Lily
 
written by
 
Harlan Friedman-Romell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
440.319.9092
hyfr0223@gmail.com
 1.

EXT. BETH EL TEMPLE - FRONT ENTRANCE - EVENING (SUMMER, '64)

A clear, beautiful night. Parked cars fill the lot, and the
synagogue marquee reads "MAZEL TOV, RACHEL!" Klezmer music
blares from within the temple.
An elderly woman, GRANDMA ELINOR (70s), smokes on a bench
outside the front doors. She holds a cigarette in her left
hand and clutches a small, wooden jewelry box in her right.
A little girl and her parents walk up to the doors and open
them, going into-

INT. BETH EL TEMPLE - LOBBY/ATRIUM - CONTINUOUS

It's packed. People laugh, eat, dance, etc. There're girls on
the dance floor, awkward boys standing on the side,
overexuberant magicians entertaining children, a buffet
packed with food: gefilte fish, bagels & lox, rugelach, etc.
Macro close-ups of feet, eyes, talliot, food, and an OLDER
GIRL IN A GOLD DRESS.
CUT TO:

INT. BETH EL TEMPLE - PRESENTS TABLE

Presents of various sizes sit on a circular table: boxes,
envelopes, and the like. In front of the table is RACHEL
(13), our Bat Mitzvah girl. She has wavy black hair, brown
eyes, and is mid-hug with ESTHER, (late-30s) her mom.
ESTHER
Ugh. How'd you grow up so fast?-
RACHEL
Stop embarrassing me-
ESTHER
Hey. It's my job. I'm good at it.
Rachel tries squirming out of the hug to no avail.
ESTHER (CONT'D)
Nope. Not ready yet.
RACHEL
Mom-
Across the room, Rachel spots her dad, HAROLD (40s), speaking
to a group of ELDERLY RABBIS.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Who's dad talking to?
 2.

Esther lets go of Rachel and turns; a rabbi notices them

staring from across the room; he waves.
Esther puts her arm around Rachel. They smile and wave back.
ESTHER
(through a smile)
Faculty from his Rabbinical School-
-don't bother them.
RACHEL
I wasn't going to-
ESTHER
Rachel, I know you. This is
important.
RACHEL
Okay, okay!-
Esther kisses Rachel's forehead.
ESTHER
Sorry, dear.
(pause)
Mazel Tov. I am always proud of
you, but today especially.
RACHEL
I know.
ESTHER
Good. Okay. Break my heart. Go be
with your friends.
They smile. Rachel leaves her.
ESTHER (CONT'D)
That's my Bat Mitzvah girl!
Rachel turns around and gives her mom the death glare; Esther
chuckles. Rachel goes back and walks to the:

EDGE OF THE DANCE FLOOR - CONTINUOUS

Rachel sees the older girl in a gold dress, LUCY (15), across
the dance floor. Rachel is entranced.
She goes to her, but A BOY (15), gets to her first. They
dance a little too close for a Bat Mitzvah.
He pulls a flask from his suit jacket, discreetly takes a
swig, and passes it to Lucy; she does the same. They dance
closer.
 3.

A disappointed Rachel steps back, colliding into the nebbishy

DANNY (12), eating a goopy, stuffed bagel which smurshes all
over her dress.
Rachel steps back, mortified.
RACHEL
Ugh, Danny, you're such a freak!-
DANNY
I'm sorry-
She storms off.
DANNY (CONT'D)
Wait! Do you wanna dance?!
Danny flashes his teeth; he's got a braceface, a little bit
of lox stuck in his wires.
Behind him, DANNY'S FRIENDS point and laugh.
DANNY (CONT'D)
(turning)
Come on, guys!-

EXT. BETH EL TEMPLE - FRONT ENTRANCE

Rachel storms out of the temple, dabbing a wet cloth at the
cream-cheese and pickle juice stain on her dress.
Rachel comes upon GRANDMA ELINOR, (late 70s), smoking on a
bench.
RACHEL
Grandma?-
GRANDMA ELINOR
(noticing Rachel)
Ah shit. I mean, fiddlesticks.
You didn't hear that.
RACHEL
I know-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Good. Good.
(gesturing the cigarette)
You want to try?
RACHEL
Grandma!
GRANDMA ELINOR
They won't kill ya! L'chaim!
 4.

