FADE IN:

 

 

          1 COMPLETELY BLACK

 

          The screen is completely black.  The production and directing credits

          Fade in and than out.  The title, ‘DANNIES’, appears in the center of

          of the screen, harboring a light green hue, than morphing to a pink,

          and finally it stops on blue.  Underneath the title, a skin colored

          object begins forming.  We ZOOM OUT from an aerial view and it is

          revealed to be a young woman’s flat midsection.  The title disappears.

 

          ZOOM OUT until full-focus on two teens lay side-by-side on a bed.  The

          male is ASLEEP laying flat on his stomach with his arm around the girl

          who is still conscious.

 

          The girl lies on her back lighting a smoke with another nearly-

          finished one.  Occasionally she ashes it in the ashtray positioned

          in the center of the BOY'S BACK.

 

          The remaining credits appear and form over her newly conceived

          womb.

 

          After the credits are complete she puts the cigarette out, places the

          ashtray aside and cuddles up closely with her NEW boyfriend.

 

                                                             FADE TO:

 

          2 INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

 

          In grade 11 biology class the students sit uncaring in their desks.

          None of them seem to notice the teacher, MR.CARTER, at the front of

          the class pointing out the different parts of a NUCLEAR MEMBRANE

          projected on the overhead screen.

 

          Suddenly the fire alarm erupts over the room tone causing everyone

          to celebrate the disruption.  Without having to say a thing the

          students all charge out of their desks, grateful for the break, and

          start making their way out the door.  Never mind all the "single-

          file" and "remain calm" rules taught in Elementary, these kids

          wrestle their way out.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          3 EXT. SCHOOLYARD - DAY

 

          All 900 students of Glennbury High are bunched together in small

          groups of each class.  The entire track field is flooded with these

          kids.

 

          At the very back of the Bio group is DANI AIRMON , DANNY OLSON, his

          best friend CLAYTON, and her best friend MARGOT.  Clayton leaves the

          group and makes his way to a ROUGH CUT retro-kid a few yards away. 

          Clay hands him some money in exchange for a QUARTER of MUSHROOMS in

          a nice little zip-lock.  (The deal is very casual and goes

          unnoticed.)

 

          Clay makes his way back to his friends and is greeted with a smile,

          handshake, and pat on the back.  Quickly he glances up at the

          teacher who is marking the full attendance of all his students on a

          clipboard.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          CU: Clay's hands open the bag, dig inside, grab a hand full of mush

          and passes the rest on to Danny.  We pan across the teenage hands

          until the bag reaches Margot who dumps the empty bag after she takes

          her share.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          We see them chewing away at their product, trying to swallow it fast

          so that the foul taste doesn't make them regurgitate.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (swallows hard)

                         Are you guys going back in?

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Well yeah.  You're not?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Nah, we’re bailing out.

 

                                          DANI

                         Margot, can you grab my books after class?

 

                                          MARGOT

                         Where are you guys going?

 

                                          DANI

                         Somewhere.

 

                                          DANNY

                         That’s not Biology.

                              (pause)

                         Clay, grab my books for me, would ya?

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Yeah, sure.

 

          Danny and Dani hold hands.  They examine their teacher, waiting for

          the right moment to run for it.  They wait...wait...and the second

          Mr. Carter turns round back to the school they dash at full speed,

          hand-in-hand.

 

          Nobody really notices (or at least nobody that cares) but that

          doesn't stop the two from sprinting hurriedly.

 

          They get to the fence and Danny squeezes his way through the square

          opening in the middle.  Still holding his girl's hand, he helps her

          through.  They continue running, through a back-alley, down the

          street, across peoples front lawns.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          4 INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

 

          Mr. Carter has just begun to get back to his lecture with the

          pointing stick and nuclear membrane, when he notices the two empty

          desks in the very back.

 

                                          MR.CARTER

                              (baffled)

                         Where the hell did the Dannies go?

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          5 EXT. BEHIND OF A STRANGER'S HOUSE - DAY

 

          Running out of breath their marathon comes to a halt when they reach

          a familiar spot behind a stranger's house.  They stand against the

          backyard fence as they struggle for breath.  They laugh and chuckle

          in between their hard gasps.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (out of breath)

                         Oh, man.  That was fun.

 

                                          DANI

                              (equally breathless)

                         We haven't done that for a long time.

 

                                          DANNY

                         What do you mean?

                              (deep breath)

                         We skipped bio yesterday?

 

                                          DANI

                         No...

                              (pause)

                         I mean running.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh Christ no.  I don't think I'll ever run

                         again.

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

          Later on.

 

          The two of them share a cigarette, sitting on the grass.  Dani is

          seated closely in between Danny’s spread legs.

 

          They don't say a word; just cuddle close, smoke and trip out on

          whatever is in front of them.  Dani feels something on her hand.

 

                                          DANI

                         Did you feel that?

 

          She observes her hand for who knows what.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Feel what?

 

                                          DANI

                              (her hand held out in front)

                         Again.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          CU ON HER HAND:

          A snowflake lands in the center of her palm.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          She jolts up and looks up towards the sky.

 

                                          DANNY

                         What is it?

 

                                          DANI

                              (laughing)

                         Can you feel it?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Yeah, rain.

 

                                          DANI

                         No.  Snow.

 

          Danny stands up with her, he puts his hand out in the air likewise.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh yeah.

 

                                          DANI

                         It's begun?

 

                                          DANNY

                         What's begun?

 

                                          DANI

                         The change.  The changing of the Earths and

                         everything that's a part of it.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (smiling)

                         You're tripping me out.

 

          The snow starts to become more visible.  She dances off into the

          field ahead of her as Danny watches her amused.

 

                                                             FADE OUT:

 

          FADE IN:

 

          6 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

 

          We enter in the DIMLY LIT room of DANNY and DANIELE.

 

          The white walls are SCARCELY covered with posters of yin-yang’s, groovy

          spirals, and pot smoking alien’s asking kindly of you to “Take Me To

          Your Dealer.”

 

          Together they sit on the bed, completely hidden by a warm blanket

          with a design of planet Earth on it.  It creates a dome over them

          and we can hear them laughing.

 

          We hear the flicker of a lighter and the world inside the blanket

          lights up.  You hear someone take a long hoot from a pipe.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          INSIDE THE HOT-BOXED WORLD OF THE DANNIES it is extremely smokey. 

          Dani’s right hand is in front of her, cupped in Danny’s hand;

          they are a perfect fit.  In her other hand she is holding a pipe to

          her lips.  Danny lights it for her.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Our hands fit so perfectly, you know?  Have

                         you noticed that?  The way they fit together so

                         naturally, like the hinges of Heaven's gates.

 

          It gets dark inside again.

 

                                          DANI

                              (exhaling)

                         God's rendition.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Strange.

                              (pause)

                         I never knew you believed in fate.

 

                                          DANI

                         Of course I do.  How else could I justify our

                         relationship?

 

          Light erupts within the blanket again as Danny smokes from the pipe.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          7 INT. BABY'S ROOM - NIGHT

 

          In the nicely pampered room of 7-month-old infant, AIDEN,

          Danny’s mother MARTHA sits beside the crib reading a romance novel.  

          She is well aged and wears her gray-hair back in a bun, with thick

          black reading glasses.

 

          The baby is sleeping.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          In the Dannies’ bedroom and inside their world again, Danny is still

          taking a hoot.

 

                                          DANI

                         I'm so glad I found you.

 

          Lights out.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (exhaling)

                         Let's not forget who found who.

 

                                          DANI

                         I'm so glad we found each other.  I'm

                         afraid I would have been stuck in the same

                         mode of living-for-nothing forever.

                              (pause-exchanging pipe

                              for lighter)

                         But now we can live for each other.

 

          Lights on.

 

                                          DANNY

                         And the mediator.

 

          Dani finishes her hoot before she responds.  Lights out.

 

                                          DANI

                         Mediator?

 

          He takes the pipe from her and holds it in front of her face.

 

                                          DANNY

                         The mediator.

 

          Dani laughs aloud.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          We watch Martha as she indulges herself in her book. She is distracted

          by the laughing.  She looks outside the room in its direction.  She

          looks into the baby’s crib and realizes Aiden is deeply asleep.  She

          stands up and finishes the last few words of the page.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Dannies' room.  From the EXT. of their blanket, the light inside

          flickers again.

 

                                          DANI

                         I love you.

 

          Lights out.

 

                                          DANNY

                         How much do you love me?

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Martha closes her book and she looks into Aiden’s crib with a smile.

 

          We view the Dannies’ beautiful boy sound asleep in bed.  Grandma

          leans into the crib and gives him a soft kiss on the cheek.  It is

          pretty obvious who is the real mother of this baby.

 

          She heads out the room.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Dannies room, INT. blanket.

 

                                          DANI

                         I love you more than you can imagine.  More than

                         I can imagine.  More than the words of I, you and

                         William Shakespeare ever imagine.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          8 INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE -

 

          We see the door of the kids’ room from outside.  It has a STOLEN

          stop sign on the front door.  We can hear the two laughing/coughing. 

          Danny’s mother knocks on the door.

 

                                          MOTHER

                         You guys-

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          From inside their dome we see Dani and Danny quickly shut up.  Dani

          holds the lighter in the middle of the dome, keeping it lit.

 

                                          MOTHER (OS)

                         It's one o'clock.  Get to bed.  You've got

                         school and I'm not letting you sleep in

                         anymore.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Sorry, just give us a minute.

 

                                          MOTHER

                         And Daniella, honey.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yes Martha.

 

          The lighter starts to get hot in her hand.  She lets out an “Oh-

          shit!” and drops it.

 

                                          MOTHER

                         Don't forget about our little date tomorrow.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (mouthing words)

                         Little date?

 

                                          DANI

                         I haven't forgotten.  After school, right?

 

                                          MOTHER

                         Yes.  I'll pick you guys up at the front door.

                         We’ll drop off Daniel and Aiden and head off,

                         Okay?

 

                                          DANI

                         All right Martha.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Hallway.

 

                                          MOTHER

                         Good night kids.

 

                                          DANI & DANNY

                         Good night.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Inside the blanket.

         

          They're waiting for her to leave.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Ready?

                              (pause)

                         One...two...three!

 

          They throw the blanket off from on top of them, letting the room fill

          with smoke.  Dani opens the window above the bed, as Danny gets into

          the bed.

         

                                          DANNY

                         Damn is it ever cold.

 

                                          DANI

                         It’s only the beginning.

 

          Daniele taps the pipe on the outside of the window so all the ashes

          fall outside.

 

                                          DANNY

                         So what is this so-called ‘date’ you have

                         planned with my mother tomorrow?

 

                                          DANI

                              (tapping the pipe)

                         Ah, our little date, right.

 

          She walks over to the other side of the room and puts her finger

          over the light dimmer.

 

                                          DANI

                         Your mom thought it would be a good idea if

                         she took me to some maternity course.  A one

                         day Motherhood course, actually.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Do you think it's a good idea.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yeah, well, why not, right?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Right.  Right.

 

          The silence settles and Dani presses in the dimmer and the lights

          go out.  There is just enough light to see her climb into bed and

          snuggle with Danny.  They close their eyes with their faces close

          together.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Good night babe.

 

                                          DANI

                         Good night.

 

          They kiss softly.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Love you babe.

 

                                          DANI

                         Love you too.

 

          They kiss again, this time longer and more passionately.  They pause,

          And close their eyes to sleep contently.

 

          Suddenly Danny burps and exhales some smoke with it.  They break out

          laughing, trying to stay quiet.

 

 

          9 EXT. OLSON HOME - DAY

 

          It is a snowy afternoon in Edmonton and the sun will be down

          in a few hours.

 

          An old fashioned blue family BUICK pulls up to the sidewalk outside

          of the Olson family home.  Danny steps out of the back seat dressed

          in a heavy winter jacket and toque, equipped with his school

          backpack and holding Aiden close to his chest.  Aiden is dressed

          very warm in CUTE baby winter clothes.

 

          He turns to the passenger window where Dani sits.  She is drawing a

          heart on the icy window and supplements her art with a kiss.  Danny

          gives her one back and heads towards the front door.  The buick

          drives away.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          10 INT. MOTHERHOOD TRAINING CLASS - DAY

 

          The scene opens up inside of the MOTHERHOOD TRAINING COURSE.  It is

          a classroom containing three parallel rows of tables filled with

          mothers and mothers-to-be.  Every person is equipped with a bottle,

          a book, and a baby-doll.  Dani’s mother in law sits beside her with

          a doll; she is only here because she knows Dani wouldn’t come alone.

 

          The instructor in front of the class speaks loud enough for them to

          all hear her.

                              INSTRUCTOR (OS)

                         If you think diaper rashes are difficult for

                         you, think about how painful they are for your

                         baby.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          The instructor who lectures them from the front of the room is about

          40.  She has an obvious abundance of experience with children, you

          can tell from her mother-like clothing and style.

 

                                          INSTRUCTOR (CONT'D)

                         Even though your son or daughter may cry even

                         more, it is important to apply ointment cream

                         on their rash.  Try patting it down with a wet

                         towel or baby wipes.

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

                                          INSTRUCTOR

                         Be sure to change him regularly.  Do not let

                         it sit.

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

          Daniele takes notes looking back and forth between her booklet and

          instructor.

 

                                          INSTRUCTOR (OS)

                         Last but not least, be sure to expose their

                         little butts to the air for a little bit after

                         they’ve been changed.

                              (pause)

                         Let the cool air heal the baby and sooth it

                         nicely.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          11 INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

 

          The lights are off in the Olson’s living room, it is only

          illuminated by the dying sunlight and TV.  Danny’s dad, HAROLD OLSON

          sits on the sofa watching the news.  To the right of him, but sitting

          on the floor with his back to the couch, is Danny.

 

          Danny is doing some chemistry homework while he takes care of his

          son Aiden.  Aiden sits in front of Danny playing with letter blocks. 

