From Dust To Diamonds: A journey of transformation.

INT. KEITH'S HOUSE - SITTING ROOM - DAY (Gemma sits on the sofa, reading a magazine, as Lorraine walks in and approaches her.) LORRAINE: Let's extend the olive branch, Gemma. I can't go without talking to you. I'm really sorry for what I said, but you misunderstood me. (Gemma ignores Lorraine as a knock interrupts them.) LORRAINE: Are we expecting someone? GEMMA: I don't think so. (They go to the door and open it to reveal a handsome young man.) GEMMA: Hi, Daniel. You didn't say you were coming. DANIEL: Um... yeah, it's a surprise. Gemma, I know you're a good girl. You're sweet, nice, kind, but... I can't be with you. (Gemma chuckles nervously.) GEMMA: Excuse me? What do you mean? DANIEL: I'm breaking up with you. I don't want to hurt you, so I had to do this. I'm seeing someone else. (Gemma slaps Daniel and bursts into tears.) GEMMA: How could you do this to me? What did I do wrong? LORRAINE: That's outrageous. Leave right now. You don't deserve her. DANIEL: Please forgive me, Gemma. GEMMA: Get out. I despise you with a burning rage of a thousand suns. I loathe you with the force of a hundred typhoons. DANIEL: Bye, Gemma. (Daniel exits, while hot tears stream down Gemma's cheeks.) GEMMA: It's okay. I just started the day on the wrong foot. LORRAINE: No, you didn't. He's just a jerk. Don't blame yourself. GEMMA: I'll be in my room. (Gemma leaves, and Lorraine follows her.) CUT TO: INT. GEMMA'S ROOM - DAY (Lorraine knocks and enters.) LORRAINE: Hey. GEMMA: I'm sorry too. You were right; no one will ever love me. LORRAINE: That's not true. You've changed me for the better. You're a gem, Gemma. You're more than that. (Gemma hugs Lorraine, crying and laughing.) GEMMA: Thank you for being here for me. LORRAINE: Twins stick together. GEMMA: Well, one of us still has a prince charming. LORRAINE: Oh, stop it. GEMMA: You're blushing. LORRAINE: You and Slate are annoying, but his affection for wealth surpasses yours. (They laugh.) CUT TO: INT. SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY (Gemma and Lorraine walk to their classes.) GEMMA: See you later, twinnie. Go find your prince charming. LORRAINE: Yeah, twinnie. (They laugh as Gemma heads to her class and Lorraine to hers.) INT. CLASS - DAY (Lorraine hears whispering as she approaches.) CHAD: Lorraine is so stupid to have fallen for you. When are you going to dump her? TREVOR: Savage. XAVIER: Guys, I... CHAD: We know you won the bet. TREVOR: And she is beneath your level. (They laugh.) LORRAINE: Congratulations on winning the bet. (Everyone turns to Lorraine in shock) XAVIER: Lorraine, I can explain. LORRAINE: I know about the bet. (Lorraine leaves angrily, and Xavier follows her.) EXT. SCHOOL GATE - DAY (Lorraine walks away as Xavier stops her.) XAVIER: Lorraine, please give me a chance to explain. LORRAINE: Spare me your explanations. (Lorraine starts crying.) LORRAINE: Xavier, I trusted you. XAVIER: Listen, Lorraine. It's partially true. I did plan to break up with you, but then I realized I love you. LORRAINE: Don't lie to me. XAVIER: I'm not lying. Please forgive me. LORRAINE: You hurt me. I trusted you, and you betrayed me. XAVIER: I didn't mean to, I promise. Please, give me another chance to make it right. LORRAINE: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, Xavier. I won't be fooled again. Have a good day. (Lorraine exits sadly, leaving Xavier deep in thought.) INT. KEITH'S HOUSE - GEMMA'S ROOM - NOON (Gemma sits alone, lost in thought. Lorraine enters in tears, interrupting her.) GEMMA: Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying? LORRAINE: I feel like such a fool. GEMMA: Don't talk like that. Now, tell me, what happened? LORRAINE: He's been playing with my feelings all along. It was just a game to him. GEMMA: Seriously? First me, now you? Boys can be real jerks. I'm sorry, Lorraine. He's not worth your tears. LORRAINE: I don't know what to do. GEMMA: You'll get through this. Whatever life throws at you, you've gotta stay strong. LORRAINE: We're Cinder Ellas, aren't we? GEMMA: Yeah, we are. (They hug each other, both crying.) --- TWO YEARS AGO INT. TOM'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NOON (Lorraine enters to relax but overhears her parents arguing.) LORRAINE: Come on, guys. This is getting ridiculous. Can't you at least pretend to get along? You have to work this out. BRIE: We have. We can't keep living together. (Lorraine's heart races.) LORRAINE: What? It can't be that bad. TOM: It's beyond that, Rain. LORRAINE: So, you're just gonna split up and leave me with one parent? I can't believe this. You can't just give up. BRIE: Get your things, Lorraine. We're going to grandma's. LORRAINE: But my cousins are there. BRIE: I know. LORRAINE: I hate my cousins. I can't live in a crowded house. BRIE: You don't hate them, you just haven't gotten to know them yet. TOM: It'll be okay, Rain. LORRAINE: No, it won't. I'm really mad at you both right now. TOM: Rain... LORRAINE: Don't talk to me. (Lorraine storms off, leaving her parents behind in confusion.) TOM: Take care of her, Brie. I'll do my best to be there for her. BRIE: You better. (Brie exits to find Lorraine.) INT. KEITH'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NOON (Everyone scrambles around, setting up the house for the incoming guests.) LOUISE: Come on, come on, light the candles. GEMMA: Relax, grandma, everything is set. LOUISE: Merci beaucoup. (Brie enters with Lorraine, who appears downcast. Louise warmly embraces them.) LOUISE: Brie, bienvenue. Comment ça va? BRIE: Ça va bien, et toi? LOUISE: Ça va très bien. Salut, Sapphire. LORRAINE: Hi grandma, how are you? LOUISE: Tu parles français? BRIE: Non. (Louise gasps in shock.) LOUISE: What? You didn't teach her? BRIE: Mom, I'm sorry, but I'll explain everything to you. Elle s'appelle Lorraine. LOUISE: I know. Dear, your name is Sapphire, you are a gem. LORRAINE: Thanks, grandma. (Louise notices Lorraine's mood.) LOUISE: You seem sad. Don't you want to be here? (Lorraine forces a smile.) LORRAINE: No, it's nice here. LOUISE: Merci. Alright, go settle in. Emerald, please. GEMMA: Salut, aunty! Comment ça va? BRIE: I'm fine, Gemma, how are you? (Louise clears her throat to gain everyone's attention.) LOUISE: It's Emerald. BRIE: Sorry, enchanté, Emerald. GEMMA: Merci. (Brie and Louise exit while Gemma turns to Lorraine.) GEMMA: Salut! Je m'appelle Gemma et Emerald. Comment tu t'appelles? (Lorraine looks at Gemma puzzled.) LORRAINE: I don't understand what you're saying. GEMMA: Forgive my manners. I should have asked you first before speaking French. I said hi, my name is Gemma and Emerald. What is your name? LORRAINE: Hi, my name is Lorraine, but you heard grandma, it's Sapphire. GEMMA: You'll understand her soon enough. She said her grandchildren are gems, so she named us after gems. Are you staying here now? LORRAINE: Yeah, I suppose. GEMMA: You don't seem happy to be here, do you? LORRAINE: It's not that. My parents are no longer together. GEMMA: What? Is aunty Brie divorced? LORRAINE: Not divorced, separated. GEMMA: I'm so sorry to hear that. Come on, I'll show you your room. (Gemma and Lorraine begin to exit when Gemma's phone rings.) LORRAINE: I'll wait here. (Lorraine moves a few feet away while Gemma answers her phone.) GEMMA: Hello? Yes, this is Gemma Emerald Sterling. What? (Gemma and Lorraine exchange shocked glances as the scene fades out.) FADE OUT