RACHEL
They will kill you-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Yeuch, you sound like your mother.
I always say, better the devil I
know than the devil I don't. Not
that there is a devil.
(pause)
What happened to your dress?
RACHEL
Danny.
GRANDMA ELINOR
Boys. They'll only get messier.
Grandma Elinor puts the cigarette out on the bench and
reaches into her purse for a Clorets Mints pack; she tosses a
couple in her mouth.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
Come on! Get your tuchus over here-
Rachel sits and sighs. Grandma Elinor senses she's upset.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
You were just gorgeous today, Rach.
Yasher Koach--I've never heard
anyone chant so beautifully-
RACHEL
(dejectedly)
You're just saying that.
GRANDMA ELINOR
A day moping is a day wasted.
RACHEL
I'm not moping.
GRANDMA ELINOR
I know moping when I see it, and
you're moping.
Rachel snuggles up to Grandma Elinor, putting her head on her
chest; Elinor drapes her arms around Rachel.
RACHEL
It's stupid.
GRANDMA ELINOR
I'm sure it is.
RACHEL
I just wish I was older.
 5.

GRANDMA ELINOR
I see. You wish you were old. You
wish you had my figure, my hips-
RACHEL
No, no-
GRANDMA ELINOR
Take it from a fossil like me;
everyone spends their youth wishing
they were older. And then, when
they finally are, it feels like no
time passed at all! They spend the
rest of their lives clinging to
their youth! You're already growing
up so fast-
RACHEL
Everyone keeps saying that--I don't
feel it. At all.
GRANDMA ELINOR
You may not feel it now, but you
will. Don't rush now. Hold on to
these days. For me. For your Bubby.
RACHEL
I could wait a few years to join
your Mahj game.
GRANDMA ELINOR
That is if the girls and I let you!
(pause)
Your present! Yes!
Grandma Elinor gives Rachel the small, wooden jewelry box.
She opens it; inside is an ORNATE LOCKET, encrusted in gold
and silver.
RACHEL
Grandma, it's beautiful-
GRANDMA ELINOR
I know it is--up goes the hair!
Rachel smiles and pulls her hair up. Grandma Esther drapes
the locket around her neck.
GRANDMA ELINOR (CONT'D)
This was given to me by my
grandmother, and she hers, and so
on and so forth...it's been in our
family for centuries; it's promised
to protect you from wicked spirits
on your journey through womanhood.
 6.

RACHEL
Does it really? Ward off spirits?
Grandma Elinor chuckles.
GRANDMA ELINOR
It's worked out for me so far!
(pause)
You've got plenty of chutzpah.
Never lose your faith, and never
lose sight of who you are.
(pause)
Get back to your party! Soak up the
fun while you can-
RACHEL
Come dance with me.
GRANDMA ELINOR
The last time I danced was with
zayde, and out came Harold nine
months later-
RACHEL
Grandma!-
GRANDMA ELINOR
-And I've seen the way you kids
move. I don't want to throw out my
hip!-
RACHEL
I'll pop it back in.
GRANDMA ELINOR
You will?
RACHEL
I promise.
Grandma smiles. The two get up and walk to the temple doors.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
I don't even like dancing.
GRANDMA ELINOR
Oh, Rachel. That'll change.
They laugh. We push in on the locket around Rachel's neck as
they enter the temple.
CROSS DISSOLVE TO:
 7.

EXT. RACHEL'S HOUSE - FRONT DOOR - DAY (SUMMER '69)

Tracking on Rachel's locket, we slowly pull out to see RACHEL
(now 18), carrying boxes through the front door of her house.
A melodious trumpet blares in the distance.

INT. RACHEL'S HOUSE - FOYER - CONTINUOUS

Rachel walks through the foyer, into the living room, and up
the stairs. The house looks like it hasn't been lived in for
years.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MONTAGE

Rachel enters her room, setting down the boxes. She sighs.
She takes out a record player, sets it on a dresser, and
takes out a stack of records from the same box. She puts one
in.
She places around the room:
Film photos of family, friends, a mid-tumble Danny, a
laughing Lucy.
Band posters, tapestries, and lights on the walls.
A lava lamp on her bedside table.
Knick-knacks and stuffed animals across a shelf.
A Polaroid Swinger in her bedside table drawer.
A photo of her and Elinor flipping off the camera on a
vanity.
A phone on her dresser.
Finally, Rachel rips a black sheet off an old mirror in the
corner of the room. It's intricate, imposing and has a
strange aura.
Rachel examines her reflection. She goes to the glass,
touches it, and backs off. She stretches her face and sucks
in her gut. A real moment of confidence.
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel! Dinner!
She exhales out. Bleh.
CUT TO:
 8.

INT. KITCHEN - DINNER TABLE - EVENING

Moving boxes lay around the house. The kitchen is unfinished.
MOSES, an early toddler, sits in a cardboard box and cries.
He just spat up his food.
RACHEL, HAROLD, ESTHER
Aww! / Uh oh! / Moze-
Rachel, Harold, and Esther sit around their dinner table
eating Chinese takeout.
HAROLD
Rachel, can you get him a new box?
RACHEL
(in-between bites)
Mhm-
Rachel gets up and goes to another room.
Esther comes to Moses and takes off his shirt.
ESTHER
And a new shirt!
RACHEL (O.S.)
He's just gonna spit up again-
HAROLD
Hey! If he doesn't have to wear a
shirt, I shouldn't have to either-
RACHEL
Nope! Found 'em!
Esther sighs. Rachel comes back with a box of Moses' baby
clothes, dumping the contents on the counter. She decides on
a grotesque Hawaiian for him.
RACHEL (CONT'D) ESTHER
(handing over the shirt) (taking it)
Here- Thank you, sweetie-
Rachel switches out the boxes and sits back down.
HAROLD
Three times in one day.
ESTHER
(putting Moses' shirt on)
Probably the long car ride didn't
do him any good, poor Moshey-
 9.

HAROLD
You think we should get a sitter
for High Holidays?
ESTHER
At your pace? Absolutely-
HAROLD
Can't believe we've got to start
prepping already-
ESTHER
Bigger congregation, bigger
service-
RACHEL
(interrupting)
Hey, what's the deal with that
mirror?
ESTHER
What mirror?
RACHEL
(stuffing her face with
noodles)
Thff mffirrfor in my rfoom-
HAROLD ESTHER
Frrf frrrf-frrfrf frrrf-frrf- Honey, chew-
frffr?
RACHEL
(gulping down)
I said, the mirror in my room-
HAROLD
The mirror in your room...
ESTHER
(under breath, to Harold)
Your mother's mirror? The auction
one?
RACHEL
What? Auction?
HAROLD
It's an antique. Could be worth a
lot-
ESTHER
And we should to remodel-
(gesturing to kitchen)
-all of this. Elinor wasn't much
for keeping up appearances-
 10.

HAROLD RACHEL
Hey. Honey. I like it. Do you have to
sell it?
ESTHER
We're getting it appraised first-
HAROLD
(to Rachel)
We'll see. We'll see.
RACHEL
So no. Got it.
HAROLD
We'll see doesn't mean no, it means
we'll see-
RACHEL
You always say that when you don't
want to say no-
HAROLD
Rachel-
ESTHER
(to Harold)
How about we'll talk about this
later!?
(to Rachel)
You have bigger things on your
plate right now-
Rachel shovels the rest of her noodles into her mouth.
RACHEL
Not anymore.
(eating as noisily as
possible)
Mmh, mmh, MMMHHM, hvis isf
dfelicfious, Fank thyou fmso mfuh-
(getting up)
Oh, I'mf sforry, may I be excused?
ESTHER HAROLD
To where? Got a date?
RACHEL
I promised Lucy that I'd call her
when we got here-
HAROLD
Oookay. Give Stuart my best-
RACHEL
Mhmp! Peace.
 11.

