01 int. ERICA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Close up: ERICA is looking at someone. Nervous. Takes a deep breath.

ERICA

Adam... Things are not good and I think that we should break up. Thank you.

The person she's talking to is JENNY. She's sitting on a chair. Gets up, angry.

Jenny

(Tries to make an Irish man voice)

What?! I'm gonna break your bones, you piece of shite!

ERICA

What?

JENNY

Erica! Come one! Seriously? Where did you learn to be so unemotional?

'Things are not good'? What things? The weather? Are his socks all over the place?

It's too vague. And who says thank you during a break-up? This is not the first time that you break up with someone, girl.

Come on!

ERICA

No. It's... It's the first time breaking up with someone that is very important to me.

JENNY

So, why are you breaking up with him? Do you just want to see his reaction?

Oh, maybe it's payback, because he dumped you before, right? You've got my support. Girl power!

ERICA

Jenny! Jenny, calm down. The reasons are... Very complicated.

JENNY

(Serious)

So... Tell me. You'll fell better. Here...

Jenny points to a chair.

JENNY

Sit.

Erica sighs. Sits.

ERICA

(Embarrassed)

I... Love him, but...

JENNY

You love him?

ERICA

Yes. But it's a different kind of love, I... Oh, God, you wouldn't understand.

JENNY

Do you think he will?

ERICA

Yes. I mean, I think so. I hope he does.

Jenny

But, if you can't explain it to me... How are you going to do it to him?

Erica gets up.

ERICA

Oh, man, I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't do anything and just stay with him.

JENNY

But you are not happy.

ERICA

Maybe... Relationships are hard, right? So, maybe it's just that.

Maybe it's just a stupid Erica Strange phase.

JENNY

(Playful)

Probably. You have a lot of stupid Erica Strange phases.

Erica

(Adverting tone)

Hey!

Jenny laughs. Erica walks to the kitchen.

ERICA

Come on! Get your ass up and come help me.

JENNY

Yes, sir!

Jenny gets up and joins Erica. They start making lunch. Erica is thoughtful.

ERICA - V.O

When you can't finish something, when you leave something half-done, it means that you failed at it.

It means you're a failure. And it's hard to admit it.

But when you do it, hopefully you're creating space for good things to come... Right?

02 Int. Building - day

ERICA and JULIANNE open the front door. The room is empty. It leads to three other rooms.

JULIANNE

Ta-da!

Erica

(Thrilled. Looking around)

Oh my goodness! I can't believe we bought this!

JULIANNE

Oh, trust me, chicken, you'll have plenty of time to "interiorize" that.

ERICA

I mean, look at this. It's so big!

JULIANNE

Well, not as big as 'River Rock', or 'Green Row', or 'Cristal Press', or...

ERICA

Okay, enough!

JULIANNE

... But it's a start.

Erica points at the door on the right.

ERICA

This is my department, right?

JULIANNE

If you want to, yes. The fiction department.

Erica opens the door. Walks in, delighted.

ERICA

This is huge and perfect and... Oh God...

Julianne approaches.

JULIANNE

It's lovely.

ERICA

Okay, enough with all the enchantment! What about Dave and Ivan?

JULIANNE

What about them? I gave Ivan notice that we'll be leaving this month.

ERICA

Yes, but... I don't know. It's hard leaving them like this.

JULIANNE

Like this? Erica...

ERICA

I know, it's silly. I'm feeling nostalgic already.

JULIANNE

'When you feel nostalgic, you regress.

And then it may be impossible for you to come back to the present.'

Erica does a judgemental face.

JULIANNE

(Embarrassed)

This was in one of the chapters of the... Mistery of Tomorrow. Anyway, what if we...

Invite them tomorrow at the "farewell party" to see our new "home"?

ERICA

Yeah! It's a good idea.

Julianne shows her hand to Erica .

JULIANNE

Hi five!

Erica gives her an Hi five.

03 int. Sarah's room - day

SARAH is putting clothes in a suitcase. Seems sad. Sighs. TOM walks in, calmly.

TOM

Hey, sweety.

SARAH

Hey, dad.

TOM

Do you need any help?

SARAH

More than you're giving me? No, thanks.

TOM

Okay, then.

Silence.

TOM

Are you okay?

SARAH

No.

TOM

But you will. This is the right thing to do.

SARAH

Is it? I don't know. I feel like such a burden to you.

TOM

What? Honey, that's not true. Me and your mom do everything for you.

SARAH

Yeah, I know all that. I just... Am not happy. Forget about it. Can you...

Please... Leave me alone for a moment?

Tom

Erm... Yes, sure.

SARAH

Thanks.

Tom goes way and closes the door. Sarah sits on the bed, crestfallen. Sighs.

04 Int. Tom's living room - day

AMANDA is looking at the window. TOM appears. Amanda notices him and approaches.

AMANDA

So? How is she?

TOM

I don't know what else I can do for her...

This whole thing feels like a descent to hell with no way out.

Amanda passes her hands on Tom's face.

AMANDA

Hey... This will pass. Sarah going to the rehab clinic is the right thing to do.

TOM

At this point, I don't know what's right or wrong anymore.

Amanda gives a hug to Tom.

AMANDA

(Whispers)

It's gonna be okay... It's gonna be okay.

05 INT. HALLWAY TO ERICA'S APARTMENT - DAY

ERICA walks in. Opens her door. The door goes against ADAM's face. Erica gets frightened.

ADAM

Ouch!

ERICA

Oh my God, Adam! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?

ADAM

Yes, yes, I'm fine. Ready for another one.

ERICA

Isn't your nose bleeding?

ADAM

It's fine. Come in.

I was about to go to Goblins to see if you were there.

Erica walks in.

06 int. Erica's living room - day

ADAM

You didn't return my calls and messages all these days. What the hell happened?

ERICA

I know, I'm... I'm sorry, I...

ADAM

Do you have any idea how concerned I was?

If this was reversed, how would you react?

ERICA

I know and I'm sorry! It's just that...

ADAM

What?

Erica and Adam sit.

ERICA

It's that... From the beginning... I mean, since we got together again, I feel...

I don't know... Unsecure.

ADAM

About what?

ERICA

The future. And about us. I mean, I love you and...

ADAM

I love you too. Erica... What's going on? Are you trying to break up or something?

Is that why you didn't return my calls? I don't understand.

Pause. Erica doesn't know what to say.

ERICA - V.O

Admiting that things didn't work as expected is admiting that you failed.

But not admiting it is an even worse failure. The question is...

How do you say it without hurting someone you love?

How do you leave? And what if leaving is the wrong thing to do?

ERICA

No... I... Oh crap. I'm...

Erica's phone starts ringing.

ADAM

Don't answer.

Erica looks at the phone. Gets surprised.

ERICA

(To Adam)

I'm sorry.

Erica answers the phone.

ERICA

Ethan?...

(Excited)

Oh my God, Ethan! How are you? How's Ethiopia and Nataline?...

You didn't return my e-mails! Are you okay?... What?

Silence.

ERICA

(Concerned)

What?


BEING ERICA 5X05 - AFTER THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER


07 Int. Erica's living room - day

ERICA is shocked. Disconnects the call.

ADAM

Erica? What happened?

ERICA

I... I have to go.

ADAM

Where? Erica, what the hell is wrong with you?

ERICA

(Disturbed)

I really have to go.

ADAM

Why? And who is that Ethan? What is going on here?

Are you cheating on me?

Erica grabs her purse and walks to the door.

ERICA

Come with me, if want to.

Erica goes away. Adam follows her.