Eleanor 23

INT. LAUNDRY ROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor sits in the laundry room, leaning against the washing machine, which is almost finished. She talks over the noise.

ELEANOR

Lumi’s father wants to declare her dead.

Pause.

ELEANOR

It’s not surprising, really. As soon as she’s declared dead, he has access to…

Pause.

She takes in a deep breath. Mutters something that can’t be heard over the sound of the washing machine.

ELEANOR

Okay. I’m going to tell you something that I maybe shouldn’t, but–well, it can’t hurt her now. I don’t think. And even–even if she does come back, this should have come out before. I don’t care that she was trying to be self-sufficient. It’s her goddamn life that we’re dealing with.

Sigh.

ELEANOR

Lumi has a trust fund in her name, one with twenty-five million dollars in it. It’s from her mother, who died years ago. See…Lumi’s parents didn’t really get along. They stayed together for Lumi’s sake, but her mother didn’t trust her father. Not with Lumi, not with her money. So fairly soon before Lumi’s mother died, she changed her will, secretly, to leave all of her money to Lumi.

But the thing is that Lumi doesn’t have access to it until her twenty-fifth birthday, and so neither can her father.

She laughs. Not a happy laugh.

ELEANOR

The goddamn saint. You should see him on the television, begging for the monster who stole his daughter to bring her back. “Stole,” like she’s some piece of meat that someone snatched from a charcuterie or a-a delicatessen. He acts like he wants her back, but he doesn’t. He just wants to put on a good face so nobody gets suspicious. And then he’ll just quietly get her money when she’s never–

Her voice breaks.

ELEANOR

When she never comes back.

She closes her eyes, leaning her head back against the washing machine.

ELEANOR

And that’s it.

She opens her eyes again.

ELEANOR

I’d say I thought her father was behind all of this, but I don’t think even he is stupid enough or cruel to do something like that. And I really don’t want to be accused of slander.

The machine machine finishes, and she turns to look at it.

ELEANOR

Guess my job down here is done.

INT. ELEANOR’S BEDROOM. LATER.

Eleanor sits in her bedroom, folding laundry.

ELEANOR

Guess what. I’m folding laundry. Again. I swear to god, this is like half of my life.

The door opens and Amber walks in.

ELEANOR

(Under her breath)

And this is the other half.

She turns to look at Amber.

ELEANOR

Hi?

AMBER

You know that girl I was telling you about, the one in the dress that was kind of like your prom dress but, you know, not?

Eleanor stiffens.

ELEANOR

(With forced casualness)

Yeah, sure. I guess.

Amber flounces over to sit next to Eleanor.

AMBER

So apparently Akihiko–the prince–is looking for her. Just imagine, him–he’s attractive, intelligent, worth like half-a-billion dollars in his own right–looking for you.

ELEANOR

What do you mean, looking for–

AMBERLYNN

I mean, honestly, I would love for him to be looking for me, because, like, oh my God, but I’m not all that surprised. He only talked to me, like, once. But if he was going to be looking for anyone, I would think it would be Relia. I mean, yeah, she’s kind of a bitch, but she is gorgeous. And he talked to her like two or three times.

RELIA

(O.S.)

Who talked to whom?

Eleanor stiffens, knocking the camera out of the way so it falls under the computer. We can still see them, but from an angle.

AMBER

Jesus, Relia, don’t you ever knock?

RELIA

Just wanted to see what this little gathering was about.

ELEANOR

Amber–Amber was just telling me about, um, about–

RELIA

If you’re not going to say it, shut up, please.

Eleanor closes her mouth.

AMBER

We were just talking about that girl the prince is looking for.

Relia rolls her eyes.

RELIA

God, that? Whatever. He’s going to find her and realize she’s just some ugly slut and then find someone better.

AMBER

(Sarcastically)

What, like you?

RELIA

Yes, like me. I was one of the only women in that room worthy of his attention.

Relia looks at Amber.

RELIA

Maybe if you talked less, you’d be a good pick. A little bit more foundation might do you some good, too.

Amber touches her face, grimacing.

AMBER

It doesn’t look that bad, does it?

ELEANOR

You look fine.

AMBER

Fine isn’t good enough. I need to look better than fine.

