Luke and Laura arrive at home and walk inside. It is dark
and quiet, and they both take a seat on the couch. Luke looks over
to Laura and sees exhaustion completely taking over her body. He
reaches out for her, but she pulls away.
Laura: I can't accept your comfort if you not fully willing to accept my forgiveness.
Luke: Forgiveness for what?
Laura: For the rape. I forgave you all those years ago, Luke. I need you to accept that from me.
Luke: I know you forgave me, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to marry me and bear my children.
Laura: Then why all of this? Why are you so set on destroying yourself, Luke?
Lesley comes downstairs and interrupts their conversation. By the looks on their faces, she figured that it was probably the wrong time to interrupt them too.
Lesley: I didn't mean to interrupt you, but I just wanted to let you know that Lulu is asleep.
Laura: Did she give you any fuss?
Lesley: Well, I had to promise her that her father would be here when she woke up tomorrow morning. Then I think she figured the sooner she got to sleep, the sooner she'd see him.
Luke looked at Lesley, knowing full well that hit was intended for him. He could only imagine what his daughter must be going through right now. Finally getting to come home and see her father and older brother, only to have them both out of the house a lot, and her father in the hospital more than he is out of it. It wasn't something that a 3-year old should be going through.
Lesley looked back at Luke, knowing her goal was accomplished. She said the one thing that would probably get him to finally realize that his life is worth something. She knew that Luke couldn't resist his little girl and that he would do everything in his power to prevent her from suffering any pain. Seeing that Luke might actually be willing to talk now, she made her way back upstairs.
Laura (taking hold of Luke's hand): What is it?
Luke: I think reality is hitting me like a ton of bricks. Lulu should never have to wonder if I'll be here when she wakes up in the morning. That should always be a given, without question.
Laura: She's little and doesn't know what to make out of all of this.
Luke: I know. How do you explain to a 3-year old that you not only shot yourself, you also were careless enough to drink yourself towards a heart attack? That you were selfish and didn't consider the lives that would be affected if you died.
Laura: That's what I've been trying to tell you for a long time now. You just wouldn't listen.
Luke: I did listen, just didn't want to. I was so set on my belief that you would be better off without me. I was so wrapped up in my own guilt to even consider anyone else. You asked me to open up to you and all I did was push you away.
Laura: Will you be open now? Are you willing to tell me what is really wrong here?
Luke: I don't know what's wrong. That's the truth. I never forgot that I raped you. Never was there a single moment in my life that I wasn't grateful that you saw some good in me anyway. Maybe being younger when it happened, I was more accepting of your understanding of that night and your forgiveness. Now that I'm older, and have a son, I see it differently. I'm seeing the whole thing through my son's eyes. And I'm completely understanding where he is coming from.
Laura: So where does that leave us?
Luke: I don't know. I can't lie to you and say that it was in the past, let's move on with our lives and Lucky will accept it in his own time. I can't say that because I can't move on. Every time I look in a mirror, I'm seeing the man I never wanted to be like, and I'm seeing that I'm more like him than I realize.
Laura: Who?
Luke: My father.
Lucky was about to go inside, when he heard his parents talking. As soon as Lucky heard Luke mention his father, he decided to not make his presence known. Lucky figured that maybe this is his chance to find out exactly what could have driven his dad to rape his mom, and to see if it parallels his life in any way.
Laura: You're nothing like your father, Luke. You've told me what he did to you, your sister, and your mother, and those are things you are incapable of doing. You're a better man than he ever could have been.
Luke: How do you know what I'm capable of doing? You didn't think I would rape you, but I did. How do you know that I won't get so angry one day and start to hit you?
Laura: Because I know you, Luke. I know you completely. To live with each other for 16 years... there's something that has to be said for that. Not once did I ever fear that you would harm me in any way.
Luke: How do you know it won't happen? I get my temper from my father. It's uncontrollable sometimes.
Laura: Luke, you're a better man than him. He would get drunk and beat his kids and his wife. You have never laid a hand to me or our children. No matter what kind of anger you were feeling, hitting us was never an option for you. There were plenty of times where your anger would have led you to strike us if you were that kind of man. But you're not.
Luke: Prove I'm not a monster.
Laura goes over to the mantle over the fireplace and grabs the family portrait. She brings it back over to the couch and hands it to Luke.
Laura: Look at these four people. A husband, a wife, a son, and a daughter. All look happy to be together. Look at the son's face, Luke. He's proud of who he is and who his family is. He's proud to carry his father's name. Look at the daughter, so content on holding her father's hand. Knowing that he will always protect her from danger. Look at the wife, leaning on her husband for support. Knowing that no matter what, he will be the one person who will understand her and who will stand by her. Look at the man. So confident, so proud. Does that look like a monster to you?
Luke (whispering): Looks can be deceiving.
Laura: Your face is the door to your emotions. Words are just words and people can lie, but your face is what tells someone what you're truly feeling. Your face cannot lie. As you look at the faces in this family, do you see even the slightest ounce of fear in them? (Luke nods his head "no") That's because this is your family and everyone loves you as much as they can. You're not a monster, Luke. You're just a man who lost himself for one moment a very long time ago. You may be a man with many faults, but you have many strengths... like your capacity to love. That's all any of us feel from you.... Love, not fear.
Luke grabs a hold of Laura and pulls her in tight. "I swear to you, Angel. I swear that I'll try my best to live up to the image you have of me. I swear." He kisses the top of her head, tears streaming down his eyes, as he takes pleasure in being able to comfort his wife again.
Lucky listened outside the door and fell down to the ground, crying softly. He wanted so hard to forget everything he learned about his father, about both his parents. He wanted to be able to look at that family portrait again and see what his mother sees... a family who is just happy to be together. He just wanted this nightmare to go away.