          The two of them listen to music, as Danny has planted one earphone

          in his ear and one in Aiden’s.

 

          The TV screen reveals that Harold is TURNING DOWN the Volume.  As

          the little green volume notches on the screen get smaller and smaller

          we can see Harold looking over at his son and grandson.  Danny

          doesn’t react.

 

          It takes a while for Harold to get the words out.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Your mother showed me your report card.

 

          Danny pretends he can’t notice, but his pen stops in his hand and we

          can see that he is staring at his dad from the corner of his eyes.

 

          After a while, his dad gives up, turning the TV volume up again.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          12 INT. MOTHERHOOD TRAINING CLASS - EVENING

 

          Later in the course, we see all the women standing over the table in

          front of them.  It is 3 rows of fake-babies having their diapers

          changed.  Daniele is struggling with the re-attachment of her doll’s

          diaper.

 

                                          MARTHA

                              (leaving the doll in front of her

                              alone for a moment)

                         Let me help you, sweetie.

 

          She removes Daniele’s hands and slowly assembles the diaper on her

          fake baby boy.  She finishes and looks at Daniele.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Think you got it?

 

          Daniele nods her head “yes”.

 

                                          MARTHA (CONT)

                              (sliding her uncovered baby

                              over)

                         Try this one.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          13 INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

 

          In the living room Aiden sits alone in the living room with one

          earphone still in his ear.  In the background Danny is in the kitchen

          on the phone, his dad heads over to join him.

 

          Danny ends the conversation and hangs up.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          14 INT. KITCHEN - EVENING

 

          Danny sits on the counter next to the sink enjoying a glass of

          orange juice.  He seems to enjoy the empty room because when his dad

          joins him he lowers his head and attempts to shun him from his

          peripheral.

 

          His dad stands next to him silently grabbing a glass from the

          cupboard and filling it with water.  As the water pours into the cup

          Harold decides to break the ice:

 

                                          HAROLD

                              (no eye contact)

                         Going anywhere?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Ah, yeah, Clayton's picking me up.  Gonna for

                         a ride.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         I thought you were watching Aiden tonight.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh.  Umm, do you mind.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Yes I do.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Okay than.  I'll tell Clay not to bother, if

                         he hasn't left already.

 

He hesitates for the phone…

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Forget it, your mother and Daniele will be

                         home at seven, anyways.

 

          It gets silent and the two are just waiting for someone to make the

          their presence more social.  Harold takes the pleasure of breaking

          the ice, yet again:

 

                                          HAROLD

                         So how you been lately, Daniel?

 

                                          DANNY

                         What do you mean?

 

                                          HAROLD

                         I mean how are you?  How’s it going?  What’s

                         new?  What’s cool?  What sucks?  Fill me in

                         kid.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh, I don’t know.  Ah, let’s see, I’m good,

                         It’s going good as well.  Not really

                         anything’s new.  School sucks, though.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         That’s what I’ve been hearing.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          15 INT. MOTHERHOOD TRAINING CLASS - EVENING

 

          All the woman and girls in the room are taking the time now to share

          life stories over coffee, either one-on-one or in larger groups.

 

          At the end of one table is Danny’s Mom talking to the instructor. 

          They are obviously having a serious discussion, we cannot hear them

          over the rest of the room’s chatter.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Dani stands next to the juice dispenser filling up a cup.  Behind

          her a young girl around her age approaches her with the intention of

          making conversation.

 

                                          GIRL

                         Hi, I'm Mindy.

 

          Daniele turns around to MINDY, a cute blonde girl with a small

          tummy.

 

                                          DANI

                         Hi.

                               (offers her hand)

                         Dani.

 

                                          MINDY

                              (very friendly)

                         How many months.

 

                                          DANI

                         Actually I've been a mommy for a few months

                         already.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Oh no way!  You look great, I'm so scared that

                         I'm gonna be a complete wreck after I push

                         this one out.

                              (rubbing her tummy)

                         One more month, can you beleive it?

 

                                          DANI

                         No, actually.  Wow.  You look too incredible

                         for 8 months.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Thanks, I don't know how long it's gonna last.

                              (pause)

                         So tell me is it pretty tough.

 

                                          DANI

                         What?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Being a mom.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oh-no, not really.  I can say that I manage quite

                         well.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Really?  Is he still around?  The daddy, I

                         mean.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oh, yeah, of course.  We live together with

                         his parents.  Makes things easier, you know?

 

                                          MINDY

                         You're so lucky.

 

                                          DANI

                         What about your man...

 

                                          MINDY

                              (somber but sweet)

                         Won't claim possession.

 

                                          DANI

                              (clenching her teeth)

                         I'm so sorry.  That really sucks.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Well, what can I say?  He was an asshole when

                         I met him.

                              (pause)

                         Still go to school?

 

                                          DANI

                         Grade 12.  You?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Just started grade 10.  I'm on this home

                         schooling computer-type-thingy.

 

                                          DANI

                         How's that?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Gets the job done.  I do miss my friends

                         though.  But hey, it all comes with the job. 

                         Growing up, right?  Well, you know what I'm

                         Talking about.

 

          Martha merges with the two girls.  She smiles at Mindy.

 

                                          MARTHA

                              (to Dani)

                         Just about ready?

 

                                          DANI

                              (to Mindy)

                         It's was nice meeting you.  Maybe I'll see you

                         again.

 

                                          MINDY

                         I really hope so.  Bye-bye!

 

                                          DANI

                         Bye.

 

          Dani shoots her a smile and leaves with Martha.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          16 EXT. OLSON HOME - NIGHT

 

          The Buick pulls into the driveway.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          17 INT. FAMILY BUICK - NIGHT

 

          Dani sits in the passenger seat looking at Martha.  Martha shuts off

          the engine.  She notices Dani staring at her as if she's trying to

          say something.  Martha waits for her to say something, and low-and-

          behold she speaks:

 

                                          DANI

                              (nervous)

                         I really want to thank you Martha.  Really I

                         do.  You don't know how much I appreciate all

                         this.  Not only this but everything else too. 

                         I'm very grateful for your help, and I know

                         that's the least I can say but it's the best

                         way I can put it right now.

                              (pause to catch her breath)

                         So until I figure out a better way of saying

                         this, thank you so much, Martha.  Thank you.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Daniella, hon, please stop calling me that.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oh.  I'm so sorry Mrs. Olson.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         No, no, no.  You've been living with us for

                         almost a year now.  You're like a daughter to

                         me, child.  I was hoping we'd be on mother-

                         daughter terms by now.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oh.  Umm, well then, thanks...mom.

 

          Mom has a priceless smile on her face.  She makes Daniele give her a

          hug and kisses her NEW daughter on the cheek.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          18 EXT. PUBLIC PARK - NIGHT

 

          In a dark and deserted parking lot of a public park on the outskirts

          of Edmonton Danny paces to and fro, high and COKED-OUT, under the

          light of a street lamp.  Clayton is hidden in the drivers seat of his

          CHEVY SILVERADO.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          19 INT. CLAYTON'S TRUCK -

 

          There is a thin line of coke left on his dash board, it is all that's

          left of their Eight-ball.  Clayton snorts this all up with a crisp

          five-dollar bill.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          20 EXT. PUBLIC PARK -

 

          Danny starts waving his arms and ranting on about something that

          barely makes sense with his million-syllables-per-second speaking

          pace.

 

                                          DANNY

                         You know, you know, love is amazing.  It is!

                         It really and truly is!  It's the only emotion

                         that can act like a drug.  A hard and...and...

                         fiending drug.  I mean people crave it, get

                         addicted to it, it's so addictive!  Like heroin.

                         like mother-fucking heroin!  And if you have it,

                         you love Love until you lose it where you go

                         through sick withdrawals wishing and hoping

                         that you can one day get it back.  It's a

                         lovely narcotic.  Love is great.  It will get

                         you high and get you down, but it is so great

                         when you have it.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                              (mumbling)

                         I think what you really mean is sex, man.  Sex

                         is great.  Sex gets you high.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (offended)

                         No!  No way!  No way Jose.  Love is not a

                         product of sex, it's the other way around. 

                         You got it all wrong.  You got it upside-down,

                         inside-out, and all mixed up inside your head.

 

          On that note Danny slips on a patch of ice, his legs kick from under

          him and he lands flat and painfully on his back.  He lets out a big

          wail and then starts to laugh.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (somewhat in pain, otherwise

                              humored)

                         Love.  How great you are.

 

                                                             FADE TO:

 

          21 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

 

          Daniele lays sound asleep in bed when the door creeks open, it

          doesn't wake her up.  Danny steps through tired and a complete

          wreck.  He slowly makes his way to the bed and sits at the foot of

          it.

 

          Slowly he peels off his shirt.  Then his socks.  And then his pants,

          which he struggles with a bit.

 

          As he is slipping into his side of the bed, Dani wakes up.  She

          looks him into his eyes.  He kisses her softly.

 

                                          DANI

                              (whispering)

                         Where were you?

 

                                          DANNY

                              (whispering back)

                         With Clay.

 

                                          DANI

                         Did you do any of the bad stuff.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Yeah.

 

                                          DANI

                         I can tell.  You feel hollow.  Distant. 

                         You look a mess.  Even in darkness.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I'm sorry.  I know you don't like us doing

                         that.  I won't anymore.

 

                                          DANI

                         Promise?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Promise.

 

                                          DANI

                         Do you love me?

 

                                          DANNY

                         More than life itself.

 

          She smiles and cuddles up close to him.

 

                                                             FADE OUT:

 

 

          22 EXT. EDMONTON RESIDENTIAL - DAY

 

          (the day they met)

 

          The two of them walk side-by-side on the deserted street.  Each of

          them have a giant Slurpee that they drink from.  Dani holds a bag

          of chips as the each take turns grabbing chips from.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (pointing in a direction)

                         That there is the best goddamn Korean food

                         restaurant in the city of Edmonton.  They make

                         a kick ass wonton soup.

 

                                          DANI

                         Isn't that Chinese.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Ehhh.

                              (points in another direction)

                         That is 24-Hour Video, which ironically closes

                         at 3…go figure.

                              (points down a right turn in the

                              road)

                         I live down that street.

 

          As they begin to cross the street that Danny lives on, Dani turns

          down that road without him knowing.  It takes a while for him to

          realize he’s missing his friend.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (coming to a halt)

                         Where are you going?

 

                                          DANI

                              (she turns to him and stops)

                         Going to your house.

 

          They let the moment settle, and then Danny runs to catch up with

          her.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Cool!  Can I come?

 

          Following from behind, we see him catch up with her as they walk

          together down the street.  We see Dany toss the bag of chips.  She

          wipes her hands on her thighs and grabs Danny’s hand.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          23 INT. OLSON HOME - DAY

 

          From inside the empty but well furnished home we view the front door

          as Danny unlocks it from outside.  The door swings open and Danny

          rushes in to present his lavish home to Dani as if they were on a

          game show.

 

          He runs into the living room.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Welcome to the marvelous home here at

                         Ninety-seven-oh-eight, Frank St.

 

          Daniele laughs and claps her hands like a stoned fool.

 

                                          DANNY (CONT)

                         This home was purchased by Harold and Martha

                         Olson during the summer of 1985.  It was the

                         same home in which they raised there great

                         son, Daniel Victor.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          24 INT. BATHROOM - DAY

 

          They stand in the doorway of a completely white-tiled, white-walled

          bathroom.

 

                                          DANNY

                         It was in this bathroom that I took my first

                         solo bath, at the tender age of five.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oooh.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          25 INT. PARENT'S ROOM - DAY

 

          She sits on the edge of his parents bed as he rants on about its

          history.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Theoretically, I was conceived on that very

                         Bed.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          26 INT. BASEMENT - DAY

 

          In an unfurnished and unfinished basement, Danny shows her the

          downstairs from the stairway.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Basement.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          27 INT. KITCHEN - DAY

 

                                          DANNY

                         Kitchen.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          28 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

 

          They stand in the middle of the bedroom staring at each other.

 

                                          DANNY

                         My room.

 

          We pan over to the bed, the blanket has a design of Earth on it.

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

          Now they are sitting on the bed, facing each other, making-out like

          rabbits in a hurry.

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

          A shot of Dani removing his shirt, their lips never come apart,

          except for one brief moment when his shirt collar gets pulled over

          his head.

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

          Lips still attached, Dani, now on top, removes unbuttons and removes

          her shirt, joining the no-shirt club.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Now they lay on top of the World bed cover, because after all, they

          feel as if they are ON TOP OF THE WORLD.  Her head is tucked into

          his arm and there is an ashtray on his stomach as they share a

          smoke.  Dani ashes out her cigarette, she takes another drag and

          then kisses Danny before exhaling.  He exhales the recycled smoke

          and she continues with the cigarette.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (laid back)

                         You know I woke up this morning and I had this

                         feeling.

                              (pause)

                         I woke up, and somewhere in between opening my

                         eyes and hitting the snooze button, I thought

                         to myself: “I feel like falling in love

                         today.”

 

                                          DANI

                              (relaxed and calm)

                         Your in love with me?

 

                                          DANNY

                         No, not yet, but I’m falling.  I’m falling

                         hard.

 

                                          DANI

                         So what do you want me to do about it?  Do you

                         want me to fall hard into love with you?

 

                                          DANNY

                         I want you to know.  That’s all.

                        

          She takes another long drag from her smoke and once again shares it

          with Danny.  He exhales smoothly.

 

                                          DANNY

                         You’re amazing.

 

          He hands her the ashtray and turns over to lay on his stomach.  He

          rests his arm over Daniele’s body.  He closes his eyes and rests.

          Daniele places the ashtray on his back as she stares up at the

          ceiling.

 

                                                             FADE OUT:

 

          (the present)

 

          BLACKNESS

 

          The annoying sound of an alarm clock erupts over the pitch-darkness,

          followed by the sound of someone hitting the clock once, twice, and

          then finally and putting an end to the disturbance at the third         

          attempt.

 

          FADE IN:

 

 

          29 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

 

          Danny opens his eyes and sees Dani sitting on top of him.  She is

          seductively smiling and Danny can sense a surprise.

 

                                          DANI

                         I have something for you.

 

          She moves her tongue around in her mouth as if to grab something

          with it.

 

                                          DANI (CONT'D)

                              (tongue out, semi-coherent)

                         Surprise!

 

          On the tip of her tongue is an Ecstasy tablet.  Danny sits up and

          slides the pill from her tongue into his mouth.  He bites half of it

          and removes the other half with his finger and puts it in Dani's

          mouth.  She sucks on his finger as he removes it.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Mmmmm!

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          30 INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

 

          POV under desk: You can see Danny's hand down the front of his

          girlfriends pants.  He finger-bangs her.

 

          The ecstasy must be working well.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          WIDESHOT OF ENTIRE CLASS:

          We see the quiet classroom going about their business.  Danny fills

          out a worksheet with one hand and with the other...

 

          CU:

          Daniele holds her head up with her arm firmly planted on the desk. 

          Her eyes are closed and she pants softly.

 

          The teacher, MRS.LARSON, is an old woman that might as well should

          have "HEINOUS BITCH" tattooed on her forehead.  She wears her hair

          back in a gray bun, dressed old fashioned in the type of sweaters

          your Grandma used to wear.

 

          Mrs. Larson sits at he desk indulging in a book which covers most of

          her face.  She sits back proud of her quiet class until her eyes

          drift away from her novel to the two horny teens in front of her. 

          She is nothing short of shocked and disgusted.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          31 INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY

 

          Martha is shopping alone in the supermarket.  Her shopping cart is

          full of toilet paper, bread, tons of vegetables, and she's just

          topped it off with a package of baby diapers.

 

          A woman strolls by who seems to recognize her, but she doesn't make

          an attempt to greet her.  Martha senses this and turns to her.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Theresa.  How nice to see you.  How are you?

 

                                          THERESA

                              (not interested in conversation)

                         Hello Martha.  I'm fine, and you?

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Wonderful.

 

                                          THERESA

                         I see that.

                              (pause)

                         How is Daniele?  Taking care of her?

 

                                          MARTHA

                         She seems to take care of herself well enough. 

                         She's doing quite well, actually.  She took

                         this maternity course yesterday.  Did quite

                         well.

 

                                          THERESA

                         Good to hear.  I'll be sure to let her mother

                         know, she'll be extra proud this time.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Now Theresa, they're good kids.

 

                                          THERESA

                         Uhh-hmm.  Great kids in fact.  I hope they

                         function even better as parents.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         They're catching on quite well.

                              (pause)

                         You know you should come over some time.  I'm

                         sure Daniella would be more than happy to see

                         you.

 

                                          THERESA

                         I'm sure she would be.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         I'm sure she'd love it if you joined us for

                         dinner this evening.

 

                                          THERESA

                         As much as I'd love to, I can't.  I have

                         plans.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         What sort of plans?

 

                                          THERESA

                         The sort of plans that don't concern your

                         interest.

                              (starts stolling away)

                         Say hello to the kids for me.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          32 INT. KITCHEN - DAY

 

          Martha plops the last of her grocery bags onto the counter next to

          the others.  She naturally activates the near-by answering machine

          and starts to unpack the groceries.

 

                                          ANSWERING MACHINE

                              (beep!)

                         Hi, Miss Olson.  This is Principal Foster

                         calling from Glennbury High.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          33 INT. PRINCIPALS OFFICE - DAY

 

          Martha sits at Principal Fosters office desk.  She doesn't look too

          happy, neither does MR. FOSTER.  MR. FOSTER is a tall and

          intimidating black man in a GRAY SUIT AND A BURSH CUT.

 

          The Dannies stand against the wall with their heads down.  They

          share the same guilty face.  Dani holds Aiden close to her chest

          facing away from all the commotion.

 

          Mrs. Larson sits on the corner of Mr. Fosters desk.  With her legs

          and arms crossed, she explains to Martha why they brought her here:

 

                                          MRS. LARSON

                              (calm as if not to alarm her)

                         He was masturbating her.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (fierce and jumpy)

                         Bullshit.

 

                                          MR.FOSTER

                         Daniel, please.

 

                                          DANNY

                         She's lying.  She didn't see shit!

 

                                          DANI

                              (covering Aiden's ears)

                         Shhh.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Why would she lie, Danny?

 

                                          DANNY

                              (defensive)

                         Because she's a heinous bitch!

 

                                          MR.FOSTER

                         Relax!

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Stop Danny.  I raised you better than this.

 

                                          MRS. LARSON

                              (to Danny)

                         Don’t make this any worse, Danny.

                              (reassuring Martha)

                         I don't lie.

                              (to the Dannies)

                         This isn't something I was hoping to witness

                         in my career.  Two hormone driven teens

                         getting off during an exam.

                              (pause)

                         Very mature.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Mom.  She's lying.

 

                                          MARTHA

                              (head in her arms, grieving)

                         I just don't know what to do anymore.  I give

                         you everything.  Everything!

 

                                          DANI

                         We're sorry.

 

                                          MR.FOSTER

                         Our school does not tolerate this type of...

                              (pause)

                         activity.  What we're prepared to do is give

                         each student a 1 week suspension.  Afterwards

                         they will be subjected to a month of school

                         services.  And we'll also require them to see

                         the school counsel a few times before we can

                         trust them together in the same classes.

 

                                          DANNY

                         But we share all the same classes.

 

                                          MR.FOSTER

                         You'll just have to take turns coming to

                         class.  One day Daniele will attend class,

                         while Daniel stays in the library.  The next

                         day Daniel will go to class.

 

                                          DANI

                         Until when?

 

                                          MR.FOSTER

                         Until you have proven to us that you can be

                         trusted together.

 

                                          DANNY

                         You can't just move us to opposite ends of the

                         Class.

 

                                          MRS. LARSON

                         I'm afraid that would be just too awkward,

                         for me and teachers-alike.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (angered)

                         What the hell are you talking about?

 

                                          MR.FOSTER

                         Daniel, I'm warning you.

                              (pause)

                         Mrs. Olson, we understand how hard it must be

                         for you-

 

                                          MARTHA

                         No you don't!  Nobody does.  I try and I try

                         and I try!  I have done everything that I can. 

                         Everything to make it like it used to.  I work

                         my...ASS!...to climb back up there, but every

                         time I get close something pulls me down

                         another flight of stairs.

                              (turns to the Dannies)

                         You guys!  That is it!  You're on your own.

                              (stands up)

                         I'm not looking out for you anymore.  You want

                         to behave like adults, well pack your shit and

                         live on your own, because I am NOT going to

                         lose my sanity over you, not anymore!

 

          She takes Aiden away from Daniele with force

 

                                          MARTHA (CONT'D)

                         And you can go ahead and walk home.  Take your

                         time, I don't want to have to see you again

                         for a while.

 

          She opens the office door and slams it behind her.

 

          The Dannies look horrified.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Are we done here?

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          34 INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

 

          The Dannies are not done yet, the shit has rolled downhill to Dad

          now, and they sit more sorry than ever on the opposite ends of the

          sofa.

 

          Harold paces back and forth in front of the two of them.  His head

          down, it jolts up and turns to Martha in the kitchen feeding Aiden

          baby food in his high chair. 

          He shifts his attention to the kids on the sofa before him.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Well I think your Mother is right.  You guys

                         need discipline.  If we keep letting you get

                         your way you'll never grow out of this teenage

                         idiocy that you two seem to embrace so well.

 

                                          DANNY

                         What about school?

 

                                          HAROLD

                         What about it?

 

                                          DANNY

                         How am I supposed to pay off an apartment with

                         school in the way?

 

          Harold looks over to his wife again.  The look they give each other

          reminds them of something they obviously discussed earlier.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Your mother and I were thinking that...well,

                         maybe school isn't for you.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (shocked)

                         What?!

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Well it's not like you're trying very hard. 

                         And you barely go anyways.

 

                                          DANNY

                         What?  I'm there every morning.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Where?  School?  Cause I know you're

                         definitely not talking about your classes.

 

                                          DANI

                         What am I supposed to do?

 

                                          HAROLD

                         You can do whatever you like, dear.

 

                                          DANNY

                         No she can't, she's got to take care of Aiden.

 

                                          MARTHA (OS)

                         Home schooling, honey.

 

                                          DANI

                         Like cyber school?

 

                                          HAROLD

                         I think it's a good idea.  That way you won't

                         have to let Aiden out of your sight and still

                         complete your education.

                              (pause)

                         I don't think you guys realize what a great

                         opportunity this is.  I think it's the best

                         thing that's ever happened for you.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Where am I supposed to find a job?

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Are you still strung up on that?  Christ, I'll

                         help you find one if that's what you want.

 

          He sits down on the corner of the sofa.

 

                                          HAROLD (CONT'D)

                         Believe me, you guys need this.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          35 INT. APARTMENT - DAY

 

          The newly purchased apartment is bare and small.  The white wall is

          never ending except for the glass door that connects to the balcony. 

          It isn't bad, but not luxurious either.

 

          The Dannies enter.

 

          Danny caries a large cardboard box in his arms and a black-strapped

          bag over his shoulder.  Dani enters with a bag in one hand, another

          bag over her shoulder, and a carriage with Aiden comfortably inside.

 

          Dani drops her bag and carefully unloads the rest of her luggage. 

          Danny places the box in the middle of the room, and then, with the

          bag still over his shoulder spins around slowly observing their new

          home.  He smiles looking at Dani, who has an equally jovial 

          expression.

 

                                                             FADE TO:

 

 

          36 EXT. SCHOOL YARD - DAY

 

          (the day they met)

 

          With their backs to the brick wall Danny and Dani each have a smoke. 

          Danny smokes his cigarette like a real smoker, meanwhile, Dani holds

          and smokes hers more like a joint.

 

                                          DANI

                         So what's with the shirt?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Huh?

                               (looking at the huge

                                orange stain)

                         Oh, that.  I had an accident.

 

                                          DANI

                         You should drink more water.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Why's that?

 

                                          DANI

                         Because dehydration makes you piss orange.

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

          After the two have already put out their smokes they stand against

          the wall still and silent.

 

                                          DANI

                         So tell me Daniel-son, where can we find some

                         weed?

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          37 EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY

 

          We begin by focusing on the footwear of Danny and Dani walking at

          the same pace beside each other on a sidewalk.  The sounds of cars

          zooming by fills the soundtrack.

 

          TILT UP: Danny removes a bag of pot from his pants and hands it to

          her.

 

                                          DANI

                         Not too bad.  Not too bad at all.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I know it won’t be as good as that B.C. weed

                         you’re so used to, but hey, pot’s pot.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yes, Daniel Olson, pot is pot.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          38 EXT. BEHIND OF A STRANGER'S HOUSE – DAY

 

          The same location as in scene #5.

 

          WIDESHOT: Danny and Dani sit on the tall unmowed-grass behind

          somebody’s house (same house as in Sc.5.  Their backs are leaned   
          against the blue fence, Danny has his legs spread out far as Dani       
          holds her knees close to herself.

 

          CU: Danny holds a psychedelically multicolored glass pipe to his

          lips.  He lights it up, takes a fat hoot...then passes it

          over.

 

                                          DANNY

                         So you got any crazy Van-city adventures.  I

                         could just imagine all the shit you were

                         getting into.

 

                                          DANI

                              (after exhaling)

                         Oh, there was some crazy shit.  Every night

                         there was some crazy shit.  We wrote the book,

                         on crazy shit.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Care to recite a chapter.  Tell me about your

                         acid frenzy.

 

          Daniel takes his hoot, she doesn't respond to his asking.  He waits

          for her story, but by the time he blows it out, he realizes that

          it's a touchy subject.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I take it you'd rather not.

 

                                          DANI

                         Good take.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I'm sorry.  I'm just curious about you.  You

                         fascinate me.  You've got a certain mystique

                         that most girls do not have.

                              (he waits for her to say

                              something)

                         There's something about you that just drives

                         me to want to know everything about you.  I'm

                         compelled.

 

                                          DANI

                              (obviously touched)

                         I did all sorts of drugs in Vancouver.  My

                         parents say it messed up my brain.

                              (beat)

                         I don't know, I don't think anything about me

                         has changed.  Just my perspectives on life.  I

                         was doing them for the different state of mind. 

                         How ecstasy made me love, mushrooms made me

                         free, or how acid made me immortal.

 

                                          DANNY

                         You're parents knew about it all.

 

                                          DANI

                         They did.  Well, they did and they didn't. 

                         You see, when I come home at 5 in the morning

                         and my nose is numb, eyes blood red, and

                         pupils the size of plums, my parents still ask

                         me what I'm on.

                              (beat)

                         I say: "I've got a cold, my contacts are

                         getting old, and it's only natural for pupils

                         to get bigger when you were just outside in

                         the night.

 

                                          DANNY

                         And she believes that?

 

                                          DANI

                         No, but at least she can reassure herself that

                         I'm sober enough to lie.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Quite elaborately, in fact.

 

                                          DANI

                         Why, thank you.

                              (pause)

                         So how about you?  What sort of shit do you

                         do?

 

                                          DANNY

                         I smoke weed.

 

                                          DANI

                         That's a given.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I do all the organics too: mush, hash, rat

                         root--

 

                                          DANI

                              (disturbed)

                         Rat root?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Only once.  Grade 9, science fare.  Some kid

                         had a display on Indian herbals.  We were

                         lucky enough to steal the apparatus before he

                         got kicked out of school.

                              (beat)

                         Where was I?  Aw, yes, ephedrine is always

                         nice, I kinda like ecstasy, and I tried coke

                         once too long ago.

 

                                          DANI

                         How'd you like that?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Enticing.  After though, I kinda felt dirty

                         for doing it.

