GOAL TO GO

Episode 3.36

“Piece of Cake”

by

David Polk
 2.

RECAP

We Recap events from Previous Episodes, ending on Achilles

waiting to hear who wins the Heisman Trophy.

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. PRISON VISITING ROOM – DAY

Gracie Wellington is speaking to her mother Glynnis on a

phone handset through security glass. With short hair and
in an orange jumpsuit, Glynnis looks younger than we
remember. Healthier, less drawn.

GRACIE
How are you, Mom? You look good.

GLYNNIS
I feel alright. There ain’t much good
to say about this place, but they got
me cleaned out. I’ll give ‘em that.

GRACIE
Give yourself some credit too, Mom.

Glynnis shrugs. Looks at then touches the GIFTWRAPPED

PACKAGE in front of her.

GLYNNIS
Thank you for this, honey.

GRACIE
They rewrapped it for you?

GLYNNIS
No, they x-ray them now. Just like at
the airport. The guards know what you
got me for Christmas before I do.

GRACIE
I hope you like it, Mom.

GLYNNIS
I know I will. If nothing else, I love
the box. It’s very pretty, Gracie.
And so are you. I can tell you’re
learning a lot from Mrs. Donahue.
 3.

GRACIE
(beat)
She’s alright.

GLYNNIS
I’m sure she’s more than “alright.”
Now that you see how the other half
lives, I’ll bet you wish she was your
real mom.

GRACIE
That’s not true. I appreciate that the
Donahues took me in, but I know who I
am. I know who my mother is.

GLYNNIS
Yeah, an old crack head locked up for
the next 8 years.

GRACIE
Mrs. Donahue says Mr. Paisley is still
working hard on your appeal and that
you shouldn’t give up hope that you’ll
get out of here soon.

GLYNNIS
Gracie, honey, I married your father,
remember. I’ve seen this movie. I
know how it ends.

GRACIE
Just don’t give up hope, Mom. Okay?
(beat)
I miss you, Mom.

GLYNNIS
I miss you too, honey. I’m so glad you
came. So tell me, how are things going
with you and Johnny?! I hope you two
are behaving yourselves, living
together under the same roof!

Gracie reacts. Dreading what’s next.

GRACIE
About that, Mom...J.R. and I aren’t
dating any more.
 4.

GLYNNIS
What? But, honey, you’re crazy about
him. What happened? Gracie, what did
you do?!

GRACIE
I didn’t do anything, Mom.

GLYNNIS
It’s because you stopped putting out
for him, isn’t it?

GRACIE
(looks around, embarrassed)
Mom, please –

GLYNNIS
You shouldn’t have cut him off, Gracie.
Once a boy starts getting it, he can’t
do without. If he can’t get it from
you he’ll get if from somebody
else...That’s what happened, isn’t it?

GRACIE
Mom, please. I don’t want to talk
about me and J.R. It’s over.

GLYNNIS
Why, because he slept with another
girl? So what. Is she his first love?
Does she live in the same house as he
does? Well? Listen, Gracie, you can’t
give up on him just because some little
tart spread her legs for him.

GRACIE
Mom, it’s over, and I’m fine with it
now, okay.

GLYNNIS
Don’t be a stupid cow, Gracie. Mrs.
Donahue treats you like a daughter.
There’s no reason she wouldn’t accept
you as her daughter-in-law.

GRACIE
Mom, please...

GLYNNIS
So you don’t love him anymore?
 5.

GRACIE
I didn’t say that. But things are
different now, Mom.

GLYNNIS
The only thing that’s different is
you’re not using your head. Don’t be a
fool, Gracie. That boy is your ticket
out of the crappy life that your father
and I put you in. Don’t throw it away.

INT. PRISON WAITING ROOM - DAY

Gale Donahue sits reading a magazine. A WOMAN (late 30s)

across from her smiles politely, recognizing her.

WOMAN
I hope you don’t think I’m rude to ask,
but it’s absolutely killing me. Who do
you know in here?

GALE
A family friend’s mother is
here...temporarily.

WOMAN
Yes...of course, an appeal. I’m with
my friend too. Her daughter’s here.
She brought her daughter’s baby for a
visit. Her grandson.

GALE
(polite disinterest)
Yes...of course.

WOMAN
Sonia - that’s Fannie’s daughter –
Sonia is talking to her lawyer about
reducing her sentence. I don’t know
the details, but Sonia’s good-for-
nothing boyfriend Hank got her involved
in a carjacking that was really a hit-
for-hire, only Sonia didn’t know
anything about the hit-for-hire part.
So Sonia’s lawyer thinks he can get her
sentence reduced if she helps finger
the person who put out the contract.

Gale’s interest has grown.

 6.

GALE
Did you say this woman who was involved
in the carjacking – Sonia – has a baby?

INT. PRISON VISITING ROOM – DAY

Gracie is saying goodbye to Glynnis. They each press a

hand to the glass. It’s an emotional moment for them.

GRACIE
Mom...I love you.

GLYNNIS
I love you too, honey.

Gracie hangs up the phone. Glynnis smiles bravely. When

Gracie leaves she passes FANNIE (late 30s), a couple of
stalls away. She’s bouncing a TODDLER on her lap as she
talks through the glass to SONIA (19). We recognize her as
the young woman who tricked Billy Donahue into being
carjacked.

FANNIE
Mr. Barker says if you turn state’s
evidence you can get outta here sooner.

SONIA
But Momma, they could put Hank away for
life.

FANNIE
I could give a rat’s ass what happens
to that worthless son of a bitch. The
only life that matters here is this
baby’s. He needs his mother.

SONIA
Momma, I never talked to them. Hank
was always the one on the phone.

FANNIE
But you know who he was talking too,
don’t you?

SONIA
Yes Momma...I know.

SMASH CUT TO TITLES.

END TEASER
 7.

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. MUSTANG - MOVING – DAY

Dallas Morales is driving. Cara “Cat” Trzcinski is riding

shotgun.

CAT
Get ready. The exit’s coming up.

DALLAS
I remember how to get there, Red.

CAT
(re: the weather)
We should stop at the Wawa before we
get there. When the snow hits the
mountain roads get pretty messy. We
don’t want to be low on gas up here.

DALLAS
Whatever you say, Miss Wilderness.

CAT
I can’t believe what a soft city boy
you are. You were never even a Cub
Scout?

DALLAS
Don’t you mean “Boy Scout?”

CAT
You’re a Cub Scout before you become a
Boy Scout. Just like you’re a Daisy
before you’re a Girl Scout. Christ,
did you do anything when you were a boy
besides suck your mom’s tits and watch
Sesame Street in Espanol?

DALLAS
At least she had tits I could suck.

Cat hits him hard in the shoulder. He’s laughing and

rubbing his shoulder when –

CAT
Here! This is the turn!
 8.

DALLAS
Okay, okay. I see it, Red.

CAT
Use your turn signal so those guys know
to turn.

DALLAS
They’re right behind us.

CAT
(hits him again)
Turn signal!

He hits the turn signal...

INT. BMW 650 COUPE – MOVING – DAY

Achilles Addams is driving. Gino Bartelli is shotgun.

Portia Addams and Cake D’Agostino are in back. Gino’s
trying to be cool, but he’s nervous with someone else
behind the wheel of his car.

GINO
Look, he’s taking a right up here.

ACHILLES
Got it.

Achilles hits the turn signal. Follows the Mustang.

CAKE
Don’t worry, Gino. I’ve been to Ed’s
cabin a thousand times. I won’t let us
get lost.

GINO
Thanks, Sweet Thing.
(to Achilles re: Cake)
Beautiful with built-in GPS too.

ACHILLES
(glances at Cake in the
rearview)
You’ve got everything in this car.

GINO
You can’t go wrong with a BMW, Ice Man.
Everything they make is engineered to
perfection.
 9.

PORTIA
Don’t tell him that. Now he’ll spend
hours online dreaming about BMWs
instead of getting school work done.

GINO
Come April he could be doing more than
dreaming, Portia. Look, Ice Man, you
enter the draft and you can snap one of
these babies up and a matching one for
Portia with bonus money alone.

CAKE
That’s enough, enough! He doesn’t need
you giving him any more advice.

GINO
It’s just guys talking, right, Ice Man?
Look, I know it had to suck, but not
winning the Heisman is probably the
best thing to happen to you. How many
quarterbacks who’ve won the Heisman go
on to succeed in the NFL? Not many,
right? Winning it is really a jinx.

PORTIA
He’s got a point, Lee. Jim Plunkett is
the last Heisman quarterback to win a
Super Bowl, and he had a horrible NFL
career before he got to the Raiders.

GINO
See! And she’s a genius.

CAKE
You don’t think he should leave college
early do you, Portia?

PORTIA
He’s thinking about it. Right, Lee?

ACHILLES
Whoa! What’s going on here?

Achilles suddenly slows the car then follows the Mustang

into a Wawa convenience store-gas station lot.
 10.

INT. JAGUAR COUPE – MOVING – DAY

Gale is behind the wheel, deep in thought. Gracie’s next

to her.

GRACIE
Are you alright, Mrs. Donahue? Mrs.
Donahue?

GALE
I’m sorry, Gracie. What did you say,
Sweetheart?

GRACIE
I said are you alright? You haven’t
said anything for miles and you seem
worried about something.

GALE
I’m sorry, Gracie. I’ve been very
rude. I haven’t even asked about your
visit with your mother. How is she?

GRACIE
Trying to hang in there, I guess. I
told her that Mr. Paisley is working
hard on her appeal.

GALE
If anyone can help your mother now,
it’s Alan. But Gracie, Sweetheart, I
don’t want you to get your hopes up.
I’d hate to see you disappointed.

GRACIE
Yeah, I know. Mrs. Donahue, I know you
think my mother is a horrible person
for doing drugs and sleeping with a
drug dealer...

GALE
I don’t think she’s horrible, Gracie.
She’s made bad choices and those
choices have cost her.

GRACIE
I know. I guess what I’m trying to say
is she’s always tried to do the right
things for me. I mean, she kicked my
(MORE)
 11.

GRACIE (CONT’D.)
father out of the house, and she went
through I don’t know how many rehabs.
She just wanted what’s best for me.

GALE
Of course, Gracie, I know. I’m a
mother; we’ll move heaven and earth for
our children. Hopefully one day you’ll
know what I mean.

GRACIE
One day. Maybe.

INT. WAWA - DAY

Achilles, Dallas, Gino, Portia, Cat and Cake enter the

convenience store.

PORTIA
How long before we reach the cabin?

CAT
Another half-hour; a little longer if
this snow keeps coming down.

PORTIA
Then I’d better hit the ladies’ room.

Portia goes to the back of the store. Cake and Cat go to

one aisle; Achilles, Dallas and Gino head for another.

CAKE
Did you know Achilles is thinking about
leaving school early for the NFL?

CAT
He never said anything to me about it.
You can’t believe the media hype, Cake.

CAKE
Well Portia said he’s thinking about it
and I believe her.

CAT
I don’t think he’ll leave early. It’s
tough enough making it in the pros,
even harder for quarterbacks.
Einstein’s dumb but he’s not stupid.
 12.

GINO
I’m not telling you anything you don’t
already know, Ice Man. You’re a
quarterback, you’re a good looking guy,
your wife’s a knockout, so there’s
going to be a shit load of endorsement
opportunities right out of the gate.

ACHILLES
The Lesbot let’s you eat that shit?

Achilles, Gino and Dallas are in front of Frozen Foods.

Dallas is holding a handful of “Hungry Man” dinners. He
tosses them into Gino’s handcart.

DALLAS
These are for Gino. Right, Gino?

GINO
Um...yeah, sure. Right, D.

DALLAS
Look, Q.B., this “you going pro thing”
is getting serious buzz. Some of the
guys are even starting to wonder. Have
you talked to Coach about it?

ACHILLES
What’s to talk about? I’m thinking
about Alabama and the Sugar Bowl.
Period.

GINO
If you have a good game against ‘Bama
you’ll be a hot commodity. You could
even move you up in the draft.

CAKE
You say he won’t do it, Cat, but isn’t
Portia graduating in the spring?

CAT
Spring or summer. So?

CAKE
If she goes, why would he stay?

Cat puts a package of rice cakes in her handcart. She’s

mildly annoyed by the question.
 13.

CAT
Cake, why do you care?

CAKE
(covering)
I don’t really. He’s your friend. I
just thought you’d want to know if he
was planning on doing something stupid.

PORTIA (O.S.)
Who’s doing something stupid?

Cat and Cake turn around to face Portia, who’s just come
out of the ladies’ room.

INT. DONAHUE HOME (GREAT ROOM) – DAY

Billy Donahue is on the phone, looking out the window at

the falling snow. Behind him is a 9-foot CHRISTMAS TREE
decked out to the max.

BILLY
I don’t want you on the roads, Gale.
Pull off and stay at a motel.

INT. JAGUAR COUPE – MOVING – DAY

Gale is on the hands-free car phone. Snow is falling and

the windshield wipers work hard to clear it away.

GALE
I will if I have to, Billy. I’ll give
it a few miles. It could clear up.

INTERCUT BILLY/GALE

BILLY
Listen, Gale. Don’t give it a few more
miles. Have Gracie punch the nearest
hotel into the Nav system and you get
there. Do it now.

GALE
But Billy honey, Duncan’s going to
wonder where I am.
 14.

BILLY
Duncan will be fine. Beatrice is here
and can stay the night if need be. You
get off the roads to someplace safe.
You hear?

GALE
Yes, Billy. I hear.

INT. JAGUAR – MOVING – DAY

Gale hangs up by pushing a button on the steering wheel.

Gracie is already working the navigation system to pull up
“Nearest Hotels.”

INT. CABIN – DAY

Our sextet enters the cozy, rustic cabin.

CAT
Here we are: two bedrooms, one bath and
a great view of the Great Outdoors.

GINO
Two bedrooms?

CAKE
There’s a pull out bed in the sofa.

CAT
Casanova and me will take the pull out,
the old married couple can have the
bedroom and Gino and Cake, you get the
kids’ room.

GINO
The kids’ room? Next you’re going to
tell me it’s got bunk beds.

Cat and Cake exchange a smile.

GINO
Are you serious?

CAKE
Dibs on the top bunk.

CAT
Yeah, she really likes it on top, Gino.
 15.

ACHILLES
How do you know?

Cat smirks. Achilles flashes a bratty grin.

PORTIA
Lee, why don’t you and the boys bring
in the bags? Cat, what do we do to get
the place ready for the weekend?

EXT. CABIN - DAY

The boys unload the cars.

DALLAS
Sorry about the bunk beds, Gino. I
assumed Red was going to put us in the
kids’ room and give you and Cake the
sleeper sofa.

GINO
It’s alright. But next time we come up
me and Cake should get the bridal
suite.

DALLAS
The what?

Gino pulls a JEWELRY BOX from his jacket, reveals an

ENGAGEMENT RING. Dallas and Achilles react. “Whoa!”

ACHILLES
You’re going to ask her to marry you?

GINO
You got it, Ice Man. This weekend.

ACHILLES
Does she have any idea?

GINO
Nope. And guys, please don’t say
anything, okay? I’m going to ask her
tomorrow night.

ACHILLES
You think she’ll say “Yes?”
 16.

GINO
Sure! We’re made for each other, man!
Two strong Italian families, two great
businesses, she’s hot as hell. It’s a
no-brainer.

OFF Achilles...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

 17.

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. MOTEL 6 LOBBY – DAY

A female CLERK (late 20s) gives Gale room keys.

CLERK
You got here in the nick of time, Mrs.
Donahue. This is turning into one of
the worst storms in over a decade.
They’ve got four feet of snow to the
west. And it’s just getting started.

GRACIE
I remember one winter we got two days
out of school because of snow. That
was great!

GALE
Well, at least we’re off the roads.

CLERK
(smiles)
And we’ve got a Continental Breakfast
for you in the morning.

INT. MOTEL ROOM – LATER

Gracie is on the bed flicking through television channels.

Gale is on her cell phone.

GALE
(baby talk)
Yes, Sweetie, Mommy Gale misses her
baby. Mommy will see you tomorrow,
Sweetie. Bye-bye, Duncan. Bye-bye!
(beat, listens)
Yes Billy, Gracie and I are all settled
in here. Nothing to worry about.
(listens)
I didn’t speak to her but Gracie says
she’s doing well.

Gracie looks at Gale. Gale offers a supportive smile.

GALE
I’ll call tomorrow before we get back
on the road. Bye, honey. Love you.
 18.

She hangs up.

GRACIE
Everything okay back at home?

GALE
Yes, Sweetheart. Everything’s fine.

Gale goes to the bathroom, closes and locks the door. She
stares at herself in the mirror. We sense that she’s
thinking about the woman in the prison waiting room and
what she said about the hit-for-hire on Billy.

INT. COACH’S MEETING ROOM – DAY

Billy’s meeting with his ASSISTANT COACHES, among them Bob

Garcia, Joe Mercer, and Romeo Dumars.

BILLY
Alabama is fast as hell on both sides
of the ball.

BOB
That defense will flock to the ball
like demons. They’ve stopped some
high-octane offenses this season.

JOE
O’Hara, their defensive end, is a
monster. He’s SEC defensive player of
the year and he’ll probably be one of
the top 5 players in the draft.

BOB
I’m putting more screens and reverse
option plays into the game plan to slow
him down.

JOE
Our guys are going to have a hell of a
time containing their quarterback.
He’s as fast as Achilles, maybe faster.

BILLY
But he doesn’t have the accuracy. We
show him a lot of different looks on D,
make him put the ball up, he’ll make
mistakes that we can capitalize on.
 19.

JOE
If I’m Coach Saban, I’d do the same
thing to Achilles.

ROMEO
I played for Nick Saban, and you’re no
Nick Saban, Joe.

The coaches all laugh at the young assistant’s humor.

JOE
Weren’t you the water boy when Saban
coached at LSU?

BILLY
I thought you were his personal towel
boy, Rome.

BOB
That’s not what I heard. I heard he
was Saban’s butt boy.

OFF the coaches’ good-natured laughter...

INT. HALLWAY – LATER

The coaches leave their meeting. Billy stops Bob.

BILLY
Bob, Gale and I would love to have you
over for dinner Christmas Eve.

BOB
Thanks, Coach. Are you sure? I mean,
I’m not really expecting anything from
Gale under my tree this year.

BILLY
Look, Gale’s a woman so naturally she’s
going to side with Mimi. But she knows
it’s been hard for you too. She
doesn’t want you to be alone at
Christmastime and neither do I.

BOB
Okay. Thanks, Coach. I’ll be there.

BILLY
Great.
 20.

Billy slaps him on the shoulder then continues down the

hallway toward his office...

INT. OUTER OFFICE/BILLY’S OFFICE – DAY

Donna Dixon stops typing on her computer when Billy breezes

past toward his office, she follows him in.

DONNA
The itinerary for your January/February
recruiting trip is on the desk there.

BILLY
(scans itinerary)
I don’t see Boone on the list.

DONNA
That’s because Coach Garcia has been
handling his recruitment.

BILLY
(considers)
For now let’s put Boone back on my
schedule. If we don’t sign him I don’t
want to blame anyone by myself.

DONNA
You’ll get blamed regardless.

BILLY
(like a black kid)
True dat.

DONNA
(stares at him)
Coach, please tell me you don’t go into
black folks’ living rooms and say
things like that.

BILLY
You don’t think I can relate to the
younger generation?

DONNA
I think you’re a rich white man from
Texas, not a homeboy from L.A. So kill
the “true dats” and “sho’ you rights”.

BILLY
Okay, okay...
 21.

She stands to leave.

BILLY
Donna, can you e-mail my itinerary to
me? I want to put it in my new PDA.

DONNA
Now why on earth do you need it in that
thing? I’m your PDA?

BILLY
Do I detect a hint of jealousy?

Her expression is proof that he doesn’t.

DONNA
(matter-of-fact)
Coach, without your wife and me you
wouldn’t know what day of the week it
is. “Tru dat.”

She turns to go. Before she exits –

BILLY
(grinning)
Sho’ you right.

She rolls her eyes on the way out. After a few beats, we
hear the DING of Billy’s PDA. Donna’s sent him the
electronic copy of his itinerary. He pulls it up on his
device, types away with his thumbs.

CU – PDA SCREEN

Billy forwards the itinerary to an e-mail address:

“elle9999@gmail.com”.

INT. STUDIO APARTMENT – SUNSET

The tiny studio apartment is a mess, with clothes and

dishes strewn about. Bob is wrapping CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Among them are a TOY TRUCK and a SEE AND SAY ELMO DOLL.

After wrapping the Elmo, he takes a drink of WHISKEY from a

tall glass, pours more before starting on the next gift...

INT. MOTEL ROOM – SUNSET

ANGLE ON A SCRABBLE BOARD. As Gale ponders her next word.

 22.

GRACIE
You must have had lots guys fall in
love with you. Before you were married
to Coach, I mean.

GALE
I don’t know if they were all “in
love,” but there were a few who were
“very interested.”

GRACIE
How did you know Coach was “the One?”

GALE
You just know. Of course, it’s easy to
be wrong. Lord knows plenty of women
end up in bad relationships.

Gale senses that something’s on Gracie’s mind.

GALE
Do you think Greg’s the One?

GRACIE
Greg’s sweet, he’s good to me, and we
like being together. But we both know
it’s not love.

GALE
Well, Gracie, there’s no rush. You’ve
got plenty of time to find “the One.”

GRACIE
(hesitant)
What if I’ve already found him and he
just doesn’t want me anymore?

GALE
(beat)
Gracie, Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I knew
it would be awkward for you and J.R.,
living in the same house. When you and
Greg became more serious, I just
assumed you were finally over J.R.

GRACIE
So did I...But I still love him. It’s
different – I mean, I’m not totally
“ga-ga” over him like I used to be.
And now that we live together I realize
that sometimes he can be a real...
 23.

GALE
Yes dear, a real what?

GRACIE
Well...your son can be a real jerk!

GALE
(smiles)
Welcome to my world.

They both laugh softly. Another bonding moment. Then –

GRACIE
I wish I could get him out of my
system. I tried. I really, really
tried. Even though he hurt me, I know
deep down inside that he’s “the One.”
Is that how you feel about Coach?

Gale reaches across the table and takes Gracie’s hand.

Squeezes it supportively.

GALE
Yes, Sweetheart, that’s how I feel
about Coach.

INT. CABIN – NIGHT

A ROMANTIC FIRE dances in the fireplace. Our young couples

hang out. Achilles and Cat drink sparkling water; the
others have wine or beer.

GINO
Vegas has you guys a 6-point underdog
to Alabama. Can you believe that?

ACHILLES
It’s Vegas. They’ve got to get a line
going somehow.

GINO
For the record, guys, I’m laying 5
grand on you to cover the spread.

DALLAS
Just to cover the spread? Appreciate
the support, Holmes.

The boys laugh.

 24.

CAKE
Alright, I’ve heard just about enough
sports talk for one day.

PORTIA
Thank you for saying it, Cake. I
wanted to say something earlier but I
didn’t want to sound, well, bitchy.

ACHILLES
Baby, that’s the Lesbot’s job.

Cat flings a shoe, just missing Achilles’ head. He’s about

to go after her and she’s about to take off running.

CAKE
Will you two stop?! Jeez!

Achilles and Cat eye each other from a safe distance. When
he’s settled down, she grins. The bratty sister has won
this round.

PORTIA
I’m pretty tired. I’m thinking of
calling it a night.

GINO
(big yawn)
Yeah, I’m wiped too. Cake, you ready
to fight for that top bunk?

Cake smiles.

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

Portia is in bed rubbing lotion on her legs. Achilles

comes in, slides in next to her.

ACHILLES
Gino’s a real character isn’t he?

PORTIA
I can see why Cake likes him.

ACHILLES
Really?
 25.

PORTIA
Sure. He’s good looking, their
families are close, he’s a successful
businessman.

ACHILLES
It’s his family’s business; it’s not
like he started it on his own.

PORTIA
Whatever. You know he’s going to ask
her to marry him this weekend.

ACHILLES
She told you that?

PORTIA
Yep. He’s rolling in it, so the rock
is probably 4 or 5 karats. Can you get
the light?

She gives him a peck on the cheek, slides under the sheets
and turns over to go to sleep. Achilles flicks out the
lamp and spoons her from behind. She welcomes his embrace.

PORTIA
Good night, Lee.

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Cat and Dallas make love on the pull out bed, trying to
keep it quiet. He MOANS loudly, coming to climax. She
covers his mouth with her hand to shush him and they both
blurt out laughing. She rolls off of him.

DALLAS
Why’d you stop?!

CAT
(playfully)
Because you can’t handle it.

DALLAS
Oh I can handle it, Chica. Come here.

He grabs her, rolls on top to finish what she started.

CAT
No, not Spanish! You know I can’t
resist when you go all Latin on me!
 26.

He kisses her neck and talks to her in Spanish. She tries

to resist...but not too much.

INT. KIDS’ ROOM – NIGHT

Gino is in the bottom bunk. Cake’s in the top.

GINO
Baby, it’s cold. Come down here for a
few minutes and keep me warm.

Cake leans her head over the bunk to look at him.

CAKE
Gino, you know what’ll happen if I come
down there.

GINO
(grinning)
Yeah, I do. So come on.

CAKE
Gino! You promised you’d wait until
I’m ready.

GINO
I know, baby. It’s just you’ve been
over there in Paris all these months.
I know guys are hitting on you left and
right. French guys.

CAKE
I told you, I’m in the kitchen all day
and too tired to do anything at night.
Besides, there aren’t any guys hitting
on me anyway.

GINO
Sell that to somebody who’s not in
sales.

CAKE
(smiles)
Okay, but the ones who do aren’t nearly
as cute as you...Come here.

He sits up, she caresses his face. They kiss. Then –

 27.

GINO
Baby, let me make love to you. I
promise it won’t be like with those
other guys. I love you, Cake. I
respect you. You know I do.

CAKE
I know, Gino. I’m just not ready. I
will be, I promise. Just not now.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

 28.

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. DARRYL & MATTIE’S HOME – DAY

Darryl Banks HUMS an upbeat TUNE as he makes crepes. He’s

a happy chef but a messy one. The kitchen is a wreck.
Mathilda “Mattie” Weiss enters, prim and perfect as always.

DARRYL
‘Morning, baby. Have a seat.
Crepes’ll be up in a sec.

Mattie eyes the mess. We sense a final straw has fallen.

MATTIE
Darryl. Dear, we need to talk.

He plates two perfect CREPES. Brings them to the table.

Holds her chair out for her. She sits.

DARRYL
(pours her orange juice)
What’s up?

MATTIE
I want to move.

DARRYL
What?

MATTIE
I can’t live here, Darryl.

DARRYL
Mattie, baby, what are you talking
about? I know it’s only been a month,
but I thought things were going fine.

MATTIE
I don’t mean I can’t live with you,
Darryl. I mean I can’t live in this
house.

DARRYL
You know how hard it was for me to win
this from Alexis in the divorce? And
it’s paid for, Mattie.
 29.

MATTIE
It disgusts me and I won’t live here.

Darryl takes a beat to regard the kitchen.

DARRYL
Look, Mattie, I know I can be a bit of
a slob.

MATTIE
A bit of a slob?

DARRYL
Okay, I’m a slob. But in my defense,
I’ve been a bachelor for 4 years.

MATTIE
You I can fix. This house is too far
gone to trouble with.

DARRYL
Mattie, just tell me what you want me
to fix about the house and I’ll –

MATTIE
Build us a new one.

DARRYL
Come on, Mattie, I can’t afford –

DARRYL
You build homes for a living, Darryl.
You can build one for your wife.

Darryl is still reeling. Mattie, having given him his

orders, is suddenly famished. She takes a bite of crepe.

MATTIE
Hmmm. Delicious, dear. Just the way I
like it.

INT. MOTEL 6 RESTAURANT – DAY

Gale and Gracie are having breakfast. A WAITRESS comes by

to refill their water glasses.
 30.

WAITRESS
I’m afraid it’s still coming down
pretty good out there. I barely made
it in this morning and I’m only two
miles down the road.

GALE
Is there any word about conditions on
the Interstate?

WAITRESS
Only that the State Police are telling
drivers to stay off them.

GALE
Thank you.

INT. MOTEL LOBBY/GIFT SHOP - DAY

Gracie is in the gift shop buying Tampons. Gale is outside

talking on her cell phone.

GALE
But how is he doing, Billy? Does he
need me?

BILLY (V.O.)
Duncan’s fine, Gale. Don’t worry about
him. Beatrice will be here as long as
she’s needed, so don’t do anything
foolish like try to drive when it’s not
safe. You stay put until the State
Police give the go ahead. I mean it.

GALE
Alright, honey. I’ll call again after
Duncan’s naptime. Kiss him for me.
(beat)
Billy, I love you.

BILLY (V.O.)
Love you too, babe.

She hangs up. She’s pensive. The words of the woman from
the prison still ring in her ears. “A hit-for-hire” on
Billy. She looks up to see Gracie approaching. Covers her
concern with a smile.
 31.

GALE
Did they have what you need,
Sweetheart?

GRACIE
Yes. I’m all set. The girl in the
store says they’ve closed the roads for
50 miles around.

GALE
Guess that means we’re in for another
night together, “Roomie.”

GRACIE
Guess that means I’m in for another
epic fail at Scrabble.

OFF Gale’s smile...

INT. CLINIC EXAM ROOM – DAY

The room is impersonal, sterile, foreboding. Mimi Garcia

lay on an exam table wearing a paper hospital gown, her
expression grave, empty eyes staring at nothing. A soft
KNOCK on the door before a NURSE enters quietly.

NURSE
Mrs. Garcia, you can get dressed now.
The doctor will be in in just a minute.

Mimi comes out of her daze.

MIMI
Yes. Thank you.

The nurse leaves. Mimi sits up.

INT. EXAM ROOM – LATER

Mimi is dressed, sitting on the exam table. A KNOCK at the

door before a female DOCTOR comes in.

DOCTOR
How are you, Mrs. Garcia?

MIMI
I feel fine, Doctor.
 32.

DOCTOR
You may feel some fatigue and
discomfort for a few days but don’t be
concerned. There were no complications
whatsoever. I’ve written a
prescription for a mild pain reliever.

She offers the prescription along with several PAMPHLETS.

MIMI
Thank you.

DOCTOR
My numbers are there if you have
questions are concerns. There’s also
contact information for several very
good counselors. Just in case.

MIMI
Thank you, Doctor. Can I go home now?

DOCTOR
Yes, of course. You’re free to go now.
Is there someone who will meet you to
take you home?

MIMI
I came alone.

DOCTOR
Mrs. Garcia, we recommend that you have
someone else drive you. And the snow
is starting to come down pretty good.

MIMI
(gets off the table)
There is no one else, Doctor.

The doctor is about to protest, but sees it’s futile. Mimi

is already opening the door to leave.

INT. MINIVAN – MOVING – DAY

Mimi drives down snow-covered streets. She struggles to

hold onto her emotions but finally she’s overcome. She
pulls the minivan over and breaks down in tears.
 33.

EXT. GARCIA HOME – DAY

Mimi approaches her home and reacts to the sight of Bob’s

pickup in the driveway. Exhaust fumes from the tailpipe
tell her that the engine is on. Bob is in the truck. He
sees her pulling up. Mimi sighs. No way to avoid him.

She hits the garage door opener and pulls into the
driveway, past Bob’s truck and into the garage. He gets
out of the truck and walks into the garage. He’s holding
the kids’ Christmas gifts. She gets out of the minivan.

MIMI
What do you want, Bob?

BOB
I brought these for the kids. I
thought it best to come when they
weren’t home.

MIMI
You can leave them over there, on the
workbench. I’ll put them under the
tree tonight after they’re alseep.

He crosses to the workbench and leaves the packages. Comes

back to her. They look at each other.

MIMI
Well? Was there something else?

BOB
No. Just that...Mimi, is something
wrong? You don’t look well.

MIMI
(matter-of-fact)
You’re what’s wrong with me, Bob. You
make me sick.

Her words rip his heart.

BOB
I’d better get going.

MIMI
Yeah, do that.

He walks out of the garage. He turns to say something but

Mimi hits a button and the garage door begins to close.
They stare at each other as the door slides down.
 34.

INT. MATTIE’S OFFICE – DAY

Mattie is typing away on her LAPTOP computer. Her cell

phone RINGS and she answers.

MATTIE
Gale, are you alright?

GALE (V.O.)
Yes, Mattie. Gracie and I are fine.

MATTIE
Do you need anything?

GALE (V.O.)
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do, Mattie.
I met a woman in the waiting room at
the prison yesterday. She knows the
mother of that despicable woman who
attacked Billy.

MATTIE
Oh my God, Gale! Really?

GALE (V.O.)
Yes. I knew Sonia Curry was at
Martindale but I never expected to meet
someone who knew her. Anyway, what the
woman said had me up all night. I
didn’t want to believe it, but the more
I thought about it the more it made
sense...

MATTIE
Gale, what is it?

GALE (V.O.)
(emotion growing)
Mattie, if it’s true, and I believe it
is, it’s absolutely terrifying and
we’ve got to do something...

MATTIE
Calm down, Gale. What did she say?

GALE (V.O.)
Mattie, the carjacking wasn’t just some
random act. Sonia Curry and Hank
Reasons were hired to kill my Billy.

OFF Mattie’s stunned reaction...

 35.

INT. JENI & BELLA’S ROOM – DAY

Jeni Kim is on her cell phone, having a tense conversation

in Korean with her mother. We read Jeni’s side of the
conversation in SUBTITLES.

JENI
Yes, Mother, they close the house for
Christmas break.
(listens)
Yes, they did close the house for
breaks when Val lived here, Mom.
(listens)
Mother, she came home be with Richard
over the breaks. I don’t have a
Richard to come home to.
(listens)
No, Mom, I’m not staying with some boy.
Bella and I are staying at a
girlfriend’s apartment while she’s back
home in Colorado for Christmas.
(listens)
Mother, Bella is not a whore.

Jeni takes the phone away from her ear and mimicks shooting
herself in the head. Her roommate and best friend Bella
Milovich, on the bed across from her, laughs.

JENI
Mother, I have to go. I have to go. I
have to go. Bye, Mom. Bye...

Jeni clicks the phone off. She and Bella share a look.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Jeni and Bella walk down the snow-covered sidewalk.

JENI
Thank your lucky stars you’re not
Asian. We’d all probably kill our
mothers if we weren’t sure they’d come
back from the dead and nag us to death.

BELLA
That’s not just an Asian thing. To
hear my mom tell it, my Serbian grandma
was a real hag from hell.
 36.

JENI
Thanks for staying at Riley’s with me
over break, Bella. I just don’t think
I can handle being at home right now.

BELLA
It’s no prob. It’ll be fun. Just you
and me and three weeks of watching Meg
Ryan movies and eating “Oodles of
Noodles.”

The girls loop arms and continue through the snow.

INT. RILEY’S APARTMENT – DAY

RILEY CARTWRIGHT (21) is giving Jeni and Bella the lay of

the apartment.

RILEY
And remember, it takes a good 5 minutes
for the hot water in the shower to
kick. And sometimes you have to bang
the radiator with a screw driver or a
shoe or something. Well, I think that
about does it. Oh, I thought it would
be just Jeni, so one of you will have
to crash on the sofa.

BELLA
But there are two bedrooms.

RILEY
Taylor doesn’t want anyone sleeping in
her bed while she’s away. Sorry, but
she can be a real bitch about that sort
of thing. Anyway, you guys can take
turns or something. Just be sure and
wash the sheets before I come back.
And absolutely no – guys. Got it?!

JENI
That’s not going to be a problem.

RILEY
I mean it, guys. I know how you two
like to party.

BELLA
We’re taking a break, okay. A serious
break, so don’t worry.
 37.

RILEY
Okay. Well, I’d better get going
before they close down the airport.

She exits with her travel bags. Jeni and Bella look
around. It’s time to make themselves at home.

EXT. MOUNTAIN TRAIL - DAY

Achilles, Dallas, Gino, Portia, Cat and Cake are hiking. A

heavy snow falls.

ACHILLES
Somebody remind me again: whose idea
was it to come into the woods in the
dead of winter?

CAT
We’re not in the woods, Einstein. It’s
a mountain.

ACHILLES
Really, I thought we were in Ant-
freaking-arctica.

CAT
Wah-wah-wah. You’re such a freakin’
baby-man, you know that? How can you
put up with him, Portia?

PORTIA
It’s not easy, that’s for sure.

ACHILLES
Oh! So you’re telling me you think
this freezing “hike” is fun?

GINO
Sure it’s fun, Ice Man. Fresh air,
good exercise. And we’ve only gone 3
or 4 miles.

ACHILLES
I’ll remember you said that after we’re
lost out here for a week and have to
decide who to eat first.

CAKE
Ooooo! That’s gross, Achilles!
 38.

DALLAS
I was thinking we’d start with Cake.
She’s got lots of tender parts and
she’s spent all that time in Paris.
She’s got to taste good, right?

CAKE
Dallas! Cat, did you hear what your
boyfriend just said?!

ACHILLES
Hey, did anybody bring a bottle of
wine? I bet she’d go great with a
glass of Chianti or a Cabernet.

PORTIA
That’s enough. Both of you.

CAT
Look! There’s the cabin. Right up
there, ya big whiners!

They stop and look ahead. The cabin is 200 yards away.

ACHILLES
Damn! And here I was getting my taste
buds ready for a piece of frozen Cake.

CAKE
You’re soooo not funny, Achilles.

TIME CUT TO:

EXT. CABIN – LATER

The couples reach the cabin. There are signs of an

intruder. The door and a window are open. HOUSEHOLD
BELONGINGS are scattered out front.

CAKE
Uh-oh. Looks like we had visitors.

DALLAS
Looks like bears.

PORTIA
Bears! You mean real bears!

Cat goes inside the cabin. Dallas is right behind her. The
others begin picking through the things scattered about.
Cat and Dallas come back outside.
 39.

DALLAS
Well, we might have to draw straws for
who gets eaten first after all.

GINO
What’s that supposed to mean?

CAT
It means a bear got into the cabin and
ran off with or ruined all of our food.

ACHILLES
Smarter than the average bear, huh?

CAKE
No, hungrier than the average bear.

INT. CABIN - LATER

ANGLE ON a FIRE in the fireplace. The girls are warming

themselves in front of it while the guys wait their turn.

CAT
Well, someone’s got to make a run down
the mountain to the Wawa for food.

ACHILLES
Or we could pack up and head back to
campus.

PORTIA
Oh Lee, really? I don’t want to go
back yet. It’s so beautiful up here.
(then, eyeing Cake)
It’s actually quite romantic. Don’t
you think, Cat?

CAT
(in cahoots)
Yeah. It sure was last night, wasn’t
it, Casanova?

Dallas clears his throat, embarrassed.

GINO
I’m all for sticking it out, so long as
nobody starts fantasizing about having
me or Cake with pom frittes and Merlot.
 40.

PORTIA
We should stay for one more night at
least. What do you say, Cat? Cake?

Cat and Cake agree.

DALLAS
We still need to eat tonight. So who’s
going to schlep down to the Wawa?

CAT
I’ll go.

CAKE
No Cat, you shouldn’t have to go.
You’re our host. I’ll go since I know
the way.

GINO
I guess that means I’ll go too.

Cat and Portia exchange a conspiratorial look.

PORTIA
Gino, why don’t you let Achilles go?

ACHILLES
What?! Look, I’m not trying to get
lost on some mountain and go through a
winter version of “Deliverance.”

CAT
Oh stop your whining, Einstein. I
swear, I thought Dallas was soft when
it came to the outdoors but you’re an
even bigger pussy than he is.

DALLAS
Hey!

CAT
Sorry, baby.

She gives him a quick French kiss to make up.

PORTIA
Gino, you don’t want to take your BMW
out on mountain roads when they’re like
this. And Lee’s driven Cat’s car lots
of times.
 41.

ACHILLES
Not on shitty mountain roads.

Portia’s look shuts him up.

CAKE
Okay, now that that’s settled. I’ll
make a list.

ACHILLES
What list? Everything I have goes to
my wife after they find my frozen
remains on the side of the road.

CAT
Baby!

ACHILLES
Witch!

PORTIA
Alright already, that’s enough you two.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

 42.

ACT FOUR

FADE IN.

INT. MUSTANG – MOVING – SUNSET

Achilles and Cake drive in awkward silence. Wipers beat

furiously to clear the heavy snow that’s falling...

CAKE
Thanks for coming with me.

ACHILLES
I don’t really mind, you know.

CAKE
I know. You and Cat are so cute
sometimes...Achilles, I’m really sorry
you didn’t win the Heisman. You’re way
better than that running back from
Georgia Tech.

ACHILLES
It’s okay. Who needs that kind of
pressure anyway?

CAKE
(beat)
So you are going to enter the draft?

He looks at her...

INT. CABIN – SUNSET

Cat, Portia, Dallas and Gino are hanging out in front of

the fireplace.

CAT
If the snow breaks, I was thinking we
could walk up to the cliffs to check
out the stars. It’s only about a half-
mile from here.

PORTIA
That sounds romantic.

DALLAS
Are you kidding? It’s going to be like
a gazillion degrees below zero outside.
 43.

CAT
(pointedly)
So we’ll build a fire. Like Portia
said, it’ll be very romantic.

GINO
(warming to the idea)
Yeah, I think you’re right. A
beautiful night under the stars, yeah.

INT. MUSTANG – MOVING – SUNSET

Cake is waiting for Achilles to answer her question.

ACHILLES
Like I said, the only football on my
mind is preparing for the Sugar Bowl.

CAKE
But Portia wants you to declare for the
draft, doesn’t she?

ACHILLES
She wants me to think about it. And I
will – after the Sugar Bowl.
(reacts to what’s up ahead)
You’ve got to be kidding me.

EXT. WAWA – SUNSET

ANGLE ON A “CLOSED” SIGN. Achilles and Cake are at the

door of the deserted convenience store.

ACHILLES
Great. Now what?

CAKE
We’d better get back before dark.

He pulls his cell phone out. Hits a button.

CAKE
Reception up here is awful. Better
just save your battery.

She heads back to the Mustang. Achilles follows.

 44.

ACHILLES
I was kidding before, but now I’ve got
a bad feeling about this.

INT. MATTIE’S OFFICE – SUNSET

ANGLE ON A COMPUTER SCREEN. Mattie is pulling up all sorts

of information on Hank Reasons and Sonia Curry. We see
that she’s hacked into confidential files – DMV records,
bank accounts, telephone logs, criminal wrap sheets, etc.

BILLY (O.S.)
You’re still here?

Mattie looks up at Billy, who has popped his head in.

MATTIE
Just finishing up a few things so I can
enjoy Christmas without fretting.

BILLY
Well don’t stay too late. The snow’s
coming down pretty hard. Besides, I’m
sure your husband would like to see
more of you.

MATTIE
I’ll be another half hour, tops.

Beat. They look at one another.

BILLY
You and Darryl, you’re good?

MATTIE
(getting his meaning)
Yes, Billy. We’re good.

BILLY
I’m glad to hear it. ‘Night, Mattie.

MATTIE
Good night, Billy.

INT. DODGE 1500 TRUCK – NIGHT

Bob is parked on a campus residential street with the motor

running. Flashing Christmas decorations illuminate the
homes. He’s focused on one in particular.
 45.

He looks at the cell phone in his hand. When he hits a

speed dial number, a photo of Elyse Johansson appears ON
THE SCREEN. He puts the phone to his ear. We hear it
RINGING.

ELYSE (V.O.)
Hello?

Before Bob speaks, we hear a child’s and man’s VOICES come

through the phone in b.g.

BOB
Elyse, it’s Bob.

ELYSE (V.O.)
(covering)
Oh, hello. This isn’t a good time, my
family is having dinner.

BOB
I’m sorry to call you at home like
this, Elyse. I just really need to
talk. Please.

ELYSE (V.O.)
We’re satisfied with our cable service.
We don’t want to change.

BOB
Elyse, please...

ELYSE (V.O.)
Please remove us from you list and
don’t call us again.

Click. Bob takes the phone from his ear. OFF his
disappointment...

INT. MUSTANG – MOVING – NIGHT

It’s slow going for Achilles and Cake on the mountain road.
The wipers barely keep the windshield clear.

ACHILLES
When we get back remind me to bitch
slap your best friend.

CAKE
Just take it nice and slow. We’re not
in a hurry.
 46.

ACHILLES
Yeah. Right.
(beat, then)
So you’re not seriously thinking about
marrying Gino are you?

CAKE
How do you know about that?

ACHILLES
He told me and Dallas he was going to
propose. Tonight, in fact.

CAKE
And you’re telling me? Before he has a
chance to propose? Thanks a lot!

ACHILLES
Portia said you already knew! Hell,
everybody already knows. The only
person who thinks it’s going to be a
surprise is Gino. But of course he’s
sure you’re going to say “Yes.”

CAKE
Can you keep your eyes on the road?

ACHILLES
We’re going like 2 miles an hour, Cake.
I don’t think I’ll miss anything. So
are you? Going to say “Yes” to him?

CAKE
Why do you care?

ACHILLES
Come on, Cake. Gino?

CAKE
You’ve got a lot of nerve, Achilles.
Who are you to judge him...or me for
that matter?

ACHILLES
I’m not judging you, Cake. I
just...Well, what about the kiss?

CAKE
(sighs)
I hoped you wouldn’t bring that up.
 47.

ACHILLES
If you loved this guy, that kiss
wouldn’t have happened.

CAKE
Achilles, I’ve kissed lots of guys. I
told you that last summer. What I did
in the past doesn’t mean anything now.

ACHILLES
So our kiss didn’t mean anything?

CAKE
Look, I told you. I felt we had a
connection because you remind me of
Cal. I was feeling...nostalgic. I
kissed you but I was really kissing
Cal, at least in my mind I was.

ACHILLES
I don’t believe you, Cake. I think you
felt something for me and you knew I
was starting to feel the same way about
you. So you ran off to Paris without
saying a word about it to me.

CAKE
Does it matter, Achilles? Really?

THUMP! The car hits something in the road.

ACHILLES
What the hell was that?!

INT. CABIN - NIGHT

Cake, Dallas, Portia and Gino fret. Portia’s on her cell

phone. Again.

CAT
Portia, you can stop calling. I told
you, reception in this part of the
mountains sucks. Cake knows that, so
I’m sure she told Achilles to turn off
his phone to save the battery.

DALLAS
I can take Gino’s car down after them.
 48.

GINO
What?

CAT
Then you’d all be stuck in the snow.
Look, we filled the tank at the Wawa on
the way up. They could stay in the car
all night with the heater on if they
had to.

GINO
I don’t know, Cat. We should call the
mountain rangers or something.

CAT
On what? There’s no land line here.
My father bought this place to get away
from it all. We’re lucky he put in
electricity.

PORTIA
(worried)
What about bears?

DALLAS
What?

PORTIA
They won’t freeze in Cat’s car, but
what about bears?

GINO
Holy shit. What about the bears?

EXT. MENDENHAL CABIN – NIGHT

Achilles and Cake come up on the porch.

ACHILLES
Looks like nobody’s home. You sure
they won’t mind us breaking in?

CAKE
Positive. They Mendenhal’s are dead.

ACHILLES
Jesus!
 49.

CAKE
Relax, Achilles. They’re not in the
cabin. They died in a fishing accident
in Florida last summer.

She finds a STONE and breaks a window. Achilles has a

feeling of déjà vu. She clocks his reaction.

CAKE
What?

ACHILLES
This just all seems kind of familiar.

CAKE
(smiles)
So you broke into a lot of vacation
homes back in Jersey?

ACHILLES
No, I didn’t. But you seem to know
what you’re doing. Maybe what they say
about your family is right.

CAKE
What do they say?

ACHILLES
(smiles)
You know...that they’re “connected.”

CAKE
Oh. That.

She unlocks the window, opens it and climbs inside. He

waits for her to open the front door.

INT. MENDENHAL CABIN – LATER

Achilles is lighting a fire in the fireplace. Cake comes

from the kitchen with a BOX OF COOKIES.

CAKE
Hungry?

ACHILLES
Does a bear shit in the woods?
 50.

INT. RILEY’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Jeni and Bella are curled up on opposite ends of the sofa

watching “Sleepless in Seattle” ON TELEVISION. They’re
sipping Oodles of Noodles.

BELLA
What is it about this movie that people
love so much? It’s the same story
we’ve seen a million times.

JENI
I know, but don’t you just love the
idea of finding your one true soul
mate? It’s about keeping that hope
alive that makes this such a great
movie. And Meg Ryan is just awesome.

BELLA
That’s funny, I never thought you were
so sentimental about true love and all.

Beat.

JENI
Don’t you want to fall in love?
Really, truly fall in love and find
your soul mate?

BELLA
I don’t know. I guess I think that
stuff’s overrated. I mean, how many
guys have you been with that even come
close to being a “soul mate?” Most of
them are just big babies with little
hard ons.

