White Ashes

By

Ruth Isabel Guerra

Spring/Summer 2013

Revised December 2013

Revised June 2014

Ruth Isabel Guerra:

guerrrd0@sewanee.edu

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

CALEB, a reserved male in his late 20s, sits on a simple

chair and speaks to someone (or something) in front of him.

The room is bare and silent with only the sound of his

unsteady voice filling up the space.

CALEB

So this is it. This is my new

apartment. I’m not completely moved

in, of course. I still have some

furniture to bring in, some paint

to cover the walls, but it’s good

for now. Kitchen works. Toilet

flushes. That’s all that really

matters, right?

(beat)

Jessica likes it fine... We were

planning on moving in together,

but... I just don’t know for now.

There’s a lot going on... and with

you... here...

(beat)

It’s freezing. Are you cold? I’m

sorry, you must be cold. Here.

Caleb pulls out a crocheted sweater from a bag and drapes it

over a small treeling in a pot that sits on the coffee

table.

TITLE CARD.

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

Caleb’s cordless phone rings on the side table as he lies

wide awake on his bed. The machine sits beside the plant

pot. There are personal memorabilia around his room. A

single photo of him and his mother also sits at his bedside

table.

His girlfriend, JESSICA (late 20s), leaves a voicemail after

several unanswered rings.

JESSICA (V.O. - ON PHONE)

Hey, sweetie. It’s me. I tried your

cell but I guess it’s off. I hope

you’re home now. Two weeks was

hard, especially how things have

been lately. Well, if you’re back,

give me a call. I don’t have to

come in to work till later today,

so I can swing by the apartment

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

JESSICA (V.O. - ON PHONE) (cont’d)whenever. Yeah. Hope you’re doing

alright. Call me. I love you.

Caleb listens to the message, unaffected. He rolls over,

picks the pot up, and finally gets himself out of bed to

tackle on the day.

INT. BATHROOM - CONT.

Caleb washes up in the sink. The pot sits on the counter in

front of him.

INT. KITCHEN - CONT.

Caleb eats a box of cereal. The pot sits opposite of him on

the table.

INT. WARDROBE - CONT.

Caleb puts on a button-up shirt and slacks. He pulls out a

brightly printed scarf from the same bag of items and places

it around the trunk of the plant.

INT. BEDROOM - CONT.

Caleb makes the call to Jessica. The pot sits on his bed.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

Caleb answers the doorbell. Jessica walks in with bags in

both hands. She sets them down and gives Caleb a tight

embrace.

JESSICA

How are you today?

CALEB

I’m fine.

JESSICA

How was your flight?

CALEB

Fine.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

JESSICA

I got you food. All your favorites.

CALEB

You didn’t have to do that.

Jessica leans up to give him a kiss.

JESSICA

But I wanted to.

INT. KITCHEN - CONT.

Caleb sits at the counter as Jessica unloads the meal.

CALEB

Do you need a hand with that?

JESSICA

I’m just using the microwave.

While Jessica heats the meal up, Caleb wanders off. He comes

back with the pot and sets it on the counter. Jessica

notices first with bewilderment but then considers it as a

practical joke.

JESSICA

Why is that plant playing dress up?

CALEB

She was cold.

JESSICA

She...? What’s her name?

CALEB

Rebecca.

Jessica’s light-hearted mood drops instantly.

JESSICA

You named her after your mother?

CALEB

No, it is her. Jessica meet my mom.

Mom, Jessica.

4.

INT. DINING ROOM - LATER

Jessica and Caleb eat their meals silently. There is a vast

distance between them at the table, and the pot sits in the

middle end of the two.

Finally, Jessica tries to process the truth.

JESSICA

So you had her cremated?

CALEB

It’s what she wanted.

JESSICA

And put into a pot?

CALEB

She already had one picked out.

JESSICA

And what’s... in there... will grow

into a tree?

CALEB

Only thing she requested.

JESSICA

(beat)

She didn’t say anything else in the

will?

CALEB

This is all. She had everything she

owned donated right before she

passed. Didn’t have much to begin

with.

JESSICA

And you’re going to take care of it

till you have to let it grow

somewhere else?

CALEB

I guess so.

JESSICA

I just... I just don’t know if this

is a good idea...

CALEB

I’m the only one left for her,

Jessica, you know that.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

JESSICA

I know, I know. It’s just, I don’t

know if this is going to be a good

idea for you, seeing her everyday

in a pot like this.

CALEB

If it’s what she wanted, it’s what

I have to do. I owe her that.

JESSICA

You were always good to her, Caleb.

Always. Don’t think this is some

debt you have to pay.

CALEB

I wasn’t there when she needed me.

JESSICA

You did the best you could.

CALEB

I did the best I could with what I

knew. If I had known sooner, I

could have--

JESSICA

You couldn’t have done anymore if

you knew she was sick.

CALEB

You don’t know that. She didn’t

know that!

Jessica grows quiet with Caleb’s rising temper.

JESSICA

I’m sorry. You’re right.

CALEB

I didn’t mean to yell.

JESSICA

No, no. It’s just going to take me

a while to get used to... this

situation, but it’s alright. If

this is something you feel you have

to do, to reach closure, then I’ll

support you.

CALEB

Thank you.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

JESSICA

And if you need someone to take

care of it--her--when you’re out at

work or something, I will be happy

to. Just show me where the watering

can is.

They continue to eat, half-satisfied.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

Jessica kisses Caleb goodbye and leaves the apartment.

JESSICA

I’ll be working late, so I’ll come

by tomorrow.

CALEB

Alright.

Caleb glances back over at the pot still sitting on the

dining table, unsure of what to do next.

INT. CAR - LATE AFTERNOON

Caleb drives with the pot in the passenger seat beside him,

buckled in securely.

He pulls into the PLANT WORLD parking lot.

INT. PLANT WORLD - CONT.

Caleb roams the aisles of the store with the pot in the baby

seat of the shopping cart he pushes.

He grabs a bag of fertilizer.

He grabs a watering can.

He grabs long hedge clippers.

Hesitating at first, he grabs a shovel.

He debates on which plant stand to purchase.

As the CASHIER rings his items at her register, she mistakes

the treeeling for a purchase. Caleb tries to convince her

it’s not, but she merely points to a row of identical

treelings on display outside the store in response. Failing

to win the argument, Caleb pulls out his wallet to pay for

it.

7.

EXT. STREETS - CONT.

Caleb slowly drives by a children’s store and notices a

giant teddy bear bean bag chair in the display window.

He reverses the car and stops to take a second look.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR - LATER

Caleb drives back home with his purchases in the backseat,

including the teddy bear chair strapped in the middle.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Caleb brings the bags, pot, and chair inside. He fixes the

pot with all his purchases, finally placing it on the plant

stand.

Caleb dumps the chair in the middle of the room and plops

himself on it. Eventually, he falls asleep.

FADE TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Caleb awakens to banging at the door. He groggily rises and

finds Jessica on the other side.

JESSICA

I’ve been knocking for quite a

while now. Here, I found this at

your door.

She hands him a boxed package.

CALEB

Sorry, I was asleep.

JESSICA

It’s two in the afternoon.

Jessica notices the teddy bear chair behind him.

CALEB

Really bad jet lag, I guess.

He opens the package.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

JESSICA

What’s that?

CALEB

Oh, just a chair I picked up at a

store yesterday. I thought I should

start getting furniture, and you

know how I think all the couches

they sell here are too stiff.

JESSICA

And instead you brought back a

teddy bear?

CALEB

It sort of reminded me of one I had

when I was younger. I don’t know. I

thought it would help me sleep.

It’s really comfy if you want to

try.

Jessica, making a visible attempt to understand, allows

herself to fall into the bear’s belly.

JESSICA

Ohhh, this is nice.

CALEB

Knocked me out for hours.

JESSICA

I can tell why. And I like the new

stand for Rebecca.

CALEB

Yeah?

JESSICA

Yeah, it suits her nicely.

