Everything Everywhere All At Once

1  INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM/LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 
A round mirror sitting on a cluttered vanity. Disco lights flash across the clutter. We hear the opening bars of KARAOKE MUSIC. 
BEGIN OPENING CREDITS. 
Through the hazy mirror, we watch as a Chinese family of three, THE WANG's, sing karaoke together. 
They can't agree on a song but they settle on "Barbie Girl" by Aqua. They are awkward and off pitch. But it's sweet. A brief snapshot of happiness. Then, like a flip of a switch-

2  INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM/LIVING ROOM - MORNING 
SNAP. EVELYN WANG bursts into the room, a 55 year old Chinese woman in an over sized t-shirt, streaks of gray in her hair, and thin outdated designer glasses. 
The tiny dining room is overpopulated with workout equipment, self-help and inspirational business books, an old TV playing a Chinese soap opera, a live security feed for the laundromat downstairs, a rice cooker spewing steam, & a microwave with one minute to go. It is a still life of chaos. 
Evelyn sits and looks down at years of tax documents and old receipts. Picking up one of the receipts, she decides which pile to place it on. She changes her mind and holds the receipt in the air, frozen by indecision. 
A hand enters frame and grabs hold of the receipt and playfully throws it into a pile. WAYMOND, Evelyn's husband in transition lens glasses and an ill fitting polo shirt, smiles down at her. 
Note: Chinese dialogue will be italicized. The random pieces of broken English will be bold for emphasis.

別問

EVELYN WAYMOND:

EVELYN:

No. Don’t even ask.

WAYMOND:

I know better than to ask to help you. But, is now a good time to talk about something else?

我知道我幫不了你，

我們現在可以聊點別的嗎?

He nervously clutches some paperwork with colored tabs poking out.

EVELYN I'm listening. Talk.

Evelyn grabs the papers, but he quickly snatches it back.

WAYMOND WAYMOND:

我知道你沒在聼，等你有空再說吧。

I know you aren’t ... just let me know when would be better

The rice cooker BEEP BEEP BEEPS. Without really taking her eyes off her work, she opens the rice cooker, stirs the steaming rice before shutting it and getting back to work.

EVELYN Later. Maybe. I need to

finish this before 爸醒來

你先去 steam the table cloths for tonight. Then paint over the ceiling water stain.

EVELYN Later. Maybe. I need to

finish this before my father wakes up. Go steam the table cloths for tonight. Then paint over the ceiling water stain.

She gets a text message on her laptop. The sound of a POT OF WATER BOILING OVER in the kitchen.

WAYMOND 已�

�辦好了。對了，我剛剛跟Byron提

到晚上的事...他的men’s choir 準備了一個fun surprise給爸爸。

EVELYN:

WAYMOND:

Already did. Also, I just talked to Byron about tonight. The men’s choir have a very fun surprise for-

EVELYN
Noodles. Put in the noodles.

Noodles! 去煮面
Waymond rushes into the kitchen to tend to the pot.

WAYMOND (O.S.) 等我們的Appointment都結束了。我

們再聊吧。Like this afternoon?

EVELYN 5 minutes.

WAYMOND (O.S.)
So we’ll talk later, like this afternoon? After our

appointment-

What?

WAYMOND (O.S.)

EVELYN
Check the pot in 5 minutes.

爸最討厭煮爛的麵。And which paint did you use?

EVELYN
Check the pot in 5 minutes.

My father hates overcooked noodles. And which paint did you use?

2.

白色的。

WAYMOND WAYMOND:

The white paint.

As Waymond steps back in, Evelyn slams down the calculator.

EVELYN
We have two different white

paints, one for the apartment, and one for the laundromat. Has to be

一模一樣，要不�

... WAYMOND

噓〜噓〜噓〜,不要緊張。

EVELYN
We have two different white

paints, one for the apartment, and one for the laundromat. It has to match or else-

WAYMOND:

Shhh . Shhhh. Shhh. Hey calm down.

Waymond turns her chair towards himself.

WAYMOND (CONT'D) 我知道你想把爸爸的party

弄得很完美,讓他看到你已�

�擁有幸福 的�

庭和成功事業,他一定會為你感到 驕傲。

EVELYN 神�

�病。你明知道爸不會這樣看我們.

