The Quiet Page #5

You can't write me a cheque,

Daddy.

It's not anonymous.

I need cash.

I'll get it tomorrow.

Where are you going?

I'm tired.

You're probably tired, too.

It's a school night.

DOT:
I used to hold my breath

underwater

for long periods at a time.

My father took me to the YMCA

Saturday mornings.

Submerged in the pool,

I heard nothing

but my own heartbeat

echoing against the water.

I would've stayed

underwater forever

if my father

hadn't been waiting for me

in the bleachers

by the diving pool.

I killed my goldfish

when I was Little, Dot.

I had six of them.

And I cut them in half

with scissors.

DOT:
When someone

is waiting for you,

you have to come up for air.

I was braver

when I was a kid.

(STUDENTS CHATTERING)

Hey.

I was just

wondering if you'd want...

Myrna, can you do me a favour

and ask Dot in sign Language

if she'd go to

the Spring Fling

with me tonight?

Sure.

She says no.

What do you mean, no?

MYRNA:
That's what she said.

No, I mean,

sign that back to her.

Sign back,

"What do you mean, no?"

MYRNA:
She says she can't go,

she says she's sorry.

I don't understand.

She says to Let it go now.

She says

she's not right for you.

How does she know

what's right for me?

Just ask her.

She says she

belongs by herself.

It's just a dance.

Hey.

I'm taking you

to the dance, Dot.

Carrots.

Me, too.

I'm gonna make

that f***ing whore...

Michelle,

take it down a notch.

The whole world already knows

you're a c*nt.

There's nothing left to prove.

I thought

you could wear this

to the dance.

I think itll

Look pretty on you.

Suit yourself. Fine.

I'll just put it

in the dumpster

or give it to

the Salvation Army.

Dot, I have some

good news for you.

After tomorrow night,

you are going to be

an only child.

That's right, I'm taking off.

I mean,

who wants to stick around

for murder charges? Not me.

I'm getting out of here.

I think

maybe I could start over

in New Haven, you know?

I could work at a bar

or be a stripper.

I saw this show on MTV

about strippers.

They make a Lot of money

and it's easy, I guess.

Some of them

even become famous,

Like Courtney Love.

She--She was a stripper.

I could be Like her, maybe.

I mean,

I wouldn't really care,

bunch of old guys

Looking at my tits.

Wouldn't matter,

at Least I'd be getting paid.

It was so hard

to Lie to my dad

about being pregnant

that I think

a part of me thinks it's true.

Is that crazy?

I'll have $1,000, though.

That'll be enough

to get me started in New Haven

before I have to get a job.

Itll be perfect.

You know, I am not Letting you

go to the dance

without Lipstick,

I just can't do it.

This one

smells Like strawberries.

Connor will go crazy

when you go to kiss him.

Perfect.

Now you almost Look human.

DOT:
Beethoven's best work

comes in his late period,

a period

of complete deafness.

I imagine his mind

must have been

the loudest silence

in history.

You don't Like it?

Dot, you can't go to

the dance Like this.

You Look Like you

should be pumping gas.

What about Connor?

He's totally hot for you!

You are a major enigma, Dot.

I don't know how you do it.

Do you want to Let me in

on your secret?

DOT:
They say that the truth

can set you free.

That's a lie.

The truth is,

lies can protect us.

Lies keep us safe

from the truth.

PAUL:
Nina?

Nina?

Jesus Christ,

Dad, you scared me.

How do I Look?

I brought you the money.

NINA:
I Look Like sh*t.

PAUL:
$1,000,

isn't that what you said?

$1,000, right.

So you can fix the problem.

Right. Fix.

Because you're pregnant,

I went to

the bank and got cash.

Great.

Because you're pregnant.

Dad, I really wish

that you would

stop saying it.

That you're pregnant?

Stop it!

What?

You're pregnant, aren't you?

Dad.

I can keep saying it.

Well,

I really wish you wouldn't!

You're pregnant,

Nina, say it!

No!

I'm gonna go and get ready.

I can say it

over and over again.

No! You're scaring me.

But no matter

how many times

I repeat it,

no matter how many times

I repeat it,

it still

doesn't make it true,

isn't that right, Nina?

Huh?

My daughter is a whore.

What is that?

WOMAN ON TV:

It is a neighborhood

where 12 families

have lost their homes.

The fire broke Friday...

What is that?

Listen to me, Nina!

Listen to me.

I'm sick of your bullshit.

I don't know

what you're talking about.

Tampons?

I can explain.

I bought you that purse.

Dad.

As a present.

And this is how you repay me?

By using it

to hide your lies?

They're Michelle's.

Don't, Nina. Don't.

Are you trying to make me

into some kind of an a**hole?

Are you?

Dad,

I swear they're Michelle's.

She's not bringing her purse

and I'm

carrying them for her.

No, Nina. No.

You lied to me.

Do you know how scared I was?

(NINA SOBBING)

I'm sorry.

Do you know

how frightened I was?

I Love you, Daddy.

What happened

to my baby girl?

I'm still your baby girl!

My baby girl who would--

who would listen to me

and tell me the truth.

I'll tell you

what's happened to her.

She's turned

into a Little b*tch!

That's not true.

You're hurting me!

Why did you Lie to me?

PAUL:
Why?

NINA:
Listen to me, Daddy,

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Daddy, stop it. Please.

I was scared, you know.

I was scared.

(SCREAMS)

No, please. I have to

get ready to go out.

Please don't do this.

Don't, please.

Stop!

No!

You trying to make

an a**hole out of me?

Daddy, please,

don't hit me.

I have to go, please.

No. No.

We can do this

when I get back.

I have to get ready!

No!

Please, I have to

get ready to go out.

Please, don't do this, don't.

Please!

Don't make me do this!

I loved you.

Please!

I f***ing Love you!

You're hurting me!

Stop it, please!

Please stop.

Stop it! No!

Please don't, please!

Please, no!

WOMAN ON TV:
neighbors say

the first sparks

were seen just past 9:00,

and it wasn't until 10:00

that the fire

began to take hold of

the cul-de-sac.

Authorities...

Stop it!

No! No!

Shut up!

(SCREAMING)

Shut up!

Leave her alone!

Shut up!

Stop!

Shut up!

NINA:
(CRYING) No. No.

No! You killed my daddy!

You killed my daddy!

You f***ing b*tch!

You lying f***ing b*tch!

If you wouldn't have been

such a f***ing Lying b*tch,

this would've never happened.

No one would've known.

No one would have ever known.

And this would

have never happened.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

It's a miracle.

You can hear.

(BANGING ON DOOR)

MICHELLE:
Move it or lose it,

Nina!

Get it together.

Come on, Nina.

Go around the front,

we'll meet you in a second!

Go.

Nina,

we have to bury the backpack.

We have to follow the plan.

Jesus,

it took you guys Long enough.

I didn't realise

she was coming.

What's with the backpack?

Let me see.

Stop it!

So secretive.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Your eyes are red.

Red, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

What'd you take?

I don't remember

what they were.

I think one was vicodin

and maybe codeine.

Well, did you bring me some?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes