INT. JUVIE - CAFETERIA
Callie Jacob navigates the maze of cement tables, chin up but eyes down, trying to find a place to eat in the buzzing, grey-green cafeteria. When she spots a couple girls in a shouting match, she reconnoiters to avoid the conflict. She spies an empty table on the periphery and sits down quietly. Before she can finish even a bite of the slop they call a meal in this place, two tough girls descend, plopping down on either side of her.
GIRL 1: You getting out today? Huh? That’s what we heard.
GIRL 2: Aw, she don’t want no trouble. That it?
GIRL 1: Why you so quiet, bitch? You was all mouthy the other day when I cut in front of you in the showers. I lost my yard privileges ‘cause of you...
(Callie bites her tongue so hard it almost bleeds, then nods her head and grabs her tray. She stands up slowly, carefully. Girl #2 gets in her face. Callie tries to turn around, but Girl #1 is already there. She is trapped.)
GIRL 2: She asked you a question – you gettin’ out today?
(She shoves Callie, who rocks back but does not fall. The rage and fury behind Callie’s eyes is terrifying. But she still says nothing.)
GIRL 1: Huh? You too good to talk to me, pretty girl?
(She shoves her again. Callie’s tray falls to the floor with a
clatter.)
GIRL 1: We oughtta beat the crap outta you. Nah, you ain’t worth it. You ain’t worth anything.
CALLIE: You really need a dog treat for that breath, bitch...
(The girls keep fighting)
INT. HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Brandon Foster plays a baby grand piano and finishes his song. Toward the back of the house, Stef Foster, still wearing her Police Officer’s uniform, proudly bobs her head in time with her son. On the seat beside her, her iPhone lights up. It's Lena calling but she doesn’t notice. It finally stops its silent ring and the screen changes to read six missed calls.
INT./EXT. VOLVO STATION WAGON
Inside, Lena Foster sits in her car with her cell phone pressed to her ear.
STEF (V.O.): Hey, it’s Stef. I’m either working or avoiding your call, so leave a -
(Lena hangs up, takes a breath, then climbs out of the car.)
EXT. JUVIE - PARKING LOT
Lena approaches David Fressola who extends his hand.
DAVID: Hi, Lena? I’m David. Nice to meet you.
LENA: Where’s Bill? I just spoke with him.
DAVID: Um, yeah. One of his cases - well, a kid in one of his foster homes OD’d, so he had to rush to the hospital.
LENA: Oh my God.
DAVID: Yeah, it’s terrible. Anyway, I take it he told you about Callie...
(He consults a file in his hands.)
DAVID: It seems she’s been having a little trouble with male authority figures of late, which is why he thought of you, I guess...
LENA: I guess so. She got into a fight with her foster father?
(He checks the file again.)
DAVID: Um, yes. And she, um, damaged some of his property. Which is how she landed here in juvie.
LENA: Damaged his property? What does that mean?
(David doesn’t know.)
LENA: Oh, wow. Um, look, David. Bill and I have known each other a long time. He’s been a friend of the family ever since he placed the twins with us. And I know he wouldn’t have asked me to do this if he weren’t in a jam...
DAVID: Yeah, he had someone lined up but they fell through this afternoon...
LENA: But I can’t be bringing someone violent into my house. I’ve got my own kids to think about.
DAVID: This is the first time anything like this has ever happened with her.
LENA: Still...
DAVID: Bill would never have put you in this position if he thought she was actually dangerous. And if there were any other options.
LENA: I don’t know. I’m just not sure this is the right time for us.
DAVID: Please. We just need a few weeks to find a more permanent solution.
(Callie gets out to the juvie. Lena looks at her)
DAVID: Sometimes when kids are getting out, the other inmates get jealous and pick fights.
(He smiles at Lena, then trots over to meet Callie. As soon as
he approaches her)
DAVID: Hi, Callie. I’m David. I work with Bill at Child Protective Services...
CALLIE: Where’s Jude?
DAVID: Um, I’m... I don’t know.
CALLIE: I wanna talk to Jude.
DAVID: Callie, this is not the time.
(Callie starts to get upset.)
CALLIE: What the hell? I wanna talk to Jude! Where’s Bill? Why isn’t Bill here? Why can’t I just call him? I just got out of juvie! Jesus! What the hell is wrong with you people!
DAVID: Callie! Enough! Unless you want me to turn you around and march you right back in to Juvenile Hall, you need to calm down and be quiet!
LENA: Hi, Callie, I’m Lena. Nice to meet you.
DAVID: I mean, I guess I could take her to one of the group homes...
LENA: It’s just for a few weeks, right?
DAVID: Absolutely.
LENA: Okay.
DAVID: All right, Callie. I need you to behave, okay? No acting out, no mouthing off, no running away or you’ll be back in juvie before your head hits the pillow. Got it?
LENA: David...
(But David stands his ground with Callie.)
DAVID: Got it?
(Callie finally nods.)
DAVID: Okay, I’ll let you guys head on home. Thank you, Lena.
LENA: You ready, Callie?
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - KITCHEN
Callie sits in one corner of the kitchen, diametrically across from Mariana and Jesus who are carefully eyeing this new girl.
LENA: Mariana and Jesus were in the foster program, too. They came to us about eight years ago, and we formally adopted them, what...
JESUS: Five years ago.
MARIANA: The foster system sucks!
LENA: Mariana...
MARIANA: What? It does.
JESUS: What happened to your face? You get in a fight?
(Callie doesn't answer)
LENA: Callie’s had quite a day, so why don’t we cool it with the third degree.
CALLIE: Is there a... Where’s the bathroom?
LENA: Second door on the right.
Callie nods, disappears down the hall. Mariana turns to Lena.
MARIANA: So... where’d she come from?
LENA: Um, well... I, um, called Bill from Child Protective Services, remember him? To talk to him about something, and he was in a jam and needed a place for Callie to stay. She’s had a rough time lately, so I want you guys to be extra nice to her...
JESUS: Whaddaya mean, a rough time?
LENA: She got herself in some trouble, that’s all. Don’t worry about it.
MARIANA: Talk to Bill about what?
JESUS (to his sister): Guess...
LENA: I was gonna wait until everyone was home to tell you guys, but... I was calling to see if we could arrange a visit with your birth mom. I thought you’d be more excited. It’s kinda all you’ve been talking about for the last six months.
MARIANA: Yeah, I know. I just - I don’t think so.
LENA: Really? Did Jesus talk you out of it? Just because he doesn’t want to...
JESUS: Don’t look at me.
MARIANA: No. I just changed my mind, is all.
LENA: Are you nervous? Is that it? You know I’d be there with you, right? Did something change? I’m just not understanding, Mariana...
MARIANA: Look, I just... I decided I’m not ready, okay. Can we please talk about something else?
LENA: Okay. Well, let me know if you change your mind.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - POWDER ROOM
Callie sits on the closed toilet with her knees pulled up under her chin. She stares into space, the first quiet moment she’s had in ages. There is a soft knock on the door.
LENA: Callie? You okay in there?
(Callie takes a deep breath and opens the door.)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - KITCHEN
Lena leads Callie back into the kitchen.
LENA: Okay, guys, did everybody do their homework?
JESUS: Yeah.
(Lena doesn’t quite believe him, shoots a look to Mariana. Mariana shakes her head.)
JESUS: Man, why you gotta be like that? Just because you don’t ever gotta study and you get all A’s...
LENA: We all have our strengths, Jesus. You heard your sister, get to it.
(Jesus makes a big show of being annoyed, gets up to head upstairs, when Brandon wanders in, carrying his guitar. He slaps hands with Jesus, who uses the interruption to avoid going to do his homework.)
BRANDON: Hey.
LENA: How’d it go?
BRANDON: What?
LENA: The music thing.
(Brandon locks eyes with Callie. He’s never seen anyone quite like her beautiful, but broken.)
LENA: How’d it go? Brandon.
BRANDON: Oh good, good. I made the finals.
LENA: What? You did? That’s great!
MARIANA/JESUS: Oh my God./Nice.
BRANDON: It’s no big deal.
LENA: It’s a very big deal! When are they?
BRANDON: Tomorrow night.
LENA: Oh, I can’t wait.
(Brandon tries to deflect the attention, turns to Callie.)
BRANDON: So... who’s this?
LENA: Oh! This is Callie. She’ll be staying with us for a while.
BRANDON: Like staying with us? Really? Wow. Okay. Nice to meet you.
(Callie nods at him.)
CALLIE: What about him?
LENA: What?
CALLIE: What about him? How’d you get him? Amazon?
LENA: Oh, Brandon is my...
Stef comes in.
LENA: ...partner Stefanie’s biological son. Hi, honey.
JESUS: You okay? What? Nobody told you our mom’s a cop?
MARIANA: See? This is why no boys ever wanna come over.
STEF: As it should be. Hey, babe.
CALLIE: So you’re dykes?
JESUS: Um, they prefer the term “people,” but yeah, they’re gay.
CALLIE: And he’s the real son?
BRANDON: We’re all their real children.
STEF: And who’s this?
THE FOSTERS
EXT. FOSTER HOUSE - BACK PORCH
Lena and Stef step outside.
LENA: I tried to call you. Several times.
STEF: I was with Brandon at his audition. You knew that.
LENA: Look, I’m sorry but it was time sensitive. And I knew you wouldn’t want to leave the poor girl...
STEF: Oh, no. No, no. Don’t make this about me. We made a deal, a long time ago...
LENA: It’s just for a few weeks.
STEF: What happened to her face?
LENA: She got beat up in juvie.
STEF: Juvie?
LENA: I double-checked with Bill, she’s not violent, she’s not dangerous in any way. It was a one time thing.
STEF: You can’t save them all, Lena.
LENA: Don’t patronize me, please.
STEF: Who’s patronizing you? How about you don’t get all uppity with your fancy words.
LENA: Patronize is hardly a fancy word. And don’t call a person of color “uppity.” It’s tawdry.
STEF: “Person of color?”
LENA: Brown.
STEF: White.
LENA: White’s not a color.
STEF: Okay, fine. Sorry, Person of Color. I’d hate to be “tawdry” in my own home. It’s just a few weeks, right? (to herself) Tawdry... don’t be tawdry... stupid.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - KITCHEN
The other kids have gone to their rooms, leaving Callie alone with Lena and Stef. Stef explains the house rules.
STEF: … and you don’t leave the house without asking permission. Also, you’ll be going to school while you’re staying here...
CALLIE: Why do I have to go to school? It’s not like I live here...
STEF: Because you’re not staying around the house all day. Lena is the Vice-Principal, and all the kids go to Riley, so you’ll be fine. Everybody leaves at 7:15, so lights out by...
CALLIE: Where do I sleep?
STEF: Excuse me?
CALLIE: It’s not my first time in a foster home. Where do I sleep?
LENA: Let me show you...
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Lena finishes making up the couch for Callie to sleep on.
LENA: One pillow or two? Okay, I’ll leave them both. It’s just for tonight. Tomorrow I’ll move Jesus in with Brandon so you can have his room. There’s a bathroom just down the hall. You have a toothbrush?
CALLIE: I’m not disgusting. I have a
toothbrush.
LENA: Okay, Callie? We’re on your side. I know you’ve had a rough time lately but we’re the good guys. So you can take it down a notch.
CALLIE: I need toothpaste.
LENA: Let me get you some. And I’ll grab you a towel, so you can take a shower, if you want.
(And Lena makes her way down the hall, then looks back to see Callie standing there, clutching her canary yellow toothbrush like a shiv. Lena stops.)
LENA: You okay? You seemed pretty upset when you were talking to David earlier...
CALLIE: Um, it’s just - when they sent me to juvie -
Just then Stef comes in from the kitchen. Callie clams up.
STEF: Got enough blankets? Need anything?
(Callie doesn’t say anything.)
STEF: Okay. Good night.
LENA: You were saying?
CALLIE: You got that toothpaste?
(Lena decides not to press her. She smiles at her and disappears down the hall)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - MARIANA’S ROOM
Mariana and Jesus lounge on the bed, talking in Spanish never a good sign. Stef appears at the door.
MARIANA: (in Spanish) I don’t trust her, she’s weird.
STEF: Hey. You know the rules, no using Spanish to talk behind people’s backs.
(Mariana doesn’t respond.)
STEF: You guys know it’s not true, right? What Callie said. You two are every bit as much our kids as Brandon.
JESUS: We know.
LENA: Mariana?
(They look at Mariana, who puts on a smile and nods. But Jesus notices something in her expression something unsettling.)
STEF: Okay. Love you guys. Lights out in fifteen. Goodnight.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE – BATHROOM
Callie lets the steaming hot water of the shower run over her bruised body. She winces with the pain.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - BRANDON’S ROOM
Stef looks over Brandon’s shoulder as he does his trigonometry homework on his computer.
STEF: You need to step up while Callie’s in the house, okay? I’m counting on you.
(Brandon rolls his eyes, unsure what that means exactly.)
STEF: I’m serious, Brandon. Callie’s a lot older than the twins were when they got here.
BRANDON: So?
STEF: So... just between us, Callie was in juvie for a little bit. Okay?
BRANDON: She was in - what the hell is she doing in our house, then?
STEF: She’s fine, just - keep your eyes open. I’m counting on you to... I dunno...
BRANDON: Okay, I’ll be sure to “I dunno” as much as I can.
STEF: Are you sure you’re not Lena’s biological son?
BRANDON: Mom. I’ve got homework to do. MOBY DICK waits for no man.
(Stef shudders. Brandon looks at her.)
STEF: You said MOBY DICK. Gave me flashbacks of your father.
BRANDON: Uch, Mom!
STEF: Speaking of MOBY DICK, do you need condoms? You and Talya are using them, right?
BRANDON: Oh my God. I’m gonna kill you. Go!
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
The house is dark and quiet. Callie, her T-shirt and boxer shorts clinging to her damp body, towel dries her hair. After a moment, she tosses the towel on the floor starts padding around the room, looking at things, inspecting things – almost like she’s casing the place. She wanders over to the desk, looking for something specific. She spots the base for the cordless telephone, but the receiver’s not there. Damn.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM
The phone receiver lays on the nightstand beside Stef, who is already in bed, watching a rerun of “Friends”. Lena comes out of the bathroom, rubbing lotion into her hands.
LENA: Haven’t you seen that one about a hundred times?
(Stef gets the message - Lena wants to talk. She turns off the TV, as Lena sits on the edge of the bed beside her.)
LENA: I’m sorry. I know we agreed once we adopted the twins that we weren’t gonna foster again until Brandon was out of the house, but I just... Anyway, I get it. I won’t do it again.
STEF: Thank you. Please don’t. You keep bringing kids home and it’s gonna be like the Brady Bunch in here. (then, after a laugh) I know you only did it ‘cause you wouldn’t have been able to sleep knowing there was some poor girl out there with no place to stay...
LENA: There are lots of kids out there tonight, without a place to stay.
STEF: Wait! Come back from the dark place! Because of you and that big stupid heart of yours at least one of them is safe tonight. It’s fine. Everything is gonna be fine...
(She pulls Lena down onto her chest, and the two women lie there, still and quiet for the first time all day.)
LENA: Wanna hear something strange? I told the twins that we would arrange a meeting with their birth mom like we talked about - and now neither one wants to do it.
STEF: Really? Not even Mariana?
LENA: Nope. She said she wasn’t ready.
(A beat. Stef lets out a long, slow breath.)
STEF: Good.
(Lena closes her eyes, and drifts off to sleep. Stef goes back
to watching the TV show)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - KITCHEN
Mariana is in the kitchen, looking for something in a cabinet near the sink. She grabs a prescription bottle and empties about half a dozen blue and red pills into her hand. She puts the bottle back, closes the cabinet and turns to see Callie standing there. Mariana covertly slips the pills into the pocket of her sweatshirt.
MARIANA: I needed some water.
(Mariana brushes past Callie and heads upstairs - without a glass of water.)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE
Callie tiptoes through the house in the dark, peering in closets and lifting up everything that isn’t nailed down touching it, to see what it is. This place is foreign to her. She wanders down the hall and spies in to Jesus’ room, where he sleeps splayed across the bed, almost impossible to see under the clothes and surf magazines. Mariana’s door is shut tight.
Then Callie comes to Brandon’s room. The lights are still on and Callie watches through the crack in the door as the golden boy, shirtless in his pajama bottoms, sits at his keyboard, practicing intently, headphones on. He keeps messing up a chord progression, and is getting frustrated with himself but he doesn’t stop. He plays it again and again until he finally gets it right. There’s something almost erotic about the way Callie’s looking at him like she’s seeing some exotic animal in its natural habitat.
Then she spots his cellphone, charging on top of the dresser beside the door.
She holds her breath and reaches inside ever so carefully, keeping her eyes locked on Brandon. She tugs it free from the wall and silently pulls it out the door. Brandon hears something, and pulls off his headphones. He turns around but no one is there.
EXT. FOSTER HOUSE
Callie slips around the side of the house and dials a number from memory on Brandon’s phone.
CALLIE: Hey, it’s me. I’m out. And I’m coming. I promise. I just gotta figure out how to get there.
(She hangs up, lets out a deep sigh.)
EXT. FOSTER HOUSE
Day breaks over the charming craftsman. It’s perfectly still and silent out here.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - KITCHEN
But it’s chaos inside. Stef, in her uniform, fills a thermos with coffee while Lena dishes up breakfast. Brandon is still busily doing homework, Jesus is riding his skateboard on the hardwood floor, and Mariana is talking in Spanish to someone on her cell. Callie is conspicuously not present.
STEF: Did you wake Callie up?
LENA: Three times. I’ve been trying for half-an-hour.
STEF: Unacceptable.
(Stef sighs, then gets an idea. She grabs a glass, fills it with cold water.)
LENA: What are you doing with that?
STEF: I’m thirsty.
LENA: Stef....
(Jesus runs into one of the cabinets.)
LENA: Jesus! Enough! Have you taken your Ritalin?
(Lena opens a cabinet, grabs a bottle and pours a blue and red pill into her hand. She hands it to Jesus who swallows it without water.)
LENA: Jesus, drink something. Jesus makes a big show of getting himself a glass.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Stef strides into the living room where she finds Callie, or rather a lump under the covers that she presumes to be Callie.
STEF: Callie. Callie, it’s time to get up.
CALLIE: What the...
(Stef stands her ground, smiling)
STEF: Next time Lena comes to wake you up, get up. Breakfast is ready. You’re leaving in fifteen.
(And she heads back into the kitchen. Callie glares at her as she goes. This place might be worse than juvie.)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - KITCHEN
Stef returns to the kitchen where the kids are scarfing down oatmeal or cereal and Lena is eating a yogurt at the counter. Lena notices Stef’s empty glass and raises her eyebrows.
STEF: She’ll be in for breakfast shortly.
LENA: What did you do?
STEF: I have no idea what you’re talking about. Stef grabs her keys, kisses Lena on the forehead and heads out the back door.
