Safety in Dad's Arms

FADE IN:

INT.BROOK’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Bright. Busy. Lights strobe on and off, with many people in various parts of the house.

BROOK

(slurring)

Nina!! You made it!

NINA(17) donned in a red mini dress with black lace sleeves, jumped in place. She turns around in a hurry before calming down seeing BROOK.

NINA

Brook! Trying to give me a heart attack?

BROOK

Nah! Nah! I just wanted to say thanks for not being a wuss and partying with us.

NINA rolled her eyes, CHUCKLING for a moment.

NINA

Yeah…Yeah

NINA hesitantly side steps away, wanting to find a more open space. However, many areas of the house were packed. She hugs her arms, not noticing a person coming up to her.

CHARLIE(17)

Hey. Hey. Pretty lady.

NINA turns around.

NINA

O-oh, hello.

CHARLIE

Don’t think I’ve seen you at these parties before. You got a name?

NINA

Nina…Nina Rossland. And you?

CHARLIE

Rossland? Parkland’s class, right?

NINA finds herself smiling and nodding. CHARLIE notices a couch that was cleared of people, heading over to the couch, he beckons her to follow. NINA follows.

CHARLIE

So it seems you are beautiful and a smartie. Only the smart ones and the lucky ones get in his class.

NINA

Yeah, I guess. Are you in that class as well?

CHARLIE

Nah. Heard about you from Brookie though.

NINA

Ah. Well, I hope it’s all good things.

CHARLIE

(chuckling)

Yeah. Yeah. How about I get us some drinks.

NINA

Drinks?

CHARLIE

Uh, yeah. Drinks. You seem so tense.

NINA didn’t get the chance to protest as CHARLIE walked away. She folded her hands in her lap and kept still.

CUT TO

INT.BROOK’S HOUSE - NIGHT

LATER

CHARLIE sat surrounded by multiple red solo cups, LAUGHING as he told a story of his own escapades. NINA sits on her side, nursing the cup she had been given some time earlier.

CHARLIE

(slurring)

-- And that’s how me and my buds nearly got arrested.

NINA

(quietly)

Yeah. Yeah.

NINA decides to get up, only to have her arm grabbed.

CHARLIE

Come on, where are you going?

NINA

I-I think I might go.

CHARLIE

Aww, why baby?

CHARLIE pulls NINA back onto the couch, this time pulling her close. His hand soon landed on her thigh.

CHARLIE

(continues)

Why not hang out? Let loose.

NINA struggles against CHARLIE’S grasp. Noticing her drink in hand, she tosses it in CHARLIE’S face. SCREAMING, the male let’s go. NINA moves away from the couch, now in the middle of the room. Other partygoers look over.

CHARLIE

(labored)

What the hell is wrong with you?!

NINA

Y-You were trying to touch me when I didn’t want it!

CHARLIE

(more clear, yelling)

You were the one leading me on!

GROANING, the male leaves the room, wanting to get the beer out of his eyes. The partygoers look over at NINA, only to see her leave out the front door.

CUT OUT

EXT.BUS STOP - NIGHT

LATER

Darkness fills the area, save for the few street lights placed along the street. The small bus stop also had a bright light that illuminated those who sat under it.

NINA sits on the cold bench. Her body trembling, arms clutching to lace sleeves of her dress.

NINA

(Quietly to herself)

-- Damn it…Damn it..Dad, where are you?

NINA’S teeth CHATTER together. She felt stupid forgetting a coat that evening. A car soon pulls up with a silent halt. The window rolls down, LUCAS(42) sticks his head out.

LUCAS

Nina, there you are! Where the hell is your coat?! Get in the car!

NINA flinches at the tone of his voice. Getting up, she enters the car. With the CLICK of her seatbelt, LUCAS drives off.

LUCAS

Just what in God’s name were you doing out here in the cold. Especially at this time of night, without telling me where you w-

He pauses hearing SNIFFLING coming from NINA. Looking over, he notices NINA trembling

LUCAS

(in a lower tone, clearing his throat)

…Nina, what's wrong?

NINA

(just above a whisper)

…C-can we just talk about this later?

LUCAS

Nina, your trembling…Come on, talk to me-

NINA

(now louder)

I-I don’t want to talk about it right now!

LUCAS shakes his head in surprise.

LUCAS

Alright...Alright. We’ll talk about it when we get home.

NINA

(Now quiet)

Okay..

LUCAS nods and focuses back on the road.

CUT OUT

INT.ROSSLAND HOME - NIGHT

LATER

NINA stumbles into the house, removing her heels. LUCAS follows, closing the door behind them. A HONK came from outside, signaling the family car was locked.

NINA

I’m going to head to bed-

LUCAS

Nope. You said we could talk about this once we got home. So that’s what we're going to do. Get your tush to that couch.

NINA looks away before giving in and heading to the couch. Lucas follows and sits down on the couch as well.

LUCAS

Alright. Talk to me.

NINA

…What do you want to know?

LUCAS

Well for starters, where you were would be nice to know.

NINA

(quiet tone)

I was at a party…It was at Brook’s house. I asked mom and she said I could go.

LUCAS

(annoyed tone)

Well that would explain a lot.

NINA

(worried)

I-I’m sorry.

LUCAS

(Calmer)

No. No. I’m not mad with you, sweetheart. I just wish your mother would tell me these things.

NINA rubs her arm before pushing back some of her hair behind her ear.

LUCAS

…Did you have fun?

NINA

No…no not really.

LUCAS

Did something happen?

NINA

(hesitantly)

There was…this guy-

LUCAS

A boy?

NINA

Yeah..a guy…

NINA stretches out her hands and fingers.

NINA

He was a bit handsy..b-but! But..I fended him off. However, he just yelled at me and then everyone's eyes were on me s-so I just left.

LUCAS scoots closer to NINA, opening his arms. NINA takes the invite and goes into LUCAS’ embrace.

LUCAS

I’m just glad you are alright.

NINA

Yeah...yeah I guess that’s okay too.

LUCAS

In the morning, we’ll find you some pepper spray or something. You are becoming a young woman after all. The world isn’t always safe.

NINA

(scoffing)

Geez, I could have told you that.

Both CHUCKLE

LUCAS

…No matter what, you’ll always be my little girl.

NINA

And you’ll always be my protective dad. Which I’m thankful for.

LUCAS

How about I make us some hot chocolate? I’m sure your mom will get over the mess.

NINA

Heh. Sure dad.