InT. Anna'S PLACE - night
Anna stands in her bedroom, packing an old vinyl suitcase full of her clothes and essentials.
A door is heard opening.
Anna's head pops up, she holds a pair of folded undies in her hand.
In walks Taco. He is tall, skinny, wirey. He wears a shirt and tie. He is neatly groomed.
Taco
Going somewhere?
Anna
I thought you were going to Chicago today?
Taco
It fell through. I asked you a question.
She sets the panties in the suitcase and closes the suitcase.
Taco (CONT'D)
Where are you going?
She walks up to him and grabs him with both hands at the shoulders and directs him to a sitting position on the bed.
He complies.
She stands in front of him.
Anna
I'm leaving.
Taco
That's obvious.
Anna
I don't love you anymore, so I'm leaving you.
Taco
What? You decide this all of a sudden?
Anna
Yes.
Taco
We've got to talk about this.
Anna
There's nothing to talk about.
Taco opens his mouth, but no sound comes out. He begins to silently cry, with his face in his hands.
Anna (CONT'D)
You know I don't want to be here. I want to live in a bigger place.
Taco looks up, quickly.
Taco
You've said enough, just leave!
Anna
Well, you're in my way.
Taco looks around and sees clothes spread out on the bed.
Taco
OK.
He walks out of the bedroom collapses in a fetal position in the living room. He continues to cry.
Taco (O.C.) (CONT'D)
Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!
Anna continues to pack up her stuff.
Taco (O.C.) (CONT'D)
Bitch! You're killing me! You're killing me!
She puts the rest of the clothes in her bag, fastens it, and leaves the room and the apartment.
EXT. reSIDENTIAL CITY STREET - night
Tim stands at a pay phone located at a gas station stuck in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
He puts change into the phone and dials. A "this number has been disconnected" message chimes in.
Tim shakes his head and puts in more change and dials again. The same message is heard. Tim, looking puzzled, hangs up the phone. He walks off.
EXT. Anna'S PLACE - night
Tim walks up to the door of Anna's apartment and rings the bell. Taco answers.
Taco
Can I help you?
TIM
Uh, yeah. I'm in a class with Anna and I was wondering if she was in.
Taco
What?
TIM
I lost my notes and we've got a test coming up.
Taco
Well I'm sorry buddy, she's left.
TIM
Do you know when she might be...
Taco
(interrupts)
You don't get it, dipshit. She's gone. She's left and I don't know where she is.
TIM
What? I'm sorry.
Taco
Yeah, well, I think she was screwing around.
Tim tries to back away.
TIM
OK. Well then...
Taco
She broke my fucking heart. She broke my fucking heart, man.
TIM
Yeah. OK. Uh...
Taco breaks down and collapses in the doorway.
Taco
(screaming)
I fucking loved her!
He throws his wedding ring as far as he can into the night.
Tim quietly backs up and walks away.
Ext. state college - night
Tim sits on a bench on the outskirts of the state college. It's a wooded area many hundred yards away from the official campus. He has just shot up and sits slumped on the bench. His eyes are closed.
Int. rAY'S GREEN HILLS GROCERY STORE - nIGHT - fLASHBACK, A FEW HOURS EARLIER
Tim walks into the store. Much of the paint has been washed off the windows, but it is still visible. A large piece of plywood covers the large broken pane of glass.
Tim approaches the Milford, who has a mop in his hand.
Milford
Hey! Your friend really messed this place up.
TIM
I heard.
Milford
I'da though it was funny, except it gave me about two days worth of work.
TIM
Sorry about that.
Milford
It's all good. How's your boy doin'?
TIM
He's OK.
Tim looks at the floor.
TIM
You seen Anna around today?
Milford
Aw, she quit.
Robinson, spots Tim out the corner of his eye and makes a bee line towards him.
TIM
Really?
Milford
You didn't know.
ROBINSON (O.C.)
You, out of here, now!
TIM
Oh brother.
Robinson walks up to the two of them and grabs Tim by the shirt.
ROBINSON
You're his friend! You're not allowed in here.
Milford tries to pry them apart.
TIM
Just get off me.
Milford holds the two off from each other.
ROBINSON
I don't ever wanna see you or your buddy again.
Milford
Dude, you're scaring the customers.
Robinson gathers himself.
ROBINSON
Sure.
(to Tim)
What are you waiting for? Get out.
Tim leaves.
Int. a friend's car - night - flaSHBACK, A YEAR EARLIER
Jake sits in the passenger seat while their FRIEND drives. Tim hangs in the back seat, sucking on a bottle of Vodka. Music blares from the stereo.
Suddenly, the back door opens while the car is driving down the city street and Tim leaps out the door.
Friend
What the heck?
JAKE
Goddammit.
They continue to drive, the back door flapping back and forth.
FrIEND
You invented that.
JAKE
Years ago.
frIEND
He suffers from certain lack of creativity.
JAKE
Preach on, brother. Preach on.
The Friend finally stops the car. Jake gets out, shuts the back door, and gets back into the car. The Friend and Jake continue down the road.
Ext. State cOLLEGE campus - day - presENT, the next morning
Tim stands near the main doorway to the English department building. COLLEGE KIDS walk in and out, some of whom look in horror at Tim, who looks even more ragged than usual. His face is cut and bruised, adding to his usual sunken junkie look.
A large group of people start walking out the door and Tim spots Anna, books in hand, walking quickly out the door. He wades through the maze of students and yells at her.
TIM
Anna! Anna!
Several students give him dirty looks. Anna continues on at an increased pace. Tim pushes an GIRL out of the way and grabs Anna's arm. She no longer wears her wedding ring.
TIM
(out of breath)
Anna. Anna, stop for a second.
She stops.
TIM
Thank you. What's going on? You left your husband?
Anna looks at his scarred and bruised face rather dismissively.
Anna
Look, I'm in a hurry. I'll call you later.
She starts to walk off, toward another building.
Tim struggles to keep up.
TIM
I don't have a phone.
She rushes into the doorway of the next building, disappearing into the crowd.
A large FRAT BOY runs into Tim, knocking him to the ground.
Ext. Busy street - night
Tim walks down the sidewalk of a wide, busy city street. The street runs down a large hill. Tim is alone on the sidewalk while the cars speed by, unaware of his existence.
Ext. Jake'S PLACE - nIGHT
Tim takes out his keys and opens the door to his inoperable car. He makes his way into the back seat.
Int. Tim's car - niGHT
He thinks for a second and reaches into the front of the car and sticks the key in the ignition and turns on the car's power, which brings on the radio. The radio is tuned to a local college station, playing some alternative non-hits from the eighties.
Tim lays down in the back seat. A smile overcomes his face for the first time in a while. He closes his eyes and falls asleep. Soon after the battery runs out and the radio shuts off.
Suddenly there is a bang on the car window, it's Jake. He raps on the window much like a cop would do.
Tim pops up quickly banging his head on the roof of the tiny economy car.
TIM
Ow!
Tim rubs his head.
Jake opens the car door and sits in the driver's seat.
JAKE
I thought you were gonna move this heap.
TIM
I'm working on it.
Jake plays with the radio knobs for a second and then realizes the car has no power and stops. He looks out the front window, never glancing backwards.
JAKE
We gotta make some changes.
TIM
I know.
JAKE
I think I'm going to go back to college.
TIM
That's cool.
JAKE
You could, too.
TIM
I can't. I just can't.
JAKE
So what are you going to do?
TIM
I don't know. I was thinking about playing golf, but that's not gonna happen now.
JAKE
(irritated)
I'll get you some new clubs.
TIM
Yeah, OK. Yeah.
Jake
You seen Anna?
TIM
I can't find her, she's gone.
JAKE
She ran away from you?
TIM
No, she left her husband and won't talk to me.
An uncomfortable pause takes over.
JAKE
She said she was a singer.
TIM
An actress.
JAKE
That's right.
Jake reaches into his shirt pocket.
JAKE
You got some mail. I think it's from her.
Tim sits upÊquickly and hits his head again.
TIM
Doh!
Jake hands the envelope back to him.
JAKE
It's got a local return address.
Tim opens the envelope. It is a Peanuts Gang birthday card. Tim reads a note written on the inside.
Jake
What does it say?
Tim sets the card on his lap.
JAKE
What does it say?
Int. Busy city street, the city - day
Anna, dressed in a heavy coat and a scarf, stands on a street corner waiting for a bus. She turns and looks at the camera.
Anna
Tim, I've gone to the city. In a strange way, you inspired me. I just realized that I couldn't stick around one minute longer back there without turning into my mother or all those other people I can't stand. Yeah, I'm married. Can you believe I married a guy called, "Taco"? Anyway, he was an ass and I want to...I am an actor. Or I want to be an actor. At the very least I can work at a grocery store here, and at least I would be here. Which is a lot better than there.
