01 INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
SARAH closes the door. TOM looks at it, thoughtful. He's recording everything with a camera. Passes the hand on the door. Nostalgic. Opens the door, slowly.
02 INT. ERICA'S OFFICE - NIGHT
ERICA watches the door opening. Anxious and excited. Smiles.
03 INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
On the other side of the door there's an intense white light. TOM closes the eyes.
04 INT. ERICA'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Erica sees the intense light. Gets suspicious. Closes the eyes. The door opens completely. The white light fills the whole room and we can't see anything.
05 INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
The light instantly disappears. TOM opens the eyes. On the other side of the door there's Sarah's room. Feels confused.
06 INT. DR. NAADIAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
ERICA appears, disoriented. DR. NAADIAH is sitting on her chair. Serious.
ERICA
DR... Naadiah? What did just happen?
DR. NAADIAH
What happened was that I saved you from a big problem that you were about to cause.
Erica feels embarrassed.
DR. NAADIAH
Sit.
ERICA
DR. Naadiah, I...
DR. NAADIAH
(Cuts her off)
Sit.
Erica sits.
DR. NAADIAH
I want you to tell me what you were doing, Erica.
ERICA
I... That was just a momentary insanity.
DR. NAADIAH
Was it? Because it feels like you've always wanted to do what you were about to do.
ERICA
And... It's true. I... I was thinking about DR. Tom and...
DR. NAADIAH
He's not a Doctor anymore, Erica.
DR. Naadiah gets up, angry.
ERICA
He's important to me and I just feel that it's not fair not having him in my life.
DR. NAADIAH
Erica, life is not fair. And you must adapt to reality's restrictions and try to create your own happiness.
And this is the only way.
(Provocative)
Unless you want to quit as well.
ERICA
I'm sorry? DR. Naadiah, I think you're exaggerating.
DR. NAADIAH
Exaggerating? Erica, you're a Doctor now. A Doctor!
And do you have any idea of the problems I had to solve that you and Tom created?
Erica, this thing that we do can be dangerous. And you must follow the rules! I'm tired of this, frankly.
It's tiring.
Erica feels hurt. Gets up and goes away. DR. Naadiah is tired. Sighs. Sits. Someone knocks at the door.
DR. NAADIAH
Come in, DR. Arthur.
DR. ARTHUR walks in.
DR. ARTHUR
Hello, Naadiah. We have to talk.
07 INT. ERICA'S BATHROOM - DAY
ERICA is in front of the cabinet's mirror, crestfallen.
Opens it and looks for a make-up brush. Stops, thoughtful.
Watches ADAM in the living room, arranging pillows on the sofa.
ERICA - V.O
When things are only black and white, when you can't make a decision of your own,
you must adapt and try to be happy.
But the question is: Can anyone be 100% happy under life's dictatorship?
Takes a breath and is brought back to reality.
08 KAI'S KITCHEN, FUTURE - DAY
The decoration is minimalistic and white. There's a framed poster on the wall. It says "Alien Like You". KAI walks in,
shirtless. Approaches to a machine that looks like a fridge.
It has a screen. Kai touches it.
VOICE
Good morning. Choose your meal.
Kai sees a bunch of different meals on the screen and chooses one.
VOICE
Blueberry Pancake and Cappuccino.
In process.
Kai looks at the poster on the wall. Thoughtful. Smiles.
ANDREA walks in, in a rush.
ANDREA
Hey, baby!
Andrea grabs her purse.
KAI
Hey, hey!
ANDREA
I'm so late!
Andrea gives Kai a quick kiss.
KAI
You're always late. You're not going to have breakfast?
ANDREA
There's no time! Bu-bye!
Andrea walks fast to the door. Pushes a button on the wall.
ANDREA
Open.
The door opens. Amanda goes away.
KAI
Andrea!
Kai sighs. The machine makes a noise. Kai opens it and takes the meal out.
09 INT. ERICA'S PARENTS DINNING ROOM - DAY
ERICA, ADAM, SAM, LENIN, GARY and BARBARA are sitting around the table with plenty of food. LEO is near Sam and Lenin.
LENIN
And I swear he said the word 'dad'.
ERICA
Already?
SAM
(Laughs)
Leo is not even eight months,
Lenin!
LENIN
But I swear he said it.
GARY
Our grandson is gifted, Barb!
BARBARA
He really is. We look at his face and instantly fall in love with him.
GARY
He's like my wife, then.
ERICA AND SAM
Wow, mom!
GARY
No, I'm serious. You guys must be asking yourselves why I invited you here.
Gary stands up.
BARBARA
(Confused)
Gary!
GARY
You all know how Barb has been important to me.
Even when we were divorced, I couldn't stay away from her.
And, now that we're together, I must take the chance for us to bond even more. So...
Gary goes down on one knee. Everybody gets surprised.
BARBARA
Gary, are you crazy?
GARY
Barbara...
Gary shows Barbara a ring.
GARY
Do you want to marry me, again?
BARBARA
(Shocked. Smiles)
Oh my God!
Barbara looks at her family.
ERICA
Mom, answer him.
BARBARA
I honestly hope you don't regret what you're doing, Gary,
because I do want to marry you.
Gary puts the ring on Barbara's finger. They kiss. Everyone applauds. Erica is happy and thoughtful at the same time.
Adam and Erica look at each other and smile. Everyone gets up and approaches Gary and Barbara, except for Erica.
ERICA - V.O
You look at the other people and watch them moving on with their lives. Taking steps.
Getting together, marrying, having kids.
Because that's the way it should be. We must not stagnate.
But I can't stop wondering: If I want to do that too, if I have to do that,
then why do I have a permanent knot in my stomach, like it's not going to work out for me?
Erica gets up and join the others.
BEING ERICA 5X04 - BEING KAI
10 INT. ERICA'S PARENTS HALLWAY - DAY
ERICA is standing in the hallway, between the kitchen and the dinning room. Looks around, thoughtful. POV shot: ADAM is uncomfortably talking on the phone, in the kitchen. In the dinning room, SAM and LENIN are looking at the baby,
LEO. GARY and BARBARA are watching them, delighted. Barbara notices Erica and gets suspicious. Approaches.
BARBARA
Hey, honey.
ERICA
Mom, hey!
BARBARA
Are you okay?
ERICA
Yes! Why are you asking?
BARBARA
Erica...
ERICA
Seriously, I'm totally fine.
BARBARA
Is it about me and dad?
ERICA
Oh, no! Of course not! That is one of the best news I've received in my life!
BARBARA
Are you sure? Because you seemed a little quiet.
ERICA
No, mom!...
(Sighs)
It's just... No, forget about it.
BARBARA
Erica, tell me.
ERICA
It's nothing, really. I'm silly. I just look at you and dad and...
I mean, you've patched things up, you're good, you're getting married.
And Sam and Lenin are parents, they're madly in love...
BARBARA
And you too, right?
ERICA
Yes... Of course, yes. But... I feel like I can't move forward.
It seems that I won't be able to have a house, a marriage, kids...
I mean, that's what I'm supposed to do, right?
BARBARA
Oh, honey, that's not silly. It's normal. And those doubts happen
when you're ready to move forward.
When those things are about to happen. Trust me. Mother knows best.
Erica smiles. Barbara goes away. Erica looks at Adam and approaches, playful.
11 INT. ERICA'S PARENTS KITCHEN - DAY
Erica gets in. Adam doesn't notice her presence. Talks on the phone. She puts her arms around him. He gets frightened.
ADAM
Jesus!
(Talking on the phone)
Ok. I got to go.
Adam disconnects the call.
ADAM
(Upset)
Erica, what was that?
ERICA
Sorry, I thought you noticed me walking in. Are you mad?
ADAM
No, of course not. It's that... I was talking to my boss.
ERICA
Oops! Sorry.
ADAM
It's okay.
Adam also puts is arms around Erica.
ADAM
Look, I have something to tell you.
And I know that this is in short notice, but...
ERICA
What?
ADAM
My boss just told me that he needs me for another job... In Montreal.
ERICA
(Surprised)
Montreal? Are you serious? Couldn't he get anyone else?
ADAM
I don't know, but this means that he trusts me.
I have to take this opportunity... And I have to go now.
ERICA
What? As in, right, right now?
Adam nods.
ERICA
You're joking. And... When are you coming back?
ADAM
In four days.
Erica steps away from him, crestfallen.
ERICA
Oh, wow!
ADAM
I'm sorry. I didn't know about this, either. But it's a great opportunity.
I'm going to get a raise and all.
ERICA
Ok, then. If you have to go, then go. What can I do?
ADAM
Will you be ok?
ERICA
(Playful)
Of course! I'll survive.
ADAM
At least, you'll try to.
Erica laughs.
ERICA
Jerk!
Adam gets out of the kitchen. Erica looks at nowhere, thoughtful.