Carol Page #10

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What is this number? I can’t read

it. My eyes!

THERESE reads the thermometer for MRS. SEMCO.

THERESE:

Ninety-eight point six. Perfectlynormal. No fever.

RICHARD:

You hear that ma, no fever.

MRS. SEMCO

My eyes is no good, not my ears.

You wanna plate of noodles, Terry?

We saved you a big plate.

THERESE:

I’m really not that hungry.

MRS. SEMCO

(she’s kidding, but she’snot)

I thought you was a smart cookie.

You know that’s not the way to amother-in-law’s heart.

RICHARD and THERESE exchange a look. RICHARD’S mother hasembarrassed him.

RICHARD:

Ma - cut it out.

MRS. SEMCO

What? Cut it out what?

MR. SEMCO appears in the kitchen doorway. He wears a bowlingshirt and carries a bowling bag.

MR. SEMCO

(to THERESE)

You showed up. Good. I was tired ofhearing him moan. Do me a favour,

Therese. Settle down with him

already.

RICHARD’S even more embarrassed.

RICHARD:

Come on, what is this? The

Inquisition?

THERESE:

(defusing the situation)

Okay - I’ll eat.

MRS SEMCO beams, pinches THERESE’S cheek.

MRS. SEMCO

That’s my girl!

She prepares THERESE a plate. RICHARD and THERESE exchange alook. He appreciates her assist.

INT. SEMCO APARTMENT. NIGHT.

RICHARD’S ROOM. THERESE and RICHARD sit on his bed. THERESE

holds a wrapped box on her lap.

THERESE:

I can’t open this now. It’s daysbefore Christmas.

RICHARD:

But I want you to. (he shrugs) I’m

impatient.

THERESE unwraps and opens the box. Inside are brochures ofFrance- and two tickets for passage on a ship. The date ofdeparture: March 1, 1953. A pause.

THERESE:

Richard... what is this?

RICHARD beams, takes one of the tickets from THERESE.

RICHARD:

Well, that one’s mine. I thought itwas more romantic to wrap ‘em uptogether.

THERESE stares at the ticket in her hand, picks up one of thebrochures full of pictures of Paris landmarks...

RICHARD (CONT’D)

Jeez, Terry, you could cheer up alittle. It’s not every day you geta trip to Europe for Christmas.

THERESE looks up at RICHARD.

THERESE:

We’re supposed to go in July.

RICHARD:

I know, but - look, I was gonnatell you on Christmas day.

Frankenberg’s offered me apromotion. Assistant manager, bedsand bedding.

THERESE just stares at him, unable to say a word.

RICHARD (CONT’D)

It’s a big raise. And they’reletting me take a month off inMarch, two weeks of it paid. Thesummer’s a busy time there and-

THERESE:

I can’t go in March.

RICHARD:

Why not? You get laid off nextweek. It’s not like you have anybig plans.

But this stings THERESE, and RICHARD regrets saying it.

RICHARD (CONT’D)

I didn’t mean - Terry, you know Ithink the world of you and - well,

I thought you wanted to go toFrance. With me. And I figured...

what the hell, the sooner thebetter...

THERESE:

I do want to go. I did. (beat) It’s

just - soon. March.

A silence. THERESE puts the ticket and brochure back into thebox, puts the lid back on to the box.

INT. THERESE’S APARTMENT BLDG. LATE NIGHT.

THERESE can be seen through a window getting out of a cab,

entering the dark building and wearily climbing the stairs.

As she gets to her apartment door the hall telephone STARTSTO RING. THERESE turns, sighs, goes to answer it.

THERESE:

Hello?

A door down the hall cracks opens - THERESE’S LANDLADY peersout towards THERESE.

LANDLADY:

Do you know what time it is, MissBelivet?

THERESE:

I’m sorry - it just rang...

None too pleased, THE LANDLADY shuts her door. THERESEreturns her attention to the phone.

THERESE (CONT’D)

Hello?

No one answers.

INT. CAROL’S HOUSE. BEDROOM. CONTINUOUS.

CAROL, on the other line, smokes a cigarette, exhales.

INT. THERESE’S APARTMENT BLDG. CONTINUOUS.

Suddenly, THERESE knows who’s on the other end of the line.

She closes her eyes.

THERESE:

Carol.

CAROL (O.S.)

(after a beat)

I was - horrible. Before. Will youforgive me?

THERESE:

Yes... I mean... It’s not-

CAROL (O.S.)

Then will you - would you - let mecome see you... tomorrow evening?

THERESE:

Yes... Yes. (beat) I want to -

know. I think. I mean, to askyou... things. But I’m not sure youwant that.

INT. CAROL’S HOUSE. BEDROOM. CONTINUOUS.

CAROL:

(after a beat)

Ask me. Things. Please.

INT. THERESE’S APARTMENT BLDG. CONTINUOUS.

THERESE closes her eyes. Silence. Which is suddenly piercedby A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE entering THERESE’S building, giddyand intoxicated. THERESE is startled, watching them fromabove, stumbling into the building. By the time she puts thephone back to her ear, she knows CAROL’S hung up.

CUT BACK TO:

INT. PHIL’S APARTMENT. NIGHT. (APRIL 1953)

The party is in full swing - more of a crowd, more LAUGHTER,

boozing.

THERESE stands at a window near a SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE,

including GENEVIEVE CANTRELL, the woman she spotted earlier.

THERESE tries to watch GENEVIEVE without being seen as a MALEPARTY GUEST dominates.

MALE PARTY GUEST

I don’t know, man. You can have

her. She’s one of these real

Greenwich Village phonies, if you

ask me. (to someone else): Where

you goin’ Dave? Stick around a

minute.

GENEVIEVE:

You’re Phil’s friend, aren’t you?

THERESE:

I am, yes. And Dannie’s.

GENEVIEVE:

Aren’t you going to ask me how Iknew that?

THERESE:

Aren’t most people here Phil’s

friends?

GENEVIEVE smiles - touche. THERESE smiles, too, loosening up,

enjoying the flirting.

GENEVIEVE:

I can see why Phil speaks so highlyof you.

THERESE:

Can you?

GENEVIEVE:

Oh, definitely. I can see a lot.

THERESE:

Really? What do you see?

GENEVIEVE:

(gives her a good longlook)

Great - potential.

GENEVIEVE hands THERESE a beer, and they clink in a toast.

THERESE smiles, she enjoys GENEVIEVE’S attention, but shecan’t hold GENEVIEVE’S gaze, something about its boldnessdraws her away from the moment, from the party...

RETURN TO:

FLASHBACK:
DECEMBER 1952

INT. FRANKENBERG’S. EMPLOYEE CAFETERIA. DAY.

The employee Christmas party is in progress, which consistsof the same old lunch plus Christmas cookies, holiday musicand decorations. THERESE stands next to RUBY ROBICHEK in a

long line of staff. When it’s RUBY’S turn, the SERVER givesRUBY double of everything in a food box. THERESE noticesthis, and RUBY sees her notice.

RUBY ROBICHEK:

When you live alone, every pennycounts. You economize. You’ll

learn.

THERESE:

How do you know I live alone?

RUBY ROBICHEK:

(very matter of fact)

You got that look.

THERESE and RUBY sit at a table. RUBY digs into her purse,

finds a slip of paper and pen, scribbles down her address andtelephone number and gives it to THERESE.

RUBY ROBICHEK (CONT’D)

I know everything there is to knowabout this place. I’ll fill you in.

THERESE:

I’m only here a few more days.

RUBY ROBICHEK:

Yeah? Where you going? Macy’s? I

knew it! You look like the type whocan go swanky.

This pleases RUBY and she digs into her lunch with gusto. Asilence. THERESE watches her eat. She watches everybody eat,

seemingly in unison. THERESE slides her tray over to RUBY.

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