Join the Room
0% read
Page 1 of 36 ↓ Download
Page 1
UNDONE EPISODE ONE Written by Kate Purdy & Raphael Bob-Waksberg October 30, 2017 The Tornante Company
1
Page 2
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 1. ACT ONE INT./EXT. ALMA’S CAR - DAY ATMA WINOGRAD-DIAZ (28, Mexican American, artsy) is SOBBING while driving. She slams her hands agailnst the steering wheel. She’s hysterical, driving dangerously, running stop signs. TIME SLOWS DOWN as she sees SOMETHING we don‘t see. She looks shocked and confused to see this thing. Distracted, she drives through the intersection, and is t- boned by a truck, snapping back into REGULAR TIME. Her car goes spinning, eventually crashing into a lamp post. Alma collapses onto her steering wheel - falling against the horn: BEEEEEEEEEP. ALMA (V.O.) I'm so fucking bored of living. MONTAGE ALMA'S DATLY ROUTINE: We SLOWLY PUSH IN on a shot of Alma’s head as the backgrounds around her change: Her head on A PILLOW, Alma stares into space. ALMA (V.0.) I wake up every morning in the same bed with the same person. We see the ARM of another PERSON stretch in front of her. Alma brushes her teeth - BATHROOM. ATMA (V.O.) I brush my teeth. Alma stands under THE SHOWER. ALMA (V.O0.) And shower. IN HER BEDROOM - SHE PULLS A SHIRT OVER HER HEAD AND ATTACHES A COCHLEAR IMPLANT. ALMA (V.O.) I get dressed.
2
Page 3
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 2. KITCHEN - ALMA PUTS A SPOON OF CATMEAL IN HER MOUTH. ALMA (V.O.) And I eat the same breakfast. The TORSO of the other person passes behind her. ATMA DRIVES IN START-AND-STOP TRAFFIC. ALMA (V.O0.} And take the same commute to work. Traffic stops. Alma jerks forward. ALMA (V.0.) I'm twenty-eight years old and I'm terrified this is all there is. She sighs. INT. GROCERY STORE - DAY Alma stands in the aisle looking at two cans of beans. ALMA (V.0 ) Sometimes I’11l be in the store and 1’11 be looking at two different cans of beans and think: These beans are better. And then think: That’s the most boring thought anyone has ever had. INT. JOSEPHINE STREET BAR NIGHT Alma is talking, but we don’t see who she’s talking to. ALMA And then I’11 think: No you just want it to be the most boring thought anyone has ever had so your boredom can be special. But it's not - it’s the same boredom everyone has. Even my boredom is boring. God, everything is pointless. (a beat, then) Anyway, what's new with you? WE REVEAL Alma is at the bar with her little sister, MEGAN (23, Mexican-American, bubbly). Megan is being coy.
3
Page 4
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 3. MEGAN What’s new with me? Oh nothing... Megan ostentatiously scratches her face with her ring finger - adorned with a LARGE ENGAGEMENT RING. Alma doesn’t notice. ATMA (raising glass, despeondent) Great. MEGAN No Alma... My face itches. My face ig really itchy tonight. Check out how itchy my face is. ATMA It looks fine. Do you think you're getting eczema? MEGAN No, I have eczema, why would you-- Look at my finger. ATMA Oh my god! Holy shit! Megan and Alma hug. ALMA (CONT'D) How do you feel? Do you feel happy? MEGAN Of course! ATLMA Because you love Reed and you feel he should be a member of our family - forever? MEGAN I do. Do you not feel that way? ALMA I mean maybe your skin is itchy because your body's being like: “Hey lady, this isn’t right, lady!” MEGAN My skin’s not really itchy. ALMA I know. It’s Jjust... Reed Hollingsworth? Forever? (MORE )
4
Page 5
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg ATMA (CONT'D) I mean, that’s great - if you think it’s great. MEGAN What’s wrong with Reed? ATMA Nothing. At all. He's fine. He’s totally fine, and unassuming, and nice. He's very nice. MEGAN That’s a good thing. It’s good to be nice. ALMA And his family is really rich, and well-connected, and super classist. Megan SIGHS. MEGAN Oh really, they’re “classist”? ALMA And racist. MEGAN This is about the asparagus. ATMA (matronly Texas accent) “Oh, I see we're passing the asparagus counterclockwise tonight-- MEGAN So his mom has ideas, about the proper direction to pass food around a dinner table. ATMA (continuing as Reed’s mom) “Is that how they do it in Mexico?!” MEGAN She could have been legitimately curious. ALMA We’re not from Mexico, Megan! MEGAN Yeah, but our mom is--
5
Page 6
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg ALMA Besides, she should want to pass asparagus the way they do in Mexico, because everyone in Mexico is awesome because they’re real, you know, because they’'re poor—- MEGAN Okay, that actually is classist. And ALMA They don’t give a shit what Miss San Antonio 1965 says about proper asparagus passing directionality. They just share and eat so they can live another day to make art and love each other. MEGAN You know Mexico also has rich people, right? ALMA Yeah, but they don‘t eat asparagus. MEGAN Yes, they do! ATMA Do they? MEGAN I don’t know! Do you? ALMA No. (then) You think Dad would like Reed? MEGAN Yeah, I do actually. ATMA You don’t think it’s weird to get married without Dad there? MEGAN So what am I supposed to do, never get married? ALMA There’s an idea.