Rachel exits. Harold, Esther, and Moses eat in silence.

ESTHER
You said we could redo the carpets
and the wood-paneling-
HAROLD
And you said I could keep the
Thunderbird-
ESTHER
What are you going to do with a
Convertible here in the Winter?
Moses coos.
HAROLD
Don't take her side!

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel sits in the window nook, on the phone. She spies on a
house across the street; the lights are on, and a family
(MARIA [18], LOLA [mid 40s], JOHN [late 40s], JOSEPH [10])
laughs and eats dinner. It's warm.
LUCY (O.S.)
You'll never guess why they broke
up-
RACHEL
Wait, they broke up?-
LUCY (O.S.)
Oh. Right, I forgot you weren't
here last week--well, we all
thought that it was college, but it
turns out that when Danny went to
Martha's Vineyard last month, he--
oh, hang on a second-
(to someone else)
-I know, I'll just be a minute-
RACHEL
Who's that?
LUCY (O.S.)
Jared. We're all gonna go to the
drive-in.
RACHEL
You two are still...?
LUCY (O.S.)
Yup. He got us some pot, too.
 12.

RACHEL
Wow, cool. Are you high right now?
LUCY (O.S.)
As a kite.
(she chuckles)
But, but I can talk for a little
while longer! How is it there?
How's Mushy?
RACHEL
Moshe. He's fine. It's just
strange. It feels like a weird
vacation, but I know I'm not going
to come back. Like, I'm never going
to see anyone again.
(pause)
I really miss you-
LUCY (O.S.)
Stop it, Jare! I'm coming, gosh-
(to Rachel)
Hey, I have to go, but we miss you
so much-
RACHEL
Yuh-huh. But hey, Luce-
LUCY (O.S.)
Groovy. Bye!
Lucy hangs up.
RACHEL
Bye-.
Rachel puts her phone down and sighs, head on knees.
Rachel looks out the window, then back to the mirror. It
looks back.
Rachel covers the mirror with the sheet.

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

Through the reflection of the bathroom mirror, Rachel brushes
her teeth.
She notices a pimple. She tries to squeeze it out to no
avail.
She sighs.
 13.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM

Rachel snores.
The sheet slips off the mirror and falls to the floor.
Rachel rustles. She reaches for the glass of water on her
bedside table: it's empty. She takes it, gets up, and leaves.
Rachel returns with a full glass, takes a swig, sets it on
her stand, and gets into bed. As she does, the reflection
moves with her. She faces away from the mirror, and closes
her eyes.
Suddenly, RACHEL'S REFLECTION rolls over, stares, and smiles;
she has piercing blue eyes.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - MORNING

WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Rachel lies on the bed, tangled up in sheets.
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel! Help me unload!
Rachel groans.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH!
She gets out of bed.

EXT. MARIA'S HOUSE - SHED ROOF

Maria's plays trumpet; her hand moves fast, the valves blast
up and down. She's really good.

INT. KITCHEN - MID-MORNING

Rachel and Esther unload groceries.
In the adjoining living room, Moses sits in his crib, playing
with alphabet blocks. He spelled out "L-I-L," and he's
teething on the "Y" block.
The melodious trumpet blares on in the distance.
RACHEL
Where's dad?
ESTHER
Lunch with the Cantor.
 14.

RACHEL
Meats?
ESTHER
Bottom left drawer-
Rachel picks up the bag, rifling through it.
RACHEL
No bacon?
Esther glares, as if to say "Come on."
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Ookay.
Rachel puts the meats in the fridge and wanders into the-

INT. LIVING ROOM

She goes to Moses and picks him up.
ESTHER (O.S.)
I don't want you breaking Kashrut
in this house. Or out of this
house. Seriously.
RACHEL
(to Moses)
Oh, what a shame you'll never get
to experience the crunchy, sweet,
savory, taste-
ESTHER (O.S.)
Rachel!
Moses gurgles unintelligibly.
MOSES
Gahghee...
RACHEL
Close, Rachel! Rachel! Say Rachel!
Moses gurgles, reaching for his blanket.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Okay, we can get blankey.
Rachel fishes around in the crib for his blanket, and gives
it to him. Moses grabs it and nuzzles it.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Now can we say Rachel? Rachel?
 15.

