Mistress America Page #10

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KAREN:

Mamie-Claire!

MAMIE-CLAIRE

Sorry, Karen.

EXT. BACKYARD. DAY

Brooke, still worked up, marches across the lawn. Her phonevibrates.

BROOKE:

Hey Dad - what’s up? I can’t

really talk right now.

DAD:

Brooke...

BROOKE:

I’ll call you tomorrow, I’m in themiddle of something.

DAD:

I know you probably don’t care --

BROOKE:

-- I care about things!

68.

DAD:

But I’m not getting married.

BROOKE:

Oh, really?

DAD:

No... We called it off last night.

It’s for the best. I don’t reallyknow her.

BROOKE:

Yeah.

DAD:

She wasn’t committed to the church,

either. I think that was all

forced.

BROOKE:

Sure, sure.

DAD:

Are you okay?

BROOKE:

Yes, I just... You’re really notdoing it? I thought you guys werereally symbiotic. Wasn’t it a web

algorithm that got you together?

She seems amazing.

DAD:

You never even met Stevie.

BROOKE:

Through you, I met her. I don’t

know, Dad. Come on...

Tears run down Brooke’s face.

BROOKE:

Don’t just bail. That’s what the

Cardinases always do, move on tosomething else. Hang in there.

DAD:

Frankly I’m surprised you’re soinvested in this. Believe me, it’sfor the best.

BROOKE:

(wiping her face)

I have to go.

(MORE)

69.

BROOKE (CONT'D)

I have a really important businessmeeting. I love you.

DAD:

We can do Thanksgiving at my houseif you want - since there won’t bea wedding.

BROOKE:

Nah, I’ll probably just end updoing something depressing but

young.

DAD:

Home is only a bus ride away.

BROOKE:

Is it? Just kidding, it is.

There is a silence between them for a second.

BROOKE:

So what does this make me and

Tracy?

DAD:

Who’s Tracy?

BROOKE:

Never mind.

DAD:

Oh, oh, right, her daughter -

nothing, I guess.

INT. MAMIE-CLAIRE’S DEN. DAY

Tracy is looking through an old datebook in the den. She

picks up a 1970’s subway token and puts in her pocket.

TRACY:

(startles)

Hello.

TONY:

Sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak.

TRACY:

(saucily)

Are you stalking me?

TONY:

I left my backpack in here. I need

my migrane pills.

70.

He goes to his backpack and gets out an pill bottle. He

fixes himself a scotch and then downs a pill.

TRACY:

Let me have a sip.

She takes the glass from him. He looks at her.

TONY:

How much longer do you think we’llbe here?

TRACY:

I don’t know, however long ittakes. After Dylan comes homemaybe.

TONY:

What are you really trying toaccomplish here?

TRACY:

(looking around the room)

I’m enjoying this really stylishhouse. When you live in suburbiayou have to really like being inyour house.

TONY:

That’s not what I - what are youdoing with this whole thing?

Nicolette appears in the doorway for a second and thenretreats, listening.

TRACY:

I want Brooke to get herrestaurant. I’m helping out.

Tony goes to his backpack, which was thrown on the couch.

Opens it and retrieves the pages she had given him.

TONY:

I read your story, by the way.

(he holds up the pages)

Brooke is the woman in your piece.

You’re collecting material.

TRACY:

Did you like it?

71.

TONY:

(evasive)

That’s not what we’re talkingabout.

TRACY:

Why are you here?

TONY:

(vaguely)

You needed a ride. You forced me.

Tracy quickly walks over to Tony.

TRACY:

How does it feel to be forced?

TONY:

It feels...uncomfortable.

Tracy puts her face close to his. She removes his glasses.

TRACY:

And how do you feel now?

TONY:

Still uncomfortable.

Tracy kisses Tony passionately on the mouth. Nicolette

reacts.

TONY:

(pushing her off)

That’s not what I want!

TRACY:

It is what you want, but it makes

you feel like a bad person to wantit.

TONY:

(wiping his mouth)

You’re acting really crazy. I

don’t like this.

He puts the story back into his backpack.

