REMEMBER ME
Written by
William Fetters & Jenny Lumet
Revised April 16th, 2009
1 EXT. SMITH STREET STATION -- BROOKLYN -- NIGHT 1
It's very late. It's quiet. Just the sounds of The City
LINDA SANTANA CRAIG, an attractive Hispanic woman in her
thirties, waits at the ELEVATED STATION for the F train.
Linda looks great. She's dressed festively but tastefully.
Next to her is her eleven year old DAUGHTER, ALICIA. She is
twirling about the platform, still jazzed from the birthday
party they attended in The City.
Alicia wears a black dress with a pink cardigan and has a pink
handbag. We notice a CHARM BRACELET with four-leaf clovers on
her right wrist.
The mother and daughter wait alone at one end of the station
platform.
TWO TEENAGE BOYS wait at the other end. They speak soft,
SLURRED SPANISH to each other.
Linda gives the boys a glance and evaluates. She watches them
as Alicia spits a wad of gum into her mom's open hand.
The Boys approach. Linda tenses. At the last second the boys
make a hard left turn and disappear down the stairwell. It's
quiet again. Linda relaxes, smiles at her daughter. The F
TRAIN is rounding the final bend into the station.
Their focus is on this train. It's getting closer, louder.
And so they don't see, don't hear the Boys coming back up the
stairwell behind them.
Not until the boys have the mother and daughter boxed in and
the one who can hardly grow a mustache is showing them his
gun.
Linda puts her arm around her daughter. Alicia looks
terrified.
The train roars INTO THE STATION as Linda quickly hands over
her purse, her watch. She hands over her engagement ring and
her wedding band.
One of the boys yanks Alicia's little purse away from her.
The other boy fumbles the wedding band. The ring CLANGS to
the ground and rolls to a stop a few feet away.
We hear MEN'S VOICES echoing up the stairwell.
Now the Boys are boxed in. And starting to panic.
2.
-- THE TRAIN DOORS SLIDE OPEN --.
The Boys see their way out and step into the last empty rail
car, leaving the mother and daughter alone on the platform.
Through the window on the train, Linda stares at the boy
holding her daughter's purse, her face hardening into a MASK
OF CONTEMPT.
The boy clocks it. Who does she think she is?
-- THE TRAIN DOORS BEGIN TO CLOSE --
When a HAND WITH TATTOOED KNUCKLES reaches out and stops the
car doors from closing.
A forearm and gun extend out of that last subway car ...
There's a muzzle flash... a distant POP... a cloud of smoke
... a mist of blood... and Linda's body collapses on itself.
Alicia's face, shock, terror and blood.
2 EXT. SMITH STREET STATION -- LATER THAT NIGHT -- M.O.S 2
A WORKING CRIME SCENE, lots of uniforms and light, a white
sheet draped over Linda's body where it fell.
BLUE AND RED LIGHT dances against the stairwell wall where a
man is taking the stairs two at a time. Late thirties, big,
plain clothes, he is SERGEANT JAMES CRAIG. When he reaches
the platform, he stops.
Craig kneels before the white sheet. Peels it back. We stay
on him. We don't see what he sees. We just see how he sees
it. Then he turns...
THE WEDDING BAND. It's been tagged and numbered as evidence.
Craig picks it right out of the chalk outline and slips it
into his pocket.
Alicia, wrapped in a blanket, standing next to a round police
MATRON. The Matron is tenderly trying to clean Alicia's face.
Alicia locks eyes with Craig and stumbles towards him, her
legs not quite working.
Craig saves her from the stumble and envelops her, lifting
her as the blanket falls to the ground.
Alicia makes little gasping noises. Trying to speak but
can't.
Craig walking back now, carrying his entire world. He reaches
the stairwell and suddenly falls to one knee. Alicia gasps.
3.
The closest UNIFORM puts a hand on his arm. A moment.
Composure. A deep breath. Then as quickly as he went down,
he's back up.
Craig looks back now, taking it all in. Is it real? Sees all
the cops looking at him, then begins down the stairs.
WE DRIFT UP above the station until we find ourselves with a
clear view of the southern tip of Manhattan, where the TWIN
TOWERS STAND TALL.
3 INT. LOWER EAST SIDE RAILROAD FLAT -- BEDROOM -- MORNING 3
SUBTITLE: "Eight Years Later"
Tiny kitchen, clutter, a MESSENGER BIKE hanging from hooks on
the wall, a lot of books. There is a PHONE RINGING under the
bed.
TYLER ROTH, early twenties, handsome, looking haggard. He is
sitting on the floor, shirtless, bed head, wrapped in a
blanket. A GUITAR is on his lap. Tyler has propped some well
worn, hand written pages of MUSIC against a box of off-brand
laundry detergent and is squinting at the notes, frustration
etched in his face.
A forgettable BLONDE lies sleeping on the bed.
Tyler, not a born musician, is trying to teach himself one of
the PHRASES OF MUSIC in front of him. He is completely lost
in the moment, with DEEP GROOVES in his fingers. By the
ASHTRAY next to him, we can tell he's been at this a couple
of hours.
The Blonde in the bed re: the ringing phone...
BLONDE
(out of it)
Hello?
Tyler gropes around the floor with one hand until he finds the
phone, simultaneously glancing at the digital clock. His eyes
widen in alarm.
TYLER
Yeah...
(listens)
Of course. I'm on my way. I
know...I know...I know...I know.
Tyler climbs out of his blanket and yanks on a pair of dark
suit pants. Before he pulls on his white undershirt we
observe a TATTOO that simply says "Michael" over his heart.
4.
He searches through a beat-up chest of drawers, seeking a
reasonably clean button down shirt...
TYLER V/O
Gandhi said that whatever you do in
life will be insignificant but it
is very important that you do it...
...And scrubs at a mysterious stain on the shoulder of an
expensive but worn to hell suit jacket with a dishwasher
brush.
TYLER V/O
...I tend to agree with the first
part.
4 EXT. GREEN WOOD CEMETERY --BROOKLYN -- LATER 4
A cluster of MOURNERS stand before a tombstone in the
distance. They are not in funeral dress, as this is not a
funeral. It's a memorial.
A beat up GYPSY CAB with a WEST INDIAN DRIVER pulls to a
stop. From the trees and the sky we know its LATE
SPRING/EARLY SUMMER. A gorgeous day.
Tyler gets out of the cab, holding the rim of his empty
coffee cup in his teeth. He sorts a rumpled wad of singles
and hands some to the driver, who screeches into reverse.
Time is money.
Tyler crushes the coffee cup flat and slips it in his jacket
pocket then lights up a smoke. He takes one long drag then
extinguishes it and slips the butt into his pocket. He begins
towards the mourners.
His mother... DIANE HOFFMAN, a beauty. Past burdens etched in
the lines on her face. Dressed tastefully in expensive
bohemian. She smiles like someone who's been crying but
doesn't want anyone to know she has.
TYLER
(sweetly)
Hello, your majesty. How are you?
DIANE
I'm fine... you look good...
He kisses his mother's hand and he's moving to greet his
stepfather...
LES HOFFMAN, Unruly curls streaked in gray, tweed jacket and
tie. They exchange a firm handshake and muttered hellos.
5.
The weight of Tyler's gaze falls to CAROLINE ROTH, his
diminutive bespectacled, eleven year old sister. She's
holding a little paper bag.
She flashes him a look. He kneels besides her and whispers...
TYLER
Thanks for organizing everybody.
Caroline makes a face. Turns her nose away from him.
CAROLINE
You smell like Listerine and beer.
He snorts and kisses her cheek.
Caroline reaches into her bag and takes out a handful of
smooth white stones, on which she has painted the names:
"Mom" "Tyler" "Les", "Dad", "Caroline". She begins to arrange
them in a little circle on the grave.
Tyler's father...
CHARLES ROTH, late fifties, breathes power, precisely
dressed, two hundred dollar haircut. A predator.
CHARLES
(aside, to Tyler)
You couldn't wear a tie?
Tyler holds his father's eye.
TYLER
Could have.
Beat.
Charles adjusts his own collar like it's an explosive.
POV: The Tombstone. The four adult family members stand side-
by-side. They look like strangers on the subway as Caroline
sits on the ground, arranging the stones.
5 INT. JUNIOR'S RESTAURANT-- BROOKLYN -- AFTER 5
The family sits together in a booth. Tyler rolls a Bic
lighter over his knuckles. Caroline draws a funny portrait of
Tyler on her napkin. He is smoking nine cigarettes at once.
Diane gives the menu a ridiculous amount of attention. Les is
eyeing the Cheesecake. Charles subtly aligns his silverware.
6.
DIANE
...This is nice... I think it's
nice that we still do this...
CAROLINE
(gently)
Mom.
DIANE
I forgot. I'm trying to purge
"nice" from my vocabulary. Michael
would like that we still do this.
Tyler takes out a cigarette. Lights it. Without saying a word
his mother takes it and snubs it out in an empty water glass.
DIANE
(to Caroline)
Did you tell Tyler what your art
teacher said about your portrait?
Caroline, as bemused as an eleven year old can be, looks at
her mother, then at her brother. She adopts a very motherly
tone.
CAROLINE
Tyler, did I tell you what my art
teacher said about my portrait?
TYLER
Why no, Caroline. What did your art
teacher say about your portrait?
DIANE
(smiling)
You two. I quit.
She flickers a glance at her ex husband and squeezes Les'
hand.
CAROLINE
...She was very impressed. She said
I captured a moment like a young
James Whistler.
The WAITRESS brings platefuls of extravagant cheesecake to
the table. Les dives in. Charles is having toast. He sips a
glass of water and takes a surreptitious glance at his Patek
Phillippe.
7.
TYLER
Young Whistler... good... 'cause
Whistler really fell off late in
his career. He's the Michael
Jackson of European art history.
DIANE
She suggested your sister take
Pratt's Summer Art Intensive and
that's hugely prestigious.
Caroline looks a bit sheepish, Tyler high fives Caroline.
Diane, again, flickers a glance at Charles.
CAROLINE
I would be the youngest one, ever,
practically...
CHARLES
Tyler, would you please pass the
butter?
Beat.
DIANE
Caroline was speaking.
TYLER
(to Charles)
Are you really this clueless? Are
you really dismissing her like
this?
Diane touches Caroline's hair.
CHARLES
Caroline is perfectly capable of
speaking up if she is feeling
dismissed. Caroline, are you
feeling dismissed?
CAROLINE
I'm okay.
CHARLES
(solicitous, to Caroline)
I didn't mean to change the
subject.
TYLER
What was the subject?
8.
CHARLES
Excuse me?
TYLER
The subject we were discussing.
What was it?
Beat.
CHARLES
Now's not the time for your heroics
Tyler
TYLER
No. It's the perfect time.
Charles makes a minute adjustment to his collar.
Father and son lock eyes until...
TYLER
(whispering, to Caroline)
Do you need me to take you
anywhere?
Caroline shakes her head.
CAROLINE
I'll stay with mom.
Diane glares at her ex-husband.
Tyler rises and kisses his sister's forehead.
TYLER
Then I'll see you after school.
CAROLINE
Kay.
He exits as Caroline sips her lemonade, avoiding everybody's
eyes.
6 INT. SUBWAY CAR -- JUST AFTER 6
Tyler standing although there are a few seats available. The
car window strobes behind him. He takes off his jacket and
button down and ties them both around his waist.
9.
7 INT. WALL STREET COFFEE SHOP -- AFTER 7
Tyler in his pants and white tee shirt looks completely out
of place amidst all the business types.
He sits in the last booth facing the street. His tattered
JOURNAL lies open in front of him, a BINDER CLIP holds his
page as he works quietly crafting an entry.
The HOSTESS, tired, in her 60's, slides a piece of baklava on
the table as she shuffles past.
HOSTESS
Eat something.
Tyler gives her a huge grin.
TYLER
Yes, ma'am.
8 EXT. 4TH STREET -- JUST AFTER 8
Tyler and his roommate, AIDAN BREWER, 22, energetic,
inappropriate, walking west towards N.Y.U. Young people in
easy, summery dress. Tyler smokes. Aidan doesn't. Aidan
remembers something, smirks.
AIDAN
I sold your girlfriend a
toothbrush.
TYLER
You sold my who? ...What?
AIDAN
That voluptuous, delightfully
oblivious little blonde you left in
your bed this morning... I sold her
a toothbrush. Got three bucks.
TYLER
...Congratulations?
AIDAN
Are in order, yes. Because that
sale inspired our newest business
venture: "The S.L.U.T."
TYLER
I was unaware we had a previous
business venture.
10.
AIDAN
The 'Single Lady's Universal Tote'.
It's the one-night-stand travel
pack for women. We throw in some
make-up, toiletries, cell phone
charger, cab numbers. Retail it at
S19.95, maybe do an infomercial.
TYLER
And you think women would buy this?
With money?
AIDAN
Hey one-night-stands happen... It's
a part of life... like stubbing
your toe. Sometimes you misjudge a
corner and bend back your pinky
toe, other times you wake up in a
freshman dorm wearing a field
hockey tee shirt wondering why your
balls smell like cinnamon...
TYLER
(nodding sagely)
Of course. Yes.
AIDAN
Don't underestimate the novelty
gift market. Think about it...
instead of giving that token slutty
friend a ten-inch purple dildo for
her birthday, you hook her up with
"The SLUT." Everyone has a laugh
and the implication that she'll
probably use it someday remains.
What do you say? Are you down?
TYLER
I'm down with getting you on some
sort of medication.
AIDAN
OK...fine...be cynical...just
remember at some point in history
two people had a conversation just
like this about the light bulb. One
of them went on to fame and fortune
and the other one probably went to
work at Mickey D's or something.
TYLER
Or Denny's. Denny's was big in the
19th century.
11.
9 EXT. COBBLE HILL -- MORNING 9
A TINTED TOWN CAR stops in-front of a funky corner brownstone
where Caroline waits in a plaid jumper on the front steps.
THE DRIVER opens the back door of the car.
10 INT. TOWN CAR. (DRIVING) -- LATER 10
Caroline in the cavernous backseat alone. Her pink knapsack
her only company.
The Town Car stops at a crosswalk for a GROUP OF CHILDREN in
jeans and tee- shirts on their way to a local Public School.
Caroline sees them through the tinted glass. They couldn't
see her even if they wanted to.
PROFESSOR (O.S.)
It's an unfortunate reality but a
reality nonetheless ...
11 INT. LECTURE HALL -- NYU --DAY 11
TYLER sits in the back of the room. Their PROFESSOR addresses
the few students paying attention.
PROFESSOR
...in the wake of terrorist attacks
these insurance company actuaries
are provided a unique opportunity
to raise premiums and profits to
protect against events that will
likely never occur again...
One girl, a focused brunette with beautiful eyes, takes notes
relentlessly. She is present, absorbing the material. She
raises her hand.
GIRL
Isn't that also an ethical
question?
