EDWARD
                                (turns to Neal)
                          Hey.  Thanks.  For letting me stay here. 
                          I feel kinda stupid.  Movin' in with my
                          baby brother and all.

                                      NEAL
                                (smiles sincerely)
                          I'm glad you're here.  For as long as you
                          like.

                                      EDWARD
                                (smiles, then turns to
                                 shower)
                          Edward exits.  Neal then lets out a deep
                          sigh.

                                                                  CUT TO



                CHICAGO SKYLINE -EVENING



                INT. ELLEN'S KITCHEN

                Ellen and Randi in Ellen's kitchen.  They are cooking and
                drinking wine.

                                      RANDI
                          Did he say when he was going to call me?

                                      ELLEN
                          Christ, Randi!  Let the man take a piss
                          first.  He'll call tomorrow.

                                      RANDI
                          I hope this is the right thing for him.

                                      ELLEN
                          Change is good.

                                      RANDI
                          If it's for the right reasons.

                                      ELLEN
                          Meaning?

                                      RANDI
                          He's had so much bad in the last year. 
                          But he wouldn't talk about it.  Pass me
                          that knife, would you?

                Ellen does so.  Randi starts to chop carrots.

                                      ELLEN
                          He'd tell me things.

                                      RANDI
                                (still chopping)
                          Oh, sure.  Superficial things.  Nothing
                          too threatening.

                                      ELLEN
                                (quietly)
                          Not always.
                                (slight pause)
                          Eddie's not like us.  He keeps it in.

                                      RANDI
                          And it's gonna kill him.  I've read what
                          happens when you hold it all in.  Cancer.

                                      ELLEN
                          Oh, now...

                                      RANDI
                          That's right.  Cancer.

                                      ELLEN
                                (matter of fact)
                          Maybe, when he's alone, he cries.

                The two look at each other, then burst into laughter.

                                      ELLEN
                          Who the fuck am I kidding?

                Karl pokes his head into the kitchen.  He is early 40's,
                wearing comfortable but nice casual clothes.  Their
                laughter dies down.

                                      KARL
                          Sounds like fun in here!

                                      ELLEN
                          Nope.  No fun here.

                                      RANDI
                          Oh, yes it is.  Loads of...fun.

                                      KARL
                                (to Randi)
                          Bob should be here any minute.
                                (to Ellen)
                          Smells great, baby.
                                (kisses her cheek)

                                      ELLEN
                                (briefly melts, then catches
                                 self)
                          Me or the roast?

                                      KARL
                                (makes dirty old man laugh
                                 and voice)
                          Heh-heh.  Rump roast.  Heh-heh.  Rump.

                                      ELLEN
                                (hits him, pushes him out of
                                 kitchen, with both laughing)



                GET OUT!  GET OUT!  GET OUT!

                They are again alone in the kitchen.

                                      RANDI
                          He's so good for you.

                                      ELLEN
                                (sarcastically)
                          Yeah.  Exactly what I need.

                                      RANDI
                          I wish Mark had been what Edward needed.

                                      ELLEN
                          I don't.  He's a prick.  I wish I had the
                          balls to tell Eddie what a superior
                          asshole Mark is.

                                      RANDI
                          He wouldn't believe it.  He's still in
                          love with the guy.

                                      ELLEN
                                (slight pause)
                          Cookie, when you're done, can you wax the
                          floor?

                                      RANDI
                          Sure.  Bitch.