CAROUSEL

EXT. PARK -- DAY.

KAREN, a girl of six, is with her MOTHER about to enter the park. They have only just met after a year's separation and are spending the day together with the intention of going to look at the ice skating rink. The mother stops and crouches down in front of Karen to readjust her collar or something. Karen bears it cheerfully. The mother is determined to get that collar just right, so it takes a second. 

MOTHER
Okay, there! No, oh darn. Let's try that again. (Pause)
Well -- you've grown a bit. There. I think --

The mother gets up. They continue walking, the mother turning to Karen from time to time to address her. Karen seems happy, yet at a loss for the right word at times.

MOTHER
Oh. So second grade isn't too hard, then? 

KAREN
Um. No. We had review. Some kids ... 
 
MOTHER
(Waits for Karen to finish, but she doesn't)Daddy told me about the new geology thing. That sounds interesting.
(Pause)
Is that about geography? 

KAREN
The Earth Is Our Home! 

MOTHER
Oh. Is that the name of the class?  

KAREN
It's ... that's the name of the section. We have different sections, and modules, and activities. You have to read the Preparation for each one. Otherwise you won't understand it. 

MOTHER
And then there are some activities?

KAREN
(After some consideration)Yes. But -- 
(Apparently concerned)

MOTHER
Is Annie in your class still?

KAREN
No, she moved away -- 

MOTHER
Moved? When was that? In the summer?

KAREN
No, she moved before you did. But in our book, you're not supposed to read the activities before you've read all the Preparation. Because then you won't be able to answer all the questions. You're not supposed to go ahead. 

MOTHER
Oh, yes. Well, I can see that. So Jacqueline is still in your class?

KAREN
Yes. 

MOTHER
And you two are best friends?

KAREN
Yes.

MOTHER
And how do you find Mrs. Jennings? Is she easy to get along with?

KAREN
Yes.

MOTHER
Is she as nice as Ms. Carmichael? Or about the same?

KAREN
... about the same. Mom: Jacqueline missed a whole week of school. Because she had bronchitis. 

MOTHER
She did? That's pretty serious.

KAREN
She's a sickly wretch. 

MOTHER
"Sickly wretch"? H'm.
(Suspecting this to be one of the Dad's expressions)

KAREN
I talked to her on the phone though, and she seems okay. But she threw up.

They arrive at skating rink. Karen is interested, her mother looks at her from time to time, trying to think of more things to say. They watch the skating for a bit. 

MOTHER
Karen, do you remember, I said we should get you some real skates?

Karen nods, genuinely pleased and excited.

MOTHER
(Measuring Karen by eye)
Now that you're bigger. That would be fun.

Karen is quite happy about the idea.

MOTHER
It's not that hard to learn, once you get the hang of it. We could do that this afternoon!

KAREN
Okay!

The woman, pleased at having done well, looks around. She sees some balloons in the near distance. 

MOTHER
(Half to herself, as she watches the balloons)
You did okay on those little kids' skates we had, I seem to recall, so ...

She watches the balloons and the kids a little ways away for a bit, reflecting on The Red Balloon.

MOTHER
That was the silliest movie. 

She turns to Karen but Karen isn't there. At that moment, before she can react, TIM, a co-worker,  accosts her, unseen at first.

TIM
(Off)
You've been trying to get hold of me all week, I know, mea culpa, sowwy, but here you are, en personne! 

MOTHER
(To Tim, but glancing around looking for. She cannot believe that Karen is not right there.)
Oh! Tim. Yes. We've got all the data. We just need the -- user notes from August to December. 

TIM
Yeah, isn't that in the general report? In the appendix? There were like six appendixes. 

MOTHER
Yeah, but they took them out. So the new version doesn't have that, and that's why they want everything that was in Appendix III. 

TIM
So it won't be new.

MOTHER
No.

TIM
It'll just be old stuff. Ahh, gotcha. That was weird, I couldn't figure out -- "What?" You know, "Whaaaaaaaat?!" 

MOTHER
Yeah, I know -- 

TIM
"They lost it? Waaaaaaah!"

MOTHER
(Looking around for Karen)
Heh, I'm sorry -- 

TIM
"Whyyyyyyyy?!" No no, it was my fault for not figuring that out. So I can just send that over. 

MOTHER
That'd be great. 

TIM
I love it when the huge thing that I thought I had to do is actually nothing to do. But I'll make it sound like something. I plan on -- 

MOTHER
-- I -- have to get back, there's -- 

TIM
Don't let me keep you. I'll send the user notes over. Also, since you're here, I've -- 

MOTHER
(Leaving)
I know, we're having a meeting about all this, so -- we probably need to compare notes anyway -- let's meet then!

TIM
(Louder)
Oh! I guess we'll need to meet before the meeting, then? 

MOTHER
(At some distance)
Yes! The meeting about the meeting! 

TIM
Okay! Or the one before that!

Tim watches her for a bit and then turns to leave, deeply amused by his own gag.

The mother looks at the children as she moves around briskly. Karen is not among them. Strangely, she looks everywhere EXCEPT where the kids are getting the balloons, near the carousel, the same ones she was looking at earlier, even though that's nearby, right over her shoulder. She becomes more and more desperate, unbelieving that the child could not be there. It's almost a cruel, insane joke. With her back to the balloons she surveys the park, looking ever further away, even to the horizon, shading her eyes. She looks at grownups, dogs, every movement. She realizes she is going to have to call out her name, loudly, and give in to this out-of-control horror. She opens her mouth as if about to retch. 

KAREN
Mom?

Karen is two feet away, looking at the balloons, apparently right among the children who were there - but we didn't see her there earlier.

The mother's head whips around, and she looks at Karen. She is suddenly weary, and beaten.

KAREN
Mom? Can I go on that carousel? 

MOTHER
(Having aged 100 years)
No.

FADE OUT.