House at the End of the Street Page #3

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she was different.

She used to scream all the time,

and she would attack us

and break things.

Is that why there are bars

on all the windows?

Yeah.

She never knew where she was.

She would...

She'd run out into the woods.

They were to keep her in.

Now they just keep the townies

from coming down here.

I don't really like coming

into this part of the house.

Well, thank you.

And I hope you like the CD.

Yeah. Thank you.

- Bye.

- Bye.

(SIGHS)

(GIGGLING)

Elissa?

Can you come help me?

- I have to go to work.

- Hey.

Thanks.

- How was school?

- Mm...

School's school. How's work?

It's OK. I don't know.

The late shifts are kind of tough.

But I like being in the hospital.

I like the drama.

- (BOTH CHUCKLE)

- What did you do after school?

I, um...

dropped off a CD at Ryan's house.

And he's really sweet...

...and sad...

...and lonely, all at the same time.

He's all by himself in this big house,

with the shades drawn.

You went to his house?

We dropped 'shrooms

and had unprotected sex.

- I know what you're doing.

- What?

- You're trying to save him.

- I am not.

Yes, you are. That's what you do,

you like to fix people.

Oh, yaddayadda-yadda.

Honey, sometimes

people can't be fixed.

(PANTING)

(DOOR RATTLING)

- (ELECTRICAL FIZZLING)

- (MOANING)

(SCREECHING)

(TYPING)

(WHEEZING, MOANING)

(GRUNTING)

(GASPING, SCREECH ING)

(PANTING)

(GASPING)

Carrie Anne, no! No!

SARAH:
See you after work, honey.

- OK, bye.

- Bye.

(RATTLING)

(DOOR UNLOCKING)

- GASPING)

- (LAUGHS)

Sorry.

You scared the piss out of me!

- How did you get in?

- You left the front door open.

(GRUNTING)

(MOANING)

Wake up good-lookin'

and I stay that way

I break a couple hearts

almost everyday

Behind the scenes

I'm better than I am on stage

Pick a book you like

And I'm your favorite page

If you don't know, you're gonna know

That I'm that girl... J'

Mm. Smells good.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Who's that?

- What are you up to?

- (SARAH LAUGHS)

- Hi.

- Hello.

Ryan?

Yeah, I thought it would be nice

if we all got to know each other.

OK.

And I lived with my Aunt Iris,

but she had a stroke when I was 18,

so after she was hospitalized,

I came back here.

Back home.

SARAH:
Such a big house.

Must be difficult to pay the bills.

(CLEARS THROAT) You don't...

You don't have to answer that.

My parents inherited the house,

and a little money,

so... when they died, I got it all.

It's not a lot, but it's enough.

And I go to Bridgeport Community

part time, so...

It's not really the greatest school

in the world, I know,

but I'm just trying to get my credits

in line so I can apply for pre-med.

- I want to be a psychiatrist.

- BOTH:
Wow.

My mom went to a psychiatrist for a long

time after she broke up with my dad.

Thank you very much

for cooking the meal, Mrs. Cassidy.

- Let's get some dessert.

- Yes.

I just wanted to say thank you.

You're actually the first people

to invite me over since it happened.

Oh... Of course.

(SARAH CLEARS THROAT)

I'm sorry, I need to say something.

Ryan, Elissa has just started in

a new school, and I want her to do well,

and it's really one of the reasons

we even moved here.

And she is in high school

and you are in college...

Mom, what is your point?

I think Ryan knows

exactly what my point is.

We are neighbors,

and I want us to be friends,

but I just have one rule

that I need you to respect.

I do not want the two of you to be alone

in your house or this house

if I am not here.

- You are never here.

- Well, I am here now.

Ryan, can you respect that?

Yes.

- Thank you.

- I should go.

No, Ryan. No, no, Ryan.

No, no, no. You can stay.

- Ryan, please.

- You can stay.

You're really lucky to have a mother

who cares about you.

Ryan, really, it's fine.

You can stay. Really...

Thank you very much for dinner.

No, I... I didn't mean...

I said he could stay!

No, you invite him over

just so you can throw him out?

Honey, I wanted to protect you!

Oh, good! After all these years,

you finally decided to be a parent!

You know, just because you were some

wasted slut in high school,

it doesn't mean I'm going to be.

SARAH:
Oh, God,

I invited him over last night,

and then I threw him out

and I told him I didn't want him

to be alone with Elissa.

So Elissa's not talking to me,

and I'm sure Ryan

thinks I'm against him,

like everyone else

in this ridiculous town.

Ryan's a smart kid, I'm sure he gets it.

I mean, I'm not stupid.

I can't keep her away from boys.

But I just don't want her to make

the same mistake I always make,

which is pick the wrong boy.

She just still treats me

like I'm a child.

That's lame.

She was just getting wasted and trashy

and he was so nice and gentle.

She didn't even care, she still talked

to him like he was a monster.

That's what she does.

She picks the most damaged kid around,

and then she makes them into a project.

So I guess maybe I'm worried that, you

know, Ryan 's just part of that pattern.

Hey.

Thank you so much for coming.

I really, really wanted to apologize

-for my mom last night.

- it's OK.

I hope you didn't take her too

seriously. It was just classic paranoia.

- This is my friend, Jillian.

- Hi.

- So can you give us a ride?

- What?

We're not really

supposed to do that, remember?

No, my mom said she didn't want us

alone, but we're not alone.

(JILLIAN SCOFFS)

Yeah. Yeah, OK.

SARAH:
It's like I'm trying so hard

to be a good mom,

for the first time,

not really doing a good job.

Sarah, you're raising

a very decent girl who cares.

Stop being so hard on yourself.

OK, thank you for the ride home.

- Bye.

- Bye, guys.

(SOFT ROCK PLAYS)

Again, I mention

how we're not supposed to be alone.

(PHONE RING-S)

(CELL PHONE RINGS)

- Hey.

- Hey, I just called to tell you

that I got stuck

with another late shift.

So I don't think

I'm going to be back before 11.

- Are you going to be OK?

- Yeah.

Elissa, I need you to remember

our agreement.

Yes. Don't you trust me at all?

I set our home phone

to forward all her calls to my cell.

You're kind of devious.

I'm only trying to protect her.

RYAN:
Yeah, the house was actually

my great-grandfather's.

Which is why it's been kind of hard

to think about selling it,

you know, and the whole

fixing it up thing.

But... I don't know.

I want to show you something.

Here, sit down.

I don't remember much

when I was little.

I remember my mom sitting here

and telling me everything has a secret.

Everything.

And at first I couldn't see it.

But then one day...

One day I could.

See what?

Look, I'll show you.

LOOK.

Oh, my God, it's a face.

I see it.

People don't notice

all the secrets around them.

Even though they're right in front of

them, just hiding, waiting to be found.

I like the way you see things.

I like the way you see me.

(SOFT ROCK PLAYS)

(LAUGHING OVER INTERCOM)

(MUSIC CONTINUES OVER INTERCOM)

(BANGING)

(BANGING)

I'll be right back.

- You need to leave now!

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