 

                                          DANI

                         I hate cocaine, that shit's poison.  It really

                         messed up some close friends of mine.  My

                         friend Amber wound up dead because of it.  She

                         had been on rocks and rails for 10 days.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Crazy.

 

                                          DANI

                         So your parents.  What all do they know.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Nothing.

 

                                          DANI

                         Nothing?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Not a goddamn thing.

 

                                          DANI

                         No?

 

          Danny pulls out two cigarette and passes one of them to Daniele.

 

                                          DANNY

                         They know I smoke, actually my mom thinks I

                         quit.  Other than that they don't know much

                         about me.  Everything else is a complete

                         mystery.

 

          Lighting his smoke, and then hers.

 

                                          DANI

                         Do you wish they knew more?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well I don't wish they knew more about what

                         I'm doing every night, but it would be nice

                         for them to know a little more about their

                         son, other than the fact that he's smoker and

                         is at risk of many cancers, including cancer

                         of the lung, colon, and throat.

 

                                          DANI

                         You always been a little sarcastic bastard?

 

          Danny stands up off the grass.

 

                                          DANNY

                         My whole life.

 

          He lends out his free hand the girl below him, helps her to her

          feet.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          39 INT. 7-11 STORE - DAY

 

          ARIAL SHOT: In the aisles of 7-11 store the two stoned teens are

          Looking for munchies.  They laugh and giggle at each other, with

          their scarlet-red eyes barely open.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Danny stands at the counter, putting a big bag of chips, two

          Slurpees, two Mr. Big chocolate bars, and some gum on the counter.

 

          Dani is at the small candies aisle as she holds out a quarter-filled

          plastic bag in one hand and tweezers in the other.

 

                                          DANI

                              (dropping a 5 cent candy in the

                              bag)

                         A dollar ninety.

                              (another)

                         Dollar ninety-five.

                              (another)

                         Two bucks.

                              (She throws one more in her mouth)

                         Two-oh-five.

 

          She drops the bag of candies on the counter.

 

                                          DANI

                         Two dollars.

 

          Danny pays for them plus the rest of the munchies.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          40 INT. APARTMENT (LIVING ROOM) - DAY

 

          (the present)

 

          At first the scene enters with the sight of the TV which currently

          has the Teletubies throughout the screen.

 

          Aiden is sitting on the floor in front of the TV in a daze.  He

          seems to have aged a month since last seen.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          The apartment is now fully furnished.  It is actually not too bad

          for two teenagers trying to make ends meet.  The walls are still a

          little plain, but the rest of it is all right.

 

          Dani, sporting her NEW GLASSES, is at the far corner of the living

          room at her COMPUTER DESK, currently attending school.  In the

          background we see Aiden and the television set.

 

          On her monitor is a diagram of the abdominal cavity, she is

          attending Biology class.  She chews the cap of a pen while she

          analyzes her homework, occasionally writing something down.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          41 INT. RESTAURANT (KITCHEN) - DAY

 

          At his new job as a cook at the local BOSTON PIZZA, Danny is in the

          middle of a rush:  removing fries from the deep fryer, flipping burger

          patties, putting the fries in a plate, drenching them with gravy,

          tapping the bell (twice), putting the burger patties in a bun,

          placing the burger on a plate, tapping the bell (twice).

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          42 INT. APARTMENT -

 

          Dani is still analyzing the computer screen, chewing the cap of her

          pen.  In the B.G. we see Aiden crawling towards her, the TV is just

          a blue screen.  Noticing her son coming towards her she gets off the

          chair and comes to him first.  Dani picks him up and walks over to

          the VCR.  She ejects the tape and exchanges it for yet another

          brilliant episode of the Teletubies.  She kisses Aiden and places

          him in front of the television again.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          43 INT. RESTAURANT (KITCHEN) -

 

          Danny's workload has settled down a bit.  Now he is cutting the big

          juicy slobs of raw meat into 10 oz., 8 oz., and 6 oz. pieces.

 

          He wraps up two steaks in brown paper.

 

          Danny checks over his shoulders; nobody is watching.  He bends down

          below the counter and slides a styrofoam take-out package from

          beneath.  He places his wrapped up meat inside of it and slides it

          underneath again.  He down this with perfect caution, paranoid that

          the boss might be watching him from some place afar.

 

          And back to the meat slicing, he goes.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          44 INT. APARTMENT (BABY’S ROOM) - NIGHT

 

          As the scene opens Dani is just putting Aiden in his crib.  He is

          sound asleep.

 

          Daniele turns the lights off and exits the room closing the door

          shut, leaving us in total darkness.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          45 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          In the main room the lights are off.  Illuminated only by the

          television set, which is just a blue screen.  It casts a blue-

          hue over the room.

 

          Danny sits comfortably in the recliner, dressed in boxer-shorts and

          a ratty tee-shirt.  He is just finishing rolling up a joint as he

          licks it and finishes the job.

 

          Dani enters the room and sits over his lap on her knees facing

          him.  She looks back at the blue screen behind them.

 

                                          DANI

                         We should really order cable.

 

          Danny pays no mind.  He puts the joint in his mouth and Daniele

          lights it for him.  He take the first drag and you can tell he's

          been waiting for this all day.  He exhales, takes another, than

          passes it on.

 

          Daniele takes hers and exhales.  Danny takes another hoot and holds

          it in.  He comes closer to Dani, closer and closer, and than kisses

          her.  He digs his face into her neck while Dani exhales his recycled

          hoot.  She takes another drag while Danny sucks on her neck.  She

          licks her fingers and puts out the joint with them, saving it for

          later.

 

          It takes a while to get the ball rolling, but they finally get

          things together and on the recliner they make love.  It seems to be

          rougher than usual, but it might just be less comfortable

          considering their surface area.

 

          This continues, however, just as things are getting hot and heavy,

          we hear Aiden crying in the far room.  At first the Dannies don't

          want to stop.  However Daniele can't take it anymore and stops to

          rest her head on the top of the chair.  She waits awhile for her

          breathing to get back to normal and leaves for Aiden.

 

          Danny, frustrated, grabs the incomplete joint from the table and

          proceeds to smoke it.

 

                                                             FADE TO:

 

 

          46 INT. APARTMENT (KITCHEN) - NIGHT

 

          In the kitchen Dani stands by the microwave waiting for a bottle

          of warm milk to finish heating up.

 

                                          THERESA (OS)

                         What time does Daniel usually come home?

 

                                          DANI

                         He's usually here by eight.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Theresa sits in the living room with a cup of tea.  Aiden sits next

          to her on the sofa.

 

                                          THERESA

                              (muttering under her breath)

                        Usually.

                              (pause)

                        Tell me, darling, does he like his

                        job?

 

          Dani enters the room with a warm bottle of milk and plops down to

          the far side of the sofa, taking Aiden into her lap.

 

                                          DANI

                              (feeding Aiden)

                         He doesn't mind it.  "A job's a job" that's

                         what he always says.

                              (pause)

                         It pays pretty well actually.

 

                                          THERESA

                         I see you never got around to breast feeding.

 

                                          DANI

                         Should I be?

 

                                          THERESA

                         I don't know, should you?

 

                                          DANI

                         I tried it a few times after Aiden was born. 

                         It really hurt.

 

                                          THERESA

                         Oh I know.  It hurts like a bastard.  Your

                         cousin Christopher was always a painful feed.

 

                                          DANI

                         Do you want more tea?

 

                                          THERESA

                         No I'm fine, thank you.

                              (pause)

                         So tell me how is this new schooling you've

                         got going?  On the internet?  I didn't even

                         know you could do that.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oh, it's, well I think anyways, a big joke.  I

                         mean it's so easy!  And if I'm actually

                         learning all that needs to be taught, than

                         every teacher I knew was doing their job

                         wrong.  It's a cinch.

 

                                          THERESA

                         How many classes are you taking?

 

                                          DANI

                         Four, got a full setup.

 

                                          THERESA

                         And you're managing well?

 

                                          DANI

                         Never learned more in my life.

 

                                          THERESA

                         Good to hear.

 

          The room gets silent and Theresa passes her attention on to Aiden. 

          The two woman watch him with a twinkle in their eyes.

 

                                          THERESA

                         You gave birth to a beautiful child.

 

                                          DANI

                         Isn't he.

 

                                          THERESA

                         He is.  He has your eyes.  Your nose and chin

                         too.  Funny, he doesn't take a single physical

                         trait from his father.

 

                                          DANI

                         I don't know--

 

                                          THERESA

                         Let's just hope Daniel's genes didn't all go

                         to his brain, huh?

 

          Theresa breaks out laughing at her own joke.  Not to be rude, Dani

          adds a little hint of laughter.

 

                                          THERESA

                              (gets up)

                         I guess I should be going.

 

                                          DANI

                              (stands up with Aiden)

                         No more tea?

 

                                          THERESA

                         No more tea, thank you.

 

                                          DANI

                         Aunty, thank you for visiting.  You'd be

                         surprised how bored I get here alone.

 

                                          THERESA

                         My pleasure.

 

                                          DANI

                         I have to admit, Aiden isn't the most exciting

                         child in the world.

 

                                          THERESA

                         He's a quiet one.

                              (pause)

                         Lucky you.

 

          Dani follows her to the front door.  Theresa opens it up and turns

          to her niece.

 

                                          THERESA

                         Take care.

 

          Dani shoots her a smile.  Theresa steps out the door, however, just

          as she does this she clings her back to the wall.  Her back sticks

          flat-up to the wall and she gives Daniele a strange look that

          prepares her for something bizarre.

 

          Danny, carrying the end of a tree under one arm and a paper bag in

          the other.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Hello Theresa.

 

                                          THERESA

                              (hidden behind the tree)

                         Daniel.

 

          Clayton is at the other end of the tree carrying a case of beer in

          his free hand.  Clay shoots Aunt Theresa a super-fake smile.  The

          men struggle to fit the tree through the doorway.  As they do this

          Theresa squeezes her way through.

 

          The finally get the tree in the house.  They plant a too-tall

          Christmas tree straight up in the middle of the room.  The top of

          the tree bends a bit at the roof.  Daniele is shocked, but amused.

 

                                          DANI

                         What the hell is that?

 

                                          DANNY

                         It's a tree.

 

                                          DANI

                         I see that.  Where did you get it?

 

                                          DANNY

                         This guy Clay works with hooked us up.

 

          Dani looks over to Clay for confirmation; he nods his head.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          47 EXT. BACK ALLEY – EARLIER TONIGHT

 

          Clay's truck rips through the back alleys of Edmonton.  Inside Danny

          and Clay drink beers and are obviously intoxicated.  They are

          laughing hard about something we just missed.

 

          Something outside catches Danny's eye.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Stop!

 

          Clay slams on the breaks.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         What?

 

          Danny's head turns towards a truck parked outside of a home.  In the

          box of the truck is that oh-so special Christmas tree he just

          blessed his home with.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          48 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Back to the present, Danny takes the case of beer from Clay and

          leaves the room for the kitchen.  Dani puts Aiden down carefully by

          the tree and follows Danny into the kitchen.  Clayton sits down on

          the couch.  Aiden plays with the bottom branches of the tree.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          49 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

 

          Danny is unpacking things into the fridge.  He takes two bottles of

          Molson out from the box and places the rest of the beer in the

          fridge.

 

                                          DANI

                         What were you guys doing?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh, you know, just driving around.

 

          Danny opens up a styrofoam container from work and takes out some

          eggs, tomatoes, and a block of butter.  He unloads them into the

          fridge.

 

                                          DANI

                              (watching him)

                         What are you on?

 

                                          DANNY

                              (giving her his full attention,

                              but not really)

                         Huh?

                              (pause)

                         Nothing.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          50 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Clayton sits in the middle of the couch, eaves dropping and staring

          at Aiden crawling towards him.  Aiden reaches out his hand towards

          Clay, Clay pats him on the head softly.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          51 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

 

          Dani gives Danny an unconvinced look.

 

                                          DANNY (CONT)

                              (very defensive)

                         Nothing, I swear.

 

          She still doesn't believe him.

 

                                          DANNY (CONT)

                         I'm a little drunk, that's it.

 

                                          DANI

                         You're talking pretty fast for a drunk.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (shooting an irresistible smile)

                         No, I'm talking fast, because I am a drunk.

                              (pause)

                         I'm not coked out.  I promise.

 

          Daniele's spiteful look quickly becomes that of a pleased one.  She

          jolts towards him and bites his lip, then they kiss lustfully, as

          Danny kicks the fridge door closed.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          52 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Danny enters with two beers, hands one to Clayton: who is busy

          holding Aiden up by the arms, staring at his face.  Danny pulls

          Aiden from Clay.  He plops him down on his lap, opens the beer, and

          tosses the cap.

 

                                          DANNY

                         He's fucking getting huge.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         I can see that.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I swear he got bigger, I didn't even realize.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         That's what happens when they age.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (baby talk with Aiden)

                         "You're a big guy, now, aren't ya?  What is

                         she feeding you spoonfuls of butter?"

 

          Aiden reaches out his arms to pull at his daddy's face.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Hey Dani, what are you feeding this kid?

 

                                          AIDEN

                         Da-nee.

 

          Danny stops playing with him.  He stares in sheer surprise.

 

                                          DANNY

                         He just said my name!  Did you hear that?  He

                         just said da-nee.  He said my name!  Dani

                         baby!  Aiden just said his first word.

 

          Dani steps in as she is attaching her earrings.

 

                                          DANI

                         What?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Aiden!  He just said his first word.  His said

                         Danny.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oh, I know.

 

                                          DANNY

                         You know?

 

                                          DANI

                         Uh-hmm.

 

                                          DANNY

                         When did this happen?

 

                                          DANI

                         Like...two days ago.

 

                                          DANNY

                         And you didn't tell me?

 

                                          DANI

                         I didn't think you'd care.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well I do care!  I care about my son.

 

          Clayton is getting nervous.

 

                                          DANI

                         I didn't think it was such a big deal to you

                         I’m sorry.

