The Disappointments Room Page #3

that roof and see what's what.

That way, once

the situation's been

thoroughly and

properly assessed,

then we can talk

about hours and materials

and scope of work

in a manner that's

not been pulled

directly out of our asses.

And what I'd also like

is to agree on a deadline,

which if not met, means revisiting

the terms of our contract

with the probability of

penalties paid to us by you

for each day of work exceeding

the original agreement.

Now, if that all

sounds acceptable,

I'll be happy to resume

this conversation

at a later date,

but in the meantime,

it was a pleasure

meeting you, Mr. Philips.

And, um, my husband,

David, will show you out.

David, if you

wouldn't mind.

Ben.

DANA:
July 5th.

I'm sorry.

What are you sorry for?

I should've let you

take the lead.

It's not a big deal.

(CHUCKLES)

Yes, it is. I was totally

caveman about the whole thing.

It was a full-on phallus fest.

I mean,

my God, what was I doing?

I don't know anything

about fixing a f***ing roof.

I want to leave this house.

Something isn't right here.

Dana...

Whatever you're feeling or

think you're experiencing,

it's just you adjusting.

It's not the house.

The Blackers had a daughter

who died July 5th.

That's the same day, David.

The same day,

that's not a coincidence!

Their daughter's still

in this house.

That's not possible.

You know that.

You're still taking

your medication?

Yes, I'm taking it.

I don't want to stay here.

We agreed to give it a year

of our time in this house.

Dr. Ashby told us

how important it was

for Lucas to have

stability right now.

We bail on this house,

we're not giving him

a fair chance

at a normal life.

We owe him that.

God knows we owe him that.

In a year's time, we're

gonna look back at this

and know that this move

was the right thing to do.

Believe me?

Yeah, I believe you.

I can cancel

this trip in the city.

It's just two days. Finalize

the sale of the company,

help with the transition.

I can reschedule. No. No, I

don't want you to do that.

Lucas and I can

spend the time together.

That'll be good for us.

I want you to keep an eye on your

mother for me while I'm gone.

Look after her.

You want me to pick up some

Juniors for you while I'm gone?

LUCAS:
With strawberries!

No raspberries!

DAVID:
Yes, sir.

DANA:
Be careful.

LUCAS:
Oh, wow.

Look at that bear!

Look, there's our house.

Oh, yeah.

Good job. (GASPS)

WOMAN:
May I help you?

DANA:
Oh, uh...

Yeah, I'm Dana Barrow and I...

Dana the architect!

It's nice to meet you, Dana.

I'm the one who sent you the

photographs and records of your house.

Oh, thank you.

And who might you be?

What's the matter?

Cat got your tongue?

This is Lucas.

They call me Ms. Judith.

Say hi.

I'll just go put these away.

Okay.

You can play over here.

I'll just be few minutes.

I just... I wanted

to ask you about this

little room that I found

in the attic.

It's got a metal floor and

a window that won't open

and, um, a door that just

only locks from the outside.

Um, and it really...

It frightens me and it wasn't

on any of the plans and I...

You know, I don't know

what to make of it.

But it's ridiculous.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

What do you mean?

Dana, it sounds like you

have a disappointments room.

A what?

A disappointments room.

Well, what does that mean?

There was a time,

not so long ago,

when children who were born

with certain difficulties

were considered

embarrassing.

Especially if the family was well-to-do.

Prominent socially.

Sometimes a decision

would be made

to keep that child's

very existence a secret.

Go on.

So, confined to a room much

like the one you described,

tended to only by the parents

or perhaps a trusted servant,

that boy or girl would spend their

lives, however long those might be.

No one to talk to.

No one to play with.

Never feeling the sun or the

rain on their little faces.

These children were...

Disappointments.

Their time on this Earth was

frequently brief, God willing.

Then when it was over, they were buried.

Discreetly.

Some say their spirits

could remain behind.

So, I've been

researching the presence

of disturbed spirits

in these old homes.

And?

And...

I think I've watched

Poltergeist too many times.

(CHUCKLES) People say

I'm full of sh*t and whiskey.

Hello?

Hello yourself!

What are you doing

up there?

Thought you said to come

back in a few days.

So, what are you thinking? DANA:

I think all this needs to go.

I say we demo the existing and

build a new one with pitch.

Better drainage.

Standard per foot?

Quarter inch.

Fir strips, plywood, new

flashing, new tar paper.

Top of my head, I'd say

it's a four-day job.

I'd say a two-day job max.

Well, I bill 80 bucks

an hour.

Well, you'll get 60.

So, two days,

60, 500 for materials,

that's $1,460 max.

You don't talk

like an architect.

My father worked as a general

contractor for over 40 years.

Is that right?

That's right.

And he didn't like leaving

me with babysitters,

so, I've spent

a lot of time on-site,

and a lot of time

around young men like you.

So then you're used to seeing

people smoke on the job site.

When did you start

working for your daddy?

DANA:
When I was old enough.

Doing what?

Whatever he'd let me do.

He must have been proud.

Of?

Of you, getting a degree,

becoming an architect.

Actually, he had

a heart attack on the job

a few months after

I graduated, so...

Sorry to hear

about that.

He died getting

his hands dirty.

Just like he wanted?

I guess so.

So, what about your mom...

LUCAS:
Mommy!

Do not come up here, Lucas!

Stay right where you are.

I'm hungry now!

I'll be right down. Just get

off that ladder, please.

LUCAS:
Okay.

Where's his father?

He's in the city.

Coming home soon?

Yeah, in a few days.

Yeah, bet it's scary

at night.

Tucked up in bed

all by yourself.

Congratulations.

You just found the line.

Oh, yeah? So, now what?

Now you can

back the f*** up.

You can start in the morning.

I'll expect you around 8:00.

This is the garden

of make believe

A magical garden

of make believe

Where flowers chuckle

and birds play tricks

And a magic tree

grows lollipop sticks

Here in the garden

what we say and do

We'd like you to

join us and do it, too

Can you crow like a rooster?

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

And clap your hands

and stamp your shoe

It's a funny place

but it's surely true

That we'd like to

share it all with you

If you sing for me

La-la-la-la-la-la

I'll sing for you

Lu-Lu-Lu-Lu-Lu-Lu

If you cry for me

Ooo-hoo-hoo-hoo

And clap your hands

and stamp your shoe

It's a funny place

but it's surely true

That we'd like to

share it all with you

(SIGHS)

If you sing for me

La-la-la-la-la-la

I'll sing for you

Lu-Lu-Lu-Lu-Lu-Lu

If you cry for me

Ooo-hoo-hoo-hoo

I'll cry for you

Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo

If you scream for me

(WOMAN IN TV SCREAMS)

I'll scream for you...

(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)

(GASPS)

Lucas!

Rascal! Rascal! Rascal!

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