Five Miles: Everson Family

RATING: PG-13

Content Advisement: A bullying discussion. A warning is on for precautionary measures.

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>CUT TO:

I/E EVERSON'S HOUSE (EH)- MORNING

Everson's house is a 1970s southern-styled house with updated appliances. The owners of the house, TRECK (45) and MARIA (44), lived there with their two daughters, EMERADLA (17) and SASSIERE (11). Maria has black, frizzy hair. Treck has very short brown hair that is still growing back after he has shaved it. Sassiere inherited Maria's recessive gene, having straight red-brownish hair. Esmeralda has brown hair, but she has dyed it blonde.

INT. EH: DINING ROOM- SAME TIME

Maria cleans the kitchen counters while Esmeralda cleans the dining room, which is an open long room next to the kitchen. Esmeralda is not in the best of moods because she has been grounded for her Easter Break due to bullying.

Meanwhile, the WEATHERMAN is forecasting the weather in their living room. Due to the tense silence, it is easy to hear.

WEATHERMAN (O.C.): CAPE Values are in the 9000s today, indicating extreme atmospheric instability. The temperature will be 95℉, with the humidity over 85%. The chances of tornadoes are very high over the portions of the Dixie Alley area-

MARIA: (to Esmeralda while she wipes the counters down) You hear that, Es? That means you'll check the radar and alerts to watch for upcoming storms.

Esmeralda stops wiping down the table, carrying the red plate mats. She gawks at her mother.

ESMERALDA: I thought it was your guys' job to look at the weather.

MARIA: (glares down at Esmeralda) That's your job now. Your father and I are leaving town for a mini vacation today. You're in charge.

Esmeralda almost drops the plate mats.

ESMERALDA: You're just informing us now?! What responsible parents you are!

Sassiere walks into the dining area's entrance, smirking.

SASSIERE: Nah. They announced it, but you were too busy in your room, sulking that you got caught.

ESMERALDA: (scoffs) At least have the courtesy to come to my room and say i-

MARIA: Esmera, we called you down. You ignored us. You're almost an adult. If you think you're mature enough to be one, then you can look after the house and your sister.

ESMERALDA: Never said I was! You're more of an adult than I am, but you didn't come to my room to check up on me when I didn't come to your request. It's also irresponsible and rude to do things without telling someone who needs to get the message. (aggressively) It's called communication!

Long silence. Maria looks like she is going to lunge at Esmeralda for talking back like that.

MARIA: (snidely) You know what is also called communication. It's called talking without the need for aggression or bullying. This involves talking directly or online.

ESMERALDA: I didn't say mean things to her online.

MARIA: Didn't say you did.

[Beat.]

MARIA (CONT'D): (sarcastically) And congrats, what do you want? A trophy that you're a devil to her in school, but not monstrous enough to bring it inside her home?

Esmeralda lowers the plate mats to her abdomen. She stares intensely at her mother, anger rising.

ESMERALDA: I never cross that line, Mom. The Internet is crueler than I am. I also never told her to kill herself like the kids nowadays.

SASSIERE: (folds arms) Mostly in your age group, Es.

ESMERALDA: Your kind makes teachers quit, so shut up, a-

MARIA: You don't have to say those words, Esmeralda. They are still damaging emotionally and mentally. It can lead to someone physically harming themselves. (pointing her fingers) Also, no fighting. We'll be gone for only a day. That's only a part of your punishment.

ESMERALDA: What's the second part? Make an apology video?

MARIA: Hmmm, that sounds about right, in public, right to Elaine's face. Not a video. It's also advisable to keep your mouth stitched shut when you're not thinking of nice things.

SASSIERE: Calo got 'jumped' by my other classmates after Jacob made fun of his nose for being large.

MARIA: See, Esmeralda? Your actions encourage others to bully.

ESMERALDA: I wasn't there! (raises her hands to her shoulders) Do you think I teleport, too? Are you sure I was in my room the other night? I might've been on the roof, staring at the sky.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): (to Sassiere) Did you do anything?

Sassiere is confused on what she meant.

SASSIERE: ...I comforted him afterwards.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA: You're just as bad.

SASSIERE: What? I talked to him unlike anyone else. He's my friend, Esmer.

ESMERALDA: You're still a bystander. People say it's bad as a bully.

SASSIERE: (offended) Idiot, I was walking down the hallway and hearing it happen. By the time I got there, it was done. Calo was crying. You shouldn't be lecturing me while you're as bad as Jacob.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA: My bad. I assumed you were already there. Besides, Calo's nose doesn't seem that big.

SASSIERE: (points to her) Exactly.

ESMERALDA: Just a normal part of body autonomy.

SASSIERE: What does that mean?

MARIA: Es, why won't you be that side of the fence when you were with Elaine?

Esmeralda turns her back to her mom.

ESMERALDA: I don't like to bother younger kids. That's just low.

SASSIERE: (mumbling to herself) What about me?!

MARIA: Elaine is a kid too, and so are you, just closer to adulthood and more responsible.

ESMERALDA: I know that, Mom.

SASSIERE: She is seventeen and has never brought home friends--not even a boyfriend. (smug) I'm starting to think you have no friends. You chase them away.

ESMERALDA: No, I don't.

SASSIERE: (smirks) Who is your friend then?

Esmeralda thinks about who she considers as friends.

SASSIERE (CONT'D): (pleased) Exactly.

[Beat.]

SASSIERE (CONT'D): You're going to die alone.

Maria pauses at what she is doing and gives Sassiere a scolding look.

MARIA: (to Sassiere) Hey! Don't say that to your sister!

Sassiere whips her head to her mom. The smile never fades.

SASSIERE: (carelessly shrugs) What? Am I wrong?

ESMERALDA: You sound worse than me.

SASSIERE: I'm the better daughter, though.

MARIA: I'm not picking favorites.

ESMERALDA: You're an accident.

SASSIERE: (amused) You're a failure.

MARIA: Girls...

Sassiere and Esmeralda don't hear Maria.

ESMERALDA: You're a rotten, spoiled disgrace.

SASSIERE: Says the projector.

ESMERALDA: (taps chin) I'm wondering where I get all this from.

SASSIERE: Girl, don't blame me. You're older. A kid can do no wrong.

ESMERALDA: (whispers) There's also a prison for kids.

SASSIERE: I swear Satan already has a room with your name on it.

ESMERALDA: I'd rather be with him than be with you.

Maria turns to her other daughter now.

MARIA: Esmeralda!

SASSIERE: That will be an interesting love story.

ESMERALDA: (disgusted) Ew, he's married!

SASSIERE: There's fanfiction. That's the only way you're gonna get a boyfriend.

MARIA: (louder) Girls!

The girls stop and look at their mom. It goes quiet, letting the weatherman can be heard.

WEATHERMAN (O.C.): This day is not meant to be messed around with a threat of a tornado outbreak today, starting this afternoon.

Esmeralda looks out to the living room.

ESMERALDA: (exasperatedly) Welp, I'm getting punished hard today.

MARIA: With that voice, you can roast the hell out of the bully and stand up against them. I don't care if you get in trouble if you fire back- or fight back when they get physical.

SASSIERE: Esmeralda's life has become part of the anti-bullying campaign.

ESMERALDA: (places mats down and says sarcastically) School videos show they want heroes, but they create an anti-one with their zero-tolerance policy. You can't do anything back without being punished yourself.

MARIA: I'd rather you be a hero than the origin of that girl's misery.

ESMERALDA: Pffff, no, I'm not. Her misery came from her daddy dying from a stroke two weeks ago, which I only found out until recently because no one told me anything.

Maria stops what she is doing again and gives her a cold look.

MARIA: They're not telling you anything because you're not to be trusted.

SASSIERE: What would you be doing if our dad was dead?

Moment of silence.

ESMERALDA: I would be grieving like any other person in the family. I wouldn't bully her for that.

SASSIERE: I'm no doctor, but I think you got something wrong with your brain. 9/10 doctors will diagnose you with scoundrel syndrome. You don't need an X-Ray. NASA already detected yours from space.

[Beat.]

MARIA: You need to work on your empathy. You lack it. I always thought you were a nice, sweet girl. I guess I was wrong.

>CUT TO:

INT. ESMERALDA'S ROOM- LATER

It's been two hours since breakfast. Esmeralda has that typical teenage girl's bedroom. Her twin-sized bed is on the right, shelves on the left, and desk in the middle. A window is behind the desk, and one is by her bed.

Esmeralda has her headphones in and is watching cat YouTube shorts.

There is a knock at her door. Esmeralda hears and turns to the door.

ESMERALDA: (loudly) What?

Maria and Treck open the door. Esmeralda takes off her headset. Her dad frowns.

TRECK: (looks at Maria) I thought she was grounded from that.

Esmeralda is visibly panicked.

MARIA: I wanted to make sure Esmeralda does her homework. Her academics matter.

TRECK: (gestures to her computer) It doesn't look like she is learning.

ESMERALDA: Learning grows faster in entertainment, Dad.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): Why did you come into my room?

MARIA: To say goodbye to you, Es.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA: You're leaving now?

TRECK: Yes.

Treck and Maria approach their daughter. Esmeralda seems a bit more relaxed. Maria hugs her daughter.

MARIA: Es, I don't mind you expressing your concerns and emotions. It hurts to bottle them up. I don't know why you're targeting Elaine, but if I get one more call from either the school, Elaine, or her mom, you're done.

ESMERALDA: I'll try my hardest not to say mean things to her... I don't get it! I get stepped on after doing this for a short time while Quinn has been doing this for so many years, but he gets a pass because he is on the football team!

MARIA: Has he picked on you?

ESMERALDA: (sighs and folds arms) Only said some things behind my back or made jabs at me whenever I ended up on his team at gym. I never said anything back or bad to him. I hate this standard. Other than that, he avoids me like I'm fart spray.

MARIA: Standards sucks. We also don't like to see you change. We won't stop unless you do.

ESMERALDA: Then, you'll remind me forever. You will try to add it to some joke.

To cut some tension, Treck decides to change topics.

TRECK: Es, take care and be nice to your sister-

ESMERALDA: Not if she is going to be mean, or what her name is-- Sassy.

TRECK: (stern) Esmeralda, she is the only sister you got. You're old enough to look after her. You are also on storm-watching duty.

ESMERALDA: I'm already doing it. Ryan Hall Y'all is already streaming.

TRECK: If any storms become severe before hitting us, be prepared. If the storm is tornado warned, get to the basement. Do not watch from the porch this time.

ESMERALDA: Sure thing, Dad.

TRECK: Don't forget that.

They both exchange hugs and goodbyes.

>CUT TO:

EXT. EVERSON'S HOUSE- SOMETIME LATER

Esmeralda and Sassiere are waving goodbye as their parents drive away in their van.

Sassiere and Esmeralda look at each other.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA: We can't drive anywhere since we have no vehicle, so no McDonald's.

SASSIERE: That's okay.

ESMERALDA: You can do whatever you like as it doesn't cause a ruckus, burn the house down, or hurt any of us.

SASSIERE: (smirking) Unlike you.

Esmeralda stares daggers at Sassiere.

ESMERALDA: I'm already sick and tired of being reminded. If you continue, I'll kick your ass.

SASSIERE: (still smirking) You can't swear in front of me, remember? Mommy doesn't like it. Daddy doesn't like it. I don't like it either.

ESMERALDA: Liar. I've heard you swear at school, along with your classmates, way more than I did when I was your age, so cut the bullshit.

SASSIERE: Fine. I won't swear as long you don't swear. (holds up pinky) Promise?

ESMERALDA: (sighs) Promise.

They exchange pinkies. Sassiere looks at the house.

SASSIERE: Can we go back inside? It's hot out here.

ESMERALDA: Yeah.

>CUT TO:

INT. ESMERALDA'S ROOM- HOURS LATER

Esmeralda's computer shows her building a tower in the Ender Realm, but she gives herself a little break, scrolling through her phone.

A notification dings- it is a weather alert: Tornado Watch.

Esmeralda reads her phone. Storms are supposed to form after one. It's 11:38 a.m., so they have some 'spare' time before things get nasty. It was also warned as a PDS (Particular Dangerous Situation).

Esmeralda sighs and looks out the window. There are a few spots of clouds, but no threats are coming in.

She hears running from outside her room. Sassiere barges in without knocking, holding her phone, too.

SASSIERE: Did you get the watch?

ESMERALDA: (holds up her phone) Yes. I'm gonna-

SASSIERE: (quickly) Can we watch the storms roll in?

ESMERALDA: (shaking her head) No. Mom wants us to-

SASSIERE: Please!

Esmeralda sighs. A moment of silence.

ESMERALDA: Only when it is not warned.

Sassiere looks disappointed for a moment.

SASSIERE: Can we have lunch now, Sis?

Esmeralda exhales.

ESMERALDA: What do you want?

SASSIERE: Chicken wings with hot sauce.

[Beat.]

ESMERALDA: Really? Last thing you wanna do is give yourself diarrhea on a day of hell.

SASSIERE: At least, I don't have a devil tongue like you.

Esmeralda turns annoyed.

ESMERALDA: Sassy, stop. (pause) Plus, we don't have wings. We ate them a few days ago.

Sassiere crosses her arms and pouts.

SASSIERE: Hmph. Guess we will settle for sandwiches then.

ESMERALDA: (begins walking to the door) Fine by me.