Smashed Page #9

60.

KATE (CONT’D)

(conceding)

Go on...

Charlie KNOCKS.

FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)

S’minute!

KATE:

(under her breath)

Oh, God...

The door opens, revealing -

-- ROCHELLE:
late-50’s, wears an old shredded heavy metal

band T-shirt and tight ripped-up jeans, looks like she enjoys

an afternoon drink or three.

ROCHELLE:

(surprised)

Katie!

Rochelle wraps her arms around Kate.

ROCHELLE (CONT’D)

What’re you doing here?

KATE:

I left you a message, mom.

ROCHELLE:

Oh, you know I don’t check that

thing.

(notices Charlie; slightly

flirty)

Hello there, young man.

CHARLIE:

Hi, Ms. Foster.

ROCHELLE:

Well, then...

(beat)

...what a lovely surprise -- you

two came to visit. Hell has frozen

over.

(laughs)

Just kidding. Come inside -- let me

fix you both some drinks.

KATE:

Just water for me.

61.

Rochelle LAUGHS as she leads the way. Kate glances at Charlie

-- she already seems slightly annoyed.

50 INT. KATE’S MOTHER’S HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY 50

Kate and Charlie sit down.

The place is a MESS. Magazines and junkmail everywhere. Too

much furniture thrown together in a chaotic manner. The walls

are covered with framed HEAVY METAL BAND POSTERS -- and there

are ASHTRAYS everywhere, filled to the brim with cigarette

butts.

ROCHELLE (O.S.)

...you wouldn’t believe how much

the neighborhood’s changed! After

Mr. Baker passed away and the kids

put Mrs. Baker in a home, the

people that moved in, oof!

Rochelle walks in holding a tray with THREE GIN AND TONICS.

ROCHELLE (CONT’D)

It’s like they don’t even

understand the concept of birth

control in their country!

Rochelle hands Charlie a glass and then goes to Kate and puts

a drink on the table in front of her.

ROCHELLE (CONT’D)

(confides)

If you ask me, I think it’s a meth

house.

(beat)

They’ve always got those little

five year old twins “playing” in

the yard, but I’m pretty sure

they’re the lookouts.

KATE:

That’s pretty wild, mom.

ROCHELLE:

Right?

(notices that Kate hasn’t

touched her drink)

What’s wrong, honey? Think I forgot

how to mix ‘em?

KATE:

I told you I just wanted water.

62.

ROCHELLE:

Oh, please! Where I’m from, “no”

means “yes.”

(to Charlie)

Am I right or am I right?

CHARLIE:

(forcing it)

Huh-huh...

KATE:

That’s actually why I wanted to

come up, mom.

(beat)

I stopped drinking.

Rochelle LAUGHS -- then realizes Kate and Charlie aren’t

joking.

ROCHELLE:

(quickly serious)

Are you telling me I’m going to be

a grandma?

Rochelle tears up with joy.

ROCHELLE (CONT’D)

Oh -- that’s so exciting! I’m gonna

be a grandma!

(to Charlie)

And you know that “no drinking when

you’re pregnant” thing is just a

myth. I drank plenty when I was

pregnant with Kate -- and look how

she turned out!

Beat.

KATE:

I’m not pregnant, mom.

ROCHELLE:

Oh.

KATE:

I just needed a break. I’m sober

for the first time in years.

ROCHELLE:

Well...

(dismissive)

...we’ll see how long that lasts.

63.

KATE:

It’s been a while, actually.

CHARLIE:

(chimes in)

90 days.

ROCHELLE:

(to Kate)

You’ve sure picked the right

partner --

(gestures to Charlie)

-- for this little mission.

CHARLIE:

(defensive)

Hey -- I’m not drinking

either...today.

KATE:

(to Charlie; slightly

annoyed)

Drink if you want to, Charlie.

(to Rochelle)

Charlie didn’t stop drinking. I’m

doing it by myself.