Tyler shoots her a glance. He takes in her lovely face, her
casual dress, and the CHARM BRACELET with its four leaf
clovers. WE REALIZE this is Alicia "Ally" Craig, now 19.
Tyler grimaces at the question and its implications of hope.
12 EXT. CENTRAL PARK -- AFTERNOON 12
At the Alice in Wonderland statue where KIDS climb all over
the faded bronze mushroom caps and characters.
12.
The statue is warm, the bronze absorbing the late spring sun.
Tyler is perched on the Mad Hatter, his face turned towards
the sun while Caroline hides with the dormouse.
Tyler lights a cigarette. AN UPTIGHT MOMMY glares at him.
UPTIGHT MOMMY
Why don't we make this a non-
smoking statue?
CAROLINE
(emerging)
Yeah, Tyler . Why don't we make
this a non-smoking statue?
He makes a face.
CAROLINE
You promised you'd quit...
TYLER
I know.
CAROLINE
You're gonna get emphysema and then
you're gonna have to drag an oxygen
tank with you everywhere...
TYLER
You think that would be the worst
part about having emphysema?
CAROLINE
Everywhere you go, Tyler. Even the
bathroom.
Tyler takes a final drag. Tosses it on the ground.
CAROLINE
Why do you think Dad doesn't
wanna...like, listen to me?
TYLER
Dad loves you.
Caroline gives him a look.
CAROLINE
So? You can love someone and not
want to spend any time with them.
Caroline is climbing around Alice. Her hands on Alice's hair.
13.
TYLER
You've got that right.
CAROLINE
Mom loves Aunt Sara. But at
Christmas, last year, she wouldn't
let Les leave them in a room
together 'cause she said there
would be a "yule tide homicide."
TYLER
That's because Aunt Sara drinks...
You don't drink, right?
CAROLINE
Duh.
TYLER
So why would anyone wanna avoid
you?
Caroline shrugs, not convinced. A silent moment passes.
CAROLINE
Michael used to drink.
TYLER
Yeah. He did. But Michael was 21.
All 21 year olds drink because it's
new and exciting. Aunt Sara drinks
because she wishes she was 21.
A shared smile.
CAROLINE
You're 21.
Tyler's smile fades.
13 INT. THE STRAND BOOKSTORE -- DAY 13
Tyler on a rolling ladder, shuffling books around. Aidan on
the floor, eating two pieces of pizza, folded down the
middle, at the same time.
AIDAN
What about Atlantic City for your
birthday this year? Get a suite.
Couple of ladies. You could call
Toothbrush Girl, what do you think?
TYLER
I think I'd rather be sodomized.
14.
AIDAN
Hey, it's your day.
He gestures to the shelves.
AIDAN
What's the point? How do you know
where anything is in this place,
anyway? There's like...
AIDAN/TYLER
"Eight Miles of Books!"
TYLER
I don't expect you to appreciate
this, but the schematic for this
particular shelf is authors who
were sleeping together...
AIDAN
No shit?
TYLER
And ended up dead or in prison.
Beat.
AIDAN
This is why chicks dig you.
Tyler laughs.
AIDAN
Seriously. They like this freaky
poetic crap. I ran into Megan
yesterday. She's bartending at Don
Hill's tonight. She wants us to
stop by. She practically begged me.
TYLER
Eh.
Aidan, visibly frustrated with Tyler's reluctance, grabs the
rolling ladder and pushes Tyler into the Romance novels.
TYLER
Hey!
AIDAN
Hey nothing. You've been a ghost
the past couple weeks. You never
wanna go out. I'm feeling
unappreciated here.
(MORE)
15.
AIDAN (cont'd)
I can't deal with this brooding
introvert shit anymore man. I'm
ready to set up an intervention.
A silent moment passes.
TYLER
You realize interventions typically
discourage binge drinking?
AIDAN
One drink. Come out for one drink.
TYLER
When's the last time you had one
drink?
14 INT. DON HILL'S -- THAT NIGHT 14
A hip venue on Greenwich Street. Deejay. Music pumping.
Aidan and Tyler make their way through the crowd to a
congested bar where the CUTE BARTENDER is swamped.
AIDAN
Hey, Megan!
She ignores him.
AIDAN
You look great! Can I get two
Heinekens?
MEGAN
Do. Not. Speak.
Tyler snorts with laughter.
AIDAN
(genuine)
Is she mad at me or something?
TYLER
No no. Girls are like that when
they're way into you.
AIDAN
Oh.
Two nubile young GIRLS approach Aidan. Tap his shoulder.
GIRL #1
Excuse me?
16.
Aidan flashes a winning smile.
AIDAN
Well, hello...
GIRL #1
Could you take a picture for us?
She holds out her camera. Aidan hesitates, then smiles.
AIDAN
My pleasure...
The girls pose. Aidan takes the camera. Turns it around.
Extends it. Smiles. And promptly SNAPS A PICTURE OF HIMSELF.
He casually returns the camera to the confused young woman.
Megan returns and practically flings the beers at Aidan.
AIDAN
Thanks. You've met my roommate...
MEGAN
I hope you die.
Tyler laughs his ass off.
TYLER
She's all over you. Cheers.
They clink bottles.
15 EXT. GREENWICH STREET -- LATE NIGHT 15
Tyler and Aidan stand with the girls from Aidan's photo
opportunity. All are thoroughly intoxicated. There is a knot
of CLUB GOERS halfway down the block, drinking and having a
fine time.
AIDAN
I love this street. I love this
city. Where are you guys from,
again?
AIDAN'S GIRL
Miami.
AIDAN
Miami. Miami, Barcelona, Rio. New
York is it, man. God broke the mold
when he made this city.
17.
TYLER
You ever actually been to any of
those places?
AIDAN
What's your point?
There's a gust of wind. Aidan's girl shivers. She's wearing a
tiny dress.
AIDAN'S GIRL
What are we doing? I'm freezing.
AIDAN
Shoulda worn a jacket. Like me.
O/S WE HEAR: a beer bottle crashing on the ground, and from
far away a ghostly, plaintive girl's voice disappearing into
the night...
VOICE O/S
Michael...Mi-i-chael!
Tyler turns towards the sound. It's as if he's trying to spot
a train in the distance. His hand goes to his pocket and
fishes out his pack of cigarettes.
AIDAN'S GIRL
(to Aidan)
Asshole.
She walks away, looking back at her friend, annoyed.
AIDAN'S GIRL
Are you coming?
Tyler's Girl looks at Tyler, who is still preoccupied.
TYLER'S GIRL
(to her friend)
Hold on, Lauren.
The girls step away. Tyler's Girl appears to be trying to
convince her friend to stay. Aidan watches them, hopefully.
Tyler isn't watching them. He's watching two cool looking
MUSICIANS, crossing the street with the LIGHT, carrying SOUND
EQUIPMENT.
A quartet of NEANDERTHALS pulls up at the light in front of
them in a car, aggressive music playing. The Neanderthal at
the wheel has the brilliant idea to rev his engine and lurch
the car forward, startling the musicians, toying with them.
18.
MUSICIAN #1 glares, but gives no further response, he just
wants to get across the street. The Neanderthal revs and
lurches again.
MUSICIAN #2 slams his hand on the hood of the car.
MUSICIAN#2
What's your problem?
NEANDERTHAL DRIVER
My problem? Keep your hands off my
car, asshole.
MUSICIAN#2
Blow it out your ass, Guido.
MUSICIAN#1
Go back to Long Island.
The car's four doors open, and the Neanderthals lope to the
front of the car. The driver is holding a mini baseball bat
at his side.
NEANDERTHAL DRIVER
I'm from Queens, faggot
A Neanderthal shoves one of the musicians, and the driver
starts wailing on the other with the bat. Tyler watches as
the Neanderthals overpower them. The altercation has turned
into a full on assault. The Musicians are getting stomped
into the pavement.
TYLER'S GIRL
So we were thinking we could go...
Tyler walks right past the girl without even looking at her.
AIDAN
(under his breath)
God damn it.
Aidan runs off after Tyler.
Tyler jumps fully into the thick of it, swinging, grabbing
the beefiest Neanderthal in a choke hold and pounding the
guy's face. He fights like a pit bull. Not feeling, not
stopping.
Aidan gets punched in the face. Tyler elbows the nose of the
guy who punched Aidan and it spurts blood. Then someone hits
Tyler in the gut, and he doubles over and takes a knee to the
chin. The musicians get back to their feet and fight back.
It's a brawl.
19.
Aidan's girl is screaming for the cops. Tyler's girl,
following the instincts of the inebriated, has teetered near
enough to the brawl to imperil herself.
A Neanderthal swings at Aidan and misses, grazing the girl.
She jerks away in her high heels and crashes to the pavement,
splitting her lip on impact. Tyler head butts the guy.
16 EXT. SIDE STREET -- LATER 16
An AMBULANCE and TWO E.M.T.'S are on site.
THE COMBATANTS from the brawl are lined up on the curb.
SERGEANT JAMES CRAIG, a little older and heavier than when we
first met him at the train station, is standing with the
Girl, who is a mess. Her nose bloody, her dress torn.
Craig shields the Girl with his body, listening carefully to
her and her friend as the two girls GESTURE ANGRILY at the
Neanderthals. Craig's eyes flicker in the same direction.
Craig's PARTNER, LEO, AFRICAN AMERICAN, a few years younger,
is on the radio to Dispatch.
Craig snaps his fingers at one of the E.M.T.'s and receives a
blanket, which he carefully wraps around the girl. Then, to
his partner, indicating Tyler and Aidan...
CRAIG
Cut those two loose.
Leo puts down the handset and uncuffs the guys.
LEO
(quiet)
Take a walk.
Tyler takes a beat, looking at the lineup. Aidan, rubbing his
wrists, gestures "Let's go". Tyler looks at the bloodied Girl
and...
Craig, going through the pockets of Neanderthal #1.
CRAIG
Anything in here that's going to
stab me, Einstein?
Craig finds a packet, or a vial.
CRAIG
Nice. You like to get high and hit
women?
20.
Aidan gives Tyler's elbow a gentle tug. Tyler's caught up in
the action.
NEANDERTHAL#1
I don't even know the bitch.
Rage flickers across Craig's face.
Craig moves down the line to one of the musicians, going
through their pockets.
CRAIG
How about you two?
Tyler, compelled, drawing closer to the action.
MUSICIAN#1
It wasn't us, man!
NEANDERTHAL#1
That cocksucker kicked my car!
CRAIG
Shut up, genius.
MUSICIAN#1
(to Neanderthal)
Eat shit, pencil dick.
CRAIG
Alright. That's it. Everybody goes
downtown.
Tyler steps forward, interrupting...
TYLER
It wasn't them.
Aidan, who has been edging away, jerks around to his friend.
AIDAN
(sotto)
Tyler...
LEO
(quietly, to the guys)
Take a walk, I said.
TYLER
Hey!
Craig, big angry Irish cop, turns to Tyler.
21.
TYLER
They didn't do anything. They
didn't start this. Those assholes
did. Why do these guys have to go
downtown?
CRAIG
What are you still doing here?
TYLER
This is bullshit. It was those
gorillas who started this.
Craig moves slowly toward Tyler and starts going through
Tyler's pockets, roughly. He finds his wallet. Starts rifling
through.
CRAIG
Well, Mr. Roth. What makes you
think I give a shit?
TYLER
You're a police officer. You're
supposed to.
What the hell? Craig looks from the guy he was frisking to
Tyler's girl, wrapped in a blanket. She spits blood. He turns
a bit to Tyler.
CRAIG
It's a great relief to me, Mr.
Roth, to know that you're on top of
the situation. Now go the fuck
home.
He turns back to work.
Tyler looks briefly at Aidan. Aidan looks desperate "Please!
Let's get out of here!"
Tyler TOUCHES CRAIG'S ELBOW.
Aidan's jaw drops. Leo takes several silent steps in. Craig
looks at his own elbow then looks at Tyler. The kid must be
out of his mind.
TYLER
How about you do your job?
SLAM. Craig takes Tyler's legs out, driving his face into the
pavement, a GASH opens above Tyler's LEFT EYE. Tyler lies
there dazed and disoriented as Craig, with one knee on
Tyler's neck, crushes his face into the ground. He slaps the
cuffs on.
22.
17 INT. PEARL STREET LOCKUP -- AFTER 17
Who knows what time it is. A lovely ASSORTMENT OF
PERPETRATORS, Tyler and the musicians are in lockup.
Everybody looks like shit. Tyler sits on a bench in the
holding cell, looking quite relaxed.
The lock up door slides open and Aidan is returned to the
perch. The ESCORTING OFFICER shouts across the din to Tyler.
ESCORTING OFFICER
You can have your call now.
TYLER
I'm good.
The door slides shut behind Aidan.
AIDAN
You're good? Thank God you're good.
Beat.
AIDAN
What are you trying to do? What did
you want from that cop guy?
TYLER
That was a messed up situation.
Those guys...
He cups his hands to make a megaphone...
TYLER
...Are pussies!
From Off Screen a chorus of:
NEANDERTHAL#1 O/S
Faggot!
NEANDERTHAL#2 O/S
Candy-ass faggot!
NEANDERTHAL#3 O/S
Fag!
TYLER
There was no justice in that
situation.
AIDAN
No justice. Okay, Green Hornet ...
Lantern ... Asshole.
(MORE)
23.
AIDAN (cont'd)
You may not be actually
matriculating in school, you may be
having a nice time by yourself
lurking in the stacks of your book
store, but I actually plan on
graduating, and having a career and
a wife and a girlfriend and a
divorce and a mid-life stalking
episode and erectile dysfunction,
and I will thank you to keep your
complexes and nihilistic
bullshit...
TYLER
Did you just say "nihilistic"?
AIDAN
Yeah. I got it off a cereal box.
Tyler smiles.
The Escorting Officer returns with a white male LAWYER
wearing a two thousand dollar suit.
ESCORTING OFFICER
Roth, Brewer.
Tyler glares at Aidan.
AIDAN
Yeah, I called your dad's office.
Sue me.
18 INT. FAR ROCKAWAY - CRAIG FAMILY HOME - KITCHEN -- MORNING 18
Ally, with a cup of coffee, is on the house phone.
ALLY
So when would that be
available?...No, that's sooner than
I'd thought. And is there any kind
of deposit?.. Okay.
Craig comes in through the kitchen door, takes off his jacket
and starts washing his hands at the sink.
ALLY
I'll call you back. Thanks.
Ally hangs up. Makes a quick appraisal of her dad. He has a
little blood on his cuff. He splashes his face with water.
24.
On automatic pilot, Ally flips on the toaster, pours some hot
coffee into a Sesame Street Mug, pours in a measured dose of
brown sugar from the dispenser, then flips open a bottle of
Aspirin and deposits two of the tablets into the mug.
She packs up her back pack with school stuff as Craig gulps
his coffee.
ALLY
What did you tell me you were going
to do when things got tight?
The toaster dings. She extracts an English muffin and
squeezes honey from a bottle shaped like a bear.
CRAIG
Breathe.
ALLY
Did you?
CRAIG
I did. I'm breathing right now. Who
was that?
ALLY
The lady from student housing. We
talked about it. Remember?
Beat.
CRAIG
Sure.
Ally grabs her sweatshirt.
ALLY
Mrs. Lippman is going to drive me.
CRAIG
I'll drive you.
She flounces out the door, holding her own cup of coffee and
the English Muffin. Craig dries his hands, grabs his jacket
and a set of keys from the counter.
19 EXT. DRIVEWAY. 19
Outside their red-brick row house at the end of a block of
red-brick row houses.
Ally has her mug on the roof of the car and is searching
through her bag.
25.
Craig comes around the driver's side and slides Ally her keys
across the roof. She drops them in her bag.
ALLY
Mrs. Lippman said she'd do it.
Craig is in the driver's seat, waiting. Ally grabs her coffee
mug and gets into the passenger seat. She hands him his
English muffin, which he holds in his mouth as he starts the
car.
She flips down the visor and checks her very light eye
makeup.
ALLY
You're exhausted. When you have a
stroke I'm going to abandon you on
a park bench.
They start to back out.
ALLY
This drive is too long.
20 INT. EXECUTIVE FLOOR -- RECEPTION -- DAY 20
Tyler and his messed up face on his feet in the waiting area.
English Club chairs, green baize on the walls. A RECEPTIONIST
types away across the room. Tyler takes out a cigarette.
Lights it. Draws the ire of...
THE RECEPTIONIST
You know you can't smoke in here.
Tyler looks down at a heavy crystal ash tray on the coffee
table in front of him. It's clearly never been used.
TYLER
So what's with the ash tray?
THE RECEPTIONIST
It completes the room.
Tyler takes a long drag, grinding out the ember on the
pristine surface. He smiles a charming smile at the
aggravated woman.
TYLER
Tease.
JANINE O/S
Tyler...
26.
JANINE, Charles' long time assistant, late forties, kind
eyes, watches Tyler from the hallway.
JANINE
He's ready for you.
21 INT. EXECUTIVE FLOOR -- HALLWAY -- AFTER 21
Tyler follows Janine down the corridor. She looks him up and
down, doesn't like what she sees.
JANINE
You're too skinny. And you smell
like french fries and cigarettes.
TYLER
Nice to see you too.
JANINE
You want me to lie?
Tyler smiles, he likes that she doesn't lie. Janine scrolls
through a Palm Pilot as she walks. They approach the double
doors to Charles' office.
JANINE
Try not to give him a heart attack.
TYLER
Okay.
Tyler bangs through the doors. Janine grimaces.
22 INT. CAVERNOUS EXECUTIVE OFFICE -- LATER 22
A row of floor-to-ceiling windows blocked by vertical blinds.
Sunlight glows behind them. There's a lot of leather, brass
and rich wood, breathing power. There's a flat screen
computer, but no personal effects anywhere.
Charles sits at his massive desk. As Tyler enters, Charles
registers his injuries. A flicker of something over Charles'
face. Tyler stands.
TYLER
I came to see how much it costs,
because I'm giving you the money
back.
CHARLES
How much what costs?
27.
TYLER
That lawyer.
Beat.
CHARLES
Ah. That lawyer, Tyler, costs 450
dollars an hour.
In spite of himself...
TYLER
Christ.
CHARLES
Tell me about it.
TYLER
I wanted to make sure you
understood it wasn't me who called
you.
CHARLES
I understand. You could do worse
than have a father who bails you
out of jail
TYLER
I don't want to be bailed out of
anything.
Charles looks at his son.
TYLER
I'll get an invoice from Janine.
Tyler leaves, slamming the door behind him.
23 INT. HALLWAY. 23
Tyler stops, catching himself, realizing the emptiness of the
gesture. He looks up and sees Janine looking at him.
24 INT. WALL STREET COFFEE SHOP -- AFTER. 24
Tyler in the same booth, surrounded by a commotion of
businessmen and women. He's writing in his Journal, his foot
tapping fast. We see the very act of writing eases him,
loosening his strangled grip on the pen, slowing down the
manic rhythm of his foot.
28.
25 EXT. PRIVATE SCHOOL. JUST AFTER. 25
It's just after three, Caroline emerges from school in a
CLUSTER OF 6TH GRADE GIRLS. One of them dips her head towards
Caroline's ear, as if to share a secret. Whatever she says
makes Caroline's face crumble, almost to tears, and the girls
snicker.
Tyler hops from his perch on a parked car. His bike leans on
a fire hydrant.
TYLER
(to Caroline)
Hey.
He looks at the girls, sizing them up, and flicks his
cigarette to the sidewalk, cool as hell. The girls have a
group swoon.
He takes Caroline by the elbow...
TYLER
Excuse us, we're due in surgery.
He gets his bike and leads her down the block, towards Fifth
Avenue.
CAROLINE
What happened to your face?
TYLER
Horrible threshing accident.
CAROLINE
You're so retarded.
TYLER
Don't mock the afflicted. Here,
I brought you something.
He hands her the book of Myths.
TYLER
This was my favorite book ever.
Michael had it and he hit me over
the head with it until I read it.
Its about all these God and
Goddesses who spend all of their
time being jealous and petty and
otherwise acting like human beings.
The illustrations are amazing.
Caroline opens the book carefully and has a peek. She smiles.
29.
CAROLINE
Ooh. These are cool. Thanks! Where
are we meeting mom?
TYLER
Guggenheim. What's up with those
girls?
CAROLINE
I just...they think I'm weird.
Sometimes I sort of space out.
TYLER
When you're drawing?
CAROLINE
Yeah. Other times too. Madamoiselle
Fleischman had to snap her fingers
at me a lot today. And everybody
laughed and they all think I'm a
freak of nature.
Caroline takes a brief glance over her shoulder, towards the
school.
TYLER
Je m'appelle "Freak of Nature."
Caroline smirks.
TYLER
Mon dieu, mon soeurette! Je
m'appelle "Freak of Nature". Sacre
Bleu. French Toast.
CAROLINE
What are you going to tell mom
about your face?
TYLER
I finally found something I'm good
at?
26 EXT. NYU -- FRONT STEPS BELOW THE FLAGS -- DAY 26
Aidan appears to have cornered a PROFESSOR on her way in or
out of the building. The woman looks tired, annoyed, like she
just wants to go. Aidan talks fast, even faster than usual.
30.
AIDAN
...I know by every numerical
measurement I didn't pass but what
I was hoping was that maybe you
give me a grade on my trying to
pass. My commitment to effort. My
commitment to commitment...Since
the semester is nearly at it's
terminus.
Craig's car rolls to a stop just in front of the flags. Ally
gives him a kiss on the cheek. She gets out, and walks up the
stairs, right past Aidan.
AIDAN
(distracted)
I mean... uh... life's only about
what we put into it. It's about
people. And what they put into it.
And I'm -- ah, screw it.
Aidan runs off leaving the befuddled professor on the steps.
27 INT. RAILROAD FLAT-- LIVING ROOM -- DAY 27
Tyler, again with the guitar. Aidan enters, excited.
AIDAN
He's got a daughter.
TYLER
Who?
AIDAN
The cop... The cop who busted your
face all up. He's got a daughter.
And she's hot! I smell revenge!
TYLER
Revenge. What do you want me to do,
kidnap her?
AIDAN
You introduce yourself...go on a
few dates...be your charming,
gentlemanly self... And then, flip
the script.
TYLER
What does that mean?
31.
AIDAN
Screw her brains out and make her
call you daddy. Steal her underwear
and sell it on ebay. Put her in
Clown Shoes, take lewd photos and
post them on her high school's home
page. I don't know. Be creative.
TYLER
You should be incarcerated on
general principle.
AIDAN
Hey. What happened to you was very
emasculating. Tell me you don't
want to get that asshole and I'll
drop it.
TYLER
I don't want to get that asshole.
AIDAN
Just meet her.
TYLER
I don't want to meet her.
AIDAN
She's cute.
TYLER
I don't care.
AIDAN
You're meeting her.
TYLER
I'm not meeting her.
28 INT. COFFEE SHOP. WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK.- DAY 28
A Student Hangout. The place is bustling. Numerous NYU
STUDENTS move, sit, eat, lounge. Aidan scans the crowd. Tyler
stands beside him looking far less enthusiastic.
TYLER
This is one of those moments I'm
already regretting.
AIDAN
She was here yesterday.
32.
TYLER
What am I supposed to say to this
girl? "Hey doll face, your dad
trampled all over my civil
liberties, wanna make out?"
AIDAN
Well don't call her doll face.
Ally enters. She wears a big sweatshirt. Aidan spots her.
AIDAN
There. The brunette.
Tyler watches her settle into a couch with a big cup of
coffee.
TYLER
I know her. I mean, I don't know
her, but, I've seen her. She's in
my global politics class.
AIDAN
There you go! Something to open
with. Now get over there.
Tyler sighs, begins toward Ally.
AIDAN
Shazam!
Tyler glares. Aidan gives a big thumbs up.
TYLER
Excuse me?
Ally briefly looks up from her book.
TYLER
My name's Tyler Roth. I was
wondering if I could bother you for
a minute?
He gives her a charming smile.
ALLY
You're already bothering me.
Beat. The smile usually works.
TYLER
Um, I'm doing kind of a
sociological experiment...I was
hoping you could help me out.
33.
Ally looks at him, a little wearily, holding her place in the
book.
ALLY
What are you, kidding me?
Tyler is genuinely taken aback.
TYLER
No, I... may I ask your name?
ALLY
Anonymous. It's Greek. It means
"you don't have a shot".
A surprised laugh escapes from Tyler.
TYLER
Okay, Anonymous, do you see the guy
across the room, pretending to read
a text book, looking in this
general direction?
Aidan holds a MATH TEXTBOOK at an awkward angle to mask his
obvious interest in Ally and Tyler's conversation.
ALLY
Subtle.
TYLER
I have this theory that an
objective third-party, having no
prior contact, would be able to
determine how much of an asshole
he is just by looking at him.
ALLY
Ah.
TYLER
He's my roommate. And I've
witnessed so many glaring examples
of assaholic behavior that I'm
biased as a subject, but I'm
convinced that he has an aura, that
people can actually perceive. So,
just take a good long look. And
tell me what you think?
She looks at Aidan, briefly, who shifts to avoid her gaze.
Then she takes a peek at Tyler's profile.
ALLY
Who else do you plan on asking?
34.
TYLER
No one here. The parameters called
only to sample attractive women in
their early twenties.
ALLY
I'm nineteen.
TYLER
In their late teens.
(beat)
Well, look, you typically get
something for participating in
these things and I've run out of
those big foam fingers, so I was
thinking maybe I could take you out
some night?
She looks at him.
TYLER
Or you could just go out with me on
the off chance we'd have an
interesting conversation.
ALLY
I don't date sociology majors...
they're a rowdy bunch.
TYLER
Indeed they are. Lucky for you, I'm
undecided.
ALLY
About what?
TYLER
Everything.
Tyler smiles. Ally tries to hide a smile. She closes her book
and extends her hand.
ALLY
I'm Ally.
29 INT. PRIVATE SCHOOL -- ART STUDIO -- DAY 29
Caroline in art class amongst a sea of green plaid. The girls
work in relative silence, drawing, painting.
35.
THE ART TEACHER walks amongst them looking over their
shoulders, sees a lot of amateur art work, then she comes
upon Caroline and stops. The teacher finds herself captivated
by ...
A COMIC PORTRAIT of Diane and Les kissing in the doorway of
their brownstone. Diane has a bit of a manic smile and Les is
half her size.
Caroline notices her teacher staring. She doesn't like it and
shifts to block her view. The teacher gently eases her back.
Smiles softly.
Caroline smiles back as her teacher moves across the room.
Caroline has just put her pencil back to paper when...
The BITCHY GIRLS we've seen before start whispering and
smirking. One of them mouths...
CHUBBY GIRL
Kiss ass freak.
Caroline's smile shrinks away and she goes back to work.
30 INT. CRAIG FAMILY HOME ALLY'S BEDROOM-- NEXT EVENING 30
Ally in sweat pants, an ancient tee-shirt, her hair in a
Scrunchie, eating Mallomars from the bag and reading.
Craig yells from the bottom of the stairs. He carries a bag
from a video store.
CRAIG
Don't be mad...
ALLY
Dad, we've seen freaking Erin
Brockovich twice already. You
always cry.
CRAIG O/S
I do not.
ALLY
It's embarrassing.
Her cell phone rings.
ALLY
Hello?
36.
31 EXT. FIRE ESCAPE. RAILROAD FLAT. 31
TYLER
Hey. It's Tyler.
INTERCUT:
Ally winces.
ALLY
Hi.
TYLER
You're going to stand me up. I can
feel it in my bones. I'll be
devastated.
ALLY
No... I...I was just...
TYLER
You were just sitting around in
your pajamas watching T.V.
ALLY
No. I'm not watching T.V. I'm
just...getting dressed.
She wipes her hands on her sweats, smearing them with
chocolate.
ALLY
And I'm going to meet you at the
place at..what time again?
TYLER
Eight.
ALLY
Right...yes. Eight...okay.
She hangs up.
ALLY
Shit.
She whips the Scrunchie out of her hair and heads for the
bathroom.
32 INT.CRAIG HOUSE. KITCHEN. 32
Ally comes down the stairs, putting on her earrings.
37.
Craig looks at Ally, confused.
ALLY
I'm going out.
CRAIG
I can see that.
ALLY
Well, you're a trained
investigator.
She is moving quickly, grabbing her bag, her wallet. Craig
tosses her keys.
CRAIG
Who are you going with?
ALLY
A boy from school.
Beat.
CRAIG
Okay.
ALLY
I wasn't asking for permission.
CRAIG
(sharply)
I know.
(more gently)
Have a good time. Here's cab fare.
He peels off a couple of twenties.
ALLY
Thanks.
CRAIG
Should I wait up?
ALLY
Dad.
Craig puts his hands in the air in surrender.
33 INT. LEMONGRASS GRILL -- NIGHT 33
A hole in the wall Lower East Side Thai restaurant. Tyler and
Ally sit together perusing menus. A WAITER approaches.
38.
ALLY
(to the waiter)
What desserts do you have?
WAITER
Dessert special fried bananas a la
mode.
ALLY
Great, I'll have that. A glass of
skim milk. Then the mussels,
please.
Tyler and the Waiter share a look.
TYLER
Pad Thai and a Sapporo. Thanks.
The Waiter takes the menus.
ALLY
I have my dessert first.
TYLER
Is this a political statement? A
medical condition?
ALLY
I just don't see the point in
waiting for something I know I want
and am going to have. What if I die
eating my mussels?
TYLER
Is that probable?
ALLY
It's possible. If an embolism burst
or an asteroid hit the restaurant,
I'd die without having eaten the
thing I wanted most.
TYLER
But the odds are, I mean...
ALLY
Fine. I'll tell you what, you
guarantee me. Swear to me on your
eternal soul that I'll make it
through my entr�e. And I'll wait.
Tyler goes to answer. Ally holds up a hand.
39.
ALLY
Before you answer, keep in mind, if
I die, you'll have to live the rest
of your life knowing that you not
only lied to me, but denied me my
last indulgence. My last wish. Are
you prepared to shoulder that kind
of responsibility to prove a point?
Tyler thinks about it. Smiles.
ALLY
Don't worry. I'll share.
34 EXT. LEMONGRASS GRILL-- NIGHT 34
Tyler and Ally exit out onto the street. Tyler immediately
takes out his cigarettes, his lighter, then he notices...
Ally looking at him disappointed.
ALLY
Really?
Tyler takes the cue puts the packet and lighter away. A beat.
ALLY
I had a nice time.
TYLER
You had a nice time or you're
having a nice time?
Ally considers.
TYLER
Because if you're having one, why
rush to end it?
35 EXT. STREET FESTIVAL (A LA SAN GENNARO) -- GREENWICH VILLAGE --
35
AFTER
They approach a CARNIVAL GAME, one those ubiquitous
basketball tosses. THE ATTENDANT badgers passersby to test
their luck. GIANT STUFFED ANIMALS hang all around it.
Tyler pays the Attendant, gets the basketballs. Tosses one,
two, the third, then nothing. Game over.
TYLER
Did I tell you I'm Caucasian?
40.
ALLY
Apparently.
Tyler pays again, wipes out again. Game over. Tyler pays
again. Loses again. He's visibly frustrated now.
ALLY
Can't we just stroll while I feed
you ice cream with fireworks in the
background?
TYLER
No. If I stop, he wins.
ALLY
Who, the attendant?
TYLER
No, the frigging Giant Panda.
Tyler hands the ATTENDANT another dollar.
36 EXT. SIDEWALK -- LATER 36
Ally carries a GIANT PANDA under her arm. Tyler walking
beside her with a self-satisfied smile.
ALLY
I don't know what you're smiling
about.
TYLER
I won.
ALLY
Paying off the attendant is not
winning... It's cheating.
TYLER
I just paid a premium to cut out
the middle man. That's innovation.
That's free market enterprising.
That's what made America great.
ALLY
Aha. By the way, what happened to
your eye?
Tyler touches the bandage.
TYLER
Oh, it's nothing, just a bar fight.
41.
ALLY
How butch.
TYLER
I know. I'm practically a pirate.
ALLY
Okay, Captain Morgan...
TYLER
(laughing)
You've got some serious timing.
ALL
It's getting late.
TYLER
I'll walk you to the train.
ALLY
I'll take a cab.
37 EXT. SIDEWALK -- JUST AFTER 37
Tyler is just hailing her a taxi. He stands there holding the
door open.
ALLY
Thanks.
Beat.
Tyler leans in to kiss her. Ally turns away.
ALLY
Not tonight. Not never... just...
not tonight.
CAB DRIVER
We goin' or what?
ALLY
Hey! Turn on the meter.
Tyler respectfully leans back.
TYLER
So dessert before dinner for fear
of death by rogue asteroid... yes.
Kissing guy you're obviously
attracted to before driving off
into the unknown New York night...
no.
42.
Ally considers.
She gives him a quick but tender kiss.
ALLY
You're really weird.
She gets in the cab.
ALLY
(to the driver)
I'm going to Queens and I don't
wanna hear about it.
Off she goes in the taxi. Tyler watches her go.
38 EXT. PRIVATE SCHOOL. THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. 38
Caroline exiting with the crowd. One of the Bitchy girls
shoulder checks her from behind as she passes. Tyler, waiting
on his perch, catches it, walks up to her.
TYLER
Happy end of sixth grade!
CAROLINE
Finally.
39 EXT. CENTRAL PARK -- ALICE IN WONDERLAND STATUE -- AFTERNOON39
CHILDREN climbing all over the bronze statue. Caroline among
them. She sits on a mushroom cap, letting her legs dangle.
Tyler watches her from their usual bench, his bike leaning
next to him.
CAROLINE
They have me in this art program
summer thing at Pratt...
TYLER
I heard.
CAROLINE
It's very prestigious due to my
artistic greatness.
TYLER
Don't pretend. I know you're proud.
You should be.
Caroline allows herself a tiny grin.
43.
CAROLINE
There's, like, a thing...
TYLER
A thing?
CAROLINE
(sheepish)
A show where you show what you've
done and stuff. Will you come?
TYLER
Let me check my book. Abso-freaking-
lutely. I'm camping out. I'm
sleeping there the night before.
Caroline is secretly thrilled.
CAROLINE
You're so retarded. Mom's been
hyperventilating with joy.
TYLER
Good. I'm sure Les was...
TYLER/CAROLINE
"Really supportive"!
CAROLINE
Your school's over, right?
TYLER
Yes, it's over. Did Mom and Les
get the beach house again?
CAROLINE
Yup. What are we going to do for
your birthday?
TYLER
Nothing.
CAROLINE
Can we have a party?
TYLER
No.
CAROLINE
A little one? At Mom's? With Aidan.
I'll make Mom behave. No crying.
TYLER
Like that's possible.
44.
Caroline smiles.
40 INT. RAILROAD FLAT-- NIGHT -- DEEPER INTO SUMMER 40
Ally explores Tyler's living room with a tumbler of wine.
It's in a state of medium disarray. He clocks her looking.
TYLER
I know. But we have coasters.
ALLY
I don't do coasters till the third
date.
She looks over his posters, pictures, etc. Tyler scans a
stack of CDs, he selects Radiohead's KID A, puts it in. The
hypnotic first track fills the room.
Ally comes across a FRAMED PHOTO of a band on stage. The lead
guitarist looks like Tyler with long hair.
ALLY
Is that you?
TYLER
That's Michael. My brother.
ALLY
He looks like you... or you look
like him. Does he play around here?
TYLER
Not any more.
Ally notices the old guitar in the corner.
ALLY
Do you play?
TYLER
It depends who you ask.
ALLY
If I asked anybody?
TYLER
They'd say no. I try but it turns
out you need talent.
ALLY
So what talents do you actually
have?
45.
TYLER
Falconry. I come from a long line
of falconers.
ALLY
There's a lot of money in that.
Tyler smiles. He's actually a hair nervous.
TYLER
Well there is one thing...
Tyler walks to the kitchen counter where a cleaned and
polished COVERED CAKE STAND sits.
ALLY
What's that?
TYLER
Our appetizer.
Tyler lifts off the cover to reveal a GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE.
He's written a message in the icing: "In Case Of Ast-- and
then a piece has been crudely cut out. Ally's surprised.
TYLER
It used to say "In Case Of
Asteroid" but I took a shower and
Aidan got high.
41 INT. KITCHEN -- LATER THAT NIGHT 41
Ally and Tyler stand in front of a sink full of dirty dishes,
up to their elbows in soapy water.
ALLY
So what kind of grade did you end
up with from Vogelstein?
TYLER
I don't actually get grades.
Beat.
TYLER
I'm not technically enrolled. I
worked out an auditing thing.
ALLY
Oh. And The Strand is not a
significant career choice.
46.
TYLER
I like the books.
He indicates the dishes.
TYLER
You don't have to help me, you
know.
ALLY
At the rate you're going, dish
washing is going to be your life's
vocation. I can say I knew you
when.
He flicks a bit of water on her shirt. Ally takes a beat.
ALLY
This is the playful, you get me all
wet part? Right?
TYLER
(horsing around)
You make it sound so cheap.
Ally's not having it.
ALLY
It is cheap. I've seen this scene a
hundred times.
Tyler's a little confused.
TYLER
I'm sorry. I didn't...
ALLY
You know what never happens in this
scene, Tyler-who-doesn't-really-go-
to-school? Tyler-who-doesn't-really
care-about-his-job?
Tyler blinks helplessly.
ALLY
This.
An entire enormous pot of pasta water up ended on the host.
Bits of spaghetti cling to him, tiny tomatoes and zucchini on
his shoulders like little barnacles. He sputters and gasps
and blinks.
ALLY
No, that usually never happens.
47.
She calmly goes back to washing dishes.
Beat.
Spaghetti guy stares at her.
She gives it right back to him, 100% New York City.
Beat.
In one move Tyler slings Ally over his shoulder. She grunts,
unglamorously.
42 INT. BATHROOM -- SECONDS LATER 42
Tyler bursts through the bathroom door. Ally over his
shoulder. Never one to waste a moment, she uses the
opportunity to check out what's in his wallet. He turns on
the shower. She has his drivers licence.
TYLER
Apologize.
ALLY
Never. Your middle name is Keats?
Your parents are pretentious as
hell.
Tyler turns on the shower and tosses Ally into the water. She
dances to avoid the stream. Ally grabs the portable shower
head and turns it at him.
Tyler jumps into the tub to avoid the spray. They wrestle for
the shower head.
TYLER
Apologize.
ALLY
I'd rather eat monkeys.
This cracks Tyler up. He stops struggling for the shower and
gasps a little with laughter, putting up his hands in
surrender. Ally stands there, holding the shower head,
giggling.
They lock eyes for a moment. The air is charged.
Ally spritzes him in the face.
TYLER
I surrender! Oh my God, you're
relentless.
48.
He slides down the wall until he's sitting in the tub, Ally
follows.
ALLY
Victory at all costs.
43 INT. BATH TUB -- LATER 43
Tyler and Ally lie side-by-side, drenched. Their feet hang
over the edge of the tub. Tyler reaches into his pocket and
removes a dripping cigarette packet. He squeezes out water.
TYLER
Now... I'm furious.
He tosses them in a waste basket.
ALLY
You should quit anyway.
TYLER
Really? Why? Are cigarettes like
bad for you or something?
Ally playfully slaps him. She notices the tip of Tyler's
TATTOO peeking out of his undershirt.
ALLY
Is that a tattoo? Let me see.
TYLER
It's not really...
ALLY
Please. It's very bad ass. All that
ritualistic scarring.
Tyler peels the soaked garment off his back as Ally offers
polite applause. Michael's name becomes clear. Ally takes a
long look. She sees Tyler's not smiling anymore. She gets it.
ALLY
I'm sorry... I didn't... I didn't
realize.
She looks at him. Asking with out asking.
TYLER
He killed himself.
Beat.
49.
ALLY
When?
TYLER
When he was 21. He had just started
working for my father.
Ally is gently picking spaghetti and tomatoes off Tyler.
ALLY
I thought he was a musician.
TYLER
He was. But he wasn't making a
living doing music and my father's
a very compelling guy.
ALLY
Mine too.
Ally looks away for a moment. Tucks a curl behind her ear.
Then they look at each other. Ally opens her mouth to speak.
Aidan bursts in. He's drunk, loud, wearing an Irish Flag like
a cape. He carries a bottle of whiskey and a can of Guinness.
AIDAN
Damn, you're not naked.
TYLER
You're not Irish.
AIDAN
T, What happened in the kitchen? It
looks like somebody's water broke.
(notices Ally)
Hi.
TYLER
Ally, Aidan... Aidan, Ally.
Aidan takes Ally's hand. Kisses it.
AIDAN
Don't feel bad that you're more
attracted to me than you are to him
it happens to all of them.
Ally looks at Aidan closely, trying to figure out where she
knows him from, it dawns on her.
ALLY
Oh! You're the assaholic!
50.
AIDAN
Well, I--
(realizes what she said)
Wait. What?
Tyler and Ally laugh. Aidan's too drunk to care.
AIDAN
Alright, you two. Up. Dressed.
Let's go. "Around The World" party
on the third floor... a lot of ugly
but a lot more alcohol. Let's go.
ALLY
I can't, I would, I'd love to, but
I've gotta get home, my dad's
waiting up.
AIDAN
Ally. Ally. Listen to me, young
lady. One drink. From any country.
I'll even put France on the table.
One drink. Your choice. And we're
gone.
ALLY
(to Tyler)
One drink?
TYLER
(to Aidan)
One drink?
AIDAN
(innocent shrug)
One drink.
44 INT. BATHROOM -- LATER 44
Ally VOMITS in their toilet. Tyler holds her hair back. Aidan
appears in the doorway still wearing that flag.
AIDAN
Hey, how we doin'?
Ally tries to speak, all we hear is a series of groans. Then
she dry heaves again. Tyler shoots Aidan a look.
AIDAN
What? What do you want me to say?
That I'm sorry? You want me to say
I"m sorry?
(MORE)
51.
AIDAN (cont'd)
You want me to apologize for
showing a nice girl a good time? Is
that it?
Tyler just looks at him. Aidan considers.
AIDAN
I'm sorry.
ALLY
Tyler...
Tyler kneels down. Ally pushes her purse at him, she looks
like she's about to pass out.
ALLY
I, need, you... to call... my dad.
Tyler and Aidan share a look. Aidan shrugs.
TYLER
Oh. OK. Sure.
Tyler pulls out her cellphone - the battery is dead.
TYLER
Your phone's dead. Just tell me the
number and I'll call him...
Tyler turns around to find Ally passed out on the floor. He
tries to gently nudge her awake.
TYLER
Ally? Ally?
SERGEANT CRAIG (O.S.)
I know Ally's a good kid, Leo.
45 INT. CRAIG FAMILY HOME -- ALLY'S BEDROOM -- LATE NIGHT 45
The bedside clock reads 3:47. Craig is on the phone while
searching through Ally's desk drawers. For anything. He finds
a note book with a red cover and starts flipping through it.
CRAIG
...She was supposed to be back.
She's not back ... call Ted
Proferes ... and what's his face in
the 9th...and call me back. Just do
it, Leo!
Craig hangs up the phone.
52.
Beat.
He picks it up again and starts dialing, still flipping
through the notebook.
46 INT TYLER'S BEDROOM -- NEXT MORNING 46
Ally wakes up alone in Tyler's bed, hung over, confused,
trying to put the pieces together, then she sees the clock.
And a wave of panic washes over her as she jumps out of bed.
ALLY
...oh God oh God oh God oh God...
47 INT. LIVING ROOM -- LATER 47
Tyler sleeps on the couch using Aidan's Irish Flag as a
blanket. Ally comes in pulling on her shoes. Tyler stirs in
time to see her run out the door.
48 INT. CRAIG FAMILY HOME -- LATER 48
Craig sits at the table, dialing someone, anyone. Ally
enters, drops her keys on the counter. Her father doesn't
look at her as she pours herself a coffee.
ALLY
...I'm sorry. I fell asleep...
Craig squeezes honey into his coffee, practically strangling
the Bear. Not looking at her.
Ally notices the red notebook on the kitchen table next to
the phone.
CRAIG
You turned your phone off.
ALLY
I forgot to charge it.
It dawns on her...
ALLY
That's mine. From my desk.
Craig says nothing. Just stirs his coffee. Ally is furious.
