Short Term 12 Page #5

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GRACE (CONT’D)

Go to your room.

Finally, he gets up and walks to his room.

GRACE (CONT’D)

Um, levels and feelings, you knowthe drill...let’s start with youLuis.

She tosses him the little stuffed bear.

LUIS:

Green, fine.

As the kids each take turns tossing the bear and saying theirlevels and feelings, Grace looks off in Marcus' direction,

scratching the corner of her thumb with her fingernail.

Mason notices her.

CUT TO:

INT. GROUP HOME LOUNGE-- LATER

The phone RINGS. Grace picks up while writing a report onMarcus' blow-up.

GRACE:

Short Term 12 this is Grace.

(pause)

Right now?

INT. GROUP HOME JACK'S OFFICE -- DAY

Grace sits in an office, staring at a big, ugly, yellow lampin the corner of the room. JACK, an old guy with glasses,

finishes an email on his computer, typing very slow and loud.

He talks while he types.

JACK:

So what do you think?

GRACE:

Hm?

JACK:

The new lamp.

She looks at the very normal looking lamp.

JACK (CONT’D)

It's really a trip. You can turn

it on and off by just touching themetal part. Try it.

Grace reaches over and touches the lamp a few times, takingit through its various levels of illumination.

JACK (CONT’D)

Cool, huh?

He turns to Grace.

Grace shrugs and gives him a slight nod that says, "Maybe alittle."

JACK (CONT’D)

Look I’m suppose to be in a group

session like right now. You mind if

we walk and talk?

Jack gets up and grabs a couple folders from his desk.

CUT TO:

EXT. GROUP HOME, COTTAGE -- DAY

Jack and Grace walk down the sidewalk passing the cottages.

A small group of kids play dodge-ball in the foreground,

supervised by a couple staff members. Kids and social

workers pass through frame in the background.

Jack fumbles through his folders and hands her a file.

JACK:

This is Jayden, she just gotappointed to us this morning. Her

father’s a friend of a friend.

Real nice guy, very cultured.

GRACE:

Why isn't she with him?

JACK:

He lost his wife a few years backand Jayden hasn't made it very easyfor him. The past couple yearsshe's been in and out of grouphomes for dangerous behavior. Last

week she bit her therapist's nose.

GRACE:

Great.

JACK:

Yeah, so we'll have her during theweek, but she has weekend homevisits.

GRACE:

Alright.

JACK:

I told her father we’d take good

care of her.

GRACE:

I take good care of everyone.

Jack looks directly at her, a small smile on his face,

reminding her who's in charge.

JACK:

I know you do. That’s why I’mtrusting you to do the same forJayden.

GRACE:

(let’s it go)

When does she get here?

Jack looks at his watch.

JACK:

She might be here already.

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