sixtynothing Episode 20 Say What?

FADE IN

INEZ SITS MOROSELY IN A CHAIR WITH A CAT ON HER LAP AND ONE ON EACH ARMREST AS HELEN ENTERS.  A CAT LEAPS OFF THE BACK OF THE CHAIR, KNOCKING OVER A GLASS AND RUNS TO HIDE UNDER COUCH.

HELEN

Fuck you Marge.  Cat needs some Prozac or weed or something.  I brought you some almond croissants I made.  Gotta get rid of 'em or I'll eat 'em all.   What's wrong with you? Trumpin'?

INEZ

Nah.  Bill Paxton died.

HELEN

Knew him?

INEZ

Nah.  But he was the same age as I am. Freaks me out when someone my age, or worse younger, kicks.

HELEN

We'll bury you in something sleeveless.  Show off your arms.

INEZ

The rest of me is falling apart.

HELEN

Your leg again?

INEZ

Nah.  My hearing's shot.

HELEN

I guess that goes with the territory if you play rock 'n roll for forty years.

INEZ

I have to get fitted for  hearing aids. Don't you dare tell anyone. Not even Ian.

HELEN

'kay.  But don't they make 'em real tiny so they don't show?

INEZ

They show a little.  So humiliating.  Roll a joint.

HELEN PICKS UP INEZ'S STASH BOX AND THUMBS THROUGH.

HELEN

Jack Herrer!  Yummy.

HELEN SITS AND ROLLS A JOINT

HELEN

Guess it's sort of refreshing to be depressed about mortality rather than Cheeto for once.

INEZ

My mortgage is paid.  I have enough to live on.  I sort of have a boyfriend.  Kid is fantastic.  It's like I've worked my butt off for this stuff my whole life and I'm either going to be too decrepit to enjoy it or I'm gonna croak.  Pisses me off.

HELEN LIGHTS THE JOINT AND PASSES IT TO HER.

HELEN

Do you have Johnny Oliver on the DVR?

INEZ

Yeah.

CUT

HELEN AND INEZ SLUMP ON THE COUCH WATCHING TV.  THE PLATE OF CROISSANTS IS EMPTY AND THEY BOTH HAVE POWDERED SUGAR ON THEIR FACES. NATE ENTERS.

NATE

Jeeze.  I can hear that TV from two blocks away.  Are you deaf?

HELEN RAISES AN EYEBROW AT INEZ, WHO GRIMACES.

NATE

Are you guys doing coke now?

INEZ

Powdered sugar.

NATE

It'd better be.  I'm gonna take the 12 string.

INEZ

You playing acoustic?

NATE

Maybe a few songs.  Are you coming Helen?

HELEN

You put me on the list, right?

INEZ

Jesus Helen, it's a benefit for the ACLU. You can spring for a ticket.

HELEN

I already contribute every month.  Plus it'll cost at least fifteen to park downtown.  I gotta go make Ian his dinner or he'll beat me. I'll see you tomorrow.

NATE HUGS HER AND EXITS.  HELEN FACES INEZ AND BEGINS MOVING HER LIPS AND GESTICULATING BUT MAKING NO SOUND.  INEZ LOOKS BEFUDDLED AND UPSET UNTIL IT DAWNS ON HER.  SHE GIVES HELEN THE FINGER.

CUT

FADE INTO

NATE ENTERS WITH GUITAR.

NATE

You ok?

INEZ

Yeah,  Fine.  I smoked a little with Helen....

NATE WAVES THE AIR AND GASPS FOR BREATH

NATE

No shit.  I gotta ask you something. A favor.

INEZ

Yeah?

NATE

I want you to pick up Dad tomorrow.

INEZ

You're kidding!

NATE 

Mom...

INEZ

Let him take an Uber or something.

NATE

Mom, he doesn't even have a smart phone....

CUT TO

INEZ STANDS IN FRONT OF A MIRROR EXAMINING HER HEARING AIDS.  SHE TRIES TO PULL HER HAIR OVER TO COVER HER EARS BUT IT DOESN'T STAY PUT.

CUT TO

INEZ DRIVES.  GIL IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

INEZ

God.  Ciro's is still there.  I haven't been there for years.  What about El Tepayac?

GIL

Yup.  Still have that burrito that feeds a dozen Mexicans...

INEZ

The Hollenbeck!

GIL

That's the one.  I bet the kid had to twist your arm to come for me. I appreciate it.  

INEZ

Yeah.  Well...he asked.

GIL

Yeah.  I'd wagered you didn't volunteer.  I'm 90 days sober, if that makes any difference.

INEZ

Too little.  Too late.

GIL

I figured. I dropped the ball.  Again and again.  I want you to know that I think Nate is a fantastic kid.  I know I can't take much credit for that.

INEZ

Au contraire...

GIL

Okay.  I deserve that.

INEZ

Are you making atonement?  Again?  Don't start in on that 10th step crap with me again Gil.

GIL

It's the 9th step and I know better. But look Inez, you're good. You have a nice house and Nate says you have a boyfriend.  You're still working. You're more beautiful than ever. The kid is going to be a fucking super star.  I live in a room with a bathroom down the hall. I don't even have a bass to pawn anymore. I'm a fuck up Inez. I don't need you to remind me.  The only good thing I ever did in my life is make that boy.  I know how pissed off you are.  Righteously pissed off.  But I love that boy and I'm proud of him.  That's all I have.  Can you just let keep that?

INEZ (after some silence)

I got hearing aids.  Can you see 'em?

GIL LOOKS AT HER EAR.

GIL

Yeah, but they're tiny.  I wouldn't have noticed unless you'd pointed it out.  Can you hear better?

INEZ

Yeah.  A lot.   I gotta warn you Gil.  Helen is gonna be there tonight.

GIL

Oh Christ.  I guess she'll have to go through a metal detector at least.

INEZ

Yeah, but you know Helen's most lethal weapon is that withering stare.

GIL

I'm already withered babe...

CUT TO HELEN, INEZ AND GIL ARE SITTING AT A TABLE IN THE VIP SECTION OF THE CLUB.  A WAITRESS APPROACHES

WAITRESS

Beverages?

HELEN LOOKS AT INEZ.

WAITRESS

Nate Rivera is running a tab for the table.

HELEN (perking up)

OK.  Campari soda with lots of fresh lime.

INEZ

Gin martini.  Dry.

GIL

Jack.  Neat.

HELEN AND INEZ LOOK AT EACH OTHER

GIL

Just kidding honey.  Bring me a coke.

CUT TO: NATE AND THE BAND ARE ROCKING AND THE AUDIENCE IS WILD.  HE FINISHES A SONG AND SWITCHES HIS ELECTRIC GUITAR FOR THE TWELVE STRING AND APPROACHES THE MICROPHONE

NATE

Thanks folks.  Thanks for coming out tonight to support the ACLU.  I got two folks here who taught me a lot about justice.  And forgiveness.  My mom, Inez Campbell and my dad, Gilberto Rivera.  If you make enough noise maybe they'll come up and join me for our last song, one of the first that they taught me to play.

THE CROWD ROARS.  

CUT TO INEZ AND GIL FLANKING NATE.

They sing together Bob Dylan's "I Shall be Released"

They say everything can be replaced,
Yet every distance is not near.
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here.
I see my light come shining
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day how,
I shall be released.

They say every man needs protection,
They say every man must fall.
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall.
I see my light come shining
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day how,
I shall be released.

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd,
Is a man who swears he's not to blame.
All day long I hear him shout so loud,
Crying out that he was framed.
I see my light come shining
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day how,
I shall be released.

FADE OUT