Priceless Cargo - Part 1

Bored, cold sweat slithers its way down her neck and hits her shoulder. This run is taking too long and Tilda knows it. The sun is peeking up over Lake Michigan and she can feel the warmth of this June day start to roll in with those rays. Her Nikes are weathered and squish slightly as she continues on down the winding lakefront path, her golden locks glistening in the new sunshine. Chicago sleeps in the background, the skyline is breathtaking from this vantage point, but Tilda wants nothing to do with it, her muscular long legs press on. Her eyes are focused ahead; burning into the wall she hit a mile back that slowed her to a jog. She hates jogs, almost as much as she hates the desk she has to sit at day in and day out. Secretary work, it’s a living, but a rather dull one. Mr. Jonlevy, her boss, wasn’t too much of a prize either.
Most of the day he was closed off in his office, Tilda could only speculate. Insider trading, taking long naps, pornographic chat rooms, each day she came up with a new idea of what he was doing. The only one that never crossed her mind was doing actual work for Max Pell Systems. Of course she never knew what anyone really did at Max Pell, she was the only secretary and the only one without a true office with a window. Her desk sat out in the open, save for two poster board thin walls on her left flank and behind her, next to Jonlevy’s massive corner office. It seemed to Tilda that everyone had a window, an exotic view of Chicago, but her. All the calls she fielded never went further than her asking the person on the phone to “Hold one moment.” Mr. Jonlevy never left for a lunch break, or really left the office at all. In fact the only time he left his office was at 5 o’clock sharp every day, Monday through Friday. All of his meetings were held in his office, in came all the men in suits and they all left with manila folders. Tilda never had to make copies or grab supplies, it seemed as if Mr. Jonlevy never needed any assistance. Of course she’d never mention this out loud to anyone, for fear of this being realized and her being cut as part of a money saving scheme.
She’s in a full sprint now, arms pumping, legs striding for that extra inch. The jacket she chose this morning only had one pocket, enough to fit her apartment keycard and iPod, which are now smacking against her toned stomach. Stupid, I knew I should have bought that clip for it, she thinks to herself. Her cell phone lay on the dresser next to her bed; all that thing has ever been is a bother to her another way for anyone to annoy her at any second of the day. The morning was her time, the route may be exactly the same every day, but the speed, the energy, they all changed daily. The effort was what she was here for, some kind of exertion outside of taping fingers on keys. The waves of the lake slowly lap against the break walls as she continues to sprint. She pours everything she has into the next one hundred yards. Her hazel eyes, filled with determination, neglect to notice a thin band of metal about ankle high intersecting the path ahead of her. She gains on the wire, unsuspecting of it, until her leg tries to cross it and gets caught just above the top of her sock. Tilda falls, hands out face covered, into the concrete path. The daze of the fall is quickly realized as reality as the warm salty taste of blood gathers in her mouth. She tries to look down at her ankle. In the haze of her vision she can only see the lacerations and red. She tries to reach down to feel for damage, but a black gloved hand slips over her mouth. Tilda is in no state to fight, but still she struggles. The attempt at gaining freedom is to no avail. She is pulled into the bushes just off the path; a small pool of blood is all that remains of her.

Clifton leans against the wall of the ship, enjoying the last moments of scenery before they pull into port. The sun drenched sky and never ending desert end abruptly as the ship slips into harbor. They tie off and begin de-boarding. Clifton grabs his few meager possessions, a green camouflage canvas satchel and a metal briefcase. He lugs the baggage off the ship and steps foot onto land for the first time in months. Another scientist wavers next to him, “Tough to get back those land legs.”

Clifton nods, “It’s been too long.” Clifton and the other scientist file down the hall, a group of Marines greet them as they enter the loading dock. Clifton joins a few of his comrades, William Phelps and Dr. Regent Turbot as they gather around a red faced Marine sergeant by the name of Rivers.

“There are rules,” Sergeant Rivers shouts, with a bit of spittle sticking to his lips, “these rules are made to keep you alive, if you do not do so you will die. And if you don’t die I’ll shoot you myself, just to prove the fucking point, clear?” Clifton and Turbot chuckle and exchange eye rolls as if the Sergeant speaks about washing a dog the right way, Rivers notices the lack of enthusiasm and steps hard in their direction, “You contractor assholes don’t seem to comprehend what I am talking about.”

Clifton looks Sgt. Rivers dead in the eye, “I think we can comprehend Sarge if you can comprehend that we aren’t out here to take orders, we’re here to build a bunker to protect you ass and your unit’s collective ass and maybe if you back off us a little bit we might just make it so this thing’ll withstand the type of bombardment you’re apt to taking…clear?”

Sgt. Rivers pokes his nose up against Clifton’s, “I know who you are you little pissant and just because the president is your daddy doesn’t mean you get some kind of special treatment out here--”

Colonel Odom steps to the side of Sgt. Rivers, “I think it does Sergeant.” Rivers snaps to attention and raises his hand to his hat, “Colonel on deck!”

The other Marines snap to attention around him, Colonel Odom lets the burning heat seeping through the vents blister the Marines a little until he lets out a subtle call, “At ease Marines.”

The Marines lower their salutes and stand with arms crossed behind their backs. Colonel Odom looks to Clifton, “Son, welcome to the Bowl, I hope the greeting wasn’t too harsh.”

Clifton smiles, “Nothing I can’t handle sir.”

Odom nods, “I’m sure. You know why you’re here Clif, no engineer better to retrofit The Point--”

“No engineer dumb enough you mean,” Clifton replies.

Odom chuckles, “You can make your own assumptions on that. Sarge Rivers here is going to be your escort, consider him to be the German shepherd you never really wanted.” He looks over at Rivers, “We all know he’s an asshole, but he’s the best asshole, maybe the only asshole that I know that can take you out to The Point and bring you back alive. Isn’t that right Sergeant Rivers?”

“Sir yes sir,” Rivers replies through grit teeth.

Colonel Odom smacks Rivers on the back, “Now you two boys play nice.”

Sgt. Rivers’s steps back from Clifton, “Shall we?”

Clifton leads the way into the tunnel, Phelps and Turbot follow behind him, nearly heel to toe. Clifton looks around at the rusted metal that surrounds him. The fluorescent lighting flickers as the rest of the Marines form up behind Rivers. The soles of their boots tromp in unison over the steel grating that makes up the floor. A sign, lit a bit brighter than the rest of the hall states in bold blood red block letters, “Welcome to Mars, ‘A nice place to visit’.”

“Why the hell does everything on this planet have to have a “the” in front of it?” Turbot remarks as he points to the map. “‘The Sticks’, ‘The Bowl’, ‘The Point’, it’s like a sin to just have a normal name.”

“It’s Marine-speak,” Clifton replies as they continue their trek down the dim lit hall, “they don’t know how to create a name so they just stick a “the” in front of a word and make it the moniker.”

Phelps adjusts the Chicago Cubs ball cap on his head, “Can’t blame them for a lack of creativity, hell if I get my brains beat in by a ball busting Sergeant day in and day out I know I’d quit trying to be so damn intelligent and just focus on just staying alive.”

Turbot shakes his head, “Not me, intelligence is virtue, especially now, without intelligence would we be even standing here would half the people on earth even have the choice to ‘stay alive’ if they so choose.”

“That’s cute,” Clifton replies.

Turbot raises an eyebrow “What’s cute?”

“You actually think people still have the right to choose.”

Phelps steps into the conversation, “Things have changed, I’ll admit that, but that whole American spirit thing,” they step into a large garage where a lunar rover with an American flag painted on the side, a smirk comes across Phelps’ face, “it’s still around.”

The three geeks gawk at the hunk of all American steel, a rarity on earth, but the only kind you can find on Mars, and pity the poor fool who doesn’t realize the full potential of this hulking beast. The Marines file into the rover casually, as if there’s nothing exciting about the 900 horsepower beast with tires the size of a man. Sgt. Rivers stops next to the three men, “You boys gonna stand there drooling all day or are you gonna get in the heap?” Clifton leads the way once more, as Phelps can’t take his eyes off of the hydraulic thrusters.

The strap into the bench seat across from Sgt. Rivers, the Sarge chews on a piece of gum as he examines the wall next to Clifton’s head, “How long you been out here?” Clifton asks.

Rivers twitches his eyes to meet Clifton’s, “Been on The Red for a little over 2 years now.”

“Cool,” Turbot adds, “do you like it?”

Rivers spits a chunk of phlegm to the ground, “This shit hole is a deathtrap.”

Clifton leans back on the seat, “Sounds cozy.”

“Our last engineer didn’t say a damn word unless it was important,” Rivers shoots back.

Clifton scoffs, “Your last engineer was an M.I.T. drop out.”

Turbot whispers into Phelps’ ear, “Didn’t he drop out from Purdue?” Phelps covers Turbot’s mouth.

Rivers nods, “You’re right.” Rivers chuckles, “Our last engineer’s legs were found a quarter mile from his torso,” he reaches for his canteen attached to his belt buckle, “we never did find his head.” Rivers takes a swig and offers some to Clifton.

Clifton obliges, and takes the canteen from Rivers, “Never really used it away I guess.”

The two men share a laugh that dies into another deafening silence.

Turbot can’t bear the quiet; he looks to the other Marines, “So what do you guys do for fun?” They exchange glances.

I bet your loving every minute of her lips

KRISTEN
Trick, I have a--

TRICK
Don’t you say you have a fiancé, you had a fiance Friday night and Saturday all day, even in the morning when you woke up in my bed and you still pushed your lips back against mine, don’t you say you have a fiance...say what you feel

- Something new...the guy's name is Trick Freedman...diggin' that right? -

no panic could change me

Nothing haunts my dreams anymore. I worry less and live more. The facts and the dates all just pile on and I don’t care. I just wake up in the morning to see your face. I brush past the things that other people say. I’ve been listening to them for way too long anyways. I just want to make the right decision and be the right person for her ya know. I’m sick of wasting time, her time. I don’t want to be that jackass who promised her the world and couldn’t hold up his part of the bargain. There’s no stress of it though, because she consistently forgives me for my faults, never judging me on my stupidity. I didn’t earn this kind of treatment, it’s always come to me, because it isn’t till the end when everything finally comes out and the world of problems is blamed on me…I don’t want that to happen again. I want her to tell me when I’m pissing her off, to hit me when she’s mad, to walk away when I embarrass her. I don’t want to make the same mistakes I did before and not know about them…I’m sick of losing…can I just win?

I don’t worry anymore…because I love her…that’s what we all need to find, because in the end, the period to the gigantic jumble of words that we spew each day onto your blogs, into your phone, and out of our mouths is that we all want that one thing in life to balance out the crazy and confusing…we all want love at whatever the risk, whatever the cost, we want to be loved forever and a day…we’re weak for a four letter word that has a definition longer then most physics problems. Stop trying to rationalize and just be, take some advice from someone who knows

Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States of America

I wish I ADR-ed this or somehow made him look this dumb...but sadly no, this is all real.

13 Episodes of the Worst Television Show ever...SouthSide Blues

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Heath enters the apartment whistling a happy little tune. He
shuts the door behind him and walks to the kitchenette where
SEAN is sitting with a cup of coffee and the Chicago Tribune.
Without even looking up SEAN knows something went right last
night

SEAN
Well jump on my couch and call me
Oprah, what in the hell are you so
happy about? Heath grabs the pot of
coffee and begins to pull down his
mug

HEATH
Oh nothing, isn't today just a
GLORIOUS day?

SEAN
Right...what happened last night
Heath pours himself a cup of coffee

HEATH
I found her, I found her and she
found me and we found each other
and we found magic

SEAN
So did you go on like a excavation
searching for dinosaur bones?

HEATH
A girl, SEAN, a girl, I was with a
girl

SEAN
All the way till this morning?

HEATH
Yessum

SEAN
Did you sleep on a park bench?

HEATH
In her bed

SEAN
Comfy?

HEATH
Very

SEAN
I'd applaud you, but I'd have to
put down this cup of Kona and
well...

HEATH
No need, she applauded me...twice

SEAN
That's a little T.M.I.

HEATH
Too bad, Heath is BACK baby and
he's living the scene

SEAN
And what scene is that?

HEATH
The swinging hip non-bachelor scene

SEAN
Uh huh...so you're dating her

HEATH
Well I did sleep with her

SEAN
Does she know you're dating her?

HEATH
Of course, she called me "Love" we
held hands, we did all the stuff
that couples do

SEAN
In an eight hour span?

HEATH
Yes

SEAN
And it never occurred to you that
it was just a one-night stand?

HEATH
She gave me her number, see its
right here Heath holds out his arm
to reveal bright red digits up his
forearm. SEAN scans over the number

SEAN
This is a 555 number Heath Heath
looks down at his arm

HEATH
What?

CUT TO: TITLES

[SouthSide Blues]

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Heath walks out of the bathroom, scrubbing his arm with a wet
cloth

HEATH
I can't believe this SEAN is still
reading the newspaper

SEAN
Did you think of showering?

HEATH
I showered this morning, with her
SEAN flicks his paper, then sets it
down

SEAN
Really now Heath continues to scrub

HEATH
Yeah He gives up

HEATH
Why is it that I can't find a
decent woman in this city? SEAN
walks over to his friend and sets a
comforting hand on Heath's shoulder

SEAN
Because you're looking in bars and
clubs and there my dear friend is
where the whores lie in waiting for
poor schlubs like you

HEATH
Where am I supposed to meet a woman
then?

SEAN
Bus? EL Stop? The street?

HEATH
Yeah if I'm looking for a bag lady

SEAN
A bag lady would be a step up from
the last girl you brought home

FLASHBACK:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - 2 YEARS AGO

A girl, barely clothed, comes running and screaming from
Heath's bedroom

CRAZY CHICK
They're coming to suck my brains,
they're coming to suck my brains
She runs for the door and slams
face first into it

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Heath flops down in his arm chair

SEAN
Now we know why not to pick up
women from the hospital

HEATH
I thought she was a nurse

SEAN
Just because a woman wears all
white doesn't make her a nurse

HEATH
It was after Labor Day too

SEAN
We just need to widen your dating
pool that's all

HEATH
I think it's pretty wide

SEAN
Its like one of those kiddie pools

HEATH
I happen to enjoy kiddie pools

CUT TO:

EXT. THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Its a sunny day and Heath, water wings, snorkel, and mask on
and a bright orange bathing suit, flops around in a wading
pool giggling with glee. Two kids stand by watching, the boy
shakes his head

BOY
This guy has to still be a virgin

BACK TO:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Heath crosses his arms over his chest

HEATH
I'll have that youngster know I had
bedded two women by that summer

SEAN
Paying for sex doesn't count

HEATH
That one I didn't pay

SEAN
Your right, then her pimp found you
and... They both look at the camera

HEATH
We don't need to see that.

SEAN
You haven't been the same since
Carrie Ann

HEATH
And there's good reason, she was
the love of my life

SEAN
And you weren't the love of hers

HEATH
But...

SEAN
But that never stopped you

HEATH
Correctomeundo

SEAN
Thank you Fonzie, now I have a
little idea, how about we go out
today and find you a lady Heath
shoots up from his chair, his eyes
wide and bright

HEATH
Really? You'd do that for me?

SEAN
I have 29 hours to kill before
class and it is a glorious day, or
so I heard Heath hugs him

HEATH
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you
SEAN cringes through the hug

SEAN
You really do need to take a shower
though Heath pulls back a little
bit

HEATH
Why? You think the numbers'll
detract chicks?

SEAN
No, dude you honestly smell.

EXT. WABASH - MOMENTS LATER

Heath and SEAN walk down the street, SEAN leading as Heath,
dressed down in a T-shirt, jeans, and sandals, casually
strolls the sidewalk with a little bit of a slouch in his
strut. SEAN, dressed to kill with sunglasses on, looks back
at Heath

SEAN
So are we walking or solving a
mystery here Shaggy? Heath gives
him a confused look

HEATH
Pardon? SEAN shakes his head and
hits Heath's back

HEATH
Ouch! What the...

SEAN
Stand up straight, posture is the
key to success

HEATH
Uh huh, so says the Zen master of
the ladies

SEAN
Hey I still have Mia don't I?

HEATH
Yeah...I always loved that SEAN and
Mia, SEAN and Mia, it has a nice
ring to it, like Marshall Fields,
it just rings

SEAN
Nice, now here's you--

HEATH
SEAN and Mia, Mia and SEAN, either
which way, it just sounds beautiful
SEAN smacks Heath in the back of
the head

SEAN
Can we focus here please?

HEATH
On what? There's no women out here

SEAN
We're going to the prime spot They
walk around a corner into the
courtyard of Depaul University's
South Loop campus. SEAN takes off
his sunglasses and spreads his arms

SEAN
Behold, beauty and brains Heath's
jaw drops

HEATH
My god in heaven Heavenly bodies
stroll about, short shorts and
skirts abound. Heath could start
drooling if only his mouth wasn't
dry the immense amount of hottie.
SEAN leads Heath to a bench and
they sit. Heath's head is flicking
around

SEAN
Gonna give yourself whiplash
looking around like that, relax,
smooth easy strokes

HEATH
This is incredible, its like an
oasis, diamonds in the rough
abound, its like Aladdin and I just
rubbed the lamp, its like--

SEAN
Enough, I've heard enough okay, can
we just pick a woman for you to hit
on?

HEATH
Sure... Heath looks around and
spots an incredibly gorgeous girl
with two hot friends, he points to
her

HEATH
How about her? SEAN smacks the
pointed finger

SEAN
Don't point...schmuck...no, not her

HEATH
Why not?

SEAN
Because pointing isn't nice and
she's out of your league

HEATH
Really

SEAN
You ever watch Discovery Channel
Heath?

HEATH
Yessum

SEAN
The lion always goes after the
weakest one in the heard, you don't
want her, she's a bucking impala
who will knock your pearly whites
out with her hooves in a second's
notice, leaving you to eat apple
sauce for the rest of your days.

HEATH
Now why couldn't someone explain it
to me like this in high school
Heath nods to another girl with
IPOD headphones in her ears.

HEATH
What about her? SEAN shakes his
head

SEAN
No, the IPOD has her, damn Apple,
damn Steve Jobs, he has ruined all
hope to hit on a beautiful woman
with those white buds in her ears

HEATH
How poetic

SEAN
Its a sin against humanity

HEATH
So which one should I "go after"
SEAN nods to the bench straight
across from them

SEAN
How about her? A brunette sits
alone staring down at a History of
Law book

HEATH
Law student? She'll sue me for
harassment

SEAN
Or ask for a recess with you

HEATH
Yours was better Heath gets up from
the bench and dusts himself off

HEATH
How do I look?

SEAN
Ugly, poor, typical art student

HEATH
Perfect

SEAN
Go get 'em tiger Heath leaves and
SEAN watches Heath leans down and
says something inaudible to the
girl SEAN turns, he can't watch.
As he does his cell phone buzzes to
life. He pulls the cell phone out
and looks down at it, he has a new
text message. He opens the phone
up and reads the text. It reads

"THS ISNT WRKNG, ITS OVER L8R MIA"

SEAN's jaw drops. Heath returns smirking He smacks SEAN's
shoulder

HEATH
Unbelievable He holds up his hand
and in black ink a new number is
written

HEATH
She said to call her tonight, she's
going out with some friends and...
He notices the change in SEAN's
demeanor

HEATH
What's wrong?

SEAN
Mia just broke up with me Heath
looks around

HEATH
Mia was here, that girl's like
Wonder Woman, where'd she disappear
to SEAN holds up his phone

SEAN
She broke up with me through a text
message

HEATH
What? Can they do that?

SEAN
Apparently so

HEATH
Um...so I guess you're free then
tonight huh?

CUT TO: BLACK

EXT. WABASH - MOMENTS LATER

SEAN is hurrying down the street, dodging in and out of
pedestrians as Heath struggles to keep up.

HEATH
So what exactly is the plan here?
SEAN ignores him and continues
walking

HEATH
Can we take the EL? SEAN doesn't
even turn

SEAN
No Heath catches up to SEAN's side
and groans

HEATH
Why not, my feet hurt

SEAN
I can't take the EL, it'll get me
there too fast, I need this time to
think

HEATH
About what?

SEAN
About what I'm going to say to her

HEATH
Oh, oh, I got something we can say,
or maybe ask, can we get cab fare,
for the ride back?

SEAN
Shut up Heath, I need to think

HEATH
She dumped you, it happens

SEAN
No it doesn't

HEATH
I get dumped on average about 2.6
times a month, trust me on this, it
happens

SEAN
Well not to me it doesn't

HEATH
So what do you plan on doing,
marching up to her door and laying
on the buzzer till she comes down
to talk to you?

SEAN
Sounds like a good foundation for a
plan

HEATH
Listen to yourself, you're getting
all crazy, did she even say why
she's breaking up with you? SEAN
pulls his phone out of his pocket
and tosses it to Heath. Heath
bobbles it for a second then
finally gains control. He reads
the message

HEATH
What the hell?

SEAN
I know

HEATH
What kind of sadistic biz-o breaks
up with you through a text, or for
that matter spells later. "L-8-R"

SEAN
Hence why I need to go talk to her

HEATH
She's a nut bag surrounded by a nut
casing, minus the chocolatey shell,
come on SEAN how are you going to
get through to her

SEAN
I just want a reason

HEATH
So the fact that she's insane isn't
enough

SEAN
She isn't though, we were just
together last night, she was fine

HEATH
What'd you do last night?

SEAN
The usual, dinner and a movie

HEATH
Sex?

SEAN
Excuse me

HEATH
Did you sleep with her?

SEAN
No, it was Saturday, we never have
sex on Saturdays Heath stops dead
in his tracks

HEATH
You plan sex?

SEAN
Is that a problem Heath catches up
once again

HEATH
You're as insane as she is

SEAN
Why's that?

HEATH
How does one go about planning sex?

SEAN
You and her make up a schedule for
when you have the adequate time and
allowance for sexual intercourse

HEATH
So its robotic

SEAN
No its romantic

HEATH
For a machine yes, for a human
being, no

SEAN
So you're blaming this on me

HEATH
No I'm blaming it on your freaked
out planning of sex

SEAN
Which is me

HEATH
Yeah, yeah I guess it is...weirdo

SEAN
So what you just randomly sleep
with women

HEATH
Um...do we need to answer this?

SEAN
It was never about the sex

HEATH
Who said this, you or her?

SEAN
I did, but she agreed

HEATH
Uh huh, so you assumed...

SEAN
No, I knew, it wasn't it never is

HEATH
Wow, man if I ever buy a bull,
you're the one that's gonna clean
up after him

SEAN
What?

HEATH
You just love the B.S. don'cha

SEAN
You're incorrigible you know that

HEATH
I can't even spell that word, let
alone understand what the hell it
means

SEAN
Here we are

HEATH
So laying on the buzzer, that's our
plan

SEAN
That's my plan, you can go play in
traffic for all I care

HEATH
Maybe I'll run into a shiny cement
truck or something

SEAN
Or it'll run into you, either which
way its win win right?

HEATH
Right...wait a minute SEAN pushes
on the buzzer

SEAN
MIA! He steps away from the door of
the apartment and looks up at her
window

SEAN
MIA! Heath lays a hand on SEAN's
shoulder

HEATH
Maybe she isn't home

SEAN
Maybe you need to remove that hand
before I break it

HEATH
When did you start menstruating
again?

SEAN
MIA! Heath searches around, he
opens Mia's mailbox and pulls out a
letter addressed, "SEAN".

HEATH
Hey Sherlock

SEAN
Yes Watson? Heath waves the letter

HEATH
Maybe this'll explain everything
SEAN snatches it from Heath

SEAN
A note

HEATH
So it would seem SEAN unfolds the
letter and glazes over the words.
His jaw drops and he gives a
confused look.

SEAN
She's in Rome?

HEATH
Hmm...why is that?

SEAN
She found a match on eHarmony, went
to meet her at the Coliseum

HEATH
Talk about your inanely intricate
details

SEAN
We have to go to Rome

HEATH
Or we could stay in beautiful
Chicago so I can go out on my date

SEAN
Rome...she jetsets to Rome on a
whim romantic fancy

HEATH
Oh, oh I have the question to this
one Alex, "Who is SEAN's desperate
ex-girlfriend seeking more to life
then just a train schedule sex life
and boring conversation of
oceanographic novels?".

SEAN
Thank you Heath...thank you for
that... SEAN walks away slowly,
head downtrodden. Heath catches up
to him

HEATH
So can we take the El back?

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - DUSK

Heath walks out of his bedroom, buttoning his shirt

HEATH
Why don't you come with me tonight
SEAN slouches down on the couch
further and takes a deep sip of his
Dasani

SEAN
Why, to humiliate myself more while
in front of females?

HEATH
Yeah, I mean isn't that our job?

SEAN
Just go Heath

HEATH
No, I'm not leaving without you,
she said she was bringing friends
and I need backup, I'm calling in a
favor

SEAN
I don't owe you any favors

HEATH
Really?

FLASHBACK:

EXT. CHICAGO STREET - AFTERNOON - A YEAR AGO

SEAN stands up against a brick wall and smiles

SEAN
I owe you one for this buddy Heath
nods

HEATH
Hell yes you do SEAN smirks, then
glares at him

SEAN
Its him, that's the guy who slept
with your sister and stole her
underwear drawer Two burly guys
begin to beat Heath to a pulp

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - DUSK

SEAN sits up on the couch

SEAN
I do suppose that should be repaid

HEATH
Considering I had to get two blood
transfusions afterwards

SEAN
I thought we were both A negative,
hence the payback

HEATH
Get dressed...

INT. DA CLUB - NIGHT

SEAN slouches down in a chair as Heath looks around
anxiously, they're both dressed to kill, but only Heath seems
to be setting his sights on any marks

HEATH
This place is hot

SEAN
Yeah...hot...thank you Tara Reid

HEATH
Slammin', is that better?

SEAN
What kind of ignorant owner, names
his place, "DA CLUB"? Was, "PLACE

WHERE REALLY CRAPPY TECHNO THAT

WOMEN GYRATE TO WHILE MEN WATCH

THEM IN HOPES OF SEXUAL CONTACT"

taken?

HEATH
I imagine so, probably by some
place on the far west side...I
wonder where she is.

SEAN
Why did I let you drag me here?

HEATH
Why, should you be moping away your
troubles in that box of thin mints
you bought on the way home?

SEAN
Well those, a glass of milk, and a
good re-run of Becker

HEATH
Is there such a thing as a "good re
run of Becker"?

SEAN
No...not really

HEATH
So she dumped you it happens

SEAN
It isn't even about that she dumped
me, I can deal with dumping

HEATH
Right

FLASHBACK:

EXT. RACHEL'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

A steady rain pours as SEAN stands outside of the apartment
building staring up at the one lit window. He pulls out a
tape recorder

SEAN
Hour 32 and still no sign of her

FLASHFOWARD:

INT. DA CLUB - NIGHT

HEATH
Yeah, REALLY deal with 'em well

SEAN
That was one time

HEATH
Correct me if I'm wrong but that
was the second woman you've slept
with right?

SEAN
Excuse me?

HEATH
Did you sleep with Mia?

SEAN
That's none of your concern

HEATH
It is when we're sitting here
prepping for Operation Hottie, I
need to know if Mia was #2 or #3?

SEAN
Dear lord, this better not turn out
as bad as Operation Alabama Slamma'

HEATH
Hey that would've worked if the
chimpanzee cooperated

SEAN
That's why we have the mental note,
never use a chimp to get laid

HEATH
Did you sleep with Mia?

SEAN
Yes [COUGHS] 26 times

HEATH
YOU COUNTED?

SEAN
Is that a problem?

HEATH
If it wasn't you wouldn't have
pulled a cough cover

SEAN
All right fine, its a little absurd

HEATH
No its a lot absurd

SEAN
Fine, whatever, I just thought
every moment would be special with
her

HEATH
Was it?

SEAN
Yeah...up till the point that her
text message ripped my heart out,
spat on it, and then put it in
sulfuric acid.

HEATH
Yeah, that's bad

SEAN
Just a wee bit

HEATH
So what about OPEHLIA?

SEAN
Opehlia, haven't heard that name in
a while

HEATH
Why exactly did you break up with
her? Name too Shakespearian for
ya?

SEAN
No, not even, she wasn't as bad as
Juliet

HEATH
Oh Juliet, wherefore art thou
Juliet?

SEAN
Probably a mental institution by
now

HEATH
But not Janelle, that seemed like
it was going well.

SEAN
It was the distance thing

HEATH
Ahh, the killer of all high school
romances, she goes off to college
in another state, never to return

SEAN
Yes, one of those I suppose.

HEATH
Where'd she end up?

SEAN
God knows she applied to two
schools in the east, Brown and some
over pish-posh piss-ant Division II
school, and one around here, last I
heard.

HEATH
Uh huh...when's the last time you
saw her?

SEAN
About 2 years ago and my lord was
she looking beyond a doubt gorgeous

HEATH
I'd wager that she still does

SEAN
How could she not? Of course she
probably has about 3249857 kids
with some dumb frat satchel stuffer
who was captain of the Lacrosse
team

HEATH
Hmm, and what about Ophelia?

SEAN
God, I'd love to know where she is
right now?

HEATH
You may wanna check the front door

SEAN
What? SEAN turns to spot OPEHLIA
entering DA CLUB. SEAN's jaw drops
as he gives her a once over

SEAN
Sweet mother of pearlescent smiles
OPEHLIA turns to look back at the
person entering behind her,
ANGELINA, the girl from outside of
Depaul. Angelina takes out her cell
phone. Heath hops up out of his
chair and pats his buddy on the
back

HEATH
I'll bring 'em over SEAN grabs
Heath's shirt

SEAN
No, no, please, don't

HEATH
Um...yes, 'fraid so chief, unless
there's something you want to tell
me

SEAN
It's just-- Heath cell phone rings
to life with the song, "The Bad
Touch" by The Bloodhound Gang.
Heath reaches into his pocket and
waves the phone in front of SEAN's
face

HEATH
Past catching up to you? SEAN is
looking past Heath now

OPEHLIA

SEAN?

SEAN's eyes dart to meet Keith's

SEAN
Just hit me like a cement truck.

[FADE TO BLACK]

INT. DA CLUB - NIGHT

SEAN's jaw continues to touch the table as he stares down the
still incredibly beautiful Opehlia. Heath chuckles as Opehlia
smiles uneasily

HEATH
So wow when's the last time you two
talked, two, three years?

OPEHLIA
You could say that

FLASHBACK:

INT. SEAN'S DORM ROOM - A YEAR 2 MONTHS AND 25 DAYS AGO

SEAN and Ophelia embrace passionately, kissing each other and
falling back onto SEAN's bed

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. DA CLUB - NIGHT

Heath gives her a strange look SEAN nods

SEAN
OPHELIA, when did you get back?

OPEHLIA
Last month, how about you

SEAN
Never left

OPEHLIA
Oh, um...why not? Heath looks back
and forth between the two of them

HEATH
I'm gonna let you two mingle I'll
be back with drinks, SEAN 'nother
water?

SEAN
Yeah

HEATH
Ophelia?

OPEHLIA
Can I get a water too?

HEATH
Two waters, right, great... He
backs away slowly and as Opehlia
turns he mouthes to SEAN "Good
luck"

OPEHLIA
So you didn't go?

SEAN
I thought I was going...

OPEHLIA
But you didn't, why?

SEAN
Some things need to stay dreams,
guess I didn't want to face the
reality

OPEHLIA
That's a lame excuse

SEAN
I missed that

OPEHLIA
What, lame excuses?

SEAN
No, you not mincing words

OPEHLIA
So did you quit?

SEAN
Yeah...well no...haven't played in
a while

OPEHLIA
That's kinda sad, you were really
good

SEAN
A lot of people are good

OPEHLIA
Yeah, but not a lot of people can
throw a guy out on a fly from
center field or pitch a fastball 92
miles an hour. Heath returns with
two waters and his date, Angelina

HEATH
Who's speeding in a car?

SEAN
What?

HEATH
She said 92 miles an hour, you get
a ticket Lia?

OPEHLIA
He doesn't know? SEAN shakes his
head

SEAN
Nobody but you knows

HEATH
Knows what?

OPEHLIA
Why didn't you tell him?

SEAN
Why do you think I moved here?

HEATH
Tell me what?

OPEHLIA
You were running away from it again

HEATH
Running away from what?

SEAN
No I wasn't I just wanted to be
left alone

HEATH
Left alone about what?

OPEHLIA
You could be out there right now--

SEAN
But I'm not

HEATH
Out where?

OPEHLIA
You quit, I never thought I'd ever
put SEAN Petronich and quit in the
same sentence

HEATH
WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON!?!?
The club stops dead silent and
stares at Heath He looks around and
smirks with an uneasy chuckle

HEATH
Go back to your drinking and
debauchery ladies and gentlemen,
nothing to see here The club
ignites back with life Opehlia
shakes her head

OPEHLIA
I think I'll see you later Angelina
Opehlia turns and leaves, skirting
through the traffic of the club.
SEAN hops up out of his seat and
follows. Heath watches them leave,
then looks back to Angelina

HEATH
So um...do you like water?

CUT TO:

[TITLES]

EXT. DA CLUB - NIGHT

SEAN bursts through the doors, pushing through the people. He
looks left, then right and spots Opehlia walking away.

SEAN
Lia! Lia wait! Opehlia continues
to walk, ignoring SEAN's calls He
runs to catch up to her

SEAN
Will you just wait for a second
Opehlia walks on

OPEHLIA
For what?

SEAN
For me to explain?

OPEHLIA
What's there to explain?

SEAN
Why I didn't go Ophelia turns and
looks SEAN square in the eyes

OPEHLIA
I had faith in SEAN, I thought in
my heart for the longest time that
out of anyone in my life you would
be the one to do something with
your life

SEAN
I'm sorry its just--

OPEHLIA
Excuses

SEAN
Things changed

OPEHLIA
Yeah they did, the guy I knew
wasn't a quitter She turns and
walks away once more

SEAN
When you left I got scared She
stops

SEAN
I didn't even go to the first try
out, I skipped it.

OPEHLIA
I told you I would stay here with
you

SEAN
And I knew what was good for you
She turns, this time tears are in
her eyes

OPEHLIA
You always knew what was good for
me, you always put me first, but
that was your dream SEAN, that
dream that you whispered to me at
night about.

SEAN
I know, I used to wax poetic about
the game, but in the end it was
just you, my dream was to be with
you

OPEHLIA
So you pushed me away to New York

SEAN
What was I supposed to do, beg you
to stay here with me? Getting on
with that dance company was the
best shot of you ever making it
with your dream, I couldn't let you
pass that up

OPEHLIA
You're right, it was my best shot
and now its over and here I am

SEAN
But you did it

OPEHLIA
Yeah, I did

SEAN
You have no idea how proud I was
and still am of you

OPEHLIA
And you have no idea how
disappointed I am in you

SEAN
I'm still going to school

OPEHLIA
That's great, I'm sure you'll be a
great English teacher and an even
better writer, great SEAN, great

SEAN
My shot with baseball is over

OPEHLIA
You're 21 years old, you act like
your 31

SEAN
They start scouting guys half my
age

OPEHLIA
And guys your age are playing on
pro teams

SEAN
Or they tool around in the minors
for the rest of their lives

OPEHLIA
What would you rather be doing?
Sitting on a bus getting a sore
neck or teaching kids about
gerunds?

SEAN
I'd rather be sitting in a coffee
shop talking with you about New
York Opehlia shakes her head and
she can't help but smile.

OPEHLIA
I missed you SEAN

SEAN
I missed you more

INT. DA CLUB - NIGHT

Heath sits at the table with Angelina, he's midway into a
sentence as she continues to giggle

HEATH
So I said, get your own stick Q
Bert Angelina giggles a little bit
more

ANGELINA
You're so funny... She stirs her
drink, a Cosmopolitan

ANGELINA
...and cute Heath smiles wide

HEATH
Why thank you, I always cook a mean
macaroni along side a rather calm
and cool salmon, I like to call it
my "cheesy fish"

ANGELINA
You're adorable, you know that?
Heath shrugs

HEATH
I suppose so

ANGELINA
I can't believe you don't have a
girlfriend

HEATH
And ya know what, neither can I
[scoffs] women

ANGELINA
Just don't know a good thing when
they see one I guess

HEATH
Do you?

ANGELINA
See one or know one?

HEATH
Both?

ANGELINA
Yeah Heath takes a sip of his
drink.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT

Opehlia and SEAN sit across from each other by the window of
the coffee shop, they each take sips intermittently

OPEHLIA
So how long have you and Heath been
living together?

SEAN
Consecutively, about a 6 months

OPEHLIA
What'd he move out?

SEAN
No, well kind of, he had that stint
on that country western version of
that singing show

FLASHBACK:

INT. STAGE - TIMELESS

Heath, in cowboy boots, leather chaps, and a straw hat,
snatches the microphone in front of him and begins to croon
"Achy Breaky Heart".

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT

SEAN shudders and takes a sip of coffee

SEAN
There's some great primetime
television

OPEHLIA
Aww, he even had chaps on?

SEAN
He didn't take them off for a
month, he wore them around the
house with nothing else, he claimed
that they were pants.

OPEHLIA
Okay, I do not want that image in
my head

SEAN
I don't think anyone does...so what
happened out there?

OPEHLIA
Well it started off great--
Opehlia's cell phone springs to
life, she reaches down into her bag
and pulls it out

OPEHLIA
Hold on one second She opens the
phone

OPEHLIA
'ello [PAUSE] yeah [PAUSE] okay,
well I'll just meet you there at 8
[PAUSE] OK yeah 9 is probably
better now that you mention it
[PAUSE] OK, thank you baby... She
stops and looks over at SEAN who is
trying to act like he isn't paying
attention, but doing a terrible job
of it.

OPEHLIA
...you too, bye She closes the
phone and SEAN looks back

SEAN
So you were saying it was going
great

OPEHLIA
Listen I know that--

SEAN
I'm not going to ask who that was
Lia, it isn't any of my business

OPEHLIA
He called me up in the middle of
the night the day after I left

SEAN
Calling in the middle of the night,
seems like he stick to his trends

OPEHLIA
He took the next plane out to New
York and the next thing I new...

SEAN
He was living with you

OPEHLIA
Yeah

SEAN
And now he followed you back

OPEHLIA
It isn't want you think

SEAN
Its none of my concern

OPEHLIA
Don't act like that SEAN

SEAN
Like what?

OPEHLIA
Like this, trying to act like it
doesn't affect you

SEAN
It doesn't

OPEHLIA
Liar

SEAN
What am I supposed to say, huh?
What am I supposed to do, I
couldn't follow you to New York, I
didn't have the money, after you
left I could barely even move

OPEHLIA
I thought we finished this

SEAN
No, we didn't, because he has this
ultimate power to just show up
whenever and whereever he feels
like and I can't do that

OPEHLIA
I never held that against you

SEAN
But you're with him now

OPEHLIA
Yeah

SEAN
Why?

OPEHLIA
I don't know, he was there for me
and it just clicked again

SEAN
Does he treat you good

OPEHLIA
Better then before

SEAN
How much better

OPEHLIA
He doesn't take me for granted

SEAN
I never did either

OPEHLIA
And I never said I wanted to break
up with you

SEAN
And what about now?

OPEHLIA
What about it?

SEAN
Are you glad you did?

OPEHLIA
I think I have to go

SEAN
Does he love you?

OPEHLIA
Good bye SEAN Opehlia get up from
her seat, leaving her coffee
behind. SEAN sits there, not giving
chase for a second time. He stares
down at the table.

SEAN
I still love you...

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The door flings open and Heath and Angelina are making out as
they fall into the apartment, nearly tripping over the couch.
They fall over the back of the couch in the darkness. The
door is still open and the only light in the room is the
spill from the hallway. Heath's head pops up from the couch
and his hand reaches over to flick on a lamp.

HEATH
Give me like three seconds Angelina
sits up on the couch

ANGELINA
Which room is yours Heath points to
the far door

HEATH
That one but... It hits him

HEATH
Oh...yeah its that one Angelina
slithers off the couch and slinks
over to Heath's bedroom's doorway.
She playfully lays against the door
frame

ANGELINA
Meet me in here in three seconds
Heath shakes his head

HEATH
Yeah, oh yeah Angelina giggles and
slides into the room closing the
door behind her. Heath bolts to the
cabinet underneath the sink. He
flings it open and begins a frantic
search The apartment door opens
again and SEAN enters, still pissed
off He looks over at the kitchen

SEAN
What in the hell are you doing?

HEATH
Scavenging

SEAN
For

HEATH
Condoms

SEAN
The prophylactic drawer is in the
bathroom last time I checked

HEATH
Now I moved them after my little
cousin came over and thought they
were balloons SEAN nods

SEAN
Oh yeah...who knew you could make a
doggie out of a magnum?

HEATH
What can is ay I have a talent SEAN
sits down on the couch Heath finds
his stash and takes the whole box.
He closes the doors on the cabinet,
then looks at Heath

HEATH
What in the hell are you doing
here?

SEAN
Um, I do live here

HEATH
Where's Lia?

SEAN
Left me at the coffee shop

HEATH
So you didn't chase her?

SEAN
Twice in one night, what am I a
marathon runner?

HEATH
So you let her go...AGAIN

SEAN
Yeah, I guess so, damn me and my
conscience, I should've chased
after her and continued to bad
mouth her current boyfriend in
hopes of her breaking up with him
for me

HEATH
Heck yes you shoulda

SEAN
Yes because that works oh so well

HEATH
Whatever, are you staying or...?

SEAN
Yeah, I suppose I'll leave

HEATH
Good, because I have a feeling
she's a screamer

SEAN
Ah...how romantic Heath raises his
eyebrows and ducks into his
bedroom. SEAN gets up off of the
couch and walks to the door. He
exits and walks across the hall. He
knocks on the door across the hall
and a beautiful blonde in a tank
top and sleep pants, CHARLIE, opens
the door

CHARLIE
Did you have the dinosaur nightmare
again M?

SEAN
No sadly, I had the, "I ran into
Lia and it turned out pretty
crummy" nightmare

CHARLIE
Should I put on some tea?

SEAN
Coffee may be better

CHARLIE
I bet, come on in SEAN enters

INT. CHARLIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Charlie moves into the kitchenette, the apartment is a carbon
copy of SEAN and Heath's place, with all of the key elements
in opposite. SEAN follows her into the kitchen and pulls down
two mugs

CHARLIE
So she came back to the Chi

SEAN
Who would've thunk it Charlie
starts up her coffee pot

CHARLIE
She was such a great dancer, what
happened?

SEAN
Being the stubborn jerk that I am,
I never let her tell the full story

CHARLIE
So sad, you need to work on that

SEAN
I need to work on a lot of things,
Mia broke up with me today

CHARLIE
Uh oh, did she return your stuff
yet?

SEAN
No, she left the country

CHARLIE
What? When did you break up with
you

SEAN
How is the better question

CHARLIE
Phone call?

SEAN
Text message

CHARLIE
You're kidding me

SEAN
I kid not

CHARLIE
That's not half as bad as mine, I
had one break up with me with a
video E-mail

SEAN
Women

CHARLIE
I know right, such cowards, its
like she didn't even want to face
me...I guess the sex was the only
good thing about her

SEAN
I wish I could say that about Mia

CHARLIE
She's pathetic, you don't need her

SEAN
Seeing Lia made it harder

CHARLIE
I can only imagine

SEAN
She's back with Aaron

CHARLIE
You're kidding me

SEAN
He went with her to New York

CHARLIE
There's your reason

SEAN
For what? Charlie pours the hot
coffee into the two mugs and hands
one to SEAN.

CHARLIE
For why she came back, that guy was
like a lead weight on her, he was
drowning her before she met you and
now he's doing it again Charlie
pulls the cream out of the fridge
and hands it to

SEAN
SEAN I think she's strong then she
was the first time around with him

CHARLIE
She was stronger with you, but with
him...its like he sucks the life
out of her She hands SEAN the sugar

SEAN
Whatever, I don't care

CHARLIE
Yeah right, you wouldn't be moping
over here if you didn't

SEAN
I don't, its her life...I'm not a
part of that anymore SEAN mixes up
his brew

CHARLIE
But you want to be

SEAN
As her friend sure

CHARLIE
Tell me something

SEAN
No

CHARLIE
You don't even know what I'm going
to ask

SEAN
I know the answer though and its
"No"

CHARLIE
Do you still love her? SEAN shakes
his head

SEAN
Like I said, "No"

CHARLIE
Its okay if you do

SEAN
But I don't

CHARLIE
And why not, she has a great body,
great personality, what's so wrong
with her

SEAN
I lost my chance

CHARLIE
And now she's back here, perhaps
the great one above is giving you a
second chance

SEAN
Thank you miss holy roller

CHARLIE
You're welcome. SEAN its just the
simple fact that I know you're not
here because you want to talk,
you're here because you want to
reminisce on the days and nights
that the four of us used to spend
here before she left

SEAN
I don't think about the past

CHARLIE
You're right, you just live in it

SEAN
Can I have my coffee to go?

CHARLIE
Heath has a girl over, where are
you going to go?

SEAN
How did you know he had a girl
over?

CHARLIE
He tried his key in my door while
she was sucking on his lower lip

SEAN
Ahh

CHARLIE
Tonight wasn't the first night you
thought about her in the years
since you saw her

SEAN
I forgot those years okay

CHARLIE
How can you forget the 14 months,
those 14 months you used to rave
about to me?

SEAN
We graduated from high school and
we both came to the city, our
relationship wasn't normal, we saw
each other everyday and we never
labelled it

CHARLIE
You liked it that way

SEAN
It was childish

CHARLIE
You were in love

SEAN
We were being stupid, we both knew
that we were leaving

CHARLIE
But you didn't and she did

SEAN
I had to do what was best for me

CHARLIE
Did you tell her?

SEAN
Yeah

CHARLIE
She was disappointed wasn't she

SEAN
Beyond a doubt

CHARLIE
All she wanted was for you to be
happy, that's something Mia or Anna
or whomever, never thought of with
you

SEAN
I was lucky to have her

CHARLIE
You're lucky to have a second
chance

SEAN
What if this isn't a second chance

CHARLIE
And what if it is?

SEAN
I haven't heard this much optimism
from you in a while

CHARLIE
I have my moments

SEAN
Thanks

CHARLIE
So do you still love her? SEAN
takes a long sip of his coffee.

FADE TO BLACK.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK 2]

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

SEAN re-enters his apartment and walks over to his closet. He
reaches far back into the closet and pulls out a baseball
glove. He reaches inside and pulls out a baseball. He tosses
the ball in the air and lets the rawhide smack against the
leather. He closes the closet door and spots Charlie standing
in his door frame

CHARLIE
Remember when we went to that Cubs
game? SEAN nods

SEAN
Yeah, she kept score, I haven't
seen anyone ever keep score at a
game, but her

CHARLIE
You love her just as much as you
love baseball, you know that SEAN

SEAN
Yeah, I honestly do

CHARLIE
You never told her the real reason
why you quit

SEAN
How do you sit down and tell
someone that without them their you
flopped, how does someone sit their
across from you and take that. My
whole prospect of a career went
down the drain after she left

CHARLIE
wild pitches is common when your
nervous

SEAN
She wasn't there

CHARLIE
Well she's here now

SEAN
So what am I supposed to do SEAN
tosses the ball in the air again,
but Charlie snatches it before he
can catch it. She examines the ball

CHARLIE
Do what your heart tells you She
tosses the ball back to SEAN, he
barehands it and watches Charlie
leave

SEAN
Thanks Charlie

CHARLIE
Night SEAN

SEAN
Night. SEAN looks down at the ball,
grips it tight, rears back and
fires at Heath's door. It rips
through the wood, splintering it
into pieces

HEATH (O.C.)
Dude, what the hell? SEAN smiles

FADE TO BLACK.

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - HEATH'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Heath rolls over and looks at Angelina. She rolls over and
looks at him

HEATH
So... Angelina smiles

ANGELINA
So... There's an uneasy silence. A
bed spring creaks

HEATH
This is awkward isn't it.

ANGELINA
Well saying that makes it more
awkward.

HEATH
Should I not have said it

ANGELINA
Um...too late now

HEATH
Uh huh, so...do you like baseball?

ANGELINA
No

HEATH
Sorry, I'm usually more cute and
funny when I'm clothed

ANGELINA
You're still cute, you just need to
loosen up a little bit

HEATH
Oh baby I'm loose, I am so loose

ANGELINA
Uh huh, seems your roomie isn't
Angelina nods to the whole in the
door Heath chuckles

HEATH
He's a little on edge as of late

ANGELINA
Because of Lia?

HEATH
They have a little history...well
maybe little isn't exactly the
word...I actually think that the
dictionary is a few pages short of
their story.

ANGELINA
Did you see it happen?

HEATH
No, I've heard the whole story
about 50 times...

ANGELINA
From him?

HEATH
Yeah

ANGELINA
Maybe I should ask Lia what
happened

HEATH
Or maybe we could ya know... Heath
motions the international signal
for have sex again. Angelina
smiles.

ANGELINA
Yeah...we could do that...but can
you fix that hole in the door?
Heath jumps out of bed to fix the
door

CUT TO:

[TITLES]

INT. SEAN AND HEATH'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Heath stands at the stove cooking eggs as Angelina sits at
the table wearing his shirt from the night before.

HEATH
So that's when her pimp found me
and well...you get the jest of it
Angelina laughs and sighs

ANGELINA
You're crazy you know that

HEATH
So say my doctors and this
prescription of Zoloft

ANGELINA
You're cute though and funny

HEATH
Always good traits

ANGELINA
So tell me another amazing story

HEATH
Can't get enough of 'em can you?

ANGELINA
Nope

HEATH
Ow about SEAN and Lia's first kiss?

ANGELINA
You were there? Heath nods

FLASHBACK:

EXT. CHICAGO STREET - NIGHT

SEAN and Ophelia stand outside of her apartment building,
both of them are shuffling around the idea of a kiss

SEAN
So...I guess I'll see you later?

OPEHLIA
Yeah...I'll call you tomorrow,
maybe we can get coffee or
something The garbage can behind
them rattles and begins to speak

GARBAGE CAN
Kiss her! Ophelia looks around

OPEHLIA
Did you hear something? SEAN shrugs
it off

SEAN
No, what'd it sound like

GARBAGE CAN
Kiss her man!

OPEHLIA
It sounds like that garbage can is
talking SEAN smiles

SEAN
Hmm, never heard that one before
SEAN pulls her close and Opehlia
looks deeply into his eyes. The
smirk, then kiss.

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. SEAN AND HEATH'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Angelina is smiling from ear to ear

ANGELINA
Aww, how sweet

HEATH
You think that's sweet you
should've seen me at their dinner.

FLASHBACK:

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Angelina and SEAN are sitting at a table. The table across
from them shakes and the table cloth moves slightly.

TABLE ACROSS FROM THEM
Are you gonna eat your bread? They
both look over at the table.

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. SEAN AND HEATH'S APARTMENT - MORNING

There's a knock at the door Heath turns

HEATH
Wait don't tell me, you called
another friend who dated a friend
of mine. Angelina shakes her head

ANGELINA
Nope, didn't call anyone Heath
walks to the door and opens it.
Opehlia stands in the hall staring
back at him. Heath turns

HEATH
LIAR! Angelina giggles

ANGELINA
Lia what are you doing here?

OPEHLIA
Is he here? Heath looks around

HEATH
Unless he's hiding underneath a
couch... Heath gets down on the
ground and looks down underneath
the couch.

HEATH
Nope not there.

OPEHLIA
Do you know where he would be?

HEATH
Dunno...you want some breakfast?

OPEHLIA
I was just looking for SEAN but--

HEATH
Breakfast, come on you know you
want some...

OPEHLIA
No thanks Heath, I'm gonna go

HEATH
Do you want me to tell him you
stopped by?

OPEHLIA
No, I have a feeling on where he's
at.

EXT. GRANT PARK - BASEBALL FIELDS - MORNING

A catcher's mitt is taped to the backstop fence. A ball
smacks against it and falls to the ground. SEAN crouches on a
makeshift mound, after his full motion. He raises his right
hand to the brim of his hat and lifts it up off his face. He
stares in at the mitt and reaches down into his bag and gets
another ball. He grips the ball tight across the seams and
steps back into position. He puts the ball in his mitt and
fixes his hat down on his head. He turns and glares back in
at the mitt. He puts his hand back in his glove and grips the
ball. He bends over as if he's taking a signal from a
catcher. He raises his hands back up over his head, cocks
back and fires a fastball in at the catcher's glove, hitting
the leather square in the center. The ball pops back and
falls to the ground. The infield dirt crunches behind SEAN.
He turns and spots Opehlia.

OPEHLIA
Figured I'd find you here

SEAN
Yeah?

OPEHLIA
I remember you used to come out
here after class, is that the same
catcher's mitt? SEAN shakes his
head

SEAN
Yeah it is He takes his glove off
and puts it under his arm. SEAN
looks back up at her.

OPEHLIA
Listen, I'm--

SEAN
Did I ever tell you about the time
I threw a no hitter

OPEHLIA
I don't remember

SEAN
I was 12, it was one of those days
that just felt like it would last
forever. The first inning flew by,
three up three down and then the
second I stuck out the side, I
guess it wasn't till the top of the
that I realized what was going on.
It kinda hit me as I was walking
out onto the field. I remember
picking up that ball and looking at
the laces, it looked like it hadn't
even been touched. I forget the
score, but it couldn't have been
high, maybe 2 runs on our side. I
remember scuffing the rubber and
just putting my all into every
pitch. I used to love it ya know,
going out there and feeling like I
had the control. There's no other
position in sports where you have
more control over the game. I
loved...I still do. The game
didn't change, the rules never
changed, I changed. I quit.

OPEHLIA
SEAN you cant keep beating yourself
up over this

SEAN
I'm not

OPEHLIA
Yes you are, you've been beating
yourself up about this for years
now and seeing me is just making it
worse

SEAN
No I'm not

OPEHLIA
Just stop okay, just stop. I came
out here to apologize for the way I
treated you. You deserve better

SEAN
So is that the reason why you left?

OPEHLIA
I didn't have any other choice
SEAN, you were pushing me away

SEAN
I got scared

OPEHLIA
You could've fooled me, because I
swore it was the fact that you
hated me

SEAN
You've never had to make a decision
like that in your life

OPEHLIA
And now you're fighting with
yourself over if it was right?

SEAN
Should I have sold it?

OPEHLIA
You loved that story

SEAN
That doesn't answer my question

OPEHLIA
I don't know

SEAN
I stayed hear for you

OPEHLIA
It didn't feel like it

SEAN
I was angry okay, I've given up on
so many things, I wasn't going to
give up on that story...or you

OPEHLIA
Well you still have your story

SEAN
I could give a damn less about that
story now, I'd rather have you

OPEHLIA
I don't know if I can take that
chance again

SEAN
Why?

OPEHLIA
Because I don't know if I can deal
with the pain of giving back an
engagement ring again

SEAN
Lia, give me a chance

OPEHLIA
Give me time

SEAN
How much time?

OPEHLIA
I don't know, why are you planning
on leaving?

SEAN
Yeah...I might be

OPEHLIA
Where?

SEAN
The SouthSide Blues are having a
tryout in 2 weeks, season starts in
months. Opehlia shakes her head and
smiles

OPEHLIA
I can't believe you SEAN reaches
down and grabs another ball

SEAN
I quit once and I regret it, I'm
not quitting again

OPEHLIA
So you think you have a shot? SEAN
winds up and fires the ball, it
smacks against the mitt. He locks
back over at Opehlia

SEAN
I think I have a chance.

CUT TO: BLACK

[COMMERCIALS]

INT. SEAN AND HEATH'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Heath and Angelina are laying on the couch watching TV.

HEATH
I really do hate this show, all
they ever do is just sit around and
talk...no action at all

ANGELINA
Then why are we still watching it?

HEATH
I'm too lay to get up and get the
remote

ANGELINA
Good reason

HEATH
So what do you do for a living

ANGELINA
We just met yesterday, had sex
twice, and now your finally asking
what my job is

HEATH
Yeah...I'm trying to show interest
in your work

ANGELINA
I work over at H&M

HEATH
I see, that's kinda cool

ANGELINA
So what do you do?

HEATH
Um...well..I'm what people would
call a free-lancer, I do a wide
variety of tasks--

ANGELINA
You're unemployed aren't you

HEATH
Yes, but only for the moment being

ANGELINA
How long has it been since you've
had a job

HEATH
About 4 months

ANGELINA
How exactly do you live here then

HEATH
I pretty much leach off of SEAN

ANGELINA
Uh huh

HEATH
Maybe I shouldn't have brought up
the whole "job" thing

ANGELINA
Why do you say that?

HEATH
No reason, you cold, you want a
blanket or something

ANGELINA
Sure Heath gets up off of the
couch. The door opens and Charlie
enters.

HEATH
Hey Charlie, how's things Charlie
looks over at the couch

CHARLIE
Good, who's this? Angelina looks up
over the couch

HEATH
That's Angelina, Angelina meet
Charlie, Charlie Angelina Charlie
makes her way over to the couch and
shakes Angelina's hand.

CHARLIE
Nice to meet you

ANGELINA
You too

HEATH
I'm gonna go get that blanket Heath
exits into his room and comes back
holding two blankets.

HEATH
I didn't know if you wanted-- His
sentence is cut short as he see
Angelina and Charlie making out on
the couch

HEATH
Charlie, what the hell? Charlie
pulls back and smiles

CHARLIE
What, she started it! Angelina
smiles, then quickly gets stone
faced

ANGELINA
I'm sorry Heath its not you its
just...I've never felt like this
before

HEATH
Like what, having lesbian kisses on
my couch?

ANGELINA
I don't know why but I'm just
attracted you her

CHARLIE
Fine by me

HEATH
Not fine by me

ANGELINA
I'm so sorry Heath

CHARLIE
You wanna go back to my place, its
right across the hall Angelina nods
and they get up off of the couch
quickly and leave. Heath stands
there. He rubs his eyes, then
looks around the empty apartment.

HEATH
WHAT THE HELL!?!

EXT. GRANT PARK - BASEBALL FIELDS - AFTERNOON

SEAN, Heath, and Opehlia sit on the infield grass

SEAN
So how many women has Charlie
stolen from you now

HEATH
Six...I'm cursed

SEAN
You aren't cursed

OPHELIA
You have a bad track record with
picking up lesbians?

HEATH
Yeah, but was Angelina a lesbian?

OPEHLIA
I've known her for a couple of
months, but no, no signs of woman
loving

SEAN
Oh god, why did you say that

OPEHLIA
What?

HEATH
Its true then

SEAN
No it isn't

OPEHLIA
What's true?

HEATH
The theory

SEAN
Ah cripes not the theory, anything
but the theory

HEATH
Its true though SEAN, its so true

SEAN
Its only true because you make it
true

HEATH
No, no if that were the case then
these women would still be in my
bed or at worst case still in the
beds of other men

OPEHLIA
So wait, let me get this straight,
you think that you turn women gay?

HEATH
Yes

SEAN
What about all those women you
slept with at work?

FLASHBACK:

INT. HOTEL OFFICE - TIMELESS

The HOTEL MANAGER sits across from Heath, a large desk
separates them. The hotel manager looks down at a clipboard
then back up at Heath Heath smiles meekly

HOTEL MANAGER
Heath, there's a slight difference
here in the cases that I've had in
the past

HEATH
That being?

HOTEL MANAGER
Well normally it isn't this drastic

HEATH
Such as

HOTEL MANAGER
Well for starters you can't sleep
with hotel guests.

HEATH
Oh really...was that in the
contract

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. GRANT PARK - BASEBALL FIELDS - AFTERNOON

Heath nods

HEATH
I checked my contract and it wasn't

SEAN
My point being the number of
lesbians would've doubled over the
six months that you held that job

HEATH
I leave to get her a blanket and
she goes gay on me, how does this
happen

SEAN
Charlie is like a magnet for bi
curious women you know that

HEATH
Well she should go be curious
somewhere else...I think this was a
sign that she wasn't the right girl
for me

SEAN
Well yeah, it couldn't have been
more of a blatant sign unless it
was neon and glowing

HEATH
(to Opehlia)
Can you shut him up?

OPEHLIA
SEAN, shut up

SEAN
What I'm just saying that he has to
get over this and move on, dwelling
over this is just going to make it
worse and saying that you're cursed
is just going to make it all happen
all over again.

HEATH
It isn't that easy

SEAN
What about the girl on the
elevator?

HEATH
What I made a move on her the other
day

FLASHBACK:

INT. ELEVATOR - TIMELESS

Heath looks over at GORGEOUS GIRL

HEATH
What floor?

GORGEOUS GIRL
please

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. GRANT PARK - BASEBALL FIELDS - MORNING

SEAN shakes his head

SEAN
Great so now you know what floor
she lives on, all you have to do is
knock on every door with a single
red rose in your hand

HEATH
And pray that she isn't in there
with her girlfriend

SEAN
Doesn't "Bad Smelling Bubba" live
on that floor

HEATH
He does

OPEHLIA
"Bad Smelling Bubba"?

SEAN
Construction worker, you can tell
when Bubba has just gotten off the
elevator

HEATH
Smells like raw sewage

OPEHLIA
How...pleasant

SEAN
Could you imagine her being Bubba's
girlfriend? Heath shudders

HEATH
Stop, okay, stop, you're gonna turn
me gay

OPEHLIA
Does he know the good news?

HEATH
What good news

SEAN
Didn't have the heart to tell him

HEATH
What good news?

OPEHLIA
SEAN I trying out for the Blues

HEATH
Hockey?

SEAN
Minor league team, plays down in
Bridgeport

HEATH
Well donny my brook and call me
Maria Osmond, My little SEAN is
gonna play some base to the ball

SEAN
Glad you're feeling better

HEATH
Of course I am, that means you're
gonna go on road trips right, which
means I can bring women over to the
casa

SEAN
And create more lesbians?

HEATH
Hey if they keep making out in
front of me, I wont need 'em to be
straight.

[COMMERCIALS]

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Heath sits in the living room, his cell phone in one hand and
the phone book in the other. He has his phone to his ear

HEATH
Hi, yes, is this Elizabeth Wright?
[PAUSE] Ah, yes, well you stayed at
the Hotel Chicago... He looks down
at a paper in front of him

HEATH
months ago? [PAUSE] Yes, well I was
curious um...are you a lesbian now?
[PAUSE] Does that mean yes? [PAUSE]
Yes...[PAUSE] Hello? Hello? Heath
hangs up his phone as SEAN enters

HEATH
Damn it

SEAN
SEAN Another telemarketer

HEATH
No worse..they're all lesbians

SEAN
The women's lacrosse team? I
already knew that.

HEATH
No...the women I slept with at the
hotel. All six that I could get to
stay on the line after I asked the
question said yes. I even talked
to the "partner" of one of them.

SEAN
Nice...so that's 6 out of...?

HEATH
SEAN That's good odds, I suppose,
at least it isn't 100 Percent

HEATH
Yeah...so how'd things go with Lia?

SEAN
Walked her home

HEATH
And?

SEAN
Met her new boyfriend

HEATH
What?

CUT TO: BLACK

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Heath stands in shock and awe staring at SEAN. SEAN pops open
a bottle of Coca Cola and takes a sip

HEATH
You're flickin' kidding me right?
SEAN shakes his head

SEAN
Nuh-uh SEAN pulls out another
bottle of Coke and offers it Heath.
Heath obliges and pops the top off
the bottle. He still stares at SEAN

HEATH
Boyfriend? SEAN takes another sip

SEAN
Boyfriend

HEATH
Can I ask who?

SEAN
You may want to sit down Heath
pulls out a chair

HEATH
This is bad isn't

SEAN
Could be worse

HEATH
Really?

SEAN
EH...not really

HEATH
Who?

SEAN
BUSKINS

HEATH
No

SEAN
Yes

HEATH
She's back with Buskins

SEAN
Yeah, sad isn't it?

HEATH
Is there a word beyond sad?

SEAN
Mirthless

HEATH
Mirthless isn't it?

SEAN
Sounds good to me

HEATH
She sleeping with him

SEAN
I try not to imagine her having sex
with anyone but me

HEATH
Yeah I have the same problem

SEAN
Its a tricky situation

HEATH
So what're you gonna do...kung fu
aerobics?

SEAN
No I was thinking maybe I could, ya
know try and woo her from his
clutches

HEATH
Uh huh, his bear-like claw grip

SEAN
He doesn't love her

HEATH
And you do? SEAN stand there for a
moment

HEATH
You do don't you?

SEAN
Have you ever woke up in the
morning, walked to the bathroom,
ran some water in the sink, cupped
it up in your hands, splashed the
water on your face, then looked up
in the mirror and muttered to
yourself, "What have I done wrong?"

HEATH
No, can't say that I have

SEAN
Yeah, neither have I

HEATH
You're such a damn hopeless
romantic

SEAN
That I am

HEATH
So this plan, does it involve lime
Jell-O

SEAN
What plan of mine doesn't?

[TITLES]

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Heath plops down on the sofa and looks over at a slouched
SEAN in the recliner

HEATH
So what happened?

SEAN
Well...

FLASHBACK:

EXT. OPHELIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

SEAN decks Buskins in the face sending the slightly larger
man reeling.

HEATH (O.S.)
HOLD THE PHONE

FLASHFOWARD:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Heath is sitting on the edge of the sofa now

HEATH
That can't be what happened SEAN
raises his hand and shows his
bruised knuckles to Heath

SEAN
Either I hit a brick wall...or a
wall of human flesh

HEATH
You hit him?

SEAN
He was talking sh--

HEATH
You HIT him!

SEAN
Yeah...I hit him...not a crowning
moment in my life, but I did it

HEATH
Does it hurt, did it hurt, how'd it
feel?

SEAN
It felt good at the time, but I
think I broke my fingers

HEATH
Nah...probably not

SEAN
It was stupid

HEATH
What'd he say?

SEAN
Tryouts are next week, this has to
heal

HEATH
What'd he say?

SEAN
Should I ice this?

HEATH
WHAT DID HE SAY?

SEAN
He called me a liar

HEATH
He said those exact words

SEAN
Do you want the whole story?

HEATH
It'd be nice

FLASHBACK:

EXT. OPHELIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Ophelia and SEAN are walking down the street to her apartment
building

SEAN
I'm glad you found me

OPHELIA
I'm just glad you're talking to me
again

SEAN
How could I not...? I missed you
Lia

OPHELIA
I missed you too

SEAN
Listen about that night--

OPHELIA
Its in the past

SEAN
It isn't its looking me in the eye
right now and I'm sorry

OPHELIA
You took your chance, things
happen, its life, ya know

SEAN
No, no its not life, its a mistake,
a mistake I made and I don't ant to
make again

OPHELIA
What do you mean?

BUSKINS (O.C.)
What's going on? SEAN and Ophelia
spot Buskins a few steps ahead of
them sitting on the stoop of
Opehlia's apartment. Ophelia smiles
and walks over to him casually.
SEAN slides back, almost hiding in
whatever shadow he can find.
Buskins looks directly at him

BUSKINS
Its you? SEAN looks around behind
him, then points to himself

SEAN
Its me?

BUSKINS
What're you up to?

SEAN
Not much, just catching up with an
old friend

BUSKINS
Well have a good night Buskins
pulls Ophelia with him up the
steps. Ophelia pulls back a little

OPHELIA
Wait, SEAN do you want to go get
some coffee tomorrow or--

SEAN
Yeah, I'd love to Buskins stops and
gives SEAN a glare Ophelia steps
back, she isn't getting in the
middle of this any longer.

SEAN
Got something to add there chief?

BUSKINS
Yeah, maybe you could leave me and
my girlfriend alone

SEAN
Is that a threat?

BUSKINS
Yeah it is

SEAN
A little unfounded isn't it?
Buskins steps down from the stoop
and stands a couple inches from
SEAN

BUSKINS
Not the way I see it

SEAN
Well how do you see it?

BUSKINS
You broke her heart once--

SEAN
And so did you

BUSKINS
Yeah, but not half as bad as you

SEAN
Nah, you just stole her car,
drained her bank account and got
piss drunk all the time...nah
that's all good though

BUSKINS
I don't even know you, but I know I
don't like you

SEAN
Hmm, how poetic...here's a little
poem for you. Roses are red/
violets are blue. You better step
back before I kick your ass. I
know its doesn't rhyme...but it
gets my point across

BUSKINS
Take your best shot

OPHELIA
Will you two stop?

SEAN
Aww, but we were just getting to
the fun part

OPHELIA
SEAN, leave him alone

SEAN
He started it

BUSKINS
Leave us both alone

SEAN
I saw her shed tears over you and
to tell you the truth it was a
waste, you never gave a damn about
her that way that I did

BUSKINS
Well that was the past

SEAN
That was 5 minutes ago, before I
found out that she went back with
you after I broke her heart

BUSKINS
Yeah, you broke her heart

SEAN
Yeah, but I loved her with more of
mine then I could ever express in
words Buskins pokes a finger into
SEAN's chest

BUSKINS
Yeah well you were just lying to
her

SEAN
You better move that finger from my
chest pal

BUSKINS
Why's that?

SEAN
Well if you don't I'll remove it
for you.

BUSKINS
Prove it

SEAN
'kay SEAN cocks his fist back and
decks Buskins square in the jaw.
Buskins reels back and falls to the
ground. SEAN shakes his hand in a
little bit of pain

SEAN
Nice meeting you by the way Opehlia
looks at SEAN from the stairs. SEAN
turns without saying a word and
walks away.

FLASHFOWARD:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Heath shakes his head

HEATH
Now THAT'S a first meeting

SEAN
I told her I never wanted to see
him

HEATH
So how are you going to recover
form that

SEAN
I don't know I just...it was raw
and pure and--

HEATH
It felt pretty good didn't it?

SEAN
Better than sex

HEATH
Now you know how I feel everyday

SEAN
You don't deck guys in the face
every day

HEATH
Nah...but I wish I did

SEAN
Heath--

HEATH
I know

SEAN
How do I tell her?

HEATH
What?

SEAN
I thought you said you knew

HEATH
I did

SEAN
Well what do you know?

HEATH
That I'm the coolest guy in the
world

SEAN
I love her still

HEATH
Oh...OH...oh no, no, no, no, you
can't

SEAN
I have to

HEATH
Why did you end this in the first
place then?

SEAN
I was stupid and work got in the
way

HEATH
And now?

SEAN
You ever go without a certain type
of food, say steak, for a long
time, then you get just a nibble of
it and want more?

HEATH
Yeah, but Lia isn't a delicious
steak SEAN, if you truly love her
you're gonna have to eat steak fro
the rest of your life

SEAN
I'm willing to eat steak for every
meal of the day for the rest of my
life

HEATH
All this talk of steak is making me
hungry.

SEAN
Me too?

HEATH
So what's the plan? SEAN shrugs

SEAN
Let's discuss it over dinner SEAN
gets up and Heath follows

HEATH
Yes, lets

SEAN
How's that lesbian thing going by
the way?

HEATH
Oh well we should have plenty of
time to discuss how to deal with
that... Heath and SEAN head out the
door

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS - NEARING DUSK

SEAN shoves his hands into his pockets as Heath continues to
babble on

HEATH
...so personally I think I'm cursed

SEAN
I doubt that very highly

HEATH
I turned 6 women gay...how can I
not be cursed

SEAN
Maybe being gay is just a natural
thing and you turned them to their
normal nature

HEATH
How can you always find the bright
side of things

SEAN
Its a gift

HEATH
And I guess so is that Heath points
off in front of them where Ophelia
is crossing the street

SEAN
I guess so Ophelia stops at the
crosswalk SEAN steps up next to her

SEAN
I'm sorry She looks over with a
little glare in her eye

OPEHLIA
So you're stalking me now Heath
steps up on her other side

HEATH
Actually this is hat you'd call a
coincidence, we were honestly
getting a bite to eat

OPEHLIA
I see

SEAN
I'm sorry I punched him

OPEHLIA
Don't you mean, I'm sorry for being
a jerk

SEAN
I'm sorry for being a jerk...and an
ass, but you have to understand--

OPEHLIA
No I don't, you just don't even
listen to me

SEAN
About what

OPEHLIA
Why did you punch him?

SEAN
Because your boyfriend was pissing
me off

OPEHLIA
He isn't my boyfriend The walk sign
comes to life and she heads into
the street

SEAN
Wait what? Heath pats SEAN on the
back

HEATH
I'm gonna go get a hotdog Heath
leaves SEAN follows Opehlia

OPEHLIA
See you really don't listen

SEAN
So you aren't dating him

OPEHLIA
No

SEAN
Are you sleeping with him?

OPEHLIA
I don't think that's any of your
business

SEAN
Are you?

OPEHLIA
No, it isn't like that, it hasn't
been like that since--

SEAN
Before you met me

OPEHLIA
He's just my friend

SEAN
So he was being a major jag for
what reason then?

OPEHLIA
He doesn't like you, he never has

SEAN
What did I do to him

OPEHLIA
You made me happy, something he
could never do

SEAN
Lia, I just got caught up in the
moment and acted like a kid and...I
don't know what else to say besides
sorry

OPEHLIA
See that's the thing SEAN, you
always say you're sorry, but for
some reason I'm not believing you
this time

SEAN
Why's that?

OPEHLIA
Because you were jealous of him
since we started dating

SEAN
And I didn't have a right to be?

OPEHLIA
No, you didn't because I didn't
love him the way I love you

SEAN
But...wait...love...that's present
tense

OPEHLIA
I've gotta get going

SEAN
Lia Ophelia continues to walk away

SEAN
Ophelia She doesn't stop, she just
walks faster into the crowd Heath
returns with a hotdog

HEATH
How'd it go? SEAN shakes his head

SEAN
I blew it

HEATH
Hmm...she's still in sight,
shouldn't you run after her?

SEAN
And say what?

HEATH
I dunno, maybe, "I love you" that
usually works for me

SEAN
Yeah and you usually date lesbians

HEATH
Hey shut up I got the hotdog vendor
chick's phone number

SEAN
At least we know she loves wiener

HEATH
Indeed Ophelia walks around the
corner and leans up against the
building. Tears starts to well in
her eyes

FLASHBACK:

EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - DUSK

Opehlia and SEAN sit in the dugout of a baseball field.
They're close together on the bench, snuggling as the sun
sets

OPEHLIA
So you think they're gonna give you
a call back?

SEAN
I don't know I don't think I had my
best stuff today

OPEHLIA
I don't know about that

SEAN
You weren't even here

OPEHLIA
Really now

SEAN
When did you show up

OPEHLIA
About 3 pitches into your rotation

SEAN
And?

OPEHLIA
Well I thought you were
incredible...the coaches though
thought you were, ya know She
smiles

SEAN
What? What'd they say?

OPEHLIA
I believe the phrase was, "Show
material"

SEAN
You're kidding me

OPEHLIA
The gun said 98 SEAN... SEAN smirks

SEAN
God I hope I make it

OPEHLIA
Me too

SEAN
So when I'm on the road...?

OPEHLIA
I'm coming with, I'll get a room
across from yours SEAN chuckles

OPEHLIA
I'll watch every one of your games

SEAN
I know...you'll be there for
me...you always have

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS - DUSK

Ophelia leans against the wall and crosses her hands over her
heart

OPEHLIA
I'll always be there for you... She
gets back up off of the wall and
heads back around the corner. She
runs right back into SEAN They both
stop

SEAN
We need to talk...

OPEHLIA
Yeah, we do

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS - NEARING DUSK

SEAN shoves his hands into his pockets as Heath continues to
babble on

HEATH
...so personally I think I'm cursed

SEAN
I doubt that very highly

HEATH
I turned 6 women gay...how can I
not be cursed

SEAN
Maybe being gay is just a natural
thing and you turned them to their
normal nature

HEATH
How can you always find the bright
side of things

SEAN
Its a gift

HEATH
And I guess so is that Heath points
off in front of them where Ophelia
is crossing the street

SEAN
I guess so Ophelia stops at the
crosswalk SEAN steps up next to her

SEAN
I'm sorry She looks over with a
little glare in her eye

OPEHLIA
So you're stalking me now Heath
steps up on her other side

HEATH
Actually this is what you'd call a
coincidence, we were honestly
getting a bite to eat

OPEHLIA
I see

SEAN
I'm sorry I punched him

OPEHLIA
Don't you mean, I'm sorry for being
a jerk

SEAN
I'm sorry for being a jerk...and an
ass, but you have to understand--

OPEHLIA
No I don't, you just don't even
listen to me

SEAN
About what

OPEHLIA
Why did you punch him?

SEAN
Because your boyfriend was pissing
me off

OPEHLIA
He isn't my boyfriend The walk sign
comes to life and she heads into
the street

SEAN
Wait what? Heath pats SEAN on the
back

HEATH
I'm gonna go get a hotdog Heath
leaves SEAN follows Opehlia

OPEHLIA
See you really don't listen

SEAN
So you aren't dating him

OPEHLIA
No

SEAN
Are you sleeping with him?

OPEHLIA
I don't think that's any of your
business

SEAN
Are you?

OPEHLIA
No, it isn't like that, it hasn't
been like that since--

SEAN
Before you met me

OPEHLIA
He's just my friend

SEAN
So he was being a major jag for
what reason then?

OPEHLIA
He doesn't like you, he never has

SEAN
What did I do to him

OPEHLIA
You made me happy, something he
could never do

SEAN
Lia, I just got caught up in the
moment and acted like a kid and...I
don't know what else to say besides
sorry

OPEHLIA
See that's the thing SEAN, you
always say you're sorry, but for
some reason I'm not believing you
this time

SEAN
Why's that?

OPEHLIA
Because you were jealous of him
since we started dating

SEAN
And I didn't have a right to be?

OPEHLIA
No, you didn't because I didn't
love him the way I love you

SEAN
But...wait...love...that's present
tense

OPEHLIA
I've gotta get going

SEAN
Lia Ophelia continues to walk away

SEAN
Ophelia She doesn't stop, she just
walks faster into the crowd Heath
returns with a hotdog

HEATH
How'd it go? SEAN shakes his head

SEAN
I blew it

HEATH
Hmm...she's still in sight,
shouldn't you run after her?

SEAN
And say what?

HEATH
I dunno, maybe, "I love you" that
usually works for me

SEAN
Yeah and you usually date lesbians

HEATH
Hey shut up I got the hotdog vendor
chick's phone number

SEAN
At least we know she loves wiener

HEATH
Indeed Ophelia walks around the
corner and leans up against the
building. Tears starts to well in
her eyes

FLASHBACK:

EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - DUSK

Opehlia and SEAN sit in the dugout of a baseball field.
They're close together on the bench, snuggling as the sun
sets

OPEHLIA
So you think they're gonna give you
a call back?

SEAN
I don't know I don't think I had my
best stuff today

OPEHLIA
I don't know about that

SEAN
You weren't even here

OPEHLIA
Really now

SEAN
When did you show up

OPEHLIA
About 3 pitches into your rotation

SEAN
And?

OPEHLIA
Well I thought you were
incredible...the coaches though
thought you were, ya know She
smiles

SEAN
What? What'd they say?

OPEHLIA
I believe the phrase was, "Show
material"

SEAN
You're kidding me

OPEHLIA
The gun said 98 SEAN... SEAN smirks

SEAN
God I hope I make it

OPEHLIA
Me too

SEAN
So when I'm on the road...?

OPEHLIA
I'm coming with, I'll get a room
across from yours SEAN chuckles

OPEHLIA
I'll watch every one of your games

SEAN
I know...you'll be there for
me...you always have

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS - DUSK

Ophelia leans against the wall and crosses her hands over her
heart

OPEHLIA
I'll always be there for you... She
gets back up off of the wall and
heads back around the corner. She
runs right back into SEAN They both
stop

SEAN
We need to talk...

OPEHLIA
Yeah, we do

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

EXT. HOTDOG PLACE - DUSK

Heath stands outside of the hotdog place. A beautiful girl
walks out and spots him. She approaches, ita HOTDOG GIRL

HOTDOG GIRL
Hey, Heath...right? Heath nods

HEATH
Yep, so was work good?

HOTDOG GIRL
I guess, kinda boring after you
left

HEATH
I bet

HOTDOG GIRL
Yeah, its not every day a guy hits
on you with the line, "so you like
mustard?"

HEATH
I strive for the original route

HOTDOG GIRL
Yeah, I can tell

HEATH
So whatchu wanna do?

HOTDOG GIRL
I dunno maybe walk out under the
city lights or something

HEATH
Cool, cool, I have a quick question
for you

HOTDOG GIRL
Shoot

HEATH
You aren't nor ever have been a
lesbian or had any type of
homosexual thoughts by any chance
have you?

HOTDOG GIRL
I made out with another girl at
camp once...

HEATH
Very hot

HOTDOG GIRL
Why are you asking

HEATH
No reason, how about we go on that
walk Hotdog Girl and Heath walk
away as Heath slips his arm over
her shoulder.

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NEARING DUSK

The door flings open, HEATH and HOT DOG girl are in a
tumultuous make out session that leads them to a fall over
the couch. Heath latches onto Hot Dog Girl She lets out a
little screech

HOT DOG GIRL
Ouch ouch Heath struggles to
upright himself

HEATH
Sorry, I just got a little Hot Dog
Girl doesn't let him get another
breath in, she kisses him hard and
Heath just shrugs off the injury
She pulls back and looks at him

HOT DOG GIRL
Whats your name Heath is a little
bit shocked

HEATH
What?

HOT DOG GIRL
Your name, I'm making out with you
and your nameless to me, name, what
is it

HEATH
I thought I told you

HOT DOG GIRL
Well if you did I don't know it

HEATH
Does it really matter

HOT DOG GIRL
No... She kisses him, but then
stops

HOT DOG GIRL
Yeah, yes, it does

HEATH
I'm Heath...and you are?

HOT DOG GIRL
You don't know my name

HEATH
You never told me

HOT DOG GIRL
Its on my name tag, didn't you see
it

HEATH
When I was looking at your chest I
wasn't looking at your name tag

HOT DOG GIRL
Ugh Hot Dog Girl pushes herself off
of him

HEATH
It was a joke

HOT DOG GIRL
Typical male

HEATH
Hey your the one that started this

HOT DOG GIRL
Yeah well I'm finishing this

HEATH
Are you kidding me its been like 22
minutes, you can't end something
within 22 minutes, things don't
even start till the 30th minute Hot
Dog Girl fixes her hair and hurries
to the door

HOT DOG GIRL
Well when you get the math figured
out let me know Hot Dog Girl slams
the door behind her as she leaves
Heath slumps back down on the couch

HEATH
Jimmy Christmas...note to self
never touch lips with a girl who
works with pork, raccoon, and worm
products ever again He flops back
on the couch

[TITLES]

EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - NEARING DUSK

Sean and Opehlia sit in the grass just alongside the dirt of
the field. Sean scoops some up in his hand and lets it
trickle off his fingers, hitting the ground with a puff.

FLASHBACK:

EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - 2 YEARS AGO

Josh sits down in the grass, just like he is 2 years later
Ophelia approaches, a stunned look on her face

OPHELIA
Are you okay, I got your message
and... Sean motions for her to sit
down

SEAN
Sit down She doesn't

OPHELIA
What's wrong?

SEAN
Nothing

OPHELIA
Liar, what's wrong, are you sick?

SEAN
I just...I have some things to tell
you and I don't want you to get mad
or upset or anything like that
Ophelia is getting a little leary

OPHELIA
I don't like conversations that
start like this

SEAN
Normally neither do I, but I have
to say this

OPHELIA
Okay

SEAN
I sat down today and read some
stuff...probably shouldn't have
read it, but I did. It was old,
way before I'm sure rational
thought could pass by in my mind. I
read this line in this note from a
girl I knew, it was after I broke
up with the first girl that I
honestly and truly loved (there's
only 4 of those to date) and this
other girl wrote down this line in
perfect cursive and it ripped
through every seam that was holding
my heart together at that time.
It read, "the first love of your
life will always be with you and
you should cherish that." I
chuckle now at that line, because
it's bullshit. Complete and utter
bullshit. Love isn't a feeling that
can be had with more then one
person at the same moment. Love is
an individual emotion that is
attached to one person, if you love
two people you aren't really in
love, you're split because in the
end you love parts of them, not the
whole package. I read these things
though and I thought about you,
about what I've done wrong over so
many days and months and years, I
thought about just the way my life
has been and who I am right now. I
know why you fight tooth and nail
for me now, but I still question
what makes me so much better than
anyone else? Who am I to be
anyone's love? Who am I to even
say that word? Do I love you, yes,
more then I could imagine, but that
word carries so much power. It can
bend and break even the strongest
in the world. Look who wields this
power though, the immature, the
hopeless, the dramatists, and the
confused. Are we ever sure if the
emotion we are feeling is love or
are we just lying to ourselves
again. See if you're questioning
the hopes and fears and the tears
that come with love, then it never
was love to begin with. Love
begins with heartache and ends with
heartache, but of a different kind.
Do you still love him? No. Did
you love him? That's for you to
decided, because I guess in the end
I'm just an innocent bystander to
all of this, I was never there, I
can't weigh in on something I never
saw in action. All I know right
now is, that I do love you and
yeah, I compared what I went
through what you went through and
you had it a lot harder then I ever
did.
I'm not saying all of this to piss
you off or make you cry (I did both
of those in that order actually),
I'm saying this because I know that
I can do better, I want to do
better and when getting that shot,
I feel this pressure that I can't
even describe...and I like it. I
love pressure, when its all on the
line give me the ball, you know
that's how I am. I just guess I
had to confess to you that I read
everything and as much as I'd like
to beat the hell out of him for
what he did, I'm glad that he's
blind, because without his
ignorance I wouldn't have you. I
love you and they were wrong,
because the love I'll never forget
is you.

OPHELIA
Sean, I don't know what to say

SEAN
Say that you love me and you always
will

OPHELIA
Baby, I love you more then I can
even say Sean leans in close

SEAN
Does this describe it? They kiss

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - NEARING DUSK

SEAN
So you wanted to talk Opehlia loks
around at the surroundings

OPEHLIA
And you brought me to the greatest
spot ever for that

SEAN
Its quite, serene

OPEHLIA
The place you took me for a date
Sean smirks a little

SEAN
Glad you remember

OPEHLIA
How could I forget Sean, I never
forgot a moment with you Sean leans
back on his hands

SEAN
So the galoot, what's he here for?

OPEHLIA
What's he always here for

SEAN
To try and get in your pants

OPEHLIA
Well I'm sure that's what he wants

SEAN
Is that what you want? Opehlia gets
a bit defeinsive

OPEHLIA
No, I can't believe you'd even ask
me that Sean shakes his head in
confusion

SEAN
How am I supposed to know

OPEHLIA
How can you not Sean, you know me,
you know what happened last time...
Opehlia trails off

SEAN
Yeah, yeah I remember, I heard the
whole story when we sat down on our
second date

OPEHLIA
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pour
that on you, how many times do I
have to apologize for that

SEAN
You never had to, that's the thing
Lia, you never had to apologize for
your past...but you always did
Opehlia tries to comfort him

OPEHLIA
Its was the past Sean

SEAN
Yeah and I thought you and I were
the past too

OPEHLIA
Do you want us to be, do you want
me to just disappear and never come
back?

SEAN
No

OPEHLIA
Then what do you want Sean? What
do you want me to do

SEAN
I just want it to be all okay

OPEHLIA
The reason it isn't is because you
aren't letting it

SEAN
How can I...I left here, went out
into the world expecting never to
come back...but I had to, I failed
Lia, I failed and I had to come
back and face failure around every
corner when someone asked me,
"How'd the pitch go?" Or "When are
you getting me a PA job on the set
of your movie?" She looks deep into
his eyes

OPEHLIA
I know it was hard for you Sean, it
was hard for me too He shares the
stare with her

SEAN
The thing is, I knew that, I know
that, it was so hard for both of
us...I just never thought I'd have
to face you again

OPEHLIA
Why am I that horrible and awful
and---

SEAN
No...because I failed you Sean
looks away, trying to hide the
tension that's building Opehlia
reaches out and grabs his chin,
pulling his eyes back to hers

OPEHLIA
No you didn't Sean, in my eyes
you'll never fail

SEAN
Don't lie to me Lia

OPEHLIA
I never have

SEAN
So what are we supposed to do?

OPEHLIA
I don't know...things didn't really
go as we planned did they

SEAN
No they didn't, no exactly Sean
places his hand over Opehlia's. She
looks down at it

SEAN
We took the long way around, to get
back to the same place Opehlia
leans in about to kiss Sean when---

SEAN
Wait... She pulls back

OPEHLIA
What?

SEAN
I can't

OPEHLIA
What?

SEAN
I can't do this, it isn't fair to
you there's just

OPEHLIA
You can't

SEAN
I just broke up with Mia and...

OPEHLIA
You love her?

SEAN
I thought I did

OPEHLIA
Thought?

SEAN
I guess I took for granted at the
time what we had when we had it

OPEHLIA
And now

SEAN
Now I wish that I could just kiss
you and fall back into it

OPEHLIA
But

SEAN
But I don't want to hurt you

OPEHLIA
I think I understand

SEAN
So I guess we have to answer that
inevitable question

OPEHLIA
What do we do?

SEAN
The "just friends" thing never
really worked for us

OPEHLIA
It just led to the "just friends
who fell madly in love with each
other"

SEAN
And leaving it entitles led to us
sleeping together

OPEHLIA
How about we just say that we're
acquaintances

SEAN
Sounds dignified

OPEHLIA
Refined

SEAN
A dignified, refined lie to
ourselves

OPEHLIA
I don't want to sound like a bitch
but---

SEAN
Just give me time

OPEHLIA
How much time

SEAN
Lord knows

OPEHLIA
Well I guess I've got nothing but
time

SEAN
Seems the same for me too

OPEHLIA
So...

SEAN
So...

OPEHLIA
Are you seriously trying out for
the Blues? Sean smirks

SEAN
I remember promising you I would

OPEHLIA
That was a long time ago

SEAN
A promise made in your kitchen must
exceed the bounds of your kitchen

OPEHLIA
You been practicing?

SEAN
A lil

OPEHLIA
Need any help?

SEAN
Always Opehlia and Sean get up off
the grass

FADE TO:

[COMMERCIALS]

INT HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - DUSK

Heath is still lying on the couch, dreaming Sean enters with
Opehlia in tow

OPEHLIA
Aww, he's so cute when he's
sleeping... Heath rolls over

HEATH
No, I don't want to dance with the
polar bear Opehlia smirks at him
Sean shakes his head

SEAN
Oh wait, it gets better

HEATH
No it isn't roast beef! Sean
reaches over the couch and pushes
Heath off of it. Heath hits the
floor, then jolts up, alive and
awake

HEATH
Polar bear dream again?

SEAN
Got to the roast beef this time

HEATH
That's why I'm hungry

OPEHLIA
You should see a doctor about that

HEATH
Hunger

SEAN
The dreams, he has, and she said...

HEATH
That its a healthy expression of my
childhood psyche

OPEHLIA
Uh huh

SEAN
You wanna go get something to eat?

HEATH
Sure, where at?

SEAN
I don't know, where do you guys
wanna go?

OPEHLIA
Chinese?

HEATH
Anywhere where the women aren't
turning lesbian

SEAN
You turned hotdog girl?

HEATH
No she left in a huff

SEAN
About?

HEATH
I'll explain later

SEAN
You didn't

HEATH
What?

OPEHLIA
What was her real name?

HEATH
Umm

SEAN
You did...

HEATH
Its an honest mistake

SEAN
Did she have a name tag on?

HEATH
Presumably yes

OPEHLIA
And you want me to find him a date?

HEATH
Who me?

SEAN
Yes you, hopeless

HEATH
I think I'll enjoy the bachelor
life for a little while

SEAN
(to Ophelia)
Better cancel with Heather then

HEATH
Heather?

OPEHLIA
You remember her?

HEATH
From the neck down yes, fill me in
from chin to hair ends

SEAN
Heath, food or no?

HEATH
Heck-um yes I'm coming...give me a
quick sec to throw on some
deodorant Heath runs to his room

OPEHLIA
He's cute...

SEAN
In that ugly puppy sort of way
There's a knock at the door.
Sean rolls his eyes and walks to
the door, he opens it to find
Charlie. She looks around Sean and
spots Ophelia

SEAN
Can I help you?

CHARLIE
LIA!?! Opehlia looks around Sean

OPEHLIA
Oh my god, Charlie! Charlie pushes
Sean out of the way and the two
girls hug Heath returns, he looks
at the two hugging girls

HEATH
Ah crap there goes another one to
the homosexual team Charlie smirks
at Heath

CHARLIE
Nice to see you too

HEATH
A pleasure always

SEAN
What're you--

CHARLIE
Saw Lia come down the hall with you
and thought I should swing by and
see her, its been like what 2
years? Heath looks bewildered

HEATH
What do you have X-Ray vision or
something?

CHARLIE
Yes Heath, it comes standard on all
lesbians

HEATH
Damn...I wanna be a lesbian

SEAN
Technically you already are

HEATH
But wouldn't that require me being
a woman...?
Sean nods Heath stands in silence
for a second...then it hits him

HEATH
Oh...oh...not cool man, not cool

OPEHLIA
Some things never change

CHARLIE
You actually thought these two
would?

OPEHLIA
I was hoping they didn't

CHARLIE
So are you guys doing something
tonight?

SEAN
We're actually on our way out to
get something to eat

OPEHLIA
You wanna come with?

CHARLIE
Sure, let me just go grab my bag

HEATH
But...but...

OPEHLIA
What?

HEATH
Heather's coming and...

CHARLIE
Heath, I won't steal your date

HEATH
Yeah I've heard that before

FLASHBACK:

INT. - SEAN AND HEATH'S APARTMENT - HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF THEIR

DOOR - NIGHT

Heath stands with Charlie, HER DATE and HIS DATE. HIS DATE
looks to Heath and smiles

HIS DATE
I had a great time...

HEATH
Yeah, so did I

HIS DATE
Good night She gives him a soft
kiss on the cheek and she turns.
HIS DATE and HER DATE enter
Charlie's apartment. The door
slams shut on Heath

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. SEAN AND HEATH'S APARTMENT - DUSK

Heath shakes his head

HEATH
Say your sorry for that

CHARLIE
I did...I even sent you a thank you
card

SEAN
Okay this is getting weirder and
more disturbing by the minute, can
we just go? Sean pushes the rest of
them out the door

HEATH
And remember the time after that
when I brought home the twins? Sean
pushes Heath out the door and shuts
it behind them.

EXT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The group walks out onto the sidewalk in front of the
building. Sean takes the lead and begins to walk backwards

SEAN
So where to? They all mumble places
to go as Sean continues to walk
backwards. He steps out into the
street

SEAN
Well we gotta make a decision
because--- A car horn blasts

CUT TO BLACK:

IN BLACK

OPEHLIA
SEAN NO! The sound of a car
slamming into human flesh rips
through the darkness. Crying,
sobbing, and screaming can be
heard...

HEATH
SOMEBODY CALL AN AMBULANCE!

OPEHLIA
Sean...Sean no...Sean...

AUDIO FADE:

IN BLACK The sounds of a heart monitor beeping and the bustle
and hustle of a hospital

SOUNDS FADE

FADE IN:

EXT. PARK - CHICAGO - AFTERNOON

BOTTOM RIGHT CARD: 2 years ago A younger looking SEAN,
sporting a Chicago Cubs hat, and HEATH sit near the sidewalk,
watching people walk past

SEAN
I realize it isn't easy, but things
happen for a reason

HEATH
Yeah, but why don't these "things"
happen to other people besides me?

SEAN
Its all a test

HEATH
I'm sick of tests

SEAN
So am I, you think you're the only
one that has to go through this,
you're not, we all do and those of
us that make it through get our
ultimate prize

HEATH
That being?

SEAN
Whatever it is that we were
searching fro in the first place

HEATH
I just need a girlfriend

SEAN
No you don't

HEATH
I think I do

SEAN
No, you never "need" a woman, never
in your life do you "need" anyone
or anything...outside of food and
water of course

HEATH
Fine, I just want a girl

SEAN
Then get one

HEATH
It isn't that easy, you know that

SEAN
No its easy to get a girl, hell I
had Marissa, that wasn't too hard
to get her

HEATH
It isn't easy for me

SEAN
It would be, if you lowered your
standards and acted ignorant of
your feelings like I did

HEATH
So are you telling me too--

SEAN
No, I'm making an example of
myself...don't be me, just keep
doing what you're doing and you'll
find a girl, a perfect girl, one
who treats you right and does right
by you

HEATH
I'm sorry

SEAN
For what

HEATH
This semester, I was a total jerk
and--

SEAN
Don't apologize, things happen and
we move on

HEATH
I just wanted to make sure that we
were cool

SEAN
We always have been, you're
honestly my only friend up here
Heath, sure there's bumps in the
road, but I knew you'd come back

HEATH
Thanks

SEAN
Not a problem Two girls jog in
their direction, the one on the
right points at Sean

THE ONE ON THE RIGHT
I love your hat Sean smiles

SEAN
Thanks The girls jog past and the
camera follows them as they go past
a slightly younger OPEHLIA. She is
stopped at the crosswalk

SEAN (O.S.)
I just know that she's out there,
somewhere, some beautiful girl
standing in this city waiting for
me to just sweep her up in my arms

HEATH (O.S.)
A romantic till death

BACK TO THE TWO SITING IN THE PARK

Sean nods

SEAN
Because she's out there...and I
know it

HEATH
Did you know it about Marissa? Sean
smirks

SEAN
Blinded by the light

HEATH
Lit up like a beacon in the middle
of the night

SEAN
She had this strange effect on me,
she made me lose my sense of reason
and independence

HEATH
Love maybe?

SEAN
No...not love...love doesn't do
that too you. It was a need, a
need to fill the whole in my life

HEATH
Hmm...so I guess I should listen to
you

SEAN
If you want to find a good
relationship yeah... Another girl
in short shorts walks past

HEATH
What about if I want that Sean
watches her walk away

SEAN
You're gonna have to beat me to it
Sean gets up and walks after the
short short girl Heath hurries
after him.

[TITLES]

EXT. COFFEE SHOP - AFTERNOON

Opehlia exits the coffee shop, an ice coffee in her hand. She
walks down the street From behind someone calls her name

CHARLIE(O.C.)
LIA! She turns to spot Charlie, she
smiles and waits for Charlie to
catch up

OPHELIA
What's up

CHARLIE
Nothing much, just got done with
work, taking a stroll

OPHELIA
Yeah, kinda needed one

CHARLIE
Listen I know there's a lot on your
mind, but that doesn't mean you
have to shut me out.

OPHELIA
I'm not trying to, honest

CHARLIE
Do you want to talk about it

OPHELIA
Yeah, but--

CHARLIE
But you don't know where to start

OPHELIA
Exactly, I just love him, I don't
know why, but I can't get over him

CHARLIE
You slept with BUSKINS again

OPHELIA
Yes

CHARLIE
Why, why do you keep doing that?

OPHELIA
Because some portion of me thinks
that he actually still cares

CHARLIE
And what about other guys

OPHELIA
What other guys, there are no other
guys

CHARLIE
You aren't even looking

OPHELIA
I'm fed up with looking, all I find
is these jerks who take me for
granted and just want sex

CHARLIE
Well that's 98% of the male
population sweetie, but there's 2%
who actually want you for you

OPHELIA
And apparently they live in some
other state

CHARLIE
Like say...New York?

OPHELIA
Hopefully

CHARLIE
Still dreaming of there

OPHELIA
Always will be

CHARLIE
Why don't you just go already

OPHELIA
I don't have the money or the job
or the drive

CHARLIE
And how does someone come up with
all that?

OPHELIA
That's the problem, the money,
that's easy, the job, a little more
difficult, but the drive

CHARLIE
I know, there's not a lot you can
do about that though besides
pushing yourself

OPHELIA
Do you have anywhere to go?

CHARLIE
Nope, free for the rest of the
night

OPHELIA
Wanna go lounge at my place, stare
out into the park

CHARLIE
Manhunting from afar?

OPHELIA
Relaxing

CHARLIE
Same thing to me They both giggle
and walk up the street, passing by
Heath and Sean. Sean gives the two
girls a second glance

SEAN
God bless Chicago in the summer
Heath sneaks a peak

HEATH
Lesbians?

SEAN
Nah, just two chicks looking for
some fun

HEATH
They're hot

SEAN
Wanna talk to 'em

HEATH
Nah, no, that just---

SEAN
I'll go get them, we can talk and
chill with 'em Sean begins to
follow them, Heath snatches his arm

HEATH
Not ready for that

SEAN
You aren't, but I am

HEATH
You don't want to do that

SEAN
Do what?

HEATH
Get back into the game that quickly

SEAN
I see, so the student is teaching
the teacher Sean and Heath being to
head back to Sean's dorm

HEATH
Just giving advice, take it or
leave it

SEAN
I'll take it.

HEATH
You know I've never had a good
emotional and sexual relationship

SEAN
Well I've only had emotional ones,
sexual...maybe once, but it wasn't
gratifying

HEATH
That's the point, its nearly
impossible to find both, either the
chick is a nmypho and hates to talk
about feelings...

SEAN
Or she gushes about feelings and
won't so much as kiss you in public

HEATH
Its unhealthy

SEAN
Disgusting

HEATH
I could use some sex though

SEAN
Eh, that's overrated

HEATH
So is saying, "I love you"

SEAN
That's not even close to being true

HEATH
Explain to me then, oh hopeless
romantic, how is it not true

SEAN
Okay, let's first take out those
awkward, post first kiss "I love
you" moments and just focus on the
first time that you told someone
that you loved them, think deep and
hard now...

HEATH
Okay, got it

SEAN
Why did you say it?

HEATH
Because it felt right

SEAN
In your head or your heart?

HEATH
Heart

SEAN
Did the words roll or fall limp off
your tongue?

HEATH
Rolled

SEAN
Like a wheel?

HEATH
A tire

SEAN
Racing slick?

HEATH
Those the ones on the NASCARS?

SEAN
Yup

HEATH
Then, yup

SEAN
So you loved her then?

HEATH
By that definition?

