Page 3
REGGIE
I know you feel you need to look after me, but you have to stop beating yourself up over it.
Dylan studies his hand and avoids looking at her.
DYLAN
(mutters)
I don't know what you're talking about.
REGGIE
I know you feel guilty because you weren't home the night mom and dad died in the fire.
(pause)
But that was almost five years ago, Dylan. It wasn't your fault. If you'd been home, you
may have died with them.
Dylan still doesn't look at her and frowns.
DYLAN
By all rights, I should have been home.
REGGIE
It wasn't your fate. Accept it.
DYLAN
It was my fate. Going out at the last minute altered what should have been.
REGGIE
(gently)
Please, Dylan. Don't start again.
(pause)
Fate spared you if for nothing more than to look after me.
Dylan appears stunned and looks at her.
REGGIE
I never could have made it on my own back then. I needed you to keep me sane.
Dylan stares a moment longer, appears to relax, and smiles.
DYLAN
You're stronger than I ever was, Reggie. It's me who needs you--not the other way around.
Reggie groans lowly. Dylan playfully slaps her leg and smiles.
DYLAN
I have something for you.
Dylan stands, approaches an end table, and removes a gift wrapped box from the drawer. He smiles and hands it to her. Reggie smiles and eyes him.
REGGIE
What's this?
DYLAN
A little graduation present.
Dylan sits alongside her. Reggie opens the wrap and removes the lid of the box. We see an opal ring with small diamonds on either side. Reggie smiles happily and hugs Dylan.
REGGIE
It's absolutely beautiful, Dylan. But you shouldn't have.
DYLAN
Of course I should. It's symbolic. That's the opal from mom's earring, the one she lost
the partner to--the ones dad gave her on their tenth wedding anniversary. The two diamonds
are from dad's watch that stopped when he had to unexpectedly deliver you on the kitchen
floor, and the gold band was melted down from my class ring that I never wore.
Reggie stares at him a long moment with surprise.
REGGIE
Well, aren't you the sentimental big brother.
DYLAN
Well, at least I'm good at something.
Reggie smiles and playfully pats his leg. Dylan sighs and stands.
DYLAN
Do we have any Twinkies?
REGGIE
(humored)
Of course we have twinkies. You'd starve to death if we didn't.
