[Salem Massachusetts 1689]

(Cordelle arrives back to her former house. And when she arrives in the living room, she sees her mom)

Astora: Oh great! Cordelle you're back! Can you get me another drink? This one is out.

(She holds the bottle in an incorrect angle)

Cordelle: You need to stop the drinking mom. We already lost dad. I can't lose you too.

Astora: Its only just one. I'm not going overboard. I'll stop soon. I promise. Be a good girl and give momma another drink?

(She says slurringly and Cordelle rolls her eyes and gives into her mom's antics and hands her another drink)

Cordelle: Might as well hand you a revolver while I'm at it.

(Astora is too drunk to hear what Cordelle was saying as she pours more alcohol into her small glass cup)

[a few days later]

Cordelle: No food in the house. Mom! I need some money! We're all out of food!

(She goes upstairs and runs to her mother's room who sees her passed out in bed)

Cordelle: Mom! I need some money for food. We're all out of food.
(Silence) mom. Mom!

(Her mom lays in bed and is all silent not listening to a word Cordelle is saying. All sad and upset Cordelle leaves, not wanting for her to get out of bed and yell or something

*******

Cordelle: I'm sorry, but we'll have to let you go...we can't afford to pay you anymore...

Maid: I understand. I'm sorry for your loss.

Cordelle: Thanks. Sorry I have to let you go.

Maid: Bye.

(She leaves out the door and Cordelle checks the paper on the kitchen counter)

Cordelle: We're way past our mortgage. Just so much going on, I didn't realize that mom didn't pay for it just now.

(She sits down putting her hand on her forehead clearly frustrated on what's going on she looks out the window)

[Cordelle narrating in her diary]

"I couldn't even arrange my father's funeral because we were going broke and were at risk of losing the house...but I didn't have a choice... and to top it off, My mother was literally drinking herself numb to the point of not caring. She's choosing alcohol over the one person she's supposed to protect. Me. We're gonna get kicked out tomorrow. And soon, we'll be out in the streets. I have to come up with something quick..."

*********

(Everywhere Cordelle goes, the doors are slammed on her just like that. No one will hire her for a job. She sits down on the small public stairs overlooking her papers for what is available for a job but given her father's blacksmith job, everyone in town don't want to hire her for the purpose that she's probably just as bad as a person as her father was then she lifts up her head and sees a quick glimpse of Nigel Wheeler talking to someone. She can't help but overhear.

Person: Wow.

Nigel: Yep its official.

Person: So when do you leave?

Nigel: First thing tomorrow.

Person: Be sure to visit every year if possible.

Nigel: Of course. I have to get going now. A lot of packing to do.

Person: I'll see you.

(They both walk in different directions. And Nigel doesn't even look his way to Cordelle)

[Cordelle narrating]

"Its like I didn't exist to him. Like I ruined him when in turn, he ruined me. But at least one good thing happened. He was leaving and I didn't have to keep looking at him in the streets. My attacker."

******

Man: So you're looking for a job, eh?

Cordelle: Yes sir.

Man: Okay. Well...this job does not pay alot you know that right?

Cordelle: Yes sir.

Man: I know you live in that fancy house. And with the money you make, it's not enough for that house. So most likely, you're gonna lose it.

Cordelle: Its already gone.

Man: So where are you living now?

Cordelle: Since we don't have any immediate family or friends to stay with,sadly we're staying in the inn. I only managed to scrap up some money we have. They're kicking us out in the streets tomorrow.

Man: Are you in school?

Cordelle: I had to fire my tutors. So I'm now a dropout.

Man: I see. That's too bad. Okay, I'll give you a week to find a house. When you write down in your references you live in a house officially, you'll be hired for the job. But I'll make an exception to put you on work immediately.

Cordelle: Thank you very much. I appreciate it very much.

Man: Don't be too hopeful. It will be a challenge and just because you're barely 14, doesn't mean I'll go easy on you.

Cordelle: What did you say this job was again?

Man: Grave digging. Bodies and stuff. I hope you have a strong stomach for the job.

Cordelle: Not a problem. And what's your name?

Man: Larry.

Cordelle: Thank you Larry. You won't regret it.

Larry: You can start now.

*******

Tenant: Alright, see you next month.

Cordelle: Thanks. Take care.

(She goes on the small steps of her small wooden house and takes a good look. The kitchen on the left, then two bedrooms down the small hallway. One hers and one her mother's)

Cordelle: Better than nothing.

(Night time)

(When Cordelle is about to go to sleep, she's woken up by clattering of pots and pans, she goes over to the kitchen and hears her mother screaming and going crazy)

Cordelle: Mom?

