Mermaids
Written by
Hayley Trafzer
546 Pitch Draft: April 12th, 2017
1
INT. CHURCH - FUNERAL SERVICE - DAY
1
Rows of mourners cloaked in shades of black and gray fill the
aisles, listening as an organist plays.
IN THE FRONT PEW: a grief-stricken man, CHASE(33), takes the
tiny hand of his daughter BROOKLYN (6): pint-sized,
precocious, sporting a mess of long blonde curls.
CHASE
(nudging Brooklyn)
See Auntie Lauren?
Brooklyn nods, scoots closer to her dad, and looks up at
Lauren with wide, hollow eyes.
LAUREN(late-30s), a woman that wouldn’t leave her house
looking less than flawless, approaches the podium.
LAUREN
When you’re born into a large
family, you go to a lot of
funerals. At least, that’s what
Emma used to always say.
Her voice catches. Lauren gazes out at the crowd as she
steadies herself - exhaling a deep breath.
LAUREN (CONT’D)
She had such a way with words didn’t she? When Dad died last
year, Emma was the one up here,
delivering his eulogy. I remember
she said that the only thing about
loving so profoundly, is you end up
hurting just as profoundly. I never
had the gift of words my baby
sister did. But I know. I speak for
everyone in this room when I say
that today? We are all hurting so
profoundly.
2
INT./EXT. CHURCH AND CEMETERY - DAY
2
A SERIES of SHOTS: Four PALLBEARERS carry the CASKET out the
church. In the cemetery: the casket is lowered into the
ground, mourners throw handfuls of dirt onto the casket.
Finally, we see Chase and Brooklyn from behind, slightly
apart from the others, as drops of rain begin to fall.
2.
3
INT. CHASE’S CAR - NIGHT
3
Chase drives, lost in thought.
IN THE BACKSEAT: Brooklyn unzips her purple backpack, pulls
out a hardcover children’s book, studies the front cover
image of a beautiful mermaid.
BROOKLYN
(Quiet, but serious)
Daddy? I want to be a mermaid.
Chase’s face is like: Ya, I don’t know what to do with that.
CHASE
You... what?
BROOKLYN
I want to be a mermaid. Can I?
Chase pauses a very long pause.
CHASE
(sounding very unsure)
Ya, sure. You can be a mermaid.
Brooklyn smiles a very small smile to herself. Chase studies
her in the rearview mirror.
SERIES OF FLASHBACK SHOTS: Chase and Brooklyn - age 3 - are
at a carnival; Brooklyn’s eyes light up at the sight of a
CAROUSEL.
4
INT. CHASE’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
4
The kitchen looks like a war zone decorated by Lisa Frank:
Sparkly coloring books and broken crayons, clutter the
counter tops.
Chase looks exhausted: days of stubble, a wrinkled flannel.
He stands behind Brooklyn, armed with a hairbrush, trying to
tame her tangle of blonde curls;
A How to French Braid Hair tutorial plays; Brooklyn patiently
grimaces with every wrong tug. In the distance, an oven timer
DINGS. Chase ignores it.
BROOKLYN
Daddy, it hurts.
CHASE
I know, I’m sorry -
3.
The doorbell suddenly RINGS. Chase, visibly frustrated, drops
the unfinished braid, and jogs to the door.
5
EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY
5
Lauren waits, holding a large shoebox. She sighs, pulls out a
spare key, then inserts it... Just as the door opens.
CHASE
Lauren....
(he notices the key)
What are you doing here?
Casually, Lauren slides the key back in her bag. She tosses
her hair back, then places a hand on the box, emphatically.
LAUREN
We need to talk about Brooklyn.
CHASE
Okay... Can it wait? Trying to uh
get her to school on time today.
LAUREN
Perfect, I’ll drive.
Brooklyn wanders out from the kitchen, a bright TEAL LUNCH
BOX decorated with MERMAID STICKERS in hand.
Daddy?
BROOKLYN
... Just as the SMOKE ALARM starts to shriek.
CHASE
(under his breath)
Fuck.
6
EXT. BROOKLYN’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY
Brooklyn follows her class down a hallway. Lauren waves bye
to her; Chase stares at a flyer on the bulletin board:
REMINDER TO ALL PARENTS
7th Annual Halloween Costume Contest
Friday, October 31st
He turns back to Lauren.
6
4.
CHASE
So, you gonna tell me why you’re
really here. Or what’s in that box,
maybe?
Lauren removes the lid, hands Chase the shoebox. We see:
A beautiful DOLL wrapped in tissue paper. The inside of the
box has been colored black, decorated with the words RIP
Margaret. It’s a coffin.
CHASE (CONT’D)
Brooklyn did this?
LAUREN
Well honestly. Did you really think
it was appropriate to bring a six
year old to a funeral?
CHASE
I think it was more normal than any
other alternative.
A beat. Chase stares down at the doll, his heart breaking.
LAUREN
We want custody of Brooklyn.
