About Being Different

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

MOM is asleep in bed. She slowly opens her eyes. In front of her stands GIRL, dressed as a pioneer from 1849. Girl smiles brightly. Mom rolls away from the sight of her daughter.

MOMThe cars in the shop. We have no way to get there.

GIRLThere's the bus. I take it to school everyday. Why can't we take-?

MOMBecause we can't. It's Saturday. I want to sleep in. Why don't you go watch cartoons or something?

Girl goes around the bed and crawls up next to mom.

GIRLI'm not six. I don't watch cartoons.

Mom covers her head with a pillow.

GIRLWhat about Becca?

MOM
(muffled)Becca's fine.

GIRLDidn't she just break up with that guy?

Mom takes pillow off head.

MOMWhat's your point?

GIRLDon't we need to be there for her? Go to give her support?

MOM
(rolling away from Girl)Nice try, kid, but you're gonna have to come up with something better than Becca to get me out of bed.

Girl gets a sly look on her face.

GIRLBut you said Becca need's us. Remember last weekend when Nana was going to take me up to apple hill? You left me all night with the sitter and by the time you got home it was too late-

MOMFine.

Mom throws the covers off.

MOMBut that's the last I want to hear you whining about missing out on apple hill.

GIRL
(smiling)She'll take me next year.

MOM
(standing)Evil child. Now get out of here so I can get dressed.

Girl skips out of room.

EXT. BUS STOP - DAY

Mom and Girl sit on a bus bench, both dressed as pioneers from 1849. Mom looks at her watch and shifts the wicker basket in her lap. A MAN walks past the bus stop, taking as second look as he passes. He stops and walks back.

MAN
(to Mom)You in a play or somethen'?

MOMNo. We're not.

GIRLToday's living history day at the Fort and we're dressed as pioneers from the 1849.

MANOh yeah. I heard of that. Never been.

GIRLIt's fun. There's fresh bread and butter. And the men do a 45 salute. That's where they shoot their guns.

MOMShe means the 21 shot salute.

GIRLYeah. It's loud. But cool.

MOMThe gates should be open by now if you want to drop by...

MANKinda busy today.

MOMWell, then, maybe next time.

MANSure.

Man walks away. Mom checks her watch again. A Woman walks up with a look of concern on her face.

MOM
(to Mom)You're not waiting for the bus, are you?

Mom nods.

MOMI'm pretty sure this line doesn't run Saturday and Sunday.

Mom looks at Girl.

GIRL
(shrugging)It's the bus I take to school.

MOMThere's another stop right around the corner. I have a bus book here.

Woman pulls out bus book but Mom shakes her head as she stands.

MOMDon't bother.

GIRLMom.

MOM
(to Woman)We're just going top head home.

GIRL
(whining)No!

MOMIt's no bother at all and it looks like you're daughter really wants to go.

GIRLI do. Mom. Please?

MOMFine.

Woman opens the bus book.

MOMSo, where's your production?

MOMWe're not in a play.

MOMOh, I just assumed-

MOMIt's a common mistake-

GIRLThis is for the fort.

MOMToday's living history day at Sutter's Fort-

GIRLWe're docents. This is 1849 garb.

MOMWell, you are a very smart girl to be working at the fort.

GIRLYep. I am.

The Woman looks into bus book. Mom reluctantly leans in and looks over the Woman's shoulder.

MOMSee. Here. The next one comes in about ten minutes.

MOMThanks.

MOMYou're welcome.(to Girl)You have a good day, now.

GIRLI will!

The woman nods and walks away.

MOMMaybe we should just go home-

GIRLBut you said-

MOMYou better be on you're best behavior-

GIRLI will. I promise.

Girl tugs at Mom's sleeve, pulling her towards the next bus stop.

MOM
(giving in)Fine.

EXT. ANOTHER BUS STOP - DAY

Mom and Girl sit down at the next bus stop.

MOMI could be at home right now. Curled up in my bed. Asleep.

GIRLBut think of all you'd be missing out on.

EXT. SUTTERS FORT - DAY

In a dreamy montage; we see Girl running up to the bakery where the BAKER waves her in. The Baker shows the girl how to kneed the dough.

We see Girl churning butter on a bench and the Baker loading bread into the clay oven in the background.

We see the Girl standing next to the Baker as he used wooden paddles to pull fresh bread from the oven. And then we see the baker as he's walking from the bakery, holding a wooden plate loaded with fresh cut bread and butter.

EXT. CONT. ANOTHER BUS STOP

GIRL
(dreamily)Fresh baked bread with sweet, homemade butter.

MOMI'll take you to the store and buy you a fresh baguette from the bakery and a block of unsalted butter from the dairy case.

GIRLIt's not the same.

MOMLook, kid, it's been along week. I'm not sure I'm up for this today. I think we should just head home.

GIRLThen let me go by myself. We're almost there-

MOMThey require parental supervision-

GIRLNot if you sign that waiver thing-

MOMWe have to go to the fort to get that waiver thing-

GIRLWell, then, I think we should just both go. If we both have to go anyways.

Mom smiles and shakes her head.

MOMYou're a sneak, you know that?

GIRL
(pointing in distance)I think I see the bus.

Girl stands. Mom reluctantly stands.

GIRLSo...we're going to fort?

MOMDon't push it. But yes. We're going to the fort.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE GATES OF SUTTERS FORT

BECCA, a docent in full garb, is greeting people at the front gate. Becca sees Mom and Girl walk up. She waves and leaves her post to greet them.

GIRLBecca!

Girl runs up and hugs Becca.

BECCAYou two showed.

MOMIt's been one of those days.

GIRLI'm starving. When's lunch?

BECCAYou guys weren't here for that. I hate to be the bearer of bad news-

MOMDon't tell me.

BECCAThe term the staff used was infestation. Everything in the kitchen was inedible.

GIRLNo food?

BECCAThere's fresh bread and butter.

GIRLThat's all?

MOMWeren't you all romanticizing about it earlier?

GIRLYeah. But breads not a meal.

BECCAPersonally, I think they're taking this whole authentic thing a little too seriously. Sure, the pioneers had lean times, but that doesn't mean we should too.

MOMWhy didn't they just send someone out for supplies?

BECCAI wasn't there for the decision making process. All I know is that we're on our own today.

MOMI knew I should have brought snacks but this wasn't exactly a well-planned outing.

BECCAI think people are kinda going out in shifts. You guys aren't even officially here yet, so...

MOMThis one won't last the day on bread and water. (To GIRL) What do you think, Kid? Should we go get some food?

GIRLWill we come back afterwards?

MOMWe're here now. Might as well make the best of it.

GIRLOkay. Then, yeah. I need food.

BECCAThere's that place around the corner.

MOMWe'll be back.

Mom and Girl walk away from Fort.

INT. RESTAURANT

A WAITRESS walks up to their table and pours fresh water in their glasses.

WAITRESSYou two look great.

GIRL
(with food in her mouth)Thanks.

MOMFood in the mouth.

Girl swallows.

GIRLSorry.

WAITRESSYou're working at the Fort today?

MOMNo.

GIRLYes we are.

MOMWe're not in a play.

GIRLThat's now what she asked. She asked if we're working at the Fort.

MOMOh. Yes, then. Today is living history day at the Fort.

WAITRESSI make a point to bring my kids at least once a year. They love all the people dressed up. They're favorite is the candle room, where they do the dipping demonstration.

MOMThat's a favorite.

WAITRESSIs there anything else I can get you two?

MOMJust the check.

The Waitress pulls the check from her apron and puts it on the table.

WAITRESSYou two have a great day.

GIRLThanks!

MOMReady to go, Kid?

GIRLYep.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE GATES OF SUTTERS FORT

Mom and Girl stop on the sidewalk outside the fort and stare at it.

MOMReady kid?

Girl is fairly hoping in place, she's so excited.

MOMAll right. Go.

Girl races up the grass hill and in past the Gates of Sutter's Fort. Mom slowly follows, walking up the hill and into the Fort.

(THE END)