Regenerade 10 -
"The Power vested in Me"
Scenes &
Script Excerpts
2021
Lauren, Mitch and Aidan are reunited at Lauren & Josh's wedding and they all reconcile. Aidan and Antonia surprise his parents by also getting married, and Trish changes her mind about wanting to be "only friends" with Mitch. Lauren goes into labor at only 27 weeks and Lauren, Josh and their premature daughter ends up in the NICU. Aidan's grandmother makes a huge donation to his charity and Josh's mother shows her wholehearted support for Josh's little family.
SCENES -
1. INTRO MONTAGE - Katarina & Philip visiting Mitch, Aidan and Antonia on Christmas Eve / Lauren and Josh celebrating Christmas with the Cardena's.
2. Josh and Lauren in the master suite day before their wedding.
3. Lauren meeting with Mitch & Trish day before her wedding.
4. Dinner at the venue, evening before the wedding.
5. Lauren & Mitch's "shotgun wedding" in 2000 (Flashback 2000).
6. Wedding ceremony between Lauren and Josh.
7. MONTAGE - wedding party.
8. Private punk-rock concert during the wedding party. Deep conversation between Lauren and Mitch.
9. Wedding ceremony between Aidan and Antonia with Lauren & Mitch as witnesses.
10. MONTAGE - dancing at the wedding party and scene by the fire pit.
11. Lauren talking to Trish in the kitchen about the nature of Trish & Mitch's relationship.
12. Mitch and Trish walking their dogs on the beach, talking and hugging.
13. Mitch watching TV in bed and Trish coming to his room, leading to intimacy.
14. Lauren awakened by "love making sounds" and her joining the party by the fire pit.
15. MONTAGE - hard core partying by the fire pit.
16. Lauren awakened at 4:30 AM by her water breaking. Josh still drunk and unable to drive. Mitch driving Lauren and Josh to the hospital.
17. MONTAGE - Lauren giving birth in the hospital / wedding guests waking up in the Villa.
18. Aidan and Antonia waking up as husband and wife, discovering that a 10 million dollar donation has been made to their charity.
19. Liz packing up Lauren & Josh's things in the master suite. Aidan calling Josh at the hospital/NICU.
20. Aidan and Antonia checking in at the airport and saying goodbye to Mitch & Trish.
21. MONTAGE - Lauren and Josh by their premature daughter's incubator / Aidan and Antonia in Cabo San Lucas, Baja / Mitch & Trish in Trish's new home / Lauren and Josh in a hospital bed.
22. Lauren expressing colostrum and breast milk, while talking to Josh.
23. Janice visiting Josh, Lauren and her grandchild at the NICU.
24. Lauren, Josh and their baby daughter Lainey in their bedroom/home months later.
25. OUTRO-MONTAGE - Aidan doing his residency at NICU ward / Antonia overseeing the name change of the boarding school in Paraguay / Mitch giving a special necklace to Trish at their favorite restaurant / Lauren, Josh and Lainey on the beach outside their new family home.
THE END.
__________
Script Excerpt E10:3
Scene E10:3
EXT. VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA. OUTSIDE LOUNGE TERRACE -
LATE AFTERNOON
Mitch is sitting in an outdoor sofa next to Trish. There are people all around him and a buzz of voices and scattered
laughter. He’s in the middle of a conversation between Trish and Josh. He can hear them talking about property management and engineering studies but he’s lost focus. His eyes are
drawn to Lauren, working her way through the terrace,kissing, hugging, talking, laughing. He was prepared to see her, and her pregnant belly, intellectually, but he now realizes he wasn’t quite prepared for it, emotionally. Every person she talks to is ”oooh-ing and ahhh-ing” about her
bump, touching it, feeling it, patting it, and Lauren is beaming, of course. Mitch gets a quick involuntary flashback to over 22 years earlier, the last time she had a bump like that. He remembers how it felt like when she took his hand and placed it on her belly, and when he felt Aidan moving
inside, for the first time. Mitch feels a tightening in his chest, just as Lauren turns to him, and they lock eyes.
She comes up to them and Mitch raises up from the sofa and meets her in an embrace. Her scent triggers an even stronger reaction in him, and his inner voice is telling him; *pull yourself together, for fuck’s sake*. Lauren reaches across him to shake Trish’s hand and to give her a peck on the
cheek, and then she slumps down opposite them, next to Josh, finding his hand, almost like a reflex. Lauren looks a bit nervous and anticipative as she exclaims;
LAUREN
So good to see you here!
Mitch doesn’t know how to respond. and Trish beats him to it;
TRISH
Thank you so much for having us...me...what an amazing set-up
you have here, with this private villa...it’s just gorgeous...
