Journeys Into Memory

by

Edith Cory Cooper

c2011
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written approval of the author.

  

              FADE IN:
 
              EXT.  TWO-LANE ROAD - MID-MORNING
 
              A long distance bus is traveling down a two-lane, sparsely-
              traveled road.  Expanses of farm land can be seen on both
              sides of the road.  Eventually farms become smaller, and more
              traffic is on the road.
 
              MARY McPHERSON is seen staring from a window of the bus.
 
              EXT. BUS STATION - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary, wearing a backpack and carrying a large briefcase, is
              standing beside the bus where it is parked in a stall behind
              the bus station.  Mary is thirty-two, dark-haired, and
              attractive, dressed in a pants suit, with a white blouse
              showing at neck and cuffs.
 
              The driver hands her a wheeled suitcase that he has just
              taken from the luggage compartment.
 
              INT. BUS STATION - CONTINUING
 
              Mary has entered the station and is placing her backpack and
              suitcase in a storage locker.  She takes a purse from the
              backpack, slings  the purse over her shoulder, and picks up
              the briefcase.
 
              After closing the locker, she walks to the bus counter, where
              she speaks briefly to a clerk.
 
              EXT. - BUS STATION - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary is waiting under a sign denoting a stop for the local
              transit bus.
 
              INT. LOCAL TRANSIT BUS - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary is seated in a small bus with a few other passengers, as
              it travels into town from the outlying district.  When the
              bus enters a commercial district, Mary leaves her seat to
              stand by the driver as she prepares to exit.
 
              EXT. DOWNTOWN - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              On a winding, tree-lined street, Mary walks past shops,
              casually looking into storefronts. She pauses at an art
              gallery, where several gourds, decorated with feathers and
              painted with primitive-looking faces, are displayed in the
              window.

 
 
              Glancing up, she sees a man and woman inside, talking.  When
              the man faces in her direction, Mary turns away abruptly,
              almost colliding with a woman walking toward the gallery from
              a van parked at the curb.
 
                                  MARY
                        Sorry!
 
              The woman stops, smiles.  DANIELLE WEBSTER is thirty-five,
              tall and slender, dressed stylishly in a flowing blouse and
              gaucho pants.  She is carrying two gourds similar to the ones
              displayed in the window.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Did they frighten you?
 
                                  MARY
                        I'm sorry . . . What?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        The gourds in the window. I hope
                        they didn't frighten you.
 
                                  MARY
                        Oh.  No.  Not at all.  I startled
                        myself, that's all.  Remembering
                        something. Something I forgot--
 
              Still smiling, Danielle turns away toward the gallery door.
              Mary walks on past shops.  When she stops to study objects in
              the window of a thrift shop, she glances back toward the
              gallery.
 
              Across the street she sees a bookstore that is housed in a
              cottage.  Using a nearby crosswalk she walks to the bookstore
              up a textured stone path and steps onto the porch. As she
              reaches the door, she sees a "closed" sign in a window beside
              the door.  Checking the store hours posted next to the
              "closed" sign, she looks at her watch, shrugs, then sits down
              in one of several wicker chairs.  On a stand beside the door
              is a pot containing a dead plant.
 
              She casually watches cars and pedestrians moving up and down
              the street.  Her interest is suddenly aroused when she sees
              a man and woman step out of the art gallery: the man she had
              seen inside the gallery and the woman with whom she had
              almost collided.
 
              From the back of the van parked at the curb, the man takes
              out a box, which he hands to the woman, who carries it into
              the gallery.  He follows with another box, then returns
              several times to carry additional boxes into the gallery.
              After a few minutes he and the woman leave the gallery and
              get into the van.

 
 
              Another woman stands in the doorway, waving as they pull away
              from the curb.  They drive slowly in Mary's direction. As the
              van approaches, with the man driving, Mary turns abruptly
              away to face the front of the bookstore.
 
              At that moment the door to the bookstore opens, revealing a
              man standing in the doorway.  He sees Mary, then waves toward
              the van.  LEONARD DRAPER is fifty-five, tall, almost gaunt,
              his face deeply lined.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (Turning his
                                attention to Mary)
                        Overslept, I'm afraid.
 
                                  MARY
                        Mr. Draper?
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (tentatively)
                        Yes.
 
                                  MARY
                        Mary McPherson.
 
              She extends her hand, as Leonard raises his eyebrows
              slightly.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Oh.
                               (pause)
                        Really?
 
              They shake hands.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Was it today?
 
                                  MARY
                               (standing up)
                        Yes.
 
                                  LEONARD
                         I must be getting absent-minded.
 
                                  MARY
                        Today is the day we agreed on.

 

 

                                  LEONARD
                        I expected you to be older.  For
                        no particular reason.  Well,
                        please, come inside.
 
              As he turns the "Closed" sign around, she enters the store.
 
              INT. BOOKSTORE VESTIBULE - CONTINUING
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (clearing his throat)
                        I guess this is an interview, is
                        it?
 
              She nods.  He motions her to an overstuffed chair near a
              counter.  He sits in a companion chair.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        But I'm not sure--
 
              She looks questioningly at him.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        Am I interviewing you . . . Or--?
 
                                  MARY
                        We're interviewing each other.
                        Though maybe we should just look
                        on it as a conversation.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Oh?
 
                                  MARY
                        From which we draw certain
                        conclusions about working together.
 
              A brief pause ensues as Leonard studies her.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        And if I don't feel . . . Or you
                        don't feel--
 
                                  MARY
                        I'll go on to another
                        "conversation."
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Where might that be?
 
                                  MARY
                        From wherever the call comes.

 
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Wherever.
                               (pause)
                        You don't have a home?  A family?
 
              She shrugs, rather tentatively.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        I'm sorry. None of my business.
                        It just sounds as though you lead
                        a rather--
 
                                  MARY
                        Wandering life.  Yes.  Quite true.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        And here you are.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        I must admit . . . A word jumped
                        out at me.
 
                                  MARY
                        Word--?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        In your classified ad.  A word in
                        the headline.  Ordinarily I don't
                        read the classifieds, you see.
                        But I was turning the page . . .
                        And I saw "Ghostwriter for Hire."
                        Ghostwriter.  That intrigued me.
                        I read your ad, clipped it out, re-
                        read it for several days.  Then
                        phoned you.
 
              She nods.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        You get your clients through
                        classifieds?
 
                                  MARY
                        Sometimes.  Mostly referrals.
 
              Standing up, he goes behind the counter, and reaching
              underneath, he retrieves several books.

 

                                  LEONARD
                        I've read your books . . . The
                        ones you sent.  They're good.
                        Very good, in fact.  Well-written.
 
              He hands her the books, which she begins placing in her
              briefcase.
 
                                  MARY
                        I couldn't send them all, of
                        course.  On some . . . I'm bound
                        to total secrecy.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        They're all memoirs.
 
                                  MARY
                        That's what I write.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Do you know that people tell you
                        the truth . . . About themselves,
                        other people?
 
                                  MARY
                        You mean, do I verify facts?  No.
                        Whatever they tell me I write.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Isn't that a bit dangerous?  I
                        mean . . . Lawsuits--
 
                                  MARY
                        I'm a ghost.  My name doesn't
                        appear anywhere.  Ever.  So if
                        someone sues because of something
                        I write, they would go after the
                        person on the title page.  Or
                        whoever holds the copyright.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        I was glad to see you don't write
                        the kind of memoirs I hate.
 
                                  MARY
                        Oh?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        The kind full of self-pity . . .
                        Whining. Then the awful ones
                        filled with lurid details . . .
                        Maybe out to get revenge.
 
              After a pause:

 
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        The books you've written . . .
                        I'm interested to know . . . Why
                        did people want them written?
 
                                  MARY
                               (smiling)
                        To help others, they usually say.
                        By example, they mean.  But mostly
                        I think it's to help themselves.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Oh . . . ?
 
                                  MARY
                        When you have to think . . . To
                        remember . . . To put the past in
                        perspective . . .  You see things.
                        Maybe things you've never thought
                        about.  Or thought about and
                        pushed away, behind closed doors.
                        And when they become visible--
 
              She stops, shrugs.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        And do you have closed doors--
                               (pause)
                        --you'd like to look behind?
                               (then quickly)
                        No.  I'm sorry.  Again: none of my
                        business.
 
                                  MARY
                        Don't we all . . . Have closed
                        doors?  But write about myself--
 
              She shakes her head.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        No?
 
                                  MARY
                        Interesting question.
                               (smiling)
                        Doubt it would be a runaway best
                        seller.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        That brings me to a rather
                        delicate matter.
                               (pause)
                        How . . . How would I know--

 
 
              She raises her eyebrows, questioning.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        I mean, what proof do I have--
 
              He shrugs.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        That you actually wrote those
                        books you sent me?
 
              From her purse, Mary extracts several letters, which she
              hands to Leonard.
 
                                  MARY
                        Letters from the people who hired
                        me.  Feel free to contact them.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Thanks.
 
                                  MARY
                        And I have to say . . . When you
                        phoned me, something of YOURS
                        intrigued me.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Oh?
 
                                  MARY
                        When you said you grew up in a
                        ghost town.  To write about a
                        ghost town . . . That would
                        interest me.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        It's not all that pleasant . . .
                        Growing up isolated . . . With
                        parents--
                               (sighing almost
                                inaudibly)
                        Well, you'd learn soon enough.
 
              After a pause, during which his face clouds over.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        So.  Do you think you could work
                        with me?
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.  I believe so.  If you agree.

 
 
              He nods.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        All right.  Let's decide how to
                        proceed.  First, how  would you
                        want to pay me?  By the hour?  The
                        project?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Which would you prefer?
 
                                  MARY
                        By the hour.  I think that would
                        be best for both of us.  A sliding
                        scale, depending on whether I'm
                        talking with you, listening and
                        taking notes, actually writing.
 
              She hands him a 5x8 card, which he scans.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        By the hour it is.
 
                                  MARY
                        I'll need a place to work.  Maybe
                        you have a spare room. That way,
                        you'd be available, if I need to
                        ask you something.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Yes.  There's a room.
 
              When he gets up, she follows him into a room sparsely
              furnished with a desk, bookcase, and two chairs.  A window
              looks out onto the street.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        This was once a dining room.  Then
                        a woman I knew--thought I would
                        marry, actually--used it for an
                        office, since she had a small
                        business of her own.  And she kept
                        my accounts.  Such as they were.
 
                                  MARY
                        You live alone . . . Do you?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Yes.  Very much so.  I like
                        solitude.
 
              When she looks quizzically at him:

 
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        I'm not bothered by many
                        customers.  Most people go to the
                        chain store in the mall.
 
              She nods.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        When could you start?
 
                                  MARY
                        As soon as I find a place to live.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        What kind of place?
 
                                  MARY
                        Just a room would do.
 
              At the desk Leonard writes a few words on a slip of paper,
              which he hands to her.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Here.  She'll have a room.  Tell
                        her I sent you.
 
              Mary examines the paper.
 
                                  MARY
                        Is it in walking distance?
 
              From a desk drawer, he brings out a map, which he opens.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Every place is in walking
                        distance.  It all depends on how
                        much time you've got.  And shoe
                        leather.
 
              He begins tracing a route with his finger, as she looks over
              his shoulder.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        You can catch a transit at the end
                        of the block.  Just past the
                        school bus stop.  You'll want the
                        C Route.
 
              He refolds the map and hands it to her.

 

              INT. SMALL GROCERY STORE - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary is at a checkout counter, buying a few fruits and
              vegetables and a box of rice.
 
              INT. BUS DEPOT - TWENTY MINUTES LATER
 
              Again inside the bus depot, Mary is retrieving her suitcase
              and knapsack.  Into the knapsack she stuffs her grocery items.
 
              EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary has just disembarked from a town transit bus in a
              residential district and is wheeling her suitcase along the
              sidewalk, checking houses for the number on her slip of
              paper.
 
              She stops at a two-story clapboard house, with a veranda that
              wraps around the sides.  The front yard is filled with a
              profusion of flowering bushes.
 
              ROSE JACKSON, a tall, stout, middle-aged woman, is watering
              the garden.  She turns, smiling, to Mary.
 
              INT. BEDROOM - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary and Rose are standing in a large room furnished with a
              double bed, a small desk next to a window, and a comfortable,
              overstuffed chair.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.  This will do perfectly.
 
                                  ROSE
                        You're welcome to use the kitchen.
 
                                  MARY
                        Just the refrigerator for a few
                        things.  I eat mostly raw
                        vegetables, fruit.  But I have a
                        rice cooker, which I'll use here--
                               (indicating the room)
                        If you don't mind.
 
                                  ROSE
                        As you like.
 
              Mary glances toward the open bedroom door.
 
                                  MARY
                        There are other people here?  I
                        mean, staying--

 

                                  ROSE
                        No.  Not right now.  They come and
                        go.
 
                                  MARY
                        I'm not sure how long I'll be here.
 
                                  ROSE
                        You said you're working for
                        Leonard--
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.  But it's temporary.
 
                                  ROSE
                        I wasn't aware he ever hired
                        anyone.  Even temporary.
 
              Mary nods and smiles, but she doesn't answer.
 
