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.
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