ARE YOU THERE GOD?

IT'S ME, MARGARET

Based on the novel by Judy Blume

Written by,

Kelly Fremon Craig

January 23, 2021

OVER BLACK:

The first notes of Sweet Thing by Van Morrison. Warm, gentle,

easy.

FADE IN TO:

SUMMER CAMP in the CATSKILLS. Sunlit. Glorious. Ten thousand

shades of green.

The year is 1970.

It could be any year. Summer camp might be the only thing

that never changes.

OPENING CREDITS begin to appear and disappear as we find...

MARGARET SIMON (11), standing on a DOCK in her BATHING SUIT,

spindly arms and legs, nose peeling from a sunburn, hair
swept up in a jumble of bobby pins, growing out from a bob.

She lets out a GOOFY REBEL-YELL and does a AWKWARD JUMP into
the LAKE, arms and legs flailing. A DOZEN 11-YEAR-OLD GIRLS
do their own funny lake-jumps after her, one after another,
like dominos. They all come up from the water, LAUGHING.

A COLLAGE OF IMAGES: The girls singing CAMP SONGS, firing and

misfiring ARROWS, clopping through a stream ON HORSEBACK,
whispering in BUNK BEDS, blowing out MARSHMALLOWS by a
CAMPFIRE, all squeezed together with their arms around each
other by a “CAMP EAGLE LAKE” SIGN.

A BRIGHT LIGHT FLASHES, capturing a PHOTO of it. All of the

girls grinning, carefree, unaware of their bodies, their
crooked teeth, the dorky haircuts they’ll soon regret. KIDS.

They break apart. Margaret and the other campers HUG and do
stupid handshakes goodbye.

She climbs aboard the NEW YORK-BOUND CAMP BUS among a LINE OF
BUSES here to shuttle all the girls back to the cities they
came from.

INT./EXT. SCHOOL BUS - SAME

Margaret looks out the bus window, saying goodbye to the best
summer of her life.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY - AFTERNOON

A labyrinth of STEAL AND CONCRETE, swarming with people.

 2.

Margaret’s BUS lumbers through traffic, making a wide slow

turn towards UNION SQUARE, packed with WAITING PARENTS.

EXT. UNION SQUARE - CONTINUOUS

Margaret gives more goodbye-hugs as she makes her way out of

the bus, scans the sea of faces for her mom.

BARBARA SIMON (30’s) -- hair frizzed from the heat, anxious

to please, polite to a fault -- weaves through the crowd,
brightening as she spots Margaret. She waves both hands, her
fingers stained with paint, a wrist coil key chain jammed
with too many keys.

Margaret runs over, HUGGING her. Barbara squeezes her hard.

MARGARET
Mom!

BARBARA
Heyyy! You already got taller! How
was it?

MARGARET
So good. I almost didn’t want to
leave.

BARBARA
Good! Come on, let’s get your
trunk, I double-parked the car,
they’re already mad at me.

MARGARET
What car?

BARBARA
Oh, we bought a car.

They pull Margaret’s CAMP TRUNK out of the BUS’S CARGO HOLD.

MARGARET
We bought a car? What for?

BARBARA
I’ll explain later. Right over
there, that blue one.

They awkwardly schlep the trunk over to the Simon’s new

CHRYSLER NEWPORT, a humongous land-yacht idling in the road.

Margaret’s Grandma, SYLVIA SIMON (60’s), coiffed red hair, a

vibrant dominating force, the kind of woman to keep on your
good side, climbs out of the passenger seat.
 3.

MARGARET
Grandma!

SYLVIA
There’s my girl!

Margaret drops the trunk, runs to hug her. Barb watches their
love-fest, dragging the trunk the rest of the way herself.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
Oh god I missed you.

MARGARET
Me too! You changed your hair
color?

SYLVIA
Several times. Here, welcome home
gift. Read the label. Aloud.

Margaret reaches inside a GIFT BAG, pulls out A HAND-KNIT

SWEATER, reads the LABEL.

MARGARET
“Handmade expressly for you by
Grandma.” Ah, you made this?

SYLVIA
From scratch. Cashmere. I did
everything but shave the goat.
Anyway, tell me all about camp! Did
you have the best time? Did you
meet a new boyfriend?!

MARGARET
(embarrassed)
Grandma...

SYLVIA
Don’t worry, you’ll be swimming in
boys soon. And let’s hope they’re
Jewish!

Barb is hurrying to find the key to the hatch on her massive

wrist coil when she overhears this, looks up at Sylvia: WTF?

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
Never mind, I take it back! Your
boyfriend can be anything. Anything
at all.

She gives Margaret a secret look: But between you and me:
Jewish.
 4.

A CAR HONKS behind them, TRAFFIC stacking up.

GUY IN CAR
Let’s go lady, you can’t just stop
in the road!!!

BARBARA
Going! We’re going!

Margaret rushes to help Barb hoist the luggage in the trunk.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Sorry! It’s our first car, we just
bought it last week!

GUY IN CAR
Congratulations!
(then lays on horn LOUDER)

INT. SIMONS’ WALK-UP APARTMENT BUILDING - A LITTLE LATER

Margaret, Barb, and Sylvia carry the camp trunk up a FLIGHT

OF STAIRS, each holding a corner, sweating.

SYLVIA
How many more steps? What the
heck’s in here? Sand?

MARGARET
(switches places with her)
It’s ‘cause you’re at the bottom.
Here.

BARBARA
Hold on, I gotta find the key.

Barb strains to hold her end with one hand, searching through
her big wad of keys again with the free hand. Sylvia rolls
her eyes, knowing this will take a while.

SYLVIA
Oh god, not with those keys again.

INT. SIMONS’ APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Tiny, hodge-podge, lovingly cluttered, Barb’s CANVASES and

ART SUPPLIES stacked around in piles.

IN THE BEDROOM, HERB SIMON (30’s), natural born salesman,

can’t go anywhere without making 50 new friends -- changes
out of his suit from work, bouncing in his socks to the beat
of I Wonder Why by Dion and The Belmonts.
 5.

He hears the FRONT DOOR swing open and heads into THE LIVING
ROOM, sees the women lumber in and drop the trunk, out of
breath. He rushes over, feeling guilty.

HERB
Why didn’t you come get me for
this?! Heyyyy, welcome back,
Honeybunch!

He gives Margaret a hug, says hello to Barb and his mom.

HERB (CONT'D)
How was it? It sounded like so much
fun in your letters, you were even
in the play!

MARGARET
They needed a boy and I could do
(deep voice)
the deeeeepest vooooice.

HERB
(deep voice back)
Oh! Who are you, sir? What have you
done with my little girl?

MARGARET
(deep voice)
It’s still meeeee. This is acting.

They both laugh.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
What are those boxes for?

She points to SOME CARDBOARD BOXES stacked up in the corner.

HERB
We’ll get to that in a sec, let’s
hear more about camp!

SYLVIA
You’re moving.

Margaret FREEZES. Looks at Sylvia. What?

Barb and Herb exchange a look, can’t believe it.

HERB
Mom.

BARBARA
Oh my god.
 6.

SYLVIA
What, she saw the boxes, she was
putting it together.

Margaret tries to catch up, hoping she’s hearing this wrong.

MARGARET
What! We’re moving?

Barbara scrambles to soften the blow.

BARBARA
Listen, we wanted you to settle in
before we sprung the news, but dad
got his promotion and we found this
great house--

HERB
Great. Much bigger than this one,
with grass and trees and kids your
age--

Margaret is still disoriented, barely hearing them.

MARGARET
Where?

BARBARA
Well that’s the thing, we got lucky
and you know how we always--

SYLVIA
(cuts to chase)
New Jersey.

Margaret’s eyes bug out of her head. Barb and Herb can’t
believe Sylvia did it again.

HERB
Mom!

MARGARET
New Jersey?!

Sylvia puts her hands up, guilty.

SYLVIA
I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m sitting
over here!

She puts herself in a TIME-OUT across the room.

Margaret begins to spiral, retreats to a chair, trying to

process this. Barb struggles to regain control of things.
 7.

MARGARET
We’re leaving New York?

BARBARA
Okay, hold on a second--

MARGARET
But why? We’re happy here, we don’t
need to move.

HERB
We don’t need to, we want to.

MARGARET
I don’t. I’ll have to change
schools, and leave all my friends,
I won’t see Grandma anymore...

Sylvia helplessly mimes her commiseration.

BARBARA
That’s not true, you’ll make new
friends, the schools are great, and
Grandma will come visit us, won’t
you Sylvia?

Barb looks to her mother-in-law for help.

SYLVIA
I said I’d stay out of it. But I
don’t drive...

Barbara gives up, kneels down in front of Margaret, trying to

get through. Really talk to her.

BARBARA
Look, Margaret, I know. It’s a big
thing to digest, but believe me, I
swear to you, it’s gonna be good.
We’ll have a real house, more
space, our own backyard. And listen
to this:

She takes Margaret’s hands in hers, earnest, trying to convey

what’s really at the heart of this.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
I’m not gonna work anymore. Do you
know what that means? That means I
won’t be gone all the time, running
to a different class every night.
God, you know how bad I’ve felt
about that?
 8.

We can see just how bad Barb’s felt. Working mother’s guilt
oozing from her.

MARGARET
But you like teaching art.

BARBARA
Yeah but so what, this our
opportunity, I can stay home now.
I’ll be home everyday with you,
we’ll have family dinners, I’ll
learn to cook, get involved at your
school...like your friends’ moms...

Barbara feels herself get a little emotional at the prospect

of finally being the kind of mother she’s seen on TV.

HERBS
We promise you, Margaret. This is
good. Things are only going to get
better.

BARBARA
Just try to believe us, okay? Can
you just try?

Margaret manages a nod. No other choice. Barbara draws her in

for a hug. Herb joins. They embrace in a little clump. Barb
looks over at Sylvia, still in time-out across the room.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Come on. Come over here, Sylvia.

Sylvia heads over, joining their hug. It’s a sweet moment.

SYLVIA
Aww honey...
(pats Margaret, emotional)
I’m never gonna see you again.

HERB
Oh good lord!

Their HUG BREAKS APART. We stay on Margaret’s face as the

adults go at it again.

EXT. NYC - NIGHT

It’s late now, the New York skyline twinkling yellow, the
streets a relative quiet.
 9.

EXT. SIMONS’ APARTMENT BUILDING - SAME

We take Margaret in from outside her window. She stands near

the glass, uneasy, looking out at the city she’s leaving.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - SAME

She peers around her room, the knot in her stomach

tightening, her eyes starting to fill up.

MARGARET
Oh god... are you there God? If you
are, it’s me, Margaret... I just
want to say... well... first, I’ve
heard a lot good things about
you... Uh, so, I could use some
help? Please, God, I don’t wanna
move, I’ve never lived anywhere but
the city, New Jersey is...I mean,
look, I’m sure you’ve heard what
people say about it, nobody’s ever
prayed “God let me live someplace
great like Hoboken!” I’m just...I’m
begging you. Please just stop this
move from happening.

She looks over at the HANDFUL OF BOXES that have already been
packed for her.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
And if you can’t do that... just
somehow... make things turn out
okay?

She lets out a deep exhale, desperately hoping somebody heard

this prayer.

EXT. SIMONS’ APARTMENT BUILDING / STREET CORNER - MORNING

The CHRYSLER is packed up, idling at the curb. Sylvia and

Margaret hug each other goodbye, both gutted about this.

SYLVIA
I’ll call you everyday after
school. 3:30 everyday, okay?

Margaret nods somberly. Herb puts his arm around Sylvia,

squeezing her goodbye.

HERB
We’ll call you when we get there,
mom.
 10.

BARBARA
(hugging her)
Bye, Sylvia.

SYLVIA
You could’ve just said “you’re
dropping in too much, cut it out,”
you didn’t have move.

BARBARA
This isn’t about you, I promise.

Sylvia doesn’t quite believe it.

HERB
Alright, all board the Big Blue
Beast!

They pile into the car. Herb looks back at his mother
standing alone on the curb, forlorn. Feels badly. He walks
over to give her one more hug.

HERB (CONT'D)
It’s only an hour by train, mom.

SYLVIA
Yeah, just long enough to pick up a
family of bedbugs.

HERB
We’ll hose you off before you come
inside.

Herb smiles, teasing her. She rolls her eyes. He gives her
little a kiss on the head, goes back to get behind the wheel.
As they pull way, Margaret gives Grandma one last goodbye out
the back window. Sylvia gives her an air-kiss, Margaret give
one back.

Sylvia stands there watching them head off to their new life
without her, their car finally disappearing. She looks around
at the city. For the first time, she’s alone in it.

EXT. FARBROOK, NEW JERSEY - DAY / VARIOUS

A sprawling SUPERMARKET with parking spaces galore. A GARAGE

SALE, junk spread out on a lawn. Kids in bathing suits on
BIKES, yelling as they chase an ICE-CREAM TRUCK.
 11.

EXT. MORNINGBIRD LANE - SAME

A tree-lined street of quaint, almost identical homes baking

under the summer sun.

EXT. SIMONS’ HOUSE - SAME

The Simons’ new residence is a CHARMING BRICK 2-STORY, the

shutters and front door freshly painted black.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - SAME

Margaret arranges LITTLE HOMEMADE CERAMIC ANIMAL FIGURINES

she made with Barb, trying to build a new life for herself
here. She looks around the room -- it’s filled with all the
same stuff from her old room, but it doesn’t feel like home.

INT. SIMONS’ LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

A disaster of BOXES and PACKING PAPER. Barb finishes

unpacking a CRATE OF BOOKS into a BUILT-IN BOOKSHELF, looks
around the room to see what’s next. It’s overwhelming, she’s
barely made a dent. She wipes away some SWEAT, SNIFFS her
armpit to see if she stinks.

MARGARET
Do they smell bad?

Margaret comes down the stairs, catching her in the act.

BARBARA
Well I can’t say they smell good.

Margaret makes a face.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Pretty soon you’ll know the
feeling...

Margaret raises an eyebrow, not looking forward to that.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
We have so much stuff. I don’t even
like half this stuff.

She pulls an OLD CRUSTY MODEL SAIL BOAT out of a box. Why did
they even pack this? The DOOR BELL rings.

MARGARET
I’ll get it.
 12.

Margaret crosses the FOYER, opens the FRONT DOOR to find a

girl in a swimsuit with her hands on her hips. This NANCY
WHEELER, 11 going on 17, overflowing with confidence.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Hi...

NANCY
I already know your name’s Margaret
and you’re in 6th grade. The real
estate agent sent a sheet out on
you.

MARGARET
Oh... Okay.

NANCY
I’m Nancy. I’m in 6th too.
(points to her house across
the street)
You wanna come over and go under
the sprinklers with me?

MARGARET
Uh, I don’t know.

NANCY
You don’t know?

MARGARET
I mean I have to ask. Just a sec.

Margaret goes back inside to Barb.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
There’s a girl from across the
street who asked if I can run
through her sprinklers.

Barb brightens a little, glad Margaret’s already making

friends, their move working out as planned.

BARBARA
Oh. Good. Sure, fine by me.

MARGARET
I need my bathing suit.

Barb looks at the big mess, no clue where one would be.

BARBARA
Oh boy... Good luck finding it in
here.
 13.

NANCY
(appearing)
It’s alright, she can borrow one of
mine.

They turn to see Nancy has let herself inside.

BARBARA
Oh. Hello. Nice to meet you...

NANCY
Nancy. I live in the bigger house
across the street.

Nancy points through the window at her better house. Barbara

smiles crookedly. Interesting kid.

EXT. NANCY WHEELER’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Nancy and Margaret head across the street. Nancy notices

Margaret’s bad posture.

NANCY
You want a trick to stop slouching
like that?

Margaret looks over, not sure what to say.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Walk with your thumbs forward. It’s
impossible to slouch when you do
that, see.

Nancy demonstrates her forward-thumb, chest-out posture.

MARGARET
Oh...

Margaret tries it, walking stiffly upright next to Nancy.

NANCY
So whose class are you in at
Delano?

MARGARET
The letter said “room 18”...

NANCY
I’m in 18 too! We were supposed to
have Miss Phipps, but she ran off
with some guy to California, so
we’re getting a new teacher now.
 14.

They step into--

INT. NANCY WHEELER’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

It’s full of EXPENSIVE ORNATE FURNITURE WITH CLAWED FEET.

NANCY
Anyway, just pray for a good one.
Come on, my room’s upstairs.

INT. NANCY’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

POSTERS OF HEART THROBS peppered with Nancy’s lipstick

kisses, a DRESSER loaded with BOTTLES OF NAIL POLISH and
TANGLED COSTUME JEWELRY, a HEART-SHAPED MIRROR with “Nancy
Wheeler” scrawled a million times on the glass. A stark
contrast to Margaret’s patchwork childlike bedroom.

Nancy gets a BATHING SUIT out of a drawer, tosses it to

Margaret.

NANCY
Here. It’s clean.

MARGARET
Thanks. Where should I change?

NANCY
What’s wrong with here?

Margaret pauses, a little self-conscious.

MARGARET
Nothing... I don’t mind if you
don’t mind?

NANCY
Why would I mind?

MARGARET
I don’t know...

Margaret starts to change into the suit. Nancy sits on the

edge of her bed, staring right at her as she does.

Margaret turns around, carefully pretzeling herself so as not

to reveal her body.

NANCY
(laughs)
Oh, you’re still flat.
 15.

Margaret’s cheeks flush. She yanks up the suit.

MARGARET
Not exactly, I’m just small boned.

NANCY
I’m already growing, see?

Nancy sticks her chest out to demonstrate.

NANCY (CONT'D)
In a few years, I’m gonna have a
pretty big chest. My mom’s are
huge.

Margaret raises an eyebrow.

MARGARET
Oh...

NANCY
I thought you’d be a lot more grown
up coming from New York. Have you
ever kissed a boy?

MARGARET
You mean...really kiss? Like on the
lips?

NANCY
Yeah. Have you?

MARGARET
(beat, reluctantly)
Not really...

Nancy looks relieved.

NANCY
Neither have I... But I practice a
lot. Wanna see?

Nancy picks up her pillow, opens her mouth wide and gives it
a LONG KISS, gently stroking the pillow’s “hair” and “back”.
It goes on for uncomfortably long.

Margaret can’t help but laugh. Nancy frowns, embarrassed.

NANCY (CONT'D)
You have to practice, or you won’t
be a good kisser.
(then)
You wanna see something else?
 16.

Margaret’s not sure she does. Nancy opens a DRESSER DRAWER

with a MILLION COSMETICS inside.

NANCY (CONT'D)
It’s another one of my experiments.
I put on different kinds to see how
I look best so when 8th grade rolls
around, I’ll be ready.

She runs a HAIRBRUSH through her long hair.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Do you always wear your hair like
that?

Margaret touches her mess of bobby pins, self-conscious.

MARGARET
It’s in an in-between stage right
now. I’m trying to grow it longer
so it covers my ears. They stick
out a little.

NANCY
I noticed.

Apparently Nancy notices everything.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Ready to go?

MARGARET
Sure...

EXT. NANCY’S BACKYARD - CONTINUOUS

MRS. WHEELER (30’s), tan with BIG BREASTS and curled hair,
WASHES a LITTLE DOG in a TUB, her copious cleavage jiggling
as she scrubs. The girls come out with their towels.

NANCY
This is the girl who just moved
from New York. Margaret Simon.

MRS. WHEELER
Hi Margaret. Nice to meet you. How
do you like Farbook so far?

Margaret quickly looks up from Mrs. Wheeler’s breasts.

MARGARET
It’s fine...
 17.

MRS. WHEELER
Tell your mother I’m looking
forward to meeting her. We have a
bowling team on Mondays, and a
bridge game Thursday afternoons.

MARGARET
Oh...

Mrs. Wheeler cocks her head, waiting for more.

MRS. WHEELER
Oh?

MARGARET
No, I just don’t think my mom’s
ever played Bridge and I don’t
think she bowls either...

MRS. WHEELER
Ahh. Well, tell her she can call me
about carpooling to Sunday School
then.

MARGARET
I don’t go to Sunday school.

Mrs. Wheeler stops scrubbing the dog, surprised.

MRS. WHEELER
You don’t go to Sunday School?

Margaret feels a little put on the spot.

MARGARET
Uh...

NANCY
Lucky you.

MRS. WHEELER
Nancy. Please.

NANCY
(tugs Margaret away)
Mom, she came to be with me, not
you. Come on, let’s go.

MRS. WHEELER
(calling after them)
30 minutes, no more or it drowns
the grass!
 18.

EXT. NANCY’S YARD - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Nancy cranks on the SPRINKLER.

NANCY
Follow the leader!

She dances through the water. Jumps, spins, cartwheels.

Margaret copies her move for move, trying to keep up.

Nancy pretends to run in sexy slow-motion like a girl from a

movie.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Look at me, I’m a model.

She pouts her lips, runs her fingers through her wet hair.
Just then, A BIG HARD BLAST OF WATER nails her in the face.

NANCY (CONT'D)
AAAAHHH!!!

Nancy’s brother EVAN (14), pudgy and freckled, holds the

HOSE, laughing with his friend, MOOSE FREED (14) handsome
with big brown eyes, a foot taller thanks to a recent growth
spurt.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Evan you idiot!

MARGARET
Who are they?

NANCY
My stupid brother and his friend.
They’re 14 and disgusting, all they
think about is naked girls!
(screams)
Mommmmm!!!

Nancy runs off to tattle. Both boys look at Margaret. She

quickly grabs the TOWEL, covering herself, thinking about the
naked girls comment.

EVAN
Who’re you?

MARGARET
Um...Margaret? We just moved in
across the street.
 19.

MOOSE
You’re the new people? Ask your dad
if he wants me to cut your lawn.
Five bucks and I trim too.

MARGARET
Uh... alright.

She smiles, trying to seem normal.

MRS. WHEELER (O.S.)

Evan! Get over here right now!

Evan rolls his eyes, leaving Margaret with Moose.

Moose lifts up his arm to wipe some sweat, revealing a TINY

TUFT OF ARMPIT HAIR. Margaret stares at it a sec.

She shifts her weight, feeling nervous around him.

Moose bends down, picks up the Wheeler’s FALLEN BIRD FEEDER,

carefully hangs it back on its HOOK. Margaret watches,
transfixed.

MOOSE
Gotta get ‘em more birdseed.

She nods. There’s a tiny flutter in her belly.

MOOSE (CONT'D)
My name’s Moose Freed. Don’t forget
to ask your dad about the lawn.

MARGARET
I definitely won’t.

She grins at him. Then worries the grin is too much, tries
for something more casual. It’s not great either.

EXT. NANCY WHEELER’S HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER

Nancy walks Margaret back home.

NANCY
Sorry you got stuck with Moose.

MARGARET
Oh. That’s okay...

Margaret decides she better not say how she really felt about
him. They stop in front of her HOUSE.
 20.

NANCY
Anyway, listen Margaret, on the
first day of school you have to
wear loafers, but no socks.

MARGARET
How come?

NANCY
Because I decided I want you to
join my secret club. There’s 3 of
us, and I’m letting in one more.
Just don’t wear socks or the other
kids might not want you.

Margaret swallows, already feeling rejected.

MARGARET
Okay...

Nancy waves and skips off, leaving Margaret with that.

Margaret stands there a moment, feeling her anxiety rise.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Margaret organizes her SCHOOL SUPPLIES, thinking. Then--

MARGARET
(whispers)
Are you there God? It’s me...
Margaret again. It’s the first day
of school tomorrow. Sometimes when
I’m nervous, if I get my pens and
pencils all facing the right
direction, I feel a little better.

She looks at her METICULOUS DESK. It’s not helping at all.

She gets up from the chair, starts to pace a little.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Also... today I met this girl
Nancy. She knew about a lot of
stuff, I don’t know if she liked
me, I think she expected me to be
older or something? Anyway....it
got me thinking, maybe it’s time...
you know...
(how does she put it?)
...things started happening...
around here...
 21.

She draws a quick little circle around her flat chest. Feels
a little embarrassed putting it so bluntly to God. Then
suddenly: The SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS coming down the hall.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
(lowers voice)
My parents might think it’s weird
we’re talking, so I’m just gonna do
it without moving my lips.

Barb hurries in, carrying a bunch of RANDOM JUNK in her arms,

still getting through the unpacking.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
(V.O.)
Hey it’s me, I’m still here.

Barb tosses MARGARET’S BATHING SUIT onto her bed.

BARBARA
It was in with the bathroom stuff.

MARGARET
(V.O.)
Anyway, just think about, you know,
what I mentioned...

Margaret’s eyes dart quickly at her chest again.

BARBARA
And found this if you want it.

Barb puts an OLD ELECTRIC PENCIL SHARPENER on her desk.

MARGARET
Thanks God.
(then)
Thanks mom.

Barb nods, exiting again.

EXT. SIMON’S HOUSE - MORNING

MORNING LIGHT streaks across the Simons’ front lawn,

GLISTENING WITH DEW. A perfect image.

A DIGITAL ALARM CLOCK goes off, wrecking it a little.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - A LITTLE LATER

BARE FEET wriggle into a PAIR OF BROWN LOAFERS.

 22.

Margaret steps in front of the mirror for a look at herself.

Takes a deep breath, anxious.

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Barb has the kitchen almost in order, down to the last items.
Herb hurries to gobble some TOAST, running late. Margaret
walks in, hunched in her new blue jumper, her toes pointed
self-consciously inward.

BARBARA
Heyyyy! There she is. All ready for
the first day?

HERB
Look at you, a 6th grade vision in
blue!

BARBARA
How do you feel? You look nervous.
Don’t be. I mean, it’s fine if you
are, I still get nervous sometimes.
It doesn’t go away just ‘cause
you’re older. In fact, it might
even get worse...

HERB
Your mom’s really helping you
relax, isn’t she?

Barb realizes her pep talk is going the wrong way, slugs Herb
playfully for calling her out.

HERB (CONT'D)
Don’t worry it’ll be great, can’t
wait to hear all about it when I
get home!

He kisses them goodbye before hurrying off. Barbara gets the

MILK for Margaret’s cornflakes.

BARBARA
Here you go, want juice too? I
bought juice.
(suddenly notices)
Hey, you forgot your socks.

MARGARET
I don’t want socks.

BARBARA
You do, trust me, you’ll get
blisters without them.
 23.

Margaret rolls her eyes, not in the mood to be lectured. A

LAWN MOWER ENGINE starts up next door. It suddenly JOGS HER
MEMORY.

MARGARET
Oh! Wait! Dad!

Margaret leaps up from her seat. Barb turns around, not sure
what the commotion is. Margaret runs to catch him.

EXT. SIMONS’ DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS

Herb is already in the car, backing out of the driveway.

MARGARET
Dad!

He sees her racing towards him, rolls down the window.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
A boy named Moose asked if you want
him to cut our grass for 5 dollars.

HERB
Tell him thanks but no thanks. Just
bought a power-mower. Top of the
line.

Shit.

MARGARET
Uh...he also trims.

HERB
Got a trimmer too. Two kinds. Might
turn that shrub into a penguin.
Gotta go hon, knock em dead today!

Herb starts to back out again. Margaret starts back towards

the house, finds Barbara waiting for her in the doorway.

BARBARA
I just feel like I need to warn you
one more time about the socks.

Margaret sighs, annoyed. Barbara puts up her hands, not

wanting to be a nagging mother.

EXT. DELANO SCHOOL - LATER THAT MORNING

First day chaos. Tons of TRAFFIC and WANDERING KIDS.

 24.

INT. DELANO SCHOOL - SAME

Margaret limps up the front steps through the MAIN ENTRANCE,

her sockless feet throbbing. She pulls down the heel of her
shoe to see a HOT RED BLISTER FORMING. She sucks it up, puts
her thumbs forward, trying to walk the way Nancy showed her.
She spots ROOM 18 up ahead.

INT. 6TH GRADE CLASS - CONTINUOUS

Margaret enters, peers around for Nancy. Her eyes scan

everyone’s FEET. Socks, socks, socks. Then finally: NO SOCKS.
She pans to see the feet belong to Nancy.

NANCY
Hey! Over here!

Margaret hurries over, relieved. Nancy checks her feet.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Good. I thought you’d forget.
(then)
This is Margaret, she’s the one I
told you about.

GRETCHEN POTTER (11), Jewish, chubby, opinionated-- waves.

JANIE LOOMIS (11), skinny, soft-spoken, African American,
smiles.

GRETCHEN
So you’re the fourth.

JANIE
Nice to meet you...

MARGARET
You too...

NANCY
You’re lucky we saved you a seat,
otherwise you’d be over there next
to Norman Fisher.

NORMAN FISHER (11), ill-fitting button-down, bed-head, thick

glasses with a string, sits off by himself.

GRETCHEN
Oh my god, oh my god, don’t look,
Philip Leroy just walked in.

NANCY
Yessss. I was praying so hard he’d
be in our class!
 25.

MARGARET
Who’s Philip Leroy?

NANCY
Take a guess.

Margaret looks over at a CLUSTER OF BOYS entering the room.

PHILIP LEROY (11) instantly stands out, casually great-
looking, sun-kissed from a summer of waterskiing.

MARGARET
Oh. Got it.

Philip takes a seat next to his friend, FREDDY BARNETT (11),

a SHORT REDHEAD with an EXTREMELY BAD SUNBURN.

Margaret notices a TALL ATTRACTIVE WOMAN entering the room.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Is that our teacher?

They all turn to look.

NANCY
Her? That’s Laura Danker! She’s in
our class!

Margaret looks again, feeling dumb.

MARGARET
She’s in 6th grade?

LAURA DANKER (11), looks at least 16 thanks to her HEIGHT and

HUGE EARLY BOOBS.

NANCY
Stay away from her if you’re smart.
My brother says she goes behind the
A&P with him and Moose and let’s
them feel her up...

Margaret reacts to “feel her up,” not used to peers talking

like this. She watches Laura take a seat by herself in the
back row.

A THROAT CLEARS. They turn to see their new teacher, MILES J

BENEDICT (20’s) -- starched shirt, neatly combed hair. They
all quiet down, sit up straighter as he walks to the front of
the class.

MR. BENEDICT
Uh, good morning class...
(clears throat)
(MORE)
 26.

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

Um, uh, first I’d just like to
introduce myself... My name is Mr.
Benedict and I will be your new 6th
grade teacher.

He writes “MR. BENEDICT” on the chalkboard.

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

That’s Benedict, like the eggs. And
because it’s eggcellent to meet
you.

He chuckles at his joke. They all just stare at him.

He clears his throat again. Looks down at a SWEATY SCRAP OF

PAPER tucked inside his palm, his INTRODUCTION speech written
on it.

“Benedict. Like the eggs. And because it’s egg-cellent to

meet you. (Pause for laughter.)”

He looks back up at their blank faces. Holds in an ocean of

nervous diarrhea.

NANCY
(whispers to Margaret)
Can you believe this guy?

Margaret feels a little sorry for him.

MR. BENEDICT
Uh, now, if you’ll please complete
the following sentences so we can
get to know each other a little
better...

He writes on the chalkboard: “I love...” “I hate...” “I’m

looking forward to...”

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

I’ll begin. I love...that I’m
finally getting to be a teacher for
the first time.
(smiles sincerely)
I hate...self-doubt, feeling tongue
tied, upset stomaches, and staring
at the ceiling all night instead of
sleeping at all.
(smiles again)
I’m looking forward to...the year
with you. Okay, now your turn.
 27.

They all take out paper and get busy writing. Nancy slides a
NOTE to Margaret: “Secret club meeting today. 3pm, my house.
NO SOCKS!!!”

NANCY
Pass it on.

Margaret nods dutifully, passing it to Janie.

INT. SYLVIA’S NEW YORK APARTMENT - DAY

Sylvia finishes watering TWO LITTLE BAMBOO PLANTS sitting in

her window sill, then sits at the kitchen table, not sure
what to do next. She looks at the phone, then looks at her
watch. Margaret’s not home for several hours.

INT. SIMONS’ HOUSE / VARIOUS - THAT AFTERNOON

The KITCHEN is done now. Barb finishes wiping the counters,

goes into THE LIVING ROOM to see what’s left to do.

Just one BIG STACK OF BOXES remain, carrying all her ART
STUFF. PAINT BRUSHES, PAINTS, CANVASES, HER OLD ARTWORK. She
pulls out a few of her PAINTINGS. Eyeing some of the older
ones, she’s surprised by her reaction to them: She likes her
own work. She’s talented. Two endorsements she always
hesitates to give herself. She leans a few of them against
the walls to be hung up later.

Then glances around the room, trying to figure out where to

put all of her art supplies. She opens the HALL CLOSET:
already stuffed. Peaks in the LAUNDRY ROOM: Too small.

INT. SIMONS GARAGE - MOMENTS LATER

She slides the ART BOXES into a CORNER next to a RUSTY FAN
and a BOX OF YEARBOOKS. Something about putting this stuff
here makes her a little sad. The end of a long-held part of
herself. But she brushes off the feeling, goes back into --

INT. SIMONS’ LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

As Barb comes into the room, she suddenly notices something

hadn’t until this moment, FROWNS.

The TATTERED LIVING ROOM SET from their New York apartment
has seen better days, and also looks RIDICULOUSLY SMALL in
their vast new suburban den. Just comically out of
proportion. Hmmm. This will definitely not work.
 28.

The PHONE RINGS. Barb crosses get it.

BARBARA
Hello?

SYLVIA
Guess who.

INTERCUT with Sylvia at her apartment, dusting her furniture

to pass the time.

BARBARA
Hello Sylvia. Margaret’s not home
from school yet.

SYLVIA
It’s 3:32.

BARBARA
I know.

SYLVIA
You said she’s out at 3:15 and the
walk is 10 minutes.

BARBARA
Yes, she’ll probably be here any
minute.

SYLVIA
Okay... I’ll... just wait I guess.

A beat as Sylvia waits for the few minutes to pass. Then she
realizes she should probably small-talk with Barbara.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
Um, so, how are you?

BARBARA
Good. I’m good. How are you?

SYLVIA
Oh fine... Today I read that when
you don’t have any loved ones
around your life expectancy drops
drastically. But, you know, I’ve
had a good run...

Barb can’t help but laugh at her guilt trip.

BARBARA
(laughing)
Oh Sylvia, come on.
 29.

Sylvia’s not kidding. The door opens behind Barb and Margaret
hurries in.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Oh, here she is, she’s home.
(holds out the phone)
Grandma’s on the phone for you.

Margaret instantly perks up, drops her bag, runs to grab it.

MARGARET
Grandma!

SYLVIA
Honey!!! How’s New Jersey? Are you
okay? You can tell me the truth.

MARGARET
It’s actually not as bad as I
thought...

SYLVIA
Really? That’s wonderful news...

Sylvia looks crestfallen, secretly hoping it’d be bad enough

they’d all move back.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
Well, anyway, I was thinking you
could come visit the weekend after
next, I’ll get us tickets to a
show, you can spend the night,
we’ll do a little slumber party,
that’d be so fun, right?

MARGARET
Oooh yeah, I’d love that!

SYLVIA
I knew you would. Great. I’ll tell
your mother it was your idea, okay?
I’ll call you tomorrow.

Margaret agrees, hangs up.

MARGARET
Can I go to Nancy’s right now?

BARBARA
You just got home, I haven’t even
heard about your day.

MARGARET
I know, can I?
 30.

BARBARA
Well just at least give me one word
first.

MARGARET
(thinks a beat)
“Eghh?”

A sound indicating “I don’t know, maybe it’ll be okay, maybe

it’ll be a hellish nightmare, we’ll see.” Barbara gets her
meaning.

BARBARA
Fair enough. Okay, go ahead.

Margaret hurries for the door.

INT. NANCY WHEELERS BACK PORCH - A LITTLE LATER

Nancy, Gretchen and Janie sit around the patio table eating
Oreos, LAUGHING. Margaret arrives through the back door,
wishing she weren’t the last one to get here.

MARGARET
Hi...

She finds a seat at the table, reticent.

NANCY
We were just talking about Laura
Danker again.

GRETCHEN
Yeah, how she got even bigger over
the summer.

Gretchen cups her hands to show the size of Laura’s chest.

Margaret quickly nods in agreement, trying to catch up to
where they are in the conversation.

MARGARET
Oh. Yeah, she looks so grown up...

Margaret crosses her legs, trying to seem cool. Her SHOE

falls off. She quickly leans down and puts it back on.

NANCY
She’s worn a bra since 4th grade.
I bet you a dollar she already gets
her period too.

Margaret gets a little uncomfortable at the word “period”.

Janie does too. They share a look.
 31.

GRETCHEN
Well I know for sure somebody in
our school does.

JANIE
How...?

GRETCHEN
I always check the bins.

Margaret’s never even thought of checking the bins.

NANCY
Did you get it yet, Margaret?

Suddenly they’re all looking at her, waiting for a response.

MARGARET
(beat)
Uh... not yet. Have you?

NANCY
No, none of us have yet.

She couldn’t be more relieved. Nancy bangs her COKE CAN on

the table like a gavel.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Alright, let’s get down to
business. First, this secret club
is a secret. You can’t tell anyone
what happens here. Ever.

GRETCHEN
Duh.

NANCY
Second, if you want to be in it,
you have to follow the club’s
rules.

JANIE
What kind of rules?

NANCY
I don’t know, I haven’t thought of
them yet. Oh, I just got one.
(twiddles eyebrows)
If you’re in the club, you have to
wear a bra.

The energy in the room immediately shifts. Margaret crosses

her arms over her non-existent chest.
 32.

GRETCHEN
I have one. If you get your period,
you have to tell us about it.

NANCY
Oooh, yes. Every detail. Especially
how it feels.

JANIE
Mine is... what if we all keep a
notebook of the boys we like?

They all love that idea too.

MARGARET
(piggy-backing)
Yeah, and, and we have to show it
to each other at each meeting and
we can’t ever lie.

The room tingles with excitement at the prospect of this kind

of sharing. Margaret smiles, starting to feel like part of
the group. She’s at the beginning of a whole new chapter.

EXT. FARBROOK - EARLY EVENING / A COUPLE DAYS LATER

RAINBIRDS spray a GRASSY PARK.

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - LATER

Herb organizes his RECORDS in a COOL RECORD STAND now that he

has enough room to showcase his collection, The Meters
“Darling Darling Darling” playing as he absently sings along.

HERB
Listen to the bridge. Listen. Are
you listening?

Margaret’s not listening. She’s studying something, her BROW

FURROWED, chewing her fingernails. REVEAL: THE JC PENNEY
CATALOGUE, opened to the BRA SECTION. She has it tucked
inside her HISTORY BOOK, angled so nobody but her can see it.

Herb senses her tension.

HERB (CONT'D)
What are you doing over there?

MARGARET
(immediately)
Nothing, I’m fine.
 33.

He’s not buying it, but lets it go.

HERB
Okay I’ll listen for both of us.

Margaret looks over at her mom, thinking. How is she going to

broach the bra topic?

Barb is in THE KITCHEN looking at a PHOTO in a RECIPE BOOK: A

JUICY GOLDEN BROWN CHICKEN nestled in a clump of crispy
potatoes. She looks over at HER OWN VERSION: A LIMP GRAY
WATERY CARCASS floating next to BURNT BLACK POTATOES. It’s
somehow both overcooked and under-cooked.

BARBARA
How is that even possible?

She puts a PIECE OF PARSLEY on top of it, trying to make it

look more like the picture.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Margaret climbs in bed, her mind still on the bra, Barb

dropping off some FOLDED LAUNDRY from a basket on her hip.

BARBARA
Turns out I don’t hate laundry, I
just hated the laundromat. Thank
you, New Jersey.
(walks over to kiss her)
Goodnight, honey. See ya in the
morning.

MARGARET
Um...

Barb looks back at her. Margaret tries to bring up the bra.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
(chickens out)
Yeah, g’night.

Barb makes her way to the door, SHUTS OFF THE LIGHT. Margaret
regrets not having the guts. Just before the door closes--

MARGARET (CONT'D)
(blurts)
I WANT TO GET A BRA!

Barb freezes. Margaret covers her face, mortified. Barb turns

the LIGHT BACK ON, a little dumbstruck. Unprepared for this
conversation. She treads lightly.
 34.

BARBARA
Okay... Uh, you...you think you
need one?

Margaret shoots her a mom hurt look. Barb realizes.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
No, no, I just mean, you know,
they’re kind of a pain, so no need
to start sooner than you have to.
But if you want one, we’ll get one.

Margaret chews her lip, feeling so weird about this.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
So you want one?

MARGARET
Yes, I already said that!

She can’t stand to keep talking about it.

BARBARA
Okay, okay. We’ll get one then.
We’ll get one this weekend.

Margaret nods, just wanting this conversation to be over.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Alright. Well, g’night again.

MARGARET
Night.

Barb walks out, pulls the door shut behind her, just stands
there a moment, realizing she’s just entered a whole new
phase of motherhood. Is she ready for it?

INSIDE, Margaret still cringes.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
So weird. So weird. That was so
weird, God. Why do I feel so weird?

She drums her face, trying to knock the feeling out of her
head.

EXT./INT. DELANO SCHOOL - MORNING

School in session, kids in class. Barb hurries inside,

running a little late. Pokes her head into the PTA ROOM,
making sure she’s in the right place.
 35.

INT. DELANO SCHOOL P.T.A ROOM - SAME

A FEW DOZEN WOMEN mill around.

MRS. WHEELER
Here for the PTA meeting?

BARBARA
Oh hi, yes, I’m Barbara Simon.

MRS. WHEELER
Oh! Barbara! I’m Jan Wheeler,
Nancy’s mother. I met Margaret.
I’ve heard a lot about you.

BARBARA
Oh... great to meet you too.

Barb can’t help noticing Mrs. Wheeler’s huge breasts.

MRS. WHEELER
We’re just about to get started.
Please, have a seat.

Barb finds a chair. Mrs. Wheeler gets up behind the PODIUM,

quiets everyone down.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

Thank you all for coming today.
Delano is nothing without our
dedicated parents. So, let’s dive
right in and start the year like we
always do, by forming our
committees. First... Our Campus
Improvement Committee. Any
volunteers?

Barb RAISES HER HAND. A few other women do too. Mrs. Wheeler
nods, grateful.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

Thank you. Okay...Delano Social
Committee. Dances, luncheons,
parent-teacher night...

Barb RAISES HER HAND AGAIN. Why not.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

Great. Fundraising Committee...

Nobody volunteers for that one. Barb RAISES HER HAND A 3rd
TIME. Mrs. Wheeler gives her an approving little nod.
 36.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

Good for you, Barbara.

Barb smiles, feeling good about this.

INT. ROOM 18 / 6TH GRADE CLASS - LATER THAT DAY

The class finishes a MATH WORKSHEET. A stop watch BEEPS. Mr.

Benedict clicks it off.

MR. BENEDICT
Alright, pencils down and kindly
pass your worksheets forward...
(gathering them up)
Now, uh, before the bell rings, I’d
like to share some news that I
think will make you all very happy.

The class perks up, paying attention.

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

Now that you’re all in 6th grade...
you’ll each get to do a full, year-
long research project.

The whole class GROANS. This is the good news?

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

Wait, wait. Let me get to the good
part. And these research projects
will be about...anything you want.
You decide. 100% your choice.

He waits for their expressions to brighten at the prospect of

such autonomy.

FREDDY BARNETT
Are you kidding me?

They all complain even louder. Mr. Benedict sputters, not

expecting this.

MR. BENEDICT
I... uh... well...

Freddy flicks a PAPER FOOTBALL at him.

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

What was that? Uh, please don’t do
that again please?

THE BELL RINGS, thank god. They all pack up to leave. Mr.
Benedict gestures to Margaret.
 37.

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

Excuse me, Margaret, may I talk to
you for a moment after class?

Margaret looks taken aback. Did she do something wrong?

NANCY
(teasing)
Uh oh, what’d you do, Margaret?

Margaret swallows. Janie gives her a concerned look. As the

kids clear out, Margaret approaches Mr. Benedict’s desk.

MARGARET
Hi...

MR. BENEDICT
Please, have a seat.

She reluctantly sits. Mr. Benedict shuffles through papers.

MARGARET
Did I... do something wrong?

He looks up, suddenly seeing how nervous she is.

MR. BENEDICT
Oh! No. No-no-no-no. Sorry, did I
give that impression? Rookie
mistake. Please, relax. Would you
like anything? Water? Candy Corn?

He offers her his little JAR OF CANDY CORN.

MARGARET
No...thank you.

Margaret loosens a little. He takes a piece of CANDY CORN for

himself. She watches him chew it for a moment.

MR. BENEDICT
I’m just having little chats with
each student in advance of your
research projects to answer
questions, perhaps guide you
towards a topic of your choice...

MARGARET
Oh.
 38.

MR. BENEDICT
I read your getting-to-know you
paper, and noticed under the “I
hate” section, you wrote “religious
holidays”? Which I found curious...

Margaret shifts in her seat, put on the spot.

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

If you don’t want to share why, you
don’t have to.

MARGARET
No, I, uh... I guess I just don’t
like those holidays because I don’t
celebrate any of them... My dad is
Jewish and my mom is Christian, so
instead of picking which religion I
am, they just decided I wouldn’t
have one, and I’ll choose when I
grow up...

MR. BENEDICT
Ah, I see. And have you given that
much thought?

MARGARET
Not really... My grandma wants me
to be Jewish...

MR. BENEDICT
And your other grandparents want
you to be Christian I imagine?

MARGARET
I’ve never seen my other
grandparents. They live in Ohio.

MR. BENEDICT
You just talk to them on the phone.

MARGARET
No, I’ve never met them at all.

Mr. Benedict absorbs this with curiosity.

MR. BENEDICT
Interesting...

His curiosity begins to pique her own. That is pretty

interesting now that she thinks about it.
 39.

MR. BENEDICT (CONT'D)

Well, if I may suggest it, religion
could make a very compelling
research topic for you...

Margaret nods, still thinking about her grandparents.

EXT. SIMONS HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER

A SALVATION ARMY TRUCK idling out front.

INT. SIMONS HOUSE - SAME

Barbara tries to wrap up a phone call with Sylvia while THE

SALVATION ARMY GUYS carry out their OLD FURNITURE. Sylvia is
in her APARTMENT, standing next to a PORTRAIT OF HERSELF.

SYLVIA (O.S.)
Mezzanine tickets, dead center.
Tell her that.

BARBARA
I will.

SYLVIA (O.S.)
Is she excited?

Barbara’s losing patience.

BARBARA
Yes. She’s excited.

One of the GUYS hands Barb the DONATION RECEIPT.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Really gotta go now, call you later
Sylvia.
(takes receipt)
Thanks.

SALVATION ARMY GUY

God bless you.

Margaret walks in just as they’re leaving.

MARGARET
What happened to the couch?

BARBARA
Oh it was old and too small for the
room. Time to turn a new leaf.
(MORE)
 40.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Maybe something modern? I don’t
know, I need to think about it...

The men exit and she closes the door, crosses to the
SECRETARY DESK to file it.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
How was school? You’re later than
normal.

MARGARET
Fine. How come I’ve never talked to
your mom or dad?

Barb’s posture changes, caught off guard.

BARBARA
Uh...what made you think of that?

MARGARET
(beat)
Just wondering.

Barb slides the receipt into a FILE FOLDER, thrown off-

balance by the question.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
I know we don’t see them because
they’re far away, but why don’t we
even call them?

Barb’s not sure how to handle this. She steadies herself,

weighing it.

BARBARA
Because...we just don’t. It’s a
long story.

MARGARET
What do you mean.

BARBARA
I mean I’ll tell you some other
time.

MARGARET
Why can’t you just tell me now?

Margaret looks at her, really wanting to know. Barb can tell

she’s not getting out of this.

BARBARA
Look, I just don’t want you to be
burdened by anything...
(MORE)
 41.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
But maybe, I don’t know, maybe
you’re old enough to hear this
now...

Now Margaret is even more interested. Barb releases a breath,

has out with it.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
The truth is... we don’t see my
parents because they don’t want to
see us.

Margaret furrows her brow, not getting it. Barb tries to

explain.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
My mom and dad are very, very
devout Christians, and before you
were born, when your dad and I
first fell in love, they told me
they would never accept a Jewish
son-in-law, and that if I wanted to
marry him and ruin my life, that
was my business...but I wouldn’t be
their daughter any longer.

Retelling this story, Barb can’t help but feel those old
emotions rising up in her.

MARGARET
But...you are their daughter.

Margaret doesn’t understand. Barb realizes she has to phrase

this more clearly.

BARBARA
What I mean is that they... they
decided they didn’t want me in
their life anymore.

It’s difficult to say it so plainly.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
And so... I’m not. It’s been that
way going on 14 years.

Margaret is pinned to her chair. Heartbroken for her mom.

MARGARET
Mom...

She moves towards Barb, wrapping her arms around her to

comfort her.
 42.

Barb feels herself choke up a little, then wills it back, not

wanting Margaret to take this on, uncomfortable feeling their
parent-child dynamic reversed.

Barb gives her a little pat, reassuring Margaret she’s okay.

BARBARA
It was a long time ago, Margaret.

Barb smiles resiliently, determined to lift the mood.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Come on. I took dad to the train
station so we’d have the car. We
had a plan to go shopping,
remember?

Barb stands to find her purse and keys. Margaret’s head is

still whirling.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Are you there God, It’s me,
Margaret. I can’t believe this.

INT. SIMONS CHRYSLER - A LITTLE LATER

They drive to the mall.

MARGARET (V.O.)
How could they be so mean? Just
because of religion?

EXT. LORD & TAYLOR PARKING LOT - A LITTLE LATER

They near the entrance of the store.

MARGARET (V.O.)
My mom doesn’t deserve this. She’s
a good person, she’s nice to
everyone.

Barb holds the door open for an absurdly long time, letting a
whole parade of people go into the store before her.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Even when she doesn’t need to be!

INT. LORD & TAYLOR DEPARTMENT STORE - A LITTLE LATER

They float up the ESCALATOR.

 43.

MARGARET (V.O.)
I mean, what the heck, God? How
could you let this happen? Religion
is supposed to bring people
together and make them love each
other more, isn’t that right there
in all your books and stuff?!

BARBARA
The bras are over there.

At the word “BRAS,” Margaret instantly SNAPS INTO THE PRESENT

MOMENT, abandoning her conversation with God. She eyes the
MANNEQUINS IN LINGERIE, suddenly very uncomfortable.

Barb leads them through THE UNDERWEAR DEPARTMENT up to a

SALES LADY (60’s), cat eye-glasses, built like a baked
potato.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Excuse me, we’re looking for a bra
for my daughter.

Margaret immediately stares at her shoes, pretending to know

nothing about this. The lady sizes up Margaret’s chest.

SALES LADY
Hmmmm. Well we don’t have many that
small...

Margaret just about dies.

SALES LADY (CONT'D)

Come’re, dear, let me measure you.

Margaret reluctantly follows her to the REGISTER. The lady

loops a TAPE MEASURE around her chest, puts a 2ND PAIR OF
GLASSES over her cat-glasses to see the number.

SALES LADY (CONT'D)

(clicks tongue, bad news)
Barely 28. Not even a Double-A.

Margaret’s really starting to resent this lady.

SALES LADY (CONT'D)

Your best bet is one these Gro-bras
here. So one day when you do grow,
it’ll grow with you.

BARBARA
Thank you. We’ll go try it on.
 44.

INT. LORD & TAYLOR DRESSING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Margaret and Barb step into a STALL.

BARBARA
(takes bra off hanger)
You know how to put it on?

MARGARET
(not at all)
Yes.

Margaret quickly takes the bra, turns around the opposite way
to slip off her shirt, awkwardly fumbles with it, getting
hung up in the straps.

BARBARA
Here, I’ll help you out.

Barb adjusts the straps, clasps the back.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
There you go.

Margaret slowly turns around, feeling extremely exposed.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
What do you think?

MARGARET
I don’t know.

BARBARA
Well does it feel too tight?

MARGARET
I don’t think so.

BARBARA
Too loose?

MARGARET
No.

BARBARA
Try moving around a little.

Margaret wiggles her shoulders, pumps her arms.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
How’s it feel now?
 45.

MARGARET
Fine but I’ll be glad to take it
off.

BARBARA
Yep. Welcome to womanhood.

EXT. MORNINGBIRD LANE - SATURDAY / DAY

The weekend in full swing. Neighbors weeding their yards,

washing their cars, kids playing freeze tag.

EXT. SIMONS FRONT YARD - SAME

Barb gets the MAIL, sees her FURNITURE CATALOGUE has arrived.
Flips through it a bit at the curb. Then looks up to see Herb
rolling his NEW POWER LAWN MOWER onto the grass.

BARBARA
Look at you. Working the land...
Heavy machinery...

HERB
Is it too much if I take my shirt
off?

She laughs. Herb unbuttons one of his shirt buttons, starts

the motor with extra manly flair. She bites her lip,
pretending to be turned on. He pushes it across the lawn like
a stud, popping a wheely.

INT. MARGARET’S BATHROOM - SAME

Just out of the shower in a BATHROBE, Margaret heads into--

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

She closes her curtains and gets some UNDERWEAR out of her
drawer, pulls it on, then pauses, suddenly noticing something
different. She bends over, looking closer. Her eyes widen.
Hairs. She pretzels her head down closer, squinting at them.

MARGARET
1 2 3... 4 5 6 7.
(impressed)
Seven.

Not bad. She pulls the GRO-BRA out of LORD AND TAYLOR BAG,
rips the tags off, wriggles into it with much effort.
 46.

Then turns to study herself in the mirror. Flat as a board.

She turns sideways, pulls her shoulders all the way back,
pushing her chest out as far as she can. It makes no
difference. She sighs, frustrated.

Thinking, she gets two BALLED UP PAIRS OF SOCKS out of her

top drawer, stuffs them into each cup. They’re ridiculous and
misshapen. It doesn’t matter. She absolutely loves them.

She walks cat-like around the room, feeling them out.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
(sexy voice)
My name’s Laura Danker, what’s
yours?

She puts on one of her RECORDS: Chica Chica Boom Chic, by

Carmen Miranda. Begins to DANCE around the room, swinging her
sock-boobs back and forth, playing the bongos on them, her
and her boobs becoming the star of their own music video.

Suddenly, there’s a SCREAM from the front yard.

HERB (O.S.)
AHHHHHH!! DAMMIT!!!

Margaret startles, yanked back into reality. She runs to the

WINDOW, looks out it to see Herb next to the lawnmower with a
VERY BLOODY HAND.

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - LATER

Herb’s hand is BANDAGED UP now, embarrassed by his blunder

after making so much fanfare. Barbara reads the LAWNMOWER
DIRECTIONS to find out what went wrong.

BARBARA
“Always turn mower off before
clearing grass clippings from the
bag...”

HERB
What? You know what we call that in
sales? A design flaw. The kind
begging for a lawsuit!

He crosses his arms, mad. Margaret squeezes past them

carrying a GLASS OF WATER and a NOTEBOOK towards the
backdoor, already excited about the silver lining: MOOSE IS
CUTTING THE REST OF THEIR GRASS NOW.
 47.

EXT. SIMONS BACKYARD - SAME

MARGARET
Hi...

She puts the water down for him. He waves thanks. She takes a
seat on a LAWN CHAIR, opens the LITTLE NOTEBOOK, where the
words Boys I like are written & underlined at the top.

INT. NANCY’S BEDROOM - DAY

The four girls sit in a circle on the floor.

NANCY
Veronica?

GRETCHEN
I’m here.

NANCY
Kimberly?

GRETCHEN
Here.

NANCY
Mavis?

MARGARET
Here.

NANCY
And so am I...Alexandra.

JANIE
Why do we have to have these names
again?

NANCY
Because it’s boring using our
normal ones. Okay, time for boy
books.... Everyone get them out.

Margaret opens her LITTLE NOTEBOOK, where she’s listed just

one boy: Moose Freed. A LITTLE HEART by his name.

NANCY (CONT'D)
So who wants to go first?

GRETCHEN
Like it matters. We already know
who everyone put down.
 48.

NANCY
Philip Leroy!

JANIE
Of course...

GRETCHEN
It’s been the same since 2nd grade!

NANCY
What about you, Margaret? Who’d you
put?

MARGARET
(closes her book)
Oh... yeah, I put him too. Philip
Leroy. He’s so cute.

NANCY
Well, that was quick. Alright, time
to check for bras.

Nancy walks behind each girl, feeling their backs for a bra
strap.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Gretchen has a bra, Janie has a
bra, Margaret has a bra...and
(snaps her own) I have bra. Good.
Now we have to go around and say
what size it is.

MARGARET
(eyes dart around, nervous)
What? That wasn’t a rule.

NANCY
It’s a new one, I just made it up.

GRETCHEN
Well mine doesn’t have a size, it’s
a Gro-Bra.

JANIE
Yeah, that’s what I have too!

Margaret is so relieved she’s not the only one.

MARGARET
Same here.

NANCY
Not me. Mine’s a 32 Double-A.
 49.

Nancy puts her shoulders back, proud. They all look at her,
impressed.

NANCY (CONT'D)
If you ever want to get out of
those baby bras, you have to
exercise like I do.

MARGARET
(suddenly very interested)
What kind of exercise?

Nancy stands, demonstrating.

NANCY
Hold your arms out like this, and
then you do this motion over and
over.

Nancy pumps her arms back and forth, flexing her pecks.

NANCY (CONT'D)
I must, I must, I must increase my
bust!

JANIE
That really works?

Margaret and Janie exchange a look, hoping so.

NANCY
Try it. You’ll see.

They all stand up, pumping their arms along with her.

ALL TOGETHER
I must, I must, I must increase my
bust!

NANCY
Now squeeze real hard when you say
it.

They all squeeze. Margaret squeezes harder than anyone.

ALL TOGETHER
We must, we must, we must increase
our bust! We must, we must, we must
increase our bust!

Suddenly, the BEDROOM DOOR SWINGS OPEN. Evan and Moose burst
in, LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY.
 50.

NANCY
What are you doing?! Get out of my
room!

EVAN
WE MUST, WE MUST, WE MUST INCREASE
OUR BUST!
(groping his chest)
Oooh I can feel it working, Moose!

Margaret is mortified.

NANCY
Shut up!!! Get out! Get out! Get
out! Mommmmmmmm!!!

Nancy chases them out of the room, slapping at Evan.

EXT. NEW JERSEY BUS TERMINAL - DAY

Margaret is still cringing about what happened with Moose as

she hurries with her parents to catch the BUS to NYC.

BARBARA
Grandma said she’ll meet you at the
information desk. When you get on
the bus, do not talk to anyone.
Especially men. Either sit alone or
pick out a nice lady.

MARGARET
I will.

HERB
If you don’t see Grandma when you
get there, ask someone to help you.

BARBARA
But make sure it’s a lady, not a
man.

MARGARET
Okay, you told me 20 times!

BARBARA
(to bus driver)
Excuse me, this little girl is
traveling alone, can you please
keep an eye on her?

MARGARET
Mommmmm.
 51.

BARBARA
Okay okay, g’bye.

Margaret gets on the bus, the doors closing behind her. Barb
suddenly regrets this, second-guessing her parenting.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
I hope this wasn’t a mistake.

Just then, a CRAZY HOMELESS LOOKING PASSENGER bangs on the

side of the bus through his open window, yelling for the bus
to MOVE. He flicks his CIGAR BUTT onto the tarmac. Herb
smiles at Barb.

HERB
Nah.

INT. NY BOUND BUS - SAME

Margaret takes a WINDOW SEAT BY HERSELF in the back, staying

away from the WEIRD GUY.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Are you there God? It’s me,
Margaret. I’m a little nervous
being alone so can you just not let
anything really horrible happen?

Margaret looks over to notice TWO NUNS sitting across the

aisle from her.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Oh good. That makes me feel better.

She breathes a sigh of relief. Then considers--

MARGARET (V.O.)
You know, maybe Mr. Benedict had a
good idea -- if I made my research
project about religion, then I
could finally pick one. Don’t
worry, I won’t make any decisions
without asking you first. What do
you think, God?

Margaret waits a sec, as if for an answer. Something inside

her responds in the affirmative. She shakes her head.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Okay. We’ll do it.

She looks out the window, feeling resolved.

 52.

INT. PORT AUTHORITY BUS STATION - LATE AFTERNOON

Ten times more crowded than New Jersey’s terminal. Margaret

stands on her toes, looking for her grandma, finally spots
Sylvia, who’s a BLONDE now.

MARGARET
Grandma!

SYLVIA
You made it!!!

Sylvia sprays her with a CAN OF DISINFECTANT.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
It’s just Lysol, don’t worry about
it. Just gettin’ the bus off. You
look beautiful!

MARGARET
So do you. Your hair’s blonde!

SYLVIA
Everyone thinks I’m a show-girl!
Come on, we don’t want to miss
anything.

Sylvia whisks her away.

EXT. LINCOLN CENTER - MAGIC HOUR

Sylvia and Margaret climb out of a CAB, head up the steps

towards THE ICONIC FOUNTAIN and MASSIVE COLUMNS all lit up.

INT. LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA PIT - A LITTLE LATER

A COUPLE VIOLINISTS playing Dance of the Little Swans.

INT. LINCOLN CENTER AUDITORIUM - LATER

20 BALLERINAS spin in unison, performing SWAN LAKE.

Sylvia and Margaret watch them, in awe.

Margaret slips out of her flats to stretch her feet. Sylvia

slides her high-heels off too, wiggles her stocking feet over
to Margaret’s to give them a “kiss.” They smile at each
other.
 53.

EXT. NYC - NIGHT

Margaret and Sylvia stroll through NYC after the show,

goofing around pretending to be ballerinas.

INT. UPSCALE RESTAURANT - LATER

The WAITER sets TWO COMICALLY HUGE CHOCOLATE PARFAITS and a

couple SPOONS in front of Margaret and Sylvia.

SYLVIA
Spoons? How about a shovel? Thank
god I did 10 minutes of aerobics
two weeks ago.

Margaret laughs. They dig in.

MARGARET
Grandma...I have to tell you a
secret.

SYLVIA
Oooh. I’m listening.

MARGARET
(leans in, whispers)
I’m wearing a bra tonight, could
you tell?

SYLVIA
(smiles, conspiratorial)
I didn’t want to say anything, but
bosoms run in the family...

Sylvia makes a little gesture at her own good-sized bosoms.

Margaret grins a mile wide.

INT. SYLVIA’S BEDROOM - LATER

Sylvia and Margaret are in nightgowns now, crawling into BED,

Sylvia rubbing her face and hands with a MENAGERIE OF CREAMS
lined up on her nightstand.

SYLVIA
I had a fabulous time tonight. You
make a great date.

MARGARET
You too.

They crawl under the covers.

 54.

SYLVIA
Goodnight, honey. If I snore or
pass gas, that’s not me, you’re
just dreaming it.

MARGARET
(laughs)
Okay.

Sylvia switches off the LAMP. They lay in the dark for a sec.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Hey Grandma?

SYLVIA
Yes, Sugar?

MARGARET
Do you think I could go to Temple
with you some time?

Sylvia’s EYES SNAP OPEN, she SITS UP, flips the LIGHT BACK
ON, wide awake suddenly.

SYLVIA
YOU BET YOU CAN!
(jumps out of bed)
We’re going in the morning, I gotta
iron my suit!

EXT. NEW YORK SYNAGOGUE - NEXT DAY

TONS OF PEOPLE dressed to the nines. Sylvia leads Margaret

towards the entrance, still ecstatic about this surprise
twist of fate.

As they pass the GREETER--

SYLVIA
I have my granddaughter with me
today.

The GREETER nods politely, not caring at all.

INT. NEW YORK SYNAGOGUE - CONTINUOUS

They find their seats. Sylvia waves to more people.

 55.

SYLVIA
This is my granddaughter.
(looks at another group,
points at Margaret)
Granddaughter.

Margaret smiles hello at everyone, not quite sure how to act.

Sylvia spots THE RABBI walking up to the PODIUM.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
There he is, that’s the Rabbi.
Isn’t he handsome? He looks like
Robert Redford. If Robert Redford
had a large black beard and
glasses.

The MUSIC BEGINS, signaling the service is starting. Sylvia

squeezes Margaret’s arm.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
Here we go, it’s starting.

Margaret sits up straighter, a little anxious.

RABBI
Welcome dear friends. So good to be
here with all of you this morning.
Shabbat shalom.

SYLVIA
(whispers)
Shabbat shalom means hello. And
goodbye. And peace and harmony and
other stuff.

Sylvia hands her a PRAYER BOOK. Margaret opens it backwards.

Sylvia flips it around for her. Margaret already feels lost.

RABBI
So let us lift our voices in thanks
to God this morning. We begin on
page 124 of our prayer books--
(reading)
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh
ha`olam....

He keeps going in Hebrew. Margaret glances at Grandma for a

translation, but Sylvia’s Hebrew ends at “Shabbat Shalom.”
Margaret tries to follow but her eyes glaze over. The CANTOR
sings, there are more prayers, more rituals, more Hebrew. Her
posture begins to sag.

TIME CUT: Margaret JOLTS, as if woken from sleep. Everyone

stands up, the service over. Sylvia smiles.
 56.

SYLVIA
Wasn’t that lovely? Oh sweetheart,
congratulations.

Sylvia hugs her as if she’s officially jewish now.

MARGARET (V.O.)
I don’t know, God. The Rabbi seems
nice and I like the music, but I
don’t feel the way I thought I
would. You know, like --
(spiritual epiphany sound)
“Laaaaaaaaaa”.

Margaret’s a little disappointed. But Sylvia puts her arm

around her, thrilled.

SYLVIA
And now we go to the deli and
kvetch!

INT. SIMON’S KITCHEN - NEXT EVENING

Barb unloads the DISHWASHER, upset. Margaret puts away the

silverware. Herb pulls a TV DINNER out of the oven.

BARBARA
I can’t believe she’d just take you
to Temple without even asking us.

HERB
I can’t believe it took her this
long.

MARGARET
I told you it was my idea. I just
wanted to try it out, I’m gonna try
church too, don’t worry mom.

BARBARA
Church is not the point. You don’t
need to bother yourself with this
stuff right now.

MARGARET
You said I can pick my religion
when I grow up.

BARBARA
Yeah, when you grow up. When you’re
an adult.
 57.

MARGARET
I’m almost 12. That’s almost an
adult.

Barb LAUGHS. Margaret feels mocked, shuts the silverware

drawer, leaving the room.

BARBARA
Margaret...

Barb sighs, worrying maybe she handled that badly.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
I shouldn’t have laughed.

HERB
She’s fine. And what’s the harm?
She goes to a couple endless
services--

Herb steps out THE BACK SLIDER, gets a LAWN CHAIR, brings it
inside the house--

HERB (CONT'D)
--and realizes she should’ve
thanked us more.

He carries into the LIVING ROOM, sets it in front of the TV

and sits down with his FROZEN DINNER. Barb takes in this
sight, suddenly feels like she’s failing as a wife too.

BARBARA
Oh god, I’m sorry, I swear I’m
gonna order the furniture soon,
I’ve just wanted to pick the right
stuff, and I was gonna cook dinner,
but the meat didn’t thaw, and--

Herb waves it away. No big deal.

HERB
Hey do I look unhappy? Got my beer,
got my steak, I’m leaned back to 3,
I’m living the good life baby.

He gestures to his lawn chair, reclined to the 3rd notch.

Barb laughs. This is why she gave up everything for him.

EXT. THE WHEELERS HOUSE - DAY

Moose rakes FALL LEAVES off the Wheelers’ grass.

 58.

INT. THE WHEELER’S HOUSE / DEN - DAY

Mrs. Wheeler sets a TRAY OF ICED TEA on the COFFEE TABLE.

Barb and THREE OTHER MOTHERS ON THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT
COMMITTEE sit in the den.

MRS. WHEELER
Here we are, ladies.

BARBARA
Thank you, Jan.

Barb takes a sip. A LEMON SEED gets in her mouth. She

awkwardly spits it in her hand, embarrassed. She looks
around, not sure where to throw it away.

MRS. WHEELER
I’ll take it.

Mrs. Wheeler reaches out a hand. Barb drops it into her palm,
feeling like a child. Mrs. Wheeler takes it to the trash,
comes back.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

So, last year we replaced the
school marquee... and this year, I
had an idea to do something even
more meaningful.

She smiles, very pleased with herself. The women wait in

suspense.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

You know how ugly the ceiling in
our Gymnasium is? We’ll have it
refinished, painted completely
black, and then we’ll hang little
stars from it, with each Delano
child’s name on them...

Mrs. Wheeler holds up a FELT STAR she cut out as an example.

PTA MOTHER
Awww. Our own night sky filled with
our own little stars...

They all coo at that adorable image.

BARBARA
That’s so cute. How many stars do
we need, how many kids are there?

MRS. WHEELER
Twenty three hundred and two.
 59.

Mrs. Wheeler puts SEVERAL BOLTS OF LIGHT BLUE FELT and FOUR
PAIRS OF SCISSORS in front of them. Barb blinks.

EXT. DELANO SCHOOL - DAY

ON THE BLACK TOP, WESTERN MUSIC plays, all the kids awkwardly
SQUARE DANCING for P.E. Mr. Benedict reads the dance calls,
way out of his comfort zone.

MR. BENEDICT
(stiffly, from a Xerox)
And one and two and dosey-doe, all
the way around the ring you go. Now
boys rock right, now girls go low,
now all the way around and dosey-
doe.

The kids are clumsy and terrible at it. Norman Fisher keeps
stepping on Margaret’s feet.

NORMAN
Sorry.
(does it again)
Sorry again.

Margaret gives Janie a look expressing her annoyance with

Norman. Janie rolls her eyes, commiserating. The BELL RINGS,
thank god. As the kids disperse, Nancy hurries over with
Gretchen in a tow. She has a shit-eating grin on her face.

NANCY
(whispers)
Gretchen stole it.

JANIE
Stole what?

Nancy nods for Gretchen to show them. Gretchen slyly unzips

her bag, giving them a peek: A HUMAN ANATOMY TEXT BOOK.

GRETCHEN
My dad’s book I told you about.

All the girls’ eyes get big. Margaret fidgets, nervous,

feeling like an accomplice to a crime.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - AFTERNOON

C.U.: A DETAILED DRAWING OF THE MALE BODY, INCLUDING PENIS.

The girls hover over it silently, taking it in.

 60.

JANIE
Whoa.

GRETCHEN
Do you think Philip Leroy looks
like that?

NANCY
He’s male, isn’t he?

Margaret swallows. Checks the door again just to make sure no

one can come in. HER DESK CHAIR is shoved in front of it.

JANIE
Veins. Uggckk...

GRETCHEN
That’s what everyone looks like
inside their body.

JANIE
I don’t like it. It’s disturbing.

NANCY
Turn the page.

Gretchen flips the page. They all get very quiet again.
REVEAL:A CLOSE-UP DRAWING OF A PENIS AND TESTICLES.

MARGARET
(whispers)
Oh my god...

Nancy grins. She was waiting for that reaction.

NANCY
My brother’s looks like that.

JANIE
Ew, how do you know?

NANCY
He walks around naked. I see it.

Margaret shakes off a visual of naked Evan.

GRETCHEN
My dad used walk around naked when
I was little. His looked like that
too. And really red. Like it had a
sunburn.
 61.

JANIE
Oh god. Ew. I never want to see
anyone naked or have anyone see me
naked.

NANCY
What about when you get married?

JANIE
Especially then.

NANCY
Trust me, you’ll change your mind
once you grow a little. Then you’ll
want the whole world to see you,
like the girls in Playboy.

JANIE
What girls in Playboy?

NANCY
You’ve never seen Playboy?

JANIE
Where would I see it?

MARGARET
My dad gets Playboy...

NANCY
Wait, so you have a copy here in
this house? Go get it!

Margaret suddenly regrets revealing that.

MARGARET
I...I don’t know if I....

NANCY
Come on, Gretchen stole her dad’s
anatomy book, it’s only fair you
steal us the Playboy!

All of the girls look at her. Margaret feels the pressure.