              INT. BEDROOM - AN HOUR LATER
 
              In the same room, Mary is standing by the rear window,
              looking out into a garden of gravel paths, flowering shrubs,
              and several tall, canopied trees.  A detached garage, its
              double doors swung open, sits at the side of the garden, a
              long driveway leading to it. The garage appears to be used
              only for storage.
 
              Mary turns back to the room, where her suitcase lies open on
              the bed, its contents emptied except for two framed
              photographs, which she lifts out and carefully places on the
              desk.  One photograph is of a teen-aged boy and girl, the
              other of a young child.
 
              On the desk, rice is steaming in a small electric cooker.
              Returning to the bed, she closes the suitcase and places it
              on a shelf in the closet, above her clothes.  She removes her
              shoes, leaving them on the floor of the closet next to two
              other pair.
 
              Crossing to the bed, she lies down. Her eyes remain open as
              she stares at the ceiling.
 
              EXT. OUTSIDE BOOKSTORE - THE NEXT DAY
 
              Mary is standing at the door to the bookstore, carrying her
              briefcase, purse slung over her shoulder.  She takes a key
              from under the flower pot, unlocks the door, replaces the
              key, and enters the store.

 

 

              INT. BOOKSTORE OFFICE - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary has arranged materials on the desk: a laptop computer,
              a tape recorder, paper and pencils.  In the outer room
              Leonard is heard talking on the phone.  As Mary snaps her now-
              empty briefcase shut and turns toward the window to place it
              on the floor, she sees yesterday's van drive up and park at
              the curb.
 
              A young teenaged boy and girl get out of the van and walk a
              few yards ahead to stand with a group of children waiting at
              the school bus stop.  An older girl remains seated in the
              front passenger seat of the van; the man seen yesterday is
              driving.  The van pulls away from the curb and drives off.
 
              INT. BOOKSTORE OFFICE - AFTERNOON
 
              Mary and Leonard are sitting at the desk across from each
              other.  Mary listens intently, making occasional notes, as
              Leonard talks into the tape recorder.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        I suppose some kids would have
                        liked living in a ghost town.  I
                        hated it.  Not going to school.
                        No kids to play with.  I had a
                        sister . . . A younger sister.
                        But she was sickly.  We never
                        played, and then she died.
 
                                  MARY
                        Died there?  Without a doctor?
 
              Leonard nods.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        Did your parents pay to live in
                        this town?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        No.  My dad bought the town . . .
                        And the hundred and fifty acres it
                        was on.  I guess he thought it
                        would help his writing.  He wrote
                        Westerns.  They're long out of
                        print.  Not worth remembering.
 
              Leonard laughs, pleased at the thought.
 
                                  MARY
                        But YOU read them . . . ?

 

                                  LEONARD
                        Had to.  Got tested on them.  He
                        was a real bastard, my father.
 
                                  MARY
                        Oh?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Abusive.  Domineering.  Everything
                        had to be perfect.  Even towels
                        had to be hung a certain way.
 
              She looks at Leonard, who has paused, lost in his memories.
 
                                  MARY
                        Shall we quit there for today?
 
              When he nods, she clicks off the recorder.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        Is this about getting rid of
                        ghosts . . . This memoir?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Aren't all memoirs?  Doesn't
                        everyone have ghosts . . . That
                        lurk around in their head?  Like
                        my mother who sacrificed me--
 
              Mary clicks the recorder back on.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        She's long dead, of course.
                        Somewhere.  Ran off and left me
                        with the bastard.
 
              He pauses.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        She was pregnant.
 
              Then, trying to disguise his anger:
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        And she sacrificed me to this new
                        kid, who got born.
 
              A look of sadness creeps into his voice.

 

                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        Or maybe didn't get born.
 
                                  MARY
                        You never saw her again?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Never.  She vanished.
 
                                  MARY
                        And your father?  What happened to
                        him?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Who knows?  I ran away, too.
                        Finally.
 
              When Leonard stands up, she clicks off the recorder and hands
              it to him.
 
                                  MARY
                        In case you think of something.
 
              He takes the recorder and starts to walk from the room.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        I'm tired.  I think I'll lock up.
 
                                  MARY
                        Tomorrow then?  At nine?
 
              Nodding, he leaves the room.  As Mary picks up her purse, she
              glances out the window and watches children walk past the
              cottage, laughing and talking.  Across the street she sees
              the boy and girl who had emerged from the van that morning.
              They have stopped and appear to be arguing.  Slipping the
              purse over her shoulder, Mary leaves the room.
 
              EXT. BOOKSTORE - CONTINUING
 
              Standing on the porch Mary continues to watch the boy and
              girl across the street.
 
              EXT. SIDEWALK ACROSS THE STREET - CONTINUING
 
              COLIN is fourteen, a tall, thin boy with spiky hair, torn
              jeans, and a colorful tee shirt.  NICOLA is thirteen, a
              beautiful girl, conservatively dressed.  Both wear backpacks.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Colin, no--!  Please!  Come home--

 

                                  COLIN
                        Why?
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Because mama says to!
 
                                  COLIN
                        I've got places to go.  Things to
                        do.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        She'll be mad!  She says you have
                        to come right home!
 
                                  COLIN
                        Mama says . . . !  Mama this, mama
                        that.  Mama does what mama
                        pleases.  So why can't I?
 
              When he starts to turn away, she grabs hold of his backpack.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Please, Colin.  Don't--
 
              As he turns back to face her, she loses her grip on his
              backpack.
 
                                  COLIN
                        I'm looking for things, Nikki.
                        You know that.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Things you just put in the
                        basement.
 
                                  COLIN
                        I'll use them . . . I know I will.
                        Some time.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        She doesn't like all that junk.
 
                                  COLIN
                        It's not junk!  Don't you EVER
                        call it junk!
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I'm sorry.  It's just what she--
 
                                  COLIN
                        Nikki . . . Why do you have to be
                        such a wimp?

 

                                  NICOLA
                        I just don't like her to be mad.
 
                                  COLIN
                        She'll be mad whatever I do.  If
                        I look through my stuff, she'll
                        tell me to get out of the
                        basement.  If I listen to you play
                        your viola, she'll tell me I'm
                        lazy.  I can't be perfect like you.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I'm not perfect.
 
                                  COLIN
                        Little miss perfect.  Miss prissy
                        perfect.  Why don't you stand up
                        to her . . . Tell her what you
                        think?
 
              As Colin starts to walk away, she grabs his arm, tugging at
              him.  Laughing, he frees himself and heads back the way they
              had come. Shaking her head, Nicola watches him, then begins
              walking in the other direction. Staying across the street,
              Mary begins to follow Nicola.
 
              After a few blocks, Nicola leaves the business district and
              enters a residential area of two-story houses.  Still across
              the street, Mary continues to follow at a short distance.  A
              couple of blocks beyond, Nicola turns in at a gated yard,
              which is landscaped with gravel and rocks interspersed with
              a few shrubs.
 
              When Nicola steps onto the porch, Mary sees the older girl,
              whom she had seen in the van, sitting in a wicker chair.
              JANE is a striking, dark-haired girl of sixteen, with a
              serious demeanor.  She gets up, book in hand, and enters the
              house with Nicola.
 
              Mary walks on past the house.  When she reaches the end of
              the block she hesitates, then crosses the street and
              continues down the side street.  Before coming to the
              parallel street, however, she notices an alley, and realizing
              that the alley abuts the back of the girls' house, she turns
              down the alley.
 
              A six-foot fence conceals all but the tallest parts of the
              houses.  Walking slowly she studies the houses.  She stops to
              listen to a viola being played distantly.  Nearby is a closed
              gate, and next to that is a dumpster.  Then voices can be
              heard.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        Kids home?

 
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Nicola's practicing.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        So I hear.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Maybe she could practice outside.
                        Help the plants . . . Which are in
                        dire straits.
 
              Mary smiles during a brief pause.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        Plants?  Since when have you been
                        interested in the garden?
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Maybe you could grow your own
                        gourds.  You wouldn't have to go
                        dashing off everywhere looking for
                        them.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                               (testy)
                        I asked about the kids.  If you
                        remember.
                               (pause)
                        Well?  Is Colin home?
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        I haven't seen him.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        He'd better not be doing what I
                        think he's doing.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        You make it sound positively
                        nefarious.
 
              Two children bicycle past Mary and disappear at the end of
              the alley.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                               (continuing)
                        What IS all this?
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        What's it look like?  Broken
                        gourds.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        You take a hammer to them?

 
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        They weren't right.
 
              Sounds of gourd shards hitting against each other, as if
              being dropped into a sack.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                               (continuing)
                        You could help me here, if it
                        wouldn't be too much trouble.
 
              Soon the sound of gourd pieces hitting against each other
              becomes more pronounced.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        What's for dinner?
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        How would I know?  Ask your father.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        He's not home.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        I know he's not home.  Phone him
                        if you're so interested.
 
              Mary's face shows heightened interest.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        I just thought you might know. I
                        thought it might have come up in
                        the conversation.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        Really, Jane--
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        I wish you wouldn't call me that.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        What SHOULD I call you?
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        I've asked you often enough.  Call
                        me Jani.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        With an "i," I suppose.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Why not?  Nikki with an "i."  Dani
                        with an "i."

 

 
                               (pause)
                        Nobody names their kids Jane.
                        Everybody in this family has an
                        interesting name except me.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        So?  What would you have liked?
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Michelle.  Micaela.  Even Janessa.
                               (pause)
                        Of course, YOU have the best name
                        of all.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        Danielle Webster?
                               (laughing)
                        Like DANIEL Webster?  You've got
                        to be kidding.
 
              Mary smiles.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        It doesn't seem fair.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        Okay, we'll go to court and change
                        your name.  Whatever you'd like.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Not that.  Well, that, too.  But
                        I was thinking about dad.  It's
                        not fair.
 
              Mary leans in toward the fence, as if to hear better.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        What's not fair?
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        He works all day.  Comes home.
                        Has to cook.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        He likes to cook.  Anyway, I work,
                        too.
                               (after a pause)
                        Well, isn't this work?
                               (pause)
                        What would YOU call it?

 

 
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        I don't know.  Painting those
                        things all day.  Seems like fun.
                        And you don't have to GO anywhere
                        . . . I mean off to some place to
                        work.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        I don't even stop for lunch.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        But you could.  And you can take
                        a nap.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        I don't take naps.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Then why do you have a couch?
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        To rest on.  To think.
                               (pause)
                        Anyway, if your father wanted to,
                        he could take naps.  They've got
                        a perfectly nice couch in the
                        staff room.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Not very private.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                        Like my studio.
 
                                  JANE'S VOICE
                        Oh!  Sorry to have disturbed you!
 
              Rapid steps are heard on gravel, the sound receding.
 
                                  DANIELLE'S VOICE
                               (calling out)
                        Jane!  Tell Nicola to come out
                        here! Jane! Do you hear!?
 
              Now, startled to hear footsteps approaching on gravel, Mary
              begins walking down the alley.  Danielle, carrying two large
              garbage sacks, opens the gate into the alley and tosses the
              sacks into the dumpster.  She glances briefly at Mary's
              receding figure.
 
              INT. DANIELLE'S STUDIO - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Nicola is standing abjectly, facing her mother, who has
              stopped working, paint brush in hand.

 
 
                                  NICOLA
                        You're mad at me--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Disappointed.  Very disappointed.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        But he won't--
 
              Her eyes begin tearing up.
 
                                  NICOLA
                               (continuing)
                        You know Colin, and--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (interrupting)
                        Show him you mean business.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        How?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Really, Nicola.  For heaven's
                        sake.  Grab hold of his arm.
 
              With her free hand, Danielle briefly takes hold of Nicola's
              arm.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I did, but he's stronger than me.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Grab him with both hands, and
                        don't let go.  Yell at him.
                        "Colin, we're going home!  This
                        minute!"
 
                                  NICOLA
                        People will hear--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Let them!  Give him a good poke in
                        the stomach!
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Oh, mama--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I MEAN it, Nicola.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I couldn't do anything like HIT
                        him--

 
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        He's tough as nails.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Maybe if YOU met the bus--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (testy)
                        You're telling me to leave my
                        work.  Is that what you're saying?
 
              Nicola looks away, tears falling.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        Really, Nicola.  Don't start
                        sniveling.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Maybe Jane--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Jane!  She's no better than Colin.
                               (pause)
                        Go on now.  And let me know when
                        Colin gets home.  I'll have a talk
                        with him.  Again.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        You'll start yelling . . . And
                        then HE will--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        For heaven's sake, Nicola. Go back
                        to your practicing. Let me get
                        some work done.
 
              INT. BOOKSTORE - MORNING
 
              Standing behind the counter, Leonard is handing the tape
              recorder to Mary, who has just arrived.  LAWRENCE WEBSTER,
              the man from the van and the art gallery, enters the store
              carrying a box of books.
 
              Web is thirty-three, handsome and professional-looking in
              suit and tie, his hair beginning to gray.  Jane follows him
              into the store. Glancing around briefly, Mary turns and walks
              toward the office.  Web stops to study her receding figure.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (in response to Web's
                                unasked question)
                        She's helping me.

 

              Nodding, but still looking in Mary's direction, Web sets the
              box on the counter.
 
                                  WEB
                        I thinned out American history.
 
              From under the counter, Leonard pulls out a paper grocery
              sack.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        For what it's worth, here's a few
                        of MY cast-offs.  Some out of
                        print, which might interest you.
                               (to Jane)
                        So . . . How's the budding writer?
 
              Jane shrugs, smiling wanly as she and Web leave the store.
 
              INT. VAN - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Inside Web's van, which is pulling away from the curb, Jane,
              sitting in the passenger seat, stares out the side window.
 
                                  JANE
                        I wish he wouldn't keep calling me
                        a "budding writer."
 
                                  WEB
                        But you are.
 
              He glances at Jane, who shrugs.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        How many sixteen-year-olds have
                        published stories?
 
                                  JANE
                        Tiny little magazine.
 
                                  WEB
                        Published is published.
 
              The van passes pedestrians, then pauses behind a school bus
              that has stopped to pick up children.
 
                                  JANE
                        I'd rather be a musician.  Or
                        artist.
 
                                  WEB
                        Do what you do best.

 

                                  JANE
                        Like you?
 
                                  WEB
                        I'm an exceptionally good
                        librarian.
 
              As the school bus moves on, the van follows it until the bus
              turns a corner.
 
                                  JANE
                        But a writer.  You wanted to be a
                        writer.
 
                                  WEB
                        Wanted to be doesn't mean I'd be
                        good at it.
                               (laughing)
                        Anyway, I DO write. Great reports,
                        memorable memos. In the meantime
                        I have a family to support.
 
              They are silent for a few blocks; then the van pulls into a
              parking lot beside an imposing building clearly identified as
              a library.
 
                                  JANE
                        In the MEANTIME, be a book doctor.
 
                                  WEB
                        What?
 
                                  JANE
                        A book doctor.  Good heavens, dad,
                        don't you know--?
 
                                  WEB
                        I know.  Of course I know.
 
                                  JANE
                        Write pro bono for non-profits, in
                        exchange for testimonials.
                        Advertise.  Set up an Internet
                        site.
 
                                  WEB
                               (smiling)
                        And will you be my agent?
 
              INT. HOUSE - EVENING
 
              In the living room, off the front entrance hall, Nicola is
              practicing her viola near a window that looks out to the back
              garden.

 
 
              Colin, wearing pajamas, sits on a couch watching television,
              listening through earphones.  Occasionally he has a spasm of
              coughing.
 
              Jane sits at a long table, books and papers spread out around
              her. Behind her is a closed door. Web is searching walled
              shelves filled with books beyond which an open door leads to
              the kitchen.  A stairway to the upstairs can be seen in the
              front entrance hall.
 
                                  JANE
                        What is it, dad?
 
                                  WEB
                        Just looking for some books.
 
                                  JANE
                        What books?
 
                                  WEB
                        Nothing important.
 
                                  JANE
                        You should catalog them.  Then
                        you'd know.
 
                                  WEB
                        I get enough of that at work.
 
                                  JANE
                        Still--
 
              He turns his attention to Colin.
 
                                  WEB
                               (raising his voice to
                                be heard)
                        Colin, you should be in bed.
 
                                  COLIN
                               (not looking up)
                        Soon.
 
                                  WEB
                        If that cough isn't better by the
                        end of the week--
 
              He turns back to the book shelves.
 
                                  JANE
                        Dad, if you'd just tell me, maybe
                        I could help.

 

                                  WEB
                        Actually . . . They're my old high
                        school yearbooks.
 
                                  JANE
                        Why didn't you say?  They're in
                        the basement.
 
                                  WEB
                        How'd they get there?
 
                                  JANE
                        Mother told me to move things. So
                        she could bring some of her art
                        books in from the studio.
 
              As Web heads for the door behind Jane, he stops beside her.
 
                                  WEB
                        Wouldn't it be better to study in
                        your room?
 
                                  JANE
                        No.  This is good for
                        concentration.
                               (pause)
                        Dad, I've been wanting to talk to
                        you.
 
                                  WEB
                        Oh?
 
                                  JANE
                        About school.
 
                                  WEB
                        School?
 
                                  JANE
                        I'd like to enroll in high school,
                        next year.
 
                                  WEB
                        Really?  I thought you found
                        school boring.
 
              When Nicola stops playing, Colin looks over at her.  Seeing
              her watching Web and Jane, he slides one earphone away from
              his ear.
 
                                  JANE
                        I did.  And I probably would.
                        But--

 

                                  WEB
                        But you think you could learn
                        more--?
 
                                  JANE
                        No, dad.  That isn't it.  You're
                        the BEST teacher.  You know that.
 
              He waits, an inquiring and puzzled look on his face.
 
                                  JANE
                               (continuing)
                        It's just I'd like to have the
                        experience . . . You know of being
                        a high school senior--
 
                                  WEB
                        Experience?
 
                                  JANE
                        Doing the things they do.
 
                                  WEB
                        Like what?
 
                                  JANE
                        Maybe being on the track team.
                        Writing for the yearbook.  Going
                        to the prom.
 
              Colin turns to grin at Nicola.
 
                                  WEB
                        Sure, Jane.  Whatever you want.
                        We'll talk to the school.
 
                                  JANE
                        I already have.
 
                                  WEB
                        Oh?
 
                                  JANE
                        I just need to pass some tests.
 
                                  WEB
                        Good.  No problem there.
 
              He starts to turn away.  Then:
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Prom?  Who would you go to the
                        prom with?

 
 
                                  JANE
                        Who knows?
                               (smiling)
                        Maybe bribe somebody.
                               (pause)
                        Maybe not.  Girls go to the prom
                        alone sometimes.
 
                                  WEB
                        Really?
 
              As Web walks toward the basement door:
 
                                  COLIN
                               (under his breath but
                                clearly audible)
                        Jane and Dick!  See how they click!
 
              Web halts momentarily, then continues to the basement door.
 
              INT. BASEMENT - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              As Web scans a shelf of books, Jane meanders about the
              windowless room seemingly lost in thought.  Occasionally she
              picks up an item, turns it over in her hand, puts it down.
              Nicola's playing can be heard.
 
                                  JANE
                        Dad--
 
                                  WEB
                        Umm--
 
                                  JANE
                        Can you imagine what it's like,
                        having a sister who plays the
                        viola like an angel . . . Who has
                        the most luminous skin . . . And
                        is named Nicola?  Can you, dad?
                        Can you imagine?
                               (sighing)
                        And here I am, plain Jane.
 
              Web looks up from his search.
 
                                  WEB
                        Your name may be plain, but YOU'RE
                        anything but plain.  You're
                        beautiful.
 
                                  JANE
                        Did you really name me?

 

                                  WEB
                        That's what parents do.  They name
                        their babies.
 
                                  JANE
                        Parents.  But MOTHER didn't--
 
              He turns back to his search.
 
                                  WEB
                        She thought you wouldn't live.
                        But I knew you would.  She thought
                        you'd die, like the baby before
                        you.
 
                                  JANE
                        And Colin?
 
                                  WEB
                        Strong.  Came to us howling like
                        a banshee.
 
                                  JANE
                        What about Nikki?
 
                                  WEB
                        Nikki almost died . . . Several
                        times.  It was weeks before they
                        let her come home.  I was worried.
                        Sick with worry.
                               (pause)
                        I still worry.
 
                                  JANE
                        About Nikki? Why?
 
              Web pulls a couple of books from the shelf and begins
              flipping through them.
 
                                  WEB
                        She's not tough, like you and
                        Colin.
 
                                  JANE
                               (indicating objects
                                strewn around)
                        Mom doesn't like all this, you
                        know. She keeps fighting with
                        Colin about it. She's starting to
                        sound really pissed off--
                               (as Web looks up
                                abruptly)
                        Oh.  Sorry.

 

                                  WEB
                        Why doesn't she like it?
 
                                  JANE
                        She thinks it's dirty.  Full of
                        germs.  Maybe you should talk to
                        her.
 
                                  WEB
                        Maybe I should.
 
                                  JANE
                        But it's interesting, don't you
                        think . . . Some of the stuff he's
                        collected?
 
              Carrying several oversize books, Web walks to Jane and looks
              at the objects she is observing.
 
                                  WEB
                        Yes.
 
                                  JANE
                        See, he's starting to put things
                        together . . . In a kind of
                        installation.  He'll be an artist
                        . . . That's what I think.  And
                        maybe she's jealous.
 
                                  WEB
                               (shaking his head)
                        Don't, Jane.
 
                                  JANE
                        It's possible. Anyway, it's what
                        I think.
 
              INT. BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
 
              Wearing pajamas, Webster is lying in bed, propped up, leafing
              through one of the yearbooks.  Several others are lying
              nearby on the bed.  Danielle, sitting at a dressing table, is
              filing her nails.  She looks at him occasionally.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (rather tartly)
                        What IS all that?
 
                                  WEB
                        Old books.
 
              Intently, he studies one of the pages of the open book.

 

                                  DANIELLE
                               (raised eyebrows)
                        High school yearbooks?
 
                                  WEB
                        Yes.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Why?
 
                                  WEB
                        I thought I saw someone today.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Who?
 
              Opening a jar, Danielle begins to smooth cream on her hands.
 
                                  WEB
                        No one you'd know.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        A woman?
 
                                  WEB
                        Yes.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Show me.
 
              She walks to the bed, leans over to look at a picture he
              points out.
 
                                  WEB
                        I could be wrong. It's been a long
                        time.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Cute.
 
              She returns to the dressing table.
 
                                  WEB
                        No.  More than cute.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        You had a crush on her.
 
                                  WEB
                        No.  I was in love with her.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Kids that age have crushes.

 

              A long pause ensues, as he continues to look at the
              photograph, and Danielle, facing the mirror, finishes
              creaming her hands.
 
                                  WEB
                               (glancing up)
                        Is that what we had . . . You and
                        I . . . A crush?
 
              She looks at him in the mirror.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        You know, Web . . . You can say
                        the most unpleasant things.
 
                                  WEB
                        I just meant . . . We were young,
                        too.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Kids mature fast in college.
                        Anyway, I was older.
 
                                  WEB
                        Interesting equation.  A fifteen
                        and sixteen year old have a crush.
                        One seventeen year old and one
                        nineteen year old are in love.
 
              He closes the volume, drops it to the floor, picks up another
              from the bed.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Colin has a cough.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        He should stop rummaging around in
                        dumpsters.
 
              Turning away from the mirror, she faces him now as she
              continues to sit at the dressing table.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        So what happened?
 
              He looks up inquiringly.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        With this cute flame of yours--

 

                                  WEB
                        I don't know.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        This flame that burned so brightly
                        in high school . . . Nothing
                        happened between you?
 
                                  WEB
                        We were watched closely.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Oh?  I know the feeling.
 
                                  WEB
                        Her father was a weird guy.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Kept his eyes on you, did he?
 
                                  WEB
                        School principal.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Ah.  And you went away to college--
 
                                  WEB
                        And met you.
                               (thinking back to
                                what she had said)
                        "You know the feeling"?  What's
                        that supposed to mean?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Being watched closely.
 
                                  WEB
                        Danielle--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Well, it's true.  I can hardly
                        talk to someone--
 
                                  WEB
                        No. That's NOT true.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        --Without getting the third degree.
 
              He closes the book, picks up the remaining one from the bed
              and drops them both to the floor.  He switches off his
              bedside lamp.

 

                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        I need more gourds.
 
                                  WEB
                        You've made enough for the show.
                        More than enough.  And there's no
                        time.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        For after the show.
 
                                  WEB
                        I have comp time . . . I could
                        take a few days off.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Save it for the summer.
 
                                  WEB
                        You mean you'd rather go alone.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        It's distracting when you come
                        along.
 
                                  WEB
                        Is it?
 
              She leaves the dressing table and walks to her side of the
              bed.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Jane wants to go to high school
                        next year.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Good.  She should be meeting other
                        kids. Make friends.
 
                                  WEB
                        She has friends.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Not boy friends. You know . . .
                        The kind you go out on dates with.
 
              He turns away from her, plumping his pillow.  She shrugs,
              gets into bed, and snaps off her bedside lamp.
 
              INT. BOOKSTORE OFFICE - MORNING
 
              Mary is listening as Leonard talks into the recorder.

 
 
                                  LEONARD
                        He married my mother on the
                        rebound.  Rebounding, as he said,
                        from the great love of his life.
                        So great, when he mentioned her,
                        tears started coming.
 
              Leonard's jaw tightens.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        My mother commiserated with him,
                        putting her arms around him, even
                        when he shoved her away, sometimes
                        violently.
 
              He stops to take a drink of water.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        He never changed, but she did,
                        becoming more and more distant
                        toward him, fear of him replacing
                        the love she felt early on.  I was
                        glad to see her change, even while
                        I hated to see the fear always in
                        her eyes.
 
              As he sighs, Mary nods.
 
                                  MARY
                        You seem tired.  Shall we stop for
                        a while?
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (shaking his head)
                        Maybe he hadn't always been the
                        way I knew him.  Maybe he had once
                        been a normal person.  But maybe
                        this awful, violent person took
                        over when he lost his great love.
                               (shrugging)
                        Or maybe he'd been this awful
                        person even earlier, and when his
                        great love realized what he was
                        really like, she escaped.  Ran.
                        Hid.  Which my mother did,
                        eventually.
 
              He stops talking, lost in his memories.  Then:

 

 

                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        To escape his abuse and torment,
                        she often ran out into the dark
                        night. My dad was terrified of
                        darkness, but she wasn't. Added to
                        this, she had an unerring sense of
                        direction and never became lost or
                        disoriented, no matter how far she
                        ran.
 
              Leonard's chin begins to tremble.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        Often, as it grew dark, she would
                        announce she was taking a walk. It
                        was during these walks, I realized
                        later, that she plotted and
                        prepared her escape.  My dad, to
                        cover his own fear, would yell
                        after her, "You'll get bit by a
                        rattler, crazy bitch, or fall and
                        break a leg.  Don't expect me to
                        come looking for you!"
 
              He pauses, his hand wiping away tears that ran down his cheek.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (continuing)
                        My own young self was terrified
                        when she went out walking at
                        night, and I tried to go with her,
                        but my dad would have none of it,
                        yanking me back, thinking perhaps
                        that we would walk out of there,
                        which is what she did eventually.
                        But without me.  One moonless
                        night.
 
              Shaking his head, he stares into space.  She clicks off the
              recorder.
 
              EXT. BOOKSTORE PORCH - LATE AFTERNOON
 
              Mary is sitting on the porch, looking out at the street. The
              closed sign hangs in the window.  She watches as school
              children begin to stream along the sidewalk, away from the
              school bus stop.  When she sees Colin and Nicola across the
              street, she gets up and walks toward them.
 
              As she nears, their arguing can be heard.  Colin turns and
              starts walking away.  Nicola follows him but stops finally
              and turns to walk toward home.

 
 
              Colin looks over his shoulder, laughing.  Mary follows Colin
              at a short distance, passing Nicola, who is looking straight
              ahead, clearly distressed.
 
              After several blocks, Colin turns down a side street, which
              eventually becomes a winding, tree-lined road.  He walks past
              tall stone pillars into what appears to be a wooded estate,
              with large buildings seen in the distance through the trees.
              As Mary approaches the pillars, she sees the words "Andrews
              Academy" on an engraved plate.
 
              When the road ahead curves, Mary loses sight of Colin.  As
              she is passing a dirt road that branches off, Mary sees a
              dumpster, and suddenly she notices an object being flung from
              inside, landing on the road beside several other objects.
              She turns down the dirt road and walks toward the dumpster,
              concealing herself behind thick bushes.  Soon Colin appears
              at the top of the dumpster and drops a radio carefully over
              the side.
 
              Suddenly the boisterous voices of several approaching boys
              are heard.  Colin drops back into the dumpster and is again
              unseen.  Soon the boys, a year or two older than Colin,
              appear at the dumpster.
 
                                  FIRST BOY
                               (kicking something
                                with his foot)
                        Hey!!  My old radio!  What's it
                        doing here?
 
                                  SECOND BOY
                        Grew wings and flew out of the
                        dumpster.
 
              First boy picks up the radio and throws it into the dumpster.
 
                                  FIRST BOY
                        Back it goes--!
 
                                  THIRD BOY
                        Know what I think?
 
              He begins picking up the other items, tossing them into the
              dumpster.
 
                                  THIRD BOY
                               (continuing)
                        I think he's at it again--
 
                                  SECOND BOY
                        And we warned him!

 

                                  FIRST BOY
                               (mock chagrin)
                        You MEAN . . . Surely not!
 
                                  THIRD BOY
                        The dumpster diver!
 
                                  SECOND BOY
                        Hey!  Let's clean up around here!
 
              As he begins tossing rocks and broken limbs into the debris
              box, the others follow his lead.
 
                                  COLIN'S VOICE
                        Cut it out!
 
                                  THIRD BOY
                        Ho!  Who's that speaking?
 
                                  FIRST BOY
                        Colin.  Aptly named.  'Cause you
                        know what the colon is, don't you?
                               (thumping his stomach)
                        Ugh!  Big garbage dump on the
                        inside!  That's who Colin is, big
                        garbage dump!
 
              At that moment Mary steps out from the bushes and walks to
              the dumpster.  The boys, taken by surprise, stare at her.
 
                                  MARY
                               (holding a pen and
                                small tablet)
                        I think you boys need to be
                        reported.  Names, please--
 
                                  FIRST BOY
                        Who are YOU--?
 
                                  MARY
                               (preparing to take
                                their names)
                        Never mind who I am!  Names,
                        please!
 
              The boys turn and run toward the buildings seen through the
              trees.  Colin emerges at the top of the dumpster and looks
              inquiringly at Mary.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        Maybe I'd better walk you back
                        into town.

 

              INT. KITCHEN - EVENING
 
              Rose is alone in her kitchen, eating dinner, a newspaper
              lying open on the table.  Appearing in the open doorway, Mary
              knocks lightly on the doorjamb.  She is holding a cup.
 
                                  MARY
                        May I heat some water for tea?  My
                        little gadget seems to have
                        breathed its last.
 
                                  ROSE
                        Of course.
 
              She gets up to add water to the tea kettle.  Then she sets it
              to heating on the stove.
 
                                  ROSE
                               (continuing;
                                indicating a chair)
                        Please.
 
              Mary places her cup on the table opposite Rose and sits down.
              For a few moments they sit in companionable silence as Rose
              eats and Mary gazes casually around the kitchen.
 
                                  ROSE
                               (continuing)
                        I'm surprised that Leonard hired
                        you.  Not YOU especially.  Anyone.
                        There never seemed that much
                        business.
 
              Mary smiles, nodding.
 
                                  ROSE
                               (continuing; between
                                bites of food)
                        Oh.  But maybe I'm talking out of
                        turn.  You might be planning to
                        buy the business.  Something like
                        that.
 
                                  MARY
                        No.  I'm not.  I didn't even know
                        it was for sale.
 
                                  ROSE
                        It isn't.  Technically.  He's just
                        been saying so for twenty years.
 
                                  MARY
                        And if he sold it . . . then he'd
                        do what?

 
 
              Having finished her dinner, Rose takes her dishes to the sink.
 
                                  ROSE
                        Who knows.  People have told him
                        he should write, because he loves
                        books so.  But he says he has no
                        talent.
 
                                  MARY
                        That's what I do.  I write.  Books.
 
                                  ROSE
                        Really?  What kind of books?
 
                                  MARY
                        Memoirs.
 
              Sitting down, Rose looks puzzled.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        I'm a ghost writer. People hire me
                        to write about their lives.
 
              When the tea water boils, Mary gets up, and standing at the
              stove she pours water into her cup.
 
                                  ROSE
                        You're writing for Leonard then.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.
 
                                  ROSE
                        About his life--
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.
 
                                  ROSE
                        A ghost writer.  How interesting.
                        I've heard of that.  But I've
                        never met--
 
                                  MARY
                        A ghost?  That's why we have the
                        name.  We live in the shadows.
                        Other people's shadows.
 
                                  ROSE
                               (quietly)
                        Shadows--
 
              Rose hesitates, lost for a moment in thought.

 
 
                                  ROSE
                               (continuing)
                        We were engaged once, Leonard and
                        I.  A long time ago.
 
                                  MARY
                        Oh--?
 
                                  ROSE
                        But I broke it off.
 
                                  MARY
                        And you never married?
 
                                  ROSE
                        No.
 
                                  MARY
                        And Leonard?
 
                                  ROSE
                        No.  And the years went by.  So
                        here we are, living our separate
                        lives.
 
              Mary nods, jiggling the tea bag up and down in her cup.
              Dropping the tea bag in the sink, she sits down.
 
                                  MARY
                        From my window, I saw a bicycle in
                        the back, next to the garage.  Do
                        you ride?
 
                                  ROSE
                               (smiling)
                        Oh, my, no.  I don't need any
                        falls, not with my bones in
                        wretched shape.
 
                                  MARY
                        Oh.  I'm sorry. Then who--?
 
                                  ROSE
                        A man lived here for a few months.
                        When he left, he said he had no
                        need for it.  So there it sits--
 
                                  MARY
                        Perhaps I could use it--?
 
                                  ROSE
                        Most certainly.  If the tires
                        haven't gone flat.

 

              EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
 
              Seen under streetlights, Mary is riding the bicycle, its
              front light on.  There are few cars.  She rides through the
              commercial area, then continues on.  Eventually she turns a
              corner and stops at the entrance to the alley.  She
              disembarks from the bike and starts pushing it down the
              alley.
 
              She stops at the gate to Web's house, turns the bike light
              off, props the bike against the fence.  Tentatively she turns
              the handle on the gate.  Finding it unlocked, she cautiously
              opens the gate a narrow crack and peers inside.  Seeing and
              hearing nothing, she slowly enters the rear yard of the
              house.
 
              She is inconspicuous behind trees and bushes.  She looks
              toward the house, where lights are on, the shades open on
              some of the windows.  Muted voices can be heard.  Suddenly
              Web appears at the back door, descends a few steps, and walks
              into the garden in Mary's direction.  She freezes.
 
              The gravel path he is following turns as it approaches Mary,
              and Web walks to a small building, its lights nearly obscured
              through the trees.  He stands in the doorway.
 
              Danielle is sitting on a high stool at a table on which lie
              several large gourds of varying shapes and sizes.  One has
              been painted and decorated with colored beads and string.
 
              Open paint jars sit beside the gourds, and a glass container
              filled with water holds several brushes.  On shelves lining
              the walls are dozens of raw gourds.  At the back wall are an
              overstuffed chair and a daybed.
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani . . . Dinner in fifteen
                        minutes.
 
              Hesitantly, Mary approaches closer.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        About time.  I'm starved.
 
              For a moment he waits silently, watching her work.
 
                                  WEB
                        I had to stop at the store.
                               (pause)
                        Did you eat today?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        What?

 

                                  WEB
                        Lunch.  Did you eat lunch?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Oh.
                               (pause)
                        I forgot.
 
                                  WEB
                        Then don't complain if dinner's
                        late.
                               (beginning to turn
                                away)
                        How can you FORGET to eat?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I don't get hungry when I'm
                        working like this.
 
              He steps back to the doorway.
 
                                  WEB
                        Like what?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Like with a deadline.
 
                                  WEB
                        Danielle . . . For God's sake,
                        you've got enough.  The exhibit is
                        full.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        There are several others . . .
                        Better ones . . . I'm working on.
 
                                  WEB
                        Save them for the next show.
 
              Searching on her table, she finds a paint jar, opens it.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Maybe there won't BE a next show.
 
                                  WEB
                        You know there will.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (exasperated)
                        Webster . . . Go do dinner.  Your
                        fifteen minutes are up.

 

 
 
                                  WEB
                               (walking away)
                        We're having crab cakes.  If
                        you're interested.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Great.  Suits your crabby mood.
 
              With the sound of Web's feet crunching on the gravel path,
              Mary watches him walk toward the house.  She turns suddenly
              toward the small building as she hears the sound of something
              breaking.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        Jesus!  Now look what he's made me
                        do!
 
              Danielle leaves her studio and walks up the gravel path.
              When Danielle has entered the house, Mary cautiously
              approaches the small building.  The door has been left open
              and a light on.  Mary stands in shadows next to the door,
              looking at the inside of the studio.
 
              After a few minutes, she leaves.
 
              EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - MORNING
 
              Mary is riding the bicycle down a residential street, her
              purse hanging from the handlebars.  Entering the commercial
              area, she slows, then disembarks from the bicycle, and begins
              pushing the bike along the sidewalk.
 
              Passing the art gallery, which has a "closed" sign on the
              door, she stops to look at painted gourds in the window.
              Next to the gourds is a notice telling the dates of a gourd
              exhibit and announcing a reception for the artist, Danielle
              Webster.
 
              She continues pushing the bike down the sidewalk past other
              shops until she comes to the thrift shop, where she again
              stops.  Propping the bike against the building, she takes her
              purse and walks into the shop.
 
              EXT. COMMERCIAL STREET - NIGHT
 
              Most of the shops are closed, but the art gallery is brightly
              lighted and filling with people.  Cars are parked along the
              street.  Near the corner Web's van is parked.
 
              Mary is standing in a darkened, recessed doorway across from
              the gallery.  She is wearing a long dress, and she has
              twisted her hair into a bun.  The murmur of voices can be
              heard through the open doorway.

 
 
              When no cars are approaching, Mary walks quickly across the
              street, and after a brief hesitation, she enters the gallery.
              Web and Danielle are talking with people at the far end of
              the room.
 
              Danielle is wearing a long, diaphanous dress, talking
              animatedly.  Several men have gravitated toward her.  Having
              turned away from Web, she appears especially interested in
              talking to one of the men.
 
              Nicola is playing her viola at one side of the room; Colin
              sits near her, looking pale and dejected. Jane is walking
              about among the guests.
 
              Mary mingles with the viewers.  Seeing Leonard, she talks
              briefly with him.  Moving on, she avoids the small group
              surrounding Danielle and Web.  She refuses a drink offered
              her by a server carrying a tray.
 
              Occasionally someone makes a remark to Mary, to which she
              responds with a smile or a few words.  Suddenly Colin rushes
              past her through the open doorway.
 
