"From This Day Forward (Part 3 to One Night Stand)"

"The Game"

Summer didn't return to Jay's house like he had expected her to. In fact, he came home after work to a dark & empty house. Summer's car wasn't in it's place & the things she had brought with her were still missing. Jay was about to lose it. He stormed back out of his house & drove towards Nat's house.

Nat had already filled George in about Summer's situation. He agreed to keep Summer there, but warned Nat about Jay.

George: You know how Jay gets when he's angry.
Nat: Well, I was hoping you'd help with that.
George: There's only one person he'll listen to...

George called Devon & asked him to come over for reinforcements. No one else could get through to Jay like Devon could. It was as if it was programmed in Jay's psyche to listen to Devon & take his advice. Summer blamed herself for getting everyone involved. The situation was escalating into something bigger than she had expected it to be.

Dennis, Summer & Nat stayed in the bedroom while George & Dennis remained in the living room area waiting for Jay. They knew he'd be arriving anytime looking for Summer. They heard screeching tires coming from the parking lot below. Summer gripped onto Dennis. He kept his arm around her to keep her calm.

Summer: He's here...

George & Devon looked at each other. George opened the door & went outside to confront Jay.

George: Hey man.
Jay: Where is she? I know she's here.
George: Hey, hey...Why don't we hang out here? Nat has all this wedding stuff around the apartment & it's a mess in there. Trust me.
Jay: You can either get out of my way or I'll bulldoze you over.
George: Jay!

Jay marched past George. He was furious. As he stormed entering the apartment, he swung the door open so hard it slammed against the wall & knocked a painting down to the floor. Glass from the gram shattered.

Nat: Ugh, that sounded expensive.
Summer: He's inside the apartment?
Nat: It's ok, hon'. Devon is out there.
Dennis: I can take him. Should I go out there?

Nat scoffed as he scanned Dennis up & down.

Nat: I love the confidence, but in reality Jay's G.I. Joe figure is gonna tear apart your cute, little "boy next door" thing you got going on.

Devon met Jay head on. Jay was confused to see Devon there. He felt betrayed by his best friend.

Jay: D, what the hell are you doing here?
Devon: I'm keeping you from making the biggest mistake of your life.
Jay: My biggest mistake was allowing Summer to go to Seattle in July. She would have never met that son of a bitch.
Devon: Jay, there are bigger issues here.
Jay: Bigger issues?
Devon: Did you cheat on Summer? In Hawaii?
Jay: That's done now.
Devon: Done or not, Jay, you were the one to ruin the trust in your relationship. Your sneaking around has caused you to become paranoid.
George: Summer wasn't the one who cheated.

Jay turned his head & gave George a dirty look. Devon motioned for George to cut it out. George put both of his hands up.

Devon: And now... You've sunken to a new low. You've been hitting her, Jay? I saw the bruises myself. What's going on?

Jay sat down & buried his face in his hands. He was ashamed that his friends knew.

Jay: I don't want to lose her. Is she in the room? I just need to talk to her.
Devon: Jay, she's afraid of you. Whatever you did caused her to run away.

Dennis couldn't take hiding in the room with Nat & Summer anymore. He wanted to make Jay hurt the way he hurt Summer. He stood up from the bed. Summer looked up at him. Nat looked up at him. Dennis made his way to the door & put his hand on the knob.

Nat: Are you crazy?
Dennis: I'm not going to sit here & listen to this. I'm going out there.
Summer: No, you're not.

Dennis walked out & saw George off to the corner. Jay & Devon were sitting on the couch facing each other. They all looked up at Dennis. Jay stood up & his anger was kindled all over again.

Jay: What the hell is he doing here?
Devon: Jay, sit down. I'm serious. Dennis, get lost. Stick to the plan.
Dennis: Screw the plan. I'm not sitting around to wait for this to be resolved. I'm going to do something about it.

Jay began to taunt Dennis.

Jay: Well if it isn't the little bitch. Did you come here to die?
Dennis: I came here for Summer.
Jay: Like hell you did. I could snap your body in 100 different places right now if I wanted.
Dennis: What are you waiting for?

Jay lunged toward Dennis. George & Devon were both holding Jay back. Dennis walked even closer to Jay.

George: Dennis, we can't hold him forever.
Devon: We were handling this.
Dennis: I just want to talk.
Jay: Talk? I don't talk. We're gonna settle this now. As soon as these two let go of me.
Devon: No chance of that.
Dennis: Ok, let's settle this. George, do you have a chess board?
George: Chess board?

The room door cracked open.

Nat: There's a chess board under the tv. It's the crystal one, babe.

George walked over & picked up the chess board. He set it up on the coffee table. Jay & Dennis sat around the table. Jay remained restrained by Devon's hand while Dennis set up all the chess pieces.

Dennis: This is how men where I'm from settle things.
Jay: It's no wonder you're a pussy.
Dennis: Look, let's just play. These are your pawns. They can move either...
Jay: I know how to play.
Dennis: Ok.
Jay: So what? Winner gets Summer?
Dennis: No. We both want Summer. But it's up to Summer to choose who she wants to be with.
Jay: So what does the winner get?
Dennis: Lets just say the loser will have to accept defeat & leave Summer alone.

George & Devon looked at each other. Nat & Summer were listening from the room.

Nat: He might be a lot smaller than Jay, but he's the bigger man by far.
Summer: He is.
Nat: Theres so much pressure in the game of chess. It takes a ton of concentration.
Summer: Nat, I've never been so nervous in all my life.
Nat: Calm down, hon'. You want some wine?
Summer: We can't go out there.

Nat bent down & reached under the bed for his secret stash.

Nat: Don't have to...