Author's Note: My apologies for this being in screenplay form, but hopefully the story is still worth a gander.
One Tree Hill
"Stranger In My House"
NATHAN AND HALEY SCOTT HOUSEHOLD
JAMIE'S ROOM
Jamie wakes up to the sound of muffled arguing. Quietly, he gets out of bed, and cracks the door open. He is too afraid to leave the confines of his room—he feels safe there. He closes the door, gets back into bed, and pulls his pillow over his ears, crying. The camera pans back from him, going toward the door. Through the keyhole, the camera continues, and the voices get louder as the camera makes its way down the hall, the stairs, around the corner, and finally into the kitchen. Nathan looks distressed, as Haley reams into him.
HALEY
Damn it, Nathan! We almost lost him today. Your father's continuously lurking around—
NATHAN
If it wasn't for Dan, we might not even have Jamie home tonight, Haley. Can't you see that?
HALEY
What I see is that all of the problems surrounding this family are inadvertently caused by you. Psycho stalkers—
NATHAN
You can't seriously be blaming me for—
HALEY
Your murderous father—
NATHAN
Yeah, who happened to save our son. I can't help who my father is, or what he's done, but I'll be damned if you let me feel guilty about being happy for him being released from prison.
Think, Haley. If he hadn't been there, who knows what that nutcase would have done to Jamie?
HALEY
Oh, you mean the nutcase who's infatuated with you?
NATHAN
(scoffs)
You know what? I don't need this right now.
HALEY
Nathan! Don't you dare walk out on me! Nathan!
Nathan gets his car keys off the counter—exits from back door without a backwards glance.
Cut to
INT. LUCAS SCOTT"S BEDROOM. WIDE VIEW— NIGHT
Lucas sits on the edge of his bed, eyeing the closed box of the engagement ring atop his dresser disdainfully. He looks back down at a framed picture of him and Lindsay. He sighs heavily, putting the frame haphazardly on the dresser next to the ring box, and flops backwards on his bed, throwing his arm over his eyes. There is a gentle knock at the door.
KAREN (O.S.)
Lucas? Are you alright?
LUCAS
I'm fine, mom. Just…give me a minute.
Karen ignores her son's request, and slowly opens the door. She is holding a plate of warm oatmeal raisin cookies and a tall glass of cold milk.
KAREN
Sorry—no can do. I come bearing gifts that won't stay warm or cold
(she adds, eyeing the milk)
forever.
LUCAS
(Removes his arm from his face, squints at his mother briefly before putting his arm back where it was)
This isn't something that can be fixed with cookies and milk, mom.
KAREN
I know honey, but it sure can help. Come on—when was the last time I made you cookies and milk? Just enjoy them, okay? They're good and fresh.
She advances into the room, placing the glass on top of the horizontal picture, and the plate of cookies on top of the dresser. She then sits down next to her son
KAREN
I don't think I need to tell you that it could be much, much worse.
Pregnant pause.
LUCAS
(Quietly)
I know.
KAREN
But I do think I need to tell you that…time will heal you. You're still very, terribly young Lucas. You have all the time in the world.
LUCAS
(morosely)
There's no way to be sure of that.
KAREN
No, there's not. But you can't live your life like—
LUCAS
Like what?
(Sits up abruptly)
Like I'm not against the clock?
(bitter)
I wonder if Keith felt that way.
KAREN
Is that what this is all about? You wanted to marry Lindsay just because you didn't there'd be enough time to—
LUCAS
(looks at her steadily, distressed)
No, it's not…I love Lindsay. I do. But she didn't believe it. Didn't believe in us. She wouldn't let herself…
Lucas stands up. Paces around his room like a caged animal.
LUCAS
I am just so sick and tired of chasing her! I won't do it anymore.
(defeated)
LUCAS (CONT'D)
I can't.
Karen eyes the ring box dubiously before shifting her gaze back to her son.
KAREN
Are you sure you weren't just running from Peyton?
LUCAS
(Jerks his body toward her, stares at her questioningly)
What?
KAREN
It's just that…I know that that ring was originally for her, Luke. And when she didn't say yes right away, you threw yourself into the first relationship you could find.
LUCAS
No I—
KAREN
(firmly)
Yes, son. You did. You were so afraid of being alone. Lindsay knew it—could tell. If she had said yes, your marriage would have been a disaster. You love her—I know you do. But you and I both know that you aren't in love with her.
Lucas stares at his mother with a mixture of shocked awe and trepidation.
KAREN (CONT'D)
You're in love with Peyton. You have been for a long time. But she hurt you, I know. But if you allow some time to pass, some time to heal…maybe things can be right again between you two.
Close up on Lucas's face. He is seriously pondering his mother's words.
Cut to
INT. TRIC.
Nathan sits alone at the bar; a bottle of perspiring, untouched beer sits in front of him. A young, leggy, exotic looking, ethnic brunette sits one stool away from him, teary eyed. She is the anti Haley. She ignores him, however, and orders a strong pineapple Malibu with no ice. As she waits for her order, she looks around the place she stumbled into, and notices Nathan not drinking.
WOMAN
Now what's the point in that?
NATHAN
Excuse me?
WOMAN
Buying a drink that you're clearly not going to drink. At least not anytime soon. It's gonna get flat. You're not in AA or something are you?