Moses is sucking on the blanket.

RACHEL (CONT'D)
Stupid, dumb baby-
(to Esther)
Mom! Shouldn't he be talking by
now?
ESTHER (O.S.)
It took over a year for you to get
your first word out-
Esther comes into the living room, coat on, purse in hand.
RACHEL
What was it again?
ESTHER
Booby.
RACHEL
Hah. Yeah.
Esther kisses the top of her head.
ESTHER
Alright, I'm off-
RACHEL
What? Where?
ESTHER
B--DMV. Have to transfer the
insurance over to Ohio, and then ed
supplies for the temple-
RACHEL
Buh--when will you be back?
ESTHER
Around three. And then we have the
Meet-and-Greet after that-
RACHEL
Don't remind me.
Esther kisses the top of Moses' head and crosses in front of
them.
ESTHER
It'll be fun. Play nice.
Esther leaves the room.
RACHEL
What?! No biting?
 16.

ESTHER (O.S.)
Try to keep it to a minimum! Buh-
bye-
A door slams. Rachel sighs.
RACHEL
(to Moses)
And now, to sacrifice you to the
Goblins-
Moses coos.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - DAY

Rachel places the record needle onto a vinyl. Crackling.
Moses sits in the bed, propped up on some pillows. He isn't
reflected in the mirror.
Rachel sways and sings to Moses; he's laughing and cooing.
Rachel spins to the mirror, dancing along.
Rachel slams her back against the mirror.
Rachel walks from the mirror to Moses; her reflection turns
around and stares, intrigued. Moses is absolutely jubilant.
SCRRMPFH!!! The mirror scrapes towards Rachel.
Rachel freezes. Moses claps. The music continues to play.
Rachel looks over her shoulder. The mirror's a little closer.
She goes up to the mirror and looks down to its clawfeet;
there are scratches on the floor.
Rachel looks back up to the mirror and examines her
reflection. Everything's normal.
Moses coos.
The click of a camera:

EXT. PARK/WOODS - STAIRS

A tiny ladybug crawls on the bottom step of a manmade, wooden
staircase (part of a trail).
Click! Rachel takes a picture from low, beckoning up to the
rest of the stairs.
Moses sits in a stroller behind her, gawking at nature.
 17.

EXT. PARK/WOODS - BRIDGE

Rachel pushes Moses across the bridge overlooking a stream,
stops in the middle, and takes a picture of the scenery.

EXT. PARK/WOODS - RIDGE

Rachel switches out lenses and zooms across the trees.
Through a clearing, she can see a group of people, sitting on
a concrete structure part of a river tunnel. They're spray-
painting directly onto the concrete, laughing and listening
to music. One of them is the daughter of the family from
across the street: Maria. She brings a joint to her lips.
Rachel puts down her camera and looks to them.
Moses starts wailing. Rachel looks resentfully at him.

INT. CAR - AFTERNOON

Esther drives, Rachel sits in the passenger seat, and Moses
is in a booster seat on the hump, sucking a pacifier.
Rachel gazes out the window.

EXT. STREET
A gloomy day. Rain drizzles.
From inside the car, Rachel sees the people from the park
walking down the sidewalk.

EXT. COVENTRY
Rachel sees the hustle-and-bustle (or, comparatively, lack
thereof) of Northeast Ohio.

EXT. LAKE VIEW CEMETERY

Rachel sees the lush greens and great structures inside Lake
View Cemetery. Esther sneaks a peek, too.

INT. CAR
Rachel stares at the cascading raindrops, longingly.
HAROLD (PRE-LAP)
Baruch atah Adonai...
 18.

