I Smile Back Page #8

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BRUCE (V.O.)

It’s only been a week Lane. Just

focus on getting better. The kids

need you, I need you.

Janey can be heard calling, “Daddy!” in the background.

BRUCE (V.O.)

I’m sorry, Lane. I gotta go.

LANEY:

Wait, can I say good night?

A beat.

BRUCE (V.O.)

I don’t want to upset them before

bed. We’ll see you at family

visit.

Pink (03/02/2014) 4242.

Janey calls for “Daddy!” again.

BRUCE:

I’m sorry, Laney. I have to go. I

love you. We all love you and miss

you here.

LANEY:

I love you too.

Laney hangs up the phone and breaks down.

49 EXT. LODGE - EVENING 49

It’s cold out but Laney doesn’t seem to mind it. She sits

alone on the porch and contemplates the starlit sky. Zack

joins her.

ZACK:

I understand if you have a death

wish but it sucks when you only get

pneumonia and can’t take the good

meds.

Zack takes his jacket off and wraps it around Laney’s

shoulders. He sits down next to her, hands her a cigarette,

lights it. Lights his own.

LANEY:

Thanks.

They sit for a moment staring at the sky until Laney,

fighting tears, breaks the silence. Laney bites a cuticle.

Zack sees her wedding band.

ZACK:

How long have you been married?

LANEY:

Forever.

ZACK:

Lucky guy.

Laney is flattered but restrains herself.

LANEY:

Not sure he’d agree with that. But

thanks. (pause) How f***ing great

would a shot of tequila be right

now?

Pink (03/02/2014) 4343.

ZACK:

With a little lime.

LANEY:

And salt.

Zack holds out his cigarette to hers, they bump them

together.

ZACK:

Cheers.

LANEY:

Cheers.

50 INT. BLUE HILL CAFETERIA - DAY 50

It’s visiting day. The room is filled with VISITORS. Zack

sits close to a beautiful, wholesome, blond. He tucks a lock

of hair behind her ear. Laney watches the exchange.

Janey and Eli are in line for dessert. Bruce and Laney are

sitting at a table. Some time has passed. Laney looks much

better, clear eyed. Bruce pushes his food around with his

fork.

BRUCE:

You look great. You feeling better?

LANEY:

I am.

BRUCE:

Do you feel like you’re making

progress?

LANEY:

Why don’t you just say what you’re

thinking?

BRUCE:

Why are you so angry?

LANEY:

I’m not angry.

Laney glances at Eli and Janey at the dessert table.

LANEY (CONT’D)

I’m not. I’m not angry. I’m scared

Bruce. I’m scared of everything.

Pink (03/02/2014) 4444.

BRUCE:

Like what? What are you scared of?

LANEY:

Everything. I know you think that

if I just take my medication that

everything will go back to the way

it was but it’s bigger than that.

Laney glances back at Eli.

LANEY (CONT’D)

What’s Eli doing with his eyes?

We see Eli twitch.

LANEY (CONT’D)

When did he start doing that?

Bruce doesn’t say anything.

LANEY (CONT’D)

Is he doing that in school?

BRUCE:

I don’t know. No one’s called me

about it.

LANEY:

You can’t wait for someone to call

you. What if kids are making fun of

him? You have to call his teacher

and find out what’s happening.

The both watch Eli for a moment, still twitching.

LANEY (CONT’D)

Promise me you’ll call his teacher.

Bruce puts his hand on top of hers.

BRUCE:

I promise Lane. I’ll make sure

he’s okay.

Laney takes a breath and pulls her hands away.

LANEY:

I need to tell you something Bruce.

I need to tell you some things,

some really f***ing terrible things

I did when I wasn’t thinking

clearly but I need you to know so

I... so we can start fresh.

Pink (03/02/2014) 4545.

BRUCE:

Don’t do this now Laney. You’ve got

a lot on your mind.

LANEY:

No this is important. I need to do

this-

Bruce looks over at the kids piling their plates high with

brownies.

BRUCE:

Come on guys, that’s enough. Come

sit down.

The kids return, all smiles.

JANEY:

They have chocolate cake and

brownies daddy! I like it here!

Bruce pulls Janey onto his lap, a human shield. Laney fights

the tears and musters a fake smile for Janey. Bruce meets

Laney’s eyes, but he has to look away.

EXT. BLUE HILL PARKING LOT - DAY - SAME

Laney is holding Eli’s hand as they walk down a path toward

the parking lot. (Eli has his huge knapsack on his back.)

Bruce and Janey are walking ahead of them.

ELI:

I brought you something.

As he looks at her he rolls his eyes back in his head,

twitches them, squeezes them open and shut, rolls them again.

He doesn’t seem to notice that a ferocious tick has taken

over his eyeballs. Bruce and Laney look at each other, there

are no words. Bruce shakes his head and shrugs, unlocks the

door.

Eli drops his knapsack to the ground, opens it and begins

digging.

ELI (CONT’D)

I made this for you.

He hands her a hard object wrapped in newspaper. It says

“MOM” in purple crayon. Laney unwraps the gift. It is

perhaps the most beautiful thing she has ever seen.

LANEY:

You made me a dream catcher?

Pink (03/02/2014) 46.

Eli, still eye twitching.

ELI:

Yep. No more bad dreams.

LANEY:

It’s beautiful E. Thank you.

The kids get in the car. She helps buckle them in. Gives

them each a kiss goodbye. Bruce comes around to her side of

the car to say goodbye. Laney has tears in her eyes.

LANEY (CONT’D)

Promise me you’ll call the school

psychologist or Eli’s teacher first

thing in the morning.

Bruce puts his hands on her shoulders.

BRUCE:

Focus on getting better Lane. So

you can come home. We need you.

He kisses her.

BRUCE (CONT’D)

I need you.

They get in the car. Laney stands in the parking lot and

waves as she watches them drive away. In the background we

see a WOMAN (60’s) hugging two YOUNG MEN goodbye.

As both cars are pulling out of the parking lot we see Laney

and the woman both standing alone, 20 feet away from each

other, Laney with the dream catcher in her hand. They are the

same. No words are exchanged. Yet there is an implicit

understanding between them: if only they could be in those

cars. If only it was as simple as driving away.

52 EXT. HOSPITAL PATH - DAY 52

Laney is jogging along the path. Zack runs up beside her.

ZACK:

Hey!

LANEY:

Hey.

ZACK:

You’ve been avoiding me for a while

now and I’m starting to take it

personally.

(MORE)

Pink (03/02/2014) 47.

ZACK (CONT'D)

Though it’s hard to imagine I could

ever do anything wrong.

LANEY:

I’m not avoiding you.

Laney doesn’t look at Zack.

LANEY (CONT’D)

I took up reading.

ZACK:

Reading is good.

(Pause)

Are you pissed at me or something?

LANEY:

Why would I be pissed at you?

Laney keeps running, Zack stops, out of breath.

ZACK:

Can you just stop for a minute?

Laney stops, turns around. They’re both breathing heavily.

ZACK (CONT’D)

I don’t know you just seem pissed.

Everything okay? Kids okay?

LANEY:

Everything’s fine. Good actually.

I’ve been working really hard in

therapy. Finally getting somewhere.

What about you? How’s your

girlfriend?

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