Short Term 12 Page #7

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MASON (CONT’D)

Hey.

She looks at him.

MASON (CONT’D)

You know we can do this right?

She doesn't give him much of a response.

MASON (CONT’D)

We are going to be some amazingparents.

She watches his eyes tear up as he looks at her with a giant,

genuine smile...he tries to fight the tears but loses it.

MASON (CONT’D)

I love you so much Grace...

(shaking his head)

...so much it's insane.

She pulls him close, hiding her face in his chest.

As Mason glows with excitement, Grace still ponders what the

hell she's doing.

MUSIC CUE:

INT. GRACE'S APARTMENT BATHROOM -- MORNING

Grace and Mason stand in the bathroom, brushing their teeth.

They speak through bubbles and bristles.

MASON:

Let me see.

He tries to lift up her shirt, but she doesn't let him.

GRACE:

You can't tell yet.

MASON:

Come on.

She keeps brushing her teeth, then nonchalantly lifts up hershirt to reveal her belly. Mason looks at it with a smile,

then puts his hand on it.

MASON (CONT’D)

That is so crazy.

INT. GRACE'S APARTMENT KITCHEN -- MORNING

The cooking timer goes off with a DING! Mason reaches into

the oven and pulls out a batch of perfectly baked cupcakes.

He has his chef hat on and an apron around his waist.

He opens a can of strawberry frosting.

He spreads the frosting over the final cupcake.

Opens a can of sprinkles.

He carefully applies the final sprinkles to the batch.

Mason is deep in thought as he goes through the steps.

INT. GRACE'S APARTMENT BEDROOM -- MORNING

Grace sits at her sewing machine, braiding 4 strands of

leather to make a wrap-bracelet.

She scratches a letter from a letraset onto a button.

We don’t see exactly what it is.

INT. MASON'S CAR -- MORNING

(MS from back of car)

Grace and Mason drive to work, holding hands. She leans over

and puts her head on his shoulder.

INT. GROUP HOME KITCHEN -- MORNING

Grace pops open a medicine container and dumps variouscolored pills into a paper cup. She fills a dixie cup withfiltered water from a pitcher.

Jessica walks in and sits on the table, reading the report,

as Grace preps the meds.

JESSICA:

Did you hear about Sammy?

GRACE:

(concerned)

What?

JESSICA:

Last night they took away all hisdolls. His therapist is calling ita lesson in "letting go."

GRACE:

Bullshit.

JESSICA:

Those were all his sister’s, right?

GRACE:

(nodding)

He's not ready for that.

INT. SAMMY'S ROOM -- MORNING

Sammy lies awake in bed in fetal position, sucking his thumb.

Grace comes in with his water and meds. When he sees her, hepulls his thumb from his mouth.

GRACE:

It's time for your meds, Sammy.

He doesn't move and she knows why. She sets the meds down

and sits next to him.

GRACE (CONT’D)

I'm sorry bud.

She puts her hand on his shoulder, but he doesn't move.

INT. GROUP HOME OFFICE -- MOMENTS LATER

GRACE:

Jayden, Meds.

GRACE (CONT’D)

How'd you sleep?

Grace hands her the meds.

JAYDEN:

(apathetic)

Like crap.

She receives her meds and water and downs them like she's

done it a thousand times.

JAYDEN (CONT’D)

Can you tell the doctor I need ahigher dosage of trazodone.

She hands back the empty cups.

GRACE:

Mmhmm, I will tell him.

Grace hands her a gift bag.

GRACE (CONT’D)

Happy Birthday.

She hands her a cupcake.

GRACE (CONT’D)

And it comes with this. Mason made

it.

JAYDEN:

Thanks.

GRACE:

I heard your dad's picking you up.

JAYDEN:

Yup.

GRACE:

You excited?

She shrugs.

JAYDEN:

Whatever.

Jayden turns and walks away. Grace watches her for a moment.

INT. JAYDEN'S ROOM -- AFTERNOON

Jayden looks at herself in the Bathroom mirror, adding a

touch of make-up (this takes place in girl’s b-room).

She puts on her shoes, laces them up, and makes sure her

jeans fit over them nicely.

She opens the gift that Grace gave her and finds a home-made

bracelet with a button that has a “J” on it. She puts it on,

adding it to her collection.

She throws some clothes into her backpack and fits in her

sketch pad.

She zips it up and sits on the bed, waiting.

We see her from outside the room, staring at the floor.

CUT TO:

Jayden lying down, staring at the ceiling.

Jayden gets up quickly, snatches her backpack and walks out

into the lounge. (Camera follows her out)

JESSICA (O.S.)

Bye Shawnta!

INT. GROUP HOME LOUNGE -- DAY

Jayden walks to an empty couch on the far wall and sits down,

backpack at her feet. She sees Shawnta standing at thedoorway with her backpack on, getting picked up by hersmiling aunt and uncle (a black family). Thom is also

getting picked up by his uncle.

Grace is at the door with them, saying goodbye. Then she

looks over at Jayden, sitting sadly on the couch with herheadphones on.

CUT TO:

EXT. GROUP HOME LOUNGE -- LATER

Jessica sticks her head out the door as Mason walks back from

the office.

Mason gives her a big shrug.

The yard is empty, no sign of her dad.

INT. GROUP HOME LOUNGE -- DAY

A few of the kids are watching TV with Nate.

Jessica walks into the lounge and shakes her head at Grace,

who's braiding a girl's hair.

Grace lets out a sigh and looks over at Jayden.

Jayden sits in the same place, listening to her music. She

looks down at her hand. She presses her thumbnail into herskin, carefully, with purpose, creating lines that begin toform a word.

Jayden finishes the carving in her skin. One last line.

This time, she digs her thumbnail so deep she draws blood.

She pulls away and looks at her creation:

W H Y. The Y is bleeding.

She takes one more look outside, then suddenly stands andstreamlines to her room, SLAMMING the door behind her.

All the staff react to it.

GRACE:

Damn it.

Grace heads toward the commotion with Mason and Nate in tow.

GRACE (CONT’D)

Will you watch the kids?

JESSICA:

Sure.

GRACE:

Nate.

INT. GIRL'S HALLWAY -- CONTINUOUS

Grace knocks on the door and then pushes slowly. She feels

resistance.

GRACE:

Jayden, come on. You know you can'tkeep the door closed.

(beat)

Stop pushing on the door.

Grace inches open the door enough to talk to her.

GRACE (CONT’D)

Hey, Jade, I'm really sorry aboutyour dad.

NATE:

(quietly)

Why can't she close the door?

MASON:

She's a cutter.

JAYDEN (O.S.)

I can f***ing hear you dick! MaybeI'll cut myself right now andyou'll all lose your f***ing jobs.

GRACE:

Come on Jade...

JAYDEN (O.S.)

Don't call me f***ing Jade youbitch!

She slams the door shut again.

GRACE:

Jayden, come on. Please just openthe door. If you just open the doorthen we won't bother you anymore.

She doesn't respond.

GRACE (CONT’D)

If you’re not going to open thedoor, we're going to have to forceit.

Grace motions for Mason and Nate to start pushing. They allslowly force the door open, inches at a time.

MASON:

Wow Jayden, you're pretty strong.

WHOOSH! The door flies open. Grace falls in, only to begreeted by Jayden's fist in full swing.

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