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"EPISODE 1.19 -
Mommy Dearest"
Written and produced By Alex Gregg. Copyrighted 2003-04.
Originally Aired March 22nd 2004
Ashley: Previously, on Chestaville
High.
Rick: So, from now on, you'll do what I say, when I
say, or I'll make sure you don't make it home in time for
supper, *understand*?
Ashley: I'm not afraid of you, Rick...
Rick: I don't give a *damn* if your afraid of me or not.
So, I want no more
playing up, no more arguing, no more lying, no more tantrums
*and* no more trying to get her to stay home. Understand?
Maria: Ash, are you okay?
Ashley: Yeah, I'm fine, why?
Maria: It's just I'm--
Dylan: (finishes the sentence for her) Worried
about her? (she nods).
Maria: Maybe
you could talk to her?
Mr Harris: There's a letter for
you.
Ashley: (catches her up) What's wrong?
Maria: Nothing, Okay!!
Ashley: Maria was supposed to meet up with him at
the mall. He waited for her for over an hour, but she never
showed...
Maria: You wanna know what my problem is? Huh?
(almost shouting) You wanna know?! Here! (gets the letter from
her pocket and shoves it into Ashley's hand) Read it! (points to
the letter) That's what my problem is! Its official, I couldn't
deal! Alright!
Maria: I mean we haven't heard from her in eight
years. About three weeks after she left, Dad got a letter from
her saying she was okay, and that she wanted to get on with her
life without him or me... and for us to do the same.
Since then, nothing, no more letters or phone calls... until
now.
Fade into a short of Chestaville High. The bell rings, students
pile out of the front entrance. Cut to
Ashley supporting her backpack walking down an almost empty hall. Dylan catches up to
her.
Ashley: Hey.
Dylan: Hey. You off home?
Ashley: Yup.
Dylan: Right... Uhm, Ash, can, uh...
can I talk to you for a minute?
They both stop.
Ashley: Uhm, okay...
Dylan: (points the class room next to
them) In here?
Cut to inside, they both walk in, Dylan closes the door behind
him.
Ashley: So, what's this about? (sits
on the teachers desk) Is it Maria?
Dylan: No. Uhm.. it's... it's actually
about you... (Ashley just looks at him, Dylan sits on the desk opposite
her) I've noticed that you've... well, been acting kinda weird lately...
like there's something wrong?
Ashley: (laughs) Man, I can't believe
them! Maria and Ling put you up to this, right? Got you to talk
to me? (gets up) Because if they did--
Dylan: (interrupts) Ashley, there just
worried about you. (pauses) I'm worried about you. (Ashley
stares at him) Okay, I realize that's gotta sound weird, coming
from your best friends boyfriend, but... it's true.
Ashley: Look, Dylan, I appreciate the
concern... but, I'm fine.
Dylan: (gets up) That's not
how it's looked lately... Look, Ash, you can say your
"fine" as many time as you like, okay? But, You, Me,
Maria, Ling, Zak, we all know that's a lie...
Ashley: Look, Dylan... Thanks. But, I can't talk
to you about it, okay?
Dylan: Ash, you obviously need to talk to
someone.
Ashley: I'll See you on tomorrow...
With that Ashley crosses the room and heads out of the door with
out a backwards glance, Dylan sighs then after a few moments he
too exits the class room pulling the door closed behind him.
Cut to Maria walking home from school, walking down main street.
She passes various stores and soon comes to "Harris's
Electrical Supplies". Her fathers store. She's about to
enter when she realizes its closed.
Maria: (to herself) What?
Cut to her coming up the stairs leading to the flat above.
Maria: (calls) Dad? (walks up the last step,
heads for the living room and enters. sees her dad sitting on
the sofa) Hey, how come the stores... (see a lady sitting on one
of the chairs at the opposite end of the room) closed...
Julie: (stands up) Hello, Maria.
The Credits
Special Guest Stars: Dylan
Matthews, Zak Williams
Guest Staring: Mr Harris, Julie Harris
Fade back into Maria's living room. Maria just stares at the women,
as she looks back at her. Mr Harris sands up.
Maria: (turns to her father) Wha-- what is
she doing here?!
Julie: I've come to see you, Maria.
Maria: (turns to face her, coldly) Yeah?
Well, your running, what, eight years to late? (theres a long silence,
Maria brakes it). So, you can go back to (makes air quotes)
"getting on with your life" - because I'm not interested.
Mr Harris: Maria...
Maria: (turns back to her father) No! Why ever
she's here, whatever she wants... No! (turns back to the women)
You got that?
With that Maria terns on her heal and leaves the room. Mr Harris
sits back down. At that moment the sound of a door slamming is
heard.
Julie: (sits back down also, sarcastically)
Well, that went well...
Mr Harris: (coldly) Well, what did you expect,
Ju? After eight years.
Cut to Maria's bedroom. She laying on her bed staring up at the sealing,
her hands behind her head. Looking somewhere between angry and
upset. There's a knock at her door. After a few moments it
opens. Her dad comes in.
Mr Harris: Hey.
Maria: (coldly) What do you want?
Mr Harris: (sighs) Are you okay? (sits on the
edge of her bed).
Maria: (not looking at him) Is she still
here?
Mr Harris: Yeah.
Maria: Then, no. I'm not okay.
Mr Harris: Maria, I understand that this is a
shock, it was for me too, but--
Maria: (sits up and faces him) Dad, I'm not
going back in there. I don't want anything to do with her *ever*
again. Okay?
Mr Harris: Maria, she's your Mother...
Maria: No! She hasn't been my *mother*, for
the past eight years!
Mr Harris: I realize that your feelings towards
her are--
Maria: No, you don't realize!
Mr Harris: She's come all this way to see
you.
Maria: (laughs) "all this way"?
Dad, we don't even know where she lives!
Mr Harris: I know. It's been hard, on both of
us, but she's here now, and-
Maria: Dad, *why* are you defending her?!
Mr Harris: Maria, just talk to her, okay? You
might learn something.
Maria: (angrily) Yeah, like what.
Mr Harris: (gets up) Talk to her and find
out.
Next day at Chestaville High. The quad. Students walk past as
the camera closes in on Maria, Ashley, Ling and Dylan, sitting
at one of the picnic tables.
Maria: (angrily) I mean, how can she do it?!
How can she just, after eight years, come striding though the
door, like nothing's happened? And then expect me to be okay
with it?
Ashley: She's can't.
Maria: And, Dad, you know? I don't get why
he's defending her! I mean, for the last eight years he hadn't
even talked about her. And now, it's like he's.... (shrugs and sighs).
Ling: Maybe he knows something you don't? (Maria
gives her a confused look) Well, he wants you to talk to her,
right? You said, he said, you might learn something? So, you
know...
Maria: I guess... But, what would he
know?
Dylan: So, are you seeing her again?
Maria: (sighs) Yeah, after school... She's picking
me up. God! I *so* don't want to do this. It's like every time I
look at her, all I wanna do is scream...
Ling: Well, that's understandable...
Ashley: Yeah, she just walked out on you and
your dad...
Dylan: You know, if you want want me to come
along....
Maria: (smile at him) Thanks, but, I guess I've
gotta do this on my own...
Ling: Well, if, you ever wanna talk, we're
all here. (glances at Ashley).
Maria: Thanks guys. (sighs) I just wish she'd
never come back... (they all gives her a concerned look) Guys,
I'll be okay, really.
There's a deadly silence among them all for a few movements.
Ling: Ah, I've gotta get going, I've
gotta hand in my article.
Ashley: Oh! When is it gonna be published?
Ling: Uhm... next week I think. (gets up).
Dylan: Cool. We can't wait to read it.
Maria: Oh, yeah, I've gotta bail too. (gets
up). I've gotta see Mr DeCole about my bio homework. So, I'll
see you all in class. (Dylan and Maria kiss).
Ashley and Dylan watch Ling and Maria walk back into the school building.
Dylan: So... You didn't say anything
to them then?
Ashley: How could I? Maria's stuff is more
important right now.
Dylan: Ash, if you do wanna talk...
just come and find me, yeah? And whatever it is, I promise, it'll
stay between you and me. Okay?
Just then Zak comes up to them and sits down next to Dylan.
Zak: Howdy.
Ashley: Hey. (gets up) I've gotta go.
Dylan: (to Ashley) Just think about
it? (she nods at him and leaves).
Zak: Think about what?
Dylan: Oh, uh... nothing important.
Zak: Is it me, or does Ashley bail every time
I we see each other latley?
Dylan: She's just got stuff going on right
now...
Zak: Yeah, like what?
At that moment Lorry, Gaz and Jake walk past the picnic table,
when they see Zak they stop, look at each other and walk
over.
Lorry: Hey, Zak.
Zak: Oh, ah, Hey.
Gaz: What's up, Zak?
Jake: So, (leans on the table) How's life
treating you, then?
Zak: (a little nervous) Uh, fine, thanks.
Dylan: (he notices) Uh, Zak? We'd better get
to class (gets up).
Zak: (gets up) Yeah, right.
Dylan: (to the others) See you, guys.
Jake: (doesn't take his eyes of Zak, neither
do the others) Yeah, bye.
Zak and Dylan head out of the quad, back into the school building.
Cut to them walking down the hall. They reach their lockers. Zak
opens his.
Dylan: So, what's going on with those
guys?
Zak: (gets out some books) You saw them that
night. It's like you said, they've gotta find someone to target.
Guess now it's me, being new and all..
Dylan: You want me to have a word?
Zak: No.
Dylan: What? Why?
Zak: (slams his locker shut) Because, I don't
really want to be known as the *wimp* of the 9th grade! Okay?!
Come on Dylan, how's it gonna make me look if I send you you to
(makes air quotes) "have a word" with them?
Dylan: Okay. So, what are you gonna do
then?
They begin to walk down the hall, to their next class.
Zak: I don't know... I'll figure it out...
Ashley Voice Over: Man, poor Maria. I feel so
sorry for her. I mean, her mom had no right to just come back
into her life like that, after leaving her and her dad for all
those years. I don't blame her for being so angry. Talking of angry,
Maria and Ling getting Dylan to talk to me? Man, I was pissed. I
was already to have a go at them, but then Maria told us what's
going on with her mom... that seemed more important. (sighs)
Maybe I should talk to Dylan, if he says it's gonna stay between
us... I'll think about it.
Cut to the beach. The camera pans along the sand until it
reaches Maria and her mom walking along. Maria isn't looking
very happy about the situation.
Julie: This is a nice little town. Seems to
have the essentials. The school seems like a nice place.
From what I saw.
Maria: Its school.
Julie: So, you have friends here?
Maria: A couple.
Julie: Good. That's good.... a boyfriend?
(Maria turns to look sharply at her mother. Julie takes it as having
gone one step too far). Well, uhm... I guess that's not really
any of my business.
Maria: (coldly) Your right. It's not.
Julie: Maria, I just want to be friends,
here.
Maria: Well, maybe I don't... (stops) I mean,
why did you even come back after all these years? What do you
want from me?
Julie: (stops also) A chance to explain...
Maria just looks at her mother. Fade to later. They are now
sitting on the sand, looking out towards the ocean, clearly in
the middle of a conversation.
Julie: Your remembering it wrong...
Maria: (voice slightly raised, angry) I remember
waking up one morning, and you'd gone, I remember the note
on the table saying that you needed to get on with your life and
for us to do the same, I remember dad not talking for weeks, I
remember I was *seven* years old!
Julie: I know... (sighs) I know how much I
hurt you and your father.
Maria: Really?! (shakes her head in anger) Because
I don't think you do! (there's a long pause) You know... for the
first couple of years I wrote you so many letters. Asking why you
left us, when you where you coming home... 'course I had no
where to send 'em...
Julie: (softly) I am truly sorry Maria.
Maria: Yah, well, you know what? It's too
late! How could you do it? How could you leave dad? - How could
you leave *me*?!
Julie: (sighs) There where reasons...
Maria: (sarcastically) I bet! (has had
enough, gets up) I'm outta here.
Julie: (gets up also) Maria, wait!
Maria: (walking away) No!
Julie: You have a brother!
Maria: (stops and slowly faces her mom,
shocked) What?
Julie: (goes for it) Well, I guess he's your
half brother actually... He's eight years old, his name's Jaime,
he--
Maria: (interrupts, shocked and angry) You
are *unbelievable*! You dumped me! You dumped me and head another
kid!
Julie: (tries not to lose it) Maria, it's not
like that, please, I... look, I need your help, Jamie needs your
help. He's sick Maria, and--
Maria: (interrupts, shouting) So that's what
this about?! You didn't come and find me because of me, you came
because you need my help!
Maria can't take anymore. She sprints off across the beach back
the way they came. Leaving her mother standing alone looking
after her.
Fade to to later, Dylan's house. Ashley walks up the path to his
front door and knocks. After a few moments he answers.
Dylan: (surprised) Ashley, Hey.
Ashley: Hey... uh.. you know, at school today,
you said, that if we talked, it would stay between the two of
us?
Dylan: Yeah. (Ashley looks at him,
he gets it) Come on in.
She does and he closes the door behind her.
Cut to Maria, she's walking along a street. She looks very
upset. Cut to her coming in though the back door, she heads up
the stairs leading to the flat, but stops when she hears voices.
She slowly walks up the last few remaining steps and slowly
walks over towards the kitchen door, she stands beside it listening
to the conversation with in the room.
Julie: Andy, please. I need her help. My son
needs her help.
Mr Harris: It's not up to me Ju, It's going
to be Maria's decision only. I'm not going to force her
into it
Cut to inside the kitchen. Maria's mother and father are sitting opposite
sides of the table. Mr Harris looks very angry with his estranged
wife.
Julie: But, you think she will?
Mr Harris: I don't know. I really don't (Julie
sighs). And after the last eight years, have you given her any
reason to help you?
Julie: This isn't about me, it's about a
little boy.
Mr Harris: (getting angry) It's also about
Maria! Your *daughter*. What's going to happen afterwards, huh,
Ju? Are you going to go back to pretending she doesn't exist for
the next eight years?! She's not something you can call upon when
you need help, and though away when you don't.
Julie: Andy...
Mr Harris: (angry) Don't. I think it's time
you left.
Julie: You've give her the letter.
Mr Harris: Yes. But what she does with it is
her own decision.
Julie: (gets up) Look, I know there's nothing
I can say that will make up for the last eight years... But, I
want you to know... I am really sorry.
Mr Harris: (gets up also) Maria's had it rough
ever since you walked out on her. (coldly) I don't think "really sorry" covers it. She needed her mother.
Julie: I didn't just mean Maria, Andy.
Mr Harris: (coldly) We talked about this when
you first got here. It's done.
Cut to the hall. The kitchen door opens, Maria's mother walks
out of the door followed by Mr Harris. Maria turns to face them.
Julie: Maria, I--
Maria: (interrupts) I don't wanna know...
She walks past her mother and heads down the hall and into into
her room closing the door behind her. The camera pans back to
her parents. Her mom looks down the hall towards her daughters
room.
Cut to Maria's room. She's looking out of her window at the street
below. Her dad knocks on the door and comes in.
Mr Harris: (walks over to her) Hey. Are you
okay?
Maria: (continues to look out of the window)
I've been better...
Mr Harris: Here, (Maria terns round and her
dad hands her a white envelope) this is for you. Its form your
mom. The reason she found us again, (sighs) it's all in there.
(Maria takes it). I told her, what you want to do about... the
situation, is your choice, and yours only.
Maria: (looks from the envelope to her dad)
You know what's in here?
Mr Harris: Yeah. (Maria starts to stay something
but he stops her) Maria, I think it'll be better if you read the
letter, then me telling you.
Maria: (sees her fathers expression) Dad, what's
this all about?
Mr Harris: Read the letter?
He gives her a small smile and leaves the room, closing the door
behind him. Maria looks at the envelope, goes over to sit on her
bed, opens it and reads:
Dear Maria.
I realize that seeing
me again today was a shock.
I thought about phoning
before I came, but decided
against it. Perhaps I
made a mistake in doing so.
I realize that you
are angry with me for what I have
put you and your father
though for the last 8 years.
As I said today, your
bother needs your help. Jamie
has "CMML"
(Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia).
And is in need
of an bone marrow transplant operation.
A CMML
sufferer needs to have healthy marrow cells
put in place of the
unhealthy ones that have developed.
But for a donor to do
this they must be a match.
The matches are a
parent or a sibling. Because of
complications I am not
a match. Jamie's father passed
away when he was
three, so that's not an option.
Maria, as
Jamie's half sister there is a good chance
that you could be the
match he needs.
I know this is asking
a lot from you, considering that
24 hours ago you
didn't know you had a brother, but
Maria, please think
about it. Please don't let your
anger towards me affect
your decision. Jaime needs this
to save his life and
he needs it as quickly as possible.
I'll be staying in
town for a couple of days at the Buxli
Hotel, room number
214. Please get in touch as soon as
you have made your decision
and perhaps we can talk
about it? I have also
enclosed a photo of Jamie.
Thank you
Maria turns the envelope upside down and a small passport photo
drops on to her bed. She picks it up and looks at the picture.
It shows a small boy, roughly eight years old, with dark
ginger/brown curtain style hair and green eyes smiling back up
at her. Maria just stares at the picture.
The Camera slowly pulls back to show wider shot of Maria sitting
on her bed looking at the photo, as it fades to black.
...TO BE CONTINUED...
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