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.)
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