MICHAEL
I still miss her...Every time I look at Grace I think, how
great it would be to have both of my sisters. I wonder
what Lexy would think--
LENA
She would have thought you were over-protective.
MICHAEL
Yeah.
(beat)
But if she'd lived, maybe I wouldn't be.
Lena disengages herself and pats his cheek.
LENA
You're a good boy Michael.
MICHAEL
Maman--
She's headed toward the door.
LENA
What?
(beat)
Cher...some people collect Hummel
figurines...I get married.
She turns toward Michael in the doorway.
LENA
By the way...darling...If I ever start collecting those
ugly little children, don't ask questions, just put me in
a home.
She makes a beautiful exit. Michael grins, shaking his head.
EXT. ON THE BEACH - AFTERNOON
Grace sits alone on a small hill, her hair down, alternately reading and watching the waves break. In the distance, Harry, dressed for running, dips Lena into a kiss and jogs away as Markham watches from where he talks with Iain. Anna and Michael stroll together.
LATER.
Grace's fingers toy with a tuft of weeds. Across her blanket are scattered a notebook, various pens, pencils, highlighters; a copy of Nancy Milford's 'Zelda' and Grace herself. From beneath her book peeks a paper with the words, "Last Will and Testament' written across the top. She is reading a well-worn copy of Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass'.
LATER.
Michael's trouser-ed legs stand for a moment before Grace and then a deck of cards drops onto the blanket. Grace hides the Will and looks up. They grin at each other.
LATER.
Grace shrieks as Michael slams down a final card. He raises
his arms in Victory 'V'.
MICHAEL
I am Immortal!
GRACE
Cheater!
MICHAEL
Cry-baby. I am Immortal! Muaahahah!
Grace launches herself at him and they start to wrestle. They simmer down and sit looking out to sea. Grace leans
against Michael.
GRACE
Mikey it's terrible. This stuff...Seth, Dad...I had it
all...battened down. And now it keeps breaking
loose inside my head.
MICHAEL
I know.
He kisses her head.
MICHAEL
But I'm still not going to let you win.
LATER.
Markham walks along the beach to where Lena watches Harry run. They are silent for a moment.
MARKHAM
What is a woman like you, doing married to a man
with such avaricious eyes?
Lena chuckles and nods in Harry's direction. Harry is beautiful, poetry in motion.
LENA
Need you ask?
(beat)
And what do you mean -- 'A woman like me'?
MARKHAM
Ah, interesting. You don't leap to his defense.
YOU ARE READING
The Difficult Hour: Original Screenplay
Random"It well may be that in a difficult hour, Pinned down by pain and moaning for release, Or nagged by want past resolution's power, I might be driven to sell your love for peace..." from the sonnet LOVE IS NOT ALL, by Edna St. Vincent Millay
