Act 2 Scene IX.... searching for a home
{scene opens with Zeda sitting in a blue chair in a hallway barren of any decorations. The walls are a dirty yellow white. Zeda has a busted lip and a swollen eye}
[ Camera initially is focused on A 2 foot radius around zeda then pans out giving the feel of complete isolation]
{ from down the hall A beautiful female comes down *think gabrielle union* her heals make loud clopping sounds as she neers zeda}
Female staff: You wanted to see me?
Zeda: I want to call my case worker.
Female Staff: Okay, Follow me
( the two begin to walk down and stop at a door on the left with a picture of martin Luther king hanging over a banner that reads "I believe i can fly")
The female staff opens the door, turns on the light, and waves Zeda in
Female Staff: Just come out when you are done. (the staff member closes the door)
*Zeda sits down at the sole table in the room and picks up the reciever on the manila phone.
Zeda dials seven numbers. The phone rings once...
and voice messaging instantaneously picks up.*
Mrs.sims (Over the phone): You have reached Mrs. Sims with children’s services, please leave a (Zeda hangs up)
* zeda dials 411*
Operator: 411 can i get the city and state please
Zeda: Stone Mountain georgia
Operator: Name
Zeda: Hester, Lydia hester
Operator: The number is area code 404-555-0162. For an additional charge of 99 cents this call can be placed for you
Zeda: Yes please, thank you
{{{Ringing}}}
Lydia: Hello
Zeda: Aunt Lydia, its Zeda
Lydia: (impatiently) What?
Zeda: Is there any way i can come stay with you,
Lydia: I haven’t spoken to you in 6 years and you call asking me for a favor?
Zeda: I didn’t have your number, Aunt lydia please,i am in a dcs shelter, everyone hates me here (Crying) I have no where to go
Lydia: then you need to be callin your mother
Zeda: Mom doesn’t want me, she is why i am here
Lydia: Don’t give me that bullshit zeda, I know all about ya bad ass, actin up in school beatin up teachers, you think i'm gonna help you
Zeda: I never beat up anyone!! I have a 4.0... moms lying to you, she told the DCS people she was an only child and her parents were dead...please
Lydia: Well then, if your own mother doesn’t want you in this family what makes you think anyone else will? {hangs up}
[Music: instrumental version of the last minute of NIN hurt]
[this scene is supposed to be an expression of the chaos in zeda's head coming pay particular attention to the usage of shadows and eye close-ups, arm close-ups, then panning out to show the action]
*Zeda looks down on the desk and notices a stapler
she opens it, takes out the row of staplers and breaks off a small portion and bends it straighten both ends.
She then uses the staples to carve the word ALONE into her left forearm
She stares at her "artwork" and smiles As the blood starts seeping out of the wound she turns her arm over and starts scraping across her wrist.*
[this imagery should be similar to the blinking light effects of the jeramy video. Zeda should appear more insane than hurt in her facial expression. Depict pleasure from carving]
{The door opens, the doorknob starts to turn Zeda drops the staples grabs the phone and puts her arm under the desk as the staff woman peeks in}
Female Staff: You okay in there? (Peaking her head in)
Zeda: (looks up) Yes mam
(pretending to still be on the phone) I know Mrs. Sims.. i am sorry but....
{Female staff closes the door}
* Zeda Dials another 7 digits*
{{{ Ringing}}}
Mr:Erik: Crossroads back desk
Zeda: Mr. Erik? (trying to suppress sounding like she is crying)
Mr.Erik: This is he
Zeda: Its Zeda
Mr.Erik: Hey Z, Hows it hangin
Zeda: I'm okay, You have a second?...
Mr.Erik: Of course.
Zeda: I wanted to say thank you, for tryin to keep me out of trouble.. and i am
sorry for being such a fuck up
Mr.Erik: You arent a fuck up... I am proud you tried to stay out of it.. and sorry you got sucked in... I told lisa you didnt have any thing to do with what happened
Zeda: Thanks.... (Long pause) Mr.Erik... (crying)..
Mr.Erik: Yea
Zeda: Nothing, I goto go...
Mr.Erik: Okay... keep me posted on how your doin okay.
Zeda: Okay (Mr erik hangs up)
* Zeda doesn’t hang up the telephone. she keeps it to her ear as the sound from the other end Goes from the "if you would like to make another call announcement to busy signal then she hangs up.
Zeda reaches into the desk and grabs a piece of paper and a pen and writes the words
"what do you do when you want to go home... but you don’t have a home to go to"
[Fade out]
{scene ends}
