I Smile Back Page #6

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35 INT. MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS 35

Bruce is fast asleep. Laney’s trying to make her way to his

side of the bed. She feels for him in the dark but she's too

disoriented.

LANEY:

Bruce.

She stumbles into the night stand and sits on the floor at

the edge of the bed. She pulls on the bedspread.

LANEY (CONT’D)

Help.

Bruce doesn’t hear her. She pulls on the bedspread and says

it again. A bit louder this time.

LANEY (CONT’D)

Help.

Bruce sits up, flips on the light, adjusts his eyes, looks

for Laney. The camera freezes on Laney’s face. Her hair is a

mess. Mascara runs down her cheeks. She looks like a

junkie. She is a junkie.

BRUCE (O.S.)

Jesus Laney!

36 EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY 36

A newer model sedan makes it’s way down a rural road.

Pink (03/02/2014) 3030.

37 INT./EXT. GAS STATION - DAY - CONTINUOUS 37

Laney sucks on a lollipop and stares out the window as Bruce

finishes pumping gas. Silence, until...Bruce enters the car.

BRUCE:

When did you start hating me Lane?

LANEY:

I don’t hate you Bruce.

BRUCE:

Then why did you stop taking the

meds?

LANEY:

They make me fat.

BRUCE:

Fat?

LANEY:

Yeah. I was gaining weight.

Bruce’s anger rises.

BRUCE:

That’s bullshit.

LANEY:

I was.

BRUCE:

So you’d rather be insane?

LANEY:

That’s a little melodramatic don’t

you think?

BRUCE:

I think it’s pretty accurate.

LANEY:

Whatever.

BRUCE:

Not whatever. We’ve been through

this. You have an illness. It’s

your responsibility to take your

meds and keep your head on

straight. If not for me then for

the kids.

A beat.

Pink (03/02/2014) 3131.

BRUCE (CONT’D)

Do you not understand that

everything I do is for you and the

kids. All I want is for you to be

happy like you used to be. Don’t

you want to be happy?

LANEY:

Happy like when? Happy like I was

in college?

BRUCE:

Yes!

LANEY:

I was stoned every second of every

day.

BRUCE:

What kind of bullshit answer is

that? I used to get stoned too but

then I grew up.

Laney looks out the window.

LANEY:

I know. Man of the Year. Highest

producer in company.

BRUCE:

I’ll tell you what’s wrong with you

Laney, you’re a spoiled f***ing

c*nt. That’s what’s wrong with you.

Laney smiles - if only to the glass on the window. He finally

gets it.

LANEY:

That’s true Bruce. That’s what I’m

gonna work on while I’m gone. If I

de-c*nt myself will you let me come

back?

BRUCE:

I see what you’re trying to do.

You’re trying to make me look like

the a**hole. Like I’m kicking you

out of the house instead of trying

to get you help.

Bruce calms himself down.

Pink (03/02/2014) 3232.

BRUCE (CONT’D)

And you know that’s not true. But

for some reason, for some f***ed-up

reason, no matter how many times

you disappoint me I still love you.

After a few moments of silence...

LANEY:

And I’m the crazy one?!

Bruce looks at her, incredulous, but they can’t help but

laugh. It’s a nice moment.

38 EXT. BLUE HILL HOSPITAL - DAY - SAME 38

Bruce’s car pulls into the circular drive of BLUE HILL

HOSPITAL. Front and center is a sign that says “BLUE HILL

HOSPITAL Managing Mental Health Since 1954”. A no nonsense

NURSE PAULINE (early 50’s) is waiting for Laney by the

hospital entrance. It suddenly dawns on Laney that she’s

entering rehab. Bruce pulls up to the sign that says “new

patients”. Laney looks at the hospital, at Pauline and

finally at Bruce.

LANEY:

I don’t think I can do this.

Bruce has tears in his eyes. This is very hard for him.

BRUCE:

Just a month Lane. You’ll be home

before you know it.

Pauline opens the car door.

PAULINE:

You must be Laney.

Laney hesitates. She looks one last time at Bruce. He is

resolute.

Pauline helps Laney out of the car and escorts her into the

building. Bruce, head in hands, gathers himself, turns on

the engine and drives away.

39 INT. DETOX - DAY - SAME 39

The detox room has nothing in it but a bed. The nurse

gestures towards Laney’s bag.

Pink (03/02/2014) 3333.

NURSE PAULINE:

Empty your bag please.

Nurse Pauline isn’t mean, in fact she’s pleasant. Laney dumps

her belongings onto the mattress. Clothes and personal

items, red lollipops scattered among it all. Nurse Pauline

takes her make-up bag, her phone, her blow dryer, two belts,

she inspects a winter scarf before she takes it, takes her

shoelaces out of her sneakers. She opens a pocket inside

Laney’s bag and pulls out two bottles of prescriptions and a

pack of cigarettes. She tosses the cigarettes back down on

the bed.

NURSE PAULINE (CONT’D)

You can keep these, you’ll get the

rest back when you leave.

LANEY:

But I need my medication.

Nurse Pauline checks Laney’s prescription.

NURSE PAULINE:

The Ambien has to go. And the

Xanax. Sorry, Honey. For now you

just get to sit back and enjoy the

ride.

Nurse Pauline turns Laney’s bag inside and out to make sure

she doesn’t miss any secret hiding spots.

NURSE PAULINE (CONT’D)

I’ll need your bra too Honey.

LANEY:

Jesus

The nurse puts Laney’s bag on her shoulder.

NURSE PAULINE:

Another nurse will be in soon to

take your blood and your vitals.

You can spend as much time as you

like in here or you can go to the

lounge, there’s coffee, tea and TV.

I suggest you try to sleep and

drink as much water as you can.

We’ll check on you through the

night just to make sure

everything’s okay. Any questions?

LANEY:

When can I call my husband?

Pink (03/02/2014) 3434.

NURSE PAULINE:

We’ll give him regular updates.

The nurse gives her a sympathetic look. She’s done this a

million times but it’s never easy, she knows the pain that’s

about to follow.

NURSE PAULINE (CONT’D)

You’ll do great. I’ll check on you

later.

40 INT. BLUE HILL - LANEY’S ROOM - DAY 40

A series of shots of Laney in her room, laying on her bed,

rolling over, sweating, itching. She ventures into the

lounge.

41 INT. BLUE HILL LOUNGE - CONTINUOUS 41

Laney tries to watch TV, takes in her surroundings. A HEAVY

SET MAN on a nearby vinyl couch is watching TV with no

emotion. A YOUNG WOMAN flips through a magazine though she

doesn’t seem to really pay attention to its contents. Laney

eyes both of them, back and forth, paying close attention to

their disconnection and lifelessness. Laney doesn’t belong

here, or does she? She paces, looks out the window,

vacillates between frantic and resigned. She makes a run for

the bathroom.

42 INT. BLUE HILL - HALLWAY BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS 42

She leans over the toilet, dry heaves, splashes water on her

face.

43 INT. BLUE HILL LOUNGE - DAY - SAME 43

Back in the lounge she spots Nurse Pauline. Laney rushes

over to her in a panic.

LANEY:

I really need to call my husband.

This is a mistake, this isn’t the

kind of place I should be in.

NURSE PAULINE:

Your doctor will help you with that

when you see him hon.

Pink (03/02/2014) 3535.

LANEY:

(angry)

Then I want to see him now! I need

to see the doctor!

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