6
Page 7
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 6. A HOT BARTENDER DUDE passes by. BARTENDER Ladies. Can I get you something? ALMA Can I get a Fancy Familiar? BARTENDER I don’t know what that is. ATMA It's like a Mozambigue Samba without the sherbert. BARTENDER Uh... MEGAN (to Alma) Why do you do that? (to Bartender) We’ll have shots of and don’'t go too far - we're gonna need you to keep fillin’ ‘em up. Megan smiles at him flirtatiously. BARTENDER You got it. Alma notices Megan slyly covering her engagement ring as the bartender walks off. ATMA You know I‘m trying to drink less. MEGAN Alma, your only sister just got engaged. This is a big night. We're doing shots. And then I'm going to force you to listen to how Reed proposed. ATMA Oh god. I will need booze for this. Megan gives her a playfully irritated smile. The bartender brings over shots. ALMA (CONT'D) To my sister and her life choices which... I support.
7
Page 8
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 7. They clink. Megan shoots hers back. Alma hesitates, then begrudgingly shoots. MUSIC PICKS UP and we SEE a SERIES of QUICK CUTS of the sisters shooting shot after shot, then slamming their glasses down. They get progressively loose - LAUGHING and falling on each other. We SEE Megan animatedly telling a story with her hands. Alma looks stunned and uncomfortable. Megan LAUGHS. Alma LAUGHS. We SEE them dancing in a goofy way at each other. The bartender comes and joins them. They crack up again. Everything starts to blur. One final shot of tequila and an echo-y slamming down of Alma’s shot glass in SLOW MOTION leads us to... EXT. ALMA AND SAM’'S HOUSE - ESTABLISHING SHOT - NIGHT A funky little house. CRICKETS and QUIET, NIGHT-TIME SOUNDS. INT. ALMA AND SAM'S HALLWAY NIGHT Alma drunkenly strips off her clothes as she stumbles down the hallway - passing a SERIES OF FRAMED PHOTOS of HER AND SAM on VARIOUS ROLLER COASTERS. INT. ALMA AND SAM‘S BEDROOM - NIGHT In her underwear, Alma climbs into bed with SAM (32, Indian-~ American, delightful, sweet). SAM (groggy) Hey, you‘re home. Alma climbs on top of him. SAM (CONT'D) What are you doing? ALMA Humping your butt. She is indeed humping his butt. SAM Oh... okay. closes his eyes and puts his head down. After a beat:
8
Page 9
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg SAM How long you gonna do that? ALMA Um... until it annoys you. SAM Well, it’ll make waiting tables more difficult, but if this is how life is now, I’'1ll just have to deal with it. Alma flips him over. They kiss. ALMA Can you promise me something? SAM Anything. ATMA Can you promise we’ll never be one of those couples that just like settles down and has kids and is all happy together. SAM Oh god, gross. Never! ATMA Thank you. They kiss again. SAM Although, it be the worst thing in the world. Alma looks at him and starts humping him again. SAM (CONT’D) You’re humping me again. Alma makes aggressive sex faces. ALMA (playfully aggressive) Oh yeah - ugh - you like that? Huh? SAM You're SO Crazy.