(beat)

And...I started going to 12-step

meetings.

Rochelle looks slightly disgusted.

ROCHELLE:

Ah...yes. A**holes Anonymous.

(to Charlie)

Katie’s father went to those

meetings a few years after we got

married. Dried up. Left me. You can

see how well that worked out for

me...

(Rochelle gestures to her

living room)

...I raised his daughter in this

PALACE while he’s somewhere in

Florida with his shiny new wife and

kids.

(beat)

Bastard.

(long beat; to Charlie)

You better be careful -- they

change.

Kate and Charlie exchange a glance.

64.

KATE:

I thought you’d be happy for me,

mom.

ROCHELLE:

Oh...I’m sorry -- I’m not being a

good hostess, am I?

Rochelle gets up, takes the drink away from Kate, and chugs

it.

ROCHELLE (CONT’D)

I’ll microwave you your favorite.

A FEW MOMENTS LATER

Charlie, Kate, and Rochelle watch a REALITY TV SHOW -- while

eating...

...MCDONALDS CHEESEBURGERS. *

Rochelle rests her head on Kate’s shoulder.

ROCHELLE (CONT’D)

I’m sorry if I acted like a b*tch.

KATE:

It’s okay, mom. I know you can’t

help it.

EXT. LAKE ARROWHEAD - SANTA’S VILLAGE - DAY 51

Kate and Charlie wander around Santa’s Village --

-- an abandoned Christmas-themed amusement park (with giant

ginger bread houses, plastic Christmas trees, etc.) in the

middle of the woods. Creepy and nostalgic at the same time.

Looks like the set of a Christmas horror film.

Kate holds Charlie’s hand as she leads him around.

KATE:

This place shut down a decade ago

and then there was a fire and now

it’s basically abandoned.

Charlie seems totally impressed by the weirdness of the

place.

KATE (CONT’D)

We came here every year the week

before Christmas.

(MORE)

65.

KATE (CONT’D)

And then I worked here in high

school -- selling hot chocolate.

And they had real reindeer, too.

They kept ‘em over there.

Kate points at the remains of a PEN.

KATE (CONT’D)

My mom worked here when she was

younger. I think everyone who grew *

up around here worked at Santa’s

Village at some point.

Charlie just nods and listens -- he’s in awe of this place.

KATE (CONT’D)

This is what I think of when I

think of Christmas.

(long beat)

Thanks for coming up here with me.

CHARLIE:

Of course.

KATE:

I’m sorry my mom’s so awful.

CHARLIE:

(shrugs)

She just can’t handle her liquor.

Kate and Charlie look in each other’s eyes. Seem to have a

moment. And then Charlie asks -

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

Did you ever hook up with guys when

you worked here?

KATE:

Huh?

CHARLIE:

You know -- sneak off with a coworker

and do it against a pine

tree or something?

KATE:

Um...no.

66.

CHARLIE:

I mean, if I were a teenage boyworking with a stone cold fox likeyou I’d totally want to hook up

with you here. Like...in the gingerbread house.

Charlie puts his arms around Kate.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

You were probably the coolest girlin town -- and the prettiest. I’m

sure everyone was in love with you.

Kate giggles. They kiss. It’s sweet.

52 OMITTED 52 *

53 INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - DAY 53

Kate walks in to her class to find -SURPRISE!

TEACHERS:

-- a GROUP OF TEACHERS -- including Principal Barnes and Mr.

Davies -- standing in the room, which has been decked out for

a ---

BABY SHOWER.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

I couldn’t keep quiet. Sorry. I

just had to tell everyone so wecould celebrate.

KATE:

(shock)

Oh...you shouldn’t have.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

You don’t have to thank me -- just

open your presents!

Kate looks at her desk which is stacked with PRESENTS wrappedin pink and baby blue wrapping paper. There’s also a CAKE.

KATE:

Wow...

Go ahead.

PRINCIPAL BARNES

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