Scene O n e:
[ Mark & Ski’s basement. ]
[ Ski comes down the stairs,
seeing Erme, who is sitting
down casually watching TV. ]
ERME: Hey. Thanks for the ride
last night.
SKI: Sure. I guess. Is that all you
have to say to me?
[ Feeling tension, Erme looks away
at the screen. ]
ERME: Yeah, what else?
[ Ski sits down across from him. ]
ERME: I told you. I was just worn
out last night.
I...spent the day before at the
hospital with Scott and Yaz.
SKI: I thought you and Scott weren’t
talking.
ERME: We made up. Anyway, I’m fine!
SKI: Had it of been any of the managers.
You could have been written up. Or worse.
ERME: I know. Well, I have to get ready.
Don’t want to be late.
[ He retreats to the bathroom, getting
himself together with continuous
splashes of cold water to the face. ]
Scene T w o:
[ TA Kutz . . .Morning. ]
[ Hithe, Fang & Acer are eating
breakfast delivery in the break
room. ]
“How was the service
the other day?”
[ Acer looks down the table
at Hithe. ]
HITHE: It was great. You should
come with us some time.
[ Acer starts to chuckle. ]
ACER: I still can’t believe that
you of all people even go to
church.
FANG: Why is that?
[ Looking at Acer, then Hithe. ]
FANG: Is this about Kristyn?
[ Fang smirks at her man. ]
ACE: Somewhat. Hithe used to be
anything but a one woman
man, I’ll just put it like that.
HITHE: Yeah well, we all have
a past.
[ He smiles, kissing Fang on
the cheek. ]
[ His frozen stance toward her
is interrupted when his phone
starts to ring. ]
HITHE: Hey, it’s H. I’m gonna
take this in the hall.
“I’m surprised you called me.”
Scene T h r e e:
[ Afternoon. . .A Nearby Woodsy Area. ]
[ Brian is tottering through the trees at
a snail’s pace. Eyes widened & glazed.
Focused purely on his surroundings.
Viewing the sky, he takes a seat.
Perched in a lotus position on
the ground, mind at ease. ]
[ As the breeze catches onto his
loosely fitted top, he closes his eyes.
Hearing the chirping of birds and
feeling the sun beaming down
though the trees.
He slowly breaths in and out. ]
[ Ten minutes later, Brian is driving
& talking on the phone. ]
“You done bathing in the forest?”
BRIAN: You should have joined me.
Between the employee fighting,
the breach, and the random issue
with the electric. It’s the only thing
keeping me sane right now.
MAXX: I know. Walking into TA,
you never know what you’re
going to get.
BRIAN: How is Scott?
MAXX: I don’t know. He called off
today.
Probably went to the hospital.
BRIAN: All right, I’m here.
[ He arrives in the TA employee lot
& ends the call. ]
Scene F o u r:
[ Back At TA Kutz. ]
[ Hithe is on the phone with
Little H. ]
LITTLE H: Yeah, I wanted to
see how things were going
with you and Fang.
[ Hithe is taken aback by his
sudden interest. ]
HITHE: We’re good. Happy.
Just going through normal
new relationship struggles.
But overall ...I believe
LITTLE H: Yeah, I wouldn’t
be so sure.
HITHE: How would you know?
You’re never around us.
LITTLE H: Caleb drove by her
house on his way home the
other day.
HITHE: Yeah?
LITTLE H: She was outside with
some other man. They got really
close and he gave her a letter.
HITHE: So, that could’ve been
anyone.
LITTLE H: True. But think about it.
HITHE: Anyway, I got to go. Call
me later.
[ He re-enters the break room. ]
FANG: How did that go?
HITHE: Just fine.
[ Hithe quietly takes a seat. ]
Scene F i v e:
[ The Aisles . . .Produce Section. ]
[ Brian meets up with Maxx who
is checking quality at the banana
stand. ]
“Did you get ahold of him?”
MAXX: Briefly. Kira is going through
her first round of chemotherapy.
He’s waiting with her mom
and dad.
BRIAN: Wow, it such a shame the
induction didn’t work.
MAXX: I know. I hope she’ll react
okay. Scott has been a mess with
it all.
“Hey, I’m taking my break.”
[ They turn around, seeing Erme
limping toward the back. ]
MAXX: Speaking of messes.
What’s been up with him?
Scene S i x:
[ Much Later ...That Night. ]
[ Outside of Fang’s home,
Hithe pulls in by the curb
across the street.
Immediately noticing her
living room light on, he takes
a closer look.
Inside is an unknown man
and a young girl sitting on
the couch. ]
[ Hithe knocks loudly on
the door. ]
“Hey, what are you doing
here?”
HITHE: What am I doing?
Who is this guy?
[ He pushes past her staring
him down. ]
FANG: I didn’t want you to
find out in this way.
Hithe, this is my daughter
Rylie.
And this is her father.
HITHE: Your what?
Why didn’t you tell me?
Scene S e v e n:
[ Meanwhile, At The Hospital. ]
[ Maxx sees Scott & hurries
over to him. ]
What is going on?
SCOTT: She’s not responding.
[ He states, choking back tears. ]
SCOTT: They won’t let me back
there!
[ He yells hysterically. Distraught
and falling into his friend’s arms. ]
_________________________