9
Page 10
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg ATMA (suddenly very serious) I‘m not. I'm not crazy. SAM Okay. Sorry. Sam kisses Alma’s neck. After a beat. ATMA I just can’t do it. I do the wedding, and the birth announcements, and the piano lessons, and the matching Halloween costumes. SAM True dat - matching Halloween costumes are lame. But, what if T go as Bruce Wayne and Batman, and every time we're together, I’11 be like: “Batman, we’'re in the same room. We must obviously be different people, everyone.” ALMA That’s a couple’s costume. SAM It’s a subversion of a costume. ATMA Right, but it’s still a coordinated pair of themed costumes that tell a story. SAM No, totally unrelated because one’s Batman and one'’s Bruce Wayne. Two different people. ALMA Okay. Sam kisses her. She stops him. ATMA (CONT'D) But for real. I don’t want to settle down. SAM Right now.
10
Page 11
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 10. ATMA Ever. SAM You never know what’s gonna happen. ATLMA No. I know. Sam sighs and collapses on his side. SAM Okay, we won’t settle down. We’ll be vagabonds, or cat burglars, or shark hunters. ATLMA Oh no, I don’'t want to hunt sharks! They‘re the pandas of the seal SAM You’re right. They're sweetie-pies. Okay, let’s be hot-air balloonists. ALMA Yeah, yeah! That! He kisses her head, then closes his eyes. SAM (quickly) And then we’ll settle down and have kids. I'm asleep! ATMA Whaaaaaat? Sam pretends to SNORE. Alma shakes her head. She lies on her back. After a beat she sits up, uncomfortable. SAM wrong? ALMA The room is spinning. END OF ACT ONE
11
Page 12
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 11. ACT TWO A FAMILTAR MONTAGE, ALTHOUGH MORE HUNGOVER-Y THIS TIME: FRAMED on Alma’s head as the backgrounds change: MORNING - she opens her eyes in bed. Sam’s arm stretches in front of her face. She brushes her teeth, takes a shower, gets dressed, eats oatmeal - Sam’s torso passes through frame behind her. She commutes to work. Traffic halts. She jerks to a stop and SIGHS. EXT. NURSERY SCHOOL -~ ESTABLISHING SHOT - MORNING A cute house with a protective wooden fence. The fence has wooden cut-outs of ducks roller skating on it. Alma pulls up in her car and parks. She downs a quart of Pedialyte in one insanely long chug, then burps. Ugh. She drags herself out of her car. INT. NURSERY SCHOOL - MORNING QUICK CUTS of Alma hungover at her Jjob: KIDS are SCREAMING. Running. Knocking things over. Alma looks miserable. She moves to stop CASSIE (3) from pouring out glue-— ATMA Cassie - no! As Alma reaches, she knocks a bowl of glitter to the floor. It spills. The metal bowl CLATTERS. Glue drips off the table. Alma looks up. Cassie smiles mischievously as she squeezes out more. ALMA (CONT'D) Cassie! Alma’s co-worker TUNDE (30, handsome, buttoned-down, black) approaches. TUNDE Everything okay?
12
Page 13
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 12. ALMA Yeah, she’s just being a C. U. N. T. (beat) A cunt. TUNDE Cassie, do you need a time out? CASSIE No! Cassie pulls a marker from a nearby KID, who cries. ATMA Seems like you do. Alma takes the marker, and hands it back to the kid. Cassie melts down. CASSIE Nooooooo! Alma picks her up and carries her to a chair in the corner. ALMA We’re gonna sit here until you calm down. ‘Cause guess what? I'm paid to force you to behave. Pretty welrd, right? CASSIE I don’t wanna time ooooout! ALMA I know, but it’s not so bad. (then) Did you know that the Kogi tribe of Colombia takes their babies and puts them in a dark cave? CASSIE Yeah, I know that. ATMA Oh, really? Well did you know they keep their babies in a dark cave for nine years. And as the babies grow, they tell them stories about what the world outside looks like. What clouds and trees and birds and rainbows look like. (MORE )
13
Page 14
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 13. ALMA (CONT'D) And when the babies come out, nine years later, they see clouds, and trees, and birds, and rainbows for the first time ever. And they are so blown away by how much more amazing the world is than they ever imagined, that they have incredible respect for whatever it is that created this place we live in, and all the perfect things in it. Can you imagine feeling that way about anything? Cassie huffs and pulls books off a shelf. Alma grabs a blanket and wraps it around Cassie. ALMA (CONT'D) Do you want me to put you in a cave so you can feel what it’s like to have nothing and be no one? CASSIE No, you be in the cave. Alma takes a second blanket and wraps it over and around her and Cassie. ALMA Okay, I’'ll be in the cave, too. We’ll be in the cave together. UNDER THE BLANKET, Cassie sits quietly in Alma‘’s lap. Alma dozes off. After a beat Cassie whispers: CASSIE I like this. (sleepily) Me, too. CUT TO: MONTAGE : Again we’re FRAMED on Alma’s head as the backgrounds change: Alma drives home from work in traffic. She eats dinner - Sam’s torso passes behind her. She brushes hexr teeth.
14
Page 15
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 14. She lies in bed. Sam’s arm stretches in front of her face. EXT. CAMILA’S HOUSE - DAY A lower-middle class, modest, beige, 1950's bungalow. INT. CAMILA’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM / DINING ROOM - DAY (53, Mexican-American, budget-elegant, Alma’s mom) and Alma look through old photos on the dining room table. CAMILA Here's one of her after her first haircut. Camila holds up an image of BABY MEGAN. ALMA Where’'s that one where she’s toddling around the market in San Cristobal with the apple soda and laughing? She looks like a tiny, drunken sailor. CAMILA Alma, don't come and help, if you’'re not going to help. Alma sighs. ALMA What’d his mom send? Camila holds up an 8x10 photo of a dopey WHITE BOY in a nice suit, smiling with an air of entitlement. ALMA (CONT’D) Ugh. CAMILA What’s wrong with that? ALMA Everything. Alma holds his photo in front of her face. ALMA (CONT’D) Hello, I'm Reed Hollingsworth of the San Antonio Hollingsworths. (MORE)
15
Page 16
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 15. ATMA (CONT'D) I think special because I'm white and my parents have money, but sadly I have the personality of a reduced-fat wheat thin. Camila shuffles through more photos of Megan. CAMILA Well, he’'s been nothing but lovely to me. ALMA Of course he has. That’s how he was trained to be. Alma finds old photos of a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN from the 50s and 60s. She picks up a black and white photo of the woman at a BLACK, UPRIGHT PIANO locking joyful. ALMA (CONT'D) What did you know about Geraldine? CAMILA Not much. She was your father’s mother. She died. Alma picks up a color photo of Geraldine from the late 60s - she’s surrounded by THREE KIDS and a HUSBAND. She looks shattered and depressed. ATMA And she got married, had three kids, and lost her mind. Changing the subject, Camila holds up another PHOTO of Megan. CAMIT.A What about this one? ATMA (shaken from her reverie) Sure. Love it. Done. Alma stands. CAMILA Where are you going? ALMA (suspicious) To get some water... ? Ag Alma heads to the kitchen.
16
Page 17
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 16. CAMILA Are you coming to church on Sunday? ATMA (pouring water) Eh, you know. I’1ll see how I feel. CAMILA There’s a new priest. I think you’ll like him. He’s into indigenous cultures. Alma returns. ALMA Like conguering them and appropriating them, or... Studying them. ALMA Oh, cool. Maybe. CAMILA Are you going to bleach your upper lip before Megan’s dinner? ALMA (slumps) Unbelievable. CAMILA You just look so pretty when you try. ALMA Gotta go, Mom. Alma looks down and spots a photo of A WHITE MAN (38) in a red and black flannel shirt smoking a CIGARETTE. ATMA Whoa, is this Dad smoking? Camila takes a look. CAMILA Yeah. He smoked on occasion. ATMA Why didn’t I know that?
17
Page 18
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 17. CAMILA He didn’t want you to. ATMA Was he smoking when he had the accident? CAMTILA No. ALMA How do you know? CAMILA Because I saw the police report. Alma cocks her head, curious. ALMA Can I see it? CAMILA No. (Off Alma‘s look) I don’'t have it. That was twenty years ago. I doubt anyone has it. Alma returns her attention to the photo. ATMA Are there other pictures of him I haven’t seen? CAMTLA No, that's it. Not believing her, Alma knits her brow. Re: photo: ATMA I'm taking this. CAMILA Fine. Alma exits with the photo. Camila looks tense. EXT. DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO ~ RIVER WALK - DAY Sam and Alma are walking along the River Walk. Sam has on his WAITER'S UNIFORM.
