01 ERICA'S BEDROOM - DAY
There's no one in the room.
ERICA - V.O
Sometimes I look at everything surrounding me and think
'how did I got here?'
02 ERICA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
There's no one in the room.
ERICA - V.O
'How could everything change so quickly?'...
'Who am I and... Where am I?'
03 ERICA'S BATHROOM - DAY
ERICA is kneeling at the toilet. Pukes.
ERICA - V.O
And those moments of reflexion can either bring joy
and delight or fear and disorientation.
Erica gets up. Flushes the toilet. Seems tired. Washes the hands and the mouth. Looks at herself on the mirror, thoughtful. Gets concerned.
ERICA
It can't be.
04 ERICA'S CAR - DAY
ERICA is driving. The phone rings. She presses a button.
ERICA
Hey, mom!
BARBARA - V.O
Hey, honey! Are you at work?
ERICA
No, I'm... I'm almost there.
BARBARA - V.O
Oh, I'm so sorry! I don't like to call you when
you and your sister are driving.
ERICA
No, it's fine. Is everything okay?
BARBARA - V.O
Yes! It's just that... Can you bring some hydrangeas and roses to the dinner?
I have a million things to do and really have no time to pick them.
And your dad is at the Synagogue.
ERICA
No, of course I can! But mom, don't overdo it!
It's just a rehearsal dinner.
BARBARA - V.O
I'm not overdoing it!
ERICA
(Giggles)
Yeah, right.
BARBARA - V.O
Anyway, I hope this is not a problem for you.
ERICA
No, it's fine! I mean, today is going to be a bit messy at 50/50.
It's our first big day and we need to connect with the new editors...
So, I'll probably be a little late, but I'll still try to arrive there before than everyone else.
BARBARA - V.O
Okay! Thank you so much, honey! Have a nice day!
ERICA
Thanks, mom! You to! Bye!
Erica disconnects the call. Looks out the window. Sees a pharmacy. Parks the car. Takes a deep breath. Looks at the pharmacy again.
ERICA
Nothing can go more wrong than this.
05 50/50'S ENTRANCE HALL - DAY
There's no one at the main desk. The room is empty. ERICA opens the main door and walks in. She's looking at the cellphone. Puts it in the bag. There's a sticky note on the main door. Erica looks at it but doesn't notice it. Prepares to start walking again, but suddenly stops and gets frightened. Opens the main door again and gets the sticky note out of there. Reads it. It says "Knock-knock, who's late?". Erica starts panicking and looks around. There's another sticky note on the door heading to the fiction department. Erica reads it. It says "Just another push...". Erica pushes the door and walks in.
06 FICTION DEPARTMENT - DAY
ERICA walks in. The room seems empty. Erica starts walking slowly. Suddenly, VAIR reveals herself coming from behind Erica's desk.
VAIR
Ta-da!
Erica gets frightened and screams.
ERICA
Oh no!
VAIR
Hi, fellow colleague! Missed me?
ERICA
Vair?
VAIR
In the flesh.
ERICA
W-what... W-what...?
VAIR
I know, I know this is unexpected and you're trilled to see me and I am too
- You know, not as much as I would like to -
but anyway, we need to remain professional!
Although some people don't know the meaning of that word,
but I hope you do, because... Well, you're an editor now.
There are bad editors too, but that's another story, right?
ERICA
V-Vair... What are you doing here? How did you find me?
Vair sits on Erica's chair.
VAIR
Well, I went to River Rock and they told me you
were fired and I was like, "Oh, wait, is this a d ja vu?"
Erica approaches Vair.
ERICA
And... What are you doing here?
VAIR
I came to wish you happy first day on your new office!
I mean, I came to wish us happy first day on our new office.
ERICA
Our... Office?
VAIR
Oh, it's not yours? That's not a big shock, to be honest,
but Julianne told me she shared 50/50 with you...
But maybe I didn't understood it well.
ERICA
No, you... Understood it quite well.
VAIR
Oh, see? I knew it! I'm a machine when it comes to memorize things.
ERICA
Wait. Are you saying that... You are... Going to...
VAIR
Work here? Of course yes! Julianne didn't told you?
ERICA
No, she didn't.
VAIR
Oh, so I guess you girls don't share everything in this company after all.
ERICA
(Offended)
Can you please get out of my chair?
Vair gets up.
VAIR
Oh, sure! Sure!
It seems someone learned how to be bossy very quickly!
Erica sits on her chair and Vair sits in front of her.
VAIR
It's not that hard to be bossy, but it's hard to be a boss.
You'll learn that too, hopefully... I think. Maybe not. I don't know.
ERICA
Vair, just... Back off! I'm your boss now! Apparently...
VAIR
That's what it seems... So far.
ERICA
So... You're going to be an editor, or something?
VAIR
Honey, are you awake? I'm going to be the receptionist.
I'm going to work in the entrance room.
Do you want me to give you directions on how to get there, or something?
ERICA
(Mumbles)
Oh Jesus...
(Normal tone)
So... What happened to WTP?
VAIR
They're firing a lot of people. They're in the mud.
But I want to believe that they fired me because I was too bright for the job,
just like what happened to you. I guess you must have been too bright in River Rock too, right?
Let's just hope your lights don't shine too bright here, or else your performance
could be obfuscated again! And we don't want that, do we?
ERICA
(Unmotivated)
Oh... And... Now, you're... Here. With no experience.
VAIR
No experience? How so? I answered calls and dealed with people my entire life.
And what about you? You had never edited a single coma when you got in River Rock.
Am I right?
ERICA
Vair, just... Just go.
VAIR
Uh-oh! I'm getting a little signal!
Vair takes a sticky note out and writes something on it. Puts it on Erica's nose. Gets up.
VAIR
Good stuff!
Vair starts walking to the door. Erica detaches the sticky note from the nose. Reads it. It says "RUDE". Vair stops in front of the door.
VAIR
Oh! Just one more thing!
Vair writes something on another sticky note and puts in on a wall.
VAIR
Perfect!
Vair goes away. Erica gets angry.
ERICA
I just can't believe this!
Erica gets up and walks to the wall where the sticky note is. Takes it out and reads it. It says "Why are you wearing a jumper and a skirt?". Gets furious and drops the sticky note.
07 SARAH'S BEDROOM, REHAB CLINIC - DAY
SARAH is sitting on the bed, looking at the window. Thoughtful. At her side there's a trolley case. Someone knocks on the door.
SARAH
Yes?
A nurse gets in.
NURSE
Sarah, are you ready?
SARAH
Yes! Yes. I think.
NURSE
It'll be fine. It's just a weekend.
SARAH
Yeah, but it's a change. And changes sometimes are hard.
NURSE
Come on, be strong! Things change. It's normal.
TOM - O.C
'If we don't change, we don't grow.
If we don't grow, we aren't really living.' - Gail Sheehy
Tom appears behind the nurse.
SARAH
(Excited)
Dad?!
NURSE
Sir, you can't be in here.
TOM
I'm sorry, I couldn't help it.
Sarah runs to Tom and hugs him.
TOM
Let me take your bag.
Sarah gives him the trolley case.
SARAH
Oh, thank you!
TOM
Are you ready?
Sarah
Yes!
Sarah smiles. The nurse and Tom go away. Sarah stops smiling and takes a deep breath. Goes away.
08 50/50 PRESS, NON FICTION DEPARTMENT - DAY
JULIANNE is at her desk, working. BRENT is near a bookcase. Passes a finger on it.
BRENT
Wow. This is as clean as Lindsay Lohan.
Brent takes a cloth out of the pocket and cleans it. Erica walks in abruptly. Brent and Julianne notice her.
ERICA
(Nervous)
Julianne!
JULIANNE
Chicken, what is going on?
BRENT
(To Julianne)
Oh, I told you she was going to find my Kama Sutra book in the ladies room.
ERICA
What?
BRENT
What?
ERICA
What are you talking about?
BRENT
Oh! Nothing!
ERICA
Forget it! Julianne, what is Vair doing here?
JULIANNE
You mean, the receptionist?
ERICA
Yes!
JULIANNE
Well, she's working.
ERICA
I can see that! But why is she here?
Julianne, she's a nightmare!
Why didn't you tell me you were going to hire her?
JULIANNE
Well, because you told me you trusted me with that job.
You were busy, remember? Besides, I met her a few times
and she told me you worked together in the past, so... What's the "dealio"?
ERICA
Yeah! We worked together! That's why I know she's a terrible person!
JULIANNE
Okay, so... Do you want me to fire her?
ERICA
No! I mean, yes, but we can't do it.
The new editors are going to arrive soon
and we need things to work well. We need her.
JULIANNE
Okay! So, we're good, right?
ERICA
(Unmotivated)
Right...
JULIANNE
Chicken! Secret number 5: 'A good mood is also a clever way for your day to go well',
so... Flash me a smile!
Erica sighs. Smiles to Julianne.
JULIANNE
"Perfecto!" Tchau-tchau!
ERICA
Okay! See you in a bit.
Erica goes away.
09 INT. ERICA'S FAMILY HOUSE, ENTRANCE HALL - TWILIGHT
ERICA gets in. BARBARA is standing in front of her. Erica is holding roses and hydrangeas. Gives them to Barbara.
ERICA
There you go, mom!
BARBARA
Thank you so much, sweetie!
ERICA
I hope I'm not too late.
BARBARA
No it's fine!
They walk to the dinning room.
10 int. Erica's family house, dinning room - night
The dinning table is set.
BARBARA
How was your day?
ERICA
Busy. Very busy. But good, you know. The new editors seem competent.
Everyone's got their own personality, but
hopefully we'll figure out a way to work well together.
BARBARA
That's perfect.
ERICA
And look at this table! It's gorgeous!
Barbara puts the flowers in a jar.
BARBARA
And now it's going to get even more beautiful.
ERICA
I know, the flowers are very pretty.
BARBARA
I didn't mean the flowers, sweetheart. I mean you. My girls.
ERICA
Aw, mom!
Erica kisses Barbara and gives her a hug. They look at the table.
ERICA
This is so strange.
Have you ever stop and wonder how did you get here?
Things changed so quickly... And drastically.
BARBARA
Yes, they did. But that's how it goes.
But why are you saying that?
Are you unhappy? Is everything okay?
ERICA
No, it's nothing. I'm not unhappy. I'm... Overwhelmed.
BARBARA
Overwhelmed?
ERICA
Yes! You see... I look into myself and...
It's weird. Everything is so different.
I'm afraid I can't handle this in a good way.
BARBARA
Oh, honey. That's normal.
Life's always changing.
But there's one thing that never changes.
ERICA
What?
BARBARA
It's...
Someone knocks on the door.
BARBARA
Oh, people are finally arriving!
ERICA
I'm just going to the bathroom.
BARBARA
Okay!
Erica goes up the stairs. Stops in front of the bathroom door. Takes a pregnancy test out of the purse. Gets in.
11 INT. SARAH'S BEDROOM - TWILIGHT
SARAH and TOM get in. Tom has Sarah's trolley case.
TOM
And here we are!
SARAH
Home sweet home.
TOM
Now I'm gonna call your mom. She's dying to see you.
SARAH
Okay! I'll be here unpacking.
Tom goes away and closes the door. Sarah grabs the trolley case and puts it on the bed. Opens it. Starts taking some clothes out. Stops. Looks at the window. Approaches. Looks outside.
12 ext. street, POV SHOT - TWILIGHT
SARAH sees PETER and another GUY walking on the sidewalk. They stop in front of each other. Peter gives him some drugs.
13 int. SARAH'S BEDROOM - TWILIGHT
SARAH gets shocked. Rubs the eyes and looks again.
14 EXT. STREET, POV SHOT - TWILIGHT
SARAH sees two GUYS meeting and they shake hands.
15 int. SARAH'S BEDROOM - TWILIGHT
SARAH gets away from the window and sits on the bed, nervous.
ERICA - V.O
Life is full of twists and turns.
And when we think nothing else is going to happen,
we're surprised.
16 int. ERICA'S FAMILY HALLWAY - TWILIGHT
ERICA gets out of the bathroom. Holds a pregnancy test. She's shocked.
ERICA - V.O
But we must be strong to deal with life's different situations.
Erica looks at the pregnancy test. It's a positive.
ERICA - V.O
The question is, where can we find that strength?
Erica gasps. She doesn't know what to do.
BEING ERICA 5X08 - THE IRONY OF IT ALL
17 int. DINNING ROOM - NIGHT
ERICA and DANIEL are sitting at the table, near each other. Erica seems distant. BARBARA, JOE and ROBERTA are sitting on the couch. SAM, LENIN, GARY, GUS and PHOEBE are standing, talking to each other. AUDREY, CARL and LAUREN are sitting on the other side of the table, eating. Daniel looks at Barbara, Joe and Roberta.
JOE
Marrying the same man twice... You're either wiser or crazier, Barb!
BARBARA
(Laughs)
I know!
Roberta
But I'm so excited for the chasuna!
BARBARA
Yes, me too! It doesn't feel like the second, to be honest. I'm so anxious!
DANIEL
(To Erica)
The chasuna?
Erica is not paying attention. Stares at nowhere. Sam looks at Erica and notices she's strange.
DANIEL
Erica?
ERICA
W-What? Sorry, I was just a little distracted.
DANIEL
What's a... Chasuna?
ERICA
Oh, the wedding. It's the wedding. Jewish language... So complicated.
DANIEL
It's an interesting religion, actually, although I don't know anything about it.
ERICA
Isn't it funny?
If you had sticked with us the whole time, you'd probably be Jewish too.
Erica loses concentration again.
DANIEL
Yeah, I know! It's strange...
I find it curious that you're allowed to remarry your ex-spouse.
Daniel notices Erica's not paying attention.
DANIEL
Erica? Am I being boring?
Sam looks at Erica again.
ERICA
Uh? Oh, no! Sorry! It's just that I'm really tired. I'm so sorry!
Stressful day at work. And concerning the remarriage subject,
you're allowed but it's not that simple.
Sam approaches.
DANIEL
Oh!
SAM
I'm sorry, Daniel. Erica, can I speak to you?
ERICA
Erm... Yes. Yes, of course!