She gets up and hurries out of the room. Relia takes her seat.

Beat.

ELEANOR

Is there something I can…do for you?

RELIA

You know what I thought?

ELEANOR

No.

RELIA

I thought the girl the prince is looking for is you. Not once he started looking for you, of course, but at the beginning, when I first saw her. The dress looks just like yours, and…well, it looked like you.

ELEANOR

I wouldn’t–

RELIA

Oh, I don’t think you’re that stupid, or that brave. But what I do think is that you should be careful.

She reaches out and picks up a piece of Eleanor’s hair, playing with it.

RELIA

See, you don’t want me to be suspicious. You don’t want me deciding it’s worth my while to poke into what you do with your life.

ELEANOR

I just clean or do laundry and do work for the…for the house.

Relia pulls on the hair, grabbing the back of Eleanor’s head. Eleanor flinches but can’t get away without hurting herself.

RELIA

You see, I don’t know if I believe you. Because I do think you’re stupid enough to do things like–

She picks up the camera with her other hand. The view gets a close up on her face.

RELIA

Like keep filming in here, even after continuous orders to stop.

ELEANOR

I’m not–that’s just there–

RELIA

Oh, you might be being a good girl now, but I don’t think you’re always being one.

ELEANOR

Then why don’t you–

AURELIA

Because I have so many other things to do that are so much more important than trying to figure out what you’re spending your time doing. You know, classes to pass, frat parties to go to–

She smiles.

AURELIA

–princes to seduce.

She drops the camera onto the desk and releases Eleanor’s hair, standing and walking away. She closes the door behind her after she leaves.

Eleanor stares forward for a long moment, barely breathing, then lets out a long, shuddering breath.

ELEANOR

Oh, God. Oh my God.

She puts her head in her hands.

ELEANOR

Oh my God. What am I going to do?

She looks back up at where the camera would normally be.

ELEANOR

What am I going to do?

Eleanor 22

INT. ELEANOR’S BEDROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor has been crying. This is a perpetual thing for her at this point, so it’s not even something she’s noticing.

ELEANOR

There have been candle-waving mourners surrounding Lumi’s house for days. Since it happened. None of them knew her, or maybe a few did. People in her classes, maybe her old suite-mates. The people who knew her–know her–aren’t standing around with candles.

It’s funny, how missing people works. When they’re there, a telephone call or text-message or email away, you don’t miss them. It can be a week or a month before you see them, and you don’t miss them. But when you can’t contact them, it only takes a day before you start to miss them.

I keep picking up my phone and starting to text her, to tell her about what’s going on. But it’s about her, and she’s gone.

I like to think I would trade myself for her. On my bad days, or maybe my good ones, I want to go outside and walk in front of one of those television cameras and say, “Here I am, take me, just give her back.” What am I doing here, anyway? She had a life. She was going somewhere. I’m just a waste of space, with no prospects and no future. But nobody would pick me over her.

I wouldn’t pick me over her.

The door opens before her and Amber walks in. Eleanor flinches, then closes her eyes.

ELEANOR

If you’re going to do something to me, just do it now. I really don’t want to play the games today.

AMBER

I’m not here to play any games.

Eleanor turns around to look at her.

ELEANOR

What?

Amber walks over and leans on the desk next to Eleanor.

AMBER

Look–I just wanted to say how sorry I am about your friend, uh–

ELEANOR

Lumi.

AMBER

Yeah. Lumi. I mean, I didn’t know her all that well, but she was your friend–is your friend–sorry.

ELEANOR

Thank you. And, uh, you’re not going to tell Relia about–

She gestures towards the camera.

ELEANOR

About all of this?

Amber half-smiles.

AMBER

Some days I don’t like her any more than you do.

Eleanor chokes out a laugh.

ELEANOR

I doubt that.

Beat.

AMBER

Yeah.

Amber awkwardly reaches out and touches Eleanor’s shoulder. Eleanor flinches. Amber pulls her hand away.

AMBER

I hope your friend isn’t dead.

Amber walks out of the room, leaving the door open behind her.

ELEANOR

What is the world coming to?

Eleanor glances back, then laughs slightly hysterically.

ELEANOR

Though I guess some things never change.