They both become pensive.

JENI
I know it seems unrealistic but I want
that one day, Bella. I really do.

BELLA
A soul mate?

JENI
Yeah. A soul mate.
 51.

INT. MENDENHAL CABIN – NIGHT

The fire is going good. Achilles and Cake sit close to it.
The box of cookies is empty. But a bottle of WINE is next
to it. He pours another glass for her.

CAKE
(ref. his glass of water)
So Cat’s got you trained pretty well.

ACHILLES
I resent that.

CAKE
She’s a good friend, Achilles. My
whole life she’s been there for me...I
love her so much.

She takes a sip of wine. Looks at him.

CAKE
Did you love either of them?

ACHILLES
(knowing but covering)
Either of who?

CAKE
Rebecca Van Helsing and the Ice
Princess.

A long beat.

ACHILLES
Becky was totally casual. But I liked
her a lot. I still do. She’s going to
be a good mother to Angel.

CAKE
And Valerie?

ACHILLES
Yeah, I fell in love with her.

CAKE
(beat)
Do you love her now?

He stares into the fire, thinking.

 52.

ACHILLES
I don’t know. Maybe.
(then)
Do you love Gino? The way you loved
Cal?

They gaze into each other’s eyes.

CAKE
Cal’s gone.

ACHILLES
(long beat)
If I weren’t married could you love me?

CAKE
You are married.

ACHILLES
Could you love me, Cake? The way you
loved Cal?

CAKE
I don’t want to talk about this.

ACHILLES
Is that why you never said anything to
me about going to Paris? Because you
knew what was happening between us
wasn’t about you and Cal but about you
and me?

She stands to leave. He takes her hand. They lock eyes

again and we read their mutual desire.

CAKE
I want you, Achilles, I really do. But
I can’t do this again. I’m not that
girl any more.
(off his reaction)
The only married man I’m going to make
love to is my husband. Not someone
else’s. Never again.

He’s suddenly ashamed.

ACHILLES
I’m sorry, Cake. I know you’re not
that girl. I know that.
 53.

She looks down at him, offers a loving smile. She raises

his hand to her lips and kisses it tenderly. Then she’s
off to the kitchen.

INT. RILEY’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Jeni is sitting on the bed, about to turn out the lamp.

She’s melancholy. Bella comes and stands in the doorway.

BELLA
Good night, Jeni.

JENI
Good night.

BELLA
Hey, what’s the matter?

JENI
Nothing. Just tired, I guess.

Jeni tries to cover but can’t. Bella goes to the bed, sits
next to her.

BELLA
What is it, Jeni? You can talk to me
about anything. You know that, right?

JENI
I know.
(tears coming)
How could I let that happen to me?
How? I’m so disgusting!

Bella hugs her then holds her face in her hands.

BELLA
Listen to me, Jeni, you didn’t do
anything wrong. Do you understand?
You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t
ever forget that, okay?

JENI
(through her tears)
Okay. Okay...

Bella wipes tears from Jeni’s face. They look deeply into
each other’s eyes. We sense they have each found their
soul mate.
 54.

INT. JAGUAR – MOVING - DAY

Gale and Gracie drive down the road. Gale is on the hands-
free speakerphone.

GALE
The roads are clear but it’s slow
going. Tell your father not to expect
us for at least another 3 hours.

INT. DONAHUE KITCHEN – DAY

J.R. Donahue is on the phone.

J.R.
Okay. What about Christmas Eve dinner?
Everybody’s going to expect to eat when
they get here.

INTERCUT GALE/J.R.

GALE
You’re in charge of dinner tonight,
Sweetheart.

J.R.
(panicked)
What?! Mom, you’re kidding, right?!

Gale and Gracie smile, enjoying his panic attack.

GRACIE
Relax, J.R. If you can dial
D’Agostino’s, you can cook tonight.

J.R.
D’Agostino’s? I didn’t think they had
takeout.

GRACIE
For normal people they don’t. Look,
call Mrs. D’Agostino and tell her your
mom’s having dinner for 16 people
tonight. She’ll know what to do.

J.R. reacts. He doesn’t like being bossed around by

Gracie, but at least she’s talking to him.
 55.

J.R.
Anything else?

GRACIE
Yeah. Ask her to include the tapenade
olive paste on crostini. It’s great.

J.R.
The what?

GRACIE
Just write it down, okay, Johnny?

He pauses. She called him “Johnny”.

J.R.
Okay.

INT. RILEY’S APARTMENT (BATHROOM) – DAY

The shower is running and steam engulfs the room. We see a

woman’s naked form through the opaque shower door. Jeni
enters the bathroom wearing a pink Delta t-shirt. She
stands in front of the shower door. Bella opens the door.

BELLA
(smiles)
Hi.

They look at each other for a beat, deciding. Then Jeni

takes off her t-shirt and steps into the shower with Bella.
Through the opaque door, we see them embrace and kiss.

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD – DAY

ANGLE ON A FLAT TIRE. Next we see Achilles put the jack

underneath the Mustang and begin to lift it.

CAKE
I hear a car. I hope it’s them.

ACHILLES
That’d be convenient. Maybe then I
could get a little help with this tire.

CAKE
Brat.
 56.

They exchange a smile that says they’re more than friends

but less than lovers.

Gino’s BMW approaches slowly. When it stops Gino, Portia,

Cat and Dallas get out and go to them. Portia and Achilles
embrace; Cat hugs Cake before Gino has a chance.

CAT
Are you okay?

CAKE
Sure.

CAT
How lucky are you to get a flat 50
yards from the Mendenhal’s cabin?

CAKE
Pretty lucky, I guess.

ACHILLES
You got that right. If we’d have been
a couple miles away from food, I
definitely would have had to cut off a
piece of cake last night.

Cake reacts, rolls her eyes and smiles.

PORTIA
That’s just so not funny, Lee! I was
worried sick all night!

GINO
(stepping up to Cake)
Me too, baby.

Gino kisses Cake on the cheek.

DALLAS
Well, let’s get this tire changed so we
can get the hell off this mountain.

ACHILLES
Damn skippy.

INT. DARRYL & MATTIE’S KITCHEN – DAY

Darryl and Mattie are at the kitchen table, both working on

LAPTOP computers. He’s reviewing home construction plans.
 57.

DARRYL
Here’s a bungalow I want you to take a
look at, Mattie.

MATTIE
(eyes on her computer)
Sounds nice, dear.

He looks at her over his computer screen.

DARRYL
Mattie, you’re the one who told me to
get a house built by the end of April,
and now you don’t have a minute to look
at the possibilities.

MATTIE
Make a printout, dear, and I’ll look at
it later, after dinner at the
Donahues’.

He reacts, miffed, and goes back to reviewing the plans.

CAMERA COMES AROUND and we see what’s on Mattie’s screen:

a DIGITAL REPORT with lots of “confidential” information.
What we notice most are phone logs, bank deposit records
and PHOTOS that illustrate the connections between Hank
Reasons and Sonia Curry, Billy Donahue, Gabrielle Woods and
Gabrielle’s ex-husband, basketball star David Benjamin.

OFF Mattie’s emotionless, analytical gaze we...

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE