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My Perfect Life - Quarter 3
By Bob Klein
We see a rainy outside with an empty street running down it. A large noise seems to come from far away. Suddenly, the garage door opens.
The noise seems to get louder and louder as ORLANDO peels out of the garage. At the end of it, he quickly spins out into the middle of the street. Within a split second, a LARGE TRUCK smashes into the front of ORLANDO'S car.
With a bash of fury, ORLANDO'S car spins ninety degrees and finally flips on its side, rolling about fifteen feet up the street. The LARGE TRUCK quickly backs up into a driveway, and peels out of sight.
FADE OUT
FADE TO:
INT. GUEST BEDROOM - NIGHT
A close-up shot on SCOTT'S face, as he reacts to what he had just witness.
You can see a tear collect in his eye, and roll down his pale face.
FADE OUT
FADE TO:
INT. MOM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A close-up shot on MOM, as she suddenly awakes from the loud noise she just heard.
She wipes sweat from her forehead, grabs a glass of water by the bed, and starts to drink it.
FADE OUT
FADE TO:
EXT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT
In the middle of an almost pitch-black upstairs hallway, a DARK CREATURE is shown. No details can be made out of it.
After a few seconds, the DARK CREATURE tilts its head.
FADE OUT
FADE TO:
INT. TIM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A close-up shot on TIM, as his eyes pop open after hearing a loud noise.
TIM reaches below and pulls the cover back over his body.
FADE OUT
FADE TO:
INT. GUEST BEDROOM - NIGHT
Another close-up shot of SCOTT. His reaction sort of changes from extremely sad to being very frustrated and angry.
Staring out the window, he slowly grinds his teeth together.
FADE OUT
FADE TO:
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
In a near-empty cemetery, a large group of people surround a closed casket, which is bombarded with flowers and pictures.
PRIEST
. . . And with one last grueling
accident, the man's life was ended.
Such a tragic event to happen in
a community that's only interrupted
by a speeding ticket every other
year.
(beat; coughs)
And here is . . . the son.
The PRIEST walks away from a small podium as TIM takes his place. TIM pulls a small piece of a paper out of his pocket. He starts to read it.
TIM
(trying to act natural)
Orlando wasn't just a stepfather. He
was a real person. He had feelings,
fears, hopes, goals. It took us a
while to realize this, but once we
did, his presence became . . . easier.
Although most disliked the man, I found
him to be a good guy. In the end, we
finally ended up doing a lot together.
(beat)
After the recent death of Hugo, my
fake uncle, my family has gone through
a lot of shit.
SCOTT looks up at TIM.
TIM
I even liked the guy so much that I
wrote a song about him in my grunge
band called The Dewey Melons.
TIM notices that most of the crowd is staring at him.
TIM
I . . . I tried to forgive myself for
letting our sophomore album flop, but
I mean, it wasn't all my fault. Eric,
our bassist, did a terrible job. Most
of the songs made us sound like we
were a Chicago cover band. I mean . . .
who likes Chicago? They are the . . .
SCOTT pulls TIM away from the podium.
SCOTT
Sorry, folks. He's still sad about what
has happened.
SCOTT pushes TIM away from the crowd. Trying to keep it low, you can still hear SCOTT swearing at TIM for what he just said.
MOM walks up to the podium, trying to solve the problem.
MOM
Let's just have these last few moments
in complete silence for Orlando.
The crowed bows their heads in complete silence as honor of ORLANDO. We can still hear SCOTT faintly yelling at TIM.
INT. CAR - DAY
TIM is driving the nice Jaguar as MOM sits shotgun and SCOTT is in one of the back seats. SCOTT leans forward, talking to the others.
SCOTT
Why, in my eyes, do I see that as the
worst funeral ever held for a human
being? Did we pay for that?
TIM
Sure hope not.
MOM
Hey, guys. It wasn't that bad. It was
short, but we did what we needed to
do! We honored Orlando.
SCOTT
With the help of Tim's fabulous speech.
TIM
Shut the hell up, Scotty. I got worked
up, okay?
The car is silent.
FADE OUT
FADE TO:
EXT. SCOTT'S HOUSE - DAY
"TWO MONTHS LATER"
SCOTT finishes cutting one last row of grass, and then stop . . . as if he sees something. From the other end of our view, we see DAN walk up to SCOTT. They both smile at each other.
