I Smile Back Page #11

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LANEY:

And I’ll have a small scoop of

chocolate. Kid size.

TEENAGER:

We don’t do kid size for adults.

Laney’s instinct is to get irritated. She calms herself.

LANEY:

I’ll pay for a regular scoop - just

make it in a kid cup.

TEENAGER:

I can’t do that either. I’d have

to charge you for the cup size I

give you.

LANEY:

(deep breath)

Fine. I’ll have a small.

BRUCE:

I’ll have a scoop of vanilla on a

sugar cone.

The teenager gives them their orders.

TEENAGER:

And the little man?

Laney waits for Eli to make his choice but Eli doesn’t say

anything. His eyes start contorting furiously.

BRUCE:

What do you want Eli? Rocky Road?

No answer.

LANEY:

Which one Eli? E? What are you

doing?

ELI:

The lines. Look at the ice cream

mom. See how the edges of the

containers don’t connect to each

other? And the floor is crooked? If

I do this with my eyes

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Eli rolls his eyes up into his head, holds them there, blinks

hard.

ELI (CONT’D)

It makes them all straight and I

can figure everything out.

Laney takes a deep breath. She looks to Bruce for help. Bruce

gets down on his knees.

BRUCE:

You know Buddy, straightening out

all the uneven lines in the world

is a big job. Let’s just pick a

good flavor for now.

62A INT. LANEY’S BATHROOM - MORNING 62A

Laney finishes brushing her teeth, spits, rinses her

toothbrush. She opens the medicine cabinet, puts her

toothbrush away and takes out a bottle of medication. She

unscrews the cap and taps a pill into the palm of her hand,

puts it in her mouth and draws some water out of the faucet

to wash it down. Laney closes the medicine cabinet, glances

at herself in the mirror. She fixes her hair, tilts her head.

She is content with what she sees.

63 INT. TOY STORE - DAY 63

Laney and Eli are perusing the super-hero aisle of a toy

store. Eli holds a plastic baggy filled with crumpled bills

and coins.

ELI:

Mom! Look at this one! It’s so

cool.

LANEY:

Really cool.

Just then Donny and Henry come around the corner. Donny has

that split second where one decides if they pretend not to

see you, or face the music. In that same second, Henry spots

Eli. Decision made.

Laney and Donny are both taken off guard.

HENRY:

Eli!

ELI:

Hey Henry!

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DONNY:

Look who’s here!

LANEY:

Hey Donny. Hey Henry.

Donny and Laney give each other a weak hug.

DONNY:

Good to see you back.

LANEY:

Thanks. Good to be back.

Henry and Eli try to solve the superhero dilemma.

HENRY:

Which one are you getting?

ELI:

I have to see what I can afford. I

have fourteen dollars and eighty-

two cents.

HENRY:

Wow. That’s a lot.

ELI:

I guess so.

DONNY:

I’d pick a superhero if I were you

Eli. Personally, I always wanted to

be the kind of superhero that

swoops down, rescues the woman from

the burning building and flies her

to safety.

This is clearly for Laney’s benefit.

HENRY:

So you can’t be Batman cuz he

doesn’t fly.

ELI:

And Spiderman doesn’t really fly,

he swings.

DONNY:

What do you guys think? What kind

of superhero should I be? Maybe

Superman? I’d be a good Superman,

heh?

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Behind Donny, Susan comes walking down the aisle carrying an

infant seat. She’s very noticeably pregnant. Laney can’t

believe her eyes.

LANEY:

Looks like you’re already a

superhero Donny.

Susan approaches Laney with a warm smile and a hug.

SUSAN:

Laney! So good to see you! I’ve

missed you!

LANEY:

I had no idea you were pregnant!

You’re glowing!

SUSAN:

Oh bullshit. I look like sh*t and I

feel like sh*t. But I’m almost

halfway through, thankfully.

Donny is uncomfortable, Laney does some math in her head.

LANEY:

That’s great. Really great you two.

Congratulations.

SUSAN:

Hey- did you get my message? About

my birthday party?

LANEY:

Yes! I’m so sorry. I did, I’ve just

been so busy trying to catch up on

things-

SUSAN:

It’s fine! I just wanted to make

sure you know it’s no pressure.

Really. I totally understand if

you’d rather skip it.

LANEY:

No, we’re looking forward to it.

Eli interrupts, thrilled with his choice.

ELI:

Can I get this one mom?

LANEY:

Sure.

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DONNY:

Good choice my man.

Laney puts her arm around Eli’s shoulder.

LANEY:

We have to get going E.

(to Donny and Susan)

See you next weekend?

DONNY SHERYL:

See you soon. Can’t wait!

64 INT. JANEY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 64

It’s bedtime. Janey’s wearing an adorable nightgown. Janey

snuggles beneath the covers.

JANEY:

I have a wish.

LANEY:

What’s your wish?

JANEY:

I can’t tell it to you.

LANEY:

Why?

JANEY:

Because it won’t come true.

LANEY:

Who told you that?

JANEY:

I don’t remember.

LANEY:

Well, whoever told you that must

not know about the ‘Mommy Clause.’

JANEY:

The ‘Mommy Clause?’

LANEY:

You can always tell your mommy a

wish.

JANEY:

Good.

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Janey throws her arms around Laney’s shoulders.

JANEY (CONT’D)

I wish you would love me forever.

LANEY:

You never have to worry about that,

baby. I’ll always love you.

JANEY:

Forever?

LANEY:

Forever. Now close you’re eyes,

it’s bedtime.

JANEY:

Are you going somewhere?

LANEY:

I told you Honey- Mommy and Daddy

are going to a birthday party.

JANEY:

No! Don’t go! I don’t want you to

leave!

Janey goes from 0 to 60 in a second. A full blown tantrum

ensues.

LANEY:

Janey we’re just going for a few

hours! I’ll be here when you wake

up in the morning!

JANEY:

No! No! Don’t leave me! Mommy! Stay

here!

Bruce has obviously heard the screaming and he appears in the

doorway wearing a suit. Janey throws her arms around Laney as

if she can stop her- all the while screaming and crying.

Laney looks to Bruce for help, Bruce let’s out a deep sigh of

frustration.

JANEY (CONT’D)

You can’t leave me mommy!

65 INT. PRIVATE PARTY ROOM - NIGHT - SAME 65

Bruce and Laney are mid slow-dance on the dance floor but

Laney is a million miles away.

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BRUCE:

Hey. You okay?

Laney just shakes her head, she’s seems overwhelmed with

sadness. A tear streams down her cheek.

BRUCE (CONT’D)

It’s just separation anxiety Lane.

All kids do that.

LANEY:

I know-

They dance for a moment longer.

LANEY (CONT’D)

I’m going to go call them okay?

Bruce nods.

BRUCE:

Of course. I’ll be at the table.

66 OMITTED 66

67 EXT. OUTSIDE RESTAURANT - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS 67

Laney reaches into her bag and pulls out a cigarette. When

she looks up Donny is facing her. He’s obviously followed her

out of the restaurant.

DONNY:

The way you move out there on the

dance floor –if I were Bruce I'd

get you your own pole.

Laney puts the cigarette in her mouth.

DONNY (CONT’D)

Light?

Donny pulls a lighter out of his jacket pocket and lights her

cigarette.

DONNY (CONT’D)

You look great.

LANEY:

Do I?

Pink (03/02/2014) 6767.

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