LAUREN
Yes, thanks! We were lucky to find it with such short notice! I hope you like your rooms? And that your dogs are liking it too?
(Trish is nodding)
The caterers will provide food for
everyone around the clock even if they’re not here, you just go into the kitchen and help yourself, all right?
MITCH
Very generous of you, to invite us all to stay here...
LAUREN
(Spontaneously)
Oh, in a sense, you’re paying for it...
Lauren kind of bites her tongue as soon as she hears herself, and she can sense Josh tensing up beside her, but
she decides to continue;
LAUREN
I found the ring...y’know, and I sold it. So, thank YOU.
MITCH
Right...you’re welcome then. I guess....
Very awkward silence.
LAUREN
So...how long have you two...been
together?
TRISH
(Smiling)
We’re not a couple, if that’s what you think.
LAUREN
Oh?
TRISH
(Glancing sideways at Mitch)
We’ve been friends since...early
September right?
Mitch is just nodding, affirmatively.
Another awkward silence.
MITCH
(To Lauren)
So, you’ll be Mrs Kendall now?
LAUREN
No. I’ll still be Lauren Van Bureen. If that’s OK with you?
MITCH
Sure. If it’s OK with your new husband...?
JOSH
(Smiling)
Her name could be ”Space-Agent
Unicorn-Mushroom” for all that I care...
MITCH
Perhaps you’d like to be a Van Bureen too?
Before Josh can answer, Lauren says;
LAUREN
Are you OK Mitch?
(Turning to Trish)
I hear you’re a psychologist, is he under your care? Have you given him
some type of psychoactive medication?
Trish bursts out laughing and says;
TRISH
We’re under each other’s care.
We’re using a very effective protocol that includes a lot of pizza and dog-snuggling.
MITCH
(Reaching out for Trish’s hand, smiling at her)
It works wonders.
Lauren looks at Mitch’s hand holding Trish’s hand and she thinks to herself; *Friends? My ass*
_______
Script Excerpt E10
Scene E10:5
INT. VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA - MASTER SUITE - DAY
Lauren is sitting by the desk in the master suite. Liz is styling her hair and Lauren absentmindedly touches up her
make-up with a brush. She looks at the bridal bouquet sitting in a vase on the desk, and she looks at herself through the mirror. Memories come flooding back.
CUT TO:
INT. CITY HALL, SF - DAY (FLASHBACK 2001)
(A very pregnant) Lauren and Mitch are standing, in wedding attire, before a judge at the top of a grand staircase inside SF City Hall. Mitch’s brother Peter and Lauren’s sister Liz are standing by the side as the judge speaks;
JUDGE
(To Mitch and Lauren)
Please face each other and join
hands.
Lauren turns and gives her bouquet to Liz, then join hands with Mitch.
JUDGE
(To Mitch)
Please repeat after me - I call
upon these persons here present to
witness that I, Mitchell Olof Van
Bureen, do take you, Lauren Elaine
Altman, to be my lawful wedded
wife, to have and to hold, from
this day forward, for better or
worse, for richer or poorer, in
sickness and health, to love and to
cherish...
Lauren keeps her eyes on Mitch, and she smiles at him. A smile full of hope, and gratitude. Mitch’s eyes flicker, and
he looks nervous and overwhelmed. At times, his voice is almost inaudible but he tries to smile back at her.
MATCH CUT TO:
I/E. THE CHEESE TABLE PIZZA & BAKERY, BERKELEY, CA - NIGHT
(FLASHBACK 2001, LATER)
Lauren is sitting with Liz and three other friends at a small table inside the restaurant. Liz has her arm around Lauren’s shoulders and she’s balancing a wine glass in her other hand.
Liz is drunk, but Lauren is just tired, sipping on a coca-cola and leaning her head on her sister’s shoulder. The
bridal bouquet is sitting in a vase on the table.
LIZ
(slurring, to the Friend)
So...what are you implying, huh?
FRIEND 1
(To Liz, also drunk)
You were fucki’n HOSTILE!!!
LIZ
I was NOT!!! I was DETERMINED.
FRIEND 1
Yeah, whatever. Catching that
fucki’n bouquet seemed like a life
or death situation, like, you were
ready to KILL for it!
LIZ
But I HAD TO HAVE IT! It will restore order! I should have been married first! I’m four years older...
Liz trails off and looks at her sister who now has her eyes closed.
LIZ
(To Lauren)
Hey...sleepy bride...you need to get to
bed...
Lauren just nods.
LIZ
Go tell your HUSBAND to take you
home. And make sure he carries you
over the threshold!
