Life After

By

Courtney Torres
 2

ACT ONE
DARKNESS

CARA (V.O.)
Can you remember before the storm?
The sky is incandescent blue,
glowing with the power of the sun.
The world around you, full of
color and buzzing with life;
flowers in bloom, grass green.
And then the storm. Without
warning, drowning everything – the
sun, that sky, all the life that
was there before. Life as you
knew it: over. When the storm
ends, you wallow in the memory of
what used to be, too blind to see
the glow of the after-storm, when
all things around you are more
beautiful than they were before.
Can you remember?

FADE IN:

INT. AFTERNOON

ONE YEAR AGO

Dark college lecture hall where students sit, there

are few empty seats. There is a movie screen in the
front of the hall showing slides of artwork.

A casually dressed PROFESSOR CARA WEARY, early

thirties, attractive and confident Black woman; sits
behind a slide projector in the middle of the hall.

CARA
Can anyone tell me about this work?

STUDENT 1
Pan and Syrinx by Sebastiano
Ricci, Rococo Era, early 18th
century.

CARA
 3

Good. And how do you know?

STUDENT 1
Ricci’s art focuses on the
relationship between his male and
female subjects. He was also
known to delve into expressions of
myth and mysticism. Here, in this
piece, we see Syrinx, the mythical
nymph, being pursued by the Greek
god, Pan.

STUDENT 2(JEN)
But Ricci is dramatic. In his
real life, he spent his days
chasing love and running from the
law. And he tends to infuse the
passion and playfulness of his
real life into his work. His
paintings breathe. Pan longed for
Syrinx, and Ricci captured his
desire for her. This piece… as
beautiful as it is seems to lack
the same emotion.

CARA wraps both her hands around a cup. She lifts the
cup to her lips.

CARA
So what’s your argument?

CARA sips from her cup, leaving the cup to her mouth.

JEN (O.S.)
I venture to say that this is not
an image of the authentic Pan and
Syrinx. This painting is
hallowed, void of the life that
Ricci loved and transferred into
his art. The artist who did this…
has only imitated that life.

CUT TO:

INT. LATE AFTERNOON

 4

CARA locks the door to an office; the door has a sign

that reads: “Dr. CARA Weary, Art History”. Wearing a
backpack, CARA walks down the hall and out of the
building, then scampers down the stairs and begins to
run.

She runs on the tree lined street in front of the

college, then uphill through a small shopping
district.

Something in the front window of an art studio catches

her eye, she stops and looks. There is a distinctive,
man standing next to her also looking through the
window. Their eyes meet, they both smile. CARA
begins to run again.

It is raining. The sun begins to set.

She runs up the driveway of her house, into the back

door leading to her kitchen. Her clothes are wet.

In her kitchen she finds her friend MONICA, early

thirties, moving between the stove and refrigerator
preparing food; and CARA’s daughters, EMERSON, 2,
sitting in a high chair near the table; and KEELY, 4,
running towards her with a piece of paper in her
hands.

INT. EVENING
KEELY
(Excited)
Me and MONICA painted a picture.
See?

KEELY holds up a picture of a horse.

CARA
Wow! What a beautiful picture. Is
this a horse?

KEELY
Uh-hum.

CARA
(kneeling)
 5

Well she’s absolutely gorgeous.

We should give her a name. What
should we call her?
(thinking)
Oh, I know. Let’s call her
Puddin’.

KEELY laughs.

KEELY
Puddin’? That’s a silly name
Mommy!

CARA
You don’t like it?

KEELY
Yes. I like it. Okay, she’ll be
Puddin’. Mommy, does this mean I
am an artist, like you?

CARA pulls KEELY close to her.

CARA
My dear, you are absolutely an
artist. You’re nothing like me, I
am an art teacher.

(to MONICA)
Those who can’t “do”: teach.

CARA directs her daughter towards the refrigerator.

CARA (CONTINUED)
Now you go hang that wonderful
piece of artwork on the
refrigerator so everyone who sees
it knows the great artiste, KEELY
Weary, lives here.

KEELY giggles as she posts her picture on the

refrigerator. CARA stands next to MONICA and nudges
her with her elbow. They both smile.

MONICA
BEN is upstairs getting dressed.
 6

CARA
(grunts)
I guess that means I should, too.

CARA grabs an apple off the counter and takes a bite

from it as she exits the kitchen.

CARA (CONT’D)

Thanks for watching the girls,

MONICA.

CARA smiles as she heads out of the room.

MONICA
(yelling to CARA who is now out of
the room)
Yeah, yeah – just get the names
and numbers of all the men who
look good in a tux, and we’ll call
it even.

CUT TO:

INT.EVENING

BEN WEARY, attractive white man in his thirties

is in the bedroom he and CARA share. He is shaving,
chest bare, with a towel wrapped around his waist.

CARA walks in.

BEN
Hey baby, how was your day?

CARA
It was a day. How about yours?

BEN
Same-o-same-o… I missed you.

CARA hugs BEN from behind and kisses his back.

CARA
You did? How much?
 7

CARA moves around to BEN’s front side to hug him.

BEN
This much.

He kisses her lips.

BEN (CONT’D)
This much.

He kisses her ear.

BEN (CONT’D)
This much.

He kisses her neck.

BEN (CONT’D)
And this much.

He kisses her between her breasts and walks her over

to the bed. He lays her down.

BEN (CONT’D)
Do we have time for me to tell you
how much I missed you?

CARA
Plenty.

They grab one another and kiss passionately on the

bed. Above the headboard, framed and on the wall, is a
picture from their wedding; CARA in her gown, BEN in
his tuxedo, feeding one another cake.

INT. NIGHT

A ballroom filled with formally dressed people. It is

the Annual Oakland Police Ball. Round tables are
situated in the back of the room and the dance floor
in front faces a band. There are couples on the dance
floor dancing; CARA and BEN are among them.

The song ends, the party guests applaud; there is

laughter and merriment throughout the ballroom.
 8

DEREK, thirties, black man with a strong build; is

standing next to BEN.
DEREK
(joking)
You know, I forget you’re white
until you get on the dance floor.

BEN
Funny, I was just thinking the
same thing about you.

They all laugh. BEN, DEREK, CARA and DEREK’S DATE all
walk off the dance floor.

BEN (CONT’D)
Oh, I got rhythm, baby, but I have
to be really particular about when
and where I use it.

BEN leans over and nibbles CARA’S ear; she blushes and
lays her head on his shoulder.

CARA
Yeah, don’t sleep DEREK, my baby
has no problem keeping time when
it counts, and believe me, the
dance floor is not the only place
it counts.

DEREK’S DATE
DEREK, you might want to get some
pointers from your boy.

DEREK
(Joking, to date)
Hush woman, I told you I was drunk
that night.

(to BEN)
Well, call me next time - it
counts so I can catch the magic
show.

BEN
 9

Naw man, you’ll just have to take

our word for it.

BEN embraces CARA. They’ve now walked the length

of the room and stand near the exit at the coat-
check.

BEN (CONT’D)
(to DEREK)
Come on Cinderella, get your coat.
We have an early call.

BEN and DEREK hug by grabbing hands and pulling each

other close, ending with a pat on the back.

DEREK
Alright man, in the morning?

BEN
In the morning, Bro.

BEN and CARA walk out of the building. When outside

they walk down a long flight of stairs. At the bottom
of the stairs BEN hands a ticket to a VALET. The
valet runs off.

BEN pulls CARA close and kisses her on the lips. He

gazes into her eyes with a grin on his face.

CARA
What?

BEN
I love you. I really do. But
sometimes the monotony of our
life, after all of these years –
it makes me forget why I love you
and what we have.

CARA
What have you forgotten?

BEN
You and me, we haven’t seemed much
like a team lately. I miss the
fun, the jokes, the friendship…
 10

sometimes we are like business

partners…

CARA
Partners? I don’t know – I think
I am more the Chief Operations
Officer and you are the board
member asleep at the table!

They laugh.

BEN
Yeah, whatever. The point is, we
don’t… play as much as we used to.

CARA
You want to play? Oh we can play
baby…

CARA leans on toes, pulls BEN’S vest with both hands

and rubs his nose with her nose and then kisses his
lips.

The VALET pulls in front of them in their car; he runs

around and hands the keys to BEN. BEN passes the
valet a tip then guides CARA into the front seat of
the car, keeping his hand on the small of her back.
He shuts the passenger door and runs around the car
and gets in the driver’s seat.

BEN
Promise me something. Don’t let
me forget it again – how good we
are together.

CARA smiles and nods affirmatively. BEN shifts the

gears in the car and drives away, the car jerks.

CARA
You better slow down, baby.
You’ll get a ticket.

BEN
No I won’t. I know the secret
handshake.

He winks at her.
 11

A montage of urban scenery, then suburban as they get

closer to home.

Looking tired, CARA rests her elbow on the window

ledge and leans her head on her hand.

CARA
Are you working overtime tomorrow?

BEN
(playfully)
No, a regular shift. I never
really work overtime… I just tell
you that.

CARA
Really?

BEN
Really. I use that as an excuse
to buy time so I can go see my
other family.

Stopped at a stoplight, BEN’S face looks serious.

Then he slowly begins to smile. CARA hits his arm.

CARA
(Laughing)
Shut up.

The light turns green. BEN looks at CARA and brushes

her cheek with the back of his hand. BEN pulls into
the intersection.

A truck crashes into the driver’s side of the car.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MORNING

SKYLAR STALL, white woman in her early twenties, lies

on a bed in a doctor’s office. A doctor stands next
to the bed; SKYLAR has a phone to her ear.

SKYLAR
 12

(to the doctor)

He should be here; can you wait a
few more minutes?

The doctor nods and leaves the room. Time passes

as SKYLAR moves from the table, near the window,
on the edge of the bed, on a chair – all while
she dials on her cell phone.

BEN (V.O.)
Hey, this is BEN. I’m out
catching criminals and solving
crime so you’ll have to leave a
message and I’ll get back to you.

The beep of an answering machine.

SKYLAR
(whispering)
BEN. Did you forget? Call me
back.

She hangs up her phone. The doctor enters the room.

SKYLAR
(to the doctor)
We’d better get started; it
doesn’t look like he’s going to
make it.

SKYLAR leans back on the bed as the doctor begins to

prepare to examine her.

CUT TO:

INT. AFTERNOON

A hospital room, there is silence, intermittently

broken by the beep of machines. CARA lies in a bed
with tubes attached to her arms and in her nose. She
is bruised, cut and unconscious.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. AFTERNOON
 13

SKYLAR on a loud, busy Oakland street corner, calling

BEN from her mobile phone. She crosses the street.
Someone answers the phone.

CUT TO:

CARA’S hospital room, MONICA stands at a distance from

CARA’S bed. She takes BEN’S ringing phone out of a
bag containing his belongings and answers it.

MONICA
Hello?

SKYLAR hesitates.

SKYLAR
Is… BEN there?

MONICA
(puzzled)
Who’s this?

SKYLAR
Um, this is SKYLAR. I, I know BEN
from the steakhouse – NATHAN’s
Steakhouse. I called to tell him
that he left his wallet the last
time he and his partner stopped
in. Do you know when I can reach
him?

MONICA takes BEN’s wallet out of the bag and holds it

in her hand.

MONICA
Look, SKYLAR, BEN was in a car
accident last night.

SKYLAR
(Stunned)
Really? What hospital?

MONICA
BEN isn’t in any hospital. But
his wife is in Oakland Memorial.

CARA moans.
 14

SKYLAR
Oh, sorry to hear that. And
BEN…

MONICA
BEN’s Dead.

MONICA hangs up the phone, goes to CARA’s side and

alerts the nurse.

A NURSE comes in and checks CARA’S vital signs.

NURSE
The doctor will be in shortly.

The nurse leaves the room. CARA looks at MONICA who

has tears in her eyes. CARA begins to weep, and then
she begins to sob.

MONICA goes to the bedside and holds CARA as she

cries. MONICA slides BEN’S wedding band onto CARA’S
finger. She sobs harder.

FADE TO:

INT. LATE AFTERNOON

SKYLAR stands behind the bar at NATHAN’s Steakhouse.

The restaurant is a warm place, dimly lit. A
saxophonist sits on a stage; a solitary light shines
on him as he plays a song. SKYLAR wipes the counter
as she gazes out of the store’s front window.

She’s day dreaming.

BEN and DEREK come into the restaurant in full police

gear. They are talking and laughing. The restaurant
hostess leads them to a table by the front window.
She leaves menus and walks away.

BEN gets up and walks to the bar where SKYLAR is

standing.

SKYLAR
What can I get you?
 15

BEN
I would like a milkshake.

SKYLAR
A milkshake?

BEN
Yeah, a milkshake. If I was off
duty I would have ordered a
Hennessey and Coke. But I’m not.
I’m on duty so I’ll have a
milkshake.

(to DEREK)
and you still want that Shirley
Temple, right?

SKYLAR laughs as DEREK nods his head.

BEN (CONT’D)
She’s laughing at your Shirley
Temple, man.

SKYLAR
No . . . I’m laughing at your
milkshake and his Shirley Temple.

BEN
(laughing)
Just fix the drinks barkeep. I
mean, after all, we will be having
some very manly steaks later on.

SKYLAR salutes BEN and begins to make the drinks. BEN

is now seated across from DEREK and speaks loudly
enough for SKYLAR to hear.

BEN
You know, I think we should make
this our new spot, I like the help.

BEN looks at SKYLAR who is now bringing the drinks to

the table.

SKYLAR
Here you are officers; one Shirley
Temple and one milkshake. Enjoy.
 16

SKYLAR turns to walk away when BEN gently grabs her

arm with his left hand, she looks down at his hand,
and he isn’t wearing a wedding ring.

BEN
(flirting)
Wait a minute ‘keep. Can I get a
cherry on top?

DEREK (V.O.)
SKYLAR?

SKYLAR is no longer day dreaming. She is standing

behind the bar and DEREK stands across from her in
plain clothes.

DEREK
(to SKYLAR)
Double Cognac.

DEREK sits down at the bar. SKYLAR begins making his

drink; she sits a glass on the bar and pours the
Cognac. She slides it across the bar to DEREK.

SKYLAR
BEN… he never wore a ring.

DEREK
Officers with families don’t wear
rings. It keeps the perps from
getting ideas and making threats.

SKYLAR
Family?

DEREK
A wife, two kids and a hamster –
the whole nine.

SKYLAR lets out a gasp and puts her head on the bar.
She begins to cry.

SKYLAR
Did he tell you? About us?

DEREK
 17

Look, people say that what a man

does in the dark will always come
to the light, but you know BEN, he
didn’t think he could be held to
the same rules as other men. He
wasn’t expecting that what went on
with the two of you would ever
have to come to the light.

DEREK takes a drink from his glass.

DEREK (CONT’D)
Can’t you let this stay in the
dark? They had a good life,
SKYLAR. BEN made a mistake…

SKYLAR
Don’t say that DEREK. Don’t say I
was a mistake.

DEREK
(quietly)
SKYLAR baby, he liked you. He
really did. But he’s gone. He
won’t be here for you. Let his
wife and his girls remember good
things. There’s no need to pile
pain on top of the pain they
already feel.

SKYLAR walks around the bar and sits on the stool next
to DEREK. She holds his hands.

SKYLAR
He has girls?

(getting angry)

He has girls?
DEREK
And a wife.

SKYLAR
And a wife!

SKYLAR begins to weep.

 18

SKYLAR (CONT’D)
I can’t believe all this time –
all these months, I didn’t know he
was married. Why didn’t you tell
me? You should have told me. Why
didn’t you tell me?

DEREK grasps her forearms.

DEREK
I thought it was all fun and
games, I didn’t know it would go
this far.

SKYLAR
This far? This far DEREK? I’m
pregnant! And he’s dead. And
he’s married, with two girls and a
hamster. Now what am I supposed
to do? Now that he’s dead? Do I
disappear?

(shaking her head)

This far.

DEREK hugs her; she hugs him and grabs the back of his
shirt.

SKYLAR (CONT’D)
We were a family, too, you know.
I loved him. So what now? Are
we… me and this baby, irrelevant
now that he’s dead? Because I was
relevant to him, I mattered.

SKYLAR lays her head on his chest.

SKYLAR (CONT’D)
I was going to be somebody with
him.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MORNING
 19

A cemetery on a rainy morning. A crowd of people

surround a burial plot, most of them in police formal
attire.

CARA, KEELY and EMERSON sit along-side the coffin in

the center of the crowd. CARA stares blankly. MONICA
stands nearby.

OFFICER (O.S.)
Pull!

Gunshots are heard.

OFFICER (CONT’D)
Pull!

Gunshots.

OFFICER (CONT’D)
Pull!

Gunshots.

SKYLAR and her father, NATHAN, 50’S, an attractive

distinguished man, blend in with the rest of the
mourners. NATHAN remembers CARA from days before
outside of the art studio.

CUT TO:

INT. AFTERNOON

CARA stares blankly as she sits in the back of a

moving limousine, leaving the cemetery. KEELY and
EMERSON sit on either side of her.

CUT TO:

INT. LATE AFTERNOON

CARA’S house. There are people with glasses in their

hands, others with plates. There are quiet
conversations all over the house.

CARA sits in a chair with a high back. She stares

blankly as conversations happen around her. She gives
 20

glimmers of life with an occasional nod or forced

smile when someone speaks to her.

CUT TO:
INT. EVENING

CARA’S house is still full of people. CARA walks

slowly down the hallway with a glass of wine in her
hand. She pauses at a closed door in the hallway; she
places her hand on the door and leans close to it.
She appears sad.

CARA turns her back to the door and slides down to the
floor. She sighs. She has tears in her eyes.

MONICA walks down the hallway, stops and looks down at

CARA. MONICA sits next to her and holds her hand.
CARA lays her head on MONICA’s shoulder.

CARA
I’m so empty. I have nothing to
say. I have nothing to feel…

CARA pounds on her chest and begins to cry.

CARA (CONT’D)
I feel nothing with him gone.
There’s nothing in there.

CARA motioning around her heart with her hands. She

is crying and the conversation is quiet and urgent.
MONICA gently rubs CARA’s head and hair.

MONICA
Yes there is, there’s something in
there… you’re in there.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. AFTERNOON

Dance studio, SKYLAR stands in front of a group of

young girls in leotards and tights, giving ballet
instructions. NATHAN stands at the door watching
SKYLAR work.

SKYLAR
 21

Okay, practice the 4th Arabesque at

home. Next Tuesday I expect each
of you to have it down – I’m gonna
test you.

The girls moan and then scatter to collect their

belongings. They reunite with their parents who wait
in chairs surrounding the room.

SKYLAR walks towards her father; he stands proudly,

waiting for her. They hug.

NATHAN
You look like a natural out there
with all of those kids.

Still hugging, SKYLAR and NATHAN walk toward SKYLAR’s

bag. She puts on a sweater and begins to change her
shoes.

SYKLAR
Yeah, it’s always easy when it’s
someone else’s kid. I don’t look
forward to having to take care of
one, 24/7, all by myself.

NATHAN
Now, you know I’m going to be
there for you guys.

SKYLAR
Come on now grandpa, you did your
diaper duty 20 years ago, it’s my
turn.

She grabs her bag and the two of them walk out of the
door.

SKYLAR (CONT’D)
Besides, in the time you spend
with the baby you are supposed to
be spoiling him or her rotten,
making… him or her impossible for
me to deal with.

