The last script I worked on...

Mooneshadows
© 1995-2003

FADE IN

INT. BEDROOM

The bedroom of CHERRY Moone, (13). Small, sparsely furnished. A small rug covers the unfinished wood floor.

Cherry-a girl with light red hair--stands with her backpack
in hand and looks at a picture of her standing next to a boy,
Josh Daniels.

She picks the picture up and stares at it as she brushes away
a tear.

WEDNESDAY (OS) Cherry! Let's go!

She places the picture back, places her hand on her abdomen
and leaves the room.

EXT. HOUSE--MORNING

A small house out in the middle of nowhere. An old car idles in the driveway.
ALEX Moone (17) stands next to the car

Alex smokes a cigarette with a disgusted look on his face. The house door slams.
WEDNESDAY Moone (15) and Cherry walk to the car.

ALEX
Do you think I have enough gas to
sit here all day?

WEDNESDAY Shut-up, Alex.

Wednesday stands in front of him and holds out her hand. Alex
hands two cigarettes to her.

WEDNESDAY (CONT'D)
I don't see you putting any money
in for gas.

Wednesday opens the passenger side door and climbs into the
back.

Cherry adjusts the front seat and sits down.

Alex takes another drag as he walks to the driver's side.

Whatever.

ALEX

INT. CAR

Alex jumps behind the wheel and revs the engine.

Cherry reads a novel and brushes her hair from her eyes as a shadow falls over her.

EXT. CAR--CONTINUOUS

ALEXIS Moone (17) stands outside the door. Cherry looks up.
ALEXIS
What the hell is this?

ALEX
Cherry's got 'shotgun', Alexis.

ALEXIS Like hell she does!

Wednesday--without looking--flips Alexis off.

ALEXIS (CONT'D) I don't believe this shit.

Alexis climbs into the back as Wednesday slides over and lights her cigarette.

Alex backs the car out as Cherry closes the door. INT. CAR
Alex turns onto the road and floors the accelerator.

ALEX
Here's the deal, people,

The engine whines as he pops the clutch.

ALEX (CONT'D)
I'm not going to put up with what
happened yesterday. I am not going
to chase you guys through Reardan
to bring you home.
(MORE)

ALEX (CONT'D)
If you don't feel like getting to
the car on time, you can ride the
bus or walk thirteen miles home!

Yeah.

ALL

ALEX
I fucking mean it. I'm not a
babysitter or your taxi service.

ALEXIS
We get the point, Alex.

ALEX
Wednesday, I didn't hear you, I--

Fuck you.

WEDNESDAY

ALEX No, fuck you!

Fuck you!

WEDNESDAY

ALEXIS
Will the two of you stop it?
There's entirely too much fucking
going on in this car.

WEDNESDAY
Yeah, like you'd know, Alexis

Cherry clenches up.

ALEX
Shut-up, Wednesday!

Alex slams the brakes at the intersection.

WEDNESDAY
Why? Why should I stop saying
anything I want to? Is this a free
country?

ALEX Shut up, Wednesday!

ALEXIS Shut up, Wednesday!

WEDNESDAY (CONT'D) Fuck you all.

Alex flicks the ashes on his cigarette through a crack in the window.

He looks to his right and left and then pulls out into the lonely highway.

EXT. HIGHWAY.

The highway winds through plains, a wooded canyon and the farmlands of a small town.

INT. CAR

The reflection of a sign--"Welcome to Reardan"--passes over
Cherry's face as she looks out the window.

Alex taps on the wheel with his cigarette; ash and smoke billow to the side and back due to the heater being on.

Cherry glares at Alex as she waves the smoke out of her face.

ALEX
Smoke bothering you, Cherr?

She turns back to her book.

CHERRY
Yes, but do you care?

No.

ALEX

CHERRY You should quit.

ALEX
I don't tell you to smoke do I?

CHERRY Whatever, Alex.

ALEX (Quietly)
Yeah, yeah, whatever.

EXT. SCHOOL CAMPUS

The Reardan-Edwall School District sits all on one campus. Buses crowd all around the front of the school.
Kids run to friends in the courtyard and then file up to the building.

A group stands on the other side of the street with lit cigarettes.

Alex drives up to the side of the building. Cherry climbs out of the car.

CHRISTY Lindenson (14) stands on the sidewalk.

CHRISTY Hey, Cherr.

The girls walk to the building.

Christy.

CHERRY

Christy stares at her.

What?

CHERRY (CONT'D)

CHRISTY Is it true?

Cherry doesn't look at her.

CHRISTY (CONT'D)
It is.you broke up with him, huh?

Cherry brushes her hair from her eyes and nods.

Why?

INT. SCHOOL BUILDING

CHRISTY (CONT'D)

The girls weave around elementary kids as they walk to the
Junior High wing of the building.

CHERRY
I got tired of being compared to
this girl, that girl...you.

Serious? Cherry nods.

CHRISTY

Like, how?

CHRISTY (CONT'D)

CHERRY
My tits weren't as big as yours.

CHRISTY
I don't even think mine are big!

CHERRY
Doesn't matter anymore, Christy.

INT. HALL (THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WING)

Several girls flash stares at Cherry as they walk by.

CHERRY
God, does the whole school know?

She stops in front of a locker.

CHRSTY
Just about--What will you do in
seventh period when you have to be
with Josh in Home Ec?

Cherry unlocks the combination and glances at Christy.

Nothing.

CHERRY

Cherry grabs a book and a large binder.

CHRISTY
You can't be serious.after
everything you two have been
through?

She slams her bad into the bottom of the locker.

CHERRY
I don't care.he can rot in Hell.

She slams the locker door and walks down the hall.

CHRISTY
Oh yeah, you're taking this really
well.

Cherry nods.

CHRISTY (CONT'D) You know he's going to start something, Cherry. Remember when I went out with Dominick one time and what he--

CHERRY
We were friends for a long time
before, Josh isn't going to do that
to me, he has some respect-

CHRISTY
And you really believe that?

CHERRY
He's not that shallow.

CHRISTY
If he doesn't say anything, Chad
will--

REBECCA Petty (14) comes from behind and drapes her arms over them.

BECKY Chad will what?

CHRISTY Chad'll start something.

BECKEY
Start what? What's the deal--?

The three stop and look down the hall.

JOSH Daniels (14) walks alongside CHASTILLE Bergeron, (15). They hold hands.

Cherry closes her eyes as CHAD (13) comes up to the side of
Josh and laughs.

Cherry turns around and walks into a room.

BECKY
Chad's just so fine, he--

Christy grabs Becky's arm and pulls her away. INT. CLASSROOM
A clock on the wall reads 7:55

Cherry walks to the back of the room and sits down in her desk.

A nametag on the desk reads "Cherry Moone". Christy and Becky walk in.
BECKY
I can see why you're pissed.

CHERRY I'm not pissed.

BECKY
Yes, you are. Say it: I'm pissed.

CHERRY Fine.I'm pissed.

She throws her book at the wall.

CHERRY (CONT'D) God dammit!

EXT. FIELD-MIDDAY--FLASHBACK

Cherry runs through tall, dry weeds as Josh chases her. They both laugh as he catches her and tackles her to the ground.

They kiss each other and then stop for a moment. Cherry moves
Josh's free hand down, her eyes are closed.

END FLASHBACK INT. LUNCHROOM
Students line the tables, the room echoes with chatter. Cherry opens her eyes as Becky sits down next to her. Christy sits on the other side, opposite of Cherry.
BECKY
I forgot to say--I had a little run
in with Jamie this morning.

CHRISTY Really? Where's she at?

Christy looks around the lunch room.

BECKY
Bitch went home early. She had this
cut on the back of her head; had
blood oozing from it or something,
I--

CHERRY Do you mind?

She points to a plate of spaghetti and meat sauce.

Becky has a brown bag on the table, next to a can of soda.

BECKY
You're not gonna eat that, are you,
Cherry?

CHERRY
I thought about it.

BECKY
I wouldn't if I were you.

Why?

CHRISTY

BECKY
Look at it! It's looks like a
tampon.

Christy-along with several others within earshot-shove their trays away.

Cherry stare blankly at Becky.

BECKY (CONT'D)
Well, that's what it looks like.
Becky takes out a sandwich, chips and a pack of Twinkies. Cherry and Christy look at each other and then grab at the
Twinkies.

Chad walks up behind Becky and rubs his hands on her shoulders.

BECKY (CONT'D) Down further, baby.

CHAD Hey everyone.

He sits down next to Becky and steals a chip from her. Cherry attempts to ignore him as Christy opens the Twinkies
CHAD (CONT'D)
What happened between you and Josh,
Cherr?

Chad grins.

CHERRY
Oh yeah, like you don't know.

CHAD Well, yeah, I--

CHERRY Fuck you, Chad.

Cherry gets up and leaves.

What?

CHAD

BECKY
Chad, honey, do as she says and
fuck off.

CHAD
Ooh, you're learning.

BECKY From the best.

Becky pecks Chad on the cheek. Cherry storms out.
INT. HALL

Cherry walks to the door to the playground area.

CHAD OS
I tried to talk to him.

Josh? INT. LUNCHROOM

CHRISTY OS

Chad steals a chip from Becky.

CHAD
Yeah.but, you know.there's just no
stopping someone when they're-

CHRISTY
Say 'in love' and lose a body part
you hold so dear.

Chad winces.

CHAD
Hey, not my fault if my friend's in
love with Chastille.

BECKY
He's not in love. He's just horny.

CHAD
Oh, my virgin ears.

Christy looks at Chad and scoffs.

What? INT. HOME EC ROOM

CHAD (CONT'D)

Cherry walks into the kitchen area of the home economics room.

She wears an oversized apron.

MRS. JANTZ walks behind her and addresses the twenty member class

MRS. JANTZ
All right, lets get into groups and
begin. We have a lot to accomplish.
Everything has to be cooked and
ready before class is over. It's
one-thirty five. You have forty
minutes. On task, everyone

Cherry goes to kitchen unit one where Josh leans on the stove.

CRISSY BETTS (13) and LAURA HELMER (13) study a notebook.

In front of them are various ingredients for beef stroganoff.

CRISSY
Glad you could make it, Cherry.
Hope it wasn't too hard on your
social life.

CHERRY
Only for you, Crissy, only for you.

Cherry glares at Josh. He smiles and waves to her as she turns the stovetop dial on.

She stares at Crissy.

CHERRY (CONT'D)
Are we having difficulty figuring
this out?

CRISSY No, I'm not.

LAURA (to Crissy)
This is going to take too long to make.we're going to take too much time prepping and won't have it done by.

CHERRY What are we making?

Cherry grabs the notebook

Laura scoffs.

CHERRY (CONT'D) Stroganoff?

She shoves Laura to the side and grabs the hamburger meat and frying pan.

Cherry tosses the notebook back to them.

CHERRY (CONT'D) Get going on the noodles.

Laura coughs and Crissy mimics Cherry in mock tones as both of them start mixing ingredients.

Josh grins at Cherry as she flips the meat over on the stove.

CHERRY (CONT'D) What's so funny?

JOSH
I just remembered what you used to
say when your brother would try to
cook.

CHERRY
Yeah, well like him, you're an
idiot who doesn't know how to boil
water.

JOSH
I just say let a woman do it.

CHERRY
How is your woman, Josh?

JOSH Jealous, Cherry?

CHERRY Of Chastille?

Yeah.

JOSH

CHERRY
She's fifteen and in eighth grade
for the third time.

So?

JOSH

Crissy and Laura look over as Cherry and Josh talk.

CHERRY
Doesn't that tell you something?
She's brainless, Josh.

JOSH
Get over yourself, Cherry.

CHERRY
You're so full of shit, Josh.

CRISSY
Wait, the two of you aren't going
out anymore?

LAURA
I could have told you that.

Laura moves around Cherry and places a pan on the stove.

CRISSY
So, Josh, why did you break up with
Cherry?

Josh shrugs his shoulders.

CRISSY (CONT'D) Say it, Josh. She's a bitch.

Cherry slams the spatula down and turns to Crissy.

CHERRY Watch it, Bettes!

CRISSY Or what, Moone?

CHERRY
Or you're gonna find your ass on
this stove.

Cherry!

MRS. JANTZ

The rest of the class turns to them

Mrs. Jantz walks over to the group.

MRS. JANTZ (CONT'D) Is there a problem here?

CRISSY No, Mrs. Jantz.

MRS. JANTZ
Finish the lab. Cherry, I'll see
you after class.

Cherry closes her eyes and sighs. EXT. SCHOOL-AFTERNOON
Cherry, Becky and Christy walk down the sidewalk.

Becky looks behind her and then lights a cigarette as they cross the road.

BECKY
I need to quit smoking.

CHRISTY
The best way would be to not start.

BECKEY
Yeah, eh, but too late for that,
you know.

She passes the cigarette to Cherry. Cherry takes a deep breath and starts to cough.

CHRISTY
By the way, Cherr, when did you
start?

Christy takes the cigarette.

CHERRY
Today, right now. Don't have any
food at my house, so eating away my
sorrows is out.

BECKY
You want me to loan you some?

Christy hands it back to Becky.

CHERRY
I'll steal some of Alex's.

She coughs again.

BECKY
You'll get used to it.

Choking?

CHERRY

BECKY
Yeah, that and turning green...
goes away after awhile.

CHERRY
We're all gonna die someday.

CHRISTY
Yeah, see, now that's the Reardan
underachiever mantra; you're
getting there, Cherry.

Swell.

CHERRY

Cherry stops as she looks across the street and sees Josh with Chastille.

His hand lies deep in her back pocket.

CHERRY (CONT'D)
Do you know what really pisses me
off about all this?

The three stare at Josh.

CHERRY OS
We used to be friends and now he
won't talk to me and when he does
now, it's a load of sh-

Cherry violently coughs as Alex pulls up behind them. Alexis sits in the passenger side.
ALEX Get in, Cherry!

Alexis opens the door and climbs out.

CHERRY Where's Wednesday?

ALEX Ask me if I care.

Alex.

CHERRY

ALEX
Paul's taking her home, I guess.I
don't fucking know!

Cherry waves to Christy and Becky and climbs into the backseat.

INT. CAR

Alexis closes the door and the car fires forward.

ALEX He's a prick.

Paul?

ALEXIS

ALEX
Who else? It's easy to know what he
wants. And you know that he's
getting it.

Alexis nods.

ALEX (CONT'D) Wednesday's bought up on the love and marriage shit.oh yeah, like that's gonna ever happen.

Cherry lies down in the backseat and closes her eyes. EXT. WOODED AREA--FLASHBACK
Cherry leads Josh to the same location as earlier. They each wear light jackets.

JOSH
Is this the spot?

Mmm-hmm

CHERRY

They stop. Cherry turns to him and looks into his eyes.

JOSH
Is this your surprise?

CHERRY
Not much of a surprise.

I see.

JOSH

She takes his jacket off of him and lays it on the ground.

CHERRY Not all of it.

She moves to him and kisses him, deeply.

The two then slowly move closer together. Cherry takes Josh's shirt off. He looks down at her and then looks at her face.

What?

CHERRY (CONT'D)

JOSH
Nothing, just seeing how beautiful
you look.

Thank you.

CHERRY

She looks to ground, insecure of Josh's compliment. Josh moves to take off Cherry's jacket.
She moves around him and takes her shirt off.E the

Both move closer to each other and continue to look lost in the moment.

JOSH I love you.

Cherry closes her eyes and whispers back to him.

CHERRY I love you too.

END FLASHBACK

INT. CAR-EVENING

ALEX (OS) Cherry, we're home.

Cherry sits up, gets out of the car and looks toward the wooded area.

INT. BEDROOM
Cherry throws her bag on the floor and walks to the shelf. She picks up the picture and in one fail swing smashes it on
the corner of the shelf.

She then leaves the room and climbs down the ladder. INT. KITCHEN
Wednesday stands in front of a stove cooking steaks.

WEDNESDAY Hey, Cherr, hungry?

CHERRY What are you making?

WENDESDAY
Uh, nothing, trying a few things
out with some of the steaks.

CHERRY
We're not supposed to do anything
with those steaks. Mom said-

WEDNESDAY
I'll buy some more, you want one or
not?

Cherry nods as PAUL MICHEALS (18) walks in and stands behind
Wednesday.

Paul's long hair, several earrings and overall persona holds a foreseen slacker attitude.

He whispers in Wednesday's ear. She laughs.

Cherry walks out of the kitchen and into the living room. INT. LIVING ROOM
Alex sits at the end of the couch with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

ALEX Stupid bitch.

Cherry looks at the television. "Wheel of Fortune" plays.

ALEX (CONT'D)
It's an easy puzzle: "Around the
River bend". Anyone could guess
that, you nimrod!

CHERRY
You're yelling at the TV, Alex.

Alex grins at her.

ALEX
It doesn't yell back at me. Never
hurts to vent frustrations.

CHERRY
You're frustrated at a pre-recorded
game show contestant?

ALEX
No, at the fact that I'm not on it.

WEDNESDAY (OS)
You couldn't win on that anyway,
Alex.

ALEX
Yeah, uh-huh, sure Wednesday. Hey,
spell: 'a'.

Cherry looks in the kitchen as Wednesday flips off Alex, from his vantage point, he doesn't see her.

CHERRY
When's Mom getting home?

ALEX
I don't know. Won't be too hard to
notice when she gets home though.

He points to the kitchen, towards Wednesday. Cherry nods.
TELEVISION OS I'd like a G, please.

A buzzer goes off.

INT. BEDROOM

Cherry picks up the shattered picture frame and removes the picture. She turns it over to reveal a note: "Friends, lovers, together eternal."

She crushes the picture. INT. LIVING ROOM
Alex sets his coffee cup down on the table.

Dammit!

CHERRY (OS)

ALEX Works, doesn't it?

TELEVISION OS
I'd like to solve the puzzle: Just
around the river bend.

ALEX
Bout fucking time, moron!

He lights another cigarette.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Too many idiots getting the good
life.

INT. GROCERY STORE

Alexis stands at her register.

WES Callaghan (17) stands at the end of the counter as a courtesy clerk (bagboy)

She checks out a rather large woman.

The woman buys a load of food, candy, cigarettes and beer

Too many.

ALEX OS

ALEXIS
Your total is 125 dollars and forty
cents.

The woman hands over a fifty dollar bill and a wad of food stamps.

Alexis taps at her computer.

ALEXIS (CONT'D)
I'm sorry, you're a little short.

WOMAN By how much?

ALEXIS
Eight dollars and twenty-cents.

The woman walks to Wes, sneers, and takes out three bags of produce.

She hands them back to Alexis.

Alexis swipes them over the register again. The register whirs.
ALEXIS (CONT'D) And here's your change.

She hands the woman the difference.

WES
Thank you for shopping at Pack and
Save.

The woman mutters unintelligibly as she walks to the exit.

ALEXIS
Classic example of what's wrong
with the world, Wes.

She turns off her light as Wes passes by and puts a "register closed" sign up.

Yep.

WES

ALEXIS
Bet she owns a Jag too. Five
cartons of Marlboros.

She takes her till out and walks alongside Wes to the customer service booth.

WES
Some people just get the breaks,
Al.

She nods.

WES (CONT'D)
So, how's life at Reardan doing for
you?

ALEXIS
It sucks; Wes.you were luck to get
out of there.

She walks inside the booth. Wes leans on the counter.
NATE VO
Wes, could you come to the freight
room, please?

WES
I don't know.sometimes I wish I
were still there.

Why?

ALEXIS

Alexis counts down her till.

WES
I miss a lot of things about
Reardan: the football games, the
teachers, my naptime during US
History.you.

Alexis stops and looks at Wes.

WES (CONT'D)
Seriously, I miss talking to you.
My lunchtime is just not the same
now.

ALEXIS
So.what--do you want me to follow
you to your new school?

WES
Well, why not? I don't recall you
saying that going to Reardan was a
Godsend.

NATE VO
Wes, could you come to the freight
room, now.

He walks around the other side of the booth.

WES Think about it.

I will.

ALEXIS

She looks at him as he walks away. INT. BEDROOM-NIGHT
Cherry wakes up and rubs her red, swollen eyes. She then leaves the room and climbs back downstairs.

INT. KITCHEN

A disaster area.

Alex steps in after Cherry as LINDA Moone (39) walks into the house.

Linda wears a long flannel shirt, work pants and the looks of an over-worked single parent.

ALEX You're home early.

Alex walks over to the counter and grabs another coffee cup.

