Finding You Part 1

FADE IN:

          EXT. JOSH'S BACKYARD - 1970 DAY

          It's a sunny day. JOSH, 7, energetic, adventurous, is
          standing by a tree covering his face.

                              JOSH
                    10... 9... 8...

          In some bushes MARY, 7, shy, small for her age, is hiding.
          She pushes aside some branches to look at JOSH.

                              JOSH
                    7... 6... 5...

          JOSH is still counting leaning against the tree as MARY
          moves the branches back in place and crawls a little deeper
          into the bush.

                              JOSH
                    4... 3... 2... 1!

          JOSH pushes from the tree and turns around grinning wide.

                              JOSH
                    Ready or not, here I come!

          MARY ducks down, the leafs rustling a little bit around her.
          She bites her lip and braves looking through the branches
          again.

          JOSH is on the other end of the backyard looking behind some
          bushes.

          MARY lets go of the branches and GIGGLES, thinking she's
          safe.

          Suddenly JOSH pops up above her, startling MARY.

                              JOSH
                    Found you!

                              MARY
                    GAH!

          MARY jumps and JOSH LAUGHS as MARY pouts and gets up.

                              MARY
                    No fair... you always find me so
                    quickly.

                              JOSH
                    That's because you're lousy at
                    hiding.

          MARY glares at JOSH and punches him in the shoulder.

                              MARY
                    Oh shut it!

                              JOSH
                    Ow! Heh...

          MARY folds her arms over her chest and glares off to the
          side as JOSH rubs his stinging shoulder.

                              JOSH
                    It's okay Mary, we're friends,
                    right?

          MARY looks at JOSH just with her eyes, still pouting.

                              MARY
                    Yeah...

          JOSH grins wide at her and holds out his pinky finger to
          MARY.

                              JOSH
                    Forever, right?

          MARY relaxes and lowers her arms before hooking her pinky
          finger with his and smiling at JOSH.

                              MARY
                    And ever.

          Both kids smile at each other when the backdoor of the house
          opens and JOSH's mom HILARY, 32, kind, caring, looks out.

                              HILARY
                    Josh honey, it's time for dinner.

                              JOSH
                    Kay mom! Can Mary come too?

                              HILARY
                    Sure, I made enough for all of us,
                    but wash up you two before coming
                    to the table.

          HILARY goes back inside and JOSH and MARY look at each other
          before heading to the house.

          INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING

          MARY and JOSH walk into the dining room after having washed
          the dirt off their hands and faces.

          HILARY smiles as she places the meal onto the table. JAKE,
          34, reliable, father to JOSH, is already seated by the
          table.

                              HILARY
                    You're just in time kids, take a
                    seat.

          JOSH takes a seat in his usual spot as MARY stands a little
          awkwardly.

                              HILARY
                    Come on sweety, you've eaten with
                    us before, just take a seat next to
                    Josh.

          MARY nods and climbs up onto the chair. HILARY starts
          passing around the food, everyone grabbing a bit. MARY goes
          to eat, but JOSH elbows her.

          MARY puts down her fork again as HILARY and JAKE sit with
          their hands together and their heads bowed. JOSH does the
          same, and MARY follows, looking embarrassed.

                              JAKE
                    Thank you Lord for this wonderful
                    meal that has been provided for us
                    today. May it be blessed in your
                    name and bring us good health,
                    amen.

                              HILARY AND JOSH
                    Amen

                              MARY
                         (quietly)
                    Amen...

          MARY obviously looks uncomfortable as everyone starts to
          eat.

          After a while JAKE looks up at JOSH.

                              JAKE
                    Josh, your mother and I have to
                    tell you something.

                              JOSH
                    What is it?

                              HILARY
                    Well sweety, your dad got a
                    promotion, so we're going to move.

          JOSH stops eating and looks up at his parents as MARY
          freezes too.

                              JOSH
                    Where to?

                              JAKE
                    Seattle.

                              JOSH
                    What?!

          MARY looks horrified and bites her lip, looking down at her
          half eaten meal.

                              JOSH
                    And when are we going to move?

                              HILARY
                    In two weeks, so we need to start
                    packing and cleaning.

          JOSH looks rather mad as MARY slides out of her seat. JOSH
          blinks and looks at her.

                              JOSH
                    What's wrong?

                              MARY
                    N-Nothing... I just need to go.

                              JOSH
                    Oh... okay. Want to play tomorrow
                    again?

          MARY forces a smile.

                              MARY
                    I'll have to ask my mom. Bye.

          MARY leaves the dining room as the family watches her.

                              JOSH
                    Bye...

          INT. MARY'S HOUSE - EVENING

          MARY enters the house quietly through the front door and
          sneaks toward the stairs. She looks close to tears as she
          steps onto the stairs.

                              KATE
                    Where've you been?

          KATE, 30, controlling, mother to MARY, stands behind MARY
          with her arms crossed over her chest. MARY freezes and turns
          around.

                              MARY
                    I was out playing...

                              KATE
                    This late? You missed dinner.

                              MARY
                    Josh invited me to dinner.

                              KATE
                    I've told you a million times
                    before, I don't like you playing
                    with that boy. Go up to your room
                    this instant, and you can't go
                    outside tomorrow. Understand?

          MARY looks heart broken and nods before turning back to the
          stairs.

                              MARY
                    Yes mother.

          MARY continues up the stairs and to her room.

          INT. MARY'S ROOM - DAY

          MARY is lying in her bed, the clock on her night stand reads
          noon. She looks very bored.

          MARY sighs and rolls onto her side, glancing at her desk
          with a pile of homework on it. She gets up and sits down at
          her desk, trying to do her homework.

          MARY bites her lip and erases what she's written, trying to
          solve a math equation. Finally she sighs and lowers her
          head.

          A rock hits her window with a THOCK and MARY startles. She
          gets up and heads to her window as another rock hits upon
          it.

          INT./EXT. MARY'S ROOM/BACKYARD - DAY

          MARY looks down her window seeing JOSH grinning up at her.
          He waves at her.

                              JOSH
                    Hey Mary!

                              MARY
                    What are you doing here? You have
                    to leave right now before my mom
                    sees you!

                              JOSH
                    It's okay, your mom left a while
                    ago, her car's gone out of the
                    driveway.

          MARY sighs and closes her eyes for a moment.

                              JOSH
                    I was wondering if you wanted to
                    come out and play a bit?

                              MARY
                    I'm not allowed... what if my mom
                    finds out? She told me I can't go
                    outside today.

                              JOSH
                    She'll never know!

          MARY bites her lip and has a thoughtful expression on her
          face. She looks back at her homework before looking out the
          window again.

                              MARY
                    Okay! I'll be right down!

          JOSH grins as MARY ducks back in and closes her window.

          EXT. MARY'S BACKYARD - DAY

          MARY rushes out barefoot from the backdoor grinning just as
          wide as JOSH.

                              JOSH
                    Let's play tag. Tag, you're it!

          JOSH touches MARY's shoulder and runs off laughing. MARY
          stares after him confused before starting to sprint after
          him.

                              MARY
                    No fair! I'll get you!

          JOSH is faster than MARY, but that doesn't stop MARY from
          trying to catch him.

          MARY chases JOSH all over the backyard, finally leaping on
          him and tackling him to the ground.

                              JOSH
                    Oof!

                              MARY
                    Ha! You're it!

          MARY grins and scrambles to her feet just to take off
          running again. She looks over her shoulder at JOSH to see if
          he's following and runs flat into her mother KATE.

                              KATE
                    Mary.

          MARY goes pale and freezes, backing away and looking down at
          her feet. JOSH comes to a stop about ten feet behind her
          looking just as scared.

          KATE glares at MARY and then looks at JOSH with narrowed
          eyes.

                              KATE
                    You, go home. Now.

                              JOSH
                    Yes ma'am.

          JOSH runs out of the backyard and out of sight. KATE moves
          her eyes back to MARY and grabs her by the arm and yanks her
          roughly to the house.

                              KATE
                    You are grounded, for two weeks. No
                    playing, with anyone, and no
                    television or radio.

          MARY grimaces from how tight her mother is holding her arm,
          trying to pull her arm free, but KATE only pulls harder.

          Finally they are back in the house and KATE drags MARY
          upstairs to her room. KATE throws MARY into her room.

                              KATE
                    Now stay in here, and no dinner
                    tonight.

          MARY stumbles onto her bed, her arm slightly bruised as KATE
          slams the door shut. MARY's lip trembles and a few tears
          roll down her cheeks.

          EXT. IN FRONT OF JOSH'S HOUSE - DAY

          JOSH and his parents are busily packing the car with boxes.
          JOSH looks quite down.

                              MARY
                    Josh!

          JOSH looks up from the box he's holding, seeing MARY running
          up the street towards him.

                              JOSH
                    Mary!

          JOSH puts down the box and smiles wide as MARY reaches him,
          a bit out of breath.

                              JOSH
                    Where have you been the last two
                    weeks?

                              MARY
                    I was grounded, so I couldn't leave
                    the house and my mom kept a close
                    eye on me. But I had to see you
                    before you left so I snuck away
                    today.

          JOSH's smile fades as he looks at her sadly. MARY gives him
          a sad smile.

                              MARY
                    Do you know where you're moving to
                    in Seattle?

                              JOSH
                    No...

                              MARY
                    Oh... I don't want you to go.

                              JOSH
                    I don't want to go either... but I
                    have to.

                              MARY
                    Will I ever see you again?

                              JOSH
                    I hope so.

                              MARY
                    I'll make sure of it, I'll find
                    you!

                              JOSH
                    Ha! I'll find you first, I always
                    do!

          MARY pouts at JOSH and he grins at her.

                              HILARY
                    Josh sweety, it's time to go.

                              JOSH
                         (to HILARY)
                    Okay Mom!
                         (to MARY)
                    I have to go now.

          MARY bites her lip as JOSH turns from her. MARY then hugs
          JOSH from behind and kisses his cheek, making him blush.

          MARY lets him go and he walks to the car and gets into it.
          MARY walks down the driveway and waves at the car as it
          drives away.

          JOSH can be seen through the back window as he turns around
          in the backseat and waves back. MARY waves until the car
          rounds a corner and disappears from view.

          MARY drops her arm down and her shoulders tremble as she
          cries.

                                                        FADE OUT.