Scene 25

INT. Marie's Room

(Maya is sketching a floorplan of the bedroom)

Maya: alright I have an outline of the room with the dimensions written out why don't we figure out where we want to put everything while Josh and Shawn figure out how to put together the furniture.

Marie: wow this drawing is amazingly accurate it really feels like you're in the room.

Maya: Yeah, I've always been a talented artist did you see the pictures in my room?

Marie: I saw some of them, but I didn't realize they were your pictures.

Maya: do you like art?

Marie: I write a little poetry but it's nothing compared to what you do.

Maya: Marie I think I owe you an apology. I got awfully jealous at the store when I saw how well you were getting along with Riley and Josh.

Marie: I honestly didn't really notice, and just so you know I was trying to be nice to them because they're your friends and I wanted us to get along.

Maya: Oh, I felt like you were trying to take them from me.

Marie: Why would I want to do something like that? I mean they're nice people, but if you're going to be my sister I want us to get along.

Maya: I'd like that too.

(Marie and Maya hug.)

Maya: so, do your mom and stepdad have any children?

Marie: I had a little brother.

Maya: Just because you're living here now doesn't mean he stops being your brother.

(Marie starts sobbing and runs into Maya's room and locks the door.)

Maya: Shawn?

(Shawn walks into Marie's room.)

Shawn: What happened to Marie? I saw her run through the kitchen sobbing.

Maya: I don't know we were getting along well and then I asked her if she had any other siblings and she ran off crying.

(Maya starts getting upset.)

Maya: Did I say something wrong Shawn I feel like ever since she got here I've just been screwing things up.

(Shawn gives Maya a side hug and motions for her to sit on the floor with him.)

Shawn: It's okay Maya you didn't do anything wrong. It's just Marie's little brother died when he was eight.

Maya: Oh, my G-d. I had no idea I just can't do anything right.

Shawn: That's not true it's just hard to deal with a new sibling.

Shawn: Marie can you come in here?

(Marie enters her room still teary-eyed.)

Marie: Yeah

Shawn: Just sit down. I want to tell you both something. When I was 17 my brother Jack came into town, and honestly, I hardly knew him because he was raised by his mother so when I went to go live with him there was tension, to say the least, but we grew closer and learned to be the brothers that we were.

Maya: What's your point, Shawn?

Shawn: My point is that learning to deal with a new sibling takes time and that neither of you is going to be perfect at it overnight.

Shawn: I remember I literally had a pet pig and fell asleep to trailer park sounds.

Maya: And the two of you shared a room?

Shawn: Yeah, I really was the worst roommate.

(Shawn laughs.)

Marie: that's sweet and all Shawn, but my problem has nothing to do with Maya Its just having a new sibling brought up all the pain I felt about Mark.

(Shawn hugs Marie.)

Shawn: I know. My brother Eddie had just died not two years before Jack came into my life.

Maya: You never mentioned Eddie before.

Shawn: I don't like to bring him up he was my stepmoms son, but we grew up together. He joined a gang as a teenager and got himself killed in a street fight.

Marie: That's horrible were you two close?

Shawn: somewhat as kids but once he joined the gang we never really spoke and when he died I refused to go to the funeral even though mister Turner told me I should.

Marie: whose Mister Turner?

Shawn: well he'll be your school's superintendent in the fall, but he's also the man who took me in after my parents abandoned me as a teenager.

Marie: Oh. I feel terrible for burdening you with all my problems you've been through so much.

Shawn: I'm your dad You're supposed to let me help you with your problems it's my job.

(Marie hugs Shawn)

Shawn: Besides you've been through a lot, and so have you, Maya.

Maya: Oh, please it sounds like my life's been a walk in the park compared to you two. I just feel bad for making you so upset earlier.

Marie: I can't blame you, Maya. You had no idea about Mark I just have trouble not blaming myself I mean I was his big sister I should have made sure he didn't run into the street.

Shawn: I might not have been there, but I can assure you it wasn't your fault.

Marie: Thanks, Shawn.

Shawn: You're welcome and its dad, and that goes for you too Maya.

Maya: ok dad. That feels so weird to say dad. I haven't really called anyone dad since Kermit left when I was seven.

Shawn: well I hope I can be a better father than Kermit ever was.

(Maya hugs Shawn.)

Maya: Trust me dad you already have been.

(pan to Katy standing in the door frame.)

Katy: Aww you guys are just the sweetest thing.

Shawn: Katy what are you doing home?

Katy: If you haven't noticed it's already eleven at night.

Josh: (Yells from the living room) I finished the bed frame can someone help me bring it to Marie's room?

Shawn: That's my cue.

(Shawn leaves the room.)

Marie: You mind if after we set the bed up I call it a night Its late and I'm awfully jet-lagged from the flight.

Katy: Of course, we can finish in the morning it's hard to believe you haven't even been here a day.

(Maya starts to leave the room.)

Marie: Maya

Maya: yeah

Marie: just so you know Riley's already asleep on your bed.

Maya: Of course, she is. Marie why don't you go sleep in my room with Riley while I finish your room with my mom, dad, and Josh.

Marie you really don't mind my taking over your room.

Maya: as long as you're not going to bring a pig in there I think we're fine.

Marie: You know Maya I wouldn't worry too much. I think you'll make a great sister.

Maya: You too Marie. Now go to bed you look like you're about to fall over.

(Marie and Maya laugh and Marie heads to Maya's room.)