Front credits roll over a black screen. During the second half of the credits, the fighting begins. Joanne and Amanda begin with a verbal argument, but their screaming quickly becomes punctuated with violence – breaking glass, a slap in the face, etcetera. As the credits end, FADE IN
INT: SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL HALL: MORNING:
A typical city school – overcrowded, in need of some repair, but nonetheless functioning. The main office is in the middle of the hall; two unarmed security officers stand by the door and monitor the flow of traffic as classes change. Angela (18, senior), with her backpack, comes out of the office.
GUARD 1
(to Angela)
Hey, baby; you still workin’ here?
ANGELA
(heading down hall)
Gotta do community service somewhere, right?
GUARD 1
They still trust you with all that?
ANGELA
Apparently. See you around?
GUARD 1
You know it.
Angela fades away in the crowd.
EXT: SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL: SAME:
There are other kids hanging out around the building. Todd (17, senior, Joanne’s boyfriend) and a bruised Joanne are standing against the building, near a set of doors. Todd is holding Joanne loosely.
TODD
I still don’t think this is going to work, Jo.
JOANNE
Doesn’t matter anymore, Todd. I can’t take it, and
I won’t let it happen to Tommy.
TODD
Brian’s going with you?
JOANNE
Probably. Look; do you have it or not?
Todd hands Joanne a fake non-driver’s ID and a couple fake college IDs. Before Joanne has a chance to inspect them, Angela comes out the door, looking for Joanne. When Angela sees Todd and Joanne, she heads to them.
PETE
(heading inside)
Angie, you comin’ today, or should I take notes?
ANGELA
I’ll be there. Tell him I’m in the bathroom, okay?
PETE
Sure.
Pete follows some other kids into the building.
ANGELA
Sorry I’m late.
TODD
You got it?
Angela takes a Star Wars folder from her backpack and hands it to Joanne. Inside the folder is a manila envelope.
JOANNE
Where’d you steal this from?
ANGELA
It’d be kind of funny walking around with a school
envelope, right? Listen; I couldn’t get Brian’s working
papers; those’re all locked up.
(heading inside)
Make sure we’re all right, though.
JOANNE
Yeah. Thanks, Ange.
Angela waves her off and disappears inside as the bell rings.
TODD
Look; if you’re set on this, at least let my dad give you
a ride. He doesn’t mind driving to Vegas or wherever;
JOANNE
It won’t be Vegas we’re going to, and the less people
know, the better it’ll be.
TODD
(quiet)
Take me with you?
Joanne smiles and kisses him softly.
JOANNE
You’re late for class.
TODD
Yeah, whatever.
They head inside together.
INT: ROLAND KITCHEN: AFTERNOON:
Joanne, just beginning to get tipsy from the vodka she’s drinking, is cleaning the kitchen. Her vodka bottle is on the kitchen counter, along with a small assortment of other liquor bottles and a couple loaves of bread. Although the kitchen seems clean already, Joanne is washing the counters anyway. Sonny comes out of his room.
JOANNE
Heading out?
SONNY
Yeah, but I’ll be back soon. Don’t you need to get
your brother?
JOANNE
Brian gets him on Tuesdays now.
SONNY
(going out back door)
Okay. Looks good here, kid. Your mom’ll be happy.
Joanne checks the time then hurries to finish her work. When Brian (15) and Tommy (6) come in from the living room, Joanne is relieved, and she goes back to cleaning. The boys, too, are relieved to see only Joanne.
TOMMY
Joanne! You’re home!
Tommy runs to Joanne and hugs her. Joanne hugs Tommy and picks him up.
JOANNE
Hey, kid. Where’ve you been?
BRIAN
At daycare.
JOANNE
(letting Tommy down)
You were at daycare all this time?
TOMMY
Yeah. We had fun today, too. First we made clay,
then we got to make all these animals out of the clay
we made.
JOANNE
And I bet you made one big mess there, too, huh?