SEAN
Yes

HEATH
Yes, I loved her

SEAN
So that feeling you had for her was
"overrated"?

HEATH
I honestly don't know

SEAN
That's just sad that you don't Sean
looks away from Heath as they get
closer to his dorm. He spots a girl
standing in front of the doors, he
arms crossed over her chest. Heath
notices her too

HEATH
No way She looks their way

SEAN
Marissa...what're you doing here?

EXT. OPHELIA'S APARTMENT BUILDING - AFTERNOON

Opehlia and Charlie round the corner

CHARLIE
That was the saddest looking face
since that puppy we saw in the shop
window

OPHELIA
What can I say, I'm a heartbreaker
Ophelia stops head in her tracks,
Charlie looks at her weird

CHARLIE
What's the matter? BUSKINS
approaches

BUSKINS
We need to talk

CUT TO BLACK:

[COMMERCIALS]

EXT. SEAN'S DORM - AFTERNOON

Sean stares face to face with Marissa Heath stands off to the
side, if he had popcorn he'd be munching on it

MARISSA
Listen, I didn't come here to stalk
you--

SEAN
Could've fooled me

MARISSA
I didn't come here to fight either

SEAN
What'd you come here for, a quick
romp over my heart again

MARISSA
You're the one that broke it off
with me

SEAN
And you're the disease ridden
carcass that just won't leave my
doorstep

MARISSA
I came for my things

SEAN
Things, those being?

MARISSA
Sweatshirt, hair ties--

SEAN
I threw all that out Marissa scoffs

MARISSA
What

SEAN
It was cluttering my room

MARISSA
You're such a--

SEAN
Jerk, I know

MARISSA
I can't believe you, what happened
to you?

SEAN
I grew up, you should too

MARISSA
I loved you Sean

SEAN
Funny, that's not what you're blog
said that day after I "ripped your
heart out" Sean pulls out a piece
of paper and a pair of reading
glasses

SEAN
Quote, "I hate him, I hate him so
much, I never loved him, it was all
a lie...all a lie". Sean crumples
the paper and throws it in her
face. He folds up his reading
glasses and tosses them to Heath
Heath catches them and pockets them

MARISSA
You're sick

SEAN
And I'm tired of you

MARISSA
When you kissed me--

SEAN
Save it, save it for another damn
sonnet to my supposed stupidity
okay sweetheart, I'm sick of the
rap back and forth, you're e-mails
your messages, your calls, I'm sick
of dealing with you, tis over and
its your fault, deal with it, admit
that you loved me and I broke your
heart, admit that you were wrong,
admit that we never were right
anyway and maybe, just maybe I
might accept you back as a
friend...till then, we're through
and so is this conversation Sean
steps around her, she grabs his arm
He looks down at it

SEAN
Seems everyone is doing this to me
today

MARISSA
I just wanted my stuff

SEAN
And you wanted an apology too

MARISSA
It'd be nice to get one

SEAN
You're never going to get one

MARISSA
Why, why cant you "admit that you
were wrong?"

SEAN
Because I wasn't I followed my
heart, I went with what I thought
was right, I was blind though Sean
leans in close, as if to kiss her,
he pulls up short and whispers into
her ear

SEAN
I loved you with all of my
heart...and I will love another,
but I will love her more than I
ever loved you Sean leans back and
looks into Marissa's eyes

SEAN
Hate me forever Sean walks around
her Heath follows, he pulls the
reading glasses out of his pocket

HEATH
Um...a little memento for the day
He hands them to her and scoots
around her.

MARISSA
I just--

EXT. OPEHLIA'S APARMTNET BUILDING - AFTERNOON

Opehlia looks at Buskins

OPEHLIA
--can't believe you have the guts
to show your face here Buskins
continues his stern look Charlie
steps off to the side and sits on
the stairs watching the soap opera
unfold

BUSKINS
Can we talk or not

OPEHLIA
About what?

BUSKINS
Us

OPEHLIA
There isn't an us anymore

BUSKINS
I know you're upset--

OPEHLIA
"Upset", "upset", no you get
"upset" when you drop a dish, burn
a dinner, those are "upsets", this,
this whole thing, is more than an
"upset"...this is aggravating,
irritating and now its stalking

BUSKINS
I just wanted to talk to someone

OPEHLIA
About what?

BUSKINS
Can we at least still be friends

OPEHLIA
Why, do you need a friend right
now?

BUSKINS
Yeah, I do

OPEHLIA
Well where were you when I needed a
boyfriend?

BUSKINS
Listen I know I screwed up, but--

OPEHLIA
But I don't have to give you a
second chance, you didn't earn one

BUSKINS
I just need help

OPEHLIA
With what?

BUSKINS
With Jenn

OPEHLIA
So you come here to talk to me
about your new lover? You're
batting 1.000 tonight ERIC

BUSKINS
I like her a lot

OPEHLIA
And I'm supposed to care about
this?

BUSKINS
She just--

OPEHLIA
Treats you like dirt and yet you
still stick around

BUSKINS
That's not it

OPEHLIA
Yes it is, she has you on a leash,
I've been trying to tell you this
for months

BUSKINS
I can't do anything about that

OPEHLIA
Leave her

BUSKINS
But I don't want to

OPEHLIA
Because you don't want to be alone?

BUSKINS
Yeah

OPEHLIA
So what am I supposed to do?

BUSKINS
Can I come up

OPEHLIA
I guess-- Charlie finally buts in

CHARLIE
Sorry, but we have plans Charlie
pulls Opehlia towards the door

OPEHLIA
Call me later okay

BUSKINS
Yeah

CHARLIE
Nice meeting you Buskins walks
away.

INT. SEAN'S DORM - AFTERNOON

There's a knock at the door. Heath and Sean don't move

HEATH
It's open EDWARD BURROWS busts
through the door, then slowly and
calmly closes it behind him

EDWARD
What's up guys

HEATH
How's it going ED

SEAN
How's it going ED Edward sits down
on the couch next to Heath's legs

EDWARD
So...great day today, huh Heath
nods

SEAN
Tells us what happened Edward flips
out

EDWARD
All right, so you guys aren't gonna
believe what happened

HEATH
Wait let me guess, does it deal
with chocolate covered raisins
Edward gives him a strange look

EDWARD
As a matter of fact it does, how in
the hell did you know that

HEATH
Its a gift

SEAN
And you still have one stuck to
your cheek there Edward peels a
chocolate covered raisin off his
cheek. He examines it, then eats
it

EDWARD
Anyays so I'm at the local drug
store picking up a box for myself
when these painted fingernails slip
over my hand and next thing I know
I've got digits and a date

SEAN
Digits

HEATH
And a date

SEAN
Impressive

EDWARD
Isn't it?

HEATH
Who's the girl

EDWARD
This beautiful chick, I don't know
where to begins but she has these--

CHARLIE (O.S.)
--big eyes and this cute little mop
of hair...

CUT TO:

INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Charlie giggles to herself

CHARLIE
I just couldn't help it Opehlia
shakes her head

OPEHLIA
So you gave him your number

CHARLIE
Yeah, he didn't ever wait till I
got out of the store before he
called Opehlia is a little taken
off guard

OPEHLIA
That's cute...I think

CHARLIE
So I have a date with him whenever
I want

OPEHLIA
Like say tonight Charlie nods

CHARLIE
I was wondering if you wanted to go
with, we could double and he could
bring--

EDWARD
--one of my friends

INT. SEAN'S DORM - AFTERNOON

Edward has a huge smile on his face

EDWARD
So who wants to be the lucky blind
dater? Sean and Heath exchange
glances

SEAN
I did it last time

HEATH
The time before that the chick was
an moffet

SEAN
Mine carried a club

EDWARD
In all honesty it was a cane

SEAN
It was a club

HEATH
At least yours didn't pull out her
glass eye and drop it in your water

EDWARD
Boys, boys, there's only one way to
settle this

SEAN
Paper, rock, scissors

HEATH
Paper, rock, scissors Edward stands
between them

SEAN
None of this best of three garbage,
one shoot, that's it

HEATH
I hear that They prep themselves as
if they are heading into a grudge
match They start One Two Three
Shoot

EXT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Edward and Sean stand outside of the apartment

SEAN
If this girl looks like a character
from a Godzilla film I'm walking

EDWARD
Trust me

SEAN
Right... The two girls exit the
apartment. Sean's eyes lock on
Opehlia, he hopes and prays that
she's his date

EDWARD
Its gonna be a good night

EXT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Opehlia walks up to Sean, she smiles

OPEHLIA
Hi Sean mutters a "hello" over his
shock

OPEHLIA
Excuse me?

SEAN
Hi

OPEHLIA
So did you get drug into this

SEAN
Well yes...but no, that's not to
say I don't want to be here, but I
wasn't exactly doped and drug here
but--

OPEHLIA
I get it, kinda Edward and Charlie
pass them by, they walk ahead Sean
looks at them

SEAN
I guess we're supposed to follow?

OPEHLIA
I suppose so

SEAN
So...um...do you have a boyfriend

OPEHLIA
No--

SEAN
That was a bad question wasn't it I
mean honestly if you had one you
wouldn't be out here--

OPEHLIA
No...it was a good question

SEAN
Not great?

OPEHLIA
No, just good

SEAN
So did you just break up with one
or...?

OPEHLIA
Actually about two weeks ago

SEAN
Oh...um, sorry

OPEHLIA
Oh don't be sorry, I was cheating
on him

SEAN
Oh...

OPEHLIA
I'm kidding, he was actually
cheating on me

SEAN
Ouch...so you wanna make out?

OPEHLIA
Sure The push in for a kiss--

SEAN (O.S.)
That is not how it went

INT. CAFE - MORNING - 1 YEAR AND 3 DAYS LATER

Sean shakes his head as he glares at Edward and Heath Heath
slurps on an ice coffee and Edward smirks

EDWARD
Well that's what I heard as I was
walking

SEAN
Not even close

OPEHLIA
Not even Opehlia leans in and
kisses Sean's ear

SEAN
I have to say that was the best
night of my life

OPEHLIA
Craziest is more like it

SEAN
I hear that and raise you the date
alone 2 weeks later

OPEHLIA
Oh yeah

SEAN
Oh yeah

CUT TO:

INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Opehlia and Sean fall onto her bed in a gloriously beautiful
make out

CUT TO:

INT. CAFE - MORNING

Sean and Opehlia hold their stare at each other Heath signs

HEATH
Ah, children in love Edward gags

EDWARD
I think I'm going to hurl Sean
doesn't even look away from Opehlia

SEAN
Always a pleasant thought

EDWARD
Well its safe to say that things
could not be better for all of us

HEATH
Except me

EDWARD
Well that's a given

SEAN
We just need to find you a good
woman

HEATH
I'd take a clean one over "good"

EDWARD
Okay, okay, so once I pass you an
ex-girlfriend, we never did
anything

HEATH
Well that's a given

EDWARD
That's crossing the line there
buddy

HEATH
I just call 'em how I see 'em

SEAN
Boys, boys, we all need to just
relax, all right

HEATH
I just need a girlfriend

SEAN
Heath--

HEATH
I know, I want one, want

SEAN
You just want the ability to--

EDWARD
Whatever, point being, you need to
get out there and do something, be
proactive, like Sean and me

HEATH
I try but--

EDWARD
No buts

SEAN
Ed, harshness man

EDWARD
Sorry, but its the truth, he needs
to hear it from someone

SEAN
Its not the truth

EDWARD
It is, stop coddling him and let
him face facts

SEAN
He just needs help

EDWARD
Yes, both of our help, so that way
he can be as happy as we are
Charlie bursts into the cafe and
grabs Edward's ice coffee She
tosses it on him

CHARLIE
You cheated on me!?! She stands
there in a huff

HEATH
Hmm...I think I'm happier than both
of you right now...

EXT. CAFE - MORNING

Charlie stomps out of the cafe Edward follows out the door
The others burst out the door after him, ready to watch the
blowout

EDWARD
Charlie wait Charlie keeps walking

CHARLIE
A STRIPPER! Edward jogs a little

EDWARD
She was a dancer Charlie turns and
continues walking

CHARLIE
Yes, dancers wear boobie tassels!

EDWARD
She didn't wear them in bed

CHARLIE
I bet she didn't Edward finally
catches up

EDWARD
Charlie hear me out The rest of the
group gathers in anticipation

CHARLIE
Why should I Heath pulls out his
wallet

HEATH
on Edward Sean pulls out a 5

SEAN
I'll take 5 on Charlie

CHARLIE
Its over Edward, over!

EDWARD
I was drunk and--

CHARLIE
No, no excuses, I'm sick of the
excuses, "It was traffic", "I had
to work late", "Sometimes I can
only last 2 minutes" Heath, Sean,
and Opehlia stand in shock and awe

EDWARD
HEY! Charlie turns to walk away
Heath hands his money over to Sean

CHARLIE
This is over Edward grabs her
shoulder

EDWARD
Charlie stop Opehlia pulls out a
ten

OPEHLIA
say she smacks him Charlie smacks
Edward

CHARLIE
Leave me alone She walks away Sean
shakes his head

SEAN
Glad I didn't take that bet

HEATH
I was expecting the MACE to come
out Edward is stunned by the blow.
He watches Charlie walk away down
the street. The rest of them stand
there in stunned silence. Heath
steps out and follows after
Charlie.

EXT. DOWN THE STREET FROM THE CAFE - MORNING

Charlie continues to storm down the street, in no particular
path. Heath touches her shoulder. She snaps around and
snatches Heath's hand and twists it around.

CHARLIE
Listen a-- She realizes its Heath

CHARLIE
Oh Heath, oh my god, I'm so sorry

HEATH
Um...my hand

CHARLIE
Oh... She releases Charlie from her
clutches

CHARLIE
Sorry

HEATH
I was just coming to make sure you
were all right

CHARLIE
Well thanks...but I'm not, I'm not
going to be

HEATH
Listen, what Edward did was wrong---

CHARLIE
Did you know about it?

HEATH
No, no, I didn't know, he didn't
tell me, no I didn't know

CHARLIE
If you did, I'd kill you

HEATH
Kill, as in murder

CHARLIE
As in slit your throat

HEATH
Ouch

CHARLIE
Don't stick up for him

HEATH
I'm not

CHARLIE
Good

HEATH
Are you okay

CHARLIE
I just said I wasn't

HEATH
So...um...is there anything I can
do?

CHARLIE
You wanna go back to my place?
Heath gives her a strange look

HEATH
Um...sure?

CUT TO:

EXT. NEAR OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Sean and Opehlia walk down the street, chuckling

SEAN
He's going to be smelling like
Mocha for a week

OPEHLIA
Well he deserves it

SEAN
How could he cheat on her?

OPEHLIA
It just happens I guess

SEAN
But how, I mean how can it possibly
suck that much that you can't

OPEHLIA
In normal relationships it does

SEAN
And in ours?

OPEHLIA
Ours is special

SEAN
Really now, explain

OPEHLIA
Well, we're in love and its a
special weird kind of love that no
one else has

SEAN
And I like it that way Sean swoops
Opehlia up in his arms

OPEHLIA
Oh baby I love you so much

SEAN
I love you too Sean is about to
kiss her when...

BUSKINS (O.C.)
Lia Sean stops Buskins walks into
frame Sean looks at him

SEAN
Can I help you?

BUSKINS
I need to talk to Lia

SEAN
About what exactly? Opehlia steps
in between them

OPEHLIA
Eric, give me a second

BUSKINS
Okay Buskins steps back and Sean
can't believe what's going on. He
stays out of earshot Sean is
flabbergasted

SEAN
You're joking right?

OPEHLIA
He needs to talk

SEAN
He can go pay a shrink for that

OPEHLIA
What is your problem

SEAN
Oh nothing, besides the fact that
your "ex" is sitting on your stoop
and he needs to "talk"

OPEHLIA
He's still my friend

SEAN
And he's still your "ex"

OPEHLIA
I don't understand why your so
upset about this Sean flips into a
fast talking ball of confusion

SEAN
Because he shows up unannounced,
doesn't even introduce himself to
me, and here he is trying to steal
you away from me

OPEHLIA
He's not trying to steal me--

SEAN
Well apparently he needs to talk so-

OPEHLIA
Stop it Sean backs off

SEAN
What do you want me to do, what do
you want me to say, you want me to
just be okay with this and just act
like nothing is wrong

OPEHLIA
Nothing is wrong Sean gets agitated
again, he can't hold it back
anymore

SEAN
To you, to you nothing is wrong, to
me this joker is everything that
you hated about your past, he
treated you dirt and now you want
to help him out

OPEHLIA
I cant help it, I have to be there
for him or anyone for that
matter...I'd be there for you if
you were in his shoes

SEAN
But I'm not in his shoes, I'm here
and now and I want to spend time
with you

OPEHLIA
Sean just give me 10 minutes

SEAN
No, Lia, he hasn't earned this kind
of respect

OPEHLIA
I can't give up on him

SEAN
What's that supposed to mean?

OPEHLIA
He's my friend Sean

SEAN
And what do you expect me to do?

OPEHLIA
Accept it, be a man and accept the
fact that I care about people, but
not as much as I care about you

SEAN
He's just here to try and get you
back--- Buskins steps forward at
this

BUSKINS
I just want to--

SEAN
Talk, yeah heard it all before, "we
were just talking" then the next
week they were "just making
out"...this isn't you conversation,
go back to your corner Incredible
Dunce Buskins is stunned, he is
angry, but not really sure why

BUSKINS
I'll---

OPEHLIA
Just go back to the stoop Eric
Buskins turns and walks back to the
stoop to sit down

SEAN
Glad to see the doggy can take
directions

OPEHLIA
He isn't here for anything else, he
isn't like you Sean, he couldn't
plan out a romantic sweep me off my
feet plan

SEAN
I don't trust him

OPEHLIA
I don't know what to tell you

SEAN
Don't tell me anything, tell him to
go take a walk

OPEHLIA
Sean

SEAN
Opehlia

OPEHLIA
I can't do that

SEAN
Then I guess I will then Sean turns
and walks away

OPEHLIA
Sean...Sean He doesn't turn around

INT. SEAN'S DORM - MORNING

The door creaks open and Sean steps in, obviously downtrodden
from the events before He slaps down his keys

SEAN
Unbelievable There's a rustling in
his bedroom He looks eerily at the
door He snatches up a baseball bat
that was leaning up against his
table and slowly makes his way to
his bedroom Sean raises the bat
over his head and swings the door
open He screams with terror

HEATH (O.C.)
Close the door, close the door!

CUT TO:

Heath is sitting on the couch, a blanket covering him, next
to a nearly clothed Charlie Sean paces back and forth in
front of them

SEAN
Will someone, ANYONE please explain
why you two were having sex in my
bed

HEATH
I um--

SEAN
No, not WHY you were having sex,
just WHY you were having it in my
bed

HEATH
Well ya see--

SEAN
You two both have beds, hell you
both have your own places--

CHARLIE
I lost my keys down a sewer and
Heath's keys were here, one thing
led to another and...well...you
know

SEAN
Wow...wow

HEATH
So um...speaking of wow, can you
like leave for maybe, I dunno 10,
minutes so we can--

SEAN
NO

CHARLIE
minutes, try seconds

HEATH
Hey, I resent that

CHARLIE
Truth hurts sweetie

SEAN
Okay, Heath out, Lee, you stay
there

HEATH
But I don't have any clothes on

SEAN
Fine, find your clothes, then get
out

HEATH
Ten-four Heath gets up and kisses
Charlie on the forehead

HEATH
Talk to you later

CHARLIE
Maybe Heath shrugs, better than
"no" Heath leaves Charlie and Sean
alone Sean sits down across from
Charlie

SEAN
Listen Lee, I'm sorry about--

CHARLIE
Can it

SEAN
What?

CHARLIE
I don't want to hear how sorry
everyone is for me, it happened, we
move on

SEAN
Yes but moving on to Heath?

CHARLIE
That was a mistake I wont ever make
again

SEAN
That I don't care about, just never
make the same mistake in my bedroom
ever again

CHARLIE
No Sean, you don't get it

SEAN
Um...what?

CHARLIE
This whole experience, this
gigantic mess of a morning made me
realize something

SEAN
Oh Christ he turned you gay didn't
he?

CHARLIE
How'd you know?

SEAN
Every girl that has broken up with
Heath was seen with a leather clad
female mate within 48 hours

CHARLIE
It wasn't just him Sean

SEAN
Uh huh

CHARLIE
No, its just, I see how much scum
men are and I realize that I can't
get the same satisfaction as I used
to

SEAN
So you're a lesbian?

CHARLIE
Yes

SEAN
Aren't you a little too hot to be a
lesbian

CHARLIE
Don't you watch porn?

CUT TO:

INT. OPHELIA'S APARMTENT - MORNING

Opehlia steps into her place, with Buskins close behind

OPEHLIA
I just don't understand what the
big deal is, I mean he gets so
worked up over the stupidest things
She drops her keys on her coffee
table and turns to face Buskins

OPEHLIA
Its like he's afraid that I'd do
something stupid Buskins moves in
and kisses her Opehlia tries to
pull back She finally breaks his
grasp

OPEHLIA
ERIC...WHAT THE HELL?!?

BUSKINS
I don't understand how you could
fall in love with someone after
only six months

OPEHLIA
You don't understand a lot of
things

BUSKINS
What about me Lia? What about what
I want?

OPEHLIA
I don't care what you want, I'm not
in love with you

BUSKINS
And neither is he, he doesn't
deserve you and I don't deserve to
be treated like this

OPEHLIA
Like what, what's so bad about your
life?

BUSKINS
I was the one who was cheated on
and look at me, look at what I
have, nothing, its not fair

OPEHLIA
You're looking in your past and
trying to judge your future, that's
a horrible way to plan out your
life

BUSKINS
I miss you

OPEHLIA
Well I don't miss you...I don't
miss the way you treated me or the
things you said to me or the way I
felt when I was with you... Buskins
just stands there...unsure of what
to say

OPEHLIA
Just leave Eric, please, just
leave... Buskins gets up and walks
out the door, without saying a
word. Opehlia begins to weep,
uncontrollably.

INT. SEAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Sean pulls a garbage can in front of him. He squirts lighter
fluid into it, then shoves his sheets into the garbage can.
He squirts more lighter fluid on the top. Sean lights a match
Then drops in onto the sheets, igniting them. His cell phone
buzzes next to him He looks at the caller ID, it reads
"Ophelia" He tosses it back to the couch Sean picks up a
piece of paper, it reads, "TRYOUTS FOR THE SINGLE A TEAM THE
SOUTHSIDE BLUES NEXT WEEK." There's a hand-scribbled note on
the bottom, "You should do this babe, Love Lia" Sean glares
at the paper and tosses it into the flames. He leans back
against the couch, his eyes fixed on the flames

SEAN (O.S.)
And that was it...

MIA (O.S.)
How sad

CUT TO:

INT. MIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING - ONE YEAR LATER

Mia brushes Sean's hair back off his head Sean lies in her
arms, in a daze

MIA
Why didn't you tell me about this
sooner?

SEAN
I didn't know how you'd take it, i
loved her, more than any person
ever before...it just hurt a lot.
I didn't really get over it until i
met you

MIA
I'm so sorry baby

SEAN
Its okay i guess...i moved on...and
i found you

MIA
Yes you did Sean looks over at the
clock on the nightstand

SEAN
Well I'm gonna get home and hit the
books for the next 30 hours

MIA
Sounds...fun

SEAN
Oh it will be Sean leans in to kiss
Mia, she struggles back

MIA
Babe, morning breath

SEAN
Oh...sorry Sean rolls out of her
bed.

CUT TO:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARMTMENT - MORNING

Sean walks into his apartment and over to the coffee maker He
sets down his bags and grabs a cup down from the cabinet He
fills it and walks to the table, where he picks up the
newspaper. Heath enters the apartment whistling a happy
little tune. He shuts the door behind him and walks to the
kitchenette where Sean is sitting with a cup of coffee and
the Chicago Tribune. Without even looking up Sean knows
something went right last night.

CUT TO BLACK:

INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING

A copy of the Chicago Tribune plops down on the table, the
date, "May 16th" sticking up for the world to see Opehlia
throws a cardboard box down next to it and begins to unpack
her things. She pulls out a candle, inspects it to see if its
still good, gives it a sniff, then sets it down.
She pulls out a green notebook. She stops and stares at it.
Her eyes gloss over. She flicks it open, knowing exactly
where she wants to look. She begins to read it...

OPEHLIA (V.O.)
"You know, I really don't know what
it is about him... He drives me,
insane and he hurt me so bad. What
did I do to deserve this? He tore
open my wound that was subsiding
when I saw him again. He left me
when that was not a doubt in my
mind. I wonder if he still thinks
I'm the most beautiful girl in the
world...yeah right, he can spot one
woman and turn her into a queen, a
stand still goddess that can make
his eyes see only what he wants to
see. If I'm not, the next girl will
be. If he dares to take a single
glance at me, give me those eyes,
like hell will he ever sweep me off
my feet again, because I will fall
flat on my face and the asphalt
will burn blood red from my broken
heart. He wonders why I put up my
"wall" in the first place. I didn't
want this to happen again. Why did
I let him in? Because he pried, and
I loved him; I remember the first
time I told him I loved him..."

INT. OPHELIA'S APARTMENT- 2 YEARS AGO

Ophelia is lying on top of Sean, on a blanket on Ophelia's
living room floor. They pull away from kissing and Ophelia
has a concerned look on her face.

OPHELIA
Sean…. Ophelia stares into Sean's
eyes.

OPHELIA
I love you. Sean starts laughing in
Ophelia's face.

OPHELIA
Why are you laughing? I can't
believe you're laughing at me! I
finally wait for the right time to
tell you how I truly feel and you
laugh in my face?

SEAN
I'm sorry. It's just that, I never
thought that this would ever
happen. That the girl I love would
actually be in love with me back.
It's just an amazing feeling...I
love you too.

FLASHFORWARD:

Opehlia continues to read on...

EDWARD (O.C.)
For the record, I don't think he
ever read it Opehlia turns to find
Edward in the doorway

OPEHLIA
You scared me

EDWARD
Sorry...I got your E-mail, didn't
figure you'd be back in the city,
ever

OPEHLIA
Well I'm back

EDWARD
For good

OPEHLIA
Possibly

EDWARD
Didn't go good out there I take it?

OPEHLIA
No it did...it just didn't go the
way that I thought it would

EDWARD
I see...actually I don't, but I'm
glad your back

OPEHLIA
Thanks

EDWARD
I know this is a stupid question
but...

OPEHLIA
No, he doesn't

EDWARD
Ah...

OPEHLIA
I heard he had a new girlfriend and

-

EDWARD
He does, she thinks they have a
serious relationship...he knows
they don't

OPEHLIA
That's "nice"

EDWARD
I'm sure he'd want to see you

OPEHLIA
Well thanks, but I doubt that

EDWARD
After he left and came back things
were different, for all of us

OPEHLIA
Well things change I guess

EDWARD
He doesn't love her

OPEHLIA
Excuse me

EDWARD
The way that he loved, or probably
still loves, you

OPEHLIA
I really don't think that's any of
my--

EDWARD
He told me, he told me that if he
ever saw you again he wouldn't know
what to do

OPEHLIA
And that makes you sure he wants to
see me

EDWARD
I know it does, Sean always knows
what he wants, what he's going to
say next, he lives life like he's
playing chess, each move is
predicted and planned, he's a
master of the game, except when it
comes to you, he doesn't calculate
or even try, he just is

OPEHLIA
I see

EDWARD
That was all his words I'm just
being a mouthpiece

OPEHLIA
I figured as much

EDWARD
Sorry

OPEHLIA
Don't be, you've changed a lot in
two years

EDWARD
You'd change too if you turned a
girl lesbian Opehlia shakes her
head and tosses the green notebook
back on her table

FLAHSBACK TO:

INT. SEAN'S DORM - NIGHT

Sean's hand smacks down on the notebook. He picks it up Heath
looks over at him, still munching on some form of food by
product

HEATH
Dude, what are you doing? Sean
looks up at Heath, stunned.

SEAN
Nothing. Was Ophelia here earlier?

HEATH
Oh no, she stopped over last night--

SEAN
What?? I'm gonna--

HEATH
No, Sean, chill! Her and Charlie
were making a list of "potential"
girls I could date...I practically
had to open every cabinet and door
in the house to prove you weren't
home...

SEAN
What would it matter if I was home?
Sean gives Heath a dumbfounded
look.

SEAN
Whatever, she left her notebook
here, on accident, I hope.

HEATH
Are you kidding me man? Did you
read it?

SEAN
I'll be back later. Sean storms out
of the apartment. He slams the
door, leans against the wall, and
closes his eyes.

OPEHLIA (V.O.)
I did feel like the most beautiful
girl in the world. I don't know
what to do...

EXT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Sean looks around for a place to slip the notebook, when the
door to the building opens and Opehlia appears

OPEHLIA
Sean...?

SEAN
I was just, returning this Sean
hands her the notebook

OPEHLIA
Thanks

SEAN
Welcome Sean starts to walk away

OPEHLIA
Sean, wait... Sean turns

SEAN
I can't, sorry, I really have to
get going, I've got some stuff to
take care of...

OPEHLIA
Okay, well can you call me later
then?

SEAN
Yeah...yeah I'll call you

OPEHLIA
Okay Sean continues to walk away

OPEHLIA
Bye... Sean doesn't even turn He
continues to walk

OPEHLIA (V.O.)
Apparently I've never been good at
building walls...

CUT TO:

[TITLES]

INT. OPHELIA'S APARTMENT-AFTERNOON

Ophelia storms into her apartment, Charlie is sitting on the
couch.

CHARLIE
Hey girlie. What's bothering you
now?

OPHELIA
You'll never guess who I just ran
into.

CHARLIE
Oh, um, lemme guess. Sean? Was it
that bad?

OPHELIA
You don't even understand—

CHARLIE
Like I said, what happened?

OPHELIA
Lee, he read my notebook!!

CHARLIE
I'm confused, how exactly did that
happen?

OPHELIA
When we were over at Heath's, I
pulled it out to write on,
remember? Well, apparently I don't
because like the moron I am, I
freakin' left it there! I left it
right there, wide open for him to
read it!

CHARLIE
So what happened?

OPHELIA
He stopped back to drop it off...

CHARLIE
And he read it?

OPHELIA
Yes

CHARLIE
For sure, you know he read it?

OPHELIA
You know he did. How could he not?

CHARLIE
Well, did he act weird?

OPHELIA
You know he's always weird, but he
wasn't acting funny, so maybe
that's a sign!

CHARLIE
Ah, a sign...

OPHELIA
It doesn't matter anyway because I
know he read it!

CHARLIE
So what's the big deal if he did?

OPHELIA
Uh, maybe because of the fact that
I wrote about my feelings for him.

CHARLIE
Well, what if he doesn't have
enough feelings for you any more to
even look through it?

OPHELIA
Thanks, Lee.

CHARLIE
Hey, I'm just throwing out options
here. Maybe he didn't even open it.
Did you even ask him?

OPHELIA
Again, I didn't have to ask. I just
know. And you know him just as
good, well, maybe not that good,
but you know he read it.

CHARLIE
So worst case scenario, he knows
how you feel. Is that a bad thing?

OPHELIA
I guess it's just the way you look
at it.

CHARLIE
So what does he know?

OPHELIA
That I still love him, Lee. I'm
still in love with him.

CUT TO:

INT. SEAN'S DORM - AFTERNOON

Sean enters and Heath is now passed out on a box. Sean walks
over and nudges him off, sending Heath to the floor Heath
shoots up

HEATH
So did you talk to her?

SEAN
I gave her the notebook back

HEATH
And...?

SEAN
And nothing...its over Heath, we're
over, she doesn't understand and
she never will

HEATH
Understand what?

SEAN
I want to be with her, I really do,
but it will constantly eat at me
until she tells me what I want to
hear

HEATH
And what is it that you want to
hear?

SEAN
That all the guys before were
nothing, that they meant nothing
and that they were nothing

HEATH
So in essence you want an ego boast

SEAN
I just want to be sure that Buskins
is not an option for her

HEATH
Why would he be, the guy smells
like two week old roast beef

SEAN
And he loves her

HEATH
You don't know that for sure

SEAN
Yeah I do, I saw it in his eyes

HEATH
Not the love you and her share, not
even close

SEAN
Its still love

HEATH
But she doesn't love him

SEAN
Says who?

HEATH
Did you read the notebook?

SEAN
Did you?

HEATH
I skimmed it...did you read it...?

SEAN
No...I didn't, now will you help me
finish packing this stuff up...

EXT. OPHELIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Charlie leads as Ophelia follows, notebook in hand

OPHELIA
There's pages missing Charlie
doesn't turn

CHARLIE
What?

OPHELIA
There's pages, four pages missing

CHARLIE
What'd they say on them

OPHELIA
Yeah, as if I remember

CHARLIE
You wrote it

OPHELIA
He took them out

CHARLIE
Or maybe they fell out...

OPHELIA
He took them Ophelia jolts ahead of
Charlie

CHARLIE
What're you doing

OPHELIA
I have to talk to him

CHARLIE
About some stupid pages?

OPHELIA
I have to tell him what they
mean...

EXT. SEAN'S DORM - AFTERNOON

Sean rolls a suitcase behind him as Heath follows

SEAN
So you have the address that I want
you to ship that stuff to me at
right?

HEATH
Yeah, I wrote it down...I hope it
goes good for you out there

SEAN
Yeah, me too.

HEATH
If you come back--

SEAN
You'll be the first person I call
Sean walks away

HEATH
Did you tell her that you were
leaving? Sean stops and turns

SEAN
I don't think it matters

HEATH
Why are you doing this?

SEAN
Because I have a job offer--

HEATH
To her, why are you doing this to
someone that you love? Sean
continues to walk away

HEATH
I asked you a question damn it Sean
stops, he doesn't turn

SEAN
Sorry Heath, but the answer isn't
one you're going to like.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS - AFTERNOON

Sean walks alone down the street, pulling his luggage behind
him. From behind Opehlia appears, in full stride, running
after him

OPEHLIA
SEAN! Sean turns, with a bit of
shock

SEAN
Lia...? She stops, a bit out of
breath and looks at him

SEAN
Are you okay She nods, then holds
up the "One Minute" signal

SEAN
Breathe...

OPEHLIA
Why...why...why are you doing this?

SEAN
Doing what?

OPEHLIA
Why are you pushing me away

SEAN
I'm just--

OPEHLIA
Why are you so afraid of me?

SEAN
Its not that--

OPEHLIA
Why wont you give me a chance?

SEAN
You a chance...what about me? Why
cant I get a chance to finish a
sentence?

OPEHLIA
Let me go with you?

SEAN
What about New York, what about the
offer from NYU?

OPEHLIA
I don't care about some stupid job,
I want to be with you, I promised
you that...I want lying when I said
I wanted to be with you forever

SEAN
I cant expect you to give up your
dream for mine

OPEHLIA
Its our dream Sean, its our dream
to be together for the rest of our
lives, that's more important than
anything else in the world to me...

SEAN
Its important to me too--

OPEHLIA
I'm not saying it isn't, but I want
you to succeed--

SEAN
At the cost of your own dream

OPEHLIA
You're my dream Sean... Sean lets
go of his bag and moves in close.
He runs his hand across her face

SEAN
I love you...

OPEHLIA
I love you too They kiss

FLASHBACK:

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS - NIGHT - 2 YEARS AGO

Sean and Opehlia are locked in their first kiss

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS - AFTERNOON - 2 YEARS LATER

They hold they kiss still. They each pull back and stare into
each other's eyes

SEAN
I want you to go to New York
Opehlia is stunned

OPEHLIA
What?

SEAN
I want you to go to New York...give
it a year, give us a year. You
need to put yourself first, so many
times in the past you let everyone
walk all over you, not letting you
accomplish your dreams...I don't
want to do that to you...

OPEHLIA
So are we really breaking up...?

SEAN
What does your heart tell you?
Opehlia smiles

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Opehlia is aghast as she stares out into the street

OPEHLIA
Sean no... Heath looks around
frantically, then at Opehlia

HEATH
Call and ambulance Opehlia is
frozen

SEAN (O.C.)
Call an ambulance Lia, its the only
way this guy is gonna live Heath
reaches into her purse and pulls
out her cell phone Opehlia looks at
Sean He's covered in blood as he
holds a man who is near death in
his arms

SEAN
Stay with me buddy

HEATH (O.C.)
Yes, a damn bike messenger just got
tagged by a car... no the car sped
off...no I didn't get a license
plate...the guy is dying damn it
Opehlia continues to stare. She
looks at the blood on Sean's hands

SEAN
Lia...Opehlia Charlie grabs her by
the shoulders

CHARLIE
Lia, are you okay

OPEHLIA
I...I...

CHARLIE
You're okay

OPEHLIA
I thought it was Sean

CHARLIE
Relax...calm down

OPEHLIA
I thought it was Sean again...
Opehlia starts to breakdown Heath
hangs up the cell

HEATH
Christ this feels like a damn soap
opera

SEAN
He's going to bleed to death by the
time they get here...
Opehlia looks at Sean They stare
into each others eyes

FLASHBACK:

INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

There's a knocking on the door Opehlia walks to it, dressed
to the nines and in a huff

OPEHLIA
I swear to god Sean, you're always
late and its starting to-- She
opens the door to find a bloodied
Sean in front of her

SEAN
I'm sorry He falls into her arms.
Opehlia starts to tremble in fear
and she drags him into her
apartment

OPEHLIA
Sean...SEAN!

FLASHFORWARD:

EXT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

They all stand in awe as Heath looks down at his watch

HEATH
So...I guess we're going to catch a
late dinner?

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Heath and Sean enter, Sean is still covered in blood. Heath
shakes his head and walks over to the kitchen table and grabs
an apple off the counter.

HEATH
Exciting night... Sean walks into
the bathroom

SEAN (O.C.)
To say the least

HEATH
So what are going to do for a
topper? Sean walks into his room.

HEATH
Gun battle, car chase? Sean opens
the top drawer in his room to pull
out a T-shirt He finds the notes
that he pulled out from the green
notebook. He unfolds them and
begins to read

HEATH
How about a dancing, street fight?
He stops reading

SEAN
Sounds delightful Sean returns, not
bloody Heaths smirks

SEAN
What?

HEATH
So, you and Lia, just like old
times

SEAN
Right...

HEATH
She's smiling--

SEAN
She was in shock and horror just a
few minutes ago

HEATH
Was smiling, and you were smiling,
and dare I say, enjoying it

SEAN
Up until that guy almost died in my
arms...yeah

HEATH
You still love her

SEAN
That doesn't really matter

HEATH
And why doesn't it?

SEAN
Because I don't know if she still
loves me Heath points to Sean's
heart

HEATH
There is one way to find out

SEAN
Yeah...yeah there is Sean's cell
phone rings to life He looks down
at the caller ID

SEAN
Um...

HEATH
Who is it? Sean answers

SEAN
JERRY?...You did what?...You're
kidding me...that's incre--who...?
Yeah...yeah...Monday

HEATH
Was that Jerry with the grant
foundation

SEAN
It was

HEATH
And...?

SEAN
They're funding the first 15 pages
of "Teaching Shakespeare" in hopes
of making the full length...

HEATH
Is there bad news

SEAN
There always is...

[CUT TO: BLACK]

INT. SEAN'S APARTMENT IN L.A. - NIGHT - 1 YEAR AGO

Sean gets smacked across the face He looks stunned at his
blonde haired former flame, MARISSA MADISON. Marissa glares
at him

MARISSA
How could you, how could you even--

SEAN
Just stop, wait a second, all right
you're blowing this out of
proportion

MARISSA
How am I, you said you loved me--

SEAN
And I did, I did love you...

MARISSA
Did you...did you really?

SEAN
Yes, but--

MARISSA
No there is no buts Sean, you
either do or you don't, this isn't
a guessing game...you can't just...
you don't love me anymore!

SEAN
MARISSA, you just don't understand

MARISSA
About what? What do I not
understand?

SEAN
Me, okay, you don't understand
anything about me

MARISSA
I tried to--

SEAN
No you didn't, you didn't even care

MARISSA
Excuse me...I'm here every night, I
have been since I met you, I gave
up jobs and--

SEAN
Sorry I was such a burden on your
schedule

MARISSA
I love you Sean...I love every
minute I spend with you, you make
me a better person...

SEAN
I think you need to leave A tear
comes to her eye

MARISSA
Why are you pushing me away? Sean
points to the tear

SEAN
That's why

MARISSA
What?

SEAN
You don't get it, you'll never get
it, I don't want to change who I am
or what I do, I just want to write
my stories, read my comic books and
live life how I want to be free...

MARISSA
I want to be with you...

SEAN
I can't...I can't do that

MARISSA
So this is it? You're quitting on
us

SEAN
No, I'm not quitting on us, not
quitting on myself, I'm just
quitting on you

MARISSA
How can you say something like that
after what we shared...I thought
our love was forever

SEAN
There is no guarantee on love, you
know that, you read that in
everything I write...there is no
perfection in this world

MARISSA
We had perfection

SEAN
No you had perfection...you have it
here is this deathtrap of a city,
where the homeless outnumber the
people with jobs

MARISSA
Sean, we can work this out

SEAN
I don't want to work this out, I
don't want to be with you...you
make me feel like I'm nothing, like
I'll never be anything...I don't
want that...I don't want you

MARISSA
Are you really leaving...?

SEAN
Yeah...they gave me a deal on one
of my scripts and I'm headed back
to Chicago to finish up school...

MARISSA
Well, I guess, congratulations are
in order?

SEAN
Yeah...I guess

MARISSA
Sean I-- Sean cuts her off with a
finger to her lips, he leans in
close and whispers into her ear,
his lips nearly touching her skin

SEAN
I really did love you...

CHARLIE (O.S.)
That was the coldest thing you've
ever done...even if she was a huge
bitch

CUT TO:

INT. HEATH AND SEAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING - PRESENT

Heath is still in his robe sipping a cup of coffee As Sean is
laid out on the couch in a full business suit

SEAN
Yeah...pretty cold

CHARLIE
So they cast her, what can you do?

SEAN
Nothing, my meeting with the
producers is in an hour and I can't
turn this down...she's a great
actress, she's won awards--

HEATH
I believe, Best Heartbreaker was
one of them

SEAN
Shut up

HEATH
She made you miserable, damn near
suicidal, she really isn't
worth...how much are they giving
you?

SEAN
dollars for the script

HEATH
Um...allow me to rephrase, she IS
worth 50,000 dollars

SEAN
It would pay off the rest of school
and get me started

CHARLIE
So what's the issue, do you still
care about her?

SEAN
No

CHARLIE
Well did you sleep with her? Heath
bursts into a giggle fit Charlie
glares at him

CHARLIE
What, that's a viable question, he
could still have a sexual
attachment to her Heath shakes his
head as Sean gets up

SEAN
No, I didn't sleep with her Sean
goes for the door

CHARLIE
Sean, wait... He slams the door
behind him

CHARLIE
What the hell was that all about
Heath smirks at her

HEATH
Sean's only slept with one girl in
his entire life, the one true love
of his life...

CHARLIE
Lia

HEATH
Yes, hence the problem with trying
to move on past her

CHARLIE
So what do you think he's going to
do?

HEATH
With Sean, there's never really any
amount of certainty...oh speaking
of sex and women, did you find me a
non-lesbian one to go out with yet?

CUT TO:

[TITLES]

INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Opehlia opens the door to find Sean

SEAN
Hey, we need to talk... He looks at
her

SEAN
Are you crying? Opehlia walks away
from the door, saying nothing

SEAN
Lia...Lia, are you okay? She
sniffles a little bit

OPEHLIA
I'm fine

SEAN
Lia--

OPEHLIA
What did you want to talk about?

SEAN
Are you okay?

OPEHLIA
Stop asking me that, you came here
for a reason

SEAN
It isn't important, what's wrong?

OPEHLIA
I just got freaked out, okay, last
night just--

SEAN
Had a bad flashback?

OPEHLIA
Yeah...it hit me hard

SEAN
I'm fine though Lia, I'm perfectly
fine

OPEHLIA
Yeah...you are

SEAN
Are we okay?

OPEHLIA
Yeah...yeah we're good

SEAN
Why do I not believe it?

OPEHLIA
What's your news?

SEAN
Why are you changing the subject?
Opehlia gets agitated

OPEHLIA
Why aren't you just getting to the
point?

SEAN
Are we going to argue all day,
because I have a meeting with two
executive producers in about 45
minutes

OPEHLIA
What?

SEAN
They want to talk to me about
"Teaching Shakespeare", maybe
making it into a feature

OPEHLIA
You're kidding me

SEAN
I kid you not

OPEHLIA
That's awesome

SEAN
Isn't it...now what's wrong

OPEHLIA
Nothing

SEAN
Damn it Lia, I don't care if you
have bad news, just tell me Opehlia
tries to turn away

OPEHLIA
Its nothing Sean, nothing Sean
grabs her and turns her back

SEAN
Is it me?

OPEHLIA
No

SEAN
Liar

OPEHLIA
What do you want me to say Sean,
that I was scared to death that I'd
lose you again?

SEAN
Yes, that's what I want to hear

OPEHLIA
You are such a jerk

SEAN
Do you love me?

OPEHLIA
YES SEAN, I LOVE YOU

SEAN
Well you could've fooled me

OPEHLIA
What?

SEAN
Why is Buskins still around, why
are his pictures hanging on your
walls

OPEHLIA
He's--

SEAN
No, its been like that since we
were dating before, why is he still
a fixture in your life?

OPEHLIA
Because you don't want to be

SEAN
Says who?

OPEHLIA
You've never said different

SEAN
You don't get it, you don't even
understand

OPEHLIA
Yes I do, I get it, you're scared,
you've been scared since you met
me, here I am Sean, here I am and I
want to be with you, what do you
have to say? Sean just stares at
her

CUT TO:

EXT. GRANT PARK - MORNING

Heath and Charlie sit and watch women walk past

HEATH
What do you have to say about that
one? Charlie sips a to-go cup of
tea

CHARLIE
Out of your league

HEATH
What exactly is my league

CHARLIE
Hmm, what's the lowest league in
baseball?

HEATH
Single A

CHARLIE
Hmm...then you're Single Z

HEATH
I'll just pretend that you didn't
say that

CHARLIE
I think we need to destroy your
confidence then rebuild it

HEATH
Like the bionic man?

CHARLIE
Who?

HEATH
Lee Majors

CHARLIE
I repeat...who?

HEATH
Gah...can we just find me a woman

CHARLIE
Finding a woman is easy...you can
do that on your own

HEATH
I can

CHARLIE
You have, but finding a woman who
actually works with you and will
actually care about you

HEATH
That's asking a lot

CHARLIE
Nah, not so much

HEATH
So what should I do?

CHARLIE
things. Patience, confidence, and
luck

HEATH
So I need to get lucky 'ey?

CHARLIE
Yes...but not with me, never with
me...EVER

HEATH
Never say never sweetheart

CHARLIE
Lets just find you a woman

HEATH
Oh how about that one? Heath points
towards a woman walking past They
both walk off camera following the
girl.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Sean still stands in awe

SEAN
You love me...? Opehlia throws her
hands in the air

OPEHLIA
Christ Sean, how many times do I
have to say it, do I need to shout
it from the rooftop? Sean is still
stunned

SEAN
You'd do that? Opehlia raises an
eyebrow

OPEHLIA
Yes, I'd do that...damn you

SEAN
Lia...Opehlia...are you sure you
love--

OPEHLIA
YES!

SEAN
Are you--

OPEHLIA
Yes Sean, I'm sure, you know in
certain circumstances, like say
NORMAL ones, the person that is
told that they are loved will say
one of two things--

SEAN
I love you

OPEHLIA
That's one of them--

SEAN
No, I love you...I love you so much
and I missed you every second I was
away from your touch, I missed your
smell, your laugh, your smile, and
those deep hazel eyes of yours...I
love you Lia, with all my heart
forever and a day Opehlia leaps
into his arms

OPEHLIA
Oh Sean Opehlia is in full hug, her
eyes closed, she had been dreaming
of this moment for 2 years He holds
her there for a second, with a,
"this is going to sting" look on
his face

SEAN
They cast Marissa in my movie Her
eyes open

OPEHLIA
And... Sean pulls her away for a
second

SEAN
You aren't upset? She gives him a
shocked look

OPEHLIA
Should I be?

SEAN
My ex-girlfriend is going to be
playing the role I wrote for you in
a movie I wrote about our
lives...um, I kinda figured that'd
upset you

OPEHLIA
Um...I don't recall ever being that
petty...or stupid for that matter

SEAN
But--

OPEHLIA
That's be totally immature and
stupid to take out anger and waste
passion on something as stupid as
that...
Sean steps back for a second He
pinches himself and looks around
the room

OPEHLIA
What in the hell are you doing?
Sean blinks a few times

SEAN
Am I in reality? Am I awake
Opehlia shakes her head and smiles

OPEHLIA
Let me prove it to you She kisses
Sean on the lips They pull back

OPEHLIA
Anything wrong with that?

SEAN
No...nothing at all...I'm sorry, I
just forgot how cool of a
girlfriend you were...I mean are

OPEHLIA
Yeah...who said I was your
girlfriend though?

SEAN
Um...with a kiss like that who
wouldn't?

OPEHLIA
Sean, we've put this relationship
through the wringer

SEAN
That's putting it rather lightly

OPEHLIA
Then what would be the truth?

SEAN
Um...the wringer, in a pool of
piranhas, followed by a paper
shredder, then baked in a pizza
oven, then thrown into the icy
depths of space to find itself in a
black hole

OPEHLIA
Sounds...about right

SEAN
So we aren't "back together"

OPEHLIA
No...we need to earn it, we owe it
to ourselves to respect it, don't
you agree?

SEAN
My dear, I just want to be by your
side...and yeah I do think we
should take this slow

OPEHLIA
Speaking of slow, you have a
meeting in about 25 minutes don't
you? Sean looks down at his watch

SEAN
Damn it He kisses Opehlia on the
cheek and runs for the door

SEAN
I love you Opehlia smiles

OPEHLIA
Love you too The door slams behind
him

INT. ALLAN GINSBURROW'S OFFICE - MORNING

GINSBURROW, a way too young to be a producer type, is sitting
at a desk that is obviously compensating for something.
Across from him sits MARISSA, a wee bit older, but none the
wiser of anything

MARISSA
So you left the title page off the
script...why?

GINSBURROW
I do that with all of them, it
helps keep the talent fresh, I mean
granted I may like a certain
someone, but I'd prefer to just dig
the writing, know what I'm saying?

MARISSA
Yeah I think so...so do you know
the writer?

