BETTY CASTING SIDE #2

Title of Script: "Pieces of Me"
Draft of Script: Full White
Writer of Script: information not available at this time
Date Script was Written: August 10, 2005
Script Transcribed By: Gaby
Pages of Script: 32-35

NOTE: This transcript has all the scene descriptions, camera movements, and all other stuff that was in the casting side that choirmom got and posted on Fanbolt in their Sneak Preview board which was found by me in the summer of 2005.

SCENE #17: CONTINUED:

Ephram stops, looks at him, snapped from his reverie:

KYLE (CONT’D)
Look. I told you. I don’t need help with my technique. Save that for some kid you’re teaching Chopsticks to. Now could you get off the bench?

Ephram stares at the piano; he almost can’t believe he just played. He’s like a recovering drug addict who just fell off the wagon. Suddenly, he needs to get out of there. Quick.

EPHRAM
You know what, let’s forget this.

KYLE
Forget what?

EPHRAM
This whole stupid thing. I don’t need attitude from some fourteen-year-old kid who thinks he knows everything. I don’t know why I’m doing this at all.

Ephram is looking a little jumpy and sweaty. Kyle notices.

KYLE
Are you okay? You look weird.

EPHRAM
Actually, I’m not okay. Everything is just way too . . . (then) I gotta go.

KYLE
Are you coming back?

EPHRAM
(considers, then)
No.

Ephram walks off, leaving Kyle to wonder what just happened . . .

SCENE #18: EXT. BERICK HOUSE. DAY. (D4)

Andy waits, maybe a little nervously, for someone to answer the door. After a beat, the door is opened by Betty Berick.

BETTY
Dr. Brown?

DOCTOR BROWN
I know. You didn’t call, and I came anyway. I have a pushiness problem.
(beat)
But Mrs. Berick, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I let you and your husband make this decision without telling you everything there is to - -

BETTY
Doctor, please. I’m seventy-five years old. Do we have to be standing up for this conversation?

DOCTOR BROWN
Oh, of course not, I’m sorry.

As she leads him in, he exhales, relieved he’s made it through phase one.

SCENE #19: INT. BERICK HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. DAY.

A few minutes later. Andy and Betty enjoy some coffee in a cozy living room, littered with pictures of family. There are signs of a life well-lived.

DOCTOR BROWN
I was talking it over with my colleague, and I think I figured out what your concerns are. You’re worried about Max losing his memory.

Betty looks at him, surprised he knew.

BETTY
You’re not so dumb, you. Yes, that’s part of it.

DOCTOR BROWN
And I won’t lie, it is a risk. But even if he suffers some memory loss, there’s a good chance Max will still remember you.

BETTY
Me?

DOCTOR BROWN
Sixty years together is a long time, and the brain knows these things.

Betty laughs a little.

BETTY
Oh, he’d love to forget me. That’s not what this is about, Dr. Brown.

DOCTOR BROWN
It’s not? Then what - - ?

BETTY
Max is a Holocaust survivor.

Andy takes that in. It’s a powerful statement, but doesn’t yet provide the answer to his question. So Betty continues:

BETTY (CONT’D)
We lived on the same street when we were kids. Two houses down from each other. By a miracle, my family got out in ’42. Max’s wasn’t as lucky. They were rounded up and sent away to different camps. Max was the only one to survive. He lost his whole family. Twelve relatives in all.

Andy wishes there was something to say, but there’s not.

BETTY (CONT’D)
When he got to America, he found us. We were the only people he know. Everyone else, friends, family, they were all dead. To this day, he still has nightmares. That’s what he doesn’t want to forget.

Andy has to take a moment to digest this. This is not what he expected he’d be dealing with.

DOCTOR BROWN
I hope you’ll forgive me for even asking this, but why would your husband risk so much to hold onto something so awful?

MAX (O.S.)
It’s simple, Dr. Brown.

And Max has entered the room, obviously having heard the last part of the conversation.

MAX (CONT’D)
I want you to think about the most painful thing that’s ever happened to you. If you were able to take a magic pill that somehow erased the memory of it, would you do it?

Andy takes a moment to think about it, about Julia, then:

DOCTOR BROWN
No. I wouldn’t.

MAX
That’s right. And you know why? Because it’s part of what made you who you are today. Just like that time in my life made me who I am.

BETTY
We know it’s only a chance, but it’s not a chance we want to take.

DOCTOR BROWN
I understand.

Andy rises, sees that he’s not gonna win this argument. But before he goes, he does have one more thing to add.

DOCTOR BROWN (CONT’D)
And you’re right. I would never want to forget what happened to me. But I wouldn’t want to die just to hold onto that memory, either.

And with that, Andy lets himself out. Off the Bericks . . .

SCENE #20: INT. FEENEY HOUSE. JAKE AND NINA’S BEDROOM. NIGHT. (N4)

Jake and Nina are in the post-sex haze. Nina looks happy and ready to pass out. But Jake still has stuff on his mind.

NINA
(eyes half closed)
That was nice.

JAKE
Yeah, it was.

NINA
‘Night, babe.

JAKE
‘Night.

She turns off her light and rolls over. A beat, then:

JAKE (CONT’D)
Are you waiting for me to propose?

BAM. Lights on. Nina’s up.