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Still Life - "Caught" - Acts IV & V
Here it is, the final installment of Project Still Life Recap. Many thanks to all who have read along. To those who commented, thank you for letting me know this isn't just floating around in cyberspace somewhere. To those who lurked, I hope you enjoyed it.
Caught, Acts I, II, & III
Act IV
Interior, Lucas’s car, Night:
Scene continues:
Lucas: You wanna tell me why you’re giving Eddie the third degree?
Max: (trying to defuse the situation) I’m sorry. I ask a lot of questions, I know. It’s—It’s just I’m—I’m readin’ this book right now. It’s on, um, public speaking. (Looking nervous, hoping they’re buying it. Lucas darts a glance at Eddie.) It’s, um, How to Win Friends and Influence People. That’s just . . . what it says to do, you know. It’s a technique.
Lucas: Technique.
Max: Well, it started out as a goof, and then it just kinda, uh . . . (With a shrug) It works, ya know? Breaks the ice, and, uh, ‘specially good with the women.
Lucas breaks out in a grin and starts laughing.
Lucas: (good natured) Like you need that book, man. Talk about overkill.
(Max smiles along. And dang but Jensen’s a cutie.)
Max: (a small laugh) Yeah.
Lucas turns back forward. He’s smiling, but Eddie is pretty unreadable.
Lucas: Anyway, stop grillin’ Eddie, man. Aw’ight? He doesn’t like it.
Max puts a hand up in surrender, licks his lips. Tension averted.
They pull back out onto the road.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan house:
Emily (who, btw, is not dressed in her catering uniform, but rather in a nice dress for the party) is serving guests from an hors d’oeuvre tray. As she works her way across the room, Mr. Reyes, who is in conversation with Misty, taps her on the shoulder.
Reyes: Hey. They’re running out of that lobster appetizer. You should go refill it.
Emily obviously doesn’t like someone else telling her how to do her job.
Stack enters the scene quickly, trying to soften the blow.
Stack: Uh, before there’s a riot. B’cause people can’t get enough of that.
Reyes: Mm, Stack certainly loves his food, doesn’t he.
Misty: Oh, yeah. He’s weird about it.
A nervous chuckle ripples through the group.
Reyes: How does he make a living? That’s what I want to know.
Em: He’s making a living. Working with me in the catering company.
Reyes: Catering. (Eyeing Stack) Really.
Stack: (on the spot, shrugging, trying to make an excuse) Yeah, I . . . you know. For now.
Em: Your son has a real gift. Pretty soon people will pay a lot of money for what he does.
Stack clears his throat, uncomfortable with the conversation.
Reyes: Well, but, he’s a cook. He’ll never make enough to take care of a pretty wife and family.
Em: (with a forced smile) He’s not a cook. He’s an artist.
Misty: It’s okay. I mean (she takes Stack’s hand) Stack takes great care of me.
Reyes: He’s a lucky guy to have found you. Maybe now he’ll get serious.
Em: Please. She’s the lucky one.
Stack: (quickly, before Em loses her temper) Okay. Excuse us one second. (He pulls Em aside.) Okay, I can handle it from here.
Em: But he’s just—
Stack: Em! Em, please. I just need to get through this party. Okay?
She nods.
Em: I’ll go refill the lobster appetizers.
Stack: Thank you.
Em heads to the kitchen as Stack returns to his dad and Misty.
Cut to:
Exterior, Convenience store, Night:
Jon exits with a brown sack and a large bottle of clear soda then gets into the drivers seat of a red car where Char waits in the passenger seat. He hands her the bottle and a sandwich from the bag. Neither look very happy.
Charlotte: I said no pickles.
Jonathan: I said no junior high school government club. We live with our pain.
Charlotte: How did I know there were only going to be two of them? The invitation looked very official. I mean, it was in crayon.
Jonathan: Oh, no you don’t.
Char starts laughing as she takes a bite of her sandwich.
Jonathan: I’ve had it.
Charlotte: I know. I got a little carried away with power.
Jonathan: I’ll say.
Charlotte: I should let you do your job.
Jonathan: Thank you.
Charlotte: But things can’t be the way they were.
Jonathan: Noted. Heard. Done.
Charlotte: Okay. (She starts laughing to herself again.) Those kids. With those juice boxes.
Jonathan: I thought some of their questions were very insightful.
Charlotte: Hey, no one has ever asked me what I thought of The Matrix.
Jonathan: America’s youth wants to know.
Charlotte: (laughing out loud now) Oh, God. If Dad had seen that.
Jonathan: Oh. He would have put on a dress and started campaigning himself.
Charlotte: Exactly! That’s what this is about.
Jonathan: Not anymore. You took the race away from him. You’re doing things yourself. As you’ve so often mentioned.
Charlotte: Well, my dad in drag would have a better chance of winning the race now. I mean, all his contacts, the money. Gone.
Jonathan: Who cares?
Charlotte: (rolls her eyes disbelievingly) Please.
Jonathan: Don’t get me wrong. I want you to win, but . . . But you standing up to Owen, that’s . . . that’s better. (He takes a big bite of his sandwich.)
Char considers him a moment, smiling and nodding. Then she points to her own face as she tells him . . .
