· · ·

73EXT. RICHIE’S BEDROOM. DAY.

The next morning. Royal sits on the window sill smoking a cigarette. Pagoda sits next to him drinking a cup of coffee. Royal throws his cigarette out the window. He looks down at the street. He frowns.

Eli is climbing out a window on the second floor.

ROYAL

What’s that jackass doing here?

Pagoda looks down at Eli. Eli drops to the sidewalk. He sees Royal’s cigarette burning on the ground. He steps on it. He looks up to Royal. Their eyes meet. Royal yells:

ROYAL (CONT’D)

I know you, asshole!

Eli hesitates. He smiles defiantly. He runs away.

INSERT:

An article on Eli in the Sunday magazine section. The headline says “Where the Wild Things Are.” There is a photograph of Eli in the desert holding a dead rattlesnake by the tail in each hand. A note stapled to the top says: “Dear Mrs. Tenenbaum, Just in case you missed it. Love, Eli.”

CUT TO:

Margot and Etheline sitting together in Etheline’s study. Margot is reading Henry’s book, Accounting for Everything. Etheline is reading the article on Eli. Margot looks at it.

MARGOT

Did Eli send you that?

ETHELINE

(nods)

He always sends me his clippings.

MARGOT

(incredulous)

What for?

ETHELINE

I think he just likes the encouragement.

He’s done it for years. He used to send

me his grades in college.

MARGOT

(frowns)

That’s ridiculous.

There is a rap on the glass. Margot and Etheline look up. Raleigh is standing in the window. He looks miserable.