What Geese Can't Fly Page 9
My own money. My own apartment.
BELLA (annoyed):
Não sejas túla. Only PUTAS live by themselves in apartments. God NO likes.
GRACE:
Oh yeah Ma, what if God doesn’t know everything? What if God isn’t such a nice guy after all?
BELLA (incensed, in Portuguese):
Grace Isabel Vieira, I raised you better than that.
(English)
God is good. God no hurt nobody.
GRACE:
Really? What about Fatima? Is that what God’s goodness looks like?
BELLA (adamant):
Is NOT God’s fault.
GRACE (tearing up):
Mommy, I just don’t love Joey that way.
BELLA:
No woman loves a man when she first marries him. That comes later when you have babies. You gonna see.
Bella gets up to leave.
BELLA:
Joey is a good Portuguese boy. And you gonna be a good girl for God.
Bella ROUGHLY slides the doorway curtain SHUT.
Grace FLINGS her book across the room.
136 INT. VIEIRA FAMILY KITCHEN - NEXT DAY
Grace and Fatima, her face still bruised, are unloading bags of groceries on the counter.
FATIMA (to Grace):
Mario called. He said Johnny put Eddie in the hospital.
Grace continues sorting through bags - not responding.
FATIMA:
I thought he was just gonna scare him a little. You know, have a talk ... I kinda feel bad.
GRACE (reeling around):
You feel what? Are you nuts? The guy’s a pyscho animal. Don’t even tell me you’re thinking about going back to him.
FATIMA:
I told you, he’s not like that all the time.
GRACE:
All the time? For God sakes, Fatima. He almost killed you. Don’t be STUPID!
ANGRY, Fatima SLAPS Grace.
FATIMA:
Don’t you ever call me STUPID.
(pointing her finger at Grace)
You think it’s so easy, don’t you? You’ve got it made. Everybody loves Grace.
Grace’s FROZEN. Holding her hand against her red, stinging face.
FATIMA (mimicking):
Grace is special, Grace is the smart one. She’s different...Grace is going places.
Well, I wanted to go places too.
(pounding her chest)
I was something special, too.
(a beat)
I never wanted to come to this stupid country. NEVER. You know nothing about how hard it was for us... for me. You know nothing about me. You have no idea what it’s like to have my life... To feel my shame.
Fatima sits, puts her head down on the table and weeps.
GRACE:
Fatima, I’m so sorry.
FATIMA:
You just don’t understand. We left everything behind. We had nothing. No friends, no money. We were so poor. Can’t you see ... Eddie Pacheco thought I was beautiful. HE made me feel special.
137 INT. BELLA’S SEWING ROOM
Grace checks in on Fatima. She’s curled-up, sleeping on the daybed facing the wall. Grace gently touches her sister’s hair. Not turning around, Fatima speaks facing the wall.
FATIMA:
I’m sorry, querida. I didn’t mean those things.
GRACE:
I know.
FATIMA:
It’s not that you dream too big.
(tears rushing her eyes)
It’s just that I forgot how.
138 INT. VIEIRA FAMILY KITCHEN - A FEW DAYS LATER
Holding a huge bouquet of flowers, Eddie’s kneeling in front of a sobbing Fatima.
FATIMA:
No, Eddie. I won’t. I’m not gonna live like that anymore.
Grace enters.
Eddie, his arm in a sling, hovers over Fatima.
GRACE:
What are you doing here?
Eddie turns, his face is seriously bruised with an ugly row of stitches above his left eye. Ignoring Grace, he turns back to Fatima.
EDDIE:
Fatima, please, I swear to God. It’ll be different this time.
GRACE:
Eddie, get out of my house. She’s not going back to you.
EDDIE (pleading to Fatima):
Fatima, please. I promise I can change. Just give me one more chance.
GRACE (pleading):
Fatima, he’ll never change. Please don’t go back to that house.
Eddie takes Fatima by the arm, leading her out of the kitchen. Grace grabs for her sister’s hand. Fatima takes Grace’s hand, kisses it.
FATIMA (giving in, tearful):
I have to go Grace. Keeping your family together always comes first, right? Isn’t that what Ma always says. And the church. Right?
139 INT. TUFTS UNIVERSITY AUDITORIUM - DAY
Grace slips into her self-designated last row seat near the EXIT sign.
Professor McPhearson is standing in front of the big white board, behind him scrawled in big capital letters:
FATALISM VS. DESTINY
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
The Epic Battle of the Ages. Fate versus Destiny. If our lives are really predetermined, what role do we have, what say - if any? Where do we end up? And with whom? Who really chooses?
Is it Destiny or Fate?
And what’s the difference?
(he turns to write on the board in big letters)
FREE WILL! CHOICE!
Grace is feverishly taking notes, capturing every word.
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
Destiny is your place in life.
(pacing the floor)
Where you’re born. Who your parents are. Your place in society. But it does not dictate that where you start is where you’ll end up. Because we all have the power of free will.
ALEX LOCKS EYES ON GRACE ...
FLASHING before Grace: The image of Fatima, her face bruised, walking out of the kitchen, going back to Eddie.
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
Fatalism, on the other hand, is the Death Star of Destiny. Fatalists believe your whole life is predetermined. There is no free will. You are …
forgive my French …
(scribbles on the board)
SCREWED!
(class chuckles)
Which we know is not true. Because as human beings we have the ability to Think. Take Action. Choose.
Why else would you all be sitting here right now?
Class laughs.
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
Okay. Final paper due in on Tuesday. And no. You do not have a choice.
Students scurry out as Grace lingers in the back packing up her things.
Alex HURRIES up the steps towards Grace.
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
Could you sit any further back?
GRACE (smiles):
Makes for a quick getaway.
He hands her a business card.
GRACE:
What’s this?
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
My way of making it up to you.
She looks at the card confused. Then looks back at him.
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
It’s my friend’s company. They’re hiring. They’ll be on campus next week interviewing graduating seniors. You’re scheduled for noon on Wednesday.
Grace’s stares down at the card:
‘Robert Winn, President. APA Foreign Language Recruiters’
ALEX MCPHEARSON (with a wink):
Maybe jumpstart that “bake sale” of yours.
Grace, looking down, rolls the card between her fingers ... not wanting to tear up.
GRACE:
Maybe, you’re not such a jerk, after all.
Not expecting it - Grace lays a big Portuguese hug on Alex.
Liking it, Alex hugs her back, tight.
140 INT. VIEIRA KITCHEN, AFTER GRADUATION - MIDNIGHT
The kitchen is dark except for the dim light glowing fro
m the TICKING ‘Last Super’ clock.
Carrying her graduation gown over her arm, Grace tosses it over the chair.
Johnny speaks up softly from across the room.
JOHNNY:
Hey.
GRACE (startled):
What are you doing here?
JOHNNY:
Waiting for you.
Grace opens the refrigerator door. Stands there, staring in.
JOHNNY:
You made us all really proud today.
Shuts the fridge and sits next to Johnny in the darkness.
JOHNNY:
Imagine us. All sitting there, right next to them doctors and lawyers, while my little sister goes up to get the exact same diploma all them rich kids were getting.
Grace leans her head down on the table.
JOHNNY:
What’s the matter? This should be the best day of your life.
GRACE:
It’s not. Ma’s all mad at me ... Everything’s just a mess.
JOHNNY (interrupting):
Ah come on Grace. I love Ma. But she’s been the patron saint of guilt ever since I can remember.
GRACE:
Yeah, but ...
JOHNNY:
Yeah but nothin.’ Anyway, Ma’s not your problem. Joey is.
Johnny holds her tenderly by the shoulders.
JOHNNY:
Baby Girl, you’ve always been way too top-shelf for that kid. You need to dump his sorry ass, right now.
GRACE:
What about Ma? She loves Joey. She’ll never forgive me if I leave him.
JOHNNY:
For Christ’s sake Grace. I thought college was suppose to make you smarter.
Johnny gets up - unintentionally knocking over the chair, dropping Grace’s graduation gown to the floor.
JOHNNY (getting angry):
Ma made me. Ma wouldn’t let me. It’s God. It’s the Devil. The only luck we have is bad luck.
(slowly)
I am so SICK of this family’s sea of excuses.
Grace’s STUNNED ... NOT A SIDE OF JOHNNY SHE KNOWS.
JOHNNY:
Shit Grace, I’ve been using them excuses all my life.
(a beat)
I just don’t want you to!
He pulls up the chair, takes hold of both her hands.
JOHNNY:
Listen to me, Baby Girl.
We can’t change nobody. Look at Tommy. Fatima.
The life you pick is the life you’re gonna live. You can make it good. Or one fucking hell ... But NOBODY can choose for you. Not Ma. Not God. Not nobody.
Johnny kisses the top of her forehead.
JOHNNY:
We own every single choice we make.
Johnny gets up to leave, turning on the overhead light.
In his hand, he’s holding up Grace’s MISSING PROMISE RING.
JOHNNY:
Joey pawned it. For gambling money.
Johnny places the ring on the table, slides it towards Grace.
JOHNNY:
You just can’t fix broken people.
Grace’s mouth just drops.
141 INT. EDDIE AND FATIMA’S KITCHEN - NEXT MORNING
Drizzly, hot summer day.
Thunder CRACKLES in the background. Eggs sizzle in the frying pan as Fatima cracks them open into the hot oil.
Little Eddie sits at the table coloring.
Drinking a beer, Eddie’s standing in front of the open refrigerator.
EDDIE:
There’s nothin’ ever good to eat in this friggin’ house.
FATIMA (looking up from chopping):
Eddie, what are you talking about, there’s a ton of stuff in there.
Disgusted, he shuts the refrigerator door, turns and stubs his toe on a toy truck.
EDDIE (turning to Little Eddie):
SHIT! How many times have I told you. Put your friggin’ toys away?
Eddie GRABS the toy truck and HURLS it out the window, glass SPLATTERS all over the kitchen.
Little Eddie CRIES and runs over to his mother.
FATIMA:
Eddie, what the hell is wrong with you?
EDDIE:
Stop crying you little sissy mama’s boy.
Eddie pulls off his belt and heads towards Little Eddie. Fatima shields the child with her body.
FATIMA:
Eddie, stop it. How could you say those things to your own son?
EDDIE (mockingly):
So you say ...
Fatima maneuvers the child away from Eddie. Shoos him out of the kitchen.
FATIMA (to Little Eddie):
GO. Go play, baby.
EDDIE:
Yeah that’s right “BABY” go play with your sissy ass dolls.
Little Eddie runs out.
Fatima grabs for the telephone, reaches for the receiver.
EDDIE:
Oh! What are you gonna do? Call your pussy ass brother?
CLOSE VIEW ON: Fatima’s hand on the phone as Eddie WHIPS the phone out of her hand.
Fatima turns to him in RAGE. Grabs the HOT frying pan from the stove, WHIPS it at Eddie. The pan hits him HARD on the shoulder. He howls in pain.
She makes a run for the door. He grabs her back in by the hair, flinging her to the floor.
Eddie straddles a squirming Fatima, wrestling to get free. He rolls up his fist.
EDDIE:
You dumb ass Portagee. Coming after me like that. You’d still be cleaning toilets if it wasn’t for me.
DISSOLVE TO BLACK:
Sounds of PUNCHING, SCREAMING ... Then Silence.
142 INT. JOEY’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Wearing a Tufts sweatshirt, Grace sits on the sofa, hugging her curled up legs - EYES FIXED on Joey.
He’s clicking through the TV channels.
JOEY (stops on a Red Sox game):
Oh great. The game’s still on.
Grace silently observes Joey as he interacts with the game.
JOEY:
Ah! Come on. Play the F-in’ game.
GRACE:
How much you bet on the game?
Joey still talking to the television.
JOEY:
AAHHHH, no. You idiot.
GRACE:
Joey, did you hear me?
JOEY:
No. What?
GRACE:
It’s over.
JOEY:
What? It’s just the seventh inning.
GRACE:
Not the game, Joey ... Us. You. Me. We’re done.
JOEY:
Why? I told you I ain’t gamblin’ no more.
Grace gets up, grabs the clicker, turns off the television. Joey grabs the clicker out of her hand ... about to turn the TV back on.
GRACE:
I found my ring.
HOLY CRAP MOMENT ... Joey drops the clicker.
JOEY:
Grace, I swear to God, I was gonna get it back.
GRACE:
STOP IT, Joey! Just stop lying to me.
JOEY:
Come on Grace. You’re making a big deal out of nothin’.
GRACE:
It’s over, Joey.
(not sugarcoating it)
I’m moving to D.C.
JOEY:
D.C.? What the hell’s in D.C.?
GRACE:
A job. I got a job as a translator at the Portuguese Embassy.
Grace heads towards the door. Joey moves in closer.
JOEY:
So what? Now you’re better than me cuz you went to fuckin’ college. Leaving me for some dumb ass D.C. job.
GRACE:
That has nothing to do with it and you know it.
Grace grabs for the door knob. Joey BLOCKS her way.
JOEY:
I can’t believe your Ma is good with all this.
RADIO SILENCE FROM GRACE.
JOEY:
You haven’t told her, have you?
(laughing at her)
Your Ma
’s never gonna let you move to D.C.
(a beat)
GRACE:
Shut up, Joey. I’m not ten years old anymore.
JOEY:
You are to her.
GRACE:
You know, I’ve tried so hard to always be the good one. Not wanting to disappoint her or make her cry. But now, all that trying is just suffocating me. Just like
you are.
Grace digs into her jean’s pocket and pulls out the ring ... HOLDS IT UP.
GRACE:
I don’t like that version of me anymore.
She drops the ring, it PINGS off the glass coffee table and rolls onto the floor.
143 EXT. JOEY’S APARTMENT
CRYING, GRACE SLAMS the door shut, RUSHES up the street, crying.
CALLING and waving from across the street.
ALEX MCPHEARSON:
Grace. Hey Grace.
Grace turns as Alex McPhearson comes walking out of Cabral’s Atomic Fish Market.
ALEX MCPHEARSON (holding up a paper bag):
“Uma libra.” I ordered in Portuguese.
Wiping at her eyes, Grace crosses the street walking towards a smiling Alex.
SIRENS BLARING. A POLICE CAR AND AMBULANCE WHIZ BETWEEN THEM.
Up the street, a blur of red and blue police lights FLASH outside of Fatima’s apartment.
144 EXT. FATIMA AND EDDIE’S APARTMENT
Running towards the flashing lights, Grace pushes through a crowd of neighbors, gawking, muttering - all standing behind a yellow police tape:
Police Line: Do Not Cross.
GRACE:
What’s going on?
A neighbor recognizing Grace, BURSTS into tears.
Grace slides under the police tape. Bolts up the stairs. She’s stopped by Officer Billy Maguire.
GRACE:
What happened? Where’s my sister?
BILLY MAGUIRE (professional, but genuine):
I’m sorry Grace. She’s gone.
GRACE:
Gone? Gone where?
He stands silent, looking away - not making eye contact.
Grasping the finality of his words - Grace is NUMB. FROZEN as her brain goes into a dizzying fog. Then, out comes an ear-piercing SCREAM.
GRACE:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
She punches at Maguire, crying, yelling, shoving. He holds her back firmly but kindly as she collapses to the ground.
FADE TO BLACK:
145 EXT. CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY
The WAILING sound of a woman, howling in pain and grief is heard over the CLANGING church bells.
A white covered casket is wheeled out the church door. Followed by the same pasty, beady-eyed priest who had given the painful Genesis 3:16 sermon before.
PRIEST (V.O.):