ALLY
How could you?
53.
CRAIG
You were gone all night. I was
trying to get some information.
ALLY
How could you go through my stuff
like I'm a suspect?
CRAIG
Then stop acting like one.
ALLY
What is the matter with you, Dad?
You have no respect for me and the
way I'm feeling, my privacy. We
talked about this! You're totally
paranoid...
CRAIG
You watch your mouth!
ALLY
You don't do anything. You don't go
anywhere except work. You have no
life.
CRAIG
My life is right here! In this
house. The same place as yours. But
you're spitting all over it.
ALLY
Jesus Christ, Dad! I went on a
date!
CRAIG
I smell alcohol...
Right back at him.
ALLY
So do I.
Beat.
ALLY
Dad...
CRAIG
THIS IS MY HOUSE!
ALLY
YOU WANNA BURY ME IN IT?
54.
CRACK! He hits her, hard, open hand, from across the width of
his body. Ally is knocked off balance and hits her head on
the cabinets.
CRAIG
Ally!
His face is contorted with panic and shame.
Ally's disoriented. Her ears are ringing. Her lip is split. A
knot is starting to form where she hit her head.
She straightens herself up and stares at her dad like she has
no idea who he is.
Beat.
Craig tries to envelop her. With a guttural snarl she pushes
him away, getting a little bit of blood on his shirt. She
scrambles up the stairs.
49 EXT. RAILROAD FLAT-- ROOFTOP -- DAY 49
Sunshine beats down on a little make-shift rooftop hideaway,
a few old beach chairs, a stereo, a weight bench. Aidan works
out with an old set of dumb bells. Tyler sits on a beach
chair, trying again with the guitar.
AIDAN
...So? She just left? No good bye?
Tyler nods, strumming like he's wearing boxing gloves. Aidan
finishes up a set.
AIDAN
Maybe she heard you play the
guitar.
TYLER
You were the one dumping Jello
shots down her throat. You almost
killed her.
Aidan lies down to do the bench press... there's a lot of
weight on the bar.
AIDAN
There are sins of omission and sins
of commission, my friend. I've
dealt with mine and I've forgiven
myself... you should do the same.
55.
Aidan lifts. It's too heavy and falls to his chest. Tyler
forgoes his spotting duty, lets him struggle. Aidan strains.
AIDAN
...little help, T... little help,
little help, lotta help... TYLER?!
Tyler blows three perfect smoke rings. Finally he puts down
the guitar and helps get the bar up. Aidan panting, rubbing
his chest.
AIDAN
What the hell was that?
TYLER
Penance. I have to get to work.
50 INT. RAILROAD FLAT-- LIVING ROOM -- DAY 50
Tyler and Aidan come into their apartment, Aidan still
rubbing his chest. Ally is standing there in the middle of
the living area. A packed bag at her feet, her face a mess.
ALLY
I didn't know where else to go.
51 INT. LIVING ROOM -- SUNSET 51
Aidan sits on the couch still in his gym clothes drinking a
protein shake out of a blender. Tyler comes out of his
bedroom gently closing the door behind him.
AIDAN
How's she doin'?
TYLER
She's pretty shaken up.
Tyler takes a seat beside him. Takes out a cigarette.
TYLER
We've really got to fix that dead
bolt.
AIDAN
My bad. Sorry.
TYLER
Don't be. You think she'll sleep?
56.
AIDAN
You realize if she had had the
S.L.U.T
If looks could kill...
AIDAN
Too soon?
A silent moment passes.
TYLER
I told her she could stay here...
Are you alright with that?
AIDAN
As long as she needs.
52 INT. LIVING ROOM -- LATER THAT NIGHT 52
Tyler has just finished making up the ratty sofa as a bed.
Ally appears from the bedroom, framed by the open door. She
has slept in one of Tyler's button down shirts.
TYLER
You're up.
Beat.
TYLER
Can I get you anything?
She nods.
TYLER
I'll be out here if you need me.
Beat.
Ally takes off the shirt and lets it fall.
She stands there.
53 INT. TYLER'S BEDROOM -- LATER 53
We interrupt Ally and Tyler in the throes of passion. Tyler
sits on the edge of the bed. Ally is on top. She kisses his
neck. Suddenly, Tyler throws her to the bed. He takes
control. Ally's momentarily taken aback, but doesn't stop
him. There's noticeable aggression to their love-making.
57.
In the midst of everything, the pair slow almost to stopping,
a caesura. They stare into each other in a moment of surprise
and recognition.
Then again. Young, hungry, aggressive.
TIME LAPSE
They lie, eyes closed, almost asleep, entwined with each
other. Tyler gives a little sound of contentment. Ally, in
her own haze, reaches for him, her hair all over the place.
Eyes still closed they fumble for each other, starting, in
this dream state, to make love all over again.
54 INT. BEDROOM -- BEFORE SUNRISE 54
The sheets have been torn loose from the mattress. Ally lies
asleep, curled in the comforter. Tyler lies awake beside her,
he smokes a cigarette and watches the sky just starting to
brighten.
Tyler gets out of bed. Grabs his journal.
A NOTE propped up next to the bed: "Please don't leave. I'll
be back."
55 EXT. SIDEWALK -- LATER 55
Tyler locking his bike outside the coffee shop.
56 INT. WALL STREET COFFEE SHOP -- SUNRISE 56
The place is empty. A few early RISERS get coffee to go.
He sits in the same booth, his journal held open by the
binder clip. He writes, a bag of Bialys next to him.
Janine enters. Orders two coffees. She sees Tyler, smiles.
She picks up her coffees and approaches him.
JANINE
I can't believe you still come down
here.
Tyler looks up, grins, nods to her coffees.
TYLER
It's not so far. I can't believe
you still get his coffee... three
sugars, no milk?
58.
JANINE
(shrugs)
Old habits. You're not writing
anything bad about me, are you?
TYLER
Not today.
JANINE
I gotta run. Early meetings.
Janine turns to go, remembers something, turns back.
JANINE
I probably won't see you before
Saturday so...happy birthday.
Tyler nods, tries to smile. Janine glances back as she goes.
JANINE
I'll be sure to tell your father
that you said hello.
Tyler nods sheepishly.
57 INT. RAILROAD FLAT -- LIVING ROOM -- LATER 57
Tyler returns with breakfast. From Aidan's room, a pathetic
croak...
AIDAN O/S
Bialy.
Tyler tosses him a Bialy like he's tossing fish to a seal.
Ally lies on the couch. Curled in a blanket. A cup of hot tea
in hand. She sips it. It stings her lip a little.
TYLER
Hey...
ALLY
Hey...
Tyler sits. She shifts and curls next to him.
ALLY
Where did you go?
TYLER
Downtown.
59.
ALLY
Why?
Tyler pulls his JOURNAL from his pocket. Hands it to her.
TYLER
There's a coffee shop. I brought
you a Bialy.
ALLY
New York is full of coffee shops.
TYLER
This one was our place... Michael's
and mine. We had breakfast there
all the time ... Maybe not as many
times as I think we did. But enough
times. Anyway we ate there that
morning. It was the last place I
saw him.
ALLY
Oh. So you go there to write? To
him?
TYLER
Maybe. Sometimes. I don't know. But
I guess I wanted to tell him about
you.
Ally is moved, you can see it in her eyes, but she chooses
not to overdo it. She flips through the journal. She hands it
back to him. Then out of nowhere.
ALLY
My mom was murdered eight years
ago. The same year your brother
died.
Tyler is stunned.
ALLY
You don't need to say anything, I
know you're sorry. Everyone's
always sorry, you know?
He does.
ALLY
It's just, I need you to know that,
my dad, he's not an evil guy.
(MORE)
60.
ALLY (cont'd)
I don't want you to think that
because I'm here he's some kind of
belligerent psychotic, he's not...I
don't know, it's just recently, he
seems really...
She looks at Tyler's face. His eyes are so patient.
Ally tears up.
ALLY
Wounded? Our house is like the
recovery room, or the critical care
unit or something.
Tyler strokes her hair.
ALLY
I don't feel like that, though. I
feel like I'm getting stronger and
like I'm leaving him behind to swim
in it all by himself.
She is weeping. Tyler pulls her to him doing the best he can.
Holding her and kissing her hair.
58 INT. SIXTH PRECINCT -- 2 DAYS LATER. 58
Sergeant Craig standing with a ROOKIE OFFICER, berating.
CRAIG
Tell me something, Matthews, do you
like paperwork?
MATTHEWS
No, sir.
Craig is working up a head of steam.
CRAIG
Me neither. Nobody likes paperwork.
But paperwork keeps our ship
afloat. Paperwork makes it possible
for me to keep track of all the
scumbags. But I can't do that if
newbies like you are incapable of
remembering standard filing...
Leo interrupts.
LEO
Jim...
61.
Craig snaps his head around.
CRAIG
...What?
Leo gestures to speak privately.
LEO
Ally called Sharon.
CRAIG
What?
LEO
She said to tell you, she's with
friends, and she's fine.
CRAIG
What friends?
LES
She didn't say.
CRAIG
That's all?
His partner nods. Craig looks away.
LEO
I'm sorry, Jim. Listen, why don't
you come over this weekend? We'll
get the grill going. Sharon wants
to see you. We can have some
people, nice people...You can
circulate a little...
CRAIG
No.
LEO
Jim...
CRAIG
Leo, no. Stop.
Craig goes back to his desk. Leo looks after him.
59 INT. RAILROAD FLAT -- LIVING ROOM -- DAY 59
Aidan sits in the living room, trying to assemble an IKEA
television stand. A joint smolders in the ashtray. The BUZZER
rings.
62.
Aidan goes to answer it.
AIDAN
Hello?
DIANE
Aidan, it's Diane.
He blinks.
AIDAN
Oh, hey Diane.
He throws down the keys, then yells towards the roof...
AIDAN
T! It's your mom.
With Diane's knock the door swings open.
AIDAN
Hey Diane.
He gives her a kiss on the cheek.
DIANE
You really have to fix that door.
I'm so sorry to just show up. I
called but your phone was busy.
Aidan looks and realizes that the phone is indeed off the
hook, as just the handset, wrapped in duct tape, is visible
on top of the sofa.
AIDAN
No problem. Come on in.
Tyler and Ally enter the apartment through the fire escape
TYLER
Hey mom.
DIANE
Hey. I'm so sorry honey. I tried to
call but...
TYLER.
It's okay. Mom, this is Ally. Ally,
this is my mom, Diane.
ALLY
Hi. Nice to meet you.
Diane is thrilled. She has a huge mom grin.
63.
DIANE
Ally. It's lovely to met you. Just
lovely.
Diane is pumping Ally's hand like she's drilling for oil.
TYLER
Sit down, Mom. Can I get you
something?
She navigates the IKEA carnage and sits on the sofa, the
joint smoldering in the ashtray in front of her. Aidan ever
the gent, removes the ashtray to the window ledge.
DIANE
Yes. Aidan, would you bring back
that spliff, please?
Beat.
AIDAN
Uh..okay.
Tyler looks completely befuddled. Aidan passes Diane the
joint. She takes a deep hit.
DIANE
Thank you.
AIDAN
How's work, Diane?
DIANE
Well ...
(BIG exhale)
I just found housing for a family
that had been in shelters for three
weeks. So that's good. On the other
hand, I have six other families.
The women measure each other.
DIANE
But Tyler, I wanted to talk to you.
ALLY
Come on, Aidan.
AIDAN
What?
ALLY
Nice to meet you, Diane.
64.
She starts to drag Aidan out the window, back up the fire
escape, but he makes a brief detour.
AIDAN
Don't freaking bogart that joint,
Diane.
DIANE
Sorry.
She hands it back to him and Aidan and Ally climb away.
Tyler sits next to his mom and lights a cigarette.
DIANE
Well, first, your sister is all
excited about your birthday at the
house. I wish you'd told me.
TYLER
I wish she'd told me. It was a
unilateral Caroline decision. Will
you make sausage and peppers?
DIANE
Of course. Tyler, Your father is
driving me crazy. I shouldn't even
be discussing this with you.
I can't get him to say he'll come
to your sister's exhibit. Her art
exhibit. He says he's in the middle
of an IPO.
Tyler rubs his eyes.
DIANE
Les says I shouldn't broker. I
should let them be on whatever road
they're on.
Beat.
TYLER
I'll get him there.
DIANE
She cares about this, even though
she's pretending she doesn't.
TYLER
I'll get him there, mom.
DIANE
You will?
65.
TYLER
Yes.
She looks relieved.
DIANE
Thank you. Thank you.
She kisses his cheek, and rises to go. He takes her to the
door.
DIANE
Why don't you bring that lovely
girl to your birthday?
TYLER
(a warning)
Diane...
DIANE
Sorry. Sorry. I love you, darling,
but this place reeks of marijuana.
She goes, shutting the door behind her.
60 EXT. ROOFTOP -- AFTER. 60
Aidan and Ally on the roof, they've arranged themselves in
the deck chairs.
ALLY
That was weird. I assume most moms
don't smoke weed in front of their
son's...um
AIDAN
Piece of ass?
ALLY
You know, you're a poet.
AIDAN
Hey. I know one thing. I know that
in the time I've lived with Tyler,
he has never introduced a girl ...
woman...female...to his mom before.
ALLY
It's not like he had a choice. She
ambushed us.
66.
AIDAN
Yeah, but he would've shoved you in
a closet or something. Or literally
pretended you were a hallucination.
ALLY
Ha ha.
AIDAN
I mean it. It's the first time.
Ever.
ALLY
Did it ever occur to you that
that's kind of weird?
AIDAN
No.
Ally throws up her hands.
61 INT. BATHROOM. AFTER. 61
Tyler, having pulled the decrepit house phone into the
bathroom, is leaning against the sink, girding himself to
call Charles. He looks in the mirror and makes a face.
62 INT. CHARLES' OFFICE . JUST AFTER 62
Janine pokes her head into Charles' office. Charles is
swamped with work and surrounded by UNDERLINGS.
JANINE
Charles, it's your son.
Charles is surprised.
CHARLES
What?
JANINE
On the phone.
CHARLES
Okay.
He punches a button.
CHARLES
Tyler, you're on speakerphone.
67.
63 IN. BATHROOM. AFTER. 63
TYLER
It's about Caroline's show. Are you
planning on attending?
CHARLES O/S
What? There are people here. You'll
have to speak up.
Tyler holds the phone away from his face and screams at it,
silently.
TYLER
Caroline's show.
CHARLES O/S
What about it?
TYLER
(ready to kill him)
You are coming, right?
CHARLES O/S
Fine. Yes. I'm coming. We'll go to
dinner first. Alright?...
(to Janine)
Janine?
TYLER
Dinner? That's not...
CHARLES
I'll make a reservation and have
Janine call you.
He hangs up. Tyler stares at the phone a sec, then hits his
head, once, against the bathroom door.