18
Page 19
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 18. ALMA It’s just weird to think there’s stuff about my dad I never knew. SAM My mom was married to some other guy before my dad. ALMA Really? SAM Yeah, he had two Pomeranians, a red sports car, and he beat her until she had to be hospitalized. ALMA Jesus. When’d you find out? SAM After I graduated college. (then) I think she didn’t want to mess me up. But once I got that diploma she was like: My work here is done! Let me drop my secrets on you. (then) She also had endometriosis. A doctor had to peel her uterus like a grapefruit. (off Alma’s loock) It was a really intense dinner. ATMA See, I never got that. My dad died before he could stop being my dad and spill the family secrets. Sam nods, sympathetically, then checks his phone. Okay, I gotta get back to work. ALMA Um. Hey. I want to talk to you about our conversation the other night. SAM Yes. I'm glad you brought it up. I see your point about Bruce Wayne and Batman. But Alma doesn’t play along.
19
Page 20
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 19. ALMA (tentatively) If you want something I can’t give you... I don’'t want to waste your time. SAM We’re not wasting time. I don't know what's going to happen, but right now this is good, so let's stay in the right now. Can't we just stay in the present? This is good, right? ALMA ...Yeah, this is good. He kisses her. SAM I'11l see you tonight? ALMA Yep. He walks off, leaving Alma alone. CUT TO: MONTAGE : BATHROCM - we JUMP CUT as Alma puts on base, then powder, then eyeliner, then fake lashes, then mascara, then blush, then red lipstick. She examines her work, then reaches for one last thing... CUT TO: EXT. CAMILA’S HOUSE - NIGHT The CAMERA follows Sam and Alma as they enter the house. Camila is carrying a dish to the table when she spots Alma. CAMILA I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. WE REVERSE ANGLE to find Alma is in full make-up, but has drawn a MUSTACHE on with eye-liner.
20
Page 21
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 20. ALMA I know you like it when I wear make- up. SO... CAMILA Okay. Well, have fun embarrassing your sister on her special night. ATMA This is not her special night. The wedding is the special night. This is just dinner. CAMILA This is also a special night. There are multiple special nights. ATMA Megan’s not going to care. You’'re the only one who cares. Camila kisses Sam on the cheek. CAMILA Always good to see you, Sam. SAM Ohhh, Sam’s getting some love tonight. Alma, you should wear a mustache more often. Really makes me look good. Camila rolls her eyes. CAMILA Okay, just come inside. INT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Alma and Sam enter. Across the room, Megan and REED (26, handsome, super nice, genuine) chat with Reed’s parents: BETH (55, blonde, uptight) and LAYTON (57, Texas good-old-boy). on the wall, construction paper letters spell: “Congratulations Megan and Reed!” Below are the photos of Megan and Reed as kids. ATMA We can go whenever you're ready.
21
Page 22
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 21. SAM Don’t you think we should at least stay through the dinner portion... of the dinner? Alma shrugs. Reed spots Alma and Sam. He makes his way over. REED Oooo Alma, love the ‘stache! ALMA Thanks, Reed. Megan joins the group. Re: moustache. MEGAN thig, like some rebellion against Mom? ATMA / SAM Not... Exactly. / Exactly. Beth and Layton approach. BETH Good to see you again, Alma. And you must be Sam, SAM Nice to meet you. LAYTON {(to Alma) Hey, haven’t I see you before... on a Pringles can?! This gets a LAUGH. Alma SIGHS. SAM You getting the reaction you were hoping for? Alma shoots Sam an annoyed look. Reed raises his glass. REED Now that we’re all here, I'd like to propose a toast. Camila joins the group. They raise glasses. REED (CONT'D) To Megan Winograd-Diaz. The love of my life. (MORE )
22
Page 23
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 22, REED When we got together it was like we were two puzzle pieces who had been spinning through the universe, and then click - we found each other. And the puzzle was complete. It was only a two piece puzzle. Like a puzzle for a little baby. But... yeah. (beat} To Megan! And the rest of our lives! Megan kisses him. There's a smattering of clapping and awws. Sam takes Alma‘s hand and smiles at her. She smiles back, then looks sad. INT./EXT. ALMA’S CAR - NIGHT Alma and Sam drive in an uncomfortable silence. Finally: ATMA Hey, I love you. SAM I love you, too. ATMA We need to talk. Sam looks at her, and then out the window. END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE MONTAGE : Alma wakes up in bed. NO ARM stretches across her face.
