raising hope 1x01 - pilot

8/12/2019 Raising Hope 1x01 - Pilot

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Keep Hope Alive

Written By: Greg Garcia

August 10th, 2009


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ACT ONE

FADE IN:

1 EXT. ABANDONED LOT -- MORNING 1

An old beat up van is parked in an abandoned lot. A motleygroup of ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS walk by on their way toschool. One of them throws a rock at the van.

CUT TO:

2 INT. VAN -- CONTINUOUS 2

The back of the van appears empty as we hear the rock hitthe side and JIMMY bolts up into frame. Jimmy is 25 andhungover. He yawns and goes to scratch his head revealing

that an empty forty ounce bottle of beer is duct taped tohis hand. He looks at it curiously and then sees that hisother hand is taped to a bottle as well.

CUT TO:

3 EXT. ABANDONED LOT -- CONTINUOUS 3

We hear kicking against the inside of the van for a beat andthen the door opens. On the sidewalk in front of theabandoned lot we see a cute woman in her early twenties,SABRINA, waiting for the bus in her IHOPwaitress uniform.She hears the noise and looks over. Jimmy gets out the van,

turns and tries to close the door with his feet. Eventuallyhe succeeds. As Jimmy crosses to the sidewalk he noticesSabrina and makes his way over to her.

JIMMYHi.

SABRINIA(beat)

Hello. Why do you have bottles tapedto your hands?

JIMMY

I'm not sure. I'm actually headingto work and I'm hoping a guy therecan answer that question.

The bus pulls up.

SABRINAGood luck.

She starts to get on the bus.


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JIMMYHey, uh... what's your name?

SABRINAYou just crawled out of a van andyou don't know why you have bottles

taped to your hands. I'm not goingto tell you my name.

Sabrina gets on the bus.

JIMMYI can't argue with that.

CUT TO:

4 EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET -- LATER 4

Jimmy approaches MIKE who putting supplies in the back of a

truck that reads, "Pool Cleaning By Chance". Mike, an unkemptfairly oblivious guy in his early twenties, spots him.

MIKEJimmy, where you been? I bought youa breakfast taquito but I ate it,like, two houses ago. There's stillhalf a Yoo Hooand some circus peanutsin the truck if you're hungry.

JIMMYWhy do I have bottles taped to myhands?

MIKEYou don't remember? It was hilarious.I also put make-up on you. I hadyou telling everyone at the bar youwere Edward Forty Hands.

Mike takes out an iPhone and shows it to Jimmy.

MIKE (CONT'D)Check it out.

Mike plays a video of Jimmy drunk, wearing white make-up,mascara and black lipstick and drinking from the bottlestaped to his hands.

JIMMYHow did I get the make-up off myface?

MIKEWait for it.


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On the video we see Jimmy passed out as a big dog licks hisface and mouth.

JIMMYGross.

(then)

Where did you get an apple phone?

MIKEFound it. People keep calling andasking for Derek.

BURT CHANCE, a man in his early forties, comes out of thebackyard carrying a pool skimmer.

BURTGo home, Jimmy.

JIMMY

Why?

BURTYou're fired. Third time this weekyou're late and it's only Wednesday.Your drinking is becoming a problem.

JIMMYWhat are you talking about? Youwere drinking with me. You made mehave a chugging contest with you.

(re: Mike)He was drinking too. He taped bottles

to my hands.

BURTBut we made it to work on time, Jimmy.We can handle ourselves.

JIMMYSo you're firing me because I'm notas good of a functioning alcoholicas you?

BURTHey, watch the name calling. You'renot an alcoholic if you can get towork on time.

Burt gets in the truck. Mike's iPhone rings.

MIKE(into phone)

Hello.(beat)

No he is not, can I take a message?


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Mike gets in the truck and they drive off.

CUT TO:

5 EXT. CRAPPY HOUSE -- LATER 5

A little pink car that has "Merry Maids" on the side issitting in front of a crappy little house. There are twoLatina women in maids' uniforms in the front seat and one inthe back. Jimmy walks up the sidewalk behind them, bottlesstill on his hands. The maid behind the wheel lays on thehorn like it wasn't the first time. Jimmy's forty-one-year-old mother, VIRGINIA, exits the house through the screendoor. She's wearing a maid's uniform and smoking.

VIRGINIA(to herself)

Keep your skirt on.

JIMMYHey, Mom.

Jimmy walks past Virginia and towards the house.

VIRGINIAWhat are you doing home?

JIMMYI got fired.

VIRGINIA(disgusted)

Unbelievable.(then)

Don't touch the TV. I got the VCRPlus set to record "Family Feud."

Virginia gets in the back seat of the car. She rolls downthe window so she can smoke.

VIRGINIA (CONT'D)What the devil are you ladies insuch a hurry for? You know we'regoing to scrub toilets, right?

She takes a drag and blows it out the window.

CUT TO:

6 INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER 6

Jimmy crosses through. We see a woman in her eighties, MAWMAW, sitting in a metal folding chair smoking a cigarette.She's wearing orange pants and a bra.


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JIMMYYou forgot your shirt again, GreatMaw Maw.

MAW MAW(waves him off)

Ahhhhhhhh.

Jimmy exits down the hall.

