AT DAN SCOTT MOTORS
A FEW INVESTIGATORS are standing around the tattered and burnt-down building.
Ash and debris everywhere.
A Huge Yellow Tape outlining the place with the bold black words on it saying: Police Scene - Do Not Cross
As NATHAN, DEB and HALEY watch the unfolding drama.
Lucas pulls up in his truck.
Investigators immediately coming to him.
FIRST INVESTIGATOR: And what is your relation to these people?
LUCAS: I'm a friend and a brother--
Lucas sees Nathan.
LUCAS: Nathan. Hey, Nathan!
Nathan frowns and walks off to an area beside the building.
Second Investigator looking to Lucas.
SECOND INVESTIGATOR: You're Lucas Scott -- Brother to Nathan Scott and Son to Dan Scott of Dan Scott motors?
LUCAS: Yeah, what's going on?
SECOND INVESTIGATOR: Well, for one thing, your father's missing. As for the other -- I think you get the picture.
LUCAS: The fire? What caused it?
First Investigator answers this one.
FIRST INVESTIGATOR: We're looking more on the lines of...who caused it?
And with that -- they go back to conversing with the others of their occupation as they continue to view the crime scene or at least thought of as one.
Haley rushing over to Lucas, Deb talking with some investigators...Haley hugging Lucas tightly.
HALEY: Oh, Luke. I tried to come over as soon as I saw you, but the authorities warned me not to. Said they needed to clarify who you were first.
LUCAS: Same here -- I mean, when I saw you, I didn't know what to think.
She pulls away from him, smiling.
HALEY: Yes, Tutor girl's back.
LUCAS: What about your music?
Haley's smile soon fades as she is now silent.
HALEY: Look...Lucas...Nathan really needs me right now, and I guess what I'm trying to say is...that I'm going to be devoting a lot more time to him these next few weeks, and --
LUCAS: And, what, Haley?
HALEY: Don't expect me to be dropping by all that often anymore, okay? -- Or maybe even at all. Not this summer.
LUCAS: But, Hales?
HALEY: Lucas, please.
She gives him one last hug, then slowly walks backwards before turning around to walk off.
LUCAS: Wait, Haley?
She stops only to listen to his words.
LUCAS: Just take care of him, alright? He isn't speaking to me...and -- and I don't know what else to do.
Haley nods, then joins Nathan's side in the distance.
Deb approaching Lucas now.
DEB: I know this must be scary for you.
LUCAS: Why would it be scary?
Deb looks as if she's hiding something.
DEB: Just go home, Lucas. There's nothing you can do. And you'll only make the
authorities more suspicious.
LUCAS: Suspcious? But Nathan --
DEB: Is with me. I'm his mother, and I know he's your brother, but with your own mother out of town, I'll try to be there for you when I can. Just like I'm here for you now --telling you to go home.
Lucas hesitates for a minute, taking one last glance at Nathan and Haley, then proceeding to his truck.
First Investigator calling out to Lucas.
FIRST INVESTIGATOR: Don't be leaving town now, y'hear?
Lucas gets into his truck.
AS AT AARON'S HOUSE
Aaron comes in, baseball glove and ball in hand, only to find his father waiting for him
IN THE KITCHEN
his father seated at the table, a belt in hand.
FATHER: Where you been, boy?
AARON: (holding up his mit) Playing baseball -- honest.
FATHER: I think you're lying.
AARON: No, really -- this idiot almost ran me over with his truck, and --
FATHER: (angrily) What!
Father gets up, furiously walking over to Aaron, towering over the boy.
FATHER: How many times have I told you to watch the damn street when you're crossing it? Why, I oughtta --
Father raises his belt in a hitting position, ready to batter Aaron but --
AARON: Oh, that's right, Mr. Powerful Eric Taynes always gotta hit his son just to show he rules!
MR. TAYNES slowly dropping his hand down at his side at that comment, instead rubbing his scruffy almost-beard with the other.
MR. TAYNES: You just lucky this time you didn't touch my lucky basketball. 'Cause only bad boys, what?
Aaron is forced to recite the line he has become accustomed to reciting.
AARON: 'Cause only bad boys touch their father's lucky basketball.
MR. TAYNES: Damn straight. Now get outta my sight!
Aaron waste no time in fleeing from his father's presence.
AS INSIDE OF AARON'S ROOM
Aaron throws his mit to the floor, then walks to his bed, where he plops down on it.
Grabbing his box of football and baseball memorabilia, he half-smiles.
AARON: At least there's one thing I can always count on.
AS AT LUCAS' HOUSE AT NIGHT TIME
Lucas strolls on in, locking the door behind him and moving past the den, the livingroom, all the way up into
HIS ROOM
where he walks past a picture of Brooke hanging on his dresser mirror.