              Mary follows Colin outside, where she finds him kneeling at
              the curb, vomiting.  She puts her hands on his shoulder,
              steadying him.  As he straightens up and turns to look at
              her, Web hurries toward them.
 
                                  WEB
                        Colin--?
 
              He hands Colin a handkerchief.
 
                                  COLIN
                        I don't feel so good, dad.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'll take you home.
 
                                  COLIN
                        No.  No, I'll be all right. I'll
                        just wait in the van.
 
              Turning, Web glances at Mary.  He takes Colin's arm just as
              Jane comes outside.
 
                                  JANE
                        What's going on?  Colin?
 
                                  WEB
                        Would you stay with him in the
                        van. Let me know if he starts
                        feeling worse.

 

              Jane takes Colin's arm, and they walk away, passing
              occasional pedestrians.  Web turns to look at Mary.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing; quietly,
                                almost under his
                                breath)
                        Is it you . . . ?  Mary?
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.  I guess it's me.
 
                                  WEB
                               (shaking his head)
                        It's hard to believe . . . But I
                        thought . . . When I saw you in
                        the bookstore--
                               (pause)
                        Did you know it was me?
 
              Mary nods.
 
                                  MARY
                        But I wasn't sure if--
 
              She stops, seemingly disinclined to continue.
 
                                  WEB
                        If?  You weren't sure if . . .
                        Maybe . . . we should let the past
                        stay where it is . . . ?
 
                                  MARY
                        Something like that.
 
              Nodding slightly, he studies Mary.
 
                                  WEB
                        But now that we're here, would it
                        be all right to talk . . . Just a
                        bit--
                               (pause)
                        For old time's sake?
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.
                               (pause)
                        Yes, of course.
 
                                  WEB
                        But where to begin?
 
                                  MARY
                        Well . . . How are you, Web?

 
 
                                  WEB
                        I'm fine.  And how are you?
 
                                  MARY
                        I'm okay.  Yes, I can say I'm okay.
 
              Not sure of her meaning, he hesitates.
 
                                  WEB
                        You've been all right, then . . .
                        These years--
 
                                  MARY
                        I've kept busy.
 
                                  WEB
                        Busy.  And happy?
 
                                  MARY
                        Of course.  And here YOU are, with
                        a family.
 
                                  WEB
                        My youngest is playing the viola
                        inside.
 
              Mary pauses to listen.
 
                                  MARY
                        Talented.
 
                                  WEB
                        Talented, yes.  But not playing
                        her best.
 
                                  MARY
                        Really?  I doubt anyone will
                        notice.
 
                                  WEB
                        Her mother will.  She has a low
                        tolerance for imperfection.
 
                                  MARY
                        Her mother is the gourd artist?
 
                                  WEB
                        Yes.
 
              Mary nods, looking toward the gallery with viewers coming and
              going.
 
                                  MARY
                        Talented, too.

 
 
              He follows her gaze toward the gallery.
 
                                  WEB
                               (apologetically)
                        Mary, I'm afraid--
 
                                  MARY
                        No, please.  Go back inside.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'll introduce you.
 
                                  MARY
                        No.  Another time.
 
                                  WEB
                        Lunch?
 
              Mary pauses, considering.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.  All right.
 
                                  WEB
                        Tomorrow . . . Noon?
 
                                  MARY
                        Tomorrow . . . ?  Yes, I can do
                        that.
 
                                  WEB
                        I work in the library.  There's a
                        park next to it.  A vendor comes
                        around--
 
              He turns away and starts walking toward the gallery.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing; over his
                                shoulder)
                        You know where the library is?
 
              She nods.
 
              INT. KITCHEN - MORNING
 
              Web has just finished eating when Danielle enters, rumpled
              and still sleepy. She stops at the stove to pour herself
              coffee.  Jane is rinsing dishes at the sink.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Colin and Nikki . .  through
                        eating?

 

                                  WEB
                        In bed.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        They stayed up too late.  Tired.
 
                                  WEB
                        Sick.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Oh, lord.  Not going to school?
 
                                  WEB
                        No.  But you'll be home.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Working.
 
                                  WEB
                        They can buzz you in the studio if
                        they need anything.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Well, that's just great.  I may
                        not BE in the studio.
 
                                  WEB
                        Why?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I need materials.
 
              Puzzled, he does not respond immediately.
 
                                  WEB
                        Materials?  Why?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        For new work.
 
                                  WEB
                        New work?  Now?  After all you've
                        done for the show?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I'm feeling up . . . Engaged.
                        I've got new ideas.
 
                                  WEB
                        Make a list.  I'll pick up
                        whatever you need.

 

 
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (sharply)
                        I need it now.  Not tonight.
 
              Not looking at Danielle, he gets up, hands Jane his dishes,
              which she begins rinsing.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing; annoyed,
                                at the same time
                                pleading)
                        Can't YOU stay home?
 
                                  WEB
                               (turning)
                        Why should I stay home and miss a
                        day's work--?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Because you're better with the
                        kids than I am.
 
                                  WEB
                        Danielle--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Stop using that tone of voice.
 
              Jane turns to leave the room.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        What about Jane?  She could--
 
                                  WEB
                        Homeschool outing.
 
              Eyebrows raised, Jane glances at Danielle and leaves the
              room.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (with ill-concealed
                                lack of interest)
                        Really important, I'm sure.
 
                                  WEB
                        Danielle--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        There's that tone of voice again.
 
                                  WEB
                        Be there when they buzz.

 

                                  DANIELLE
                        Which they will, with annoying
                        regularity.
 
                                  WEB
                        I just gave them baby aspirin.
                        Check their fevers in a couple of
                        hours.
 
              He walks into the adjoining living room and through to the
              entrance hall, where Jane is waiting for him.  He picks up a
              briefcase, and they leave the house.
 
              INT. CAR - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              With Web driving and Jane sitting in the passenger seat, they
              are leaving the downtown district, then entering a district
              of larger commercial buildings.
 
                                  JANE
                        Mother.
                               (shaking her head)
                        I won't be like her, dad.  Never.
 
                                  WEB
                        You already ARE like her.  Smart
                        and talented and--
 
                                  JANE
                               (interrupting;
                                looking at him)
                        How can she be so self-involved?
                        Interested only in herself.
 
                                  WEB
                        We're all involved with ourselves,
                        aren't we, Jane?
 
                                  JANE
                        But ONLY ourselves?
 
                                  WEB
                        That's pretty harsh.
 
              She turns to stare out the window, the sidewalk filled with
              people going to work.
 
                                  JANE
                        It was embarrassing last night.
 
                                  WEB
                        She likes to flirt.  If I don't
                        mind, you shouldn't.

 

                                  JANE
                        I DO mind--
 
                                  WEB
                        Whatever anybody says about her,
                        she's given me wonderful children.
 
                                  JANE
                        Has she?
 
              He glances quickly at Jane, as he strives to interpret her
              meaning.
 
                                  WEB
                        My three children, Jane.  Hers and
                        mine.  Three wonderful children.
 
              Approaching the library, he slows the car.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        You'll understand some day.  About
                        your mother and me.
 
                                  JANE
                        I doubt it.
 
              He drives into the library parking lot, where a group of
              youths Jane's age are gathered with several adults.  Jane
              gets out, leaving her books and binder on the seat.
 
                                  JANE
                               (continuing)
                        Take them to my carrel, will you,
                        dad?
 
              He nods.
 
                                  WEB
                        Have a good time, Jane.
 
                                  JANE
                        We'll be back by four.
 
              She blows him a kiss.
 
              INT. LIBRARY - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Web has arrived at a study carrel that is stacked with books
              and papers.  He sets Jane's books and binder on the desk and
              starts to turn away.  On impulse he turns back and leafs
              through various papers.  Under one of the stacks of papers,
              he finds several books.

 

              He looks at the titles: Surviving Life With a Narcissist, My
              Years With a Narcissist, and Narcissism: How to Identify it.
              Sighing, he replaces the books where he had found them.
 
              INT. HOUSE - AFTERNOON
 
              In the living room Web is sitting on the couch, reading from
              a stack of papers, briefcase lying open beside him.  The
              front door is heard opening.  Danielle enters, startled to
              see Web.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Web--?
 
              He continues reading.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        What's going on?
 
              He looks up, barely controlling his anger.
 
                                  WEB
                        Colin called me at work.  Nikki
                        was throwing up.
 
              She turns and starts up the stairs.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Don't!  They're sleeping!
 
              She stops.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Is she all right?
 
                                  WEB
                        All right?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Well, you know what I mean . . .
                        better--
 
              He returns to his reading.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        How long have you been home?
 
                                  WEB
                        Since before lunch.
                               (pause)
                        Oh, God!  I forgot--

 
 
              He puts the papers aside.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Forgot what?
 
                                  WEB
                        Nothing.  Never mind.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        What about Jane?
 
                                  WEB
                        Somebody brought her home.
 
              Danielle sits down, nervously watching Web.
 
              INT. KITCHEN - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Web is standing with the receiver of a wall phone held to his
              ear, waiting anxiously.
 
                                  WEB
                        Mary.  Web here.  I just--
 
              He stops, stammering.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        I'm really sorry.  I had to come
                        home.  Two of the kids were sick.
 
              Camera switches to Mary standing in the hallway outside her
              room in Rose's house, having picked up the phone from a small
              table.
 
                                  MARY
                        These things happen.
 
              Viewer sees Web.
 
                                  WEB
                        Did you look for me in the library?
 
              Viewer sees Mary.
 
                                  MARY
                        No.  No, I just waited awhile in
                        the park.  Then left.
 
              Viewer sees Web.
 
                                  WEB
                        I can't say how sorry--

 

              Viewer sees Mary.
 
                                  MARY
                               (interrupting)
                        It's all right, Web.  I
                        understand.  I really do.
 
              Viewer sees Web.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'll phone.  Or stop by the
                        bookstore.
 
              He listens, injecting a few words occasionally.
 
              INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUING
 
              Danielle is standing near the closed door into the kitchen,
              listening to Web's indistinct voice.  When he stops talking,
              she slips away from the door and pretends to be scanning the
              book shelves.
 
              INT. BEDROOM - SEVERAL HOURS LATER
 
              Danielle, dressed for bed, is sitting at the dressing table
              brushing her hair as Web comes into the room, wearing pajamas.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        They okay?
 
                                  WEB
                        Asleep.
 
              He gets into bed.  Facing away from her side of the bed, he
              turns off his bedside lamp.  Danielle follows him to bed,
              turning off her bedside lamp.  In the dim light of the moon
              coming through semi-transparent blinds, she can be seen
              snuggling against him, putting her arm over him.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I'm sorry, Web.  I'm so sorry.
 
              She waits for him to respond.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        I thought I'd just be a few
                        minutes.  Please--
                               (pause)
                        And I'm sorry if I messed up your
                        day.
 
              After a few minutes, he turns over and puts his arms around
              her.

 
 
              INT. BOOKSTORE OFFICE - MORNING
 
              Mary and Leonard are in the office, papers on the desk, tape
              recorder turned off.  They are drinking coffee
 
                                  MARY
                        I was working at a small town
                        newspaper.  My hometown. The owner
                        of the paper, who was also the
                        publisher and reporter--
 
              Leonard raises his eyebrows.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        I know.  It sounds odd, but he was
                        a good interviewer.  Great nose
                        for news.  But he had a tin ear.
                        Couldn't write.  So he'd drop
                        these long stories on my desk for
                        me to write up properly.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Your title?
 
                                  MARY
                        Editor.
                               (smiling)
                        Which I was . . . Mostly of my own
                        stuff.  But then he got sick.  And
                        the paper folded.  So I started
                        putting little classified ads in
                        out of town newspapers . . . Any
                        kind of writing . . . Just to keep
                        writing.
 
              Mary starts to drink from her coffee mug.  Than, lost for a
              moment in thought, she puts it down.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        I didn't make much money, as you
                        can imagine.  But then one day an
                        elderly woman . . . A neighbor,
                        actually . . . Asked me to help
                        her write a book . . . Sort of a
                        memoir with reflections . . .
                        meditations, if you will, on
                        growing old.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        Sounds interesting.

 

                                  MARY
                        It was.  And after that I went
                        freelance, writing memoirs.
 
                                  LEONARD
                        You like that kind of writing--
 
                                  MARY
                        Most of the time.  Well, if the
                        person is dull, if her life isn't
                        interesting . . . It's hard to
                        write a lively book.  I get bogged
                        down.  And then there are times
                        when my own life seems to be
                        slipping away . . . Getting lost
                        somewhere.  But I guess that's
                        true for other writers.  Maybe
                        novelists.  Don't you think?
 
                                  LEONARD
                        If HER life isn't interesting.
                        That's what you said.
 
                                  MARY
                        You're the only man I've written
                        for . . . Except the newspaper
                        guy.  And I wasn't writing about
                        him.
 
                                  LEONARD
                               (smiling)
                        I'm glad you don't find ME dull.
 
              EXT. PARK ACROSS FROM LIBRARY - NOON
 
              Sandwiches in hand, Webster is walking away from a lunch
              wagon to a picnic table where Mary sits watching him.
              Arriving at the table, he hands Mary a sandwich, sits down,
              unwraps his sandwich.  The other tables in the small park are
              empty.  A slight breeze stirs leaves on the nearby trees.
 
                                  WEB
                        Reminds me of high school.  Having
                        lunch together.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.
 
              They eat in silence for a few minutes, Mary calmly, Web
              fingering his sandwich wrapping.
 
                                  WEB
                        Mary . . . About the letter.  I've
                        always regretted--

 
 
              She looks up, questioningly.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Well, a lot of things.  But the
                        letter . . . I should have come in
                        person.
 
                                  MARY
                               (shrugging)
                        That might have been worse.
 
              They are silent, neither eating.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        When you wrote every week . . .
                        That was wonderful.  I could count
                        on a letter being at the post
                        office.  Then they weren't coming
                        every week.  But I thought . . .
                        College . . . So much to do.
 
                                  WEB
                        There was.
 
                                  MARY
                        And then farther and farther
                        apart.  More distant sounding.  I
                        began to worry.  To think . . .
                        He's found someone else.  Someone
                        who doesn't have a father with
                        eyes in the back of his head,
                        always suspicious.
 
              For a few minutes Web looks away, distracted, watching people
              enter and leave the library.
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani was raised differently.  Her
                        parents were--still are--free
                        spirits.  They pretty much let
                        her do as she wanted.  She was a
                        junior when I was a freshman.
 
                                  MARY
                               (smiling wanly)
                        A woman of the world.
 
                                  WEB
                        One way of putting it.

 

 
 
              Web nods to a man who arrives to sit at a nearby table.  Mary
              pauses, watching as the man opens a book and begins reading
              as he eats.
 
                                  MARY
                        After a while I was happy to see
                        a letter, no matter how long it
                        had been.  Except--
 
              She stops, lost in thought, biting her lip.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        Except they were more cool . . .
                        Ever more distant.  And finally,
                        when that last letter showed up in
                        the mail box, I knew it was
                        something I didn't want to read.
                        I couldn't open it.  I knew . . .
                        I really knew--
 
              He looks at her, puzzled.
 
                                  WEB
                        But.  You did . . . Open it--
 
                                  MARY
                        Oh, I opened it.  After a day or
                        two.  But I still didn't read it.
 
              She laughs, ruefully.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        What I did was . . . I propped it
                        up across he room, trying--but at
                        the same time not trying--to read
                        the words.  I so wished there was
                        someone who could have read it and
                        told me . . . Told me "yes" or
                        "no." Yes, he still loves me.  No,
                        it's all over.
 
                                  WEB
                        Mary--
 
                                  MARY
                        But there was no one.  So
                        eventually I had to crawl across
                        the room, sit in front of those
                        words, and read them.  And learn
                        . . . It's all over.  There's
                        someone else now.

 

 
                        It had all been a fairy story.
                        That we'd go to college together
                        . . . Become writers together. And
                        live happily ever after.  All of
                        those dreams forgotten, blown away.
 
                                  WEB
                        But the people we knew . . . The
                        dreams.  They don't disappear.
                        They're just lodged somewhere, out
                        of sight.  I never forgot you.
 
              Beginning again to eat, she doesn't respond.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        I often wondered what you did
                        after high school.
 
                                  MARY
                        I stayed there. Where I'd always
                        lived.  Until I started writing
                        for people.
 
                                  WEB
                        Didn't go to college?
 
                                  MARY
                        No.
 
                                  WEB
                        Leonard tells me you're a ghost
                        writer.
 
              Both of them having finished eating, she begins to clear the
              table.
 
                                  MARY
                        A ghost and a ghostwriter.
 
                                  WEB
                        Why a ghostwriter?
 
                                  MARY
                        Money, for one.  And I'm my own
                        boss, more or less.  Leaves me
                        time . . . Well--
 
                                  WEB
                        Time to write?  Novels?

 

 
 
                                  MARY
                               (nodding)
                        Some.  And stories.
 
                                  WEB
                        Published?
 
                                  MARY
                               (shaking her head)
                        And you?
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani supported me through college.
                        And by that time we had Jane.
                        Then a baby who didn't live.  And
                        I could see that Dani needed to
                        get back to her art.  So I got a
                        library degree. And here I am--
 
              He looks beyond her at the library building.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Cataloging other people's books.
 
                                  MARY
                        And here I am, writing other
                        people's books.
 
                                  WEB
                        Could I read some of the books
                        you've written?
 
              Taking a piece of paper and a pen from her purse, she begins
              to write.  After finishing, she hands the paper to him.
 
                                  MARY
                        They're all in your library.
 
              EXT. LIBRARY ENTRANCE - CONTINUING
 
              As he approaches the entrance to the library, Web sees Jane
              sitting on one of the steps, a book on her lap.  In the
              distance Mary can be seen bicycling away.
 
                                  JANE
                        What's going on, dad?
 
                                  WEB
                        What do you mean?  Nothing's going
                        on.

 

 
 
                                  JANE
                        Third time you've had lunch with
                        her.
 
                                  WEB
                        Keeping track.
 
                                  JANE
                        Just noticing . . . Paying
                        attention, the way you told us to
                        do.  Didn't you?
 
                                  WEB
                        Yes.
 
              Web sits down beside her.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        She was a friend from a long time
                        ago.
 
                                  JANE
                        How long?
 
                                  WEB
                        High school.
 
                                  JANE
                               (nodding)
                        Oh.  The yearbooks.
 
                                  WEB
                        Yes.  The yearbooks.
 
                                  JANE
                        What's her name?
 
                                  WEB
                        Mary McPherson.
 
                                  JANE
                        Does Mom know?
 
              He pauses, reflecting as he looks at her.
 
                                  WEB
                        Not about the lunches.  And I'd
                        rather you didn't say anything, to
                        anybody.
 
                                  JANE
                        She's living here now?

 

                                  WEB
                        For awhile.  Until she finishes
                        her work with Leonard.
 
                                  JANE
                        What work?
 
                                  WEB
                        She's writing a book for him.
                        Ghostwriting.
 
                                  JANE
                               (impressed)
                        She's a writer.  Published?
 
                                  WEB
                        Five books.
 
                                  JANE
                        Could I read them?
 
                                  WEB
                               (nodding)
                        They're in the library.
 
              He hands her Mary's list, which she scans.
 
                                  JANE
                        Nothing under her name.
 
                                  WEB
                        Nothing.
 
              EXT. PARK ACROSS FROM LIBRARY - NOON
 
              Webster and Mary are eating sandwiches.
 
                                  WEB
                        These lunches . . . I enjoy them.
                        I really do.
 
              Hearing something in his voice, Mary stops eating.
 
                                  MARY
                        But--
 
                                  WEB
                        Well--
 
                                  MARY
                        Your wife.
 
                                  WEB
                        No.  More about the kids.

 
 
                                  MARY
                        The kids?  What about them?
 
                                  WEB
                        Jane, my oldest.  She's noticed.
 
              Mary nods, beginning to eat again.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        I'm the one parent they can count
                        on.  If they thought . . . Well,
                        their world might fall apart.
 
                                  MARY
                        I understand.  It's okay.
 
                                  WEB
                        What I'm saying is . . . We just
                        need . . . To be careful.
 
                                  MARY
                        Careful?  About what?
 
                                  WEB
                        Being seen together.  Like this.
 
                                  MARY
                        Like eating lunch.
                               (laughing)
                        Look, Web.  We have our separate
                        lives.  That's the way it's going
                        to stay.  I'll be leaving when my
                        work is done.  Meantime--
 
              She folds up her sandwich wrapping, tosses it into a nearby
              trash container.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        We'll stop with the lunches.
 
                                  WEB
                        What I'm wondering is . . . Could
                        we still meet, but at another
                        time, another place?
 
                                  MARY
                        Just like the old days . . .
                        Prying eyes.
 
              Preparing to leave, she stands up.

 

                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        Let me think about it.
 
              INT. KITCHEN - EARLY EVENING
 
              Jane is helping Web clean the kitchen after dinner.  He is
              hurrying.  Dani is at the table, drinking coffee.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        What's the rush, Web?
 
                                  WEB
                        I've got work to finish at the
                        library.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Bring it home.
 
                                  WEB
                               (slightly
                                exasperated)
                        Really, Danielle.  You know how
                        many files I need.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Go in early then.  Tomorrow
                        morning.
 
                                  WEB
                        You planning to go out?  Is that
                        what this is all about?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I thought I might.
 
              To Jane as he leaves the room:
 
                                  WEB
                        Help Nikki with her math, will
                        you.  She's got a test tomorrow.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Where's Colin?
 
                                  JANE
                        He's gone over to David's.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        That BETTER be where he's gone.
                        And nowhere else.
 
                                  JANE
                        If you phone he'll be embarrassed.

 
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I have no intention of phoning.
 
              INT. LIBRARY STAFF ROOM - NIGHT
 
              Web and Mary are sitting at a table, drinking coffee.  In
              addition to the table, the staff room also contains a
              microwave and a hotplate on a counter; a coffee pot sits on
              the hotplate.  Above the counter are several cupboards.  At
              the back of the room, partially obscured behind a screen, is
              a couch.
 
                                  MARY
                        Aren't you missed?
 
                                  WEB
                        Sometimes I work at night,
                        catching up.  When I'm sure that
                        Jane will be home.
 
                                  MARY
                        Jane?  Not your wife?
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani goes out fairly often.  Still
                        a bit of the hippie kid in her.
                               (pause)
                        You may have heard rumors.
                        Leonard knows all the gossip.
 
                                  MARY
                        He never said.  Well, maybe once.
                        An innuendo . . . For which he
                        apologized.
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani needs her space.  She has
                        artist friends, who like to party.
                        Innocent enough . . . Those
                        parties.
                               (sighing)
                        But then there are the gourd farms.
 
                                  MARY
                        Gourd farms?
 
                                  WEB
                        Where they grow those gourds
                        artists use. She goes on buying
                        trips, to stock up.
 
                                  MARY
                        Not so innocent?

 

                                  WEB
                        Maybe not always.  But--
 
                                  MARY
                        You don't have to tell me this.
 
              Web gets up, goes to the hotplate.  He brings the coffee pot
              to the table.  Mary shakes her head.  He pours more coffee in
              his cup.
 
                                  WEB
                        We have an understanding.  Out of
                        town, she can do what she wants to
                        do.  Permitted, though not
                        encouraged.  But in town--
 
                                  MARY
                        Only innocent fun.
                               (pause)
                        And the children--?
 
                                  WEB
                               (a bit sharply)
                        What about them?
 
                                  MARY
                        Do THEY hear rumors?
 
              For a few minutes there is silence, as he drinks his coffee.
 
                                  WEB
                        They know about her partying.
                        I've told them mother needs her
                        friends.  I tell them to remember
                        she always comes home to us.
                               (pause)
                        If you were thinking of something
                        else--
 
                                  MARY
                               (shaking her head)
                        No.  Of course not.
 
                                  WEB
                        I thought you might be wondering
                        . . . Are they mine?  I was there
                        when they were born . . . When
                        they took their first step . . .
                        Yes.  They're mine.
 
              The door opens abruptly and a custodian appears with mop and
              bucket in hand.

 

                                  CUSTODIAN
                        Oh!  Sorry!
 
                                  WEB
                               (standing up)
                        No, that's okay, Andy.  We were
                        just leaving.
 
              He takes Mary's cup and his own to the sink, where he washes
              and dries them, then places them in one of the cupboards.
 
                                  MARY
                               (standing up)
                        Thank Jane for the use of her cup.
                               (smiling)
                        Well, maybe better not.
 
              They leave the room.
 
              EXT. LIBRARY PARKING LOT - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary is retrieving her bicycle from a bike rack.  Web is
              standing near, keys to his car in hand.
 
                                  MARY
                        Web . . . When I came to this
                        town--
                               (pause)
                        It wasn't by accident.
 
                                  WEB
                        I never thought it was.
 
                                  MARY
                        Oh.
 
                                  WEB
                        Not hard to find me.
 
                                  MARY
                        No.  Easy enough, through the
                        alumni office.  Where you were.
                        Your work.  I've known that much
                        for a long time.
 
                                  WEB
                        But why now . . . After all these
                        years?
 
                                  MARY
                        I guess I've been afraid.
 
                                  WEB
                        Afraid?

 
 
                                  MARY
                        Afraid to see--
 
              Looking away, she shakes her head.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        To see what was behind that closed
                        door.  To see what you've made of
                        your life.  To see what we might
                        have had . . . Together.
 
                                  WEB
                        And now that you've seen?
 
                                  MARY
                        Maybe I can get on with my life,
                        move out of this limbo.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'm sorry.  I'm so very sorry.
 
              With her hand resting on the handlebar, he puts his hand over
              hers.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        To have left you like that . . .
                        Alone.
 
                                  MARY
                        Not alone, really.  There were my
                        parents, of course.  And I
                        married--
 
                                  WEB
                        Oh?
 
                                  MARY
                        Separated.  Long time separated.
 
              He leans over, kisses her lightly.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        This isn't helpful.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'm sorry.
 
                                  MARY
                        Can we now pass on to being
                        friends?

 

                                  WEB
                        If that's what you want.
 
                                  MARY
                        I have no idea what I want . . .
                        Except, yes, to have a friend,
                        someone to talk to--
 
                                  WEB
                        At least you've had your writing.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.  I've had that.
 