CUT TO:

7 INT. JIMMY'S BEDROOM -- LATER 7

The second verse of "Fortunate Son" by CCRplays as Jimmyenters and plops down on the bed. We TIME DISSOLVE to seehim doing the following things throughout the day: he useshis teeth to get the bottles off his hands, he plays hisacoustic guitar, he throws a tennis ball against the wall,

he plays his acoustic guitar, he heats up a plate ofmarshmallows in a microwave; he puts one in his mouth butit's too hot, he plays his acoustic guitar, he plays an oldNintendo.

CUT TO:

8 INT. HOUSE -- LATER THAT NIGHT 8

Virginia, in a very casual outfit, bangs on Jimmy's door afew times. Jimmy answers wearing tighty-whities and largeheadphones that are connected to a stereo. He holds hisacoustic guitar. We can hear the faint sound of a Michael

McDonald song.

VIRGINIAYour father's home. Come eat.

CUT TO:

9 INT. KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER 9

Jimmy, now dressed, sits down at the table.

JIMMYDad.

We see that his Dad is Burt, his boss that we met earlier.

BURTJimmy.

Also at the table is Mike, Jimmy's cousin. Virginia putsdown a frozen dinner in front of each of them. Burt andMike also have beers in front of them. Burt picks up thesalt and salts his food for a long time.


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BURT (CONT'D)(re: Mike)

Your cousin and I had to work ourtails off without your help today.

JIMMY

I didn't tell you to fire me.

BURT(mocking)

I didn't tell you to fire me.

Maw Maw, with a shirt on, walks through the kitchen smokinga cigarette. She crosses to the fridge.

VIRGINAYou gonna eat with us, Maw Maw?

MAW MAW

(waves her off)Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Maw Maw grabs a jar of pickles out of the fridge and exits.

BURTWhy do you make your grandmother adinner every night? All that crazybat ever eats is pickles.

VIRGINIAShhhhhhhh. You better watch yourtongue if you want her to leave us

this house after God takes her.

Virginia takes Maw Maw's dinner and her own to the sink,dumping out all but the two bites she took.

BURTI wish He would hurry up and do it.How long can a eighty-five-year-oldwoman live on pickles and nicotine?

Virginia opens the freezer. The inside of the freezer ismostly built up frost on the sides.

VIRGINIADoggone-it. We're out of bubble gumice cream. Burt you gotta go to thestore.

BURTI'm not driving anywhere. I'm kneedeep into a twelve pack.


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VIRGINIAWell, I'm not going. I'm already inmy house clothes for the night. Butsomebody needs to get me my ice creamor I'm gonna be in a mood.

Virginia exits.

VIRGINIA (O.S.)Maw Maw, put that down. That's notfood.

Burt looks at Mike.

BURTIs your driver's license stillsuspended?

MIKE

Yep. They won't even tell me forhow long until they pull that jeep Ihit out of the lake. I told them noone was in it but--

The iPhone sitting on the table rings. Mike pushes thespeaker phone button.

MIKE (CONT'D)Hello?

DEREK (O.S.)Hello? Who is this? You've got my

phone.

MIKEOh, hi Derek.

(pulls out a piece ofpaper)

Listen, your dentist called to remindyou you have an appointment on Mondayand Jill needs you to call her A-S-A...

(looking at the paper)I think that's a Bor a T.

DEREK (O.S.)Thanks. Can I get my phone back?

MIKEMmmmmmmmm, yeah, I don't see thathappening.

Mike hangs up the phone. Burt turns to Jimmy.


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BURTWill you go get your mother's icecream? I don't feel like dealingwith her tonight.

JIMMY

Can I have my job back?

BURT(beat)

Fine.

Jimmy gets up and exits. After a beat the iPhone rings.

MIKEI'm gonna let voicemail get that.

CUT TO:

10 INT. VAN -- LATER 10

Tight on a quart of bubble gum ice cream on the dash. Wewiden to see Jimmy driving. He pops in a cassette tape.

JIMMY(singing)

Meet me in the middle of the night,let me hear you say, everything'sall right. Let me smell the moon inyour perfume.

He stops at a stop sign and a woman in her thirties, LUCY,

frantically runs in front of the van and hops in.

LUCYDrive, drive, drive, drive, drive!

Jimmy takes off, looks to see what they are running from andspots a GUY running after them.

JIMMY(panicked)

Who is that guy?

Lucy scurries to the back of the van and looks out the window.

LUCYNice try, jerk!

JIMMYIs he gone? What's happening? What'sgoing on? What, what's going on...right here. Hello?

Lucy comes back to the front of the van.


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LUCYOh, my god. This is so crazy. Youlike, saved my life!

JIMMYReally? I... what?

LUCYYou totally just saved my life!

JIMMYWow.

CUT TO:

11 EXT. JIMMY'S HOUSE -- CONTINUOUS 11

Jimmy pulls into his yard and parks.

CUT TO:

12 INT. VAN -- CONTINUOUS 12

High on adrenaline, Lucy stares at Jimmy.

LUCYYou're like a hero. And you're cute.

JIMMYReally?

LUCYYeah. You saved my life and you'recute.

She pulls Jimmy into the back of the van. He smiles.

JIMMYWell, this is fantastic.