He touches it, speaking to himself.
LUCAS: Why'd you leave, Brooke? And what does this, my Peyton box, and the wishing I'd never let you go all really mean?
Lucas sighs, frustratedly pulling out his cell phone, then dialing up a number.
He waits for the connection.
LUCAS: Yes, this is Mr. Scott -- the gentleman you talked to the other day. I know you're not in at the moment, well, of course -- that's why I'm leaving you a message -- but I need your help. I want to continue our therapy sessions... See...
Lucas turns for a moment, noticing a smaller box on his bed.
He then hangs up on the machine, tossing the cell phone over his shoulder, to his dirty laundry basket as he moves to his bed. It's a smaller version of his other rather larger Peyton box. Except, this one, containing pictures and memories that seem to be more of endearing.
Lucas picks up a picture of Peyton that emphasizes her beautiful long legs.
He smiles.
LUCAS: And then the moments I could never part with.
He reaches under his bed and pulls one that he snuck from his collection that now lay in the doctor's office.
It's the picture of him and Peyton laughing while in the backseat of her car, her lying snuggled against his chest.
Lucas takes the picture to his window as he stares out it, looking from the picture to his front lawn, the moonlight casting a gorgeous illuminating glow to grace the entire street and its neighboring grasses.
Suddenly Lucas sees the image of two faded people taking form, becoming solid as they race from their car...wait...is it? It's him and Peyton...the him and Peyton of the past...Is this a memory? It is. Of their time together that night.
AS WITH THE MEMORY
On the side of the house, Lucas pulls Peyton into him.
He slowly leans in for a kiss, his mouth caressing her supple lips...slow...slower, then faster, faster and hungrily fast as their mouths seem to be devouring each other.
Peyton pulling away, smiling as she entangles her hands with his.
PEYTON: A little excited there, are you?
LUCAS: How do you know I'm excited?
She looks at him seductively.
PEYTON: Lucas, I'm pressed against you. I can feel the excitement.
Lucas laughs.
LUCAS: Caught me red-handed.
PEYTON: You bet, I did.
She goes in for another kiss, this time Lucas pulling away as he cups her face in his hands.
LUCAS: I just can't wait until this is all over. God, Peyton, you have no idea how much I want to be with you. How much I lo--
Peyton kisses him, cutting off his words mid-speech. She then looks him in the eyes.
PEYTON: No crazy talk until we're together, alright?
LUCAS: It's not crazy talk, that's just what's in my heart, you know?
She sighs.
PEYTON: I know.
She looks down at the dirt.
PEYTON: But Brooke.
He lifts her chin up with his finger.
LUCAS: Doesn't compare to you...not even close, okay? I told you that. And that's never gonna change. I promise.
PEYTON: It's just -- this isn't right, Lucas. Hurting Brooke like this.
LUCAS: Which is why I'm going to break up with her tonight. Because sneaking around like this, only being able to meet up with you in libraries and such, well -- It just isn't enough for me. I'm going to tell her.
PEYTON: We tried that last time.
LUCAS: I mean it though.
PEYTON: Which will only hurt her more.
LUCAS: But it has to be done.
He takes her hands into his.
LUCAS: Because I don't know what'd I do, if it meant not having you, Peyton.
He hugs her.
LUCAS: Besides...what am I gonna, do, huh, without a babe at my side reading boring books with me all day?
Peyton laughs at this.
Lucas continuing...
LUCAS: 'Cause those party chicks, man, I tell ya, really put a damper on my brooding.
Peyton looks up at him giggling.
PEYTON: Oh, c'omn, nothing and no one could ever put a damper on your brooding.
Lucas kisses her forehead.
LUCAS: Got that right. And we have fun together, we do, like tonight...well, before the sob party, but still...it's not just about sharing common interest with someone...it's about sharing my mind, my soul, my heart, Peyton. And you're the only one it seems I can share that with.
He kisses her softly.
AS OUT OF THE MEMORY
We see today's Lucas walking out back to peep around the corner of his house and watch the faded images of himself and Peyton...the vision soon disappearing, becoming nothing more than a forgotten memory. Only it's not forgotten.
He looks at the picture of him and Peyton and then the area where he's just witnessed his past with his one-time love, and then back at the picture again as he whispers to himself:
LUCAS: What happened to all of that?
THE NEXT DAY
AT THE BEACH
Lucas is sitting in the sand, looking out at the colliding waves. In fact, he's so caught up in them that he doesn't seem to notice the voice calling out to him.
PEYTON: (off screen) Lucas? Hello! Earth to Lucas.
She snaps at him.
Lucas immediately coming out of his daze to look at Peyton take a seat beside him.
