For Mom's Sake

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Loud POPPY PUNK MUSIC is playing. The room is spotless except for the pile of laundry on the bed. CLAIRE (early 20s) folds a towel in thirds, pausing to perfectly align the edges. She looks very put together except for her wet hair.

INT. BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER Claire hangs the towels on the rack and begins to blow dry her hair. She hears the BUZZER from the front door.

CLAIRE: Shit.

She quickly whips her head up and frantically parts her hair.

INT. ENTRYWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Claire holds down the buzzer.

CLAIRE: Is that you, Anna? You’re here early.

ANNA: (flatly) Yeah.

Claire rolls her eyes.

CLAIRE: (feigns enthusiasm) Great. Come on up.

Claire examines the apartment to make sure everything is in order. There is a KNOCK on the front door. She takes a deep breath before opening it.

ANNA looks a year or two younger than Claire. Her hair is piled on top of her head in one large knot. She’s dressed casually and an overstuffed duffel bag hangs off one shoulder.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): I can’t believe you’re really here!

Claire wraps her arms around Anna.

ANNA: I’m really here.

Anna’s lack of emotion only emphasizes the energy and speed of Claire’s words.

CLAIRE: You must be tired from traveling. Come on in. Can I get you anything? Water? Sprite? I remembered that Sprite was your favorite.

ANNA: Water’s fine. Anna steps into the apartment.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS Claire tries to get some cubes out of an ice tray. Anna watches as she struggles to loosen them.

CLAIRE: God, these things are a pain.

Claire laughs trying to lighten the mood, but Anna doesn’t respond. Instead, she drops her backpack on the floor with a THUD. Claire finally manhandles the cubes into a cup and fills it with water.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): There we go. (hands it to Anna) Mom called just a few minutes ago, they should be here soon.

Anna nods.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): Well, let’s go sit down in the other room. (with wide smile) I wanna hear all about what’s new.

Claire leads the way as Anna follows her dragging her feet.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Claire enters the room with Anna a few steps behind.

CLAIRE: I just painted in here. I’m not sure if I like it or not. I’m thinking it’s a little too white now, you know?

Anna leans back and examines the difference between the living room and the hallway. They look the same to her.

ANNA: Looks amazing.

Anna and Claire sit on opposite edges of the couch. Anna stares intently at the ice in her cup as she spins the liquid around and around.

CLAIRE: So what’s been going on? Mom said you’re thinking about going back to school? That’s really exciting, huh?

Anna eyes stay locked on his glass.

ANNA: Look, I appreciate the effort, but neither one of us wants to be here. (beat) You need to calm the fuck down.

Claire’s smile fades. She scoots a little bit towards Anna.

CLAIRE: Come on, Anna. I want to be here. I’ve apologized a million times.

ANNA: Saying you’re sorry if you hurt my feelings isn’t the same as apologizing. And, just so you know, I’m only here now because Mom said she’d stop paying my rent if I didn’t see Grandma before she dies.

CLAIRE: She’s not going to die. Mom’s been saying that for years.

ANNA: Right, because you know everything.

Claire takes a breath.

CLAIRE: Can you at least pretend that you don’t hate me for Mom’s sake?

ANNA: Probably not. (looks right at Claire) I’m not a good liar like you.

CLAIRE: At least I’m putting in a little effort.

Claire picks up a magazine that is sitting on the table and begins to quickly flip through the pages. For a moment they are both quiet. Claire turns quickly in Anna’s direction.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): You know, I’m the one who sent you a card on your birthday and Christmas. And you couldn’t even send me a simple text. You can’t put this all on me.

Anna looks towards the wall.

ANNA: This white really is too white.

Claire stares at her sister in disbelief, but Anna avoids making eye contact. Claire stands up and leaves the room, SLAMMING the door as she goes. Anna sets her glass on the table and grabs a prescription bottle out of her jacket. She swallows a pill and chases it with the water.

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Claire falls face first onto her bed. Almost immediately, she hears the BUZZER again. She begins to get up and then falls back on the bed. A framed photo of Anna and Claire hung in the wall catches her eye – they are both a few years younger with their arms wrapped around one another. The door swings open and Anna walks in. Claire picks up her head and looks at her sister.

ANNA: Look, I’m ready to play nice if you are.

She jumps up and hugs Anna tightly. Anna awkwardly lifts her arms to return the embrace. As Claire lets go, the bottle falls out of Anna’s jacket. They both look down at it.

ANNA (CONT’D): Fuck.

Claire leans down and skeptically picks up the bottle. Anna reaches for it.

CLAIRE: Don’t I get one?

The shock on Anna’s face is the most emotion we’ve seen from her so far.

ANNA: Seriously?

Claire grabs Anna’s glass of water and expertly pops a pill in her mouth. She hands the bottle back to Anna. The BUZZER sounds again.

CLAIRE: Hide those. Mom would flip.

Anna shoves the pill bottle back in her jacket and zips up the pocket.

The two women walk towards the front door.

FADE TO BLACK.