 

                                          DANNY

                         What do you mean "not a big deal?"  Of course

                         it is.  I'm his father and he's my son.  And

                         the things things he does do interest me.  I'd

                         like to know when he starts talking, all

                         right?

 

                                          DANI

                         Okay, relax.

 

                                          DANNY

                         And I want to know when he gets his first

                         tooth.  And starts walking.  And grows out of

                         those Goddamn pants!

 

                                          DANI

                         Whoa, relax! maybe if you spent some time with

                         him you wouldn't have to wait for me to tell

                         you all about it.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well aren't we being the hypocritical bitch

                         tonight?

 

          Dani is shocked.

 

                                          DANI

                              (mortified)

                         What did you just call me?

                              (pause)

                         You just called me a bitch.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well, you're certainly acting like one.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         I'm gonna go to 7-11.  You guys want anything?

 

          Clay leaves without waiting for a response.

 

                                          DANI

                         Excuse me?  I am your fucking woman. You do

                         not say that to me!  I am home watching over

                         him 24-7!  I am the one that feeds him, and

                         cleans him.  And when you come home do not

                         forget what you're coming home to.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Yeah.  My woman and my son.  When I'm at work

                         getting grease and blood and shit all over me,

                         I'm thinking about coming home to my woman and

                         my son.  And every morning, when I wake up at

                         eight, I'm thinking about my woman and son—who

                         are comfortably sleeping away—while I'm on my

                         way out the door to work for my woman and son!

 

                                          DANI

                         And beer!

 

                                          DANNY

                         And beer?!  Okay, fuck off, you're scaring

                         Aiden.  Just fuck right off.  I don't even

                         know why we're fighting anymore.  Just leave. 

                         Cause if you don't, I will.

 

                                          DANI

                              (grabs Aiden away from him)

                         Fine!

                              (shoots an evil smile)

                         I will leave!

 

          She marches to the door, opens it, marches out with her son

          tight in her arms, slamming the door shut on he way-out.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Where are you going?!

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          53 EXT. BALCONY - NIGHT

 

          It is a full moon outside.  The moonlight illuminates the entire

          area to a silver hue.

 

          Danny stands leaning over the railing of his fourth floor balcony. 

          He pulls out a joint and lights it up.  He watches Daniele walk out

          the main entrance with Aiden hanging silently over her shoulder.  He

          waves to her back with greatly faked enthusiasm.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          On the ground below, Dani marches away with Aiden, and slams into

          Clayton (who now has a Slurpee) with her shoulder.  He's not the

          least bit surprised to see her in this mood and keeps walking.  He

          gets to the front of the building.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          On the fourth floor balcony...

 

                                          DANNY

                         Come on up, man.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          54 INT. HOUSE - NIGHT

 

          The front door of a mysterious home swings open and, Dani and Aiden

          are on the other side of it.

 

          The woman who stands in the doorway is about 35 and looks very good

          for her admirable age.

 

                                          WOMAN

                         Daniele?

 

                                          DANI

                              (cold and breathing hard)

                         Hi, Miss Foreman.

 

                                          WOMAN

                         Daniele.

 

                                          DANI

                         Is Margot around?

 

                                          WOMAN

                         Yeah, come in.  What a surprise to see you

                         here.

 

                                          DANI

                         Is Margot around?

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          55 INT. MARGOT'S HOME (BEDROOM) - NIGHT

 

          Margot's room consists of very bright colors: PINK, PURPLE, YELLOW,

          etc.  Pictures of KITTENS, JOSH HARTNETT, and all that cute stuff

          covers the walls.  It is quite an immature bedroom for a 17 year

          old.

 

          ARIAL SHOT:

          Daniele is laying on Margot's single-bed staring at the roof, as

          Margot sits on the floor playing with Aiden.  She holds a pink sock

          up above Aiden's head as he keeps reaching for it she pulls it

          higher; quite an irritating challenge for the young-one.

 

                                          MARGOT

                         Danny's never acted like a dick-head before,

                         maybe you just got under his skin.

 

                                          DANI

                              (extremely offensive)

                         Under his skin?

                              (beat)

                         He comes home with that sleeze-ball Clay,

                         drunk, and probably cracked out knowing Clay! 

                         And then he totally loses it over one Goddamn

                         thing that I know doesn't even matter to him! 

                         Blames his lack of knowledge on me.  And has

                         the nerve to call me a bitch!

                              (beat)

                         You Goddamn right I got under his skin.  I got

                         under his skin and tugged at his veins that

                         cock sucker!

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          56 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          On the coffee table, clay cuts a nice straight line of cocaine up

          for himself.  Danny sits next to him with his line sitting patiently

          in front of him.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (talking fast and incoherently)

                         You know, I work damn hard.  Damn, damn hard

                         to keep this place.  To feed her.  To...keep

                         her happy and keep her off my back.  And what

                         does she do.  She fucking--

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Line's done.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (forgetting what he just said)

                         One...two...snort!

 

          They start to snort their lines.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          57 INT. MARGOT'S HOUSE (BEDROOM) - NIGHT

 

          Dani is sitting at the edge of the bed now, facing Margot who is no

          longer playing with Aiden.  Dani's face is full of tears now.

 

                                          DANI

                              (barely coherent under her cries)

                         I don't know what I'm gonna do?

 

                                          MARGOT

                              (slowly losing her grip)

                         You have to go back.

 

                                          DANI

                         Oh, I know, I know!  I will-- I have to. 

                         Aiden's diapers and wipes and bottle is all

                         there--

                              (laughing under tears)

                         You wouldn't happen to have any of that lying

                         around here, would you?

 

          Margot steps over Aiden and comes to Daniele's aid.  She gives her a

          big strong hug.

 

                                          MARGOT

                              (now crying too)

                         You're so strong.  So, so strong.  I don't

                         know how you do it.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          58 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          The guys finish snorting up the coke at the same time.  Clayton gets

          the rush; while he rubs his numb nose, Danny continues.

 

                                          DANNY

                         She fucking leaves me here.  Takes the baby

                         and leaves.  Took the baby.  My son!  Who

                         fucking knows my name.  She just took him and

                         fled.  Off and on they go to: who knows where? 

                         You tell me that ain't fair.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         That ain't fair, man.

 

                                          DANNY

                         That ain't fair!  You know what Clay?  You're

                         a good listener.  Anyone ever tell you that?

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         I am?

 

                                          DANNY

                              (standing up and pointing down at

                              him)

                         Yes you are!  You are a great listener, and! 

                         And...an even better friend.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                              (stands up with him)

                         Well thanks man.  I've been waiting my whole

                         life for someone to say that.

 

          They share the brotherly love with a hug.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I love you man.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         I love you.

 

                                          DANNY

                         You the man, Clay.  You are the man to talk

                         to.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         I am that man.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          59 INT. MARGOT'S HOUSE (BEDROOM) - NIGHT

 

          Dani and Margot's hug ends.

 

                                          DANI

                              (trying to maintain breathing)

                         Just let me stay here till Aiden shits

                         himself.

 

          There tears quickly convert to snorkeled laughs.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          60 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          The room is once again illuminated in that bluish-hue radiated from

          the TV set.  Danny is alone now, sleeping in the recliner, facing

          the TV.

 

          Suddenly the channel on the TV changes spontaneously to that of a

          WEDDING SCENE.

 

          Danny is awaken by this and his eyes slowly open.  He is caught in a

          daze: confused, lost, yet fully attentive to his surreal

          surroundings.

 

          On the TV set is Danny, sharply dressed in a black tuxedo, and Dani,

          in a gorgeous white wedding gown.  The smile on each others face is

          absolutely priceless.  Sheer happiness.  Danny puts a ring on her

          finger and, although no sound is projected, his lips say "I Do". 

          Holding each others palms they look deep into each others eyes.

 

          SUDDENLY, the sound of a key in the key hole, and a door-knob

          turning grab Danny's attention.

 

          POV DANNY: PAN-LEFT from TV to DOOR—slowly opening.  PAN-RIGHT back

          to TV, it is just a blue screen again.

 

          Daniele and Aiden (sleeping over her shoulder) carefully step

          backwards through the door into the blue darkness so not to wake

          Danny.  It’s too late.  A thrilled Danny jolts from his sofa to

          his woman.  He grabs a hold on her legs just as she is turning

          around. He presses his face hard into her lap.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (voice muffled in his tears and

                              her lap)

                         I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry.

 

                                          DANI

                         Shhh

                              (calm not to wake Aiden)

                         It's okay.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I am so, so, sorry.

 

                                          DANI

                         It's okay.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Please don't leave me ever again.

 

                                          DANI

                         I won't.  I promise

                              (bends down, looks him in the eye)

                         I promise.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Marry me.

 

                                          DANI

                         What?  With what?

 

          Danny leaves her crouching on the floor and returns with a tin

          pudding cup.  He rips the ring off and tosses the rest.  He grabs

          her free hand from her and tries to slide it onto her ring finger.

 

                                          DANI

                              (pleading)

                         Ouch, ouch, ouch.  Danny, my fingers bleeding.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I'm sorry.  I'm serious though.  I'm so for

                         real.  I'll get a real one as soon as you say

                         we can marry.

 

                                          DANI

                         When?

 

                                          DANNY

                         I don't know!  It doesn't matter.  Just say

                         you'll marry me and we'll live together

                         forever and we'll be so happy and...

                              (pause)

                         Just say you'll marry me.

 

                                          DANI

                         I love you Danny.  I love you so much.  Danny

                         Olson, there is nothing I'd rather be in this

                         world than your Dani Olson.

                              (pause)

                         I do.  I will marry you.

 

          The three of them hug each other tightly.  Their arms stay wrapped

          around each other as if never to let go for the rest of eternity.

 

                                                             FADE TO:

 

 

          61 INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY

 

          (the day they met)

 

          Dani sits alone at a table in the cafeteria.  She stares up at

          Danny who stands in front of her.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (pointing at the chair across her)

                         Do mind if I…?

                        

          He sits down across her and lets his presence marinate a bit.

 

                                          DANI

                         No, go right ahead.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (offering his hand to shake)

                         Danny.

 

                                          DANI

                              (taking up his offer)

                         Dani, too.

 

                                          DANNY

                         That’s funny.

                              (pause)

                         I’ve never met a girl with the same name.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yeah, well, it happens.

 

                                          DANNY

                         So where are you from, Dani--

                              (beat)

                         I’m sorry is it Dani as in Daniele?

 

                                          DANI

                         What else would it be?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Do you mind if I call you Daniele?

 

                                          DANI

                         Only if I can call you Daniel.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Deal.

                              (beat)

                         So Daniele, where are you from?

 

 

                                                      JUMP CUT:

                         Later on in their conversation:

 

                                          DANI

                         It’s a lot different than Vancouver.  Smaller,

                         yes, significantly, but Edmonton I think has

                         more pride.  It’s so proud to have a former

                         Stanley Cup winning team.  Yay!  Go Gretzky,

                         back in the eighties, haven’t won anything

                         since.  And boy, you Edmontonions are just

                         head over heals in love with your mall.  Like

                         Jesus Christ, you’ve got a pirate ship.  A

                         pirate ship in a shopping center!  Never

                         thought I’d see it.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Yeah, well, we stand proud as the safe keepers

                         of the world’s biggest mall to date.

 

                                          DANI

                         Exactly, and why not.  It’s a beautiful

                         structure.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Listen, what do you have next block?

 

                                          DANI

                         I think the kind school counseler signed me

                         up for foods.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Sound delicious.  Wanna skip?

 

                                          DANI

                         And do what?

 

                                          DANNY

                         We could go have a smoke.

 

                                          DANI

                         One smoke?  You want to free up an our and

                         twenty minutes for one smoke?

 

                                          DANNY

                         C’mon, I’ll show you around the area.

                              (pause)

                         I promise we won’t get in trouble.

 

                                          DANI

                         Who said I was worried about getting into

                         trouble?

 

          With that, Daniele shoots him an ever so seductive smile.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          62 EXT. SCHOOLYARD - DAY

 

          With their backs to the brick wall Danny and Dani each have a smoke. 

          Danny smokes his cigarette like a real smoker; meanwhile Dani holds

          and smokes hers more like a joint.

 

                                          DANI

                         So what the hell do you guys do here?

 

                                          DANNY

                         What do we do?

 

                                          DANI

                         Yeah, like for fun.

                              (she looks at him sternly)

                         You guys do have fun her in Edmonton don’t

                         you.  Please tell me you do.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I don’t know.  We party, hang out, go the

                         mall.  What do you guys do?

 

                                          DANI

                         Well considering I’m not one of them anymore,

                         what they do is the exact same thing, word for

                         word.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Fantastic.

                              (pause)

                         Hey, do you mind if I—

 

                                          DANI

                         Do you mind if you stop asking me if I’m going

                         to mind something before you ask a question.

                              (pause)

                         Just ask.  Go’head, just giv’er.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Why’d you move to Edmonton?

 

                                          DANI

                         Well you see, one night I thought it would be a

                         good idea to do six hits of acid.

 

          Danny’s face turns cold quickly

 

                                          DANI (CONT)

                         And when I woke up, I had a razor blade stuck

                         in my wrist.

                              (pause)

                         Cute huh?

 

                                          DANNY

                         No, not at all, I was thinking along the lines

                         of disgusting.

 

                                          DANI

                         Well, my parents hate me now and sent me to

                         live with Uncle Herb and Aunt Theresa.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Typical Edmonton names.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yeah, no kidding

 

                                                             FADE TO:

 

 

          63 INT. WEST EDMONTON MALL - DAY

 

          (the present)

 

          The Christmas season is now in effect.  The soft jingle and jangles

          of old Christmas tunes plays in a popular toy store as a crowd of

          parents scan the aisles looking for this years "Tickle Me Elmo" (or

          the next best thing).

 

          Dani is among this crowd.  While strolling around Aiden she examines

          the aisle for a suitable present for her 9-month old.

