Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act two, Scene two

Time: Evening of the same day

MONTAGE: Nate at Lucy's front door, Lucy opens front door, he takes stephen from Nate's arms, Adam runs into the house.  Cut to: Lucy at dining table with stephen and Adam.  She feeds Stephen in his high chair, Adam talks and laughs about his day, Lucy laughs with him.  CUt to: Kiyah in her bedroom, her laptop in front of her on the bed, Close UP: Kiyah's computer, website on "American Airlines" reads Medford, OR to Bellingham, WA, Kiyah's mouse hovers over confirm, CLose up: Kiyah's face, smiling, sound of mouse clicking, Camera pans over Kiyah's room, she leans back onto bed, smiling satisfied.  Cut to: Close up on Samantha's smiling face, pull out to see Nate2 smiling at her, pull out and between them you see Samantha's son between them, holding each of their hands, they smile at each other, swing the little boy between them, all laughing.  Cut to: Ashley in bed with nate3, laughing, kissing, talking, hugging. Cut to: Laura leaving work, walking to her house, cleaning up for work.  Cut to: Nate's granny unit, he prepares house, sets table for two, with candles.  Cut to: Laura walking towards Nate's house, starts to rain. Cut to: Nate's house, there is a knock at the door, Nate goes to answer it.

POV: Nate, opening door

NATE

Oh my god, Jessica?

Cut to: Laura walking towards Nate's house, rain starts to pour harder, she hurries her steps.

Cut to: Nate's living room, Jessica enters holding a cat carrier

NATE

What are you doing here, Jessica?

JESSICA

Look, can we talk?

NATE

You came all this way to...talk?!?

JESSICA

Well, yeah, well, not at first.  I was going to make this grand entrance into your life, plead for forgiveness ala John Cusack in Say Anything, sort of like, right? Not like him in High Fidelity because....well, he was kind of a creep in that...remember that movie? We loved that movie.  I mean, I was thinking about that and all the things we did together while I was driving here...and I guess I never got to say, really tell you, that...I'm sorry.

NATE

You're sorry?

JESSICA

Yeah, and...

(She looks around.)

You having a dinner party or something? A date? You expecting a date?

NATE

Well, kind of, yeah.

JESSICA

Is she nice? Is she pretty? Prettier than...don't answer that, you don't have to answer that.  Please.

(She smiles, weakly.  Doodle walks over and sniffs cat carrier, growls, cat hisses inside.)

Oh, I see the kids have re-connected.

Cut TO: Nate's front door, Laura knocks

(Nate opens door. Laura smiles at him.  He smiles at her.)

LAURA

Hi Nate.

NATE

Hi...Laura?

(POV: LAURA, The door swings open further to reveal Jessica in background.)

LAURA

Who...who is that?

NATE

Laura...this is Jessica.  Jessica, this is Laura.

LAURA

Jessica? As in...?

NATE

Yes.

LAURA

You didn't say she was visiting?

NATE

I didn't--

LAURA

I'll just go.  Yeah, I'm gonna go.  I'm sorry...to interrupt...everything.  I'm really sorry.  It was nice to meet you, Jessica, I hope you really enjoy your stay.  Ashland is really beautiful this time of year.  Um, yeah.  Bye.

(She hurries out of the room.  Rain starts falling harder.)

Cut to: Laura in the rain, crying

Cut to: Nate's living room

JESSICA

She seems...nice.

(pause.)

You need to go after her.

NATE

Wait, what?

JESSICA

Yeah, go after her.  I mean, yeah I came here to win you back, but when I was driving here I realized that our time was then, so I really came here to say "thank you for everything, and good-bye".  And, seeing Laura just now...Nate, as soon as you saw her, your face...sort of...lit up.  I don't think it ever did that with me, ever, when we were together.  So?

NATE

So?

JESSICA

So? Go after her.  Go have your John Cusack 80's movie romantic love scene in the rain moment! Do it! Do it now!  This could be the one, man!

NATE

You think?

JESSICA

I don't know.  Take that risk. Go!

(Nate starts to move towards the door.)

You mind if I help myself to some of this food? I'm so hungry.

NATE

Yeah, sure, whatever, help yourself.

JESSICA

Sure, then I'll head to the hotel.  We won't be here when you get back!

Act Two, Scene Three

Exterior: Street

Time: A few minutes have passed, rain is pouring down hard

(Nate runs down onto street, from driveway, he looks left and right.)

WIde Pov: Nate

(He sees Laura walking away.)

NATE

Laura!!! Laura!!!  LAURA!!!

(She turns and stops, then starts to move again.)

Laura!!! Please!!! WAIT!!!

(She stops and stares at him.)

WIDE POV: LAURA

(Nate running down the street towards her, he slips in a puddle, gets up, keeps running, finally he reaches her.)

NATE

Laura, please, at least let me explain.  She just showed up at my house, I didn't know she was coming, I didn't invite her.  I'm serious, you gotta believe me.

POV:Nate

LAURA

No, who do you think I am? Some silly twenty-something girl whose going to believe all your lies.  I've had enough told to me.  You are all the same, just leave me alone.  I'm going to die alone, stop listening to bells and what could be or whatever, its just me, for myself now.

NATE

Laura, wait, please.

POV: Laura

Yeah, I think she did want to...win me back by coming here...but you know what...she...she...she told me to come after you.  She's not staying. She's moving on and so am I.  I know this all sounds like some really nice story and I know that a lot of guys have fucked with you, Laura, and I'm sorry for that.  Sorry because you got hurt and sorry because it sucks for me.  No, that came out wrong.  But, it did.  But, just look at me, Laura, I'm here, in this freezing Oregon rain getting all soaked and why...because the only way I can make sense of this bell, this alarm in my head, is when I just let it be, when I'm around you and it makes beautiful music...it all makes sense then.  I can't explain it, its just something I know.  I know that I could...love you, if given the chance.

Close up: Laura

I know that you are in my life for a reason, either way.  That that's the reason for the bell, you and I are meant to cross each others paths, it wasn't an accident, the night at the bar, any of it.  I don't know if you are the one, or even if I believe in that either anymore, I've been fucked over too, Laura, and I'm scared.  But, all I know is, I need you...in my life.

WIDE: Laura and Nate

(After a few moments, Laura slowly reaches out her hand towards him. Nate reaches out and takes it.)

Close up: Their hands

WIde: Laura and nate, smiling at each other, in the rain

LAURA

Walk with me?

NATE

Yeah.  Anywhere.

(They start to walk away.)

3/4 POV CAMERA wide: Nate and laura holding hands

Wide: Nate and laura walking away from camera, holding hands, smiling, eye contact

Unwritten

Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act Two, Scene One

Exterior: Street, Outside Lucy's house

(Ashley walks down the street, smiling to herself.  She stops out front of Lucy's house and looks up driveway towards Nate's granny unit.)

CLOSE UP:Ashley nodding resolutely.

WIDE: Ashley walking up driveway

Cut to: Ashley knocking on Nate's door, He opens it.

NATE

Ashley?

ASHLEY

Can we talk?

NATE

Sure come in.

(Nate lets Ashley in.)

CLOSE UP: Nate's door closed.

Cut to: Ashley leaving Nate's house, a few minutes later, waving at him, he's at the door, waving good-bye.

POV: Ashley walking down driveway

(Nate3 pops his head over fence.)

NATE3

Ashley?

ASHLEY

Nate! Hi!

NATE3

What brings you by?

ASHLEY

Just something I had to sort out with Nate, is all.  Look, I'm sorry I wasn't really...was kind of distant the other day, just had some things to deal with.

NATE3

Everything okay?

ASHLEY

Yeah, for now.  So, what's new with you?

NATE3

Moved back in with the parents, for now.

ASHLEY

Yeah.  You still with...um?

NATE3

No, she left.

ASHLEY

She left?

NATE3

Yep, she left.  That's about it.

ASHLEY

Wow, dude, what a bitch.

NATE3

Yeah, its...she's...ancient history.  But how are you? Still in school?

ASHLEY

Yeah, about to graduate.

NATE3

Nice.  Congratulations.  I'm proud of you, I really am.

ASHLEY

Thanks.

NATE3

Hey, would you like some coffee or something?

ASHLEY

Or something?

Nate3

I've got some made over here, if you would like.

ASHLEY

I'll come around.

NATE3

I'll meet you in the front.

ASHLEY

Coffee cup in hand?

NATE3

Yeah, maybe.

Cut to: Ashley at Nate3's front door, knocking, he opens, smiles.  They embrace.

Fade out.

Fade in: Lucy, Kiyah, Laura, and Samantha approach kiyah's house, they are in their morning workout clothes, from previous scene.  They are chatting idly.

LAURA

I've got to hit the showers, girls, my bosses are real tightwads about lateness and such.

LUCY

Hey, I resemble that remark.

KIYAH

Yeah!

LAURA

I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

Cut to: Shower running, Kiyah and Samantha sitting at kitchen table, drinking coffee, working on their computers.

Pov: Kiyah, looking at her email

(She opens an email to reveal a flyer for a spiritual retreat in Bellingham, WA.  "Find healing and awareness of your true self.")

CLOSE UP:Kiyah nodding and smiling resolved

POV: Samantha working on shotlist for webseries and her production company details, a facebook message pings, she flips over, its from Her Nate.

CLOSE UP: Samantha smiling, excitedly

Wide: Kiyah's kitchen table, samantha and kiyah working away, Laura enters dressed, yet toweling dry her hair.