Charlotte: You’ve got, uh, (pointing to his face now, indicating crumbs or mayo or something on his face)
Jonathan: (wiping the corner of his mouth) Great.
Cut to:
Interior, Max’s dark room:
There are no pictures developing, so the room (and the scene) are fully lit.
CU on a strip of developed negatives hanging from a wire. Camera pulls out to reveal Daisy standing in the doorway (and I really like the blouse she’s wearing) and Maggie examining various strips of hanging negatives. She makes her way around the room, looking at different pictures and negatives as the scene progresses.
Daisy: (hands in pockets, clearly uncomfortable) We shouldn’t be doing this. It’s a total privacy foul.
Maggie: I know, but Max has a way of getting himself into bad situations.
Daisy: Yeah, I’ve noticed. But why are you looking at this?
Maggie: Uh, Finn said that Max had his telephoto lens. I think he may be blowing off work to snoop around again.
Daisy: Um, close up. When you’re done. (She starts backing out of the room) I feel . . . creepy.
Maggie: Okay.
Daisy closes the door on her way out.
Maggie spots a stack of developed B&W photos on a table and starts shuffling through them. She’s not happy with what she sees.
Maggie: (under her breath) Max . . .
They are photos of Eddie, on the street, entering the factory . . .
Maggie: What are you doing?
The final photo is one of Eddie in front of The Coach Room Bar & Grill.
Blue wash to:
Establishing shot:
Exterior, Coach Room, Night:
It’s raining, and we can hear the rain on the street as cars drive past.
Cut to:
Interior, Coach Room:
The camera pans across to find Max sitting opposite Eddie and Lucas at a long, free-standing bar. They each have a beer bottle in front of them. (Max has taken off his coat, and we see that he’s wearing his red hooded sweatshirt.)
VOJ: All this time, I’ve been worried about what he might discover. Now I’m just worried about Max.
Lucas turns to Max with a grin.
Lucas: Check it out. At the bar.
He nods his head to indicate direction. Max leans forward to get a better look where Lucas indicates. At the bar are two blondes, one wearing a shirt that reveals her midriff.
Lucas: We could get that. Ya think?
Max: Yeah, go for it. (He takes a pull of his beer. Eddie does the same.)
Lucas: (elbowing Eddie) You talk to them.
Eddie elbows him back but doesn’t say anything.
Lucas: (to Max) You know who needs your book? That book you’re reading on how to influence people?
Max nods, going along with the conversation.
Lucas: You think he’s quiet now? You should see him around girls.
Eddie smiles a little, but he’s not real comfortable with Lucas talking about him.
Lucas: You know Rosa? From work? Eddie can’t even look at her. (To Eddie) Dude. Are you blushing? (A nervous laugh from Eddie) She’s not even here. He’s just thinking about having to talk to her.
Max smiles, pretends to share the joke.
Eddie: (to Lucas) Screw you.
Lucas: (laughing, having a good time) You gotta get over it, man. I mean, when’s the last time I saw you with a girl? Junior high?
Max’s smile becomes tense. He’s taking it all in.
Lucas: Seriously. Life is passing you by. Read the book.
Max’s chuckles and his smile are forced. Something’s building up as he watches these two joke with each other.
Lucas: Ask Kevin to teach you how to give a good foot massage. Do something!
Eddie is grinning and laughing now, and Max thinks about Jake, dead on the sidewalk.
Cut to:
Interior, Men’s room:
Max enters, wrecked, angry, not quite stumbling. He slams open the first stall door, then pounds and punches door's “jamb.” He pounds it over and over, seven times before leaning his forehead forward in anger and grief.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan back door to kitchen, Night:
Char enters, followed by Jon. They’re laughing together. They stop in the mudroom between the inner and outer door as they take off their coats to hang on hooks.
Charlotte: When’s my first thing in the morning?
Jonathan: You, uh, at two o'clock you have the Toddler’s Action Coalition. They’re concerned about mandated napping.
Char laughs.
Charlotte: Shh. We have to be quiet. Emily’s got a thing, and we live here—
Jonathan reaches past her to hang up his coat, bringing himself very close. . .
Charlotte: --oh, excuse me.
Jonathan: Sorry.
. . . and in the perfect position to lean in and kiss Char seriously, passionately.
Daisy walks into the kitchen in time to see them silhouetted in the alcove. She is shocked and horrified. Misty comes in behind her and sees the scene as well.
Misty: (who has no clue) How cute is that?
Daisy turns right back around and leaves the room.
Cut to:
Interior, Bar:
Max has returned to his seat, and Lucas looks like a good ol’ boy having a good time.
Lucas: So, are you gonna get it on with Rosa, or what?
Max: I don’t know, man. Work stuff can kinda get messy, ya know? (He takes a pull of his beer.)
Eddie: Yeah. (He gives a sad half smile.)
Lucas: (laughing) Well, now he’s actin’ all big. “Yeah.” Just move in with Darien, dude. She’s the only girl that’ll have you.
Max’s expression shifts from casual disinterest to keen interest in where the conversation is going. (And I really couldn’t pinpoint what changes in Jensen’s bearing because it’s so subtle, but the shift is definitely there.)
Lucas: Or maybe not. I mean, you know, not after you . . .
Eddie frowns at Lucas and shakes his head. Lucas shuts up and studies his beer bottle.
