Todd Talks To Kevin About Fatherhood


Todd arrives at Rodi's and takes a seat at the bar right next to Kevin, who is staring thoughtfully at a photo of his young son, Duke (who lives in Texas with his mother, Kevin's ex-wife LeeAnn Demerest). As Todd starts helping himself to a plate of unfinished food that was left on the bar, Kevin turns to look at him.

Kevin: I heard you left town.
Todd: Came back. Unfinished business.
Kevin: Uh-huh. Well, you'll be going back again then? Soon?
Todd: Haven't decided yet. That your kid?
Kevin: Yep. This is Duke.
Todd: Can I see the pictures?

Even though Kevin hates Todd, he apparently sees no reason to deny the request, so he puts the photos on the bar next to Todd, who wipes the grease off of his fingers before picking them up and rifling through them. Little Duke is just a few years old, blond and smiling for the camera.

Todd: He's a good-looking kid.
Kevin: Thank you.
Todd: Must be hard not being around.
Kevin: Yeah, he's, uh, walking and talking and turning into a real old person and I'm not even there to --

Kevin suddenly cuts off, as he's remembered who he's talking to.

Kevin: What do you care, anyway?
Todd: I don't care. Just making small talk.
Kevin: Good. I hope you're not planning on having any kids of your own.
Todd: That'd be a real miserable thing, huh? Some kid havin' me for a dad?

Kevin looks away and stays pointedly silent, sipping his drink. Todd looks down at the bar, considering what he's just said.

--end scene--

Todd gives the photos back to Kevin.

Todd: You're never going to cut me any slack, are you, Kevin?
Kevin: You know, you have a real knack for forgetting all the damage you left in your wake.
Todd: Marty and I have been over that, Kevin. We've moved on. I accept responsibility. She knows that. We've managed to put all that behind us. Leave the past where it is.
Kevin: Yeah, well, Marty is not the only one whose life you ruined. Now I want you to remember that. Please don't forget that.
Todd: What, are you saying I wrecked your life, too?
Kevin: You tried.
Todd: (laughing) Give me a break.
Kevin: You let everyone believe that I was in the room with the three of you when you raped her. It took Marty to clear me.
Todd: Yeah, well, maybe I just felt like sticking it to you because you're nothing but a puffed-up rich kid with nothing better to do than to tell us lowlifes that we're worthless. You know something, Kev, the trial was a long time ago. Those college days are long gone. Why don't you try living in the present?
Kevin: Yeah, well, where is Powell in the present, huh, Todd? Where is Powell in the present? He's in some stinking hospital! So what about what you did to Powell?

Todd doesn't immediately answer.

Kevin: What's the problem, Todd? No quick comeback?
Todd: Okay. I admit it. Maybe I really pushed Powell to do something that he just couldn't handle. That was stupid.
Kevin: Yeah, well, my cousin is still paying for it.
Todd: Yeah, I know that. See, we talked about it when he held a gun to my head. He told me that I lived inside his soul. And then when I had the gun, he begged for me to -- put his brains all over the wall. Because he said that he'd be happier that way. Do you think I could forget that? I carry that with me every second of every day that I live.
Kevin: Well, then I guess it really isn't over, is it?
Todd: Oh, that's right. You're right, Kevin. You're right and I'm wrong. You're always right. I was bad. I am bad. I'll always be bad. But you, you're good, right? You're good at math, you're -- you're good-looking, got good hair. You got a ring I can kiss?
Kevin: Just forget it, Todd.
Todd: Look, why don't you try and remember this the next time that you try and drag up something from the past and push my nose in it? You know something? I'm busting my butt trying to bring myself up, and I'm tired of people like you trying to kick me back down.

Kevin takes the photographs and puts them away.

Kevin: Fine. I'll just, uh, keep my mouth shut. Besides, you don't need for me to tell you what a screw-up you are. Oh, and by the way, you know that business about you being a father? You're right. It's a bad idea.

Kevin goes back to sipping his drink, and Todd shoots him one last glare before getting up and walking away from the bar.

--end transcript--


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