Home Room (2002) - full transcript

The aftermath of a high school shooting leaves Deanna Cartwright seriously wounded and nine others dead, including the perpetrator. Det. Martin Van Zandt is assigned the unenviable task of investigating the crime and finding someone to hold responsible. His attention settles on Alicia Browning, a darkly troubled outsider who, as the only person present throughout the entire incident, is both the key witness and a possible suspect. Further complicating her isolated existence, Alicia's high school principal compels her to pay a reluctant visit on the still-hospitalized Deanna. Privileged and popular, Deanna differs dramatically from the alienated Alicia. Yet, beneath an upbeat appearance, she is struggling desperately with the emotional and physical scars left by the attack. Over the next few days, united by nothing more than their common suffering, the two young women form an unlikely friendship to cope with the tragic events that threaten to overwhelm them.

(Helicopters and police sirens approaching...)

Five hours after

So if there's anything else you can remember,
or anything you want to talk to us about...

I think that's about it, Sir.

I got statements from all the other kids.

Sir?

What's the story with Harper and Wheeler?

Well, Uh-- They want to talk to the suspects parents.
They had a warrant.

I already know that.
Why haven't we heard back?

Well, that's what I've been trying to tell you.
They called in 15 minutes ago.

What do the parents have to say?



Sir, the parents are dead.
Multiple gunshot wounds.

They were still in bed.
Homicides on the scene.

The final count at the school was six decedents...

Two wounded in the hospital, and one critical.

Same weapon used in both locations.

The shooter's dead.
The parents are dead.

-We've got nothing.
-Yes, Sir.

What about the girl?

Well, actually, that's something I wanted to
talk to you about.

She still hasn't said a word.

Her name is Alicia Browning.

She was standing directly next to
the perpetrator when officer Parker took his shot.

It was uh-- it was messy.

Yeah, I saw.



We brought her straight her,
but like I said, she's hardly spoken a word.

Thought you might have better luck.

When I was in high school, there was this kid...
Paul Ashley was his name.

I hated him.
I mean, I really despised the guy.

So one day I decided I was going to
do something about it.

We ended up throwing punches at the back
of the field house, after school.

I gave him a black eye,
he broke my nose.

Well, you can hardly tell.

I remember that when my parents found out,
they went ballistic.

I was grounded for a month.
Ended up losing a girlfriend because over it.

What happened to Paul Ashley?

We became best friends.

This boy today was packing a
Tech-9 semi-automatic...

With hollow point rounds
and two clips to spare.

"Perpetrators." "Decedents."

High school is no place for
kids anymore.

Can I bum a smoke?

Wait a minute...
How old are you?

Give me a cigarette, and I'll tell you.

Alicia, my name is
Martin Van Zandt.

I'm chief detective for the county...
And uh...

I've got an awful mess on my hands.

I really need you to help me here.

I want you to understand that
you are not under arrest...

And there are no charges pending.

I looked you up, and I guess
you probably know that you've got a file.

There's an outstanding shop lifting complaint
against you, but we're gonna overlook that for now.

Having said that, we've taken a number of statements
today which caused us to leave you here for the duration.

Statements that seem to confirm...

That you and the suspect in question were acquainted.
Is that correct?

Look, did he tell you?

Did you know this was gonna happen today?

Hey, let's slow it down, okay?

Alicia, I need you to know that if you were aware
of this...

In advance, and didn't say anything,
you could get in a lot of trouble.

Not shop lifting trouble.

Real damn trouble.

Look, as much as anything else,
we just want to know why?

You knew this kid...

You might be able to help us make some sense
out of this whole thing.

Yeah, and point of fact,
this young mans grades were very good.

And that's always the weirdest part about
these things.

Common sense would have you think that the troubled kid
would pull stuff like this. The kid with the temper but...

It never happens like that, does it?

-It's never the bully.
-Of course not.

Bullies have to graduate so they can become
police officers.

How 'bout it,
Detetive Martin Van Zandt?

You ever pick a fight in high school?

Because I would bet almost anything that you did.

Alicia, did you know what was going to happen?

No.

If I find out different...

If-- If I...

Please, don't let me find out different.

Can I go now?

Sure.

Why the hell did you do that?

She's got something to tell us,
she just wants to do it on her own.

Bullshit, Martin.
What the hell was that?

I wanna know more about her.
Pull her school records. You know the drill.

Yes, sir. You know the attitude of some of these kids...

They think they can tell us anything,
like we don't get it.

How stupid does she think we are?

Right.

By the way, how much did that lighter cost you?

(Television broadcast) Good evening.

Another high school shooting.

This time in our own backyard.

God, I was so scared. I didn't know for so long.

I must've called the school a hundred times.

I'm okay, dad.

That was your classroom, wasn't it?

Did you know any of the kids?

I knew all of them.

What can I do? Do you want to talk?
I didn't know if you wanted any dinner.

I'm going to bed.

Do me a favor, please leave your door open tonight.

So if you need anything, I can...

No, I can't tell you anything else.
You know, the news.

Is he asleep?

How much did he see?

There are lots of questions.

And our people are working on making an arrest...

So we can get some answers.

Obviously, our hearts go out to all the families.

Honey, listen, I'll have to call you back.
I know.

-Captain...
-Where the hell is everybody?

We've got a team over at the high school, another team
at the kids house.

-I sent everybody else home.
-Sent them home?

Sir, repectfully...

You shouldn't have gone on TV and
said that there would be an arrest.

And why would that be?

Because this case is practically closed already, sir.

No, this case is very much open.

Sir, I don't know what else you want me to do.

What? You want me to remind you of your
goddamn job description?

You will respond. You will investigate.
And you will apprehend.

That gun had to come from somebody.

The gun was registered to the father...

And I can't arrest him.

Well, then somebody else knew.

Somebody who could have prevented all this.

Somebody who decided that the lives of
two parents and five classmates weren't

worth the time and effort it took to pick
up the phone and dial 911.

And you will find person, detective...

Because that is your job!

Look, Martin...

All of those families depend on us.

On you and on me.

Martin, how long is it going to be
before your kid is in that school?

Now, you will find somebody to be
held accountable for this atrocity.

And when you find him, I will bury him alive
if I have to.

Why don't you just burn him at the stake?

Are we in an agreement here, detective?

Yes, sir.

Twelve days after

Sir, the police want to take more pictures.

Finally.

Kelly.

Who is that?

That's Alicia Browning.

Alicia, what are you doing here?

I have tests coming up, I have to go
to the library.

Alicia, dear...
There isn't any school. Not now.

You must understand,
there won't be any classes for a while.

Can't I just...

Okay, what I mean is, it's still a
school, right?

Of course.

You should've been called. We put it on the news.

I don't watch television.

I'm sorry.
You should have been called.

I have tests coming up.
I'm already a year behind.

I have to get out of this school.

Of course,
but there aren't any classes right now.

We're coordinated with Wilson High School.
We wanna try and use their...

What the fuck am I suppose to do all day?!

Thanks for climbing down, by the way.

He's got a really bad back.

-What the hell is this?
-This is where they told us to bring you.

Did that detective, Van Zandt,
tell you to do this?

No, ma'am, this was requested
by your principle.

Doug, look who's here.

Alicia.

Glad you could come.

Police car, very subtle.

Would you have come otherwise?

Look, I'm really not into this like,
group therapy, touchy-feely bullshit.

And that's fine.

But maybe you could use the help.
There are lots of people here who are...

For Godsakes!

-Miss, could we talk to you, please?
-No.

There are other students,
go talk to them.

We've tried, they don't want to
talk to us either.

We just want to know how our
son died.

Why would you wanna know that? You're lucky
that you don't know, you should keep it that way.

Yes, I know it's hard to understand but...

You're young. You don't know what it's like
to lose a child.

To have him taken away, and there is
nothing you can do.

Thank you,
this has been very helpful.

Please.

Alicia.

What now?

In other places where
this sort of has happened...

Group meetings seemed like the right idea.
I don't know.

But listen, we still have a
student in the hospital.

Deanna Cartwright,
maybe you know her?

Her parents are very concerned...

Because she can't leave the hospital.

-There's nobody there for her.
-What is wrong with you?

I'm a leper, don't you know that? I mean, exactly
what is it when you look at me that makes you think...

"Now there's a good-hearted young lady
who wants to help people?"

None of the other students wanna go either.

In truth, you're the last person I would've asked.

Come on!

You said it yourself,
you have nothing else better to do.

They spent the whole of last year
renovating the hospital.

Oh, by the way, it's got a
brand new library, all of it's own.

Please, can you go see her?

Just once?
Can your father drive you in the morning?

No, he can't.

Can I drive you in the morning?

Will you stop sending police
cars to my house?

Yes.

Don't be late.

Thank you.

This is her room number.

She has therapy in the mornings,
she should be back by now.

Will you be needing a ride?

All right, I'll come meet you.

Excuse me, may I help you?

Yeah. Uhm...

I'm here to see Deanna Cartwright.

She's in...

-I beg your pardon?
-She's in room 201.

-Are you friend or are you family?
-No, neither.

You must be Alicia Browning.
Come over here and sign in, please.

Hey.

Hi!

No, come in.
This is the right room.

It's Alicia, right?

They said somebody might come to visit me today,
but they always say that.

And usually if somebody does come to visit me,
it's not somebody like you...

It's like, what they call a "specialist,"
which is really just another kind of doctor...

Which really isn't very special to me anymore.

Where did all this shit come from?

You know, mom, dad, my friends.

This is the first time you and I
have ever really talked.

-You got a haircut.
-So did you.

Yeah...

I guess it was a richochet, maybe.

The doctor said it hit me in the back here,
but it didn't pierce the skull.

So, the bullet kept coming around the side
of my head, underneath the skin...

-But it gauged out so much bone that they had to...
-I didn't ask.

"Those look like comfortable shoes."

"Would you like a chocolate?"

No, wait. I was just kidding.

I was just kidding!
It was just...

Forrest Gump.

Shit.

I figured you'd do this, but I honestly
thought it would be longer than four minutes.

Look...

I did what you wanted.
I saw her.

We exchanged pleasantries, okay?
And we talked about the old times.

So can I go now?

No, you may not go now.

You're gonna turn around and get
back up there.

And I'm gonna tell you something else,
you may consider the rest of the day mandatory.

No, that's bullshit.
You said nothing about that yesterday.

What I said yesterday
doesn't mean dick today.

See ya.

How bad do you wanna graduate, Alicia?

I said, how bad do you wanna graduate?

I don't have time for this
petty clique nonsense...

That kids always seem to think is
so goddamn important.

So you're gonna get your ass back up there,
and do as you're told.

Because I know you don't wanna be
two years behind, do you?

Do you?

I am not staying one second
pass five o'clock.

Thank you.

Will you be needing
a ride home?

Uh-- I really didn't mean anything by that
Forrest Gump thing. I was just...

I don't know. I don't even like chocolate either.

Okay.

You already read the sports page.

Okay.

What are you smiling at?

Nothing.

It's just really nice to have company.

Really nice.

I'm gonna go ahead and watch a little TV
while you're reading. Do you like Animal Planet?

By the way, you'll read twice as fast
if you don't move your lips.

Oh my God, what are you doing?

Uhm... I'd like to talk to you about something.

Look, I'm not here because I wanna be,
I'm here because they're making me.

So let's get one thing straight, okay?
When that clock hits five, I'm gone.

You got it?

This isn't one of your fucking slumber
parties where we paint each others fingernails...

And we have pillow fights.
I'm not gonna pierce your ears...

And I'm sure as shit not gonna sign
your goddamn yearbook.

Look... Why don't you just do both of us a
favor, and keep quiet?

Okay?

Okay.

Kelly, hold all my calls for
the next thirty minutes.

Okay, sir, the police...

-Especially if it's the police.
-John, no.

-Gentlemen.
-The phone's very impersonal.

You know, I'm just trying to figure out what the
hell it is you guys could still possibly need from us.

You already have everything we have.

And the department thanks you for your
continued support of this investigation.

There's only so much you can learn about
a person by reading their file...

So I just wanted to ask you a few questions about
a student you have named Alicia Browning.

Little Ms. Sunshine?
Why?

It's just part of the investigation.

There's almost a year and a half
gap in her academic record.

-No one seems to know why.
-Have you spoken with her father?

We will.

As for Alicia, I couldn't tell you why
she was out of school for as long as she was.

You must understand, we have a
student body of almost two thousand kids.

-It is impossible for me to know each and every one.
-Okay-- okay... Fine.

Maybe you can tell me who
some of her friends are.

-Maybe they can help.
-She doesn't have any friends.

I'll get Kelly to throw together a
list of the kids that she had classes with.

But she doesn't have any friends.

I can also get you a list of teachers
who might be able to...

I'm sorry, you were saying?

Well, it's not that she's a loner.
I mean...

This school has plenty of loners, but they
all hang out together.

-Alicia is more like... Uhm...
-Goth.

I think that's what they call them.

She's not really goth either.

She's more like... Uhm... Goth, metalhead,
ramp tramp, bookworm.

Something for everybody to hate.
How do you know about her?

Well, I went to school here.
I've only been out for a few years.

So sometimes the students tell me things
they won't tell anybody else.

-Martin, take a look at this.
-Hang on.

The rest is just common sense.

I mean, anyone she would have hung out
with has already graduated.

What the hell happened to this girl?

Mr. and Mrs. Colby?

Marcus Colby's parents.

He was in the room across the hall.

The night he died...

My door was closed, but I could still
hear his parents.

That was...

That was hard.

Where are your parents?

Oh, you know, they used to be here
all the time, but now that I'm okay...

They can't spend the whole day with me, so
they're usually here in the mornings or after work.

Can I talk to you?