Lauren gets up, looks around and walks outside. She sees Mitch sitting outside with his friend SCOTT (25), who’s smoking a cigarette. Lauren walks up to them and she hears
Mitch going on some drunken rant to Scott, however, Mitch is turned away from her and cannot see her approaching. Lauren just stops right behind him as she hears what he’s saying;
MITCH
(Slurring, dramatic)
Just remember this Scotty Boy, I
was the one that introduced you to
Serge and Eric, I was the one who
told you this shit’s gonna take off
like nothi’n else, and now you’re
sitting here at my wake - sorry,
WEDDING - telling me about venture
capital pouring in by the bucket
loads and your stock options and
the IPO projections, knowing this
is what I wanted! Knowing I have to
go to LA to sell condos to put food
on the table for my kid and my
unemployable wife!
Mitch finally notices that Scott is nodding in the direction of Lauren. Mitch goes quiet, turns around and looks at her, standing right behind him, looking crushed.
MITCH
Oh. Honey. What’s up...?
LAUREN
(With tears in her eyes)
I’m leaving.
MITCH
(Lifting his beer bottle)
Let me just finish this...
LAUREN
You can take your time. I’m going
home alone.
Lauren swerves around and goes back inside.
Mitch just shrugs at Scott, makes a face as in; *women, so hard to please* and takes a long swig on his beer.
________
Script Excerpt E10
Scene E10:7 / E10:8 (part of)
I/E. MONTAGE - WEDDING PARTY AT VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA -
GARDEN/TERRACE/DINING ROOM - EVENING
Soundtrack music:
Lauren and Josh are seated side by side at the end of a large table. A server removes their dinner plates just as their attention is drawn to Liz. She’s standing up with a macbook
and a microphone in her hands and everyone can see Lauren’s father George’s image appear on the screen. Liz holds the microphone to the computer speaker so that George’s voice is amplified throughout the dining room. Lauren wipes happy tears from her eyes and she and Josh raise their wine glasses in the direction of the computer screen and then kiss.
___
Mike Collins’ band is playing. It’s a private little punk-rock concert with an audience consisting of only 15 people.
Right next to the small stage, Aidan, Josh, Nate, Connor, Javier and Josh’s friend RAUL are trying to create a type of ”mosh-pit”, just shoving each other, playfully, with rogue boyish energy.
Jackets and ties are gone, sleeves are rolled up and there are failed attempts at crowd surfing. The boys are having a
blast. Suddenly Aidan is on stage and is given a microphone as the band switches song to ”State of Love and Trust”. Aidan cries out the lyrics at the top of his lungs as he grabs another microphone and motions for Josh to join in with him, which he does.
Now they’re both on stage, singing/screaming;
”And I LIIIISTEN, for the voice inside my head, NOTHING, I’ll do this one myself!”
At a safe distance, Lauren is listening and watching with a very amused expression. Suddenly Mitch is standing beside her. Lauren looks at him, sideways, and smiles.
MITCH
Boys enjoying themselves?
LAUREN
(Beaming)
They ARE.
(Looking at Mitch)
And you? Are you enjoying yourself?
Mitch shrugs and says something but it’s drowned out by the loud music, and Lauren motions for them to walk towards the entrance to the beach.
CONT'D
_______
Excerpt E10
Scene E10:14
INT. VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA, MASTER SUITE BEDROOM -
AFTER MIDNIGHT
Lauren switches on her bedside lamp. She’s alone in the bed.
She sits up as she’s listening to the sounds that have awakened her. A very loud repetitive moaning can be heard
from the other side of the wall, right behind the headboard.
It’s Skylar’s voice coming through;
SKYLAR (O.S)
Ohh give it to me! GIVE IT TO ME!!!
AHHHH!!!
Lauren puts her head in her hands and then she turns around, kneeling in the bed, and she begins to smack the wall with the palms of her hands yelling;
LAUREN
But please STOP, when have you had
ENOUGH?!!! Not AGAIN!!!! PLEASE!!!
Her pleas can’t be heard, or are ignored. The moaning and panting sounds continue, even louder.
SKYLAR (O.S)
Ohhh! OHHH!!! Don’t stop! Don’t
STOP, DON’T STOOOOP!!!
Lauren covers her ears with her hands and looks exhausted and desperate. She quickly gets out of bed and pulls on tights and a big thick hoodie. Then she leaves the room.
As she’s walking down the corridor she’s passing another door. There are unmistakable sounds coming through that door as well;
ANGELA MONTOYA (O.S)
Oohhh! Mi gran chico MALO!!! Dame
más!!! Ahhh!
Lauren’s eyes widen, she’s shaking her head and walks on, down the stairs. Right downstairs is another bedroom, that she knows is Mitch’s room. She almost involuntarily slows down as she passes it and listens, and then she mutters to herself;
LAUREN
I KNEW it...
There are sounds coming from that room too. Not as loud as in the others, yet unmistakable. She knows that voice all too well. He’s getting close. She shudders and looks slightly
nauseous as she continues outside.
--OUTSIDE BY THE FIRE PIT -- MOMENTS LATER
Josh and the others look up at Lauren as they see her coming back, a bit surprised.
JOSH
Hey baby, what’s up? Couldn’t
sleep?
LAUREN
We wanted this event to be a ”Love
Fest” right?
Josh nods.
LAUREN
Well I didn’t think people would take it so LITERALLY!
They’re like...way too inspired in
there...and I forgot to bring earplugs!
(Almost crying)
NATE
What do you mean?! They’re like,
GETTING IT ON?!
Lauren nods.
NATE
Who?!! Gimme some names! Or
room numbers! Uncle Nate needs to
know...
Lauren just smiles and slumps down right next to Josh who puts his arm around her.
NATE
C’mon! You’re gonna make me guess
now?!
Lauren just continues to smile and rests her head on Josh’s
shoulder.
Nate looks clever, he’s thinking;
NATE
Well...Javier and Skylar. For sure?!
Lauren nods.
LAUREN
Hours. They’ve been at it for HOURS.
NATE
That’s the Chronic working it’s
magic for them. He probably popped
a blue pill for her too...
Everyone around the pit laughs out loud. Nate won’t drop the subject though;
NATE
Who else?
(Begging for info)
C’mon...who can it be?
(Looking around him)
LAUREN
”Un chico grande”...
Everyone starts laughing again. Nate looks enormously entertained.
NATE
And who else...?
Lauren hesitates.
LAUREN
(Lying)
No one else.
But the Villa’s like...shaking with action...
NATE
But no action in the master suite?!
You should be consummating the hell
out of your marriage right now!
LAUREN
Nate. You may have noticed by my
appearance that it’s been
thoroughly ”consummated” already.
NATE
Yeah, but as long as you’re on top,
you should be able to consummate it
some more...
Nate is interrupted by loud disapproval from several people around the pit, kind of booing him, indicating that he’s
crossing the line.
AIDAN
How the fuck am I gonna ”block that
out” huh?!!
FAITH
You’re always so fucki’n vulgar
when you’re drunk. But you’re all
talk and no action yourself! We
won’t have a babysitter tomorrow...!
NATE
Sorry y’all, I have a very filthy
mind. I admit it. And sorry babe
(turning to Faith) my blood alcohol
level is well beyond the ED
threshold...I’ll make it up to you...
Nate gets up and looks around;
NATE
More drinks? I’ll get a bucket
load...
Everyone around the fire pit raise their hand (except Lauren) and Nate walks off, slightly unsteady on his feet.
Lauren lies down with her head in Josh’s lap and he drapes a blanket
over her.
Aidan and Antonia both turn back to Josh’s local friend Raul, sitting beside them.
AIDAN
So...what was Josh like back in high
school? Lemme guess, you were both
HOSA’s or Mu Alphas, or both?
(Grinning)
RAUL
I was both, actually. I’m not sure
about Josh? TSA? We didn’t go to
the same school. We went to the
same Martial Arts Academy, we both
competed in MMA and Muay Thai, but
as you know, he was the junior state champion and I was not...
Raul sees Aidan’s questioning expression, and he realizes the info is new to him.
RAUL
No? You didn’t know that? Never
googled him...?
Aidan shakes his head, looking perplexed.
RAUL
Yeah...well he quit from one day to
the other. Never set his foot in the gym again. Went all-in on the surfing, said he didn’t want to engage in anything ”violent”, took me another 2-3 years to realize I felt the same...
Aidan is nodding. As Antonia is asking Raul something about UCSD Med School, Aidan turns to Josh and studies him across the fire pit. Josh’s face, illuminated by the flames in the
pit, radiates complete bliss. His eyes are soft and he’s got a constant hint of a smile on his lips. His mother is curled
up in his lap, looking small, the way she does sometimes, but protected. Josh’s hand keeps caressing her hip, as if he just wants constant reassurance that she’s actually there with him.
Aidan realizes that he never saw his father touch her like that. He keeps staring at Josh thinking; *Who are you Josh?*.
Suddenly Josh turns to him and lock eyes with him, almost like he can sense he’s being watched. His look is so calm, so content and so loving. He’s smiling at Aidan, a smile saying;
*I’m so happy you’re here*, and Aidan answers his own question; *You’re my best friend*.