LINDA
Yeah, I was able to escape. You
going to get Alexis?

ALEX
Off at nine-thirty.

He pours coffee into the cup.

Cherry looks at the clock on the wall. It reads 8:55.

LINDA
Be careful driving out there.

ALEX I hear you mom.

Alex closes the door as he leaves the house.

Cherry walks over to the sink and begins filling it with water.

LINDA Where's Wednesday?

With Paul.

CHERRY

LINDA
Did she say when she'd get back?

CHERRY Does she ever?

Linda mutters under her breath as she walks into the living room.

Cherry follows.

CHERRY (CONT'D) Do you want any coffee?

Cherry looks out the Window as Alex pulls out of the driveway.

Another car pulls into the driveway.

LINDA Yeah, thanks.

Cherry nods and walks to the kitchen. INT. KITCHEN
LINDA OS
Cherry? Do you know what happened
to the steaks I bought?

No. INT. LIVING ROOM

CHERRY

Bullshit.

LINDA

Cherry looks on the floor and sees a steak bone lying next to the trash.

Wednesday?

LINDA (CONT'D)

Cherry doesn't answer as she throws the bone away and then pours a cup of coffee.

Wednesday and Paul walk in.

WEDNESDAY Hello, all.

Cherry turns off the faucet, grabs the coffee cup and follows
Wednesday and Paul into the living room.

WEDNESDAY (CONT'D) Mom, did you get the mail?

Linda lights a cigarette and takes off her shoes.

LINDA
Do you really think I went by
Reardan?

WEDNESDAY
Well, uh, don't you think you
should?

Maybe.

LINDA

Cherry hands her the cup and then sits on the opposite side of the couch.

Paul parts his hair and looks at Cherry, eyeing her.

PAUL
How are you, Cherry?

Fine.

CHERRY

PAUL Great, you--

WEDNESDAY
You haven't checked the mail in
over two weeks. We could have won
Publisher's Clearing House and have
the winning envelope.

LINDA Yeah, right.

WEDNESDSAY
Could I have the key and go check
it?

LINDA
A little late to be doing that,
isn't it?

WEDNESDAY No, not really.

Paul smiles at Cherry. She turns away and picks up a book.

LINDA
Yeah, yeah, go check it.

She picks up her jacket from off the floor and fishes for the key. She then tosses it to Wednesday.

LINDA (CONT'D) Don't lose that key.

I won't.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday leads Paul out of the room and out the door again. Cherry gets up and walks into the bathroom.
INT. BATHROOM

She looks at her face in the mirror and then she lifts her shirt midway up, moving her hands downward.

She then shakes her head and lowers her shirt.

LINDA (OS)
The kitchen isn't going to clean
itself, Cherry.

Cherry's face falls as she opens the door. EXT. GROCERY STORE-NIGHT
Alexis stands next to the building.

Wes walks up to her as he pushes a row of carts.

WES Waiting for Alex?

Alexis nods.

WES (CONT'D) How's he doing?

ALEXIS
Still Alex; still the condom poster
child.

Wes shoves the carts forward and into the store.

Hey, Wes.

ALEXIS (CONT'D)

He walks back outside.

Hmm?

WES

ALEXIS
I'm still thinking about what you
said.

WES
Hey, I'd even come out to get you.

ALEXIS
That's an hour, roundtrip, out of
your way.

He nods.

WES Yeah, but--

Alexis stares at him.

WES (CONT'D) I was thinking that-

A horn beeps.

Alexis turns to see Alex's car.

ALEX
Are you through with your romantic
goodbyes?

ALEXIS See, same Alex.

WES
Yeah, can I call you?

ALEXIS
Yeah, umm, Yes, yeah, give me a
call in a few hours.

I will.

WES

Alex honks the horn again.

Bye.

ALEXIS

Bye.

WES

She walks to the car as Alex revs the engine. INT. CAR
Alex lights another cigarette as the door closes.

ALEXIS
You know, you could benefit from
someone like Wes.

The car moves forward.

ALEX
How? Leave the school after staging
a small protest against the
administration, causing four more
people.including his now ex-
girlfriend to be expelled? Oh yeah,
sign me up.

ALEXIS
He was making a statement.

ALEX
He's a moron. There, I made a
statement too.

Alexis looks back to Wes as he continues to corral shopping carts.

INT. KITCHEN

The clock on the wall now reads 10:05. The kitchen stands immaculately clean. INT. LIVING ROOM
Cherry and Linda sit in the same positions, as they were earlier. Linda thumbs through a magazine as Cherry continues to read her book.

The kitchen door opens.

Alexis storms into the living room. Alex follows.

ALEXIS
You need to tell him how to drive!

What?

LINDA

(to Alex)
How fast were you driving?

ALEXIS Like, over eighty.

No.

ALEX

How fast?

LINDA

ALEXIS
He was going over eighty, and-

Linda snaps her fingers at her and stares at Alex.

ALEX
Sixty-five, mom, tops.

ALEXIS That's bullshit.

Cherry cringes.

LINDA
You were going sixty-five?

Yeah.

ALEX

Alex motions for Cherry to move. She shifts her position so he can sit down.

Liar!

ALEXIS

ALEX Yeah, whatever.

ALEXIS
You took every single curve on the
highway at seventy!

ALEX
No, I didn't. I took the curves at
a safe speed.

ALEXIS
What do you consider a safe speed?

ALEX Fifty-five.

ALEXIS
The sign says thirty!

ALEX
I can drive at fifty-five miles an
hour on a curve and be safe doing
it.

ALEXIS
Safe!? You've rolled that car once
already.

ALEX
That was an accident.

ALEXIS So was your birth.

Alex stands up in Alexis' face.

ALEX
Oh, good one, you been practicing?

ALEXIS
Been waiting to say it for quite a
while.

ALEX
Happy to oblige, bitch.

Alexis' hands clench.

ALEXIS
Oh, you want to see a bitch, do
you?

Enough!

LINDA

They stare down one another; eyes burn in anger.

LINDA (CONT'D)
Both of you go to your rooms. I
don't want to hear anymore from
either of you!

They storm off to their rooms; Alex, down the hall; Alexis, upstairs.

LINDA (CONT'D) (Mutter)
Son of a bitch.

Cherry turns back to her original position, her book in her face. Title: "Flowers in the Attic".

INT. BEDROOM--MORNING

Cherry lies asleep; wearing the same clothes she wore the other night.

INT. BEDROM

Paul walks into Alex's bedroom and starts to rummage through CD's. He picks up five of them, puts one back and then picks it up again. He then turns several dials on an old stereo and then flips the on switch.

LOUD MUSIC pours out from the speakers. Paul leaves the room with the CD's.
INT. LIVING ROOM

Paul walks over to a bag and puts four of the CD's into it. The bag contains other things as well.

INT. BEDROOM

Cherry wakes up with a scowl on her face.

CHERRY Alex, geez!

INT. LIVING ROOM

Several teenagers sit and talk in the living room. The door to Alex's room stands open.

INT. BEDROOM

Cherry walks to the room. The stereo blares.
She looks at the clock on his dresser. It reads 9:30. Her jaw drops as she runs out of the room and into the
kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN

More teenagers crowd the kitchen.

Wednesday stands with Paul in front of the stove.

She fries bacon while he holds onto a CD in his hand. Cherry glares at the sight before her: an unsightly mess.
CHERRY
Do you have any idea what time it
is?

Yep.

WEDNESDAY

CHERRY Where's Alex--?

WEDNESDAY
Alexis rode the bus, Alex left
early this morning.

Left?

CHERRY

EXT. DRIVEWAY--MORNING

Five cars are parked erratically.

Cherry hits the side of the house and walks back in. INT. KITCHEN
Cherry picks up the phone in the kitchen and dials.

CHERRY
Yes, Alex Moone please.

PAUL Alex left you?

Cherry scoffs at him.

ALEX (muffled)
Hello?

CHERRY
What the Hell were you thinking!

Three teenagers walk by her and out the door.

ALEX (muffled)
Cherry?

Wednesday takes down several plates from the counter; but one falls to the floor and smashes into pieces.

WEDNESDAY Oops, eh, who cares?

CHERRY
Who the hell else? Why didn't you
wake me up this morning?

ALEX (muffled)
Maybe I didn't want to...I'm not your dad.

CHERRY
Thank God for that. Alex-

ALEX (muffled)
Just take the day off, Cherr...

CHERRY
I don't want to take the day off,
Alex. Wednesday may want to, but I
don't--

Wednesday and Paul kiss each other as she continues cooking bacon.

INT. HALLWAY

Alex stands at a window to the school office, the phone cord drags out into the hallway.

ALEX
Then ask Paul to give you a ride to
school.

CHERRY OS
Take some responsibility you prick!

Cherry--

ALEX

The line clicks dead.

INT. BEDROOM

Cherry runs out of her room with jeans and t-shirt on and backpack in hand.

INT. KITCHEN

Wednesday stands next to the trash as she pitches the broken plate into it.

WEDNESDAY Where are you going?

To school.

CHERRY

Cherry opens the door.

WEDNSDAY
Is Alex coming to pick you up?

CHERRY Yeah, right.

Cherry slams the door on her way out. EXT. ROAD-MORNING
Cherry walks down the road, her head down. INT. KITCHEN-FLASHBACK
A phone rings.

Alexis walks in from the living room and picks it up.

ALEXIS Hello? Oh, yeah, sure.

She puts the phone down.

ALEXIS (CONT'D) Cherry! Phone!

She then walks back to the living room.

Cherry climbs down the ladder and runs to the kitchen.

Hello?

CHERRY

Cherry?

JOSH (OVER PHONE)

CHERRY
Hi, Josh, what'cha doing?

JOSH (OVER PHONE) Nothing really.

CHERRY
Oh, well, I'm sorry about what I
said earlier, I-

JOSH (OVER PHONE)
No, it's okay, I shouldn't have
said that, but, well-

What?

CHERRY

JOSH (OVER PHONE)
I'm going out with Chastille now,
I-

What?

CHERRY

JOSH (OVER PHONE) I-

CHERRY
No, I didn't just hear you say
that.

I am.

JOSH (OVER PHONE)

What?

CHERRY

JOSH (OVER PHONE) I'm sorry, I-

CHERRY
You're sorry? You're sorry?!

INT. LIVING ROOM

Linda, Alex and Alexis look to the kitchen.

