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by Corinne (corinne.abrahamsen@aol.com)

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Drama User Review: NOT YET
RATED
Four boys spend their summer earning money by conning different kinds of people. All is fun until the parents become suspicious.

FADE IN:

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - DAY

DAVEY FOSTER, JAY ROONEY, and CHRIS MCRICHIE, 12 year old
boys, are standing amongst the clutter of things on the
yard. There is a GARAGE SALE sign taped to the mail box
post.

There are parked cars in front of Davey's house and people
are looking at what the boys have for sale.

Davey walks towards the table of knick knacks. A WOMAN, in
her late 50's, goes to him with a beautiful pearl necklace.

WOMAN
Excuse me, dear? How much is
this?

Davey looks at the pearl necklace.

DAVEY
That'll be 25 dollars.

WOMAN
25? Isn't this a garage sale?

DAVEY
Yes, it is, miss. But, you see,
those are genuine real pearls.
They come from the depths of the
Pacific. 25 dollars, to me, is a
bargain of a price. Don't you
think?

WOMAN
How do I know if they're real? You
could be just foolin' me to get an
extra gum drop.

Davey walks behind the table with little statues and books
on them. He fixes the statues in a straight line and the
books also.

DAVEY
Believe what you want, miss, but,
over my Mamma's grave, they are
really real.

Woman looks at the pearl necklace in her hand.

DAVEY
Tell you what. I'll lower it to
15 smackers, for ya. Just don't
tell anybody.

WOMAN
I'll take them.

Woman takes 15 dollars out of her purse and hands it to
Davey.

WOMAN
Thank you.

Woman walks away with the necklace. Davey looks at the
money.

DAVEY
No. Thank you.

Davey puts the money in the cash box.

Jay and Chris walk up to Davey. Chris puts 20 dollars in
the box.

CHRIS
Who knew people are willing to
spend so much at a garage sale? I
just sold a pair of earrings for
20 bucks.

Jay puts 25 dollars in the cash box.

JAY
An old biology book for 25.

CHRIS
Who would want that?

Davey shuts the box and locks it with a key.

DAVEY
Because we're grade A salesmen.

JAY
Or people are too flexible with
their money.

CHRIS
Are you kidding? We're milking it
with all we've got.

Chris looks at the old toys for sale on the yard. He goes
to a MAN, in his 40's, who is looking at the fire engine.

CHRIS
(to Man)
Sell you that for 20?

A BOY, 8 years old, goes to Jay. He is holding a Navy hat.

BOY
How much for this?

Jay looks at Davey.

JAY
I don't know. Davey?

DAVEY
(to boy)
You like the Navy, kid?

BOY
My dad is a Marine.

DAVEY
Well, that's an antique. From the
1920's. Will you take good care
of it?

Boy looks at the hat.

BOY
(to Davey)
Wow. 1920's. I will. How much
though?

DAVEY
How about 20? You think that's
fair?

BOY
Yup.

Boy gives Davey 20 dollars and walks away with the hat.

JAY
(laughing)
1920's, Davey? Are you for real?

DAVEY
Hey, what's 80 years?

JAY
You're a genius, Dave. You got an
extra 15 outta that kid.

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Chris, Jay, and Davey are in Davey's yard. The yard is
empty of everything that was for sale. Davey opens the cash
box. It is over flowing with money.

CHRIS
How 'bout we each count some, so
it'll go faster.

DAVEY
Okay, Chris.

Davey gives Chris some money to count.

DAVEY
Jay.

Davey gives Jay some money to count. Davey takes the rest
of the money.

DAVEY
And me.

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Davey, Jay, and Chris put the money on the table.

JAY
275.

CHRIS
275.

DAVEY
(smiling)
275.

CHRIS
Wow.

DAVEY
Now let's divide it.

JAY
Let's see. 275 divided by 3...

CHRIS
It's odd.

Davey gives each of them money.

DAVEY
90 for you...and for you...

Davey puts 90 bucks in his pocket.

DAVEY
And for me.

They look at the cash box. There is extra money.

CHRIS
What about the rest?

JAY
Yeah. We can't split it.

Davey shuts it and locks it.

DAVEY
We'll save it for later.

A moving truck pulls into the driveway of the house next
door. A caravan follows. Davey, Jay, and Chris look at it.

JAY
It's about time. That house has
been on the market for about a
year.

CHRIS
Looks like you have a new
neighbor, Davey.

JAY
I wonder if they have a kid.

CHRIS
(to Jay)
Why? So we can con him for 20?

JAY
No, Chris. I was thinking it's
about time for a newbie.

DAVEY
(to Jay)
You mean in the gang?

JAY
(to Davey)
Why not? We need a new innocence.
Think about the money.

INT. DAVEY'S HOUSE- MRS. FOSTER'S ROOM - DAY

MRS. FOSTER, Davey's 40 year old mom, is putting on her
earrings in front of her dresser mirror. Her jewelery box
is open.

MRS. FOSTER
Davey, honey?

DAVEY (OS)
Yeah?

Davey comes into the room.

MRS. FOSTER
You haven't seen my pearls, have
you?

DAVEY
You lost them?

Davey sits on the edge of Mrs. Foster's bed.

MRS. FOSTER
I can't find them anywhere.

DAVEY
I haven't seen them. Maybe Patty
took them.

Mrs. Foster starts to put on her make-up.

MRS. FOSTER
I don't think a 3 year old can
reach this high, Davey.

DAVEY
She could have reached.

MRS. FOSTER
Are you ready for church?

DAVEY
Yup.

MRS. FOSTER
Okay. We're leaving in a few.

INT. JAY'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Jay is playing video games on the TV. He is sitting on the
floor. SEAN ROONEY, Jay's 20 year old brother, wrestles
Jay.

Jay wrestles back.

JAY
Sean! Quit it!

SEAN
Where's my Bio book?

JAY
What?

SEAN
You heard me, shrimp. I need it
for class today.

JAY
Get off me!

MRS. ROONEY (OS)
Sean Micheal Rooney!

Sean stops wrestling Jay.

SEAN
Where is it, squirt?

JAY
I don't know, Sean.

SEAN
Do you know how much they cost?
What am I gonna tell my professor?

JAY
You'll think of something. You're
always full of crap.

Sean lunges for Jay and Jay runs away. Sean chases him.

MRS. ROONEY (OS)
Jameson Ronald Rooney! Stop it!

INT. CHRIS' HOUSE-DANIELLE'S ROOM - DAY

DANIELLE MCRICHIE, a 17 year old girl, is standing in front
of her mirror, putting on a necklace.

DANIELLE
Mom!

MRS. MCRICHIE (OS)
Yes?

DANIELLE
Have you seen my gold earrings?

MRS. MCRICHIE (OS)
No, honey, I haven't.

Danielle opens her jewelery box and searches through it.
Chris comes in her room and sits on her bed.

DANIELLE
Get out, Chris.

CHRIS
Lost something?

DANIELLE
My earrings. Get out.

CHRIS
Why do you need them?

DANIELLE
None of your beeswax.

Chris gets up and walks to Danielle, looking at her.

CHRIS
Blouse, skirt, diamond necklace...
You're going on a date!

DANIELLE
Get out!

CHRIS
Danielle's going on a date!

DANIELLE
Shut up!

Danielle chases him out of her room.

CHRIS
How much did you pay him to go out
with you?

DANIELLE
Jump off a bridge.

Danielle slams the door in his face.

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - DAY

Jay, Chris and Davey are playing catch with a baseball and
mitts on Davey's lawn.

JAY
I think I'm gonna buy that new
Battle video game that came out
last week.

Jay throws it to Chris.

CHRIS
I'm gonna get one of those cap
guns.

Chris throws it to Davey.

JAY
What are you gettin', Davey?

DAVEY
I don't know. I don't really want
anything.

CHRIS
There has to be something. You
have almost a hundred bucks in
your jeans and you haven't touched
it in 2 days.

Davey throws it at Chris.

DAVEY
Shut up, Chris.

Chris throws it to Jay.

JAY
Yeah. The ice cream man might
come around. And we could see a
movie at the theater.

MICKEY, a golden retriever, goes to Davey. Davey pets him.
Jay and Chris go to him.

MARK PERKINS, a 12 year old boy, goes to Mickey and takes
his collar.

10.

MARK
No, Mickey.

DAVEY
(to Mark)
It's okay.

JAY
Yeah, it's cool.

Mark looks at Davey.

MARK
We just moved here. Mickey wants
to sniff everything. It's new to
him, you know?

CHRIS
Don't blame it on your dog.

MARK
Excuse me?

CHRIS
We know you wanted to meet us. You
couldn't just come up and
introduce yourself, so you sent
your dog to ease the awkwardness.

JAY
(to Chris)
Don't flatter yourself.

            DAVEY
      (to Mark)
I'm Davey.
      (points to Jay and
       Chris)
And that's Jay and Chris.

MARK
I'm Mark Perkins.

Jay and Chris laugh.

JAY
(laughing)
Like the bakery?

Davey throws his mitt at Jay.

MARK
I guess.

11.

Ice cream truck MUSIC is heard. Davey, Chris and Jay look
around.

CHRIS
Where is he?

JAY
Do you see him?

DAVEY
(points)
There! He's down the street.

Mark looks in the direction Davey pointed.

MARK
Who is?

The MUSIC continues. It becomes louder.

DAVEY
Okay. Money at the ready.

Jay, Chris and Davey each takes out money from their
pockets.

The ice cream truck comes down the road. Davey, Jay and
Chris wave their hands for him to stop. The truck stops in
front of Davey's house.

DAVEY
(to Mark)
You want something?

MARK
I don't have any money.

Chris pats Mark on the back.

CHRIS
I bet you're lucky you've met us.

MARK
Why?

They walk to the side of the ice cream truck. UNCLE AL, a
man in his late 50's, stands inside the truck looking over
the counter.

UNCLE AL
How we doin' today, boys?

12.

JAY
I'll have a pack of candy
cigarettes and a fudge pop.

Uncle Al puts a fudge pop and a pack of candy cigarettes on
the counter. Jay slaps down 5 dollars on the counter and
takes them.

Uncle Al takes the money.

UNCLE AL
Out of a 5.

Uncle Al hands Jay the change.

UNCLE AL
Here you go, buddy.

Jay walks to the back of the line. Chris puts 5 dollars on
the counter.

UNCLE AL
What'll it be, hot shot?

CHRIS
Just an ice cream sandwich, Uncle
Al.

Uncle Al hands an ice cream sandwich to Chris. He gives him
his change. Chris goes behind the line.

Uncle Al looks at Mark.

UNCLE AL
What have we got here? You're
new.

            DAVEY
      (to Uncle Al)
This is Mark.
      (to Mark)
This is our ice man, Uncle Al.

Mark shakes Uncle Al's hand.

MARK
(to Uncle Al)
Nice to meet you, sir.

Uncle Al looks at Mickey.

13.

UNCLE AL
Hey, pooch. You want some ice
cream?

Mickey jumps up and puts his paws on the counter, tail
wagging.

UNCLE AL
Okay, buddy. Hold on.

Uncle Al gets an ice cream cone and unwraps it. He gives it
to Mickey and Mickey gulps it down.

UNCLE AL
There we go. You feel better now?

DAVEY
(to Mark)
What do you want?

MARK
I don't have any...

DAVEY
I'll pay.