-Who sent these?
-Huh?

These flowers. There's no card.
Who sent them?

Bobby Launer.

He's an idiot.

Look at this:
Three gladiolus...

Five carnations and a bunch of white roses?

-I think they're pretty.
-It's a funeral standard.

Your boys got a green thumb up his ass.
Either that, or he's got a great sense of humor.

Do you know why the carnation
became the funeral flower?

Because they smell super sweet,
they're overpowering, right?

So back in the old days, before they'd
figured out how to preserve dead bodies...

They just had to use lots of carnations at
their funerals to hide the rotting smell.

That... really doesn't help me... at all.

Neither do those.

I didn't get to go to any of their funerals.

They won't let me leave, even though
there's nothing wrong with me anymore.

-Actually, he's very smart.
-Who is?

Bobby Launer.
We're in Academic Decathlon together.

It's like a club.
And we have competitions with other high schools.

I know what Ac-Dec is.

I think sometimes people hate me
just 'cause I get good grades.

Sometimes I have to act dumb,
just so people will talk to me.

But all my real friends
are in the upper first percentile.

-The upper first percentile?
-Yeah.

Do you get good grades?

I'm barely passing.
So I guess we could never be friends.

Is... Uhm.. Bobby your boyfriend?

Well, you better strike
now while the iron is hot.

I mean, you're very, very pathetic right now.

There isn't a guy in the who'd
say "no" to you.

Try to make the most out of
this little near-death experience...

Which, by the looks of it,
you're handling just fine anyways.

I guess.

You know, "When life
gives you lemons..."

What did you just say?

"When life gives you lemons...
make lemonade."

That is the biggest load of
crap I've ever heard.

What..? "Time heals all wounds?"
Right?

"Everything happens for a reason?"

And I guess, "they're all in a better
place now," too?

So...

Why do they still have you here?

Were you like, cracking up
or something?

That's a very rude way
to put it.

Well, I can't help it. I am
fascinated by nuttiness and it's causes.

I had a few nightmares,
which really excited them.

They even have a clinical term for it...

"Repressed Memory Anxiety."
Which I think sounds a tad bit overdramatic.

But now they spend every morning trying to
tap my subconscience fears.

Fears so scary, I don't even
know I have them.

It's a complete waste.

And I usually end up missing
The Crocodile Hunter.

Why the hell do you go?

Because they make me.
Because they think they can help.

But they can't, because they
weren't there.

So I couldn't talk to them about it,
even if I really wanted to.

And you know what else?
The shrink can't keep up with me.

-I'm way smarter than she is.
-Are you?

I looked up her credentials.
They have a great new library here.

But anyway, I have a much higher
IQ than she does.

Your IQ doesn't mean a
goddamn thing in the world.

Time served.

Okay. Well, it was nice to
finally talk to somebody who...

Save it.
Hey, can I have these?

Yeah, sure.
Uhm... I'm just...

I'm just...
I don't know if I can...

Finish this.
It's a crossword puzzle.

Thanks.
But sometimes it's really...

-Night.
-But I wanted to tell you...

-You're welcome.
-Alicia!

What?!

What?

I'm dying inside.

It's a good library?

See you tomorrow then.

You want any dinner?

I had some visitors today,
two fellas from the local police department.

Detectives Martin Van Zandt
and Michael Macready.

They said they've spoken to you before.

What did they want?

I was hoping it was just another shoplifting
thing, or a curfew violation. But they...

Just really wanted to know more about you.

This boy, the one who
killed all those kids...

Did you know him?

I knew everybody.
I already told you that.

Of course you did.

They also wanted to know why you were
out of school for so long.

What did you tell them?

Dad, what did you say to them?

I told them you're almost 20-years-old,
leagally an adult.

If they want an answer to that question,
they'll have to ask you directly.

What did they say to that?

They said, they could subpoena me...

And they could arrest me,
for obstruction of justice.

-Can they?
-Probably.

But I suggested to them that arresting me
probably wasn't in their best interest...

From a standpoint...
Public relations anyway.

Is there anyway you wanna tell me?

You've gone through more than anyone
your age ever should.

Please, talk to me!

I'm going to bed.

Good night.

Get well soon!

You think that's funny?!

Shit!

How long have you been here?

You're drooling.

What time is it?

God, how can you stay in the sack this long?
The sun rises like straight into this room every morning.

I'm going to the library.

-Good morning, Deanna.
-Hello.

-Good morning.
-Oh, good morning, Deanna.

-Good morning, Deanna.
-Hi.

-Hi, Deanna.
-Hi, how are you?

Hey, there you are.

What kind of drugs
do they have you on here?

Why?

How can you already be this peppy?

I love morning,
it's my favorite part of the day.

No, okay. People who think that
morning is the best part of the day...

Are the same kinds of people
that think crust is best part of the pizza.

-Do you know everybody here?
-I'm kind of a high profile patient.

Lucky you. When you get back to
school, and you'll be twice as popular.

Not for long.
I get to graduate with your class.

-I'm a year ahead.
-It's not my class.

-It isn't?
-They already graduated.

Wow.

I'm a year ahead,
you're a year behind.

We have so much in common.

No...

Actually, that means we have
even less in common than we normally would.

God, what is wrong with you?

Nothing. I just... I like
to assume the best about people.

Is there really anything wrong...

You know, if you keep picking at
that thing, it's never gonna heal.

I wasn't picking at it.

I'm rubbing it to stimulate hair growth.

I'm too young for Rogaine.
Why'd you miss a year?

God, you said this library
was good.

All they have are medical books,
and JAMA magazine.

Journal of the American
Medical Association.

Whatever.
I need English books.

-English?
-If I don't pass, I don't graduate.

You're failing your native language?

Fuck you.

You like that word a lot.

What word?

Fuck?

-You really can't say it, can you?
-Of course I can say it.

But it's a bad word. It's like taking
the Lords name in vain.

-Which you also did yesterday.
-What? You like think that makes me a bad person or something?

I see.

Where are you going?

Deanna, where've you been?

Your session with
Dr. Hollander start 15 minutes ago.

Yeah...

Well, let's go then.

Deanna, let's go.

Maybe she doesn't want to.

Excuse me?

Maybe she thinks
the whole thing is crap.

Maybe she doesn't like
dumping her guts out to total strangers.

And while, I'll give her that,
locking yourself in a room...

And taking drugs with a couple of older women probably
has some sort of kinky appeal for her. I'm guessing...

She just wants you to piss off.

Miss, that sort of language is not accept---

Shhh...
(Whispers) This is a library.

-We were just going to smoke.
-We were?

Smoking is not allowed.
This is a hospital.

Are you coming?

Let's go, headcase.

Tell Dr. Hollander, I'm sorry.

Alicia, wait.

I appreciate you both taking
time out of your busy schedules.

Sorry it's taken this long for me
to speak with you personally.

I'm sure you've been quite busy.

How long is this going to take?

Basically, I just need some
general information about yourselves.

About us?

