Bloomington Page #2

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I don't think

we were formally introduced...

Catherine Stark.

Jacqueline Kirk.

Ah, right, the famous one.

So are you, from what I hear.

Really?

What did you hear?

Uh, stuff...from my friends.

Stuff from your friends...

What did they say?

That I should stay away from you.

Well, then...

you should probably

listen to what they say.

Are you OK?

Do you want to come back to my place?

What? No!

This is Ethan.

He's the man of the house.

Ethan...

You're like John Wayne in The Searchers.

Wow, you guessed right.

- I did?

- Yeah.

Do I get a prize?

Come with me.

Are you OK?

Uh-huh.

Are you sure?

Have you ever done this before?

You have?

Once, I think.

You think?

Yeah, but I'm not supposed

to say who with.

She's on TV.

Of course, I understand.

Do you want to leave?

No.

You let me know if you do.

OK, close your eyes.

Don't forget to breathe.

Good girl.

Can I lay next to you?

What should I do now?

What do you want to do?

I don't know.

Are you scared?

Don't be.

Hello...

Hello?

- Hello.

- Jackie?

Catherine.

Did you just call me?

Yeah.

How did you know it was me?

Because you're the only one

around here that has a 323 area code.

Ah.

How are you?

I'm fine.

Good. I thought maybe you were upset...

Or you had turned into a bunny.

No, I'm sorry.

I didn't know if you

wanted me to wake you up or not.

No, that's all right.

Do you want to come over tonight,

maybe have dinner?

I mean, you don't have to.

No, I do... Yeah.

It's unlocked!

Do all the teachers here live like you?

Probably not.

But if it makes you feel any better,

I didn't buy this house, I inherited it.

- Would you like something to drink?

- Sure.

How did you know what I drink?

I didn't...

Maybe I'm just guessing.

But scotch isn't the only

alcoholic beverage in the world.

True...

But you don't seem like

you drink that often.

In fact, you really don't seem

like the drinking type much at all,

so I figured you must have learned

what to drink from somebody else.

And since I imagine you've had

limited contact with peers your own age,

I'm guessing you took cues

from somebody in your family.

You don't strike me

as particularly feminine,

so I would eliminate

your mother as a role model,

which would leave... a father, perhaps?

Stepfather, actually.

Ah... Well, my apologies.

Cheers.

I did have contact with people

my own age, just so you know.

Really?

Where did you go to high school?

Uh, it was in California;

you wouldn't know it.

I did my undergrad at Stanford.

I know California really well.

It was just a really small one.

What's the name?

All right, I was home-schooled.

I tried to go to high school,

but it didn't work.

High school's overrated.

You always look so scared

when you're here.

I wish you didn't.

Aren't you?

Nothing's gonna happen.

How do you know?

I don't.

What we are looking for in this formula,

where X is the value

and X minus 1

to the power of 2 is the margin.

OK, thank you, folks.

That's all for today.

He likes you.

- I think he likes laying on my knee.

- I think he does too.

I've got a

pretty comfortable knee though.

Squint your eyes and look closer

I'm not between you

and your ambition

I am a poster girl with no poster

I am 32 flavors and then some

Jackie!

We missed you the past

couple of weeks at study group.

Sorry, I've just been busy

with English stuff.

- I'll totally call you later, OK?

- All right.

You look like

a little porcupine when you sleep.

I'm gonna miss you next week.

You don't miss your parents?

No.

Well, maybe they miss you.

I find that quite implausible.

Implausible, huh?

You know, let's switch.

I barely even saw

my mom during Neptune -

like, all six years of it.

How come?

I don't know.

I guess it just sort of happened.

I started crashing at Mark's -

he was my manager -

to avoid the commute,

and I guess that became

a permanent arrangement.

I think her coming here

for Thanksgiving is such bullshit.

She's like trying

to make up for lost time.

Wasn't she on set with you?

No.

Did that bother you?

No...

I had Mark there;

I didn't need anybody else.

I would.

Where's your spaceship?

Oh, I don't have one anymore.

Then how did you get here?

My parents drove me.

All the way from your planet?

Pete, don't bother her, she's eating.

It's fine.

Jacks, do you want some more wine?

Sure. Thanks.

Jackie, what have you been

up to these days? Another show?

No, just school.

Jackie is attending college.

Right here in Bloomington, actually.

College? That's great!

But I really think you should

try to get back on that show.

I love it!

I have my TiVO set,

every Wednesday night, 8:00!

Neptune 26 was cancelled

four years ago, Uncle Keith.

Nonsense! It's on all the time!

It's called syndication.

Pretty sure they're not making

I Love Lucy anymore either.

Jackie is thinking about

maybe going to law school.

So you want to go work

with your step-dad?

I haven't decided that yet.

They grow up so fast.

You were so precious

when you started that show.

How old were you again?

Twelve.

She beat out a thousand

other kids for the part.

Uh, I was 11,

and 1,542 kids auditioned.

You were 12 when you

started season one, dear.

Yes, but I was 11

when I shot the pilot, honey.

That didn't even air.

As far as the audience is concerned

you were 12 when you started.

Is that what these people are?

You know what I mean.

Actually, I don't think I do.

Have you ever actually

even seen the show?

Jacqueline, would you like to

continue this discussion in private?

Don't ever disrespect me

in front of my family again!

Why?

Are you afraid that I might ruin your

'mother of the year' reputation?

Do you think knowing every factoid

about that little show of yours

would make me a better mother?

It wasn't a little show.

Why can't you just admit

that I might have done something

really good at some point?

I do, Jacqueline!

I tried to show that

and you ridiculed me!

That wasn't recognition;

you were putting me on display!

You never say anything like that

when it's just the two of us.

Do you want me

to be part of your fan club?

Is that what you want?

You want me to wear a little

I Love Tyler t-shirt?

Am I being put on trial here

because I didn't want to be

one of those hysterical stage mothers?

No.

I didn't breathe down your neck enough?

You hate me because I didn't

force you to go on auditions?

That's not it.

I don't...

Things were crazy back then, remember?

All those shoot dates and

publicity work, people fussing over you.

I couldn't even take you

out to a restaurant anymore

without you being harassed.

You had a big job to do.

I thought you wanted to be left alone.

Why would I want that?

You don't have to stay here

if you don't want to.

Don't worry about me.

I'm glad you called, porcupine.

I missed you.

Let's go back to school now, OK?

Is this all you have?

Come on.

I have a confession to make...

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