EXT. DAVEY'S FRONT PORCH - DAY

Jay, Chris, Davey, Mark and Mickey are sitting on Davey's
front porch. Jay is eating his fudge pop, Chris is eating
an ice cream sandwich, Davey is eating an ice cream cone and
Mark is eating an ice pop.

Mickey is sitting next to Davey on the front steps. Mickey
tries to lick his ice cream cone.

MARK
(to Davey)
Sorry.

DAVEY
It's no problem, really.

CHRIS
(looking at Mickey)
Is he a lab?

MARK
Golden retriever. Pure bred. His
parents were the best of their
class.

14.

JAY
Well, la-di-da.

CHRIS
(to Mark)
What class?

MARK
(to Chris)
The sporting class. Goldens were
bred to retrieve dead birds that
their hunters shot.

CHRIS
Do you enter him in those shows?
You know, that are sponsored by
Eukanuba and Purina.

JAY (whispering)
(to Chris)
Don't encourage him.

MARK
(to Chris)
Mickey isn't a show dog. He's
sterilized.

JAY
(to Mark)
What?

DAVEY
(to Jay)
He's neutered.

Jay stands up and goes to Mark.

JAY
(to Mark)
You took his manhood?!

DAVEY
Sit down, Jay.

Jay sits down.

MARK
But he does participate in hunting
trials.

CHRIS
You mean, he hunts.

15.

MARK
Yeah.

JAY
That's cool.

DAVEY
(to Mark)
Who hunts with him?

MARK
My dad.

CHRIS
Your dad has a gun?

Mark nods and pets Mickey.

JAY
(to Mark)
Where is it?

MARK
I'm not supposed to say.

CHRIS
It's not like we're gonna steal
it. Come on.

JAY
Yeah. Come on.

MARK
He hides it in his closet.

INT. MARK'S HOUSE- MR. PERKINS' ROOM - DAY

Jay, Chris and Davey follow Mark into the room quietly.
Davey, the last one in, shuts the door. The room is bland,
with only a mattress with sheets and a dresser. Mark turns
around and puts his finger to his mouth to show them to be
quiet. They stop in front of Mark's dad's closet.

Jay pushes Mark at the closet. Mark looks back at him.

JAY
(whispering)
Come on, Perkins. Open it up.

Mark slowly slides open the doors. Jay pushes Mark into the
clutter of shirts and shoes.

16.

JAY
Get it.

DAVEY
(whispering)
Shh.

Davey looks at the door. Footsteps are heard getting
closer.

They stop and hear the footsteps.

CHRIS
Crap.

Jay pushes Mark into the closet.

JAY
Go, go. Move.

Jay, Chris, and Davey get into the closet with Mark and shut
the doors.

INT. MR. PERKINS' CLOSET - DAY

Mark, Jay, Chris, and Davey are stepping on each other to
get their balance.

JAY
(whispering)
Ow. Quit it.

DAVEY
(whispering)
Stop moving.

CHRIS
(whispering)
You're on my toe.

DAVEY
(whispering)
Chris.

CHRIS
(whispering)
Move, Jay.

Davey stops moving. The door to the room is heard being
opened.

17.

DAVEY
Shh.

The boys become quiet and look out the closet door through
an opening.

MR. PERKINS, a man in his late 30's, comes into the room. He
is dressed in a business suit and WHISTLING a tune.

Mr. Perkins takes something out of his dresser drawer and
leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

CHRIS
Who was that?

MARK
My dad.

DAVEY
Can we please get out of the
closet to continue this
conversation?

INT. MR. PERKINS' ROOM - DAY

Jay, Chris, Davey and Mark fall out of the closet. Jay gets
up and looks at the bed room door.

JAY
That was just your dad?

Mark nods his head.

CHRIS
The hunter?

MARK
Yeah.

Jay nods his head, approvingly.

JAY
He cleans up pretty well.

MARK
He has a job interview today.

Davey stands up and offers to help Mark up with his hand.
Mark takes it and stands up. Chris stands up.

CHRIS
What about the gun?

18.

JAY
(to Mark)
Yeah. You didn't show us.

DAVEY
We'll save it for another day,
guys.

JAY
But I wanna see it.

DAVEY
Can it, Jay. Or we'll get caught
again.

JAY
We almost got caught, Davey.

DAVEY
Only in horse shoes and hand
grenades. Let's go.

Davey goes to the door.

JAY
But we didn't get caught.

INT. MRS. FOSTER'S ROOM - DAY

Mrs. Foster is searching frantically through her closet.
Davey passes the room, sees his mother, and goes to her.

DAVEY
Mom? Are you okay?

Mrs. Foster looks at Davey.

MRS. FOSTER
I can't find his navy hat.

Davey sits down on the floor next to his mother. He puts a
hand on her back.

DAVEY
Maybe grandma has it.

MRS. FOSTER
Why would she have your father's
hat?

Davey takes his hand off of Mrs. Foster's back.

19.

DAVEY
(surprised)
Your talking about Dad's?

MRS. FOSTER
Yeah.

She sniffles and picks up a different navy hat.

MRS. FOSTER
Your grandfather's is right here.
See?

She looks at the inside tag.

MRS. FOSTER
His initials are on the tag.

DAVEY
You can't find Dad's?

MRS. FOSTER
I looked everywhere, Davey. I
didn't believe it at first. I
mean, how can I lose something
like that. It's his hat. It's my
husband's navy hat.

Mrs. Foster starts crying.

INT. DAVEY'S DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Mrs. Foster, Davey and PATTY, a 3 year old girl in a high
chair, are sitting at the table eating dinner. A bag from a
Chinese restaurant is on the table. Davey is playing with
his fried rice and sweet and sour sauce.

MRS. FOSTER
Davey, eat your food.

Davey takes a bite of fried rice.

MRS. FOSTER
I thought you liked Chinese night?
What's up?

DAVEY
Nothing.

Patty BANGS her sippy cup on her tray and LAUGHS.

20.

MRS. FOSTER
Did you meet our new neighbors
yet?

DAVEY
Yeah.

Mrs. Foster takes a drink of soda.

MRS. FOSTER
Yeah?

DAVEY
Yeah.

MRS. FOSTER
Who are they?

Davey moves some of his rice into the sweet and sour sauce
and mixes it around. Mrs. Foster watches him.

MRS. FOSTER
Please don't do that. Eat your
food.

DAVEY
I'm not playing with it. I like
sauce with my rice.

Davey picks up the sauced rice and eats it. His face
scrunches up.

MRS. FOSTER
So tell me about them.

DAVEY
A kid lives there with his dad and
golden retriever.

Mrs. Foster takes a bite of noodles.

MRS. FOSTER
Names?

DAVEY
Mark Perkins.

MRS. FOSTER
I hope you were nice to this boy,
David. A lot of pressure is put
on a boy's shoulders when he is
put in a new environment.

21.

Davey chuckles.

MRS. FOSTER
What?

DAVEY
He didn't even know what an ice
cream truck was.

INT. MARK'S DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Mark and Mr. Perkins are sitting at the dinner table eating
dinner. A pizza box is in the center of the table. Mickey,
the golden retriever, is sitting on the floor next to Mark.

Mr. Perkins takes a bite of pizza.

MR. PERKINS
I saw you playing with the boys
next door. You make new friends?

MARK
Yeah. We got ice cream from the
ice man.

MR. PERKINS
What? Oh. The ice cream truck.
They have one around here?

Mark takes a bite of pizza and nods his head.

MARK
How was your interview?

MR. PERKINS
I think it went well. I'll know
for sure by tomorrow.

Mr. Perkins takes a sip of soda.

MARK
I hope you got the job.

MR. PERKINS
Me too, buddy.

EXT. BOY'S HOUSE - DAY

Davey walks up to the front door of the house and knocks on
it. Boy, that bought the navy hat from Davey, opens the
door. He is wearing the navy hat.

22.

DAVEY
Hi.

BOY
Hi.

DAVEY
Remember me? I'm the kid who gave
you that navy hat.

Davey points to the hat on Boy's head.

DAVEY
You see, It turns out that that
hat is very important to me. You
wouldn't mind if I buy it back
from you, would you?

Davey takes out a wad of money from his pocket.

DAVEY
How about 20? The same amount you
paid?

When Davey looks at Boy to get an answer, Boy just stares at
him.

DAVEY
30?

The expression on Boy's face doesn't change when Davey looks
at him.

DAVEY
35?

Boy's expression stays the same, bored.

DAVEY
40?

Boy smiles at Davey. Davey takes out two 20 dollar bills.

DAVEY
Fine then. 40 smackers.

Davey hands the money to Boy. Boy gives him the navy hat.

DAVEY
Thank you.

Boy shuts the door in Davey's face.

23.

DAVEY
(to himself)
40 dollars. He conned me for
another twenty. Double of what he
paid for it.

Davey looks at the navy hat in his hand. He looks more
closely.

DAVEY
And there's a stain!

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - DAY

Davey is walking toward his front door. Jay, Chris and Mark
go to him.

CHRIS
Hey, Davey.

JAY
What's up?

Davey sits down on his porch steps. The navy hat is in his
hands.

DAVEY
I'll tell you what's up. My dad's
navy hat has a stain.

JAY
Wait. I thought you sold the kid
your grandpa's?

Davey glares at Jay.

MARK
We can bring it to the cleaners.

Davey shakes his head.

DAVEY
Takes too long. My mom gets home
in 3 hours.

CHRIS
We can wash it at my house. No
body's home. And I'm sure we can
figure the washing machine out.

24.

JAY
Yeah. I've seen my mom do it a
bunch of times. It's easy.

INT. CHRIS'S LAUNDRY ROOM - DAY

The washing machine and the dryer are next to each other.
Jay is kneeling on the dryer and pouring washing detergent
into the washer. Davey is spraying the stain on the hat.
Mark is looking over his shoulder.

MARK
What kind of stain is that?

DAVEY
I don't know.

Chris goes to Davey.

JAY
Didn't he say he'll take good care
of it?

Davey nods.

DAVEY
Couldn't he keep it stain free? It
was only a few days.

Mark looks at Jay, still pouring the detergent.

MARK
That's enough, Jay!

Jay stops pouring.

CHRIS
(to Jay)
Yeah. We're washing a hat, not an
elephant.

Mark, Davey, and Jay look at Chris weirdly.

DAVEY
(to Chris)
Where's Danielle? Isn't she
supposed to be watching you?

CHRIS
She's somewhere.

25.

MARK
Who's Danielle?

JAY
(to Mark)
His hott sister.

CHRIS
(to Jay)
Ugh. Will you stop that?

JAY
What?

CHRIS
My sister is not hott.

Davey brings the hat over to the machine. Mark and Chris
follow. Davey looks inside the machine.

DAVEY
I don't know, guys.

JAY
Come on, Davey.

Davey looks at the hat.

DAVEY
I think it's too delicate. The
machine will tear it to shreds.

Chris opens up a closet full of towels.

CHRIS
That's why we have these.

INT. MRS. FOSTER'S ROOM - NIGHT

Mrs. Foster is sitting on her bed holding the navy hat,
smiling and crying.

Davey goes into the room and sits next to his mom.

DAVEY
You found it?

Mrs. Foster gives him a hug and smiles.

MRS. FOSTER
Yes, Davey.

26.

Mrs. Foster hand Davey the navy hat and he smiles as he hold
it in his hands.

Mrs. Foster touches Davey's shoulder and smiles.

INT. JAY'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Jay walks into his kitchen.

JAY
Mom! I'm home!

There is no answer. Jay goes to the table and picks up a
note. It reads: "Went to visit Dad at hospital. Dinner is
in the fridge."

Jay goes to the refrigerator and opens it. He takes out a
covered plate with food on it.

INT. MR. PERKINS' ROOM - NIGHT

Mr. Perkins is sitting on the edge of his bed, holding his
head and shaking it back and forth. Mark comes in the room
followed by Mickey, the golden retriever.

MARK
Hey, Dad, could I have some candy?

MR. PERKINS
Yeah, sure.

Mark goes farther into the room.

MARK
Are you okay, Dad?

MR. PERKINS
It's nothing you did, buddy.

MARK
Then what is it?

Mr. Perkins takes a deep sigh and looks at Mark.

MR. PERKINS
I didn't get the job, Mark.

Mark sits next to Mr. Perkins.

27.

MARK
Don't worry, Dad. You just have
to keep searching.

MR. PERKINS
That's just it. We move here for
a new life with new opportunities
and new job offers, and there
isn't even a light on the horizon.

MARK
Something will come up. You'll
see.

Mr. Perkins loosens his tie.

MR. PERKINS
Do you think I like dressing like
this? I dress like this to get a
job, so I'm not just The Hunter
anymore. So I actually receive a
name for myself.

Mr. Perkins looks at Mark, smiles and ruffles up Mark's
hair.

MR. PERKINS
So you have a better life than
mine.

EXT. MARK'S HOUSE - DAY

Jay, Chris, and Davey knock on Mark's door. They all are
wearing boy scout uniforms. Chris is holding a plastic bag
with clothes in it. They are each holding coffee cans.

Mark opens the door. He is wearing his pajamas.

JAY
'You ready?

MARK
For what?

JAY
We're goin' to the grocer's today.

Mark rubs his eye and yawns.

MARK
The grocery store?

28.

CHRIS
'You comin'?

Mark nods.

MARK
Let me just get dressed.

Chris hands Mark the plastic bag. Mark looks inside it,
confused.

DAVEY
Put 'em on.

MARK
But-

DAVEY
We don't have all day, Mark. Come
on.

JAY
Yeah, go.

Jay nudges Mark inside his house.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Mark, Jay, Chris, and Davey are walking to the grocery
store. Davey is playing with a yo-yo and Jay is eating an
apple. Chris is holding the cans. They are in boy scout
uniforms.

MARK
I don't know about this, guys. I'm
not a boy scout.

Chris slaps Mark on the back.

CHRIS
Neither are we.

MARK
What? None of you are boy scouts?

JAY
(to Chris)
I told you he'd chicken out.

MARK
Where'd you get these clothes?

29.

CHRIS
(chuckling)
Found 'em at a garage sale, right
Davey?

DAVEY
Yup.

Mark stops walking. Jay, Chris, and Davey all stop and look
at him.

CHRIS
What's wrong?

            JAY
      (to Chris and
       Davey)
I'll tell you what's wrong. He's
to chicken to do it.

MARK
You want me to lie to people. And
take their money. That's wrong.

JAY
(to Mark)
What's wrong is that doctors can't
help sick fathers when their
family can't pay for the bills.
That's what's wrong.

DAVEY
Easy, Jay. It's his first time
getting introduced to this stuff.

CHRIS
(to Jay)
Yeah. Let it sink in a little.

MARK
I can't believe you. You're
stealing money from innocent
people. Doesn't that bother you?

CHRIS
I'm fine.

DAVEY
It's not like we're actually
stealing it, they're handing it
over to us.

30.

MARK
And that makes it better?

JAY
I think so.

Davey goes to Mark.

DAVEY
Jay really needs this money, Mark.
His father is in the hospital.
Please.

Mark nods his head.

MARK
I'll do it. But only this once.

Jay, Chris and Davey smile.

EXT. GROCERY STORE - DAY

Jay, Chris, Davey and Mark are standing outside the grocery
store exit. They are wearing the boy scout uniforms. Jay
is holding the can for money. People with groceries come
out of the store.

JAY
(to people)
Would you like to make a donation
to the Boy Scouts of America?

The people ignore him and walk away.

JAY
No? Okay. Have a nice day.

Chris leans against a shopping cart and rocks back and
forth.

CHRIS
They're not buying it, Jay.

JAY
They will. Just watch.

Jay hands Mark the empty coffee can. Mark looks at Davey,
leaning against planks of wood.

DAVEY
Just give it a shot, Mark.

31.

JAY
Yeah, Bakes, try it on for size.

CHRIS
Bakes?

            JAY
      (to Chris)
Perkins Bakery.
      (to Mark)
Just start asking for donations.

A LADY, 35 years old, with 2 kids, an 8 year old boy and a
10 year old girl, walk out of the store with a shopping cart
full of groceries.

MARK
(to Lady)
Would you like to make a donation,
miss?

LADY
Sure.

Lady stops and searches her purse.

LADY
What is this for?

Mark does a quick look at Davey while Lady is still
searching her purse. Davey shrugs his shoulders and smiles:
"Make something up."

MARK
Uh, It-It's for victims of child
abuse. To help rehabilitate them
and stuff.

Lady takes out a dollar bill and puts it the can.

MARK
Thank you.

LADY
You're welcome, honey.

Lady walks away with her 2 kids. Mark looks at Jay and
smiles. Chris slaps him proudly on the back.

CHRIS
(to Mark)
Welcome to the pack.

32.

JAY
You're a true Rap now.

MARK
What?

CHRIS
(to Mark)
Rapscallion.

DAVEY
A rogue, vagabond, freebooter.

Mark looks confused.

DAVEY
A theif.

Mark looks at the dollar bill inside the can.

INT. MARK'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Mr. Perkins enters the kitchen with a Burger King bag. He
takes out fries and hamburgers. Mark comes into the kitchen
and takes a chicken nugget box and sits down. Mr.Perkins
sits down and eats his hamburger.

Mr. Perkins is dressed in a flannel jacket and grass-stained
jeans. He has a five o'clock shadow on his face and bags
under his eyes.

Mark eats a chicken nugget and takes a sip of soda. Mr.
Perkins takes a sip of soda.

MR. PERKINS
How was your day?

MARK
Good.

Mr. Perkins eats his hamburger. Mickey nudges his arm. Mr.
Perkins puts his hands up.

MR. PERKINS
(angry)
Stop it, Mickey! What do you
want? Go lay down!

Mr. Perkins pushes Mickey away and Mickey go lays down.

Mr. Perkins runs his hands through his hair and sighs.

33.

MARK
Can I be excused?

MR. PERKINS
What? You hardly ate.

MARK
I had a couple brownies at Davey's
house. Sorry.

Mr. Perkins waves Mark off.

MR. PERKINS
It's fine. You know the drill.
Save the chicken and fries for
tomorrow.

Mark gets up and puts the chicken nuggets and fries in the
refrigerator.

MR. PERKINS
Put them in plastic bags, Mark.

Mark puts the fries and chicken on the counter top and opens
the cabinet. he takes out a big freezer bag and puts the
fries and chicken in it. He shuts it up and puts it in the
fridge.

INT. MARK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Mark is sitting on his bed. Mickey is laying next to him.
Mark takes out the money he made with his friends from under
his mattress. He looks at it.

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - DAY

Jay, Davey, Chris and Mark are playing baseball. Jay is at
bat. Davey is pitching. Chris and Mark are in the field.

JAY
Come on, Dave-o. Throw a good
one. Right here. Give it your
all.

DAVEY
Really?

JAY
Come on, man. Don't hold back.

34.

MARK
Oh.

CHRIS
Davey's got some arm, Jay. Are
you sure?

JAY
(to Chris)
Are you implying something, Chris?

MARK
(chuckling)
No. He just thinks Davey will
embarrass you to tears.

JAY
Are you freakin' kidding me, Mark?
I can take his curve ball
anytime.

DAVEY
It's not you I'm worried about.

JAY
Who then?

DAVEY
The ball.

Davey pitches the baseball to Jay. Jay hits it with the
bat. The ball hits Mr. Perkins' car, a beat up station
wagon.

EXT. MARK'S DRIVEWAY - DAY

Jay, Mark, Chris and Davey are standing next to Mr. Perkins'
car. Jay is still holding the baseball bat. Chris picks up
the baseball.

CHRIS
Maybe he won't notice.

DAVEY
And maybe the grass is red.

CHRIS
I was only trying to help, Davey.

35.

DAVEY
Saying that Mark's dad won't
notice the white dent on his black
car is pathetic.

CHRIS
I'm trying to lighten the mood.

DAVEY
His dad is gonna kill us, Chris.
And your trying to lighten the
mood?

CHRIS
It doesn't hurt to try!

DAVEY
A shotgun to the head will!

Mark stands between Davey and Chris.

MARK
Guys, guys. Come on. My dad
won't shoot you.

DAVEY
He's the hunter, ain't he?

MARK
Yeah, but he shoots birds. Not
kids.

DAVEY
Same difference. We both have
bird brains and make noise.

Jay goes to Mark and hands him the baseball bat.

JAY
I'm sorry.

Jay walks away to his house.

Mr. Perkins opens the front door.

MR. PERKINS
What the hell is going on?

Chris drops the baseball and runs away. Mr. Perkins runs
toward Chris, but stops and picks up the baseball.

MARK
I'm sorry, Dad.

36.

Mr. Perkins looks at his car with the white dent.

DAVEY
We were just playing some
baseball, sir. And...

Mr. Perkins turns to Davey.

MR. PERKINS
(angry)
Did you do this?

DAVEY
I'm sorry, sir. I...

MARK
It's not his fault, Dad.

Mr. Perkins looks at Mark.

MARK
It was an accident.

            MR. PERKINS
      (to Mark)
Go inside.
      (to Davey)
Go home, Davey.

INT. MARK'S HOUSE - DAY

Mark enters the house. Mr. Perkins follows and slams the
door.

MR. PERKINS
Who the hell do you think I am? Do
you know how much that dent is
gonna cost me?

Mark starts crying.

MARK
I'm sorry. It was an accident.

Mr. Perkins runs his hands through his hair.

MR. PERKINS
I haven't even found a job yet,
Mark! And you're already putting
me in debt!

37.

MARK
I'm sorry. I'll pay for it!

MR. PERKINS
(calmer)
Pay for it? You'll pay for it.
How in the hell...

Mark takes some money out of his pocket and shows Mr.
Perkins.

MARK
See? Me and Jay and Chris and
Davey all earn money. We have
garage sales. I have more in my
piggy bank. Please. I can pay.

INT. JAY'S HOUSE - DAY

Jay enters his house.

JAY
Mom?

Jay walks into the living room. Mrs. Rooney is sitting on
the couch. She is covering her eyes and weeping.

JAY
Mom.

Jay sits next to Mrs. Rooney and puts his hand on her back.

JAY
Shh. It's okay. Shh.

INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Jay and Mrs. Rooney are standing outside a hospital room.
Mrs. Rooney nudges Jay.

MRS. ROONEY
Go on, honey. Don't be afraid.

Jay walks in the doorway. He brushes up against a sign
hanging on the door knob. He reads it. It says: 'DO NOT
RESUSCIATE'. He looks back at Mrs. Rooney who is crying and
blowing her nose.

38.

INT. MR. ROONEY'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Jay slowly walks to his unconscious father in the hospital
bed. Mr. Rooney has a tube in his throat and a ventilator
helping him to breathe.

Jay looks at Mr. Rooney and reaches for his hand.

JAY
Hey, Dad.

Jay lightly squeezes his father's hand.

JAY
Don't go.

Jay takes off his gold cross necklace. He puts it in his
father's hand.

JAY
Not yet.

INT. DAVEY'S DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Mrs. Foster and Davey are at the dinner table. Patty is
sitting in her high chair. Davey is eating his macaroni and
cheese. Mrs. Foster is looking at him eat.

MRS. FOSTER
Mr. Perkins told me what happened
today.

Davey drops his fork on his plate and looks at his mother.

DAVEY
It was an accident, Mom. Jay was
buggin' me to throw it, so I did.

MRS. FOSTER
At his car?!

DAVEY
No! I pitched it to him.

Mrs. Foster drops her fork on her plate. Patty laughs.

DAVEY
What's wrong, Mom?

Mrs. Foster holds her head.

39.

MRS. FOSTER
Mark had some money, Davey. A
lot.

DAVEY
Okay.

Mrs. Foster looks at Davey.

MRS. FOSTER
Mark said he earned it with you.

Davey starts to eat his macaroni and cheese.

MRS. FOSTER
Davey.

Davey looks at Mrs. Foster.

DAVEY
What?

MRS. FOSTER
If there's something going on, you
tell me.

DAVEY
There's nothing, Mom. We just
sell old stuff.

Davey eats his macaroni and cheese.

MRS. FOSTER
How old?

DAVEY
I'm not a criminal, Mom!

Davey goes out of the dining room.

INT. CHRIS' KITCHEN - DAY

The phone RINGS. No one answers it. It RINGS again.

DANIELLE (OS)
I got it!

CHRIS (OS)
I'll get it!

Chris runs into the kitchen. Danielle follows him.

40.

DANIELLE
It's for me!

CHRIS
(chuckles)
Like you have any friends.

The phone RINGS again. Chris picks up the phone. Danielle
tries to get it out of his hand, but Chris runs away with
the cordless phone. He stops and answers it.

CHRIS
(into phone)
Danielle smells....Oh, hey, Mark.
What's up?.. Uh, I don't think so,
man. In case you haven't noticed,
it's pouring... I guess you can
come over. To talk to all of
us?... Okay, I guess I'll invite
Davey and Jay too. Okay, see you
soon.

Chris hangs up the phone. Danielle is standing by him. She
gives him a death look.

CHRIS
Stop scaring me and take off that
mask already, Danielle. Geez.

DANIELLE
What'd you say?

Chris runs out of the kitchen. Danielle chases him.

DANIELLE (OS)
Get over here, you little
butthead!

INT. CHRIS' LIVING ROOM - DAY

Davey, Jay and Chris are sitting it the living room. Chris
and Jay are on a couch and Davey is in the chair. Mark in
standing in front of them.

JAY
(to Mark)
What are you saying?

CHRIS
(to Mark)
That we should mow people's lawns?

41.

MARK
Yeah.

Jay waves his hands in front of his face and leans back
against the couch.

JAY
No, no, nope.

CHRIS
Not doing that.

MARK
Come on, guys. When I showed my
dad the money, he was kind of
suspicious.

CHRIS
So now we have to do actual labor?
Forget that.

Davey puts up his hand at Chris.

DAVEY
Hold up, Chris. I think Mark has
a great idea.

CHRIS
You do?

DAVEY
Yeah. My mom is getting pretty
suspicious too.

MARK
So now we have to come up with a
better way to-

JAY
But mowing lawns? Come on, Mark.
It's the summer. I'll sweat like
a pig.

MARK
Pigs don't sweat.

JAY
Well, you get what I mean, Bakes.
I am not getting all sweaty and
hot and sticky and-

42.

MARK
We'll get more money this way,
Jay.

JAY
How much more?

INT. DAVEY'S BASEMENT - NIGHT

Davey is sitting on a bar stool. A Frank Sinatra song is
playing from the CD player. Davey is holding a picture of
his father in a navy uniform. Davey smiles, picks up the
navy hat from the desk next to him, and puts it on his head.

Davey stands up and goes to a couch. He lays on the couch
and looks at his father's picture. Frank Sinatra is still
playing from the CD player.

INT. DAVEY'S BASEMENT-LATER - NIGHT

Mrs. Foster walks down the basement steps.

MRS. FOSTER
Time for bed, Davey.

She reaches the last step. Frank Sinatra is still playing
from the CD player.

MRS. FOSTER
Old Blue Eyes, huh? Your dad
loved him.

Mrs. Foster goes to the CD player and turns it off.

MRS. FOSTER
Davey?

She goes to the couch. Mrs. Foster sees Davey sleeping on
the couch. He is still holding his father's picture and has
his navy hat on.

Mrs. Foster smiles. She takes the picture from Davey and
slides a blanket on him. She kisses his head and touches
his hair.

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - DAY

Davey is sitting on his porch with Mark and Chris. Three
lawn mowers are on his front lawn. Davey looks at his
watch.

43.

CHRIS
We said 9 didn't we?

MARK
Maybe he forgot?

DAVEY
Just chill out, guys. Jay
remembered.

Davey points at Jay's house. There isn't a car in the drive
way.

MARK
Yeah? What's that mean? His mom
could just be out.

CHRIS
Davey's right. Jay didn't forget.
He'll just be late.

MARK
How do you know?

DAVEY
Family comes first.

Mark looks, confused, at Chris.

CHRIS
His dad.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Chris and Davey are standing on the side of the road, each
behind a lawn mower. Mark is walking up to the front door
of the house. The front lawn is in need of mowing.

CHRIS
Aw, man. I don't wanna do this.

DAVEY
It's good money.

CHRIS
It's also child labor.

Davey backhands Chris's stomach quickly. Chris hunches over
and holds his stomach.

DAVEY
Suck it up, Chris.

44.

CHRIS
Shove it up your-

Mark waves to Davey to start mowing.

DAVEY
That's the signal.

Davey rolls the lawn mower onto the lawn. Chris slowly
follows, struggling with the lawn mower.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Chris, Mark and Davey are standing in the street. Their
lawn mowers are beside them. Davey is counting the money.

DAVEY
95.

CHRIS
That's it?

Mark pushes Chris.

MARK
I think that's good for our first
day.

DAVEY
Yeah, Chris. Remember that we're
one person short today.

CHRIS
I know. But 95? We did like 15
houses.

DAVEY
Try seven. And we doubled up on
each house.

CHRIS
Are you saying that I'm slow,
Davey?

MARK
No, he's not. In the future,
we'll just have one mower per
house. That's all.

DAVEY
And then the money will start
rollin' in.

45.

Davey gives Mark and Chris each their share of the money.

INT. DAVEY'S ROOM - NIGHT

Mark and Davey are sitting on the floor. Mark is on his
sleeping bag and Davey is on blankets. The light is off,
except for a smell lamp on the center floor of Davey's room,
in between them. They are facing each other.

Pillows are around them. Davey and Mark are eating
cookies and drinking milk.

They are laughing.

DAVEY
So you're not afraid that one day
you'll get shot?

MARK
Of course not. He's my dad.

Mark dunks a cookie into his glass of milk and puts it in
his mouth.

DAVEY
That has an A-K 47 in his closet.

MARK
It's a Savage Arms Rifle. For
hunting.

DAVEY
Same difference.

MARK
Only in horse shoes and hand
grenades.

Davey smiles and eats a cookie. Mark drinks his milk.

DAVEY
My dad said that all the time.

MARK
What? Horse shoes and...?

DAVEY
...hand grenades. Yeah. I never
really understood what it meant.

Davey stands up, gets a picture of his dad from his dresser,
and sits back down. He hands it to Mark.

46.

DAVEY
Then he showed me how to play
horse shoes. Have you ever played
it?

Mark is still looking at the picture.

MARK
No. Never heard of it.

DAVEY
Really? It's where you try to
ring the horse shoe around a pole.
You do know what a horse shoe is,
do you?

Mark nods his head and looks at Davey.

DAVEY
Well, it's either a win or lose
game. They only game where you
can say you almost won. Hence the
saying, "Almost doesn't count.
Only in..."

MARK
...horse shoes and hand grenades."

Mark dips the cookie into the glass of milk and eats it.

DAVEY
You see, that was it. The hand
grenade part. I still didn't
really understand.

The lamp in front of Davey flickers.

DAVEY
My dad, of course, couldn't show
me how that one worked.

Mark chuckles. Davey smiles.

DAVEY
So he just told me, he said,
"Davey boy, with grenades, you're
either dead or alive. And when
you survive one of those, you can
say you almost died. Cause that's
the truth. Never say almost, only
in life or death situations."

Mrs. Foster opens the door.

47.

MRS. FOSTER
Lights out, boys.

Davey and Mark slip into each of their sleeping bags.

DAVEY
Goodnight, Mom.

MARK
'Night, Mrs. Foster.

MRS. FOSTER
Goodnight, boys.

Davey turns off the lamp. Mrs. Foster leaves the room and
shuts the door behind her.

MARK
Thanks for letting me spend the
might, Davey.

DAVEY
Don't mention it.

There is silence. Mark tosses and turns in his sleeping
bag.

MARK
I never stayed with a friend. I
always went with him to hunting
tournaments.

DAVEY
I'm sure your dad wanted to bring
you along.

MARK
Then why didn't he?

EXT. KANSAS MEADOW - DAY

Mr. Perkins and Mickey are standing in the field. Mr.
Perkins is aiming his gun at the sky. Hunters are watching
with their dogs. There is a lake in front of them.

MR. PERKINS
I think I got this one, Mick.

He moves his gun horizontally. Mickey stands next to him
patiently, looking at him.

48.

MR. PERKINS
Get ready, boy. It's landin' in
the lake.

Mr. Perkins pulls the trigger. We hear a gun shot and a
SPLASH and the duck falls to the water.

MR. PERKINS
Go get 'em.

Mickey bolts towards the lake and jumps right in. He swims
to the dead duck, holds it in his mouth, and swims back.

Mickey comes out of the water and gives it to Mr. Perkins,
who takes it from him and wraps the duck in a towel. The
other hunters APPLAUSE.

Mr. Perkins pats Mickey on the head.

MR. PERKINS
Good boy.

EXT. KANSAS MEADOW-UNDER TENT - DAY

There is a canopy tent in the meadow. There are food tables
where all the hunters are eating. Their dogs are all laying
down. Mr. Perkins and Mickey are sitting alone at a picnic
table. Mr. Perkins gives Mickey a piece of his bacon.

MR. PERKINS
You're a good boy, Mick.

LARS DENNAN, a man in his 40's, comes over to Mr. Perkins.
RED, Lars' German Pointer, is next to him. Lars touches Mr.
Perkins' shoulder. He turns around and sees Lars.

LARS
Congrats on third place, Rod.

MR. PERKINS
(surprised)
Lars. Hey. What are you doing
here?

Mr. Perkins stands up and shakes Lars' hand.

LARS
Just participating in the
tournament, that's all.

Mr. Perkins looks at Red.

49.

MR. PERKINS
I never knew you had a dog.

LARS
Yup. This is my Red. Who's your
friend?

Mr. Perkins looks at Mickey.

MR. PERKINS
This is Mick. So how long have
you been competing? I haven't
seen you anywhere else.

LARS
We've been hunting for years, but
I never thought of competing until
last year.

MR. PERKINS
Wow, man. It's really great to
see you. What has it been? Like
5 years?

LARS
Almost 7. How's Mark?

MR. PERKINS
He's doing great. You know, we
just moved to a new place, but
he's adjusting really well.

LARS
How old is he now?

MR. PERKINS
He'll be thirteen in November.

Mr. Perkins pulls out a chair at the table for Lars.

MR. PERKINS
Here, have a seat.

Lars and Mr. Perkins sit down in chairs at the table.

LARS
So, what are you doing now?

MR. PERKINS
Career wise?

Mr. Perkins exhales and smiles, embarrassed.

50.

LARS
Come on, Rod. It can't be that
bad.

Mr. Perkins runs his hand through his hair.

MR. PERKINS
(chuckling)
Oh, it is. I don't even know why
I'm laughing. It isn't funny.

LARS
McDonald's? sanitary worker?
What? Tell me.

MR. PERKINS
There's nothing to tell.

Lars is surprised. He becomes silent.

Mr. Perkins covers his face with his hands and slides them
down his face, pulling his skin.

MR. PERKINS
I know. It's bad. Really bad. I
have a house, you know? And a
kid, and dog, and bills to pay. I
am really sinking here, Lars.

Lars pats Mr. Perkins on the back.

LARS
You know what? My company is
hiring. I'll put in a good word
for you.

MR. PERKINS
What company is that?

LARS
Paper and office supplies. It's
better than it sounds. The pay
checks are... Whew. It's like
Christmas.

Mr. Perkins smiles at Lars and shakes his hand.

MR. PERKINS
Thanks, Lars. This means a lot to
me. Thank you.

51.

LARS
No problem, Rod. I'm always glad
to help.

EXT. JAY'S HOUSE - DAY

Mark, Davey and Chris are standing on Jay's front porch.
There are 3 lawn mowers in the yard. Davey knocks on the
door.

MARK
Maybe we don't want to bother him,
guys.

Davey knocks on the door again.

CHRIS
Mark, we're his friends. He
always has time for us.

DAVEY
He could be right, Chris. Maybe
Jay needs to be alone.

They all turn around to exit the porch. Jay opens the front
door. He is still in his pajamas. Davey, Chris and Mark
turn to look at him.

CHRIS
Hey, man. What's up?

DAVEY
You're still in your PJs? Come
on, you know the drill.

Jay is silent. He looks tired and doesn't look in a very
nice mood.

JAY
I'm on the final battle of World's
At War, I had to pause the
freaking game to answer the door,
and you guys are making small
talk.

Mark looks down and Chris scratches his head. Davey just
looks at Jay.

DAVEY
So, how's your dad?

Jay stares at Davey.

52.

DAVEY
Well, today, as you know, we're...

Davey turns around and gestures to the lawn mowers.

JAY
Get those grass plowing things off
of my lawn.

DAVEY
Jeez, Jay. Take it easy.

JAY
Why don't you give it a rest for a
while, Dave! Some of us want to
give it a rest sometimes, you
know? I mean, look at us. We're
still doing the same thing since
we were 8. We need to grow up.

CHRIS
So, is you're dad okay?

Jay slams the front door in their faces. Davey scratches
his head.

DAVEY
Oh, God.

INT. DAVEY'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Davey, Chris and Mark are sitting in the living room. They
are watching a movie. They each have popcorn and a soda.
The movie is a drama. Mrs. Foster comes into the room.

MRS. FOSTER
What happened to your lawn mowing
buisness?

Davey still looks at the TV.

DAVEY
We decided to stop.

MRS. FOSTER
Why would you do that? It was
such a nice way of making money,
mowing people's lawns.

Chris still looks at the TV and puts popcorn in his mouth.

53.

CHRIS
We need to give it a rest, Mrs. F.

Mrs. Foster sits down next to Davey on the couch.

MRS. FOSTER
Where's Jay?

They are all silent.

MRS. FOSTER
Is he okay?

MARK
He needs some alone time.

Mrs. Foster covers her mouth.

MRS. FOSTER
Is his father..?

CHRIS
Jay just blew up in our faces.

DAVEY
We don't know what to think, Mom.

INT. MARK'S DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Mark and Mr. Perkins are eating Chinese food. Mickey is
sitting on the floor next to Mr. Perkins's seat.

MR. PERKINS
It went well. We got third place,
right, Mickey?

Mr. Perkins pats Mickey's head.

MARK
Would've been better if I came.

Mr. Perkins takes a sip of his drink. Mark is silent and
takes a bite of an egg roll.

MR. PERKINS
Guess who I saw?

Mark shrugs his shoulders.

MR. PERKINS
Lars Dennan. He's an old friend
of mine. You might not remember
him. He was competing with his
(MORE)

54.

MR. PERKINS (cont'd)
hunting dog too.

Mark is silent. Mr. Perkins clears his throat.

MR. PERKINS
He works at a big company that
sells office supplies. And I told
him about my situation, and he
said he'll get me a job there.
Isn't that great?

Mark faintly smiles. He tries to hide it and takes a bite
of a rib.

MR. PERKINS
(smiling)
Is that a smile I see?

Mark looks at Mr. Perkins and smiles more.

MR. PERKINS
Yup. It looks like things are
turning out okay. Okay.

Mr. Perkins takes a bite of a rib and smiles.

EXT. JAY'S HOUSE - DAY

Davey, Chris and Mark are on Jay's front porch. Davey is
holding a casserole. Chris has a buzz cut. Davey knocks on
the door. Jay opens it.

DAVEY
(to Jay)
Hey.

MARK
(to Jay)
Hi.

CHRIS
(to Jay)
Hey.

Jay is silent and looks at them. He looks at the casserole
in Davey's hands.

DAVEY
Oh, yeah. This is from my mom.
You know how she is. There's no
such thing as enough casserole.

55.

Davey hands it to Jay and he takes it.

JAY
Thanks.

Jay looks at Chris's new haircut.

JAY
Nice hair.

CHRIS
Thanks, Jay.

JAY
(chuckling)
What's left of it.

Chris, embarrassed, runs his hand through his short buzz
cut.

JAY
(to Chris)
Aw, Chris, you know I'm just
kidding. Come on in, guys.

Chris, Mark and Davey walk into Jay's house.

INT. JAY'S KITCHEN - DAY

Jay, Chris, Davey and Mark walk into the kitchen. Mrs.
Rooney enters also, from the other door. She is in her
pajamas and bath robe. She has no makeup and it looks like
she has been crying.

MRS. ROONEY
Hey, boys. It's so nice to see
you. Sit down.

Mrs. Rooney gestures to the kitchen table. Chris, Jay, Mark
and Davey sit down at the table.

DAVEY
Hi, Mrs. Rooney. It's nice to see
you too.

Mrs. Rooney gets cups out of the cupboard and puts them on
the table in front of the boys.

MRS. ROONEY
What can I get you gentlemen? How
about milk and cookies?

56.

Mark scratches his head. Chris scratches his nose.

DAVEY
That'll be great, Mrs. R.

CHRIS
Yeah.

MARK
Yup.

Mrs. Rooney pours them each milk in their glasses. She goes
back to the counter.

MRS. ROONEY
What cookies would you like? I
have oatmeal...

Mrs. Rooney is looking through her cabinets.

MRS. ROONEY
(sniffles)
Chocolate chip, I think I have
some sugar ones. Let me see.
Where are they? I am sure I have
them. Where could they be?

Davey gets up and goes to Mrs. Rooney. He puts his hand on
her shoulder.

DAVEY
I'll get them, Mrs. Rooney. Why
don't you rest? I can get them.

Mrs. Rooney smiles at Davey and starts crying.

MRS. ROONEY
(sobbing)
I...I...can't...Oh, God..I

Davey gives Mrs. Rooney a hug. Jay goes to her and gives
her a hug also.

JAY
Go lay down, Mom. We're okay.
Just go rest.

INT. JAY'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Jay, Chris, Mark and Davey are watching a funny movie. They
each have a bowl of popcorn in their laps. They laugh. Sean
comes into the room.

57.

SEAN
What're you guys watching?

DAVEY
Night at the Roxbury.

Davey eats popcorn.

            CHRIS
      (chewing on
       popcorn)
It's hilarious.

JAY
Do you wanna watch?

Sean scratches his head.

SEAN
No. I'm just gonna...

DAVEY
Come on, Sean.

JAY
Watch it with us.

SEAN
Sure.

Sean sits on the couch next to Mark. Mark offers some
popcorn to Sean. He takes some. Something funny happens in
the movie and they all laugh.

INT. PAPER FACTORY - DAY

Mr. Perkins is standing near a paper cutting machine. He
neatens a stack of paper on the conveyor belt.

Lars goes up to Mr. Perkins and pats him on the shoulder.

LARS
Hey, Rod. The head guy wants to
see you.

MR. PERKINS
Mr. Banks? Why?

LARS
Don't get all nervous, Rod. It's
not like he'll fire you. He just
wants to get to know you.

58.

MR. PERKINS
Really?

LARS
Positive.

Mr. Perkins takes a deep breath.

MR. PERKINS
You sure?

LARS
More sure than I was on my wedding
day.

Mr. Perkins runs his hand through his hair. Lars ruffles it
up.

LARS
Calm down, buddy.

MR. PERKINS
Easy for you to say.

INT. PAPER FACTORY- MR. BANK'S OFFICE - DAY

Mr. Perkins enters Mr. Banks's office. There is a leather
chair turned away from the door, facing the window. Mr.
Banks is sitting in the chair, but only the back of his head
can be seen.

MR. PERKINS
Mr. Banks?

MR. BANKS, a jolly, chubby, balding man in his 50's, swings
the chair around to face Mr. Perkins.

MR. BANKS
(smiles)
Rodger Perkins. Please have a
seat.

Mr. Banks gestures to one of the two seats opposite him and
his desk.

Mr. Perkins hesitates and closes the office door behind him
as he goes to have a seat. He runs his hands through his
hair.

Mr. Banks pushes a bowl of sugared gumdrops towards Mr.
Perkins.

59.

MR. BANKS
Gummies?

Mr. Perkins holds up his hand in objection.

MR. PERKINS
No thank you, Mr. Banks.

MR. BANKS
Suit yourself.

Mr. Banks takes a few gum drops and puts them in his mouth.
He chews.

MR. PERKINS
So, uh, why have you asked me
here?

Mr. Banks stops chewing and gulps down the candy.

MR. BANKS
Didn't Lars tell you?

MR. PERKINS
I'm afraid he didn't.

Mr. Banks chuckles and takes more gum drops.

MR. BANKS
There's no need to be afraid, Mr.
Perkins. I just want to have a
chat.

MR. PERKINS
A chat?

MR. BANKS
Yes. I've heard you have a son?

MR. PERKINS
Yes. Mark.

Mr. Banks turns around a picture frame on his desk,
revealing a beautiful little girl, about 12.

MR. BANKS
This is my little sunshine. My
son's daughter. She's 12.

MR. PERKINS
She's beautiful.

60.

MR. BANKS
How old is Mark?

MR. PERKINS
Also 12.

MR. BANKS
(smiles)
I bet he's a little rascal like
his father, huh?

MR. PERKINS
No, not really. He's like his
mother. Soft spoken.

MR. BANKS
(chuckling)
Well, I bet you're both proud that
he turned out like the good one,
am I right?

Mr. Perkins scratches his nose.

MR. PERKINS
My wife died in child birth.

MR. BANKS
Oh, I'm very sorry, Rodger.

MR. PERKINS
It's fine. Now it's just me, Mark
and Mickey.

MR. BANKS
Mickey?

MR. PERKINS
Our dog.

MR. BANKS
You're right, you do have a nice
little family. You should be
happy for that.

MR. PERKINS
Yes. I am. Very happy.

INT. JAY'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Davey, Chris, Mark and Jay are playing a board game on the
rug in the living room. The T.V. is on with cartoons
playing.

61.

KITCHEN

Mrs. Rooney, Mrs. Foster and MRS. MCRICHIE, Chris's mother
in her late 30's, are all sitting at the kitchen table. They
are eating apple pie and drinking tea. The boys in the
living room LAUGH. Mrs. Rooney looks towards the living
room.

MRS. ROONEY
It's great how all the boys come
over. They have so much fun and
make Jay so happy.

Mrs. Foster touches Mrs. Rooney's shoulder.

MRS. FOSTER
They love coming over. This is
their second home.

MRS. MCRICHIE
And you're their second mother,
Trudy. They always come over. I
don't think I've ever cooked more
than 10 dinners for Chris. He's
always here.

Mrs. Rooney smiles at her two friends.

MRS. ROONEY
Thank you.

The doorbell RINGS. Mrs. Rooney goes to stand up, but Mrs.
Foster stands up before her and touches Mrs. Rooney's
shoulder.

MRS. FOSTER
Sit down, Honey. I'll get it.

LIVING ROOM

Mrs. Foster walks around Chris, Davey, Mark and Jay, all
playing a board game.

MRS. FOSTER
Hi, boys.

DAVEY
Hi, Mom.

CHRIS/JAY/MARK
Hi, Mrs. Foster.

She walks to the front door.

62.

MRS. FOSTER
What're you playing?

CHRIS
Chutes and ladders.

MARK
Jay's cheating.

JAY
Am not. It's impossible to cheat.

Mrs. Foster smiles and opens the door. Mr. Perkins is at
the door with a bunch of daises. He is dressed in a nice
shirt and slacks.

Mrs. Foster looks at Mr. Perkins.

MR. PERKINS
Hi.

MRS. FOSTER
Hi.

MR. PERKINS
(extends hand)
I'm Rod, Mark's father.

Mrs. Foster takes his hand.

MRS. FOSTER
I'm Samantha, Davey's mom.

MR. PERKINS
(smiles)
Samantha. Nice to finally meet
you.

Mrs. Foster blushes and lets Mr. Perkins into the house.

MARK
Hi, Dad.

MR. PERKINS
Hey, buddy.

MARK
How was work?

MR. PERKINS
(smiles)
You're dad's still employed.
That's the only thing that counts.

63.

KITCHEN

Mr. Perkins, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Rooney and Mrs. McRichie are
all sitting at the table. The flowers that Mr. Perkins
brought are in a vase on the table.

They are eating pie and tea. Mr. Perkins and Mrs. Foster
are sitting next to each other.

MRS. FOSTER
(to Mr. Perkins)
It was very thoughtful of you to
come over.

MR. PERKINS
Well, Friends of Mark's are
friends of mine.

MRS. ROONEY
Did you enroll Mark in the middle
school yet?

MR. PERKINS
Yes, I have. His schedule came in
the mail yesterday. We are all
set.

MRS. MCRICHIE
That's good.

MR. PERKINS
All I have to do is send his butt
to high school and college, then
he's outta here.

Mrs. Rooney and Mrs. Foster smile. Mrs. Rooney takes a sip
of her tea.

MRS. ROONEY
I heard you and Mark talking about
your work. What is it you do?

MR. PERKINS
Oh, it's nothing special. My
friend got me a job at a paper
factory.

MRS. MCRICHIE
Every job is special in its own
way, Rodger.

64.

MRS. FOSTER
(to Mr. Perkins)
I also heard that you hunt.

MR. PERKINS (smiles)
(to Mrs. Foster)
Only fair game, Samantha.

Mrs. Foster smiles back and takes a bite of apple pie.

MRS. ROONEY
Do you hunt deer?

MR. PERKINS
No, Trudy. Never in my life will
I kill a deer. I hunt ducks.

MRS. MCRICHIE
(to Mr. Perkins)
I hope it's not for sport.

MR. PERKINS
That's only half of it, Kara. I
bring my winnings home and cook
them.

Mr. Perkins takes a sip of tea.

MRS. FOSTER
(to Mr. Perkins)
You eat duck?

MR. PERKINS
Tastes like chicken.

Mr. Perkins and Mrs. Foster share a smile.

EXT. DAVEY'S FRONT YARD - DAY

Davey, Jay, Chris and Mark are on Davey's front yard. They
have a regular garage sale going, with real junk. They have
only one table with a bunch of objects on them. The boys
are behind the table. Davey and Chris are sitting in fold
up chairs.

CHRIS
(to Mark and Davey)
So have you guys noticed something
about your Mom and Dad?

65.

MARK
(to Chris)
Like what?

CHRIS
Are you kidding? Am I the only
one who notices these things? Jay,
what about you?

Jay crosses his arms and shrugs.

CHRIS
Really?

DAVEY
I noticed.

All the boys look at Davey sitting in the fold up chair,
twiddling his fingers. He looks down at them.

MARK
Well, what is it, Davey?

JAY
Yeah, we're curious.

Davey looks at Jay and Mark.

DAVEY
It's not something to be so happy
about, guys.

JAY
Okay.

DAVEY
(to Mark)
Wipe that stupid smile off your
face, Mark. It's not funny.

Mark stops smiling.

MARK
(to Davey)
So what is it?

DAVEY
Go ahead, Chris.

CHRIS
(to Mark)
You're dad was getting his flirt
on with Davey's mom.

66.

MARK
He was? How could you tell?

DAVEY
(upset)
Didn't you see how he was looking
at her? How he smiled.

Davey looks at his hands.

DAVEY (cont'd)
Smiled like my dad.

Boy,from the yard sale in the beginning, comes up to the
table and picks up a toy car.

JAY
(to Boy)
That's 50 cents, kid.

BOY
Wow. Really?

Boy gets out two quarters and gives them to Jay.

BOY
Thanks.

Boy walks away with the toy car.

JAY
Whose toy car?

Chris slightly raises his hand.

CHRIS
It was mine.

Jay tosses the 2 quarters at Chris. Chris catches them and
puts them in his pocket.

MARK
Why are you so bummed out, Davey?
It's not that bad. Not bad at
all, really.

Davey looks at Mark.

DAVEY
Not bad, Mark?

Davey stands up and faces Mark.

67.

DAVEY
Not that bad?

CHRIS
Easy, Davey. Come on.

DAVEY
My father died 4 years ago, not
even. And my mom's looking at
your dad like she used to at my
dad.

They are silent.

DAVEY
You don't get it, do you? My
dad's dead and your dad's looking
at her like...like...

MARK
Shut up, Davey! Just shut up.
Yeah, it's terrible that your dad
had to die, but it's been 4 years.
4 years! I know you feel bad,
but think about your mom. She's
probably feeling worse at times,
and she's lonely.
Stop being so selfish. Just
because you lost a dad, doesn't
mean you'll never have another.

Mark walks away, but turns around to Davey.

MARK
My mom died 12 years ago. Think
about how my dad feels, Davey!

Mark walks away.

INT. DAVEY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Mrs. Foster is on the couch sewing Patty's doll. Davey
walks in and sits next to her and watches his mom.

DAVEY
Is that Patty's?

Davey gestures to the doll.

68.

MRS. FOSTER
Yeah. She always bites on right
leg. I don't know why. She loves
this doll.

DAVEY
Dad gave it to her, right?

MRS. FOSTER
Yes. Well, he bought it for my
baby shower.

DAVEY
But it's from him, right?

Mrs. Foster nods and sews some more. There is silence.
Davey watches her. She senses him watching and looks at
him.

MRS. FOSTER
What is it, honey?

DAVEY
It's nothing.

Mrs. Foster runs her hand through Davey's hair.

MRS. FOSTER
You have such beautiful hair. Like
your father's before he cut it for
the navy.

Davey touches his mom's hand on his face.

MRS. FOSTER
Davey, what's wrong?

Davey takes Mrs. Foster's hand off his face and holds it in
his lap.

DAVEY
Do you miss Dad?

MRS. FOSTER
Honey. I miss him every second.
You know that.

DAVEY
It's just that Mark's dad said...

MRS. FOSTER
What did Mr. Perkins say, dear?

69.

Davey kindles Mrs. Foster's hand in his.

DAVEY
Do you like him?

MRS. FOSTER
He's a nice man. Yes.

DAVEY
You know what I mean, Mom.

Mrs. Foster takes her hand away and starts again to sew
Patty's doll.

DAVEY
I thought you loved Dad.

MRS. FOSTER
I do, Honey. So much. But I'm
beginning to feel lonely without
another adult in the house.

DAVEY
Then why don't you just hire a
nanny or something.

MRS. FOSTER
(smiles)
I miss to be loved, Davey. Your
father would understand.

DAVEY
(upset)
Don't me and Patty love you?

MRS. FOSTER
Yes. But that's a love between
parent and child. You see...
You're too young to understand.

DAVEY
(upset)
I'm almost 13, Mom. I do
understand. You want to get
married again.

Mrs. Foster reaches for Davey's hand, but he pulls it away.

DAVEY
So you do like him?

MRS. FOSTER
Davey...

70.

DAVEY
Mom.

MRS. FOSTER
Yes, Sweetie.

Davey gets up from the couch.

MRS. FOSTER
But not like your father.

Davey walks away.

EXT. DAVEY'S FRONT PORCH - DAY

Davey, Jay, Mark and Chris are sitting on Davey's porch.
Mickey is sitting next to Mark on the steps. Davey is
standing away from Mark on his porch. His arms are crossed.

Mark pets Mickey. The ice cream truck MUSIC is heard. They
all perk up and stand up from the porch. Mickey runs int
the yard and starts barking.

MARK
Quiet, Mickey!

Uncle Al's ice cream truck stops in front of Davey's house.
They go to the truck.

UNCLE AL
Hey, kids!

Mickey puts his front paws on Uncle Al's counter, wagging
his tail. Uncle Al pets him.

UNCLE AL
Hey there, Mick. Nice to see you.

Mickey takes his front paws off the counter.

JAY
Hey, Uncle Al.

UNCLE AL
(to boys)
Hot out here, ain't it? Great day
for ice cream.

CHRIS
Yeah.

71.

Mark and Davey are silent.

UNCLE AL
(to Mark and Davey)
What? Not even a smile from you
two? Why, it has to be a sign of
the apocalypse.

The boys are silent. Chris and Jay give a fake smile.

UNCLE AL
What can I get you boys on this
fine afternoon?

Jay puts a 5 dollar bill on the counter.

JAY
I'll take the regular.

INT. MR. PERKINS' ROOM - NIGHT

Mr. Perkins is putting on a black tie on his dress shirt.
Mark comes into the room.

MR. PERKINS
What do you think about this tie?
Is plain black too plain? Maybe I
should wear a pattern. What do
you think?

Mark sits on the edge of the bed.

MARK
It looks good.

Mr. Perkins faces Mark. His tie is not centered.

MR. PERKINS
I got some red roses. What do you
think?

Mark stands up and centers Mr. Perkins's tie.

MR. PERKINS
I know they mean true love or
something like that. Do you think
I'm moving too fast? Should I go
get some yellow ones for
friendship?

72.

MARK
They're fine, Dad. Stop worrying.
She'll love them.

Mr. Perkins runs his hand through his hair and takes a deep
sigh.

MR. PERKINS
(smiles)
I'm just so nervous, you know?

Mark looks at Mr. Perkins and smiles.

MR. PERKINS
No you don't. You're 12 and never
been on a date. What was I
thinking? She's you're friend's
mom. I should...

Mark pats Mr. Perkins's shoulder.

MARK
You scaring me, pop. Just go be
yourself. You'll be fine.

MR. PERKINS
Right.

INT. MRS. FOSTER'S ROOM - NIGHT

Davey is on his mother's bed. Mrs. Foster is in front of
the mirror, putting on earrings. She is wearing a red
dress.

MRS. FOSTER
Now, the babysitter will be
here...

DAVEY
I don't need a babysitter.

MRS. FOSTER
Please, honey. Don't be so...
(smiles)
I only hired her for Patty's sake.
I wouldn't dare leave her alone
with you.

Davey smiles. Mrs. Foster takes out a diamond necklace.

MRS. FOSTER
Come help me put this on, Davey.

73.

Davey goes to her and puts it around her neck and connects
it.

Mrs. Foster looks in the mirror and touches the necklace.

DAVEY
You look beautiful, Mom.

Mrs. Foster looks at Davey and touches his face.

MRS. FOSTER
Thank you, honey.

Davey holds his mother's hand.

MRS. FOSTER
I was thinking about what you
said, Davey. And...

DAVEY
It's okay. I understand.

Davey raises his mother's hand to his mouth.

DAVEY
Dad probably has a girlfriend in
heaven, so you gotta get back at
him.

Mrs. Foster smiles.

DAVEY
Mr. Perkins is a great man. Dad
would approve.

Davey kisses his mother's hand.

INT. DAVEY'S HOUSE-DOORWAY - NIGHT

The doorbell RINGS. Mrs. Foster opens the door in her red
dress. Mr. Perkins is at the door with a dozen red roses.
He smiles.

MR. PERKINS
Hi.

Mark and Mickey come into view and stand next to Mr.
Perkins. Mark waves.

MARK
Hey, Mrs. F.

74.

MR. PERKINS
(to Mrs. Foster)
I just thought...you know, since
we're both gonna be out...Davey
and Mark could..

Mickey YAWNS.

MR. PERKINS
Mickey came too...Is that okay? I
didn't know how you felt about
dogs. I'll bring him back to the
house if you...

MRS. FOSTER
It's fine, Rod.
(to Mark)
Davey's watching T.V., Mark.

Mark and Mickey walk into the house, past Mr. Perkins.

MR. PERKINS
(to Mark)
Don't forget to put down water for
Mick.

Mr. Perkins looks at Mrs. Foster.

MR. PERKINS
He always forgets.

Mr. Perkins enters the house and gives her the roses.

MRS. FOSTER
Thank you.

Mr. Perkins and Mrs. Foster stare into each others eyes.

MR. PERKINS
You look beautiful.

INT. DAVEY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Mark and Davey are sitting on opposite ends of the couch,
watching T.V. Mickey is laying at Mark's feet.

MARK
(to Davey)
So... How old is your sister?

DAVEY
Almost four.

75.

The BABYSITTER, an 18 year old girl, is laying on the other
couch. She is watching the soap opera on the T.V.

MARK
That's good. Patty, right?

DAVEY
Yeah. Patricia Maria Foster.

MARK
Nice name.

There is silence between all of them. A couple on the T.V.
start making out.

DAVEY
'You wanna go outside?

MARK
Love to.

Davey and Mark stand up. They and Mickey head for the front
door.

DAVEY
(to Babysitter)
We're going out.

Babysitter waves them off.

BABYSITTER
Be back by 9.

Davey opens the front door and they run out.

EXT. DAVEY'S FRONT YARD - NIGHT

Davey, Mark and Mickey are outside. Mark is playing fetch
with Mickey.

Davey goes to sit down on his porch steps.

DAVEY
What time is it?

Mark looks at his watch.

MARK
7:30.

Davey holds his head in his hands.

76.

DAVEY
Jeez. She wants us back at 9?
That's like in 2 hours.

MARK
Some babysitter she is.

Mark throws the tennis ball in the yard. Mickey runs after
it and brings it back.

DAVEY
My mom only got her to care for
Patty. She can care less about
us...I mean the babysitter
couldn't care less.

Mark throws the tennis ball again for Mickey. He runs for
it and puts it in his mouth. Mickey walks half way to Mark,
drops the ball, and lays down.

MARK
At least she let us go out here. I
mean, we could still be watching
the make-out session.

Mark sits down on Davey's porch steps with Davey. Mickey
goes to him and Mark pets him.

DAVEY
But there has to be something to
do.

MARK
Is Chris home?

EXT. CHRIS'S FRONT PORCH - NIGHT

Davey, Mark and Mickey are on Chris's porch. Davey KNOCKS
on the door. Danielle opens it.

DAVEY
Hey, Danielle.

DANIELLE
Hey, Davey. Here for Chris?

DAVEY
Yeah. Is he home?

DANIELLE
I don't know. He might be taking
a crap, I'll see.

77.

CHRIS (OS)
Shut up, Danielle! I'm right
here!

Danielle smirks and Chris runs to the door. He pushes
Danielle away.

CHRIS
(to Danielle)
Finish buttering the popcorn.

DANIELLE
(to Chris)
Oh, I'll butter your popcorn.

Danielle walks away.

CHRIS
(to Danielle)
Not too much! You know how too
much butter upsets my stomach!

DANIELLE (OS)
Then butter your own, dipstick!

CHRIS
(to Danielle)
Fine!

DANIELLE (OS)
Fine!

MRS. MCRICHIE (OS)
Kis! Stop it!

Chris looks at Davey and Mark and takes a deep breath.

CHRIS
Sorry, guys. I can't hang out.
Tonight is family movie night and
you know how my mom can be. Whoo!

Chris does a crazy gesture with his hand.

MRS. MCRICHIE (OS)
Come on, Chris! We're gonna start
Beethoven without you!

DANIELLE (OS)
And Chrissy-sissy doesn't want to
miss his sweet puppy-wuppy in the
beginning!

78.

CHRIS
(to Mrs. McRichie)
I'll be there in a sec, Mom. Hold
on.

Chris looks at Davey and Mark. He pats Mickey on the head.

CHRIS
Sorry again, guys. I'll see you
tomorrow though, okay?

MRS. MCRICHIE
(to Chris)
Come on, Honey! You're missing
the good part!

CHRIS
(to Mrs. McRichie)
But didn't you just start it?

Chris shuts the door.

EXT. JAY'S FRONT PORCH - NIGHT

Mark, Davey and Mickey are on Jay's front porch. Davey
knocks on the door. Sean opens it.

SEAN
Hey, Davey. Looking for my rat
tail of a brother?

DAVEY
Is he home?

SEAN
Yeah. He's right here.

Sean looks over his shoulder.

SEAN
Yo, Jay! Get over here!

Jay comes to thew front door.

JAY
(to Davey and Mark)
Hey, guys.

Jay pats Mickey on the head.

DAVEY
Do you wanna hang out?

79.

MARK
(to Jay)
Yeah, cause the babysitter kinda
kicked us out.

DAVEY
Till like 9.

JAY
Harsh.

DAVEY
It's not that bad.

Jay looks at his wrist for the time, but he doesn't have
watch on.

JAY
What time is it now? 8?

MARK
Just about.

JAY
Sorry, guys. I can't hang out.
You know how my mom feels about me
being out when the sun's down.

DAVEY
That's cool, Jay. Will you be
around tomorrow?

Jay scratches the back of his neck.

JAY
We're actually in the process of
cleaning my dad's office.

DAVEY
Oh. So call me when you're free.
Okay?

Davey playfully punches Jay in the arm. Jay holds his arm.

JAY
Kay.

Davey and Mark walk off of Jay's porch.

DAVEY
(to Jay)
See ya, man.

80.

MARK
(to Jay)
Bye.

JAY
Bye.

Jay closes the door.

INT. DAVEY'S GARAGE - NIGHT

Davey and Mark are in the garage. The garage door is open.
Davey is sitting on his bike seat. Mark is sitting on an
empty milk carton. Mark is bouncing the tennis ball. Mickey
is laying down on the floor by Mark.

MARK
You think it's safe to go back in?

DAVEY
I don't know. What time is it?

Mark looks at his watch.

MARK
8:30.

DAVEY
Sounds good.

Davey snaps at the tennis ball in Mark's hand.

DAVEY
Let me see that.

Mark tosses the tennis ball to Davey.

MARK
Yeah, but I don't want to get
stuck watching that sappy love
stuff again.

Davey bounces the tennis ball. Mickey, interested, goes to
him.

DAVEY
I hear ya. But I'm willing to
take that chance.

81.

INT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Davey, Mark and Mickey walk into the house. The television
is turned off. Babysitter is sitting on the couch and
talking on her phone.

BABYSITTER
(on phone)
Yeah, I know. What do they
expect? We're teenagers. Uh,
huh.

She waves them away.

BABYSITTER
(miming)
Go away.

A car door is heard from outside SLAMMING closed. Mrs.
Foster and Mr. Perkins are heard. It's indistinct talking.

            BABYSITTER
      (surprised, on
       phone)
I gotta go, Kara. The parents are
home.

Babysitter turns off the receiver and stands up. She shoos
them away.

BABYSITTER
(to Davey and Mark)
Go.

The front door opens. Mr. Perkins and Mrs. Foster come into
the house. Mickey greets them. They pet him on the head.

MR. PERKINS
Hey guys.

MARK
Hi.

MRS. FOSTER
How was your night?

Davey scratches his head.

DAVEY
Fine. You?

82.

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - DAY

Jay, Mark and Chris are waiting outside Davey's house. They
each have a back pack on.

Mark is tapping his foot nervously. Chris and Jay are
relaxed.

JAY
(to Mark)
'You nervous?

Mark scratches his head and folds his arms, uncomfortable.

MARK
No. Why would you think that? Of
course I'm not nervous. I'm not
nervous.

CHRIS
(to Mark)
Did you bring a barf bag?

Mark looks nervous. Jay smiles and pushes Chris.

CHRIS
(to Jay)
What? Just in case. He looks
pretty uptight.

Davey comes out of his house wearing an old back pack.

Davey goes to them.

DAVEY
(to Mark)
Whoa, Mark. Are you sick or
something?

JAY
He's just scared.

Mark holds his stomach.

MARK
Am not!

CHRIS
(smiles)
Yeah, he's just nauseous.

MARK
Shut up, Chris.

83.

Davey takes a baseball cap from his back pocket and puts it
on Mark's head.

