The Hollars Page #5

JOHN:

What? No. Why?

JASON:

Your mom’s a borderline diabetic.

JOHN:

Really?

Sally nods. Jason takes the bowl of ice cream from Sally

and hands her a tray with an egg and a piece of toast on

it.

JASON:

Believe it or not we keep our patients on

a strict diet for a reason.

JOHN:

Yeah, I know. I just wanted to give her a

little something.

JASON:

(bitterly)

Yeah, well, next time try a greeting

card. They’ve actually become a lot more

sophisticated in the past couple years.

You can almost always find one to match

the exact sentiment you’re going for.

JOHN:

Do you have a problem with me or

something?

Jason looks very unhappy. He takes a deep breath and

walks out of the room. He nods for John to follow. John

looks confused. He follows Jason out of the room.

14 INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY. MORNING. 14

Jason holds the bowl of ice cream and pretzels.

(CONTINUED)

29.

14 CONTINUED:
14

JOHN:

What is it? What did I do?

JASON:

Gwen’s been asking about you ever since

she heard your mom was here.

JOHN:

Oh. Yeah. I heard you guys were-

JASON:

(defiantly)

Married. Yeah.

JOHN:

--Congratulations.

JASON:

She just had a kid.

JOHN:

I... heard that too. Congratulations to

both of you-

JASON:

Cut the bullshit. Are you going to try

anything?

John takes a deep breath.

JOHN:

Hey, look, man. I got a girlfriend back

in New York. We’re actually about to have

a baby too, so-

JASON:

You’re not married?

JOHN:

No.

JASON:

Why not? You’re going to have a kid

together.

JOHN:

It’s... a long story. We’ve talked about

it but-- what do you care?

JASON:

Don’t you think your child might resent

you for making it a bastard?

(CONTINUED)

30.

14 CONTINUED:
(2) 14

JOHN:

The kid’s not going to be a bastard!

JASON:

Well, no, technically it will.

JOHN:

Look, the point is you got nothing to

worry about. Gwen and I are way, way in

the past. We haven’t talked in years.

JASON:

She still looks great, by the way.

JOHN:

...I’m sure she does but-

JASON:

Great! [Alt] Maybe better!

JOHN:

Look, I have no feelings for Gwen

anymore. Haven’t for a very long time.

I’m not going to do anything.

JASON:

You sure?

JOHN:

Positive.

JASON:

Okay. Good. In that case I’m supposed to

invite you over to the house for dinner

tomorrow. We just had a new deck built.

It’s really nice.

JOHN:

That’s great.

Jason takes a bite of the ice cream and pretzels.

JASON:

This is good.

JOHN:

I’m glad you like it.

15 INT. CAR PARKED ON THE STREET. MORNING. 15

Ron sits in his car and waits down the road from the same

house he was stalking last night. He stays low in his

seat. After a moment, two girls come out of the house.

(CONTINUED)

31.

CONTINUED:
15

Their names are Constance, 9, and Matilda, 6. They arefollowed by a woman. The girls’ mother, Stacey, 38. Shegives each child a kiss goodbye and then the girls walktowards school. Ron waits for Stacey to go back in thehouse, then he starts his car and follows the girls downthe street.

Ron pulls up to the girls. He rolls down his window.

RON:

Oh. Hey there. What are you cool girlsdoing here?

Hi, Dad.

MATILDA CONSTANCE

Walking to school.

*

*

**

RON (CONT’D)

Oh, wow, that’s so random. You want a

ride?

The girls look at each other. They think about it for a

moment.

16 INT. CAR ON STREET. MORNING. 16

Both girls sit in the backseat.

RON:

So, how you guys doing?

The girls do not respond.

RON (CONT’D)

What’s wrong?

CONSTANCE:

Mom said that we can’t see you until theyreview your behavior in 3 months.

Who’s they?

RON:

MATILDA:

Mommy’s lawyer.

RON:

What? My behavior?

CONSTANCE:

They need to see you have a steady job.

RON:

That’s just-- that’s. Anyway.

(CONTINUED)

32.

16 CONTINUED:
16

Beat.

RON (CONT’D)

Yeah? Do anything fun last night?

CONSTANCE:

Not really.

RON:

No? Did you...see Reverend Dan?

CONSTANCE:

Mmm-hmm.

RON:

So, what’s his story anyway? Seems kind

of like a creep to me.

CONSTANCE:

I don’t know.

RON:

Do you like him?

MATILDA:

He’s a really good dancer.

RON:

(disturbed)

He dances for you?

Constance gives her sister an angry look.

CONSTANCE:

He bought us Dance, Dance, Revolution.

RON:

(bruised)

Oh. Wow. That’s cool. You’ve been wanting

that for awhile, right?

MATILDA:

You should come over and play it with us

sometime.

RON:

Yeah, Yeah. Maybe I will. (beat) You know

your grandmother has a brain tumor.

CONSTANCE:

Yeah. Mom told us. How is she?

RON:

She’s probably going to die.

(CONTINUED)

33.

16 CONTINUED:
(2) 16

CONSTANCE:

What? I thought mom said it was too soon

to say.

MATILDA:

(emotional)

What’s happening?

RON:

No. It’s for sure. She’s going to die.

CONSTANCE:

Oh, my god.

MATILDA:

Grandma’s going to die?

RON:

You girls want to come see her at the

hospital with me?

The girls look at each other. The oldest one is still

skeptical.

RON (CONT'D)

It might be your last chance. (beat) I’ll

take you to Wal-Mart after.

The girls don’t go for it.

RON (CONT’D)

Chuck-E-Cheese?

The girls smile.

A17 EXT. HOLLAR HEATING AND PLUMBING SUPPLIES. MORNING. A17

Don enters his office.

17 INT. HOLLAR HEATING AND PLUMBING SUPPLIES. MORNING. 17

Don walks into his small manufacturing plant. An unhappy

woman sits at the front desk of a small office space.

DON:

Hey. Where is everyone?

PAM:

Not here.

DON:

Where are they?

(CONTINUED)

34.

17 CONTINUED:
17

PAM:

Called in sick.

DON:

Everyone?

PAM:

Yep.

DON:

Why?

PAM:

I’m guessing it might have something to

do with not getting paid in two weeks.

DON:

Well, don’t they know about Sally???

PAM:

Unfortunately, guilting people into free

labor only works on family members.

DON:

I wish I had more sisters.

Beat. Pam looks at Don.

PAM:

How’s she doing, Donny?

DON:

...I don’t know. She was sleeping when I

left. I should go back and check on her.

PAM:

I’ll go check on her. You need to get to

work. We got an order in this morning.

Don pulls his wallet out. He takes out a credit card. He

hands it to Pam.

DON:

Here. Take this. Use it to pay everyone

for the last week.

PAM:

Can you afford that?

DON:

Do it anyway. And then tell them to get

their asses back to work.

(CONTINUED)

35.

17 CONTINUED:
(2) 17

PAM:

Okay.

DON:

How about you? How are you doing for

money?

PAM:

Carl was laid off.

DON:

Alright, keep the card. Just... only use

it for what you absolutely need. Okay?

PAM:

(trying to make Don laugh)

Carl thinks I need a boob job.

Don considers.

DON:

Oh, geez, I don’t know Pam.

Pam’s face falls as she goes back to work.

18 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM. DAY. 18

Sally and John sit silently in the hospital room. Sally

smiles at John. John smiles back.

SALLY:

So how are you?

JOHN:

I’m fine, Mom. I’m good.

SALLY:

You’re a terrible liar.

Beat.

SALLY (CONT’D)

How’s your job?

JOHN:

Oh, you know, soul crushing. It

continually forces me to question the

purpose of my existence.

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