She walks over and shuts the door.

Eleanor 21

INT. ELEANOR’S ROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor’s been crying, but she’s not at the moment.

ELEANOR

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I know–I mean, she never said it, but I knew–that she wanted to get out. Like, leave, not–I mean, we both do–did–but she didn’t–I don’t think she did. Because she’s gone. She didn’t tell me she was going, didn’t take anything with her. Everything she owned–it’s still there. Won’t be for long, but I–I’ll get some stuff out before then if I can.

(Anger building)

We need to find her. I–I need to find her. The world needs to get up and go out and find her goddamnit, because I cannot lose my best friend. I am not losing my best friend. She was not supposed to fight so hard to just lose everything because of whatever random psychopath there is roaming around kidnapping people.

(Anger collapses)

Or person. Her.

She’s gone. She–she can’t be gone. But she’s gone. She was the only one I had. What am I supposed to do now?

There is a knock on the door.

AMBER

Eleanor–

ELEANOR

(Shouting)

Leave me the fuck alone!

Beat.

AMBER

Jesus. Fine. Just wanted to know if you were making soup later.

Eleanor started laughing, and she can’t stop.

CUT TO:

Eleanor is calmer now. She’s been crying again, but she’s wiped her tears away.

ELEANOR

People are looking for her, but there’s also going to be a vigil. She’s a gorgeous all-American recent college grad from a well-off family who is trying to be a preschool teacher. Of course there is going to be a vigil.

I’ve been trying to not–to not think about it. Of course, I’ve been doing that by reading the news online, which is a terrible idea.

“Woman, 24, disappears late Friday night.”

“Future teacher and daughter of prominent businessman vanishes.”

“Sexual predator registration debate reignited after disappearance of young woman.”

Beat. She thinks about this for a second.

Oh, God.

“Violence increases on Afghanistan-Pakistan border, 17 dead.”

Oh, that’s… bad. But at least it’s not about… that.

I can’t go anywhere, at the moment. It’s too much of a mess right now. But I want to go looking. I want to go find her. I would want to be at her house waiting for a ransom call, but… I’m not really welcome there.

I’ve known how to get in for years, though. If it’s–if it’s another few days, I’ll grab her stuff, see if there’s anything else she would…want. I don’t want her dad throwing anything out that she wouldn’t want to lose.

Beat.

God. I just want her back.

Eleanor 20

INT. ELEANOR’S BEDROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor is smiling. Radiant. Her head is blocking the door.

Eleanor

I think I may have actually just had the best night of my life. And by just I mean like four days ago–five days ago? Whatever–but it was great.

So, first, there are pictures up on the internet somewhere, and even though I am not in them, they are gorgeous pictures, and so you should all check them out.

She laughs slightly.

ELEANOR

Listen to me, sounding like a real human being.

Beat.

ELEANOR

So anyway, it was amazing. I know you guys all saw my dress and my mask, but wearing it again, like it was prom, it was…it was literally a dream come true. I actually dreamt about prom–or, you know, hypothetical prom–a couple of times a week for months after…not going to prom.

Beat.

ELEANOR

So anyway. Not going to talk about that right now. The whole thing was like…it was like gold and diamonds and that flash of lightning you see during sunset when the sky is blue and orange and pink. It was the best thing in the world, and it was worth the risk of–

AURELIA

(O.S.)

What risk?

Eleanor jumps up, knocking the camera to the side so it points at the wall. Everything can be heard but not seen.

ELEANOR

What?

AURELIA

What risk?

ELEANOR

Oh. I, uh, I made a flambe and was worried that I was going to set myself on fire, but it was worth the risk, because it tasted great.

Beat.

AURELIA

(Dubiously)

Uh huh. And you just decided to announce this to yourself.

ELEANOR

I was…excited about it. I’m going to go…to go do laundry. I have laundry to do. So I’m going to go do laundry.

AURELIA

(Amused)

Uh huh.

ELEANOR

Was there something you needed before I went and did my laundry? Or, you know, the laundry. Because it’s not just my laundry.

AURELIA

I need you to stop saying the word laundry. Stop talking to yourself, or I’m going to get suspicious.

ELEANOR

I’m not–

The door shuts.

ELEANOR

–filming.

She straightens the camera out.

ELEANOR

Yeah, that didn’t sound convincing at all. But it was–

The door opens and Amber walks in.

Amerlynn

The ball was the best night ever.

ELEANOR

(Under her breath)

Jesus, nobody knocks in this house.

(Louder)

Hi, Amber.

AMERLYNN

I’ve never actually seen so many gorgeous dresses in my life. And that includes my debut. There was one–actually, it looked a bit like your prom dress, but, you know, better.

Eleanor stiffens.

ELEANOR

Oh.

AMERLYNN

Yeah. I mean, obviously it was newer and more expensive and not on…you, but it was kind of similar. I kind of wish you could have been there.

ELEANOR

Thanks.

AMERLYNN

But, you know, you would have stood out like a sore thumb. You’re not…I mean, I know, technically you were born one of us, but you’re not really one of us. You know?

ELEANOR

What are you…doing here exactly?

AMERLYNN

Oh, you know. I saw Relia leave so I thought I would come in and talk to you because she was just talking to you, and…you know.

Beat.

ELEANOR

(Awkwardly)

Oh. Okay. Cool. I have to go do laundry.

Amber nods.

AMERLYNN

Great. Oh, hey, I have a dress I want you to iron.

Eleanor sighs.

ELEANOR

Do you need me to wash it?

AMERLYNN

Nope. Just needs an ironing.

ELEANOR

Okay. Can you–

AMERLYNN

It’s on my bed. I’m sure you can find it.

She stands and waves at Eleanor.

AMERLYNN

Thanks for the talk.

She leaves, leaving the door open. Eleanor looks back, then puts her head down on the desk.

ELEANOR

Goddamn it. Every time.

She stands and closes the door, then walks back over to the desk. Beat. She smiles.

ELEANOR

It was still a good day.

Eleanor 19

INT. ELEANOR’S BEDROOM.

Eleanor sits in front of the camera, brushing her hair. Amber bursts into the room. Amber has her hair done and is dressed in jeans and a blouse.

AMBER

I need you to–what are you doing?

ELEANOR

Brushing my hair.

AMBER

Why are you brushing your hair?

ELEANOR

Because I brush my hair.

AMBER

Whatever. I need you to fasten this necklace for me.

ELEANOR

Why are you putting it on before the gown?

AMBER

Because I’m not going to put on the gown until later.

ELEANOR

But why aren’t you–

AMBER

You don’t want to do it? Fine. I’ll get Relia or Mother to do it.

She stomps out of the room, leaving the door open. Eleanor hesitates for a beat, sighs, and gets up to close the door. Then she walks back and sits down in front of the camera.

ELEANOR

Okay. That was fun. She’s been touchy for days. Apparently Relia’s dress is prettier than hers. Whatever. Once you’re spending a thousand-plus dollars on a dress that you’re going to wear once, you should just pick something you like and be happy with it.

Eleanor goes back to brushing her hair. She isn’t wearing makeup, and she’s dressed in plain clothing.

ELEANOR

I haven’t changed my mind, by the way. I just can’t be all dressed up while they’re still here, or they’ll get suspicious. I mean, Amber got suspicious when she saw me brush my hair.

The door opens again, and Eleanor shoves the camera off to the side so it is pointing at a wall.

RELIA

(O.S.)

Amber just came whining to me because apparently you were sarcastic to her.

ELEANOR

(Under her breath)

Jesus.

(To Relia)

She asked me to fasten her necklace for her, and I just asked why she was putting it on before her dress.

RELIA

(O.S.)

Damn it, Amber. But next time, just fasten her necklace so I don’t need to listen to her whine.

Door closes. Eleanor moves the camera back so it is facing her.

ELEANOR

This is what I have to live with. All the time.

She goes back to brushing her hair.

Pause.

ELEANOR

Okay, this is stupid. I’m not going to make you watch me brush my hair for the next, like, hour or so. I’ll see you when Lumi gets here.

She reaches over and turns the camera off.

CUT TO:

LATER.

Lumi stands in front of the camera, fiddling with it.

LUMI

Are you sure it’s on?

ELEANOR

(O.S.)

Is the little red light on?

LUMI

There is a little red light that is on.

ELEANOR

(O.S.)

Then it’s on.

Lumi steps back, sitting in the chair in front of the camrea. Eleanor isn’t visible.

LUMI

Are you ready yet?

ELEANOR

(O.S.)

It’s been, like, two minutes. Calm the hell down.

LUMI

I’m just excited. This is like your debut mixed with your prom–

ELEANOR

(O.S.)

Jesus, I hope not.

LUMI

Okay, bad analogy.

Eleanor steps onto screen, wearing a beautiful dress. It’s long and flowing and blue, with an illusion lace neckline.

ELEANOR

Especially given what I’m wearing, yeah, it’s a bad analogy.

Lumi turns and looks at her.

LUMI

Holy–God, Eleanor, you’re gorgeous.

Eleanor walks over to her.

ELEANOR

Do you have the mask for me?

LUMI

You’re not putting on the mask yet. First I want to do your makeup.

ELEANOR

Isn’t the whole point of a masquerade ball that you don’t need to wear makeup?

Lumi laughs.

LUMI

The whole point of a masquerade ball is that you can do illicit things and everyone pretends that they don’t know who’s doing it.

ELEANOR

I hope in my case they’re doing more than pretending.

LUMI

Well, yeah. But anyway. Makeup. You at least need a strong lip, because your mouth isn’t going to be covered by the mask.

ELEANOR

I don’t want to look like a 50s pin-up girl.

Lumi scoffs.

LUMI

I like looking like a 50s pin-up girl. And you don’t need to look like one.

Pause.

LUMI

You okay?

ELEANOR

I don’t know if I want your hand near my face.

Beat.

LUMI

Do you want to do it yourself?

Beat.

ELEANOR

No. You can do it. Just, like, stick with my lips and my face. I don’t think closing my eyes with your hand there is a great–a great idea.

LUMI

I’ll be careful.

ELEANOR

Maybe–maybe we shouldn’t do this with the camera on.

Lumi reaches over and turns the camera off.

CUT TO:

LATER.

Eleanor sits in front of the camera. She has lipstick and basic face makeup on, though there’s only mascara on her eyes. Lumi is next to her.

ELEANOR

So.

LUMI

So. Your carriage awaits.

ELEANOR

It’s a taxi.

LUMI

You’re going a ball; it’s a carriage.

Beat.

ELEANOR

Thank you.

LUMI

You’re welcome.

ELEANOR

Wish me luck.

LUMI

It’s going to be fine.

ELEANOR

Please.

LUMI

Good luck.

Eleanor and Lumi stand, and Lumi gives Eleanor a hug. Eleanor turns to go, and Lumi grabs something from the desk. The mask.

LUMI

Don’t forgot this.

Eleanor takes the mask.

ELEANOR

Yeah. No. That would be bad.

LUMI

Get going. I’ll lock up after you.

Eleanor walks out of the room. Lumi watches her go.

LUMI

Please be careful, El.

Lumi turns to look at the camera, then walks over and turns it off.

Eleanor 18

INT. ELEANOR’S BEDROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor sits in front of the camera.

ELEANOR

I wouldn’t have posted the previous video, but, uh, Relia made me. So I’m sorry and, uh, if you haven’t seen it yet, please don’t watch it. I, um, I know things are on the internet forever, so I don’t need any sort of lecture about putting…whatever on the internet.

I just–I need to say something. About Relia and, uh, about Amber. Amber–Amber’s not always the most perceptive person in the world, and she can be hurtful because of it, but it isn’t on purpose. She just doesn’t see it.

It’s like that quote in the Great Gatsby, the one that Nick says about Tom and Daisy right at the end of the book. “They were careless people–they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”

And before you ask, no, that wasn’t just magically off the top of my head. I looked it up earlier because it was the first thing I thought of.

But…yeah. That’s Amber. Careless but not cruel.

And then there’s Relia. Relia is more like her mother. I assume that’s where she learned it from. She is cruel because she likes to be, because she can boss someone around and have them do something they wouldn’t otherwise do and they have to listen, because she has power. And she gets off on it.

Even if it’s not something she particularly wants to see, she’ll make someone do something because they don’t want to.