NATHAN pushes the door and waits for SKYLAR to walk

through it.
 22

EXT. AFTERNOON

NATHAN
I have plenty of time for that;
right now I’m more concerned about
you. How are you doing?

SKYLAR
I’m good. I’m hungry though…

CUT TO:
EXT.AFTERNOON

Outside of Dorsey’s Locker, a popular local restaurant.

CUT TO:
INT.AFTERNOON

SKYLAR and NATHAN are sitting at a table inside the

cramped restaurant. A SERVER brings their plates to
the table and puts them down.

NATHAN
I was thinking, I’m going to turn
my study into a nursery. I hardly
use it; I do most of my work down
at the restaurant.

SKYLAR
And I have been thinking -- I’m
going to move out.

NATHAN
Now SKYLAR, I don’t think that’s a
good idea, you are going to have a
new baby and you don’t know how
hard that is.

SKYLAR
You’re right, I don’t know how
hard it is, but I do know that I
have to do it on my own. I’m a
baby, dad. I’m a baby because I’m
your baby and you have my life
under control. When BEN died, I
realized just how paralyzed I was.
 23

It was like I either needed you or

him to guide me and coddle me.
With BEN gone, and the baby coming
– I have to do something, I have
to grow up.

NATHAN
I don’t want to control your life,
that’s not what I am trying to do
– but I did this thing. I’ve
raised a child on my own and I
wouldn’t have if I had a choice.

SKYLAR
But dad, you did fine with me.
I’m good. A late bloomer – but
I’m alright. Don’t worry; I’ll
call you when I need you. But let
me need you… alright?

NATHAN surrenders and raises his glass of iced tea.

He takes a sip. SKYLAR smiles and begins to eat.

DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. AFTERNOON

College campus, students moving in all directions with

books and backpacks. CARA hurries across campus,
casually dressed in a jogging suit and wearing a
backpack.

Student, JEN, approaches her.

JEN
Professor Weary, it’s good to see
you back.

CARA
Thank you Jen, I needed to get
back into a pattern.

JEN
 24

I was wondering about the

imitation of the Pan and Syrinx
you showed us… who’s the artist?

CARA
(with irony in her voice)
No artist, only a clever “imitator
of life”. Those are the words you
used? Look Jen, who created it is
not important, what’s important is
that I have taught you well enough
to know the difference between art
and paint-by-numbers.

CARA begins walking in the direction of her home, when

she reaches the street, she begins to run.

CUT TO:

INT. LATE AFTERNOON

CARA’s house, she walks down the hallway and nears the
closed door. She pauses a minute before she puts her
hand on the doorknob. She turns it and enters the
room.

The room is bright. It is an artist’s studio, with

completed paintings scattered about the room, among
them, the imitation Pan and Syrinx and an incomplete
work on the easel.

CARA looks around the room but does not enter. She
closes the door and stands there for a moment.

She looks down the hallway; through the door she sees
MONICA playing with KEELY and EMERSON. CARA turns and
walks towards them.

CUT TO:

EXT. LATE AFTERNOON

CARA sits on her back porch and watches MONICA, KEELY

and EMERSON play. MONICA sits next to her. They sit
in silence for a while, only the sound of the girls
laughing.
 25

CARA
I think I should spend more time
with the girls.

MONICA
I think that’s a good idea.

They sit in silence again.

MONICA (CONT’D)
The precinct called. They want to
know what to do with the stuff
that was in BEN’s locker.

CARA
I’ll go get it. That’ll give me
something to do.

MONICA
You mean, on top of spending more
time with the girls?

CARA stands up, brushes herself off and begins to walk

back into the house and down the hallway towards the
front door.

CARA
I’ll be right back.

CARA grabs the car keys on her way out of the front
door.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LATE AFTERNOON

Police station, people scurry around as CARA enters

the door. As she walks into the station she sees
DEREK walking toward her.

DEREK
Hey CARA, how have you been?

CARA
I’m good.
 26

DEREK
And the girls?

CARA
The girls are good. But you know,
just because BEN is gone doesn’t
mean that you have to stop coming
around.

DEREK
I know. I’m sorry, it’s just –
hard, you know? But I’ll do
better. I promise. So, what are
you doing here?

CARA
I came to get BEN’s things.

DEREK
You didn’t have to do that. You
know I would have brought them to
you.

CARA nods.

DEREK (CONT’D)
So listen, I have to get out of
here but don’t be afraid to call
me if you need anything.

CARA
Okay, thanks DEREK.

DEREK takes CARA’s chin into his hand and lifts her
face.

DEREK
I mean it.

CARA
I will.

DEREK pulls her face closer to his and kisses her on

the cheek. DEREK walks away.

CARA walks to the front desk.

 27

CARA
(to the officer at the desk)
Hi. I’m CARA Weary, Officer BEN
Weary’s wife. I’ve come to get
his things.

The OFFICER turns to retrieve a package. The officer

gives the package to CARA.

OFFICER
(holding a pen in one hand and
paper in the other)
Can you sign here please?

CARA takes the pen and signs her name on the paper.

OFFICER (CONT’D)
Thank you. Good luck, ma’am.

CARA takes the package and walks out of the building

to her car. She is in a hurry.

CARA opens the car door and gets in the car. She
closes her eyes and holds the package close to her
chest.

She takes a deep breath, opens her eyes and then

begins to open the package. There are personal items,
among them, pictures. She looks at a picture of KEELY
and EMERSON and smiles. She looks at a picture of BEN
and herself and her eyes fill with tears.

CARA rummages through the package and finds more

pictures. She finds one with BEN, DEREK and SKYLAR at
the restaurant. Then more pictures of BEN and SKYLAR,
then SKYLAR alone. The last picture shows BEN, SKYLAR
and NATHAN standing in front of the restaurant marquee
reading “NATHAN’s Steakhouse.”

CARA
(Screaming)
Son of a!!!

She throws the pictures in the backseat, puts the car

in “drive” and speeds off.
 28

CUT TO:
INT. NIGHT

NATHAN’s Steakhouse, NATHAN is behind the bar. CARA

rushes through the door looking for a face from the
picture she now holds in her hand.

CARA sees NATHAN and approaches him. She slams the

picture down on the bar in front of him. NATHAN
recognizes CARA from the funeral. NATHAN appears
calm, he continues to look down and wipe the bar with
a towel.

CARA
(demanding)
Who is this?

NATHAN
Can I get you something?

CARA
Yeah! You can get me that skank
in the picture!

CARA disturbs the restaurant patrons, they begin to

murmur. NATHAN tries to calm CARA.

NATHAN
Miss, if you would just sit down
and lower your voice…

CARA looks at him and slowly sits on a bar stool.

CARA
How do you know BEN?

NATHAN
He and DEREK ate here just about
every day. Sorry for your loss.

CARA
Thank you, do you have Hennessey?

NATHAN
You want a Coke mixer I bet.
 29

CARA begins to feel more at ease. NATHAN pours her a

drink.

CARA
How did you know who I was?

NATHAN
The funeral.

CARA takes a sip of her drink. She looks at the drink

and snickers.

CARA
Why am I drinking this? This is
BEN’s thing, I only drank it in
his company. Old habits die hard
I guess.

CARA pushes the glass towards NATHAN

CARA (CONT’D)
Can you make me something fruity?

They both smile. NATHAN begins to make CARA another

drink.

NATHAN
She’s my daughter.

CARA
Excuse me?

NATHAN
The girl in the picture… that’s my
daughter, SKYLAR.

NATHAN slides CARA a drink with a cherry and umbrella.

CARA holds the drink in both hands, she and looks up
at him with tears in her eyes.

CARA
How…?

A tear falls from her eye. NATHAN hands her a napkin

and then he leans in close to her.
 30

NATHAN
She didn’t know about you… or your
girls. Until after the accident.
She’s a good girl.

CARA stands up and takes a pen from her purse and

writes her number on a napkin. She hands the napkin
to NATHAN.

CARA
Can you have her call me?

NATHAN nods. CARA turns to walk out, NATHAN watches

her.

NATHAN
He must have been crazy.

CARA
(turning toward him)
What?

NATHAN
(pauses)
I’ll have her call.

CARA turns to walk out of the restaurant. She stops

again and turns back toward him.

CARA
Was she with you… at the funeral?

NATHAN doesn’t answer. CARA turns slowly and walks

out of the restaurant.

END OF ACT ONE

 31

ACT TWO

INT. MORNING

NATHAN is awakened by the sound of SKYLAR vomiting in

the nearby bathroom. He gets out of bed and walks to
the bathroom. NATHAN stops at the door and sees SKYLAR
leaning over the toilet, grasping the bowl with both
hands.

NATHAN reaches into a drawer and pulls out a hair tie.

He walks over to SKYLAR and pulls her hair back, then
ties it up.

He pats her on the back supportively and then leaves

the room.

CUT TO:

INT. MORNING

That same morning, at the kitchen table of the house

they share, NATHAN and SKYLAR sit across from each
other. NATHAN is eating breakfast. He has a cup of
coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

SKYLAR picks at the piece of toast in her hand, but

she can’t eat it because of morning sickness.

SKYLAR
So I was thinking, maybe I should
stay here until after I have the
baby.

NATHAN puts the paper down on the table.

NATHAN
(reflectively)
As your mother lay in that
hospital bed, I watched her take
her last breath. And then I
realized that I would be taking
you home from the hospital alone,
raising you alone. I was
terrified, I looked down at you,
 32

as helpless as you were, and I

thought to myself, I wasn’t much
better off, I was helpless too.
But I took you and I brought you
home and I faced the challenges as
they came.

NATHAN picks up SKYLAR’s chin with his hand.

NATHAN (cont’d)
You’ll be fine.

SKYLAR
(sarcastically)
What brought about this new-found
insightfulness?

NATHAN
Well, kiddo, I just figured it was
time for both of us to take a shot
at independence. My holding on to
you… that’s more for me than it is
for you. I’ve been using you.

SKYLAR
Using me?

NATHAN
Yeah, using you as an excuse for
not living. But I think I'm ready
now. Look, just a few days ago
you gave me a very poignant speech
about independence and moving on…
and now, I am telling you, you
were right. Recently I have
realized that I want to live –
live beyond these walls, the
steakhouse and you. I mean I, I
really want to live…

SKYLAR, now smiling, gets up from the table and hugs

her father around his neck from behind.

SKYLAR
Well, you better get busy with
that old man.
 33

She reaches over his shoulder and grabs her toast. She
begins to walk out of the kitchen.

NATHAN, takes a sip of coffee and resumes reading his

paper.

SKYLAR(CONT’D)
Looks like I’m going apartment
hunting! See you later?

SKYLAR waves as she walks out of the room.

NATHAN
(off guard)
Huh? Yeah, uh, huh, see you later.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LATE AFTERNOON

CARA stands in the front of a bustling NATHAN’s

Steakhouse, she looks lost. NATHAN comes from the back
of the house and sees her standing there. He is
excited and flustered, he walks towards her.

NATHAN
CARA, it’s good to see you.

He places his hand on her back and leads her closer to

the bar, out of the way of foot traffic.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
Let me get you something.

CARA
No… I was kind of hoping to have
heard from your daughter by now.

NATHAN
Look CARA, SKYLAR… she really has
a lot going on right now and I
just didn’t see a right time to
talk to her about the whole thing…

CARA
(cynically)
 34

oh, well I would hate for you to

bother her with my minuscule
issues, dead husband and all…
especially since she has so much
going on.

CARA turns to walk away. NATHAN grabs her arm and

turns her to him.

NATHAN
CARA…

She snatches her arm from him.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
I’m not saying that her burdens
are heavier than yours… its just…
that’s my little girl.

CARA
Yes I know, your little girl. You
might have done better with her,
taught her not to sleep with other
people’s husbands!

NATHAN’S face hardens, he is barely able to restrain

himself and hold back his fury. He leans in close to
CARA’S face.

NATHAN
My daughter -- SKYLAR, she is
doing the best she can with what
she has to work with. All she’s
ever had is this scraggly old man.
And all she’s ever known is this.

Motioning around him.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
I wish I could have protected her
from predatory infidels like your
BEN, but I couldn’t. I wish she
would have known better. But she
didn’t. And here we are. You,
here, mad at the wrong person and
me… well, a victim of circumstance.
 35

CARA
And SKYLAR?

NATHAN
Well, CARA. I think she got the
worst part of this deal.

CARA now looks puzzled by his statement.

CARA
Do you really believe that? You
couldn’t possibly have more
compassion for the mistress,
daughter or not. I first lost my
husband. And then I lost the right
to a memory of happiness with that
man because I have to deal with
the fact that he was sleeping with
your daughter. Can there be wounds
any deeper than that?

NATHAN
(reluctantly)
She loved him.

CARA
(angry)
Do you think I care? Do you think
it makes me feel better knowing
that she loved my husband? Because
it doesn’t make things better, he
was mine to love. Only mine to
love. So how she feels, or felt
about him is irrelevant,
inconsequential.

NATHAN
Well… maybe not inconsequential.

Behind NATHAN and CARA, outside of the storefront

window is SKYLAR walking towards the entrance of the
restaurant. NATHAN sees her first.

CARA
What does that mean?
 36

SKYLAR comes in the restaurant smiling. She

approaches her father.

SKYLAR
Hey daddy.

CARA turns to see who is approaching and notices

SKYLAR, whose pregnancy is now showing.

CARA looks stunned.

CARA
Oh, hell naw! You have about three
seconds to tell me you ate a big
lunch!

SKYLAR is speechless, she plops down onto a bar stool

and looks ashamed.

NATHAN
Now CARA, let’s sit down and talk
about this.

CARA
Talk about what? This is out of
control! That man was screwing
you, on my time when he was alive,
but he’s screwing me good now that
he’s dead.

CARA grabs her things.

CARA (CONT’D)
(to SKYLAR)
How pregnant are you?

SKYLAR
4 months.

CARA turns and walks out of the restaurant. SKYLAR

sighs and throws her head onto the bar as she groans.

CARA comes back through the door.

CARA
He’s been dead three months. For
three months you’ve known that he
 37

had a wife. Why would you keep

that baby?

SKYLAR
(hysterical)
I’m not having an abortion. I’m
sorry, I really am sorry for you
and your girls but I would never
abort this baby. It’s mine… it’s
ours.

CARA plunges towards her.

CARA
Don’t you ever say that! There is
no “ours.” Don’t talk about my
husband as if you were a “we” or
an “us” or like you and he had an
“ours.” Ours is his and mine, his
and mine only. Not yours. But that?

Gesturing towards SKYLAR’s round belly.

CARA (CONT’D)
That’s all you!

SKYLAR, now with more confidence, stands up.

SKYLAR
No, this… this is a piece of me
and a piece of BEN… the last
piece. And you don’t have the
right to try to make what we had
invaluable. For all I knew, when
he was alive, that man was with
me. He loved me. And no one, not
you, not DEREK, no one will
convince me that I was anything
less than loved by him.

CARA
Little girl, it seems to me that
you are having a hard enough time
convincing yourself that you were
loved by him. But just to help you
out, so you can keep things in
perspective, remember… he married
 38

me, he built a life with me. And

every night he came home to me. So
go ahead, keep telling yourself
that you were more than fun for
his stick.

CARA turns to walk out of the restaurant.

SKYLAR
What do you tell yourself you were?

CARA stops suddenly. She does not turn around, her

face holds the look of pain. She leaves the
restaurant.

EXT. AFTERNOON

Through the storefront window of NATHAN’s restaurant,

SKYLAR sits at the bar and NATHAN stands next to her.
They watch CARA walk away.

CUT TO:
INT. NIGHT

CARA is in her bedroom with a bottle of wine in one

hand and a glass of red wine in the other. She is
obviously intoxicated. She lays on her bed, listening
to music.

The song “Chain of Fools” begins to play. CARA gets

up and begins to dance to the music.

CARA
(singing)
For [eight] long years, I thought
you were my man. But I found out,
I’m just a link in your chain.
You got me where you want me; I
ain’t nothing but your fool. You
treated me mean, you treated me
cruel. I’m added to your chain,
chain, chain …

CUT TO:
INT. NIGHT
Downstairs in CARA’s house MONICA and the girls sit at
the kitchen table doing crafts. They look towards the
 39

ceiling as the music and dancing upstairs shake the

room.

MONICA
KEELY, can you help EMERSON glue
her heart onto the paper? I’m
going to go upstairs and check on
your mom.

MONICA gets up from the kitchen table and walks up the

stairs.

She opens the door to the bedroom where she finds CARA
sitting in the middle of the floor.

CARA
(slurring)
MONICA, I took the one-two punches
like a champ. BEN is dead … one.
He was cheating … two. Took it
like a champ – LIKE A CHAMP! But
then, they got me … they got me …
T … K … O …

She falls backwards and lies on the floor facing the

ceiling. MONICA lies on the floor next to her. Tears
begin to run down her face.

CARA (CONT’D)
I feel so stupid. But the funny
thing is that I probably wouldn’t
care so much if he were still
alive. I probably would have told
her to keep him. But for some
reason, because he’s dead, I’m
territorial – I am more concerned
about being able to have the
memory of him all to myself than I
was about having him to myself
when he was here. But I should be
able to have that much.

CARA pauses.

CARA (CONT’D)
MONICA?
 40

MONICA
Yeah?

CARA
Why didn’t I know?

MONICA
How could you know? You trusted
your husband. You did everything
you were supposed to.

CARA
I should have done more.

MONICA
What else could you do? You were
a wife and a mother who held down
a job. You made BEN your world.

CARA
So with my world gone – what do I
have?

MONICA
You have you! You have the girls.
You have your job…

MONICA pauses, knowing she is about to mention a

tender subject.

MONICA (CONT’D)
You have your painting.

CARA turns to look at MONICA.

MONICA (CONT’D)
And now that BEN is gone you will
have more time to do it. And with
the situation with this girl, and
her baby… you have plenty of fuel
and fury for inspiration.

CARA smiles.

CARA
I might.
 41

They both turn away from each other and begin to stare
at the ceiling. They lie silently.

CARA (CONT’D)
Do you think he’s up there?

MONICA
In light of the recent
developments? I doubt it.

CUT TO:
INT. EVENING

CARA sits at her kitchen table, alone. She is

sketching. The phone, on the table near her, begins
to ring.

CARA
Hello.

NATHAN
(pauses)
Um, hi, CARA? This is NATHAN…
from the restaurant.

CARA
Uh huh…

NATHAN
How are you?

CARA
I’m fine.

NATHAN
Good, good. I’m glad to hear that.

CARA
Okay…

They sit silently.

CARA
Is there something else?

NATHAN
 42

Yeah, well, actually I was wanted

to tell you that if you wanted to
talk… maybe we can have coffee…

CARA
Oh, I know you are not trying to
ask me out.

NATHAN
Well, I just wanted to let you
know that I wouldn’t mind…

CARA
What? You wouldn’t mind being a
shoulder for me to cry on? Look
NATHAN, I am not interested in
getting involved with any man
right now – but especially the man
who fathered the girl who was
sleeping with my husband.

NATHAN
I just thought… I guess I just
figured you might like some
company.

CARA
Your company?

NATHAN
Well, my company is really not
that bad. If you gave it a
chance.

CARA
But why should I give it a chance?

NATHAN
Because I’m willing.

CARA
So willing… is that the number one
criteria for a man.

NATHAN
 43

Well yeah. I think it may be.