64 INT. DIANE'S HOUSE -- DINING ROOM -- NIGHT -- A WEEK LATER 64
Tyler is sitting at the table in the darkened room with Ally
standing behind him with her hands over his eyes.
Caroline enters from the kitchen carrying Tyler's BIRTHDAY
CAKE. She has obviously decorated it herself. She has drawn
(as best as she could, given the medium) the characters from
the ALICE statue in frosting.
It reads "A VERY MERRY UNBIRTHDAY TO YOU", and has "22" in
numerical candles and "+ 1 TO UNGROW ON" written next to
that.
68.
She's singing. Aidan, Ally, Diane are all singing.
There's a flash from a camera off screen. It's Les.
Caroline puts the cake down in front of her brother and Ally
takes her hands away just as they finish the song.
Tyler's face in the candlelight as he sees Caroline's
efforts. He takes a huge breath...
CAROLINE
Make a wish.
He looks at her and blows out the candles. Everybody
applauds, Diane longer than anyone else. Her eyes are
shining.
CUT TO:
65 INT. DINING ROOM --LATER 65
The cake totally devoured. Les is obsessively eating
frosting.
Caroline is trying to teach Aidan how to waltz in the living
room. He is...
CAROLINE
Retarded. Tyler?
Tyler rises from the sofa and takes over as Caroline's
partner. She puts her feet on top of his feet and they waltz.
TYLER/CAROLINE
"One, two. three. One, two, three"
Ally and Diane are washing dishes in silence.
Beat.
ALLY
You're the second member of this
family I've washed dishes with.
Beat.
DIANE
He was doing it to impress you.
He's never washed a dish in his
life.
69.
66 INT. CAROLINE'S ROOM. 66
Caroline at her desk, sketching. Her door is ajar. Ally
enters, mouth agape as she lays eyes on Caroline's collection
of artwork on the walls.
ALLY
Wow.
Caroline's working on a PORTRAIT OF TYLER ON A PARK BENCH,
cigarette dangling from his bottom lip. A perfect rendering
of a fleeting moment.
ALLY
May I?
Caroline shrugs. Ally looks over Caroline's shoulder.
ALLY
That's exactly him. It's like the
cigarette is the last Coca Cola in
the desert.
Caroline smiles.
ALLY
I can't believe he smokes in front
of you.
CAROLINE
Don't worry, I'm not that
impressionable.
Ally smiles. Caroline goes back to work. Ally looks around at
all the portraits papering her walls. It stirs a memory.
ALLY
You know when I was younger, we
didn't have air conditioning in the
house, so during the summer my mom
and I would go to museums to cool
down... she loved them all but The
Met was always her favorite.
CAROLINE
Mine too. The Met is one of my
favorite places in the world.
ALLY
So... I heard you've got an art
exhibit coming up.
70.
CAROLINE
(skeptical)
You wanna come?
ALLY
Was it that obvious? But only if
you're OK with it. I don't want to
impose and I'll completely
understand if you don't want some
random girl there.
Caroline considers this.
CAROLINE
You're not random... you're Tyler's
girlfriend.
Ally has never heard anyone say it so plainly. She seems a
bit perplexed, then grins. It's okay with her.
67 INT. RAILROAD FLAT-- LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT OF CAROLINE'S SHOW67
Tyler wearing the suit we met him in, it's been dry-cleaned.
Ally emerges from the bathroom, looking gorgeous in a vintage
black cocktail dress and carrying a pink wrap.
ALLY
You like?
TYLER
Let's just skip dinner and I'll
tell you how great you look in like
eighteen different languages.
ALLY
You just want to skip dinner. I got
you a tie.
She hands him a simple blue tie that matches his eyes.
Beat.
TYLER
I was going to make a joke about
how I'm not prepared for the
commitment of exchanging
accessories and how neck wear
especially is a slippery slope, but
I should probably shut up and say
thank you.
71.
ALLY
You're learning.
Tyler puts on his tie in the mirror. He scowls.
68 INT. FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT -- AFTER. 68
Tyler and Ally sip cocktails at the nicest table in the
place. There's an empty seat. Tyler's eyes flicker towards
the door. Twice. He touches his tie.
TYLER
Have you ever been here?
Ally tries to lighten his mood.
ALLY
(joking)
Yeah. Every Tuesday with my pop.
This goes right past Tyler whose eyes flicker towards the
door again.
TYLER
He's allowed to stand me up. But
he's not allowed to stand you up.
Or my sister.
Tyler finishes his drink, signals a WAITER who glides to the
table.
TYLER
I'll have a whiskey.
CHARLES
Get me one too...
Like a stealth bomber. At least this moment rescued the men
from actually having to greet each other.
WAITER
Yes. For the lady?
ALLY
I'm fine, thank you.
The waiter goes.
TYLER
This is Alicia Craig. Ally, my
father, Charles Roth.
Charles gives a courtly nod and takes her hand.
72.
CHARLES
A pleasure.
69 INT. RESTAURANT -- LATER 69
An empty wine bottle. Charles cuts into a one-hundred dollar
steak.
CHARLES
You're going to be a social worker?
ALLY
Yes. But with an area of focused
responsibility. It's easier to find
a job that way.
CHARLES
What will your area be?
ALLY
Criminal Justice.
CHARLES
Tough area.
ALLY
When I was little I wanted to play
first base for the Mets. I don't
think it's any harder than that.
CHARLES
The Mets, huh.
ALLY
(arching an eyebrow)
I'm from Rockaway.
TYLER
Dad's a Yankee fan. It has
something to do with the payroll.
CHARLES
It has to do with significant ball
playing. You were a Yankees fan
when you were little. You were Lou
Piniella for Halloween.
TYLER
Blind familial allegiance. I didn't
know what overpriced, overfed, fat
bastards they were.
73.
CHARLES
(serious as a heart attack)
Who's fat? What Yankee is fat? Tell
me.
TYLER
(right back at him)
It's a metaphor...
Charles adjusts his tie and goes back to his steak.
TYLER
Roger Clemens.
Charles looks at his son. Puts his fork down.
Silence at the table.
Back to the steak.
Beat.
ALLY
Shane Spencer.
Charles looks up, taken aback.
ALLY
Nick Johnson.
Tyler tries to get a word in.
CHARLES
(his mouth full of steak)
He's big boned!
Charles and Ally burst out laughing. Tyler rolls his eyes
--TIME CUT
Dessert. Ally is working on an enormous profiterole. Tyler,
another whiskey.
CHARLES
How long has your dad been a cop?
ALLY
Twenty-two years.
His cell phone lights up. Charles gently puts his hand on
hers.
74.
CHARLES
Would you excuse me please... I'm
so sorry.
ALLY
It's OK.
Charles gets up from the table. Tyler, not able to help
himself, shoots him a glance. Ally clocks it.
ALLY
It's just a call. He held out 'til
dessert.
Charles returns.
CHARLES
I'm sorry...And your mother?
ALLY
She passed away when I was eleven.
CHARLES
Ah.
ALLY
She was murdered. I was there.
Charles and Tyler are stunned to silence.
ALLY
(to Tyler)
I never told you that part.
TYLER
Why are you saying this now?
ALLY
I don't know.
The men look at her. She's a hero.
CHARLES
And, here you are.
ALLY
Yup. Here I am.
70 INT. CRAIG FAMILY HOME. KITCHEN. 70
There is an empty Lean Cuisine box, and two empty Beer Cans
on the counter.
75.
Craig stands by the microwave as it counts down...4,3,2,1.
BEEP. He removes an Eggplant Parmigiana and slides it
carefully on to a waiting plate.
He takes it, along with a fresh beer, to the living room. He
sits heavily on the sofa and hits a remote, unpausing ERIN
BROCKOVICH.
71 EXT. IN FRONT OF THE FOUR SEASONS-- LATER 71
Tyler and Ally wait in front of the restaurant as Charles
takes another call. A TOWN CAR and DRIVER wait as well.
ALLY
I think he's lovely.
Tyler puts his head in his hands.
TYLER
God.
Charles returns. His face blank.
TYLER
Don't say it.
CHARLES
I have to go to the office.
TYLER
You have somewhere else to be, Dad.
Charles adjusts his tie. Tyler loosens his.
Ally is unsure where to look.
CHARLES
The exhibit runs til nine. You guys
take the car. I'll meet you.
TYLER
I don't believe you.
CHARLES
That's all there is, Tyler.
TYLER
It's not good enough.
CHARLES
I don't have to justify anything to
you. Take the car. I'll get a cab.
I'll meet you.
76.
He steps into the street to hail a cab.
Tyler watches his dad get into a taxi, then holds the car
door for Ally.
72 INT. CAROLINE'S ART EXHIBIT-- PRATT AUDITORIUM -- LATER 72
Amateur artwork and picked over catering. The rest of the
exhibitors are high school age, even a college freshman or
two. They mill with their friends and families. Animated.
Ally and Aidan stand before a COLLECTION OF FAMILIAR
PORTRAITS (Charles reading the paper at breakfast, Les and
Diane kissing, Tyler on the park bench).
Caroline sits on a catering table, Tyler next to her. She
looks miserable, he looks furious. Diane bustles over with a
plate of cupcakes and a big stupid grin.
DIANE
I brought you every flavor.
Caroline looks once at her mom then...
CAROLINE
(to Tyler)
I'm ready to go home now.
Tyler nods, takes her hand. Calls to...
TYLER
Ally...?
Les, eating a cupcake, and Ally, stand under a portrait of
Charles. Ally picks up her purse. Diane standing there with
her cupcakes.
73 INT. RAILROAD FLAT. RIGHT AFTER 73
Tyler, visibly agitated, is letting Ally in the front door to
the apartment. He grabs his bike off the wall.
ALLY
Where are you going?
TYLER
I have something I've got to do.
ALLY
Now?
Ally reaches for his elbow. He yanks his arm away.
77.
TYLER
Are you capable of taking care of
yourself for an hour? Do you need
me here every minute, or what?
He slams out.
Ally looks like she's been slapped.
74 INT. CHARLES'OFFICE -- RIGHT AFTER 74
Charles in a meeting with several SUBORDINATES. Everyone is
in late night disarray. They are obviously on their way to
pulling an all-nighter. The door to the office flies open.
Tyler barges in. Janine trailing.
JANINE
Tyler? Tyler? You can't just...
CHARLES
It's fine Janine.
There is space between the two men. Tyler extends a rolled up
piece of paper to his father.
TYLER
She drew you a picture.
CHARLES
Put it on the table.
Beat.
Tyler holds on to the portrait.
TYLER
You have a daughter who sincerely
believes you don't like her.
CHARLES
If I have any questions about what
my daughter may believe, I'll let
you know.
Tyler gestures with the portrait
TYLER
Don't you at least want to know
her? She's telling you something,
Dad. She's communicating. Why
aren't you riveted? Why isn't this
the most important thing? At least
for one night of your life?
78.
CHARLES
I've heard this song before, Tyler.
SUBORDINATE#1
We can come back...
The subordinates rise.
CHARLES
It's fine, Khaleel.
They sit.
There is still distance between the two men.
Beat.
CHARLES
Who is this display for?
TYLER
You, Mr. Roth.
Beat.
CHARLES
She knows I will take care of her.
TYLER
And...?
The subordinates rise again.
SUBORDINATE#1
We really can come back another...
CHARLES
Sit the fuck down.
They sit.
CHARLES
And that I love her. I love her.
Good God, you toss that word around
like currency. You have no idea
what it means.
TYLER
Maybe not. Maybe Caroline doesn't
either. Where would she have
learned it?
79.
CHARLES
I have provided her world. And
yours.
TYLER
That does not mean you're allowed
to shatter it whenever there's
something better to do.
CHARLES
Who the hell do you think you're
talking to? You pedaled down here
on your bike for Christ's sake. You
have to take care of nothing. You
are responsible for no one. You're
a kid. You think you're the first
one to lose anything? Do you think
that there is anything you feel
that I haven't already felt?
TYLER
You didn't find him. I found him.
And you're so tragically blind, the
rest of your children are going to
hang themselves on your watch.
Charles goes, snarling, for his son, and Tyler is more than
willing.
Janine and one of the Subordinates get between them.
JANINE
Stop! Stop!
The men are pulled apart. Tyler is white and trembling with
rage. Charles' face is completely dark and closed.
JANINE
Get out of here Tyler.
Tyler runs for the door. Stumbling over furniture, Caroline's
portrait crushed under his feet.
75 INT. RAILROAD FLAT -- RIGHT AFTER. 75
Ally, still in her dress, trying to excavate an ice tray
frozen in the ancient freezer. There's got to be six inches
of frost in there. She starts stabbing it with a wooden
spoon. As she hears the door, she turns and puts on her most
blistering attitude like an overcoat. As Tyler walks into the
light-- his face white with anger, practically crying-- her
eyes widen...
80.
ALLY
Oh my God.
She runs to him, he falls into her. He's a mess. He won't let
her see his face. She pushes at his hair, trying to see and
understand. He kisses her, so she won't see. Tyler is
completely lost in the storm and Alicia Santana Craig is
going to get him through.
ALLY
Okay.
She yanks his head up.
ALLY
It's okay.
They kiss. She brings his hands up into her hair, around her
face. They kiss. He kisses her like he's starved for her.
CUT TO:
76 TYLER'S BEDROOM -- LATER 76
Tyler and Ally, wrapped around each other, both deeply
asleep.
77 INT. CRAIG FAMILY HOME -- CRAIG'S OFFICE -- AFTERNOON 77
Craig, home from work. He hits the button on the answering
machine. There's just one message.
ALLY O/S
(on the machine)
Dad, it's me. I've been
invited...I'm going away to the
beach for Labor Day...They're nice
people. If there's any problem I'll
call. Or they will. Okay...Bye.
As he takes off his jacket, Craig hits rewind and plays the
message again...
ALLY O/S
(on the machine)
Dad, it's me...
78 INT. DIANE'S MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT -- SUMMER'S END 78
Raucous laughter. Caroline, Tyler, Les, Ally and Aidan are in
the living room playing charades.
81.
Everyone is a little sunburnt, the adults are a little drunk.
Ally is wrapped up in Tyler, Caroline is on her mom's lap on
the floor, Les next to them, lying on his stomach. Aidan is
up and God only knows what he's doing
LES
(totally flabbergasted)
I genuinely have no idea...are you
having a seizure?
CAROLINE
Time.
AIDAN
Berlin Alexanderplatz!
More raucous laughter.
AIDAN
You people are culturally bankrupt.
TYLER
Whose was that anyway?
CAROLINE
Mine.
Whoops of laughter heretofore unheard in Montauk.
DIANE
Okay, you. Bed.
LES.
Me? Yeah, baby.
CAROLINE
Gross. Gross. Gross me out the
door.
She rises and flees into the kitchen. Les rolls over and ends
up with his head in Diane's lap. He looks at her for a
moment.
LES
You're just the prettiest girl.
Diane beams at him.
Tyler smiles at his mom and Les, then at Ally. Diane takes a
deep look at her son. Her eyes shining.
