FADE IN:
TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD
Mark is sitting on the living room couch, silently filling out divorce papers while Tommy and Rachel play with toys from a tub in the corner. The side door opens and an anxious looking Randy comes inside.
MARK (looks to Randy): Hey there, Randy.
RANDY (anxious): Are Mom and Dad home, Mark?
MARK (shrugs): Dad's at work and Mom's doing baby shopping with Marissa.
RANDY (shocked): Did Brad and Marissa get a kid already or is she pregnant?
MARK (shrugs): No, but Mom wanted to show Marissa what she'll need if she does get a kid.
Randy sighs and clasps his hands together. It's obvious he's very nervous.
RANDY (nervous): I have to tell someone. (a beat) The tumors are finally small enough for surgery.
MARK (pleased): That's good news, Randy. (a beat) Isn't it?
RANDY (nervous): I don't know how Lauren is going to take it…being pregnant and all.
RACHEL (worried): You gotta get operated on, Uncle Randy?
Randy nods and sighs as he takes a seat in a soft chair. Rachel looks worried and begins to clean up her toys just as the front door opens and Jill comes in with an anxious looking Marissa.
TOMMY (anxious): Gramma Jill, Uncle Randy's gonna have an operation!
Jill's eyes go wide and Marissa gasps, both of them looking at Randy as they come over to him.
JILL (concerned): Are the tumors finally small enough, Randy?
RANDY (nods): The surgery is next week. (a beat) I had chemo earlier and took the bus home.
JILL (upset): You could have called us! (a beat) The bus is full of germs, Randy!
Mark sighs as he finishes the papers and stands up. Jill and Marissa look at him.
RANDY (tired): Lauren is volunteering at Bobby and Jillian's school today, Dad and Brad are working, you were busy with Marissa, and Mark's busy too. I sat in the front and there wasn't a problem.
MARK (sighs): Um, Mom, could you please watch Tommy and Rachel? I need to go give these to my lawyer and then go by the restaurant to check on things. I should be back by dinner time.
JILL (concerned): You're done with the divorce papers already, Mark?
MARK (nods): It wasn't hard. (a beat) I'm allowed to drive again, so I'm going to take my car.
JILL (concerned): Mark, why don't you take Randy with you? Have some brotherly bonding time.
Mark looks at Randy, who nods. Mark gets his keys and the two men leave the house.
RACHEL (sad): Does this mean my mommy doesn't love me or Tommy anymore?
TOMMY (confused): What's a divorce, Gramma Jill?
MARISSA (concerned): Do you kids like cookies? (a beat) We can make some together if you want.
Rachel and Tommy suddenly look eager and quickly put their toys away while Jill goes to the garage.
INT. GARAGE
Tim is working on the hotrod and the engine is almost put together. Jill comes into the garage.
TIM (eager): What do you think? (a beat) This should be all done by the time Wil is old enough to drive.
JILL (sighed): Do Randy and Lauren know that you're making the car for Wil?
TIM (shrugs): I'm sure it'll come up in conversation (a beat) He's going to love it.
JILL (shakes her head in disbelief): Mark and Randy just took Mark's car out for a drive.
TIM (pleased): Oh, yeah? Maybe I should ask Mark if he wants me to give his car more power...
JILL (annoyed): Mark's car is fine; it's his life that's a mess. (a beat) Mark finished the divorce papers and he took them to his lawyer just a little bit ago. I insisted that Randy go with him to make sure he's okay.
TIM (sighs): That was quick. (a beat) He's just barely recovered from being beat up on Tool Time...
JILL (annoyed): Tim! This is NOT about Tool Time! (a beat) Tommy and Rachel are asking questions...
TIM (working on the engine): About the car? (a beat) They're way, way too young to drive, but I appreciate their enthusiasm. Maybe when they're old enough, I'll build them both cars.
Jill scoffs and Tim sets his tools aside before getting up and giving Jill a concerned look.
TIM (concerned): They're Mark's kids, honey. (a beat) How do we explain to them about divorce?
JILL (nervous): Well, we have some time. Marissa's got Tommy and Rachel helping her make cookies.
Tim nods and the two linger in the garage, both of them silently wondering what to do.
CUT TO:
DOWNTOWN MICHIGAN
Randy is sitting in the passenger seat of Mark's car while it's parked in front of the legal office and he looks tired. Sighing, Randy checks his watch and slowly drifts off with his head on the rest.
As Randy sleeps, a car pulls in behind Mark's car and that car's tire suddenly pops. Alarmed, Randy wakes, bolts out of the car, and begins throwing up in a trash can with a hand on his chest. As Randy is throwing up, Mark comes out of the office and freezes at seeing Randy throwing up and panicking.
MARK (concerned): Randy, are you okay?
RANDY (anxious): Something exploded (wheezes) I'm...I'm back in the Tower...
Randy sinks to his knees and closes his eyes and Mark pulls his cell-phone out of his pocket.
MARK (concerned): Do you want me to call for an ambulance?
Randy suddenly opens his eyes, blinks, and looks around. He sighs as he massages his forehead.
RANDY (tired): I...it was just a panic attack. (a beat) I've been thinking about Wilson lately.
Mark helps Randy to his feet and leads him to the car before giving him a gentle hug.
MARK (concerned): Because you're having surgery?
RANDY (upset): How come I survived 9/11 just to get cancer like Wilson?! (a beat) I don't get it.
Mark helps Randy get into the car and Randy sighs, suddenly frowning as he looks out the windshield.
RANDY (weak): Mark, is that Donna on that corner?
Mark turns and his eyes widen as he sees a very thin redhead standing on the street corner wearing a tank top, a tight skirt, and heels with her hair in a braid. Donna turns from the street and sees Mark.
DONNA (walks over to Mark): Hey there, handsome (a beat) I'm sort of working, but I can make time...
MARK (upset): You're working as a prostitute while you're out on bail?! (a beat, sighs) Donna...
DONNA (annoyed): I'm cut off from the restaurant and I have to pay the legal aid people who are helping me get a divorce from your highness. (scoffs) Unless you want to give me money...
MARK (disgusted): No! (a beat) What you're doing could land you right back in jail!
Donna moves closer to Mark and strokes his cheek seductively and Mark allows it for a moment, closing his eyes briefly before re-opening them and taking a step back. Donna scowls.
MARK (irritated): I just put the papers in with my lawyer. I want a peaceful divorce.
Donna scowls, spits at Mark, and stalks off back to the corner. Mark gets into the car.
RANDY (tired): So Donna's a prostitute so she can pay to divorce you, but she wants to stay married?
MARK (pulls out of the spot): I thought I was doing the right thing by marrying her...
RANDY (tired): Wilson did the right thing on 9/11 and he died for it in the end.
Mark gives Randy a worried look, but Randy turns and looks out the window in silence.
CUT TO:
FADE IN:
TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD
The cookies are in the oven and Marissa is cleaning up the kitchen while Tommy and Rachel eat samples of cookie dough on spoons at the kitchen counter. Tim and Jill come out of the garage.
JILL (kind): Okay, Rachel, you wanted to know what divorce is, right?
Rachel nods silently and stops eating her cookie dough while Tommy continues to eat his.
JILL (concerned): Your parents don't want to be married to each other anymore, but they both want to still love you and Tommy. (a beat) When a married couple doesn't get along for long enough...
RACHEL (upset): Why don't why my mommy and daddy want to be married anymore?
TOMMY (upset): Cause Mommy threw a big bowl at Daddy's head on Grandpa's show.
RACHEL (upset): Tommy and I don't even fight. (drops spoon) Don't they love us?
TIM (sighs): Marriage is like a car...(a beat) It needs certain parts to work together in order to run.
Marissa looks amused, Jill looks annoyed, and Rachel and Tommy exchange a look.
RACHEL (confused): So Mommy and Daddy are parts in a car? (a beat) I don't get it, Grandpa.
MARISSA (gentle): I think what your Grandpa Tim is trying to say is that if a married couple doesn't get along for long enough, they are sometimes happier not being married anymore. I'm sure both your parents love you very much and always will; they just can't love each other.
TOMMY (quietly): Mommy likes to drink from big bottles. (a beat) She smells funny a lot.
Just then, the front door opens and Brad comes into the house, having just gotten off work. He rushes into the kitchen and dips Marissa into a gentle kiss. Marissa looks amused and returns the kiss.
BRAD (pleasant): I got a call from Willow as I was leaving work! Our profile has been approved!
RACHEL (confused): Uncle Brad, how come you and Auntie Marissa don't have kids?
BRAD (gentle): I...we aren't able to have any, kiddo. (a beat) Do you know what adoption is?
The front door suddenly opens again and Mark comes into the house looking both concerned and frustrated. Tim can see Randy march into Wilson's old backyard and storm into his house.
MARK (sighs): The papers are in. (a beat) I think something's wrong with Randy.
JILL (concerned): He's got his surgery coming up. Of course he's probably a little anxious.
MARK (upset): Randy had a panic attack downtown and then asked why he survived 9/11 just to end up getting cancer like Wilson did. (concerned) I...I think the surgery's reminding him of Wilson.
RACHEL/TOMMY: Who's Wilson?
TIM (sighs): Wilson was a friend of ours who used to live where your Uncle Randy lives now. He got sick and passed away long before either of you were born. (a beat) He was a very good friend to all of us.
JILL (anxious): Does Randy think he's going to die like Wilson? His cancer...their cancers are different.
MARK (concerned): Rachel, Tommy, why don't you guys go upstairs and get your workbooks? Now that I'm home, we can work on your basic math and writing (a beat) We'll play a game after dinner.
Tommy drops his spoon on the counter and runs upstairs, but Rachel stays where she is.
RACHEL (upset): Daddy, are you and Mommy really divorcing? How come she doesn't love us?
Mark sighs and promptly hugs Rachel, who begins to cry quietly. Tim and Jill exchange a look.
MARK (gentle): I don't know, pumpkin. (a beat) We're not happy being married to each other, but I promise that we'll do our best to love you and Tommy just as we did while we were married. Okay?
Sniffling, Rachel nods and quietly goes upstairs while wiping her tears on her shirt sleeve.
MARK (sighs): I...I hope this isn't any harder on them than it has to be. (a beat) I'm tired...
Tim silently picks up the phone and dials a phone number. Several dial tones sound before he hangs up.
TIM (concerned): Randy's not picking up. (sighs) Mark, did Randy really wonder why he was still alive?
MARK (concerned): I don't know what to do for him. I wasn't involved in 9/11 and I wasn't there...
JILL (gentle): Wilson didn't want anyone there but your father and Willow when he died, honey.
Tim silently goes outside and peeks over the fence. He sees Randy sitting in a lawn chair, crying quietly with his hands over his face.
FADE TO BLACK
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