Punky Brewster "Twenty Years Ago Today" by Mark Sinacori
FADE IN:
TEASER
INT. PUNKY'S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM- DAY
PUNKY YAWNS AS SHE WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM IN HER PAJAMAS. SHE LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM.
PUNKY
Boy, I couldn't sleep at all last night. Amazing Station Nineteen. What a cliffhanger!
PUNKY WALKS AROUND THE LIVING ROOM. SHE LOOKS AT THE WALL OF PHOTOS, THEN AT HENRY'S PHOTO.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
I know, Henry, you'd settle for Dynasty. You were so eighties.
PUNKY THINKS TO HERSELF.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
I'm sorry, Henry, where are my manners? Happy twenty years in heaven.
HANNAH WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM.
HANNAH
Mom, are you doing it again?
PUNKY
Doing what again?
HANNAH
Talking to Grandpa. He's just a photo.
PUNKY
He's more than just that. He's a hero. I wish you got to know him.
HANNAH
I've seen many photographs and home movies. It's like we lived in the eighties together, especially nineteen eighty four to nineteen eighty eight, you have a lot from those years.
PUNKY
Beginning with Punky Brewster's Workout!
HANNAH
Mom, don't forget, you have an appointment today with Doctor Carter.
PUNKY FREEZES.
PUNKY
Right, how could I forget.
HANNAH
You okay?
PUNKY
Guess it just slipped my mind.
HANNAH
Well, don't stand there.
PUNKY
Why?
HANNAH
Do you want to go to the doctor's in PJ's or Mom Jeans!
PUNKY
I would never wear Mom jeans! I do the Punky Brewster workout, remember, my booty is class, not sass!
HANNAH SHAKES HER HEAD AND GOES INTO THE KITCHEN.
PUNKY LOOKS AROUND THE LIVING ROOM, THEN BACK AT HENRY'S PHOTO.
PUNKY
You know, Henry, you would have loved meeting your grand-daughter. She's got the spunk, just like the punk!
FADE OUT.
END TEASER
FADE IN:
ACT ONE
INT. PUNKY'S APARTMENT, KITCHEN- DAY
PUNKY PLACES PLATES IN FRONT OF DIEGO, DANIEL AND IZZY. TRAVIS WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN.
TRAVIS
All right! Bacon!
PUNKY SHAKES HER HEAD.
PUNKY
Since when did you walk right in?
TRAVIS
Since you gave me a spare key.
PUNKY
I what?
TRAVIS
Remember?
PUNKY GAPES
PUNKY
No...we didn't, did we?
TRAVIS NODS HIS HEAD.
TRAVIS
I guess we did.
PUNKY
Ahhh!
TRAVIS
Relax, agreed so I could watch the kids while you were at work.
PUNKY
Right.
DANIEL
Hey, Diego, I have an idea for your song competition.
DIEGO
Yeah?
DANIEL
Yeah, why don't we be a team?
DIEGO
I'd rather team up with Brandy.
BRANDY BARKS.
DANIEL
With my writing and your voice we can make it happen.
IZZY
Excellent, count me in!
DIEGO
Wait a minute! I'm doing this solo.
PUNKY
You know, It's not always good doing things alone.
DIEGO
Why?
PUNKY
Take me, Cherie and Margaux. One time, we all worked together and won a radio story contest. We wouldn't have by doing it alone. We all worked together, even when our competition tried to outsmart us.
DIEGO
This is music, not old time story.
PUNKY
Think about it. You might just need them with you.
IZZY PATS DANIEL ON THE SHOULDER.
IZZY
He'll come around.
DANIEL
He may have the voice but he doesn't get the grades when it comes to English and Writing.
DIEGO
And what's that supposed to mean?
DANIEL
Nothing. Nothing.
DANIEL HIDES A PIECE OF PAPER.
DIEGO
What do you have there?
DANIEL
Nothing! Hey. Izzy, check out the lyrics to this new poem I wrote.
DANIEL GETS UP AND SHOWS IZZY THE PAPER. HER JAW DROPS.
IZZY
Wow! No freakin' way! I love it! It totally rocks! I can for sure see this as a pop song on itunes!
IZZY AND DANIEL WALK OFF AND LAUGH. DIEGO LOOKS DOWN.
LIVING ROOM- LATER
PUNKY WALKS IN THE FRONT DOOR AS SHE TALKS ON THE PHONE.
PUNKY
No, Cherie, I told you, four o'clock, Yeah. Yeah I have my work out clothes. Girl, we gonna be the talk of the park in our new outfits. They don't call Chicago Punky Town for nothing. Right. Bye.
