RECOVERY

 

                    written by Charles Deemer

 

 

 

                                                             FADE IN:

 

 

          INT. RETIREMENT CENTER - THERAPY ROOM -  EVENING

 

          A nurse, MOLLY, is helping an OLD WOMAN walk when another

          NURSE comes up.

 

          Molly, who came of age in the late sixties and early

          seventies, is slender and (despite the white uniform) a

          little bohemian-looking in her wire frame glasses.  She

          looks every bit of the folk singer she still manages to be

          in her off-duty life.

 

                                          NURSE

                         Sorry I'm late.

                              (to the old woman)

                         Mary, look at you!  You're doing

                         great.

 

          Molly and the other nurse exchange places.

 

                                          NURSE

                              (to Molly)

                         I hope I'm not screwing you up.

                         Tonight's the night, isn't it?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't start til nine, and I'm

                         doing gallery row before then.

 

                                          NURSE

                         Good luck!  Sorry I'll miss you.

 

          Molly waves thanks and is gone.

 


 

                                                                        2.

 

 

 

          INT. RETIREMENT CENTER - NURSE'S LOUNGE - EVENING

 

          Molly is just finishing changing from her uniform to

          civilian dress (on the bohemian side) when the HEAD NURSE

          enters.

 

                                          HEAD NURSE

                         Good, I caught you before you left.

                         The board approved your promotion.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         That's great.

 

                                          HEAD NURSE

                         Now if we don't lose you to

                         Nashville . . .  your concert's

                         tonight, isn't it?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Playing in a bar is not a concert,

                         and Nashville doesn't like folk

                         music.  I'm running late - thanks

                         for the good news.

 

          And she's gone.

 

 

          EXT. DOWNTOWN CITY - ART GALLERY - NIGHT

 

          It's "First Thursday" night, a time when art galleries open

          their doors to an habitual throng of gallery-goers.  Foot

          traffic is considerable along gallery row in the city (we'll

          call it Minneapolis).

 

 

          INT. ART GALLERY - NIGHT

 

          The atmosphere inside a gallery is as festive as a major

          opening, helped along by the generous offerings of wine and

          cheese.

 

          Standing before an abstract painting are Molly and her best

          friend, ANN.  The latter, too, grew up as a part of the Love

          Generation.

 

          Ann, who has put on considerable weight over the years,

          flaunts her Earth-motherliness in bright colors and

          flamboyant dress.

 

          Each woman has a glass of wine; Ann is nibbling on cheese

          and crackers.

 

 


 

                                                                        3.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         My Mary learned to walk again

                         today.  It was incredible to see.

                              (studying the painting)

                         I don't like this at all.

 

                                          ANN

                         They can put whatever they want on

                         the walls - the food's always

                         great.  I'm getting more wine - you

                         ready?

 

          Molly finishes her drink.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I have to go.

 

                                          ANN

                         You don't start til nine, do you?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I have to pick up my guitar and run

                         an errand.  Are you going to come

                         by?

 

                                          ANN

                         I wouldn't miss it for the world.

                         I haven't heard you in ages.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You hear me all the time.

 

                                          ANN

                         I mean, with a real audience and

                         everything.  It's been over a year.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Try almost two.

 

                                          ANN

                         See what I mean?  Of course, I'll

                         be there.  Maybe not til the last

                         set, I have a pile of papers to

                         grade.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'll look for you.

 

          They embrace, and Molly is gone.

 


 

                                                                        4.

 

 

 

          EXT. MOLLY'S APARTMENT - STREET - NIGHT

 

          A cab pulls up in front of Molly's apartment building.  She

          gets out and talks to the driver.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'll just be a minute.

 

 

          INT. MOLLY'S APT - NIGHT

 

          Molly comes in, turning on the light.  Her apartment is

          decorated with sixties era rock posters and psychedelic art.

 

          She punches her answering machine and, while it plays,

          fetches her guitar from the adjacent room and returns to

          listen.

 

                                          ANSWERING MACHINE

                         Hi, Molly, it's me.  Great party!

                         You give me the worst hangovers.

                         I'll try you later. . . .

                         (beep) . . . Molly, It's Barbara.

                         I got a very strange call from some

                         guy named Bruce today, who says

                         he's an old friend of yours.  He

                         saw my name on our album and got me

                         through information.  I don't

                         know -  something about him struck

                         me wrong, so I didn't tell him

                         anything.  Give me a call, would

                         you?  I don't know why, but he

                         really upset me.  Thanks.  Oh - the

                         party was great.

 

          The messages are over.

 

          The latter message has stopped Molly in her tracks.  She

          stares at the machine, as if wishing the last message would

          go away.

 

          Then, with a deep breath, she's out of there.

 

 

          EXT. ART GALLERY - NIGHT

 

          Ann and several other women come out of a gallery.  Ann is

          stuffing food from inside into her purse.

 

 


 

                                                                        5.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          WOMAN #1

                         How about going up to the Rainbow

                         next?

 

                                          WOMAN #2

                         Everyone agree?

 

                                          ANN

                         I'm going home.  I have a pile of

                         papers to grade.

 

                                          WOMAN #2

                         Call me tomorrow?

 

                                          ANN

                         Sure.  Molly's playing at the Goose

                         Hollow tonight - I'm going to try

                         and make the last set.

 

                                          WOMAN #1

                         I read something in the Weekly

                         about that.

 

          Ann starts to move off.

 

                                          ANN

                         Be there or be square!

 

                                          WOMAN #2

                         Is folksinging coming back?

 

                                          ANN

                         It never went anywhere - just the

                         audiences did!

 

          It's the curtain line she's been looking for, and with a

          flamboyant gesture, Ann is on her way.

 

 

          EXT. ANN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

 

          Ann comes up the steps to her apartment building and unlocks

          the main door.

 

 

          INT. ANN'S APT BLDG - HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          She unlocks the door to her apartment.  She hesitates a

          moment, as if sensing  that something isn't right.  Then she

          enters.

 


 

                                                                        6.

 

 

 

          INT. ANN'S APT - NIGHT

 

          She comes into the apartment and turns on the light.

          Bright, almost day-glo, colors fill the apartment and jump

          out at us.

 

                                          BRUCE

                              (O.S.)

                         Where the hell you been, Annie?

 

          Ann jumps.  Her hand goes to her chest.

 

          BRUCE, who has been seated on the sofa, stands up and enters

          the front foyer.  He's a well-built rugged type in his

          forties; his physique masks considerable intelligence.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Don't you recognize me?

 

                                          ANN

                         Bruce.  How'd you get in here?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I didn't get where I've been by

                         letting a few locks stop me.

                         You've gotten fat.

 

                                          ANN

                         Wonderful to see you, too.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I'm looking for Heather.  Or Molly,

                         as she calls herself now.

 

          Ann is quickly recovering, thinking on her feet, trying to

          wiggle her way out of the confrontation she's sure is

          coming.

 

                                          ANN

                         I'd love to chat, but I'm running

                         late.  So if you don't mind- . . .

 

          As she tries to escort him out, Bruce grabs her by the arm,

          hurting her.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I do mind.  Where's Heather?

 

                                          ANN

                         You're hurting me.

 

 


 

                                                                        7.

 

 

 

 

 

          He lets go.

 

                                          ANN

                         I didn't know you were out.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Too bad, right?  I could've gotten

                         life, for all you care.  So tell me

                         how to find Heather, and I'll be on

                         my way.

 

                                          ANN

                         We're not close any more.

 

          He grabs her again.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I know goddamn well you know where

                         she is.

 

          Ann, for all her size, is terrified of him.

 

 

          INT. CLUB - NIGHT

 

          Goose Hollow is a bar with the atmosphere of a sixties

          coffee house.

 

          Molly is finger-picking guitar and singing from a small

          stage, to scattered tables of customers.  She's not bad at

          all.

 

                                          MOLLY

                              (singing, traditional)

                         Gonna lay down my old guitar

                         Lay down my old guitar

                         Wish I could strap it to my side

                         And take it along with me

 

          Molly finishes the final chorus and ends.  Scattered

          applause, some polite, some very enthusiastic.

 

 

          EXT. CLUB - STREET - NIGHT

 

          A cab pulls up in front of Goose Hollow and Ann gets out.

          She is holding a handkerchief to her mouth.

 


 

                                                                        8.

 

 

 

          INT. CLUB - NIGHT

 

          Molly is taking a break.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Thank you, you're a wonderful

                         audience.  I'll be back in ten or

                         fifteen minutes.

 

          She steps off the stage, moving to a table of friends.

 

          Ann comes in, looking around, and finds Molly.

 

 

          INT. CLUB - AT THE TABLE - NIGHT

 

          Molly has just joined her friends when Ann comes up.  The

          handkerchief at her mouth is bloody.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Ann--!

 

          When Ann talks, she reveals a lost front tooth.

 

                                          ANN

                         Bruce is out - he's looking for

                         you.

 

          Molly embraces Ann, comforting her.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         We're going to the police.

 

                                          ANN

                              (privately)

                         You can't afford to get involved.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Don't be ridiculous.

 

 

          INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT

 

          Molly is sitting in a waiting area.  Seeing someone coming,

          she stands.

 

          A police officer escorts Ann to the waiting area.

 

 


 

                                                                        9.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          POLICE OFFICER

                         We have her statement.  Is there

                         someplace you two can stay tonight?

                         Where he wouldn't know about to

                         find you?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         In other words, we're not getting

                         protection.  You're too busy.

 

                                          POLICE OFFICER

                         Ma'am, our resources are too

                         limited to-- . . .

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Fine.  Let's get out of here.

 

          As they start away, Ann turns to say something.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Ann, forget it.

 

          Ann does.  They continue on silently, cynically accepting

          that the police can't help them.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL - FRONT DESK - NIGHT

 

          Molly is signing in.  Ann waits behind her, swollen but

          cleaned up now.

 

          Getting the key, Molly leads the way to the elevators.

 

                                          ANN

                         You can't hide from him forever.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm not hiding.  I'm buying time to

                         think.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL ROOM - TABLE - DAY

 

          Molly and Ann sit over coffee the next day.  There is

          tension in the silence between them.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm going to leave town for a

                         while.

 

 


 

                                                                        10.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ANN

                         If you run away-- . . .

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Somehow or other, he must've heard

                         the album, recognized me, and

                         tracked me down that way.  I can't

                         let him terrorize every friend I

                         have.  Sooner or later, he'll hurt

                         somebody bad enough to find me.

 

                                          ANN

                         You can't hide from him the rest of

                         your life.  And where would you go?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I know a guy in Oregon.  He's

                         invited me to visit.

 

          This is news to Ann, whose reaction shows it.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I met him at the workshop in

                         Colorado last summer.  We've been

                         corresponding.  I told you about

                         him.

 

                                          ANN

                         Fred?  That guy?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Frank.

 

                                          ANN

                         He's been writing you, and you

                         didn't tell me?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         What are you, my mother?

                         Seriously, I'm sure I could crash

                         at his place for a while.  Maybe if

                         Bruce finds out I'm out of town,

                         he'll go away.  I'm ready for a

                         vacation anyway.

 

                                          ANN

                         Some vacation.  You can't just put

                         your life on hold because he's

                         back.

 

 


 

                                                                        11.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't know what else to do.

 

          There's a silence.

 

                                          ANN

                         Let's set a trap for him.  Send him

                         back to prison where he belongs.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         He never belonged in prison.

 

                                          ANN

                         How can you still defend him?  I'm

                         lucky I only lost a tooth.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You never approved of Bruce, fine,

                         and I'm certainly not justifying

                         what he did to you.  I'm saying he

                         didn't deserve all the time he got

                         for having grandiose ideas of

                         overthrowing the government.  He's

                         a victim of the paranoia of the

                         sixties.

 

                                          ANN

                         You're forgetting something.  He

                         probably blames you.  That's why

                         he's here.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I know.  I'm afraid of him, Ann . .

                         . . I'm terrified . . .

 

          Ann reaches over the table and takes her hand.

 

 

          EXT. RENTAL CAR LOT - DAY

 

          Molly has just rented a car.

 

          A second car pulls into the lot, driven by Ann.  She gets

          out and goes directly to the trunk.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Any problem?

 

 


 

                                                                        12.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ANN

                         I took three buses to get to where

                         I rented this, just to be on the

                         safe side.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         And no sign of him?

 

                                          ANN

                         Nope.

 

          They transfer Molly's luggage from the trunk of Ann's rented

          car to the trunk of Molly's rented car.

 

                                          ANN

                         I'm spending the day at the lake.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Good for you.

 

          The bags are moved.  Molly and Ann embrace.

 

                                          ANN

                         I'll miss you.  Call me often.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You go right to the police if he

                         comes by again.

 

                                          ANN

                         No problem!

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Actually I decided there's a good

                         side to all this.  I really do need

                         a break from work.

 

                                          ANN

                         Always the infernal optimist.  How

                         far you plan to drive today?

                         When's Frank expecting you?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Frank won't know I'm coming until

                         he listens to his answering

                         machine.

 

                                          ANN

                         You're leaving before telling him?

 

 


 

                                                                        13.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         If he can't put me up, I'll think

                         of something else.  I have no plans

                         - that's the beauty of it!  This is

                         the first vacation I've taken out

                         of town in years.  I'm going to

                         enjoy it.

 

          She gets into the car.

 

                                          ANN

                         Bullshit.  This has us both scared

                         to death.  Call me when you get

                         settled tonight.  I'm sure I'll be

                         home by nine.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Maybe not:  if you meet a mermale,

                         honey, who knows when you'll get

                         home?

 

          She starts the engine and pulls away.

 

                                          ANN

                         Love you!  Call me!

 

 

          INT./EXT. A SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY

 

          as Molly heads out of the city in her rented car, driving

          west.

 

          At first, she looks tense as she drives, frequently checking

          the rearview mirror, but the more the miles pile up, the

          more she is able to relax.

 

          Finally, on the open highway, she is able to turn on the

          radio and sing along with a song she likes.  It's beginning

          to feel a little like a vacation.

 

 

          INT./EXT. HIGHWAY - CAR - NIGHT

 

          Molly's car drives along the highway.

 

          A motel is ahead, and she slows down for it.  Before she

          gets to the entrance, she passes a stranded MOTORIST,

          standing beside his raised hood.

 

 


 

                                                                        14.

 

 

 

 

 

          As Molly passes, he waves frantically at her, looking a wee

          bit crazed, but she passes him and goes ahead to turn into

          the motel.

 

 

          INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

 

          Molly has just dialed Ann's number from the motel room.  She

          gets an answering machine.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Ann, it's me.  I'm worried that

                         you're not home.  Mermales don't

                         exist, we both know that.  So where

                         the hell are you?  Call me the

                         minute you get in.  Damn, I have to

                         get the number.  I'll call you

                         right back.

 

          She hangs up.  She's very worried about her friend.

 

 

          INT. MOTEL ROOM - LATER - NIGHT

 

          The lights are out, and Molly is asleep.  The phone rings.

 

          Molly turns on the bedside lamp and answers it.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Hello?  Ann?

 

 

          INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION

 

          Ann is calling from Barbara's house.  BARBARA, a woman in

          her late thirties, stands beside her.

 

                                          ANN

                         It's me.  I just got your message.

                         I'm spending the night at

                         Barbara's.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         What happened?

 

                                          ANN

                         Nothing.  My nerves got to me.  I

                         needed company.

 

 


 

                                                                        15.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Has Bruce shown up again?

 

                                          ANN

                         No sign of him.  No news is good

                         news, I guess.  Did you get ahold

                         of Frank?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Not yet.  Have you told Barbara

                         about me and Bruce?

 

                                          ANN

                         Of course not.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Thanks.

 

                                          ANN

                         Molly, this is nuts.  You don't

                         even know where you'll be staying.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm fine, really I am.  I'm great.

                         I just worry about you two.

 

                                          ANN

                         Don't.  If he shows his face again,

                         we're going straight to the police.

                         I think he left town.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I hope you're right.  I'll check in

                         with you tomorrow.

 

          She hangs up.

 

          Before getting into bed, she hears something outside.  She

          turns out the bedside lamp and moves to the front window,

          hiding behind the drapes.

 

          She carefully parts the drapes and looks outside.

 

 

          EXT. MOTEL - PARKING LOT - NIGHT

 

          Outside, the motorist who was having trouble earlier is

          working on his car, trying to see under a slowly fading

          flashlight.

 

          A whiskey bottle is balanced on the front fender.

 


 

                                                                        16.

 

 

 

          INT. MOTEL

 

          Molly closes the drapes and goes back to bed.

 

 

          EXT. MOTEL - PARKING LOT - DAY

 

          Molly comes out to her car.  Beside her rental is the car of

          the stranded motorist, and Molly notices that the man is

          asleep on the back seat.

 

          She gets into her car, making an effort to be quiet so as

          not to wake the motorist.  She starts the engine, backs up,

          and is on her way again.

 

 

          EXT./INT. HIGHWAY - CAR - DAY

 

          Molly is back on the road, singing along with the radio.

 

 

          EXT. MOTEL - PARKING LOT - DAY

 

          The disheveled motorist climbs out of the car, looking like

          a hungover wreck.

 

          Across the way, a CLEANING WOMAN notices him.  She starts

          toward him, carrying her mop like a weapon.

 

                                          CLEANING WOMAN

                         You get out of here!

 

          The motorist regards her as more nuisance than threat but he

          still makes sure he is behind the wheel before she arrives.

 

          Now a MANAGER from the front desk has come out to see what

          the ruckus is about.

 

          The motorist starts the car and starts backing up.  The

          cleaning woman is heading toward his car with the mop.

 

          The motorist speeds out of the lot as the woman shakes her

          fist at him.

 

 

          INT. MOTORIST'S CAR - DAY

 

          He's relieved to be out of there.

 

          He reaches under the front seat as he drives and pulls out a

          pint bottle.  He skillfully opens it with one hand and takes

          a nip.

 


 

                                                                        17.

 

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

 

          The motorist's car moves along the same highway in the same

          direction that Molly traveled.

 

 

          EXT. SMALL TOWN - STREET - DAY

 

          Molly's car is parked at a phone booth along Main Street in

          a small town.

 

 

          INT. PHONE BOOTH

 

          Molly finally has reached Frank.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No, that's wonderful!  Frank, I'm

                         so happy for you. . . . I'm just

                         surprised.  I mean, I don't

                         remember you telling me you were

                         engaged. . . . Well, I'm taking my

                         time, you know?, just relaxing and,

                         well, taking my time. . . . Of

                         course, I'll call you the minute I

                         arrive. . . . Congratulations

                         again, Frank.  I'm very happy for

                         you. . . . Bye.

 

          She hangs up.

 

          For the first time, she realizes she is on the road with no

          place to go and no plan.

 

          She also realizes disappointment that Frank has married,

          ending the long-distance fantasy of having a romantic

          relationship with him.

 

          She gets back into her car.

 

 

          INT. CAR - DAY

 

          She starts the engine but doesn't move off.  She's thinking.

          And thinking.

 

          Finally, as if suddenly inspired, she peels out.

 


 

                                                                        18.

 

 

 

          INT. CAR - DAY

 

          As if making some kind of decision, she turns the radio up

          louder than before.  She's trying very hard to be foot loose

          and fancy free - but only partially succeeding at it.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT

 

          Molly's car moves along a deserted highway.

 

 

          INT. CAR - NIGHT

 

          Molly looks deep in thought.  The radio music is soft.

 

          Suddenly the car begins to shake - she's blown a front tire.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - THE CAR - NIGHT

 

          Molly manages to get the car to the side of the road and

          stops.

 

 

          INT. CAR - NIGHT

 

          Molly takes a deep breath, fully understanding her

          predicament.

 

                                          MOLLY

                              (under her breath)

                         Goddamn you, Frank . . .

 

          As if surprised by what she just heard herself say, she puts

          one hand to her mouth, stifling amusement at herself.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - THE CAR - NIGHT

 

          She gets out of the car and opens the trunk.  Looking inside

          in the darkness, she can't see a thing.

 

          Molly looks worried.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER - NIGHT

 

          Molly's car is still parked along the road.  The trunk door

          is still up.

 

          In the distance, the motorist's car approaches.

 


 

                                                                        19.

 

 

 

          INT. MOLLY'S CAR - NIGHT

 

          Molly sits behind the steering wheel, waiting.  The

          approaching headlights get her attention, and she gets out.

 

 

          INT. MOTORIST'S CAR - NIGHT

 

          The motorist sees the car ahead and slows down.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT

 

          The motorist's car parks behind Molly's car.  She approaches

          the car as he gets out.

 

          From now on, the motorist is called by his name, which is

          ROGER.  Roger is tall and slender and, when sober, a

          goodlooking man.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I remember you.  You turned into

                         the motel without helping me.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Pardon me?

 

                                          ROGER

                         You wouldn't help me last night.

                         See there?  What goes around, comes

                         around.

 

          Molly has recognized him, too, but doesn't want to admit it.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You must have me confused with

                         someone else.  I have a flat

                         and-- . . . .

 

                                          ROGER

                         You're lucky I don't hold grudges.

 

          He moves to the trunk.  Molly joins him, and they both stare

          into the dark compartment, which is only moderately lighted

          by the headlights behind them.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I don't see a jack.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Don't you have one?

 

 


 

                                                                        20.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                         I loaned mine to a friend in

                         Chicago.  I can give you a ride til

                         we find a gas station that's open.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You're driving without a jack?

                         Isn't that a tiny bit reckless?

 

                                          ROGER

                         Well, I don't have the flat, do I?

 

          He starts back to his own car.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Wait a minute!

 

          She isn't sure what to do.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't feel right leaving my bags

                         here.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I got lots of room.  You coming?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Yes, I'm coming.  I'll get my bags.

 

          She moves off as Roger follows to help.

 

 

          INT. ROGER'S CAR - NIGHT

 

          Molly's bags are piled in the back seat.  They've been

          silent for a while.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You're coming from Chicago?

 

                                          ROGER

                         That's my home.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Where you headed?

 

                                          ROGER

                         Vancouver, Washington.

 

 


 

                                                                        21.

 

 

 

 

 

          He reaches under the seat and gets the bottle.  He takes a

          nip.  Then he offers the bottle to Molly.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No thanks.  You always drink when

                         you drive?

 

                                          ROGER

                         I always drink, period.  That's why

                         I'm going to Vancouver.  The VA has

                         a treatment center there.  And it's

                         very far away from Chicago.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You're going into treatment?

 

                                          ROGER

                         This stuff is killing me.

 

          Having said so, he takes another nip.

 

          Molly looks out the window, wondering what kind of nut she

          has hooked up with.  She snuggles against the door and

          closes her eyes.

 

 

          EXT. SMALL TOWN - NIGHT

 

          Roger's car pulls to the curb in a small town.  Down the

          street, a gas station is open under bright lights.

 

 

          INT. CAR

 

          Molly has fallen asleep, and Roger gently wakes her.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Mmm . . .?

 

                                          ROGER

                         We're here.  Your gas station is

                         open.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Oh . . .

 

                                          ROGER

                         I'd like to make you an offer.

 

 


 

                                                                        22.

 

 

 

 

 

          Molly is suddenly awake, thinking the worst.

 

                                          ROGER

                         That didn't sound right.  Listen,

                         I'm really tired and need some

                         sleep.  But I need to make time,

                         too.  If you'll come with me to

                         Vancouver, I've figured everything

                         out - how you can come back and get

                         your car and everything.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I rented it.

 

                                          ROGER

                         That's even better.  Then you can

                         turn it in and save some money.

                         Drive with me as far as Vancouver

                         and I'll give you my car.  You

                         know, like for wages.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         That's crazy.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I won't need it for seven months,

                         maybe longer.  I'm serious here.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT

 

          The car is parked along the road, as the discussion

          continues.

 

          Then Molly and Roger get out of the car, exchanging seats.

 

          With Molly behind the wheel, they are back on the road

          again.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER - DAWN

 

          The car continues along the highway near sunrise.

 

 

          INT. CAR

 

          Molly is still driving, looking very tired.

 

 


 

                                                                        23.

 

 

 

 

 

          Roger, asleep in the seat beside her, stirs.  He coughs and

          sits up.  He reaches under her seat, looking for the bottle,

          still coughing.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You all right?

 

          He finds the bottle.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Do you always wake up like this?

 

                                          ROGER

                              (coughing)

                         I'll be fine in a minute.

 

          He takes a swig.  He clears his throat and takes a second

          swig.  Then he returns the bottle.

 

                                          ROGER

                         You tired?

 

          Molly hesitates, uncertain about his driving and drinking.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I'm a safer driver with a little

                         booze in me than with the shakes,

                         if that's what you're worried

                         about.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I am tired.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - SUNRISE

 

          The car pulls to the side of the road, and they get out and

          exchange places.

 

          And the car is back on the road again.

 

 

          INT. CAR - DAY

 

          Roger is still driving when Molly wakes up on the seat

          beside him.  He looks better than we've seen him, more awake

          and sober-looking and relaxed.

 

 


 

                                                                        24.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                         Good afternoon.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Hi.  How long did I sleep?

 

                                          ROGER

                         As long as you needed, I guess.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Where are we?

 

                                          ROGER

                         Almost out of Montana, almost into

                         Idaho.  God's country.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

 

          And God's country it is, as the car travels a highway cut

          between canyons in the Rocky Mountains.

 

 

          INT. CAFE - DAY

 

          They are finishing up a meal in a small cafe.  Roger is

          drinking a beer, Molly coffee.

 

                                          ROGER

                         So I figure the third time's the

                         charm.  The VA program has the

                         reputation of being one of the

                         toughest in the country.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm not sure what that means.

 

                                          ROGER

                         In terms of not putting up with

                         your shit.  Alcoholics drink to

                         avoid dealing with their feelings.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Really?  I thought that described

                         men in general.

 

 


 

                                                                        25.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                         Touche.  Anyway, I do 28-days as an

                         in-patient, then transfer to six

                         months in the Domiciliary.  I

                         figure if I'm not dry in seven

                         months, I'll never be dry.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         It must be costing you a small

                         fortune.

 

                                          ROGER

                         It's not costing me a cent.  I'm a

                         veteran.  That's one advantage of

                         being male, I guess.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Believe it or not, I'm a vet

                         myself.  Four years in the Air

                         Force.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Really?  You don't look the type.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I joined right after high school,

                         thinking I'd make a career of it.

 

                                          ROGER

                         What happened?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I met my husband.  Ex-husband.

 

                                          ROGER

                         He didn't approve of women in the

                         military?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         He didn't approve of anyone in the

                         military.  He was an activist

                         against the Vietnam War.  Among

                         other things.

 

          Roger looks at her but lets this pass without comment.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

 

          The car continues west, now out of the Rockies and into

          rolling hills, the Palousse farmland of northern Idaho.

 


 

                                                                        26.

 

 

 

          INT. CAR

 

          Molly is driving now.  They are entering a small town.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I need to stop at a phone booth.

 

                                          ROGER

                         You ready to eat?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Sure.

 

 

          EXT. TOWN - MAIN STREET - DAY

 

          They park along Main Street and enter a cafe.

 

 

          INT. CAFE

 

          Roger gets a booth while Molly goes to the pay phone.

 

 

          INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION

 

          Ann is taking the phone call from her office at a community

          college.

 

                                          ANN

                         He's married!  So what are you

                         going to do?  Where are you going

                         to stay?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm taking a guy to the VA in

                         Vancouver, Washington.  He's giving

                         me his car for wages.

 

                                          ANN

                         What are you talking about?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         It's a long story, I only have

                         change for three minutes.  I just

                         wanted you to know I'm fine.  What

                         about you?  Has Bruce shown up

                         again?

 

                                          ANN

                         No sign of him.

 

 


 

                                                                        27.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Good.  Maybe it's over.

 

                                          ANN

                         More reason to come right home.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I think I'm having a good time - I

                         really do!  Sort of like an

                         adventure.

 

                                          ANN

                         Molly, I-- . . .

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I can't talk now.  I'll call soon,

                         bye.

 

          She hangs up.

 

 

          EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT

 

          Roger is driving.  Molly, napping, stirs and sits up,

          looking out the window.

 

                                          ROGER

                         "It's a big river!"  We picked up

                         the Columbia River.  We're only a

                         few hours away.  I can't check in

                         until tomorrow morning.  We can

                         spend the night in Portland.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         This is really something, what

                         you're doing, isn't it?

 

                                          ROGER

                         I hope so.  I mean, it's come down

                         to a matter of life or death.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I've noticed you're not drinking as

                         much.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Good company.  We'll get two rooms

                         at a motel, how's that?  On me.

 

 


 

                                                                        28.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You don't have to pay for my room.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I don't think I would've made it

                         without you.  I'm serious.  I

                         really needed company.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I feel like I've slept most of the

                         way.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Do it as a favor to me.  It would

                         mean a lot.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Then thank you.

 

 

          EXT. MOTEL - NIGHT

 

          They are carrying bags into adjoining rooms.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I'd invite you over for coffee but

                         I'm bushed.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         See you in the morning.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Sleep tight.

 

 

          INT. MOTEL - NIGHT

 

          Molly is dialing a number on the motel's phone.

 

 

          INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION

 

          Ann answers from her apartment, with Bruce standing beside

          her, listening in.

 

                                          ANN

                         Hello?

 

 


 

                                                                        29.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm in Portland.

 

                                          ANN

                         Molly, I-- . . .

 

          Bruce takes the phone.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Hello there, "Molly."  Molly

                         McGuire, couldn't you do any better

                         than that?  You're not even Irish.

 

          Molly is stunned to hear the voice of her husband.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I get the idea you're avoiding me.

                         Why would you want to do that?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Bruce, if you hurt her again, I'm

                         going to-- . . .

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I lost my temper, and I'm sorry,

                         okay?  I need to talk to you.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Then talk.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         In person.  But I'm here, and

                         you're in Portland.

 

          Molly doesn't reply.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I could fly there tonight.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         We have nothing to talk about.  And

                         you have no right to terrorize my

                         friends and-- . . .

 

                                          BRUCE

                         We have unfinished business,

                         "Angela X."  Heather, Molly,

                         whoever the hell you are.

                                          (MORE)

 

 


 

                                                                        30.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          BRUCE (cont'd)

                         I guess I don't know you at all,

                         married or  not.  We're still

                         married, aren't we?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I have nothing more to say to you.

                         Let me talk to Ann.

 

                                          BRUCE

                              (sudden anger)

                         I come out of the bank, and you're

                         gone!  You disappear!  I didn't

                         fire a shot but I'm the only one

                         left alive to take the rap!

 

                                          MOLLY

                              (softly, painfully)

                         I'm truly sorry for what happened.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         If you'd just been waiting in the

                         car, like you were supposed to be .

                         . . .

 

          She doesn't reply.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         It's all I've thought about for the

                         last twenty years.  I want to know

                         why you weren't there with the car.

                         I want to know why you disappeared

                         and let me take the rap for

                         everybody.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Please give me Ann.

 

          He hangs up.

 

 

          INT. MOTEL - NIGHT

 

          Molly is panic-stricken.  She dials the operator.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Yes, I need the number of the

                         police in Minneapolis.

 


 

                                                                        31.

 

 

 

          INT. ANN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Bruce hangs up.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Relax.  I'm out of here.  When she

                         calls again, remind her that I'm

                         right behind her.

 

          He starts for the door.

 

                                          ANN

                         Why are you doing this?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Because she sent me to prison.

                         That's what it amounts to.

 

                                          ANN

                         You were guilty.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Not of half of what they pinned on

                         me.  And she was guilty herself.

 

                                          ANN

                         She never went along with the

                         violence part.  She told me she was

                         going to leave all of you.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Bullshit.  She could've left

                         whenever she wanted.

 

                                          ANN

                         She has a new life, a good life.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Her new life is at my expense,

                         Annie.  At my expense.

 

          He walks out the door.  Ann is relieved but also disturbed,

          she knows how obsessive and vindictive he can be.

 

 

          INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

 

          Molly has called Ann first thing in the morning.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Thank God, you're all right.

 


 

                                                                        32.

 

 

 

          INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION

 

                                          ANN

                         Take the first plane home.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I feel safer moving.  I'll be in

                         touch.

 

                                          ANN

                         When does it end?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't know what else to do right

                         now.  I really don't.

 

 

          EXT. VA MEDICAL CENTER - VANCOUVER - DAY

 

          The car pulls into the VA Medical Center in Vancouver,

          Washington.  It stops at a front gate, where a GATE GUARD

          comes out, bending to talk to the driver.

 

          The guard waves the car in.

 

 

          INT. CAR - DAY

 

          Roger is driving.  He's following signs to the intake

          building.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I really can't take your car.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Of course, you can.  It's not doing

                         anyone any good sitting in the

                         parking lot for seven months.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Why don't you sell it?

 

                                          ROGER

                         No time.  Why don't you sell it?

                         If you have a guilty conscience,

                         send me half the money.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         All the money.

 

 


 

                                                                        33.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                         What do I have to do to convince

                         you that you probably saved my

                         life?

 

          He has pulled into a parking space in front of the intake

          building.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I mean that.  Let me express my

                         thanks.

 

          He gets out.

 

 

          EXT. INTAKE BUILDING - CAR - DAY

 

          Roger unlocks the trunk to get his bags.  Molly gets out and

          joins him.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'll help you carry these inside.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Appreciate it.  For you.

 

          He hands her the keys. They head for the entrance.

 

 

          INT. INTAKE BUILDING - DAY

 

          They come into the intake area.

 

          A scruffy assortment of veterans is sitting and standing

          around the area, some in line at the intake counter.  Some

          wear portions of military garb.  A good many have facial

          hair, quite a few wear their long hair in pony tails.

 

          Roger gets in line, with Molly beside him.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I can manage from here.  Thanks

                         again for everything.

 

          Molly sets down the bags.  After an awkward moment of

          hesitation, she gives him a hug.

 

 


 

                                                                        34.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Good luck to you.  I think this

                         takes a lot of courage.

 

                                          ROGER

                         You can write me if you like.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I will.  I'll need your address

                         anyway to send money after I sell

                         the car.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I think they have a brochure with

                         the address on it.

 

          He looks around and finds an information rack.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Over there.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Great.  Well - be good to yourself.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Better late than never.

 

          Molly smiles and moves away, still feeling out of place.

 

 

          INT. BROCHURE RACK - DAY

 

          She finds a brochure about the treatment center, another

          about the Domiciliary, and takes both.

 

          Leaving, she turns and waves to Roger one more time.  He

          waves back.

 

          So do some of the other vets.

 

 

          EXT. INTAKE BUILDING - DAY

 

          Molly gets into the car.

 


 

                                                                        35.

 

 

 

          INT. CAR - DAY

 

          The impact of what has just happened is getting to her.  She

          has no idea what her next move is.

 

          She starts up the engine.

 

 

          INT./EXT. PORTLAND - A SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY

 

          Molly spends the day sightseeing in Portland, trying to

          figure out what to do next.

 

          She window shops in the downtown area.

 

          She walks along waterfront park.  She goes out on the dock

          at a marina.

 

          She has a glass of white wine at a sidewalk cafe.  Finally,

          she checks into a downtown hotel with a view of the river.

 

 

          INT./EXT. HOTEL ROOM - DECK - DAY

 

          Molly is sitting at a small table on her deck, sipping a

          glass of wine.  A bottle is in an ice bucket on the table.

 

          She's reading through the brochures she picked up at the VA.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

 

          Molly is stretched out on the bed, thinking.  She picks up

          and again reads the brochure about the treatment center at

          the VA.

 

 

          INT. ANN'S APT - NIGHT

 

          Ann is on the phone with Barbara listening in, her ear

          pressed close to Ann's.

 

                                          ANN

                         A center for alcoholics!  Are you

                         out of your mind?

 

 

          INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION

 

          Molly is stretched out on the hotel bed.

 

 


 

                                                                        36.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         It's thirty days in a very secure

                         institution.  After that, I have

                         the option to continue for up to

                         six months at a domiciliary.

 

                                          ANN

                              (to Barbara)

                         She wants to enter a booze farm.

                              (to Molly)

                         You've been drinking, that's the

                         problem.

 

          Molly, in fact, is still sipping wine.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Think of it as an adventure.  Very

                         few women go through the program.

 

                                          ANN

                         Oh, great!

                              (to Barbara)

                         She'll be the only woman there,

                         living with a hundred winos.

                              (to Molly)

                         Call me tomorrow when you're sober.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         It's not a prison, Ann.  I can

                         leave any time I want.  In the

                         meantime, it's a place where Bruce

                         can't reach me.

 

                                          ANN

                         I'm flying out of here tomorrow.

                         Don't you do a thing til I get

                         there.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You're wasting your time.  It's

                         free for vets, it's here, it's

                         perfect.

 

                                          ANN

                         I'm on my way!

 

 

          EXT. AIRPORT - DAY

 

          A jet plane is landing at the airport.

 


 

                                                                        37.

 

 

 

          INT. AIRPORT - TERMINAL - DAY

 

          Passengers are coming in.

 

          Molly and Ann spot each other about the same time.  They

          exchange a quick embrace.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         If you came here to change my mind,

                         you're wasting your time.

 

                                          ANN

                         I need a drink.

 

 

          INT. AIRPORT - LOUNGE - DAY

 

          The WAITRESS is bringing them fresh drinks, taking away the

          old glasses.  They've been there a while.

 

                                          ANN

                         I finally figured this out.  You're

                         just doing this cause it's a VA

                         benefit.  You're still sorry you

                         weren't a lifer.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I can't think of any reason not to

                         do it under the circumstances.

 

                                          ANN

                         Because you're not an alcoholic,

                         how's that?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Well, I can pretend I am.

 

          As a matter of fact, both women are tipsy, drinking through

          the afternoon at the airport.

 

 

          INT. VA MEDICAL CENTER - INTAKE BUILDING - DAY

 

          Ann is accompanying Molly through the intake line, much as

          Molly accompanied Roger earlier.

 

          Once again the waiting area again is filled with a scruffy

          collection of vets.

 

          Most are paying attention to the unusual sight of two women

          in the intake line.

 

 


 

                                                                        38.

 

 

 

 

 

          Ann, especially, is quite a sight in her usual bright and

          flamboyant attire.

 

                                          ANN

                              (quietly)

                         This place gives me the creeps.

 

                                          MOLLY

                              (quietly)

                         There's another woman checking in.

                         We'll share a room.

 

          They move ahead in line.

 

                                          ANN

                         You know that jade ring of mine you

                         like?  It's yours if you walk out

                         with me right now.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         If this is a mistake, I can leave

                         at any time.

 

                                          ANN

                              (quietly)

                         Molly, think about it: you're going

                         to be living with these animals.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Oh.  Here.  You can have the car.

 

          She gives Ann the keys to the car.

 

                                          ANN

                         What am I supposed to do with

                         these?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Sell it.  Drive it home.  I don't

                         care.  I'm just continuing a

                         tradition.

 

          Ann stares at the keys, not knowing what to do with them.

 

 

          EXT. INTAKE BUILDING - DAY

 

          About a dozen new intake vets are lined up in a sloppy

          approximation of ranks.

 

 


 

                                                                        39.

 

 

 

 

 

          One vet stands off to the side, carrying a pile of folders.

          Obviously he's in charge.

 

          Across the street, Ann sits in the car, watching.  She still

          can't believe Molly is going through with this.

 

          The vet in charge is TOM, a short stocky man in his forties.

 

                                          TOM

                         Okay, listen up!  The first place

                         we go is to the lab.  Everybody

                         gets a UA.  Everybody know what

                         that is?  You pee in a little jar

                         so they know how ripped you are.

                         Follow me.

 

          There's some grumbling and joking and wise-assing as the

          vets move off.

 

          Molly is one of two women in the ragged formation, the other

          being TRIXIE, a bleached blonde who looks like she could eat

          nails, who wears black leather motorcycle gang attire.

 

          From the car, Ann waves her goodbyes.

 

                                          ANN

                         I'll write you!

 

          Molly waves back.

 

          Ann watches them until they disappear around a building.

 

 

          INT. VA MEDICAL CENTER - BUILDING - WOMEN'S BATHROOM - DAY

 

          Molly and Trixie are in the ladies room with jars and small

          funnels, getting ready to give their urine samples.

 

          Without an ounce of shyness, Trixie is already lowering her

          black leather pants.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         I ain't pissed in one of these

                         since I was in jail.

 

          Molly self-consciously moves into the stall for privacy.

 


 

                                                                        40.

 

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - SUPPLY ROOM - DAY

 

          The new intake vets are lined up for bedding.

 

          A tall handsome man with a trim moustache passes by.  He

          stops and smiles at Molly.

 

                                          WALTER

                         I'm Walter.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm Molly.

 

                                          WALTER

                         What do you do?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm a nurse.

 

                                          WALTER

                         What drugs, I mean.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Drugs?  Oh no, I just, you know,

                         drink too much.

 

                                          WALTER

                         I do booze.  And heroin, cocaine,

                         especially crack, pot, LSD, you

                         name it.  You must've been Air

                         Force.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Yes.  How did you know?

 

                                          WALTER

                         I was Army.  Air Force got all the

                         beautiful women.

 

          He's grinning at her so lecherously that she has to turn

          away.  Which is just the reaction he wanted.  Pleased with

          himself, he moves on.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - DINING ROOM - EVENING

 

          Molly is taking her full tray into the dining area, looking

          for a spare seat at a table.

 

          Roger appears beside her.

 

 


 

                                                                        41.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                         What are you doing here?

 

          Molly is so startled she almost spills her tray.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Follow me.

 

          He leads the way to a table for two in a corner of the

          dining room.

 

 

          INT. DINING ROOM - TABLE

 

          They settle in.

 

                                          ROGER

                         You're the last person in the world

                         I expected to see.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I started the program.  I'm only a

                         few days behind you.

 

                                          ROGER

                         But why?  You seem so normal.  What

                         are you addicted to?

 

          Molly sips her milk, thinking.

 

          She decides to go for it: she's here on a charade, she might

          as well start acting like it.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Roger, I'm an alcoholic, too.  I

                         mean, you don't know how hard it

                         was for me to turn down a drink in

                         the car.  I went on a two-day binge

                         the minute I left you.  God, you

                         won't believe what I managed to do

                         in only two days in a strange city.

                         Anyway, fortunately I had those

                         brochures, so I figured, maybe our

                         paths crossed for a reason, maybe

                         you were sent to me as inspiration

                         to get my act together.  So here I

                         am.

 

          Roger is smiling, buying it hook, line and sinker.

 

 


 

                                                                        42.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                         It's our Higher Power.  He sent you

                         to me, and I guess maybe he sent me

                         to you, too, didn't he?

 

          Molly isn't sure what he's getting at - he almost looks as

          if they've just became engaged.  She gives him a quick smile

          and looks away.

 

          Her glance finds Walter at the adjacent table, lecherously

          leering at her.  Molly chokes on her food.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - BEDROOM - NIGHT

 

          Molly and Trixie are rooming together and making their

          single beds, located on opposite ends of the small room.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         You ever been in treatment before?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No.  You?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Shit, I'm a treatment junkie and a

                         welfare drone!  This about my tenth

                         time.  Something like that.  I come

                         in whenever I got a boyfriend or

                         bills or the law to hide from.

                         This time I got two out of three.

                         Meaning, I ain't in no trouble with

                         the law for a change.

 

          This gets Molly's interest.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You're hiding from your boyfriend?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Course, K-Man will be visiting

                         Sundays soon as they allow that,

                         but at least they'll be counselors

                         and people everywhere, he can't get

                         to me too bad.

 

 


 

                                                                        43.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I thought he had to be on a

                         visitors' list to be able to see

                         you.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Oh, I put him on the list alright.

                         We always get along good after not

                         seeing each other for a while.  You

                         hiding from a boyfriend, husband,

                         anything like that?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Oh, no.  Just trying, you know, to

                         get sober.

 

          Trixie looks at her and laughs, which baffles Molly.  She

          lets it pass and goes back to making her bed.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - CLASSROOM - DAY

 

          TEX, a counselor, is teaching a class.  He is a tall slender

          man with a gray moustache, wearing cowboy boots and tight

          jeans.  His belt sports a large silver buckle.  A cowboy hat

          rests on the desk, on the edge of which he sits informally.

 

          At the front of the class, a black vet, JEWELS, is reading

          the program's Opening Statement.  As he does, the vets in

          the class listen with a variety of reactions, from

          inattentive boredom to attentive fear.

 

                                          JEWELS

                              (reading)

                         "YOU have come to US.  You've said

                         you've decided to change your life.

 

                         "Changing your life is not

                         something that is done to you.  It

                         is something you do to yourself.

                         We will not force you to do

                         anything.  Change is only valid if

                         it comes from within.

 

                         "You will be very uncomfortable

                         here.  You may find this program

                         hard, irritating, stupid and

                         unsatisfactory.

                                          (MORE)

 

 


 

                                                                        44.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          JEWELS (cont'd)

                         You might become disgusted and want

                         to quit.

 

                         "You will not always understand

                         what is going on, or why.  But you

                         will always be expected to tell the

                         truth and to listen to the

                         truth.  "Our concept of a

                         meaningful life is not merely to

                         stop drinking or using drugs.  It

                         is to replace that part of yourself

                         that caused self-destructive

                         behavior in the first place.

 

                         "But before it can be replaced, it

                         must be recognized and examined.

                         'The unexamined life is not worth

                         living,' said Socrates.  We believe

                         this is true.

 

                         "If you're not ready to examine

                         yourself with ruthless

                         self-scrutiny, then you may want to

                         reconsider your reasons for

                         entering this treatment program.

 

                         "You may want to leave before we

                         kick you out."

 

          He finishes and sits down.

 

                                          TEX

                         Thank you.

 

          Tex looks over the class.  His presence commands attention.

 

                                          TEX

                         You addicts and drunks and crazies

                         better believe that, every damn

                         word in there is true.  This ain't

                         no country club.  You don't want to

                         play hard ball with yourself, get

                         the hell out and come back when

                         you're ready.

 

          He looks over the class.

 

 


 

                                                                        45.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         How many here want a drink right

                         now?  Or a fix?  Drag a weed, snort

                         a coke, shot a Wild Turkey?

 

          No one in the class of about forty raises a hand.

 

                                          TEX

                         You lying sacks a shit.  You

                         scumbag assholes.  You'd kill your

                         mother for a drink.  You'd sell

                         your little sister to a known

                         carrier of AIDS to buy some crack,

                         you'd take money off your grandma's

                         night stand to buy your weed.

                         Don't tell me you wouldn't.  You

                         there - you gonna tell me you

                         wouldn't?

 

          He's pointing a finger at Roger.

 

                                          TEX

                         What the hell's your name?

 

                                          ROGER

                         I'm Roger, and I'm an alcoholic.

 

          A few people snicker at this response.

 

                                          TEX

                         What's so goddamn funny about that?

                         Even though you're lying through

                         your booze-rotted teeth, Roger, you

                         no more believe you're an alcoholic

                         than I'm Madonna.  You think you're

                         gonna step out of here and be a

                         sensible drinker, be a controlled

                         drinker like everybody out there

                         who's normal, you think this here

                         little mini-course is gonna turn

                         you loose so you can be like

                         everybody else.  Tell me I'm wrong.

 

                                          ROGER

                         You're wrong.

 

          There's a stunned silence at this response.  Tex grins.

 

 


 

                                                                        46.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         If I'm so goddamn wrong, how come

                         you already tried treatment twice,

                         already came out and started

                         drinking again, wrecked all those

                         cars all over again, declared

                         personal bankruptcy, had another

                         woman divorce you, who knows what

                         other shit you pulled, all after

                         twice in goddamn treatment where

                         you told them the same piss-ant

                         lying excuses you're telling me

                         this very minute.  If I'm so damn

                         wrong, how come you ain't sober,

                         mister?  How come?  You answer me

                         that, Roger.  I bet you're sweating

                         in your butt crack for a quick nip

                         right now, huh?  What's your

                         favorite?  Vodka?  Bourbon?  Cold

                         beer, swallow that baby down in a

                         couple gulps?  Bet you'd like that

                         real fine.  Tell me I'm wrong.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         That's not fair!

 

          This just came out.  Tex, still grinning, moves toward

          Molly's chair.

 

                                          TEX

                         What's your name?  Trixie?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Molly.  It's my nickname.

 

                                          TEX

                         I know who you are, Heather-Molly.

                         Trixie was here last year.  And two

                         years before that.  She's a lying

                         sack a shit, just like Roger.

                         What's so goddamn unfair about the

                         truth, Miss Molly?  You want to

                         tell us that?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No.  I'm sorry.

 

          There's a tense silence while Tex stares at her.  Molly is

          close to losing control and breaking into tears.

 

 


 

                                                                        47.

 

 

 

 

 

          Finally Tex steps away, a gesture that she's off the hook.

          The whole class is relieved.

 

                                          TEX

                         Denial, my friends!  The first

                         hurdle alcoholics and addicts must

                         overcome is the hurdle of denial.

                         You must face one basic truth in

                         the very pit of your gut:  We're

                         all goddamn addicts here!

 

 

          INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

 

          Roger brings his tray to join Molly and others at a long

          table.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I should have warned you about Tex.

                         Not all the counselors are

                         confrontive like that.  You all

                         right?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Shit, Tex ain't so hot.  I had a

                         counselor once, makes him look like

                         a pussy.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         This is all so new to me - I best

                         keep quiet and watch, huh?

 

                                          JEWELS

                         You better not keep quiet around

                         here, you be accused of stuffin'

                         your feelings.  Better to talk up

                         and make a fool of yourself than

                         shut up.

 

                                          ROGER

                         The secret is to be honest,

                         especially about how you feel.

 

                                          WALTER

                         I feel like I'm falling in love.

 

          The remark, of course, is meant for Molly, even though

          Walter is sitting several vets down the way.

 

 


 

                                                                        48.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                              (quietly, for Molly's

                               ears only)

                         He does that to every woman who

                         comes through here.

 

          Trixie has overheard this.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Not to me, he ain't.  I think I

                         scare him.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - HALLWAY - DAY

 

          Molly is slowly moving down a hallway, looking for an

          office.  She has an appointment slip in her hand.

 

          She finds it and stands by an open doorway.

 

 

          INT. OFFICE

 

          Sitting at her desk is HEATHER, one of the counselors.

          She's a strikingly pretty woman, about thirty-five, younger

          than Molly.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Miss Bradshaw?

 

          Heather looks up.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         We all go by first names here, and

                         I'm another Heather.  But I

                         understand you prefer Molly.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Yes, it's a nickname.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Come in.  Have a seat.

 

          Molly does.  Heather picks up a folder she's been looking

          through.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         We don't have very much on you.

 

 


 

                                                                        49.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I've never been in treatment

                         before.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Or used the VA much either.  Have

                         you?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No, not really.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         I'm going to be your primary

                         counselor.  I think we'd better

                         start with some standard tests and

                         a good physical.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Great.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         What's so great about it?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Pardon me?

 

                                          HEATHER

                         You said it was great.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Well, we have to start somewhere,

                         don't we?

 

                                          HEATHER

                         What are you feeling right now?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Pardon me?

 

                                          HEATHER

                         What are you feeling right now?

                         Don't think about it, just tell me.

                         What are you feeling?

 

          Molly thinks about it.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm feeling really confused.

 

 


 

                                                                        50.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Why?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Everybody's always attacking

                         everybody around here.

 

          Heather ignores this and starts writing on a form.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         It's like it's taken for granted

                         that everybody is lying or

                         something.

 

                                          HEATHER

                              (without looking up)

                         Are you lying?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No.  I'm confused.  And a little

                         scared, I guess.

 

          Heather hands her the form.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Good.  Tell the truth, and we'll

                         get along fine.  Take this to the

                         lab.  They'll tell you where to go

                         from there.

 

 

          A SERIES OF SHOTS

 

          as Molly gives blood, has a physical, takes a number of

          tests at a computer.

 

 

          EXT. AIRPORT - TERMINAL - DAY

 

          Coming off a plane at the Portland airport are Bruce and a

          new woman friend, HAZEL, who is older than he is and carries

          an aura of money, a good deal of money.

 

                                          HAZEL

                         I think I'm nervous.  Isn't that

                         silly?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         About what?

 

 


 

                                                                        51.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          HAZEL

                         Meeting your sister.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         She's nothing to worry about.

 

          They head into the terminal.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL - DESK - DAY

 

          Bruce is waiting while Hazel registers them into the most

          expensive hotel in the city.  Clearly she's paying for

          everything on one of her credit cards.

 

          A nearby BELLBOY, waiting to take their bags, smiles at

          Bruce knowingly, as if he's a gigolo with "an older woman."

 

          Bruce stares him down.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY

 

          Hazel tips the bellboy, and he leaves.

 

                                          HAZEL

                         Are you going to call your sister?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Later.

 

                                          HAZEL

                         You seemed so anxious to see her, I

                         thought you'd want to call right

                         away.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Not yet, okay?  Do you mind?

 

                                          HAZEL

                         Honey, I was just asking.  Let's

                         not fight.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I'm sorry.  I'm - upset . . . I

                         forgot to bring her new address.

