BORN TO RUN - SimplyScripts
BORN TO RUN
by
Erin Royce
February 18, 2004
615-460-5357
amour_laetitia@
FADE IN:
1 TIGHT ON A GIRL’S FACE
A girl’s mascara runs from her red, tear stained eyes.
BRIE (V.O.)
Is anything actually real? I mean completely, unconditionally, no
substitutes, just…real? Life…love…
hope? Or is it just a game we play
in our heads to keep us sane? To
keep us from realizing reality.
Or maybe we’re all just crazy.
2 EXT.- BOARDING SCHOOL DORMITORY- NIGHT, RAINING
Stately, old fashioned, three-story buildings and well-manicured lawns are the grounds of Highpoint Academy. Bushes and flowers line the bottom of the wall. In the distance you hear the sounds of a school dance.
3 TIGHT ON- A FLOWER. A cigarette ash falls and lands on the flower.
PAN UP- THE WALL OF THE DORM
to the second floor balcony, where beautiful, but expressionless, brown-haired BRIEANNA ANDREWS, 17, stands, smoking a cigarette. She gazes out onto the lawn, as in a trance.
BRIE (V.O.)
It’s funny how you meet people
in this life, connect with them
for like a split second, and then
never see them again. Sometimes
you wonder if they ever existed.
They’re probably better off without
me, though. Most people are.
4 INT.- DORM ROOM- NIGHT
A typical boarding school dorm room. On one side of the room the walls are covered with a poster of Britney Spears, a Philadelphia 76ers poster, a Highpoint academy banner and pictures of smiling girl friends. The bed is covered in a bright pink comforter, with red, purple and yellow pillows. On the other side, it is much more subtle, with a simple white comforter and brown pillows. Black and white photographs in frames hang on the wall.
The door opens and CELINE SWARTZ, 18, bursts into the room, stumbling giddily like someone that’s had a little too much to drink. Her hair is curly and in a fancy up do, and she is wearing a pink prom dress.
CELINE
Brie! You know you can’t be
smoking in here!
Celine grabs a notebook and starts waving it around madly, trying to make the smoke go outside. Brie takes one last drag of the cigarette and throws it outside.
BRIE
Jesus Christ, Celine, you scared
the shit out of me. Is the dance
over?
Celine goes over to the bed with the pink covers, taking out her earrings and pulling off her shoes as she plops down on the bed.
CELINE
It is for Dan and me. He’s waiting
in the lobby. We’re ditching the
dance and going downtown to a bar
or something.
Celine gets up and grabs a backpack and starts stuffing clean clothes and makeup into it.
CELINE (CON’T)
Why didn’t you go?
Brie sighs tragically and sits down on her bed.
BRIE
My date didn’t show up.
CELINE
Yeah right. You didn’t even have a
date.
BRIE
Oh. Well, I had to keep watch over
our valuables and stuff. You never
know who’s lurking in the halls of
Highpoint on dance night.
CELINE
Very funny.
Celine grabs her keys and heads towards the door.
CELINE (CON’T)
Ya know, it wouldn’t kill you to go
out and have fun once and a while.
You’re not the first one to pull
this Holden Caulfield crap.
Celine offers a half-smile to Brie and leaves.
BRIE
Bye.
Brie stands up and lights another cigarette, going back to the balcony. She puts her hands on the railing and leans over, looking down.
5 FLASHBACK- INT.- A FANCY UPPER EAST SIDE APARTMENT- DAY
A 13-YEAR-OLD BRIE and her parents, TED and MARCY, along with her 19-year-old brother, TAYLOR, are posing for a family portrait in their living room.
BRIE (V.O.)
I used to be like Celine. Happy, I
mean. When my mother was alive, we
used to take family portraits. You
know, the kind where your family
fights for about an hour about what
to wear and where to stand.
A harried PHOTOGRAPHER, behind a stand-up camera, tries to get the family to stay still to take their picture. Brie and Taylor constantly bicker and poke at each other, while Ted and Marcy try to get them to settle down.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Okay, one...two...three!
The family automatically assumes a picture-perfect position and the camera flashes.
PHOTOGRAPHER (CON’T)
Wonderful!
Celine and Taylor go back to making fun of each other. Marcy and Ted just sigh and shake their heads.
BRIE (V.O. CON’T)
That was the year before my mom died.
After that, we don’t have any more
family pictures. What would be the
point? We’re not a family anymore.
6 CUT TO: FLASHBACK- GROUNDS OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY- DAY
after a graduation ceremony. Taylor is wearing his gowns and cap, holding a diploma, shaking hands with Ted. A bored 15-YEAR-OLD BRIE stands off to the side, wearing a Catholic school uniform. Another photographer comes over and takes a picture of Taylor and Ted, as Brie looks on.
BRIE (V.O. CON’T)
I haven’t seen my brother since he
graduated from Columbia two years ago.
I think he’s in Miami or something,
who knows. After mom’s death, our
family really just fell apart. My
dad sent me here last year because
he wanted to start traveling for work
more. I guess it’s easier on him that
way. Maybe it’s supposed to be easier
on me too.
7 CUT BACK TO: BRIE’S DORM, PRESENT DAY
Brie exhales and blows the smoke into the dark sky. The rain continues to fall steadily. Shrieking voices come across the lawn. Girls and their dates are running across the soaking wet grass, trying to keep their dresses from getting ruined. Brie glances at the clock, which reads 10:00. She quickly puts out her cigarette on the railing and goes back in her room. She opens her door and looks out into the hall.
8 INT.- DORM HALLWAY- NIGHT
Wood floors and door after door line the hallway. Brie goes out into the hall and walks down a little ways to another door. She ignores the girls who are all dressed up and are giving her weird looks for being in sweat pants, a sweatshirt and slippers. She knocks on the door and enters before someone can answer it.
9 INT.- TARYNN’S DORM- NIGHT
TARYNN MITCHELL, 17, a funky, artsy girl, is sitting in front of a mirror, pulling pins out of her hair, holding some in her mouth.
Brie goes and lies down on Tarynn’s bed.
BRIE
Hey. How was it?
TARYNN
Lame, as to be expected. But look
what I scored from some of the guys.
Tarynn holds out a small plastic bag of two small Ecstasy pills.
BRIE
Nice. Are you going to do it now?
TARYNN
Probably. It’s only like ten o’clock.
Are you down for going to Motion
tonight?
BRIE
Yeah, I guess so. It’s raining though.
TARYNN
Yeah, no shit. It’s always raining
here. Let’s go in about a half hour.
I’ll come get you in your room. Here,
take this now.
Tarynn hands Brie one of the pills.
BRIE
Alright, see ya soon.
Brie walks back down the hall to her room.
10 INT.- BRIE’S BEDROOM- NIGHT
Brie sits down at her desk, which is covered with books and papers that look like they haven’t been touched for a while.
She picks up a black and white photograph of her and her mom years ago.
BRIE
You’d be proud of me now, Mom.
Following right in your
footsteps.
She looks at the clock and sighs, as if depressed and frustrated. She grabs a bottled water and swallows down the pill.
BRIE (CON’T)
Fuck.
Tarynn bursts through the door, startling Brie.
BRIE (CON’T)
Shit, why does everyone always do
that?
Tarynn sits down on Brie’s bed and picks up a book that is lying on it.
TARYNN
Do what? Are you reading this?
BRIE
No, I just like to put random books
on my bed so it looks like I’m smart.
TARYNN
Shut up. I was just asking. I can’t
believe you read for pleasure.
BRIE
And I can’t believe you thought Fidel
Castro was from Costa Rica.
TARYNN
Fuck you. So I got it mixed up!
BRIE
Mmmhmm. Anyway, I have to read for
pleasure, cause I sure don’t read for school. Look at all the shit I have
to catch up on.
TARYNN
Damn.
BRIE
So what are we doing? Did you roll?
TARYNN
About ten minutes ago. We’re killing
time. Till what? I dunno, just killing
time!
BRIE
Hey, turn off the light, it’s
too bright in here.
Tarynn flips the switch and the room goes dark.
TARYNN
My feet feel weird.
BRIE
That’s cause you’re in five-inch heels,
ya whore!
The two girls giggle and go quiet.
TARYNN
I am not a whore. I’m a slut.
BRIE
At least you’re honest with yourself.
Okay, I think I’m ready to go. Cause
this bed wants to eat me and I’m not
mentally prepared for that.
TARYNN
I don’t think one could be mentally
prepared for that!
The girls burst into giggles again.
11 EXT.- A TRENDY DANCECLUB- NIGHT
People line the wet street outside of the club. Mostly teenagers and a few older adults wait in line, wearing various types of clubbin’ clothes.
12 INT.- THE SAME CLUB- NIGHT
A bar and booths are off to the side, with the dance floor in the middle of the club. The dance floor is packed with people dancing. It’s dark and lights of all colors are flashing throughout the building. Loud techno music plays.
Brie and Tarynn walk through the club, towards the bar. Brie sits at a stool.
TARYNN
Hey, let’s go dance!
Shouting over the music.
BRIE
No thanks, I’m just gonna get a
couple drinks.
Tarynn shrugs and heads off to the dance floor.
Brie turns to the BARTENDER.
BRIE (CON’T)
I’ll have a Manhattan Up!
The bartender gives her an odd look.
BRIE (CON’T)
I know, you probably thought I was
gonna order a Sex on the Beach or a
Screaming Orgasm or some shit like
that. I’m striving to be sophisticated
in a world where I don’t belong.
The bartender rolls her eyes and makes the drink.
BARTENDER
Aren’t we all.
BRIE
Better make it two.
13 INT.- A TABLE- NIGHT
Brie takes her drink over to a table by the dance floor and sits down.
BRIE’S POV
The lights are getting excessively bright and are starting to distort. The people on the floor seem to look like a big mass of colors waving back and forth.
Brie takes a large gulp of her drink.
TIGHT ON BRIE
Brie feels a little dizzy and closes her eyes. When she opens them, there is a YOUNG MAN standing over her.
YOUNG MAN
Hey! Hey! Are you okay?
Brie blinks and looks at him.
BRIE
What? Yeah...I’m fine. Thanks.
He smiles.
YOUNG MAN
Are you sure? Wanna dance?
BRIE
Uh, no thanks, I’m not really in the
dancing mood.
YOUNG MAN
Oh, come on.
The young man grabs her by the arm and pulls her up, close to him.
BRIE
Hey! What the fuck are you doing? Let
go of me!
Brie gasps and tries to kick him in the balls, panicked.
BRIE (CON’T)
Get off of me! Let go of me!
Brie is screaming. The young man lets go and backs up, holding his hands in the air.
YOUNG MAN
Hey! Calm down!
BRIE
Get the hell away from me!
She throws her glass at the guy and it shatters around his face. She charges at him and starts strangling and hitting him. People all around them try to pull her off of him.
14 INT.- A JAIL CELL- MORNING
We are inside of a police station and Brie is asleep on a cot in a small holding cell.
TIGHT ON BRIE’S EYES
Brie’s eyes snap open and she looks wildly around. She sits up groggily on the cot and groans.
Two men are outside the cell. One is her father, Ted and the other is the headmaster of her school, FATHER BARNES, a 60-something clergyman. Ted looks older and more tired than when he was at Taylor’s graduation.
Brie looks at the stained sheet on the cot and jumps up in disgust. The men notice that she is up and a COP lets her out of the cell.
Brie nonchalantly walks over to the men.
BRIE
Hi Dad. I didn’t know you were in
New York.
TED
I wasn’t. I got a wonderful call this
morning and flew in from Chicago. Brie,
do you have any idea what’s going on?
BRIE
Well, it looks like I’ve messed up
pretty bad. And I’m sorry.
TED
We don’t think that sorry is good
enough, Brie. There’s something
more going on here.
FATHER BARNES
You’re failing almost every one of
your classes. Your GPA is almost
below a 1.0.
BRIE
Really. Hmm…that sucks.
TED
Your blood alcohol level was almost
four times the legal limit. And
they found traces of, uh...other
substances in your blood. You
hallucinated and attacked someone!
BRIE
I don’t know what you’re talking
about. It was just dance night, I
was having fun. And I didn’t mean
to mix all of that stuff, it just
happened.
TED
What were you trying to do then?
BRIE
I dunno...just going with the flow...
man. Come on, you lived during the
70’s!
FATHER BARNES
We, uh, at the school feel that it
would be best if you took a little
break.
BRIE
Oh, I agree! After graduation, I could
go to the Hamptons and get some R&R-
TED
- We’re not talking about a vacation.
Your behavior has been off-balance
lately and we think that...
BRIE
How would you know if my behavior is
off balance?
She crosses her arms.
TED
And we think that it would be in your
best interest if you spent some time
at North Haven.
BRIE
North Haven?! Nice try, Dad, but
I’m not crazy.
FATHER BARNES
It’s not just for crazy people, Brie,
it’s for people that need a little
rest.
BRIE
Look! I’m not crazy and I don’t need
to go to a mental hospital! Graduation’s
in three weeks! Christ, I did one
stupid thing at school and you’re tossing
me into a nuthouse? Aren’t I far away
enough from you already? Gotta send me
even farther, huh?
TED
Calm down! You’ve been rundown for a
while now. Everyone agrees that this
is the best idea.
BRIE
Who’s everyone? You and Father Barnes?
That’s everyone? You can forget about
it, cause I’m not going.
15 INT.- BRIE’S DORM ROOM- DAY
Brie is packing her things into a suitcase which is lying on her bed. Celine watches her carefully from her side of the room.
CELINE
Will you be back for graduation?
BRIE
Yes, of course! It’s only a month
away! I mean, I hope so, if I even
graduate...
CELINE
It’s gonna suck without you.
BRIE
Yeah right. Now you can sneak Dan in.
CELINE
True. Well, good luck.
She gives Brie an awkward hug.
BRIE
Ugh, don’t say good luck. That just
destines me to failure.
16 INT.- INSIDE A CAR- DAY
Brie sits in the back of a car driving her North Haven. The car pulls into the long driveway of the hospital.
17 EXT.- NORTH HAVEN INSTITUTE- DAY
The hospital lies in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, in Pennsylvania. The exterior of the building is old stone. There is a long front lawn and gardens of tulips planted along the driveway.
The car pulls up to the front door. OLIVE, a young nurse, is waiting to meet Brie. Brie gets out of the car and the nurse takes her suitcases. Brie stares at her.
BRIE
I’m not crazy.
OLIVE
That’s okay. If you’ll just follow me,
we’ll get you signed in and find your
room.
BRIE
Just like the Hilton. I like my covers
turned down at night.
18 INT.- THE LOBBY- DAY
An old couch and faded chairs are situated around a table, littered with out of date magazines. The walls are painted pea-green. A vase of fake flowers sits on the window sill.
OLIVE
My name’s Olive. I think you’ll be
rooming with Jenni...nothing to be
scared of there. Just come along.
Olive starts walking down the hall, carrying Brie’s suitcase and Brie follows reluctantly.
19 INT.- HALLWAY- DAY
A long, wide hallway leads into the heart of the hospital. The walls are still painted pea green and several paintings hang from the wall.
They pass GRACIE, who is sitting on a chair, cross-legged, reading a book. The book is upside down.
OLIVE
Hi Gracie. How are you today?
GRACIE
Fuck off, bitch.
OLIVE
Gracie’s a soc.
BRIE
A soc?
OLIVE
A sociopath. It means she doesn’t
like people.
BRIE
Oh…okay…understandable.
They stop at a door and Olive knocks and opens it.
20 INT.- JENNI AND BRIE’S BEDROOM- DAY
The room is small, with two twin beds side by side. The walls are painted white and there is nothing on them. JENNI, a small blonde girl, is sitting on the bed, painting her nails.
OLIVE
Jenni? Your new roommate is here.
JENNI
I’m not Jenni.
OLIVE
Then who am I speaking to?
JENNI
Elizabeth. Where are you from?
BRIE
Uh, Mars. So where’s Jenni?
JENNI (in a totally different voice)
I’m Jenni!
BRIE
What? You just said you
were Elizabeth!
JENNI
No, I’m Jenni.
OLIVE
Well, I’m going down to the nurse’s
station. Someone will be back to
take you to the doctor, Brie.
Brie throws her suitcase beside the bed and plops down on it.
JENNI
Aren’t you going to unpack?
BRIE
No, because I’m not staying.
JENNI
That’s what I said at first too. But
It’s not really that bad. It beats
home anyway.
BRIE
You must be nuts! Whoops, I didn’t
mean it that way...
Jenni’s face falls and she starts to cry.
BRIE (CON’T)
Oh shit.
Someone knocks on the door and the nurse SANDY enters the room. She is older and not as friendly as Olive.
SANDY
Come with me, Brieanna.
BRIE
Where am I going?
SANDY
To Dr. Wilkins's office, to get your
diagnosis.
BRIE
My diagnosis? But I’m not sick or
anything. I don’t have a disease.
SANDY
Every new patient must get a diagnosis
from the Doctor. Now come with me.
BRIE
Outstanding.
21 INT.- DR.Wilkins's OFFICE- DAY
Dr. Wilkins, around 40, balding and wearing glasses, is sitting at his desk, pecking away at the computer and hardly notices that Brie and the nurse are in the room. There is a large mahogany desk and two brown leather chairs. A large bookshelf fills the wall, along with diplomas and pictures of him with other people.
He finally looks up and takes off his glasses.
DR. WILKINS
Brieanna Andrews? I’m Dr. Wilkins.
It’s nice to meet you. Please sit.
BRIE
You too. Hey, I noticed that you
went to Stanford. West Coast, huh?
What are you doing out here? I mean,
if a guy like you from Stanford ends
up working in a loony bin, then there
sure isn’t hope for the rest of us.
He clears his throat and picks up a folder from his desk.
DR. WILKINS (CON’T)
I’ve had a chance to go over your
file, but I’d like to ask you some
more questions.
BRIE
Okay.
DR. WILKINS
Have you ever contemplated suicide?
BRIE
Have you?
DR. WILKINS
We’re not here to talk about me. I
asked you.
BRIE
Fine, okay. Yes. All the time.
He scribbles some stuff down.
DR. WILKINS
Are you having trouble sleeping?
BRIE
Sometimes. But then I’m always tired.
She takes out a cigarette and lights it.
DR. WILKINS
Do you get upset easily? Like, tearful
for no reason?
BRIE
No, I don’t really cry.
DR. WILKINS
Ever?
BRIE
Not since my mom’s funeral. I mean,
maybe if I really whack my leg on a
table or something. Come to think of
it, Armageddon really got to me.
DR. WILKINS
Interesting. Brie, I think what we’re
looking at here is Manic Depressive
Disorder.
BRIE
Okay, how can you know that from like
three questions?
DR. WILKINS
It’s also known as being bi-polar.
BRIE
I know what it is...
DR. WILKINS
It’s when a person such as yourself,
has periods of extreme highs and lows.
One week you may feel excited and
overjoyed, the next you might feel
like killing yourself.
BRIE
Well, I don’t know. I don’t really get
happy that much. Maybe I’m just
depressed.
DR. WILKINS
It is a form of depression. Do you
ever have times when you just feel
wild, act uh, promiscuous, and then
hardly remember what you did the next
day?
BRIE
Yeah, it’s called being a teenager.
I’m no different than anyone else!
DR. WILKINS
That’s where you’re wrong. You do
everything to the extreme, without
thinking of the consequences. That’s
the sort of depression that needs to
be dealt with.
BRIE
You’re a quack.
DR. WILKINS
Taking drugs is the most dangerous
thing a person with your disorder
can do.
BRIE
But I’m sure you’ll fill me up with
all sorts of happy pills.
DR. WILKINS
What do you think would make you
happy?
BRIE
God, do I really have to answer that?
That’s so...biblical. All I want is
for everyone to stop freaking out,
act normal, and not be fake. And getting
out of here would make me happy.
The doctor starts filling out a form.
DR. WILKINS
Brie, I’m going to prescribe you some
Prozac. We’ll see how this works.
BRIE
Prozac…that just makes you a happy
zombie. So then, I’m not crazy?
DR. WILKINS
Who said you were?
BRIE
If I’m not, why can’t I just take my
pills and go on my merry way?
DR. WILKINS
All new patients must be under
surveillance for six weeks, then we
look at your progress and go from
there. In your case, you’ve had some
destructive behavior lately and it’s
in your best interest to sit tight.
22 INT.- JENNI AND BRIE’S BEDROOM- DAY
Brie walks through the door after her doctor’s session.
JENNI
Hi, I’m Karen! I’m from Texas!
Brie crawls into bed and hides under the covers.
23 INT.- JENNI AND BRIE’S BEDROOM- EVENING
A loud bell rings, waking up Brie from her sleep.
BRIE’S POV
Jenni is looking in the mirror, combing her hair, over and over. Brie gets up and looks out the window, seeing that it’s getting dark.
BRIE
What’s going on?
JENNI
Dinner time.
She turns to face Brie with a big smile on her face.
JENNI (CON’T)
Come on!
BRIE
Who are you now?
Brie gets out of bed and goes over to the mirror, trying to run her fingers through her tangled hair.
JENNI
What, trying to look good for the
other nuts?
She winks.
BRIE
What? You were just brushing your
hair.
JENNI
No, I wasn’t. Well, maybe I was,
but I wasn’t.
BRIE
Man, am I glad all I got was bipolar.
JENNI
So that’s your sentence, huh. My
last roommate was obsessive compulsive,
but at least we had a clean room.
She used to make her bed five times a
day.
BRIE
What happened to her?
JENNI
She killed herself.
BRIE
Jesus!
Olive knocks on the door.
OLIVE
Ready?
24 INT.- THE DINING HALL- EVENING
Three long tables are set up side by side. About five other GIRLS are in line by the nurse’s station, waiting to get their meds and food. Gracie, the sociopath from earlier, is one of them.
Jenni and Brie go join the others in line.
BRIE
This is like the first day of
school. God, I hope everybody
likes me.
One girl in particular catches Brie’s eye. She is rail thin and hallow, with her eyes glazed over.
BRIE (CON’T)
Who’s that?
JENNI
Oh, that’s Darva. She’s a catatonic.
And from the looks of it, she just
got back from shock therapy.
BRIE
Shock therapy?
JENNI
Shhhhh!!!
A couple of the girls turn wildly around, and glare at Brie.
GIRL #1
Shock therapy! Nooooo!!!!
GRACIE
Shut up! Shut up!
There is hysteria among the girls. Some are crying, others look scared. GIRL #1 is on the ground, screaming. Jenni starts crying too and acting like a toddler, stamping her feet on the ground. Darva just stands quietly, swaying back and forth to her own beat.
SARAH HAYES, 16, a short, cute redhead, with dark circles around her eyes, comes up to Brie and pulls her off to the side. Jenni gives her an odd look as Brie leaves her.
SARAH
You look like you needed help.
BRIE
You have no idea.
SARAH
I’m Sarah.
BRIE
I’m Brie. You seem normal.
Sarah laughs.
SARAH
Thanks. I like to think I am.
BRIE
So then why are you here?
The two make their way up to the nurse’s station, where dinner is turkey and mashed potatoes. They take their trays and sit down at an empty table.
SARAH
Oh well, my parents...they think
they know everything. Just because
I got down to 83 pounds.
BRIE
Shit!
SARAH
I know, it was stupid. I was just
depressed. Typical shit. Anyway,
they threw me in here with the rest
of the loons.
BRIE
Same here. Except I’m bipolar.
SARAH
Hmm. Well, I think you can overcome
that crisis.
They laugh.
BRIE
My roommate is okay, I guess.
SARAH
Who is it?
BRIE
Jenni...that blonde girl...
SARAH
That girl, is a straight up fucking
liar. Don’t believe a word she says.
BRIE
But she has split personalities.
