I Smile Back Page #9

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ZACK:

My girlfriend?

LANEY:

The girl who comes on visiting day.

The blond.

ZACK:

Sienna? Sienna is good.

LANEY:

That’s great. Happy to hear that.

Zack looks at her with grave curiosity. A charming smile

spreads across his face.

Pink (03/02/2014) 4848.

ZACK:

You’re jealous? That’s what this is

about?

Laney is embarrassed. For the first time we see her

vulnerable.

ZACK (CONT’D)

I don’t mean to be the messenger of

irony or anything but you’re

married. So unless you’re not

telling me something...

LANEY:

I know, you’re right. Maybe I am

jealous.

Zack kisses her, she gives in for a moment before she pushes

him away.

ZACK:

Whoa. I’m kinda getting mixed

signals here.

LANEY:

I’m sorry. God. I’m really sorry.

Zack looks away, uncomfortable. Laney places a hand on his

cheek and forces him to look at her.

This is Laney. Vulnerable. Sweet. Spoiled. Lovely.

LANEY (CONT’D)

Zack- listen to me. I’ve made some

really stupid decisions in my life.

And as much as I’d love to be with

you it would just be one more bad

choice. I need to remember how to

be a friend. You know? I want to be

a friend to you. A good friend. And

I need to remember how to be a good

wife and mother. How to just- be a

real person. I’ve spent so much

time running away from my problems

because I didn’t want to feel any

pain and I’ve f***ed up everything

in my life. Good things.

ZACK:

I hear that. And you are a real

person Laney. A great person.

Pink (03/02/2014) 4949.

LANEY:

Thank you. I’m working on it. I’ve

gotta try. I deserve to try. My

kids deserve that.

Zack takes in his feelings for a moment before he masks them

with his trademark humor.

ZACK:

So I guess I won’t be getting you

in the broom closet then?

They laugh and Laney looks at Zack with pure endearment and

gratitude. They hug each other, long and honest.

LANEY:

I have to go. See you at movie

night?

ZACK:

Yeah. Popcorn’s on me.

As she walks towards the camera, Zack calls from behind her

in the distance.

ZACK (CONT’D)

By the way- Sienna is my sister!

Laney stops for a moment of surprise. She smiles to herself,

and keeps walking.

53 INT. DR. PAGE’S OFFICE - DAY - SAME 53

Laney sits on her familiar chair, Dr. Page sits in his chair

behind the desk. They are observing each other in silence.

LANEY:

You know the night before I came

here, even with everything I did

that night, I went into Eli’s room

to check on him. I sat down on the

edge of his bed. I just wanted to

watch him breathe. And I thought to

myself, he'll never know. Neither

of them will ever know how hard I

tried not to hurt them.

A beat.

LANEY (CONT’D)

Am I gonna f*** this up? I really

don’t want to f*** this up.

Pink (03/02/2014) 5050.

DR. PAGE

Have some faith in yourself Laney.

You’ve made unbelievable progress

since you got here. Don’t you see

that?

LANEY:

I do. Thank you for making me stay.

DR. PAGE

I didn’t make you stay. That was

your choice. And it was a good one.

Laney smiles at Dr. Page. He has empowered her.

54 INT. BLUE HILL LOBBY - DAY 54

Laney says goodbye to Nurse Pauline and gives her a heartfelt

hug. Zack walks over.

ZACK:

Tell me you weren’t going to leave

without saying goodbye.

Laney smiles.

LANEY:

I suck at good-byes.

ZACK:

I’m going to miss you.

Laney glances through the window and sees Bruce drive up.

LANEY:

I’m gonna miss you too Zack. Will

you call me when you’re out?

ZACK:

Yep. I think I’m gonna hang here

for a couple more weeks though.

Nothing for me to rush home to.

LANEY:

I think that’s a great idea.

Laney gives Zack a big hug.

LANEY (CONT’D)

My ride is here.

Zack looks out the doors and sees Bruce waiting against the

car.

Pink (03/02/2014) 5151.

ZACK:

That’s the guy you blew me off for?

I could totally take that guy.

They laugh like two old friends with an inside joke.

ZACK (CONT’D)

Go on. Get outta here and don’t

come back.

He smiles. Laney grabs her bag and walks out the door.

55 EXT. BLUE HILL HOSPITAL - DAY- CONTINUOUS 55

Bruce is leaning against the side of the running car. Laney

walks out the door, looks at her husband. He smiles at her

and to her surprise, without trying, she smiles back.

56 EXT. BROOK’S HOUSE - NIGHT - SAME 56

A handmade “Welcome Home Mommy” sign is hanging (half on/

half off) the front door. Laney’s SUV is parked in the

driveway. Lights are glowing from inside the home

57 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS 57

Laney and Janey are icing a cake. There is a fire in the

fireplace. It’s a lovely and traditional scene. Janey is

wearing a nightgown. Eli is wearing a Knicks Jersey. Bingo is

trying to jump up, looking for attention.

LANEY:

Eli, want to ice the cake with us?

ELI:

No thanks.

Janey starts whining that she can’t get it perfect.

JANEY:

It’s not the way I pictured it.

It’s not perfect.

Janey is getting really upset. Laney bends down, wraps her

arms around her.

LANEY:

It is perfect. It’s beautiful.

JANEY:

No it’s not.

Pink (03/02/2014) 5252.

Janey begins sobbing. Laney tries to calm her down. Eli walks

over, puts his arm around his sister’s shoulder. Laney looks

at him unsure, desperate almost.

LANEY:

I don’t understand why you’re

crying. It’s a beautiful cake.

Isn’t it Eli?

ELI:

I like it.

Bruce comes up the stairs.

BRUCE:

Basement’s dry.

Bruce sees Janey crying.

BRUCE (CONT’D)

What’s going on?

LANEY:

She doesn’t like her cake.

BRUCE:

But that’s a great cake Janey. It’s

the best cake I’ve ever seen.

JANEY:

Really?

BRUCE:

Really. Can I smell it? Does it

smell as good as it looks?

JANEY:

Okay.

Bruce leans over the cake and purposely puts his nose in the

frosting. Janey starts giggling.

BRUCE:

Yep, it smells as good as it looks!

JANEY:

Daddy!

BRUCE:

What?

JANEY:

Your nose!

Pink (03/02/2014) 5353.

BRUCE:

What’s wrong with my nose?

Bruce pretends like he doesn’t know there is frosting on his

nose. He feels all around his face, everywhere but the

frosting on his nose. Janey is now laughing.

JANEY:

I want to smell it!

Janey sticks her nose in the frosting. Bruce motions to her

nose.

BRUCE:

Oh, you’ve got a little something.

Pretending she doesn’t know.

JANEY:

What?

BRUCE:

Just a little....

JANEY:

What?

Laney comes over, aware of the fun.

LANEY:

Can I smell?

JANEY:

Yes! Smell it mommy! It smells

great!

Laney leans over to smell the cake, Bruce pushes her head

into it a little further, teasingly. Laney has frosting

covering her nose and a bit of her face.

LANEY:

That is the best smelling cake. It

really is.

Eli watches the happy moment, for now he’s an outsider as

Bruce, Laney and Janey play with the cake and laugh.

BRUCE:

Hey E, come smell the cake!

Eli shrugs his shoulders. He’s not buying into the happy

family yet. Laney understands. In the midst of the fun, the

power goes out. It’s pitch black.

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