                         I'll have to track her down.

 

 


 

                                                                        52.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          HAZEL

                         Calling information is a start.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         She usually has an unlisted number,

                         is the thing.  I'll have to check

                         with some of her friends.  I'll

                         worry about it tomorrow.

 

          He goes to her, becoming romantic to change the subject.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I have more important things to do

                         right now.

 

                                          HAZEL

                         You sure don't waste time, mister.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I don't hear you complaining.

 

                                          HAZEL

                         No, you don't.

 

          They embrace and kiss.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - GYM - DAY

 

          Vets are playing an informal basketball game, Molly and

          Trixie playing right along with the men.

 

          Most of the vets are terribly out of shape and winded,

          playing at much less than full speed.  A couple of jock vets

          carry the load.

 

          Heather, the counselor, blows a whistle to end the exercise

          period.  The vets head out of the gym.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         This exercise shit is new to the

                         program.  I don't like it.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I know what you mean.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         You got any visitors coming Sunday?

 

 


 

                                                                        53.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No.  Is your boyfriend coming?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         I ain't heard but I'll be surprised

                         for damn sure if K-Man ain't first

                         in line.  His dick'll be pointin'

                         the way, too.  He expect me to give

                         him some head in the bushes or some

                         damn thing.

 

          She laughs, and Molly can't help but laugh along with her.

          Trixie is growing on her.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - CORE GROUP ROOM - DAY

 

          A half-dozen vets sit in chairs arranged in a circle.  With

          them is Tex, the counselor.  A core group is meeting.  This

          is one of the more intensive and self-reflective parts of

          the treatment program.

 

          SKEETER, a man in his forties, is softly crying.  You can

          cut the tension in the room with a knife.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Can I say something?

 

                                          TEX

                         Don't rescue him.

 

          Roger shuts up.  Finally Skeeter starts to speak again, his

          speech halting and difficult between sobs.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         I just . . . blew her away . . .

                         just like that . . .  didn't give

                         it a thought . . . it was like

                         target practice . . . like I'm not

                         up there in the tower at all . . .

                         I'm at a carnival, some damn

                         thing . . .  you know the little

                         figurines that move for you to

                         shoot at? . . . she was just a

                         figurine at a carnival . . .

                         something to shoot at, break the

                         boredom . . .

                                          (MORE)

 

 


 

                                                                        54.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          SKEETER (cont'd)

                         hey, look at that old  gook broad

                         carrying that shit on her

                         head . . . wonder if I can hit her

                         from here . . . pop!, she's

                         gone . . . she's out of there . . .

                         nothing to it . . . laughed about

                         it at chow . . . pop!, that gook

                         old lady's outta there! . . . pop!,

                         she's history . . .

 

          He is softly weeping again.  No one moves.

 

          Tex looks at his watch.  When he speaks, it's a gentle side

          of him we haven't seen before.

 

                                          TEX

                         That's all the time we have.  Thank

                         you for sharing that, Skeeter.

 

          All the vets but Molly get up and slowly leave the room.

          Tex, passing Molly's chair, stops and touches her on the

          shoulder.

 

                                          TEX

                         You okay?

 

                                          MOLLY

                              (holding back tears)

                         I feel so bad for him . . .

 

                                          TEX

                         Want to come to my office and talk

                         about it?

 

          Molly nods and gets up.

 

 

          INT. TEX'S OFFICE - DAY

 

          The office door is closed.  Tex sits at his desk, Molly in a

          nearby chair.

 

                                          TEX

                         The Vietnam vets have it worse than

                         anybody here.  You weren't in

                         country, were you?

 

 


 

                                                                        55.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I never went overseas.

 

                                          TEX

                         You're lucky.  Nurses over there,

                         they come through here as bad as

                         the combat vets.  The damage of

                         that war is still coming down.  You

                         see it in a place like this all the

                         time.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I had no idea.

 

                                          TEX

                         You're not stuffing Vietnam - what

                         are you stuffing?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Oh - nothing I know of.

 

                                          TEX

                         I never met an alcoholic yet who

                         isn't stuffing negative feelings

                         about some damn thing or other,

                         something they don't want to face

                         up to and deal with.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You know something?  I'm really not

                         sure I'm an alcoholic.

 

                                          TEX

                         There's a word for that attitude.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Denial, I know.  But what if it's

                         true?  I mean, there must be

                         someone who came through here at

                         one time or another who actually

                         was not an alcoholic - so when that

                         person said, "No, I'm not an

                         alcoholic," it wasn't denial at all

                         but the truth.

 

                                          TEX

                         You always that good at

                         rationalizing?

 

 


 

                                                                        56.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Isn't it a possibility that I'm

                         not?

 

                                          TEX

                         Sure.  It's also a possibility

                         you're bullshitting yourself

                         because you haven't hit bottom yet.

                         So check out of here and go get a

                         drink.  See you next year, and

                         we'll go from there.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No, I'm not checking out.

 

                                          TEX

                         Then stop bullshitting me.  You're

                         wasting both our time.  So what the

                         hell are you stuffing, Molly?  Why

                         are you really here?

 

          Molly is suddenly feeling very vulnerable.  Her instinct is

          to run, and she stands up.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't think I'm ready for this.

 

                                          TEX

                         You only got 28 days here, Molly,

                         and a week is already gone.  So are

                         you going to piss or get off the

                         pot?

 

          She turns and leaves without replying.  Tex isn't phased,

          he's seen this many times.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - PATIO - DAY

 

          It's the first Sunday afternoon when visitors are allowed.

          Family and friends sit with vets at tables across the patio.

 

          Molly and Trixie sit at a table alone, playing cards.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         He may still show up.

 

 


 

                                                                        57.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         He ain't first in line, he ain't

                         comin'.

 

          Trixie is clearly disappointed.

 

          Walter appears at the end of their table with an older

          woman, his MOTHER.

 

                                          WALTER

                         I'd like you to meet my mother.

                         Mom, this is Molly.  She's the

                         woman I plan to marry.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Hello.  Cute, Walter.

 

          Walter winks at her and leads his mother along.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         He expose himself to you yet?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Are you serious?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Just wait.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         He did to you?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         I'd be ashamed, I was him, little

                         bitty thing like that.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Why didn't you report it?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         And put the man back on the street?

                         Everybody better off he's in here.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - CORE GROUP - DAY

 

          Molly's core group is meeting again.  This time, Molly

          herself is the focus of attention.  All the vets look

          sternly at her, unhappy with what she's been talking about.

 

 


 

                                                                        58.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TOM

                              (thinly hidden

                               aggression)

                         When you say the war sucked, how do

                         you mean?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         What was right about it?  It was

                         unConstitutional, for starters.  It

                         was-- . . .

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Time out.  If you're gonna get into

                         some kind of liberal  bullshit

                         about how we didn't belong in

                         there-- . . .

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Of course, we didn't belong in

                         there.  Look what happened to you.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         That's not what I was talking about

                         last week!  I wish we'd've dropped

                         a nuke on the bastards!

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Then I don't understand.

 

                                          TOM

                         You got that right.  Let me guess:

                         you were one of those protesters,

                         weren't you?

 

          Molly is hesitant to reply.

 

                                          ROGER

                         You don't have to answer if you're

                         uncomfortable.

 

                                          TOM

                         Quit rescuing her.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I'm just saying that-- . . .

 

                                          TEX

                         Tom's right, you were rescuing her.

 

 


 

                                                                        59.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TOM

                         So did you protest the war or not?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Well, yes, I did - because it was a

                         rotten unConstitutional-- . . .

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Tex, I got enough shit coming down

                         without having to deal with a

                         protester.  You said that was off

                         limits.

 

                                          TOM

                         He's right, you did.  It was before

                         she came into group.  We didn't

                         have to deal with how we feel about

                         those assholes until we got a

                         handle on some of the more

                         immediate stuff.

 

                                          TEX

                         True enough, I did say that.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't understand what's going on.

 

                                          TEX

                         Whether the war was right or wrong

                         is not the issue here.  We want to

                         deal with the here and now, in

                         particular deal with our feelings.

                         How are you feeling right now?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I feel like a flood of old memories

                         are coming back that I'd rather not

                         have to think about.

 

                                          TEX

                         And how does THAT make you feel?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Really shitty.  Really scared.

 

          Everyone stares at her.  A long pause.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't want to do this any more.

 

          Everyone is silent.

 


 

                                                                        60.

 

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

 

          Staff are meeting to go over the progress of the patients.

          Tex is chairing.

 

          RAY, a counselor, has been reviewing Jewels.  He is

          prematurely gray and wears his hair in a pony tail.

 

                                          RAY

                         What it all adds up to is, I think

                         Jewels would benefit from three

                         months' additional intensive

                         treatment.

 

                                          TEX

                         Anybody have a problem with that?

 

          No one does.

 

                                          TEX

                         Then it's a done deal.

 

          He picks up another folder.

 

                                          TEX

                         Next up is Heather - or Molly, as

                         she prefers.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         She's still in total denial.  I see

                         no progress at all.

 

                                          TEX

                         I can second that.  Do you think

                         she'd benefit from additional

                         intensive treatment?

 

                                          HEATHER

                         I don't think so, to be honest.  I

                         think she has a long way to go

                         before she's ready to deal with

                         reality.  She has to get to first

                         base before she tries to go to

                         second.

 

                                          RAY

                         We could put her in Stage One

                         Intervention, put some pressure on

                         her and maybe pop the bubble before

                         she's out of here.

 

 


 

                                                                        61.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         I'm not sure it would work.

                         Heather?

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Maybe it won't, but we have nothing

                         to lose.

 

                                          TEX

                         Anybody object to putting her on

                         Stage One?

 

          No one does.  Tex picks up another file.

 

                                          TEX

                         What about Roger . . .?

 

 

          INT. HEATHER'S OFFICE - DAY

 

          Heather has just given Molly the news that her status has

          changed, she's now under Stage One Intervention.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I still don't understand what I've

                         been doing wrong.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         You're not getting inside yourself.

                         You're not telling us the truth

                         about how you really feel.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Maybe I'm really not an alcoholic.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         That attitude doesn't cut it,

                         Molly.  It's your life.  You start

                         the work now - or in two or five or

                         ten years from now, when you're

                         back in here, or a place just like

                         it.  It's up to you.  That's all.

 

          Molly leaves.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - CLASSROOM - DAY

 

          Tex is teaching the class.

 

 


 

                                                                        62.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         In the Johari Window exercise,

                         we're looking at three things: the

                         Facade Window - how does the person

                         want to be seen or perceived?; the

                         Blind Window - how do I see the

                         person?; and the Open Window - what

                         could the person do to improve?  I

                         need a volunteer to be first.

 

          A number of hands go up.

 

                                          TEX

                         Molly.

 

          Her hand was not up.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         My hand wasn't up.

 

                                          TEX

                              (ignoring this)

                         It shows you're really interested

                         in recovery to volunteer like that.

                         I appreciate it.

 

          Molly reluctantly comes forward and sits in a chair, facing

          the class.  Tex is passing out forms to the rest of the

          patients, explaining as he does.

 

                                          TEX

                         You don't have to put your name on

                         the sheet, so there's no excuse not

                         to be honest.

 

          The exercise begins.  Patients study Molly and begin writing

          on the form.  Molly also begins writing.

 

 

          INT. CLASSROOM - LATER - DAY

 

          Tex, who has been gone, comes back into the room.

 

                                          TEX

                         Are we done?

 

          No one needs more time.

 

 


 

                                                                        63.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         Let's go around the room and read

                         what we have.  Starting with Roger.

 

                                          ROGER

                         The Facade Window: Molly wants to

                         be seen as really together and in

                         control of her life.  The Blind

                         Window: I see her as talking the

                         talk but not walking the walk,

                         she's afraid to really get deep

                         inside herself.  The Open Window:

                         she can improve by opening up more

                         and telling us how she really truly

                         feels.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Molly wants to come off as being

                         educated and special but I see her

                         as a snob.  I think she hates being

                         here and is scared shitless to be

                         honest about herself, which is what

                         she needs to do to improve.

 

                                          TOM

                         Facade Window: she takes advantage

                         of being good looking, wants to be

                         admired.  Blind Window: selfish and

                         stuck up, she'd knife you in the

                         back in a minute.  Open Window: get

                         real.

 

                                          WALTER

                         Molly wants to be seen as beautiful

                         and sexy, and I think she is.  She

                         needs to learn how to accept

                         admiration.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Facade: Miss Has-It-All-Together.

                         Blind: this gal is confused big

                         time!  She needs to realize where

                         she is and why and start the

                         program.

 

 


 

                                                                        64.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I want to project the image of

                         someone who takes life seriously,

                         who can be a good friend, who

                         listens well.  Who has high moral

                         values.  I think I come off more

                         shy and less confident than this.

                         I need to learn to stand up for

                         myself more.

 

          Tex moves around the classroom, letting the exercise sink

          in.  Suddenly:

 

                                          TEX

                         We wear masks, people!  We're

                         afraid to let people know who we

                         really are.  Which makes sense,

                         since all of us have mostly been

                         drunkass addicted lying nogood

                         conniving sonsabitches who'd do

                         anything at any cost to anybody,

                         long as we get our little fix of

                         weed or crack or Wild Turkey or

                         spendyass white wine or that

                         thirst-quenching beer after mowing

                         the lawn, don't make no difference,

                         people - it's all drugs, you hear?

