First Scene
EXT. SHAKER HEIGHTS - ESTABLISHING - DUSK
The colonial village square. Rolling parklands, picturesque lakes, English gardens, walking trails and bridge-covered brooks. Tree-lined streets with Tudor and Georgian revivals and French and English cottages with manicured lawns.
The colonial village square. Rolling parklands, picturesque lakes, English gardens, walking trails and bridge-covered brooks. Tree-lined streets with Tudor and Georgian revivals and French and English cottages with manicured lawns.
EXT. LEONARD HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
SUPERTITLE: Shaker Heights, Ohio, Summer 1983
INT. LEONARD HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Sitting cross-legged atop a queen bed is LARA (8) in a Snoopy nightgown next to her sister, Amy (12), who rests a legal pad in her lap. Amy looks up at a figure towering over her.
Sitting cross-legged atop a queen bed is LARA (8) in a Snoopy nightgown next to her sister, Amy (12), who rests a legal pad in her lap. Amy looks up at a figure towering over her.
AMY
Should I write in cursive?
Should I write in cursive?
She’s addressing her father, BUDDY (early 40s), who’s smoking a CIGARETTE and wearing an iron-on T-shirt that reads "I don't have a drinking problem. I drink, I get drunk, I fall down. No problem."
BUDDY
Yes.
(then)
No.
(then)
It doesn't matter.
Yes.
(then)
No.
(then)
It doesn't matter.
AMY
My writing is prettier in cursive.
My writing is prettier in cursive.
BUDDY
Then write in cursive.
Then write in cursive.
Amy nods and readies herself to take his dictation.
BUDDY
“We, Amy and Lara Leonard, do hereby promise--”
(watching as she writes)
There’s no E on the end.
“We, Amy and Lara Leonard, do hereby promise--”
(watching as she writes)
There’s no E on the end.
AMY
What?
What?
BUDDY
You put an E on the end of “hereby.”
AMY
Do you want me to start over?
Do you want me to start over?
BUDDY
(sighs)
No, just cross out the E.
(sighs)
No, just cross out the E.
Lara, fidgety, grabs a JAR OF COLD CREAM off the nightstand and unscrews the top.
BUDDY
OK. “...do hereby promise to give our father, Bernard Leonard...the house at 212 Winslow Road, Shaker
Heights, Ohio...or the money from its sale...which we will inherit...on our 18th birthdays.” Period.
OK. “...do hereby promise to give our father, Bernard Leonard...the house at 212 Winslow Road, Shaker
Heights, Ohio...or the money from its sale...which we will inherit...on our 18th birthdays.” Period.
AMY
Period. Do I write "period"?
Period. Do I write "period"?
BUDDY
No, “period” as in end of sentence.
(continuing)
“We understand that this is a legally” -double L
No, “period” as in end of sentence.
(continuing)
“We understand that this is a legally” -double L
AMY
Double L?
Double L?
BUDDY
Legally has two Ls.
Legally has two Ls.
AMY
L-L-E
L-L-E
BUDDY
No, at the end. Just-here...
Growing more frustrated, he grabs the pen and pad, writes it himself and hands them back to her.
BUDDY
“We understand that this is a legally binding contract.”
(waits for her to finish)
That's it. Now sign your name.
“We understand that this is a legally binding contract.”
(waits for her to finish)
That's it. Now sign your name.
Amy signs the paper.
BUDDY
Now give it to your sister.
Now give it to your sister.
Amy turns to Lara whose face is now caked in cold cream.
AMY
(scowls)
Lara, that was Mom’s! You’re just wasting it. You don’t need it.
AMY
(scowls)
Lara, that was Mom’s! You’re just wasting it. You don’t need it.
LARA
It’s not like she does either.
It’s not like she does either.
BUDDY
Lara, sign the paper.
Lara, sign the paper.
LARA
In cursive?
In cursive?
BUDDY
Yes.
Yes.
LARA
But I don’t know how to make a cursive capital L.
But I don’t know how to make a cursive capital L.
BUDDY
Do the best you can.
Do the best you can.
She slowly, carefully signs it and then shows it to Buddy.
LARA
Is this good?
Is this good?
He looks at it and sighs. Her signature is an illegible mess with Ls that look like curly-cued figure eights.
BUDDY
Just print the Ls over whatever these are.
Just print the Ls over whatever these are.
LARA
But you just said I had to do it in cursive.
But you just said I had to do it in cursive.
BUDDY
It doesn't matter. You're eight.
It doesn't matter. You're eight.
She does as instructed. Buddy turns to Amy.
BUDDY
You realize how unjust this is, don’t you, Amy? Me having to ask for what’s rightfully mine?
(off Amy confused)
I bought this house. It belongs to me. I gave it to your mother in the divorce and since she didn’t bother
to leave a will, the court says it should go to you girls. You don’t think that’s fair, do you?
You realize how unjust this is, don’t you, Amy? Me having to ask for what’s rightfully mine?
(off Amy confused)
I bought this house. It belongs to me. I gave it to your mother in the divorce and since she didn’t bother
to leave a will, the court says it should go to you girls. You don’t think that’s fair, do you?
Amy shakes her head “no.” Buddy drags his cigarette, exhales and stomps it out in an over-capacity ASHTRAY that’s filled with many lipstick-stained BUTTS.
LARA
I'm done.
I'm done.
Lara hands the paper back. Buddy groans at her revision.
BUDDY
We have to start over. This doesn't look legit.
We have to start over. This doesn't look legit.
