FADE IN on a MOTHER, mid 40’s and disheveled, and a 3-year-old GIRL sitting at a dining room table. Before them are plates of tortellini and carrot sticks. The GIRL listens while the MOTHER talks.

MOTHER

Your Daddy loves you so much.

The girl nods.

MOTHER

He loves you SO much. He’d give you anything he had. If he had a glass of

water, and you wanted it. He’d give it to you.

GIRL

Oh.

MOTHER

If he had a glass of milk and you wanted it, he would give you that, too.

The girl nods. Her expression is far away. Ruminative.

MOTHER

If Daddy was soooo thirsty, and someone gave him a glass of water,

and he was about to drink it, and you asked him for it? He would

give it to you in a heartbeat. That’s how much he loves you.

The GIRL stares absently.

MOTHER

Myra-Jean? What do you think?

Suddenly the GIRL’s expression brightens. Turning to her mother excitedly, she seems to come to.

GIRL

Mommy?

MOTHER

Yes?

GIRL

I’m drying my butt with a carrot!

On the MOTHER’S wide-eyed expression, we FADE TO BLACK.