Carol Page #13

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Through the Christmas display windows we see THERESE exit the

store with her belongings and hail a cab from the street. As

the taxi whisks her off we see her glance back one last time.

INT. THERESE’S APARTMENT. CHRISTMAS EVE. DAY.

THERESE and RICHARD at the kitchen table. THERESE’S clothes

and suitcase are spread out on the bed.

RICHARD:

I don’t get it. I don’t get it,

Therese. Who is this woman to you?

THERESE:

She’s a friend.

RICHARD:

I’m your friend, Terry. Phil isyour friend - Dannie. This woman -

you don’t even know her.

THERESE:

(after a pause)

You can forward any mail toChicago, General Post, but I justpaid rent through February. I had alittle money saved up for the -

for...

RICHARD looks up at her sharply. THERESE looks away from him.

RICHARD:

For our trip. Our trip, Terry. Andnow you’re - I don’t believe thisis happening!

THERESE:

I can’t explain it. I just -

RICHARD:

What? You’ve got one hell of acrush on this woman is what...

You’re like a schoolgirl!

THERESE:

I do not - I just like her is all.

I like talking with her. I’m fondof anybody I can really talk to.

This stings him, and they exchange a sharp look.

RICHARD:

Nice. You know what I think? I

think two weeks from now you’ll bewishing you... She’ll get tired ofyou and you’ll wish you never-

THERESE:

-You don’t understand-!

RICHARD:

I do - I understand completely.

You’re in a trance!

THERESE:

I’m wide awake. I’ve never felt

more awake. (beat) Why don’t youleave me alone?

THERESE has surprised herself with her boldness.

RICHARD:

Are we over? Is that what this is?

THERESE:

I didn’t say that. But why should Iwant to be with you if all you dois argue about this?

RICHARD:

To say - to say for a minute you

practically want to say goodbye

because of some silly crush!

THERESE:

I didn’t say that. You said it.

RICHARD grabs his jacket and starts out the front door.

RICHARD:

You made me buy boat tickets, I gota better job for you... I asked youto marry me, for Chrissakes...

INT. THERESE’S APARTMENT BUILDING. HALLWAY. DAY.

THERESE:

I never made you - I never askedyou for -anything. Maybe that’sthe problem.

As he storms down the stairs, the LANDLADY sticks her headout of her door, observing the row.

RICHARD:

I swear to you, two weeks from nowyou’ll be begging me to forget thisever-!

THERESE:

Richard... Richard!

RICHARD:

Have a great trip, Terry!

He storms out of the building as THERESE starts back to herapartment, receiving the LANDLADY’s glares.

INT. THERESE’S APARTMENT. LATER.

BRIEF CLOSE-UPS:
THERESE places clothes in her new suitcase.

She wraps CAROL’s gift. She composes CAROL’s gift card.

INT. CAROL’S HOUSE. GUEST ROOM. EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING.

THERESE is roused from sleep with the sound of an approachingcar. She opens her eyes, taking in her surroundings - thecomfortable guest room at CAROL’S. She hears voices fromoutside and turns to look out her window.

A fresh layer of snow has fallen and ABBY’S car has pulled upthe drive, top-down as usual. CAROL can be seen outside, witha coat thrown over her robe.

CAROL:

Are you on your way to bed or justgetting up?

ABBY:

Both.

ABBY tries to stifle a laugh, doesn’t quite. CAROL puts afinger to her lips: “shhh.”

ABBY (CONT’D)

Go for a ride?

CAROL:

You nitwit.

ABBY:

Well, I had to come see you off,

didn’t I?

CAROL:

I’m not alone.

ABBY:

Uh-oh...

CAROL:

(laughs, then)

Come in. There’s coffee.

ABBY hops out of the car.

INT. CAROL’S HOUSE. HALLWAY. MOMENTS LATER.

ABBY and CAROL enter the house.

ABBY:

This place is gloomy as a coal pit

in the mornings.

They see THERESE sitting at the top of the stairs in herpajamas.

CAROL:

We woke you. Go back to sleep, it’searly...

THERESE:

That’s okay. Can I - come down?

ABBY stifles a snort. CAROL ribs her, good-naturedly. THERESEguardedly watches the way the two interact.

CAROL:

Of course. There’s a robe in the

closet.

THERESE stands, and ABBY sizes her up.

CAROL (CONT’D)

This is Abby Gerhard.

ABBY:

I have no manners.

CAROL:

Absolutely none.

ABBY:

But it’s nice to meet you, Therese,

all the same.

THERESE nods, smiling, then slips back down the hall.

INT. CAROL’S HOUSE. KITCHEN. LATER. DAY

ABBY is finishing preparing sandwiches which THERESE iswrapping up.

THERESE:

Have you known Carol for a longtime?

ABBY:

Uh-huh.

A pause while they work.

THERESE:

Did you ever take a trip? With

Carol, I mean?

ABBY:

Two or three.

THERESE can’t quite cover her slight frown. ABBY clocks this.

ABBY (CONT’D)

We had a furniture shop for acouple years, outside Elizabeth. Sowe were always on the prowl forantiques or second-hand stuff.

She grabs a pack of cigarettes from the counter, lights one.

THERESE watches her. ABBY offers her a cigarette and a light.

ABBY (CONT’D)

You old enough to smoke?

A beat, before ABBY breaks a smile, and THERESE decides tosmile along.

THERESE:

Okay...

A beat, then:

ABBY:

You know she’s got a lot of worriesright now... You know that, don’tyou?

THERESE:

I know.

ABBY:

And she’s lonely.

THERESE:

Is that why she wants me to go withher?

ABBY:

No...

ABBY looks out a kitchen window, smokes.

ABBY (CONT'D)

Just - don’t want to see her

getting hurt. That’s it.

THERESE:

I’d never hurt Carol. You think I

would?

ABBY:

No. (she looks frankly at THERESE)Idon’t.

THERESE starts putting the food and drinks into a largepicnic basket.

THERESE:

What happened to the furniture

store?

ABBY sighs. She suddenly looks a little sad to THERESE.

ABBY:

It was... (resuming her chores):

Some things don’t work out, nomatter how much you want them to.

EXT. CAROL’S HOUSE. LATER. DAY.

THERESE and CAROL finish loading up the trunk and wiping thelast of the snow from the windshield. CAROL slams the trunk

lid shut, strides to the driver’s side, opens the door, getsin. THERESE hurriedly removes the last of the snow from theback windshield as CAROL starts up the car, revving theengine. The hot exhaust creates a swirl of steam as a softspell of MUSIC rises. THERESE trots up to the passenger sidedoor, taking a last look around before jumping into the car.

INT CAROL’S CAR / EXT ROAD TO PENNSYLVANIA. LATER. DAY.

MUSIC continues over shots inside the car: THERESE pouringcoffee for CAROL from the thermos - piping hot and pre-

creamed. THERESE lighting two cigarettes and handing one toCAROL, as they drive through the black and white of the snowythruway towards Philadelphia.

INT. PHILLY DINER . LATER.

CAROL and THERESE eat tomato soup and crackers, virtuallyalone in the dreary city diner. A few dismal strands oftinsel and garland, strewn about for holiday effect, surrounda green and red cardboard banner which reads: MER Y CH TMAS.

THERESE puts aside her meal, gazes out of the window at thelargely deserted city streets.

THERESE:

I could get used to having a whole

city to myself.

THERESE turns to CAROL, who smiles in approval at THERESE’Splan. THERESE can’t wait any longer, reaching under her seatand producing her nicely wrapped gift for CAROL.

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