The Silent Girl (42 page)

“We Don’t Need Another Hero”

Written By Janet Tamaro
Directed By Michael Zinberg

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2011 Warner Horizon Television Inc. This script is the property of Horizon Scripted Television Inc. No portion of this script may be performed, reproduced or used by any means, or disclosed to, quoted or published in any medium without the prior written consent of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY OUTSIDE APT. -NIGHT 1 6

TIGHT ON Maura as she KNOCKS.

DOOR IS FLUNG OPEN TO REVEAL -

JANE RIZZOLI. It’s been three months since she nearly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She’s in sweats and T-shirt she’s had on for days, eats chocolate cereal. Maura steps past her.

MAURA
You look terrible.

JANE
Thank you.

Jane’s living room gives away what she’s been doing: nothing. Well, watching TV, surfing the Web. Dead flower arrangements, dead fruit baskets, deflated “Get Well!” balloons and cards. BOXES of shit from shopping channels.

MAURA
You’re making everybody late.

JANE
Even
you
would look terrible if a bullet had gone through you.

MAURA
Hmmm … laceration to your peritoneum and small bowel could explain your jaundiced color -

JANE
Hey – you may not casually discuss my privates, okay?

MAURA
“Casual” is occurring by chance, showing little interest or concern -

Maura is so distressed by the mess, she starts cleaning.

MAURA (CONT’D)
Three months … Jane, you could have read all of Shakespeare! Learned Finnish. (looks at an opened box) You’re a platinum member of the shopping channel.

JANE
I swear I’ll kick you out if you don’t stop cleaning.

MAURA
Is that why you banned your mother?

JANE
She told you that? She also tell you all her OCD banging and clanking isn’t restful? Wait, Finnish? Finland Finnish?

MAURA
The stress hormone, cortisol, suppresses your immune cells’ ability to activate telomerase.

JANE
So you say. Mine are fine.

MAURA
Quite simply, keeping your brain busy aids recovery.
Mind-body -

JANE
Mind-business.

As Maura tries to lead Jane toward the bedroom -

MAURA
You are my business. C’mon.

JANE

(clutching her side)
Ow! Stop! I’m not going.

MAURA
Still having pain?

JANE
No. I just like saying “ow.”

MAURA
Could be from an intermittent obstruction due to adhesions.
When was your last bowel movement?

JANE
You just cannot control yourself, can you?

MAURA
I think you’re avoiding —

Maura stops short: there’s a DUMMY hanging from the ceiling.

MAURA (CONT’D)—
What is that?

JANE
Get Well gift from Korsak and Frost.

MAURA
That’s “restful?” Where’s your uniform?

Maura goes into her bedroom. We hear her rummaging around.

MAURA (O.S.) (CONT’D)
It’s disgusting in here …

Maura emerges with the uniform in a dry cleaning bag.

MAURA (CONT’D)

Put it on.

JANE
It makes me look like a man.

MAURA
We can do this the easy way or the hard way.

JANE
I am not a hero, Maura. Shooting yourself is not heroic.

Maura leaves tough love behind, takes her friend’s hand.

MAURA
The people of Boston think it is.

JANE
Eight People died, Maura. I don’t want a medal for that.

MAURA
Five of them were bad guys, Jane.

JANE
They’re giving a kid who saved a squirrel a medal. That’s more heroic.

MAURA
Cat. From a burning house.

JANE
Whatever.

MAURA
This ceremony isn’t for you. It’s for your fellow officers, your parents, the community. You’re a symbol, a heroic flesh and blood reminder of the Thin Blue Line.

JANE
Wow, that’s good. Almost had me.

MAURA
Okay. Hard way.