_________
Script Excerpt E10
Scene E10:15
I/E. MONTAGE - WEDDING PARTY AT VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA -
FIRE PIT / MASTER SUITE / GARDEN - LATE NIGHT / EARLY MORNING
Soundtrack music:
Aidan is playing guitar. Antonia is sitting next to him and looks at him lovingly and everyone around the fire pit listens and sings along while drinking. Joints are are also passed around between them.
—
Lauren is in the Master Suite bathroom brushing her teeth.
She spits and puts the toothbrush down and walks towards the bed while rubbing lavender-lotion on her hands. She stops by the desk, briefly touches the bridal bouquet sitting there in
a vase, and then she lies down on the bed, puts one hand on her belly and turns off the lights.
—
There’s a football game in the garden. It’s a chaotic game without proper rules, lit by a few lanterns on the grass. The intoxicated participants use a small plastic beach ball as they thrash around ”the field”, chasing, grabbing and pulling each other to the ground. Josh, Aidan, Nate, Raul, Faith and
Antonia just stumble around and pile on top of each other on the grass, laughing hysterically. The drinking continues.
—
Josh enters the Master Suite. The room is dark and only illuminated by the light of the bright full moon coming through the window. Josh tries to undress carefully and quietly but stumbles when he’s pulling off his suit pants and
falls to the floor. He’s giggling to himself and then crawls over to his side of the bed and pulls himself on top of it.
The alarm clock on the bedside table shows the time as 3:38 AM.
_________
Script Excerpt E10:16
Scene E10:16
INT. VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA, MASTER SUITE - VERY EARLY
MORNING (DAY AFTER WEDDING)
It’s 4:30 am. Lauren’s bedside lamp is switched on. Lauren is lying on her side, under the sheet, Josh is splayed out next to her, on top of the sheet, mouth slightly open. Lauren just looks confused for a second, then she sits up, very suddenly, and pulls away the sheet.
She’s lying in a pool of clear liquid. She exclaims;
LAUREN
What the fuck?!
She shoots up to standing. And now more liquid escapes her, running down her legs, creating a wet pool on the carpet, Her eyes go wide and she begins to pant, loudly.
She lunges towards Josh in bed and grabs his shoulders and yells;
LAUREN
Wake up!!! Josh!!! WAKE UP!!!!
It’s not until Lauren begins to shake him that he opens his eyes. He looks at her, but Lauren can see that he’s not fully conscious. All she’s getting is a blank and confused stare.
LAUREN
Josh!!! Can you hear me?!!! My water broke!!!
Josh keeps looking at her, but shows no signs that he’s registering what she’s telling him.
LAUREN
(Voice breaking, desperate)
My water broke!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!!!
Finally Josh shoots up to sitting.
JOSH
No...?! What the fuck...?!
Lauren shows him the wet bed sheets and now Josh also shoots up to standing.
JOSH
We need to go to the hospital!
Lauren pulls off her wet panties and swerves around, opening the closet. She grabs a clean pair of underwear and looks up at Josh. He’s swaying on his feet, almost loosing his balance.
JOSH
(Putting his hand on his forehead)
Fuck!!! I’m still drunk...and stoned...
Lauren stares at him, with desperation and disbelief.
LAUREN
You were smoking last night?!
JOSH
(Mumbles, picks up his phone)
We all were. Skylar brought...
LAUREN
(Interrupting, yelling)
Oh for FUCK’S SAKE!!! You can’t drive?!!
JOSH
(Phone in his hands)
I’m calling 911...
LAUREN
(Interrupting, sternly)
NO!!! NO AMBULANCE!!! Get someone
here to take us!
Josh grabs his crumpled suit pants lying on the floor and pulls them on while almost falling over. Then he lunges towards the door.
JOSH
Nick and Liz?
LAUREN
No! Not them!
(Hesitating)
Get Mitch!
Josh opens his mouth to object.
LAUREN
Get Mitch now. Please!
Josh disappears through the door.
— MOMENTS LATER - IN MITCH’S RENTAL CAR —
Josh and Lauren are in the backseat of Mitch’s rental car, with Mitch behind the wheel. He’s driving fast.
JOSH
(To Mitch)
Take the Torrey Pines!
MITCH
(Looking at his phone)
No, I’m taking La Jolla Pwy.
JOSH
Torrey Pines will be faster!
MITCH
Well I’m driving now, so I’ll decide.
JOSH
Seriously Mitch...
MITCH
(Interrupting)
SERIOUSLY JOSH. Don’t you think it
would have been a good idea to stay
sober enough to drive when your wife is pregnant?!!
Josh looks crushed with shame and guilt and says nothing.
LAUREN
SERIOUSLY Mitch! You were on all
fours in front of the toilet bowl on our wedding night, remember?!
You wouldn’t have been able to drive me ANYWHERE. And I was 32 weeks.
Mitch is silent. After a moment he says;
MITCH
I’ll take the Torrey Pines.
___________
Script Excerpt E10:17
MONTAGE SCENE E10:17
INT. MONTAGE - VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA / SCRIPPS
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - EARLY MORNING/MORNING.
Soundtrack music:
Lauren is lying on her back in a hospital bed with her legs in stirrups and Josh close to her, holding her hand. A doctor
is examining her and Lauren’s crying.
—
Trish is standing outside the main entrance to the Villa Del Mare with Dinah and Bobo. Mitch is exiting his parked car and they meet in an embrace. They just hold each other for a long time, then they kiss.
—
Lauren is standing by the side of the hospital bed wearing a hospital gown. She’s leaning forward on the bed, and supports herself on her elbows. Josh is right behind her stroking her back and talking into her ear.
—
Skylar and Javier are sleeping. She’s on her back and he’s on his stomach. Javier has his arm draped over Skylar’s torso.
Skylar is waking up but she closes her eyes again. She just smiles contently and carefully caresses Javier’s back that is fully covered in tattoos. A big Mexican skull with an intricate pattern, a big cross, flowers and snakes.
—
Lauren is on all fours in the hospital bed. Josh is still right next to her, stroking her back and talking to her.
Lauren grimaces in pain and Josh caresses her forehead. Josh is handed a mug of coffee by a nurse.
He downs the coffee in one go and then goes back to stroking Lauren's back and wiping her forehead.
—
Mitch and Trish are sitting in an outside sofa on the terrace with their dogs as the Cardena’s -Nick, Liz and Ruth- come out from the Villa. Ruth skips up to Mitch and Trish to pat their dogs and Liz and Nick greet them with a relaxed smile.
Mitch looks serious and he’s telling them something. Liz’s hands flings up to her face and she collapses in her
husband’s arms.
—
Lauren is kneeling, her legs spread apart, on top of the hospital bed. Josh is also kneeling in the bed, facing her,
and Lauren is hanging with her arms around his neck while he’s holding her under her arms. She’s got a midwife right behind her who’s got her hand between Lauren’s legs. Lauren
suddenly jerks her head back and opens her mouth wide. She’s screaming from the bottom of her lungs. Josh looks terrified, and extremely hungover.
________
Script Excerpt E10
Scene E10:18
INT. VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA - AIDAN & ANTONIA’S ROOM - MORNING
(DAY AFTER THE WEDDING)
Antonia is in bed. She’s waking up and she’s opening her eyes. The first thing she sees is Aidan’s face, close to hers. He’s studying her. He smiles at her but looks very tired.
AIDAN
Good morning wife.
ANTONIA
(Smiling, languorously)
Good morning husband.
Aidan caresses her face and kisses her.
AIDAN
How’re you feeling?
ANTONIA
I’m feeling extremely happy, to wake up as your wife...but physically...I’m not sure...
(Crooked smile)
AIDAN
Same here. I haven’t felt this
hungover in years...or...maybe months (short laugh) we partied HARD last night...
ANTONIA
Uh-huh! These people impressed me,
the stamina...the moves!
AIDAN
Yeah, as Skylar would say, the energies were vibrating at the highest level...Fucki’n full moon madness!
ANTONIA
(Giggling)
For sure! But now I need coffee.
And after that, perhaps more...vibrations..?
Aidan is grinning and raising his eyebrows.
AIDAN
I just need to get my throbbing head under the shower...or you wanna go first?
Antonia shakes her head.
ANTONIA
No. You go first.
Aidan gets up and walks into the bathroom while Antonia sits up in bed. She leans to the side and picks up her macbook from underneath the bedside table and opens it in her lap. She opens her social media account and laughs to herself. She has over 140 comments on the posting she’d made the previous night, showing a photo of her and Aidan’s hands with their wedding bands, with the caption; ”We got hitched”. Some of the commenters have desperately tried to get a reply from her, writing several comments such as; ”is it true????” ”Did you really get married?!?!” ”Is this a joke?!?!” ”Hello, where ARE you?!?!”. Antonia reads the comments and chuckles to herself. Then she opens the School Charity web page and logs into the donations portal. Quite a few new donations have been made since the day before, in the honor of Lauren and Josh’s wedding, as they’d asked the guests for donations rather than presents. However, the most recent donation does not look right to Antonia. Her eyes widen and she mutters to herself;
ANTONIA
What the hell....is this...?
Antonia keeps clicking on the transaction link and she’s shaking her head. There are too many decimals in the figure. Something must be wrong. She shoots up and knocks on the bathroom door.
ANTONIA
Aidan! You’re in the shower?
The door opens and Aidan sticks his head out.
AIDAN
Not yet, why?
Antonia goes back to the bed and turns the computer towards him as he comes out with a towel around his hips.
ANTONIA
I think we’ve been hacked!!!
Aidan grabs the computer and stares at it.
AIDAN
Why??? (Sees the figure)
Ohh.....
Antonia looks at it again, then she points to the free text field next to the figure.
ANTONIA
Oh my God, you know what I think
this is?! I think this is Nestlé!!!
You know how they’re desperate to
restore their corporate image in
third world countries?! This is
Nestlé donating 10 MILLION DOLLARS and hoping to promote their baby formula, ”NAN”!!!!
Aidan just bursts out laughing, he just stumbles around the room, holding his abdomen, laughing hysterically. Antonia stares at him with her mouth open, he seems to have lost it completely.
Aidan finally calms down but still laughs to himself, wiping his eyes, when he grabs his phone on the bedside table and slumps down in the armchair in the corner of the room. Aidan opens ”favorites” and calls a contact on the list; ”Nan”. She picks up instantly.
KATARINA
Aidan?
AIDAN
Hi Nan.
KATARINA
Hi my darling, how are you?
AIDAN
Never been better. I married Antonia last night. She’s my wife now.
There’s a long silence at the other end before Katarina replies;
KATARINA
(Thick, strained voice)
Congratulations...to you both...
AIDAN
Thank you Nan. We’d also like to
thank you for the generous donation. The money will make a real difference in so many young girls lives....
KATARINA
(Voice breaking)
You’re welcome.
(Pause)
I miss you...
AIDAN
I miss you too. I love you very much.
KATARINA
(crying)
I love you too darling!
AIDAN
I’ll come back soon OK? Give my
love to gramps too.
KATARINA
(weak, quiet voice)
I will...bye.
AIDAN
Bye Nan.
(Hangs up)
Aidan looks up at Antonia and they lock eyes. She’s just shaking her head slowly, in disbelief. Aidan just smiles at her, a calm and satisfied smile.
___________
Script Excerpt E10
Scene E10:19
INT. VILLA DEL MARE, LA JOLLA, CA, MASTER SUITE - LATE
MORNING
Liz is in the Master Suite, packing up Lauren and Josh’s things. She’s folding up clothes and putting things into two
open suitcases lying on the bed. She takes Lauren’s wedding dress hanging on the closet door and places it in a garment bag together with Josh’s suit jacket. She walks over to the desk and begins to gather up Lauren’s make-up when she pauses and touches the bridal bouquet sitting in a vase on the desk. She’s startled by a knock on the door and the door opens.
It’s Aidan and Antonia. Liz hugs them both.
AIDAN
(Solemnly, worried)
Heard anything?
Liz shakes her head and looks sad.
Aidan slumps down in the armchair and pulls his hands through his hair, then he just keeps staring at his phone.
ANTONIA
(To Liz)
Can I help you?
LIZ
Thanks honey...if you could gather up
the stuff in the bathroom...
Antonia immediately goes into the bathroom. Aidan’s phone rings and he answers it within a split second.
AIDAN
Uncle Pete, thanks for calling me
back!
AIDAN
Yeah, Scripps La Jolla. If you
could check who’s the Neonatologist
at the NICU?
AIDAN
No. We havn’t heard anything yet.
Nothing. Uhh huh, OK...that’s good to
hear...
AIDAN
For sure. I’ll let you know as soon
as...All right...thanks so much.
(Hangs up)
AIDAN
(To Liz)
It’s one of the top NICU’s in the country...
Aidan is interrupted by a notification sound. It’s a message from Josh. Aidan inhales sharply before opening the message. It’s a photo of the tiniest little baby, so red, so skinny, full of tubes attached to her, lying in an incubator, with a little hat on her head.
Aidan just cries out;
AIDAN
(Pained, emotional)
Oh my fucking God...!
Both Liz and Antonia rush to his side and are looking over his shoulder as he continues to read the message;
”Your sister, Lainey Elizabeth Kendall, was born at 8:46 am. She weighs 950 grams and she’s on breathing support but stable.
We will keep you informed. Love, Josh & Lauren”
Liz and Antonia just keep repeating; ”oh my God, oh my God” but Aidan instantly calls Josh.
JOSH
Hi...
AIDAN
What type of breathing support?!
Ventilator or CPAP?!!
JOSH
CPAP. It’s what they call a
bubble...or bundle...?
AIDAN
Good. She got it right after delivery? Did they give her surfactant?
JOSH
Yes and yes...
AIDAN
Natural delivery?
JOSH
Yes. Just under 4 hours. They gave
Lauren steroids...
AIDAN
Good. Are they administering
caffeine? What’s her saturation
level and pH blood gas? HCO3 and
pCO2? Sodium concentrations? What’s her hematocrit level? What
frequency pressure is she on? Nasal
prongs or mask?
JOSH
(Interrupting)
They’re amazing here. They know
what they’re doing...
Both Josh and Aidan go quiet for a moment and Aidan can hear himself breathing.
AIDAN
How’s mom?
JOSH
She’s OK. In shock, of course, but
very strong...
Another moment of silence.
JOSH
I got to touch her little hand...
(He starts to cry)
AIDAN
She will be fine. I promise. The
stats for preemies these days, they’ve never been better...
JOSH
I trust you man. I trust you...
AIDAN
You’re still hungover?
JOSH
(Surprised chuckle)
Sobered up when she went into
labor...
Aidan smiles but a tear escapes his eye.
AIDAN
Give my love to Lainey, and mom.
Please keep us updated. We’re all
with you...all the way...
JOSH
I will. I promise. Thanks.
They hang up and Antonia and Liz both wrap their arms around Aidan.
_____________
Excerpt E10
Scene E10:25
I/E. OUTRO-MONTAGE - NICU-WARD IN HOSPITAL, PARAGUAY / GIRLS
BOARDING SCHOOL, PARAGUAY / CHEESETABLE PIZZA & BAKERY,
BERKELEY / BEACH HOUSE & BEACH, MALIBU, CA
Soundtrack music:
Aidan sits next to an incubator in the NICU-ward in a hospital in Paraguay. He’s dressed in scrubs and he’s got a
name tag that says; ”AIDAN - Médico en Formación”.
Aidan reaches into the incubator and very gently takes the small foot of the premature baby lying there. Aidan skillfully pricks the heel of the preemie baby foot and collects a drop of blood on a paper card.
—
Aidan comes through the door at the back of the hospital that has a sign next to it reading; ”Personal Autorizado”. He’s carrying a helmet in his hand and walks up to his scooter
parked right outside. Aidan puts the helmet on his head and pulls out his scooter.
—
Antonia is standing outside the girls boarding school in Asunción. The school head master stands right next to her and Antonia is pointing at the main entrance to the school where
two men on ladders are working on the mounting a new large sign right above the entrance doors.
The sign reads; ”Katarina Van
Bureen Colegio de Niñas”.
A scooter stops right next to Antonia on the curb, it’s Aidan. Antonia turns to him, lights up, and steps towards him as he’s taking off his helmet.
Antonia points to the mounted sign and Aidan slides his arm around her waist and kisses her.
—
Mitch and Trish sit opposite each other at a small table at ”The Cheesetable” restaurant. Mitch is sliding a jewellery
case from Tiffany’s, decorated with a pink silk ribbon bow, across the table towards Trish. She looks very surprised and Mitch is nodding to her as in urging her to go ahead and open it. Trish unties the bow and carefully opens the case. Inside is a white gold necklace, a chain with 5 small diamond embellished charm pendants. Trish touches each pendant and examines them.
There are two small dog bones, a pizza slice, a key, and a heart. Trish picks it up and looks at Mitch, her eyes glowing with emotion. She fastens the necklace around her neck and then she leans forward across the small table and they meet in a kiss, a deep, long kiss with Trish’s hands behind
Mitch’s neck. They seem to be startled and suddenly pull apart. A server is standing right by them with a pizza in his hands. He sets it down between them, a double cheese with fresh basil, and they both smile, widely, and grab a slice each that they bite into, simultaneously. They then both grab
another slice that they put on a napkin, and they both bend down under the table, each placing the pizza slice before their dogs, Dinah and Bobo, sitting under the table.
---
Lauren’s fingers are dancing across the keyboard of her macbook. She types ”Fade Out” on the screen and saves the file as ”Regenerade 10”. She gets up and walks out through the open sliding doors leading out to the terrace of her Malibu home. She puts her sunglasses on and walks up to the
railing and gazes out at the beach and ocean. She can make out two figures down by the shoreline, one tall and one
small, moving like silhouettes in the backlight of the setting sun. Lauren smiles and walks down the steps leading down to the beach and she walks swiftly through the sand
towards her husband and daughter. Lainey (3) has her little wet suit on, and a life west on top, Josh only wears
board shorts. He’s teaching her how to surf on a baby body board but as she catches sight of her mother she just
leaves the board in the water and rushes towards her.
Lauren holds out her arms and catches her, scoops her up and spins her around, making her giggle, before she puts her on her hip and moves towards Josh who’s smiling, lovingly, at her. Josh kisses Lauren on the mouth and Lainey on her forehead and then wraps his arms around them both. The
surfboard tattoo on his right arm now has two names written across it; "Lauren & Lainey"
FADE OUT.
