/science/ - Scientific discourse

HAZEL (V.O.)

Depression's not a side effect of

cancer…

- HAZEL'S LIVING ROOM. She sits watching game shows in the

middle of the afternoon. Her Mom brings her a sandwich. A

glass of water. And then a whole host of prescription meds.

Hazel eyes them with indifference.

HAZEL (V.O.)

… it's a side effect of dying.

- A STARBUCKS. Hazel sits alone reading a dog-eared, heavily

underlined copy of a novel ("An Imperial Affliction" by Peter

Van Houten). She only looks up when distracted by a squeal of

delight. A YOUNG GUY has lifted a YOUNG GIRL over his

shoulder playfully. He spins her around. Hazel watches a beat

- goes back to the book.

HAZEL (V.O.)

Which is what was happening to me.

And we CUT BACK TO:

INT DOCTOR'S OFFICE - SAME

Frannie continues to talk to the doctor. Hazel continues to

dangle her feet.

FRANNIE

… some days she won't even get

out of bed.

The Doctor scratches his beard, thinking.

DOCTOR

I may switch you to Zoloft. Or

Lexapro. And twice a day instead of

once.

HAZEL

Why stop there?

DOCTOR

Hmm?

HAZEL

Keep `em coming. I can take it. I'm

like the Keith Richards of cancer

kids.

The Doctor looks at Frannie who just shakes her head.

DOCTOR

Have you been going to that Support

Group I suggested?

Instead of answering, Hazel looks at her Mom.

4.

FRANNIE

She's gone a few times.

HAZEL

I'm not sure it's for me.

DOCTOR

If you're depressed –

HAZEL

(EXASPERATED)

I'm not de–

DOCTOR

(IGNORING HER)

– support Groups are a great way

to connect with people who are…

HAZEL

What?

DOCTOR

(BEAT)

On the same journey.

HAZEL

"Journey?" Really?

FRANNIE

Hazel.

DOCTOR

Just give it a chance, ok? For me.

Hazel rolls her eyes, knows she's lost this battle.

DOCTOR

Who knows? You might even find

it… enlightening.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT CHURCH BASEMENT - DAY

CLOSE UP on PATRICK (30s, pony-tail). He has a guitar.

PATRICK

… we are gathered here today -

literally - in the heart of Jesus.

ANGLE on Hazel who just shakes her head. This is the lamest

thing she could be doing right now.

PATRICK

Who would like to share their story

with the group?

The basement is filled with SICK PEOPLE. Hazel among them.

Most are under the age of 18. QUICK CUTS:

5.

SPEAKER #1

Jillian. 15. Lymphoma.

SPEAKER #2

Angel. 17. Ewing sarcoma.

PATRICK

Patrick. 34. Testicular. It started

a few years ago, when I was…

As Hazel watches, bored, and Patrick continues, we hear:

HAZEL (V.O.)

I'll spare you the gory details of

Patrick's ball cancer. Basically,

they found it in his nuts, cut most

of it out, he almost died, but he

didn't die, and now here he is -

divorced, friendless, addicted to

video games, exploiting his

cancertastic past in the heart of

Jesus - "literally" - to show us

that one day - if we're lucky - we

could be just like him.

They all say:

ALL IN UNISON

"We're here for you Patrick."

Hazel says it the least enthusiastically. She locks eyes with

her only friend in Support Group, a blonde kid with an eye

patch, ISAAC. He's also shaking his head.

PATRICK

Who else would like to share?

(NO RESPONSE)

Hazel?

Oh no. Patrick gestures for her to speak. Reluctantly she

stands, sighs…

HAZEL

I'm, uh, Hazel. 16.

(BEAT)

Thyroid originally but with quite

the impressive satellite colony in

my lungs.

Not much more to say, Hazel is about to sit down.

PATRICK

And how are you doing Hazel?

Hazel has no idea how to answer that.

HAZEL (V.O.)

You mean besides the terminal

cancer?

6.

But that's not what she says. She says:

HAZEL

Alright? I guess…?

Isaac tries not to laugh at this. Hazel sits back down.

ALL IN UNISON

"We're here for you Hazel."

Hazel exhales. This is not at all helpful. A few more beats.

PATRICK

Maybe now I'll play a song…

EXT CHURCH - LATER

Frannie sits in the car in the parking lot, reading from a

book, waiting for Group to be over. She sees the church door

open and puts the book away. Hazel comes out. Frannie looks

at her like "well, was it great?" Hazel just exhales and gets

in the car. CUT TO:

INT HAZEL'S LIVING ROOM - ANOTHER DAY

"America's Next Top Model" is on the TV. Hazel sits on one

side of the L-shaped couch, flipping through her novel.

Frannie and Hazel's dad MICHAEL (40s, kind, doing his best to

stay positive) sit on the other side, watching her - but

trying not to make it seem that way. After a few beats:

FRANNIE

It's Friday night.

HAZEL

Hmm?

FRANNIE

I was just thinking… you should

call your friends, see what they're

up to.

HAZEL

(DISINTERESTED)

That's ok.

Frannie and Michael look at one another, don't say anything.

MICHAEL

Wanna see a movie?

Hazel looks up from the book. Sees her parents. Gets an idea.

HAZEL

Why don't you guys go to a movie?

(off their look)

(MORE)

7.

HAZEL (CONT'D)

You haven't been out in a while.

Go. Have fun. Take the night off.

Frannie and Michael look at one another again.

MICHAEL

This is a really good show.

Hazel sighs. And just like that, everyone goes back to what

they were doing. CUT TO:

QUICK SEQUENCE, which plays over:

HAZEL (V.O.)

And that was my life.

- Hazel watching TV, book in hand.

- Hazel in another doctor's office.

- Hazel popping pills.

HAZEL (V.O.)

Reality shows. Doctor's

appointments. Eight prescription

drugs, three times a day.

INT HAZEL'S KITCHEN - ANOTHER DAY

Hazel and her parents in the kitchen.

HAZEL (V.O.)

And worse worse worst of all…

support group.

HAZEL

Ugh. You can't make me.

MICHAEL

Of course we can, we're your

parents.

Hazel frowns.

MICHAEL

Hazel, you need to get out of the

house. Make friends. Be a teenager.

HAZEL

If you want me to be a teenager,

don't send me to Support Group. Buy

me a fake ID so I can go to clubs

and drink gimlets and take pot.

MICHAEL

You don't take pot.

8.

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