<< OUTSIDE - ERIKA'S PARENT'S HOUSE - BACKYARD >>

Erika walks through a tall wooden backyard gate. The sounds of welding are coming from the open garage ahead of her. She calls out.

ERIKA

“Robbie?!”

          The sounds stop. A moment later her father walks out the side door of the garage attached to the backyard. He lifts his welding mask up like a cap and begins to take off his work gloves.

DAD

“Hey Girl!”

ERIKA

“Hey Daddy.”

          He gives her a one-armed hug, keeping her at distance from his greasy navy blue work uniform as she kisses him on the cheek.

DAD

“Don't get this grease on you.”

          She chuckles as she hugs him around the waist regardless of the grease.

DAD

“You alright?”

ERIKA

“Yeah.”

DAD

“You came for food didn't you? You kids don't come by unless you want something.”

          She laughs.

DAD

“You could smell your mom cookin' all the way from college park, couldn't you?”

ERIKA

“No... But if she made bakes I want some.”

          They laugh.

ERIKA

“Where's Robbie? He said he'd be here right after work.”

DAD

“He just got here. He must be in the house with your mom.”

          A tall handsome young man in his late twenties comes out of the back door of the house carrying a large crate of various plant seedlings. ROBBIE favors his father very much. Dad gives Erika one last big squeeze and heads back into the garage.

ERIKA

“Robbie, man, I thought you forgot about me.”

ROBBIE

“You know how mom is, I only stopped by for a minute and she got me working.”

         Erika laughs at him.

ERIKA

“Ha ha!”

ROBBIE

“Sure, laugh, you're next.”

          Mom comes out of the house in a gardening apron, holding a can of plant food in one hand and a small spade in the other.

MOM

“Robert, just put my tomatoes down by the bricks and don't step by the tree or you'll mash my peppers.”

          Robbie puts the crate down gently near the edge of a long garden bed and starts to dust off his hands. Mom looks up and sees Erika.

MOM

“Oh, Erika, good. You can help me dig some new holes for these plants.”

          Erika's eyes bulge as Robbie tries to hide his grin.

ERIKA

“Oh no, Mom, I can't stay. I just came to borrow Robbie's car. I need a few school supplies and I want to get to Laurel before the stores close.”

          Mom nods and rests her tools down near the plants.

MOM

“Hm, well let me fix you a plate before you go.”

          She wipes her hands on her apron and heads back into the house. Robbie shakes his head at Erika.

ROBBIE

“Lying to your own mother.”

          Erika rolls her eyes.

ERIKA

“Can I have the keys please?”

ROBBIE

“You better not be going far with my ride. Say you're going around the corner, then end up in Vegas.”

ERIKA

“No, it's just thirty minutes up in Laurel, but I have to haul all this stuff back to my dorm, so I'll have the car back for you tomorrow.”

          He looks at her suspectly.

ROBBIE

“Uh huhn.”

          He takes a set of car keys from his pocket and hands it to her.

ROBBIE

“Just have it filled up and we're even.”

ERIKA

“Thanks.”

<< OUTSIDE - ERIKA'S PARENT'S HOUSE -- LATER >>

On the street just outside the wooden fence, Robbie helps Erika load a few boxes into the trunk of a small blue car. A hairdryer and different bottles of hair product stick out of the open boxes. He slams the trunk closed and she gets in.

<< OUTSIDE - SUBURBAN STREET -- EVENING >>

INSIDE ROBBIE'S CAR

Erika drives down a quiet street singing along to a pop song on the radio, and scanning the street signs.

She takes a piece of fried bread from the half-open foil-covered plate on the passenger seat and takes a bite. She looks up at a street sign that says: "BRIARWOOD DR" and turns right onto the street.

MOMENTS LATER

Erika drives very slowly down the dimly lit street, with her cell phone in one hand. It's getting dark outside.

ERIKA

“I think I've gotten turned around.”

          A voice comes fuzzily from her phone on speaker.

GAYMON (V.O. on phone)

“It's the fifth entrance on the left. We're at the very end of the parking lot. If you see the church you've just missed it.”

          Just then Erika sees a church up ahead.

ERIKA

“Ok, yeah, I must've just passed you because there's the church.”

          She slows down and makes a U-turn.

<< OUTSIDE - GAYMON'S HOUSE -- NIGHT >>

Erika walks toward a low rise apartment building looking around until she spots a short white man a few yards ahead of her.

It's very dark under the cover of the large trees near the building and the sparse street lights.

The man begins to walk toward her.