(Her mother throws a glass plate, and Cordelle dodges the throw only having the plate go a few feet away from her now with it on the ground)

Mom! Stop!

(She grabs more stuff to throw and when Cordelle tries to calm down Astora Cordelle puts her hands up in defense)

Astora: I told you to get into town and get me more beer!

Cordelle: I'll get you some later. Please, calm down!

(Astora grabs Cordelle by her arm and drags her to the wall)

Astora: I am sick and tired of you treating me the way you're treating me! I am your mother!

Cordelle: Let go of me mom! Please, you're hurting me!

(Astora grabs her arm even more harder and drags Cordelle to her room and throws her to the ground in a forceful manner when Cordelle gets up, Astora slaps her in the face as she holds her cheek. Astora out of nowhere grabs a nearby whip and holds it in her hand and Cordelle shields herself from what's about to happen)

Cordelle: No, mom! Don't!

(Cordelle crawls to the corner but is trapped between the wall and her mother and Astora lifts up the whip mid air and starts to whip Cordelle with it having her scream in pain from the impact over and over again, and as a few moments go by, she lays there in a fetal position praying it's over. Then Astora breathes heavily and throws the whip down)

Astora: Let this be a lesson, when I tell you what to do, you do it! Do you understand me!?

(She kicks Cordelle in the stomach having her groan in pain)

Astora: Go to bed!

(Astora leaves the bedroom having Cordelle be by herself she looks out at the door praying her mom isn't waiting outside. She grabs her diary from the inside mattress of her bed and takes out her writing instrument and begins to write)

[Writing in her diary]
"My mom went crazy on that night. Must have been the alcohol that did that to her. But she sounded sober but I have my doubts. Everyone around town started asking questions about how she was doing. And I couldn't tell them the truth. Grieving was normal it's fine to acknowledge you lost someone. But in my mom's case, she was not acting like herself. She went from sane to insane. And I couldn't point my finger to it. I had to say something else. I had to"

Cordelle towards stranger: She's bedridden.

Stranger: Oh that's so sad. That must be too much for you to bear. When did she become bed ridden?

Cordelle: A few days after my dad died.

Stranger: You are such a strong girl. Having to be that brave and to care for your mother. I've heard awful things about your family but you seem like a decent girl. I'll pray for your mother.

Cordelle: Thank you.

Stranger: Take care dearie.

[Writing in her diary]
"Then it spread all around town about my mom. Everyone was talking about it. And that's one of the reasons I cannot say for sure about what's really going on with her. I told a little white lie. Was that so bad? If I told what was really going on, she'd be hanged for her actions, and it'd be all my fault. I didn't mean for it to sound so selfish. But I had to do what I had to do. And they sound like they're convinced. Right?"

(Another scene goes to Cordelle watching her mother drink more beer in bed while Cordelle stares at the dresser clearly distraught at her mother's drinking)

[Narrating]:
"I'm afraid if she doesn't stop with the drinking, that she'll pass. I'm afraid I'm gonna lose my mom. And what happens if I come home, and I find her dead in her bedroom? What then? Despite her not being there most of the time, she is still my mom and I love her. But I'm just scared of the state she is in. I'm afraid for, and of my mom"

[Boston Courtroom]

Mr. Vahmori: How many pages are written in that diary?

Former executioner: I don't know. Maybe over 200 pages? I didn't read all of it.

Mr. Vahmori: But you know some stuff that are unwritten. And what you witnessed?

Former executioner: Perhaps.

Judge: You realize if you're withholding evidence, you could spend alot of time in prison?

(Former executioner looks on his right side his lawyer and the people involved in the deaths of the Salem witch trials. He spots a look from one of them)

Former executioner: Yes. I realize that.

(The judge shakes his head and pounds the gavel)

Judge: We'll have a 15 minute recess.

************
Woman: Yes. I lived right across the next house from the girl and her mother.

Mr. Vahmori: And word spread about Astora being "bed ridden"?

Woman: Yes. But it wasn't necessarily it. I always heard pounding and screaming. Mostly from the little girl.

Mr. Vahmori: So you knew what was really going on?

Woman: I had my suspicions.

Mr. Vahmori: And why didn't you speak up? Tell what was really happening in that house?

Woman: When I was that girl's age, my father used to hit me with his belt and I can see why she didn't want to tell anybody what was really going on. Back at the time, you had to mind your own business.

Mr. Vahmori: And be a bystander?

Woman: Precisely.

Mr. Vahmori: and then what happened?

Woman: The beating stopped. I guess the girl's mother stopped hurting her and they went on like nothing happened. Mrs. Godiva never came out of the house. Only her daughter.

(Another scene pans into Cordelle in the present laying in bed hugging her teddy bear that her father gave her before he died)