HELEN (pointing to a sign)
Oh look. There's Princess Leia. See it says "We're the Resistance." Poor Carrie.
INEZ
Em and Nate have good signs. We should have made signs.
HELEN
I couldn't think of anything good. There are some real stupid ones.
INEZ
Yeah, I could live without the Fallopian tube diagrams.
HELEN
Oh, look. Women spelled with an "i"
INEZ
Doesn't it make you sort of nostalgic?
HELEN
Never my thing.
EMMA
I don't get it.
INEZ
Oh, in the 70s some feminists started using "i" or "y" because women ends with "men."
HELEN
Remember the big thing with the Venus symbol for female? At first they added an extra line to turn it into an "equal" sign and they decided that "equal" was retrogressive and tons of buttons and tee-shirts got thrown out.
INEZ (pointing to a sign that says "Worst Episode of Black Mirror Ever!)
Those were the days. Oh, look. I like that one!
HELEN (pointing to a man in a Putin mask operating a Trump marionette)
Check out that guy!
A RAGTAG BAND WITH A TUBA, DRUMS AND SAXOPHONES WENDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD PLAYING "WE SHALL OVERCOME." MARCHERS SING ALONG.
EMMA
Nezy, tell my mom not to sing.
INEZ
Helen, don't sing.
HELEN
Fuck you both.
NATE (TO EMMA)
Your mom's such a classy broad...
EMMA
I thought they'd get some old hippie protest spirit going but all they're doing is critiquing the signs.
INEZ
You children want some old hippie protest spirit? (She starts to sing) "And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for?"
OLDER MARCHERS AND EVEN HELEN JOIN IN SINGING
CROWD
"Don't ask me, I don't give a damn. Next stop is Vietnam. And it's five, six, seven open up the pearly gates. There ain't no time to wonder why, yipee, we're all gonna die..."
CUT TO
EMMA, NATE, HELEN AND INEZ SIT AT A TABLE AT A CHINESE RESTAURANT, FILLED WITH OTHER MARCHERS. SIX WOMEN WOMEN OF DIFFERENT AGES AND A YOUNG MAN WEARING A BOWLER SIT AT THE NEXT TABLE.
YOUNG MAN (LEANING BACK IN HIS CHAIR)
At least Obama pardoned Chelsea Manning. He should have pardoned Snowden too. Trump will probably start arresting journalists. You know, he's the first president since Truman who was never in government. He's also the first president who was ever divorced.
THE WOMEN AT THE TABLE EAT THEIR CHINESE FOOD, OCCASIONALLY NODDING AS THE YOUNG MAN GOES ON.
You know, Trump just came out against abortion to please the Republicans. He was never against it before. He was a Democrat forever but he said once that if he were going to run for office he'd run as a Republican 'cause there the only ones stupid enough to vote for him...
THE GROUP SETTLES THE BILL AND LEAVES THE RESTAURANT. EMMA LEANS BACK IN HER CHAIR AND SPREADS HER LEGS, IMITATING THE PONTIFICATOR.
EMMA
And Obama didn't pardon Chelsea. He commuted her sentence. And he couldn't pardon Eddie Snowden because he hasn't been sentenced to anything. And Harry Truman was actually a senator and Roosevelt's vice president. General Eisenhower was the one who'd never held office. And Reagan had been divorced. And that "stupid Republicans" sounds right but Snopes says it's total bullshit. But I'm a man and it's fine that I should lecture to a bunch of women after the march.
NATE
Wearing a stupid hat.
INEZ
I bet he had a stupid sign too.
HELEN
We should have made signs.
CUT TO
EMMA IS IN HER ROOM PACKING A SUITCASE. THE BED IS MADE UP WITH DISNEY POCAHONTAS SHEETS. HELEN COMES IN WITH A STACK OF FOLDED LAUNDRY.
EMMA
Shit, that's not all gonna fit.
HELEN
Yeah, it will. I'll roll everything up. Do you really want to take back the Pocahontas sheets though?
EMMA
I love 'em. I love that you saved them but my bed is actually a double so I guess I won't. I do want a couple of aprons if you can spare 'em.
HELEN
I dunno. I only have about five hundred aprons...
EMMA
Can I have the one with the doggie pockets?
HELEN
Yeah sure. Are you really going back to work at Irv's? You don't have to.
EMMA
Nah, I like it. There's sort of a zen to chopping vegetables and washing dishes. Gets me out of my head a little and for sure I can use the money.
HELEN
We'll help you. You should focus on your senior project.
EMMA
I think I can manage to keep working. If it gets too much I'll let you know.
HELEN
You know, this month is the longest you've been home since you started college. Thank God you've been here.
EMMA
Yeah, It's been amazing. I'm sad to leave.
HELEN BITES HER LIP
EMMA
We are not going to start crying. We are not going to start crying. I will see you in five months and then you'll be stuck with me indefinitely after graduation. I'll give you something to really cry about.
HELEN
Ok. I'll maintain. But it's such a fucked up time. You've been such a beautiful distraction. It's weird, you sweat so much to do right by your kids. Potty training. Finding the right schools. All that adolescent angst and drama. And whether by nature or nurture, you and Bananie have turned into these amazing people who I cherish being around. And you're always leaving.
EMMA
And coming back. I'm coming back soon. After the novelty wears off, you'll hate it. I promise. I'll borrow your clothes without asking and never clean out the lint filter on the dryer...if Cheeto doesn't get us blown off the face of the earth.
HELEN OPENS THE DRESSER DRAWER AND PULLS OUT EMMA'S PUSSYHAT.
HELEN
Don't forget this. I have something else for you. If you want it.
HELEN REACHES INTO HER POCKET, TAKES OUT A SMALL FELT BAG, REMOVES A BRACELET AND OFFERS IT TO EMMA.
EMMA (TAKING BRACELET)
If I want it? It's amazing. I've never seen it before.
HELEN
Yeah, I don't bother much with jewelry any more. It's Spratling silver. From Taxco. Back before you and Sis, when there was some disposable income. It is cool, isn't it? Try it on.
HELEN HELPS EMMA PUT ON THE BRACELET AND THEY BOTH ADMIRE IT.
HELEN
Wow Em. You've got all this little nick and burn scars. You're getting restaurant hands. You gotta be careful. Remember...
EMMA
I know. Beware of dull knives.
HELEN
Yeah, take care of your pretty little hands.
EMMA (holding out her hands)
I like 'em. They're starting to look like your hands.
CUT TO
HELEN AND FIDO ARE CURLED UP ON EMMA'S BED. HELEN IS CRYING AND FIDO IS LICKING HER FACE. IAN ENTERS.
IAN
Oh, there you are. What are you doing there?
HELEN
Oh, it's your dinner time. I'll heat up some soup.
IAN
Are you crying?
HELEN
Just a little. I'm OK.
IAN
Emma will be back before you know it. Maybe we'll even take a little road trip to Montreal after she graduates. And you gotta forget about this Trump stuff. I'm starting to worry about you.
HELEN
I'm OK. Really. It's sort of comforting in a weird way. Saying goodbye to someone you love is a natural sorrow. Sweet. It's familiar. This other thing, the odiousness of the most powerful person on the planet. It's "hate" sad. There's never been anything like this. It's like I'm in a straitjacket and watching the universe fall apart.
IAN
You wanna go out for dinner?
HELEN
Really?
IAN
Yeah. Wherever you want to go.
HELEN
Daikokuya?
IAN
The parking's a nightmare.
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