GINSBURROW
Yeah, he's a pretty hip guy, knows
his stuff, very lingo-cific, if you
catch my drift

MARISSA
Not really, no

GINSBURROW
Well you should be meeting him--
The door bursts open and Sean pops
into the office

SEAN
MR. GINSBURROW, sorry I'm late sir,
the traffic out there was-- and a
chicken crossed the road and--
um...ah I've got nothing Ginsburrow
chuckles

GINSBURROW
Take a seat, Sean Marissa is still
seated in her chair facing forward,
she ignores Sean sitting down next
to her He looks over at her

SEAN
Hi Marissa Ginsburrow smirks

GINSBURROW
You two know each other? Marissa
doesn't even acknowledge the
question

SEAN
Yeah...we met a long time ago,
feels like forever

MARISSA
I can't work on this film ALLAN
Ginsburrow looks upset

GINSBURROW
Excuse me? Marissa gets up from her
chair

GINSBURROW
Ms. Madison? Marissa leaves
Ginsburrow looks to Sean

SEAN
Um...I'll be right back

EXT. GINSBURROW'S OFFICE BUILDING - MORNING

Marissa hurries out the door Sean is close behind her

SEAN
MARISSA! MARISSA WAIT! She doesn't
stop, doesn't turn

SEAN
Damn it He runs to catch up with
her

MARISSA
Get away from me

SEAN
Will you stop for five seconds?

MARISSA
No, no I'm not stopping to talk
about this, I should've known...

SEAN
Should've known that I wrote a
script and you were going to be in
it, talk about the blind luck, I
mean come on, who else gets award
winning actresses to perform in
their stuff?

MARISSA
Stop, just stop okay

SEAN
Ya know what...I'm sorry okay, I'm
sorry that you think I hate your
guts...but this and that is NOT my
fault okay, I just want this movie
made and they have leverage, they
want you...they want you, not me
okay, its all them, I didn't plan
this, I didn't set this up to hurt
you more, I just walked into the
room knowing that you were going to
explode at the sight of me and I'm
sorry for that okay...I don't know
what else to say Marissa. You never
gave me an honest answer on if you
wanted me to just drop off the face
of the planet--

MARISSA
Yes...that's what I want okay, I
want to never see you EVER again,
are you satisfied?

SEAN
No...no I'm not, because I did
nothing wrong, we were young, we
were kids and we screwed up okay,
we, both of us, were in that
relationship, and for you to act
like it was nothing, it meant
nothing, is a lie, its the worst
lie of all, you loved me damn it,
and I loved you, granted the love
we shared was wrong, but we still
labelled it love, so you stop, you
stop being such a bitch and TALK TO
ME! Marissa stops and stares him in
the eyes

MARISSA
What do you want me to say Sean?

SEAN
Let's start with something
simple...like, why are you back in
Chicago? Marissa looks down at the
pavement then back up at Sean.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

INT. CHARLIE'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Charlie and Heath enter Heath is clutching his face

CHARLIE
Let's get you some ice Heath rubs
his face

HEATH
Christ, who knew a chick could hit
that hard He sits down on the sofa

CHARLIE
Um...that wasn't a chick Heath
gives her a disgusted look

HEATH
Oh God! I missed an Adam's Apple!
Charlie pulls ice out of the fridge

CHARLIE
And a pair of berries Heath looks
as if he's going to throw up

HEATH
I'm gonna hurl dude. Charlie shakes
her head

CHARLIE
Are you sure you aren't gay?

HEATH
HELL NO!

CHARLIE
Its cool to be gay Heath, I mean
I'm gay

HEATH
I'M NOT GAY! How can I put that
more plainly

CHARLIE
Well I mean come on, let's be
honest here, you aren't quite lucky
with the girls, maybe you should
start switch hitting

HEATH
I'm praying that's a baseball
reference, not a mixed up way to
say I should go bisexual...

CHARLIE
Its just a thought

HEATH
A thought that's never crossed this
breast loving, female chasing mind,
okay there champ...you stick to
your girls and so will I okay?

CHARLIE
But what if you really aren't
straight, you'd be doing such a
disservice to the community

HEATH
I'm not part of the community or
any community for that matter, I
quit those after the hazing ritual
with the chicken

CHARLIE
So you'll do that to a chicken but
not another man?

HEATH
I didn't do anything, besides eat
maybe one wing, then I booked

CHARLIE
I'm just throwing it out there

HEATH
Well reel it back in Charlie, we've
got bigger fish to fry

CHARLIE
Oh huh...here's another thought,
why don't you come girl shopping
with me?

HEATH
Um...at a lesbian bar? Charlie
plops down on the sofa next to him

CHARLIE
Yup

HEATH
With what purpose?

CHARLIE
Maybe, in fact you could turn the
tides of love...

HEATH
What?

CHARLIE
Okay its a theory, go with me here

HEATH
Okay

CHARLIE
You date a lesbian and sleep with
said lesbian and hence turn her
back straight

HEATH
Ha ha, very funny

CHARLIE
It could work

HEATH
Doubtful

CHARLIE
No it could

HEATH
Really Heath leans in and kisses
Charlie He pulls back They sit in
silence for a second

HEATH
So um... They start to make out
ravenously, knocking over the couch

INT. CAFE - MORNING

Sean sits across from Opehlia in a booth next to an enormous
window. THE WAITRESS walks over to them and pours coffee into
their mugs.

THE WAITRESS
Your order'll be up in a sec They
both nod

SEAN
Thanks They both reach across the
table, bumping hands as they try to
get to the sugar packets. Sean
pulls his hand back

SEAN
Go ahead Opehlia shoots him an
attempted wink, it looks rather
awkward

OPEHLIA
Thanks Sean chuckles

SEAN
What was that? Opehlia gives him a
confused look

OPEHLIA
What?

SEAN
Was that a wink?

OPEHLIA
Yes She begins to blush

SEAN
That was the weirdest wink I've
ever seen, I can't believe you
still haven't learnt to wink.
Opehlia throws her sugar packet at
him

OPEHLIA
Shut up, I can to Sean takes the
thrown sugar packet off his lap and
empties it into his coffee

SEAN
Prove it Opehlia attempts to wink
again, looking like an
overexaggerating silent film
actress. Sean falls into a fit of
laughter

SEAN
Priceless Sean reaches for the
creamer and pours it into his mug.

OPEHLIA
That's a wink

SEAN
That's not a wink Opehlia shakes
her head and takes a sip of her
coffee.

OPEHLIA
Is to

SEAN
Is not They sit amongst the din of
the cafe, Opehlia begins to stir
her coffee. The metal rims softly
making a song as it grazes the
ceramic lip of the mug. Sean stares
off into space.

OPEHLIA
What're you thinking about Sean
wakes from the daze

SEAN
What?

OPEHLIA
You were in deep thought about
something.

SEAN
Just thinking...

OPEHLIA
About?

SEAN
Nothing...just...thinking about
what happens from here. He raises
his cup to his lips

OPEHLIA
That's a whole lot of thinking
about nothing.

FADE TO:

INT. CAFE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - MORNING - 50 YEARS IN THE

FUTURE
The rim of a coffee mug hits the
lips of an OLD MAN with a Chicago
Cubs hat on. His eyes continue to
stare forward as he sits alone in a
booth next to a very large window.
He sets the mug down on top of a
copy of Variety. He readjusts the
hat on his head and glosses over
the headline. The Old Man looks
across the nearly empty cafe and
spots a FATHER and his SON The
Father and the Old Man make eye
contact, the Father nods to him,
the Old Man nods back. The Father
gets up from the booth and walks
over.

FATHER
Sorry to bother you, but I think I
know you from somewhere The Old Man
chuckles

OLD MAN
I imagine a lot of people remember
me. The Father smirks

FATHER
You mind if I bring my son over to
meet you? The Old Man shakes his
head

OLD MAN
Not at all The Father looks to his
Son and waves him over. The
youngster, barely seven years old,
comes to his father's side.

FATHER
Carlton, remember how I always tell
you to be persistent and it'll pay
off? CARLTON, the little boy, nods
his head.

FATHER
This man is living proof of it.

OLD MAN
Hardly, I just worked hard, and got
what I wanted

FATHER
By being the best at what you do

OLD MAN
I had my ups and downs

FATHER
Few The Old Man shakes his head and
chuckles

FATHER
This is Sean Stevens, the greatest--

CUT TO:

[BLACK]

[TITLES]

EXT. CAFE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - MORNING - 50 YEARS IN THE

FUTURE
OLD SEAN walks out of the cafe, a
green notebook under his arm. He
slips on a pair of shades and pulls
his keys out. The Father and Son
walk past him towards their car

FATHER
Thanks again for the autograph Old
Sean waves.

OLD SEAN
A pleasure Old Sean fumbles with
his keys for a second, then looks
out over the beautiful city. He
pulls a plane ticket from his
pocket. It reads, "FINAL
DESTINATION: CHICAGO, IL" He
stares, reminiscing, he hears the
creek and squeak of the EL echoing
in his memory. The sounds of sparks
kicking.

CUT TO:

EXT. ADDISON STOP OF THE RED LINE - MORNING

Marissa stands on the elevated platform, her jaw clenched and
arms crossed.

HEATH (O.C.)
Remind me again why we didn't ride
the Brown Line all the way to
Harrison? Marissa ignores him.
Heath limps into frame

HEATH
Oh, that's right, because someone
had to have a hissy fit and kick me
in the nads! Marissa smirks, then
quickly turns it back to a grimace.
Heath rubs himself

HEATH
You realize I could end up not
having kids thanks to you

MARISSA
Then I did the world a great
service

HEATH
I'll do you a service Marissa turns
to him and lifts her foot.

MARISSA
You want another? Heath covers

HEATH
No thank you ma'am

MARISSA
Good, now shut up.

HEATH
But-- Marissa raises her foot

HEATH
Just one question

MARISSA
What?

HEATH
Do you have any money, because I
left mine back at the apartment and
well we're going to breakfast--
Marissa walks away from him

HEATH
Marissa...? He wobbles after her

HEATH
Riss...?

INT. CHARLIE'S APARTMENT - MORNING

The ground is littered with clothes. Bras... Pants... Socks..
A few shirts fling across frame. Claire stomps into the
living room.

CLAIRE
I can't believe you would even
touch a man. Charlie follows in
after her

CHARLIE
I'm sorry, I don't know what the
big deal is. Tears form in Claire's
eyes

CLAIRE
You don't know-- Charlie's phone
rings. She picks it off the
receiver and quickly hangs it up
again

CHARLIE
Sorry

CLAIRE
I love you, I pour my heart out to
you in that bed and you-- Charlie's
phone sings its song again Charlie
picks up the phone

CHARLIE
I'm a little busy right--

HEATH (ON THE PHONE)
Sorry, I just had a real quick
question Charlie hangs up on him

CHARLIE
You were saying? Claire sighs and
falls to the couch bawling. Charlie
moves to her, trying to comfort
her. The phone rings again. Charlie
tries to ignore it. She finally
gives in.

CHARLIE
What!?

HEATH (ON THE PHONE)
I know I asked you for money
already, but do you think you can
possibly come to the diner and spot
me some cash? Charlie rolls her
eyes and hangs up the phone.
Charlie rubs Claire's back.

CHARLIE
You wanna get some breakfast baby?

INT. OLD SEAN'S CAR - MORNING - 50 YEARS IN THE FUTURE

Sean turns the wheel gingerly as the road grips the rocky
shore. He looks off ahead in the distance, a beach glimmers
just a few miles off. Sean's Classic 2008 Dodge Charger pulls
off onto the shoulder, next to the beach. Sean gets out. He
reaches back into the car and grabs a baseball mitt and an
old SLR film camera. His sneakered feet trample over rocks.
Sean reaches down and grabs a handful and drops them into his
glove. He walks out over the sand and kicks off his shoes.
Barefoot, Sean empties the rocks next to him on the beach,
leaving one in his mitt. He sets himself in his pitching
motion. He rocks back, raises his hands over his head, turns
and fires a strike into the ocean. Old Sean smiles to
himself.

OLD SEAN
Best director ever, huh? Damn if
you could've only seen me pitch. He
picks up another rock and fires it
into the ocean.

CUT TO:

[COMMERCIALS]

INT. CAFE - MORNING

The Waitress pours coffee into Sean's mug. Sean looks up from
the steaming black brew. Opehlia stares back at him.

SEAN
What? Sean picks up his coffee,
takes a sip

OPEHLIA
Tell me why

SEAN
Why what? She gives him an eye. He
puts down his coffee.

SEAN
I got the letter--

OPEHLIA
When's the bus leave?

SEAN
What are you talking about?

OPEHLIA
Spring training starts in two weeks

SEAN
Its hell when you date a baseball
fan

OPEHLIA
Tell me the truth

SEAN
I always--

OPEHLIA
And try not to bullshit me

SEAN
I've got my bag packed

OPEHLIA
And?

SEAN
Got some things to take care of?

OPEHLIA
Ex-girlfriends? Sean's hand slips
over hers

SEAN
Current girlfriend maybe? Opehlia
slips her hand back

OPEHLIA
Its your choice

SEAN
Let me figure some things out

OPEHLIA
I'm giving you another shot

SEAN
Another...another shot? What did
you want me to do, follow you to
New York? She takes a sip of her
coffee and looks out the window

SEAN
Did you want to come with to LA?
She takes another sip

SEAN
Lia... She continues staring out
the window

SEAN
Opehlia She turns

SEAN
I love you.

INT. REDLINE TRAIN - MORNING

The EL train clinks and shutters as it rambles over the
rails.

CTA ANNOUNCER
This is Redline run 880 Marissa is
sitting down as Heath sits across
from her. Heath sighs.

HEATH
So-- He stops

HEATH
I was-- He tries to rethink his
question.

MARISSA
What?

HEATH
Did you and Sean ever?

MARISSA
No! Is that all you think about

HEATH
of the time

MARISSA
I'd like to ride in peace, thank
you

HEATH
What's the point?

MARISSA
I just want to be left alone

HEATH
Do you still love him? Marissa gets
up from her seat and tries to move
down the car. The train abruptly
halts and the lights flicker.

CTA ANNOUNCER
CTA Passengers delays are expected
ahead, we apologize for the
inconvience, we will be moving
shortly. Marissa sits down Heath
moves next to her

HEATH
Do you? A tear streams down from
Marissa's eye

MARISSA
Will you just stop?

HEATH
Does he know?

MARISSA
What story did he tell you?

EXT. SEAN'S APARTMENT IN LA - NIGHT - 1 YEAR AGO

A dusty old pick up sits by the curb. Marissa sits on the
bumper, arms crossed looking at the door of the apartment
complex.
The door squeaks open and Sean walks out with boxes under his
arms. He doesn't give her a glance, Sean just tosses the
boxes into the back of the truck. Marissa gets off the bumper
and follows him. She reaches for his shoulder. Sean shrugs
her off, before she can grab him

MARISSA
Sean wait Sean turns

SEAN
What?

MARISSA
I'm sorry, it was stupid, it was a
stupid mistake--

SEAN
No, I was just dumb, I thought I
could move out here and maybe
things would change, but it didn't

MARISSA
What were you expecting

SEAN
That maybe this one would last?

MARISSA
Why do you think I'm here?

SEAN
I can't deal with this

MARISSA
What're you going to do? Where are
you going to run

SEAN
Home...back home...I have more
problems there that I need to face

MARISSA
What about here? What about us?

SEAN
There is no us

MARISSA
Just two days ago you were
whispering in my ear that you
wanted to be with me forever

SEAN
I did--

MARISSA
And why not now?

SEAN
Things changed

MARISSA
In 48 hours?

SEAN
I isn't you it's--

MARISSA
No, don't even say it, don't even
give me that Sean

SEAN
Its the truth

MARISSA
I let you in...I gave you my whole
heart. I trusted you.

SEAN
And I trusted you

MARISSA
Why are you doing this? Why are
you being so mean?

SEAN
This is me

MARISSA
No it isn't, this isn't you, this
is you trying to be tough and
strong, trying to hide

SEAN
You just don't know the real me

MARISSA
Liar, you liar!

SEAN
Don't call me that

MARISSA
What changed?

SEAN
Things

MARISSA
WHAT CHANGED?

SEAN
NOTHING! That's the problem okay?

NOT A DAMN THING CHANGED!

MARISSA
What do you mean?

SEAN
You wouldn't understand

MARISSA
Try me

SEAN
I can't do this anymore

MARISSA
And you think I can...but I
try...that's what people in love
do, they try, they be strong and
they try

SEAN
Damn it, I'm trying Opeh--
Marissa's face drops in shock

MARISSA
You son of a--

SEAN
That's not

MARISSA
You wanted me to be her!

SEAN
No!

MARISSA
You wanted me to be her so you
could be happy out here and be
happy with letting her go her own
way

SEAN
That's not even

MARISSA
I LOVE YOU SEAN! Do you get that?
LOVE Sean. I've never LOVED anyone
outside of my family EVER! You
ruined my first true love...you
ruined love for me!

SEAN
I'm sorry

MARISSA
Sorry...to hell with your "sorry's"
Sean...if you want me I'm here, if
not, enjoy the trip back to
Chicago.

FLASHFORWARD:

INT. REDLINE TRAIN - MORNING

Tears continue to stream from Marissa's eyes. Heath sits
there, jaw dropped

HEATH
Whoa...

CUT TO:

INT. CAFE - MORNING

The Waitress sets two plates down on the table in front of
Sean and Opehlia They are locked in a staggering stare down.
Opehlia clasps her hand around his.

OPEHLIA
Let's eat, before it gets cold.
Sean looks at her, as if she has
something else to say. Opehlia is
confused

OPEHLIA
What? Sean pushes back from the
table

SEAN
I just lost my appetite

OPEHLIA
Excuse me

SEAN
I said I love you

OPEHLIA
Yeah...I know

SEAN
You're supposed to say it back

OPEHLIA
Supposed to?

SEAN
That's what you do, you say it
back...

OPEHLIA
When you mean it

SEAN
So are you saying you don't love
me?

OPEHLIA
No its just--

SEAN
I love you Opehlia sits there-

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL FIELD - NIGHT - 6 YEARS AGO

Moths collect around the lights that tower high above the
action on the field. A much younger SEAN adjusts his hat and
makes his way to the back of the mound. His jersey is a
pristine white, unscathed by any dirt. Sean picks up a rosin
bag and juggles it on his hand. Soft puffs of white leak out
into the night air. The bag flops back to the dirt and Sean
kicks it to the back of the mound. He approaches the rubber
and stares down the pipe. THE BATTER adjusts his stance and
digs in. THE CATCHER'S glove flaps. Sean grips the ball along
the seams and sets his feet on the rubber. He steps back with
his left foot. His right drops into place in front of the
rubber. Sean pushes with all of his might, hurling the ball
towards the batter. The bat whips around and connects,
sending the ball deep into the warm Indiana night, it rapidly
approaches the left field fence. Sean watches, cringing. THE
LEFT FIELDER, is in full gallop. With glove outstretched he
leaps onto the fence. The ball smacks into the webbing of the
Left Fielder's glove. He pulls the ball back over the fence
and presents his glove like a trophy. Sean raises his fist
into the air and pumps it. The Catcher runs to him and the
rest of the team gathers around. As they continue to pat him
on the head, Sean looks to the stands. He stares at an empty
spot on the bleachers.

EXT. SEAN'S CAR IN THE BASEBALL FIELD PARKING LOT - NIGHT - 6

YEARS AGO A beautiful teenage girl with a midriff baring
shirt and a skirt that's even shorter, EMMA, sits on the hood
of Sean's car. Sean approaches, freshly showered and in
street clothes, cleats slung over his right shoulder,
baseball bag on the other. He drops the bag.

SEAN
Off the car Emma smiles at him,
obviously in a drunken stupor

EMMA
(slurring throughout)
Hey baby

SEAN
I said off the car

EMMA
You pitched a good game Sean grabs
his keys from his pockets

SEAN
I did, gee, thanks, I can't believe
you can watch a game from under the
bleachers with a bottle of Jose
Cuervo stuck to your lips.

EMMA
It was Jack silly

SEAN
Oh, sorry, I get the guys you cheat
on me with confused with your drink
of choice Sean reaches for the door
handle. Emma slides her legs around
and blocks him from opening the
door.

EMMA
Where do you think you're going?

SEAN
Home

EMMA
Can I come with?

SEAN
No

EMMA
Why not? I thought you loved me

SEAN
Yeah, I thought so too.

EMMA
I'm sorry about Jose

SEAN
I thought it was Jack

EMMA
Yeah him too...but I love you

SEAN
More than booze

EMMA
No, more than them

SEAN
So you love liquor?

EMMA
Hells yeah! Set me up!

SEAN
Hey, Rummy, get the picture, you
and me are
through...done...finished

EMMA
But I thought we were gonna-- She
falls off the hood of the car. Sean
finally opens the door to the car
and throws his things in the back
and gets in. He starts it up and
pulls away. The brakes squeak and
the taillights glow red. Sean gets
out and helps Emma into the car.
[Titles]

EXT. EMMA'S HOUSE - NIGHT - 6 YEARS AGO

Sean's car pulls into the driveway. He leaves the car idling
and steps out of the driver's side. He walks over to the
passenger side and opens the door, Emma falls out onto him.
He catches her and undoes her seat belt Sean lifts her from
the car and carries her to the front door. While attempting
to juggle her, Sean reaches his hand into her purse,
searching for her keys.
The front door opens and Sean looks up at EMMA'S MOM. Wrapped
in a robe and with an aura of worry draped along her eyes
Emma's Mom shakes her head.

EMMA'S MOM
Bring her in.

INT. EMMA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Sean sets Emma down on her bed and pulls the covers up to her
chin. Sean turns to leave, Emma's Mom is blocking the
doorjamb.

EMMA'S MOM
You want some coffee? Sean shakes
his head

SEAN
No thanks MRS. FREESTONE, I really
have to--

EMMA'S MOM
Let me rephrase, I called your
house and told them you'd be late,
have some coffee before you drive
home. Sean nods his head.

INT. EMMA'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Sean sits at the table, a cup of black coffee sitting in
front of him. Emma's Mom sits down across from him.

EMMA'S MOM
You never do learn do you Sean?

SEAN
No, no I don't

EMMA'S MOM
I know you love her--

SEAN
Mrs. Fire--

EMMA'S MOM
Stop Sean, just stop it. I'm sick
of seeing you walk in and out of
this house with my daughter in your
arms.

SEAN
Its not a problem--

EMMA'S MOM
It will be when you or her get
hurt.

SEAN
I just--

EMMA'S MOM
Let me talk Sean, stop being so
damn modest.

SEAN
Yes ma'am

EMMA'S MOM
You deserve better... Sean tries to
interrupt, Emma's Mom holds up a
finger

EMMA'S MOM
(cont'd)
...you have a life ahead of you,
the choices you make now are going
to define your future. You don't
need a dead weight like my daughter
weighing you down. Sean, you could
find greatness out there, in
anything you want. You're not going
to find much of anything with that
waste of my DNA passed out in the
bed upstairs. She takes a drink

EMMA'S MOM
(cont'd)
How'd you pitch tonight? Sean
shrugs, studying his coffee

SEAN
One hitter. Emma's Mom smiles

EMMA'S MOM
Smile Sean looks up at her

EMMA'S MOM
Smile Sean, your team just won
Regionals, normal boys your age
smile when that happens, they beam
ear to ear and bask in the moment.
Sean just shakes his head

SEAN
I love her

EMMA'S MOM
Sean A tear rolls down his cheek.
Emma's Mom takes Sean's hand in
hers.

EMMA'S MOM
Sean...there's a million girls in
this world. You could find one in
the stands of a ball game, on the
street in Chicago, an elevator, or
even across a table at a
diner...but Emma is not your one.

SEAN
I--

EMMA'S MOM
You're not allowed to come here
anymore.

SEAN
But--

EMMA'S MOM
Take your stuff with you, take
everything, leave Sean...leave and
don't look back. Sean gets up from
the table

EMMA'S MOM
Sean He turns to face her

EMMA'S MOM
You'll thank me one day, one day
when you're sitting across from a
girl and you look deep into her
eyes and tell her and you'll know,
that you truly love her. Sean nods
his head

INT. CAFE - MORNING

Back in the present day Sean sits across from Opehlia. They
are locked in an increasingly awkward stare. Opehlia takes a
sip of her coffee. She looks to the door.

SEAN
Lia... She looks back at him

OPEHLIA
I have to--

SEAN
Opehlia...

OPEHLIA
I really just--

SEAN
I love you...I really honestly love
you. She starts to cry. She tries
to suck it back in, but she can't
help it.

OPEHLIA
Till when Sean? Till the next
blonde walks past?

SEAN
Opehlia--

OPEHLIA
No, no, you don't get to say you
love me. I had so much time to
think about this in New York and I
thought I had it all figured out,
but you did it again. You broke
down my wall and--

SEAN
You don't need walls

OPEHLIA
Yes I do, yes I need them

SEAN
For what?

OPEHLIA
You hurt me Sean, you always hurt
me, you just don't get it

SEAN
I'm--

OPEHLIA
Sorry, sorry for what, for pushing
me to New York then bolting to LA?

SEAN
That was the plan all along, you
knew that

OPEHLIA
For us, for you and I to move to
Panorama City or whatever goofy
name it was and live out there,
eating rice and peanut butter
sandwiches until you made it as a
writer and I was an actress

SEAN
You had to do your own thing

OPEHLIA
And you had to do yours

SEAN
I wasn't about to give up my dream

OPEHLIA
Oh, that's right, but you'd give up
on us

SEAN
I don't get what you want from me

OPEHLIA
Nothing, I just...how can you have
a long distance relationship with
someone who's ten blocks away?

SEAN
Stop

OPEHLIA
Stop what, telling you the truth?
What are you so afraid of?

SEAN
This...I'm afraid of this...

OPEHLIA
What?

SEAN
Losing you

OPEHLIA
You lost me once before

SEAN
And it nearly killed me

OPEHLIA
Prove it The bell on the restaurant
door chimes. Marissa and Heath
enter.

SEAN
My proof just walked in the door...

INT. CAFE - MORNING

Marissa marches across the room, on her way with a little bit
too much ease she picks up a glass of water and throws it,
glass and all, at Sean. Sean ducks and the glass shatters
against the wall behind him.

MARISSA
You son of a bitch. Sean smiles

SEAN
Marissa how nice of you to join us.
Marissa tries to grab the salt
shaker from the table, but Sean
catches her hand

SEAN
Bad luck to spill salt

MARISSA
I have to work with you--

SEAN
Then that's enough bad luck already
now isn't it

MARISSA
Let go of me Sean releases his
grasp Marissa lets go of the salt
shaker Heath comes out from behind
her

HEATH
Is it safe? THE MANAGER walks out
from the back room Sean holds up a
hand.

SEAN
I'll pay for it The Manager stops,
turns and walks back into the back
room. Marissa seethes a little
through her teeth

MARISSA
What do you want from me?

SEAN
Opehlia, meet Marissa, Marissa,
Opehlia Marissa looks to Opehlia

MARISSA
This is her? Opehlia raises an
eyebrow

OPEHLIA
Excuse me?

MARISSA
You're the one?

OPEHLIA
The one what?

SEAN
I believe the question is "The one
who

MARISSA
Shut up

OPEHLIA
Shut up Sean crouches down in the
booth, Heath takes a seat next to
him

HEATH
I see their bonding already

MARISSA
You broke his heart

OPEHLIA
He left me

MARISSA
I had to go through a brick wall of
emotions just to get him to take me
out on a date

OPEHLIA
Was it worth it?

MARISSA
Excuse me?

OPEHLIA
Was he worth the fight?

MARISSA
At the time, yeah I thought he was

OPEHLIA
And when he left

MARISSA
He left for you

OPEHLIA
What?

MARISSA
His whole lie about the city eating
him up, he didn't have to tell me
anything, I knew the truth, he came
back here because he knew you would
too. Opehlia looks to Sean

OPEHLIA
Is that true? Sean nudges Heath

SEAN
'scuse me Sean stands up throws a
fifty on the table. Marissa grabs
his shoulder.

MARISSA
She deserves to know the truth Sean
looks back at Opehlia

SEAN
Then tell her, you know it so well,
why do you think I invited you here

MARISSA
I didn't come to do your dirty work

SEAN
Then why did you?

MARISSA
Because everyone has to grow up
sometime, even you

SEAN
Who told you that?

MARISSA
Someone who loved me... Sean walks
past her and heads out the door,
bumping into Charlie and Claire as
he walks out. Charlie looks to
Opehlia

CHARLIE
What'd we miss Claire notices
Heath. Her hand reaches for a
plate.

HEATH
I'm glad he left a 50 Heath slides
down beneath the table.

INT. SEAN'S APARTMENT - NOON

Sean digs through his closet. He pulls out an old wooden bat.
There's a few nicks on it from batted balls. Sean runs his
fingers across the grains, tracing up the barrel to his name,
etched just beneath the name of the company.

EXT. LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD - NIGHT

The little league field is pitch black, the only light comes
from the head lamps of Sean's car. The beams fall over home
plate where High School age Sean stands, a ball in one hand,
the bat in the other. A 5 gallon bucket of baseballs sits
next to him. He tosses the ball into the air and takes a
swing.

CRACK
The ball jumps off the bat and
rockets into left. Gravel kicks up,
another car pulls up beside Sean's

SEAN
Damn it. He turns

SEAN
Sorry Officer, I know I'm
trespassing-- A girl giggles at him

CHARLIE
How many times have you been caught
doing this? Sean holds up his arm
to block the headlights.

SEAN
Charlie Charlie, high school age
(still as pretty as she could be),
steps out from behind her car door.

CHARLIE
How many?

SEAN
About 6? Charlie shakes her head

CHARLIE
I thought you were a pitcher

SEAN
In 1980 Nolan Ryan doubled 5 times
and scored 3 RBIs...I want to
triple those numbers...and maybe
add a homer or two.

CHARLIE
How many you hit over the fence so
far tonight? Sean holds up a zero
with his hand.

CHARLIE
Maybe you need a pitcher?

SEAN
Couldn't hurt. Charlie reaches into
Sean's bag and grabs a mitt. She
picks the balls up by the handle.

SEAN
So what happened with Neil? Charlie
stands on the mound

CHARLIE
I don't think he's ready to date
me?

SEAN
Tried to feel you up?

CHARLIE
In his Camaro of all places

SEAN
Classy Charlie winds up and
pitches, perfect, like she's done
it for years. Sean puts the pitch
in center. Charlie reaches into the
bucket

CHARLIE
What about Emma? Charlie winds up
and throws.
Sean gets all of the ball and puts
it over the left field fence. Sean
sets himself back into his batting
stance. Charlie grabs another ball.

CHARLIE
She puked in your car again? Sean
waggles his bat. Charlie chucks the
ball. Sean connects, sending it
deep into center

SEAN
All down the side. The ball clears
the scoreboard. Charlie smirks

CHARLIE
Thought I smelt roast beef when I
was walking past. She reaches into
the bucket again. Sean sets himself
in the box.

[COMMERCIAL]

INT, SEAN'S APARTMENT - NOON

There's a knocking on the door.

INT. SEAN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - NOON

Heath stands outside of the door, continually knocking.

HEATH
Sean...Sean open up Heath flips out
his cell phone.

EXT. GRANT PARK BASEBALL FIELDS - AFTERNOON

Charlie walks out onto the empty fields. The dust blows over
the infield. Her cell phone buzzes.

INT. CAFE - NOON

Opehlia sits alone in the booth. Marissa approaches.

MARISSA
Opehlia--

OPEHLIA
Sorry, but I don't want to hear it.
Marissa sits down

MARISSA
He loved me---

OPEHLIA
That's nice to know

MARISSA
He loves you...he's in love with
you.

OPEHLIA
Yeah... I know

MARISSA
What are you afraid of?

OPEHLIA
Are you seriously asking me that
question?

MARISSA
I just--

OPEHLIA
No, don't ask me questions or treat
me like you care, you don't care,
you don't know--

MARISSA
I know how it feels when he
disappears, he's good at it, but
when you find him again, its hell
to get him off of your mind.

OPEHLIA
He didn't disappear, he's on a
bus...he got a letter from the
Southside Blues, he's headed to
spring training.

MARISSA
So are you going to go after him?

OPEHLIA
You don't play chase with destiny,
sometimes you let it just find you
Opehlia gets up from the table and
walks out the door.

INT. GREYHOUND BUS - NOON

The bus pulls away from the depot. Sean rest's his head
against the window

The bus puffs a cloud of smoke then gains speed, moving out

onto the open road.



INT. WRIGLEY FIELD - DUSK - 4 YEARS LATER

The lights begin to flicker on the century old ballpark.

The grounds crew finished up wetting down the infield as a
few of the Chicago Cubs trot out into left field.

Off in right field the Chicago White Sox warm up as batting
practice continues.

One man, a rookie, stands out in left by himself. The bold
number 15 stitched onto his back is fresh, a new jersey that
hasn't been touched by sweat is now being kissed by the wind
that makes the Friendly confines famous.

Number 15 surveys the field, taking in the beauty of the ivy
and the scoreboard. He turns to reveal himself as SEAN
STEVENS, 4 years older, but as wide eyed as a 4 year old
seeing Santa Claus.

He pulls his hat down over his eyes and smirks.

From the left field line a familiar voice calls to him.

HEATH (O.C.)
SEAN!

He turns and looks over to the seats just past the bullpen.

Heath waves to him.

Sean gallops over.

HEATH
The Bartman seat, you son of a
bitch.

Sean chuckles.

SEAN
I figured it'd be the best way for
you to see me the most.

Heath shakes his head

HEATH
Unbelievable, I can't believe
you're out here, this is left field
at Wrigley, Dave Kingamn, Hack
Wilson! Come on man you've gotta
be freaking out.

Sean holds up his fingers to motion, "Just a little bit".

Sean's smile quickly drops.

His eyes watch an aisle leading down to the seats. Heath
turns to see what he's looking at.

OPEHLIA comes down to the first row and leans over the brick.

OPEHLIA
I thought you were a pitcher.

Sean is still in shock

SEAN
Apparently you're mistaken.

OPEHLIA
Ahh

SEAN
I thought you were still pissed.

Opehlia pulls a White Sox cap from her purse.

OPEHLIA
Apparently you aren't mistaken.

She slides the cap on and scoots down the row to her seat.

Sean looks back to Heath.

Heath shrugs

HEATH
It could've been worse

Sean raises an eyebrow.

HEATH (CONT'D)
It could've been a Yankees hat.



INT. WRIGLEY FIELD - NIGHT - 4 YEARS LATER

Sean and Heath stand behind home plate. Sean is in street
clothes, but Heath somehow gained a new layer, a Number 15
jersey with Stevens stitched on the back.

HEATH
God I thought it was a myth, or a
wetdream, that people actually did
this stuff.

SEAN
What walk on baseball fields after
the game?

HEATH
No, with the guy who made the game
saving catch!

Heath hops on his buddy and tries to wrap him in a headlock,
no such luck. Sean escapes.

SEAN
That's what I get paid for

Heath scoffs

HEATH
You get paid to dress like a little
leaguer and swat at a piece of cork
wrapped in horsehide, if that isn't
the American dream--

SEAN
She looked good

HEATH
No

SEAN
Come on, you can admit it to

HEATH
We are not doing this

SEAN
The guy

CUT TO:



INT. WRIGLEY FIELD - EARLIER THAT NIGHT

Sean stands out in left field waiting for the pitcher to take
the mound.

He looks over at Opehlia. She sits alone staring off at the
infield, studying the pitcher as he finishes up his pregame
crotch grabbing ritual.

A man, clad in a White Sox jersey and hat, shuffles across
the aisle. He plops down next to her, two beers in his
hands.

Opehlia looks over at him and smiles.

She takes one of the beers. THE NEW GUY, wraps his arm
around her and shouts obscenities at the infield, something
along the lines of "pack of bums". He looks over at Sean and
realizes he's making direct eye contact. THE NEW GUY points
right at Sean

THE NEW GUY
Go back to Pensacola you hack!

Sean looks away

SEAN
(mumbling)
Triple A is in Iowa schmuck.

SEAN (V.O.)
How could he not know that?

HEATH (V.O.)
He's a Sox fan. We're lucky if they
speak proper English, "He
gone?"...need I say more?

CUT TO:



INT. WRIGLEY FIELD - NIGHT - 4 YEARS LATER

Sean sits down in the grass

SEAN
Who was he?

Heath holds up his hand

HEATH
Not getting in this

SEAN
Give me a name

HEATH
Can't

SEAN
Fine, then I'll keep calling him
THE NEW GUY, until I have a proper
title for him

HEATH
And you think that phases me?

SEAN
Not in the slightest, no

HEATH
Glad to see that year in Iowa
didn't make you completely nuts.

Heath's cell phone buzzes, he answers

HEATH
Yeah, give us a minute...we're on
the field...I told you that you
should've come...you can work the
rest of your life woman, how often
can you see your best friend play
left field at Wrigley? Ok...well
yeah, he's starting tomorrow night
too...ok good point...ok...we'll be
there in a minute...love you...bye

Heath claps the phone shut

SEAN
Charlie?

HEATH
She's sorry, she had to work, blah,
blah, blah

SEAN
Long story short

HEATH
She's at Hi-Tops

SEAN
Well--

HEATH
So is Lia...and The New Guy

SEAN
And?

Heath knocks on Sean's head

HEATH
Recollection time dear friend, last
time you had an encounter with one
of Lia's ex flames he ended up
having a close encounter with your
fist

SEAN
Heath that was---

HEATH
A lawsuit waiting to happen

SEAN
I want to see Charlie, I haven't
been home in a year, I want to get
out and enjoy---

HEATH
Sean, you left

SEAN
I had to

HEATH
I understand that, Charlie
understands that, I could even
explain it to Nibbles my pet
turtle, but Lia, Lia took it as you
ran away.

SEAN
Then I need to clear that up.

HEATH
Better time, better place

SEAN
In 2 minutes, at the bar

HEATH
Just one thing

SEAN
No

HEATH
Please

SEAN
What?

HEATH
Say the words

SEAN
Fine. Heath no matter what, you
warned me that something may
happen, so you are fully given the
right to ridicule me for my actions
tonight.

HEATH
Damn am I glad I took that legal
procedure class accidentally.



EXT. WRIGLEY FIELD - NIGHT

Heath and Sean stand outside of the stadium.

The giant board behind them reminds them to, "Drive safe".

Heath shoves his hands into his pockets and kicks and empty
cup.

HEATH
So...

Sean looks at him.

SEAN
I spent the last four years of my
life trying to find myself and it
led me back here. There's a reason
she was here tonight, I need to
find out why.

HEATH
Maybe she just wanted to see a
baseball game.

SEAN
Maybe she just wanted to see me

HEATH
Are you that full of yourself?

Sean sits down on the curb.

SEAN
No Heath, I just wish it were the
case. I want her to be sitting
across the street waiting for me.
I want her over there watching the
door and praying I walk through it.
I want a chance to have everything.
I've never wanted more than I
deserve in my entire life. I just
want this, I want her.

HEATH
What if she doesn't want you?

Sean gets up from the curb.

SEAN
Only one way to find out.



INT. HI-TOPS - NIGHT

Charlie and Opehlia sit at a table in the corner of the bar.

The waitress sets two beers in front of them.

The door to the bar opens, Heath and Sean walk in. Sean
pulls a Cubs hat down low on his brow as they shuffle past
drunken groups of fans.

The boys sit down at the table, Opehlia pulls Sean's hat up
off of his eyes.

OPEHLIA
Who do you think you are?

Sean smiles

SEAN
No one special.

Charlie shoves him

CHARLIE
Good game tonight kid.

Sean smiles at her

SEAN
Thanks, how you been?

CHARLIE
Decent

She looks over at Heath, he wraps his arm around her.

HEATH
Well the gang's all here. [To Sean]
How was the grub on the minor
league circuit?

Sean chuckles

SEAN
Decent, nothing beats home though,
for a lot of things.

Sean makes eye contact with Opehlia.

The New Guy approaches from behind.

Sean pulls his hat down once again.

The New Guy reaches across the table and pops it up off of
his head.

THE NEW GUY
Well son of a bitch.

Sean offers his hand for a shake.

SEAN
Sean Stevens, pleasure to meet you.

The New Guy looks at Sean's hand.

CUT TO:



EXT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Sean cocks his fist back and labels Buskins with a punch.

Sean un-balls his fist and shakes his hand.

Buskins tries to get up off of the pavement.

CUT TO:



INT. WRIGLEY FIELD - NIGHT

Sean's hand slips into a baseball mitt.

He stands out in left field, staring into the stands. He
watches as Opehlia and The New Guy chat.

Sean looks back over his shoulder at the hand operated green
scoreboard at the two out and full count.

The bases are loaded.

Sean watches as the Pitcher lets the 3 and 2 pitch fly.

The Batter connects, sending the ball towards the gap.

Sean sprints across the field, trying to judge a good angle
of attack.

The ball begins to drop quickly.

Sean pushes off and leaps into the air.

The ball smacks into the webbing of his glove.

Sean hits the ground and slides across the grass.

He holds up his glove, with the ball still in it.

The crowd erupts.

The Center Fielder looks down at him.

THE NEW GUY (O.S.)
Yeah I know who you are.

CUT TO:



INT. HI-TOPS - NIGHT

Sean looks at his hand, then lowers it.

THE NEW GUY
Lia, I think I'm gonna head home,
thanks for the ticket.

Opehlia grabs his arm.

OPEHLIA
Can't you stay?

The New Guy looks at Sean.

THE NEW GUY
No thanks, I got work tomorrow.

SEAN
Dude, if its me I'll leave

THE NEW GUY
No, its fine I've gotta--

SEAN
Listen man, if you want to spend
time with your girl I don't want--

Sean stops.

The New Guy gives him a look.

Sean smirks.

SEAN
Son of a bitch...she isn't your
girlfriend.

The New Guy shakes his head.

Sean starts to laugh, hard. He looks right at Opehlia.

SEAN
You had me, I was gonna knock this
guy out.

The New Guy stands up tall.

THE NEW GUY
What was that?

Sean waves a hand at him.

SEAN
Not with my throwing hand.

The New Guy looks to Opehlia

THE NEW GUY
I think I'm gonna go.

The New Guy walks away from the table.

Opehlia watches him leave, then turns back to Sean. She gets
up off of her seat.

OPEHLIA
Bye guys.

Heath leans over to Sean.

HEATH
So...how long's the home stand?



EXT. HI TOPS - NIGHT

Opehlia's sandals click on the sidewalk as she scurries away
from the bar.

Sean exits Hi-Tops and looks for her. He spots her off in
the distance and runs to catch up.

He gets by her side.

SEAN
It feels like I've spent 90% of my
love life chasing after you.

OPEHLIA
I've spent too much walking away
from you.

Sean scoots in front of her, walking backwards as he tries to
talk to her.

SEAN
Who is he?

OPEHLIA
Who are you?

SEAN
The jackass you used to date that
ran away from home and became a
major league outfielder.

Opehlia tries to push past him, but Sean doesn't move.

SEAN
Listen--

OPEHLIA
What happened to pitching?

Sean stops walking, Opehlia nearly bumps into him.

SEAN
They liked my bat too much.

Opehlia side steps him and continues on.

Sean watches her walk away.

SEAN
I came here for you.

Opehlia stops and turns

OPEHLIA
You came here because you have a
three game set with the Sox.

SEAN
I meant the bar, I came there for
you.

OPEHLIA
Sean, if you wanted me, I was there
6 years ago.

SEAN
6 years...

Sean hangs his head.

SEAN
...I'm sorry for ruining them for
you.

OPEHLIA
That's it, four years on the road
and that's all I get?

SEAN
Well I had a huge speech planned,
but what do I have to offer you? I
can't say where I'll be or if I'll
even be in this state next week,
let alone next year. You deserve
stability, something I can't give
you.

OPEHLIA
Do you love me?

SEAN
Yes, that's why this is so hard.

OPEHLIA
Ask me...

SEAN
Ask you what?

OPEHLIA
Ask me if I love you

SEAN
Lia--

OPEHLIA
Sean!

SEAN
I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU, with all
of my heart, all I want is to be
with you, but--

OPEHLIA
Stop, just stop, this is my
decision, stop making it for me.

SEAN
I'm just trying not to hurt you!

OPEHLIA
You're hurting me by doing this!
God, let me make the decision.

SEAN
Fine...make the decision...come
find me when you do.

Sean walks away.



INT. DODGER STADIUM - NIGHT

The Cubs take batting practice as the stands begin to fill.

Sean does sprints across the outfield.

Opehlia sits down in a seat just down the left field line.
She pulls a Cubs hat down over her eyes and watches.



INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

A lamp flickers to life on Opehlia's desk.

She walks past a suitcase, the luggage claim tags read "LAX".

She flops down onto her couch. She takes the hat from her
head and flings it across the room. She pulls her fingers
through her hair slowly, beginning to sob as her fingers get
to the tips of her hair.



EXT. ADDISON STREET - NIGHT

Heath and Sean walk back to the player's parking lot.

HEATH
So...

SEAN
Back to this aren't we?

HEATH
I really don't know what to say

SEAN
You don't have to say anything, I
knew this was going to happen--

HEATH
It didn't have to though, I mean it
could've been different.

SEAN
Nothing changes Heath, nothing
changes around here, its all the
same, just like LA

HEATH
Maybe it isn't the city Sean, maybe
its you.

SEAN
What about me?

HEATH
You leave, you always just walk
away, looking for the next best
thing in the next place you go, all
the time though you're walking away
from the important stuff.

SEAN
I had an opportunity--

HEATH
Yeah, and you have one now too.
There's a girl who loves you and
she's probably holed up in her
apartment trying to figure out how
to let you go

SEAN
She doesn't have to

HEATH
Yes she does, yes she does man, she
has to because you won't love her
the same way back

SEAN
I--

HEATH
Can you?

SEAN
Yes, I can

HEATH
Prove it then

SEAN
Why do I always have to prove
something?

HEATH
No, you always think you have to
prove something, you've never once
stood up in your life and said,
"today I've gotta do what's right
for everyone" its always about you

SEAN
It's never been about me

HEATH
If that were true you'd still be to
in LA, but you couldn't eat your
pride for five seconds and stay
there. You blamed Marissa and ran,
just like you blamed Opehlia and
ran from here. What's gonna happen
when there's no one else to run
from?

SEAN
That's a cute speech Heath, how
long did it take you to come up
with that?

HEATH
About as long as I thought you were
my friend.

SEAN
I'll see you later

Heath grabs him

HEATH
No...no you don't leave, you need
to go and do the right thing for
once

SEAN
And what is the right thing? I
told her I love her, what else is
there

HEATH
Prove it, prove to her that you
love her.

Sean looks into Heath's eyes

SEAN
I don't know how.

HEATH
Learn.



EXT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Sean paces back and forth outside of the building, trying to
figure out what exactly he wants to say.

A businessman walks past and stares at him. He stops and
stares some more.

Sean looks up at him.

The businessman smiles and pulls a pen from his pocket. He
takes a piece of paper from his briefcase.

Sean puts on a fake smile and sighs the paper.

The businessman walks away, trying to make out Sean's
handwriting.

Sean starts up the stairs to the apartment building's door,
then he stops. He waits for a second, studying the
neighborhood.

The summer morning is empty of sound, nothing short of a
perfect day.

Sean's cell phone rings.

He picks it up

SEAN
Hello?

HEATH
(on the phone)
Have you made it up the steps yet?

SEAN
No

HEATH
(on the phone)
Christ...call me back when you do.

The door to the building opens.

Sean turns to meet Charlie...he's confused.

SEAN
What are you doing here?

CHARLIE
I was woken up at 1 AM, a sobbing
phone call from my friend.

SEAN
And?

CHARLIE
She's leaving again.

SEAN
Now?

CHARLIE
Not, now, now, but soon, like an
hour or so.

SEAN
Is she still here?

CHARLIE
Yep

SEAN
Well can I...?

CHARLIE
Can't hurt anything worse than it
already is.

Sean rushes past Charlie and bolts through the door.

Charlie shakes her head.

CHARLIE
I wish I had a camera.

She pulls her cell phone from her pocket and hits the send
key

CHARLIE
Yeah...he bought it.



INT. OPEHLIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING

A repeated tapping on the door arouses Opehlia from the
couch. She opens the door to find a flustered Sean.

OPEHLIA
Are you okay?

SEAN
Did you know that you have 32
stairs?

OPEHLIA
No--

SEAN
Good, because neither did I

He holds up a scarfed elbow.

Opehlia pulls him inside the apartment

OPEHLIA
How in the hell do you play sports?

SEAN
I'm only awkward around girls.

Opehlia looks through her cabinet and pulls down some band
aids and peroxide.

OPEHLIA
What are you doing here

SEAN
You can't leave

OPEHLIA
Sean I--

SEAN
I can't let you leave, not unless
its with me, no one is leaving this
city unless its with me

OPEHLIA
Uh huh

She pours the peroxide on his wound.

SEAN
YEOW...I love you

Opehlia looks up at him still continuing to pour the peroxide

OPEHLIA
Excuse me?

Sean yelps in pain again.

SEAN
Please, stop

She pushes a bad aid on the wound and starts to put the items
away, she stops and looks at him.

OPEHLIA
How many times have you barged into
my life screaming about how you
love me

SEAN
Dozens

OPEHLIA
And how many times have I let you
break my heart

SEAN
None

OPEHLIA
Oh really, by who's counting

SEAN
You can't break someone's heart if
they won't let you have it.

OPEHLIA
Don't even come in here and feed me
that--

SEAN
Can you honestly say that you ever
just let all your fears drop and
just love me

OPEHLIA
No, I can't

SEAN
See that's--

OPEHLIA
No, its because I can't Sean, I
can't just let all of worries drop
away because who knows what happens
next with you?

SEAN
I thought that was what made it fun

OPEHLIA
When we were young, yeah, it did,
but now, now I want someone who'll
be there when I get home

SEAN
I promise I won't be an empty
apartment anymore

OPEHLIA
You can't promise that Sean

SEAN
Yes I can, I can promise anything

OPEHLIA
Yeah you can

SEAN
And I can come through too... I can
be there Lia, I really can.

OPEHLIA
Don't make me do this Sean

SEAN
Do what?

OPEHLIA
Push you away again, don't make me
do it.

SEAN
I have spent all of my life living
like I'm the only person that
matters. I did things for myself,
sacrificed everything for my own
gain and never once have I been as
happy as I am when I'm with you.
Even when I was out there in front
of 42,000 people, it felt like it
was just me and you, just you
watching me do what I love and me
out there doing it because it made
me happy. I want to do what makes
you happy Ophelia...I want to do
what's right by you.

OPEHLIA
Sean--

SEAN
This is the last time I'm ever
going to ask you this, I'm sure you
have to pack your bags to leave,
but I need to know this before you
go...

OPEHLIA
Sean I'm--

SEAN
Do you still love me?

Opehlia shakes her head

OPEHLIA
First of all, I'm not going
anywhere, I don't know who told you
I was.

Sean clutches his fist

SEAN
Charlie

OPEHLIA
Second of all...why do you always
have to do this? Why do you always
have to run down here at the last
possible second and try and whisk
me off my feet.

SEAN
Its what I do

OPEHLIA
Well its worked before, but this
time...I just want to be able to
sit down and talk.

SEAN
You didn't answer my question...

She puts a finger to his lips

OPEHLIA
Never ask someone if they love you,
the answer may not be the one you
want.

SEAN
Yes, but what's the answer?

Opehlia walks towards the door.

OPEHLIA
Do you want to get some coffee?

SEAN
I'd really like an answer.

Opehlia walks out the door.

Sean follows

SEAN
Is that a "yes"?

He closes the door behind them.

"THE END"