Family Values (13 page)

DWIGHT
(reading the letter aloud)

Sometimes I just wish, I could
have run away and hid.

No matter where I
would have gone though, these feelings would have stayed inside.

How can I stay here and live each day a lie,

When all I want to do is close my eyes and die?

I saw
the pain I would have caused you, with every tear I shed.

I plead with you now, let me go instead?

Whether it exists though, is time for me to face

Can I ask for your forgiveness? For you to set me free

It may seem ungrateful, but this life's not meant for me.

Thank you for all your love, for all the time we shared,

It means the world to me, to know that someone cared.

I must end it. There's no hope left. I'll be at peace.

No one had anything to do with this.

My decision totally,

Landon

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I wished he would have talked to me.

DWIGHT

He was in pain and we didn’t know.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I knew something wasn’t right with him. (holding the urn) Now this is the only way for me to hold my baby.

DWIGHT
Gran let me put the urn on the mantle.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA (snapping)

Get away from me. Maybe it’s your fault that he did this.

DWIGHT
Gran I had nothing to do with Landon problems.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

You and Robin need to hurry and marry. This family needs no more bad press or others running their mouth.

DWIGHT

What do you mean that I need to marry Robin?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I arranged for you and Robin to get together.

DWIGHT

Gran I don’t know if I can go through with marrying Robin. I was going to see if you were going to tell me the truth. Robin and I have talked about it and all, but this is not in my heart.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

You will marry her. I don’t give a damn about you being gay. If you want any part of this family you will do as I say. Robin if you want your money, you will make sure that you marry him. No one will take this family down.

DWIGHT

How much are you getting paid?

ROBIN

That doesn’t matter.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I am paying six hundred fifty thousand to marry you. She will have to stay married three years in order to receive all of it.

DWIGHT

I guess that we are both getting something out of this. I am gaining my grandmother, and you are gaining fat pockets.

ROBIN

Dwight, you and I talked about this.

DWIGHT

You never told me that you were getting paid.

ROBIN
Does it make a difference. You are gaining acceptance from your family and I am gaining a little monetary incentive.

DWIGHT

I never thought that I would be in this position before. I am having sex for my grandmother’s approval. Just to work for this family and gain an inheritance.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Don’t think of it that way.

DWIGHT

What other way is there to think of it?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Think of it as being delivered. Now in a few days you and Robin will announce your engagement in the in
Wayne County Gazette
. We will have an engagement party and then in a few weeks the wedding. Meanwhile, Dwight will work here at Cove Oil. Robin you will go with Madison to pick out things for the wedding. Don’t lose your damn mind and think that you can purchase anything that you want. This is a wedding to get the drama off of my family.

             
Brian set in his hotel room flipping channels on the TV. His mind pondered over the dinner that he had with Madison. He tried to wrap his mind around the news that she told him about Dwight moving back to Mississippi.

             
While flipping through the channels there was a knock on his door. Wearing only his boxers he walked to the door and answered. There stood Robin with a smile on his face.

BRIAN

Hello.

ROBIN

Aren’t you going to invite me in?

             
Brian stepped out of the way and motioned for her to come in.

ROBIN

Nice room.

BRIAN

Where is Dwight?

ROBIN

At his grandmother’s. They are in mourning right now.

             
Brian stood there in total disbelief.

BRIAN

What happened?

ROBIN

Their brother Landon killed himself.

BRIAN

I have got to get over there.

             
Brian tried to find some clothes to put on. Robin grabbed the elastic of his boxers trying to stop him. Brian quickly slapped her hand. Robin smiled at him as she reached again. Brian grabbed her wrist and twisted it.

BRIAN
Don’t you ever put your hands on me.

ROBIN
I could tell that you wanted me when you saw me in the restaurant. Now I need you to slow down and pay attention to me.

             
Robin caressed Brian’s chest with her hands. He stood there to see how far she would go. When she tried to kiss him he turned his head.

ROBIN
Come on and kiss me.

BRIAN

Robin let me explain something to you. I am in love with Dwight. Nothing you can say or do will ever change that. Now if you don’t mind…I have to get to Dwight.

             
Brian grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. He grabbed his keys and walked out of the door. Robin stood there with her arms folded. Suddenly she heard the keycard slide into the door. Brian walked in and stepped directly to Robin. He grabbed her by the arm and escorted her out of the door. When the door closed behind them he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek and towards the elevator he went.

