FADE IN:

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK/BOSTON – NIGHT

Wind whips dust and litter along cracked, gray cement, past a crimson brick wall.  

A wad of paper bounces and rolls into the breeze.

NICK O'REILY 76, homeless, huddles from the cold in shabby, filthy clothing against the brick wall.  Only his creased and hardened face is exposed. 

Wad of paper pops Nick on his rosy, gin blossomed nose.  Bloodshot, faded eyes, wary from the failure they have watched, open with a startled shutter and snap. 

Nick watches the paper as it continues on its search for other prey. 

A large, powerful dog ANDY sits a short distance away and watches protectively over Nick.  

EXT. SIDE STREET – NIGHT

Headlights flash and a small dump truck turns into the narrow dead end street.

ENTRANCE WAY/GLASS DOORS

Four HOMELESS PEOPLE huddle for warmth under the entrance canopy.  Headlights erupt, bathing the sleepers with an artificial sun. 

DUMPTRUCK turns and backs up.  It stops a few feet from the homeless.  They do not stir.

TRUCK DRIVER and his HELPER climb out of the truck and walk to the back.  Driver looks down, shakes his head. 

HELPER
			How we gonna get the cart 
			through that... that bum-stacle 
			course? 

Nick,  several feet away, watches wordlessly.  He stands up  slowly and walks away.

Andy steps slowly form the shadows and follows Nick at a distance. 

EXT. BOSTON COMMON/BENCH – DAY

Nick dozes, a newspaper shades his face.  He stirs as joggers and pedestrians pass by. 
 
Andy sits in the walkway, in the middle of all the foot traffic, keeps a close eye on Nick. No one notices or sees the Andy.  He is a ghostly  vapor, a wisp of smoke.

Newspaper slides off Nick's face.  He looks up at the bright sky.  He frowns, looks down at the newspaper.  

Nick's eyes scan the copy.  He lifts the paper.  Reads. 

NEWSPAPER FULLFRAME 
Obituaries 
		
		MOLLY PIACENTINI 67 died Tuesday of heart 
		failure. Miss Piacentini never married, but 
		is survived by her only child Nicolas 
		O'Reily Jr...
 
Nick's eyes well up with tears. 

NICK
			How could I have been such a 
			fool?        

Nick's hands crumble the newspaper and crush it to his face. 

None of those passing notice or even hear Nick's sobs.  They would care less if they did. 

Andy whines sympathetically.

EXT. BOSTON COMMON – DUSK

The common is still filled with people, activities still abound even as darkness rolls over the wooded hills.

SETH, late 68, dressed in ragged, ill-fitting, unwashed clothes walks along the paved pathway under timeless oaks and maples.  He stops at a bench, sits down next to Nick. 

Andy's tail wags at the sight of Seth.  Seth has no idea the Andy is there. 

A filthy hand wipes away a tear.  Nick shows no acknowledgment of Seth's presence. 

Seth studies Nick.

Seth reaches inside his coat, pulls out a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag.  He unscrews the cap with difficulty and pain.  He places the bottle to his lips and upends it.

Lowering the bottle, Seth offers it to Nick. 

Nick looks at the bottle.  He sniffs and clears his throat.

NICK
			You did well today. 

Seth  smiles, nods, jiggles the remaining contents of the bottle at Nick.     

NICK
			I got nothing.

Seth pulls the bottle back, up ends it again. 

SETH
			Well, you just sat here.  You don't 
			even have a cup.

Seth looks up and watches a young couple pass.  His dead eyes follow them. They pass through Andy's image who does not stir.  

Seth offers the bottle to Nick again.

Nick shakes his head. 

NICK
			I can't.  

SETH
			I bummed all day for this.  I 
			know what giving is. 

Nick takes the bottle and nods a thank you. 

SETH
			What's wrong with you? I never 
			see you act like this.

Nick takes a long pull on the bottle. 

NICK
			I finally found out what a fool 
			I am.  

Seth gasps with faked shock and surprise. He leans in, lowers his voice.   

SETH
			Somebody say you was a bum?

Nick does not reply.

SETH
			You just realizing that your 
			mouth smells like your asshole? 

Nick rubs his face and looks up.  Seth stands and tries to pull Nick to his feet. 

SETH
			Some of us found a good spot 
			tonight.  	

Nick angrily pushes Seth's hands away. 

NICK
			Leave me alone! 

Seth shakes his head at Nick. 

SETH
			What's wrong with you! You never 
			have been much fun.  Now you're 
			just being an asshole. 

Nick shifts so his back is to Seth.  The newspaper falls to the ground.  Nick kicks the paper away from him. 

Seth looks down at the newspaper.  He reaches down and picks it up.  He studies the obituary page. 

SETH
			Who was it?

Nick does not look up.

NICK
			Molly.  

Nick's chin drops to his chest. 

SETH
			I'm sorry.

Nick shakes his head. 

NICK
			No, no.  She died alone. 

Seth looks back at the paper.  He holds it close to his nose, reads under a lamp post.  

Seth's eyes suddenly widen.

SETH
			You have a son.   

Seth looks confused.

SETH
			Well, she didn't die alone, 
			Nick. 

NICK
			Yes, she never married. She 
			didn't love anyone else.  

SETH
			I don't...

Nick cuts Seth off with a raised hand. 

NICK
			It's my fault.  She didn't have 
			to. 	

Nick stands, begins to walk away.

SETH
			Where are you going?

Nick stops, looks back.  He is panicky. 

NICK
			I have to make things right.  

He turns and walks away, leaves Seth to stand and watch. 

SETH
			But she's dead. 

Andy gives Seth a sad look and hurries after Nick.

EXT. CITY – NIGHT

Nick makes his way from The Common to South Boston.  He walks down side streets, and back allies, and under a highway. 

Andy follows Nick at a distance, always on alert, always watching.

EXT. SOUTH BOSTON – NIGHT

The skyscrapers of downtown have given way to residential neighborhoods. 

Nick walks along a sidewalk, stops before a triple decker apartment house.  Run down and in bad need of a paint job and structural repair, the building is vacant and desolate.  

Nick stands looking at the building for some time before walking up the steps to the front porch. 

He tries the front door, locked. 

NICOLAS O'REILY JR rounds the corner and sees Nick on the front porch. 

NICOLAS
			Hey, get the hell away from there, 
			ya bum. 

Nick turns to look at the voice.  A beer bottle sails through the air and bounces off Nick's forehead.  He goes down to his knees.  
Nicolas runs down the sidewalk and up the steps.  He grabs Nick by the hair and drags him out to the street.  

NICOLAS
			Get the hell out of here, you 
			son of a bitch!

Nick stumbles out into the street. 

NICOLAS
			Don't let me ever catch you 
			back here. 

The Andy runs up and places himself between the two men.  He snaps and growls at the younger man.  

Nicolas can not see or hear the Andy, but some force is keeping him from going after Nick.  

EXT. SOUTH BOSTON – NIGHT

Nick trudges through the streets and back allies of South Boston.  He seems to be wandering aimlessly. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

Customers mill about the sidewalk, smoking, in front of the glass fronted neighborhood dive bar. Through the glass, dim lights illuminate an old, four sided bar surrounded by ancient, worn out bar stools.  

Nick walks slowly, painfully to the side walk in front of the Time Bar.  His steps are weak and unsteady.  Nick holds a filthy rage to a cut on his forehead. 

Nick stops, looks in the window. 

INT. THE TIME BAR

Behind the bar, PATTY, late 66, a barrel chested Irishman with a rosy glow about him and an infectious, toothy grin. 

Patty slides a frothy mug of draft in front of KYLE, 53, one of a half dozen customers quietly about the bar. Kyle speaks with a heavy Irish accent.

KYLE
			Patty, how about a shot of 
			Wild Turkey alongside me pint?     

Patty sighs, wipes a wet ring with a towel then flips it over his shoulder. 

PATTY
			Look, Kyle, you're the only one 
			who drinks that damn stuff, and 
			you don't drink enough for Bob 
			to stock it.  

Kyle waves a hand. 

Patty looks up at the front window.  He smiles at Nick. 

EXT. SIDEWALK 

NICK looks back at Patty. 

NICK
			My God, he's still here. 

Nick's head shifts, his eyes look on something else. 

INT. THE TIME BAR 

BAR STOOL third from the right holds RED, 68, his clothes and hygiene are more evidence he's homeless than an executive. 

Nick can not take his eyes from the bar stool.  He looks down the legs, scared and scuffed they hold firm under the weight of Red. 

A couple stools down, Kyle drains his mug, stands and pushes the stool out of his way.  The legs scrape the worn floor.  

EXT. SIDEWALK

Nick, confusion plays across his face and eyes. 

NICK
			No.  Ah, no!

Nick shifts his eyes to the back wall as Kyle stumbles past it to the men's room, old stools are stacked there.  

He looks back at Red.  Patty is there.  Red slides a twenty dollar bill across the bar.  Patty raises an oddly tapered bottle filled with a dark murky liquid. The label unreadable.  

Nick shakes his head and looks away.  There is a spark, a joy in his eyes now. 

Quickly the delight fades. 

NICK
			A foolish old man, I'm nothing 
			but a foolish old man. 

Nick turns away from the window.

INT. THE TIME BAR 

Patty watches Nick walk away as he pours Red a shot from the odd bottle.

PATTY
			There you go, Red.  Have a 
			good trip.

Red lifts the shot with two shaky hands.  

RED
			Bless you, Patty.  God Bless 
			you.

EXT. SIDEWALK 

Nick looks back over his shoulder, into the bar.  He puts his hands in his pockets, pulls out only a few penny.  One falls from his hand. 

Nick looks down to see where it landed.  A fifty dollar bill tumbles across the sidewalk, past his feet. 

Nick's eyes light up again. He hurries after the money, chasing it into the street, into the path of an on coming car.

Andy watches, jumps forward.  Too late.

Tires lock up, screech.  A dull thud and Nick is thrown into the air.

The car stops, CAR DRIVER 30's, male, well dressed, jumps out, runs to Nick's side. 

Nick rolls over.  Blood runs from his nose and mouth.  He tries to speak.

 CAR DRIVER
			Easy, easy fella.  

Car Driver pulls a phone from his coat.

CAR DRIVER
			I'm gonna get help.  Help is 
			coming.  

NICK
			Molly, where's Molly? Andy! Here, 
			boy.

Andy runs to Nick's side, sniffs at his face.  Andy whines and looks to Patty, standing in the bar window.  

Patty, concern fills his face.  He slowly nods to the pleading Andy.

Car Driver dials the phone, does not pay attention to what Nick says.  He pats Nick's shoulder.

CAR DRIVER
			Quiet.  It's going to be all 
			right. 

Andy lays down next to Nick, rest his head on Nick's chest.

Nick's hand reaches to pat Andy.  

NICK
(mumbles unclear) 

Nick closes his eyes and slips into unconsciousness.

The city fades. 

EXT.  SIDE WALK/SOUTH BOSTON – DAY

THIRTY FIVE YEARS AGO.

NICK O'REILY 41.  Work worn boots carry him over the cracked side walk.  His blue jeans and plaid shirt hold ground in dirt of an honest, hard day's work. 

Nick's pace slows, then stops before the Time Bar. MAX 32, a tall, lean Texan with a soft spoken drawl, that warns a violent resolution to any transgression of manners. He waits at the entrance of the bar. Longish hair, a heavy bush of a mustache, and wire frame glasses.   

Max, head cocked.

MAX
			Hey pal, what kept you?  

He pulls out a fat cigar.

NICK
			Change orders, I hate 'em. 

They continue to chat as they head for the door.  

MAX
			How's the job going? 

NICK
			We started putting up rock.

As they reach for the door, SHANE and ERIN, late 20's, bully their way past, all but physically pushing Nick and Max out of the way.  

Shane, a tough street thug, with an Irish accent, looks up at Max.

SHANE
			Step out the way, will ya, boys.

Erin follows closely behind. 

ERIN
			Men coming through.   

Max does not step aside so easily.  He eyes Shane with a threat. 
MAX
			Don't get pushy, Cochise. 

Max takes a deep puff.

SHANE
			Well, what do we have here? 

Nick takes Max by the arm, tries to guide him to the side. 

NICK
			Easy, Max.  Let it go.  

Max stands firm a little longer before giving way.  He looks Nick in the eye. 

Shane and Erin pass, they snicker.  Max watches them and blows out a large plum of smoke. 

INT. THE TIME BAR

Nick and Max enter through the front door. 

NICK 
			You want them back with a crew 
			and sweep B street with us?

MAX
			Ah, screw them.  

INT. THE TIME BAR - LATER

A dozen customers sit at the bar, constructions workers, barflies, and salesmen.  4 construction workers, engaged in play at a pair of pool tables, greet Max and Nick. 

The bar is larger, the entire back wall is moved back 30 feet. 

Patty much younger, tends bar.  He looks up and nods with a smile.  He pulls out two long neck bottles. 

Max spots an open booth along the back wall and motions to them. 

Patty nods.

Nick follows Max. 
Bar, third stool from the right sits OLD PETE, 75, lined, wrinkled, broken by life.  The bottle his last comfort.  He mumbles to an unseen companion on the empty stool next to him.  He smiles happily as he chats away.  Several empty shot glasses sit before him. 

Nick watches Old Pete as he walks past him. 

Patty delivers the beer as Nick and Max sit. Max pays and becomes interested in the play at the pool tables.  Nick continues to watch Old Pete. 

The hours tick by as the windows grow darker.  The bar becomes crowded.  Smoke thickens and the noise grows deafening.  

Shane and Erin  return, taking up residence at the far corner of the bar. 
  
INT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

Max and Nick play darts with a pair of pretty, young women. The blond is far more attractive than the redhead who's all over Max.  

Redhead makes an exceptional throw, scoops up a shot glass and tosses back its contents.  

MAX
			You must be old enough to 
			drink, because you've spent 
			some time in a honky tonk to 
			shoot like that.   

The women look at each other, confused.  Neither is sure if the Redhead was complemented or not. 

Jukebox plays a sad country love song and the four move on to play pool. 

Nick, waits for his shot and watches Old Pete. 

Patty pours Old Pete a couple more shots.  Old Pete fearfully looks around.  He appears to have lost something. 

Patty reaches over, pats Old Pete on the shoulder, reassuring the old man. 

Max steps in front of Nick, blocks his view of Old Pete.

MAX
			Hey, man.  It's your turn. 

Max snaps his fingers a couple times in Nick's face. 

MAX
			Wake up, man. 

Nick leans around Max in time to see Old Pete down a shot.  He looks at the pool table and misses his shot. 

The women giggle.  Max shakes his head. 

Nick looks at the bar.  Old Pete is gone.  Nick looks around. Old Pete is no where in sight. 

MOLLY 32, tries to get a $20 out of Shane's hand.  The attempt is frustrating her.  Shane and Erin have moved to a table. 

SHANE
			Darling, I shouldn't have to 
			pay.  I work for Bobby. 

MOLLY
			Look creep, I work for him too.  
			He didn't give me any special 
			instructions.  

Shane, angry, stands up.

SHANE
			Watch your sass, girl, before I 
			slap that mouth shut.   

Molly snatches the money from Shane's hand.  He grabs Molly by the wrist.

Molly struggles to get free.  Shane quickly lets go, his hands go to chest height, palms out. 

SHANE
			O.K. , O.K.  I'm just--.  

Max steps up, a cue stick in his hands, cigar locked in his teeth. 
MAX
			Why don't you grab me like that?  

Erin stands and moves behind Max. 

SHANE
			Pipe down, Cowboy.  I'm just 
			having a little fun.

MAX
			Maybe you'd like to have a 
			little fun with me, out back? 

SHANE
			Do you know who I am?  Who I 
			work for?

Nick steps in quickly.  Places a hand on Max's chest, but careful not to touch Shane.

NICK
			No, no.  He doesn't know who 
			you are. 

Nick looks up at Max's face. 

NICK
			Please step back, Max. 

Nick looks over at Molly.

SHANE
			I'm not standing here so this 
			man can speak to me this way.  

NICK
			Honey, will you get these 
			gentlemen another round, on me. 

Shane, a smile spreads across his face as he looks at Nick. 

SHANE
			That's a bit more like it. 

Shane looks at Max. 

SHANE
			Why don't you go sit back down, 
			finish your little game. 

Nick pushes Max out of the way and back to the pool table. 

MAX
			Let go of me, man! 

NICK
			Shut up, man.  Don't do this.  

Nick pushes Max against the pool table. 

MAX
			We could take those two. 

NICK
			You've had too much to drink.  

Max tosses his cue stick on the pool table, balls go everywhere across the felt. 

Patty steps out from behind the bar and over to Shane and Erin.  Molly waits by the waitress station at the bar.  

PATTY
			All right, you two.  I want 
			you out.  

Shane backs down, offers no back talk to Patty. 

SHANE
			O.K., Patty.  We'll go.  

Molly and Nick watch the two hoods leave.  Molly makes her way over to Nick. 

Max curses as he watches the two women leave.  Nick steps over to Patty, he looks at Old Pete's empty stool. 

NICK
			Patty, what happened to Old 
			Pete? 

Patty smiles happily.

PATTY
			He went back... home.  

NICK
			But, I didn't see him leave. 

Patty chuckles, he looks around the bar. 

PATTY
			You didn't have to. 

Patty turns and returns to the bar.  Molly steps up. 

MOLLY
			Can I get you something? 

Nick looks to the empty bar stool again.  Slowly, he gives his attention to Molly. 
 
NICK
			Pardon me. 

Molly rolls her eyes, flirtatiously. 

MOLLY
			Do you want a drink? 

Nick nod's and looks at Max, still leaning on the pool table. 

NICK
			You've had too much.  Would 
			you like another? 

Max looks up, smiles. 

MAX
			Why the hell not?  I ain't 
			driving.

Nick turns back to Molly.  He truly notices her for the first time.  He takes a moment before answering. 

NICK
			Two beers, please.  We're gonna 
			grab a booth. 

Molly turns with a smile and leaves.  Nick's eyes follow her.  Max steps up next to him and follows the gaze. 

MAX
			Man, don't mess with the help.  
			Piss her off and we'll have to 
			find a new place to drink. 

NICK
			I'll drink, you'll just get 
			drunk. 

MAX
			Man, I gotta sit down.  Y'all 
			can stand here all night for 
			all I give a damn. 

Max makes his way to the booth.  Nick takes a look at the empty bar stool again, then follows Max. 

NICK
			Max, did you see Old Pete 
			leave? 

Max flops down into the booth. 

MAX
			Old feet.  Whose God damn 
			feet y'all talking about, Nick?

NICK
			Pete! Pete, you inbred, cornbread 
			and gravy slurper.

MAX
			Hey, my family don't eat 
			cornbread!

INT. TIME BAR / BOOTH LATER

Max and Nick occupy either side of the booth.  Molly brings another round of beer, interrupting their talk. 

MAX
			What are we doing here every 
			night?

MOLLY
			Here you go, fellas.

Molly serves the bottles and smiles down at Nick.
MOLLY
			Thanks for stopping a 
			donnybrook.

Both men nod.

MOLLY
			Shane's not a bad guy.  He gets 
			a little out of line when he's 
			into his cups.  

Max drinks and sets down the bottle. 

MAX
			Someone needs to teach that 
			boy a lesson. 

NICK
			Well, you're not his teacher.

Molly frowns at Max. 

MOLLY
			You should listen to your 
			friend.  He seems pretty smart.  

Molly  turns to walk away, stops, turns and looks back at Nick.

MOLLY
			And cute, too. 

Nick smiles brightly as Molly walks away.

MAX
			Ah, shut up.  You didn't answer 
			my question. 

Nick says nothing as he drinks the beer.  He sets the bottle down and shrugs. 

NICK
			Shane just doesn't like you.  
			You should stay away from him.

Max nods. 

MAX
			Yeah, I know.  What do you 
			suppose it is about me he 
			don't like.     

NICK
			It doesn't matter.  You know 
			how they say, be yourself? 

MAX
			Yeah.  I always try to be.  Man, 
			you know I ain't no phony.

Max seems irritated.  Nick nods his agreement. 

MAX
			And some people still hate 
			me.  Why is that?

NICK
			Because not everybody's suppose 
			to like you.  Listen, pal, some 
			people are always gonna like 
			you and some, no matter how nice 
			you are or how hard you try, will 
			always hate you.  

MAX
			Well that sucks, man. 

Nick nods and drink his beer. 

NICK
			What do we want to do with 
			ourselves?  Look at us.  

Max drains his bottle, slams it down. 

MAX
			I don't want to get in fights.  
			They happen. 

NICK
			I don't want to end up like Old 
			Pete.  Some old fool who gets 
			stinking drunk and talks to 
			himself.  

Max is about to say something but notices Molly standing at the table. 

MOLLY
			You rowdy loud mouths want 
			last call? 

MAX
			Yes, ma'am. 

NICK
			Please.

Molly nods and leaves. 

MAX
			A couple shots too, darlin'. 

Molly waves without looking back. 

Max watches Molly walk away. 

MAX
			That's a nice one there.  I'll 
			tell you that, son, for free. 
			You should go after her.

Nick does not reply.

INT. THE TIME BAR – CLOSING TIME

Patty counts out the cash register as Molly puts chairs on tables.  Nick helps Max to the door.

Molly carries her coat to the front door. 

EXT. SIDEWALK / THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

Max stuffs a cigar in his mouth.  He raises an eyebrow as Molly exits the bar.  He looks over at Nick.

MAX
			Good night, Pal.  

MOLLY
			I'd ask you to walk me home, but 
			you haven't even told me your 
			name yet.  
NICK
			You'd trust a stranger to walk 
			you home this late at night? 

Molly puts her coat on as she starts to walk with Nick. 

MOLLY
			Patty said you were O.K. 

NICK
			My name's Nick.  Nick O'REILY. 
			But I suspect Patty told you that. 

MOLLY
			Yes.  I'm Molly Piacentini. 

Nick offers his hand. A cautious look on his face. 

NICK
			What part of Ireland does the 
			Piacentini clan hail from?   

MOLLY
			Tuscany.

NICK
			I see.

Molly leads them around a corner and down a street of three story apartment houses. 

MOLLY
			My mother was Irish, my father 
			Italian.  

Nick chuckles. Molly notices and hits him in the shoulder. 

MOLLY
			You're thinking of a joke 
			right now. 

NICK
			Well, you know, they have written 
			books.   

MOLLY
			Please have the good taste to 
			refrain from enlightening me 
			with any of them. 

NICK
			I didn't say I read them. 

Molly stops, Nick does too.  She looks into his eyes.  

MOLLY
			I believe you. 

NICK
			That quick, you believe me. 

MOLLY
			You're eyes would have told me 
			if you were lying.  

NICK
			That's not a talent you should 
			reveal to a man on the first date.  

Nick takes Molly by the arm and continues walking. 

MOLLY
			Well, Mr O'REILY, this isn't a 
			date.  Why, does that talent make 
			you nervous?  

Molly looks into Nick's eyes.  Nick does not look away. 

NICK
			I have no propensity of failing 
			to conform with objective reality. 

A smile slowly appears on Molly's face. 

MOLLY
			I don't know what the hell you 
			just said, but it was the truth.  
			I know that.  

NICK
			What brought you back to South 
			Boston?

MOLLY
			I've just always wanted to be a 
			waitress in a Southie Pub.  
NICK
			I love a woman with lofty goals.  
			Tell me, was your first night all 
			you dreamed it would be?   

MOLLY
			Well, I met you and Max.  You 
			kept me from being mauled by a 
			masher.   

Molly looks up and frowns as she stops in front of a three story apartment building in the midst of renovations.

MOLLY
			Here we are.   

Nick leans back and looks up. 

NICK
			This place looks like hell.  Who 
			the hell's doing the work?

Molly pushes open the fence gate, enters the yard and sits on the front step.

Nick studies the work done so far.  He is not pleased.  Grass grows a foot high around a roll off dumpster set half on the drive way and half on the front lawn.  

Nick finally sits next to Molly. 

NICK
			How long has this been going on? 

MOLLY
			Four months...  My aunt has had 
			this place for years. 

NICK
			She must be pouring everything 
			she has into this.  

MOLLY
			Yeah, and that ain't much.  

Nick takes one last look around and stands. 

NICK
			Well, ma'am, I have to be up 
			in a couple hours. See ya.

Nick turns and walks away.  

MOLLY
			Good night, Nick O'Reily, 
			thanks for walking me home.   

Nick waves without looking back. 

Molly stands and watches him fade into the night. 

AUNT ROSE, 63 hidden in the shadows of the front porch, leans forward to speak in a heavy Irish accent. 

AUNT ROSE
			You don't see them like that 
			often, anymore.

Molly shakes her head as she turns to peer into the darkness.  

MOLLY
			Oh, Aunt Rosie, why did you wait 
			up for me? 

AUNT ROSE
			Just for your first night, Molly 
			girl.

Molly crosses the porch to sit next to Aunt Rosie. 

MOLLY
			Thank you. 

AUNT ROSE
			That one can come back.  Do you 
			suppose he's able with a hammer?

Molly smiles and looks in the direction Nick left in. 

INT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

Nick enters the front door,  

ROWDY 55, a giant of a construction worker sees Nick enter and walk through the crowded bar with ease.  Other customers smile and greet Nick.  

Rowdy stands as Nick passes, nearly bumping into Rowdy.  A grin spreads across Rowdy's face. 

ROWDY
			O'Reily, I've been waiting 
			for you.   

Nick, little expression on his face, looks up at Rowdy.

NICK
			Well, Rowdy, I was waiting 
			out back until they brought 
			the trash out.  I was going 
			to scurry in before the door 
			closed. 

Rowdy cocks his head to the side, the smile fades. 

ROWDY
			I imagine you found the 
			surroundings comfortable. 

NICK
			You look tired, Rowdy, please 
			sit down.  

Nick waits, motions to the chair with his hand.  He looks around. 

NICK
			Please, this is a friendly bar.  

Rowdy nods and sits. 

ROWDY
			What about my offer?

NICK
			My crew needs to eat just like 
			yours.  If I cut out the side 
			jobs... they walk. 

Nick pats Rowdy on the shoulder.

NICK
			This isn't the place.

Nick walks on, scanning the customer and staff. 

ROWDY
			It's a good offer. 

SONNY 35, a skinny, jittery guy with bad teeth and shabby hair.  Sonny hurries up to Nick, a beer bottle in each hand.

SONNY
			Nicky, Nicky, here, here.  I 
			got a beer for you.   

Sonny tries to shove the bottle into Nick's hand.  

Nick hesitates, looks from the beer bottle to Sonny and back to the bottle. Finally he wearily, slowly takes the bottle. 

NICK
			Don't buy drinks for me, Sonny.  
			People will think we're dating. 

SONNY
			Hey, I thought we were friends.  
			Friends do for each other. 

Sonny walks with Nick to the bar.  More customers greet Nick.  Many offer Sonny only a distasteful gaze.

NICK
			You haven't known a person 
			holding a pleasant thought 
			for you since your mother died. 

Sonny tries to look hurt. 

SONNY
			Nicky, that's just not very nice.

Nick studies the bottle as he reaches the bar.  He sets the beer on the bar top and slides it away. 

NICK
			What do you want?  You never 
			hump somebody's leg unless you're 
			after something.  

SONNY
			You're in a sour mood tonight.

NICK
			Come on Sonny, give yourself 
			more credit than that. It's 
			just you.  The beer's warm.  
			How long you been holding it? 

Sonny raises his hands, palms out in manufactured surprise. 

SONNY
			Nicky, I'm hurt. I have a 
			business opportunity for you.  

Nick gives Sonny a doubtful look. 

Max slaps a hand down on Sonny's shoulder, nearly driving him to his knees. 

MAX
			What do you want, you little 
			scum bag? 

Sonny shrugs Max's hand off and looks at him with a side glance.

SONNY
			Get lost, redneck, we're 
			talking business here.  

Nick rolls his eyes, barely noticeably.

NICK
			And here I was beginning to 
			believe we were having a 
			friendly drink.  

Sonny's head and eyes snap back on Nick with honest surprise. 

Nick hands the warm beer to Max. 

NICK
			Have a beer. 

SONNY
			Really? 

Max accepts the beer. He starts to chug it down but quickly stops.  He face wrinkles in disgust. 

MAX
			Son of a bitch, man! This God 
			damned shit is warm.  

Max plucks his tongue off the roof of his mouth a couple of time.

Nick looks at Sonny.

NICK
			No.  I've got some drinking 
			to do. 

MAX
			It's flat too.

Nick looks around for an escape from Sonny.   Max notices. 

Nick spots Molly, she delivers drinks to a booth on the back wall. 

Max leans in close to Sonny's ear. 

MAX
			What are you doing in here 
			tonight?

Sonny quickly forgets Nick, focuses on Max. 

SONNY
			What do you know about...?

Sonny leads Max away to a more private location.

Patty stops by Nick, across the bar. He looks out the front window, sees the Andy sitting outside.

PATTY
			How are you tonight, Nick? 

Nick looks at Patty with a nod.

NICK
			I have a taste for scotch 
			tonight, Patty. 

BOBBY SULLIVAN 47, a six foot, tank of a man with a permanent scowl chiseled into a cold, heartless face, sits at a large booth in a dark, back corner.  Shane and Erin sit with him.  Bobby watches Nick get his drink.  

Shane leans over and speaks into Bobby's ear. 

Nick tastes his drink, nods satisfaction to Patty.

NICK
			No one pores booze into a glass 
			like you, Patty.

Nick looks down the length of the bar.  Molly waits at the waitress station.  She looks tired. 

Patty turns to Molly. Speaks to Nick. 

PATTY
			Busy one tonight.  

Molly looks over at Nick, a smile lights up her eyes.  She gives Nick a small wave. 

Nick makes his way to Molly. 

MOLLY
			They really pack them in on 
			Friday nights.  

NICK
			And they really throw them 
			out early Saturday morning.  

Molly steps closer to Nick. 

NICK
			How's the home improvement 
			project going? 

Molly closes her eyes and shakes her head. 

MOLLY
			Contractors suck, did you 
			know that? 

NICK
			I've heard that.  Is there 
			anything I can do? 

MOLLY
			I don't know.  The guy my Aunt 
			Rose hired doesn't seem to be 
			in much of a hurry.  

NICK
			What's he doing wrong? 

MOLLY
			He gave Rose an estimate and 
			wanted half up front. Then he 
			tears out all but one bathroom. 
			The one on the top floor. And 
			she didn't hear from him for 
			three weeks.  

Nick listens, nods. 

MOLLY
			When he does show up, he wants 
			more money, or he can't continue.  

NICK
			And at this point Rose is only 
			too happy to give up the cash.  

MOLLY
			Then he rips out all the kitchens-- 

NICK
			But one, on the top floor. 

Molly hits Nick with a suspicious look. 

MOLLY
			Yeah. How did you know?  

NICK
			I'm a contractor, that's our 
			normal procedure.  

Molly looks into Nick's eyes. 
MOLLY
			You're lying.  

NICK
			Well, I've never done that, my 
			self, but it's a practice in 
			this industry.  

MOLLY
			Great, this guy's going to soak 
			my Aunt dry.  

NICK
			Can I take you for coffee after 
			you close? 

Molly smiles again. 

MOLLY
			Yeah, I'd like that.  

Patty sets a drink order down for Molly.  She looks down at them and puts them on her tray.

MOLLY
			Gotta go.  

Nick watches Molly leave and notices Bobby motioning to him. 

BOBBY'S TABLE  

Nick stops, stands next to Bobby. Glass in hand, Nick waits. 

NICK
			You beckoned, oh great one.   

A slight smile cracks open on Bobby's face. He is fond of Nick. 

BOBBY
			I need your help tomorrow.  Place 
			in Medford needs to be cleaned out. 

Nick nods. 

NICK
			Should I bring a truck? 

BOBBY
			Yeah.  Bring Max along. 

Nick looks down at Shane, who frowns and shifts his head.  An open hand is lifted and waved palm out.

NICK
			All right... So Bobby.  How's 
			the new girl.

Bobby's eyes follow Molly.  He shrugs, grunts. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR – CLOSING TIME

Molly pulls the front door closed behind her and steps off  the sidewalk with Nick. 

MOLLY
			How's the grub at this greasy 
			spoon?  

NICK
			Just terrible. 

INT. DINER – LATE NIGHT

Nick and Molly sit across from each other in a booth near the front window of the crowed diner. Steaming cups of coffee sit between them. 

MOLLY
			-- I almost got married once.  
			Thankfully I came to my senses. 

NICK
			Did you ever want children? 

MOLLY
			Could be the reason I never got 
			married.  He wanted kids.  A lot 
			of them. 

NICK
			You don't care for children? 

MOLLY
			Oh, I like kids.  I just don't 
			think I could like my own.  

Nick looks at Molly, concern in his eyes.  He reaches for his coffee.

NICK
			You make it sound like an 
			awful thing.  

Molly shrugs and picks up her own cup.  She stares into the coffee as she speaks. 

MOLLY
			I don't know, they just seem 
			so selfish. 

Molly looks at a shocked Nick. 

MOLLY
(in a whiny child's voice)
			You know, I'm cold, I'm hungry, 
			I'm bleeding. It's always me, me, 
			me, with them. 

Molly looks away as she nonchalantly drinks.

Nick's mouth drops open. 

MOLLY
			Filthy, little, germ ridden, 
			vermin.  I don't really know why 
			anyone would want one.   

Nick regains his composure enough to speak. 

NICK
			You have a troubling habit of 
			giving away too much information. 

Molly begins to gently laugh. 

MOLLY
			I'm joking.  

Nick sighs in relief and smiles. 

NICK
			Not a great deal of humor in 
			that line.  

They both laugh.

MOLLY
			I'm sorry.  I'm just, kind of, 
			interested in the response it 
			gets.   

NICK
			How did I do? 

MOLLY
			People don't usually give the 
			truth to direct questions.

NICK
			Can you blame them? 

MOLLY
			No and I wouldn't expect them 
			to.  But I can always tell. 

NICK
			So, why ask? 

MOLLY
			I don't.  All a direct question 
			does is put people on the spot. 
			Forces them to lie... maintain 
			a sense of comfort and control. 

Nick considers the idea in silence for a moment. 

NICK
			So, you lie to them?

MOLLY
			Exactly.  That's an example of 
			a direct question that will force 
			me to lie.  

Nick chuckles.

NICK
			You don't mind lying, Molly? 
MOLLY
			Maybe lying was the wrong term.
			How does evasiveness sound?

NICK
			Have you ever thought of 
			politics?  I've never heard 
			anyone take a reply on such a 
			wild goose chase.

Molly gives Nick a sly glance.

NICK
			I'm not sure what I asked or how 
			you replied.  And on top of it 
			all, I don't even care anymore. 

MOLLY
			Well, to be honest--

NICK
			Hold on while I lean forward in 
			interest. 

Nick leans forward, elbows on the table. 

MOLLY
			I hope to get married someday 
			and have many children...  
			What about you? 

Nick leans back, a sadness comes over him. 

NICK
			I was married once.  We were 
			very happy... for too short 
			a time. 

Waitress arrives with plates of steaming food.  Nick waits for the waitress to leave before he continues.  Molly digs in right away. 

NICK
			She died.   

Fork pauses before Molly's lips.  She lowers the fork to the plate.  She looks across at Nick. 

MOLLY
			I'm sorry... How hard was it? 

Nick takes in a deep breath, exhales slowly.  He stares at his food. 

NICK
			I crawled into a full bottle 
			and swam around for a few years.  

Molly continues to eat.  

MOLLY
			You seem to go in and out 
			with ease now.  

Nick unbuttons his cuff, shows Molly his left wrist.  A pair of railroad tracks run up his forearm. 

Molly  gasps, drops her fork. 

MOLLY
			My God, what were you 
			thinking! 

Nick quickly pulls the sleeve down, buttons the cuff. 

NICK
			I'm sorry, I shouldn't be telling 
			you this. 

Nick tries to slide out of the booth.  Molly grabs his hand, stops him. 

Nick pauses at the edge of his seat, stares down at the floor.

Molly squeezes Nick's hand, he looks up, looks into her eyes. Molly smiles gently, nods slightly. 

NICK
			Have you ever loved someone, so 
			much you missed them after leaving 
			the room they were in?  

Molly can say nothing. 

NICK
			Any irritating little thing 
			they did was cherished because 
			you knew, if they were ever 
			gone, the memories would drive 
			you insane.

MOLLY
			And then you drink to dull 
			the pain.  

Nick shakes his head.

NICK
			I drank to get out of bed in 
			the morning.  I drank to stop 
			the sobbing, just enough so I 
			could  shave.   

MOLLY
			How does someone pull out of 
			a dive like that? 

NICK
			I don't know if I'm out of 
			it yet.  

Nick slides his plate away, reaches for a pack of cigarettes.

He pulls one out carefully.

Slowly, but with force - he taps the filter on the table several times. 

Nick snaps the filter off in the fingers of one hand.

He dries his lips with the other hand.

He sets the end barely on his lips and lights up with a match.

MOLLY
			What was she like? 

Nick puffs, talks with the cigarette in his mouth. 

NICK
			She was my best friend.  She 
			had an energy about her that 
			encompassed her entire life. 
			It almost crackled around her.   
			After she died I could still 
			feel it. There was no void.  
			I guess I drank to dull the 
			sensation.

Nick pulls the cigarette from his mouth, snuffs it out in the ash tray.   He pushes the ash tray away, and continues to stare at the butt. 