She pulls him out of frame. After a beat, a pair of jeansknocks the ice cream off the dash. We're tight on the icecream as it melts while the sun comes up. The camera pullsback and Jimmy sits up into frame. His hair is a mess. Helooks to see that he's alone.

CUT TO:

13 EXT. VAN/JIMMY'S FRONT YARD -- MOMENTS LATER 13

Jimmy opens the door, comes out and looks around confused.

CUT TO:


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14 INT. JIMMY'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER 14

Still waking up, Jimmy comes in the front door to find Lucysitting at the table with Mike and Burt watching the news.Virginia is cooking breakfast. Mike is staring at Lucy.

LUCYThere's the hero.

VIRGINIAPull up a chair, sleepy head. Yournew friend's been explaining thenews to us.

BURTShe can pronounce that nutty Iranguy's name. Say it again.

LUCY

MahmoudAhmadinejad.

VIRGINIAYou got a smart one here, Jimmy.

JIMMY(still confused)

Yeah.

MIKEShe's pretty too.

LUCY

(embarrassed)Stop it.

Mike takes a picture with Lucy with his iPhone. Jimmy looksover to see that it's one of many that Mike is scrollingthrough. Jimmy smacks him.

JIMMYStop it.

LUCYVirginia, do you mind if I use yourbathroom?

VIRGINIALast door on the left. If you'redoing big business you gotta flushtwice and you can't be running thesink during the second flush or you'regonna have to give it a third goround.

(MORE)


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VIRGINIA (CONT'D)And the good liquid hand soap isunder the sink cause the cat used toknock it over all the time. The catdied but I still keep it under thereto remind me of her.

(fondly)Calico. Would cuddle right up nextto you.

LUCYGot it.

(to Jimmy)Be right back.

Lucy gives Jimmy a very long kiss as everyone stares. Jimmy'seyes are open and he's very aware of everyone in the room.Finally she exits to the bathroom, smacking him on the buttas she goes.

BURT(calling)

Say it again.

LUCY (O.S.)MahmoudAhmadinejad.

Burt nods, impressed. Virginia dumps some bacon out of afrying pan onto Burt's plate.

VIRGINIAI like her, Jimmy.

(don't mess it up)I like her a lot.

JIMMYDid she mention what her name was orwho that guy was that was chasingher last night?

Burt puts some bacon in his mouth but it's too hot.

BURTOw. She said you guys met at thestore. Said she dropped her groceriesand you helped her pick 'em up.

Burt goes to eat the bacon again.

BURT (CONT'D)Ow.

JIMMYShe said what?


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Mike points to the TV that's behind Jimmy.

MIKEHer name's Lucy.

Jimmy turns to look at the TV. Lucy's picture is on the

screen with her name under it, Lucy Carlyle.

NEWSCASTERThis morning police are searchingfor this woman, Lucy CarlyleakaJoan Doyle aka Selma Wrightsdale.Carlyle, is wanted for murder inmultiple cases.

We see a POLICEMAN being interviewed.

POLICEMANShe kills her boyfriends. Two so

far. We've been trying to catch herbut she keeps changing her name.She's tricky.

On the TV we see an interview of the man who was chasingLucy when Jimmy picked her up.

MANShe snuckup behind me and tried tochoke me with a pair of shoelaces.She was screaming something abouthow I forgot her birthday. Luckilythe shoelaces broke. I chased her

for a few blocks but then she jumpedinto van with some guy.

(into camera)Good luck, dude. Her birthday isMay 12th. I'd buy a card now.

The newscaster address the camera. In the house we hear aflush. Everyone stares at each other for a beat.

NEWSCASTERAnyone with information about thewhereabouts of Lucy Carlyle shouldcontact police immediately.

We hear a second flush.

NEWSCASTER (CONT'D)And remember, she may look sweet butshe is extremely dangerous.

Lucy enters and sits back down at the table next to Jimmy.She starts to eat her breakfast.


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NEWSCASTER (CONT'D)And in lighter news, a small timecrook with a long list of wrongs hewas making amends for has finallyfinished. And you'll never guesshow it ended.

Virginia picks up the little TV and smashes it over Lucy'shead. She goes down.

VIRGINIA(calm)

Call the police.

CUT TO:

15 INT. PRISON -- SIX MONTHS LATER -- DAY 15

CYRON: SIX MONTHS LATER. Jimmy walks down the hall with a

female guard, DANA.

DANAFirst time on death row?

JIMMYYeah. It smells...?

DANAPretty good, huh?

JIMMYYeah. Really good. What is that?

DANADeath.

(beat)Just kidding. We share a vent withthe bakery.

JIMMYOh, yeah, that's right. They makethose cookies here. They're good.

DANAYep. They let us take home the brokenones. Big trash bags full of 'em.

They stop at a door and Dana opens the slot. After seeingan empty cell for a beat, Lucy pops her head in the hole.

LUCYHey sweetie.

JIMMYHey.


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LUCYYou miss me?

JIMMYUh, yeah. Yeah, sure. Is that whatyou needed to talk about?

A buzzer sounds.

LUCYRecess!

JIMMYWhat?

Dana starts to unlock the door. Jimmy backs away.

JIMMY (CONT'D)What are you doing?

DANAShe gets an hour a day to exercisein the cage.