23
Page 24
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 23. ALMA (V.O.) Do you ever feel like you’re in a play, except you’re the only one who knows it‘s a play? She brushes her teeth, showers, gets dressed, eats oatmeal - NO TORSO passes behind her. She drives to work in traffic. She sits at work, in a daze, as a LITTLE KID runs past her. ALMA (V.O.) And everyone else is just playing the role they think they’re supposed to play, because that’s what you do? Then, Alma drives home from work in traffic. She eats dinner - NO TORSO passes behind her. She brushes her teeth. She lies in bed. NO ARM stretches in front of her face. CUT TO: INT. JOSEPHINE STREET BAR - NIGHT Alma talks to someone. ATMA And you’re like: Hey, this is just a play. We don’t have to do this. And maybe we shouldn’t. We REVEAL she’s talking to Megan, who rubs her forehead. MEGAN What are you talking about? ATMA I broke up with Sam. MEGAN What happened? Are ycu okay? ATMA I just don't want to be in a play, you know? I don’t want to just do what I think I'm supposed to do.
24
Page 25
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg MEGAN Do you think I'm just doing what I think I’m supposed to do? Alma weighs how to answer this. ALMA I know you really remember, but Dad’s mom was schizophrenic. MEGAN I know. What does that have to do with anything? ATMA She was perfectly happy and then she got married and made a family, cause that’s what you did back then. She ended up on lithium, getting shock treatments, and shoving a broom handle through the television set while her sons watched Howdy Doody. MEGAN Getting married isn’t what made her crazy. She just had a bad brain. ATMA Yeah, but if you know your brain is broken, why would you put other people through that. After a beat: MEGAN Okay. Tough love time? ATMA You say that like you’re asking me, but I never agree to “tough love time.” MEGAN I think what’s really going on here is your little sister is getting married before you, and you feel your life slipping away. ATMA No... That’s not it. 24.
25
Page 26
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 25. MEGAN An amazing guy wants to marry me and you’re jealous. Alma rolls her eyes. ALMA Okay. Amazing? MEGAN Alma, it's okay. It’s good. You finally realized Sam isn’t good enough for you, so you broke up with him. ATMA That’s not why I broke up with Sam. MEGAN Alma, it‘s okay to want a better life. No one's forcing you to keep going in circles. ATMA What are you talking about? MEGAN I'm talking about how you keep dating losers. How you could go back to school and get your B.A., but instead you’'re working at a day care. How you always make the losing choice to like prove... I don’t know what. But you don’t have to be afraid to move forward. I mean, I’m doing it, why can’t you? Alma takes this in. Something inside her shifts. She eyes Megan’s ring. ALMA Can I try on your ring? MEGAN Sure. Megan gives her ring to Alma, who slides it on. ALMA Oh my god, this blood diamond makes me feel so valuable. Now I get it. MEGAN Okay, give it back.
26
Page 27
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg Megan reaches for it. Alma pulls her hand away. MEGAN (CONT’D) And it’s not a blood diamond, a family heirloom. ALMA Excuse me, this family heirloom - most likely purchased through the exploits of natural resources, such as and probably cattle - proves how much my man loves me and how valuable I am as his woman. It, in essence, defines me as commodifiable property. (admiring ring) Now I, and everyone else, knows my worth. MEGAN Just give it back. Alma motions to the hot bartender. ATMA Hey! Shots of Patrdén, and keep ‘em coming. BARTENDER You got it. As the bartender fills shot glasses: MEGAN Don’'t get wasted. We promised Mom we'’d meet her at church in the morning. ATMA You promised. I said I’d see. Alma hands Megan a shot. MEGAN I’m not doing shots. ALMA (holding up ring finger) Megan, your only sister just got en- gahhhjjjeddd. We have got to do shots! I'm the bride so you have to do what I say. 26.
