DO WE PART

Written by
Tim Pettus

13 Lowe Street, Quincy MA 02169

860-885-4745

INT. JOHNS LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Black, silence.
MARIE:
Are you going to get the laundry
done, or what, John?
JOHNs eyes open. He wakes up on his couch. He is dressed
slovenly, has not left the house in weeks.
His eyes flicker up to the door where Marie, his wife, is
standing, in a black dress.
John blinks his eyes, and rubs them.
The doorway is empty. John stares at it for a moment,
thinking. The NOISE OF THE TELEVISION FADES IN. He sits up,
and points his remote at the television to shut it off.
He opens a bottle of pills, and takes one.
INT. JOHNS BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER
John washes his face, and reaches for a toothbrush, finding
only a pink one in a little cup on the side of the sink.
He opens a cabinet, and then a drawer, and then finds his
green toothbrush on the floor.
He sighs, and bends over to pick it up.
He washes the toothbrush, and begins brushing his teeth,
keeping his eyes on the doorway behind him in the mirror.
INT. JOHNS BASEMENT - MOMENTS LATER
John throws bunches of laundry into a washer. SOUNDS,
FOOTSTEPS, echo down to the basement. John looks up for a
second, and then begins separating the whites from the colors
as he loads the rest.
CAROL V.O.
I want to talk to you about moving
these conversations to my office
downtown, John.
INT. JOHNS LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON
John sits across from CAROL. He is looking past her.

2.
CAROL
Are you hearing me?
JOHN
Would you like some coffee?
CAROL
If youre hearing me, than yes. Did
you shower today?
Yeah.

JOHN

John stands up and walks out of the room. Carol sighs and
glances around the room. Books are piled in the corner.
The coffee table is piled high with dirty dishes. On the
wall, she notices a group of pictures surrounding an empty
space, where a picture clearly once hung.
John reenters the room, hands Carol a cup of coffee.
CAROL
Did you take down a picture?
JOHN
You told me I should.
CAROL
I advised it, Im not here to tell
you what to do, John.
JOHN
Well. I did.
CAROL
What was it?
JOHN
Harry. His baby photo. I didnt
like looking at it, so, I took it
down.
CAROL
Do you feel guiltNo.

JOHN

CAROL
(sipping her coffee)
You make good coffee.

3.
JOHN
I dont make it.
John-

CAROL

JOHN
Folgers does.
Carol gives John a long look.
CAROL
So what do you think? Can we start
meeting downtown?
JOHN
Yeah. I think Im ready to get out
a little more.
CAROL
Thats great, John, great to hear.
JOHN
In fact, Im going out for
groceries today. I called my
brother, told him Im feeling a lot
better.
John looks at his lap and sees a hand there. He looks up and
sees Marie on the couch next to him, smiling.
John?
Yes?

CAROL
JOHN

CAROL
I asked you if you wanted some
company today, just in case. I have
an afternoon free.
JOHN
(Wincing)
You shouldnt - Ill be fine.
CAROL
I shouldnt what John?
JOHN
Offer. Its better if Im alone
right now.

4.
CAROL
What are you worried about? John?
INT. GROCERY STORE - EVENING
John removes a pill from his coat, and downs it.
John wanders through the aisles, a little dumfounded. He
takes out a well worn grocery list from his pockets, with
faded writing.
MONTAGE - GROCERY STORE
John grabs carrots
John grabs Golden Grams, Raisin Bran.
John grabs Frozen peas, Pizza.
John placing a great many groceries on a conveyor belt.
CUT TO:
INT. GROCERY STORE CHECKOUT - EVENING
John watches a young couple flirting behind him as the
cashier rings his groceries through.
John swipes a card and looks back. The girl has become Marie,
who looks John dead in the eye as her boyfriend kisses her
neck.
John continues to stare.
CASHIER
You need to put in your pin sir.
The couple has returned to normal. Both of them are glaring
back at John, clearly creeped out.
JOHN
Yeah. Sorry.
INT. JOHNS KITCHEN - NIGHT
John is on the phone with his brother, Nick, as he puts his
groceries away.
JOHN
Well, maybe you can help out again
week. It was a bit much for me.

5.
INT. NICKS LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Nick sits with his wife, SHARON watching T.V.
NICK
Yeah, no problem.
SHARON looks up at Nick.
NICK (CONTD)
Hey, listen, you gotta do something
for me though.
INTERCUT telephone conversation
JOHN
Yeah? What is it?
NICK
Well, Sharons got this friend at
work whos getting back into dating
and JOHN
Nick, youre kidding me right? I
cant even leave the house withoutNICK
You went shopping today!
JOHN
Yeah, and I bought the whole damn
place, Im never going to eat all
this shit.
NICK
Then well just come to yours, all
four of us will have dinner. Well
bring the food, dont worry. Its
tomorrow, so clean up. Shes
already picked out a dress and
everything so, you know, be nice.
JOHN
The fuck, Nick.
NICK
Hey, you talk to Harry?
John hangs up the phone and throws it across the room. It
bounces harmlessly into the couch.

6.
INT. JOHNS LIVING ROOM LATE
John watches T.V., getting drowsy. He looks up, and sees that
the picture of Harry as a baby has been replaced. His head
tips to the left.
Marie stares back at him, her head cocked and smiling.
Hey you.

JOHN

MARIE
You smell clean.
JOHN
Showered and everything.
Marie climbs on his lap, and straddles him. He looks up at
her.
MARIE
Why dont you want to talk to
Harry?
JOHN
Youve forgiven him, then?
MARIE
You know you have too. Soon. Youre
doing really well.
JOHN
It doesnt seem like it.
MARIE
You are. Im really happy for you.
Maries mouth comes close to Johns. His PHONE RINGS, loudly.
Marie lifts her head up, shrugs and smiles.
INT. JOHNS LIVING ROOM - MORNING
John twitches, as his phone continues to RING. He picks it
up, groggily, and answers.
Harry? Hi.

JOHN

7.
EXT. PARK - MORNING
John and HARRY sit on a park bench. John sits back, staring
forward. HARRY is only 14.
JOHN
How are your grandparents?
HARRY
Good. They say hi.
JOHN
Im really glad you called.
HARRY
Are you okay?
JOHN
Did you get my present?
Yeah.

HARRY

JOHN
Did you like it?
HARRY
I kinda stopped reading fantasy.
Oh.

JOHN

HARRY
Dad. When am I gonna come home?
JOHN
Not yet. I need to figure some
stuff out still.
HARRY
I wanna be where she was.
JOHN
Remember, when we used to take you
here?
Yeah.

HARRY

JOHN
You got stuck on the swings, Mom
had to come get you out?

8.

Yeah.

HARRY

They are silent for a while.

JOHN
Im glad youre not angry I made
you leave.
HARRY
I dont get it.
JOHN
You needed a chance to move on.
HARRY
What about you?
More silence. They watch parents push their children on the
swings. John stands.
JOHN
I need to take you back to your
grandparents. I have an
appointment.
INT. CAROLS OFFICE - NOON
Carols office is clean and orderly. Carol and John sit
across from each other.
CAROL
A date? You?
JOHN
No. Just a favor Im doing for
Nick.
CAROL
Its good to see you getting
involved with your family again.
JOHN
Yeah, well. I saw Harry again this
morning.
What?

CAROL

JOHN
Took him to the park.

9.
CAROL
John, thats really great. How are
you feeling?
JOHN
I dont know. He says hes not
angry but, I dont know.
CAROL
I asked about you.
JOHN
You never know what youre doing,
as a parent. I dont know if Marie
would have...liked what I did. He
was our miracle, thats what Marie
always said.
CAROL
Talk about that.
JOHN
Well, there were a lot
of...mistakes before him. Drugs. It
got bad, for both of us. And when
we found out he was coming, it
cleaned us up. It was us and him.
CAROL
You havent spoken about this
before.
JOHN
Its hard to be needed.
CAROL
Talk to me about that.
John looks up to the wall. Carols diplomas have all changed
to the picture of Harry as a baby.
JOHN
It follows you.
The diplomas return to normal.
CAROL
Anything else?
No.

JOHN

10.
INT. JOHNS DINING ROOM - NIGHT
John stares at his kitchen, with a sponge in his hand. It is
spotless.
John puts down the sponge and removes some pills from his
pocket. He dumps some in his hand, counts. Dumps a few more.
He opens his fridge and stares inside. Marie appears, hugging
him from behind.
MARIE:
You shouldnt spoil your dinner.
Sharon is cooking. You dont want
to look fat for whatsername.
JOHN
Maybe I do.
MARIE
Maybe you dont. You cleaned up
after all.
JOHN
(muttering)
That was for Nick.
MARIE
(annoyed)
Yeah.
JOHN
Are you still here?
Marie smiles.
There is a KNOCK on the door.
EXT. JOHNS HOUSE - NIGHT
John opens the door. Nick, Sharon, and Kelly wait on the
other side, smiling. Nick and Sharon are holding pots and
plates of food.
JOHN
Well, hello.
Nick gives John an awkward hug around the plates he is
holding. Sharon kisses him on the cheek.
SHARON:
Its good to see you John. You look
great.

11.

Thank you.

JOHN

Sharon steps to the side to introduce Kelly.

SHARON
This is Kelly, from my work. Shes
new to town.
KELLY:
Its nice to meet you.
INT. JOHNS DINING ROOM - NIGHT
The four diners eat and chat. The atmosphere is friendly,
John smiles throughout most of it.
KELLY
So, thats mostly what I do now.
Its so much warmer here though,
its nice.
SHARON
Well, wait till winter youll see,
it gets plenty cold.
NICK
Sharon freezes, but I love winter.
John too. John, you remember, we
used to go on the hill SHARON
Please, no one wants to hear about
sledding.
JOHN
Really, no one.
NICK
Naw it wasnt sledding, we didnt
have sleds, I used to just push
John down the hill and hed roll.
KELLY
Oh you poor dear.
JOHN
Well, it was just snow.
NICK
Its all good, hed been me with an
ice ball, boys, what are you going
to do.

12.
SHARON
Brothers were the worst.
NICK
Well, I think you need them, these
days, I always wished Harry hadNick.

SHARON

JOHN
Its fine, Sharon. We wanted it
too, just never happened.
SHARON
Well theres still time.
Sharon glances at Kelly.
JOHN
Dont do that.
NICK
What? Dont do what John?
JOHN
Just, not here.
KELLY
I agree with John. There a time for
children, and whats done is done.
SHARON
You dont want any kids?
KELLY
I did, but hey. Too far along now.
I have some nephews, nieces. You
gotta let some things go.
NICK
Very well then. To moving on.
He raises a glass.
John reaches for his glass, but MARIES hand falls on it. He
looks up to his right, but no one is there.
The other three toast, appearing not to notice.
NICK (CONTD)
Speaking of Harry -

13.
JOHN
I saw him this morning.
Really?
Really.
And?

SHARON
JOHN
NICK

JOHN
He wants to move back in.
NICK
(laughing)
Well. Well, thats great.
SHARON
Well you see then? I was right.
Its never too late.
John stares at Kelly. She catches his eye and smiles.
John smiles back. Behind him, Marie scowls.
INT. JOHNS LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
John closes the door on his guests. John picks up the phone,
and dials. After a few rings, there is a pick up.
Hell-

HARRY (TELEPHONE)

The sound is cut off. John looks to the wall, where the phone
has been disconnected.
John looks at his feet, notices he has pulled it out with his
feet.
John kneels down to reconnect it. Behind him, the picture of
Harry falls. John stands slowly, and walks to the kitchen.
INT. JOHNS KITCHEN - NIGHT
A cup of hot coffee steams on the counter. The label on the
mug reads If Loving you is Wrong, I Want to Be a Repeat
Offender! Marie pops up from behind a counter.
MARIE
Who needs more than this?

14.
JOHN
I do, Marie.
MARIE
So thats it, then? 13 years, just
gone?
You died.

JOHN

MARIE
So will you. What are you going to
do then? Will you come crawling
back to me then?
JOHN
I dont know. I dont think I
should be seeing you.
Marie lifts the cup into the air
MARIE
To moving on then?
She drops the cup. It smashes on the ground, noiselessly.
INT. JOHNS KITCHEN - MORNING
John lays on the ground. He has a cut in his head, he lies
spread eagle. He winces as he wakes. He looks to his left,
finds a pill bottle, almost empty in his hand. To his right
is the If loving you is wrong mug, shattered.
He brings his hand to his head, and sits up.
He reaches for his pills, and stares at them.
He dumps them into the sink.
INT. JOHNS BATHROOM - MORNING
John brushes his teeth. He replaces his brush in the little
cup, there is no sign of the pink brush. He washes his face.
INT. JOHNS BEDROOM - MORNING
John opens the door, steps in timidly. He opens a closet and
takes off his shirt.
He puts on a fresh pair of Pants, shirt.

15.
INT. JOHNS LIVING ROOM
John picks up his phone, and begins dialing. He stares around
the room. All the pictures are present.
He hears a LIGHT KNOCK on the door, and walks over to open
it.
Kelly is behind the door.
Oh. Hello.

JOHN

KELLY
Hi! Sorry for dropping by so
suddenly.
JOHN
Its no problem. Come on in.
KELLY
I actually have to be somewhere. I
was just, in the area. I um...well,
I had a good time last night. I
just wanted to know if youd like
to have coffee, maybe today, later
today, if umm...
Im free.

JOHN

KELLY
Yeah. Well. Are you?
Free?
Yeah.

JOHN
KELLY

JOHN
Yeah. I dunno. Yeah.
KELLY
Are you or arent you?
JOHN
I have an appointment. Ill call
you.
KELLY
(smiles)
Okay.

16.
John closes the door. He watched Kelly leave from the window.
Behind him, the coffee table flips up by itself, smashing the
plates on top of it. John does not react.
THE END
CREDITS: Theme plays over home video of John and Maries
Wedding