TOMMY
Not too big. Mrs. Wilchens made sure of that.
BRIAN
Why don’t you go clean up, Tommy; before mom gets
home.
TOMMY
Okay.
Tommy takes his things and puts them in his room before heading into the bathroom. Joanne goes back to cleaning the kitchen.
JOANNE
(pause)
Did you have to pay them for overtime?
BRIAN
No, I got there before five. How’re you feeling?
JOANNE
Fine. You?
BRIAN
You drinking again?
She stops and looks at Brian.
BRIAN (cont’d)
Just asking.
JOANNE
Get ready to go.
BRIAN
Now?
JOANNE
Tonight.
A car pulls up outside. The engine stops, and the door slams shut. Brian doesn’t hide his nervousness very well; Joanne, on the other hand; is very calm.
BRIAN
Jo,
JOANNE
With or without you, Bri.
Amanda, the kids’ mother, arrives. In one hand, she has her briefcase. In the other, she has a basketball. She holds the basketball away from her as if it is a contagious disease.
AMANDA
Who is responsible for this?
JOANNE
(still cleaning)
Looks like I am.
AMANDA
You will look at me when you address me, young lady.
Joanne stops and looks in Amanda’s direction but doesn’t look directly at Amanda.
BRIAN
Joanne, are you sure it’s your ball? I mean,
AMANDA
You will look at me, do you hear me?
Joanne finally looks right at Amanda.
JOANNE
Yeah, it’s got my name written all over it.
AMANDA
And you plan to do what with this?
JOANNE
(returning to cleaning)
Whatever.
Brian reaches for the ball, but Amanda drops it away from him. Brian stands up, waiting for his punishment. Amanda instead goes for Joanne. Joanne ducks away from Amanda’s reach, but she doesn’t quite evade Amanda’s grasp.
AMANDA
You’re not going to make me wait, are you?
JOANNE
Apparently not.
BRIAN
Jo,
AMANDA
Shut your mouth, boy. Get to your room.
Brian hesitates, and Amanda focuses on him while maintaining a firm grasp on Joanne’s arm.
AMANDA (cont’d)
I said, get to your room, boy.
BRIAN
I’m going.
AMANDA
Are you talking back?
JOANNE
Now who’s being stupid.
Amanda turns sharply towards Joanne, and Joanne breaks free from Amanda’s grip. Brian uses the distraction to escape to his room.
JOANNE (cont’d)
C’mon, bitch; let’s go. You want it out? You got it.
Amanda follows Joanne around the kitchen as Joanne taunts her.
AMANDA
You want punishment? I can give it to you, honey;
no doubt about that.
JOANNE
Don’t you have to catch me first? Hm?
Joanne kicks the basketball, and it hits Amanda. Amanda grabs the ball and chucks it at Joanne, who slaps it away. The ball knocks over some dishes on the counter.
AMANDA
You clean this mess up, girl, you hear me?
JOANNE
Nope. Deaf and dumb. Must run in the family.
Joanne escapes Amanda’s grasp and continues to maneuver around the kitchen.
JOANNE (cont’d)
Must be those blonde roots coming through again,
babe. Can’t you do something about that?
Amanda grabs the closest thing on the counter and throws it at Joanne; she misses.
INT: BOYS’ ROOM: SAME:
The room is spotless. It seems to be more of a furniture showroom than an actual kids’ room. Tommy is curled up in a ball on the floor between his desk and closet. Brian comes in and quietly closes the door. Tommy is nervous at first, but he relaxes when he sees Brian. Amanda and Joanne continue their argument offscreen.
BRIAN
What’re you doing down there?
TOMMY
Are they still fighting?
BRIAN
Yeah, but I don’t think it’ll be a long one. C’mon;
we’d better get you cleaned up before she gets here.
Tommy is suddenly scared. He jumps up and hurries to take his dirty shirt and pants off. Tommy gets his pants stuck on his shoes, and he gets frantic as his clothes get more and more wrapped around him.
