The Rake Page #2

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with a few anti-depressants,

and the rest are basically

horse tranquilizers...

but still nothing holds a torch

to the sh*t they were feeding me

in the hospital.

Well, that's progress then,

right?

Yeah, no voices.

- Well, that's good.

- ASHLEY:
Yeah...

I think so.

I'm starting to sort

my sh*t out.

Signed up for school again.

Well, online courses,

and I've been working part time

as a florist.

A florist, really?

I always thought

you hated gardening.

I did. I still do. I'm like

the human version of herbicide.

ASHLEY:

Probably should've consulted

with Ms. Authority here first.

But can't be choosy, I guess.

It's, kind of, hard to get a job

when you have

no real work experience.

ANDREW:
Why is that?

Well, after inpatient therapy

I was a bit of a nomad.

Can't really handle people.

They can't really handle me,

thus the plants.

Well, I guess it's kind of hard

to plant your roots

when you're constantly ripping

them out.

Did you really just make

a plant metaphor?

- Yes, I did.

- [NICOLE LAUGHING]

- It was bad.

- Yes, it was.

But, you know, he's not wrong.

NICOLE:
It is, it's hard

to start over

when you're a drifter...

to find friends, to find love.

- Marriage and kids?

- NICOLE:
Uh-huh.

- Yeah. Let's not go there.

- Not the maternal type?

Like you? No, not really.

Well, I'm just beat, all right?

I'll give you guys

some alone time.

Honey, I love you.

Ashley, it's...

it's always good seeing you.

[LAUGHS]

- NICOLE:
Thanks.

- Hey, um...

thank you for reaching out,

you know.

Thanks for giving a sh*t.

It wasn't the same without you.

I mean, California was great

for Andrew's career

and everything but...

I didn't like that it kept me

from you.

I'm really happy

that you're here.

Me too.

Ah!

NICOLE:
Ow! Damn it.

Oh, f***. That sucks, hold on.

[GASPS]

ASHLEY:
Ah, goodnight.

ANDREW:
[SIGHS] Honey...

we know it's the same story over

and over again.

It's just that I need you to be

as relaxed as possible,

and Ashley isn't exactly Zen,

if you know what I mean.

Do you know, what I was thinking

about in the car ride?

Tell me.

I want to know my family again.

I still remember when Dad

brought Ben and Ashley home.

Ashley screamed more

than she spoke and...

Ben didn't talk at all.

It took me a really long time

to gain their trust.

Hey.

Hey, you...

you helped them through

a difficult transition.

We helped each other.

We were isolated in California

for so long...

I just worry I'm not gonna be

able to make up for that.

Especially with Ashley.

I am... I want them around.

Come here. Come here.

No one can break you.

- It's in you too.

- It's in you too.

[DOOR CREAKS]

[ASHLEY CRIES]

[SCREAMS]

[ASHLEY SCREAMING]

Ash!

Ashley!

Ashley!

Ash!

- Ashley, where are you?

- [ASHLEY CRYING]

Ashley!

Okay, hold on, hold on, hold on.

NICOLE:
[PANTS] Ash?

Ashley?

Ashley, are you down here?

Ashley?

- [ASHLEY CRYING]

- Ash!

Ashley, oh, my God!

Are you okay? What's wrong?

- [GROANS]

- Ashley! Are you okay?

Tell me what's wrong. Ashley?

Ashley, is someone in the house?

Back off. It's okay,

you're home. You're okay.

You're okay. You're okay,

Ashley.

Ashley, Look at me. Ashley!

- [ASHLEY CRIES]

- Ash. Ash. Ashley.

BEN:
I thought Californians

were early risers.

Yeah, we figured, we'd take

notes from your Hawks

- and sleep in this season.

- Oh, sh*t.

I come bearing gifts,

and this is how you treat me?

- Yeah. Good to see you.

- Nice to see you.

- Did she see me pull up?

- No, I don't think so.

- Man, the chair looks great.

- Thanks.

Ben? Oh, my God,

what are you doing here?

- ANDREW:
Ah, f***!

- BEN:
Surprise.

NICOLE:
Ouch! Honey,

are you all right?

Yeah, I think I caught it

on a staple or something.

- You all right?

- Yeah, I'll live.

It is so great to have

you back home, Nicki.

It's really great to be home.

- Dad's old chair.

- Mm-hmm.

Oh, come on. Keep it together.

I was just trying to do

something nice.

No, Ben, it's really,

really sweet.

I was just looking at pictures

of us on this thing,

when we were younger and...

I can't believe you hung onto it

for me. Thank you.

Every child should have

an heirloom, I guess.

[LAUGHS] Yeah.

What'd you keep?

The adoption record.

Framed it and hung it

in my office.

That's really nice.

BEN:
Uh, Where would you

like this?

NICOLE:
Oh, um...

- [NICOLE CLEARS THROAT]

- Oh, wow! Look at that view.

Yeah, sure beats looking

at your neighbors' building.

Which is what we did a lot

of in California.

- This is nice.

- I like it.

You can just set that here.

Right there.

BEN:
[EXHALES] The house

is coming together nicely.

Yeah. Slowly but surely.

First night in the new place?

No, it's not that. Um...

Ashley came in last night.

That's great! Where's she at?

She's still sleeping. She, um,

sort of had an episode.

Yeah, she was screaming

bloody murder in the basement.

She had a night terror.

NICOLE:
It was bad, Ben.

I haven't seen her like that

even as a kid.

It was different like more...

more real.

I thought you said

she was improving.

Yeah, she was.

Uh, I'm going to head out.

I'll talk to you guys later

tonight.

NICOLE:
Ben, Ben, come on.

Just stay for a little bit.

- ANDREW:
Come on, dude, stay.

- No, I can't.

We'll talk more tonight.

Ben.

That was weird.

- Hope he's okay.

- NICOLE:
Yeah.

Morning.

It's 3 p.m.

ASHLEY:
Where's Nicole?

ANDREW:
Making up

for lost sleep.

She didn't need to stay up

with me.

Seriously?

Didn't you and Ben coin

the phrase Mama-Sis?

Touch. She always

hated it, though.

Said it sounded like incest.

It was a panic attack.

- What?

- In the basement.

I'll bet your friends

in the psych ward loved that.

Sorry, I didn't mean to upset

anyone.

Then I guess

you're not responsible, then.

I mean, look you know

what she's been through.

Ash.

Just be present for Nicole...

or leave before you cause

any more damage.

Not a problem.

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[DOOR OPENS]

Do you need something?

Um, no. I just... I wanted

to know if you were okay.

I'm fine, thanks.

Ashley!

Ashley, wait!

NICOLE:
Where are you going?

Ashley, just talk to me

for a minute, please!

ASHLEY:
I made a mistake.

NICOLE:
What are you talking

about?

- I'm not ready for this.

- Who is really

ready for anything

in their life?

I'm trying to create something

here...

something that we haven't had

since Dad died.

Please, I'm doing everybody

a favor, trust me.

No, you trust me.

You are a part of this.

- I used to be.

- Just stay the night.

We'll start fresh

in the morning.

Andrew and I really...

Ashley, Ashley,

just stay until the end

of dinner, that okay?

Ben is going to be crushed

if he doesn't see you.

And then afterwards, if you still

feel like you want to leave,

I'll take you anywhere you want

to go.

MICHELLE:
G... Graham.

Yes. Okay, okay. Gr... Yeah,

I know. I know, Graham!

Will you just stop interrupting

me for like a second?

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