Bloomington

Getting Comfortable

Scene 10

Jackie is on her way to Catherine's house, to have dinner.

Jackie: (knocks on the door)

Catherine: (yells) It's unlocked.

Jackie: (surprised at how big Catherine's house is) Do all the teachers here live like you?

Catherine: Probably not. But if it makes you feel any better, I didn't buy this house, I inherited it.

- Would you like something to drink?

Jackie: - Sure.

Catherine: (pours some scotch for Jackie and herself)

Jackie: How did you know what I drink?

Catherine: I didn't... Maybe I'm just guessing.

Jackie: But scotch isn't the only alcoholic beverage in the world.

Catherine: (walks towards the couch where Jackie is sitting and sits pretty close to her. Facing Jackie the whole time) True... But you don't seem like you drink that often. In fact, you really don't seem like the drinking type much at all, so I figured you must have learned what to drink from somebody else. And since I imagine you've had limited contact with peers your own age, I'm guessing you took cues from somebody in your family. You don't strike me as particularly feminine, so I would eliminate your mother as a role model, which would leave... a father, perhaps?

Jackie: Stepfather, actually.

Catherine: Ah... Well, my apologies. (raises her glass) Cheers.

Jackie: (trying to prove Catherine wrong somehow) I did have contact with people my own age, just so you know.

Catherine: (surprised) Really? Where did you go to high school?

Jackie: Uh, it was in California; you wouldn't know it.

Catherine: Oh no, I did my undergrad at Stanford. I know California really well.

Jackie: It was just a really small one.

Catherine: What's the name?

Jackie: All right, I was home-schooled. I tried to go to high school, but it didn't work.

Catherine: High school's overrated.

(Catherine caresses Jackie's cheek, while looking at her in the eyes with a sad face.)

-You always look so scared when you're here.

-I wish you didn't.

Jackie: Aren't you?

(Catherine takes Jackie's hand into her own)

Catherine: Nothing's gonna happen.

Jackie: How do you know?

Catherine: I don't.

Scene 11

The next day Jackie is back at her school in her math class. But she is not able to concentrate because she is in a hurry to get out of there, so she can see Catherine.

Jackie: (tapping her pen on the desk because she is nervous. Stops shortly after the guy next to her looks at her in a serious/worried face)

Math teacher: What we are looking for in this formula, where X is the value and X minus 1 to the power of 2 is the margin.

- OK, thank you, folks. That's all for today.

Scene 12

After school Jackie goes over to Catherine's house. It is the first time she sees Catherine in sweats, and comfortable clothes. They decided not to do much that day. They are both sitting on the couch, where Catherine is reading her book and Jackie is petting Ethan who is sitting on Jackie's legs.

Catherine: (sitting next to Jackie) He likes you.

Jackie: - I think he likes laying on my knee.

Catherine: - I think he does too.

Jackie: I've got a pretty comfortable knee though.

Catherine: (Squint your eyes and look closer, whispers in Jackie's ear) I know you do.