TRACY:

Why can’t you say you liked mystory?

72.

TONY:

(upset)

I don’t know! I’m jealous! It’s

better than mine! Sheesh!

TRACY:

You want other people to do thethings that you can’t so you canblame them.

TONY:

You used to be so nice.

TRACY:

I’m the same. I’m just the same inanother direction now.

Tony and Tracy leave. Nicolette enters, goes to Tony’sbackpack and takes out the story.

MAMIE-CLAIRE (O.S.)

YOU’RE HOME!

INT. MAMIE-CLAIRE’S HOUSE. DAY

Dylan, a round annoyed-looking blonde man, is fixing a drinkand doing dishes and Mamie Claire is trying to really hug himwith her face in his neck.

DYLAN:

I don’t like it when you try toforce affection onto me.

MAMIE-CLAIRE

I’m just trying to hug you.

DYLAN:

Do you have to put your face soclose to mine?

MAMIE-CLAIRE

It’s nice....

DYLAN:

You know how upset I get when Ivisit the home...

MAMIE-CLAIRE

I want you to share it with me.

DYLAN:

Rosella and Lorene may not even beALIVE next time I’m there, okay?

(MORE)

73.

DYLAN (CONT'D)

Just keep your face a little awaywhile I process that.

MAMIE-CLAIRE

(pouting)

Fine.

Dylan looks up -- he clocks Tony, Tracy and Karen, theabandoned Pregnant Woman, at the top of the stairs.

DYLAN:

Who are all these people?! MC, whydo you never tell me who is in thehouse?

KAREN:

I wondered if I could have some

water.

MAMIE-CLAIRE

Of course, Karen.

She goes to retrieve a glass.

DYLAN:

Oh, hi Karen, I don’t mean you.

TONY:

(reaching out his hand)

Tony, nice to meet you. Beautiful

house sir.

DYLAN:

(confused)

Thank you.

TONY:

Have you seen a girl about thishigh -

(demonstrates with hishand)

-that’s my girlfriend.

DYLAN:

No, uh, there’s more of you?

Tracy steps in a little:

TRACY:

I’m Tracy.

DYLAN:

(pointing at himself)

Dylan. Tracy is a tight name.

(MORE)

74.

DYLAN (CONT'D)

It’s a name that totally is a namebut I don’t know anyone actuallynamed Tracy, you know?

TRACY:

I am actually named Tracy.

BROOKE (O.S.)

Tracy-

TRACY:

(turning)

Yeah?

Brooke enters. Dylan sees Brooke.

DYLAN:

Brooke.

Brooke now notices Dylan.

BROOKE:

Hey Dylan.

They stand apart almost shyly.

MAMIE-CLAIRE

Brooke’s here with some

kindergartners.

TRACY:

(to Brooke)

What were you going to say?

BROOKE:

(smiling at Dylan)

In a minute.

TONY:

Has anyone seen Nicolette?

TRACY:

Forget about Nicolette for asecond.

TONY:

Stop trying to seduce me!

Mamie-Claire hands Karen her water.

KAREN:

Thanks, I got a little parched. I

think I’m sitting by a heatingduct.

75.

MAMIE-CLAIRE

(shoves a stool in herdirection)

Stay here. Have a glass of wine.

KAREN:

No. Ted really should be here

soon.

MAMIE-CLAIRE

Karen!

Karen sits on the stool. Tony looks distraught.

TONY:

Can I have a snack? Stress makes

me hungry.

Mamie-Claire gestures to the refrigerator. Tony opens thefreezer and fridge stands in front of it. Dylan considersBrooke. Mamie-Claire watches.

DYLAN:

Brooke -- I haven’t seen you in asecond.

BROOKE:

I know, right?

DYLAN:

What brings you to the burbs?

BROOKE:

We were-

MAMIE-CLAIRE

Brooke needs money.

BROOKE:

No, I don’t “need money” - I cometo you with an opportunity.

MAMIE-CLAIRE

I told her about the taxi

medallions.

DYLAN:

Let me make you a drink. What’s

the opportunity?

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