Oops

Scene 1:
Livingroom: Alex, Steven, Elyse and Jennifer are present.

Alex comes down the stairs. Steven is sitting at the table by the front door.

Alex: I'm going to need the car tomorrow might. I have a meeting of Youth For A Sane Economy.

Steven: Still working on that miss a payment go to prison registry?

Alex: Debt happens to be a serious problem in this country Dad.

Steven: It's a serious problem in this home according to this bank statement. Elyse I'm not sure about something here.

Steven gets up from the table. Elyse is sitting on the couch.

Elyse: What's that?

Steven: Unless I'm mistaken you gave fifty dollars to the M.A.F.I.A last month.

Elyse: What? Oh, no that's Mother's Against Fluorocarbons In the Atmosphere. I think.

Steven; You think?

Elyse: I'm sure, but just in case, if a guy named Fast Eddie calls hang up.

Mallory comes into the livingroom from the kitchen.

Mallory: I'll get it.

Steven: Get what?

Mallory: Wasn't that the doorbell?

Elyse: I didn't hear anything.

Mallory: Well, I'm expecting Cindy to come over and I have to know the minute she gets here because we're going to study and we don't want to be disturbed.

Alex: We'll try and resist.

Mallory goes upstairs. Alex opens up the newspaper and starts reading it as he walks. Jennifer who's reading a book walks into Alex.

Alex: Jennifer, don't read while your walking.

Steven: Well, it's nice to see someone reading a good old fashioned book around here. What do you got? Charlotte's Web? Winnie The Pooh? Treasure Island?

Jennifer: Our Bodies Ourselves.

Jennifer is sitting on the couch next to Elyse.

Alex: What's a book like that doing in this house?

Elyse: Now there's nothing wrong with this Alex. It's just a heath and sex manual for women.

Alex: It just doesn't seem right. A bunch of women writing about stuff that should only be discussed in a men's locker room.

Jennifer: Light up Alex.

Mallory comes downstairs.

Mallory: What are you doing with that book?

Jennifer: I don't see a book. (She hides the book)

Jennifer: You came into my room when I wasn't there and you started snooping around and you took it off my desk!

Jennifer: I didn't take it off your desk. I got it from your top drawer under your diary.

Elyse: Jennifer, you know better than to go into your sister's desk.

Jennifer: I know. I'm sorry, but I needed the book. I had a question about jogging bras.

Steven gets up from the table.

Steven: Our Bodies Ourselves? Why are you reading that Mal?

Mallory: Well, Dad, Cindy and I are studying it tonight for health class.

Elyse: (reading): Pregnancy and childbirth? Just last week you were studying dental care.

Mallory: It's an honors class, we move fast.

The doorbell rings. Mallory answers it.

Cindy: Mallory.

Steven: Hi Cindy.

Elyse: Hi.

Cindy: We have to talk.

Cindy and Mallory go upstairs.

Jennifer: Maybe Cindy has dental problems.

Scene 2:

Mallory's room: Mallory and Cindy are present.

Mallory: So what are the test results?

Cindy: I'm pregnant.

Mallory: Wow, pregnant. I can't believe it. It just doesn't seem possible.

Cindy: The woman at the clinic said she wished she had a nickel for every time she heard that. I don't know what to do Mal. I'm scared.

Mallory: Well, what did the doctor say?

Cindy: You have Blue Cross. I'm not sure I'm ready to be a mother. I mean you have to change diapers, You have to pretend to be the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. You have to teach them to drive. You have to plan their wedding.

Mallory: Cindy, I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself.

Cindy: Can you imagine Frank Burros as somebody's father? I mean this is the same guy who took the wet paint signs off the bleachers and hid the hamster in the teacher's desk.

Mallory: Maybe he's matured since then.

Cindy: I don't think so. The hamster thing was last week.

Mallory: So what are you going to tell your mother?

Cindy: Nothing. I just decided I'm going to keep a low profile for the next nine months.

Mallory: Good luck.

Cindy: Come on, I can't talk to her. You know how my mother is. Oh, I wish she were more like your Mom.

Mallory: Well, do you want to talk to my Mom about it?

Cindy: Maybe. Do you think she'd help?

Mallory: Couldn't hurt to try.

Cindy: Ok.

Mallory: Mom, could you come up here for a second please? Help Cindy and me move some furniture?

Steven: Want me to help?

Mallory: No. This is pretty heavy stuff.

Cindy: I just can't go home. If my Mom finds out about this she'll kill me.

Mallory: Don't worry. You can stay here if you have to.

Elyse enters Mallory's room.

Elyse: What's going on?

Mallory: Mom, Cindy needs to talk to you.

Elyse: What is it Cindy?

Cindy: I don't know how to say this.

Mallory: She's pregnant.

Cindy: That's it.

Elyse: Oh Cindy I'm so sorry. Are you sure?

Cindy: I'm positive and so is the test. Mrs. Keaton, this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me.

Elyse: Oh honey, you must be so scared.

Elyse sits down on Mallory's bed next to Cindy.

Elyse: Can I help?

Cindy: I don't know. I'm so confused. I don't know whether or not to have an abortion or give the baby up for adoption, or keep it. Maybe I just should die my hair, change my name, move to Kansas and bring it up as my kid sister.

Elyse: What do your parents say?

Cindy gets up from the bed.

Cindy: Well there's really just my Mom and I haven't told her yet. I just can't face her right now.

Mallory: Well your welcome to stay here tonight.

Cindy: I don't know if I can face her tomorrow.

Mallory: Well you can stay here as long as you want. My Mom and I would love to help you. Right Mom?

Elyse gets up from the bed.

Elyse: Well, we'd love to help you honey, but I don't think staying here will solve your problems. I think you should talk to your mother.

Cindy: Are you kidding? You don't know my mother. She doesn't even let me read Cosmopolitan.

Mallory: Yeah, she can't talk to her. You know how mothers are like.

Elyse: Yes, I've heard. Look honey, this problem is too big for you to tackle on your own. I really think you should go home.

Cindy: I'd still rather stay here for eight or nine years.

Mallory: Mom, she can't go home.

Elyse: I know it's not going to be easy, but she's gotta do it. If it were you I'd wanna know about it.

Mallory: But, Mom--

Cindy: Ok, I'll try it your way, but my Mom's unreasonable. I mean she got upset when she found out the prom was coed.

Scene 3:

Kitchen: Mallory is sitting at the kitchen table in her bathrobe eating. Elyse and Steven enter the kitchen.

Elyse: I thought I heard someone down here. What are you doing up Mallory?

Mallory: I can't sleep. I'm too worried about Cindy. I just came down for a little snack.

Steven: A turkey sandwich, ice cream, chocolate cake. Some countries don't eat that much.

Mallory: Ok, I over did it, but I'm worried about Cindy, and when I worry I eat.

Mallory gets up from the table.

Elyse: Of course your worried about her. Cindy and her Mom are going through a tough time, but they'll work it out.

Mallory: I don't know.

Steven: Why don't you go upstairs and get some sleep? I'm sure you'll hear all about it from Cindy in the morning.

Elyse: Goodnight honey.

Mallory: Goodnight.

Mallory goes over to the table and picks up some food.

Mallory: It's for energy. It's a long walk upstairs.

Mallory exits through the swinging door.

Steven: I can't believe this thing with Cindy. I mean I still think of her as a little girl who used to play with Mallory.

Elyse: She's not a little girl anymore.

Steven: I know, and neither is Mallory. She's the same age as Cindy.

Elyse: Yeah.

Steven sits down at the kitchen table.

Steven: They're in the same class. They're in the same crowd. I'm worried about her.

Elyse: Look Cindy and Mallory are two different people.

Steven: Ok. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I don't think Mallory should be allowed out of the house until she's thirty-five.

Elyse: Steven!

Steven: Look, in the '60's when all the changes were coming about. The new honesty between men and women. A healthy open attitude toward sex. I thought they were positive. I still believe that, but now that i Have a fifteen year old daughter some of those beliefs are--

Elyse: Out the window?

Steven: On the ledge.

Elyse: Well, you wouldn't want things to go back to the way they were when we were kids would you? It was terrible. Boys trying to get reputations, girls trying not to get reputations. Just who were the boys getting reputations with?

Steven: At my school it was Betsy Hogan.

Elyse: I heard of her.

Steven: Ok. All right, things weren't fair back then, but at least there were guidelines.

Elyse: We were ignorant and scared. Don't you think that it's a good thing that kids know more about sex today?

Elyse sits down at the table with a tea pot and pours them tea. Steven is eating chocolate cake.

Steven: Sure, I want Mallory to know more, I just don't want her to do more.

Elyse: We have a great relationship with Mallory. All we have to do is keep the lines of communication open

Mallory comes back into the kitchen through the swinging door.

Mallory: I still can't sleep.

Elyse: You've been gone a minute. Did you try?

Mallory: I didn't actually get into bed.

Steven: Sometimes that will help.

Mallory: I'm just too worried about Cindy.

Mallory eats some of the chocolate cake.

Steven: Are you sure you're not just hungry

Mallory: Positive. I think I'll call her.

Steven: Mallory, it's pretty late to call.

Elyse: Actually, I'm pretty sure they're not getting much sleep over there either. Why don't you go ahead Mal?

Mallory picks up the phone and dials.

Mallory: Hello Mrs. Sullivan? Hi this is Mallory. I'm sorry to call you so late, but can I please talk to Cindy? What? No, I don't. Of course I will. Goodbye.

Elyse: What's wrong?

Mallory: Everything. Cindy and her Mom got into a fight and she ran out of the house. She's been gone for hours and her Mom doesn't know where she is.

Elyse: That's terrible.

Mallory: Of course it's terrible, it's all your fault.

Elyse: My fault?

Steven: Wait a minute, don't blame your Mother.

Mallory: Why not?! She's the one who suggested Cindy go talk to her Mom. We told you her Mother wouldn't understand. If you hadn't butted in like that, we might know where Cindy is right now.

Elyse gets up from the table.

Elyse: I didn't but in. Cindy asked me to help and I only did what I knew to be right.

Mallory: Oh you huh? Did you listen when we said she couldn't talk to her Mother? No. Did you let her stay here? No. Well, I'll tell you one thing, when I grow up and have kids, I won't act like a mother.

Mallory runs out of the kitchen.

Scene 4:

Kitchen: Alex is talking on the phone.
Mallory, Elyse and Steven are also present.


Alex: About 5'3". Yeah that could be her. No, I don't think she'd be wearing a mask and flippers. No, thanks anyway. Goodbye.

Alex hangs up the phone. Mallory is sitting on the counter.

Alex: Well, she's not at the library.

Mallory marks through writing on a piece of paper.

Alex: Let's see we tried the YWCA, the airport, we've tried the bus depo. I guess there's nothing left but the old run down bars and nightclubs.

Elyse and Steven are sitting at the kitchen table.

Alex: Well, that's where girls like Cindy wind up don't they? Smiling they're painted smiles, swaying to the sound of honky tonk piano while some Joe pours out his life story over a cup of cheap whiskey.

Steven: That's it. No more late movies for you.

Mallory walks over to the table. Steven gets up from the table and walks over to the sink.

Mallory: Just a minute Alex, what do you mean girls like Cindy. She happens to be a very nice girl. She comes over here for a little advice and support and now she's missing through no fault of her own.

Elyse: Look, Mallory, I know you blame me for this, but can't you see that she had to tell her Mother?

Mallory is sitting at the table.

Mallory: Well, fine, but couldn't she have told her gradually?

Elyse: Gradually?

Mallory: Yeah, like start out with something like, Mom I met a boy.

Jennifer enters the kitchen through the swinging door.

Jennifer: Daddy, can I go to the movies with Chrissy? They're showing an old movie at the Village. I think it's called Bye Bye Birdie.

Steven: Well, you went to the movies the other night.

Jennifer: Please Daddy, I love little birdies.

Steven: I don't think you should go.

Elyse, Alex and Mallory are eating.

Elyse: I just don't think a girl should try to hide her pregnancy from her mother.

Alex: Wait, wait a minute, can we not discuss this at the kitchen? I mean sex is not something you should talk about in front of a wholesome breakfast.

Elyse: Alex, I find your attitude a little disturbing. I mean your Father and I don't want you or your sisters to feel that you can't talk to us honestly and openly about sex to us.

Jennifer: (smiles) Oh boy.

Steven: So Jennifer, you don't want to miss that movie. You need some popcorn money?

Jennifer: I'd rather stay here and talk openly and honestly about sex.

Steven: Popcorn, bon bons, chocolate bars.

Jennifer: Throw in the ju ju b's and I'm gout the door.

Steven: You got it.

Steven hands Jennifer money. Jennifer exits through the swinging door.

Alex gets up from the table.

Alex: I just don't know what your making such a big deal about? Sex is a biological process brought on by emotional urges. Sex is nothing to get excited about. I mean sex is nothing special.

Mallory gets up from the table.

Mallory: Yeah Alex, if it's nothing special why do you keep hiding Playboy behind your copies of Business Week?

Alex: I don't hide them. I keep them alphabetically and Business Week comes before Playboy.

Mallory: I can't just sit around and worry about Cindy anymore.

Elyse: Lets go look for her.

Elyse and Steven get up from the table.

Elyse: Maybe she's at the park or maybe she's at the playground.

Steven: Lets get our coats and go. Alex stay here in case she calls

Alex: Got it.

Steven, Elyse and Mallory exit through the swinging door.

Alex goes to the phone and dials.

Alex: Hello, Sgt. Samuels? Yeah, this is Alex P. Keaton. You probably remember me. I was junior mayor for a week. I don't know. I thought metermaids on horseback was a good idea. We'll get taller meters. Anyway, I'm looking for a fifteen year old girl. That's very funny.

Cindy enters the kitchen through the backdoor.

Alex: Nevermind. I think I know where to find her.

Alex hangs up the phone.

Alex: Hi Cindy.

Cindy: Hi.

Alex: Excuse me for a minute.

Alex walks over the swinging door

Alex: Hey! She's here.

Alex: So what's new?

Mallory, Elyse and Steven enter the kitchen through the swinging door.

Mallory: Cindy! Are you ok?

Cindy: Yeah. I'm ok. I'm still pregnant, but other than that I'm fine.

Elyse: We've called all over town looking for you.

Cindy, Mallory and Elyse sit down at the kitchen table.

Mallory: Where have you been anyway?

Cindy: I walked around the mall. I sat through Annie two and half times. I ended up in the pin ball arcade.

Steven: Your Mother's very worried Cindy. I think you should call her.

Cindy: Why should I call her? All she'll do is yell.

Elyse: You don't know that. Look, you can't blame her for being angry and upset when you told her, but she's had a chance to think about it.

Cindy: Yeah, and time to get even madder.

Elyse: And time to calm down too. Look, I think the two of you need another chance. Don't you?

Cindy: I'm not sure. But, I know I can't face her alone.

Elyse: Well, if it will help, I mean if it will make it any easier you can ask her to come over here.

Cindy: Will you and Mallory be here with me?

Mallory: Sure.

Alex: Dad and I will be here too. Of course we're flexible on this point.

Scene 6:

Livingroom: Mallory and Cindy are present. Mallory is sitting on the couch Cindy is pacing and Elyse enters from the kitchen with something to drink.

Elyse: Cindy, does your Mom drink coffee?

Cindy: Yeah, I guess.

Mallory: Maybe that will make her too nervous. Does she drink tea?

Cindy: I think she likes herb tea. Do you guys have any?

Mallory: Are you kidding? What's her favorite herb?

Cindy: Better wait and ask her when she gets here.

Elyse: Honey, just sit down and relax.

Cindy: I can't. I just know the minute she walks in here she's going to say, Cindy how could you do this to me?

Elyse: Give her a chance ok?

The doorbell rings.

Cindy: Don't answer that!

Mallory stands up from the couch. Elyse answers the door.

Elyse: Hi, I'm Elyse Keaton.

Mrs. Sullivan: Lynn Sullivan.

They shake hands.

Elyse: Please come in. I'm sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances.

Mrs. Sullivan: Hello Mallory. Cindy, I'm so glad you're all right. How could you do this to me? Cindy, we're going home.

Cindy: No, Mom. You said on the phone that you were going to come over here and we we're going to talk.

Mrs. Sullivan: All right, we'll talk.

Elyse: Please, sit down, make yourself at home.

Cindy and her Mom sit on the couch. Elyse sits on a chair and Mallory stands behind her.

Mallory: So, Mrs. Sullivan, what's your favorite herb?

Elyse: Would you like some herbal tea?

Mrs. Sullivan: No, thank you. We won't be staying long. I've said everything I need to say to my daughter. She's already said she's pregnant and now it's my problem right?

Elyse: Well, actually I think it's both of yours.

Mrs. Sullivan: How long has she been going out with this boy anyway?

Elyse: I don't know.

Cindy: Mom, why don't you ask me how long I've been going out with him.

Mrs. Sullivan: Apparently, one night too long.

Cindy: You see what I mean Mrs. Keaton? Were not getting anywhere here. She's not listening to me.

Cindy stands up from the couch.

Mrs. Sullivan: Can you talk to your daughter?

Elyse: Well, we try, we have our occasional differences.

Mallory: But, we talk, you know, we try to get things out in the open.

Mrs. Sullivan: Well, Cindy's problem is out in the open that's for sure, but that doesn't solve anything. It doesn't change the fact that she's pregnant and that she's made a mess out of her life.

Cindy: Oh thanks a lot Mom. So what you're saying is that because I made this mistake I've ruined everything? I have no hope, no future, my life is over?

Jennifer comes in the front door.

Jennifer: (singing): Cloudy skies are going to clear up put on a happy face.

Elyse, Mallory, Mrs. Sullivan, and Cindy all look at Jennifer.

Jennifer: Is that the best you guys can do?

Elyse gets up from the chairs.

Elyse: Look Jen, I don't think this the time for show tunes.

Jennifer: Let me go out on a limb here. You don't want me here right?

Elyse: Well--

Jennifer: I'm going to my room. I'll be down when I'm eighteen.

Jennifer goes upstairs. Mallory sits down on the chair. Elyse stands behind her. Cindy sits down on the couch.

Elyse: Ok, lets go back. Where were we?

Cindy: My Mother just said I had no future and that my life was over.

Elyse: Well, maybe we could go back to before you all were yelling at each other.

Cindy: We'd have to go back to when I was in third grade.

Mrs. Sullivan: Oh, I wish we could. At least then things were under control. I knew what you were doing, where you were and who you were with.

Cindy: Well, I'm not a little girl anymore Mom. I have to have my own life. I can't deal with you hanging over my shoulder every second trying to control everything that I do.

Cindy and Mrs. Sullivan stand up.

Mrs. Sullivan: Well, look what happens when I don't.

Cindy: Ok, Well, maybe I made a mistake, but if you had just a little more faith in me and stop treating me like such a little girl, I wouldn't have been in such a big hurry to grow up!

Mrs. Sullivan: Cindy, I just wanted to make things better for you.

Cindy: What are you talking about Mom?

Mrs. Sullivan: Well, when I was kid I made all the wrong decisions.

Cindy: Really?

Mrs. Sullivan: Yeah, I don't think I spent more than two nights in a row at home. I wouldn't talk to my parents. I thought I knew everything. I got into a lot of trouble. My life was a mess. That's what I was trying to protect you from. I just didn't want you to go through what I went through.

Cindy: Well, I'm going through it now Mom and I need you. I need you to listen to me and I need you to help me.

Mrs. Sullivan: I'll try.

Mrs. Sullivan and Cindy hug.

Mrs. Sullivan: Come on Cindy. Lets go home. We have a lot of talking to do and decisions to make. Thank you for everything.

Elyse opens the door for Cindy and her Mom and they leave. Elyse closes the door.

Elyse: How do you think Cindy's going to do?

Mallory: I don't know. At least she won't be spending anymore nights playing pin ball.

Mallory: Mom.

Elyse: Yeah?

Mallory: I'm really sorry about the way I blew up at you last night.

Elyse: That's ok, you were upset and you had to let it out at someone and I think I was just in the direct line of fire.

Mallory: That's what Mom's are for right?

Elyse: Only sometimes. Look, this whole thing with Cindy has been so painful and difficult. I so don't want what happened to Cindy and her Mother to happen to us. So, I want you to know that you can always come to me and I'll try to be flexible and understand your point of view.

Mallory: Can I have my own apartment?

Elyse: Not on your life.

Scene 7:

Kitchen: Mallory and Jennifer are present. They are looking at the book Our Bodies Ourselves.

Mallory: Well, you get taller and your hips get bigger and you suddenly become much more interested in boys.

Jennifer: So, that's all there is to puberty huh?

Mallory: Well, I condensed the chapter a bit for you, but that's basically the way it goes.

Alex enters the kitchen through the swinging door.

Alex: Don't you two have anything better to do than read that stuff.

Mallory: You know Alex, I think you could learn a lot from this book.

Alex: Ha!

Jennifer: Mallory, will you show me some of your halter tops. I don't want to be caught unprepared.

Jennifer and Mallory get up from the table and exit the kitchen through the swinging door. Alex flips through the book and reads a page.

Alex: So that's how that works.

The End.

Transcript