FADE IN:

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

DUANE dials his mother on his cellphone and lets out a deep breath of air.  He paces back and forth in his living room rubbing his head with his free hand.  The telephone rings until it picks up on the other end.

MOM: Ohhhhhhh?

DUANE: Hey Mom.  I got some bad news.

MOM: News?  I no watch news.

DUANE: No Mom not the news on TV.

MOM: You watch too much TV Du-AHN.  You need to study.

DUANE: Study for what?

MOM: You go be Doctor.

DUANE: Mom, I'm not going to get into this with you.  I got laid off today.

MOM: What's this 'Lay off'?  You fall down?

DUANE: (beat) No.

Silence over the phone.  Duane closes his eyes.

DUANE: (Cont.) I got good news!  I'm going back to school!

MOM: Ohhhhhh?!  I tell yo' Dad.  How much money you make?

DUANE: OK!  I gotta go study.

MOM: You study.  Send money soon. Bye bye!

Duane hangs up his cell phone and sits at his desk.  He turns on his computer and Googles 'How to become a Doctor'.

FADE OUT: