Kerris is in the car with Mrs. Verbena. They pull up in front of a crumbly, old mansion. Mrs. Verbena pulls Kerris’s suitcase out of the trunk and hands it to her.

VERBENA: Well, it doesn’t look like much, does it? But you’ll get the help you need. Mr. Feerel vouches for this place. Now, you won’t be able to contact anybody outside of the home for at least several months, until you start to feel at home. But you’ll be fine. Mrs. Motum will take good care of you, I’m sure.

KERRIS: Thanks, Mrs. Verbena.

VERBENA: Of course. Kerris walks up to the door and knocks. Verbena calls after her, Good luck!

The door opens to an old, stern lady MRS. MOTUM who looks down her nose at Kerris.

MOTUM: You must be the new arrival. Kerris Donfelt?

KERRIS: (obviously nervous) Ummm, yes, ma'am. And you're Mrs. Motum?

MOTUM: Yes. Well, come in. I can’t hold the door open forever, you know.

Kerris walks in and Mrs. Motum shuts the door behind her. Kerris looks around. It is dark and musty. She sees glimpses into other rooms. It is dark in all of them, too, even though we can hear people in them, whispering.

MOTUM: (starts up the stairs) Your room is this way. I’ll warn you- you cannot trust anything your roommate says.

KERRIS: (follows Mrs. Motum) Well, okay.

Mrs. Motum swings a door open. We see two beds and a lamp. Otherwise the room is bare. There’s a small prisonesque window on the far wall.

MOTUM: Here you are. She exists and shuts the door behind her. Kerris sets her bag down and walks over to the window.

JACKIE: Soak it in. It’s the only view you’re ever going to get again.

Kerris jumps and turns. We now see JACKIE LARSON, seventeen, laying on the bed closest to the window.

KERRIS: Are- are you my roommate?

JACKIE: Yup. Jackie Larson, at your service.

KERRIS: (smiles) Come join me. I’m not scary.

JACKIE: (dry laugh) Can’t.

KERRIS: (confused) Why not?

JACKIE: (slightly bitter) Come look at my legs. Come on, don’t be shy.

Kerris walks over, intrigued. She looks down and gasps. Jackie’s ankles are chained to the bed.

KERRIS: Why are you chained to the bed?

JACKIE: Because I tried to tell the outside world what this place really is.

KERRIS: Isn’t chaining a foster kid to their bed illegal?

JACKIE: You don’t want to know how many things go on inside this place that are or should be illegal. But the outside world can’t find out, because we’re all trapped here. We’re all unstable. So nobody believes us. And you don’t want to go through the punishments here.

KERRIS: How long have you been here? And when did- (motions to chains) that happen?

JACKIE: I’ve been here for seven months. After my third month here, I ran away and tried to tell the world. That’s when they chained me down.

KERRIS: But how do you, well, exist like this?

JACKIE: Once a day, I get to go to the restroom. People bring me my meals.

KERRIS: You’ve been here for seven months?

JACKIE: There are some who’ve been here longer. Nathan’s been here for two years. He’s pretty stable by now. He’s got special privileges, like a later curfew. But he still goes against the rules. They’ve had to up their punishments for him.

KERRIS: You keep saying they, but I only saw Mrs. Motum.

JACKIE: Well, her brother comes over sometimes. He’s the Head of Punishment.

KERRIS: Mr. Feerel?

JACKIE: Ummm, I guess.

KERRIS: He is- was- my math teacher.

JACKIE: Well, now he’s one of your worst enemies.

KERRIS: If you're even telling the truth. Mrs. Motum said that you were a liar.

JACKIE: Why would I be chained here if I was lying and they were actually nice people?

KERRIS: Okay, okay. I believe you.

JACKIE: Don't let Motum hear you say that. And Kerris? You should at least start out as a golden girl, a poster child. That way when you get fed up like I did, they won't go as hard on you.

KERRIS: Ummm, thanks, Jackie.

JACKIE: I am your roommate.

Kerris smiles and pushes the door open. We close the scene on Jackie watching her go wistfully.