And your daughter.
Anything you think could be helpful.

Personal things, your friends,
her relationship with the shooter.

She didn't know him.

And I don't think Deanna
has a personal life.

Yeah?

Yeah.
I'm gonna have to call you back.

Right, bye.

-You're not from here?
-No, we're from back East.

Dan works for Hyperion,
and I'm with the FDIC.

Oh, so you both work in the city.
That's a hell of a commute.

Would you please turn that thing off?

What I mean is, there are other
areas you could have moved to.

What was it about our little
town that made you...

We moved here because of the schools.

It was my decision.

Look...

Are you guys gonna charge anyone?

Because it's been more than two weeks,
and we... The other parents, we haven't heard a thing.

I mean, aren't you doing anything?

The investigation is ongoing.

Before this attack, did you notice
anything out of the ordinary with Deanna?

Erractic behavior?

No, I told you that before.
What is it that we're suppose to have noticed?

Nothing. You're just her parents.

I'll be in touch.

-Deanna.
-Hi.

What is the point? If you wanna kill
yourself, there's faster ways to do it.

You know that nurse?
She has it in for me.

She's always bossing me around. Telling me
where to go, and when to go there.

So one day I say to her: "Why you
always treat me like a baby?"

And she says, get this, "Force of habit, honey.
This used to be the maternity ward."

And I'm like: "That is weapons-grade
B.S. Give it a rest, sasquatch."

No, you didn't say that to her.

No, I didn't.

But it would've been so cool if I had.

I like your gloves.

It's like Madonna.

Not, you know, henna tattoo,
English accent Madonna.

More like, "Material Girl,
"Boy Toy" Madonna.

-Can I try one one?
-Go to hell.

Do boys like you because you smoke?

My mother says that
boys like girls who smoke, because---

Because girls who smoke are easy?

Something along those lines.

Well, boys don't
like me because I smoke.

Boys don't like me, period.

Men are a different story.

What's the oldest guy you've ever dated?

Thrity seven.

Thirty seven?!

I don't know. I always try to date
someone atleast twice my age...

Because there's something
to be said for experience.

But of course, that means every year,
the men get creepier and creepier.

What is that?
That's an exponential problem, I guess.

I don't know.
I'm failing math too.

-You want a drag?
-No.

Yes, you do.

No, it's a filthy habit.
It's disgusting.

Makes your clothes stink.
And it's really expensive.

Oh, like money is some big
object for you?

I've seen you at school.
I've seen your car.

Hey, Deanna.

"Thanks, Dad."

Don't get me wrong,
I don't resent you.

I'm sure you value all the
advantages wealth...

Gives people like you
over people like me.

Even though you waste your time
tooling around with your friends...

Britney Spears pumping,
wind in your hair...

All the neighbors waving.
God, you really must be the life of the subdivision.

All that money...

And Bobby Launer still doesn't
have the slighest interest in you.

And that's -- that is what kills you.

You know what he told me?
He told me he couldn't take me to the prom...

Because I used to date
his best friend.

What was the eloquent
way he put it?

"Bros before hoes."

How immature is that?

-You believed him?
-Yeah, why?

What I mean is... I'm sure it had
nothing to do with the fact that...

His buddy told him that he
never got anywhere with you.

No. Never let him meat you out.
Never polished his knob.

Never gave him a rim job, never let him
grope your tits, never let him lick your puss.

There's nothing wrong
with being a virgin!

Of course not.
It's "hip" to be a virgin nowadays.

It's never hip to be a virgin,
it's really hard.

I'm sure it is.
Oh, there's a song about it.

-A song?
-Yeah.

I think it's Bananarama.

No, no, no, it's the Go-Gos!
"Our Lips are sealed."

What?

Our "lips" are sealed.

It's about a bunch of chicks
trying to stay virgins.

Okay. First of all, that's gross.
Second of all, you're wrong.

It's about a bunch of girls
trying to keep a secret.

Well, if I wasn't getting any,
I'd wanna keep it a secret too.

Now, if you really wanna get Bobby Launer,
and he sees you with one of these...

Like mommy says: "Boys like girls
who smoke..."

"Because they think they're easy."

Here.

Now that is just a terrible
waste of tobacco.

What are you trying to do?
Are you trying to save me or something?

You know something?
I don't think you're easy, Alicia.

I think you're the most difficult
person I've ever met.

No, it's okay.
No, mom, I understand.

I'll see you tomorrow morning.
Oh, all right. Tomorrow night.

I love you too.

Okay, bye.

Are you checking those books out?

I'm taking them,
if that's what you mean.

Can I have my remote back?

Why?

No.

Where do you go at 5 o'clock?

I go to a homeless shelter where I
serve food to the needy and less fortunate.

I don't know.
I don't go anywhere.

Then why do you leave?

Can I ask you a question?

Does it matter if I say no?

How do you stay so detached
from all of this?

I mean, I was unconscious half way
into it, and I can hardly sleep.

You must've seen the
whole thing happen.

-What's your point?
-You seem like you haven't missed a beat.

Yeah, well, go figure.

Wait.

Wait.
Wait!

It'll pass, okay?

Actually, today has been
a pretty good day for me. I...

I should be able to get some
sleep tonight.

Okay, well, I'll see you---

Would you do me a favor?

What?

On a good night,
with the right pills...

I can be asleep before
Jay Leno's over.

I was wondering,
would you stay 'til the end of Jay Leno?

-I don't watch television.
-You could read your books.

They have... visiting hours here.

You don't care about
hospital rules.

Right.

But you could get in trouble.

If you haven't noticed,
I get special treatment around here.

-I'm not reading you any fucking bedtime stories.
-No, no, no, no. That's fine.

Leno.

Not Letterman,
Not Nightline, but Leno.

Fuck me.

Alicia, are you awake?

-How did I do?
-A little better.

Oh, Dr. Hollander
wanted me to remind you how...

Important your therapy sessions
are with her.

She doesn't mind you
having guests...

As long as it doesn't
interfere with your recovery.

She expects you promptly
tomorrow morning.

And I would really
appreciate it too.

Okay.

Okay.

-Have a great day.
-Thanks.

Hi, Deanna.

Alicia,
what are you doing in here?

Reading.

Here?

If you spend a little
bit more time in here...

You'd know this is the
quietest place in the hospital.

Can we go someplace else?

Good.

Let's get you out of here
before you burst into flames or something.

What time did you leave last night?

Late.

Oh, well, thanks.

-Hey there.
-Hi.

I, uhm...
I slept really well.

Good for you.

You know, there's something
about you that just doesn't add up with me.

What's that?

What was someone like you
doing in a public school?

Well, my parents wanted me to go
to a private school.

Baldwin Prep,
Saint Benedictine.

But you know, I got to thinking,
they didn't go to a private school, so why should I?

And in public school,
you can really learn more about real life.

So, my world is just some sort of
like social laboratory for you, huh?

Alicia,
you know that's not what I meant.

What---
What are you doing with that?

Don't change the subject.

The Ivy League is an afterthought
for someone like you, I'm guessing.

-Where did daddy go to school?
-Cornell.

-Cornell?
-It's a great school.

Yeah, you're right. It is. But if you get in there,
you're never really gonna know, are you?

Know what?

Well...
Whether you got in because you deserved it...

Or if they should just put a little
plaque next to your dorm room that says...

"Thanks, Dad."

I didn't put that on my licence plate.

He did.
He thought it was cute.

Van Zandt.
No, no. I'll be home late.

You know why.
I can't.

No, no. I gotta go.

I--
No, I'm sorry.

Mr. Robbins.

The department gave us
permission to begin renovating.

-So don't give me any of your shit on---
-No, no. It's looking good.

It's good.

I need to search a locker.

It's weird being here
without kids.

You probably see it like this
all the time.

I took summer school once.
And it was just like this.

I'm becoming very concerned about
your interest in Alicia Browning.

Why would that be?

-Is she involved?
-You know I can't comment on that.

I took her to visit Deanna Cartwright
at the hosptial a couple of days ago.

Really?

As I understand it,
at some point here...

You're either gonna have to make an arrest,
or you're gonna have to close your investigation.

Either way,
get on with it.

Take as much time as you need.

It's called a gerund phrase.
It's G-E-R-U-N-D.

But you only need to know
that for the test.

You'll never use it in real life.

Hi, thank you.

Do you want anything, Alicia?

No, it's tempting though.

Dry turkey breast,
tastless fruit, cholestrol free eggs.

Mmm... tasty.

-How did you know that?
-It's hospital food.

My parents are coming tonight.

-I'll be sure to leave early then.
-You don't have to.

No, no, no...

-It'll be all huggy-kissy.
-Probably.

Give me one of those.

You throw worse than a girl.

Wait...

Nice one.

-Did they bring you good shit?
-My folks?

You wouldn't be interested.
Look...

Okay, this pretty much sums up
how mom and dad see me.

A coloring book.

What?

-They bring any crayons with that?
-Yeah.

Thanks.

There's only one black one, though.
Well, I know it's your favorite color.

Okay... Here's a BOP magazine.
Do you like The Backstreet Boys?

Yeah, me neither.

You're probably into that
Tori Amos, Fionna Apple, whiny rock.

-But, you know, Kevin and Brian are hot.
-Who... Who the hell are you talking about?

Forget it.

Are those the guys you
think about when you masturbate?

-I don't think we should be...
-Don't say that you don't.

I'm not saying that I don't. I'm just saying
that I don't think I should be discussing that with...

God! You say stuff like that
just to set me off.

-Why do you do that?
-'Cause you make it so easy for me.

-It hurts.
-What does?

The first time you do it, it hurts.
That's what every virgin wants to know, right?

It hurts. It burns sort of.

I know.

How...
How much?

I don't know. I think it's
different for everyone.

Probably doesn't hurt as bad as,
oh, I don't know, say, getting shot in the head.

I mean, come on, it's not like
you see a lot chicks laid up in hospitals...

After getting their cherries popped.
It stings a little.

On the brightside, if you do it
with a high school boy...

Chances are, he won't be
in there very long anyway.

You know, I don't know if I can do it.
I mean, I want to. But...

Don't worry. It'll happen.

You meet the right guy, or you meet
the wrong guy, and it'll just happen.

I mean, even Forest Gump
got laid eventually.

I didn't think you saw
Forest Gump.

Oh, I saw it. I just thought you
were doing a shitty impression, that's all.

I'm really glad you're here, Alicia.

Oh, God.

Here's your damn Godbox back.

My Godbox!

"The Brady Bunch!" I love
The Brady Bunch, do you?

I don't if I've ever seen it.
It's an old show, right?

The 70's.
It's totally hilarious.

... And his name is Jesse James.

Jesse James?

Jesse James was a cruel and
vicious killer.

I'm really suprised at Bobby.

Bobby's teacher might never have brought
this composition to my attention...

If it hadn't been for this.

He knows better than to bring
a cap gun to school.

We'll certainly have a talk with him.

Though I'm sure he doesn't intend to make
a profession out of being an outlaw.

Oh my God.
This show is awesome!

That isn't funny.

It is!

He knows better than to bring
a gun to school.

He knows better than to bring
a gun to school.

She's very... Sad.

Lonely.

I don't know why, but I know I
like it when she comes to see me.

I shouldn't.
She's mean to me.

But there's something else.

Something I can't put my finger on.

To look at her, you'd just think
she's a mean spirited punk.

But I think there's more to her than that.

Alicia understands me, better than
she should and I don't know why.

Deanna, it's very important for me
to know everything I can about her.

Even things you don't think are important.

I know. It's just, the truth is,
we don't really talk about "it."

-Deanna, don't pick at that.
-I wasn't picking at it, mother.

Honey, this girl...
She was the only one that saw...

everything happen in that room
from start to finish.

I know, and I've seen her with him.

But only a few times. It's not like they hung
out all the time. They were dating or something.

No, that's not true, because
the police have his phone records.

And they know that
he talked to her for over an hour...

-the night before the shooting.
-Where'd you hear that?

-Who cares where I heard it?
-But that could mean anything.

Why does she keep coming to see you?

I mean, what's in it for her?

I guess because I'm tutoring her.

You what?

Tutoring.
She's failing english.

What?

If she wasn't failing english,
can you think of any other reason?

No. I--
What are you saying?

I'm sorry.

It's just that, it's hard for us to...

You've learned something as adults...

we hope you don't have to
deal with until...

-you're much older.
-What's that?

That there is
very real evil in this world and...

a lot of times, evil wins.

But there is nothing you can do.

You're too late.

If Alicia Browning had foreknowledge
of this attack and didn't say anything...

under the eyes of the law,
she's considered an accessory before the fact.

Means she's responsible, Deanna.

It means she's the reason
you're in the hospital right now.

Do you really believe that?

I need your help.
You're the only person she talks to.

I'm not wearing a radio for you,
or any of that cop show stuff.

Deanna, you are
speaking to a police officer.

It's nothing like that.
You just talk to her, like you always do.

But the next time ask her---
Ask her if she knew. That's all I need.

-Can you do that for me?
-Yes, she can.

Dr. Hollander.
Excuse me, Deanna.

Thank you. I'm sorry we
have to meet in this room today.

Well, we certainly have been
missing each other, haven't we?

-How are you?
-Hanging in there.

Yeah, I can see that.
Is the Xanax helping you get sleep?

Very much so.

-How are you feeling?
-You already asked me that.

You know, in some
parts of the world, the violence...

-Can I ask you a question?
-Of course.

Do you ever administer the test
where you look at an inkblot

and talk about
what the patient sees in them?

Yes, I have.
Would you like to take one?

Do you think they
actually give you meaningful insight?

Yes, I believe they do. Yes.

Do it work the other way?

Can what somebody else's
drawing tell you things about them?

Volumes.

I mean, people look at a Rembrandt
or a Picasso

and they write like 300 page
dissertations

on what might have been
going through the artist mind.

What does that tell ya?

It might help me
to know when you did this.

Yesterday.
And it wasn't me. It was...

a friend.

A friend? Okay.

Well... The color is certainly open for
evaluation. It's almost random. Very vivid use.

The person was pressing
very hard on the crayon.

I'd say whoever
colored this was distraught.

I'm sorry,
you were being serious.

The coloring stays firmly
within the predetermined lines...

almost perfectly.

Someone is trapped. And this
pages was probably chosen for a reason.

Rabbits and bears
playing in a park.

You don't think these
sessions are worth a damn, do you?

No, ma'am.

And you probably think that
you should have been released days ago.

Yes, as a matter of fact, yes. I think
this whole "Post-concussion syndrome" is made up.

I haven't had a dizzy spell in days.
My hearing is getting better.

The only real issue is my hair. And if
I understand human physiology, it tends to grow back.

These are afflictions of
the body, Deanna. Not the mind.

There is something troubling you.
And this is the place you can talk about it.

-You can't help me.
-No, I can't.

Not unless you talk with me.

You can't help me because
there is nothing you can tell me...

that I can't read
in the same books you do.

Have you been reading books?

What you been reading?

Have you been reading
about post-traumatic stress disorder?

Have you been reading the stories about
combat veterans who have seen and experienced

the most horrible things a person can?

Is it true that there is no cure?

It absolutely can be treated.

With a proper balance of
drugs for the effects and therapy.

But no, there is no... (just)
"cure", in the usual sense of the word.

And...

is it true that most people
who have post-traumatic stress...

have to live with
it for the rest of their lives?

For some people, that is so.

But not all.

Okay.
That's all I needed to know.

The only way you're going to feel
better, Deanna, is if you can talk about this.

I know.

I know.

That was a nice long session.
How is Dr. Hairfarmer?

What the fuck?

Alicia, did you...

Stop!

What the hell was that?

-Dive bomber.
-What did I do?

You should try to be a little less oblivious.

God, what is it about
your cranium that invites such folly?

-Just lucky, I guess.
-Hey, maybe it's your IQ.

''Oblivious''?

Sometimes you use really big
words for somebody who's failing English.

-Go figure.
-You know, I've been thinking...

I haven't really seen
you around school with boys.

Well, I mean, I've only
seen you with really one boy.

And personally, I was wondering
about you -- your relationship...

how you -- how you feel about..

How I feel about boys?

No.

Uhm... How close you were to...

I'm trying to ask you something
that's really hard for me to ask.

I'll-- Uhm..
I'll make it easy for you, okay?

What are you doing?

Sounded like you were
asking me if I was into girls.

Well, I wasn't!

Which probably means
that you're into girls.

But I'm not!

God, if you wanted to know,
you could have just asked me.

Well, you could have just lied.
It was the only way to be sure.

But you didn't kiss me back,
so you've got nothing to worry about.

I guess.

You are such a weirdo!

Alicia, the police came
to see me last night. About you.

Took 'em long enough.

They said...
It doesn't matter.

But they asked me a bunch of questions,
and I think they wanna arrest you.

-Fuck 'em.
-But they're not going away.

I don't know what you're not telling them,
but they're not going away.

-Yeah well, that's their job.
-What are you gonna do?

-I guess I'll have to check my schedule.
-Alicia, they're police.

-Yeah, I know. We go way back.
-No, I mean you have to...

I've got a lot of friends downtown.

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

I'm so sick of this.

I'm so tired of listening to
you talking like nothing happened.

That this is all no big deal.
I'm so exhausted, and I still can't sleep.

My head is so messed up. And I just---
I don't care anymore.

I just can't.

You know those flowers
in my room, all those presents?

They're almost all from my parents.

Bobby Launer
didn't send me flowers.

I just told you that 'cause
I didn't want you to know...

I read this story when I was little...

about a princess...

who didn't have any friends.

And her father, the king...

couldn't stand to
see his daughter all alone.

So he used his riches
to buy her some friends.

When the princess found out,
she was so angry with the king.

She felt humiliated.

If my father used his money
to buy me some pretend friends...

I don't think I would mind at all.

I want you to leave.
I don't want you to come back here anymore.

You don't have to ask me twice.

Then leave, please.

You know, I got better things to do with
my days than hang around with a headcase like you.

Then... Do them.

Fuck you.
Cocky little cunt.

Who the fuck do you think you are?
You and your woe is me bullshit.

You haven't even faced the half of it yet.
You think you're alone now, huh?

Because you have no idea
how bad it's really gonna get.

Alicia, please don't do this.

No, I know exactly what you were trying
to ask me. And I know exactly what you think of me.

You fucking drama queen.

Go take your goddamn guilt trips somewhere
else, because I don't wanna fucking hear about it.

Fairbale Police Academy

Does this look crooked?

-Crooked?
-Yeah.

-It looks crooked to me if you stand back from it some.
-Looks dead on to me.

So, uhh... I've logged our piece of...
I guess, would you call it evidence?

Yes, that's what it's called.

Good. Well, then you must be relieved.

It's progress, right?

I don't looked relieved?
Listen, I've got a lot of work here. Is there anything else?

No.

Actually, yeah.

I'm gonna have to call the DA's Office.

They're gonna want exactly
what charges we're thinking about filing.

What are you doing?

What are you doing?!

I guess I just need a little clarification.

The hell you do. Perform your duty,
uphold the law. It's very simple.

-It needs no further explanation.
-Yes, Sir.

You know damn well what charges we'll be filing,
so put your call into the DA whenever you feel like it.

Now if there's something else that's bothering you...
I don't give a shit!

This is our job,
like it or not.

Martin, why'd you let her go?

What are you talking about?

That first night,
why'd you let her go?

Because I didn't have enough
to hold her on.

Unlike the mountain of evidence we have now?

You had just as much cause to
arrest her that night...

As you do right now. And if you really
feel so strongly about what you're doing...

Why'd the hell you let her go in the first place?

We have to be the voice for those families.

Can you understand that?

So if we're gonna speak for them...

Maybe we should find out
what they really want us to say.

Alright...

What the fuck...

What the hell are you doing out here?

Hey headcase,
I'm talking to you.

What are you doing here?

I was in the neighborhood.
What do you think?

I told you not to come back.

Which you had to know
was the surest way to get me to come back.

Okay,
what are you doing with the needle?

-The fuck is up with the syringe?
-The doctors can't make it stop.

I wanna go home,
but they won't listen.

I don't care anymore.

So we're into the real deal here.
Okay...

I can't really remember it,
but when I go to sleep...

It always comes back. And I don't know
if it's real or if it's just what I think happened.

But I can hear them, the other kids.
Trying to get out.

And you figure if you shoot yourself full of
enough poison that will pretty much put an end to all that.

That's bullshit.
That is an insult to all of those kids.

-You're trying to take the easy way out.
-So did you.

You shouldn't have said that.
But yeah.. Yeah, I did.

Look at how wonderful I turned out.

Now, let me tell you about this...

Okay see, because
in the movies they don't tell you that...

When you slash your wrists, you also cut through tendons.
Now, I can barely use this hand at all.

It took me over a year
to learn to write with the other one.

Look, I don't know what it is
that you want me to tell you.

I'm not real good at this kind of thing.

Tell me it gets better.

I can't.

Because it won't.

I can't make it stop.
It's killing me.

Good.

It hurts because it's suppose to.

I mean,
what would it say about you if it didn't?

What would it make you
if it didn't tear you up inside?

What would it make you if you
didn't feel anything at all? You know what that would make you?

Me.

And I would give anything
to feel even half of what you're feeling right now.

[Sighs] Okay, listen...

What kind of music do you listen to?

Pop.

No, what I'm saying is
whenever I hear a song that I already know.

I change the channel.
I look for songs that I've never heard before.

Do you listen to songs you know?
Or songs you don't know songs?

Songs I know.

Okay...

I'm gonna show you something..

Something that you don't know.

But first,
I want you to give me that.

So, you're smart.

What's in this?

Potassium chloride.

You'd kill yourself
before you hit the ground.

So it's faster than smoking?

You made a joke.

Yeah, and it took a lot out of me,
so don't expect another one.

Come on.

Well, if makes you feel any better
it wasn't a very good joke.

I know.

Alicia, what room is this?

Wait right here.

Alicia, it's cold in here.

Oh Jesus!

What?
What's wrong?

-What the hell is wrong with you?!
-No, why won't you look? Look!

What? Are you scared?
What is there to be scared of?

God damnit!

Look!

Turn around and look!

You've got it all wrong.
There's nothing here.

Nothing.

You wouldn't have been
afraid of him when he was

Why should you be afraid of him now?

There is no hatred in this room.

No anger.

There's no violence.

There's less to be afraid of in here
than anywhere else in the whole world.

So, what do you think?

You look just like him.

Hey, get out of here.
Do whatever it takes...

But get your parents to get you out of here.

It'll kill you if you don't.

You're not coming back, are you?

I'm not going to see you again, am I?

I'll be around.

Alicia...

Are you real?

I mean,
this whole thing, it really happened?

Good night, Deanna.

Bye.

Bye.

-Bye, take care.
-Thanks.

[Radio] We lay down in 1983

Wait, wait!
Dad, go back one.

[Radio plays The Go-Go's]
In the jealous games people play

[Radio]
Our lips are sealed

What?
Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

[Radio]
Our lips are sealed

WELCOME HOME, DEANNA

TWO MONTHS AFTER

If you need 'em,
they'll be ready.

-Captain?
-Detective, what do you need?

Do you remember 1988?

We killed one of our undercovers.

I was in charge of the bust,
remember that?

Of course I do.

The review board asked me to resign,
and when I didn't...

They were gonna pin the whole thing on me.

You went in front them,
and got me off the hook.

Remember what you said to them?

I've just spent
the better part of the last two months...

Looking at this thing from every angle possible.
And I've spoken with the families.

All of them. And now I think
that only one of two things can happen.

Sir, I have Macready,
and Harper, and Wheeler...

And half dozen uniforms
ready to leave here right now.

And I got the order here from the judge,
to make it all nice and neat.

But before I go,
I got to hear it from you...

One more time. I want to hear you say
that we're going to lay nine murders

At the feet of a teenage girl
because of a telephone bill.

You know, I don't care too much about what
people say out there in the world. We're police officers.

And that means that at some point,
right and wrong has to factor into this, doesn't it?

So if you tell me that this is the right thing to do,
I'll be at her front door in ten minutes.

All you have to do is sign it, Sir.

What a mess.

Sir, with your permission,
this is what I'd like to do.

Do you know if any of the others are coming?
I was hoping for a little better turnout.

My parents don't even know I'm here.

-Is this everyone?
-Looks that way.

Listen, what we're doing here,
a lot of people say is a mistake.

That going back in here so soon
is the wrong thing to do. That it's insensitive.

I think it's very important.

This is the kind of thing
that people want to put behind them.

They want to stop talking about it.

And the second you do that,
is the second it happens all over again

But this is not a requirement.

None of you have to
do this if you don't want to.

Okay then.

It smells kinda funny.

They painted it.
It smells like paint.

-Is it the right color?
-[All simultaneously] No.

It's really close, though.

There were 16 shots fired in this classroom.

Most of them came from the back there.
He ran out as he moved forward along the side wall.

Okay, does that mean anything?

It means it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment
decision. He came in...

through the back knowing everybody would
panic, trying to get out this door.

Is there a point you're making?

It's very odd from
the detached view point of law enforcement.

In a mass shooting,
you usually see twice as many wounded as killed.

But in this case,
everyone who was shot died.

Except for Deanna.

Except for Deanna.

Of course why he did it,
is still unanswered.

If you want to know the answer to that,
maybe shouldn't have killed him

That's brilliant
What were they supposed to do, ask him to politely stop?

No, but I think he's right.
They didn't have to kill him.

Are you both fucked?

Okay, okay! Hey,
everyone can talk here, alright?

Just so you understand the tactical officer
performed his job to the letter.

And I bet
you gave him a big fat medal for it, huh?

As a matter of fact he resigned.
He doesn't even live here anymore.

Deanna, how do you feel about being in here?

I dont't like it.
I don't know if they should ever use this room again.

But you know they will,
after everybody graduates...

They'll act like it never happened.

What are your
plans after graduation, James?

You're the class president, right?

Yes, Sir.
I was planning on going straight to college.

But now I...
I might just take some time off.

Deanna?

I just got a scholarship to Cornell.

That's excellent. Congratulations.

I don't know if I'm going or not.

Shit, if I was you,
I'd be like, see ya!

Get as far away from here as I could.

I'll be stuck in
Community College forever.

I haven't really thought about it too much.
I guess I should though.

I'd really rather not even graduate,
if you want to know the truth.

Doug?

Whatever you cops will let me do, I'll do.

I don't like to look too far ahead. I don't even
want to deal with it right now. You know, this whole thing.

You have to. I mean,
it's there whether you like it or not..

We graduate in three days.

So you better be ready for that black armband.

You know it won't stop there.

At the five-year reunion,
be ready for that moment of silence.

It'll be with us forever.

You know, the sooner you accept that,
the easier it'll be.

I don't know why it had to happen here.

I mean, it's homeroom.

We're only in here
for 15 minutes every day.

Let's talk about that then.

Cathy you don't have to
stay if this is too hard.

James is right.

It was just such a normal day.

You know how some people said that when they
heard the gunshot, that it sounded like firecrackers?

I didn't. Somehow I knew.

He aimed over here,
and I closed my eyes...

And he fired.

And when I opened them,
It was Marcus that was shot instead.

And I was just so...