SARAH
Yeah, and I have obesity. Just don’t
believe a word she or anyone here says.
Especially fucking Wilkins.
BRIE
Who, the doctor?
SARAH
Yeah. So where are you from?
BRIE
New York.
SARAH
My boyfriend lives in New York, in
Greenwich Village. He’s an artist.
BRIE
Really? Hey, can we smoke in here?
I need a cigarette.
SARAH
We can go into the courtyard.
25 EXT.- COURTYARD- DUSK
View from inside looking out a window. Brie is sitting on a step and we can’t see Sarah.
Outside shot of the two girls. Brie lights up a cigarette and offers one to Sarah, who takes it. They are quiet for a little while.
BRIE
So how long have you been here?
SARAH
About nine months.
BRIE
Nine months! Why so long?
SARAH
I was out once. For four days.
It was really nice. I went into
New York to see Trey, my boyfriend,
stayed in a hotel and spent like $4000, ordering room service and writing
poems. They were all shit though.
Anyway, I was supposed to go right
home, but I blew it, so they sent
me back.
BRIE
Wow. That sucks.
They are quiet again. A loud bell rings again and Sarah stands up.
SARAH
Cattle call. Time to go in.
26 INT.- DR. Wilkins's OFFICE- THE NEXT MORNING
TIGHT ON BRIE
Brie is sitting in the leather chair again, staring at Dr. Wilkins.
QUICK CUT TO TIGHT ON DR. WILKINS
Dr. Wilkins is staring back at Brie. He shuffles some papers.
DR. WILKINS
Okay! I hope you don’t mind some
of my students sitting in on our
session today, Brie.
Four psychology STUDENTS are seated in the back of the room, with notebooks in their hands and pens poised to take notes.
BRIE
Observe away. Let the freak show
begin.
DR. WILKINS
Excellent! So how are you today?
BRIE
Peachy.
DR. WILKINS
Brie is our resident comedian.
BRIE
I’ve been here one day.
His smile falters.
DR. WILKINS
How was your first night?
BRIE
Oh, it was great. All four of my
roommates are really cool.
DR. WILKINS
Uh, Brie, you have only one
roommate.
The students look at each other excitedly and write some things down.
BRIE
Oh, contraire, el doctor. See, Jenni
has multi-personalities, so I sort
of have four roommates.
She turns to face the students.
BRIE (CON’T)
Did you get that? That could be on
the test.
The students look at each other again and snicker.
DR. WILKINS
Anything else?
BRIE
Well, I didn’t sleep that well.
DR. WILKINS
Oh really? Why’s that?
BRIE
Would you be able to sleep if someone
kept opening your door to check on you?
It’s terrible. You’re about to
drift off...then BAM!
The students jump.
BRIE (CON’T)
You’re woken up. Every half hour.
STUDENT #1
That sucks!
BRIE
Yeah you better believe it. Anyway,
where were we? Yeah this place is
the shit, I’m having a fabulous time.
Dr. Wilkins writes something down on his paper, peering at Brie.
BRIE (CON’T)
What are you writing down?
DR. WILKINS
I can’t reveal that, Brie.
BRIE
Why not? It’s about me, isn’t it?
I have a right to know.
DR. WILKINS
I’m just making notes about your
progress.
BRIE
Well, then I’m healed. Hallelujah.
DR. WILKINS
Let’s talk about something else. You
went to Catholic school, right? Are
you religious?
BRIE
Am I religious? No, I’m fully aware
that God hath shit on me.
DR. WILKINS
Do you believe in anything?
The students lean forward for the answer.
BRIE
Santa Claus.
DR. WILKINS
What about your family?
BRIE
What family? I’ve got a dead mother,
a father I see like three times a
year and a brother I haven’t seen
since I was 15. I’ve got a cousin
in Paris and an aunt in Boston...
come to think of, I was pretty close
to our housekeeper, Mariana, but she
barely speaks English, which is
probably why I liked her so much.
DR. WILKINS
Are you an angry person?
BRIE
Intensely. I don’t even know what to
say to your bullshit questions!
And quite frankly, this isn’t
working out for me.
Brie crosses her arms. Dr. Wilkins turns to his students.
DR. WILKINS
When patients get frustrated or
irritated, it’s best to keep quiet
and let them calm down.
BRIE
I’m not irritated, I’m bipolar!
That means from now on, I cam blame
everything on my disease!
The room is dead silent.
BRIE (CON’T)
I want to go home.
DR. WILKINS
I’m sorry, but you know that’s not
possible.
Brie’s eyes well up with tears.
BRIE
But I don’t need to be here! Don’t
you see? I’m not sick! It’s all a
fucking joke! I’m not crazy, I don’t
need to be here! Can’t you do something?
I don’t need to be here! GET ME OUT
OF HERE!
Brie breaks into sobs, screaming. Dr. Wilkins picks up a phone and makes a call. Two NURSES enter the room and take Brie by the arms and lead her away.
DR. WILKINS
That’s enough for today, class.
27 INT.- JENNI AND BRIE’S BEDROOM- DAY
Brie is lying on her back, on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
BRIE (V.O.)
People are always telling me that
I should be thankful for what I have
and if I’m not thankful, that I should
at least be aware of it. For some
reason they think that because I have
all of these things, I should be happy.
Well, I was alive...sort of. I was
breathing anyway. I had some family,
wherever they were, probably praying
that the rest of the country club
wouldn’t find out about Crazy Brie.
MONTAGE
28 INT.- THE DINING HALL- DAY
Brie is waiting in line for her meds at lunchtime. The nurse gives her four pills, all different shapes and colors. She takes it and goes and sits across from Sarah, who is talking about something descriptively. Brie just zones out and stares at her.
29 EXT.- THE COURTYARD- DUSK
Brie is sitting on a bench by herself, smoking a cigarette, looking lonely and lost.
30 INT.- DR. WILKINS OFFICE- DAY
Brie stares across at Dr. Wilkins while he talks about her various problems, tuning him out.
BRIE (V.O. CON’T)
I’d been at North Haven for about three
weeks and every day was like the last,
only worse. I found myself staring at
the ceiling, counting the tiles. Then
I’d wonder where the time went. They
upped my meds. I slept more, thought
less and just barely existed. The only
time I enjoyed myself was when we had
group therapy sessions. They were always
entertaining.
31 INT.- A SMALL ROOM- DAY
A group of GIRLS are seated in chairs in a circle. A THERAPIST sits with them and is leading them in a discussion.
JENNI
My mother doesn’t want me here
anymore.
GRACIE
Yeah right. You’ll be here forever.
JENNI
Shut up!
THERAPIST
Girls, girls.
GIRL #1
Cats are cute.
GRACIE
No, they’re not, they stink
and they’re ugly.
GIRL #1
No, they don’t! They’re cute!
GRACIE
Ugly!
SARAH
Shut the fuck up, Gracie.
Brie laughs, amused at what’s going on around her.
THERAPIST
Brie, what’s so funny?
JENNI
My father doesn’t want me here anymore
because he has to move to Scandinavia
and I’ll be too far away.
GRACIE
I’m going crazy in here.
32 INT.- THE DINING HALL- EVENING
Brie is eating her dinner by herself, when Sarah slides into the seat next to her.
SARAH
Check it out.
She hands Brie a piece of paper.
BRIE
What is it?
SARAH
It’s a letter from my boyfriend in
New York, Trey.
BRIE
Cool.
SARAH
Well, read it!
Brie impatiently opens the letter and starts to read it.
SARAH (CON’T)
See, right there! It says he’s coming
to visit me!
BRIE
Wow, that’s really nice of him,
seeing as you’ve been here for
almost ten months.
SARAH
Shut up. Don’t you get it? I’m getting
the hell out of here.
BRIE
How?
SARAH
Why do you think I’ve been corresponding
with Trey for so long? Do you think I
actually give a shit? He’s a fucking
pussy. He’s trying to make it as an
artist, but he sucks so his dad has
to pay for his apartment. I’ve seen
his art, I wouldn’t even hang it in
here.
BRIE
Well, I dunno, I’ve seen some good
stuff in the library.
SARAH
Shut up. But anyway, he loves me
and wants me to come live with him
and all that bullshit. He’s my meal
ticket out of here. Our meal ticket.
BRIE
What do you mean, our? What makes
you think I want to leave?
SARAH
Oh please.
BRIE
Yeah. Okay, so then what’s the big
plan?
SARAH
Here’s the thing, his dad is kinda
getting pissed. He wants someone to
move in to help with the rent. But
all of his friends are kinda scary...
and losers, ya know, like, they won’t
make more than fifty bucks a week.
And you know the city and once we’re
stable we can get the hell out of
there and get our own place, start a
new life. It’ll be fucking fabulous.
BRIE
Well, what makes you think I want
a new life? I’m happy.
SARAH
Come on, Brie! Don’t you see? They’re
never gonna let you out of here! It’s
just getting worse and you know it.
It’s time to take control of our lives
again. I’m sick of wasting away in
here.
BRIE
Well, yeah...
SARAH
Plus, we won’t get caught. Once we
get to the city, we’ll dye our hair,
get new clothes, be mental institute
escapees!
BRIE
There’s really nothing to lose...
SARAH
Exactly! You could finish school, I
could get a job, it’ll be great.
Lowers her voice.
SARAH (CON’T)
On Friday they’re taking us out
to eat in town. Trey is gonna meet
us parked outside the restaurant.
We’ll hop into the car and speed a
way. We’ll be miles away before they
even realize we’re gone.
BRIE
You realize it sounds insane.
They laugh at the joke.
BRIE (CON’T)
Alright, count me in. But don’t tell
anyone, not even Darva.
SARAH
Not even the catatonic.
They burst into laughter as NURSE #1 walks by.
NURSE #1
My, you sure look happy. What’s
so funny, Brie?
SARAH
We went to the seashore and the
cats were cute.
Brie just laughs. The nurse shakes her head and walks away, leaving the girls laughing.
33 INT.- JENNI AND BRIE’S ROOM- AFTERNOON
Jenni is lying on her bed, flipping through a magazine, while Brie is secretly stuffing some clothes into a backpack. Olive knocks on the door and opens it.
OLIVE
Are you almost ready, Brie?
BRIE
Yeah, I’m coming. I’ll be out in a
minute.
Olive closes the door and leaves.
JENNI
Man, I wish I could go with your
group today. I have to wait for two
more weeks! Plus, I’m with all
losers.
BRIE
That sucks. I wish you could come
too.
JENNI
Really? Thanks, Brie. You’re the best
roommate I’ve ever had.
BRIE
Oh, uh, thanks. Well, I gotta go...I
guess I’ll see ya.
Brie takes one last look at Jenni, who happily turns the page in her magazine and then walks out the door.
34 INT.- BACK OF A VAN- AFTERNOON
Brie and Sarah are sitting in the back of the van. Four other girls are in the seats in front of them, along with two nurses. Sarah starts whispering to Brie.
SARAH
Are you ready for this?
BRIE
Yeah, I think so. I’ve got some money
and clothes in my bag.
SARAH
Good. Trey’s gonna be at the restaurant
when we get there. We might as well
take advantage of the free meal, so
after we eat, we’ll hang back and make
a run for it.
BRIE
Make a run to what?
SARAH
Trey borrowed his friend’s car. It’s a
black Jetta. We’ll slip out of the
restaurant and bolt for the car.
Brie notices NURSE #1 looking at her in the rearview mirror.
BRIE
Shhh. What if we get caught?
SARAH
We won’t. It’s foolproof. We got lucky
with these nurses. If it was Olive or
Sandy, we’d never get away with it.
BRIE
I dunno, they seem kind of suspicious
already.
SARAH
Just calm down, it’ll work.
35 INT.- THE INSIDE OF A RESTURANT- EARLY EVENING
The GIRLS and NURSES are seated around a round table, in a small room away from the other diners.
SARAH
Hear ye, hear ye, knights of the
round table!
Brie laughs and the rest of the girls look nervously at her and at the nurses.
NURSE #1
Calm down now.
SARAH
Oh yeah, we are a wild bunch.
Dinner is served and everyone eats quietly. Brie can hardly eat because she is so nervous. She puts down her fork and waits until everyone is done.
NURSE #1
Are you okay, Brie?
BRIE
Yeah, I’m just full.
36 INT.- THE FOYER OF THE RESTURANT- DUSK
The group is assembling by the door, while one of the nurses pays the tab. Sarah comes up to Brie and pulls her off to the side.
SARAH
He’s not there.
BRIE
What do you mean, he’s not there?
SARAH
I mean, he’s not fucking there!
BRIE
Well, what are we gonna do?
SARAH
We’re gonna have to make a run for
it anyway. This could be our only
chance.
BRIE
You’re crazy! How are we gonna get
past everyone? And then what are we
gonna do? Hitch hike?!
SARAH
Listen, there’s a gas station down the
road. We make it there, we call a cab
to take us to the city.
BRIE
Do you know how much a fucking cab to
the city would cost?
SARAH
How much you got?
BRIE
Like $50.
SARAH
I’ve got $80. Is that enough?
BRIE
Doubt it.
SARAH
Well, once we get there, we’ll get
Trey to pay for the rest.
BRIE
Yeah, we can really count on him.
SARAH
We don’t have time to talk about
this. We have to make a run for it!
NURSE #1 is holding the door open for them, motioning for them to come outside.
NURSE #1
Let’s go, everyone’s waiting.
37 EXT.- THE STREET- SUNSET
The rest of the girls are waiting for NURSE #2 to bring the van around to pick them up. As Sarah steps outside, she slams the door in NURSE #1’s face and takes off in a sprint down the street.
SARAH
Come on, Brie!
The girls are screaming and cheering for them to run. NURSE #2 brings the van to a screech, jumps out and runs after them. Brie follows Sarah across the street, almost getting hit by a car. The driver lays on the horn and Brie stops in shock for a second, staring at the car and how close she came to getting hit.
SARAH
Brie! Hurry!
Sarah turns down an alley and Brie is a couple yards behind her. At the end of the alley is a 10-foot fence. Sarah throws herself on the fence and starts to climb. Brie follows. They reach the top and drop to the other side. The sounds of sirens fill the air. They’ve dropped onto an open field and take off sprinting across it.
WIDE SHOT
Both girls are running side by side, panting.
BRIE
It’s all the fucking smoking.
SARAH
We can’t go to the gas station, it’s
too risky. They’ll find us for sure.
We have to keep going until we’ve
lost them.
They continue running across the field until they come to a four-lane highway. On the other side are all trees. Cars are zooming back and forth and it’s getting darker outside.
SARAH (CON’T)
We have to get to the other side!
BRIE
No way, we’ll get killed!
SARAH
I’ll go first, you follow me!
38 EXT.- THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE TREES- EVENING
Sarah waits until it’s clear and darts across the highway. After she makes it safely across, about a dozen cars go by, making Brie wait. The sound of sirens is getting closer. Finally, it’s clear so Brie springs across the highway. As soon as she reaches the other side, four cop cars go by with the lights flashing and sirens wailing.
Sarah grabs Brie and they fling themselves into the bushes to hide.
SARAH (CON’T)
We can’t walk along the side of
the road. We can follow it by
staying hidden in the woods though.
They stand up and brush the dirt off their clothes.
BRIE
God, it’s creepy out here. Do you
Think we’re safe yet?
She takes out a cigarette and lights up. Sarah grabs it out of her hand and throws it to the ground, stomping it out.
SARAH
Not if you do that! They’ll
see us!
They look around. They are in a dark wooded area, along side of the highway.
SARAH (CON’T)
I think we’re okay in here. It’s
pretty dark. But they’ll be looking
for a while, so we need to get as
far away as possible.
BRIE
It wouldn’t surprise me if we ran
across a body or something in here.
SARAH
Ew.
BRIE
So where the hell was Trey?
SARAH
I don’t know. He said he’d be there.
Maybe he got lost or something.
BRIE
Yeah, well, how great of him to let
us know.
They continue walking in silence. There are lights up ahead in the distance.
SARAH
Hey, look!
They take off in a jog and come to a greasy highway truck stop, called Midway Diner.
BRIE
Do you think it’s safe?
SARAH
I guess we’ll find out. We can at
least call Trey and see what happened.
BRIE
Maybe he’s there. Maybe he stopped
in for a steak and a beer.
SARAH
Brie, seriously. Come on, let’s go
inside and have a look.
39 INT.- MIDWAY DINER WAITING ROOM- NIGHT
It’s old and grungy looking inside, with a red vinyl-waiting bench. A pay phone is off to the side, along with a rack of pamphlets for the Pocono Mountains and area. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen is playing in the background over the clanging of silverware and chatter from the TRUCKERS. A couple of them look up, but no one really seems to care.
Sarah goes to the phone, while Brie pretends to look through the brochures. A waitress comes over to Brie.
WAITRESS
One?
BRIE
Uh, no, we’re just using the phone.
The waitress looks confused and leaves. Sarah comes back over.
SARAH
No one answered his phone.
BRIE
Great, so what are we gonna do?
SARAH
I guess we could just call a cab
from here. Or we could ask one of
the truckers to take us.
BRIE
Ew, no thanks. I don’t want to end
up by the side of the road, beaten
to death in my underwear.
SARAH
Fine, I just thought you wouldn’t
want to spend the money on a cab.
BRIE
How ‘bout we just take a cab to my
apartment in the city, I’ll steal
some money from my dad and then we
can go to Trey’s.
SARAH
Is your dad home?
BRIE
I doubt it. You can go to the door and
check though.
She goes to the pay phone and looks in the phone book for taxi services and dials.
40 INT.- A TAXI CAB- NIGHT
TIGHT ON THE METER
The meter reads $140 and continues clicking higher and higher.
SNAP TO SARAH
Sarah continues to watch the meter go up, her eyes widening at the price.
SARAH
Shit, it’s at $145...50....55...
shit!
BRIE
Will you shut up, Sarah?
SARAH
Sorry.
She continues muttering under her breath the price of the meter. Brie sighs and looks out the window.
41 FLASHBACK- INT.- A SCHOOL BUS- DAY
A school bus is filled with kids talking and laughing loudly, people standing up and throwing things. An 8-YEAR- OLD BRIE sits in a seat by herself, quietly, reading a book, ignoring everyone else.
BRIE (V.O)
At some point in my life, I learned
to block things out. This probably
happened when I had to ride the bus
to school. It would always be so
loud, with kids laughing and yelling,
gossiping and talking about school or
some shit. But I could sit there quietly
and read a book while everything else
was chaos. So if something was bothering
me, like Sarah, I could just block it
out.
42 INT.- A TAXI CAB- NIGHT
Back to Brie looking out the window. She sighs again and looks over at Sarah, who doesn’t notice.
BRIE (V.O. CON’T)
It’s funny when you start blocking things
out. Cause then you start to think of
other stuff...things that you haven’t
thought about for years...
43 FLASHBACK- EXT.- THE ATLANTIC OCEAN- DAY
The waves gently lap up against the beach on a fine, summer day. A row of expensive beach houses lines the beach. An 11-YEAR-OLD BRIE and a 17-YEAR-OLD TAYLOR are lying on the beach, while TED and MARCY are sitting on the deck of their house, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Brie looks up from her sandcastle and waves to them. Just then, ALEX PARKER, a boy about the same age as Brie, with dark brown hair, comes running down to the beach from the house next door. He comes and sits down with Brie.
ALEX
Hey Brie.
BRIE
Hi, Alex.
TAYLOR
Hey Alex, where’s your sister?
ALEX
I think she’s getting into her bathing
suit in the house. Why do you care?
BRIE
Taylor liiiiikes her.
ALEX
Sick.
TAYLOR
Shut up, turds. What would you know?
A pretty, blonde KATY PARKER, 17, comes down from her house and walks up to where the kids are sitting.
TAYLOR (CON’T)
Katy! Hey, how’s it going?
Brie and Alex snigger. Taylor throws them an evil glare and stands up.
TAYLOR (CON’T)
Come on, let’s go get some ice cream
or something.
They leave.
ALEX
Let’s go spy on them!
BRIE
Okay!
The kids follow Taylor and Katy, trying to not get caught. They follow them in between the houses, to the driveway, where Taylor and Katy are getting into Taylor’s Saab. Taylor leans Katy against the car and kisses her on the lips. The little kids explode into giggles. Taylor and Katy don’t notice and they get into the car and leave.
44 EXT.- THE DRIVEWAY- DAY
Brie and Alex are sitting against a concrete wall that divides the driveways of the two households.
ALEX
That was sick!
BRIE
I know! Gross!
Alex suddenly grabs Brie’s hand.
BRIE (CON’T)
What are you doing?!
She pushes his hand away.
ALEX
Have you ever done that before?
BRIE
What, kiss someone? No! I’m 11!
ALEX
Well, do you want to?
Brie pauses for a moment.
BRIE
Well, I mean, someday...
ALEX
No, now.
He pulls her head to hers and gives her a short kiss. They are quiet for a while and then she shoves him playfully.
BRIE
Dork!
They get up and she chases him back to the beach, laughing.
BRIE (V.O.)
The next summer, Alex didn’t even talk
to me. I saw him around with some
older girl. It was rumored that she
went to second base on the first
date. I had thought about him all
year and now he didn’t even pretend
like he knew me. I felt so stupid!
And I hate feeling stupid.
45 EXT.- MADISON SQUARE GARDEN- NIGHT
46 INT.- A CONCESSION STAND INSIDE- NIGHT
15-YEAR-OLD BRIE comes out of the bathroom and gets in line to get a soda. Who is standing in front of her, but a 15-YEAR-OLD ALEX PARKER.
BRIE (V.O. CON’T)
A couple years later, when I was 15,
I went to a Knicks game in New York.
Who was in front of me in line, but
Alex Parker, my love from the beach.
I was in high school, hit puberty and
guys had started noticing me. I knew
I had to let Alex eat it.
Brie taps Alex on the shoulder. He turns around, surprised to see her.
BRIE
Remember me, douche bag?
ALEX
Brie? Brie Andrews? Wow!
How are you?
BRIE
I’m okay. What are you doing here?
I thought you lived in Buffalo.
ALEX
I did. My family moved to Coney
Island to open a restaurant with
my uncle. I live here now. You
haven’t been to the beach in a
couple of years.
BRIE
Yeah, well, my mom...
ALEX
Yeah, I heard about that. I’m sorry.
You sure have changed though, you
look good.
BRIE
Thanks.
ALEX
You should stop by our restaurant
sometime. It’s called The Lagoona,
it’s right on the water.
He gets out a ticket stub and writes down his number.
ALEX (CON’T)
Here’s my number, give me a call
sometime.
He gives her the stub.
BRIE
Yeah, okay. Well, I gotta get back
to the game. I’ll see you later.
ALEX
Alright. Call me! See ya.
Brie walks away, leaving Alex staring after her.
BRIE (V.O.)
I was embarrassed that I actually
felt happy that he wanted to be
with me. But I never called him.
Pride, I guess, kept me from doing
it. But I still have his number to
this day. Cause your first love is
someone that you never forget.
47 INT.- THE TAXI CAB- NIGHT- PRESENT DAY
Brie wakes up from her daydream, noticing that the cab has stopped moving. Outside is a tall apartment complex.
SARAH
Is this it? Are we here?
BRIE
Yeah, that’s my building. I guess
you can just go in and knock on the
door and see if my dad’s home.
SARAH
What floor?
BRIE
63rd. 5-A
SARAH
Aw, shit. I’ll be back in a couple of
years.
She gets out of the cab and runs inside. Brie leans her head back and sighs.
CAB DRIVER
Hey, am I gonna get paid or what?
QUICK CUT
Sarah is outside the car, looking in the window. Brie rolls it down.
SARAH
I knocked on the door and waited for
about five minutes. No one came. Do
you think it’s safe?
BRIE
Yeah...yeah. My dad’s a light sleeper,
he’d of come to the door. I guess I’ll
run up there and get the money to pay
the fare.
She gets out of the cab.
CAB DRIVER
Hey, I don’t want no trouble. You
better come back.
BRIE
Well, she’ll just wait here.
CAB DRIVER
Listen, just forget about it. I’m outta
here.
(mumbling)
Fucking nut.
He peels away. Brie looks to Sarah, confused.
BRIE
What was that all about?
SARAH
Who cares!
48 INT.- BRIE’S BEDROOM- EARLY MORNING
The alarm clock by Brie’s bed goes off, scaring her as she wakes up. It reads 5:30. She groans and falls back down onto her pillow. After a second, she drags her feet to the floor and falls out of bed, landing on Sarah, who was sleeping in a blanket on the floor.
SARAH
Ow!
BRIE
Sorry. It’s time to get up.
SARAH
What time is it?
BRIE
5:30.
SARAH
(groans)
There is a clanging noise heard down the hallway. Brie and Sarah shoot glances at each other.
BRIE
Shit!
SARAH
Who is it?
BRIE
I don’t know. Stay here, I’ll go
see who it is.
She creeps out into the hall and down to the kitchen, where the sound is coming from.
49 INT.- THE KITCHEN- MORNING
MARIANA, the Cuban housekeeper, is in the kitchen, putting groceries away and emptying the dishwasher. She doesn’t notice Brie sneaking up on her.
BRIE
Mariana!
Mariana is startled and drops a pan, which clangs to the ground. She whips around and sees that it is Brie.
MARIANA
DAH! Brieanna! What are you doing
here?!
BRIE
Nothing, I’m just on vacation. You
can’t tell my dad I was here.
MARIANA
Brieanna, you’re going to get into
trouble again.
Brie sighs and sits down at a stool.
BRIE
So you heard.
MARIANA
Si, of course, mija. But you are
not supposed to be here.
BRIE
I know, but I just can’t go back
there. When’s my dad gonna be home?
MARIANA
This afternoon. Where are you going?
BRIE
My friend Sarah knows some people
we can stay with.
MARIANA
This friend, she was at the hospital
with you?
BRIE
Yeah.
Mariana looks concerned at this.
MARIANA
You have to be careful. But I won’t
tell your father if you don’t want
me too.
BRIE
Oh thank you, Mariana! Gracias.
She gives her a hug. Sarah comes wandering into the kitchen, cautiously.
BRIE (CON’T)
It’s okay Sarah, it’s just Mariana,
the housekeeper.
SARAH
Hi.
Turns to Brie.
SARAH (CON’T)
This is a god-awful hour to be
awake. Can we go back to bed?
BRIE
Nope. My dad’s coming back in a
couple of hours. We gotta get
out of here.
Mariana nervously turns around and starts putting the dishes away, glancing at Brie and Sarah out of the corner of her eye.
49 INT.- NYC SUBWAY- MORNING
Brie and Sarah are riding on a nearly empty subway.
SARAH
I think I remember where Trey lives,
I think.
BRIE
You better remember. And he better
have one hell of an explanation as
to why he was a no-show yesterday.
SARAH
Yeah, really.
She seems nervous and Brie looks at her suspiciously.
BRIE
He DID say he was coming to get us,
right?
Sarah titters nervously.
SARAH
Well, Brie, there’s something you
should know.
BRIE
What?
She narrows her eyes.
SARAH
Well, that note that I showed you?
From Trey? Well, I kinda wrote it.
BRIE
You WHAT?
SARAH
I mean, I knew there was no way
you’d try to escape that place if
you knew we had nowhere to go. So
I made up all that stuff about how
Trey was gonna come get us and we’d
live happily ever after.
BRIE
Well, I never thought it would be
wonderful...so what you’re saying is,
Trey has no idea we’re coming?
Sarah nods sheepishly.
BRIE
Oh that’s just wonderful.
SARAH
Hey, we made it this far without
getting caught. We’ll still go to
Trey’s anyway.
BRIE
You’re fucking right we’re going to
Trey’s. Where else would we go? The
soup kitchen?
SARAH
Are you mad?
BRIE
No, I’m thrilled to pieces. I don’t
even care, I supplied the cab ride
and the overnight lodgings. Now it’s
your turn.
She takes a book out of her backpack and starts reading it.
50 EXT.- SUBWAY EXIT- MORNING
Brie and Sarah are walking up the steps out of the subway to the street. Sarah walks to the corner and looks at the street signs, looking confused.
SARAH
Which way to you go to...
BRIE
Uh uh, not helping you.
Sarah stalks off in one direction down the street and Brie follows her.
51 EXT.- BLEECKER STREET, NYC- MORNING
Sarah and Brie are walking down the street, with Sarah looking at all the buildings, trying to recognize one. The streets are getting a little more crowded, and it’s a warm, sunny day. Sarah stops and looks up at a building.
SARAH
I think this is it.
She goes up the steps and looks at the names on the call box.
SARAH
Yeah, this is it! See, Trey Browne.
BRIE
Wonderful.
She pushes the button next to his name.
SARAH
What are you doing?!
BRIE
Jesus, I’m just calling him to let
us up!
SARAH
But I didn’t think about what I was
going to say!
BRIE
Oh, Christ.
TREY picks up the phone, sounding groggy and tired.
TREY (O.S.)
Hello?
Brie steps up to the box and speaks in a fake Asian accent.
BRIE
Package for Mr. Browne?
TREY (O.S.)
It’s 7 in the morning.
BRIE
Just get your ass down here and
sign for it, dammit!
TREY (O.S.)
Okay okay, shit, I’ll be right down.
The speaker clicks off.
BRIE
See? That’s how you do it.
Sarah is looking quite flustered and nervous.
BRIE (CON’T)
What the hell’s wrong with you?
The door opens and TREY BROWNE, 19, is standing in the entrance. He is good-looking, with dark brown, messy hair and light skin. He is wearing a vintage t-shirt and some faded jeans.
TREY
Can I help you?
Sarah just looks at him, speechless.
Brie looks at her in shock. Trey looks at her absently and runs his hand through his hair.
BRIE
Uhhh, uhh, my friend says she knows
you.
TREY
Well, who’s your friend?
BRIE
Well…Sarah Hayes.
She nudges Sarah, who just keeps staring, her face red.
TREY
Sounds familiar…so?
There is an awkward silence.
BRIE
Well, the thing is, we need a place
to crash for a while. She remembered
that you had a lot of room and was
thinking you could lend us a couch or
something.
TREY
Oh shit, I don’t know...uh...
SARAH
Sarah.
BRIE
Brie. This is unbelievable.
Sarah jabs her with her elbow.
TREY
See, the thing is, I don’t really
have any room. I’ve got a couple
of guys staying here already.
BRIE
Well, we’re small.
SARAH
It would be fun!
TREY
I mean, yeah...but…
SARAH
It’ll be worth your while, I swear.
She gives him a coy smile.
BRIE
Please?
TREY
Well, I guess it would be alright.
SARAH
Oh thank you, you won’t regret it!
She turns to Brie with a triumphant smile but Brie is not pleased.
TREY
Well, I guess you can bring your
stuff upstairs.
He turns around and lets them inside.
52 INT.- STAIRCASE- MORNING
Brie and Sarah follow Trey up the stairs, talking in whispers.
BRIE
You totally lied to me. I should
fucking kill you.
SARAH
But it worked.
BRIE
Trey’s not your boyfriend. He barely
knows you. You were probably some one
night stand he had like a year ago.
You could have gotten us into real
trouble with your little scheme.
SARAH
COULD have, is the key word. Chill
out, we got a place to stay.
They reach the top of the stairs and Trey opens the door to his apartment.
52 INT.- TREY’S APARTMENT- MORNING
The apartment is messy, with empty beer cans and pizza boxes on the floor. A bunch of art supplies are scattered around, along with half-finished canvases. A large red couch and two easy chairs are situated around a TV, in which three guys, CRAIG, DAN and BRAD, are intrigued with a video game. They are dressed similarly to Trey, each wearing shirts with band logos. A spiral staircase leads up to a loft. Sarah stops at the door before going in and bends down to tie her shoe.
TREY
Hey guys, this is, uh, Brie and her
friend Sarah is coming.
The guys look up, interested, and pause their video game.
CRAIG
Brie! Beautiful! What’s happening?
I’m Craig.
BRIE
Pleasure.
BRAD
We’re in a band. Punk rock. You
should come to our show tonight.
BRIE
Uh, maybe.
TREY
I let them crash here because they’re
bums who can’t get a real job and
their parents kicked them out.
BRIE
Ah, I should have guessed.
Trey sits down on the couch and Sarah sits next to him.
BRIE (CON’T)
That’s a shame.
CRAIG
Word.
The bums go back to their video game. Brie stands awkwardly in the living room, not wanting to sit down in the mess.
TREY
So what brings you to New York?
SARAH
Ah, well our parents sent us to a
preppy boarding school. We couldn’t
take that shit anymore.
BRIE
Yeah, I hate school.
CRAIG
Word. Fuck school.
SARAH
So now we’re on the run. Brie came
with me for the ride.
BRIE
Uh, Trey? Where’s your bathroom?
TREY
Up the stairs, through the bedroom.
Sorry bout the mess.
Brie leaves the room and walks up the staircase.
53 INT.- TREY’S BATHROOM- MORNING
Brie walks into Trey’s bathroom and closes the door. She notices that there’s no toilet paper, so she kneels down and opens the cabinet under the sink. Her eyes widen when she sees the bottles and bottles of pills, plus several syringes and bags of white powder.
BRIE
Holy shit. Who is this guy?
She picks up a syringe gingerly and shakes it. It’s empty. Suddenly, the door bursts open and Trey is standing there, holding a roll of toilet paper. Brie is startled and drops the syringe and quickly closes the cabinet door.
TREY
What are you doing?
BRIE
Uh, nothing. I mean, there was no
toilet paper...
TREY
I know, that’s why I brought you
some.
He hands her the toilet paper.
BRIE
Uh, thanks.
TREY
So are you into that?
BRIE
I don’t know what you’re talking
about.
TREY
Come on, I know you’re not stupid.
You done that shit before?
BRIE
Yeah, some. But that’s what got me
into trouble, so... I’m done.
TREY
Well, if you ever need anything, just
holler, I’ll hook you up.
He grins and closes the door, leaving Brie bewildered.
BRIE
Uh, okay.
54 INT.- TREY’S LIVING ROOM- AFTERNOON
Some hours have gone by and Brie is seated on the corner of the couch, reading her book, while Sarah and the guys watch a kung fu movie.
CRAIG
Oh that’s sick! Awesome.
Brie rolls her eyes and goes back to her book. Trey notices that she’s not joining in on the fun and pauses the video.
TREY
Enough of this boring shit. I think
we should have some fun.
BRAD
Aw man, I was into that movie.
SARAH
What do you have in mind?
Trey gets up and goes into the kitchen.
TREY (O.C.)
Happy hour!
He comes back into the room carrying a bottle of vodka and some orange juice.
BRIE
It’s like one o’clock in the afternoon.
CRAIG
I know, we should have started hours
ago!
They laugh.
TREY
Come on, Brie, don’t tell me you’re
gonna sit there and read your little
book and not join in on the fun!
BRIE
Well, I guess.
The guys cheer.
DAN
Alright, she’s gonna do it!
BRIE
You guys ain’t seen nothing.
GUYS
Ooohh.
TREY
Feisty, this one.
He begins pouring everyone a drink. Once everyone has a glass, Trey raises his in the air.
TREY (CON’T)
Cheers!
EVERYONE
Cheers!
55 INT.- TREY’S LIVING ROOM- LATE AFTERNOON
After several hours, everyone is wasted. Dan and Brad are playing around with a guitar, singing drunken songs. Sarah is curled up next to Trey, but he is ignoring her. Brie is seated across from them and Craig sits down next to her, trying to make a move.
CRAIG
Hey.
BRIE
Hi.
CRAIG
So, how old are you?
He puts his arm around her. She pushes it off.
BRIE
Gross, Craig. I might be a little
drunk, but I’m not blind.
TREY
Oohhh she got you!
Brie rolls her eyes, but laughs.
BRIE
I’m 17.
CRAIG
Cool! So am I!
TREY
No, you’re not, dude, you’re like 30.
CRAIG
Weak, man. Very weak. I’m actually
24.
BRIE
Greaaat.
Trey laughs at her sarcasm. Sarah, seeing how Trey is paying more attention to Brie than to her, leans over Trey seductively.
SARAH
Oh, I’m soo tired, Trey. Wanna go
upstairs?
TREY
30, 24…old is old.
Sarah slumps back and crosses her arms, jealous.
TREY (CON’T)
So since we’re on the subject of
Brie, where are you from?
BRIE
Far, far away from here. 78th and
Lexington.
TREY
No shit, you’re from New York too?
BRIE
Born and raised. What, don’t I seem
like it?
TREY
Sure you do, rich, little, spoiled
Daddy’s girl.
Brie throws a pillow playfully at him.
BRIE
Minus the little, spoiled and Daddy’s
girl part.
TREY
Oh, sorry, sorry.
There is an exchange of connection with them, which Sarah notices. She glares openly at Brie.
SARAH
Sooo, what is there to eat around
these parts?
BRIE
Food sounds good.
TREY
Aren’t you forward. We’ll have to
order out. There’s this kickass
sushi place down the street.
BRIE SARAH
I love sushi! I hate sushi.
TREY
How about Brie and I go and pick
up some sushi and you guys can order whatever you want?
SARAH
I was just kidding, I like sushi. Yum.
BRIE
Yeah, Trey and I will go get it for everyone.
She throws Sarah a triumphant look. Sarah gets up from the couch.
SARAH
Brieanna, can I talk to you for a
a sec? In the kitchen?
Brie shrugs. They go into the kitchen.
56 INT.- TREY’S KITCHEN- AFTERNOON
Sarah grabs Brie by the arm and pulls her into the kitchen.
SARAH
What do you think you’re doing?
BRIE
What do you mean?
SARAH
You’re totally flirting with my
boyfriend!
Brie gives a short laugh.
BRIE
He’s not your boyfriend. It’s fair
game now, Sarah. You did it to
yourself by lying to me. Besides,
Trey’s hot.
SARAH
Bitch!
Brie walks out of the kitchen and back into the living room.
57 INT.- TREY’S LIVING ROOM- AFTERNOON
BRIE
Alright, I’m ready to go, Trey.
58 EXT.- BLEECKER STREET, NYC- AFTERNOON
Trey and Brie are walking down the street towards the sushi shop. They are both stumbling a little and Brie is holding onto Trey’s arm to stay steady.
TREY
So what was that all about?
BRIE
What was what?
TREY
Going into the kitchen.
BRIE
Oh nothing. Girl stuff.
TREY
I see.
(beat)
You know, I really don’t remember
Sarah.
BRIE
I guess it wasn’t that good, huh?
TREY
Maybe, I don’t really remember.
BRIE
You don’t remember?
TREY
Not really. It was a long time ago!
Plus, I probably wasn’t sober.
Brie laughs.
BRIE
Okay, okay. I’m not one to judge.
I’ve done some pretty fucked up
things too.
TREY
Like what?
BRIE
I’m not at liberty to say.
She looks around, feigning paranoia.
BRIE (CON’T)
They’re after me.
TREY
Who’s they?
BRIE
The FBI, DEA… PETA.
TREY
Come on, what could you have done
that’s so horrible?
BRIE
Attacked a guy for trying to get
on me.
TREY
No shit?
BRIE
Yeah. I got arrested.
TREY
Wow. You’re dangerous.
BRIE
I’m probably on the Top 10 Most
Wanted Criminals by now.
TREY
So I guess it’s good that I
saved Craig from you.
BRIE
You’re such a hero. Keeping me
out of prison. How can I ever
repay you?
TREY
I can think of some ways.
Brie giggles.
BRIE
(mocking)
Oh okay. I guess I could
do your laundry.
TREY
You’re funny.
BRIE
Funny looking, maybe.
TREY
No, you’re hot. You know that.
BRIE
No.
TREY
Oh, come on.
BRIE
I have very low self-esteem.
TREY
Well, you shouldn’t. You’re gorgeous.
BRIE
Shut up.
(beat)
Well, thanks, I guess.
They come to the sushi shop.
TREY
This is it.
He opens the door for her and they go in.
59 INT.- TREY’S LIVING ROOM- DUSK
Trey and Brie walk in the door, holding the bags of sushi. Sarah and the guys are all sitting around the coffee table, with shot glasses and playing a drinking card game. Sarah is very drunk and loud by now.
SARAH
Heyyy, the lovebirds are back!
BRIE
What are you guys playing?
CRAIG
Asshole.
SARAH
Where’s the sushi?
Trey holds up the bag.
TREY
We got food!
SARAH
Wonderful. I’m starving.
She gets up and trips over the carpet.
SARAH (CON’T)
Whoops! Catch me, Trey!
She tries to fall into his arm, but he moves at the last second and she falls to the floor. Brie snickers.
TREY
Hey, save some for me.
CRAIG
Word. Show’s in three hours guys,
drink up! We gotta sound our best.
Everyone takes a shot of tequila.
BRIE
Ow, that shit’s brutal.
SARAH
You guys are gonna suck.
CRAIG
This stuff really helps my
performance.
TREY
If you take another shot, they’ll
sound even better.
DAN
Hear hear!
CRAIG
Shut up, fag. You’re not even in the
band.
DAN
Then what am I?
CRAIG
You’re the manager.
DAN
Same thing.
CRAIG
Not really, dude.
DAN
Who got you the fucking show?
CRAIG
Yeah but seriously, carrying our
shit around makes you a roadie.
You could sleep with Brad to make it
to the top though.
BRAD
Shut up fag!
Trey grabs Brie’s hand while the bantering is going on and pulls her into the kitchen, taking the sushi with them.
60 INT.- TREY’S KITCHEN- DUSK
TREY
I had to get away from those morons.
BRIE
Why do you let them stay here?
TREY
Cause I’m a nice guy.
He starts getting out plates to put the sushi on and hands Brie two chopsticks.
TREY (CON’T)
Here.
BRIE
Thanks.
(beat)
This is good. I haven’t had good
food for a while.
TREY
Where have you been?
BRIE
Well, school. Other places.
TREY
Other places?
BRIE
Nowhere.
TREY
I’ve got something else for you.
He takes something out of his pocket.
BRIE
What is it?
TREY
It’ll make you fall in love with me.
He hands her a small Ecstasy pill. She takes a deep breath.
BRIE
The last time I mixed E and alcohol,
a very bad thing happened. I told you.
She gives it back to him.
TREY
Nothing bad will happen, I promise
you. I’ll watch out for you, girl.
She tries to lean against the counter and slips. Trey reaches out and holds her up.
TREY (CON’T)
Whoa, be careful. Are you okay?
She steadies herself.
BRIE
Uh, yeah, I’m fine. I just have a
question. Why do you have all that
shit in your bathroom?
TREY
It’s just my private stash.
Brie’s eyes widen.
BRIE
Wha...?
TREY
I’m joking. I sell it, that’s all.
It’s better business than art, anyway.
He looks bitter.
TREY (CON’T)
I mean, I don’t want to...but it’s
good money. And I don’t do most of
it anyway.
(beat)
So are you gonna do this or what?
You look like you could use a little
fun.
BRIE
I have had a rough week.
TREY
So here.
She looks at the pill for a minute and then takes it out of Trey’s hand.
BRIE
Alright.
She swallows the pill and Trey takes one too.
BRIE (CON’T)
I better eat before that kicks in!
She picks up a sushi and eats it, while Trey just smiles. Her mouth is stuffed.
BRIE (CON’T)
What?
61 INT.- A PUNK ROCK SHOW- NIGHT
The inside of a grungy punk club is filled with kids there for the show. They are dressed in all sorts of punk attire. A hardcore BAND is playing onstage. Brie feels out of place as she walks in wearing jeans and an Abercrombie shirt.
BRIE
Right. I want to go back.
She starts to turn around, but Sarah pushes her forward.
SARAH
No no, it’ll be fun. Look, the guys
are getting onstage.
Onstage, Craig and Brad are setting up their instruments and getting ready to rock. Sarah, Trey and Brie are working their way through the crowd.
SARAH (CON’T)
We have to get to the front! It’s
always the best up there.
BRIE
Gee, I wouldn’t have guessed you to
be a Sex Pistols fan. Maybe Blink 182.
Sarah smiles at her fakely.
SARAH
Oh Brie, I wouldn’t have wanted to
go through this with anyone else.
Brie looks at her confused.
BRIE
Yeah...sure.
SARAH
Get in the front!
She pushes Brie to the center of the crowd, just as the music starts. The loud, angry punk music fills the air and the kids start to mosh. They close in on the stage, separating Brie from Trey and Sarah. Kids are wailing their arms and legs and a circle pit is started. Brie is getting pushed and jumbled around and she can’t escape. The effects of the Ecstasy start to make her freak out and she starts to scream, as tears fall down her face.
Suddenly, someone grabs her and pulls her out to safety. She cries as Trey tries to comfort her. His eyes are wide and he looks tweaked out from the drugs.
TREY
Brie! Brie! Calm down, it’s okay!
BRIE
It’s not okay! I almost died!
TREY
No you didn’t, you’re fine.
BRIE
Sarah pushed me in there. Sarah,
that bitch, Sarah.
TREY
Where was she? I didn’t see her.
He strokes her hair as he holds her. She wipes her eyes and looks up at him.
BRIE
I think I love you.
TREY
Nah, shit girl, that’s the drugs
talking.
BRIE
No. I love you.
He helps her up, but she can barely stand.
BRIE (CON’T)
I do love you, Trey. I love you.
TREY
Shhh. Let’s get you out of here.
BRIE
No, wait.
She pulls him close to her and pulls his lips to hers. He doesn’t hesitate and they share a passionate kiss.
TREY
Come on, let’s go.
As they are walking out, Sarah sees them leaving and she glares at Brie with hatred on her face.
SARAH
Fine, go then!
Trey supports Brie’s weight on his shoulder and they make their way outside. A bunch of people stare at them as they walk by and Brie turns to them.
BRIE
What? So I can’t hold my liquor!
TREY
Come on, Brie.
62 EXT.- BLEECKER STREET, NYC- NIGHT
Trey is struggling to hold Brie up as they walk down the street back to Trey’s apartment. He spots a coffee shop.
TREY
Wait here.
He runs inside and is back in a few seconds with a hot coffee. He hands it to Brie.
TREY (CON’T)
This might help. How are you feeling?
BRIE
I’m okay.
She has stopped crying and is calmer now.
BRIE (CON’T)
God, I’m such a loser.
TREY
Don’t say that. You’re not a loser.
It’s my fault anyway. We shouldn’t
have taken that. Not at a punk rock
show anyway.
BRIE
Yeah, save it for the raves.
TREY
Exactly. How’s the coffee?
BRIE
Doing its job. Thanks.
They continue walking down the street. Trey takes her hand and she smiles shyly at him.
BRIE
This always happens to me. I always
screw up.
She is quiet for a moment, considering that she might have a problem.
BRIE (CON’T)
Do you think I’m crazy?
TREY
No, why would I think that?
BRIE
Some people think I am.
TREY
Well, they’re the crazy ones.
She smiles weakly.
BRIE
Sometimes I think I might be.
TREY
Everyone feels that way once and
a while. You’re not crazy.
BRIE
I guess. But sometimes I just hate
everything.
TREY
Everybody does. It’s just how you
handle it. It never helps to get
pissed off all the time.
BRIE
I’m not pissed off all the time. I
dunno, I’m just too introspective.
TREY
Well, stop thinking.
BRIE
I wish.
63 INT.- TREY’S APARTMENT- NIGHT
They enter the apartment, which is pitch black.
BRIE
Don’t turn on the lights, it’ll
hurt.
They grasp through the air until they find the couch and they sit down.
TREY
So, you’re okay?
BRIE
Pretty good. You?
TREY
Perfect.
He looks her in the eyes for a second, and then he puts his hands around her neck and starts kissing her, softly at first and then harder and harder. They continue to make out for a few moments and then he breaks away.
TREY (CON’T)
So how’s your friend going to
find her way back?
BRIE
You mean your friend.
TREY
Whatever.
BRIE
She knows where we are. Don’t stop...
She reaches up to kiss him again.
TREY
I think you should go to sleep.
BRIE
No, I’m fine... Really.
TREY
Just trust me, sleep it off. You’re
hallucinating, you don’t know what
you’re saying.
He kisses her on the forehead and gets up and leaves, leaving her confused. She falls back on the couch and passes out.
64 INT.- TREY’S LIVING ROOM- LATE NIGHT
Brie has been asleep on the couch, when she wakes up in the middle of the night. We see that the guys are back from the show, passed out on the floor. She doesn’t see Sarah anywhere. She gets up and creeps up the spiral stairs.
The sounds of people having sex are coming from Trey’s bedroom. Moans and groans escape under the door. Horrified, Brie opens the door a crack and peeks inside, afraid of what she’s going to see.
Trey and Sarah are under the sheets, in the middle of a passionate “love-making” session. Taylor is on the top and Sarah lies naked under him.
Brie gasps. The expression on her face is embarrassment, anger and disgust all in one.
BRIE
Oh my god.
Trey looks over in shock to see Brie standing in the doorway.
SARAH
Get out of here, Brie!
Brie snaps back to reality and slams the door shut. She sinks to the floor, sobbing and leans back against the door. She covers her face with her hands. She gets up slowly, still crying, but furious now. She runs down the stairs and frantically looks around for her bag. She is heading towards the door when Trey appears at the top of the staircase, with only a pair of boxers on.
TREY
Where are you going?
BRIE
I’m getting the hell out of here!
TREY
What are you talking about? You’re
not okay!
BRIE
No, fuck you! I’m out of here.
Fuck this shit!
Sarah appears at the top of the stairs with Trey, covered in a sheet from the bed.
SARAH
Let her go! I don’t need her anymore!
BRIE
Keep him, you crazy psycho bitch!
She storms out the door, slamming it in utter disgust. Trey looks shocked at the top of the stairs.
65 EXT.- BLEECKER STREET, NYC- LATE NIGHT
Brie tears down the stairs and bursts out of Trey’s apartment, out onto the street. She looks around and decides on a way to go. She takes off in a sprint and runs to the nearest subway station, scrambling down the stairs.
66 INT.- SUBWAY STATION- LATE NIGHT
The subway station is deserted and Brie stands alone on the platform, a single tear rolling down her cheek. We look down the tunnel and see the lights of the 6 train coming. It stops and the doors open. Brie stands there for a second and then steps on.
67 FLASHBLACK- INT.- A SCHOOL CLASSROOM- DAY
14-YEAR-OLD BRIE, in a Catholic school uniform, is sitting in a classroom, doing an assignment in a workbook. The rest of the STUDENTS in the class sit quietly doing their work. The TEACHER sits at her desk, grading papers.
There is a KNOCK on the door and the school PRINCIPAL, a woman in her 40’s, walks in and whispers something to the teacher. They look at Brie.
TEACHER
Brie? The principal would like to
talk to you in the hall.
The students in the class titter, thinking Brie is in trouble.
Brie gets up from her desk to go to the principal.
PRINCIPAL
Take your belongings, Brie.
Brie puts her books in her backpack and follows the principal out the door.
68 INT.- SCHOOL HALLWAY- DAY
Brie and the principal step out into the hall. Brie looks up at her expectantly and nervous.
PRINCIPAL
Brie, your mother has had an
accident. She’s in the hospital.
Your dad sent a car to pick you
up and meet them there.
BRIE
What happened?!
PRINCIPAL
Uh, I think it would better if your
father talked to you about it.
You can follow me to the car.
The principal starts walking down the hall and Brie follows her a few steps behind.
69 INT.- A HOSPITAL ROOM- DAY
Ted and Taylor are huddled around a bed with Marcy in it. She is hooked up to tubes and a monitor and her eyes are closed. They don’t notice when BRIE walks in, escorted by a NURSE.
BRIE
What happened?!
TED
Oh, Jesus, Brie. Your mother- she
had an accident...
TAYLOR
She snorted a line of coke the size
of her forearm.
Brie looks horrified.
TED
Jesus, Taylor.
Brie runs to the bed to look at her mother.
BRIE
Is she gonna be okay? Is she
gonna die?
TED
They don’t know. She’s in a coma.
He pulls Brie away from the bed.
TED (CON’T)
The chances are slim.
BRIE
No!!!
Tears start sliding down her face as she looks at her mom. Neither Ted nor Taylor tries to comfort her.
70 EXT.- A GRAVEYARD- DAY
Brie, Ted, Taylor and a group of MOURNERS dressed in black, surround an open grave, as a MINISTER reads from the Bible.
BRIE (V.O.)
Even someone that looks perfect
from the outside could be going
through something that you would
never imagine. I never knew about
my mom’s addiction. I always though
she had everything together. She
was beautiful. She had a successful
career and a loving family. I guess
it wasn’t enough. When my dad looks
at me, I know he sees her. Far from
perfect.
71 EXT.- STREET IN BROOKLYN- NIGHT- PRESENT DAY
Brie is walking down the street, head down, depressed. An introspective song plays in the background. A gust of wind blows a flyer into Brie and she catches it. It is an ad for painkillers. She laughs sarcastically, turns it over and sees an ad for a restaurant called The Lagoona at Coney Island. She stares at it, as if remembering something. She puts it back in her pocket.
72 EXT.- THE LAGOONA RESTURANT, CONEY ISLAND- NIGHT
Brie stands outside the restaurant, which has a run down, fisherman tavern look to it. She takes out the flyer and looks at it again. Holding it, she walks up to the door and goes in.
73 INT.- THE LAGOONA- NIGHT
CARL, 64, weathered and gray, is at the cash register, counting money. He looks up when Brie walks in.
CARL
We’re closing.
BRIE
Oh...
She looks at the flyer again.
BRIE (CON’T)
Is there by any chance an Alex
Parker that works here?
CARL
Yeah, he’s in the back cleanin’
up. YO ALEX! THERE’S SOMEONE
HERE TO SEE YOU!
Startled, Brie quickly looks at her reflection in the glass on the counter. She frantically tries to fix her makeup and hair.
BRIE
Oh shit.
ALEX PARKER, now around 17 or 18, comes out from a door behind the counter. He has brown shaggy hair and a lean build and warm brown eyes.
ALEX
Who?
CARL
Why, this young lady right here.
BRIE
Um, hey Alex...I don’t know if
you remember me. Heh, this is kinda
funny-
ALEX
Brie? What are you doing here?
She relaxes a little, relieved that he at least remembers her.
BRIE
I don’t know...I just picked up
this flyer for your restaurant...
She holds up the flyer.
BRIE (CON’T)
I was just around and...
Her voice shakes from emotion. He comes out from behind the counter, seeing that she’s upset and lightly touches her arm.
ALEX
Hey, let’s have a seat and we can
talk, okay? I’ll get us some drinks.
She goes and sits in a booth and he comes back with two Cokes.
ALEX
So what are you doing here? I know
you didn’t just hop a train all the
way here to see me.
BRIE
I’m having kind of a bad night...
When this flyer flew into me, I thought
it had to be a sign.
ALEX
For what?
BRIE
To see you.
ALEX
Me? I haven’t seen you for like three
years.
BRIE
I know...I know. The last time was
at that Knicks game.
ALEX
Yeah, you never called me.
BRIE
I know. Sorry.
ALEX
No, it’s okay. I didn’t expect it
anyway.
BRIE
Why not?
ALEX
Come on. A girl like you, with a guy
like me?
BRIE
Are you kidding?
ALEX
No, why?
BRIE
It’s just fucking irony, that’s
all.
(beat)
So this is where you work, huh.
ALEX
Yeah. Well, times have been hard.
We’ve had to let go of a lot of
people...that’s why I’m here so
late. I’m always here late.
BRIE
So you have no life?
ALEX
None at all.
BRIE
I don’t have a place to live.
ALEX
What do you mean? I thought you
lived on the Upper East Side.
BRIE
I do. I mean, my dad still does. I
was away at a school...and then a
hospital. And then the people I was
with were assholes...
ALEX
Are you drunk?
BRIE
I think. I drank a lot tonight. I’m
really stupid. It’s just that no one
knows what to do with me. I don’t
know what to do with me.
ALEX
Well maybe you should talk to someone
about it.
BRIE
Anyone that you have to pay to listen
to you doesn’t give a crap.
ALEX
Well, I give a crap. And you don’t
have to pay me.
BRIE
Thanks.
ALEX
Hey, you’re welcome to stay here
tonight. It’s not much, but I got
an extra bed.
BRIE
Here?
ALEX
Upstairs. That’s where I live.
BRIE
Oh, wow, yeah, thanks. Things sure
have changed since our Stoney Harbor
days, huh?
ALEX
Understatement.
75 INT.- GUEST BEDROOM- MORNING
Brie wakes up in a brightly lit bedroom. She is in a twin bed, covered with an old quilt. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and a window looks out onto the ocean.
Alex peeks inside the room.
ALEX
Are you awake?
Brie sits up groggily, a little hung over.
BRIE
Yes, sort of. Oww. I’m hung over.
Alex laughs.
ALEX
Come on, breakfast is ready.
BRIE
I don’t think I can eat food.
ALEX
Yes, you can. You need it. You’re
wasting away.
BRIE
I told you I was a waste.
ALEX
Shut up and get downstairs,
drama queen.
76 INT.- THE LAGOONA RESTURANT- MORNING
Brie walks down the stairs into the restaurant, which is closed for Sunday. Carl and Alex are seated at a long table, along with SIMON, Alex’s dad and RAMONA, Alex’s mom. There is breakfast food set on the table.
Brie walks sheepishly to the table and sits down next to Alex.
BRIE
Wow, this is great. Thanks so much
for letting me stay here without
any notice or anything.
RAMONA
It’s good to see you again, Brie.
We missed your family at the beach.
Of course, we don’t go anymore.
BRIE
How’s Katy doing?
It is quiet for a second.
ALEX
We haven’t seen her for a while...
she moved out to L.A. to become an
actress, kinda left with us on bad
terms. Last we heard she was doing
pornos.
BRIE
There’s one screw up in every
family, huh.
RAMONA
Did you sleep well?
BRIE
Oh yes, great, thanks. This place is
wonderful.
RAMONA
Well, it’s not much. Not compared
to what you’re used to...
BRIE
No, it’s perfect. I love it.
Ramona looks pleased.
SIMON
So Brie, tell us how you ended up
out here.
BRIE
Uhh...
ALEX
I called her.
Brie shoots him a look.
ALEX (CON’T)
Yeah, I heard she was in the city
for, uh, Spring Break and I wanted
to see her, catch up, ya know.
RAMONA
Oh, you didn’t tell us you still
kept in touch with her, Alex. I
would have liked to say hello to Ted.
ALEX
Well, he says hi. Brie and I, uh, email
Occasionally.
Brie snorts laughter into her milk.
BRIE
Taylor still asks about Katy, actually.
RAMONA
Really? I always knew he was going
places in life. Where did he graduate
from?
BRIE
Columbia.
RAMONA
How wonderful.
77 EXT.- CONEY ISLAND BOARDWALK- DAY
WIDE SHOT
Brie and Alex are walking along the boardwalk of Coney Island. It is a beautiful day and the wind is blowing softly.
CLOSE UP ON THE TWO OF THEM
BRIE
You didn’t have to cover for me,
you know.
ALEX
I know. But I didn’t know how much
you would want to tell them. I still
don’t really know anything.
BRIE
I guess you deserve to know.
ALEX
You don’t have to tell me anything.
BRIE
I will, in time. I just need a
break for a while.
ALEX
A break from what?
BRIE
I dunno. Life?
ALEX
Come on, I wanna show you something.
78 EXT.- AMUSEMENT PARK- DAY
We see an old, abandoned amusement park, from the heyday of Coney Island. An old merry-go-round tilts unnaturally. Trash litters the ground. A rotting wooden roller coaster lines the sky.
Alex opens a broken piece of fence and crawls inside. Brie follows. They run across the grass until they reach the roller coaster. Alex starts climbing up the ladder to the top of the hill of the roller coaster and they sit on a platform that overlooks the ocean.
BRIE
Wow, this is awesome.
ALEX
I know, no one ever comes here.
BRIE
It’s really peaceful.
ALEX
Yeah. It’s kind of sad, too.
BRIE
How?
ALEX
It’s like, there are so many memories
left here, abandoned.
BRIE
Yeah...but now you’re adding your
own memories.
ALEX
I never really thought of it that
way.
BRIE
I can be very philosophical when I
want to be.
They are quiet for a moment, enjoying the view.
ALEX
This is where I come to think. I know
you probably think that’s corny.
BRIE
Alex, seriously. Nothing you could do
would make me think you’re corny. I
had a huge crush on you, you know.
ALEX
No.
BRIE
I did. The hugest. I was pathetic.
ALEX
You’re kidding me.
BRIE
Nope.
ALEX
Why didn’t you tell me?
BRIE
Cause I didn’t want to get hurt.
I was only 12.
ALEX
Do you still?
BRIE
Still what?
ALEX
Have a crush on me.
She gives him a sly smile.
BRIE
I dunno.
He looks into her eyes and takes her hand in his. They are inches away from each other.
BRIE (CON’T)
Alex, I don’t want to get hurt
again.
ALEX
And I don’t want to hurt you, Brie.
I promise.
He moves his head closer to hers and kisses her gently on the lips and she returns the kiss.
ALEX (CON’T)
I had a huge crush on you too.
They smile.
ZOOM OUT TO WIDE DISTANCE SHOT OF AMUSEMENT PARK
79 EXT.- OUTSIDE THE LAGOONA- SUNSET
Brie and Alex come walking up to the restaurant, close, and holding hands, laughing. Brie seems the most lighthearted we’ve seen her. Alex opens the door for her and they go inside.
80 INT.- THE LAGOONA APARTMENT- SUNSET
Brie and Alex are walking up the stairs to the apartment. As they come up, they see Ramona talking on the phone. When she sees them, she turns around and starts talking so they can’t hear her.
RAMONA
Okay, thank you. See you then.
She hangs up and turns to Alex.
RAMONA (CON’T)
Alex, can I see you in the kitchen
please?
ALEX
Sure. I’ll be right back, Brie.
He lets go of Brie’s hand, giving it a quick kiss. Ramona looks disapprovingly at the show of affection. Brie notices and realizes something is wrong. Ramona and Alex disappear into the kitchen. Brie pretends like she is going into the guest bedroom, but she pushes herself against the wall and eavesdrops on the conversation.
81 INT.- THE KITCHEN- SUNSET
Brie is listening in on the conversation against the wall and peering into the kitchen at the same time. Ramona is talking to Alex in a hushed voice.
RAMONA
She got expelled from her school
for attacking someone while drunk
and on drugs, Alex. They sent her
to a mental institution, but she ran
away with another girl. They’ve been
looking for her since Friday.
Alex is speechless.
RAMONA (CON’T)
I called her father because I knew
she wasn’t on Spring Break. Most
schools are letting out around now.
I don’t know how you got dragged into
all of this, but you can’t get
attached. Her father is coming to
get her right now.
They notice Brie standing in the doorway, with a shocked expression on her face.
ALEX
Brie...
She turns around and flees to the bedroom and grabs her backpack. It feels like the whole scene at Trey’s house is playing out again. She runs down the stairs and out of the restaurant. Alex is right behind her.
82 EXT.- CONEY ISLAND BOARDWALK- SUNSET
ALEX (CON’T)
Brie, no! Wait... stop!
Brie runs to the side of the boardwalk and clenches onto the railing tightly with her hands. She pushes herself back violently and pulls at her hair in frustration. Alex comes running over to her and grabs her arms, holding her still.
BRIE
Fuck!
She is crying again and Alex pulls her close to him and holds her.
BRIE (CON’T)
I’m not going back there, Alex, I’m
not.
ALEX
I know you’re not.
BRIE
I have to get out of here, I won’t
let them take me!
ALEX
I’m coming with you.
She stops suddenly and looks at him.
BRIE
What? No, you’re not. Don’t be
retarded. Don’t fuck up your life
because of me!
ALEX
Shut up, Brie! I’m coming with you!
(beat)
Where are you going?
BRIE
I don’t know...have you ever been to
South Dakota?
ALEX
Well...only in my dreams.
BRIE
Well, then your dreams are coming true.
I’ve got to get out of here. If you’re coming, we have to go now!
He lets go of her arms and quickly looks at her and runs into the restaurant.
83 INT.- THE APARTMENT- SUNSET
Alex tears up the stairs, taking two at a time. He runs past his shocked mother and into his bedroom.
RAMONA
Alex, what are you doing?!
84 INT.- ALEX’S BEDROOM- SUNSET
Alex’s room is messy, a typical guy’s bedroom. There are CDs scattered around, along with some posters of NY teams on the wall. There are also black and white photographs, like the ones Brie had at school.
He finds a duffel bag under his bed and starts stuffing clothes into it. He opens a drawer and finds a wad of cash and puts it in his pocket.
Ramona comes into the room and sees what he is doing.
RAMONA
Alex, what do you think you’re
doing?
ALEX
I’ve got to go, Mom.
He zips up the bag and slings it over his shoulder and walks past his mom, running back down the stairs. She runs after him frantically.
85 EXT.- THE BOARDWALK- SUNSET
He bursts out the door and back onto the boardwalk, where Brie is still standing. He grabs her hand and they take off in a sprint down the boardwalk.
Ramona is standing in the doorway of the restaurant, screaming at Alex to come back.
RAMONA
Alex, no!!!! Come back here! Come
back!
86 INT.- NYC SUBWAY- NIGHT
Brie and Alex are sitting side by side on a crowded subway back into Manhattan.
BRIE
Are you sure you know what you’re
doing?
He grasps her hand.
ALEX
I’m sure.
87 EXT.- A CITY STREET- NIGHT
Brie and Alex are walking along a street of downtown Manhattan.
ALEX
So where are we going?
BRIE
I don’t know. Do you know anyone
we could stay with?
ALEX
Not really.
BRIE
I can’t believe both of us live
here and we don’t know anybody.
I guess we’ll have to get a hotel
room.
88 INT.- A CHEAP HOTEL LOBBY- NIGHT
Brie is standing at the counter, getting a room, while Alex stands nervously beside her. A WOMAN at the counter taps on her computer.
WOMAN
And how will you be paying for
this?
BRIE
Uh, credit.
The woman takes the card and smiles and hands Brie the key to the room.
WOMAN
Thank you.
89 INT.- A HOTEL ROOM- NIGHT
Brie and Alex open the door to their hotel room. It is small and a little shabby. There is a double bed and a TV. Alex throws his bag on the floor and flops down on the bed and flips on the TV.
ALEX
Cable.
He looks at Brie and smiles.
BRIE
I think I’m gonna go take a shower.
ALEX
Good, you smell.
Brie picks up a pillow and throws it at him playfully.
90 INT.- HOTEL ROOM- NIGHT
Brie steps out of the bathroom, dripping wet and wrapped only in a towel. Alex looks up from the TV and stares at her.
BRIE
What?
ALEX
Uh, nothing.
He pretends to go back to watching TV, flipping absently through the channels. Brie sits down on the bed, brushing her hair.
BRIE
You like the gardening channel?
ALEX
What? Oh, uh...yeah, it’s kinda
cool...
BRIE
Suuure.
ALEX
What? I do.
BRIE
Mmmhmmm.
She climbs on top of him and kisses him on the lips.
BRIE (CON’T)
Sure ya do.
They continue to kiss and he pushes her backwards and lightly down so that he is on top of her. He clicks off the TV.
ALEX
I do. I like this channel.
BRIE
Yeah? This channel?
ALEX
This one.
He kisses her again and unwraps the towel from around her. She pulls his t-shirt from over his head and takes it off, putting her arms around him and they continue to kiss.
FADE TO BLACK
91 INT.- HOTEL ROOM- MORNING
Brie and Alex are asleep in bed, with their arms around each other. The room is bright with the morning sunlight. The door opens and Ted and Olive, the nurse from North Haven, burst into the room. Hearing the sound, Brie awakes and sits up in bed, in shock to see them standing there. She tries to cover herself up with the covers so they can’t see that she is dressed only in a tank top and underwear.
They are not amused.
BRIE
Dad!
Alex wakes up and is groggily aware of what’s going in.
ALEX
Oh shit.
TED
Brieanna, get dressed and get your
things right now.
BRIE
How did you find me here?
TED
You used your credit card to check
in. It took us three days to track
you down.
BRIE
Three days! But I just used it last
night!
TED
Brie, just look at you. Look at you!
BRIE
I’m fine! Alex is taking more care
of me then you ever did!
TED
Alex who?!
BRIE
ALEX!
Brie stops, her mouth gaping. She looks next to her and suddenly Alex isn’t there anymore. Instead there is three days of trash, empty bottles and syringes. The room is a mess and Brie is a mess. She has dark circles under her eyes and her hair is messy.
TED
Brie, you’re sick. You need help.
You have to come with us.
He is near tears. Brie is in shock.
BRIE
No…no, no... Where’s Alex? He was just
here. This isn’t funny. What’s
going on? What…what’s happening?
She starts crying hysterically and Olive leans over and gives her a shot of a sedative.
92 INT.- NORTH HAVEN INSTITUTE- DAY
Dr. Wilkins is walking down a hallway, leading FOUR PSYCHOLOGOY STUDENTS. They pass Jenni, who is hugging her parents. There are suitcases on the floor and it is apparent that she is leaving. She gives a cheerful wave to the group and then picks up her stuff and walks off with her parents.
93 INT.- HOSPITAL ROOM- DAY
The room is all pure white, with padding on the wall. There is a single bed and Brie is lying on it, not moving.
The door opens and Dr. Wilkins and the students walk in.
DR. WILKINS
Case study 247… Acute schizophrenia.
Here’s Brie again. It’s her fourth day
in lock-down solitude since they found
her. A tip from the family housekeeper
led us to her. Good thing too, she was almost a goner.
Brie looks up at them weakly.
BRIE
Did you find Sarah? I can tell you
where she is…
DR. WILKINS
Brie, who is Sarah? You keep talking
about her, but there is no Sarah.
There never was a Sarah.
She sighs and her eyes roll back, fluttering.
93 FLASHBACK MONTAGE
This will go quickly, like a series of snapshots.
1) Brie is running away from the restaurant, across the field alone.
2) Brie is in the cab by herself, the driver peels away leaving her stand there.
3) Brie is walking along the street in New York and goes up to Trey, who is selling drugs in the park. She buys a bunch and walks away.
4) Brie is sitting on the bed in the hotel, alone, with lines of coke arranged in front of her. She leans back and closes her eyes.
94 INT.- HOSPITAL ROOM, PRESENT DAY- DAY
Suddenly, Brie sits up straight in bed, her eyes open wide.
BRIE
Alex!
DR. WILKINS
There is no Alex either.
Her eyes well up with tears and they start falling down her cheeks. Her mascara slides down her face and she doesn’t bother to wipe it away. She lies back down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, crying.
DR. WILKINS (CON’T)
1 in 100 people will develop
schizophrenia in their lifetime.
Some of the common symptoms include…
He continues talking as he leads the students out the door.
TIGHT ON BRIE
BRIE (whispers)
What’s real?
FADE OUT
ROLL CREDITS
END
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