INT. DIVE BAR - DAY
1988. ESTHER ALTMAN (18) has her infamous mother’s face. She wears her dark hair in a short cropped bob. Her punk style is a cross between Grace Slick and Winona Ryder in Heathers.
Indeed, she sings Grace’s signature song, White Rabbit, to a mostly empty audience. Her voice is rough, deep, filled with pain. But it’s good. Maybe even great.
One person watches intently, her half brother, ADAM WHITMAN (31). Adam is a spitting image of the father they share.
She finishes the song, and Adam claps. Esther exchanges a smile with them as she puts the mic away. She goes to join and Adam.
ESTHER
Hey.
She sits with him.
ESTHER
Wanna buy me a drink?
ADAM
You can have soda. I’m surprised they let you in here, by the way.
ESTHER
Oh, Jeffrey and I are cool.
Adam raises an eyebrow.
ADAM
Jeffrey?
ESTHER
Yeah. And I have an ID anyway.
ADAM
You can have soda.
Esther nods.
ESTHER
So, nothing about the... song? Didn’t you like it?
ADAM
Of course I did.
Just then JEFFREY (40s), sketchy, comes over to their table, putting a hand on the back of Esther’s chair.
JEFFREY
You sounded just like Grace Slick.
ESTHER
Thanks, Jeff.
JEFFREY
Who’s your friend?
ESTHER
Oh, this is my brother, Adam.
Adam reaches out his hand to shake it.
ADAM
How are you?
JEFFREY
All right. Just gotta close up here later, go home to the wife and get things in order for Thanksgiving otherwise she’ll be... you know how wives are.
ADAM
Yeah, my wife and I are visiting from Seattle. Someone’s gotta keep track of this little squirt.
Jeffrey looks at Adam then back at Esther, Esther a second longer than normal.
JEFFREY
I can see the resemblance. Aren’t you a little old to be her brother though?
ADAM
Not necessarily.
Jeffrey turns to Esther.
JEFFREY
What can I get you, honey?
ESTHER
White Russian.
ADAM
You know she’s eighteen, right?
ESTHER
Adam.
Jeffrey says nothing.
ADAM
I could probably have you arrested or worse if I told the cops you were selling alcohol to minors. But for now I’m going to settle with you staying away from my sister.
Adam stands up, takes a ten out of his wallet and puts it in the table.
ADAM
Here’s for my drinks.
He grabs Esther by the arm.
ADAM
Come on.
Esther is visibly upset, but she doesn’t resist as he leads her out.
EXT. DIVE BAR - DAY
Worse yet, the bar appears to be in a dingy outdoor strip mall. The weather is dark and gray.
ESTHER
What the fuck?!
ADAM
What the fuck is right. Come on.
He takes out his keys. His car beeps nearby.
INT. CAR - DAY
Esther and Adam drives.
ADAM
Do I want to ask how you got here in the first place?
ESTHER
Jeff drove me.
ADAM
For fuck’s sake. How’d you even meet that guy?
ESTHER
This one party.
ADAM
What was he doing at a party with eighteen year olds? Oh wait, I think I know the answer to that.
ESTHER
He liked my voice. He wanted me to sing at his club.
ADAM
I think he liked more than just your voice, Esther.
ESTHER
So what if he does?
Adam realizes what she means.
ADAM
You got to be kidding me. He’s my mother’s age. And he’s married.
ESTHER
I didn’t say I liked it. It’s just sex.
ADAM
Esther. You are a very talented young woman and I support you following you dream. I always will. You don’t need to do that to get there. Okay?!
Esther has started crying.
ESTHER
You don’t know how many doors I’ve had shut in my face. And Jeff...
ADAM
I know. I thought you of all people would know better.
Esther scoffs.
ESTHER
What that’s supposed to mean?
ADAM
I thought you didn’t want to repeat your mother’s mistakes.
ESTHER
That’s low.
Esther leans back in her seat and squeezes her eyes shut to try and stop her tears.
ADAM
Look, you’re lucky I found you and not your grandfather. But if I ever hear you’ve been near that place or near that guy...
ESTHER
You’ll do what? I’m not a little girl anymore, you know.
ADAM
I know. And you know I love you, right? And I want the best for you?
ESTHER
(quietly)
I know.
ADAM
I want to have a good Thanksgiving, okay?
ESTHER
Okay.
Adam purses his lips and continues to drive.
Points: 20340
Reviews: 435
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