White Oleander Page #5

Why can't I give to her,

why can't I be here?

- Because I work! Because I have a job.

- That's not fair.

I give you everything you ask for

and it's not enough.

No, not everything.

Not everything.

You promised things would change.

- Mark, I'm trying, you know I'm trying.

- Trying's not good enough.

You're falling apart.

We are back to where we started.

It is not working out

and I think we should send her back.

You can't just send her back.

- Where's she gonna go?

- They'll find someplace.

You're gonna send her away?

You take everything away, don't you?

- You just leave me with nothing.

- Jesus Christ, you are such a bad actress.

I really almost forgot.

Okay, okay.

All right, I'll send her back, okay?

We can try that.

Just don't go, okay?

Just don't leave me.

Unlike you, Claire, I work.

Remember?

And she going with you,

your girlfriend?

I've had it with this, Claire.

I've really had it.

Astrid?

Astrid.

Astrid, please.

Claire?

Are you awake?

I'm sorry.

Are you all right?

Yeah.

Take my advice.

Stay away from broken people.

You can't send me back.

He's not coming back, Astrid.

He's gonna divorce me.

You know, Claire,

it wouldn't be the worst thing.

I'm cold.

Real cold.

Here. Get in here with me.

Come on.

Okay.

Stay with me, okay?

Stay with me, please.

Claire.

Claire.

Claire, wake up! Claire!

God!

Claire, please.

No!

Astrid.

What is it?

I'm back in Mac.

- Didn't they tell you?

- No.

Claire's dead.

She killed herself.

- I'm sorry.

- No, you're not.

- You poisoned her too, but with words.

- I told her what she already knew.

You were just jealous.

Of course I was jealous.

I live in a cell with a woman...

...who has a vocabulary of 25 words.

Why do you think they got you?

To create a perfect family?

People get babies for that.

Not teenagers recovering

from bullet wounds.

You were on suicide watch. Don't think

it's the first time she tried it.

It's just the first time

she pulled it off.

I'm not coming back.

I wanted to tell you that in person.

I'm gonna leave you here, alone.

I know you think I'm cruel.

I'm trying to protect you

from those people.

Those people are not the enemy,

Mother. We are. You and me.

They don't hurt us.

We hurt them.

You still ignoring me?

I turn 18 Saturday.

I'm going to New York.

I want you to come with me.

I can't.

Sure you can. Just leave.

Is it your mother?

Come on.

I'll get a job. We'll find a place to live.

We'll be like we always talked about.

I don't wanna go to New York.

I don't wanna be with you.

She was with us for three years.

Her parents took her back.

We think you'd really like it with us.

There are lots of kids your age

in our neighborhood.

Excuse me.

Look. Don't worry about it.

She's had a very hard time recently.

Let me just go talk to her, okay?

You're doing fine.

So, what's wrong this time?

I'm too old for them.

Look, the Greenways are great.

They've got a nice house

with an extra bedroom for you.

They go to church.

Schools are good.

They don't smoke.

He makes his own beer.

I want her.

Workers of the world, arise.

You've got nothing to lose but Visa card,

Happy Meal, and Kotex with wings.

Christ, Thursday.

- Hey, lazy cows, you want smoke?

- I quit for the baby, Rena.

Why? You don't keep it, thank God.

Hey, you, cheerleader.

You want smoke?

Russian cigarettes. No cancer.

Clothes.

- That really is a nice color.

- It's gorgeous.

- What's it made of?

- I don't know.

Why don't you just try it on

and see how you look?

- It's really nice.

- Okay, thank you.

Hey, that's my dress.

These are all mine.

So? You get good price for them.

What do you need expensive clothes for?

- Melrose Place call you to be a star?

- Someone gave them to me.

Even better. All profit.

That's why I love this country.

Because it loves money

like I love money.

- Hey. You make a price, I take 25%.

- No.

What, you think you're gonna sell it

all by yourself?

I pay for stall, storage, gas. They pay you,

you pay me. You still make profit.

Hey.

Dead person who give you thing

don't care. The past is gone.

Sentimental is stupid.

It's smart to make money.

There's no price. How about $20?

It's a Marc Jacobs dress.

It's been worn once.

- Fifty?

- A hundred.

Thank you. Let's go.

- How was last night?

- It was fun.

- Yeah?

- What'd you do?

- Watched TV.

- Who were you with last night?

- You know who I saw?

- Who?

I saw Danny.

- Don't you think Astrid would like him?

- No.

Astrid?

- I'm Hannah. This is Julie.

- Hi.

We went to your house.

The lady said you'd be here, so...

We visit your mother.

She's our project

in Women's Studies.

- What does she want?

- She didn't send us.

We came on our own.

She asked us to mail you

the interview, her show at Bergamot.

We thought we could deliver it

and see if maybe...

- Is that it?

- Yeah.

Excuse me.

- What do you talk about?

- All kinds of things. Art, music...

She talks about you.

Really?

What does she say?

Well, that you're in a...

You know, fostered.

Look, she feels really terrible

about what's happened.

So you thought you'd come out

and what? Adopt me?

You don't think she killed him,

do you?

Something you should know.

She did. I was there.

Oleander's poisonous.

I don't know why people grow it.

- Open the door!

- How dare you? You have no right!

They can't keep me.

Don't worry, I'll be back in an hour!

Who is that?

I don't know.

- You draw her all the time.

- I think her name was Annie.

She's someone I remember.

I don't know who she was.

Check it out, you guys.

Rodeo Drive refugee.

Excuse me, are you Rena Gruschenko?

Gruschenka. If you come from INS,

I have a green card.

I have been all over this junkyard

looking for you.

You must be Astrid. I'm Susan Valeris,

your mother's lawyer.

Cigarette?

- Don't know why I never quit.

- I do.

All the prisoners smoke.

You can offer them one.

Your mother's proud of you

for not quitting school.

You graduate soon. Are you making

any plans for your future?

Yeah. I thought I'd be

a criminal lawyer.

Really?

Either that or a hooker

or garbage collector.

Your mother said you'd be difficult.

- Mother knows best.

- You've been through a terrible ordeal.

Three foster homes, the shooting,

the suicide of a foster mother.

I understand you were close.

Did you ask your client

about her involvement with that?

You can't blame her for the death

of a woman she met once.

But I do blame her, Susan.

That's pretty cynical, Astrid.

You want me to lie for her

in court, is that it?

Why do you hate her, Astrid?

Because you think

she committed murder?

Or because you feel abandoned?

Talk to her. People do change.

You should hear the way she talks

about you. She worries about you.

She asked me to find out

if there's anything you need.

Money for college? Car?

There's money behind her.

Just tell me what you want.

You are stupid girl.

You walk away from money

to punish mother.

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