End of Part 23:
TYLER
I’d love nothing more than to
witness this train wreck in person.
But I promised Caroline I’d take
her shopping for school.
Craig's Partner passes Ally and Tyler. He notices Ally immediately. He takes a long look at Tyler as he follows his wife and kids into the next car.
Part 24:
INT. PEARL PAINT -- EVENING
Tyler and Caroline shop together. Caroline holds two boxes of colored pencils. Tyler holds a basket of supplies. She reads the labels. He checks his watch.
CAROLINE
Which one do you like?
TYLER
There’s a difference?
CAROLINE
This box has magenta but not
fuchsia. And this box has fuchsia
but not magenta.
TYLER
Just get them both.
CAROLINE
But all the other colors are the
same. That seems superfuous.
TYLER
It's super-flu-ous. Come on we’ve
been here for two hours.
Just get both and donate the extras
to orphans or something.
CAROLINE
But then the orphans won’t have a
complete set. That can be very
frustrating.
Tyler grabs both boxes and drops them in the basket.
INT. PEARL PAINT -- CHECKOUT -- LATER
A CASHIER rings up Tyler and Caroline.
TYLER
...So are you gonna go?
CAROLINE
I don't know... I've never been to
a make over party before, it sounds
sorta lame... I don't know.
Probably not.
INT. TENEMENT -- STAIRWELL -- LATER
Tyler and Caroline walk up the narrow stairwell in silence.
TYLER
I think you should go. Your friend
thought to invite you... you should
go.
CAROLINE
I don't really know anyone else
though... I don't know.
Tyler is a little frustrated with Caroline's reticence.
TYLER
You don't know what? The girl
wouldn't have invited you if she
didn't want you there, right?
They approach his apartment.
CAROLINE
...I guess not.
TYLER
Then you should go. You'll have
fun. You'll make some friends.
Tyler goes to open his door. He finds it unlocked.
INT. TYLER'S APARTMENT -- LIVING ROOM -- LATER
Tyler freezes as he steps across the threshold. He stares. Caroline looks confused, no fear, just childish curiosity.
CAROLINE
Hello...
Sergeant Craig in the dark on Tyler's ratty couch staring blankly. He's in full uniform. His police issued 9MM lies on the coffee table.
Tyler staring at the loaded gun and the unstable man.
TYLER
I'm gonna put her in my room. I'll
come right back. We can talk.
INT. TYLER'S BEDROOM -- LATER
Caroline sitting on Tyler's bed watching him lock the door.
CAROLINE
Who is that?
TYLER
Just a friend.
Tyler pulls her pencils and a sketch book out of one of the bags. Gives them to her. He speaks quickly and quietly.
TYLER
I'm gonna go out there and talk to
my friend now. You stay here.
CAROLINE
Why is your friend sitting in the
dark?
TYLER
I'm gonna lock the door. You don't
open it until I say so... You don't
open this door. Understand?
Caroline looks troubled. Tyler kneels beside her.
TYLER
It's OK. It's fine. I'll be right
outside. Everything's fine.
CAROLINE
Promise?
Tyler brushes the hair away from her face. Smiles.
TYLER
I'll be right outside.
He kisses her forehead.
INT. TYLER'S APARTMENT -- LIVING ROOM -- LATER
Tyler takes a seat across from Craig. His eyes keep drifting to the 9mm on the coffee table between them.
TYLER
How'd you know she was here?
When Craig speaks his words are slow and deliberate.
SERGEANT CRAIG
I got a lotta eyes and ears in this
city, Tyler... lotta eyes and ears.
TYLER
Let me just say that--
SERGEANT CRAIG
You happy Tyler? You a happy guy?
TYLER
I don't know what--
SERGEANT CRAIG
Sure you do. My daughter, she's
here, she's here with you. She's
not home with me anymore. She's
with you. You don't expect me to
believe this is all one big happy
coincidence do you?
TYLER
I know what it must look like but--
SERGEANT CRAIG
In your bed?
TYLER
Excuse me?
SERGEANT CRAIG
Is she staying in your bed? It
would be very bad if you lied.
TYLER
Yes.
Craig picks up the gun. Grips it. Stares at it. Tyler tenses.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know Tyler in my day... when a
man had a problem with another man
he dealt only with that man... We
never brought family into it. That
was a line we didn't cross... You
know why?... You hurt his family...
he hurts yours. Where does it stop?
Craig's eyes drift to Tyler's bedroom door.
TYLER
It’s not what you think.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know a lot don't you, Tyler?
TYLER
I know I care about her.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know about her mom, Tyler?
Tyler nods. Craig examines his gun.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know about love, Tyler?
Tyler's nervous. He can't take his eyes off the gun.
TYLER
Well, I--
SERGEANT CRAIG
You don't. You can't. Not yet.
Craig flips the safety off and on, off and on, off...
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know about loss, Tyler?
TYLER
(surprisingly direct)
Yeah. Yes. I do.
...and on.
SERGEANT CRAIG
And how's that?
TYLER
My older brother. He was killed. At
the Trade Center.
Silence. Craig staring at Tyler. Tyler staring back. This commonality was unexpected. It's thrown Craig. Craig sets the gun down. Tyler exhales.
TYLER
I know something else... something
I don't think you know.
SERGEANT CRAIG
What's that, Tyler?
TYLER
Ally didn't leave because of you.
She left for you...
Craig looks away.
TYLER
I've caught her with her phone in
her hand a few times. She's close.
Just give her a little more time.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You're right, I didn't know that.
Craig picks up the gun. He stands and heads for the door.
SERGEANT CRAIG
As long as my daughter stays here
this dead bolt stays locked.
And then he's gone. And it's just Tyler alone on his couch trying to remember how to breathe.
INT. TYLER'S BEDROOM -- LATER
Caroline unlocks the door. Tyler standing in the doorway.
CAROLINE
Is your friend OK now?
Tyler just pulls her into a hug, kisses the top of her head.
TYLER
Let's get you home.
EXT. HOFFMAN FAMILY HOME -- FRONT STEPS -- NIGHT
Tyler has just closed the front door. He glances back through the front window where Caroline can be seen showing Diane the supplies she and Tyler bought together. Tyler lights a cigarette, his hands shake. He begins down the stairs just as Les rides up to the house on an old ten speed.
LES
Hey. How'd it go?
Tyler sucks at the cigarette. He's distracted.
TYLER
What? Oh, Care, yeah, good.
LES
You OK? You look paler than usual.
TYLER
Yeah, fine. I'm fine. I'll see ya.
Tyler turns to go. Les can tell something's wrong.
LES
You know you can talk to me...
about stuff. I don't have to tell
your mom. I'm not legally obligated
to do that. I checked.
Tyler considers him. Takes a long drag of his cigarette.
TYLER
You ever tell a lie without lying?
Like you tell the truth but not the
whole truth so you're never really
lying you're just kind of omitting?
LES
I'm married, Tyler.
Tyler manages a smile but just for a second.
TYLER
That cop... who beat me up... he's
Ally's dad. I just came home and
found him sitting in my living room
with a gun. We had a nice talk.
Silence. Les scratching his head.
LES
Fuck.
Tyler just looks at him as if to say "That's all you got?"
LES
...Sorry.
TYLER
She's gonna think that I...
LES
Didn't you?
TYLER
Yeah. But... I like her. A lot. I
have to tell her. I don't know how.
Tyler smoking. Les thinking.
LES
I don't know much about much and I
know even less about women. But I
have made a lot of mistakes. I've
told lies and I've omitted truth
and all I can tell you for sure is
it doesn't matter how you tell her.
There's not much you can do now to
affect how she feels about it...
Tyler sighs.
LES
She might shrug it off. She might
tell you to fuck off...
Les takes Tyler's cigarette. He takes a drag then tosses it.
LES
There's only one way to find out.
TYLER
I’d love nothing more than to
witness this train wreck in person.
But I promised Caroline I’d take
her shopping for school.
Craig's Partner passes Ally and Tyler. He notices Ally immediately. He takes a long look at Tyler as he follows his wife and kids into the next car.
Part 24:
INT. PEARL PAINT -- EVENING
Tyler and Caroline shop together. Caroline holds two boxes of colored pencils. Tyler holds a basket of supplies. She reads the labels. He checks his watch.
CAROLINE
Which one do you like?
TYLER
There’s a difference?
CAROLINE
This box has magenta but not
fuchsia. And this box has fuchsia
but not magenta.
TYLER
Just get them both.
CAROLINE
But all the other colors are the
same. That seems superfuous.
TYLER
It's super-flu-ous. Come on we’ve
been here for two hours.
Just get both and donate the extras
to orphans or something.
CAROLINE
But then the orphans won’t have a
complete set. That can be very
frustrating.
Tyler grabs both boxes and drops them in the basket.
INT. PEARL PAINT -- CHECKOUT -- LATER
A CASHIER rings up Tyler and Caroline.
TYLER
...So are you gonna go?
CAROLINE
I don't know... I've never been to
a make over party before, it sounds
sorta lame... I don't know.
Probably not.
INT. TENEMENT -- STAIRWELL -- LATER
Tyler and Caroline walk up the narrow stairwell in silence.
TYLER
I think you should go. Your friend
thought to invite you... you should
go.
CAROLINE
I don't really know anyone else
though... I don't know.
Tyler is a little frustrated with Caroline's reticence.
TYLER
You don't know what? The girl
wouldn't have invited you if she
didn't want you there, right?
They approach his apartment.
CAROLINE
...I guess not.
TYLER
Then you should go. You'll have
fun. You'll make some friends.
Tyler goes to open his door. He finds it unlocked.
INT. TYLER'S APARTMENT -- LIVING ROOM -- LATER
Tyler freezes as he steps across the threshold. He stares. Caroline looks confused, no fear, just childish curiosity.
CAROLINE
Hello...
Sergeant Craig in the dark on Tyler's ratty couch staring blankly. He's in full uniform. His police issued 9MM lies on the coffee table.
Tyler staring at the loaded gun and the unstable man.
TYLER
I'm gonna put her in my room. I'll
come right back. We can talk.
INT. TYLER'S BEDROOM -- LATER
Caroline sitting on Tyler's bed watching him lock the door.
CAROLINE
Who is that?
TYLER
Just a friend.
Tyler pulls her pencils and a sketch book out of one of the bags. Gives them to her. He speaks quickly and quietly.
TYLER
I'm gonna go out there and talk to
my friend now. You stay here.
CAROLINE
Why is your friend sitting in the
dark?
TYLER
I'm gonna lock the door. You don't
open it until I say so... You don't
open this door. Understand?
Caroline looks troubled. Tyler kneels beside her.
TYLER
It's OK. It's fine. I'll be right
outside. Everything's fine.
CAROLINE
Promise?
Tyler brushes the hair away from her face. Smiles.
TYLER
I'll be right outside.
He kisses her forehead.
INT. TYLER'S APARTMENT -- LIVING ROOM -- LATER
Tyler takes a seat across from Craig. His eyes keep drifting to the 9mm on the coffee table between them.
TYLER
How'd you know she was here?
When Craig speaks his words are slow and deliberate.
SERGEANT CRAIG
I got a lotta eyes and ears in this
city, Tyler... lotta eyes and ears.
TYLER
Let me just say that--
SERGEANT CRAIG
You happy Tyler? You a happy guy?
TYLER
I don't know what--
SERGEANT CRAIG
Sure you do. My daughter, she's
here, she's here with you. She's
not home with me anymore. She's
with you. You don't expect me to
believe this is all one big happy
coincidence do you?
TYLER
I know what it must look like but--
SERGEANT CRAIG
In your bed?
TYLER
Excuse me?
