Little Earthquakes 9
A Serialized Work of Fiction
Little Earthquakes
Installment Nine
EXT. ADAM AND IRIS'S HOUSE — EARLY AFTERNOON — PRESENT
Dillon and Kas are exiting their SUV. Dillon on the driver's side and Kas on the passenger's side. They come together at the edge of the driveway.
DILLON
Are you good?
KAS
(low voice)
Yes.
Dillon extends his hand. Kas takes it as they walk up the path to the door. Kas rings the bell.
Elena opens the door, greeting her uncles with hugs and smiles.
ELENA
You look great, Uncle Kas.
KAS
Thanks, sweetie. I couldn't have done it without Dillon and you guys.
As they walk into the house.
ELENA
Everything okay with your recovery? You guys made this meeting sound so ominous.
KAS
Yes. I just want to talk openly after lunch.
Javier walks toward them.
JAVIER
The guncles are here!
Dillon and Kas smile broadly as Javier greets them with hugs.
ELENA
Do you want to sit in the living room for a bit or we can go right to the dining room?
JAVIER
If we go straight to the dining room, chances are that we'll get fed sooner.
As they walk to the dining room.
DILLON
Where's Adam?
ELENA
Dad's helping mom in the kitchen.
Kas and Dillon look surprised. Elena and Javier laugh.
ELENA
Don't worry, he's on cleanup duty.
They settle at the table and Adam comes out with a dish of empanadas.
ADAM
Hey, little brother.
Adam sets the food down, then greets Kas with the traditional Albanian double-kiss, once on each cheek. He gives Dillon a gentle hug.
ADAM
Iris baked these empanadas with low-fat, low sodium cheese, so you don't have to hold back.
KAS
She really thinks about everything. I appreciate it but I'm not that fragile.
JAVIER
Ummm, I don't know—you were laid up in that hospital not too long ago.
ELENA
Javi, stop. Not everything is a joke.
JAVIER
Not everything but a lot.
Elena rolls her eyes.
DILLON
What's on the menu today?
ELENA
Mom made pollo guisado with rice and beans. And salad, as always.
DILLON
Man, that woman can cook.
Iris walks into the room with a pitcher of lemon, cucumber, and mint water.
IRIS
Ya tú sabes, cuñado.
DILLON
Yo sé, cariño.
Iris smiles. She is beautiful and put-together.
Cut To:
The family sitting around the table with a full spread of pollo guisado, rice, beans, salad, baked empanadas, an open bottle of Chardonnay and the pitcher of lemon, cucumber, and mint water. We see them but don't hear their conversation.
Cut To:
INT. ADAM AND IRIS'S HOUSE — AFTERNOON
The family members are lounging on the living room couches.
ELENA
(Looking at Kas.)
Are you going to tell us what you wanted to talk about?
Dillon looks at Kas, waiting on him to respond.
Kas stands up, Dillon is near him.
KAS
I... I wanted to tell you all what happened the night that Ken Fox died.
They all look alarmed except for Dillon.
Fade To:
Closeup on Kas.
We zoom out and see the faces of the family. They are silent, horrified, and Iris has tears in her eyes.
KAS
I'm sorry.
ADAM
Jesus, Kas. How could you?
IRIS
I'm glad he's dead.
Adam turns toward his wife in shock.
KAS
I was in a horrible place. I was angry all the time, I wasn't sleeping well. I was angry at you for taking the settlement. Elena wasn't really talking to me anymore. Look, I'm not making excuses.
Elena gets up.
ELENA
Uncle Kas, I couldn't deal with your anger. You resented my parents but I made the choice to settle. I wanted it all to be over but every time I saw you, I felt your disappointment.
Elena is getting emotional.
KAS
Sweetie, I wasn't disappointed in you.
ELENA
You were. I was processing what had happened to me and I couldn't take the added weight of your disappointment.
KAS
I only wanted you to get justice. I couldn't bear that someone had hurt you and gotten away with it.
Kas is getting emotional and pauses, thinking about what to say next.
KAS
I never meant to hurt you. I love you so much. I'm so sorry, Elena.
Elena steps closer to Kas and hugs him, both crying.
ELENA
It was like I'd let down my hero.
KAS
You didn't. I promise you didn't. I failed you.
Kas pulls away from her and slowly looks at Dillon.
KAS
I let down my hero.
DILLON
I'm here, babe. I'm always here.
Kas looks around, then settles on his brother.
KAS
I think the stroke happened because I've been carrying this guilt and shame. I've been silent all these years.
(PAUSE)
Do you remember the bodega down the street when we were kids?
Adam looks dumbfounded.
ADAM
Kas, which bodega? What are you talking about?
KAS
The one where I used to buy comic books from the friendly Pakistani guy.
ADAM
Yes?
Closeup on Kas.
KAS
Dillon is the only person that I ever told. That guy, Hakim, he let me wait for the new comic book delivery because the delivery was late that day.
Match Cut To:
INT. BRONX BODEGA — AFTERNOON — 1986
Closeup on Kas (12).
He's dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Kas is in the bodega with HAKIM (30-something). There's no one else in the store. Hakim locks the door from the inside.
HAKIM
Do you want to come help me open the boxes in the back?
KAS
Yeah, sure! It's my favorite day of the week.
Hakim smiles, amused.
As they go through the door to the backroom storage area, we only see the door, slightly ajar.
HAKIM (O.S.)
I want to show you something.
Cut To:
INT. ADAM AND IRIS'S HOUSE — AFTERNOON — PRESENT
KAS
He whipped out his dick.
Kas seems almost detached recounting this.
KAS
I don't want to go into the rest.
JAVIER
Oh my God.
ADAM
Kas. I don't even know what to say.
ELENA
(through tears)
Uncle Kas, I'm sorry that happened to you.
KAS
I thought that I'd made peace with it until Ken attacked you. When I confronted him at the party, he said, "She wanted me."
(PAUSE)
It made me berserk because Hakim had said to me afterward that he could tell that I wanted it.
ADAM
Why didn't you ever tell me? Why didn't you tell our parents? Maybe it would've helped them understand you.
Kas winces.
KAS
Right, because this would be a neat explanation for why I'm gay.
Kas scoffs.
KAS
I stayed silent because we were illegal immigrants. We didn't have our papers yet and I didn't want to make trouble for mom and dad.
Iris wordlessly walks over to Kas and hugs him tight.
IRIS
Kas, I'm so sorry that you've had to carry this alone for so long.
Tears in her eyes.
IRIS
And I'm sorry that we added to that weight.
KAS
No, let's not talk about that.
Elena perks up.
ELENA
Talk about what?
KAS
Nothing, sweetie.
ELENA
Don't either of you fucking "nothing" me!
Adam looks panicked.
IRIS
Mija, I was trying to protect you.
(PAUSE)
When you were young, your father had a gambling problem.
Adam looks defeated, like he'd rather that the earth swallowed him up.
ADAM
I got help. I haven't gambled in over 20 years.
Elena still looks confused.
IRIS
Your uncle helped us stay afloat during that time.
ELENA
Dad, how could you?
ADAM
I was sick, zemer.
ELENA
I love you all but my head is spinning. Javier, let's go home.
Javier and Elena collect their jackets and walk out.
ADAM
I deserve that.
KAS
Big brother, I know what you didn't deserve. Actually, neither you or Iris did. I couldn't bring myself to be mad at Elena, so, I channeled all my anger at you two.
ADAM
We understand.
KAS
I know, but I still owe both of you an apology—that wasn't fair.
Fade To:
EXT. ELENA'S HOUSE — AFTERNOON — PRESENT
The family and their friends are gathered in the backyard for Ray's 8th birthday. Bright balloons, streamers, and a happy birthday banner.
Elena's figure looks fuller as she brings out the birthday cake. Everyone looks happy.
Cut To:
INT. ELENA'S HOUSE — EARLY EVENING
Elena and Kas are in the kitchen alone. Putting away dishes and trash.
ELENA
I asked you to hang back because I wanted to talk to you.
KAS
What's up?
ELENA
I'm pregnant.
KAS
Sweetie, that's wonderful! Congratulations!
ELENA
Thank you. We're excited.
KAS
Did you tell Ray that he's going to be a big brother?
ELENA
No, not yet. I'm almost 16 weeks now.
(SHYLY)
I'm having a girl.
Kas smiles, he's genuinely happy for her.
ELENA
I know how much it hurts you that you weren't a father... I'm going to name her Kasandra with a K.
Kas's eyes are bright and welling up. He's speechless.
ELENA
It's a tribute to your love. She's going to be my little dragonslayer.
Fade To Black.
