Written by: Winnie Holzman and Maggie Friedman
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Page 5 - Sibling Help Page 7 - The Kiss
Grace raps on Mr. Dimitri�s sliding glass door. �Mr. Dimitri? Could you please let me in?� She knocks some more. �Mr. Dimitri, it�s important. I won�t stay long, I just�" Dimitri�s reflection approaches the door and hesitates. �Could you please just open the door?� Her eyes stay on him as he slides open the door. �I re-wrote the end of the story,� Grace says, then sweeps past him into his house. Dimitri peers out the door and then turns inside, uncertainty on his face.
Dimitri sits reading Grace�s story while she fingers her glass of water, smiling nervously and anticipating his response. He rubs his forehead and breathes out disbelievingly.
�This isn�t an ending.�
�What? Yes it is.�
�What, it was all a dream? That�s your ending?� Dimitri challenges.
�Yeah, because, well, it makes you question, you know, reality,� explains Grace.
�Well, at least be specific.� He collects the papers together on the desk. His voice gets more emphatic as his sentences progress. �Suddenly realizing that the most memorable moment of your life was, was only an illusion, that you made it all up, what does that feel like, specifically?� He gets up. �But this is just, it�s like you�re backing away, disowning it; it�s as though you just wrote anything to be rid of it; like, like none of it mattered. Just finishing something is not an ending.� He raps the paper repeatedly, then walks to the kitchen sink.
�Okay.� Grace shoves her papers into her backpack.
�Read your Chekhov, read those short stories I gave you. You�ll see what I�m talking about.� He turns around. �Are you hungry? You want something to eat�"
Grace lashes out, �Oh, you know, if you�re angry at me just say it. Don�t take it out on my story!� She turns away and goes to the fridge, opening it. �At least I�m trying. I don�t see you sending your poetry out to any magazines.�
�I don�t write poetry anymore,� Dimitri says, looking down.
�My point exactly,� Grace says, giving him a pointed look.
Dimitri thinks about this and steps toward the center counter. �There�s some of that cheese you like, if you want it.�
�I probably shouldn�t even be opening your refrigerator since it�s obviously this punishable crime!� Grace complains defensively, backing away from the fridge.
�Just take the cheese.� Dimitri realizes how ridiculous this sounds and laughs. Grace smiles awkwardly. Dimitri admits, �I am somewhat angry at you. I�m even angrier at myself. That doesn�t change the fact that, that your ending doesn�t work.� He stops briefly in front of Grace, then moves to the fridge.
Grace asks softly, �Are they going to take away your license?�
Now at the counter, his back turned, Dimitri waves his hand as if to say �Who knows?� He pulls out a cutting board and starts slicing a piece of cheese.
�Maybe if you talked to Alexa and just explained to her what she saw.�
�I can�t talk to Alexa. This has gone way past Alexa.�
�But we have to tell people!�
�Tell them what?�
�You know, the truth!�
Dimitri turns around and says, �Uh huh. And what�s that?�
Grace looks at Dimitri, saying something without words. Dimitri smiles faintly and offers her the cheese. She grabs the cheese from his hand. �I hate them. I do! I mean, what gives them the right?�
�Well, state laws. For one thing.�
�No, I�m serious! I hate it. I mean, that they, they think they can just control our lives like that!� She clenches her fists. �It�s just so unfair!