Tim appears next to her and speaks, she doesn't acknowledge him. She can't see him, but he can see her, appearing in the scene as one would appear in their own dreams.
TIM
Why wouldn't you talk to me?
Anna
I just couldn't deal with more drama. I think I love you, but I don't want to go where you're going.
Tim looks at the camera.
TIM
What the hell does that mean?
The bus pulls up.
She continues to address the camera.
Anna
Love, ya baby. Come see me some time.
She blows him a kiss and gets onto the bus.
Tim watches her bus pull off.
TIM
(screams)
Goddammit!
Int. Tim's car - night
Tim pounds his fist into the seat.
TIM
Goddammit! Shit, Fuck!
Jake opens the car door and gets out.
JAKE
See you later, man.
Tim winds up for a large punch.
TIM
Argh!
Jake shuts his door.
Tim exhales.
Int. Dad's house - day
The house is a typical suburban ranch style house, lots of particle board furnture and shag carpeting adorn the interior. Jake's car can be heard pulling up in the driveway. Jake's Dad, the insurance adjustor sits at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of him and a cigarette in his mouth.
Jake can be heard opening and entering the house through the front door.
JAKE (o.C.)
Dad?
Jake walks into the kitchen.
JAKE
Hello.
The room is filled with smoke.
Dad
Sit down.
Jake sits and tries to wave the smoke out of his face.
JAKE
Do you have to smoke every minute of every day?
Dad
Don't start.
Dad picks up his coffee cup with his bad hand. His hand shakes a bit.
JAKE
Listen, I came here to tell you that I'm...
Dad brings the cup to his mouth.
JAKE
I'm selling the car you gave me.
Dad's arm doesn't cooperate and he drops his cup on the table.
JAKE
What the...What was that?
Dad
Shit.
Dad tries to use a napkin to lap up the coffee, cigarette hanging from his mouth.
Jake gets up and gets a towel from near the sink and wipes up the coffee. He finishes and stands over his father.
JAKE
What's wrong with you?
Dad shakes his head.
JAKE
You're turning into a clumsy old man. Old man.
Jake sees Dad's arm shaking.
JAKE
You should go to a doctor and get that thing checked out.
DAd
That's OK.
JAKE
No, it's not OK. You can't go through life petrified of the medical profession.
Dad nods his head.
Jake
Jeez. Is something wrong with you?
DAd
Why don't you get off my ass?
Jake sits back down.
JAKE
Look, I'm selling the car you gave me and I'm enrolling back into school.
DAd
Again?
JAKE
I just thought I'd give you the courtesy of letting you know what's going on.
DAD
Gee thanks.
Jake looks at him disgustedly.
Dad
What about the money from your wreck?
JAKE
Just keep it, we'll be even.
DAD
That's not even fucking close, boy.
Jake gets up and stands next to Dad. He looks him in the eye.
JAKE
I hate you, you bastard.
Dad nods his head in agreement and looks away from Jake.
Dad
I hate you, too.
JAKE
OK, then.
Jake puts his good left arm around his old man and pats his back lightly.
Dad attempts to reciprocate with his bad right arm. He raises his arm, it shakes tremendously. Jake pushes it back down.
JAKE
It's all right.
He pats his Dad's bad arm and leaves.
Int. SCANLON'S BAR - niGHT
Tim stands at the bar's pay phone. The phone is ringing on the other end, Tim waits for someone to pick up on the other end.
Finally Taco picks up on the other end.
Tim
Hello...Yeah, it's Tim. I came by the other night...Yeah, yeah... Look, you know where Scanlon's is?...Just meet me down here... Yeah, now...I know its hard. I know.
(to himself)
Jeez.
(to Taco)
..I'll buy you a drink...Great. I'm already here...OK...See ya.
Tim hangs up.
TIM
(exasperated)
Brother.
Int. ScANLON'S BAR - nIGHT - an hour later
Tim and Taco sit at a table in the bar. The same table Tim and Anna were at. Several empty beer bottles sit on the table. They both drink beer. Tim drinks Miller High Life, while Taco sucks down Heineken.
Taco
I don't know what I did wrong. I can't even go to work, I've been calling in sick for last few days.
TiM
Right. Look, inadvertently I feel like I'm somehow involved.
Taco
How?
TiM
That night when I saw you, that pain you were in, are in. I've been there.
Taco
You were married?
