Smashed Page #11

75.

MR. DAVIES (CONT’D)

And just think:
the kids got alesson about life and death that

nobody planned on. I mean, you’re

years ahead of the standardcurriculum for, uh, third graders.

KATE:

Does it matter that I lied? That I

was never pregnant?

MR. DAVIES

You want me to answer that as a

friend or as someone who takes the

twelve steps very seriously?

Kate shrugs.

MR. DAVIES (CONT’D)

Well, the good thing is that it’s

all over now. Principal Barnes willthink you’re a martyr for losing a

baby.

(beat)

The kids won’t ask about it anymoreand as long as you don’t toss your

cookies again you won’t have to

deal with it.

KATE:

(long beat)

And the bad news?

MR. DAVIES

You lied. To your boss -- and abunch of small children. Who trust

you. And rely on you to help themdifferentiate right from wrong.

KATE:

(slowly nods)

That’s all, huh?

60 INT. KATE & CHARLIE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM/DINING

ROOM/KITCHEN/BEDROOM - NIGHT

60 *

*

Kate and Charlie eat TAKE-OUT FOOD in SILENCE. Kate texts on

her CELL PHONE -- not even paying attention to Charlie.

CHARLIE:

Well...

(beat)

(MORE)

76.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

...I gotta say -- this is the

boringest meal I’ve had in about as

long as I can remember.

Kate doesn’t look up.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

Who’re you texting?

KATE:

(still looking down)

Jenny. *

CHARLIE:

She’s like a parole officer.

KATE:

She’s my sponsor.

CHARLIE:

I’m glad to know every little fuckup

I have is gonna become a topic

of conversation with some chick I

don’t even know.

Kate finishes her text. Puts down her phone.

KATE:

(fake enthusiasm)

So...what’d you do today, honey?

CHARLIE:

I finished some writing and met up

with Owen to watch the game and

toss a few back. Dear.

(beat)

You do anything special?

KATE:

I lied to my class again. I told

them that I had a miscarriage.

Charlie LAUGHS.

KATE (CONT’D)

That’s not funny.

CHARLIE:

Yeah, it is. Telling kids f***ed-up

stuff is totally funny...in, you

know -- a kinda f***ed-up way.

77.

KATE:

Great, well -- I’m glad I’m not

actually having a baby.

CHARLIE:

God, Kate -- come on. What else

were you supposed to do?

KATE:

Well, I feel like a piece of sh*t

for lying.

CHARLIE:

It’s not that big a deal. Jesus. Is

this what those meetings teach you?

To make drama out of nothing?

KATE:

It’s not nothing. I lied to little

kids and to my boss because I can’t

take responsibility for my actions.

CHARLIE:

Why don’t you go and tell the

Principal that you were never

pregnant? That the reason you puked

is because you smoked crack all

night? Would you feel better about

yourself then?

Beat.

KATE:

I’ve been thinking about doing

that, actually.

(thinks about it)

Yeah. I think I would feel better

about myself.

CHARLIE:

Fine. Do it, then. I guess you

don’t need a job.

KATE:

I could be like you -- I could stay

home drinking all day and never do

anything responsible.

CHARLIE:

(hurt)

I never do anything responsible?

What about buying this house that

we live in? Or the food that we’re

eating?

78.

KATE:

Having rich parents doesn’t make

you responsible. I think it’s

pretty much done the opposite.

Charlie looks stunned. *

CHARLIE:

Oh, I’m sorry that I have a family

that supports us -- and not the

other way around.

KATE:

What the f*** is that supposed to

mean?

CHARLIE:

Nothing, Kate. But you can’t be mad

at me because my family has helped

us out. You should be grateful we

don’t have to struggle.

KATE:

I wouldn’t care if we struggled

with money. I’ve struggled with

money my whole life.

(beat)

I’d rather worry about where my

next meal is coming from than if I

-in some drunken stupor -- married

a man who just wants to party and

meet bands.

CHARLIE:

What the f*** are you talking

about?

KATE:

I’m talking about you being a baby.

A selfish baby.

CHARLIE:

You know what?

KATE:

What?

CHARLIE:

I f***ing hate AA! It turned you

into a b*tch. A brain-washed b*tch.

KATE:

At least I’m not drunk all the

time.

79.

CHARLIE:

Yeah, you don’t drink booze for

three months and suddenly you’re

some saint? You have it all

together and I’m just a baby?

Kate doesn’t answer.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

I’m trying, Kate. I’m trying to

understand you. But it’s hard.

You’re different and maybe it’s

good that you’re different. Maybe

I’m bad and bad for you or

something -- because I didn’t thinkthe person you were before was soawful. I loved that person. Yeah,

she drank a lot and she did some

silly things...but she was my Kate.

KATE:

You loved that person? Do you not

love me now?

CHARLIE:

Yeah, of course. But it’s

different. You’re different.

KATE:

Before I was a mess.

(beat)

I’m finally getting my life

together -- and you loved me morebefore?

Charlie looks at the floor.

CHARLIE:

(soft)

Kinda, yeah.

Charlie looks like he immediately regrets what he said.

61 INT./EXT. JENNY’S CATERING BUSINESS - NIGHT

Kate follows Jenny from her patio to her kitchen as she

cleans up.

KATE:

I feel so f***ing weird right now -Charlie

doesn’t love me like he

used to and I’ve lied to my

students multiple times.

(MORE)

61 *

*

*

80.

KATE (CONT'D)

(beat)

I just don’t feel...normal right

now.

JENNY:

Well, you’re not normal.

(beat)

None of us are.

KATE:

Everything in life isn’t connected

to being an alcoholic.

JENNY:

I’m not just talking about

alcoholics.

(beat)

People are f***ing weird. We all

have a lot of sh*t we carry around

in our heads that doesn’t make

sense.

(beat)

At least alcoholics have tools to

work through it.

KATE:

“Steps”...

JENNY:

Yeah, steps -- and talking and

listening and crying...

KATE:

I have the crying part covered.

JENNY:

I know, right? I think my first

year I cried tears I’d been saving

since I was eight.

(beat)

It’s hard to live your

life...honestly. You know?

Kate nods.

JENNY (CONT’D)

Any idea what you’re gonna do about

your school situation? What you’re

gonna say?

Kate shakes her head.

*

*

*

*

*

*

81.

KATE:

I don’t know what I’m gonna doabout anything.

JENNY:

Listen...you wanna stay in my guestroom tonight? You can watch movies,

get some good sleep...?

*

*

KATE:

You sure that’s okay?

JENNY:

Yeah, of course. That’s why I spentmoney on a guest bed -- so peoplecould sleep in it.

(beat)

I know it might feel like it, butreally, you don’t have to figure

everything out tonight.

(smiles)

You’ve got time.

*

62 INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - DAY 62

Kate goes into her classroom and finds a NOTE on the desk.

63 INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE - DAY 63

Principal Barnes hugs Kate.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

I’m so sorry, Kate.

(beat)

I haven’t told many people this,

but when I was young -- youngerthan you...I lost a child too.

Kate’s stunned. Looks like she feels terrible.

KATE:

I’m...I’m really sorry.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

It’s okay. It was a long, long timeago. Still hurts sometimes. Buteventually...you move on. You have

to.

(beat)

Have a seat.

Kate sits down.

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