WHEN

By Erendira Phillips
 2.

ACT 1. SCENE 1.

INT. NURSERY ROOM

PAN OVER SLEEPING CHILD IN CRIB, CHILD PEACEFUL, SNUGGLED

IN WHITE SHEETS, PLUSH TOYS ALL AROUND, THE SPITTING IMAGE
OF PURE INNOCENCE

CARMEN Places small white teddy bear near sleeping child.

CUT TO CARMEN PULLING HER ARM BACK AND LOVINGLY WRAPPING

HER ARMS AROUND NATE'S ARM, NATE LOOKING AWE-STRUCK AT
SLEEPING CHILD

cARMEN sighs blissfully.

CARMEN
Isn't she beautiful?

NATE
Yeah... she sure is. Just wait
until your mom finally gets a look
at her.

CARMEN chuckles softly, then sighs.

CARMEN
Yeah, I bet.

CARMEN gently lays her head against NATE's shoulder looking

peaceful.

CARMEN
This is going to be a wonderful
adventure for the both of us Nate.
I can't wait for it to start.

CARMEN closes her eyes and remains peaceful for a few

moments, then opens her eyes, disgruntled. She pulls his
jacket closer to her nose and smells, a look of disgust
sprawling on her face as she straightens up to look him in
the eyes.
 3.

CARMEN
Is that... cigarette smoke?

NATE averts his eyes and tries keep casual, CARMEN

reprimands him in a hushed, angered voice.

CARMEN
Nate you promised!

NATE
Look it was just a few drags here
and there.

CARMEN
A few? Nate I'm not an idiot,
you've been smoking them by the box
still, haven't you? Haven't you?!

NATE says nothing. CARMEN storms away from him, clearly

upset and hurt. NATE Reaches for her.

NATE
CARMEN wait! Look, I'm gonna quit I
swear!

CARMEN looks back at him from the doorway.

(Beat.)

CARMEN
When?.
(Long beat.)

NATE gives no response. CARMEN turns away and exits,

closing the door behind her.

FADE THROUGH TO DOOR YEARS LATER

ACT 1. SCENE 2.

INT. LITTLE GIRL'S ROOM

Knock at the door. NATE enters.

 4.

NATE
Where's my smelly Isabelly?

PAN AROUND LITTLE GIRL'S BEDROOM, SHE IS POORLY HIDDEN

BEHIND A CURTAIN, PEEKING FROM BEHIND IT, STIFLING A GIGGLE

NATE pretends to be oblivious to her hiding as one would do

when playing with a child, wandering around the room in
sarcastic perplexity.

NATE
Wow, I guess she's not in here! Gee
I wonder where she went... maybe
she was kidnapped by aliens? Or
maybe she went off with Peter Pan
to wonderland? Oh where oh where
could my little Izzy be?

NATE now stands in front of the curtain, ISABELLE covering

her mouth to keep from laughing.

NATE quickly turns around and scoops up ISABELLE in his

arms and carrying her across the room, ISABELLE roaring
with laughter.

NATE
There you are! I found my Smelly
Isabelly! Yay! Oh no, we're going
down!

NATE makes fake crashing noises as he plops ISABELLE onto

the bed, ISABELLE unable to contain her smiles and laughs.

NATE then drops down on the bed himself, ISABELLE sitting

down with her legs crossed, composing herself from
laughing.

NATE
So what would you like to do today
sweetheart? Go swimming, ride your
bike?-

ISABELLE
I wanna go to the park!
 5.

NATE
The park?!

ISABELLE
Mm-hm!

NATE
Alright, we can go to the park, as
long as you promise one thing.

ISABELLE
What?

NATE puts his fingers up on the sides of his head to

imitate an alien.

NATE
That you take me to your leader.

Isabelle screams playfully, jumps off the bed and runs away
from him and out the door, slamming the door behind her.

NATE then stands solomnly looking at the closed door, then

sighs.

NATE
If only Carmen were here to see you
now...
(Beat.)

NATE EXITS SHOT, THE FADE THROUGH TO PLAYGROUND

ACT 1. SCENE 3.

EXT. KID'S PLAYGROUND

ISABELLE and several other kids playing together in

playground, Nate watching from a distance seated near other
parents.

Without a thought, Nate casually pulls out a cigarette, and

begins to light it.

lady next to him appalled as he takes a drag

 6.

LADY
Seriously? There are kids here.

SHOT FROM BEHIND AS NATE LOOKS DOWN AT THE CIGARETTE, THEN

STRAIGHT UP, FOCUSING PAST HIM AT ISABELLE WHO IS STANDING
STILL, STARING AT HIM
(Long beat.)

ISABELLE
Daddy, when will you stop? When?

Nate doesnt respond

FADE THROUGH TO NATE SITTING ON A COUCH FACING THE DOORWAY

ACT 1. SCENE 3.

INT. LIVING ROOM

The sound of the door opens, Nate has a stern look on his
face when he stands up to face teenage Isabelle who looks
darker and edgier than her previously innocent self.

NATE
Do you have any idea what time it
is?

ISABELLE
Pretty late, judging from your
expression.

NATE
That's the second time this week
you've gone out without my
permission.

ISABELLE
I was with some friends.

NATE
How am I supposed to know that? I
don't know where you are half the
time.
 7.

ISABELLE
I don't need to hear this-

NATE
Yes you do because has gone on for
long enough!
(He pulls her towards him by
the arm.)
a sound of something clatters to
the floor, Nate looks down, a
carton of cigarettes fell from
Isabelle's pocket. Nate looks in
her eyes woefully, Isabelle's eyes
starting to well with tears.

ISABELLE
don't say you didn't see this
coming. You did it all the time
while I was growing up. Like father
like daughter.

NATE
I was gonna quit...

ISABELLE
When?...

SLOW FADE TO BLACK

The end.