INT. PAULETTE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Hours have passed and the party has dwindled down. Kyle, all
his sons (except Collin) and Eli are crowded around the
television watching the Celtics play.

Emmett sits in a recliner nearby, but is more interested in
his phone than the game. Elle walks up and sits on the arm
of the chair. She runs her fingers through his hair, causing
him to look up. When she has his attention, she sneaks her
hand down to snatch his cell phone away.

EMMETT
Hey...

ELLE
It's Friday night. Date night. No
cell phones or electronic
communication of any kind,
remember?

Emmett smiles at her and wraps his arms around her waist,
pulling her down onto his lap.

EMMETT
Not that I'm complaining because
you know I love being here, but...
really? This counts as our date
night? I thought there were no kids
allowed on date nights?

Emmett glances down at Eli who is glued to the game.

ELLE
Well, there's been a development.

Elle smiles.

ELLE
Paulette invited Eli to spend the
night with Finn.

EMMETT
Interesting. Because...

Emmett takes his cell phone back from Elle. He holds it up.

EMMETT
Emma just texted me to ask if she
could sleep over at Hannah's.

ELLE
Hannah?

Collin walks by, overhearing Hannah's name. Emmett nods up
to him as Collin stops to join the conversation.

EMMETT
Collin's friend.

ELLE
Oh, the one you took to prom,
right?

Collin nods, embarrassed.

COLLIN
Right.

A beat as Elle and Emmett trade an amused look.

COLLIN
What about her?

ELLE
Emma's staying over with her
tonight.

Collin blinks, mulling over the news. Emmett grins at Elle,
pleased about the confirmed kid-free date night.

ELLE
But why am I telling you that? You
probably got the text before we
did.

COLLIN
(faking it)
Oh... right. Yeah.

A beat as Collin plasters on a smile.

COLLIN
I'm just going to run over and say
goodnight to... the girls.

He starts to back away.

ELLE
Tell her we say it's okay and to
call when she wants us to pick her
up in the morning, okay?

COLLIN
Yes, Ma'am.

Collin makes a quick getaway.

ELLE
I don't think I'll ever get used to
being called "ma'am." I mean, am I
really that old?

EMMETT
I think it's more about respect
than age... and you are quite the
respectable woman.

Elle leans in, whispering in his ear.

ELLE
Maybe I can change your mind about
that when we get home.

Emmett blushes, but smiles as he whispers to her.

EMMETT
When are we leaving?

Elle laughs softly, caressing his face. She leans in to give
him a quick kiss on the lips.

ELLE
How about now?

EMMETT
Now sounds perfect.

He leans toward her, bringing his lips to hers once more.

INT. HANNAH'S BASEMENT - NIGHT

The lights are off. Several flashlights shine, spin and
flash, making patterns in the dark. A small group of voices
can be heard singing a drunken chorus "Sweet Home Alabama"
in the dark.

The light suddenly turns on.

Emma sits on a dingy sectional between TRAVIS and WILL, both
18. Travis is your typical blonde-haired skater type. Will
is a little more clean cut with dark hair.

HANNAH, also 18, sits on a nearby beanbag. She has long
blonde hair and just enough makeup. She is fashionable in an
indie sort of way.

The boys have beer cans. The girls have red plastic cups.
They all look pretty trashed. Backing up the image is a bar
area in the corner where several bottles of hard liquor are
open and a small pyramid of empty beer cans is piled.

The group's collective startled look calms down when they
see Collin walk down the stairs.

TRAVIS
Dude, for a sec, I thought we were
so busted.

WILL
Well, it's Col so we basically are.

Emma giggles and pulls her knees up to her chest. Collin
walks right up to Emma.

COLLIN
Get up. Let's go.

Will leans past Emma to talk to Collin:

WILL
See?

Travis laughs.

COLLIN
Shut up, Travis.

TRAVIS
I didn't even say anything.

COLLIN
I said shut up.

Collin reaches down and shoves Travis' shoulder, sending him
sailing into the back of the couch. The beer in his hand
spills onto his shirt. Travis hops up.

TRAVIS
What's your problem, bro?

Will stands up and next to Travis. They block Emma from
Collin. Hannah hops up and rushes over.

HANNAH
Collin. Chill.

EMMA
(from behind the guys)
Yeah!

Collin spins around to face Hannah while Emma chugs down
whatever is in her cup.

COLLIN
No! What the hell is this?

HANNAH
It's movie night.

TRAVIS
Sweet Home Alabama! Woo! But we're
still waiting on the sequel:
Freebird. Lynaryd Skynard, man.
Classic.

Travis plops back down on the couch next to Emma, laughing.

TRAVIS
You know, you're right about your
hair. And you already kinda look
like Reese. You'd be smokin' as a
blonde.

Emma giggles. Collin turns back around. Will shakes his head
and walks over to Hannah, exchanging a conversations worth
of looks with her.

COLLIN
Emma, come on.

EMMA
Why? Did my parents send you over
to tell me that, as usual, I'm not
allowed to live my life? That I
can't stay with a friend on a
Friday night?--

HANNAH
Um... we're not friends.

Collin shoots Hannah a dirty look.

HANNAH
What? You send her over here then
you get mad at us because she gets
a little... tipsy.

Collin scoffs.

COLLIN
Okay, A: a little tipsy?

On the couch, Emma leans her head back and looks up at the
ceiling.

EMMA
Is the room spinning or are you
guys still doing the flashlight
thing?
(singing)
Sweet Home Alabama...

Emma giggles. Collin turns back to Hannah who shrugs.

COLLIN
And B: I didn't send her over here.

HANNAH
That's what she said.

WILL/TRAVIS
(jokey voice)
That's what she said.

They look at each other then burst out laughing. Emma joins
in. Hannah and Collin glare at them all then turn back to
each other to talk.

HANNAH
Well, great. Are her parents going
to be pissed? 'Cause I don't want
to get in trouble over this.

COLLIN
Actually, they're already gone.

EMMA
Seriously?

COLLIN
(ignoring Emma)
But, don't worry, I'll deal with
this.

EMMA
This? What do you mean by "this"?

HANNAH
I don't care. My parents are gone
'til Sunday so if that's easier and
nobody gets in trouble, whatever.

COLLIN
Thanks, Hannah.

Hannah smiles at him, tucking her hair behind her ear. Emma
looks back and forth between them. She rolls her eyes.

COLLIN
But, it's cool. I'll handle it.

Emma stands up, stumbling.

EMMA
It? What do you mean by--

Fired up, Collin turns back to Emma.

COLLIN
I mean you! I mean I'll deal with
you, I'll handle you, I'll take
care of you. Because, clearly, you
don't know how to take care of
yourself. Now, let's go.

EMMA
No. I want to stay.

COLLIN
We're leaving. Come on.

EMMA
Make me.

Emma sits down again. Collin gives her an impatient and
angry look.

COLLIN
(short)
Okay.

Collin takes her wrist and drags her up off the couch, out
of the room and up the stairs. The gang watches them go.

TRAVIS
I can't believe Collin can't seal
the deal and make that happen. I
mean, you guys saw how she was all
over me, right?

Will gives Hannah a look mixed with both sympathy and
wistfulness.

WILL
What I can't believe is that Collin
wastes his time pining for that
Acton princess when there are
amazing girls right here in
Worcester willing to give him a
shot.

Hannah glances at Will, but they both look away.