Lonesome Jim Page #4

---

brother to hurt himself.

That's crazy.

I told him life was pointless and I

couldn't believe he hadn't killed himself.

So, Anika, I understand you're a nurse.

Yes, I am Mrs. Roush.

That's great.

I love the work.

So, where'd you two meet?

At a bar.

Tim just can't stop saying enough

nice things about you.

Oh, how is Tim?

I haven't talked to him today.

Oh he's good.

Benjamin?

Yes.

Do you go to school yet?

He's in third grade.

Third grade? But you're so little.

You're little.

Benjamin.

Anika? As you know

Tim broke both of his legs

so he can't easily

get in and out of bed

we got him one

of those crooked plastic bottles for

you know his business,

but its not

quite big enough for his...

Mom...

To tell you the truth I don't

really like my family that much.

What a terrible thing to say.

Its true I mean

I love them all to death,

but I just can't stand to be so close.

Well what good is that kind of love?

I'm thinking of leaving.

You know, I was thinking,

maybe you and

Ben could come with me.

Where?

I don't know.

Great. Sounds like a good plan.

Where would you like to go?

I can't afford to go anywhere.

Sure you can. There are nursing

jobs all over the country.

Just pick a place.

Well, you know, I've always wanted

to go to New Orleans.

New Orleans. Why New Orleans?

Bourbon St.

What's your second choice?

Vegas.

I've heard really good things about

New Orleans. Let's try it there first.

I can't just up and

move to New Orleans.

You can if you do.

What about Ben's dad?

He's a deadbeat.

I should be Ben's dad.

You're crazy.

Am I?

What's this?

It's an Inspector Nestor book.

Remember when you used

to read these to me?

You'd always know how each story was

going to end half way through every book.

They were predictable.

Maybe. I could never guess them.

You're an idiot.

Anyway, I found them in the garage.

Thought maybe you could

read em to the girls.

They miss you, you know?

The whole team misses you.

Sure.

They do.

I bet they haven't even noticed.

They're playing their last game

this weekend.

Anything you want me to tell the

team at last practice?

Tell them to make a f***ing basket.

I can't do it.

Maybe you can. Maybe you can't.

But you'll never know unless you try.

I've been trying all practice.

True.

Hey, you two.

Hey.

What gives? I thought practice was

supposed to be over 30 minutes ago

Jim won't let me go

until I make five more baskets.

I'm sorry Benjamin.

I didn't mean to make

you feel like you couldn't go home

if you didn't make the shots.

But that's what you said.

Why didn't you call if you knew you

were going to be late?

I'm sorry, I didn't know it was

that big a deal.

Yeah, well it is a big deal. Stuff

like that is a very big deal to moms.

What's your problem, Anika?

Nothing, Jim.

Just, you can't ask a girl

to move 1082 miles away with you

unless you're

really going to follow through.

Why wouldn't I follow through?

Because you don't know what it

would be like.

What would it be like?

Difficult. Very difficult.

Great. I'm used to challenges.

You're use to avoiding them.

Well, maybe I don't want you to.

Oh. Okay.

I just said maybe.

No, the whole idea was stupid

anyway. Come on Ben.

Come on Anika.

I'd like to make a withdraw please.

I need to be on my own.

I understand. Sometimes Mom wishes

she could be on her own too.

What?

Nothing. Just kidding.

Where you going to?

Maybe New Orleans.

Oh fun. You know Mom's never really

been anywhere.

I know Mom.

Maybe I'll come visit

you after my trial.

Or before, either would be great.

I can't really leave the state until after

Jimmy.

All right team,

I know it's been a rough season

Girls... but...

Sorry, I'm late.

No problem, Benjamin.

Is your mom here?

No.

Like I said, I know it's been a

rough season for us this year.

Not a lot of shots have fallen for us.

In fact not a single shot has

fallen for us in 14 games.

So I guess the question

we need to ask ourselves is,

are we going to let those 14 games

determine the next one?

Because if we are

, then we may as welljust go out there

and shake hands with the other team.

Congratulate them on their victory.

I see some of you nodding

your heads in agreement right now.

By all means, it's not an

altogether absurd idea. Odds are,

we are going to lose no matter how

we go about playing this game.

So why do we play at all? Well team...

I don't really have an answer for that.

And do you know why?

Because its a stupid question asked

by a doubtful and unhappy man.

Forget his question.

You just got to keep playing.

Because if you don't you might end

up like him and let me tell you,

he is no fun. Nobody

knows what we're capable of.

The past does not

always predict the future.

Now that team may have seen

us play before

but they've never

seen us play today.

Am I right? / Yeah.

Am I right?

Yeah.

Well, all right then. Well let's

show them what we can do.

One, two, three. Go Ladders.

Hey, come on. Come over here.

No long faces. That was good.

That was our best game yet.

Shut up, Jim.

Good job, Jimmy.

You make a great coach.

Dear Mom

I don't know where to start,

so I'lljust begin with the

end and work my way back.

I came home because I ran out of

money and had nowhere else to go.

If I'd had any other option,

I would have taken it.

I did not consider the simple fact

of having a place to return a blessing

Instead, I thought of it

as a burden and a symbol of failure.

I'm ashamed to admit that

growing up I pitied you

and what I thought was your naive

belief that our dreams could come true,

simply by virtue of having them.

Because the truth, as I witnessed it,

was something completely different.

The truth actually was that nothing

worked out and no one,

anywhere lived the life they wanted.

But I see now, that it was

me with the naive belief.

I thought if I

resigned myself to disappointment,

at least I'd be better off then

those people who tried and failed.

And I hate myself

for only realizing this now

and for taking and taking from you

without giving anything back.

You are one of the few good peaches in

are one of the few good peaches in

I promise not to waste anymore time

or take your love for granted again.

I love you so much. Jim.

P.S. The money in this

envelope is from Stacy.

I figure he owes you at least this

much for all the snacks he's stolen.

And he's the one who's been sending

drugs through the Fed Ex account.

Promise to call you soon. Jim

Thirsty?

What are you doing here?

Benjamin wanted to apologize to you

for telling you to shut up.

I'm sorry Jim.

That's alright, Benjamin.

How'd you find me?

We stopped by the house

to see you. Your dad told us.

Where you going?

New Orleans. / Great.

Benjamin,

do you want to say goodbye to Jim?

Bye, Jim.

Bye... Benji.

You be good to your mother.

And promise me not to

get too much more apathetic.

At least not until your teens.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes