Life as a House Page #4

ALYSSA:

Funny how he's the architect and you're

just a loud mouth cop.

KURT:

He builds models for architects. His

dad, on the other hand, was the real

deal. Designed and built the coolest

houses I've ever seen.

GEORGE:

Was bankrupt and dead before I was

twenty.

KURT:

Left you this place.

GEORGE:

It was in my name so he wouldn't lose it.

He stole it from everyone that deserved

it by putting me on title.

KURT:

Do you know what I'd give to have this!

Forget how I got it! I can't afford dirt

in this town. I live in Riverside,

Goddammitt And you get to piss in the

ocean.

Kurt stops working and steps back.

KURT (CONT'D)

Your kid was down around Diver's Cover

again, smoking pot. I didn't write him

up...told him I wouldn't tell you...

GEORGE:

Thanks for telling me.

KURT:

At least your father tried, George.

Kurt walks to his car and drives off. There's a moment of

awkwardness with Alyssa. George walks into his house leaving

Alyssa with Guster.

INT. WEBBER'S KITCHEN - AFTERNOON

Robin is sitting at the kitchen counter, cutting carrots;

through the French doors, she's able to watch Ryan and Adam,

along with a few friends, play in the pool.

GEORGE (O.S.)

I could be anyone.

Robin jerks with fright as half the carrots roll to the

floor.

ROBIN:

Then why do you stay you?

George picks up the carrots and washes them in the sink.

GEORGE:

You should lock your doors.

ROBIN:

Ring the bell before you try the door.

George bites into a carrot as Robin starts chopping again.

ROBIN (CONT'D)

Did Sam call to tell you he wouldn't be

over this weekend?

GEORGE:

You let him pierce his nose?

Robin snatches the carrot from George's hand and chops it up.

ROBIN:

Lock the door behind you.

GEORGE:

Where is he?

ROBIN:

Where he always is.

George takes Robin's hand and removes the knife.

GEORGE:

Not that I don't trust you.

As George lets go, Robin holds on; he appears surprised by

her grip of his wrist. Robin's eyes well with tears.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

I should have knocked.

George is clearly not comfortable with his ex-wife's hold of

him, with her tears.

ROBIN:

What kind of a mother can't stand her

son?

George jerks his arm away from her grip.

GEORGE:

I don't know.

INT. WEBBER'S UPSTAIRS HALL - AFTERNOON

George is tense and he walks to Sam's door and KNOCKS.

GEORGE:

Why aren't you coming in for the weekend?

(beat)

Sam?!

Nothing. George tries the door - it's locked. Frustrated,

he walks back down the hall and down the stairs.

INT. WEBBER'S KITCHEN - AFTERNOON

Outside, the boys are engaged in a raucous version of Marco

Polo. Robin is at the sink; she holds her hair back with one

hand and splashes water on her face with the other. George

walks by outside, carrying a ladder.

EXT. WEBBER'S BACKYARD - AFTERNOON

Ryan is the first to notice George.

ADAM:

Marco!

RYAN:

What are you doing?

ADAM:

I'm not cheating! I'm not looking!

Robin wipes her face with a hand towel as she rushes out.

ROBIN:

What are you doing?

GEORGE:

He doesn't answer.

The boys have stopped playing; Adam opens his eyes.

ROBIN:

He never answers.

GEORGE:

Why does he have a lock on his door?

ROBIN:

Because he put the lock on! Do you think

I told him he could have a nose ring?!

Why do you ask me everything you should

ask him!? I don't know anything,

anymore!

The boys line up against the edge of the pool and watch

George extend the ladder against the house and climb.

ROBIN (CONT'D)

You climb up there and tell him what he

can and can't do. Take him for the

summer, okay? Whip him into shape. Cut

his hair. Make him smile. Let him hate

you for a while!

(sadly)

You're too late for heroics, George.

George lops a leg over the railing and steps onto the bedroom

balcony. He peers into the room through the sliding glass

door and tries to open it (locked) before removing the screen

to the small open window beside it. He climbs in.

INT. SAM'S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Sam is asleep on his bed in his underwear, wearing

headphones. On the floor is an aerosol can of whipping

cream. George picks up the can and tosses it in the trash.

He focuses back on his son with his nose ring, earrings, blue

eyeshadow and thin, pale white body. Sam is soundly asleep.

George gently removes the headphones from his son's head;

drum heavy music surges from the small, padded speakers.

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