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - LOBBY - EVENING

Typical synagogue lobby; marbled floors, high ceilings,
recessed lights, etc. There're tables off to the side, full
of kosher potluck dishes.
Harold, wearing a suit and a Kippah, stands at the center of
a Challah Web with HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, reciting the motzi.
Rachel, Esther, and Moses are to his side.
CONGREGATION
...eloheinu melech haolam, hamotzi
lechem min haaretz.
Rachel scarfs down her challah piece. No one else eats their
piece. Rachel looks around, puzzled. It's not over?
CONGREGATION (EXCEPT RACHEL) (CONT'D)
We give thanks to God for bread,
Our voices rise in song together,
As our prayer is joyfully said.
Rachel pulls her mushy Challah piece out of her mouth.
Esther gives her a "what-the-hell-are-you-DOING" look.
CONGREGATION (CONT'D)
Baruch atah Adonai, eloheinu melech
haolam, hamotzi lechem min haaretz.
Amen.
The rest of the congregation eats their challah. Rachel
hesitantly eats her piece. She finally gets a taste.
RACHEL
(under breath, disgust)
Raisins.
HAROLD
Mmm. Okay. Thank you to Beatrice
Katz for this lovely Challah, and
to everyone that's brought food to
this potluck; I say betay avon, bon
appetit!
A FEW CONGREGANTS
Betay avon! / Yasher Koach! / Let's
eat! / Alright! / etc.
Everyone starts lining up to get food.
Esther sets Moses (in a baby seat) down on a table.
 19.

HAROLD
I look forward to seeing some of
you at our Adult Ed session at six
on...Thursday, so, tomorrow; this
week's parashah is a double header.
Matot-Masei! Exciting stuff:
Reubanites and Gadites, the
daughters of Zelophehad, all that
jazz! Again, in keeping with Rabbi
Segar's old tradition, bring over a
non-knish dish; my wife has those
covered!...
Harold drones on.
Rachel and Esther get in line by the:

INT. LOBBY - POTLUCK TABLE - EVENING

Rachel looks at the array of food. There are about twenty
different kugels dishes and summer squash salads, with an
assortment of chips and cookies peppered throughout. Rachel
only takes the chips and cookies.
Esther leans over as Rachel grabs a fistful of cookies.
ESTHER
Would you like some dinner with
your snacks?
RACHEL
Fine.
Rachel takes one (1) zucchini.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Happy?
Esther sighs.
ESTHER
I need you to take over Mozey duty
for a little while-
RACHEL
Why?
ESTHER
Sometimes when I ask you to do
something, I just need you to do
it. Okay?
Rachel rolls her eyes and peels out of the line.
 20.

She grabs Moses in his baby seat off the table. Across the
room, she sees a table of GIRLS, eating and laughing.

INT. LOBBY - A DINING TABLE

SARAH, DELANEY, and BARBARA (mid-teens) sit, noshing on kugel
and summer salads while talking and laughing. Rachel sits
with them too, zoned out. Their conversation is muted by the
sound of Rachel listening to her own chewing on a cookie.
BARBARA
What about you?
RACHEL
(perking up)
Hmm?
BARBARA
What're you doing this summer?
SARAH
You should come to Camp Fine with
us. Everyone does. Except Delaney.
DELANEY
I'm still deciding!-
BARBARA
Whatever. It starts next week; it
seems really weird and culty at
first, but I promise it's super
fun, and you'll get to know
everyone.
RACHEL
Aren't you a little old for summer
camp?
Ouch.
SARAH
Yeah, well we be officially too old
next summer, it's just the last
time we'd get to see everyone
again, so.
RACHEL
Oh. Right.
Rachel inhales.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
I'm gonna go get something to
drink. I'll be back.
 21.

Rachel gets up, taking Moses with her. The girls share a "oh-
man-she's-weird" look and get back to eating and laughing.

