Chapter III. Nora Art Residency

16 INT. NORA ART RESIDENCY - DAY

Auto shop floor. High ceiling. Utility sink. Large format printer humming against left wall. A hammock strung between two columns on the right. White canvas on sawhorses at back.

A SUSPENSION ARTIST hangs on large hooks by the flesh of her back in the center in a slow-rotating ballet pose. Arms wide, one leg extended, the other tucked.

In the foreground, an ART INFLUENCER. Ring light and iPhone on a tripod. MADISON stands across from her in the light, gesturing around the room.

MADISON
Take Xara. Same story. Just different gravity.

INFLUENCER
Chat is going to clock this as kink with better lighting.

MADISON
People are comfortable with pain if it’s hidden.

INTERN approaches Madison with a blender. Madison’s face: really? Intern carries it to the canvas. Sets it down.

MADISON (CONT’D)
We adore bodies under command. Ballet. Fashion. Torture made invisible.

INFLUENCER
You want to make it visible? Like… BDSM with a grant?

MADISON
The mechanism stays in the frame. The strain. The pain. The struggle. Nothing smuggled in. Real life.

INFLUENCER
Okay but Margaret’s piece in The Cut — she’s saying you’re selling struggle as a vibe. For people who want to feel radical without actually doing the thing.

MADISON
Smart writing.

INFLUENCER
But?

MADISON
“Not ready for serious collectors.” Is that criticism or Chelsea galleries protecting their turf?

INFLUENCER
So you’re saying she’s just PR?

MADISON
(shrugs)
Money will tell you what Margaret can’t.

INFLUENCER
Ok on that… There are rumors that you and Alexander Durbin—

MADISON
We’re done.

Walks to the exit. Turns around, points to Xara.

MADISON (CONT’D)
Hang! Feel something real.

Looks to the blender: Ugh. Exits.

17 INT. MADISON’S KITCHEN - EVENING

Hands slicing radishes into thin coins. Hurried. Yet precise. MUSIC: vibrant Island jazz. SLOW PULL BACK to reveal DJANGO at the counter of a pre-war kitchen.

Behind him, racked out of focus, MADISON crosses into the dining room, having just entered the apartment.

MADISON
Something smells really good.

Django at work. Masa dough. Shredded meat. Roasted peppers. Avocados cut in half. Tomatillo salsa. Sopes in progress. Earpiece in his right ear.

The intercom BUZZES. Madison crosses to it.

MADISON (CONT’D)
Didn’t Jerrie say she’d be late?

DJANGO
Yeah, she dropped Shaggy off. That must be Kai. Send him here to help.

MADISON
Ask Celia.

DJANGO
She’s sleeping.

Madison scoffs. Front door opens. O.S. Greetings. Django doesn’t look up. Adds avocado, cilantro, lime to a molcajete. Grinds. Rhythm rushed. Scrapes it into a bowl. Plates the chips. Madison reappears with KAI, soft focus, in living room.

18 INT. MADISON’S LIVING/DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

KAI (mid 30’s) enters, holding flowers in one hand, a wine bottle in the other. Kai is of Asian descent, dressed in a casual button down, neat sweater vest, khakis and loafers. He reads as a friendly librarian.

KAI
Wow. Looks like a period movie.

MADISON
Which period?

KAI
Oh. Mad Men. 60s?

MADISON
(feigns shock)
Mid-century modern? I’m not sure we can be friends, Kai.

DJANGO
Don’t be a snob, Madi.

KAI
Oh… Jerrica said to feed Shaggy and not wait. She’s coming from a deposition.

19 INT. LAW FIRM CONFERENCE ROOM - SAME EVENING

Fluorescent light. Water glasses on a long table. JERRICA across from juggalo girl Jennifer’s DAD (50s, uptight). Beside him, dad’s lawyer SHARON (50s, small powerhouse but dressed in a not-quite-stylish suit). MOM (late 40’s, conservative in pearls) sits slightly apart from her husband. They look every bit like from Grosse Point Shores, MI. At the head of the table, Jerrica’s boss WEAK MAN BOSS (60’s, balding, sweaty), picking his nails.

JERRICA
Mr. Djkdoner. Did you sign this cover letter? Your daughter’s FAFSA. Columbia’s aid application for 2025-2026?

DAD
That’s pretty standard.

JERRICA
Please read the highlighted pledge.

DAD
“I commit to funding Jennifer Djkdoner’s education for the duration of her enrollment.”

JERRICA
And Jennifer enrolled?

DAD
She was normal then. They got her stripping.

MOM
Burlesque.

DAD
Those juggalos are pedophiles.

JERRICA
Do you have evidence to support your allegation?

DAD
I know—

DAD’S LAWYER
(hand on dad’s arm)
My client has concerns about what his daughter has been exposed to. Concerns any reasonable parent would share.

JERRICA
Thank you, Sharon. So, no evidence. Mr. Djkdoner, does the pledge say “I intend to contribute, unless it embarrasses me?”

DAD’S LAWYER
Counsel is implying these administrative forms constitute a binding contract. That’s a mischaracterization.

JERRICA
Calabro v. Calabro. Tennessee Court of Appeals, 1999.

DAD’S LAWYER
We’re in New York, counsel.

Jerrica’s boss nods along with Sharon. Turns to Jerrica, eyebrows up: well?

JERRICA
The principle travels. Father promises to fund his daughter’s education. She relies on it. Declines other options. Court holds on contract formation. Promissory estoppel. Father lost. Summary judgment. On a verbal promise, Sharon.
(gesturing)
Your client signed his.

Silence. Jerrica’s boss returns to picking his nails.

JERRICA (CONT’D)
Then your client pulled funding because he doesn’t like her hobbies.

DAD
It’s not—

DAD’S LAWYER
Let’s adjourn till tomorrow.

Jerrica’s boss looks up. Nods to Sharon. Not to Jerrica. Photos of Jennifer, both normal and as a juggalo clown performing on stage, are in focus on the table amongst the paperwork.

18 INT. MADISON’S LIVING/DINING ROOM - SAME EVENING

MADISON is ushering KAI to the Deco bar cart as he’s speaking. DJANGO enters with chips/guac.

KAI
I got Jerrica to help with Jennifer’s situation.

MADISON
The juggalo?

DJANGO
Juggling? Like a clown?

MADISON
(smiles)
Different face paint.
(back to Kai)
They cut her off for that?

KAI
Didn’t fit in with their country club set in Grosse Point.

MADISON
Peak Boomer brain rot. All that lead.
(sigh)
So, you’re a therapist?

KAI
Social worker. But I trained as one.

Django offers the chips/guac. Kai looks but both hands are still full. Django sets them down. Extends his hand.

DJANGO
Hey. I’m Django.

KAI
(unable to shake hands)
Like Django Reinhardt?

DJANGO
Gypsy Jazz. Yeah.

MADISON
Can we still say that?

DJANGO
I can.

Django returns to the kitchen, soft focus.

MADISON
She must feel completely gutted.

KAI
Yeah. If she were my daughter, I’d want her to tell me whatever.

MADISON
I could never talk to my dad about real shit. Do you have kids? How old are you — if you don’t mind me asking?

KAI
No, it’s fine. I don’t. I’m 37. What would you have wanted to talk to him about?

MADISON
Art. But my dad would say I was acting superior.

KAI
How so?

MADISON
Because I used to memorize phrases describing artworks in the magazines. But now I want people to see without all those fancy words.

KAI
Huh. Where’s that come from?

20 INT. FAMILY CAR — EAST GARY, INDIANA — DAY

POV from the back seat. Through the windshield: a freight train. It emerges out of Dad’s ear and exits into Mom’s.

MADISON (V.O.)
Watching a train go by. Car after car: shiny new tankers, beat-up boxcars, flatbeds carrying machinery, weird cylinders. Each car got the exact same track time. Chug cha-chug. Chug cha-chug.

Sound of freight train rising to meet hers.

18 INT. MADISON’S LIVING/DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Django reappears holding a wooden spatula out for her to taste. Madison tastes and gestures: perfect.

MADISON
(in father’s voice)
“Big dreams will break your little heart, Madison.”

The BUZZER goes off. Loud. Madison crosses to the intercom.

MADISON (CONT’D)
(sing-songy)
That’ll be Jerr!

DJANGO
(to Kai)
Wanna help with sopes?

MADISON
No-pes, he stays.

She crosses to Django. Brushes something off his apron.

MADISON (CONT’D)
There’s no hurry. It’s going to be great. Thanks, sweetheart.

She turns him toward the kitchen. A pat on his back. He goes. She turns back to Kai. He’s been watching.

KAI
So how long have you been together? What’s your origin story?

The door opens. JERRICA enters. Coat still on, energy already filling the room. Shaggy runs in tail wagging. Jerrica kneels down. Petting. Kissing.

JERRICA
(to Kai)
You survived?

Kai nods, not entirely sure.

JERRICA (CONT’D)
(standing up)
See? Told ya. Nothing to worry about.

MADISON
Kai was telling us about your juggalo girl. Then he asked… if Django and I were a couple.

KAI
I was just—

JERRICA
Fuck.
(to Kai)
I told you I needed eyes on them.

MADISON swirling her wine glass — deciding whether to play.

KAI
Oh. I see. I am the idiot you invite to dinner. So you can mock me in the group chat later, right?

He extends the flowers to Jerrica. She doesn’t take them.

JERRICA
(to Madison)
Did you break him?

MADISON
(clasping Kai’s elbow)
So how did you two connect? Work-wise. Not asking if you’re a couple. Wait. Are you?

JERRICA
(clasping his other elbow)
Madi, you bitch. You already put one guy to work in your kitchen. Now you want mine? Greedy.

Kai stands between them, pinned. CELIA (30s) enters from the bedroom. She wears a conservative blouse and maxi skirt. Her hair is pinned half up, and she wears an oversized cross necklace. She takes in the tableau.

CELIA
Hello. I’m Celia, Madi’s sister. You must be Kai.
(to Madison and Jerrica)
Girls. Release him.
(to Madison)
Take the flowers. Please.

Madison takes the bouquet. Appraises it.

MADISON
Django’s desperate for you in the kitchen.

CELIA
Why don’t you go.

Madison takes the wine from Kai and thrusts it on Celia.

MADISON
Open it.

She heads to the kitchen and without turning:

MADISON (CONT’D)
(sing-song)
Or transform their water.

Kai takes back the wine. Opens it at the bar cart.

KAI
What was that about the water?

CELIA
Blasphemy!

Kai looks back. Alarmed. She lets him dangle for a bit.

CELIA (CONT’D)
Actually it’s a running joke. Our father would say that whenever booze got pricier. We grew up Catholic. You?

Jerrica rolls her eyes. Grabs a wine bottle and a table cloth. Heads to the door. Points to the roof deck. Kai carries glasses. Celia takes her own. They all head out.

21 INT. STAIRWELL - SAME EVENING

Jerrica leads the way up. Kai and Celia follow.

KAI
My parents are Buddhist. No explicit guilt. All implied.

CELIA
Like how?

KAI
Uhm… ok… When my girlfriend dumped me, my dad said “Keep showing up, and love will find you.”

CELIA
That’s lovely though.

KAI
I wanted them to be angry at her.

JERRICA
Who’s the girl that broke your heart?

KAI
Korean girl. Implied I was too familiar to fall for.

JERRICA
Celia won’t find you familiar.
(to Celia)
Right?

CELIA
Jerrica!
(flustered)
Look, guilt is a cliche. It should be about motivation.

JERRICA
Kai’s motivated to make it better for people out of options. Imagine the spiritual… exchange.
(to Kai)
She’s a neo-christian.

CELIA
Uh no! Not Neo. Too Matrix-y. We follow the original Jesus. The one most churches would ban.

22 INT. MADISON’S KITCHEN - EVENING

Madison at the counter. Drinking her wine too fast.

MADISON
The influencer thing went sideways.

Django stops cutting. Looks up.

MADISON (CONT’D)
It was supposed to be fun behind-the-scenes for Xara’s show. Puff and gush for the access. But she thinks she’s a reporter for 60 Minutes and kept quoting Margaret.

DJANGO
Maybe it’ll be buzzy content. It’s all good publicity, right?

MADISON
I got snippy. That’s on me. But now there’s a clip.

Django comes over to comfort. Massaging her neck. Madison starts to lean into it. Then her eyes open. Margaret again.

DJANGO
Don’t let her get in your head.

MADISON
Too late.

DJANGO
You are the art juggalo.

MADISON
Margaret would call me the Insane Clown Posse of the art world.

Django massages Madison’s shoulders as she organizes: Food in a basket. Plates and silverware in a FreshDirect bag. Carne asada in the marinating bowl.