"You don't have to come tomorrow... but it will be more of a fun day." "What we'll do is move the desks to the side so we'll have room in the middle here..." "And I'll pull some games out of my head that I like to do each year." "and we can use the room not for learning but for more enjoyable pursuits." "I had fun this year." "As I hope you did." "Oh, and thank you for the cards and presents that some of you brought." "It's very nice." "I didn't expect anything of the sort, really." "I guess I should get you to thank your parents for me as well." "Does anyone have anything they would like to add?" "No?" "Until tomorrow then." "Hey, Nicky!" "What's up?" "Nothing." "I was thinking..." "Maybe we could do something at your place tomorrow." "Maybe, but there isn't much to do." "You could come to my place..." "But..." "My Mom..." "You know." "She gets in the way." "In the way?" "Yeah." "In the way of what?" "Well, that's just how it seems." "Besides, she doesn't want company while I pack." "Found a new place yet?" "Why can't you have company while you pack?" "So, do something at your place tomorrow, then?" "I have other things to do... but I could drop by after supper." "I guess so." "We can get ice cream from The Pop Stop." " Aren't you glad school's over?" " Uh, yeah." "Look at this, Nicky." "Hi." "I heard about your party tomorrow." "You're thinking of coming?" "I had thought about it, yes." "Tomorrow?" "Yeah." "Why should you get to come?" "Are you inviting us?" "Give me a good reason to." "Because, there's no reason why I shouldn't get to come." "'cause... there's no reason why I shouldn't get to come, also." "So come." "Good Gravy." "We'd better play 'spin the bottle.'" "'Spin the bottle?" "'" "Not everyone plays." "Unless she's playing." "Don't sulk!" "I thought I heard something up here." "What are you doing?" "Nothing." "Didn't even hear you come in." "Did you give Mr. McArthur that card?" "He was always so great." "Maybe you'll have him again next year." "I'm going to Columbus next year." "I'll be in junior high." "Oh, right." "That's too bad." "I was invited to a party." "A party?" "It won't be that interesting." "I don't have to go." "No." "Go!" "It's not often there's a party." "Besides, parties are only as interesting as you make them." "It might go late." "You're never out late." "We'll make an exception." "Supper will be ready soon." "It's shepherd's pie." "You'll like it." "I thought maybe we'd go out for dinner." "You know we can't afford to go out for dinner." "We always used to go out for dinner when school was over." "That was your father's thing." "We went last year." "Last year... it felt like we should." "I got straight A's this year." "Just like last year." "And the year before." "I've already spent half an hour making supper." "That was your father's thing to do." "So we'll eat here." "What's up?" "Nothing." "I thought I was going to stop by your place on the way to Jenna's." "I don't think I can go." "My Mom says I have to go with her to some friend's house." "Well, why can't she go to her friend's and you can come with me?" "I don't know." "I really didn't want to show up alone." "I'll be home later tonight." "I could come over." "I don't know what time this party will end." "This is her fourth party this year... and we're finally -- half-invited." "Plus you said you'd come." "I'm not going to know anybody there." "Except you." "You like her." "Don't tell me you like her too." "No." "She's gross." "I sure hope you have fun tonight with your Mom." "You were with Robert tonight?" "What are you doing?" "Nothing!" "Just sorting through some old things." "It's a mess in here." "Were you waiting for me?" "No." "What did you and Robert do today?" "Nothing." "He's going to this party later... 'cause he likes the girl who invited him." "She's cute... and popular." "Already." "It's sweet that Robert likes someone." "Especially 'cute and popular.'" "She doesn't seem to care very much." "Well, sometimes that means she likes him back." "This is the same party you're going to?" "It's perfect timing, anyway...." "I was going into town tonight with Roy." "I was headed to the party, and I saw lights on." "You look dashing." ""Dashing?" Really?" "Sure." "You know..." "I'm... uh.." "a little busy, here." "I'm dissecting this click beetle." "Oh." "Well, you can, uh..." "poke at him all day tomorrow." "Or the next day." "Or the day after that." "Let me guess:" "You have to get out of something with your Mom." "Yep." "We don't have to stay long!" "We can leave whenever you want!" "I... thought you didn't want me to go." "No..." "You didn't want to go." "Does your Mom even have any friends, Nicky?" "I thought we were going to do something together." "This is something." "First things first, though..." "You have to spiff yourself up with a new style and hairdo." "Styling?" "Yeah, so it doesn't look like you dissect bugs." "I'm just saying it's not very styling." "It's getting there." "We should talk to our host." "Why?" "We just got here." "Well, it's the polite thing to do." "I told you I'd come." "No, I invited you." "What did you do to your hair?" "Ooh!" "It's so slimy!" "Um.." "This is my cousin Vicki." "Oh, uh." "You remember Nicholas?" "Hi." "This is just something my Dad uses." "You should put it like this all the time." "Yeah!" "Nice basement." "Thanks, it's just a basement." "It is a nice basement, though." "Look who's here!" "Um..." "I'll see you guys later." "Thanks for coming you guys." "It's good to see you." "I'm sorry." "For what?" "Let's get punch." "( He's so groovy )" "I'm going next." "I think that caught a hair." "It didn't catch a hair." "I kissed Suzy Harris in Grade Two." "It was nowhere near two minutes though." "I don't think you can call what goes on in there "kissing."" "Still." "Two minutes is a long time." "There's some cute girls in that group." "Cuter than Suzy Harris." "I don't..." "I don't think so." "Come on!" "With that Cardigan on, you can't go wrong." "Really?" "Are you friends with Jenna?" "Who's Jenna?" "What's your name?" "You wanna know my name?" "I guess." " Kimberly." " I'm Nicholas." "You've never played this before, have you?" "Just a couple of times." "How was it?" "How was the party?" "I thought you'd be home later than this." "It finished early." "Her parents sent us home." "Don't you want to know home my  evening was?" "Your evening?" "In town with Roy." "He's a very nice man." "What did you do to your hair?" "Nothing." "Bobby did it for me." "It, uh, impressed the girls." "You put what looks like oil in your hair to impress girls?" "Yeah, of course." "Did it work?" "I had too.. "beat them back with a stick."" "What?" "Nothing." "It was fun." "You wash it out before you sleep on it!" "It's a lovely house." "I know." "Well, I guess that's everything." "( Thanks for having us into your home )" "( ... probably call tomorrow )" "( Yes, please do Thank you. )" "It would be nice to live closer to town." "I haven't been looking at houses yet." "I thought we could do that together." "But I like it here." "I used to." "The change will be good for us." "But this is our house." "We'll have a new house." "You wanna know my name?" "I'm Nicholas." "You've never played this before, have you?" "Just a couple of times." "Dad?" "You must have fainted." "I did?" "Are you okay?" "Yeah." "I saw Dad." "I was thinking of having Roy over for dinner sometime soon." "It'd be an opportunity to get to know each other." "You'll like him." "Do you think Dad would like him?" "Yes." "Yes, of course." "Are you sure?" "I think after 15 years I know what your father was like." "Roy is a nice man." "Isn't it enough that  I  like him?" "Yeah. 'course." "Nicky?" "Yeah?" "Your Mom told me what happened." "I'm feeling better." "It's so strange." "Why would you faint?" "I didn't think I did." "Well, I'm glad you're okay." "The party was fun." "I'm usually not very good at parties." "Well, you were very good at that one." "I didn't do anything with that girl." "She messed up our clothes so she wouldn't be embarrased" "I know." "Come on, Nicky..." "It looked like you attacked her." "I told my Mom I had to beat them back with a stick." "You had to tell her something." "It doesn't matter, what happened." "It's what they think happened." "I thought you did great." "You would." "Robert left in a hurry last night." "Did you have