CHASE
Wait, what.
(a beat)
Jesus, Lauren. Are you serious?
She holds out custody papers to him. Definitely serious.
LAUREN
I honestly thought you’d be
relieved.
CHASE
Relieved that you don’t think I’m
competent enough to be a parent?
LAUREN
C’mon Chase. Let’s not pretend
you’re some amazing dad.
He looks away, visibly stung by this comment.
LAUREN (CONT’D)
We’ve already set up an appointment
with a pre-trial mediator. Friday
morning, 10 am.
(MORE)
5.
LAUREN (CONT’D)
It’ll be easier for all of us if
you come and sign the papers now.
You’ll have the same deal you did
before - every other weekend,
certain holidays...
(she tapers off)
I mean look at you!
She gestures in frustration at his disheveled appearance.
Silence. She regains her composure.
LAUREN (CONT’D)
C’mon I’ll drive you home.
Chase stares at her for a long time, shakes his head, turns
and walks down the street.
SERIES OF FLASHBACK SHOTS: Chase watches from a distance as
the Carousel begins to move; Brooklyn laughs; Chase points
his phone at her, snaps a picture.
7
INT. BROOKLYN’S SCHOOL - DAY
7
Rows of children sit at desks silently reading and coloring
pictures. Brooklyn stares down at the mermaid book.
On the Page: We see the Mermaid telling a baby sea turtle
that Mermaids Don’t Have Families.
Brooklyn looks up, lost in thought.
8
EXT. SCHOOL - LATER
8
Brooklyn spots Chase and her face lights up.
Daddy!
BROOKLYN
He smiles and hugs her.
CHASE
You had a good day? C’mon let’s go.
I got a surprise for you.
9
INT. AQUARIUM - DAY
Brooklyn stares in awe at a gigantic jellyfish. Chase holds
her hand, tightly - like he’s scared she’ll run away.
She looks up at him, thoughtfully:
9
6.
BROOKLYN
Daddy? What pills should I take?
Pills?
CHASE
BROOKLYN
To become a mermaid. Ruby said if I
was going to become a mermaid I
would probably be needing pills for
it. And her mom is a surgeon.
Chase squats down to her level, rubs his temples.
CHASE
Brooke, why do you want to be a
mermaid so badly?
BROOKLYN
Because. Mermaids don’t have
families.
CHASE
I’m your family. Wouldn’t you miss
me if you became a mermaid?
BROOKLYN
No, mermaids don’t have families. I
wouldn’t even know to miss you
because I wouldn’t remember you.
10
INT. CHASE’S HOUSE - DAY
10
Chase sits behind a computer and searches Children’s Mermaid
Costumes.
He scrolls and stops on the perfect one:
It’s sparkly, and the same shade of turquoise as Brooklyn’s
lunch box. He frowns: Estimated Delivery - November 2nd.
11
INT. COSTUME AND FABRIC SHOP - DAY
11
Chase enters, awkward, and out of place in this environment.
He approaches a store clerk.
CHASE
Hi, I’m uh looking for a mermaid
costume, it’s for my daughter.
He pulls up the image of the costume on his phone.
7.
RACHEL
Oh, wow. We don’t carry anything
like that. But I can maybe see if
we have a pattern or something?
Chase considers, notices a flyer in the doorway.
CHASE
You teach sewing lessons?
12
INT. SEWING SHOP - LATER
12
Rachel watches as Chase shakily threads the needle through
the fabric - the stitches are bad, but he’s trying.
RACHEL
See? Not so hard, right?
(a beat)
You’re a good dad, you know that.
CHASE
I’m not. I’m really not. I have no
clue what I’m doing. Ever. I’m
making a fucking mermaid fin for my
daughter because I don’t even have
the balls to tell her that mermaids
aren’t real.
RACHEL
You’re a good dad. If only just for
caring enough to even be here.
She hands him back the tail.
He studies the line of stitches she’s done for him, then
keeps working.
13
INT. BROOKLYN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
13
Chase stands in the door frame and watches his daughter
sleep. She looks so peaceful, so beautiful. Finally, he shuts
the door, careful not to make a sound, or risk waking her
from such a serene reverie.
A beat, then Brooklyn’s eyes flash open - she’s wide awake.
She clicks on a flashlight, then pulls out the mermaid book.
14
INT. CHASE’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Chase’s answering machine blinks; he hits play:
14
8.
LAUREN (O.S.)
Hi Chase, this is Lauren. I wanted
to remind you of our meeting
tomorrow morning, and ask that you-Chase hits the stop button.
He grabs the mermaid costume, sits, tries to emulate Rachel’s
delicate stitch work. It’s harder than he remembered.
15
INT. BROOKLYN’S ROOM - NIGHT
15
Brooklyn points the flashlight at the book studies the image
of the mermaid swimming.
She closes the book, crawls out of bed; opens a dresser
drawer, pulls out her bathing suit.
