two CHILDREN, AGES 4 and 5, play in the back yard of a farm house
behind them, a corn field. other houses are a few acres away. it's a pleasant summer day – not too hot, not too cold. it's a little before dinnertime, the light is getting low
GRANDMA, AGE 65 comes stomping outside, cocks shotgun
alright now, you two have been playing together long enough. it's time to get married.
we hear a BABY crying. we get a view of a MOTHER, AGE 35, with a baby on her hip.
the children look inside, clearly antagonized by the scene. they continue playing and pay grandma no attention
come on, hurry up. don't make me tell you twice.
the mother inside looks somewhat concerned about what's going on outside, but mostly she's attending to the baby.
on the porch, a WOMAN, AGE 30, in a red silk dress, lounges on a chair. her breasts buoy invitingly upward; her eyes laze over the scene. she hasn't got a place to be, not for hours anyway. she seems entertained by her daydreams.
on the side, out of view of the grandmother and children at play, a TEEN BOY, AGE 16, throws a pebble up to the window on the second floor
a TEEN GIRL, AGE 15, opens the window, and she looks outside, sheepishly, blushing when she sees who it is
what are you doing here
what do you mean?
didn't you see gran? she's mad at you today. something about time's up or something, i don't know
she looks down, embarassed. she does know
oh, i don't mind. she won't see me
the teen girl blushes, not sure of what to say. he's trying to evade the question
but she'll know
do you want me to leave?
i... no... but that's not the point, don't act like you're all oblivious to this. how am i supposed to know you're not taking advantage of me?
he pauses, knowing this is a serious accusation
i suppose i could be.
we hear a whistle from off screen. he looks in the direction of the whistle, where a MAN, COLLEGE AGE, sits in a car, leaned back, looking back at the teenage version of himself. he rolls his eyes and gestures to come on, as if to imply: there's other babes at other parties, what's the deal with this one.
i came over because i found something i want to show you, that's all. but your gran's right.
he looks embarassed, almost doesn't continue speaking
life is serious, we need to start thinking like adults soon.
he looks to the college boy, waves him off. college boy sighs and dramatically rolls his head, and peels off.
okay okay it's fine, just, be quiet on your way up
his face lights up. he starts climbing, and the girl hangs on step upward, neurotically willing it to be as quiet as possible. he's almost to her window, when he loses his footing and makes a large scraping sound. they both pause in terror and look in each other's eyes
the girl shushes him, tells him to stop moving, looks over the porchhang to see if gran is coming around the corner
down below, we see gran come into view, but it's not to look at what's going on in the porch overhang. an OLD MAN, AGE 66, walks up to her
gran noticeably fingers the shotgun hanging at her side
i suppose you think you're funny
the old man walks confidently well within the sphere of her personal space, puts a knowing arm around her waste, pulls her in, almost like a dance
woman, i know i am. what are you doin' scaring these kids. they're just playing. let 'em play.
she raises eyebrows as if he's the all-time joker and she's the one with responsibilties
you act as if everyone has all the time in the world
he consider this thought seriously, looks up to the horizon
how many times i gotta tell you, woman
he gets a comic twinkle in his eye, thinly hiding a seriousness behind it. which to believe?
tell me what
i got no other place to be.
inside, a FATHER, AGE 36, comes into view and lifts the baby out of the mother's arms, she visibly relaxes and starts fretting after the cooking on the dinner, but in that way that's mostly theatrical, like women like to make the importance of the whole world about what's going on in their little family at dinner time. underneath it is an obvious relaxed feeling. this is where she's supposed to be. everything is in its place.
on the porch, a MAN, AGE 31, seats himself next to the woman but doesn't look at her. not at first. they don't talk. they both become flushed, though, breathing in time with each other. somehow, their bodies become closer.
upstairs, the girl ushers teen boy in through her window, because the coast seems to be clear.
wait 'til i show you what i found, you won't believe it
she smiles from a sardonic distance
i'm waiting with baited breath
he reaches into backpack, pulls out a book, opens it
she becomes visibly thrilled, like a child, again
they both turn to face it, heads buried together, interest fully captured
we see their feet, interlacing comfortably
FADE OUT