a fight?" "No." "Why don't you invite him over?" "I've never actually met him." "He lives in the northern side of town." "It's pretty far." "He was just here yesterday." "Never mind." "I'm sure he'll be over again." "Hello." "Is Bobby there?" "( He was feeling really sick." "He went for a walk. )" "Oh." "When was that?" "What are you doing?" "Getting some fresh air." "What are you doing?" "I heard you weren't feeling very good." "You came to check on me." "You need some help getting home." "It's a long way." "I've gotten this far." "I can get back." "You were fine yesterday." "Did you catch something?" "Don't look at me like that!" "I don't want you to look at me!" "Fine, I won't." "Did you come into my room last night?" "No." "No, Nicholas." "Why?" "I just thought you did." "Bobby?" "What's going on?" "I'm sorry." "I had to leave." "I had nowhere else to go." "You look really bad, Bobby." "I should call your parents." "No." "My Dad would kill me." "For what?" "You're... sick?" "Don't watch me like that." "Um." "I should get a blanket and pillow." "I should call your parents." "They must be wondering where you are." "Don't call them." "Don't tell anyone, Nicky." "Well, What about my Mom?" "You don't tell your Mom anything else." "Why should you tell her this?" "This is a little strange, Bobby." "I shouldn't have let you kiss me." "Roy's coming over for dinner this weekend." "Maybe you could invite Roberrt." "I don't know." "He's... really busy." "with... his family... and the store." "We had soup." "All I could grab was... some bread and an apple." "Don't worry." "It was gross, anyway." "Hello?" "Hi, it's Nicholas." "Bobby's friend?" "( Okay )" "I called to see if you wanted to scome see Bobby." "He asked you to call me to go see him?" "No!" "I called on my own." "It'll be like a surprise." "That doesn't make much sense." "I mean I talked to him on the phone just this morning." "This morning?" "( Yeah )" "What did he say?" "Not much." "Not anything about you." "You called him at home?" "( No, he called me. )" "Are you sure that's the reason why you're calling?" "Yeah, of course." "I should go." "Bye." "Who's that?" "Nicholas." "Who's that?" "( who's that )" " Hello?" " Bobby?" "What is it?" "What are you doing home?" "I live here." "I'm coming over." "No, I'll be on Yell Road." "Everything okay, Nicky?" "You don't think I know anything about myself?" "I'm sure it's gross!" "You should be happy." "I feel better." "But..." "I left you at my house." "He needs help." "He's very fragile." "Just take it up to a field and leave it there." "He's so much like you." "He is you." "Isn't he?" "Do you feel badly about it?" "Not any more." "You want to throw me a few of those sliders." "It's your specialty." "How did you get up here?" "I'm sorry." "We need to get back to the fort." "I lie under a table all day." "Can't I at least sleep in your room." "What do I say if my Mom catches you?" "I thought you cared about me." "I'm trying." "Then try harder." "Nicholas!" "It's a girl." "Hello?" "( Hi." "Nicholas?" ")" "It's Jenna." "Oh." "Hi." "I was just upstairs." "Right." "Listen..." "I was having some people over tonight..." "I thought you'd want to come" "Tonight?" "I don't know." "I'm a little busy." "Vicki's going to come." "Vicki?" "Your cousin?" "Yes." "Bobby's coming too." "Bobby?" "What time?" "Around Eight." "Try not to be late." "I'll try." "Bye." "It isn't much of a party." "It seems early, still." "You should've called me." "We could've come together." "You haven't gotten rid of it, have you?" "No." "He's getting better." "Don't fuckin' lie to me, Nicky." "Am I early?" "Yeah." "Oh." "Okay, then." "So!" "Here we are!" "The four of us?" "Yeah." "Isn't that okay?" "You put your hair like that again." "It's so slimy!" "My Dad puts his hair like this." "Vicki's Dad is a policeman." "Cop." "My Dad." "He has a gun." "Do you wanna see it?" "Does he hide it?" "No." "It's on the rack." "Okay, then." " Here it is." "On the wall." " Wow, it's neat." "( I could easily kill you with this. )" "(" "Yeah, I bet you could. ) (" "And your friend, too. )" "(It's a bolt action." "It kills rabbits...)" "I thought there was going to be more people here." "(" " I could show you. ) (" " That's okay, I believe you. )" "Watch me do it." "Okay?" "Pow!" "( That's great!" ") ( Can I try?" ")" "What do you wanna do?" "See the gun?" "No, it's just a gun." "( besides, you'd probably shoot somebody." "you don't know how to handle a gun )" "( No I wouldn't..." "All right then, what do you want to do?" ")" "How did you do this year?" " Good grades?" " Yeah." "( ... same thing ) (... what we can do in the basement...)" " How about you?" " I passed!" "( I don't think that would be right." "what would your cousin know... )" "I like those braids." "( - well it was just an idea. ) (" " I'm sure I'll have another party...) ( ... and you can come and I'll be playing )" "( you can come up with x ideas, smartass )" "( oh, I had an idea." "A good one. )" "( spin the bottle, again?" ")" "It's looks so cute." "Thanks." "( what's your name again?" ")" "You're so stiff!" "loosen up!" "( ouch, let go!" ")" "That tickles." "Nicholas." "Is that what you're wearing?" "I don't know." "Yes?" "He's come a long way." "What if I don't like him?" "They we'll have a talk." "Wash your hands!" "Stay here!" "Got the new Mr. Big Fist." "It's a good one!" "Nicholas, this is Roy." "Hello, Nicholas." "I've heard a lot about you." "How is work being?" "I don't know if I mentioned, that Roy works on trains." "Something romantic about riding a train across the country." "Even cathartic." "Do you know what cathartic means?" "Yes." "Oh." "Good." "Speaking of trains, I brought you a present." "It's a pin." "You could put it on your shirt or your jacket." "That's really nice of you." "It's so cute!" "Let me help you." "There!" "I have to check on the food in the kitchen." "This is a nice house." "I grew up in a really big house over on Arburgh." "It's so well-built." "Like a wooden vault." "I should buy it from you." "Great picture." "Yeah." "Um, they're good." "Why don't you tell me something about you?" "Like what?" "Do you have a girlfriend?" "You're probably too young for that." "No, I'm not." "Not everyone has a girlfriend." "Not everyone's attracted to their friend." "What would your mother say?" "What would your father say?" "I don't know what you're talking about." "You can't hide this from your mother and me." "Dad?" "Nicholas!" "The bird is ready." "Great news." "Because I'm starving." "Nicholas," "Would you help me dish?" "Maybe after dinner, you could give me a tour of the house." "Maybe." "It's not much to see." "I know I'll disagreee." "Did I ever tell you of how much this place reminds me of where I grew up?" "No." "Big place around Arburgh." "It's a lot like this place." "Nicholas!" "I was thinking... maybe one day you'd like to come see the trains where I work." "I know what trains look like." "Not up close you don't." "Nicholas..." "He was just offering." "That's all it was." "You don't have to." "I thought you might like it." "Well, that was great!" "I'll have to reciprocate some day." "There's dessert, too." "It's Nicholas's favorite." "I can help, I'm sure." "No, No." "It's only a bowl." "You don't like dinner." "Did we get off to a bad start?" "I'm not really sure." "I'm usually pretty good with..." "young adults." "Red, ooh!" "My favorite, too!" " Well, thanks for coming." " It was no problem at all." "It was fun." " Really?" " Of course." "I haven't even had breakfast yet." "You wanna play this early?" "I didn't come to play baseball." "Is it - in your house?" "Is it - in your room?" "I won't let you." "I'm sorry, Bobby." "But you can't." "Well, it's mine!" "I can do what I want." "He's not even here." "He died." "It's the truth." "Despite what's happened..." "It doesn't mean we still can't be friends." "It probably makes us better friends." "I'm not a bad guy, Nicky." "Haven't you ever had to put down your dog." "I would never do that." "I guess I'm just more sensitive than you are." "What's going on?" "Nothing." "So, I'll meet you later, then." "Thanks for the ice cream." "My Mom doesn't let me eat ice cream in the morning." "I don't see the harm in it." "See you again, Robert!" "He's very nice." "Oh." "Tomorrow we're going on a picnic." "I have to use the washroom." "So!" "What would you say... if I said I really liked your mother." "I don't know." "Well... we haven't been going out that long." "Truth is..." "Before your mother, I was with a lot of different women." "I bet you knew that, though." "The other night..." "I was thinking..." "I was going to have to win over two people." "Instead of just one." "Not that I'm not up to the challenge." "So what about you?" "You have a girlfriend?" "Ah, you're probably too young for that." "No, I'm not." "Not everyone has a girlfriend." "Not everyone." "There's a couple of girls..." "There you go, then." "There's this one girl, that has a cousin.." "And I think she likes me." "Well, there you go then." "Think she would be my girlfriend?" "Well, I don't know her,... but you said she likes you, and that's a good start." "( what's going on?" ")" "( I know what these creatures are and what their plan is )" "( what plan?" ")" "( it's a separate component of a much larger organism )" "( this organism is made up of all these tiny individual creatures )" "( - well how do you know this?" ") ( - well, it make's sense. listen...) ( each affect - a section of the being's anatomy )" "( the exciters - pieces of the being's sensory system ... ) ( the resonators - fragments of it's hearing system... ) ( the reactors, possibly an element of it's visual organ. )" "( do you see, now?" ")" "( i fear at that at this very moment they're gathering at a pre-determined place. )" "( they will blend, coalesce, unite to form this one gigantic being )" "Tell me something about Vicki." "What do you mean?" "Vicki." "The girl you like." "Vicki's Jenna's cousin." "Jenna's the girl Bobby likes." "( that grid's coming with me )" "( don't try any funny stuff )" "( It's been a long day." "my dogs are killing me )" "( got a creature here, Roy!" ")" "( bring that pickup around here )" "( all right boy, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to... ) ( hey boy!" "get back here!" ")" "( don't waste you're time, boy, you can't escape )" "What are you doing to Mom?" "(... we got ways of finding you )" "( it's magnificence. the thunder and glory!" ")" "There's a little space where your experience can go." "I'll show it to you." "I'm not going anywhere." "Nicholas?" "What's wrong?" "I know about your friend." "How does that make you feel?" "I was just in the fort." "The door was left open." "Are you listening to me?" "What's going on?" "I'm sorry." "Okay." "We'll talk about it later." "You remember the doctor?" "Open." "Follow with only your eyes, please." "How are you feeling?" "Sore." "And stiff, too?" "Yeah." "Well." "Then I shouldn't have to tell you to stick to bed today." "Actually..." "You better make it several days." "He gave me these." "You're supposed to take four of them." "Four times a day." "So you might as well take some right now." "I don't want to." "It's what he said." "I'm sure they'll help." "I'm sure they won't." "Well then, you'll take them because I said." "So then you're going to force-feed me those pills?" "It looks like it." "Do you want some help?" "No." "Do you feel sick?" "Don't watch me eat." "I wasn't." "Where are my things from the fort?" "Gone." "You threw them out?" "Yes." "You knew I would." "I think I need to go for a walk, today." " I'll come with you." " No!" "It's a beautiful day." "We could make it down to the river." "It was just a thought." "What if something happens to you while you're out there in the middle of nowhere?" "Could it get worse?" "The doctor doesn't think you're doing so badly." "Please don't look at me that way." "It's like I can't look at you in any kind of way." "I asked nicely." "Nicky?" "What are you doing?" "Going for a walk." "Stretch my legs." "What are you doing?" "Uh, just going for a walk." "To Jenna's." "Yeah." "Why don't you come?" "Vicki isn't there." "But you could still come." "I don't think so." "My Mom found him in my room with me." "Before you took him." "What were you doing?" "Nothing." "What happened to him?" "I'm right here." "( don't look at me )" "( don't look at me )" "( don't look at me )" "All in the past." "It's just a part of growing up." "There are a lot of little houses down this road." "Sleep well?"