(After a moment, Lena notices that Stef forgot her thermos of coffee. She runs to the back door.)
LENA: Stef! You forgot your...
(Too late - Stef is already pulling out of the driveway.)
EXT. RILEY CHARTER SCHOOL
Lena’s car pulls into the parking lot alongside Riley Charter School. Everyone piles out.
LENA: Why don’t you guys show Callie around? She’ll be in Timothy’s room to start the day...
(Brandon and Jesus nod. Mariana takes off like a bullet.)
MARIANA: See ya.
CALLIE: Man, that girl is sketchy...
JESUS: She’s just being all weird right now. Ignore her.
BRANDON (defending his sister): Didn’t you just get out of juvie?
CALLIE: Thanks a lot. Just what I want. Everybody in the school knowing I just got out of jail.
JESUS: Are you kidding? That’s the best thing in the world anybody could say to these asshats. They’ll be scared as hell of you...
(But Brandon can see that Callie’s not buying Jesus’ logic. For the first time, he feels some sympathy for her situation.)
BRANDON: But don’t stress, we won’t say anything.
Jesus sees a friend, stops to talk. Brandon and Callie wander the campus. An awkward moment of silence.
BRANDON: So, um, Timothy’s room is over there... You’ll find it okay? We’ve got like twenty minutes before class and I wanna go practice.
CALLIE: Practice for what?
BRANDON: I have that music competition tonight.
CALLIE: Oh, right. Okay.
(Brandon gives her an awkward wave and starts to cross the quad. Callie feels the eyes of the arriving students on her and calls out to him.)
CALLIE: Hey - wait up.
INT. MUSIC ROOM
Brandon sits at the piano, his brow furrowed as he practices his original composition. Callie meanders around the room, touching things and half-listening.
CALLIE: What is that?
BRANDON: What, the song? I wrote it.
CALLIE: You wrote it? Really?
(Brandon nods.)
BRANDON: For the contest. You have to play one classical piece and one original composition. It’s about the night Mom and Mama asked me if it was okay for the twins to come and live with us.
(Callie stares at Brandon for a moment.)
CALLIE: How is it “about” that? It doesn’t have words...
BRANDON: Listen...
(He starts to play the simplest melody line from the piece.)
BRANDON: This is me. And here...
(He adds two more chords on top of the phrase.)
BRANDON: ...these are my moms. And then this...
(And now the piece reaches its full resonance - five different lines all working in unison.)
BRANDON: ...this is all of us - me, mom, Lena, the twins. See how it all works better together.
CALLIE: Nice.
BRANDON: I dunno. Now I kinda feel like it’s missing something.
CALLIE: I like it. They asked you if the twins could move in? What were you gonna say,
No? I bet you wanted to...
BRANDON: Nah, I figured there was enough to go around.
CALLIE: Enough of what?
BRANDON: I dunno. Everything. It’s a good thing I didn’t. Their mom’s a total mess - she couldn’t
take care of herself much less two little kids.
CALLIE: At least they have a mom.
BRANDON: Actually, they have two, now. Oh. Right. But you do you know your mom? Is
she around? Is she -
CALLIE: Dead. She’s dead.
BRANDON: Oh. Sorry.
CALLIE: Don’t be. It is what it is.
(Brandon’s sense of Callie is changed in this moment - for the better. A little electricity passes between them.)
A girl comes in.
TALYA: Hey, baby! Who’s this?
BRANDON: Hey, Talya. This is Callie. She’s staying with us for a while.
(Talya kisses Brandon on the mouth, then offers her hand to Callie.)
TALYA: Hey. Welcome to Riley.
CALLIE: Thanks.
(Talya wraps her arm over Brandon’s shoulder. A moment of silence. Brandon jumps in.)
BRANDON: Callie’s gonna be in Timothy’s class with you, T. Can you show her where it is?
TALYA: Yeah, sure, of course. But we should go. Timothy gets all parental when we’re late. And I don’t wanna make him mad. I totally didn’t do the reading last night, gonna have to wing it...
(And they head out the door, leaving Brandon alone with his piano.)
INT. RILEY CHARTER - CLASSROOM
Callie, Talya and about a dozen students sit in big chairs in a circle, where Timothy leads a discussion about Kafka’s metamorphosis.
TIMOTHY: ...but do you think he participated in his own transformation? Did he will it? Did he want it to happen? Or did it happen to him?
TALYA: Huh. That’s a really interesting question, Timothy. Because, I mean, you could really argue it both ways. Did he want it to happen? Or did it happen to him? I totally see both sides...
(Timothy tries to engage her in the conversation.)
TIMOTHY: What about you, Callie? I know you haven’t read the material, but what would you do if you suddenly woke up and found yourself living a nightmare?
CALLIE: If I was living a nightmare?
EXT. RILEY CHARTER SCHOOL - QUAD
Jesus trots up behind Mariana.
JESUS: Hey.
MARIANA: Oh. Hey.
JESUS: So I been thinking I’ll go with you.
MARIANA: What?
JESUS: To meet Ana. I’ll go with you. If you want.
MARIANA: You don’t even want to meet her.
JESUS: I know... A beat.
MARIANA: I told you - I don’t think I’m ready.
JESUS: I know, that’s why I wanna go with you...
MARIANA: No, thanks.
(And she walks away, leaving Jesus more confused than ever.)
EXT. RILEY CHARTER - BREEZEWAY
Callie comes out of class and trots over to a boy with the keychain. She puts on her most seductive smile.
CALLIE: Hey, um - what’s your name?
(He slows down.)
BOY: Aiden.
CALLIE: Nice to meet you, Aiden.
AIDEN: You new here?
CALLIE: Yeah. Yup. New girl. Just, um, moved here. I could really use someone to show me around...
AIDEN: That could probably be arranged...
CALLIE: Yeah? Cool. In fact, I was kinda thinking about checking out San Ysidro this afternoon.
AIDEN: San Ysidro? Down by Tijuana?
CALLIE: Yeah. I heard it’s cool down there.
AIDEN: What, are you looking to party or something?
CALLIE: No, no. I just I got someone I need to see. (then, glancing at his keychain) You got a car, right?
AIDEN: Yeah. No thanks. Good luck.
INT. RILEY CHARTER - LIBRARY
Mariana sits at one of the school computers, logs on to her Facebook account. She goes straight to her messages, opens one from someone named Ana Gutierrez. It reads “I'm so happy I'm going to get to see you. Can you meet tonight?” Mariana looks at it for a long time, not sure exactly how to respond. After a long moment of going back and forth in her head, she types “Yes. As long as it's after dinner. Meet you at Western Hills Park, as soon as I can get there.” She presses send.
EXT. RILEY CHARTER - QUAD
It’s lunchtime. Kids litter the quad, sitting on the grass or the few tables in pairs or threesomes or foursomes or moresomes. Mariana is eating lunch with a couple of latina girlfriends, speaking Spanish, when she overhears Callie talking to a student nearby.
CALLIE: Hey. Is there a metro stop around here?
(Mariana crosses to her.)
MARIANA (with attitude): You going somewhere? Gotta meet your pimp?
CALLIE: You wanna back the hell off, Selena Gomez? You know, I didn’t ask to be brought into your house, okay? I’m not trying to steal your family or something.
MARIANA: You can have ‘em. They’re pissing me off.
CALLIE: Why?
MARIANA: Lena is always in my face, and Stef jumps down my throat every time I open my mouth.
CALLIE: Well what do you expect, your mom’s a cop...
MARIANA: She remind you of the guards from juvie? Jesus told me. What’d you do?
(A beat. Of course he did. Callie considers whether to take Mariana in her confidence.)
CALLIE: My foster dad did something really screwed up, so - I took a baseball bat to his beloved Mustang.
MARIANA: Seriously? That’s bad ass.
CALLIE: Keep it to yourself?
(Mariana agrees. A beat.)
MARIANA: So are you leaving?
CALLIE: I got some stuff I gotta take care of. Sorry. Better if you don’t know. That way, if your moms start asking questions...
(Callie turns to head for the front entrance)
MARIANA: Wait. If you’re gonna take off, make sure you go out the back way. Lena’s office looks out over the front entrance. The Metro’s three blocks that way.
(Callie smiles, nods - these two have come to a small, but important, understanding. The bell rings. Both girls head off in separate directions.)
ELSEWHERE ON THE QUAD
Lena stands near the rear exit, talking to a first year teacher.
LENA: Believe me, I get it. I’ve got four of them at home right now. They can make you absolutely homicidal. But you cannot, under any circumstances, let them see that they’re getting the better of you, okay? I learned a long time ago that as soon as I raise my voice I lose my power...
(Lena looks over and spots Callie headed her direction. She waves. With a sigh, Callie changes directions and goes to class.)
INT. POLICE PRECINCT - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE
Captain Roberts looks up from his desk as Stef enters his office. Mike stands off to one side. Stef looks at him quizzically.
CAPTAIN ROBERTS: You okay? You’re not gonna start crying are you?
STEF: With all due respect, Sir. Screw you.
CAPTAIN ROBERTS: Well, Vasquez was a pain in my ass, so as far as I’m concerned, Sacramento can have him. You’re too good of a cop to be taking care of a hothead like that anyway. Now, since you’re both partner-less, starting tomorrow I’m gonna pair you up with Mike.
STEF: Sir?
CAPTAIN ROBERTS: That a problem?
(Stef looks around, clearly taken aback. She looks at Mike, who explains.)
MIKE: I asked. That cool?
(Stef considers this a moment)
STEF; Sure. No problem. Sir.
CAPTAIN ROBERTS: Good. Take the rest of the day off, you guys can hit the beat tomorrow.
(Stef looks at Mike, something strange passing between them, then back to the Captain.)
STEF: Yes, sir.
EXT. RILEY CHARTER - QUAD
The bell rings. Students flood the breezeways. Brandon walks with Talya. His phone buzzes. He looks at the screen – SAN YSIDRO, CALIFORNIA. He ignores the call.
TALYA: So... my parents are out of town this weekend.
BRANDON: Oh yeah?
TALYA: Yup. Wanna spend the night?
(She puts her hand through Brandon’s arm.)
BRANDON: I’d have to sneak out.
TALYA: Or just tell ‘em you’re staying...
(Brandon looks at her, with a smirk. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he notices Callie headed off Campus. He takes off.)
TALYA: ...at Aiden’s. Where are you going?
BRANDON: Gimme two secs. Hey, Callie!
Brandon trots across the lawn, chasing after his new foster sister. Elsewhere, Mariana hangs by her locker with some girlfriends when Jesus comes striding over, his hand out.
JESUS: Hey. I need some money.
MARIANA: Um, rude much? No - you’ve got your own money.
JESUS: I left my wallet at home. C’mon, I’m hungry. I didn’t eat lunch.
MARIANA: Too bad for you.
JESUS: I just want a snack. I’ll pay you back...
MARIANA: No, you won’t. You never pay me back, because you never have any money, because you always spend it on surf stuff. So no...
(Mariana turns back to her friends.)
MARIANA (in Spanish): So what were you saying? Sorry...
(Jesus grabs her purse out of her locker, takes out her wallet.)
JESUS: Look, just gimme five bucks. I promise I’ll pay you back tonight.
MARIANA: Jesus! Gimme that!
(She turns to grab her wallet from him, but it’s too late he’s opened it to find a wad of cash, mostly twenties and fifties, several hundred dollars all tolled. He holds it up.)
JESUS: What is this?
MARIANA: Nothing.
JESUS: Bull. Where did you get that?
MARIANA: Don’t worry about it.
(She peels off a five dollar bill and shoves it in his hand.)
MARIANA: Here. Now go get something to eat and leave me alone.
Back to Brandon and Callie, Callie is being more stand-offish than usual.
BRANDON: So... where you going?
CALLIE: I’ve got some stuff to take care of.
BRANDON: Stuff to take care of? Right now?
CALLIE: It’s important.
(Brandon looks over and catches Talya staring at them, displeased. He almost unconsciously takes half a step back from Callie.)
BRANDON: Well, you’re not gonna be able to take care of it if you end up back in juvie. My mom’s a cop, do you seriously think she won’t track you down in like a minute flat?
CALLIE: Why can’t you just stay out of my goddamn business! Your whole freaking family!
BRANDON: We’re just trying to help you...
CALLIE: Well stop!
(Before Brandon can reply, his phone buzzes. He pulls it out of his pocket, looks at it, annoyed.)
BRANDON: God. Someone’s been calling me from this number all day...
(Callie grabs the phone from him.)
BRANDON: Hey...
(She looks at the screen, then answers.)
CALLIE(at phone): Hey, baby, it’s me. What’s going on? What? What do you mean? Jude, what are you saying?
(Someone interrupts the call. Callie gets mad.)
CALLIE(at phone): Let me talk to Jude. Put him back on!
(The line goes dead. Callie dials a number and presses send but no one answers. Brandon stares at her, disturbed by what he overheard. Callie is clearly devastated.)
BRANDON: What’s going on? Who was that? And why were they calling my number?
CALLIE: I borrowed your phone last night. Look, I gotta go. Now.
BRANDON: So who was that? Your boyfriend or something?
CALLIE: No. It’s my brother.
(Not the answer Brandon was expecting. He takes in her scared but determined face.)
CALLIE: He’s all I got.
BRANDON: Let me call my mom. She can help.
CALLIE: Who? Stef? No way.
BRANDON: She’s a...
CALLIE: No cops. I don’t trust...
BRANDON: My mom’s not like that.
CALLIE: If you call your mom she’s gonna look in the system and find all these complaints my foster father filed against me. I kept trying to tell the police my side of the story, but they didn’t care. And then they arrested me instead of him. You’re just gonna get me sent back to juvie and Jude is still gonna be stuck in that house. I gotta go. I gotta go now.
(And she takes off, leaving Brandon to decide who he wants to be, the good boy he’s always been, or the great man he might become. He watches her disappear through the rear gate and after a deep breath, he takes off after her)
EXT. STREET
Brandon comes up behind Callie, who is moving at quite a clip.
CALLIE: I’m not coming back.
BRANDON: I’m not asking you to. I’m coming with you.
(Callie is shocked to hear this. And not 100% sure she trusts him. She stops.)
CALLIE
You’re not gonna call your mom? Okay.
(And together they take off down the street.)
INT. METRO TRAIN
Brandon and Callie sit tensely on the subway, Callie deep in thought. Brandon notices their knees are touching and looks over at her. Callie suddenly remembers something.
CALLIE: Don’t you have that music thing tonight?
BRANDON: It’s just a... don’t worry. There’ll be others. So what happened? In the house?
(Callie takes a breath.)
CALLIE: Well... my foster father caught my brother wearing one of his ex-wife’s dresses, and started beating the crap out of him.
BRANDON: Seriously? He hit him?
CALLIE: Um, yeah. He used to hit me all the time, which, you know, whatever... But when I saw him going after Jude, I just went nuts. So I got his baseball bat and whacked him on the knees. And then I went outside and beat the hell out of his car. When the cops came, he told them he was defending himself. Nobody seemed to care much about my side of the story.
BRANDON: If he was so awful to you guys, why was he even a foster father in the first place?
CALLIE: The money. He doesn’t have a job, so...
(Brandon is horrified to hear this. After a moment, he places his hand on her knee, as reassurance. She looks down at it, unsure what to do, as the train rockets through the city.)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - JESUS’ ROOM
Jesus flops across his bed, playing a surf game on his computer. Lena appears.
LENA: So - what’s going on with Mariana?
JESUS(playing dumb): Whaddaya mean?
LENA: Has she said anything to you? Any idea what’s up with her?
JESUS: I dunno. Maybe it’s her time of the...
LENA: If you say, “Time of the month,” I’m going to sign you up for a Women’s Health Workshop at Planned Parenthood. Don’t ever say that in a house full of women.
JESUS: Okay, fine. Jeez.
LENA: And you’re sure you don’t want to meet with Ana? Don’t you think it would be good to have some, um, cultural influences? Someone to ask about your heritage? I know for me growing up in a white neighborhood, it was really important to hear family stories and things. Helped me feel less... out of place.
(He shrugs, shakes his head. It’s just not his thing. Mariana comes upstairs, listens from the hall.)
LENA: Well, if M says anything or you notice anything, let me know, okay?
MARIANA: You want him to spy on me? (in Spanish) You might as well put me in juvie like Callie!
LENA: Mariana...
(She storms into her room, slams the door. Lena looks to Jesus, who just laughs at her. Stef’s voice rings out from downstairs.)
STEF: I’m home!
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - KITCHEN
Stef is shoving some string cheese into her mouth, staring off into space, when Lena descends upon her.
LENA: So Mariana overheard me asking Jesus if something was going on with her and completely flipped out on me.
STEF: Okay. We’ll talk to her. So listen...
LENA: You’re gonna have to talk to her, because I swear I’m going to lose it!
STEF: Okay, fine. Can we get into this later? I’m not in a great mood, today was Vasquez’s last day.
LENA: Oh. Right. I forgot. You okay?
STEF: And in other exciting news. Guess who they’re partnering me with now?
LENA: Who?
STEF: Mike. I guess he asked for me.
LENA: Uh-huh.
STEF: Oh, God. Don’t go all non-verbal on me. It’s fine.
(The doorbell rings)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE – FOYER
Lena opens the front door to reveal MIKE, still in his uniform. She looks at him dryly, raises an eyebrow.
MIKE: Hey. You guys ready?
LENA: Brandon! Your dad’s here! Time for your contest!
(No answer. They wait an uncomfortable moment.)
LENA: He’ll be down in a second. I think he’s nervous. Brandon! So I hear you and Stef are gonna be back on the beat together.
MIKE: Oh. Yup.
LENA: Stef said you asked for her?
MIKE: Look, it was either me or some rookie. I never felt comfortable when she was working with Vasquez. I just - I feel better knowing I’m around. I mean, we’ve got the kids to think about.
LENA: Oh, okay. Thanks. I mean, the feminist in me is offended, but as her wife, you
know... thanks.
MIKE: Don’t tell Stef I said that, okay?
(Lena shakes her head - of course not. Another moment passes between them.)
LENA: Mind if we take separate cars? Stef and I can meet you there. God, where is that kid?
(Stef wanders in from the kitchen, nods at Mike)
STEF: Brandon! Let’s go! You’re gonna be late!
(Jesus appears at the top of the stairs.)
JESUS: He’s not here.
STEF: Wait. Where’s Callie?
JESUS: I haven’t seen them since school.
(Stef and Lena share a concerned look. This isn’t like Brandon.)
STEF: So where the hell are they?
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET
Dusk has just fallen. Brandon follows a step or two behind Callie, who storms up the street on a mission.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE – KITCHEN
Lena hangs up her cell.
LENA: He’s not answering.
(Jesus is there with Stef and Mike.)
LENA: Let me try Talya.
(And she picks up her phone and steps away.)
MIKE: Guys, I’m sure he’s fine. Let’s not freak out. Maybe he thought we were gonna meet him over there? At the contest? Why don’t I head over there and check.
STEF: Jesus hand me my phone.
JESUS: Who you gonna call?
STEF: Nobody.
(She starts up an app on her cell.)
STEF: I put that tracking app on all our phones, since you... (to Jesus) are always leaving yours everywhere.
(Lena hangs up, rejoins the conversation.)
LENA: She says the last time she saw him he was talking to Callie before seventh period. Maybe Mike’s right maybe we’re over-reacting.
STEF: If we’re over-reacting, what are they doing in San Ysidro?
LENA: Are they going to Tijuana?
STEF: I’m gonna kill him. Where are my keys?
JESUS: You want us to come?
STEF: No, stay here with your sister. We’ll be back soon.
LENA: Don’t forget to take your pill. And finish your homework.
(And she and Lena take off. Jesus opens one of the cabinets, pulls out his bottle of Ritalin, opens it. He dumps one into his hand when he notices that there are very few left)
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - MARIANA’S ROOM
Mariana watches out her bedroom window as Stef and Lena pull out of the driveway. She immediately grabs her purse and is headed for the door when Jesus appears in the hall.
JESUS: Brandon and Callie are missing... Where are you going?
MARIANA: What do you mean, missing?
JESUS: They never came home from school.
MARIANA: Oh. Huh. I guess Brandon went with her.
JESUS: Where?
MARIANA: She wouldn’t tell me...
(Mariana is clearly trying to get out of her room, but Jesus doesn’t clear the door.)
JESUS: Hey you didn’t take any of my Ritalin, did you?
MARIANA: What? No, why?
JESUS: ‘Cause Mom just picked me up a new bottle, and now it’s almost gone.
MARIANA: What are you looking at me for?
JESUS: I was just asking.
(She’s avoiding eye contact with him. But he’s onto her.)
MARIANA: Well ask Brandon. Or Callie. Now excuse me, I gotta go.
(She tries to push past him into the hall, but Jesus stops her.)
JESUS: Is that how you got all that money? Are you selling my freaking pills?
MARIANA: Wha... No...
JESUS: ‘Cause Mama sure as hell didn’t give you that big wad of cash. Or did she? Should I ask her? Why? Why would you do that? It’s so damn stupid. What the hell do you need all that money for, anyway?
(A long beat. Mariana decides to tell him the truth.)
MARIANA: I been talking to Ana.
JESUS: Ana, our birth mom?
MARIANA: She got back in town last month.
JESUS: Wait. What? I thought you didn’t want to meet her...
MARIANA: No... I just didn’t want Stef and Lena sticking their noses all up in my business, okay? They wouldn’t get it. Ana needs some money. I just want to help her out a little.
JESUS: You’re giving her money? For what?
(He glances over to her desk, where she has a framed photo of the two of them, at three years old, sitting on the lap of a woman in her mid-twenties, all smiling radiantly.
JESUS: Why?
MARIANA: Whaddaya mean, why? ‘Cause she’s our mom.
JESUS: She’s not our mom! Our moms live here, in this house! What the hell is wrong with you?
MARIANA: I knew you wouldn’t understand. That’s why I didn’t tell you.
JESUS: Understand what?! That woman is not our mom, Mariana. She freaking
abandoned us! That woman...
(Jesus grabs the framed photo, rips open the back of the frame and yanks out the picture. He shoves it in Mariana’s face.)
JESUS: This woman is not our mother. She’s a monster who left her two babies so she run off with some dumbass and screw whoever she wanted! This. Woman. Is. Not. Our. Mother.
(And with every word, he tears the photograph into smaller and smaller pieces.)
MARIANA: Jesus, stop!
(Mariana starts to cry, in spite of herself. It’s obvious how much Ana represents to her.)
JESUS: I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.
(As soon as he is gone, Mariana takes the pieces of the photo and starts taping them back together, her heart as broken as the picture)
INT./EXT. XTERRA
Stef drives as Lena stares out the window apprehensively. Stef’s phone rings. Lena picks it up, looks at it, answers it.
LENA: Hey, it’s Lena.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Mike stands inside the auditorium, looking through the CROWDnfor some sign of Brandon.
MIKE(at phone): No sign of him here. He hasn’t checked in yet either.
LENA(at phone): We tracked his phone. He’s in San Ysidro. We were afraid they were headed to TJ but it doesn’t look like it. We’re on our way now. I’ll call you as soon as I hear something.
(And she hangs up, the urgency filling the silence.)
EXT. MODEST HOUSE
A modest house in a nondescript neighborhood. A dented mustang sits in the driveway. Callie drops her backpack silently on the patchy grass, and signals to Brandon with a head nod. He goes to the front door and knocks.
BRANDON: Hello? Anyone there? Can you help me? I’m lost...
(Callie sneaks over to one of the windows on the side of the house and taps on it lightly)
CALLIE (just louder than a whisper) Jude? Jude?
(No response. Callie taps again)
CALLIE: Jude?
(A light turns on in the house. Callie drops to the ground. Brandon knocks again)
BRANDON: Hello? Anybody home?
(Callie gets up, tries once more)
CALLIE: Jude?
Still nothing from Jude. The front door opens. Jim Pierson peers out through the screen.
PIERSON: Can I help you?
BRANDON: Um, yessir. I was... I was just... I’m looking for the, um, Metro?
PIERSON: The Metro’s a few miles from here.
BRANDON: Yes, sir. Guess I got kinda lost.
(Over Pierson’s shoulder, Brandon can see all the way to the back of the tiny house, where Callie slips in the kitchen door. She creeps into the house as quietly as she can.)
PIERSON: Well, you gotta go about six blocks...
Callie steps just a little too hard, making a small thud. Pierson whips around.
PIERSON: What the hell are you doing in here? Get outta my house.
CALLIE: I just want to see Jude. Just for a minute.
PIERSON: No.
(She moves toward the hallway. Pierson grabs her by the arm.)
PIERSON: I said No! You made a lot of trouble for me the last time you were here.
BRANDON: Hey! Don’t touch her!
(Brandon reaches for Pierson. Pierson whips around and shoves Brandon against the wall)
CALLIE: Look, I’m sorry about your car. I’ll pay to have it fixed. I just want to talk to Jude, okay please?
(She shakes him off. He grabs for her, but she slips past him)
CALLIE: Jude!
(Pierson opens a desk drawer and pulls out a gun.)