SERGEANT CRAIG
Is she staying in your bed? It
would be very bad if you lied.
TYLER
Yes.
Craig picks up the gun. Grips it. Stares at it. Tyler tenses.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know Tyler in my day... when a
man had a problem with another man
he dealt only with that man... We
never brought family into it. That
was a line we didn't cross... You
know why?... You hurt his family...
he hurts yours. Where does it stop?
Craig's eyes drift to Tyler's bedroom door.
TYLER
It’s not what you think.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know a lot don't you, Tyler?
TYLER
I know I care about her.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know about her mom, Tyler?
Tyler nods. Craig examines his gun.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know about love, Tyler?
Tyler's nervous. He can't take his eyes off the gun.
TYLER
Well, I--
SERGEANT CRAIG
You don't. You can't. Not yet.
Craig flips the safety off and on, off and on, off...
SERGEANT CRAIG
You know about loss, Tyler?
TYLER
(surprisingly direct)
Yeah. Yes. I do.
...and on.
SERGEANT CRAIG
And how's that?
TYLER
My older brother. He was killed. At
the Trade Center.
Silence. Craig staring at Tyler. Tyler staring back. This commonality was unexpected. It's thrown Craig. Craig sets the gun down. Tyler exhales.
TYLER
I know something else... something
I don't think you know.
SERGEANT CRAIG
What's that, Tyler?
TYLER
Ally didn't leave because of you.
She left for you...
Craig looks away.
TYLER
I've caught her with her phone in
her hand a few times. She's close.
Just give her a little more time.
SERGEANT CRAIG
You're right, I didn't know that.
Craig picks up the gun. He stands and heads for the door.
SERGEANT CRAIG
As long as my daughter stays here
this dead bolt stays locked.
And then he's gone. And it's just Tyler alone on his couch trying to remember how to breathe.
INT. TYLER'S BEDROOM -- LATER
Caroline unlocks the door. Tyler standing in the doorway.
CAROLINE
Is your friend OK now?
Tyler just pulls her into a hug, kisses the top of her head.
TYLER
Let's get you home.
EXT. HOFFMAN FAMILY HOME -- FRONT STEPS -- NIGHT
Tyler has just closed the front door. He glances back through the front window where Caroline can be seen showing Diane the supplies she and Tyler bought together. Tyler lights a cigarette, his hands shake. He begins down the stairs just as Les rides up to the house on an old ten speed.
LES
Hey. How'd it go?
Tyler sucks at the cigarette. He's distracted.
TYLER
What? Oh, Care, yeah, good.
LES
You OK? You look paler than usual.
TYLER
Yeah, fine. I'm fine. I'll see ya.
Tyler turns to go. Les can tell something's wrong.
LES
You know you can talk to me...
about stuff. I don't have to tell
your mom. I'm not legally obligated
to do that. I checked.
Tyler considers him. Takes a long drag of his cigarette.
TYLER
You ever tell a lie without lying?
Like you tell the truth but not the
whole truth so you're never really
lying you're just kind of omitting?
LES
I'm married, Tyler.
Tyler manages a smile but just for a second.
TYLER
That cop... who beat me up... he's
Ally's dad. I just came home and
found him sitting in my living room
with a gun. We had a nice talk.
Silence. Les scratching his head.
LES
Fuck.
Tyler just looks at him as if to say "That's all you got?"
LES
...Sorry.
TYLER
She's gonna think that I...
LES
Didn't you?
TYLER
Yeah. But... I like her. A lot. I
have to tell her. I don't know how.
Tyler smoking. Les thinking.
LES
I don't know much about much and I
know even less about women. But I
have made a lot of mistakes. I've
told lies and I've omitted truth
and all I can tell you for sure is
it doesn't matter how you tell her.
There's not much you can do now to
affect how she feels about it...
Tyler sighs.
LES
She might shrug it off. She might
tell you to fuck off...
Les takes Tyler's cigarette. He takes a drag then tosses it.
LES
There's only one way to find out.