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This is the first 10-12 minutes of the
registered screenplay, Running Away. Please do not violate copyright. If you are interested in the full
screenplay or a stage version of part or all of the script, please email me at sherimauthor@yahoo.com If you are a student producing these
scenes for a class, please email me
at sherimauthor@yahoo.com to
arrange a trade of free use of screenplay for my free use of your final
product. Thank you, Sheri McGuinn Ext. Home - day A small but well kept house with flower beds and trees, in a middle-class neighborhood with large lawns and no fences. Cut TO: Int. home, peg's bathroom - day Peg is putting on make-up while Lizzie and MAGGIE watch eagerly from the doorway to the attached bedroom. Maggie is fourteen, wearing oversized clothes to hide the buxom shape that is still new to her. There's a strong resemblance between Maggie and Peg. Lizzie is a nerdish twelve at this point, dressed in childish clothes with a child's body. Peg is in a quietly sexy dress. MagGIE Where's he taking you? Peg We're meeting for an afternoon concert at the Philharmonic, then dinner. He wouldn't say where. LIZZIE When are we going to meet this guy? Peg smiles and looks at the girls' reflections. PEG He's got tickets to take us to a ball game next weekend. The girls exchange repulsed looks. Peg sees this in the mirror and laughs. Peg (coNT'D) It's a guy thing. He's nervous about meeting you, so he picked somewhere he's comfortable. MaggIE Why's he nervous? We know you've been dating him for months. LizzIE When are we going camping? PEG I told you we wouldn't have time to do a major trip this year. LIZZIE You don't have any time for us. Not since you
started dating him. PEG Richard. LIZZIE Whatever. Stupid online dating. Peg's happy anticipation deflates. Maggie sees this and goes to her rescue, giving her a hug, and speaking to Lizzie. MaggiE We wanted Mom to start dating. Remember? We helped her set it up. LiZZIE Yeah . . . Hey, can we go swimming? PEG Sure. CUT TO: Int. Peg's bedroom - day Peg and the girls move into the bedroom, where Peg's purse lies on the bed. The bedroom is practical, with a few feminine frills. Peg picks up the purse and opens it. PEG Maybe we should get a family pass - you've been at the pool almost every day since school got out. Lizzie shoots a look at Maggie. Maggie moves slightly to draw Peg's view away from Lizzie and speaks calmly as Peg pulls out a few dollars. MAGGIE I think it's too late. She takes the money Peg holds out to her. magGIE (CONT'D) Thanks, Mom. Come on, Lizzie. DISSOLVE TO: Ext. Swimming hole at creek - day Maggie is in cutoffs and a big T-shirt, Lizzie is in her swimsuit, carrying a towel. They are just arriving at the swimming hole. This is a wide spot in a large creek, with a rope hanging from a tree over the water. Several teens and young adults are there; some are drinking beer. A couple of girls are playing with their toddlers in the water. LIZZIE If Mom ever finds out we're not going to the pool... MaggIE You got your ice cream. LIZZIE My friends all go to the pool. MAGGIE They won't let me wear my cutoffs. LIZZIE Why can't you just wear your suit? MAGGIE Doesn't fit. Besides, no one calls me balloon-boobs here. Lizzie looks from Maggie's well-developed breasts to her own flat chest. Lizzie Think I'll pop out that fast? Maggie shrugs. Lizzie heads to the creek as Maggie approaches a teenage couple sitting on a blanket by a cooler. They are both drinking beer. MALE ONE is husky, scruffy, mildly buzzed. His arm is around GIRL ONE. TONY Marshall is closer to Maggie's age, smooth face, cute. He smiles when he sees Maggie and makes room for her to sit next to him. Girl One Hey, Maggie. MagGIE Hey. Male one Want a beer? MAGGIE No, thanks. MALE ONE Teacher's kid. toNY It's not her fault her mom's a teacher and chaperones everything. He puts an arm around Maggie and kisses her cheek. She blushes. It's obvious she likes the attention, but she returns his arm to him. Lizzie is watching from the creek. MagGIE My little sister's looking. I told you, I'm not allowed to date yet. Tony We don't have to date... Maggie pushes him away, more playful than angry, but he gets up and walks away. Male One follows him. GiRL ONE They'll be back. MagGIE Tony thinks I'm stuck up. GIRL ONE I used to, 'cause you're like always the boss of stuff. MAGGIE Only when teachers pick. I'm not exactly popular. GIRL ONE You're nice, though. Tony's just bummed you don't want to do it. MAGGIE Maybe we should go to the pool. Girl ONE You didn't used to go there. MAGGIE This is the first summer we've ever stayed home. We always traveled and camped the whole vacation. Male one So why not this year? MAGGIE My mom started seeing this guy who lives in Buffalo last March. Since school got out, she's been going up there almost every day. MALE ONE Is he a teacher too? MAGGIE No, but he works some shift where he gets off mid-afternoon, so she heads up there right after lunch. DiSSOLVE TO: INT. romantic restaurant - early summer, evening Candles glow on small tables arranged for privacy. Peg is in the same outfit she had on while she and the girls talked earlier. Her date, RICHARD CRANDALL, is clean-cut and attractive, about forty, eager to please her. They've finished eating. Peg's wine glass is still half full; Richard's is empty. Peg looks at a flashy diamond ring in the case. PEG No one ever proposed to me before. RICHARD Not even the girls' father? PEG No. We were going to wait to get married, so Maggie would know it wasn't just for her. Then I got pregnant again and he took off. RICHARD I can't believe he never came back. Peg shakes her head. PEG Remember, the girls think he died in a car