The Florida Project Page #15

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can give your friend a hug. And

you’ll see them soon. I’ll check to

see if that’s okay.

The case worker peers back into the room.

CASE WORKER (CONT’D)

She wants to say bye to her friend.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

A nod of approval from inside.

92.

DCF WORKER:

I’ll take her.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

My colleague will take Moonee

downstairs to say goodbye. In the

meantime, it'd be great if you

could pack her a bag, also maybe a

favorite doll or toy.

Halley silently complies.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - 3RD AND 2ND FLOOR WALKWAY - DAY

Moonee is escorted down to Room 223 by the case worker. They

knock on the door. Ashley answers.

ASHLEY:

Yes?

DCF WORKER:

Hello, Miss. My name is Susan

Watson and I’m with DCF. We have a

quick favor to ask.

MOONEE:

Ashley, what happened to your face?

SCOOTY:

Hi, Moonee. My mom said you’re

leaving?

MOONEE:

It’s a temporary. We can do a hug

or a high-five.

They choose both.

DCF WORKER:

Thank you.

MOONEE:

I hope your eye feels better,

Ashley.

ASHLEY:

Thank you, baby.

SCOOTY:

My mom said you’re going to another

family.

93.

ASHLEY:

Scooty.

DCF WORKER:

Thanks again so much.

Ashley pushes Scooty inside and closes the door as Moonee is

walked back toward the stairs.

MOONEE:

Why did he say I’m going to another

family?

DCF WORKER:

You’re just going to live with them

for a little while.

MOONEE:

Wait, are those cops-- are they

taking my mom away?

DCF WORKER:

No.

MOONEE:

Are they taking me to a stranger

family?

DCF WORKER:

We’re taking you to a nice family.

Just for a little--

MOONEE:

Well I don’t want to.

DCF WORKER:

Okay, Moonee, your mom knows about

this and--

MOONEE:

Stop.

Moonee stops following her up the stairs.

DCF WORKER:

Your mom know about it and says

it’s okay--

MOONEE:

Stop! You want me to get super

angry?

94.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - LAUNDRY AREA - DAY

Bobby has backed off to the back area of the motel where a

WOMAN and CHILD are waiting for their clothes to finish.

BOBBY:

I’m going to fix those other

machines by the end of this week.

WOMAN:

Sure, Bobby.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

Halley is packing Moonee’s clothes in a small bag. She takes

one of the photo booth strips (of Halley and Moonee) off the

mirror and puts it in the bag.

The case worker comes back into the room.

CASE WORKER:

Halley, we need you. She’s being

very emotional right now.

HALLEY:

You want me to help you take my

child away from me? Are you

retarded? You stupid, right?

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - 2ND FLOOR STAIRS - DAY

Moonee refuses to take another step back up towards the

police.

MOONEE:

I want to say goodbye to Jancey.

DCF WORKER:

Which room does Jancey live in?

MOONEE:

She’s at FutureLand.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

We have to go. We can’t go over

there right now. You’ll be seeing

your friends soon.

MOONEE:

No, I won’t. That’s a lie.

95.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

HALLEY:

You're literally asking me to help

you take away my f***ing kid.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

Halley, calm down.

HALLEY:

Calm down? You want f***ing help?

Halley pours everything she just packed up back onto the bed.

DCF INVESTIGATOR

Hey!

HALLEY:

Get the f*** out of my house!

That’s what will help!

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - 2ND FLOOR STAIRS - DAY

Moonee is more agitated.

MOONEE:

You're such a liar!

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

Halley is more agitated.

HALLEY:

You're a f***ing liar!

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - 2ND FLOOR STAIRS - DAY

Moonee pulls away from the DCF Worker.

MOONEE:

STOP!

She breaks free and makes a run for it down the stairs. The

DCF woman lunges for Moonee and trips in the process.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - ACROSS FROM LOBBY - DAY

Moonee runs toward Route 192 alongside the stream next to

Magic Castle. She crosses a damaged wooden bridge.

96.

INT. MAGIC CASTLE - ROOM 323 - DAY

Halley sees commotion outside her room on the walkway.

BOBBY:

Which way did she go?

CASE WORKER:

(pointing)

That way!

BOBBY:

Jesus Christ.

The police officers and Bobby run to the front of the motel.

HALLEY:

What’s going on?

CASE WORKER:

(winded)

Moonee ran away. We think she went

to see her friend at FutureLand.

HALLEY:

You let her just run away?

CASE WORKER:

Please Halley...

HALLEY:

And I’m the one who’s unfit? F***.

YOU!

EXT. ROUTE 192 - DAY

Moonee runs down the sidewalk next to Route 192, passing

familiar sites (Orange World, Wizard Gift Shop, Twistee

Treat, Burned-Down Condos, etc.)

EXT. FUTURELAND INN - JANCEY’S ROOM - DAY

Moonee makes it to Jancey’s room in one piece. She pounds on

the door. Jancey answers the door. Moonee is winded.

MOONEE:

Jancey.

JANCEY:

Hi, Moonee.

97.

Moonee doesn’t speak. She is holding back tears. Police

sirens are heard in the distance. Jancey is confused.

INT. FUTURELAND INN - JANCEY’S ROOM - DAY

Inside, Grandma Stacy tends to a spill from little Luci in

the back of the room.

EXT. FUTURELAND INN - JANCEY’S ROOM - DAY

JANCEY:

Moonee, what’s wrong?

MOONEE:

Please...

JANCEY:

You’re scaring me.

MOONEE:

You’re my best friend. And this may

be the last time I’m going to see

you...

JANCEY:

What’s going on? Moonee?

Jancey is scared. Moonee is frantic. She can no longer hold

back the tears.

MOONEE:

...good bye.

Jancey looks back into her room, then back into Moonee’s

eyes. Jancey grabs Moonee’s hand and darts toward Route 192,

dragging Moonee with her.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - LOBBY - DAY

Bobby sits down on the bench in front of the lobby, pulls out

his last cigarette and lights it up.

EXT. ROUTE 192 - DAY

Jancey leads Moonee on a mad dash across Route 192.

98.

INT. CAR - DAY (TRAVELLING)

Tears run down Halley’s face as she sits solemnly in the

front passenger seat as they circle nearby blocks searching

for Moonee.

EXT. VARIOUS ROUTE 192 LOCATIONS - DAY

Jancey leads Moonee off the beaten path, eventually toward a

phone line in the shape of a certain mouse.

Jancey and Moonee make their way to Route 535 and then Route

I4 leading to the Magic Kingdom.

EXT. ENTRANCE SIGN - DAY

Jancey continues to lead Moonee toward the entrance sign of

the THEME PARK property at an even faster pace.

EXT. THEME PARK ENTRANCE GATES - DAY

Jancey encourages Moonee to hurry up and follow her toward a

big parking lot entrance gate. A MONORAIL whizzes by

overhead.

EXT. THEME PARK - MAIN STREET - DAY

Jancey and Moonee’s little torn-up sneakers run past hundreds

of tourists’ legs, park maps and deflated balloons on the

asphalt of the park’s “Main Street USA”.

Moonee’s feet pick up speed. She hops over a spilled MOUSESHAPED

ICE CREAM BAR. Her feet leap out of frame.

EXT. THEME PARK - DAY

Jancey and Moonee sprint faster than ever...

Weaving through TOURISTS... through CAST MEMBERS...

They race toward a perfect enchanted storybook CASTLE,

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