To Fall In Love (2) WHY DON'T YOU STOP TRYIN' TO GO OUT WITH GIRLS JUST TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM? JAKE (FEIGNS INNOCENCE) WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? JASON DON'T PLAY DUMB. EVER SINCE WE WERE IN JUNIOR HIGH, YOU'VE BEEN GOIN' AFTER GIRLS JUST TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM. JAKE (SMIRKING) AND YOUR POINT IS? JASON (EVENLY) NEVER MIND. JAKE GLARES AT JASON FOR A LONG MOMENT, BUT JASON LOOKS HIM SQUARELY IN THE EYE, REFUSING TO BE BULLIED. JAKE BACKS OFF, WAVING HIS HAND AT JASON IN DISMISSAL. THE BOYS TURN AT THE SOUND OF THE FRONT DOOR OPENING. CLAUDIA 18, JULIE 18, AND JESSICA 17 ARE WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR. THE THREE GIRLS PULL UP CHAIRS TO JOIN THE FOUR BOYS AT THEIR BOOTH. JESSICA IS SHE BACK YET? MATT (DISINTERESTED TONE) YEAH, SHE SHOULD BE HERE ANY MINUTE. CLAUDIA LOOKS SHARPLY AT JASON AND JAKE. SHE NOTICES THAT TENSION IS PRESENT BETWEEN THEM. CLAUDIA WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU GUYS? JAKE LEANS BACK IN HIS CHAIR. HE SHRUGS IRRITABLY. JAKE NOTHIN'. MATT LEANS TOWARD JESSICA, SMILING AFFECTIONATELY. MATT HOW WAS YOUR DAY? JESSICA IT WAS GOOD. JULIE IS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND SPOTS AIR AND AMBER PULLING UP IN THE EXPLORER. JULIE (EXCITED) THERE SHE IS. CLAUDIA LOOKS UP TO SEE WHERE JULIE IS POINTING. HER EYES NARROW IN ANNOYANCE WHEN SHE SPOTS AMBER WITH AIR. CLAUDIA (IRRITATED WHISPER) WHY DID SHE HAVE TO BRING AMBER? JULIE OH, CHEER UP, CLAUDIA. JAKE EAGERLY JUMPS UP TO GO TO GREET AIR. SEAN, MATT, AND JASON FOLLOW HIM. JULIE AND JESSICA FOLLOW THEM OUTSIDE, WITH CLAUDIA RELUCTANTLY TRAILING BEHIND. AMBER ENTERS THE PIZZA PARLOR. JASON CLOSELY FOLLOWS BEHIND HER. THEY SIT AT THE SAME TABLE, ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER. JASON WHAT’S WRONG? AMBER (HESITANTLY) NOTHING. JASON (COAXING) COME ON, AMBER. I KNOW SOMETHING’S WRONG WHEN YOU HAVE THAT LOOK ON YOUR FACE. AMBER (PAUSES, THEN SIGHS) SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL LIKE I DON’T FIT IN WITH YOU GUYS. JASON (EARNESTLY) I THINK YOU DO. AMBER JASON, YOU KNOW CLAUDIA DOESN'T LIKE ME. JASON WHO DOESN'T CLAUDIA LIKE? THE ONLY REASON WHY SHE DOESN'T LIKE YOU IS BECAUSE SHE USED TO LIKE ME, BUT I TURNED HER DOWN. THEN YOU MOVED IN WITH AIR'S GRANDPARENTS AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU FROM THE MOMENT I SAW YOU. JASON TAKES AMBER’S HANDS IN HIS, HOLDING THEM TENDERLY. JASON (CONTINUING) AND, I’M STILL FALLING FOR YOU EVERY DAY. SHE’S JUST UPSET BECAUSE I LIKE SOMEONE PRETTIER THAN HER WITH LESS MONEY. AMBER REMAINS QUIET, REFLECTIVE. JASON SEES THAT SHE APPEARS TO BE STILL CONCERNED. JASON YOU KNOW WHAT? AMBER WHAT? JASON I LIKE YOU AND I ALWAYS WILL. NO MATTER WHO DOES OR DOESN'T. AMBER SMILES SHYLY, HAPPY AT HEARING HIS WORDS. AMBER I KNOW. AIR AND THE REST OF THE GROUP ENTER THE PIZZA PARLOR. AIR GRABS AMBER’S HAND AND THE GIRLS LEAVE THE BOYS. JAKE WHERE ARE YALL GOIN'? JULIE (LAUGHING) TO FRESHEN UP, IF THAT’S OKAY? JAKE QUICKLY SITS DOWN IN EMBARRASSMENT. CUT TO: INT. WOMEN'S BATHROOM -- MOMENTS LATER THE BATHROOM IS LINED WITH PINK AND WHITE TILED WALLS, AND PINK MARBLED SINK COUNTERS. THERE IS TRACK LIGHTING SURROUNDING THE LARGE MIRROR, MAKING TOUCH-UPS EASY. JULIE PULLS OUT HER COMPACT FROM HER PURSE AND POWDERS HER FACE. SHE GLANCES IN THE MIRROR AT AIR. AMBER STANDS QUIETLY OFF TO THE SIDE, IGNORING CLAUDIA. JULIE SO, AIR. HAVE YOU MET ANY STARS SINCE I TALKED TO YOU LAST? AIR NOT YET. CLAUDIA (SOMEWHAT SARCASTIC) YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT SINCE YOU’VE BEEN LIVING IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU STILL HAVEN’T MET ANY STARS YET? AIR THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. CLAUDIA WELL, IF I LIVED IN CALIFORNIA FOR TWO YEARS, I WOULD'VE MET TONS OF CUTE ACTORS. CLAUDIA SWINGS HER LONG BRUNETTE HAIR TO THE SIDE AND BRUSHES IT. SHE POINTEDLY AVOIDS LOOKING AT AMBER IN THE MIRROR. JESSICA SPEAKING OF CUTE GUYS, AIR, DID YOU KNOW THAT CHRISTIAN MICHAELS MOVED BACK IN TOWN? AIR (SIGHING DREAMILY) YEAH, I SAW HIM AT MATHEWS’ WOOD PLACE BEFORE WE CAME HERE. JESSICA ISN'T HE JUST THE CUTEST THING? JULIE (TEASING) WHAT ABOUT SEAN? JESSICA SEAN IS CUTE, BUT CHRISTIAN IS IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN. CLAUDIA (SNEERING) HE’S OKAY. JULIE PAUSES BRIEFLY BEFORE APPLYING HER LIPSTICK. JULIE HE'S MORE THAN OKAY - HE IS FINE! CLAUDIA YALL ARE JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER GIRL IN THIS TOWN, DROOLING OVER HIM LIKE DOGS. JESSICA (SMIRKING) OH, COME OFF IT, CLAUDIA. YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS WE DO THAT CHRISTIAN IS THE FINEST GUY IN TOWN. CLAUDIA I ADMIT HE'S CUTE, BUT YOU DON'T SEE ME DROOLING ALL OVER HIM. JULIE (LAUGHING) YOU’RE JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE WOULDN’T GO OUT WITH YOU. CLAUDIA (HAUGHTILY) I DON’T NEED CHRISTIAN. THERE ARE TOO MANY GUYS WHO LIKE ME AS IT IS. CLAUDIA PUTS ON HER EYELINER. CLAUDIA (CONTINUING) WHAT ABOUT YOU, AIR? AIR APPLIES SCENTED LOTION TO HER HANDS AND ARMS. CLAUDIA (PERSISTENT) DO YOU THINK HE’S CUTE? AIR (CAUTIOUSLY) HE’S ATTRACTIVE. CLAUDIA MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN JAKE? AIR WHY? CLAUDIA JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION. AIR I'M NOT GONNA COMPARE CHRISTIAN WITH JAKE. CLAUDIA (ASSUMING VICTORY) SHE DOES! JULIE IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE'LL SEE WHO'S CUTER WHEN WE VOTE FOR KING AND QUEEN AT THIS YEARS CHRISTMAS EVE DANCE. IF CHRISTIAN COMES OF COURSE. AIR KING AND QUEEN? JULIE YEAH. THERE'S GONNA BE A KING AND QUEEN THIS YEAR ACCORDING TO THE STAKE DANCE COMMITTEE. EVERYONE FROM ALLENTOWN, BROOKSBURG, HOLLOW POINT, AND BRIDGEPORT ARE INVITED. AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE CUTEST GUYS AND GIRLS OUT OF ALL OF 'EM. JULIE STOWS HER MAKEUP BACK INTO HER PURSE, THEN SNAPS IT CLOSED. SHE GIVES HERSELF A FINAL LOOK IN THE MIRROR. JESSICA I KNOW WHO I'M VOTING FOR QUEEN. JULIE WHO? JESSICA AIR, OF COURSE! AIR WHY ME? CLAUDIA (JEALOUS) YEAH, WHY HER? JESSICA BECAUSE SHE'S THE MOST QUALIFIED AND BESIDES EVERYONE LIKES HER. AIR (BLUSHING) I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I’M NOT RUNNING. JESSICA YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. IF YOU ARE CHOSEN QUEEN, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE QUEEN, NO MATTER WHAT. JESSICA HUGS AIR, AS SHE, AIR, JULIE, AND AMBER WALK OUT OF THE BATHROOM. CLAUDIA FOLLOWS THEM, LOOKING JEALOUS AND DISPLEASED. CLAUDIA (QUIETLY TO HERSELF) I HOPE THEY DON’T THINK SHE’S GONNA WIN. CUT TO: EXT. STREET -- LATER CHRISTIAN'S BURGUNDY NAVIGATOR, IS TRAVELING DOWN THE STREET. CHRISTIAN IS HEADING HOME FROM WORK. AS HE DRIVES ALONG THE STREET, HE SEES SOMEONE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LYING IN THE SNOW. HE RECOGNIZES AARON’S ELECTRIC-BLUE BIKE AND PULLS OVER. CHRISTIAN QUICKLY GETS OUT OF THE NAVIGATOR, LEAVING THE ENGINE RUNNING. HE SPOTS AARON AND HURRIES OVER TO HIM. HEARING SOMEONE APPROACHING, AARON AGAIN COVERS HIS FACE FEARFULLY. AARON (CRYING, PLEADING) PLEASE DON’T HURT ME. CHRISTIAN KNEELS DOWN AND GENTLY REMOVES AARON’S HANDS FROM HIS FACE. CHRISTIAN (SOFTLY) HEY, BUDDY, IT’S ME - CHRISTIAN. AARON OPENS HIS EYES AND LOOKS UP AT CHRISTIAN. AARON (HESITANTLY) CHRISTIAN? CHRISTIAN YEAH, ITS ME. AARON (EAGER, HAPPY) CHRISTIAN! AARON HUGS HIM, VERY EXCITED TO SEE HIM. HE SEES HIS BIKE OVER CHRISTIAN’S SHOULDER. AARON (CRYING) THEY BROKE MY BIKE. CHRISTIAN (SYMPATHIZES) I KNOW. CHRISTIAN HELPS HIM TO HIS FEET. CHRISTIAN (CONTINUING) LET’S GET YOU OUT OF THIS COLD SNOW. CHRISTIAN HELPS AARON INTO THE NAVIGATOR AND THEN LOADS HIS HANDLEBARS AND THE REST OF AARON'S BIKE INTO THE BACK. CHRISTIAN THEN DRIVES AARON HOME. CUT TO: EXT. AARON’S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER CHRISTIAN PULLS UP TO THE CURB IN FRONT OF AARON'S HOUSE. AARON'S DAD STANDS OUTSIDE WITH AN ANGRY SCOWL ON HIS FACE. CHRISTIAN GETS OUT OF THE NAVIGATOR. AARONS DAD (GRUFFLY) WHAT HAPPENED? CHRISTIAN HE HAD A LITTLE ACCIDENT IN THE SNOW, BUT HE'S OKAY. AARON SLOWLY GETS OUT OF THE NAVIGATOR. CHRISTIAN PULLS HIS BIKE OUT OF THE BACK AND ROLLS IT TO AARON’S DAD. HE SOON HANDS AARON'S DAD THE HANDLEBARS. AARON’S DAD SHAKES CHRISTIAN’S HAND. AARON DAD THANK YOU, CHRISTIAN, FOR BRINGING HIM HOME. CHRISTIAN NO PROBLEM. CHRISTIAN PATS AARON ON THE BACK BEFORE HE TURNS TO LEAVE. CHRISTIAN I GUESS I'LL SEE YOU LATER. CHRISTIAN GETS INTO THE NAVIGATOR, SMILES AND WAVES GOODBYE, AS HE DRIVES OFF. AARON'S DAD LAYS THE HANDLEBARS AND THE BIKE'S FRAME ON THE FRONT PORCH. WITH HIS HANDS FREE, AARON'S DAD, FULL OF RAGE, SLAPS AARON ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD. AARON'S DAD GET IN THE HOUSE. CUT TO: EXT. JOE’S PIZZA PARLOR -- LATER THE GROUP AT JOE'S PIZZA PARLOR DISPERSES. JAKE OFFERS AIR A RIDE HOME. SHE ACCEPTS AND GETS INTO THE JEEP. INT. JAKE'S MOVING JEEP -- MOMENTS LATER JAKE (VERY ENTHUSIASTIC) IT’S REALLY GOOD SEEIN’ YOU AGAIN. AIR (HER VOICE LACKING HIS ENTHUSIASM) IT’S GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO, JAKE. JAKE (PAUSES, THEN SAYS) SO, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WE’VE BEEN TALKIN’ ABOUT ON THE PHONE? AIR (HESITATES, THEN SAYS) I HAVE, AND I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO GET INVOLVED AGAIN ... I MEAN HOW DO I KNOW YOU WON’T CHEAT ON ME AGAIN? JAKE (TAKES A DEEP BREATH) HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I’M A ONE-WOMAN MAN NOW? YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME. I’M SORRY FOR WHAT I DID. HE LOOKS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN AIR AND THE ROAD. AIR (SOFTLY) I KNOW, BUT IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO DATE SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY CHEATED ON ME BEFORE. YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE ME SOME MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. HE GRABS HER HAND. JAKE WELL, DON'T TAKE TOO LONG, BECAUSE THE CHRISTMAS EVE DANCE IS THIS SATURDAY AND I WANT YOU TO BE MY DATE. AIR (PAUSES HESITANTLY) CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? JAKE (CONFIDENT) SHOOT! AIR WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO DATE ME WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF GIRLS WHO WOULD LOVE TO GO OUT WITH YOU? JAKE (SMILING BROADLY) BECAUSE I LIKE YOU MORE THAN ANY OTHER GIRL HERE. CUT TO: EXT. AIR’S GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE - SAME NIGHT JAKE PULLS UP IN FRONT OF AIR'S GRANDPARENTS HOUSE WHERE JENNIFER IS SITTING IN A WOODEN PORCH SWING, READING A BOOK. AIR REACHES FOR THE DOOR HANDLE. JAKE I GUESS ILL SEE YOU TOMORROW. HE LEANS TOWARD AIR TO GIVE HER A KISS. SHE QUICKLY STICKS HER HAND OUT, BLOCKING HIS ADVANCES. AIR (IN A FIRM VOICE) GOODBYE, JAKE. AIR CLIMBS OUT OF THE JEEP. AS JAKE DRIVES OFF, AIR JOINS HER SISTER ON THE PORCH SWING. AIR AREN'T YOU COLD OUT HERE? JENNIFER I WAS, BUT NOT ANYMORE. AIR LOOKS AROUND, NOTICING THAT ERIC’S BMW IS GONE. AIR (SOFTLY) WHERE’S ERIC? JENNIFER HE'S OUT ON THE TOWN WITH PAPA. AIR (LAUGHING) ARE YOU KIDDING? JENNIFER (LAUGHING WITH HER) NO! AIR I WONDER IF HE STILL KNOWS HOW TO HAVE FUN? JENNIFER I KNOW. HE'S PROBABLY BORING PAPA TO DEATH WITH HIS COURT CASES. THE TWO LAUGH TOGETHER, THEN SIT QUIETLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS. JENNIFER HOW WAS YOUR DATE WITH JAKE? AIR’S DEMEANOR QUICKLY CHANGES TO SOLEMN. AIR (SOFTLY, SADLY) IT WASN’T A DATE, JEN. HE OFFERED ME A RIDE HOME AND I SAID YES, THAT’S ALL. JENNIFER (ANXIOUSLY) WHAT’S WRONG? AIR (PAUSES, THEN SAYS) IT’S JUST THAT THERE ARE SO MANY GUYS IN THIS WORLD, BUT I CAN’T SEEM TO FIND ONE WHO IS RIGHT FOR ME. JENNIFER WHAT ABOUT JAKE? AIR (IN AN EXASPERATED MANNER) JAKE IS JAKE. I WANT SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST JAKE. JENNIFER SO YOU DON'T LIKE HIM ANYMORE? AIR (CONFUSED) I DON’T KNOW. I MEAN, I WENT OUT WITH HIM AND IT WAS OKAY IN THE BEGINNING, UNTIL I TOLD HIM THAT I WASN’T HAVING SEX UNTIL I WAS MARRIED. THEN WHAT DOES HE DO? HE GOES OFF AND SLEEPS WITH TIFFANY WINTERS! JENNIFER (SOOTHINGLY) I REMEMBER. JENNIFER PUTS DOWN HER BOOK AND HOLDS AIR IN HER ARMS. AIR (SADLY) MAYBE I’M JUST LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES. AIR LAYS HER HEAD IN JENNIFER’S LAP. JENNIFER BEGINS RUNNING HER FINGERS THROUGH AIR’S HAIR. JENNIFER DON`T WORRY. YOU'LL FIND SOMEONE ONE DAY. IT JUST TAKES TIME. AIR FOR ME IT'S TAKING A LIFETIME. JENNIFER LIKE I SAID, IT JUST TAKES TIME. IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD JUST LET LOVE FIND YOU INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR IT. JUST THINK ABOUT IT, THERE ARE TONS OF CHURCH GUYS IN CALIFORNIA WHO ARE DYING TO GO OUT WITH YOU. JUST ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS. AIR (SOFTLY) I KNOW, BUT I DON’T CARE ABOUT A LOT OF GUYS LIKING ME. I JUST WANNA FIND SOMEONE WHO NOT ONLY LIKES ME, BUT SOMEONE WHO I LIKE JUST AS MUCH. JENNIFER JUST GIVE IT TIME. HE'LL COME. JENNIFER KISSES AIR SOFTLY ON HER HEAD. SLOW FADE TO: INT. AIR’S GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE - MID-MORNING AIR WALKS DOWN THE STAIRS. SHE IS WEARING PINK PAJAMAS AND A HOUSE ROBE. INT. KITCHEN -- CONTINUOUS AIR ENTERS THE KITCHEN WHERE GRANNY IS MAKING BREAKFAST. AIR GOOD MORNING, GRANNY. GRANNY GOOD MORNING, SWEETIE. DID YOU SLEEP WELL? AIR I SLEPT OKAY. GRANNY FLIPS THE LAST TWO PANCAKES FROM A PAN ONTO A PLATE SITTING NEXT TO THE HOT STOVE. GRANNY HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT LAST NIGHT? AIR ACTUALLY, IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. IT WAS GOOD SEEIN' EVERYONE AGAIN, WHICH REMINDS ME. I DIDN'T KNOW CHRISTIAN MICHAELS MOVED BACK INTO TOWN. AIR GRABS SILVERWARE FROM A DRAWER AND BEGINS SETTING THE TABLE. GRANNY THIS PAST SUMMER, RIGHT AFTER HIS PARENTS DIED. AIR STOPS SETTING THE TABLE MOMENTARILY AIR (SHOCKED LOOK AND VOICE) ARE YOU SERIOUS? GRANNY PICKS UP A SET OF PLATES FROM THE COUNTERTOP AND BEGINS PLACING THEM ON THE TABLE. GRANNY OH YEAH. AND NOT JUST HIS PARENTS, BUT HIS SISTERS DIED, TOO. AIR (SADLY) THAT’S TERRIBLE. GRANNY I KNOW, BUT THEY'RE IN GOOD HANDS NOW. AIR (PAUSES, THEN SAYS) DO YOU HAVE HIM IN ANY OF YOUR CLASSES? GRANNY HE'S IN MY 2ND PERIOD CLASS. AIR HOW IS HE HANDLING IT? GRANNY WELL, HE STILL MAKES A'S IN MY CLASS, HE STILL COMES TO CHURCH, AND THE MISSIONARIES SAY THAT HE'S DOING JUST FINE. AIR WALKS OVER TO THE PANTRY AND GETS A BOTTLE OF SYRUP. AIR (THINKING OUT LOUD) HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE LIKE CHRISTIAN? GRANNY YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, SWEETIE, THAT BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO EVEN THE BEST OF US, INCLUDING A NICE BOY LIKE CHRISTIAN. IT HAPPENED TO YOU AND YOUR SISTER AND YOU TWO ARE JUST FINE. NOT TO MENTION HE HAS WILFRED. GRANNY WALKS TO THE CABINET AND TAKES DOWN SOME GLASSES. SHE BEGINS PLACING THEM ON THE TABLE. AIR (CURIOUS TONE OF VOICE) ISN’T THAT HIS BUTLER? GRANNY YES, AND HE'S A VERY GOOD MAN. AIR TAKES TWO SERVING PLATES, FILLED WITH PANCAKES AND SAUSAGE FROM THE COUNTERTOP NEXT TO THE STOVE AND PLACES THEM ON THE TABLE. SEEING THE CONCERN ON AIRS . GRANNY (CONTINUING) LISTEN, SWEETIE. IF ANYONE CAN GET THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, CHRISTIAN CAN. SO DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT HIM. WE HEAR A RINGING PHONE. GRANNY GIVES AIR THE REST OF THE GLASSES THAT SHE HAS IN HER HANDS AND ANSWERS THE PHONE. GRANNY (INTO PHONE) HELLO? JAKE HELLO, SISTER MITCHELL. IS AIR AWAKE YET? GRANNY YES. HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE, JAKE. GRANNY HOLDS THE PHONE OUT TO AIR. GRANNY (CONTINUING) IT’S FOR YOU, HONEY. AIR TAKES THE PHONE. AIR (INTO PHONE) HELLO? JAKE GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? AIR (INTO PHONE, HESITANTLY) I’M FINE. JAKE WERE YOU BUSY? AIR (INTO PHONE, QUICKLY) WE’RE ABOUT TO HAVE BREAKFAST. JAKE I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME THEN. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT WITH ME TONIGHT? AIR (INTO PHONE) I’M SORRY, BUT I CAN’T. I HAVE TO HELP GRANNY AND AMBER TAKE SOME THINGS DOWN TO THE CHURCH FOR THE NATIVITY SCENES TONIGHT. JAKE (PLEADING) WHAT ABOUT BEFORE THE NATIVITY SCENES? GRANNY MOTIONS TO AIR IN THE B.G. AIR (INTO PHONE) COULD YOU HOLD ON FOR A MINUTE? JAKE SURE. AIR HOLDS DOWN THE PHONE. GRANNY (IN A QUICK, HUSHED VOICE) DON’T WORRY ABOUT US. YOU GO AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. AIR (INSISTENT TONE) I DON’T MIND HELPING YOU GUYS TONIGHT. GRANNY DON'T WORRY ABOUT US. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. AIR ARE YOU SURE? GRANNY OF COURSE I'M SURE. AIR (INTO PHONE) HELLO? JAKE HEARS THEIR CONVERSATION. JAKE I'LL PICK YOU UP AT SIX! AIR OKAY. BYE. CUT TO: EXT. CHRISTIAN’S HOUSE (FRONT ENTRANCEWAY) - SAME MORNING SOMEONE IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR. CHRISTIAN ANSWERS THE DOOR. A WOMAN IN HER 40S, WEARING A BROWN, WORN-OUT JACKET, IS STANDING HOPELESSLY AT THE DOOR. CHRISTIAN (SMILING WARMLY) HI, SISTER JENKINS. PLEASE COME IN. SHE STEPS INTO THE HOUSE. CHRISTIAN GIVES HER A HUG. CHRISTIAN HOW ARE YOU? SISTER JENKINS (SOFTLY) I’M HANGING IN THERE. HOW ABOUT YOU? CHRISTIAN I'M FINE, THANK YOU. HE LEADS HER INTO THE DEN. FADE TO: INT. DEN - SAME MORNING CHRISTIAN POINTS TO A LEATHER COUCH. CHRISTIAN PLEASE. HAVE A SEAT. CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING? SISTER JENKINS NO THANK YOU. SHE SLOWLY SITS DOWN, TAKING OFF HER JACKET AND FOLDING IT. SHE THEN LAYS IT OVER HER LAP. CHRISTIAN SITS ON THE OPPOSITE COUCH. SISTER JENKINS I HEARD YOU AND TIMMY COME IN WITH THE CHRISTMAS TREE LAST NIGHT AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. CHRISTIAN PLEASE, DON'T THANK ME. THANK ... SISTER JENKINS I KNOW YOU BOUGHT THE TREE, CHRISTIAN. I KNOW THAT TIMMY WAS PLANNING ON BUYING US A TREE, BUT HE LOST THE MONEY HE WAS GONNA BUY IT WITH. SO, THANK YOU. CHRISTIAN HESITATES, THEN NODS HIS HEAD IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT. CHRISTIAN YOU'RE WELCOME. SISTER JENKINS ITS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. CHRISTIAN SENSES THAT SOMETHING IS BOTHERING SISTER JENKINS. CHRISTIAN I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. WITH SOME OF THEM, YOU JUST HAVE TO DIG DEEPER INTO THEIR SOULS TO FIND THEIR KINDNESS, THAT'S ALL. SISTER JENKINS (AFTER TAKING A DEEP BREATH) YOU’RE PROBABLY RIGHT. CHRISTIAN IS SOMETHING WRONG? SISTER JENKINS LOOKS DOWN AT HER LAP MOMENTARILY, PLAYING WITH HER HANDS. SHE THEN LOOKS UP AT CHRISTIAN. SISTER JENKINS (PAUSES, THEN) IT’S JUST THAT EVERY TIME I STEP OUTSIDE, THERE’S ALWAYS PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW BAD OF A MOTHER I AM. I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CAN’T SEE HOW HARD I TRY TO GIVE MY KIDS THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE. CHRISTIAN (SINCERE CONCERN) YOU SHOULDN’T LET OTHER PEOPLE GET YOU DOWN, BECAUSE EVER SINCE I MET YOU THIS PAST SUMMER, I’VE SEEN YOU DO NOTHING BUT WHAT YOU CAN AND MORE FOR TIMMY AND MELANNIE. DON’T LET ANYONE HERE DISCOURAGE YOU FROM THAT. SISTER JENKINS IT'S NOT JUST OTHER PEOPLE. IT'S MY KIDS, TOO. I FEEL LIKE I'M A DISAPPOINTING MOM WHEN I CAN'T GIVE THEM THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT. TEARS SLOWLY FALL FROM HER EYES. SISTER JENKINS HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT THEY DESERVE THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH GOOD KIDS. CHRISTIAN STANDS UP AND CROSSES TO THE BOOKCASE WHERE HE PICKS UP A BOX OF TISSUES. HE THEN WALKS OVER TO SISTER JENKINS AND SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER, HANDING HER A TISSUE. CHRISTIAN (EARNESTLY) I DON’T THINK TIMMY AND MELANNIE ARE DISAPPOINTED IN YOU. I THINK THAT YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED IN YOURSELF, WHICH IS NORMAL FOR A MOTHER TO FEEL. I THINK ALL GOOD MOTHERS FEEL THIS WAY WHEN THEY CAN’T GIVE THEIR KIDS EVERYTHING THEY WANT. ONE THING THAT I CAN SAY IS THAT YOU GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED, AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. SISTER JENKINS SITS UP STRAIGHTER AND WIPES HER TEARS FROM HER FACE. SISTER JENKINS YOU REALLY THINK SO? CHRISTIAN SLOWLY SMILES AND NODS HIS HEAD. CHRISTIAN I KNOW SO. SISTER JENKINS YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE RIGHT! SISTER JENKINS STANDS UP QUICKLY, HOLDING HER JACKET. SHE GAZES AT CHRISTIAN WITH NEW HOPE AND DETERMINATION. SISTER JENKINS THIS CHRISTMAS IS GONNA BE THE BEST CHRISTMAS MY KIDS HAVE EVER HAD! FADE TO: INT. FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR -- MOMENTS LATER SISTER JENKINS PUTS ON HER JACKET, AS SHE WALKS TO THE FRONT DOOR. SISTER JENKINS WE MIGHT NOT HAVE MUCH, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT WE DO HAVE! SHE TURNS AND LOOKS AT CHRISTIAN WITH A BIG SMILE. SISTER JENKINS THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRISTIAN. SHE HUGS HIM GRATEFULLY. CHRISTIAN HEY! EVERYTHING I SAID IS TRUE. CHRISTIAN OPENS THE DOOR FOR HER. SHE WALKS OUT ONTO THE