Pariah Page #6

ALIKE:

Okay?

MRS. ALVARADO

They’re lovely. Of course your

descriptiveness and use of

alliteration is beautiful and all,

you know that. But...I don’t know.

Is it your best? No.

Alike frowns through the pages of the composition book.

ALIKE:

I thought it was good.

MRS. ALVARADO

It’s good. Not great.

Alike slumps back into her seat and considers the book’s

cover.

MRS. ALVARADO

I believe you can go deeper.

19 INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - AFTERNOON 19

Audrey is a heat-seeking missile, whipping through the sparse

hallways of the trauma wing, her clipboard and pen in

constant motion. NURSES and AIDES scatter in her wake,

suddenly busying themselves with little bits of chore work to

avoid her caustic gaze. She barks at a cluster of CLERKS chitchatting

in the elevator bank and all but one manage to

escape. Audrey drills her.

AUDREY:

Oh, so your log is all up to date?

CLERK:

No I-

AUDREY:

And you’ve checked the round for

any calls?

CLERK:

Well I -

15.

AUDREY:

Do you even know which doctors are

on the floor?

CLERK:

No ma’am I-

AUDREY:

Then I suggest you get busy.

The clerk skitters off red-faced, and Audrey looks daggers

into her back before storming the break room.

20 INT. HOSPITAL BREAK ROOM - CONTINUOUS 20

Audrey whisks her lunch bag out of the fridge and heads

toward a table. A few lounging AIDES wad up their garbage and

flee the break room. Audrey settles down at the table and

pulls a fashion magazine from her work tote, pretending not

to be hurt. She peels open a cup of vanilla yogurt and begins

reading. A big red department store bag sits next to her work

tote. The television suspended over the table mumbles

corporate healthcare infomercials. MRS. SINGLETARY, one of

Audrey’s co-workers swoops in and plops a plastic grocery bag

on the table across from her.

MRS. SINGLETARY

Hey girl! Mind if I sit here?

AUDREY:

No, not at all. Help yourself.

MRS. SINGLETARY

Whatchu got there? You been

shopping?

AUDREY:

Oh, no. Just some yogurt. Some

vanilla yogurt.

MRS. SINGLETARY

No I meant in the bag. What do you

have in the shopping bag--the big

red thing?

AUDREY:

Oh I’m...I don’t know where my mind

is...Yeah, this is just uh--well

let me get your opinion.

Audrey’s steely exterior melts away and suddenly she is all

butterflies and giggles. She rifles through the bag and

hoists out a pink ribbed v-neck sweater.

16.

MRS. SINGLETARY

Oh that’s nice.

AUDREY:

Yeah see isn’t this cute?

MRS. SINGLETARY

Umm-hmm. That’s for your daughter?

AUDREY:

Yeah, this is for Alike.

MRS. SINGLETARY

The youngest one.

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