INT. HALLWAY - MINUTES LATER

Margaret tip-toes down the hallway, glances downstairs to

check the coast is clear, sees Barb busy cutting out FELT
STARS, a STRIP OF MUSTACHE BLEACH on her lip, standing by the
TV watching a COOKING PROGRAM, hoping to learn something.

Margaret continues down the hall to--

 62.

INT. BARBARA AND HERB’S MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

She slips inside, surveys the room. Tries the MAGAZINE RACK.
Then Herb’s NIGHTSTAND. No dice. She kneels down, looks under
his side of the bed. Bingo... The WHOLE STACK. She takes one,
quickly stuffs it under her shirt.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - MINUTES LATER

The girls are all huddled behind Nancy as she opens the
magazine, turning it long-ways so the CENTER FOLD UNFURLS.

Their eyes adjust to the image.

JANIE
That isn’t like the science book...

GRETCHEN
Look how round they are...
(disappointed)
Mine look like little wizard hats.

Margaret laughs. Gretchen gives her a look.

GRETCHEN (CONT'D)
Hey, at least I have something.

Margaret zips her lips.

NANCY
“Hillary Brite is 19 years old and
loves waterskiing, horses, and
going to the mall for an Orange
Julius.”

GRETCHEN
Do you think any of us will look
like that at 19?

They all look at each other, desperately hoping so. CUT TO:

ALL THE GIRLS

WE MUST, WE MUST, WE MUST INCREASE
OUR BUST! WE MUST WE MUST WE MUST
INCREASE OUR BUST!

Off their PUMPING ARMS--

 63.

INT. JANIE’S CHURCH - DAY

ANOTHER SET OF PUMPING ARMS, clapping rhythmically. A GOSPEL

CHOIR, harmonizing with a A BADASS 80-YEAR-OLD LEAD
SINGER/PASTOR, tearing it up with his killer pipes.

Margaret stands with Janie and her FAMILY, clapping along.

She looks around, feeling it out.

MARGARET (V.O.)
I don’t know if I have “the
feeling” God, but I’m sure in a
good mood...

JANIE’S MOM gives Margaret a little shoulder-squeeze, making

sure she’s okay. Margaret smiles. Janie elbows her, nods at
an OLD WOMAN a few seats over, DEAD ASLEEP IN THE PEW despite
all the action. They both laugh.

EXT. MORNINGBIRD LANE - DECEMBER / EARLY EVENING

The street is BURIED UNDER A FOOT OF SNOW now, all lit up for
the holidays. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, NATIVITY SCENES, PLUG-IN
MENORAHS glowing in windows.

The Simons is the only dark house on the block. Out front,
Moose finishes SHOVELING THEIR WALKWAY before he loses the
light, the last house on his route.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - SAME

Margaret watches from her bedroom window as he clears the

last bit of snow, then slings the SHOVEL over his shoulder to
begin his walk home.

INT. SIMONS DINING ROOM - SAME

Barb sits at the table in her sweats and slippers, filling

out “HAPPY NEW YEAR” CARDS. She looks at her ADDRESS BOOK for
the next name on the list: “PAUL AND MARY HUTCHINS,” an OHIO
ADDRESS... HER PARENTS.

She pauses seeing it. Can’t help feeling a prick of sadness.

Then, on an IMPULSE she can’t explain, she reaches for a
BLANK CARD and scrawls out: “Dear Mom and Dad, I hope you’re
both well. Love, Barbara.” She stuffs it into an ENVELOPE,
licks and seals it before she can change her mind.

Margaret comes up behind her.

 64.

MARGARET
What are you doing?

Barb turns around, startled. Then notices out the window

behind Margaret--

BARBARA
Oh! The mailman. You’ve got your
shoes on, will you run these out to
him?

Barb scoops up the stack. Margaret takes it, hurries out the
door.

EXT. SIMONS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

She rushes down the walkway, the MAILMAN already leaving.

MARGARET
Just a second.

He turns around, waiting for her. She sprints down to hand

him the cards. Just as she does, she catches the name on the
top envelope: PAUL AND MARY HUTCHINS.

She freezes. Blinks.

MAILMAN
(taking them)
Thanks.

The mailman hands her the day’s MAIL in exchange.

MARGARET
Thank you.

Margaret’s mind is still on card, until something even more

unusual catches her eye: A PIECE OF MAIL ADDRESSED TO HER.
Who in the world would send her a letter? She tears it open.

Come on over for a PARTY!

Norman Fisher’s 12th Birthday

Saturday December 20th, 5-7pm

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Norman Fisher?

She rolls her eyes. What a let down.

 65.

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - A LITTLE LATER

Barbara is reading the invitation now, Margaret scrounging in

the fridge, eating DELI MEAT from the package.

BARBARA
Who’s Norman Fisher?

MARGARET
No one. This weird kid in my class.
I don’t why even he invited me, I
barely know him.

The PHONE RINGS. Margaret picks it up.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Hello?

NANCY (O.S.)
Did you get invited?

MARGARET
Yeah, to Norman’s? You did too?

NANCY
Everyone did. Janie and Gretchen
and the whole class, even Philip
Leroy.

MARGARET
Even Laura Danker?

NANCY
The whole class I said. My mom just
talked to Norman’s mom who said
it’s a big-deal dinner party, we
have to dress up really nice.

MARGARET
Really?

Margaret’s expression is somewhere between panicked and

thrilled. Her view of this party just changed dramatically.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Margaret frantically scours her closet, searching for

something to wear, scared nothing is good enough.

In QUICK CUTS, we see EACH OF THE GIRLS GETTING READY:

 66.

They paint their fingernails, untangle costume JEWELRY,

squeeze into TIGHTS, spritz perfume, shampoo, blow-dry,
straighten, curl. They’re ON THE PHONE WITH EACH OTHER THE
ENTIRE TIME, anxiously comparing notes. (The images are in
direct contrast to the summer camp ones only months ago.
Female self-consciousness has arrived in its full shitty
glory.)

INT. BARBARA AND HERB’S MASTER BATHROOM - SAME

Margaret sits on the closed toilet seat in a BLUE VELVET

DRESS, her knee bouncing nervously as Barb curls her hair.

MARGARET
(looking in the mirror)
This piece looks weird.

She points at a jagged curl sticking sideways. Barb tries to

flatten it down. It doesn’t work.

BARBARA
There.

MARGARET
It’s still doing it.

BARBARA
Try licking your fingers and
pushing it down, they’re gonna be
here, you gotta put your shoes on.

Margaret scurries out of the bathroom, licking her fingers

and trying to fix the curl. She passes Herb, who’s digging in
the HALL CLOSET.

HERB
Hey, what a showstopper! I was just
getting the camera to take your
picture.

But Margaret just rushes past him into her room, shuts the
door behind her. Herb is left alone in the hall with his
camera in hand. He looks over at Barbara, feeling a little
hurt.

BARBARA
It’s just this age...

Herb registers what’s happening: She’s entered a new phase in

which he’s largely extraneous. He wasn’t ready for this.
 67.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Margaret finds her KITTEN HEELS in the closet, slips them on

and crosses to the FULL LENGTH MIRROR for a last look. She
likes her hair. Likes her shoes. Likes the dress. Then she
looks at her chest. Frowns.

MARGARET
God? Really? It’s already December
and still nothing? Please, come on,
I’m not even asking for that much,
just something.

Just as she says that, an IDEA begins to form.

INT. MARGARET’S BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Margaret closes the door behind her, a little scared about

what she’s about to do. She opens the medicine cabinet, gets
out the BOX OF COTTON BALLS... Then stuffs 3 into each side
of her bra.

She turns to see herself in the mirror. Her eyes light up,
absolutely blown away by the improvement.

MARGARET
See. Three cotton balls. That’s all
we’re even talking about.

SFX: Mrs. Wheeler’s CAR HORN. Nancy screaming Maaaargaret!

Margaret realizes it’s time to go. Reaches in her bra to take
out the cotton balls. Then...an IDEA. A radical one. She acts
on it: Walks out the door, taking the cotton balls with her.

EXT. SIMONS HOUSE - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Barb and Herb wave goodbye from the front door.

BARBARA
Thanks Jan!

HERB
Have fun tonight! Go easy on the
whiskey and cigars!

Margaret climbs into MRS WHEELER’S STATION WAGON, squeezing

in next to the GIRLS. She still can’t believe what she did.

EXT. NORMAN FISHER’S HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER

A large, modern home.

 68.

INT. NORMAN FISHER’S HOUSE - SAME

MRS. FISHER (30’s) sequined party blouse, opens the door.

MRS. FISHER
Girls, you look so pretty! Come in,
come in, they’re all downstairs.

NANCY
(laying it on)
Lovely house, Mrs. Fisher.

They all follow Mrs. Fisher inside. Janie squeezes Margaret’s

arm, nervous for their big entrance.

INT. NORMAN FISHER’S CONVERTED BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

They clomp down the stairs to the PARTY. Streamers tacked up.
MUSIC playing. The boys have congregated one side of the
room, girls on the other.

Janie and Margaret exchange another look, not sure what

they’re supposed to do with themselves.

MRS. FISHER
Alright, that makes everyone,
Norman.

Seeing this is his cue, Norman picks up a spoon, TAPS IT ON

HIS PUNCH GLASS. It’s too full and the punch sloshes out,
dribbling down his pants.

NORMAN
Oops, uh, whoops.

He tries to sop it up with some cocktail napkins. His mother

gestures for him to forget the stain and focus on the speech.

NORMAN (CONT'D)
Uh, I just wanted to say thank you
all for coming tonight and I hope
you enjoy the evening. My mom made
beanie weenies. Please, help
yourself.

Norman lifts the SERVING LID from A FANCY SILVER PLATTER to

reveal the BEANIE-WEENIES (CUT UP HOTDOGS FLOATING IN BAKED
BEANS). The kids peer at it wearily. Norman senses it.

NORMAN (CONT'D)
Uh, there are sandwiches too... and
nuts if, uh, you like nuts.
 69.

He points to the SANDWICHES and NUTS. Freddy Barnett grabs a

plate, goes for the beanie weenies. The rest of the kids
start to follow.

LATER--

Margaret, Janie, Gretchen and Nancy eat at a card table.

Margaret’s eyes are on Laura Danker, standing on the other

side of the room, the BOYS side, alone with her arms crossed.
Margaret can’t help feeling oddly fascinated by her.

JANIE
(sees Margaret staring)
I didn’t think she’d come, did you?

MARGARET
How come she never talks to
anybody...?

JANIE
I don’t know...

NANCY
(butting in)
‘Cause she’s too busy doing other
stuff, that’s why.

Gretchen laughs. Good one.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Whatever, all I care about is
Philip Leroy came...

They all turn to look at Philip Leroy. He’s bent over,

sucking MUSTARD off his plate with a straw.

PHILIP LEROY
(taps Freddy)
Hey, watch this.

He aims the straw upwards, blows hard, making a BIG YELLOW

SPLOTCH on the ceiling. They both crack up. Nancy grins.

NANCY
He’s hilarious.

Norman TAPS HIS PUNCH GLASS again.

NORMAN
Okay, now if everyone’s had enough
to eat, we can start the games.
 70.

GRETCHEN
The games?

Everyone looks around. What kind of games?

CUT TO: An EMPTY BOTTLE LAID SIDEWAYS on the floor.

FREDDY
Are you kidding Norman? This is the
stupidest game ever.

NORMAN
But it’s a classic.

NANCY
Just play. Who spins first?

NORMAN
I’ll go first since...well since I
said so.

Norman spins. All the girls get nervous, hoping it doesn’t

land on them. It lands on Janie.

JANIE
(sotto)
No...

Margaret shoots her a sympathetic look.

FREDDY
Ha ha! Norman and Janie have to
kiss!!!

Janie swallows. Norman walks over, gives her a peck on the

cheek. Except he misses her face, gets her hair instead.

FREDDY (CONT'D)
That doesn’t count, you kissed her
hair!

MARGARET
Oh it’s fine, it counts.

NORMAN
No he’s right, I’ll do it again.

Janie looks sick. Norman does it again, connecting this time.

NANCY
Okay, now Janie’s turn to spin.

Janie spins. It twirls and twirls. Then lands on...Norman

Fisher again. Everyone LAUGHS.
 71.

NORMAN
This is a great party.

MARGARET
Do we have to play this game?

FREDDY
I said that from the beginning!

NANCY
Fine, let’s play a different game.
I have one. It’s called Two Minutes
in the Closet.

MARGARET
What’s that?

NANCY
We all get a number, and then
somebody calls, like, “number six”
and then those two go in the closet
and...you know...

All the kids get a little nervous imagining this. Margaret

and Janie eye each other: Should we be doing this?

CUT TO: Nancy holds a BASKET OF LITTLE NUMBERED PAPERS, the

room tense with anticipation.

NANCY (CONT'D)
Alright...

She holds the basket out to Freddy. He pulls one out.

FREDDY
Number 3.

Everyone looks around to see who 3 is.

GRETCHEN
Who’s number 3?

No one responds.

NANCY
Hellooo? Somebody’s gotta be three.

Laura Danker slowly stands up. She towers over Freddy, her
chest at his eyeballs. Freddy turns bright red. Margaret
can’t believe it. Philip grins, slapping him on the back.

PHILIP
Go ahead! Into the bathroom!
 72.

NANCY
Hey somebody get Freddy a step
stool!

Everyone LAUGHS. Margaret can’t take her eyes off Laura as

the two of them go into the BATHROOM. They close the door.
The whole room goes SILENT, listening.

GRETCHEN
What do you think they’re--

EVERYONE
SHHHHHH!!!!!!

Gretchen shuts up. A few seconds pass. Finally, the door

opens. Laura comes out, arms folded tightly over her chest,
flustered, Freddy behind her. Everyone HOOTS and CLAPS.
Freddy hands the basket to Philip, traumatized.

FREDDY
You’re next.

All the girls sit up, hoping Philip picks their number. Nancy
prays so hard she could burst.

PHILIP
I pick number...
(oh the suspense)
12.

Nancy’s shoulders fall. Everyone looks around to see who 12

is. Margaret stares down at her number: 12.

MARGARET
Oh my god.

NANCY
What. You’re 12 Margaret?!

Margaret is still frozen. Philip does a crooked little smile

at her. All the girls burn with envy. Margaret slowly stands,
heart banging in her chest. The whole room watching intensely
as they head towards--

INT. NORMAN’S BASEMENT BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Philip goes in first. Margaret follows, hardly able to

breathe. She slides the ACCORDIAN DOOR shut, all the kids
eyes on her until the last inch of it closes.

She’s about to turn around and face Philip when suddenly it

dawns on her: The cotton balls. Her eyes widen, her hands
reflexively fly up to her chest.
 73.

PHILIP
Margaret, turn around.

She realizes where her hands are, quickly drops them. Nothing
she can do about it. She swallows, slowly turns around.

MARGARET
Hey...

PHILIP
Hey.

She gulps a gallon of saliva.

MARGARET
Um, so, do we--

Before she can finish, his LIPS ARE ON HERS. She’s stunned,
completely unready. He pulls away, looks at her. Margaret
can’t move.

Then he leans in again, kisses her a second time. This one is

LONGER and SLOWER. When he finishes, he grins, proud of that
one. Margaret is frozen in her spot. He walks past her OUT OF
THE BATHROOM.

Standing there alone, a shocked little smile forms on her

face. She looks down at her COTTON BALL BOOBS, then up at
God, grateful. The bathroom fills with PRE-LAPPED CHURCH
ORGAN MUSIC.

EXT. NANCY’S FANCY PROTESTANT CHURCH - CHRISTMAS EVE

All decked-out for Christmas. Margaret and Nancy climb the

front steps towards the church’s huge open front doors. Nancy
is sick with jealousy.

NANCY
So he was a good kisser? The kiss
was really good?

MARGARET
They were pretty good kisses, yeah.

NANCY
Kisses? He kissed you more than
once?! Like how many times?

MARGARET
Uh...I don’t know, about 5, I
think? I kinda lost count...

Nancy looks miserable. Margaret can’t help but gloat.

 74.

MARGARET (V.O.)
I know I shouldn’t be enjoying this
God, but it’s just too good: Nancy
Wheeler, jealous of me.

Margaret can’t believe this turn of fate.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Okay, okay, I’m gonna focus.

She puts on a serious face as they ENTER THE CHURCH,

remembering why she’s here.

INT. NANCY’S PROTESTANT CHURCH - A LITTLE LATER

High school kids perform the CHRISTMAS PAGEANT as the

MINISTER reads a passage from ISIAH. Margaret watches from a
pew, trying to get into it, but thrown off by the bad
homemade costumes and props, and crummy acting.

EXT. NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY / DAY

Winter is fading. Just dirty patches of ICE now.

INT. SIMONS’ LIVING ROOM - SAME

Barb is still cutting out FELT STARS, starting to get really

sick of this task. She’s on the PHONE, trying to fundraise.

BARBARA
All donations are tax deductible
and always go towards the school’s--
(gets cut off)
Oh. Uh, yeah. I’m sorry, I didn’t
realize it was dinner hour.

She hangs up. Cold-calling is not her strong suit.

Then, something OUTSIDE THE WINDOW catches her eye.

It’s A GOLDFINCH perched on a twig, yellow feathers catching

the light just so. The image is so beautiful it breaks
through something, reaches a place deep down inside her. On
instinct, she drops the scissors, hurries out to--

INT. SIMONS’ GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

Barb runs to her BOXES OF ART STUFF, rushes to get a CANVAS,

EASEL, PAINT, PAINTBRUSH.
 75.

INT. SIMONS’ KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

She rushes back into the house. By the grace of God, the bird
is still there. She sets up the canvas as quickly as she can,
squeezes out a blob of PAINT, begins to make the first
delicate strokes, when--

DING DONG! The doorbell rings. The goldfinch startles, FLYING

OFF. Barb’s shoulders drop, genuinely disappointed. She sets
down her paint brush, crosses through the DEN, opens the
front door. Mrs. Wheeler is outside.

MRS. WHEELER
Hi Barbara! I just popped by to
pick up your stars.

Mrs. Wheeler scans Barb’s appearance: undone hair, grubby

house clothes. Barb feels it, reflexively smooths her hair.

BARBARA
Sorry, I’ve just been cleaning, uh,
yeah I’ve almost finished them,
please come in, sit down.

