HUDSON FARM/DAY

GREG is sitting on the couch, randomly flipping through channels on the TV, a book in his lap. His expression is one of boredom, and annoyance. He barely glances up as JOHN enters the room.

JOHN
Hey, Greg…what's going on? Are you studying?

GREG
Already studied…I'm bored now.

JOHN
Did you talk to your counselor about getting you into the Independent Study program?

GREG
I tried…but they don't really do that. And I wouldn't be able to really do independent study…I'd have to work with other kids.

JOHN
I don't get that. We had you in that class in Oklahoma.

GREG
Yeah, amazing that Oklahoma would have a better academic program than here, huh?

JOHN
(with a laugh)
Well, you know, son, classes at BCU start on Wednesday. If you want, I can get you into a couple of classes there. They do have the accelerated program for gifted students.

GREG
(shrugging)
I don't know…I don't want to get stuck in a class that's just as easy as the ones I'm in now.

JOHN
I can promise you that won't happen. How about a microbiology class? And a chemistry class? That's two less credits you have to take at college.

GREG
I didn't think I could take micro?

JOHN
I can get you in. Your old man has a little pull.

GREG
Sure…if you can get me in.

JOHN
(grinning)
You doubt your dad?

GREG
(with a smile)
Nah…not at all.

JOHN
Good. Let me take care of it. (He sits next to Greg) Your mom and I have been a little concerned about you. You haven't seemed very happy since we moved back here.

GREG
I'm fine…really.

JOHN
You never go out with any of your friends…you hang out here every weekend. I know you miss your friends back in Oklahoma, but haven't you thought about making some friends here?

GREG
I have made friends…I just don't feel like hanging out with them. They all hang out at the mall, or some fast food place, and that's not my thing.

JOHN
(with a sigh)
I hate seeing you waste your high school years stuck in this rut. I know you're concerned about your studies, but you shouldn't be. You're making all As. If anything, your mom and I would rather see you studying less and going out a little more.

GREG
(exploding)
God, Dad, why is it so important? I just don't feel like going out with a bunch of high school kids, okay?

Without another word, Greg stands up and storms upstairs. John shakes his head in disbelief as a door slams.

CUT TO:

LORNA'S HOUSE/SAME DAY

FELICIA holds JENNA quietly, as Jenna cries into her shoulder. LORNA walks into the room from the hallway, as GABRIELLE runs to her.

GABRIELLE
(putting a finger to her lips)
Mommy! Aun' Jenna is crying!

LORNA
(picking her up)
I can see that.

She stands, silently watching Felicia and Jenna. As they notice her, Jenna steps away from Felicia.

JENNA
Okay, I'm not going through this explanation again.

LORNA
You don't have to. I wasn't going to ask.

JENNA
I don't want to talk about it anymore. Just none of it.

FELICIA
Okay…we'll let it go, honey. But you know you can talk to me if you want.

JENNA
I know.

FELICIA
Tell you what. I'm going to follow through on my promise to take Gabrielle to the park. Do either of you girls want to go?

JENNA
I'll go. I could use the air.

LORNA
Actually, if you don't mind, I'll bow out. I have a couple of things I need to work on for the Herald, and it'll be easier to do it if you've got her out of the house.

FELICIA
Okay. I need her coat and gloves.

As Lorna takes Gabrielle's winter coat from the closet, there is a knock on the door. She reaches for the door and opens it to find MATT standing there.

LORNA
Matt. You're here.

MATT
Hi…can we talk?

Felicia notices Matt at the door, and takes the coat from Lorna, putting it on Gabrielle quickly.

FELICIA
Okay, we'll head out of here and let the two of you talk. We'll be back in about an hour or so.

Lorna nods, without saying a word. Matt stands aside to let Felicia and Jenna out with Gabrielle. After they leave, he turns back to Lorna, uncomfortably.

MATT
So…

LORNA
Come inside, Matt…I really don't want to have this conversation in the hallway where all of the neighbors can see and hear.

She shuts the front door, then leads Matt into the living room. He sits on the sofa, and she sits next to him.

LORNA (cont'd)
All I can do right now is apologize.

MATT
I don't want an apology. I want to know why.

Lorna doesn't answer him. She looks down at her hands, twisting them.

MATT (cont'd)
Lorna…we're never going to figure this out if you don't talk to me.

LORNA
I don't know what to say. Everything I say is going to come out wrong. There's nothing RIGHT that I can say.

MATT
Tell me it was just a spur of the moment thing, you guys were caught up in the emotion of the night, it's never happened before-

He pauses and stares at her.

MATT (cont'd)
It HAS happened before, hasn't it?

She doesn't reply.

CUT TO:

LUCKY LADY/SAME DAY

The two guys and the girl are still standing next to HAYLEY, KC, and TITO'S table.

BLOND GUY
(smiling)
We saw that you guys are at BCU, so we figured we'd start a conversation to see if we could get invited to sit here. There aren't any tables left and we didn't want to have to leave.

KC, Hayley, and Tito exchange a glance, then burst into laughter.

HAYLEY
Tell you what. First you have to tell us what your names are, and then you can sit here.

BLOND GUY
(grinning at her)
Cool. I'm Donovan. (Motioning to tall African-American boy) This is Trevor, and-

GIRL
I'm Sage. Donovan likes to speak for all of us sometimes. (She grins)

HAYLEY
I'm Hayley, this is KC, and this is Tito. Pull up some chairs and have a seat.

The three new arrivals pull up chairs.

KC
Do you guys want anything? My mom's the owner, so I'll just go back and grab stuff. I didn't realize how busy it had gotten in here. I think we need refills anyway.

SAGE
That'd be great, actually. I just want a regular coffee.

TREVOR
Same here.

DONOVAN
A latte would be good.

KC
Two coffees and a latte coming up. Same thing for you guys? (She looks at Hayley and Tito, who nod.) Be right back.

She goes to the counter.

TREVOR
Sorry to just kind of invade…I hope we didn't interrupt anything.

HAYLEY
No…we were just talking about our classes…nothing that's of worldwide importance. (She grins at Trevor.)

SAGE
You guys freshmen?

HAYLEY
Tito and I are…KC's a sophomore. She transferred from Harvard.

SAGE
Wow…Harvard?

HAYLEY
Her family's here. Are you guys freshmen?

DONOVAN
(nodding)
Yeah…we all went to high school together in Chicago and got an apartment together here. It's kind of hard to meet people when you've got an apartment, though…so we've mostly been hanging together.

TITO
That's cool…so what're you guys majoring in?

SAGE
(shrugging)
Who knows? (She laughs) Majoring in No Direction, right now…

HAYLEY
(with a grin)
Same here. I'm trying to find a major. I can't decide.

TREVOR
Do you live on campus?

TITO
(shaking his head)
I have a room downtown, KC lives with her family-

HAYLEY
And I live with my sister.

Hayley glances towards the front door to see it open and SERGEI come in the door. As he sees her, he waves.

HAYLEY (cont'd)
(to the table)
Hey, guys, can you excuse me for a second?

They nod, and continue talking. Hayley stands and walks over to Sergei.

SERGEI
Hayley! I am glad to be seeing you!

HAYLEY
Hey, Sergei…are you here to talk to Etta Mae?

SERGEI
No…I am here to talk to you…I must have talk with you about Lorna.

HAYLEY
Look, Sergei, I don't want to get into a discussion about my sister with you.

SERGEI
But Hayley…I am not knowing what to say to her now…Felicia-

HAYLEY
What about Felicia?

SERGEI
Felicia-she knows I am in love with Lorna.

Hayley's face drops and she appears more sympathetic.

HAYLEY
Oh, Sergei…

SERGEI
And I have kissed Lorna…two times…New Year's. And Matt Cory has seen me kiss her New Year's.

HAYLEY
Oh, no, Sergei…what a mess…

Hayley puts a hand on his arm.

FADE OUT