                                  WEB
                        But look at me.  I haven't written
                        a word, except for library work.
                        Memos read, tossed out. Words
                        swallowed up in the monstrous
                        catalog.
 
                                  MARY
                        Well, my words have been swallowed
                        up, too.  Invisible.
 
              She gets on her bike and pedals away.
 
              INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
 
              Jane is standing with her back to the basement door, as Colin
              tries to push past her.  Unable to, he begins to flail
              violently, beating on her with his fists.  His face is
              bruised, his clothes torn and disheveled.  Nikki is a few
              feet away, covering her ears in fright.  Web enters, stops,
              then rushes to Colin, grabs and holds him.
 
                                  WEB
                        What the hell!  What's going on?!
 
                                  JANE
                        It's mother!  She's in the
                        basement--!
 
              Web listens, hears noises coming from downstairs.
 
                                  WEB
                        In the basement?  Why?
 
                                  JANE
                        She's wrecking things!  Colin's
                        stuff!
 
              Web lets go of Colin and eases his way past Jane.

 

                                  WEB
                        I'll go down--
 
              As Colin attempts to follow him:
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        No, Colin!  You wait!
 
              Web stops briefly, stares at Colin.
 
                                  JANE
                        He came home looking like that.
 
              Web disappears down the stairs, closing the door behind
              himself.
 
              INT. BASEMENT - CONTINUING
 
              Danielle, wielding a heavy stick, is laying waste to Colin's
              collection.  When Web approaches her, she threatens him with
              the stick.  He stops.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Nobody cares about me!  Nobody
                        pays any attention--!
 
              She continues to beat and flail with the stick.
 
                                  WEB
                        Stop this, Dani!
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        JUNK JUNK JUNK!  I won't have it.
 
              She again threatens Web as he approaches.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        I've told him to stop!  I've
                        ordered him to stop!  And does he
                        pay any attention!  No!
 
              Web is able to reach her and take the stick away.  She breaks
              free and starts stomping on objects.  Web manually restrains
              her.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        Gone to David's!  Lies!  Lies!
                        Out getting beaten up, that's
                        where he was!  At some dumpster,
                        getting the shit beat out of him!

 

 
                        As if coming home filthy isn't
                        enough!  Bringing home dirty junk
                        isn't enough!
 
              INT. BASEMENT - LATER THAT NIGHT
 
              Colin is sitting on the stairs, halfway down, watching Web
              sift through the debris.  To one side Web puts items that are
              identifiable, unbroken, or partly broken.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'll get you a storage locker,
                        Colin.  You can keep your things
                        there.
 
              Colin stands up, starts walking up the stairs toward Jane who
              is standing at the top of the stairs.
 
                                  COLIN
                               (turning back, angry)
                        Maybe I'll just LIVE there, too.
 
              He brushes past Jane, slamming the door as he leaves.  Jane
              walks down the stairs.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'm sorry, Jane.  I should have
                        listened.
 
                                  JANE
                        Listened to what?
 
                                  WEB
                        I should have talked to her when
                        you asked me to. Where is
                        she?
 
                                  JANE
                        In the studio.  With HER junk.
                        That nobody wrecks.
 
                                  WEB
                        Don't--
 
              He continues to sort through the debris.
 
                                  JANE
                        "Nobody cares about me," she says.
                        "Nobody pays any attention."  ME
                        ME ME!
 
                                  WEB
                        We've all got some of that in us--

 
 
                                  JANE
                        Some of what?
 
                                  WEB
                        Narcissism.  Nobody's totally
                        selfless.
 
              She looks at him, realizing that he knows what she's been
              reading.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        It's self-preservation.
 
                                  JANE
                        Not like HERS, though.  Hers is
                        different.
 
                                  WEB
                        Try to understand.
 
                                  JANE
                        Understand what?
 
                                  WEB
                        That maybe it's not her fault.
                        Maybe it's not the way she'd like
                        to be.
 
                                  JANE
                        So why doesn't she change?
 
                                  WEB
                        Maybe it's not possible.  Maybe
                        her parents--
                               (pause)
                        Well, never mind.  Maybe it's just
                        not going to happen.
 
              INT. BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
 
              Dani is in bed, burrowed into her pillow. Web has just
              entered the room.
 
                                  WEB
                        That was a terrible thing you did.
 
              She sits up, eyes wide with anger.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I knew this would happen!  I knew
                        he'd get beaten up!  YOU knew it,
                        too!  Anybody with half a brain--!

 

                                  WEB
                        There are other ways to solve
                        problems than picking up a stick.
 
              She throws the covers back and stands up to face Web.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Okay!  Here's what I think!  Send
                        him away to military school!
                        Maybe he'd learn to behave!
 
                                  WEB
                        Absolutely not.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        No, of course not.  What you'd
                        like to do is send ME off
                        somewhere.
 
                                  WEB
                        Don't be ridiculous.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        "Look at her . . . What a terrible
                        mother she is!"  That's what
                        they'll be saying behind my back.
 
                                  WEB
                        This is about Colin.  Imagine how
                        HE feels.  You've destroyed things
                        important to him.
 
              She approaches as if to strike him.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Imagine how I feel!  The whole
                        town will be snickering!
 
                                  WEB
                        Right now, Dani, it's not about
                        you. So stop saying, "I," "me."
                        Just stop it!
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        And don't you yell at me!  Don't!
                               (pause)
                        And don't think I'm blind, either!
 
                                  WEB
                        Blind?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Or stupid!  You think you're so
                        clever!

 
 
              Web turns to leave the room, as Danielle stares after him.
 
              INT. ROSE'S KITCHEN - EVENING
 
              Mary, dressed to go out, pauses at the open kitchen door and
              sees Rose sitting at the table, reading a newspaper as she
              drinks coffee.  Rose looks up.
 
                                  ROSE
                        Out again tonight?
 
                                  MARY
                        Library.
 
                                  ROSE
                        Past closing time, I should think.
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.
 
              Mary starts to leave, then hesitates.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        I'm not sure if--
 
              As Rose folds the newspaper, she motions Mary to a chair.
              Mary shakes her head.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        I'm not sure I'm doing the right
                        thing.
 
                                  ROSE
                        It's murky water, isn't it?  I
                        suggest you tread lightly.
 
                                  MARY
                        Is that what YOU did . . . With
                        Leonard?  tread lightly?
 
                                  ROSE
                        Oh, no.  Not at all.  I slammed
                        the door . . . And kept my foot
                        against it.
 
                                  MARY
                        And do you regret--?
 
                                  ROSE
                        Every day of my life.
 
              As Mary turns to leave:

 
 
                                  ROSE
                               (continuing)
                        If you want . . . Well, it would
                        be more private here.  In this
                        house.
 
              Mary pauses, thinking.
 
                                  MARY
                        I'm not sure . . . But thank you.
 
              She turns away.  The front door opens and closes.
 
              INT. LIBRARY STAFF ROOM - EVENING
 
              Web and Mary are in the staff room, drinking coffee.
 
                                  MARY
                        What are we doing, Web?
 
                                  WEB
                        Sitting.  Talking.
 
                                  MARY
                        Why?
 
                                  WEB
                        Because we both need a friend.
 
                                  MARY
                        But ARE we friends?  Meeting in
                        secret . . . It feels like less.
 
                                  WEB
                        Or more.
 
                                  MARY
                        Is that what you want?  More?
 
                                  WEB
                        The kids aren't happy.  Dani's not
                        happy.  I'm not happy.  What's the
                        point?
                               (as if talking to
                                himself)
                        I could get custody.  I'm sure I
                        could.  We'd all be happier.
 
                                  MARY
                        Including your wife?

 

 

                                  WEB
                        I don't know what makes her happy.
                        Her art, I guess.  Parties,
                        certainly.  Being admired.  Going
                        on buying trips.
 
              He stops talking, as voices are heard, one of them a woman's
              voice, loud.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Oh, God--
 
              Danielle bursts into the room, followed by the custodian.
 
                                  CUSTODIAN
                        Mr. Webster--!
 
                                  WEB
                        It's all right, Andy--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        WHAT'S all right, Web?
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani, for God's sake--
 
                                  CUSTODIAN
                               (anxious)
                        Shall I call someone?
 
                                  WEB
                        No, we'll be okay.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Will we, Web?  Will we be okay?
                        Were we ever okay?
 
              Embarrassed, the custodian leaves, reluctantly, looking over
              his shoulder.  Mary stands up, pulls out a chair for Danielle.
 
                                  MARY
                               (to Danielle)
                        Web and I were friends, a long
                        time ago.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Friends?  FRIENDS?  Not from what
                        I hear!
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani--!

 

                                  DANIELLE
                        Why . . . Here you have such a
                        nice little tete-a-tete.  All the
                        comforts of home.  Coffee.  Snacks
                        in the refrigerator.  A couch.
 
                                  WEB
                        That's enough, Dani.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        No!  It's not enough!
 
              She turns to Mary.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        What would be enough is for you to
                        go back where you came from!  And
                        leave my husband alone!
 
              As Mary reaches for her coffee mug, Danielle grabs it before
              Mary can reach it.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        No!  Here . . . Let me clean up!
 
              With the coffee cup, Dani passes close by Mary and
              "accidentally" spills coffee on her.  Mary cries out, grabs
              a towel, and begins wiping her clothes.  When Web approaches
              Mary, she waves him away.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        Oh!  How careless of me!  But
                        that's the way I am.  Careless.
                        But you probably know that
                        already, don't you?  Careless as
                        a wife.  Careless as a mother.
 
              Mary picks up her purse, slings it over her shoulder, and
              starts walking toward the door.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        Oh! But Mary!  Don't leave on my
                        account!
 
              Mary leaves, closing the door.
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani--

 

                                  DANIELLE
                               (interrupting)
                        You weren't supposed to lie to me!
                        Ever!  "To work at the library,"
                        you said.
 
                                  WEB
                        I did work.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        While waiting for HER.  A half
                        truth is no better than a lie!
                        Worse even!
 
                                  WEB
                        Would you have understood?  If I
                        told you I was meeting an old
                        friend?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Old FRIEND, Web?
 
                                  WEB
                        Old girlfriend, then.  From a LONG
                        time ago.  It's possible to be
                        friends.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Possible.  Not likely.
 
                                  WEB
                        YOU have friends.  Friends I've
                        never met.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I TELL you I'm going out with
                        friends.  I don't make up stories.
 
                                  WEB
                        All right.  If that's what you
                        want.  I'll just tell you . . .
                        Straight off--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Is she prettier than me, Web?
                        Smarter?  Nicer?  That's it, isn't
                        it?
 
              As she begins to cry, her shoulders shaking, Web approaches
              her.

 

 

                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        What's wrong with me, Web?
                        Something!  I know.  But I can't
                        help myself.  I don't know what to
                        do!
 
              He holds her until her crying almost stops, walks her to the
              couch, lowers her to sit there, then sits beside her.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        I have nothing, Web.  I'M nothing!
 
                                  WEB
                        How can you say that?  You're a
                        wonderful artist.  People are
                        buying your gourds.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        My gourds!  Stupid gourds!  Not
                        real art!
 
                                  WEB
                        Of course it's art.  You see
                        amazing things in every gourd.
                        You're getting famous.
 
              She begins shaking her head.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Famous.  All I want is you to love
                        me.
 
                                  WEB
                        I DO love you.  I always have.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I forced you into loving me.
 
                                  WEB
                        No.  Please.  Don't say that.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I should have let it happen, if it
                        would have.  I forced you into
                        forgetting her.  And I thought you
                        had.  Why didn't she just leave us
                        alone?
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani--

 

                                  DANIELLE
                        Why doesn't she just go away?
 
              INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
 
              Jane is sitting on the couch, turned toward Web, who is
              standing at the rear window, absently looking out into the
              darkness.
 
                                  JANE
                        It must have been awful.
 
                                  WEB
                        Mary left.  Thankfully.
 
                                  JANE
                        Mother.  Well--
 
                                  WEB
                        Well . . . What?
 
                                  JANE
                        Well . . . When she got home--
 
              Sighing, she looks away from Web.
 
                                  JANE
                               (continuing)
                        Maybe I shouldn't--
                               (pause)
                        Maybe mother wouldn't want--
 
                                  WEB
                        Want what?
 
                                  JANE
                        Want me to say anything.
 
                                  WEB
                        About what?
 
              After a pause:
 
                                  JANE
                        When mother got home, she ran into
                        the kitchen.
 
                                  WEB
                        Oh--?
 
                                  JANE
                        She leaned over the sink and
                        started throwing up.

 

              Concerned, Web looks toward the stairs.
 
                                  WEB
                        Oh, God.  She's sick with the
                        kids' virus.
 
                                  JANE
                        I thought so, too.  I asked--
                               (pause)
                        Did she want to see a doctor--
 
              She stops, shaking her head.
 
                                  JANE
                               (continuing)
                        She said . . . Yes.  In about
                        seven months.
 
              Web stands mutely as he absorbs this information.
 
                                  JANE
                               (continuing)
                        Daddy--
 
                                  WEB
                               (almost to himself)
                        She had a miscarriage before she
                        graduated.  And then, after we got
                        married, a baby that lived only
                        four hours.
 
