INT. THE MCDOWELL'S LIVING ROOM – LATER

Craig, Derek and Luke sit on the sofa nervously watching their quietly steaming father. Craig cautiously leans forward.

CRAIG

Dad, are you okay?

ADAM

(bellowing) Do I look okay!

The boys jump back.

CRAIG

I'm going to have to say no.

DEREK

(snorts) Five points to Craig for asking the stupidest question of the century.

CRAIG

I'm sorry. I don't remember asking for your input.

LUKE

Guys, inside voices.

DEREK AND CRAIG

Shut up!

They argue until the blast of a horn tortures them into silence. Adam examines his trumpet with satisfaction.

ADAM

I wondered when I would use this again.

Adam chucks the trumpet into the recliner.

ADAM (CONT'D)

I am sick of listening to the three of you bickering every hour of the day. Look where it's gotten you. You've destroyed the only form of transportation you have.

CRAIG

I wouldn't say destroyed. It's only a broken window.

ADAM

A broken window I'm not paying for. If you ever want to drive that car again, you're going to have to pay for it yourselves.

DEREK

With what money?

ADAM

Oh, I think you'll figure something out.

The boys don't have a clue. Adam takes a moment to simmer his impatience.

ADAM (CONT'D)

You're going to find jobs.

CRAIG, DEREK, LUKE

Jobs!

CRAIG

What about school?

ADAM

If you want your car back, I suggest you figure out a way to make it work.

Adam grabs the morning paper from the recliner, tugs out a section, and drops it on the coffee table before them.

ADAM (CONT'D)

Start searching.

Walking off, Adam grumbles to himself about taking a vacation from home. Derek picks up the paper and observes it like it's an ancient artifact from a foreign land.

DEREK

What are we supposed to do with this?

Luke also studies it with curiosity.

LUKE

Dad wants us to be paperboys?

Craig snatches the paper from them.

CRAIG

These are the classifieds. They advertise jobs.

DEREK

Have fun with that.

Derek gets up and moves to the door.

CRAIG

Where are you going? You heard what dad said.

DEREK

He said we couldn't use the car. He didn't say we couldn't have someone pick us up—Oh!

On the other side of the door, Janet stands like a fortress with her arms folded. She points to the sofa.

JANET

Sit.

Derek hurries back over to his brothers as Janet enters the room.

JANET (CONT'D)

You are all going to do this, and you're going to do it together. I can't stand seeing you three fighting all the time. This is great way for you to—

CRAIG

(mumbling) Get a long.

JANET

Yes.

Janet sits.

JANET

All I want is for my sons to grow up loving each other. Is that too much to ask?

She lowers her head and whimpers. The boys beg her not to cry. Uncomfortable by his mother's tears, Derek surrenders.

DEREK

Okay. We'll do it.

Janet's head pops up and she smiles.

JANET

Good. Now get started. I'll bring snacks.

She cheerfully exits. Derek slumps down in his seat.

DEREK

Worst. Day. Ever. I could have gone out with the prettiest girl in school, but now I'm stuck with you two dorks.

Craig spreads out the classifieds.

CRAIG

If you would have just let me use the car, none of this would have happened.

LUKE

Why should you get the car?

DEREK

Yeah!

LUKE

I'm the one who should get first dibs.

DEREK

How do you figure that?

LUKE

Because I got less love than both of you.

CRAIG

What?

LUKE

I'm two years younger than you, which means I am two years behind in the parental love race.

DEREK

That makes no sense.

The arguing revives between Luke and Derek. Craig has had enough.

CRAIG

Guys!

Derek and Luke stop talking and cross their arms, smoldering in their animosity.

CRAIG (CONT'D)

This is getting us nowhere. Mom and Dad are right. We've been arguing constantly every day and it never solves anything. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we'll get our car back and we can put all of this behind us.

Derek and Luke's arms begin to unfold as they hear Craig out.

CRAIG (CONT'D)

But first, we make a pact. When we get the car back, we have to make sure we each get a fair turn using it, and priorities always come first.

Derek's brow arches like a readied bow.

DEREK

Whose priorities?

CRAIG

(counting them off on fingers) Academics, sports, (looking at Derek) and then girls.

DEREK

What if you're getting tutored by a cheerleader?

LUKE

Then we carpool.

They laugh. Craig's smile fades.

CRAIG

Do you realize that was the first laugh we've shared since...I don't even remember. It doesn't have to be this way. If we respect each other, there will be less fighting and more moments like this. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?

He makes an X with his arms, offering both hands. After a moment of consideration, Derek and Luke mimic him and they shake on it. Derek stands and puts on his shades.

DEREK

Let's go find us some jobs—Hold on.

He snatches his shades back off.

DEREK (CONT'D)

We've never done this before. Where do we even start?

CRAIG

We should try to find something that best fits our skills. I'm great with academics, Luke's great at sports, and Derek is...

DEREK

Great with romance.

LUKE

That job doesn't exist.

Derek slips his shades back on.

DEREK

It does now.