Cut to: Lucy driving into drive way, getting out of car, sees Ashley leaving Nate3's house

LUCY

Ashley?

CLOSE UP: Ashley, smiling mysteriously

Cut to: Ashley approaching Kiyah's house, knocks

Cut to: Kiyah's kitchen, Ashley knocking

KIYAH

I wonder who that could be.

ASHLEY

Its me! I have some news.

KIYAH

Oh, come in, Ashley!

(Ashley enters kitchen.)

ASHLEY

Hey girls, great news!

SAMANTHA

(not looking up from her computer)

Um, yeah, what?

ASHLEY

Don't sound too enthusaistic.

LAURA

Well, what is it, Ashley?

ASHLEY

He's single!

LAURA

Who is? Nate?

KIYAH

I wouldn't believe it.

ASHLEY

Well, yes, Nate, but not the one you are thinking about.

SAMANTHA

(looking up)

Come again?

Ashley

You know, Nate, that lives next door to Lucy's house?

KIYAH

There's a Nate that lives next to Lucy? Another Nate?

ASHLEY

Yeah, he was there when we went over, he's been there on and off for years, his parents live there...

SAMANTHA

There is yet another Nate? Careful what you pray for, like they say.

LAURA

So, what about this Nate?

ASHLEY

So, I always felt things for him, like a bell would ring, I know you all think that's crazy, what am I saying, of course you don't!

KIYAH

What? I don't follow---

ASHLEY

Nothing, never mind.  So, yeah a few years back, I met him while I was babysitting for Lucy, but he was with this chic, then they ran off and got married...but now he's back and unattached so....

SAMANTHA

So, what? You slept with him?

Flashback: Ashley getting out of Nate3's bed

ASHLEY

Not exactly.

Cut to: Kiyah's kitchen

LAURA

What does that mean? Oh....Oh, I see.

SAMANTHA

Ashley, you dirty little dog.

LAURA

But what about...what about, you know...

(Laura motions towards her stomach.)

ASHLEY

Yeah, um, false alarm?

Cut to: Nate outside Adam's preschool, pushing stephen in stroller, his phone beeps "ringtone is a bell sound".

Cut to: Close up on Nate's phone, text from Laura: Hey, Nate, sorry I ran out the other day.  Can we meet up and talk?

Suddenly I See

Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act One, Scene Four

Exterior: Street near Kiyah's house

(Kiyah, Lucy, Samantha, and Laura are power-walking  together.)

LUCY

So, look's like I got full custody--

KIYAH

Congratulations!

LUCY

Yeah, but there is still supervised visitations with Eddie, so--

KIYAH

Fuck.

SAMANTHA

I don't know, I mean, Eddie's a bastard, but kids need to have their dad---

KIYAH

This from the girl who lets her own son crash more at his grandparents' house then her own!

SAMANTHA

Hey!  I told you, its just until I get my life together--

KIYAH

Right.

LUCY

Come on, Kiyah.  Be nice.

KIYAH

Right.  Sorry, whatever.

LAURA

What's with you lately, Kiyah?

Samantha

I'm just saying, I would do anything to have some time with my dad, after he left, I never saw him again.

LAURA

Maybe that's why you have such issues with guys?

SAMANTHA

I've already come to that conclusion personally.

LAURA

Right.

KIYAH

I don't know, Laura.  I've just been thinking...I feel like I'm just floating here, stagnate, you know...I don't know what I'm doing with my life, where I'm going...my purpose, you know.

LAURA

So, you take it all out on us? Why?

KIYAH

Eh.  Look, Laura, I'm sorry, I just...I guess I liked Nate more than I thought.

LAURA

Well, you have nothing to worry about that.  I think I'm through with Nate anyway.  You dodged a bullet there, trust me, Kiyah! Pray the Nate away!

KIYAH

What happened?

SAMANTHA

I don't know.  Nate finally got back to me...my Nate, I mean.

LUCY

And?

SAMANTHA

I think I'm ready for him to meet Jimmy, speaking of my son.

LUCY

Wow, that's a big step, Samantha.  How do you feel about that?

SAMANTHA

Excited, nervous.  I mean, there is always that fear, you know, what if this happens, or whatever...but sometimes you got to leap even when you don't know there is a safety net...or something.

LUCY

Yeah.  I don't know if I ever will be there again.

SAMANTHA

Someday you will.  There is someone out there for you.

LUCY

Ha.  I just want to get through the day without breaking down right now.

SAMANTHA

Sounds like a deal.

KIYAH

So, Laura, what do you mean, 'dodged a bullet'?

LAURA

Nate waited until after we...slept together...to tell me about Ashley.

KIYAH

What? After? You're kidding me, right?

LAURA

No, right, and only because Samantha texted me.

KIYAH

Knew he was a jerk.

LUCY

Speaking of crazy Nates, my neighbor is back, remember my neighbor Nate? Anyway, I guess his wife left him for some other guy or something.

KIYAH

Well, serves the Nates right.

SAMANTHA

What?

KIYAH

Nates are bad news.  We are being inundated with Nates!

LAURA

Pray the Nates away!

SAMANTHA

Hey, wait!

KIYAH AND LAURA

Pray the Nates away!

SAMANTHA

Wait, you and Nate slept together.

Fade out.

Shake It Off

Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act One, Scene Three

(Next Day, Late Afternoon)

Interior: Nate's Granny Unit

(There is a knock at Nate's front door.  No answer.  Knocking grows louder, more frantic.  Finally, Nate enters from his bedroom, followed on his footsteps by Doodle.  He runs to the front door, opens it, Laura stands on his front porch.)

NATE

Laura, I...

LAURA

Hi.  I wanted to talk, can we talk?

Cut to: Laura and Nate sitting On Nate's couch, Doodle between them.

LAURA

I ran into my old high school best friend, Jacob, at the funeral.  We hung out and talked and had one of those, what if moments.  I lost my cell phone or thought I did and Jacob drove me around trying to find it, but we couldn't find it anywhere and I was frantic because...what if...just when I decided to give up, throw in the towel, the phone rang, in Jacob's car.  It was you.

NATE

Yeah, okay.

LAURA

But, there's more.  I kissed Jacob.

NATE

Um, okay...

LAURA

Please listen.  I kissed him, yeah, but then your phone call, I had my cell-phone after all.  And, I heard the bells on my ringtone.  And, I realized why am I playing the what if game with Jacob, when I'm just hesitating with you.  Its never going to be safe or not scary...

NATE

Okay, so?

LAURA

Its just that, the reason I was frantic for my phone, its stupid, really but I didn't want to miss your calls, I didn't want to miss you.

NATE

Yeah.  Me neither.

LAURA

Nate, I don't want to hesitate anymore.  I want to be with you.

NATE

Yeah?

(He leans in. She leans in.)

LAURA

Yeah.

NATE

Yeah.

LAURA

Yeah.

(They kiss passionately.)

Fade out.

Cutaway: Ashley in front of Planned Parenthood, walking in, there are a crowd of protestors about her.

Protestor

Do you know what you are doing? There is a life growing inside of you.  How can you take what has been given to you?

ASHLEY

Look, you don't know me or anything about me. Or even why I am here.  How can you presume?

PROTESTOR

I know that you are about to do something you will regret for the rest of your life.

ASHLEY

Walk into a building? If that's the case, I have a shitload of regrets in my life. Well, I do, but walking into buildings, not one of them. Anyway, just let go of your script for a moment and listen.

PROTESTOR

To you?

ASHLEY

To anyone, to everyone.  Just listen.  You'll reach more people that way.  Now, if you excuse me, I've got a regret to make.

(She exits into the building.)

Fade into: Nate's bedroom, a little while later

(Nate and Laura are in bed together, he is holding her, asleep.  She wakes up, smiles, reaches for her phone.)

Text from Samantha: Where the hell are you?

Laura texts Samantha: With Nate.  Not hesitating.

(Nate stirs and raises himself to look at her, then snuggles against her.)

NATE

What's up?

LAURA

Its Samantha, just wondering where I'm at.

NATE

Yeah.

LAURA

Yeah, no biggie.

NATE

So, we have time for more--

LAURA

Yeah.

(They start kissing.  Nate starts kissing her neck.  Laura's cell phone buzzes.)

Text from Samantha: What about Ashley?

Laura's text to Samantha: ?

(Laura and Nate start making out some more, response back from Samantha. Nate is kissing Samantha's neck again.)

Cutaway: Ashley sitting in exam room, waiting.  Nurse enters, smiles at her, Ashley sighs deeply.

Fade intO: laura and Nate making out, Nate kissing Laura's neck.

Text from Samantha: She's preggo.

(Laura sits up, knocking Nate to the floor.)

LAURA

What the hell? It can't be.

NATE

Um, what?

LAURA

(getting up and grabbing her clothes)

When were you going to tell me? Were you going to tell me? Is this part of your plan to...to what impregnate the town, proliferate the world with little Nates everywhere?

NATE

Excuse me?

LAURA

Ashley! Ashley! Ashley? When were you going to tell me about Ashley?

NATE

Um, right, that.  Well, when you got back, actually, but I got um, distracted.

LAURA

Oh my god, really, Nate, really?

NATE

Look, Laura, I'm sorry.

LAURA

Oh my god, poor Ashley.

NATE

I wouldn't worry too much about Ashley--

LAURA

Really, really, that's what you have to say.

NATE

Well, its just that I think--

LAURA

You think? You think what?

NATE

Look, Laura, I don't want to proliferate the world with little Nates? I mean, that's not to say that I don't want to be a dad some day but not like that, with...this isn't coming out right...look, I'll make it right, it was a mistake--

LAURA

Ashley was a mistake?

NATE

Well, sort of, I mean.

LAURA

Oh my god!

(Laura leaves hurriedly. Nate chases after her.)

Just leave me alone, Nate.  Please.

NATE

I didn't mean like that.  I mean, Ashley even said that it wasn't anything serious.  This wasn't...

(Laura exits and runs towards her car.)

NATE

(yelling after Laura at his front door)

Supposed to happen.  It wasn't supposed to be like this!

Build Me Up, Buttercup

Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act One, Scene two

Exterior: Lucy's backyard

(Same day)

(Lucy and the kids are playing together in the backyard.)

NATE3

Hey, Lucy! Hey kids!

LUCY

Nate? You're back?

NATE3

For a bit, yeah.

LUCY

What happened with...um...Kim?

NATE3

Well, she left.

LUCY

She left?

NATE3

For another guy.  Yep.  Sucks, huh?

LUCY

Yeah, sorry to hear that.  She doesn't deserve you!

NATE3

Heard you have made some...changes to, huh?

LUCY

Um, yeah.

NATE3

For the better, Lucy, for the better.

(Nate exits granny unit.)

If it isn't my buddy, my name-sake, Nate!

NATE

Hi.

NATE3

Why the long face, man?

LUCY

What's up, Nate? You okay?

NATE

Just got some really weird news earlier and...you know, kind of miss Laura.

Adam

Nate, push me on the swing!

NATE

Okay, buddy, here I come.

LUCY

Weird news?

NATE

Yeah, I don't think I should say.

NATE3

Suit yourself.

NATE

How are you doing, Lucy?

LUCY

Hanging in there, best I can.  Just trying to get some time with my little men.

NATE

Yeah, that's awesome.

LUCY

The only men I really need in my life! They'll never let me down.

NATE

True.

LUCY

Well, there's you.  My Stephen, My Adam, and My Manny.  That's all the guys I need.

NATE3

And me?

LUCY

Oh, yes, my neighbor.

CUTAWAY: Kiyah's living room.

(Kiyah sits in arm-chair, reading.  Samantha lays on the couch, looking at her phone.  There is a knock at the door.)

KIYAH

Who is it?

ASHLEY

Its me!

KIYAH

Come in, Ashley!

(Ashley enters and collapses on the floor near the couch.)

You okay, hon?

ASHLEY

I just had to do the hardest, weirdest thing ever.

SAMANTHA

Yeah? Was it waiting for the guy you've been sleeping to text you while pretending you aren't waiting?

ASHLEY

Um, no. Not that at all.

SAMANTHA

Oh. I see.

KIYAH

You want to talk about it, hon?

ASHLEY

I don't know...no, not really.

KIYAH

Okay. But if you do?

ASHLEY

Got it.

SAMANTHA

We could do some pre-production stuff on the show.  Laura should be back in a few days, we'll be able to start shooting some scenes with her and Nate--

ASHLEY

Her and Nate.

SAMANTHA

Yeah, they're like a thing now.  Its pretty awesome.

ASHLEY

Well, that's just swell.

SAMANTHA

Yeah, it is.  So, I was thinking we could start with all the interior scenes, using this place here for the main living area, what say you?

ASHLEY

How long have they been a thing?

SAMANTHA

Not long. I mean, its really new and then she had to go down south for her dad's funeral.  But, yeah, whatever, I thought you were cool with it.  You don't think you like him now, do you?

ASHLEY

No, no.

SAMANTHA

Then?

ASHLEY

Um, yeah...I don't know.  I'm happy for them, I guess.

SAMANTHA

Okay.  So, anyway, I was making some notes and came up with a shot list

(She sits up and picks up binder on coffee table, opens it.)

So, if you want to just check this over and let me know what you think.

ASHLEY

(looks over notes in binder for a few minutes)

I think I'm pregnant!!!!

KIYAH

What the hell?

SAMANTHA

Yeah, what the hell?

KIYAH

Is it...Nate's?

ASHLEY

Who else would it be?

KIYAH

Right.  That little bastard.

SAMANTHA

Does he know?

ASHLEY

Yeah, I told him. Just now.

KIYAH

And?

ASHLEY

He seemed kind of like he wanted to just take care of it, you know.

KIYAH

That little---

SAMANTHA

Guess the praying the Nate away wasn't that effective.

Fade into: Lucy's backyard, kids are playing in the backyard, Nate is pushing Adam on swing, Nate3 is standing behind fence, watching and laughing with them.

(Kiyah's car pulls into driveway. Kiyah gets out, along with Samantha, and then after a minute, Ashley.)

KIYAH

Where is he? Where is that little---

LUCY

Who? What is it, Kiyah?

(Kiyah sees Nate pushing Adam on swing.)

KIYAH

Nate, come over here this minute.

NATE3

Me?

NATE

Me?

LUCY

What is it, Kiyah? Why are you talking to my manny like he's a misbehaving kid?

KIYAH

Why don't you tell him, Nate?

(Ashley and Samantha get out of the car and starts walking towards them.  Ashley sees Nate3.)

ASHLEY

Nate?

NATE AND NATE3

Ashley?

Instant Karma

Nate & Laura & How They Met (Season Three)

Act ONe, Scene One

Interior: Ashley's bathroom.

(Ashley sits on the toilet, pants around her ankles.  She holds pregnancy test in front of her, opens box, throws carton on ground, reads over directions, tosses the aside, and sticks stick underneath herself.  She sighs.)

Cut to: Ashley sitting on bathtub, fully dressed, holding stick, staring at it.

Fade out.

Interior: Funeral Home

(Laura and her mother and sisters are in a long procession line in the foyer of the building.  Mourners, friends, family, are walking by and giving their condolences.)

MRS.MURPHY

Laura, who is that young man in blue jeans and blazer?

LAURA

Where?

MRS. MURPHY

Over there.  No, don't stare.  How could wear that to your father's--

LAURA

Oh, Jacob!

MRS. MURPHY

Jacob?

LAURA

Remember, Jacob Wellington from my class?

MRS. MURPHY

Oh, I guess so.  But how could he wear such things?

(Laura leaves procession line and heads over to Jacob.)

LAURA

Hey, Jacob?

JACOB

Yeah? Laura? Laura!  I'm sorry for your loss.

LAURA

Yeah, yeah, thanks.

JACOB

How are you?

LAURA

Considering current events, not so bad.  Yourself?

JACOB

Doing all right.  Living in the city, working.  Living the dream, I guess. What about you?

LAURA

Up north, in Oregon, still.

JACOB

Awesome.  Oregon is beautiful.

LAURA

Yeah, it is.

(Their eyes meet.)

JACOB

So, you remember that time outside of town, on the outlook? We got really drunk on cheap wine you stole from your dad's liquor cabinet--

LAURA

And sang Depeche Mode songs at the top of our lungs to see if it could reach across the entire valley?

JACOB

Yeah. That time.

LAURA

Good times!

JACOB

We should hang out...while you are here...I mean, I would really like that.

LAURA

Yeah, me too, actually.

JACOB

What are you doing now?

LAURA

Eh, family stuff, all night...

(She looks over at her family.)

Wide: Laura's sisters and Mother, Mrs. Murphy, now in a circle, gossiping, fighting

On second thought, want to get out of here?

JACOB

I'd love that.  The outlook?

LAURA

I'm sure there is still some cheap wine left over from my da...I'll just get my purse.

JACOB

Okay, I'll be here.

Cut to: Laura and Jacob sitting on the Trunk of Jacob's car, over-looking the city below, the radio plays in the car behind them, sipping out of a wine bottle. It is late afternoon, about 5:00, sun is just about to set.

LAURA

So, what are you doing in the city?

JACOB

Web design mostly, for, you know, CBS.

LAURA

CBS? Oh my god, Jacob, you hit the big time!

JACOB

Its nothing really.  Thanks.

LAURA

Wow, my lil buddy, Jacob working for CBS!

JACOB

Eh? Lil buddy?

LAURA

Yeah.

(They both laugh.)

JACOB

So, what about you?

LAURA

Eh? Still trying to sort that out, actually.  Working in my friends' shop, yay!

JACOB

Well, as long as you are happy!

(Their eyes meet.)

LAURA

Yeah, thank you.  I am, for the most part.

JACOB

For the most part?

LAURA

Well considering current events...

JACOB

Current events?

LAURA

My dad just died, for one.

JACOB

Yeah.  Huh.  Ed Murphy. Gone. I remember him coaching us in little league, he was always such hard ass with me.

LAURA

Well, you should have seen him helping me with my math homework!

JACOB

Yeah?

LAURA

It was...brutal, that's all I will say.  You know what I keep thinking about, though, how he'll never get to walk me down the aisle, I mean, not sure if I will ever do that, but he always said how much he looked forward to that.  Its strange after everything that happened in my relationship with my father, how strained it was at times, I recall that about him.

JACOB

Huh.  Yeah, that's rough.

(He hands her the bottle of wine.)

So, you seeing anyone now?

LAURA

What?

JACOB

Well, you mentioned the aisle walking and not sure if you would ever do that...oh never mind, sorry, none of my business.

LAURA

No, its fine, its fine.  Um, well, I just got out of a pretty fucked up relationship actually, so---

JACOB

Oh, gotcha. Its just that, we were always friends and--

LAURA

Best friends! You were my best friend in high school!

JACOB

Yeah, best friends.  And, I just always wondered what it would be like...

LAURA

It?

JACOB

Yeah, you know, it.  Didn't you ever wonder that?

LAURA

I don't know, um...

(Personal Jesus starts playing in the background.)

Depeche Mode!  Ready?

Laura and Jacob

(singing with radio)

Reach out and touch faith Your own personal Jesus Someone to hear your prayers Someone who cares Your own personal Jesus Someone to hear your prayers Someone who's there Feeling unknown And you're all alone Flesh and bone By the telephone Lift up the receiver I'll make you a believer Take second best Put me to the test Things on your chest You need to confess

I will deliver You know I'm a forgiver Reach out and touch faith Reach out and touch faith Your own personal Jesus Someone to hear your prayers Someone who cares Your own personal Jesus Someone to hear your prayers Someone who's there

Feeling unknown And you're all alone Flesh and bone By the telephone Lift up the receiver I'll make you a believer

I will deliver You know I'm a forgiver Reach out and touch faith Your own personal Jesus Reach out and touch faith Reach out and touch faith Reach out and touch faith Reach out reach out Reach out and touch faith Reach out and touch faith.

(They both laugh. Laura shivers.)

JACOB

Cold?

LAURA

Not really. Just thinking about...hey, I should probably get back...I'm sorry.

JACOB

Its all right.

Cut to: Interior: Jacob's car, Laura in passenger seat.

(Laura is rummaging through her purse.)

LAURA

Shit, I can't find my phone.

Cutaway: Same time of day, Ashley sits in a park, on a bench. There are children playing on a playground, mothers with babies, Ashley watches all of it.

Enter Nate.

NATE

Ashley? You said you wanted to meet me?

ASHLEY

Yeah, uh, sit down, Nate.

(Nate sits on the end of the bench.)

NATE

So?

ASHLEY

Well, um, I've got some news.

CUTAWAY: Jacob's car

JACOB

You remember the last place you had it?

LAURA

God, I don't know, maybe.  The funeral home? I don't know.  God, I hate it when I do this.

JACOB

Yeah, me too.  You want to go find it?

LAURA

Some adventure!

JACOB

Yeah, but it still is.

CUTAWAY: The park bench, with Ashley and Nate.  They watch the children playing on the playground.  Ashley sighs.

ASHLEY

So, I've been kind of sick lately.

NATE

Yeah, I'm sorry to hear that.

ASHLEY

Yeah, kind of random, so...so I bought a pregnancy test.

NATE

Um, yeah...?

ASHLEY

Yeah and yeah.

CUTAWAY: Children playing on playground, Mothers lifting babies up, pushing them in strollers, fathers swinging their children around

Cut to: Nate's face, in shock

NATE

So, um, now what?

ASHLEY

Ha! Well, I'm going to Planned Parenthood for an official test, just to be sure, it could have been a, what do they call it, a false pregnancy or whatever.  Hopefully.

NATE

Yeah, hopefully.

ASHLEY

Huh? Oh, never mind.

NATE

For what its worth, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...

ASHLEY

Its okay, Nate.  It wasn't planned or anything, you didn't mean, I didn't mean...

NATE

For this to happen.  Any of this. Listen if you need anything, anything at all, I'm here.

ASHLEY

Thanks, Nate.  That's sweet of you.

CUTAWAY: Exterior of Funeral home

(Laura comes running out of the building, crosses to Jacob's car. She gets in.)

Interior: Jacob's car.

JACOB

So, any luck?

LAURA

No, not there. Crap, this sucks so hard.

JACOB

Where else were you?

LAURA

Um, we stopped at the Safeway for flowers and stuff.

JACOB

Right then. Let's go.

Cutaway: Interior Safeway, check out counter.

LAURA

Hi, did anyone bring it a lost phone? I think I left mine here.

CHECKERGIRL

Um, yeah, no, I don't think so.

JACOB

You don't think so or they didn't?

CHECKERGIRL

Um, yeah, no.

LAURA

Um, yeah, thanks.

Cutaway: Interior: Jacob's car

JACOB

So, what now?

LAURA

I don't know.

(Laura looks over at Jacob.)

I always wondered too.

JACOB

About?

LAURA

What it would be like.

JACOB

Yeah?

(He leans into her, she leans into him.)

LAURA

Yeah, I did.

(They look at each other, then slowly move in, and kiss.  Laura's cell-phone rings somewhere in the car, its the bells.)

(Laura pulls away.)

LAURA

My phone!

JACOB

It was in the car the whole time?

LAURA

Yeah, sorry.  We have to find it.  I have to find it. Its really important.

(Laura's looking all over the car, under the seat, she finds it, answers before it stops ringing.)

Hello?

CUTAWAY: Nate's Granny unit

NATE

Hey, Laura.

LAURA

Hi.

CUTAWAY: Jacob's car.

NATE

I just...wanted to see how things  are doing there...things are kind of weird here, I mean, um, I wanted to hear your voice, is all.

LAURA

Ah. I'm doing all right.  Its good to hear your voice too, Nate.

Cutaway: Nate's Granny Unit.

NATE

I can't wait to see you.

Cutaway: Jacob's car.

LAURA

Yeah, me too.  But, I can't really talk right now though.

NATE

In a few days?

LAURA

I'll call you soon.

Cutaway: Nate's Granny unit.

NATE

Okay, talk then, Laura. Bye.

Laura

Bye.

Cutaway: jacob's car, Laura smiling to herself.

JACOB

So, drive you home?

LAURA

Yeah, yes please, could you.

(Jacob starts the car, after awhile of driving he speaks.)

JACOB

So, whose Nate?

Your Song

Easter. And We All Shine On!

This week I sat in a coffee shop writing.  I sat at the window looking out onto the patio.  A man on the patio was reading his Bible, enjoying the sunshine and the morning coffee. I laughed at him, no, let me explain, I didn't laugh at him directly.

I laughed at the life-style of which he is in, the life-style I used to prescribe to, try to conform myself towards.  A year ago or more, I might have packed up my computer and moved to another table so as not to see him, his activity bringing up flashbacks from that spiritually oppressive time of my life.  Even further back, I would have left the coffee shop entirely, unable to explain the uncontrollable shaking consuming me.

But instead on that day last week, I laughed.  As I recalled the controlling ways the church turned the loving words of God and Jesus into methods of dominating and submission, I laughed at all the absurd ways they did just that.  Instead of feeling that cold feeling of suffocation overwhelm me at the memory, instead of feeling the heartbreak over the friends I'd lost still in that life-style, I laughed. It's all rather absurd when you think about it.  And, after all, laughter is the best medicine, right?

A few days before this coffee shop encounter, a woman I work with, a teacher, had casually mentioned that Easter was first a pagan holiday, not primarily Christian.  It resonated within me as I reflect on how this last year I'm starting to embrace the earlier spiritual aspects of my younger self.

Then, Good Friday comes around.  A friend on Facebook requests assistance with what book to study in the Bible.  Without much thought, I answer him with what I recall being taught.  "Start in the New Testament and read a chapter a day," I post.  And truly, I was not bitter or sarcastic.

That night, at dinner, I talk to my boyfriend, Michael, about the Good Friday and Easter weekend packages of years passed.  I tell him about how on Good Friday we'd do our best to whip ourselves into some emotional feeling of contrition, remorse, while inwardly we felt nothing or at best, the opposite.  Instead of just attending the Good Friday service and allowing whatever was taught to hit us as it would, we had to fit ourselves into the mood of everyone else, conform so as not to lose points with the leadership and other attendees.  Then, come Sunday morning, high on coffee and jelly bean sugars, we'd praise Jesus with "He Is Risen" and you best hide any feelings of depression and unhappiness behind strained smiles of forced mirth.

I say to my boyfriend, "Was our faith genuine?" Yes, it was.  "Was the emotion genuine?" Most likely not.

But, still looking back there were times of sweetness even despite all the production that went into the Good Friday and Easter weekend package.  The Bible and its profound sweetness did hit me and did leave a lasting effect.

For when all is said and done, I bear no ill will or dislike to the Bible.  After reading other spiritual texts this last year, I have come to the understanding that it is one of the World's Spiritual Texts and should be honored as so.  ( A side note of import: This is my personal discovery and is not something I need to or will enforce on others spiritual paths.  I have had enough doctrinal viewpoints enforced upon me thus I won't do it to another. We all have our paths to spiritual and self-discovery, my path is not to dictate yours nor is yours mine.  Nor will enforcing one's views on another cause them to follow.)  Thus, when I saw this man at the coffee shop reading his Bible or my friend posting his request on Facebook, I can respond with love at that fond memory.  I recall mornings spent at coffee shops, my bible open, pouring through the words reaching down deep into my heart, penetrating and cleansing my soul, the sunlight hitting my face, the coffee warm to the taste.  I read other spiritual texts now with similar profundity.  I treasure those memories myself spent in personal bible study as a strong undertaking of my spiritual journey.  I will not condemn anyone else's personal study and reflection of that Holy Book despite my harsh experiences with the church and the organized religion of Christianity.

I forgive and in that forgiveness, I let go.  By letting go, I recall only the good memories, the sweet memories of deep Bible reflection and healing from it, sweet friendships over coffee, pizza, and other goodies, long, heartfelt prayers and good laughs.

Happy Easter and happy spring to all.  And, no matter where you are or what you believe, may blessings and love fall upon you.

Instant Karma

Why Make A Big Deal of....?

Why Make A Big Deal of....?

Jackie Pollock, Guest Author 

It has come to my attention that on the hit television series Survivor a Transgender man was outed. I have to agree with the article on CNN's website that this “....has sparked outrage.” Zeke Smith is the gentleman in question and as far as I can tell he's handled this with class and grace of a true gentleman. 

CBS's Survivor webpage reports that Mr. Smith is a twenty-eight (28) year old Asset Manager from Brooklyn, New York. Websites are reporting that fellow contestant Jeff Varner asked Mr. Smith "Why haven't you told anyone you're transgender?" This folks is called outing a person and it not up to you to do so it is up to the transgender person to do so. Looks like Mr. Varner does not remember the words of Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

Yet in an interview conducted by US Magazine with Mr. Varner he was quoted as saying “I have spoken to Zeke several times and forgiveness keeps coming out of him. I’m amazed and just stunned at his forgiveness. He’s an amazing human being. We’re both on separate journeys to accept what happened and move forward. Those journeys don’t intersect. He reached out to me and the conversations we’ve had have allowed me to heal. He’s calling me some rough stuff out there today and I get it. I give him every bit of room to come after me and I respect him for it. I deserve everything he’s doing. My focus is on Zeke and his health and his well-being and what I can do to help him.” 

Yet People reports “While the show was filmed eight months ago, Smith told People he struggles with forgiving Varner. "I don't think (Varner) hates trans people. I just think he has a lot of misconceptions about trans people," Smith said. "I think if he wants to be an ally to trans people, he has a long way to go." 

A lot of us reading this weren't there so we don't know exactly what happened yet I ask why are we making a big deal out of this? It seems to me the wrong doer and the person who was done wrong to have patched things up; let's just let these two gentlemen be. Nothing lost on either side; nothing gained on either side and I say it appears that pure forgiveness has been shown to both sides.

Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act Two, Scene Three

Exterior: Outside Kiyah's house, same day.

(Laura, in work out clothes, carrying latte, walks hand in hand with Nate, with latte.  They are laughing and enjoying each others company.)

NATE

So, can I call you?

LAURA

Yeah, I'd like that.  My number--

NATE

I have it.

LAURA

How?

NATE

Lucy.

LAURA

Ah.  So, um--

NATE

What are you doing later?

LAURA

Later?

NATE

Like, you want to hang out again or---

LAURA

Yeah, that could be fun.

NATE

Could be?

LAURA

Yeah, could be. I might have some time tomorrow...another day off, two in a row!

NATE

Nice.

LAURA

Yeah, so maybe we can hang out, then, yeah?

NATE

Yeah.

Fade Into:

Interior: Kiyah's living room.

(Kiyah is on phone, pacing.)

KIYAH

Oh my god...no...yeah...yeah.  Okay, what time?...No, no, don't even think about...I'll be there.  Of course, of course....no, don't do that...Luc...love you too, hon.  See you tomorrow.

(Kiyah hangs up, turns and sees Laura and Nate enter, laughing. She freezes emotionally when she sees them, they stop awkwardly, she shakes herself.)

Hey, Laura.  Nate.  Look, that was Lucy, she's got to go talk to the lawyer about Eddie shit tomorrow and wants me to come along for support, you know.  So, sorry to have to do this, but do you think you can cover my shift? I'll make it up to you.

LAURA

Yeah, um, of course.  Anything for Lucy.  So, she's seeing a lawyer?

KIYAH

Custody battles and all the fun.  I hope the creep loses everything, serves him right.

LUCY

Yeah.

NATE

So, I'll have to watch the kids?

KIYAH

You'll have to ask Lucy, but yeah, you will probably have to do your job instead of--

Nate

Instead of...what?

KIYAH

Nothing, nothing. I was just...nothing.

NATE

Okay...?  So, maybe not tomorrow, then, Laura...

LAURA

How about tomorrow night?

KIYAH

Tomorrow night?

NATE

Yeah.  Dinner? My treat.

LAURA

Wow, yeah, that'd be great. What time?

NATE

Can you come to my place around, I don't know, 7? I make the world's best lasagna.

LAURA

Can't wait to be the judge of that!

NATE

So, see you then.

LAURA

Yeah.

(They smile at each other, then turn to look at Kiyah, awkwardly, waiting to see if she will leave the room.  She doesn't, so they share a quick hug.)

NATE

Well, bye.

LAURA

Bye.

(Nate exits front door.)

KIYAH

Wait, what the hell just happened? Were you actually talking to Nate?

LAURA

Yeah...

KIYAH

In my living room? Talking to him?

LAURA

Yeah...

KIYAH

And, did you actually just make a real live date, in my living room, talking to Nate?

LAURA

Yeah.

KIYAH

Wow.  That's an improvement.

LAURA

Yeah, well blame Samantha.

Fade Into:

Interior: Law offices, a desk, two chairs.  Mrs. Beasly and Lucy sit in chairs, Mr. Edward Flinch sits behind desk, an older tired man who has been practicing law for many years, he's seen it all, and just wishes for the end to come.  Through the window of his office, Kiyah can be seen in the lobby waiting.

LUCY

So, what you are saying is that its impossible to gain full custody of my kids---

EDWARD FLINCH

Impossible, no.  Uphill battle, yes.  You will have to prove that he is unfit to parent--

LUCY

He's a violent alcoholic who hasn't held a job in years.

EDWARD FLINCH

You'd be surprised what people can get away with when they put a mind to it.  At best, we can try for 100% custody with supervised visits from the father.

LUCY

I don't know.

MRS. BEASLEY

Hear the man out, Luc.

EDWARD FLINCH

For any other attorney, that'd satisfy.  But, you are dealing with Edward Flinch, I'm no novice, Lucy, I can provide you above what you require.

LUCY

Wow, uh, thank you.

MRS. BEASLEY

Don't worry about the cost, Luc.  We just need to keep you and my grand-babies safe.

LUCY

Um, all right.

EDWARD FLINCH

So, paperwork, timeline, let's talk.

Fade into:

Interior: Lobby of Law Offices

(Lucy and Mrs. Beasley walk out of office.  Lucy is a little stunned.  Kiyah approaches her, hugs her.)

KIYAH

You okay?

LUCY

I don't know.

KIYAH

Need a drink?

LUCY

Yeah, I think so.  Nate can watch the kids tonight, probably, right?

KIYAH

Oh yeah, shouldn't be a problem.

LUCY

I'll just send him a text.

KIYAH

You do that.

MRS. BEASLEY

Thanks for looking after her, Kiyah.  You are a good friend.

KIYAH

I do my best.

MRS. BEASLEY

You are wonderful.

LUCY

Nate just texted me, he said he made plans tonight?

KIYAH

Well.

LUCY

It is technically his time off.

KIYAH

Yeah, but you are his boss. So?

MRS. BEASLEY

I could watch--

KIYAH

So, he has to do what you say, kind of, you know.

LUCY

You wouldn't mind, Mom? Yeah, Kiyah, but I don't want to be that kind of boss.  He's already gone over and above what I asked of him.

MRS. BEASLEY

No, its no problem at all.

KIYAH

No, of course not.

Fade Into:

Interior: Nate2's bedroom

(Samantha is asleep, Nate2 rolls over and kisses her face.)

SAMANTHA

Oh, good morning.

NATE2

Yes, yes it is.

SAMANTHA

You are incorrigible.

NATE2

And, so are you.

(They start to make-out.)

Fade into: Lucy and Kiyah's store, an hour later.

(Laura is putting clothes away on the rack, no customers, she is walking listlessly around store, trying to keep busy, make the time go by.  Samantha bangs on the window, startling Laura, Samantha waves enthusiastically.  Laura signals for her to come in.)

(Enter Samantha.)

LAURA

Geez, Samantha, what's going on? Wait a minute, aren't those the same clothes you wore for your coffee date with Nate...oh my god, you didn't?

SAMANTHA

It was quite the coffee date!

Laura

Well, we are quite the different species, aren't we?

SAMANTHA

How so? Oh, because I go all in and you hesitate like woah.

LAURA

Yeah, something like that.

SAMANTHA

So, Nate...my Nate, is playing with his band tonight at the Palisades.  You want to come with?

LAURA

Uh, I can't.

SAMANTHA

Okay, maybe I'll ask Ashley.  Haven't seen her in awhile? I wonder what's up with that girl.  Eh, maybe busy with school...wait, why can't you?

LAURA

I, um, am having dinner with, um, Nate.

SAMANTHA

Your Nate?

LAURA

Yeah, yeah...my Nate.

SAMANTHA

High five.

LAURA

Really? We're doing that.

SAMANTHA

Just humor me.

(They high five.)

Fade into: Backyard of Lucy's house

(Mrs. Beasley approaches Nate's granny unit.  A young man pops his head over neighbor's gate.)

NATE3

Hey there, Mrs B.  How's Lucy and Eddie and the kids?

MRS. BEASLEY

Lucy and the kids are hanging in there.  Eddie isn't around anymore.

NATE3

Wow,I'm sorry to hear about that.

MRS.BEASLEY

I'm not.

(Nate comes out of his granny unit, with Stephen and Adam.)

ADAM

Grandma!!

MRS.BEASLEY

Hello sweetie!

NATE

Hi, Mrs. Beasley.  Thanks for taking the kids.  I would watch them, but I've got this--

MRS.BEASLEY

Don't mention it, Nate.  You've been amazing.  And, please call me Sondra.

NATE

Oh, okay, Sondra.

NATE3

Whose the new guy, Mrs. B?

(Mrs. Beasley cringes and looks at Nate. She sighs.)

MRS.BEASLEY

Nate, this is Lucy's neighbor, Nate.

NATE3

Your name is Nate too?

NATE

Yeah, that's right.  How funny!  I met another guy yesterday with that name.

NATE3

The Nates are taking over.

NATE

Yeah.

NATE3

Total Nate Domination.

NATE

DomiNATEion!

MRS.BEASLEY

Oh dear.  Let's go, Adam.

(She takes Stephen out of Nate's hands and heads for her car.)

ADAM

Bye Nate, see you later, Mr. Alligator.

NATE

In awhile, Mr. Crocodile!

NATE3

Cute kid.  You are?

NATE

Uh, Lucy's manny, um, nanny, male nanny.

NATE3

Nice!  Lucy's great.

NATE

How long have you lived here?

NATE3

Its my parents' place.  I moved back in after the wife split.  I'm in and out actually.

NATE

Yeah, sorry to hear about the marriage ending.

NATE3

Thank you, but its for the best.

NATE

So, what do you do?

NATE3

Hotel clerk by day, writer by night.

NATE

Awesome.  Written anything lately?

NATE3

It's all up here, man.

(He taps his forehead.)

The trick is getting it out.  But, yeah, I got some projects.

NATE

Awesome.  This is such an art town.  I just moved here and...you wouldn't believe it, but I got cast in this film project, a web-series.

NATE3

Rock on, man!  Who with?

NATE

Its a student project.  Girl named, uh, Ashley and--

NATE3

Ashley?

NATE

Yeah, you know her?

NATE3

I might. Last name?

NATE

You know, its kind of embarrasing but I don't know that. I should, I really should but---

NATE3

Ah, no worries. But, congrats, man. So, what you got going on tonight?

NATE

Um, actually I am sort of seeing this girl.

NATE3

Yeah?

CUTAWAY: Laura locking up the store, walking home

NATE

And, she's coming over for dinner tonight, so I should probably go.

NATE3

Nice, man.  Have fun.

Cutaway: Kiyah's house, Laura comes to the bathroom, Samantha's in the shower.

LAURA

Oh my gosh, Samantha.  You gonna be a long time?

SAMANTHA

I be long time.

LAURA

What?

SAMANTHA

Sorry, bad joke.

LAURA

Can you hurry? I've got to get ready for...tonight.

SAMANTHA

Okay, got it.

LAURA

And, don't use all the hot water.

CUTAWAY: Nate3 and Nate

NATE3

So, you need protection?

NATE

Um, no I'm good. Thanks.

NATE3

Its good to be prepared.

NATE

Yeah, of course.  Not sure if it will go that far but, she wants to take it slow.

NATE3

She's coming over, to your house, for dinner and you don't think she wants to--

NATE

Yeah, I see your point.  But, I'm good, I've got some, thanks.

NATE3

And, hopefully you will too.

NATE

Will what?

NATE3

Get some.

(They both laugh.)

Montage:Laura in the shower, shaving her legs, armpits,Nate cleaning the house, making the dinner, Laura blowdrying her hair, putting on make-up, trying different outfits, with or without samantha's approval, Nate trying different outfits

Fade into: Laura walking down the street near Lucy's house.

(Her cellphone rings and she pulls it out of her purse.)

LAURA

Hello? Mom? What's wrong? Oh my god!

Fade intO: Nate's granny unit, a few minutes later, knock at the door.

(Nate opens the door, Laura stands before him, in a state of shock.)

NATE

Hello there, Laura.

(Laura doesn't say anything.)

Is...something...wrong?

LAURA

(as if coming out of a dream)

Nate? Hi...

NATE

Laura?

LAURA

My dad...my dad's dead.

NATE

Oh my god, come in, come in.

Fade into: Nate's living room, Nate and Laura sitting on the couch together.

NATE

You need anything? Water? Wine? I don't know?

LAURA

I...I...don't know...I need to pack, Mom's buying me a ticket, got to go home for...the service and all that.

NATE

Yeah sure.

(Laura gets up and moves towards the door.)

You have to go now?

LAURA

Yeah, I'm really sorry, Nate.  I don't think I would be much fun is all.

NATE

You don't have to be.

(He crosses to her, in front of her.)

I just...want to be here for you, is all.

LAURA

Yeah?

NATE

Yeah.

(They smile at each other softly.  Nate takes Laura's hands.)

Stay?

(Laura thinks about it for a moment.)

LAURA

I wish...but I feel I have to go.

NATE

Oh, all right.  Do what you have to do.

LAURA

Thanks, Nate.  And, I'm sorry.  I really am.

NATE

Don't be.  Life happens.

(Laura turns towards the door, is about to leave, then turns back to Nate, runs to him, kisses him passionately. She pulls away and smiles at him.)

LAURA

Thank you, Nate.  You are...such a nice change.

NATE

You are welcome.

(They kiss again, this time even more passionately.  Laura breaks away, and starts moving towards the door again.)

LAURA

I'll call you, okay?

NATE

Please do.

Angel

Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act Two, scene Two

Exterior: Farmer's Market

(Samantha and Laura are jogging on the street.)

SAMANTHA

Oh, the market! Let's stop here a minute.

LAURA

You just want to see your Nate!

SAMANTHA

Do you blame me?

(The girls move into the market and head to Nate2's booth.)

Interior: Nate2's Vegetable Booth.

NATE2

Hey there, its you!

SAMANTHA

Its me! How are you?

NATE2

Good. Did you get my text?

SAMANTHA

I got your text.  I sent you one back, did you get it?

NATE2

I don't think so.  Damn technology. So? You want anything?

SAMANTHA

Definitely.

(Laura spots Nate a few booths over.  She tugs on Samantha's sleeve, Samantha looks at her, Laura motions towards Nate, and Samantha spots Nate at the other booth.)

NATE2

So, you free later? Want to hang out? Coffee?

SAMANTHA

Yes!

(to Nate at the other booth.)

Hey Nate!

(Laura cringes.)

NATE2

Nate?

(Nate looks up and sees Laura and Samantha, he smiles sheepishly but doesn't move.)

SAMANTHA

Come over here, Nate.

(Nate cautiously makes his way over to Laura and Samantha.)

Nate, this is...uh...Nate.

NATE2

Hey.

NATE

Hi! How are you?

SAMANTHA

Uh, Nate is Laura's...friend.

(Laura grabs Samantha and pulls her aside.)

LAURA

OMG! What are you doing?

SAMANTHA

What? My Nate thought that Your Nate was My Nate too so I had to...he is your Nate, sort of, isn't he?

LAURA

I just haven't talked to him since...

SAMANTHA

So, now's your chance.

LAURA

Its just awkward.

SAMANTHA

It doesn't have to be.

(Samantha puts her arm around Laura and leads her back to the Nates.)

So, coffee later? I'd love that.

NATE2

Downtown grounds? 2 pm?

SAMANTHA

I'll be there.

NATE

Hey there, Laura.

LAURA

Um, hi.

(They start to walk away slowly.)

NATE

How've you been?

LAURA

Good. I'm sorry I've been so...distant. This isn't easy for me.

NATE

This?

LAURA

This....thing.  Dating...relationships...Love.  Its hard.

NATE

Oh I see.

LAURA

Trust issues, you know?

NATE

Yeah, I know.

(Their eyes meet, they walk in silence for a moment.)

LAURA

Bell ringing for you?

NATE

Loudly, yes.

LAURA

Mine too.

NATE

You have a bell too?

LAURA

Oh yeah.

NATE

I guess that explains the ringtone.

LAURA

Oh yeah.  I tried to smother it because...

NATE

Yeah.

LAURA

Because I'm weird.

NATE

Yeah.

LAURA

Hey!

NATE

I'm kidding.

LAURA

When I let the bell just be...a bell...its so easy. To talk to you.

NATE

Be with you.

LAURA

Yeah, no explanation needed.  Just is what it is.

NATE

Yeah.  Coffee?

LAURA

I'd like that.

(They head to the coffee booth.)

BARISTA

Hi there! What can I get for you? Oh, its you guys again!

NATE

Yeah, its us.  How are you?

BARISTA

Doing well.  Where's the little one?

NATE

With his grandma.

BARISTA

How are you?

NATE

Doing wonderful.  We're letting bells be bells.

(He reaches for Laura's hand, she takes it.  They smile at each other and stand there holding hands.)

BARISTA

Ah, I see.  So, what do you want then?

NATE

Um, two lattes please?

LAURA

Yeah, I'd love a latte.

(Nate hands the barista his debit card, she takes it.)

BARISTA

Right. I'll get right on that.

(Barista starts preparing drinks. Nate turns to Laura.  He smiles at her, she smiles at him.)

Fade INTO:

(Ashley, in drug store, pushing cart down aisle.  She stops and surveys shelves before her.)

POV: Ashley, shelves filled with pregnancy tests, Condoms, etc.

Camera Pans Into One Pregnancy Test, Ashley picks it up

CLOSE UP: Ashley's face, she sighs.

Fade into: Farmer's Market

(Nate and Laura walking hand in hand, carrying lattes, smiling at each other, talking happily.)

Till There Was You

Nate & Laura & How They Met

Act Two, Scene One

Interior: Lucy and Kiyah's shop.

(Kiyah and Laura are behind the counter, POV: Nate.  Laura looks down and starts folding a t-shirt.)

KIYAH

Nate.

NATE

Yeah, hi.  Lucy wanted me to come by and, um,

(He glances over at Laura, who keeps her head down, hiding her embarrassment, the fact that she is blushing.)

See how things were.

KIYAH

Yeah, uh huh, Lucy did, did she?

NATE

Um, yeah.

KIYAH

How is she? Lucy, that is.

NATE

She's...hanging in there.  We talked a lot last night, I stayed over--

(Kiyah coughs, Laura sighs.)

On the couch!  She cried most of the night, I think she slept a bit.  But...

(He looks at Laura, who unfolds shirt, then starts re-folding it.)

Yeah, so she wanted me to come by and see how things were...here...with the shop...and all.

KIYAH

Right.  She did.  Kids still with her mom?

NATE

Um, yeah, of course.  Otherwise they'd be with me, right?

KIYAH

Right.

(She looks at Laura.  Nate looks at Laura.  Laura unfolds and then refolds shirt, doesn't look at either of them.)

So? Is that all?

NATE

Um, I...guess so.

KIYAH

Okay, so....

Nate

So...I guess I'll just go.

(He waits.  He and Kiyah stare at each other, they look at Laura, she sighs and then unfolds, refolds shirt.)

Okay, bye.

KIYAH

Yeah, see you around.

(He exits store.)

CUTAWAY:Nate right outside store, shaking his head, looking up, saying to himself, "what?"

Cutaway: Kiyah and Laura in store behind counter

KIYAH

Well, that was slightly awkward.

LAURA

What?

KIYAH

Well, maybe not just slightly. Maybe like completely awkward.

LAURA

Sorry...boys on the side, right?

KIYAH

Yeah, but.  I mean, you gonna ever talk to him again or...?

LAURA

I said I was sorry.

KIYAH

Yeah, its just kind of...

LAURA

Kind of...what?

KIYAH

Well, a bit childish.

LAURA

Oh, well, god, I'm sorry.

KIYAH

What's the big deal anyway? I mean, you like him, he likes you, I get that now.

LAURA

Yeah, but you said, you wanted, I--

KIYAH

Yeah, yeah.  Boys on the side, of course.  But, why the 'cat got your tongue' thing all of a sudden? What the hell, Laura?

LAURA

What the hell? I just...it was bad with Scott, you know.  I couldn't...anything...at all without...and even before Scott, with others.  It was always that arreway.  I'm just, you know, just damaged goods.

KIYAH

Um, first of all, no, you're not.  Second of all, you think Nate is going to be that way? You think that every relationship will always be like that? This is a serious question, Laura.

LAURA

Yeah, I guess...I guess I feel that way.  Yeah.

KIYAH

Well, that really sucks, Laura, majorly.

LAURA

Tell me about it.  Damaged goods, I tell you.

Cutaway: Ashley at College Cafeteria, with a tray at a food bar.

(Ashley surveys the food types.  Server waits for her to tell him what she wants, she stares growing more and more green.)

SERVER

You gonna order something or just admire the arrangement?

(Ashley looks over food, grabs her mouth to stop vomit, turns and runs off hurriedly, leaves tray.)

Cutaway: Ashley running to bathroom, opens door, runs in.

CLOSE UP: Bathroom door

Cutaway: bathroom, Ashley's feet peeking out under stall door.

(Ashley is heard vomiting in stall.)

CUTAWAY:Server

SERVER

Well, that's a fine how do you do?

(Server continues work, serving other customers.)

The Lonely

Nate & Laura & How They Met

ACT ONE, SCENE THREE

Exterior: College Dormitory Apartments, parking lot.

(Kiyah pulls into parking lot, stops car.  Ashley gets out.  She waves and says bye.  The car pulls away and Ashley watches it drive away before turning and heading into her apartment building.)

Fade Into:

Interior: Kiyah's living room

(Kiyah, Samantha, and Laura enter.)

KIYAH

(heading directly into her bedroom)

Laura, I can't even.

(She slams the door behind her.)

LAURA

What? Kiyah, don't be like that.  Just say it.

KIYAH

(coming out of her room, standing in the doorway)

How dare you? I asked you if you liked him and you said it was nothing, twenty minutes of nothing...Don't say it, Samantha! Why didn't you just tell me the truth, Laura?

LAURA

I didn't know...I didn't want...I don't want...

KIYAH

Don't want? But you kissed him!

LAURA

He kissed me!

KIYAH

Oh for the love of...why does everything good happen to everyone else?

LAURA

Don't say that, Kiyah.  Just don't.

KIYAH

So, he kissed you and now what, you guys are--

LAURA

Nothing...wait, I don't know...I just--

KIYAH

Nothing?

LAURA

(collapsing onto sofa)

I just don't know, okay? I mean, look what we just did today, with Lucy.  I'm just gun-shy, all right? Look, I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you but I honestly didn't want to...see it for myself.

KIYAH

Right. Whatever.

LAURA

Look, I am starting at the shop in the morning, for Lucy, so I think I just need a nice hot shower and then just to not think for awhile.  I need some time...to myself.  I don't want...

KIYAH

Don't want?

LAURA

Love.  I guess, I am....

SAMANTHA

Running?

LAURA

Yeah. That.

Fade into: Nate, in his room.

(Nate holds a piece of paper with "Laura's cell 541.226.5886" scribbled across it in one hand and his phone in the other. He stares for along time at the paper, as if willing himself to call or text her. His phone rings, the caller id reads "Jessica", he hesitates and then silences the phone. He puts it down on the table.)

Fade out.

Act one, Scene Four

Exterior: Street

(Laura is in jogging clothes, running and listening to music.)

Fade into: Ashley, waking up in her dorm room bed

She sits up, groggy eyed, then suddenly runs to bathroom.

CUTAWAY: Ashley bending over toilet, vomiting.

CUTAWAY:Laura running down the street, headphones in.

Cutaway: Nate and doodle leaving his granny unit

Nate walks Doodle down the street, sees Laura ahead of him on the other side of the street.  He watches her from afar, hesitating.

Cutaway: Laura in foreground, Nate in background with doodle.

Fade into: Lucy and Kiyah's boutique

(Laura and Kiyah are at work together, silently working, after a few beats, Kiyah speaks.)

KIYAH

Hey, Laura?

LAURA

Yeah?

KIYAH

Look, I've been thinking.  I mean, I am sorry that I was so harsh with you yesterday...I guess after everything that happened with Lucy and you and Samantha...and even with my ex...I get kind of testy.  I just...

LAURA

It's okay.  You've been awesome for all of us.  We've been through a lot, and its like what they always say--

KIYAH

What do they always say?

LAURA

I'll tell you...'Guys come and go, but friends are forever'.  So, let's not let little ol' Nate the Manny come between us.  So not worth it.

(Laura freezes with the memory of that last phrase from yesterday. Kiyah doesn't see it.)

KIYAH

Yeah, I just want to know, when its going to happen for me.  You know, love, life, everything.  I am almost thirty and I don't even know what I am doing with my life.  I mean, I got the shop but its really all Lucy, I'm just her glorified assistant.

LAURA

You are so more than that.

KIYAH

Well, yeah, but not legally.  I never finished my degree, so it is what it is.

LAURA

Maybe you should.

KIYAH

Should?

Laura

Finish your degree?

KIYAH

Yeah, been thinking about it, actually.

LAURA

Yeah, I need to figure out myself too, what I want and who I am...without.

KIYAH

Without?

LAURA

Without...a guy, without anything.  Just me.  Just Laura.

KIYAH

Yeah, like who is Kiyah without.  Who is Kiyah? Kiyah is?

LAURA

So its settled then? Boys on the side, friends forever?

KIYAH

Friends forever!

(They fist bump and then hug.  The door bell opens to signify that someone has entered.)

(Nate approaches the counter.)

(Laura and Kiyah's faces fall.)

Distance

Nate & Laura & How They Met. (Season Two!)

Act One, Scene One

(Nate and Laura on Lucy's front porch, a few minutes later, kissing.)

CUTAWAY: Samantha, Kiyah, Lucy, Ashley in Lucy's kitchen, cooking, bottle of wine on the table.

Kiyah

Hey, where's Laura?

Samantha

I think she's still outside, on the patio.

KIYAH

Can you go get her? She should help too.

SAMANTHA

Yes, mother.

(Kiyah glares at Samantha, Samantha turns and walks into living room.)

POV: Samantha, in living room, looking onto patio, seeing Nate and laura, kissing, being romantically googly-eyed.

CLOSE UP:Samantha's face, smiling.

(Samantha turns and re-enters kitchen.)

KIYAH

So, where's Laura?

SAMANTHA

Um...a bit busy right now, actually.

KIYAH

Oh for the love of...do I have to do everything?

(Kiyah starts to leave.)

SAMANTHA

Kiyah...wait...no.

(Kiyah exits kitchen. Samantha looks at Lucy and Ashley. She shrugs.)

POV: kiyah in living room sees Nate and Laura on patio, kissing.

POV: Kiyah crossing outside onto patio.

POV: Nate looking down at Laura, smiling up at him, Kiyah appears in background.

KIYAH

Really, Laura? You're doing this now!

(Laura turns and sees Kiyah.)

Laura

Kiyah...I...

KIYAH

Your friend's husband just got carted off to jail for beating her ass and your making out with her manny on the patio! Really, Laura, Really?

LAURA

Um...

(Samantha appears behind Kiyah.)

SAMANTHA

Food's ready.

Nate

Let's eat.

Fade into:

Act one, Scene Two

(The whole gang are sitting around dining room table of Lucy's kitchen. Nate is sitting at the head of the table, across from Kiyah. Laura is to the right of him and Lucy is to the right of her. Ashley and Samantha are across from Lucy and Laura. Ashley reaches for salad and begins to serve herself.)

KIYAH

I think we should take a moment.

Ashley

A moment?

KIYAH

Like, I don't know, hold hands, or something

ASHLEY

What, say grace? We're doing that now?

SAMANTHA

Do you even say grace? Like ever?

ASHLEY

What? You think 'cause I'm Asian, that I don't...that I'm Buddhist or something.

SAMANTHA

Um, no, no, not at all, that's not what I'm saying.  Just asking.

ASHLEY

Right then.

KIYAH

Can we just?

(She reaches for Samantha and Lucy's hands. They all grab hands.)

CLOSE UP: Nate and Laura's hands meet.

(Nate smiles at Laura, she looks down, blushing.)

KIYAH

So, I just want to say that we've all been through a lot recently, some more recently than others and I just want to say that no matter what, we look out for each other.Because no matter what, we're family. Even Nate.

NATE

What?

KIYAH

Um...nothing. Just that you're, like, the new guy. So...

NATE

So, what?

KIYAH

So...dig in, everybody!

(Samantha's phone buzzes with a text coming in.  Kiyah glares at her.  Samantha reaches into pocket to shut it off.)

CLOSE UP:Samantha's phone with Text from Nate

CLOSE UP: Samantha's face, excited

(Samantha silences phone and slips it into her pocket, helps herself to food, smiling silently.  She looks across the table at Laura, winks.)

LAURA

Yes, Samantha?

SAMANTHA

What?

LAURA

You winked?

SAMANTHA

Oh no, I didn't...I mean.

(She winks again.)

LAURA

You just did it again.

SAMANTHA

Look, can we talk later? Its important.

Fade into:

Act one, Scene Three

(Samantha and Laura on front patio.  Samantha hands her cellphone to Laura.)

LAURA

What's this?

SAMANTHA

Its my cellphone, duh.  I got a text from Nate, my Nate.  Thanks for making it awkward back there.  Weirdo.

LAURA

Well, you winked at me. Since when do we wink?

SAMANTHA

Since when do we not wink!  Its a code for "I got a secret", kind of thing.  Everyone knows that.

LAURA

Well, I can't ever recall a time when you ever winked at me personally--

SAMANTHA

Can you not? Look, he texted me.  He actually texted me.

LAURA

So, what did he say?

SAMANTHA

Can't you read?

LAURA

I don't know how to open your text messages, what's your password?

SAMANTHA

Oh, god dammit!

(She takes phone, punches in password, hands phone back to Laura.)

LAURA

"Hey, sorry its been so long. I've been busy--Nate."

(Laura looks over at Samantha and hands phone back to him.)

SAMANTHA

So?

LAURA

So, he's been busy?

SAMANTHA

Yeah, and he's sorry and...and...and...Laura, he's into me too.  He's into me!  We both have our Nates!

LAURA

What?

SAMANTHA

I saw you...

LAURA

Oh, yeah, that.

SAMANTHA

Wait, what the hell?

LAURA

Yeah, I don't know.

SAMANTHA

Laura!!

LAURA

I just, maybe, I rushed into things.  And, I mean, just because he texted you doesn't mean you "have" him.  A person can't really "have" another--

SAMANTHA

Hey, don't get all philosophical, just let me "have" this, okay? Just because you got your weird hang-ups and stuff!

LAURA

All right, all right.

SAMANTHA

Yeah, and what's wrong with you anyway? You looked pretty happy with Nate--

LAURA

Yeah, I guess I...just don't want to ruin things...

SAMANTHA

Ruin things? How so?

LAURA

I don't know.  And, I just don't want to rush into things, fall hard, like I always do, and end up getting fucked over in the end. You know?

SAMANTHA

Yeah, yeah.  Its always a risk.

(She looks down at her cellphone.)

Well, now I'm good and depressed.  Thanks.

LAURA

No problem.

(They hug. Kiyah, Ashley, Lucy, and Nate exit from house onto patio.)

KIYAH

You sure you don't need anything else, Lucy? You don't want someone to stay?

LUCY

No, I'll be fine.  Thank you.

KIYAH

Call if you need anything, anything at all.  Doesn't matter what time.  Okay?

LUCY

Okay. I will, mother.

KIYAH

Why does everyone keep saying that?

(She laughs and hugs Lucy.)

LUCY

Nate will be just across the yard,if I need anything too.

KIYAH

Huh.  Don't know what I think about that.

NATE

What?

(Kiyah stares down Nate, he ducks his head and moves over toward Laura, who blushes.)

Hey, Laura.

LAURA

Yeah.

(Nate moves to hug Laura, she responds.  He tries to kiss her and she moves away, his kiss lands on her shoulder.)

NATE

Everything okay?

LAURA

Yeah, I mean, just have a lot to think about.

NATE

Oh, okay.

LAURA

I'm really sorry...I'm not trying to--

NATE

Its fine. Really, it is.

LAURA

Okay.  I'll text you or something.

NATE

Okay, great.

(Laura heads toward Kiyah's car with Samantha.  Kiyah starts to follow.)

KIYAH

Need a lift, Ashley?

ASHLEY

Yes, please.

(Kiyah follows Laura and Samantha.  Ashley turns to Nate.)

ASHLEY

Hang in there, all right?

NATE

Okay, thanks, I guess.

ASHLEY

Just be patient with her, I mean.  She's worth it.

NATE

I hope you're right.

ASHLEY

I am. I always am.

(Ashley heads to Kiyah's car.  She gets into passenger side.  Samantha is in the back seat, Laura is about to climb in beside her.)

NATE

See you later, Laura.

(Laura turns to him, smiles shyly, then gets in, closes the door.  She looks out the window as the car drives away and turns and looks back at him as the car moves away.)

(Nate leans against patio railing and watches car as it drives away. Lucy exits into house.)

(After car has driven off, Nate crosses into house.)

Fade into:

Lucy's living room.

(Nate enters living room, Lucy is sitting dejectedly on the couch.)

NATE

Care for a little company?

LUCY

Yeah, I guess.

(Nate crosses and sits next to her.)

NATE

You gonna be okay tonight? I can stay if you--

LUCY

Um, look, I don't want to, I mean, I'm still married, I'm flattered though--

NATE

Wait, what? No, I meant as a friend, I'd stay on the couch, if anything.

LUCY

Oh, oh.  I'm sorry.  I guess I'm rusty at this, eh, the dating thing, never was any good at it though, no big surprise there.

NATE

Hey, stop that, okay?

LUCY

What?

NATE

Stop putting yourself down, okay? You are awesome, okay? I haven't known you that long except for the emails that got me here and these last couple weeks but, Lucy, you own your own business, you run it and this house, you are an awesome mom--

LUCY

Really? An awesome mom?

NATE

Yeah, the kids love you! They really do!

LUCY

Really? Thanks, Nate.

NATE

Yeah, Eddie's just...just a big loser and creep, if you ask me.

LUCY

Heh.

NATE

Sorry I...I guess I don't know what to say either.

LUCY

No, its fine.  You want something? Glass of wine?

(She rises.)

NATE

Sure.  Need help with anything?

(He rises and follows her in the kitchen.)

LUCY

I think Kiyah got everyone to clean up. She's wonderful like that.  Everyone's mother.

NATE

Yeah, yeah, I guess.

Fade Into:

Lucy's kitchen.

(Lucy is in the kitchen, pouring two glasses of wine.  Nate is leaning against the counter.)

LUCY

Huh? Yeah, she can be kind of protective, well, super protective, I guess.

NATE

Huh?

LUCY

I noticed she was pretty shrill with you over whatever with you and Laura.

NATE

Whatever with me and Laura.

LUCY

Its just that, its like Ashley said, just hang in there.

(She hands him a glass of wine.  He takes it.)

NATE

Yeah, whatever, I guess.  Oh my god!

LUCY

What?

NATE

I don't think I ever gave her my phone number.

LUCY

So?

NATE

So, she said she'd text and--

LUCY

And?

NATE

How is she going do that? God, Nate, how could you be so stupid?

LUCY

How do you mean?

NATE

That's such a put off line.  "I'll text you", when she doesn't even have my number. God, Nate, so stupid.

LUCY

Okay, now its my turn to tell you to stop!  Look, Laura's had it rough when it comes to guys...Sigh.  We all have.  She's just a little guarded. Give her a chance.

NATE

Whatever.

LUCY

No, really. Trust me on this one.  I don't know why I still believe in love, but I do.  I mean, I want my friends' to be happy.  Look, I have her number if you want it.

NATE

Really? Maybe, I don't know.  I don't want to seem too pushy or eager or...

LUCY

Games, games, games!  Just, I don't know, take a risk, all right, god dammit!

NATE

Okay, okay.

LUCY

To the risk!

NATE

To the risk!

(They raise their glasses and connect them, then drink.)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love