Carol Page #15

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(Rectangle comment ccaruso

10/30/2015 11:
32:49 PM

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THERESE (CONT’D) (CONT’D)

If the rate’s attractive...

EXT. MCKINLEY MOTEL. CANTON, OHIO. NIGHT.

THERESE at the ice dispenser. She’s bundled up in scarf,

gloves, overcoat - but wearing bunny slippers. She strugglesto fill an ice bucket, shivering.

YOUNG MAN:

Can I - hold that for you?

THERESE looks up. A tall, affable looking young man withspectacles appears beside her, holding up the lid of thedispenser while she fills her bucket.

THERESE:

Thank you. It’s cold.

YOUNG MAN:

So cold my glasses’ve fogged clearover.

THERESE:

Thanks again. G’night.

YOUNG MAN:

Night.

He tips his hat to her and THERESE heads back to her room.

INT. MCKINLEY MOTEL ROOM. NIGHT.

True to its name, framed photographs of William McKinley andhis wife hang over the twin beds. Also adorning the suite, adressing table with a fan-shaped mirror, bedside cabinets,

gold-specked table lamps, striped wall paper. A record playson THERESE’s portable turntable,(”Easy Living (1933 version)”

by Billie Holiday). THERESE sits beside CAROL at the dressingtable as CAROL carefully applies mascara to THERESE’S lashes.

CAROL:

Don’t blink. (beat) Now look at

you.

CAROL turns THERESE around to the mirror.

THERESE:

I need lipstick.

CAROL chooses a lipstick, gives it to THERESE and watches asTHERESE applies it. CAROL hands THERESE a tissue. THERESEblots, hands CAROL the tissue.

THERESE (CONT’D)

Next?

CAROL picks up a perfume bottle, hands it to THERESE.

CAROL:

Would mademoiselle be so kind as to

apply at the pulse points only?

THERESE applies perfume to the inside of her wrists, thecrook of her arms, and her neck. She turns to CAROL. CAROLholds out her wrists to THERESE.

CAROL (CONT’D)

Me, too.

THERESE applies perfume to the same spots on CAROL. CAROLcloses her eyes, arches her neck back slightly.

CAROL (CONT’D)

That’s divine. Smell that.

A beat, and THERESE leans forward to smell CAROL’S perfume.

INT. MCKINLEY MOTEL ROOM. LATE NIGHT.

From her neighboring twin bed, THERESE watches CAROL sleep.

Very gently, she slips out of her bed and sits down silentlyon the edge of CAROL’S bed, and watches her breath. Shequietly lifts a finger and lightly runs it along CAROL’Scheek. CAROL turns over in her sleep. THERESE waits to besure CAROL won’t wake, then returns to her own bed.

INT. MCKINLEY MOTEL OFFICE. MORNING.

THERESE is seated in the improvised breakfast room, made upof a few mismatched tables and chairs, and a paltry spread ofcoffee, juice and rolls. She spots the YOUNG MAN from the icedispenser pouring himself a cup of coffee, carrying a largeblack case. He spots THERESE and smiles broadly.

YOUNG MAN:

Good morning. Glad to see you

didn’t freeze over or nothing.

THERESE:

You too.

Before she can even respond he’s setting down his cup and

pulling up a chair. THERESE spots CAROL arriving with a road-

map, making a beeline to the coffee.

THERESE (CONT'D)

Not the best coffee I’m afraid.

YOUNG MAN:

Long as it’s hot.

THERESE:

What’s in the case?

YOUNG MAN:

Oh. Notions. I’m a - I sell them.

Or try to.

CAROL arrives opposite Therese and plops down.

CAROL:

Lousy coffee.

YOUNG MAN:

(surprised by her arrival)

Sorry-(he attempts to stand)

CAROL:

Excuse me?

THERESE:

We were just chatting.

YOUNG MAN:

Name’s Tucker... Tommy.

THERESE:

(extending her hand)

Therese Belivet. Carol Aird.

