CANDYPAL JOSEPHINE. Written by. Bridget Anderson Grant Conversano

CANDYPAL JOSEPHINE Written by Bridget Anderson Grant Conversano Director Grant Conversano (704)-699-8655 Conversano.gw@artist.uncsa.edu Producer Kevin Cutrara (980)-297-5482 Cutrara.kt@artist.uncsa.edu Director of Photography Trent Spivey (704)-867-0007 spivey.tw@artist.uncsa.edu Production Designer Giselle Eng eng.ng@artist.uncsa.edu (919)-271-6805 Editor Peter Brown (703)-473-8203 brown.pr@artist.uncsa.edu Draft #2 06/02/17

FRIDAY INT. SCHOOL BUS - AFTERNOON (12) sits alone on front seat of the bus. She keeps her eyes down on her sketchbook, making progress with a drawing. Seemingly out of nowhere, a fight erupts in the back of the bus, and everyone turns to watch. TWO UNRULY GIRLS (13) scream profanities back and forth at one another. Everyone s attention turns to them- some start to record the fight, some egg them on. Melodia s doe eyes peek out from the back of her seat. She observes the fight, staying low. After a moment, she turns away and sinks back into her seat. She keeps her eyes down and continues her sketch, fairly certain no one will notice her. Two girls from her class, KENNEDY and CIARAH (12), poke her shoulder from the seat behind her. KENNEDY (to Melodia) Hey. Melodia flinches and turns around to meet their gaze. KENNEDY (CONT D) (forcefully) Can we do our project at your house? Which project? KENNEDY The moldy bread one. Oh, sorry... Maybe, I have to ask my mom. KENNEDY Yeah, ask her. Mine said no, so... CIARAH I just want to decorate the poster board! KENNEDY No, Melodia should do that, she s the best person in art class.

2. Melodia looks to them, musters a laugh, and shakes her head no. Kennedy points down to Melodia s sketch. KENNEDY (CONT D) See, that s so good! I can only draw stick people. Melodia withdraws a little bit and closes her sketchbook, laughing nervously. CIARAH See? She doesn t want to. The girls turn away to continue their conversation. Melodia opens her mouth to say more, but they ve already moved on. She sinks into her seat. EXT. HOME - AFTERNOON walks to the front door of her home, expecting for it to be unlocked. She tugs at the door knob a couple times. Her rambunctious little sister, (7), taunts her from the window. Nina, stop! Let me in! Nina pokes her tongue out and laughs. Come on! (CONT D) Nina hops down from the windowsill and goes to the front door, unlocking it for Melodia. Melodia steps into INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS And plops her backpack down. Don t do that again. I didn t! It was locked when I got home. I crawled in through the back. Melodia plops down on the couch. She opens up her notebook and starts sketching again, much more relaxed. Nina leans against the wall and stares. Melodia glances up at her, annoyed.

3. Don t you wanna go play in our room? Yeah... I m hungry, though. Nina pouts and bats her eyelashes. It doesn t work on Melodia. Okay, well grab something from the fridge. I m really hungry, I want something else... Can you make me a sandwich, please? Melodia attempts to ignore her. (CONT D) Pleeeeeease? Oh my god, fine! But then go play! Melodia rolls her eyes and stands up like a rag doll. INT. LIVING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON It s not yet dark, but the sun has started to set. draws on the floor of the living room while jumps up and down on the couch, singing along to cartoons. Nina, stop! Nina jumps and sings only slightly less loudly. Melodia sighs and looks up to see Nina digging through their mother s purse. (CONT D) What are you doing? Nina laughs mischievously and plucks out a near-melted piece of caramel. She unwraps it and pops it in her mouth. (CONT D) I want some! Melodia walks over and sifts gently through the purse, noticing her mother s wallet and cell phone within.

4. (30s), fairly well-dressed, enters the front door with grocery bags hanging off of his arms. Nina hops up and runs to him, hugging his legs. Papa! Hi, girls! He wipes his forehead. What s all that for? Well, your mom went to see your aunt for a while, and you know how they are when they get together. So, I though I d make dinner for us tonight! Yes! I m soooo hungry! Papa shuffles into the kitchen, setting down the bags. Here, Melodia, help me get organized. Melodia sighs under her breath. INT. KITCHEN - LATER sits at the kitchen table, occupied with her Leapfrog. and throw ingredients into a big pot on the stove. Okay, hand me that red bell pepper... Melodia nods and sifts through the vegetables, handing it off to Papa. She turns back around. (CONT D) Not so fast- watch me. He grabs a knife from the sink and starts to chop it up.

