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As Steve disappears into darkness, Nick enters and sees that Mary Jane is distressed.
NICK: Mom, is everything okay?
MARY JANE: It’s just—your father...Oh, look the nativity scene! You always loved the little lamb, remember? Baaa!
She holds up the lamb from the nativity scene.
NICK: Yeah, I guess...
MARY JANE: So how was school today? People must have treated you like a rock star.
NICK: (embarrassed) I mean, we don’t really talk about college that much. People get in where they get in.
MARY JANE: Nick, you’ve got to own your accomplishment.
NICK: Yeah.
(then) You know, I thought I’d feel more excited about it, but I kind of don’t feel anything.
MARY JANE: You’re just in shock. It’s so new. You are going to have the most amazing life ever and all the opportunities I always wished I’d had!
NICK: What if I hadn’t gotten in?
A pause. Then Mary Jane laughs at the absurdity of this idea.
MARY JANE: You were always going to get in. I didn’t doubt it for one second. I’m so proud of you, Nick. Sometimes I feel like you’re the only thing I’ve done right.
(then) How about we do one of our movie nights tonight? It’s Christmas, let’s watch Die Hard!
NICK: I was thinking of going to this party.
MARY JANE: Is it like a swim team thing?
NICK: No, just the general student population.
MARY JANE: (surprised) Oh.
NICK: I don’t have to go. I mean, even Frankie’s going, but—
MARY JANE: No, you should.
(then) I mean, generally you don’t like parties like that. Remember that time you called me to pick you up because kids were drinking? I—
NICK: (interrupting) Yeah I was 13, Mom. I’ve been to parties since then.
MARY JANE: I’m just saying. It’s not really your scene.
NICK: I don’t know what my scene is.
MARY JANE: Well, you’ll figure it out at college. You’ll make some friends that are on your level.
NICK: You know what, I’ll stay home. Die Hard?
MARY JANE: No, no, don’t just do it for me. You have to make decisions for yourself.
Somehow, this seems worse than doing it for her. Nick hangs an ornament on the tree and Mary Jane adjusts it.
MARY JANE: Not there. I’m going to go get some more ornaments from the garage.
She tosses him an ornament and exits. Nick is alone with Mary Jane’s perfect tree. Nick reflects on the situation with “PERFECT.”
NICK: Sometimes is never quite enough / If you’re flawless, then you’ll win my love / Don’t forget to win first place / Don’t forget to keep that smile on your face / How long before you screw it up / How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up / With everything I do for you / The least you can do is keep quiet1
Nick has a decision to make—seemingly minor, but meaningful.
NICK: Be a good boy / You’ve got to try a little harder / That simply wasn’t good enough / To make us proud2
Nick changes his shirt, smooths his hair. He’s going to that party.
NICK: I’ll live through you / I’ll make you what I never was / If you’re the best, then maybe so am I / Compared to him, compared to her / I’m doing this for your own damn good / You’ll make up for what I blew / What’s the problem, why are you crying / Be a good boy / Push a little farther now / That wasn’t fast enough / To make us happy / We’ll love you just the way you are / If you’re perfect3
Nick heads from the Healy house to the PARTY, as night falls. We transition into an illicit, energetic high school party...
1 “’Perfect’ is my way of writing about the pain of trying to be the hero child, in terms of archetypes in the family.”
2 “There’s not a lot written about the child who’s got the straight As, but they suffer too, from neglect or from projection or from just expectation.”
3 “Tons of kids who are planning to go to college have parents who are making concerted efforts to help them get in. There’s all this pressure to be erudite and perfect and academically flawless. As opposed to how I teach my kids now, which is, ’Let’s just see what your particular intelligences are.’”