Life as a House Page #13

SAM:

Probably in the bible.

GEORGE:

Goodnight.

George drops his pants and climbs into bed. He pulls the

sheet up and fluffs the pillow before resting his head.

SAM:

I have to take a dump.

George twists around in bed to face Sam. After a beat, he

tosses the sheet back, climbs out of bed, pulls back on his

pants, slips on his shoes and walks out of the garage.

EXT. GEORGE'S SHACK - MORNING

George is up on the roof, hacking through the shingles and

beams with a chain saw. A huge dumpster set on the lawn

receives only about half the throws George makes. Sam is

near the ocean in a chaise lounge, listening to music through

his portable CD player.

GEORGE:

Have you got sunscreen on?

There's no chance he's been heard. TOM and BARBARA, two

older neighbors of George's nearing home from a walk, stop on

the driveway - both look pleased.

BARBARA:

It's about time this shack is torn down.

Barbara appears surprised as George turns to face them - she

obviously didn't realize he was the one up on the roof doing

the demolition.

TOM:

Oh, hello George.

GEORGE:

Guess how many low-income apartments the

city approved for this lot?

Tom and Barbara react by trying not to react.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

Come on...ballpark figure.

Tom and Barbara step back and walk away. George heads to the

ladder and climbs down.

ANOTHER VIEW:

Sam is grooving to the music with his eyes closed as George's

hand, filled with a gob of sunscreen, plops onto Sam's

stomach. Sam bolts up from the chaise lounge in a rage.

SAM:

What are you doing?!

GEORGE:

I warned you yesterday.

SAM:

Don't touch me! You can't touch me!

ALYSSA (O.S.)

Hey, you stayed.

Alyssa walks across her lawn to the feuding family. George

holds out the bottle of sun lotion to Alyssa.

GEORGE:

Rub him down, please.

George walks back to the ladder and up onto the roof as

Alyssa and Sam stare at one another.

SAM:

He's a freak.

ALYSSA:

You look better without make-up.

SAM:

I can't even take a shower here.

ALYSSA:

Come over to my house whenever you want.

I'll tell my mom.

SAM:

I might not stay, anyway.

ALYSSA:

I'll get your back.

SAM:

No. That's okay.

Sam reaches out for the lotion, but Alyssa hides the bottle.

ALYSSA:

Have you ever had anyone but your mom or

dad put it on for you?

Sam thinks about it for a second before shaking his head no.

ALYSSA (CONT'D)

It's weird how different it is. Lay

down.

George is back with the chain saw, hacking away at the roof.

Sam is hesitant as he lies down on his stomach. Alyssa

kneels and squeezes lotion on his back. She works it in,

starting at his neck, working her way down to his pants. She

squirts Sam's arm and as she rubs close to his pit, he

squirms.

ALYSSA (CONT'D)

Do you remember me from when you lived

here?

SAM:

Yeah.

ALYSSA:

Your dad dated my mom after her divorce.

SAM:

Really?

ALYSSA:

I wanted him to marry her.

SAM:

Why?

ALYSSA:

Turn over.

Alyssa grabs under his armpits and tickles him. Sam yelps

and rises onto his elbows as Josh roars by the shack in his

Porsche.

ALYSSA (CONT'D)

Josh and I are going to South Coast.

Wanna ride? Maybe see a movie?

SAM:

No thanks.

Sam is disappointed as Alyssa stands to leave.

ALYSSA:

Don't forget your front.

Alyssa walks to the shack and waves goodbye to George.

George waves her off. Sam curls onto his side as he watches

Alyssa run across the lawn to Josh.

GEORGE:

She's pretty...for a girl.

Sam appears irritated as he stands and walks into the garage.

INT. GEORGE'S GARAGE - MORNING

Sam glances out the window to check on his father, then

quickly rummages through every drawer and cabinet looking for

what he finds:
a prescription bottle. It's Vicodin. He

checks on his dad through the window again, then opens the

bottle and takes out five pills. He fills a glass with water

and swallows two, saving three for later. He sets the bottle

back where he found it before he drops on the bed with a

grin.

EXT. GEORGE'S GARAGE - AFTERNOON

Guster is in a full out run for a rubber ball. Sam is

shirted, sitting at the patio table. With the ball gladly

returned, Sam tosses it again. George walks out juggling two

plates of sandwiches and two Cokes and sits down.

GEORGE:

Do you ever get like the slightest

inkling that you might want to help me

instead of doing absolutely nothing?

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