The door opens and Lucy faces away so Dana can cuff her.

LUCYAn hour? You better check with thewarden. I get an hour and a half.

Lucy turns revealing that she's six months pregnant.

LUCY (CONT'D)An hour for me, and a half hour forme and Jimmy's baby.

Lucy crosses off. Jimmy is confused.

DANAFrom the look on you face I'm gonnabe guessing you're Jimmy.

CUT TO:

16 EXT. PRISON EXERCISE CAGE -- LATER 16

Lucy is inside the cage doing deep knee bends. Jimmy watches.

LUCYI don't expect anything from you. Ijust wanted you to know you weregonna be a dad. I thought that wasthe right thing to do. I may havekilled a couple old boyfriends butI'm not a monster.


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Lucy starts to do lunges and Jimmy walks with her long theoutside of the cage. He moves up and down as she does.

JIMMYWell, I appreciate you not expectinganything from me. Not that I don't

want to have a baby one day. I do.But not until I get a record deal.I play the guitar. I've written abunch of songs but I can't seem tomaster playing and singing at thesame time. It's actually harderthan it looks. It's like rubbingyour stomach and patting your head.Anyway, point is, I'm not ready fora baby right now.

LUCYTell me about it. If I was on the

outside I'd be screwed. Luckilywomen have babies in here all thetime. They got a nursery, cribs,clothes... Prison babies got it made.

Lucy gets up and steps closer to Jimmy.

LUCY (CONT'D)And you know what the best part ofit is? I'm supposed to get theelectric chair in eleven months.But that was before they knew I waspregnant.

(smiles)No way they're killing a mother of aeight-month-old baby.

CUT TO:

17 INT. PRISON -- DAY 17

Jimmy has an EIGHT-MONTH-OLD BABY in a Baby Bjorn. The cameracircles him revealing that he is in a room across from Lucywho is in an electric chair. As the camera pans around him,we lose sight of Lucy and land back on Jimmy. We hear abuzzing and Jimmy covers the baby's eyes as he averts hisown.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE


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ACT TWO

FADE IN:

18 INT. PRISON -- CONTINUOUS 18

We hear the electric chair buzzing. Still covering the baby'seyes, Jimmy looks down at the floor. The buzzing stops.Jimmy looks up and his eyes go wide. She's alive. A littlesmoke comes from the top of her head.

LUCYWhoooooooooooo! How bout thatpeople!? How about that?!

(singing Pearl Jam)Whoa, I, I, I, I'm still alive, yeah,I, I, I, I'm still alive.

Jimmy is perplexed.

CUT TO:

19 INT. PRISON OFFICE -- LATER 19

Jimmy sits across from the warden who is on the phone. Afemale office holds the baby. Through glass we can see Lucysitting in another room. Her hair is a little burnt.

WARDEN(calm)

And who is supposed to double checkthat?

(beat)Figures.

(laughs)No, no, you can't fire family.Alright. Don't worry about it.We'll get the next one.

Warden hangs up the phone.

WARDEN (CONT'D)The wires were loose. She didn'tget enough wattage to do the job.

JIMMYSo what happens now? You gonna twistthe wires together and take anothershot at it? I got pliers in my van.

Lucy bangs on the glass. The warden hits a button on aspeaker on the desk.


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LUCYI see you talking in there. Just incase you're thinking about flickingthe switch again you might want tocheck the case of Willie Francis,Louisiana, 1946. After his botched

execution his attorney BertandDeBlancargued that a second attempt wouldbe cruel and unusual punishment.Went all the way to the Supreme Court.They ruled against him five to four,but that was before we had femalejustices. No way GinsburgandSotomayor let me fry twice.

The warden turns off the speaker.

WARDENShe spends a lot of time in the prison

library. And she may be right. Thelawyers are gonna have a field dayon this one. In the meantime she'snot going anywhere. You just worryabout taking care of your baby.

The female officer brings the baby to Jimmy.

JIMMYI still have to take it?

WARDENWell, you don't haveto. But she

did sign over custody to you.

Jimmy looks at the baby. Lucy sees what's going on and bangson the glass. The warden pushes the button on the speaker.

LUCYDon't you take that baby. That's mybaby. God saved me for a reason andI'm pretty sure it was to raise thatbaby. She belongs with her mother,in prison.

The warden turns off the speaker and Lucy continues to bangon the window.

WARDENIt's your call.


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Jimmy looks at the baby for a beat, as Lucy continues tobang on the glass in the background.

CUT TO:

20 INT. LIVING ROOM -- MORNING 20

We see the baby lying on the couch and then we see Jimmy,Mike, Virginia and Burt staring down at her.

MIKEWhat's it's name?

JIMMYShe named it Princess Beyonce but Ithink I might change that.

VIRGINIA(shaking her head)

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy.A baby. Good Lord.

(deep sigh)You know where to get rid of it don'tyou?

JIMMYWhat do you mean get rid of it?

Virginia crosses to another part of the room and sits downin a chair. Jimmy follows her. Burt sits down in a chair.

VIRGINIA

You can leave it at the Fire Station.They won't even ask any questions.I heard there's a cashier down atthe dog track that drops off babiesat that place like dry cleaning.

BURTIs it Joan?

VIRGINIAApril.

