Stepmom Page #7

LUKE:

(softly)

Hey. You kicked me out.

And just this once. With all that's happened. Jackie needs to

say...

JACKIE:

Maybe you should talk to your

daughter, about why. She seems to

have missed that part.

Now he looks ashamed. And sorry from his heart.

JACKIE:

(softly)

Forget I said that.

He has to tell her...

LUKE:

This thing with Rache. I need this.

I don't want to lose her. And I will

see to it that the kids don't suffer.

Help me, huh?

Help me.

LUKE:

I'd do it for you.

Yes, he would. Despite everything, she knows that.

JACKIE:

One last chance, don't make me

regret it...

Her voice tried to be tough. But the tension showed through.

JACKIE:

...or you will, too.

A last look. She walks slowly. Back toward the house.

EXT. CAR POOL LINE, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - AFTERNOON

The last cars are pulling away. No kids left, except the ones

shooting hoops. Except. On the low brick ledge by the flag

pole...

...Annabelle sits. Alone. Quietly freaking.

INT. RACHEL'S STUDIO - AFTERNOON

Rachel and Cooper sit on a bare floor SURROUNDED by countless

PROOFS of FLYING CANARIES. An assistant brings a cell phone to

Rachel, who holds it in place with her shoulder, as she frantically

sorts through the prints...

RACHEL:

(into phone)

...no, no, that is not possible. You

must have the wrong little gir...

Stops.

RACHEL:

(into phone)

...because Annabelle's mother never

forgets, is never late, is never

imperfect. So that's some other kid

sitting on the curb by the car pool li...

Listen. All the air comes out. She looks around, sadly, at all

the work surrounding her.

COOPER:

May I remind you that Duncan has the

client arriving at exac...

RACHEL:

(into phone)

Sure. I was just doin' my nails.

INT. RADIOLOGY LAB - AFTERNOON

A cavernous sterile room. A horrible METALLIC HAMMERING sound.

PAN to see that it comes from...

...a white cylindrical TUBE. Bare feet protrude. An MRI is in

progress. The sound stops. The body SLIDES from the tube, a woman

in a hospital gown. She is Jackie.

She blinks at the light. Her eyes are drawn, a million miles away.

A lot on her mind. A TECHNICIAN enters the room...

TECHNICIAN:

Your paper went off during the

procedure. Do you want the number?

Jackie turns, suddenly focusing...

JACKIE:

Wait...what time is it?

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

Annabelle sits glumly, refusing to eat some chips from the bag in

Rachel's hand. Rachel's voice is low, soothing. Dare we say,

maternal...

RACHEL:

Hey, sea salt and vinegar, I know

this is your fave.

Annabelle keeps her eyes down. This is more than a sulk. She

seems fairly unglued.

RACHEL:

C'mon, these are the Bomb, I prom...

ANNABELLE:

Now could she just...forget me!

Looks up. Eyes desperate.

ANNABELLE:

I mean, that's something you would do!

Rachel stares back. Eats a chip. Decides...

RACHEL:

(softly)

Tell ya the truth? I did.

The kid blinks. A non-compute.

RACHEL:

Your mom had to...help a friend with

this...emergency? And she called me.

And we switched days. Then, I got

stuck on my shoot, and...

ANNABELLE:

MOMMY!

Rachel WHIRLS to see JACKIE filling the doorway, Annabelle flying

to her mother's arms. The women's eyes meet. How much did she

hear?

INT. JACKIE'S BATHROOM - NIGHT

Jackie brushing out Annabelle's hair. Jackie's eyes are distant.

Annabelle watching in the mirror.

ANNABELLE:

Are you worried about your friend?

With the emergency?

Jackie's eyes come back to focus. Hmmn?

JACKIE:

Oh, I'm waiting on some news, that's

all. Say. Can I ask you why you

never asked me something you probably

asked Daddy anyway?

And she smiles. Real carefree. So Annabelle smiles back.

ANNABELLE:

You can try.

More brushing. Gentler, slower strokes.

JACKIE:

Daddy was washing Rachel. In the

shower. What did you think that was

about?

ANNABELLE:

Sex. Of course.

Oh.

JACKIE:

Well, not exactly s...

ANNABELLE:

Why does Rachel scream?

Does she mean what Jackie thinks she means?

JACKIE:

Scream.

ANNABELLE:

During sex.

Oh. Again.

JACKIE:

How would you know sh...

ANNABELLE:

I live. In the same country.

Her mother laughs. Encouraged...

ANNABELLE:

(imitating)

Oh God oh God Oh God oh God oh God

Oh...

JACKIE:

...why do you think?

ANNABELLE:

Because it feels really incredibly

good.

Jackie moves around. Leans to stare in her eyes.

JACKIE:

So why are you asking me?

ANNABELLE:

I like talking about it. At least,

to you.

The look holds. Almost a bittersweet smile plays on Jackie's lips.

She leans to kiss her daughter's head.

JACKIE:

(a murmur)

Same here, huh?

INT. RACHEL'S DARKROOM - MORNING

TOTAL DARKNESS -- Slowly an IMAGE APPEARS -- Floating in a pool of

water. It's a photo of a child's FEET. Only the wrong shoe is on

the wrong foot. Suddenly, KNOCKING...

RACHEL:

Hold on! Don't let the light...

Jackie enters, leaving the door wide OPEN.

RACHEL:

...in.

JACKIE:

I'm sorry. Look, I'm not real

comfortable being here, but...

RACHEL:

I don't recall inviting you.

Silence.

JACKIE:

I overhead what you told Annabelle.

The lie.

Unreadable faces. What are they feeling?

RACHEL:

I have a snoop.

JACKIE:

I didn't need you to take the blame

for me, I'm quite...

RACHEL:

(simply)

I didn't do it for you. Believe me.

And Jackie. Finds that interesting.

RACHEL:

(shrugs)

She already hates me. You've seen to

that.

JACKIE:

You're not terribly good at taking

care of h...

RACHEL:

I need practice.

JACKIE:

Those are my children you're

practicing on. They deserve first-

rate care. Every minute. Of every

night. And every day.

More silence.

JACKIE:

So why did y...

RACHEL:

I did it for her.

Straight to her eyes.

RACHEL:

Poor kid has to believe in someone.

Even if it's you.

Nothing friendly about it. But Jackie hasn't come seeking

friendship.

JACKIE:

I have an appointment this after-

noon. I need someone to take them

to the park.

RACHEL:

What? And have Federal agents jump

out of the bushes with court orders?

How many years do you get in this

state for giving second-rate care to

minors?

Hard looks. All around.

JACKIE:

However many. It's not enough.

RACHEL:

I'm already on thin ice. Yesterday,

I actually thought my boss was going

to fire me.

JACKIE:

Fine, forget it.

But neither of them wants her to. A Mexican Standoff. Until

Jackie empties her huge purse on the counter.

JACKIE:

Bandaids for cuts. Bandaids for new

shoe blisters. Packet of Wash n Dri's.

Kleenex. Sugar free lollipops, potty

seat covers for public restrooms...

RACHEL:

Why not just bring the whole toilet?

JACKIE:

Ben likes to be read to. Do you know

Dr. Seuss...?

RACHEL:

Not personally.

JACKIE:

Do you have a word limit you need to

hit every day or can I finish?

This silences Rachel. Jackie hands her a Post It.

JACKIE:

Here's their schedule for this after-

noon. I'll meet you at the park at

five. All I ask is that they're alive

when I get there.

A beat.

RACHEL:

(dry)

Thank you.

And scoops up the parenting paraphernalia.

JACKIE:

(drier)

Thank you.

And walks out the door.

INT. STUDIO CORRIDOR - MORNING

Jackie stands outside a door. Deciding. She knocks and enters...

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