ALEX
Who's she talking to?

ALEXIS Josh Daniels.

ALEX
It's like they're married.

Alexis turns back to her book.

LINDA
Has he come over when I'm not here?

Alex and Alexis look at each other for a moment.

ALEX
No, not to my knowledge.

Bullshit.

LINDA

ALEXIS
Well, we're always here and so it's
not like they're ever out of our
sight.

Linda holds her head.

LINDA
Just what I need.a pregnant
daughter.

Linda gets up and walks out back to her room as Cherry stands in the doorway.

FLASHBACK ENDS

EXT. ROAD--AFTERNOON

Cherry continues to walk, her face tear-streaked.

ALEXIS OS Hey, hey Alex--

INT. CLASSROOM

Alexis walks into the room as Alex slams his book on a desk.

ALEXIS
You did pick up Cherry, right?

ALEX
No, it wasn't my turn to get her
up.

ALEXIS
God, Alex, it's almost two and you
didn't even bother to go and get
her during lunch?

ALEX
What did I say yesterday? Was
it.I'm not a taxi, not the private
chauffer? You tell me.

ALEXIS
Dammit, Alex.if she tries to walk
to school again you're the one
who's gonna be screwed.

Alex waves her off.

ALEXIS (CONT'D) Your funeral, not mine.

Alexis turns to leave.

ALEX
Be sure you plant nice flowers on
my plot.

ALEXIS Lots of nightshade.

EXT. HOUSE

Christy's home. She stands in an upstairs window and looks out.

INT. BEDROOM

Cherry lies sprawled out on a bed.

CHRISTY OS
You want to tell me why you walked
from home to Reardan?

A clock on the wall reads five o'clock.

CHERRY
Because I want to nail my brother's
ass, that's why.

Christy hands her a cigarette.

Really?

CHRISTY

CHERRY
No, I guess just need to.to vent.

CHRISTY
Next time just try a case of beer.

Cherry nods.

Christy sits behind her.

CHERRY
I really wanted it to work,
Christy. I really did.

Josh?

CHRISTY

CHERRY
Yeah, to think we could've lasted.

Cherry sits up and lays the unlit cigarette down.

CHRISTY
Josh is, was, will be, a total
loser, okay? Just move on away from
him, and let it go.

CHERRY
You don't understand. He said he
loved me and I said I loved him,
and-

CHRISTY
And he fucked you up good.

Cherry stares at the floor.

CHERRY
I don't want to think of it that
way.

CHRISTY
What else do you call it? You're
thirteen, he's fourteen.yeah, true
love at first sight.

CHERRY
I didn't have sex with him to make
him stay with me, Christy.

CHRISTY
I know, but everything changed
after that, didn't it?

CHERRY
Yeah-we kept doing it. Not the best
thing to do, I guess.

CHRISTY
I could say something about your
name and the-

CHERRY Please don't.

Cherry picks another cigarette up; Christy lights it.

CHRISTY Love's a bitch, Cherry.

CHERRY Life's a bitch.

Christy sits next to her and takes the cigarette.

CHRISTY And then you die.

Cherry nods.

EXT. HIGHWAY-EVENING

Linda's car drives down the highway. INT. CAR
Linda's expression tenses.

Cherry looks out the passenger side.

LINDA
What the fuck were you thinking
Cherry? I come home and you're not
there and nobody knows where you
are! How do I know you're not dying
out in the middle of a ditch
somewhere?

CHERRY
I was trying to go to school.

LINDA
You were trying to go to school?

Yes.

CHERRY

LINDA
Why didn't you go with Alex and
Alexis?

CHERRY No one woke me up.

LINDA
That's your responsibility, Cherry,
not anyone else's.

CHERRY
Then how do I get to school? If he
wants to leave without waking me up
or he just wants to leave without
telling me...he does it. How am I
supposed to deal with that? You're
never home to see these things.

LINDA
What do you want me to do, Cherry?
Quit my job and sit on my ass all
day and collect welfare and food
stamps?

CHERRY
No, I just wish you'd be a mom
sometime.

Linda slams the brakes; the car comes to a stop.

LINDA
I'm not being a Mom? Do you know
what I do? I sacrifice my life for
my damn kids. I'm trying to keep us
going here and it seems all you
care to do is break everything up.

CHERRY
Me? Why does it always fall on me?

LINDA
Because I expect better from you.

Linda shifts back into first and accelerates.

CHERRY
Why? Am I not allowed to fuck
everything up like Alex or
Wednesday?

She slams the brakes again.

LINDA
I don't want to hear you talking
like ever again, Cherry Aylesea.

Cherry looks back at her and then back to the window as Linda shifts again.

INT. LAUNDRY ROOM

Alex takes clothes out of the dryer as Cherry storms by.

ALEX Hey, Cherr-

CHERRY Go to Hell, Alex.

ALEX Already there.

LINDA Quiet Alex.

Alex nods and continues to work. INT. KITCHEN
Alexis sits on the counter top and talks on the phone.

ALEXIS
My mom just retrieved my little
sister.yeah, she tried to walk to
school again, she-

LINDA OS
Alexis, get off the phone!

INT. BEDROOM

Cherry climbs the ladder and walks into her room.

Really?

WEDNESDAY (OS)

PAUL(OS) Yeah, we could.

WEDNESDAY (OS)
Then I can leave this hell-spawned
house.

Cherry slams her backpack down loudly.

WEDNESDAY (OS) (CONT'D) Have a good day at school, Cherry?

Cherry shakes her head and lies down on her bed. INT. BEDROOM
Wednesday's room lies spacious but sparsely furnished. A king mattress lies in the center of the room on top of a stack of unused drywall.

Wednesday snuggles up to Paul and twirls the necklace he wears as they look through a Bridal magazine.

WEDNESDAY I want that one.

She points to a dress.

Sexy.

PAUL

WEDNESDAY
We need to order, like, mass
invitations.

PAUL
How many people do you plan on
inviting?

WEDNESDAY
You're family's pretty big, our
friends, I want them all there when
we get married.

Paul nods as he leans over and kisses her. INT. BEDROOM
Cherry leans on the side of her bed and cries. EXT. FIELD-MIDDAY--FLASHBACK
Cherry and Josh walk together through a dry field located behind Cherry's house.

JOSH
School starts up again soon.

CHERRY
I know. I wish we had more classes
together.

JOSH
There's always next year.

He stands atop a rock and spreads his arms out.

JOSH (CONT'D)
Wouldn't it be great, Cherry, to
leave everything behind?

She nods.

JOSH (CONT'D)
My family, yours.we could win the
lottery or something and just
forget they all existed-be free to
do whatever the hell we wanted.

CHERRY
I couldn't leave them forever,
Josh.

He steps down and holds her hand.

JOSH
Yeah, but we can always dream it's
just us. Maybe one day we'll get
married or something?

Cherry nods.

JOSH (CONT'D) You ever think about it?

Sometimes.

CHERRY

She smiles and looks to him with shy eyes.

Here.

CHERRY (CONT'D)

Cherry reaches into her pocket and takes out a folded piece of paper.

JOSH What is it?

CHERRY A poem.about us.

Josh's eyes light up as he reads.

JOSH
Early morning paints the
sky.there's no one like you,
Cherry.

Cherry smiles and kisses him on the cheek as he continues to read.

ALEXIS (OS)
Cherry! Get back here and finish
the living room!

Cherry looks back to her house, Josh looks back as well.

JOSH
Why is she such a bitch?

CHERRY
Broke up with a boyfriend.her third
one.I guess.

JOSH
She just needs to learn to get over
it.

Josh holds onto her by the waist, Cherry stands uncomfortably.

Yeah.

CHERRY

INT. BEDROOM--BACK TO SCENE

Cherry lies asleep, her hand lying on her heart. INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY-THE NEXT DAY
Cherry walks down the hallway, her head down.

Hey there.

CHRISTY

CHERRY Hi, Christy.

CHRISTY
Your mom threw it at you, didn't
she?

Cherry nods.

CHRISTY (CONT'D)
Does she only get mad at you or
something?

CHERRY
Wednesday can steal money, date a
loser who pawns our stuff; Alexis
can be a bitch and Alex can screw
things up but I can't do anything
because, apparently, I'm supposed
to know better.

Cherry slams her hand into her locker.

Christy's eyes widen as Cherry holds her hand in place against the metal.

Becky runs up to them.

BECKY
Oh shit, shit, shit...

What?

CHRISTY

BECKY
Uhhh, Cherry we have to talk about
something.

What?

CHERRY

You mean? Becky nods.

CHRISTY

What?

CHERRY

Becky motions for her them to follow her down the hall. INT. CLASSROOM
They walk into a classroom and look on a blackboard.

Oh God.

CHERRY

The girls look at a scrawled-out picture and writing: "Cherry is a cunt, for a good time call, 796-2369"

CHRISTY
You were saying that he wasn't
shallow?

Cherry stares at the blackboard.

BECKY
Let's go kick his ass.

Josh?

CHRISTY

Yeah.

BECKY

No.

CHERRY

Cherry picks up an eraser.

BECKY Then, can I?

The bell rings. INT. CLASSROOM
Cherry sits in her desk, taking notes as the teacher speaks.

TEACHER
We need subject and verb agreement
at all times. Now, for the life of
me, I do not understand what the
issue is we're having with this
unit, class.

The teacher turns to the blackboard and begins to write. Cherry brushes her hair back and notices a BOY staring at her
BOY (whisper)
Cherry?

She ignores him.

BOY (CONT'D) (whisper)
Cherry.

She looks up to him.

BOY (CONT'D) (whisper)
Do you want to do it sometime?

She stares back at him.

He motions a thrust at her and grins.

Cherry looks at the teacher, sees her back still to the class, and flips him off.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY

Alex walks down the hallway and passes by Wednesday and
Paul's locker.

He eyes something on the top shelf.

He takes out several CD's that have his initials in the lower corner.

He also finds a receipt from a used CD store.

ALEX Son of bitch.

He takes the CD's from the locker and walks down the hallway. EXT. BALLFIELD--NOON
Becky stands next to the fence as Cherry sits on the ground with Christy.

CHERRY
I need to talk to him.

Why?

BECKY

CHERRY I just have to.

Christy looks to Becky, who nods.

CHRISTY Oh my God, no.