BRANDON: Callie!
PIERSON: Get the hell outta my house!
BRANDON: Hey, man! Calm down.
PIERSON: Don’t you move.
EXT. MODEST HOUSE
Just then, Stef and Lena pull up in Stef’s XTerra. Stef, still in uniform, jumps out and sprints to the front door. Through the window, she can see Pierson with his gun drawn. She pulls out her pistol.
STEF: Brandon, get back! Freeze! Police!
(Pierson puts his hands up)
STEF: Set down the gun, slowly.
(He does. As soon as he lets go of the gun, Callie dashes down the hall)
PIERSON: Damnit! Tell her to stay outta my goddamn house!
STEF: Don’t you move! Now back away. And get on your knees.
Callie comes out of the back with Jude. Stef and Lena watch as Callie hugs this boy. There’s a softness to Callie in this moment, a vulnerability not seen before.
CALLIE: You okay?
JUDE: Yeah.
CALLIE: Did he hurt you?
(Jude doesn’t answer. Brandon walks over to Lena.)
LENA: Who is that?
BRANDON: That’s her brother.
(Not the answer Lena was expecting. Stef snaps cuffs on Pierson, then leads him outside)
Stef sits Pierson down on the gravel drive. Lena leads Callie, Brandon and Jude out of the house. After a moment, Lena makes her way over to Stef.
STEF: So what do we do now? Call Child Protective Services?
(A beat. Lena looks at her, something hopeful in her expression. Stef knows where this is headed)
STEF: Lena...
LENA: We can’t send these kids away...
STEF: We don’t have enough room as it is.
LENA: We’ll make room.
(Stef looks to Brandon. He nods his approval. With a sigh, Stef surrenders. Lena smiles, turns to Callie.)
LENA: Callie, introduce us.
CALLIE: This is Lena and Stef. This is Jude. It’s okay, they’re on our side.
(Slowly, Jude reaches out his hand. Lena takes it.)
LENA: Nice to meet you, Jude.
EXT. PARK
Mariana sits on the top of a damp picnic table, under the harsh glow of a street lamp. She holds the taped-up photo in her hands, tracing the cracked lines with her fingers.
ANA: Mariana? Mariana looks up to see her birth mother Ana, for the first time in over a decade. MARIANA: Hey.
ANA: You’re really pretty.
MARIANA: Thanks. So are... you.
(Ana just shakes her head)
MARIANA: How are you?
ANA: I’m good, I’m good. Back in town, you know - trying to get back on my feet...
(And with that, Ana’s agenda becomes pretty transparent. It hangs in the air, until Mariana reaches in her purse, pulls out the cash)
MARIANA: Oh. Here. Hope this helps.
ANA: It will. Trust me. Thank you so much. Promise I’ll pay you back. Once I get a job and stuff... So... you better get home, huh? Your folks’ll be wondering where you are...
(And suddenly it all clicks for Mariana. This is not going to be the mother-and-child-reunion of her fantasies. She hardens, just a bit)
MARIANA: My moms.
ANA: What?
MARIANA: My moms will be wondering where I am.
ANA: Okay. Well... Thanks again.
(Mariana nods, then watches as Ana disappears into the dark)
EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE
As they load Jude’s few things into the back of the car, Lena gives Brandon a stern look, shakes her head.
BRANDON: I was trying to do the right thing. It’s true. A moment.
LENA: I get it. But you’re still in all kinds of trouble. We’ll talk about it later.
Stef gets a moment alone with Callie.
STEF: So I need to ask you... Why didn’t you come to us?
(Callie has nothing left to lose, tells the truth)
CALLIE: The last time I told a cop the truth, I ended up in jail.
STEF: Well I’m really sorry to hear that. I’m a cop, but I’m telling you, I’m not like that.
CALLIE: Look, if you guys wanna send me back to juvie now, at least I know Jude’ll be somewhere safe.
STEF: Callie, I want you to listen to me. We’re not going to send you back, like you’re a... bad steak or something. You’re not disposable. You’re not worthless.
(These words land hard on Callie. It’s the first time in her life she’s heard something like this. If she were a different girl, she would cry. But she’s not a different girl, so she simply lowers her eyes to the ground and nods her head. Stef places a hand on her shoulder with a smile)
STEF: Come on - let’s go home.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - MARIANA’S ROOM
Jesus is searching through Mariana’s things, looking for something. He digs into the bottom of her backpack from school, where he finds a baggie containing a few of his Ritalin pills. Damn.
INT./EXT. XTERRA
Stef and Lena drive Jude, Callie, and Brandon home in silence. Stef places a comforting hand on Lena’s leg. Callie is draped protectively around Jude. Brandon stares at her, more taken with this confounding creature than ever. She looks over at him with a soft smile. Then something occurs to him.
Brandon’s music begins to build, but this time there is an additional layer – two new components adding to the complexity of the piece. It makes the sound richer, darker even - but also more harmonious. Brandon ever so subtly plays an imaginary keyboard along with the music. He glows with satisfaction.
INT. FOSTER HOUSE - JESUS’ ROOM
Jesus pulls up Mariana’s name on his cell phone, presses send.
EXT. PARK - NIGHT
Mariana sits on the bench, not yet ready to go home. Her cellphone rings. She looks at the screen, ignores it.
INT./EXT. XTERRA
The SUV cruises down the boulevard, framed by palm trees and the street lamps.
EXT. FOSTER HOUSE
The XTerra pulls into the driveway. Stef, Lena, Brandon, Callie, and Jude tumble out, carrying Jude’s few belongings. Jesus comes out on to the porch to meet them. Stef introduces him to Jude. They shake hands.
STEF: Where’s Mariana?
(Jesus tries to figure out how to answer the question, but is saved as she comes jogging up the driveway.)
MARIANA: Here I am. I was over at Blanca’s.
JESUS: This is Jude, Callie’s brother.
Mariana smiles and waves hello. And one by one, they file inside the house, until only Brandon and Callie remain. As he heads into the house, she grabs him by the wrist and pulls him back onto the porch. They stare at each other for a long moment, something unspeakable passing between them.
CALLIE: Thank you.
Stef appears at the door, wondering where they are and notices the tension. Callie carefully extracts her hand and goes inside. Stef gestures for Brandon to come in, then closes the front door, shutting out the danger, and heartbreak, and hardship that awaits them all in the rest of the world. Tonight, they are safe. Tonight, they are family. Tonight, they are home.
End of the episode.