What good is a man who isn’t
willing?

CARA
Willing to what?

NATHAN
Willing to anything. Just willing.

CARA
And you’re willing?

NATHAN
Willing to anything.

CARA takes the phone from her ear and smiles.

CARA
So, why do you have so much time
on your hands? That you are
willing to sit and listen to my
woes?

NATHAN
We make the time for things we
deem important.

CARA
Is that old man wisdom?

NATHAN
Call it what you like, but I think
the important thing to note is
that I have wisdom.

CARA
I guess you’re right.

NATHAN
So, do you have a problem with my
age?

CARA
 44

Why would I have a problem with

your age? You are just my open
ear… right?

NATHAN
Right. Okay… if I were more than
just an open ear would you have a
problem with my age?

CARA
Okay let’s see – you’re… what 60?

NATHAN
53.

CARA
You’re 53, you’re white, and you
are the future grandfather of my
husband’s illegitimate child. And
all you want to know is if you are
too old?

NATHAN
Well, yeah. I figure I can’t
change any of those things. I am
definitely white – but so was BEN
so I’m guessing that is not so
much of an issue. And the thing
with my daughter, well, I am a
victim by default so I can hope
that you would eventually not hold
me responsible. So, after all of
that, my age is the only thing
left that would keep you from
giving me a chance.

CARA, enjoying her conversation, becomes more involved.

CARA
You know, I never dated outside of
my race before BEN.

NATHAN
Really? Well what made him so
special?

CARA
 45

I don’t know. We met in college

and he pursued me relentlessly.
We hung in the same crowd. And
then… then it just happened.

CARA and NATHAN begin a long, involved conversation.

They talk about college while she walks the hallways.

And he cuts his toenails.

They talk about their marriages while she runs bath

water and he cooks a meal.

They talk about her art and his restaurant as she

soaks in the tub and he eats his meal.

CARA lies on her bed wrapped in a bath towel. NATHAN

is in his bathroom brushing his teeth.

CARA
I’m getting tired.

NATHAN
Okay, well, you should get some
rest.

CARA
Since the accident I haven’t been
able to sleep without sedatives.
This is the first time that I have
felt like I could sleep on my own.

NATHAN
So I’ve bored you that much, huh?

CARA
No, you didn’t bore me at all… I’m
glad you called.

NATHAN
I’m glad you talked.

CARA
Will you stay on the phone while I
go to sleep?

NATHAN now lies on his bed.

 46

NATHAN
Of course. You want a lullaby?

CARA
No lullaby. You don’t even have
to say anything. Just be there.

NATHAN
Okay.

They both turn off the lights in their rooms.

CARA
Good night.

NATHAN
Sweet dreams, CARA.

EXT. AFTERNOON

CARA, MONICA, KEELY and EMERSON are playing in the

yard. They have T-ball equipment, KEELY is batting
while EMERSON wanders around and MONICA and CARA
prepare to catch the ball. There is laughter.

DEREK walks up the driveway to the yard where they are

playing. CARA and MONICA notice him. CARA walks
towards him as MONICA continues to play with the girls.

DEREK
Hey family!

KEELY
Uncle DEREK!

KEELY runs towards him, he picks her up to hug her.

After they embrace, he puts her down and she runs back
to her game.

CARA stands near.

CARA
So I met SKYLAR.
 47

DEREK stands searching for something to say.

CARA (CONT’D)
Why didn’t you tell me?

DEREK
Tell you what, CARA? That my
partner, my brother was cheating
on his wife? You have to
understand…

CARA
I understand your loyalties. But
you had to know that this would
happen. You were his partner, but
I thought you cared about the
girls and me.

DEREK
CARA, I care about you more than
you know. And it hurt me to see
what BEN was doing, but… I have to
admit, it was because of how I
feel for you that I allowed it to
happen.

CARA
What are you talking about?

DEREK
Look… I watched BEN ruin the best
thing in his life, but I let him
because I thought when it was all
over… I would be able to make you
the best thing in my life.

CARA is stunned.

CARA
I don’t believe that.

DEREK
Why don’t you? The first time I
met you, all those years ago; you
stopped me in my tracks. I
 48

remember thinking, how did this

white boy snatch up this fine
sister? Don’t get me wrong… I
loved BEN, loved and respected
him, but I also knew that I was
much better for you… that you and
I would be good together.

CARA
Good together in what way?

DEREK
Good together in every way. CARA,
I didn’t come here to make you
feel uncomfortable, and God knows
that I am sad that BEN is gone, or
that you have to go through all of
this. But I do want you to know
that I want to be here for you
when you come out of this. I want
a chance.

DEREK smiles. He turns and walks away. CARA stands

there and watches him walk away.

MONICA comes to her side.

MONICA
What did he have to say for
himself?

CARA
I think he just said he loved me.

CUT TO:

INT. MORNING

CARA, dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt, walks into

her artist’s studio, stopping at the door to survey he
room. She moves slowly among the work, running her
finger over each piece reflectively.
 49

She moves to a piece that is covered. She stops a

moment before undraping the piece. It has been
started but is obviously not finished.

CARA gathers her paints and brushes and begins to

paint the unfinished piece. Time passes.

INT. EVENING

CARA lies on the floor of her artist’s studio holding

a glass of red wine, listening to music and gazing at
a now finished art work.

There’s a knock at the door. MONICA enters the room.

MONICA
So you are still alive.

CARA smiles.

CARA
Look. I did it. I did it and
it’s beautiful. What do you think?

MONICA walks closer to the painting, looking at it

closely.

MONICA
I think it is the work of a
genius. Bravo.

CARA lifts her glass to MONICA.

MONICA
So, you’ve been locked in the room
all day, you must be hungry, I am
and I know the girls are. Do you
want to go grab something?

CARA
You know, I kind of feel like
celebrating. Let’s get dressed
and go out.

CARA stands up as she and MONICA turn to walk out

of the room.
 50

MONICA
Where do you want to go?

CARA
Feel like steak?

CUT TO:
EXT. EVENING
Outside of a bustling NATHAN’s Steakhouse, CARA,
MONICA, KEELY and EMERSON walk toward the door.

MONICA
So, why the sudden urge for steak?

CARA shrugs her shoulders and smiles coyly.

MONICA (CONT’D)
Hum, maybe it’s not the steak that
you want from NATHAN.

The two of them laugh. CARA holds the door open as

KEELY and EMERSON walk in. As MONICA walks by, she
speaks.

CARA
Or maybe it is…

CUT TO:

INT. EVENING

The restaurant is full of people. CARA makes her way

to the hostess podium to reserve a seat. NATHAN comes
from the back of the house and notices her. He smiles
and walks toward the hostess’ podium.

NATHAN
Welcome to NATHAN’s Steakhouse!

(To hostess)
I’ll take care of Ms. Weary and
her guests.

(To CARA)
To what do I owe the honor of your
patronage?
 51

CARA
I have been unfair to you since
the day we met. Let’s call this
my sorry way of apologizing.

NATHAN
Okay, we can call it that. But
you do realize that since we are
calling it that I will be
expecting a not-so-sorry apology.
Something like dinner… that I
don’t have to cook?

CARA looks awkward. They all look to her for a

response.

CARA
Oh, was that a question?

NATHAN
Well, I thought it was. But maybe
I should rephrase it to get the
response I’m looking for. Can I
take you to dinner some time?

SKYLAR appears across the restaurant, CARA gets a

glimpse of her, and CARA’s smile becomes awkward as
she looks at NATHAN.

CARA
Oh… I don’t know… I don’t think
that’s a good idea.

NATHAN looks disappointed.

NATHAN
(To KEELY and EMERSON)
Well maybe you girls will let me
buy you ice cream after your
dinner tonight. We have whip
cream and cherries…

KEELY AND EMERSON

Yes, please.

NATHAN
 52

Okay, well, after dinner I will

come back and check with your
mommy and if she says it’s
alright, you and your mommy can
come in the back to my great big
kitchen and make your desserts
extra special.

KEELY AND EMERSON

Thank you.

CARA
Yes, thank you, NATHAN.

CARA looks at MONICA.

CARA
Oh, forgive my manners. NATHAN,
this is my good friend, MONICA.
MONICA this is NATHAN.

NATHAN
Hi MONICA, it’s good to meet you.
Tell me, what did you have to do
to get a tag like that? The “my
good friend”? I’m looking for
something like that.

MONICA
Believe me; I put in a lot of
hours.

They all laugh.

NATHAN
Well, I am going to let you ladies
enjoy the rest of your evening,
and MONICA, while I’m gone I
expect that you will convince her
to take me up on my offer of
dinner. She did say herself that
she owed me one…

NATHAN smiles and walks away.

MONICA
 53

So, what’s all of that about?

CARA
Oh nothing, it couldn’t be
anything – he’s SKYLAR’s father.

MONICA
And he’s also white… and old!

CARA
MONICA, I am shocked to hear you
say that.

MONICA
Well, I am just saying something
that needs to be said. Okay, you
feel in love with BEN by some
random stroke of lightning – I got
that years ago. But it doesn’t
seem so random when every time
love strikes you, it strikes with
a white guy!

CARA
Who said I was in love with him?
I barely know him. And anyway,
love strikes how it strikes, I
can’t waste my life with a
narrowed idea of who I can and can
not be with.

MONICA
It would make your life easier…

CARA
Who said life was easy? BEN and I
did not allow what other people
thought dictate our love for one
another.

MONICA
Are you sure? Because the last
time I checked SKYLAR was white.
You don’t think that her race had
anything to do with the
attraction? White on white. It’s
clean and simple – it’s free of
 54

the issues that come with

interracial relationships.

CARA
We don’t know why BEN did what he
did, but our racial difference was
not the only thing that
complicated our relationship – we
had children and jobs and bills
and all the other challenges that
come along with marriage. And I
think all of those things are more
challenging then the fact that I
am black!

