Room Page #12

We watch the convoy pulling away from the hospital and out

into the world.

55 INT. FBI CAR - DAY 55

A little later. Driving through a better, neater

neighborhood than Old Nick's.

Jack grips Ma's hand, watches the world pass.

JACK (V.O.)

I've been in the world nineteen

hours. I've seen pancakes and

stairs and a cat and windows and

hundreds of cars and birds and

police and doctors and Grandma and

Grandpa, and persons with different

faces and bigness and smells

talking all at the same time. The

world's like all TV planets on at

the same time so I don't know which

what to look and listen. Doors and

doors and behind all the door

there's another inside and another

outside and things happen-happen

happening, it never stops.

Plus the world's always changing

brightness and hotness and there's

invisible germs floating

everywhere. When I was small I only

knew small things but now I'm five

I know everything.

(CONTINUED)

55 CONTINUED:
55

She takes his mask off over his head.

56 INT. FBI CAR - LATER 56

They turn onto a residential street of low houses and well-

groomed lawns.

It's all familiar to Ma yet utterly strange: a crowd of media

(national and international) is set up across the road from

her house behind temporary barricades. There are neighbors

and well-wishers carrying helium balloons, flowers, toys, and

signs. POLICE keep order.

MA:

(under her breath)

Jesus.

Ma tidies her hair.

Nancy, Robert and a LAWYER emerge from the first car. Nancy

manages an apologetic smile and half-wave to the neighbors

who are watching from their own yards.

RESIDENT AGENT leans in the driver's window to address Ma.

RESIDENT AGENT:

Ready for this?

Ma adjusts her shades and undoes her belt and Jack's.

MA:

(to Jack)

Ready?

JACK:

Steady - go.

They climb out, heads down, shielded by FBI agents. Jack

stumbles, almost falls. Now they're outside they can hear a

news helicopter overhead: it sounds like a war zone. Nancy

joins them, taking Jack's hand, and they rush for the front

door.

REPORTER 1

Joy! Joy! Any message for your well-

wishers? What's it like to be home?

(CONTINUED)

56 CONTINUED:
56

REPORTER 2

Jack! Jack! Look this way.

REPORTER 3

Jack! How do you like the world so

far?

RESIDENT AGENT:

You’re doing great.

REPORTER 2

Joy! What do you say to your

captor?

Robert and the Lawyer approach the cluster of reporters being

held back by the Police.

LAWYER:

At this time ... excuse me, please

... at this time I will read a

brief statement from the family

after which I would ask you to

respect their privacy. I'm sure you

can understand this is a very

Nancy, Ma and Jack step into ...

57 INT. NANCY AND LEO’S HOUSE - HALL - DAY 57

The hallway of Nancy and Leo’s house. The Resident Agent is

with them.

RESIDENT AGENT:

The back of the property is well

screened, and we’ve added to that

where necessary, so if you keep

these drapes closed you’ll have

complete privacy. We'll be right

outside if there’s anything at all

you need.

NANCY:

Thank you. Thank you so much.

The Resident Agent leaves. Nancy, Ma and Jack stand in the

stillness. Curtains drawn, lights on.

NANCY (CONT’D)

My goodness.

(beat)

Are you OK?

(CONTINUED)

57 CONTINUED:
57

Ma nods. From out of the kitchen comes an man in his late

50s. This is LEO, Nancy’s partner.

(CONTINUED)

57 CONTINUED:
(2) 57

LEO:

Welcome home, honey. I’m very very

happy to see you.

He has tears in his eyes but he gives Ma her space, doesn’t

move to embrace her.

MA:

Leo.

NANCY:

Jack, this is Leo.

LEO:

Hey there, sport.

Jack takes in this new person. Nancy leads them through to

the main room where the curtains to the back yard are open.

LEO (CONT’D)

What can I get you? Anyone hungry?

We have everything.

NANCY:

People have been so kind. We won’t

use it all. Jack, would you like a

drink?

Jack sticks close to Ma.

MA:

Jack, Grandma’s asking if you’d

like something to drink.

Jack pulls her down to whisper in her ear.

MA (CONT’D)

Juice?

(to Nancy)

Just some juice. I’m fine.

LEO:

Coming right up.

Nancy disappears into the kitchen with Leo. Ma and Jack sit

on the sofa. Jack looks at cards and flowers arranged on a

table.

JACK:

(whispers)

What are they for?

(CONTINUED)

57 CONTINUED:
(3) 57

MA:

They’re from people saying they’re

happy that we’re safe and back

home.

JACK:

What people?

MA:

Just people.

Ma, like Jack, speaks quietly. It’s as if they were in a

doctor’s waiting room or a stranger’s house trying to make a

good impression. All so unreal.

Ma gets up and looks out the window into the back yard. Jack

follows.

JACK:

Where's ice cream in the hammock?

MA:

(calling out)

Mom, what have you done with the

hammock?

NANCY:

(from the kitchen)

I guess it must be in the basement.

Jack looking at his feet, sees a small dog toy on the floor.

He presses it with his foot. It squeaks, giving him a fright.

Nancy and Leo come in with loaded trays - juice, water

cookies, cake.

LEO:

Just in case.

MA:

A dog?

NANCY:

Oh. It's Leo's dog, Seamus.

MA:

You don't like dogs.

NANCY:

Oh no. I've come to love Seamus.

He's won me over.

(CONTINUED)

57 CONTINUED:
(4) 57

LEO:

He’s on furlough at the moment,

with a pal of mine out of town.

Living the country life.

NANCY:

The hospital said to avoid pets,

until your immunity is back up ...

and there's so much to take in.

LEO:

I told him he was a health hazard.

Gotta sling your hook, buddy. He

didn’t take it too well.

Silence. No one has any idea what to do next. We hear the

front door open and close. Robert appears, he looks shaken

having taken questions from reporters. He looks for a seat,

chooses one far from Jack.

NANCY:

You OK?

He rubs his face, nods.

ROBERT:

Lawyer says they are expecting a

plea but can’t rule out a trial. He

wants to get into everything, I

said it could wait.

NANCY:

Good.

ROBERT:

He thinks most of the press will

move on in a couple days. I made it

clear there'd be no more contact,

statements. To respect the family.

Robert has to hide his face.

ROBERT (CONT’D)

I'm sorry.

Jack watches, as Robert collects himself.

LEO:

Can I get you a drink, Bob?

ROBERT:

Thank you, yes. I’d like that very

much. Scotch... whatever you have.

(CONTINUED)

57 CONTINUED:
(5) 57

LEO:

Sure.

NANCY:

(to Ma)

Is there anything you’d like, or

like to do?

(CONTINUED)

57 CONTINUED:
(6) 57

MA:

Just rest.

NANCY:

Sure.

Ma and Jack move towards the stairs. Ma carries a small bag

with their belongings. Nancy follows. At the foot of the

stairs Jack stops. He’s never had to climb stairs before. Ma

shows him how to grip the rail and he starts up.

58 INT. NANCY AND LEO'S HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

58

Reaching the top of the stairs, they walk the quiet, carpeted

hallway. Jack takes it all in.

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