Sleepwalking

[from trailer]

James:
[to Tara] My whole life I feel like I've been sleepwalking. But you helped me. You woke me up.

[from trailer]

Joleen:
How old do I look to you, James?

James:
I don't know.

Joleen:
When a woman asks you how old she is, you think, how old does she want to be. And then you say that number. You should listen to that so maybe you find a woman for yourself.

Tara:
[to James] We'll need fake names. So we won't get caught. I'll be Nicole, and I want to be thirteen years old. 'Cause being twelve is stupid.

James:
Nicole's never been to a real farm before.

[looks at Tara, she nods, trying to smile]

James:
So when her mother gets back, we'll meet up, and, uh... we'll take it from there.

Mr. Reedy:
Joleen's living the good life, huh? In her magnificent country estate.

James:
I didn't say estate.

[Tara looks at Mr. Reedy apprehensively, then her eyes fall back onto her plate]

Mr. Reedy:
She still living with that one guy?

[at this Tara goes stiff, staring at her grandfather]

Mr. Reedy:
What was his name? You know, the one that knocked her up.

James:
[Tara turns her horrified eyes on James, who very slightly shakes his head to her] No.

Mr. Reedy:
What about the kid? Did she end up having it? I never heard, so you can imagine I'm a little curious.

[chuckles]

James:
[looks at Tara again] No.

[Tara is silent, looking upset and confused]

Mr. Reedy:
Well, I got the one, though. Right, Nicole? One grandkid's better than nothing.

[Tara nods, trying to hide her unhappiness at the truth of how she was born]

James:
[referring to Joleen and her new boyfriend] Do you know where they might be?

Tara:
[when Warren doesn't answer] Do you even know you're in jail? It's your fault she left in the first place, Warren. This whole thing is your fault.

Warren:
No, I'm just wondering how long this has been going on, that's what I'd like to know.

Tara:
[leaning toward Warren with a savage pleasure on her face] Do you know what Mom would call you? She had a name for you. When it was just me and her talking. She'd say it and we'd laugh. Do you know what it was?

Warren:
[crosses his arms] I don't believe you. [Tara smirks then takes her coat and leaves]

Warren:
What was it? Tara, what did she call me? Tara!

Counselor:
What about your parents?

Joleen:
No parents.

Counselor:
No parents?

Joleen:
Nope, all deceased. [looks out into the hall] Where is Tara?

Counselor:
Joleen, I know you have a father because we talked...

Joleen:
[getting up suddenly] I'm not here for a survey.

Counselor:
Joleen, I'm just trying to help you!

Joleen:
I don't need your help! Can't you get that? I don't need your help, we're fine!

Counselor:
You're not fine! Do you think being dragged out in the middle of the night is fine? And what about Tara? Moving all over the place, missing school, having people talk about her mother is fine?

Joleen:
Okay, I've had enough. [gets up and leaves]

Counselor:
Oh, here we go again! Just drag her out into the middle of sh*t again.

Joleen:
[comes back] You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to take my daughter to school! You know what then? Then I'm going to find us a wonderful place to live, okay? And I have a lot of options, by the way. Thank you! Thanks for your help, but I don't need it! [leaves] Tara, let's go! [takes Tara's wrist and yanks her away]

Joleen:
[as she is getting her things from her house] Where's my goddamn coffee can?

Counselor:
The last thing you need is coffee, Joleen.

Joleen:
You know what I'm talking about! Last night when you guys came in here there was a goddamn coffee can on top of that fridge. It has my money in it!

Counselor:
Bob, did you see this alleged coffee can?

Cop #2:
No. Pretty sure a girl like you can find another way to make some money.

Joleen:
F*** you. Come on, James.

Tara:
[after she sees him staring at her] Uncle James, you're creeping me out.

Joleen:
Hey, you be nice to Uncle James. James, where do you keep the hangers?

James:
What?

Joleen:
Hangers! [to herself as she goes into James' room] God, this place is such a mess. I should have brought some of my own furniture. [to James] And we're going to need another pillow for Tara, by the way.

Tara:
I'm not sleeping in the same bed as you, Mom!

Joleen:
[coming back out of the room] You know, you could really start unpacking your own sh*t instead of sitting there and pretending to do your homework.

Tara:
I'm not pretending to do my homework, I'm pretending not to hate my life!

Joleen:
Well, you're not doing a very good job of pretending!

Tara:
Well, maybe I'm not applying myself!

Joleen:
I don't need this kind of sh*t from you right now, Tara!

Tara:
What kind of sh*t do you need from me right now, Mom?

Joleen:
[kicking a chest of drawers] What do you want from me? God, Tara!

Tara:
Where are we going?

James:
We're going home. Home to your mom.

Tara:
[brightens] My mom? Where is she?

James:
She's in Westmoreland. Waiting at the police station.

Tara:
What's going to happen to you?

James:
Can't be any worse than it's been, you know? Before now, it's like I've been living in a dream. A bad dream, just sleepwalking. But you helped me. You woke me up.

Tara:
I did?

James:
Yeah.

James:
[after a pause] Will you do me a favor?

Tara:
Yeah, sure.

James:
When you see her, tell her this the first day of the rest of her life. Okay? It wasn't before, but now it is.

Tara:
Okay. Why don't you tell her?

James:
I just want you to. Okay?

Tara:
All right. [pause, then speaks] You know, you're not an idiot. You're not an idiot like he would always call you.

James:
[smiles and takes her hand]

Joleen:
[holding her daughter and crying] Oh God. Oh my God. Oh God baby. I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Oh God, I'm so sorry. Tell me you're okay!

Tara:
I'm okay.

Joleen:
It'll be okay! Where's James?

Counselor:
Where's James? Where is he?

Tara:
[crying] He's gone.

[Counselor runs to his car]

Joleen:
Where is he, baby? Where did he go?

Tara:
[hysterically] I don't know!

Joleen:
Did he say anything?

Tara:
Yes! He said-[gulps, trying to control herself] he said that-today....is the first day of the rest of your life.

Joleen:
My life?

Tara:
[still crying] Yeah, that's what he told me. Yeah.

Tara:
[whimpering] I want to go home.

Joleen:
[from trailer]

Joleen:
You could really start unpacking instead of sitting there and pretending to do your homework.

Tara:
I'm not pretending to do my homework, I'm pretending not to hate my life!