Harm Reduction Part Nine -- No Release

                                                                                                                                                

BEN pulls away from PETE and stares into his eyes.

BEN:

 I should get us to the hospital.

PETE:

Were you going to kiss me?

BEN:

I don't know.

PETE:

Please don't ever try that again.

BEN:

OK. I'm sorry. I crossed a line.

PETE:

Don't ever even touch me.

BEN:

Get in the back.

BEN opens the door for PETE. He gets in. BEN goes around to his side. Before he gets in he lets out a sigh of frustration. They pull away. BEN studies PETE in the mirror. PETE is sobbing. They drive away in silence.

INT. NIGHT JAFFEY HOUSE KITCHEN

ROBBIE is at the ktichen table trying to open a carton of milk. ANDY is standing behind him doing the dishes. ROBBIE fumbles the carton and milk flies everywhere.

ROBBIE:

Ay..eee.ay.

ANDY:

Oh dear.

ROBBIE starts sopping up the milk and the dog MIX comes in and starts slurping up the milk.

SAM enters the room. He is on the cellphone. He steps into the milk and wipes out on the floor.

SAM:

Fuck me!

SAM scrambles to his feet. He is now talking into the cellphone.

SAM:

Why the hospital? Fuck. Okay okay. Fuck. Why do I need to come? Well ya, I can get it. It's his.

Twenty. Got it.

SAM hangs up the phone and begins talking to ROBBIE (still cleaning the floor) and ANDY (still doing the dishes.

SAM:

Both of you just stay here.

ROBBIE:

Okay.

ANDY

I'm doing the dishes.

SAM:

I see that. Just wait for me to come back.

ROBBIE:

Is this about Pete?

SAM:

Yes. So just stay here. 

ROBBIE:
What did he do?

SAM doesn't answer and leaves.

INT. DAY:  HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM

BEN and PETE are sitting side by side on a bench in the hospital waiting room. PETE is handcuffed. They both stare straight ahead.

INT. DAY: JAFFEY KITCHEN

ROBBIE:

What do you think he did?

ANDY:

I have no idea.

ROBBIE:

Should I go see?

ANDY:

Sam said not to.

ROBBIE:

They seem to behave themselves a little better when I'm around. 

ANDY:

How would you know how they behave if you're not around?

ROBBIE:

Oh.

(pause)

Nevertheless I think I'm right about that. I should go. Where's the dog? 

ANDY:

Relaxing.

ROBBIE:

He never recognizes the sense of urgency in this house does he.

ANDY is holding a plate up in the air blankly staring at it. ROBBIE watches for a moment.

ANDY:

What?

MIX (the dog) walks into kitchen and takes a dinner plate off the kitchen table and walks away. ROBBIE watches this happen. ANDY continues washing the dishes.





INT. HOSPITAL ROOM

BEN and PETE sit side by side.

BEN

Please tell them it was an accident. It would really help me.

PETE:

You fucking assaulted me.

BEN:

You hit me first.

PETE:

Ya. So what? You were making the moves on me.

BEN:

I wasn't.

PETE:

I'm not a moron. I can see that kind of shit coming. I've been around you know. Why am I even talking to you. I don't even know you. It's not enough that you harass me. Now you fucking clocked me.

BEN:
I'm trying to help you.

PETE:
Oh sure. And I end up hospitalized. Good job.

BEN:
You headbutted me. Really hard. And I overreacted.

PETE:
I'll cut you a deal.
I'll say you fell if you blow me right now.

BEN:
No fucking way.

PETE;
Your choice.

BEN:
Nothing is beneath you is it?

PETE:
Haven't found anything yet.