Ina's Eye

FADE IN:

INT. OLD FOLKS HOME - DAY

The hallways are decorated with homemade Christmas decorations. A group of elementary aged children stands in front of a patient's door and sings a Christmas Carol. JESSIE JEAN, a cute tomboy, sings loudly.

Their music director, MRS. HORNBECK, sings and walks to the next room. The children follow closely behind.

An old man sits in his doorway, tied to his chair. The children sing as he drools.

Jessie smiles at the old man, but gets no response. She nudges her friend, DREW, a burly boy with braces.

JESSIE

I hate comin' here.

DREW

Me, too. Old people stink.

JESSIE

I'm never gonna live in a place like this.

An old woman, INA PRUITT, stands in her doorway several rooms down. She wears an old pink gown and is barefooted. Her arms are crossed and she rocks back and forth. She's missing one eye.

The children move down the hallway and sing. They walk past an empty room.

Two old men sleep in the next room. They look in as they walk by. One of the old men SNORES loudly.

They approach Ina. Ina yells at them.

INA

Got to hell you son of a bitch!

The children stop in their tracks. Mrs Hornbeck stops singing. She smiles at Ina and proceeds to sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas."

Ina takes a step out of the room.

INA

Get, you little shits.

Mrs. Hornbeck turns and corals the children in the opposite direction.

A NURSE walks over to Ina and escorts her into her room.

Jessie and Drew laugh in disbelief.

JESSIE

Did you see that?

DREW

She's scarey.

JESSIE

Did you see her eye?

DREW

No.

JESSIE

She's missing an eye.

DREW

Oooh, I wonder if a werewolf ripped it out?

Jessie rolls her eyes.

JESSIE

Witches eat eyes, dummy; not werewolves.

The nurse walks over to Mrs. Hornbeck.

NURSE

I'm so sorry. Ina has a problem with strangers. She's really a very sweet old lady.

MRS. HORNBECK

She didn't seem sweet. She shouldn't talk that way to children.

NURSE

She's harmless, really.

MRS. HORNBECK

You should tie her to a chair.

NURSE

Are you guys ready for cupcakes?

The children yell out a hearty Yes!

JESSIE

Nurse?

NURSE

Yes?

JESSIE

Does she have cancer?

NURSE

No.

DREW

Was she born that way?

The nurse bends down and whispers.

NURSE

From what I understand, a rooster plucked it out when she was about your age.

Drew holds his hand up to his eye.

DREW

Owe. A rooster, for real?

The children shudder.

JESSIE

I don't blame the old biddy for being pissed.

The children laugh.

MRS. HORNBECK

Jessie! You know better than to talk like that. Now, enough about her. I've got a cupcake with my name on it.

Mrs. Hornbeck and the children follow the nurse's lead.

EXT. SCHOOL - DAY

Children pour out of the school. Jessie runs out the door, wearing her backpack. Drew rides up on his bike.

DREW

I wanna take my brother to see that crazy lady.

JESSIE

Why?

DREW

She'll scare the snot out of him.

JESSIE

Why would you want to scare your little brother? He'll have nightmares.

DREW

Some of the other kids are going tomorrow. They wanna see her eye.

JESSIE

The nurses will kick you out. You have to go with a teacher, stupid.

Jessie pushes Drew's bike back and walks past him.

DREW

What'd I do?

She runs through the parking lot and across the street.

EXT. PAUL'S HOUSE - DAY

Jessie knocks on the door of a sweet little house. An old man, PAUL, opens the door. A cat rubs between his legs. Jessie reaches down and picks up the cat.

Paul holds the door open as Jessie enters.

INT. PAUL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

The living room is cluttered, but homey. Paul walks over to his recliner and sits down. Jessie kisses him on the cheek.

JESSIE

How are you today, Grandpaul?

PAUL

Tired.

JESSIE

Did you go to Karaoke last night?

PAUL

Yeah.

JESSIE

How'd you do?

PAUL

Sang Merle. They loved it.

JESSIE

That's the Way Love Goes?

PAUL

Yep.

JESSIE

Cool. That one's my favorite.

The cat hops down and walks over to the window ledge and sits.

JESSIE

You know that cigar box that you have of Grandma's?

PAUL

Yeah.

JESSIE

Can I have it?

PAUL

Sure. It's in the cedar chest.

Jessie opens a cedar chest that doubles as a coffee table. She removes an old cigar box.

PAUL

What you need it for?

JESSIE

A school project.

Jessie walks to the door.

PAUL

Tell your mom to check the oil in that car.

JESSIE

I will. Love you, Grandpaul.

INT. OLD FOLKS HOME - DAY

Jessie carries the cigar box down the hallway. Ina stands in her doorway, arms crossed, and rocking back and forth.

Jessie waves at her. Ina grunts.

Jessie walks slowly. The hallway stretches out forever as she approaches the old woman.

Jessie stops when she gets to the room next to Ina's. She places the box on the floor and slides it over to Ina.

INA

Go to hell you son of a bitch!

JESSIE

It's okay. It's a present.

INA

Bastard!

JESSIE

It's for you.

INA

I said get, you little whore.

JESSIE

It's a Christmas gift.

Ina scoots backwards into her room. Jessie creeps over to the box and picks it up.

She stands in the doorway and opens the lid to the box. She holds it out towards the room.

A very long wrinkly hand reaches out towards the box and then pulls back.

JESSIE

It's okay. Really. They were my grandma's. (beat) Take one.

The hand reaches into the cigar box and pulls out a shiny glass eyeball. Ina rubs it between her fingers.

JESSIE

The green one was my favorite. My grandma called it her cat eye.

Jessie closes the lid of the box.

JESSIE

Merry Christmas, Ina.

Jessie smiles and runs down the hallway as Ina smiles.

FADE OUT