TOMMY TUCKER:

(shaking hands)

Pleased to meet you.

THERESE:

Mr. Tucker sells notions.

THERESE makes a gesture to his case, which CAROL regards.

CAROL:

I see.

TOMMY TUCKER:

(brief silence)

Don’t really know what notions are,

exactly. But they do instruct us touse the word. Says it appeals towomen. So... (beat) I did sell a

shoe-horn yesterday to a feller inWheeling.

THERESE:

(trying to help him out)

Do you sell lipstick?

TOMMY TUCKER:

No. But I have a sewing kit. (beat)

You don’t need a sewing kit. I cantell.

CAROL smiles politely, but returns her attention to the map.

CAROL:

(to THERESE)

We should make Chicago by five orsix, if we get an early start.

TOMMY TUCKER:

That’s where I’m headed. There’s a

short cut across the interstates,

knocks two hours off the drive.

CAROL:

Two hours, that’s... That would be

great-

THERESE:

Can we stop to buy some magazines?

TOMMY TUCKER:

(reaching for his case)

I got Field and Stream... NationalGeographic?

THERESE:

Popular Photography?

TOMMY TUCKER:

(a beat as he smiles)

Nope. Course not. I am doomed toremain without a sale.

THERESE throws a little smile to CAROL, as TOMMY shakes hishead. MUSIC picks up, carrying over the following scenes.

EXT. OPEN ROAD. LATER. DAY

The wide open road stretches out before us as CAROL’S car

comes gliding by.

INT. CAROL’S CAR. LATER. DAY

Inside, THERESE enjoys the sweet boredom of nothing but time

in CAROL’S company. She scans the radio dial.

[EXT. ROADSIDE. LATER. DAY

CAROL and THERESE, bundled in coats and scarves, sit on the

low branch of a tree, just off the road, sharing sandwiches

and thermos coffee.]

EXT. DRAKE HOTEL. CHICAGO. NIGHT

The shimmering entrance to Chicago’s Drake Hotel is a swarm

of taxis, GUESTS and BELL-HOPS. CAROL and THERESE, bleary

from the road, come to a stop and begin quickly gathering

their things from the car.

INT. DRAKE HOTEL ROOM. LATER.

A BELLBOY carries CAROL and THERESE’S bags into an opulentroom. We hear CAROL tip and thank him as we follow THERESEinto her first encounter with hotel luxury. CAROL collapsesonto one of the beds.

CAROL:

Finally. A real bed. Heaven.

THERESE inspects the room like a detective. She bends to runher hand through the carpet.

THERESE:

This carpet - it feels like wovensilk! Like we shouldn’t be steppingon it. And the furniture!

She turns to look at CAROL... fast asleep on the bed.

INT. DRAKE HOTEL. RESTAURANT. LATER.

Carol speaks to the hostess as Therese observes the busyhotel restaurant, with WAITERS moving briskly and efficientlythrough the room.

CAROL:

Table for two, please, for dinner.

HOSTESS:

Are you staying here at the hotel?

CAROL:

Yes, it’s room... (she searches for

her key)

THERESE:

623. Mrs. Aird.

HOSTESS:

That’ll be just a moment, Mrs.

Aird.

CAROL:

Thank you.

Therese eyes the gifts and souvenirs at the counter: fancyboxes of candy, souvenir key rings, pens. She lifts a can ofspecialty Virginia ham.

THERESE:

Do you think something like thiswould appeal to an older woman?

CAROL:

I suppose. Depends on the woman.

THERESE:

I worked with a woman at

Frankenberg’s - Ruby. But she

depressed me.

CAROL:

Why?

THERESE:

She’s old. Alone. No money. It’s -

silly, I know.

CAROL:

I think it’s a lovely gesture. Sendit. Here.

CAROL picks up the order form and pencil and hands it to

THERESE.

HOSTESS:

Mrs. Aird, your table is ready.

CAROL:

Thank you.

Therese takes the form and pencil with her as they are led to

their table.

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