"Around the Fire" > Dinner with Simon's parents

Cut to: Dinner with Simon's parents. Jennifer and Simon are sitting on the one end of the table, while Matt and Lauren on the other side.

Jennifer (breaks the silence): It's really great being back on the East Coast.

Lauren: So will you get a chance to see your parents while you're here?

Jennifer: Actually I'm thinking we're gonna head up there in a couple of days and spend some time with them.

Matt: What do they think about what you're doing?

Jennifer (smiles): Well—

Simon (interrupts): Dad, I don't think you need the response you're looking for. Her parents actually support what she's doing.

Matt: Well I didn't say they didn't. Just asked her a question, sure she can answer it by herself.

Jennifer (smiles): Hmm, well I can't exactly say they understand me, but they do know that I am with good people and that I'm happy.

Matt: You have a job? I mean how do you support yourself?

Jennifer: I run a kitchen of sorts on tour.

Matt: And you make enough doing that?

Jennifer: Yeah, absolutely.

Simon: I think we've done pretty well for ourselves.

Jennifer looks at Simon. Simon takes out a load of money from his pocket and puts it on the table.

Matt and Lauren both look at the money.

Matt: Simon, Simon, what is this?

Simon: This is the money we made, we made from Jennifer's Stir-fry and and my selling t-shirts. We worked hard, Dad, worked real hard.

Matt: Well, good job then. Good job.

Matt smiles, Jennifer looks at Simon, Simon then looks at Lauren. Simon looks down.

Simon: Yeah.

He takes the money from the table.

Lauren: So how long are you two gonna be in New York? I read in the Times this morning that the concerts are gonna be here through Thursday. We'd love it if you'd stay with us for the weekend.

Matt: Yeah we have some time this weekend—

Simon's shaking his head.

Matt: We got plenty of room.

Simon: I don't think so.

Simon looks over to Lauren.

Jennifer: Well, maybe we could work something out.

Matt: That'd be great.

Simon: What do I have to spell it out for you guys? I don't wanna stay here this weekend. We're NOT gonna stay here this weekend, really.

Lauren: Simon, I think your father would really —

Simon (to Lauren): I'm not even talking to you.

Jennifer goes to hold Simon's hands.

Simon (to Jennifer): And don't do that, please.

Silvia, the maid walks in to pick up their plates.

Lauren: Silvia, could you wait please?

Silvia walks out into the other room.

Lauren: Simon I didn't mean to—

Simon (real loud, slams on the table): You know what? I'm tired of this bullshit!

Matt: Hey hey hey hey hey, let's not.

Simon (points to his father): You know what, let's not pretend that things are okay because the last time I was here, you guys fuckin kicked me out.

Matt: I didn't throw you out, you walked out the door on your own. I didn't push you out.

Lauren: Matt, don't get pulled into this.

Simon (to Lauren): You know what your problem is?

Lauren looks over to Simon.

Simon: You know he'll never love you like he loved my mom.

Lauren looks down, with a frown on her face.

Matt: It's alright Lauren. It's alright. (to Simon): That's enough.

Simon picks up the glass of wine and takes a sip of it.

Matt: Uhm why don't we uh, clear these plates off and uh get ready for desert? Hm? Silvia!

Simon (points to Lauren): She can help you, she can do it.

Matt (raises his voice): God damnit Simon! What is your problem?

Simon looks at Jennifer.

Jennifer: I think maybe we should go.

Simon (gets up): Yeah, we're gonna go. Thank you for dinner, it's wonderful.

Simon puts down his glass of wine.

Simon: Come on Jennifer.

Jennifer looks to Simon and back at the parents.

Jennifer: I'm sorry.

Lauren: Please call if you need anything Jennifer.

Matt: It was nice to see you again Jennifer.

Lauren: For any reason.

Jennifer walks out the door following Simon.

Cut to: It's nighttime, outside, and Jennifer is trying to catch up to Simon.

Jennifer: Would you slow down?

Simon: So what'd you think of my family?

Jennifer: Simon, your dad was trying.

Simon: You saw the way he looked at me. He didn't believe me for one second, not one second did he believe me.

Jennifer: You were lying.

Simon: It's not the point. The point is if I wasn't lying, he still wouldn't of believed me.

Jennifer: But you were lying.

Simon looks down, then up.

Simon: And what was that shit at the dinner table? I'm sorry Mr. Harris. Jennifer, what are you sorry for?

Jennifer: What is your problem?

Simon: I think you should just keep your suggestions to yourself ya know cause I don't need em and my family doesn't wanna hear em ya know. '

Jennifer: That's perfect trip tonight.

Simon's getting out some more acid to take.

Jennifer: One of your all time great ideas Simon.

Simon pops a couple of pills in his mouth.

Jennifer: I don't even know who you're anymore. If you're doing drugs, you're selling drugs and when you're not doing that you're counting your money. You don't give a shit about anyone but yourself, Simon.

Simon walks past Jennifer and stops.

Simon: This whole world doesn't revolve around you. Ya know it's not always what you, you, you, you, you, you, you know that? If I wanna get high, I'm gonna get high right. If you don't like it, then get the fuck outta here.

Jennifer turns around and walks the other way, away from Simon. Simon drinks some acid.

Cut to: Flashbacks, such as the wide mouth opened on the Doc's door, Kevin in his bed cracking up, a party where people are dancing, Kevin sleeping in his bed, back to the party where Jennifer is dancing, young Simon walking in the hallway, back to party again, Jennifer wearing her purple hat looking down at Simon after Kevin died, Young Simon saying "Mommy?", Lauren when it was dinner with Simon's parents — Lauren was looking down frowning — a heart is pounding, back to the party, Matt saying "What is your problem?" at the dinner table, Young Simon sucking his thumb, Mr. Whitney looking down from when he thought Simon was a doper, back to the party in fast motion, young Simon opening the door to where his mother was.

Now present day, Simon runs into the bathroom, looking in the window. Simon hears Andrews' voice, "You're fuckin up dude." It's from the drugs that's making Simon act crazy. A guy looks at Simon in the bathroom and Simon screams, he's afraid of him. Simon, at the party, runs out of the bathroom and leans on the steps. Jennifer is upstairs with Trace dancing at this club. Simon tries to yell to get Jennifer's attention.

Simon (screams): Jennifer! Jennifer!

Jennifer sees Simon and motions her hands to have Simon come up there. Jennifer and Trace, amongst all the people, try to get downstairs to help Simon, but Simon runs away. Simon's running down the hallway, people are looking at him as he goes by. Simon's running so hard, he runs so fast he opens the door which leads to the outside. He leans on the railing, and then notices that he's locked out of the club.

Simon: Hey!! Hey!

A local guard nearby sees Simon trying to get in and tries grabbing him.

Simon (to the guard): Get off me! Get the fuck off me! Let me go!

Simon gets away from the guard and runs down the steps. Two more other guards, and the guard that grabbed Simon run after him. A cop runs toward Simon but misses and falls on the ground. Trace and Jennifer open up the door and see Simon getting chased after the guards and the cops.

Trace (seeing this): Fuck!

Soon enough a cop tackles Simon onto the ground. Simon and Trace see this. Jennifer is hysterical. The cops nudge him on the ground and cuff him.

Simon: Get the fuck off me! Owwwe!

Simon lies there on the ground staring straight ahead. He got caught. The cops stand him up and take him away.

Cut to: Trace in the front seat of the van and Jennifer sitting up in the back of the van.

Jennifer: All I'm saying is, I'm not up to your shit that's all.

Trace (looks back): I can't believe I'm hearin this. Nu-uh.

Jennifer: Come on Trace, you fucked up.

Trace: Oh. I fucked up?

Jennifer: You sell acid. You don't think that eventually someone's gonna have a problem with it?

Trace: Hey. You're blamin' me for what happened tonight? Sheesh, nu-uh. You must be jokin.

Jennifer (raises her voice): I'm not joking!

Trace: Jennifer I tried to warn him, he wouldn't listen. Simon makes his own decisions, you know that as well as anybody.

Jennifer: And you had nothing to do with it tonight?

Trace: I don't know what happened tonight! All I know is it seemed like something he was gonna go sooner or later.

Jennifer: You know what Trace? That's somethin that you would say.

Trace looks at her, shocked.

Back 12.31.2007.