5. (CONT D) Watch what I m doing with my hands. You wanna try? Melodia nods. He hands her the knife and guides her hand through the motions until she gets it on her own. Papa s phone goes off. He pulls his hand off the knife and looks down at the screen. EXT. STREET - NIGHT The sun has set and the street lights have come on dimly. Cicadas chirp all around. and toss a ball back and forth on the street. A car comes to pass and the two move out of the way. Once it passes, the two rejoin in the middle. Melodia bounces the ball to Nina. It goes over Nina s head, so she runs after it. Ugh, Melodiaaa! Sorry! She watches Nina run after the ball for a second, then turns to look at their house. Through the window, she sees her father on the phone, visibly distressed. He leans down on the counter and wipes his forehead. INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Where Papa sits in front of the TV. She didn t expect him to be up and freezes, her eyes peeking out from behind the wall. He spots her almost immediately....sorry, I just wanted to get a pen from mom s purse. Okay, don t stay up too late. Melodia walks to the counter and reaches in, sifting through until she finds a good one. She pulls it out and walks back toward her room. She pauses as she approaches Papa. Hey... Why wouldn t mom take her purse to auntie s?

6. Papa freezes. He takes a moment to compose himself, then pats the couch for Melodia to take a seat....you re such a smart girl, Melodia. She peers up at him, worry in her eyes. He meets her gaze with false confidence....did they- She s fine. I don t want you to worry. I m a permanent resident, so I m working on getting everything sorted out. Melodia tears up. Papa brushes a strand of hair behind her ear and holds her head closer. He holds it together like nothing s wrong. (CONT D) Aww, none of that. It s okay, Papa is taking care of it. I just need your help with this weekend. You re gonna help me, right? Melodia nods. Papa pets her head. He tears up when he thinks she s not looking, but she sees him. SATURDAY INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY and sit together on the couch, eating bowls of off-brand cereal. Nina props her feet up on the coffee table. Nina, put your feet down. Why? Nobody else is home. Melodia thinks about it and puts her feet up, too. (CONT D) When is mommy getting back? Oh... She s still with auntie today.

7. What?! But she has my dress for tomorrow! Oh... Melodia thinks. (CONT D)...I don t think she remembered to get it. I m sorry, Nina. Nina slams one of her feet down on the table. Nina huffs. But I need it, or I m gonna be the only girl at mass without one! Nina, calm down! (CONT D)...She took it to the tailor, right? Yeah. Well... (reluctant) We can go get it. EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY and walk hand-in-hand down the street. Melodia holds tight onto her mother s purse and tries to calm herself, but Nina s playful singing makes it difficult. Nina! Can you please be quiet? Okay, jeez... Why are you so cranky?...i m sorry, I m just nervous. I don t like talking to adults like this. The two walk in silence for a little while. Melodia lets go of Nina s hand and shuffles through her mother s purse.

8. (CONT D) Hold on, I hope her wallet s in here... Nina hums to herself, in her own world. In the corner of her eye, she spots a quarter in the road. She looks left and right to stay clear of cars and steps onto the road to grab it. (CONT D) Nina, stop! Melodia catches her by the arm and tugs her back onto the sidewalk. (CONT D) What are you doing?! I see a quarter in the road! So you re just gonna run out and grab it? Don t you know that s dangerous? We play in the road all the time! Well we re not playing right now. Melodia grabs Nina s hand and they continue their walk. Nina stares at the quarter that she has to leave behind. You are acting so weird! I am not! You just can t do that today cause it ll be my fault if you get hurt....i never get hurt. Well, you could. The two continue walking in silence. INT. TAILOR - DAY A small, poorly-decorated but well-kept little area. and enter through the door. Nina hops up on one of the chairs and Melodia walks toward the counter.

9. Behind the counter is a tiny, chubby Chinese woman, VIVIAN (50s). VIVIAN Hello, how can I help you? Melodia fidgets with her fingers, mustering courage. Umm... Hi, I m here to pick up a dress. VIVIAN What kind of dress? Uh- It s a white dress for my first holy communion tomorrow! It s got roses and stuff on the top. Vivian seems to recall and steps into the back. Melodia exhales. Vivian returns with the dress and hands it to Nina. VIVIAN Okay, come back behind the curtain and we ll make sure it fits. Nina disappears behind the curtain and Vivian turns to Melodia. VIVIAN (CONT D) Okay sweetheart, that ll be forty five. Melodia looks into the purse and pulls out her mother s wallet. She then pulls out a credit card and hands it to Vivian. Vivian turns to the card machine and inserts the card. VIVIAN (CONT D) Okay, type in the PIN number. PIN number? Mhmm. VIVIAN Melodia looks down at the card machine, unsure of what to put in. She enters four random digits. One second...

10. She pulls out her mother s cell phone and dials her father s number. He doesn t pick up. (CONT D) Um, I don t know it... Can we pay you later? Vivian frowns, annoyed. VIVIAN I m sorry, we can t do that here. Help her take it off and come back when you have the number. Vivian disappears behind the counter. Melodia sighs, disappointed. She sees Nina emerge from behind the curtain and gasp at her reflection, overjoyed. Melodia walks over to her. Hey, Nina... Nina does a twirl to face her. Melodia thinks. She looks around. (CONT D)...Go wait for me in the parking lot, I have to finish paying. Okay, let me change- No! Melodia grabs her arm and pushes her, in a hurry. (CONT D) It s fine! She pushes Nina out the door to EXT. TAILOR PARKING LOT - DAY Sheesh! Nina adjusts her dress and looks around, walking slowly. She does a few twirls, then hears ARGUING from inside the shop. Nina turns around and peers through the window to see Vivian holding a petrified Melodia by the arm.

11. INT. CAR - LATE AFTERNOON, and sit in absolute silence. A moment passes. Melodia opens her mouth to speak. Papa cuts her off with his hand, cooly, containing his anger. They pull up into the driveway of the house. Papa stops the car. Nina, go ahead inside. Nina unbuckles herself and exits. Papa stays with his back turned to Melodia. She gathers the courage to speak. Papa, I m sorry! I promise we weren t taking it though, it was an accident! Papa just barely keeps a hold on his anger. You would lie to me like that? I m not lying! (less calmly) You embarrassed yourself and your sister, you embarrassed me! Melodia freezes. She wises up and says nothing, receding into her shell. SUNDAY INT. BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING A blue morning. rolls over from her sleep and stretches, waking up. She hears a quiet chatter from the kitchen- her curiosity carries her there. INT. KITCHEN - DAY watches and become silent as the enters the room. They eat their eggs. Melodia gestures toward a plate of eggs made up for Nina. Nina sits down at the table, equally quiet. She stares at the empty chair across from hers with no plate in front of it.

12. Nina. You need to eat something. She looks up at her father with questioning eyes. Melodia puts a soft hand on his back. (CONT D)...She really wishes she could be here. Nina stares down at her plate. Her eyes tear up, but she wipes at them angrily. INT. CHURCH - DAY All of the children stand at the front of the church. All the girls, included, kneel in their big, beautiful gowns and veils. and her sit further back in the crowd, watching the ceremony unfold. All the children are told to stand and come forward to accept communion. They exit one by one from their pews, hands folded in prayer. Melodia and Papa keep their eyes on Nina, who holds her head lower than usual. As she approaches the front of the line, she looks back at them. Her eyes scan the pew for her mother. Papa gives her a sweet nod, but Melodia gives her a wave to turn around. Nina turns back, nearing the front of the line. As the child ahead of her accepts the host and moves on, she steps up to the priest. PRIEST (to Nina) The body of Christ. Amen. Nina holds her palms out to receive the host. The priest puts it in her palm and she moves forward. She nervously picks the host up to eat it, but it falls off of her fingertips and rolls away. Nina chases the host, disrupting the unity of the line. She catches it and picks it up, unsure of whether to eat it or not. The priest gives her a look of shame and motions for her to put it down and get in the back of the line.

13. Melodia watches her little sister rejoin the line, embarrassed, on the verge of tears. She goes through the process again, this time successfully, but it does not ease her. Nina takes her seat and weeps as silently as she can. Melodia turns to her father to share a look, but he watches intently with furrowed brows and hands folded in front of his mouth. His eyes are red and watery. As the children finish, the rest of the congregation stands to receive communion, shuffling out of their pews row by row. When it comes their turn, Melodia follows her father out of the pew and joins the line, hands folded in prayer. As she walks forward, she remains fixated on Nina, who wipes her tears and tries to pretend she s not crying. Nina s eyes flit down in embarrassment. Melodia approaches the front of the line. PRIEST (to Melodia) The body of Christ. Amen. Melodia accepts the host on her tongue. She chews and swallows. Melodia looks over her shoulder. Nina watches her with a quivering lip. Melodia heads to the ALTER SERVER with the cup of wine, her heart beating fast. She stares into the cup as the alter server tips it for her to take a sip. She grabs onto the cup and draws it too far back, allowing the wine to spill all over her dress and onto the floor. Everyone stares at her. A couple people in the front row jump forward to help out- the alter server attempts to wipe the floor so other members won t slip. Once again, the line is held up, and the priest rolls his eyes. All of the attention is on Melodia. She turns around to look at Nina, who gazes back at her, confused and in awe. (CONT D) I m so sorry, everyone. Melodia returns to her seat and exhales.

14. INT. CAR - DAY - LATER and ride in the back seat of the car with little cups of ice cream in hand. Nina is dozed off, leaned up against Melodia and her red-stained dress. Melodia holds her little sister. They re a mess, but they re okay. MONDAY INT. BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING braids s hair, one dark, silky strand over the other. I wanna learn how to do it myself. But I like braiding your hair. Melodia finishes the braid and wraps a hair tie to secure it. Nina jumps out of the chair and trots away, singing to herself. EXT. BUS STOP - EARLY MORNING waits alone at the bus stop. The blue dusk keeps her sleepy. She watches as the bus rolls over the hill, coming for her. She holds her head up. The bus comes to a stop. Melodia enters. INT. BUS - EARLY MORNING - CONTINUOUS Melodia takes a seat with CIARAH and KENNEDY. Melodia thinks. KENNEDY Hey, did you ask your mom if we can use your house? Yeah, I asked her, but she said no... but I can do the poster board. FADE TO BLACK.