Fade in:

EXT. backyard of apartment house - daY - 1974

Backyard has a concrete walkway going through the middle of it and leads to a flight of painted grey wooded steps. They lead to an upstairs apartment. FRANKIE, three, is chasing SAMANTHA, eight, in the backyard. She took his red bouncy ball.

FRANKIE

(crying)

Give me my ball! Give me my ball!

SAMANTHA

(smirk on face)

Na na, na na na. I've got yer ball. Na na, na na na.

Frankie is crying so hard he begins to stagger as he chases Samantha. Seeing him stagger, she slows down enough to let him catch up a little. When he's within feet of reaching her, she dashes off again.

FRANKIE

(screaming)

Give me my ball!

Frankie chases her through the yard for several seconds then feels the urge to throw up. He stops, hunches over and begins to gag.

SAMANTHA

What's the matter Frankie? Are you a little baby? You can't catch a girl? Na na, na na na

Samantha stands there, ball under one arm, other hand on her hip. She's smiling her devilish smile. Frankie looks up at her with wet, pleading eyes. He is drooling.

FRANKIE

Please give me my ball.

Samantha cocks her chin towards her shoulder and smirks.

SAMANTHA

First ya gotta catch me.

Frankie's anger flashes across his face. His eyes fill with rage. He takes a strong, determined burst towards Samantha.

Waiting until he's within feet, she stands there, smiling. His eyes widen as he closes in on her. Just as he is about to reach her, she takes off towards the steps. Frankie races down the concrete walkway. Samantha is part way up the steps and heading towards her apartment door.

Frankie is three feet from the bottom step when he catches his toe on a crack in the walkway. He's hurled face first towards the steps.

SMACK!

Blood sprays from his mouth and two teeth ricochet off the handrail.

He slides down the steps and rolls onto his back on the walkway. Blood is streaming heavily as his mouth lays gapping open. He's dazed as he watches the sky spin.

SAMANTHA (CONT'D)

(screaming)

Mom! Mom!

Samantha runs frantically into her apartment. Moments later her panicked MOTHER comes dashing out. She gasps and runs down the steps to help Frankie. Her mom holds Frankie's head in her arm. Samantha is looking down from the top of the steps crying.

SAMANTHA (CONT'D)

(crying)

Is he gonna to live? Is he gonna to live?

Frankie hears Samantha inquiring about his life and cries profusely.

MOTHER

Go get his mother Samantha! Tell her to call an ambulance! Quick!

We see Samantha dash around the side of the apartment and we lose sight of her.

EXT. OUTSIDE FRANKIE'S APARTMENT - DAY

Samantha bangs on MRS. KUMMER's front storm door. Mrs. Kummer opens it and motions for Samantha to come in when she sees how upset she is.

INT. INSIDE FRANKIE'S APARTMENT - DAY

SAMANTHA

(breathing heavy)

Mrs. Kummer! Frankie had an accident and mom wants you to call an ambulance!

Mrs. Kummer

(terrified)

What happened?

Mrs. Kummer grabs Samantha's shoulders and kneels down to her level.

MRS. KUMMER (CONT'D)

Where is he?

SAMANTHA

(crying, sobbing)

He's in the back yard and he's bleeding real bad! I'm so sorry Mrs. Kummer, it was an accident.

MRS. KUMMER

Oh my God!

Mrs. Kummer calls for an ambulance.

EXT. BACKYARD OF HOUSE - DAY - 15 MINUTES LATER

Frankie is on the ambulance cot with a white, blood stained sheet over him. Two paramedics grab hold of the sides of the cart to lift him into the ambulance. Mrs. Kummer is standing by the cot. She leans over him and strokes her fingers through Frankie's hair.

MRS. KUMMER

It's going to be okay son. You're going to be okay. Mommy's coming with you.

Samantha runs up beside the cot, ball clutched tightly in her hands. She looks apologetically at Frankie and extends the ball towards him.

SAMANTHA

(sad)

Here's your ball Frankie.

Frankie gently shakes his head no. He's scared. Tears are streaming down his cheeks.

SAMANTHA (CONT'D)

Then I'll just save it for you, okay?

Frankie gently shakes his head yes. He is loaded into the back of the ambulance. The doors to the ambulance close.

INT. deans's bar & grill - eveninG - 30 years later

We hear the light chatter of people TALKING, drinks being POURED, glasses CLANG. Everything you would expect to hear in a middle-class bar. Cigarette smoke fills the air.

FRANK and his Friend DAVE sit together at the bar, having a drink. Dave is looking into his glass of Scotch as he swirls it in a circular motion. The ice CLACKS against the glass. Frank takes a sip from his draft beer then gently sits it down.

Frank is staring straight ahead, looking at himself in the mirrored shelves containing whiskey bottles.

FRANK

That was the first experience I can remember with someone of the opposite sex.

Dave looks at him, grinning, but doesn't say a word. Frank looks back at Dave.

Frank (CONT'D)

And it hasn't gotten much better since.

FADE OUT.