MONICA
Maybe you’re right. But I can not
imagine the turmoil that my family
would go through if I didn’t marry
a Korean man. It’s not about him
and me; it’s about two families
being unified in values and
culture.

CARA
And where’s your man?

MONICA
That’s my point, I am willing to
wait.

CARA
I am willing to wait, too. But I
am waiting for the one God has for
me, not the one that will please
my family. MONICA, I didn’t fall
in love with BEN because he was
white, I fell in love with him
because he was BEN. I understand
what you are saying, and it would
be great if that was the plan for
me. But if it’s not God’s plan,
and his plan is for me to love a
purple man – then baby, I’m going
to love that purple man!

MONICA
 55

Yeah… well… good luck with that.

CARA
Seriously, I am just trying to
live my life, in the most
simplified way. I am not even
thinking about finding another
man… but I won’t consider running
from a good one either.

MONICA smiles and lifts her glass of wine in the air.

MONICA
To simplicity.

CARA
To simplicity.
FADE TO:

INT. EVENING

CARA, MONICA, KEELY and EMERSON sit at the table after

dinner. NATHAN approaches the table.

NATHAN
So ladies… how was everything?

MONICA
Did you cook this? Because if you
cooked this I have to say, I want
to go out with you.

NATHAN
Thank you for the compliment.

CARA
NATHAN, everything was great,
thank you.

NATHAN
Well, girls, are you ready to go
make sundaes?

KEELY AND EMERSON

Yes… mommy?
 56

CARA
Alright, let’s go.

They all get up and walk toward the kitchen.

NATHAN
Girls, this is Greg.

A young man in a chef uniform stands at NATHAN’s side.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
He’s going to take you over to the
ice cream and help you create
whatever you like. Okay?

KEELY AND EMERSON

Okay.

MONICA
You know, I’m in the mood for some
ice cream.

(To GREG)
Can you help me create whatever I
like?

GREG smiles, nods in the affirmative and leads all

three of them to the ice cream.

NATHAN
So, I’ve heard of sons having to
pay for the sins of their father…

CARA smiles.

CARA
NATHAN, I’m not punishing you for
what happened between BEN and
SKYLAR but… you’re her father!
And we wouldn’t even know each
other if it had not been for their
little – tryst. And now, now we
are connected in more ways than I
want to think about.

NATHAN
 57

Well then, let’s just think about

this one way; let me take you out
to dinner.

CARA pauses and looks at NATHAN in the eye.

CARA
How about lunch?

NATHAN
Okay, let’s start with lunch.

NATHAN holds out his hand, CARA reaches out and shakes
it.

CUT TO:
EXT. MORNING

CARA and MONICA end their run around Lake Merritt.

They begin to stretch.

CARA
So MONICA, how have you been? I
feel like I have been selfish with
our time together the last few
months. You’ve almost become my
live-in nanny. What’s up with you?

MONICA
I wouldn’t expect anything else
from you right now; you have
definitely had a lot to deal with.
I know you’d do the same for me.
My life is as it always is –
nothing spectacular. Work is
draining me – this month I
couldn’t sell a paper bag to a
whino and it’s pissing off the
powers-that-be. And if it weren’t
for the girls, I would never have
a date! Although…

CARA
Ah ha! I knew there was something!

MONICA
 58

Well, I did meet Greg the ice

cream guy for lunch the other day.

CARA
And?

MONICA
And nothing! And we will go out
again… but that’s nothing compared
to the saga you’ve got going on
with your husbands baby-momma’s
daddy!

CARA
Oh what a tangled web BEN weaved…
or is it woven? Either way, I
admit, I’m interested…

MONICA
(Sarcastically)
No!?!

CARA
What gave it away?

MONICA
How about the impromptu dinner at
his restaurant? And your
shameless game of hard to get?

CARA
Well, I didn’t want to be
interested. It’s weird, right?

MONICA
Slightly. But in the end, if it
feels right, then it probably is
right.

CARA
(Shyly)
I think it’s right…

MONICA
So… would you say that BEN did you
a favor?
 59

CARA
Hum, I would say you’re a cold cat
for saying it…

CARA shoved MONICA playfully.

CARA (CONT’D)
… Out loud.

INT.AFTERNOON

CARA sits on the floor at a table in a Middle Eastern

restaurant. There is music in the background and a
belly dancer dancing around the room.

NATHAN walks in and finds her where she is sitting.

He smiles and walks towards her. He leans over,
kisses her cheek and hands her a single sunflower.

CARA
Wow, a sunflower. That’s
different.

NATHAN
I didn’t want to be too
presumptuous about us and bring
red roses. And anyway, what
better way to express a natural
beginning than a flower named
after the sun – without the sun
nothing in nature can grow nor
survive.

CARA
Who knew you were some
contemplative.

NATHAN
Only about some things –
definitely about you.

CARA
 60

You know, I’m curious, why are you

so intent on knowing me.

NATHAN
Outside of the obvious?

He pauses to think.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
Well, I guess just the obvious!

They laugh.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
Really CARA? I am intrigued by
you. I am intrigued by your
ability to keep it together under
all the stress you’ve had to deal
with the last few months.

CARA
I would hardly say that I’ve kept
it together.

NATHAN
You’ve done a lot better than
most. My wife died giving birth
to SKYLAR, and my life has been on
hold ever since. In fact, I
hadn’t even had the desire to come
alive… until I saw you. You sat
in that chair, stoic, and void. I
couldn’t help but wonder what this
– beautiful woman was like when
that voidness got full. And all I
could think about was being there
when it did.

CARA
I can’t say that I have ever been
that seduced by a funeral.

NATHAN
That’s because you never had the
pleasure of seeing CARA Weary for
the very first time… but to keep
you at ease… I have been just as
 61

seduced every single time that

I’ve seen you. To tell you the
truth, I noticed you days before
the funeral.

CARA
Really? Where?

NATHAN
I saw you outside of the
Expressions Art Studio… on Grand?
You were jogging, but you stopped
by the window. You had me then.

CARA
(Lightening the mood)
Whoa! Maybe I should consider
bottling this magic you say I have.

NATHAN
I would rather you didn’t. I
would rather keep it all to myself.

There is a silence. CARA looks at him sheepishly.

NATHAN takes his napkin and places it on his lap.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
So, this is a nice place you’ve
picked. I can’t say that I have
ever eaten Middle Eastern.

CARA
Well, it’s been a while for me,
BEN wouldn’t touch the stuff.

NATHAN
Let’s make a pact. Starting now
all of our conversations will be
void of the mention of BEN or
SKYLAR. At least until I get you
to fall in love with me…

He smiles.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
 62

And that won’t be long.

CARA
Deal.

CARA grabs the dish near her and begins to put the
contents on NATHAN’s plate.

CARA
So this is called Lavash – it’s
flat bread with garlic, sesame and
Asiago Cheese.

The belly dancer works the room as music plays.

CARA (O.S.)
And over here, this is hummus;
you’ve had hummus before…

NATHAN (O.S.)
I love hummus! Give me two big
scoops of that.

Their voices begin to fade…

CARA (O.S.)
I love it too and I like to spread
it over my Lavash like this – it’s
so good! Wait until you see what
we’re having for dinner – I hope
you like lamb…

DISSOLVE TO:

CARA’s in her artist’s studio preparing to paint on a

blank canvas. KEELY and EMERSON stick their heads in
the door to watch her. CARA turns and sees them.

CARA
Hey girls. Come here. You want
to help Mommy paint?

KEELY and EMERSON

Yes!

CARA
Okay, come here.
 63

(To EMERSON)
Here’s your brush.

(To KEELY)
And here’s your brush.

Now all three of them stand looking at the blank

canvas.

KEELY
So, what should we paint?

CARA
How about we just use the colors
to show how we feel?

KEELY
Okay. EMERSON, how do you feel?

EMERSON
YELLOW!!!

CARA smiles and gives EMERSON the yellow paint.

CARA
You know, I feel yellow; too,
that’s a happy color. But I think
I will do a little blue, too – you
know, because sometimes I feel
blue, too.

KEELY nods.

KEELY
Yeah, I think I will do blue – but
just a little, I’m mostly yellow.

CARA stops to look at KEELY, she is happy with her.

CARA kisses the top of her head and rubs her face.

CARA
I’m glad to know that you’re
yellow most of the time. But it’s
alright to be blue from time to
time. Okay?
 64

KEELY
Okay.

CARA
Okay.

CARA, KEELY and EMERSON begin to work on their

painting, talking and laughing.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. AFTERNOON

NATHAN sits in a doctor’s office lounge reading a

magazine. SKYLAR comes out of the back of the office
escorted by her DOCTOR.

DOCTOR
So just keep taking your vitamins
and staying active.

NATHAN
(To DOCTOR)
How’s it looking?

DOCTOR
Everything looks great. The baby
is fine and SKYLAR is doing
magnificently. Three more months
and we all get to meet your first
grandbaby.

NATHAN leans close to the DOCTOR.

NATHAN
(Whispering)
Tell me; is it a boy or a girl?

DOCTOR
Uh uh, mother wishes to keep that
a secret until the day the bundle
arrives.

NATHAN
 65

So there’s no getting it out of

you, huh? Free Porterhouse for a
year?

DOCTOR
Sorry Mr. Stall, as much as I love
steak, it’s no deal.

The DOCTOR and NATHAN shake hands, NATHAN puts his arm
around SKYLAR and they begin to walk out of the office.

SKYLAR
So do you want to grab lunch?

NATHAN
I would love to baby, but I have
to run by the restaurant before I
meet CARA for dinner.

SKYLAR
CARA, huh? You guys are spending
a lot of time together.

NATHAN
Yeah, we are, we enjoy each others
company.

SKYLAR
And it’s not weird to you that I
am having your girlfriend’s
husband’s baby?

