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This is the first
10-12 minutes of the registered screenplay, Michael Dolan McCarthy. Please do not violate
copyright. If you are interested
in the full screenplay or a stage version of part or all of the script, please email me at sherimauthor@yahoo.com If you are a student
producing these scenes for a class, please email me at sherimauthor@yahoo.com to arrange a
trade of free use of screenplay for my free use of your final product. Thank you, Sheri McGuinn Ext. Home - day Background to credits: Sunny summer day. MICHAEL Dolan McCarthy, a biracial teenage boy, almost fourteen in this scene, wearing a too-big Sacramento State Sweatshirt, and SWEDE Johnson, his blonde, blue-eyed Swedish-American step-father, check the oil on an old Explorer in the driveway of a small but well-kept house in a pretty neighborhood in Sacramento, California. There are a lawn and beds of flowers. It is obvious the man and boy have a loving, close relationship. Swede closes the hood and nods for Michael to get into the passenger seat. TRACKING SHOT: They drive to a deserted open gravel field. Ext. Gravel field - day The car stops and they switch places. Michael is practically dancing as he comes around the car. He stalls it out and we hear Swede distantly, giving a driving lesson. SWEDE (O.S.) That's okay. Take off the parking brake this time. Then ease off the clutch, same as in the driveway. Michael gets it right second try. As he drives around the gravel field, muted directions and exclamations of glee are heard as Swede has him deliberately skid and correct. Michael does well. They're both having fun. dISSOLVE TO: Int. ford explorer - day Parked in the gravel field. Swede in the driver's seat. Michael grins widely, not noticing Swede's tension. MiCHAEL I can't believe you let me do that! You always said I had to wait until I got my permit. SwEDE Your mother can teach you to drive on the road, but I wanted to make sure you know how to handle a car if things go wrong. MICHAEL You're going to let Mama teach me to drive on the road? SWEDE Well, Michael, we don't have much choice about that. MICHAEL What do you mean? SWEDE You know that nasty old mole the doctor took off my neck? MICHAEL Yeah? SWEDE It was cancer, Michael. I've only got a few weeks to teach you everything I wanted to... Michael stares away from Swede, stunned, then tears start to flow while his body and face reflect anger. MICHAEL No. They've got to have that wrong. SWEDE I wouldn't tell you if there was any doubt. You know that, Michael. MICHAEL I've already lost one father! Swede reaches over and holds Michael awkwardly over the gearshift. Michael grabs him tightly and sobs. MicHAEL (CONT'D) It's not fair. SWEDE No, it's not. Go ahead and cry, let it all out and be done with it. A few moments, then Michael pulls away, blinks back tears. MICHAEL You've been the best. Swede blinks back his own tears and nods. Both look forward. SWEDE I'm depending on you to be strong for your mama. She'll need your help with the kids. Michael sits up straight. MICHAEL I will. I promise. They exchange a loving glance. Swede starts the car. SWEDE Tough times make you stronger, Michael, as long as you don't lie around feeling sorry for yourself. MICHAEL It still sucks, though. SWEDE You'll do fine. diSSOLVE TO: Ext. Apartment - day Gray northern California winter day, threatening rain. A rental moving van sits in front of an apartment building, gray on gray concrete. Not the worst part of town, but run down rental houses along with the apartments. One house looks nicer than the others: fresh paint, grass inside the tiny fenced yard, bushes that promise flowers. LYNN, Michael's mother, is blonde Irish-Italian and looking exhausted. JIMMY and MISSY, Michael's little brother and sister, Swede's children, are both very blonde. Jimmy an active ten. Missy is six. Jimmy has a cat carrier with their cat in it. Missy has pillows. Michael and his mother struggle to carry a couch down the truck ramp. The little kids watch. MiCHAEL You need to put it down a minute? Lynn No, I've got it. Let's just get this done. Jimmy, make sure you don't open that cage. We need to let Betsy get used to the place a few days before we let her out. DiSSOLVE TO: Int. Apartment kitchen - evening Boxes all over, pizza boxes on the kitchen table, which seems too big for this little kitchen. Lynn is pouring sodas and passing them to the kids, who are sitting at the table. LYNN We'll set up the beds after we eat. MisSY Why did you sell mine? LYNN You get to sleep in with me. There's no space for your bed. MISSY I want my own room. LYNN Fine. You can have my room all to yourself. I'll sleep on the couch. MicHAEL No. Missy, stop being a brat. It's not Mama's fault she lost her job. JimMY Yeah, quit whining. Michael and I've always shared a room. He turns to Lynn. Jimmy (CONT'D) Did you find out about soccer? LyNN Not yet. JIMMY I can ask at school tomorrow. Lynn smiles a thank you at him, then turns to Michael. LYNN Tryouts for baseball will be in a few weeks, won't they? They'll want you on their team. MICHAEL Nah. You'll get a new job soon. I couldn't take care of the kids after school if I was playing. diSSOLVE TO: Int. Bar - nigHT A neighborhood bar, no music, just a few small groups of people at tables. Lynn is at the bar by herself. She stares at the empty glass in her hand, shoulders slumped. LESTER is also alone. He's clean and reasonably attractive in a cold or hard way, but he's on the puny side and has several tattoos. He comes over to Lynn, catches the attention of the BARTENDER, and gestures to Lynn's drink. Lester Another round for both of us. Lynn glances at Lester as the bartender gets the drinks. LYNN Thanks. LeSTER I haven't seen you here before. LYNN I don't usually go to bars. LESTER Bad day? LYNN Got turned down for a job. Again. LESTER