Pariah Page #13

MONTAGE:

--Bina introduces Alike to different people, Alike is

welcomed

--Alike & Bina point out different performers, they laugh and

talk in each other’s ears

--Alike and Bina dance wildly in the middle of the crowd,

surrounded by dozens of other clamorous bodies

--One performer beckons Alike up onto the table, Alike demurs

at first, then leaps on top of the table. Bina cheers.

--Alike drags a giggling Bina out of the party and they crash

into the open night

64 EXT. THE PIERS - NIGHT 64

Lights glisten across the Hudson River--distant orbs

reflected in a thousand shimmering faux stars in weak

defiance against the night sky. A sodium vapor glow veils

everything in generous haloes, making the night more

beautiful than it really is.

Dancing silhouettes, laughing, playing, yelling, flying,

always dancing silhouettes punctuate the summer breeze with

clapping set to the rhythm of soulful house. Like Puck on a

midsummer’s night, like Peter Pan and his lost boys. Among

the silhouettes is Laura, enthroned atop a railing. Laura,

smoking a joint grandly, surrounded by an adoring circle, a

sycophantic harem of four.

79.

Laura, completely miserable as she watches two other

silhouettes drawing closer, spinning, collapsing, now

righting, always connected. Alike and Bina. Bina smiles and

snakes her arms around Alike’s neck. Alike too shy to react,

giggles and folds. Laura watches the pair spin and passes to

the left before stalking off toward the connected shadows.

65 EXT. THE PIERS- CONTINUOUS 65

Laura cuffs Alike on the neck, pulling Alike’s hoodie up over

her face. Alike’s laugh is tentative at first, not sure

whether this is play or for real. Laura chuckles, breaking

the ice. The pair slapbox and rough house, both missing with

wild arcing blows. Laura aims a mini charge at Alike that

lifts her off the ground and deposits her a short distance

away. Alike swipes Laura’s hat. Laura claps Alike on the

shoulder and Alike waves to Bina. Bina waves and smiles.

ALIKE:

So whatchu you think? She’s cool

right?

Laura looks around and shrugs. Laura plucks a fresh joint out

of her coat and lights it.

ALIKE (CONT'D)

She’s hot right? I told you. It was

so tight. I’m tellin’ you, you

shoulda been there tonight!

Laura takes a puff and offers it to Alike.

LAURA:

This one’s just for me and you.

Alike waves it off, oblivious and intoxicated with the night.

ALIKE:

And she’s smart, too. She does

poetry, you should hear it. It’s

like, it’s good, you know?

Laura stops walking and Alike skips ahead, still chattering.

ALIKE (CONT’D)

I was thinking next weekend the

three of us could-

LAURA:

Look, I’m right here.

Alike snaps out of it.

80.

ALIKE (CONT’D)

Oh my bad, I thought you were

beside me. Anyway, I was thinking-

LAURA:

Look, I’m sorry for all the drama.

ALIKE:

No, it’s cool. I shoulda-

LAURA:

What I’m saying is, I probably

overreacted.

(beat)

And then...I don’t know. Seeing you

two together or whatever. I’m glad

to see you’re finally happy.

ALIKE:

C’mon man, you know you’re my best

friend. Nobody’s gonna -

LAURA:

You don’t need to say anything. I

just wanted to get it off my chest.

I’m happy for you, that’s all.

Alike shakes her head. Her mouth moves but nothing comes out.

LAURA (CONT'D)

Because I love you, alright? And

I’m sayin’...I’m right here.

Alike is stopped cold, as the light bulb finally goes off.

Laura takes a long drag on the joint. Bina and Mika stumble

over giggling. Bina hooks Alike’s arm. Mika kisses Laura on

the neck. Laura snaps out of her gaze, her familiar smirk

creeping back.

MIKA:

We goin’ to get something to eat?

LAURA:

That’s what’s up.

ALIKE:

Listen, umm-

Laura pinches out the joint and hands it to Mika who tucks it

away.

LAURA:

That’s for later. Bina, nice to

meet you.

81.

BINA:

You too. We had fun.

Laura gives Bina a polite hug, pounds Alike on the shoulder

and starts to lead Mika away.

MIKA ALIKE:

Byyeee!! Hey hold up!

Laura pumps a lazy fist in the air in acknowledgement. Bina

takes Alike’s hand and slowly drags her away. Alike keeps

looking back, then finally gives up. Laura looks back just as

Alike turns around and disappears around the corner.

BINA (CONT'D)

I like your friends. They’re cool.

66 INT. BINA’S BEDROOM - LATER 66

Music videos play on the TV. Alike and Bina lay stretched out

on pillows, a plate of brownie crumbs between them. Alike

dozes. Bina smacks her with a pillow.

ALIKE:

I’m not sleep.

BINA:

Yes you are.

Alike rubs sleep out of her eyes and props herself up on one

elbow.

ALIKE:

Any brownies left?

BINA:

Nope.

Bina flicks off the TV and stares at Alike.

ALIKE:

What?

BINA:

Nothing.

Alike looks away.

BINA (CONT’D)

What?

ALIKE:

Nothing.

82.

Alike folds her arms behind her head. Bina strokes Alike’s

stomach. Her finger’s dance at the top of Alike’s pajama

bottoms. Their eyes meet. Alike sits bolt upright.

BINA:

What’re you doing? What’s wrong?

ALIKE:

This is uh... I never... I’m sorry,

I’m trippin’ out.

BINA:

It’s okay. We don’t have to.

Alike leans in and kisses Bina on the lips. Bina considers

and takes Alike’s chin in her hand and kisses her back. Bina

places Alike’s hand on her chest. Alike lets her hand linger,

then traces Bina’s shoulders.

67 INT. LAURA’S KITCHEN - MORNING 67

Laura stands over the kitchen table shuffling through the

mail. She pauses at a stiff envelope with her name on it. The

return address reads “NYS Educational & Testing Services”.

She flips the envelope over and looks around, she rips the

top off and eases the top of a slip out of the envelope. The

top of the slip reads “’Campbell, Laura’ GED TESTING

RESULTS.”

68 EXT. BRONX HOME - MORNING 68

Laura shifts her weight on a painted concrete porch outside a

small wooden frame home. The paint is peeling and the flowers

in the window-box are dead. A rusted metal mailbox next to

the door overflows with circulars. Laura lifts the circulars

out of the box and trashes them. She picks up a discarded

fast food bag and tosses it too. A dog barks from a

neighboring yard. Laura pulls open the screen door and tries

to peer in through the diamond shaped window in the main

door, but it’s covered over in aluminum foil. More barking.

Laura surveys the street and bangs hard on the door. She

snaps the screen door back and takes a big step backward.

Laura shifts her weight and smooths her shirt. LAURA’S

MOTHER, 54, and no-nonsense opens the door and frowns down at

Laura through the screen.

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