Life After Beth Page #3

What about going hiking alone?

(SIGHS) Honestly, I can't really

think straight right now.

I'm pretty nervous about my test tomorrow.

- What test? It's the summer.

- (SCOFFS)

I Wish.

What about breaking up with me?

And what about...

Why do you keep saying that?

I don't want to break up with you, Zach.

I love you.

I would never want to break up with you.

I don't know why you keep saying...

Hey. Beth, sweetie.

Hey, don't cry.

- Why are you being so mean?

- I'm not being mean.

- I just...

- Yes, you are.

No, I...

Look, I've just...

I've just been having

a lot of thoughts about us recently.

- Like bad stuff?

- Um... No. No, no, no, no.

Like really good stuff.

Like, you are my favorite person

in the whole world.

(CHUCKLES)

And I wish we went hiking together more.

And, like, I wish that I went

flamenco dancing with you

every time you asked.

And, um...

And whenever you go away,

you're the only thing I can think of.

I think of you all the time too.

All the time.

I'm so happy that you're back.

And I just... I don't...

I really want it to last this time.

(PANTING)

Zach, I love you so much.

I f***ing love you so goddamn much.

Wait.

- What?

- Wait, not...

Not with my parents downstairs.

Okay, do you want to go somewhere?

Like, hiking?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

Okay, let's go.

(CAMERA BEEPING)

GEENIE:
You two have fun?

ZACH:
Oh, yeah.

We're gonna go for a hike.

- Ooh.

- Not a hot idea.

Oh. Whoa! In broad daylight?

Zach, are you nuts?

- Wait till nightfall.

- Why?

- Because, baby, it's safer.

- At night?

- Who hikes at night?

- Nobody hikes at night.

We can watch TV till nightfall.

Zach.

Oh, yeah, okay.

Okay, yeah, that sounds good.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

- I'll get it.

- BOTH:
No! No, no, no!

- Guys?

- It's fine. I'll get it.

- Daddy gets it.

- You hate getting the phone!

MAURY:
I know, but I like it now.

NARRATOR:
(ON TV) Pachacuti,

the powerful lncan Emperor,

who ordered the construction

of Machu Picchu...

Why don't you two

just hang out here tonight?

Beth has a test tomorrow.

It's already late so...

Yeah, but you said that we could...

We could play Scrabble.

Like why don't we just go for a drive

or something?

You know, something private?

(WHISPERING) Discretion, Zach. Discretion.

- We could go swimming.

- GEENIE:
Ooh!

That's a good idea. So romantic.

The pool's heated. I don't see why not.

Go swimming.

I don't have a bathing suit so...

- You can borrow one of mine.

- Yeah.

Well, I don't want to impose,

so maybe we could just go for a drive.

- You're not imposing.

- It's just a bathing suit.

NARRATOR:
(ON TV)... empire into darkness.

ZACH:
Are these awesome, or what?

Is something wrong?

I'm just really nervous

for that test tomorrow.

What test?

Oh.

Oh, yeah.

Me, too.

(CAMERA BEEPING)

(ZACH SCOFFS)

Your mom sure is taking a lot of pictures.

You don't want to eat me, do you?

Zach.

Not right now, remember?

No, I mean really eat me.

Stop. Not with my parents around. Come on.

That's so weird.

What was I just talking about?

Nothing.

You're so beautiful.

I can't believe you're here.

Where else would I be?

- I had a really good time tonight.

- Me, too.

- Good night.

- Good night.

I love you.

No, I love you more.

Yes, I do.

(LAUGHING) No.

I want to eat your face off.

- Hey, man, what are you doing?

- Nothing.

I'm just cleaning Desert Eagle. Why?

It's not like you care.

I care.

Yeah, right.

Hey-

Look, um...

I'm really sorry about the other day.

Okay, I know you were just doing your job,

and I know that I can sound

condescending sometimes,

but I actually really look up to you and...

- You said Beth's alive.

- Yeah!

Yeah, she is, and it's so great.

It's like love conquers all.

- You're making fun of me or something?

- No, it's totally the truth.

- Close the door, Zach.

- Just open your heart.

- Close the door, psycho!

- Okay.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO)

- No, get the f*** out of my room!

- Okay!

- Close the door on your way out!

- Okay!

Good morning.

JUDY:
Look who's got his appetite back.

All that pool watching.

You're up pretty early, son.

Or is it really, really late?

I mean, it's all relative, you know?

(LAUGHS)

Not really, no.

Well, it's like there's no past, no future,

no up or down.

No dead or alive.

Jesus realized this.

(CAR DOOR SHUTS)

CHIP:
Zachster.

ZACH:
Whoa! Chip? (LAUGHING)

Whoa! Where have you been?

What happened to you?

Well, nothing. What do you mean?

I haven't seen you since before college.

Oh. You seem like you're kind of down, kid.

No, I'm totally good.

Um...

This isn't our mail.

Okay, well, we'll catch you tomorrow.

What?

(ENGINE STARTING)

GEENIE:
I know it's a

frustrating situation.

Yeah, I understand.

Uh-huh.

Why don't you tell them to tell...

MAURY:
Unbelievable.

She's building something.

You know,

we really should let Beth know she died.

- No. No.

- Well, I've opened up to her, you know?

Yeah, but no, we're not gonna do that.

That'll just confuse her and make her upset.

- That's not happening.

- GEENIE:
Honey?

What should I tell them?

Tell them I'll come back

when I'm ready to come back.

They have to stop calling

every five minutes.

- Look, she came back, right?

- Right.

- And that is for a reason.

- Well...

Also I think Pearline might have

something to do with this.

- 'Cause she...

- No. Yeah, no.

She disappeared

right before Beth appeared.

- And she's Haitian.

- No.

- Just think about it like this...

- Zachy. Zachy.

You're going down a rabbit hole.

This doesn't make any sense.

And I need you to tell me

that you won't tell her.

Look, I understand how scared you are.

Listen, she's my daughter.

I make the rules.

And if you want to be in my house,

you will promise me

that you are not gonna tell her.

Okay.

I promise.

MAURY:
There she is!

ZACH:
Hey.

Beth, oh, I missed you so much.

I missed you more.

(BOTH MOANING)

All right, that's enough of that!

Zach and I are going on a hike.

What? Uh-uh. No. No way!

I think that is important that we do this.

No. Beth? Bethy?

Bethy?

You are not to leave this house.

- Not in the daylight.

- BETH:
Not in the daylight?

- Why are you acting like I'm a child?

- Yeah, tell her, Maury.

"Maury"? Since when did you

start calling my dad Maury? Ew!

Zach, this really isn't a good idea.

- No, it's fine.

- Zach.

It's really...

Zach, please don't do this.

Maury, it's cool. Trust me.

Okay!

Well, have fun.

When can I expect you back?

Dad, stop!

Bye, Maury.

(BOTH PANTING)

It's crazy, you know?

Like it all makes sense.

It's like there's no inside without outside

or light without dark.

They're the same.

I mean, I want to say that I understand it,

- but it's like I don't which means I do.

- Huh.

You're so expressive now. It's cute.

Ah. Her face has a huge blister.

It's not a blister. It's sunburn.

I just got a little color. That's all.

It's charred.

- Look at it.

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