(TUESDAY EVENING:
Luke is puttering around the living room, making sure everything is in order. Katie is in the kitchen, making dinner. Rob is in the kitchen, watching Katie. Ellen is getting ready to go out. Avery comes downstairs, trying to tie his tie.)
ELLEN
Luke, are you sure you don’t want to come? You
always have a good time, and Cheryl would love to
see you again.
LUKE
No, you have a good time. I’ll be fine here.
ELLEN
You’ve taken your medicine?
LUKE
All eight of them.
ELLEN
Good. Dinner should be ready shortly then.
AVERY
Mom, you’re still here?
ELLEN
I am, and you still need to talk to Katie. One of you
needs to be home tonight.
AVERY
(looking in mirror)
Don’t worry; Katie’s staying.
LUKE
I don’t need a babysitter, Ellen. I’ll be fine here.
ELLEN
I know, Luke, but it’s still good to have someone here.
(kisses Luke quickly)
I’ll be home by eleven, and Katie has my cell number.
LUKE
Have fun.
(Ellen heads out the front door, and Avery goes to the kitchen.)
KATIE
You owe me.
AVERY
I know, I know. You are a lifesaver. Hey, Rob.
ROB
Hey. Where are you going all dressed up like that?
AVERY
Elena is taking me to dinner.
KATIE
I can’t believe you’re wearing a tie.
AVERY
She said to get dressed up.
(a horn honks)
That’s me. See you later, dad!
(Avery hurries out the back door.)
LUKE
(coming into kitchen)
Where are you going? Your sister is cooking dinner
now!
KATIE
Do you want a salad with dinner, dad?
LUKE
Whatever you feel like making, honey. I have to finish
in the living room.
KATIE
We’ll be ready in a couple minutes.
(Luke goes back into the living room. He continues to organize things. When he comes across a swimsuit edition of a sports magazine, he is thoroughly disgusted. He drops it to the floor as if it were diseased. The magazine continues to preoccupy him as he finishes cleaning the living room.)
ROB
So I guess watching the game tonight is out of the
question.
KATIE
It depends on my dad. He may have something else
he wants to watch tonight.
ROB
We could go to my house.
(Katie hands him three plates, and Rob sets the table.)
KATIE
Not before someone else comes home. You know
the deal, Rob.
ROB
I still don’t understand why you don’t have a nurse or
someone sitting with him when your mom’s away.
KATIE
We do, but he only qualifies for 20 hours a week.
Anyway, it’s not that big a deal, Rob. All we really
need to do is make sure he doesn’t go anywhere but
the back yard. Do you want a salad?
ROB
No, this is good.
KATIE
Dad, dinner is ready.
LUKE
Katie, I need you to see something.
KATIE
Okay. I’ll be right there.
(Katie brings the pot over to the table.)
LUKE
Katie! Katie, come here!
(Katie heads to the living room, Rob right behind her.)
KATIE
I’m right here, dad.
LUKE
(pointing to magazines)
I don’t know how this got in here, but we need to get
rid of it.
KATIE
Okay.
(Katie moves to get the magazine, but Luke stops her.)
LUKE
No, you don’t, Katie. You don’t need to see that.
KATIE
What should we do about it?
LUKE
It doesn’t belong in the house, that’s for sure.
(to Rob)
Why did you do this?
ROB
Excuse me?
LUKE
(pointing to magazine)
You know we don’t allow filth like this into our home.
(Rob slowly moves towards the magazine; Luke lets him pick it up.)
KATIE
Dad, it’s just a magazine. It’s Avery’s, actually.
LUKE
Avery would never bring something like that into this
house.
(to Rob)
You, young man, are not welcome here anymore.
KATIE
Dad, come on. It’s not his.
LUKE
(ignoring Katie)
You need to leave right now. Do you hear me?
ROB
Mr. Hanson, I’m sorry that you’re upset by this, but
I don’t
LUKE
I said out! Take your things and get out!
KATIE
Just go, Rob. I’ll call you later.
(Rob slowly heads to the kitchen, magazine in hand. Instead of leaving, Rob waits in the kitchen for Katie.)
LUKE
That boy is not welcome in this house anymore, Katie.
Do you hear me?
KATIE
Dad, it’s not his magazine.
LUKE
Nobody brings that filth, that pornography into my
house and then lies about it. No, sir!
KATIE
Okay, dad. Dinner is ready.
LUKE
I don’t care how it got in here, but, boy, it’s not staying
in this house. He’s got another thing coming if he
thinks he can just sneak stuff into this house without
our approval;
KATIE
Dad, do you want to eat out here or in the kitchen?
LUKE
I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later.
KATIE
Okay. I’m going to eat now, though, all right?
LUKE
Sure. Do what you want.
(He returns to puttering, and Katie goes into the kitchen.)
KATIE
(quiet)
What are you doing here? You need to go home.
ROB
The man is crazy, Katie.
KATIE
No kidding. You need to not be here right now, okay?
ROB
I’m not leaving you here alone with that madman.
KATIE
It’s fine, Rob. You go home, and he’ll calm down, and
it’ll all be all right.
ROB
Katie,
KATIE
Just go. Please.
LUKE
(in living room)
I better not be hearing that boy’s voice in this house!
KATIE
(pushing Rob to back door)
Go. I’ll be fine.
ROB
You need to call me.
KATIE
I will; later. I promise.
(Not happy, Rob leaves through the back door. Katie makes sure he takes the magazine with him. As Katie takes away Rob’s place setting at the table, Luke comes to the kitchen door.)
KATIE (continued)
Dad, dinner is ready.
LUKE
Oh, thanks, but I’m not hungry.
KATIE
You sure? It’s macaroni and cheese.
LUKE
Hm. No, I’m okay for now. Your brother will want
some, though. Avery! Dinner is ready!
KATIE
He’s not here, dad. He went out.
LUKE
Don’t be ridiculous; it’s a school night. Avery!
KATIE
He’s out with Elena. She’s taking him to a fancy
restaurant.
LUKE
Nobody told me he was going out.
KATIE
I’m sure mom just forgot. He’ll be back soon.
LUKE
Where is your mother?
KATIE
She’s having dinner with the girls. Do you want to
eat in front of the television?
LUKE
(heading into living room)
No, I’m all right. Do you want to watch something?
KATIE
Nope. I’ll just go upstairs and finish my homework.
LUKE
Sounds like a good plan.
(Luke sits on the couch, turns on the television, and watches it. As Katie cleans up the kitchen and makes herself a plate, Luke lies on the couch, still watching television. Katie takes her dinner and heads upstairs.)
KATIE
Everything’s clean in the kitchen, dad. I’m just going
upstairs.
LUKE
(not paying attention to her)
Fine, fine.
KATIE
Everything okay with you?
LUKE
Hm? Fine. Go eat your dinner, sweetheart.
(Katie waits a moment then heads upstairs.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON:
Luke is asleep on the couch. The television is on. Avery chases Katie in the front door. Katie has the mail; she is waving a letter to Avery in her hand. Katie runs towards the stairs.)
AVERY
You better give that to me or
KATIE
Or what? You can’t even catch me, mister great
athlete himself.
AVERY
I ran a 6.8 forty-yard dash just
KATIE
In your dreams you ran that fast!
(When Avery grabs for the letter, Katie tosses it. Avery barely manages to get it.)
LUKE
(sitting up)
What are you two screaming about? Can’t you act
like civilized human beings for a change?
KATIE
Yeah; civilized, Avery. Do you even know what
that is?
AVERY
(reading letter)
It’s from the Diamondbacks. I knew I saw their scout
at the game.
LUKE
You still shouldn’t be running like maniacs through this
house.
AVERY
Dad, they want me to play professional baseball. This
is absolutely incredible!
LUKE
You have to finish high school, Avery. That’s not up
for debate.
AVERY
(reading letter)
I will, dad. This is for the summer. They saw me play
last week, they were impressed with how I played at
several positions, their recruiter stayed the whole
game so he could see me finish the game; this is
fantastic!
LUKE
Avery, you know what we said about baseball. School
comes first, then sports.
AVERY
Dad, I understand, but this is the major leagues. They
want me to start playing for them in June.
KATIE
Don’t you have to be 18 to play pro ball?
AVERY
16, actually. They said I should call them as soon as
I make a decision.
LUKE
Well, at least wait for your mother to come home.
AVERY
I will. Thanks, dad.
(Ellen comes in the back door. She leaves her bags on the dining table.)
KATIE
Are you hungry, dad? I haven’t eaten since breakfast,
and I am starving.
LUKE
We had grilled cheese for lunch today.
KATIE
Do you want a snack?
LUKE
No, thanks, Katie. You’ve done enough cooking for
one day.
(Ellen comes into the living room.)
ELLEN
Oh, good; we’re all here.
LUKE
Ellen. You’re home early.
(Katie gives Ellen the rest of the mail.)
ELLEN
We’re supposed to go shopping this afternoon,
remember?
LUKE
Oh, yes. Excellent. I’m almost ready.
(Luke looks around the living room for his sneakers.)