SCOTT
Haha! Look at you, blacky.
DAN
Like the tan, eh?
SCOTT
How the hell was California?
DAN
Hell of a lot better than this rotten
place. How has everything been? I mean,
like, with the family and all?
SCOTT
Interesting. We had the funeral. Just
turned out to be a complete waste of
time. Hrmm . . . me and my mom are in
therapy . . . Tim has been acting
strange again . . . Willey won't stop
visiting me.
DAN
(beat)
Holy crap, therapy? Why?
SCOTT
When someone sees two dead bodies in
less than a month that died on their
very own property, they usually end
up needing therapy.
DAN
So be it.
SCOTT
It's interesting.
DAN
(beat)
Willey?
SCOTT
Yeah.
DAN
Who's Willey?
SCOTT
Since Orlando passed away, I've been
visited every other night by an imaginary creature named Willey.
DAN
Freaky.
(beat)
What does he . . . it look like?
SCOTT
Tall. Dark. I don't know. I can't tell.
He only visits me in the nights on
some days to tell me things. At first
it freaked me out, but I grew used
to it. The therapist says that its
myself trying to replace Orlando in
my life.
(beat)
I think she's full of shit. I bet I'm
a whacko.
SCOTT removes the bag of grass from the lawn mower and walks it to the back. DAN stares at the ground.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
SCOTT and MOM sit at the kitchen table, eating dinner. The phone suddenly rings, but neither of them seems to notice. After a couple of more rings, SCOTT gets up and walks over to the phone.
SCOTT picks it up.
SCOTT
Hello?
CALLER
(in a Latino accent)
Orlando's death wasn't a mistake
little buddy. I know you saw it.
SCOTT
Who the hell is this?
CALLER
It's all because of Gizzy. Warping
his stupid little mind. He wouldn't
have left if Gizzy hadn't brain-washed
him.
SCOTT
He told me that it was his own idea
to leave. And I ain't saying anything
else to you until I know who this is.
CALLER
Orlando's going to have to pay. Just
like Gizzy did. We're going to ruin
that fucker's life.
SCOTT
Orlando's dead, mother fucker!
SCOTT furiously hangs up, and looks over to his mother.
MOM
Who was that?
SCOTT
Wrong number.
SCOTT sits back down at the table, and starts to eat his food again.
INT. SCOTT'S ROOM - DAY
SCOTT sits at his computer chair as TIM lies on the bed.
TIM
Wait . . . so, he actually told you
that he was a drug dealer?
SCOTT
You should of heard him. He told me
the story of why he left his old home
with his partner, Gizzy. They got set
up by their boss at the time, or
something. They realized it out . . .
and fled away.
(beat)
They finally caught up with Gizzy and
made him kill his own family.
TIM
Holy shit. That's insane.
SCOTT
Why did I have to start liking the dude
when he finally got the bucket kicked
on him, man?
TIM
Orlando told me that he was only scared
of two things in his life. His old
boss . . . and God. This explains why
he fears his boss.
SCOTT
He feared God?
(beat)
What a pussy.
TIM laughs.
TIM
It's not going to be funny around this
place anymore.
SCOTT
Yeah. Remember the time when Orlando
the pilot light for the heater in the
basement to light up? Burnt his hand.
(beat; laughs)
And the phony story he told the doctor
about how it happened.
TIM
(laughing)
Or the time when our internet connection
was busted . . . so he went to the
library just to look at porn.
(beat)
That was the best.
SCOTT
Or how Orlando got kicked out of the
White Sox game last year because he
threw the foul ball he caught into
the field during a play.
They both laugh.
SCOTT
Orlando was the best at that stuff.
The doorbell rings.
SCOTT
I'll get it.
SCOTT gets off the chair and runs out of the room. TIM watches as he goes past him.
INT. FOYER - DAY
SCOTT trots down the stairs and walks to the door. He peers through the window to try and see who it is. He can't.
Opening the door, he finally realizes the face on the other side of the window.
SCOTT
Holy shit.
SCOTT'S DAD turns around.
DAD
Hey Scotty! What's going on?!
SCOTT
DAD?!
SCOTT hugs his DAD with all of the energy in his body.
SCOTT
Mom! Mom! Dad's here!!
SCOTT'S DAD smiles as his sees SCOTT'S MOM turn the corner in the hallway. Her mouth opens wide and she starts running to him.