MIKE

This baby is pretty light.

Jimmy looks over to see that Mike has lifted the baby up byone foot. Jimmy crosses to him and puts the baby back onthe couch.

JIMMYPut her down. Put her down. Don'ttouch her. You are not allowed totouch her.


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Maw Maw walks through eating a pickle. She's only wearingpants and a bra again.

VIRGINIAShirt, Maw Maw.

MAW MAW(waves her off)Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Maw Maw spots the baby and looks at it.

MAW MAW (CONT'D)Who's is this?

JIMMYMine.

Maw Maw laughs and leans down to the baby.

MAW MAW(whispers)

Good luck, Baby. You're gonna needit.

Maw Maw exits.

JIMMYMom, I'm not getting rid of mydaughter. If I didn't want her Icould have left her at the prison.

BURTYou could've left it there and youbrought it home? What's wrong withyou?

JIMMYIt's a prison. And her mother is amurderer. Call me crazy, but Ithought she might be a little betteroff with me.

VIRGINIAYou can't keep it, Jimmy. A babywill dramastically change your life.How are you going to feed it, do youhave any baby food? Do you haveclothes for it? I bet you don'teven know where to go to getreasonably priced portraits.

JIMMYI'll figure all that out. I justgot her like an hour ago.


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BURTHow did you even get it home? Youdon't have a special seat.

JIMMYI put her in the bean bag in the

back of the van and drove real slow.

BURT(makes sense)

Oh, okay.

JIMMYBut I'm gonna get one of those specialseats for her. I'm gonna get herlots of baby things.

VIRGINIAWith what money?

JIMMYI'll trade my stuff for it. Pawnshop's full of baby crap. I justneed someone to watch her for likean hour and I'll be right back.

VIRGINIAYou're not leaving that baby here.

JIMMYI have to. I don't want to drivewith her again until I get the special

seat. Even driving slow, the beanbag slid around a lot on turns.

VIRGINIAWe're not helping you with this,Jimmy. That's the only way you'llrealize it's a stupid idea and godrop it at the fire station.

MIKEOr you could sell it. I know a guywho would totally buy it.

JIMMYI'm not selling my daughter.Seriously, someone has to watch her.


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BURTYou should have thought about thatbefore you brought it home.

CUT TO:

21 EXT. STREET -- DAY 21

Jimmy walks down the street with a shopping cart and holdinga brown paper bag. In the cart and on the bottom rack ishis acoustic guitar, his microwave, his Nintendo, his stereoand some other items. Also in the shopping cart, lying onsome blankets is Princess Beyonce. He spots the cutewaitress, Sabrina, at the bus stop and stops.

JIMMYHi.

SABRINA

(thrown)Hello.

Sabrina looks into the shopping cart and sees PrincessBeyonce. She's concerned.

SABRINA (CONT'D)Why is there a baby in your shoppingcart?

JIMMYI can't hold her and push it at thesame time.

SABRINAAre you homeless?

JIMMYNo.

SABRINAWhose baby is that?

JIMMYIt's mine. I just don't have aregular baby pusher thing yet becauseI just got her a few hours ago.

SABRINA(not convinced)

Okay.

Princess Beyonce starts to cry. Jimmy reaches in the paperbag and takes out a yellow rubber glove filled with milk.He puts it in Princess Beyonce's mouth and she sucks on it.


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JIMMYI don't have a bottle yet. It's aclean glove. Right out of thepackage.

Sabrina just stares.

JIMMY (CONT'D)(beat)

It was a drinking prank, by the way.Edward Forty Hands.

SABRINAExcuse me?

JIMMYThe bottles I had taped to my hands.It was a... it was about a year orso ago... you were at this bus stop

right here...(re: vacant lot)

I got out of a...(realizing)

you don't remember.

SABRINANo.

The bus pulls up.

SABRINA (CONT'D)Just promise me that's your baby.

JIMMYI promise.

As Sabrina backs onto the bus she takes a picture of Jimmywith her phone in case he's a kidnapper.

CUT TO:

22 INT. HOUSE -- LATER 22

Virginia is vacuuming and two other maids are also cleaning.A third maid, ISABELLE, is on the couch with her feet up andreading The New Yorker. Virginia's cell phone rings.

VIRGINIAHello?

(beat)You're kidding me.

(beat)You're lucky it was my turn to drivetoday.


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Virginia hangs up the phone.

VIRGINIA (CONT'D)I gotta take a twenty. SorryIsabelle, you can have my relaxingtime when we're at the Dixon's house.

As Virginia exits, Isabelle glares at her as she deliberatelyslams the magazine on the coffee table.

CUT TO:

23 EXT. PAWN SHOP -- LATER 23

Jimmy is sitting on the curb with a bunch of used baby stuff.He's reading a copy of "What to Expect In The First Year."Princess Beyonce is in the stroller playing with a toy, whichshe drops. Jimmy gives it back to her and she smiles. Hesmiles back. Virginia pulls up in a 1964 Dodge Dart.

CUT TO:

24 INT. VIRGINIA'S CAR -- LATER 24

The car is still parked and Virginia is behind the wheel.Princess Beyonce is in the car seat in the back behind thepassenger seat. The trunk is open. Virginia looks atPrincess Beyonce and shakes her head. The trunk closesrevealing Jimmy. He hops in the front seat.

