Inventing the Abbotts Page #19

a snowball's chance in hell with

Helen Riley. Of course, that was

all before I became Lloyd Abbott

-- Mr. Abbott. That was back when

I still had chicken sh*t on my

shoes and twelve cents in my

pocket. Charlie Holt was the only

one good enough for Helen. I used

to spy on 'em -- yup, I did.

(fixes a drink)

Used to watch them sit on the

front porch of her house -- your

house -- and watch 'em talk.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

INVENTING THE ABBOTTS - Rev. 3/20/96 114.

173 CONTINUED:
173

LLOYD (CONT'D)

And talk. I never knew what to

say to a girl. Never could just

talk. Could dance, could listen

to the radio. But I couldn't

talk... except with your mother,

except with Helen. I talked more

to her after your dad died than

I'd ever talked to any woman

before then -- or since then.

Jesus, I talked. Just like this.

Just like right now. Just pouring

out. Helen would listen and

whatever I said, she'd never make

me feel bad or ignorant or guilty.

I mean... for Christ's sake, she

never blamed me for what happened

at the lake, for letting Charlie

drive out on that ice. She never

did anything but try to make me

hurt less and I...

Lloyd is startled by Joan as she opens the door.

JOAN:

Lloyd...?

LLOYD:

Get out of here!

JOAN:

It's time for Susie's birthday

cake.

LLOYD:

(exploding)

Goddammit, Joan, go way! Get the

hell out of here! Leave me alone!

He hurls his GLASS at her and it SHATTERS on the door

jamb. Joan recoils in dumb-founded shock and backs out

of the doorway. Lloyd fumes over and slams the door shutin her face. He leans against the door and catches hisbreath.

LLOYD:

I wanted sons -- isn't that funny?

I wanted sons and I got three

daughters. I wanted a woman I

could talk to and I got a woman

whose ears are stuffed full of

money and Percodan. But I got the

chicken sh*t off my shoes.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

INVENTING THE ABBOTTS - Rev. 3/20/96 115.

173 CONTINUED:
(2) 173

LLOYD (CONT'D)

My shoes are clean.

(slight beat)

I know that's what Jacey thinks.

I could always tell by the way he

looked at me -- even when he was a

little boy -- like I owed him

something. But, goddammit, he's

wrong. That bet was your father's

idea and I never meant your mother

any harm. I would've done

anything for her --anything. I

loved her. But the only thing she

ever wanted from me was just for

me to leave her alone.

He pours himself a fresh drink, then turns to Doug:

LLOYD:

So, what do you want?

DOUG:

I want to find Pam -- and you're

going to tell me where she is.

174

EXT. BROWNSTONE APARTMENT BUILDING (CHICAGO) - THAT 174

NIGHT:

Doug navigates the busy sidewalk to the entrance of thebuilding. He checks the number over the door to the

address on the scrap of paper in his hand.

175

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING DOORWAY - ELEANOR'S APARTMENT - 175

NIGHT (MINUTES LATER)

Doug knocks on the door. Eleanor opens it, she's dressedfor work in her stewardess uniform. She's obviouslysurprised to find Doug on her doorstep, but she greetshim with a warm smile.

DOUG:

Where is she?

176 EXT. DEPARTMENT STORE DISPLAY WINDOW (CHICAGO) -176

SIDEWALK - NIGHT (SHORT TIME LATER)

Pamela dresses a mannequin in the display window. As she

moves behind the mannequin to fasten a garment she seesDoug standing on the other side of the glass watching herfrom the sidewalk. Doug writes a message on the plateglass window with his index finger (printing the lettersin reverse so that the message is legible from Pam'sPOV); his message reads: "I love you."

INVENTING THE ABBOTTS - Rev. 3/20/96

116.

177

EXT. DEPARTMENT STORE ENTRANCE - SIDEWALK - NIGHT 177

(MOMENTS LATER)

Pamela comes out of the store via the revolving door andfinds Doug waiting for her on the sidewalk.

PAMELA:

How can you...?

DOUG:

How can I what?

PAMELA:

Ever... forgive me?

DOUG:

You always loved me no matter whatI did, right?

PAMELA:

Yeah.

DOUG:

Maybe that's how I love you -- nomatter what. That's the best kind

of love, you know?

PAMELA:

But... oh, Jesus... how do we

start all over again?

Pam's eyes fill with tears. Doug steps over to her andembraces her tenderly, holding her close.

DOUG:

There. We're doing it.

PAMELA:

(through her tears)

Doing what?

DOUG:

Starting over. So, what are youdoing tonight? You want to goout?

PAMELA:

You're crazy.

DOUG:

Some people never change.

He wipes her tears from her cheeks with his fingers, thengives a short, but sweet, kiss. Then he smiles:

(CONTINUED)

117.

177 CONTINUED:

Hi.

Hi.

DOUG:

PAMELA:

FADE OUT.

177

THE END:

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes