NARRATOR: *** There were no two ways about it.
[KEVIN smiles and high-fives a kid.]
NARRATOR: When I was fourteen...
[KEVIN bumps into another kid.]
NARRATOR: I was a pretty cool kid.
[KEVIN moves to his locker.]
NARRATOR: Not in the ninety-ninth-percentile of coolness, maybe, but definitely top third of my class.
Cut to
NARRATOR: I knew the walk. I knew the talk. I had my own kinda...style.
[KEVIN pauses at his driveway, and glances over his shoulder.]
NARRATOR: But like a lot of cool kids my age, I did have one tragic flaw.
[Wide shot past KEVIN of the house, as he approaches it.]
NARRATOR: One terrible secret that threatened the very fabric of my fragile image.
[Music end.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: I, Kevin Arnold...
[Shot of NORMA looking up from the sink and smiling.]
NORMA: Hi, honey!
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Hi, Mom.
NARRATOR: Had a mom.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Did you have a good day at school?
[Shot past NORMA as KEVIN sets his ball down.]
KEVIN: Yeah!
NORMA: Well, I'm glad. [Smiles.]
[Shot of NORMA taking off her apron.]
NARRATOR: Don't get me wrong - I liked my mother. She was good to me.
[NORMA looks toward KEVIN off-screen and smiles.]
NORMA: Hungry?
[Close shot of KEVIN putting his jacket on the chair-back.]
KEVIN: Nah...
[Close shot of NORMA as she tilts her head and smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Well, a little. [Smiles.]
[Shot past NORMA as KEVIN sits down, and NORMA opens the oven.]
NORMA: Good! I made you a grilled-cheese sandwich!
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA approaching with a plate.]
NARRATOR: She made me grilled-cheese sandwiches...
NORMA: Milk?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Thanks!
[Shot past KEVIN as NORMA picks up the basketball, walks toward the cabinet, and sets the ball on the counter.]
NARRATOR: She poured my milk...
[NORMA gets a glass from the cabinet, and smiles at KEVIN.]
NORMA: Oh - and I sewed that button on the shirt that you like - so you can wear it tomorrow.
NARRATOR: She sewed my buttons...
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: That's great, Mom.
[Close shot of NORMA smiling as she approaches with the milk.]
NORMA: And, I went shopping for you today.
[Close shot of KEVIN pausing.]
KEVIN: You did? [Smiles.]
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA smiling, then returning to far end of the kitchen.]
NORMA: Uh-huh.
NARRATOR: Face it. The woman loved me.
[NORMA is reaching into a large bag.]
[Close shot of KEVIN smiling as he eats.]
NARRATOR: She knew me better than anyone in the world. Which of course...was the problem.
[Close shot of NORMA as she approaches, smiling, holding something behind her back.]
NORMA: Look!
[NORMA holds up a pair of white briefs.]
NORMA: Underpants! [Smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN pausing over his milk.]
[Close shot of NORMA smiling.]
NORMA: Your favorite kind!
[The camera zooms in on the underwear, with some squeaky music.]
NARRATOR: She knew...too much.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
[Sound of sports buzzer.]
Cut to
[Shot of NORMA at the dining table, taking off her apron.]
NARRATOR: Still, like a lot of housewives of her time, what Mom knew was pretty much limited to her domain.
[Shot of NORMA with laundry.]
NORMA: Oh, Jack, the dryer's been acting up again - I had to change the filter on it today.
[Close shot of JACK.]
JACK: Eh...[Nods.]
[Shot of NORMA approaching.]
NORMA: And I put a new shower curtain up in the bathroom.
[Shot of NORMA arranging things on the coffee table in front of the guys.]
NARRATOR: And, so long as what she did in her world didn't interfere with our world...
[Close shot of NORMA.]
[Shot past the TV of NORMA and the guys on the couch.]
NARRATOR: That was fine with us.
[NORMA walks to the TV and stands in front of it.]
[Shot of NORMA in front of the TV, holding some magazines.]
NORMA: And...I've got some news. I was in line this morning at the A & P...
[Close shot of JACK frowning and resting the remote against his head.]
NORMA [V/O]: And Marietta Milburn was ahead of me.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: She mentioned that her next-door neighbor had just quit her job, and they needed someone to fill her position.
[Shot of JACK, KEVIN and WAYNE on the couch. They have no reaction.]
NORMA [V/O]: Just temporarily.
[Shot of NORMA smiling.]
[Close shot of JACK.]
[Shot of NORMA smiling.]
[Close shot of JACK.]
JACK: So...[Gestures.]
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: So, I went in. [Smiles.]
[Shot of JACK looking toward KEVIN.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking toward JACK.]
NORMA [V/O]: It's...mostly just light typing and filing, nothing difficult...
[Shot of WAYNE.]
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: And I'd be home in plenty of time to cook dinner. [Smiles.]
[NORMA smiles.]
NORMA: What do you think?
[NORMA smiles and nods.]
[Shot past NORMA of the three guys.]
NARRATOR: Now obviously what was required here was a show of enthusiasm.
[Wider shot of NORMA smiling in front of the TV.]
NARRATOR: However half-hearted.
[Close shot of JACK.]
JACK: Fine with me then...[Gestures.]
[Close shot of KEVIN smiling.]
KEVIN: Sounds great, Mom. [Smiles.]
[Shot of WAYNE. He frowns.]
WAYNE: Mom!
[Close shot of NORMA looking at WAYNE expectantly.]
[Shot past NORMA of the guys on the couch.]
WAYNE: You're blocking the TV!
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Oh!
[NORMA looks at the TV.]
NORMA: I'm sorry!
[She giggles and moves over.]
NARRATOR: And, the decision had been made.
NORMA: Well, then...I guess...[gestures]...that's that! [Nods.]
[Shot past NORMA of the guys on the couch, as she walks behind it.]
NARRATOR: After all, if a little meaningless clerical work could brighten her day, nothin' wrong with that.
[Close shot of JACK, as he half-turns to NORMA in the background.]
JACK: So where is this job?
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: In the attendance office at Kevin's school. [Smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning in horror and quickly looking over his shoulder, then forward.]
[Sound of sports buzzer.]
NARRATOR: It was the cool kid's worst nightmare.
Cut to
[Shot of KEVIN approaching.]
KEVIN: Mom? Listen, about this job.
[Shot past KEVIN as NORMA pulls out the typewriter.]
NORMA: Gimme a hand with this, will ya? Oh...whew! It's been so long since I've actually typed! Wonder if it's like riding a bicycle. [Smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Seemed to me, this was a little more critical than typewriters or bicycles.
KEVIN: Mom? Are you sure this is a good idea?
[Shot past KEVIN as NORMA looks at dresses.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: I just wondered, you know, if you'd thought this all through.
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA.]
NORMA: How do you mean, honey?
KEVIN: Well, you know, a big decision like this isn't something you just want to rush into.
NORMA: Oh...[laughs]...I see.
NARRATOR: There! All I had to do was detail the greater ramifications.
NORMA: Which one do you think I should wear?
[Shot of KEVIN frowning.]
KEVIN: Mom!
[Close shot of NORMA look at KEVIN with concern.]
NORMA: Kevin! You're really worried about this, aren't you?
NARRATOR: God bless the woman.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Kinda. [Smiles.]
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Well, don't be. Just because I'm going to work doesn't mean I'm going to neglect you.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: What?
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: I may have a job, but I'm still your mother. And you're still my little boy.
[NORMA rubs KEVIN's head.]
NARRATOR: It wasn't exactly a comforting thought.
NORMA: Gimme that! [Smiles.]
[NORMA takes the typewriter, sets it on the bed, and starts dusting it off.]
NARRATOR: Still, sooner or later, Mom would realize what a bad idea this was. All she needed was a little time to think it over.
[Shot of KEVIN frowning, and walking away.]
NORMA [V/O]: What time shall we leave tomorrow?
[KEVIN pauses and turns.]
KEVIN: Tomorrow?
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: I start at nine - we can drive to school together! [Smiles.]
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Thanks...[smiles]...but I think I'll take the bus. [Exits.]
[Sound of beeping car horn.]
Cut to
NORMA: This is fun, isn't it?
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN nodding half-heartedly.]
NARRATOR: So much for public transportation.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: I have never seen you dawdle so long, getting ready for school.
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Sorry.
[NORMA looks at her dress and adjusts her hat.]
NORMA: You think I'm dressed OK?
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA.]
NARRATOR: Actually, she looked kinda like an astronaut's wife.
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: You look fine, Mom.
NARRATOR: Now if she could only look invisible.
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA.]
NORMA: I'm just sorry we won't be able to see each other more.
[Shot of KEVIN pausing.]
KEVIN: What do you mean?
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Well, I'll probably be cooped up in the attendance office all day. I don't think I'll even have time to say hello.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: You won't?
[Shot of NORMA frowning and shaking her head.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking off and smiling.]
NARRATOR: Well, then - things were looking up.
Cut to
NARRATOR: Maybe once we got to school, no one would even know she was there.
[They step out of the car.]
NARRATOR: Once we actually got to school.
[NORMA pauses and rests her box of things on the trunk.]
NORMA: Ready?
[Shot of KEVIN looking toward school.]
[Shot of the building, and students.]
[Shot of KEVIN ducking behind the car as NORMA starts to walk of with her box.]
NORMA: Kevin?!
[Shot past the car.]
KEVIN [V/O]: Uh...You go ahead, Mom. I got a, uh...a knot in my shoelace.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: You want any help? I may have an extra one in my -
KEVIN [V/O]: No! No really, thanks!
[Shot of NORMA as she looks at her watch.]
NORMA: But, I don't wanna be late!
[Shot of KEVIN kneeling near the rear tire.]
KEVIN: No, no - wouldn't want that!
NORMA [V/O]: Well, then...
KEVIN: Seeya, Mom! [Waves.]
[Shot of NORMA hesitating, then smiling and walking away.]
[Shot of KEVIN peeking over the car.]
[Sound of school bell.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: So, I'd passed the critical hurdle. I'd crossed the mine field. With mom safely stashed in the attendance office...
[KEVIN high-fives a class-mate, and sits down.]
NARRATOR: I was feeling good again. Cool again.
PAUL [V/O]: Hey! Kev!
[PAUL approaches.]
[Shot past KEVIN of PAUL.]
PAUL: Guess who I ran into at the attendance office? Your mom! Oh - she wanted me to give this to you.
[PAUL fishes in his pocket, and dangles a shoelace in front of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Oh, my gosh!
[KEVIN looks around in embarrassment.]
[Shot past KEVIN of PAUL and the shoelace.]
NARRATOR: There was only one way to handle this.
[Shot past the shoelace as KEVIN laughs exaggeratedly, and points at PAUL.]
KEVIN: That's a pretty good one, Paul!
[Shot past KEVIN of PAUL.]
PAUL: Huh?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: My mother?
[Wider shot of KEVIN, PAUL, and other students.]
KEVIN: I don't even have a mother! [Gestures.]
PAUL: What?
KEVIN: Well, of course I have a mother - but she's not here, Paul.
[Shot past KEVIN of PAUL.]
KEVIN: Gimme that!
[KEVIN takes the shoelace.]
[Shot past KEVIN of PAUL.]
PAUL: But I just saw her! [Gestures.]
KEVIN: No you didn't, Paul.
[Shot of KEVIN shaking his head.]
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: But I'm sure I -
[KEVIN crosses his arms, shakes his head and smiles.]
KEVIN: No you didn't, Paul. You did not see my mother, Paul - do I make myself clear?
[KEVIN glares at PAUL.]
[Close shot of PAUL as he frowns.]
[Sound of school bell.]
PAUL: Oh...
TEACHER [V/O]: Take you seats, please!
[Shot past PAUL of KEVIN. PAUL takes his seat. KEVIN sighs, and puts the shoelace in his shirt pocket.]
NARRATOR: OK, I'd weaseled my way out of it.
[KEVIN glances around the other students.]
NARRATOR: But it was clear if I was gonna survive this...
[KEVIN turns forward.]
NARRATOR: I was gonna have to lay low. Avoid public situations.
[The fire-alarm rings. KEVIN looks up.]
NARRATOR: Like, say...
[High shot of the class.]
CLASS: Fire-drill!
[The students stand and hurry off. KEVIN follows.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: Now, ordinarily a junior-high fire-drill has all the excitement of a four-week vacation packed into ten minutes.
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL walking through the crowd.]
NARRATOR: But when everyone else was partying...
[The camera pans across the kids toward the building. MR. DIPERNA and NORMA are in the background.]
NARRATOR: I was busy keeping watch.
[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN.]
KEVIN: There she is.
[KEVIN hides behind PAUL.]
PAUL: Who?
KEVIN: My mother!
[PAUL frowns.]
KEVIN: What's she doing now?
PAUL: Oh. She's talking to Mr. Diperna.
[KEVIN frowns.]
KEVIN: Diperna?!
[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA and NORMA. NORMA holds MR. DIPERNA's arm as they talk and smile.]
NARRATOR: Great. Invading my turf wasn't bad enough - now she was fraternizing with the enemy.
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL.]
KEVIN: This is unbelievable!
[PAUL turns toward KEVIN.]
PAUL: Kev? Aren't you making kind of a big deal out of this? I mean, look at you - hiding from your own flesh-and-blood? [Shrugs.]
NARRATOR: Easy for him to say.
[Shot of MR. DIPERNA and NORMA.]
NARRATOR: It wasn't his flesh-and-blood.
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL.]
KEVIN: Paul, just stay out of this, OK?
PAUL: Oh, come on! [Gestures.] What's she doing to hurt you?
KEVIN: Well...
NARRATOR: And suddenly, I felt ashamed. Paul, as usual, was right.
[Shot of MR. DIPERNA and NORMA. NORMA spots KEVIN and mouths: "Oh, there he is...", and points.]
NARRATOR: This was my mother.
[Close shot of KEVIN relaxing.]
NARRATOR: And for that one moment, I actually forgave her.
NORMA [V/O]: Yoo-hoo!
[Shot MR. DIPERNA and NORMA. She waves and smiles.]
NORMA: Yoo-hoo! Hi, honey!
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Just for a moment, though.
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MR. DIPERNA and NORMA in the distance, as all the kids turn and laugh.]
[Shot of PAUL turning toward KEVIN.]
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MR. DIPERNA and NORMA in the distance, as all the kids continue to laugh.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning and glancing around.]
Cut to
GIRLS [V/O]: Yoo-hoo!
[KEVIN turns around.]
[Shot of three girls.]
GIRLS: Kev-in!
[They laugh and turn away.]
[Shot of KEVIN turning back to his locker, as the girls walking away goggling.]
NARRATOR: Possibly it had been the longest seven periods in my life in formal education.
[KEVIN opens his locker.]
[A boy approaches carrying a basketball.]
BOY: Hi, hon-ey!
[The boys smiles and walks past the camera, as KEVIN glances at him.]
NARRATOR: In one fell swoop...
[Close shot of KEVIN sighing and leaning his head against the locker.]
NARRATOR: I'd plunged from the top third of coolest...
[PAUL approaches his locker and dials his combo.]
NARRATOR: To the bottom of the barrel.
[KEVIN frowns, shuts PAUL's locker, and points his finger.]
KEVIN: This is your fault!
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Mine?!
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Why does this have to happen to me?!
[Close shot of PAUL sighing.]
PAUL: It happened because your mother cared enough to say hello when she saw you.
[Shot past PAUL of KEVIN, as PAUL re-dials.]
NARRATOR: But somehow, I doubted that.
KEVIN: Paul, what am I gonna do?
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Well...[shrugs]...there's only one thing to do...talk to her. Tell her how you feel. [Smiles.]
[Shot past PAUL of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: I don't know...[shakes head]...I don't - I don't think so.
GIRLs [V/O]: Kev-in! Yoo-hoo!
[KEVIN frowns, and PAUL looks over his shoulder.]
[Shot of a girl making a big kissing sound, and smiling.]
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL looking at each other.]
Cut to
[Shot of NORMA taking closes from the dryer.]
[Shot of KEVIN on the stairs.]
KEVIN: Mom! We gotta talk.
[Shot of NORMA putting clothes on the ironing board.]
NORMA: How do ya mean?
[Shot of KEVIN on the stairs.]
KEVIN: Well, see...
[Shot of NORMA with the laundry, smiling at KEVIN off-screen.]
NARRATOR: One little problem here.
[Shot from behind NORMA as KEVIN approaches.]
NARRATOR: How do you explain "cool" to a forty-year-old housewife...
[Shot of NORMA folding socks.]
NARRATOR: Who folds your sweatsocks?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: How'd it go today?
[Close shot of NORMA looking up and pausing in thought.]
NORMA: Well - I think it went OK! [Smiles.] Actually, I was a little nervous. [Sighs.]
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NORMA [V/O]: It was just all so different than what I expected.
[Shot of NORMA smiling and folding clothes.]
NORMA: But it was fun! I guess.
[She smiles and nods.]
NORMA: Once I get my typing up to speed, I know I'll really enjoy the job.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Oh.
[Close shot of NORMA turning toward the laundry.]
NARRATOR: And...that was that.
[Shot of KEVIN as he turns to leave, then turns back.]
NARRATOR: Except, somehow I knew...I had to face this thing head-on.
KEVIN: Listen - Mom?
[Shot of NORMA looking at KEVIN expectantly.]
NARRATOR: This wasn't gonna be easy.
[Shot of KEVIN thinking.]
NARRATOR: It was gonna take tact...finesse.
KEVIN: When we're at school...[gestures]...could you maybe just...not talk to me?
[NORMA pauses and looks at KEVIN.]
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Or, notice me...or, even look at me? [Gestures.]
[Shot of NORMA looking slightly puzzled.]
[Shot of KEVIN smiling.]
KEVIN: You know, cuz I'd rather people didn't know you were there at all.
[NORMA glances off, then at KEVIN.]
NORMA: Well, of course, Kevin.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
[shot of NORMA looking away and gesturing.]
NORMA: If that's what you'd like.
[NORMA looks at KEVIN and nods slightly, then looks down. She looks up agin, then off.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking down, then sighing and turning away.]
NARRATOR: Uh-huh. Winston Churchill, himself, couldn't have handled it better.
Cut to
NARRATOR: Still, over the next few days, things kinda...changed.
[KEVIN and NORMA get out. NORMA walks away.]
NARRATOR: Now that we'd had our little talk, Mom was as good as her word.
Cut to
[KEVIN turns and sees NORMA talking and smiling with the teacher. She looks up at KEVIN suddenly and pauses, then walks away.]
NARRATOR: Norma Arnold turned into a stranger.
[KEVIN tosses his magazine down and sighs.]
Cut to
TONY: Hey, buddy! I hear your old lady's working for the brass.
NARRATOR: Ask a stupid question...
KEVIN: Tony!
NARRATOR: Tony Barbella - RFK's answer to Java Man.
TONY: Listen, Arnold...you don't mind if I call you "Arnold", do ya?
KEVIN: Well -
TONY: See I need to ask you a favor...if that's alright with you.
KEVIN: Well -
TONY: I need a pass. You know the green ones - "get outta jail free"?
KEVIN: Oh...
TONY: And, uh, since you got, uh, family connections in the front office - I figured you were the guy to come to.
KEVIN: Well, Tony...of course I'd like to help you, but...just because my mom-
TONY: I understand the problems, the logistics. L-listen if you do this...
[Tony taps KEVIN on the nose with his comb.]
TONY: I would really...really...really...really, appreciate it.
[Tony flicks a small smile, then exits.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: I was mad. I'd been led to a life of crime.
[Shot of NORMA typing.]
NARRATOR: And I knew by whom. The real culprit was right behind that counter.
[Shot of KEVIN approaching the counter.]
KEVIN: Mom?
[Shot past KEVIN as NORMA looks up, surprised.]
NORMA: Oh, Kevin! What are you doing here?
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: I, uh...forgot my lunch money. [Smiles and gestures.]
[Shot past KEVIN as NORMA points behind her.
NORMA: Honey, my purse is just back there - would you mind just coming in to get it?
[Close shot of KEVIN smiling.]
KEVIN: Sure!
[KEVIN walks around the outside of the counters.]
NARRATOR: Ah, the devious depths of the criminal mind.
[KEVIN hesitates, looks at NORMA, then enters.]
NARRATOR: OK, so I knew it was wrong.
[KEVIN starts to get money from NORMA's purse, and sees the clipboard with passes in front of him.]
NARRATOR: I had no choice.
[KEVIN glances over his shoulder and looks at NORMA.]
[Shot of NORMA from behind as she types.]
[Shot of KEVIN slowly ripping a pass off the clipboard.]
NARRATOR: Besides, after all I'd been through, what court in the world would convict me?
[Close shot of NORMA turning around, and frowning.]
NORMA: Kevin?
[KEVIN turns in surprise, with the pass in his hand.]
NARRATOR: And suddenly...
[Close shot of NORMA frowning.]
NARRATOR: Court was in session.
[Shot of NORMA turned toward KEVIN in the background, and he hides the pass behind his back.]
KEVIN: I, uh...
[MR. DIPERNA opens the door to his office and steps out.]
MR. DIPERNA: Uh, Mrs. Arnold...[glances at KEVIN]...could I speak with you, please?
[NORMA and KEVIN look at each other, then NORMA smiles at MR. DIPERNA.]
NORMA: I'll be right in.
MR. DIPERNA: As soon as possible, please.
[He enters his office.]
[NORMA and KEVIN look at each other.]
NORMA: Well, I have to get to work.
[NORMA looks at KEVIN as she enter Mr. Diperna's office.]
[KEVIN sets the pass down, sighs, and exits.]
[Bell rings.]
Fade to
[KEVIN sees her in the distance.]
KEVIN: Mom!
[The camera backs up as he runs toward it.]
NARRATOR: Suddenly the Tony Barbella's of the world seemed like small potatoes.
[Wide shot of NORMA at the car as KEVIN approaches.]
KEVIN: Mom?
[Close shot past NORMA of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: About what happened...
[Close shot past KEVIN of NORMA looking at him.]
KEVIN: It wasn't what it looked like.
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN glancing down, then looking at NORMA.]
KEVIN: Anyway, I-I didn't take that pass.
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA. She smiles slightly, and nods.]
NORMA: I know.
[She turns back to her box of things.]
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: So -
[Close shot of NORMA. She turns and frowns.]
NORMA: Kevin - could we talk about this later? I'm...just a little distracted, right now.
[NORMA frowns and turns back to her box.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
[Close shot of NORMA looking toward KEVIN.]
NORMA: I just got my walking papers.
[she glances off, then back.]
NORMA: Mr. Diperna just fired me. [Smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Oh...
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: He said my typing wasn't up to snuff. And my dictation was...laborious.
[She smiles, then frowns and glances away.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking surprised.]
KEVIN: He said that?
[Shot of NORMA. She smiles, swallows, and glances way.]
NORMA: I don't know. Maybe he's right.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NORMA [V/O]: Anyway...
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA as she picks up her box.]
NORMA: Now you know.
[She starts to unlock the back door.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: I'm really sorry, Mom.
[Shot of NORMA as she looks at KEVIN, then opens the door.]
NARRATOR: I guess even astronaut's wives had a bad day once in awhile.
[Close shot of KEVIN as he smiles and gestures.]
KEVIN: Want some company?
[Shot of NORMA shaking her head and putting her box on the back seat.]
NORMA: No.
[She puts her stuff away, then looks at KEVIN and frowns.]
NORMA: Could you take the bus? I think I'd like to go for a drive.
KEVIN: Sure. [Shrugs.]
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA getting in the car.]
[Wider shot of the car as NORMA backs out, and drives away.]
Fade to
WAYNE [V/O]: So where is she?
[Shot of WAYNE and JACK at the table. JACK is watching baseball on TV.]
WAYNE: I'm hungry. [Gestures.]
KEVIN: How should I know?! [Gestures.]
NARRATOR: That night I didn't feel up to explanations.
[Close shot of JACK turning from the TV to KEVIN.]
JACK: Something happen at school?
[Shot of KEVIN next to the sink.]
KEVIN: No! I-I mean...nothing that I know of.
[Wider shot from behind KEVIN. JACK and WAYNE are in the background.]
NARRATOR: I knew I was gonna be in trouble for what I'd done, but, that's not what troubled me most.
[Close shot of KEVIN leaning on the counter, looking down.]
NARRATOR: Standing in that kitchen where Mom had made her family grilled-cheese sandwiches for last eighteen years, I knew that something had changed.
[Sound of NORMA pulling up, and flash of headlights on KEVIN's face. KEVIN turns toward JACK and WAYNE.]
[Shot of WAYNE and JACK.]
JACK: About time...
WAYNE: Um-hmmm.
[JACK adjusts the TV.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Dad? Wayne?
[Shot of WAYNE and JACK looking toward KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: The least I could do was prepare them for the shattered soul who would walk through that door.
[Shot of the door as NORMA enters quickly, smiling.]
NORMA: Hi! [Smiles.] Anybody hungry?
[Shot of WAYNE and JACK.]
JACK: Uh-hnnnnn. [Smiles.]
[Wide shot of KEVIN in the kitchen as NORMA enters. She sets a package on the counter and walks past KEVIN.]
NORMA: Sorry! I lost track of time.
[She sets her purse on the counter, and gestures toward JACK.]
NORMA: We'll eat in twenty minutes.
[NORMA pulls a pan from the refrigerator.]
[Close shot of KEVIN watching NORMA.]
NORMA [V/O]: Just let me get this casserole in the oven.
[NORMA crosses toward the oven.]
[Shot of NORMA closing the oven. KEVIN is in the background. NORMA looks toward JACK off-screen.]
NORMA: Oh! And I stopped by and picked up the crumb-cake you all love. [Smiles.]
[Shot of WAYNE and JACK.]
JACK: Oh...
[Shot of NORMA and KEVIN as NORMA gestures and approaches.]
NORMA: You need that freshened, honey?
[Shot of NORMA taking JACK's glass.]
NARRATOR: It was incredible!
[Shot of KEVIN watching NORMA as she returns to the kitchen.]
NARRATOR: This was the most un-shattered soul I'd ever laid eyes on.
[NORMA pulls an ice-try from the freezer at moves to the counter.]
NARRATOR: She seemed...happy. Almost confidant. Almost...
[Shot from behind KEVIN of NORMA looking at him.]
NORMA: Oh, Kevin - did you tell your father about school today?
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN. He looks surprised.]
NARRATOR: Completely out of her mind.
[Shot of WAYNE and JACK.]
JACK: What about school?
[Shot of NORMA and KEVIN. They look toward JACK off-screen, then each other. NORMA looks toward JACK again.]
NORMA: I won't be working there anymore.
[Close shot of JACK looking puzzled.]
JACK: What? Why?
[Shot of KEVIN looking at NORMA as she looks at JACK off-screen.]
NORMA: Well, it's pretty simple, really. [Smiles.]
[She looks at KEVIN.]
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: And I knew she was gonna tell them. About everything.
[Shot past KEVIN as NORMA looks up at him.]
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN glancing from NORMA to JACK's drink in her hand.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking at NORMA as she looks at JACK off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Only for some reason - she didn't.
NORMA: It's just not the right job for me. [Shrugs.] Not right now. And, I think I can do better! [Smiles.]
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN watching her.]
[Shot past KEVIN of NORMA. She nods toward JACK.]
NORMA: So I won't be going back there.
[She looks down, then up at KEVIN, and nods slightly.]
NORMA: Right, honey?
[She pauses, then walks past the camera with JACK's.]
[Shot of WAYNE and JACK as NORMA hands the drink to JACK.]
JACK: Well, then...if that's what you want.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: That's what I want. [Nods.]
[Shot of KEVIN in the foreground as NORMA returns to the kitchen and checks the oven.]
NARRATOR: And in that moment...
[Shot past NORMA of KEVIN watching her.]
NARRATOR: I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt one thing about this woman I'd been so ashamed of.
[Shot of KEVIN and NORMA, with WAYNE and JACK in the background.]
[NORMA adjusts her apron and leans closer to KEVIN.]
NORMA: By the way...you're grounded.
[NORMA walks to the refrigerator.]
[Close shot of KEVIN as he smiles.]
NARRATOR: She was pretty cool.
[Shot of NORMA at the sink in the foreground, as KEVIN walks to the table and sits down.]
Fade to
NARRATOR: When you're fourteen, change an everyday thing.
[Closer shot of KEVIN looking at a package.]
NARRATOR: You live with it every moment of your life.
[KEVIN looks toward NORMA.]
[Shot of NORMA in the foreground, typing.]
NARRATOR: That night, I understood for the first time that Mom's world was changing, too.
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of NORMA.]
NARRATOR: Maybe more than mine.
[Shot of NORMA in the foreground as KEVIN looks in the cabinet.]
NARRATOR: Her family was growing up. She didn't have kids in pajamas anymore, asking -
[KEVIN approaches NORMA.]
KEVIN: Mom? Do we have any more hot-chocolate?
[NORMA turns.]
NORMA: Would you like me to make you some? [Smiles.]
KEVIN: Sure! [Smiles.]
[NORMA gets up and walks to the counter. KEVIN watches her, then looks at the typewriter.]
NARRATOR: Still, somehow...
[Close shot of the paper in the typewriter.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at it.]
NARRATOR: I knew that whatever change lay ahead...
[Very close shot of the application as KEVIN moves it, seeing "ARNOLD NORMA" in the name section.]
[Close shot of KEVIN smiling.]
NARRATOR: Norma Arnold would handle it.
NORMA [V/O]: Ready in a minute, honey!
Fade to
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