Smashed Page #12

82.

PRINCIPAL BARNES (CONT’D)

I got a phone call from a very

upset parent. That’s how I found

out about...you know. Frankly, I’m

not sure why you didn’t feel like

you could tell me.

KATE:

I freaked out -- a student asked

why I wasn’t fat and I just froze

up and then another student was

saying I killed my baby and I

didn’t know what to do.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

I’m not angry with you -- but I

need to be clear that this doesn’t

happen again.

KATE:

It won’t. I promise that.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

By “not happening again,” I mean

that you don’t discuss any

controversial topics -- things the

school board deems “family matters”

with your class.

(beat)

No sex. No god. No drugs and

alcohol.

KATE:

Okay, I...

Kate straightens up in her seat, takes a deep breath. She

seems...exhausted.

KATE (CONT’D)

...I can’t keep doing this. I feel

awful.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

(confused)

I know this all must be hard for

you -

KATE:

No. You don’t understand.

(beat)

I have to be honest with you.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

What do you mean?

83.

KATE:

Principal Barnes...I wasn’t ever

pregnant.

Principal Barnes looks shocked.

KATE (CONT’D)

I lied -- to the class and to you -because

I was scared.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

But...you vomited in class.

KATE:

I know. And when that happened I

didn’t know what to do because the

truth is -

PRINCIPAL BARNES

Oh, my god -- are you really ill?

Is it cancer?

KATE:

No, well, yes. I have a disease,

but, um...

(beat)

...it’s alcoholism.

Principal Barnes goes from concerned -- to angry.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

What?

KATE:

I’ve been working on it. I’m one-

hundred days sober. When that

happened I’d been out drinking and

was hung over and -

PRINCIPAL BARNES

You vomited in front of children

because you were hung over?

KATE:

Yes.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

And lied, saying that you were

pregnant?

KATE:

Well, a student asked if I was

pregnant -- and “yes” just kind of

fell out of my mouth.

84.

Principal Barnes looks disgusted.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

That’s sick, Kate.

KATE:

I know.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

No, I don’t think you understand

how wrong that is. To lie to me --

to the children. You know I felt so

terrible for you when I found out

that you had a mis -- ?

(beat)

-- how can you play with people’s

emotions like that?

KATE:

I was sick.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

Jesus...you told us you had a

miscarriage.

KATE:

I’m sorry.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

I threw you a baby shower.

KATE:

I’m really sorry. I am. I’ve been

wanting to tell you the truth

because honesty has become really

important to me. I’m in AA now and

doing the steps and working with a

sponsor and everything.

(beat)

It’s really hard. I mean, I think

my husband might hate me, and -

PRINCIPAL BARNES

I’m sorry, but what you did is

totally irresponsible.

KATE:

I know.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

(beat)

I can’t have you here anymore.

85.

KATE:

(surprised)

Am I being fired?

PRINCIPAL BARNES

No, no -- the state wouldn’t allow

that without a report. I’m not

going to write a report. Because,

frankly, I have no idea what that

report would say.

(beat)

But I’m forcing you to take a leave

of absence and I think it’s in your

best interest if you find a job

elsewhere.

KATE:

Listen -- I’m really sorry, but I’m

doing the right things now.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

I believe you -- or I want to. I

really do. But honey -- I believed

you before.

(beat)

I’ll have a sub take over your

class starting tomorrow. It’s late

enough in the year that we can just

say you’re having personal problems

Principal Barnes looks at Kate.

PRINCIPAL BARNES (CONT’D)

-- which seems to be the truth.

KATE:

Principal Barnes -

PRINCIPAL BARNES

Not another word. I’m upset right

now -- very upset -- and I think

I’m doing you a favor by not

reporting you.

Kate struggles to say something, to try to explain herself

but no words come out until she musters -

KATE:

Thank you.

Kate stands, defeated, and leaves the Principal's office.

86.

64 INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -STAIRS/HALLWAY - DAY 64 *

Kate glumly marches down the stairs -- holding a BOX filledwith some of her things (including the BABY SHOWER GIFTS).

*

Mr. Davies stops her.

MR. DAVIES

Kate -- what’s going on?

KATE:

I told Principal Barnes abouteverything.

MR. DAVIES

(terrified)

What? Everything? Did you tell her

about...?

Mr. Davies gestures to Kate’s crotch.

KATE:

(confused)

Huh?

(gets it)

Oh, God -- no. I told her that I’m

an alcoholic. And that I lied. And

she fired me.

MR. DAVIES

(relieved)

Oh...

(but concerned, too)

...my god, Kate -- I’m sorry.

KATE:

I’ve been going to AA and trying tobe sober and this is what it got

me.

(beat)

Fired, for telling the truth.

Mr. Davies awkwardly puts his arm around Kate’s shoulder.

MR. DAVIES

I’m sorry. I wish there was

something I could do.

KATE:

I’m a f***-up. I’ll always be a

f*** up. I’m just like my mom.

87.

MR. DAVIES

(confused)

No, no -- you’re a wonderful, smartwoman Kate. You can’t let this get

you down.

KATE:

I gotta go.

Mr. Davies takes Kate’s box of things from her.

MR. DAVIES

Let me walk you to your car.

Kate throws her arms around Mr. Davies and begins to ---

full-on SOB.

Mr. Davies seems flustered and a little scared but tries to

comfort Kate.

65 INT. SUBARU (MOVING) - DAY

Kate cries as she drives.

65

She glances in the backseat at ---

all the baby shower gifts ---

and sobs even harder.

66 INT. DIVE BAR - DAY 66

Kate walks into a near-empty, depressing dive. She nervouslysits at the bar.

The BARTENDER -- a gruff looking guy with the sleeves rolledup -- approaches.

BARTENDER:

What do you need?

KATE:

Whiskey. Double.

The bartender gives Kate her drink. Kate immediately downsit.

*

KATE (CONT’D)

Can I have another one?

88.

BARTENDER:

Sure -- you gotta pay for the first

one, though. Eight bucks.

Kate puts a TWENTY DOLLAR BILL down.

The bartender pours her another shot.

LATER:

Kate has clearly been drinking for awhile -- she’s curled up

at the bar, nursing her BEER.

BARTENDER (CONT’D)

Look, Miss -- I don’t wanna be a

downer or anything ‘cause I take it

you’ve had a bad day, but um... I

think you need to go home.

KATE:

Why?

BARTENDER:

Cause you’re pretty drunk -- and

it’s four p.m.

KATE:

What about him?

Kate points to an old CRUSTY MAN at the other end of the bar.

KATE (CONT’D)

You’re not kicking him out.

BARTENDER:

I’m just trying to be a pal.

KATE:

Stop it -- you aren’t my pal. I

just got fired, and I just quit AA.

(beat)

It didn’t work.

BARTENDER:

Oh, boy...

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