WAYMOND:

但至少是你和我都看到的，不是嗎?

WAYMOND (CONT'D)

I know you want everything to be perfect for your father's party, but he's going to see you've nurtured a happy family, and a successful business-

EVELYN:

You know that's not what my father is going to see.

WAYMOND:

But, it's what you and I see, right?

Evelyn begins to relax into Waymond. She looks around the room. She doesn't see much to be proud of.

GONG GONG (O.S.) GONG GONG

小蓮... 小蓮

Little Evelyn ... Evelyn...

EVELYN
Too late. He's awake.

2-1 A BUZZER. Evelyn turns to the security feed and sees two girls waving at the camera. The MICROWAVE BEEPS.

EVELYN (CONT'D) Joy is here? Set the table.

He's probably hungry.

我去開門。

EVELYN (CONT'D) Joy is here? Set the table.

He's probably hungry. I'll get the door.

3.

WAYMOND WAYMOND 好吧, we can talk later-

She is already out the door.
Waymond sighs: typical. He flips over the papers. "Petition

for Dissolution of Marriage". Divorce papers. We can hear the POT BOILING OVER AGAIN.

3 INT. LAUNDROMAT - THAT MOMENT

Waiting by a door, JOY WANG - 20's, sporting a worn down hoodie and a stoic, blank expression, stares into a tumbling laundry machine with unfocused eyes. It’s hypnotic. A hand grabs her shoulder, pulling her in for a big kiss, snapping Joy out of her daze. It's BECKY SREGOR, Joy's girlfriend. She holds Joy close.

BECKY Thanks for doing this.

Joy rolls down Becky’s sleeves to cover up her tattoos and parts her hair to hide her side shave.

JOY (uncomfortable)

You look really pretty right now.

BECKY
Oh, you like this hot Mormon look?

JOY
I'm just telling you now, in case

my mom says you're fat or whatever.

Joy points at her nose to indicate Becky "missed a spot". Becky inverts her septum piercing up into her nose.

BECKY
You said when she says sh*t like

that it means she cares, right?

JOY
My mom is gonna be EXTRA caring now

that Gong Gong’s here. He literally hasn’t spoken to us in decades, and suddenly shows up-

Suddenly the door opens. Evelyn looks from Joy to Becky with a noticeable pause on Becky.

4. Okay, we can talk later-

Hey Mom.

JOY (CONT'D) BECKY Hi, Evelyn!

EVELYN
I only made enough food for three

people. I'll have to cook more.
Without waiting for a response she is already up the stairs.

JOY Nailed it.

4 INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM/LIVING ROOM - THAT MOMENT

Evelyn comes running up the stairs. Waymond is halfway through setting the table.

EVELYN
It's Joy. And she brought Becky.

WAYMOND 你記得嗎?我們跟Ms.Deirdre説過,

Joy爲了避免誤會，會來參加。所以 Becky 會去幫忙照顧公公。

WAYMOND
Remember? We told Ms. Deirdre

Joy would come to avoid any more miscommunications so Becky is going to help watch Gong Gong.

Before Evelyn can object, Becky and Joy are in the doorway.

BECKY Hi, Mr. Wang!

WAYMOND
Becky! Call me Waymond. Thank you

for coming. Sit down, eat!

Evelyn hands Joy a stack of bowls and beckons her into the kitchen. She sloppily strains the noodles before haphazardly dumping in soy sauce, chopped scallion, and sesame seeds.

EVELYN:

哎呀〜煮爛了! You know he doesn't have to stay.

JOY Who?

EVELYN Becky.

JOY
Becky is a "she" mom.

EVELYN
Aiyah. Overcooked... You know

he doesn't have to stay.

5.

EVELYN
You know I always mix the words.

"He", "she". In Chinese, there is one word, tā?, so simple. The way you two dress, I don't think I'm only one calling him: "he"... I mean her “him”... Anyways, our English is fine. And we have Google. You stay with Gong Gong, she can go. I'm sure she is very busy... with her full-time job.

Evelyn takes the entire pot back into the dining room. Joy follows, still holding empty bowls.

JOY
I honestly think it's weird, but

Becky wants to help Mom. She used to volunteer at the nursing home with her church or whatever.

BECKY
I always learn something when I

hang out with the elderly. Old people are very wise.

EVELYN
It's okay, we'll take Gong Gong to

the meeting. You and Becky stay and decorate.

WAYMOND (quietly to Evelyn)

爸到底知不知道我們被查稅了?

WAYMOND (quietly to Evelyn)

Does your father even know we are being audited?

BECKY
Where is he? When can I meet him?

Evelyn thinks about this, clearly uncomfortable.

4-1 A BUZZER goes off. Evelyn looks up at the security camera to see a customer is waiting downstairs at the counter.

EVELYN Eat. Fast.

She is out the door. Joy shakes her head, frustrated.

5 INT. APARTMENT - STAIRCASE - CONTINUOUS
Evelyn rushes down the stairs with Joy following behind.

6.

JOY Mom, wait.

EVELYN
"Wait. Wait." Today, no time for

wait.
They go through the door into the adjoining laundromat-

6 INT. LAUNDROMAT - CONTINUOUS

Evelyn weaves through laundry carts and customers. We now see Evelyn’s laundromat is as eclectic as she is: an old arcade cabinet, a TV playing an old musical, signs advertising wash & fold, alterations, and even singing lessons.

EVELYN
Joy, any other day, I beg that you

come and eat, or call me or anything. But today very busy.

Evelyn spots the water stain that Waymond attempted to paint over. It is clearly a different shade of white.

JOY
Mom, this is what it's always

like... Look, I know you haven't always liked Becky, but-

EVELYN
I like Becky. She is very nice.

JOY But...

EVELYN 你很 lucky 啦。。。

你媽對你交往女朋友的事，已�

�很

open 了。還是個老外。But Gong Gong, , I don’t think his heart could take that. Especially not after that flight. Coming all of the way from China just to die like that.

EVELYN
You are very lucky, your

mother is open to you dating a girl. A white girl. But Gong Gong, I don't think his heart could take that. Especially not after that flight. Coming all of the way from China just to die like that.

JOY
Mom... he's not going to die-

Joy follows Evelyn behind the front desk which is cramped with sewing machines, piles of laundry.

7.

A customer with a relatively big nose and a baby carriage is impatiently waiting.

EVELYN:

哇，他的鼻子很大哦 Welcome, how can I help you?

EVELYN:

Wow, what a big nose.

Welcome, how can I help you?

DEBBIE THE DOG MOM
Um, I wanted to see if my clothes

were ready? I called three times and-

EVELYN Ticket please.

The frustrated customer begins to rummage through her purse. Joy peeks into the carriage but is momentarily horrified to find a fat snorting French Bulldog instead of a baby.

DEBBIE THE DOG MOM Here it is-

Evelyn snatches it out of her hand and heads to search through piles of pick up laundry.

JOY
Mom, we've been together for three

years, don't you think Gong Gong would want to know-

EVELYN
Of course. Just not now. Let him

enjoy his party tonight.

JOY
You think Becky is going to make it

through the entire party without introducing herself to Gong Gong? Have you met Becky?

EVELYN (taken aback)

我以為她要上班。

EVELYN (taken aback)

I thought she had work.

JOY
She got someone to cover for her.

Is that... not okay?

RICK
Evelyyyyyn! My belle! Guess whose

20 got eaten by the machine again.

8.

9. It's RICK, a chipper older white regular, who comes in a

little too regularly.
Without missing a beat, Evelyn picks up a baseball bat and

uses the handle to THUMP a dented air vent in the ceiling.

EVELYN
Waymond! More customers need help!

RICK (inhaling deeply)

Evelyn! You know, my wife, God rest her soul, used to wear the same exact perfume...

EVELYN
I see you at the party tonight?

Rick playfully pulls out a party invitation from his pocket.

Used to his come-ons by now, Evelyn smiles in approval then spots Waymond and Becky.

EVELYN (CONT'D)

客人衣服在哪? 三十二號不見了。

EVELYN (CONT'D)

Did you move our customer’s clothes? 032 is missing!

WAYMOND
Sorry! It was too crowded. I moved

some upstairs. I think the clothes are happier there.

Becky looks to Joy who gives a mock thumbs up.

7 INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM/LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Evelyn and Joy re-enter the apartment. Hanging precariously from a shelf by the Security Cam TV are some clothes wrapped in plastic with two googly eyes and a sharpie drawn smile.

WAYMOND (O.S.) (shouting up the stairs)

See? They're happier here.

EVELYN:

不是説好把Google eyes

全部�

起來嗎?No More google eyes!

JOY
Could we talk about-

EVELYN:

I told you to take down all of the google eyes before tonight! No more google eyes!

Evelyn begins ripping the googly eyes off.

EVELYN 妳爸阿...过了这么多年

I still don't understand how his brain works-。

JOY
Can Becky come or-

EVELYN:

EVELYN
Stop changing subject. You know,

with our auditor, she's a terrible person. Targeting Chinese in the community. After two year of meetings, she puts a lien on our laundromat, and you know what your father does? He brings her cookies.

神�

�病! (crazy person!)

7-1 Meanwhile, in the security camera feed we see Waymond's head fall forward then lift up again. He looks around the store suddenly very alert. He beelines it towards a supply closet as if he's in a spy movie. He begins stuffing random objects into Evelyn's purse and his fanny pack.

EVELYN (CONT'D) Everyday here is a battle. I fight

I fight I fight for all of us. Everything I do, I try to make things simpler, easier,

但妳爸...(but your father...)

Waymond resumes his position by the coin machine and gives Rick an awkward smile before his head knocks forward again. Then he wakes up, a little disoriented, but continues hitting the coin machine... What?

EVELYN (CONT'D)

...有時候我在想,如果沒有我他怎麽 survive...

EVELYN (CONT'D) ... sometimes I wonder how he

would have survived without me...

Evelyn watches Waymond in the security monitor as he playfully mock-dances with the coin machine. Ignored again, as usual, Joy grits her teeth.

8 INT. LAUNDROMAT - CONTINUOUS

Evelyn enters as Waymond reaches behind the machine to unplug it, while laughing with Rick.

Your father... after all of this time. I still don't understand how his brain works-

10.

Joy returns as well and storms over to Becky.

WAYMOND
Evelyn you have to see Rick dance.

Look, he knows all of the moves!

8-1 He gestures to the TV still playing an old musical. As the two lovers on the screen dance to the orchestral music, Rick follows in time. Waymond claps.

WAYMOND (CONT'D) Did you know Rick is in the community theater? He wants

to be an actor like you did.妳也可以去試鏡啊.

WAYMOND (CONT'D) Did you know Rick is in the community theater? He wants

to be an actor like you did.

Maybe you can audition too.

Evelyn watches the screen as the lovers dance, sing, and circle one another. They move in for a kiss. A flash of longing comes across her face.

She snaps out of it and hands Waymond the Dog Mom's laundry.

EVELYN:

把這個給大鼻子

(to Rick)
How much you lose?

EVELYN:

Give this to the customer with the big nose.

(to Rick)
How much you lose?

RICK
Twenty. But I take tips.

Meanwhile Becky is trying to calm Joy down.

JOY (whispered to Becky)

I don’t know how to be any f***ing clearer. She can choose: You come to the party with me, Gong Gong is eternally ashamed, until he forgets it all happened at all, then he dies. OR we don’t come. Gong Gong is proud of Mom, until he forgets it all, then he still dies.

Evelyn gasps and shoots Joy a horrified look. Joy’s face falls.

JOY (CONT'D)
I didn’t mean that. It was a joke.

WAYMOND
That’s not a very funny joke.

11.

BECKY Hey, guys...

Becky is looking at something behind all of them. Joy sees it too. Evelyn angrily rummages through her purse.

JOY Mom.

Waymond sees it now and freezes. Evelyn pulls out a $10 roll of quarters and hands it to Rick.

RICK
This is $10. I thought you people

were very good at math-

WAYMOND Evelyn...

EVELYN
Next time I give you rest with

interest. You will need it. Actors are very poor-

JOY MOM!

Evelyn is startled by her volume. She finally turns:

We see the white wispy hair on the back of an old man's head. He is hunched over his cane wearing a white undershirt and slippers. This is GONG GONG. He stands by the stairwell with unfocused, wet eyes.

EVELYN 爸!你落嚟做咩啊?

(In Cantonese)

GONG GONG:

我既早餐呢?

(In Cantonese)

EVELYN:

Baba! How did you get down here?

GONG GONG:

Where is breakfast?

Evelyn looks at Waymond who obediently runs up stairs. Gong Gong watches Waymond go with a clear look of contempt.

EVELYN EVELYN:

爸，你認唔認得阿Joy?" (In Cantonese)

Baba, you remember Joy.

Joy awkwardly approaches. Becky stands behind her, excited.

12.

JOY:

公公，好。你..飛機...好不好?

GONG GONG:

哇，乜佢D唐話�

�來�

�差啊。

(In Cantonese

JOY:

Gong Gong, hello. How was your trip?

GONG GONG:

Wah, her Chinese is getting worse every time we talk.

Evelyn eyes Becky who is slowly approaching Gong Gong. Joy watches Evelyn watch Becky. Joy tests the water.

JOY 公公... 這是Becky.Becky

她是我的 How do you say it again... sh*t, I mean, crap.

她是我的

JOY
Gong Gong... this is Becky.

Becky is my... How do you say it again... sh*t, I mean, crap. She is my...

Gong Gong begins to stare at Becky. Evelyn interrupts.

EVELYN:

好朋友!Becky係佢好朋友。

(In Cantonese)

JOY Mom!

EVELYN
Good friend. Becky is a very

good friend.

What?

EVELYN:

Joy glares at Evelyn, about to unload everything she wants to say. But she hesitates. Becky smiles, unaware.

EVELYN (CONT'D) AH! Big nose!

Evelyn spots Debbie the Dog Mom leaving. She grabs the laundry and rushes out the door.

Joy grabs Becky and heads for the exit.

BECKY
Um, okay, it was nice to meet you.

Waymond comes back with noodles to see Gong Gong standing alone in the room. Gong Gong spits on the ground.

9 EXT. LAUNDROMAT - THAT MOMENT

Debbie the Dog Mom loads her dog into the car and shuts the door, as Evelyn arrives and hands her the laundry.

13.

DEBBIE THE DOG MOM Took you long enough.

She takes the coat and looks it over. Evelyn watches Joy and Becky head to their car.

EVELYN
Give us 5 stars? Please!

DEBBIE THE DOG MOM Are you serious?

EVELYN
(still watching Joy)

Also. We have a Chinese New Year party tonight. Open to all of my customers in the community. Please come and enjoy nice music and food. Let me get an invite- One moment, Joy wait!

She leaves the customer dumbfounded.
Joy has one foot in the car. Evelyn falters.

JOY What?

EVELYN
I just want to say... Try to eat

healthier. You're getting fat.

Becky looks from Joy to Evelyn. No response. Joy shakes her head and shuts the door.

Evelyn turns and walks back into the laundromat.

10  INT. APARTMENT - STAIRCASE - LATER 
Evelyn patiently stands with her father as he takes one small step at a time up the stairs. For the first time, we get a sense of how exhausted she is.

11  INT. APARTMENT - DINING ROOM/LIVING ROOM - LATER 
Back at her table, Evelyn tries to finish her taxes while Gong Gong loudly slurps on noodles beside her. 
Her eyes are drawn up to the wall in front of her. Family portraits, report cards, and children's drawings. She sees an old childhood photo of Joy smiling back at her.

14.

She is surrounded by the chaos of her apartment. Frozen, holding a receipt.

WAYMOND WAYMOND:

妳幹嘛?沒事吧

What are you doing? What is wrong?

We hear a DEEP RUMBLING sound. It's in her head, in her soul.

TITLE:
"PART 1: EVERYTHING"

12 INT. LAUNDRY RV

Evelyn drives their laundry delivery van, a converted RV filled with racks of clothing and bags of laundry. Waymond is carrying a Tupperware of cookies, looking out the window. Gong Gong sits in the back muttering in his sleep.

GONG GONG 走啊...快D走啊...日本仔打到來啦...

(In Cantonese)

Evelyn turns on the radio.

13 INT. IRS BUILDING LOBBY - LATER

GONG GONG:

We have to go.... We have to go. The Japanese are here....

Evelyn and Waymond walk in together pushing a half asleep Gong Gong in his wheelchair through security.

GONG GONG:

我哋係邊度啊?

(In Cantonese) EVELYN

哩個係...嗯...係我地既生意... (she looks to Waymond)

哩度....我地宜�

生意好好。 唸住攞多個牌開多閒。

GONG GONG:

Where are we?

EVELYN:

This is... um, our business is...

