FADE IN:
TOOL TIME SET
The 'Tool Time' theme plays and Tim and Al walk out, waving to the audience as they do. The audience cheers.
TIM (kind): Welcome back to Tool Time, everyone. (a beat) Today, we have a special guest who has a special build request. (a beat) Say hello to my son, Mark.
The audience claps respectfully as Heidi leads Mark, who is dressed in black chef clothes, out on to the set. Mark, Tim, and Al go over to the interview area and sit.
MARK (sighs): I'd like to start by thanking my family for being so supportive during this very hard time my life. (a beat) Secondly, I'd like to ask my dad and Al if they'd be willing to build my wife's casket and headstone…
The audience gasps and Tim and Al exchange a concerned look. Tim looks uneasy.
CUT TO:
TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD
Tim sighs before turning the television off and he stares at the TV silently, the same uneasy expression on his face as before. Jill comes into the house and suddenly stops in the dining room when she sees Tim staring blankly at the TV.
JILL (confused): What show were you trying to hide from me now?
TIM (quiet): Tool Time. (a beat) Mark's guest appearance was today.
JILL (confused): Why do you sound so upset (a beat) What did you blow up?
TIM (sighs): Nothing (a beat) Mark asked me to build Donna's casket and the headstone on the show and he showed me what he wanted, but I don't want to do it.
JILL (frowns): Is this because my mother asked you to build hers? She won't need it for a long time yet. She's going to be getting treatment…
TIM (scoffs, walks off towards the garage): It's not because of that.
Jill looks confused, but says nothing as Tim disappears into the garage. A moment later, the front door opens and Mark comes in with Tommy and Rachel, both of whom look tired.
JILL (warm): Hi honey. (a beat) How did the kids's first day back go?
MARK (sighs): Rachel, Tommy, why don't you watch a video in the living room?
Rachel and Tommy exchange a look and scamper off. Mark sighs, deeply irritated.
MARK (upset): Did you see Tool Time today?
JILL (concerned): No, but your father said you asked him about Donna's…
MARK (scoffs): He took the plans and said he would talk about it with Al, but he didn't sound like he wanted to do it. (a beat) I know he didn't like Donna that much…
JILL (anxious): Mark, I'm sure that's not true. (a beat) He's in the garage at the moment, so why don't you go and talk to him about it?
MARK (scoffs): Dad doesn't talk about personal stuff like this. You know that.
TOMMY (off-screen): Daddy, can you help us pick a video?
Mark silently wanders off to the living room and Jill goes to the garage.
CUT TO:
INT. GARAGE
Tim is sitting at the workbench, silently looking through a box of old photos and papers.
JILL (opens door): Tim?
TIM (shuts the box and turns to face Jill): What is it?
JILL (concerned): Mark's upset about the reaction you gave on Tool Time.
TIM (annoyed): I said I had to talk to Al about it and I was just checking on the hot rod before I go over to Al and Trudy's to talk to him about it. Can I not do that?!
Jill is taken aback as Tim gets up and leaves the garage, slamming the door behind him. She walks over to the box, opens it, and begins looking at the momentos.
CUT TO:
INT. BORLAND MANSION
A crashing sound fills the air and a gasp fills the air. Alma, who is taking a nap on her bed, suddenly wakes and sits up. She sighs and rubs her head before standing up.
ALBERT (off-screen):..Hello? (a beat) Oh, hi Mayor…(a beat) Did you need to talk to my parents?
Alma slowly goes out of her room and sees Albert sitting at his desk in his room with the phone to his ear. He turns and sees Alma, quickly offering her a smile.
ALBERT (sighs): I don't know if they're available. Can I take a message?
Albert suddenly freezes, stunned, before recovering and making a note on his computer.
ALBERT (nervous): I'll have one of them call you back as soon as possible. Bye.
ALMA (confused, groggy): Are Mom and Dad not home?
