Stepmom Page #9

Jackie sits next to Luke on the couch -- looking lovingly towards the

children, who sit across from them. Annabelle is taping this...

JACKIE:

The great thing about life is that

things keep changing.

LUKE:

Remember when Mommy and Daddy got

divorced?

JACKIE:

And we all went through that together?

ON Ben. OH MY GOD. He knew it!

ON ANNABELLE -- Behind the video camera -- Where's this headed?

LUKE:

Well things are going to change

again...

Ben LEAPS up from the couch and FLIES into Jackie's arms.

BEN:

I knew it! I knew it! I knew you

guys were getting back together!

Jackie looks at Luke. Annabelle ZOOMS IN on their faces.

ANNABELLE:

No they're not.

LUKE:

Annabelle put down that camera.

She ZOOMS in on his face.

LUKE:

Put down that goddamn camera!

ANNABELLE:

You owe me a quarter.

JACKIE:

Look she's upset --

ANNABELLE:

No I'm not. I don't care. Why should

I care? I mean nobody asked me when

you got divorced. Nobody asked me if

I wanted a new mother. Nobody even

asked me if I like her. If you guys

don't care about our family staying

together, why sh...

JACKIE:

Daddy and I tried hard. We really did.

BEN:

No you didn't! All you guys did was

name call! I heard you! You didn't

even try and use your words!

Ben runs out of the room. Luke follows him.

INT. BEN'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ben pulls his cape over his head and hides in a bundle in the

corner.

BEN:

I'm disappearing. I'm almost

invisible...

LUKE:

(holding him)

I'll find you wherever you go...my

magic boy...I'm still your daddy...

nothing will ever change that.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Jackie moves to Annabelle who won't put down the camera.

JACKIE:

Annabelle...Rachel's not taking my place

as your mother -- it's just Daddy's chance

to be happy again. Isn't that what we

all want for each other?

No answers. Jackie looks at this daughter she loves so much. Pats

the seat beside her...

JACKIE:

Come. Sit.

Something in the softening of the tone changes the atmosphere in

the room. More real. More like equals.

JACKIE:

Life is full of hard things. And we

can't always have what we want, you

know that.

Don't you? Annabelle nods, cautiously.

JACKIE:

But we do have a choice. To make it

better. Instead of worse.

ANNABELLE:

Like how?

JACKIE:

Like seeing the good side of Rachel.

So she'll see the good side of us.

Annabelle's stare is hard and questioning. She didn't expect this.

JACKIE:

Because I'm looking ahead. And you

know what I see...?

Annabelle doesn't. But she sure is listening.

JACKIE:

Time will come. When we all need to

be there. For each other.

Strokes her baby's hair.

JACKIE:

That happens. To families.

ANNABELLE:

(straight back)

I'll be there for you.

Her mother's eyes cloud with feeling. A murmured...

JACKIE:

I'm counting on it.

INT. RACHEL'S AND LUKE'S KITCHEN - LATE AFTERNOON

Barely any light in the empty kitchen. PAN to see Ben, alone, in

his cape. Carefully, he sets a cup of saucer atop a cloth napkin

that lies across the butcher block table.

He GRASPS the corners of the napkin. He looks scared. We get

what's about to happen. As he...

...YANKS the napkin, as FAST as he can, the cup and saucer, RATTLE

and...

...stay put.

Ben. Is astounded.

And then he looks up. To a cabinet filled. With glassware and

china.

INT. RACHEL'S AND LUKE'S BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

...Rachel's HAND as a beautiful ANTIQUE RING is slipped on her

finger. She is asleep. Then, she...

...stirs, wakes. Stares at her hand in shock and delight.

RACHEL:

Oh my God. Are you serious?

LUKE:

(tenderly)

I think so...What do you think?

RACHEL:

I think so too...

They hold each other for a long time.

LUKE:

It's forever you know.

RACHEL:

(trying to read him)

Okay...Is that the good thing or the

bad thing?

LUKE:

Because I can't hurt anyone like

this ever again.

She grins.

RACHEL:

How did you hurt someone? She threw

you out, remember?

He does. She hugs him tight.

RACHEL:

Everything's gonna work out. The

kids and I...we're going to love

each other.

LUKE:

Rache, it may take time.

RACHEL:

What's eight, ten years? Hell, you'll

still be ambulatory. I think.

She's counting on her fingers. He kisses her.

RACHEL:

It's inevitable. Look, I was

defensive, I was insecure. I was

afraid to love first.

Her incredible smile. Filling even Luke with confidence.

RACHEL:

But I'm not anymore.

A sudden horrific CRASHING sound. The breakage of the breakable.

Their look holds.

RACHEL:

I'll get this.

A quick kiss. And she's gone.

HOLD on Luke's light smile. Maybe this will all work out.

INT. BEN'S ROOM - LATE NIGHT

Ben is cuddled up in his coverlet. Almost as if he's hiding. She

picks up some stray underpants. Actually, three of them.

BEN:

Are you real mad?

RACHEL:

How could I be? We learned some

magic...

She goes to his bed. Sits down.

RACHEL:

I made all the pieces disappear.

Oh. She leans toward him...

RACHEL:

And you learned...

She kisses his forehead. Very sweetly.

RACHEL:

...to make that trick disappear,

huh?

He nods. Big time. She stands, smiles...

RACHEL:

(softly)

A night. Of learning.

They share the smile. And Rachel leaves, into the darkened hall.

Down it now, only to...

...stop. Open a door, so quietly. Silently enter...

INT. ANNABELLE'S ROOM - LATE NIGHT

...the room of a sleeping child. Rachel moves soundlessly to

Annabelle's side. Stares down. Listens to the soft breathing.

She straightens the covers slightly, in a maternal way. Then, on

impulse, reaches down...

...tenderly smooths back a strand of hair. One last look. And

she...

...leaves frame. HOLD on Annabelle, as we hear the knob turn. The

door close. Alone, now...

Annabelle opens her eyes. She is thinking.

EXT. JACKIE'S HOUSE - DAY

Rachel dropping off Annabelle at Jackie's door. They must be late,

because Rachel is looking anxiously at her watch. Not even

noticing that Annabelle has pulled out a tube of LIP GLOSS, turning

the shaft to reveal a glittering golden-colored gloss. Then...

RACHEL:

Uh. Put that away, hon, your mom w...

The door OPENS. Jackie is dressed for riding.

RACHEL:

(sincere)

Sorry I'm late, I got lost dropping

Ben off at Kevin's.

JACKIE:

It's okay, it's twenty minutes. The

horse'll be there.

Rachel blinks. Is she on the right planet?

ANNABELLE:

Mom, look what Rache got me!

Uh-oh. The kid holds it up.

ANNABELLE:

It's not to wear around, or any-

thing, I'm way too young. It's

just for play.

RACHEL:

See, I...

JACKIE:

(taking it)

That is so pretty. You usually only

see that color in people's teeth.

Annabelle has entered the house, to see on a table by the door a

huge, brightly-wrapped PACKAGE.

ANNABELLE:

Wow. Who's that for?

JACKIE:

(quietly)

Well. It's for you.

The kid WHIRLS around. Really?

JACKIE:

Just because. Just because I love

you. Go ahead...

Annabelle starts to unwrap the present with Christmas-morning-care.

Jackie looks at the glitter gloss...

RACHEL:

I'm sorry, I just...

JACKIE:

Hey. At least it's not an editing

machine.

RACHEL:

No way. I told her two, three years,

maybe, for such an expens...

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