27
Page 28
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 27. Megan glares at her as Alma slugs hers back. The bartender pours himself one. Then to Megan: BARTENDER Here, I'1ll do one with you. Megan reluctantly does a shot with the bartender. He pours more. He smiles at hexr. She half smiles back. A SUPER FAST TIME-LAPSE MONTAGE of them knocking back shots, down glasses, laughing, dancing, spinning, and ending up EXT. ALMA AND SAM’'S HOUSE - NIGHT From inside we hear the sounds of drunken laughter. (V.O.) Wait wait. Okay. Who's next? INT. ALMA AND SAM’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM NIGHT Mexican decor dominates Alma’s style. Otherwise, there is a notable lack of furniture, as if the person who owned all the furniture just moved out. Only an antique, BLACK, UPRIGHT PIANO remains. Alma, Megan, and the Bartender are sitting on the floor playing Truth or Dare. Alma is in her bra with the bartender’s tie around her head. The bartender is shirtless and half-petting an ORANGE CAT who butts against him. Megan is sloppy drunk. BARTENDER Did whoever stole all your furniture have something against pianos? ATLMA That is not the answer to my question, Thomas! BARTENDER Sorry, my bad. MEGAN I'm next. ALMA Thank you, Megan. Okay, ask me.
28
Page 29
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg MEGAN Truth or Dare? ATMA Truth. MEGAN (wasted) Okay. What are you most excited about getting married... about? Alma, still wearing the ring: ALMA Well, probably, you know, having sex for the first time. I'm really looking forward to giving myself to my husband. Megan chuckles and throws a pillow at her. BARTENDER Nuh-uh, shut up. Are you seriously a virgin? MEGAN She’s kidding. BARTENDER Okay, because I was like you do not seem like a virgin. Oh no? What do I seem like? MEGAN Stop flirting! You're engaged, remember? Alma looks at Megan, gets an idea. ALMA All right, my turn. She points to the bartender. ALMA (CONT'D) Truth or dare? BARTENDER Dare. 28.
29
Page 30
Undone Megan groans deciding whether to do this, or not. Then: Purdy & Bob-Waksberg ALMA Okay. Great. I dare you... to kiss my sister. MEGAN No. BARTENDER You don’t want to kiss me? That's cool. MEGAN No. I do. But T can’t. ALMA It’s just a game, Megan. BARTENDER what, you got a boyfriend? ATMA It’s just a little, dumb kiss. MEGAN Fine. One dumb kiss. 29. The bartender makes his way over to Megan and sweetly pecks her. She smiles at him. MEGAN (CONT’D) Thanks, that was nice. ATMA Boooo. That was terrible. That was an Uncle Oscar kiss. Megan laughs. BARTENDER Your uncle lip-kisses you? Megan and Alma laugh. ALMA He does. He totally does. MEGAN so weird.
30
Page 31
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 30. ATMA We're always like adios Tio Oscar. (miming ducking) Nos vemos! Megan and the bartender laugh, then: MEGAN We’ve decided it’s a generational thing. ALMA Mostly out of emotional-self- preservation. BARTENDER Well, I don’t want to kiss you like your uncle. Megan looks at him, then says: MEGAN Okay. She gives him a real passionate kiss. They start to make out. Alma watches them for a beat, then stands up and heads to the bathroom. INT. ALMA AND SAM’S HATLLWAY - CONTINUOUS Alma stumbles a bit down the hallway. The ROLLER COASTER PHOTOS are now gone. Only outlines, where the paint faded around them, remain. INT. ALMA AND SAM’S HOUSE - BATHROOM - A LITTLE LATER Alma looks in the mirror, not loving what she sees. She opens the mirrored cabinet. The bottom shelves are cleared out. She moves her hand through the empty space, then closes the cabinet door. She looks in the mirror again and gets sick, puking in the toilet. She takes off her cochlear implant. The world is silent as she pukes more. We HEAR the first keys of Greensleeves on a PIANO. The piano piece continues as we... CUT TO:
31
Page 32