accident. RICHARD Why did you tell them that? PEG They started to ask about him. I didn't want them to feel rejected. RICHARD Like you'd felt. PEG Yeah... They're really good kids. RICHARD Still, doing it all alone... PEG My mother helped me through school. Richard is subtly disturbed but hides it from Peg. RICHARD I thought you said she turned you away when you came back. PEG I let everyone think I was dead for ten years! Then I showed up with a baby and a toddler... Of course she didn't want us to stay there. The gossips would have had a field day. RICHARD I'm confused. PEG I grew up in a little town near Ithaca. I went to college here in Buffalo, then got my teaching job and moved the girls to Mayville. RICHARD So does your mother come visit? PEG She died my last year of college. The girls barely remember her. RICHARD And it's been just the three of you since then? Peg nods. Richard relaxes (subtle). PEG When I haven't been working, I've spent all my time with the girls. RICHARD We'll have a little wedding then, since I don't have any family. PEG I didn't say yes yet, and you might withdraw the offer after you meet them. RICHARD They're yours. I'll love them. PEG You've never had kids. RICHARD No, but I used to coach girls' softball. I know all about moods and crushes and hormone swings. PEG You do, huh? richard Teenagers are tough. You'll be glad to have my help. She hands the ring back to him with a smile. PEG Ask me again after you've met them. dISSOLVE TO: Int. Home, uPSTAIRS HALLWAY Lizzie comes out of her room in pajamas, sleepy. We hear a soft giggle from down stairs. Lizzie starts down the stairs. CUT TO: Int. Home, dOWNSTAIRS Maggie is at the front door with Tony. He is being amorous. she is flattered, but fending him off and giggling. They are unaware of Lizzie watching from the stairway. Tony Come on, let me in. MaggIE I can't. TONY Then at least give me a kiss. She giggles again and he pulls her into a serious, tongue-swapping kiss. He puts his hands on her lower back and pulls her groin against his. When he finally lets go, she stands there breathless. (It's her first real kiss.) He grins, then she blushes and pushes him out the door. MAGGIE You really have to go. He laughs and plants a quick kiss on her cheek, then leaves. Maggie closes the door and leans against it, weak-kneed and glowing. She doesn't notice Lizzie slipping back upstairs. Ext. Ballpark stands - day Hot and sunny. Richard, Peg, and the girls in the stands. Richard and Peg sitting close, both in ball hats and watching the game enthusiastically. Maggie's in her usual baggy clothes and Lizzie's burning in a tank top with pretzel in hand. They have almost everything sold in the park. Maggie and Lizzie watch in dismay as Peg eats a hot dog. Peg smiles at Richard. PEG You're right. This is the one place a hot dog tastes right. LiZZIE You do know what those are made of... PEG One won't kill me. Want a bite? She grins and holds out the hot dog. Lizzie leans away. LIZZIE No way! I like my pretzel. RICHARD Is it enough? They have nachos... LIZZIE I'm fine. RICHARD How about you, Maggie? MaggIE I don't need anything else, thanks. Lizzie whispers something to Peg. PEG Maggie, will you go to the bathroom with Lizzie? LIZZIE I'm not a baby. PEG I know, but it's safer together. MagGIE Come on, Lizzie, I need to go too. Peg and Richard watch as the girls leave. RICHARD You've done a great job... He pulls the ring box out of his pocket and slips the ring on Peg's finger. She glows, then pulls it off and hands it back. PEG The girls just met you. I need to talk to them. It's a big change. Richard puts the ring back in the box and hands it to her. RICHARD At least take it with you. CUT TO: Int. Ballpark tunnel - day Maggie and Lizzie in the tunnel on the way to the bathroom. LIZZIE Can you believe Mom eating a hot dog, pretending she likes baseball? MagGIE She likes him. LIZZIE I don't. He's stupid, buying all that junk to make us like him. MAGGIE Yeah, he's trying too hard. But Mom's so happy... LIZZIE She's being weird. MAGGIE She likes him, so she's trying to please him. LIZZIE That's stupid. Why not be herself? MAGGIE Be nice. We'll talk to Mom at home. diSSOLVE TO: Int. home, PEG'S BEDROOM - evening Peg has slipped the ring onto her finger and is admiring it with her back to the door when the girls tap and walk in. Lizzie Mom, we need to talk. Peg's hand drops as she turns, but she is glowing. Maggie sees the ring; Lizzie does not. PEG It went okay this afternoon, didn't it! I knew you'd like him. LIZZIE He took us to a ballgame. MagGIE He's okay. Peg misses the betrayed look Lizzie gives Maggie. PEG I'm so glad you like him! He proposed the other night, but I didn't want to make a decision until you'd had a chance to meet him. He really is sweet, isn't he? MagGIE Yeah. That's an awesome ring. Lizzie's eyes lock on the ring. LiZZIE He asked you to marry him? Peg nods joyfully. Lizzie (cONT'D) Oh. MagGIE That's great, Mom. Well, we just wanted to let you know we had a good time today. Come on, Lizzie. Lizzie's fixated on the ring. Maggie gives her arm a tug. cut TO: Int. Home, upstairs hallway - evening Lizzie punches Maggie. Maggie puts a finger to her lips as Lizzie begins to talk and pulls her down the hall away from their mother's bedroom where they speak in urgent whispers. LIZZIe Why didn't you let me tell her I don't like him? MAGGIE Have you ever seen Mom this happy? LIZZIE No. MAGGIE Do you want to spoil that? LIZZIE No. MAGGIE So he's a kind of a dork. He's not all bad, and engaged isn't married. LIZZIE What if they do get married? MAGGIE He works up in Buffalo. We'd hardly ever see him. LIZZIE Ew - he'd move in and share Mom's room, wouldn't he... That's gross. I hope Mom gets over him soon. |