CUT TO:

INT – JESS'S BEDROOM – NIGHT – FLASHBACK

Little!Moog, seven or eight, tops, stands next to the bed, where Jess lays alone, sleeping. On the bedside table is a half-empty glass of vodka, as usual. A cube of ice shifts in it. Moog suddenly begins coughing violently.

Jess wakes and sits up, almost immediately

JESS

What is it? Put your arms up.
(grabs the glass off the table and hands it to him)
Take a sip.

Moog does. The taste of liquor makes him cough more. Jess takes it and looks at it, then her eyes widen

JESS
Oh God, I'm sorry, I thought it was water.

Moog manages to stop coughing and hugs her, then pulls back, making a face

MOOGLE
Reb and Pro are sick. Reb wet the bed.

CUT TO: Reb, Pro and Moog's bedroom. Jess walks in, followed by Moog, and pulls the covers off Reb.

JESS

Christ, Reb!

Jess picks him up and carries him into the bathroom off of their room, setting him down in the tub.

JESS
Get in the bathtub, get out of those clothes!

She starts pulling his shirt over his head, Reb apologizing profusely. Moog has another coughing fit

JESS
(shrilly)
Moogle! Stop that coughing, come help me with

your brother!

Moog runs over and starts turning the taps on

MOOGLE
Come on, Reb, you have to take a bath.

Jess runs over to a crying Pro and puts a hand on his forehead

PRONOUN
My tummy hurts.

JESS
You're hot as hell, honey, we have to take

your temperature –

Jess picks him up, and Pro immediately pukes on her

JESS
oh god, Pro!

PRONOUN
Sorry mommy –

She runs into the bathroom and sets him down in front of the toilet, where he continues with the puking. Jess turns on the taps and grabs a washcloth, trying to get the stain out of her shirt.

JESS

Where's your goddamn father? Why do I

have to do everything myself?!

Autumn, also kid-sized, runs in, and nearly knocks Jess over as she runs to join Pro in throwing up at the toitlet. Jess stumbles back and steps right onto Reb's wet pants. Overwhelmed to the point of hysteria, she grabs another washcloth and cleans her foot off, shaking. Those kids that aren't wretching are asking to be held or picked up. Jess can't take the noise, or the activity, or the bodily fluids, and shakes violently

JESS

SHUT UP! shutupshutupshutup
(covers her ears and squeezes her eyes shut, tears running down her face)

CUT TO: MORNING.

We are looking at Jess's mirror; in it we can see the reflection of her lying awake in bed. Around the room the curtains are pulled over the windows. We see her get out of it and walk off. She disappears from view altogether for a few seconds until she walks in front of the mirror to get to her closet. She takes a coat out of it, puts it on over her pajamas.

CUT TO: Jess walking into the kitchen, past Tim, who is making breakfast. She grabs her purse

JESS
Tim. Do you have any money?

TIM
No, I don't.

JESS

Make sure Pro eats his oatmeal or he'll be into

the cookies before you can turn around.

TIM
I will. Where are you going in your fancy coat?

JESS
I have to talk to Eru Mortal.

TIM

Watch out for Ruby and knock before you open

any doors in there. Trust me.

JESS
I'll be back in an hour.