 

          A familiar figure holding a baby carriage enters frame and stands

          behind Daniele.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Hi there!

 

                                          DANI

                              (turning around)

                         Hello?

                              (beat)

                         Oh, hey!  How's it going?  Mindy, right?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Right.  Jeeze, it's been a while.

 

                                          DANI

                         No kidding.

 

                                          MINDY

                         So how are you?

 

                                          DANI

                         Good.  Great, actually.  Just doing some

                         Christmas--

                              (noticing the baby)

                         I'm sorry is that..?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Oh yeah!  Meet Kimberly Rae Arnold.

                              (to Kim)

                         Say hi!

 

                                          DANI

                              (leaning inwards carriage)

                         Hey Kimberly!  My oh my, is she ever cute. 

                         How long ago?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Just about a month.

 

                                          DANI

                              (still examining her child)

                         How was it?

 

                                          MINDY

                         33 grueling hours.

 

                                          DANI

                              (attention to Mindy)

                         Holy Moses!

 

                                          MINDY

                         What was yours like?

 

          Daniele smiles at Mindy as if to say "not even close."

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          64 INT. WEST EDMONTON MALL (FOOD COURT) - DAY

 

          The two girls sit with their children in the food court of W.E.M. 

          They sip away from disposable pop cups and munch on fries

          singularly.

 

                                          MINDY

                         So what's new with you?  Fill me in.

 

          Dani holds up her hand and shows Mindy a pudding ring on her finger.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Is that from a pop can?

 

                                          DANI

                         Pudding actually.  We're getting married.

 

                                          MINDY

                              (swooning)

                         Oh my God!  That's so awesome!  When?

 

                                          DANI

                         We don't know just yet.  I assure you that

                         we'll know as soon as he replaces this.

                              (holds up hand again)

                         I'm so excited.  Everything's finally starting

                         to fit into place.  It's like, I know that

                         it's the begining of something great. 

                         Something big.  Life is starting to lay itself

                         out nice and neat for me to carefully watch

                         unfold.

                              (pause)

                         The way I see it: it can only get better.

 

                                          MINDY

                         I'm so happy for you.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yeah, we haven't really told anyone.  We're

                         gonna throw a New Years Party and announce it

                         to all our friends.

                              (beat)

                         You should come.

 

                                          MINDY

                         I'll have to see what I can do.

 

                                          DANI

                         Well try to anyways.  Do you know where the

                         Alliner apartment complex is?

 

          She nods her head "yes".

 

                                          DANI (CONT'D)

                         Room 409.

                              (beat)

                         How about you?  What's new?  How's things? 

                         School--how's that going for you?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Oh, school.  It was fine when I was pregnant

                         but after I gave birth, I couldn't really do

                         anything for a few weeks.  I was feeling

                         pretty rigid.

 

                                          DANI

                              (chewing fries)

                         I bet.

 

                                          MINDY

                         I tried to get back on track but Kimmy is kind

                         of one of those...around-the-clock babies.

                         Constantly in need of attention.

 

                                          DANI

                         So that made you quit?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Then my mom lost her job not too long ago.  So

                         now I started working at the La Chateau (in

                         here, actually) my mom kinda stays home with

                         Kimberly when I'm working, and well...you've

                         kinda caught me at a weird time now.

 

                                          DANI

                              (intrigued)

                         Why's that?

 

                                          MINDY

                         My mom decided...she thinks it's a good idea

                         to raise Kimberly as her own.

 

                                          DANI

                         Meaning...

 

                                          MINDY

                         Meaning: that from now on, mom's the sister

                         and grandma's the mum.

 

          Not knowing how to respond, Dani rather shows her heart sinking

          in with a rude facial expression.

 

                                          MINDY (CONT'D)

                         I know it's weird.  I think it's a good idea

                         though.  After a while I'll be able to go back

                         to school and...pick up the pieces, I guess, I

                         hope.  Fuck…I don’t know.

 

          Dani stays silent.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          65 INT. APARTMENT (BEDROOM) - NIGHT

 

          A shirt-less Danny opens up a pack of Nicorette.  He pops a gum into

          his mouth and chews...chews...stops.  He stares at himself in the

          mirror as he chews, chews, and stops.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          66 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Dani is sitting on the floor next to the scarcely ornamented

          Christmas tree.  There are four or five wrapped presents

          surrounding.  She stares with content at the smallest wrapped box. 

          Wrapped in red paper, it stands alone atop a larger box.

 

          As she holds it closer to her eyes for better examination Danny

          enters.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Not ‘til Christmas, my darling.

                              (pause)

                         When you open it, I want the ring to celebrate

                         two occasions.

 

          She carefully puts it back on top of the other presents and turns

          over to Danny.

 

                                          DANI

                         Isn't it great?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Isn't what great?

 

          Dani gets off the floor and cuddles with him on the sofa.

 

                                          DANI

                         Everything.  Me and you and Aiden.  And life

                         and the future.  And just everything.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I think that...I think that everything that

                         waits for us in the future will only make life

                         better.

 

                                          DANI

                         It's all gonna work out for us.

 

                                          DANNY

                         You think so?

 

                                          DANI

                         I know so.

 

          It gets silent as Dani closes her eyes and brings herself closer

          to her man's body.

 

                                          DANI

                              (eyes closed)

                         What do see for us in ten years?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well, let's see.

                              (he closes his eyes too)

                         We definitely won't be living here.  I see a

                         big house, something down on the North end. 

                         The house is blue with a white fence.  And the

                         lawn is green, dark green, full of toys. 

                         There's nothing in the driveway but a

                         basketball net.  That’s because I'm not home

                         yet, of course.

 

                                          DANI

                         Where are you?

 

                                          DANNY

                         I'm working.

 

                                          DANI

                              (opens eyes)

                         Where?

 

                                          DANNY

                              (looks at her)

                         At a decent job that pays enough for me to

                         continue my story.

                              (closes eyes)

                         So I see a tall blonde boy now, and he's

                         playing basketball in the driveway.  And...he

                         just sunk the ball.  He's really good.  The

                         front door opens, and I just caught a glimpse

                         of the inside.

 

                                          DANI

                         What's it like?

 

                                          DANNY

                         I guess we have a thing for leather.

                              (beat)

                         Now you're in the doorway and you're holding

                         this little girl's hand.  She's really cute. 

                         She has blonde pig-tails and a pink dress.  I

                         wish you could see her, she looks just like

                         you.  You look a little different now though,

                         your tummies rounder, nine-months rounder.

                              (pause)

                         Now the two of you watch Aiden playing ball

                         but you're also waiting for something.  And

                         here it comes...

                              (pause)

                         Yes...I see it.  It's a Jet black 2012

                         Mustang, it's a V.8.  Windows tinted.  18"

                         rims with a nice chrome finish.  I've got two

                         twelves pumping in the trunk and some nice six-

                         by-nines in the back.  Phoenix Gold, no,

                         Rockford…everything Rockford…

 

          As he continues with his car of the future:

 

                                                             FADE OUT:

 

          FADE IN:

 

 

          67 INT. APARTMENT - DAY

 

          It is Christmas day and all the presents have been unwrapped.  Aiden

          sits on the floor playing with his new stuffed animal.  The Dannies

          sit by the tree.

 

          Daniele holds the smallest and unrevealed present now and opens it

          up.  It is a ring box and in inside is a very impressive diamond

          gold ring.  It is not fabulous, but for Danny's pay, it seems a

          little out of his league.

 

          Daniele's face is one of absolute awe.  She keeps looking back and

          forth between the ring and Danny's wholesome smile.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          68 INT. OLSON HOME (DOORWAY) - DAY

 

          The door swings open and Danny, Dani, and Aiden step through,

          covered in snow.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Merry Christmas!

 

          Martha greets each one of them with a hug and kiss on the cheek

          (bonus kisses for Aiden).

 

                                          DANI

                         Did they get here yet?

 

                                          MARTHA

                         They just called; they're in St. Albert.

 

          Harold enters the room and greets them with joy, he's never been

          known to act this jovial, the champagne in his hand might be the

          root of it all.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         My little man's here!

                              (gives Danny a great fatherly hug)

                         How's work?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh, it's going nice.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Working hard.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Like you wouldn't believe.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Good man!

                              (to Dani)

                         Hello, Daniele, how are you honey?

 

                                          DANI

                         Better than ever.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         That's what I like to hear.

                              (gives her a kiss on the cheek)

                         Merry Christmas, dear.

 

                                          DANI

                         Merry Christmas.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Who's this little guy?

                              (steals Aiden from her)

                         Oh, at look you!  You're getting huge, kid.

 

          The parents leave with Aiden as the Dannies remove themselves of

          their shoes and jackets.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          69 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

 

          Danny sits on the sofa next to his father who carries Aiden on his

          lap.  Danny and his father have their feet up on the table and each

          one of them has a beer.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         You've done well for yourself.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Have I?

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Absolutely Daniel.  You're providing for your

                         family, that's not easy.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I noticed that.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         You're a father and I'm sure you realize

                         fathers don't get a whole lot of credibility. 

                         All they get is supper and a beer.  Now as

                         good as that sounds, it's the most physical

                         reward you'll get.  But do you know what the

                         real reward is?

 

                                          DANNY

                         What's that?

 

                                          HAROLD

                              (looking down at Aiden)

                         When you look at your son...

                              (looking over to Dani in the

                              Kitchen)

                         and then you turn to your woman.

                              (looking at Danny now)

                         Then you look to yourself and say "This is my

                         family.  They are as much a part of me as I

                         am.  And I will provide for their life with

                         all my life, and all my love.  And in return,

                         they complete me."

 

                                          DANNY

                         Wow dad...

                              (smiling)

                         Mom's got you whipped.

 

          His dad laughs with him.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          70 INT. KITCHEN - DAY

 

          Dani and Martha are busy cooking; or at least Dani imitates the art

          of watching the master cook.  Martha wets the turkey with the turkey

          with the baster.

 

                                          DANI

                         I've got a seventy-five in Bio, seventy or

                         seventy-some in English, Math I'm kinda

                         struggling with.  I'm thinking of dropping it.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Well try it out a little longer and see what

                         happens.  But hey, way to go!  It's got to be

                         tough teaching yourself all that.

 

                                          DANI

                         Actually I don't find it to be too bad, at

                         all.  Set your own times, set your own limits.

 

          The door bell rings.  The woman stop the cooking and chattering and

          look at each other.  Dani smiles in that "wish me good luck" type of

          way.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          71 INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

 

          There's nothing like sharing Christmas dinner with your significant

          other, unless it's with your parents and your significant others

          parents, too!

 

          Danny, Dani, Aiden, Martha, Harold, and Dani's parents CLYDE &

          DEBORAH AIRMON sit at the dining room table eating under the

          Christmas spirit.

 

                                          DANI

                              (looking to Martha)

                         Mom?

 

                                          DEBORAH

                         Yes, dear?

 

                                          DANI

                              (now to her real mom)

                         Umm...could you pass me the salt, please?

 

          Deborah reaches out across the table, to NEAR MARTHA, and grabs the

          salt shaker.  She passes it over to her daughter.

 

          Dani shakes some salt onto her plate.  The people continue eating

          until:

 

                                          DANNY

                         You know I'm really glad everyone's here.

                              (only Dani stops eating)

                         Mom, Dad, Mister and Misses Airmon, we have

                         some news to deliver.

                              (pause)

                         We already went through this once this

                         morning, but Daniele and I will do it again. 

                         For you guys.

 

          Now that they have the entire tables attention, Danny starts to

          reach into his pocket.  He pulls out a ring box and holds it out for

          the audience to witness.  He removes the ring, places the box onto the

          table, and gently slides the ring into place: Daniele's left pinky-

          finger.

 

          Now that the show is over, the Dannies turn to their audience, who

          are still waiting for the credits to roll.

 

                                          DANI

                              (very happy)

                         We're getting married!

 

          At that, you can hear the sound of four forks hitting their plates.

 

                                          DEBORAH

                         Are you insane?

 

                                          DANI

                         Mom?!

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Well are you?

 

                                          DANNY

                         You guys, please!  Me and Dani are serious

                         here.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Yes: seriously insane!

 

                                          MARTHA

                         You've got to be kidding me?

 

                                          CLYDE

                         You guys really want to get married?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Yes.

 

                                          DANI

                         Why not?

 

                                          DEBORAH

                         Because you're only seventeen years old,

                         that's why not!

 

                                          DANI

                         So what?

 

                                          MARTHA

                              (in a calm voice)

                         So you're a little too young to be getting

                         married.

 

                                          DANNY

                         No we're not.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Legally, no.  Morally...

                              (stern)

                         YES!

 

                                          DANNY

                              (protesting)

                         Oh come on!  We can handle it.

 

                                          DEBORAH

                         And just when do you plan on wedding?

 

                                          CLYDE

                         Hopefully after I perish.

 

                                          DANI

                         Next May.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Next May?  As in May of 2003?  You're kidding!

 

                                          DANI

                         No we're not.

 

                                          DEBORAH

                         Yes you are.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         And just how do you think you'll be able to

                         afford this?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well, how did you afford your marriage?

 

                                          HAROLD

                         Oh, no!  Oh no you don't...

                              (beat)

                         You don't expect us to pay for it?

 

          Suddenly the parents have become humored by all this.

 

                                          CLYDE

                         Oh my God--they do.

 

          The parents start to laugh lightly.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh come on.  A little support would be nice.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         Are you aware of how much it costed our

                         parents?  I vowed that I'd never let my

                         children put me though the same thing...never!

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well do you want us to get married in some

                         Vegas drive-thru chapel?

 

                                          MARTHA

                         No, we don't want you to marry at all.  You're

                         just not ready.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Not ready?  We have a child together.  We live

                         together.  And we love each other

                         indefinitely.  I think we're more than ready. 

                         Probably more than you guys were, when your

                         parents thought you weren't.

 

          They're starting to cave in...

 

                                          DANI

                         What's the problem here?  We thought we'd have

                         your blessings.

 

                                          CLYDE

                         Oh, you do, don't worry about that.  You just

                         don't have our funding, that's all.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Fine.  I'll pay for it.

                              (pause)

                         But when we can't afford enough seating for

                         our parents, don't get mad.

 

                                          HAROLD

                         I will gladly donate four dining-room chairs.

 

                                          MARTHA

                         And I'll provide catering.

 

                                          DANI

                         Right, then.

                              (raising her wine glass)

                         Do we have ourselves a wedding?

 

          Everyone but Deborah raise their wine glasses to this.  They stare at

          Deborah waiting for her to join.

 

                                          DEBORAH

                         You do realize that you put her ring on the

                         wrong finger.

 

                                          DANI

                              (holding her hand up to see)

                         Yeah, it only kinda fits on my pinky, though.

 

          Deborah smiles and joins the toast.

 

          The CLING of the glasses:

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          72 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          ALL WE SEE: A HAND HOLDING A ROLL-UP NOISE MAKER HIGH INTO THE AIR.

          The walls are decorated with streamers and balloons.

 

          And then we hear a CROWD OF VOICES countdown:

 

                                          CROWD OF VOICES

                         5...4...3...2...1...

 

          The person blows the NOISE MAKER and it unrolls itself with a loud

          horn.

 

                                          CROWD OF VOICES (OS)

                         HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          The apartment is crowded with the Dannies’ friends.  The place has

          never looked this small with so many people.  Some of them wear

          strap on party hats but all of them hold onto a bottle of something.

          They celebrate with hugs, kisses, drinks, and jumping on the couch.

 

          Danny and Dani stand at the side of the room completely self

          absorbed.  They just stare into each others eyes and share a

          passionate kiss.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          LATER THAT NIGHT.

 

          The music is blaring.  A circle of Dani's friends are crowded around

          her.  She's is holding her ring up for them to all see.

 

                                          GIRL 1

                         Oh, my God!  It's so gold!

 

                                          MARTHA

                         How the hell did you manage that?

 

                                          DANI

                         Don't ask me.  However Danny managed it, I

                         don't know.

 

                                          GIRL 1

                         Well it's beautiful.

 

                                          GIRL 2

                         So you guys are really serious here?

 

                                          DANI

                         Of course we're serious!

 

                                          MARTHA

                         I better be invited.

 

                                          DANI

                         Actually we were inviting everyone but you,

                         sorry.

 

                                          MARTHA

                              (gasps humorously)

                         Oh, now that hurts.

 

                                          DANI

                         Don't worry.  You'll be there.  I need a maid

                         of honor, right?

 

          Martha shrieks with excitement.  Dani calms her and then kisses her on           

          the forehead.

 

                                          DANI (CONT'D)

                         I'm gonna find Danny.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          73 INT. APARTMENT (BATHROOM) -

 

          Danny sits on the bathroom counter with two other friends of his

          standing around him.  They are smoking a joint.

 

                                          BOY 1

                              (smoking the joint

                         Clay's not here.

 

          The kid passes the joint to Danny.

 

                                          DANNY

                         No thanks.

                              (beat)

                         Yeah I don't know where he is.  He said he was

                         coming.  He better show up.

 

                                          BOY 2

                              (puts the joint to his mouth)

                         I know where he is.

 

          The 2nd Kid takes a drag from the doobie, and while he does that he

          puts a finger to his nostril and imitates snorting.

 

                                          BOY 1

                         Surprise.  Surprise.

                              (beat)

                         You don't do that shit anymore, do you Dan?

 

                                          DANNY

                         No man, I don't even smoke anymore.

                              (beat)

                         Clean as a newborn baby, man.

 

                                          BOY 2

                         Damn man.  No weed?

 

                                          DANNY

                         No nothing.

 

                                          BOY 1

                         You still drink though, right?

 

          Danny raises his hand with the beer bottle in it like "no shit" and

          then bumps the top of his friend's bottle.  The beer fizzes and

          starts dripping down the side of the glass.

 

                                          BOY 1

                         Oh shit.

 

                                          BOY 2

                         Drink it man!  Before it hits the floor or you

                         gotta fake an orgasm!

 

                                          BOY 1

                              (trying to slurp the beer's head)

                         Shit!  Shit!

 

                                          DANNY

                         I'll leave you guys to it.

 

          Danny hops from the counter and leaves the room.  Letting those guys

          go about their business.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          74 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          The party continues.  In the doorway we see Mindy.  Shy and

          hesitant, she creeps through the door and examines all the

          unfamiliar faces.  She kicks off her shoes and makes her way through

          the crowd smiling at every face she sees.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          Dani seems to be lost in her own home as well.  She creeps through

          the people looking for Danny.  Then she spots Mindy wondering around

          lost.  She approaches her from the other side of the room.

 

                                          DANI

                              (behind Mindy)

                         Didn't expect to see you here.

 

          Mindy turns around, her lost look turns to her usual excited and

          optimistic one.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Oh, there you are!

                              (cool)

                         Cool party Daniele.

 

                                          DANI

                         How long have you been wondering around

                         aimlessly for?

 

                                          MINDY

                         A good minute or so.

                              (pause)

                         Sorry it took me so long to get here.  I had

                         to wait for my mom to come home before I could

                         leave.

 

                                          DANI

                         Hey, whatever, it's cool.

                              (pause)

                         Did you have a fun time squeezing through?

 

                                          MINDY

                         A blast!

                              (pause)

                         Are all these people your friends?

 

                                          DANI

                         Friends and acquaintances.

 

          Danny creeps up from behind Dani and wraps his arms around her

          midsection.  He lifts her high into the air.

 

                                          DANI

                              (being lifted up)

                         Help!  I'm being—

 

          Danny places his hand over her mouth.

 

                                          DANI (CONT’D)

                              (muffled)

                         Kidnapped!

 

          Mindy looks confused and maybe a little worried.  Dani turns around

          to her man.  She greets him with a kiss.

 

                                          DANI

                              (to Mindy)

                         Mindy this is my...fiance, Danny.

                              (to Danny)

                         This is Mindy.  We met a few months ago.  At

                         the class for motherhood.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (extending his hand for shaking)

                         Well hello there.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Wow, Dani, you didn't tell me you were

                         marrying a stud.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yes, and he's mine!  All mine!

                              (beat)

                         Listen, Mindy, you want something to drink? 

                         Cooler?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Sounds great.

 

                                          DANI

                         Be back in a second.

 

          She slaps Danny's ass on her way out, leaving the two there alone.

 

                                          DANNY

                         So I take it you're a mother too.

 

                                          DANI

                         That's right.  Two month old girl.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Well congratulations.  Did you bring your

                         boyfriend along?

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          75 INT. APARTMENT (KITCHEN) - NIGHT

 

          Even the kitchen is full of people.  Sitting at the table, on the

          counter, on the floor, on the counter, they are everywhere!

 

          Dani smiles and greets her way to the fridge.  She politely asks a

          person to move from the refrigerator door and opens it.  She grabs

          two bottles of vodka coolers.

 

          Clay approaches her from nowhere and leans over the fridge door to

          talk to her.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Hey-hay Misses Olson.  You wouldn't happen to

                         know where I can find Mister Olson?

 

                                          DANI

                         Hey Clay.  I believe he's in the living room

                         talking to a pretty blonde girl without my

                         consent.

 

          Dani closes the fridge door.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Permission to snatch him away?

 

                                          DANI

                         Granted.

 

          Clay nods his head and leaves for the living room.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          76 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          At the far corner of the room Danny stands side-by-side with Mindy,

          not really looking at each other, not really talking, not really

          doing anything.  Clay enters the room and Danny's face lights up.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Clayton!  Damn boy, it's about time.

                              (grabs his shoulder)

                         Come one, I need to talk to you.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Likewise.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (to Mindy)

                         It was really nice meeting you.  Talk to you

                         again.

 

                                          MANDY

                         Ya for sure!

 

                                          DANNY

                         I think she's...

                              (pointing out in the crowd for

                              Dani)

                         She's right there.

 

                                          MANDY

                         Thanks.

 

          The guys leave in one direction and Mindy starts walking towards

          Dani in the other.  They meet up halfway and Dani hands her a drink.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          77 INT. APARTMENT (BABY'S ROOM) -

 

          The only room closed off to the party is Aiden's.  Somehow he is

          kept sleeping amongst all the noise.  Clay and Danny enter the room.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Fuck, man, what took you so long?

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you

                         about.

                              (pause)

                         Hey, whose that cutie you were talking to? 

                         She's not from our school.

 

                                          DANNY

                         That cute blonde is a very naive and

                         vulnerable girl that Daniele somehow met.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Did I hear naive and vulnerable?  Just the way

                         I like them.

 

                                          DANNY

                         She's also a mommy.  You like that?

 

                                          CLAYTON

                              (embarrassed)

                         Oh.

                              (beat)

                         Okay, I was gonna tell you something, right? 

                         Right.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          78 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Dani is seen introducing Mindy to Martha and the gang.  We CANNOT

          hear them under all that music.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          79 INT. APARTMENT (BABY'S ROOM) - NIGHT

 

          ALL WE SEE: Danny's hand, and in his hand is a baggy full of

          smaller baggies, each containing a gram of coke.

 

                                          CLAYTON (OS)

                         Ten grams.  Sixty bucks a piece.  Tonight,

                         I can make up to six-hundred dollars man!

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          A FULL FRAME shot of the guys.  Danny gives him pack the drugs.

 

                                          CLAYTON (CONT'D)

                         My man said if I finish these in one week,

                         he'll hook me up with 20 for the next.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I don't fuck with this shit no more.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                              (surprised by his decline)

                         You know how much that it is?

 

                                          DANNY

                         I know how much it is, it's twelve-hundred a

                         week.  I'm just saying I don't do smoke or

                         snort this shit, or any shit, no more.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         You don't have to!

 

                                          DANNY

                         Yes I do.  I'd have to test my product.  What

                         drug dealer doesn't?  Only ignorant ones.  I

                         know you know it.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Well you don't have to put any of it in your

                         nose.  I've been on it all night and believe

                         me; this shit is THE SHIT.

                              (pause)

                         Look, I saw her ring.  Now don't even try

                         telling me that didn't leave a fat hole in

                         your pocket.  You're getting married and your

                         kid’s only gonna get more expensive with age. 

                         This here...

                              (holds the drugs for him to see)

                         this is your solution.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (pulling Clay's hand away gently)

                         It's a solution.  A...

                              (pause)

                         Now I know you're trying to be a nice.  Trying

                         to be a good guy and all.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                              (offended)

                         What do you mean, trying?

 

                                          DANNY

                         I mean thank you.  It's nice of you to try to

                         help, but I don't need any.

                              (pause)

                         I'm fine man.  I've made it this far.  I know

                         we'll figure things out later without having

                         to resort to any of this shit.

                              (pause)

                         Like, Me and My Girl, we've pledged allegiance

                         to stay clean.  For our baby and for

                         ourselves.  This shit...all these drugs and

                         shit.  All they do is leave your mind cloudy. 

                         They stop you from getting places.  Stop you

                         from growing up.

                              (beat)

                         Now I'm not one to judge, you can do what you

                         wanna do.  That's fine, go out, have fun,

                         experience all you got to experience.  But I'm

                         done with experiencing.  We got to grow up, we

                         can't stay here acting like teenagers—even

                         though it's what we are.  We just can't.  We

                         chose to grow up faster than everyone else. 

                         So now our adolescence is over.  It's done

                         for.  It's a new year and a new life.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         So you're for real?

 

                                          DANNY

                         As real as love is real.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Alright man.  I'm sorry. That was foolish of

                         me.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Don’t sweat it.

 

          They hug.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          80 INT. APARTMENT -

 

          In the living room Mindy, Martha, and a few other girls are talking

          to one another.  Mindy is showing a picture of her daughter to the

          strangers around her.  They seem amused; not by the photo but by

          the fact that she brought a photo of her daughter.

 

                                          MINDY

                         That's Kimberly-Rae.  Seven pounds, four

                         ounces.

 

                                          GIRL 1

                         Cool.

                              (passing her a joint)

                         Wanna hoot?

 

                                          MINDY

                         Huh?

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          81 INT. APARTMENT (BATHROOM) -

 

          Dani sits on the toilet.  Her head rests on her hand, supported by

          her knees.  She stares at the floor reminiscently.  She sees a

          roach and with a somewhat disappointed look on her face, picks it up

          and flicks it into the garbage.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          82 INT. APARTMENT -

 

          Mindy's eyes settle in on the evil marijuana cigarette in front of

          her.

 

                                          MINDY

                         Aw, no.  No thank you.  I'd rather not, but

                         you go ahead.  Thanks anyway.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          83 INT. APARTMENT (BABY'S ROOM) –

 

          The guys finish there hug.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         So what were you gonna tell me before we got

                         all soft on each other.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Oh shit yeah!

                              (prepares himself)

                         Okay.  I want you...to be my best man.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                              (super-excited)

                         Oh shit yo!  That's awesome!

 

          Danny rushes to Aiden who has awoke from Clayton's excitement.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Shhh, relax.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Sorry.

 

                                          DANNY

                         So what do you say.  You'll do it?

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Well of course.  You're my best man so it's

                         only natural I'd be yours.

 

                                          DANNY

                         And I always knew you were The Man, so I had

                         to make The Man the Best Man.  I had to!

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Man, I can't believe this.  You're fucking

                         getting married and shit.  You've got a

                         family.

                              (beat)

                         Hey, you guys thinking of having any more

                         kids?  Can I be the Godfather.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (his face says "hell no")

                         Maybe.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         You know what you need before the night's over

                         and you start your new life and whatever?

 

                                          DANNY

                         What?

 

                                          CLAYTON

                              (as if everything Danny said

                              before had no meaning)

                         Some crack.

 

                                          DANNY

                         No man.  No, no, no!  I thought you were a good

                         listener I don't fuck with that anymore.  And

                         especially when you refer to it as "crack".  As

                         if that will make it anymore appealing.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Come on man.  I know you miss it.  Just try

                         this shit.  Have fun tonight.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I'm having fun.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Well have more fun.

                              (beat)

                         Come on, for old times.  For the good times. 

                         One more time.

 

          Danny’s thinking…

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          84 INT. APARTMENT (BATHROOM) -

 

          Daniele flushes the toilet and washes her hands.

 

          You can hear the outside music starting to fade away.

 

          Dani opens the bathroom door and starts walking back to the

          party, however, with the music now gone she can hear something

          coming from across the hall in the baby's room.  It sounds like

          snorting.

 

          She puts her hand on the door-knob and listens closely

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          85 INT. APARTMENT (BABY'S ROOM) -

 

          Danny walks to the door and locks it.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          86 INT. APARTMENT (HALLWAY) -

 

          Dani turns the doorknob.  It's locked.

 

          Another song starts up.

 

          Just then Mindy walks to her silently, sensing something wrong.  Dani

          looks at her hair.  She pulls a bobby-pin from her head and starts

          picking the lock.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          87 INT. APARTMENT (BABY'S ROOM) - NIGHT

 

          There is a nicely cut line ready for Danny on the railing of Aiden's

          crib.  Clayton is rubbing his nose.  Danny leans over the rail in

          position to snort.  You can hear the door open.  Danny doesn't

          notice.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Close the door!

 

          Danny does his line swiftly, when he lifts his head, Dani and Mindy

          are seen in the doorway.

 

                                          DANI

                              (horrified)

                         You...You...you fucking asshole!  How could

                         you?

 

          This startles Danny.  He is shocked to see his fiance in the

          doorway.  She is hysteric.

 

                                          DANI

                              (on a rampage)

                         You fucking cunt!  You fucking piece of shit!

 

          She starts slapping his back and shoulder with both her hands.

 

                                          DANI

                         How could you?  In his room?!  Get out! 

                         Get out!

 

          Danny tries to restrain her.

 

                                          DANNY

                         I'm sorry.  I'm sorry.  Relax.  I can explain.

 

                                          DANI

                         No you can't!

                              (pause, calm and blunt)

                         You're a fucking liar.

 

          She storms out of the room and into the party where everyone is

          crowded watching.  She storms through the crowd with Mindy close

          behind.

 

                                          DANI

                              (furious)

                         Everyone get out!  Get the fuck out!  Go home! 

                         Leave!

 

          They know she's seriously pissed, but they don't know why.  They

          respect her; the crowd start scrambling for their shoes by the

          front door.  Slowly the population of the apartment decreases.

 

          Dani marches to the stereo and with a slam of her fist, shuts it

          off.  She falls down on the recliner and watches everyone leave.

 

          Danny tries to come over to her.  She throws her hand up to tell him

          to stop in his place, he obeys.

 

                                          DANNY

                         What are you doing?

 

                                          DANI

                         What am I doing?  What are you doing?  I

                         told you get out!

 

                                          DANNY

                         Please--

 

                                          DANI

                              (scream)

                         I said get out!  Now get the fuck out!

 

          He stays put, not reacting.  Some people are still watching them

          fight.

 

                                          DANI

                              (to the audience)

                         Hey!  Did you lose your shoes or something.

                              (pause)

                         Get out!

                              (to Danny)

                         You too.  And I advise you hurry up and maybe

                         you can catch a ride with your girlfriend

                         Clay.

 

          Danny gives up.  He turns around and follows his girlfriend—Clay—

          and the rest of the others out the door.

 

          Dani holds her self together by covering her face with her hands.  The

          house seems to be empty, but she can still sense someone.

 

                                          DANI

                              (in tears)

                         Please leave.  Please.

                              (beat)

                         Just leave me alone.

 

          Mindy is seen still standing in her stationary position.  She

          doesn't bother putting her shoes on, she just walks over to them

          picks them up and leaves, closing the door behind her.

 

          Dani stays sitting in the recliner, sulking.  You can hear Aiden

          crying in the background, it's a disturbing cry.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          88 INT. CLAYTON'S TRUCK - NIGHT

 

          Cruising down the freeway at 80 km/h recklessly and in absolute is

          silence is Clayton with Danny.  It's a very awkward ride to an unknown

          destination.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Where are we going?

 

          Danny stays staring ahead on the road.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Look, I'm really sorry.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (subtlety)

                         You don't have to say anything.  Just drive.

 

          They continue driving.  Moments later Clayton's noticeably careless

          and swaggered driving skills are spotted by a POLICE CAR.  The red and

          blue lights flash.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Oh shit.  Shit. Shit.  Shit!

                              (slams his dashboard)

                         Motherfuck!

 

          He starts to pull over.  Danny now snaps out of his sulking.  Before

          Clayton throws it in park, Danny remembers he has his drugs in his

          pocket.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (pulling out the bag)

                         Here, quick, take these.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         What are you doing?  Put that away!  Hurry!

 

                                          DANNY

                         You take them.  Not mine!

 

          The cop is walking towards them.

 

                                          CLAYTON

                         Hurry!

 

          Danny shoves them down the front of his pants.

 

          Clayton rolls down his window and the cop approaches.  He points

          his flash light in Clay's face and moves it to Danny's.  Both kids

          look awkwardly nervous and sweaty.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          89 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

 

          Dani lies on the couch amongst the crowd of beer bottles and cans. 

          She stares up at the roof, looking right through it.  Aiden's cries

          have not simmered one bit, if anything, they've gotten worse.

 

          She finally gets up from the couch over to Aiden's room.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          90 EXT. CLAYTON'S TRUCK (FREEWAY) -

 

          Danny stands by the truck patiently waiting for the police to finish

          their business.  One of the officers is watching Clayton try to walk

          in a straight line, right foot over left, finger on nose.

 

          There is another cop searching the truck.  He's already come across

          a few empty beers, but so far, that's the worst he's found.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          91 INT. APARTMENT -

          Dani holding Aiden in her arms, trying to quiet him, rubbing his

          back.

 

          Not after long does she give up, placing Aiden back into his crib

          and slamming the door on her way out.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          92 EXT. CLAYTON'S TRUCK (FREEWAY) -

 

          Both boys have their hands stationed flat on the hood of the truck. 

          Each cop searches one of them.

 

          The cop finishes with Clay and handcuffs him.  The other one

          continues with Danny.  He pats him down his sides, down and then up,

          his chests, and then down again.  We see the cop get around to

          Danny's crotch area: he feels something...

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          93 INT. APARTMENT (KITCHEN)- SOMETIME LATER

 

          Dani is in the kitchen.  She pours two bottles of beer out in the

          sink.  She throws the bottles in a half-full black garbage bag.

 

          We hear the muffled cries of Aiden coming from the other room.

 

          She takes the black bag with her into the living room.  What a

          disgusting mess.  One by one she picks up the cans, shakes them for

          sense of emptiness, and places them in the bag.  She continues this

          until the phone rings.

 

          She has a bad feeling about it, but she still answers it.

 

                                          DANI

                         Yeah, hello.

                              (listens...)

                         What?

 

                                                             JUMP CUT:

 

          MOMENTS LATER:

          Dani slams the phone onto the receiver.  Tears roll down her face

          and she is back in that violent rage she was an hour ago.

 

          She rips the engagement ring off her pinky and chucks it across the

          room, letting out a breathtaking wail.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          94 INT. STATION (HOLDING CELL) – EARLY DAWN

 

          In a holding cell we see a half dozen guys sitting on a bench, on

          the floor, some leaning against the wall.  Among these men are

          Clayton and Danny.

 

          Danny stands at the front of the cell with his hands gripping the

          bars, one of them holding a burning cigarette.  He keeps his head

          down, listening to the approaching footsteps.

 

          The footsteps belong to Dani, with Aiden in her arms, he's not

          crying as badly anymore, but he weeps.

 

          They stand in front of Danny, he doesn't even lift his head.  He

          holds out his cigarette to her, she gladly takes it.  She gives it

          back to him after two drags.

         

          It remains silent until:

 

                                          DANI

                         Well are you going to tell me what happened?

 

                                          DANNY

                              (head still down, shameful)

                         We got pulled over.  They made Clay do some

                         tests to see if he was drunk.  He failed

                         pretty bad.

 

                                          DANI

                         So what the hell does that have to do with

                         you?

                              (Danny doesn't respond)

                         Well...

 

                                          DANNY

                         They found...

                              (pause)

                         They're accusing me of intention to

                         distribute.

 

                                          DANI

                         Distribute what?

                              (no response)

                         Distribute what?

 

                                          DANNY

                         Ten...

                              (slowly lifts his head)

                         Ten grams of cocaine.

 

                                          DANI

                         But it's not yours.

 

                                          DANNY

                         No.

                              (beat)

                         It was on me though.

 

                                          DANI

                         No...

                              (pause)

                         I can't believe...

                              (pause)

                         You are a coward Danny.  A goddamn coward.  A

                         liar too.

                              (beat)

                         Be ashamed.

 

                                          DANNY

                              (in tears, head down again)

                         Please--

 

                                          DANI

                              (monstrously)

                         Suffer!

 

          She tries to leave but Danny grabs a hold of her hand.  He stares at

          her bare left-pinky.  She yanks her hand back, nearly dropping

          Aiden.  And slowly makes her way out.

 

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          95 INT. HALLWAY – EARLY DAWN

 

          Dani walks through the hallway of her apartment building with Aiden

          resting on her shoulder.  He cries maniacally.  We can imagine the

          stress right now for Dani, who remains silent.

 

          She reaches her door and is greeted with an EVICTION NOTICE taped to

          her door.  The only handwriting on their says "7 DAYS!!!"  Dani

          stares at it.

 

          She rests her head on the door and inserts the key and turns the

          knob.  She enters her apartment, still reeking of party.

 

          Dawn has just begun to sneak through the window.

 

          She shuts the door and leans her back on it.  She is still silent,

          mysterious, emotionless.  All we know about what is going through

          her mind right now is the fact that Aiden's cries are doing a number

          on her.  She paces around the room.

 

          She starts to rub his back a bit.  "Shhh" is all that can come out

          of her mouth.  She's never been in this position before.  Aiden

          never cries.

 

                                          DANI

                              (calmly)

                         Shhh.  Shhh.

                              (no change)

                         Shhh.  Shut up.  Please, shut up.

 

          She is begining to absorb his rage through his tiny body.

 

                                          DANI

                         It's all your fault.  Shhh.  Be quiet.

                              (about to lose it)

                         Shut up.  Please.  Please.

                              (losing it)

                         Shut up!  You've ruined my life.  Shut up!

                              (she's lost it)

                         Shut up!  Shut up!  Shut up!

 

          She starts to shake Aiden violently.  This does nothing to calm him. 

          The cries continue.  Her shaking gets more violent.

 

                                          DANI

                              (repeating herself)

                         Shut up!  Shut up!  Shut up!...

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          We watch AIDEN'S FEET swinging back and forth.  It's too dark and

          disturbing to watch this from the full.

 

          The screaming and crying and shaking continue.  She shakes him so

          hard that he loses one of his tiny baby shoes.

 

          Suddenly the cries stop, but her shaking and screaming continues.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

          We watch from a view BEHIND Aiden.  Dani stops with her violent

          rage.  She has now repressed back to that calm and emotionless state

          she had possessed minutes before.  She plops Aiden over her shoulder

          again.

 

                                                             CUT TO:

 

 

          96 INT. APARTMENT (BABY'S ROOM) – MOMENTS LATER

 

          POV INSIDE CRIB:

          Dani gently places Aiden back into his crib as if he were sound

          asleep.

 

          Still no emotion.

 

          She turns around and, with her back against the crib, slides

          downwards and rests on the ground.  She holds her knees close to her

          and tucks her head within.

 

          She lifts her head up to reality and there are tears rolling down

          her face.  But she does nothing.  She only stares up at

          something...anything...it doesn't matter.

 

                                                             FADE TO:

 

 

          97 INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA – DAY

 

          We’re inside the cafeteria of Glennbury High, a public school full

          of teenage boys and girls.  The tables are flooded with 15 to 18

          year old adolescents.

 

          At a middle table sits a group of boys.

 

          The boy that stands out the most is DANNY OLSON, a tall handsome

          young man with black hair combed foreword.  His smile is that of

          pure charm as he shines it across the table to his friend CLAY.

          Although the rest of the boys at the table are sharing one big joke,

          Clay and Danny are not a part of it.  Clay tells something funny to

          Danny, it is too loud for us to hear but it sends Danny in a laughing,

          which causes him to knock his Minute Maid off the table and right into

          his lap.

 

          He gets up as Clay, and a few others laugh at him.  He stands at the

          table observing the orange wreckage on his white shirt.  He puts his

          hands up and surrenders to the laughter, he then leaves for some paper

          towels.

 

          At the counter at the far back of the lunchroom, Danny picks some

          napkins from a pile right next to a row of microwaves.  He pads his

          shirt stain with a few paper towels.  He crumples that pile up and

          puts them on the counter.  He starts cleaning it off again with

          another tissue, as he does this he suddenly looks up, as if sensing

          something beautiful in front of him.

 

          Far across the room, at a scarce table of rejects, newbies and

          mentally deficient students he spots a DANI AIRMON.  She is a girl,

          beautiful only in a way that Danny knows.  She has blonde hair that

          she just lets rest on her shoulders.  She has a tray of minimal food,

          but she seems distant from her meal, staring at different parts of the

          room.

 

          Danny crumples the last paper towel and makes his way to her slowly

          and shyly.

 

          He stands in front of her, immediately grasping her attention.  He

          shoots that ever-so charming smile of his.

 

                                          DANNY

                         Hi.

 

                                          DANI

                         Hello.

 

          They stare into each others eyes, looking for something.  What is it?

 

          IT MUST BE LOVE.

 

                                                             FADE TO BLACK:

 

          ROLL CREDITS

 

 

          [THE END]

 

 

         

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