The Quiet

DOT:
All I wanted

was to be invisible.

It was a simple request.

It didn't

involve anyone else.

When I was in a room

with another person,

I felt like I was

only half there.

When I was in a room

with two other people,

I felt like

a third of myself.

When I was in a room

with three other people,

I felt like

a quarter of myself.

And when I was in

a whole crowd of people,

I felt like nobody.

(BELL RINGING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

NINA:
I hate you.

MICHELLE:
Please.

...all of those things.

Oh, I think he's hot.

Oh, Tiff Peedle told me

he only has one nut.

That's disgusting.

Tiff Peedle's

a pathological liar.

You never know.

There's only one way

to find out, really.

You're not doing that. Stop.

No. No.

Hey, Connor.

Hey, what's going on?

Nothing.

He blatantly likes you.

Do you think?

Blatantly wants to f*** you.

Oh, my God.

Frederica Diaz told me

he was a massive f***.

Frederica Diaz?

Yes.

Spanish exchange student?

Sophomore,

fall, big butt, small skirts,

homeroom 42, remember?

Yes. Right.

Yes.

What?

(GIGGLING)

God.

The freaks

don't even want her.

Your new sister is Z-list.

She's not my sister.

It's karmic law, Nina.

Your house is perfect,

your mom's a babe,

your dad's hot.

Don't be gross.

And you're

the prettiest girl in school.

Yeah, well, I'm fat.

Well,

you were bound to inherit

a retard sooner or later.

Dot.

Do you mind

if I sit down with you?

I could sure

use some company.

(WATER DRIPPING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Come on,

we've been waiting for you.

Let's go.

F***! It's ridiculous!

Hurry up.

Where was she hiding?

She was in the bathroom.

Ugh! What a freak.

NINA:
Can't believe

my parents took her in.

When she arrived last week,

she was holding

a cardboard box

with her dad's ashes in it.

(BIRDS TWITTERING)

(WOMAN CHATTERING ON TV)

I really wish

you would accept Dot, Nina.

We're all in this together.

Whatever.

It wasn't my decision.

She's sitting right there.

So what? She can't even hear.

She can't even speak.

It's like she's a cat,

or a dog or something.

(GIGGLES)

My mom says hi.

She wanted me to tell you

that her sister

is looking

for an interior decorator,

if you're interested.

She lives in Wallingford.

Well, I will give her a call.

I'm still very

busy here, though.

I haven't even

finished the kitchen.

Or the living room,

or the dining room.

Will you help me

with dinner, Dot?

Don't touch that, please.

I'm sorry. My mom's

a total control freak.

This could be

the fabric for our new couch.

Jesus Christ, Mom,

she was just touching it.

It's not Like she has cooties

or something.

Besides, you're

letting the retarded girl

touch our food.

Be careful, Nina,

she can read lips.

Your bedroom looks great,

Mrs Deer.

I love the new curtains.

They're very dramatic.

When were you in my bedroom?

We were just getting

some lipstick, Mom.

Mr Deer did such a nice job

with this house.

It's the nicest house

in Meriden, everyone says so.

Thank you, Michelle.

(WOMAN CHATTERING ON TV)

Not Like that, Dot.

You're wasting

too much of the bean.

(MUSIC PLAYING ON TV)

I was watching the news.

Why can't we watch something

that actually affects us?

Michelle's

staying for dinner.

Not tonight, Nina.

Why, there's not enough food

with the deaf girl?

Your father's had a long day.

I'm sure he would

Like a quiet night.

Well, then,

why doesn't he

dine alone with Dot?

Paul Deer,

how nice to see you again.

Janice Feltswater.

I'm Nina's college advisor.

Parent-teacher conference.

Oh, yes.

Yes.

I've been meaning

to touch base with you.

Or your wife.

I, uh, I'm concerned.

About Nina?

About Dot.

The disabled girl

you've taken in?

She's deaf.

She seems very unhappy.

She just lost her father.

They were very close.

What about her mother?

Cancer, when Dot was seven.

Oh, tragic.

Yes.

You are so good

to have taken her in.

You're not only

a brilliant architect,

you're a good man.

Thank you.

Olivia Deer?

Yes.

Something wrong?

Oh, uh,

my wife had a root canal.

Ouch.

Antibiotics.

Well, it was nice to see you.

Good to see you.

Good night.

Tell your wife hello.

I will. Good night.

Good night.

(DOOR CLOSES)

PAUL:
Hello, Dot.

Did you have

a good day at school?

She spent most of the day

in the bathroom.

She's a total freak.

Can't you just be,

Like, her un-godparents?

PAUL:
You look nice today.

I just said

that you Look nice today.

Well, I Look Like sh*t

and I need to wash my hair.

Mom's passed out

in the Living room.

Hey, come here. Take it.

It's great.

It's, Like,

socially acceptable.

It's legalised heroin.

My mom won't notice.

P*ssy.

Hey.

Paisley.

It's hard work decorating,

Paul.

I have to rely

on the French and Italians

to send me fabrics.

Come on.

Let's get you to bed.

Come on.

Up you go.

Up.

You all right?

(MOANS)

Thanks, hon.

Stop it.

What?

Looking at me Like that.

Like what?

My hip still hurts at night.

This arrived today.

Now the room

is finally finished.

It's perfect.

Good.

I'm sorry.

About Dot.

(SIGHS)

I want her here, Olivia.

It was the right thing to do.

I should get

the girls dinner.

Don't say it Like that.

Don't imply,

every time you say

that you are

going to do something,

you are implying

I am not the one doing it.

You're tired, Olivia.

Get some sleep.

No, I'm self-aware!

I'm incredibly

f***ing self-aware.

So, you think

Dot's going to be able

to keep up

with your classes at school?

I don't know,

why don't you ask her?

You seem to be an expert

in deaf-speak.

You know, there's an

American Sign Language course

at the evening extension.

I thought it would be fun

if we all learned

a little sign language.

You mean

she's actually staying?

Of course she's staying,

Nina.

She doesn't

have anybody else.

She doesn't have any family.

She's not as fortunate

as you.

It wouldn't hurt for you to,

you know,

take some

sign Language courses.

It couldn't

help but Look good

on your college applications.

People Like to see

a Little initiative.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

NINA:
Hello? Yeah. I know.

Yeah, well,

let me call you back. Okay.

You make yourself

at home, okay, Dot?

I'm spending the night

at Michelle's.

We have to practice

our new routines.

Tonight?

Yeah, I wanted to give you

and your new daughter

some time to bond.

TEACHER:
Michelle Fell

with Norman Griss,

Nina Deer with Nelim Sathime.

Oh, and, Dot,

for this dissection

you'll be partnered

with Connor Kennedy.

Okay?

All right, everybody.

Hi.

PILN:
Peel back

that outer layer of skin

and get yourself acquainted

with the general

anatomical structure.

I'm calling PETA.

This is major

animal cruelty right now.

PILN:
Save it, Miss Fell.

Oh...

Gentle, Dot, slow.

The pig is already dead.

MICHELLE:
I can't believe

that auditory waste product

gets to lab with Connor.

It's Like Piln

trying to hold fate.

And I want to f*** him.

F*** him.

He's obviously

afraid of commitment.

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