BABY’S ARMS byRiley Hamilton

EXT. PATIO - DAY A young man with a mustache is sitting at a table on a patiooverlooking beautiful winter scenery. A huge breakfast is before him.A Bloody Mary, two grapefruits, a pot of coffee, crepes, an enormousamount of bacon, a heaping pile of eggs, a loaf of bread, a largeglass of milk, a margarita and a piece of pie off to the side. A younggirl enters the scene. The two of them are in their early twenties andlook as if they are pretending to be grown-ups. But they are stark andserious with the maturity of a couple much older. HEMINGWAY is deep inthought when HADLEY comes up behind him. HADLEYTatie. No response from Hemingway.HADLEY (CONT’D)(touches Hemingway’s shoulder)Tatie. Hemingway becomes alert as if waking from sleep.HEMINGWAY(groggy)What is it, Goose?HADLEYTatie, you haven’t eaten your breakfast. HEMINGWAY(chuckles and looks at the food)Oh my goodness. You’re right.Hemingway shakes his head slowly.

HEMINGWAY (CONT’D)I’ve been caught up in thought. I’ve been sitting here thinking afool’s thoughts. Pondering about life. HADLEYOh Tatie, tell me your thoughts. I’ve been so cold in the house. Tellme warm thoughts. HEMINGWAYI was thinking of Florida. HADLEY(excited already)Oh, Florida! HEMINGWAYFlorida on the beach in the summer. Your well-built body in a two-piece swimmer’s outfit. Me with a Rum Toddy heating my belly. HADLEYWhat am I drinking, Tatie?HEMINGWAY(flatly)A big glass of milk.HADLEYMmm. Is the milk getting warm on the beach? HEMINGWAYNo, you have a little coozie for it. Keeping in the cold. HADLEYI don’t want the milk to get warm, Tatie. HEMINGWAY(excitedly)And then I jump up from the sand and I grab someone’s surfboard!

Hemingway grabs for the loaf of bread and pops a chunk of it into hismouth. He chews quickly.HEMINGWAY (CONT’D)And I run as fast as I can to the water. I take a big leap in with thesurfboard and now I’m going out to catch a wave. HADLEY(inquisitive about where she fits in)What am I doing?HEMINGWAYYou’re there on the beach having to explain to the man why I stole hissurfboard. I can see you there explaining. Hemingway takes another bite of bread.HEMINGWAY (CONT’D)And now I’m up on the board. I’m hanging ten, Goose! I’m flashing youthe peace sign while I’m catching serious wave-age. HADLEY(extremely excited by the thought)I can see you, Tatie! You are blowing me a kiss! HEMINGWAY(in an eruption of anger)No, I’m fucking not! Hemingway slams his fist down on the table causing coffee and BloodyMary to spill over. Hadley steps back away from him slightly. HEMINGWAY (CONT’D)I’m out there riding the tastiest wave and I’m laughing! HADLEY(unsure and hesitant)Am I on the beach still?