Little Red Wagon Page #3

We're trying to put together

these, sort of, um,

care packages

for homeless kids,

and they've got, um,

some food in them,

hygiene kits, underwear.

Maybe candy, something

to read and, uh...

And a toy

if we can afford it.

A toy for sure.

You see, Zach here has been

raising the money all by himself.

He's been

collecting donations.

Selling bottles of water at

various events, things like that.

Well, no kidding.

My brother goes homeless

on me every once in a while.

He's, uh...

He's a bit schizo.

Well, actually

he's full schizo.

And every once in a while

he stops taking his meds

and he finds himself back out on

the streets and I go looking for him.

(SIGHING)

I've seen some stuff.

So, I'll tell you what I'm

gonna do for you, young man.

I am gonna sell you

these yo-yo's at wholesale,

and just for nothing I'm gonna

throw in a gross of Gertie Balls.

Gertie Balls are cool.

Yeah, you bet

Gertie Balls are cool.

What's a wholesale?

Wholesale...

What it cost me.

It's about a buck

per unit, per yo-yo.

I like wholesale.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Deal.

Deal.

All right, now what are you

gonna put all those things in?

I can give you

a couple of bags.

Did you remember

your wallet, Son?

Yes, Mom.

Good boy.

Backpacks?

Backpacks.

Every kid needs a backpack.

Something to put

their stuff in.

Backpacks, too?

Okay, I'm gonna need

to see your 501(c)(3).

My what?

WARREN:
Your 501(c)(3)?

You're gonna need one of those if

you're gonna call yourself a charity.

And I'm gonna need to see one if

I'm gonna get an okay from corporate.

Oh. Okay,

I can do that.

(SIGHS)

WARREN:
Well, okay.

You go do that.

And I'll get your stuff together

here and you come back and get it.

Okay, thanks.

Right. Ask for me.

Hey, Mom.

Hey!

What you doing?

(GROANS)

Robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Your father used

to handle all this.

He used to handle

everything, really.

How was school?

Same old, same old.

Mrs. Moon is taking us

on a field trip

to the Museum of

Science and Industry.

Hey! That's gonna be fun.

Yeah, and you need to sign

this permission slip.

Okay. And I need $25 for

tickets, lunch, and everything.

You want something to drink? I'm okay.

$25?

Yeah.

Um...

You might have

to be sick that day.

Really?

Sorry.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(WHISPERS)

Don't get it. Jim.

Hey, Mr. Deason.

Hi, Jimmy. Mrs. Craig.

Hi, Mr. Deason.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Deason, I am trying.

I really am.

But my unemployment just ran

out and my part-time job...

I hardly make enough money

to put food on the table.

If you could just

give me a little more time.

It isn't me, Mrs. Craig.

It's, uh...

I mean, all I do is fix

toilets and collect the rent.

It's my bosses.

I mean, they're on

my back constantly.

It's like, uh...

Maybe if you could put

some money on the back rent.

Do you think you could give

me to the end of the week

to put some

money together?

I'm sorry, there's really

nothing I can do about that.

Mr. Deason, do you know

anybody who wants a TV?

It's a big screen.

It's practically brand new.

Well, I don't know anyone,

but I can ask around.

Okay.

Mmm-hmm.

Uh, we're here

about a 501(c)(3).

Did you get

the instructions?

Yes, ma'am, we did.

And, um, they just served to confuse

us more, if you know what I mean.

There's an 800 number

helpline. Did you call it?

Yes, ma'am,

we did call that helpline

and, uh,

there was quite a wait

and when we finally did get

a human being on the line,

um, how shall I put it, that human

being seemed just as confused as we were.

So...

I don't know

what to tell you then.

You want to establish

a tax-free exempt status,

you have to apply

like everyone else.

Well, ma'am,

what we were hoping

is that somebody could just

walk us through the application.

What? There's no one here

who does that.

That's what the 800 number

is for. And the instructions.

Right. The instructions.

Okay, well,

thank you for your help.

Wait.

Ma'am.

You know any kids?

Of course.

I have

three grandchildren.

Well, I'm trying

to help kids.

Kids without homes.

You? You're trying

to help them?

Yep.

This 501(c)(3) thing

is for me.

You see, um,

Zach here has been

collecting donations

for hurricane victim relief

for most of the year.

And now he wants to do the

same thing for homeless kids.

But I need this

501(c)(3) thing...

Yeah. To make it all legal.

This 501(c)(3) thing.

(CHUCKLING)

What if one of your

grandchildren was homeless?

Oh, don't try and

soft soap me, mister.

How would you like

to go to lunch with me?

Hey, Mom.

Where were you?

I was worried.

Oh, um, I sold the rest

of my games and those DVDs.

I got over $40.

Oh, sweets.

Listen, I need you

to go and pack a bag.

Are we going on a trip?

We have to move. Tonight.

And we have to be

very quiet about it.

We can't let

Mr. Deason see us.

Why? Where are we going?

Are we going to a hotel?

We don't have enough

money for a hotel,

we're gonna have

to stay in the car.

In the car?

It's just for a little while.

Till I can figure out some things.

Well, what about school?

You go to school

like you always do.

Now go pack.

Suitcase on the bed.

What about all my stuff?

My computer,

my Gamebite, my stuff.

We're gonna have to leave

a lot of the stuff behind.

I'm leaving a note

for Mr. Deason,

telling him he can sell it

to make up for what we owe...

Sell my stuff. No!

I am leaving a lot

of my stuff behind, too.

Most of my clothes.

Now go on.

Mom, it's not fair. I already

moved and I lost all my...

No, it's not fair.

It's not fair.

I'm sorry.

I'm begging you. Please

just go and pack a bag.

(INAUDIBLE)

(KIDS TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

(INAUDIBLE)

Look at their faces.

(KIDS SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

It's just like watching

Christmas morning.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

We cannot thank you enough

for everything, Miss Bonner.

Oh, well, it was

all Zach's doing.

Well, Zach, we thank you.

You did a good thing here.

Thank you.

(SIGHS) I just wish

we had room for them all.

Well, thank you again,

so much.

LAURIE:
Oh, it was

a pleasure meeting you.

It was nice meeting you,

too. Zach, thank you.

All Zach's doing? Really?

Mom, what am I?

Hired help?

Well, I just meant it

was his idea, that's all.

(EXHALES)

Don't get all huffy.

You got that boy,

and Zach has this.

Whoa! Not the same thing.

Not even close

to the same thing.

That boy... You can't even say his name.

His name is Ian.

I know his name.

I hear it enough.

You don't know

anything about him.

And have you ever even

invited him over for dinner

and tried to get

to know him? No!

Well, I don't need to know

him to know that you're...

That you're too young

to be going steady.

"Going steady"?

Mmm-hmm.

What is this?

The '50s?

Mom, be honest. You wouldn't

like any boy I went out with.

That is...

(BOYS TALKING

INDISTINCTLY)

LAURIE:

This boy that...

This Ian...

You really like him?

KELLEY:
He makes me

feel special.

LAURIE:

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