Chapter VIII. A Park in Brooklyn

41 EXT. A PARK IN BROOKLYN - DAY

MADISON hands a prospective NEW ARTIST (20s, nonbinary) a strangely shaped blown glass cup. Fills it with fresh water. Sits across from her. Removes her over-the-top sunglasses. Regards the artist.

MADISON
So you’re up there with the absolute top choices. If you want to truly be considered for the gallery, all I want to know is You.

NEW ARTIST
Like, my work or personal?

MADISON
Oh, is the gap wide?

NEW ARTIST
Um. No. I guess I’d say I do live for this.

MADISON
Yes! Okay so… tell me about it.
(beat)
What made you stay awake and keep going when you were bleeding and inhaling fumes? What do you love more than the pet you grew up with and would trade any possible future children for?

NEW ARTIST
(lights up, earnestly, from within)
It’s called “Snuff Lips.” Sixteen mixed medias. It took, well, two years really. And then one day It came to me. Manifested as a half-creature, half-person in a dream. It said okay, we’re done. And I couldn’t make any more additions after that.

MADISON
And what does it say?

NEW ARTIST
I was silenced at a young age. I was not… encouraged to say the weird things in my mind. I was sent to boarding school to make me more normal.
(scoffs)
Snuff was my alter ego. My freedom. Said everything I couldn’t. My higher self, really. The splash of my Soul. And I know there are kids out there, like me, who need it.

MADISON
Do you believe in fate?

NEW ARTIST
Not sure.

MADISON
Just so happens that all my Soul lets me do is encourage true expression. And I believe “Snuff Lips” will reach the exact ones who need it. Right exactly when they need it.

A flash of light in the New Artist’s eyes. A subtle smile. Doesn’t want to get too excited.

NEW ARTIST
Ya. Maybe.

MADISON
Okay. Two years. What’s the end size?

NEW ARTIST
About seven feet by five and a half?

MADISON
(painting a picture)
Let’s say we show it. In New York F*in City. And as the world watches… would you light it on fire?

The New Artist’s face. The smile is gone.

MADISON (CONT’D)
Trust the process.

HOLD on the artist. They haven’t answered.

42 INT. COMEDY CLUB - NIGHT

A small stage. Brick wall. MACKENZIE (mid-20’s, a sexy Nikki Glaser lookalike with a too-short skirt for stage and knee high boots) works the room.

MACKENZIE
Ladies. We’ve been planning since August. Men think we do this for them, which is so cute. Tonight I get to be the woman who lives in my head. She is hot, she is armed, she does not text back. Guys’ Halloween is: shirt tucked in, I’m my dad; half-sleeve white shirt, I’m a mormon; shirt off, I’m Magic Mike.

She spots Django in the front row.

MACKENZIE (CONT’D)
You went with a hat. And now you’re a cowboy.

One clap. She slides her eyes to Madison next to him.

MACKENZIE (CONT’D)
Now that is a hot and armed cowgirl. Bet she doesn’t text back.

She turns fully to Madison.

MACKENZIE (CONT’D)
Ma’am, you picked that hat for him. Don’t lie.
(to Django)
Where’d you two meet?

DJANGO
(looking over at Madison)
The, uh — the laundry room. She found something I wrote in a book I left there.

MACKENZIE
He left notes. In a book. In the laundry room. Sir, that’s not a meet-cute. You left bait. And waited.

MADISON
He didn’t leave it for me. I just happened to find it.

The room ooooohs. Mackenzie pivots to Madison, delighted.

MACKENZIE
Oh, she needs that on the record. “He didn’t leave it for me.” Ma’am. So you read a stranger’s diary. And said “That’s mine now.”

Points to Django. Crowd laughs.

MACKENZIE (CONT’D)
How old are you, cowboy?

DJANGO
Twenty-five.

A whoop from the back. Mackenzie puts a hand to her chest.

MACKENZIE
Twenty-five. She found a twenty-five-year-old in a basement. Filene’s Basement. Ma’am. You went shopping. What’s your name?

MADISON
Madison.

MACKENZIE
You?

DJANGO
Django.

MACKENZIE
Your wedding. Hashtag Mango.

The room roars. Django covers his face, laughing. Madison laughs too. Lets it ride. Says nothing.

At their table, Jerrica sits clenching a plastic magic wand. Her Glinda smile holds a beat too long. She watches Madison ride the applause. Sets the wand down, picks up her bag, and slips out the side exit. No one notices.

43 EXT. MANHATTAN STREET - NIGHT

Jerrica, still in her Glinda costume, leaning against a wall smoking. Madison and Django come out, also still in costume.

MADISON
Oh there you are. I was worried.
(to Django)
Where’s the party? Are we close?

DJANGO
Yeah Jaz sent the address.

JERRICA
You guys go ahead. I’m feeling a little out of it.

MADISON
What’s up babe? What’s going on?

She detects something.

MADISON (CONT’D)
DJ, why don’t you go ahead. Let Jaz know I’ll be there soon.

Django looks at his phone, then at Jerrica. Conflicted. Madison shoos him off.

MADISON (CONT’D)
Talk to me. What’s going on?

JERRICA
Nothing. Just a lot on my mind.

MADISON
Work? Fuck the weak man boss. Kai says you are such a force for good.

JERRICA
Great. Thrilled to be everyone’s favorite show.

MADISON
He’s being sincere.

JERRICA
Unlike us?

MADISON
What?

JERRICA
Why did you tell Kai I was a “force of nature”?

MADISON
You can be relentless. I admire that. What’s the big deal?

JERRICA
He already thinks I’m too pushy.

MADISON
What’s this really about?

JERRICA
You said that during the campaign too… at the altar scene.

MADISON
Seriously… the game?

JERRICA
Why won’t the dice ever roll softness for me? Force of fucking nature.
(beat)
Why, Madi? So you can sit back and… analyze? My mother did that — always watching, dissecting my flaws to fit her narrative. Never asked what I actually wanted.

MADISON
Why is it always about you?

JERRICA
About me? When have I ever made it about me?

MADISON
Everything. Always! About you. Your career drama. Your “Lacanian” therapy. Your flirting that’s never actually flirting.

JERRICA
You have career drama too.

MADISON
You make even Django make it about you. Of course you’re the one to be protected from the Basilisk.

JERRICA
That’s low.

MADISON
You perform everything, Jer! Even your insomnia has to be a show.

She drops into Jerrica’s voice.

MADISON (CONT’D)
“Oh, I talked to AI at 3am because I’m so complex and tortured.”

JERRICA
At least I try to be real.

MADISON
Meaning what exactly?

JERRICA
That detachment… you have for appraising art. You bring that here… to us.

MADISON
Detachment?

JERRICA
And why does everyone assume you two are a couple? What the hell am I to you people?

MADISON
What is this? I’m not doing this right now. You’ve been acting really fucking weird lately. You know what, Happy Halloween. Go home, Jerrica. Get a good night’s sleep.

Madison turns and walks off.

44 INT. JERRICA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

2:14 AM. Jerrica on her side. Eyes wide open.

3:31 AM. On her back. Picks up phone. Turns it on. Looks. Turns it off. Puts it down. A siren rises and fades.

4:59 AM. Fetal position. Awake. The room is gray-blue. A garbage truck grinds down the block. Bottles into the hopper.

6:13 AM. A metal security gate rattles up. She swings her legs over the side of the bed. Bare feet on the floor.

Screams into a pillow.