree from the University of Wisconsin.

DAVE

You spend a lot of time down here, Gus?

GUS

Not really. Divorce present I gave myself. Most days I’m out on the lake.

DAVE Congratulations. You always did wanna retire before 50.

ANDREW

Gus and I play pool.

GUS (gleefully)

Yeah, I kicked his little ass! Wanna play?

DAVE (tired)

Maybe tomorrow.

ANDREW

Come look at this, Dad!

Andrew has gone over to a picture on the wall. Gus and Dave walk over to it.

It’s a picture of Dave and Gus taken about 15 years earlier after a day of fishing.

Gus is holding up his fishing rod with a large bass still on the hook.

Dave is holding up his rod but nothing is on the end of it. He’s showing off his bare hook.

ANDREW I remember that day! I took that picture.

DAVE Where was that?

GUS

Lake Lanier, I think.

ANDREW

Yeah, it was. I remember ‘cause when we got home Mom was mad. I was with you and you guys drove home drunk.

GUS

We drove by there the other day.

ANDREW

We went to see the house in Decatur. You should see it, Dad. It looks a lot different.

DAVE

Son, you think you could go get the bags?

ANDREW

Come see the lake first. Gus owns it.

GUS

With two other homeowners. You’re dad’s tired, Kid. He’ll see it tomorrow.

DAVE Here.

Dave digs his car keys out of his pocket and hands them to Andrew. Andrew leaves to go get the luggage.

Gus and Dave take a swig of beer. The ice is somewhat broken when Gus broaches the subject that brought them together again after so many years.

So he just up and left, without any warning?

Just up and left.

Left his medication, didn’t tell his doctors?

Nope. He wasn’t taking his medication.

We didn’t find that out until after he left.

GUS You brought it with you, right?

DAVE Yeah. It’ll be a big help.

GUS You think he’ll go back with you?

DAVE I hope so. Tell you one thing: It ain’t gonna be easy convincing him. I should’ve brought him back here years ago. I’ve never seen him so happy. Thanks for letting him stay here, letting us both stay here.

GUS

Sure, Dave. What’re friends for?

Dave notices an undertone of bitterness in Gus’ reply.

GUS’ SECOND SPARE ROOMMOMENTS LATER

This room, like Andrew’s room, is sparse and also feels similarly uninhabited.

Andrew comes in carrying several duffel bags. He sets them on the bed next to a suitcase.

INT. GUS' STAIRWELL - MOMENTS LATER

Andrew starts down the stairs leading to Gus' Game Room. He takes a few steps and stops to eavesdrop on the conversation between Gus and Dave.

DAVE (O.S)

I don’t want him thinking there’s anything bad between us, okay? It would just upset him.

GUS (O.S.) (slightly bitter) When was there ever anything bad between us? You’d know more about that than me.

DAVE (O.S.)

I’m serious. We’re as good a friends as ever as far as he’s concerned. Can you do that?

GUS (O.S.)

Yeah, Dave. I can do that. Been doin’ it the last 15 years.

Andrew continues down the stairs.

INT. GAME ROOM - CONTINUOUS DAVE

You know what? I thinkDave stops himself when he hears Andrew coming down the STAIRS. Andrew comes in the room.

ANDREW

So we going fishing tomorrow?

Andrew gives Dave back his keys.

GUS

Let’s let your dad sleep in. He’s had a long drive.

DAVE

We’ll do it the next day, Son.

Gus, followed by Andrew and Dave, trudge up the stairs.

GUS

Ready for another, Dave?

DAVE

No thanks. I’ll take a glass of water though.

Gus stops and looks at Dave. He starts back up the stairs.

GUS

Can’t help ya, buddy. They outlawed water in these parts, remember?

DAVE

Funny guy.

GUS

Glasses are above the dishwasher.

Gus turns off the light to the Game Room.

ANDREW’S BEDROOM - LATER

Andrew is unpacking a suitcase. The door is open and Dave comes in.

Dave watches Andrew unpack for a second. He makes his presence known by KNOCKING gently on the bedroom door. ANDREW

I think I got everything: phone, laptop. Your pills are in there too. Here’s your money.

Dave hands Andrew an envelope.

ANDREW

Thanks.

Andrew continues unpacking.

DAVE

Lucky for you Joel owed me a favor. They didn’t wanna pay you since you didn’t give’em two weeks notice.

Dave waits for a reply that doesn’t come.

DAVE

Mom says hi.

ANDREW

She okay being home alone?

DAVE (can't help himself)

You know how worried your mother was?

ANDREW I phoned. She knew I was okay.

DAVE

Son, you weren’t okay. What you did was not okay.

Andrew takes several spiral notebooks out of his suitcase and sets them on his night stand.

DAVE She just wants what’s best for you. We both do.

Andrew puts his underwear in the top drawer of the dresser.

DAVE

I’ll let you unpack. Good night.

ANDREW

Good night, Dad.

Glad you got here okay.

DAVE

Don’t forget your pill.

Dave leaves as Andrew continues unpacking.

INT. ANDREW’S BATHROOM - LATER

Andrew finishes brushing his teeth. He holds up a vial of pills and looks at it a second. He takes one out and pops it in his mouth. He pours himself some water and drinks it, swallowing his pill.

INT. ANDREW’S BEDROOM - LATER

Andrew is leaning up in bed, shirt off, under the covers, writing in his notebook that we saw him pull out of his suitcase.

EXT. CAMPSITE - LATE AFTERNOON FLASHBACK

Andrew (about 10), Gus, and Dave are sitting around a campfire.

As in the other campfire scene, a bottle of bourbon is seen perched between Dave and Gus. Neither are feeling any pain as they both liberally nurse the mixed drinks in their hands.

Ah, gimmea break. It was about oil!

It was! We were afraid the next country Saddam was gonna invade was Saudi Arabia!

DAVE

You’re so full of shit!

GUS

No, Bush is the one who’s full of shit!

DAVE

Better than that loser you voted for.

GUS

Dukakis is no Jimmy Carter but at least he’s not an oilhungry imperialist.

Gus grabs a stick by his chair and stokes the fire. Andrew watches Dave and Gus argue, his eyes darting back and forth between them.

DAVE Carter! He’s one of the worse presidents ever.

Gus tosses the stick down and sits back in his lawn chair. He and Dave take a drink from their bourbon and coke. Andrew takes a drink from his can of coke.

It’s obvious Gus and Dave are good friends: Not only can they hurl insults without fear of offense, words aren’t necessary as evidenced by this PAUSE in the conversation.

ANDREW (out of the blue)

I wish I had a tape recorder.

DAVE

For what?

ANDREW

Y’all are the smartest men in the world. I wish everybody could hear you.

Dave and Gus look at each other and start LAUGHING.

DAVE

Son, we’re not the smartest men in the world. Believe me.

GUS

He’s right, Kid. Nobody gives a shit what we think.

DAVE

I’ll tell you something, Son. Gus here may be brainless when it comes to politics-

GUS Shiiiit!!!!

DAVE

-but he is a good friend. Who’s your best friend, Andrew?

ANDREW

John Abshire. DAVE

And what would you do for your best friend?

Andrew shrugs.

DAVE

Would you get in a fight for him if you saw him getting beat up?

ANDREW

I don’t know. I guess. DAVE You would. You know how I know?

‘Cause that’s what best friends do for each other. Lemme tell you something.

In this life you’re gonna meet thousands of people. Thousands. And you’re gonna have lots of acquaintances. But a real friend... real friends are gonna be far and few between.

Understand? A real friend is more precious than gold. Rarer than gold.

GUS

(to Andrew)

Wanna know who my best friend is?

ANDREW Dad?

GUS

That’s right.

The conversation is having a huge impact on Andrew.

Gus and Dave sense this which only feeds their heartfelt, philosophical inclinations as only alcohol can do.

DAVE

And Gus is my best friend.

GUS And I would do anything for him. Anything. ‘Cause like your dad said, that’s what best friends do for each other. If your dad was in jail, I would try to...if your dad needed a million dollars I would do whatever I had to get it for him. And you wanna know something? He'd do the same for me.

DAVE

EXT. GUS’ LAKE - MORNING

Gus, Dave, and grown-up Andrew are in a boat in the middle of the lake fishing. Not only is there not another boat in sight, there is hardly a trace of humankind anywhere to be seen.

Gus catches a fish and reels it in.

GUS (gleefully)

Three for me, zip for you guys!

Yes I would. GUS And that’s something we’ll always have for each other ‘til the day we die.

He takes it off his line and secures it in the boat. He then pulls out a medallion of Saint Peter hanging around his neck and kisses it. He carefully puts the medallion back inside his shirt. He casts his line back out into the lake.

ANDREW

This is great. Huh, Dad?

DAVE

It’s nice.

ANDREW

What’s the secret, Gus? How come they bite on your line but not on ours?

GUS

Gotta learn to think like a fish. Only took me about 20 years.

ANDREW

I did catch one once, remember?

GUS Dave, Andy says you lost your job.

DAVE (warily) He told you that?

GUS Relax. Just makin’ chit chat.

DAVE

When they contracted out to a private company, midmanagement could either take a huge pay cut or do a buyout. I did the buyout. I saw it coming so we’re not as bad off as most.

GUS (to Andrew) You get a bite?

Andrew shakes his head no.

GUS (to Dave) No luck finding another job?

DAVE Not yet.

GUS You still a paramedic?

DAVE Part-time.

GUS

Couldn’t you do that full time?

DAVE Not after last year’s budget cuts.

GUS

Dave is amused at Gus’ squeamishness.

Gus gets another bite. He expertly reels in the fish, unhooks it, and kisses his necklace again (his ritual after every fish he catches).

ANDREW

You ever in any of those fishing competitions they show on TV?

I don’t know how you do that shit. Can’t stand the sight of blood, myself.

DAVE

I could tell you some stories.

GUS Well, keep’em to yourself.

GUS

I used to. They got too crowded.

Gus reaches into a cooler and takes out a beer.

GUS

Probably too early for you guys.

Gus notices Dave and Andrew silently watching him. He pops open his beer.

GUS

What? Drinkin’ beer ain’t drinkin’.

Dave suddenly gets a bite.

DAVE (shocked) I got one!

GUS

Okay, set your hook. Don’t give him so much slack.

Dave is letting the fish run with his line.

ANDREW Set your hook!!

DAVE

What do you mean?

GUS JERK UP ON THE ROD!!

Dave violently jerks up on the rod which almost causes him to fall out of the boat.

The tension on his line is released.

DAVE Aaaahhhh!!!!

Dave looks at his son.

Andrew’s embarrassed for him.

Gus reaches over and takes Dave’s rod. He starts reeling in Dave's line.

GUS

You lost my lure, didn’t you?

Gus reels in the line to reveal nothing on the end of it, not even a lure.

GUS Didn’t you hear what I said?

DAVE

Excuse me for getting nervous!

Gus looks in his tackle box for a new lure.

GUS

(looking for lure)

Look, when you feel a bite, let’im take the bait for a second but don’t slack the line.

Then set your hook in ’im by jerking up on the rod. But not too hard. We don’t want you capsizing the boat.

He picks a lure out, looks at Dave a second, then changes his mind. He digs out another and begins putting it on.

GUS

(contemptuous)

Glad I didn’t give you one of my good lures.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GUS’ LAKE - DAY

The sun is now almost overhead.

