Dear John (7 page)

When she reaches John, she jumps into his arms and they kiss, aggressive and passionate, as the escalator carries them down.

JOHN

I thought you’d be waiting for me at the gate.

Savannah smiles and kisses him again.

SAVANNAH

I’ve been waiting for you everywhere, John.

118       
INT. SAVANNAH’S CAR
(MOVING -- DAY

Savannah drives, John sits next to her, holding her hand.

JOHN

Did you call my Dad?

SAVANNAH

Yeah. He can’t wait to see you.

John looks over at her, immediately skeptical.

JOHN

He said that?

SAVANNAH

Well. I could just tell.

John nods. That’s what he figured.

JOHN

So is he gonna come to your parents’ with us?

SAVANNAH

I’m not sure. He wanted to think about it.

John nods again. That’s what he figured, too.

119       
INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

John and Savannah walk in to find Mr. Tyree sitting patiently in the shadows at the dining room table.

JOHN

Hey, Dad.

Mr. Tyree stands up, and John can see he’s wearing a very old suit, now a few sizes too small and twenty years out of style. But it’s a suit nonetheless. John’s thrilled.

JOHN

You’re really coming?

Mr. Tyree shrugs. Nods towards the kitchen, where a meatloaf cools on the stove.

MR. TYREE

You hungry yet? Cause I made meatloaf.

JOHN

(smiling this time)

Yeah, it’s Saturday, I know you made meatloaf.

He goes to the pantry, grabs some tin foil, starts wrapping it up.

JOHN

We’ll take it with us, okay?

Mr. Tyree just watches him, still and quiet.

119A      
EXT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

Mr. Tyree walks to Savannah’s Jetta, awkward and nervous but armed with a cooler or a picnic basket or whatever Props thinks is best. John opens the passenger door for him, but Mr. Tyree beelines straight to the backseat.

JOHN

Come sit up front, Dad.

MR. TYREE

No no, you two should...

He trails off as he squeezes himself into the compact backseat, his legs clumsily pushed up into his chest.

So Savannah and John get in, too. Savannah turns the car on and they start heading out of his driveway --

119E      
INT. SAVANNAH CAR
-- SAME (MOVING)

-- down the small road in front of his house. But in the backseat, Mr. Tyree grows increasingly uncomfortable.

MR. TYREE

Stop the car. I forgot something.

Savannah slows down. John looks back at his father.

JOHN

What did you forget?

MR. TYREE

Stop the car. Let me out. I need to get out.

Mr. Tyree tries to open the door while the car’s still moving. But it’s locked. He pulls on the handle harder.

JOHN

Dad...

Savannah comes to a stop. Mr. Tyree pulls at the handle harder and harder.

MR. TYREE

Let me out...

JOHN

Okay, Dad. Okay.

John reaches back, unlocks the door for him and Mr Tyree pops--

119F     
EXT. ROAD IN FRONT OF MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY (SAME)

--where he pulls off his jacket. John gets out, goes over to him, puts a hand on his back.

JOHN

Jesus. You’re sweating through your shirt.

Savannah gets out of the car. She and John trade a look, his face flush with embarrassment.

SAVANNAH

It’s fine. John, honestly, it’s fine. Let’s stay here instead -- I was at my parent’s last party, I’ll be at their next.

MR. TYREE

No. You should just go.

Mr. Tyree stands stubbornly on the side of the road.

MR. TYREE

You should both just go.

JOHN

Dad. I’m here for one night. You get that, right? I’m only back for one night.

MR. TYREE

(gruffly)

Then why waste it here?

Off John’s face, hurt and wounded --

OMIT 199 B-D

120       
INT. MR. TYREE’S HOUSE
-- DAY

The house is quiet and dark... until Mr. Tyree walks back in.

He looks around the empty house. Goes into the kitchen, sets down his picnic basket, pulls out the meatloaf.

Then, in his old, wrinkled suit, he starts making himself his dinner, all alone again.

121       
INT. SAVANNAH’S CAR
(MOVING) -- DAY

Savannah drives. John stares quietly out the window.

