#stephen hatfield

Stella: Oh, Emmy, are you sure it’s a good idea for you to go back to--oh what is it--Boggleton? Emmy: Brindleton, Nana. Brindleton Bay. Stella: Right, whatever you said, sweetheart. Are you sure that’s where you need to be right now? Stella: It’s just--we want to be sure you’re safe, sweetie. And how can you be sure that public school of yours can give you the education you need to be prepared for university? You know Brietchester has some of the best STEM schools in the country-- Emmy: Nana, stop. Brindleton is my home, and I’m probably safer there than--than anywhere else, okay? And... and school will be fine, too. I’ll-I’ll be r-ready for UB i-in the f-fall. Emmy: I just wanna sleep in my own bed tonight, okay? I’ll be fine. Steve: Hey, yo, kid! Let’s get this show on the road! I’m losing daylight, and we gotta get back to town by sundown! Stella: Tsk. How rude-- Emmy: Coming, Dad! Emmy: We gotta go. I-I love you guys. We’ll call you when we get home. Richard: Drive safe, sweet pea. Emmy: We will, Pop-Pop. Um. Bye. -Emmy runs into Steve’s arms- Steve: Oof! Hey! Hey, now. Is everything okay? Emmy: Y-yeah. Yeah, it’s fine. I just wanna go home. Stella: Hmph.

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Stella: I just cannot believe this. How could you have been so irresponsible, Steven? Steve: Irresponsible?! Stella, Emmy is almost 18 years old. What would you have had me do, watch over her like a hawk at all times? Stella: You know she’s prone to fleeing when she’s scared! You’re her father, if you paid attention, none of this would have happened. Steve: Paid att-- Seriously, Stella? We get much worse storms in Brindleton. How was I supposed to know the worst storm in Breitchester was going to hit the one weekend out of the year we visited? I didn’t expect this to scare her the way it did. Richard: Have you ever heard of checking the weather, sonny? Stella: -sighs- Thank you, Dickie. Very helpful. Steve, how am I supposed to be okay with Emmaline being all the way in that dinky seaside town of yours if you can’t even keep her safe right under my own nose? I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to take her back with you to Brindleton. Steve: -shouting- Absolutely not! I am her father, you cannot just... demand to take her from me because you have some warped sense of duty to Patti! Stella: -dangerously low- We will not be discussing Patricia. Past transgressions aside, I am doing what I think is best for my granddaughter. Unlike you, her father. Emmy: -to herself- You’re okay, Emmy. Breathe. You’re okay. Steve: How dare you, Stella?! I have only done my best for Emmaline, for Patti. You always hated me, and for no reason! Patti and I raised a beautiful little girl, and you can’t get your head out of your ass for long enough to see that! Emmy: -takes a deep breath- No, you’re not okay. Fuck. Steve: Emmy will be returning with me to Brindleton. End of discussion. You do not have custody of her, so you cannot keep her here. Besides, she’s nearly 18. I’d be interested to hear what she thinks about all this. Stella: Wh-- How dare-- Emmy: Fuck. Okay, you can do this. Just breathe. Emmy: Dad? Steve: Emmy! We--we thought you were asleep. Emmy: I can’t exactly sleep with all the shouting down here. Steve: R-right. We’re sorry, kiddo. Emmy: Stop fighting. Stella: What? Emmy: Nana, Pop-Pop, I’m going home with Dad. So stop arguing about it. There’s nothing that will change my mind, okay? Stella: But sweetheart-- Emmy: No, Nana. No means no. I’m going to bed.

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[dogs barking] [indistinct conversations]

Emmy: Hey, Dad. Stephen: Hey, kiddo. How’d it go? You look tired. Emmy: I miss her. And I wish we didn’t have to be here to see her. Stephen: Me, too. -sighs- I look around and see all these families--

[woman speaks over the phone] [a baby babbles joyfully]

Stephen: and I remember the family we used to be here. You and your mom were attached at the hip. And I remember feeling so lucky. I still am every single day. She gave me you. And even though she isn’t here to see the beautiful woman you’ve become, I am certain she’s proud of you. Without a doubt in my mind. Emmy: I love you, Daddy. -Emmy cries a bit- Stephen: Oh, I love you, too, sweetheart. So much. -- Stephen: I’ll be right back. I just wanna say hi, and then we’ll go. Your grandmother already texted me about dinner. Emmy: Okay, Dad. I’ll be here. -massive crack of thunder- Emmy: -Emmy begins to hyperventilate- Oh, no. No no no. Okay, breathe, Emmy, you’re okay. Nothing’s gonna hurt you. It’s just a loud noise, and you’re safe. Dad will be right back and then you’ll--  -another crack of thunder-  AAH! -- Stephen: Emmy, come on! Nana’s making pot roast-- Stephen: Emmy? Wh--Emmy?? -crack of thunder- Stephen: Oh my god, EMMALINE! EMMY!! -and the rain begins to pour-

--

-Car doors slam- Steve: -laughing- Why am I not at all surprised to see this truck here? Emmy: Ollie? Are you here? Olive: Fuck. Olive: Um. Hi. Emmy: Hi! Olive: Um. Olive: I-uh. I tried calling. All weekend. Um. Emmy: I’m so sorry, Olive! Oh my god, I should have called you from Dad’s phone... I lost mine in-in the storm. It’s all water damaged now, so I have to get a new one. Olive: Oh. Um. Olive: Hey-- Emmy: I missed you. So much. Olive: -gentle laugh- I missed you, too, Princess. Steve: Hm... Olive: Um, Emmy. Emmy: What? Olive: Your dad? Emmy: OH! -under her breath- Shit. Steve: I just got a text from your dad, Ol. Looks like I’m invited to bar night in town. Think you two can figure out dinner and all? Emmy: Oh, we need to go grocery shopping... Olive: I’ve got it covered, Steve. Leave her to me. She’s in good hands. Steve: That’s what I like to hear. You girls have a good night! I’ll be home late, Ems. Don’t stay up, okay? Olive: Hey. Emmy: Hey. I missed you. Olive: I missed you more. Emmy: Wait, do you have plans for tonight? Olive: Just you wait, Princess. You’ll see. Emmy: Ollie!

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January 27, 20xx Ten years ago

Present Day Steve: I’ll just be at the park across the street, okay? I--I love you, Emmy. Emmy: I love you, too. You’re not coming? Steve: I’ll have my turn with her. You just spend some time with her, first. Emmy: Oh, okay. I’ll see you when I’m done. Emmy [talking to herself]: Okay, Emmy, you can do this. She won’t be mad. She’ll understand why you haven’t visited. -breathes in and out again- Emmy: H-hi, Mama.

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song lyrics: How many times have you lied to my face? I can't confront you, and it's better that way And how many bulbs must I break? 'Til all my filaments rust and decay And I can't explain anything anymore anyway Now that you're gone, I'm back on my own Giving it all up to leave you alone And if I had my choice, I would come back soon I never wanted to And how many times have I lied to you? If I was drunk when I said it, it might have been true I know now that you're gone, I'll be back on my own Giving it all up to leave you alone And if I had my choice, I would die by your love I know it wasn't enough

Olive turns the music down Olive: So, what do you think? Val: It’s exactly what I expected you to show me. I like it. Olive: You’re always skeptical of what i give you. Just trust me. Val: It’s hard to trust you when you won’t tell me the truth, Olive. Olive: Um. -she shuts off the music- What the hell? Val: Come on. Do you think I’m blind? Or deaf, for that matter? Olive: To what? What could I possibly be lying about, Val? And what are you talking about? Val: That’s what I’m talking about! You seem incredibly guilty for someone who... hasn’t done anything wrong? I don’t think? I mean, you and Emmy have obviously been keeping something from me all summer, but I don’t even care what it is anymore if it means you’ll just stop being fucking weird! Olive: Wh-- I don’t-- Ugh! Val: I didn’t become a different person while I was away--you know, in a different city, different state? --but it seems like you obviously did. Olive: I didn’t “become a different person,” Val-- Val: Then explain to me why you’re acting so weird. Ever since that first month of my conference, you’ve been acting like you have something to hide. Do you think I’ll be mad? Like, I don’t know what you think-- Olive’s phone rings. Val: I’m going to say, but it really can’t be that bad. Olive’s phone continues to ring. Olive: It’s nothi-- Val: Olive, I swear to god, if you say, “it’s nothing,” one more time-- Olive’s phone keeps ringing. Val: WILL YOU PLEASE ANSWER THAT THING. Olive: -sighs and answers the phone- Hey, Stephen, what’s-- woah, woah, slow down, what? ... How big? ... And you were where? Val: What’s going on? Olive: I’m not--  -her voice shakes- I’m not familiar with that part of Breitchester, Stephen. I don’t know where she could be. Val: Oh my god. Oh, no. Olive: Stephen, you have to find her, she’s going to have a panic attack. Val: Her grandparents are going to kill him. Olive: -to Val- I know, I know. -to Stephen- Here, let me see if my mom knows anything. Talk to Val. Olive: -handing Val the phone- My mom was in Breitchester for some gardening conference a few weeks ago. I’m going to see if she knows anything about where they are. Just... Don’t let him call her grandparents. Not yet. Val: -nods and takes the phone- Stephen? Hey, yeah, it’s Val... 

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-stairs creaking- Steve: Holy shit--Emmy! You scared the crap outta me, kid. What are you doing up? Emmy: Sorry. Couldn’t sleep, then I got caught up looking at old pictures of Mom. Steve: Why can’t you sleep? Emmy: Oh, I haven’t gotten a good night’s rest here in a couple of years. Steve: I wish you’d said something--we could have stayed in a hotel if you’re having trouble sleeping here. Emmy: Right, and what would Nana and Pop-Pop say about that? Steve: Okay, fair point. What pictures did you find? Emmy: I think these are from when you were first married. She was really beautiful. Steve: Let’s see--oh. Emmy: What? Steve: These--these are from the maternity shoot your grandparents paid for. But your mom wanted some for us to have in the house sooner, so she brought her Polaroid. We took a bunch for your nursery because Patti wanted you to know who we were even if you were asleep in your crib. She was so ready to be a mom. You look just like her, kiddo. God, she loved you so much. Emmy: Can we go see her tomorrow? Um...without Nana and Pop-Pop? I just want to talk to her for a little bit. Just me and her. Steve: Of course we can. We’ll get some breakfast from that place down the street and head out early in the morning. Emmy: Okay. Thanks, Dad. Steve: Anything for you, kiddo. I’m going to get a glass of water. You get some rest, okay? Emmy: I’ll try. Night, Dad.

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