Pity

"So that's it then, Selene. Throw the Christmas tree into the damn snow and forget about Reef."

"You don't need to slam the door, Jax, honestly. We didn't know him and there was nothing we could do. Some people just are the way they are. You know? How'd you expect... No, don't you walk away from me. How'd you think this was all going to go? We grab a teenager off the streets, haul him in for Christmas, and then bam, new year, new him? He was a junkie."

"Shut up, Selene. Shut. up."

"Then tell me what you expected, Jax! I'll fill in the gaps if you won't."

"He was..."

"Well? He was what? Oh, I know. A drug addict. A kid looking for cash. A thief, a liar, a high school dropout, Jax, with a name that didn't make any sense. Seriously, Reef? What is that?"

"Can't you just be empathetic? For once? Or will you just melt like a witch?"

"You want me to pity a druggie."

"Christ, Selene. I want you to look at the kid and see a kid. I want you to use his name. I want you to pretend like you wanted to see him get help. I want you to lie to me and tell me you weren't relieved when you heard he overdosed. Anything. Just don't look at me like that. Don't act like he was just taking up space, sucking up resources, and wasting your time."

"He was a beggar. Jesus! Did you have to break the TV?! Jax! Jackson! Stay inside the house! God, it's like I don't know you."

"And I know too much about you. I hate you. I hate you from the bottom of my heart, Selene."

"Just...take it easy. We can go inside, get some tea or-"

"I don't want shit from someone who's allergic to morality."

"It's freezing, Jax. Come inside. You don't even have boots on. You'll get frostbite like that."

"You'd know, wouldn't you. Given that you're made of ice with a heart of stone."

"What do you want me to do? I've already-"

"You haven't done shit, Selene."

"No? Who opened our doors to him? Who bought him a whole new set of clothes? Who made sure that there was a warm meal every night and a clean bed for him to crawl into at the end of a day? I wrapped presents for a stranger and you're going to say I didn't do anything?"

"Providing basic food and shelter is a parent's job. You don't deserve a pat on the back for that. What kind of lunatic wraps deodorant and toothpaste? Do you have any idea how that must've made him feel?"

"Look, it's better than what he had."

"That doesn't mean it's good enough! This isn't how parents-"

"We're not his parents, Jax."

"You're not."

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're cold, Selene. It means that the person I wanted to marry never existed in the first place. I was fine bringing him into our lives. I wanted to. And...and it means I knew his mom."

"How well?"

"Reef... He could've been. I bought a paternity test, but the snowstorm held it up, so it didn't get here until after."

"And you have the audacity to be mad at-"

"I have the right, don't I? Selene... I checked the cameras. He didn't walk out of here in the middle of the night; you packed him up and drove him away. You sent him to his death."

"I didn't know he'd OD, Jackson!"

"You should have! I told you for weeks what could happen. You didn't listen to me. Everything I've said, you brushed off because it didn't fit your narrative of an irresponsible druggie. You're classist, Selene, and it's disgusting. I grew up under the boot of people like you, eating mushy carrots and rotten meat pretending it was good so they'd give me more. And you did it to someone who could've been my son."

"I didn't know he could be yours!"

"And that's the fucking problem right there! You shouldn't have to know someone's bloodline to give them basic human respect. No, that's it. We're done. I'm leaving."

"No, Jackson, c'mon. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't want him to die either. He was just a kid, you're right."

"It's too late. Let... Let GO."

"Jackson. I'm really sorry. There's nothing I can do now."

"You can get out. You can pack a bag, call your mother, and leave. No, no. Don't you fucking touch me! I swear to God, Selene, I'll kill you. Get your hands off me and get out of my sight."

"If she doesn't let me back in then I'll-"

"Fall asleep on the street and I won't care. You killed someone, Selene, because you didn't like how fat their wallet was. I don't give a rat's ass what happens to you."

"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry."

"You should be, Selene. You fucking killed someone."