BRIAN (cont’d)
(helping Tommy)
Okay, Tom; relax. Take it easy.
(removes Tommy’s shirt)
There. Okay? Take your shoes off. Get your shoes,
Tommy.
Tommy takes his shoes off and places them neatly in the closet next to his other shoes. Tommy then quickly strips his pants off and puts them and his dirty shirt next to the door as Brian gets Tommy a change of clothes from the dresser.
TOMMY
I washed my hands, but they’re still not clean.
BRIAN
They’re good enough for now. Hurry up and get
dressed.
Brian helps Tommy get dressed. There is another crash of glass, then a door slamming, then silence.
EXT: ALLEY BEHIND TODD’S FATHER’S HOUSE: EVENING:
There are short driveways off the alley to most of the properties. Some have garages, but most don’t. In the middle of the block, there is a garage with two red pickup trucks parked in front of it. One truck is considerably older and in worse condition than the other. Joanne, walking with a purpose, goes to this garage. She checks under the right fender of both trucks for the key. Not finding it, she climbs onto the hood of the old truck and reaches onto the roof of the garage. She retrieves the key and jumps off the truck. Making sure nobody’s really watching her, she gets into the old truck and drives off.
INT: BOYS’ ROOM: NIGHT:
Tommy is asleep on top of the covers of his bed. He is holding his favorite stuffed dog, Doggy. Brian is quietly packing clothes into a knapsack. There is another knapsack filled with food under the window. Both Brian’s and Tommy’s shoes are neatly placed next to the door. Joanne appears in the window; she taps lightly, and Brian nods to acknowledge her. Joanne then disappears, and Brian steps up the pace of his packing.
INT: ROLAND LIVING ROOM: SAME:
Decorated in a modern Southern California style, there are glass shelves holding books and other collectible items along one wall of the living room. Sonny is trying to watch television while also appeasing Amanda.
AMANDA
I just don’t understand why you can’t make your
appointments for later in the day.
SONNY
Some things can’t be avoided, Amanda. It was only
a couple minutes.
AMANDA
I still don’t want them here alone. Tommy’s too
young to take care of himself, and Lord knows what
that girl is getting them into.
SONNY
That girl is your daughter, Mandy. Don’t you think
it’s time
AMANDA
It’s time she learned some manners, or else she’s
out of here.
SONNY
Honey, if we just let this cool down, I’m sure she’ll
listen this time.
AMANDA
I’m not going to some social worker bimbo again,
Sonny. We are good parents.
(Joanne comes in front door)
What do you think you’re doing? Where are you
going? Excuse me!
SONNY
Answer your mother, Joanne.
JOANNE
Out of my way.
AMANDA
You don’t talk to me like that, you hear me?
(pushes Joanne)
You hear me?
JOANNE
(pushes Amanda)
Loud and clear, mommy.
Sonny steps between Joanne and Amanda.
SONNY
Keep your hands to yourself, girl.
AMANDA
No, I’ve got this one, Sonny.
Sonny steps back but keeps a close eye on the situation.
AMANDA (cont’d)
You want trouble? Hm?
Joanne tries to push her way through to the kitchen, but Amanda holds her ground. The two shove each other some more, each turn getting more violent than the last. Joanne finally ends the shoving match by shoving Amanda into the glass shelves. Joanne then heads towards the refrigerator for something to eat as Sonny helps Amanda.
INT: BOYS’ ROOM: SAME:
With the crash, Tommy wakes with a start but is silent. Brian waits, motionless. The fight continues in the other part of the house, and Brian hurries to get Tommy’s shoes on.
BRIAN
All right; let’s go.
TOMMY
(fumbling with shoes)
I thought Jo was coming with us.
BRIAN
She’s going to meet us later, but we have to get out of
here first. Here.
Brian helps Tommy put his jacket on then drops the two knapsacks out the window. The fight goes on.
TOMMY
Wait; I almost forgot.