Infinitely Polar Bear Page #7

AMELIA:

I don’t know.

CAM:

The thing is I can see all this

from Mommy’s point of view. I

certainly understand why she slept

with Jake Beal after the Walden

Pond incident. Sleeping with Will

Bronson was pushing it, but I still

forgive her.

AMELIA:

But Mommy says you slept with

somebody in the hall closet during

a party when I was eight months

old. She says you started it.

CAM:

(defensive)

I was manic. I was high as a kite

when I did that. I never had a

prolonged affair like everybody

else seems to do!

Amelia looks down and reaches for another biscuit. Cam

sighs, sorry and sad.

CAM:

Do you still feel like Lucy

visiting Mr. Tumnus?

17.

AMELIA:

Not really.

INT. MAGGIE’S DREARY OFFICE. DAY

Maggie stands at a large metal filing cabinet, organizing

color-coded files. A square-shaped woman in her 50s deposits

a tall stack of files next to Maggie’s head: CAROL.

CAROL:

These too.

The phone rings. Maggie tenses.

CAROL:

Tell your kids to stop calling.

This is a job.

Carol trundles away. Maggie answers, professionally.

MAGGIE:

Hello, Keller Brothers --

(quietly)

Faith, is it important, sweetie?

You can’t call so much. They don’t

like it. No TV... Okay, one show --

two shows and a movie, but please

don’t call again unless you have

to. I love you.

INT. APARTMENT. EVENING

Cam makes dinner: crepes filled with creamed chicken and

spinach. Faith sets the table. Amelia plays the piano.

The front door key turns in the lock.

FAITH:

Mommy’s home!

Maggie opens the door and walks in with a bag of groceries.

Faith gestures to the table with a flourish. Maggie nods,

impressed, and then she sees Cam in the kitchen and reacts,

surprised, but not unpleasantly.

INT. KITCHEN. CONTINUOUS

Maggie joins Cam in the kitchen.

MAGGIE:

Hello.

18.

CAM:

Hello. Guess who showed up on my

doorstep today?

He nods toward Amelia. Maggie puts her groceries down.

MAGGIE:

How did she get there?

CAM:

Walked.

MAGGIE:

All the way from school?

He nods. They share a look of parental concern. Then:

CAM:

I think we should find a therapist

for her to talk to.

MAGGIE:

Do you think that’s something your

parents might pay for? Mine can’t

help anymore.

CAM:

I’ll ask them.

Maggie smiles at him gratefully and unpacks the groceries.

They move around the tiny kitchen. In the living room,

Amelia starts playing a jaunty version of “The Entertainer.”

CAM:

She’s getting good.

(calling)

That sounds great, Big Little!

(to Maggie)

How’s the job going?

MAGGIE:

Oh, the job.

She hangs her head.

MAGGIE:

I graduated from Sarah Lawrence. I

can’t believe I’m doing this.

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