They both hug.
DAD
Sorry I never called you guys. I was
strung up with a job downtown. I kept
thinking about coming back here, but
never did!
(beat)
Where's Timmy?
All three look toward the second floor. A door slamming can be heard.
SCOTT
That can't be good.
MOM
Scott, help your dad with his things.
When you guys are done, come downstairs.
We can all go out for lunch.
SCOTT picks up a suitcase on the patio, and walks it into the house.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
SCOTT and his MOM sit on in one booth, and across from them is DAD. In the middle of eating their dinner, they seem to be deep into a conversation.
SCOTT
What job did you have downtown?
DAD
I was involved with stock brokers,
the NASDAQ, things like that. Nothing
you'd understand, Scotty.
SCOTT
Sounds boring. Make good money?
DAD
Sort of. Had a little apartment on
the shore. Awesome view of the lake!
(beat)
How about you, Liz? Did you ever get
into any new relationships?
MOM
Yeah, a couple. Got married to a very
charming man a while back. He passed
away half a year ago, though.
DAD
That's terrible. I'm sorry.
MOM
How about you?
DAD
Nope.
(smiles)
I never got over you!
MOM looks over at SCOTT.
MOM
THAT'S creepy.
They all laugh.
MOM
So, why are you back here?
DAD
Liz . . . I need a favor of you. I
won't lie about this. I promised
myself that I wouldn't lie anymore,
so I wont.
(beat)
I need a place to stay.
MOM
Now, Tim . . .
DAD
Liz! Please! Just hear me out. I had
the most difficult time keeping my
place downtown. It just got too darn
expensive. And to top it off, my boss
laid me off today. I don't have a job!
SCOTT looks at his MOM.
SCOTT
C'mon, Mom. I never get to see him
anymore.
DAD
It'll only be for a few weeks at the
very most. I'll start searching for a
new job first thing tomorrow! And I'll
even look for a job out here . . . so
I can spend more time with Scott and
Tim.
(beat)
It'll be perfect.
MOM looks at the table and plays with her food.
MOM
ONLY if you start looking for a job
right away.
CLOSEUP on DAD.
DAD
(smiling)
This is gonna be great.
INT. MOM'S ROOM - NIGHT
TIM
This is bullshit!
TIM yells at his mother as she puts laundry away in her room. She just doesn't really seem to care.
MOM
I just don't understand you anymore.
Aren't sons supposed to love their
fathers? Isn't that the way the world
works?
TIM
Yeah, sons will love fathers who
actually ATTEND their High School
graduation. Sons will love fathers
who show some fucking appreciation!
MOM
Watch your mouth.
TIM
I can't take it anymore! This whole
house has turned to shit! Two . . .
yeah TWO people have been murdered
on our property in the last year.
MOM
Orlando wasn't murdered.
TIM
Scott is the only one here who gets
it! Even though he's visited nightly
by a six foot creature thing, I truly
think that he's more sane than you!
(beat)
MOM! You're letting the husband that
BEAT YOU . . . the husband that even
CHEATED ON YOU . . . back into the
house! And you know what! I bet he's
just going to try to get right back
in your pants!
MOM abruptly tries to walk away from TIM, but he stops her.
TIM
MOM! I know he'll do that! I know what
he's like!
MOM
You have absolutely no idea what your
father is like. Don't even get me
started.
TIM
Hey Mom . . . WAKE UP CALL. Notice how
when Dad left my grades skyrocketed?
Huh?! Notice how when Dad left, I was
home more often?! Notice how when Dad
left, everything was fine around here?!
(beat)
No. You don't. And that's why you're
making this mistake. God damnit, Mom.
(beat)
You're killing us.
TIM turns around and walks out of the room. MOM turns around, grabs a seashell off of her dresser, and smashes it against her mirror.
She screams.
INT. SCOTT'S ROOM - NIGHT
TIM walks into the room to find SCOTT sitting at his computer.
SCOTT
The hell was that?
TIM
Don't worry. Mom's throwing a fit.
SCOTT
She gonna be okay?
TIM
Yeah.
(beat)
Your car got gas?
SCOTT
Yeah, man. Why?
TIM
Take me to work. I'll give you some
gas money.
SCOTT reaches to his desk and grabs his keys.
SCOTT
Just take my keys, man.
TIM
No . . . drive me.
SCOTT gets off of his chair.
SCOTT
Whatever floats your boat.
They both walk out of the room.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
SCOTT and TIM walk up to SCOTT'S car. They get in. Either one says a word to the other.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
SCOTT
Work?
TIM
Yeah.
SCOTT
When do you start?
TIM
Twenty minutes. Want to get there early.
SCOTT stares at TIM.
EXT. GAS STATION - NIGHT
SCOTT'S CAR pulls up to the gas station and stops right outside the door.
TIM
(peering inside the station)
Good. Boss isn't here.
SCOTT
Is this what I think it is?
TIM looks over to SCOTT.
TIM
Don't tell Mom. You know . . . that
you knew. I don't want you being the
one blamed for this shit.
SCOTT
Is it because of Dad?
TIM
(beat)
He's not my Dad anymore.
SCOTT
He's more your Dad than Orlando was
. . . or ever could be, Tim. Just
want you to realize that.
TIM
It doesn't matter. That fucker was
never there when it counted, Scott.
And I just want you to realize that.
Not only was Orlando ten times of a
cooler person than Dad . . . he just
cared about us. He didn't miss one
of my football games. Not one. Dad?
The only one he showed up at was when
Mom threatened to divorce him if he
didn't go.
(beat)
When it comes down to being a dad,
just like anything else in life, it
all comes down to the small things,
Scott. That's what fucking counts.
SCOTT bites his nails, congesting what TIM just said to him.
TIM
What are you doing about Mr. Peeper?
SCOTT
Me and Dan are going to arrange some-
thing. I'll probably end up being the
one who goes in there.
TIM
You're going in there?
SCOTT
Why not? I haven't seen any signs of
life in there in, like, months. No
fear.
TIM
(beat)
Knock 'em out, Scotty.
SCOTT
(smiling)
That's what I do.
TIM opens his door and steps halfway out.
TIM
Have a crazy life, Scott. Just don't
become a raging serial killer.
SCOTT
I'll try.
TIM waves goodbye, shuts the door, and walks to the gas station door. Before getting too emotional, SCOTT drives away.
EXT. DARK ROAD - NIGHT
SCOTT'S car flies down an empty road at night.
EXT. DAN'S HOUSE - NIGHT
SCOTT'S car pulls up to DAN'S house, where DAN is found sitting on his porch. He gets up and walks to the car.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
DAN
(muffled through
the glass)
Ahh!
DAN opens the door and jumps in.
DAN
Ready to party hard?
SCOTT
Yep.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
SCOTT backs his car out of DAN'S driveway, and speeds off into the distance.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
SCOTT and DAN walk up onto an empty white porch. Sounds of music and people screaming can be heard inside the house.
SCOTT
Knock.
DAN rings the doorbell.
DAN
No one knocks anymore.
A DRUNK GUY opens the door and stares at the duo.
DRUNK GUY
Good thing you guys aren't the police
coppers!
The DRUNK GUY walks back into the house.
DAN
I think that means we could come in.
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
SCOTT and DAN try to squeeze into a room that is jammed full of drunk teenagers.
DAN
(shouting)
LOOK! NO ONE EVEN KNOWS US!
DRUNK GUY 2
(noticing SCOTT)
HOLY SHIT! YOU'RE THE KILLER!
SCOTT
WHAT?!
DRUNK GIRL
YOU'RE THAT KILLER KID! WHO WANTED TO
KILL HIS STEPFATHER!
SCOTT turns to DAN.
SCOTT
WE'RE LEAVING . . . NOW!!
INT. CAR - NIGHT
SCOTT
Now don't tell me that was not bullshit.
DAN
Dude! You're like, famous and shit!
SCOTT
For wanting to kill my stepfather?
Fuck that.
DAN reaches in his pocket and grabs a bottle of beer.
DAN
What are you doing about Mr. Peeper?
SCOTT
No, what are we doing about him?
DAN
All I'll do is drive you, man. I'm not
going into that fucking place.
SCOTT
Shit. Tomorrow, then.
(beat)
While my parents are at home, I'll
just say I'm going to spend the night
at your place.
DAN
And?
SCOTT
You could be a friend and drive me
over there.
DAN
Dude.
SCOTT
What?
DAN
What the hell are you going to do?