Cherry looks ahead and sees Josh and a lot of other boys playing touch football.

CHERRY
I can't though.not after everything
that's been going on, I-and
especially not yet.I have to find
out first to make sure.

CHRISTY
You mean you don't know?

BECKY I'll bet you are

Christy slaps Becky's ankle as Cherry cries.

CHRISTY
Why don't you come over tonight,
Cherr, and we'll talk about it.

She nods again.

EXT. WOODED AREA--EVENING

Cherry sits in the same position. Her eyes red. She then stands up and looks down to the ground. She scuffs her shoes in the dust and dry grass.

She walks back to the house. EXT. DRIVEWAY
Alex-with cigarette in mouth-studies something under the hood before he climbs underneath the car and looks at the wheels.

CHERRY What are you doing?

ALEX
Just doing a bit of tuning.Hey
Cherr, do you know where we can get
a hold of a steering shaft?

No.

CHERRY

ALEX
Gonna need one soon, eh, we'll live
though.

He stands back up.

ALEX (CONT'D)
You going to Christy's, right?

She nods.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Well, get your stuff together.

She walks back to the house. INT. BEDROOM
Alexis' bedroom lies in perfect order.

A stereo quietly plays country music as Cherry walks in with her backpack and looks behind her before she walks to the dresser.

She opens a jewelry box and pulls out the small drawer to expose a roll of bills.

She takes a ten, puts it in her backpack and then replaces the box before she leaves the room.

INT. KITCHEN

Ready? Cherry enters.

ALEX

'Kay.

CHERRY

ALEX
Let's go get her majesty.

EXT. HIGHWAY

The car weaves around the corners at a high speed.

ALEX
You've been quiet lately.

CHERRY Nothing much to say.

ALEX
Ah.are you still mad about the
other day?

She shakes her head as he lights a cigarette.

ALEX (CONT'D)
I didn't think it was going to be a
big deal to you, Cherr.

CHERRY Forget about it.

ALEX
Just do me a favor, don't become a
bitch like Alexis. I'll be glad
when she gets her own damn license.

CHERRY
Then she wouldn't pay you to drive
her to work.

ALEX
It's not worth the headache to
drive with her. You seem to not
care how I drive.

I don't.

CHERRY

ALEX
Which is why I think we get along
so well.

CHERRY
I don't have any money, Alex.

ALEX
This isn't about money, just trying
to make conversation.

CHERRY
I don't feel like talking right
now.

ALEX
Wish I had a damn radio in this
car.

INT. GROCERY STORE

Alex walks inside the store. Cherry follows him, but breaks away and walks down an aisle.

Wes stands at the end of one of the aisles and watches
Cherry.
She unzips her backpack and moves the money to her pocket. Cherry stands next to the pharmacy and looks through the
shelves until her eyes lock on a series of boxes: pregnancy
tests.

Wes watches her from the end of the aisle.

She takes one of the boxes off the shelf and stares at the
11.95 price tag.

CHERRY (whisper)
I have to know.

She looks around and walks away from the department. She glances to her backpack and unzips it.

Wes looks to Alexis as she walks to the customer service booth.

Cherry walks to a front register, takes a soda from a cooler and places it on the belt.

CHECKER Good evening.

The bottle goes over the scanner.

CHECKER (CONT'D) Is that everything?

Cherry nods.

CHECKER (CONT'D) Dollar seven, please.

Cherry hands the money over and avoids the checker's eyes.

CHECKER (CONT'D) Thank-you, have a good day.

Alex stands at the end of the register, they walk back to customer service.

ALEX
Thought you didn't have any money?

Alexis counts through her money.

CHERRY
I bought a coke, Alex, okay?

ALEX
She thinks I'm trying to hit her up
for money.

ALEXIS
You usually do, Alex.

ALEX
You usually do, Alex.whatever.

WES (OS) Hello, Alex.

Wes.

ALEX

WES Hi, Cherry.

She waves.

ALEXIS
Wes, can you call me later on
tonight?

How late?

WES

Midnight?

ALEXIS

WES Whatever you wish.

Alex rolls his eyes.

Alexis slams her till closed and drops the money bag into a safe drop door-all with a smile to Wes.

EXT. PARKING LOT-NIGHT

The three walk to the car.

ALEX
You know what your problem is,
Alexis?

ALEXIS
Oh, please tell me, Dad.

ALEX
You take everything too seriously.

She opens the passenger door.

ALEXIS
Oh, so glad you noticed.

INT. CAR

Cherry sits in the back and looks out the window.

ALEXIS
I have to. I'm trying to keep a
four point and a job.both of which
you don't even try to do.

Alex lights a cigarette.

ALEX
I don't kiss ass, unlike you.

Alex turns the engine over and shifts into first.

ALEXIS
Working and studying hard does not
mean I kiss ass.

ALEX
Well, what did you kiss to get so
far.or would that be suck?

The car drives to the end of the parking lot.

ALEXIS
That's exactly what I mean: This
family is full of slackers and
deviants.

ALEX
Oh spare me your English
enlightenment.

ALEXIS
I'm going to be someone, Alex. I'm
not going to be some knocked up
bitch that drops out of school
because her boyfriend dumps her and
tells her to get lost.

Cherry's attention goes to Alexis, but she then leans back against the door with her eyes closed.

ALEX
Oh no, of course not.that would
never happen to anyone like you
Alexis.Miss high and mighty.

ALEXIS Whatever, Alex.

ALEX
However, I think Wes has other
plans.

ALEXIS
Wes and I are friends.

ALEX
Oh yeah, sure.keep protecting your
ego, go ahead.

ALEXS
I don't have time for a
relationship, Alex and even if I
did.

ALEX
So, you're telling me that Wes
doesn't do anything for you?
(to Cherry)
What do you think Cherry.ah she's
asleep.

ALEXIS
She's always asleep the past few
days. Besides, what would she know?

ALEX
She's got a boyfriend.

ALEXIS
A boyfriend? Josh Daniels? Yeah,
that's going to last.

ALEX
You never know.they've lasted
longer than any of your
relationships.

ALEXIS Fuck you, Alex.

ALEX
Ooh, did I strike a nerve?

ALEXIS
Junior high love, please. Eighth
graders understanding concepts of
love or sex.complete and utter
bullshit.
(MORE)

ALEXIS (CONT'D)
They're all horny bastards who want
to be friends, want to be with them
for sex and then.then it's on to a
bigger breasted, slutty.ugh, never
mind.

Alex grins.

ALEXIS (CONT'D)
God, have one bad relationship--

ALEX
--And you hear about it for
forever.

Alex accelerates past a car.

ALEXIS
You're past girlfriend has been
Senorita Menos, what do you know?

ALEX
Oooh, burn me again.

INT. CHRISTY'S ROOM-NIGHT

Cherry sits at Christy's desk and looks at the clock. It reads 9:00 PM

CHERRY Five minutes, right?

Christy scans over a large, multi-creased paper.

CHRISTY
Yep, it says do the thing on the
thingy and in five minutes, mommy
detector.

Cherry walks out of the room.

She comes back with a covered stick in her hand.

She gives it to Christy. She then leans on the bedpost and closes her eyes.

Tell me.

CHERRY

Christy flips the test and looks at the sign on it. Cherry grips the post tightly, her teeth clenched.

CHRISTY Cherry, you're pregnant.

She turns around and walks back to Christy's room.

Damn

CHERRY

Christy locks the door behind her as Cherry kneels down to the floor, in tears.

CHRISTY
It's okay, Cherry, everyone--

CHERRY
Christy, it isn't ok. I'm not
everyone, I'm thirteen.

CHRISTY
How many months are you?

CHERRY I don't know.

CHRISTY
Well, you're gonna need to find
out.and you're going to have to
tell Josh.

Cherry shakes her head.

CHRISTY (CONT'D)
I think you should have told him
today, you--

CHERRY
He won't care, Christy.

CHRISTY What about your mom?

CHERRY
I already know what she'd say.

She cries on Christy's shoulder.

CHRISTY You'll get through it, Cherr.somehow.

INT. ALEX'S BEDROOM

Alex sits on the edge of his bed. He plays the game: "The Legend of Zelda Three: A Link to the Past" A clock on his dresser states 9:04.

Alexis storms in and throws the game system to the floor.

ALEX
Yee-ahh? What did you do that for?

ALEXIS Where is it?

What?

ALEX

ALEXIS
What? What? My money, Alex!

ALEX What money?

ALEXIS
You smoked it already, right?

ALEX
Yeah, that's an airtight case.

ALEXIS You owe me.

ALEX
I owe you shit, Alexis, I didn't
take your money.

ALEXIS
Fine, go on and play innocent, go
on.

ALEX I don't care.

ALEXIS You're so apathetic.

ALEX
Like I said, I don't care.

Alexis leaves the room as Alex turns the game back on.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Too much estrogen in this house.

INT. BEDROOM

Alexis sits on her bed and stares at her dresser drawer.

ALEXIS (whisper)
I need to get out of this family.

She stands up and opens the drawer. INT. WEDNESDAY'S BEDROOM
Wednesday and Paul sit on the edge of the bed.

Wednesday wears a nightgown, while Paul wears only boxers.

WEDNESDAY
I don't know what happened to the
CD's, I-

PAUL
It's okay, I found a few of my
mom's rings. I can give those to
Len.

WEDNESDAY
Lenny's going to give you how much
for everything?

PAUL
Five hundred, almost, maybe
more.depends on how much else we
can find.

WEDNESDAY
We need to get jobs, both of us.

He looks out into the hall as Wednesday opens the nightstand drawer.

Paul walks out of the room and into Cherry's room. He looks on her shelf and sees a closed jewelry box.

Paul nods to himself and walks back into Wednesday's room.

PAUL So, you ready?

Wednesday searches around the drawer and pulls out a box of condoms.

WEDNESDAY When you are.

She throws one at him, turns off the light and laughs. INT. GARAGE
A mess of junk, car parts and building equipment (table saws, large tool boxes, et al).

Linda wears a pair worker's glasses and gloves as she operates a table saw.
She aligns a two-by-four out and proceeds to cut it. Alexis walks in.

Mom!

ALEXIS

The saw's motor screams.

Mom!

ALEXIS (CONT'D)

Linda powers the saw down and turns to her.

What?

LINDA

ALEXIS
Alex stole my money, again.

LINDA
Deal with it, Alexis.

ALEXIS But Mom, he-

LINDA
I don't have time for this.I have a
twenty in my purse, take it. Will
that make you happy?

Linda powers up the saw again.

No, I-

ALEXIS

LINDA
I'm busy here, Alexis, I-

She turns the system on, only to have it lock up and grind.

Dammit!

LINDA (CONT'D)

She slams her hands on the table as Alexis runs out of the garage.

Linda looks down at the lower shelf, at a sawdust covered new blade.

A phone rings.

Hello?

WES OS

Linda scoffs and takes off her safety glasses and gloves.

ALEXIS OS
Can I stay with you, really?

Yeah.

WES OS

Tomorrow?

ALEXIS OS

WES OS
Yeah, I'll pick you up from school.

Linda walks back to the house.

ALEXIS OS Thanks, Wes.

The phone clicks off. INT.CHRISTY'S BEDROOM
Cherry lies on Christy's bed, her eyes open. Christy lies next to her asleep.

ALEXIS (VO)
I'm not going to be some knocked up
bitch who drops out of school
because her boyfriend dumps her and
tells her to get lost.

Cherry cringes.

LINDA (VO)
Because I expect better from you.

I'm sorry. She closes her eyes.

CHERRY

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY-NEXT DAY

Josh stands at the end of the hallway, next to Chad. Cherry walks down the hall of the junior high.
A dual heartbeat thumps.

She walks closer to Josh.

What?

JOSH

CHERRY
Josh, I, I just want to talk to
you.

The heartbeat accelerates.

What?

JOSH

CHERRY
I need to tell you something.

JOSH
I don't care what you have to say,
Cherry.

CHERRY
You used to care...we used to talk
about things.

JOSH
Really? Did we? I think it was just
you talking about your
family...bitch, bitch, bitch,
bitch, bitch.

Cherry's eyes tear up.

CHERRY
Wait a minute, what do you
mean?...I...I thought that
we...were...we used to be friends.

Look-

JOSH

He turns to her and stares down on her.

JOSH (CONT'D)
Slut, just go away, like your dad.

One heartbeat ceases, the other slows.

CHERRY) You don't mean that.

JOSH
I do. Just go away, leave me alone.

CHERRY
But Josh why can't we--

JOSH
Because, I never loved you.

Cherry closes her eyes.

CHERRY
I don't want to believe you said--

JOSH
Just leave, Cherry...you and the
rest of your family. Make this
school a better place.

Josh walks down the hall and meets up with Chastille.

CHERRY (whisper)
Fuck you, Joshua Lee Daniels.

INT. BEDROOM

Cherry lies in bed, her eyes wide open, but blank in expression.

The sunlight fades from the window as she lies there. EXT. HOUSE
Paul runs out of a decrepit house on a hill.

Got it.

PAUL

Wednesday stands next to Paul's car.

How much?

WEDNESDAY

PAUL
Only four-fifty, sorry.

WEDNESDAY
Well, damn, I thought we'd get
more.

Paul puts his arm around her.

PAUL
Everything will be okay.we'll get
what's ours.

Wednesday nods.

WEDNESDAY
And I can kiss my family goodbye.

She kisses him. EXT. MOONE HOUSE.
Paul's car sits along with two other vehicles. INT. LIVING ROOM
The clock on top of the television reads 1:23 am. Cherry walks into the kitchen

INT. GARAGE

Cherry moves haphazardly through the junk and tools on the floor of the garage. She walks over to a table saw and picks up the sawdust-covered blade.

She picks the blade up and in one swift motion slashes the blade against her left wrist.

She winces in pain and drops the blade. Blood falls onto the floor and blade as Cherry sits down next to the wall and closes her eyes.

INT. KITCHEN

Alex turns on the kitchen lights and opens the refrigerator. A can of soda has Alexis' name taped on it.
He opens the can and closes the door.

Out of the corner of his eye he notes the open side door and the light in the garage.

What the?

ALEX

INT. GARAGE
Alex looks from one side of the garage to the other. Cherry lies against the wall.

Cherry?

ALEX

Alex picks her up and carries her into the bathroom. INT. BATHROOM
Alex turns the shower on and lowers her into it. He locks the bathroom door and then jumps into the shower as well as he attempts to stop the bloodflow.

He gives up in frustration and picks her up. EXT. HOUSE--NIGHT
Alex runs outside. INT. CAR
He lays Cherry down in the front seat and feels under the driver's seat.

He grabs a key and slams it into the ignition.

He looks at her as he starts the engine and drives the car onto the road.

ALEX
Fuck the state patrol.

EXT. TOWN

Alex speeds into a small town and screeches the tires as he makes a sharp right turn and drives up a hill.

EXT. MEDICAL CENTER

Alex parks the car at the front doors and carries Cherry in. INT. HOSPITAL LOBBY
A few people sit in chairs, an old woman stands at the counter and argues with a nurse.

ALEX
Someone help, right now!

Two nurses run up to him as another one pushes a gurney. EXT. HOSPIAL
Alex looks up at the moon and then back to the ground. He then throws the rest of his cigarette to the ground. INT. HOSPTIAL ROOM
Cherry lies in a bed, her eyes closed. Alex glances at the clock, it reads 3:30.
ALEX Hey, how are you?

She turns to him.

I'm okay.

CHERRY

ALEX
Anyone asks, you're clumsy with
kitchen knives, got it?

Cherry looks at her arm and wrist, covered in gauze and bandages.

CHERRY Thanks, Alex.

ALEX
Don't thank me yet. I have to get
us out of here without mom knowing.

CHERRY
I'm sorry, Alex, I--

ALEX
I don't want to know, Cherry, not
right now.

He looks out the door.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Hang tight, I'm going to go talk to
a doctor or someone.

Cherry nods as Alex leaves the room.

Cherry lifts her gown and again looks at her abdomen.

INT. HALLWAY

Alex leans against the door, and looks down to the floor, depressed.

CHERRY (OS)
Oh God, how do I deal with this
now?

INT. HIGH SCHOOL OFFICE-NEXT MORNING

Alex stands next to a desk, talking on the telephone.

ALEX
Mom, I'm sorry I didn't wake them
in time, yeah, yeah.I know.,
well,.darn okay I didn't.

A secretary stares at him.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Cherry had to be at school early,
and I-since when did I start giving
a care? I do care, mom.Okay, yeah,
yeah, yeah.okay.

The secretary rolls her eyes.

ALEX (CONT'D)
I'm sure I'll get the bitch fit
when I see them.

MR. CAIN-the principal-looks into the office and stares at
Alex.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Ummm, I have to go, mom.class.bye.

He hangs up the phone.

MR. CAIN Problem, Alexander?

ALEX
Yes sir, a lot of problems, can't
explain now, sorry.

Alex walks out of the office-- INT. HALLWAY
--And straight into Alexis and Wednesday's glares.

ALEX
I know what you're going to say.

ALEXIS I doubt it.

WEDNESDAY
Thank you for telling us you
weren't going to be home this
morning!

ALEX Where was Paul?

Alex walks down the hall, the girls follow.

WEDNESDAY
Don't change the subject, you--

ALEX
I'm not changing anything. You're
here, so.let's get on with our day.

ALEXIS
I would have if I didn't get here
two hours late.

ALEX
Then don't oversleep and take the
bus.

ALEXIS
Goddamn, why do you do this? You
don't think of anybody but
yourself.

ALEX
I do think of other people.

WEDNESDAY Since when?

They stop.

ALEX
Look, I'm sorry, what do you want,
blood?

ALEXIS How about my money?

ALEX
Ask Paul to give you the
money.considering he's pawned a lot
of our stuff already.

He walks away. Alexis looks at Wednesday and then back to
Alex.

WEDNESDAY
You're so full of it, Alex.

ALEX
No, you're full of it, from both
ends. You're boyfriend's a thieving
prick and-

Paul steps out from a classroom.

PAUL I'm a what?

ALEX
You're a thieving prick.

Paul shoves Alex; Alex shoves him back. Paul falls to the floor.
Wednesday stands in disbelief as Paul gets up and slams Alex against the wall.

Alex fights back, a crowd ensues around them.

Paul's face slowly changes to that of Josh's as Alex stares at him.

MR. CAIN (OS) Stop this, right now.

Alex and "Josh" continue to stare at each other. Alex trembles in anger.

INT. HARDWARE STORE

A warehouse-style store crammed with customers and supplies

Linda Moone stands next to a front loader and takes notations on a clipboard. She appears frazzled and overworked.

STORE INTERCOM
Linda, please come to the front
office for a phone call.

She looks up and shakes her head. INT. FRONT OFFICE
Linda picks up the phone.

LINDA This is Linda.

As she listens her expression falls.

LINDA (CONT'D)
No, I-Yes, I'll be right there.

She hangs up the phone.

Dammit.

LINDA (CONT'D)

INT. JUNIOR HIGH HALLWAY

Cherry walks with Christy and Becky. She wears one of Alex's long sleeve flannels. Her jeans show signs of some stains.

CHRISTY You look like Hell.

I feel it.

CHERRY

BECKY What happened?

Nothing.

CHERRY

CHRISTY
Did you talk to Josh?

Yes.

CHERRY

They continue walking down the hall and into a classroom.

BECKY Did you tell him?

Cherry shakes her head.

CHRISTY
Besides, what would you do, force
him to marry you?

Cherry stops in front of her locker and opens it.

CHERRY
We thought about doing that once.

BECKY
I remember: you both wanted those
white roses with the red trims,
right?

CHRISTY
Yeah, you wrote it all down, Cherr.

Cherry opens her binder and takes out a drawing of a wedding.

BECKY
Yep, there's my picture.

CHRISTY
Early morning paints the sky.
Raining on water-color pages.

BECKY
Blurry eyes we searched inside. Sad
stories had to be told

Josh and Chastille walk down the hallway as Cherry reads.

CHERRY
I feel old, you said you were
young. I was sad, you said be
strong. In your arms it all makes
sense.

He looks back at her. The three girls do not see him.

CHERRY (CONT'D)
My lost soul, you found again.

Josh loosens his grip from Chastille and walks over as Cherry finishes.

CHERRY (CONT'D)
And you are the moon that shines
over and calms my stormy ocean.

She looks up to see Josh standing next to her.

JOSH
Can we talk, Cherry?

Cherry nods and walks with him.

CHRISTY (whisper)
What gives?

BECKY (whisper)
Beats the hell out of me.

EXT. SCHOOL

Josh turns around and looks back at the school.

JOSH
I'm sorry about what I said
yesterday.

CHERRY
I don't believe you, Josh.

JOSH
You have to believe me, I-

CHERRY
You don't know what has happened in
my life this past week.

JOSH
I'm sorry. Can we at least forgive
each other?

CHERRY
How can I forgive? You did
everything you said you'd never do.
You said you'd never hurt me.

Josh looks back to the school.

I know.

JOSH

CHERRY
You know, you know? You said you
were never my friend and that you
never loved me and I just needed
to..to.. get over it.

JOSH
That was stupid, I know.it's just
that.that.I wish it could be like
how it used to be. before those
walks.

Cherry's expression mellows.

CHERRY
So do I, I-why can't they be, Josh?

Josh reaches for her hands.

JOSH
Maybe one day they can, you never
know.

CHERRY
I believe you, I--

Cherry pulls them back as Chastille walks out and stands between them.

Chastille wraps an arm around Josh. Cherry looks to Josh; he doesn't do anything.

Cherry looks at Chastille and then back to Josh and then walks back to the building.

Josh turns to watch her walk back to the building. His eyes well for a second.

What?

CHASTILLE

Josh doesn't answer but looks to the ground. INT. SCHOOL
Becky and Christy stand next to the door as Cherry walks in.

What happ-

BECKY

CHERRY
It doesn't matter, I don't need
him, I don't need him to know-I
don't care about him.

Christy's eyes widen as Cherry takes off her flannel shirt to reveal her wrist.

CHERRY (CONT'D)
I thought so much of it, about
wanting to be with him and to.and
to not be alone that I-

Shit.

BECKY

Cherry?

CHRISTY

Becky and Christy grab Cherry and rush her into the restroom. INT. RESTOOM
Cherry leans up against the wall and slides down. Christy rubs her eyes.
CHRISTY
Cherry, what the hell were you
thinking?

CHERRY
I don't know, Christy, I don't
know.

CHRISTY
We agreed that Josh was a loser,
and that he didn't matter, he-

CHERRY But he does matter.

BECKY
Not enough for you to kill
yourself, Cherr.

CHRISTY
We're always going to be here for
you, Cherr.Fuck Josh, that's right,
fuck him off for good.

Cherry looks at them and nods. Christy kneels down.
CHRISTY (CONT'D)
Listen, I said you'd find a way to
get through this, we'll help you-

Becky kneels down as well.

BECKY
Anything you need, girl, we'll be
there.

Thank you.

CHERRY

BECKY
Can I go beat up Josh now?

Cherry looks at her and grins.

CHRISTY
You better put this back on.

Christy hands her the flannel shirt as she helps her stand up.

EXT. SCHOOL--NOON

Alex walks out of the building, followed by Linda.

LINDA
Why can't I have a week go by
without you doing something that
pisses me off!

ALEX
Paul is a fucking thief, mom. Too
bad you can't see that.

LINDA
I don't care about your feelings of
Wednesday's boyfriend, Alex.

ALEX Well he is.

LINDA Give me your keys.

What?

ALEX

LINDA
Your car keys, Alex.

ALEX
How the fuck do I get home then?

LINDA Ride the bus!

Alex hands his keys over.

LINDA (CONT'D) Get back to class.

He nods to her and walks back inside.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL

Alex sits on the top bleacher in the high school. Alexis walks up to him. Both wear PE uniforms.

Hey

ALEXIS

Hey.

ALEX

ALEXIS I believe you.

You do? She sits down.

ALEX

ALEXIS
Well, I doubt you'd steal my CD's.

ALEX
But I would steal your money,
right?

ALEXIS
Forget about that, we have to tell
mom about what Wednesday and Paul
are doing.

ALEX
I did. She didn't believe me.

ALEXIS
No, she didn't want to believe you.
Wednesday's always been a
favorite.Come on, Alex, she's not
stupid, she knows things are going
on with all of us.

ALEX
I doubt she knows everything.

Alexis looks at him.

ALEXIS What do you mean?

He takes a folded piece of paper out of pocket and hands it her.

ALEXIS (CONT'D) Davenport Medical.why were you there?

Cherry.

ALEX

ALEXIS What happened?

Alex shakes his head and takes the paper back.

ALEX
No, I'm not going to say, I-

Alex-

ALEXIS

ALEX
No, it's her business, not mine. If
she wants to tell you then she
will. Meet me at the car after
school.

ALEXIS
Didn't mom take your keys?

Alex takes a key out of his pocket and shows it to her as he walks down the bleachers.

ALEX
She took my keys.not the car's.

Alexis stands up and watches him leave. INT. HALLWAY
Chad walks next to Josh. Students pass by in droves.
CHAD
Josh, man, we have to talk.

Bout what?

JOSH

CHAD
Umm, well, something that Becca
told me.

Hmm?

JOSH

CHAD
You won't like it.

What?

JOSH

Josh stops and looks at Chad.

CHAD
How long have we both known Cherry?

Years.

JOSH

CHAD
And you know that she doesn't talk
about things that bother her.

JOSH
Yeah, that's for sure, hard to get
her to talk about anything
sometimes.

CHAD
If I were you, man, I'd try to talk
to her again.

JOSH
Just because you're whipped by your
ex-girlfriend doesn't mean I have
to be.

Josh walks outside. Chad follows. EXT. SCHOOL--DAY
CHAD
You're not getting it, are you?

JOSH
What I'm getting, Chad, is that you
seem to want to tell me something
but you're shitting your way
through it.

CHAD Cherry's pregnant.

They stare at each other.

JOSH
Oh jeez.then, oh God.

Josh leans on the side of the building.

JOSH (CONT'D)
And she wanted to tell me and-damn.
Well, it's not my problem.

What?

CHAD

JOSH
It's not my problem, I-

Chad moves in front of Josh.

CHAD
Becky thought you'd say that.and I
knew you'd too, I--.

JOSH
I'm fourteen, I can't have this, I-

CHAD
Then talk to her about it. Another
month or whatever everyone's going
to know about it anyway. You two
have been going out for so long
that-

Josh nods.

JOSH
I'll call her tonight.

INT. LIVING ROOM-EARLY EVENING

Linda sits at the end of the couch, holding a plate of spaghetti.

A movie plays on the television. INT. KITCHEN
Cherry-still wearing the flannel from earlier-sweeps the floor.

Alexis walks down the staircase with a bag in her hand. INT. LIVING ROOM
LINDA Where are you going?

ALEXIS I'm moving out.

LINDA Oh no you're not.

ALEX
Where are you going?

ALEXIS
I'm moving in with Wes' family.

LINDA
And who gave you permission?

Why?

ALEX

ALEXIS Because I want to.

LINDA
Hello? Am I talking to you, Alexis?

ALEXIS
I can't stand it here. Okay?

LINDA
What do you want? How much of a
better life are you requiring,
Alexis?

Cherry walks into the living room.

ALEXIS
I don't want a palace, mom.I want a
normal life.

LINDA Life isn't normal.

ALEXIS
Well this life sucks, mom. We're at
each other throats, dad-

LINDA
Your father isn't here anymore. I
can't help the fact that he got up
one day and drove out of my life
and yours.

The four look at each other.

ALEX
Mom, there's things that you need
to know.

Linda sits down.

Cherry stares at Alex.

LINDA
So, you're leaving.and you weren't
going to tell me?

ALEX
It's about Wednesday and Paul.

ALEXIS
Yes. Like, you'd care if I just
left.

Linda stands up and moves to Alexis.

LINDA Yes, I would care.

ALEX
You remember that circular saw
that's missing?

ALEXIS No, you wouldn't.

LINDA
Like Hell I wouldn't! I care about
everything that happens in this
house, to my family!

Cherry winces and holds her chest, no one notices.

ALEXIS
If you cared then you'd know that
Wednesday's been pawning everything
we own!

What?

LINDA

ALEX
They've been pawning things,
selling them off. A lot of my CD's
are missing and I found a receipt
in her locker.

INT. CHERRY'S BEDROOM

Cherry's jewelry box lies open and empty.

ALEX (OS)
Things have been disappearing, Mom.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Linda stands in the center of the room.

LINDA Wednesday's been stealing?

Yes.

She sits back down.

ALEX

LINDA
I'll talk to her about it.if it's
true then.

ALEX If? It is.look!

He gives her the receipt.

Linda takes it and places it on the table.

LINDA I'll talk to them.

Two cars pull into the driveway. INT. KITCHEN
Wednesday and Paul walk in. Wes follows in shortly after.
Wednesday grips at Paul's hand and lifts her other hand; to reveal a large ring.

WEDNESDAY
We'd like to tell everyone that we
have decided to get married.

Alex drops his fork on the floor.

Linda stares blankly at Wednesday as she puts a cigarette down and picks her plate up again.

The room falls silent. Wes waves at Alexis.
LINDA
How long have you been planning
this?

WEDNESDAY Quite a while.

Linda sets her plate down again and walks to Wednesday.

LINDA
When were you planning to have it?

WEDNESDAY As soon as possible-

Cherry, Alex, Alexis and Wes look at each other.

ALEXIS I'm out of here!

She picks her bag back up and runs to the door. Wes follows.
EXT. HOUSE

WES
Alexis, what's going on?

She turns back to him.

ALEXIS
Take a look, Wes.this is the last
time you'll see me here.

Wes takes her bag.

Alexis grabs at her hair. INT. LIVING ROOM
ALEXIS OS Fuck you all!

Alex puts his plate on the coffee table, grabs his keys and walks out of the living room.

ALEX Come on, Cherry.

She nods and passes Linda and Wednesday, who continue to hug. Paul smirks as Alex and Cherry leave.
The telephone rings, but no one answers. INT. JOSH'S HOUSE
Josh sits in a corner of the living room. The rest of his family sits watching TV or doing homework.

JOSH
Come on, Cherry, answer, please.

His mother, PAM, turns to him.

PAM
Who are you calling?

No one.

JOSH

PAM
Why hasn't Cherry called you
lately?

JOSH
I don't know, mom.

PAM What did you do?

Nothing.

JOSH

Come here.

PAM

He hangs up the phone and walks to her.

PAM (CONT'D)
You two broke up, didn't you?

He looks to the floor.

