Pilot/Transcript

GILBERT RESIDENCE
[Louise is sitting on her window seat, writing in her diary.]

Louise: Dear diary, I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶a̶n̶g̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶e̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶a̶d̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶a̶p̶p̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶o̶d̶a̶y̶.̶ I don't know why I wrote that. It's been three months, two weeks and two days since I've written anything down. It's been one hundred and seven days since I've smiled or spoken really. I feel empty and hollow inside, as though I'm existing in the world but not truly living. But I got by, day by day, minute by minute and I did it the only way I knew how. I put on my mask, my façade of normality and played my part in the act I called my life. Everyday I pretend I don't feel as though I could crumble to the floor every time I see a picture of my parents or someone mentions their names. It's been three months, two weeks and two days since my parents died. I still don't understand how that could happen. There were four people in that car when it went over wickery bridge; two lived and two died. How does that happen? How could Elena and I survive but not our parents? It wasn't even possible. The water pressure had blocked the doors; no human could have gotten out of that car. The doctors couldn't explain why or how both of us survived. It was a true miracle, they said. But there nothing I can do to change what happened because believe me, I would if I could. I have to go on. I have been this giant ball of grieve and sadness all this time but today, journal, today will be different. It has to be. Today I'm going to smile. Today, when someone asks me that dreaded 'How are you?' question, I'm going to smile and reply 'I'm fine. Thanks for asking'. I'm going to be bright and peppy Louise. The Louise that people expect me to be. I am going to be that Louise that people expect to see on the first day of school. Today, I'm going to be the Louise that my brother and sister know. This year I will start fresh, be someone knew. No more being sad. Well I can pretend not to be right? You and I will know the truth and I'm okay with that. It's the only way I'll be able to survive. - L

[Louise puts her pen down and looks out the window. She buts her diary in her bag before walking over to her vanity. She checks herself over in the mirror.]

Louise: Okay, Louise, smile.

[She smiles.]

Louise: Now you only have to do that about nine hundred more times today.

[Louise picks her bag up and heads downstairs to the kitchen where Jenna is, eating a bow of cereal.]

Jenna: Happy first day of school.

Louise: Thanks."

Jenna: Toast. I can make toast.

Elena: It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna."

Jeremy: Is there coffee?

Jenna: Your first day of school and I'm totally unprepared. Lunch money?

Louise and Elena: I'm good.

Jenna: Anything else? A number two pencil? What am I missing?

Louise: Don't you have a big presentation today?"

Jenna: I'm meeting with my thesis advisor at...now. Crap!

Louise: Then go. We'll be fine.

[Jenna rushes out the room and Elena turns to Jeremy.]

Elena; You okay?

Jeremy: Don't start. [He leaves.]

Louise: Elena, he'll be fine. He just needs some time

Elena: He's had time, Lou. All summer.

Louise: If you push too hard then he'll just push right back.

[Elena embraces Louise.]

Elena: We'll be okay, today, won't we? It's only one day, then everything will be back to normal - as if nothing ever happened.

Louise: Of course we will. [She suddenly stiffens.] I just can't shake off the feeling that something bad is going to happen though.

Elena: That's probably nerves.

BONNIE'S CAR
[Louise, Elena and Bonnie are driving to school in Bonnie's car.]

Bonnie: So Grams is telling me I'm psychic. Our ancestors were from Salem, witches and all that, I know, crazy, but she's going on and on about it, and I'm like, put this woman in a home already! But then I started thinking, I predicted Obama and I predicted Heath Ledger, and I still think Florida will break off and turn into little resort islands. [Bonnie glances over to Elena and notices Elena's not paying attention.] Elena! Back in the car.

Elena: I did it again, didn't I? I-I'm sorry, Bonnie. You were telling me that...

Louise: That she's psychic now.

Elena: Okay, then predict something, [She looks at Louise.] About us.

Bonnie: I see...

[A crow hits the car.]