VILLAGE

Written by

Lexi Cannon
 FADE IN:

INT. VIVIENNE’S BEDROOM - DAWN

OVERHEAD SHOT of a silver-haired VIVIENNE laying on her bed.

It appears a bomb went off in her room-- strewn about are
baby bottles and clothes both big and small. She is awake,
but barely; high on her chest lays a sleeping baby.

VIVIENNE (V.O.)
Before you say anything, no, the
baby isn’t mine... Or at least, she
didn’t use to be. When you get to
be as old as I am, change is
something you get used to. That’s *
life. But something I never *
expected having to change was-

PLOP. The baby in Vivienne’s arms very audibly fills its *

diaper. Vivienne’s eyes fly open. She sighs. *

VIVIENNE (V.O.)
But I’m getting ahead of myself. *

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT *

Widen on an old man taking a bong rip-- a party of seventy- *

somethings rages in Vivienne’s living room. A powder-haired
woman chugs bottles of malt liquor duct taped to her hands.
Vivienne and several others cheer her on.

DANNY (O.S.)
Oh, come on, Kerm! There’s a
bathroom off the kitchen!

VIVIENNE
Mary Beth, your plus one is puking
in my Chinese money plant.

MARY BETH
(sputtering)
Walk it off, Kerm!

A harsh pounding at the front door silences the partygoers.

WALTER, bong man, slowly releases a fat cloud into the *
silence. *

WALTER
(hoarse) *
A gentleman caller for you, Vivvy?
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 2.

VIVIENNE
Or the cops. Damnit, three times *
this month... *

MARY BETH
Relax, pensioners. It’s probably my
Chinese food. If not, act lost.
Life alerts out, buttons at the *
ready. *

Mary Beth hobbles to the door, spilling liquor as she

impatiently turns the doorknob with her bottle hands.

MARY BETH (CONT’D)

(ominous) *
Oh, it’s a bad night to be a box of
fried rice...

Finally, the door cracks open. Mary Beth leans against the
doorframe sensually.

MARY BETH (CONT’D)

Took you long enough, sailor--

The wail of a baby cuts through the chatter. On the doorstep

sits a car seat-- within, a baby, no more than 10 months old.

VIVIENNE
Oh my god. It’s a baby.

MARY BETH
No shit, Viv.

Vivienne brings the baby inside, her face painted with shock.
Walter and Danny walk up slowly, mesmerized.

WALTER
This is so... embarrassing. We’re
sloshed in front of a baby.

DANNY
Awful first impression.

WALTER
What’re you gonna do, Viv?

DANNY
You could put up flyers? Or sell
it? I’ve got ways of getting the
word out. My cousin works at a milk *
carton plant.
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 3.

MARY BETH
Guys, relax. Let me finish Edward *
Forty Hands, and I’ll drop it off
at the fire station.

VIVIENNE
No. And stop saying “it”.

All eyes on Vivienne. *

MARY BETH
“No”? Got any better ideas? You *
can’t just keep it.

Vivienne's stare grows far off.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY (FLASHBACK)

A 20-something Vivienne stands across the street from a

playground full of joyful children. A mother and her young *
son approach, but hurriedly cross the street.

BOY
Mother, why is that lady just
standing there?

WOMAN
Well Bobby, God punishes loose
women with loneliness. Come now,
don’t dawdle. You don’t want to *
catch her infertility.

The boy signs the cross, gawking at Vivienne openly. *

BACK TO PRESENT *

Vivienne’s soft gaze hardens. *

VIVIENNE
I’ll take care of it. But for now--
Last call!

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY *

Vivienne sits opposite the baby, tea cup in hand. An awkward *

silence hangs in the air.
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 4.

VIVIENNE (V.O.)
Nobody tells you that, after
wanting a baby all your life, once
you finally have the baby... you’ll
have no clue what to do with it. *

Vivienne settles the teacup. *

VIVIENNE
So... you’re fed and changed.
You’re welcome.

The baby burbles absently.

VIVIENNE (CONT’D)
I suppose you won’t be paying me
back for the formula and diapers.
Or rent, for that matter. *

The baby wiggles and screams.

VIVIENNE (CONT’D)
Okay, okay! Screw me for asking.
What do you do for fun?

A pause-- the baby abruptly pukes. Vivienne rushes over, *

scooping her up. *

VIVIENNE (CONT’D)
Oh, heaven’s to Betsy--

The baby laughs. Vivienne pauses. Her worry dissipates with a

coy smile.

VIVIENNE (CONT’D)
So that’s fun for you. Got it.

MONTAGE: *

- Vivienne and the baby share soft foods. *

- Vivienne and the baby use walkers together. *

- Several shots of shared nap times for the two. *

- Vivienne knits sock puppets for the baby. *

EXT. VIVIENNE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Mary Beth approaches the stoop with casserole and a bottle of *

Jack. Hearing laughter, she gazes through a side window: *
Vivienne performs a puppet show for the baby. Sighing with *
pity, she pulls out her phone. *
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 5.

INT. KITCHEN - MIDDAY *

Vivienne chops vegetables, the baby in a high chair, when the *

doorbell rings. She smiles as she wipes her hands.

VIVIENNE
Who could that be? Let’s go see.

Picking up the baby, Vivienne approaches the front door and

opens it. Standing on the porch is a scrawny man in khakis.

CPS AGENT
Hi. Vivienne Buford? Devin Tytass, *
Child Protective Services. We’ve
received an anonymous tip about an
improperly homed infant.

Vivienne’s smile is plastered on.

VIVIENNE
An infant you say? Improperly
homed?

TYTASS
Yes... that baby. Right there. *

VIVIENNE
... Baby? A baby, here? *

The agent slowly pulls out a notepad.

TYTASS
Okay...
(muttering)
Possible dementia... notable *
confusion with surroundings...

VIVIENNE
Now you wait just a minute-- *

TYTASS
Do not raise your voice at me, *
Ma’am.

VIVIENNE
Don’t call me Ma’am like that means
something to you--

TYTASS
I have been ordered by the state to
remove this child from your care,
and if you do not comply I will get *
the police involved.
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 6.

VIVIENNE
(incredulous)
Go ahead and call them, I know
everybody at Chatham PD! They’ll... *
vouch for me.

TYTASS
(writing)
Criminal history...

VIVIENNE
For God’s sake-- *

TYTASS
You are not the mother of this
child and it is my job to ensure
she is safely homed. You can appeal *
at the county clerk’s office, but *
the baby is leaving with me one way
or another. Ma’am. *

Vivienne pauses, looking at the baby in her arms, who stares

back at her.

VIVIENNE
... Fine. That’s what I’ll do,
then.

TYTASS
(impatiently)
Wonderful. Baby, please.

Vivienne adjusts the baby’s onesie tearfully.

VIVIENNE
Goodbye for now, pumpkin.

Vivienne hands over the baby to the agent. She watches as he

places the now crying baby in the car, gets in, and drives *
away.

VIVIENNE (V.O.)
There’s something especially cruel
about never having expected
something, forcefully barring it *
from heart, mind, and soul, and *
finally receiving it... only for it
to be taken away.
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 7.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT *

Vivienne sits absently in front of the TV. She holds a pair

of knit baby socks. There’s a knock at the door. She opens it
to reveal a tall college student-- her nephew, DONOVAN.

VIVIENNE
Hi, Donny. *

DONOVAN
Hey Aunt Viv. Ready to get to work? *

VIVIENNE
Damn straight. *

INT. LOCAL GYM - DAY

TRAINING MONTAGE:

- Vivienne is introduced to Donovan’s spotter, BRET. *

- They go through an array of endurance exercises. *

- The three attend an elderly water aerobics class. *

- Vivienne takes them out for ice cream. *

INT. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE - DAY

Vivienne sits before a panel of clerks and a judge. Donovan *

and Bret are in attendance. *

JUDGE
Miss Buford, while I can appreciate *
you taking care of the child after *
she was unexpectedly placed in your
care, I can find no good reason to *
allow you parental rights, given *
your age and your... Colorful
history with law enforcement.

The judge feathers through a stack of pink papers. Vivienne *

stands to address the court.

VIVIENNE
Your honor, I assure you, my age *
means nothing when it comes to my
ability to give her what she needs.

JUDGE
On what grounds?
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 8.

VIVIENNE
I’m glad you asked. Exhibit A,
please!

From the back row, Bret approaches with a 200 pound barbell.

JUDGE
I-- Miss Buford, please, you
needn’t--

VIVIENNE
Oh yeah, it’s come to this.

Vivienne approaches the bar, grabbing it tight. She slowly, *

shakily begins to deadlift it.

VIVIENNE (CONT’D)
I... am... physically... capable... *

JUDGE
(panicked)
Miss Buford, please! Sick gains are
incongruent with parental aptitude! *

Vivienne quickly drops the bar, huffing. *

VIVIENNE *
Oh, thank god. I’ll level with you: *
Would my extensive child leash *
collection impress the court? *

JUDGE *
This is Savannah, not Hoboken. So *
no. *

VIVIENNE *
Figures. Here’s Exhibit C. *

From the back of the room, a YOUNG WOMAN approaches. *

JUDGE
Is... this Exhibit C? *

WOMAN
Yes. I’m the baby’s mother.

The board of clerks gasp in awe, the Judge glaring at them. *

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY (FLASHBACK)

On a busy street in downtown Savannah, passersby take notice

of the hundreds of flyers with a picture of a baby, a phone *
number, and bold print: WHOSE BABY DID YOU GIVE ME? *
 Rev 1. (05/12/23) 9.

The baby’s mother walks past several of these posters, double *

taking in both awe and panic. *

BACK TO PRESENT *

WOMAN
I abdicate my parental rights to
Vivienne. Or I want to. Just tell
me how so we can be done here.

JUDGE *
I see... How-- *

VIVIENNE *
Targeted ad placement. *

WOMAN *
Aggressive targeted ad placement. *

JUDGE *
And you’re certain this is the best *
option for your child? *

WOMAN *
Better than me, yeah. The kid’s a *
paint n’ sip night gone wrong-- *
Just because I made her doesn’t *
mean I want her in my house tanking *
the vibe. *

VIVIENNE *
Beautifully harsh. Thanks for *
coming. *

JUDGE
... Why didn’t you start with this? *

INT. VIVIENNE'S BEDROOM - DAWN

Vivienne changes the baby’s diaper, gagging through a smile. *

VIVIENNE (V.O.)
So that’s how this all came to be--
and besides the obvious, I wouldn’t
change a thing.

END.