REMEMBER

By: Kaitlin Langdon

copyright 2010 Kaitlin Langdon

kaitlinlangdon@gmail.com
512-299-3995
INT. MEG’S HOUSE-- MORNING
OPENING SCENE- MEG takes the liquor bottle out of her mom’s
hand and turns off the light.

INT. BOOKSTORE-- MORNING

MEG
Hello?

SEAN
Back here!
Meg wanders to the back of the store to where a boy is
putting books up.

MEG
Hey Sean, was it busy yesterday?
SEAN
Oh yeah! You know how it gets...
no, where were you?

MEG
mom.
SEAN
ah. Well I guess its good you’re
leaving then huh?
They both turn a little uncomfortable, but Meg tries to ease
it by finding something to do.
MEG
Do the books in the back still need
to be organized?
SEAN
yeah. So you leave the day after
tomorrow right? We should do
something tonight.
MEG
Why don’t we meet a little after
work at the pond?

Meg stops walking away and grabs some books from his pile
and starts putting them away. She notices a particular book
and picks it up fingering the cover.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

MEG
My mom used to read me these poems
when I was little.

She studies the book.

SEAN
It’s yours.

MEG
(in a sentimental voice)
thank you
Meg is still mesmerized by the book. She walks over to a
desk and picks up some papers and a pen, looking at books.

INT. MEG’S HOUSE-- EVENING

The house is dark, Meg has just closed the door. She sets
her bike to the side.

MEG
Emily? Mom?
Emily opens her door and music is playing in her room. She
starts to walk out just as Meg is coming down the hall way.
They meet in the kitchen.
EMILY
Mom went to the store an hour ago.
Could I go to Jessica’s, mom said
to ask her when she got back. Will
you tell her you said it was ok?
MEG
Yeah, I’ll talk to her about it.

Emily smiles and turns around to go back to her room

MEG
Oh! Em, did you want something to
eat?

EMILY
No Jessica’s mom is making dinner.
Home made!
Emily goes back into her room. Meg smiles and walks further
into the kitchen to find a frozen chicken fingers box
defrosted on the counter top. There is water on the floor.
She picks it up as it drips and puts it back in the freezer.
Meg grabs a rag and mops up the wet just as her sister comes
in with her backpack. Meg looks and stands up.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

MEG
How are you getting to Jessica’s?

EMILY
Her dad is on his way over.
A car horn blows and Emily walks out the door. Meg bends
down to finish cleaning up the water.

INT. MEG’S ROOM-- EVENING

MEG sits on the floor, listening to music while she finishes
a painting. She walks over to a desk and pulls out a paper
from an envelope and fills it out and puts it back in the
envelope labeled HOPE GALLERY. She licks the envelope closed
and sets the painting aside as she sits and lays back on her
bed closing her eyes.

INT. INSIDE MEGS HOUSE FRONT DOOR-- EVENTING

Its dark in the house, Suddenly we hear keys trying to open

the door; it’s her mother, Meg walks in. Her mother is
drunk.
MEG’S MOM
This damn lock is sticking.
MEG
She talks in a hushed voice
I’m sure. Be quiet, Don’t wake Em.

Meg steers her mother to her mother’s room.

INT. MEG’S MOTHER’S ROOM-- NIGHT

Meg tucks her mother into bed.

MEG’S MOM
She slurs a little.
So sweet. Is Emily in bed?
MEG
She went to Jessica’s earlier, shes
out.

MEG’S MOM
Thanks sweetie, you know the
meetings after work can run a
little late...

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

Her mother trails off into sleep. Meg turns to leave the
room.
MEG
Goodnight mom.

Meg closes the door as she leaves.

EXT. POND-- NIGHT

Meg and Sean are sitting next to each other; their bikes are
on the ground behind them. they are sitting on a blanket.
Meg is reading from the book she got earlier. She speaks a
bit tipsy and beautifully at the same time.
MEG
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul, And sings
the tune--without the words, And
never stops at all,And sweetest in
the gale is heard; And sore must be
the storm That could abash the
little bird That kept so many
warm.I’ve heard it in the chillest
land, And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity, It asked
a crumb of me.

When Meg finishes she and Sean look at each other. In a

sincere glance.
MEG
What am I going to do about Emily?
I cant leave her here with mom.
SEAN
She’s a big girl she can take care
of her-self, you had to.

MEG
Yeah, but I was 16 when Dad died.
(she pauses) What if I took her
with me. It would only be for the
summer, give mom sometime to think
and realize what she’s doing.

SEAN
Do you have the money?
MEG
Well I already have some saved up,
plus salary when I start at the
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

MEG (cont’d)
gallery. It will be a little tight,
but I think it could work.

SEAN
After summer is over she’ll need to
go to school. What then?
MEG
I take her back to mom, at least
she will have had some time to grow
and it will give mom time to think.
SEAN
What about your mom? What will she
say about you taking Emily?
MEG
I’ll try to talk to her about her,
but I’ve made up my mind now, Em’s
going to come with me.

SEAN
I know if you set your heart on
something you’ll finish it. Megan I
have no doubt you’re going
somewhere. The shop is going to be
really empty with out you.
MEG
I’m going to miss you too, you
know?

They Hug, release and Sean looks at her with almost

sorrowful eyes. He nods and touches her face and kisses her
forehead. They hug again truly embracing each other.

INT. MEG’S HOUSE-- MORNING

MEG’S MOM
What the hell. Why didn’t she tell
me?!

Meg wakes to her mother screaming in the kitchen. She walks

through the hallway to the kitchen where her mom has spilled
coffee grounds and a plate has broken. Her mom’s hands are
shaky, but she pretends that everything is ok. Meg bends
down to get the plate.

MEG’S MOM
I made eggs earlier, you know the
early bird gets the worm dear.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

MEG
This is my only day off and I leave
tomorrow. Emily go get your bike
I’ll be there in a second, were
gonna go to the park.
Emily leaves.
MEG’S MOM
What is Emily going to do with out
you here to help her with her
homework? She needs her big sister.
MEG
Its summer! She is 13 she can take
care of her self for the most part
luckily, luckily! Mom you know you
have been having some trouble being
around for Em.
MEG’S MOM
I’m around just as much as you are.
MEG
We both know that’s not true. I am
not trying to hurt your feelings
and god knows I can’t get you to
stop drinking, but I wanted to
ask..
Meg’s mom gets defensive.

MEG’S MOM
Ask what? Ask for money? Cause you
didn’t take enough shifts?
MEG
I have enough to get started. I
want to take Emily with me.
MEG’S MOM
I’m her mother, she stays with me.
MEG
I cant let her go through this, at
least dad was around when I was
growing up, but since he died all
you have done is drink. Emily needs
a parent and I have been the only
one taking responsibility in her
life. (SHE PAUSES)
I know its a strange concept
keeping it all together.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

MEG’S MOM
Get out of my house, don’t you dare
say that I am not a good mother.
Meg calmly turns to leave.

MEG
Think about it, please.

EXT. POND-- DAY

Emily is finding rocks while Meg sits against a tree and

watches her sister satisfied. Meg is leaning against a tree
on a blanket. Beside her is a brown paper wrapped around a
square/rectangular object. Her sister beckons her over.

MEG
Em come here.
Emily turns and sits with her sister.
MEG
So I talked to mom earlier about
taking you with me... What do you
think?
Emily is taken aback

EMILY
What about school? My friends? Mom?
Why didn’t you ask me first?
MEG
Em you know hasn’t looked at your
homework or taken you to dance
regularly for a while now. It would
only be for the rest of the summer,
let mom have some time to figure
things out.

Emily becomes upset.

EMILY
What did mom say?

MEG
She hasn’t said anything yet. Emily
I want you to come with me, but
you’re a big girl and I cant force
you to come.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

EMILY
What if mom doesn’t say yes.
MEG
We can deal with that when it
happens, but I think deep down she
knows that she needs help... she
just has to decide to actually do
it her self.
Meg looks unsure, but reaches to get the package behind her.

MEG
I made this for you. I thought if I
left you should have something to
remember me. But I want you to have
it whether you go or not.

Emily opens the package to find Meg’s painting. On it is the

poem from the book.
EMILY
Is this the poem dad used to read
to use before bed?
MEG
Mhmm... I found the book of poems
at the bookstore.

Emily smiles and begins reading the poem as the sound fades
and Meg just looks out over everything and down at her
sisters hair as she braids it.
EMILY
Hope is a thing with feathers, that
perches on the soul...
Emily’s voice fades out and Meg smiles. MUSIC. We see Meg
take in the surroundings; Emily finishes. There is a
silence, MEG embraces her sister with her arms and kisses
her head.
MEG
We’ll figure this out Em.
Emily looks at her sister with a smile.
 9.

INT. MEG’S HOUSE HALL WAY-- MORNING

Emily goes out the door with a small suitcase.
As meg steps out the house she sees an envelope with her
name in big letters. She opens it and pulls out a short
letter from her mother, it reads:
Megan, You were right. Here’s a little something to help.
I’m going to your grandmother’s for a week. Send me a letter
soon. I will come visit as soon as I can.

Love you
-Mom
PS: This is temporary.

Meg tears up a little, takes the envelope and heads out side
closing the door.

EXT. MEG’S HOUSE-- MORNING

EMILY IS COMING BACK FROM PUTTING THE LAST BAG AWAY.

EMILY
So?

MEG
She left a note that said it was
O.K, she’s gone to grandma’s; we’ll
hear from her soon. Have you said
all your goodbyes.

EMILY
There were not that many, but yeah
I said goodbye to Jessica last
night.
Emily half smiles. Meg hugs her sister and leads her to the
car. Sean bikes up to the house just in time. Meg starts to
get Emily into the car as Sean shouts to her.
SEAN
Meg! Wait!

MEG
You made it.
Meg smiles as Sean puts down his bike and walks over to her
holding a book.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

SEAN
You left this in the shop.
Sean hands her the book she had found. Meg smiles.
MEG
Thanks!
there is a short silence, they stand there staring at each
other with happiness, hopefulness and love in each others
eyes. They hug. Sean whispers into her ear as he hands her a
book. Meg smiles and kisses his cheek. He helps her into the
car. We see the back of the tuck bed with the painting she
gave her sister in the back. She looks behind her through
the back window at him and gently touches the glass, we see
Sean watching her go in the reflection of the class. we cut
to see tear smeared hands holding a book. It was the book
she had gotten for her sister. She flips to the page of the
poem as they drive off.
FADE TO BLACK.