(she looks to Waymond)

so busy... we are applying for a new business license so we can expand.

(In Cantonese)
Waymond is shocked by her blatant lie.

GONG GONG (with disdain in

cantonese)

咩話。。。又多間?冇出色。

GONG GONG (with disdain)

Hmph. Another laundromat.

15.

WAYMOND:

人總有洗不完的衣服，能幫上忙的感覺

挺好的

WAYMOND:

People always have dirty clothes. It’s nice to feel needed-

Gong Gong’s eyes are closed. He’s trying to sleep. Crisis averted.

Waymond eyes an elderly couple in front of them. They are holding hands. Adorable.

The couple stops by the restrooms. She hands him her purse and they kiss before she enters. Double Adorable.

Waymond looks at Evelyn, in her own world.

WAYMOND (CONT'D)

我在想，等這個事情結束以後. 我們要不要一起去旅行?還是..

WAYMOND (CONT'D) I was thinking. Maybe after this is all done, we can go

on a trip or-

EVELYN
If I have to think about one more

thing today my head will explode.
Waymond grimaces and says nothing. They enter the elevator.

14 INT. IRS ELEVATOR - THAT MOMENT
As the doors close, Waymond's head snaps forward again.

He pulls out a compact umbrella from his oversized fanny pack and opens it up, covering the security camera in the corner.

EVELYN EVELYN What are you-

你幹嘛...?
You may be in grave danger. There

ALPHA WAYMOND (clear English)

is no time to explain. Hold this.

He shoves the umbrella into her hands, pulls two outdated bluetooth earpieces, places one in each of Evelyn's ears.

Gong Gong SNORES.

16.

唔好意思，係個女。

(In Cantonese)

I'm sorry. It's a girl.

ALPHA WAYMOND (CONT'D) Pay attention: when we leave this

elevator, you can either turn left towards your scheduled audit appointment, or you can turn right and go into the janitor's closet. Do not go into the janitor's closet.

EVELYN EVELYN:

神�

�病 Why would I go-

Don’t be stupid. Why would I go-

Not now.

ALPHA WAYMOND:

He shuffles through his bag and pulls out the divorce papers from earlier and, ignoring their contents, begins rapidly writing on the back.

ALPHA WAYMOND (CONT'D) Breathe in. You're going to feel a

slight pressure in your head.

He presses a button on his phone. A status bar labeled "ALTERNATE LIFE PATH SCAN" begins to go from 0-100%.

EVELYN
Always downloading these apps on my-

The bluetooth devices turn a bright burning red and her eyes shoot open wide. A bright light spills between the crack in the elevator doors. She breathes in-

14-1 DING! The camera pushes through the elevator doors and we see two legs extend from either side as men in medical scrubs and face masks beckon us in. We hear a baby CRY.

The camera turns to see the father- Gong Gong- who can't hide his disappointment.

DOCTOR (O.S.) DOCTOR (O.S.)

14-2 DING! Little Evelyn is chasing behind two young boys running with sticks in their hands.

GONG GONG 小蓮(xiao lian)

Evelyn!

GONG GONG:

17.

The camera/Evelyn looks up at a disapproving Gong Gong and then down at her own two sticks. The two boys run ahead.

14-3 DING! Little Evelyn is sketching the back of a boy's head in class. It's a young Waymond.

WAYMOND WAYMOND:

嘿，畫的漂亮!

Hey that’s pretty good.

She hides the drawing.
14-4 DING! Evelyn on the porch beside Waymond now in his 20s.

WAYMOND (CONT'D) WAYMOND (CONT'D)

將來一定好的。我們可以自己養活自己
，跟我走吧。 way. Please, come with me.

14 BACK IN THE ELEVATOR: Evelyn watches, overwhelmed.

14-5 DING! Evelyn looks out a taxi window at her crying mother and through the window, we see Gong Gong's stoic stare.

GONG GONG (V.O.CANTONESE)

如果你真係跟哩個傻仔走，

你以後都唔洗翻來啦!

我就�

沒生過你!

GONG GONG (V.O. CANTONESE)

If you abandon this family for that silly boy, then we will abandon you.

14-6  DING! Evelyn kicks open the door of their empty apartment. It's small, but it will do.

14-7  They turn on the lights on an old run down laundromat.

