Ext. Backyard - Evening
Tiki torches light up Katie’s deck and backyard. Patio furniture sits on the wooden deck, that overlooks the yard. The yard portrays a dark wooden tree house, with numerous carvings etched into the worn wood. Katie’s husband fires up the barbecue. Hamburgers and hot dogs sizzle.
The women kick off their shoes and pop open some cold beers. They recapture a glimpse of their past as they hang in and around the tree house. Alana and Fallon rock back and forth on swings, hanging from an overhead branch. Katie sips on a Sprite as she sits on the bottom
of the aluminum slide protruding out of the tree house. Anna, inside the tree house, hangs out of a window.
Alana:
I can’t believe you kept the tree house.
Katie:
Sonny wanted to tear it down and put up a new swing set up,
you know something safe for the kids, but I just couldn’t part with it.
She looks up at the old tree house with great affection.
Katie:
(incredibly sincere)
Besides, it’s not mine to tear down. It belongs to all of us. I really want to thank you guys for showing up.
(caressing her round stomach)
Katie: (continued)
After two false starts, the third try’s got me scared to death.
Anna:
You’ll be a great mom, Katie… A little overbearing and rigid, but I’m sure the kid
will grow up to be, by the grace of God, well adjusted.
Katie gives her a pouty sneer.
Fallon:
I can’t believe you’re having a baby.
Alana:
Suddenly, I feel so old.
Fallon:
No shit.
Katie:
Could you try, for one day to express yourself without cursing.
Fallon: (annoyed)
What are you, the dialogue police?
Anna jumps out of the tree house and lands solid on her feet.
Katie (disapproving)
Anna.
Anna (proud of herself)
Still got it.
Anna pushes Alana and Fallon on the swings.
Fallon:
This whole baby thing baffles me. I mean you have it. You raise it. You inevitably screw it up.
It resents you. It feels guilty for resenting you. Then it has a baby and the vicious cycle
perpetuates.
They all look at her and realize her depressing theory.
Anna:
Well, that’s certainly one way of looking at it.
Alana ignores Anna’s retort and an uncomfortable silence abounds. Unbeknownst to Alana, Katie looks at the others and gestures Alana is crazy in the head. Fallon tries to lighten the mood.