Caris: Mom, it's just a dance, it's harmless!
Katniss: You are too young to be going out with boys.
Caris: All the other kids are going and their parents are fine with it.
Katniss: Do the other kids have dates?
Caris: Yes!
Katniss: Well, that's between them and their parents.
Caris: What am I supposed to tell Toby?
Katniss: Tell him the truth, you have horrible parents who won't let you go.
Caris: This is so unfair!
Caris stomps off and hides in the staircase out of sight. Her parents think she's in her room.
Peeta: I don't know, Katniss, maybe she's right.
Katniss: What?
Peeta: Well she was never going stay our little baby forever. Don't you want grandkids someday?
Katniss: Peeta, she's thirteen years old and you're already talking about turning her into a baby-making machine?
Peeta: Of course not, I'm just saying she's growing up. We weren't much older than her when we first got engaged.
Caris: Hypocrite!
Caris stomps up to her room.
Katniss: That is not the same thing, and he knows that.
Katniss turns to Peeta who is laughing.
Peeta: Oh, come on, it's a little funny.
Enraged Katniss pushes him.
Katniss: That is not the same thing and you know that.
Peeta: I didn't know she was right there. I'm sorry.
Katniss: Peeta, they don't know anything about our past. What is she going to think about us?
Peeta: Don't worry ok, I'll talk to her.
Peeta knocks on Caris's bedroom door, enters, and sits next to Caris on the floor.
Peeta: Sweetie, we need to talk. What happened between your mom and me really was very different.
Caris: I heard you say, you and mom got married at my age.
Peeta: That's not true.
Caris: How old were you when you married mom?
Peeta: I was 21.
Caris: Well, how old were you when you first starting dating Mom?
Peeta: Ya know, when I think about it… we never really dated.
Caris: What? You're just making that up!
Peeta: I'm not, Caris, things were very different back then.
Caris: I know! It's all we ever hear about at school, but that has nothing to do with me!
Peeta: Caris…
Caris: Daddy, it's a just a dance. Please.
Peeta: All right, I tell you what: bring Toby over for dinner before the dance and if mom and I like him you can go.
Caris: Thanks, Dad! I'll call him right now.
Peeta: He can't come over until I've cleared it with mom.
Katniss and Peeta are setting the table, their son, Rayne, doing homework on the living room floor and Caris is sitting on the couch looking out the window forlornly. Katniss nudges Peeta and angles her chin toward Caris suspiciously.
Katniss: So what time is Toby coming over?
Caris is silent for a while, truly melancholy.
Caris: He couldn't make it.
Katniss: Why not?
Caris: He...had a lot of homework.
Peeta and Katniss exchange looks, they know something is wrong. They make an unspoken plan to divide and conquer: Katniss will take Rayne out of the way, while Peeta will try to talk to her privately.
Peeta: Is something wrong, Caris?
Caris: No.
Peeta: Caris.
Caris: I don't want to talk about it.
Peeta: Why not?
Caris: Because it's embarrassing to talk about a boy with your dad.
Peeta: So it's about Toby?
Caris starts crying and Peeta wraps an arm around her. Peeta lets her cry herself out. When she starts to settle down Peeta begins again gently.
Peeta: What happened?
Caris: He said bad things about Mom.
Peeta wasn't expecting that, and becomes a little defensive.
Peeta: What did he say?
Caris: When he found out who my mom is he said she was a liar and a murderer and he didn't want to be anywhere near her...or me.
Caris's voice cracks at the end and Peeta holds her tighter.
Peeta: I'm so sorry, honey.
Caris lifts her head to look at her father.
Caris: It's not true, is it? She's not a murderer.
Peeta doesn't answer right away. He presses his lips together wondering how to proceed.
Peeta: Is Toby from 12?
Caris: No, his family moved here from 13 when he was three.
Peeta: That figures.
Caris: Why does that matter?
Peeta: ...Honey, I'm not sure if you ready to know about our part in the revolution.
Caris: So it is true?!
Peeta: I didn't say that, it's just...more complicated than that.
Caris is more upset now.
Peeta: Hey, your mom loves you more than anything in this world, and so do I. And I am so sorry this boy hurt you like that.
Peeta goes downstairs and helps Katniss clean dishes and put them away.
Katniss: Did you find out what happened?
Peeta: Yeah
Peeta hesitates for a second causing Katniss to get anxious.
Katniss: Well?
Peeta: Toby's family is from 13. Apparently he doesn't want to be associated with anyone related to the Mockingjay.
Katniss: You're kidding.
Peeta shakes his head.
Katniss: Oh, Caris...she's such a good girl.
Peeta: Yeah.
Katniss: Do you think she'll be ok?
Peeta: I don't know. You were right, Katniss, she's got a lot of questions, about us. What we've done.
Katniss sighs and sinks into a chair.
Katniss: What are we going to do?
Silent for a minute. They knew this day would come, but they never really prepared for it.
Peeta: Maybe we could show her some of the footage-
Katniss: I will not let our baby girl to see that carnage!
Peeta: No, I was going to say we could show her some of the propos we did. Our interviews, the victory tour, maybe even the reapings...She's not a baby anymore, Katniss. She wants to know who her parents are.
Katniss bites her lip thinking about, dreading the result. Finally she shuts her eyes and nods in consent.
Rayne is spending the night at a friend's. Katniss, Peeta and Caris sit on the couch watching the old footage of the Games and propos. Caris watches mostly in silence, her parents fill in details here and there. Caris asks a handful questions throughout. They have reached the interviews when Peeta was in the custody of the Capitol.
Caris: What were they doing to you, Dad?
Peeta doesn't answer.
Caris: Dad?
Katniss: Peeta?
Katniss looks over Caris. Peeta is gripping the seat cushion tightly, his neck taut, his whole body shaking.
Katniss: I think your dad needs some tea, will you go make him some, Caris?
Caris: What's wrong, Dad?
Katniss: Caris, now!
Katniss gets up, taking Caris by the arm.
Caris: But Mom what's-
Katniss is dragging her out of the room.
Katniss: I said now, Caris!
Katniss shoves Caris out the door, slamming it shut behind her. She turns to look at Peeta and inhales shallowly. Peeta is still struggling against the images in his mind.
Katniss: Peeta?
She approaches slowly, looking for items that could be used as a weapon. She places her hands on his, which still grip the seat cushion and kneels in front of him cautiously.
Katniss: Peeta
Peeta doesn't respond, his eyes are looking around the room furiously.
Katniss: Look at me. Look at me, Peeta. I'm right here. I'm right here.
Peeta zeros in on her face and he slowly stops shaking. Katniss lowers herself to sit on her heels.
Katniss: Stay with me.
Peeta finally relaxes.
Peeta: Always.
Katniss sighs in relief and rests her head on Peeta's knees. Peeta strokes her hair. Katniss stands up and sits next to him hold his face, placing her forehead and against his.
Katniss: Are you ok?
Peeta nods
Peeta: Are you?
Katniss utters a breathy laugh
Katniss: Yeah
Katniss releases his face and Peeta wraps an arm around her bringing her close. Katniss puts her head on his shoulder.
Katniss: It's been a while since…
Peeta: Yeah…
They bring Caris back in the room, she's rattled and she bears tea in her shaking hands. Peeta takes the tea before she drops it
Peeta: Thank you, honey. Why don't you sit down
Caris sits on the couch and Katniss and Peeta stand in front of her. Peeta sets the tea on the coffee table.
Katniss: I'm sorry that happened.
Caris: You've never yelled at me like that.
Peeta: She was afraid that I would hurt you.
Caris: Why?
Katniss: You dad went through, horrible things, and sometimes he...has flashbacks.
Peeta: It hasn't happened in a long time.
Katniss strokes Peeta's shoulder.
Katniss: ...Maybe we're the ones that aren't ready to relive this, Caris.
Caris nods
There is a knock on the door.
Katniss: Who could that be?
Peeta is still shaken up by the episode.
Peeta: I'll get it
Katniss: It's late, Caris, why don't you go to bed.
Caris just stares at the tea. Katniss reaches down to help her up.
Katniss: Come on, dear, let's go.
Katniss and Caris walk up the stairs while Peeta opens to door to a middle aged man with grey speckled hair in a dark jacket bearing the symbol of Neo Panem. Peeta's hand slides down the door in shock.
Peeta: Gale.
Gale: Hi.
They stare awkwardly at each other.
Peeta: How are you?
Gale: I'm fine, thank you for asking.
Peeta looks behind himself to see if Katniss is back and closes the door a little.
Peeta: What brings you here this late?
Gale: I need to talk to both of you.
Peeta: About what?
Gale: I'd like to speak to both of you at the same time, if that's all right.
Peeta hesitates slightly before opening the door wider.
Peeta: Please, come in.
Gale: Thank you.
Peeta offers a seat at the kitchen table.
Peeta: Katniss should be down soon. Would you like something to drink?
Gale: No, thank you.
When it has been a while, Peeta walks over to the staircase.
Peeta: Katniss?
Katniss: Yeah?
Her voice came from Caris's room.
Peeta: We have a guest. An old friend of yours.
Katniss comes down and stops halfway down the stairs.
Gale: Hey...Catnip.
The attempt at easy familiarity doesn't sit well. Katniss continues down the stairs cautiously.
Katniss: What...is going on, is everything ok?
Gale had hoped that they would have some more small talk before business, but proceeds
Gale: I'm here on business
Gale withdraws a badge from the inside of his jacket and sets in on the table, refusing to look at Katniss
Gale: I'm sure you're aware that we've elected a new president. She's, an idealist...A stubborn idealist.
Peeta: Yeah, she sounds like she knows what this country needs.
Gale bites his lip
Gale: I have some bad news for you. Katniss, you were never present at your trial for the assassination of Coin. The president believes that nobody should be above the law and it's due process… She's declared the trial invalid and wants to retry your case. I am here to collect you for court
Gale turns to Peeta
Gale: As a key witness, you have been called to court as well.
Peeta and Katniss take this in with their jaws open. Peeta grabs Katniss's hand tightly.
Peeta: When?
Gale: I'm supposed to take you back tomorrow.
Katniss: No.
Gale: Katniss.
Katniss: I said no, my home is here, my family is here and I've been forced away too many times.
Gale: This is different, Katniss.
Katniss: How?
Gale: The country has changed, the people have changed, the Capitol is gone it's completely different. You will have a fair trial, with chances for appeal.
Katniss: I'm not going.
Gale: Technically, you're house arrest was never lifted. You're considered a ward of the state
Katniss rolls her eyes and gets up, starting to pace.
Gale: You still have rights, but you do have to come… I'm not allowed to leave here without you. Please, Katniss.
Katniss: Why did they send you?
Gale: I volunteered, I thought it'd be better than coming from someone else you don't know.
Peeta: Were you apart this?
Gale: No.
Katniss: You couldn't convince them to leave us alone?
Gale: You know I tried.
Katniss considers his tone and sits down.
Gale: I tried… But a part of me thinks it's not a bad idea.
Peeta and Katniss stare murderously at him.
Katniss: How could you…
Gale: Think about it Katniss, all you've ever done is play for the cameras. This is your chance, your chance to show them who you really are, tell them what you really think. To tell them what really happened, what a monster Snow was, and Coin too.
Katniss: What do you mean?
Gale: Your first trial focused on how much you had been through, but we were at a very fragile point in our history. People depended on those lies and we couldn't take that from them.
Katniss: Like what?
Peeta: The marriage, the pregnancy was never challenged.
Gale: Peeta's hijacking was also kept quiet. We were afraid people might try to replicate the effects.
Peeta and Katniss think about the prospect of rehashing the truth for the world
Peeta: What are we supposed to do with our kids?
Gale: You can find someone here to take care of them for the duration of the trial, or there is room for them on the train, if you want to bring them too.
Peeta: Where would we stay?
Gale winces, preparing for their reaction
Gale: The old training center in District 2 has been converted into a mental institute. They've prepared accommodations for you
Gale looks at Katniss
Gale: and one guest.
He looks over to Peeta.
Gale: I don't live very far from the institute, your children are more than welcome to stay at my house with my family.
Silence, Gale can't look at them. Katniss shakes her head in disbelief.
Katniss: How? How is this different, Gale, because I don't see it. The only change in the Games is that the arena has been moved to a courtroom.
Gale: Nobody is going to be hunting you down-
Katniss: If they find me guilty, what's the worse they can do?
Gale stands up and turns around, but doesn't answer.
Peeta: Execution?
Katniss; The only difference being, they would be justified in doing it!
Gale whirls around
Gale: It won't come to that!
Katniss: How do you know?
Gale: Because people do remember the Games. They remember what the Capitol was like. Yes, death is the ultimate punishment, but in the twenty years since the start of Neo Panem no judge has ever given that sentence. Sociopaths, murderers, rapists have all been spared, I doubt they'll break that trend with you.
Peeta and Katniss process this while Gale sits down again. Katniss is a little offended to be compared with sociopaths and rapists and is about to say so when Peeta speaks.
Peeta: Why now? The lies everyone supposedly depended on got us this far, what makes you think the truth will do any good now?
Gale doesn't answer right away.
Gale: 30 years ago, we were in chaos, families were ripped apart, some turned on each other, horrible things were happening every day. In all that uncertainty people needed something to hold on to so they could make it to see tomorrow. 30 years ago it didn't matter if something was true or not, what mattered was if it gave people hope, if it gave them a reason to keep fighting. But we're not in chaos anymore. What happened to us, our generation, how we were raised, is fast becoming history. People made it to the tomorrow, now they need to know how they got there.
Peeta looks at Katniss and Katniss looks up to Caris's bedroom.
Gale: They need to understand the unseen sacrifices and the hidden battles to know where to go next.
Peeta is gripping Katniss's hand painfully tight.
Katniss: ...will it be televised?
Gale: That's up to you.