PAM (CONT'D)
Joshua Lee Daniels, answer me.

Yes.

JOSH

PAM What did you do?

Nothing.

JOSH

PAM
I know that that little girl would
never do a thing to hurt you.but
you'd hurt her in a heartbeat.

Josh stares at her in disbelief.

PAM (CONT'D)
You think I don't know what goes on
in your life? There was something
between the two of you-and God help
you, Josh if anything ever happens
to her.

He swallows hard and nods. EXT. HIGHWAY--NIGHT
Alex's car speeds down the road. INT. CAR
ALEX
Dammit, she never listens.

Mom?

CHERRY

ALEX
Alexis was right. Wednesday's
always been her favorite.

I'm sorry.

CHERRY

ALEX
Not your fault, Cherr.what do you
think of Paul?

CHERRY I hate him.

ALEX Calling him family.

CHERRY
They act like their married
already.

ALEX
And I'll bet the noise drives you
crazy, doesn't it?

She nods.

Alex takes a cigarette out and begins to light it, but he stops short.

ALEX (CONT'D)
You know Cherr, you're it for all
of us. There is not much hope for
the rest of this family

CHERRY
Shut-up, Alex, you know that's not
true.

ALEX
It is true, Cherry. I got issues,
Alexis is an issue and let's not
even go into Wednesday's illusion
of love and marriage. Geez, you
know what..I'll bet she's pregnant.
That would have to be the reason.I
mean, Paul doesn't work, he lives
off his parents. For a wedding
present, I'm giving him a box of
Trojans.

Cherry looks out the window and then turns to Alex.

CHERRY
If I tell you something, will you
promise not to tell mom.

ALEX
What, you rob a bank, Cherr?

CHERRY Can you promise me?

ALEX
Of course.not like I'm going home
anytime soon. I won't tell anyone.

CHERRY
I stole Alexis' money.

ALEX
So? I steal from her all the time.

CHERRY
I didn't have any other way to find
out-

ALEX
To find out what?

CHERRY I'm pregnant.

ALEX No kidding?

CHERRY
You don't sound surprised, thanks.

ALEX
I am surprised, little I can do
about it--

CHERRY
It wasn't my, I mean I didn't--

ALEX
Yeah, yeah, I know the routine.

The car shifts to the right for a second, Alex recovers without a break in the conversation.

ALEX (CONT'D) Does Josh know?

She shakes her head.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Didn't think so. Mom doesn't know
either.so you haven't been to a
doctor yet.

No.

CHERRY

ALEX
You're gonna have to tell her.

CHERY
I don't want to. Mom'll kill me
when I tell her.

ALEX
She'll do more than kill you if you
harm that kid by not seeing a
doctor.

I know.

CHERRY

ALEX
Tell you what. I'll be right there
when you tell her.

You will?

CHERRY

ALEX
Yeah, just promise me you won't
give up on yourself again.

CHERRY
I can't.-I'll try.

ALEX
That's all I can ask. We'll turn
right around, and tell her.and ruin
Wednesday's little happy moment.

The car swerves to the right, unresponsive to the wheel.

CHERRY What's wrong?

Alex rams the wheel to the left; no effect.

Shit! EXT. HIGHWAY--NIGHT

ALEX

The car flies off the road and spins out into a field. EXT. FIELD
Cherry lies on the ground in a fetal position. She opens her eyes and tries to stand up, only to fall down again.

Alex? EXT. HIGHWAY

CHERRY

Wes' car screeches to a halt on the side of the road.

Alex!

ALEXIS

Wes runs from the other side of the car and runs down the hill with Alexis.

ALEXIS (CONT'D) Alex! Cherry!

EXT. FIELD

Cherry staggers in the dark.

Alex?

CHERRY

Ten feet away from her, Alex lies slumped over the steering wheel.

Alex!

CHERRY (OS) (CONT'D)

Alex! INT. HOSPITAL

WEDNESDAY (OS)

Linda runs down the hallway. Wednesday and Paul trail her. They turn to a room where several DOCTORS meet up with them.
LINDA
Where are they? Where are my kids?

The other doctors disperse.

DOCTOR
Mrs. Moone, I'm Doctor Mark Riddle.

Wednesday squeezes Paul's hand as she looks into the room and sees Cherry next to a bed. Alex lies on the bed, his eyes closed. The monitoring equipment casts an eerie glow on the dark room.

INT. ROOM

Cherry's eyes lie transfixed on Alex's face as the doctor speaks.

DOCTOR (OS)
Your daughter, Cherry, is okay,
remarkably--since she was thrown
the vehicle.

Alexis sits on the other side, she holds Alex's hand as Wes holds onto her shoulders.

DOCTOR (OS) (CONT'D) Alex, has suffered severe head trauma. We've kept him stable-

EXT HALLWAY
The group continues to look into
the room.

DOCTOR
--but I can't tell for how long.

Linda wipes a tear from her eye as she tries to move past the doctor.

He steps aside and everyone slowly walks in.

Cherry?

LINDA

Cher? Alexis cries.

WEDNESDAY

Alex.

ALEXIS

Wednesday kneels down in front of Cherry.

Cherry?

WEDNESDAY

Cherry leans on the bed railing.

She looks at the monitoring equipment and at a breathing apparatus.

ALEX VO
Tell you what, I'll be right there
when you tell her.

CHERRY (whisper)
You will?

She watches the ECG slowly die down.

ALEX VO
Yeah, just promise me you won't
give up on yourself again.

CHERRY (whisper)
I'll try.

The medical equipment beeps and warning alarms go off.

No!

CHERRY (CONT'D)

Cherry slams her hands down on the bedrail.

Cherry-

LINDA

Medical staff shove their way into the room.

No!

CHERRY

Cherry--

LINDA

Linda moves to comfort her, but she breaks away and runs out of the room.

Wednesday follows. INT. HALLWAY
Cherry runs a few feet before she stops.

Cherry!

WEDNESDAY

CHERRY Leave me alone!

WEDNESDAY
It's okay, Cherry, I know, I know
how you-

CHERRY
No, no you don't, you-

Cherry doubles-over and yells in pain. Alexis, Wes and Paul run out of the room.
Wednesday screams and points at Cherry's leg, as blood flows.

Alexis freezes in horror as Cherry collapses to the floor. Wes catches her before her head hits the ground.

A long tone sounds out. INT. CHERRY'S BEDROOM Cherry lies asleep.
LINDA VO
I used to lie awake at night and
fear what would one day happen to
them.

INT. ALEX'S ROOM

Alexis kneels in the middle of the room, crying. Wes stands next to her, his eyes closed.
LINDA VO
--would one be arrested, or be
found lying on the street.

INT. LINDA'S BEDROOM

Wednesday and Paul lay on the bed.

Several twenty dollar bills lie ripped into shreds next to them

LINDA (VO)
I know how we all used to be a
family--

They pass by a picture showing the entire Moone family: Wayne, Linda, Alex, Alexis, Wednesday and Cherry.

LINDA (VO) (CONT'D)
And I keep thinking those times are
gone.

EXT. DRIVEWAY--MIDDDAY
Linda stands in the driveway and looks into the distance. INT. CHERRY'S ROOM

Cherry?

PAUL

WEDNESDAY Cherry, wake up.

She looks at them with one eye.

CHERRY What do you want?

Wednesday lays Cherry's necklaces and her rings by her side. She then grabs Cherry and forcibly hugs her.
WEDNESDAY
I'm sorry, Cherr.I really am, I-

Wednesday's eyes look down at Cherry's wrist.

WEDNESDAY (CONT'D) Why didn't you tell me?

CHERRY I don't know.

WEDNESDAY
You can tell me anything, we used
to talk about things all the time,
I-I know you've lost trust in me,
everyone has, I-Paul?

Paul nods, leaves the room, and climbs down the stairs.

WEDNESDAY (CONT'D) I didn't know everything was happening to you, Cherr.

CHERRY
I didn't want anyone to.

WEDNESDAY
But you should have-Our family's
gone to Hell, hasn't it?

Wednesday continues to look at Cherry's wrist.

WEDNESDAY (CONT'D)
I could never do that. I-I never
want to know how that feels, I-How
do you feel about being a maiden of
honor?

CHERRY
I'm not much of a maiden,
Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY
Me either, but I'm still wearing
white.

Both girls smile at each other. EXT. DRIVEWAY--EVENING
Linda stands with Alexis, Wes, Wednesday, Cherry and Paul, each holding hands tightly.

As the sun sets, the moon shines brightly in the distance. INT. CHURCH-A FEW DAYS LATER
A somber melody plays on an organ.
Wednesday, Paul, Alexis and Linda sit on the front pew. Cherry stands at the back of the church as the pallbearers
walk to the front.

She looks down to the floor and then slowly sits down in the back pew.

As the minister begins to speak, Cherry continues to look down.

MINISTER
It is a day like this, I never wish
to see.but it is a day we all must
one day face: the loss of a loved
one.

Cherry looks up as a figure walks down the aisle. She stares at the figure as he walks in front of the minister.

MINISTER (CONT'D)
On this day, we commit our brother,
Alexander Wesley Moone.

The figure turns around and looks at Cherry: It is Alex. He walks slowly to his mother, sisters and Paul.
ALEX
(to Paul, whisper)
I hate you, but I know you'll look
after her.
(to Alexis)
Stay a bitch, Alexis.fight through
it all.

He walks around to Wes.

ALEX (CONT'D)
I never really liked you.I still
don't know what to think of you.
Shit, I'm not going to be able
to.Well, you got her to put with.

He looks to Wednesday

ALEX (CONT'D)
I wanted to see you married.even if
it is to.him; but he makes you
happy.

He pauses for a moment and looks back to the minister

MINISTER
--We shall miss you.

Organ music plays.

He looks back at Cherry. She cries loudly.

ALEX Don't cry, Cherr.

She looks down to the floor.

ALEX (CONT'D)
When you get home, look in the
field, I have something for you
there.

CHERRY (whisper)
Alex.

ALEX
Don't give up on me again, Cherr.

Cherry looks at her wrist and then back up as the rest of her family now stands before her.

EXT. FIELD-AFTERNOON

The wind blows as Cherry walks through the dead field. She still wears the same dress as earlier.

She stops in the middle of the field and looks down at a flower lying on the ground: A cherry blossom. She looks back to the house and then to the sky.

FADE OUT