Peter & Wendi (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) "The Neverland is always more or less an island... It would be an easy map if that were all, but there is also first day at school, religion, fathers, the round pond, needle-work, murders, hangings, verbs that take the dative, chocolate pudding day, getting into braces, say ninety -nine, three pence for pulling out your tooth yourself, and so on..." "Peter and Wendy" J.M. Barrie (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) EXT. 1983 - DARLING HOME - AFTERNOON The Mississippi sun beats down on THREE CHILDREN trudging the uneven sidewalk. Leading the trio, WENDI(13), a black girl with no hope but determined to never cry again, tugs at one of her loosened dookie braids, the missing hair barrette twisting between her front teeth. MICHAEL(9), a little black boy with a big heart, grips tightly to Wendi's hand, but struggles to keep up with her long strides. Bringing up the rear, JOHN (12), a dark skinned Dominican boy with a heart not fully hardened, hums to himself while staring up at the cloudless sky. The trio approach their home, a two-story monument of neglect. PETER(13), a black boy who's rage almost matches his intellect, and MS. COLLINS, his jaded case worker, stand on the front porch. Ms. Collins fusses with Peter's clip on tie. MS. COLLINS Stop slouching. And could you try smiling? Let's try to start on the right foot this time. Peter forces a toothy smile. MS. COLLINS (cont'd) Less teeth, no teeth. Peter closes his mouth into a grimace. MS. COLLINS (cont'd) Err... Wendi and the boys step up behind Peter and Ms. Collins. Peter turns his grimace on Wendi. WENDI Ew! Are you okay? Peter's face drops. MS. COLLINS Oh, hello, Wendi. 2. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) Michael waves. MICHAEL Hi. MS. COLLINS Hello, Michael. John. John nods. MS. COLLINS (cont'd) Is your mother home? I've got someone who wants to meet her. Wendi stopped listening at "mother," the barrette twisting furiously between her teeth. Ms. Collins pats Peter on the shoulder. MS. COLLINS (cont'd) Right, Peter? Peter shrugs while readjusting his grungy backpack straps. Wendi looks him up and down. WENDI Hmmph. Well, excuse me. MS. COLLINS Hmm? Wendi pulls a key out from under her collar on a chain. WENDI You're in our way. MS. COLLINS Oh, excuse us! Ms. Collins and Peter move back as Wendi, John and Michael step up to the door. Wendi unlocks the door and lets the boys in before following. Ms. Collins and Peter step up to walk in as Wendi slams the door in their face. Peter smirks. MS. COLLINS (cont'd) Wait a second, Wendi! Open up, please. Ms. Collins knocks on the door. INT. DARLING HOME - AFTERNOON The house looks no better from the inside, the sun peaking through heavy drab curtains illuminating the dust drenched furniture. 3. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) TAP TAP TAP MS. COLLINS (O.S.) Wendi? Hello? Ms. Darling? John and Wendi head for the stairs. MICHAEL Mama, we're back! MAMA DARLING, aging matriarch, leans out of the kitchen doorway under the stairs. MAMA DARLING Hey, baby. Everyone home? John and Wendi ascend the steps above her. John leans over the railing and waves. JOHN Hey, Mama Darling. Wendi keeps walking. WENDI You got another one? MAMA DARLING What was that, Wendi? WENDI Nothing. Wendi walks into her room and closes the door. MAMA DARLING What she say, Michael? MICHAEL Ms. Collins is at the door. MAMA DARLING Ooo! Ms. Darling rushes to the front door and throws it open. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) Lily, so great to see you again! MS. COLLINS Mama Darling, it's been so long! I'd like you to meet Peter. Ms. Collins nudges Peter, who grimaces with a bow. MAMA DARLING Ooh, what a... charming young man. It's so hot out, please come in. Ms. Collins and Peter shuffle into the house. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) Do y'all want anything to drink? Water? Lemonade? 4. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) MS. COLLINS Would you like some lemonade, Peter. PETER Yes, ma'am. MAMA DARLING Oh and you've got manners! Michael, could you please grab a glass of lemonade for Peter? MICHAEL Yes, ma'am. MAMA DARLING Anything for you, Lily? MS. COLLINS I'm fine, thank you. Michael skips in to the kitchen. John watches from the top of the stairs. MAMA DARLING Are you hungry, Peter? I've been cooking all morning. Peter nods. Wendi walks out of her room, a couple braids undone comepletely, and joins John at the railing. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) I heard lasagna might be a favorite of yours, is that right? Peter nods excitedly. MS. COLLINS Use your words, Peter. PETER Yes, ma'am. I like lasagna. MAMA DARLING Good, I just hope I made enough. Michael walks back in with the glass of lemonade and hands it to Peter. PETER Thanks. MICHAEL Are you going to be my big brother? MS. COLLINS Aww, how sweet. PETER No. Wendi chokes down a laugh. 5. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) MS. COLLINS Peter?! What an awful thing to say. MAMA DARLING It's alright, bouncing from home to home is tough. You know my Wendi had it similar, didn't speak a word to me for a month. But we don't give up in this house, especially not on family. You're a Darling now. Peter looks up at Wendi and John. Wendi walks back into her room and closes the door. John shrugs at Peter and turns towards his room. INT. DINING ROOM - DARLING HOME - EVENING The Darlings bow their heads and close their eyes as Mama Darling says grace over a large platter of lasagna. MAMA DARLING And thank you, heavenly father, for bringing Peter in to our lives. May your love protect, guide him and bring him peace. Peter opens his eyes and sees Wendi staring at him. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) May this food nourish us, so we can continue on in your will. In all this we pray in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. WENDI Amen. MICHAEL Aaaaa-men! JOHN Amen. MAMA DARLING You don't agree, Peter? PETER Huh? MICHAEL Ooo. Wendi grabs a spoon and serves herself some lasagna. MAMA DARLING We don't say, "huh." We say "ma'am, could you please repeat the question." PETER I'm sorry. 6. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) Mama Darling waits for the right words. PETER Sorry, ma'am, could you please repeat that? MAMA DARLING It's okay. Did you not agree with my prayer? PETER Uhh, yes, ma'am? MAMA DARLING Then why not say amen? Haven't you prayed before? PETER No, ma'am. MAMA DARLING Bless your heart, child. We're going to Pastor Johnson's first thing tomorrow. We gotta get Jesus in you. John chuckles. PETER What's so funny? John ducks his head. PETER (cont'd) You making fun of me? JOHN N-no. PETER Can't look at me without laughing, huh? John drums up the courage to look at Peter. Peter slams his fist on the table. PETER (cont'd) What?! John and Michael flinch while Wendi eats without batting an eye. MAMA DARLING Peter?! Peter hops out of his seat and walks to a corner to retrieve his backpack. Michael starts to cry. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) Young man, what are you doing? 7. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) PETER This isn't gonna work, I'mma call Ms. Collins from the bus station. Peter hurries to the front door. Wendi takes a bite out of some bread, while Michael turns up the water works. John keeps his head down. MAMA DARLING Peter, wait. Mama Darling hops up from the table and rushes after him. Peter fumbles with the locks on the door, his tears making it hard to see what he's doing. Grabbing his arm and spinning him around, Mama Darling embraces Peter. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) I don't care about what you did or where you came from, I care about you. Peter melts in her arms. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) That's right, baby, let it out. It's gonna be okay. Mama's gonna take care of you. Mama Darling gives him one last squeeze then pulls back. MAMA DARLING (cont'd) You want eat something? PETER Yes, ma'am. Mama Darling grabs Peter's hand and leads him back to his seat. Michael wipes his eyes through snuffles. Mama Darling retakes her seat. MAMA DARLING Okay, who's ready to eat? MICHAEL Ooo,ooo, me! Wendi and Peter share a look as she takes a sip from a glass and continues eating. John hands the bread basket to Peter, who nods his thanks. EXT. TWO YEARS LATER - PARK BASKETBALL COURT - DUSK The Darling children are finishing up a game of HORSE at a nearby park. 8. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) Michael misses a far away shot. Peter snatches the rebound. PETER Sorry, Mikey, maybe next game. MICHAEL That's not fair, I'm always out first. JOHN That was a pretty far shot. WENDI You'd think Peter would pick an easier shot for his baby brother. PETER This is HORSE, there's no family in HORSE, only pain and glory. Now stop stalling, it's your shot, John. Same spot. Peter passes the ball to John, who catches it just a little too close to his face. PETER (cont'd) What you on? John dribbles to the spot. JOHN R. PETER Cool, good luck on that S. John shakes his head and squares up the shot. The sun dips below the tree line triggering the park lamps. WENDI Game over. John drops the ball which rolls back to Peter. PETER What? Nah, man, we gotta finish this first. Peter snatches up the ball. WENDI You know the rules, it's time to go home. PETER I just wanna finish the game. WENDI We can finish it tomorrow. 9. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) PETER How about this, if I make this shot, we stay and finish? Wendi crosses her arms. PETER (cont'd) Bet. Peter spins the ball in his hands, takes a deep breath and shoots. Wendi jumps in from the side and swats the ball to the grass. MICHAEL Woah! JOHN Ha! John covers his mouth. Peter slinks off the court and down the sidewalk. WENDI Let's go home. John picks up the ball and joins Michael waiting with Wendi. INT. TWO YEARS LATER - LIVING ROOM - DARLING HOME - AFTERNOON John sits at an antique desk pouring over his homework with papers and books scattered around him. Peter is spread out on the couch behind John, eyes closed, his head on a pillow propped up by a stack of books. Wendi pokes her head in. WENDI What y'all up to? JOHN Homework. PETER Studying. Wendi stands over Peter and waves her hand in his face. Peter opens one eye and then closes it. PETER (cont'd) Can I help you? WENDI Studying, huh? 10. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) PETER Uh huh, I'm a visual learner. I close my eyes and visualize the teacher giving me an A. Wendi rolls her eyes. WENDI Visualize this. Grabbing another couch pillow, Wendi swings it at Peter's head. Peter catches the pillow, eyes still closed. PETER If you ever need a tutor... WENDI Right, validictori-clown over here. Peter's eyes pop open. PETER Just trying to be helpful. Gotta start thinking about our futures. WENDI I'll be sure to get your help when I'm studying for dishwashing at McDonald's. INT. ONE YEAR LATER - DINING ROOM - DARLING HOME - AFTERNOON Peter hovers over Michael and Wendi at the dinner table, books and papers scattered across it. PETER Why did we do that, Mikey? MICHAEL 56 is divided by- PETER Divisible. MICHAEL Divisible by 8. PETER Right. So what do we do with this? John bops into the room, tossing his bag and a stack of mail on the cluttered table. MICHAEL Put it up here and move this there. Hey, John! JOHN Hey, Mikey. Yo. PETER Sup, brotha. 11. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) Wendi pulls the pile of mail over to sort. PETER (cont'd) Alright, Mikey, now try this next one without me. Michael nods and begins scrawling out the problem. WENDI Is this it? Wendi pulls a small envelope out of the pile. PETER What's that? WENDI Tuskegee. PETER Okay, okay, let's see it. Wendi tears off the end of the envelope and pulls out the single folded sheet of stationary. Unfolding the page, she holds her breath. PETER (cont'd) Well? WENDI I got accepted. Peter squeezes Wendi's shoulder. PETER Congratulations! JOHN Awesome. Michael looks up from his work. MICHEAL What happened? PETER Wendi's going to college! MICHAEL Yay! Is she going where you're going, Peter? Wendi looks up and catches Peter silently shushing Michael. WENDI Hey, what was that? PETER Hmm? Me? WENDI Where are you going, Peter? PETER Umm, here. 12. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) Peter grabs a binder from the table, pulling three opened envelopes from it. Sorting through them, he hands one to Wendi. Wendi looks the envelope over, revealing the Tuskegee stationary. WENDI Wait, this is dated from last year? Peter shrugs. PETER Ms. Collins got excited with my test scores and had me apply early. WENDI And you weren't gonna say anything. PETER Didn't seem important. WENDI Uh-huh. Mama Darling appears in the doorway. MAMA DARLING What's not important? MICHAEL Wendi and Peter are going to college! MAMA DARLING Is this true? WENDI Yes, ma'am. PETER Yes, ma'am. We're on our way. Mama Darling claps with tears in her eyes. MAMA DARLING My babies are going to college. We celebrating tonight! I'm gonna call Ms. Collins and see if she wants to join. EXT. ONE YEAR LATER - TUSKEGEE CAMPUS - AFTERNOON Peter strides across campus, arms full of books, right past Wendi sitting on the lawn with CHELL and DENISE, her girlfriends. WENDI Peter? Hey, Peter! Peter looks around confused. Wendi waves. 13. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) WENDI (cont'd) Right here, fool. PETER Oh, hey, Wendi! Peter jogs over to Wendi. WENDI How's it going, stranger? PETER You know, surviving. How's pre-law treating you? WENDI Running me over. Might need you to tutor me again. PETER Sorry, my brain is full of anatomy terms at the moment. CHELL Ahem. WENDI Sorry, so rude of me, this is Chell and Denise. Chell, Denise, this is Peter. CHELL Hello, Peter. DENISE Hey. PETER Hello. Afternoon. CHELL So, how do you know our Wendi? WENDI Peter's my foster- PETER Fast friend. We've known each other since middle school. We kind of came out here together. That raises Wendi's eyebrow. DENISE You're from Mississippi, too? PETER Nah, I moved around a bit before settling there, but it became home. CHELL How come she never mentioned you? 14. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) WENDI I have! Remember that story I told y'all about the ducks...? CHELL Oh my- DENISE Is that the scar on his- Denise gets up and closely inspects Peter's forehead. PETER It's perfectly natural to be afraid of ducks attacking you. And that gate was never closed before that. Chell and Denise cackle in delight. DENISE Sorry, I don't mean to laugh in your face. PETER Let it out, I can take it. CHELL You're cute, Peter. You ever play tennis. We need a couple more to get our club sponsored. PETER I'm no Arthur Ashe, but I can swing. Peter swings his arm, dropping his books in the process. The women laugh. CHELL Okay, you can be Denise's doubles partner. DENISE That's fine, I don't mind teaching him. EXT. ONE YEAR LATER - TUSKEGEE CAMPUS - DAY WHITE TENNIS CLUB MEMBERS stand outside the tennis court fence checking their watches and sighing loudly. The BLACK TENNIS CLUB, Peter, Wendi, Chell, Denise and a few others pack their belongings. CHELL I almost had you today. PETER Denise was on, how many aces was that? DENISE 12. 15. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) GERARD, another member, zips up his racket bag. GERARD I swear there's a hole in my racket. Had me out there looking crazy just swatting at stuff. WENDI We should probably head out, don't wanna keep these folks waiting. WHITE TENNIS MEMBER Yes, thank you. We were supposed to be on the courts 10 minutes ago and we still have to clean up after you. DENISE Ooo, someone trying to get smacked. GERARD It's okay, you won't catch the black. The white tennis club member can barely contain their disgust. Peter grabs Denise's hand and pulls her to the exit. PETER Let's go to Jotty's, I'm hungry. The black tennis club strolls off the court, Gerard side eyeing the white tennis member. The white tennis club files in and closes the gate behind them. CHELL So what's on for tonight? WENDI I think the AKAs are hosting something? GERARD Yeah, Tracy said come 'round 8. DENISE If we do that, I'm gonna have to get some work done now. You coming, Peter? PETER Laundry. Unless it's okay if I wear this? Peter leans his armpit into Denise's face. DENISE Eww, you nasty! GERARD My man be playing with onions under his arms! 16. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) DENISE I'll catch y'all later. CHELL Ooo, my stuff is at yours, wait for me. Chell grabs Gerard's arm. CHELL (cont'd) Wanna walk us home. Gerard plays it cool. GERARD Alright, y'all, see you tonight. The club separates with Wendi and Peter headed in the same direction. PETER So here we are, just like the old days. WENDI And just like then, I'm still running you off the courts. Peter bites his tongue. WENDI (cont'd) No witty comeback? I'm liking this quieter you- Peter grabs Wendi by the arm, pulling her close. His lips find hers and don't stop, Wendi unconsciously pulling him closer. Peter ends the kiss before he can't. PETER Peter You know I'm gonna marry you one day. Wendi is breathless. Peter leaves Wendi to her thoughts. EXT. TWO YEARS LATER - LAKE SIDE PARK - EVENING Cars are scattered along the waters edge, black students enjoying the night off campus. Gerard and Chell sit in the front seats of a pristine Ford Explorer, while Peter holds Wendi's hand in the backseat, their heads bobbing to the stereo. Chell leans into Gerard's ear. GERARD Hah, yeah. Hey, we gonna take a walk. Keep an eye on the Beast for me. 17. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) WENDI Don't worry about it, Peter's gonna make sure I keep it under 90. GERARD Haha! Now I gotta take the keys. Gerard turns off the car and hops out with Chell. Peter opens his door. PETER Yo, man it's hot in here. We need the AC. GERARD Just keep the door cracked open. If it gets really hot, make sure to take it outside. PETER Bro. GERARD Ah-ah, if not tonight, when? PETER C'mon, man. GERARD And don't leave a mess. I gotta get this back to my uncle in the morning. WENDI I can hear you. GERARD Enjoy yourselves! See you in a minute. WENDI Someone's telling on themself. PETER Thanks, bro. Gerard closes the door and chases a skipping, undressing Chell into the trees. Peter turns around to a waiting Wendi. WENDI So what's this about getting "really hot?" PETER Ha, you know how Gerard is. He just wants us to have a good time. WENDI Mmhmm. Peter reaches behind his seat and pulls out a big box wrapped in brown paper. 18. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) WENDI (cont'd) What is that? PETER A little something something for you on our anniversary. Wendi looks the package over. WENDI Okay, that's not for another week. Love the wrapping, very romantic. PETER Little early surprise. And nothing wrong with love on a budget. If you don't want it, just say so. Peter reaches for the package. WENDI No, no, no, I'm just messing. Peeling back the wrapping, Wendi braces for disappointment. Opening the box reveals a cassette tape recorder with a mic and headphones. WENDI (cont'd) Huh? What's all this? Peter lugs the recorder out of the box. PETER This records and plays cassette tapes. I made you something to listen to. WENDI A mix tape? PETER Well... Peter slides the headphones over Wendi's ears then presses the play button. CLICK Wendi jumps at Peter's voice. PETER (V.O.) Ahem, sound test, check, check- Wendi rips off the headphones. WENDI Too loud. PETER Oh! Sorry. Peter fiddles with the knobs. Wendi eases the headphones back on. 19. (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)