From “Fruit of her womb” by pamela enz
A companion piece to Matthey Aquilone's article: "Get Real - Towards a Compassionate Medical Marijuana Policy"
A scene from a screenplay. Easter Dinner , Matthew is bringing Patsy his new girlfriend and her 8 year old daughter to meet his family for the first time. His brother Vincent is wailting for test results to see if along with AIDS he has developed a brain tumor Another brother.Michael is sadly absent as he recently died of AiDS .IN any case ,a semi-comic slice of a family who bravely, calmly,with a grave compassion decide to break the law.
ext street corner brooklyn day
A car service has just dropped off Patsy, Annie and Matthew at the corner of the Aquilone house.
patsy
(to Annie)
Okay, you got it? Don't say we didn't take the subway --
annie
But if they ask?
matthew
(laughs)
Tell.
annie
(to Patsy)
And what should I call them?
Patsy
(to Matthew)
What should she call them?
annie
Like, Mr. Aquilone?
patsy
Or Ed?
matthew
Mr. Ed. Call him Mr. Ed.
annie
That's a horse.
Annie runs eagerly up the steps.
matthew
Wait 'til they see her. My mother asked me last night, "What does the little girl eat?"
int dining room later
Around a table covered with food and several bottles of wine the Aquilones, Annie and Patsy bow their heads.
carmen
And we ask a special blessing as we remember those who are no longer with us. Amen.
the others
Amen.
Carmen pours herself some wine. Patsy does likewise from the pitcher that sits in front of her.
eddie jr.
So, Peter how's Christine?
peter
(ever eager)
Fine. Just fine.
Vinnie is having trouble keeping his head up. Annie is watching him and trying vainly to get his attention from her seat next to him.
vincent
(his interest increasing his clarity)
Still waiting to be married?
peter
Yes, we've committed to wait and be married.
carmen
In church.
Vinne CHUCKLES.
annie
(to Vincent)
Waiting for what?
peter
Hey, so …we're religious.
carmen
Leave him alone. Leave him alone.
annie
(insistent)
For what?
vincent
'Til after they get married.
carmen
The honeymoon, sweetie, the honeymoon.
ed sr.
Ham, Annie?
annie
No thank you.
carmen
(almost alarmed)
No ham?
patsy
She's a vegetarian. One day when she was , oh maybe three, she asked me --
annie
(attempting to silence Patsy)
I eat poultry.
carmen
Poultry but not pig.
patsy
(continuing anyway)
"If meat were chopped up baby animals and --
Annie GROANS.
peter
(helping Annie)
So, how's basketball?
annie
I stink.
patsy
That's not true. It's just that every time she tries to shoot, one of those crazy midget boys --
peter
Boys?
matthew
Co-ed basketball.
Ed sr.
Co-ed, that's interesting.
patsy
So, she really only has to practice her free throws.
vincent
There you go, Peter, free throws.
eddie jr.
Practice, Peter. Practice.
annie
And today Mom was on TV --
ed sr.
TV?
patsy
Right, Mayor Giuliani was there.
matthew
Photo op.
patsy
At the event he defunded.
eddie jr.
Is defunded a word?
annie
She sticks her face in front of the camera and calls the guy an obscenity --
patsy
(laughs)
And everyone applauded.
carmen
(pouring herself more wine)
My, you've had an exciting Easter already.
(to Annie)
You're a real trouper, aren't you.
patsy
A trouper and a helper. Like I'd say where is my pen and sure enough --
peter
She'd know.
patsy
(proudly)
In the salt. And you know it was.
carmen
(dryly)
Remarkable.
patsy
I'd found it right in the box of salt. The big box.
ed sr.
(eagerly)
Vincent was always hiding in boxes.
carmen
And he was harder to find then a pen in a box of salt.
(drinks)
I'll say.
Pasty
(proudly unaware this might not be impressive)
One day I'm leaving for an important meeting and she runs up to me with a bunch of papers --
(drinks)
The right ones, even.
vincent
(to Annie)
Good girl.
Patsy
(continuing oblivious)
And the time she's walking downstairs stuffed into her snowsuit and she asks
(laughs)
"Mom, don't you think you oughta put on my shoes?"
Everyone is silent staring at Patsy, trying to figure out if she has a point.
annie
(about Patsy)
Isn't she cute?
carmen
Well that sounds less serious than shouting obscenities to the Mayor.
patsy
(roars)
I didn't curse at the Mayor. I said his policies towards mothers and children were obscene.
carmen
(chuckles)
Oh, 'cuse me.
(downs more wine)
Remember, Ed when we had to buy marijuana from the Rabbi?
ed sr.
(chuckles)
Rabbi no less.
annie
(stunned)
You could go to jail.
carmen
Your mother could go to jail shouting obscenities.
patsy
I didn't shout --
peter
(fervent interrupt)
My mother's a saint. They don't put saints in jail.
vincent
Right. They sequestered Mahatma Ghandi at the Plaza.
peter
American saint. American saints don't go to prison.
flashback brooklyn 1992
ext aquilone back porch morning
Michael ≈ 28 sits in a wheelchair. He is very frail, just showered and obviously well cared-for.
cut to
the back door
Carmen exits. She surveys the narrow backyard and Michael for a moment, the trees and her cat, Evelyn, who obviously pregnant rolls around in a patch of sunlight.
carmen
(to Michael)
So, is there anything you need? Before I go?
michael
Some grass.
carmen
Grass. Uh huh.
cut to
doorway
Ed Sr. watching his wife and son.
carmen
The rabbi is a very…nice man, isn't he?
Ed exits.
ed sr.
I'll go, Carmen. I'll get the marijuana.
michael
Take Matthew.
carmen
Are you sure?
ed sr.
No problem. Can you imagine the headline "Former Nun Takes Up the Habit"?
carmen
From a rabbi, no less.
ed sr.
I'll be back soon.
michael
Matthew knows the way.
end flashback
back to easter dinner
Patsy
(to Annie)
So, that is the story --
matthew
Condensed --
patsy
Of Ghandi. Mahatma Ghandi.
peter
I still say, if he were American he wouldn't have done time.
carmen
Contrary Peter. Plain contrary.
vincent
Sainthood aside. Mom would've gotten a suspended sentence. First offense --
matthew
With no attempt at resale.
Carmen
(smiling at Ed Sr. and raising her glass)
Your father was the one who went and got it, right Ed?
ed sr.
Yes, Carmen. I scored. I was the felon.
fade to black
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