NICK
			There, I'm done with that one. 
			I'll never think of it again.  
			The smell, the feel of the smoke 
			in my lungs, the comfort of 
			holding it in my fingers as it 
			smolders.  

Molly looks at the cigarette pack sitting on the table. 

MOLLY
			You can pick up another one 
			anytime. 

NICK
			I thought the feeling of her... 
			being there, right next to me, 
			would fade. But it's still there. 
			Always. 

MOLLY
			You're very fortunate. Someone 
			you love so much will always be 
			with you. 

Nick frowns and looks down. 

NICK
			I can feel her, but I can never 
			again see, touch, or smell her. 
			Ever again.   

Nick looks up, with a smile. 

NICK
			She used to smell so good.  

Molly starts to slide out of the booth.  

MOLLY
			Come on, I want to show you 
			something.  

INT. AUNT ROSE'S HOUSE / ATTIC – NIGHT

An insignificant and faint glimmer of light seeps through a single window.

Foot steps and muffled voices echo from below. 

LIGHT BULB hangs by a cord from the ceiling, pops to life, revealing old furniture and boxes stuffed to capacity in the attic.

MOLLY
(OS)
			I haven't been up here in 
			years. 

NICK
(OS)
			How much higher? My ears just 
			popped.

Door opens from a stairway.  Molly enters, makes her way across the room to a wooden ladder built into the wall.

Nick looks around, carefully follows Molly.  He pauses and looks over a particular pile of clutter. 

NICK
			Your Aunt isn't a fence for 
			some crew heisting yard 
			sales, is she? 

Molly climbs the ladder and pushes open the roof hatch. 

EXT. ROOFDECK – NIGHT

Molly climbs out of the hatch, stands and breaths in deeply. 

Nick steps up next to Molly.  He looks around, a pleased expression on his face. 

EXT. BOSTON SKYLINE – NIGHT

The brilliant sky line towers over Aunt Rose's three story house.  Nick and Molly appear insignificant under the weight of such a panoramic view.

Nick walks to the edge of the deck, leans on the railing.   

EXT.  ROOF DECK 

Molly stands next to Nick. 

MOLLY
			This is where I come to sort 
			things out in my mind.  

NICK
			I've lived in this city my whole 
			life.  Sometimes--  

MOLLY
			--It's not just Boston, it's 
			life.   

Nick closes his eyes, breathes in deeply.  Relaxes.

NICK
			Thank you. 

Nick opens his eyes and looks at Molly.  She looks back at him and smiles.

NICK
			I'm sorry I unloaded all that 
			baggage on you. 

Molly continues to smile, her hand resting on the rail. 

Nick looks back at the city. 

NICK
			I love it here.  Sometimes I 
			forget.  Thank you for reminding 
			me.

Nick looks back to Molly.  Her eyes mist, a tear rolls down her cheek. 

Nick's head tilts, he leans in slightly.  He reaches out and wipes away the tear. 

NICK
			Why are you crying?  

Molly wipes away the remaining tears. 

MOLLY
			I'm just sad.   

NICK
			Why? 

MOLLY
			You still love your wife.  And...  
			And...  She's gone.  It must be 
			so difficult. 

NICK
			Sometimes, but not right now.  
			Not with a friend like you.   

Molly stands next to Nick as they look up at the city.  She leans her head on his shoulder. 

EXT. FRANKLIN MOTORS GARAGE – DAY

Automotive repair garage in the city, the front parking lot is nearly empty.  Business seems slow. 

Car pulls into the lot, stops in front of an open bay where several of Bobby's wise guys are seated around a fold up card table playing cards.  

The wise guys look up at the car. 

INT. CAR 

Nick in the driver's seat looks over at Max. 

MAX
			Well now, would you look at 
			these rascals. 

NICK
			Take it easy, Max.  We'll go 
			in, get paid, and get the hell 
			out of here. 

EXT. FRANKLIN MOTORS GARAGE / NICK'S CAR

Max and Nick exit the car and walk into the open bay. 

INT. FRANKLIN MOTORS GARAGE 

NICK
			Bobby asked me to stop by.  

WISEGUY1 
			Sure, Nick, go on in. 

INT. BOBBY'S OFFICE – DAY

Bobby sits behind a desk in the cluttered garage office.  He looks up when Nick appears in the doorway.   Bobby closes the notebook in front of him.  His gruff manner shows no soft edges. 

BOBBY
			Nicky, come in come in.  Sit 
			down, you two. 

Nick and Max sit across from Bobby.  He pulls out a couple envelopes, tosses them to Nick.  Nick looks at them, passes one to Max. 

BOBBY
			Everything fit in two trucks.  
			That's good.  Fast too. 

MAX
			You said it was all trash, Bobby, 
			so we weren't that careful with 
			anything.  

Nick opens his envelope, looks inside.  He is surprised by what he sees. 

Bobby notices. 

BOBBY
			I might have mislead you a bit.  
			That place might not be exactly 
			mine... yet. 

Nick shakes his head and looks up at Bobby as he tucks the envelope in a pocket. 

NICK
			I have no idea what you're 
			talking about.  

Bobby looks at Max, who looks about the office, his envelope already out of sight. 

BOBBY
			Good.  I see, Nicky, you're 
			showing some interest in the 
			new girl.

NICK
			We're just friends, Bobby.   

Bobby snorts in disagreement. 

BOBBY
			No such thing between a man 
			and a woman.  You need to get 
			back on the horse already. 

Max nudges Nick. 

MAX
			Yeah, man.  What's taking you 
			so long?

Nick lowers his eyes, shakes his head slightly. 

BOBBY
			Work's been going on, at her 
			Aunt's building for awhile now. 

NICK
			The guy doing the demo says it 
			will cost more than he estimated.  
			So the job isn't his top priority. 

Bobby silently considers this before he speaks. 

BOBBY
			Rose has lived in the neighborhood 
			her whole life.  She knows when to 
			keep her eyes open and shut.  

NICK
			She's a very nice woman.  

BOBBY
			Ya God damned right she is.  
			I'll have a chat with this 
			guy, personally. 

Nick and Max exchange doubtful looks. 

INT. NICK'S CAR – DAY

Max lights a cigarette as Nick backs the car out of the lot. 

MAX
			Christ, Nick, do you think 
			he'll whack the guy? 

NICK
			Lighten up, Max.  Killing 
			somebody ain't that easy.  

INT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

The bar has a hand full of customers.  Nick and Molly occupy a pair of stools at the bar.  Max plays pinball with one of the working waitresses.  

BILLY, late 60's sits at the third bar stool from the right.  He is well into a conversation with the empty stool next to him.

Nick keeps one eye on Billy while listening to Molly and Patty.

PATTY
			What do you kids have 
			planned tonight?  

MOLLY
			Sunday night at the movies. 

Max hits the pinball machine as he loses a game.  He looks over his shoulder at the bar. 

MAX
			You didn't ask me to go, 
			ya bastard.  

Nick raises and eyebrow at Max and sighs. 

NICK
			I warned you about hurling 
			aspersions and catechizing the 
			legality of my parents marriage.  

MAX
			Do what now? 

Max digs through his pockets, fails to find any change.  He looks at the waitress. 

MAX
			Hey, darlin', how about change 
			for a buck? 

Max hands the waitress a dollar bill. 

The waitress has to look in her pocket book for change. She pulls several items out.  Max watches, baffled by the strange items removed.  He reaches out and picks up a piece of chalk.

MAX
			What's this for? 

The waitress looks at the chalk.

WAITRESS
			Oh, that's my daughters. 

Billy chats away with his memories as Nick watches curiously.  

Nick turns to Patty.

NICK
			Hey, Patty.  Has Old Pete been 
			back in?   

With an innocent look, Patty shakes his head.  

PATTY
			I haven't seen him (beat) lately.

Billy stops talking, looks around the bar.  A fearful look on his face.  

Patty looks over at Billy, then back to Molly and Nick. 

PATTY
			Excuse me, Nick. Let me take 
			care of Billy.  

Nick and Molly watch Patty. 

Patty picks up a bottle of scotch and two fresh shot glasses.  Billy smiles as Patty approaches. 

BILLY
			She loves me Patty. 

Billy pushes the rest of his money to Patty.  Patty nods, fills the two shot glasses already in front of Billy and then the two fresh ones. 

BILLY
			She really, really loves me.  I 
			don't want to come back here, 
			Patty.  She wants me to stay.  

PATTY
			Easy, old friend, take it easy.  

Patty pats Billy on the shoulder.

BILLY
			Remember how pretty she was? 
			Do you? 

Patty nods, still smiling he leans in and looks at the empty stool.

PATTY
			She is beautiful.  

BILLY
			She's prettier than that. 
Patty looks over at the empty bar stool. He winks an eye at the empty stool as if some one were actually there and he could see her. 

PATTY
			She sure is Billy.  

Patty pushes a shot glass, filled with a dark murky liquid, across the bar top to Billy. 

PATTY
			Here, old friend, go back 
			to her. 

Billy squeezes Patty's hand.  Tears are in Billy's eyes.

BILLY
			Thank you. 

As Patty walks away Billy starts downing the shots. 

MAX  steps up next to Nick.

MAX
			Come on, man, I got an idea.    

EXT. THE TIME BAR / SIDEWALK – NIGHT

Nick lays on the sidewalk, on his side.

NICK
			I don't think this is such a 
			good idea.    

MAX
			Ah, shut up, man.  The place 
			is dead.  Who the hell's coming 
			here tonight? 

EXT. THE TIME BAR – LATER

The night is cool and quiet.  Bobby's car rolls to a stop in front of The Time Bar.  Bobby gets out, steps onto the side walk.  He looks down and shakes his head. 

SIDEWALK  A chalk outline of a body is drawn on the pavement.  An 8 inch diameter rock sits near the head, ketchup is on both the rock and the head. 
BOBBY looks up. 

EXT/INT THE TIME BAR'S FRONT WINDOW

Waitress and Molly scramble to get out of sight inside the bar. 

INT. THE TIME BAR  

Molly and Waitress hurry to the bar, worried and paniced. 

MOLLY
			Bobby's here!  Bobby's here!   

Max spins on his bar stool, shock on his face. 

MAX
			Ah, crap, man.  What's he doing 
			here on a Sunday night? 

Nick looks over at Max, shakes his head. 

NICK
			I told you it was a bad idea.  

THE FRONT DOOR opens. 

Max hoists his beer and drinks.

MAX
			Take it easy, man.  

Bobby steps into the bar.  If there were a way for him to look less happy, he found it.  He looks around the bar.

BOBBY
			What the hell is that? 

Patty leans on the bar across from Nick.  

PATTY
			You better handle this.  He 
			likes you.  

Nick nods and stands up.  He looks over at the end of the  bar.  Billy is nowhere to be found. Nick turns, faces the end of the bar and takes a step.  

NICK
			Where's Billy?  

FOUR SHOT GLASSES sit full on the bar. The Dark Murky Liquid is gone.
 
PATTY
			Go talk to Bobby.  

Nick looks back at Patty. 

NICK
			But... 

Bobby makes his way across the bar room.  

PATTY
			Go. Go, now! 

Nick looks at Bobby and heads for him. 

NICK
			Bobby, I'll get some water and 
			clean it up.  We were just 
			joking around.  

Nick looks around the bar. 

NICK 
			It's so dead in here.  Just 
			trying to liven things up. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR / SIDEWALK 

Bobby, hands in his pockets, watches Nick scrub the chalk lines.  He looks around. No one else is close by. 

BOBBY
			Actually, it is kind of funny, 
			but the ketchup was too much.   

Nick looks up with a smile. 

INT. THE TIME BAR 

Max, Waitress, and Molly watch Nick and Bobby.  Nick's eyes meet Molly's.  They smile at each other. 

BAR TOP  Patty removes Billy's shot glasses.  He slide the oddly tapered bottle filled with the dark murky liquid, out of sight, under the bar. 

WAITRESS looks at Max. 

WAITRESS
			What are they talking about? 

MAX
			I don't know.  Bobby's got a 
			soft spot for that guy. 

MOLLY
			Bobby makes me nervous. 

Max looks at Molly.

Patty watches them as he wipes down the bar top.  He glances at Billy's empty bar stool.  He nods his head as if listening to someone speaking to him. 

PATTY
			You're back now... You're 
			welcome.

EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT 

Nick and Molly walk through the Financial section of down town Boston.  Molly walks with her head tilted back, staring up at the skyscrapers.  The street is a deserted canyon.

MOLLY
			I don't know how many times I've 
			walked down this street.  I never 
			looked up.     

Nick, briefly glances up, then quickly returns his attention to his surroundings. 

NICK
			Why? 

Molly smiles and looks at Nick.

MOLLY
			Have you ever walked down this 
			street, staring up? 

NICK
			When ever I feel like it.  

MOLLY
			You have? 

NICK
			Not really, I haven't had 
			the feeling.  

MOLLY
(looks back up)
			I've never been out here 
			at night. 

NICK
			Why?

MOLLY 
			I guess I...

She stops, takes Nick's hand in hers as she faces him. 

MOLLY
			I feel comfortable and safe 
			with you, where ever we are. 

Nick looks into Molly's eyes.  He pulls her close to him.  Slowly they kiss.

A middle age couple, walking a dog, stroll, they smile fondly at Nick and Molly. 

EXT. ROOF DECK / AUNT ROSE'S – DAWN

A faint glow begins to burn in the water east of Boston Harbor.  The city, dozing under the flicker of distant stars, stirs not a bit under the gaze of Nick. 

A blanket wrapped around his waist, he leans on the rail, a cigarette in his left hand.

Molly, wrapped in a sheet, steps up behind Nick.  She slides her arms around his chest, head rests on his shoulder. 

MOLLY
			I woke up and you were gone.  
			I thought I had a dream about 
			you.  

Nick grins sheepishly and looks back at Molly.  

NICK
			Are your dreams that erotic?  

Molly takes an involuntary deep breath, squeezes Nick.  Her eyes sparkle.

MOLLY
			My dreams have never been 
			like that. 

Nick turns, scoops Molly up, their covers fall away.  Nick carries Molly back to a sleeping bag beside an empty bottle of wine. 

EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE – DAY

Bobby's car pulls through the chain link gate, stops in the middle of the lot.  A foreman finishes speaking to a laborer and walks to the car.  He stops when he sees who gets out.   

Bobby looks around, spots the foreman, waves him over. 

BOBBY
			Come here!   

Foreman walks quickly to Bobby. 

FOREMAN
			Yes, Mr. Sullivan.

BOBBY
			Where's Cashman? 

Foreman points to the top of the debris chute.

FOREMAN
			7th floor.  You want me to get 
			him?

Bobby walks past the Foreman. 
BOBBY
			I'll get him.  

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE / 7TH FLOOR – DAY

CASHMAN 30s, leads a crew taking out interior walls and breaking the debris into pieces small enough to fit down the chute. 

CHUTE Laborer looks down, shakes his head.

Laborer 2 looks over his shoulder, calls to Cashman.

LABORER 2
			Hey!  We got another jam.

Cashman flares with anger and storms to the chute.

CASHMAN
			What the hell's the matter with 
			you clowns?

The laborers step out of the way as Cashman steps forward and looks down the chute. 

CASHMAN
			It's on the third.  Get 
			the Christ down there! 

Cashman looks at the laborer.  

CASHMAN
			Quit playing with your pricks, 
			you morons. 

The laborers do not move fast enough. 

CASHMAN
			What the hell are you waiting 
			for?

The two laborers rush off as Bobby steps up to Cashman.  He looks at Bobby, surprised. 

BOBBY
			Do you know who I am?

Cashman nods his head nervously.
BOBBY
			You know what I do for a 
			living?

CASHMAN
			Yeah.  Yes sir.

Bobby pats Cashman on the side of the face. 

BOBBY
			Good boy. 

Cashman freezes, not a twitch. 

Bobby steps over to the chute and looks down .  Slowly, he looks back at Cashman. 

BOBBY
			I might be able to loosen that 
			jam if I throw you down there. 

Cashman takes a step back, his eyes wide with fear. 

BOBBY
			What do you think? 

Bobby looks out the window at the roll off dumpster below. 

BOBBY
			Nah, that would be no good.  

Cashman visibly relaxes. 

BOBBY
			They wouldn't be able to outline 
			you with the chalk. 

Bobby looks back at Cashman, he bares his teeth in an attempt to smile.

BOBBY
			I like that.  

Bobby turns away from the window.

BOBBY
			You're doing a side job on 
			Nook Hill. 
Cashman nods.

BOBBY
			Rose is not happy with your 
			work so far.

Cashman nods. 

CASHMAN
I... I was... 

BOBBY
I, I.  What are you?
Straighten out.  Hear me?

Cashman nods as Bobby turns and storms out of the room. 

EXT. CITY – DAY

TOMMY O'MALLY  71, ragged, dirty, old clothes.  Heavy whiskers cover much of the gray parchment skin of his wrinkled, sad face.  He moves along the sidewalk with a strained, rambling gate.

Tommy mutters unintelligibly.

EXT. THE TIME BAR – DAY

Cars pass the old building, bits of paper trash tumble across the sidewalk and tangle in Tommy's feet. 
Tommy looks through the front window of the Time Bar.

INT. THE TIME BAR – DAY

Patty wipes the bar that several customers sit at.  He looks up, smiles.  He sets a shot glass at the third spot from the right. 

Tommy pulls his empty hand from his pocket.  A defeated, hopeless look stares back into the glass.  He looks down, a twenty dollar bill drifts next to his shoe.

Tommy stares in amusement before reaching down for it.   He scoops up the bill, looks around.

No one has seen. 

EXT/INT. SIDEWALK/ THE TIME BAR – DAY
Tommy watches Patty slide a shot glass filled with the dark murky liquid across the bar.

INT. THE TIME BAR 
Tommy enters, walks cautiously across the floor. 

Tommy looks at the bar stool.  His pace slows.  He notices the dark, oddly tapered bottle, with indistinct oriental markings, in Patty's hand.  

Patty nods, notions to the shot glass with the bottle. 

BOOTH / ALONG THE WALL

Nick sits with Molly.  Nick watches Tommy. 

Tommy's hand grips the edge of the bar as he hoists himself over the bar stool.

Tommy settles in, looks down at the shot glass.  

Patty sets three empty shot glasses on the bar and holds up a bottle of cheap whiskey.  Patty slightly tips the whiskey, ready to pour. 

Patty's smile slips away, his head tilts.

Tommy nods, sets the $20 on the bar.

Patty's smile returns and the shot glasses are filled. 

PATTY
			Tell her I said “Hi”.  

TOMMY
			Remember how beautiful she was? 

PATTY
			I'll see you back there. 

Tommy lifts the first shot glass of whiskey, empties it over his lips.

BOOTH  Nick stares intently at Tommy and Patty.  Molly realizes Nick is not listening. 

MOLLY
			Hello, are you there? 
Nick looks back at Molly, almost surprised to see her. 

MOLLY
			Are you back? 

NICK
			I'm sorry.  What? 

Molly sighs.

MOLLY
			I said, Cashman quit. 

NICK
			What?  Why did he do that? 

MOLLY
			I don't know.  He gave Aunt 
			Rose half her money back and 
			said he'll be out of town for 
			a while.  

Nick's eyes drift back to Tommy and catch him throwing down the last shot of whiskey. 

NICK
			Have you ever seen him in 
			here? 

Molly looks around. 

MOLLY
			Who?  Who are you talking 
			about? 

Nick motions at Tommy.  Molly glances over, shakes her head. 

MOLLY
			Hey, what about my Aunt.  

Tommy looks to the empty seat next to him.  His face brightens with joy.  A spark ignites in his eyes.

Nick cannot hear the conversation Tommy suddenly begins with the emptiness along side him. The shot of dark murky liquid is empty.

NICK
			Wow, what ever Patty fed him, 
			sure did the trick.   

MOLLY
			Yeah, I'm real happy for the 
			guy.  Now would you listen 
			to me? 

NICK
			What? 

Molly rolls her eyes in frustration.  

Max enters the bar and heads for the booth.  He flops down next to Nick.

MAX
			How are we today, kids? 

MOLLY
			I'm trying to compete with 
			Nick's fascination with the 
			chronically alcoholic indigent.  

MAX
			Huh.  What the hell did she say?

Nick finally returns his full attention to Molly.

MOLLY
			Rose is up the creek.   

Max shakes his head, confused.

NICK
			Her aunt has a triple on Nook 
			Hill.  The guy doing some 
			renovations backed out on her.  

MAX
			What's the problem?  Couldn't 
			we help her?

NICK
			That's what I was thinking. 

INT. THE TIME BAR / BOOTH – NIGHT
The table now holds several empty bottles and shot glasses.  A jukebox, in the corner, plays a slow song as Molly and Nick dance on the open floor in front of the stage. 

Max sits back and watches the couple.  

Tommy suddenly looks up.  The strain is back on his face, his eyes slowly fill with fear. 

Molly looks up at Nick, she smiles and lays her head against his neck. 

MOLLY
			This has been so nice.  I 
			hope it lasts.   

Nick's eyes drift back to Tommy. 

MOLLY
			How are you doing? 

Molly leans back and looks at Nick.

Patty notices Tommy has returned.  He looks briefly at the odd bottle, then ignores it as he walks to Tommy. 

Nick takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly. 

NICK
			To be honest, I haven't cried 
			in my beer in a couple of days.

Molly smiles. 

MOLLY
			That's encouraging ...  Am I 
			your first?  

NICK
			My first... Like I said, I 
			was married.   

Tommy's eyes plead with Patty. 

PATTY
			Time's up Tommy. 

TOMMY
			No. No.  

Tommy reaches into his pocket, pulls out a $20.  Puts it on the bar and slides it toward Patty. 

TOMMY
			Look, look.  She gave me 
			money so I could stay longer.  

Patty looks out the front window.  An old man makes his way to the front door.  Patty looks back at Tommy. 

PATTY
			I'm sorry, Tommy.  It's time 
			to go.  It's someone else's 
			turn.  

Tommy reaches from Patty's hand.

Molly shakes her head. 

MOLLY
			Have you found anyone else 
			of interest.  

Nick glances at the exchange between Patty and Tommy. 

PATTY
			Come back tomorrow.  

Tommy, shoulders slumped, climbs off the bar stool.  Tears fill his eyes. 

TOMMY
			It's not fair.  It's not fair.    

Molly taps Nick gently on the chin with a finger. 

MOLLY
			Hey, are you in there? 

Nick looks at Molly. 

NICK
			Yes, I'm really sorry.  

Molly watches Tommy leave the bar.
MOLLY
			Nick, why do you keep watching 
			him? 

Nick watches the door close behind Tommy.

NICK
			It's odd, just kind of odd.  

MOLLY
			What is? 

NICK
			Some of the old men who come 
			in here.   They sit on that 
			stool and (beat) they seem to 
			go somewhere else.  Some other 
			place. 

MOLLY
			No.  That place is with them 
			when they come in.   They've
			been carrying it around with 
			'em for years.  

NICK
(shakes his head)
			I know the place you're talking 
			about.  I've been there.  Stayed 
			there for some time.  

MOLLY
			You said yourself you thought 
			you might still be there.  

Nick watches another old man enter and head for the third  bar stool from the right.

NICK
			Yeah, I'm still there.  And these 
			guys are getting away from it... 
			If only for a short time.  

Patty, odd bottle in hand, meets the old man at the stool. 

Nick sees Patty pour the shots. 

NICK
			Have you ever seen Patty pour 
			that stuff to anyone else? 

Molly watches Patty replace the odd bottle. 

MOLLY
			I don't know.   

EXT. AUNT ROSE'S HOUSE – DAY

Men carry sheets of dry wall into an open room, framed off with bare 2x4s.  Rose stands with Molly.  They watch the work. 

ROSE
			They've gotten so much 
			done in such a short time.    

MOLLY
			They'll be done before we 
			know it. 

Nick sets down a piece of dry wall, turns and walks to Rose and Molly.

NICK
			Don't get too excited yet.  
			Those bathrooms and kitchens 
			still need a lot of work. 

Rose beams at Nick.

ROSE
			I don't know how to thank 
			you, Nick.

NICK
			I'm just sorry I couldn't get 
			those boys cheaper for you. 

ROSE
			Mr. Cashman didn't take everything.  
			I may come out of this O.K.  

Max walks over and joins them. He frowns at Nick, and turns to Rose.

MAX
			Ma'am, you got a bull whip or 
			switch I could use to keep this 
			boy moving. 

Sonny stagers into the room under the weight of the dry wall.  He looses his footing and falls over, breaking the sheet in half.

Anger fills Max's face.

MAX
			Excuse me, Ma'am.  I'm gonna go 
			kick his ass.

Rose gives Nick a concerned look. 

Nick returns the look with a reassuring shake of his head. 

EXT. ROOFDECK – NIGHT

There is a cloudless night sky above the city.  Nick leans against the deck rail, a beer in hand, looks out over the city. 

Max climbs up through the hatch with a bottle of scotch and a six pack.  

Nick looks down over the side of the house.   Max cracks the top of a beer.   