NATHAN
(Slight chuckle)
Not really. Maybe I should be.
WOMAN
I dunno—you seem to be doing alright on your own. What with the not drinking and all.
(Gulps down her drink, orders another)
NATHAN
And you seem to be drinking like a fish.
WOMAN
(laughs)
Cliché much? What's it to you anyway?
NATHAN
Hey, nothing lady. You started talking to me first, remember?
WOMAN
(sighs)
You're right—I absolutely did. I guess I just wanted to think about something not me for a little while. Hence the drinking.
Nathan pulls her fresh drink away from her. She eyes him with an amused arch of her eyebrow.
NATHAN
Trust me—won't help.
WOMAN
That right?
NATHAN
Yeah, I have a ton of knowledge in that area. Just makes you feel worse. And then you'll probably end up doing something you totally regret, which just leads to even more badness.
WOMAN
Aha. I see. What do you suggest then?
NATHAN
(fingers his wedding band absentmindedly)
Look, I'm sorry. I'm—
WOMAN
Married? Yeah, I noticed. And I'm a lesbian, so you're good.
NATHAN
Oh. Sorry. I wouldn't have…sorry.
WOMAN
It's cool. So, now that it's officially okay for us to speak to one another, what do you suggest?
NATHAN
(looks thoughtful for a moment)
I dunno—talking about it maybe?
WOMAN
With you?
NATHAN
Sure—why not? I don't have anything else to do.
WOMAN
Besides stare at the beer you're clearly not going to drink. My name's Jade, by the way.
NATHAN
(reaches over to shake her hand)
Nathan. Nice to meet you.
They smile at each other.
Cut to
INT. LUCAS AND KAREN'S KITCHEN.
Karen is cleaning up in the kitchen. There is a knock at the back door. She turns, and can see Dan through the curtains. Her lips tighten, and she stares at him for a moment before marching to the door. She wrenches it open, but blocks the doorway.
KAREN
(tersely)
What do you want, Dan?
DAN
(sighs)
I just came to see if Lucas was all right. I mean, he was just jilted at the altar.
KAREN
He's fine. You can rest easy now.
(starts to close the door)
DAN
(puts his hand on the door)
Karen, wait.
KAREN
Look, Dan. I am grateful for what you did for Jamie today. But nothing between you and me will ever be okay. You think that just because all this time has passed that I've forgotten what you've done? How you gunned down Keith?
(tears in her eyes)
Well, I haven't. And I never will.
DAN
(swallows)
And I don't expect you to. I just never got the chance to tell you—
KAREN
Don't, Dan. Don't you dare try and tell me that…
DAN
I won't tell you that. Even if it is true. But you already know about that. Deep down, you must.
Karen shakes her head, eyes closed, not wanting to hear his words.
DAN (CONT'D)
What I needed you to know is that…at the time, I thought Keith was trying to kill me.
KAREN
That changes nothing.
(Pauses, staring at him intently. Calmly, she continues)
This is insane, Dan.
DAN
Is it, Karen? He let me believe it. It was Deb, and he wouldn't tell me it was her. I thought he tried to burn me alive. So yeah, I wanted to get him first before he had another shot at me. And I realize now how foolish and wrong that was. That bullet was meant for Deb, and not him.
KAREN
So what, you're going to go find Deb now? Take care of her too?!
(angry tears are running down her face)
DAN
(sighs)
No, Karen…I know that you thought that I did what I did—
KAREN
Killed him, you mean?
DAN
Yes, killed him, was to get close to you again. And that's not what it was about. But I do regret how everything
happened. And as much as I miss Keith, and hate myself for what I did, it hurts that much more knowing that I lost you too, after being able to be with you again. I fell in love with you again, Karen. For once, I wasn't afraid of…Leaving you was the worst decision I've made in my entire life. And I'm sorry for all of the pain I've caused you all these years.
KAREN
(crying in earnest)
Yeah? Well apology not accepted.
She slams the door in his face.
Cut to
INT. TRIC.
Nathan and Jade, with their backs to the camera, are still sitting at the bar, leaning into one another. They are talking in hushed tones as the camera pans around them, catching Nathan's profile, before fully swinging around, and showing both of them. They both are wearing somber expressions.
JADE
We met in high school—sweethearts, you know? But then, we ended up going to different colleges. Long distance relationships are always a rocky road. Don't know why I thought it'd be different with us. I loved her so much, and I desperately wanted it to work out, you know? But so much time had passed…We're different people now. I know that. But I just couldn't…I was trying to hold on to someone who didn't exist anymore.
Cut to
A flash back to when Haley and Nathan first fell in love.
Cut to
Haley ranting and raving, and blaming Nathan for Jamie missing.
Cut to
INT. TRIC
NATHAN
Yeah. I know what you mean.
JADE
Do you now?
NATHAN
Realization is actually just dawning on me. We're not the same people when we first met.
JADE
Of course not—how could you be? Are you still in love with her?
NATHAN
(looks pensive)
I love her. I think I loved her ever since we first met.
JADE
That's much different than being in love with her. Cause no offense, it doesn't sound like you are.
NATHAN
(hesitant)
No, I…of course I am.
JADE
You sure about that?
Nathan just looks at the bar. He reaches for the perspiring bottle of flat, light beer, and takes a quick swig.
NATHAN
I'm not sure of anything anymore.