NATHAN
Not so weird that I wouldn’t want
to be with her.

SKYLAR
Well have you stopped to think how
your little relationship was
affecting me?

NATHAN
Actually, I don’t really care how
my little relationship is
affecting you. You are a grown
 66

woman, and I am a grown man,

almost an old man. And as much as
I love you, I would like to spend
the rest of my life with someone.
And if that someone is CARA, and I
think it is, you need to deal with
it. To tell you the truth, I
think you would have a problem
with any woman I was seeing – but
CARA happens to be an easy target.

SKYLAR
Maybe so, but that does not change
the fact that the dynamic is
uncomfortable for everyone.

NATHAN
No. The dynamic is uncomfortable
for you.

SKYLAR
Really Daddy? Well why is it that
in the nearly 3 months that you
have been seeing her, you have
never had the two of us in the
same room?

NATHAN
In the beginning I wanted to make
our thing about her and me. But
you’re right, it’s probably time.

SKYLAR
Okay, well FYI, I’m in no rush.

END OF ACT TWO

 67

ACT THREE

EXT. DAY

CARA runs up her driveway, returning from a run. She

is met by DEREK who is pacing on her front porch.

CARA
DEREK, what are you doing here?

DEREK
I just came by to check on you and
the girls.

MONICA
Oh, you should have called.
MONICA came and took them to the
movies.

DEREK
Oh. Well, how have you been?

CARA
Good. I have actually been doing
great.

DEREK
I’m glad to hear that.

There is an uncomfortable silence.

CARA
Listen, would you like to come in
and have a cup of coffee?

DEREK
Sure.

CARA
Okay.

CARA unlocks the door and they both walk in.

CARA
Do you think you could go in the
kitchen and start a brew? I feel
 68

really grimy so I’m going to take

a quick shower.

DEREK
Okay cool. See you in a minute.

DEREK walks into the kitchen and CARA runs up the

stairs to her bathroom and undresses. She turns the
water on and steps into the shower.

DEREK starts the coffee and sits at the table. He

hears the shower running and begins to walk up the
stairs.

CARA steps out of the shower and wraps herself in a

towel just as DEREK knocks on the door. He opens it
without getting a response. CARA looks shocked.

DEREK
Do you take cream and sugar? In
your coffee…

DEREK comes into the bathroom; the bathroom is full of

steam. They begin an animalistic kiss. DEREK sits
CARA on the sink and continues to kiss her.

CARA
Wait, wait, wait. This isn’t
right, we can’t do this? You’re
sexy as hell but we can’t do this.

DEREK
(Still kissing her)
This is right – there is nothing
more right.

CARA
No, stop DEREK. I can’t.

DEREK pulls away from her, he looks confused.

DEREK
CARA, what is it?

CARA
I’m seeing somebody.
 69

DEREK
(Angrily)
Who? NATHAN? What? You thought I
didn’t know?

CARA
Well then you know that this can’t
happen.

DEREK
I don’t get you. Before I just
thought you were a sister who was
a victim of love, and I accepted
your relationship with BEN. But
this? This is ridiculous! You
are a serial lover of white men –
a token Black girl!

CARA
Now wait a minute! You will not
stand in my house and insult me.

DEREK
It looks like I am! You go out of
your way to not involve yourself
with a brother. I offered myself
to you and you still found a way
to sniff out a white boy.

CARA
First off, NATHAN is a man, not a
boy – you are the only one who
fits that bill. And second? Just
because you “offer” yourself to me
doesn’t mean I want to take you up
on that offer! You just aren’t my
type.

DEREK
Yeah, I know. I’m too dark.

CARA
No! You’re an asshole! And I
wasted too much of my life on a
selfish son of a bitch to involve
myself with another one!
 70

Look. I love you, but not like

that, you’re not for me. Now, can
you get your black ass out of my
house?

DEREK turns to leave.

CARA
Thank you. And close the front
door… of my house and your pants.

DEREK grimaces as he zips his pants and begins to walk

down the stairs.

CUT TO:

INT. EVENING

The doorbell rings, CARA opens her front door and

outside stands NATHAN holding a bottle of wine, and
SKYLAR stands behind him with a dessert.

NATHAN
Hello gorgeous.

NATHAN steps in the house and kisses CARA on the lips

and then walks past her. CARA looks uncomfortable.

CARA
Hello SKYLAR.

SKYLAR
Hi.

She holds up the dessert.

SKYLAR (CONT’D)
Oh, this is for you.

CARA
Thank you, it looks good. Come in.

SKYLAR walks into the house and begins to look around.

She immediately comes across a picture of BEN in his
uniform. She runs a finger across the frame.

CARA walks up behind her and notices the gesture.

 71

CARA
Can I get you something to drink?

SKYLAR
(Startled)
Water, please.

CARA
(To NATHAN)
And you?

NATHAN
If you don’t mind, I think I will
crack open this bottle and pour a
glass. Can I get you any?

CARA
Yes please.

NATHAN leaves the living room and goes into the kitchen
where MONICA, KEELY and EMERSON are.

MONICA (O.S.)
Hey NATHAN, what’s up?

NATHAN (O.S.)
How are you ladies doing?

SKYLAR
So… how long were you married?

CARA
Eight years. We were married
right after graduate school.

SKYLAR
You have a nice home.

CARA
Thank you. Can I ask you
something? Why didn’t you call me
after I left my number with your
father?

SKYLAR
 72

I don’t know. I guess I was

uncomfortable… it took me a while
to stomach the idea that I was
the… other woman. I guess I was
in shock.

CARA
Yeah, me too. Still, it would
have been nice; there were things
I needed to know.

SKYLAR
Like what?

CARA
Well… like… you know, it doesn’t
really matter anymore.

SKYLAR
Why? Do you have all the answers
now?

CARA
No. I don’t think there is an
answer. No matter what I ask and
what you tell, I will still be
confused… and my heart would be
just as broken. So I don’t see
any reason to ask questions that I
know you don’t have the answer to
– BEN is really the only one with
the answers. So my guess? We will
never know anything; we can just
conjecture… and hope.

SKYLAR
What are you hoping for?

CARA
I’m hoping that he didn’t love you?

SKYLAR
And I’m hoping that he did.

NATHAN enters the room.

NATHAN
 73

You ladies ready for dinner?

NATHAN hands CARA a glass of wine. KEELY follows him out

of the kitchen.

KEELY
Dinner is served.

NATHAN
(to KEELY)
I can’t wait, what do you have for
me?

They all turn and walk towards the dining room table.

KEELY
I made the salad, and MONICA she
made the mashed potatoes. My mom
made the prime rib and gravy.

NATHAN
Umm, that sounds great.

They all sit down at a table that has already been set.
NATHAN prays over the food.

NATHAN
Dear Lord, thank you for this day,
thank you for family, thank you
for our time together and thank
you for the food we are about to
receive for the nourishment of our
bodies. Amen.

ALL
Amen.

NATHAN
Let’s eat. KEELY honey, can you
pass me that delicious looking
salad?

KEELY
Okay. Can you pass me the gravy?

NATHAN
 74

I sure will.

They all pass around the food at the table, chatting until
everyone is served.

KEELY
NATHAN, are you going to be my new
daddy?

The room falls silent. NATHAN looks up at CARA.

NATHAN
I don’t know sweetie. Why do you
ask?

KEELY
Well, I’ve been thinking… if you
and Mommy get married, SKYLAR will
be my sister right? And that would
make her baby my niece, right?

NATHAN
Or nephew, but you’re right.

KEELY
But if you and mommy don’t get
married what will the baby be to
me?

NATHAN, CARA, SKYLAR and MONICA look at each other, but

remain quiet.

MONICA
Then the baby would be your
sister, honey.

SKYLAR
Or brother.

KEELY
My sister?

MONICA
Or brother.

NATHAN
 75

Well I don’t want to debate sister

or brother.

NATHAN looks CARA in the eyes.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
Let’s debate niece or nephew.

SKYLAR
Excuse me.

SKYLAR pushes back her plate and leaves the table in a

hurry. NATHAN begins to go after her, but CARA stops him
and follows SKYLAR out of the room.

CARA finds SKYLAR on the back porch with her back to the
house. CARA stands behind her.

CARA
What’s your problem?

SKYLAR
My problem is you! How dare you
get involved with my father?

CARA
Excuse me!?! The woman who is
pregnant with my dead husband’s
baby has a problem with my
relationship choices? HOW DARE
YOU!!!

SKYLAR
You can’t love my father.

CARA
Why not? You loved my husband!
Look, your father is happy and so
am I. That means you just have to
grow up and deal with it!

SKYLAR
Why is it that you have to be the
first love for every man I love?
I know now that I was never BEN’s
priority, but I use to be my
fathers – in each case, you are
 76

the woman holding the number one

spot.

CARA
SKYLAR, if BEN was alive I would
hand him to you, and thank you
both for bringing me to know your
father. In the most twisted way I
can think of, I owe you my thanks
for creating a situation that
allowed me to meet the love of my
life.

SKYLAR
The love of your life?

CARA
It’s crazy how life works, how
God’s plan has to include some
pain, turmoil and growth for us to
come into the blessings that He
has for us. And that’s what
happened here, your father was
meant for me all along – but we
all had to go through a storm to
see how beautiful life can be if
you just wait it out.

SKYLAR
What is there for me… after this
mess?

CARA
That beautiful baby that is
growing inside of you. I believe
BEN orchestrated this whole thing
– he was always full of surprises.

NATHAN
Is everything alright out here,
ladies?

CARA and SKYLAR look at one another, both have tears in

their eyes.

CARA
 77

Yeah, everything is fine.

CARA walks to NATHAN and kisses his cheek, then she walks
into the house and down the hallway. SKYLAR follows by
kissing NATHANS cheek and also continuing down the hall.
NATHAN looks puzzled and then walks back into the house,
letting the screen door slam behind him.

CUT TO:

INT. EVENING

That same evening, after dinner everyone clears the dishes

from the table. After handing SKYLAR his plate, NATHAN
wanders down the hallway to the door that’s always closed.
He opens the door and turns on the light.

The room is filled with CARA’s artwork, he survey’s the

room. CARA comes behind him.

CARA
Boy you’re nosey.

NATHAN
It’s a good thing too, otherwise I
would have had no idea just how
talented you are.

CARA
It is an old love that I’ve been
rekindling.

NATHAN
So teaching art is your substitute
for creating it?

CARA
Something like that. When BEN and
I got married I began
concentrating more on him and the
family. Art just didn’t seem
practical.

NATHAN
Practicality often stifles the
fulfillment of great visions.
 78

CARA
Who said that?

NATHAN
I did.

CARA
Well, you are a very insightful
man.

CARA leans in and kisses him.

NATHAN
You said “BEN”.

CARA
So?

NATHAN
So… remember our deal? We
wouldn’t say his name until I made
you fall in love with me.

CARA
So?

NATHAN
So you said “BEN”!

CARA
Oh.

She holds NATHAN close, looks him in his eye and then
whispers.

CARA
BEN…

They kiss passionately.

NATHAN
CARA?

CARA
Yes baby?

NATHAN
 79

I love you. But the next time you

kiss me like that, you better be
saying my name!

CUT TO:

INT. AFTERNOON
NATHAN and SYKLAR stand in a hallway outside of a
door. SKYLAR puts the key in the door and turns the
doorknob. She pushes the door open and allows NATHAN
to walk in before her.

SYYLAR
Well Dad, this is it. What do you
think?

NATHAN walks around the bare open space. There is a

wall of windows, NATHAN walks straight to it and
begins to look at the view.

SKYLAR
It’s a studio. I figure that the
baby and I can share a space, at
least until it starts talking.

NATHAN
I like it, there’s a lot of space
for my grandbaby to move around in.

SKYLAR
Yeah, I like the idea of us always
being in each others presence.
But Dad, you haven’t seen the best
part.

SKYLAR walks over to double doors on the side wall,

NATHAN follows. She opens the doors to another empty
studio.

SKYLAR
The owner is leasing this second
space to me for half price.

NATHAN walks in and stands in the middle of the room,

looking around.
 80

SKYLAR
This is my dance school. Daddy,
I’m starting a dance school!

SKYLAR looks excited.

SKYLAR (CONT’D)
I haven’t got the business end all
planned out but I figure this way
I can kind of be a stay-at-home-
mom, and work at the same time. I
have a few of the parents from the
old school who have already asked
me to continue to teach their kids
so I don’t have to worry about
finding students… What do you
think?

NATHAN walks towards her.

NATHAN
I think you are going to be an
excellent business owner and an
even better mother.

He kisses her forehead and hugs her.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
Let me know how I can help.

SKYLAR
Thanks, I am sure you will have to
help me work out the logistics of
actually becoming a business
owner. But I have the rest of it
under control… well… besides some
occasional babysitting duties on
your part.

NATHAN
You never have to ask.

NATHAN looks at SKYLAR, pleased by her.

NATHAN (CONT’D)
I told you that you would get it.
Okay, so I’m going to leave you
 81

here to get settled, do you have

everything you need.

SKYLAR
Yeah. I have it all.

NATHAN walks towards the door.

SKYLAR (CONT’D)
Hey Dad.

NATHAN turns to look at her.

SKYLAR
I’m okay with it. You and CARA.
I’m okay with it.

NATHAN smiles.

NATHAN
You better be.

NATHAN winks his eye and closes the door behind him.
SKYLAR is left standing in the middle of an empty room.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. EVENING

NATHAN and CARA drive up to the front of NATHAN’s

steakhouse. NATHAN gets out of his car and hands his
keys to the valet. He walks around the car and helps
CARA out of the car.

CARA notices a “closed” sign on the restaurant window

as they walk towards the front door.

CARA
Why is the restaurant closed?

NATHAN
There’s a private party tonight.

CARA
Then why are we here?

NATHAN
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Because it’s our private party.

NATHAN opens the front door and allows CARA to enter

before him. CARA surveys the room and sees all of her
paintings standing on easels.

NATHAN walks up behind her and whispers in her ear.

NATHAN
I just couldn’t keep you a secret.
I hope you don’t mind.

CARA
(in shock)
Who are all of these people?

NATHAN
They are all here to see you. And
buy your artwork of course. This
is a silent auction.

CARA
So… all of these people are here
to buy my work? Why?

NATHAN
You know, I really don’t know… all
I did was tell everyone I knew
about this amazingly talented
artist and they all clamored for
an invitation to the event.

CARA
Thank you, NATHAN. I don’t think
anyone as ever done something
sweeter for me.

NATHAN
Well, I am hoping by the end of
the night you will be convinced
about something the rest of us
have known all along… that your
rise is limitless. You are
remarkable.

CARA
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Well… let’s go see how much these

suckers are paying!

MONICA and GREG approach.

MONICA
So? What do you think?

CARA
I think it’s wonderful! How did
you keep this from me?

MONICA
It wasn’t easy but KEELY and
EMERSON are good decoys.

(whispering)
They’re not really sick.

NATHAN
Quite the little actresses, though.

CARA
Where are the girls?

GREG
They are being entertained by a
qualified child care provider in
the back.

CARA
Really? Who?

NATHAN
They’re future big sis, SKYLAR.

CARA
Big sis, huh? You sure do count
your eggs before they hatch!

Arm-in-arm, NATHAN and CARA, and MONICA and GREG walk

around the restaurant and begin to socialize with the
guests as the solo saxophonist continues to play.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. AFTERNOON
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CARA’s house, the doorbell rings as CARA, KEELY and

EMERSON are in the kitchen making cookies.

CARA
Okay KEELY, you keep helping your
sister form the balls while I get
the door.

CARA opens the door, DEREK stands outside.

CARA
Hey.

DEREK
How are you doing?

CARA
Good.

DEREK
I hear the girls in there – are
they good, too?

CARA
Yeah. You want to come in and say
hello?

DEREK
Can I?

CARA opens the door and lets DEREK in.

DEREK
Look, CARA, about the other day… I
wanted to apologize…

CARA stops him from speaking.

CARA
There’s no need. We were both out
of line – did things we shouldn’t
have done and said things we
shouldn’t have said. The truth
is, I always had a school girl’s
crush on you. But that’s all it
 85

could have ever been. And it

doesn’t have anything to do with
Black and White, it has to do with
chemistry. You can be fine all
you want, but in the end, you are
my brother, and I need to keep it
that way. I need all the family
that will have me. Will you have
me?

DEREK
Of Course. So… how’s things with
NATHAN?

CARA
Wonderful… you and BEN picked a
winner with that guy!

DEREK and CARA walk into the kitchen and joined the
girls.

CUT TO:

INT. MORNING

CARA, NATHAN, KEELY and EMERSON sit around the kitchen

table eating pancakes.

The door swings open with SKYLAR standing there

panting and holding her stomach.

SKYLAR
(panicked)
It’s time!

NATHAN
It’s time?

KEELY
Time for what?

CARA gets the girls out of their seat.

CARA
Time to meet your little sister or
brother…
 86

CARA looks at NATHAN.

CARA (CONT’D)
Slash niece or nephew. Come on
lets go.

(To NATHAN)
Go on… we’ll meet you there.

NATHAN
Okay – hurry.

CUT TO:

INT. MORNING

CARA, KEELY and EMERSON hurry down the hospital

corridor. CARA approaches the nurse’s station.

CARA
SKYLAR Stall’s room please.

NURSE
Are you family?

SKYLAR
Yes, she’s family.

SKYLAR is behind her sitting in a wheel chair, NATHAN

is pushing her.

SKYLAR
They’re moving me to the delivery
room over here. The girls can
come, too.

They all disappear into the delivery room.

CUT TO:

INT. AFTERNOON

NATHAN holding EMERSON, KEELY AND CARA stand outside

the hospital nursery looking at the baby.

CARA has tears in her eyes.

CARA
 87

He looks like, BEN.

NATHAN holds her close.

CARA
What is she going to name him?

NATHAN
With the circumstances, I don’t
think she would name him after BEN…

CARA
No… I think she should. BEN would
like that.

CARA gazes at the baby, who is now being held directly

in front of her by a nursery nurse, her eyes fixed on
him.

FADE TO:

EXT. AFTERNOON

TODAY

CARA stands outside of a storefront window that reads,

“Gallery: Art by CARA.” She locks the front door and
gets in her car and drive a way.

CUT TO:

EXT.AFTERNOON

CARA is outside, in front or NATHAN’s Steakhouse where

NATHAN, KEELY and EMERSON stand on the sidewalk. They
all get in the car and drive away.

CUT TO:
EXT.AFTERNOON

CARA, NATHAN, KEELY and EMERSON SKYLAR at the cemetery

near BEN’s grave site. The get out the car and walk
towards the grave.

At the grave are MONICA with GREG and SKYLAR with BABY
BEN in her arms.
 88

They greet each other with hugs and kisses. They put
flowers on the grave. Then they all stand holding
each other looking down at BEN’s grave.

MONICA
So, do you think he’s up there?

CARA
You know… I think he is. I think
he’s up there and he’s watching
over all of us orchestrating our
happiness.

KEELY
Like an angel?

CARA
Yes baby… just like an angel.

They all look to the sky.

CARA (V.O.)
Can you remember before the storm?
You were so contented by “enough”
that you refused to have the
courage to attain it all. But
after the water comes and washes
away mediocrity, you realize you
have no choice but to stretch
yourself beyond the comfortable
limits in order to get what’s been
set aside for you – life after the
storm is life in abundance.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE

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