Waiting For Sunday: Scenes 1-5

Scene 1 -1

The scene begins with Jessica and Stephanie sitting in a sleek silver BMW with leather interior. Jessica looking out of her passenger seat window while her mother lectures her.2

SC # 1 - Highway to Hell - AC/DC.3

STEPHANIE - You cannot go to that party. I know what kind of people your friends are. 4

JESSICA - Mom, you know nothing. How can you begin to even tell me about their “kind” when you are completely clueless when it comes to being rebellious or being free or having fun? 5

STEPHANIE - I was once a kid too.6

JESSICA - I’m not a kid.7

STEPHANIE - Well you sure are acting like one. As long as you stay in my house you live under my rules. No parties. 8

JESSICA - But mom! 9

STEPHANIE - Jess, it’s a weeknight! You’re completely crazy if you think I’m going to let my sixteen year old daughter go out on a school night with some insane teenagers. I see them you know? They spend numerous hours hanging out in front of the convenience store on their skateboards. I see them! You will never know how hard it is to say “no” unless you are in my position as a mother. Then things will change and you’ll finally have some respect for my decisions. Until then you’re going to have to abide by my rules. 10

JESSICA - I’m not going to. I hate your rules. I always have. 11

Stephanie turns off the car radio. 12

STEPHANIE - That’s too bad, you’re going to have to get used to it. Living under my roof means my rules. 13

JESSICA - Then maybe I don’t want to live under your roof! 14

STEPHANIE - That’s fine! Go move out! And not to one of your friend’s houses because running away like that is just cowardly. You’re sixteen! 15

JESSICA - Fine. 16

She looks out the window again with a serious look upon her face.17

JESSICA - Then maybe I’ll go move into my father’s house. I mean… Maybe it’s time that I spend some time with my dad. I haven’t seen him in a while and maybe it would be good for the both of us to see each other. 18

STEPHANIE - Good for the both of you? Maybe it would be good for him but you don’t need that right now. You don’t need all of the harassment after five years of mental and physical torture. Don’t you dare tell me you’ve forgotten all those times we got into fights. And the times we were in the hospital. Those nights he would come home drunk and kick us until we were blue. If he did come home that is. Was it something I did? 19

JESSICA - Mom, it’s not about you or our small, stupid, pointless fights. It’s about change. I know dad lives far away but maybe it would be good for me. I’m thinking now that I need some change in my life. 20

STEPHANIE - Jessica! Listen to me! He’s not even in Canada anymore. Remember I told you he went back? He’s in the Dominican Republic. You won’t even find him. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. 21

JESSICA - Mom, this is something I need to do. I have to give it a chance. I don’t want to be saying “what if” for the rest of my life. We’ve all changed, maybe he’s changed too.22

STEPHANIE - You know what? Do whatever you want. You’re sixteen, you can do whatever you choose to. I just hope you know that I do not condone what you are doing in any way! Don’t come crying back to me because he hasn’t changed though.23

She shakes her head.24

STEPHANIE - All those times we had to put up with him and his temper tantrums… how could you even dream of going back to that misery? 25

JESSICA - Let me live and learn.26

STEPHANIE - You’ve lived through hell. Haven’t you learned anything from that? 27

JESSICA - Maybe he’s changed!28

STEPHANIE - If you’re willing to find that out go right ahead. It’s not like I can say or do anything to make you want to stay. I respect your opinion, just not your decision. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.29

JESSICA - Maybe he’s changed…30

Scene 2 -31

Jessica scans her index finger through a list of telephone numbers in the phone book. She lets out a sigh and it is evident that she cannot find what she is looking for. Jessica’s position changes as the scene moves on and telephone books begin to pile all around the area where she is sitting. She is still on the phone.32

JESSICA - PAPI?! Oh my God? Are you serious? 33

Jessica covers the telephone receiver and whispers to her mother.34

JESSICA - Ma, I think I found him! 35

As a smile grows on Jessica’s face the same expression spreads to her mother. As Jessica turns back to her conversation on the telephone her mother’s smile changes slightly and her façade is seen more than the happiness her daughter thinks is genuine.36

JESSICA - Yah, Hi. I was told that I could find Arnaldo Ricardo Mendez here.   37

There is a pause as Jessica eats her ice cream. Her eyes widen and her bowl and spoon drop to the floor. 38

JESSICA - Daddy? Is that you? How are you?   39

She signals for her mother to pass the towel from the other side of the kitchen and begins to clean up the mess she has made.40

JESSICA - I wanna come and see you one of these days. Are you sure it’s okay? Really? Okay! Yeah, I have the money I’ve been… yeah. Okay! Bye. 41

Scene 3 - Summer of 2002. Skytravel Airlines.42

Jessica sits with her walkman and book in the airplane. An older couple who hope to have some fun in the sun are sitting beside her. Jessica doesn’t want to be on the plane because she has been afraid of flight since she was a child. Wearing her crucifix and holding tightly to the armrest she closes her eyes. The plane hits turbulence and she cringes knowing that the ocean is right below her. 43

FLIGHT ATTENDANT - Please fasten your seatbelts, bring your seats forward and turn off any electronic devices as we will be landing in the Dominican Republic in approximately ten minutes. Thank you. 44

Jessica waits until everyone is off the plane and then proceeds down the isle and down the stairs into the airport to collect her luggage. Her smile grows as she feels the heat press up against her cheeks. She whispers to herself.45

JESSICA - … Finally. 46

Scene 4 - 47

Jessica taps her nails to the beat of a song on the radio in the café of the hotel. She waits for her father. Finally a man approaches her and stares at her. She doesn’t recognize that it is her own father who she has not seen for three years. Arnaldo smiles.48

JESSICA - Papi? 49

ARNALDO - Awww sweetie, how are you? 50

He gives her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. They both sit down.51

ARNALDO - So let me know what’s going on, how has life been treating you lately? 52

JESSICA - Not bad, it’s good to finally see you. 53

ARNALDO - You know my lovely, I wanted to take full care of you after the divorce between your mom and I.54

JESSICA - I know dad. 55

ARNALDO - Guess things didn’t turn out as I had wished but I’m thankful I have you here with me today.56

A waiter comes to ask if they need any more drinks. Arnaldo answers the waiter before he gets a chance to ask if Arnaldo needs a drink.57

ARNALDO - Gracias, estamos bien!58

Thank you, we are fine. 59

JESSICA - …So what have you been up to Papi? Anything new and exciting? 60

ARNALDO - Well the party is really in Santo Domingo. Here is just where all of my co-workers stay, that’s why I’m not usually here. 61

JESSICA - Can I go to Santo Domingo with you one day? 62

ARNALDO - No sweetie, I don’t think that is such a good idea. You don’t speak the language well enough and as soon as they hear your accent they will take advantage of you. Plus, my love, you know how I want things to be. I want you to marry Manuel and live the life I never did. 63

JESSICA - Oh I won’t meet anyone here. Mommy never left you because you were Dominican. Being Dominicano had nothing to do with it. 64

ARNALDO - Listen to me. To do well in life this is the way things need to be. To visit is nice but don’t get too attached. Manuel is waiting for you in Canada. He is a nice young boy. Make me proud and marry him. 65

She whines.66

JESSICA - Papi, Manuel? He used to pick his nose and eat it. No, I can’t marry him you are loco. I cant even be around him for more than an hour he is so annoying. 67

ARNALDO - Mi amor, do this for me. The past is the past. Make me proud. 68

Scene fades to black.69

Scene 5 -70

Jessica wakes up to the sound of meringue music. She sees light bursting through the thin, almost transparent drapes. She makes some coffee, gets dressed and sits on the balcony reading "All Families are Psychotic" by Douglas Coupland. Jessica's glasses show that she holds a sense of intellectualism. She is definitely not a child anymore. The camera follows Jessica into the elevator and downstairs.71

HOTEL ASSISTANT - Hola! 72

Jessica keeps walking. She can’t hear anyone because she is wearing a walkman with headphones. A cheery man waves and she sees he is speaking to her.73

AURELLIO - Hola Jessica! 74

JESSICA - Aurie! How you doin'? 75

AURELLIO - Bueno 76

Jessica walks to the ocean. She takes off her pants leaving her wearing a swim suit. She lays on the beach reading and shortly falls asleep. There is a fast forward of the sun setting and Jessica in the same position with her book on her chest and her eyelids closed to what used to be blaring sunshine. Sounds of the water slowly come to a crescendo. 77

SC # 2 - Waves crashing.78