I would pick a year with Amber over a day with Relia. Not that I would ever have the choice. But if I did, I know what it would be, no questions asked.

The door bursts open, and Eleanor flinches sharply. Lumi comes in, and Eleanor stands and looks at her. There is a scared tension in Eleanor’s shoulders for a beat, and then she relaxes.

LUMI

Sorry. Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just–I saw your last video. I’m so sorry I didn’t see it earlier.

Lumi hurries over and gives Eleanor a long hug.

LUMI

(While still hugging)

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I know you don’t like to be touched, but–oh my god, I’m so sorry.

They pull away.

ELEANOR

It’s–it’s okay. I’m okay. I mean, I’m not, but I’m going to be. I’m going to be okay.

They sit down. Lumi looks at the camera.

LUMI

You’re filming again?

ELEANOR

Screw my family.

LUMI

Good. Good.

Beat.

LUMI

Do you want to talk about what happened?

ELEANOR

Not really. I mean, she saw, and she threatened to tell her mother, and I couldn’t–I couldn’t do that again. So this was her alternative.

LUMI

She’s an evil bitch.

ELEANOR

I know. But I live with her, and I’m stuck with her, and things aren’t going to change.

LUMI

You’ll figure it out.

ELEANOR

I want to get out.

LUMI

Eleanor–

ELEANOR

I’m not going to. I’m not going to leave, but God, I want to, sometimes. I want to leave, because I don’t think I can do this anymore.

LUMI

You can do this. You can do this as long as you need to, as long as you’re still here.

ELEANOR

I know. I just don’t want to, sometimes.

LUMI

Find something, pick something, and keep it. Keep it as your reason to stay. Because if you don’t, if you don’t, it’s so much harder.

ELEANOR

I know.

Beat.

ELEANOR

I’m going to go. To the ball. I’m going to wear the dress and go to the ball, and honestly, if they find me, there’s not much more they can do than what they’ve already done.

Lumi smiles.

LUMI

That’s great. You excited?

Eleanor smiles too.

ELEANOR

Yeah. Yeah, even though it’s stupid and reckless and dangerous and I’m probably an idiot for doing it, I want to go. I don’t even care about meeting the guy–

LUMI

(Teasing)

The guy?

ELEANOR

Akihiko. Shut up. But this isn’t even about meeting him. It’s about…. Well, this is about being able to go out, for once, and do something that I want to do.

LUMI

You don’t need to defend anything to me.

ELEANOR

I know. I just–I know.

LUMI

But good for you, anyway. Do you want me to come over and help you get ready for it?

ELEANOR

That would be great, if you could do that.

LUMI

For my best friend? I wouldn’t miss it for the world. So… Saturday?

ELEANOR

Saturday. And thank you.

Pause.

LUMI

Do you want to talk?

ELEANOR

Not with the camera on.

Lumi looks at the camera, then reaches over and turns it off.

Eleanor 17

Trigger Warning: forced sexual humiliation

---

INT. ELEANOR’S BEDROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor stands in front of the camera. She is wearing a button-down shirt. She looks uncomfortable. No indication of why, until–

RELIA

(O.S.)

So? Get on with it.

Eleanor flinches. Turns half-around. Relia is standing behind Eleanor, smirking, arms crossed.

ELEANOR

Are you–are you sure I need to do this? I could–I could do anything. I could do anything you want.

RELIA

And I want you to do this. Go on.

ELEANOR

Do I need–do I need to have the camera on?

RELIA

That’s what I said, isn’t it? You’re not doing this for my benefit? You’re not really my type, you know.

ELEANOR

But–

RELIA

But if you’re going to film in this house and you don’t want me to tell my mother, you should at least film something people might want to watch.

ELEANOR

O-okay.

Eleanor turns back to the camera. Looks like she’s going to cry. Starts to unbutton her shirt. Her hand trembles.

ELEANOR

I don’t–I don’t–

RELIA

Shut up and smile. I told you to give them a shows, so give them a show.

Eleanor forces a smile. Unbuttons another button. Is shaking. There is a bruise across part of her collarbone. Her fingers touch it once.

Continues to unbutton her shirt. Gets it all the way unbuttoned. Partially holding it shut across her bra.

RELIA

Take it off.

Eleanor hesitates for a second, then pulls her shirt off.

RELIA

Your pants, now.

Only the top of her pants are in the shot. Jeans. We see her unbutton them and start to unzip them, and then we see her pull them down. As PG as can be done, given that she’s stripping.

She stands for a beat, shaking, arms crossed across her chest. Relia laughs.

RELIA

You can keep the rest on. I don’t really want to see the rest of you. This much is bad enough.

ELEANOR

Please don’t–please don’t tell your mother.

RELIA

I could, but–

ELEANOR

Please.

RELIA

I think this was enough. Bye, now. I have to go confirm my hair appointment.

Relia walks out of the room. Closes the door behind her.

Eleanor stands where she is for a second. Shaking, but otherwise frozen. And then she starts to cry.

Eleanor 16

INT. ELEANOR’S BEDROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor has a laundry basket to one side of her and a pile of folded laundry on the other side of her. Maybe partially visible on screen.

She picks up a shirt and starts folding it.

ELEANOR

Kyo, watashi wa ichi ji kan interneto ni nihongo o yomimashita.

Beat.

ELEANOR

That was probably entirely wrong. What I just attempted to say was that I spent an hour today reading Japanese on the internet. Which actually means that I spent an hour looking stuff up mostly on Google Translate.

In case you can’t tell, I’m bored.

She has finished the shirt and picks up a new one. Holds it up as though referring to it.

ELEANOR

Also, folding laundry. Which is seriously the most mind-numbing thing to do ever. Because I’m not even really moving. It’s not like dusting or whatever where I actually have to go anywhere. I’m seriously just sitting here  folding these stupid shirts and skits and stuff.

She picks up a dress and a hanger.

ELEANOR

You do not want to know what was on this dress before I washed it.

Beat.

ELEANOR

I don’t want to know what was on this dress. I found it’s better not to question stuff on Amber’s clothing. Relia seems to be better about not getting stuff on her clothing. Which I also don’t want to think about.

So yeah. Japanese. And before people start saying that I’m only doing this because of Akihiko, I’m not. I was doing it before. I like Japanese. And Korean. And other languages. In case you can’t tell.

Picks up a shirt.

ELEANOR

Oh, hey, it’s actually one of my shirts. For once. I’m pretty sure Relia and Amber each manage to wear like two to three times as much clothing as me. I mean, they actually go outside, so that probably helps, but still, this is a bit ridiculous. It’s probably all the frat parties they go to.

Hang on; I’m going to go find some other things to say in Japanese.

Hand on mouse (OS), scroll down. Looking. Reading on the computer.

ELEANOR

Um, let’s see. Laundry…laundry, what the heck is laundry…? Sentaku? Sentaku ga kirai desu.

Beat.

ELEANOR

That may or may not have been correct. I was trying to say that I dislike laundry.

Also, in case anyone is wondering, not that I think anyone is, because, you know, who cares, they’re all out today. Relia and Amber have class at the moment, and my step-mother is out meeting with someone. I don’t really know who. I don’t really care who, either. But she’s probably going to be out for a while, so… I can film. For the moment. I really am going to need to be careful. I also hope like hell that none of them ever find this. It could get…ugly.

About what Lumi was talking about last time… she might be right. I mean, it’s a stupid idea–a really stupid idea–but it’s something I want to do. Something I want to do more than anything I have wanted to do in a long time.

I need to figure out how to do it carefully so nobody figures out it’s me. Don’t know if that means I can’t wear my prom dress, but I might be able to. Chances are they don’t remember what it looks like. I mean, my step-mother saw it, what, once, twice? And it wasn’t like I wore it to prom or anything. There aren’t any pictures of me in it.

The thing is, if they do remember, things are going to go to hell in a handbasket, and fast.

But maybe, for those couple of hours, I’m not going to care.

Eleanor 15

INT. ELEANOR’S ROOM. AFTERNOON.

The bruise is pretty much gone from Eleanor’s face, and her black eye has healed.

ELEANOR

This is getting a bit ridiculous. Apparently today is the final dress fitting, so they’re out again, making sure every seam and line and inch is perfect. Because clearly that’s the most important thing going on at the moment.

But at least it’s something. At least they get to go out. At least they get to go spend their time doing something that isn’t sitting around their house on the computer or vacuuming or dusting or folding the goddamn laundry. And I don’t even mind doing those things. It’s not like they’re hard, or dangerous, or complicated. They’re just things I have to do. But when you’ve vacuumed a few times a week, every week, for years, without getting paid, without being allowed to leave your house without permission, without being allowed to do anything without permission, you’d be sick of it, too.

I wish–but it doesn’t matter.

Her phone rings. She pulls it out and checks the caller ID. Smiles. Answers the phone.

ELEANOR

(On phone with Lumi)

Lumi. Hey. How are you doing?

Great. Everything okay?

Yeah. Yeah, they’re out.

Dress fitting. For the ball.

What do you think? You think they would let me go?

It doesn’t matter that I want to. And even if I could, I don’t have a dress, and it’s not like I could go out and get one without them noticing.

I’m not going to wear my… ill-fated prom dress. And this is a stupid conversation, because I can’t go.

Even if I could, I wouldn’t wear that dress.

I know it’s gorgeous. It also got me–

Stops. Swallows hard. Looks at the camera.

ELEANOR

(Cont.)

Yeah, no. I don’t care that it would show them. I’d rather live to see next month.

No, you don’t need to come over and try to talk me into–

Lumi. No. Seriously. I don’t know when they’re getting back.

Lumi. Lumi.

Fine.

She hangs up the phone. Stares at it for a moment. Sighs.

ELEANOR

(Cont.)

So apparently Lumi is coming over.

CUT TO:

INT. ELEANOR’S ROOM. LATER.

Eleanor is sitting in the room. The door opens and she flinches slightly, then turns and sees that Lumi is the one who has come in. Lumi shuts the door behind her; quiet, soft. It is habit to make herself small.

LUMI

Hey, Eleanor.

ELEANOR

You didn’t need to come over.

LUMI

You’re right; I didn’t. But I wanted to. You should go to the ball.

ELEANOR

Are you going to the ball?

LUMI

No. But I don’t want to. You do.

ELEANOR

Doesn’t mean I should risk anything for it.

LUMI

It’s a masquerade ball. It’s literally the best place to hide. You will be anonymous. And you haven’t had fun in… years. Have your night of fun, and then you can come back to your normal life.

ELEANOR

What’s the point?

LUMI

You want to.

ELEANOR

So?

LUMI

That’s the point. The point is that you want to, and you should be able to do things that you want to do. It isn’t hurting anyone.

ELEANOR

Except maybe me.

LUMI

Do you want to do it or not?

ELeanor

Yeah.

LUMI

Then stop arguing with you. I’m going to figure out how to help you do this.

ELEANOR

Lumi.

LUMI

Shut up.

ELEANOR

Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Eleanor 14

INT. ELEANOR’S ROOM. AFTERNOON.

Eleanor has a black eye and a bruise on her cheek with only a bare minimum of concealer over them.

ELEANOR

I recorded this and decided to post it and then almost didn’t post it and then–well, I posted it. But almost not.

INT. ELEANOR’S ROOM. MORNING.

Eleanor has a partially-hidden bruise on her face, as well as a black eye. She tried to cover them up with makeup, but they were too dark to cover all the way.

ELEANOR

Last time went… well. There was more, but I didn’t particularly feel like sharing it on the internet for the whole world to see.

In case you couldn’t tell, I’m not supposed to do this anymore. Which means I need to be more careful. But I’m not going to stop. I’m done… I’m done playing to their every whim. I’m not going to just keep on doing or not doing things just because they give me an order.

Beat.

That’s a lie.

It’s a nice lie, a great idea, but it’s a lie. But I am going to keep doing this. Not just because I want to, but because… because then I’m still here.

I want to still be here. I don’t want to… I don’t want to go anywhere. Not really. I mean, I’ve thought about it, but in the end, I want to stay. Because things are bad here, but if I leave… if I leave, then it’s all gone. Memories of my father, and the things I can learn, and… and Lumi. All of it is gone if I leave. So I want to be here.

And screw my family. Screw all of them.

Pause.

That’s a lie, too. But it’s a nice lie to tell.