14-8  DING! Evelyn stares at laundry tumbling like a tiny black hole.

EVELYN (O.S.) (phone voicemail in

cantonese)

啊爸，又係我。你嬲完未啊?等緊你電

話!

EVELYN (O.S.) (phone voicemail in

cantonese)

Ba..It’s me again, wondering when you’ll call back...

14-9  DING! Evelyn sits at the front desk, customers zip in and out in a time-lapse. She has the sudden urge to vomit.

14-10  DING! Evelyn finishes throwing up in the sink, holding her belly, she looks up at Waymond. Something ignites in her.

14-11  DING! Pregnant Evelyn happily wallpapers the laundromat.

14-12  DING! Evelyn sings baby Joy to sleep.

Can’t you see how wonderful

it’ll be? We can make our own

18.

14-13  DING! Evelyn chases little Joy around the laundromat with a broomstick.

14-14  DING! Teen Joy slams the front door in Evelyn's face.

14-15  DING! Evelyn and Joy, parked on the side of the road. A

brooding tension. VOICEMAIL (O.S.)

黃太，麻煩你復翻個電話俾我地，關於 你爸爸...(In Cantonese)

VOICEMAIL (O.S.)

Mrs. Wang? We’re calling about your Father...

DING! Evelyn is now standing outside of her laundromat with a few suitcases and Gong Gong sitting in a wheelchair, looking clearly disappointed.

14-17/18/D1I9NG! Evelyn sorts tax receipts earlier today! DING! Joy shuts the car door on Evelyn. DING! Waymond sighs as they enter the elevator DING! The elevator door closes-

14 Evelyn blinks. She is back. She exhales, shell shocked. Waymond shoves the papers he was writing on into her hands.

ALPHA WAYMOND
The moment you are situated in your

meeting, follow these instructions, but remember: no one can know. Don't even talk to me about this because I won't remember.

EVELYN But I-

He shushes her and places a hand gently on her cheek. Evelyn shrivels under the intimacy.

His phone BEEPS. He closes the umbrella, shoves everything into his bag, and strikes a natural pose.

ALPHA WAYMOND (side of mouth)

Talk to you soon. His head goes limp.

DING. The elevator door opens. Waymond's head lifts up and he looks around disoriented.

WAYMOND WAYMOND:

哇!電梯好快!

Wow...what a fast elevator...

19.

14-20 He walks out pushing a snoring Gong Gong, leaving Evelyn grasping for understanding.

As she exits, her gaze lingers on the janitor closet to her right.

15 INT. IRS 10TH FLOOR CUBICLE - MOMENTS LATER

The back of the crumpled instructions lay in Evelyn's hands under a desk.

The first line reads: "1. Switch shoes to the wrong feet."

DEIRDRE (O.S.)
Mrs. Wang, are you with us right

now?
Evelyn hides the instructions in her lap and looks up.

DEIRDRE ATKINS, a frumpy woman in a cheap suit, is poking at a calculator with one hand and squeezing a hand grip strengthener in the other.

EVELYN
Of course. I am here. Just

thinking.

Clearly frustrated, Deirdre takes a big bite from one of Waymond’s cookies and chases it with a protein shake, then points at a receipt with a big red sticky note on it.

DEIRDRE
I asked if you could explain this?

EVELYN
It is a receipt. My receipt.

(to Waymond)

我們在説什麽?

GONG GONG:

净係識係度發白日夢... (In Cantonese)

EVELYN
It is a receipt. My receipt.

(to Waymond)

What are we talking about?

GONG GONG:

God, always daydreaming...

Gong Gong doesn’t understand but can sense the meeting’s going poorly.

20.

DEIRDRE
I was just hoping you could

enlighten me on how, as a laundromat owner, a karaoke machine would constitute a business expense?

EVELYN I am a singer.

What?

DEIRDRE:

WAYMOND
It’s true. She has a beautiful

voice.
(to Evelyn)

Sing a song for her.
Deirdre scoffs and shuffles through a pile of

DEIRDRE
That won’t be necessary. But I will

need a separate Schedule C for each of these "businesses", because based on what you’re trying to deduct, it looks like you’re also a novelist, a chef, a-

EVELYN
But last time, you told me-

DEIRDRE
Up, up, up... let me finish. A

teacher, a singing coach, a...

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