JIMMMY(putting on his

seatbelt)Thanks for picking me up. Somebodytotally stole my shopping cart.

(then)Guess what? She smiled at me. Shedropped her toy and she couldn'treach it so I picked it up for herand she totally smiled at me. Itwas like she knew I was there totake care of her. Pretty cool, huh?

VIRGINIACongratulations. Your arms are longerthan hers.

Virginia starts to drive.

VIRGINIA (CONT'D)I knew I was going to get snookeredinto this. I do not have time for ababy in my life, Jimmy.

(MORE)


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VIRGINIA (CONT'D)Between holding down a job and doingmy church work, I barely find timeto spoil myself with a few cocktailsand some socializing.

JIMMYIt's one time. I won't bother youagain. Now that I got the car seatit's safe to have her in my van.

VIRGINIAYour van doesn't have a back seat.Where are you gonna strap it in?

JIMMYWhat do you mean "strap it in"?

Virginia makes a left hand turn which causes the unstrapped

car seat to tumble across the back seat and onto the floor.

CUT TO:

25 INT. VIRGINIA'S CAR -- MOMENTS LATER 25

Jimmy is in the back seat. The car seat is back upright andPrincess Beyonce is fine.

JIMMYShe's fine. She's totally fine.

VIRGINIA

I can't believe you didn't strap itin.

JIMMYI just thought you had to strap thebaby into the seat. Not the seat tothe car. I don't know how this stuffworks.

VIRGINIAYou know how gravity works, don'tyou?

Virginia starts to drive the car.

JIMMYShut up. She's fine. She didn'teven cry. And don't try and act allsmart. The only reason you knew tostrap it in is because you alreadyhad a baby.


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VIRGINIAThat's not true. We didn't havethose kinds of safety things whenyou were a baby.

JIMMY

What are you talking about? Theyhad car seats twenty-five years ago.

VIRGINIAI didn't say theydidn't have them.I said wedidn't have them.

Virginia reaches to adjust the side view mirror.

CUT TO:

26 INT. CAR -- DAY -- 1988 26

Tight on the side view mirror as a hand moves it towards thedriver. We see a reflection of a A TEENAGE VIRGINIA who isdriving the same car. A TEENAGE BURT rides in the passengerseat drinking a beer. THREE-YEAR-OLD JIMMY is jumping aroundin the back seat. Virginia is preoccupied with looking atherself in the mirror.

BURTVirginia, car!

Virginia swerves and three-year-old Jimmy falls onto thefloor of the back seat.

VIRGINIAJimmy, be careful you don't fall inthe hole.

We see three-year-old Jimmy lying on the floor with his headnext to a hole in the floor boards. Then from underneaththe car we see him sticking his head trough the hole. Helowers it lower and lower until it's an inch from the road.

CUT TO:

27 INT. VIRGINIA'S CAR -- BACK TO PRESENT 27

Everyone is where we left them. Virginia is still smoking.

JIMMYI can't believe I'm still alive.

VIRGINIADon't judge me. Your daughter justdid a triple lindy across the backseat. You don't exactly know whatyou're doing either.


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26

Virginia stops the car.

JIMMYWhy are we stopping?

VIRGINIA

Jimmy, you can't keep that baby.You gotta safe drop it.

Jimmy looks to see that they are parked in front of the FireStation. There is a safe drop baby sign on the front.

JIMMYI'm not safe dropping my baby.

VIRGINIAYou don't know what you're doing.

JIMMY

(re: book)I'm learning. And the more I readthe more I realize all the stuff youdid wrong. You know you're notsupposed to smoke around babies?

VIRGINIAThat's only when you're pregnant,stupid. And I don't believe thatanyway. I smoked with you and you'refine.

JIMMY

Fine? I had asthma for the firstseventeen years of my life, I've gotseven permanent teeth that stillhaven't come in and I'm allergic tofruit. How can you say I'm fine?

Virginia stares at him for a beat, then throws the car intogear and starts driving.

VIRGINIAYou know, you complain a lot. That'san annoying habit. No one likes tolisten to people complain all thetime. And you're not allergic tofruit, it just makes your throatitch and your skin a little bumpy.


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27

JIMMYJust drop us off at work.

CUT TO:

28 EXT. BACKYARD -- LATER 28

Burt is cleaning a pool. Mike is mixing and pouring chemicalsin the pool. Jimmy enters pushing Princess Beyoncein astroller and carrying the car seat.

BURTYou're late.

JIMMYI hit a few snags.

Jimmy puts the car seat down and pulls the shade over thestroller to protect Princess Beyonce from the sun.

BURTWell, grab a skimmer and start gettingthese leaves out of here.

He does.

MIKEHey, Jimmy. You ever worry thatthing is gonna grow up to be likeher mother? All crazy. Murderingpeople and junk.

JIMMYNo, I don't worry about that.

As they talk Jimmy fishes leaves out of the pool with theskimmer; a net on a long metal pole. Unbeknownst to Jimmy,the other end of the pole pokes into the inside of thestroller. From inside the stroller we can see that it justmisses Princess Beyonce's head before he pulls it back out.

MIKEI'd worry about that. I'd worryabout that a lot. Like, every timeI looked at her. Which, actually,is what I do.

Jimmy pulls more leaves out of the pool. The back of thepole enters the stroller and just misses Princess Beyonce'shead on the other side.

JIMMYThat's because you think too much,Mike. It makes you crazy.


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MIKEThinking too much doesn't make youcrazy. Crazy is a hermetitary thing.

Jimmy pulls more leaves from the pool and the back of thepole enters the stroller. This time Princess Beyonce grabs

it. Jimmy walks down the side of the pool not knowing thathe's pulling the stroller towards the pool as he goes.

JIMMYMaybe she'll be smart. Her mom mightbe crazy but she's also smart. Maybeshe'll get none of the crazy and allof the smart. Her little brain couldbe working on the cure cancer forall we know.

As he walks down the side of the pool the stroller goes intothe pool. Jimmy turns, see this and dives into the pool.

CUT TO:

29 INT. BURT'S TRUCK -- LATER 29

Princess Beyone is fine. She is soaking wet and sitting inher car seat in the back seat next to Mike. Burt drives.Jimmy, also soaking wet, is sitting shotgun. They all sitin silence for a beat.

BURTYou're gonna go to jail if you killthat baby. You know that, right?

JIMMYI know.

MIKEI'm dying back here. Can we turn onthe air conditioning?

JIMMYThere's a wet baby in the back seat.We're not turning on the airconditioning.

Mike looks at the baby for a beat.


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MIKEYou're turning out to be kind of ahigh maintenance little bitch aren'tyou, Princess Beyonce?

CUT TO:

30 INT. LIVING ROOM -- LATER 30

Burt, Virginia and Maw Maw are playing cards. Mike islistening to his iPhone on the couch. Princess Beyonceislying on the floor. Jimmy enters drying his hands.

MAW MAWYour baby stinks.

JIMMYWhat?

VIRGINIAYour baby stinks.

Jimmy gets closer and smells her.

JIMMYOh, wow. Alright, I'll change her.I knew I'd have to do this sooner orlater. No big deal.

Jimmy holds her up and tries to keep her away from his face.He passes Mike.

MIKEDude, that's awful. What did youfeed it?

JIMMYMom and I stopped off at High's andwe all shared a Mountain Dew and abowl of chili.

(to Virginia)You said it would be fine.

Jimmy exits.

VIRGINIA(calling after him)

It is fine. What did you expect,her poop not to stink?

BURTI thought you were only supposed togive babies sodas that don't havethe caffeine in 'em.


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VIRGINIAOh please. That's just what thepeople at 7UPwant you to believe.

Virginia lays down a card.

CUT TO:

31 INT. JIMMY'S BEDROOM -- MOMENTS LATER 31

Jimmy enters carrying Princess Beyonce. He puts her down onthe bed which he has converted into a crib by putting milkcrates against the sides that aren't pushed up against thewall. He inspects the diaper that she's wearing.

JIMMYOkay, looks like we just use thissticky tape on the sides. Shouldn'tbe too hard.

Jimmy pulls the tape off the dirty diaper and pulls it down.Upon seeing and smelling the contents in the diaper heimmediately throws up on Princess Beyonce's chest.

CUT TO:

32 INT. LIVING ROOM -- DAY 32

Everyone is where we left them. Jimmy hurries in. We hearPrincess Beyonce crying from the bedroom.

JIMMY

(frantic)I need paper towels, I need papertowels, I need paper towels.

He heads into the kitchen.

VIRGINIAWhat happened?

JIMMY (O.S.)I threw up on the baby.

VIRGINIAYou what?

Jimmy hurries back down the hall with a long trail of papertowels.


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JIMMYI threw up on the baby.

CUT TO:

33 INT. JIMMY'S BEDROOM -- CONTINUOUS 33

Jimmy comes in and tries to wipe the baby off without lookingat or smelling the puke and crap. He gags as he does.Virginia enters.

VIRGINIAYou have got to be kidding me. Howin the world...

Virginia sees the mess and throws up on her as well.

CUT TO:

34 INT. LIVING ROOM -- LATER 34

Jimmy enters with Princess Beyonce wrapped in a towel. She'sclean and happy. Burt and Virginia are back playing cards.Mike is still on the couch.

JIMMYAll clean. And the book says a goodbedtime for this age is 7:30 so, offwe go. I'll see you guys in a fewminutes. Deal me in the next hand.

CUT TO:

35 INT. JIMMY'S BEDROOM -- 1:36 A.M. 35

Jimmy paces with a crying Princess Beyonce. The alarm clockreads 1:36. Virginia opens the door and sticks her head in.

VIRGINIAJimmy, people have to get up and goto work tomorrow. You gotta getthat baby to shut up now.

JIMMY(sarcastic)

Already? Please, Mom, let me playwith it for five more minutes?Please.


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Virginia shuts the door.

CUT TO:


The alarm clock reads 2:49. Jimmy paces with a cryingPrincess Beyonce. Burt sticks his head in. Makes a pose asif to say, "Are you kidding me with this."

JIMMYI'm doing the best I can, Dad.

CUT TO:


Jimmy paces with a crying Princess Beyonce. Mike sticks hishead in and holds up his iPhone showing the time.

MIKEFour-thirty, dude. Four-thirty.Still haven't slept.

