22 Int. Datzman-Mead House - Kitchen - Day 22

22 INT. DATZMAN-MEAD HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY 22

PAULA DATZMAN-MEAD sets her bags down on the table and fishes

a checkbook from her purse. Rose enters with the vacuum

cleaner in tow.

ROSE

We’re all finished. Since it’s our

first visit we did the blinds and

appliances but normally we’ll

alternate those weekly. Nobody

mentioned anything to us about

laundry so we didn’t bother with

that but if you want laundry

included there is an extra…

PAULA

Rose? Rose Lorkowski?

Startled, Rose looks the woman in the eye for the first time.

PAULA

It’s Paula Datzman… Class Captain

Year 9.

Recognition punches Rose in the face.

ROSE

Paula Datzman. Wow.

Awkward silence.

ROSE

How are you?

PAULA

Great! I’m Paula Datzman-Mead now.

ROSE

Congratulations.

PAULA

Thanks. We’re expecting our second

in a couple of months.

Paula pats her swollen belly and Rose forces a smile.

PAULA

How are you? You look just the

same.

ROSE

I’m good. Really good!

PAULA

God, I always envied you so much.

Dux of School and dating the

Top sportsman. So did you and Mac end

up getting married?

ROSE

Nope. No.

(Awkward silence)

I’m not sure…I think he ended up

marrying Heather Volkman.

PAULA

Wow. Well it’s so good to see you.

Let me get your info so I can send

you an invite to the baby shower.

Paula gets a piece of paper and a pen and hands it to Rose.

PAULA

It’ll be like a big reunion. The

whole gang from high school will be

there.

Rose writes her number and address on the scrap of paper.

PAULA

So what are you doing now?

Woops. Paula immediately regrets the question.

ROSE

I… I’ve just gotten my real estate

license, and so…

PAULA

Real estate?

ROSE

Yeah, this… this is just kind of a

temporary thing and I’m about to

just really phase over into the

real estate full time.

PAULA

You’re kidding, I’m in real estate!

Paula pulls a business card from her purse and hands it to

Rose. The card has a picture of Paula’s smiling face.

PAULA

With Long and Foster. Who are you

with?

ROSE

Me? Um. You know, I haven’t really

decided yet. I might check out Long

and Foster.

Paula nods. Uncomfortable.

PAULA

Maybe you’ll just be independent.

ROSE

Yeah. Maybe.

They grasp for something to say. They fail.

PAULA

What was that about the laundry?