CUT TO:

EXT. GUS’ BOAT - LATER

Gus is holding the biggest fish we’ve seen so far. The beer is showing its affect as he LAUGHS in delightful glee. He unhooks it and puts it with the others.

GUS

That’ll be good eatin’ tonight.

He pulls out his medallion and kisses it.

GUS

She never lets me down.

Gus reaches into his cooler and pulls out two beers. He tosses one to Dave, then to Andrew.

GUS (slightly slurred)

Live a little, goddammit! I brought extra!

Gus stands over the side of the boat to take a piss. He kicks an empty or two out of his way. He starts to pee into the lake, his back to Dave and Andrew.

GUS

So, Dave, do much fishing in Arizona? DAVE Not much. GUS No shit. DAVE

It’s dessert, in case you hadn’t heard.

GUS

So how come you never called me in all those years?

DAVE (wary)

Remember what we talked about, Gus?

GUS Not one call in 15 years. I just don’t get it. Why would a stockbroker making a good living pack it all in to be a warehouse manager in Arizona? Aaaaahhhh.

He’s enjoying his pee.

DAVE

Not that it’s any of your business, but if we hadn’t moved to Arizona, Jan and I would’ve gotten a divorce.

ANDREW

I didn’t know that.

GUS Gettin’ a divorce ain’t the end of the world, buddy. Although that goddam lawyer Robin hired sure made me think it was. End of half of it, anyway!

He laughs at his own joke.

ANDREW He doesn’t mean anything, Dad. He’s drunk.

GUS (offended)

Drinkin’ beer ain’t drinkin’! Haven’t been drunk in seven years! Even went to AA for awhile.

Nah, whiskey, even wine. But drinkin’ beer ain’t drinkin’!

ANDREW

You didn’t drink like this yesterday. Or the day before.

GUS

That’s cause I was babysittin’. Now that your dad’s here, he can take over.

He zips up.

GUS Man, I love it out here.

Ya

know, in 10 years, I probably seen only two, three boats on this lake the whole time.

He sits back down, kicking another empty. He reaches into the cooler and pulls out a beer.

ANDREW

Isn’t that bad for the water?

GUS

Huh?

ANDREW

Peeing in it.

GUS

It’s my water, Kid. What’s it to you?

DAVE

Andrew didn’t tell you? He’s into the environment.

GUS

Good for him!

Never pictured you as a tree-hugger, Kid.

DAVE

Gus, let’s just fish.

GUS

No, Dave! The kid had a nervous breakdown!

Andrew looks at Dave. Dave has told Gus his secret.

GUS

Nobody’s doin’ nobody no good tiptoeing around it. Your patronizing him is bullshit! Is that what you want, Kid? To be treated like your shit don’t stink?

Andrew doesn’t answer. Gus is oblivious to the impact his words are having.

GUS Whadaya say we call it a day? Gettin’ too hot.

Gus reels in his line as Dave and Andrew just stare at him.

GUS Catching them’s only half the fun, ya know. Wait’ll ya taste these fuckers. You’re in for a helluva treat. I’m a helluva cook when it comes to bass.

He starts the outboard MOTOR as Dave and Andrew reel in their lines.

The boat lurches into motion, Gus expertly steering with one hand as he takes a swig of beer with the other.

INT. ANDREW’S BATHROOM - DAY

Andrew, fully dressed, eyes closed, is sitting on the floor up against the door. In his hands is his vial of pills. He takes a pill out and pops it in his mouth.

EXT. GUS’ BACK PORCH - DUSK

The back porch has a beautiful view of the lake. Gus’ boathouse is seen in the distance. Several boats of various sizes are docked on the lake shore.

Gus, Dave, and Andrew are finishing supper: the fish Gus caught earlier in the day.

DAVE

There weren’t any W.M.D.’s!

GUS

We didn’t know that at the time! If you come up to a light that’s out, are you gonna drive right through it or are you gonna stop and look both ways, and then go?

DAVE

What are you talking about?

GUS

I’m just saying it’s better to be safe than sorry!

DAVE

No it’s not! I don’t feel safe and I’m sorry we went!

Dave pushes his empty plate away.

ANDREW

I still can't get over how you two switched positions. When I was a kid, you were a democrat and Dad was a republican. Now it's the opposite.

GUS

Your dad got dumber and I got smarter.

Gus holds up his empty.

GUS

Anybody else?

ANDREW

I’ll take one.

Gus walks over to a refrigerator stocked full of beer. He tosses his empty into a barrel.

DAVE

You’re not supposed to mix alcohol with your medication, Son.

ANDREW

A few beers ain’t gonna hurt.

GUS (from across the porch)

Tomorrow I thought we’d watch the Braves game.

He comes back with two beers. He sets one in front of Andrew.

Andrew opens it.

DAVE

Andrew doesn't like baseball.

ANDREW

It always seemed kinda boring to me.

GUS (truly offended)

Boring!? Shiiiit!! Baseball’s the greatest game ever invented! It’s your whole generation. Instant gratification. Everything’s gotta be now! What’s a matter with you, Dave? You never took this kid of yours to a baseball game? What kind of father are you? DAVE (shrugging)

He never expressed an interest.

Gus sets his beer down and goes over to the porch railing to take a piss.

ANDREW

Dad likes the Broncos.

Dave reaches over with his fork and stabs a piece of fish.

GUS (unzipping his fly)

Haven’t followed football in years.

Dave takes a bite of fish.

GUS (to himself)

Probably bad for the grass.

Gus zips back up and heads towards the house.

GUS

Be right back.

He goes inside, leaving Dave and Andrew alone.

DAVE

So Gus said you’ve been looking for a job?

ANDREW

Yeah.

DAVE

Any luck?

ANDREW

I had one at Burger King. But I quit. You told Gus about my breakdown?

DAVE

You didn’t want me to?

Andrew stands up with his plate.

DAVE

Have you thought about going back to college? I talked to Professor Laraby.

He said you had a good chance at a scholarship in the fall.

ANDREW I can go to college here. Finished?

Andrew reaches over, indicating Dave's plate.

DAVE

Leave’em. I’ll clean up later.

ANDREW I got it.

Andrew picks up Dave’s plate.

DAVE (with forced cheerfulness)

Sure wish Mom could see this.

Andrew turns and takes the plates towards the house.

DAVE

Andrew?

Andrew stops and looks at him.

DAVE

Don’t let what Gus said in the boat bother you. He’s just an ordinary man, no different than me or anybody else.

ANDREW

Why do you have to compare yourself to Gus? Is that why you broke it off with him?

DAVE

That’s something between me and him.

Andrew takes the plates inside, leaving Dave alone as he gazes sadly out at the lake.

INT. GUS’ KITCHEN - DAY

Dave is talking on his smartphone.

DAVE

...it’s in the employment folder...yeah...it just says resume, it’s a file called resume...

It’s nothing you need to worry about.

ANDREW Nobody cares how much money you make, Dad. Least of all Gus.

INT. GUS’ LIVING ROOMCONTINUOUS

Gus is sitting in front of the TV drinking a beer and watching the Atlanta Braves play with the sound turned down. He hears Dave’s conversation on the phone in the kitchen.

DAVE (O.S.)

I will on Monday, I’ll call them first thing...I know there’s a time difference...I won’t...okay, honey...love you, too...I will...bye.

Dave comes in the room and has a seat, setting his phone on the coffee table.

GUS

What was that about?

DAVE

I can’t believe you don’t even have a cell phone. Why don’t you join the 21st century?

GUS

Why the hell would I wanna do that? So what was that about a resume?

DAVE Got some good news.

GUS What?

DAVE I think I got a job. EMS Operations Officer for Coconino County.

GUS No shit! Congratulations! When do you start?

DAVE

Not ‘til the first of the year.

GUS Congratulation, buddy! I’ll come visit you this Christmas! What do ya say!?

DAVE

Sure. Only I don’t know if I’m gonna take it.

GUS Why the hell not?

DAVE The hours are long.

GUS So? DAVE Might be better for me to stay close to home.

GUS

What, cause of Andy? Dave, he’s a grown man. You’re done. He’s finished. Whether you wanna admit it or not.

DAVE

That’s a cheerful thought.

The Braves hit into a double play. Inning over.

GUS (disgusted)

COME ON!!!

A commercial for a prescribed drug that supposedly helps manage high cholesterol comes on.

GUS

Where is he anyway?

DAVE

Playing pool, I think. GUS

He doesn’t wanna watch the game?

DAVE

Guess not.

GUS

Why not?

DAVE

Probably ‘cause of what you said in the boat.

GUS

Think I ruffled his feathers?

DAVE I would say so.

GUS

He’s gonna be okay. Take the job.

All I’m sayin’ is you deserve it!

Andrew, his hair a little wet, comes bounding down the stairs. He has on his nice clothes.

DAVE

Who says I’m not taking it ‘cause of him?

GUS Don’t cheat yourself outta this!

ANDREW Don’t cheat yourself outta what?

DAVE Nothing. (to Gus) We’ll talk about it later.

GUS (to Andrew)

Don’t you wanna watch the game? Braves are losing. Missing a great opportunity to gloat.

Andrew gives an obligatory chuckle.

ANDREW

Can I take the Scout? I think I’m gonna go out looking for a job.

GUS

Sure.

DAVE

Did you take your pill?

ANDREW

Yes, I took my pill.

Andrew goes into the kitchen. Dave gets up and follows him.

INT. GUS’ KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Andrew gets a glass and pours some water from the tap.

DAVE (looking at his watch)

It’s after 4:00. Isn’t it kinda late to be job hunting?

ANDREW

I don’t know. We’ll see.

Andrew takes a drink of water.

DAVE

Do you have your phone? Call if you need anything.

Andrew sets the glass in the sink.

ANDREW

Yes, I have my phone. Stop worrying! Bye.

Andrew gets a set of keys from the key rack and leaves.

EXT. GUS’ HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Andrew gets in Gus’ Scout and starts it. Gus, carrying his beer, comes out the front door and approaches the vehicle.

Andrew rolls the window down.

GUS

This okay with your dad?

ANDREW

I don’t need his permission. I came here, didn’t I?

GUS

Yes you did. So what, you getting bored?

ANDREW

No. I wanna...I just wanna hurry up and find a job... before--

GUS Before what?

ANDREW

Before Dad leaves.

GUS

Listen, I wanna apologize for how I acted on the lake. Probably said some things I shouldn’t’ve. I was just howlin’ at the moon, ya know?

ANDREW

Yeah, I know.

GUS

Wanna go fishing with me and your dad tomorrow?

ANDREW We'll see.

Gus pulls out his keys and hands them to Andrew.

GUS Here.

ANDREW

What’s this?

GUS Keys to the front door. In case you wanna stay out late. Be good. If you can’t be good, be careful.

ANDREW

You’ve told me that before, you know.

GUS I did? ANDREW

When I was a kid. GUS

Good words to live by.

Gus salutes Andrew with his beer and walks back towards the house. Andrew watches him walk away for a second and then drives off.

EXT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - LATE AFTERNOON

Gus’ Scout pulls into the parking lot and parks. There’s only one or two other cars parked.

The sign out front says:

THE DOCKHOUSE HAPPY HOUR DAILY 6-7

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - CONTINUOUS

Andrew comes inside. It’s pretty dark and danky. Several fish are mounted on the walls. A jukebox is in one corner. A pool table is in another corner where the only two customers in the place are playing pool. A waitress, with a rather pronounced limp, comes up to him.

WAITRESS

What can I get you, hon?

ANDREW

I’m looking for a job.

WAITRESS Hold on...DARKO!!

She is yelling for someone not seen.

WAITRESS (louder)

DARKO!!!! (to Andrew) Hi. I’m Tilly.

ANDREW

Hi.

From a room behind the bar somewhere, DARKO appears.

DARKO is a big, middle-aged, buffed-out, well-cut Serbian. He has a look of somebody who has seen and done things most people can’t even imagine--and come out the stronger for it.

TILLY

Darko, this is...

ANDREW

Andrew. TILLY

Andrew, this is Darko.

Hi.

DARKO

They shake hands.

TILLY (to Darko)

He was asking about employment.

Tilly leaves to go check on the two guys playing pool.

DARKO So you want job?

ANDREW

Yes. I was wondering if you might could use some help.

DARKO (looking around) Do we look busy?

ANDREW

Thanks anyway.

Andrew starts to leave.

DARKO

We pretty dead now, but we should be busier this summer, when Old Town opens. You know how to tend bar?

Make drinks?

ANDREW No.

DARKO Wait tables?

ANDREW No. But I could learn.

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - LATER

Andrew is sitting at one of the tables in the bar filling out an application.

Three 20-something malesSTORMY, JIM, and MORTIMER-come in the bar. They have a seat near Andrew’s table.

STORMY (loud, gregarious)

Tilly!! TILLY

Hey guys! Good to see you!

Tilly (the waitress Andrew met earlier) goes up to their table. Andrew listens in.

JIM

Hey, Tilly.

STORMY

Where ya been, girl? Missed ya last night. TILLY

I was in Atlanta. What can I get you?

JIM

Bud Light.

STORMY

You know what I want. Mortimer here’ll have a shot a Cuervo.

MORTIMER

No shot. Have you got Tecate?

TILLY Corona. MORTIMER That’ll work. No lime, please.

STORMY

Why you always changing your beers?

MORTIMER

What? I like variety. TILLY Usual for Stormy, Bud Light, Corona no lime.

STORMY

And a shot for Mortimer.

MORTIMER (to Tilly)

No thank you.

STORMY

Don’t be a pussy!

Tilly walks away.

MORTIMER

No hurry.

Stormy glowers at him. Jim takes out a can of Skoal.

MORTIMER (to Stormy)

What!?

STORMY

Dude, she’s a cripple. MORTIMER She’s not a cripple.

She just limps. It’s called being polite.

STORMY

You wanna fuck her.

Don’t ya, Mortimer?

MORTIMER

Why you always calling me Mortimer?

JIM

Will you both shut up? Don’t you know she can hear you?

Jim shoves some Skoal in his mouth. JIM

(soft, discreet)

She’s prob'ly a virgin.

MORTIMER She probably lives alone.

No boyfriend. All she’s got is this job. You don’t feel sorry for her?

STORMY

How do you know all that? Tilly’s the best damn waitress there is. Shut up, here she comes.

Tilly comes back with three beers.

TILLY

You guys talking about me?

STORMY

Mortimer was. (to Mortimer)

Tell her what you said.

TILLY

Six dollars.

She sets down the beers as Stormy holds out a $10. Tilly makes his change.

STORMY

Where’s the shot? He’s having a shot.

Mortimer looks at Tilly and discreetly shakes his head no. Tilly walks away.

STORMY

Don’t forget the shot.

JIM

(fed up)

Why’s he gotta have a fucking shot!?

Tilly walks over to Andrew’s table. Andrew hands her his application.

ANDREW Here. I’m done.

TILLY Great! I’ll give it to Darko. ANDREW

So what are my chances?

TILLY Want me to be honest?

ANDREW

Okay.

TILLY Not too good.

ANDREW

Well, that’s just what I wanted to hear.

TILLY

Darko has a girl he hires every summer for when we’re busy. He’s been doing that for how many years now.

But if she quits, he’ll have to hire somebody else.

ANDREW Is she quitting?

TILLY

Not that I’ve heard.

ANDREW

(disappointed)

Okay...well, then, can I get a beer?

TILLY

Sure, hon. What kind you want?

ANDREW Coors.

TILLY Be right back.

Andrew watches her as she takes Andrew’s application and goes to get his beer.

He notices that she is in her 30’s with dark hair and a dark complexion. She is slightly overweight. She wouldn’t be considered pretty, at least not by conventional standards-made even less attractive in most men’s eyes by her limp.

She comes back and sets a bar napkin in front of Andrew. She then sets his beer on the napkin.

TILLY

Two dollars.

Andrew pulls out two dollars from his pocket and pays her.

TILLY

Haven’t seen you in here before.

ANDREW

I’m in town visiting a friend.

TILLY

Where you from?

ANDREW

Arizona. But I lived in Georgia when I was a kid.

TILLY

Holler if you need anything, okay?

ANDREW I will. Thanks.

Andrew watches her limp back to the bar.

EXT. GUS’ PORCH - DUSK

Gus and Dave are eating burgers and chips. Dave keeps looking at his watch.

GUS

Will you relax? He’ll get here when he gets here.

DAVE

Or we may never see him again. I'm gonna call him.

Dave takes out his phone and starts to call Andrew.

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - DUSK

Andrew is sitting alone at his table nursing his Coors. Besides Stormy, Jim, and Mortimer; there are now a few more customers. Andrew hears his PHONE RING.

Andrew takes his phone out of his pocket and answers it.

ANDREW

(into phone)

Hey, Dad.

DAVE

(through phone)

Where are you? You okay?

ANDREW

I'm fine, I'm applying for a job.

DAVE (through phone)

You gonna be home soon?

ANDREW

Yes, I'm not gonna be late. Will you stop worrying? I'll talk to you later.

EXT. GUS’ PORCH - CONTINUOUS

DAVE

See you when you get home, Son.

Dave hangs up his phone and puts it on the table.

DAVE

He said he was applying for a job.

GUS

Well, he might not get home for awhile.

DAVE

Why do you say that?

GUS

I gave him the keys to the house, in case he wanted to stay out.

DAVE

Gus, are you crazy?

GUS

No, you are! You know what Andrew’s problem is?

DAVE What?

GUS

You! You hovering over him like a mother hen.

No wonder he took off like he did.

DAVE Maybe you’re right.

They eat for a moment in silence.

DAVE

You know what worries me more than anything? Him finding out.

GUS Finding out what?

DAVE

You know what. The lawsuit. Maybe we should tell him.

GUS

Go ahead and tell him! I’ve got nothing to hide! And it wasn’t a lawsuit, it was arbitration!

DAVE

I’m just saying it’s better he hear it from us than somebody else!

GUS

And while you’re at it, tell’im why you ended it with your best friend.

DAVE

I’m thinking about Andrew! I don’t give a damn what you did. But Andrew worships you! If he ever found out, especially from somebody else, it would destroy him.

GUS

So then don’t tell him!

Gus takes a swig of beer.

GUS

I thought we weren’t gonna talk about it.

EXT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - CONTINUOUS Stormy, Mortimer, and Jim stumble out into the parking lot. Mortimer is very drunk. Stormy is LAUGHING.

MORTIMER

I’m gonna be sick.

JIM

You puke in my truck, you’re dead! (to Stormy) Asshole.

Stormy can’t reply because he’s laughing so hard.

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - MOMENTS LATER

INSERT...

...of a handful of empty shot glasses.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

Tilly putting the empty shot glasses on her bar tray from where Mortimer was sitting. There are a few more customers than before, most of them sitting at the bar.

Tilly leaves her bar tray on the table and limps over to Andrew. She picks up his beer and inspects it. It’s still half full.

TILLY

You’re not much of a drinker, hon. This beer’s warm. She sets it back down.

TILLY

Okay if I sit with you a few?

ANDREW

Go ahead.

She has a seat and pulls out her cigarettes.

TILLY

You mind?

Andrew shakes his head no. She offers one to Andrew.

ANDREW

No thanks.

She lights her cigarette.

TILLY

Who’s the friend you’re staying with?

Andrew gives her a questioning look.

TILLY

You said you were here visiting a friend.

ANDREW Gus Rine. TILLY The fisherman?

ANDREW

Yeah! You know him?

TILLY

I'm friends with his ex. How’s he like being retired?

ANDREW (pleased)

You know Robin too? Small world!

TILLY

Small town anyway. What’s a boy like you doing staying with a guy like Gus Rine?

ANDREW

You don’t like him?

TILLY

How well you know him?

ANDREW

We were close when I was a kid. He’s my Godfather. Can I bum one?

Tilly slides her cigarettes over to Andrew. Andrew lights one and starts COUGHING. It’s obvious he’s a novice.

TILLY

How long you been smoking? ANDREW Just started.

TILLY You shouldn’t start. Here, put it out.

She slides the ashtray over to Andrew.

ANDREW Hypocrite. TILLY

It’s your lungs. Wreck’em. See if I care.

ANDREW

How come you don’t like Gus?

TILLY

I didn’t say I didn’t like him.

When friends break up, you gotta pick a side, right?

What do you do in Arizona?

ANDREW I worked in a warehouse. TILLY

What you been doing since you got here?

ANDREW

Fish, play pool. Read.

TILLY Whatcha reading?

ANDREW

Right now CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. SALINGER. I just finished RABBIT, RUN. Can’t remember who wrote that.

TILLY

John Updike. Well, I gotta get back to work.

She puts out her cigarette.

ANDREW I gotta get going too. My dad’s gonna worry.

TILLY (standing up)

Nice meeting you, Andrew. Come back anytime.

ANDREW

You too. I mean... I will.

Andrew watches her limp over and pick up the tray of empty shot glasses.

EXT. GUS’ LAKE - DAY

Andrew is sitting under a tree not far from the lake shore.

He writes in a notebook:

ANDREW (V.O.)

Who is this girl? She has a strange, sad beauty.

A MOTORBOAT, soft at first, approaches.

Andrew looks up as Gus and Dave drive by in Gus’ boat.

Gus is in the back manning the outboard motor with one hand, a beer in the other. Dave is sitting in the front holding up a small fish that should have been thrown back.

DAVE

(yelling from boat)

Andrew!

GUS

(also yelling)

Hey, kid! Your dad finally caught one!

DAVE (almost ecstatic)

I set my hook!

GUS

About fucking time!

Andrew smiles as the boat recedes into the distance.

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - NIGHT

The place is almost empty. Andrew and Tilly are sitting at the exact same table they were seated at before. Andrew has a beer in front of him and Tilly is smoking a cigarette.

ANDREW So how come you don’t have an accent? TILLY

Where’s yours?

ANDREW

Guess I lost it somewhere in Arizona. TILLY

I was born and raised in Albuquerque.

ANDREW

We were neighbors and didn’t even know it!

Andrew reaches for Tilly’s cigarettes.

ANDREW

Can I bum one?

Before she can answer he takes one out of the pack.

TILLY

Why do you wanna start smoking anyway?

He lights his cigarette and immediately COUGHS.

TILLY See? That’s really stupid. From now on, buy your own.

She takes her cigs and puts them in her pocket. She takes a drag off her own.

So what’d you do today?

ANDREW

Did some reading. Tried to do some writing.

TILLY

What do you write?

