Room Page #15

JACK:

Ma?

He leaves the bedroom, stands blinking on the bright landing.

He hears noises from downstairs, raised voices, a high

pitched squeal.

JACK (CONT’D)

Ma?

He goes downstairs. We follow him into the living room.

75 INT. NANCY AND LEO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER 75

We enter with Jack to find Nancy, Leo and Ma. Ma and Nancy

are hugging. The lawyer is on speaker phone.

(CONTINUED)

75 CONTINUED:
75

LEO:

Not at all, we’ll all sleep better.

LAWYER (SPEAKER)

I thought you’d want to know.

LEO:

That’s right

LAWYER:

It’s a good day.

NANCY:

Thank God.

JACK:

You were gone!

Ma turns. She’s been crying but she comes over to Jack

smiling broadly. She kneels so her face is level with his.

MA:

Do you want to hear something

really good?

In the background Leo ends the call.

JACK:

You were gone.

MA:

Hey listen. Old Nick is going to

jail for a really long time.

JACK:

I know Old Nick is in jail.

MA:

But now he’ll be there for ever and

ever. And I don’t have to see him

ever again or talk to the judge or

any of those scary things. Isn’t

that great?

Jack nods, not really understanding.

MA (CONT’D)

We can stop worrying now and start

to do all the things we want.

She picks him up and hugs him.

76 INT. NANCY AND LEO’S KITCHEN - DAY 76

Ma is on her phone, furiously texting. Jack watches. He’s

bored. Just the sound of tapping thumbs.

JACK:

What are you doing?

MA:

I'm talking to people.

She keeps texting, not explaining further.

77 INT. MA’S OLD BEDROOM - DAY 77

Jack sits on the bed, watching Ma at her dressing table. She

is smartly dressed, her hair is fixed nicely.

JACK:

Why do you look like that?

MA:

I’m dressed to go out, that’s all.

He watches MA force earrings through the healed piercings in

her ears. It looks painful.

JACK:

I don’t like it.

MA:

It’s just some clothes and makeup.

77A INT. NANCY’S HOUSE - STAIRS - MOMENTS LATER 77A

Jack follows Ma downstairs.

MA:

Come on, we need to get you ready.

We follow them into ...

77B INT. NANCY’S HOUSE - KITCHEN 77B

Nancy cleans up in the kitchen. Ma and Jack come in. Ma finds

the sunscreen and starts to apply it.

(CONTINUED)

77B CONTINUED:
77B

NANCY:

Maybe it’s too much for him right

now.

MA:

It’s not too much for me. I need to

go out, get some air.

Ma starts to apply sunscreen to Jack.

MA (CONT’D)

(to Nancy)

You could have a better attitude,

you know.

With some effort, Nancy holds her tongue.

MA (CONT’D)

You could support me in this.

That’s all I’m asking. I’m trying

to take a step.

NANCY:

You don’t have to do it so soon.

You could wait and we could go

together.

Ma wipes her hands, dials a number on her phone.

(CONTINUED)

77B CONTINUED:
(2) 77B

78 OMITTED 78

79 EXT/INT. STREET/LAURA’S CAR - DAY 79

A car is waiting. Inside, a young woman smiles and waves. Ma -

holding a booster seat -cracks the door.

MA:

Oh my God!

LAURA:

Oh my God!

The girls hug.

LAURA (CONT’D)

You look... Amazing. I can’t

believe you’re here.

MA:

(fastening Jack)

I know. I know.

LAURA:

I’ve missed you so much. I can’t

believe you’re actually here. And

look at Jack! What a sweetheart! He

is so cute!

Ma gets into the passenger seat.

MA:

This is too weird, sitting in this

car right now.

LAURA:

You are such an amazing person,

Joy. I have thought about you so

much.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

79 CONTINUED:

And I am so happy you are here withme now. I cannot even tell you.

LAURA (CONT'D)

79

MA:

I’m happy, too. And a littlefreaked out.

LAURA:

You just sit back. Relax. We’lltake it nice and slow.

We watch from the sidewalk as the car pulls away.

80 OMITTED 80

81 INT. CAR - SOON 81

The girls talk...

LAURA:

...Tracy is doing so good. She gother teaching certificate and nowshe’s teaching in Milwaukie, lovingit. I saw her last summer and she

is still so fun.

MA:

I always liked her even though wenever really hung out.

LAURA:

She liked you too.

(to Jack)

Your Mom was very popular inschool.

MA:

That’s actually not true.

(CONTINUED)

81 CONTINUED:
81

LAURA:

If you weren’t popular, I don’t

know who was.

MA:

Susan Torrey.

LAURA:

That’s true.

The girls laugh. Laura’s phone rings and she answers.

LAURA (CONT’D)

Hey, I’m driving.

Something pert/flirtatious comes into her tone.

LAURA (CONT’D)

(pause)

We’ll see.

(pause)

You’ll just have to, won’t you?

She hangs up.

MA:

Who was that?

LAURA:

Just someone I met at work. Not

serious.

MA:

What work do you do.

LAURA:

Real estate. I mean I graduated

Environmental Studies and I’m still

super passionate about that - like

what we’re doing to this planet,

but the whole property thing is

exploding.

82 EXT. MALL PARKING LOT - DAY 82

The car drifts around, eventually finds a spot. Ma, Jack and

Laura emerge. Jack is facing away from the mall. He is held

by the big open view of the car park and road network beyond.

MA:

(taking his hand)

Jack. This way. Just hold my hand.

(CONTINUED)

82 CONTINUED:
82

They start to walk towards the entrance. Ma stops and

crouches down. Puts her hands on Jack’s shoulders and speaks

tenderly.

MA (CONT’D)

You’re going to be fine. OK?

83 INT. MALL - MINUTES LATER 83

They walk through the whooshing doors of the mall and step

onto the ascending escalator. In the atrium, mobiles,

banners, skylights. Teenagers, families, everyone scanning

the myriad goods on display. At the top of the escalator Jack

sees a huge array of fruit and vegetables outside a

supermarket.

Further along, they pass a bookstore. Jack spots a display of

new Dylan the Digger books. He grabs one.

JACK:

Ma, it’s Dylan!

MA:

You can't take that, Jack.

JACK:

Why?

(CONTINUED)

83 CONTINUED:
83

MA:

It doesn't belong to you.

She takes the book from him and dumps it back in the display.

MA (CONT’D)

Come on. If you’re good we can get

another book, a new one on our way

out.

84 INT. CLOTHING STORE 84

The girls cart Jack into the store among the hanging clothes

and mirrors.

They tear through the racks. Techno music throbs. The

mannequins leer.

For a moment Jack loses track of the girls. The clothes are

everywhere.

JACK:

Ma! Ma!

She reappears from behind a rack.

MA:

I’m here. OK? Just calm down.

JACK:

I was scared!

MA:

(doing her best to be

reassuring)

Don’t be. This is normal. This is

what people do.

JACK:

I don’t like it!

MA:

Remember your superpowers, alright,

have fun. And no whining, OK?

A clerk appears.

CLERK:

Hi, there. Anything I can help you

with?

(CONTINUED)

84 CONTINUED:
84

MA:

I need some... (she looks around

desperately)... some shoes.

CLERK:

Great. Shoes are all over there.

Just let me know if you need

anything else, okay?

Ma goes and stares at the shoe display. Many colors, many

styles. She’s paralysed. Jack is close beside her.

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