HAPPINESS

Pause.

TRISH

Anyone watch Leno last night?

Everyone shakes his head or mumbles no.

Pause.

MONA

So what's going to happen now to

that woman who killed your super?

HELEN

I don't know, Mom. But it's so sad.

She's all alone.

(a beat.)

I wish I'd gotten to know her better.

We might have found we had something

in common.

Pause.

JOY

Maybe you'll write a poem about her.

HELEN bursts out laughing.

HELEN

I'm sorry. But don't worry.

I'm not laughing at you.

I'm laughing with you.

JOY

But I'm not laughing.

HELEN stops laughing.

142. EXT. CONDOMINIUM TERRACE - DAY. 142.

CLOSE ON BILLY as his face expresses mounting excitement.

BILLY'S POV of the beautiful woman sunbathing. She unhooks her bikini top.

BACK TO BILLY climaxing. CLOSE ON COOKI licking up BILLY's little puddle of sperm on the floor.

143. INT. CONDOMINIUM - DAY. 143.

The meal is painfully silent. Finally:

MONA

Let's make a toast.

JOY

To happiness.

EVERYONE ELSE

To happiness!

Glasses clink. Some hesitation before everyone downs the wine. Laughter. KOOKI races in, jumps into TRISH's lap, licks her face.

TRISH

Kooki!

BILLY enters. He is ecstatic. Tears well up in his eyes.

BILLY

I came!

SHOT OF A FULL MOON.

144. INT. CONDOMINIUM - NIGHT. 144.

The CAMERA DOLLIES across the living room and bedrooms. Everyone is in bed, but unable to shut their eyes.

MONA rises to the terrace, her eyes silently welling with tears. JOY follows her.

JOY

Don't, Mom. 'Cause the thing about

family is卬o matter how distant you are

from each other, separated, estranged,

divorced, whatever卬o matter how little

you can relate to each other卛t doesn't

matter: you're still family. You're not

along?Ya see?

MONA smiles, weakly.

CUT TO:

BLACK.

The sound of a telephone ringing. Then:

145. SPLIT SCREEN: EXT. ESL SCHOOL/ 145.

INT. ALLEN'S PLACE - DAY.

JOY stands at a payphone, a placard resting on her shoulder. Strikers pace in the b.g.

ALLEN sits half undressed on his bed, phonebook at his side. He answers the phone.

BOUNCY MUSIC.

ALLEN

Hello?

JOY

Hello. Could I please speak to

Allen Mellencamp?

ALLEN

Speaking.