Room Page #10

He shakes his mom.

JACK:

Ma. Ma.

She begins to wake.

MA:

Good morning sleepy head. I was

waiting so long for you to wake I

fell back asleep.

JACK:

Is this another planet?

MA:

Same one, just a different bit.

It's a room -

(hears the word)

A bedroom in a hospital.

Jack thinks about this.

JACK:

Are we sick for real or pretend?

MA:

We're not sick. We're the opposite

of sick.

Beat.

JACK:

How long are we staying?

MA:

Not long. Grandma saw us last night

and she’ll take us when they say

we’re OK.

JACK:

And Grandpa.

MA:

He was away at work but he’s

getting on a plane to come home.

(CONTINUED)

45 CONTINUED:
(3) 45

Beat.

JACK:

I wetted the bed ... before. I’m

sorry.

(CONTINUED)

45 CONTINUED:
(4) 45

MA:

That's OK.

The bedside phone bursts to life, frightening Jack. Ma picks

it up.

MA (CONT’D (CONT’D)

Yes, just now. OK ... if that’s OK,

thank you.

Ma hangs up as Jack starts tugging the sheets off the bed.

She stops him.

MA (CONT’D)

Don’t worry about that. Someone

will wash it. Come on, we have to

get ready.

Ma steps out of bed. She's wearing a robe. It says ‘Tyler

Forest Hospital’

JACK:

What's that?

MA:

Do you like it? There’s one for

you, too.

She picks up a robe from beside the bed, puts him in it -

it’s way too big, then she begins to take off his damp

underpants.

45A INT. HOSPITAL - BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS 45A

Ma and Jack come into the bathroom. Ma throws Jack’s

underpants in the trash.

JACK:

That's waste.

MA:

We'll get new ones.

JACK:

For Sunday Treat?

MA:

There are going to be so many

treats, not just on Sundays.

Jack looks around.

(CONTINUED)

45A CONTINUED:
45A

JACK:

Where’s the bath.

MA:

It's a shower instead. Splashier.

Ma notices a large mirror. This is the first time she’s seen

herself properly in 7 years. She studies herself - bares her

teeth. She points out their reflections to Jack.

(CONTINUED)

45A CONTINUED:
(2) 45A

MA (CONT’D)

Jack, look. It’s us.

This is the first time Jack has ever properly seen himself.

JACK:

Ma, will he find us.

MA:

No, he will never, ever come again.

46 INT. HOSPITAL - MA AND JACK'S SUITE - BATHROOM - DAY 46

Ma and Jack are in the shower. Jack is pressed to the door,

as far away as possible from the powerful jet of water.

JACK:

Bath before Bed.

She can't hear him over the noise of the water.

MA:

What?

JACK:

Bath before Bed, that's the rule.

MA:

There aren't any rules now, Jack.

We can do what we like!

Jack is unnerved by all this.

Ma groans with pleasure as she lets the water hit the back of

her neck.

JACK:

Are you hurting?

Ma laughs. Jack edges into the water and she washes him with

a hand towel.

47 INT. HOSPITAL - MA AND JACK’S SUITE - MORNING 47

Both in robes with wet hair. While Ma looks out the window

Jack noses around the room taking in the strange experience

of an unknown space. He opens a drawer, then another. Empty.

A very light tap at the door which only Jack hears.

(CONTINUED)

47 CONTINUED:
47

JACK:

The door's ticking.

The door opens a little. Ma jumps. Jack hides behind his

mother as a man's head - wearing a surgical mask - appears

around the door.

DR. MITTAL

Hello there, I hear we’re all woken

up.

MA:

That’s right.

Jack’s buries his head in.

MA (CONT’D)

It’s OK, Jack.

DR. MITTAL (thirties/forties) come further into the room. A

nurse pushes in a breakfast trolly then leaves.

DR. MITTAL

Hi there, Jack. I’m Dr. Mittal. You

were asleep when I cam in this

morning.

Jack won’t make eye contact.

DR. MITTAL (CONT’D)

You must be hungry?

No answer. Dr. Mittal moves the breakfast trolley in front of

Ma and Jack. Ma removes the plastic domed lids and foil. Jack

stares at the strange food. He runs his finger around the

BLUE RIM OF HIS PLATE and looks at it to see if the color has

come off. Ma eats.

DR. MITTAL (CONT’D)

So, I have some things for you

both.

He hands 2 pairs of sunglasses to Ma.

DR. MITTAL (CONT’D)

You may find it more comfortable to

wear these if you go outside. Some

sunscreen.

Holding up a surgical mask.

DR. MITTAL (CONT’D)

For Jack.

(CONTINUED)

47 CONTINUED:
(2) 47

MA:

Is that really necessary?

DR. MITTAL

Lots of germs in the air to get

used to.

(taking out some pills)

My colleague has prescribed these

for the pain in your wrist until we

can schedule a surgery.

(handing over a last

bottle)

And something to help you sleep.

(CONTINUED)

47 CONTINUED:
(3) 47

MA:

OK. Thanks.

(to Jack who is still

playing with his food)

Try it, it’s delicioso.

Jack’s not convinced.

DR. MITTAL

Have you thought any more about

what we discussed this morning?

MA:

Thanks for the offer but we’re

going to go home.

DR. MITTAL

You know my view. After what you’ve

experienced, and to assess Jack

properly. And just to soften the

transition

MA:

(interrupting)

Nothing happened to Jack.

DR. MITTAL

I understand, but even at a

cognitive-sensory level - depth

perception, auditory processing ...

MA:

But he’s OK, right?

DR. MITTAL

The most important thing you did

was to get him out while he’s still

plastic.

(CONTINUED)

47 CONTINUED:
(4) 47

JACK:

(whispers to Ma)

I’m not plastic.

DR. MITTAL

What’s that, Jack.

MA:

He says he’s real, not plastic.

Mittal laughs.

DR. MITTAL

I can’t argue with that, Jack. Real

and very brave.

(CONTINUED)

47 CONTINUED:
(5) 47

We hear voices arguing outside the door. One voice cuts

through.

VOICE (O.C.)

Oh for God’s sake ...

DR. MITTAL

We can talk about this again later.

It sounds like you have more

important things to do right now.

The door opens and Nancy enters (we met her briefly in the

emergency room) carrying an overnight bag. She is followed by

a man in his sixties, rumpled from travel. This is ROBERT,

Ma’s father.

MA:

Dad!

ROBERT:

My darling.

They hug, the masks are quickly discarded. Dr. Mittal watches

from the back of the room.

NANCY:

We couldn’t wait any longer.

(CONTINUED)

47 CONTINUED:
(6) 47

Jack, forgotten, is frightened by what he sees. He curls up.

Eventually, Ma notices him.

MA:

Jack, Jack it’s OK. This is your

Grandma and Grandpa.

NANCY:

Hello, Jack.

Jack hides his face.

NANCY (CONT’D)

That’s OK. Thanks for saving my

little girl, Jack.

Robert tries to smile but he is very uneasy around Jack.

Nancy lifts the small bag she brought.

NANCY (CONT’D)

I hope I didn’t forget anything.

I’m sure I did.

48 EXT. HOSPITAL - UPPER STOREY TERRACE - DAY 48

Hospital roof garden. Jack sticks close to Ma. She is dressed

in track-suit bottoms and her old warm winter coat. Jack has

pajamas under his robe and a warm coat which doesn’t quite

fit. Ma has a pair of her old boots on, Jack has trainers.

They wear tinted glasses against the brightness of the day.

Jack is a strange sight, the part of his face not covered by

his mask (the others are unmasked) or woollen hat is smeared

in heavy sun screen. They sit with Robert and Nancy. Nancy

smokes a slim cigarette. Jack watches her cigarette for a

while, then his attention is snagged by a nurse pushing an

old woman in a wheelchair. He is also fascinated by the sky

reflected in the mirrored glass of the building.

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