 

                         It's all drugs, and you and I are

                         addicted to drugs, and we got two

                         choices, quit or die!  Do I make

                         myself clear?  Quit or die!  The

                         choice is yours and yours alone,

                         people.

                              (softly)

                         Quit . . . or die . . .

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          Molly is in line, waiting to use a pay phone.  Roger is in

          line behind her.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Don't let that Johari stuff get to

                         you.  Everybody thought I was a

                         phony, too.

                                          (MORE)

 

 


 

                                                                        65.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER (cont'd)

                         I think it's SOP for addicts to

                         think everybody else is a phony.

                         Saves looking in the mirror.  It's

                         called doing everybody's program

                         except our own.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         It didn't bother me.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I think it did, Molly.

 

          Molly turns away, not wanting to deal with it.

 

 

          INT. ANN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Ann's in bed with a guy, JOHN, a heavyset man as large as

          herself, when the phone rings.  The ringing distracts Ann

          from foreplay.

 

                                          JOHN

                         Let it ring.

 

                                          ANN

                         I really should answer it.

 

                                          JOHN

                         You have an answering machine,

                         don't you?

 

          The phone is still ringing.  John starts kissing her, and

          Ann gives in.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          Molly gives up and hangs up.

 

          Roger comes forward to use the phone next.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Not at home?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Not at home.

 

          She moves off, looking depressed.

 


 

                                                                        66.

 

 

 

          INT. VA MEDICAL CENTER - GYM - DAY

 

          Another exercise period, another game on the court.

 

          A rebound comes off the rim into Molly's hands.  She starts

          to dribble but is tied up by Skeeter and Tom, who get very

          physical with her, knocking her to the floor.

 

          Roger, seeing this, hurries over.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Hey, this isn't the NBA, for

                         Christ's sake.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Fuck you.

 

          Roger looks around, making sure no counselor is around.

 

                                          ROGER

                         You know you could get kicked out

                         for being aggressive.  Cool it.

                              (to Molly)

                          You all right?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm okay.

 

                                          TOM

                         Why are you standing up for a

                         goddamn peacenik?

 

                                          ROGER

                         We're all in here together, Tom.

 

                                          TOM

                         Doesn't mean I have to like her or

                         what she stands for.

 

                                          ROGER

                         The war's been over for twenty

                         years.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Man, it never ends.  Never.

 

          Tom and Skeeter move away.

 

                                          ROGER

                         They're having a bad day.

 

 


 

                                                                        67.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I can fight my own battles, Roger.

 

          She moves off, too.  The game has broken up for lack of

          interest now.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - BEDROOM - NIGHT

 

          Molly is in bed, reading.  Trixie is getting into bed.

 

          Suddenly there's a knock on the window, which startles both

          of them.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         What the hell is that?

 

          She moves to the window and peeks through the drawn blinds.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         Oh my God!

 

          She draws up the blinds and opens the window.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Who is it?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         It's my honey!

 

          K-MAN climbs in through the window.  He's a big man in

          motorcycle garb.  He's carrying a paper sack.

 

                                          K-MAN

                         Hey, Trixie, how we doin'?  Who's

                         your roomie?

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         That's Molly.

 

                                          K-MAN

                         Nice to meet you.  Here, I brought

                         you something.

 

          He takes a bottle of whiskey out of the paper sack.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         How'd you get in here with nobody

                         seeing you?

 

 


 

                                                                        68.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          K-MAN

                         Piece a cake.  You got any glasses

                         in here?

 

          Molly is out of bed, putting on her robe.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Trixie, this is asking for trouble.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         I got my UA yesterday, I'm not due

                         again til this shit is pissed out

                         of my system.  K-Man, you're

                         lookin' damn good.

 

          They embrace.  Molly leaves the room.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          Molly comes out and moves down the hallway.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - FRONT DESK - NIGHT

 

          Tex has duty tonight and is playing solitaire on a computer

          when Molly comes out.

 

                                          TEX

                         You having trouble sleeping?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         A little bit.

 

                                          TEX

                         Come on in and sit down.

 

          Molly goes around the counter and joins him.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Go ahead and finish your game.

 

          Tex turns his attention back to the computer screen.

 

 

          INT. FRONT DESK - LATER - NIGHT

 

          Molly has fallen asleep in the chair.  Tex gently wakes her.

 

 


 

                                                                        69.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         Time for bed.

 

          Molly gets up to go.

 

                                          TEX

                         Some day you're gonna have to talk

                         about what's bothering you.  I know

                         something's eating you up inside.

 

          She leaves without responding.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          Molly moves to the door of her room.  She carefully opens

          it.

 

 

          INT. BEDROOM

 

          as Molly steps in.  Trixie and K-Man are asleep, K-Man

          stretched out on Molly's bed.  Molly doesn't know what to

          do.

 

          She sits down on the floor in the corner by the door,

          drawing her robe around her, trying to get comfortable

          enough to sleep.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY - MORNING

 

          Tex is coming down the hallway, knocking on doors, then

          opening them, calling "Rise and shine!" into each room.

 

 

          INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

 

          The doorway opens, almost jarring Molly in the corner.  Tex

          steps in, disbelieving his eyes.

 

                                          TEX

                         Trixie!  What the hell kind of a

                         side business you running in here?

 

          Trixie and K-Man struggle awake, both very hungover.

 

          Molly tries to sneak out behind Tex without his noticing

          her.  But he turns in time to find her.

 

 


 

                                                                        70.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         Molly!  You know anything about

                         this?

 

          Trixie is up and moving to her wall locker.

 

                                          TRIXIE

                         She had nothing to do with it, fact

                         is she tried to stop it.  Don't

                         worry, Tex, I'll be out of this

                         hellhole soon as I can get packed.

 

                                          TEX

                         You got that right.

 

 

          INT. HEATHER'S OFFICE - DAY

 

          Molly is in conference with her primary counselor.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Your UA came out clean, so I'm

                         inclined to believe you.  You still

                         should have reported it.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I know.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Molly, as near as I can tell,

                         you're getting nothing at all out

                         of being here.  You're not sharing

                         anything about yourself.  You are

                         in complete denial about your

                         disease.

 

          She pauses for a reaction.  There is none.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         How are you feeling right now?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I feel . . .

 

          Molly suddenly starts to lose it; she begins to cry,

          struggling to gain control of herself.

 

 


 

                                                                        71.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't know what's wrong with me .

                         . . . I'm sorry . . .

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Let it come, Molly.

 

          And these words are effective, Molly loses control and

          begins to weep openly.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - FRONT GATE - DAY

 

          A new model white convertible stops at the guard shack at

          the treatment center's front security gate.  Bruce is behind

          the wheel, Hazel beside him.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         We're here to visit one of your

                         patients in treatment.

 

                                          GATE GUARD

                         Treatment patients only get

                         visitors on Sundays, sir.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Is that a fact?  Well, we'll see

                         you Sunday, then.

 

                                          GATE GUARD

                         You have to be on the approved

                         guest list, sir.  I could check for

                         you.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Well, I wanted to surprise my

                         sister, is the thing.

 

                                          GATE GUARD

                         I can't let you in if you're not on

                         the list.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Well, I guess the surprise will be

                         on the phone then.  I'll make sure

                         she puts me on the list before

                         Sunday.

 

          He backs up and does a U-turn, heading away.

 


 

                                                                        72.

 

 

 

          INT. CAR

 

                                          HAZEL

                         You didn't call her already?

 

          Bruce ignores her.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - CORE GROUP - DAY

 

          Molly has the floor, opening up for the first time.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I met these people while I was

                         still in the Air Force.  They were

                         passing out leaflets outside the

                         base.  Well, I went to one of the

                         coffee houses in town, to a rally,

                         and later there was a teach-in at

                         the small college in town.  That's

                         when I first started paying

                         attention to politics.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Tex, I thought this was off limits.

 

                                          TEX

                         We're dealing with her feelings

                         here, Skeeter.  She's entitled to

                         them.  Sorry, Molly - please

                         continue.  Just keep it real

                         personal.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I got out of the Air Force and went

                         to college myself.  When a guy I'd

                         known in class got drafted and went

                         over there and got killed, that was

                         like the last straw for me.

 

                                          TOM

                         You can't fight a war with one arm

                         tied behind your back.

 

                                          TEX

                         Gentlemen, let's not interrupt,

                         please?

 

          After a pause, Molly goes on.

 

 


 

                                                                        73.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I was outraged when he died.  That

                         was the beginning.  I ended up

                         marrying one of the guys passing

                         out leaflets that first time, that

                         was part of it, too.  He was what

                         you'd call a radical.

 

          She stops.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't think I can talk about

                         this.

 

          There's a silence.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         In a way I wish none of it had ever

                         happened.  Bruce, my husband . . .

 

          When she doesn't go on, Tex speaks.

 

                                          TEX

                         Are you still married?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         What?  Oh, no, all that ended years

                         ago.  I haven't seen him in years.

 

          Another silence.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I guess that's all I have to say.

 

                                          TEX

                         How do you feel about being around

                         so many Vietnam veterans?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Sad.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Shit.

 

                                          TEX

                         Skeeter.

 

 


 

                                                                        74.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         There's been so much suffering.  I

                         mean, still.  Like it keeps coming

                         back to haunt us, doesn't it?

 

                                          TEX

                         Is it haunting you now?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Yes, I guess it is.

 

                                          TEX

                         Would you elaborate on that?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I can't right now.  I don't want to

                         talk any more.

 

          She is struggling hard to fight back her tears.

 

                                          TEX

                         What's all this really about,

                         Molly?  What are you really trying

                         to say?

 

          Suddenly she gets up and runs out of the room.

 

 

          EXT. HALLWAY - DAY

 

          Molly runs past the front desk, heading down the hallway to

          her room.

 

          Heather, working on the computer behind the desk, gets up to

          follow her.  She comes around the front counter at about the

          same time Tex comes by.  Both follow Molly.

 

 

          INT. BEDROOM - DAY

 

          Molly is hurriedly packing when Tex and Heather enter the

          room.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Molly, it could be really important

                         for you not to run from this now.

 

          Molly keeps packing.

 

 


 

                                                                        75.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          TEX

                         You're safe here.  You're gonna

                         have to deal with this shit

                         eventually.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Why don't you take the rest of the

                         afternoon off and think about it?

                         I'd really like you to stay.  I

                         think we can really begin to get

                         somewhere now.

 

                                          TEX

                         Your life is worth saving, Molly.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         I'll be in my office if you want to

                         talk.

 

          They leave.

 

          Molly stops packing.  She throws herself down on the empty

          bed beside her own and starts to cry.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - BUILDING - NIGHT

 

          Lights go out in the building.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - FRONT DESK / HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          Ray, on duty, is turning out the lights at bedcheck.

 

 

          INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

 

          Molly is sound asleep.

 

 

          INT. ANOTHER BEDROOM - NIGHT

 

          Walter is awake, staring at the ceiling.  His roommate, Tom,

          is asleep.

 

          Walter gets up to use the bathroom.

 


 

                                                                        76.

 

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY

 

          Walter comes out of his room and moves down the dark

          hallway.

 

          At Molly's door, he stops.  He looks around.

 

          Far down the hallway, Ray sits behind the computer, playing

          a game, not paying attention to anything else.

 

          Walter carefully opens the door to Molly's bedroom.

 

 

          INT. BEDROOM

 

          Molly is still sleeping as Walter comes in.  He moves to her

          bed.

 

          He kneels down and watches her sleep.  There is something

          sadly pathetic, as well as disturbing, about his presence

          and manner.

 

          Molly stirs, opens her eyes and sees him.  She begins to

          scream but his hand is quickly on her mouth.

 

          Molly is struggling, and the more she struggles, the more

          Walter is forceful.  She is no match for his strength.

 

          The contest is exciting Walter; on the bed and on top of

          Molly now, the struggle changes from his trying to keep her

          still to his desiring her, close to raping her.  They

          continue wrestling.  Molly squirms away enough to fall on

          the floor, with Walter immediately on her again.

 

          As he comes down on top of her, she manages to bring one

          knee up, getting him in the groin.  Walter reacts with great

          pain.

 

          This is enough for Molly to break free.  She runs out of the

          room as Walter squirms on the floor in pain.

 

 

          EXT. HALLWAY / FRONT DESK

 

          Molly comes out, running toward the front desk.

 

          Ray sees her and rises from the computer.  He quickly comes

          around the counter.

 

          Molly races into Ray's arms.  He is startled, not knowing

          what the hell is going on.

 

 


 

                                                                        77.

 

 

 

 

 

          Down the hallway, Walter comes out of Molly's room, bent

          forward, still in pain.  Ray sees him.

 

                                          RAY

                         Walter!  Wait right there!

 

          Ray gently sets Molly down in a chair.  Then he trots down

          the hallway to Walter, who is waiting for him like a guilty

          little boy with his hand in the cookie jar.

 

 

          INT. ANN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Ann is sitting on the divan, drinking a coke and watching an

          exercise video. when the doorbell rings.  She gets up to

          answer it.

 

          A MAN and WOMAN are at the door.  The man flashes a badge.

 

                                          FBI MAN

                         FBI.  We'd like to ask you a few

                         questions.

 

                                          ANN

                         Come in.

 

          They come inside.

 

                                          FBI WOMAN

                         We'll get right to the point.

                         You've been visited recently by a

                         man named Bruce Jarrett.

 

                                          FBI MAN

                         At least twice.

 

                                          FBI WOMAN

                         What is your relationship to Mr.

                         Jarrett?

 

                                          ANN

                         I'm not related at all.

 

                                          FBI MAN

                         Does the name Angela X mean

                         anything to you?

 

                                          ANN

                         What was that name again?

 

 


 

                                                                        78.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          FBI MAN

                         Angela X.

 

                                          FBI WOMAN

                         Alias Mrs. Jarrett.

 

                                          FBI MAN

                         She and her husband are both

                         members of Last Chapter.  Perhaps

                         you've heard of it.

 

                                          ANN

                         The radical group?  I didn't know

                         they even existed any more.

 

                                          FBI WOMAN

                         Would you happen to be Mrs. Jarrett

                         yourself, ma'am?

 

                                          ANN

                         Well, no, I'm not her, don't be

                         ridiculous.

 

                                          FBI WOMAN

                         Let's get back to your relationship

                         to Mr. Jarrett.

 

                                          ANN

                         There is none - except he knocked

                         out one of my teeth.  If you don't

                         believe me, check the police

                         reports.

 

          The man and woman look at one another: this is news to them.

 

                                          ANN

                         I filed my report with a Detective

                         Palmer.  I have his phone number.

 

                                          FBI MAN

                         We'll check that out.

 

                                          ANN

                         Please do.

 

                                          FBI WOMAN

                         Thank you for your time.  We may

                         have more questions later.

 

          They leave.  As soon as they're gone, Ann looks worried for

          the first time.

 


 

                                                                        79.

 

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - PATIO - DAY

 

          It is visitors' Sunday again.  The usual family and friends

          of patients crowd the patio.

 

          Heather, the counselor, is talking to Bruce's mother.

 

                                          MOTHER

                         No one told me he left.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         You can visit him at ward 5C in

                         Portland.

 

          Heather is escorting her off the patio.

 

                                          MOTHER

                         Why wasn't I told her left?

 

 

          EXT. PATIO - TABLE - DAY

 

          Molly and Roger share a small table, playing cards.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         How long will he be in the psych

                         ward?

 

                                          ROGER

                         For as long as it takes, I guess.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - FENCE IN ISOLATED AREA - DAY

 

          The convertible pulls to the side of the road.  Bruce is

          driving and is alone.

 

          He gets out.  He looks up and down a stretch of fence.  He

          decides this will do as well as any place.

 

          He climbs the fence.

 

 

          EXT. FENCE

 

          In the distance are the buildings of the treatment center,

          and once over the fence, Bruce starts toward them.

 


 

                                                                        80.

 

 

 

          EXT. PATIO

 

          Molly and Roger are still playing cards.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Did I tell you I got a letter from

                         my ex-wife?  She's threatening to

                         visit me.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         How do you feel about that?

 

          Roger starts laughing.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         God, we all start sounding like

                         counselors, don't we?

 

                                          ROGER

                         "Keep coming back . . ."

 

          They both start laughing.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - NEAR PATIO - DAY

 

          Bruce has located the patio, filled with patients and

          guests.  His task is to get there without being noticed.

 

          To this end, he decides to go into a wing of the building

          and approach the patio from inside.

 

 

          INT. WING OF BUILDING

 

          Bruce comes in.  The coast is clear.

 

          He starts moving down the hallway toward the patio.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY

 

          As Bruce approaches the patio area, Heather, the counselor,

          rounds a corner and approaches him.  He doesn't miss a

          stride, continuing on.

 

          They are about to pass.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I was told there was a rest room

                         down this way.

 

 


 

                                                                        81.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          HEATHER

                         No.  It's right there.

 

          She points one out just ahead of him.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         "If it was a snake, it'd've bitten

                         me."  Thanks.

 

          Smiling, Bruce moves past her and forward without a problem.

          He goes into the bathroom.  A beat.  He comes out of the

          bathroom.

 

 

          EXT. PATIO

 

          Bruce comes out onto the patio.

 

          Molly's back is to him.

 

          Bruce approaches the table, stopping behind Molly.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Can I help you?

 

          Molly turns and sees Bruce.  She freezes.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Is there somewhere we can talk?

 

          Molly isn't sure what to do.  Thinking quickly, she rises.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Bruce, this is Roger.

                              (to Roger)

                         Bruce.  He and I go way back.

                              (to Bruce)

                         This way.

 

          Molly heads for the door, with Bruce behind her.  Roger

          doesn't know what is going on.

 

 

          INT. TREATMENT CENTER - HALLWAY - DAY

 

          They come inside.  Molly is moving quickly, Bruce coming up

          beside her.

 

 


 

                                                                        82.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          BRUCE

                         No damn funny business.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I want this as much as you do.

                         Maybe more.

 

          Bruce is taken aback by this.

 

          Molly leads the way into a conference room.  When Bruce

          enters, she closes the door.

 

 

          INT. CONFERENCE ROOM

 

          Molly moves to sit down at the end of the long conference

          table.  Bruce waits near the door.

 

          Then Bruce moves forward cautiously without sitting.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         What the hell is this?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You're the guest.  You tell me.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         You look different.  I don't mean

                         the short hair and dye job.  Or

                         being older.  Something about you

                         is different.  Like you've got

                         something up your sleeve.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm not kissing your ass any more,

                         Bruce.  Maybe that's it.

 

          Bruce laughs.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         That sounds like something Angela X

                         always wanted to say but never had

                         the balls to.  I got to read a lot

                         in prison.  I understand all you

                         feminists think the movement used

                         you.  All you did was spread your

                         legs and make coffee.  That what

                         you think?

 

 


 

                                                                        83.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         No.  I FEEL I was terrified of you.

                         And therefore terrified to do what

                         I really wanted to do, which was to

                         get away from all of you and try to

                         make sense out of my life again.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Too bad you didn't split before I

                         was looking for you in the car.

                         Would've saved me a couple decades,

                         know what I mean?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't feel good about what I did.

                         Any of it.

 

          Bruce leans forward and slams his fist against the table.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I just spent the best years of my

                         life in prison, lady!  That didn't

                         have to happen!

 

          Heather opens the door and comes into the room.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Molly, you know this room is off

                         limits.

 

          Molly gets up.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         This is Bruce, my husband.  He's

                         not on the guest list but managed

                         to join us anyway.  He has a talent

                         for things like that.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         I'm going to have to ask you to

                         leave.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         No problem.

                              (to Molly)

                         We got lots more to talk about.

                         Lots more.

 

 


 

                                                                        84.

 

 

 

 

 

          He leaves, with Heather following to make sure he really

          goes.

 

                                          HEATHER

                              (on her way out)

                         Wait for me in my office.

 

          Alone in the conference room, Molly takes a deep breath.

 

 

          INT. HEATHER'S OFFICE - DAY

 

          Molly is thumbing through a book when Heather enters.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         You want to tell me what that was

                         about?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Yes, I do.  How long do we have?

 

                                          HEATHER

                         As long as it takes.

 

          Molly sits down.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Okay, here goes.

 

                         I've been living underground under

                         the name Molly McGuire.  For two

                         years I was a member of Last

                         Chapter, a spinoff of the

                         Weathermen.  I was known as Angela

                         X.  Once when we-- . . .

 

                                          HEATHER

                         I'm a Federal employee, Molly.  I'm

                         going to have to report whatever

                         violations of the law you plan to

                         tell me.

 

          Molly thinks about this.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Why don't you give it some thought

                         first?

 

 


 

                                                                        85.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         The thing is, I actually never

                         directly broke a law.  I didn't

                         approve of violence.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         If you lived with people breaking

                         the law and didn't report them,

                         then you may be guilty of

                         conspiracy.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Now I don't know what to do.

 

                                          HEATHER

                         Maybe you should think about it

                         some more.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Okay.

 

          She gets up and moves to the door, where she turns.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Thanks a lot.

 

          Heather smiles and nods.

 

 

          EXT. AIRPORT - DAY

 

          Ann comes down the ramp from a jetliner.

 

 

          INT. AIRPORT - TERMINAL - CAR RENTAL DESK - DAY

 

          Ann has just rented a car.

 

                                          ANN

                         How do I get to the VA Hospital in

                         Vancouver?

 

                                          CAR RENTAL CLERK

                         Well, Vancouver's just across the

                         river.  I'm not sure where the

                         hospital is.

 

                                          ANN

                         Thanks anyway.

 


 

                                                                        86.

 

 

 

          EXT. COLUMBIA RIVER BRIDGE - DAY

 

          Ann's car is crossing the bridge from Portland to Vancouver.

 

 

          INT. CAR

 

          Ann is munching on a candy bar.  Loud rock music plays on

          the radio.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - DAY

 

          Ann's car enters the treatment center and stops at the front

          gate.  The gate guard gives her directions.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - PATIO - DAY

 

          Molly and Roger are playing cards when Ann comes out onto

          the patio.

 

          Seeing her, Molly screams for joy, gets up and rushes into

          her arms.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Why didn't you tell me you were

                         coming?

 

                                          ANN

                         A sudden inspiration.  We need to

                         talk, like privately.  It's

                         important.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         We can't here.  There's an AA

                         meeting tonight.  You could come to

                         it.

 

                                          ANN

                         That'll work.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Ann, Bruce is here.

 

                                          ANN

                         What?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'll tell you all about it tonight.

 


 

                                                                        87.

 

 

 

          EXT. CITY STREET - BUILDING - NIGHT

 

          A van pulls up, letting out a dozen patients from the

          treatment center, including Molly.

 

          They enter a door leading to a basement.

 

 

          INT. BUILDING - BASEMENT - NIGHT

 

          The patients are coming down to an AA meeting.  Folding

          chairs are set up in front of a table, where two people, a

          MAN and a WOMAN, wait to chair the meeting.  Most patients

          head directly for the coffee pot.  Molly finds Ann sitting

          in the back and joins her.  They talk, then get up and go to

          the ladies room together.

 

 

          INT. WOMEN'S ROOM

 

          They enter.  A YOUNG WOMAN is fixing her face at the mirror.

          Molly and Ann wait until she finishes.  Finally the young

          woman leaves.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Now what the hell's going on?

 

                                          ANN

                         The FBI came by.  They're looking

                         for Angela X.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         They must've had a tail on Bruce.

 

                                          ANN

                         I got the impression they don't

                         know much about you, though.  For a

                         minute they even thought I was

                         Angela X.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         There was never a reason for them

                         to have my prints or anything.  A

                         couple bad photos of me is all they

                         should have.  And tapes of whatever

                         they were bugging.

 

                                          ANN

                         I wanted to make sure I got to you

                         before the FBI did.  So what about

                         Bruce?

 

 


 

                                                                        88.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         He visited, before he was kicked

                         out for not being on the list.

 

                                          ANN

                         What are you going to do?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm still safe as long as I'm in

                         treatment.  We'd better get out

                         before the meeting starts.

 

 

          INT. BASEMENT

 

          as they come out and take two chairs near the back of the

          room.  The woman at the table bangs a gavel.

 

                                          AA CHAIR

                         Will the meeting please come to

                         order? . . . This is the regular

                         Tuesday night meeting of the Born

                         Again group.

 

 

          EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT

 

          Bruce approaches on foot.  He enters the door to go down to

          the basement.

 

 

          INT. BASEMENT

 

          The meeting is continuing as Bruce enters.

 

          Molly and Ann are seated conveniently at the rear, their

          backs to him.  He moves to them and leans down, whispering

          with his head close to theirs.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I'm going to be right behind you.

                         After the meeting, when we get

                         outside, you're coming with me.

                         I'm armed, and I have nothing to

                         lose, if you know what I mean.

 

          He quickly gets up and moves away, leaning on the back wall

          to watch the meeting.

 

          Molly and Ann join hands and squeeze.

 


 

                                                                        89.

 

 

 

          AA MEETING - A SERIES OF SHOTS

 

          (A) The chair has the floor.  She's concluding her remarks.

 

                                          AA CHAIR

                         So I can say from experience that

                         this will work if you let it work.

                         And that means doing your program -

                         coming to meetings, doing your

                         steps, calling your sponsor.  It's

                         kept me sober for seven years now.

 

          (B) A young man is very nervous to be there:

 

                                          AA MAN #1

                         My name's Sam, and I'm an

                         alcoholic.

 

          A chorus of "Hi, Sam, welcome," greets him.

 

                                          AA MAN #1

                         I don't know, man.  Like I've been

                         sober 5 days, and for me it's like

                         being in the Guinness Book of

                         Records.  I feel like a Guinness

                         right now, as a matter of fact.

 

          Scattered laughter.

 

                                          AA MAN #1

                         I don't know.  I'm just taking it

                         one day at a time.  I hope I'm here

                         next week.  Thanks.

 

          "Keep coming back" echoes around the room.

 

          (C) The next speaker is a distinguished-looking retired man.

 

                                          AA MAN #2

                         I can remember when I was like that

                         scared young fellow who just

                         talked.

 

          In the back of the room, Bruce is bored.  He had his fill of

          AA meetings in prison.

 

          Molly and Ann sit very still.  They are terrified and unsure

          what to do.

 

          (D) A woman has the floor:

 

 


 

                                                                        90.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          AA WOMAN #1

                         My name's Cindy, and I'm a grateful

                         recovering alcoholic-addict. . . .

                         Me and my Higher Power took a hike

                         in the mountains yesterday, and let

                         me tell you, I should do that sort

                         of thing more often.

 

          (E) The chair has the floor:

 

                                          AA CHAIR

                         The gentleman in the back of the

                         room.  Would you like to share

                         tonight?

 

          She's referring to Bruce, who looks around hoping it's not

          him.  Now everyone waits for him to speak.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         My name's Bruce, and I just feel

                         like listening tonight.

 

 

          EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT

 

          The meeting is over, and people are coming back up onto the

          street.

 

          Molly and Ann come up, with Bruce behind them.  Jewels has

          come out ahead of them and is smoking a quick cigarette on

          the street.  As Bruce directs Molly and Ann to turn down the

          street, away from the van, Jewels wonders what's going on.

 

                                          JEWELS

                         Hey, Molly, you got to go back in

                         the van.

 

          Bruce moves close to Molly.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Ignore him.  Keep going.  It's the

                         white convertible.

 

          Jewels watches the threesome get into the car.

 

          Roger and  Skeeter have come up from the meeting.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         I think she's already on Stage One.

 

 


 

                                                                        91.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          JEWELS

                         She don't watch out, she'll be

                         history.

 

                                          ROGER

                         That guy was kicked out of the area

                         one Sunday.  I think she's in

                         trouble.

 

          They watch the car pull away.

 

          Suddenly Roger makes a decision, running to the treatment

          center van.  He gets in beside the driver.

 

          As much from curiosity as anything, Jewels and Skeeter

          follow and also get into the van.

 

 

          INT. THE VAN - NIGHT

 

          The VAN DRIVER is not staff but a volunteer among the

          patients.

 

                                          ROGER

                         We need to follow that convertible.

 

                                          VAN DRIVER

                         You know better than that.

 

          Roger physically shoves the driver out of the van.  In the

          back, Jewels and Skeeter don't know whether to cheer him on

          or stop him.

 

                                          JEWELS

                         You got big balls, doing that, my

                         friend.  They throw you out on your

                         ear.

 

          Roger gets behind the wheel and starts the engine.

 

                                          ROGER

                         If you're not with me, get the hell

                         out!

 

                                          JEWELS

                         Man, what you think?

 

                                          SKEETER

                         You think she's in trouble?

 

 


 

                                                                        92.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          ROGER

                         I know she doesn't want to see the

                         guy.

 

 

          EXT. BUILDING - STREET - NIGHT

 

          The van peels out, taking after the convertible, as patients

          watch in wonder.

 

 

          INT. CAR - NIGHT

 

          Bruce is driving, with Molly and Ann beside him.  He has

          taken out the pistol and holds it in his left hand.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Where are we going?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         You'll find out soon enough.

 

 

          EXT. VARIOUS STREETS - VAN FOLLOWING CONVERTIBLE - NIGHT

 

          Bruce heads for the bridge across the river to Portland.

          The van follows.

 

          Bruce picks up the freeway.  The skyline of the city can be

          seen ahead.

 

          The van is keeping a comfortable distance back.

 

 

          INT. THE CAR

 

          Bruce still has hold of the pistol.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Heather, you're so full of shit.

                         You could've left any time you

                         wanted.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You'd've beat the shit out of me if

                         I did that.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Bullshit.

 

 


 

                                                                        93.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         You beat the shit out of me for a

                         hell of a lot less.  But dumb

                         goddamn me, I kept hanging around

                         for more.  Well, you're going to

                         have to kill me this time around,

                         Bruce.  I'm tired of running from

                         you.

 

          Bruce's expression reveals that this is a very different

          Molly than he's used to.  Maybe he's bitten off more than he

          can chew.

 

 

          EXT. FREEWAY - NIGHT

 

          The convertible and van continue to approach the city.

 

 

          INT. CAR - NIGHT

 

          Jewels has taken the seat beside Roger, who drives.

 

                                          JEWELS

                         Maybe they haven't spotted us yet.

                         He ain't trying to lose us.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I think we're fine.

 

 

          EXT. PORTLAND DOWNTOWN - STREET - NIGHT

 

          The convertible is downtown, with the van in traffic about

          half a block behind.

 

          The convertible pulls into an underground parking garage.

 

          The van does the same.

 

 

          EXT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT

 

          Bruce parks, and everybody gets out.

 

          Bruce directs Molly and Ann to the elevator.  They step into

          it.

 

 


 

                                                                        94.

 

 

 

 

 

          The elevator door closes as the van comes by.  It stops

          without parking, and the three veterans get out and hurry to

          the elevator.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Shit.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         We can see which floor they stop

                         at.

 

                                          ROGER

                         But then what?  It'll take forever

                         to check out every room.

 

                                          JEWELS

                         We'd better find their asses.

                         Nobody's ever gonna believe this if

                         we don't.

 

          They watch the numbers changing, as the elevator goes up.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          Molly, Ann and Bruce come out of the elevator and, at

          Bruce's direction, move down the hallway.

 

 

          EXT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT

 

          The elevator comes back down, and the three veterans get on.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY

 

          Bruce stops at a door.  He takes out a key.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         In here.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL SUITE

 

          As Bruce, Molly and Ann come into the suite of rooms, Hazel

          is stretched out on a large divan, watching TV and sipping a

          drink.  She's wearing only a flimsy nightgown, quickly aware

          of how exposed she is.

 

 


 

                                                                        95.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          HAZEL

                         Darling, you could've phoned to

                         tell me you were bringing back

                         company!  Excuse me, everyone.

 

          She hurries off to the bedroom to dress.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Make yourself comfortable.  Anybody

                         want a drink?

 

                                          ANN

                         If it's not poisoned, yes.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Not I.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Oh?  Since when?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I've been dry almost a month.  It

                         feels good.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Right.

 

          There's a bar area, and he moves toward it.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Ann, name your poison.  I got vodka

                         and bourbon.

 

                                          ANN

                         Do you have ice?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Of course I have ice.

 

                                          ANN

                         Bourbon on the rocks.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         You sure you don't want anything,

                         Heather?

 

          "Molly" doesn't reply.  Her thoughts are adrift.

 

 


 

                                                                        96.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Heather?  "Molly"?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Oh - I'm sorry.  Nothing for me.

 

          Bruce starts making the drinks.

 

                                          ANN

                         Don't do something that puts you

                         back in prison.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I don't plan to.

 

                                          ANN

                         Could've fooled me.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I'm sorry about your teeth.  I just

                         exploded, it just happened.  It

                         won't happen again.  This damn

                         thing isn't even real.

 

          He tosses the pistol across the room, where it lands on a

          chair.

 

                                          ANN

                         Then what's stopping us from

                         leaving?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I think Heather wants to talk.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Yes, I do.

                              (to Ann)

                         Give us some time alone.

 

                                          ANN

                         You're sure about this?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Positive.  I'll be fine.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Take Hazel with you.

 

                                          ANN

                         Hazel?  The, ah - the one paying

                         for all this, right?

 


 

                                                                        97.

 

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

 

          The elevator stops, and the door opens.  Roger, Jewels and

          Skeeter get out.

 

                                          SKEETER

                         Now what?

 

                                          ROGER

                         Let's split up and listen at doors.

                         Maybe we'll hear something.

                         Anybody got a better idea?

 

          No one does.  Roger points out directions, and they move off

          to cover different areas.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY - FOLLOWING ROGER

 

          as he moves from door to door, listening for something,

          anything.

 

          Suddenly, ahead of him, a door opens, and Ann and Hazel come

          out, heading his way.

 

          Roger moves toward them.  He, of course, recognizes Ann, and

          she him.  But they pass in the hallway without speaking,

          exchanging only a quick knowing glance.

 

          Roger moves past the door until they are out of sight.  Then

          he hurries back to the door of the room they came out of.

 

          He puts his ear to the door, listening.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL ROOM

 

          Molly sits, Bruce paces.  He goes over and mixes another

          drink.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Too bad you had to start drinking

                         again.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Again?  You can get booze or any

                         drug you want in prison.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Oh.

 

 


 

                                                                        98.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          BRUCE

                         Miss Goody Two-Shoes.  You a reborn

                         Christian, too?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Let's get to the point, Bruce.  I

                         told you I'm sorry.  As sorry as I

                         can be, anyway.  I never should

                         have been waiting outside the bank

                         in the first place.  I should have

                         left Last Chapter long before then.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         So why didn't you?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I already told you.  I was

                         terrified to.

 

          Bruce moves to her.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I loved you.  How could you be

                         terrified of me?

 

                                          MOLLY

                         Because you'd get drunk and hit me.

                         Jesus, Bruce.  You knew how you

                         were.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I never meant to hit you, you know

                         that.  We always made up.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I hope they taught you something

                         about anger management in prison.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         They did.  I'm not like that any

                         more.  What happened with Ann, I

                         can't explain it, I felt bad as

                         soon as it happened.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I don't think you felt bad.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I'm a changed man.

 


 

                                                                        99.

 

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY

 

          Roger tries the door.  It's locked.  How to open it?

 

          He gets an idea and moves off.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY - ANOTHER AREA

 

          Roger finds a bellboy moving down the hallway.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Sir!

 

          He quickly catches up with him.

 

                                          ROGER

                         I seem to have locked myself out of

                         my room.

 

                                          BELLBOY

                         No problem.

 

          They move back toward the room together.

 

 

          INT. HOTEL ROOM

 

          The discussion between Molly and Bruce continues.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I stayed because I loved you and

                         because I was afraid to leave.  But

                         when I heard the gun fire, I

                         couldn't go along any more, my gut

                         reaction said run, and that's what

                         I did.  I've been running ever

                         since.

 

          Bruce just looks at her.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         What do you want from me?

 

                                          BRUCE

                         I don't know.  When I got out, I

                         wanted to - I wanted to hurt you.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         And now?

 

 


 

                                                                        100.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          BRUCE

                         What's the point?  When I hit Annie

                         - it just happened.  Like I said, I

                         didn't feel good about it

                         afterwards.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I'm glad.  Maybe that's a start.

 

          Bruce grins at her.  Then, suddenly, without warning, he

          hits her hard.  She goes sprawling.

 

                                          BRUCE

                         You stupid bitch, you're gullible

                         as ever.

 

          He jumps at her just as she moves away.  He chases her

          around the room.

 

 

          INT. HALLWAY

 

          The bellboy unlocks the door, and Roger steps inside.

 

                                          ROGER

                         Appreciate it.

 

                                          BELLBOY

                         No problem.

 

 

          INT. SUITE

 

          as Roger comes in.

 

          Bruce is still chasing Molly.  Roger hurries to Bruce,

          grabbing him, and the two fight.

 

          As they do, Molly tries to position herself to help Roger.

          Bruce is getting the best of the deal when Tom and Skeeter

          come in through the open door.

 

          At least, all three of the men are able to overwhelm Bruce.

 

          As Skeeter and Tom hold Bruce, Roger goes to Molly, and they

          embrace.

 


 

                                                                        101.

 

 

 

          INT. VA MEDICAL CENTER - CLASSROOM - DAY

 

          Molly, Ann, Roger, Skeeter and Jewels sit silently in a

          classroom, waiting.

 

          Tex, Heather and Ray enter the room.

 

                                          TEX

                         We're putting you all on a Stage

                         Two Intervention but letting you

                         stay.

 

          Molly and the others exchange relieved glances, getting the

          news they've been hoping for.

 

 

          EXT. TREATMENT CENTER - PATIO - DAY

 

          Ann is saying goodbye to Molly.

 

                                          ANN

                         I wish I could change your mind.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I need to be here, Ann.  I truly

                         do.

 

                                          ANN

                         I don't see you as being an

                         alcoholic.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I've been drinking to hide my

                         feelings for years.

 

                                          ANN

                         I guess you know what you need.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I need this.  I really do.

 

                                          ANN

                         You're serious here.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         I've never been more serious in my

                         life.  You know what's really

                         crazy?

 

                                          ANN

                         Jesus, what isn't crazy lately?

 

 


 

                                                                        102.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY

                         My name is Molly, and I'm an

                         alcoholic.  Isn't that

                         mind-boggling?

 

          They embrace.

 

 

          INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

 

          It's Molly's turn to read the Opening Statement in front of

          everyone.  She stands at the head of the class.

 

          She reads the statement with great feeling.

 

          As she reads, we see a MONTAGE of earlier scenes from the

          movie, understood in a somewhat different light now.

 

                                          MOLLY

                         "YOU have come to US.  You've said

                         you've decided to change your life.

 

                         "Changing your life is not

                         something that is done to you.  It

                         is something you do to yourself.

                         We will not force you to do

                         anything.  Change is only valid if

                         it comes from within.

 

                         "You will be very uncomfortable

                         here.  You may find this program

                         hard, irritating, stupid and

                         unsatisfactory.  You might become

                         disgusted and want to quit.

 

                         "You will not always understand

                         what is going on, or why.  But you

                         will always be expected to tell the

                         truth and to listen to the truth.

 

                         "Our concept of a meaningful life

                         is not merely to stop drinking or

                         using drugs.  It is to replace that

                         part of yourself that caused

                         destructive self-behavior in the

                         first place.

                                          (MORE)

 

 


 

                                                                        103.

 

 

 

 

 

                                          MOLLY (cont'd)

                         "But before it can be replaced, it

                         must be recognized and examined.

                         'The unexamined life is not worth

                         living,' said Socrates.  We believe

                         that is true.

 

                         "If you're not ready to examine

                         yourself with ruthless

                         self-scrutiny, then you may want to

                         reconsider your reasons for

                         entering this treatment program.

 

                         "You may want to leave before we

                         kick you out."

 

          Molly is now ready to begin recovery.

 

                                                             FADE OUT.