ANDREW

I’ve got notebooks full of stuff.

Right now, I’m writing a story about Gus. But I’m kinda stuck.

TILLY

Ever have anybody read it? ANDREW No. TILLY Can I read it?

ANDREW

You serious?

TILLY

Yeah. Maybe I can help.

ANDREW

It’s not very good.

TILLY

Lemme be the judge of that.

Andrew thinks about it a moment.

ANDREW

All right. What’re you doing tomorrow?

Tilly takes out a pencil.

TILLY

I’m working.

She pulls out a napkin and starts writing on it.

Now before we do this, let’s get one thing straight: I’m married.

ANDREW (disappointed) You’re married?

TILLY Does that matter?

ANDREW

Your husband won’t mind?

TILLY We’re separated. ANDREW

I guess it doesn’t matter.

TILLY Here. I’m off Thursday.

Think about it and if you wanna still do it, gimme a call.

She slides the paper over to Andrew.

She walks over to TREVOR, a middle-aged male alone at a nearby table.

TILLY

How ya doin’, Trevor?

She takes Trevor’s empty.

TREVOR

Hey, Tilly. Better. I’ll take another.

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Tilly, sitting on her couch and smoking a cigarette, is reading from one of several notebooks that are stacked beside her.

Andrew is wandering around nervously as Tilly reads. Her house is small. Candles are ubiquitously placed. A guitar leans in a corner. On the walls are framed pictures of Jim Morrison and the album cover of the Beach Boys’ PET SOUNDS. The decor is best described as hippy-chic.

Andrew peruses a book that he’s taken from her bookshelf.

ANDREW

Got some great books here.

TILLY

(while reading)

Thanks.

Andrew puts the book up and goes over to her guitar. He plucks a string.

ANDREW

You play?

TILLY (trying to concentrate) Andrew, please. He wanders around, looking at the furnishings until she finally looks up.

TILLY It’s good. ANDREW (surprised) You like it?

TILLY Is this true about your dad? ANDREW

You mean did I see him drown? No.

TILLY So this is fiction?

ANDREW

Yeah. But it’s very autobiographical. Really? You liked it?

TILLY

So far. I like how three dimensional your characters are. And I also like the imagery you evoke. Very vivid.

ANDREW

Thanks. I’m kinda stuck. TILLY

Well, maybe I can help you figure it out. What’s your story about? ANDREW About Gus...and my dad.

TILLY

No, I mean: What’s it ABOUT? What’s the theme?

Andrew shrugs.

ANDREW

That’s kinda what I’m having trouble with, actually. (thinking)

I guess it’s about heroes.

He looks at Tilly and smiles.

ANDREW

Hey, thanks. TILLY

Can I finish reading it?

Andrew picks up a 5 X 10 photo of Tilly and her husband.

ANDREW

Sure. Was he unfaithful?

TILLY

(taken aback) What?

ANDREW Gus. Was he unfaithful to Robin? Is that why they got a divorce?

TILLY

I don’t think so.

Andrew sets the picture down and goes back over to her bookshelf. He studies the titles.

ANDREW

Why do you work in a bar?

TILLY So I’ll have time for my music. What else you written?

She grabs another notebook from Andrew’s stack. She leafs through it and begins reading.

Andrew has a seat next to her on the couch.

TILLY You tried to kill yourself?

ANDREW Yeah.

TILLY How were you planning on doing it?

ANDREW Jump in front of a train.

TILLY (shuddering) Too violent for me. I thought about suicide once. Wait...you were gonna jump in front of a train, but then you didn’t?

ANDREW

Yeah?

TILLY (gingerly)

So you didn’t try to kill yourself, you just thought about it.

She looks at him for a moment in silence.

ANDREW

I'm just a wannabe!

They both LAUGH.

TILLY

So did you get any help?

ANDREW Help?

TILLY

Did you see a psychiatrist? Talk to anybody about it?

Andrew thinks for a second how to answer.

ANDREW

No. Did you? TILLY

Yeah, I saw a doctor. It helped me. Spilling my guts to someone. Getting a different perspective.

She leafs through some more pages.

TILLY (reading out loud)

The hours spent together, long ago and far away, at the time seemed eternal, as if they'd never fade away.

ANDREW

That’s about an exgirlfriend.

TILLY

Was she pretty? ANDREW

I thought so. TILLY

ANDREW

They look at each other, their mutual attraction obvious.

Andrew kisses her on the lips. They begin making out.

TILLY

You sure you can handle an affair with a married woman?

Suddenly Andrew stops.

I was always jealous of pretty girls.

I think you’re beautiful.

ANDREW

Can I move in with you?

TILLY

You need to work on your pick-up lines, Andrew.

ANDREW

I just wanna be honest with you. Gus is probably gonna want me to go back to Arizona with my dad.

TILLY

I don't think you understand how onenight-stands work.

ANDREW

I was just kidding.

Andrew kisses her and they start making out again.

INT. TILLY’S BEDROOM - LATER

They’re both naked in bed, two consenting adults enjoying their post-coital cigarette. But the mood is broken when Andrew COUGHS.

TILLY

That’s the last one you get from me. If you wanna smoke, buy your own.

ANDREW

You didn’t start me smoking. I just quit for awhile.

He takes a drag but despite himself, COUGHS again.

TILLY Liar.

ANDREW

So how come you’re separated?

She takes a second to answer.

TILLY

I cheated on him.

ANDREW Where’s he living now?

TILLY Atlanta. Don’t you wanna know why I limp?

ANDREW Okay. Why?

TILLY

I’ve got amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ANDREW

I don’t know what that is.

TILLY

Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It’s a neurological disease that weakens the muscles.

She looks at him.

TILLY

So you still wanna move in with me?

ANDREW

What do you think?

TILLY

You don’t even have a job.

ANDREW

I’ll get one. What do you say?

TILLY

I’m lucky. So far it’s only in my leg.

ANDREW

It’ll get worse?

TILLY Eventually it’ll spread through my whole body. There’s no cure.

She looks at Andrew to see how he’ll react. Gazing into her eyes, he lovingly strokes her hair.

Tilly looks away.

TILLY

Don’t look at me like that.

ANDREW

Like what?

TILLY

When you fall, you fall hard.

She sits up and puts her bra on.

INT. TILLY’S BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Tilly, wearing her bra and panties, comes in and closes the door. She looks at herself in the mirror.

TILLY

Tilly, what are you doing?

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOMLATER

Andrew, fully dressed, is looking at the picture of Tilly and her husband.

Tilly comes out of the bathroom, also fully dressed.

TILLY

So did you want me to finish reading your story?

ANDREW

Yeah, that would be great.

TILLY

So you were close to Gus when you were a kid?

ANDREW

The five of us: Mom, Dad, Gus, Robin and me used to go camping every weekend.

TILLY

Can you leave it here? If you don’t mind, I’ve got some things to do.

Tilly’s phone rings.

ANDREW

You want me to leave?

TILLY If you don’t mind.

ANDREW

What do you have to do?

TILLY Just some things.

She answers her phone.

TILLY (into phone) Hello...hello dahling...can I help that?

She laughs at something said on the other end.

ANDREW I’m gonna go.

TILLY Hold on... (to Andrew) What?

ANDREW I’m leaving.

TILLY Bye.

ANDREW I’ll call you.

Tilly nods yes, carrying on two conversations at once.

TILLY (into phone) Just a friend...

Andrew takes his stack of notebooks, leaving one.

ANDREW

I’ll leave you my Gus story. She laughs again, nodding to Andrew.

TILLY (into phone)

...you’re terrible ...you’re right, I don’t...

Andrew leaves.

EXT. GUS’ PORCH - DUSK

Gus and Dave are eating burgers and chips.

GUS

You cook a good burger.

DAVE Thanks.

They eat in silence for a moment.

DAVE

You know, he could just live here with you.

GUS Hold on...

DAVE

He loves it here. It would solve everything. He worships you.

GUS Slow down--

DAVE

I can't stay here forever, Gus.

Jan's getting antsy. She wants me home.

GUS

What’s he gonna do when he runs outta his pills? What then?

DAVE

Maybe he could get his pills here.

GUS

How’s he gonna do that? He would need a psychiatrist from here to prescribe them to him.

DAVE

Maybe his doctor in Arizona could recommend somebody.

GUS I don't know, Dave...

It's obvious Gus isn't thrilled about the idea. They continue eating.

DAVE

You put my fish in the freezer?

GUS

Yes! For the fiftieth time! I put your fish in the freezer!

They’re both in the freezer! Jesus!

Gus picks up Dave’s beer. Still half full. He gets up with his own empty & tosses it in the barrel. He gets another from the fridge.

DAVE

Tomorrow I’m using the same lure.

GUS (sitting back down)

DAVE

You’ll never hear the end of it.

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Tilly is playing the OBOE as Andrew sits on the floor in front of her listening. She has a rich, warm, expressive tone that only good oboists can get. She finishes playing.

ANDREW

God forbid you ever catch a real fish.

That was beautiful. TILLY It’s getting there. Still having trouble with one phrase.

ANDREW

I still don’t get why you work in a bar. Can’t you make enough money playing music?

TILLY Regional symphonies aren’t full time. I work in a bar so I’ll have time to play my oboe. But the commute’s getting old. Problem is I don’t wanna sell my house.

ANDREW Can I come hear you play?

TILLY It’s in Atlanta. That would be okay with your dad?

Andrew stands up and walks over to her bookshelf.

ANDREW

You really think I’m sheltered, don’t you?

TILLY Sorry.

Tilly takes her reed out of her oboe. She grabs a scraping knife out of her instrument case.

ANDREW

So why can’t I move in with you? I told you I’d get a job.

Tilly starts scraping her reed with her scraping knife.

TILLY

You can't stay with Gus?

ANDREW

Yeah, for a little while. When my dad goes back to Arizona though, pretty sure Gus wants me to go back with him.

TILLY (scraping her reed) Maybe you should go back with him.

ANDREW I don’t wanna go back with my dad. I wanna stay here with you.

TILLY

Worked any more on your story? ANDREW Not yet.

TILLY

Maybe you’d better. So if you don’t mind, I need to practice.

ANDREW So why don’t you like him?

TILLY

Who?

ANDREW Gus.

TILLY

Who says I don’t like him?

ANDREW So you and Robin were good friends?

TILLY

One of my bestest friends ever. Still is.

She sets her knife down and puts the reed back in her oboe.

TILLY

Now

ANDREW I can’t stay and listen?

TILLY Then I won’t be practicing. I’ll be performing for you. Go work on your story and I’ll read it later.

He goes over and starts kissing her but she pulls away.

if you don’t mind, I need to practice.

TILLY (slightly irritated)

I told you, I need to practice this solo or it’s gonna be embarrassing.

She loudly starts running through her SCALES. He just stands there and listens. She stops playing and looks up at him but quickly turns away.

She starts playing her SCALES again. Suddenly her phone RINGS. She sets her oboe down and picks up her phone. TILLY

(into phone)

Hello...Hi....no, just practicing... yeah...Saturday night, you coming?

....Great!...... here at my house... no, don't bring anything, I don’t want any gifts...I think Diego ordered a cake, so...

ANDREW I’ll call you.

Tilly doesn’t acknowledge what he says or even seem to notice when he leaves.

TILLY (into phone)

Yeah, bring anybody you want, the more the merrier... okay...see you then. Bye!

