"Around the Fire" > Family Program

Cut to: Matt and Lauren walking toward the counselor check-in. Kate's sitting in a chair doing something on the computer.

Matt (to Kate): We'd like to see Simon Harris. I'm his father.

Kate: I'm, uh. I'm Kate Matthews.

Kate gets up toward the parents.

Kate: I'm Simon's counselor.

Matt: Good. I understand that my son is here. We'd like to see him.

Kate: I'm sorry that's not possible.

Matt: Wait, what do you mean it's not possible?

Kate begins to go get Simon's folder in the file cabinet behind her.

Matt (to Lauren): What do we do then, we need a court order?

Lauren: Matt, wait.

Kate (takes out a form): There's a form signed and completed when he checked in. (reads it) Line 8: Do you want us to contact your parents? Answer no. Line 9: Do you want visitation from your parents? Answer no.

Matt grabs the paper from Kate's hand.

Kate: Simon is an adult. He doesn't have to see you if he doesn't want to.

Lauren: There must be something we can do.

Kate: Well, you uh. You can stay and go through our family program, if you'd like.

Matt: Family program. It's outta the question.

Kate: Suit yourself.

Matt: We'll get a lawyer, we'll be back here in an hour. (to Lauren, about to walk away): Come on.

Lauren: No. Matt we've gotta stay.

Matt: Lauren, stay for, stay for what? This is...What are you gonna do sit around with a bunch of doctors examining our inner child?

Kate, who's sitting down at a chair writing something in a file.

Kate: I'm not a doctor.

Matt: Oh that's even better.

Lauren: Matt if you and I don't stay here now and try and solve this it will not go away.

Kate looks at Matt and Lauren. Matt looks back at Kate.

Cut to: The family program.

Kate: Okay...Matt, Simon. You're up.

There are two chairs in the middle of people in there sitting around them. Matt and Simon get up and sit in the those two chairs. Matt and Simon both look at each other.

Kate: Who would like to begin?

Simon: I'll begin.

Simon looks to Kate and then back at Matt.

Simon: I uh, I stole a lot of stuff. I mean a lot more than, than I was caught for. And I lied to you and I lied to Lauren, a lot. I smoked pot, I drank, I uh, did acid.

Kate (looking at Simon): Is that all?

Simon: No. Uhm, that money that I brought to the dinner table, the other night that wasn't from selling t-shirts or food, that was—

Matt (interrupts): We knew that.

Kate: Let Simon continue without interrupting.

Simon: I sold acid Dad. You know what it is though I was trying to um, I am trying to find something, ya know.

Kate: Mr. Harris, is there anything you would like to share with Simon?

Matt (looking at Kate): Uhm. I certainly knew about all the drugs and uhm I'm happy that he's uh able to admit to these things. I'm sure it's not easy.

Kate: Why are you talking to me? Talk to Simon.

Matt (looking at Simon): I look forward to you coming home. So that uhm, we can take care of all this by ourselves.

Kate: Is there anything you would change if you could do it all over again?

Matt: Well, I'm sure everybody's got things they would like to change! Everybody, everybody makes mistakes.

Simon: Dad, what mistakes did you make?

Kate: Uh, Simon be quiet.

Matt: No it's alright Kate. I um, I suppose could've been a better father.

Simon: Or a better husband to Mom right?

Matt: What?

Simon: Do you want me to say it? You got with her [Lauren] before mom even died!

Matt (shocked): What!

Simon: You know what? I walked in, I saw her. How can you fuckin deny it?

Lauren: I'll deny it! It's absolutely not true! It never happened.

Matt: What have they been telling you here? You know you're all turned around here, you're all turned around here you don't even know what you're saying.

Simon stands up.

Kate (screams): Simon sit down now!

Simon: Kate I saw her!

Kate: Simon sit down.

Simon sits down. Lauren is shocked looking at Simon and Matt looks mad.

Simon: People who love each other, they don't cheat Dad. They protect each other, they cheat each other right.

Matt: That's right. In a perfect world that's what people should do. But this is not a perfect world. And even people that you love don't treat you right either.

Lauren: Simon everybody made mistakes.

Simon (stands up): Who made the fuckin mistake? Hmm? Who made the mistakes? He fuckin made the own the mistakes, my own fuckin dad that's who!

Matt: You want so desperately for your mother to be a saint.

Simon (steps back): How can you say that?

Kate (screams): Simon sit down now!

Simon (looks sad, about to cry, screams): How can you fuckin say that!? (Simon opens the door) How can you fuckin say that? You fuckin asshole! Fuck you all! Fuck you all!

Simon shuts the door screaming outside "Fuck!!"

Back 12.31.2007.