ALBERT (sighs): They left a message for us at school, remember? Mom met Dad at work and they went over to the shelter to help Father Mike look at bids…
ALMA (groggy): I guess I must have forgotten. (a beat) What are you doing?
ALBERT (smiles): I got accepted to the Bachelor of Nursing Program at Wayne State for the fall semester and I was just emailing them to claim my spot. (a beat) Are you okay?
ALMA (sighs anxiously): I don't know. Probably just tired…(a beat) I might go get a snack.
Albert nods and Alma leaves the room. He quickly finishes his email and gets up.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN
Alma is leaning on the kitchen island and struggling to move, but is unable to. Albert enters the kitchen and frowns at seeing Alma struggling to walk.
ALBERT (concerned): Alma?
ALMA (anxious, stands): I just couldn't keep my balance for a moment. (a beat) I'm fine.
Albert nods, but he looks uncertain. Alma suddenly glares at him.
ALMA (upset): What are you looking at? Are you gonna tattle on me?
Before Albert can reply, Alma slaps him and he ends up losing his balance and falling while his crutches are in his hands. Alma gives him a look before leaving the room.
Albert sighs, leaves the crutches on the floor, and struggles to put his weight on his good leg as he grabs hold of a kitchen chair. After a lot of struggling, he manages to get to his feet again and painstakingly gets a hold of his crutches. The doorbell rings.
ALBERT (scoffs, winces as he breathes): Crap.
Sighing irritably, Albert hobbles out of the kitchen to answer the door.
CUT TO:
FOYER
Albert reaches the door and opens it only to find Tim on the stoop.
ALBERT (anxious): Oh (cringes) Hi there, Uncle Tim.
TIM (confused): You're cringing. Are you all right?
ALBERT (exhales): Just doing some at-home therapy exercises.
TIM (concerned, frowns): Aren't you supposed to be supervised when you do those?
ALBERT (shrugs): Mom and Dad went to the shelter to visit with Father Mike.
TIM (sighs): Um, could you tell your dad I stopped by to talk about a Tool Time project?
Albert nods and Tim looks concerned, but he leaves. Albert closes the door and goes in search of Alma, quickly finding her asleep on the couch in the sitting room.
CUT TO:
CAR
Tim is driving with a somber expression on his face. He suddenly pulls into the cemetery and parks. After paying the meter, he wanders into the cemetery and doesn't stop until he reaches Wilson's grave. He sighs, places a hand on the headstone, and caresses it.
SWITCH TO:
TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD – NIGHT
The house is dark and quiet, as everyone has gone to bed. The front door opens and Tim comes inside. He puts his jacket away before wandering into the kitchen.
Sighing softly, Tim turns to face the yard and ends up going outside. He touches the fence and clings to it as if trying to hug it.
TIM (somber): I almost forgot you were gone, Wilson. (a beat) I'm missing you more than ever and I wish I could tell you what's on my mind…
A door suddenly opens and closes and Tim jumps back, yelping in fright.
RANDY (tired): Dad, is that you? (a beat) What are you doing up?
TIM (confused): What are you doing up, Randy? Don't you need your rest?
RANDY (tired): Wil forgot to take the trash out and I thought I'd cut him some slack since he's been so helpful with Lauren, Bobby, and Jillian lately (a beat) Dad, I heard you talking as if you were talking to Wilson…
TIM (sighs): Did Mark tell you that he guested on Tool Time today?
RANDY (nods): It's one of the shows Lauren actually likes to watch now that she's stuck in bed. (a beat, climbs on the fence so he can see Tim) Wait, is this about the casket?
TIM (nods): I can't bring myself to do it and Mark's upset. (a beat) He sent me text messages about wanting to talk about it and this is something I don't want to do.
RANDY (confused): You love building things, though.
TIM (exhales, scoffs): The last headstone and casket I built was for Wilson, Randy!
RANDY (confused): I didn't know that. (a beat) I came for his funeral, but…
TIM (tired): Your mom and I helped Willow plan it all out. It was a really big affair, but there wasn't a lot of money available. Al and I did a few Tool Times around it.
RANDY (concerned): Dad, you wouldn't be disrespecting Wilson by building a casket and headstone for Donna. (a beat) You'd be building it for a loved one.
TIM (sighs): Mark thinks I didn't like Donna. I liked her, but I didn't like her behavior.
RANDY (sighs): You should tell Mark that. He phoned earlier when you didn't come home for supper because he thought you were avoiding him. Where were you, anyway?
TIM (sighs): I went over to Al's, but he wasn't home. I ended up stopping by Wilson's grave on the way home and just sat there and talked to him like I used to.
RANDY (quiet): Hmm, looks like Mark is up walking the house again.
TIM (concerned, grunts, turns around): Well, look at that. Mark is walking the house.
Tim and Randy watch as Mark gets a mug out of the microwave and sits at the table with his head down. Mark's expression is sad as he silently stirs what's in the cup.
TIM (concerned): Maybe I should talk to him. (a beat) Thanks for the advice, Randy.
RANDY (tired): Anytime, Dad. (a beat) Good night.
Tim nods and goes inside. Mark immediately looks up and freezes.
MARK (tired): Dad? (a beat) I…I couldn't sleep and I thought I'd have some tea.
TIM (sighs, sits at the table): I wanted to talk to you anyway. (a beat) I was taken aback when you asked me to build Donna's tombstone and casket because I haven't built those in a long time.
MARK (confused): Yeah, but you'd be doing it on Tool Time with Al's help…
TIM (exhales): Mark, I haven't built those things since Wilson died. (a beat) There wasn't a lot of money for the funeral and so Al and I did it on Tool Time…
MARK (intrigued): I…I forgot that. (a beat) I guess me asking brought up sad memories?
TIM (nods): It did, but I spent time at Wilson's grave today. (sighs) I may not have liked the decisions that Donna was making with her life, but she was still part of the family and I want to build these things for the member of my family who passed away.
MARK (nods): And I'd like you to build those things, Dad. (a beat) Please.
TIM (nods): I love you lots, Mark. (a beat) I know this hasn't been an easy thing.
MARK (nods): I loved her and I hated her. It's complicated…
Footsteps suddenly fill the air and Mark and Tim look up just in time to see Jill.
JILL (sleepy): Tim, you're home. (a beat) Mark, can't sleep again?
TIM (sighs): We're just talking about the headstone and the casket. (a beat) After some deep thought and talking at the fence, I talked with Mark. I decided to do it.
JILL (confused): You talked at the fence? Were you doing a séance?
TIM (sighs): No, Randy was taking the trash out and he helped me see that I wouldn't be disrespecting Wilson's memory by building a casket and headstone for Donna.
JILL (sighs): I miss Wilson too and I wish you had told me. I could have helped…
TIM (sighs): The point is that the problem is solved and the projects will happen.
Jill smiles and as Mark and Tim get up, the three of them share a hug.
FADE TO:
TOOL TIME SET – DAY
Tim, Al, and Mark are on the set and building supplies are everywhere while designs of the tombstone and casket are posted on a board. All three seem considerably happier.
TIM (warm): Today on Tool Time, we're going to assemble the casket for my recently deceased daughter-in-law, Donna. (a beat) Her husband and my youngest son, Mark, is the one who designed the casket and he's here today to help us assemble it.
The audience claps politely and Mark sighs calmly. Al quickly gives Mark a hug.
AL (kind): Just know that everyone on Tool Time is also here for you right now, Mark.
MARK (kind): Thank you, Al. That means a lot to me and all of my family.
TIM (kind): It really does, Al. (a beat) We'll finish the casket by the end of the week and then we'll move on to the headstone. (a beat) Let's start by gathering the pre-cut pieces.
The audience claps politely as Mark, Tim, and Al gather the pre-cut pieces of the casket.
FADE TO BLACK
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