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turning to page one
turning to page one
The family sits around a table enjoying their snacks, while Dad smokes a cigarette.
DAD (O.S.)
Alright, let me tell you what's
happening in Iraq, alright? Exactly
what every thinking person in the
world knew was gonna happen before
they got started. Bush and his little
numb-nut fanatics he's got around
him, they don't give a rat's ass.
SAMANTHA
That's a quarter.
DAD
What's a quarter?
SAMANTHA
You said a-s-s.
DAD
Oh, sorry. My bad.
SAMANTHA
And my teacher says it's a good war,
because it's better to be safe than
sorry.
DAD
That's what they're teaching you in
school? Alright, listen to me.
Listen to your father, okay? That
is the lie. That's the big lie.
Iraq had nothing to do with what
happened at the World Trade Center.
You know that, right?
SAMANTHA
I guess.
DAD
Alright. Who are you gonna vote for
next fall, MJ?
MASON
I don't know.
SAMANTHA
He can't vote. He's not eighteen.
DAD
Yeah, oh -- alright, who would you
vote for?
MASON
Kerry?
DAD
Anybody but Bush! Okay?
SAMANTHA
Are you gonna move back?
DAD
Uh... I'm plannin' on it. You know,
I gotta find a job.
MASON
Are you and mom gonna get back
DAD
I don't know. That's not, uh...
entirely up to me, you know?
SAMANTHA
I remember when I was six, you and
mom were fighting like mad. You
were yelling so loud and she was
crying.
DAD
That's what you remember, huh?
SAMANTHA
Yep.
DAD
You don't remember the trips to
Galveston, camping in Big Bend, all
the fun we had?
SAMANTHA
Nope.
DAD
You ever get mad at your mother?
SAMANTHA
Yeah.
DAD (O.S.)
You ever get mad at your brother?
SAMANTHA
Yeah.
DAD
Yeah. You ever yell at him?
SAMANTHA
Oh yeah.
DAD
Yeah. Doesn't mean you don't love
him, right?
SAMANTHA
Mmm...
DAD
Look, the same thing happens when
you're grown up, alright? You...
You know, you get mad at people.
You know, it's not a big deal.
MASON
What'd you do in Alaska?
DAD
I worked on a boat for a while. Um,
I tried to write some music.
MASON
Did you see any polar bears?
DAD (O.S.)
No, but I saw a Kodiak bear. It was
fuckin' huge.
SAMAMTHA (O.S.)
Dad! That's fifty cents for the F-
word!
Dad reaches into his wallet.
DAD
I'm sorry. Here, take a dollar,
alright? Keep the change.
You guys are gonna be seein' a lot
more of me. Okay? I missed you two
real bad, while I was gone. Okay, I
want you to know that. I just needed
to take some time. You know, to...
Just... Your mom and me, okay...
Well, your mother, okay, is a piece
of work. Alright, I think, I think
you know that by now. Alright? And
I'm just, I'm so happy to be with the
two of you. Okay. And I'm sorry
about that bumper business. Alright.
I'm gonna get better at stuff like
that, okay?
As a token of reconciliation, Dad high fives them both, smiling.