Empathy No. 064
ALLISON: Roderick? Can I come in? I just need a minute, I need to tell you some things.
RODERICK: Go ahead.
ALLISON: Thanks. Uh, I don't know if anyone told you, but Brooke's birthday is tomorrow.
RODERICK: I have it on my calendar.
ALLISON: I see. Well, she's old enough that we don't have to do the whole cake party thing, so she'll go out with her friends for a while, then come back here in the evening.
RODERICK: I don't have a present.
ALLISON: It's okay, I think Ellie got something from the two of you. All you have to do is come to dinner on time.
RODERICK: Okay.
ALLISON: And speaking of which, everyone's gonna be out Saturday after this one, so you're stuck sitting for Brooke. Not a big deal, she does her own thing, so as long as the two of you don't burn the house down, it's fine.
RODERICK: I can do that.
ALLISON: That's about all I have, unless you have something you want to ask or say.
RODERICK: Not really.
ALLISON: You sure?
RODERICK: ...I'm fine.
ALLISON: ...I didn't tell your Mom anything, okay?
RODERICK: You can leave.
ALLISON: I didn't tell her anything but Roderick, you know damn well you can't hide this forever.
RODERICK: Please go.
ALLISON: Not yet. I just need to...why Carlie? You're smart, you're level-headed, you don't need to chase some girl because she spreads her legs like-
RODERICK: She's your friend, for God's sake! That's how you talk about her?
ALLISON: This is not about me, it's about you! You're here like three months and you...I could have found you someone nice.
RODERICK: Carlie's a lot nicer to me than you've ever been.
ALLISON: I have been nothing but polite to you since you got here!
RODERICK: Because your father makes you! You don't want to have anything to do with me!
ALLISON: What about all the times I've tried talking with you? You just stare at the floor and clam up and act like, uh...
RODERICK: A freak?
ALLISON: I didn't say that.
RODERICK: But you have. People think I can't hear them, and that's why I like Carlie. She talks to me like I'm a person. You and the rest of the people at that school, the students, the teachers - all of you treat me like I'm, whatever...a homework robot! You all like I can't understand the things you say about me!
ALLISON: You didn't have to screw her though!
RODERICK: Not that this concerns you, but I talked with Carlie and we are not doing that anymore and she's fine with it. So you can stop sweating over this, whatever you thought was going to happen isn't going to happen. Now get the hell out.
ALLISON: Okay, I'm leaving. Just again, though, I swear I didn't say anything to your Mom, so you don't have to worry, either.
RODERICK: Leave and close the door behind you.