AMY´S CREEK - S01E17 - HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO JUST GROW UP?
1. Int. Supermarket. Morning.
Audrey is working behind the cash register, looking tired and like she´d rather be anywhere else. She clearly works there, going by her uniform. An elderly lady is waiting to pay.
Audrey:
That´ll be ... I´m so tired, that I can´t make it out!
Lady:
It says 18.97.
Audrey:
Then, I guess, that´s what you have to pay.
The lady is about to hand her a twenty-dollar bill but changes her mind.
Lady:
You know what? I´ll just pay by credit card.
Audrey:
Is it because you don´t think I´m capable of giving you the right change back? It´s counting! I learned it, when I was 4!
Lady:
There´s no need to take an attitude with me, young lady.
Audrey:
Since you called me young, I officially love you! There you go.
The lady pays with her card and Audrey hands her the receipt.
Lady:
I was a check out girl for a while too, dear. Life can´t be fun and games all the time.
Audrey:
Don´t you sometimes wish, it could be?
They smile at each other and the lady grabs her groceries before leaving. With no one in the line, Audrey now looks bored.
Audrey (voice over):
Can you believe that I´m supposed to go and do inventory or stock shelves? Sometimes, I hate my life!
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Supermarket. Day.
Audrey is stocking shelves next to Alex, a 20-year-old boy. She yawns.
Alex:
Wild night?
Audrey:
If you consider holding a "Gilmore Girls" marathon by yourself wild.
Alex:
My fiance loves it too. It´s too much on the girly side for my taste.
Audrey:
Fiance, huh? When are you getting married?
Alex:
Next month.
Audrey looks happy for him.
Audrey:
Is she pretty?
Alex:
Oh, yeah! We´ve known each other, since we were kids. Went through every school together, to every dance together. I know, it sounds like I´m making it up, but it´s true.
Audrey:
It sounds like true love.
Alex:
I can´t imagine marrying anyone else.
Audrey:
She´s a lucky girl. I wish, I´d had a guy like that.
Alex:
That´s these done. See you in the next aisle!
He cheerfully goes along with his job and moves on. Audrey smiles to herself.
Audrey (voice over):
It´s weird how my mind has gone through phases. Teenage me, whether I knew her or not, would have hated his fiancée, whether I knew her or not, because she had everything I wanted. I would have hit on him to test his fidelity and tell her as soon as I could, if we did anything. It would make me feel great for a second to see her miserable and lead to months of self-loathing afterwards. When you come from a messed-up scene, like the one I grew up in, then it becomes a part of you. Still, some of the things I did before I met Joey ... I´d rather not think about! Oh, Joey! My life can be split into two parts, before and after I met her. Her down to earth way of being, plus her love and compassion was the perfect antidote to everything I came from. I only decided to go to the far northeast, because it was as far away from my parents, as I could get! I had no idea, I´d meet a girl, who would give me self-esteem and make me believe for the first time, that I could be someone on my own! Before that my obsession was finding a true love, one I was never in doubt about. Almost every guy I´d dated had a motive I didn´t like and if they didn´t, then I would make myself believe, they did. I did have one great boyfriend before I left for college, but it took tons of work from both of us to break down the emotional armor, I´d put myself in. I mostly blame my dad´s cheating and my mom´s constant paranoia, both before and in the first years after their divorce. The me of today feels happy for her. If I never get to experience another great love, then it´s nice that she gets to. Who knows. Maybe two crazy kids in love can still make it in this world on nothing, except for their devotion to each other. I´d like to think, they can. In that case there might even be a chance for me.
She finishes the job and moves on with her work.
3. Int. Audrey´s Mother´s House. Evening.
We´ve gone back five years in time. A younger and very well dressed Audrey is having dinner with her mother Kay Lidell.
Audrey (voice over):
Do you want to hear about my fall from grace? It started five years ago, you could say. Some would say that it started the day I was born, but that´s up for debate. I had been able to mooch off my mom for most of my adult life, former movie actress Kay Lidell, you might have heard of her. I had some acting roles here and there, although I never took it nearly as seriously, as my mom had. I cared more about where the best after party was, than memorizing my lines. because I´d never had to be responsible for anything. I knew, if I shot my mom the right look, then she would write me another check. I could go on doing, as I pleased and she could pretend, that she was being a good mother. There was also my dad in case I´d spent too much on a shopping spree or an unexpected vacation, but I was always afraid that one of them would tell the other how dumb I´d been again. Money was never an object growing up and even though I tried slumming it to a small extent in college, I completely unlearned all of that my first year back in LA. I can thank Dawson and Joey for what little home economic skills I have, because I sure as hell didn´t learn them at home! I remember having an eerie feeling, when I walked in the front door that evening and my mom having trouble coming up with pre-dinner conversation topics. Strange, since I´d heard her hundreds of times bragging about how it was something she was known for at her and my dad´s extravagant dinner parties, back in her heyday. It wasn´t like I shouldn´t have been aware, that money could become an issue. In my own messed up way of thinking, I had just convinced myself that it wouldn´t, I suppose.
Kay:
Have you looked for work lately?
Audrey:
Are you serious? Like work, work?
Kay:
Is it that crazy of an idea? All of your old friends have jobs.
Audrey:
I did have an audition for a car commercial.
Kay:
That´s something. Is there a chance, you think?
Audrey:
Probably not. I overslept, so I didn´t go.
Kay looks disappointed in her.
Kay:
What have I always told you?
Audrey:
"In Hollywood, you´re only as good as your reputation".
Kay:
You don´t have enough of a name, to blow off any audition! Did you tell them why or come up with a good excuse?
Audrey:
They tried to call me a few times, but I didn´t pick up.
Kay:
Why wouldn´t you?
Audrey:
Because it was easier to ignore it. Sorry, mom, but it was at eight in the morning, which means I would have had to leave home at seven! You know, I´m not a morning person!
Kay:
Audrey, for God´s sake!
Audrey:
I thought, I had set the alarm on my phone, I really did, but I´m still getting used to the new model!
Kay:
Enough! What were you thinking?
Audrey:
I wasn´t, like you always say. Are you happy now?
Kay shakes her head in bewilderment. Audrey tries to look just apologetic enough.
Kay:
Audrey, you´re 31 years old! You can´t keep acting like a kid for the rest of your life!
Audrey:
I´m sorry, okay! I´ll try to do better, I swear!
Kay:
I´ve been hearing that from you, since you left college!
Audrey:
If you want me to get a job, then I guess, I´ll have to get some stupid job! Jeez!
Kay:
You won´t have a choice. I can´t keep writing checks for you.
Audrey looks shocked.
Audrey:
You can´t be serious! What am I supposed to do for food or rent? Do you want your only child to starve on the streets?
Kay:
I haven´t worked in a long time either and it´s time I made some hard financial decisions.
Audrey:
I thought, we ... you had plenty of money!
Kay:
I have to do this, before I risk ending up broke. It´s time, you tried what it´s like to be an adult, Honey. For your own good too.
Audrey (voice over):
Those words scared me more than you can imagine!
4. Int. Bridal Store. Day.
A slightly older Audrey is working in a bridal store, where she has a difficult customer, a woman in her 20´s.
Audrey (voice over):
Did I give up that easily? Only sort of, you could say. I went to my dad and put on my best puppy dog eyes, to see what I could get out of him. He then gave me pretty much the same speech my mom just had and told me that while he would help me emotionally and there would always be a bed for me at his house, it was time I started learning to be responsible. He probably knew that I would have kept coming back for more, if we hadn´t had that talk. I walked out of his house both scared, but at the same time determined to show them that I could take care of myself, without their financial help. After a week and a half of pretending that everything was normal and spending like I usually did, it slowly began to sink in. That I, Audrey Lidell, would have to start being responsible like everyone else! Do you think it´s easy to grow up right away, when you´re past 30? I can tell you from personal experience, that it isn´t! Take a spoiled girl, like I was and put her in a job market, where she´s expected to be a professional and watch the train wreck, as it unfolds! The first place I worked at was a high-end bridal store. I could have made bank on provisions alone in that place. Alas ...
Woman:
I´m still not satisfied.
Audrey:
It´s been specified to your order! What´s wrong with it?
Woman:
It doesn´t speak to me.
Audrey:
What do you want it to say? That your love will last forever and he´ll never cheat on you? We can´t work miracles!
Audrey (voice over):
I was fired twenty minutes later, after it escalated into a larger argument, where I called her a stuck-up snob amongst other things, they would have to censor here. I could show you, but I wouldn´t come off in a positive light! After that, it was the secretary job, where I got fired on my first day, for leaving early without telling anyone. They seemed nice enough and I didn´t really mind the work, but I had a hair appointment with Sergio, the best stylist in LA! What was I supposed to do? If I cancelled, then it would be at least a month, until I got another chance. I miss the way he would make love to my hair with his fingers, while he cut it! If he´d been straight, then he would have gotten more tail than every rapper and comedian in this city combined! After that it was a slow downhill slide.