CALEB

Good. Glad you approve.

JESSICA

So what’s in the box?

Caleb pulls out several manila envelopes. Various paper

items exist inside, from old pictures to letters to

postcards. Jessica crawls over closer to him.

CALEB

These were hers.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 9.

JESSICA

Who sent them?

CALEB

It doesn’t have a return address.

They leaf through the envelopes, laughing and growing

excited with every find.

Jessica discovers a picture of a very young Caleb lying

naked and asleep on a similar teddy bear chair.

CALEB

I loved that bear.

They look through the contents a little while longer.

CALEB

I think this is everything she had

left after she donated all the big

stuff. All our personal

possessions.

JESSICA

Really? This is all?

CALEB

She never really believed in buying

and keeping things. Just a few

pictures or a postcard here and

there. She didn’t feel the need for

extra stuff, as if they inhibited

her from living. When I was

younger, she convinced me into

thinking a piece of fishing rope

was the greatest toy in the world,

but of course, I still sneaked off

to play the newest video game with

the boys in my neighborhood. It

wasn’t all depriving though. We

traveled a lot instead, went to

museums or the mountains. The only

modern object she kept with her was

a Polaroid camera. She really

enjoyed taking pictures of anything

that would hold still for her.

JESSICA

Especially you.

CALEB

(chuckling)

She could only catch me when I was

sleeping.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 10.

JESSICA

It’s funny, you always talk about

her, but there’s always something

new to learn. She sounds like a

really amazing woman, Caleb. I wish

I could have met her.

CALEB

She would have loved you.

Jessica sits herself on Caleb’s lap on the teddy bear chair.

JESSICA

When do you go back to work?

CALEB

Tomorrow probably.

JESSICA

Can I stay the night?

CALEB

Sure.

INT. BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Jessica sleeps heavily next to Caleb, who is still awake.

Even though they both seem peaceful in their embrace, it is

apparent Caleb hasn’t shut his eyes all night.

Eventually, Caleb rises and tucks Jessica more comfortably

in the bed, so she would not be able to notice his absence.

He makes his way to the living room and rests on the teddy

bear chair, where he finally falls asleep.

INT. OFFICE - DAY

Caleb sits in a cubicle typing on the computer. He has the

Google search bar open and puts in "How to take care of a

tree in a pot". Unfortunately, the first few results turn

out to be about marijuana plant care.

Meanwhile, PAUL (late 20s) approaches him with a pile of

folders. He gently places them on Caleb’s desk.

PAUL

Hey, how’s it going? I tried

calling, but I guess you’ve been

pretty busy.

Caleb tries to obscure Paul’s view of the screen with his

body.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 11.

CALEB

I’m doing alright.

PAUL

Jessica says you haven’t been

sleeping.

CALEB

Bad jet lag.

PAUL

I understand.

Tilting his head a little, Paul finally catches a glimpse of

a cannabis article on the computer.

PAUL

Look, Caleb, I know things have

been really shitty these last few

days, but if you ever need

anything, just let me know. I know

ever since Kate and I got married I

haven’t been around a whole lot,

but we’ve known each other for

what? Eight years? I’m here for

you, man.

(beat)

Even though I only met her a few

times in college and here and

there, I still remember her. She

lived a good life.

CALEB

Thanks, Paul. I really appreciate

it.

PAUL

(nodding)

David wants these on a spread

before the conference next week.

CALEB

Got it. I’ll get it to him.

Paul gives another friendly nod and wanders off. Caleb

continues his personal research--finally landing on a

relevant article--as everyone else around him moves quickly

to finish their office work.

FADE TO:

12.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

TIME LAPSE: The pot sits on the plant stand as its

surroundings move quickly through time. The plant inside

slowly begins to grow larger and flashes of Caleb placing

jewelry and more clothing items on it as it emerges.

Finally, the world slows down as Caleb continues to water

the plant. By this point, it is evident that it has grown to

the point where it can no longer live in such tight

confines.

MONTAGE: Caleb converses with the plant everyday. He pulls

out old photographs from the package and displays them

around the house. He sleeps in the teddy bear chair at

night. He snaps photos with a newly purchased Polaroid

camera.

Simultaneously, a phone conversation between Jessica and

KATE (also late 20s) can be heard in the background.

JESSICA (V.O. - ON PHONE)

I don’t know what to do anymore. I

thought that if I let him go

through with this, he’d realize how

this isn’t how he wants to remember

her. But it’s almost like he’s

moving backwards. He’s filling the

apartment up with his old stuff. He

doesn’t sleep in his bed. He talks

to it, Kate. It’s not healthy

anymore.

KATE (O.P.)

Have you discussed this with him?

JESSICA (O.P.)

And say what? She meant so much to

him.

KATE (O.P.)

Most mothers do to their sons, but

Jessica, you both can’t live like

this. It’s not fair for you.

JESSICA (O.P.)

I don’t know. I guess I just can’t

stand to watch him grieve like

this.

KATE (O.P.)

Have you considered professional

help?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 13.

JESSICA (O.P.)

I can’t do that to him.

FRIEND (O.P.)

I can ask Paul to meet with him if

you’d like. To be honest, he’s been

a little worried, and I’m sure he’d

be happy to help.

KATE (O.P.)

You know what, that actually sounds

like a pretty good idea.

FRIEND (O.P.)

I’ll have Paul talk to him. He’ll

take care of it.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

Caleb lets Jessica in through the front door.

CALEB

Ok, the watering can is in the

kitchen. Use the sink in the

kitchen and not the bathroom. The

one in the bathroom is pouring out

something that doesn’t look right.

I’ve been meaning to get it fixed.

Oh, and don’t pour all the water

that’s in the can because I think

that’s a little too much. But also

don’t pour out too little because--

JESSICA

Breathe. It’s only for a night.

Caleb grins and gives her a kiss.

CALEB

I know, but I just want to make

sure.

JESSICA

You’re going to be late.

CALEB

He won’t mind.

JESSICA

(jokingly)

But I do. So go!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 14.

CALEB

Are you sure you can handle it? I

mean, are you sure this is a good

idea?

JESSICA

GO!

Caleb dashes out the door.

Jessica sits the heavy pot on the coffee table,

unintentionally dropping it with a loud thud. She sits in

the teddy bear chair and faces the pot with a strong sense

of uncertainty about her night.

INT. BAR - NIGHT

Caleb and Paul sit at the counter of a crowded bar drinking

tall glasses of dark beer. It is evident they have been at

it for a while. Both struggle to hear each other over all

the noise, but they seem to be having a great time.

CALEB

That didn’t happen!

PAUL

Yeah, it did. You drunk dialed your

own mom! Passed the phone around

the smoking circle. Three in the

morning. She was pissed.

CALEB

And not because we were high but

because I woke her up.

PAUL

God, your mom was awesome.

CALEB

She’s something special.

PAUL

(changing the subject)

And you remember that time when I

broke my collar bone while falling

asleep on the toilet in the middle

of the night?

CALEB

And the doctor didn’t believe you

were sober.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 15.

PAUL

But I was!

CALEB

Yeah, for the first time.

PAUL

You stayed in the emergency room

with me till I got out at four in

the morning. You didn’t even fall

asleep in the waiting room.

CALEB

That’s what roommates are for,

right?

PAUL

I actually really appreciate you

having my back then. Hell, I

appreciate you having my back all

that time. I got into some really

crazy shit.

CALEB

Always here for you, man.

PAUL

You make me feel really guilty, you

know. You were always there for me

even when I didn’t want you to be.

CALEB

Are you getting sentimental on me?

PAUL

No, seriously. I feel like such a

bastard for not having time for

stuff like this with you anymore.

When Kate and I got engaged, you

threw us a party. And as soon as

you found out she was pregnant, you

immediately went out and bought us

a bunch of baby shit. We didn’t

even know if it was a boy or girl

then, but it didn’t matter because

you bought all the stuff in yellow.

CALEB

I read somewhere that it’s the most

gender neutral color.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 16.

PAUL

And what do I do? I abandon you,

especially in your time in need. I

didn’t want to stress you out any

more than you already were, so I

thought I’d wait till you came to

me. But evidently, I should have

tried to reach out sooner.

CALEB

What have you heard?

PAUL

That you haven’t been yourself

lately. Or maybe you’re overly lost

in yourself, in the past. That

ironically, while we smoked pot in

college, your mom’s now in one.

CALEB

(chuckling)

Did Jessica tell you all of this?

PAUL

No, she told Kate who told me.

CALEB

And that’s why you’re here. To talk

to me. This was all a master

plan...

PAUL

I know this isn’t the best

location, but you know I can’t get

like this unless I’ve at least had

a few drinks. If you want to talk

about it though, I’m listening.

CALEB

(beat)

I just don’t understand why she

didn’t tell me that she was sick.

Even when I visited last summer, I

had no idea.

PAUL

Maybe she didn’t want you to know.

CALEB

I’m her only child. Why would she

not want me to know that she had

cancer?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 17.

PAUL

Maybe she didn’t want to worry you.

You’re just settling into your new

apartment and things have been

getting pretty serious with you and

Jessica. Maybe she didn’t want to

dampen the mood.

CALEB

(sarcastically)

And things would be much easier for

me if I got a call from all the way

across the country that my own

mother died of cancer that I didn’t

fucking know about, that she’s had

for almost two fucking years?

You’re right. I’m so glad she chose

this option instead, because I’m

just ecstatic right now.

PAUL

And you think you’ll resolve all of

this by treating that plant like

it’s really her?

CALEB

It is her.

PAUL

It’s her remains.

Caleb turns silent.

PAUL

Jessica thinks you’re never going

to stop taking care of it.

CALEB

Hey, can we just have a good time

tonight? I haven’t really been out

of the house in months, and I was

really looking forward to hanging

out like old times.

PAUL

Alright, alright. No more probing.

After a few more silent sips of beer, they begin to notice a

DRUNKEN MAN loudly attempting to buy the young ATTRACTIVE

WOMAN beside them a drink. Even though she refuses, he

continues his advances.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 18.

CALEB

I’m sorry, but is this man

bothering you?

ATTRACTIVE WOMAN

It’s fine. He’ll leave eventually.

CALEB

Because if he is--

DRUNKEN MAN

Who’s this old fucker? Your

boyfriend?

ATTRACTIVE WOMAN

He’s not my boyfriend.

DRUNKEN MAN

Because I can be your boyfriend.

CALEB

Hey, man. Cool it.

DRUNKEN MAN

Or you’ll do what?

(sizing his stature)

You’re kidding me, right? You

couldn’t do a thing to me.

PAUL

Seriously. Lay off.

DRUNKEN MAN

Oh, I see. You’re with this guy.

How cute. Your little boyfriend is

sticking up for you.

Perhaps letting the alcohol take over, Caleb lunges at him.

With one swift move, the drunken man strikes him in the eye

before Caleb could even take a shot at him. Paul rushes to

Caleb, who now lies defeated on the floor.

By this time TWO SECURITY OFFICERS arrive and demand that

the group leave the premises. The drunken man laughs and

departs the scene, while the attractive woman crouches down

to face Caleb.

ATTRACTIVE WOMAN

I’ve dealt with many men like him

to know that they just give up when

you leave it alone. Dumbass.

And with that, she rises and walks away. Paul helps Caleb

off the ground.

19.

EXT. BAR - CONT.

The two friends stumble out, supporting themselves on each

other’s shoulders.

PAUL

What a night.

CALEB

This is definitely not college

anymore.

PAUL

We’re far too old for this.

CALEB

Or just lacking good judgment.

PAUL

We need to do this again.

CALEB

You’re insane.

PAUL

No, not the Fight Club crap. Me and

you, like old times. Drinking.

Hanging out. I had a lot of fun

with you tonight, man.

CALEB

You know what, despite certain

situations, me too.

PAUL

(beat)

Promise me something? You promise

me you’ll remember that you’re good

enough? Good enough for me, for

Jessica, for Kate, for my baby Paul

II, and especially for Rebecca. You

don’t need to--

(noticing Caleb’s puffy eye)

Shit. You’re going to need to ice

that shiner.

Caleb nods in recognition of the drunken but sincere advice.

CALEB

Let’s get ourselves home.

They flag down a taxi and both climb into it.

20.

INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - LATE NIGHT

Caleb stumbles up the stairs of the building. Upon opening

the front door to his apartment, his face quickly turns into

a mortified expression.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONT.

Jessica kneels on the floor quickly scooping up handfuls of

dirt back into the broken pot. The plant lies with its roots

still partially in the pot, and its leafy head lying on the

floor. Caleb rushes over.

CALEB

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

JESSICA

I’m so sorry! I accidentally put

too much water in it and a lot of

it settled at the top, so I took it

to the kitchen to try to pour some

of it out, but it’s so heavy, and

when I came back to the living

room, it kind of just slipped out

of my hands.

CALEB

I told you not all of the water!

JESSICA

I know, I know! The water just kept

gushing out. The can was heavy too!

CALEB

Get me some tape or glue or

something!

JESSICA

Are you going to try to piece that

back together?

CALEB

What else would I do?

JESSICA

What’s wrong with your eye?

CALEB

What? Oh, nothing. I ran into a

door.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 21.

JESSICA

It looks really bad.

CALEB

It’s nothing. Glue.

JESSICA

Let me get something for your eye

first and then--

CALEB

Just find me something to fix this,

Jessica. Please.

Jessica runs around the empty house in search of something

useful. She comes back with a roll of duct tape in a

ridiculous print.

JESSICA

It’s for the girl I babysit

sometimes. It’s all I could find.

Caleb rips through the duct tape, piecing the broken shards

of pottery back together. He increasingly grows frustrated

when he can’t piece the puzzle back together.

JESSICA

(with patience)

Maybe we should just plant it

somewhere else. It’s too big for

the pot anyways.

CALEB

She fits perfectly fine in this.

JESSICA

Were you expecting to keep her in

there forever then? Because you

can’t do that, you know. Trees have

to keep growing. They get taller

and bigger and need better soil and

space...

CALEB

I know that! Don’t you think I know

that?

JESSICA

Then why don’t we just scoop all of

this up and take it--

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 22.

CALEB

Take her where? There’s no room in

the backyard!

JESSICA

Then we’ll find somewhere else. The

field a few blocks over. There’s a

park down the road.

CALEB

That’s too far.

JESSICA

What? It’s just down the--

CALEB

I can’t take care of her if she’s

that far!

JESSICA

But that’s just it! You won’t have

to take care of her anymore.

CALEB

We were doing just fine until this

happened.

JESSICA

(beat)

Oh my god. You really can’t see

what’s in front of you...

CALEB

There’s a broken pot that I can’t

fucking fix! I know exactly what’s

in front of me!

JESSICA

No, you don’t... You see more than

that... You still see what’s not

there anymore...

CALEB

I don’t know what you’re talking

about.

Jessica, trying to remain calm, takes on a different

approach.

JESSICA

Caleb, what’s keeping you from

letting it go?

(beat)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 23.

JESSICA (cont’d)

Letting her go?

CALEB

I can’t just abandon her out there!

Especially not like this. If I can

still care for her myself, then

damn it, I’ll take care of her!

JESSICA

Ok... Ok, let me just help you

then.

Jessica reaches to grab the section of the pot that remains

most in tact. However, Caleb tries to grab it back. They

engage in a somewhat tug-of-war with all the broken pottery

pieces.

JESSICA

Caleb, let me help you.

CALEB

She’s my mother.

JESSICA

And I’m your girlfriend. For once,

stop thinking you’re in this alone.

CALEB

You’ve done enough already!

JESSICA

Excuse me?

CALEB

I leave you with her for one night,

Jessica, one night! All you had to

do was water her! But instead, not

only do you drown her in it, you’ve

managed to break everything else in

the process! You have done enough.

JESSICA

It was an accident, and I was going

to fix it.

CALEB

And yet it still looks like a mess.

JESSICA

Because you won’t even let me touch

it! Damn it, Jacob, it’s a pot.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 24.

CALEB

It’s my mother!

Suddenly, one of the larger pieces slices Jessica’s hand.

She drops the shard of pottery, breaking it into several

more pieces. Blood quickly rushes down her arm. Caleb

remains still at first, stunned by the incident. Coming back

to his senses, he runs to grab a hand towel from the kitchen

to stop the flow.

CALEB

I don’t think I have any band-aids.

JESSICA

I’m fine.

CALEB

How badly does it hurt?

JESSICA

Not bad. Really, I’m fine.

CALEB

(beat)

I’m sorry.

JESSICA

(beat)

Caleb, this isn’t how it works.

CALEB

I know.

JESSICA

I guess what I’m trying to say is

that you can’t go around taking

care of everyone all the time and

expect--no, refuse--nothing in

return. It just doesn’t work that

way.

Caleb mulls over her words.

CALEB

I know, I know. It’s just this was

my responsibility. You shouldn’t

have to deal with it.

JESSICA

But I want to.

Caleb looks up at Jessica without saying a word.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 25.

JESSICA

Let me take care of you like you do

with me.

He buries his head in her arms as she embraces him with her

free hand.

JESSICA

She loved you. You don’t have to

keep doing this.

CALEB

I just don’t know what to do

anymore. It all looks so much worse

now.

JESSICA

Here, go find a bucket and

something to shovel this up, and

I’ll drive us to the park.

Caleb rises and walks off. As Jessica waits for him, a

ziplock bag with a white envelope catches her eye. It

appears to have been buried deep beneath the dirt inside the

pot.

JESSICA

Caleb? Will you come here for a

second? I think I found something.

As he approaches, she hands the bag to him, and he opens it.

The envelope is addressed to Caleb.

CALEB

It’s her handwriting.

Caleb plops himself on the teddy bear chair to read the

letter inside.

INT. CAR - LATER

Jessica drives with her cut hand bound tightly in the towel

with the duct tape holding it together. The plant sits

inside the bucket and is secured in the back by a seat belt.

EXT. PARK - CONT.

They dig a hole under a canopy of tall trees and settle the

new plant in the ground. Caleb buries the letter in the dirt

along with it. Rising, he gets one last look before leaving.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 26.

JESSICA

She’s not so far. You can always

come back.

Caleb mumbles something brief and inaudible to the plant

before making their way to the car.

INT. CAR - CONT.

Caleb grows exhausted in the passenger seat as Jessica

drives back in silence. He grabs her hurt hand and holds it

for a moment. The two exchange an expression.

JESSICA

What was the letter about?

Caleb turns to the window and watches rows and rows of trees

move past.

JACOB

Her illness. Reasons why things

were how they are.

JESSICA

Kind of a strange way to let you

know now. In a letter underneath

her ashes like that.

JACOB

I think somehow I’ve always known

why. I was just too stubborn to

admit to it. I feel like she meant

for things to happen in this way.

JESSICA

Like she knew we would mess up, get

into a fight, break my hand,

shatter the pot? Smart woman.

JACOB

(chuckling)

(beat)

She was something special.

EXT. APARTMENT - CONT. - DAWN

Jessica helps the groggy Caleb back inside.

27.

INT. KITCHEN - CONT.

Jessica grabs a frozen bag of peas from the fridge for

Caleb’s eye. At first, Caleb refuses her help but eventually

succumbs to its relieving feeling on his bruise.

INT. BEDROOM - CONT.

Caleb crashes on the bed, and Jessica climbs in with him. He

rolls over to set the frozen bag aside and embraces her,

catching sight of the photo of him and his mother. He

smiles, turns out the light, and falls asleep.

EXT. PARK - DAWN

The sun slowly rises behind the trees. They are all the same

type: White Ashes.

CLOSE on the newly planted tree.

CREDITS.

FADE OUT.

END.