Tilly hangs up and sets her phone down. She limps to the window and watches Andrew drive off.

TILLY (under her breath)

Don't look at me like that.

INT. ANDREW’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Andrew, lying on top of his bed, is writing on his laptop.

ANDREW (V.O.)

Those stupid pills that even everything out but rob you of the best, and worse, parts of yourself.

Andrew's PHONE RINGS. He closes his laptop and looks at his phone. He answers it.

ANDREW

Hi, Mom.

JAN

(through phone)

Hi, Honey. How are you?

ANDREW

I'm okay. How are you?

JAN I'm fine.

We hear here start CRYING.

ANDREW Mom, what's wrong?

JAN

When are you coming home?

ANDREW

I told you already. I'm not.

JAN

I miss you. And I miss your father.

ANDREW

Dad can leave anytime he wants.

JAN

But you know he won't. Not while you're in trouble.

ANDREW

Mom, I'm not in troub--

JAN

He needs to come home. Before he starts his job.

ANDREW

Job? What are you talking about?

JAN He got a job with the county.

ANDREW

He did? He didn't say anything to me.

JAN

Promise you won't say anything.

Andrew, taking in this new information, doesn't reply.

JAN Andrew? Are you there?

ANDREW Listen, I gotta go.

JAN Promise me you won't tell your father I told you.

ANDREW

Okay, I won't. But I want you to promise me something.

JAN What?

ANDREW I want you to promise you'll stop worrying.

We hear her CRYING over the phone again.

JAN

Are you eating, Sweetie?

ANDREW

Are you kidding?

We go out fishing every day and we have a fish fry every night. Listen, I'll call you in a couple of days, okay?

JAN

Bye, Andrew. I love you.

ANDREW

Love you too, Mom. Don't forget what you prom--

But she's hung up before he can finish what he was saying.

Andrew leans his head back and closes his eyes for a second.

He opens them and makes a call on his phone.

TILLY (through phone) Hello...

ANDREW

Well, just found out my dad got a job in Arizona. He'll be leaving soon.

TILLY

That's great. Are you going with him?

ANDREW Not unless I can move in with you.

TILLY Andrew-ANDREW Happy birthday.

TILLY

It’s not my birthday.

ANDREW It's this Saturday, right?

TILLY Who told you that?

ANDREW You did. When you were on the phone this morning. How come you didn’t tell me?

TILLY

I don’t know. Guess it slipped my mind. Been working on your story?

ANDREW No. Got too much else on my mind.

Like why you won't let me move in with you.

TILLY

So you get a job at Walmart and move in with me. You think that’s gonna make you happy?

ANDREW Yes! Why didn’t you invite me to your birthday party?

TILLY

You’d be bored. Just a bunch of nerd musicians sitting around talking shop.

ANDREW

You know what? I’m really starting to understand what you meant by one-nightstands. That’s all I was to you, wasn't it?

TILLY Want me to be honest?

ANDREW

Good bye, Tilly.

TILLY Andrew! I want you to do something for me.

ANDREW What?

TILLY I want you to come see me at the bar before you go back to Arizona, okay?

ANDREW

Good bye, Tilly.

Andrew hangs up on her.

INT. ANDREW’S BATHROOM - NIGHT

Andrew, fully dressed, is once again sitting on the floor up against the closed door. This time the shower is running. In his hands is his vial of pills. He takes a pill out and examines it for a second.

He closes his eyes and pops it in his mouth.

INT. ANDREW’S BEDROOM - LATER

Andrew is sitting up in bed writing in his notebook.

ANDREW (V.O. while writing)

Just leave...just leave...just leave.

He stops writing, puts his head back and closes his eyes.

EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX SWIMMING POOL - DAY

Little Andrew, sitting on the diving board, is once again watching Dave at the bottom of the pool drowning. Dave extends his hand up to him.

DAVE

(through the water)

Help me, Andrew! Help me!

CUT TO:

Grown-up Andrew, in his bed at Gus’ house, waking up from his nightmare with his notebook on his stomach.

EXT. GUS’ LAKE - MORNING

Gus and Dave are fishing in a cove. Dave catches a nice sized fish and reels it in.

He looks at Gus, a big grin on his face. It’s payback time.

DAVE

Bigger than the one yesterday, wouldn’t you say?

GUS What? Get that stupid smirk off your face. I’m happy for you.

CUT TO:

Dave catching another fish, even bigger than the first.

DAVE

Two for me, zip for you!

CUT TO:

Dave catching another fish. The biggest one yet.

DAVE

What’s the matter, Simon Peter, forget to kiss your necklace?

GUS Don’t get all impressed with yourself. Instead of a bad fisherman, you’re a mediocre one. You should be used to that.

DAVE

What does that mean? GUS Nothing.

DAVE (hurt)

So you think I’m mediocre.

GUS

I’m talking about fishing! Don’t be so goddam sensitive!

Dave casts his line back out.

DAVE

And you wonder why I ended our friendship.

GUS I’ll tell you why you ended our friendship...

DAVE What? Say it.

GUS Forget it.

DAVE

You know why.

Against his better judgment, Gus finally says what’s been unsaid for 20 years:

GUS

Yes I do, but you don’t! You ended our friendship ‘cause you’re jealous of me!

DAVE

(suddenly animated)

FUCK YOU! You rich assholes are all the same! You think just ‘cause you got money, you’re better than me! I made a choice! Just like you made a choice! I still go to bed with the same woman after 24 years!

GUS

Calm downDAVE What about your marriage? Would you say it’s been a success!? Where’s your wife and kids?

GUS

I don’t have any kids.

DAVE

I’ve got a wife who loves me and a son I’m proud of-

Dave stops mid-sentence. They look at each other in silence.

GUS

He’s gonna be fine. You’ll see.

DAVE

Go fuck yourself.

Dave concentrates on his fishing.

GUS (conciliatory)

It’s okay to be jealous, Dave. Just be honest with yourself.

DAVE

I’M NOT HONEST!!??

At least I didn’t pollute the water supply! At least I didn’t get sued and bail out with a golden parachute! I NEVER told him, Gus. NEVER!! And believe me, I coulda ended his hero worship of you in two seconds!!

Gus just stares at him as if he’s lost his mind.

DAVE (to himself) I can’t do this.

Dave reels in his line.

GUS Can’t do what?

DAVE Let’s go.

GUS Can’t do what?

DAVE (almost pleading)

Let’s go, Gus!

GUS You wanna go home?

CLOSE UP ON DAVE

DAVE (with all the meaning in the world) Yes. I wanna go home.

Gus doesn’t comprehend what Dave is telling him.

GUS (frustrated)

Whatever you want, Dave.

Gus reels in his line.

GUS And it wasn’t a lawsuit, it was arbitration!

Gus sets his rod down and fires up the MOTOR. The boat takes off for Gus’ house.

Left in the boat’s wake, we see Andrew sitting near the shore, notebook in hand, having heard every word.

INT. ANDREW’S (GUS’) BEDROOMDAY

Andrew, fully dressed, is sitting up in bed, his laptop on his lap.

INSERT--ANDREW’S LAPTOP

He’s looking at the website for THE NORTH GEORGIA STAR, the local newspaper.

In the search engine, he types GUS RINE. Several links appear. He clicks on the first one. The headline is:

LOCAL CHEMICAL PLANT SUED FOR CONTAMINATION A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Arcadia Chemical Company for allegedly polluting groundwater in the area.

The lawsuit filed by the sixteen plaintiffs, all local residents, states that E.P.A. tests revealed “... contamination exceeding public safety standards...”

He scrolls down and reads: Gus Rine, CEO and founder of Arcadia, did not return phone calls for comment...

Andrew clicks on the back button and opens the next link.

ARCADIA CHEMICAL COMPANY EXONERATED

In a report issued yesterday, a threemember arbitration panel gave Arcadia Chemical the MOTION TO DISMISS, stating the plaintiffs

“...did not provide compelling evidence...”

“At this time, we have no further recourse,” stated Ronnie Duby, lawyer for the plaintiffs.

“Unfortunately our rights to an appeal have been waived,” he went on to say.

Next he reads:

LAWSUIT PLAINTIFFS STILL SUFFERING

Three years after an arbitration committee ruled against them, Ronnie Duby--lawyer for the plaintiffs-said yesterday, “My clients continue to suffer illnesses resulting from groundwater contamination. While the rich fat cats who are responsible get away scot-free.”

Duby claims these illnesses include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), lung cancer, renal kidney failure, and acute myelogenous leukemia.

CLOSE UP ON ANDREW

He can’t believe what he just read.

He reads again: these illnesses include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)

INT. ANDREW’S (GUS’) BATHROOM -

DAY

Andrew, fully dressed, is once again sitting on the floor with the shower on.

In his hands is his vial of pills. He takes one out and pops it in his mouth. He closes his eyes. He angrily spits it out.

INT. GUS’ LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Gus, alone and drinking a beer, is watching BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S of all things. The empty video cassette case is visible on top of the TV.

It's the end when George Peppard and Audrey Hepburn are driving in the taxi in the rain.

GEORGE PEPPARD Driver, pull over here.

The taxi pulls over to the curb and Audrey pushes Cat out of the cab and into the rain.

Andrew comes down the stairs and approaches Gus.

GUS (drunker than usual)

Hey, Kid. Ever see this one? This was Robin’s favorite movie. Always thought she looked like Aubrie Hepburn. Don't ya think?

GEORGE PEPPARD (to Audrey)

...and you’re terrified somebody’s gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you’re already in that cage. You built it yourself...

George leaves the cab to look for Cat in the rain.

CLOSE UP on Audrey in the taxi as she takes out the ring from the Cracker Jack box that George gave her.

TAXI DRIVER (O.S.)

Where to, Lady?

Audrey doesn't answer as she looks at the ring. She tries to decide what to do.

TAXI DRIVER (O.S.)

And Andrew, you need to decide where you're going, too. You can't stay here. You're gonna cost your dad his new job and you're torturing your mother. Just leave. Tonight.

Andrew looks at the TV. Did a character in the movie just talk to him?

He watches as Audrey gets out of the cab and runs after George Peppard in the rain.

ANDREW

Where's Dad?

GUS

Back porch I think.

George and Audrey, holding Cat, kiss in the rain to the strains of MOON RIVER. The End.

Gus wipes his eyes. He picks up the remote and hits REWIND.

GUS

That cat gets me every time. Poor fucker.

They watch Audrey Hepburn run backwards into the cab.

Andrew leaves as Gus pushes PLAY on the remote.

GEORGE PEPPARD (to Audrey)

...and you’re terrified somebody’s gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you’re already in that cage. You built it yourself...

EXT. GUS’ BACK PORCHCONTINUOUS

Dave is sitting and staring out at the lake, a beer in his hand. Andrew comes out onto the porch from the house.

ANDREW

Just wanted to let you know I’m leaving.

DAVE

Have fun. Don’t stay out too late.

ANDREW

No. I mean, I’m gonna go live with a girl.

Dave looks at him.

DAVE

What do you mean? What girl?

ANDREW

Just what I said.

Dave just stares at him, dumbfounded.

ANDREW

I’ll be outta here by tomorrow.

Andrew goes back in the house.

INT. GUS’ LIVING ROOMCONTINUOUS

Andrew comes in, Dave following him. Gus is still sitting in front of the TV.

DAVE

(to Gus)

He’s going to go live with some girl.

GUS

What?

DAVE

Son, will you just hold on a second?

Andrew stops and looks at Dave. Gus turns the movie off.

DAVE

Now just slow down...who is this girl?

GUS

What’s he doing?

DAVE

He’s gonna go live with a girl. That’s all I know.

(to Andrew) Who is she?

ANDREW

Just a girl. DAVE

You mean a girl you’ve met since we’ve been here?

ANDREW

Yes.

DAVE Why do you have to leave tomorrow? What’s the hurry?

ANDREW I don’t wanna stay here.

DAVE Why don’t you wanna stay here?

ANDREW I just don’t.

DAVE

I think you owe me an explanation. Gus too.

ANDREW

He doesn’t give a shit about me. You either.

DAVE

How can you say that? He took you in!

Gus stands up, beer in hand, and walks up to Andrew.

GUS

Something stuck in your craw? Spit it out!

ANDREW

You’re drunk.

GUS

Drinkin’ beer ain’t drinkin’!

Haven’t had a drink in seven years!

ANDREW

Yeah? Don’t think I’ve ever seen you not drunk. Good night. I’ll be back for my things in the morning.

Andrew starts to leave.

GUS

Who the fuck are you, my mother? Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities, Mr. Politically Correct, treehugging...

Gus tries to think of a really good insult. Before he can, Andrew walks up to him.

ANDREW

You know, I really looked up to you when I was a kid. Now I’m sorry I came here.

GUS

I’m sorry you came here too! You and your dad! Hadn’t heard from him in years and all of a sudden his basket case of a son shows up!

Gus goes and sits back down in his lazy-boy. He picks up the remote but doesn't turn the movie back on.

GUS

I don’t need this shit. Go back where you came from. Freeloadin’ off me.

Judging me. Coupla losers. Go fuck yourself. Both a ya.

Andrew storms up to him.

ANDREW Loser?

(pointing to Dave)

HE'S TEN TIMES THE MAN YOU ARE!!

Andrew goes and gives his father a hug.

ANDREW Love you, Dad. DAVE

(welling up)

I love you too, Son.

Andrew hugs him for dear life.

ANDREW Dad, I want you to take your new job.

Dave won't let go.

Andrew finally pulls away and, fighting back the tears, looks Dave in the eye.

ANDREW

I’ll be back tomorrow for my things, okay? Okay.

Andrew starts to leave again.

GUS ANDY!!!

Andrew stops dead in his tracks, startled by Gus’ ferocity. He turns and looks at Gus.

GUS (calm)

You found out, didn’t you, Kid?

ANDREW (heartbroken)

How could you do it, Gus?

Andrew leaves.

INSERT...

...of Gus’ key rack in the kitchen. Gus’ keys have the St. Peter medallion hooked to them. A hand grabs them but then puts them back. The hand THEN grabs the other set of keys instead. We hear the kitchen door OPEN and CLOSE.

INT. GUS’ LIVING ROOMCONTINUOUS

Gus is still sitting, Dave still standing. They hear a vehicle start and drive away.

GUS

Sounds like he took your car. DAVE Sounds like. GUS Dave--

DAVE

We shoulda told him.

Dave turns away and with the weight of the world on his shoulders, starts trudging up the stairs.

DAVE (to himself) I shoulda told him.

Gus, left alone, hits PLAY on his remote. For a second time, we hear MOON RIVER coming from Gus’ TV.

INT/EXT. DAVE'S WINDSTAR- NIGHT

Andrew is driving. The RADIO is on and a song ends. A commercial for Toyota comes on.

COMMERCIAL

If you’re ready to save money like never before, then COME ON DOWN to Doug Toyota! We’ve got new and used vehicles that are OUT OF THIS WORLD!

Andrew steps on the gas. He's passing cars left and right.

COMMERCIAL

So bring in that trade-in, folks. But better hurry! Once they’re gone, THEY’RE GONE!! And Andrew, you better hurry too! You've got to convince her to let you move in!

You can't stay with Gus. You can't go back to Arizona. She's your only chance! So take it from Doug Toyota, out on highway 91, one mile east of Gainseville! Open til midnight!

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - NIGHT

Tilly is waiting on an OVERWEIGHT MAN and his PETITE WIFE seated at a table. They’re both in their 30’s but look older, the result of years of excessive partying. They seem odd together because of their differences in size.

It’s a busy night.

OVERWEIGHT MAN

How come y’all ain’t got no strippers?

TILLY

Ask Darko. The Cabaret Club’s got’em.

OVERWEIGHT MAN

We’re sick a those skanks.

TILLY

Before Darko bought it-

Andrew walks up to Tilly.

ANDREW

Gus gave you your disease?

Tilly just stares at him.

ANDREW

Did he?

TILLY

Where’d you hear that?

The overweight man and his wife listen in, riveted.

TILLY (to Andrew)

I can’t talk right now. We’re busy. Have a seat and I’ll bring you a beer.

ANDREW

I don’t want a beer. Bring me a bourbon and coke.

Andrew goes to find a seat.

Tilly watches him, surprised at his choice of beverage.

OVERWEIGHT MAN

(amused)

What’s that dude’s problem?

ANDREW’S TABLE - MOMENTS LATER

Tilly brings Andrew a bourbon and coke and has a seat next to him. There are customers all around them.

I’ve got about two minutes.

Andrew takes a drink from his bourbon and coke.

ANDREW

You sued Gus?

TILLY

I wasn’t involved in the lawsuit. How’d you find out about it?

ANDREW

But you have your disease because of Gus? TILLY

I don’t think so. I had my first symptoms in Albuquerque. Two of the plaintiffs did have Lou Gehrig’s disease.

I don’t know. Maybe the water made it worse.

A COUPLE, both wearing biker gear, is seated at the table next to Andrew’s. Neither is feeling any pain.

BIKER WOMAN

Til, can I get another one?

TILLY (to Biker Woman)

Just a second. ANDREW He was found innocent? TILLY His company was. Plaintiffs couldn’t prove it. Then Gus sold the company and retired.

ANDREW

Why do they let him live here after what he did?

TILLY

‘Cause he was found innocent. Half the town thought it was just another frivolous lawsuit. The other half was glad because it meant the plant wouldn't shut down.

Andrew takes another long pull on his drink.

TILLY

I’m sorry, Andrew. He’s not all bad. He’s letting you live with him rent free, right?

ANDREW

Not anymore. We had an argument.

So can I move in with you?

TILLY He kicked you out?

ANDREW

No. But I’m not staying there. Can I move in with you?

TILLY

We’ll talk about it later.

ANDREW

I don’t have a later!

BIKER WOMAN

Tilly . . .

TILLY (irritated) Just a second... (to Andrew)

Have you thought about going back to Arizona?

BIKER WOMAN

What do you play, Til?

ANDREW

I’m not going back to Arizona.

TILLY Then what?

BIKER WOMAN

Til, what instrument do you play?

TILLY (to Biker Woman) The oboe.

ANDREW

I wanna move in with you.

TILLY

You’re putting a lot of pressure on me, you know.

MALE PATRON

(from nearby table)

Your boss wants you, Tilly.

Tilly looks over at Darko behind the bar. Darko, the big Serbian she works for, points to his watch.

TILLY

I gotta get back to work.

BIKER WOMAN

Til, can I get another?

TILLY

I heard you the first two times.

She stands up. ANDREW I’ll take another one too.

TILLY

Slow down. You still have to drive tonight.

Tilly walks away, irritated with Andrew.

BIKER WOMAN

(to Biker Man) Til plays the hobo.

Biker Woman laughs hysterically.

BIKER WOMAN

I mean the oboe.

BIKER MAN

(looking around)

I don’t hear nuthin’. We ain’t got time for no music. We gotta relieve the babysitter.

BIKER WOMAN

(insistent) One more!!

She grabs Biker Man’s drink out of his hands and drinks.

EXT. GUS’ LAKE - NIGHT

Gus is alone on his boat in the middle of the lake. He takes a swig from a fifth of bourbon.

GUS (to no one)

It wasn’t a lawsuit. It was arbitration.

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - LATER

Tilly is at the bar, which is full of seated patrons. She takes the empties off her tray as Darko across the bar from her is busy making drinks.

TILLY (to Darko)

Two Coors Lights, a shot of Crown, and another bourbon and coke.

DARKO

Another? What’s wrong? Why your friend drink so much?

Darko looks over at Andrew’s table. People around him are raucous and having a good time but he’s detached from it.

TILLY

Remember about 10 years ago when the water was polluted and there was a big lawsuit?

DARKO

I was fighting war in Bosnia 10 years ago.

Darko finishes putting Tilly’s order on her tray.

She takes them over to the couple she was waiting on when Andrew first came in: the overweight man and his petite wife named JIMMY and JENNY. She sets the beers and shot on their table.

JIMMY

(to Tilly)

My wife wants a lap dance from you.

JENNY (embarrassed)

JIMMY!!

She slugs Jimmy in the arm. Jimmy LAUGHS.

JIMMY

She likes how you walk. Your limp makes your butt wiggle.

TILLY Five dollars.

Jimmy hands Tilly a five. As Tilly turns to leave, he pats her on the behind. He LAUGHS as Tilly turns to face him.

JIMMY

Do you have a club foot?

TILLY (smiling)

No. Lou Gehrig’s disease. And it’s contagious.

Jimmy has a look of horror on his face when suddenly Andrew appears out of nowhere.

ANDREW KEEP YER FUCKING PAWS OFF HER!!

Jimmy stands up and pushes Andrew.

JIMMY GET OUTTA MY FACE!!

Andrew pushes him back.

ANDREW

PUSH ME AGAIN, ASSHOLE!!

Darko steps in between them.

DARKO Enough!! Stop!!

TILLY

Andrew, go home! I can handle this!

ANDREW What home?

DARKO I’m calling a cab for you, Andrew.

ANDREW He put his hands on Tilly!!

Jimmy sits back down, secretly relieved.

JIMMY

Lucky for him you stopped it.

DARKO (to Jimmy) You touch her?

JIMMY (feigning innocence) No!

TILLY

It’s okay, Darko. He didn’t do anything.

Andrew, thoroughly disgusted, walks away.

DARKO (to Jimmy)

We have no more problems, agree?

JIMMY

Tell him! He started it!

Tilly goes up to Andrew who is standing at the bar.

ANDREW

Why you defending that guy?

TILLY

He’s harmless. You think that’s the first drunk ever slapped my ass?

ANDREW I’m not taking a cab.

Tilly goes behind the bar. She rolls her eyes, irritated with Andrew. A GRIZZLED MAN in his 60s is sitting at the bar directly across from Tilly.

GRIZZLED MAN

Can I get another one, Tilly?

Paul Simon’s 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER is playing on the jukebox.

TILLY (to Grizzled Man)

God what an appropriate song! Andrew overhears it.

CLOSE UP ON ANDREW

He is devastated.

VOICE Andrew?

Andrew looks over and across the bar, seated at a table by herself is SOPHIE. Sophie is wearing a knatty, stained nightgown and paper slippers on her feet. Her hair looks like it hasn’t been washed or combed in six months.

ANDREW Sophie? I thought you killed yourself.

SOPHIE

Andrew, she doesn’t want you. Come on back to the hospital. That's where you belong.

Andrew leaves.