PORCH. SISTER JENKINS MERRY CHRISTMAS. CHRISTIAN (SMILING) MERRY CHRISTMAS. BE CAREFUL CHRISTIAN CLOSES THE DOOR. WILFRED ENTERS THE ROOM. WILFRED CHRISTIAN, HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU THAT YOU ARE A REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN? CHRISTIAN IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE A GOOD TEACHER. WILFRED (CHUCKLING SOFTLY) INDEED YOU DO, SIR. AND, DON’T YOU EVER FORGET IT. CHRISTIAN SMILES BACK. CUT TO: INT. JAKE’S LOFT - EARLY EVENING JAKE PICKED UP AIR FOR THEIR DATE AND TOOK HER BACK TO HIS HOUSE. THE COUPLE SITS SIDE-BY-SIDE ON A GREEN COUCH, WATCHING JAKES HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS . AIR LOOKS BORED. AIR (TRYING TO BE NICE) DO WE HAVE TO WATCH THIS? JAKE TURNS TO HER WITH A SURPRISED LOOK. JAKE WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME THAT? AIR BECAUSE THIS IS GETTING BORING. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS FOR AN HOUR NOW. CAN WE DO SOMETHING ELSE? JAKE (VERY UPSET) THANKS A LOT! JAKE QUICKLY GETS UP AND CROSSES TO THE T.V. HE PUNCHES THE EJECTION BUTTON ON THE VCR AND TURNS OFF THE T.V. JAKE YOU NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH WATCHIN' 'EM BEFORE. AIR I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT, JAKE. YOU JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT THAT LITTLE STARRY-EYED GIRL WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO DATE THE HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY QUARTERBACK ANYMORE. ''JAKE AND JUST WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? AIR NOTHING. JAKE NO. WHAT ARE YOU SAYIN'? AIR OKAY. THINK ABOUT ALL THE DATES WE'VE BEEN ON. ON NOT ONE OF THEM HAVE WE EVER JUST TALKED. JAKE FUMBLES WITH THE VIDEOTAPE AS HE PUTS IT BACK INTO IT'S CASE. JAKE AND THAT'S MY FAULT? AIR ITS NOBODY'S FAULT. I JUST THINK THAT FOR ONCE WE SHOULD JUST TALK. JAKE TOSSES THE TAPE INTO A BOX. THE REST OF THE VIDEO TITLES SHOW THEM ALL TO BE HIS FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS. JAKE LOOKS BACK AT AIR WITH CONFUSION ON HIS FACE. JAKE WE DON'T NEED TO TALK. WE ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER. AIR OKAY. WHAT DO I WANNA BE IN LIFE? JAKE (SIGHING) I DON’T KNOW. HE THROWS HIMSELF ON THE COUCH NEXT TO AIR, SHOWING FRUSTRATION IN HIS ACTIONS AND POSTURE. JAKE IT DOESN'T MATTER, AS LONG AS YOU SUCCEED AT WHAT YOU DO. AIR YOU SEE? WE REALLY DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT EACH OTHER. JAKE SITS UPRIGHT QUICKLY AND TURNS TOWARD HER. JAKE (SINCERE, REASONABLE TONE) LOOK. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I’M RICH, YOU’RE CUTE, I’M HANDSOME, AND THAT WE MAKE A GREAT COUPLE. THAT’S ALL WE NEED. AIR (FRUSTRATED) THAT’S JUST IT. DON’T YOU WANT SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST MONEY AND GOOD LOOKS? JAKE WHY? MONEY CAN GET ME JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I WANT AND GOOD LOOKS CAN GET ME THE REST. AIR SHAKES HER HEAD IN RESIGNATION.
Copyright © 2001 Tony Green |