Still Alice Page #9

ALICE:

Mostly fine.

TOM:

Really?

ALICE:

Yeah. I use this thing. You know,

instead of a memory. It reminds me

to take my medications and thingslike that.

Alice produces her iPhone.

TOM:

It’s nice how technology can help.

Alice starts to open up her iPhone calendar.

ALICE:

Lydia, what time is the play?

LYDIA:

It’s eight o’clock.

CHARLIE:

Are you nervous about tomorrow?

LYDIA:

Yes. It’ll be find once I’m upthere, but I’ll definitely have toblock all of you out.

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ALICE:

I’m sorry, what time did you say itwas again?

LYDIA:

Eight o’clock.

ANNA:

Mom, you don’t have to schedule it.

It’s ok.

ALICE:

No, no. I want to put it in! And

where is it?

LYDIA:

The Saugatuck theater.

ALICE:

Can you spell that?

ANNA:

Come on, Mom - it’s not like we’regoing to forget to bring you.

LYDIA:

Just let her do it. S - A - U - G -

(carries on)

ANNA:

(under her breath)

Oh God.

TOM:

Anna, you’re not helping.

ANNA:

No, you’re not helping. Why shouldshe have to worry about rememberingsomething that she doesn’t have toremember?

LYDIA:

Well, if you just let her do it shewon’t worry. What’s the problem?

Don’t talk about her as if she

isn’t sitting right here.

ANNA:

I’m not - I’m talking to her.

Aren’t I, Mom?

ALICE:

Yes. Yes you are.

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ANNA:

And what makes you such an expert?

LYDIA:

Shut up.

ANNA:

Grow up Lydia!

LYDIA:

Suck it!

ANNA:

Oh, that’s very articulate. Well

said.

ALICE:

Girls...

LYDIA:

You want me to show you?

ANNA:

Are you kidding me?

ALICE:

Girls that’s enough!

LYDIA:

Why are you such an a**hole?

John re-enters in the middle of the argument.

ALICE:

Both of you stop it!

JOHN:

What is going on?

An awkward silence.

CHARLIE:

Alice, this is a wonderful spread.

ALICE:

Thank you, Charlie.

INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

With the rest of the family on the balcony, Alice ladles outfruit while Lydia folds napkins.

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ALICE:

Lydia. Baby. I have a feelingthat we argued about somethingyesterday but I can’t remember whatit was about.

LYDIA:

It was nothing, honestly.

ALICE:

No, I know I upset you. I should

apologize.

LYDIA:

No. I should apologize. I’m - I

feel really bad. I was so

insensitive yesterday. Will you

forgive me? Honestly?

ALICE:

But what for?

Lydia sighs.

LYDIA:

It was about you not respecting myprivacy. And I don’t want that,

and I take it back - completely.

And I’m sorry.

ALICE:

I’m sorry. It’s not as if I can

remember it.

LYDIA:

I know.

Alice laughs. Lydia takes a long look at her Mom.

LYDIA:

What is it like? I mean what does

it actually feel like?

ALICE:

Well, it’s not always the same. I

have good days and bad days. On my

good days, I can almost pass for a

normal person. But on my bad days,

I feel like I can’t find myself.

(MORE)

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ALICE (cont'd)

I’ve always been so defined by my

intellect, my language, my

articulation, and now sometimes I

can see the words hanging in front

of me and I can’t reach them and I

don’t know who I am and I don’t

know what I’m going to lose next.

LYDIA:

It sounds horrible.

They pick up some bowls and head outside.

ALICE:

Thanks for asking.

INT. LIDO BEACH HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT

Alice finishes cleaning her teeth. As John enters the

bathroom, she comes into the bedroom, ready for sleep.

She is about to climb into bed, when she notices something.

Under the covers is an old-fashioned school notebook, withthe label Lydia Howland Journal. There’s a yellow post-it onit that says “No Secrets.” Alice is deeply moved.

ALICE:

Oh, Lydia...

INT. SAUGATUCK STREET THEATRE

In small community theater, Lydia is on stage, playing Irinain Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS. All three sisters are on stage.

MASHA speaks. The family watches Lydia.

MASHA:

They are leaving us. One has quite

left us, quite and for ever. We

remain alone, to begin our life

over again. We must live... we

must live....

LYDIA/IRINAThere will come a time when

everybody will know why, for whatpurpose, there is all thissuffering, and there will be nomore mysteries. But now we mustlive...

IN THE AUDIENCE:

Watching Lydia perform, Alice is calmly attentive.

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BACK ON STAGE:

LYDIA/IRINA

...we must work, just work! Tomorrow,

I'll go away alone, andI'll teach and give my whole lifeto those who may perhaps, need it.

It's autumn now, soon it will bewinter, the snow will covereverything, and I shall be working,

just working....

IN THE AUDIENCE:

Abruptly, there’s resounding APPLAUSE.

John stands, smiling, clapping. Alice follows suit.

ON STAGE:

Lydia and the rest of the cast take their bows.

INT. BACKSTAGE - CORRIDOR

We follow Alice from behind, as she walks backstage followingher family. The corridor is crowded with FRIENDS OF THE CAST.

INT. BACKSTAGE - DRESSING ROOMS

The family greets Lydia, who’s just emerged from the dressing

room. There’s a cacophony of voices, as Charlie, Tom, John,

and Anna all chime in on Lydia’s performance.

ANNA:

There she is! Hey, you were

amazing.

JOHN:

Miss Howland, would you sign this

for me?

When Alice arrives, Lydia comes into focus. Alice chooses

her words carefully.

ALICE:

It was just wonderful. I found it

so easy to empathize with her. You

really caught her despair, but alsoher joy.

This pleases Lydia enormously.

LYDIA:

Thank you. Awesome.

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ALICE:

So will we get to see you in

anything else this summer?

Lydia’s looks at her nervously, her eyes scanning hermother’s face, but she keeps her emotion in check.

LYDIA:

No, this is the only job I got.

ALICE:

Oh so you’re here just for theseason?

LYDIA:

Yeah -

Tears well in Lydia’s eyes - but she does not have the heartto contradict Alice’s misunderstanding.

ANNA:

Mom! Mom, this is Lydia. Your

daughter.

ALICE:

...I know that.

John looks on worried. Lydia tries to keep theconversation going.

LYDIA:

Thanks for coming, to see me.

This is so weird, it’s like

embarrassing.

ALICE:

Don’t be embarrassed. Please,

don’t be.

INT. DR. BENJAMIN’S OFFICE - DAY

We see Alice gradually coming into focus.

ALICE:

Giraffe...Hammer...Comb.

Oh I know what that is. It’s like

a chicken. But it’s not..

The card shows a duck.

ALICE:

It’s...it’s a duck!

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DR. BENJAMIN

How about this one?

ALICE:

Basketball.

He puts the cards down.

DR. BENJAMIN

Can you spell water backwards for

me?

ALICE:

Well, let me try it forwards first.

She holds her fingers up one by one. John looks veryuncomfortable.

ALICE:

W...A...T...E...R. So backwards...

(folding down her fingers)

R...E...T...

(she hesitates)

A...W!

DR. BENJAMIN

Very good.

Alice nods - pleased to have completed the task.

DR. BENJAMIN

Now do you remember the name I gaveyou a few minutes ago?

ALICE:

I feel as though you always tell meand I never remember it.

DR. BENJAMIN

Was it John Black, John White, JohnJones, or John Smith?

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