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Still Life - "Caught" - Acts I, II, & III
I'd intended to get this posted before Thanksgiving, but that was not to be. Here, then, is the first half of the last transcript for Still Life.
STILL LIFE – “Caught”
Color Bars
ID Tag:
20th Century Fox TV
STILL LIFE
“Caught”
Ep. #1AHJ06
EDITED MASTER
TRT = 44:53
2.09.04
Bart Simpson with the channel and phase check
Previouslies: Jake’s murder; Jon’s crush on Char; Char’s misunderstood comments and firing her dad; Em and Stack starting the catering business; Em and Stack’s friendship and Em putting the kibosh on a would-be romance; Max’s investigation into Eddie; Darien’s arrest; Darien warning Eddie . . .
Act I
Blue wash to:
Exterior, Sidewalk, Day:
Max walks down the street, satchel over his shoulder, wearing what this time looks like a thick brown canvas jacket with a thick collar.
VOJ: Now that I get to armchair quarterback this whole “life” deal, I see how people get stuck.
Max passes the window front of Maggie’s gallery and sees her working at the desk. He pulls out his camera to snap a few pictures. She sees him, smiles, and her body language, relaxed, says “what are you doing?” He smiles back, raising his camera a little, indicating, “just taking some pictures.” With a grin on her face, she gets up and opens the door to let him in.
Maggie: Hey!
Max: Hey.
Maggie: Haven’t seen you around much.
Max: Yeah. (He adjusts his satchel on his shoulder.) Tryin’ somethin’ new: that 9-to-5 thing. (His grin absolutely lights up the screen.)
Maggie chuckles in response.
Max: This the new show?
Maggie: (looks behind her, then back at Max) Yeah. You want the tour?
Max sighs, puffing his cheeks, a little reluctant.
Maggie: Whit’s out of town, if that’s it.
Max: (shaking his head) No.
Maggie: Good. He thought he offended you before he left.
Max: No, we’re fine. I just—I gotta go, um, shoot the city council meeting.
Maggie: (with a smile) Oh, Finn’s got you on the sexy stuff, huh.
Max: (sharing the joke) Oh, yeah. Yeah. City zoning, it rocks. (Giving a quick two thumbs-up with a grin. They give it a beat.) See ya later (as he turns to leave).
Maggie: Max. (Max turns to her.) Don’t be a stranger.
Max: I couldn’t if I tried. (He lets himself out the door.)
Blue wash to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Day:
Stack has the phone to his ear and is pacing anxiously.
VOJ: People get stuck because something happens that they can’t get past, or they want something they can’t have, or just—old habits die hard.
Em: (sitting at the sink counter, pen in hand, book open in front of her. She tries to get Stack’s attention) Hey, Spanky!
Stack does the index finger “wait a minute” sign.
Em: You’ve been on that stupid phone call all morning.
Stack again motions for her to wait.
Em: What’s with you?!? I need help with the shopping list for the Orloff job!
Stack tries to get a word in on his phone call, without success.
Stack: (to Em) They keep putting me on hold. My dad’s coming to town. I can’t make a hotel reservation till I know what kind of mattresses they have. (Em gives him a puzzled smile.) Don’t ask.
Em: You’re dad’s coming to town. Cool. Bring him by.
Stack: Yyyyeah, I don’t think so.
Em: Why not? Doesn’t he want to see how his loan’s being put to use.
Stack: (continuing to curl his lip and wrinkle his nose) It’s just not a good idea.
Em: We’re doing great! He’ll be totally impressed.
Stack: In some not-world—some alternate reality—maybe. This one? (He shakes his head.) Not so much.
Em: (coaxing) Oh come on. Come on. I wanna meet Stack’s dad. Hey, and you never know. Maybe it’ll be different this time.
Stack: (waving a hand to cut her off) Dude. Lay off the happy juice, would ya? It’s not gonna happen.
Em grins at him.
Stack is drawn back to the phone as someone picks up his call.
Stack: Yeah, yeah. Maybe you can help me. I have been on hold for, uh, a few hours. Yeah, I’m just wondering . . .
Blue wash to:
Interior, Convenience store, Day:
The angle is as if it’s from a security camera, but the picture is in color.
Max enters the store, stopping at the counter.
Max: Can I get a pack of, uuuuuh, AAA batteries.
As he’s waiting for the clerk to retrieve the batteries, Max waits patiently, glancing out of the corner of his eye at something off camera that makes him do a double-take. He tenses up as another man enters the camera frame and hands something he wants to buy to the second cashier. The man glances at Max, but doesn’t take any notice.
VOJ: Sullivan is a small enough town. It shouldn’t seem so impossible that Max would find himself standing next to the main suspect in my murder.
The next two camera shots are 2-shots, one from Max’s side focusing on Eddie obliviously making his purchase, the other from Eddie’s side, focusing on Max’s attention on Eddie, eyeing him suspiciously.
Insert a few flashback shots of the murder scene, Jake’s body, Eddie being arrested.
Eddie completes his transaction, takes the bag, and walks out, crossing behind Max, who stands all but frozen until Eddie is on his way.
VOJ: Hold on, Max. Don’t do anything stupid.
Back to the security camera angle. Max watches Eddie leave the store, then follows him at a distance.
Clerk: (calling to Max) Hey! Hey, you forgot your stuff!
Max waves off the clerk as he exits the store.
Cut to:
Exterior, Street, Day.
Eddie makes his way down the street, and Max follows at a discreet distance.
Cut to:
Exterior, Wharf/Harbor, Day:
Max follows Eddie to the lot outside a warehouse/factory. There’s a “Metal Works” sign on the building and a “Help Wanted” sign in the window. Max pulls out his camera and snaps some pictures as he watches Eddie enter the building.
Cut to:
Establishing shot:
Interior, Metal works warehouse/workshop/factory, Day:
Sparks fly off a piece of equipment as one workman cuts or shapes a piece of metal. There are several men moving about the place, doing their jobs in the industrial building.
Cut to:
Eddie comes in through the door, goes to the time clock, pulls his card out of the time card rack, and clocks in. As Eddie moves out of scene, the camera pans back to the door, and Max opens the door and enters, looking around at what’s going on. He walks slowly further into the shop and stops, putting his observational skills to work . . . not really confused, but maybe not knowing what to do with this new piece of information . . .
A woman walks past him toward the time clock and starts collecting the cards. She does not smile at him.
Secretary: Can I help you?
Max darts a glance at the Help Wanted sign before looking around again.
Max: Yeah, you guys hiring?
He looks a little tense, not sure what he’s getting himself into.
Fade to black.
OPENING CREDITS
David Keith [Ben Morgan]
Jensen Ackles [Max Morgan]
Audrey Marie Anderson [Emily Morgan]
Jeanette Brox [Daisy Morgan]
Morena Baccarin [Maggie Jones]
Bryce Johnson [Jake Morgan]
and
Susanna Thompson [Charlotte Morgan]
Created by Kip Koenig
(Note: Written by Marti Noxon)
(Note: Directed by David Solomon)
Act II
Fade up:
Interior, Morgan kitchen, Morning:
Daisy is at the sink loading the dishwasher, Ben and Char are seated side by side at the kitchen island reading separate sections of the newspaper, and Em is moving about getting her breakfast. She takes something from the fridge and, taking it to the island, spreads it on a piece of bread.
Em: Stack’s dad is coming to town.
Daisy: From where?
Em: He lives in Boston, but he’s from Columbia.
Daisy: How exciting.
Em: Weeell, I’m not sure that’s the word that Stack would choose.
Daisy: What’s the word?
Em: (spreading something on a piece of toast) Ambivalent. Agonizing. I’m trying to figure it out.
Max appears by Em’s side, takes the toast from her hand, and takes a big bite.
Em: (rolling her eyes up at him) Hey!
Max: Mmm. (Then a look of distaste). Mmm!!! Ooh! (Mouth full, mumbles something has he dashes to the skin, pushes Daisy out of the way, and spits the toast in the sink with a loud “phbhah!”) What is that?
Em: (smugly) Salted yeast bread.
Max: You pay money for that? (He grabs someone’s glass of orange juice and downs a large gulp, trying to rinse the taste of the yeast bread out of his mouth.) Mm. You’ve got to talk to me about these things. Seriously, Em. You worry me.
He retrieves his satchel from the corner of the island where he’s placed it, slinging the strap over his shoulder.
Charlotte: You’re off to work already?
Max: Yeah. I’m trying to impress the boss. Get there before he wakes up.
(Wardrobe notes: brown canvas coat over gray v-neck sweater with blue-gray t underneath.)
Daisy: That’s highly unlike you.
Ben: How’s the new job comin’?
Max: It’s alright. You know. (He shrugs and heads toward the back door.)
As Max reaches the door, Jonathan enters through said door.
Jonathan: (addressing Max and the family in general) Miss me?
Max doesn’t say anything as he makes his way out the door and out of the scene.
Jonathan: Anyone?
Ben: (voice ringing with irony) Terribly.
Char folds up her paper and gets up to great Jonathan. She seems delighted to see him.
Charlotte: Hey! I wasn’t sure you’d be back.
Jonathan: Why? Because you kicked your old man to the curb?
Charlotte: Well, that, and the Emily thing. The press drama. My big mouth.
Jonathan: Nah. Can’t get rid of me that easily. Plus, not only do I come back, but I come bearing gifts. (He hands Charlotte a box with a ribbon.)
Daisy slides up beside Ben.
Daisy: Told you. In. Love. With. Mom.
The three of them (Daisy, Ben, and Em) watch as Char opens the box and pulls out . . .
Charlotte: A muzzle. How thoughtful.
Jonathan: I want you to wear this whenever I’m not around.
Ben: (directing his attention back to his newspaper) I don’t think we got anything to worry about, Sug. He’ll be pullin’ her pigtails next.
Em snickers into her o.j.
Jonathan: (moving into the kitchen) What’s for breakfast?
Charlotte: (with an ironic smirk) Try the toast.
Blue fade to:
Exterior establishing shot, metal works factory.
VOJ: Max has been warned over and over not to get too close to Eddie Marble. To let Dad handle the case. I wish I could stop him myself. Not just because he could get hurt, because the things he’s close to finding out could hurt me.
Blue fade to:
Interior, Metal works:
Camera starts on a CU of a hand working a drill press. Pull out to reveal the foreman showing Max how to work the machine. Both are wearing safety glasses and dark blue coveralls.
Foreman: Said you worked one of these before?
Max: Yeah, at the shipyard, but it was a little different.
Foreman: All the way down, three clean cuts.
Max: (nodding) Got it.
Foreman: Give me sixty an hour. And don’t work too fast unless you want a hole in your hand.
Max looks over his shoulder at Eddie across the room, then back to the foreman.
Max: Match the one in my head.
The foreman steps away and Max steps into his place to get to work.
Eddie and another guy make note of Max, the “new guy” in the factory.
Cut to:
Exterior, Coffee bar/vendor, Day:
Maggie is fixing herself a tea, squeezing her wet tea bag into the cup. A man comes up to her and quickly admonishes what she’s doing. The man has dark hair, looks like gray eyes, and a stubbly chin.
Man: Whoawhoa. You shouldn’t squeeze your tea bag like that. It unleashes all the impurities. It’s like drinking a cigarette.
Maggie: C’mon, Finn. I’ve never heard of that.
This is Finn, Max’s boss.
Finn: They don’t want you to.
Maggie: Right. The herbal tea mafia. (She gives him a smile.)
Finn: You joke. So how’s your boy? Still pukin’?
Maggie: What?
Finn: Max. He’s out with a stomach thing?
Maggie: When I saw him on Monday, he seemed fine. (She takes a sip of her tea. You can see their breath in the air.)
Finn: He better not be. He blew off the city council meeting.
Maggie: (realizing she has to cover for something) Well, those things come on fast. Maybe he was squeezing his tea bag. (It’s a weak joke, with a smile to go with it.)
Finn: Hope not. Hey, if you talk to him, tell him I need my telephoto lens back. I left him a couple messages, but I haven’t heard from him.
Maggie’s expression says that she realizes this is weird, and can’t be good.
Cut to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Day:
CU of a ringing cell phone amongst apples, bananas, lemons, honeydew, and watermelon. Camera pulls out to reveal Em peeling oranges. She cranes her neck to see the cell phone.
Em: You’re dad. Again. Why do you keep letting it go to voice mail?
Stack: We’re busy here. With the fruit salad. Crucial dicing.
Em stops her peeling and puts a hand on her hip.
Em: Talk to me, buster. What’s the deal?
Stack stops his dicing.
Stack: All right. (A sigh) I’ve borrowed money from my dad before. For business . . . things. And every time . . . I’ve . . . lost it.
Em: That’s comforting.
Stack: Anyway, he . . . swore he’d never lend me money again.
Em: Then why did he give you money for this?
Stack: Weeell, that’s the thing. Uum . . . I kinda told him I was gettin’ hitched. Met the girl of my dreams and needed the money for an engagement ring and stuff.
Em doesn’t quite know what to do with this information.
Em: Wooow. Wow. (Looking at him askance) And you gave me a hard time about lying.
Stack: (He deserved that) Yeah.
Em: It’s a pretty good one, though.
Stack: It was, yeah. Till he showed up wanting to meet my imaginary bride-to-be.
Em rounds her mouth in a “oooo” and wrinkles her nose. This is bad.
Em: What are you gonna do?
Stack: Well . . . I kinda need your help on that.
Em: (with raised eyebrows) My help? With the fake fiancée thing?
Stack: Is that okay?
Em: (after a hesitation, with a smile) Yeah. Yeah, sure. Why not? It’ll be fun.
Stack: That’s—that’s so cool of you. Um . . . he wants to have an engagement party.
Em: Okay. We can handle that.
Stack: Tell me if this is too much to ask, but I was—I was gonna see if maybe you could handle the catering.
Em: But . . . won’t your dad think that’s . . . a little . . . weird. (Stack’s brow furrows in confusion.) Your fiancée catering the party?
Stack: (understanding dawning) Oh, you thought I mea—Oh. Oh, nonono. Tha—Misty’s gonna take care of that. I—I already talked to her. She’s gonna fill in there.
Em looks distinctly disappointed and taken aback.
Em: Misty? The stripper? She’s gonna pretend to be the girl of your dreams? (An incredulous huff of a laugh.)
Stack: Promised her a big tip, so . . . So, can you take care of the cooking, because obviously I’m gonna be busy defrauding my dad and all.
Em nods, but there’s no mistaking the disappointment in her voice.
Em: Yeah. Yeah, sure.
Stack: (subdued) Great. Thanks.
Em sniffs a little bit.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan house, Back door entry, Day:
Okay, let me try to describe how Jensen plays this scene. He’s . . . very pleasant, not disagreeable, but it could go there if he wanted it to. He’s not defensive, but he’s not really forthcoming, either. But he’s not the withdrawn Max we see at the beginning of the series, either. I just wish you could see it.
Maggie taps on the back door window pane before letting herself in.
Max comes down the back stairway (I’d love to see the layout or floor plan to this house). He’s wearing his shearling coat over a red hoodie sweatshirt and black T. He’s surprised to see Maggie.
Max: Hey!
Maggie: Hey.
Max: You doin’ somethin’ with Daisy?
Maggie: I was coming to check on you, see how you’re feeling. Finn said you were sick.
Max: (catching up and covering quickly) Yeah. Yeah, ri—my head’s kinda been in a bucket the past few days. I could barely get out of bed.
Maggie: Well, why didn’t you call me? I would have made you my soup.
Max smiles, then grins, then looks away for a moment, like there’s an inside joke he’s not telling her.
Maggie: What? It has healing powers.
Max: Well, yeah. People get better so they don’t have to drink it anymore.
Maggie: (gasping a laugh) You said you loved my soup.
Max: (picture the expression he has in “Wendigo” when Haley accuses Dean of cheapening the moment) Of course I did.
They share a smile that slowly fades.
Max: I gotta get goin’. (He moves to the kitchen island to retrieve his satchel.)
Maggie: Oh. Well, can you give me a ride?
Max: (thinking of a quick lie as he slings the satchel strap over his head) Uh . . . I’m, uh, I’m not going back to work. I’m goin’ to the doctor’s office.
Maggie: Really.
Max: Yeah.
Maggie: You look fine.
Max: (not hostile, but definitely defensive. The smile is gone.) Do you want a note from my mom?
Maggie: (rolling her eyes) It’s just . . . It would be very “Max” for you to take off right now. Hitchhike to Portland, or . . .
Max: (a frown of challenge) Or what?
Maggie: I don’t know. You have this great job. You have to admit you have a habit of blowing good things when they come to you.
Max: (not breaking eye contact, not apologetic in the least) Oh, nice.
Maggie: I wasn’t talking about us.
Now Max does drop his head, tries to regroup, move on from here.
Maggie: I’m sorry. It’s none of my business, I know.
Max: I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.
Maggie: Okay.
Max: I better get going; I’m gonna be late.
Maggie: Go.
Max retrieves his helmet—from a kitchen stool by the island?—before moving past Maggie and out the door.
Maggie: I can’t believe you hate my soup.
Max looks at her one last time with an exasperated half-smile, opens his mouth as if to make a comeback, then gives up and heads out the door.
Cut to:
Establishing shot:
Interior, Metal works factory, Day:
Cut to:
Eddie and a buddy are in the break area of the warehouse floor. It's basically an old armchair and an old couch set up with a coffee table between and a fridge behind. Buddy pulls something out of the fridge and takes a seat opposite Eddie.
Max, working at the drill press, sees them. He stops the machine and surreptitiously pulls a digital camera out of the pocket of his coveralls. It’s the type of camera that takes video. Keeping it low, so as not to draw attention, Max points the camera at Eddie and Buddy and starts recording. He gets a few seconds of footage before Eddie gets up, pitches his can in the trash, and moves off past Max (as Max slides the camera back in his pocket). When Eddie is gone, Max slides off his safety glasses and heads over to the break area.
Max: (greeting Buddy as he heads to the fridge) Hey, man.
Buddy: (looking up from his magazine briefly, nods in greeting) Hey.
Max retrieves a soda from the fridge and cracks it open as he takes the seat Eddie vacated. He takes note of what the guy is reading. It’s a book of tattoo designs.
Max: You into tattoos?
Buddy: (grinning, his cheek full of whatever he’s eating. He nods) Yeah. I’m tryin’ to decide between the leopard and the tiger. (He shows Max the designs in the mag.) I think the tiger looks more badass, though.
Max: Yeah, definitely.
Buddy: (holding out his hand) I’m Lucas.
Max: (takes his hand in a hearty shake) I’m Hunt. (Lucas looks a little puzzled at the name.) M’uh, middle name’s Hunter.
Lucas: Condolences, Hunt.
Max gives a self-conscious twitch of the lips and focuses on his soda. He doesn’t know how to respond.
Lucas: On the job. This place sucks.
Max: (smiling again, trying to be friendly) Yeah, well, it pays, right?
Lucas: Yeah.
Max: Hey, uh, that guy you were talking to. Your friend. I swear I know him from somewhere.
Lucas: Eddie?
Max: Yeah, he looks so familiar to me.
Lucas: (focusing on his food, brow furrowed, like he’s kind of uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. He’s definitely not forthcoming) Yeah? I don’t know. He’s kind of quiet. Keeps to himself. Tell you one thing, though. You ever want somebody to take your shift? He’s your guy. He’ll cover ya.
