Page 84 - Student: dazed And Confused

KATE
Mom, post Gotta go

She grabs her blazer and bag and dashes for the front door. There is a dog-eared, but vivid
RED POPPY pinned to it.

MOM
What about your break-

But the door has SLAMMED behind her and she is gone. The woman drops her washing up

and goes to the table to coax her son into eating. The letters go with her but she dumps
them on a corner of the table.

MOM
Really can't be doing with bills today. I think compassion's an alien word when there's
money and unpaid bills involved.

BILLY
What's umpasson?

MOM
Compassion, honey. It's when people are nice to other people who are upset.

BILLY
Like when you kiss my knees better when I fall over?

She nods and starts to feed him, spoonful by spoonful. He is finally eating and her eyes
cloud over for a moment as though she is remembering something. One SINGLE TEAR rolls
from her eye and drips onto the checkered table cloth. Billy leans over to her and opens his

arms wide, enveloping her in a massive BEAR HUG.

BILLY (CONT'D)
Mommy feel better.

In retrospect

My screen play extract is now written and I have drafted it many more times than I have
done before. When I write prose normally, I write my first draft then rewrite it until I work