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - STUDY - EVENING

The rabbi's study; rabbinical books line the shelves, a
conference table in the center of the room, portraits of
rabbi's past on the walls, etc.
Lively conversation between congregants is still heard,
echoing through.
Rachel sits between two bookshelves, shoveling cookies in her
mouth, softly crying. She rocks Moses' booster seat, next to
her.
A TEAR rolls down her cheek and lands squarely on THE LOCKET.
It glistens.
Then, suddenly (from the next room), the sound of GLASS
BREAKING!
Rachel perks her head up.
RACHEL
Uhhhello?

INT. BET AVRAAM SYNAGOGUE - SANCTUARY - NIGHT

Lights are off.
A beautiful, medium-sized sanctuary; stained glass windows
flank the pews, racks of talliot sit near the main entrance,
a GIANT CHANDELIER hangs from the ceiling, the main Torah ark
stands behind the bimah. Other scrolls exist in glass cases
off to the side. Piles of Siddurim lay strewn about.
More on the main Torah ark--the robust, wooden doors, mimic
the branches of a tree, and there's multi-colored stained
glass in-between them. An interior, yellow-gold light
illuminates the ark, giving it a warm, ethereal glow. It's
slightly open.
Anyway.
Coming from the study (an antechamber near the main entrance
of the sanctuary), Rachel walks through center aisle, pews on
either side of her.
We hear the unintelligible whisperings of female voices,
seemingly surrounding Rachel. They gradually get louder.
She goes to one of the stained glass windows; it's broken.
 22.

Rachel looks to her feet and sees a rock: no doubt, the

source of the break.
Rachel picks up a rather large, gold shard that was PART OF A
GIRL'S HAND. She looks up to the panel, the girl's hand is
gone.
She brings the shard close to her face. In its reflection,
Rachel sees herself. She wipes the tears from her eyes.
The voices stop.
For a moment, it's calm. Rachel looks back into the shard;
her eyes are blue, and she's smiling.
FEMALE VOICE
Kamea, achshav.
Rachel drops the shard, breaking the glass further. The
whispers crescendo into a harmonious vocalization.
She backs up towards the entrance. As she does, the main
Torah ark doors blow open, beckoning the warm light.
The Siddurim gracefully fly around the sanctuary.
The other glass Torah cases swing open; they unsheathe
themselves and fly upwards, suspending themselves mid-air.
It's beautiful.
Rachel, overwhelmed yet intrigued, runs to the entrance,
spins around and rushes straight into the arms of...her
mother. She's pissed. Rachel hugs her mom tightly.
ESTHER
Wha-?
Esther flicks on the lightswitch. She looks around; the room
is pristine, except for the broken stained glass window.
Esther looks down to her daughter with concern and annoyance.
CUT TO:

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The family car whizzes by.

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Esther drives, Harold sits in the passenger seat, and Rachel
and Moses (in his booster) sit in the back. It's tense.
 23.

RACHEL
I didn't do it-
HAROLD
I know you didn't-
RACHEL
Then why are you acting like I did-
Moses starts whimpering.
HAROLD
I know--I know it wasn't you. It's-
- an awful thing. Tonight did not
go well.
ESTHER
Honey, it was fine-
HAROLD
No, it was awful-
RACHEL
You're right. It was.
ESTHER RACHEL (CONT'D)
Rachel- What? It's awful. I hate it.
HAROLD
You know, we don't ask for much-
RACHEL
Nobody asked me anything when you
decided to become a Rabbi and force
us to move across the country-
HAROLD
There are some things where you
don't have a choice in the matter!
We've been here all of one day, and
we know that you miss your friends,
but you have to give it a chance-
RACHEL
I don't want to give it a chance
anymore! I've made up my mind! I
fucking hate being Jewish! I want
to be normal!
Moses starts full-on crying.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(to Moses)
God, shut up!
Suddenly, Moses spits up on Rachel's shirt. She's disgusted.
 24.

Moses wails on.

Rachel joins in.
There's rage in her eyes.

EXT. RACHEL'S HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - NIGHT

The car pulls in. Rachel gets out, slams the door behind her,
and stomps to the back of the house. Harold gets out and
pursues, stopping halfway.
HAROLD
Rachel!-
Esther comes out and comes to Harold; he collapses into her
arms, defeated.