Max takes a swallow of his orange soda.
Lucas: Anyway, I’m back on. (He gets up to head back to work) See ya. (Leaving Max alone.)
Max: Yeah, see ya.
Cut to:
Establishing shot, Morgan house, Day:
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan living room area, Day:
Char is working on something at the coffee table when Jon comes in and drops some campaign posters on the table next to her.
Jonathan: What the hell is this?
Charlotte: That’s the new poster.
Jonathan: (almost a whine) What happened to the slogan?
Charlotte: That was Dad’s hokem. “Family, Future, Integrity”? I mean, come on. I like this one. It’s simple.
Jonathan: Well, what does it say, exactly? “Vote for me. I’m pretty”?
Charlotte looks at him over the top of her glasses.
Jonathan: Who put you up to this?
Charlotte: Believe it or not, I did it on my own. Things are gonna be different now.
Jonathan flops down on the couch next to her. He’s leaning back, while she’s still leaning forward toward her work.
Jonathan: Uh . . . break it down for me.
Charlotte: (removing her glasses) I approve all campaign materials.
Jonathan: Or destroy them, you mean. (He puts a hand up.) Go on.
Charlotte: (with a shrug. It should be obvious) My family comes first.
Jonathan: (a note of sarcasm) Very honorable.
Charlotte: (sliding her glasses back on and returning to her papers) I have to beg off of that meet-and-greet downtown tonight. I’m helping Daisy with her college applications.
Jonathan: You can’t do that, Charlotte! We’re three weeks away from an election. Everything on the schedule now is a must do.
Charlotte: Well, my must-do is Daisy.
She gets up from the couch and leaves the scene.
Cut to:
Interior, Metal factory:
Max has a view of the door to the manager’s office from where he’s sitting in the break area. He sees the foreman leave, then walks nonchalantly, hands in pockets to the office and slips in. He closes the door, peeks out the window in the wall, then heads for the filing cabinets.
VOJ: Like Max isn’t in deep enough.
Max opens the drawer labeled “Confidential Employee Files.” He rifles through the files until he comes to one labeled “Lucas Cross.” He opens it and starts looking through the information.
VOJ: Okay. Lucas got Eddie the job, and he’s an ex-con. Are you satisfied?
Max considers the information, biting the inside corner of his lip. Then he reaches over to the desk and snags a pen. He uncaps it and starts writing something on his hand when the door opens. Uh-oh! He looks over his shoulder to see . . .
It’s the secretary, unpleasantly surprised to see someone in the office.
Secretary: What are you doing in here?
Max’s expression is that of a man caught red-handed.
Dissolve to black.
Act III
Blue fade up to:
Continuation of previous scene:
Max hastily caps the pen and starts stumbling over an explanation.
Max: Uh, I—I screwed up. (He slaps the file closed.)
The secretary looks to be Hispanic—dark eyes, dark-complected, dark hair that has been lighted to a reddish brown.
Secretary: Uh, yeah, you did! You’re not supposed to be in here.
Max: (shoving the file back in the drawer and sliding it closed) No, uh, my file. I was just, uh, I had to fix something.
Secretary moves into the room, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one has seen the breech.
Max: Uh, my reference. (Twisting the the pen nervously in his hands) Uh, his number changed, and stuff, so . . .
Secretary eyes him.
Max: I—well, I thought it would look bad if Mr. Miller called to check on me, and the line was disconnected.
Secretary: Uh, not as bad as him finding you in his files. You should have just asked me to fix it.
Max: (moving around from behind the desk) No, I know, but, I mean, I see how guys make excuses to talk to you, and I didn’t wanna seem like that kind of a jerk. At least not the first week.
Secretary: (shaking her head) I wouldn’t have minded.
Max smiles at her.
Max: Good to know. So . . . I hope it’s not a big deal.
Secretary: (huffing and crossing her arms) You’d get fired if I told.
Max puts his hands together in supplication and does that half wink thing he does.
Max: Then I owe you one?
Secretary considers him for a moment, quickly takes him in head to toe, and half smiles.
Secretary: Yeah, a beer, at least.
Max: Done! (He smiles at her. He’s such the charmer.) I’ll see ya later.
He crosses past her toward the office door.
Secretary: Hey, hold on.
Max turns back to her. His eyes look a little scared, like what’s he done now?
Secretary: (nodding to the pen still in his hand) You gonna steal that pen?
Max: (looks at the pen in his hand, then hands it back to her with a lopsided smile) Right.
Secretary smiles at him as he leaves. An appraising smile. She’s interested.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan dining area, late afternoon (?):
Charlotte is sitting at the table, on the phone. Jon is pacing behind her, also on the phone. Char is explaining to someone that her father is no longer on the campaign but of course the person can still give money. Jon is canceling an engagement, much frustration evident in his voice. They hang up simultaneously.
Jonathan: Mason Junior High School Government Club. Sorry. Will not be attending.
Charlotte: Oh! That’s tonight, right?
Jonathan: Well, so the chapter president told me.
Charlotte: No, I told them I would go.
Jonathan: Why?
Char looks at him like it should be obvious.
Jonathan: They’re in junior high. They can’t even drive themselves to the meeting, much less vote.
Charlotte: Parents vote.
Jonathan: So talk to them, not their pimply under-aged progeny.
Charlotte: I’m sure their parents will be there, and teachers, and school administrators. It’s a perfectly legitimate campaign stop.
Jonathan: Oh, sure. If you’re running for class president.
Charlotte: (very serious) Call them back, Jonathan. (A pause as they consider each other. Char’s not backing down, and Jon can’t believe she’s serious.) This is how it’s gonna be. (After another beat . . .)
Jonathan: (muttering as he dials the phone) Great. You want me to ride shotgun to disaster? Sure.
Cut to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Day:
Em is peeling potatoes and has her back to Stack as he coaches a very pretty brunette, Misty, on her notes.
Stack: Dad owns stationery stores outside of Boston, and he moved there because . . .
Misty: (shuffling through her notecards) Um . . .
Em: (it’s an easy question) He wanted to keep an eye on Stack while was at prep school.
Stack: (to Misty, prompting, encouraging. He’s helping her study for a test) Where I broke my collar bone . . . ?
Misty: (continuing to shuffle through the cards) I know this!
Em: You should. You’re getting paid.
Stack mimes what looks like shooting a basketball or going over something.
Misty: When you jumped the wall to the girls’ dormitory.
Stack: (with a smile) Nice!
Stack and Misty high-five. Misty laughs with delight.
Em: Took her long enough.
Stack pulls a ring box out of his pocket.
Stack: Here, this’ll get you more in the spirit.
He opens the box to show the ring to Em.
Stack: The finest in cubic zirconia.
Em: Your dad’s gonna expect a bigger rock for all the money he gave you.
Stack: Ah, but I spent the rest of the cash renting a villa in Florence. (Painting a picture with words) Misty and I biked the countryside, we—ooh!! (Attention back on Misty) We took a train into the city for . . . (flourishing arms, as a prompt to Misty)
Misty: (guessing) To see museums.
Stack: (his flourishing ends in karate arm moves) International kung-fu festival. (He slaps her on the knee.) We slept in every morning, had breakfast in bed . . .
Em smiles and joins in the daydream.
Stack: . . . And on the last day of the trip, I took Misty to the river where the local kids swim.
Misty watches Stack, not quite dreamy, but definitely enjoying the story.
Stack: And just as we’re about to hit the water, I’m like, hey, we better not leave this laying around. (He presents the ring box.) Why don’t you wear it? (Stack grins.) The swimming stops, and the li’l kids, cute li’l kids, they’re all treading water looking up at you, waiting to see what you’re gonna do.
Em has stopped peeling and is also enjoying Stack’s enactment of the story.
Stack: So, Misty? (He gets down on one knee. Em’s smile fades. Misty giggles.) Will you have me?
Misty: (giggling) Oh, Stack, of course I will. (She takes his face in her hands and kisses him full on the lips.)
Em turns back to her work.
Em: Can someone give me a hand with these potatoes?
Stack: Hang on a sec. We just got engaged over here.
Em looks like she’s going to cry.
Cut to:
Interior, Metal Works:
Max is at the drill press, watching Lucas and Eddie again. This time they are sitting side by side on the couch in the break area. Eddie has a newspaper in his hand. Max stops his work and makes his way over to the break area, taking off his safety glasses as he goes.
Lucas: (to Eddie) You found anything yet?
Max makes his way awkwardly into the scene. New guy in the shop. He offers Lucas a small smile, which Lucas returns. Max sidles over to the chair opposite the couch.
Max: Hey.
Lucas: Hey.
Max: (to Eddie) Hey. I’m Hunt. (He offers his hand.)
Eddie: (shaking Max’s hand, a little tentative) Eddie.
Max takes a seat as Secretary retrieves something from the fridge. They exchange a look and she gives him an enigmatic but puzzled smile before leaving the area.
Lucas looks at her, then back to Max with a big smile.
Lucas: I think Rosa’s into you, man. She keeps givin’ you the eye.
Max: (chewing something, getting more comfortable in his chair. An agreeable smile) Yeah, she’s a nice girl.
Lucas: I mean, for this place, anyway. Not much to look at around here.
Max: (looking around the factory) Yeah, not unless you’re into, uh, sweaty guys with goggles, right? (Max smiles at the joke.)
Lucas: Oh, that’d be Kevin. He offered to give you a foot massage yet?
Max: What, are you kidding?
Lucas gives him an “I’m just sayin’” type of look, and they share a laugh.
Eddie eyes Max, clearly uncomfortable around a stranger.
Max pops something—a corn chip?—into his mouth.
Lucas: Hey, you guys wanna go smoke? I just got some.
It takes Max aback, but he’s quick on his feet.
Max: (a friendly turn-down) No, man. I can’t smoke and operate heavy machinery, ya know?
Lucas: Too bad. It’s the only way to fly around here.
Eddie: (clearly uncomfortable) I gotta get back. (He gets up to go to work.)
You can almost see the wheels in Max’s head turning as he tries to figure out how to connect with these guys.
Lucas: (also getting up) Alright. We still on for Coach Room later?
Eddie nods, a small smile of agreement with his friend.
Max: (rising from his seat) You guys goin’ for a beer?
Lucas: Yeah. After work.
Max: That’s cool. I can go for that.
Lucas and Eddie exchange a look. Eddie’s not comfortable with it, but there’s not reason to refuse. Lucas nods to Max.
Lucas: Okay. Just, uh, meet us out front after work.
Max starts to walk back to his work station, but trips over a backpack. In it is the newspaper Eddie was looking at with items in the Classifieds section circled in red. Max stuffs the paper back in the pack and shoves it toward Eddie, not so friendly as he was.
Max: Why doncha keep your crap out of the walkway.
Max pulls his work gloves out of his back pocket as he makes his way determinedly back to his work station. Eddie watches him, doesn’t quite know what to make of Max.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan front hall, Day:
Ben comes down the stairs, addressing Em as she comes from the kitchen.
Ben: I hope the party’s fun.
Em: (carrying a tray of food) Stack was supposed to be here a half an hour ago.
Ben: I can’t believe that kid’s engaged. His fiancée is a livin’ doll.
Em: Yeah. Whatever.
She heads toward the parlor with the tray of hors d'oeuvres but is stopped when the doorbell rings.
Ben opens the door to Stack and his father.
Em: Hey.
Stack: Hey. (To his father) My friend Emily. She’s catering.
Em: (shaking the hand of a very distinguished looking man with graying hair and a mustache) Hi.
Stack: And this is Detective Morgan who is allowing us to use his home tonight.
The fathers exchange a handshake.
Ben: Ben. Welcome.
Ben steps aside to allow the guests to enter.
Stack’s Dad: (his speech is accented as he introduces himself) A pleasure to meet you. Oscar Reyes.
Em: Reyes? Not Stackhouse?
Mr. Reyes: Timothy uses his mother’s maiden name.
Stack: (shrugging) Since college.
Ben is leaving for the evening, apparently. He claps Stack on the back as he makes his way out the door.
Ben: Well, you have a good time. (To Reyes) Congratulations, sir. You’ve got a fine young man here. And he’s got himself a fine woman, too.
Stack and Ben fist-bump as Ben leaves, and it’s really kind of funny. (Remember how they bonded over the family dinner a few eps back? These guys are obviously becoming buddies.)
Mr. Reyes: I’m sure.
Stack closes the front door as Misty enters the scene.
Reyes: You must be Misty. Encantado.
(They exchange a handshake.)
Misty: (with a big grin) It’s really nice to meet you, too.
Reyes: (presenting her with a gift) This necklace was handmade in Columbia.
Misty: (playing her role) Your hometown? Biena Ventura?
Reyes: Nearby.
Stack is in the background, grimacing a little at the mispronunciation. Misty accepts the box.
Misty: Ooh. De nada.
Em rolls her eyes as Stack fidgets. Misty takes Oscar’s arm as they head toward the kitchen.
Em: De nada? That’s “you’re welcome.”
Stack: (shrugging) Close enough.
I do believe Em sees a disaster in the making.
Cut to:
Interior, Metal Works, Max’s drill press:
Wearing his work gloves and his safety glasses, Max cranks the drill down through a small piece of metal and back up, then holds up the metal to appraise his work. He drops it into a bucket with a clink. Rosa is watching him from the shadows before approaching him. Max greets her as she enters the scene.
Max: What’s up?
Rosa: (she doesn’t look happy, arms crossed) I knew you were full of it.
Max: Excuse me?
Rosa: (breaking into a smile) You’ve never worked a press before. That’s a lot of rejects.
Max: (sliding his glasses off and setting them aside) Alright, maybe I, uh . . . exaggerated about my knowledge of the machine.
And you know? All that smiling he didn’t do in the first half of the series? He’s totally making up for it now. Rosa grins at him, laughing a little.
Max: They did have one in the last shop I worked at.
Rosa: That’s okay. You’ll get the hang of it. Clamp, pull, repeat.
Max: Yeah, well, it’s easy to say, but this third hole’s a bitch. I mean, I can get the first two, and then I get cocky.
Rosa: So, uh, when do you wanna go for that drink? (She bites her lip nervously as she looks up at him.)
Max: Uh, whenever.
Rosa: I’m not doing anything later.
Max: Uh, I can’t. I’m—I’m grabbin’ a beer with Lucas and Eddie.
Rosa: (looking distinctly disappointed, and maybe a bit disapproving) Oh.
Max: You know those guys?
Rosa: Mm, sort of.
Max: They seem alright, huh?
Rosa: (rolling her eyes, very non-committal) Yeah.
Max: So we’ll do it some other time. How about tomorrow?
Rosa: Okay, that’s cool. Hey, just so you know, it’s not like I always go out with the new guy or anything.
Max: No, I di—I didn’t think that you were that kind of person.
Rosa: Okay, good. ‘Cause most of these guys in here are real losers. Like Lucas? I don’t know if you wanna be hangin’ with that guy.
Max: Why not?
Rosa: Don’t tell him I said anything.
Max: No, I won’t. I swear.
Rosa: He seems funny, but he’s always getting into stuff with people.
She’s very serious in what she’s saying, and he’s taking it all in.
Max: Like what?
Rosa: Like he broke this guy’s jaw once. I mean, the other guy started it, but Lucas was totally messing with him.
Max: Alright, thanks for the warning.
Rosa: And his friend Eddie? He’s, like, weird. I’m serious.
Max: (wheels turning again) Yeah, I hear ya. Alright, well, I’ll just have one beer, and I’ll get out.
Rosa: (softening again and smiling) Whatever. Just watch yourself.
Max: (with an agreeable laugh under his breath) Okay.
Rosa heads back to the office as Max slides his glasses back on to get back to work.
Rosa: (turning back for one more word) Okay, so I’ll see you tomorrow, right?
Max: Yeah, we’re on.
Rosa: (with a grin, she’s a little giddy—but then, who wouldn’t be, right?) Okay.
Max has a lot to think about.
Cut to:
Interior, School hallway:
Char and Jon are making their way to their junior high presentation.
Jonathan: (ironic) This. This is fantastic. If you get more than twenty votes from this, I’ll be amazed.
Char: Would you stop already?
Jonathan: It’s junior high. It’s a colossal waste of time.
They enter a conference room, and there are only two boys there. There are sodas and a bowl of chips on the desk, and a “Mason Junior High Government Club” sign on the back wall. These are obviously the geeks in the school, and it’s really rather a sad sight.
Char and Jon look . . . stunned. This is not what Char was expecting.
Jonathan: S--So is this all of you?
Jon smiles at Char smugly.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan kitchen, Night:
Daisy is heading toward the fridge as Maggie knocks on the pane in the door and lets herself in the back door.
Daisy: Maggie!
Maggie: Hey, you. I called, but the answering machine picked up. (She sees an array of wine glasses and bottles lined up on the kitchen island) Is this a bad time?
Daisy: (considering) Mmmmmm . . . . ignore it. It’s, uh, my sister and Stack running a con job.
Maggie: (huffing a laugh) Okay. (Looking around) Um, Max isn’t here, is he?
Daisy: No, he’s at work.
Maggie: Daisy, I need your help.
Daisy suddenly looks very worried.
Cut to:
Interior, Car, Night:
Max is sitting in the center of the back seat where he can talk to Lucas (driving) and Eddie (riding shotgun). He looks a little tense before he starts in on the conversation. (He’s wearing his shearling coat over his hoodie, btw.)
Max: (to Eddie) So how long you been workin’ at the shop?
Eddie: (very softspoken) Mm, ‘bout a year.
Max: ‘ T’s cool. How’d you get into it?
Eddie: I saw the sign, I guess.
Max: (mouth pulling into a half-smile) Right.
Lucas: (still good natured) I told you. Eddie’s not much of a talker.
Max: Hey, man, you lookin’ for a car?
Eddie: No.
Max: I—I saw you lookin’ at those ads . . .
Eddie: Oh, yeah. You know, I’m always lookin’. It’s more like, “someday.”
Max: ‘Cause I know this guy, he’s got a—a pick-up truck for sale, you know, for cheap.
Eddie: (looking back at Max, possibly interested) Yeah?
Max: Yeah, I mean, good for around the city. I wouldn’t take it too far.
Eddie: Mmm. Well, I might need somethin’ a little more reliable.
Max: Why? You goin’ someplace?
Eddie: (as he and Lucas exchange a glance) Nah, uh, I just, I want a good car.
Max: Right. (He huffs a laugh and scratches behind his ear nervously, and *blink, blink* goodness he’s got nice hands . . . ) Uh . . .
Lucas looks at Max in the rearview.
Max: So, you guys go way back? Or, uh . . . (He leans forward to see them better.)
Lucas: No, not really.
Max: But you got Eddie the job, right?
Lucas isn’t happy. He juts his jaw forward as he pulls the car off the road to the curb and puts it in park. He looks at Max via the rearview mirror.
Max’s eyes get a little wider. Has he pushed too far?
Lucas: I never told you that.
Max: (a nervous chuckle) No. Uh, Rosa told me, man. What’s the big deal? (And the way this shot is lit, for some reason I’m really noticing how nice his teeth are. Um . . . right . . . )
Eddie: (turning in his seat to face Max straight on) You know, you ask a lot of questions, man.
Lucas also turns to face Max. It is now Max in the center, with two very menacing guys staring at him. And I’m starting to get nervous.
Max: Yeah, I know I do.
Lucas: Yeah, man, what the hell are you so curious about, huh?
Camera moves in slowly on Max. He’s tense, nervous, and might be in over his head.
Fade to black.
Acts IV & V
STILL LIFE – “Caught”
Color Bars
ID Tag:
20th Century Fox TV
STILL LIFE
“Caught”
Ep. #1AHJ06
EDITED MASTER
TRT = 44:53
2.09.04
Bart Simpson with the channel and phase check
Previouslies: Jake’s murder; Jon’s crush on Char; Char’s misunderstood comments and firing her dad; Em and Stack starting the catering business; Em and Stack’s friendship and Em putting the kibosh on a would-be romance; Max’s investigation into Eddie; Darien’s arrest; Darien warning Eddie . . .
Act I
Blue wash to:
Exterior, Sidewalk, Day:
Max walks down the street, satchel over his shoulder, wearing what this time looks like a thick brown canvas jacket with a thick collar.
VOJ: Now that I get to armchair quarterback this whole “life” deal, I see how people get stuck.
Max passes the window front of Maggie’s gallery and sees her working at the desk. He pulls out his camera to snap a few pictures. She sees him, smiles, and her body language, relaxed, says “what are you doing?” He smiles back, raising his camera a little, indicating, “just taking some pictures.” With a grin on her face, she gets up and opens the door to let him in.
Maggie: Hey!
Max: Hey.
Maggie: Haven’t seen you around much.
Max: Yeah. (He adjusts his satchel on his shoulder.) Tryin’ somethin’ new: that 9-to-5 thing. (His grin absolutely lights up the screen.)
Maggie chuckles in response.
Max: This the new show?
Maggie: (looks behind her, then back at Max) Yeah. You want the tour?
Max sighs, puffing his cheeks, a little reluctant.
Maggie: Whit’s out of town, if that’s it.
Max: (shaking his head) No.
Maggie: Good. He thought he offended you before he left.
Max: No, we’re fine. I just—I gotta go, um, shoot the city council meeting.
Maggie: (with a smile) Oh, Finn’s got you on the sexy stuff, huh.
Max: (sharing the joke) Oh, yeah. Yeah. City zoning, it rocks. (Giving a quick two thumbs-up with a grin. They give it a beat.) See ya later (as he turns to leave).
Maggie: Max. (Max turns to her.) Don’t be a stranger.
Max: I couldn’t if I tried. (He lets himself out the door.)
Blue wash to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Day:
Stack has the phone to his ear and is pacing anxiously.
VOJ: People get stuck because something happens that they can’t get past, or they want something they can’t have, or just—old habits die hard.
Em: (sitting at the sink counter, pen in hand, book open in front of her. She tries to get Stack’s attention) Hey, Spanky!
Stack does the index finger “wait a minute” sign.
Em: You’ve been on that stupid phone call all morning.
Stack again motions for her to wait.
Em: What’s with you?!? I need help with the shopping list for the Orloff job!
Stack tries to get a word in on his phone call, without success.
Stack: (to Em) They keep putting me on hold. My dad’s coming to town. I can’t make a hotel reservation till I know what kind of mattresses they have. (Em gives him a puzzled smile.) Don’t ask.
Em: You’re dad’s coming to town. Cool. Bring him by.
Stack: Yyyyeah, I don’t think so.
Em: Why not? Doesn’t he want to see how his loan’s being put to use.
Stack: (continuing to curl his lip and wrinkle his nose) It’s just not a good idea.
Em: We’re doing great! He’ll be totally impressed.
Stack: In some not-world—some alternate reality—maybe. This one? (He shakes his head.) Not so much.
Em: (coaxing) Oh come on. Come on. I wanna meet Stack’s dad. Hey, and you never know. Maybe it’ll be different this time.
Stack: (waving a hand to cut her off) Dude. Lay off the happy juice, would ya? It’s not gonna happen.
Em grins at him.
Stack is drawn back to the phone as someone picks up his call.
Stack: Yeah, yeah. Maybe you can help me. I have been on hold for, uh, a few hours. Yeah, I’m just wondering . . .
Blue wash to:
Interior, Convenience store, Day:
The angle is as if it’s from a security camera, but the picture is in color.
Max enters the store, stopping at the counter.
Max: Can I get a pack of, uuuuuh, AAA batteries.
As he’s waiting for the clerk to retrieve the batteries, Max waits patiently, glancing out of the corner of his eye at something off camera that makes him do a double-take. He tenses up as another man enters the camera frame and hands something he wants to buy to the second cashier. The man glances at Max, but doesn’t take any notice.
VOJ: Sullivan is a small enough town. It shouldn’t seem so impossible that Max would find himself standing next to the main suspect in my murder.
The next two camera shots are 2-shots, one from Max’s side focusing on Eddie obliviously making his purchase, the other from Eddie’s side, focusing on Max’s attention on Eddie, eyeing him suspiciously.
Insert a few flashback shots of the murder scene, Jake’s body, Eddie being arrested.
Eddie completes his transaction, takes the bag, and walks out, crossing behind Max, who stands all but frozen until Eddie is on his way.
VOJ: Hold on, Max. Don’t do anything stupid.
Back to the security camera angle. Max watches Eddie leave the store, then follows him at a distance.
Clerk: (calling to Max) Hey! Hey, you forgot your stuff!
Max waves off the clerk as he exits the store.
Cut to:
Exterior, Street, Day.
Eddie makes his way down the street, and Max follows at a discreet distance.
Cut to:
Exterior, Wharf/Harbor, Day:
Max follows Eddie to the lot outside a warehouse/factory. There’s a “Metal Works” sign on the building and a “Help Wanted” sign in the window. Max pulls out his camera and snaps some pictures as he watches Eddie enter the building.
Cut to:
Establishing shot:
Interior, Metal works warehouse/workshop/factory, Day:
Sparks fly off a piece of equipment as one workman cuts or shapes a piece of metal. There are several men moving about the place, doing their jobs in the industrial building.
Cut to:
Eddie comes in through the door, goes to the time clock, pulls his card out of the time card rack, and clocks in. As Eddie moves out of scene, the camera pans back to the door, and Max opens the door and enters, looking around at what’s going on. He walks slowly further into the shop and stops, putting his observational skills to work . . . not really confused, but maybe not knowing what to do with this new piece of information . . .
A woman walks past him toward the time clock and starts collecting the cards. She does not smile at him.
Secretary: Can I help you?
Max darts a glance at the Help Wanted sign before looking around again.
Max: Yeah, you guys hiring?
He looks a little tense, not sure what he’s getting himself into.
Fade to black.
OPENING CREDITS
David Keith [Ben Morgan]
Jensen Ackles [Max Morgan]
Audrey Marie Anderson [Emily Morgan]
Jeanette Brox [Daisy Morgan]
Morena Baccarin [Maggie Jones]
Bryce Johnson [Jake Morgan]
and
Susanna Thompson [Charlotte Morgan]
Created by Kip Koenig
(Note: Written by Marti Noxon)
(Note: Directed by David Solomon)
Act II
Fade up:
Interior, Morgan kitchen, Morning:
Daisy is at the sink loading the dishwasher, Ben and Char are seated side by side at the kitchen island reading separate sections of the newspaper, and Em is moving about getting her breakfast. She takes something from the fridge and, taking it to the island, spreads it on a piece of bread.
Em: Stack’s dad is coming to town.
Daisy: From where?
Em: He lives in Boston, but he’s from Columbia.
Daisy: How exciting.
Em: Weeell, I’m not sure that’s the word that Stack would choose.
Daisy: What’s the word?
Em: (spreading something on a piece of toast) Ambivalent. Agonizing. I’m trying to figure it out.
Max appears by Em’s side, takes the toast from her hand, and takes a big bite.
Em: (rolling her eyes up at him) Hey!
Max: Mmm. (Then a look of distaste). Mmm!!! Ooh! (Mouth full, mumbles something has he dashes to the skin, pushes Daisy out of the way, and spits the toast in the sink with a loud “phbhah!”) What is that?
Em: (smugly) Salted yeast bread.
Max: You pay money for that? (He grabs someone’s glass of orange juice and downs a large gulp, trying to rinse the taste of the yeast bread out of his mouth.) Mm. You’ve got to talk to me about these things. Seriously, Em. You worry me.
He retrieves his satchel from the corner of the island where he’s placed it, slinging the strap over his shoulder.
Charlotte: You’re off to work already?
Max: Yeah. I’m trying to impress the boss. Get there before he wakes up.
(Wardrobe notes: brown canvas coat over gray v-neck sweater with blue-gray t underneath.)
Daisy: That’s highly unlike you.
Ben: How’s the new job comin’?
Max: It’s alright. You know. (He shrugs and heads toward the back door.)
As Max reaches the door, Jonathan enters through said door.
Jonathan: (addressing Max and the family in general) Miss me?
Max doesn’t say anything as he makes his way out the door and out of the scene.
Jonathan: Anyone?
Ben: (voice ringing with irony) Terribly.
Char folds up her paper and gets up to great Jonathan. She seems delighted to see him.
Charlotte: Hey! I wasn’t sure you’d be back.
Jonathan: Why? Because you kicked your old man to the curb?
Charlotte: Well, that, and the Emily thing. The press drama. My big mouth.
Jonathan: Nah. Can’t get rid of me that easily. Plus, not only do I come back, but I come bearing gifts. (He hands Charlotte a box with a ribbon.)
Daisy slides up beside Ben.
Daisy: Told you. In. Love. With. Mom.
The three of them (Daisy, Ben, and Em) watch as Char opens the box and pulls out . . .
Charlotte: A muzzle. How thoughtful.
Jonathan: I want you to wear this whenever I’m not around.
Ben: (directing his attention back to his newspaper) I don’t think we got anything to worry about, Sug. He’ll be pullin’ her pigtails next.
Em snickers into her o.j.
Jonathan: (moving into the kitchen) What’s for breakfast?
Charlotte: (with an ironic smirk) Try the toast.
Blue fade to:
Exterior establishing shot, metal works factory.
VOJ: Max has been warned over and over not to get too close to Eddie Marble. To let Dad handle the case. I wish I could stop him myself. Not just because he could get hurt, because the things he’s close to finding out could hurt me.
Blue fade to:
Interior, Metal works:
Camera starts on a CU of a hand working a drill press. Pull out to reveal the foreman showing Max how to work the machine. Both are wearing safety glasses and dark blue coveralls.
Foreman: Said you worked one of these before?
Max: Yeah, at the shipyard, but it was a little different.
Foreman: All the way down, three clean cuts.
Max: (nodding) Got it.
Foreman: Give me sixty an hour. And don’t work too fast unless you want a hole in your hand.
Max looks over his shoulder at Eddie across the room, then back to the foreman.
Max: Match the one in my head.
The foreman steps away and Max steps into his place to get to work.
Eddie and another guy make note of Max, the “new guy” in the factory.
Cut to:
Exterior, Coffee bar/vendor, Day:
Maggie is fixing herself a tea, squeezing her wet tea bag into the cup. A man comes up to her and quickly admonishes what she’s doing. The man has dark hair, looks like gray eyes, and a stubbly chin.
Man: Whoawhoa. You shouldn’t squeeze your tea bag like that. It unleashes all the impurities. It’s like drinking a cigarette.
Maggie: C’mon, Finn. I’ve never heard of that.
This is Finn, Max’s boss.
Finn: They don’t want you to.
Maggie: Right. The herbal tea mafia. (She gives him a smile.)
Finn: You joke. So how’s your boy? Still pukin’?
Maggie: What?
Finn: Max. He’s out with a stomach thing?
Maggie: When I saw him on Monday, he seemed fine. (She takes a sip of her tea. You can see their breath in the air.)
Finn: He better not be. He blew off the city council meeting.
Maggie: (realizing she has to cover for something) Well, those things come on fast. Maybe he was squeezing his tea bag. (It’s a weak joke, with a smile to go with it.)
Finn: Hope not. Hey, if you talk to him, tell him I need my telephoto lens back. I left him a couple messages, but I haven’t heard from him.
Maggie’s expression says that she realizes this is weird, and can’t be good.
Cut to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Day:
CU of a ringing cell phone amongst apples, bananas, lemons, honeydew, and watermelon. Camera pulls out to reveal Em peeling oranges. She cranes her neck to see the cell phone.
Em: You’re dad. Again. Why do you keep letting it go to voice mail?
Stack: We’re busy here. With the fruit salad. Crucial dicing.
Em stops her peeling and puts a hand on her hip.
Em: Talk to me, buster. What’s the deal?
Stack stops his dicing.
Stack: All right. (A sigh) I’ve borrowed money from my dad before. For business . . . things. And every time . . . I’ve . . . lost it.
Em: That’s comforting.
Stack: Anyway, he . . . swore he’d never lend me money again.
Em: Then why did he give you money for this?
Stack: Weeell, that’s the thing. Uum . . . I kinda told him I was gettin’ hitched. Met the girl of my dreams and needed the money for an engagement ring and stuff.
Em doesn’t quite know what to do with this information.
Em: Wooow. Wow. (Looking at him askance) And you gave me a hard time about lying.
Stack: (He deserved that) Yeah.
Em: It’s a pretty good one, though.
Stack: It was, yeah. Till he showed up wanting to meet my imaginary bride-to-be.
Em rounds her mouth in a “oooo” and wrinkles her nose. This is bad.
Em: What are you gonna do?
Stack: Well . . . I kinda need your help on that.
Em: (with raised eyebrows) My help? With the fake fiancée thing?
Stack: Is that okay?
Em: (after a hesitation, with a smile) Yeah. Yeah, sure. Why not? It’ll be fun.
Stack: That’s—that’s so cool of you. Um . . . he wants to have an engagement party.
Em: Okay. We can handle that.
Stack: Tell me if this is too much to ask, but I was—I was gonna see if maybe you could handle the catering.
Em: But . . . won’t your dad think that’s . . . a little . . . weird. (Stack’s brow furrows in confusion.) Your fiancée catering the party?
Stack: (understanding dawning) Oh, you thought I mea—Oh. Oh, nonono. Tha—Misty’s gonna take care of that. I—I already talked to her. She’s gonna fill in there.
Em looks distinctly disappointed and taken aback.
Em: Misty? The stripper? She’s gonna pretend to be the girl of your dreams? (An incredulous huff of a laugh.)
Stack: Promised her a big tip, so . . . So, can you take care of the cooking, because obviously I’m gonna be busy defrauding my dad and all.
Em nods, but there’s no mistaking the disappointment in her voice.
Em: Yeah. Yeah, sure.
Stack: (subdued) Great. Thanks.
Em sniffs a little bit.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan house, Back door entry, Day:
Okay, let me try to describe how Jensen plays this scene. He’s . . . very pleasant, not disagreeable, but it could go there if he wanted it to. He’s not defensive, but he’s not really forthcoming, either. But he’s not the withdrawn Max we see at the beginning of the series, either. I just wish you could see it.
Maggie taps on the back door window pane before letting herself in.
Max comes down the back stairway (I’d love to see the layout or floor plan to this house). He’s wearing his shearling coat over a red hoodie sweatshirt and black T. He’s surprised to see Maggie.
Max: Hey!
Maggie: Hey.
Max: You doin’ somethin’ with Daisy?
Maggie: I was coming to check on you, see how you’re feeling. Finn said you were sick.
Max: (catching up and covering quickly) Yeah. Yeah, ri—my head’s kinda been in a bucket the past few days. I could barely get out of bed.
Maggie: Well, why didn’t you call me? I would have made you my soup.
Max smiles, then grins, then looks away for a moment, like there’s an inside joke he’s not telling her.
Maggie: What? It has healing powers.
Max: Well, yeah. People get better so they don’t have to drink it anymore.
Maggie: (gasping a laugh) You said you loved my soup.
Max: (picture the expression he has in “Wendigo” when Haley accuses Dean of cheapening the moment) Of course I did.
They share a smile that slowly fades.
Max: I gotta get goin’. (He moves to the kitchen island to retrieve his satchel.)
Maggie: Oh. Well, can you give me a ride?
Max: (thinking of a quick lie as he slings the satchel strap over his head) Uh . . . I’m, uh, I’m not going back to work. I’m goin’ to the doctor’s office.
Maggie: Really.
Max: Yeah.
Maggie: You look fine.
Max: (not hostile, but definitely defensive. The smile is gone.) Do you want a note from my mom?
Maggie: (rolling her eyes) It’s just . . . It would be very “Max” for you to take off right now. Hitchhike to Portland, or . . .
Max: (a frown of challenge) Or what?
Maggie: I don’t know. You have this great job. You have to admit you have a habit of blowing good things when they come to you.
Max: (not breaking eye contact, not apologetic in the least) Oh, nice.
Maggie: I wasn’t talking about us.
Now Max does drop his head, tries to regroup, move on from here.
Maggie: I’m sorry. It’s none of my business, I know.
Max: I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.
Maggie: Okay.
Max: I better get going; I’m gonna be late.
Maggie: Go.
Max retrieves his helmet—from a kitchen stool by the island?—before moving past Maggie and out the door.
Maggie: I can’t believe you hate my soup.
Max looks at her one last time with an exasperated half-smile, opens his mouth as if to make a comeback, then gives up and heads out the door.
Cut to:
Establishing shot:
Interior, Metal works factory, Day:
Cut to:
Eddie and a buddy are in the break area of the warehouse floor. It's basically an old armchair and an old couch set up with a coffee table between and a fridge behind. Buddy pulls something out of the fridge and takes a seat opposite Eddie.
Max, working at the drill press, sees them. He stops the machine and surreptitiously pulls a digital camera out of the pocket of his coveralls. It’s the type of camera that takes video. Keeping it low, so as not to draw attention, Max points the camera at Eddie and Buddy and starts recording. He gets a few seconds of footage before Eddie gets up, pitches his can in the trash, and moves off past Max (as Max slides the camera back in his pocket). When Eddie is gone, Max slides off his safety glasses and heads over to the break area.
Max: (greeting Buddy as he heads to the fridge) Hey, man.
Buddy: (looking up from his magazine briefly, nods in greeting) Hey.
Max retrieves a soda from the fridge and cracks it open as he takes the seat Eddie vacated. He takes note of what the guy is reading. It’s a book of tattoo designs.
Max: You into tattoos?
Buddy: (grinning, his cheek full of whatever he’s eating. He nods) Yeah. I’m tryin’ to decide between the leopard and the tiger. (He shows Max the designs in the mag.) I think the tiger looks more badass, though.
Max: Yeah, definitely.
Buddy: (holding out his hand) I’m Lucas.
Max: (takes his hand in a hearty shake) I’m Hunt. (Lucas looks a little puzzled at the name.) M’uh, middle name’s Hunter.
Lucas: Condolences, Hunt.
Max gives a self-conscious twitch of the lips and focuses on his soda. He doesn’t know how to respond.
Lucas: On the job. This place sucks.
Max: (smiling again, trying to be friendly) Yeah, well, it pays, right?
Lucas: Yeah.
Max: Hey, uh, that guy you were talking to. Your friend. I swear I know him from somewhere.
Lucas: Eddie?
Max: Yeah, he looks so familiar to me.
Lucas: (focusing on his food, brow furrowed, like he’s kind of uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. He’s definitely not forthcoming) Yeah? I don’t know. He’s kind of quiet. Keeps to himself. Tell you one thing, though. You ever want somebody to take your shift? He’s your guy. He’ll cover ya.
Max takes a swallow of his orange soda.
Lucas: Anyway, I’m back on. (He gets up to head back to work) See ya. (Leaving Max alone.)
Max: Yeah, see ya.
Cut to:
Establishing shot, Morgan house, Day:
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan living room area, Day:
Char is working on something at the coffee table when Jon comes in and drops some campaign posters on the table next to her.
Jonathan: What the hell is this?
Charlotte: That’s the new poster.
Jonathan: (almost a whine) What happened to the slogan?
Charlotte: That was Dad’s hokem. “Family, Future, Integrity”? I mean, come on. I like this one. It’s simple.
Jonathan: Well, what does it say, exactly? “Vote for me. I’m pretty”?
Charlotte looks at him over the top of her glasses.
Jonathan: Who put you up to this?
Charlotte: Believe it or not, I did it on my own. Things are gonna be different now.
Jonathan flops down on the couch next to her. He’s leaning back, while she’s still leaning forward toward her work.
Jonathan: Uh . . . break it down for me.
Charlotte: (removing her glasses) I approve all campaign materials.
Jonathan: Or destroy them, you mean. (He puts a hand up.) Go on.
Charlotte: (with a shrug. It should be obvious) My family comes first.
Jonathan: (a note of sarcasm) Very honorable.
Charlotte: (sliding her glasses back on and returning to her papers) I have to beg off of that meet-and-greet downtown tonight. I’m helping Daisy with her college applications.
Jonathan: You can’t do that, Charlotte! We’re three weeks away from an election. Everything on the schedule now is a must do.
Charlotte: Well, my must-do is Daisy.
She gets up from the couch and leaves the scene.
Cut to:
Interior, Metal factory:
Max has a view of the door to the manager’s office from where he’s sitting in the break area. He sees the foreman leave, then walks nonchalantly, hands in pockets to the office and slips in. He closes the door, peeks out the window in the wall, then heads for the filing cabinets.
VOJ: Like Max isn’t in deep enough.
Max opens the drawer labeled “Confidential Employee Files.” He rifles through the files until he comes to one labeled “Lucas Cross.” He opens it and starts looking through the information.
VOJ: Okay. Lucas got Eddie the job, and he’s an ex-con. Are you satisfied?
Max considers the information, biting the inside corner of his lip. Then he reaches over to the desk and snags a pen. He uncaps it and starts writing something on his hand when the door opens. Uh-oh! He looks over his shoulder to see . . .
It’s the secretary, unpleasantly surprised to see someone in the office.
Secretary: What are you doing in here?
Max’s expression is that of a man caught red-handed.
Dissolve to black.
Act III
Blue fade up to:
Continuation of previous scene:
Max hastily caps the pen and starts stumbling over an explanation.
Max: Uh, I—I screwed up. (He slaps the file closed.)
The secretary looks to be Hispanic—dark eyes, dark-complected, dark hair that has been lighted to a reddish brown.
Secretary: Uh, yeah, you did! You’re not supposed to be in here.
Max: (shoving the file back in the drawer and sliding it closed) No, uh, my file. I was just, uh, I had to fix something.
Secretary moves into the room, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one has seen the breech.
Max: Uh, my reference. (Twisting the the pen nervously in his hands) Uh, his number changed, and stuff, so . . .
Secretary eyes him.
Max: I—well, I thought it would look bad if Mr. Miller called to check on me, and the line was disconnected.
Secretary: Uh, not as bad as him finding you in his files. You should have just asked me to fix it.
Max: (moving around from behind the desk) No, I know, but, I mean, I see how guys make excuses to talk to you, and I didn’t wanna seem like that kind of a jerk. At least not the first week.
Secretary: (shaking her head) I wouldn’t have minded.
Max smiles at her.
Max: Good to know. So . . . I hope it’s not a big deal.
Secretary: (huffing and crossing her arms) You’d get fired if I told.
Max puts his hands together in supplication and does that half wink thing he does.
Max: Then I owe you one?
Secretary considers him for a moment, quickly takes him in head to toe, and half smiles.
Secretary: Yeah, a beer, at least.
Max: Done! (He smiles at her. He’s such the charmer.) I’ll see ya later.
He crosses past her toward the office door.
Secretary: Hey, hold on.
Max turns back to her. His eyes look a little scared, like what’s he done now?
Secretary: (nodding to the pen still in his hand) You gonna steal that pen?
Max: (looks at the pen in his hand, then hands it back to her with a lopsided smile) Right.
Secretary smiles at him as he leaves. An appraising smile. She’s interested.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan dining area, late afternoon (?):
Charlotte is sitting at the table, on the phone. Jon is pacing behind her, also on the phone. Char is explaining to someone that her father is no longer on the campaign but of course the person can still give money. Jon is canceling an engagement, much frustration evident in his voice. They hang up simultaneously.
Jonathan: Mason Junior High School Government Club. Sorry. Will not be attending.
Charlotte: Oh! That’s tonight, right?
Jonathan: Well, so the chapter president told me.
Charlotte: No, I told them I would go.
Jonathan: Why?
Char looks at him like it should be obvious.
Jonathan: They’re in junior high. They can’t even drive themselves to the meeting, much less vote.
Charlotte: Parents vote.
Jonathan: So talk to them, not their pimply under-aged progeny.
Charlotte: I’m sure their parents will be there, and teachers, and school administrators. It’s a perfectly legitimate campaign stop.
Jonathan: Oh, sure. If you’re running for class president.
Charlotte: (very serious) Call them back, Jonathan. (A pause as they consider each other. Char’s not backing down, and Jon can’t believe she’s serious.) This is how it’s gonna be. (After another beat . . .)
Jonathan: (muttering as he dials the phone) Great. You want me to ride shotgun to disaster? Sure.
Cut to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Day:
Em is peeling potatoes and has her back to Stack as he coaches a very pretty brunette, Misty, on her notes.
Stack: Dad owns stationery stores outside of Boston, and he moved there because . . .
Misty: (shuffling through her notecards) Um . . .
Em: (it’s an easy question) He wanted to keep an eye on Stack while was at prep school.
Stack: (to Misty, prompting, encouraging. He’s helping her study for a test) Where I broke my collar bone . . . ?
Misty: (continuing to shuffle through the cards) I know this!
Em: You should. You’re getting paid.
Stack mimes what looks like shooting a basketball or going over something.
Misty: When you jumped the wall to the girls’ dormitory.
Stack: (with a smile) Nice!
Stack and Misty high-five. Misty laughs with delight.
Em: Took her long enough.
Stack pulls a ring box out of his pocket.
Stack: Here, this’ll get you more in the spirit.
He opens the box to show the ring to Em.
Stack: The finest in cubic zirconia.
Em: Your dad’s gonna expect a bigger rock for all the money he gave you.
Stack: Ah, but I spent the rest of the cash renting a villa in Florence. (Painting a picture with words) Misty and I biked the countryside, we—ooh!! (Attention back on Misty) We took a train into the city for . . . (flourishing arms, as a prompt to Misty)
Misty: (guessing) To see museums.
Stack: (his flourishing ends in karate arm moves) International kung-fu festival. (He slaps her on the knee.) We slept in every morning, had breakfast in bed . . .
Em smiles and joins in the daydream.
Stack: . . . And on the last day of the trip, I took Misty to the river where the local kids swim.
Misty watches Stack, not quite dreamy, but definitely enjoying the story.
Stack: And just as we’re about to hit the water, I’m like, hey, we better not leave this laying around. (He presents the ring box.) Why don’t you wear it? (Stack grins.) The swimming stops, and the li’l kids, cute li’l kids, they’re all treading water looking up at you, waiting to see what you’re gonna do.
Em has stopped peeling and is also enjoying Stack’s enactment of the story.
Stack: So, Misty? (He gets down on one knee. Em’s smile fades. Misty giggles.) Will you have me?
Misty: (giggling) Oh, Stack, of course I will. (She takes his face in her hands and kisses him full on the lips.)
Em turns back to her work.
Em: Can someone give me a hand with these potatoes?
Stack: Hang on a sec. We just got engaged over here.
Em looks like she’s going to cry.
Cut to:
Interior, Metal Works:
Max is at the drill press, watching Lucas and Eddie again. This time they are sitting side by side on the couch in the break area. Eddie has a newspaper in his hand. Max stops his work and makes his way over to the break area, taking off his safety glasses as he goes.
Lucas: (to Eddie) You found anything yet?
Max makes his way awkwardly into the scene. New guy in the shop. He offers Lucas a small smile, which Lucas returns. Max sidles over to the chair opposite the couch.
Max: Hey.
Lucas: Hey.
Max: (to Eddie) Hey. I’m Hunt. (He offers his hand.)
Eddie: (shaking Max’s hand, a little tentative) Eddie.
Max takes a seat as Secretary retrieves something from the fridge. They exchange a look and she gives him an enigmatic but puzzled smile before leaving the area.
Lucas looks at her, then back to Max with a big smile.
Lucas: I think Rosa’s into you, man. She keeps givin’ you the eye.
Max: (chewing something, getting more comfortable in his chair. An agreeable smile) Yeah, she’s a nice girl.
Lucas: I mean, for this place, anyway. Not much to look at around here.
Max: (looking around the factory) Yeah, not unless you’re into, uh, sweaty guys with goggles, right? (Max smiles at the joke.)
Lucas: Oh, that’d be Kevin. He offered to give you a foot massage yet?
Max: What, are you kidding?
Lucas gives him an “I’m just sayin’” type of look, and they share a laugh.
Eddie eyes Max, clearly uncomfortable around a stranger.
Max pops something—a corn chip?—into his mouth.
Lucas: Hey, you guys wanna go smoke? I just got some.
It takes Max aback, but he’s quick on his feet.
Max: (a friendly turn-down) No, man. I can’t smoke and operate heavy machinery, ya know?
Lucas: Too bad. It’s the only way to fly around here.
Eddie: (clearly uncomfortable) I gotta get back. (He gets up to go to work.)
You can almost see the wheels in Max’s head turning as he tries to figure out how to connect with these guys.
Lucas: (also getting up) Alright. We still on for Coach Room later?
Eddie nods, a small smile of agreement with his friend.
Max: (rising from his seat) You guys goin’ for a beer?
Lucas: Yeah. After work.
Max: That’s cool. I can go for that.
Lucas and Eddie exchange a look. Eddie’s not comfortable with it, but there’s not reason to refuse. Lucas nods to Max.
Lucas: Okay. Just, uh, meet us out front after work.
Max starts to walk back to his work station, but trips over a backpack. In it is the newspaper Eddie was looking at with items in the Classifieds section circled in red. Max stuffs the paper back in the pack and shoves it toward Eddie, not so friendly as he was.
Max: Why doncha keep your crap out of the walkway.
Max pulls his work gloves out of his back pocket as he makes his way determinedly back to his work station. Eddie watches him, doesn’t quite know what to make of Max.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan front hall, Day:
Ben comes down the stairs, addressing Em as she comes from the kitchen.
Ben: I hope the party’s fun.
Em: (carrying a tray of food) Stack was supposed to be here a half an hour ago.
Ben: I can’t believe that kid’s engaged. His fiancée is a livin’ doll.
Em: Yeah. Whatever.
She heads toward the parlor with the tray of hors d'oeuvres but is stopped when the doorbell rings.
Ben opens the door to Stack and his father.
Em: Hey.
Stack: Hey. (To his father) My friend Emily. She’s catering.
Em: (shaking the hand of a very distinguished looking man with graying hair and a mustache) Hi.
Stack: And this is Detective Morgan who is allowing us to use his home tonight.
The fathers exchange a handshake.
Ben: Ben. Welcome.
Ben steps aside to allow the guests to enter.
Stack’s Dad: (his speech is accented as he introduces himself) A pleasure to meet you. Oscar Reyes.
Em: Reyes? Not Stackhouse?
Mr. Reyes: Timothy uses his mother’s maiden name.
Stack: (shrugging) Since college.
Ben is leaving for the evening, apparently. He claps Stack on the back as he makes his way out the door.
Ben: Well, you have a good time. (To Reyes) Congratulations, sir. You’ve got a fine young man here. And he’s got himself a fine woman, too.
Stack and Ben fist-bump as Ben leaves, and it’s really kind of funny. (Remember how they bonded over the family dinner a few eps back? These guys are obviously becoming buddies.)
Mr. Reyes: I’m sure.
Stack closes the front door as Misty enters the scene.
Reyes: You must be Misty. Encantado.
(They exchange a handshake.)
Misty: (with a big grin) It’s really nice to meet you, too.
Reyes: (presenting her with a gift) This necklace was handmade in Columbia.
Misty: (playing her role) Your hometown? Biena Ventura?
Reyes: Nearby.
Stack is in the background, grimacing a little at the mispronunciation. Misty accepts the box.
Misty: Ooh. De nada.
Em rolls her eyes as Stack fidgets. Misty takes Oscar’s arm as they head toward the kitchen.
Em: De nada? That’s “you’re welcome.”
Stack: (shrugging) Close enough.
I do believe Em sees a disaster in the making.
Cut to:
Interior, Metal Works, Max’s drill press:
Wearing his work gloves and his safety glasses, Max cranks the drill down through a small piece of metal and back up, then holds up the metal to appraise his work. He drops it into a bucket with a clink. Rosa is watching him from the shadows before approaching him. Max greets her as she enters the scene.
Max: What’s up?
Rosa: (she doesn’t look happy, arms crossed) I knew you were full of it.
Max: Excuse me?
Rosa: (breaking into a smile) You’ve never worked a press before. That’s a lot of rejects.
Max: (sliding his glasses off and setting them aside) Alright, maybe I, uh . . . exaggerated about my knowledge of the machine.
And you know? All that smiling he didn’t do in the first half of the series? He’s totally making up for it now. Rosa grins at him, laughing a little.
Max: They did have one in the last shop I worked at.
Rosa: That’s okay. You’ll get the hang of it. Clamp, pull, repeat.
Max: Yeah, well, it’s easy to say, but this third hole’s a bitch. I mean, I can get the first two, and then I get cocky.
Rosa: So, uh, when do you wanna go for that drink? (She bites her lip nervously as she looks up at him.)
Max: Uh, whenever.
Rosa: I’m not doing anything later.
Max: Uh, I can’t. I’m—I’m grabbin’ a beer with Lucas and Eddie.
Rosa: (looking distinctly disappointed, and maybe a bit disapproving) Oh.
Max: You know those guys?
Rosa: Mm, sort of.
Max: They seem alright, huh?
Rosa: (rolling her eyes, very non-committal) Yeah.
Max: So we’ll do it some other time. How about tomorrow?
Rosa: Okay, that’s cool. Hey, just so you know, it’s not like I always go out with the new guy or anything.
Max: No, I di—I didn’t think that you were that kind of person.
Rosa: Okay, good. ‘Cause most of these guys in here are real losers. Like Lucas? I don’t know if you wanna be hangin’ with that guy.
Max: Why not?
Rosa: Don’t tell him I said anything.
Max: No, I won’t. I swear.
Rosa: He seems funny, but he’s always getting into stuff with people.
She’s very serious in what she’s saying, and he’s taking it all in.
Max: Like what?
Rosa: Like he broke this guy’s jaw once. I mean, the other guy started it, but Lucas was totally messing with him.
Max: Alright, thanks for the warning.
Rosa: And his friend Eddie? He’s, like, weird. I’m serious.
Max: (wheels turning again) Yeah, I hear ya. Alright, well, I’ll just have one beer, and I’ll get out.
Rosa: (softening again and smiling) Whatever. Just watch yourself.
Max: (with an agreeable laugh under his breath) Okay.
Rosa heads back to the office as Max slides his glasses back on to get back to work.
Rosa: (turning back for one more word) Okay, so I’ll see you tomorrow, right?
Max: Yeah, we’re on.
Rosa: (with a grin, she’s a little giddy—but then, who wouldn’t be, right?) Okay.
Max has a lot to think about.
Cut to:
Interior, School hallway:
Char and Jon are making their way to their junior high presentation.
Jonathan: (ironic) This. This is fantastic. If you get more than twenty votes from this, I’ll be amazed.
Char: Would you stop already?
Jonathan: It’s junior high. It’s a colossal waste of time.
They enter a conference room, and there are only two boys there. There are sodas and a bowl of chips on the desk, and a “Mason Junior High Government Club” sign on the back wall. These are obviously the geeks in the school, and it’s really rather a sad sight.
Char and Jon look . . . stunned. This is not what Char was expecting.
Jonathan: S--So is this all of you?
Jon smiles at Char smugly.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan kitchen, Night:
Daisy is heading toward the fridge as Maggie knocks on the pane in the door and lets herself in the back door.
Daisy: Maggie!
Maggie: Hey, you. I called, but the answering machine picked up. (She sees an array of wine glasses and bottles lined up on the kitchen island) Is this a bad time?
Daisy: (considering) Mmmmmm . . . . ignore it. It’s, uh, my sister and Stack running a con job.
Maggie: (huffing a laugh) Okay. (Looking around) Um, Max isn’t here, is he?
Daisy: No, he’s at work.
Maggie: Daisy, I need your help.
Daisy suddenly looks very worried.
Cut to:
Interior, Car, Night:
Max is sitting in the center of the back seat where he can talk to Lucas (driving) and Eddie (riding shotgun). He looks a little tense before he starts in on the conversation. (He’s wearing his shearling coat over his hoodie, btw.)
Max: (to Eddie) So how long you been workin’ at the shop?
Eddie: (very softspoken) Mm, ‘bout a year.
Max: ‘ T’s cool. How’d you get into it?
Eddie: I saw the sign, I guess.
Max: (mouth pulling into a half-smile) Right.
Lucas: (still good natured) I told you. Eddie’s not much of a talker.
Max: Hey, man, you lookin’ for a car?
Eddie: No.
Max: I—I saw you lookin’ at those ads . . .
Eddie: Oh, yeah. You know, I’m always lookin’. It’s more like, “someday.”
Max: ‘Cause I know this guy, he’s got a—a pick-up truck for sale, you know, for cheap.
Eddie: (looking back at Max, possibly interested) Yeah?
Max: Yeah, I mean, good for around the city. I wouldn’t take it too far.
Eddie: Mmm. Well, I might need somethin’ a little more reliable.
Max: Why? You goin’ someplace?
Eddie: (as he and Lucas exchange a glance) Nah, uh, I just, I want a good car.
Max: Right. (He huffs a laugh and scratches behind his ear nervously, and *blink, blink* goodness he’s got nice hands . . . ) Uh . . .
Lucas looks at Max in the rearview.
Max: So, you guys go way back? Or, uh . . . (He leans forward to see them better.)
Lucas: No, not really.
Max: But you got Eddie the job, right?
Lucas isn’t happy. He juts his jaw forward as he pulls the car off the road to the curb and puts it in park. He looks at Max via the rearview mirror.
Max’s eyes get a little wider. Has he pushed too far?
Lucas: I never told you that.
Max: (a nervous chuckle) No. Uh, Rosa told me, man. What’s the big deal? (And the way this shot is lit, for some reason I’m really noticing how nice his teeth are. Um . . . right . . . )
Eddie: (turning in his seat to face Max straight on) You know, you ask a lot of questions, man.
Lucas also turns to face Max. It is now Max in the center, with two very menacing guys staring at him. And I’m starting to get nervous.
Max: Yeah, I know I do.
Lucas: Yeah, man, what the hell are you so curious about, huh?
Camera moves in slowly on Max. He’s tense, nervous, and might be in over his head.
Fade to black.
Acts IV & V