Infinitely Polar Bear Page #16

AMELIA:

(shaking her head)

What a crock.

Maggie is speechless. Cam nods at her.

99.

CAM:

Get used to it.

EXT. CONCRETE PARK. DAY

A hibachi engulfed in flame. PULL BACK TO REVEAL:

Cam grills shishkebabs by the metal picnic tables. Though it

is a chilly day, he wears denim overalls, a striped denim

workshirt and a denim cap. The girls play Chinese jumprope

with Kim and Ali at the other end of the park. Maggie sits

at the picnic table, near Cam, watching her daughters play

with their friends.

Thurgood runs into the park area and stops in front of Cam.

THURGOOD:

You’ve been working on the

railroad.

CAM:

All the live-long day.

Thurgood laughs and runs off to join the other kids. Maggie

smiles. Cam stares into the fire.

CAM:

I can’t visit you in New York.

Too much speed and noise and all

the people out on the streets all

night. Winds me up. Knocks me off

track.

MAGGIE:

(nods)

I was just thinking about that.

CAM:

I do understand why you don’t want

to live with me. I’m a much better

father than I was a husband.

MAGGIE:

You know what Faith said to me last

night? She said:
“You don’t lose

your temper like Daddy and you keep

the apartment nice, but the thing

about Daddy is he’s always around.

He’s always there.”

CAM:

I thought that irritated them.

100.

He reaches through the flames and turns the shishkebabs with

long metal tongs. Maggie stares off. Then she takes a deep

breath.

MAGGIE:

I have a plan. I take this job and

earn some money. The girls stay

here with you. They keep riding

their bikes. They stay with their

friends. But we get them into a

good private school where they can

be challenged. I insist on that.

CAM:

Maggie. Are you sure?

Maggie stands and walks over to Cam.

MAGGIE:

If they come to New York they’ll be

shut up like house pets in some

dark apartment and I’ll be working

till eight o’clock at night, every

night. I don’t want that for them.

Maggie looks over at the girls. Her heart breaks.

MAGGIE:

They’re my babies.

Maggie buries her face in her hands. Cam holds out his arms.

ANGLE ON THE CHINESE JUMPROPE

Amelia is jumping. Kim looks over Amelia’s shoulder.

KIM:

I thought your parents were

divorced.

FAITH:

(sighing)

No, they’re married.

KIM:

But your Mom doesn’t live with you?

AMELIA:

No. Except on the weekends.

THURGOOD:

So are they married on the

weekends?

101.

AMELIA:

Sort of, not really...

Amelia turns to look at her parents at the other end of the

park. Maggie has collapsed into Cam’s arms and she is

sobbing. Cam is sobbing too. He still holds the metal

tongs. Amelia watches them for a long time. Then:

AMELIA:

It’s hard to explain.

INT. TOYOTA STATION WAGON. DAY

Cam drives the car on the highway, smoking. A CAT is draped

over Cam’s shoulders while he drives. The girls are sleeping

in the backseat under a blanket. Amelia yawns and stirs.

AMELIA:

Daddy? How much longer?

CAM:

(pleasantly surprised)

You’re awake. I thought you were

going to sleep the whole way home.

He quickly stabs out his cigarette. Faith squirms awake.

CAM:

We just crossed into Massachusetts.

We’re making great time.

Faith climbs into the front passenger seat.

CAM:

You both conked out so quickly.

Must’ve been a fun weekend.

FAITH:

It was. Mommy let me do her hair.

Cam drives. It’s quiet for a moment. Amelia sits up and

stares out the window, then:

AMELIA:

Do you know that Mommy has a

boyfriend in New York?

CAM:

Of course I know.

AMELIA:

He’s nice. But I don’t like him.

102.

FAITH:

Me neither.

CAM:

Oh boy. Poor Mommy.

AMELIA:

Why poor Mommy?

CAM:

Because it’s hard to conduct a

romance when your children are

gunning for your lover.

AMELIA/FAITH

Ew! Lover!

CAM:

Lover, swain, beau, whatever.

AMELIA:

How come you always feel so sorry

for Mommy?

Cam sighs and looks sad.

CAM:

Because Mommy tries hard. She

wanted things to go differently.

AMELIA:

Me too.

FAITH:

Me too.

Cam smiles.

CAM:

Me three.

The girls laugh. Then Faith looks back at her sister and

rolls her eyes with irritation.

FAITH:

Daddy, Amelia’s about to cry.

Cam looks in the rearview at Amelia who is crying.

CAM:

Big Little... what is it?

AMELIA:

I just... I worry about you.

103.

CAM:

Please, darling. Don’t worry about

me. I’ll be fine.

They drive in silence. Then, starting in an absurdly deep

voice, Cam breaks into “Annie Laurie.” He sings in a full

Scottish brogue, his voice getting very high and squeaky and

forlorn on the chorus.

CAM:

Maxwellton Braes are bonnie

Where early lies the dew

Twas there that Annie Laurie

Gave me her Promise True

Gave me her promise true...

And ne’er forgot shall be...

For Bonnie Annie Laurie, I’d lay me

doon and dee...

The girls join in. As they sing, a series of cuts:

-- Cam takes Amelia and Faith on a walk through Mt. Auburn

Cemetery.

-- Amelia runs between the shelves of books in an overstuffed

bookstore. She rounds the corner and nestles in next to Cam

who sits on the floor, with Faith on his lap.

-- Cam proudly leads Amelia, Faith, Thurgood, Kim and Ali on

a tour through the grand old mansion on Beacon Hill. The

children are blown away by the splendor. As they file past

Mr. Fabrini on their way out, thanking him, he nods curtly

and gives them all a very tight smile. He is clearly

extremely annoyed by Cam and can’t wait to get rid of him.

Cam grins back at him, victorious.

BACK TO:

INT/EXT. TOYOTA STATION WAGON. DAY

They sing together.

ALL THREE:

Like dew on the gowan lying

Is the tread of her fairy feet

And like winds in summer sighing

Her voice is low and sweet

Her voice is low and sweet...

(high and squeaky)

She’s all the world to me...

And for bonnie Annie Laurie, I’d

lay me doon and dee...

104.

They speed down the highway.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SHADY HILL SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELDS. DAY

AMELIA, wearing the school athletic uniform, her hair pulled

back in a tidy french braid, stands with eight other girls at

lacrosse practice. They are lined up, taking turns shooting

on goal. A TITLE CARD READS: One year later.

Amelia runs forward and fires a ball into the net.

CAM (O.S.)

Nice shot, Amelia!

Amelia waves at Cam, who is cheering from the sidelines.

Another girl runs and shoots into the net.

CAM (O.S.)

Nice shot, Amelia’s friend!

Amelia jogs back to the line of girls.

SHS TEAM MATE:

How come your dad always comes to

practice?

AMELIA:

(matter-of-fact)

He’s got nothing else to do.

ON CAM:

He gives Amelia a thumbs up. He drops to his knee and takes

some pictures.

CUT TO:

Practice is over. Amelia is laughing with her friends as

they put the lacrosse balls in a bag and pick up the cones.

Faith runs up to Amelia. Faith is wearing an SHS sweatshirt

and eyeglasses. Together the girls run over to Cam as he

puts a new roll of film in his camera. The rest of the team

heads back to the gym.

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