Orange County Page #5

Johnston, Joe.

You wanna tell me | what happened here?

Just a fire. | I dont know.

I came by and was...

checking out the fire.

Well, that lady, Mona...

said that you two were in | the building when the fire started.

Yeah, shes a liar,

So whatever she says is a lie.

Youre saying you werent | in the building with that woman?

Not I. All right.

She started it, all right? | Because she was, like...

"I hate my job! | Im gonna burn this mother down!"

I said, "You better not! | Youd better not!"

- She said it was an electrical fire. | - It was.

It was a total electrical fire. | It was, like...

the switches had sparks coming out,

- It was like the Fourth of July. | - Why arent you wearing your pants?

I tripped and--

Then I had to take em off | to run faster out of the flames.

I think I inhaled some smoke.

Will you excuse me one second?

Ill be right back.

Weve a got a sprinter. | Five-foot-five, no pants...

unkempt, portly.

- Youll be fine. | - Wait a second.

This guy thinks | hes the dean of admissions.

Shaun, so psychedelic.

Buddy, I light one match, | and the building blows up.

I was just trying to help you, bro.

By setting the building on fire?

Well, I was high.

Youre always high. | Youre a drugged-out loser.

You think youre gonna create | a T-shirt company?

You cant even dress yourself.

Harsh.

Shaun, Im so sorry.

I shouldve seen this coming.

The one day I need my family | to come through for me...

they end up doing | what they always do.

My father goes ballistic, | my mother gets plastered...

and my brother | burns down a building.

Its like | theyve all come together...

in some evil conspiracy | to prevent me from getting anywhere.

Is that what you think?

What else am I supposed to think?

You know, I really believed that | you wanted to go to Stanford...

because you wanted to study | with Marcus Skinner.

- Thats not it, is it? | - What are you talking about?

You want to run away.

You want to be free of everybody.

You think by coming up here, | youre gonna meet people that are...

smarter and saner...

and better.

You know, if you went to Stanford, | thatd be the end of us.

And it doesnt seem to me like | that thoughts ever crossed your mind.

Ashley, come on!

Shaun, Im sorry | you didnt get into Stanford.

But if you think going here...

is the only way you can be | the person you want to be...

then I just feel sorry for you.

Whats going on? | What are you doing in that bathrobe?

Im not gonna lie to you.

Did you sleep with your ex-wife?

I want a divorce.

Really?

You can have the house.

Really? What about Jake?

I thought we could share custody.

Okay. Great.

But can you take him tonight?

Theres this new club in Newport thats | supposed to be totally bitchin.

Oh, okay.

Thanks, Bud.

So you have my pager number | and my cell phone number.

If you need me just call me. | And I think this is a great idea.

Good.

- Later. | - Later.

What are you reading?

Faulkner.

Great writer.

Yeah. Sure.

Youre an English major?

No. I dont even go here.

So youre just visiting?

I should probably go.

It was nice meeting you.

Im going to a party.

You wanna maybe | come check it out?

So do you like Faulkner?

Hes okay. | I mean, hes kind of boring.

I think I might just get | the "Cliff Notes."

There are some serious cuties | at this party.

And lock me up, | because I am horny!

Guys, this is Shaun.

Oh, my God! | This is our song!

Scrabble? I love Scrabble.

Last time I played, actually, | I threw down the word "mazer."

Its a type | of small cherry tree.

I even got 50 bonus points.

So, you dont look familiar. | Are you a freshman?

No, not even. | Im still in high school.

- Did you apply to Stanford, or-- | - No, no.

Im going to | Orange County University.

- Thats where Im from. | - Ive heard of Orange County.

I love it there. | The weathers great, people are nice.

I really want to be | a marine biologist...

so its really the perfect place | for me to study.

What about you?

Im a comparative literature major. | I want to be a writer.

Fiction, poetry, screenplays, | whatever, you know.

Actually, I have an idea | for a TV show.

Its about vampires, ostensibly. | But underneath...

its actually about | the reunification of Germany.

But its funny.

My boyfriend wants | to be a writer too.

Your boyfriend?

Yeah, Shaun.

Hes really talented.

He wrote this great story...

about growing up | in Orange County.

And its just | really funny and smart.

But it doesnt really matter | what I think, so--

Why not?

Whats up?

Is this your boyfriend?

What are you, like, | spying on me?

No! I was--

I was just up on the balcony...

and--

Yeah, I was spying on you. | Whos this?

Im Kip.

Yeah, Kip. Lets go inside | where we can be alone.

Come on, Ash.

Mr. Skinner?

Youre Marcus Skinner.

Youre a good writer.

Thank you.

Im obsessed with you, | Mr. Skinner.

Not in a sexual way or romantic way | or anything like that.

Just your writing.

Im Shaun Brumder. I wrote you | a letter a couple of months ago...

and I sent you | one of my stories.

"Orange County."

Yeah!

Yeah, wait. | Did you read it?

Oh, yes. Yeah. | It was a great story.

I cant--

Im sorry.

Its been a long day.

Could you just say what you | just said just one more time?

It was a great story. | I really enjoyed it.

Mr. Skinner--

Dude...

you have no idea | what that means to me.

The characters are unique--

well drawn.

The mother-- drunk...

arguing with all the maids.

The brother-- | always passing out everywhere.

And I love the girlfriend-- | the bleeding heart animal freak.

She was my favorite.

You really love your characters. | It comes through in the writing.

Well, thank you.

I never really | thought about it that way.

My only criticism--

Yes. Oh, please. | Its what I need.

You need an ending.

I know. I just-- | I dont know how to end it.

You should figure that out.

Maybe I can help you.

Well, I didnt get into Stanford.

Yeah, so that means | I cant work with you.

I want to be a good writer, | Mr. Skinner...

but Im just afraid...

that if I dont get out | of Orange County...

its never gonna happen.

You dont have to be afraid of that. | You are a good writer.

And every good writer | has a conflicted relationship...

with the place where he grew up--

Joyce, Faulkner, Tolstoy.

And thats what I remember | loving about your story.

Its very conflicted.

Cause at the beginning, | you think these people are doomed.

I mean, this family is heading | for disaster, and then...

as you read on, | you see that there exists...

beneath the surface, | these very real connections.

These deep relationships.

What I took | from your story is this--

that even in a world | where people can be superficial...

and stupid and selfish...

theres still hope.

Was that the message | you were trying for?

Over here.

- Sorry. | - Ow!

- God! | - Sorry.

- God! Lance! | - Im sorry. Its just a nick.

Dude, you will never believe | who I just met.

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