The Tale Page #4

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There you go.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

Bill:

I have been very impressed

with your running

this summer, Jenny.

Really.

But I want you to consider

joining my inner-city

running team

when you come back

from vacation.

You serious?

I am serious.

You have talent.

And, more importantly,

you have guts.

Without guts,

talent is wasted.

Yeah.

Strong body, strong mind.

- Yeah.

- Say it.

- Strong body, strong mind.

- There you go.

( chuckles )

It's just--

it's just so hard to leave.

You'll be all right.

You'll be fine.

Jane tells me that

you're quite a storyteller.

Do you know I write, too?

- Really?

- Mm-hmm.

Poetry.

( laughs )

Can I write you

when I'm on vacation?

- I'd love that.

- We would love that.

Bill:

You can write us

and you can tell us

anything you want.

Anything.

There are no secrets

at this table.

And we don't want to keep

any secrets from you, either.

Jane and I have talked,

and we've decided that

we want us all to be equals.

And we respect you

too much to lie.

So we want you to know

that Jane and I are lovers.

How do you feel?

Well, I'm happy for you.

I'm happy you have each other.

I don't want you to be miserable

like my parents.

- You see?

- Dear girl.

Told you she has

a deep soul.

Young Jennifer:

How did they know they could

trust me with their secret?

Both:

That I would never

break their confidence?

The other girls would have

told on them.

Adult Jennifer:

I would never tell my parents,

or the other adults.

It was like an unspoken oath.

And I felt proud of it.

What are you doing now?

Hey.

They sent me

a bunch of letters.

Where's the rest

of the stuff from my room?

Letters are in this box.

Mom, how long did you know

these were here?

How come you didn't

give me these before?

I found them when

I found your story.

And I didn't give them

to you because...

( clears throat )

Because I was ashamed.

"My Dear Jenny,

"I was so sad reading

your special letters..."

Young Jennifer:

I hate being home.

Even in this beautiful place,

my brothers and sisters

never stop fighting.

My mom and grandmother

yell at them constantly.

Bill:

"It's easier to be unhappy

in this world.

"It has been burned

into my brain

"that it is I

that is selfish.

I take, they give."

Mrs. G:

"My dear Jenny,

"Nouga and I shared

our cards from you,

"your poems of pathos.

I hope you don't mind.

"You have some very special

kind of beauty, Jenny,

and it's natural

to want to share..."

Young Jennifer:

I'm so confused.

But at the same time,

I feel free.

It's getting to where one

can't walk in broad daylight.

And that one goes running

around at all hours.

A woman was raped last year

over on Spencer.

Aaron:

What are you going on about?

Jenny, can you go

get your brother?

It's time for dinner.

We talked about this.

I will not have your mother

instilling fear in my children.

Can you just keep

your voice down?

She gave up her summer

to help me.

This is still my house.

I-I know...

Mrs. G:

Jenny, I feel for you.

Growth always means change.

But then Nouga says

change is almost

always painful,

and thus pain is joy.

So we smile again.

Bill:

Dear Jenny,

try to continue

with your running.

Before long, the pleasure

of doing it will appear again.

Each day, the well-done piece

will build your confidence.

Young Jennifer:

Is your horse

a boy or a girl?

Boy:

It's a boy.

- It's a beautiful horse.

- Thanks.

Mrs. G:

So glad you've made a new

friend, my dear Jenny.

Bill:

This wonderful experience

will only open new worlds

for you to come.

But do not rush.

You have plenty of time

to enjoy everything.

- Mom? Dad? Are you in there?

- ( knocking )

Would you keep it down,

please?

Your father and I are trying

to take a nap.

Sorry, Mom,

but it's very important.

My friend, well,

he invited me to the fair.

We'll be back by 9:00.

Wait, who invited you?

A new friend from the stable.

Lucas Mendelssohn.

- His family's from Texas.

- Of course not, Jenny.

We don't know his family,

and you know the rule.

Aaron:

You know we have dinner

reservations with the Wheelers.

Now go get dressed.

He's flying home

with his family tomorrow.

Please? We'll be back

right at 9:
00.

I don't want

to repeat myself.

And you heard your father.

This is an important dinner.

Your dad's gonna close

the financing

on the new development,

so go get dressed.

They said I can't go.

Well, maybe my mom

can call your mom.

But it won't matter.

It's just one of

their stupid rules.

I hate them.

Mother:

Young lady.

What did we just discuss?

( sobbing softly )

( sniffles )

( mouse button clicks )

( sighs )

( tap water running )

( knock at door )

Babes. Babe?

Come on, let's go.

We're all waiting in the car.

I don't want to go.

Honey, what was the name

of your friend?

That boy, his family?

What was his name?

- Mendelssohn.

- Mendelssohn.

That's right.

I knew I knew the name.

I played golf

with his father

two weeks ago.

Joel Stern brought him

to the club.

- ( car horn blares )

- Anyway, come on. Move it.

Let's go.

( door closes )

Young Jennifer:

I have made a decision.

I'm taking my life

into my own hands.

That fall, every Friday,

my dad picked me up from school

and dropped me off

at Mrs. G's.

Hi, my love.

Let me look at you.

Someone's kept up

with her training.

Adult Jennifer:

I have made a decision.

I'm taking my life

in my own hands.

That fall, every Friday,

Mrs. G picked me up from school

and took me to her farm.

Young Jennifer:

It was pure bliss.

It was heaven.

I was finally home.

Adult Jennifer:

I was finally home.

We tell ourselves stories

in order to live.

So, what's your story?

What story are you

gonna tell?

( typing )

Thank you.

( spits )

Mrs. G:

I think we should

tell your parents

about visiting Bill

at his house.

What do you think?

I don't think

they'd understand.

Ha! They don't

understand anything.

( moaning )

Young Jennifer:

It's like if I was invisible.

Like if I didn't

even exist.

Well, your parents are just

afraid of the world.

They're just afraid of living,

of being free.

They cannot accept that

you are becoming a woman.

They can't see you

the way that we can.

They're such hypocrites.

I hate them.

Mrs. G:

You shouldn't hate them, Jenny.

You should pity them.

They're just not brave

like you are.

You're not

afraid of life.

Right Jenny?

You're not afraid of living.

How about this?

We will form our own family

based on complete honesty

and love.

Hiding nothing,

revealing everything.

Just the truth.

And we'll never lie

to each other.

Bill:

Never.

Like the rest

of the world does.

Bill:

That's exactly right.

I have to go. We have to go.

Come on, missus.

I haven't even

made dinner.

Young Jennifer:

When it came time to leave,

we had to hurry.

Mrs. G:

You know how he gets

when he hasn't got his dinner.

Young Jennifer:

Dr. G always got mad

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