The Incredible Jessica James Page #7

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as you pass the pet store.

What? We're passing the pet store?

Where are we going?

That's a good question.

Where are we going?

I don't know. This is your game.

Yeah, but it's up to you

to decide where we go next.

Uh, hey.

- Ms. James?

- Oh, hey.

What are you doing over here?

Where's your mom?

Oh, she's waiting for me

around the corner.

Is everything okay?

Well, my dad got your message.

Can you just tell him

I'm sorry about that?

He told me to tell you that he's glad

that you haven't been broken by life yet.

And, uh, I can go to the writer's weekend.

- What, are you serious?

- Yeah.

Yes! Yes, yes.

Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

This is amazing.

This is the best news I've heard in weeks.

I'm so excited.

- This is gonna be great.

- Huh. Yeah, yeah, great.

What's wrong?

My dad's still taking my brother

to Six Flags.

So?

So? Six Flags seems pretty awesome.

Are you kidding me?

I thought you were serious

about this program?

I am.

Obviously not, if you're gonna ditch,

so that you can go ride roller coasters.

I don't know.

I haven't made up my mind yet.

You know what? Forget it.

Just do whatever you want, Shandra.

Why should I care if you don't?

I didn't say I didn't care.

Obviously, you don't. I have to go.

Wait.

Are you mad at me?

I'm not mad at you.

I'm just really disappointed.

Look, you have to go

to this writer's weekend, okay?

Otherwise,

I'll be super hurt if you don't.

That's not fair!

Wake up, Shandra.

Since when is life supposed to be fair?

You know what? Whatever.

I'll send you a postcard from Six Flags.

Coming.

Hey.

Booty call.

What are you doing here?

Oh, uh, sorry I didn't let you know

I was coming.

It's just my phone died earlier,

and I kind of had a shitty day, so...

Oh, I'm sorry.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Uh, I wish... I wish you called.

Do you want to go for a walk or something?

I...

- I got pickles in here.

- Um...

- Hey, I'm gonna get out of here.

- Oh, f***.

Just hold on a minute.

Hi.

You must be Mandy Moore.

I'm Jessica James.

It's really nice to meet you.

I love your work.

I love the way you shoot carrots.

- Thank you.

- Jess.

You suck balls.

I got to go.

Jess, hold on.

- Jess.

- What?

- Wait.

- No.

Jess, come on!

She was just delivering

a Windsurfing Magazine

that keeps getting sent

to her place by accident.

Then, you know, we got talking.

You weren't just talking.

Don't bullshit me.

- Yes.

- Where's your shirt?

Okay, yeah. I'm sorry.

But you, more than anyone,

must realize what it's like

to have a history with someone.

Those feelings don't just evaporate.

Yeah, no. I understand.

Nothing works out, people let you down,

and you should never trust anybody ever.

I've known that since I was a kid.

We were f***ing married, Jess.

Our families watched us say,

"Till death do you part" together.

I mean, it's...

It's a little bigger than just saying,

"Oh, maybe I'm in love with this guy."

Oh, my gosh. Wow, I'm sorry.

I didn't realize that my feelings

weren't as valid as yours.

- That's not what I meant. I'm sorry.

- Okay.

- That...

- Wait a second. You windsurf?

- Yeah. I windsurf.

- Come on, man.

- I like the sensation of being at sea.

- Mm.

You would like it. You should come.

No, I'm good. And you know what?

What?

- Mature.

- Yeah.

Jessica.

What?

I really like you.

Yeah, Boone. Of course, you do.

Everybody does. I'm freaking dope.

F***.

- You got everyone?

- Almost.

Should we wait?

No, we can go.

Got you.

The Notebook.

No, or like, The Cat and The Dog.

Romeo and Juliet, you know

how, like, they're in different worlds.

And, like, they're not allowed

to be together.

It's cat and dog...

I'm gonna write another story

about a mega-ultron cookie bird.

D plus C...

- Equals...

- Equals five.

How do you spell five?

It's supposed to be, apparently,

like a spiritual journey.

- Excuse me?

- Hi.

- Hey, you're Sarah Jones, right?

- Yes.

Oh, I don't know why I asked that.

I knew it was you.

Just...

I really think about you a lot.

I really do.

You are fierce and passionate,

and unapologetic.

And I love the way

you write your characters,

and I love the way you write women. Um...

And I just...

I'm so thankful that you're here.

And the kids are really thankful

that you're here.

I mean, not as thankful as I am

just because I, like, love you.

I really do. I... And I...

You're like six feet almost. I'm six feet.

Uh, what is your name?

Oh, it's Jessica. It's Jessica James.

That was really weird of me to do.

- And I'm sorry. I'm blabbing.

- No, don't worry.

- Um, can I ask you something?

- Yeah, sure.

When did you know

that you were gonna make it?

That's a big question. Uh...

I guess I would say

I'll let you know when I get the memo.

What do you mean when you get the memo?

You literally won a Tony.

Yes, but, you know...

That and a MetroCard gets me on a subway.

You still take the subway?

Yeah, girl. How much do you think

playwrights make?

So, you're just saying

that no matter what I do,

there's still no assurance

that I'm actually gonna make it

even if I win the best award

that playwriting has to offer?

Yeah, it's really more about like,

what does theater actually mean to you?

- I just love it.

- And you're doing it.

Like, that's why we're here. Right?

This is it.

There's kind of not more to it than that.

Yeah?

Is Shandra home?

Yeah.

Can I speak to her?

I watched those TED Talks.

And?

You were right, she's cool.

No shoes in the house.

Yes, ma'am.

Knock, knock.

Hi.

What are you doing here?

I'm here to apologize.

About what?

I'm really, really sorry

for making you feel bad

about wanting to spend time with your dad.

Do you mind if I sit down?

Well, this is a really cool room.

Thanks.

I thought about you a lot this weekend.

I thought of how it must be hard

to be 11 years old

and have your parents negotiating

through lawyers to spend time with you.

- And my brother.

- Yeah.

And your brother,

and I get how

that can make you feel invisible.

You feel like you're forgotten, and...

You know, I went through the same thing

when I was a kid.

- You did?

- Yeah, I did.

Except my parents never got it together.

Eventually, they just asked me

and my sister to choose

who we wanted to spend more time with.

Hm. Who did you pick?

My mom.

But it wasn't because I loved her more.

You know, I really loved both

of my parents.

I just thought that my mom

would have harder time without us.

And that really broke my dad's heart.

And he hasn't forgiven me for that.

But you never got that dog either,

did you?

No.

That's sad.

I brought you back something.

Wow.

It's really pretty. Thanks.

I would really, really, really like

to help you work on your play.

Well, yeah. Sure.

Cool. Because your mom already told me

I could stay for dinner.

And so far, it smells dope!

Hey.

- Hey.

- Hi.

- Thank you for coming.

- Of course. I was so pleased you called.

I brought you some tea.

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