EXT. ROSE'S HOUSE/FRONT PORCH – NIGHT

Molly and Rose feed several workers with a Bar B-Q

EXT. ROOFDECK 

Nick watches the workers eat and drink beer.  He puffs on a cigarette.

Max passes a beer to Nick, then pulls the cork on the scotch. 

Max brings the bottle to his lips.  The scotch goes down like water. 

Nick takes the bottle as Max cracks a beer and chases the Scotch. 
Max sets his beer on the rail, leans against it.   He looks out at the city and sighs deep and loud. 

MAX
			Damn, Hoss, if my boys back in 
			New Orleans ever found out some 
			Yankee got me drinking this stuff-- 

NICK
			--I won't tell.  

Nick looks out at the city. 
Max gives Nick a worried look. 

MAX
			Hey, you O.K., man? 

Nick tips the bottle again before giving Max a quick glance.  He looks down at Molly. 

Max follows Nicks eyes.

MAX
			You've been thinking about 
			her again.

Nick shakes his head. 

NICK
			Still.  Always.  

Max looks at Nick. 

MAX
			Lightening don't strike 
			twice, Hoss. 

NICK
			Yeah, but it'll make you run 
			for cover when the clouds come. 

Max grabs the bottle. 

MAX
			I don't see no clouds, man.

NICK
			I don't get it, I always played 
			by the rules.  What happened?  

MAX
			Rules?  Hell, you're suppose to 
			play by the rules. 

Max motions up to the sky with the bottle. 

MAX
			But, He makes the rules... The
			board, the pieces. 

NICK
			And the players. 

Max nods and drinks. 

NICK
			When I was a kid I had a dog 
			named Andy.  He was part wolf, 
			part German Sheppard. 

Max hands the bottle back to Nick. 

NICK
			He kind of nipped me once while 
			he was gnawing on a bone.  I 
			was trying to pat him and I 
			shouldn't have been.  

Nick hits the scotch then the beer. 

NICK
			Andy was funny. He was 
			terrified of thunder.  Whenever 
			there was a storm he'd crawl 
			under me for protection.  I 
			guess I made him feel safe. 

Max steps back from the rail, sits down in a chair. 

NICK
			My father dragged Andy out back 
			after I told him about the nip.  
			I don't think I really knew what 
			was about to happen.    

Nick drinks from the bottle and drains a beer.  He walks over to Max and sits next to him.  He looks up at the sky. 

NICK
			The first shot grazed his head.  
			I can still hear him yelping.  
			He looked up at me just as the 
			second bullet went through his 
			ear.  

Max takes the bottle, he up ends it for a long pull. 

NICK
			I just stood there as he fell 
			over.  His eyes wide open. 

Andy sits next to Nick.  Whines and reaches to Nick with a paw. 

MAX
			How long? 

Max passes the bottle and another beer to Nick.

NICK
			I saw his eyes cloud up.  

MAX
			Man, I grew up on a farm.  I saw 
			shit like that all the time.  
			Hell I hated being in the barn 
			first in the morning.   

Nick leans back in his chair and drinks from the bottle, then cracks the beer.

NICK
			Why? 

MAX
			Why?  Because what ever you 
			found dead in there had to be 
			buried before you went to 
			school.  Shit, my old man 
			was a bitch about it, too.

Max looks over at Nick.

Nick looks pained, troubled. 
MAX
			Oh, hell, pal.

Max looks out at the city and frowns. 

MAX
			You grew up here.  This is like 
			Mars compared to where I'm from. 

Nick leans forward. 

NICK
			It's all right, my friend.  
			I'm going to take a walk. 

Both stand together. 

MAX
			Mind if I go with you? 

NICK
			Come on.  

EXT. SIDEWALK – NIGHT

Nick and Max make their way along the side streets of South Boston, passing the scotch back and forth. 

NICK
			I loved that mutt and my face 
			was the last thing he saw.  

Max drinks from the bottle, his gate becomes staggered. 

NICK
			I've never let go of anything 
			I ever loved.   

MAX
			That's a lot of shit to carry 
			around, Hoss.

NICK
			I don't know if I could handle 
			losing anymore. 

MAX
			Is that why you never had any 
			youngin's? 

Nick shrugs.

NICK
			I don't know.  I'd like a boy 
			or a little girl.  

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

DARK SEDAN cruises past Nick and Max.  Sedan breaks, pulls to the side of the street.  Other cars pass and the sedan makes a U turn, squealing it's tires.

Erin is driving.  Shane is in the passenger seat. 

EXT. SIDEWALK – NIGHT

Nick sees the car coming at them.  Max has his back to the car.  

Nick stares at the car.

Max sees something in Nick's eyes.

MAX
			What is it? 

EXT. STREET/SEDAN

Sedan bares down on Nick and Max. 

INT. SEDAN

Erin's foot mashes down on the gas pedal.

Shane pulls a pistol from under his seat.  He rolls the window down.  

EXT. SIDEWALK

Max turns in time to see the car slide sideways, abruptly stopping only feet from him. 

EXT/INT.  SEDAN

Shane cocks the pistol, points it directly at Max's chest. 

PISTOL fires. 

EXT. SIDEWALK

Max is thrown backward by the force of the bullet hitting his chest. 

EXT. SEDAN

Shane looks down at Max.

SHANE
			You got a big mouth. 

CAR TIRE spins, throwing the vehicle away from Nick, who stares in shock.

EXT. SIDE WALK 

Nick's head snaps around, his eyes look down at Max.

Max lays on his back, eyes open, blood bubbles out of his mouth.

Nick quickly kneels down next to Max.  He places his hand on Max's chest. 

Blood quickly soaks Max's shirt.

NICK
			Max!  Max, no! 

Max struggles, tries to speak.

NICK
			Easy pal, easy.  It's gonna 
			be O.K. 

Max's hands reach up, grab at Nick. 

EXT. FRONT PORCH – NIGHT

Front light goes on.  Door opens.  MAN 60'S looks out. 

MAN
			What's going on out there?  I'm 
			calling the police. 

EXT. SIDEWALK

Nick looks up. 

NICK
			Yes, call!  I need help. 

EXT. STREET

More lights come on.  People are coming out of their homes, some hurry to Nick and Max. 

In the distance a siren wails. 

Nick holds Max's hands and forearms.

Max tries to speak.  Nick leans close to Max's face. 
Crowd gathers. 

Max looks up at Nick.

MAX
			It don't hurt, man.   

NICK
			Don't talk, buddy. 

MAX
			Getting cold, Hoss.  You 
			still there?

Max coughs, blood spits up, out of his mouth.  His eyes look around, unseeing. 

NICK
			I'm here.  I'm right here.  

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

POLICE CAR speeds along the streets, lights flashing, siren screams.

Crowd moves as the police arrive.

AMBULANCE  stops along side the Police car. 

EXT. SIDEWALK 

Nick sees the police, he looks down at Max. 

NICK
			O.K. Max, help is here.  
			Everything's gonna be fine. 

Max's eyes close, his head rolls to the side, his entire body goes limp.

NICK
			Oh, God damn it, no! 

Nick looks back at the paramedics hurrying to him. 

NICK
			He's dying! 

Paramedics and police arrive, kneel next to Nick. 

Police officer takes Nick by the shoulders.

POLICE OFFICER
			Come on, buddy, give them 
			room to work. 

Nick lets go of Max's arms.  They drop to the sidewalk. 

Paramedic searches for a pulse.  He looks up and shakes his head. 

NICK
			No! 

Nick tries to break free from the policeman, but fails.

NICK
			No, Max.  No.

INT. THE TIME BAR – DAY

Several old men haunt the bar.  They cling to their bar stools and shot glasses like vultures.

CORNER BOOTH  

Nick sits, intoxicated, several beer bottles and shot glasses litter the table. 

Patty gives Nick a concerned glance. 

INT. MAIN ENTRANCE

Molly enters, looks around.  She sees Nick and walks over to him. 

Nick lifts his head up, he looks like hell.

Molly pauses at the edge of the table. 

MOLLY
			Nick, are you all right? 

Nick motions for Molly to join him.  Molly sits, she takes Nick's hands.

MOLLY
			I'm so sorry.  

Nick shrugs, downs a shot. 

MOLLY
			I haven't seen you in almost 
			a week.  

Nick waves at Patty.

MOLLY
			You made me worried. 

Nick looks at his hands. 

NICK
			He's gone.  Died in my hands. 

Patty arrives with several full shot glasses.

Nick looks at Molly.

NICK
			Can I get you something?  

MOLLY
			No.  I go on in a few minutes.  

Nick nods, hands Patty some cash.

NICK
			Thanks, Patty. 

PATTY
			Yeah, Bucko.

Patty pats Nick on the shoulder and walks away.

MOLLY
			Is there anything I can do 
			for you? 

Nick takes a sip from a shot glass.

NICK
			No. I'll be fine.  

Molly studies Nick carefully.  She does not like what she sees. 

MOLLY
			You don't look like you will. 

Nick looks over at the bar. 

Patty pours some dark, murky liquid for an old homeless man, sitting on the third bar stool from the right. 

Nick watches.

NICK
			What the hell is that? 

MOLLY
			Nick, I have to talk to you.  

NICK
			I can still hear you. 

MOLLY
			I went to the doctor a few 
			days ago. 

Nick does not seem to hear Molly, or care that she is talking about. 

MOLLY
			Are you listening to me? 
Nick takes another drink, holds the shot glass in his hand.

MOLLY
			Nick, I know what Max meant to 
			you, but will this really do 
			any good? 

NICK
			Who cares? 

MOLLY
			I care.

Molly takes Nick's hand, she takes the shot glass from his hand, sets it on the table. 

MOLLY
			I love you. 

Nick looks at the empty glass. 

NICK
			I've lost everything I ever 
			loved.  I wasn't able to save 
			any of them. 

Molly becomes angry.

MOLLY
			It wasn't up to you. 

Nick reaches for another glass.  Molly pulls it away from him.
 
NICK
			What the hell are you doing?  
			Give me that!  

Anger flares brighter in her eyes and she sweeps the contents of the table to the floor with her arm. 

MOLLY
			You want to crawl back into 
			the bottle? 

Patty comes over.

PATTY
			Why don't you take him home?

Nick slides out of the booth and stands up.

NICK
			I never crawled out.  

Nick walks away. 

Molly watches Nick leave The Time Bar.

EXT. FRANKLIN MOTORS – DAY

The lot is empty.  Bay doors are open.  Members of Bobby's crew play cards in an empty bay.

INT. FRANKLIN MOTORS – DAY

Nick enters, the crew looks up.  Nick looks like a mess, unshaven and hungover.

Nick stops at the card table.

NICK
			I want to see Bobby.  

Michael, 32, small, ruddy looking, pushes back his chair.  He fixes Nick with a gaze. 

MICHAEL
			The boss know you're coming?

Nick looks around, studies the men at the card table. 

NICK
			I think he does. 

The wise guy sitting to the right of Michael leans over and whispers in his ear. 

Michael nods without taking his eyes off Nick.

MICHAEL
			Go on. 

Nick walks past the table. 

INT. BOBBY'S OFFICE

Bobby looks up from a ledger as Nick enters. 

BOBBY
			Nicky.  I figured you'd make it 
			here sooner or later. 

Nick approaches the desk.  There is fire in his eyes, his hands are clenched.  He barely controls his rage. 

BOBBY
			Sit.  Sit down!

Nick remains standing. 

NICK
			I'm not one of your dogs.     

Bobby leans back, pushes his chair away from the desk.  He looks up at Nick.  Shakes his head. 

BOBBY
			My dogs are well mannered. 

NICK
			Not all of them. 

Bobby shrugs.  He seems not to care.

NICK
			I want Shane. 

Bobby opens a desk draw. 

Nick tenses.

DESK DRAW 

Pistol lays in the draw.  Bobby's hand reaches into the draw. 

Nick swallows, ready for anything. 

Bobby  a sneer, maybe a smile, appears on his face.

DESK DRAW  

Bobby's hand pushes the pistol to the side.  Hand moves further in, pulls out a bottle. 

BOBBY
			You're a scotch drinker. 

Bobby sets the bottle of scotch and 2 glasses on the desk. 

Nick shows some sign of relief. 

Bobby notices. 

BOBBY
			So am I.  Now, sit down, 
			God  damn it and have a drink 
			with me. 

Nick sits. Bobby pours the drinks. Slides a glass across the desk. 

Nick stares at the glass, but makes no move for it. 

Bobby drains his glass, does not take his eyes off Nick. 

BOBBY
			I figure you're coming off a 
			week long bender.  I'd bet big 
			dollars you'd suck that down if 
			it was poured over cat turds 
			and piss drenched kitty litter. 

Nick swallows and looks at Bobby. 

BOBBY
			You can't have him.  He 
			belongs to me. 

NICK
			Did you have him kill Max? 

Bobby shakes his head.

Nick looks at his glass, studies it. 

Nick picks up the glass slowly, drains it with his eyes closed. 

Nick sets the glass on the desk.  Bobby refills it. 
Nick drains the glass again. 

BOBBY
			Feel better? 

NICK
			No.  

BOBBY
			Good, if you'd said otherwise, 
			I'd know your were lying.  

Nick rubs his eyes, relaxes. 

Bobby notices. 

NICK
			If he didn't act on your 
			orders...

Bobby holds up a hand, silences Nick. 

BOBBY
			Shane's work requires him to 
			maintain a certain... image.   
			I guess he thought Max... 
			hindered that image.  

NICK
			Couldn't he have just kicked 
			his ass?  He didn't have to 
			shoot him, Jesus Christ. 

Bobby shakes his head. 

BOBBY
			I liked Max.  You kick the ass 
			of a guy from South Boston, 
			you've taught him a lesson.  
			But somebody like Max, you've 
			started a war. 

NICK
			What the hell are you talking 
			about? 

BOBBY
			A matter of honor to Max was 
			just business to Shane. 

A confused, questioning look comes over Nick. 

BOBBY
			Do you know about life, Nicky?  
			No you don't.  Just look at you. 

Bobby closes the ledger, slides it to the side. 

BOBBY
			I'm gonna tell you all about life 
			right now. It's competition. 

NICK
			Competition? 

Bobby simply nods.

BOBBY
			It's part of everything we do. 
			My boys compete with each other 
			for my favor.  Guys who work for 
			you compete for their jobs.

NICK
			I don't know what the hell you're 
			talking about.  

Bobby points at Nick with his finger.

BOBBY
			The strongest, the smartest, the 
			best.  They're the only ones who 
			win in this world of ours. 

Nick looks disgusted. 

NICK
			That's where you live, Bobby.  
			Not me!

Bobby shrugs, pours himself another drink.

BOBBY
			You're gonna tell me you don't 
			have to fight for your job 
			everyday.   
NICK
			Maybe... when I was a stockbroker. 

Bobby smiles, shakes his head. 

BOBBY
			Even now, Rowdy would take you 
			apart to get your work. 

Nick looks down, he realizes the truth. 

BOBBY
			Look, Nicky, I understand you're 
			gonna be a father.  Now the real 
			work begins. 

Nick looks up, stunned. 

NICK
			What? 

Bobby drinks.

BOBBY
			That's what the word is 
			out there.

Nick stands.

BOBBY
			Put this behind you.  There are 
			other things to think of now.  

Nick turns, unsteady, to the door.  He makes his way out quickly. 

Bobby watches him leave.  

EXT. CITY - DAY

Nick walks about in a daze, deep in thought.

EXT. CITY – NIGHT

Nick continues to walk.

EXT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT
Several people enter and leave the Time Bar, its busy tonight. 

INT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

The bar is packed tonight but the third bar stool from the right is oddly empty, strangely alone.

Molly waits at the waitress station.  She turns as Nick enters. 

Molly meets Nick half way to the door, she stops a few feet from him.  She looks into his eyes.

MOLLY
			You're leaving, aren't you.  

Nick lowers his eyes.

MOLLY
			Too late, I already saw it.  

Molly's face fills with pain. 

MOLLY
			You don't have to run.  There's 
			people here who love you. 

Molly places a hand on her stomach.

MOLLY
			This child will love you.  
			No matter what. 

Nick looks at Molly's hand. 

MOLLY
			What ever pain you feel.   

Molly takes a step closer to Nick.  He steps back. 

MOLLY
			I don't care if you still feel 
			her.  It's me that's here with 
			you now.   

BEHIND THE BAR  Patty carries the oddly shaped bottle to the end of the bar.
There is a quick view of an old homeless Nick in a long coat, kneeling by the third stool from the right.  He searches for something on the floor.

Nick shakes his head, turns and walks out. 

Molly's hands drop to her side, she begins to sob. 

The Time Bar fades to black.

35 YEARS LATER

INT. HOSPITAL/ROOM – DAY

Nick lays sleeping in a hospital bed.  He is cleaned and shaved.  A bandage on his head. 

CARL male orderly, 20's enters and crosses to the bedside table.  He checks Nick.  Satisfied all is clear, he opens the table's draw and reaches for the $50.

NANCY, female orderly, 20's enters and sees what Carl is doing. 

NANCY
			What do you think you're 
			doing?  

Carl freezes, turns. Relief fills his faces at the sight of Nancy.

CARL
			Where's a bum like this get a 
			50 spot?

Carl slides the money in his pocket. 

NANCY
			You're going to take the only 
			thing from a man who has noting?   

Carl thinks for a moment.  Finally pulls the money out and throws it in the draw. 

CARL
			Ah, shit. 

INT/EXT. WINDOW – DAY
City of Boston blazes under a blanket of fresh snow and a cloudless blue sky.  

MUSIC PLAYS

Nick stirs, wakes with a start.  

He looks around.

Nick see the city through the window. 

Tears fill his eyes. 

NURSE 30's enters, she looks at Nick with disdain.  She does not like him. 

Nurse checks Nick's pulse, temperature, and blood pressure. 

Nurse checks Nick's head bandage with unsympathetic pulls and probes. She speaks to him briefly and walks out.

INT. HOSPITAL/HALLWAY – DAY

Nick in a bath rob stands before a large picture window overlooking the City.

NICK'S FACE sad and tired. 

INT. HOSPITAL/OFFICE – DAY

Nick, dressed in clean clothes, sits before a desk. DOCTOR, 50'S, sits behind the desk.  Doctor speaks to Nick, who quietly listens, nods occasionally.

Nick's head tilts down. His face shows a mixture of sadness and relief at what the Doctor tells him.

Slowly, Nick raises his head, looks out the window.  Sunlight shows the age in his face. 

INT. HOSPITAL/HALLWAY – DAY

Nick watches the nurses at a Nurse Station.  He waits until they are occupied with something in another direction.  He quickly slips past them. 

INT. HOSPITAL LOBBY – DAY

LONG COAT lays across the back of a chair.  Nick casually picks it up and walks out the main entrance without anyone noticing him.

EXT. CITY – DAY

Nick makes his way quietly, unseen through the city streets. 

EXT. SOUTH BOSTON – DAY

Nick walks through South Boston.

INT. HOSPITAL – DAY

Nurse enters Nick's room, finds it empty.  She looks around, some concern on her face. 

EXT. SOUTH BOSTON/CEMETERY - DAY 

Nick kneels at Molly's grave.  

He cries.

NICK
			I'm so sorry.    

EXT. SOUTH BOSTON/CEMETERY – DAY

Nick walks along a row of small graves.  He carefully looks at the Names.  He pauses before one particular stone. 

Nick kneels and touches MAX'S STONE.  

NICK
			Hi, old friend.  I haven't 
			done too well without you.  

INT. NICOLAS O'RIELY JR'S APPARTMENT – DAY

The apartment is a filthy mess, badly needed repairs are evident everywhere.

NICOLAS 35, gaunt, unhealthy, sits on a disgusting couch.  An old Television drones from across the room. 

TELEVISION flickers with static.  NICOLAS flings a half empty beer bottle at it. 
BOTTLE smashes against the television's upper edge.  Flat beer splashes against the wall.

FRONT DOOR   KNOCK KNOCK

Nicolas looks at the door, frowns. 

NICOLAS
			Oh, who the fuck is that?

Nicolas looks at the bedroom doorway.  

NICOLAS
			Get the God damn door!

INT. BEDROOM – DAY.

A pit filled with clutter and clothes dropped or thrown everywhere.  The double bed is a heap of filth.  A blanket covers a woman under the pile.  She groans and rolls over.  

WOMAN
			What? 

INT. LIVING ROOM

Nicolas rolls his eyes and sits up.

NICOLAS
			Never mind, I'll get it.  You 
			lazy bitch.

INT. BEDROOM

Woman rolls back over, pulls a stained pillow over her head. 

WOMAN
			Fucking loser. 

INT. APARTMENT/FRONT DOOR

Nicolas yanks the door open to reveal Nick standing there.

NICK
			Nicolas?  

NICOLAS
(surprised)
			I'll be damned.  What the hell 
			do you want?

NICK
			I came here to see my son. 

Nicolas shrugs.

NICOLAS
			Your timing is impeccable old 
			man.  Mother just left. 

NICK
			I know.  

NICOLAS
			Are you planning on joining 
			her... soon?

NICK
			I just thought I'd ... I'd 
			meet my son. 

Nicolas looks Nick over with a disapproving eye.  He turns away.

INT. APARTMENT/KITCHEN

Nick and Nicolas stand at either end of the table,  silently they look at the squalid surroundings.

An open beer sits in front of Nicolas.  He has a drink and looks directly at Nick. 

NICOLAS
			Chip off the old block, 
			ain't I?

Nick's roving eye is confused, finally lands on Nicolas. 

NICK
			I don't understand.  

Nicolas smirks, snorts.

NICOLAS
			What, why I don't throw my arms 
			wide for your embrace and shout 
			Papa, Papa?

Woman, enters. She wears a T shirt and shorts.  She gets beer from the refrigerator.  
 
Nicolas watches her. 

NICOLAS
			This would be my father.  

Woman stops, looks down at Nick.  She laughs. 

She looks at Nicolas and raises an eyebrow, then walks out of the room. 

NICK
			You seem quite intelligent... 
			educated.  

NICOLAS
			I don't know where you've been.  
			I don't care.  It's easy to tell 
			how well you've done.

Nick holds up a hand. 

NICK
			I'm not here to ask anything 
			from you – forgiveness, help, 
			or understanding.  

Nicolas sits down in a chair and leans back.

NICOLAS
			Well, that's a damn fine 
			thing, Pop. 

NICK
			When I saw you at Rose's I 
			could tell you hadn't done 
			well.  I felt bad for you. 

NICOLAS
			You have no right to!  I 
			don't even know why I'm 
			speaking to you.

NICK
			May I sit? 

Nicolas nods, motions to a chair. 

Nick sits with great effort and pain. 

Nicolas is unaffected. 

NICK
			What happened to you?  You 
			could have been so much more 
			than this.  

Nicolas finishes his beer, slams the bottle down on the table. 

NICOLAS
			What happened?!  What didn't 
			happen!

Nick is confused.

NICOLAS
			I see in your absences you 
			failed to prosper.  Well, 
			neither did I.

Nick, surprised, shock grows slowly in his eyes and spreads quickly across his face. 

NICK
			You blame me for this? 

Nick opens his arm to encompass the entire kitchen.

Nicolas cocks his head, waits for Nick to lower his arms.  He looks around the room until his eyes return to Nick.  He stands up as he speaks.

NICOLAS
			Why is it... fathers rarely 
			take responsibility for their 
			son's failure?  Let a son be a 
			success and they're right there 
			to take the credit and wallow 
			in the pride. 

Nick shakes his head.

NICK
			I wasn't even here!  How could 
			this be my fault?

Nicolas smiles and sits back down. 

NICOLAS
			You son of a bitch.

NICK
			If you think I could have given 
			you anything you're mistaken.  
			Look at me!  I'm the worst kind 
			of failure this country can 
			provide.

Both men look away, deep in their own thoughts.

Finally Nick looks back at his son.

NICK
			Don't blame me because you 
			didn't have what it takes 
			to make it.  

Nicolas jumps to his feet, jarring the table and knocking over his chair.  

NICOLAS
			What do you mean?!  What are 
			you talking about?

Nick, scared, leans back away.

NICOLAS
			What is it I lack that would 
			have made me a success!  

The words create anger in Nick.  He regains himself, leans forward.  

NICK
			Character, will! 
Nicolas pulls back some, stunned.

NICOLAS
			Yeah, nice.  And where was I 
			suppose to get those?  The 
			drunks and scumbags Ma brought 
			home to her bed?

Nick stares at Nicolas, wordlessly.

NICOLAS
			Well, aren't you gonna 
			apologize?  Tell me I don't 
			understand? 

Nick stands slowly, with great effort and pain.  He looks hard at Nicolas.

NICK
			No.  I think you understand 
			already. 

Nick drops the crumpled $50 on the kitchen table and leaves. 

EXT. CITY SIDE WALK – DAY

Nick makes his way down the snowy side walk.  He pulls the coat tight against the cold.   

INT. HOSPITAL – DAY

Nurse approaches Doctor.

NURSE
			I've looked everywhere.  He's 
			not in the facility.

Doctor nods.

EXT. THE TIME BAR RUINS  - DAY

The building, burned flat, is now covered in a layer of snow. 

Nick stops on the side walk, his jaw drops open.  He staggers forward a couple steps.

NICK
			No, please no. 

Nick steps into the burned remains.  He walks slowly, leaving noticeable tracks in the snow. 

He stops, drops to his knees, begins to dig through the snow and debris.

Nick's hands find only charred wood and twisted metal.

NICK
			It's gone.  It's gone.  

Nick looks up.  There is no help in sight. 

EXT. HOSPITAL – DAY

POLICE CAR parks in the hospital parking lot.  POLICE DRIVER 35 gets out. PARTNER 26 gets out and follows Police Driver into the hospital.  

INT. HOSPITAL – DAY

Nurse turns as the cops approach.  She meets them. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR RUINS – DAY

Nick's hands dig frantically, they pull up the partial remains of a bar stool's leg.  

Nick looks the leg over carefully.

NICK
			They must have gone back.   

Patty's shoes crunch through the snow as he walks. 

Nick continues to dig.

Patty's hand carries the odd shaped bottle, now covered blackened by smoke, it's label burned away. He shakes the bottle as he walks. 

Patty stops in front of Nick.

Nick looks up, startled, he falls back on one hand, still clutching the piece of bar stool with the other. 
NICK
			Patty? 

PATTY
			How are ya, Nick O'Reily?

NICK
			You... You remember me? 

Patty nods.  He shakes the bottle. 

PATTY
			Looking for this, are ya? 

Nick looks at the bottle, then holds the stool leg up.  He considers both items.  He raises the leg a bit.

NICK
			I thought it was the stool.   

Patty smiles, shakes his head. 

NICK
			Does... Does it really?  
			Could I really? 

Patty does not respond.  His face now a blank mask.

NICK
			All those old men. Pete, 
			Tommy, and Red.  It was you? 

Nick looks at the bottle.

NICK
			And that. 

Patty smiles, nods, shakes the bottle a bit. 

PATTY
			Yeah.  

NICK
			Why?  What is this?

PATTY
			Nick, every life has a purpose.  
			No child ever born was an 
			accident, you each have a 
			specific task to complete. 

NICK
			Was I destined to be this? 

PATTY
			You did that to yourself. 

Nick looks around the ground. 

EXT. SOUTH BOSTON / STREET – DAY

Police Car moves through the streets. The cops search.  

EXT. THE TIME BAR RUINS – DAY

Patty kneels on one knee in front of Nick. 

PATTY
			You strayed, deviated from 
			your purpose. 

Patty taps on the side of his head. 

PATTY
			The mind knows.  That's where 
			the real you is kept. 

Nick looks at Patty questioningly. 

PATTY
			Everyone walks their own path.  
			When they step off they lose 
			their way. Pretty soon they 
			just kind of sit down and wait 
			for death.

NICK
			Is that who you are, Death? 

Patty chuckles.

PATTY
			No, no.  I'm a ...  That's not 
			what I do.

Patty kneels lower, looks into Nick's eyes.  He sets the bottle in the snow. 

Nick gives the bottle a quick glance. 

PATTY
			It would be easy for many to 
			give up and die.  Some do.  
			Some quit before their job is 
			done. 

Patty looks down, draws a finger through the debris.

PATTY
			A certain amount of unfinished 
			business is absorbed by the work 
			that does get done. 

Nick looks at Patty.

PATTY
			The world gets by without that 
			number one hit on the pop charts 
			or the best selling novel. 

Nick looks up slowly, a slight wonder in his eyes. 

NICK
			Are you saying I'm that 
			important? 

Patty laughs out loud. 

EXT. STREET

Police Car rolls past the Time Bar.

EXT. THE TIME BAR

PATTY
			Oh, hell no. B'Jesus.  Not in 
			the great plan, the vast scheme 
			of it all.  The massive under 
			taking of putting a man on the 
			moon is no more an achievement 
			than, say, creating a paper clip.  

EXT. STREET

Police Car stop, backs up. 

INT. POLICE CAR – DAY

Police Driver looks at his Partner.  Then out the window. 

INT/EXT. POLICE CAR/DRIVER'S WINDOW

Nick kneels in the snow, alone. 

INT. POLICE CAR

Driver, picks up radio microphone.

PARTNER
			Wait, shouldn't we leave 
			him alone?  The Doctor said 
			he only has a couple days 
			left. 

Police Driver looks at the radio. 

POLCIE DRIVER
			Would you want to die out 
			there?  Alone. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR 

Nick is stunned. 

NICK
			You're a fool. 

Patty shrugs.

PATTY
			Nick, the universe is infinite.  
			This place isn't even a speck 
			of dust.  Don't take yourself 
			so seriously.   

Nick's face saddens, lowers. 

NICK
			There is no fate?  

PATTY
			People get fate mixed up.  They 
			get this idea certain things 
			happen no matter what.  They 
			figure their lives are all 
			planned out for them. 

EXT. STREET/POLICE CAR 

Cops get out of their car. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR RUINS

Nick, his back to the street, does not know the police have arrived.

Patty looks up, he glances at the police. 

PATTY
			You're just too self important.  
			It's not about your life, or 
			what you do.  It's all about the 
			big picture.  

NICK
			There is no plan? No reason to 
			anyone's life? 

Patty smiles, looks back at Nick. 

PATTY
			Of coarse there's a plan! 

Patty scoops up the bottle and points at Nick with it. 

PATTY
			And there's reasons you're 
			here. 

NICK
			What?  Why am I here?

PATTY
			Now how the hell would I know?  
			I ain't the flipping all 
			powerful supreme being.  I got 
			a job.  My own purpose, just 
			like you.  

Patty looks skyward and shrugs. 
PATTY
			You're just a cog.  If you're 
			not there, the gears grind not 
			a bit.  The engine keeps chugging, 
			powering what ever it is... 

Patty sets the bottle down, opens his arms wide, palms upward.  Looks up, then back at Nick. 

PATTY
			Out there, beyond us.  

NICK
			Why are you here, then?  Let 
			me die in peace.  

Nick looks down in defeat. 

NICK
			Let me die. 

PATTY
			Have the scares on your 
			wrist faded? 

Nick looks at his hands.

NICK
			No.  

Nick looks at Patty. 

NICK
			Should they have?  Do they 
			mean something?

Patty shrugs.

PATTY
			Nah.  

NICK
			What are you, my Guardian 
			Angel? 

EXT. STREET

Police cross the street to the sidewalk.  The radio call to them and they pause. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR RUINS

PATTY
			No, it's just important we 
			don't loose too many cogs.  
			I keep track of the weaker 
			cogs.  

NICK
			Patty, please, can I or can't 
			I go back?  Should I go? 

Patty smiles and nods. 

Nick digs through the debris.  He finds a shot glass.  He wipes it out with his shirt, holds it up to Patty.

Cops walk across the ruins.  Police Driver slips and falls. 

Patty picks the bottle up and keeps it from Nick.

PATTY
			It's not cheap, Nick. 

Nick checks his pockets, finds nothing. 

Partner helps Police Driver as Nick lowers the shot glass. 

Patty watches the cops. 

NICK
			I had $50. I gave it to 
			my son.  

Patty sets the bottle down. 

PATTY
			You only get one shot.  Give up 
			too soon and die...  There's 
			none of that coming back 
			in another life.  This is it.  
			You know, comets and meteors 
			have their purposes too. One 
			could slam the earth at anytime.  
			I'm not told 

Patty snaps up the bottle and stands. 

PATTY
			Well, come on, this stuff 
			isn't free. 

NICK
			I have no money.  Nothing.  

Patty frowns at the bottle, shakes it, looks down at Nick. 

Patty plucks his lips.

PATTY
			You can owe me, Nick. 

Partner gets Police Driver to his feet and they continue to Nick, kneeling alone in the snow. 

NICK
			What about Max? 

PATTY
			Max died.  

NICK
			Did he fill his purpose?  Was 
			his death senseless?  

Patty studies Nick, disappointed. 

PATTY
			Everything has to work for 
			you.  Be correct and right.  

NICK
			I just... 

PATTY
			Why don't you ask him?  

Patty steps aside and reveals Max.

MAX
			What's going on, Hoss?

Max trudges through the snow to Nick.

NICK
			Max!  Oh, Max. 

Nick drops the shot glass as his hands go to his face.

Max gets closer, his hands reaching for Nick's.  
Their hands clasp.

MAX
			My good friend.  

Tears fill Nicks old eyes. 

NICK
			Max, oh Max.  

MAX
			I got a fella with me, 
			been waiting along time 
			to say hello.

NICK
			What?  Who?  

Max turns.

MAX
			Come here, boy.

Andy runs from behind a fence.  Snow is kicked up as he runs straight for Nick. 

Andy hits Nick, flattening him to the snow. 

Patty and Max smile as they watch Andy cover Nick's face with his tongue.  

Nick hugs Andy and rolls in the snow with him. 

Cops pause and see Nick roll about in the snow. 

POLCIE DRIVER
			What the hell is he doing? 

PARTNER
			Sounds like he's laughing. 

Nick laughs and cries.
NICK
			Andy, Andy.  I'm so sorry boy.  
			I didn't want it to happen. 
			I miss you so much. I love you. 

Max comes over and pulls Andy off Nick.  

Patty helps Nick to his feet. Nick keeps patting Andy. 

NICK
			I'm sorry, boy. 

MAX
			It's all right, man.  He 
			doesn't blame you.  He 
			loves you.

Nick looks at Max, grabs his arms. 

NICK
			My friend.  My friend, 
			how are you? 

MAX
			Heavenly, man.  Heavenly.  
			And it is just like Texas, 
			Hoss.  

NICK
			Did you... Did you do what 
			you were suppose to while 
			you were here? 

MAX
			Well, man, what I had to 
			do really didn't start until 
			I left.  Same for Andy, there.  

Patty steps forward, places a hand on Max's shoulder. 

MAX
			I gotta go now, son. 

Cops start walking again.  Partner falls. 

Patty's hand pulls the cork on the bottle. 

PATTY
			Time for you to leave too.  
			Show us your glass. 

Nick looks around and digs the shot glass out of the snow and holds it up to Patty. 

Patty fills the glass. 

Nick studies the liquid, looks up at Patty.

Patty nods. 

Shot glass raises to Nick's lips.

Liquid empties from the glass.

Glass bottom reflects sunlight.

Cops get back on their feet and discover Nick is now gone.  

POLICE DRIVER
			Where the hell is he?	  

Cops run to the spot they last saw Nick.  They look around, their eyes soon settle on the snow covered ruins. 

Only Nick's tracks are visible in the snow.  They end where he was last seen with no other tracks leading away. 

INT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

Shot glass bottom reflects neon lights.  Music plays, people are laughing, talking, and having a good time. 

The shot glass lowers to the bar in front of a much younger Nick.  He looks around. 

BEHIND THE BAR 

Young Patty replaces the cork in a smoky, scared, oddly shaped bottle. 

Nick looks at his hands then at Patty. 

NICK
			Patty, is it true?  

Patty smiles and nods. 

PATTY
			It's home, Nick.  You're back 
			to where ya suppose to be.  

NICK
			Where's Molly? 

Patty points behind Nick.

Nick turns.

Molly still stands facing the door Nick walked out. 

Nick slowly walks toward Molly.

Molly turns and Nick is behind her. Tears still fresh in her eyes.  Both can only stare at each other. 

NICK
			You're more beautiful than 
			I remember. 

MOLLY
			That was 15 seconds ago. 

NICK
			I think it was more like 
			35 years. 

Molly looks into Nick's eyes.  She sees something different now.

MOLLY
			You're not leaving.  What 
			happened?  

Nick steps forward, places his hands on Molly's hips.  Runs a hand over her stomach.

NICK
			He will love me, no matter 
			what, because I'll always be 
			there for him. 

Molly holds Nick's hands as they move over her belly. 

NICK
			All I can feel now is the two 
			of you. I swear I'll always be 
			here for the both of you.  

MOLLY'S EYES swell with tears. 

MOLLY
			I love you. 

They embrace. 

EXT. THE TIME BAR – NIGHT

Ghostly, translucent images of Max and Andy stand on the sidewalk and look in at Nick and Molly.

INT. THE TIME BAR

From behind the bar Patty smiles when he sees Max at the front window. They wave to each other.  

EXT. THE TIME BAR / SIDEWALK

Max looks down at Andy. 

MAX
			Come on, boy, he'll be 
			fine now.  

Andy barks at Nick before following Max. 

Andy barks and whines at Max. 

MAX
			Yeah, boy, we'll keep watching 
			over him.  Hasn't that been our 
			job all this time?  Shoot, you've 
			been doing it longer than me.

										:Fade out