Girl in the Cellar

Excuse me? This was supposed to be temporary.

This was supposed to heal your soul.

What? No.

No, take me home.

Please. I won't tell anyone what happened here. Trust me. You have to die

order for me to continue to live.

No, no, no.

You said that I only had to stay here until after prom. Believe me, that's

you said.

I can't come back here anymore.

It's too dangerous.

So this is goodbye for us, Lorraine.

Mom, please.

Your soul is with God.

Mom! Mom! Don't do this!

Ashes to ashes.

Dust to dust.

Thank you.

It wasn't her.

It wasn't her.

Hey! No worries, Dee.

Rubber fingers.

Happens to all of us.

Doesn't seem like your mom thinks the same.

She just wants everything to be perfect.

Well, me.

She wants me to be perfect.

Sounds exhausting.

You got perfect.

I got messy.

That's what I missed.

Diana dropped the baton on the Passover.

Don't worry. I'm sure she'll do better next time.

As long as they're having fun.

Lori has her sights set on making the national team. That's why we work so

Can't believe Lori's not captain anymore.

Don't know what coach is thinking.

Oh, no.

You didn't know? Oh, I have such a big mouth.

I'm sure she was going to tell me. We tell each other everything.

Maybe she didn't want to worry you or couldn't find the right time. She's such

busy girl. And with finals this week and the prom committee... I'm sure that's

it. Of course.

Are you

following me?

Going to the prom with me or what, Miss West?

It's Queen and King, baby.

Are you crazy? My mom's watching.

You still haven't told her?

I will not.

You know, you're not exactly what she considers prom date material, trailer

boy. Break the rules once in your life.

Come to the dark side, Aunt Hillary.

See you at the bonfire tomorrow?

Maybe.

Well, I only turn 18 once.

I made your favorite protein shake.

Thanks,

Mom. You're the best.

That has trouble written all over it.

What did he want?

Austin?

He's a stupid boy.

He likes teasing all the girls.

I saw the way you were flirting with him down on that track. Don't try to deny

it. I was not flirting with him.

I didn't even look at him.

Oh, really? Is that the game you want to play with your mother?

And besides, I wasn't checking him out.

He was checking me out.

Well, you need to report him to Miss Maria.

Look, running track is the way you're going to get that scholarship.

We don't want to throw everything away because some boy tried to distract you.

Of course not.

Just think.

In less than a year, we'll be college girls.

Miss Maria thinks that if my times are good enough, I could get a full ride at

UCLA.

Well, there's no doubt that your times will be good enough, but I don't want to

leave our beautiful home to run away to California.

Well, maybe you could stay and... Wait, hold on.

Are you saying you want to leave your mother behind? No, no, no. I didn't mean

that. You are going to state.

You're going to stay close so you can live at home.

That's the plan.

Tell us the plan.

She just discussed the other possible choices.

It's a school thing.

That's all.

All of our hard work.

We're not going to let anyone get in the way of that.

I'm proud of us, honey.

I forgot to mention, prom committee's meeting again tomorrow night. We're so

behind with decorations.

Oh, I'll be busy volunteering at the church.

Well, they're offered to pick me up.

No, I'll take you. I just have to let Pastor John know.

Maybe.

And hear me out.

You don't have to drive me everywhere. I mean, I could get my license.

No, that's okay. I'm not going anywhere.

I'll drive you like always.

I'm not a little girl anymore, you know.

What? I thought you enjoyed doing things together.

And we do.

I'm just... What?

Tired of me?

All right.

We need to talk.

I thought I've given you enough time to say something, but it doesn't seem as if

you're going to.

So do you have something you'd like to confess?

Um... What do you mean, confess?

What?

You thought I'd never find out.

Come on, honey.

Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't tell you earlier. I just, I didn't think you'd

well. Honey, come on.

No secrets between us.

Best friends don't lie to each other.

Friendship before anything else.

Always.

I want to hear everything.

Of course you've been acting strange these last few weeks.

This is a big change.

Okay. So, um, turns out he wasn't teasing me. I mean, he kind of was, but,

not in a bad way. And he actually asked me for him.

Wait, he asked you? Wait, what are we talking about?

Austin, I... Wait, isn't that what you were asking me about?

I was talking about the captain position.

Diana's mom told me.

So you do lie to me after all. I just... Who are you?

Mama, he asked me.

Okay, it doesn't mean I say I'd go. I said no, I promise. You lied to me so

easily about the captain thing, and now this?

How can I believe anything that comes out of your mouth anymore? It was a

mistake, and it won't happen again.

You're staying home tomorrow.

They can do without you for one night.

You're grounding me?

You grounded yourself, not me.

And you know how much I hate traditional discipline.

And now you're turning me into those parents that I hate. I hope you're

That's for sure. You're right.

when we fight.

Me too, Mama.

You know how strict my mom and dad were.

They were so strict I used to lie to them all the time to avoid punishment.

But you?

What's your excuse?

You didn't have the opportunity to do as many things when you were my age,

right?

So now you want me to do all the things you couldn't.

I don't think you understand how special you are.

Your father and I tried for so many years to have a baby.

When I finally gained enough hope, I ended up pregnant with you.

You were nothing short of a miracle.

I know.

I'm your miracle baby.

That's right.

I even started going back to church.

And after your father died, I thanked God he gave me you to be my best friend.

Mom. You know I'm thankful for everything that you do and that we are

friends.

It's just sometimes I don't know if it's my life that I'm living or if it's

yours. It's ours.

It's our life, honey.

Don't think you're off the hook.

You did lie to me.

Mama?

Yes, honey?

I'm sorry.

I made you turn into the parent that you hate.

Thank you, sweetheart.

Just don't lie to me again.

It hurts too much.

I've been thinking.

I know how hard you've worked, and things have been very stressful, and

just experiencing a little bit of growing pains right now. That's all I

understand. Yeah, that's it.

I mean, I'm not your little girl anymore, but that doesn't mean you can't

do stuff together.

Also, I'm okay with you going to prom with that boy, Austin.

Really? Yes, but there will be some conditions.

Yes. Of course.

I will be there at the chaperone. I already told Miss Maria.

That worked.

And home by 10 .30.

Ugh.

Mama, it's prom.

11 .30, final offer.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, I have another surprise for you.

Okay.

Come on.

God, Mom, it's a dress I always wanted. What?

How? I wanted it to be a surprise. I've had it here since the day you picked it

out. Oh, my God.

I don't even know what to say.