16
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
16
Brooklyn creeps past her dad, Chase is too engrossed in his
work to notice. She slips out a back door.
17
EXT. BACKYARD - NIGHT
17
Brooklyn shivers in the darkness as she approaches the
swimming pool.
She stares up the ladder of a small water slide begins to
climb.
FLASHBACK SHOTS: The carousel stops; Chase walks to the exit,
waits for Brooklyn, she’s nowhere to be seen. The carnival is
crowded - Chase spins around, growing more frantic by the
second, calling out her name.
18
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
18
Chase’s memory is interrupted by an ear piercing scream and
the sound of Brooklyn crying out for her mom.
Brooklyn??
19
CHASE
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM LOBBY - NIGHT
Chase slams through the ER doors holding Brooklyn.
19
9.
20
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
20
Brooklyn lies in a hospital bed, her wrist wrapped in a NEON
PURPLE CAST. Chase paces, rubbing his face with his hands.
BROOKLYN
Daddy? The doctor said I have to
wear the cast for six weeks. How
can I be a mermaid now if I can’t
go in the water.
Chase snaps - he’s definitely at his wits end with this shit.
CHASE
Brooklyn, stop. Stop with the
mermaid thing. Mermaids aren’t real
and you can’t become one. I mean,
Jesus Christ. What were you
thinking tonight?? You hurt
yourself. Bad. And it could have
been so much worse.
BROOKLYN
(quietly)
I know that mermaids aren’t real.
What?
CHASE
BROOKLYN
I know that mermaids aren’t real.
She looks up at him as her eyes fill with tears. She holds
them back, trying to be brave.
BROOKLYN (CONT’D)
But I still wanted to be one,
anyways.
Chase tries to wrap his head around this. Suddenly he notices
Lauren. Standing in the hallway. Talking to the doctor. Fuck.
21
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Chase faces a furious Lauren and a SOCIAL WORKER.
LAUREN
What were you thinking letting her
swim in the middle of the night
alone. Are you out of your goddamn
mind? This is exactly why we’re
doing this.
(MORE)
21
10.
LAUREN (CONT'D)
You don’t know the first thing
about being a parent, and you are
in no way capable of raising this
child alone.
CHASE
That’s not fair at all Lauren.
LAUREN
It’s not fair but it’s the truth.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
Lauren stalks down the hallway. Chase turns to go back into
the room. The Social Worker coughs, awkwardly.
SOCIAL WORKER
Actually sir, I need to ask you a
few questions before we can let you
see your daughter again.
22
INT. BROOKLYN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
22
Brooklyn is asleep; Chase lies on the floor next to her,
staring at the ceiling, unsigned custody papers on his chest.
23
INT. BROOKLYN’S BEDROOM - DAY
23
The sun is rising. Chase hasn’t moved, eyes still cast on the
ceiling.
Finally, he stands holding the custody papers, and begins
silently picking Brooklyn’s toys off the ground.
His eyes land on the Mermaid book.
24
INT. CHASE’S KITCHEN - DAY
24
Chase sits at the table, opens the Mermaid book. Carefully he
flips through, page by page.
On the last page, we see a photograph of Emma and Brooklyn.
For My Mermaid: Never forget, with a family like ours, you
will never have to be alone. Love you forever little one,
Mama.
Chase re-reads this line, gets up, goes and grabs the mermaid
tail. Hurriedly, he begins to sew.
11.
25
INT. BROOKLYN’S BEDROOM - DAY
25
Chase nudges her awake, hands her the costume. Brooklyn’s
eyes light up.
BROOKLYN
(whispering)
Woooooow.
The costume looks homemade, and unfinished, but from her
reaction, you would never know -- she genuinely loves it.
26
INT. SCHOOL - COSTUME CONTEST - DAY
26
Chase sits in an auditorium filled with parents. Lauren sits
down next to him, exasperated.
LAUREN
You missed the meeting. Chase CHASE
What do you think Emma would say if
she was here right now?
LAUREN
She’d say that I was doing the
right thing.
CHASE
When I fell in love with Emma one
of my favorite things about her was
her family. The way she talked
about all of you. And then when I
met you? I realized she was right.
And for the first time in my life,
I had a family too.
Lauren tries to interject, but Chase isn’t done:
CHASE (CONT’D)
We can fight it out and let a judge
decide. But Emma wouldn’t want this
- this isn’t the right thing, you
breaking up the family. That’s not
the kind of family I fell in love
with, and it sure as hell isn’t the
kind of family Emma would want her
daughter to be raised with.
Silently he hands Lauren back the custody papers.
12.
CHASE (CONT’D)
And if you want to take me to court
over it then... I guess I’ll see
you there.
Lauren and Chase fall silent. The doors open, children begin
to parade around the auditorium showcasing their costumes.
We see Brooklyn, dressed in her mermaid costume, enter the
room. Her face lights up as she spots her family. Chase waves
to her, smiles a small smile, as we...
FADE OUT.