(Ethan jogs up the porch of the old, rugged house. He opens and slams the screen door behind him. Causing the screen to, slightly, fall out of place. He walks straight down the hallway and into the kitchen. Amma is leaning against the counter while writing in letters for her crossword. She looks up, and abruptly shoved herself up from the counter. She grabs a plate from the counter, sets it on the table, and pulls out the chair in front of Ethan. Ethan didn't dare move, for Amma was furious about him being late for school.)

Amma (angrily): Have a seat.

(Ethan quickly sits. He scans the plate. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, string beans, and biscuits. Cold. Amma was officially at the "point of no return" on her anger meter. Amma sits down across from him with a bowl of red hots and crossword at hand. Ethan scooped up some mashed potatoes as he stared at her extra sharp #2 pencil. As he begins eating some of the string beans he stares out the kitchen window. The room was so quiet, he could hear the pitter - patter of rains on the roof.)

Amma: Nine letters...(Ethan turns his head away from the window.) Confinement or pain extracted for wrongdoin'.

(Amma shot Ethan a harsh look. Ethan shovels another spoonful of mashed potatoes, when he meets Amma's gaze.)

Amma: C. A. S. T. I. G. A. T. E. As in, punish. As in, if your can't get yourself to school on time, you won't be leavin' this house.

( Ethan took a big bite out of the fried chicken. He watched as she sharpened her already sharpened pencil in the automatic sharpener to her right. Once Amma yanked the pencil out of her sharpener, he pushes his chair out carefully and walks over to her. He puts his arms around her. Embracing her in a warm, loving hug.)

Ethan (sympathetically): Come on, Amma. Don't be mad. It was pouring this morning. You wouldn't want us speeding in the rain, would you?

( Amma raises an eyebrow and turns her head so she's facing him. She looks into his beautiful eyes, and her expression softens.)

Amma (gently): Well, it looks like it'll be rainin' from now until the day after you cut that hair, So you better figure out a way to get yourself to school before that bell rings.

Ethan (sighs): Ye ma'am.

(Ethan gives Amma a squeeze and makes his way to his chair.)

Ethan (excitedly): You'll never believe what happened today. We got a new girl in our class.

Amma: You think I don't know about Lena Duchannes?

(Ethan coughs up a little of his biscuits. A shocked expression appeared upon Ethan's face. )

Ethan (curiously): Is that her name? Lena?

(Amma pushes a glass of chocolate milk toward him.)

Amma: Yes and no and it's none a your shouldn't be messin' with things you don't know anything about, Ethan Wate.

(Ethan stands up and picks up his cleaned plate. As he strolls over to the sink, he begins to speak.)

Ethan (places plate in the sink, and turns on the faucet.): Did you hear anything else about her?

Amma (points at Ethan): You watch yourself. One day you're gonna pick a hole in the sky and the universe is gonna fall right through. Then we'll all be in a fix.

(Ethan's Dad stumbles into the kitchen in his pajamas. He walks towards the coffee machine. As he opens a cabinet, he turns to Ethan and gives him a sly smile. He pours a cup of coffee, and takes a bowl and a box of Shredded Wheat out. Ethan caught a sight of his yellow wax earplugs. Ethan turns to Amma and begins to whisper.)

Ethan (whispering): What did you hear?

(Amma yanked the glass out of my hands, and made her way to the sink.)

Amma: That's none a your concern. What I'd like to know is why you're so interested?

Ethan (shrugs): I'm not, really. Just curious.

(Amma takes a fork and places it on the side of the buttermilk pie.)

Amma: You know what they say about curiosity.

(Amma gives him a glare and walks out of the kitchen and down the hall. Ethan's Dad turns his head to where Amma once walked. He turns back to Ethan.)

Ethan's Dad: How was school?

Ethan: Fine

Ethan's Dad: What did you do to Amma?

Ethan: I was late for school.

Ethan's Dad (studying Ethan's face.): Number 2?

Ethan: (nods)

Ethan's Dad: Sharp?

Ethan (sighs): Started out sharp and then she sharpened it.

Ethan's Dad (smiling and jokingly): Know how many times I sat at this old table while she pulled a pencil on me when I was a kid?

Ethan (smiling): Too many times to count, Dad.

(Ethan's Dad turned, still holding his bowl of cereal.)

Ethan's Dad: M. Y. R. I. A. D.

(scoops up his last spoonful of cereal.)

P. L. E. T. H. O. R. A. As in, more than you, Ethan Wate.

(Ethan's Dad dumped his bowl into the sink. The camera zoomed in on his face. He looked like a ghost. With his cheekbones chiseled out. He was practically all skin and bones. Ethan's Dad picks up his coffee cup and walks off down the hallway into his study.)

Ethan (shouts): How's the book coming?

Ethan's Dad (turns): It's coming. Still got a lot of work to do.

Ethan (shouts): Macon Ravenwood's niece just moved to town.

(Ethan's Dad pushes his earplugs back in. The small smile faded as he knew his Dad would become disconnected from the world. He walks down the hall, and pulls out the earplug.)

Ethan's Dad (cranky): What?

Ethan (sternly): Macon Ravenwood, what do you know about him?

Ethan's Dad: Same as everyone else, I guess. He's a recluse. He hasn't left Ravenwood Manor in years, as far as I know.

(As Ethan's Dad opened his study door, Ethan saw a glimpse of his father's desk. As he stares at the desk a memory of his mother slip back into his mind. Causing the scene to fade into a flashback.)

FLASHBACK

(A seven - year - old Ethan was walking down the hall, being mischievous little boy. He noticed that his father's study door was opened. Ethan turned his head from side to side. When he realized the coast was clear, he slipped inside. He glanced around the dark, depressing room. He looked to his right and saw a threadbare Victorian sofa. Above it was a painting covered with a old sheet. Near the desk, are two bookshelves full of old,tattered leather books. But, Ethan's young eyes spotted a cardboard box. Full of curiosity,he walked up to it and peered inside. He found a stack of papers with them titled "Gothic Horror Project." He looked around to make sure his Dad didn't walk in. With Ethan's Dad nowhere in sight, he curled up on the couch and began to read.)

(After 30 minutes, the papers were out of order and scattered everywhere. Ethan was so into the novel he didn't even notice his Dad come in.)

Ethan's Dad: (slams his hands on the door) ETHAN WATE! WHY ARE YOU READING MY NOVEL?

Ethan: (jumps up suddenly and stutters) I - I...

Ethan's Dad: Get out

Ethan: (not moving and shaking with fear)

Ethan's Dad: Did you not hear me son? (walks towards Ethan)

GET OUT!

Ethan: (Runs out)

(Ethan darts through the kitchen, running past Amma, slamming the back door, and plops under the magnolia tree. Once he catches his breath, He feels salty tears streaming down his cheeks.)

Ethan's Mother: Oh my god, what happened?

(Ethan's Mother creates circular motions along Ethan's back.)

Ethan (sobbing): Dad yelled at me because I read his project novel.

(Cries into Mother's shoulder.)

Ethan's Mother: (raises him, so they are looking at each other face - to - face) Darling, some things are meant to be kept private. Even for grown ups.

(Ethan's Mother continues to cradle him as he cries.)

FLASHBACK ENDS

(Ethan looks up as he wipes the tears from the memory. He stares at a picture of his mother that hangs in the hallway.)

Ethan (whispers): I wish you were here, Mom.