The Runners

Mama look!

That looks awesome Zoey!

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Mama can we get ice cream on the way home?

No ma'am you were going straight to bed.

Please?

Have you ever done something that really hurt someone?

Maybe you've broken someone's heart.

Or done something that you feel is completely unforgivable.

Think you're too good for me huh bitch? I'll show you!

Well the question is why doesn't God stop those bad things from happening?

I mean, He is God right?

It's because, God has given us freewill.

He gives us the choice to love or hurt others.

[Tires screeching. Engine revving]

You see we live in a world, people broken by choosing sin over the Savior.

And a lifestyle of sin, without repentance, will always lead to death.

Ultimately, it's your choice.

Anything good in the mail this morning?

Uh, no, you didn't, you didn't get the mail?

Hmmm um.

Huh?

Hey Zoe!

Yeah?

How's school been treatin you?

Fine.

You wanna do this the hard way, huh?

So is there something you want to talk about?

Yeah! You said you was gonna make me some pancakes!

I ain't talking to you Kooter!

Well apparently you ain't cooking for me neither!

Don't you have a wife?

I can't go home right now my wife's boyfriend's in town and she doesn't like me very much.

Kooter she never liked you, alright? Now go put a damn shirt on.

What are you talking about! I worked out! -I'll cook for you Kooter.

Thank you very much darling, now was that so hard?

Zoe, something you need to talk about or not?

Nope, but hey, thanks for asking.

What are you doing skipping school Zoe?

Ryan, chill!

No I'm not gonna chill.

Me and your brother used to skip school, Mrs. Wright's class all the time!

Kooter come on man, shut up.

See it's really not that big of a deal Ryan, who cares?

I care, alright I'm not working my ass off everyday to take care you.

I want to know what your doing.

You wanna know what? What do you think I'm doing drugs or something?

Are you?

Oh my God! No, no I'm not doing drugs, I'm not drinking

and I'm definitely not having sex with strangers.

Yerp!

You happy?

Ryan, could you be a normal brother for one day?

What would mom say about this?

Zoe look it's my job....

No, it's not Ryan! I am not your job,

you are not dad and you are definitely not mom, so just shut up!

I'm almost 18, I don't need you looking over my shoulder telling me everything I'm doing wrong!

I'm not Zoe! Hey!

Hey you know a man don't even worry about it,

we did the same things growing up and look how we turned out.

It's exactly what I'm worried about man.

What am I gonna do with her?

Ryan Stevens?

Long time son.

Pastor Dave sorry I just let myself in.

I know, I watched out of camera the whole time.

You forget which day of the week church is on son?

No sir. I just, ahhh, I just got a lot on my mind lately.

Hmm, a whole lot of different stuff or just one big thing?

It's nothing. Don't worry about it.

Hmmmm. I ain't seen you around here in almost a decade,

and you want me to pretend that you came over here to, what?

Stare at the wall?

You know what I didn't mean for you to come down here so if you wanna ...?

Well, it's kind of what I do. It's my job.

So, come on. What's up?

It's uh. It's my sister, Zoe.

Zoe. Wow.

She must be grown up huh? What, Sixteen?

Seventeen.

That means I'm getting old.

I wasn't gonna say anything.

She still a little angel?

Hell no.

Hey, watch your mouth ok?

Sorry.

If you brought her around the church sometime, ya know...

No offense pastor but she wouldn't step foot in here if I paid her.

Ouch. So what's the deal?

Uh, well, the deal is I have no idea what I'm doing trying to raise a teenage girl.

She won't listen to a word I say. Alright?

And we fight every single time we try to talk, and, umm...

this morning I get a letter from her school saying that she's been skipping

two or three days a week and I can actually go to jail for that.

Hmm. Well, just kick her out then. Get rid of her.

I can't do that.

That's good. There's still hope then

Teenage girls.

One of God's most precious gifts and harshest punishment all rolled into one.

See but here's the thing;

she wants you to listen to her.

She needs to know that you care and deep deep down

she's yearning for guidance and discipline.

You see that right there, that's why I stopped coming to church.

Hmm?

You lie too much.

Hey.

And no matter how hard she pushes back you gotta stand your ground.

And you got to fight for her.

Who else is gonna do it, huh? Right? Right?

And then one day you look at her eyes..

and you'll suddenly realize she's all grown up.

And she don't need you any more.

And at that moment you'll know that it's ok...

to let her go.

But until then...

Sound good?

Hell no. It sounds awful.

That's twice now. Watch out!

How many more strikes until you leave me alone?

A hell of a lot! A hell of a lot, son.

Ryan.

Um, Ryan.

Just keep it up.

Your momma and daddy, they'd be proud.

BOBCATS! BOBCATS!

Tell me one thing are you prepared for the epicness of what's about to take place?

I was born ready!

So are we gonna like go to the party or are we just going to sit ...

What? What? Did I do something?

No. No. You're fine. You're fine.

What? What's wrong?

Nothing. It's just.....

promise you're not gonna laugh at me?

I promise.

I've never been kissed before.

Well, there's a first time for everything

Wait wait. You really like me, right?

Duh!

I want to hear you say it, right now.

I really like you.

What do you want Ryan?

Ryan: You on your way home?

I'm going to a party with Micheal.

No I don't think so. You need to get home.

Ryan, I'm going to the party.

No you're not Zoe. Be here in thirty minutes. You hear me?

Ryan, I will never ask you for anything ever again.

No. Be here in thirty minutes.

God! I cannot wait to graduate! I hate you!

So. So, I guess I'm gonna take you home then.

I like you too.

Let's go to the party!

Zoe....

Zoe Wait!

Crowd: Hey! Kill the music.

You ass hole!

How could you do that? You used me.

Micheal! Micheal, wait!

What is wrong with you?!

What the hell Zoe?

You just slapped me in front of the whole school.

No. No, I gotta go. I gotta go.

Micheal, stop! You have to take me home.

Everything ok here?

Yeah. Yeah. Everything's great.

Micheal wait!

You ok?

No, not really.

Look, I can give you a ride if you need it.

No, it's ok. My brother will come pick me up. He's gonna be so pissed.

Ok. I'll go back inside then.

Come on Ryan.

Come on Kooter! Get up! We're late!

Donald Trump. What?

Come on Zoe Get up.

Hey, we're gonna talk about last night.

Hey, Zoe?

Voicemail: Hey, it's Zoe. Leave a message.