I Smile Back Page #10

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Pink (03/02/2014) 5454.

JANEY:

Mommy!

LANEY:

It’s okay Muffin, the power just

went out. It’ll be back soon. Bruce

can you find some candles?

Bruce retrieves a handful of candles from a kitchen drawer.

He lights one, we can see a little. Laney helps him to light

more. Janey is quietly crying. In a matter of seconds the

kitchen is lit up, candles all around. Candlelight and noses

full of frosting.

BRUCE:

(to Janey)

See? Look at that!

LANEY:

(to Janey)

Better?

JANEY:

Sort of.

BRUCE:

Here, here’s one just for you.

Bruce puts a candle in the cake right next to Janey who is

still lightly sobbing.

BRUCE (CONT’D)

You ready?

JANEY:

Yes.

Bruce lights the candle, which lights up Janey’s face. Her

crying fades.

BRUCE:

(begins to sing softly)

This little light of mine, I’m

gonna let it shine. This little

light of mine I’m gonna let it

shine.

Laney cautiously joins in.

LANEY AND BRUCE:

This little light of mine, I’m

gonna let it shine, let it shine

let it shine let it shine.

Pink (03/02/2014) 55.

Bruce takes Laney’s hand, this is a very happy and romantic

scene. He begins to dance with her, both with frosted noses

and somewhat cautious. Eli can’t help but watch, hints of a

smile on his face. Janey is smiling ear to ear. She joins in

singing.

BRUCE, LANEY AND JANEY

Down in my heart, I’m gonna let it

shine. Down in my heart, I’m gonna

let it shine.

Bruce takes Janey’s hand and pulls her off the bar stool. He

starts to dance with her. She smiles.

Laney turns to Eli, waves him over. He resists, hands in

pockets. She waves him over again. This time he comes.

BRUCE, LANEY AND JANEY (CONT’D)

Down in my heart, I’m gonna let it

shine, let it shine, let it shine

let it shine.

Now they are all dancing in the kitchen by candlelight. Laney

takes a swipe of icing off her nose and puts it on Eli’s.

They are all laughing. Bruce puts his arm around Laney, licks

her nose playfully, they continue to dance.

PULL BACK:
The camera begins to pull back revealing the

glowing kitchen, the family is dancing, their voices fade.

58 EXT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY 58

Laney is standing in the hallway just outside the elementary

school guidance councilor’s office. She is wearing her parent

badge around her neck, Janey next to her is wearing her

tiara. Eli and Bruce are playing with his iPhone. A mom is

passing through the hallway.

LANEY:

Hey Jessica!

Jessica gives Laney a dismissive smile and wave, carries on

down the hall. Laney is slightly dejected, Bruce sees the

exchange.

BRUCE:

Ignore it.

MR. ODESKY, the guidance councilor, open’s his office door.

MR. ODESKY

Come on in.

(to Eli and Janey)

(MORE)

Pink (03/02/2014) 56.

MR. ODESKY (CONT'D)

I’m going to speak to your mom and

dad for a few minutes. Can you wait

right here?

ELI AND JANEY:

Okay.

59 INT. MR. ODESKY’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 59

Mr. Odesky motions for Laney and Bruce to sit.

MR. ODESKY

Nice to meet you both.

Mr. Odesky takes his chair behind his desk and motions to the

empty chairs across from him.

MR. ODESKY (CONT’D)

Please, take a seat.

Mr. Odesky has a file on his desk which he seems to be

familiar with.

MR. ODESKY (CONT’D)

How’s the re-entry going?

BRUCE:

A little choppy.

LANEY:

He hates me.

BRUCE:

He doesn’t hate you.

LANEY:

He hasn’t forgiven me yet.

MR. ODESKY

You need to give him time. Build

back his trust. He’s scared you’re

going to leave again. That’s a

rational fear.

A beat.

MR. ODESKY (CONT’D)

I’m glad you called me Mr. Brooks.

I think we need to be proactive in

this situation. Mrs. Zeldis is

concerned about Eli’s recent

behavior in class.

(MORE)

Pink (03/02/2014)

MR. ODESKY (CONT’D)

One of the issue’s is that he’s

being disruptive.

BRUCE:

How so?

MR. ODESKY

He interrupts Mrs. Zeldis in the

middle of her lessons- asks

questions he knows the answers to.

It’s a way to get attention. She’s

working on that. But what concerns

me more are his rituals. The eye

blinking, the constant pencil

sharpening. Recently he’s started a

pattern with tapping his feet.

Bruce and Laney look at each other.

MR. ODESKY (CONT’D)

These behaviors suggest anxiety;

the rituals are a way for Eli to

stay in control.

Laney looks uncomfortable.

MR. ODESKY (CONT’D)

It’s not unusual but it becomes a

problem when the rituals get in the

way of functioning. When they

become all consuming.

BRUCE:

So what do we do?

MR. ODESKY

In my opinion Eli needs to see a

specialist. Perhaps start with

Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Or

perhaps he can even benefit from

medication.

BRUCE:

Medication?

LANEY:

(to Bruce)

This is my fault. He has my genes.

BRUCE:

Stop it.

57.

Pink (03/02/2014) 5858.

LANEY:

(under her breath)

He never had a chance.

60 INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY - SAME 60

Eli is reading “The Three Little Pigs” to Janey.

ELI:

And this little piggy went weeeeee

weeeeee weeeee all the way home.

He tickles her. Laney and Bruce exit office and are met with

their laughter. A relief.

BRUCE:

Anyone here in the mood for some

ice cream!?

ELI AND JANEY:

Me!

Laney smiles. She takes Eli’s hand, Bruce and Janey follow.

61 EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY - CONTINUOUS 61

Bruce, Laney, Eli and Janey are walking to the car. Laney and

Eli still holding hands.

ELI:

Did you go to rehab because you’re

a drug addict?

Laney looks to Bruce. Bruce shakes his head. He’s irritated.

LANEY:

No. Of course not. Where did you

get that idea?

ELI:

John Frye said you’re a drug addict

and that’s why you went to rehab.

JANEY:

Drugs are bad mommy.

BRUCE:

That’s not why she was there Eli.

John Frye is just trying to get

your goat.

Pink (03/02/2014) 5959.

JANEY:

Eli doesn’t have a goat.

ELI:

Then why were you there?

Laney stops walking and turns to Eli. She bends down on her

knee and puts her hand on his back, bringing him closer to

her. His eyes start twitching.

LANEY:

I was having some troubles in my

mind. And because of those troubles

I started doing some things that I

shouldn’t have been doing.

ELI:

Then why did you do them?

LANEY:

Well, it’s complicated.

Laney cups her hands gently around his eyes as if to calm

them and stop the twitching.

LANEY (CONT’D)

But I saw a doctor who was very

smart and he helped me make sense

of my troubles. And now I feel a

lot better.

ELI:

Did Mr. Odesky tell you to send me

to rehab too?

Laney hugs him tight. Bruce looks away.

62 INT. ICE CREAM PARLOUR - DAY - SAME 62

All four are looking in the window at the flavors of ice

cream.

ELI:

What are you getting mom?

LANEY:

I don’t know yet.

There is a pimply teenager behind the counter.

TEENAGER:

What’s it gonna be?

Pink (03/02/2014) 6060.

JANEY:

I want the pink one please.

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