Mrs. Wheeler follows Barb into the DEN, looks for a place to
sit. But HERB’S LAWN CHAIR is still the only seat, now joined
by other make-shift furniture: an OVER-TURNED BUCKET as a
side-table, an UPSIDE-DOWN CRATE as a footstool.

MRS. WHEELER
Uh...

BARBARA
(dying)
Oh, pssh, would you believe it, I
ordered new furniture 6 months ago,
and they still haven’t sent it...

MRS. WHEELER
It’s alright, I can’t stay long.

BARBARA
I’ll get the stars.

Barb gets the HUMONGOUS BOX from the dining room.

MRS. WHEELER
Thanks... Oh, and don’t say
anything, but Deb’s stars came out
a teensy bit lopsided. Yours are so
good, do you think you could do her
allotment too, our little secret?
 76.

BARBARA
Oh... Uh, Sure.

MRS. WHEELER
You’re a doll, thanks. Well, I
better dash off, lots to do still.

Barb nods, walking Mrs. Wheeler out. She closes the door,
rolls her eyes at herself: God, what’s wrong with me, why
can’t I get it together?

INT. DELANO AUDITORIUM - DAY

ALL THE 6th GRADE GIRLS are gathered in the auditorium.

ON STAGE IN THE WING, MRS. WEBSTER (50’s) in a boxy gray suit

and orthopedic shoes, vigorously cleans her nostrils with a
handkerchief. Then stuffs it in her pocket, clears away some
throat phlegm, walks out ON STAGE.

MRS. WEBSTER
Hello, girls, my name is Ms.
Webster, and today I’m here to
speak to you about your changing
bodies...

A few GIGGLES in the crowd. Margaret and the girls look at

each other.

NANCY
(whispers)
Toldja this was the big sex movie.

MRS. WEBSTER
Some of you may have already begun
to experience these changes.

Everyone looks at Laura Danker. She lowers her head.

MRS. WEBSTER (CONT'D)

While some others of you... still
haven’t experienced a single change
at all.

Margaret sinks down in her chair, sure all eyes are on her
now.

MRS. WEBSTER (CONT'D)

We’re going to watch a short film
to learn a little more.
 77.

The LIGHTS GO DOWN and THE FILM begins: Images of GIRLS

flashing on screen, all shapes, sizes, and colors. THE TITLE
CARD comes up: “What Every Girl Should Know”

NARRATOR (O.S.)
All girls are different. But every
girl has something in common.
Between the ages of 9 and 16, her
hips begin to fill out, her breasts
become rounder and fuller, a soft
growth of hair forms in her pubic
area, and it is now that she begins
to menstroo-ate.

An animated UTERUS and OVARIES appear.

NARRATOR (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Every month, a lining of blood
forms in the uterus to prepare for
pregnancy. If a baby is not
conceived, the lining is released,
flowing out of the body through the
vagina.

The REACTIONS to the film vary dramatically: thrilled,

fascinated, grossed-out terror-stricken, exhilarated,
genuinely bereft.

NARRATOR (CONT'D)
This...is menstroo-ation.

MARGARET
(to Janie, imitating)
Menstroooooooooo-ation.

Janie laughs.

GRETCHEN
(whispers)
Who do you think’ll get it first?

NANCY
Who do you know’ll get it last?

Nancy eyes Margaret, laughing. Margaret folds her arms,

embarrassed and stung.

INT. MODERN FURNITURE STORE - LATER

Margaret follows Barb through ROWS OF MODERN JETSONS-LIKE

FURNITURE, still thinking about Nancy’s joke.
 78.

BARBARA
It’s just I’ve wanted the house to
look perfect and I’ve been so busy
with the committees, and the stars,
and trying to cook meals with all
five food groups, which nobody
tells you takes so long and is so
boring, and you’ve gotta do it
every...single...day...
(sits in a CHAIR)
Do you like this egg-chair? I feel
like I’m on a space ship.

MARGARET
When did you get your period?

Barb stops. Whoa. Left field.

BARBARA
Oh... Uh...

She gets up from the chair, trying to transition herself into

a conversation she didn’t anticipate at this moment.

MARGARET
Just tell me how old you were.

BARBARA
I... 14?

MARGARET
14?! That late?!

BARBARA
That’s not that late, I had a
cousin who was 16.

MARGARET
Oh my god. I’d die if I didn’t get
it ‘til I was 16!

BARBARA
(laughs)
Plenty of people would call that a
blessing.

Margaret doesn’t see the humor. Barb glances around the

store, giving up the “modern” look. Just too weird for her.

INT. DELANO SCHOOL - MORNING

Margaret, Nancy, and Janie huddle over their MATH HOMEWORK,

cross-checking answers.
 79.

NANCY
I get to go to the Rockettes next
month ‘cause I earned straight A’s,
anyone wanna go? Only bad thing is
my brother will be there with
Moose.

MARGARET
(immediately)
I’ll go.

Nancy nods. Okay then. Gretchen runs up, breathless.

GRETCHEN
I got it!

They all just look at her, confused.

MARGARET
Got what?

GRETCHEN
(lowers her voice)
It. My period.

They all freeze. Holy shit.

INT. NANCY’S BEDROOM - LATER

An emergency meeting to discuss this development.

NANCY
I can’t believe you got it first
when I’ve got more than you.

Nancy gestures to her Double A’s, feeling gypped.

GRETCHEN
Well that doesn’t mean anything.

MARGARET
Just tell us how it happened.

JANIE
Yeah, start from the beginning.

GRETCHEN
Well I was sitting there at dinner
and I felt something dripping from
me. So I went to the bathroom, and
pulled down my pants, and that’s
when I saw the blood. So I called
my mom and showed her.
(MORE)
 80.

GRETCHEN (CONT'D)
But she only had tampons, no pads,
so she had to run to the store.

JANIE
What’d you do in the meantime?

GRETCHEN
I just stuck a big giant wad of
toilet paper in my pants.

NANCY
Ew, no you didn’t!

GRETCHEN
Well what else was I supposed to
do?

MARGARET
(moving this along)
Okay, so go on, then what.

GRETCHEN
So then my mom came home with the
pads and I put one on, and,
well...that was the whole thing.

NANCY
The whole thing? You haven’t even
told us the good stuff yet!

GRETCHEN
I’ve told you everything.

NANCY
But, like, what does it feel like?

GRETCHEN
It feels like... nothing. Sometimes
like leaking? It doesn’t hurt. I
had some cramps last night, not too
bad. My cousin said it kinda has a
smell, but I haven’t noticed it
yet.

MARGARET
It does? Like what?

GRETCHEN
She said it kinda smells like the
monkey bars.

NANCY
The monkey bars?
 81.

They all look around, trying to remember that smell. Janie

looks suddenly grief-stricken.

JANIE
(memory tainted forever)
I used to love the monkey bars...

Margaret is mesmerized.

MARGARET
Do you feel older now? Like more
mature?

GRETCHEN
(utterly sincere)
Oh yeah. I don’t know how to
explain it, and you won’t
understand until you get it, but I
feel like everything has changed
for me. I just feel different.
(wistful)
Yeah...

Margaret’s insides twist with envy, wishing so badly she

could feel that feeling.

EXT./INT. - VARIOUS / DAY

Margaret barrels DOWN THE STREET, through the FRONT DOOR, up

the STAIRS, into her bedroom--

MARGARET
(rapid-fire in one breath)
Are you there God it’s me Margaret,
I’ve never been so jealous in my
life, I hate myself for being so
jealous, I’m a decent person,
please! Please let me grow, please
let me get my period, please make
me regular and normal and like
everyone else, please please please
please please please PLEASE!!!
(finally exhales)
Amen.

She falls face down on her bed, exhausted. Something across

the room catches her eye: THE LITTLE HANDMADE ANIMAL
FIGURINES on her dresser. Their childishness suddenly make
her sick. She gets up, goes over and scoops them all up,
drops them into a bottom junk drawer, slams it shut.
 82.

INT. DRUG STORE - DAY

ANGLE ON: A SHELF FULL OF MAXI PADS, TAMPONS, PANTY LINERS.

Reverse to see: Margaret and Janie stare intensely at it.

JANIE
I don’t know if I want to do this.

MARGARET
It’s not a big deal. It’s just so
we’re ready, just in case.

But Margaret is extremely nervous too. She gathers her

courage, plucks a BOX off the shelf. Janie wills herself to
take one too.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Okay. Come on.

They hurry towards THE REGISTERS.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Please god let it be a lady...

They see the CASHIER: a SWEET LOOKING LADY (50’s). They

breathe a sigh of relief. Just then, a PIMPLY 17-YEAR-OLD BOY
changes shifts with her.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
(sotto)
Nooo.

JANIE
We can just put ‘em back.

Margaret pulls Janie towards the register, determined.

MARGARET
No. We’re doing it.

They walk up, set their TWO BOXES OF PADS on the CONVEYER
BELT as casually as possible. The TEENAGE CLERK looks down at
the pads, then up at them. They fold their arms, look away.

He presses the button to roll the pads closer to him. It’s

THE SLOWEST CONVEYER BELT IN HISTORY.

Margaret and Janie watch, sweating, as the pads inch slowwwly

by. Margaret finally can’t take it, grabs some TIC TACS,
tosses them down with the pads so they aren’t alone.
 83.

EXT. DRUG STORE - MOMENTS LATER

Margaret and Janie burst out of the store, RUNNING AS FAST AS

THEY CAN AWAY FROM IT. It’s SNOWING outside.

They stop at the corner, out of breath. Look at each other,

traumatized. Janie suddenly begins to LAUGH.

JANIE
The Tic Tacs...

Margaret shakes her head, LAUGHS too. It’s all so ridiculous.

They loop their arms around each other, heading home,
SNOWFLAKES floating down around them.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - LATER

CLOSE UP ON: A MAXI PAD.

Margaret turns it over in her hands. Squishes it. Smells it.

REVEAL: She’s crouched INSIDE HER CLOSET with the door

closed.

She peels off the paper strip, touches the sticky part a
couple times. Then stands up, yanking down her pants. She
hunches over, carefully sticking the pad in place. Then pulls
up her pants again, WALKS OUT OF THE CLOSET.

She moves around the ROOM, feeling it out. Stretches, kicks,

squats. It feels like wearing a small diaper.

Suddenly there’s KNOCK and the DOOR SWINGS OPEN.

BARBARA
You got a post-card from someone.
Who’s in D.C.?

Margaret stiffens in an awkward pose.

MARGARET
Oh. Uh, Nancy. Must be from her.
They went for Lincoln’s birthday.

Barb cocks her head a little, sensing something’s off with

Margaret. She lets it go, hands her the post card, exits.

When the door closes, Margaret flips it over. Nancy’s written

just 3 words: I GOT IT!

Margaret’s mouth drops open. Her mood plummets. In one

spontaneous flurry, she tears up the card, hurls the pieces
into the trash can, KICKS it over.
 84.

EXT. SYLVIA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Sylvia is in her nightgown, digging in her closet, a half-

packed SUITCASE open on her bed, along with BROCHURES for a
FLORIDA VACATION. The PHONE rings. She goes to get it.

SYLVIA
(utterly elegant)
Hello, Simon residence. Sylvia
speaking.

MARGARET
Grandma...?

She immediately knows something off in Margaret’s voice.

SYLVIA
Margaret? What’s wrong?

Margaret sits on the floor of her PARENTS’ BEDROOM, the door

shut, using their PHONE.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
Honey...are you okay, what’s the
matter?

It’s too hard to explain.

MARGARET
I...I just miss you.

Sylvia clutches her heart. Then does a silent fist pump.

SYLVIA
Aw honey, me too...

MARGARET
I’m coming to the city next week to
see the Rockettes, do you think
maybe I could come over after and
stay the night like I did?

SYLVIA
Oh sweetheart... I wish, but I’ll
be in Florida then. I heard about
this hotel... there’s a lot of
people my age, and you know...

Sylvia doesn’t quite want to say she’s going on a vacation to

find friends, but she is. Margaret’s expression falls.

MARGARET
Okay...
 85.

Sylvia feels rotten, hating to let her down.

SYLVIA
Wait a minute, wait, what if you
fly down to Florida and meet me for
a few days? Isn’t your spring
vacation soon?

MARGARET
The end of the March.

SYLVIA
Perfect! I’ll still be there!

Margaret perks up a little.

MARGARET
I’ll ask my mom and dad.

SYLVIA
Great, and--

MARGARET
And I’ll tell them it was my idea.

SYLVIA
(grins, touched)
You’re my girl.

Margaret feels her spirits lifted a little.

EXT. MORNINGBIRD LANE - EARLY EVENING

The sky is a pretty purple.

EXT. SIMONS HOUSE - SAME

The Wheeler’s STATION WAGON idles out front.

Margaret opens the door to get in. She’s dressed up, her hair
curled. MR. WHEELER (40’s) is behind the wheel in a suit,
Mrs. Wheeler is all dolled up in the passenger seat.

NANCY
Hurry! Come on! Front row tickets!

Margaret scoots in. Looks back to see Moose sitting with Evan
in the THIRD ROW, which FACES BACKWARDS out the rear window.

MARGARET
Hi...
 86.

Moose turns around, waves.

MOOSE
Hey.

Margaret buckles in, the back of her head an inch from the
back of Moose’s. Physically closer than they’ve ever been,
but facing complete opposite directions. Their proximity
makes her feel a little tingly.

EXT. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL - NIGHT

A SOLD OUT SHOW packed with TOURISTS.

INT. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL - SAME

The LIGHTS GO DOWN as they find their seats in the FRONT ROW.
Margaret looks to see where Moose is sitting. He’s in the
FARTHEST SEAT AWAY. Bummer.

The CURTAIN OPENS. They all face forward as THE ROCKETTES run
out, burst into their BIG OPENING DANCE NUMBER. Margaret and
The Wheelers tilt their heads way back, the front row too
close to the stage. HIGH-HEELED LEGS swish past them, almost
too close for comfort, a view right up their skirts. Nancy
squeezes Margaret’s arm, giddy.

INT. “THE STEAK PLACE” RESTAURANT - LATER

An upscale place. MAHOGANY and GREEN BANKER’S LAMPS. The

HOSTESS shows them to their seats, Nancy and Margaret still
singing the music from the show.

NANCY
I’ll bet you a dollar I can kick
that high.

MR. WHEELER
(as she starts to try)
Uh-uh. Not in the restaurant.

Nancy makes a face. He’s such a stick in the mud.

They come to a LARGE ROUND TABLE. Margaret is smarter this

time, strategically maneuvering into THE SEAT NEXT TO MOOSE.
He puts his napkin on his lap. She does too.

LATER-- The group is half-way through dinner. As Moose cuts

his steak, his hand bumps Margaret’s.
 87.

MOOSE
Sorry.

MARGARET
That’s okay.

He drinks the last sip from his WATER GLASS.

MOOSE
(looks around)
Is the waiter anywhere.

MARGARET
Oh you can have mine, I didn’t
drink out of it.

She scoots her WATER towards him. He thanks her, takes a big
drink, then looks at her a moment, realizing something.

MOOSE
Hey, you know something I’ve always
liked about you Margaret?

MARGARET
No...?

Whatever it is, she cannot wait to hear it.

NANCY
(interrupts)
Come with me, I gotta go the
bathroom.

She tugs Margaret away, killing their moment.

NANCY (CONT'D)
We’ll be right back.
(to Evan)
Don’t touch my food.

Margaret reluctantly follows Nancy, frustrated.

INT. “THE STEAK PLACE” BATHROOM - MINUTES LATER

The SOUND of Nancy peeing in the stall. Margaret waits at the

sink, annoyed.

NANCY (O.S.)
I’ve had to go since we got here
and then I drank two Cokes.

MARGARET
Uh huh.
 88.

Margaret folds her arms, impatient. Then--

NANCY
Oh no. Oh no.

MARGARET
What?

Nancy’s tone is panicked.

NANCY
Oh please... Oh no...

MARGARET
Nancy? Are you okay? What’s the
matter?

Margaret walks over to the stall.

NANCY
Get my mom. Please, quick!

Margaret tries to open the stall door, worried. It’s locked.

MARGARET
Let me in.

NANCY
No, please, just get my mom.

MARGARET
What’s wrong?

NANCY
(starting to cry)
PLEASE! Just go get my mom, please!

Margaret can tell this is something really serious.

MARGARET
Okay, don’t worry, I’ll be right
back with her!

INT. “THE STEAK PLACE” RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS

Margaret races over to Mrs. Wheeler.

MARGARET
Something’s wrong. Nancy’s crying,
she needs you!

Mrs. Wheeler drops her fork, stands, alarmed. Evan, Moose,

and Mr. Wheeler look at each other. WTF?
 89.

Evan shrugs it off, reaches over and forks Nancy’s REMAINING

STEAK, moving it to his own plate.

INT. STEAK HOUSE BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Margaret and Mrs. Wheeler stand outside Nancy’s stall.

MRS. WHEELER
Nancy?

NANCY
Oh please mom, help me! Please.

MRS. WHEELER
The door’s locked, Nancy, I can’t
get in. You have to unlock it.

NANCY
(crying)
I can’t-- I can’t--

MARGARET
You want me to crawl under and open
it from the other side?

Mrs. Wheeler nods. Margaret gathers her skirt up, crawls

under.

INSIDE, Nancy sits on the toilet, her face buried in her

hands. Margaret unhooks the lock, pushes the door open.

MRS. WHEELER
Thank you.

Margaret goes over to wait by the sinks, worried.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

Nancy, calm down. I can’t help you
if you don’t stop crying and talk
to me.

Nancy chokes back her tears, finally WHISPERS SOMETHING.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

(understands)
Ahh...

After a moment, Mrs. Wheeler cracks open the stall door.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

Margaret? Would you get Nancy a pad
please?
(MORE)
 90.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

(hands her a COIN)
From that dispenser on the wall?

Margaret just stands there, confused.

MRS. WHEELER (CONT'D)

Nancy got her period, honey.

MARGARET
Does she always act like that?

MRS WHEELER
It’s her first time. She’s just a
little scared.

Margaret suddenly realizes Nancy was lying about her period.

She gets the PAD from the dispenser, gives it to Mrs.

Wheeler.

MRS. WHEELER
Thank you, sweetie.

After a moment, Nancy and Mrs. Wheeler come out of the stall.

MRS WHEELER
You wash up girls, I’m going to go
tell the others not to worry. Don’t
be long, okay?

She leaves. Nancy looks at Margaret, not sure what to say.

They wash their hands in silence.

NANCY
Margaret, please don’t tell.

MARGARET
Oh Nancy...

NANCY
I’ll die if you tell Gretchen and
Janie. Just please don’t tell them.
I’ll... I’ll do something for you
back. What do you want? I’ll do it.

MARGARET
Ugh, Nancy... I won’t tell them.

NANCY
Really, you won’t?

MARGARET
No... Don’t worry.
 91.

Nancy exhales, relieved. Margaret doesn’t know how to feel.

INT. THE WHEELERS’ STATION WAGON - LATER THAT NIGHT

Margaret and Nancy ride back, sitting far apart.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Are you there God? It’s me,
Margaret.

Margaret glances over at Nancy, then stares out her window,

lets out a SIGH.

MARGARET (V.O.)
I don’t even know what to say.

The station wagon gets on the TURNPIKE back to New Jersey.

EXT. NEW JERSEY - MARCH / MORNING

SPRING now. Grass and flowers fighting their way back.

INT. MARGARET’S BATHROOM - SAME

Margaret raises her arm, sniffing her armpit. She doesn’t

smell anything. She’s almost a little disappointed. She yanks
the LID off a NEW STICK OF DEODORANT, applying it anyway.

BARBARA (PRE-LAP)
Happy Birthday.

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - SAME

Barb and Herb watch as Margaret opens her GIFT: A PLANE

TICKET TO FLORIDA.

MARGARET
No way, I’m going to Florida?
(they nod)
Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you.

She hugs them both, so relieved to finally have something

good happen in her life. She needs this trip, bad.

INT. MR. BENEDICT’S CLASS - LATER THAT MORNING

Margaret walks into class, sees ALL THE DESKS HAVE BEEN
REARRANGED.
 92.

MARGARET
What...? Why do we have new seats?

She looks over at Janie, who’s holding a BALLOON and RECORD

ALBUM wrapped in a BOW.

JANIE
He said we’re in groups now. To
study different countries.

They look traumatized to be separated.

JANIE (CONT'D)
Well, happy Birthday.

Janie hands her a RECORD ALBUM, trying to lift the mood.

MARGARET
Aw, thanks...

They hug, but it still feels like a somber occasion. Margaret

looks around to find her new seat. Sees her name in the
“BELGIUM” group. Right beside Norman Fisher. She rolls eyes.
Of course. She sits down next to him. He smiles. He inches
her chair away.

Just then, Laura Danker takes the seat across from her.
Margaret can’t believe her bad luck. Seriously, God?

There’s one seat left. Who will it be? She sees Philip Leroy
stroll up. She perks up, everything suddenly better.

PHILIP
(sees the present)
Happy Birthday.

MARGARET
Oh. Thanks.

She smiles. Philip PINCHES her hard on the arm.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Ouch!

PHILIP
That’s a pinch to grow an inch. And
you know where you need that inch.

He gestures at her flat chest. Margaret blinks, shocked,

stung, pissed. Philip grins at Laura, checking out her boobs.
 93.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - LATER

Margaret bursts into her room, hurls down her backpack.

MARGARET
Are you there God, it’s me,
Margaret! I hate Philip Leroy! I
hate him! I hate Laura Danker, too,
with her great big chest “oooh look
at me everyone, I’m wearing a
sweater!” I hate Nancy, that liar,
and Mr. Benedict with his dumb
ideas, and Norman Fisher, the way
he reads with his lips flapping all
around!
(imitates Norman’s silent
reading, his lips moving
like crazy)
Please, please, just hurry up and
get me to Florida!

She crumbles onto her bed, spent.

EXT. SCHOOL LIBRARY - DAY

A cloudy day, the sky threatening to rain.

INT. DELANO SCHOOL LIBRARY - AFTERNOON

Margaret and Laura are surrounded by BOOKS ON BELGIUM.

Margaret is in a truly awful mood.

MARGARET
Philip and Norman should be here.
They make us do all the work.

Laura doesn’t say anything, just keeps working.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
What time’s your mom picking you
up?

LAURA
Not ‘til later. I have to go to St.
Thomas for Confession first.

MARGARET
Confession?

Laura regrets telling her that.

 94.

LAURA
It’s just something you have to do
when you’re Catholic.

MARGARET
What do you confess?

LAURA
Things.

MARGARET
What kinds of things?

Laura gives her a look.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Never mind.

Margaret jots down some more info on Belgium. Laura sees what
she’s writing.

LAURA
You’re just copying that straight
out of the World Book.

MARGARET
I only copied four words.

LAURA
So. You can’t do that. We’re
supposed to write it in our own
words.

MARGARET
It’s four words. “Germany”
“invaded” “Belgium” “when”...

LAURA
You’re still cheating. Mr. Benedict
will know if you’re cheating.

MARGARET
I’m not cheating! Jeez, quit acting
like you know everything and are so
great!

LAURA
This has nothing to do with being
great.

MARGARET
Whatever. I know all about the
stuff you do...
 95.

LAURA
What’s that supposed to mean?

The LIBRARIAN (70’s) looks up from her post.

LIBRARIAN
Quiet, girls.

MARGARET
(whispers)
I heard about you and Moose Freed.

LAURA
What about me and Moose Freed?

MARGARET
Oh about how you and Evan and Moose
go behind the A&P.

LAURA
Why would I do that?

MARGARET
I don’t know why you do it, but I
know why they do it -- so they can
feel you or something and you let
them!

Laura slams her book shut, stands up.

LAURA
You’re a liar! You’re lying!

MARGARET
I’m not lying.

LAURA
You’re just like Nancy. All you do
is pick on people and make up
stories! You think I don’t know
about you and your friends?!

Laura grabs her backpack, hurries towards the exit. It

suddenly hits Margaret that Nancy might’ve lied about Laura
too. She gathers her stuff up.

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS

MARGARET
Laura, wait. Wait up.

Laura won’t turn around, just keeps walking.

 96.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Please.

Margaret finally catches up with her.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Laura, listen---

LAURA
You think I don’t know you all make
fun of me like it’s some kind of
game?!

Margaret doesn’t know what to say.

LAURA (CONT'D)
You think I want to be the biggest
kid in class?

MARGARET
I don’t know...

LAURA
How would you feel if you had to
wear a bra in 4th grade and
everybody called you names just
because of how you look?!

MARGARET
I’m sorry, Laura...

Laura’s throat tightens.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
If you want the truth, I wish I
looked more like you than me.

Laura turns away, walking off again, not wanting Margaret to

see her cry.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Laura, wait. I really am sorry.

Laura runs up the steps of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, disappears

inside, leaving Margaret alone on the sidewalk. Margaret
stands there a moment, feeling awful. Not sure what to do.
She heads up the steps, following Laura into the church.

INT. CATHOLIC CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

It’s dim, with towering stain glass windows. Margaret looks

around. No sign of Laura.
 97.

She slowly makes her way down the aisle, peering up at the
ceiling, a mile high, feeling very, very small in this place.

Her eyes wander to the BURNING PRAYER CANDLES. Then to a

STATUE OF MOTHER MARY, staring down at her, arms
outstretched, as if to gently scoop her up.

The SOUND of a DOOR CREAKING OPEN. She spins around to see

Laura coming out of the CONFESSION BOOTH. Margaret ducks
behind a pew, watching Laura cross the sanctuary and leave.

She stands again, stares for a moment at the small door Laura
came out of. She begins to move towards it, step by step,
until she’s right there in front of it. Then slowly,
anxiously, she opens it to see what’s inside.

A dark, empty space the size of a phone booth. Margaret

debates a moment, then decides to go in. She sits on the
small stool, pulls the door shut. She looks around the tiny
space, her breath held tight in her chest. Is this where God
is? In here?

MARGARET
(whispers)
God...?

She waits for something to happen. A Presence to arrive. Or a

feeling. Something real and true and unmistakable.

VOICE (O.S.)
Yes, my child.

Margaret STARTLES, not expecting that.

A SHADOW shifts beyond the screen beside her and she realizes
a PRIEST is there. Her eyes dart around, not sure what to do.

PRIEST
Do you have something you’d like to
confess?

Margaret has no idea how to bare her soul to another person

the way she does to God.

MARGARET
Um, I... I... I did something
awful...
(then)
I...I’m sorry...

She can’t do it. Flings open the confessional door, runs out.
 98.

EXT. CATHOLIC CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

Margaret hurries down the church steps. It’s beginning to

RAIN now. She finds a little SHELTER from it, spills her
heart out, confessing.

MARGARET
I’m the worst person who ever
lived, God. I picked on Laura
Danker just because I felt mean.
Why did I do that? I’ve been
looking for you, God. I looked for
you in Temple, I looked for you in
Church, and I looked for you just
now when I went to confess. You
weren’t there. I didn’t feel you at
all. Why God? Why do I only feel
you when I’m alone?

She sighs, defeated by herself.

EXT. SIMONS HOUSE - SAME

Barb runs to get the MAIL in the RAIN.

INT. SIMON’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

As she steps into the foyer, she sees the RETURN ADDRESS on
one of the letters: PAUL AND MARY HUTCHINS, Ohio.

She stops. Her spirit melts right out of her body. She opens
the letter, shaking as she reads it.

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - LATER

Barbara waits as Herb READS the letter.

HERB
“Dear Barbara, your card felt like
an answer to prayer. Your father
and I have been thinking about you
a lot. We’re getting older, and
suddenly, more than anything, we’d
like to see our only daughter and
finally get to know our
granddaughter, Margaret Ann. We’re
flying east next week, April 20th.
We sincerely hope you’ll let us
visit. Love, your mother Mary
Hutchins.”
 99.

Herb sets it down, slowly peels off a pair of reading

glasses. Barb waits, breath held, for his response. For the
first time, he is not his jovial self.

HERB (CONT'D)
You sent them a card.

She lowers her voice, a little embarrassed.

BARBARA
I...I don’t know why.

She really doesn’t. Herb gets to his feet, begins to pace,

trying to keep a lid the swell of emotions rising up.

HERB
Do you remember that first year
after they “cast” you out? What
that was like for you? The way you
felt?

BARBARA
I know... And the way they treated
you... I’m sorry.

HERB
They think you’re going to hell
because you married a Jew.

She agrees how awful that is, isn’t sure what to say.

HERB (CONT'D)
You really want to open that door
again? We have a good life, we’re
happy, is it worth it?

Barbara genuinely considers this question.

BARBARA
(quietly, simply)
They’re my parents.

Herb slowly inhales and exhales, accepting it even though he

doesn’t like it. Barb reaches for his hand, knowing this
can’t be easy for him.

Margaret walks through the FRONT DOOR, registers the energy

in the room.

MARGARET
What’s going on?

Barb and Herb exchange a look about how to handle this. Herb
makes a decision--
 100.

HERB
Margaret should know.

MARGARET
Know what? What is this?

HERB
(hands her the letter)
It’s from your mom’s parents. It
concerns you.

Margaret looks at Barb, she takes the letter, quietly reads

through it as Herb and Barb wait. Then:

MARGARET
They’re coming here next week?

Barbara nods.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
I won’t be here, I’ll be in
Florida.

Barb doesn’t say anything. Herb looks down.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
What? I’m still going to Florida,
aren’t I?

BARBARA
Margaret, look...

MARGARET
I can’t go to Florida now?! But I
don’t even want to see them! I want
to see Grandma!

HERB
We promise you’ll go to Florida
another time...

MARGARET
I don’t want to go another time!
Does Grandma know about this?!

BARBARA
No, we need to call her.

MARGARET
I’m not calling her, you can do it
yourselves!

Barbara tries to calm her down, defuse this.

 101.

BARBARA
(softly)
Alright. I’ll call her now.

HERB
No, I’ll take care of it.

Herb goes over to the PHONE, dials his mother. Margaret

cannot believe this is really happening.

INT./EXT. SYLVIA’S FLORIDA CONDOMINIUM - SAME

Sylvia wears a BATHING SUIT and SARONG. She carries a CHEESE

PLATE out to her VERANDA, setting it down in front of MORRIS
BINAMIN (70’s) a good-looking white-haired gentleman pouring
them each a GLASS OF WHITE WINE.

She’s uncharacteristically nervous. Yanks at her bathing suit

top a little, worried about her cleavage.

SYLVIA
(trying to be elegant)
Here we are...

Mr. Binamin smiles, he raises his glass, toasting to their

little date.

MR. BINAMIN
This looks wonderful.

The PHONE RINGS inside.

SYLVIA
One moment...
(before she goes in)
Don’t eat all the cheese without
me. Just kidding, eat at much as
you want! Depending on your
cholesterol! I’m just being funny
I’m not asking what it is! But I’m
sure it’s low!

She laughs nervously, then turns around, making a face at

herself for being insane around him. She answers the phone.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
Simon Residence.

HERB
Listen, Margaret’s Florida trip
isn’t gonna work out, I’m sorry.
 102.

Sylvia freezes, her expression falling. Margaret can’t take

it, goes over and yanks the phone away.

MARGARET
Just give it to me, I’ll talk to
her. Hello Grandma?

SYLVIA
Margaret. What happened, what’s
going on?

MARGARET
We...we got a letter that my other
grandparents are coming.

Sylvia’s posture suddenly changes.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
(getting choked up)
I just really wanted to see you...

SYLVIA
Put your mother on the line right
now.

Margaret hears the sternness in her voice, holds out the

phone to Barb. Herb reaches to take it instead, but Barbara
doesn’t want to duck this.

BARBARA
Hello.

SYLVIA
What the hell’s going on Barbara?

BARBARA
I’ll explain later Sylvia, it’s
just one of those things, I hope
you can understand. I’ve gotta go
now.

Barb hangs up before Sylvia can protest.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Margaret, I’m sorry...

Margaret heads up the stairs, upset. Barb looks at Herb,

feeling bad for him too.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
I’m sorry...
 103.

He puts up his hands: It is what it is. Then walks away too.

Barb stands alone in the living room a moment, looks over at
their EMPTY DEN, realizing she’s also completely unprepared
for having her parents.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
(sotto)
Oh god.

EXT. TRADITIONAL STYLE FURNITURE STORE - DAY

Barb heads up the sidewalk, Margaret reluctantly following.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Are you there God? It’s Me,
Margaret. I’m absolutely miserable.
Everything is just going to crap.
Maybe this is my punishment for
being a horrible person to Laura
Danker.

On their way into the store, Barb notices A GOOD-LOOKING

COUPLE staring at a FANCY FURNITURE SET IN THE STORE WINDOW.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Please, right now, just do this one
thing for me, I’m begging you: make
something happen so they don’t come
and I can still go to Florida.

EXT. NEW JERSEY AIRPORT - DAY

The PLANE lands, her grandparents arriving.

EXT. NEW JERSEY AIRPORT TARMAC - A LITTLE LATER

Margaret has a bitter, cheerless expression as she and Barb

wait for her grandparents to de-board a PARKED PLANE. Barb
wears a stiff tailored dress unlike anything else she owns,
her stomach in knots. She looks over at Margaret.

BARBARA
Please Margaret. Even if it’s fake,
can you just try to look happy? Or
least not so unhappy?

MARGARET
Why do you even want to see them?
After what they did to you?
 104.

BARBARA
Because I...I want them to see how
great we turned out. How proud I am
of our family...

Margaret just looks away. Every bit of this is unfair. Barb

suddenly spots her parents. Her stomach drops.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
That’s them.

Margaret looks over to see them coming down the PLANE’S

STAIRS. MARY HUTCHINS (70’s), soft white hair, ruffled
blouse, black orthopedic shoes. PAUL HUTCHINS (70’s), plaid
shirt, suspenders, the identical shoes as Mary.

Barb feels a jolt of emotion seeing how much they’ve aged.

She breathes it away.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
(waving them over)
HERE WE ARE, OVER HERE.

The Hutchins look up, coming over towards them.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Hi...

PAUL
Hello...

Barb doesn’t know whether to hug them. The moment to decide

passes.

BARBARA
It’s good to see you.

MARY
You too, Barbara. And this must be
Margaret Ann...?

Margaret pastes on a smile, trying to be polite.

MARGARET
Hi.

MARY
We’re very glad to meet you.

Mary gives her a stiff kiss on the forehead. Margaret tenses

as she does. Paul just sticks with a pat on the back.

PAUL
Yes we are.
 105.

Barb tries to act breezy.

BARBARA
Well, should we get the bags?
Herb’s got the car running.

EXT. AIRPORT PARKING LOT / LOADING ZONE - A LITTLE LATER

Herb waits by their idling Chrysler in a shirt and slacks, a

fresh haircut. He sees them approaching.

HERB
Hi there.

Herb smiles, anxious but trying to be his affable self.

BARBARA
Hey. Mom, dad, you remember Herb...

PAUL
Hello, Herb.

Paul puts out his hand. Herb shakes it.

HERB
Hi Paul. Mary, how are you?

MARY
Just fine, thank you for having us.

HERB
Well, welcome to scenic New Jersey.

Herb gestures to their SHITTY SURROUNDINGS, making a joke.

Paul and Mary take him as sincere, nodding pleasantly as they
look around. Herb gives Barb a look. Margaret cringes a
little.

INT. SIMON’S HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER

They all come through the front door, Herb carrying Paul and
Mary’s bags.

BARBARA
Here we are, make yourselves
comfortable...

She leads them into the LIVING ROOM, now furnished with the
SET FROM THE STORE WINDOW. Mary nods in approval.

MARY
Lovely home.
 106.

Barb smiles, relieved.

BARBARA
Margaret can show you to your room.
I’ll just start getting dinner
ready.

Barbara looks at Margaret to take them upstairs. She doesn’t

want to, but goes along.

MARGARET
Up this way...

MARY
Thank you. Gosh, you look like your
mom when she was your age.

PAUL
Yes you do. And I’ll bet you’re
smart just like her too.

They’re being so nice, it’s hard to be mad at them. She

softens a little.

MARGARET
Oh. Uh. Thanks.

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - SAME

Barb opens a CAN OF CAMPBELL’S CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP,

dumping the grey gelatinous blob onto a RAW CHUCK ROAST. She
checks the RECIPE. That’s it, just one ingredient. She can’t
mess it up. Herb comes up behind her, checking on her.

HERB
How are you doing?

BARBARA
How are you doing?

HERB
I make small talk for a living and
I’m already out of material. Help.
Sports teams? TV shows they like?

BARBARA
I don’t know. They used to watch
game shows mostly?

Herb files it away. Then: DING DONG, the DOORBELL rings. They
both look at each other. Who could that be?
 107.

INT. SIMONS LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Herb opens the door. SYLVIA AND MR. BINAMIN are on the porch.

HERB
Mom?

SYLVIA
This plant is dying from too much
water.

She points to a YELLOWING PLANT on their front step. Barbara

comes around, freezes.

BARBARA
Sylvia? What’s going on?

SYLVIA
Margaret said she needed to see me,
so we flew here from Florida. Are
your parents here yet? This is
Morris Binamin.

MORRIS BINAMIN
Rhymes with cinnamon.

Sylvia smiles casually, as if this isn’t the slightest bit

nuts. Barb is speechless. So is Herb.

Margaret comes downstairs with her grandparents, sees Sylvia.

MARGARET
Grandma?

SYLVIA
There’s my Margaret!

Margaret runs down to hug her. Sylvia makes a big show of it

for Barbara’s parents’ benefit. Paul and Mary aren’t sure
what’s going on.

MARY
Uh...

Barb just throws up her hands.

BARBARA
Mom and Dad: Sylvia. Sylvia: Paul
and Mary.
 108.

INT. SIMONS’ DINING ROOM - LATER

They all sit around the dinner table. Sylvia is on one side
of Margaret, Mary on the other. Everyone is trying to be on
their best behavior.

SYLVIA
Dinner is delicious. What is it
made of?

BARBARA
Soup.

SYLVIA
Ah.

MARY
(nodding)
Very nice.

Everyone agrees it’s great. Margaret nods too.

BARBARA
Well, I’ll admit it was a bit of a
jolt, but...it’s nice to have us
all together. The whole family.
(then)
And Mr. Binamin.

They all look at Mr. Binamin. He smiles.

SYLVIA
(Raises her glass to that)
L’chaim.

Barb and Herb both react to the Hebrew.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)
(toasts everyone 1-by-1)
L’chaim. L’chaim. L’chaim. L’chaim.
L’chaim. L’chaim. L’chaim.

Sylvia puts the glass down and nobody can think of what to
say for a second. Herb turns to Paul and Mary.

HERB
So do you guys like Jeopardy?

INT. SIMONS KITCHEN - LATER

Barb and Herb clean up from dinner, relieved to have a break

from the group.
 109.

INT. SIMONS LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Margaret sits on the couch opposite Paul and Mary. Sylvia and
Morris are on the other side of the room, helping themselves
to some ICE TEA and a TRAY OF DESSERT COOKIES.

MARY
There’s just so much we want to get
to know about you, Margaret...

PAUL
12 years is a lot to catch up on.

They look at her with a genuine longing for the years they
missed. Margaret can feel their sincerity.

MARGARET
Yeah... Long time...

PAUL
We were wondering if you go to
Sunday School? Or have ever thought
about it?

Margaret’s smile falters, not expecting that. Sylvia

overhears it, interjects.

SYLVIA
Nope. Never. Not once.

Mary smiles tersely at Sylvia, staking her own territory now.

MARY
We asked Margaret the question.
Margaret?

Margaret couldn’t look more uncomfortable.

SYLVIA
You’re wasting your time, Margaret
already went to Temple. She’s
Jewish.

Margaret looks over at Sylvia. Herb and Barb walk in from the
kitchen to hear this. Can’t believe their ears.

BARBARA
Excuse me?

HERB
(sternly)
Mom, that’s it. Cut it out. You’re
done here.
 110.

SYLVIA
I’m done? You left the room and
they’re trying to convert her!

PAUL
Margaret has a right to be baptized
if she wants to be.

BARBARA
Baptized?

Barbara can’t believe they’re doing this. Margaret sinks down

in her seat, desperately wanting out of this room. Herb
finally has enough, seizes control.

HERB
This discussion is over. No more.
We are her parents and Margaret
will pick her own religion when she
grows up, if she even wants one.

SYLVIA
Except she already did and she’s
Jewish.

MARY
Well she’s Christian in our eyes.

HERB
MARGARET IS NOTHING. MARGARET IS NO
RELIGION UNTIL MARGARET DECIDES
THAT MARGARET--

As they argue, we push in on Margaret’s face. Finally,

something vital inside her BREAKS.

MARGARET
(bursts to her feet)
Stop it! Stop it! I don’t care
anymore! I don’t care! I don’t want
a religion anyway! It’s all stupid,
I hate it! I don’t even believe in
God!

All the adults are stunned.

SYLVIA
Margaret don’t say that about God!

Paul and Mary second that. At least they can agree on one
thing.

Margaret rushes out of the room, hurries UP THE STAIRS.

 111.

INT. MARGARET’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

She throws her DOOR shut, about to give God a piece of her
mind. Then stops, realizing it’s useless anyway. He’s not
even there.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The adults just stand there, regretting how that went, no one
sure what to say now.

EXT. MORNINGBIRD LANE - LATER THAT NIGHT

Dark now. The glow of street lights.

MARGARET (V.O.)
Dear Mr. Benedict...

Barb and Herb see Sylvia and Mr. Binamin off in one TAXI, her
parents off in another. Everyone seems exhausted. Sylvia
looks apologetically at Mr. Binamin, worried her family drama
turned him off. He pats her reassuringly.

MARGARET (V.O.)
I finished my year-long study of
religion.

Barb and Herb watch both cabs drive off down the street. Barb
sighs. Herb loops an arm around her: Well, just us again.

MARGARET (V.O.)
I went to a Jewish Temple, a
Presbyterian church, a Protestant
church, and a Catholic church.

INT. MARGARET’S ROOM - NIGHT

Margaret switches on a SMALL DESK LIGHT, pulls some PAPER and

a PEN out of her DRAWER, begins to write.

MARGARET (V.O.)
What I learned about religion is
that it makes people fight. And
that every religion says the same
thing: If you pray to God, he’ll
listen to you, and help you, and
make things better. But I’ve prayed
and prayed, and everything just
gets worse. I don’t know anymore,
but I think--
 112.

She hesitates, scared of what she’s about to write next.

MARGARET (V.O.)
That maybe the truth is...
There’s nobody even up there.
There’s nobody listening.

Something empties out of her eyes.

MARGARET (V.O.)
There’s only just me.

INT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY

Margaret walks to school by herself. She looks tiny. A tuft

of dust blowing down the road.

INT. MR. BENEDICT’S CLASS - DAY

Students drop BOUND BOOKLETS into Mr. Benedict’s INBOX.

Margaret waits at the edge of his desk as he finishes reading
her LETTER. He looks up at her, worried for her.

MR. BENEDICT
Margaret...

A knot forms in her throat. She tries to swallow it away, but

can’t. She rushes out of the room before anyone see her cry.

INT. DELANO SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Margaret barrels down the hallway, trying to outpace her

emotions. A TEAR escapes. Then another. And another. She
starts to RUN, makes a turn into--

INT. DELANO GIRLS BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

She races by a GIRL AT THE SINK WASHING HER HANDS, ducks into
the last stall, shuts the door, crouches down next to the
toilet, THE TEARS COMING HARDER AND FASTER NOW.

She clamps a hand over her mouth, trying not to make a sound.
She SOBS -- a SILENT, shaking little heap.

The GIRL exits, the SOUND of the door shutting behind her.

Finally in private, Margaret unclamps her hand, lets herself

cry. She finishes and the bathroom becomes VERY STILL.
 113.

She pulls in a long, slow breath, steadying herself. Presses

her scrunch sleeves against her eyes to sop them up.

Finally, she rises to her feet, exiting to--

EXT. DELANO SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

As she comes out the door, the LUNCH BELL RINGS. HUNDREDS of
KIDS rush in from all directions. Margaret watches them for a
moment. Then folds in with the crowd, CARRYING ON.

EXT. MORNINGBIRD LANE - LATER THAT DAY

Sun sinking behind the trees.

INT. SIMONS’ DINING ROOM - SAME

CLOSE UP: The LATCH on the UNDERSIDE OF THE DINING ROOM TABLE
that holds in the EXTRA LEAF. Two FINGERS reach into frame,
popping it open.

Barb struggles to lift the HEAVY WOOD PIECE from the center
of the table, drags it across the carpet, leans it against
the wall.

She pushes the two side pieces back together to turn it back
into a SMALL ROUND TABLE. She stares at it a beat. Her own
family seemed to expand and contract just that fast.

She takes a slow breath, trying to be okay with that.

Behind her, the DOOR OPENS. Margaret walks in from school

with a tired, far-off expression. Barb can relate.

BARBARA
Hi...

Margaret nods hello, heads for the stairs.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Hey. Wait... Come’re.

MARGARET
I don’t feel like talking.

BARBARA
I know. I don’t either.

They just stand there.

 114.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
I’m sorry for how things went.
And... I know this past year has
not been easy.

Margaret doesn’t make eye contact. You got that right.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Wanna just sit for a minute?

Barbara gestures to the couch. Margaret isn’t sure. Barb

takes a seat, hoping she’ll follow. Margaret hesitates, then
joins her.

They sit quietly beside each other a moment. Barb looks over
at Margaret, Margaret looks over at her. The moment is ripe.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
I want to say something encouraging
right now, but nothing’s coming to
me.

Margaret cracks a tiny smile. Looks down. Barb’s heart aches

seeing her like this.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
(lovingly)
It gets tiring trying so hard all
the time, doesn’t it.

Margaret nods. Yes. Yes, it does. Barb nods back, knowing the
feeling well. She loops her arm around her. Their heads tip
together ever-so-slightly.

EXT. NEW JERSEY - JUNE / EARLY EVENING

Summer again. Trees swaying in a warm breeze. Emerald green

grass. Sprinkler mist sparkling in the sun.

EXT. DELANO SCHOOL / 6TH GRADE FAREWELL CARNIVAL - SAME

GLOWING PAPER LANTERNS strung up over the blacktop. BOOTHS

set up with FOOD and GAMES.

Margaret leans together with Janie, Nancy, and Gretchen in

front of a “CONGRATS GRADUATES” PHOTO BACKDROP. She’s a
little better now, but something is missing from her smile.

MR. BENEDICT snaps their PICTURE.

 115.

NANCY
Junior high, woo!!!
(then)
Ooh the fish bowl game is open!
Let’s go, come on, I’m going first!

Nancy breaks their huddle, takes off running. Gretchen and

Janie run after her. Margaret almost falls in with them, then
decides against it. She just can’t go along with Nancy’s ever
whim anymore.

MR. BENEDICT
Doing ok, Margaret?

She looks over at Mr. Benedict. He’s checking in with her

after what happened.

MARGARET
Yeah. Thanks, Mr. Benedict. You
were a good 6th grade teacher.

MR. BENEDICT
Oh, I don’t know about that. Still
ironing out a lotta kinks...

But Margaret smiles, meaning it. Mr. Benedict bows his head,
the compliment getting in.

Someone TURNS UP the MUSIC on the stereo system. A BUNCH OF

KIDS make a run for the chalk-drawn DANCE FLOOR. Margaret
watches them dance for a moment.

Then something just beyond them catches her eye: LAURA

DANKER, standing by herself as always.

Margaret leaves Mr. Benedict, walks up to her.

MARGARET
Hey.

Laura looks over, surprised someone’s talking to her.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
You wanna come dance?

Laura hesitates, not sure if she’s for real. Margaret looks

at her, earnest. Laura weighs whether to trust it. She takes
the leap. They head over to the dance floor, start to dance
together.

OVER AT THE FISH BOWL GAME --

Nancy hogs the game, Gretchen nagging for a turn. Janie looks
around for Margaret.
 116.

Spots her across the way, dancing with Laura. Surprised, she
watches them a sec. They look like they’re having more fun
than she is. She looks over at Nancy and Gretchen bickering,
decides to join Margaret and Laura.

The 3 of them DANCE in a little circle, at the beginning of

something...

EXT. SMALL ART SCHOOL - SAME

A small BRICK BUILDING nestled on MAIN STREET.

INT. SMALL ART SCHOOL - CONTINUOUS

CLOSE UP: A PAINTING OF A BOWL OF FRUIT, still in progress. A

YOUNG GUY adds a shadow under a pear.

BARBARA
Nice job on the shading, you might
try a wash to blend this area here.

The guy nods, grateful. Barb moves on to the next student.

EXT. SMALL ART SCHOOL / MAIN STREET - LATER

Barb walks to her car after work. Mrs. Wheeler comes down the
sidewalk with some shopping bags.

MRS. WHEELER
Oh hey Barbara!

BARBARA
Oh, hi Jan.

MRS. WHEELER
I was just gonna call you! Could
you believe it about the stars?
Jeez, I guess everything’s a “fire
hazard” these days.

Mrs. Wheeler shakes her head at the dumb rule.

BARBARA
Yeah...

MRS. WHEELER
Anyway, listen, we’re already
forming committees at the junior
high and I can think of at least
three you’d be perfect for if
you’ll sign up?
 117.

Barb smiles, nods.

BARBARA
Oh, yeah, that sounds great and I’d
love to, but...

Beat. How does she put this?

BARBARA (CONT'D)
(shrugs, warmly)
...I don’t want to.

Barb smiles again, apologetic. Mrs. Wheeler blinks, taken

aback by the honesty.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
I’ll see you later though, okay
Jan?

Barb slides into her car, waving goodbye. As she spins around
to back out, she has a private moment celebrating her tiny
victory on the road to self-acceptance.

INT. SIMON’S KITCHEN - DAY

Margaret is on the PHONE with Sylvia (in her APARTMENT).

SYLVIA (O.S.)
I’m gonna write you so many
letters. So many letters the
mailman says, that’s it, too many
letters, no more!

MARGARET
Good. Great.

SYLVIA
Have the best time, Sugar, we’ll
see you when you get back.

Sylvia looks over at Mr. Binamin sitting drinking coffee in

his pajamas. He MOVED IN with her.

MARGARET
‘kay, bye Grandma.

Margaret hangs up, goes into the LIVING ROOM, where Barb
packs some last items into her CAMP TRUNK, filled to the
brim. Herb comes around the corner with the CAMERA AND A FEW
ROLLS OF FILM, tucks into her luggage. (Behind them, we see
the living room now includes a DEDICATED CORNER for Barb’s
painting stuff).
 118.

BARBARA
Alright, think that’s everything.
Now let’s see if we can close it.

Barb swings the lid down, Herb pushes it down, Margaret

climbs on top of it, using all her weight to close it the
last inch. Barb secures the latches. They high-five.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Almost like we’ve done this before.

Margaret hears the LAWN MOWER START UP, looks out the front
window. Herb and Barb have figured out she likes Moose.

HERB
We owe him for the month. You wanna
give it to him?

Margaret’s face lights up, thankful for the excuse.

EXT. SIMONS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Margaret finds Moose making laps with the mower, singing Erie
Canal to himself.

MARGARET
Hey Moose...

Moose waves. She holds up the BILLS. He turns the mower off.
They walk towards each other.

MOOSE
(taking the money)
Thanks.

MARGARET
Sure...

She just nods and smiles for a moment.

MARGARET (CONT'D)
Well, have a good summer since I
won’t see you for a while.

MOOSE
Oh? When are you going?

MARGARET
Camp. New Hampshire. Leaving later
today...

MOOSE
Oh. Well. Have fun.
 119.

MARGARET
Yeah.

MOOSE
And... send me a post card maybe.

A dumb grin forms on Margaret’s face, not expecting that.

MARGARET
Really? Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I will.

Moose smiles, walks back over to this mower. Margaret turns

around and heads back towards the house, glowing.

INT. SIMONS’ LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Margaret climbs the stairs two-by-two, grinning to herself.

She skips down the hall, ducks into--

INT. MARGARET’S BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

She pulls down her shorts, sits down to pee, still smiling,
replaying what he said. She gets up front the toilet,
suddenly FREEZES, seeing something. Her eyes get as big as
dinner plates. For a second, she can’t breathe. Then--

MARGARET
Mom! MOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

BARB is DOWN THE HALL, putting some TOWELS into the LINEN
CLOSET. She startles, rushes down the hall, worried. Sticks
her head into the BATHROOM.

BARBARA
What is it? What’s wrong?

Margaret looks up at her, can’t believe what she’s about to

say.

MARGARET
I got it.

Barbara doesn’t know what she means for a se.

BARBARA
What?

MARGARET
My period, I got my period!

As she says the words aloud, she starts to LAUGH AND CRY AT
THE SAME TIME, short-circuiting from all the emotions.
 120.

This is wonderful! This is awful! It’s such a relief! I’m so

scared! I’m finally growing up! Oh god I’m not a kid anymore.

BARBARA
Oh my god.

Barb starts to choke up too, then LAUGHS, feeling silly about

all these emotions.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Here, wait a minute, I’ll get the
pads, I got you some just in case,
I was going to sneak ‘em in your
camp trunk when you weren’t
looking!

Margaret laughs. Barb hurries to get the BOX from a HALL

CABINET, comes back with the PAD for Margaret.

BARBARA (CONT'D)
Here. Okay, so this is how you do
it, you pull this thing off and
there’s a sticky part that goes--

Margaret grabs the pad away.

MARGARET
I already know! I’ve been
practicing for two months!

They both start laughing again.

BARBARA
Okay. I guess I’ll wait outside
then.

Barb closes the door, steps into the HALLWAY to give Margaret
privacy.

INSIDE THE BATHROOM--

Margaret peels the paper off the pad, presses it against her
underwear, pulls up her shorts. She can’t believe she’s doing
this for real.

She turns to look at herself in the mirror. Thrilled and a

little scared by the new person staring back at her.

She draws in a breath, letting it all settle in.

Then, a tiny little thought arrives.

It hovers there, crumb-sized.

 121.

Her eyes tick up to the ceiling.

THE SCREEN GOES BLACK.

We hang for a moment in the darkness.

Then:

MARGARET (V.O.)
Are you still there God? It’s me,
Margaret.

END CREDIT MUSIC BEGINS.

THE END.