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FADE IN:
EXT. TUNIT HOUSE - BACKYARD - EVENING
A typical family barbecue. Many tables and chairs are set up.
A long buffet-style line of food is set up near the porch.
Many people are standing around chatting and eating, while a
few are leaving.
WALT TUNIT, 17, sits by himself at a table. He's short, very
skinny, and clean shaven. He looks completely unenthusiastic
about the barbecue as he watches some of the people drive
away.
JIMMY TUNIT, 45, sits down at Walt's table. He has almost the
complete opposite look as Walt. He's tall, overweight, and
carries a shaggy beard.
JIMMY
What's the matter kid, your uncle's party
boring you a little?
WALT
(frowns a little)
No. Your party's fine.
JIMMY
You sure about that? You look a little
out of it, kid.
WALT
(laughs)
It's fine. I just--
JIMMY
You want to leave.
WALT
No. I had a good time.
JIMMY
You just don't want to stay the whole
night here.
WALT
Kind of. I mean, I'm sorry. I don't mean
to offend you, but I really don't
understand why my parents want to sleep
over your house tonight. We can just
leave tonight.
JIMMY
It's a long drive, kid. Might as well
wait it out until the morning.
WALT
Yeah. I just...I don't know if I can hang
around here anymore, at least for right
now.
JIMMY
Personally, if you ask me, I don't mind
that. I wouldn't want to bum around my
uncle's house talking to relatives I
don't really like. I doubt your parents
hold the same viewpoint as me, though.
WALT
They'd get pissed at me if they saw me
leave.
JIMMY
Well, if you want, I can tell them that I
sent you out on an errand if they ask
about you.
WALT
Thanks, but I don't think I can do that.
JIMMY
What are you talking about? I'm basically
giving you a free pass, a get-out-of-jail
free card.
WALT
I know. I still couldn't do that, though.
JIMMY
Why?
WALT
I'd feel so guilty.
JIMMY
You shouldn't.
WALT
Are you kidding? I killed an ant this
morning by accident and I felt guilty for
it.
JIMMY
(laughs)
You might want to see a shrink, kid.
WALT
Maybe I should.
JIMMY
You know you don't really have to feel
guilty over something like that.
WALT
Why?
JIMMY
Jesus, kid. Look around you, there's tons
of ants around. You killed one ant, just
one. Big deal. You can't change it now.
It's in the past, and they're just ants.
You don't need to get hung up about it.
WALT
I know. I'm still thinking about it,
though.
JIMMY
This is the same thing as before.
WALT
What do you mean?
JIMMY
You feel guilt, you know why you feel
guilt, and even though you know you
really don't need to feel it, and that
you probably shouldn't, you still do.
WALT
It doesn't seem to really be bothering
me, though. So why change it? Besides, I
don't think that kind of attached feeling
can just go away that fast for me, even
if it is just an ant.
JIMMY
(laughs)
It might not be too healthy, kid.
WALT
Maybe, I really should see a shrink then.
They both laugh.
Walt looks away and forces a smile.
JIMMY
But there's something else bothering you.
WALT
Oh. It's nothing.
JIMMY
C'mon. What is it?
WALT
It's...just my girlfriend.
JIMMY
Well, where is she?
WALT
Ex-girlfriend, actually.
JIMMY
Oh.
WALT
It hurts getting dumped.
JIMMY
Well, I know a lot about that. I'm sorry
to hear about that, kid.
WALT
It's okay.
JIMMY
When did it happen? A couple days ago?
WALT
About five months ago.
JIMMY
That's a long time, kid.
WALT
Yeah, maybe.
JIMMY
Maybe, you need to talk to some new
people.
WALT
You know, I kind of decided that I really
hate most people. It's like I know them,
but I just get the feeling they're just
out there to hurt me.
JIMMY
Hurt you? You're exaggerating, kid. These
are just your relatives.
WALT
It's all I seem to know.
JIMMY
That's why you have to meet new people.
WALT
Maybe.
JIMMY
Besides, hate's a strong work. Sometimes,
women can make you feel that in yourself.
If you ask me, no women that makes you
feel like that is worth your time.
WALT
No, we're getting back together.
JIMMY
Yeah?
WALT
Yeah. I'm just waiting for the right time
to call and ask for another date.
JIMMY
When was the last time she called you?
WALT
She hasn't really since we broke up.
Jimmy has a saddened look on his face.
JIMMY
Oh.
WALT
She'll call event--
JIMMY
(interrupts Walt)
Look at that girl over there.
He points to a beautiful girl standing with a bunch of her
friends. Her name is ANGELA.
WALT
What about her?
JIMMY
Well? What about her? She's my daughter's
friend. Maybe, you can find out the rest
yourself.
WALT
(shrugs his shoulders)
I don't know.
(laughs to himself)
Look. I've still got some of that ant's
blood on my finger.
JIMMY
Might want to wash that off.
WALT
(joking)
No, I kind of like it.
JIMMY
Well, if you want to talk to that girl
over there, you might want to wash it
off. Girls don't like that kind of thing.
WALT
(laughing)
Alright, thanks Uncle Jimmy.
Jimmy points to the cloudy skies up above.
JIMMY
You might want to hurry up, though. That
rain is going to come eventually and once
it does, you and your family might be the
only ones left here at my house.
WALT
I'm sure it won't rain for awhile.
JIMMY
I don't know. Sometimes, the Gods make it
rain at just the right time and sometimes
at just the wrong time.
WALT
I think that depends on the person.
JIMMY
(smiles)
Very good, kid. Now, go talk to that
girl.
WALT
But--
JIMMY
(interrupts Walt)
Trust me. Just talk to her.
WALT
I can't.
JIMMY
Please? Do it for your uncle Jimmy.
C'mon, kid, I don't want to see you
bummed around here. Just talk to her.
WALT
I don't know. I just--
JIMMY
(interrupts Walt)
Just talk to her. Nothing more. Trust me,
it'll be good for you. Look, you won't
even move. I'll get her to come over
here.
WALT
That's a little embarrassing, but...
JIMMY
But what?
WALT
(gives in)
Yeah, sure. Okay, do it.
JIMMY
Great choice, kid.
(yelling)
Hey, Angela! Come over here for a second.
Jimmy leaves the table and Angela sits down after Jimmy says
a few words to her.
ANGELA
Hi.
WALT
Hey.
ANGELA
So...you're Jane's cousin?
WALT
Yeah.
ANGELA
And your name's Walt, right?
WALT
Yeah.
ANGELA
Mine's Angela. Nice to meet you.
WALT
Nice to meet you.
They shake hands.
ANGELA
So, you staying here for awhile?
WALT
Oh, uh yeah. Just for the night.
ANGELA
Cool. Jane invited me over. I've been to
so many of her family's parties and
barbecue's that I feel like a veteran.
WALT
Oh, yeah? How long have you been here
today?
ANGELA
Just a few hours. I kind of go back and
forth. I leave the party for a little bit
and then I come back. No one seems to
mind, I'm practically family to everyone
here. They all know me and I know all of
them.
WALT
That's pretty cool.
ANGELA
You kind of look like you want to get out
here.
WALT
I kind of want to get out of here. This
place is driving me nuts.
ANGELA
Why?
WALT
All these people that I know, all they do
is chat-chat. I really don't feel like
I'm fitting in.
ANGELA
Maybe, you just haven't met the right
people yet.
She smiles and locks eyes with him.
WALT
Well, you seem nice.
ANGELA
So do you.
(a beat)
So do you wanna' get out of here for a
few hours and, you know, talk some place
else?
He smiles for a second at her.
WALT
No, I don't think I can.
ANGELA
Come on, it'll be fun. You said it
yourself, you want to get out of here. If
it's a problem, than solve it, right?
WALT
It's very kind of you, but I'm sorry. I
just can't.
ANGELA
Why?
WALT
I've been sitting here for a long time
and I just don't think I can bare to move
anywhere else. I'm really comfortable
where I am.
ANGELA
Sounds more like a pretty crappy excuse.
WALT
(laughs)
Maybe.
He put his hand on the table that has the blood spot still on
one of the fingers.
ANGELA
Hey, what is that?
WALT
What's what?
ANGELA
That red spot.
WALT
Oh, it's just blood...I killed an ant
before. I guess I just never bothered to
wash it off.
ANGELA
Oh.
WALT
Yeah.
ANGELA
Well, I'm leaving in a little bit, but
just for awhile. I'll be back later. But,
like I said, I'm leaving in a little bit
and if you decide to change your mind,
just catch up with me before I leave,
okay?
WALT
Yeah.
ANGELA
Great.
She gets up from the table.
ANGELA (CONT'D)
Oh, and Walt. If you do decide to come
with me, I'd really prefer that you wash
your hands. Girls don't like that kind of
thing.
WALT
(smiles)
Okay.
ANGELA
Bye bye.
WALT
Bye.
She walks away.
Walt thinks to himself for a brief moment. He's pondering
something and he smiles slightly.
Jimmy comes back and sits down at the table.
JIMMY
So? How'd it go?
WALT
(a little unenthusiastic)
She's nice.
JIMMY
But?
WALT
I don't really know her.
JIMMY
Kid, that's why you have to talk to her.
You can get to know her.
WALT
But she wants me to leave the party.
JIMMY
So do you.
WALT
But it's different.
JIMMY
Why?
WALT
I'm just...comfortable where I am.
JIMMY
Okay. Well, like I said earlier, if you
want to leave, I'll just tell your
parents you went on an errand for me.
WALT
I don't know.
JIMMY
You won't get in trouble, I promise.
WALT
I still don't know.
JIMMY
C'mon. It'll be fun for you.
WALT
(laughs)
I'm not much of a risk taker.
JIMMY
Kid, trust me on this. You didn't want to
talk to her either, and that wasn't so
bad, was it?
WALT
No, it wasn't too bad.
JIMMY
So, c'mon, just go for a little bit. I
don't mind. I've got plenty to worry
about around here as it is. So, go with
her.
WALT
Yeah, maybe.
JIMMY
Just give it a chance. I've met her
before. She's real nice, kid.
WALT
Yeah, she's nice. It's just--
JIMMY
She's not a looker to you?
WALT
(laughs)
No, she is.
JIMMY
What's so funny?
WALT
That word.
JIMMY
What word? "Looker"?
WALT
Yeah.
JIMMY
What's wrong with that word?
WALT
It's just a bit old-fashioned, no?
JIMMY
Well, I guess I never stopped saying it
since I started as a kid.
WALT
I don't mean to make fun of you, it's
just a little funny.
JIMMY
I think I'd look more foolish trying to
talk your generation's slang.
WALT
(laughs)
Okay, but maybe you should hold back on
some of those archaic terms you use. Some
things really need to be let go.
JIMMY
See, you're already in a better mood.
WALT
Yeah, a little bit.
JIMMY
If it takes a step by a step, then that's
just the way it has to be.
Walt sees Angela walk out of the barbecue by herself. She's
heading for her car.
WALT
Can you do me a favor?
JIMMY
Yeah?
WALT
Can you get me some water?
JIMMY
Sure think, kid.
He reaches into the cooler next to the table, pulls out a
water bottle, and gives it to Walt.
WALT
Thanks.
Walt opens the bottle and pours water all over his hands. He
washes the blood spot off his hand.
JIMMY
Freshening up for the big date?
WALT
(laughs)
Sort of. We're just going to talk.
JIMMY
It's one step at a time, Walt.
WALT
Yeah, I know.
The dark clouds open up to sunshine.
JIMMY
I guess it's your lucky day.
WALT
Maybe, it is. Now, where are my parents?
They scope the backyard for them.
JIMMY
Oh, I see them. They're over at the pool.
WALT
They not really looking over here.
JIMMY
Not at all. They seem perfectly
distracted.
WALT
That's just the way I'd put it.
JIMMY
(motioning to Angela)
Go to her before it's too late.
WALT
Thanks, Uncle Jimmy.
JIMMY
Anytime, Walt.
Walt gets up and walks to the driveway in the front of the
house.
EXT. TUNIT HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Angela is rearranging some things in the trunk of her car.
WALT
Hey.
ANGELA
So, what made you change your mind?
WALT
You.
ANGELA
Me?
WALT
Among other things.
ANGELA
Why?
WALT
I guess I just didn't want to stay in the
same spot any longer.
ANGELA
Good. Well, I'm glad you decided to come
along.
WALT
(smiles)
Me too.
ANGELA
Hop in.
Angela gets in the driver's seat. Walt gets in the
passenger's seat.
WALT (V.O.)
Where are we off to?
ANGELA (V.O.)
I don't know. Anywhere I guess. Do you
have a favorite place you want to go to,
like a fast food place or something?
The car backs out of the driveway.
WALT (V.O.)
You know what, I think I'd like to just
drive around.
ANGELA (V.O.)
Like a little adventure of our own, huh?
WALT (V.O.)
Yeah. Let's find something new.
ANGELA (V.O.)
I like that.
WALT (V.O.)
Me too.
The car heads down the road.
ANGELA (V.O.)
Oh, by the way, Walt, thank you.
WALT (V.O.)
For what?
ANGELA (V.O.)
(laughs)
For washing that silly blood off your
hands!
WALT (V.O.)
Oh, no problem. It didn't really fit with
my style now, anyway.
They both laugh as they drive away into the sunset.
FADE OUT.
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