Max: Not after he what?
Lucas: Nuthin’. (He takes a swig of his beer.)
Max: You were gonna say somethin’.
Lucas: (no longer smiling) No. I wasn’t. Don’t worry about it.
Eddie takes a drink of his beer, looking slightly releaved.
Lucas looks up toward the entrance.
Lucas: Oh, man.
Eddie: What? (looking back and forth between where Lucas is looking and Lucas himself. Then he sees her.)
Max turns in his seat to see what caught Lucas’s attention.
Cut to reverse POV revealing:
Maggie has just entered the bar. She sees Max sitting with Lucas and Eddie, right there in front of her.
Stunned looks all around. Lucas practically freezes, like if he doesn’t look at her, she’ll go away. Eddie and Max lean back in their seats, Max as if being caught doing something he shouldn’t, and Eddie with growing recognition as he looks at Max. Max and Eddie stare at each other, Max very neutral, not backing down.
Eddie: You’re Max.
Fade to black.
Act V
Fade up:
Scene continues:
Eddie jumps up from his seat and bolts for the door as Lucas calls after him. Max chases him (past Maggie), and grabs him by the coat before he can escape. Max slams Eddie up against the wall, pinning him with a forearm across the chest.
Maggie: Stop, Max!
Max: (intense) What happened to Jake? Why’d you kill my brother, huh? (He slams Eddie against the wall again) What happened?
A beer bottle smashes against Max’s head. He goes down, and Lucas is there, right on top of him. They struggle as Maggie screams in the background. Lucas pulls a knife and is ready to plunge it into Max, but Max knocks it away. Lucas quickly retrieves the knife, and as he’s about to make a second attempt, the bouncer grabs Lucas and pulls him off.
Bouncer: Drop it! Drop it!
Max crabwalks back, and Maggie bends to help him up, but he pulls his arm from her grip. Maggie’s there for him to lean against, though, as the bouncer holds an angry Lucas.
Dissolve to:
Interior, Bar, later:
Max and Maggie are seated at one of the tables. Max is leaning forward, elbows on knees; Maggie is sitting opposite him. Police are there, taking statements and making arrests, containing the scene. Max and Maggie talk quietly together.
Maggie: When I came in, and I saw Eddie? He knows me. Not just from the papers. I can’t explain it. Something in the way he looked at me.
Max frowns, darts a glance sideways (at Eddie?) then back to Maggie. He’s had a rough night, and he’s not happy.
Maggie: You have to stop, Max. You’re gonna get yourself killed. (Max continues to frown and stare daggers at Eddie. Maggie’s tone takes on a note of irony.) Maybe that’s the point.
Max leans his head forward and rubs the back of his head. Pain. Exhaustion. Frustration.
Maggie: Are you okay?
Max: (sitting back up) No.
He continues to stare at Eddie, then looks past Maggie to see his dad enter the scene. Ben does not look happy to be there.
Ben’s partner approaches to fill him in on the scene:
Will: I was down the street when the call came in. Max has been on the job with Eddie. Machine shop.
Ben: (continuing to watch Max, and the arrest, across the room) Yeah, so I heard. What’s she doin’ here?
Insert reverse shot of Maggie and Max from Ben’s POV.
Will: Came looking for your son. She got wind he was up to something. Before you go off on him—
Ben: Don’t tell me how to handle this.
Will: I’m not, Ben. Max says Eddie and this kid Lucas have been friends since junior high at least.
Insert reverse from Ben’s POV: Lucas and Eddie being cuffed by uniformed police.
Will: He also said Lucas was starting to talk about Darien when Maggie came in. Max got the feeling he knows what went down with Jake.
Ben: Can we keep him?
Will: Got him on assault with a deadly weapon. He pulled a knife. Max also thinks that, uh, Eddie might be planning on skipping town.
Ben: So we can hold him for questioning.
Will: Not for long. The bar owner doesn’t want to press charges against ‘im. Or Max.
Ben: (with a heavy sigh) I can’t deal with that right now. Take him home, will ya?
Ben leaves the scene.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan house, dining area:
Stack and Misty are talking, smiling, laughing. Em watches them from the kitchen. Makes loud, frustrated clattering noises with the dishes. She’s not happy.
Stack and Misty bring empty dishes and make their way to the kitchen.
Misty: You know, this was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.
Em: Seems like it.
Stack sits on one of the stools at the island, and Misty hands Stack a beer.
Stack: Thank you, sweetie. Are you still gonna love me when I’m old and fat?
Misty: You bet! I like a little something to grab onto.
Stack: Good thing. (He takes a swig of beer.)
Em watches them as she clears bottles away. She’s not impressed with their role playing.
Misty: I better find your dad. I haven’t seen him for a while.
Stack: Check near the bar. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Misty chuckles as she moves off.
Stack watches Em for a moment, then stands, trying to get her attention.
Stack: Hey, great job on the food tonight. Although the pastries were a little oily, I thought. I think we oughta get one of those confection ovens for the desserts.
Em: (definitely frustrated) Tell your dad you got Misty fake pregnant. I’m sure the money will come pouring in.
Stack: (a little stunned) You are in one hell of a mood tonight, lady.
Em: (turning on him) This job sucks.
Stack: Well, you should have said no when I asked.
Em: I got bamboozled into it! I thought I was gonna be your fake fiancée.
Stack: (surprised) You?
Em: (stepping into his space) What exactly is so crazy about that?
Stack: Are you kidding? Dad would never believe I could get a girl like you.
Em sighs and sets her jaw.
Stack: Misty he’d believe. But you, you’re just . . .
Em looks up at him with her clear blue-gray eyes. He looks at her, a small smile on his lips. Stack takes a long moment,
Stack: . . . perfect.
Em leans in and kisses him softly and sweetly. He takes her face in his hands, and their next kiss is slow and passionate and long and lingering.
Reyes and Misty walk in to see the kiss.
Misty: Awwww. Great party, huh? Everybody’s hooking up.
Reyes is stunned. Stack pulls away from Em, and they look as guilty as it appears. Misty is a little slow on the uptake. Then she notices Reyes’ expression of disapproval and remembers the role she’s supposed to be playing.
Misty: Hey. Get your hands off my fiancé.
Reyes says nothing, but leaves the room.
Cut to:
Interior, Police station:
Ben watches from the observation room as his captain questions Lucas. The camera pans from Ben to the view through the 2-way mirror, to the video monitor in the observation room.
Captain: You understand this concealed weapon you were carrying—it’s your third strike.
Lucas: (snorts a laugh) That dull-ass knife? No way.
Captain: Two felony drug arrests, and one assault with a deadly weapon. You’re goin’ to jail for a long haul. We might be able to make it go away, shave time, certainly. But you’d have to tell us what you know about Eddie Marble.
Lucas is thinking.
Captain: You think Eddie’d go down for you, if the shoe were on the other foot?
Lucas: Yeah.
Captain: He’d give up everything. No sex. No weed. No life. It’s a shame he killed somebody, because he is one helluva guy.
Lucas: He is. (He looks nervous. Pensive. Then he makes a decision) He said it was an accident.
Captain: He said what was an accident?
Ben rises from his chair. This is what he’s been waiting for, looking for for a year.
Lucas: Eddie said he didn’t mean to kill that cop. They got in a fight and the gun went off.
Ben watches, expression hard.
Captain: What were they fighting about?
Lucas: That’s all he told me.
Captain: But he said he pulled the trigger.
Lucas: Yeah. But he didn’t mean to.
Ben has what he wants now. A statement that Eddie Marble killed Jake.
Cut to;
Interior, Morgan house:
Jon is making his way to leave via the back door when Daisy waylays him from the stairs.
Daisy: (determined, ready for a fight) It’s not right, you know. My mom may not act like it, but she’s vulnerable right now. For you to take advantage of her is wrong. Really wrong.
Jon makes no attempt to reply or defend himself.
Daisy: You do anything to hurt this family, I’ll make you wish you never met me.
Jon nods his understanding, then bends to retrieve a banker’s box of stuff.
Jonathan: That’s pretty much what your mother said, too. ‘Bye, Daisy.
He tucks the box under his arm and lets himself out the door.
Cut to:
Interior, Police station, Holding:
Eddie is sitting in a holding cell. Ben enters as his partner reads Eddie his Miranda rights.
Will: Edward Marble. You’re under arrest for the homicide of Jake Foster Morgan. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
As Will cuffs Eddie, Eddie looks sadly at Ben. Ben merely stares back, expression blank, neutral, hiding a year’s worth of pain and loss.
Will: You have the right to consult with an attorney and have an attorney present at all questioning. If you do not have an attorney, one will be appointed . . .
Eddie breaks eye contact and smiles to himself, ironically, shaking his head.
VOJ: I thought it would be better to protect my family from the truth behind my death. That it would hurt them too much.
Cut to:
Establishing shot:
Exterior, Morgan house, Night.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan front hall:
Ben enters the front door, tossing his keys on a tall entryway stand.
VOJ: I thought if I could just keep things as they are, I could protect them. But I’m the one who’s been stuck. I’ve been protecting myself. What’s left of me. A memory.
Ben moves to the center of the front hall as the family—Charlotte, Max, Em, and Daisy—and Maggie, come out of the kitchen/dining room and into the hall to greet him, find out what’s happened. (I think I mentioned Max’s sweater in the blurb. It’s a lovely shade of blue and looks really good on him.)
Max and Ben exchange a look, a question asked and answered in that look. Max’s expression breaks from apprehension to grief as his brow furrows and his lip trembles and he steps into his father’s embrace. Max clings to Ben as he softly sobs into his father’s shoulder. Ben holds Max tightly as the boy weeps.
Ben looks to Char, who nods quietly.
Ben: You did good, son. (He pushes Max away a little to get a look at his face.) I’m never lettin’ you out of my sight again, (Max huffs a laugh through the tears. Ben pulls Max back in) but you did good.
Char steps forward and rubs Max’s shoulders and back gently, comforting her son, but allowing her son’s father to take most of the weight. The girls step in, closing the circle.
VOJ: But a memory matters less than the living. I get that now. With Eddie’s arrest, my family’s gonna face some hard truths about me and why I died. But they are strong. They’re the circle that holds us together. If they stay close, they can handle what’s about to happen. Let it come.
Camera pulls out. Ben holds Max, Charlotte has her hand on Max’s shoulder, the sisters and Maggie around them. The focus softens until . . .
Blue wash to
Black
Caught, Acts I, II, & III
Act IV
Interior, Lucas’s car, Night:
Scene continues:
Lucas: You wanna tell me why you’re giving Eddie the third degree?
Max: (trying to defuse the situation) I’m sorry. I ask a lot of questions, I know. It’s—It’s just I’m—I’m readin’ this book right now. It’s on, um, public speaking. (Looking nervous, hoping they’re buying it. Lucas darts a glance at Eddie.) It’s, um, How to Win Friends and Influence People. That’s just . . . what it says to do, you know. It’s a technique.
Lucas: Technique.
Max: Well, it started out as a goof, and then it just kinda, uh . . . (With a shrug) It works, ya know? Breaks the ice, and, uh, ‘specially good with the women.
Lucas breaks out in a grin and starts laughing.
Lucas: (good natured) Like you need that book, man. Talk about overkill.
(Max smiles along. And dang but Jensen’s a cutie.)
Max: (a small laugh) Yeah.
Lucas turns back forward. He’s smiling, but Eddie is pretty unreadable.
Lucas: Anyway, stop grillin’ Eddie, man. Aw’ight? He doesn’t like it.
Max puts a hand up in surrender, licks his lips. Tension averted.
They pull back out onto the road.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan house:
Emily (who, btw, is not dressed in her catering uniform, but rather in a nice dress for the party) is serving guests from an hors d’oeuvre tray. As she works her way across the room, Mr. Reyes, who is in conversation with Misty, taps her on the shoulder.
Reyes: Hey. They’re running out of that lobster appetizer. You should go refill it.
Emily obviously doesn’t like someone else telling her how to do her job.
Stack enters the scene quickly, trying to soften the blow.
Stack: Uh, before there’s a riot. B’cause people can’t get enough of that.
Reyes: Mm, Stack certainly loves his food, doesn’t he.
Misty: Oh, yeah. He’s weird about it.
A nervous chuckle ripples through the group.
Reyes: How does he make a living? That’s what I want to know.
Em: He’s making a living. Working with me in the catering company.
Reyes: Catering. (Eyeing Stack) Really.
Stack: (on the spot, shrugging, trying to make an excuse) Yeah, I . . . you know. For now.
Em: Your son has a real gift. Pretty soon people will pay a lot of money for what he does.
Stack clears his throat, uncomfortable with the conversation.
Reyes: Well, but, he’s a cook. He’ll never make enough to take care of a pretty wife and family.
Em: (with a forced smile) He’s not a cook. He’s an artist.
Misty: It’s okay. I mean (she takes Stack’s hand) Stack takes great care of me.
Reyes: He’s a lucky guy to have found you. Maybe now he’ll get serious.
Em: Please. She’s the lucky one.
Stack: (quickly, before Em loses her temper) Okay. Excuse us one second. (He pulls Em aside.) Okay, I can handle it from here.
Em: But he’s just—
Stack: Em! Em, please. I just need to get through this party. Okay?
She nods.
Em: I’ll go refill the lobster appetizers.
Stack: Thank you.
Em heads to the kitchen as Stack returns to his dad and Misty.
Cut to:
Exterior, Convenience store, Night:
Jon exits with a brown sack and a large bottle of clear soda then gets into the drivers seat of a red car where Char waits in the passenger seat. He hands her the bottle and a sandwich from the bag. Neither look very happy.
Charlotte: I said no pickles.
Jonathan: I said no junior high school government club. We live with our pain.
Charlotte: How did I know there were only going to be two of them? The invitation looked very official. I mean, it was in crayon.
Jonathan: Oh, no you don’t.
Char starts laughing as she takes a bite of her sandwich.
Jonathan: I’ve had it.
Charlotte: I know. I got a little carried away with power.
Jonathan: I’ll say.
Charlotte: I should let you do your job.
Jonathan: Thank you.
Charlotte: But things can’t be the way they were.
Jonathan: Noted. Heard. Done.
Charlotte: Okay. (She starts laughing to herself again.) Those kids. With those juice boxes.
Jonathan: I thought some of their questions were very insightful.
Charlotte: Hey, no one has ever asked me what I thought of The Matrix.
Jonathan: America’s youth wants to know.
Charlotte: (laughing out loud now) Oh, God. If Dad had seen that.
Jonathan: Oh. He would have put on a dress and started campaigning himself.
Charlotte: Exactly! That’s what this is about.
Jonathan: Not anymore. You took the race away from him. You’re doing things yourself. As you’ve so often mentioned.
Charlotte: Well, my dad in drag would have a better chance of winning the race now. I mean, all his contacts, the money. Gone.
Jonathan: Who cares?
Charlotte: (rolls her eyes disbelievingly) Please.
Jonathan: Don’t get me wrong. I want you to win, but . . . But you standing up to Owen, that’s . . . that’s better. (He takes a big bite of his sandwich.)
Char considers him a moment, smiling and nodding. Then she points to her own face as she tells him . . .
Charlotte: You’ve got, uh, (pointing to his face now, indicating crumbs or mayo or something on his face)
Jonathan: (wiping the corner of his mouth) Great.
Cut to:
Interior, Max’s dark room:
There are no pictures developing, so the room (and the scene) are fully lit.
CU on a strip of developed negatives hanging from a wire. Camera pulls out to reveal Daisy standing in the doorway (and I really like the blouse she’s wearing) and Maggie examining various strips of hanging negatives. She makes her way around the room, looking at different pictures and negatives as the scene progresses.
Daisy: (hands in pockets, clearly uncomfortable) We shouldn’t be doing this. It’s a total privacy foul.
Maggie: I know, but Max has a way of getting himself into bad situations.
Daisy: Yeah, I’ve noticed. But why are you looking at this?
Maggie: Uh, Finn said that Max had his telephoto lens. I think he may be blowing off work to snoop around again.
Daisy: Um, close up. When you’re done. (She starts backing out of the room) I feel . . . creepy.
Maggie: Okay.
Daisy closes the door on her way out.
Maggie spots a stack of developed B&W photos on a table and starts shuffling through them. She’s not happy with what she sees.
Maggie: (under her breath) Max . . .
They are photos of Eddie, on the street, entering the factory . . .
Maggie: What are you doing?
The final photo is one of Eddie in front of The Coach Room Bar & Grill.
Blue wash to:
Establishing shot:
Exterior, Coach Room, Night:
It’s raining, and we can hear the rain on the street as cars drive past.
Cut to:
Interior, Coach Room:
The camera pans across to find Max sitting opposite Eddie and Lucas at a long, free-standing bar. They each have a beer bottle in front of them. (Max has taken off his coat, and we see that he’s wearing his red hooded sweatshirt.)
VOJ: All this time, I’ve been worried about what he might discover. Now I’m just worried about Max.
Lucas turns to Max with a grin.
Lucas: Check it out. At the bar.
He nods his head to indicate direction. Max leans forward to get a better look where Lucas indicates. At the bar are two blondes, one wearing a shirt that reveals her midriff.
Lucas: We could get that. Ya think?
Max: Yeah, go for it. (He takes a pull of his beer. Eddie does the same.)
Lucas: (elbowing Eddie) You talk to them.
Eddie elbows him back but doesn’t say anything.
Lucas: (to Max) You know who needs your book? That book you’re reading on how to influence people?
Max nods, going along with the conversation.
Lucas: You think he’s quiet now? You should see him around girls.
Eddie smiles a little, but he’s not real comfortable with Lucas talking about him.
Lucas: You know Rosa? From work? Eddie can’t even look at her. (To Eddie) Dude. Are you blushing? (A nervous laugh from Eddie) She’s not even here. He’s just thinking about having to talk to her.
Max smiles, pretends to share the joke.
Eddie: (to Lucas) Screw you.
Lucas: (laughing, having a good time) You gotta get over it, man. I mean, when’s the last time I saw you with a girl? Junior high?
Max’s smile becomes tense. He’s taking it all in.
Lucas: Seriously. Life is passing you by. Read the book.
Max’s chuckles and his smile are forced. Something’s building up as he watches these two joke with each other.
Lucas: Ask Kevin to teach you how to give a good foot massage. Do something!
Eddie is grinning and laughing now, and Max thinks about Jake, dead on the sidewalk.
Cut to:
Interior, Men’s room:
Max enters, wrecked, angry, not quite stumbling. He slams open the first stall door, then pounds and punches door's “jamb.” He pounds it over and over, seven times before leaning his forehead forward in anger and grief.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan back door to kitchen, Night:
Char enters, followed by Jon. They’re laughing together. They stop in the mudroom between the inner and outer door as they take off their coats to hang on hooks.
Charlotte: When’s my first thing in the morning?
Jonathan: You, uh, at two o'clock you have the Toddler’s Action Coalition. They’re concerned about mandated napping.
Char laughs.
Charlotte: Shh. We have to be quiet. Emily’s got a thing, and we live here—
Jonathan reaches past her to hang up his coat, bringing himself very close. . .
Charlotte: --oh, excuse me.
Jonathan: Sorry.
. . . and in the perfect position to lean in and kiss Char seriously, passionately.
Daisy walks into the kitchen in time to see them silhouetted in the alcove. She is shocked and horrified. Misty comes in behind her and sees the scene as well.
Misty: (who has no clue) How cute is that?
Daisy turns right back around and leaves the room.
Cut to:
Interior, Bar:
Max has returned to his seat, and Lucas looks like a good ol’ boy having a good time.
Lucas: So, are you gonna get it on with Rosa, or what?
Max: I don’t know, man. Work stuff can kinda get messy, ya know? (He takes a pull of his beer.)
Eddie: Yeah. (He gives a sad half smile.)
Lucas: (laughing) Well, now he’s actin’ all big. “Yeah.” Just move in with Darien, dude. She’s the only girl that’ll have you.
Max’s expression shifts from casual disinterest to keen interest in where the conversation is going. (And I really couldn’t pinpoint what changes in Jensen’s bearing because it’s so subtle, but the shift is definitely there.)
Lucas: Or maybe not. I mean, you know, not after you . . .
Eddie frowns at Lucas and shakes his head. Lucas shuts up and studies his beer bottle.
Max: Not after he what?
Lucas: Nuthin’. (He takes a swig of his beer.)
Max: You were gonna say somethin’.
Lucas: (no longer smiling) No. I wasn’t. Don’t worry about it.
Eddie takes a drink of his beer, looking slightly releaved.
Lucas looks up toward the entrance.
Lucas: Oh, man.
Eddie: What? (looking back and forth between where Lucas is looking and Lucas himself. Then he sees her.)
Max turns in his seat to see what caught Lucas’s attention.
Cut to reverse POV revealing:
Maggie has just entered the bar. She sees Max sitting with Lucas and Eddie, right there in front of her.
Stunned looks all around. Lucas practically freezes, like if he doesn’t look at her, she’ll go away. Eddie and Max lean back in their seats, Max as if being caught doing something he shouldn’t, and Eddie with growing recognition as he looks at Max. Max and Eddie stare at each other, Max very neutral, not backing down.
Eddie: You’re Max.
Fade to black.
Act V
Fade up:
Scene continues:
Eddie jumps up from his seat and bolts for the door as Lucas calls after him. Max chases him (past Maggie), and grabs him by the coat before he can escape. Max slams Eddie up against the wall, pinning him with a forearm across the chest.
Maggie: Stop, Max!
Max: (intense) What happened to Jake? Why’d you kill my brother, huh? (He slams Eddie against the wall again) What happened?
A beer bottle smashes against Max’s head. He goes down, and Lucas is there, right on top of him. They struggle as Maggie screams in the background. Lucas pulls a knife and is ready to plunge it into Max, but Max knocks it away. Lucas quickly retrieves the knife, and as he’s about to make a second attempt, the bouncer grabs Lucas and pulls him off.
Bouncer: Drop it! Drop it!
Max crabwalks back, and Maggie bends to help him up, but he pulls his arm from her grip. Maggie’s there for him to lean against, though, as the bouncer holds an angry Lucas.
Dissolve to:
Interior, Bar, later:
Max and Maggie are seated at one of the tables. Max is leaning forward, elbows on knees; Maggie is sitting opposite him. Police are there, taking statements and making arrests, containing the scene. Max and Maggie talk quietly together.
Maggie: When I came in, and I saw Eddie? He knows me. Not just from the papers. I can’t explain it. Something in the way he looked at me.
Max frowns, darts a glance sideways (at Eddie?) then back to Maggie. He’s had a rough night, and he’s not happy.
Maggie: You have to stop, Max. You’re gonna get yourself killed. (Max continues to frown and stare daggers at Eddie. Maggie’s tone takes on a note of irony.) Maybe that’s the point.
Max leans his head forward and rubs the back of his head. Pain. Exhaustion. Frustration.
Maggie: Are you okay?
Max: (sitting back up) No.
He continues to stare at Eddie, then looks past Maggie to see his dad enter the scene. Ben does not look happy to be there.
Ben’s partner approaches to fill him in on the scene:
Will: I was down the street when the call came in. Max has been on the job with Eddie. Machine shop.
Ben: (continuing to watch Max, and the arrest, across the room) Yeah, so I heard. What’s she doin’ here?
Insert reverse shot of Maggie and Max from Ben’s POV.
Will: Came looking for your son. She got wind he was up to something. Before you go off on him—
Ben: Don’t tell me how to handle this.
Will: I’m not, Ben. Max says Eddie and this kid Lucas have been friends since junior high at least.
Insert reverse from Ben’s POV: Lucas and Eddie being cuffed by uniformed police.
Will: He also said Lucas was starting to talk about Darien when Maggie came in. Max got the feeling he knows what went down with Jake.
Ben: Can we keep him?
Will: Got him on assault with a deadly weapon. He pulled a knife. Max also thinks that, uh, Eddie might be planning on skipping town.
Ben: So we can hold him for questioning.
Will: Not for long. The bar owner doesn’t want to press charges against ‘im. Or Max.
Ben: (with a heavy sigh) I can’t deal with that right now. Take him home, will ya?
Ben leaves the scene.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan house, dining area:
Stack and Misty are talking, smiling, laughing. Em watches them from the kitchen. Makes loud, frustrated clattering noises with the dishes. She’s not happy.
Stack and Misty bring empty dishes and make their way to the kitchen.
Misty: You know, this was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.
Em: Seems like it.
Stack sits on one of the stools at the island, and Misty hands Stack a beer.
Stack: Thank you, sweetie. Are you still gonna love me when I’m old and fat?
Misty: You bet! I like a little something to grab onto.
Stack: Good thing. (He takes a swig of beer.)
Em watches them as she clears bottles away. She’s not impressed with their role playing.
Misty: I better find your dad. I haven’t seen him for a while.
Stack: Check near the bar. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Misty chuckles as she moves off.
Stack watches Em for a moment, then stands, trying to get her attention.
Stack: Hey, great job on the food tonight. Although the pastries were a little oily, I thought. I think we oughta get one of those confection ovens for the desserts.
Em: (definitely frustrated) Tell your dad you got Misty fake pregnant. I’m sure the money will come pouring in.
Stack: (a little stunned) You are in one hell of a mood tonight, lady.
Em: (turning on him) This job sucks.
Stack: Well, you should have said no when I asked.
Em: I got bamboozled into it! I thought I was gonna be your fake fiancée.
Stack: (surprised) You?
Em: (stepping into his space) What exactly is so crazy about that?
Stack: Are you kidding? Dad would never believe I could get a girl like you.
Em sighs and sets her jaw.
Stack: Misty he’d believe. But you, you’re just . . .
Em looks up at him with her clear blue-gray eyes. He looks at her, a small smile on his lips. Stack takes a long moment,
Stack: . . . perfect.
Em leans in and kisses him softly and sweetly. He takes her face in his hands, and their next kiss is slow and passionate and long and lingering.
Reyes and Misty walk in to see the kiss.
Misty: Awwww. Great party, huh? Everybody’s hooking up.
Reyes is stunned. Stack pulls away from Em, and they look as guilty as it appears. Misty is a little slow on the uptake. Then she notices Reyes’ expression of disapproval and remembers the role she’s supposed to be playing.
Misty: Hey. Get your hands off my fiancé.
Reyes says nothing, but leaves the room.
Cut to:
Interior, Police station:
Ben watches from the observation room as his captain questions Lucas. The camera pans from Ben to the view through the 2-way mirror, to the video monitor in the observation room.
Captain: You understand this concealed weapon you were carrying—it’s your third strike.
Lucas: (snorts a laugh) That dull-ass knife? No way.
Captain: Two felony drug arrests, and one assault with a deadly weapon. You’re goin’ to jail for a long haul. We might be able to make it go away, shave time, certainly. But you’d have to tell us what you know about Eddie Marble.
Lucas is thinking.
Captain: You think Eddie’d go down for you, if the shoe were on the other foot?
Lucas: Yeah.
Captain: He’d give up everything. No sex. No weed. No life. It’s a shame he killed somebody, because he is one helluva guy.
Lucas: He is. (He looks nervous. Pensive. Then he makes a decision) He said it was an accident.
Captain: He said what was an accident?
Ben rises from his chair. This is what he’s been waiting for, looking for for a year.
Lucas: Eddie said he didn’t mean to kill that cop. They got in a fight and the gun went off.
Ben watches, expression hard.
Captain: What were they fighting about?
Lucas: That’s all he told me.
Captain: But he said he pulled the trigger.
Lucas: Yeah. But he didn’t mean to.
Ben has what he wants now. A statement that Eddie Marble killed Jake.
Cut to;
Interior, Morgan house:
Jon is making his way to leave via the back door when Daisy waylays him from the stairs.
Daisy: (determined, ready for a fight) It’s not right, you know. My mom may not act like it, but she’s vulnerable right now. For you to take advantage of her is wrong. Really wrong.
Jon makes no attempt to reply or defend himself.
Daisy: You do anything to hurt this family, I’ll make you wish you never met me.
Jon nods his understanding, then bends to retrieve a banker’s box of stuff.
Jonathan: That’s pretty much what your mother said, too. ‘Bye, Daisy.
He tucks the box under his arm and lets himself out the door.
Cut to:
Interior, Police station, Holding:
Eddie is sitting in a holding cell. Ben enters as his partner reads Eddie his Miranda rights.
Will: Edward Marble. You’re under arrest for the homicide of Jake Foster Morgan. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
As Will cuffs Eddie, Eddie looks sadly at Ben. Ben merely stares back, expression blank, neutral, hiding a year’s worth of pain and loss.
Will: You have the right to consult with an attorney and have an attorney present at all questioning. If you do not have an attorney, one will be appointed . . .
Eddie breaks eye contact and smiles to himself, ironically, shaking his head.
VOJ: I thought it would be better to protect my family from the truth behind my death. That it would hurt them too much.
Cut to:
Establishing shot:
Exterior, Morgan house, Night.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan front hall:
Ben enters the front door, tossing his keys on a tall entryway stand.
VOJ: I thought if I could just keep things as they are, I could protect them. But I’m the one who’s been stuck. I’ve been protecting myself. What’s left of me. A memory.
Ben moves to the center of the front hall as the family—Charlotte, Max, Em, and Daisy—and Maggie, come out of the kitchen/dining room and into the hall to greet him, find out what’s happened. (I think I mentioned Max’s sweater in the blurb. It’s a lovely shade of blue and looks really good on him.)
Max and Ben exchange a look, a question asked and answered in that look. Max’s expression breaks from apprehension to grief as his brow furrows and his lip trembles and he steps into his father’s embrace. Max clings to Ben as he softly sobs into his father’s shoulder. Ben holds Max tightly as the boy weeps.
Ben looks to Char, who nods quietly.
Ben: You did good, son. (He pushes Max away a little to get a look at his face.) I’m never lettin’ you out of my sight again, (Max huffs a laugh through the tears. Ben pulls Max back in) but you did good.
Char steps forward and rubs Max’s shoulders and back gently, comforting her son, but allowing her son’s father to take most of the weight. The girls step in, closing the circle.
VOJ: But a memory matters less than the living. I get that now. With Eddie’s arrest, my family’s gonna face some hard truths about me and why I died. But they are strong. They’re the circle that holds us together. If they stay close, they can handle what’s about to happen. Let it come.
Camera pulls out. Ben holds Max, Charlotte has her hand on Max’s shoulder, the sisters and Maggie around them. The focus softens until . . .
Blue wash to
Black