5. Int. Restaurant. Evening.
Audrey is working as a waitress.
Audrey (voice over):
First there was the high end restaurant.
A kid tries to trip her, while she´s carrying a tray and she drops it. She looks very angry.
Audrey:
Can you control that little monster of yours?
Manager (off screen):
AUDREY!
6. Int. Women´s room. Evening.
Audrey has a mop and bucket and looks miserable, as she´s wiping up vomit. A girl of around six looks apologetic.
Audrey (voice over):
Four jobs later, there was the much lower class restaurant, where I´ve worked the longest.
Girl:
I´m so sorry.
Audrey:
It´s okay, sweetheart. I know, you didn´t do it on purpose.
The girl starts gagging again.
Audrey:
Get in there, fast!
The girl tries to and we hear her throwing up.
Audrey:
Please tell me, you made it!
Girl (off screen):
Sorry!
Audrey rolls her eyes at the situation.
Audrey:
You didn´t have the fish, did you?
Girl (off screen):
How did you guess?
The girl throws up again.
Audrey (voice over):
Nine people went to the hospital with food poisoning that night. The restaurant was shut down and fumigated by the FDA the day after. A public statement was issued, calling it a miracle, that they didn´t kill someone. It´s scary to think, that I used to eat there all the time! Anyway, you go through a descent from one bad job to one, that´s even worse. When you´ve been fired 13 times, 4 on the first day and quit 11 times in five years, then you end up taking what´s available to you. What about my parents, you might ask? My dad lost nearly all his money on bad stocks during the financial crisis and moved back to Florida, to start fresh. I talk to him on the phone every few days and we have a great relationship now. He´s become a positive force in my life that I can turn to for guidance and support, the way a real dad should be for his daughter. It´s so cute how he gets excited over every little thing that goes right in my life and tells me to keep up the good work, even if it´s a little thing. It just sucks that now I want to spend time with him, I only get to see him once or twice a year. He´s a totally different guy from the constantly stressed-out dad, I couldn´t connect with as a kid. I think he´s happier working a normal job, even if he can´t throw money around, like he used to. For my mom, it´s a different story. Being upper class has been her life, since she was born. Luckily for her, she married a wealthy stockbroker and is living up her early retirement down in Santa Barbara. I don´t call him dad and to be honest, I don´t really like him all that much, but she does and that´s the main thing. If I begged her for money, then she would probably give it to me, but I want to prove to her, that I can be an adult and take care of myself without her help. That I´m more than "Dumb and hopeless little Audrey, who will never grow up". I think, I´ve grown up a lot these past years without her help, to fall back on. It would be so great to just one more time, hear her say, that she´s proud of me. She hasn´t told me that since I finished college all those years ago. The times before that, you can count on one hand. If nothing else, I deserve credit for never asking her for as much as a cent, since that day five years ago. It hasn´t always been pretty, but I´ve gotten by alright. That´s something, wouldn´t you think?
7. Ext. Street. Day.
Audrey is waiting for the bus, looking in a good mood.
Audrey (voice over):
I haven´t done any acting in years. My last audition was for a low budget comedy four years ago and I completely botched it. To make matters worse, in a desperate last-ditch attempt, I practically threw myself at the casting agent. She politely turned me down, wished me luck with my sexuality and told me to leave. After that disaster, I figured that I´d used up every chance, my famous last name had given to me. I found out last year through the "E" webpage, that my agent was retiring. I hadn´t heard from him in years, yet it still felt like a final stamp on my acting career. Until I got a call from Dawson yesterday. Working with my ex will be weird, but it beats the heck out of stocking shelves for minimum wage! If this is my last chance, then I intend to make the most of it. The look on my mom´s face, when I proudly show to her the trailer will be payment enough. Stop dreaming, Audrey. You have to get the part first.
The bus arrives and Audrey gets in.
8. Ext. Todd´s House. Day.
Audrey rings the doorbell and looks nervous.
Audrey (voice over):
The old me would have run away screaming, but I know Todd. He has his own ways. This is a really nice neighborhood! He must be doing alright for himself.
The door is opened by Melina. Audrey smiles politely at her.
Audrey:
Hi, I´m Audrey. Are you Todd´s wife?
Melina laughs.
Melina:
Sorry, but the idea is just too laughable for me! I´m Melina, I´m the AD and co-author. Come in. They´re expecting you.
Audrey:
I thought, Dawson wrote the script.
Melina:
He did, but I gave him the story.
Audrey (voice over):
Isn´t that interesting? Why would a guy like Dawson know a pretty little thing like her? Not that I´m getting jealous ex girlfriend syndrome! It´s only an observation. So far.
Melina lets her in.
9. Int. Bedroom. Day.
Todd, Dawson and Melina are holding auditions in Todd´s bedroom, while we can hear at least two kids playing outside the door.
Audrey:
This is weird!
Dawson:
We know, it´s unusual, but we´ve just started up again. We hope to get an office soon.
Audrey:
Started up, as in ...
Todd:
Our own production company. CLP Productions.
Melina:
Carr, Leery and Perez, my last name.
Audrey:
Isn´t that something? Congratulations!
Audrey (voice over):
I suggested that to him for years and he never took my advice! She waltzes into his life and days later, it´s a reality? Who does this girl think, she is? His new Joey or something?
Dawson:
We think that we have a strong script to start off with. One that me and Melina wrote together.
Audrey:
So she told me. How do you two know each other, exactly?
Melina:
We live together.
Audrey looks shocked.
Audrey:
WHAT?
Audrey (voice over):
You couldn´t seriously expect me to contain that in an inner monologue!
They smile at her.
Dawson:
It´s completely platonic.
Melina:
And only until I get out of my current housing crisis.
Todd:
Enough with the chit chat. Time is money. Do you want to make some?
Audrey:
Absolutely!
Todd:
Can you put whatever personal issues between you and Dawson aside, so we can get on with creating our masterpiece?
Audrey:
You got it!
Todd hands her a script and she looks at it.
Audrey (voice over):
Would you believe it? I had the best audition of my life! The script is so good! This is the kind of movie, my mom would have been proud to put her name on. Something that could win awards and things like that. If I have to deal with this awkward situation, then so be it. Are they platonic, however? On one hand, Dawson has years of experience perfecting that with Joey, to the point where they became like herma-frodites. On the other hand, it´s easy to see why this girl could have a crush on him. For all of Dawson´s faults and various complexes, he´s still a pretty great guy. Would he go for it, though?
10. Int. Audrey´s Apartment. Evening.
Audrey is eating her dinner, consisting of some chicken fingers, that she dips in a white dressing and a small bowl of mixed salad, with a glass of club soda to go along with it. Her place is far from luxurious, but it´s homely, like she has become. She watches an old video of her and Dawson on vacation on her cheap I-Pad imitation tablet, while she eats.
Audrey (voice over):
Where did all go wrong for us? I must have asked myself that a million times. That and why can ´t we get past our history, when we´re so clearly right for each other? Insecurities, is why. They ruined things for me in High School, did it again in college and finally with Dawson. When you´re like me and you know, you can be a bit much, then you also know that certain people look down on you for it. That they´re thinking "Why can´t she be like everyone else?". The older I´ve gotten, the more I feel like people do, so I try not to be myself most of the time. It´s just easier that way. Of all the people I´ve met, there´s only a handful that never looked down on me. When I was little, kids would make fun of me, when I acted like my true self and as I got older, some even tried use my weakness over it, to their advantage. These people however showered me with an acceptance, I didn´t think existed. With those few people, I was finally allowed to be Audrey Lidell, as she really is. I don´t have to put on a face and pretend to be someone, I´m not. Most of those are or were from Capeside. Jen, Jack, Pacey, Joey and of course Dawson. We became friends at a time in my life, when I was still lost in alcoholism and he supported me all the way through, to the other side. Who knows, if I could have done it without him? He also got who I am in a way, that no guy before him had. I thought for sure, that when we finally after years of friendship became a couple, that would be the one to last. Oh, well. You live and you learn.
We cut to the screen, where the cameraman, which is clearly Dawson, is about to be pushed into a pool by a bikini clad young Audrey.
Dawson (voice over/in the video):
Audrey, this an expensive camera!
Audrey (voice over/in the video):
Put it away, if you don´t want it to get it wet. Start paying attention to your girlfriend!
Dawson (voice over/in the video):
Point taken!
The camera is clumsily moved, so it shoots both of their faces.
Audrey (voice over/in the video):
I wish, we could stay here forever.
Dawson (voice over/in the video):
That´s the worst thing you can say on the last day of a vacation! I´m all depressed now!
Audrey (voice over/in the video):
Then I´ll have to find a way to cheer you up, won´t I?
Audrey in the video kisses him and the picture flails around for a bit, until the camera is put on a beach chair and shooting the pool. We can faintly hear the splash, as they fall into the pool.
Audrey (voice over):
If it had only been him and me in the world with nothing to come between us, then we still would have been together. I´m sure of it. Looking back, there´s dozens of things I can point to, that I could have and probably should have done differently. It´s not that I don´t want to give him another chance. I just don´t want it to end, like it did last time, with us not on speaking terms. What if he is doing it with this girl? Do I have the right to be mad, if he is? I need to put this off my mind.
She presses the tablet a few times.
Audrey:
Let´s see. Is it a "Girlz" or a "Pretty Little Liars" kind of evening?
11. Int. Supermarket. Morning.
Audrey is back at work, but in a much better mood, as she serves the same customer from the day before.
Audrey:
How are you doing today?
Lady:
Very well, dear. It´s my son´s birthday. He´s bringing his family over for dinner.
Audrey:
Sounds nice! How many kids does he have?
Lady:
Two, a boy and a girl. Do you have children?
Audrey:
No, but I´m holding out hope.
Lady:
It can´t be easy in today´s world, dating! The problem is that you have too many choices! Back in my day, it was simpler. You met someone, found out if you liked them and if you did, then you got married. End of story.
Audrey:
I already have the right guy, it´s not that.
Lady:
What is it then, if you don´t mind me asking?
Audrey:
Not at all! We have a long a complicated history, is all.
Lady:
Do you love each other?
Audrey smiles to herself, as she scans the last of the lady´s items.
Audrey:
We do.
Lady:
Love is hard thing to come by. I praise myself lucky, that I managed to find it the one time, I did.
Audrey:
Is your husband still alive?
Lady:
Oh, yes! He´s at home, waiting for me to fix him his supper.
Audrey:
That´s sweet. 12.75.
The woman hand her a twenty dollar note and Audrey gets her, her change.
Audrey:
Come back any time, you hear?
Lady:
Good luck with your man troubles, if that´s what you kids still call them.
Audrey:
I wouldn´t know. I haven´t been one for a while now.
They smile at each other and the woman grabs her groceries before leaving.
Audrey (voice over):
So that´s end of my story, for this time anyway. Didn´t you think it was kind of cool how I made it come full circle, when I said that I´m not a kid anymore? Maybe I should write my own movie!
Melina comes up to the cash register, almost startling Audrey.
Audrey (voice over):
Here´s an unexpected epilogue for you!
Melina:
Audrey? You work here?
Audrey:
Guilty as charged! You have to pay the bills, right?
Melina:
I thought, you came from a rich family.
Audrey:
I decided years ago, to stop mooching off them and stand on my own two feet. That means having to work.
Audrey (voice over):
She doesn´t need to know everything!
Melina puts a six pack of beer on the slide and Audrey scans it in.
Audrey:
Isn´t it a little early?
Melina:
Todd and Dawson are meeting with a potential investor. This is in case, we have something to celebrate. It was my idea to bring you in, you know?
Audrey looks surprised.
Audrey:
Why?
Melina:
The way Dawson talked about you, I just had to see for myself!
Audrey:
What does he say?
Melina:
He´s still in love with you, you know?
Audrey tries to hide her joy, but it´s hard.
Audrey:
Has he told you that?
Melina:
Not in so many ways, but I can tell. You don´t have to worry, that anything will happen between us. I´ve been down that path before with a guy, who was in love with someone else. It never ends the way you want it to.
Audrey:
No, it doesn´t, does it? 7.50.
Melina hands her a ten dollar note.
Melina:
Keep the change. We´ll call it an advance.
Audrey can´t contain her joy anymore.
Audrey:
I have the part?
Melina:
They weren´t going to consider anyone else! Couldn´t you tell, that he practically wrote that part for you?
Audrey:
When do we start?
Melina:
We´ll let you know, as soon as we do. See ya.
Audrey:
See ya!
Melina grabs her six pack and leaves. Audrey smiles to herself and does a few celebratory dance moves, even if her co workers look at her, like she´s crazy.
Audrey:
It doesn´t say in the rule book, that we can´t dance, if we´re happy!
Her co workers smile at her silly/quirkiness and get back to work.
Audrey (voice over):
I´m back!
She clenches her fist in triumph.
CLOSING CREDITS
