Faith No More – Last Cup Of Sorrow

_____________________________________



It’s late in the day and the Peabody Private Jet has landed. 
Everyone leaves one at a time into a future that’s uncertain to them
now more than ever.  Immediately, Helena is on her cellphone as
everyone unboards.



Somewhere in a quiet room, there is solace between two ladies who have
gone without one another for way too longer.  With her arm draped
over Marilyn, Peggy feels a sense of peace and calm.  However,
that peace is interrupted by the sound of a ringing cellphone.



Peggy: Shit.  If that’s Hele…..ehhh, dear.



Peggy answers the phone.



Peggy: If I hear begging or the words “Please, Mummy don’t do this to me,” I’m going to seroiusly disown you.



Helena: I just have a question to ask of you.



Peggy: Well, make it good Helena.  Right now, I’m having a very
tranquil moment and you know how I hate when my tranquility is impeded
upon.



Helena: Well…it’s about the studio.



Peggy: The blonde one with the child….Tina, I believe?



Helena: Yes?



Peggy: She works there, if I’m not mistaken correct?



Helena: Yes, Mummy she does and…I understand if I’m not needed there
anymore, but what about her?  What about everyone else?



Peggy: Helena, I’m not heartless enough to close down an entire studio
just to teach you a lesson.  However, I will need you to do
something else with your time.  For the time being, I am assuming
control of that circus of yours.  In fact, it may do you good to
actually find employment of some sort that keeps you busy and in need
of answering to someone other than yourself.



Helena: That….could be a little hard, couldn’t it?



Peggy: And the point is?



Helena: Forgive me, Mummy but this is new territory for me.



Peggy: You’ll be alright.  Just remember, every penny you have is
more important than it used to be.  So find a job, no matter how
menial it is.



Helena: Okay.  But Tina still has her job, right?



Peggy: Of course she does!  Jesus, Helena I’m not cutting her
off….just you.  Now if you could, please be a good girl and make
me proud.  I have a very beautiful lady in need of my
attention.  This may be the best thing to come out of that
atrocious disaster of a wedding.



Helena: Well, at least someone I know’s happy.



Peggy: Do I detect a note of sarcasm, dear?



Helena: No…that’s my fear.



Peggy: Oh, Helena don’t be so melodramatic.  You really do need to
stay out of that studio.  You’ll be just fine, I assure you. 
You’re a Peabody.  Good night, Helena.



Peggy’s smile is detectable even over the phone.  Peggy hangs up
and goes back to snuggling with Marilyn.  For Peggy Peabody, life
is good.



Back in Los Angeles, Helena puts away her cellphone and walks with the
rest of the tired group.  Alice, Lara, Max and Jenny are in front
walking.  Henry, Tina, Kit and Angus are right behind. 
Helena had been trailing behind to talk to her Mother, but is now
caught up with the tail end of the group.



Helena: Well, Tina.  There is good news.



Tina: What’s that?



Helena: Mummy’s keeping the studio open.



Tina: Great!  So you still get to-



Helena: No.  But you do.



Tina: …Wow.



Kit: So whatcha gonna do now, Helena?



Helena: I don’t know.  Look through want ads, I suppose.



Kit: Damn, that bad?



Helena: Mm hm.



Kit: Well…..with Billie no longer around, I might could use another manager at the Planet.



Helena: Can’t.  Has to be as menial as possible.



Kit: You know how to cook?



Helena: Yes.



Tina: She’s a great cook.



Helena: Thank you.



Kit: You know how to wait tables?



Helena: Ummmm….no…I’ve been so used to being waited on….so I’ve seen it done a lot.



Helena gives an awkward smile that screams “worried.”



Kit: Jenny!  Lara!



Lara and Jenny both turnaround while still walking and look at Kit.



Jenny: Yeah?



Kit: I’m gonna need your help.



Lara: Sure, what’s up?



Kit: Helena knows how to cook…but Lara, you’re the best chef I know, so can work with her?



Lara: I’d be glad to.



Alice smiles in approval.



Kit: And Jenny…any chance you can train Helena on how to wait tables?  I may need her to do that.



Jenny: I get to train someone?



Kit: You don’t think you can?



Jenny: I can do it.  It’ll be fun.



Kit: Good…congrats, Helena you got a job.



Helena: Wow.  Thanks!



Kit: And since it’s supposed to be menial I’m startin’ ya off at the
mininum, part time.  Don’t want Mrs. Peabody comin’ down and
raisin’ Hell.



Kit winks.  Helena laughs for a bit.



Helena: Understandable. I won’t let you down.



Kit: I know.  ‘Cause then I’ll raise Hell.



Angus: Which is actually kinda cute.



Kit: Alright, you.



Alice: Man, it’s good to be home, isn’t it?



Max: Yeah.



Tina: I need to call Bette, see where she’s at.



Notable by his silence is Henry, who’s been in deep thought since the
end of his conversation with Tina, Kit and Angus during the plane
ride.  Tina makes the call.



On the side of a road, the vehicle is parked.  Bette Porter may be
tired, but a mother’s work is truly never done as the smell of
Angelica’s diaper clearly indicates.  She’s just finished changing
the diaper and due to parking by a dumpster, deposits the soiled diaper
into it.  Her cellphone vibrates and she answers it immediately as
the occassional vehicle passes by.



Bette: Tee?



Tina: Just letting you know we’ve touched down.  Where are you?



Bette: Well, for the moment assuming I don’t pull over at a motel and rest I should be there in less than a day.



Tina: Look…if you need to, stop somewhere and rest, alright?  If you drive while too tired, you’ll endanger our child.



Henry looks back upon hearing the words, “our child.”  He says
nothing, but closes his eyes and in his mind begins to acknowledge a
defeated feeling that comes with losing a relationship.  Now isn’t
the time to speak however, as even he realizes that he botched things
by rushing Tina too quickly.  Tina happens to see Henry look back,
but doesn’t have time to register the emotion.  Angelica comes
first.



Bette: Don’t worry.  If I pull over, I’ll call you and let you know…..I’m really….really…sorry, Tee.



Tina: ……We’ll talk about it when you get home.  Right now, just focus on driving.  Okay?



Bette: …Okay…



Tina: Okay.  Bye…



Bette and Tina hang up their cellphones.  Bette kisses Angelica on the forehead.



Bette: You know, Angelica baby…if Mama Bee and Mama Tee survive this,
we might actually get the happy ending I was talking about.  You
wanna see a happy ending?



Angelica reaches out and touches Bette’s nose.



Bette: I’ll take that as a yes.



Bette kisses Angelica once more and proceeds to get inside the vehicle
and go back to driving.  She’s determined to get home.



Back at the airport, everyone’s back at their respective
vehicles.  Thankfully no one’s parked too far from one
another.  Lara, Alice, Max and Jenny are with Helena.  Angus
and Kit are with Tina and Henry.



Kit: Hey, Tina.  Anything I can do for ya?



Tina: …I think I’ll be alright.  I’m just gonna go home and wait.



Kit: Well if you could, call me when she gets there.



Tina: I may be too busy yelling at her.



Kit: I know…after that, then.



Tina shakes her head and gives a feint laugh.



Tina: Okay.



Kit and Tina hug each other.  Angus then gives Tina a hug.  Kit and Angus get in their vehicle and pull away.



Tina: So, is this the silent treatment or what?



Henry: Um….I think I’m gonna catch a cab.



Tina: Why?



Henry: Well, you drove this time and….I think I just need to let you
have some space and time to work things out with Bette.  So I’m
gonna catch a cab.  And you….



Henry clinches his teeth, because he’s feeling hurt as he talks.  He gently places his hands on Tina’s shoulders.



Henry: Whether or not you want to admit it, you still love her.



Tina: Really…?  And how…?



Henry: If anyone else did what Bette did, the law would have been
called in.  You didn’t do that.  You still trust her a lot
for someone you’re supposedly no longer with.



Tina looks in Henry’s eyes and sees the hurt.



Tina: I’m sorry, Henry.  I didn’t want any of this to happen, y’know?



Henry: It’s okay.  I said some unnecessary things back there on
the ride back and I apologize.  Talk to her, Tina.  See if
you can make it work.  But….but if you can’t….I’m here.



It’s an embrace of goodbye.  They stay that way for close to half
a minute.  There’s so much sorrow between them over everything
that’s happened that they both feel it and acknowledge it.  Tina
wants to argue, but can’t.  She knows deep down he’s right, no
matter how much hurts him to say so.  They finally let go.



Henry: I guess I’ll be going now.  It was a pleasure….and
hopefully Bette’ll realize how lucky she is before it’s too late. 
Goodbye.



Tina waves slightly, unable to form words at the moment.  Henry
turns and walks away.  It’s obvious to him that his destiny in
life awaits elsewhere.  He doesn’t know where exactly, but it’s
certainly not with Tina.  Tina gets inside of her vehicle, takes a
deep breath….and heads for home.



Elsewhere in the parking lot, Alice, Lara, Jenny, Max and Helena describe their plans, or lack thereof for the evening.



Alice: So, Helena.  You following me and Lara?



Helena: Um….actually tonight I’m just going to back to my home and
spend the evening there for one last time.  Tomorrow, I’ll pack my
belongings, inform all of the helpers as to what’s going on and then
put the house up for sale.



Jenny: Oh my God…where are you gonna stay?



Alice: She’s gonna stay at my apartment with me and Lara.



Max: …Wait.  Lara stays with you, too?



Jenny: Isn’t that gonna be a bit much, though?  I mean, 3 people in an apartment?  Do you have enough beds?



Alice: We’re uhhhh….still figuring that part out.



Max: You know….I could always crash on the couch or the floor or something…Jenny?



Jenny looks at Max in bewilderment at first, but then understands.



Jenny: Yeah…no offense, Alice but the house I’m in is a little bigger
and we have the studio room outside.  If you want, Helena we can
try to help you out.



Helena: Ummm…I don’t really know what I want to do right now, other than scream.



Lara: You need any of us to stay over tonight?



Helena: No.  I just need to be alone tonight.  As for tomorrow though, I’ll call you all.



Max: Seriously, we got more room, but hey man it’s cool either way.



Jenny: Yeah.  What Max said.



Helena: Alright, fine.  Alice?



Alice: Hey, they’re right!  You’ll definetly have more room.  But like Max said, either way.



Helena: I’m glad to know people like you, I really am.  Jenny, when’s a good time to call?



Jenny: Just try to drop by sometime at the Planet while I’m workin’.  I’m sure Kit’ll want you to show up, anyway.



Helena: True.  Okay then.  I bid you all a good evening.



Everyone says ‘bye to Helena as she departs in her vehicle.



Alice: Jenny, I really appreciate you and Max offering to help her out.



Max: No problem.



Jenny: You sure Shane wouldn’t mind one of us calling her to see if she’s okay?



Alice: I dunno….she just…well…speak of the devil.



Alice’s phone rings and she sees Shane’s number appear.  Alice answers.



Alice: Hey!  Where are ya?



Shane: Closer to home.  Should be there tomorrow.  Right now
they’re loading and unloading and changing drivers and all that. 
….How’s Carmen?



Alice: I have no idea.  She flew back home with her family.



Shane: …I’m so fuckin’ terrible doin’ what I did, Al.



Alice: Well…..just….get home as soon as you can.  We still
love you, Shane.  You ain’t perfect, but neither are the rest of
us.



Shane: Heh…not really sure how to take that.



Alice: Just get your ass home.



Shane: I will.  Like I told you before, Al I’m really sorry about all this.



Alice: I’m still here for you.  Jenny’s still here for you.  Max, Tina, we’re all here for you.



Lara: Hey…



Lara gives a slight nudge to Alice, which almost makes Alice burst into laughter for a second.



Alice: And Lara!  She’s here for you, too.



Lara: Much better.



Alice nudges her back playfully.  Max looks at Jenny and Jenny
spends the moment trying to register what’s going on with Alice and
Lara.



Shane: Well, I appreciate it.  Look, I’ll uh….talk to ya
again.  Like I said I should be there tomorrow, so tell Jenny not
to worry about me too much.



Alice: Will do.



Shane: See ya.



Alice: See ya.



Each hang up their cellphones.



Alice: Jenny…Shane doesn’t want you worrying about her too much.



Jenny: It’s a little late for that.



Jenny smirks.  She and Max get in their vehicle and pull away.  Alice and Lara do the same in theirs.



For Alice and Lara, there’s an awkward silence.  A few miles later
on in the drive to Alice’s apartment, the silence is finally broken.



Alice: When we get home?



Lara: Yeah…



Alice: Okay…



Lara reaches for Alice’s right hand with her left.  The hands
clutch each other as Alice thanks her ability to drive
one-handed.  Lara’s eyes are closed.  Maybe in a moment of
prayer.  Maybe in a moment of finality.  Maybe in a moment of
calm before the storm.  Definetly a moment of sorrow.  For
Alice and Lara, the great unknown awaits at Alice’s apartment.



That night, everyone’s arrived at their destinations for the evening,
with the exception of Bette and Shane.  Carmen’s home and is
emotionally sick to the point where her body refuses to digest. 
Her family is there for her, if no one else at the moment.



Kit and Angus are back at Angus’s.  Angus holds Kit in his arms as
Kit can’t help but look down at her belly and ponder what to do about
the possibility of being pregnant.



Henry rides in a cab, thankful to still have his son, Mikey.  How
he’s going to break the news to him that his second chance at a
complete family’s come up short is something he mulls over in his
head.  It’s never easy, but it has to be done.  Again. 
He can’t help but wonder if he has no one to blame, but himself.



Bette’s driving onward, fending off sleep at all costs. The sooner she’s home, the better.



Shane relaxes at the back of the travel bus.  It’s the only thing she can do to get her mind off of life for a while.



Tina’s home and she can’t sleep.  She sits on her couch and buries
her face in her hands, wondering how her life got to this point.



Jenny and Max are home and little is said.  Max begins a
preemptive stirke against the couch in the living room, prepared to get
used to being there every night as soon as possible.  Jenny
meanwhile is in her bedroom and begins to type away on her
laptop.  Suddenly, she stops…erases everything on the monitor
and shuts down.  Jenny’s done enough thinking for one day and now
it’s time to just lay down and wait for Shane to come home.



Helena’s outside of her beach house.  She sits alone in the sand
and stares out at the night sky.  The Southern California wind is
as soothing as it can be, but it’s still of little comfort to
her.  She ponders all that’s gone down and her own
perdicament.  She wraps her arms around the back of her thighs
while seated and buries her face against her knees, finally letting go
the emotions and tears she’s been harboring inside of her.  Not
just for herself, but for everyone else.



Alice and Lara arrive at Alice’s apartment.  They sit on the couch
and face each other, their hands clutched and their bodies
shaking.  This is it.  They know it as they look into each
other’s eyes.  Now it’s just a matter of who goes first.