EXT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - CONTINUOUS

Andrew comes outside. He takes five steps and throws up.

Tilly comes outside.

TILLY

You okay?

ANDREW

What do you care?

Andrew starts walking towards Dave’s SUV.

TILLY

You’re too drunk to drive!

Andrew keeps walking.

TILLY

You win.

Andrew turns and looks at her.

TILLY

You can move in with me.

She walks up to him, her limp never more pronounced. Maybe on purpose.

TILLY

You wanna know why my husband left me? He left when I started limping.

ANDREW

Don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m okay with it.

TILLY

It’s only gonna get worse.

ANDREW

We’ll limp across that bridge when we get to it.

Tilly smiles.

ANDREW

Why’d you say that to that guy at the bar?

TILLY You push too hard.

ANDREW I love you.

TILLY

Don’t look at me like that.

ANDREW

Like what?

He starts to kiss her but she pulls away.

TILLY

You were just sick.

C’mon.

Arm in arm, they limp and stagger back inside the bar.

INT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - CONTINUOUS Tilly and Andrew come back inside. Andrew looks over where Sophie was sitting. She’s gone.

The alcohol Andrew has consumed suddenly hits him like a freight train.

TILLY Call your dad. Let him know you’re staying with me tonight.

ANDREW I am so drunk.

Tilly takes out her phone.

TILLY What’s his number? ANDREW HEY!!!

Startled, Tilly almost drops her phone when Andrew yells.

Andrew spots Jimmy and his wife at their table.

Andrew staggers over to them as Tilly watches with trepidation. Jimmy eyes him warily.

Andrew sticks out his hand to Jimmy.

ANDREW

Sorry about that. No hard feelings.

Jimmy shakes his hand. Andrew sits down.

JIMMY

You’re wasted, dude.

JENNY

Look who’s talking.

JIMMY (to Jenny)

Yeah, look who’s talking.

JENNY

You’ve had more than I have.

JIMMY

Don’t start with me!

ANDREW

She’s my girlfriend.

They both look at Andrew.

JIMMY The waitress?

ANDREW

Tilly the waitress!

JIMMY

Sorry, man. Didn’t know.

ANDREW

She’s lettin’ me move in with her!!

The guitar riff to SWEET HOME ALABAMA comes on the jukebox.

ANDREW Skynyrd!!

Andrew starts playing air guitar. Jimmy watches him. Anybody who likes Skynyrd can’t be all bad.

JIMMY

Ol’Ronny was a good ol’boy!

Jimmy also plays air guitar. They both start singing the first verse, cheerfully offkey. The CHORUS comes in:

ANDREW & JIMMY (loudly in unison)

Sweet Home Alabama...

QUICK CUT TO:

EXT. DOCKHOUSE BAR - NIGHT

Tilly is helping Andrew into her car.

ANDREW (singing loud) Red skies are so blue!! Sweet Home Alabama...

Darko is locking the front door. He looks over at Andrew and laughs to himself, shaking his head.

ANDREW Lord I’m comin’ home to you!

Tilly gets Andrew in and walks around to the driver’s side.

TILLY Good night, Darko.

DARKO Good night. Take care of your friend.

Andrew’s SINGING is still heard as Tilly drives off.

INT. TILLY’S CAR - NIGHT

Tilly is driving. There’s no traffic on the lonely, two-lane road. The radio is on. It has that tinny, hauntingly lonely, a.m. radio sound to it.

Andrew is asleep next to Tilly, the light from the full moon above bathing his face. She strokes his hair and he stirs as children do when having the covers tucked up around them. She looks out the window. She smiles up at the full moon.

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOMMORNING

Tilly is sitting on her couch smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee, reading something on her laptop. She hears a CAR drive up and a car door slam.

There’s a KNOCK at the door. She sets her laptop down next to her and goes to the door. She opens the door and it’s Dave, Gus’ Scout visible behind him.

DAVE

Are you Tilly?

TILLY

Who are you?

DAVE

I’m Dave Reifsteck, Andrew’s father. You left me a message on my phone last night?

TILLY

Nice to meet you. DAVE

Is Andrew here?

TILLY

He’s sleeping.

DAVE (looking behind him) Where’s my car?

TILLY (remembering)

Oh. It’s still at the bar. I’ll go wake Andrew up.

DAVE Let him sleep.

TILLY I can go with you to get it if you want.

DAVE Actually I’m here because I wanted to talk to you.

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOMMOMENTS LATER

Dave is seated, looking around at Tilly’s furnishings.

Tilly comes from the kitchen with a cup of coffee. Dave notices her limp.

She has a seat on her couch and lights a cigarette.

TILLY

You sure I can’t get you anything?

DAVE

No thanks. Did you know Andrew smokes now? Of course you do.

TILLY Mr. Reifsteck-DAVE

I’m sorry. That’s not why I’m here. Can I ask you a question? TILLY Please do.

DAVE

I hope you don’t think I’m being rude but could you please leave my son alone?

Tilly doesn’t know what to say.

DAVE

Why did you tell Andrew about the lawsuit? If you were trying to get him to move in with you, congratulations. You succeeded brilliantly.

TILLY

Mr. Reifsteck, I went out of my way not to tell him.

DAVE

Did you know he’s stopped taking his pills?

TILLY Pills. Pills for what?

DAVE

The doctors call it P.D.D: Psychotic Depressive Disorder. I’ll bet he didn’t tell you about it, did he?

TILLY No. DAVE

He didn’t tell you about his nervous breakdown either, did he?

TILLY No. I knew he wasn’t the most stable person in the world.

DAVE

Let me tell you a little about the boy who’s about to move in with you.

CLOSE ON TILLY

DAVE (O.S.)

Ever since high school he’s been bouncing around like a ping pong ball. He’s been in three colleges, two mental institutions, and had God knows how many jobs. One night out of the clear blue he just disappears. We don’t know where he is. He could’ve been lying in a ditch for all his mother and I knew.

Then 11 days later I get a call from Gus whom I haven't talked to in 15 years saying a homeless person is at his house claiming to be my son.

DAVE

So yeah, I think it’s fair to say he’s a little unstable.

TILLY Can I show you something, Mr. Reifsteck?

Tilly picks up her laptop and takes it over to Dave, setting it on his lap. She stands next to him.

Dave LAUGHS.

DAVE What? TILLY

This is a story

Andrew’s writing.

Dave scrolls through it. It’s about 200 pages. Tilly scrolls back up, finding a particular page.

TILLY (reading out loud)

He tries too hard to make up for how he treated me as a kid, this thundering giant who used to tower over me. I know that if I fail him, he’ll never forgive himself.

She stops reading.

Dave slumps down in his chair.

DAVE

I just want him to be okay.

INT/EXT. GUS’ SCOUT - MORNING

Dave is driving, Tilly in the passenger seat. They drive for a moment in SILENCE.

DAVE

I’m going back to Arizona in a couple of days. Hopefully with Andrew. He’s got a good doctor, a support group at his clinic. Plus a good chance of getting a writing scholarship in the fall. He could live at home rentfree if he chose. He would have a strong support group around him.

But if he wants to stay here with you or Gus, I won’t fight it.

TILLY Gus?

DAVE

Gus has agreed to let him live with him. And we’ll arrange for him to get professional help while he’s here, if that's what Andrew wants.

TILLY You said he got a scholarship?

DAVE

In Creative Writing. At the University of Arizona. He’d have to apply for it.

But I know the professor and he thinks Andrew would have a good chance at it.

CLOSE UP ON TILLY

She looks out the window. A tear falls onto her cheek.

INT. TILLY’S BEDROOM - MORNING

Andrew wakes up. He sits up and looks around for Tilly. He grabs his head in pain as his hangover, and the memory from last night, hits him.

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOMMOMENTS LATER

Andrew comes out of the bedroom and sees a note on the coffee table. He picks it up.

INSERT...

...of the note which says:

Be Back Soon, Tilly

Andrew tosses the note down and grabs Tilly’s laptop. He has a seat on the couch and lights a cigarette. He rubs his eyes for a second and then opens the laptop.

INSERT...

...of the laptop. In the search engine, he types Georgia colleges. He scrolls down, perusing the various links that come up.

VOICE

Andrew?

Andrew looks up.

ANDREW

Sophie...

Sophie is seated in a chair on the other side of the room.

SOPHIE

You need to leave, Andrew. Hurry! Before she gets back!

ANDREW

I’m fine, Sophie. You. You’re the one who needs to leave. Now leave me alone and don’t ever come back.

INSERT...

...of Andrew continuing to scroll through the links on Tilly's laptop.

He looks up and Sophie is gone.

INT/EXT. GUS’ SCOUT - LATER

Dave and Tilly pull into the Dockhouse parking lot. Dave pulls up next to his own car, the only other vehicle in the lot. He puts it in park.

DAVE

It was my fault. I should’ve told him about Gus long ago. Andrew tell you I used to be a stockbroker? When we moved to Arizona, I went from a triple figure income to making minimum wage practically. But that was okay. It was escape from the rat race. Let other men sell their souls on the marketplace. Instead, I'll be the best husband and father I can be. Turns out I'm not very good at that either.

TILLY Pristinafen. DAVE What?

TILLY

That was the name of the toxic chemical Gus’ company was making. We didn’t win the lawsuit, the company that bought him out made sure of that. But at least we helped get that damned chemical banned.

Tilly fights to hold back tears.

TILLY

I think Andrew’s lucky to have you as a father, Mr. Reifsteck. I’ll be sure he gets your car back to you.

It was nice meeting you.

Tilly gets out of the vehicle and closes the door before Dave has a chance to speak. She gets in Dave’s SUV and drives off as Dave, in Gus’ Scout, just sits there.

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOMLATER

Andrew is typing on Tilly’s laptop. Tilly comes in.

ANDREW Hey. Where you been?

TILLY Had to run over to the bar for something. How you feel?

ANDREW Fine.

TILLY Really?

ANDREW

Yeah. I’ll go to Gus’ after lunch and get my things. Hey, while you were gone, I was looking at colleges in Georgia.

Tilly has a seat in a chair across from him.

ANDREW

Only thing is, I don’t know which one has the best... what’s wrong?

TILLY

Andrew, we need to talk. It’s not gonna work. ANDREW

What’s not?

TILLY

You staying here.

The color drains from Andrew’s face.

ANDREW

What do you mean?

TILLY

I mean, I don’t want you to move in. I’ve changed my mind.

ANDREW

You’re joking.

TILLY I wouldn’t joke about a thing like that.

Andrew hunches over, clutching his stomach.

CUT TO:

EXT. VACANT FIELD - NIGHT

A train, very close to the camera and traveling at a very rapid speed, whizzes by.

CUT BACK TO:

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOMCONTINUED

Andrew’s still clutching his stomach.

ANDREW

You said I could move in with you.

TILLY

I know I did. I’ve changed my mind.

ANDREW

What’s wrong? What did I do?

TILLY Nothing.

ANDREW

It’s the way I’ve been acting. I’m sorry. I’ll change. I promise.

TILLY It’s not that.

ANDREW Then what?

TILLY Go back to Arizona. It’s for the best.

ANDREW

What did I do wrong? What do you want me to do?

TILLY

I don’t want you to-

ANDREW I’ll get a job. You won’t have to support me.

TILLY And then what? Go home with your dad! Go to college! Be a writer!

ANDREW Home? This is my home.

TILLY You need to go where you can get treatment.

ANDREW I don’t need treatment! Please, just let me..... here!

Andrew stands up and takes out his wallet.

ANDREW I've got three hundred dollars. You can have it.

For groceries, whatever you want, until I get a job.

TILLY STOP PUSHING!!

She looks at him and then quickly looks away.

TILLY (pained, determined)

You think you love me but a year from now, two years from now, you’ll hate me. Go back to Arizona. Someday you’ll thank me. Now please. I want you to leave. I’ve got a concert tonight. I need to practice.

Andrew slowly and calmly puts his wallet back in his pocket.

ANDREW (cold, dead)

You’ll regret this.

Tilly looks up at him.

ANDREW

Every day.

Andrew leaves. Tilly collapses on the couch in tears, her resolve finally crumbling.

She’s startled when suddenly she hears GLASS BREAKING outside. She rushes out the door.

EXT. TILLY’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Andrew is walking past Dave’s SUV as Tilly comes out. The driver’s side window is shattered and Andrew’s hand is bloody.

Tilly runs up to him.

TILLY

Where are you going?

He doesn’t reply. He just keeps walking.

TILLY

You’re bleeding!

Andrew, seemingly in a daze, walks out into the street.

TILLY

Andrew, come back inside!!

Andrew keeps walking down the middle of the street. A car coming from the other direction slows down and goes around him to avoid hitting him.

TILLY DID YOU HEAR ME!!??

Apparently not. Tilly turns and rushes back inside as Andrew keeps walking.

EXT. TWO-LANE RURAL HIGHWAYAFTERNOON

Andrew is walking down the side of the road. Tilly’s car is slowly following him, her hazards on.

Gus’ Scout comes from the other direction and parks to the side of the road, a little ahead of Andrew. Dave and Gus get out and approach Andrew.

TILLY’S P.O.V.

Through her windshield she watches Dave say something to Andrew. Andrew ignores him and continues walking. Dave grabs Andrew’s arm and Andrew violently jerks it away.

Gus goes up and says something to Andrew.

Andrew stops walking, stands a second, and then walks to Gus’ Scout.

He gets in the back, SLAMMING the door. Gus and Dave get in and drive off.

As they drive off, Andrew and Tilly’s eyes meet. He smiles tenderly at her.

TILLY (almost inaudible)

Don’t look at me like that.

GUS’ LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Gus is watching TV, a bottle of Jim Beam on the end table.

Dave comes downstairs and has a seat. Gus pours him a drink and hands it to Dave. Gus picks up his own drink.

DAVE

Tomorrow we’ll go into town and get some more gauze for his hand.

GUS

He go to bed?

DAVE

Yeah. He’ll be fine once his pill kicks in.

Dave takes a slug of bourbon.

DAVE

What’d you say to him?

GUS Hmm?

DAVE

To make him get in the car.

GUS

I just told him if he didn’t get in the car we were gonna have him committed.

DAVE (sincere) Thanks, Gus. GUS

Hate to say it but maybe he’s better off in a mental institution.

DAVE He’s been in an institution.

GUS

That’s the only way you’re gonna get him to go back with you: Force him.

DAVE

You’re just mad ‘cause he found out about the lawsuit.

Dave downs the rest of his bourbon.

GUS

It wasn’t a lawsuit, it was arbitration!

Dave holds his empty glass out to Gus. Gus picks up the bourbon and pours some more into Dave’s glass.

DAVE

You were right, you know.

GUS

About what?

DAVE

About me being jealous.

Dave takes another slug of bourbon.

INT. ANDREW’S (GUS’) BATHROOMLATE AT NIGHT

Andrew, his hand bandaged, is staring at himself in the mirror.

With a wild look in his eyes, he suddenly goes into his bedroom.

ANDREW'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Andrew comes out of the bathroom. He looks around and finds his phone on his bed. He picks it up and makes a call.

TILLY (on the phone)

Hi. I’m busy at the moment. Leave a message.

ANDREW (pacing)

It’s me. I’m coming to Atlanta. I have to see you.

INT. GUS’ STAIRCASE - LATER

The house is dark. Andrew, careful not to make a noise, is quietly making his way down the stairs.

INT. GUS’ KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Andrew comes in. He doesn’t turn on the light. He reaches for a set of keys from the key rack.

ANDREW (under his breath)

Shit!

INSERT...

...of the key rack. There is only one set of keys on the rack: the keys to Gus’ Scout.

ANDREW (O.S.)

If you can’t be good, be careful.

Andrew grabs the keys.

EXT. GUS’ HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Andrew comes out of the house and walks quietly to Gus’ Scout.

He opens the door and gets in. He closes the door, being careful to be as quiet as possible.

INT. GUS’ SCOUT - CONTINUOUS

Andrew sits deep in thought. He has Gus’ keys in his hand but doesn’t put them in the ignition. He looks up and sees the medallion of St. Peter hanging from the rear view mirror, the same medallion Gus wears around his neck.

He reaches up and touches it. He looks in the rear view mirror and the camera focuses on Sophie sitting in the back seat.

SOPHIE (O.S.)

Hi, Andrew.

ANDREW (O.S.)

Go away. I’ll be good.

The camera focuses back on the medallion that Andrew is still touching.

ANDREW I'll be good.

FADE OUT

FADE IN INT. ANDREW’S BATHROOM - LATER

Andrew is looking at himself in the mirror, Sophie behind him.

In his bandaged hand is Gus' medallion that was around Gus' rear view mirror. In his other hand is Gus' keys. He looks down at them.

ANDREW I’ll be good.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX SWIMMING POOL - DAY

The camera is under the chlorinated water--which is very still, peaceful, and calm.

A fish darts by. Then another.

Suddenly there’s a LOUD SPLASH. A body is sinking.

The person sinking is Andrew. As he finally rests on the concrete bottom, he looks up. Up through the water, he sees the diving board.

The bottom of a boat slowly floats into the frame, blocking Andrew's view of the diving board. Another fish darts by.

Dave is kneeling at the front of it and looking down at Andrew through the water. Standing behind Dave is Gus. The following dialogue is said in VOICE OVER, as if the characters are communicating by thought.

ANDREW (V.O.)

(calm, serene)

Dad, I don’t think I’m gonna make it.

DAVE (V.O.)

(calm, serene)

Where did I fail you, Son?

ANDREW (V.O.)

It’s not your fault. You did your best.

DAVE (V.O.)

Son, I can help you. Let me help you.

Dave’s hand breaks the surface of the water.

He extends his hand down to Andrew through the water.

A SIREN-very soft, almost imperceptive-is heard.

Andrew, slowly and weakly, reaches up and grabs the hand looming over him. He is then pulled violently up out of the water. As he is pulled up . . .

INT. ANDREW’S BATHROOM - NIGHT

Andrew is lying in a pool of blood, unconscious. Dave is kneeling on the floor bandaging Andrew’s wrists. Gus is standing behind Dave, just like in the boat.

The siren is now BLARING. Andrew stirs, opening his eyes.

Gus leaves as Dave continues bandaging Andrew’s wrists.

Andrew closes his eyes and floats back down.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Andrew is in bed hooked up to various cables and wires. He wakes up to find Gus dozing off in a chair next to him.

Andrew is orienting himself to his surroundings when Gus wakes up.

Where’s Dad?

GUS

Talking to the doctor. How you feeling?

ANDREW

Okay...tired. Thirsty. I couldn’t do it, Gus.

GUS

What?

ANDREW

Steal your car.

Gus pours him a glass of water from a pitcher resting on a table by Andrew’s bed. He hands it to Andrew who drinks it.

GUS

Where were you headed?

ANDREW Atlanta.

GUS

I’d rather you stole my car than you try to kill yourself.

The two friends look at each other.

ANDREW

Why’d you do it, Gus?

GUS

I swear to you, Kid. I didn’t know we were polluting the water. Do you believe me?

ANDREW

I believe you. Would you do it different? Knowing what you know now?

CLOSE UP ON GUS

This is his moment of truth. He struggles to be honest with himself.

GUS

That’s a damn good question. I wish I knew the answer.

ANDREW I know the answer.

They look at each other and smile--one out of gratitude, the other out of forgiveness.

INT. TILLY’S LIVING ROOMNIGHT

Tilly, alone on her couch, is typing on her laptop.

INSERT...

...of Tilly’s laptop. She types: You’ll find all your answers there. Take care and I hope to hear from you soon. Love, Tilly.

She hits SEND.

EXT. GUS’ BACK PORCH - MORNING

Andrew and Dave are sitting drinking coffee. Andrew, his wrists still bandaged, is smoking a cigarette. DAVE You take your pill? ANDREW Yeah. DAVE

Why don’t you call her?

ANDREW

(pained) I can’t.

Andrew looks out at the lake.

DAVE

Nice, isn’t it?

ANDREW

There’s something I’d like to do before we leave.

Gus comes out onto the porch carrying an old typewriter. It has a red Christmas bow stuck on top of it.

DAVE (amused)

You’ve got to be kidding.

GUS (grinning) Fuck you.

He sets the typewriter down in front of Andrew.

ANDREW (smiling)

Nobody uses typewriters anymore.

GUS

I plagiarized a lot of term papers on that thing. Use it in good health.

ANDREW

Thanks, I will. You still coming to visit at Christmas?

Gus sits down.

GUS

Sure.

DAVE

I’ll believe it when I see it.

ANDREW

You ever been to Arizona?

GUS

Nope. But I’ll be there for Christmas.

ANDREW

When was the last time you were out of the state?

GUS Out of Georgia?

Nineteen sixty...

Gus thinks back.

They continue their conversation but we don’t hear what is said. Instead we hear:

TILLY (V.O.)

Dear Andrew, I’m sorry if what I did seemed cruel. But it was the best thing I could’ve done for you. I hope someday you’ll understand that.

EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT

Gus, Dave, and grown-up Andrew are sitting around a campfire, each with a beer in their hand, Gus’ lake in the distance.

Gus and Dave are arguing politics (we can’t hear what they’re saying because of Tilly’s following VOICE OVER)

TILLY (V.O.)

It tears me up inside to think that you tried to kill yourself. I just thank God your dad was there for you. Why is it, Andrew, that the only thing that made me want to cry was the kindness in your eyes? Know that you are in my heart and I am your friend.

When you are ready, just call me or text me and I’ll be there for you.

Andrew listens to Gus and Dave. His eyes dart back and forth between them, lost in their conversation.

INT. DAVE’S SUV- DAY

Dave is driving, Andrew in the passenger’s seat.

They pass a road sign that says:

Andrew takes out his phone. INSERT...

...of Tilly’s email that she sent. It’s unopened. Andrew hits delete.

Are you sure you want to delete?

CANCEL DELETE

Andrew is about to press DELETE but instead presses CANCEL. He opens the email. We glimpse what we’ve just heard Tilly say in VOICE OVER.

Tilly’s V.O. continues as we also read it on Andrew’s phone:

TILLY (V.O.)

Just write, Andrew. Every day. You’ll find all your answers there. Take care and I hope to hear from you soon. Love, Tilly.

He puts his phone down and looks out the window.

Gettin’ hungry?

ANDREW

Yeah. DAVE We’ll stop in a while.

Andrew leans his head back and closes his eyes. In his mind, he sees...

A fleeting image of Tilly playing her oboe. FADE OUT.