That's gotta be tough. LYNN Been looking for months. Thought it would be easier now it's spring. LESTER You'd think so... But I've been at the same place for years. LYNN So was my husband. I got a job before he died, but last hired is first fired when they cut back. LESTER You're on your own, then? LYNN With three kids. LESTER Three? She nods and salutes him with her drink. LYNN Yep. So, thanks for the drink. LESTER What, you're brushing me off? LYNN Giving you an easy exit. LESTER What if I don't want an exit? disSOLVE TO: Int. Apartment kids' bedroom - day Morning sun pouring into the crowded room through one small window with no curtain. Michael and Jimmy sit on twin beds. Michael reads a library book; Jimmy pets Betsy, the cat. Both are dressed for summer. Missy asleep, holding a stuffed dog, on an inflatable mattress on the floor. Cardboard boxes hold clothes, books, sports stuff, etc. Footsteps come up the stairs and go to their mother's bedroom. A door shuts. Michael slaps shut the book and gets up abruptly. He's slept in his shorts and pulls on his Sac State sweatshirt. Now he's almost fifteen, it fits right. MICHAEL I'm not baby-sitting you kids all summer. Not for her to stay in bed with that man half the day. JimMY He works nights. MICHAEL Yeah, and Mama's not even trying to get a job anymore. She can get up and take care of her own kids. JIMMY I can take care of myself. MICHAEL Good. Take care of Missy, too, or tell Mama to take care of her. JIMMY Where are you going? MICHAEL Don't know. I'll be back tonight, after he goes to work. disSOLVE TO: Int. Apartment kITCHEN - evening Michael wipes the table. Dirty dinner dishes are on the shelf. Lynn squirts dish washing liquid into a dishpan and starts filling it with water. Michael brings the dishcloth over and tosses it into the water. Lynn takes a prescription bottle out of her pocket and takes two pills. MICHAEL You shouldn't be taking Lester's prescription. LYNN Don't lecture me again. I need it for my back. MICHAEL Swede wouldn't stand by and say nothing about it. LYNN Swede's gone. MICHAEL (disgusted) Now you've got Lester. LYNN If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be on the soccer team. He's paying the bills. MICHAEL I paid for my stuff myself! LYNN I know. I'm proud of how you worked so hard for everyone, doing all that yard work. MICHAEL And painting Mrs. Swenson's kitchen. The old busybody. LYNN But without Lester, I'd be working or out there looking. You'd have to watch the kids. MICHAEL He's not good enough for you. Lynn gives him a hug, then pushes up her sleeves to wash the dishes. Michael stares at purple finger marks on her forearm and clenches his jaw. She glances up, sees Michael, and pushes her sleeves down. They stand staring at each other. LyNN You're right. I'll put his things by the door tonight. diSSOLVE TO: Int. apartment KIDS' BEDROOM - day Michael, Jimmy, and Missy in bed. They wake up when footsteps stomp up the steps to their mother's bedroom. Michael jumps out of bed as Lester starts shouting. LestER (O.S.) What you think you're doing, woman? What's my stuff doing piled up by the door? Michael' on his way out the door when Jimmy starts to follow. Michael You stay with Missy. Jimmy looks at Missy. She's sitting, clinging to her stuffed dog, terrified. Betsy rubs against her. JimMY Holler if you need help. Come on up on my bed, Missy. Bring Betsy, before she pops that mattress. Int. Apartment Lynn's bedroom - day Lynn is sitting in bed, clutching the covers in front of her. Lester has a tight grip on her wrist, about to pull her off the bed when Michael bursts into the room. Lester glances up as Michael quickly crosses and grabs his wrist, hard. MiCHAEL Let go of her. LesTER This is between your mama and me. Get back to your room. Michael squeezes tighter and leans into Lester's face. He's as big or bigger than the man and angry enough to kill. Lester holds on a few moments longer, then drops Lynn's wrist. Michael exhales and lets Lester shake off his hand. LYNN You need to leave, Lester. LesTER How will you pay the bills without me? This kid ever think of that? MICHAEL Get out. He moves toward Lester aggressively and Lester looks ready to take him on. LYNN Go. Please. She begs with her eyes. Lester puffs up and leaves. disSOLVE TO: Ext. High school soccer field stands - day Michael is in the stands sitting between Missy and Jimmy, watching his high school soccer team miss a goal. JIMMY You would have had that. MICHAEL Yeah. MissY I'm bored. JIMMY Mama doesn't have a job yet. You gonna go out for basketball? MichAEL That would be saying I didn't think she could get a job. Besides, this way she can be out there looking. SHENIA BROWN, an attractive sixteen-year-old African-American girl, walks by on her way to a group of girls. She stops by Missy to flirt. Shenia Hi, Michael. MICHAEL Hi, Shenia. SHENIA You're so nice to bring your little brother and sister to the game. MICHAEL Yeah, uh, this is Jimmy and Missy. Shenia shakes hands with Missy, then reaches across Michael to shake hands with Jimmy. Michael is very aware of her breasts, inches in front of his face. SHENIA I'm Shenia. Missy You're the one Michael's always talking to on the phone? Shenia smiles and winks at Missy. SHENIA I'm the only one, then? MISSY Yeah. He keeps telling Mama you're just a friend. MiCHAEL Missy, shut up. Shenia laughs. ShENIA I'll talk to you later, Michael. She heads on up to join her friends. JimMY She lives in that nice house near us, right? MiCHAEL Yeah. JIMMY Her dad's a cop. I've seen him leaving for work in uniform. MICHAEL Yeah. MissY How come their house is so much nicer than everyone else's? MiCHAEL They own it. Most everyone else around us rents. MISSY Even in the houses? MICHAEL Yeah. MISSY I wish we had a house. MICHAEL Be glad they haven't kicked us out of the apartment yet. We're way behind on the rent. |