SAVANNAH

He tried, John. At least he tried.

But John doesn’t respond, just keeps watching the scenery blurs past outside.

122       
EXT. FAMILY HOME IN LENOIR
-- LATE DAY

Savannah and John pull up to find cars parked all over the yard. Above the front door hangs an American flag.

123       
EXT. FAMILY HOME IN LENOIR
-- LATE DAY

Mrs. Curtis hurries out to greet them as they walk up the front steps.

MRS. CURTIS

My girl!

She throws her arms around Savannah. Then she surprises John by hugging him, too.

MRS. CURTIS

And John, I feel like I know you already. Where’s your father, did he come too?

John doesn’t answer. Mrs. Curtis immediately understands and gracefully glosses right over it.

MRS. CURTIS

Oh, it doesn’t matter, I’m just glad you’re home safe. I’m just glad you’re here safe!

She nods back at the house behind her, full of people.

MRS. CURTIS

We almost canceled this whole thing after what happened, of course, but we throw this party every year and I dunno... I think people are just looking for
something
to celebrate right now, you know?

Then she hugs John again, warm and inviting.

MRS. CURTIS

But I can’t say I envy you -- there’s a lot of people to meet tonight. Things could get ugly.

SAVANNAH

Don’t worry, I’ve been briefing him in the car. Background on family members, history of feuds, that sorta thing.

JOHN

Good intel. Solid tactical training.

I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

Mrs. Curtis grins at Savannah, mouths “I love him already” to her. Then she links arms and leads them both into the fray.

MRS. CURTIS

Let’s get this show on the road then.

124       
INT. FAMILY HOME IN LENOIR
-- LATE DAY

Mrs. Curtis plays a great hostess, introducing John to PARTY GUESTS with Savannah by his side, beaming.

When word spreads what John does for a living, GUESTS begin to come up and shake his hand, thanking him for his service.

John greets stranger after stranger after stranger... until he finally reaches a familiar face.

RANDY

Hey. Welcome back.

Randy is much worse than a stranger, though. He just stands there, holding his hand out for John to shake... but John doesn’t take it. Things get uncomfortable.

RANDY

Uh...hey, you want a drink? You look like you could use a drink.

He slinks off to the nearby bar. John pulls Savannah aside.

JOHN

What’s he doing here?

SAVANNAH

(with a shrug)

I invited him. Turns out his family actually lives really close by.

JOHN

So, what, you two hang out now?

SAVANNAH

Ah, he’s not so bad once you get to know him.

Randy returns, bringing them each a drink. But John doesn’t take it, just eyes him coldly. Randy looks around nervously.

RANDY

C’mon, man, I’m making an effort.

Meet me halfway here.

Savannah gives John a polite but firm nudge, then turns to greet somebody. John reluctantly takes the drink, cornered.

RANDY

Listen, I should really apologize.

For the way I treated you before.

(before John can respond)

No no. If I had any idea she was actually gonna
stay
with you, I’d never have acted like that.

Randy downs his entire bourbon as John tries to figure out whether he’s just been paid a compliment or an insult.

Before John even takes a sip of his drink, though, he’s pulled aside by a treetrunk of a MAN. The people nearby (including TIM) fall silent. The Man glares at Savannah.

MR. CURTIS

So this is him?

SAVANNAH

Daddy, please. Not the tough guy routine this time, okay?

MR. CURTIS

Routine? I benchpress refrigerators, honey. I shoot large animals for sport. Your boyfriends need to know these things.

Nearby, John notices Tim smiling. They trade a nod hello, and then John, emboldened by a friendly face, sticks his hand out.

JOHN

Nice to meet you, Mr. Curtis. And for what it’s worth, Tim’s already threatened to rough me up if I ever hurt your daughter...

TIM

Yeah, I was very convincing, too.

I’m sure I made quite an impact.

Mr. Curtis pauses...then taps John’s drink with his own.

MR. CURTIS

Well if that’s the case, then let’s just skip right over that part and get back to the drinking. Cheers, son -- glad you could join us.

Just then an OLDER COUPLE walk in the front door. Mr. Curtis waves at them, instantly distracted.

MR. CURTIS

Billy, ya egg sucking dog, you actually showed up!

He heads over to greet them, while Savannah and her Mother get pulled into a nearby circle of WIVES. That leaves John and Tim, pretty much alone. They shake hands warmly.

TIM

Good to see you again, John.

JOHN

You too.

Alan runs past them, laughing about something just as another PARTY GUEST comes right up to say hello to Tim.

PARTYGOER #1

Tim! Where’s your wife? It’s been ages, I really must say hello.

TIM

Oh, she’s on vacation. I’ll let her know you asked after her, though.

Tim holds a forced smile. John watches him carefully, long after the Party Guest leaves and they’re left alone again.

JOHN

Another vacation?

Tim shrugs, tries to play it off. John considers biting his tongue, but then --

JOHN

Is that what you tell Alan, too?

Tim glances over at John. Pauses.

TIM

I don’t tell Alan anything.

JOHN

He doesn’t ask?

TIM

He asks. I just don’t know how to answer.

JOHN

Listen, Tim... I’m really not in any position to give you advice...

Tim shrugs, lets John know it’s okay to go on.

JOHN

When I was a kid, I woke up every morning hoping today’d be the day my mom would finally come home. And it took me fifteen years to realize that was never gonna happen.

John turns to Tim, looks at him honestly.

JOHN

As painful as it would’ve been for my Dad to tell me the truth... it coulda saved me a lotta years of waiting around, you know?

Tim looks back at him silently. Not offended, just thoughtful. He watches Alan run around the room for a bit before he finally shrugs.

TIM

Well, if the worst thing a guy can say about his father is that he tried too hard to protect him...then I’d say that’s a pretty good father, wouldn’t you?

John watches Alan, too, as that sinks in... until another PARTYGOER butts in and breaks the silence.

PARTYGOER #2

I’m sorry -- you’re John, right?

Savannah’s John? I just want to say thank you. For what you’re doing.

JOHN

You’re... welcome. But I--

PARTYGOER #2

We’re praying for you. Know that. I just hope that whatever happens it’ll be over soon so you boys can come home safe and sound.

War talk always attracts men -- Mr. Curtis and his friends are no exception, and they jump in freely.

MR. CURTIS

Oh, it won’t be over anytime soon.

Afghanistan’ll just be the first stop of many, believe me.

PARTYGOER #3

He’s right. Soon they’re gonna start askin y’all to reenlist for another tour. And then, slowly but surely, they’ll stop asking and start telling.

John turns to the guy, gives him a polite but cold stare.

JOHN

None of the soldiers I know need to be asked, sir. And we sure don’t need to be told.

Suddenly a VOICE FROM BEHIND cuts through the crowd.

SAVANNAH

What do you mean by ‘we’?

John turns to find Savannah behind him. The chatter quiets.

Savannah stands out here all alone. She doesn’t turn when John appears behind her.

SAVANNAH

So you’re going to reenlist then?

Just like that?

JOHN

It’s...something we need to decide.

Savannah still doesn’t look back at him. Just stares out at nothing.

SAVANNAH

Where would they send you? Right into the middle of everything?

John pauses for a long beat. Trying to decide how to best answer that without lying to her.

JOHN

I dunno. Maybe not at first.

But that doesn’t do much to reassure her. Back in the house behind them, the crowd has started to thin. The party is dying down.

SAVANNAH

It’s selfish of me to act like this. I get that. You’re the one that’d have to go back there. But two more years, John...

She finally turns to him. He immediately looks away.

SAVANNAH

Wait, have you already done it?

Have you already reupped?

John shakes his head no. Savannah stares at him harder, speaks quieter.

SAVANNAH

But have you already made your mind up? Do I get a say at all in this?

John looks away. Before he can respond, though...

...Tim steps out on the porch to say goodbye, carrying a sleeping Alan in his arms, no idea what he’s walking into. John turns when he hears him.