SCOTT
Just go inside to look.
DAN
Just go inside to look?
SCOTT
It's not like anyone's there. I've
been checking the place out daily,
man. No one lives there.
DAN
What the hell do you expect to find?
Knives, sadistic photographs . . .
guns?
SCOTT
No, but that'd sure be a story to tell
my grandchildren.
DAN
Yeah, if you don't die while in there.
SCOTT
I'll be in and out in ten minutes. Just
stay parked outside, man. Nothing's
going to happen.
DAN
(beat)
Alright. Ten minutes. That's it.
DAN stares at SCOTT.
INT. KITCHEN - DUSK
SCOTT is at on the telephone, seeming frustrated.
SCOTT
Hey, fucker. Leave me and my mom alone.
I really don't need this right now.
On the other end is the same CALLER from before.
CALLER
Hey, fuckhead! You have no idea what
you're getting yourself into!
SCOTT
Not scared.
CALLER
OH YEAH? We'll see, pussy! Tonight!
SCOTT
Didn't you threaten me like this last
week? Damn, Chico. I don't know. Are
you a friend of Orlando's? Or maybe he
was going to give you drugs . . . and
didn't?
The CALLER hangs up.
SCOTT walks over to the dinner table, where his MOM and DAD sit at the dining table, eating their dinner. SCOTT'S MOM looks very frustrated.
SCOTT sits down.
MOM
Where the hell is Tim?
(to SCOTT)
Did he tell you anything?
SCOTT
Nope. I just dropped him off at work
yesterday. That's it.
MOM
What time was this?
SCOTT
I don't know. Around eight? Nine?
DAD
Scott . . . tell your mother the truth.
Did Tim tell you anything?
SCOTT
The fuck? No! I just told her!
DAD
Don't talk like that to me.
SCOTT
You're accusing me of lying! That's
completely utter bull . . .
MOM
BOTH OF YOU! Calm down!
(beat)
I just can't take it anymore!
She plays with her food.
MOM
I've had my husband and his brother
die . . . on my own property . . . in
less than a year!
(beat)
One of them was murdered in my own
kitchen for crying out loud!
(beat)
My freaky ex-husband returned back
into my life!
SCOTT'S DAD glances at his MOM.
MOM
And to top everything off, my oldest
son runs away. Why? Probably to find
a better life!
DAD
Dear, I'm sure he didn't run away.
SCOTT
I bet he did.
DAD
SCOTT! You're Mom's on the edge right
now! Cut her some fucking slack!
SCOTT
Yes sir.
(beat)
Hey Mom . . . I'm going to Dan's house
for the night. I'll be back around noon
tomorrow.
MOM
(sobbing)
Eat your dinner, first.
SCOTT tilts his plate up so his MOM can see it. It's empty.
MOM
Don't forget to call me in the morning.
We've got to go to the mall to get some
shorts for you.
SCOTT gets out of his seat and grabs his plate. Walking out of the room, he kisses the top of his MOM'S forehead.
SCOTT
I'll call.
INT. FOYER - DUSK
SCOTT walks to his front door.
SCOTT
(singing)
I'm gonna win an Oscar, I'm gonna win
Oscar, I'm gonna win an Oscar.
SCOTT peers out his front window.
POV: SCOTT
We can see DAN'S CAR parked in the driveway. DAN honks the horn.
EXT. SCOTT'S HOUSE - DUSK
SCOTT shuts his front door and locks it. He turns around and runs to DAN'S CAR.
SCOTT opens the passenger-side door and gets in.
INT. CAR - DUSK
SCOTT
Early, eh?
DAN
I want it to be as bright as possible
out when I'm waiting.
SCOTT
We've only got a few more minutes until
the sun completely goes down.
(beat)
Looks like you're going to have to
rough it. Sorry, Dan.
DAN
This is bullshit.
DAN puts the car in reverse.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
DAN'S pulls up in front of a house and stops.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
DAN
Go. Right now. You've got about ten
minutes.
SCOTT
Damn. You've really grown to be a big
pussy.
DAN
No. It's just that you've seen enough
murder and mayhem in the last year of
your life to fulfill any mobster's
dream.
SCOTT
Yeah, that's true. You're still a big
pussy, though.
SCOTT hurries out of the car before DAN can punch his leg.
6/21/2002 8:45:57 PM
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