AN INTERVENTION
Written by Arianna ArandaEXT. FRONT YARD- DAY
ROSALIND is back from rehab; she slowly learns how to walk again but suffers from head rushes and tinnitus. The NURSE walks arm-in-arm with her to the front door, Rosalind tripping over her feet. The RINGING IN HER EARS gets loud.
INT. LIVING ROOM- DAY
Rosalind opens the door to see her MOTHER, her brother, SEBASTIAN, her best friend, EMILIA, and her ex-boyfriend, VINNY, standing in a half circle. They greet her as the nurse sits her on the couch. The nurse closes the door and sits at the opposite end of the couch.
MOM (soothing and calm voice)
Hi, Rosalind. After giving you some thought and time, we thought it was time to connect with you again.
ROSALIND (slow and softly)
Oh, okay.
MOM
Okay, I’ll start first.
Mom stands as everyone sits down. She unfolds her paper.
ROSALIND
Is this, like, an intervention?
Everyone looks at each other and nervously laughs. The room swiftly goes silent.
MOM
My dear Rosalind, you grew up too fast. Arguing about your college plans and sexual health gave me more white hairs than your father and my job combined.
She laughs a bit to disguise her nervousness.
MOM (CONT’D)
And yet, being your mother is the biggest blessing in my life.
She pauses, recollecting herself.
MOM (CONT’D)
I miss talking to you every day about how we will spend my retirement in a walkable town in Europe. We share a townhouse in the town square and live close to the cathedral. You would work at an antique shop and fall in love with the local baker. I would have many lovers over and you would criticize my taste. It’s never too late to do these plans, but I hope it’s not too late for you to forgive my mistakes and for me to be a better mother. Is it okay to speak of the bad times?
NURSE
It is more than okay, sweetie. It’s best to bring up any key memories in your relationships.
MOM
I’m sorry for ruining your 21st birthday. I was wrong to bring your father when you weren’t ready. I’m sorry for pushing you over the edge in school, gymnastics, and at home. I should have let you out of the house to live your own life and hugged you on the way out. I love you, my sweet daughter. You deserve more.
Rosalind, quietly hyperventilating, takes a sip of her small stainless steel water bottle with shaky hands. She picks a RINGING. The nurse rubs her back to comfort her.
MOM (CONT’D)
So who is next?
She folds her paper and wipes her tears. Sebastian stands up. He unfolds his paper and speaks in a soft monotone voice.
SEBASTIAN
Rosa, I am your big brother, Sebastian. I’m sorry for never being there in the 21 years you have been alive. I’m sorry for never protecting you from school bullies or mom or dad. I’m sorry you had to watch me grow up but I never watched you grow up.
(MORE)
SEBASTIAN (CONT’D)
You always cheered the loudest at my swim meets and were the first to throw roses at my theater shows. If I could turn back time and fix everything, I would. The only gymnastics meet I attended where you got a perfect score on your routine changed my view of you and the time you ate Mr.Hog’s 30-minute burger challenge. In the end, you’ll always be the Dexter to my DeeDee, the Lisa to my Bart. I’m grateful to have you.
Sebastian sniffles and takes off his glasses. He sits back down and lays his head on his hands.
Rosalind- startled- takes a bigger sip of her water bottle. She wipes the sweat off her forehead. Vinny slowly reaches for her hand and holds it. Rosalind kindly retracts.
Emilia stands up.
EMILIA
Okay, my turn.
NURSE
Remember to say your name.
EMILIA (deep breath)
Right. Hi, I’m Emilia Jane Gonzalez. Roz. I thought I could never find anyone to love on the highest platonic level until I met you. You made every minute we spent together breathless from laughing too hard. As your best friend, I’m going to expose our funniest moments in hopes you’ll remember them. Everyone, brace yourself.
Rosalind nervously chuckles.
EMILIA (CONT’D) (reads off her phone)
Remember when I got my license and we would drive everywhere playing nothing but musical theater albums? Remember that old man that catcalled us at the beach, then you started barking at him and his pants fell when he ran away?