             
Robin pulled her cell phone from her purse. After a few keystrokes she placed the phone to her ear.

ROBIN
This is Robin. He is on his way there.

MADISON
Great. Now you follow him.

ROBIN

I don’t know if I can do this.

MADISON

If you want the sixty thousand that I promised you – you better follow him. Or I can get someone else to do this.

ROBIN
Okay, I will do it, but I want one hundred thousand dollars.

MADISON
Listen to me you little bitch…you will only get sixty thousand from me once you have completed your instructions. You are wasting time by being on this phone.

             
I was surprised to see Brian when he opened the door. We hadn’t seen each other for a few days. Brian stood waiting patiently for me to invite him in.

DWIGHT

Brian.

             
Madison heard me call Brian’s name. She come racing into the foyer to see if what she heard was true.

MADISON

Brian…what are you doing here?

BRIAN

Robin came by my hotel and told me that you all had death in the family. I came to check on everything.

MADISON

We are all okay.

DWIGHT

My brother killed himself.

             
Brian reached in to hug me. I quickly wrapped my arms around Brian’s neck and started to cry. Madison stood there watching. She folded her arms and continued to stare.

             
A few minutes later Robin raced up to the door. Madison gave her a penetrating glance. We all walked into the living room where Grandmother Ella sat still holding the urn.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What are you doing here?

DWIGHT

He came to check on us. Robin told him that …

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Robin told what. (directing her attention to Robin)

BRIAN

Robin told me that you all had death in the family. I came by to give my condolences and to check on Dwight. I haven’t heard from him in days.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Dwight didn’t tell you that he is getting married?

BRIAN

Excuse me?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Yes. To Robin.

             
Brian turned to me and wondered what was going on.

BRIAN
Is this the reason why I haven’t heard from you? Madison told me that you were moving back to run the family company but she said nothing about you getting married.

DWIGHT

Let me explain.

BRIAN

What is there to explain? I told you that you changed once you got back to Mississippi. Now I see why.

____________________________

              Madison and Robin walked to the kitchen. Upon entering Madison turned around and slapped Robin across the face. Once Robin realized what happened she attacked Madison. The two gave each other a few hair pulls and hits across the face. It wasn’t until Robin hit her head on the counter that the fighting stopped.

MADISON
I told you to run his car off of the road.

ROBIN
I tried but I could not keep up with him.

             
Madison reached over and slapped Robin again. Robin grabbed a knife from the holder. Before she could throw it at Madison Grandmother Ella walked into the kitchen.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What is going on in here?

MADISON
Nothing. I gave Robin an assignment that she did not carry out.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

You both are supposed to be planning a wedding. Not tearing up my kitchen.

MADISON
I don’t know if there will be a wedding.

             
Grandmother Ella turned quickly.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

And why not?

ROBIN
Mrs. Cove I don’t think that I can deceived Dwight like this.

             
Grandmother Ella slowly walked over to Robin.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I don’t want to hear this. You will marry him.

ROBIN

But what if I get caught.

MADISON

Stop being such a bitch.

ROBIN
You have got one more time to call me a bitch.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Tomorrow the two of you will sit down and plan this entire wedding out.

BRIAN
(walking into the kitchen with Dwight)

There will not be a
wedding?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Why is he here?

             
Brian released Dwight’s hand. He looked Dwight in the face.

DWIGHT

I need to talk to you in private.

MADISON

No you don’t. You can say it all right here.

DWIGHT

I know that I can but I don’t choose too.

BRIAN

Let me say something. Dwight would scream “I love you” down the halls not caring who heard him. He’d go on a walk with me in forty degree weather, hot cocoa in one hand and my hand in his other. He’d let me sing out loud and wouldn’t call me weird. He’d sit outside with me on the balcony because there was nothing to do and wouldn’t say he was bored once. He’d let me look like crap wearing a big t-shirt and shorts and still call me beautiful. He’d write me thousands of texts every day at work. He’d take me to the park and push me on the swings. He wouldn’t be shy around my family but acted like he’s part of it. He’d argue with my friends that he loved me more. He’d keep every single promise he made. He’d run up and hug me whenever he saw me. He wasn’t scared to dance in front on me or act retarded. He’d spend my birthday with me and my family. He’d rent all the chick flicks and action flicks. He loves me. He will not marry this girl.