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 31. INT. ALMA AND SAM’S HOUSE - BATHROOM - A LITTLE LATER Alma draws a bath and c¢limbs in. CUT TO: INT. ALMA AND SAM’S HOUSE -~ BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER Alma goes under water. The pianist falters a few times, and finally stops. Alma closes her eyes. CUT TO: EXT. ST. PETER'S CHURCH - MORNING BIRDS ARE CHIRPING. AN AIRPLANE PASSES OVERHEAD. INT. ST. PETER'S CHURCH -~ MORNING THE CAMERA moves through the congregation as FATHER MIGUEL (late 30s, humble-hot, Mexican-American) delivers a sermon. FATHER MIGUEL (reading) “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” THE CAMERA FINDS Camila, and then Alma wearing sunglasses, clearly hung-over. There’s no Megan. FATHER MIGUEL (CONT’D) What does this mean? Does this mean we should not farm and store away food? (a beat, then) That we should blindly trust God will provide for us? That we should do nothing to provide for ourselves? He takes a dramatic pause, then:
32
Page 33
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 32. FATHER MIGUEL (CONT’D) Recently I was at a gathering of several indigenous groups from South and Central America. Alma peers over the top of her sunglasses, suddenly interested. Camila clocks this. FATHER MIGUEL (CONT'D) One thing the disparate groups agreed on was that humans have lost their connection to nature. In fact, we have forgotten we are nature. And it is in rhythm with nature that we are provided for. Megan enters, looking bad. FATHER MIGUEL (CONT'D) Through our not taking selfishly, more than we need, but instead recognizing there is a natural balance more intelligent than our small, fearful desires - we are able to step back into this natural balance, and live freely - just like the birds... As Megan squeezes into the row, she shoots Alma a dirty look. CAMILA (sotto to Megan) Where have you been? Megan rolls her eyes. Alma lets a small smile slip. Megan catches it. EXT. ST. PETER’'S CHURCH - PARKING LOT - DAY Megan heads to her car. Alma follows. ALMA (apologetically, sort of) Okay. Last night... MEGAN Alma, this isn’t funny, okay? This is my life. ALMA I said I'm sorry!
33
Page 34
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg MEGAN No you didn’t! ALMA (beat) No? MEGAN What is your problem? You have to wreck my life because you’'re tired of screwing up your own? ATLMA Hey, I didn’t make you do whatever it is you did with him. MEGAN No. It's not your fault. Never. Oh, wait, no, it always is. Well, I hope it made you feel special to ruin something beautiful because it wasn’t yours. ATMA Megan, I'm not trying to ruin your life. Believe it or not, I‘'m trying to help. You don‘t want to marry Reed. MEGAN I get it, he’s rich and white and you don’t like him. It’s not about that. MEGAN Then what’s it about? ALMA We're broken people. We come from broken people. And broken people break people. MEGAN I'm not broken, Alma. I'm really fucking happy, okay. Stop thinking you know what’s best for me. I'm not you. Okay?! ALMA Okay... 33.
34
Page 35
Undone Purdy & Bob-Waksberg 34. MEGAN God, you are so insanely-- self- involved. You don’t even know all the things that are wrong with you. Alma feels the weight of this, then genuinely: ALMA No. Trust me. I know. (then) Here’s your ring. Try to hold onto it. Alma tosses Megan the ring and gets in her car. INT./EXT. ALMA'S CAR She drives away and starts to CRY. We see the beginning of the episode again: Alma is sobbing while driving. She sees SOMETHING. It’s A MAN. He looks subtly out-of-time, like he just fell out of the nineties. He’s wearing a red and black flannel shirt. He lights a cigarette, and turns to look at her. It’'s her DAD. Alma stares at him, in awe. She can't believe it. Distracted, she drives through the intersection, and is t- boned by a truck. Her car goes spinning, eventually crashing into a lamp post. Alma collapses onto her horn and doesn't move: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP END OF FIRST EPISODE
35
Page 36
36

No saved passages yet.

Highlight text in the script to save a passage.

How to use the Script Reader

Select any text

Highlight a line or passage — a gold bar appears with options to save or discuss it.

My Passages

Your saved lines live in the panel. Click ↗ Page to jump straight back to where it appears in the script.

Discussions

Select text then hit Discuss to post a quote-anchored thread visible to the Episode One community.

Download

Grab the full PDF anytime from the top right.