TIM
Well, we lived together for three years.
Taco
It's not the same.
TIM
I don't want to get into a thing with you here, but let's just say it's comparable.
Taco
Well, its really not the same.
TIM
NEVERTHELESS, your plight has affected me, greatly.
Taco
It's kind of embarrassing, really.
TIM
Well, I can help. Do you know your wife's phone number?
Taco
I don't have a number, I've got an address.
TIM
Perfect. If you give it to me, maybe I can get to her call you. That's got to be something, right?
Taco
Yeah.
TIM
Better than nothin'?
Taco takes a drink of beer and nods.
TIM
All right.
Tim takes a slug of beer.
Int. rob patterson's house - dAY
Tim sits on the couch, phone in hand, at his dealer Rob's house.
Ashley, lounges on the couch beside him. She again, wears short shorts and a halter top. She subconsciously rubs her legs with her hands.
Tim holds the princess phone handset in his hand and begins to dial. He looks over at Ashley, she smiles at him.
Tim takes a deep breath.
TIM
Could you give me a little privacy.
ASHLEY
Why? It's my house. I live here.
TIM
(giving up)
Right. OK.
He dials the phone and it begins to ring.
Ashley plops her bare feet onto Tim's lap. Tim again sighs.
The phone picks upÊon the other end.
Anna (o.C.)
(filtered)
Hello.
Tim takes a deep breath.
Ashley giggles.
TIM
Anna?
He recognizes her voice. There is no response.
TIM
Are you there? OK. It's Tim. You probably knew that. OK. Uh, I'm a screw up. I know that.
Ashley nudges Tim on the shoulder, he pushes her back.
TIM
But I don't wanna be a screw up. That's something, right?
No response.
TIM
I'll be honest, I don't know if I can change, but I wanna try. And the only reason I want to try is you. I'm not saying I would die without you, because that would probably happen on its own, but I'm pretty sure the only way I can live is with you.
Ashley sits up and puts her nose by Tim's ear.
TIM
I don't have any delusions like you're perfect or that you can save me or whatever. But I think we made each other feel pretty good.
Ashley giggles again. He pushes her back down.
Tim closes his eyes and continues.
TIM
Anna? Look I know I never said it, and I don't know if it matters, but if I've ever loved anyone it's you. I knew you for just a few days, but I loved you more than anyone else one hundred times over. Anna? I know you're there.
Ashley sits on his lap, facing him. She wants to use the phone.
TIM
I've gotta go now, this isn't my phone. You know, long distance and all. Anyway...bye...Goodbye.
Tim hangs up the phone. He looks at Ashley, who sits on his lap.
TIM
What'd you think?
Ashley puts her hand up and makes a so-so motion.
Tim wonders if she's right.
Rob walks him, Ashley jumps off him and onto the opposite edge of the couch.
Rob throws a bag of dope at him. It bounces off his chest and lands in his lap.
ROB
You got my money?
TIM
I'll get it tonight.
Rob walks over and grabs the bag of dope out of his lap.
ROB
Then you can get this tonight.
Tim, deflated, tries to argue.
TIM
C'mon, man.
ROB
No.
Rob puts the dope in his pocket and walks off.
Ashley leans towards Tim and points mockingly towards him.
ASHLEY
Ha ha.
Tim grabs Ashley and stands up with her in his arms and drops her on the couch.
TIM
Later.
Ext. Corner bus stop, near a neighborhood pharmacy - DUsk
Tim waits behind a tree near the corner for the bus to arrive. Down the street is an old neighborhood pharmacy that somehow in this day and age of the giant Walgreen's is still operating.
Tim looks worse than he ever has. His eyes are sunken, he shakes a bit. The DT's are kicking in.
A bus pulls up and an old lady, Edna, gets off, her purse around her arm. She heads in the direction of the pharmacy. Tim jumps out from behind the tree and leaps at the Lady.
She screams.
Edna
Ahhh!
Tim grabs her purse. She tries to tug it away from him. They have a tug-o-war. Tim wins, but falls backward holding the purse.
EdnA
You son of a bitch!
Tim runs off as fast as he can. He gets a few steps and trips over a bad part of the sidewalk and goes flying, scraping his knees, hands, and face. He drops the purse.
The old lady continues to scream.
Tim gets up, gingerly. His ankle is badly sprained. He limps over to the purse and attempts to pick it up. He falls down in his attempt.
Holding the purse, Tim starts to crawl away.
By this time, someone has called the police. Sirens can be heard in the distance.
Tim continues to crawl. He hears the sirens and decides to get up. He manages to do so with great effort and starts to limp away, the purse around his neck.
He starts to cross the street. He gets in the middle of the street and the police stops in front of him. Screeching its tires.
An officer gets out, his gun drawn. It's the same officer as before.
PolICE OFFICER
Freeze!
On his kness, Tim looks up, his hands raised and sees it's the same guy.
TIM
Oh, c'mon.
The officer cuffs him.
PoLICE OFFICER
Do I know you?
EXT. Jake'S PLACE - dAY
It's a beatiful sunny day, a few days later. Jake and Tim sit on Jake's porch. Jake drinks a beer, Tim sips a diet coke and smokes a cigarette. Tim looks better than he has in a while, his face has color, his wounds have healed a bit.
Gay Eric is planting some flowers in front of the porch. He wears short shorts and muscle shirt.
TIM
(to Jake)
Does he always dress like that?
Jake shrugs.
JAKE
So you got out yesterday.
Tim takes a drag on his smoke.
Tim
Yeah. As soon as I kicked, I was out. The judge was a friend of my Dad's, so my lawyer thinks I'll just get a slap on the wrist.
JAKE
Lucky Bastard.
TIM
What's going on with you?
JAKE
Just a huge fine, probation. I'm declaring bankruptcy.
TIM
That'll show 'em.
JAKE
(sarcastically)
Yeah.
Jake looks at his watch.
JAKE
Uh, oh. I gotta take the car over to that guy.
Tim nods.
TIM
Is he buying the car?
JAKE
I think so. You staying here?
TIM
If it's OK with you.
JAKE
Whatever. Golf tomorrow?
TIM
You may have heard, no clubs.
JAKE
Just rent a set. I'll pay.
TIM
Sounds good.
Jake walks over to his station wagon and drives off.
TIM
What's happenin', Eric?
GAY ERIC
You feeling better?
TIM
A little bit.
GAY ERIC
That's good.
Eric picks up some gardening tools and carries them to the back of the house, leaving Tim alone in the front yard.
A blue rental car pulls up in front of the house. Anna gets out and walks up to Tim. She has flowing outfit on and just enough makeup to accentuate her natural beauty.
Anna
Hey.
Tim, a bit flabbergasted, sits silently on the edge of the porch.
She stands close to him, between his legs.
Anna
Hey, man.
TIM
You back?
Anna
Not really, I needed some stuff of mine.
Tim nods.
TIM
You know, I don't, I'm not gonna do THAT anymore.
Anna
That's good.
She pauses for a moment.
Anna
I filed for divorce.
TIM
That's good.
Anna
You should come down and see me, you can do anything you want.
TIM
I don't want to do nothing.
Anna
You can do nothing there.
TIM
Maybe so.
Anna
What's stopping you?
TIM
I've got a court day on Thursday.
Anna smiles. She pulls out a piece of paper from her purse and a pen. She writes on the paper and hands it to Tim.
Anna
Here, when you're free, c'mon on by.
TIM
You know I don't have a place to stay there.
Anna
I know.
TIM
OK.
She leans toward him, he toward her. They kiss, briefly, but passionately. They stop, their faces pressing against each other.
TIM
I could fuck up again.
Anna
I know.
Ext. First Tee, public golf course - moRNING
Tim tees up his ball. Waggles his rented club a few times and addresses the ball. The gust of wind bothers him and he backs off. Tim turns to Jake who stands on the side of the Tee, holding a fancy lefty driver.
TIM
I hate this driver, man.
JAKE
Just hit it.
Begrudgingly, Tim concurs and steps back up to the ball. He takes a mighty swing and drives the ball deep into the woods.
TIM
Shit! Fucking rented clubs.
Jake pulls a club from his bag.
JAKE
Hey use this.
Tim has his back turned to Jake. He stares off into the distance where his ball has ended up.
TIM
That's OK.
JAKE
Trust me, try this one.
He tosses the driver to Tim. Tim catches it. He looks over the club. It's his old driver with a new shaft.
TIM
Is this mine?
JAKE
It's the only one they could save.
Tim shakes his head.
TIM
I'm taking a mulligan.
He pulls another ball out of his pocket and tees it up.
He waggles the club confidently a few times and takes a smooth powerful stroke sending the ball long and down the middle of the fairway.
Jake
Nice shot.
The end.
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