Lily
 
written by
 
Harlan Friedman-Romell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
440.319.9092
hyfr0223@gmail.com
 1.

EXT. BETH EL TEMPLE - FRONT ENTRANCE - EVENING (SUMMER, '64)

A clear, beautiful night. Parked cars fill the lot, and the
synagogue marquee reads "MAZEL TOV, RACHEL!" Klezmer music
blares from within the temple.
An elderly woman, GRANDMA ELINOR (70s), smokes on a bench
outside the front doors. She holds a cigarette in her left
hand and clutches a small, wooden jewelry box in her right.
A little girl and her parents walk up to the doors and open
them, going into-

INT. BETH EL TEMPLE - LOBBY/ATRIUM - CONTINUOUS

It's packed. People laugh, eat, dance, etc. There're girls on
the dance floor, awkward boys standing on the side,
overexuberant magicians entertaining children, a buffet
packed with food: gefilte fish, bagels & lox, rugelach, etc.
Macro close-ups of feet, eyes, talliot, food, and an OLDER
GIRL IN A GOLD DRESS.
CUT TO:

INT. BETH EL TEMPLE - PRESENTS TABLE

Presents of various sizes sit on a circular table: boxes,
envelopes, and the like. In front of the table is RACHEL
(13), our Bat Mitzvah girl. She has wavy black hair, brown
eyes, and is mid-hug with ESTHER, (late-30s) her mom.
ESTHER
Ugh. How'd you grow up so fast?-
RACHEL
Stop embarrassing me-
ESTHER
Hey. It's my job. I'm good at it.
Rachel tries squirming out of the hug to no avail.
ESTHER (CONT'D)
Nope. Not ready yet.
RACHEL
Mom-
Across the room, Rachel spots her dad, HAROLD (40s), speaking
to a group of ELDERLY RABBIS.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Who's dad talking to?
 2.

Esther lets go of Rachel and turns; a rabbi notices them

staring from across the room; he waves.
Esther puts her arm around Rachel. They smile and wave back.
ESTHER
(through a smile)
Faculty from his Rabbinical School-
-don't bother them.
RACHEL
I wasn't going to-
ESTHER
Rachel, I know you. This is
important.
RACHEL
Okay, okay!-
Esther kisses Rachel's forehead.
ESTHER
Sorry, dear.
(pause)
Mazel Tov. I am always proud of
you, but today especially.
RACHEL
I know.
ESTHER
Good. Okay. Break my heart. Go be
with your friends.
They smile. Rachel leaves her.
ESTHER (CONT'D)
That's my Bat Mitzvah girl!
Rachel turns around and gives her mom the death glare; Esther
chuckles. Rachel goes back and walks to the:

EDGE OF THE DANCE FLOOR - CONTINUOUS

Rachel sees the older girl in a gold dress, LUCY (15), across
the dance floor. Rachel is entranced.
She goes to her, but A BOY (15), gets to her first. They
dance a little too close for a Bat Mitzvah.
He pulls a flask from his suit jacket, discreetly takes a
swig, and passes it to Lucy; she does the same. They dance
closer.
 3.

A disappointed Rachel steps back, colliding into the nebbishy

DANNY (12), eating a goopy, stuffed bagel which smurshes all
over her dress.
Rachel steps back, mortified.
RACHEL
Ugh, Danny, you're such a freak!-
DANNY
I'm sorry-
She storms off.
DANNY (CONT'D)
Wait! Do you wanna dance?!
Danny flashes his teeth; he's got a braceface, a little bit
of lox stuck in his wires.
Behind him, DANNY'S FRIENDS point and laugh.
DANNY (CONT'D)
(turning)
Come on, guys!-

EXT. BETH EL TEMPLE - FRONT ENTRANCE

Rachel storms out of the temple, dabbing a wet cloth at the
cream-cheese and pickle juice stain on her dress.
Rachel comes upon GRANDMA ELINOR, (late 70s), smoking on a
bench.
RACHEL
Grandma?-
GRANDMA ELINOR
(noticing Rachel)
Ah shit. I mean, fiddlesticks.
You didn't hear that.
RACHEL
I know-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Good. Good.
(gesturing the cigarette)
You want to try?
RACHEL
Grandma!
GRANDMA ELINOR
They won't kill ya! L'chaim!
 4.

RACHEL
They will kill you-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Yeuch, you sound like your mother.
I always say, better the devil I
know than the devil I don't. Not
that there is a devil.
(pause)
What happened to your dress?
RACHEL
Danny.
GRANDMA ELINOR
Boys. They'll only get messier.
Grandma Elinor puts the cigarette out on the bench and
reaches into her purse for a Clorets Mints pack; she tosses a
couple in her mouth.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
Come on! Get your tuchus over here-
Rachel sits and sighs. Grandma Elinor senses she's upset.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
You were just gorgeous today, Rach.
Yasher Koach--I've never heard
anyone chant so beautifully-
RACHEL
(dejectedly)
You're just saying that.
GRANDMA ELINOR
A day moping is a day wasted.
RACHEL
I'm not moping.
GRANDMA ELINOR
I know moping when I see it, and
you're moping.
Rachel snuggles up to Grandma Elinor, putting her head on her
chest; Elinor drapes her arms around Rachel.
RACHEL
It's stupid.
GRANDMA ELINOR
I'm sure it is.
RACHEL
I just wish I was older.
 5.

GRANDMA ELINOR
I see. You wish you were old. You
wish you had my figure, my hips-
RACHEL
No, no-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Take it from a fossil like me;
everyone spends their youth wishing
they were older. And then, when
they finally are, it feels like no
time passed at all! They spend the
rest of their lives clinging to
their youth! You're already growing
up so fast-
RACHEL
Everyone keeps saying that--I don't
feel it. At all.
GRANDMA ELINOR
You may not feel it now, but you
will. Don't rush now. Hold on to
these days. For me. For your Bubby.
RACHEL
I could wait a few years to join
your Mahj game.
GRANDMA ELINOR
That is if the girls and I let you!
(pause)
Your present! Yes!
Grandma Elinor gives Rachel the small, wooden jewelry box.
She opens it; inside is an ORNATE LOCKET, encrusted in gold
and silver.
RACHEL
Grandma, it's beautiful-
GRANDMA ELINOR
I know it is--up goes the hair!
Rachel smiles and pulls her hair up. Grandma Esther drapes
the locket around her neck.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
This was given to me by my
grandmother, and she hers, and so
on and so forth...it's been in our
family for centuries; it's promised
to protect you from wicked spirits
on your journey through womanhood.
 6.

RACHEL
Does it really? Ward off spirits?
Grandma Elinor chuckles.
GRANDMA ELINOR
It's worked out for me so far!
(pause)
You've got plenty of chutzpah.
Never lose your faith, and never
lose sight of who you are.
(pause)
Get back to your party! Soak up the
fun while you can-
RACHEL
Come dance with me.
GRANDMA ELINOR
The last time I danced was with
zayde, and out came Harold nine
months later-
RACHEL
Grandma!-
GRANDMA ELINOR
-And I've seen the way you kids
move. I don't want to throw out my
hip!-
RACHEL
I'll pop it back in.
GRANDMA ELINOR
You will?
RACHEL
I promise.
Grandma smiles. The two get up and walk to the temple doors.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
I don't even like dancing.
GRANDMA ELINOR
Oh, Rachel. That'll change.
They laugh. We push in on the locket around Rachel's neck as
they enter the temple.
CROSS DISSOLVE TO:
 7.

EXT. RACHEL'S HOUSE - FRONT DOOR - DAY (SUMMER '69)

Tracking on Rachel's locket, we slowly pull out to see RACHEL
(now 18), carrying boxes through the front door of her house.
A melodious trumpet blares in the distance.

INT. RACHEL'S HOUSE - FOYER - CONTINUOUS

Rachel walks through the foyer, into the living room, and up
the stairs. The house looks like it hasn't been lived in for
years.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MONTAGE

Rachel enters her room, setting down the boxes. She sighs.
She takes out a record player, sets it on a dresser, and
takes out a stack of records from the same box. She puts one
in.
She places around the room:
Film photos of family, friends, a mid-tumble Danny, a
laughing Lucy.
Band posters, tapestries, and lights on the walls.
A lava lamp on her bedside table.
Knick-knacks and stuffed animals across a shelf.
A Polaroid Swinger in her bedside table drawer.
A photo of her and Elinor flipping off the camera on a
vanity.
A phone on her dresser.
Finally, Rachel rips a black sheet off an old mirror in the
corner of the room. It's intricate, imposing and has a
strange aura.
Rachel examines her reflection. She goes to the glass,
touches it, and backs off. She stretches her face and sucks
in her gut. A real moment of confidence.
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel! Dinner!
She exhales out. Bleh.
CUT TO:
 8.

INT. KITCHEN - DINNER TABLE - EVENING

Moving boxes lay around the house. The kitchen is unfinished.
MOSES, an early toddler, sits in a cardboard box and cries.
He just spat up his food.
RACHEL, HAROLD, ESTHER
Aww! / Uh oh! / Moze-
Rachel, Harold, and Esther sit around their dinner table
eating Chinese takeout.
HAROLD
Rachel, can you get him a new box?
RACHEL
(in-between bites)
Mhm-
Rachel gets up and goes to another room.
Esther comes to Moses and takes off his shirt.
ESTHER
And a new shirt!
RACHEL (O.S.)
He's just gonna spit up again-
HAROLD
Hey! If he doesn't have to wear a
shirt, I shouldn't have to either-
RACHEL
Nope! Found 'em!
Esther sighs. Rachel comes back with a box of Moses' baby
clothes, dumping the contents on the counter. She decides on
a grotesque Hawaiian for him.
RACHEL (CONT'D) ESTHER
(handing over the shirt) (taking it)
Here- Thank you, sweetie-
Rachel switches out the boxes and sits back down.
HAROLD
Three times in one day.
ESTHER
(putting Moses' shirt on)
Probably the long car ride didn't
do him any good, poor Moshey-
 9.

HAROLD
You think we should get a sitter
for High Holidays?
ESTHER
At your pace? Absolutely-
HAROLD
Can't believe we've got to start
prepping already-
ESTHER
Bigger congregation, bigger
service-
RACHEL
(interrupting)
Hey, what's the deal with that
mirror?
ESTHER
What mirror?
RACHEL
(stuffing her face with
noodles)
Thff mffirrfor in my rfoom-
HAROLD ESTHER
Frrf frrrf-frrfrf frrrf-frrf- Honey, chew-
frffr?
RACHEL
(gulping down)
I said, the mirror in my room-
HAROLD
The mirror in your room...
ESTHER
(under breath, to Harold)
Your mother's mirror? The auction
one?
RACHEL
What? Auction?
HAROLD
It's an antique. Could be worth a
lot-
ESTHER
And we should to remodel-
(gesturing to kitchen)
-all of this. Elinor wasn't much
for keeping up appearances-
 10.

HAROLD RACHEL
Hey. Honey. I like it. Do you have to
sell it?
ESTHER
We're getting it appraised first-
HAROLD
(to Rachel)
We'll see. We'll see.
RACHEL
So no. Got it.
HAROLD
We'll see doesn't mean no, it means
we'll see-
RACHEL
You always say that when you don't
want to say no-
HAROLD
Rachel-
ESTHER
(to Harold)
How about we'll talk about this
later!?
(to Rachel)
You have bigger things on your
plate right now-
Rachel shovels the rest of her noodles into her mouth.
RACHEL
Not anymore.
(eating as noisily as
possible)
Mmh, mmh, MMMHHM, hvis isf
dfelicfious, Fank thyou fmso mfuh-
(getting up)
Oh, I'mf sforry, may I be excused?
ESTHER HAROLD
To where? Got a date?
RACHEL
I promised Lucy that I'd call her
when we got here-
HAROLD
Oookay. Give Stuart my best-
RACHEL
Mhmp! Peace.
 11.

Rachel exits. Harold, Esther, and Moses eat in silence.

ESTHER
You said we could redo the carpets
and the wood-paneling-
HAROLD
And you said I could keep the
Thunderbird-
ESTHER
What are you going to do with a
Convertible here in the Winter?
Moses coos.
HAROLD
Don't take her side!

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel sits in the window nook, on the phone. She spies on a
house across the street; the lights are on, and a family
(MARIA [18], LOLA [mid 40s], JOHN [late 40s], JOSEPH [10])
laughs and eats dinner. It's warm.
LUCY (O.S.)
You'll never guess why they broke
up-
RACHEL
Wait, they broke up?-
LUCY (O.S.)
Oh. Right, I forgot you weren't
here last week--well, we all
thought that it was college, but it
turns out that when Danny went to
Martha's Vineyard last month, he--
oh, hang on a second-
(to someone else)
-I know, I'll just be a minute-
RACHEL
Who's that?
LUCY (O.S.)
Jared. We're all gonna go to the
drive-in.
RACHEL
You two are still...?
LUCY (O.S.)
Yup. He got us some pot, too.
 12.

RACHEL
Wow, cool. Are you high right now?
LUCY (O.S.)
As a kite.
(she chuckles)
But, but I can talk for a little
while longer! How is it there?
How's Mushy?
RACHEL
Moshe. He's fine. It's just
strange. It feels like a weird
vacation, but I know I'm not going
to come back. Like, I'm never going
to see anyone again.
(pause)
I really miss you-
LUCY (O.S.)
Stop it, Jare! I'm coming, gosh-
(to Rachel)
Hey, I have to go, but we miss you
so much-
RACHEL
Yuh-huh. But hey, Luce-
LUCY (O.S.)
Groovy. Bye!
Lucy hangs up.
RACHEL
Bye-.
Rachel puts her phone down and sighs, head on knees.
Rachel looks out the window, then back to the mirror. It
looks back.
Rachel covers the mirror with the sheet.

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

Through the reflection of the bathroom mirror, Rachel brushes
her teeth.
She notices a pimple. She tries to squeeze it out to no
avail.
She sighs.
 13.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel snores.
The sheet slips off the mirror and falls to the floor.
Rachel rustles. She reaches for the glass of water on her
bedside table: it's empty. She takes it, gets up, and leaves.
Rachel returns with a full glass, takes a swig, sets it on
her stand, and gets into bed. As she does, the reflection
moves with her. She faces away from the mirror, and closes
her eyes.
Suddenly, RACHEL'S REFLECTION rolls over, stares, and smiles;
she has piercing blue eyes.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MORNING

WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Rachel lies on the bed, tangled up in sheets.
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel! Help me unload!
Rachel groans.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
She gets out of bed.

EXT. MARIA'S HOUSE - SHED ROOF

Maria's plays trumpet; her hand moves fast, the valves blast
up and down. She's really good.

INT. KITCHEN - MID-MORNING

Rachel and Esther unload groceries.
In the adjoining living room, Moses sits in his crib, playing
with alphabet blocks. He spelled out "L-I-L," and he's
teething on the "Y" block.
The melodious trumpet blares on in the distance.
RACHEL
Where's dad?
ESTHER
Lunch with the Cantor.
 14.

RACHEL
Meats?
ESTHER
Bottom left drawer-
Rachel picks up the bag, rifling through it.
RACHEL
No bacon?
Esther glares, as if to say "Come on."
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Ookay.
Rachel puts the meats in the fridge and wanders into the-

INT. LIVING ROOM

She goes to Moses and picks him up.
ESTHER (O.S.)
I don't want you breaking Kashrut
in this house. Or out of this
house. Seriously.
RACHEL
(to Moses)
Oh, what a shame you'll never get
to experience the crunchy, sweet,
savory, taste-
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel!
Moses gurgles unintelligibly.
MOSES
Gahghee...
RACHEL
Close, Rachel! Rachel! Say Rachel!
Moses gurgles, reaching for his blanket.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Okay, we can get blankey.
Rachel fishes around in the crib for his blanket, and gives
it to him. Moses grabs it and nuzzles it.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Now can we say Rachel? Rachel?
 15.

Moses is sucking on the blanket.

RACHEL (CONT'D)
Stupid, dumb baby-
(to Esther)
Mom! Shouldn't he be talking by
now?
ESTHER (O.S.)
It took over a year for you to get
your first word out-
Esther comes into the living room, coat on, purse in hand.
RACHEL
What was it again?
ESTHER
Booby.
RACHEL
Hah. Yeah.
Esther kisses the top of her head.
ESTHER
Alright, I'm off-
RACHEL
What? Where?
ESTHER
B--DMV. Have to transfer the
insurance over to Ohio, and then ed
supplies for the temple-
RACHEL
Buh--when will you be back?
ESTHER
Around three. And then we have the
Meet-and-Greet after that-
RACHEL
Don't remind me.
Esther kisses the top of Moses' head and crosses in front of
them.
ESTHER
It'll be fun. Play nice.
Esther leaves the room.
RACHEL
What?! No biting?
 16.

ESTHER (O.S.)
Try to keep it to a minimum! Buh-
bye-
A door slams. Rachel sighs.
RACHEL
(to Moses)
And now, to sacrifice you to the
Goblins-
Moses coos.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - DAY

Rachel places the record needle onto a vinyl. Crackling.
Moses sits in the bed, propped up on some pillows. He isn't
reflected in the mirror.
Rachel sways and sings to Moses; he's laughing and cooing.
Rachel spins to the mirror, dancing along.
Rachel slams her back against the mirror.
Rachel walks from the mirror to Moses; her reflection turns
around and stares, intrigued. Moses is absolutely jubilant.
SCRRMPFH!!! The mirror scrapes towards Rachel.
Rachel freezes. Moses claps. The music continues to play.
Rachel looks over her shoulder. The mirror's a little closer.
She goes up to the mirror and looks down to its clawfeet;
there are scratches on the floor.
Rachel looks back up to the mirror and examines her
reflection. Everything's normal.
Moses coos.
The click of a camera:

EXT. PARK/WOODS - STAIRS

A tiny ladybug crawls on the bottom step of a manmade, wooden
staircase (part of a trail).
Click! Rachel takes a picture from low, beckoning up to the
rest of the stairs.
Moses sits in a stroller behind her, gawking at nature.
 17.

EXT. PARK/WOODS - BRIDGE

Rachel pushes Moses across the bridge overlooking a stream,
stops in the middle, and takes a picture of the scenery.

EXT. PARK/WOODS - RIDGE

Rachel switches out lenses and zooms across the trees.
Through a clearing, she can see a group of people, sitting on
a concrete structure part of a river tunnel. They're spray-
painting directly onto the concrete, laughing and listening
to music. One of them is the daughter of the family from
across the street: Maria. She brings a joint to her lips.
Rachel puts down her camera and looks to them.
Moses starts wailing. Rachel looks resentfully at him.

INT. CAR - AFTERNOON

Esther drives, Rachel sits in the passenger seat, and Moses
is in a booster seat on the hump, sucking a pacifier.
Rachel gazes out the window.

EXT. STREET
A gloomy day. Rain drizzles.
From inside the car, Rachel sees the people from the park
walking down the sidewalk.

EXT. COVENTRY
Rachel sees the hustle-and-bustle (or, comparatively, lack
thereof) of Northeast Ohio.

EXT. LAKE VIEW CEMETERY

Rachel sees the lush greens and great structures inside Lake
View Cemetery. Esther sneaks a peek, too.

INT. CAR
Rachel stares at the cascading raindrops, longingly.
HAROLD (PRE-LAP)
Baruch atah Adonai...
 18.

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - LOBBY - EVENING

Typical synagogue lobby; marbled floors, high ceilings,
recessed lights, etc. There're tables off to the side, full
of kosher potluck dishes.
Harold, wearing a suit and a Kippah, stands at the center of
a Challah Web with HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, reciting the motzi.
Rachel, Esther, and Moses are to his side.
CONGREGATION
...eloheinu melech haolam, hamotzi
lechem min haaretz.
Rachel scarfs down her challah piece. No one else eats their
piece. Rachel looks around, puzzled. It's not over?
CONGREGATION (EXCEPT RACHEL) (CONT'D)
We give thanks to God for bread,
Our voices rise in song together,
As our prayer is joyfully said.
Rachel pulls her mushy Challah piece out of her mouth.
Esther gives her a "what-the-hell-are-you-DOING" look.
CONGREGATION (CONT'D)
Baruch atah Adonai, eloheinu melech
haolam, hamotzi lechem min haaretz.
Amen.
The rest of the congregation eats their challah. Rachel
hesitantly eats her piece. She finally gets a taste.
RACHEL
(under breath, disgust)
Raisins.
HAROLD
Mmm. Okay. Thank you to Beatrice
Katz for this lovely Challah, and
to everyone that's brought food to
this potluck; I say betay avon, bon
appetit!
A FEW CONGREGANTS
Betay avon! / Yasher Koach! / Let's
eat! / Alright! / etc.
Everyone starts lining up to get food.
Esther sets Moses (in a baby seat) down on a table.
 19.

HAROLD
I look forward to seeing some of
you at our Adult Ed session at six
on...Thursday, so, tomorrow; this
week's parashah is a double header.
Matot-Masei! Exciting stuff:
Reubanites and Gadites, the
daughters of Zelophehad, all that
jazz! Again, in keeping with Rabbi
Segar's old tradition, bring over a
non-knish dish; my wife has those
covered!...
Harold drones on.
Rachel and Esther get in line by the:

INT. LOBBY - POTLUCK TABLE - EVENING

Rachel looks at the array of food. There are about twenty
different kugels dishes and summer squash salads, with an
assortment of chips and cookies peppered throughout. Rachel
only takes the chips and cookies.
Esther leans over as Rachel grabs a fistful of cookies.
ESTHER
Would you like some dinner with
your snacks?
RACHEL
Fine.
Rachel takes one (1) zucchini.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Happy?
Esther sighs.
ESTHER
I need you to take over Mozey duty
for a little while-
RACHEL
Why?
ESTHER
Sometimes when I ask you to do
something, I just need you to do
it. Okay?
Rachel rolls her eyes and peels out of the line.
 20.

She grabs Moses in his baby seat off the table. Across the
room, she sees a table of GIRLS, eating and laughing.

INT. LOBBY - A DINING TABLE

SARAH, DELANEY, and BARBARA (mid-teens) sit, noshing on kugel
and summer salads while talking and laughing. Rachel sits
with them too, zoned out. Their conversation is muted by the
sound of Rachel listening to her own chewing on a cookie.
BARBARA
What about you?
RACHEL
(perking up)
Hmm?
BARBARA
What're you doing this summer?
SARAH
You should come to Camp Fine with
us. Everyone does. Except Delaney.
DELANEY
I'm still deciding!-
BARBARA
Whatever. It starts next week; it
seems really weird and culty at
first, but I promise it's super
fun, and you'll get to know
everyone.
RACHEL
Aren't you a little old for summer
camp?
Ouch.
SARAH
Yeah, well we be officially too old
next summer, it's just the last
time we'd get to see everyone
again, so.
RACHEL
Oh. Right.
Rachel inhales.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
I'm gonna go get something to
drink. I'll be back.
 21.

Rachel gets up, taking Moses with her. The girls share a "oh-
man-she's-weird" look and get back to eating and laughing.

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - STUDY - EVENING

The rabbi's study; rabbinical books line the shelves, a
conference table in the center of the room, portraits of
rabbi's past on the walls, etc.
Lively conversation between congregants is still heard,
echoing through.
Rachel sits between two bookshelves, shoveling cookies in her
mouth, softly crying. She rocks Moses' booster seat, next to
her.
A TEAR rolls down her cheek and lands squarely on THE LOCKET.
It glistens.
Then, suddenly (from the next room), the sound of GLASS
BREAKING!
Rachel perks her head up.
RACHEL
Uhhhello?

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - SANCTUARY - NIGHT

Lights are off.
A beautiful, medium-sized sanctuary; stained glass windows
flank the pews, racks of talliot sit near the main entrance,
a GIANT CHANDELIER hangs from the ceiling, the main Torah ark
stands behind the bimah. Other scrolls exist in glass cases
off to the side. Piles of Siddurim lay strewn about.
More on the main Torah ark--the robust, wooden doors, mimic
the branches of a tree, and there's multi-colored stained
glass in-between them. An interior, yellow-gold light
illuminates the ark, giving it a warm, ethereal glow. It's
slightly open.
Anyway.
Coming from the study (an antechamber near the main entrance
of the sanctuary), Rachel walks through center aisle, pews on
either side of her.
We hear the unintelligible whisperings of female voices,
seemingly surrounding Rachel. They gradually get louder.
She goes to one of the stained glass windows; it's broken.
 22.

Rachel looks to her feet and sees a rock: no doubt, the

source of the break.
Rachel picks up a rather large, gold shard that was PART OF A
GIRL'S HAND. She looks up to the panel, the girl's hand is
gone.
She brings the shard close to her face. In its reflection,
Rachel sees herself. She wipes the tears from her eyes.
The voices stop.
For a moment, it's calm. Rachel looks back into the shard;
her eyes are blue, and she's smiling.
FEMALE VOICE
Kamea, achshav.
Rachel drops the shard, breaking the glass further. The
whispers crescendo into a harmonious vocalization.
She backs up towards the entrance. As she does, the main
Torah ark doors blow open, beckoning the warm light.
The Siddurim gracefully fly around the sanctuary.
The other glass Torah cases swing open; they unsheathe
themselves and fly upwards, suspending themselves mid-air.
It's beautiful.
Rachel, overwhelmed yet intrigued, runs to the entrance,
spins around and rushes straight into the arms of...her
mother. She's pissed. Rachel hugs her mom tightly.
ESTHER
Wha-?
Esther flicks on the lightswitch. She looks around; the room
is pristine, except for the broken stained glass window.
Esther looks down to her daughter with concern and annoyance.
CUT TO:

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The family car whizzes by.

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Esther drives, Harold sits in the passenger seat, and Rachel
and Moses (in his booster) sit in the back. It's tense.
 23.

RACHEL
I didn't do it-
HAROLD
I know you didn't-
RACHEL
Then why are you acting like I did-
Moses starts whimpering.
HAROLD
I know--I know it wasn't you. It's-
- an awful thing. Tonight did not
go well.
ESTHER
Honey, it was fine-
HAROLD
No, it was awful-
RACHEL
You're right. It was.
ESTHER RACHEL (CONT'D)
Rachel- What? It's awful. I hate it.
HAROLD
You know, we don't ask for much-
RACHEL
Nobody asked me anything when you
decided to become a Rabbi and force
us to move across the country-
HAROLD
There are some things where you
don't have a choice in the matter!
We've been here all of one day, and
we know that you miss your friends,
but you have to give it a chance-
RACHEL
I don't want to give it a chance
anymore! I've made up my mind! I
fucking hate being Jewish! I want
to be normal!
Moses starts full-on crying.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(to Moses)
God, shut up!
Suddenly, Moses spits up on Rachel's shirt. She's disgusted.
 24.

Moses wails on.

Rachel joins in.
There's rage in her eyes.

EXT. RACHEL'S HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - NIGHT

The car pulls in. Rachel gets out, slams the door behind her,
and stomps to the back of the house. Harold gets out and
pursues, stopping halfway.
HAROLD
Rachel!-
Esther comes out and comes to Harold; he collapses into her
arms, defeated.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - NIGHT

Rachel, crying snottily, slams the door behind her. The
mirror shakes with it.
RACHEL
Ugh!
Rachel takes off her baby-vomit-stained shirt, balls it up,
and tosses it aside. She flops facefirst onto her bed.
Footsteps. Subtle, at first, but they get louder and closer.
Rachel looks up. A female silhouette walks along the walls of
her room, finally disappearing into the left side of the
mirror.
As Rachel walks to her mirror, her reflection, LILY (18),
mirrors her; at the moment, Lily is identical to Rachel aside
from a striking set of blue eyes.
Rachel lifts her right arm up; Lily mirrors her.
Rachel and Lily do the same with their left arms, and then
right legs.
Rachel inches closer.
Lily breaks the sync and smiles.
LILY
Hi.
RACHEL
AAH!
 25.

Rachel runs to the far side of her room, fumbles around with
her bedsheets, and covers herself with one.
LILY
It's okay, I don't bite.
RACHEL
Who--who are you?
LILY
I've had many names. What's yours?
RACHEL
Rachel?!
LILY
Rachel. Rah-hcel. Pretty. I'm Lily.
RACHEL
What are you doing in my mirror?
LILY
Your mirror? That's a little
presumptuous, don't you think?
RACHEL
You're...not...me-
LILY
I'm not. This is where I live.
RACHEL
Have you been spying on me?
(pause)
LILY
I don't have a choice.
RACHEL
How much have you seen?
LILY
In this room? When you sleep, I
sleep. When you cry, I cry.
(pause)
When you dance, I dance-
RACHEL
You saw that?!
LILY
You looked great.
Rachel shifts. She doesn't think so.
 26.

LILY (CONT'D)
You looked...happy. I wish I hadn't
startled you. It's been so long
since I've danced of my own accord.
RACHEL
Do a lot of people dance in front
of you?
LILY
Ellie would do a whole show for me.
RACHEL
You knew my grandmother?
LILY
Very well.
RACHEL
How? You're not--or you don't look
old.
LILY
Well that's because I'm reflecting
you, silly. I wouldn't mind looking
like this, either.
RACHEL
Was that you in the glass? At
temple? Did you make the whole--?
LILY
I can't explain it all the way.
(pause)
I've been stuck in this mirror for
a long time. A very long time. When
there's no one to reflect,
it's...it's worse than just lonely;
it's nothing. When someone isn't in
front of me, my senses fade away.
There's nothing beyond my world but
darkness and cold and fear and
pain.
(pause)
I've never appeared outside of this
frame. Until tonight. When you were
crying in the temple, miles away
from here, away from-
(Lily shakes the mirror)
-this thing--I heard you.
Rachel's brow furrows.
LILY (CONT'D)
Rachel, I heard you through the
darkness.
(MORE)
 27.
LILY (CONT'D)
And when I saw you, and I felt
this, explosion. Only for a second.
For that one little bit, for that
one moment, I felt complete. I felt
alive again.
(pause)
And then I was back here. In the
nothingness.
Beat. They stare. Rachel breaks it; she goes to her dresser,
opens a drawer, and pulls out her pajamas.
RACHEL
She's not real. None of this is
real. You're going to turn around,
and it's going to be your regular
reflection, and you're going to go
bed and wake up and everything is
going to be normal.
She turns around; Lily's staring.
Rachel collapses.
LILY
I'm sorry.
(pause)
I know it's a lot to take in.
Especially for one night. We can
talk in the morning if you'd like.
RACHEL
Provided you won't kill me in my
sleep.
LILY
I would never.
RACHEL
Okay.
(pause)
I'm going to change.
Silence.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Turn around?
LILY
I've seen you before.
RACHEL
Please.
LILY
If it makes you more comfortable.
 28.

RACHEL
It does.
(pause)
Good night.
LILY
Sweet dreams.
Lily turns away. Rachel also turns around and changes; she
looks over her shoulder to see Lily, still facing the other
way. Rachel smirks.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MORNING

WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Rachel sighs.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
She sits up and looks to her mirror; it mirrors her. She
shakes her head.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
RACHEL
Alright, alright! I'm coming!
She rolls out of bed.

INT. MOSES' ROOM

Rachel softly bounces Moses. He sniffles. She sighs.

INT. RACHEL'S BATHROOM

Rachel sings to herself while showering.
CUT TO:
Rachel, towel/robe-clad, stands at the mirror. She sizes up
her reflection; it mirrors her.

INT. KITCHEN
Rachel, hair still wet, walks through the kitchen to the
counter.
A note on the counter reads "Prepping shul with dad - Moze is
DOWN, make sure to feed him when he's up!"
 29.

Rachel sorts through the cupboards. She pulls out a box of

Froot Loops.
She opens the fridge and takes out a gallon of milk.
A melodious trumpet blares in the distance: a Bb scale.
Rachel furrows her brow. She goes to the:

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Rachel, holding the milk and cereal, splits open the curtains
to a large window.
She scans outside: nothing.
She opens the window; the trumpet is louder.
Rachel is impressed.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel, with Moses in one arm and a bowl of milky cereal /
baby bottle in the other, shuts the door with her foot.
She sets Moses (and the bottle) down on the bed. He giggles
and sucks down some sweet sweet formula.
She goes up to the mirror; it reflects her.
RACHEL
Hello?
Rachel eats a spoonful of cereal.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(through chewing)
Tasty, huh?
Nothing. She sighs, relieved. Rachel turns around.
LILY
I can't taste anything in here.
Rachel spins around, startled. Lily's moving around, out of
sync.
RACHEL
Nothing?
LILY
Mhm. I'm starving.
Moses coos. Lily looks behind Rachel to him.
 30.

LILY (CONT'D)
He's so cute!
RACHEL
Only when other people are
watching.
(to Moses)
Say, Ray-chel!
LILY
I always wanted a child of my own.
RACHEL
You can take him. I'll never have
kids.
LILY
Never?
Rachel takes a big spoonful.
RACHEL
(while chewing)
Never. I don't have 'the mom gene'
in me. They just suck up all your
money and attention, and they're
never grateful for anything you do
for them! Euch! Not for me.
LILY
I didn't have that desire either
when I was your age.
RACHEL
My age? Oh.
LILY
It's easy to forget.
RACHEL
What was my grandma like?
LILY
Ellie and I were very close. She
spoke about you all the time before
she-
(pause)
I saw her grow up--she was so
funny, so beautiful. I see the
resemblance.
Lily nods her head and flashes her eyes.
RACHEL
Can you stop reflecting me?
 31.

LILY
Why?
RACHEL
It feels weird; it's like, I'm
talking to myself, but I'm talking
back. You're talking back. I don't-
-it doesn't feel right.
(pause)
And-I-also-really-want-to-know-
what-you-look-like.
Lily snaffs.
LILY
It's been awhile, I don't know if I
can anymore.
RACHEL
Try.
Lily's reflection morphs into her true form; the real Lily
looks early 20s, has pale skin, big eyes, and a wide smile.
LILY
Better?
Rachel swallows.
RACHEL
Yeah. Better.
(pause)
When were you last out in the
world?
LILY
A long time ago.
RACHEL
How long?
LILY
What year is it?
RACHEL
1969.
LILY
My mistake. A very long time ago.
RACHEL
What happened?
 32.

LILY
I was much younger back then. So
naive.
CUT TO:

FLASHBACK - ANIMATED - BEGINNING OF TIME

The visuals reflect Lily's story.
LILY (V.O.)
I was around where you are now. I
thought I had everything figured
out. I was free. Happy.
(pause)
But the moment I came of age, the
universe had other plans for me. I
was forced into a union. Against my
will. He was jealous, lazy,
incredibly stupid; he was every
man. I could never be satisfied
with one of those.
(pause)
So, I ran. To the ends of the
Earth. You see the world when you
run. The warmth. The green. I fell
in love. I was happy again. Until
he found me.
(pause)
I was brought back in chains. He
demanded I return to his side, and
when I rebelled, he cursed me to
spend eternity behind this glass as
punishment. He took my youth, he
took my life.
(pause)
I look upon just a corner of a
world I love but can never return
to.
CUT TO:

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Lily looks on, solemnly. Moses whimpers.
RACHEL
What was his name?
LILY
Does it matter? They're all the
same.
 33.

RACHEL
I know.
LILY
Do you.
Rachel sighs. She sets down the cereal.
RACHEL
There was this boy, Danny. My
parents liked him for me. We had
played together when we were kids,
and, I guess he...was...nice? I
never really liked him like that.
(pause)
You read these books, hear these
songs, and it's all romantic
enough, but, I don't have anything
to sing about except for wanting to
have something to sing about. I
didn't feel that "it."
LILY
Have you ever felt "it?"
RACHEL
Once.
CUT TO:

FLASHBACK - EXT. WHITTIER BOULEVARD - NIGHT

A Red '63 Chevrolet Corvette rips down the road.
RACHEL (V.O.)
We were driving.

INT. CAR
Lucy drives. Rachel sits in the passenger seat. A sweet
pop/folk song softly comes through the radio.
The two eat burgers/fries and laugh.
RACHEL (V.O.)
It was just talking, but in that
way where you can talk with your
best friend about nothing and it's,
wonderful.
The car pulls up to a red light; they jerk forward. Oops.
They laugh.
 34.

Slow Motion: Lucy bites a fry and turns to Rachel.

Rachel stares.
RACHEL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
And, I, I don't know.
(pause)
I liked that.
CUT TO:

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

We're back in the room. Rachel sits, Lily listens.
RACHEL
And I'm never going to see her
again.
(pause)
I know that's not as devastating as
having to spend all of eternity in
some dusty old mirror, but-
LILY
It's still a good story.
RACHEL
I've never told anyone before.
LILY
How do you feel?
RACHEL
Better.
LILY
Good.
Pause.
RACHEL
So, how are we going to get you out
of there?
Lily smiles. Rachel smiles.
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel! We're back!
They stare. We're?
 35.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MID-MORNING

Rachel bounds down the staircase and sees Esther and GLORIA,
(mid-60s), in a setting some bags down.
ESTHER
Moze?
RACHEL
In my room.
ESTHER
Has he eaten?
RACHEL
Yah.
ESTHER
(taking off her coat)
Good, great.
(gesturing)
Gloria, this is my daughter Rachel-
RACHEL
Hi.
GLORIA
Hi, dear.
(really looking at her)
Oh, you look so much like your
grandmother-
RACHEL
Apparently-
ESTHER
Gloria is married to Cantor Larry
from Bet Avraam-
GLORIA
For now!
They laugh.
ESTHER GLORIA (CONT'D)
Such a comedian! Seriously.
ESTHER (CONT'D)
(to Gloria)
It's upstairs--I'll take you.
RACHEL
What's upstairs?
ESTHER
The mirror.
 36.

RACHEL
Why?
GLORIA
I have a shop on Cedar, I talk to
the antiquities folks downtown-
Rachel blocks the stairwell with her arms.
RACHEL
You're not selling it, are you?
ESTHER GLORIA
(conciliatory) (hopeful)
No, dear. Not today.
Esther and Gloria glance at each other.
RACHEL
Okay, give me one second
to...to...yeah.
Rachel bounds up the stairs, hand and foot.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel barges in.
RACHEL
Hey, bad news-
Moses' giggles, hands pressed up against the mirror's glass;
Lily's playing with him. He has no reflection.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
WHAT are you doing?!
Rachel runs to Moses and scoops him up, bouncing him.
LILY
We were playing! He came up to me-
RACHEL
When I'm not here, stay away from
him. My brother, my responsibility.
LILY
Ookay-
Rachel gathers her things (sunglasses, purse, camera, etc.).
RACHEL
Mom and some lady are coming up
here. Make sure you're not you.
 37.

LILY
Where are you going?
RACHEL
Out. For a little while. I need
some...sun.
LILY
No need to rub it in.
RACHEL
Sorry.
Rachel goes to leave with Moses.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Oh, and Lily-
She turns back; it's her normal reflection.

EXT. SIDEWALK - NOON

A warm, summer day. Rachel walks down the street, camera
around her neck, purse at her side.
MARIA
Hey!-
Maria comes to Rachel.
RACHEL
Oh, hi-
MARIA
No baby?
RACHEL
Huh?
MARIA
Yesterday at Bucket Park? That was
you sneaking pictures of us with
the screaming baby?
RACHEL
What? Oh. He's with his mom right
now. My mom. He's not my--he's
Moses. My brother. Hi. I'm Rachel.
I just moved in.
MARIA
Maria. From where?
RACHEL
LA.
 38.

MARIA
Big change.
RACHEL
I know, there's nothing to do
around here. No offense.
MARIA
Offense taken. There are things,
you just have to find them.
RACHEL
Well, I'm not looking right now.
MARIA
You sure?
They stare. Maria smiles.

EXT. PARK/WOODS - RIDGE - AFTERNOON

Rachel and Maria stand on top of the concrete river tunnel
overhang, spray-paint cans strewn about. Nice moments of
teenage listlessness and nonsense: painting the concrete,
Rachel taking pictures, rolling a joint, etc.

EXT. ICE CREAM PLACE

Swarms of children and families surround an ice cream shop.
Maria carries two ice cream cones, walks down a paved trail,
and into a treeline.

EXT. ROCK OVERLOOKING THE CUYAHOGA RIVER - MOMENTS LATER

A somewhat secluded area, but sunlight streaks in through the
trees above. The winding river is visible beyond the horizon.
Rachel lies on a rock; two bikes lay in front of it.
Maria emerges through the trees, cones in hand.
RACHEL
Sweet spot.
MARIA
(hopping up on the rock)
Yeah. Come here to smoke sometimes.
(pause)
Do you?
RACHEL
Do I what?
 39.

Maria pulls out a joint.

RACHEL (CONT'D)
Oh. Uh. Not right now. Maybe later.
Maria lights it and takes a big hit. Rachel nervously licks
her ice cream.
MARIA
Last week.
RACHEL
I know. Feels like the first.
MARIA
What year are you?
RACHEL
Senior.
MARIA
Me too.
RACHEL
Great. I won't be completely alone.
MARIA
What are you taking?
RACHEL
I don't know...?
MARIA
You'll probably pick in the first
week. There're a ton of cool arts
classes: photography, ceramics,
jazz band-
RACHEL
Are you the trumpet?
MARIA
Yeah. Sorry if I wake you.
RACHEL
No, Moses does that. Every morning,
without fail-
MARIA
Aw-
RACHEL
He just cries and cries, he hasn't
even said his first word.
 40.

MARIA
I'm sure it'll be a good one.
Maria offers her the joint. Rachel retreats into her ice
cream.
MARIA (CONT'D)
It's not gonna kill you.
RACHEL
I've never.
MARIA
Here. I'll help you.
Maria takes a hit and pulls Rachel's face towards hers; she
blows the smoke from her mouth into Rachel's. She inhales.
They stare. It's a sweet moment. Until:
Rachel coughs and wheezes. Hard. Maria laughs, she gives her
nothing.
MARIA (CONT'D)
You'll learn.
Rachel looks down to her reflection in a puddle.

INT. FOYER - EVENING

Rachel opens the door and walks inside. She's a little slow.
HAROLD (O.S.)
I thought we'd start with the first
reading? Moses digs on Nedarim with
the Twelve Tribes. Commitments.
Vows. Right?
Oh no. It's Torah Study night. Rachel's eyes widen.

INT. LIVING ROOM - SIMUL

Extra folding chairs have been brought in to accommodate the
company; Harold stands while about A DOZEN CONGREGANTS (mid-
40s to late-70s) and Esther sit in chairs/couches in a rough
semicircle, eating from overflowing plates of food on their
respective laps.
HAROLD
God's commands about commitments,
yes? Moses relays that if a man
makes a neder with God, he must
carry out that said vow to the best
of his abilities. Makes sense.
(MORE)
 41.
HAROLD (CONT'D)
Women, however, in Biblical ages,
although allowed to make such same
promises, may have their vow
annulled at the behest of any male
authority figure. Be it a husband,
father, what have you. Now, the
language in the Torah itself is
rather restrictive if we view this
parashah literally, but it speaks
to a, greater eternal struggle-
Rachel tries to sneakily close the door, but it makes a
noise.
HAROLD (CONT'D)
Hello? Rachel? Is that you?
Rachel sheepishly sidesteps into the frame between the foyer
and the living room.
RACHEL
Hi, Dad. Oh, everyone.
VARIOUS CONGREGANTS
Shalom! / Erev Tov! / Hi!
CUT TO:

LIVING ROOM - LATER

A very high Rachel sits between two elderly congregants, a
heaping plate of food on her lap. She slowly takes bites from
a kugel, examining the intricate structure of the noodles
after each bite. Her neighboring congregants stare in
confusion.
ESTHER
On one hand, if a woman were to
make the vow publicly, and a man
rejects it, she's abandoned her
oath, and her relationship with
God. On the other hand, if she
makes one privately, she is
complicit in perpetuating an
unending voicelessness. How long
must we deny our faith to be true
to ourselves? To be accepted? To be
heard? What are we to do?-
RACHEL
(yummy sound)
Mmm.
ESTHER
Rachel? You have something?
 42.

RACHEL
About this? Uh. No. It's, this is
really good kugel.
Everyone laughs. Rachel joins in late and laughs way harder
than the others. Their laughs die down immediately.
ESTHER
Well, you can thank Judy.
JUDY (50s), a kind-looking woman, waves from across the room.
RACHEL
Right. Thanks.
JUDY
Actually, thank my son Jacob! He's
been experimenting.
(pause)
In the kitchen.
ESTHER
We should do Shabbas dinner! He can
cook. It'd be good for Rachel to
meet some boys her age-
RACHEL
Mom-
A THUD from upstairs. The congregants stare at each other.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
That's-I-left-my-window-open-and-
it's-loose-and-I-think-it-just-
slammed-shut-I'm-sorry-I-should've-
told-you-about-it-but-let-me-go-
make-sure-it's-shut.
She gets up, sets her plate down, and bounds up the stairs.
CUT TO:

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - EVENING - MONTAGE

Lily pounds against the glass.
She kicks the frame.
She lights a match; the mirror catches on her side, but
doesn't do anything.
She tries prying open the mirror.
LILY
You try.
 43.

Rachel knocks on the glass.

She breathes over it and tries to reach into the foggy glass.
Her fingers don't go through.
She feels up and down the mirror's sides.
She knocks her head into the back of the mirror.
RACHEL
Ow.
Rachel grabs a chair and winds up:
LILY
Woah woah woah!-
RACHEL
What?-
LILY
If you break the glass, I can't get
out-
RACHEL
You tried to light it on fire-
LILY
Things are different in my world.
Rachel sighs and plops on the bed.
LILY (CONT'D)
Not going back down?
RACHEL
(shaking her head)
Too high.
She caresses her locket.
LILY
What's that?
RACHEL
My necklace?
(sitting up)
It was Grandma's.
LILY
It's gorgeous.
Rachel walks up to the mirror.
 44.

RACHEL
It's an heirloom; she said it was a
magic good luck charm or something,
but I think that was just an old
person thing.
LILY
(reaching to the edge of
the glass)
May I?
Rachel puts the locket up to the mirror; they're face to
face. As it makes contact with Lily's hand, the locket pulses
and shocks Lily, making a hissing sound.
LILY (CONT'D)
Agh!
RACHEL
Are you okay?
LILY
Yes, just a little sting.
RACHEL POV: She stares at Lily and sees triple. She's zooted.
LILY (CONT'D)
Are you?
Rachel collapses face-first into her bed.

INT. RACHEL’S ROOM - NIGHT

Rachel lies, asleep. Her reflection is normal.
Faint cooing.
Rachel stirs awake.
She gets out of bed.

INT. HALLWAY
Rachel walks.
The cooing gets louder, becoming more pained. It turns into
an awful screeching.
RACHEL
Moze?
She gets to the door to his room; a bright, muted crimson
glow seeps through the cracks in the door. A loud drone.
 45.

Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking! The screeching stops.

INT. MOSES’ ROOM

Rachel opens the door and creeps inside; there's a CRIB in
the center of the room, and a COMPLETELY SHATTERED FULL
LENGTH MIRROR to the side, emanating the cosmic redness from
where the glass was.
 
She walks over to the crib; there's fresh blood and claw
marks on the blankets and stuffed animals. But, more
importantly, no Moses.
 
Rachel steps backwards, unknowingly towards the shattered
mirror.
 
Just as she's about to bump into it, a SET OF BLACKENED,
CLAWED HANDS reach out within the frame and grab her.
RACHEL
Ah!
She writhes and screams as they pull her back.
CUT TO:

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MORNING

WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Rachel wakes up in a sweat.
The shower is running.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
She runs out the door and into-

INT. MOSES’ ROOM

WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Rachel goes to the crib and finds a wailing Moses, unharmed.
She picks him up, patting him.
RACHEL
(concerned)
Oh, Moze...
She sniffs. He's stinky.
 46.

RACHEL (CONT'D)
(disgusted)
Oh. Moze.
She holds him away from her. He coos.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(shouting)
Mom!
ESTHER (O.S.)
You know the rule!
RACHEL ESTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
(muttering) (shouting)
If you find it, you clean it. If you find it, you clean it!
Rachel hastily changes Moses' diaper.
She brings him with her to:

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel barges in and sets Moses down on the bed.
Her reflection morphs; Lily's back, but she's paler and
fatigued.
RACHEL
Lily! What happened?
LILY
Did you have a nightmare?
RACHEL
Yeah, I thought it was the grass
but, no way. This felt--
RACHEL/LILY (CONT'D)
Real.
LILY (CONT'D)
I had the same one. The thing from
the mirror that grabbed me--you,
us--those were the same monsters
that captured and trapped me.
(pause)
I don't think it was just a dream.
RACHEL
Are you okay?
LILY
I am now, but. I don't know for how
long.
 47.

They stare.
The phone starts ringing.
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel! Answer!
Rachel picks up her phone.
RACHEL
Hello?
MARIA (O.S.)
You have a phone in your room?
RACHEL
What?

INT. MARIA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM

A lively home; warm and full of earth tones. Jazz blares
through a full stereo system.
MARIA'S MOM LOLA and HER BOOK CLUB FRIENDS (early 40s) sit
drinking cocktails in the den, holding books and chatting.
MARIA'S BROTHER JOSEPH (10) and HIS FRIENDS run around,
weaving in and out of various rooms.
MARIA'S FATHER JOHN (late 40s) picks up some suitcases from a
PILE OF LUGGAGE and walks out the door.
Maria sits on a windowsill and looks across her yard towards
Rachel's house, wrapping the phone cord around her finger.
MARIA
I didn't know you were a bourgeois.
Through her gaze, we see Rachel go to her window, look
around, and settle on Maria.
RACHEL
Look who's spying now.
MARIA
Not spying. Just saying hi.
RACHEL
Oh. Hi.
MARIA
There's a concert tonight. Leo's.
Seven. You wanna go?
 48.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - INTERCUT

The shower stops running.
RACHEL
Uh, one second.
(screaming)
HEY MOM!
ESTHER (O.S.)
What?
RACHEL
Can I go out with friends tonight?
ESTHER (O.S.)
(her voice gets closer)
It's Friday.
Esther enters in a towel. Her hair is wet.
RACHEL
So?
ESTHER
Services?
RACHEL
We'll be done before then. I can
meet you there.
Esther raises an eyebrow.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
You said I needed to make new
friends! This is-
ESTHER
Oh, you're good.
(commanding)
You will be in the lobby at 8.
Rachel hugs her mom.
RACHEL
Thank you thank you thank you!
(back to Maria)
We're on.
MARIA (O.S.)
Yesss-
ESTHER
(walking out)
At 8! Not a moment later!
 49.

RACHEL
I heard you the first time!
MARIA (O.S.)
Meet at The Square around 5 and we
can take the train down.
RACHEL
Okay.
MARIA (O.S.)
Sweet.
Click.
ESTHER (O.S.)
Wear something nice!
RACHEL
(shouting)
OKAY!
CUT TO:
Rachel, in her closet, ripping through fits.
A faint trumpet blares.
Lily watches from afar, arms crossed.
LILY
Date tonight?
RACHEL
Why, are you jealous?
LILY
If I am?
Rachel turns around. She's flattered.
RACHEL
Has anyone ever taken your picture?
LILY
No.
RACHEL
May I?
LILY
I'd like that.
Rachel goes to her nightstand, opens a drawer, and takes her
camera from within.
 50.

Lily goes to the closet within the reflection.

She puts various outfits while Rachel snaps pictures.
After the last (and best) outfit, Rachel takes the film out
and sets the timer.
Rachel goes to her real closet and picks out what Lily was
wearing (the classic floral dress / leather jacket combo)
draping it over a chair.
Moses bumbles over to the mirror and smiles.
RACHEL
He really likes you.
LILY
I really like him.
RACHEL
If I get you out-
LILY
Don't say if.
RACHEL
Okay. When I get you out, remind me
to teach you how change a diaper-
LILY
Has this been your plot the whole
time? Pawn him off to me?
RACHEL
(grabbing Moses)
I could use some help.
Rachel sits with her back to the mirror, legs out to the
sides. She sits Moses down in front of her. Lily mirrors her;
they're essentially back to back.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
What's the first thing you'll do?
LILY
I don't know. It's been so long.
The world's changed so much.
(pause)
I miss...the sun. I miss being
warm. I want to lie in the grass in
some field in the middle of nowhere
and look at the clouds and see
things in them. And there'll be
someone next to me, and we'll
laugh, and cry, and hold each
other.
(MORE)
 51.
LILY (CONT'D)
(pause)
I just want to be. A real-life
person. With someone. I know that
sounds silly.
RACHEL
No, no. That sounds lovely.
LILY
Have you done anything like that
before?
RACHEL
Once or twice.
That's heartbreaking to Lily.
LILY
Who are you, Rachel?
RACHEL
(pause)
I don't know. Everyone around me
seems so fully formed. And I feel
like time is running out and I
don't even know what I don't know.
LILY
(pause)
I've seen countless people over
countless years, Rachel. No one is
ever fully formed. People are
always changing. You're lucky. I've
never had a chance to.
RACHEL
But you will.
LILY
I hope.
RACHEL
Who do you want to be?
LILY
Who could I be?
RACHEL
Anyone. We'd have to explain you to
my parents, though.
(pause)
You could come to school with me.
Say you're a foreign exchange
student. Do you speak any other
languages?
 52.

LILY
I know a little Hebrew.
RACHEL
One that normal people speak, like
Spanish. Or French.
LILY
Je parle un peu Français.
RACHEL
Hon hon hon, oui oui.
They chuckle. Rachel caresses her locket.
LILY
Don't abandon me, Rachel.
RACHEL
I won't.
LILY
Promise.
RACHEL
I promise.
The locket glistens.
Noises of a bar crowd fade in.

INT. NIGHTCLUB - MAIN ROOM - EVENING

Maria pulls Rachel through the sea of nightclub tables and
standing patrons; everyone's dressed to the nines, talking,
laughing, drinking. People notice Maria: they smile, wave,
call out her name, etc.
WALTER (PRE-LAP)
Same as usual, Ms. Jackson?
Maria and Rachel are seated at a table at the edge. WALTER, a
waiter, stands over them.
MARIA
Yes. One for my friend, too.
RACHEL
Oh, what? I-
MARIA
Thank you, Walter-
 53.

WALTER
Always.
(to Rachel)
Welcome to Leo's, miss.
He walks away.
RACHEL
You're big around here, huh?
MARIA
Came here a lot with my brother,
now everyone's family.
(pause)
I like your dress with the jacket-
RACHEL
Thanks--what did you order us?
MARIA
Just some drinks.
RACHEL
Oh! Oh. Okay. Drinks. Cool.
Maria's brow furrows.
MARIA
Are you sure you're from LA?
RACHEL
Why are you so interested in me,
Maria? I could be like a cannibal
or a Mormon or something.
MARIA
(pause)
You don't seem like a cannibal.
RACHEL
Well, I'm trying to hide it.
MARIA
Mormon...50/50.
RACHEL
Ha ha. Really--you don't know me.
MARIA
I don't.
(pauses)
You remind me of this friend I had.
Stacey. She graduated last year.
And we were...very close.
(MORE)
 54.
MARIA (CONT'D)
I thought that we were going to--
but, when she got to college, she,
stopped writing. Said she was going
to be busy for awhile. Bullshit,
but.
RACHEL
Have you seen her since?
MARIA
Over Winter Break. I saw her at a
party, she was there with some guy.
Real close. And she pretended like
she didn't even know me.
(pause)
I guess she meant more to me than I
did to her.
Walter comes back with two Grasshoppers.
WALTER
For the ladies.
MARIA
Flying?
WALTER
Of course.
RACHEL
Thank you.
WALTER
Mhm.
Walter leaves them.
RACHEL
I had someone like that back home.
MARIA
Does she still write?
RACHEL
She's, busy.
MARIA
They always are.
Maria toasts her glass.
MARIA (CONT'D)
To new friends.
RACHEL
To new friends.
 55.

They clink their glasses. We follow Rachel's cocktail glass

to her lips as she takes a sip. She sets it back down on the
bar, next to a slew of other, empty Grasshoppers.

NIGHTCLUB - MAIN ROOM - BAR - MOMENTS LATER

Rachel and Maria are now at the bar, more than a little
tipsy.
The tables have been pushed to the sides; a soul singer and
her backing band perform a driving R&B number to a large,
dancing crowd. Everyone's having a great time.
RACHEL
Wow, those are good!
MARIA
Aren't they?
RACHEL
We're doing this all summer!-
MARIA
Oh yeah.
As they finish their drinks, Maria pulls Rachel through a sea
of people, dancing the night away. Rachel forgot about-
CUT TO:

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - LOBBY - NIGHT

A few stragglers filter into the sanctuary for evening
services.
Esther stands, tapping her foot, staring at her watch. 8:10.
She sighs and turns.
CUT TO:

INT. LEO'S CASINO - MAIN ROOM

The crowd dances and sings along.
Maria and Rachel dance, sloppy yet carefree.
Rachel peels off to the:
CUT TO:
 56.

INT. LEO'S - BATHROOM

Rachel pees. We hear a slower, more sensual ballad fading in
from the main room.
She washes her hands, tilting down over the sink basin.
LILY (O.S.)
She seems nice.
Rachel whips back up; Lily's in the bathroom mirror!
RACHEL
(shocked)
Aah! How, are you here?
LILY
It was like before. I was in the
dark, and, I heard you.
RACHEL
While I was peeing?
LILY
I think our connection is getting
stronger. I feel more, real.
Closer.
RACHEL
Sure, okay. Let's talk when I'm
home. Presently I am...a little,
drunk-
Banging on the door.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Occupado!
MARIA (O.S.)
Hey, you alright?
RACHEL
(to Maria)
Yeah, I'm fine!
LILY
Who is that?
RACHEL
No one.
LILY
Can I meet her?
RACHEL
That's not a good idea-
 57.

LILY
Why?
RACHEL
Are you serious?
LILY
You like her.
RACHEL
(scoffs)
Wha-what? I don't even-
Maria barges in. Rachel covers the mirror with her hands.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
WOAHWOAHWOAH-
Maria takes Rachel's hands off and holds them; her gaze fixed
on Rachel. Lily is still in the mirror, eyeing them both.
MARIA
Are you sure you're okay?
RACHEL
No. I mean, yes. Yes I'm okay.
MARIA
Let's go home.
Maria smiles. They exit; Rachel looks back to see her own
reflection.

EXT. STREET
Rachel and Maria drunkenly bike down their street, singing an
old crooner standard.

EXT. IN FRONT OF MARIA'S HOUSE

Maria and Rachel sit on the curb, their bikes strewn aside.
They breathe. Finally:
MARIA
I'm glad you moved here.
RACHEL
You too. I mean, me too. Yeah.
(pause)
I think I'm drunk, I've never been
drunk before. It's weird-
 58.

MARIA
Being drunk?
RACHEL
No, not that. You think about all
of the experiences that you thought
you were gonna have, different
city, different school, different
friends--they all would've made you
a completely, different person--and
there's no way of knowing who you
would've ended up being. But after
all of the things that you go
through, the stuff that really
changes you, your soul--you can't
imagine your life happening any
other way. I can't fathom the
possibility of there being another
version of me out there. Even in
spirit. I could've been a horrible
person--I could still be a horrible
person--I don't know yet.
MARIA
I can't speak for you, but, I know
me. And I know that I'd end up okay
either way. Because I always
would've found something to keep me
not horrible.
RACHEL
Hm.
Maria inches closer. Rachel notices.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
It's late. I don't want to keep you
up-
MARIA
You could sleep over.
RACHEL
What about your parents?
MARIA
It's their anniversary weekend. Up
in the Catskills.
RACHEL
Ah.
MARIA
Yup. Home alone.
(pause)
I'm throwing a party on Sunday.
 59.

RACHEL
You don't say.
MARIA
You should come.
RACHEL
We'll see.
Maria inches closer. Pause. They stare.
MARIA
Can I ask you something?
RACHEL
...what?
Pause. Maria goes to say something, but doesn't.
Maria kisses Rachel.
Rachel holds.
Rachel pulls back.
Rachel throws up onto the pavement.
Gross.

INT. FOYER / LIVING ROOM

Rachel sneaks in. It's dark.
As she tiptoes through the living room, thwick! Esther,
seated in an armchair, pulls on the metal lampchain.
In the light, we see a little bit of vom on Rachel's jacket.
RACHEL
Ooh...no no no no no.
ESTHER
Oh...yes.
RACHEL
Please, mom, not now-
ESTHER
Are you okay?
RACHEL
Yes.
ESTHER
Really?
 60.

RACHEL
I'm fine. I'm just, an idiot.
ESTHER
Yes, you are.
RACHEL
I forgot.
ESTHER
Evidently.
RACHEL
Can we talk in the morning?
ESTHER
Oh, we will.
RACHEL
Okay. I'm...sorry. Goodnight.
(pause)
I love you.
ESTHER
Mhm.
Rachel starts walking up the stairs, shoulders tensed.
ESTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Leave...your jacket at my place at
the table. I'll treat it.
Rachel breathes out.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - NIGHT

Rachel staggers in. She goes to the mirror; it's still her
reflection.
RACHEL
(hushed)
Lily.
Nothing.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(less hushed)
Lily!
No response.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
I need to talk to you!
Still no response.
 61.

RACHEL (CONT'D)
Stupid, mirror, lady.
Rachel flops on the bed.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Gnight.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

Rachel's asleep.
Drip.
Rachel stirs.
Drip.
She rubs her eyes and sits up.
Drip.
It's coming from the bathroom.
She gets up and goes toward the dripping.

INT. RACHEL'S BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Drip.
Rachel goes to the sink; the faucet's leaking.
She tightens it; the dripping stops.
She starts to leave.
Drip.
She stops.
She goes back to the sink and tightens it again.
She starts to leave again.
VWOOM! Water rockets out of the faucet and starts spraying
everywhere.
Rachel goes to the sink and tries to turn the handles; they
won't budge.
Suddenly, everything stops. Rachel stands.
The water-filled sink basin gurgles.
 62.

She peers over; the murky water bubbles.

Just then, A BLACKENED HAND ERUPTS from the basin and grabs
her by the throat.
Then, the water catches fire!
Rachel screams.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MORNING

Rachel lies tangled up in the sheets.
Maria's faint morning trumpeting is a lot more reckless,
aggressive.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
She stirs awake, sits up, and clutches her head.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Lily stares on, even more sickly. She has bruises around her
neck.
RACHEL
Aggggggghhhh...!
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(to Moses)
SHUT UP!
He wails on.
ESTHER (O.S.)
RACHEL!
RACHEL
Oh, shit shit shit shit shit.
(shouting)
WHAT!
ESTHER
Grab your brother and get to the
car!
RACHEL
COMING!
Rachel starts changing into her Temple clothes.
 63.

LILY
(coughing)
First hangover?
RACHEL
And my last.
(pause)
Did you-
(noticing the bruising)
Oh my-
LILY
Yeah.
RACHEL
I'm so sorry.
LILY
Don't be. Just, tonight.
RACHEL
Yeah. Tonight.
(smacking her head)
Ow--ow--
LILY
Drink water.
RACHEL
I don't want to put anything else
in my body.
LILY
Trust me, it'll help. I've had my
share.
RACHEL
Okay.
Rachel's almost dressed and starts fumbling around in a
bottom drawer, looking for something.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Ah!
She drops to the floor and pulls out box from under her bed.
She opens it and takes out her tallit.
LILY
What is that?
RACHEL
Tallit. Prayer shawl.
LILY
Like a blanket?
 64.

RACHEL
Sure.
Rachel stumbles around her room, looking for her shoes. She
finds them and starts putting them on.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
We'll find a way out. I promise.
Rachel comes up to the glass, kisses the side, and rushes
off. It leaves a mark.
Lily puts her hand up to the lips and smiles.

INT. CAR
Rachel (donning Aviators) and Esther sit in silence. Moses is
in the back seat, fast asleep.
RACHEL
Why aren't you mad?
ESTHER
I am. But I am driving. And it is
also Shabbat. So it will wait.
RACHEL
We didn't do anything stupid, Maria
and I just saw a show at Leo's-
ESTHER
Ap-pap-pap-pap-pap. You are going
to listen.
(pause)
Thing one. You know this. I hate.
Hate. When you lie to me. That is
the one thing Dad and I do not
tolerate. And you have a
responsibility, to your father, to
me, to the entire congregation, to
be present. Last night was
disrespectful to all of us. And I
don't want you hanging around that
Maria girl anymore. You are
grounded.
(pause)
Thing two. I didn't know, if you
were hurt, or kidnapped, or dead-
RACHEL
I wasn't dead-
ESTHER
I drove around University Circle
for hours. Looking for you.
(MORE)
 65.
ESTHER (CONT'D)
You have NO idea how worried I was.
Don't, you EVER. EVER. Do that to
me again. Understood.
RACHEL
...fair.
ESTHER
(disbelief)
Fair. Fair.
(focusing back in)
Thing three. Because you want to
talk about fair.
Esther readies herself.
ESTHER (CONT'D)
I was twenty-four when I had you.
Forty-one when Moses...surprised
us. And I will be fifty-nine when
your father and I turn him loose to
the world. So, twenty-four, to
fifty-nine...that's around thirty-
five years. How old are you?
RACHEL
Eighteen.
ESTHER
Eighteen. Eighteen years of
concerts, parties, trips, people,
opportunities that I passed up to
drive you to and from rehearsals on
weekends after Torah study--to hear
you complain each year about high
holidays--to clothe you, and feed
you, and wipe you, and love you,
unconditionally--and I don't ask
for anything back. I love you,
Rachel. I will always love you. But
it is, exhausting, to be, mom, all
of the time. Exhausting.
(pause)
And I'm not done. I'm not even
close to done. Because it's not
eighteen years; it's thirty-five. I
have to do it all again with Moze.
In the morning, when he's,
screeching, I have visions, of
where I'll be, where I've already
been, for every day of the next
seventeen years--I've spent more of
my life caring for you two than I
have caring for myself--how's that
for fair?!
Esther catches herself before she explodes.
 66.

ESTHER (CONT'D)
The ice is thin.
(pause)
For this one year. Please. I need
you to be present. I need your
help. And don't fight me. Because
you can't win.
Beat.
Esther pulls into a space. She looks at Rachel, expectant.
Rachel opens her mouth, closes it, and turns her head. At
last:
RACHEL
I hate you.
Rachel unbuckles her seat-belt and gets out of the car.
Esther deflates.
HAROLD (PRE-LAP)
Please rise for the Shema.
CUT TO:

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - SANCTUARY - MIDDAY

A full house. A moody Rachel, a stern Esther, and sleeping
Moses with a nose bandage (in a baby seat) are seated in the
front-left row. Harold is on the bimah, in front of the ark.
The congregation rises, sans Rachel. Esther elbows her;
Rachel stands.
The Shema is intercut with various relics and stained glass
panels throughout the sanctuary.
LARRY, CONGREGATION
Shema, Yisra'eil, Adonai, Eloheinu,
Adonai, echad.
The final stained glass window overlooks Gloria's, the
antique shop, which Rachel catches a glimpse of.
LARRY
V’ahavta et Adonai Elohecha, b’chol
l’vavcha uv’chol nafsh’cha uv’chol
m’odecha V’hayu had’varim ha-eileh
Asher anochi m’tzav’cha hayom al
l’vavecha etc.
She elbows her mother and gestures to use the bathroom.
 67.

Esther rolls her eyes and mouths "Be quick!"

CUT TO:

EXT. FRONT OF ANTIQUE STORE

Gloria, carrying a Bankers Box of stuff, walks to her van.
Rachel comes up to her.
RACHEL
(out of breath)
Gloria!
GLORIA
Oh, I'm sorry dear, I'm just going
to lunch-- shouldn't you be in
services?
RACHEL
Shouldn't you? Isn't Larry your...-
GLORIA
I'm meeting with a very important
client-
Just then, a STONER HUNK (20s), pulls up to the curb in a
shitty Station Wagon. They turn to him; he smiles at Gloria.
HUNK
Hey baby, ready to spin?
Rachel turns back.
GLORIA
Listen, Rachel? Is it?
RACHEL
My lips are sealed.
Gloria breathes out and loads her stuff into her van.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Tell me though--what did you think
of the mirror?
GLORIA
Oh, well it's gorgeous, that's for
sure.
RACHEL
That's it? There wasn't anything, I
don't know, weird?
 68.

GLORIA
Weird? Well, I couldn't identify
when it was made, the etching
suggests a myriad of different
periods...there's Gothic in the
arches, some Baroque in the
molding, elements of Rococo in the
carving and the painting on the
back...I've never seen anything
like it--no manufacturer's symbol
or signature or anything, anywhere.
Normally, that suggests it's been
altered numerous times, but there's
nothing in the work to support
that.
(pause)
To tell you the truth, I think
we'll get a pretty penny for it,
around two or three thousand-
RACHEL
She's selling it?!
GLORIA
I'm picking it up next Tuesday.
(sensing Rachel's sadness)
Esther didn't say anything?
Rachel stands, shocked.
GLORIA (CONT'D)
Oh dear, it's just a mirror.
(Gloria goes to the car)
Remember. Our little secret.
RACHEL
Right.
Gloria gets in; they drive off.
Rachel stares.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - EVENING

Rachel and Lily sulk on the bed. (Well, Rachel's on the bed,
Lily's on the bed in the mirror).
RACHEL
It'll be a change of scenery.
(pause)
Do you remember anything specific
about-
LILY
I told you. I can't remember.
 69.

RACHEL
Come on. You must have some idea-
LILY
Those are bad, bad memories. I
don't want to talk about it now.
RACHEL
I know it's painful. And I'm sorry.
But we don't have the time to wait.
Pause.
LILY
The necklace.
RACHEL
What about it?
(taking it off, going to
the mirror)
Do you want to--
LILY
(recoiling)
No, no! It's like burning, all
over. That thing--during the
nightmares--it feels exactly like
how it felt during the ritual when
he imprisoned me.
Rachel looks down at the locket, intensely.
RACHEL
That's all? Nothing else?
LILY
Rachel, I don't think there's going
to be a magic word or a secret code
or anything like that. The more
time I spend with you, the closer I
feel to the world again.
(pause, breathing out)
I can almost taste it.
Lily turns away.
Rachel sighs and turns away, yearning. She sets the locket
down on her bedside table.
RACHEL
What does it taste like?
LILY
Hmm?
 70.

RACHEL
The world. From what you remember.
LILY
Sweet. Juicy. Like, fruit--peaches.
Lily turns around.
RACHEL
Hold onto it. What else do you
miss?
Rachel moves closer. The mirror begins to vibrate; the tone
crescendos.
As Lily lists things, the visuals match them.
LILY
Sunrises. Sunsets.
RACHEL
Good, good. Close your eyes.
She does.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Other sensations. Keep going.
LILY
The smell of fire.
A smooth river current.
Gentle music.
Laughing children.
Holding someone in my arms.
(different thought)
Rachel, I feel-
RACHEL
Open.
Lily opens her eyes.
Rachel's standing a few inches away from the glass; the
mirror emanates the celestial, full tone and an ethereal
energy.
They breathe together, basking in the moment.
They lean in.
Rachel kisses Lily on the glass at first, but it fades away
to accommodate their embrace.
Lily emerges through the mirror, into the real world.
 71.

She falls on top of Rachel. They pull away; Lily smiles,

Rachel's awestruck.
LILY
Hi.
RACHEL
Hi.
LILY
You smell good.
RACHEL
So do you.
Footsteps approaching.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(pointing to the closet)
In there!
They get up and Rachel pushes Lily in.
Harold enters.
HAROLD
What’s the racket?
RACHEL
Nothing. Dinner?
HAROLD
Yup. The gang's all here.
RACHEL
The gang?
(pause, realizing)
That's tonight?
HAROLD
Yes, that's tonight! The Steins
brought their boy too, so.
RACHEL
So...?
HAROLD
So.
Harold does a series of eyebrow raises and nonverbal hand
gestures, vaguely saying “It’s-Shabbat-and-there’s-a-cute-
boy-downstairs-and-you-should-put-on-a-dress-or-something-I-
don’t-know-how-I’m-supposed-to-act-in-this-situation.”
Rachel looks to her closet.
 72.

ESTHER (PRE-LAP)
Mmm! Jacob! This is delicious-

INT. DINING ROOM

A nice, Shabbat dinner: miso halibut, mixed vegetables, rice.
Rachel, wearing a nice dress, stares up at the ceiling. The
Spielmans sit on one half of the dining room table, with THE
STEINS on the other: JACOB (18) next to Rachel, JUDY (mid-
40s, the same woman throwing up in the bushes at her Bat
Mitzvah) next to Esther, and both patriarchs (Harold and
ARNOLD, late 40s) at the heads.
JACOB
Thank you Mrs. Spielman-
ESTHER
Esther. How do you get the fish so
moist?
JACOB
Mmm--you cook it en papillote--in a
little parchment pouch, and that
keeps the food from drying out. The
sweet miso marinade brings out the
flavor of the fish-
ESTHER
Miso? Never heard of it-
JUDY
Jacob has me buying all sorts of
things from the Asian market-
ESTHER
Well, this makes miso happy!-
Rachel rolls her eyes into oblivion.
HAROLD
So it's culinary school in the Fall
for you?
JACOB
I wish. Ohio State.
JUDY ARNOLD
We're very proud, aren't we Business-Finance. Just like
Arnie- his old man!-
Judy goes to caress Jacob's hand, he pulls away.
JACOB
Mother-
 73.

JUDY
What about you, Rachel? Got your
eye on anywhere?
ESTHER
We've still got a year to think
about it.
RACHEL
Actually, I've been thinking about
photography. Specifically,
photojournalism. I'd like to get an
internship at some point, maybe
with Life or National Geographic-
HAROLD
First I've heard of it-
ESTHER
You don't need a degree to take
your little snapshots, isn't that
more of a hobby?-
RACHEL
No. I don't know. USC has a good
program for it, that's what Lucy's
older brother is doing next year.
ESTHER
And if Lucy's older brother jumped
off a bridge, would you?-
A THUD from upstairs. Uh oh.
HAROLD
Wha-?
RACHEL
UH-I'M-GONNA-GO-CHECK-ON-MOSES.
Rachel throws her silverware down and storms off.
They return to eating. Silverware clinks against plates.
ARNOLD
I, for one, like...pictures.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Lily cradles Moses. He's snug as a bug.
RACHEL (O.S.)
I told you to stay in the-
Rachel barges in and sees them.
 74.

RACHEL (CONT'D)
-closet.
LILY
I'm sorry about the noise, I'm not
used to the feeling of the world-
Rachel runs to them and scoops Moses from her. He immediately
starts to whimper.
RACHEL
(hushed)
I told you-
LILY
You said you wanted help with him-
RACHEL
Not while I'm not around. He was
asleep already-
We sense a big Moses cry coming on.
LILY
Give him here.
RACHEL
Whuh-
Lily takes him; he instantly calms down and blushes.
LILY
Maybe I need to teach you.
The sound of dice rolling across a coffee table.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Close on the dice: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
HAROLD
What a straight, Rach!
It's a good old family game of Yahtzee. A Stan Getz record
plays in the background. Seated on couches and chairs, the
parents nurse glasses of wine: cranberry juice for Rachel and
Jake.
RACHEL
Great.
She marks down her sheet with an attitude.
Judy sweeps up the dice with great gusto.
 75.

JUDY
Come on, sixes!
Judy shakes and lets them go. The families react.
JUDY (CONT'D)
A couple!
She sets some dice aside and rolls others again.
ARNOLD
(to Harold)
I've been avoiding it all night,
but I've got to ask: the JFC
retreat, tomorrow. There's a slot
for you.
HAROLD
Arn, we just got in, I have nothing
prepared-
ARNOLD
You've never winged a D'var Torah?
HAROLD
I didn't say that.
The parents laugh and their small talk drones on. They take
their turns.
Meanwhile, Jake leans over to Rachel.
JAKE
I think photography is neat.
RACHEL
Thanks. I think medicine is, cool.
JAKE
Way cool.
Jake puts his hand on her thigh. Rachel raises an eyebrow and
stares down.
She pries it off and puts it on his own thigh.

INT. FOYER
The Stein's are leaving, but all Jewish goodbyes are arduous,
painful affairs.
Judy and Rachel are mid-hug.
JUDY
It was great seeing you all.
 76.

ESTHER HAROLD
Yes, we must do this again- One day we'll dethrone the
Yahtzee Queen herself-
Harold tousles Rachel's hair.
RACHEL
Dad!
They come out of it.
JUDY
Uch. Good luck with your
photographie thing! It's important
to have hobbies.
Ouch.
RACHEL
Sure.
Judy absentmindedly turns to Esther and they embrace. Harold
and Arnold stand by the door.
Jake goes for a hug and Rachel extends her arm straight into
his chest. He recoils and shakes it, disappointed.
ARNOLD JUDY
We'll try to make it to the Thanks again for having us
next adult ed. over-
HAROLD ESTHER
Great! Yes. We start Oh, it was no trouble at all-
Deuteronomy next week-
ARNOLD JUDY
And we'll see you at the You're welcome to ours
Federation overnight anytime, I'd like the company
tomorrow? with Jakey on his way out-
HAROLD ESTHER
Yup. Both of us. Of course. I'll give you a
call.
ARNOLD JUDY
Good, good. Between you and How about tomorrow?
me, it might be a shock to
the old guard if she were to ESTHER
make an appearance. Would Eh, I've got to accompany
love to see their faces- Hare tomorrow-
Rachel perks up.
 77.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Rachel lies on the couch, playing with Moses, trying to coax
a word out of him.
The front door slams. Esther and Harold walk in from the
foyer and size up their kids.
RACHEL
(matter-of-factly)
Fish was weird and dry, you didn't
have to lie, mom-
HAROLD
I've been asked to speak at the
Jewish Federation of Cleveland
retreat tomorrow.
RACHEL
(sarcastically)
You? Why?
HAROLD
We'll be gone until late Monday
night.
RACHEL
...and?
Esther laughs.
ESTHER
"And." Oh, you're so cute.
(pause)
You and Moses? Alone.
Moses coos.
RACHEL
What? I can take care of him for
one night!
ESTHER
Or you two can go to Judy's.
RACHEL
NO. She's weird. And Jacob is
gross. We'll be fine. I promise.
Esther side-eyes Harold.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
You can trust me. Moze and I need
bonding time together.
The parents' stare.
 78.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - NIGHT

Lily sits in a chair wearing Rachel's pajamas, scarfing down
potato salad.
Rachel is in the attached bathroom, finishing up brushing her
teeth.
LILY
For how long?
RACHEL (O.S.)
Just for the weekend. But still.
We'll have some time.
Rachel spits out her toothpaste, rinsing.
LILY
We won't have to hide.
RACHEL
I know. I'm so-
Rachel, in pajamas, comes out and stops, staring at Lily
furiously eating.
LILY
(mouthful)
What?
(pause)
I'm hungry! This is great.
RACHEL
It's, potato salad.
LILY
Potato? In a salad?
(looking at her bowl)
This is the future.
Rachel preps her sheets for bed.
RACHEL
Wait till you try a Pop-Tart.
LILY
I wanna try now!
Lily tosses the empty bowl aside and gets up.
RACHEL
Tomorrow. I'm tired.
LILY
I'm tired too.
 79.

Lily moves in closer, her energy shifts. They breathe.

Rachel pulls back.
RACHEL
Not until they leave.
Lily deflates.
Rachel goes to her armoire and pulls out some blankets and a
pillow, presenting them to Lily.
LILY
For where?
RACHEL
Under the bed.
LILY
I'm not a monster.
RACHEL
I'm not chancing my parents seeing
you.
(pause)
My house, my rules!
Lily takes the bedding and rolls her eyes.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - UNDER THE BED

The lights are off. Lily stares, blankly.
LILY
Hey, Rach?
RACHEL
Mhm.
LILY
I'm glad it was you that got me
out.
RACHEL
Me too. Goodnight, Lily.
LILY
Goodnight.
Lily smiles, somehow emotionless.
Her stomach rumbles.
 80.

INT. VOID - DREAM

Rachel stands in nothingness.
She walks in one direction, runs towards another, and then
stops. It's useless.
Suddenly, she spots the mirror; slowly moving towards her
amidst the void. The glass is dark.
Rachel squints. The closer it gets, the lighter it becomes,
and the nothingness materializes around her into a
manifestation of:
INT. RACHEL'S MIRROR ROOM
An identical copy of Rachel's actual room, except it fades
out towards the edges of what's reflected within the mirror.
The physical mirror is close enough to reflect Lily, in
Rachel's room, standing in front of it.
Rachel snaps to her body position, and matches her movements.
Lily's in control.
Lily breaks in her body, free of restraint; Rachel mirrors.
Lily touches the mirror with her pointer finger; Rachel
mirrors.
Lily backs up and reaches for the sky; Rachel mirrors.
Lily sticks her finger down her throat; Rachel mirrors.
They double over, and only Rachel starts to vomit.
Amidst the blood and black void goo, Rachel heaves up THE
LOCKET. It shrieks.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MORNING

WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Rachel rises. She swallows and puts her hand to her chest.
She reaches over to her bedside table and hastily puts her
locket on, calming down.
She looks out the window: no car in the driveway.
She peels over the bed, thunking her head on the floor;
Lily's not under the bed.
Rachel's eyes widen.
 81.

WAAAAAAAAAAAH!

INT. HALLWAY
Rachel jogs down the hall.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
RACHEL
Lily?

INT. MOSES’ ROOM

Moses is crying in his crib. Rachel picks him up, sighing
with relief.
Rachel bounces him.
RACHEL
Oh, it's okay, it's okay. It's
okay, you little annoying, stupid
piece of-
Lily peeks in from the hall.
LILY
Need a hand?
She smiles. Rachel fake smiles.

INT. KITCHEN
Rachel and Lily sit on the counter (towels, wet hair) eating
big bowls of cereal; Moses tears up his box/seat next to
them. Rachel's camera lays nearby.
The kitchen TV set is on; Lily watches intently. Rachel
watches Lily.
RACHEL
It's thousands of pictures, taken
one after another. They're stitched
together, on film, and played back
quickly, to make it look like
continuous motion.
LILY
But it's not real.
RACHEL
It is real. It's a recording. A
visual record.
 82.

LILY
Like a story.
RACHEL
Yeah. This is a about things that
really happened in the world, but
it's still tells a story. There are
other ones--made up, longer, don't
have commercials in between them.
Those are movies.
LILY
What are they like?
RACHEL
They're all different. There're
funny ones, scary ones, sad ones,
romantic ones-
Lily leans in, awestruck.
LILY
I want to see them all.
Rachel smiles. She gets her camera and takes a photo of Lily.

MONTAGE: RACHEL, MOSES, AND LILY'S DAY TOGETHER

Rachel takes pictures of Lily over the course of the day.

EXT. BACKYARD
Rachel teaches Lily how to ride a bike.
She fails. A lot.
Eventually, she gets it.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREETS

Rachel and Lily ride (Moses in the front basket), wind
blowing through their hair.

EXT. TRAIN STOP

They lock their bikes around a pole.
Rachel braces Lily as the train comes to the stop.
 83.

INT. TRAIN
Rachel, Lily, and Moses (in a basket) sit noses pressed
against the glass, watching the world whizz by.

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREETS

Rachel, Lily, and Moses gawk and gaze at the cityscape. Cars,
buses, people walking fast, dogs, buskers, etc.

EXT. EUCLID BEACH PARK (OR GENERIC COUNTY FAIR) - MIDDAY

They play classic arcade games (ring toss, skeeball, etc.).
Lily wins a stuffed lamb and gives it to Moses, full of glee.
They ride a carousel.
They get off, and walk around the:

EXT. BOARDWALK
Rachel sees a poster for an underground band playing tonight
at a club.
They get funnel cakes.

EXT. WADE LAGOON - AFTERNOON

They walk around Wade Lagoon, taking turns carrying Moses.

EXT. VARIOUS CULTURAL GARDENS

They take pictures through the various Cultural Gardens.
END MONTAGE

EXT. FIELD - SUNSET

Lily, Rachel, and Moses lie in a field. Moses is asleep; the
girls look at the clouds.
It's serene.
LILY
(pointing)
There's a great big dog. In that
one.
 84.

RACHEL
A little bunny rabbit.
(pointing)
There.
LILY
I see it.
They breathe. Rachel sighs.
LILY (CONT'D)
Are you happy?
Pause.
RACHEL
I am...afraid. Of a world with you
in it. Because, then, this is real.
LILY
Am I not real?
RACHEL
You came out of a mirror.
LILY
And?
Pause.
RACHEL
Last night was my first, like, real
kiss.
LILY
It didn't show.
RACHEL
No. That's not--
(pause)
I like you. I do. But I don't know
if this is who I am.
LILY
Rachel. I've seen many many people
live their lives behind the glass.
Things are seldom one way or
another. You don't ever have to
decide who you are or choose what
kind of person you're supposed to
love. People are allowed to change.
(pause)
Life is so long and so beautiful.
RACHEL
That's easy for you to say.
 85.

LILY
You gave me mine back.
Rachel snuggles up next to Lily. Lily strokes her hair.

EXT. MIDTOWN STREET

Rachel (carrying Moses) and Lily walk. They come up to the
door of a club, and peek through the window; some UNDERGROUND
BAND plays some romantic, stripped back ballad, the SINGER
gently swaying back and forth, serenading a sea of
disaffected youth.
Ooh's and aah's abound, until--
BOUNCER
Ahem.
Rachel and Lily look to A BOUNCER. He stares them down, then
Moses, and Lily and Rachel retreat. They keep walking.
As the music and singing bleed from within the club, Rachel
and Lily stop. Lily reaches for Moses' basket and sets him on
the sidewalk. Lily starts to groove along.
Rachel follows suit.
Lily pulls Rachel in closer. They dance together.

EXT. STREET
Rachel and Lily walk down the center street, holding hands
and walking their bikes (a sleeping Moses).
Cars line one side of the street, and Maria's house is
bumpin': it's that party she was talking about.
They come up to the house and stop. Rachel gestures to the
house. They separate: Lily to the party, Rachel, Moses, and
the bikes to her house.

EXT. GARAGE
Rachel puts the bikes away. Moses starts whimpering.
RACHEL
Oh no, it's okay, it's okay-

INT. MARIA'S LIVING ROOM

A bit of a rager.
 86.

Smoke permeates the living room, bottles of wine and cans of

beer lay strewn about. Music blares from the stereo.
Maria and her friends and a bunch of other HIGHSCHOOLERS bob
and weave in and out of rooms. The usual teenage debauchery
and pseudo-intellectual conversations: people hooking up on
stairwells, people opening up to each other in side rooms,
(we see through sliding glass doors) people jumping into the:

EXT. MARIA'S BACKYARD - POOL - CONTINUOUS

Highschoolers swim, drink, and act recklessly.

INT. MARIA'S LIVING ROOM

Lily enters. She wades through people, making her way towards
the LIQUOR CABINET.
She pulls out a bottle of wine: a 1962 Château Margaux. A
smirk appears.
Lily scans the room and settles on Maria. They lock eyes.

INT. MOSES’ ROOM

Rachel puts Moses in the crib, he wails on and on.
RACHEL
You want your blankey? Is that what
you want?
Rachel grabs his blankey and gives it to him; he tosses it
aside and wails louder.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Just say something! Say any word!
He wails the loudest he's ever wailed.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
God, shut up! I wish you had never
been born!
He stops. Rachel steps back, relieved yet remorseful.

INT. MARIA'S LIVING ROOM

Rachel bumps into a bunch of strangers. Someone hands her a
cup of something: she pushes it away.
 87.

She spots Lily in the backyard, staring at the opposite side

pool. She goes to the glass doors, slides them open, and
walks to the:

EXT. BACKYARD - POOL

Rachel starts to go to her, but is interrupted by:
MARIA (O.S.)
I didn't say you could come.
Rachel turns to her left; Maria's seated on a patio table,
holding the '62 Château Margaux (it's almost empty).
RACHEL
Maria, I'm so sorry about-
MARIA
No. No. I'm sorry for being so
gross-
RACHEL
You're not gross-
MARIA
Then why did you vomit all over the
street after I?-
RACHEL
I was so-so drunk-
MARIA
And you have the audacity to show
up with your French-exchange
girlfriend-
RACHEL
What? Lily's not my-
MARIA
I thought we were on the same page.
RACHEL
Maria, I like-
Suddenly, Lily appears. She's a little tipsy, too. She puts
her arms around Rachel.
LILY
Hey, I'm getting tired.
(noticing Maria)
Oh. Rebonjour.
Rachel looks between Lily and Maria.
 88.

Maria rolls her eyes, takes a swig, and jumps off the island.
RACHEL
(sputtering)
Eh--buh--guh--
MARIA
Au revoir, salope.
Maria shoulders Rachel as she passes her. They turn in.
RACHEL
What did you say to her?
LILY
Nothing! She drank a lot and
started asking me who are you...who
brought you-
RACHEL
And you told her?
LILY
You wanted to come here. How is her
accosting me, my fault?
RACHEL
It's no one's fault, I just think
things are moving a little too
fast-
LILY
Come on. Let's go for a swim.
RACHEL
What? No, Lily, don't-
LILY
Rachel, I was trapped in that place
for thousands of years--I don't
want to spend my any of my time
back here fighting! Not anymore!
Beat.
RACHEL
Thousands of years?
LILY
I told you I was old.
RACHEL
Why didn't you tell me?
 89.

LILY
The last person I told the
truth...was your grandma. And she
got scared. I thought if you knew,
you would stop caring. You would
leave me, let me waste away. Like
everyone else.
RACHEL
I'm not everyone else.
Lily smiles.
LILY
There's something else I need to
tell you. Something big.
RACHEL
What?
LILY
Come closer.
Rachel inches closer.
Lily pushes her into the pool.

INT. POOL - UNDER THE WATER

SLOW MOTION: Rachel becomes submerged. Lily follows.
They stare, underwater.
They surface.
END SLOW MOTION.

EXT. POOL - WATER LEVEL

Lily first, then Rachel.
Rachel coughs and rubs her eyes, Lily laughs.
RACHEL
(playfully)
I hate--
Lily laughs harder. She splashes water towards Rachel. Rachel
splashes back. They laugh.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

The shower's running.
 90.

Rachel combs her wet hair in front of the mirror. She hasn't
seen herself in awhile.
The shower stops.
She takes herself in, and smiles.
RACHEL
Indoor plumbing, huh?
LILY (O.S.)
I really needed that.
RACHEL
Yeah, I did too. I'm the one that
had to smell you.
Lily emerges from the attached bathroom in a towel.
LILY
I hope it wasn't too bad.
RACHEL
No, you smelled--
(turning around)
--great.
LILY
I'm not sleeping on the floor
again.
Rachel breathes. Lily moves closer.
LILY (CONT'D)
It’s so cold.
RACHEL
The window’s open.
LILY
I like the air.
(pause, going to the
window)
It’s been a long time since I’ve
felt the night. Come. Feel.
Rachel goes to the window, Lily moves to let Rachel be in
front. They breathe. Lily runs her finger Rachel's hair and
buries her head in her neck.
RACHEL
People might see us.
LILY
Then turn out the light.
 91.

Rachel, transfixed, goes to the overhead light and pulls the

chain; the red glow of Rachel's lava lamp illuminates them.
Rachel and Lily stare.
RACHEL
I've never-
LILY
I know. It's okay. I'm here.
RACHEL
Not even with a boy-
LILY
Boys are useless.
Lily's towel falls.
Lily gestures for Rachel to take off her nightgown.
LILY (CONT'D)
I'm tired of waiting.
She does.
Lily peers down to Rachel's amulet.
LILY (CONT'D)
Everything.
Rachel breathes, takes off her amulet, and drops it.
They inch closer.
They kiss.
They come to the bed.
Lily's eyes glimmer.
TO BLACK.

INT. RACHEL’S ROOM - MORNING

Rachel lies tangled up in sheets; she moves her hand over to
reach for Lily; she’s not there.
Trumpet isn't blaring. Moses isn't crying. Silence.
Rachel stirs awake.
 92.

INT. HALLWAY
Rachel walks. Silence.
RACHEL
Lily?
She walks into-

INT. MOSES’ ROOM

Lily cradles a sleeping Moses, away from the door. We don't
see her face.
RACHEL (O.S.)
You in here?
LILY
Uh-huh.
Rachel enters.
LILY (CONT'D)
I, changed him, and fed him, and-
VISCOUS DROOL droops on Moses' forehead.
RACHEL
I guess I'm going to have to accept
that he likes you more than me.
LILY
Oh, well I like him more than you
too.
More DROOL.
RACHEL
Ha ha. Breakfast?
Lily spins around, revealing her SHARP, BARED, TEETH. She is,
of course, the demon LILITH, HERSELF.
LILY
Breakfast.
A moment of betrayal, but Rachel is quick.
RACHEL
Don’t.
Lily starts to put him down back in his crib...but then lifts
him back.
 93.

LILY
It's a shame you have to see me
like this, mid-feast-
RACHEL
(reaching out)
Please.
LILY
But look; he’s so, ripe-
RACHEL
You can do whatever you want to me.
LILY
Oh, Rach. I already have.
CHOMP! OFF GOES HIS RIGHT HAND!
RACHEL
NO!
Moses cries out in pain.
Rachel charges them; Lily sidesteps her.
Holding Moses, Lily steps back and melds into the standing
mirror behind the crib.
Rachel BANGS up against the glass, cracking it. She falls.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Bring him back!
Lily fades away into the darkness of the mirror. Moses' cries
are fainter.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Moze! MOZE!
Glass breaks somewhere else in the house. Rachel snaps to-

INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

Rachel runs to the:

INT. UPSTAIRS BATHROOM

Rachel enters.
 
Lily climbs out of the bathroom mirror, although not like a
human. She bends, cracks, twists, and smiles at Rachel with
all of her teeth.
 94.

LILY
He's just the appetizer.
Rachel backs away to the:

INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

Rachel slams the door shut.
Lily blasts it open and sends Rachel flying down the:

INT. STAIRS
Rachel crashes at the bottom. She's bloodied up.
She looks to the top of the stairs to see Lily, crawling
down, step by step. It's gross.
Rachel gets up and limps to the:

INT. LIVING ROOM

Rachel turns around; Lily's not there.
Looking all around, Rachel unwittingly backs up in front of
the mantel mirror. At first, it reflects her, but it suddenly
morphs into Lily, who jumps out and takes Rachel to the
floor.
Lily holds Rachel down.
RACHEL
Let me go!
LILY
After last night I didn't think
you'd put up this much of a fight.
RACHEL
Where is he?
LILY
I’ve seen your world, how's about
you step into mine?
Lily mimes biting Rachel a couple of times. She laughs.

INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

Lily pulls Rachel by her legs across the floor.
She grabs onto the doorway; Lily tugs.
 95.

LILY
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Lily pulls hard; Rachel loses grip of the doorway and slides
into:

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

 
Lily drags her towards the mirror.
Rachel spots the LOCKET on the floor; she quickly grabs it,
wraps the chain around her middle finger, and conceals it in
her hand.
Lily, back to the mirror, lifts Rachel up. Snake-like beasts
sprout from Lily and coil around Rachel, crushing her.
LILY
You're the most fun I've had since
your grandmother.
RACHEL
I'll be the last fun you'll ever
have.
Like a yo-yo, Rachel throws the locket towards Lily. Upon
making contact with Lily, it emits a celestial light,
blasting Lily through the mirror and into the darkness.
LILY
Aah!
Lily is out of sight.
Rachel falls to the ground. She breathes.
Moses faintly cries, in the mirror world.
She looks to the mirror and stands.
RACHEL
I'm coming, Moses!
Rachel puts the locket on, and readies herself.
Moses cries a little louder.
Rachel charges the mirror, melts into it, and crosses over to
the:

INT. MIRROR WORLD - RACHEL'S ROOM

Everything in the mirror world is darker, grosser, eviler.
 96.

A nightmarish and almost unrecognizable version of Rachel's

room. Gnarled growths line the walls and ceiling, over top
of the posters and furniture. A thick layer of fog. Shifting
shadows and haunting vocalizations add to the ambiance.
Rachel coughs; it smells bad.
She sees Lily, passed out in the corner.
She goes over and pokes her: nothing.
Rachel stands up and looks back at the mirror, her warm world
beckoning.
Moses' cries faintly in the dark, beyond her bedroom door.
She stares between the two, before going to the door. She
walks through and finds herself at the:

EXT. MIRROR WORLD - BETH EL TEMPLE

Rachel emerges from the front entrance, confused.
The door slams behind her.
She walks further out and turns around. The temple's exterior
is bleak, angular, and expressionistic.
Moses' cries stops. Rachel looks around, until:
GRANDMA ELINOR (O.S.)
Rachel?
Rachel spins around. Amidst a black void sits GRANDMA ELINOR,
on the very same park bench from her Bat Mitzvah. We see her
from behind, facing forward.
RACHEL
Grandma?
GRANDMA ELINOR
Rachel? Is that you?
RACHEL
Grandma!
Rachel rushes to her.
GRANDMA ELINOR
No! Don't look at me. She stole my
years, she stole everything-
RACHEL
I don't care how you look, let me
get you out-
 97.

As Rachel comes to the side of the bench, she sees her

grandmother's face: shriveled and sunken, eyes blackened. Her
body is skin and bones and metal; she's fused to the bench,
her lower body intertwined.
Rachel comes to her.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
I'm so sorry-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Don't apologize. It's beyond your
control. I shouldn't have told her
about you.
RACHEL
Who is she?
GRANDMA ELINOR
She has gone by many names. The
First Wife. Queen of the Night.
Child-Devourer-
RACHEL
Child-Devourer-
The darkness moans.
GRANDMA ELINOR
She is from another world. She was
here before the Great Light and
will remain after it burns out. She
trapped us here, to feed, as we
wither away...I'm so weak-
The darkness moans again.
Rachel turns around and looks up; fading in from the
darkness, a myriad of SOULS AFFIXED TO INANIMATE OBJECTS
appear above them. Artists with easels, schoolteachers with
chalkboards, musicians with record players, etc.
Rachel is horrified.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
You haven't much time.
RACHEL
I used the necklace, the one you
gave me. She's gone.
GRANDMA ELINOR
Not for long. You need to get out
of this wretched place.
 98.

RACHEL
I have to save Moses first-
GRANDMA ELINOR
The baby.
RACHEL
My brother.
GRANDMA ELINOR
How long has it been?
RACHEL
Three years.
Grandma is silent.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
I'll be back for you.
GRANDMA ELINOR
Rachel-
RACHEL
I will, I will! There's so much I
want to tell you and show you, and,
and Moses! You have to meet him-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Rachel.
(pause)
I've seen the way you kids dance.
And I have no hips left to spare.
Rachel hugs her tight. Grandma recoils initially, though
eventually settles.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
There are bad spirits; she is one
of them. But there are good spirits
as well. Bourbon was my favorite.
Rachel cry-laughs.
RACHEL
Not the time.
Grandma looks to her.
GRANDMA ELINOR
Time! Time. What do I know about
time. I've had mine. Have yours.
(pause)
I am so, so proud of you.
She smiles as best she can.
 99.

Off in the distance. Lily shrieks.

GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
Go. Go! Set us free! From her!
Rachel gets up, starts off, and stops.
RACHEL
(turning around)
Grandma, where do I-
She's gone.
Moses cries, in the distance.
Rachel goes towards his voice.
LILY (O.S.)
Rah-hcel...Rah-hcel...how quickly
you forget: my house, my rules.
Suddenly, similar gnarled growths erupt from the shadows, a
dirty pond materializes, and malevolent plants sprout from
the scorched earth. We are in the:

EXT. MIRROR WORLD - CURSED GARDEN

A gross, fetid place. Vines writhe, rocks grind, and the
ground shifts. Shadows shift by themselves.
Rachel hides behind a giant fruit tree. The fruit is
shriveled, the branches are gnarled.
Lily slinks around the garden, looking for her prey. We hold
on Rachel.
LILY (O.S.)
So. Ellie showed you my collection.
RACHEL
Let them go.
LILY (O.S.)
Since you asked so nicely.
RACHEL
You can't keep doing this.
LILY (O.S.)
Oh, Rachel. What must it be like to
feel?
RACHEL
Feel what?
 100.

Close on Lily:
LILY
Death.
(pause)
Every breath, one step closer to
the end. Every second of every
minute of every hour of every day.
Life is fleeting. One moment there,
gone the next. I pity you all, your
transient emotions.
RACHEL (O.S.)
You never felt anything with me?
Lily laughs. Rachel is hurt.
LILY
You humans are foolish, greedy --
you want so much, so many, so fast;
my desires lie with only the
undying world herself.
Rachel's eyes shift to the pool. She hears muffled cries
coming from under the water.
Rachel goes to the edge of the water. She dives into the:

INT. MIRROR WORLD - CURSED GARDEN - POND

Rachel, eyes wide, looks around. The water is clear. A shaft
of colorful light beckons from the bottom of the lake.
Less muffled cries.
Rachel swims down; the cries get louder.
She come to the apex of the light shaft; it's the stained
glass panel from the Bet Avraam sanctuary.
FWOOSH! Rachel turns around. Lily dives in.
Rachel smacks, punches, and kicks the glass to no avail.
Lily gets closer.
On the panel, Rachel notices the GIRL'S HAND, palm
outstretched (the same place the rock broke into).
Rachel lines her hand up and places it on the glass. As she
does, the light goes out.
The glass breaks: just the hand at first, but gradually the
whole panel collapses and she falls into the:
 101.

INT. MIRROR WORLD - BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - SANCTUARY

The sanctuary is overgrown and in disrepair.
Rachel and a surge of water crash through the panel. The
water eventually subsides (it's demon magic, who cares).
She comes to her feet, soaking.
Moses cries on the Torah podium. He sees Rachel and stops.
Rachel goes up the left side of the bimah to him, but Lily
flies out of the ark, coming between Rachel and Moses.
Rachel readies her locket and gets into position.
LILY
Your trinket means nothing here.
(pause)
Go on.
Rachel takes the locket and yo-yo's it at Lily; she grabs it
and twists Rachel around her, holding her in a lock.
RACHEL
He's just a baby!
LILY
He won't be forever. Soon he will
become just as those men who
trapped me in this wasteland.
RACHEL
I won't let him! Things have
changed since then-
LILY
Things have changed and are
changing and will continue to
change, but it will never be
enough!
With her free hand, Lily gestures at the bookshelves on the
left side of the sanctuary; the Siddurim fly to the center of
the room.
LILY (CONT'D)
There is one constant; no creature
in your world is more greedy, more
gluttonous, than man. Women too,
all of humankind, but males are the
greatest offenders.
Lily gestures to the right side bookshelves; the Siddurim fly
to the pile in the middle of the room.
 102.

LILY (CONT'D)
They pluck the world's juiciest
fruit from the garden of earthly
delights, no matter the shape,
size, color, flavor, until every
former green stands barren in
lustful shame. You live to consume,
to gut the fertile earth mother, to
ravage her splendor, only to die!
Lily casts Rachel to the opposite side of the sanctuary.
She floats towards Moses.
LILY (CONT'D)
We, of my realm, we are of a few
that live to live infinite. Sagging
flesh, infirm bones; these are
achievements in your reality, a
life lived full. To me, they are
the horrors of your avarice, a life
spent hungry. You exist to consume.
RACHEL
You're no different! You eat
people!
Lily grasps Moses by the head and hoists him up. He cries.
LILY
Never raw. Cooked is much better.
Lily snaps her fingers. The chandelier drops, setting the
pile of Siddurim on fire.
RACHEL
No!
LILY
(to Moses)
Any last words?
Lily laughs. Her eyes are pure evil.
She's about to throw him into the fire, until:
MOSES
RACHEL!
His first word echoes throughout the sanctuary.
The noise is poison to Lily, who drops Moses on the bimah,
covering her ears and falling to a fetal position. She rocks
back and forth.
 103.

LILY
Agh!
All of the stained glass panels break and the Torah scrolls
unsheathe and unravel. The fire spreads.
Rachel runs to Moses and picks him up.
Rachel looks to Lily; the fire reaches her and she writhes in
pain.
She turns away, runs out the double doors and into the:

INT. MIRROR WORLD - BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - TEMPLE HALLWAYS

Rachel (carrying Moses) runs though a winding hallway. Doors
on either side swing wildly, pictures fall, and furniture
flies, nearly smashing into Rachel. Smoke fills up.
The vines pursue them.
Rachel looks ahead; no end in sight. Running past various
rooms, Rachel sees more of Lily's victims.
Eventually, she passes a door that isn't swinging. All of the
other doors continue to angrily open and close.
The vines are gaining.
Rachel goes to the door and opens it.

INT. MIRROR WORLD - RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel (carrying Moses) enters, and she closes the door
behind her. A few vines writhe in, but she repeatedly slams
the door on them. They fall to the floor, limp.
RACHEL
Shh-shh-shh. Almost.
Rachel drops and reaches under her bed; she pulls out her
tallit and wraps it around his bloody residual limb, tying
the cloth in place. Moses starts sucking on the fringes. It
eases his pain.
She picks him up, scans the room, and sees the mirror.
She runs towards it: THUNK!
She bounces off the glass. She smacks her free hand up
against it; the mirror is completely solid.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Nonononono.
 104.

Lily's disembodied voice breathes heavily.

LILY (O.S.)
Yes...drink these last moments in.
The room begins to fade away into the:

EXT. MIRROR WORLD - VOID

Only the mirror, Rachel, and Moses remain.
Rachel turns back to see Lily, body burned, limbs mangled,
limping towards them.
Rachel turns back and thinks.
LILY
Nowhere to run.
(pause)
Nowhere to hide.
(pause)
Say goodbye to your pretty world.
Her pretty world? Yes! At last, an idea! She focuses in.
RACHEL
Sunrises. Sunsets.
Lily laughs; her voice carries, and she moves a little
faster.
LILY
Enough games.
RACHEL
Sunrise.

FLASHBACK - EXT. MARIA'S ROOF - MORNING

Maria plays trumpet as the sun rises behind her.
RACHEL (V.O.)
Sunset.

FLASHBACK - EXT. FIELD - EVENING

Rachel lies with Moses in the grass, watching the sunset.
RACHEL (V.O.)
The smell of fire.
 105.

FLASHBACK - EXT. PARK/WOODS - RIDGE - AFTERNOON

Close-up of Maria smoking a joint.
RACHEL (V.O.)
A smooth river current.

FLASHBACK - EXT. ROCK OVERLOOKING THE CUYAHOGA RIVER - MIDDAY

Rachel and Maria look to the river.
RACHEL (V.O.)
Music.

FLASHBACK INT. LEO'S CASINO - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Rachel and Maria dance amidst the sea of people.
RACHEL (V.O.)
Children. And Holding someone.

FLASHBACK - INT. MOSES' ROOM - MORNING

Rachel cradles Moses, lovingly.
MATCH CUT TO:

INT. MIRROR WORLD - VOID

Rachel cradles Moses, lovingly.
RACHEL
In my arms.
The mirror is in its celestial, beckoning form.
LILY
You'll never get rid of me. Your
fear will fester, beyond the flesh.
Lily approaches faster.
RACHEL
That’s where you’re wrong! I was
afraid! Yes! I was scared, and
ashamed--but not anymore! And
that's because I met you! You can
never take that away from me!
Lily laughs.
 106.

LILY
I will always be with you,
everywhere you go. In the cold, in
the dark. A voice inside your head.
RACHEL
I know. And that's okay.
Rachel turns back around; her and Moses jump-

INT. RACHEL’S ROOM - NIGHT

-through the mirror. As they go through, their wounds
completely heal; Moses' arm smooths over and Rachel's bruises
and cuts mend.
She sets him down on the floor; he steps back.
A full moon.

INT. MIRROR WORLD - VOID

Lily bounds towards the mirror portal at breakneck speed.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel turns around. She takes off the locket and raises it
high in her left hand, glinting in the moonlight.
Rachel brings the locket to the glass: CRACK! A small break.
LILY
Agh!
Lily's lower left leg crunches and grinds, turning to dust.
CRACK! Another break, another scream: her right hand.
CRACK! And another. And another. And another.
Lastly, a big wind-up:
KCRSH!!! The entire mirror shatters as Lily, now just a body
and head, lets out one final:
LILY (CONT'D)
AGH!!!
The shards fly everywhere. The various souls Lily trapped
appear in their reflections; they all fade away.
It's done.
 107.

Rachel steps back. She collapses on the floor, dazed.

She goes to Moses and holds his right arm; the tallit falls
and fades away, revealing a smooth residual limb. He's fine.
MOSES
Rachel.
She smiles.
MOSES (CONT'D)
Rachel!
She starts laughing.
MOSES (CONT'D)
Rachel!
Rachel WAILS, clutching a standing Moses tight. He stares,
confused, at first. Then, he smiles, puts his arms around
her, and laughs.
SLOW MOTION: The front door opens. Footsteps up the stairs.
Harold and Esther barge in. They run to their children,
huddling around them.
Esther wrenches Moses away from Rachel; she and Harold make
note of his missing (and completely smoothed over) forearm.
They're horrified. The children cry and laugh on.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MORNING

Moving men carry the shattered mirror out. Gloria looks on,
disappointed.

EXT. RACHEL'S DRIVEWAY

Gloria's truck speeds down the street, revealing the stoic
Rachel, Esther, Harold, and Moses standing in the drive.
Rachel listens: no trumpet this morning, just wind.
Her eyes widen. END SLOW MOTION.

EXT. ROCK OVERLOOKING THE CUYAHOGA RIVER

Maria sits and smokes a joint. Alone. Her bike leans up
against the rock.
A camera click!
 108.

Maria looks behind; Rachel straddles her bike, holding her

camera in one hand and two ice cream cones in the other.
She's still wearing her locket.
Rachel smiles; Maria raises her brows. She gestures for
Rachel to come sit. She does, kicking up the bike's stand.
Rachel eyes the joint, holding a cone to Maria.
RACHEL
Trade you.
They switch: joint for an ice cream cone.
Rachel takes a big ol’ puff. She instantly coughs and hacks
up. Maria laughs.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
That is strong-
MARIA
That was cute-
Rachel tries for another hit; it goes down better, but she
still hacks.
RACHEL
Uch.
MARIA
How's your exchange student
girlfriend doing?
RACHEL
Yeah. She wasn't my girlfriend. And
she's not from France.
MARIA
No?
RACHEL
No. If you had let me talk last
night. She was a monster trapped in
the reflection of this mirror. When
I let her out, she tried to eat
Moses. And she got a little bit of
him, too. But I dealt with it.
She's gone now.
Maria blinks. Rachel smacks her lips and takes another hit.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
An actual monster. Teeth, claws,
all that stuff.
Rachel goes for another hit.
 109.

MARIA
Okay. You're cut off.
RACHEL
I'm serious!
MARIA
No, no. I believe you. You're just
hoggin' the j.
Rachel laughs as Maria takes the joint back.
MARIA (CONT'D)
Why'd you let her out?
Rachel looks on, guilty.
MARIA (CONT'D)
I was right across the street. And
I'm not a monster. I'm real.
RACHEL
That's what I was afraid of.
MARIA
Was.
Maria smiles and goes for a big hit; Rachel eats a big chunk.
She puts her head on Maria’s shoulder and sighs.
RACHEL
I'm sorry.
MARIA
It's okay.
RACHEL
This is beautiful.
MARIA
I know. I wish we could be here
forever.
RACHEL
Forever's a long time.
MARIA
Just a little while longer, then.
Rachel turns to her; they stare.
RACHEL
Can I ask you something?
Rachel kisses Maria; she kisses back. No one throws up.
 110.

Suddenly: the sound of flames! Oil slicks on the Cuyahoga

River begin to catch fire.
They separate and stare out over the water, in awe.
They laugh, in disbelief.
Their foreheads come together.
We pull out over the river, the fires blaze on.
THE END.