Smashed Page #7

Charlie pulls Kate close to him.

45.

CHARLIE:

I’m here for you, okay? Even thoughI drink -- I could slow down if youneed me to.

(forces a smile)

I’m sure I could.

33 EXT. CHURCH - AA MEETING ROOM - NIGHT 33

Kate approaches a small church.

Mr. Davies waits outside.

35 INT. CHURCH - AA MEETING ROOM - NIGHT - A FEW MOMENTS LATER35

Mr. Davies walks Kate into a medium sized room where ---

about TEN PEOPLE are getting coffee, talking, and settingCHAIRS IN A CIRCLE.

Kate looks around the room, scoping out the people, who’re

very different from the crowd at the previous night’s meeting

---

several BLUE COLLAR MEN ---

JENNY:
40-ish, with dark hair and a confident, sort of

tough demeanor ---

a few OLDER PEOPLE, and a YOUNG COUPLE.

*

Mr. Davies directs Kate over to a table with COFFEE and

COOKIES.

MR. DAVIES

This is a little more my speed. Noone here is the slightest bit hip.

KATE:

Does everybody just...kinda, youknow -- talk here?

MR. DAVIES

Pretty much. Someone leads -- tellstheir story. And then everyone elseshares -- talks.

KATE:

So since you’re taking me here doesthat make you my sponsor?

46.

MR. DAVIES

No -- I don’t think I could do *

that.

(off Kate’s expression)

‘Cause, um...

(nervously searches)

...well, it could get weird. But *

I’ll help you find one if you want.

(gestures to the seats)

We should sit down.

Kate looks around the room at everyone taking their seats.

KATE:

(takes a deep breath; to

Mr. Davies)

I can’t believe I’m really here.

MR. DAVIES

It gets better. Weirder, maybe -but

better.

LATER:

The meeting has begun and everyone sits in a circle of

chairs.

Jenny is midway through her speech. *

JENNY *

...all I knew about taking care of

myself was f***ing people over and

lying to get by. I had no idea how

to even look for a normal job or

pay my bills on time -- or pay my

f***ing bills at all.

(beat)

Now I pay my bills online.

The group CHUCKLES.

JENNY (CONT’D) *

And I found a love in cooking. I’ve *

got my own catering business now. *

And...maybe I just replaced alcohol

with chocolate chips and

cigarettes, but still...it’s been

years since I woke up in a park --

in a different state.

LAUGHTER.

Kate leans in towards Mr. Davies and whispers --

47.

KATE:

I kinda like her.

MR. DAVIES

Sponsor potential?

Kate nods.

MR. DAVIES (CONT’D)

Get her number at break.

KATE:

I feel like you’re my wingman.

Kate grins at Mr. Davies, who smiles shyly and glances away.

LATER:

An older man -- ARLO -- stands and announces.

ARLO *

Arlo, Alcoholic. There’ll now be a

ten minute break. Smoke em’ if you

got em.

As some of the PEOPLE go outside -

-- Kate walks over to Jenny, who’s getting a cup of coffee. *

KATE:

Hey, I liked your speech.

JENNY *

Thanks. All that dumb sh*t happened

so I’m glad that now it’s at least

entertaining.

(beat)

What’s your name?

KATE:

Kate. This is my first meeting.

Or... first meeting where I’m not

wasted.

Jenny LAUGHS. *

JENNY *

Oh, yeah -- I remember doing some

of that.

KATE:

I don’t really know how this stuff

works.

(MORE)

48.

KATE (CONT'D)

But...could I get your number? I

mean, I may not need it, but...

JENNY *

Yeah, of course. I can help explain

it to you -- and also, we can just

talk.

KATE:

Okay. Yeah.

(beat)

You’ve been sober since you were

24?

Jenny nods. *

KATE (CONT’D)

That seems really young.

JENNY *

I didn’t have much of a choice -- I

crashed my car into a nursing home.

(beat)

I think the break is just about

over. This meeting is the kind

where everyone can share. Sharing

always helps me, so...if it’s not

too weird -- try introducing

yourself and telling the group

what’s going on.

LATER:

Everyone is sitting down and sharing. The woman (TINA) next *

to Kate is finishing up.

TINA *

...anyway, that’s where I’m at

today. Thanks for listening.

Everyone looks at Kate.

KATE:

Okay, um...hello. I'm Kate and...

(long beat)

...I'm an alcoholic?

Kate nervously LAUGHS.

GROUP:

Hi, Kate.

49.

KATE:

Sorry. I don't mean to laugh --

it's just saying those words...

(beat)

...I think I'm an alcoholic, but I

don't really know. I drink -- alot. I've always drank. Everyone Iknow drinks a lot. I never reallythought I had a problem -- latelythough it seems like maybe I do. Ijust want to be able to drink abeer without it turning into twenty-- or wetting my bed.

(beat)

It seems like every time I drinksomething awful happens. All theshit that I used to laugh off isn'treally funny anymore. The dumbdrunk stuff has gone fromembarrassing to scary.

(beat)

I'm kinda...scared.

Kate stops. Looks around self-consciously.

CUT TO BLACK.

A SERIES OF short, quick scenes:

FADE IN:

35 INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - DAY 35

Kate sits at her desk grading papers. Kate’s hand has an

uncontrollable tremble as she tries to carefully make redchecks on students’ papers. Self-consciously, she steadiesher right hand with her left.

FADE TO BLACK.

*

FADE IN:

36 INT. SUBARU (MOVING) - DAY

Kate shovels chocolate chips from the bag into her mouthwhile driving.

FADE TO BLACK.

36

FADE IN:

50.

37 INT. CHURCH - AA MEETING ROOM - NIGHT

Kate is at a meeting -- talking to Jenny.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

37

*

38 EXT. KATE & CHARLIE’S HOUSE - BACKYARD - NIGHT 38

While Kate and Charlie eat dinner, Kate drinks WATER but

focuses on Charlie’s glass of WINE and the slow, careful sipshe takes.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

39 INT. KATE & CHARLIE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 39

Charlie and Owen play video games and LAUGH while Kate triesto concentrate on a book -- but is clearly distracted by howloud the guys are.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

40 INT. KATE & CHARLIE’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT 40

Charlie sleeps on the other side of the bed as Kate writes ina notebook. Kate stops writing. She stares at Charlie as hesleeps.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

41 EXT. DOWNTOWN - DAY

Kate rides her bicycle hard. It might even be...exercise?

FADE TO BLACK.

MR. DAVIES (V.O.)

How about ninety days?

FADE IN:

41

51.

42 INT. CHURCH - AA MEETING ROOM - NIGHT 42

EVERYONE is dressed differently, some people have differenthair-cuts, etc.

Mr. Davies stands up, holding a PLASTIC CASE.

MR. DAVIES

Is there anyone here who has ninetydays of continuous sobriety?

Kate stands up -- she looks way more "together" than she did

earlier. She gives Mr. Davies a hug -- and he hands her a “90DAY CHIP.”

KATE:

I'm Kate. I'm an alcoholic.

Everyone CLAPS.

Hi, Kate.

EVERYONE:

Kate sits down next to Jenny and gives her a hug. *

JENNY:

(whispered)

Congratulations.

*

43 EXT. JENNY’S CATERING BUSINESS - NIGHT 43 *

Kate -- who eats a piece of CAKE -- sits on a patio with

Jenny, Mr. Davies, and several other PEOPLE from AA.

*

*

JENNY:

I'm really proud of you, Kate.

*

KATE:

I kinda can't believe it's been

ninety days.

(beat)

The longest I've gone since highschool without drinking was, like,

a week.

MR. DAVIES

My first three months were suchhell. I think I'm only sober todaybecause I just never want to gothrough that again.

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