Chapter 14 (The SURFACK Club)

Chapter 14 (The SURFACK Club) is the fourteenth chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode II - The SURFACK Club and the thirtieth chapter of the overall Clearwood series. It was written by Donald Newton and is expected to be published on September 19, 2020 along with Chapter 13.

Plot
Clarence meets and bonds with Zero, even giving him a real name. But will this happiness last?

Full Chapter
INT. CARTER RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Clarence is sitting on the couch and watching TV. Suddenly, he hears the sounds of Zero's tricycle bell ringing from outside. He gets up from the couch and opens the front door.

EXT. CARTER RESIDENCE - DAY

Clarence sees Zero and it is now does he see Zero for who he really is -- HIS GRANDSON.

CLARENCE: Hello, there.

ZERO: (nervously) Hi. Is Lorraine around?

CLARENCE: No, she's not. She's with some friends.

ZERO: Okay. Sorry to bother you.

Zero goes to get on the bike to leave.

CLARENCE: Wait a second!

Zero stops and turns to Clarence.

CLARENCE: Would you like to come in for a moment?

Zero thinks for a moment. He isn't sure what to do or how to respond.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Clarence and Zero are sitting at the couch, eating cookies, and drinking milk together while watching TV. They are watching a ROCKY movie. Clarence is trying to make an attempt to bond with his grandson.

CLARENCE: So what is your name?

ZERO: I'm just called Zero.

CLARENCE: That's not really a name. You gotta have a better name than that.

ZERO: I don't have one. I wish I had a better one.

Zero turns back to the movie and smiles upon seeing Rocky beating his opponent in the movie. He seems to enjoy Rocky's fighting skills.

ZERO: I like the way that man fights.

CLARENCE: Yeah. That's Rocky Balboa.

ZERO: I like Rocky. I like his name.

CLARENCE: Why don't we just call you Rocky then?

Zero ponders over it for a moment. Then he puts on a smile. A beautiful and warm smile. The first that we've ever seen from this dark child. Could Clarence be reaching out to a good side of him?

ZERO: I like that. Rocky Carter...same as yours and mommy's.

Clarence is hit by this. Its hard on him knowing that this is his grandson, he wants to bond with his grandson, and his grandson wants to bond with their family. But Lorraine refuses to have her own son in their life.

Fighting back tears, Clarence puts on a smile.

CLARENCE: Rocky Carter it is then.

We CUT TO a MONTAGE of Clarence and Rocky (Zero) bonding and doing things together:


 * Watching the Rocky movies.


 * Drinking milk shakes together.


 * Walking down a trail in the park.


 * Riding around town in Clarence's car.


 * Zero is eating cookies at the table and Clarence takes a picture of him. Zero smiles. Its the happiest that we've seen him ever be.

EXT. CARTER RESIDENCE - DAY

Rocky walks over to his tricycle at the end of the driveway as Clarence stands at the front door and watches.

CLARENCE: Maybe we'll see you again sometime?

ROCKY: I hope next time mommy will be here.

CLARENCE: I hope so, too.

Clarence continues to fight back tears, heartbroken that he cannot just keep his grandson with them.

ROCKY: Bye, Grandpa!

CLARENCE: Goodbye, Rocky.

Rocky takes off on his bike. Clarence stands there and watches him leave. He is filled with emotions that he's never felt before. This is not just a random child off of the streets nor a child that his daughter just gave up and they forgot about him. This is his grandchild. And despite all that Clarence has said and done that may have played a part in Lorraine's choices, he loves his grandson. Clarence walks back into the house with tears streaming down his face.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

As Zero rides around the neighborhood, a car familiar to him drives up to him. Zero becomes scared, realizing that the driver is not happy with him. Zero gets off of his bike and gets into the car.

INT. CAR

It's revealed that the driver is -- THE STALKER. Even his presence and demeanor feels angry.

THE STALKER: Where have you been all day, boy?

ZERO: With my Grandfather. He's nice. I think he...

THE STALKER: He is not! He is the reason why your mother abandoned you. He made her into the whore that she is. He never would have loved you and he never will.

ZERO: But...

THE STALKER: Zero!

ZERO: My name is Rocky Carter!

THE STALKER: Your grandfather has no right to name you shit. I am your father. Your mother and her family gave you up. You mean nothing to them. Especially your Grandfather. He's just playing you to give you false hope. Your name is Zero. Nothing else. And you most definitely will never use that family's name! Do you understand me, boy?

ZERO: (heartbroken) Yes, Daddy.

THE STALKER: Good.

The Stalker hits the gas and they drive off. Zero turns away from his father and starts crying.

INT. IRIS'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Iris and Charlie are sitting on her bed and talking.

CHARLIE: I am the second of three child and the younger of two boys.

IRIS: So you have a little sister?

CHARLIE: I do. Carla. My older brother is Anthony.

IRIS: Cool. What do they do?

CHARLIE: Anthony is in college and Carla just started high school. But she and I don't talk much. So you'll most likely not see much of her unless we come to school together.

IRIS: Alright. I feel that we've really gotten to know each other in these last few years.

CHARLIE: I do, too.

Iris and Charlie smile at each other. This leads to a kiss. It is a cute moment between them. The kissing quickly turns into a make out session. Unbeknownst to the cute couple -- KAREN IS WATCHING THROUGH THE WINDOW.

EXT. IRIS'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Karen is furious about seeing them making out. She is about to open the window in hopes of attacking them, when suddenly -- SOMEONE GRABS HER FROM BEHIND.

It's revealed to be SKIFACE. Karen tries to scream. But with Skiface's hand covering her mouth, neither Iris or Charlie can hear her. Skiface pulls out his knife and stabs Karen in the chest multiple times. Karen Kirby is dead.

Deaths

 * CD = Chapter Death (Deaths in the chapter)
 * SD = Story Death (Overall deaths in the story)
 * SRD = Series Death (Overall deaths in the series)

Trivia

 * Clarence gives Zero a real name, naming him Rocky, after Rocky Balboa from the Rocky movies.
 * The picture that Clarence took of Zero while he's eating milk and cookies will become an important picture in later stories.