Peak Heat Hour

This dramatic scene explores a divided family in juxtaposition to raising their teenage daughter, plus what lurks beneath is much more sinister.

Peak Heat Hour

ANNA MAE opens the front door to her home. There stands WILLARD.

Anna Mae: Have my money?

Willard: I came to see Rachel.

Anna Mae motions to slam door but Willard sticks his foot in the door frame wedging it. He winces in pain.

Ahhh, damn.

He falls backwards landing on the front porch and Anna Mae slams the door, locking it. Willard stares at the door.

Anna! Anna Mae!

Willard stands up and hovels. He hits the door with his fist.

Open the door woman! I want to see my daughter! Just because I don’t have the money doesn’t mean I can’t see my daughter.

Anna Mae: (from within house) I don’t give a damn!

Willard: Don’t make me call the Sheriff.

Anna Mae: Sheriff ain’t gonna take your part no how anyway, so don’t go wasting anyone’s time.

Willard: Annie, please…I haven’t seen my baby girl in one whole month.

Anna Mae: You ain’t paid us one red cent in one whole month. I’ve been borrowing money from neighbors. How embarrassing can that be?!

Willard: I’ll have some money next week. I promise. Billy Bob owes me a sh’tload and you know this and he said he’s gonna pay up some scratch in a few days time. He swears by it. Things are looking up, which is why I came over. I got myself a job over at the lumber yard. It’s bitter sweet cause Jimmy got hurt on the job. You know, Jimmy O’Neill? Well, he got hurt and is gonna be out for some months and I got the call…I was on the waiting list and I got the call early this morning.

Anna Mae: What you gonna do when those few months of work come to an end?

Willard: I have some things lined up. You gonna grill me or let me see my daughter? …Please.

Rachel: Daddy?

Willard gets startled as he puts his eyes on his daughter Rachel, standing behind him.

Willard: H—Hi sweetheart. Ummm, I just come by to see you, see how you’re doing and all…How’s things?

Rachel: Things is good.

Willard: Yeah…well, you aren’t one to complain like your mother. You take after me…uh, what you doing out?

Rachel: I was just walking up the road and back.

Willard: What for? It’s hot as hell out here today.

Rachel: Just walking. Nothing special. Some time it’s cooler outside than it is inside the house.

Willard: Ha ha. That’s true, ain’t it? Ha ha.

Rachel: True enough.

Willard: You went for your walk at peak heat hour.

Rachel: When’s it get cooler then?

Willard: About two hours.

Rachel: Oh. Next time, I guess.

Willard: You got some dirt on your chin.

Willard licks his thumb and wipes the smudge from his daughter’s chin.

How does a pretty face like yours get a chin smudge of dirt?

Rachel: I slipped on a log.

Willard: A log?

Rachel: Yeah, there was fungus and I slipped stepping on it and popped my chin.

Willard: You get hurt?

Rachel: …Not too much.

Willard: …I don’t see any bad bruising, though, maybe you wanna get some ice?

Rachel: I’m fine, Dad.

Willard: Okay. So ah, you hear they’re opening up an ice cream parlor two miles from here?

Rachel: Yeah, I can’t wait.

Willard: I’ll make sure you are first in line. I know the owner. Good friend of mine since I was your age.

Rachel: Really, Dad?

Willard: Sure thing. Day it opens, you will be their very first customer. Promise.

Anna Mae taps window glass from inside house.

Anna Mae: Get your ass inside this house.

Willard: Oh, she’s at it again. Go on, listen to your mother.

Rachel: Dad, when you coming back home?

Willard: Oh, I uh, I’m working on it. I’ll be coming by again in a few days, gonna buy you and mom a bunch of groceries, okay? Things will get better, don’t worry about anything.

Rachel: Hope you come home soon, Dad.

Rachel hugs her father. She motions to enter house. Willard notices small blood stain on the back of her dress.

Willard: Hold on, angel. Uh, you have a, you ah, how old are you again?

Rachel: Dad, I’m thirteen.

Willard: Thirteen. That’s right. You uh, you went up hill or down hill for your walk?

Rachel: Uphill, Dad…why?

Willard: Oh, that’s, that’s near the Connor boys?

Rachel: Not far….

Willard: …Good to know, good to know you gettin’ your exercise. (he smiles warmly)

Rachel: Yeah….I’m gonna walk downhill next time, Dad.

Rachel stares into her father.

Willard: …Rachel, don’t worry about nothing. You hear me? Daddy will take care of everything. I promise.

Rachel half smiles and enters the house.

Willard stares at the door and then uphill.

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