(MORE)
EMILIA (CONT’D)
Remember you snuck in vodka in a tampon flask going to prom? And it spilled and your woo-ha was burning the whole night so we went to the ER?
MOM
I’m sorry, what?!
Rosalind and the nurse quietly laugh.
EMILIA
Overall, there is no one I’d rather do dumb shit with. And I know we are going to make new memories, I’m just hoping you are fully here to remember them. It’s my fault for what happened, Roz. I’m so sorry. I love and miss you so much.
Rosalind tears up, overwhelmed. She chugs her bottle and chokes a bit. She picks at her ear again as it RINGS.
Emilia sits down and grabs a pillow next to her. She buries her face, crying subtly for a minute, and lifts her face. Her face is red and glistening with smeared mascara tears.
Vinny stands up, weak in the knees. He takes a second to clear his throat.
VINNY (reads off his notebook)
Hi, I’m Vincent. Rosa, you were the first girl I ever liked. I never thought the girl from Biology who led the team in dissecting frogs would help me rediscover myself. I was flunking all my classes and distant from everyone, and you gave me the push and motivation to reach my highest potential; I’m forever grateful to you. What drove us apart was the walls I built as you opened every door. It hurt so much to love you, but it pained me more to lose you. We ended on good terms, but I know it could’ve ended on a better where I know we would have a chance to get back together.
Vinny abruptly stops and breaks down.
VINNY (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. I have more to say, but I’m ending it here.
He sits down and continues to sob.
Rosalind’s face tenses as she holds back her tears. She takes a sip of her bottle. Rosalind drops it, creating a loud bang on the wooden floor. Thin apple sauce spills everywhere. Everyone covers their ears from sound. Rosalind is startled and franticly drops to her knees.
ROSALIND (wailing)
I’m so sorry, everyone. I am sorry. I want to get better for you guys, I genuinely do. But it hurts me so much to try.
Mom rushes to Rosalind and cradles her. Everyone is crying and watches them embrace each other.
Rosalind slowly stops crying and calms down. She breaks from her mother’s locked arms, feeling vulnerable. The nurse helps her up and hands Rosalind her cane. They walk to the dining room table.
The nurse, Mom, and Sebastian silently walk out with the LANDLINE through the sliding glass door to the backyard. Emilia and Vinny come to the table and unpack the In-N-Out order they bought and set up Rosalind’s meal first. Rosalind, still learning to eat solid food, takes a tiny bite.
Emilia and Vinny go to the kitchen to talk.
EMILIA.
Wow. Helping someone with amnesia is tough. (trembling)
It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have given her those energy drinks.
VINNY
EJ, it’s not your fault. You were just trying to help. You know the stress her mom puts her through. No one expected her to be up 72 hours straight.
VINNY (CONT’D)
Her mom’s on the phone with her doctor to see if there are other solutions to jog her memory.
EMILIA
You guys were breaking up and I knew she needed help staying up for finals, so I-
ROSALIND
I’m sorry I don’t like tomatoes.
Emilia and Vinny hustle to her.
EMILIA
You don’t. Do you?
Emilia begins to grin like she witnessed a miracle.
EMILIA (CONT’D)
You don’t like tomatoes?!
ROSALIND
I guess I don’t. I also really want cheese fries. Did you order any of those?
EMILIA
Yeah, yeah we did.
Tears stream down Emilia and Vinny’s faces as they search through the to-go bags for cheese fries. Vinny peeps a sound as he pulls out the box and hands it to Rosalind.
ROSALIND
Thank you.
She takes a bite.
ROSALIND (CONT’D)
Mmmmmm. You know who I think made this? Jerry. He was such a dick in high school.
VINNY
He is, and he’s my best friend.
ROSALIND
Oh, sorry.
VINNY
Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you remember.
Rosalind and Vinny stare at each other with loving eyes, almost falling in love again. She turns to Emilia.
ROSALIND
So, um, Emil? Did I ever fully recover from vodkagina?
EMILIA (chuckles)
Not as fast as your current recovery.
They all laugh. The nurse brings in mom and Sebastian to see the friends laugh. Mom tears up as she watches her daughter become herself again.