Valentines

Copyright © 1992 by Lisa C. Heyden

Ugh! Shots! I was experimenting alot with shots in my mind while writing this screenplay. I wanted the dialogue to be minimal with most of the story being told with action, which explain the overuse of shots. If you can get past that, this script is really about people being their own worst enemies. We all do it, we all fight it, and we all succumb. It's kind of like being two people at once. The smart one watches the other making mistake after mistake and just shakes his head. I only recently converted this one into Final Draft, so some of the formatting may be off. I intend to read through and fix that. I hope you enjoy Valentines.


       VALENTINES

                                                           FADE IN:

       INT.  CORRIDOR - DAY - MED SHOT - NICK...

       ...a solitary figure in a suit, hat and coat with a 
       briefcase as he walks toward us down the corridor of a 
       corporate office building.

       INT. CORRIDOR - DAY - MED SHOT - NICK

       Nick is walking away from us.  His body is almost in 
       sillouette.

       EXT. CITY STREET - DAY - MED SHOT - NICK...

       as he is walking down the street away from us.  The 
       street is unusually empty.

       He stops to check out a window, shades his eyes as he 
       looks in.

       EXT. CITY STREET - DAY - CLOSE ON NICK AS HE SHADES HIS 
       EYES

       RETURN TO SCENE

       This is sort of reminiscent of Wild Strawberries.  The 
       deserted street scene type look. (The one in the dream 
       where there is the clock with no hands.)

       He moves on, walking slowly.

       INT. BAR - DAY - CLOSE ON NICK

       As he enters the bar. The bar is unusually empty as well.

       LONG SHOT - ZACK

       A bum sitting in the darkness of the far corner of the 
       bar. A cigarette hangs from his mouth.

       CLOSE SHOT

       Nick as he spots Zack immediately. Nick takes a puff of 
       his cigarette and drops it.

       CLOSE SHOT

       Zack as he tips his hat and smiles with the cigarette 
       hanging out of his teeth.

       LONG SHOT

       Nick goes to the bar and orders a drink.

       Nick grabs his drink and sits across from Zack.

       CLOSE SHOT - NICK

       He puts a cigarette into his mouth and requests a light 
       from Zack with a nod of his head.

       CLOSE SHOT - ZACK

       Zack obliges.

       MED. SHOT

       They sit and smoke for a few moments.

       CLOSE SHOT - ZACK

                           ZACK
                 Lost yer job, didja.

       CLOSE SHOT- NICK

       Nick nods.

       CLOSE SHOT - ZACK

       He takes a puff.

                           ZACK
                 Yeah, those were the days. Have you 
                 told the old lady yet?

       CLOSE SHOT - NICK

       Nick blows some smoke out of his mouth.

       Pause.

                           NICK
                 Not yet.  I?m on my way home, now.

                           ZACK
                 Yeah, I can see that.

       Zack laughs a smokey laugh.

       Pause.

       LONG SHOT

       The two sit and smoke for a while.

       MED. LONG SHOT

       Nick puts out his cigarette and leaves the bar.

       EXT. CITY STREET - DAY - LONG SHOT - NICK

       Nick walks along the street, which is still unusually 
       empty.  He moves away from us.

       INT. ABBY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY - MED. SHOT - ABBY AND 
       TODD

       A woman and a man are in bed and going at it good.  The 
       woman is somewhat older than the man. ABBY and TODD.  
       Abby is on top at first.

       They roll over.

       CLOSE SHOT - ABBY AND TODD

       She strokes his face.

       ABBY	You have the most

       beautiful eyes.  You know that?

       She continues to stroke his cheek, but he bends down and 
       kisses her neck suddenly. Perhaps a little clumsily.

                           ABBY
                 Oh.... hold on...

       But she laughs.

       They roll over.

       Abby laughs and they wrestle somewhat.

       They roll over again.

       Abby is laughing and stroking the young man's face.  She 
       brushes the hair from his eyes.

       A door in the next room slams.

       The woman gasps and sits up suddenly.

       MED. LONG SHOT

       Abby is sitting up in bed, listening.

       Todd continues to kiss her.

       She shushes him and listens.

       LONG SHOT

       Still quiet, listening.

       INT. ABBY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY - MED. LONG SHOT

       Nick has just entered his house.

       He tosses his briefcase and takes his coat off.  He is 
       smoking, and must shift the cigarette from one hand to 
       the other.

       He sits with a thud on a soft leather chair, crosses his 
       legs and takes a puff.

       Pause.

       A CREAK is heard from a door O.C.

       MED. LONG SHOT - ABBY

       Abby has just entered the room. She is standing in a 
       bathrobe just outside the bedroom door.

       Pause.

       MED. LONG SHOT - NICK - ABBY'S POV

       Nick sits in the chair, puffing.

       MED. SHOT - ABBY

       She begins to walk towards him.

       MED. SHOT - ON NICK

       As Abby comes toward him.  She stands near him.  Her back 
       to us.

       He looks up at her and offers the cigarette to her.

       CLOSE SHOT - ABBY

       She takes the cigarette and puffs.

       Pause.

       She blows the smoke out of her mouth as if it feels 
       really good.

       MED. SHOT - ABBY

       It's almost as if she has just come back to life after 
       her puff on the cigarette.

                           ABBY
                 You?re home early.  Is this a new 
                 thing or something?

       CLOSE SHOT - NICK

       Nick just blinks.

       He leans forward to accept the cigarette back from her 
       O.C.

       Pause.

       He puffs.

       He looks up at her.

                           NICK
                 Nah.  It's nothing new.  Nothing's 
                 new.  Same old shit.

       CLOSE SHOT - ABBY

       Abby turns away and sits down.

                           ABBY
                 So, what do you wanna do?

       CLOSE SHOT NICK

       He watches her sit down.

       CLOSE ON ABBY

       She looks at him for an answer.

       CLOSE ON NICK

                           NICK
                 I don?t know.

       Pause.

       TWO SHOT - ABBY AND NICK

       CLOSE ON ABBY

                           ABBY
                 You wanna move out of here, huh.

       CLOSE ON NICK

       He's looking a bit uncomfortable.  Shifts in his seat.

                           NICK
                 Yeah... It's a bad scene. Maybe I'll 
                 try a new line of work.

                           ABBY
                 Again?

                           NICK
                 Something, you know, something that 
                 allows me to travel.

       CLOSE ON ABBY

       She nods in approval.

                           ABBY
                 Where do you want to go?

       CLOSE ON NICK

                           NICK
                 Ah, I don?t know.  It doesn?t matter.

       CLOSE ON ABBY

       Long pause.

                           ABBY
                 How long you think you'll be gone?

       TWO SHOT - ABBY AND NICK

                           NICK
                 It's difficult to say.  A year or so?

                           ABBY
                 It sounds like it might be a good 
                 idea.  Have a little time away. Who 
                 knows, get frequent flyer benefits. 
                 Hmmm?

       Abby's attempt at levity.

                           NICK
                 You think it's a good idea?

                           ABBY
                 I think so.

                           NICK
                 What?re you gonna do?

                           ABBY
                 I need a change of pace. I think I 
                 need some fresh blood.

                           NICK
                 You got it, baby.

       Nick begins to get up.

       CLOSE SHOT - ABBY

       She's thinking how true it is as she says...

                           ABBY
                 I do.

       MED. CLOSE SHOT - NICK

       Nick gets up.  (perhaps a little backlighting on this 
       might help the effect)  He puts his coat and hat on, 
       grabs his briefcase and is about to leave.

       He doubles back to give her the rest of his cigarette.

       CLOSE SHOT - ABBY

       Nick walks into the frame.  He gives the rest of his 
       cigarette to Abby.  She takes it and watches as he 
       leaves.

       The door slams.

                           ABBY
                 Goodbye, Nick.

       INT. APARTMENT BUILDING/HALLWAY - DAY - LONG SHOT

       We HEAR MUSIC blasting and filling the entire hallway.  
       It is some kind of headbanger stuff.

       A door opens in the hallway and JANE exits.  She crosses 
       the hallway and bangs on a door.

                           JANE
                 I told you to turn that shit down.  
                 Turn it down!  Turn it down, fer 
                 chrissake.

                           CLOSE SHOT
                 Over Jane's shoulder as she bangs on 
                 the door.

       The door opens and JASON stares out at her.

       RETURN TO PREVIOUS SHOT

       They stare at one another menacingly.

       She finally begins to turn away and mutters under her 
       breath.

                           JANE
                 Little fuck...

       Jason watches her for a moment, and as soon as her back 
       is turned he slams the door.

       She turns around quickly. Looks at the door and mutters 
       something else unintelligible.  She enters her apartment 
       and slams the door.

       The music stops.

       Another door opens in the hallway and a dwarf with a 
       cigar in his mouth crosses over and enters a different 
       room across the hall.  He slams the door.

       Long pause.

       Someone is stumbling up the stairs.  Zack, with a 
       cigarette hanging out of his mouth.  He climbs for a 
       moment, then stops to rest.

       Zack finishes the climb, takes a breath, then a puff and 
       makes his way down the hallway.

       He stops at room 4A.  Takes another brief rest.  A puff.  
       He knocks on the door.

       There's no answer.  So Zack nonchalantly opens the door 
       and enters.

       He slams the door.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - DAY - MED. SHOT - ZACK

       Zack walks into the room.  The TV is on.

       He wanders around the room a minute.

       Peers out the window.

       INT. APARTMENT BUILDING /HALLWAY - DAY - LONG SHOT

       A LANDLADY can be heard from the stairs.  She is leading 
       a new tenant to his room.

                           THE LANDLADY
                 Room 4B is empty.  No pets.  Clean up 
                 after yourself.

       A cat can be seen in the backround in the hall.

       He follows her down the hallway.

       She stops at room 4B.

       She swings open the door.

       INT. NICK'S APARTMENT - DAY - MED. SHOT

       We see the door swing open.

       Nick walks in.

       The landlady slams the door behind him.

       Nick turns around.

       Pause.

       He turns again to survey the room.

       INT. ZACK'S ROOM - DAY - MED. SHOT

       Zack is sitting in his chair smoking.  He hears the door 
       of the next apartment slam.  He turns in the direction of 
       the sound.

       He turns back.

       He puffs.

       Suddenly the door opens.

       MED. SHOT

       JULIA enters.

       She has a package of groceries in her hands.  She moves 
       the package from her line of view and sees Zack. Pause.

                           JULIA
                 Zack.  What?re you doing here?

                           ZACK
                 I live here.

                           JULIA
                 Well, besides that.

                           ZACK
                 Ah, I was hanging out at the bar and I 
                 thought I?d come by and see how    you 
                 was doin?.

                           JULIA
                 Same as always.  Now get out.

       Julia heads for her kitchen.

       INSERT - CLOSE SHOT - ZACK

                           ZACK
                 I ain?t leaving.

       RETURN TO SHOT

                           JULIA
                 Look, I?m expecting somebody, okay?

                           ZACK
                 Who?re you expectin??

                           JULIA
                 A man.

                           ZACK
                 Oh, Julia.  A man?  This is 
                 unexpected.

                           JULIA
                 Is it now, Zack.

                           ZACK
                 It is.  I have to think about this.

                           JULIA
                 Why do you have to think about this?  
                 Just get out.  Ye know?  A girl needs 
                 some privacy.  She can?t have her old 
                 bum coming in to check on her.

                           ZACK
                 I live here.

                           JULIA
                 You live here, and I pay the rent.  
                 Beat it.

                           ZACK
                 Listen, Julia.  I need someplace to 
                 stay. You can?t just put me out on the 
                 street.

                           JULIA
                 Why?  You?re already out there.

                           ZACK
                 C?mon...

                           JULIA
                 You come on Zack.  I can?t have this 
                 shit any more.  We broke up years ago, 
                 goddammit.

       Something hits the outside wall of the apartment. The two 
       stop talking and look towards the wall.

                           ZACK
                 You still get that shit?

                           JULIA
                 All the time.

       There's a knock on the door.

       Julia goes to open it.

       The man seen previously in bed with Nick's wife, Todd, is 
       there.  He is a longhair. Very young and looking somewhat 
       innocent.

                           JULIA
                 Oh, gosh. What now, baby?

       EXT.  A PARKING LOT - DUSK - LONG SHOT

       Zack is standing on a crate and shuffling through a 
       dumpster.  Behind him is Todd.

       CLOSE SHOT - ON ZACK

       (A kind of OTS shot, we see a bit of Todd in the shot.)

       His back is to us as he shuffles through the garbage. He 
       pulls out various pieces of garbage and looks at them.  
       Some he throws back.

       (Get cutaways of Zack looking at the garbage.  Close 
       ups.)

       Pause.

                           ZACK
                 Now listen kid.  There's a right way 
                 and a wrong way to go about this.

       Zack turns around and hands something to Todd.

                           ZACK
                 Here, hold that.

       He goes back to digging.

                           ZACK
                 What's her name? Joyce?  Jennifer?  
                 What is it?

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD

                           TODD
                 Abby. It doesn?t matter.

                                             BACK TO PREVIOUS SHOT

                           ZACK
                 Sure, sure it matters.  How long you 
                 know, you been doin? her?

                           TODD
                 Too long.

       Zack throws away an item and gets down from the dumpster.

       CLOSE SHOT - ZACK AND TODD

       He walks forward and sifts through garbage on the ground. 
       Todd follows.

                           ZACK
                 You?re too young for it to be too 
                 long.  She's married, eh?

       Zack begins to build a pile for his campfire.  He holds 
       his cigarette in his mouth and picks up some items that 
       he decides to keep.  He hands something to Todd.  Pockets 
       something else.

       CLOSE SHOT - ZACK

       Zack sits himself on a crate and puffs.

                           TODD
                 Well, her husband just left.  He went 
                 somewhere. She thinks he left the 
                 country.

                           ZACK
                 That means he's probably around the 
                 corner someplace, now lissen to me, 
                 kid.

       CLOSE SHOT - ON ZACK

       He leans forward to begin the fire.

                           ZACK
                 Now, where's this woman live?

       TWO SHOT

                           TODD
                 Why, man.  You want her for yourself.

       CLOSE SHOT - ZACK

       Zack turns to Todd.

                           ZACK
                 C?mon kid.  What kind of a bum you 
                 think I am?

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD

       Todd looks at Zack blankly.

                           TODD
                 She don?t live around here.

       He blinks.

                           TWO SHOT
                 Zack is building his fire.

                           ZACK
                 So, if the husband's out of the 
                 picture then what's the problem?  Eh?

                           TODD
                 There's no problem, man.

       Todd sits on a crate.

       Zack looks up, annoyed.

                           ZACK
                 Then what do you come running to my 
                 old lady for?

       CLOSE ON TODD

                           TODD
                 Your old lady? You?re screwing Julia?

       Pause.

       ON ZACK

                           ZACK
                 Man, it's not like that.  Watch what 
                 you say about Julia.

                           TWO SHOT
                 TODD
                 It's not Julia. I just don?t believe 
                 you. I don?t believe Julia would want 
                 you.

       Zack takes the cigarette out of his mouth and gestures.

                           ZACK
                 Aw, now, that's low, kid.  That's real 
                 low.

                           TODD
                 Well, I don?t mean any disrespect.  
                 It's just that Julia likes a different 
                 kind of person.

       Zack begins to squint at the kid like he suspects 
       something.

                           ZACK
                 Like you maybe?

       Zack pushes Todd.

                           ZACK
                 You just better watch it, Todd.  Shit.

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD

       Todd blinks.

                           TODD
                 Hey man, take it easy, I?m not after 
                 your old lady.

                           TWO SHOT
                 Pause.

       Zack shifts and puffs.

                           ZACK
                 Shit.

                           TODD
                 She just gives me some advice, 
                 sometimes. S?nothin? to worry about.  
                 Don?t worry about it, man.

       LONG SHOT

       The two of them at the campsite.

       INT. NICK'S APARTMENT - DUSK

       Nick is sitting in the same chair he was in before.  He 
       puffs.  He gets up.

       MED. CLOSE SHOT - NICK

       As he comes to the window.

       INSERT - FROM ABOVE

       Todd and Zack from above the height of 4 stories.

       RETURN TO SHOT

       Nick takes a puff and leaves the window.

       MED. SHOT

       Nick returns to his seat.  As he sits there is a LOUD 
       BANG on the outside wall.  He looks up briefly and sits.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING - LONG SHOT

       Julia is up and making coffee in the kitchen.  Zack and 
       Todd are asleep on the floor.

       Something hits the wall.

       Zack wakes with a start.

       Todd, however, sleeps through it.

       Zack notices this and pushes Todd awake.

                           TODD
                 Huh?  Oh.

                           JULIA
                 Okay guys, lets go.

       She tugs on Todd to get him up off the floor.

       There is a knock on the door and she lets go of him.  He 
       falls back down and curls up again, asleep.

       Julia opens the door.

       INT. DOORWAY

       MED. SHOT  - BERNARDO

       BERNARDO, the dwarf, stands there.

                           BERNARDO
                 So sorry, may I have a cup of sugar?

       Music begins to blare from the apartment next door.

       INT. NICK'S APARTMENT - LONG SHOT - NICK

       Nick is wandering around his apartment.

       MED. SHOT IN MIRROR

       He's already dressed and is just fixing his tie.  He 
       looks at himself in a mirror and throws off the tie.

                           LONG SHOT
                 He pours himself a cup of coffee.

       Music begins blaring.

                           CLOSE SHOT
                 He blinks.

       EXT. CITY STREET - DAY - LONG SHOT

       Nick is wandering about on a busy street with dark 
       sunglasses on.

       He walks for some time past noisy traffic.  Jason can be 
       seen in the frame.

       Jane, who lives across the hall, is also in the frame.  
       They are not together.

                           MED. SHOT
                 Nick continues to look in windows.

       He spots some jewelry and moves in for a closer look.

       He looks at his reflection for a second and then puts his 
       face to the glass and shades his eyes from the glare.

       He decides to travel on.

       A woman is walking towards the next store.  It's Abby.  
       Nick sees her just in time to hide himself behind a pole.

       He sneaks a look from behind the pole.

       Abby has entered the store.  Nick doesn?t see her 
       anymore.

       He moves to the window and peeks.

       INSERT - ABBY THROUGH THE WINDOW

       He sees Abby and pulls back.

       RETURN TO SHOT

       He tiptoes away.

       EXT. CITY STREET - DUSK

       LONG SHOT

       Nick is still walking around.  His shirt is open.  The 
       traffic is dying down.

       He crosses the street to the apartment building.

       The girl from across the hall is returning as well.  She 
       enters just before Nick.

       INT. STAIRWELL

       They walk up the stairs together in silence.

       INT. HALLWAY

       LONG SHOT

       The girl enters her apartment and slams the door.

       Nick enters his apartment and slams the door.

       The hallway is empty for a few moments.

       Finally a figure can be seen coming up the stairs.  The 
       headbanger.

       He enters his apartment and slams the door.

       A few moments pass in silence.

       Music begins blaring from the headbanger's room.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT

       Julia is cooking in the kitchen.

       Long pause.

       Something hits the wall.   Julia acts as if she didn?t 
       notice it at all.  She continues stirring something in a 
       pot.

       The music stops.

       EXT. THE CAMPSITE - POV JULIA'S WINDOW

       AERIAL SHOT (MOS)

       Todd and Zack are sitting on crates around a mini 
       campfire they?ve built in a can.

       Nick joins them.  He walks up from outside of the frame.  
       They offer him a cigarette and a carton to sit on.

       EXT. CAMPSITE

       CLOSE SHOT - NICK

       Nick takes a puff.

                           NICK
                 Yeah... so....

       Nick blows smoke upwards.  Pause on him.

       CLOSE SHOT - ZACK

       He has a cigarette, too.  He blows smoke out of his 
       mouth.  Maybe he makes a smoke ring.

                           ZACK
                 It's like that sometimes. (long pause) 
                 Been to see the old lady?

       CLOSE SHOT - NICK

                           NICK
                 Nah.  She doesn?t know where I am.  
                 She thinks I?m outa town.

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD

       He looks sleepy and bored.

                           ZACK
                 Yeah, outa town.   (pause) Frisco?

                           NICK
                 No, more like.... Italy.  I don?t 
                 know.

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD - Reaction

       He looks bored.  Doesn?t suspect a thing.

                           ZACK
                 Italiano.  Eh?

       Cigarette hanging out of his mouth, Zack reaches for a 
       bottle.  Takes a swig and pumps up the flame in the 
       garbage can.

       THREE SHOT

                           ZACK
                 It's a good thing.

                           NICK
                 Yeah...

       Todd suddenly comes to life.  Like he's been daydreaming.  
       Now, still bored, he wants to get in on the conversation.  
       He doesn?t susupect anything at all.  Maybe we do.  I 
       don?t know.

                           TODD
                 Having trouble with your old lady are 
                 you?  That's funny.  Zack is, too.

                           ZACK
                 Don?t listen to the kid.  He's the one 
                 with the troubles, not me.

                           TODD
                 I have no troubles.

                           ZACK
                 You don?t think so.

                           TODD
                 No.

                           ZACK
                 Take it from me, the kid has latent 
                 troubles.

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD

       TODD	I don?t have any

       troubles.

                           ZACK
                 Listen, kid.  When you have a few more 
                 years you can tell me about it, okay?  
                 You don?t know nothing kid.

                           THREE SHOT
                 TODD	I know.  So what's this

       trouble?

                           NICK
                 It's no trouble.

                           ZACK
                 We all have trouble some time.

                           TODD
                 I don?t have trouble.

                           ZACK
                 You?re a wise ass, kid. You have 
                 trouble.

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD

                           TODD
                 I don?t have trouble.

                           ZACK
                 Yeah, yeah, yeah... I should be inside 
                 watching the ballgame.  Instead I?m 
                 out here schmoozing with you, you got 
                 trouble, kid.

                           TODD
                 I don?t have trouble.  You have 
                 trouble, Zack.  Don?t blame this shit 
                 on me.

       ZACK	What trouble?  This

       scrawny, frizzy haired kid?  Trouble?

       MED. SHOT - ALL

       Everybody just sighs.  Zack puffs.  Everybody's quiet for 
       a moment.

                           ZACK
                 Yeah....  Ah... nothing like a smoke 
                 by the campfire on a mid-winter night.

       Everyone breathes deep, very long pause.

       EXT. CAMPSITE - POV JULIA'S WINDOW (MOS)

       Zack gets up and begins to leave the site.

       He walks out of frame.

       Nick and Todd continue to smoke and talk.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT

       Julia is lying on the couch half asleep.  The door creaks 
       open.  Zack enters.

                           ZACK
                 Hey baby.

                           JULIA
                 Hey Zack.

       CLOSE SHOT - JULIA

       Zack can be heard closing the door.  The light goes out.  
       He lays down with her on the couch.

                           JULIA
                 Zack!

       She laughs.  He kisses her.

                           JULIA
                 Well... you?re feeling amorous 
                 tonight. What happened?

                           ZACK
                 Don?t ask questions, baby.

       He kisses her again.  They laugh and wrestle.

       INT.  ABBY'S HOUSE

       MED. SHOT

       Abby is in her bed with a book.  She puts down the book a 
       minute and thinks.

       She gets out of bed and turns off the light.

       CLOSE SHOT - ABBY

       She raises the shade and looks out onto the street.

       INSERT -EXT. STREET FROM THE WINDOW - NIGHT

       The spot in front of the house is empty.

       RETURN TO SHOT

       MED. SHOT

       Abby sighs.  Leaves the shade up and gets into bed.  She 
       turns on her side and settles down, tugging at the 
       covers.

       EXT.  CAMPSITE - POV JULIA'S WINDOW

       Todd and Nick are still talking.

       Pause.

       Todd gets up and leaves the frame.

       Nick remains.

       Pause.

       EXT. CITY STREET - MORNING

       LONG SHOT

       Nick from a distance looking in windows.

       MED. SHOT - NICK

       Looking in window.

       INT. ABBY'S HOUSE- FRONT DOOR WINDOW

       Todd is looking in.

       Abby spots him while she's on the phone and opens the 
       door for him.

                           ABBY
                 Yeah, we'll work on it.  I don?t know 
                 if I can get away just now... maybe in 
                 a couple of weeks.  Yeah... let me 
                 go... I?ve got someone here.  Okay, 
                 bye.

       CLOSE SHOT - ABBY

       She puts the phone down and turns around quickly, 
       happily.

                           ABBY
                 Okay, where?re we going?

                           TODD
                 To bed.

       He lifts her up.  She laughs.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - NEXT DAY

       MED. SHOT

       There is a knock on the door.  Julia answers.   Todd 
       walks in.

                           JULIA
                 Well, good morning to you.

       He walks past her.

       CLOSE SHOT - TODD

       He plops himself down immediately in the chair.

                           JULIA
                 Okay, what is it.

       He just sits like he's not going to tell her.

                           JULIA
                 C?mon.  You want to tell me.

                           TODD
                 I don?t know.

                           JULIA
                 That's a start.  What don?t you know?

                           TODD
                 About Abby.

                           JULIA
                 I guessed as much.  What?

                           TODD
                 I don?t know if I love her.

                           JULIA
                 That you care shows improvement, Todd.  
                 Maybe you do.

                           TODD
                 I don?t know.

                           JULIA
                 What is it?

                           TODD
                 I don?t know.

       Julia shakes her head with a ?they?re all the same? sigh.

                           JULIA
                 I think you have a case of the ?I?ve 
                 got her now what do I do with her? 
                 syndrome.

                           TODD
                 You think?

                           JULIA
                 Yes.

                           TODD
                 Okay.

       Zack breaks through the door at about this time.

       He rushes up to Julia with some flowers and kneels at her 
       feet.  He smiles wide with the cigar in his mouth.

       She looks at him deadpan.  And blinks.

                           JULIA
                 Why, Zack...

       A knock comes at the open door and there stands Nick.

       Zack stands momentarily, takes a puff and is seated in a 
       chair opposite both Julia and Todd.

                           NICK
                 Mind if I....

                           JULIA
                 Not at all.

       She sniffs at her flowers seeming suddenly genuinely 
       touched.

                           JULIA
                 There's some breakfast on the table if 
                 you?re hungry.

       Something hits the wall loudly from the outside.

       There is a long pause as Nick silently shifts through 
       some food on the table.  Todd stares into space.  Zack 
       smokes.  Julia sniffs her flowers.

       INT. A LOBBY SOMEWHERE - DAY

       Nick is wandering around the lobby in dark sunglasses.  
       He appears to be looking at something on a wall.

       We notice however that he is sneaking looks in another 
       direction.

       Abby can be seen leaving the building with some friends.

       He takes the glasses off momentarily, then turns back 
       around away from her.

       He exits the building.

       EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

       Nick walks across the street.  We see the apartment 
       building before him.

       INT. BUILDING - STAIRCASE - DAY

       Nick walks up the stairs.

       INT. BUILDING - LANDING - DAY

       Nick enters his room and slams the door.  There is a 
       pause.  A door opens and the midget crosses the hall with 
       a bouquet.  He knocks on the door across the hall, next 
       to Nick's, and is let in.

       There is a cat in the hallway.

                           CAT
                 Meow.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - DAY

       Julia is cutting her flowers and whistling as she talks 
       to Todd who is seated on her couch.  Julia is happy.  
       Todd doesn?t look so happy.

                           TODD
                 You?re happy today.

                           JULIA
                 I guess I am, yeah.

                           TODD
                 I?d never?ve guessed, you and Zack.

                           JULIA
                 No?  Why not?

                           TODD
                 I don?t know.... You?re just... I 
                 don?t know.

                           JULIA
                 Oh, don?t stop now, Todd.  You were 
                 getting so much better.

                           TODD
                 I know, I know, just give me a minute.

       Pause.

                           JULIA
                 Yes?

                           TODD
                 It's just that.... You?re so pretty 
                 and he's....

       Julia smiles at that.

                           JULIA
                 Oh... well....  Who do you think would 
                 better suit me?  Eh?

                           TODD
                 I don?t know.

                           JULIA
                 Ah, well.  I love Zack....  I always 
                 have.  I guess I just had to wait for 
                 him to grow up.  You'll grow up, too.

                           TODD
                 Yeah....

                           JULIA
                 So, how's your married woman.

                           TODD
                 I don?t know.

                           JULIA
                 Time will tell.

       She continues to whistle and rearrange her flowers.

       INT. NICK'S APARTMENT - DAY

       Nick is standing over the phone.  He looks at the 
       receiver. Places his hand over the receiver.  Stops.  
       Looks around.  Puts his hand on the receiver again.  
       Picks up the phone and makes a call.

       It rings three times.  There's a click. Nick panics and 
       hangs up before he can hear the voice.

                           NICK
                 Shit!

       He picks up the receiver again. And dials.  It rings.  
       Someone picks it up.

                           ABBY
                 Hello?

       Nick almost hangs up, but decides he wants to listen.

                           ABBY
                 Hello?  Hello.

       Click.

       INT. STORE - DAY

       Zack is looking for a present of some kind.  It's 
       Valentine's day. He picks up a box of chocolates.  Checks 
       out the price.  Puts ?em back.  Picks up something else 
       and gets on line.

       The midget is on line ahead of him.  He buys some 
       chocolates.  He's rung up and leaves before Zack.. Zack 
       doesn?t notice him.

       EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT

       Zack, Todd and Nick are all sitting around the campsite.  
       Zack and Nick are smoking.

       There is a long pause.

                           ZACK
                 Well...I?m going.

       EXT. JULIA'S WINDOW - CAMPSITE - NIGHT

       Everyone gets up to leave.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

       Julia is in her little kitchen, whistling and preparing a 
       dinner.  She is happy.

       INT. NICK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

       The door opens and Nick enters.  He takes his key out of 
       the lock and closes the door behind him.  He sits.

       INT. ABBY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

       Abby is at home,in bed, staring at her TV with a drink in 
       her hand.  There is the sound of a doorbell, or a knock.

       She stares in the direction for a moment.

       Another knock.

       She finally gets up to answer it.

       INT. ABBY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

       It's Todd.

                           TODD
                 Hey, Baby.

       He puts his arms around her, but she doesn?t return his 
       hug.  She's very distant and quiet.

                           TODD
                 Hi.

                           ABBY
                 Hi.

       She tries to hide it.

                           ABBY
                 I was just watching TV.  You want a 
                 drink?

                           TODD
                 Nah, I?m okay.

       He's starting to catch on, but he doesn?t want to believe 
       it.  Things are very, very quiet.

       Abby sits on the bed and stares at the TV.  Todd stands, 
       watching her.

                           ABBY
                 Are you gonna sit down?

                           TODD
                 Uh... I don?t know.

       Todd never knows.

       He figures he'll give it a try.  He sits next to her on 
       the bed and strokes the hair from her face.  She doesn?t 
       return the affection.

                           TODD
                 So, what's on?

                           ABBY
                 Oh...

       She grabs the remote and click around.

                           ABBY
                 I was just flipping around.

       Long pause.

       Todd decides to get bold.  He kisses her.

       She allows it - but gives nothing back.  He strokes her 
       hair from her face.

       She tries to put up enough of a front to make it look 
       like she cares.  She smiles at him and brushes a lock of 
       hair from his face, but her whole attitude is a dead 
       giveaway that she's feeling guilty.

       INT.  JULIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

       She is preparing dinner.  Zack comes in.

                           ZACK
                 Hey, baby.

       JULIA	Zack!

       She wipes her hands and goes to him.  He hugs her.

                           JULIA
                 I?ve got dinner ready for us.

                           ZACK
                 You did, I see.

       She strokes his face and kisses him.

       He kisses her back.

       She looks up at him lovingly.

       Strokes his face and kisses him again.

                           JULIA
                 I love you.

       These words bring a slight but noticeable change over 
       Zack.  He breaks away slowly trying not to be obvious.  
       He lights a cigarette.

                           ZACK
                 So... What's for dinner, there eh?

       He goes to look in a pot.

       Julia's face has changed.  She knows what's happened. She 
       sighs.

                           JULIA
                     (sadly)
                 Your favorite.

                           ZACK
                 Wow, hey...   I?m just gonna run out 
                 and get a beer.  Okay, babe?  I'll be 
                 back.

       He kisses her goodbye and exits.

       She watches him go.

       INT. ABBY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

       To save his pride, Todd gets up.

                           TODD
                 I?m gonna go for a walk, I think.

                           ABBY
                 Okay.

       She doesn?t protest.  This hurts him.  His face shows it 
       a little.

                           TODD
                 I'll see you.

                           ABBY
                 Goodbye.

       He exits.  She sits there watching the TV.

       INT. JULIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

       Julia sits on the couch.  She flips the TV on with the 
       remote.  Her face is sad, but stoic.

       INT. ABBY'S HOUSE - NIGHT

       Abby goes to the door and opens it.

       It's Nick.

       They throw their arms around one another.

       INT. BAR - NIGHT

       Zack is at his usual table in the back.

       Todd comes in and sits across from him.

       INT. BAR

                           ZACK
                 You?re a man now.

       Todd sighs with a blank look.  He eats a chip.  Takes a 
       swig.

                           ZACK
                 Yes, indeed.  A man.

                           TODD
                 What happened, Zack?

                           ZACK
                 What happened, what happened.  Ah, we 
                 all know what happened.  She loves me.

       He takes a swig.

       INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

       There is loud music blaring.  A heavy workboot is tossed 
       and hits the door of the headbanger's apartment.

       The music stops.

       EXT. POV JULIA'S WINDOW

       The campsite is empty.

                                                          FADE OUT.

       THE END

       

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