DAVEY
Loosen up, Buddy. It's only
school.

JAY
Yeah, until the teacher calls on
you for the answer. Then it's a
living hell.

CHRIS
(to Mark)
Then you start sweating and your
hair gets all nasty. The sweat
gets in your eyes and you're
blinded by your own perspiration.

Chris acts out being blinded, covering his eyes.

CHRIS
Ahhh!

Davey hits Jay and Chris.

DAVEY
Cut it out, guys.

Davey looks at his watch.

DAVEY
We're gonna miss the bus. Come
on.

They all walk on the street. Mark is still holding his
stomach.

INT. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

During the dismissal period, Jay and Chris go to Mark who is
trying to open his locker. Chris nudges Mark. Jay takes
off the hat on Mark's head.

CHRIS
Hey, Mark. Barf yet?

Mark reaches for the hat that Jay took off. Jay keeps it
out of reach.

84.

MARK
(to Jay)
Come on, Jay. It's Davey's.

JAY
That's why I'm taking it. To give
it back.

Mark reaches for it again.

JAY
(laughs)
Or to just watch you get it back.

Davey walks by Jay and takes his hat from him. Davey goes
to Mark.

CHRIS
Hey, Davey.

DAVEY
(to Chris and Jay)
Why don't you leave him be?

JAY
It's just fun to mess with him,
you know?

DAVEY
No, I don't.

Mark puts the combination in his locker.

JAY
Well, we gotta get to class
anyway.

CHRIS
See you later.

Mark opens up his locker. Chris, while passing, slams it
shut and LAUGHS.

EXT. DAVEY'S HOUSE - DAY

Davey, Chris, Mark and Jay are on Davey's lawn with a
lawnmower. They are all looking at it.

JAY
Yeah, I'm not feeling it, guys.

85.

MARK
Well, the season ends, our jobs
ends.

DAVEY
A new season, a new job.

CHRIS
I've got it!

INT. MARK'S HOUSE - DAY

Davey, Mark, Chris, and Jay are in the living room. They
are all looking at Mickey.

MARK
You're so selfish, Chris.

CHRIS
What? He's a Golden Retriever,
right?

JAY
No one will suspect us if we play
it out right.

MARK
(to Jay)
Play it right? We're 13 year
olds, Jay. They won't believe us.

DAVEY
(looking at Mickey)
Mark's right.

They all look at Davey.

DAVEY
We need an adult with us.

EXT. GROCERY STORE - DAY

Mark is sitting behind a fold up table. He has on black
sunglasses and he is holding onto Mickey's harness,
pretending he is blind. Jay, Chris, and Davey are behind
the table. Uncle Al is sitting next to them.

MARK
This is never going to work, guys.

Jay slaps the back of Mark's head.

86.

JAY
Quit it, Perkins. You're gonna
ruin it.

Mark rubs the back of his head. He looks straight ahead.

MARK
(to Uncle Al)
Sorry we dragged you into this,
Al.

UNCLE AL
It's fine, Mark. You're paying
for my dinner.

Chris scratches the back of his head.

CHRIS
(to Uncle Al)
About that...

JAY
(to Uncle Al)
How does Burger King sound?

An elderly woman puts change into the empty can on the
table.

Mark looks at her and opens his mouth to speak. Davey grabs
his shoulder to stop him.

DAVEY
(to elderly woman)
Thank you.

The elderly woman smiles at Mark and Davey and walks away.

CHRIS
(to Mark)
You can't see her, remember?

JAY
You're blind, Perky.

Davey looks into the can of coins and then looks at Uncle
Al.

DAVEY
(to Uncle Al)
How does the dollar menu sound?

87.

INT. DAVEY'S HOUSE--DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Davey, Mark, Mr. Perkins, and Mrs. Foster are sitting at the
dinner table. Patty is in a high chair. They are eating
spaghetti and meatballs.

MRS. FOSTER
How was everyone's day?

MR. PERKINS
Mine was fine.

Mrs. Foster looks at Davey and Mark.

MRS. FOSTER
What did you guys do for fun
today?

MR. PERKINS
Yeah, how did you guys spend
you're first day off from school?

Davey and Mark look up from their plates and glance at each
other.

MRS. FOSTER
What'd you do? I'm sure it wasn't
that boring.

MR. PERKINS
Yeah. I'm sure you did something.

Mark takes a big bite of spaghetti.

DAVEY
Uh, we just went to the arcade.

MRS. FOSTER
Huh... That's weird.

Mrs. Foster takes a bite of spaghetti.

Davey and Mark look at Mrs. Foster.

Mrs. Foster swallows her food.

MR. PERKINS
(to Mrs. Foster)
Wasn't the arcade closed today?

88.

MRS. FOSTER
(to Mr. Perkins)
I think so. The sign on the
window said "Gone Fishing".

Mark wipes his mouth with a napkin.

MARK
Can I be excused?

MR. PERKINS
When we're done with you.

MRS. FOSTER
We saw you in front of the
grocer's.

MR. PERKINS
Real clever, boys.

MARK
Dad, it wasn't my idea.

DAVEY
It was mine, Mr. Perkins.

MRS. FOSTER
Davey!

MR. PERKINS
It's all the same to me. You were
all there....and Mickey. I can't
believe you both. That's a crime,
you know. You conned those
people.

MARK
We didn't get a lot.

DAVEY
We mostly spent it on Uncle Al's
burger.

MR. PERKINS
I know.

MRS. FOSTER
We asked him to watch you.

DAVEY
What?

89.

MARK
It was a set up?

MRS. FOSTER
I cannot believe you two.

MARK
Dad, I'm sorry.

MR. PERKINS
(to Mark)
Go.

MARK
What?

MR. PERKINS
Go home.

Mark gets up and leaves Davey's house.

INT. MARK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Mark is lying on his bed reading a book. Mickey is at the
end of the bed laying down.

Mr. Perkins opens the bedroom door. Mark sits up and puts
the book down.

MARK
Dad-

            MR. PERKINS
      (to Mark)
I'm not here for you.
      (To Mickey)
Come on, Mick. Time for a walk.

Mickey jumps off the bed and goes to Mr. Perkins.

MR. PERKINS
You're grounded until further
notice.

Mr. Perkins and Mickey go out of the room. The door shuts
behind him.

INT. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY

Mark opens his locker. Jay and Chris go up to him.

90.

JAY
Hey, Bakes. How was your weekend?

CHRIS
That was a pretty good idea I had
yesterday, wasn't it?

Mark puts a book from his locker into his backpack and
starts to walk away.

Jay and Chris follow him. They are confused.

JAY
Hey, Mark.

Jay puts his hand on Mark's shoulder and stops him.

JAY
(sincere)
What's wrong, man?

MARK
We got busted last night.

Jay takes his hand off of Mark's shoulder. Mark starts to
walk away. Chris and Jay follow him.

CHRIS
Have you seen Davey yet today?

MARK
Beats me.

Jay and Chris stop walking and look at each other.

JAY/CHRIS
Uh oh.

Mark stops walking and looks at them.

JAY
This is bad.

EXT. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Jay, Chris and Mark are outside of the school. School buses
are picking students up.

MARK
What happened to him?

Jay and Chris are silent and look at each other.

91.

MARK
Come on, guys. Tell me.

JAY
(to Mark)
We really don't know.

CHRIS
(to Mark)
It's just the last time this
happened, Davey went to his Aunt's
for a while.

MARK
You guys got caught before?

JAY
He was only gone for a month,
but...

CHRIS
No telling how long now.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Jay exits the school bus first, followed by Chris and Mark.
Davey's house is vacant. There is no car in the driveway,
and a "For Sale" sign in on the front lawn.

They all stop and stare at the sign.

INT. MARK'S HOUSE - DAY

Mark enters his house. He puts his back pack on the ground.
Mickey greets him and he walks to the kitchen. He looks
around.

MARK
Dad!

He takes an apple from the fridge and goes into his room.

INT. MARK'S BEDROOM - DAY

Mark enters and slams the door. He goes to his stereo,
turns his music on, and turns it up. He sees a letter on
his bed. He turns the music off and goes to it. He sits on
his bed and opens it.

92.

DAVEY (VO)
Hey. You probably already found
out about my mom's crazy idea.
We're moving in with my aunt in
Colorado. I know it's far, but I
promise to write if you return the
favor. I've never had a friend
like you, Mark. I'm glad I met
you. You're personality made me
think twice about what we were
doing, but I didn't listen. Don't
screw up like me, Mark. You're
better than all of this. You will
always be one of my best friends,
and I hope I am one to you. I
left you something under your bed.
I hope Mickey didn't get at it.
And take good care of it, it's
from the 1920's.

Mark puts the letter down on his bed. He gets up and looks
under his bed. He pulls out Davey's Father's Navy hat.

INT. MR. PERKINS' ROOM - DAY

Mark walks into the room.

MARK
Dad?

The sliding closet door is open. He goes to it and the
rifle is missing.

EXT. MARK'S BACK YARD - DAY

Mark and Mickey run outside.

The rifle loading is heard. Mark opens his shed door and
Mr. Perkins is standing in the center of all the clutter
with the rifle.

MARK
Dad!

Mr. Perkins turns his head and looks at Mark. Mark runs to
him and hugs him. Mr. Perkins starts to cry and unloads the
rifle. He drops it.

MARK
I'm so sorry, Dad.

93.

Mr. Perkins hugs Mark, tears on his face.

MR. PERKINS
I love you, son.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Mark, Jay and Chris exit the school bus in front of Davey's
house. They are laughing.

They look at Davey's house and there is a moving truck in
the driveway. A girl, 14 years old, is helping her parents
lift boxes from the van.

CHRIS
Fresh meat.

JAY
A new innocence.

Mark shoves Chris and Jay.

MARK
Haven't you learned anything?

They start to walk away from the bus.

JAY
I wonder if she-

MARK
Don't even think about it.

They walk towards their houses, pushing, nudging, and
laughing.

EXT. MARK'S FRONT YARD - DAY

Mark, Jay and Chris are playing baseball in Mark's front
yard. Mark is at bat and Jay is the pitcher. Chris is in
the outfield with a baseball mitt. Mickey is laying in the
shade of the tree in the front yard.

Jay pitches it to Mark and Mark hits it across the yard.
Chris catches it in the air.

CHRIS
You're out.

Mark throws the baseball bat on the ground and picks up a
baseball mitt on the ground.

94.

MARK
Can you just not catch a fly ball
for once?

JAY
Sorry, Mark. Baseball is
baseball.

BOY, a year older, goes up to the friends with a baseball
mitt.

BOY
Need a fourth player?

JAY
Not really.

MARK
He's kidding. Of course, we need
an extra.

Chris hands BOY the baseball bat.

CHRIS
Just watch out for windows and
cars.

BOY smiles and takes the baseball bat and puts his mitt on
the ground.

CHRIS
I'm Chris. That's Mark and the
wise cracker is Jay.

BOY
Carl.

Chris pats BOY (Carl) on his shoulder and goes into the
outfield.

MARK
Hey, Jay, go easy on him.

Mark puts on a catcher's mask and goes behind CARL. Jay is
the pitcher.

JAY
Don't worry.

Jay pitches the ball to Carl, he hits it and it SMASHES into
a window on Mark's house.

95.

CHRIS/JAY/MARK
Shit!

FADE OUT.

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