Animal Kingdom Page #6

NICKY:

I'm sorry. I'm looking after you.

(beat)

I'm sorry.

INT. LOUNGE / CODY HOUSE - NIGHT

It's late. The house is quiet bar the sound of an old musicvideo on TV. J and Nicky are on the couch. Nicky is asleep. J'seyes are fading.

Pope sits drunk in a chair, watching the TV. J's eyes driftshut.

Pope looks over and watches J sleep. He stands and gently liftsthe sleeping Nicky off the couch.

INT. BEDROOM / CODY HOUSE - NIGHT

Pope stands at the end of the bed, Nicky in his arms. He laysher down carefully. She sleeps, her skirt pulled up high on herthighs. Pope watches her. He takes the doona and spreads it outover the bed. It floats down over her. She stirs, looks overthrough gummy eyes, then rolls back to sleep.

J appears at the door, sleepy, disturbed that Pope is there.

Pope heads out. He leans into J's ear.

POPE:

She's beautiful, mate.

He exits. J feels deeply unsettled. He watches Nicky sleep.

45 INT. J’S BEDROOM / CODY HOUSE - DAY 45

J sits on his bed alone, trying unsuccessfully to tie a necktie.

Smurf enters in a black dress and heels. She is looking in asmall compact, applying lipstick.

SMURF:

You didn't cry at the funeral, did you

hon.

J continues tying his tie, like he's not going to respond.

(CONTINUED)

Animal Kingdom - GREEN REVISIONS 33.

CONTINUED:

J:

I tried, but nothing came out.

(beat)

Is that wrong?

SMURF:

Nothing's wrong, honey. Things just

are what they are and what's right and

wrong is how you look at it. You know?

You need to find your positive spin.

There's always one around somewhere.

Is Nicky coming today?

J:

Her parents won't let her.

Smurf puckers her lips. J's struggling with his tie.

SMURF:

What are you doing?

Smurf closes her compact and looks at J on the bed.

J:

This.

SMURF:

Let's get a look at you. Stand up.

J stands. Smurf undoes his necktie and tries to re-tie it.

She's unsuccessful, so she takes it off him and puts it onherself to tie it.

SMURF:

You know why your mum and I hadn't

spoken in so long?

J:

No.

SMURF:

We had a fight about - you know the

card game 500? She reckoned you can

play the joker whenever you want in a

no-trumps hand. She was drunk. I was

drunk too, but I was right. But so

look what happens. Years go by and

then she's gone and I lose my only

daughter because you can't play the

joker whenever you want in a no-trumps

hand. And I don't get to see you for

years. And that made me sad. But I'm

getting to see you now. All the time.

(CONTINUED)

Animal Kingdom - GREEN REVISIONS 34.

CONTINUED:
(2)

Having successfully knotted the tie, Smurf takes it off herselfand puts it around J's neck. She pulls the tie tight and stepsback to inspect him.

SMURF:

Sweet. How do I look?

J:

You look good.

SMURF:

Correct.

Smurf kisses J's lips.

SMURF:

Beautiful boy.

46 EXT. CODY HOUSE - DAY 46

J and Darren load flowers into the back of the car. Darren stopsloading to brush pollen off his bone-coloured suit. Smurf andCraig appear from the house. Craig is in black suit andsunglasses. Smurf carries a platter of sandwiches.

OVER:
a male VOICE sings 'The Psalm of David' ('The Lord is MyShepherd') in Hebrew. It's haunting and beautiful.

47 INT. CHURCH - DAY 47

Modern church. A young boy in Jewish yarmulke sings Hebrew intoa microphone. A coffin is on the altar next to a photo of Baz.

48 EXT. CHURCH - SAME 48

Sound of singing inside. Pope stands outside, near a hearse andtwo funeral directors, staring out over the street, dark andcontemplative. A few Armed Robbery Squad detectives lean againsta car in the street, smiling.

Craig appears beside Pope, lights a cigarette, silent.

49 INT. LOUNGE / BROWN-SAYLES HOUSE - EVENING 49

Craig, Pope and Darren sit watching cricket. Craig is restless,

jiggling his leg, watching intently beside a big bearded guy,

MICK, a fellow mourner also wearing a suit, sunglasses perchedon his head.

MICK:

You got a smoke for me?

Craig hands a cigarette to Mick, eyes never leaving the TV.

(CONTINUED)

Animal Kingdom - GREEN REVISIONS 35.

CONTINUED:

MICK:

And a light.

Craig stretches to pull a lighter from his jeans pocket.

CRAIG:

F***, mate. Am I a tobacconist? Go theshops. The shop's down the road.

INT. KITCHEN / BROWN-SAYLES HOUSE - EVENING

50 50

Smurf and another woman, CHARLIE (20s), sit at the kitchen tablewith an exhausted Cath, Smurf’s chair pulled close to comforther. J is at the bench, pouring cups of tea.

CHARLIE:

Is Baz Jewish? What was with the

spooky Jew singing the song?

CATHERINE:

His mother is, I think. Maybe she’sbeen on a cruise. I don’t know. Never

talk to the b*tch.

SMURF:

Can I get you anything, love?

CATHERINE:

No.

SMURF:

You sure?

CATHERINE:

I said I’m fine, Smurf.

J puts a cup of tea in front of Cath. Smurf strokes her hair.

SMURF:

You’re upset, hon. I know.

CATHERINE:

F*** this.

SMURF:

I know, love. It’s not right.

CATHERINE:

I don’t want to live like this.

SMURF:

None of us do, love.

(CONTINUED)

Animal Kingdom - GREEN REVISIONS 36.

CONTINUED:

Smurf motions to J to tell the others it’s time to go.

51 INT. LOUNGE / BROWN-SAYLES HOUSE - NIGHT 51

J enters the room. Pope looks at over at him.

J:

I think Smurf says we're going.

Darren stands. Craig looks up. Evie cries in another room.

CRAIG:

There’s five overs left in this

innings.

Smurf appears in the doorway.

SMURF:

(insistent)

It’s time to go.

CRAIG:

(yells to the kitchen)

Come and watch the cricket, Cath. Takeyour mind off things.

SMURF:

Craig.

Craig stands and heads for the door.

52 INT. KITCHEN / BROWN-SAYLES HOUSE - NIGHT 52

Catherine is at the table. Craig steps quickly to her.

CRAIG:

You take it easy, Cath. I'm sorryabout your loss.

Craig hugs her and exits. The other men stand in line to hug

her. J stands with Smurf in the doorway. Smurf nudges J to hugCath. He does so. It's awkward.

Pope moves to Cath. Smurf and J exit. Pope holds Cath and leans

into her ear.

POPE:

Everything'll be good.

He exits. She watches him go, anguished and confused.

Animal Kingdom - GREEN REVISIONS 37.

53 INT. LOUNGE / CODY HOUSE - NIGHT 53

Mick is at the stereo, going through CDs. Craig watches the TV.

J's in an armchair, Darren on the couch. Pope's restless.

MICK:

You got any more speed?

CRAIG:

Sit down and watch the f***in cricket,

Mick.

Mick takes a CD from its case and opens the stereo's CD tray.

CRAIG:

Get away from the f***in stereo.

You're driving me nuts. What did Isay? Sit down. Today's not the day.

Mick closes the CD tray and looks at more CDs. Darren gets upand goes to the kitchen. Pope leans menacingly into J's ear.

POPE:

Go to your room.

Confused, J gets up and heads for the door.

54 INT. KITCHEN / CODY HOUSE - NIGHT 54

Darren is at the sink fixing himself a drink. Pope enters andstands behind him, looming. Darren knows he's there.

POPE:

What's that suit you're wearing?

DARREN:

It's my suit.

POPE:

Yeah? Do you think you look good init?

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