Jesus, I was...

What?

Were you glad?

Yes.

You were glad that he shot
Marcus Colby and not you.

I never got chance to tell him
that I was sorry for thinking that.

There's nothing to be sorry about.

Self-preservation is the
most powerful instinct you have, okay?

It gave you the time
you needed to get out of the room alive.

I know it's not easy,
but it's nothing to be ashamed of either.

See! Why are we doing this?

This is why nobody else came.

-Once was enough. I mean, what happened in here was the most...
-How would you know?

You were the first person out the door,
you don't have a clue what happened in here.

-What are you doing here?
-I do believe everyone was invited.

Am I right,
detective Martin Van Zandt?

Hey, headcase.

Hi.

She shouldn't be here.
She's not even one of us.

What does that mean exactly?

It means nobody likes her
'cause she's a damn freak.

Alright, if you're what's passing for normal,
I'll keep the fucking straitjacket. Thanks.

She looks like "The Crow."

What is it that makes her a freak?

-That!
-That is so warped!

-The fuck? It's my gum.
-Yeah, from about three months ago.

-You know, I think Alicia's okay.
-Thank you, Douglas.

That means so much
coming from a skate rat...

Who hangs in the
Walmart parking lot till 3 a.m.

It smells funny in here.

Maybe we should get some carnations.

She's not one of us
because she was supposed to graduate like 10 years ago.

So be it. But she still has
a perspective on this that might be helpful.

Yeah,
she knew the motherfucker.

So what?
So what if she did?

So I bet he didn't even
think about killing her.

Great,
so she wasn't a marked target.

Okay,
maybe if we were all nicer to each other...

Nobody would ever be a marked target.

Yeah,
why can't we all just get along?

Jesus. Happy endings everywhere.

With you,
even mushroom clouds have silver linings.

Why do you let her talk to you like that?

Because she's right,
I am that way.

You stopped smoking.

Yeah well,
maybe I started something worse.

Listen, I don't have all day.
So let's get to it.

Did it ever dawn on you
that maybe there are no answers here?

That maybe he came in here shooting
without a single thought in his fucked up head.

It crossed my mind.

'Cause I don't think it
lasted longer than 30 seconds..

He shot it whatever wasn't moving...

And people got bunched up at the door,
so it made it real easy.

And just so you know,
you didn't get hit by any ricochet.

He aimed for the back of your head. Point-blank.

I thought you were dead for sure.

And the fact that you're alive
right now is the weirdest part of this whole thing.

So,
if it only took 30 seconds...

And it took us
six minutes to get on scene...

What happened the rest of the time?

What did happen?

She kept him in here.

You kept him from
going anywhere else in the school.

Because you were
the only one he would listen to.

You stopped him from hurting anyone else.

Thank you, Alicia.

Yeah.

No, thank you.

I'm a true fucking hero,
is that it?

-Yeah... Sometimes I really don't understand you.
-Perfect.

Why do you want
everyone to hate you so much?

I mean, you dress
so that no one will come near you.

We have nothing in common.

We've never even talked
to each other until you came to the... the hosptal.

Wait.

It's tempting, though.

Dry turkey breast,
tasteless fruit, cholesterol-free eggs...

-Mmm, tasty.
-How did you know that?

If you spend a little bit more time in here...

You'd know
this is the quietest place in the hospital.

How can you stay in the sack this long?
The sun rises like straight into this room every morning.

Don't.

We had the same hospital room.

201.

So?

But you've
been back in school for a while now...

So must have been over a year ago...

Before the library.
Before the renovation.

When the recovery ward
used to be the maternity ward.

Shut up.

She told me that.
The nurse made a joke...

About how the recovery ward
used to be the maternity ward

Shut... Up!

It's okay.

You have a baby, don't you?

No, you really need to stop now!

It's alright.

This page was
probably chosen for a reason.

Rabbits and bears
playing in a park.

That's why you missed a year.

Fuck you!

You cocksucker,
you don't know shit about me!

Who the fuck do you think you are?!

Think you can come in here,
and you think...

You can spend 10 minutes,
and come out with all the fucking answers?!

Hey, I've got one!
Kids pick up guns and they kill other kids.

That's it!
And if that answer isn't good enough...

Then maybe you should go see a doctor,
or go see a priest. And you can ask them why!

And they'll feed you
all the psychobabble you can stand.

Or they'll tell you
God has some greater plan for everyone.

And when you keep pressing
and those answers aren't good enough...

All they'll have left to tell you is the unholy truth;
That kids just die!

And babies die, too.

It just happens.

So, you live with it.

Oh, no.

Alicia, I'm... I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I didn't know.

I... I shouldn't have...

Oh, my God.

You know,
when you don't have any money...

And your baby dies...

The funeral home gives you this casket,
for free.

I guess it's 'bout like... This big...

And it's...

made out of styrofoam.

It's like one of those things
that you would take on a picnic.

Did you even know
there was such a thing as a styrofoam coffin?

How fucked up is that?

When?

Two winters ago.

We had that colossal ice term,
do you remember that?

-No school for two weeks.
-Yeah.

She was... uhm... born...

And she died on December 21st.

The uhm... The thing...
The machine at the cemetery couldn't dig...

'Cause the ground was too hard.

It's frozen.

We had to wait
until after Christmas to bury her.

Why would you ever go back to that hospital?

Why did you come back here?

What did you call her?

Your daughter...

What was your daughters name?

Amanda.

He called me.

The night before the shooting.
He called me.

He told me not to
come to school in the morning.

He told me he was going to
bring a gun and then he was going to kill everyone.

I'm sorry.
I didn't believe him.

I'm sorry.
I didn't stop it.

You didn't do anything wrong.

Wait, Alicia!
Alicia, it wasn't your fault.

Well, what are you waiting for?!
Arrest her!

Isn't that what you wanted to hear?

Bring her back.

I closed the investigation three days ago.

It isn't public knowledge yet.
There will be no arrest.

Then,
why the hell did you bring us?

Because I'm a father,
and my kid will be your age in less than a heartbeat.

And as soon as
he's old enough to figure this out...

He's going to ask me
what it all means, and I don't know what to tell him.

You're asking us?!

You're the adult.
You're supposed to have all the answers.

I can't turn on my TV without hearing...

Somebody say why they
think it happened.

Too much violence on television.

The National Rifle Association.

He was teased too much at school.

Harassed by the other students.

-Guns without safety locks.
-Guns without safety locks.

-Violent rock lyrics.
-Violent video games.

-Video games.
-''Pulp Fiction.''

-''Pulp Fiction.''
-''Natural Born Killers.''

-Hatred.
-Cry for help.

-Cry for help.
-A cry for help.

-Culture of death.
-Culture of death.

Just wanted to be on the
cover of TIME magazine.

My head can't even hold...

All the answers I hear every single day!

So now you come to us,
because you want to know why.

You want to know what it means?

Doesn't mean
a goddamn thing in the world.

Alicia Amanda Browning.