INT. RACHEL'S ROOM - NIGHT

Rachel, crying snottily, slams the door behind her. The
mirror shakes with it.
RACHEL
Ugh!
Rachel takes off her baby-vomit-stained shirt, balls it up,
and tosses it aside. She flops facefirst onto her bed.
Footsteps. Subtle, at first, but they get louder and closer.
Rachel looks up. A female silhouette walks along the walls of
her room, finally disappearing into the left side of the
mirror.
As Rachel walks to her mirror, her reflection, LILY (18),
mirrors her; at the moment, Lily is identical to Rachel aside
from a striking set of blue eyes.
Rachel lifts her right arm up; Lily mirrors her.
Rachel and Lily do the same with their left arms, and then
right legs.
Rachel inches closer.
Lily breaks the sync and smiles.
LILY
Hi.
RACHEL
AAH!
 25.

Rachel runs to the far side of her room, fumbles around with
her bedsheets, and covers herself with one.
LILY
It's okay, I don't bite.
RACHEL
Who--who are you?
LILY
I've had many names. What's yours?
RACHEL
Rachel?!
LILY
Rachel. Rah-hcel. Pretty. I'm Lily.
RACHEL
What are you doing in my mirror?
LILY
Your mirror? That's a little
presumptuous, don't you think?
RACHEL
You're...not...me-
LILY
I'm not. This is where I live.
RACHEL
Have you been spying on me?
(pause)
LILY
I don't have a choice.
RACHEL
How much have you seen?
LILY
In this room? When you sleep, I
sleep. When you cry, I cry.
(pause)
When you dance, I dance-
RACHEL
You saw that?!
LILY
You looked great.
Rachel shifts. She doesn't think so.
 26.

LILY (CONT'D)
You looked...happy. I wish I hadn't
startled you. It's been so long
since I've danced of my own accord.
RACHEL
Do a lot of people dance in front
of you?
LILY
Ellie would do a whole show for me.
RACHEL
You knew my grandmother?
LILY
Very well.
RACHEL
How? You're not--or you don't look
old.
LILY
Well that's because I'm reflecting
you, silly. I wouldn't mind looking
like this, either.
RACHEL
Was that you in the glass? At
temple? Did you make the whole--?
LILY
I can't explain it all the way.
(pause)
I've been stuck in this mirror for
a long time. A very long time. When
there's no one to reflect,
it's...it's worse than just lonely;
it's nothing. When someone isn't in
front of me, my senses fade away.
There's nothing beyond my world but
darkness and cold and fear and
pain.
(pause)
I've never appeared outside of this
frame. Until tonight. When you were
crying in the temple, miles away
from here, away from-
(Lily shakes the mirror)
-this thing--I heard you.
Rachel's brow furrows.
LILY (CONT'D)
Rachel, I heard you through the
darkness.
(MORE)
 27.
LILY (CONT'D)
And when I saw you, and I felt
this, explosion. Only for a second.
For that one little bit, for that
one moment, I felt complete. I felt
alive again.
(pause)
And then I was back here. In the
nothingness.
Beat. They stare. Rachel breaks it; she goes to her dresser,
opens a drawer, and pulls out her pajamas.
RACHEL
She's not real. None of this is
real. You're going to turn around,
and it's going to be your regular
reflection, and you're going to go
bed and wake up and everything is
going to be normal.
She turns around; Lily's staring.
Rachel collapses.
LILY
I'm sorry.
(pause)
I know it's a lot to take in.
Especially for one night. We can
talk in the morning if you'd like.
RACHEL
Provided you won't kill me in my
sleep.
LILY
I would never.
RACHEL
Okay.
(pause)
I'm going to change.
Silence.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Turn around?
LILY
I've seen you before.
RACHEL
Please.
LILY
If it makes you more comfortable.
 28.

RACHEL
It does.
(pause)
Good night.
LILY
Sweet dreams.
Lily turns away. Rachel also turns around and changes; she
looks over her shoulder to see Lily, still facing the other
way. Rachel smirks.

END OF PILOT