JIMMYDon't know what to tell you. Whydon't you move your tent out of thelaundry room and put it in the frontyard?

MIKEI think it's too cold.

Mike listens to Princess Beyonce for a beat.

MIKE (CONT'D)Maybe if she hears how annoying itsounds she'll stop. Waaaaaaaaaa.Waaaaaaaaaaa. Waaaaaaaaaaa.

JIMMY(snapping)

Mike, you're not helping.

CUT TO:


The clock says 5:48. Jimmy is walking back and forth with acrying Princess Beyonce.

JIMMYListen, I'm gonna put you back onthe bed but only because if I don't

(MORE)


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JIMMY (CONT'D)I'm afraid I'm gonna drop you. Myarms are so tired. I don't liftweights. This is hard for me.

He puts Princess Beyonce back in the crib and she continues

to cry. He straightens out his arms very slowly and in pain.

JIMMY (CONT'D)Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Virginia and Burt enter. Burt is half asleep and carryingan acoustic guitar. Burt sits on a chair and Virginia crossesto the bed.

JIMMY (CONT'D)What are you doing?

Virginia waves Jimmy off and leans over the bed. Burt starts

to play the guitar.

VIRGINIA(sings)

People smile and tell me I'm thelucky one,

(to Jimmy)This used to work with you.

(singing)...and we've just begun, Think I'mgonna have a son.

(to Jimmy)Dim the lights.

Jimmy does.

VIRGINIA (CONT'D)(singing)

He will be like he and me, as freeas a dove, conceived in love, Sun isgonna shine above.

Princess Beyonce stops crying. Impressed, Jimmy tries tolook but Virginia pushes him back. She motions for him toleave the room. He watches her as he goes.

VIRGINIA (CONT'D)And even though we ain't got money,I'm so in love with you honey, Andeverything will bring a chain oflove.


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Virginia puts her hand on the baby.

CUT TO:

39 INT. SAME BEDROOM -- NIGHT -- 1984 39

We are tight on the baby as a hand touches it. It's BABYJIMMY. We widen to see that TEENAGE VIRGINIA is singing toBaby Jimmy. TEENAGE BURT plays the guitar nearby. The roomis dressed differently.

VIRGINIAAnd in the morning when I rise, youbring a tear of joy to my eyes, andtell me everything is gonna bealright.

CUT TO:

40 INT. BEDROOM -- BACK TO SCENE 40

Jimmy watches Virginia rub Princess Beyonce's back as Burtcontinues to play softly on the guitar. She turns and seesthat Jimmy is still there. She motions with her hand forhim to leave. He does.

CUT TO:

41 EXT. HOUSE -- LATER 41

Jimmy sits on the porch. Virginia comes out and sits downas well.

VIRGINIAShe's asleep.

JIMMYThanks.

VIRGINIAYou ready to admit you're not cutout for this?

JIMMYIt was the first day. I'm notdropping her off at the fire stationafter one day. What makes you sosure someone else can do better thanme anyway?

VIRGINIAJimmy, you almost killed it twiceand we both threw up on it.

(MORE)


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VIRGINIAWe sang a song. Anyone can sing asong. Charles Manson can sing asong.

BURT

He's actually pretty darn good.Mike has his album.

VIRGINIAHe isgood. But that doesn't meanyou want him helping you raise yourchild.

(then)Jimmy, what is it with this baby?Are you afraid people are gonna lookat you differently if you give itaway? No one's gonna look at youany differently. No one expects you

to take care of it.

JIMMYThat's the problem, Mom. I wantpeople to look at me differently.I'm sick of people looking at melike I don't have a purpose. I wantpeople to look at me like that babydoes. Like I'm someone special.This is chance for me to do somethinggood.

(beat)It's a chance for all of us to do

something good.

Virginia and Burt share a look.

VIRGINIAWell, always did think I could havedone better with a girl.

BURTAnd they do say you learn by yourmistakes. We've already made everymistake there is.

Virginia and Burt chuckle. Jimmy waits for an answer.

VIRGINIAWhat are we gonna name it? I'm nottaking my granddaughter to churchwith a name like Princess Beyonce.

JIMMYI don't know. What do you think?


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VIRGINIA(thinks, then)

I always liked Hope.

JIMMYThen, Hope it is.

They sit for beat. The camera starts to very slowly pullout and continues to do so during the following. The LogginsMessina version of Danny's song starts to play.

JIMMY (CONT'D)I saw that girl at the bus stop again.

VIRGINIAThe waitress?

JIMMYYeah.

BURTHow did she look?

JIMMYGreat.

VIRGINIAYou need to grow a pair and take aserious run at that. We could useanother woman around here to help uskeep this baby alive.

JIMMYShe thinks I'm a homeless kidnapper.

BURTWell, think how happy she'll be whenshe finds out you're normal.

As the sun comes up over the house the music continues toplay and Maw Maw hurries out of the house in her bra andpants. She runs down the street.

JIMMYI got her.

Jimmy starts after her, passing Mike sleeping in his tent inthe front yard as he goes. A newspaper is thrown ontosidewalk from a passing car. On the front page is a pictureof Lucy with the headline, "Execution Botched. Lawyers vowto get client released."

FADE OUT

raising hope 1x01 - pilot

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