Call Me Mom

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INT. HART MANOR — DINING ROOM — SIX O’CLOCK

A dining table built for twenty has been set for three.

Geneva sits at one end. Roger sits at the other. Between them, Elle looks very small beneath a chandelier bright enough to expose every silence.

A member of staff places dinner before them and disappears. Silverware touches china. Nothing else moves.

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

Elle glances up at the mention of his name.

ELLE

ROGER

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

ELLE

ROGER

ELLE

Roger studies her. Geneva smiles too quickly, desperate to keep the moment alive.

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

ELLE

Another silence. Geneva reaches for her wine, catches Roger watching, and chooses her water instead.

ROGER

ELLE

ROGER

ELLE

ROGER

GENEVA

ROGER

ELLE

Roger’s expression hardens. For a moment, no one breathes.

Then Elle lifts her fork.

ELLE

Geneva laughs softly, relieved by the smallest mercy.

GENEVA

They return to eating, three strangers performing a family dinner beneath the weight of eighteen missing years.

INT. ELLE’S BEDROOM — LATER

The room has changed.

The expensive silk coverlet has been folded away. Elle’s plain gray blanket lies across the bed. A small ceramic lamp casts a warm circle over the nightstand. Beside it sits a framed photograph of the Atlanta skyline at dusk.

Geneva stands in the doorway holding a fresh vase of flowers.

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

Elle considers that, then nods. Geneva enters and sets the flowers down.

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

A hint of a smile touches Elle’s face and vanishes.

Geneva sits carefully on the edge of the bed, leaving space between them.

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

They share a fragile laugh.

GENEVA

Elle’s shoulders tighten.

GENEVA

ELLE

The force of it stops Geneva cold. Elle stands, instantly ashamed.

ELLE

GENEVA

ELLE

GENEVA

Geneva rises. She does not reach for her.

GENEVA

Elle looks down at the gray blanket, gripping its edge between her fingers.

ELLE

Geneva’s face stills.

For one shining second, all the grief leaves it. Her heart smiles before her mouth remembers how.

GENEVA

Elle does not pull away from the word.

Geneva steps into the hall and closes the door gently behind her. Only then does she press a hand to her mouth and let herself cry.

INT. ROGER’S BEDROOM — NIGHT

Roger stands at his dresser removing his cuff links. The room is immaculate, masculine, and unmistakably occupied by one person.

Geneva enters carrying a glass of wine.

ROGER

Geneva stops.

GENEVA

ROGER

She smiles through the sting of it and takes a drink.

GENEVA

ROGER

The smile disappears.

GENEVA

ROGER

GENEVA

ROGER

GENEVA

ROGER

GENEVA

Roger turns away, jaw tight.

GENEVA

ROGER

GENEVA

Roger takes his jacket from the chair.

ROGER

GENEVA

He leaves. Geneva stands alone in his bedroom, wine trembling in her hand.

INT. EAST WING HALLWAY — CONTINUOUS

Roger strides toward the stairs without looking back.

Near the service corridor, half-hidden beyond a darkened archway, Keith stands perfectly still.

He has heard everything.

The separate bedrooms. The drinking. The bitterness. Every fracture concealed behind the Hart name.

Keith waits until Roger disappears below.

Then a huge grin spreads across his face.

CUT TO BLACK.

END OF EPISODE. COME BACK TOMORROW FOR EPISODE 5.