              He starts to cry, softly.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Then you were born.  And lived.
                        And after you, another baby.  He
                        lived two days . . . And all the
                        while we knew he was going to die.
                        Then Colin.  And Nikki.
 
                                  JANE
                        Please, daddy.
 
              She stands up and approaches him.
 
                                  JANE
                               (continuing)
                        Daddy . . . Why is she doing this?
 
              EXT. ROSE'S FRONT PORCH - AFTERNOON
 
              Mary and Rose are sitting quietly on Rose's front porch.
              Rose turns to look at Mary, who is staring into space.

 
 
                                  ROSE
                        Knowing Dani, it doesn't surprise
                        me.  Rotten thing to do, though.
                        When the kids are almost grown.
 
                                  MARY
                        Who knows why people do things.
 
                                  ROSE
                        How will this affect YOU?
 
                                  MARY
                        Me?
 
                                  ROSE
                        What will you do? I mean . . .
                        After you've finished your work
                        with Leonard.
 
                                  MARY
                        Find other work.  Other writing to
                        do.
 
                                  ROSE
                        And move on.
 
              There is a long pause, as Mary continues to stare into space.
 
                                  MARY
                               (shrugging)
                        Yes.  I suppose.  The way I've
                        always done.
 
                                  ROSE
                               (surprised)
                        You suppose?
 
                                  MARY
                        Yes.  The way I planned.  But I'm
                        thinking  . . . Maybe not.
                               (pause)
                        Does that surprise you?
 
                                  ROSE
                        Yes.  In a way . . . It does.
 
                                  MARY
                        Because there's no future for me
                        . . . With Web--?  That's what you
                        mean.
 
                                  ROSE
                        Yes, that.  And because--

 

                                  MARY
                        Because it's been my habit . . .
                        To move around a lot.
                               (pause)
                        Well, maybe it's time to change
                        habits.  I like it here.  It's a
                        nice little town.  I think I could
                        be happy here.  Content, anyway.
 
                                  ROSE
                               (nodding her head)
                        The way I've been content.
 
              Mary turns and looks at her, for the first time.
 
                                  MARY
                        I could try.  Couldn't I?
 
              INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - AFTERNOON
 
              In a private room Dani lies sleeping. A few feet from the bed
              Web is talking quietly with a doctor.
 
                                  WEB
                        You couldn't save the baby--?
 
              The physician raises his eyebrows.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        The fetus.  It couldn't come to
                        term?
 
                                  PHYSICIAN
                               (shaking his head)
                        No.  I'm sorry.  Not after what
                        she did to herself.
 
                                  WEB
                        She'll be all right?
 
                                  PHYSICIAN
                               (nodding)
                        But she can't have children--
 
                                  WEB
                        We have three.
 
              The doctor puts out his hand; they shake hands.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        Thank you.

 

              The doctor leaves.  Web sits in a chair beside the bed.
              After a few minutes, as he watches Dani, her eyes open.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I heard.
 
                                  WEB
                        All of it?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        It's best.  What I did.
 
                                  WEB
                        No.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        It wasn't yours, Web.  For the
                        first time . . . It wasn't yours.
 
              She turns away briefly.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        You'd always have wondered . . .
                        Who's the father--
 
                                  WEB
                        No.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        "Was it a guy from one of the
                        gourd farms?  Or one of her party
                        friends?  Maybe a casual fling,
                        somebody she hardly knew . . .
                        Just getting even for Mary--"
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani.  How could you?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        It's just something I do, Web.
                        Picked it up way back in
                        elementary school.  Jees, just a
                        kid.
 
                                  WEB
                        No, Dani.  What I'm asking is how
                        could you . . . Not let this baby
                        live?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I told you, Web.  And I spared you
                        all those years putting up with me.

 

              INT. DANIELLE'S STUDIO - NIGHT
 
              In dim light Web is lying on the daybed with his head on
              Mary's lap.
 
                                  WEB
                        Reminds me high school, you and I,
                        the times we were alone. On the
                        sly, of course.
 
                                  MARY
                        And always in daylight.
 
                                  WEB
                        That's right.  We never saw each
                        other after dark, did we?
 
                                  MARY
                        Until now.
 
              He sighs, covers his eyes with one hand.
 
                                  MARY
                               (continuing)
                        I'm sorry . . . About Dani and the
                        baby.
 
                                  WEB
                        We lost several.  But never like
                        this.  Never because she did
                        anything.
 
                                  MARY
                        Try not to think.
 
                                  WEB
                        There's nothing quite so awful as
                        losing a child . . . Even losing
                        one like this . . . One you never
                        got to see.  Or know.
 
                                  MARY
                        I lost a child.
 
              Web takes his hand from his eyes, looks up at Mary.
 
                                  WEB
                        Oh.  I had no idea.
 
                                  MARY
                        He didn't die, though.  His father
                        took him when he was a toddler.
                        Took him and fled.

 

              Web sits up.
 
                                  WEB
                        And you never found them?
 
                                  MARY
                        I tried.  Everything I could think
                        of.  But he kept moving . . . And
                        finally I gave up.
 
                                  WEB
                        When?
 
                                  MARY
                        When did this happen?  Oh.  A long
                        time ago.  Twelve years.  Every
                        time I see a teenage boy--
 
                                  WEB
                        You wonder where yours is . . . If
                        that could be--
 
                                  MARY
                        You're so lucky.  To have children
                        To love.  Who love you.
 
              Looking at her, he leans back against the daybed, sighs.
 
                                  WEB
                        I'm so sorry you lost him.  And
                        I'm sorry that we lost each other.
                               (shaking his head)
                        And now . . . We'll lose each
                        other again.  One day I won't see
                        you any more.  You'll be gone.
 
                                  MARY
                        Well, we can pretend.  Pretend
                        that we have all the time in the
                        world.  Hours stretching into
                        years.  Years stretching out as
                        far as you can see.
 
                                  WEB
                        Even though there won't be.
 
                                  MARY
                        Web . . . If I stayed . . . I
                        mean, here in this town . . .
                        Could we be friends?  Is that
                        possible?
 
              Surprised, thinking about this, Web does not respond.

 

              INT. LIVING ROOM - MORNING
 
              Web and the children are ready to leave.  Danielle is sitting
              by a window facing the back yard, a blanket draped over her
              legs.
 
                                  WEB
                        Will you be working in the studio?
 
              Danielle shakes her head.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        You should.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Should I?
 
              As Web turns toward the door:
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Daddy, I think I'm getting one of
                        my headaches. Could I stay home
                        today?
 
              Web glances at Danielle.
 
                                  WEB
                        Okay with you, Dani?
 
              Back still turned, she shrugs.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        All right, Nikki.  But phone me
                        later.
 
              Nicola nods, as he leaves with Jane and Colin.
 
              INT. BOOKSTORE - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Web has just left a small box of books with Leonard, when a
              cell phone rings.  WEB removes a phone from his coat pocket,
              flips it open, listens.
 
                                  WEBSTER
                        Yes, Nikki--
 
              Listening, he frowns.

 

 

                                  WEB
                        WHO'S there?
                               (pause)
                        Don't worry, sweetie.  I'll be
                        right home.
 
              Mary is standing in the doorway.  She and Leonard exchange
              glances as Web hurries from the store.
 
              INT. LIVING ROOM - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Web, Jane, and Colin enter the room.  Danielle is still
              sitting by the window but now facing the room.
 
                                  WEB
                        Why are your parents outside?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        They've come to pick me up.
 
                                  WEB
                        Why?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I'm leaving, Web.
 
                                  WEB
                        Don't be ridiculous.  You can't.
                        Not just like this.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Of course I can.  I'll stay with
                        them for a while.  Until I figure
                        things out.
 
                                  WEB
                        You're not even packed.  You can't
                        just walk out--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        I packed yesterday, right after I
                        phoned them.  One suitcase, for
                        now.
 
              She gestures toward the door to the entrance hall.  Against
              the wall is a suitcase.  Web turns to Jane.
 
                                  WEB
                        Jane, would you see how Nikki is.
 
              As Jane leaves, Colin slouches down in a corner of the couch.

 

 
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Let's not argue, Web.  My mind's
                        made up.
 
                                  WEB
                        Would you have left without a word?
 
              She turns away.
 
                                  WEB
                               (continuing)
                        At least we can talk.  Send your
                        parents away.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        No.
 
                                  WEB
                        Think of the kids.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        They'll be fine.  They won't even
                        miss me.
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani, don't talk like that.  It's
                        crazy.
 
              Jane returns, grasping Nicola by the arm.  Nicola is carrying
              a small suitcase and her viola.
 
                                  JANE
                        She was packing--
 
                                  WEB
                        Nicola? Why?
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I'm sorry, Daddy.  But I need to
                        go, too.
 
                                  WEB
                        No, of course you don't!
 
              Web approaches her.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I have to.
 
                                  WEB
                        Have to?  Why?

 

 
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Because Mama . . . Will be all
                        alone.
 
                                  WEB
                        She'll have her parents.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I mean, she won't have any of us.
 
                                  WEB
                        But you can't--
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Would Jane go?  Would Colin?
 
                                  WEB
                        No, baby, I can't lose you.
                        Please.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Maybe we'll be back.  Won't we,
                        mama?
 
              Danielle turns away as Nicola sets her suitcase and viola
              down.  Web puts his arms around Nicola.
 
                                  WEB
                        I won't let you.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        Please, daddy--
 
              She gently breaks free and sits on the couch beside Colin.
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani . . . Isn't there something
                        I can say . . . Something I can do?
                               (pause)
                        I beg you, Dani.
 
              After a long pause, she turns and looks at him.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Be honest, Web.  Haven't you ever
                        thought of divorce?
 
              After a pause, he shrugs.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        Of course you have.
                               (pause)
                        But if--

 
 
                                  WEB
                        If . . . What?
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Nothing.
 
                                  WEB
                        Dani.  "If--"
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        If this woman . . . This high
                        school sweetheart of yours--
 
              Web waits expectantly.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                               (continuing)
                        This woman . . . I couldn't stand
                        the thought--
                               (pause)
                        I couldn't stand the thought that
                        you'd be seeing her . . . Be
                        meeting her.  So--
 
                                  JANE
                        Mother--
 
              Danielle glances sharply at Jane.
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        So . . . If you'd promise never to
                        see her again.  Never even speak
                        to her again.
 
                                  JANE
                        Daddy--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        And never let Jane see her . . .
                        Or talk to her . . . Pass messages
                        back and forth.  NONE of the
                        children could see her.
                               (pause)
                        None of you go near her . . . Near
                        that bookstore.  Wherever she is.
 
                                  JANE
                        Mother--
 
                                  DANIELLE
                        Well?

 

 
 
              Web looks at Nicola, whose eyes are hopeful, almost begging.
              He looks at Colin, who turns away, then at Jane, whose anger
              is palpable, the anger turning to anguish, then to fear.
 
                                  WEB
                        If you stay, Dani, we can try.  We
                        can try to work things out.  Try
                        hard.  But I can't promise what
                        you want . . . Never even to
                        speak--
                               (his voice catching)
                        I can't promise.
 
              Danielle shrugs, then walks to the window next to the front
              door.  She nods to someone outside, picks up her suitcase,
              walks out the door.  Webster follows her and stands on the
              front porch, watching her greet her parents who are standing
              next to their car, a small, older sedan with a roof rack.
              Jane walks onto the porch, followed by Nicola, who is
              carrying her small suitcase and viola.
 
                                  NICOLA
                        I'll phone you, daddy.
 
              Too distraught to speak, Web nods and watches her walk to the
              car.
 
              Danielle's father loads the viola in the trunk of the car,
              but he is unable to find room for the two suitcases.  He
              removes straps from the trunk and begins attaching the
              suitcases to the roofrack.
 
              Danielle's mother beckons Danielle to sit in the front
              passenger seat.  She then opens the door behind Danielle to
              allow Nicola to sit behind her mother.  After watching
              Danielle's father for a moment, she walks to the other side
              of the car and seats herself.
 
              When Danielle's father has finished strapping the suitcases
              to the roof rack, he gets into the car and starts the engine.
 
              Danielle's mother glances at Web, then looks away, as
              Danielle's father starts the car.  The car moves a few yards,
              then makes a u-turn.
 
                                  WEB
                        Nikki . . . My baby.  My sweet
                        sweet baby.
 
                                  JANE
                        She'll be all right, daddy.

 

 
 
                                  WEB
                        No.  She won't be all right.  You
                        know she won't.  She'll have three
                        people to please, instead of just
                        one.
 
                                  JANE
                        Maybe she'll stop trying.
 
                                  WEB
                        And maybe that would be worse.
 
              They watch the car drive out of sight.
 
              INT. BOOKSTORE OFFICE - A FEW MINUTES LATER
 
              Mary is standing in the office, coffee cup in hand, gazing
              casually out the window while Leonard is seated behind her
              talking into the tape recorder. Her attention is caught by a
              car that comes into view, suitcases strapped to the roofrack.
              As she wraps both hands around the coffee cup, Mary watches
              the car drive by. In the passenger seat, Danielle is staring
              straight ahead.  Behind her, Nicola's head is bent as she
              looks down.
 
              Mary continues to stare out the window long after the car has
              disappeared from sight and long after Leonard has stopped
              talking.

 
              FADE OUT