PUNKY BEGINS TO SHAKE AROUND AND SING.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Won't you take me to...Punky town. Won't you take me to...Punky town. Oh, it's gotta be, gotta be, gotta be Punky B. yeah, that's me, I bad!
PUNKY EXHALES. SHE LOOKS AT HENRY'S PHOTO ON THE WALL.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Oh, Henry, if you only were here to see my style of clothing nowadays.
PUNKY GOES TO THE COUCH AND PICKS UP A FUNKY LOOKING JOGGING SUIT AND MIS-MATCHED JOGGING SHOES.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Never mind, you didn't miss a thing.
PUNKY'S PHONE RINGS.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Hello?
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Yes, Doctor Carter, it's Punky Brewster. What?
PUNKY FREEZES.
INT. CHERIE'S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM- DAY
CHERIE OPENS HER DOOR TO SEE PUNKY WHO LOOKS GLOOMY.
CHERIE
Girl, you told me four o'clock. It's only one. I am not missing The Reel for this!
LAUREN SITS AT THE COUCH AND READS A MAGAZINE.
LAUREN
Oh, I see, want to get a head start trying out those new outfits. I saw Cherie's and boy was it ta die for!
PUNKY DOESN'T SPEAK.
CHERIE
Hey, what's wrong? Something's wrong, isn't it?
LAUREN GETS UP FROM THE COUCH.
LAUREN
Punky? Do you have something private to talk to Cherie about because if you do I'll leave.
PUNKY
Lauren... Cherie's my best friend. This is something I have to talk to her about. I can't tell anyone. Not just yet.
LAUREN
I see. You two rap. Later, babe.
CHERIE AND LAUREN KISS AND LAUREN LEAVES.
PUNKY
Can I sit down?
CHERIE
Mi casa es su casa.
PUNKY
Thanks. Cherie...
CHERIE
Yes, Punky?
PUNKY
Cherie...did I ever tell you I think you're the best person in the world.
CHERIE
Many a time. I still saved your best person in the world award you gave me when we were younger.
THE TWO GLANCE AT THE AWARD ON THE WALL AND CHERIE LAUGHS.
PUNKY
Well...I have a favor to ask of you.
CHERIE
What is it?
PUNKY
Say, someday, well, you know...I die while my kids are still young.
PUNKY PUTS HER HEAD DOWN AND CHOKES UP.
CHERIE
What?
PUNKY RUSHES HER HEAD AT CHERIE.
PUNKY
Would you and Lauren raise them?
CHERIE
Punky, of course we would. They are family regardless if we are related or not.
PUNKY EXHALES.
PUNKY
Great, because I can't trust Travis raising them all alone.
CHERIE
Why say that? Why alone? Aren't you two sorta of shacking up?
PUNKY'S JAW DROPS.
PUNKY
No!
CHERIE
Getting down and dirty?
PUNKY SHAKES HER HEAD.
PUNKY
Hell no.
CHERIE
Getting back together?
PUNKY FREEZES AND PULLS BACK.
PUNKY
Well...I wish that was the case.
CHERIE
Then what is it? You can tell me, we've been through so much together.
PUNKY
Well, Cherie, this morning I went to the doctor's. They took an ultrasound to see if everything was normal. They found a spot on my liver.
CHERIE
What?
PUNKY
They are worried it could be cancer.
CHERIE AND PUNKY LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER AND DON'T SAY A WORD.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT I
ACT II
FADE IN:
INT. CHERIE'S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM- DAY
CHERIE AND PUNKY CONTINUE TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER IN SILENCE. CHERIE PULLS BACK.
CHERIE
Cancer? Why? How? At your age?
PUNKY
Oh, Cherie, don't ask thirty questions, this isn't a game.
CHERIE
And it's not to be taken lightly. Did they say how sure they were?
PUNKY
Well, that's the thing, they are going to run some more tests and Monday morning I find out.
CHERIE BEGINS TO CRY. SHE PUTS HER HEAD DOWN.
CHERIE
Do you want me there with you?
PUNKY
Every step of the way. Best friends for life.
PUNKY SMILES AND SHE AND CHERIE HUG.
CHERIE
What about the kids and Travis?
PUNKY
Nobody needs to know. Hopefully it's nothing. I don't want to scare them.
PUNKY AND CHERIE HUG AGAIN.
INT. PUNKY'S APARTMENT, KITCEHN- DAY
DIEGO SITS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE. HE STRUGGLES AS HE WRITES ON PAPER.
IZZY AND DANIEL ENTER THE KITCHEN.
IZZY
That song you created from that poem, Daniel, that's gonna woo the judges for sure.
DIEGO
What? You mean you're entering the singing competition.
DANIEL
Of course.
IZZY
We started our own band...Dizzy.
DANIEL
Daniel. Izzy. Ship it. Sounds good, doesn't it? Nothing romantic if you are thinking that.
DIEGO
Yeah, it's great. Hey, guys, what do you think of these lyrics?
DIEGO BEGINS TO SING.
DIEGO (CONT'D)
Girl I really love you can't you see, I'm the one for you don't you know, every day it's just me with you, we go together nicely, yeah...
IZZY AND DANIEL CRINGE.
DANIEL
You have no sense of rhyme. Maybe just rythym, but definitely no rhyme. You need some pointers from me.
PUNKY SHAKES HER HEAD.
IZZY
I'm with him, Diego. You really need some better lyrics.
DIEGO
What?
PUNKY
Why not all form a team together?
DIEGO SHAKES HIS HEAD.
DIEGO
Okay, okay...
DANIEL
Great! Man! Dizzy has got to go then!
DIEGO
You're the writer. Think of something?
DANIEL
How about DDizzy with two D's?
DIEGO
Yeah, that would work!
PUNKY SMILES.
PUNKY
See, I told you working together will be best. I'm sure you'll come up with something amazing! Oh, and guys, I love you.
DANIEL TWISTS HIS FACE.
DANIEL
We love you, too, Mom, thanks.
PUNKY
Because a parent should remind their kids how much they mean to them. They won't be around forever. You guys know Grandpa wasn't. But he reminded me all the time.
HANNAH WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN.
HANNAHH
Grandpa? Wait, for once you aren't talking to his picture?
PUNKY
No, I'm talking to all of you. I love you, all of you.
PUNKY SMILES. TRAVIS WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN.
TRAVIS
Morning, all!
PUNKY
Travis?
TRAVIS
Yes?
PUNKY
I want to let you know I...I...I...
TRAVIS
You like my new shirt! I knew it would make a smash!
PUNKY
No, I love you.
THE KIDS ALL STARE AT PUNKY.
TRAVIS
What?
PUNKY
I...
TRAVIS
You just said you loved me.
PUNKY
I want to let the people in my life that mean the most to me know it. I love all of you for who you are. Don't ever change. Keep on being yourselves!
PUNKY SMILES AND SOBS UP. SHE WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM.
TRAVIS
Wow, I think I'm getting back with your Mom after all!
INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE, RECEPTION AREA- DAY
CHERIE WALKS INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
CHERIE
Punky! Come on! Do I have to push you everywhere!
PUNKY
No, Cherie, I'm afraid.
CHERIE
You?
PUNKY
Yes.
CHERIE
Just remember what you have.
PUNKY
What's that?
CHERIE
Punky power.
PUNKY SMILES. SHE AND CHERIE WALK INTO THE RECEPTION AREA WHERE SOME PATIENTS SIT. AT THE RECEPTION DESK, A RECEPTIONIST (28), BLONDE AND ATTRACTIVE GREETS PUNKY AND CHERIE.
RECEPTIONIST
Yes, what can I do for you?
CHERIE
She has a visit at ten o'clock.
PUNKY
I do?
CHERIE
Yes, you do.
RECEPTIONIST
Well, it's a few minutes early. I'll let the doctor know you're here.
PUNKY
How do you know what my name is?
RECEPTIONIST
It's on your shirt.
PUNKY
Oh...right.
PUNKY AND CHERIE SIT IN THE WAITING AREA. THEY LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Cherie, this is just too much.
You know the other day was twenty years that Henry passed away.
CHERIE
Yeah, I remember. March fifth, two thousand and two. I had just began my career as a social worker at Fenster Hall. I remember how happy he was, telling me Grandma would have been proud of me. Even him as sick as he was, I remember him coming down to Fenster Hall when I put on my first rummage sale there. He was so proud of me to be helping abandoned kids.
PUNKY
Well, it's ironic that on the day of his anniversary passing, I got the news myself that took his own life.
CHERIE
But you only got a warning. You don't know if it's cancer or not.
PUNKY
But what if it is?
PUNKY BEGINS TO TEAR UP.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Cherie, Henry loved to smoke his pipe. He would have lived longer had he given that up. I remember telling him so many times to quit. But he didn't. And mine isn't even from smoking.
TEARS COME DOWN PUNKY'S EYES.
CHERIE
Sort of like my Grandma and food.
PUNKY GAPES.
PUNKY
Grandma? What about you?!
CHERIE
I admit, food is my weakness. I'm such a Cheerie Cherie when I pig out.
THE TWO LAUGH. PUNKY SIGHS.
PUNKY
I'm sad about Hannah.
CHERIE
Why?
PUNKY
Henry died before she was born. He never got to know her. If only he lived another three years he could have held his grand daughter. Maybe lived longer to teach her to do stuff?
CHERIE
But she sees him in videos and photos.
PUNKY
It's not the same.
PUNKY CRIES MORE.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Henry was there for me. He was there to see my finish high school and college. He was a great father.
CHERIE
The best. He was like a Dad to me.
PUNKY
And he loved me so much, he changed his business for me after his photography studio burned down. He created Punky's Place all because of me.
CHERIE
We had some fun times there until he sold it. Now we all hang out at Anna's Cafe. She's done good with the place.
PUNKY TREMBLES AS SHE FIGHTS TEARS.
PUNKY
Henry loved me so much, when I finished college he told me honey, I'm ready to retire. I know you love Punky's Place, but it's up to you what you want to be in life. I remember I always wanted to be an astronaut.
CHERIE
Yeah, I wanted to be an architect.
PUNKY
But he made me fall in love with photography and I took that in college. After I graduated and he was retiring he told me I can continue Punky's Place or he'd sell it and I could use the money to make my studio.
PUNKY TEARS UP MORE.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Then I met Travis and he hated him. He got cancer shortly after and passed away and I got married to Travis. I know he would have never forgiven me. I feel I betrayed him. Look what happened, Travis and I divorced.
CHERIE
Henry was totally selfless. Always caring for his daughter. I'm sure he would have accepted it. Hey, Grandma was the same. She loved us.
PUNKY
You know, Cherie, she never was able to fully see you grow up.
PUNKY SOBS.
CHERIE
What do you mean? I grew up in front of her! In many places by the time I finished high school.
CHERIE LOOKS AT HER BREASTS. SHE AND PUNK LAUGH.
PUNKY
No, I mean, I feel like she was cheated. She was such a hard worker and nurse. She was always there for everyone. She hadn't even retired when she passed away. At least Henry lived four years into retirement after retiring in nineteen ninety eight.
CHERIE
You know I keep forgetting about that.
PUNKY
I remember when you left for college in Michigan in nineteen ninety four, your Grandma told you she'd always be there with you even if you weren't together in person. I stayed here in Chicago with Henry and we both made sure she was still part of our lives.
CHERIE HOLDS PUNKY'S HAND. SHE TEARS UP.
CHERIE
And I thank you for that.
PUNKY
But, Cherie, she died too soon. She died right after you left for college. She never saw you finish it, never saw you become a social worker, or meet the love of your life. Henry saw all that with me. I just wish he had lived a little longer to meet Hannah. What if that happens to me? What if I die early in life and get cheated and miss being there for my kids and not meet theirs? Damn cancer.
PUNKY TEARS UP MORE.
CHERIE...
Hey, it's okay. Look, I remember getting that call from you the afternoon my Grandma passed away. I remember you telling me she had called early that morning and for you to come by because you both were crazy about Days Of Our Lives and would watch it together after I left for college. I used to watch it with her before I left.
PUNKY
And it was a real shock though, Cherie. I remember knocking on her door, calling out her name. Mrs. Johnson!? Mrs. Johnson!? And no answer. Henry was so worried, he kicked the door down and we found her, in her chair, peacefully resting with Days Of Our Lives playing on the television and an empty tub of Breyers on the floor.
CHERIE
You know, I think that's just how she wanted to go.
CHERIE AND PUNKY LAUGH.
PUNKY
You know, when your Grandma passed, Henry admitted something to me.
CHERIE
What was that?
PUNKY
He lost his best friend. They were so close, just like the two us are.
PUNKY AND CHERIE HUG.
DOCTOR CARTER (46) GREY HAIR WITH A LAB COAT COMES INTO THE WAITING AREA.
DOCTOR CARTER
Punky?
PUNKY GETS UP. CHERIE FOLLOWS. THE TWO WALK TOGETHER WITH THE DOCTOR INTO THE OFFICE.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT II
FADE IN:
ACT III
INT. DOCTOR OFFICE, ROOM- DAY
DOCTOR CARTER SITS DOWN. PUNKY AND CHERIE ALSO SIT BY HIS DESK. THEY HOLD EACH OTHER'S HAND.
DOCTOR CARTER
Well, Punky, I examined your blood work and took a look at the x-rays and...you're fine.
PUNKY
Fine?!
DOCTOR CARTER
Yes, fine.
PUNKY
Cancer free?!
DOCTOR CARTER
Yes. It was just a routine check up and precaution. That spot was just fat around your liver.
PUNKY
Wow! Go me!
PUNKY GETS UP AND DOES A LITTLE DANCE.
PUNKY (CONT'D)
Boom shaka laka laka, boom shaka laka laka, boom!
DOCTOR CARTER
Punky, this is good for now. You still need to make sure you eat right, exercise and stay away from drugs, alcohol and smoking devices.
PUNKY
Yes, sir. Wait a second. Fat around my liver? Doctor, I exercise all the time. There shouldn't be any fat on me!
DOCTOR CARTER GETS NERVOUS.
DOCTOR CARTER
Maybe not outside, but inside anything can show up. Oh, look at the time. Got to get to my next patient. See you, girls!
PUNKY AND CHERIE LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER AS TEARS FALL FROM THEIR EYES. THEY HUG.
INT. ANNA'S CAFE- DAY
PUNKY AND CHERIE SIT AT A TABLE AND LAUGH AND TALK OVER COFFEE.
CHERIE
Girl, see, you worried for nothing.
PUNKY
Yeah, I bad, aren't I?
ANNA (45), MEXICAN WITH DARK HAIR APPROACHES PUNKY.
ANNA
Punky! Cherie!
PUNKY
Anna! How are you? I haven't seen you in ages!
PUNKY HUGS ANNA.
ANNA
Yeah, once the cafe took off, I hired all this help you see here and have been living large. That Henry, he taught me well.
PUNKY
Yeah?
ANNA
I remember when he put this place for sale and I was just a young kid who moved here from Mexico. He told me though he was retiring he'd be there to show my the ropes, and he did.
PUNKY SOBS.
PUNKY
He was the best. I would know. He trained me well. Now I'm a photographer just like him.
ANNA
I can't believe he's been gone for twenty years! It seems like only yesterday when I met him in nineteen ninety eight before you graduated college and we stayed friends for four years until he passed. He was a good man. He'll never be forgotten. That's why I have a little corner devoted to him over there.
ANNA POINTS OUT HER STORE LOGO ON A WALL, BELOW IT, A PHOTO OF THE OLD PUNKY'S PLACE AND HENRY IN HIS UNIFORM.
PUNKY
Thanks, Anna.
ANNA WALKS OFF.
LAUREN ENTERS THE CAFE.
LAUREN
There you guys are? What's up?!
CHERIE
Just celebrating.
LAUREN
Celebrating what?
CHERIE
Life.
LAUREN
Great! Let me join you!
THE GIRLS ALL LAUGH AND CONVERSE.
INT. PUNKY'S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM- DAY
PUNKY ENTERS THE LIVING ROOM. DIEGO, DANIEL AND IZZY ARE ON THE FLOOR AT THE COFFEE TABLE WRITING LYRICS ON PAPER. HANNAH TEXTS ON HER PHONE.
PUNKY
How's it going, guys? How are those lyrics coming?
IZZY
Just fine! Daniel really knows his stuff! He's even teaching Diego how to write better!
PUNKY
Well, with your sense of style, Diego's great voice, and Daniel's talent for song writing, I'm sure it will be a triple threat. You're sure to win. Oh, guys, I love you.
PUNKY SMILES.
DIEGO
Love you, too, Mom.
IZZY
Love you.
DANIEL
Love you, Mom.
DIEGO
Hey, guys, Let's go practice this song, okay? Meet me in my room.
IZZY
Let's go!
DANIEL
Let's hear it for team Ddizzy!
PUNKY SMILES. HANNAH FINISHES TEXTING.
HANNAH
So, what happened today?
PUNKY
Oh, nothing much, just learned how grateful I am to be living and to have such a wonderful family. Come here, you!
PUNKY HUGS HANNAH WHO CRINGES.
HANNAH
Mom, are you okay?
PUNKY
Of course I am. I realized I just need to tell my kids I love them more often.
HANNAH
But you always do that.
PUNKY
I do? Oh, right. I do.
HANNAH LOOKS AT HENRY'S PHOTO ON THE WALL.
HANNAH
Grandpa, Mom told me how she changed a cantankerous lonely widow like yourself into a senior citizen full of life. If anyone taught anyone to love, you taught it to each other. Love you, Grandpa.
HANNAH WALKS OFF. PUNKY SMILES. SHE LOOKS AT HENRY'S PHOTO ON THE WALL.
PUNKY
Henry, I know you can't hear it anymore but I love you. Give my best to Brandon and Mrs. Johnson. Oh, and Henry...Happy twenty years in heaven.
PUNKY WALKS OFF TO THE KITCHEN.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT III