The Bionic Woman Page #4

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She puts down her tea, looks out the window, lost in thought.

Eric watches her, a little concerned.

9.

ERIC:

It's crazy that you're feeling bad

about this. When your parents died,

you dropped out of school for her.

You took this -

(gestures at their

surroundings)

-- this "job" -

JAIME:

(cutting him off)

-- that pays well, has flexible hours

and gives us both health insurance.

ERIC:

It's not a career, Jaime. What are

you doing here? This is a waste of

your time and your talents.

Jaime gives a half-smile, but it has an EDGE.

JAIME:

What talents would those be, exactly?

ERIC:

The ones that got you a free four-

year ride at Columbia.

JAIME:

(brushing it off)

That was a long time ago. And a

half-finished degree in Shakespearean

lit is not exactly a marketable skill,

per se.

ERIC:

You could be a professor -

Jaime is starting to get FRUSTRATED -- they've had this

conversation before.

JAIME:

Eric -- I don't even qualify to teach

high school. And I don't have time

to go back to finish my degree, not

yet. Becca needs me -

(off his look)

She's still a kid, ok? Even if her

hormones are trying to trick her

into thinking she's not.

ERIC:

Yeah, well, when I was a teenager I

was studying 24-7 -

10.

JAIME:

(countering, teasing)

You were in college at 15 and a

surgeon by twenty-two. You're not

exactly representative.

ERIC:

What's that supposed to mean?

JAIME:

You're a freak. An overachieving,

utterly focused, completely caffeine-

addicted freak.

ERIC:

Don't mock my dependency. It brought

me in here. To you.

(slugs back more

espresso)

You know, if I adopted you, you'd

have killer health insurance.

JAIME:

That's disturbing on so many levels

I don't even know where to start.

ERIC:

Yeah, you're right. Adoption's out.

(trying to sound casual)

Maybe you two should just move in

with me.

Jaime TENSES, just a little. This is a sore subject.

ERIC (CONT'D)

Becca could have the downstairs

bedroom. I'll even spring for a

cat.

JAIME:

I don't want to fight about this

again -

ERIC:

(serious now)

So don't fight. Say yes.

(frustrated)

Jaime, just let me -

JAIME:

(flaring)

What? Take care of me?

ERIC:

(correcting)

--help. Let me help.

11.

JAIME:

I can take care of myself. And Becca.

I've been doing it a long time.

She starts to get up, taking her tea.

JAIME (CONT'D)

Charity's not a good foundation for

a relationship.

Eric grabs her hand, frustrated, trying to get her to stay.

There's obvious, naked LOVE in his expression -- just a

blinding need to make better what hurts her.

ERIC:

James -

His BEEPER goes off. Getting to his feet, he checks it.

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