The Florida Project Page #14

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kid while she’s off making money.

How am I supposed to make any

money, huh? How?

CASE WORKER:

So...

HALLEY:

So what?

CASE WORKER:

So will you take a drug test for

DCF?

HALLEY:

You know I smoke. But that’s it.

CASE WORKER:

Refuse the test and start flushing

your system.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - LOBBY - DAY

Bobby smokes a cigarette. Moonee hides in the enclave.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

(to Moonee)

Want to come out here and talk with

me, Moonee?

Moonee just shakes her head.

86.

DCF INVESTIGATOR (CONT’D)

(to Bobby)

Are you aware of any possible

neglect of this child? The child

being left unattended, going

hungry, being in the room while

the mother is engaging in illegal

activity.

Bobby thinks for a moment.

BOBBY:

If I did, you would have heard from

me.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

Can you tell me the kinds of stuff

you do each day, Moonee?

Silence.

DCF INVESTIGATOR (CONT’D)

You ever swim in the pool?

MOONEE:

Yeah. Duh.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - LOBBY - DAY

The case worker continues to speak with Halley.

CASE WORKER:

Okay, well then, DCF has opened an

investigation. She’s going to be

collecting evidence based on the

accusations. She could be back here

by the end of the week. Hopefully

there is nothing to find. You

understand?

Halley just stares.

CASE WORKER (CONT’D)

Now, I have to warn you. Staying

unemotional when they return is in

your best interest. You do what you

did today and your actions will be

considered detrimental to Moonee.

This will not help your case in any

way. You understand?

87.

Halley’s eyebrows raise -- the ultimate sarcastic,

belligerent expression that has “you can go f*** yourself”

written all over it.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - NIGHT

Moonee is asleep while Halley lies next to her smoking a

cigarette and fighting the tears. Finally, she gets up out of

bed and begins pounding the floor with her foot repeatedly.

Moonee stirs.

MOONEE:

What’s going on?

HALLEY:

Nothing. Go back to bed.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

Halley and Moonee clean up the room.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - OFFICE - DAY

Bobby, Narek and the DCF Investigator are crammed in the back

office.

BOBBY:

You understand that we don’t have

to let them review this, right? Let

them get a subpoena.

NAREK:

Are you crazy? You want a court

case against Magic Castle? That’s

the last thing I need. They can

review all they want. Plus, this is

about the possible neglect of a

child.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

Thank you.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - LAUNDRY AREA - DAY

Halley approaches Bertha who is folding towels.

HALLEY:

I have a present for you.

Halley hands over a bag of weed.

88.

HALLEY (CONT’D)

This is for you. But make sure you

smoke all of it.

BERTHA:

Thank you.

HALLEY:

Enjoy that sh*t for me.

BERTHA:

Hey. Halley. Don’t worry. It will

all be okay.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - LOBBY - DUSK

Bobby walks out of the lobby. Three CRANES stare back at him,

refusing to budge.

Bobby shoos them off the driveway. They slowly move off the

asphalt.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - PARKING LOT - PICNIC TABLES - DAY

Moonee and Halley sit on the picnic tables. They are painting

each other’s toenails. They decide to paint each toe a

different color.

They watch as Ashley exits her room with Scooty (this is the

first time we see her post-beatdown). She is bruised badly.

She walks him down the stairs to Room 246.

Ashley then walks silently across the parking lot and down

the driveway in her Waffle Home uniform.

It begins raining hard. The two don’t mind.

HALLEY:

Adventure?

EXT. FIELD - RAIN - DAY

Halley and Moonee run and frolic in the rain.

EXT. ALLEY WAY - DAY

Halley and Moonee run through puddles after the rain.

89.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - BATHROOM - NIGHT

Moonee is in the bath, Halley is washing her hair.

EXT./INT. CALYPSO CAY - BUFFET ROOM - DAY

Halley takes Moonee to a much nicer hotel down Route 192

where they go in and partake in the free breakfast buffet.

Moonee is most excited about how she can make her own waffles

that are shaped as a famous mouse.

Moonee is ecstatic about the delicious food she is eating.

Halley tries her best to converse with her daughter but

spends most of the time holding back tears. (This scene will

be shot holding on Moonee’s face as she eats).

MOONEE:

I wish forks were made of candy.

(beat)

Then I could eat the forks after my

meal.

(beat)

We gotta come here all the time.

(beat)

Mom, you look busted.

(beat)

I’m going to put a strawberry,

raspberry and bacon in my mouth at

the same time.

Moonee continues to stuff her face. A HOTEL WORKER (female,

20’s) walks over, eyeing them.

HOTEL WORKER:

Could I get your room number?

HALLEY:

323.

HOTEL WORKER:

Thank you.

Halley winks at Moonee. Moonee lets out a little smirk.

Moonee continues to eat as Halley sits in silence, her watery

eyes watching her daughter at her happiest.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

Halley and Moonee come back from breakfast and walk by two

police cars in the parking lot.

90.

The Case Worker, DCF Investigator, a DCF WORKER and Bobby are

accompanied by a DCF SUPERVISOR and TWO SHERIFFS.

Halley and Moonee make it to their room. Halley pushes past

everyone and opens her room. She turns around and faces

everyone.

HALLEY:

Can I help you? Because you’ll need

a court order to get me to take a

drug test.

CASE WORKER:

Halley, these DCF officers are here

in regards to Moonee.

HALLEY:

You wanna inspect my room? Be our

guest.

The group follows Halley inside the room.

HALLEY (CONT’D)

Wanna shake my cereal boxes to

check for buried treasure? Look

inside my fridge?

DCF INVESTIGATOR

Halley?

HALLEY:

What? What do you want?

DCF INVESTIGATOR

We have security footage that shows

nine different men entering and

exiting your room over the last

three weeks.

BOBBY:

Uh, why don’t you take little

Moonee outside so you can talk

privately.

The case worker escorts Moonee outside the room.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

We’ve also obtained an online

classified ad soliciting costumers

for sexual activities with your

phone number attached.

Halley takes a moment to make eye contact with each person.

91.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

MOONEE:

Go? For how many days?

CASE WORKER:

It’ll only be temporary.

MOONEE:

What’s temporary?

CASE WORKER:

That just means for a little bit of

time, can we do that? There will be

lots and lots of toys, okay?

MOONEE:

I guess so.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

DCF INVESTIGATOR

...but luckily we have a family in

Polk County that can take her for

the entire course of the

investigation.

Halley remains calm and collected. Bobby watches silently.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

MOONEE:

Can I say goodbye to my friend

Scooty?

CASE WORKER:

We don’t call it a goodbye but you

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