AIDAN
Holy crap. What's with all the
smiling?
82.
Caroline travels through the living room with a popsicle. She
is headed for her bedroom.
CAROLINE
A child could do Berlin
Alexanderplatz, you spaz.
Les snorts with laughter. Diane rises, dumping him to the
floor.
LES
Hey!
DIANE
I want five minutes with my child
before she ceases to be a child and
decides I'm ruining her life.
On her way out, Diane pauses and gently pushes one of Ally's
stray curls behind her ear. Smiles down at her.
DIANE
Aren't you a treasure.
Ally stares up at Diane for a beat, her eyes shining.
79 INT. AMTRACK -- PASSENGER CAR (MOVING) -- DAY 79
Tanned and rejuvenated, Ally, Tyler, and Aidan sit together
on the train back to the city.
Ally and Tyler kiss. Aidan watches them.
AIDAN
I want a girlfriend.
TYLER
What?
AIDAN
Dinners out, movies. Regular sex.
That could be all right. For like,
a summer.
ALLY
You're such a romantic.
AIDAN
And I've had all the races.
ALLY
Excuse me?
83.
AIDAN
I've had all the races. I've been
with girls from every...race.
Ally laughs.
TYLER
That is the stupidest thing you've
ever said, including that time with
the bong in the emergency room.
ALLY
White girl.
AIDAN
Please. Like falling off a log. As
a matter of fact...
ALLY
Shut up. Black girl.
AIDAN
But of course.
ALLY
Asian.
AIDAN
Twice.
ALLY
Latina.
AIDAN
Oui!
ALLY
A Latin girl actually slept with
you? What's her name? She's out of
the club.
Tyler is laughing. Ally thinks for a moment.
ALLY
Eskimo.
Aidan gives a satisfied smile.
TYLER/ALLY
No way!
AIDAN
Monica Ipellie. She works at the
Public Library on 96th street.
84.
ALLY
You slept with an Eskimo?
TYLER
You went to the library?
The car doors open and a MAN ushers his family through. It's
Craig's partner Leo, in plain clothes.
AIDAN
Inuit. In-u-it, Ally. Try not to
show your ignorance.
ALLY
I don't believe you.
AIDAN
Fine. Nice girl. While we were
doing it, I couldn't get this
little, like, song out of my
head...
He begins to bob his head to a rhythm.
AIDAN
"Inuit, bum buh bum, I'm banging an
Inuit, bum buh bum buh bum..."
Ally and Tyler collapse in laughter as Craig's Partner passes
He notices Ally immediately. She doesn't see him. He takes a
long look at Tyler as he follows his wife and kids into the
next car.
ALLY
Prove it. Ten bucks.
The train makes a stop at Patchogue. Leo and family
disembark.
AIDAN
You wanna go to the library?
ALLY
The minute we get off this train.
AIDAN
Fine.
ALLY
Tyler, are you coming?
TYLER
I'll skip this particular
bloodbath, thank you.
85.
80 INT. TYLER'S APARTMENT BUILDING -- HALLWAY -- LATER 80
Tyler, his bag on his shoulder, returning home, fishing in
his pocket for his keys.
He sings the Inuit song to himself...
TYLER
bum buh bum bum buh bum buh bum...
His front door is unlocked.
Tyler freezes. Takes a beat. Scans the room, silently
dropping his bag. He reaches behind him for the aluminium bat
against the door. Wielding it, he takes two steps into the
apartment.
Craig, in plain clothes, sitting on Tyler's bed, amidst the
carnage of Tyler's stuff. He has been rifling through
everything. The guitar is propped haphazardly against the
wall.
Craig looks up. The men lock eyes.
Craig's eyes go to the bat.
Tyler leans it slowly against the wall.
Beat.
CRAIG
Where is she?
TYLER
What are you doing in my house?
Craig's eyes flash.
CRAIG
Where's my daughter?
TYLER
She's not here now. She's at the
library.
Craig's face says it: "Bullshit".
CRAIG
Does she know?
Cops never ask a question they don't know the answer to.
TYLER
No.
86.
CRAIG
I didn't think so. I figured you'd
probably leave that up to me when
you're done with her.
Craig's face, like his wife's so many years ago, is pure
contempt. With his body at this angle, Tyler can now see his
gun.
TYLER
I'm not going anywhere.
CRAIG
That's true, Tyler Roth, son of
Charles and Diane. Brother of
Caroline and Michael, deceased,
suicide by hanging. You're kinda
lost, aren't you? Taking a little
vacation in coach before finding
your way back to first class?
TYLER
I'm the one she came to when you
used her face as a punching bag.
Craig closes the distance.
From Tyler's P.O.V he looks like a freight train.
In a flash, he gets Tyler in a choke hold, flips him on his
back on the bed and puts his hands around Tyler's throat.
Silence, except for exertion.
Tyler's hands are on Craig's wrists. He is holding Craig's
eye. His face is starting to turn colors.
Beat.
Beat.
TYLER
She needs you.
It travels between the two men. Craig grappling with it,
although he still has his hands at Tyler's throat.
Craig drops his hands, pushes himself off Tyler
Tyler rolls to one side, coughing and gagging.
Craig leans against the wall for support.
87.
He is trying, before our eyes, to pull the shards of himself
together. His gun visible at his waistband.
Tyler's coughing, his face still red, his eyes travel briefly
to the bat, then to Craig.
Craig closes his eyes, very briefly, then rises. Not looking
at Tyler.
Beat.
Looking at Tyler.
Beat.
Craig goes to the front door.
CRAIG
Get a fucking dead bolt.
Slam. And then he's gone. The door bounces in its frame. And
then it's just Tyler trying to remember how to breathe.
81 INT. RAILROAD FLAT-- LATER. 81
Tyler smoking, standing at the window, waiting for Ally. He
sees her walking up to the front door. He grinds his
cigarette out. Ally is running up the stairs
ALLY O/S
Tyler Keats Roth!
She arrives at the door.
ALLY
He banged an Inuit!
She's really nice. And smart. I
don't get it.
Beat.
ALLY
What's going on?
TYLER
Your dad was here.
ALLY
(panicking)
What?
TYLER
When I got home.
88.
Beat.
ALLY
I hate him!
She lunges for the phone. Tyler stops her hand.
TYLER
There's more.
She looks like she's starting to panic.
TYLER
He knows me. Before I met you. He
arrested me and Aidan. He gave me
that gash over my eye.
ALLY
I don't understand.
TYLER
I mouthed off to him. He ...
responded. Then Aidan saw you guys
together at school.
She isn't quite getting it.
TYLER
Aidan suggested...I...introduced
myself to you.
She's got it.
Beat.
TYLER
Ally...
ALLY
I'm going to be sick.
She bolts from the chair to the sink and dry heaves. Tyler
reaches out to comfort her.
TYLER
Hey.
She reels around and cracks him across the face. Not like a
chick. Like her dad.
The sound hangs in the air.
Ally goes to the bedroom and starts throwing her stuff in her
bag. Tyler follows her.
89.
TYLER
Don't do that. What are you doing?
ALLY
Do you realize what you've done?
TYLER
Yeah.
He doesn't.
ALLY
Did you think I would never find
out? I mean, think about it. I had
to find out eventually. You set it
up that way.
TYLER
But it doesn't mean anything. I
didn't mean to hurt you,
ALLY
No. That's exactly what you meant
to do.
She pushes past him and out the door.
82 INT. TYLER'S APARTMENT BUILDING -- STAIRWELL -- 82
Ally heads down. Aidan heads up. He smiles wide.
AIDAN
Hey.
Ally pushes past him.
ALLY
Prick.
83 INT. RAILROAD FLAT-- LATER THAT NIGHT 83
Tyler sitting on the ratty couch. Aidan eats old Chinese food
from the container. He offers some to Tyler. They sit in
silence. Tyler swelling. Aidan eating.
AIDAN
You had to tell her eventually...
This is no comfort.
90.
AIDAN
Glass half full... you just saved
yourself an awkward Thanksgiving.
Sincere now.
AIDAN
She'll be back, T.
Tyler heads into his bedroom and shuts the door.
84 INT. CRAIG FAMILY HOME -- KITCHEN -- NIGHT 84
Sergeant Craig working on a sink full of dirty dishes. He
scrubs at a filthy pan with a piece of steel wool. He's manic
but there's not a beer can in sight.
ALLY O/S
You know you're not supposed to use
that on non-stick pans...
Craig turns, finds her there in the doorway, bag at her feet.
ALLY
It takes off the teflon.
They stare at each other for a moment.
ALLY
You should let it soak.
SERGEANT CRAIG
Okay.
They look at each other. Craig tries a smile. Ally's cool
with him. Moving towards him, past him.
ALLY
I'm going upstairs.
85 EXT. EAST SIDE MANHATTAN APARTMENT BUILDING -- EVENING 85
Caroline and Diane walk up to the DOORMAN. Caroline carries a
gift, a sleeping bag. Diane smiles at her daughter.
CAROLINE
Stop smiling. You look insane.
Diane can't help it try as she might.
91.
DIANE
I'm sorry, honey. I just... it's
nice. Like an end of the summer
send off.
Caroline rolls her eyes.
DIANE
Have fun.
Caroline goes into the lobby. Diane heads back to her car.
86 INT. EAST SIDE APARTMENT-- FOYER 86
Caroline gives her gift to THE BIRTHDAY GIRL who smiles. She
follows her into the next room where the other PARTY GUESTS
watch a movie. They all turn and look at Caroline.
Caroline smiles sheepishly. Some of the MEAN GIRLS are there,
One of them gives her a perfunctory smile.
87 INT. LANDMARK SUNSHINE MOVIE THEATER -- HOUSTON STREET -- 87
NIGHT.
Jackie Chan's foot slamming through a wall.
Tyler and Aidan are watching RUSH HOUR 2.
Aidan slurps from a super mega sized soda, laughing, enjoying
himself. He turns to his friend. Tyler sits, completely
drained, looking like the loneliest guy on the planet.
Aidan gives him a nudge. Tyler looks at the screen for a sec
and half smiles, then slips away again. Aidan is genuinely
concerned.
88 INT. EAST SIDE APARTMNT-- KITCHEN -- NEXT MORNING 88
The party girl's MOM is in a bathrobe. She looks horrified,
she has one hand covering her mouth and is whispering into a
cell phone. Caroline is on the kitchen phone. Her long hair
has been CUT TO PIECES while she slept. She is crying.
CAROLINE
(into the phone)
Mom?
89 INT. CRAIG FAMILY HOME -- LATER THAT MORNING 89
Ally and her father cook breakfast together. There's a knock.
92.
90 EXT. DOORSTEP. 90
Aidan paces nervously. Craig appears in an apron. Aidan
smiles.
AIDAN
Hi.
Beat.
AIDAN
Is this the, uh, that is, does, uh,
Alicia Craig. Does she live here?
Craig nods.
AIDAN
Oh great. I'm...
CRAIG
You think I don't remember you?
AIDAN
No, sir.
ALLY
Who is it Dad?
Ally sees Aidan. She touches her father's forearm.
ALLY
It's OK...
Craig steps back into the house. Six inches.
ALLY
Really.
He backs into the hall. Aidan and Ally are alone.
ALLY
What do you want?
AIDAN
Look, I'm a prick.
ALLY
And...
Craig popping back like an eel from a wreck. He's got the
mangled Honey Bear.
ALLY
Dad...
93.
He goes again. Pfft. Aidan's visibly relieved.
AIDAN
Tyler's not.
She starts to close the door.
AIDAN
Wait. Shit. This isn't really my
thing.
ALLY
He lied to me.
AIDAN
He's in love with you.
ALLY
He'd like to think he is.
Aidan doesn't get it.
AIDAN
I don't know what that means...I've
seen him look at one other girl the
way he looks at you. She's a lot
shorter and shares his DNA.
Ally looks away.
AIDAN
You don't have to forgive him
today... just forgive him.
Craig reappears from the deep.
CRAIG
Thanks for stopping by.
Father and daughter go back into the house.
Aidan exhales.
91 INT. HOFFMAN FAMILY HOME -- CAROLINE'S BEDROOM -- LATER 91
Diane is on the house phone, preparing a tray of tea and
cinnamon toast for Caroline as she talks.
94.
DIANE
Are you telling me, Ms. Spencer,
that you intend to let those girls
stay in your school?...Of course
they're all sticking to the same
story and that story is a load of
crap!...
She slams a cabinet closed as Les picks up the tray and WE
TRACK HIM down the hall to CAROLINE'S ROOM. Les is speaking
on his cell phone.
LES
(sotto, into the phone)
She's pretty traumatized. I wanted
to pull some names together in case
we all decide she should talk to
someone...
92 INT. CAROLINE'S BEDROOM. 92
Caroline and Tyler are lying on Caroline's bed. Her head is
nestled on his shoulder. She looks even tinier than usual.
Tyler is reading to her, softly, from The Book of Greek
Myths, his other hand stroking her butchered hair.
She looks pale, wasted. Her eyes are sunken and she's
fighting sleep. A losing battle, she's exhausted. Her lids
finally shutter to the sound of her brother's voice.
Les, at the door, places the tray on Caroline's desk...
LES
(on the phone)
There's no witnesses and it didn't
happen on school property. The
school won't do anything. They'll
probably get away with it...
Tyler's eyes, registering anger and shock, jump from the page
as he hears this.
93 INT. FOYER. 93
Diane opening the front door for Aidan and Ally. Aidan wraps
his arms around Diane and gives her a hug. Ally hangs back a
bit, unsure, then embraces Diane.
Tyler emerges from the hallway.
95.
TYLER
(to Diane)
She's asleep.
He sees Aidan and Ally. Stops short.
94 EXT. FRONT STEPS -- LATER 94
Tyler alone on the top stair, taking long pulls from a
cigarette. Ally comes out the front door, softly closes it
behind her.
TYLER
Last one ever. I swear.
ALLY
I don't care.
Beat.
TYLER
I know you're not here for me but,
thank you for being here.
A silent moment passes.
TYLER
For what it's worth, I think you're
amazing.
ALLY
It's not worth much. You made
everything between us a lie.
TYLER
I'm sorry.
ALLY
Okay. Now what? I'm supposed to
just forgive you?
A BMW 7 Series speeds around the corner. Stops in front of
the house. Charles gets out of the car, sees his son.
CHARLES
How is she?
TYLER
She's sleeping.
Diane emerges from the house. Charles strides quickly towards
her.
96.
95 INT. BEDROOM -- LATER 95
Caroline asleep in her bed. Charles stands in the doorway
watching her sleep, we get the feeling he hasn't seen her
asleep in some time. Diane appears at his side.
CHARLES
How long do you think she'll sleep?
DIANE
I think she'll be out for a while.
Would you like to wait?
CHARLES
Thank you. I can't. I'll call her
later.
DIANE
I'll tell her.
Diane looks at Charles. He's still watching his daughter.
96 INT. PRIVATE SCHOOL -- CLASSROOM -- MORNING 96
Caroline's TEACHER prepares her lesson plan. She starts to
write the date on the board when The door opens. Caroline and
Tyler enter. The entire class is watching. It's dead quiet.
Caroline puts her trembling hands in her pockets.
Tyler looks at a few of the girls. They look back,
unconcerned, almost amused. Tyler walks his sister to her
desk.
TYLER
(to Caroline, whispering)
You okay?
Caroline nods, although her eyes are brimming. As she slips
out of her jacket, the contents of her pockets clatter
noisily to the floor. Tyler immediately bends to help her.
MEAN GIRL
Have you done something different
with your hair? I love it!
SNICKERING LAUGHTER. Caroline looks like a deer in
headlights.
TEACHER
Okay, okay. Enough.
97.
Tyler moves towards an EMPTY DESK. Some girls keep
snickering. Suddenly, Tyler grabs the desk. THROWS it through
the air.
97 INT. HALLWAY -- SIMULTANEOUS 97
A JANITOR pushes a flat broom down the empty corridor when
the glass from one of the classroom doors explodes as the
desk makes impact. He stops pushing the broom and stares.
98 INT. CLASSROOM -- LATER 98
Pin-drop silence. The students sit paralyzed. Tyler stares at
the Mean Girl. Her arrogance completely gone. Caroline stares
up at her brother, awestruck.
99 INT. HOLDING CELL -- LATER 99
TYLER locked up among CRACK HEADS and PETTY CROOKS on a dirty
bench with his hands behind his head and a bemused smirk. A
BAILIFF approaches the holding cell. Looks at Tyler.
BAILIFF
You posted.
100 INT. NYPD PRECINCT -- LATER 100
Charles standing in the waiting area. Tyler is led out by the
bailiff rubbing his wrists. He sees his father, his face
registering surprise.
Beat.
The men walk together towards the exit in silence. Neither
looking at the other.
CHARLES
Destruction of private property and
felony trespassing.
TYLER
I didn't call you.
CHARLES
I know you didn't.
Charles stops.
98.
CHARLES
I have unleashed a raging shitstorm
of epic proportions on the board of
trustees of that pissant school
that will not abate until those
girls seek enrollment elsewhere. I
give them a week.
Beat.
CHARLES
I know you think I'm a prick, but I
have my uses.
Guess so.
CHARLES
Can you come by the office to talk
to the lawyers?
Beat. Tyler deciding.
Tyler nods.
Charles appraises his son.
CHARLES
Try not to vandalize any more
schools in the meantime.
Charles walks ahead, pulling out his cell phone.
Tyler calls after him.
TYLER
Thank you for bailing me out.
Charles, without turning around,
CHARLES
No problem.
101 EXT. NYU -- FRONT STEPS -- BEAUTIFUL SEPTEMBER MORNING 101
Tyler leaning against the bike rack, waiting. He sees Ally
running up the steps and watches her as she blends into the
crowd.
102 EXT. WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK -- JUST AFTER. 102
No mimes, just dealers. Ally with a girlfriend, walking
towards the East Side. Tyler catches up to her.
99.
Shakes the friend's hand. After a beat, Ally agrees to walk
with him. He reaches for her hand. She pulls it away, but
walks next to him.
103 EXT. CENTRAL PARK -- ALICE STATUE -- JUST AFTER. 103
Tyler has convinced Ally to come uptown and meet Caroline
with him.
Tyler and Caroline climb all over the Alice, while Ally
watches from a bench.
As befitting a seventh grader, Caroline turns her face to the
sun and arranges herself to take advantage of the early
September tanning possibilities.
Tyler walks over to Ally's bench, sits next to her.
Beat.
ALLY
Using the little sister is dirty
pool.
TYLER
(carefully)
Is it working?
Beat.
ALLY
Maybe.
Tyler has a smile the size of New York City.
Ally smiles back.
DISSOLVE TO:
104 INT. TYLER'S BEDROOM -- THE NEXT MORNING 104
Bright sun pouring through the window. Ally lying asleep.
Tyler is up and dressed now, he grabs his journal off his
desk, kneels beside Ally. He is bathed in the pool of light
streaming in.
TYLER
(nuzzling)
Hey...Hey.
100.
ALLY
Hmmm.
TYLER
I'll be back in an hour. I have to
stop by my dad's office.
ALLY
(sleepily)
Do you want french toast or
pancakes for breakfast?
TYLER
Whichever tastes better a la mode.
Ally smiles.
ALLY
Say hi to your dad for me.
Tyler watches her lying there.
TYLER
If I said I love you... what would
you say?
ALLY
(laughing)
I love you.
TYLER
I love you too.
Tyler kisses her. Then heads out into the...
105 INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER 105
Aidan passed out on the couch still wearing the clothes he
went out in the night before. Tyler watches him sleep.
AIDAN
(without opening his eyes)
French toast.
Tyler smiles as he takes his journal and exits.
106 EXT. HOFFMAN FAMILY HOME -- PORCH -- MORNING 106
Charles waiting on the doorstep, his Town Car waiting on the
curb. Diane answers the door expecting to find Caroline's
driver, she's confused to find...
101.
DIANE
Charles?
CHARLES
Good morning Diane.
DIANE
What are you doing here?
CHARLES
Tyler's coming by the office, but I
thought I'd ride to school with
Caroline first.
Diane is speechless. This is a first.
DIANE
Um...OK...sure...yeah...great.
She's not ready though, she's going
to need at least twenty minutes.
Charles hates waiting.
CHARLES
(adjusting his tie)
All right.
107 EXT. SIDEWALK -- LATER 107
Tyler chaining up his bike. His cellphone rings. He checks
it. Knows what it's regarding before he answers.
TYLER
Are you canceling all together or
are you just running late?
108 INT. CHARLES' TOWN CAR-- MORNING 108
Charles and Caroline in the back seat. She's on one side,
with her pink back pack, he's on the other.
CHARLES
(on the phone)
Are you already on your way?
INTERCUT:
109 EXT. OPEN PLAZA. 109
Tyler rounding a corner.
102.
TYLER
I'm already here.
CHARLES
I'm taking Caroline to school.
He looks at his daughter. She looks back at him, then looks
out the window.
Tyler considers.
TYLER
Take your time. I'll just wait in
your office.
CHARLES
It may be a while.
TYLER
That's okay.
Tyler hangs up and joins the herds of suits heading down the
street.
110 INT. ELEVATOR -- LATER 110
Tyler riding in a handsome marble and oak elevator with a
half-dozen EXECUTIVE types. Tyler steps on and presses the
number 92. The doors close.
111 INT. EXECUTIVE FLOOR -- RECEPTION -- LATER 111
Tyler walks, approaches the Receptionist from the ashtray
incident. He smiles pleasantly. She doesn't.
TYLER
Janine in?
THE RECEPTIONIST
(cold)
She went for coffee.
TYLER
She getting me any? Just kidding.
Tyler heads down the hall. The Receptionist rolls her eyes.
112 INT. CHARLES ROTH'S OFFICE -- LATER 112
Tyler steps into his father's empty office. It's dark, quiet.
He opens the blinds. Sunlight fills the room.
103.
Tyler walks around the office. Picking things up, putting
them back.
Tyler sits at his father's desk in his executive chair. He
leans back. Puts his feet up and his hands behind his head.
Tyler notices the COMPUTER. He turns on the monitor and puts
his hand on the mouse - but doesn't move it. His hand just
stops and stays perfectly still. Tyler stares at the monitor
where his dad's SCREEN SAVER is scrolling through PHOTOS...
These photos are all of his FAMILY... "Michael's first
Christmas, Tyler's eighth birthday, Diane in the hospital
with Caroline in a pink blanket, Charles and his kids build a
sand castle at the shore"... they just keep going.
Tyler finds himself watching a slide show of his life.
113 EXT. PRIVATE SCHOOL -- LATER 113
That line of luxury cars dropping their daughters off.
Charles' Town car rolls to a stop. Caroline gives him a kiss
on the cheek. It registers, sort of. She gets out. Charles
watches her all the way into the school.
His DRIVER sees him watching Caroline in the rear view
mirror.
Charles gives the Driver a look "you're waiting for an
invite?"
The Driver peels out.
114 INT. TYLER'S APARTMENT -- KITCHEN -- LATER 114
Ally has made a mess making french toast. Aidan is yakking on
his phone.
115 INT. TOWN CAR -- LATER 115
Charles in traffic. All around him DRIVERS curse, honk, hate
each other. Charles rides, not letting it bug him.
116 INT. PRIVATE SCHOOL -- CLASSROOM -- LATER 116
Caroline drawing at her desk as her Teacher comes in and gets
ready to start the day.
104.
117 INT. CHARLES ROTH'S OFFICE -- LATER 117
Tyler is still watching the screen saver when Janine enters.
JANINE
Good Morning, Mister Roth.
TYLER
Did you know about this?
Janine walks around the desk in time to see a photo of Tyler
and Michael naked in the tub pop up. She smiles.
JANINE
Who do you think scanned all the
pictures?
Tyler smiles. Janine smiles, Then a photo of Michael comes
up. Those smiles fade. Silence.
JANINE
How old would he be?
TYLER
Twenty-nine last May.
Tyler stands and looks out one of the floor-to-ceiling
windows separated by columns. He stares out at mid town and a
perfect blue sky. Janine looks befuddled.
JANINE
It's really been that long? I
could've sworn it was...
TYLER
May 18, 1993.
A silent moment passes. Janine reflecting.
JANINE
I should be able to remember that.
I'm sorry.
Tyler looks at her, his face easy...
TYLER
It's okay.
118 INT. PRIVATE SCHOOL -- CLASSROOM -- LATER 118
Caroline's Teacher writes the date on the board as Caroline
sits quietly doodling. The teacher looks her way.
105.
TEACHER
Caroline? Hello?
WIDE SHOT of the blackboard. It's unmistakable:
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
119 EXT. CHARLES ROTH'S OFFICE -- LATER 119
We're now looking at Tyler from just outside Charles' office
window and we're PULLING BACK...
Until we see Tyler framed in the window surrounded by eerily
familiar grey metal siding...
Until we see can barely see Tyler and the base of a giant
white antenna...
Until we can no longer see Tyler as he's disappeared into the
composite of the building and we've pulled back far enough to
reveal that Tyler is standing in a window on the...
92nd Floor of The North Tower of the World Trade Center.
A moment of still perfect silence. The Towers. The blue sky.
Then we hear the faint sound of AA Flight 11's ENGINES as it
closes in on the North Tower.
CUT TO BLACK.
Silence. Darkness. We wait in it.
TYLER V/O
Whatever you do in life will be
insignificant but it is very
important that you do it because...
120 EXT. LOWER MANHATTAN -- THAT MORNING 120
Charles Roth steps out of his car. His gaze fixed skyward.
All around him the other DRIVERS mimic his behavior.
TYLER V/O
It's a good bet...
121 EXT. DIANE'S BROWNSTONE STOOP-- LATER 121
Diane sweeping cigarette butts off the stoop.
TYLER V/O
Nobody else will...
106.
Diane joins a group of ONLOOKERS staring up from a street
corner in Brooklyn where the black smoke stains the blue sky.
One of them has a radio to his ear.
TYLER V/O
Michael...
Diane staring at it.
TYLER V/O
Someone's been trying to tell me
something.
122 EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER /OR OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT?-- 122
Craig, through a LONG LENS standing by his car with the door
open. He is, crystal clear, barking orders, while waves of
blue and slashes of orange float around him.
TYLER V/O
Maybe it's you...
123 EXT. TYLER'S APARTMENT-- ROOF --LATER 123
Aidan and Ally absolutely frantic on the roof. Holding hands.
Craning to see. Ash begins to float down on them. It gets
caught in Ally's hair.
TYLER V/O
This girl! Ally! Her life, even the
nightmare parts seeped into me and
I swear to God I can hear you
better.
124 INT. PRIVATE SCHOOL -- HALLWAY -- LATER 124
A door flies open. Caroline runs out into the empty hall, to
the exit.
TYLER V/O
What's that about? I've always been
the worst listener.
125 EXT. LOWER MANHATTAN -- STREETS 125
THE PAPER, so much of it, all of it singed, smoke-stained,
falling like snow flakes coating the streets and the
sidewalks. Amongst the memos and faxes that will now never be
sent and never received we find...
107.
TYLER'S JOURNAL.
TYLER V/O
Someone comes into your life...
126 EXT. CEMETERY -- A GREY MORNING 126
A light rain falls. Two TOMBSTONES stand side-by-side.
MICHAEL ROTH
May 20, 1969
May 18, 1993
TYLER ROTH
June 17, 1978
September 11, 2001
Charles, Caroline, Diane and Les approach the tombstones. A
family mourning. Diane slips her hand through Charles' elbow.
The gesture seems quite natural, easy.
DISSOLVE TO:
127 INT. NYU DORM-- DAY 127
We find Ally, with a ROOMMATE, putting up lively, Indian
Print curtains in their NYU dorm.
128 EXT. LINCOLN CENTER. WHERE: 128
Caroline literally dragging Charles into the ROSE BUILDING AT
LINCOLN CENTER, while he yells into his cell phone.
TYLER V/O
And half of you says "Danger! Stay
in your cave! You're nowhere near
ready!"
Caroline has come to the end of her rope with her dad. She
grabs his phone and throws it into the fountain, spins on her
heel and marches into the auditorium. Charles is completely
thunderstruck.
TYLER V/O
And the other half -- and this is
the part I think is you --
He is torn between his phone and his daughter for a sec,
chooses Caroline and takes off after her...
...then comes running out by himself to rescue his phone.
108.
129 INT. JAPANESE RESTAURANT -- DINNER 129
Craig is wearing a jacket and tie. He's on a date with a
pretty WOMAN. In his confusion over the menu, he knocks over
a glass of water.
TYLER V/O
Says "Go get her! Immediately! Make
her yours forever!"
130 INT. DIANE'S OFFICE-- DAY 130
A chaotic place, filled with folk who need help. Diane at a
desk, organizing families.
TYLER V/O
I'm working on the forever part.
131 INT. NYU -- 131
Aidan actually awake in class. He has a tattoo on his
forearm. "Tyler".
TYLER V/O
I'm going to have to step up my
game. But I'm glad I listened.
132 EXT. SMITH STREET STATION -- BROOKLYN -- NIGHT 132
Ally, we find her as we first found her mother, silhouetted
against the Lower Manhattan skyline where two beams of purple
light reach up forever where the Towers once stood.
TYLER V/O
I love you.
Her train pulls into the station. Ally boards with a few
other commuters. She takes a seat by herself across from...
A MOM and A TODDLER, a little girl. The baby is squirming
impossibly, the mom looks exhausted.
Ally watches them, remembers him, as the faintest hint of a
smile crosses her lips the subway lights flicker and we...
CUT TO BLACK.
TYLER V/O
Don't be a stranger.
