Joe Buckley

                                "NOT THERE YET"

FADE IN:

To a BLACK SCREEN.
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
So it’s 8 o’clock on a Friday night.
int. The glennly apartment - NIGHT
JENNY (17), dressed in a half-top shirt and tight fitting jeans, admires herself in dressing mirror.  Part of the living room can be SEEN in the same mirror.
jeNNY
I know, I know. I’m good looking.
WE recognize Jenny's voice as the one heard at the opening.

Jenny smiles into the mirror, strikes a few poses. She is
indeed very pretty.
karen (o.S.)
Jenny you better not even think your going out in that shirt!
Jenny frowns.
JENNY
That’s my mom.
KAREN GLENNLY, late thirties, a stylishly attired lady of high look who could easily be taken for a much younger woman, steps into the room, and throws Jennifer a look.
KAREN
Your generation has no taste whatsoever! Where’s the rest of the outfit?
JENNY
Mom this is the whole outfit.
Jenny turns and rolls her eyes. She walks away from the mirror and leaves the room. Karen takes her spot and begins to touch up on make-up. A moment of silence. She talks to camera.
KAREN
She’s really great, but I feel like I have to worry about her so much. Maybe it’s because when I had her I was only two years older than she is now. 

Karen looks down for a moment.
kaREN (CONT’D)
And let me tell you, it’s not easy being a kid and raising a kid.
Loud MUSIC comes from OS somewhere.  Karen does a take.
KAREN (conT’D)
Emma! Turn it down baby!
The music falls silent, enter Emma (15), a sweet innocent girl, set to bloom into young womanhood. 
emma
Ah, C'mon mom! I’m the only one who can’t go out tonight.
kaREN
Emma, you’re going to your friends house, aren’t you?
emMA
Yeah, but I want to go out out, like you and Jenny.
Jenny walks back in wearing a different shirt.
KAREN
Jenny is also going to her friends house.
Jenny throws look at Karen, like "whatever."  But Karen can't see this.
EMMA
No Jenny’s going to a club!
Jenny gets in Emma’s face.
jeNNY
I am not!
EMMA
Yeah right! I heard you talking to Kristen about fake ID’s!
Karen spreads them apart and gives each of her daughters a stern look.
kaREN
Emma, eleven o'clock; Jenny one AM. See you both later.
Karen makes for the door.
jenNY
Mom you said two!
KAREN
I never said two Jenny. 1:00 final!
Karen leaves the apartment. Emma walks back to her room mumbling.
emMA
11:00.. crumby curfew... rghhh...
Jenny leaves the room as well. A moment of silence before...
karen (v.O.)
It’s hard taking care of these two kids all the time. So every once in awhile, 
exT. city block - NIGHT
Karen walks down the desolate street alone.
kaREN (V.O.)
If I get the chance, I like to go out and have good time. Put my life on hold for a night, you know what I mean?
ext. streets
A small car cruises along.
int. car
jeNNY (v.O.)
Mom’s sort of had an attitude about me going out anywhere since the divorce with Dad. I mean what’s the deal, she’s gotta take it out on me cause she got a divorce, these days, who doesn’t get one!? Who cares?
Jenny breaks back into character.
jeNNY (CONT’D)
Where we going tonight?
Kristen (18), driving, looks like a club girl prototype, turns to Jenny.
kristen
You got your ID?
JENNY
Yeah...
KRISTEN
So then don’t worry about where we’re going babe.
Jenny does a take.  Kristin smiles.
int. night club - NIGHT
Middle-class, crowded with YUPPIES.
Karen sits at the bar with her friend JAN, a bit tired looking. Karen sips a Bud. Jan has a drink.
kaREN
Jan, I can’t do this, I’m too old for it.
Jan is a little buzzed and enjoying the whole scene more than Karen.
jan
What are you talkin’ about, this place is rocking! You see those two guys over there!
She points out Jake, and Jeff. These two look like they could be on the cover of Men’s Health and GQ.
KAREN
Of course I see them.
JAN
They see us too if you know what I mean!
KAREN
Jan, they’re like 25.
JAN
Perfect age for me honey!
KAREN
They’re kids. I got my own kids, I don’t need two more.
Jan gestures for the guys to come over. Jake takes a particular liking to Karen.
jake
Hi, I’m Jake.
Karen blushes.
KAREN
Karen.
JAKE
You come here a lot?
KAREN
Actually, this is my first time.
Jake grins.
JAKE
Really...
int. FRONT ENTRANCE
Jennifer and Kristen make their way past a Burly BOUNCER, showing ID's, then cruise on into the club, gather up.
jENNY 
My god, I can’t believe we got in! 
With that the two girls are off to...
THE BAR
They go for a drink. We ever so casually pull out to reveal Karen (back turned on Jenny) enjoying Jake’s company. She turns to camera.
kareN 
I don’t know quite what is about being out with a good looking guy, but I feel better about myself, like there’s still some hope for me in love aside from all the shit that’s happened.
Karen looks down, reflecting for a moment.
kaREN (CONT’D)
But everything is still the same you know. I barely have enough money to make the months rent, let alone put Jenny and Emma into college, and my ex-husband couldn’t care less. But that’s life.
Jeff steps in and whispers into Jake’s ear.
jeff
Dude, I gotta lose this woman, she’s chewing my god damn ear off.
PULL BACK as Jake turns to Jan.  She throws him a bleary-eyed/c’mere big boy look.
JAKE
Ok, bro, here’s what you do. Go take a piss. Tell her your not feeling good or something, then, just go find some other girl.
Jeff sighs.
JEFF
Like who, these chicks are all butch.
Jake bites his lip and looks around, his eyes fall on an attractive girl, yep, it’s our Jenny.
JAKE
9:00, at the bar.
Jeff spots her.
JEFF
Looks a bit young. She’s definitely cute though. 
JAKE
She’s probably about 20.
JEFF
Well you know what they say, if they can reach the mailbox, they can deliver!
Jake smiles.
JAKE
Alright get the hell outta here and do your thing asshole.
Jake turns back to Karen.
karEN
I take it they’re not getting married.
Jake smiles. Karen does likewise.
JAKE
So anyway, yeah, I need more vacation time too!
ON JENNY AND KRISTEN
They just put down a shot of, well, something. It seems to go down well.
krisTEN
That hit the spot.
Kristen gives an awkward smile. Jenny gets concerned.
jenNY
You ok Kris?
KRISTEN
Never been better, you know what we need?
JENNY
Water?
Kristen smiles.
KRISTEN
We need some guys Jen.
Kristen puts her arm around Jenny.
krISTEN (CONT’D)
See that hottie over there.
Jenny nods.
krISTEN (CONT’D)
He’s been checking me out ever since I came in, I think he knows my older brother some how, anyway, I’m gonna go talk to him.
jeNNY
Kristen, you really shouldn’t, he’s not all that attractive.
KRISTEN
Look, I’m going to talk to him, either you can stay here and be a little girl, or you can come with me and hit on his friend.
Jenny frowns, bites her lip.
JENNY
Look, maybe I’ll meet you over there later.
Kristen shrugs her shoulders and leaves Jenny alone. Jenny talks to camera.
jenNY
Ok. Now I feel stupid. Maybe this was a dumb idea.
Jenny begins walking...
jenNY
I mean C'mon, I’m only 17. We’re the youngest people here. And that drink, I don’t even know what it was. Argh, I’m all alone, I have hardly any money left, have to be home in an hour, I... 
Jenny is stunned. Pull out to see Jeff smiling at Jenny.
JENNY (CONT’D)
Hi.
JefF
Hey. I’m Jeff.
JENNY
I’m Jen-, Jennifer.
JEFF
You come here a lot?
JENNY
Actually, this is my first time.
JEFF
Really...
int. emma’s friend’s room - NIGHT
Emma is sitting down, her friend, another young girl in the background. Emma talks to camera, slightly nervous.
eMMA
I like my family, I really do. I hear mom and Jenny talk about our dad sometimes, but I really don’t know what to say about him, I was to young too know him when he lived with us. So, it’s like, I’m used to it. It’s... it’s... um,
Emma contemplates for a beat.
eMMA (CONT’D)
Normal.
ext. nIGHT CLUB - LATER
Karen and Jake remain at the bar, smoking and socializing.
jaKE
So your 36!
kAREN
I wouldn’t lie, unless I was older.
JAKE
But you look so young.
KAREN
My kids keep me young.
Jake makes a face.
JAKE
You have kids!?
KAREN
Oh yeah, 2 girls...
A smile creeps across Karen's face.  During the following, she turns around, gazes OS.
kaREN (CONT’D)
Emma’s 15, she’s a little bit noisy but has a heart of gold, and is cute as cute can be. Then there’s Jenny, she’s so mature for her age sometimes that I have to remind myself that she’s just a kid, she works hard in school, she has nice friends, and she’s just so good.
ON JENNY AND JEFF
jefF
So you want to come back to my place?
jenNY
Back to your place? We just met.
Jeff takes Jenny’s hands.
JEFF
I know, I know, but I feel like we’ve known each other so much longer.
JENNY
Look, I got to go find my friend and make sure she’s ok.
JEFF
Ah, I'm sure she's fine, C'mon.

Jeff puts his hand on her face.
JENNY
No - listen asshole!

Jenny throws his arm away from her face and turns around, she becomes stunned as…
JENNY
Mom!
She drops her half empty glass to the floor as Karen turns with an intense anger and shock in her eyes.
ext. NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Too make matters worse, outside the club little Emma and a friend are arguing with one of the bouncers.
emMA
But I’m 21!
bouncer
Your not even 18! C’mon hit the road.
EMMA
This is absolutely ridiculous.
Karen and Jenny walk out and pass right by her, Karen looks pissed.
emMA (CONT’D)
I’ve been here a dozen times!
At the sound of Emma's voice, Karen stops dead in her tracks.  She turns around and gives her daughter a look of death.
EMMA (CONT’D)
Ah... Hi mommy.
Karen motions.  Emma comes to her and Jenny.  They stride off into the night.  The Bouncer now has a puzzled look. He shakes his head, scans the street, turns, goes back inside the club.
kAREN (V.O.)
Beyond pissed off, is not even close.
int. karen’s room - NIGHT
Karen, smoking a cigarette talking into camera.
kareN
You try so many years to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes that you did. But no matter what, they seem to run into trouble. Or trouble runs into them.
int. THE GLENNLY APARTMENT - NIGHT
Karen, smoking a cigarette, rests between Emma and Jenny on the sofa.  After several beats.
kaREN
I’ve had enough of this.
Emma makes a sad face.
emMA
What’s the point of going out anyway? I mean that place was dirty anyway. Right?
Karen and Jenny nod simultaneously, then laugh.
kaREN
I don’t know guys, ever since me and Dad split, I feel like our lives are out of control. And maybe, just maybe, if you guys had a father... Well, who knows?
jENNY
Mom, our life wasn’t exactly ideal when you and Dad were together. 
Karen nods, takes a drag of the cigarette.
jenNY (CONT’D)
I mean to say... We’re doing good.
Karen turns to her.
kAREN
Really?
JENNY
Yeah, we don’t need a new person around here. We’re doing just fine on our own.
Jenny smiles at her mom. She smiles back. 
KAREN
Look, It’s getting late, and it’s been a rough night. Get some sleep, we’ll talk about this in the morning. 
Emma gets up and gives Karen a hug.
emMA
Good night mom.
Jenny gives mom a hug too, it lasts a bit longer.
jenNY (v.O.)
Ok, so I admit, I screwed up. But you know what?
int. jenny’s bedroom - NIGHT
Jenny is lying on her bed in the dark, spread out comfortably, eyeing the cracks in the ceiling.
jeNNY
I”m only 17. I’m entitled to screw up a few times. I feel bad for mom sometimes. She really tries hard to take care of us. 
But what she doesn’t realize, is we’re still a family, not a complete family by some standards, but still a family. This isn’t gonna be a one woman effort to make it. We gotta do this together. This still doesn't solve everything, but at least we know we have these moments where everything seems to come together… including us.
Jenny shuts her eyes.
fade out.