Carol Page #6

---

THERESE watches as CAROL massages the back of her neck for amoment.

THERESE:

Your perfume -

CAROL:

Yes?

THERESE:

It’s nice.

CAROL:

Thank you. Harge bought me a bottleyears ago, before we were married.

I’ve been wearing it ever since.

THERESE:

Harge is your husband?

CAROL:

Yes. Well. Technically we - We’redivorcing.

THERESE:

(after a beat)

I’m sorry.

CAROL:

(stubs out her cigarette)

Don’t be.

THERESE doesn’t know what to say. CAROL smiles, changes thesubject.

CAROL (CONT’D)

And do you live alone, ThereseBelivet?

THERESE:

I do. (beat) Well, there’s Richard.

He wants to live with me.

CAROL looks up at THERESE, raised eyebrow smile.

THERESE (CONT’D)

No, it’s nothing like that. It’s -

he’d like to marry me.

CAROL:

I see. Would you like to marry him?

A pause.

THERESE:

(she makes light of it)

I... barely know what to order forlunch.

CAROL nods, almost looks past THERESE - what is she thinkingabout? Suddenly it seems to THERESE that CAROL’S mood hassomehow darkened.

The WAITER appears with their food. He sets their platesdown. CAROL picks up her silverware, the cloud seeminglypast.

CAROL:

I’m starved. Bon appetit.

CAROL eats and THERESE watches, almost having to forceherself to pick up her fork and knife and join her. But shedoes. CAROL looks up at her for a moment:

CAROL (CONT’D)

And what do you do on Sundays?

THERESE:

Nothing in particular. What do youdo?

CAROL:

Nothing - lately. If you’d like tovisit me some time, you’re welcometo. At least there’s some prettycountry around where I live. Wouldyou like to come out this Sunday?

CAROL waits for THERESE’S answer.

THERESE:

Yes.

CAROL:

What a strange girl you are.

THERESE:

Why?

CAROL:

Flung out of space.

THERESE feels herself blush, and looks away from CAROL. Shetries to attend to her lunch and martini.

EXT. RESTAURANT. DAY.

Through passing CROWDS, THERESE watches from just outside therestaurant entrance as CAROL climbs into a convertible across

the street. CAROL’S best friend, ABBY, drives. She and CAROLgreet each other with European-style kisses. Then CAROL turnsaround and waves to THERESE. THERESE waves back as the car

takes off, disappearing into traffic.

INT. ABBY’S CAR. DAY.

ABBY snakes along Sixth Avenue.

CAROL:

I can just see Harge’s mother’sface when she sees me in this.

Maybe I should stop home andchange.

ABBY:

Don’t be a stupe.

CAROL:

Why don’t I just not show up?

ABBY:

Because I’ll be blamed. So you’dbetter just grin and bear it.

(beat) You want to tell me about

her?

CAROL and ABBY exchange a brief glance.

CAROL:

Therese? (shrugs) She returned mygloves.

ABBY:

And?

CAROL:

And... if you don’t get us out ofthis traffic soon, I won’t have toworry about any damned party.

(bundling up):
Do you ever put thetop up?

INT. FRANKENBERG’S. EMPLOYEE LOCKER ROOM. DAY.

THERESE sits opposite her open locker, now wearing heremployee smock. She writes inside an appointment diary, on anotherwise empty page, slowly and carefully in fountain pen:

Mrs. Carol Aird. Seventh Avenue entrance. 2:00 PM Sunday.

She considers what she’s written, blows on the ink so itdries.

EXT. NEW JERSEY. WEALTHY SUBURBS. EARLY EVENING.

A well-kept road full of wealthy homes, green, sweeping lots,

old wealth. ABBY’S car pulls into the circular drive of alarge modern home, set back against a cloak of trees - theresidence of HARGE’S boss, CY HARRISON. There’s clearly aparty going on: music, laughter, well-dressed GUESTSarriving, valets opening doors, taking keys, etc. ABBY shutsoff the engine and turns to CAROL, who begins rummagingthrough her purse in sudden agitation.

CAROL:

Where on earth is my compact. Goddamn it.

ABBY leans over towards CAROL, touches her arm.

ABBY:

You look fine.

CAROL looks at ABBY.

CAROL:

Come in with me. Just for a minute.

ABBY:

Don’t even start. You’re the one

who cancelled on us - you nitwit!

CAROL:

I know. I know. I’m sorry - I’m

going!

CAROL looks towards the house again, gathering herself.

ABBY:

Call me later.

INT. CY HARRISON’S HOUSE. DEN/LIVING ROOM - EARLY EVENING.

A large room for entertaining right off the foyer. Big, openfireplace. WAITERS circulate with food and drink. HARGEstands in a group with his parents, JOHN and JENNIFER, hisboss CY and CY’S wife, JEANETTE.

JOHN:

(to CY)

I’ve tried to talk sense to the

boy, Cy. I told him, son, Tri-StateCapital’s not going to buy thatMurray Hill parcel unless youimprove your golf handicap.

HARGE:

(to his father, slightedge)

I’ve got a few other things on mymind, Dad.

A reserved silence, as they all know to what he’s referring.

HARGE looks off, sees CAROL in the foyer, handing her coat toa VALET.

HARGE (CONT’D)

Excuse me.

And he makes his way through the GUESTS to join CAROL.

INT. CY HARRISON’S HOUSE. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

The party in full-swing. A DANCE BAND plays “Harbour Lights”,

and HARGE and CAROL dance a slow fox-trot. CAROL notices the

other women, dressed much more formally than she. HARGEclocks this and draws her closer to him.

HARGE:

You’re always the most beautifulwoman in any room.

CAROL:

Tell your mother that.

They look across the room to see JENNIFER watching them, andindeed, looking as if she’d just swallowed a clove of garlic.

INT. CY HARRISON’S HOUSE. BUFFET/DINING ROOM - LATER

Carol and Harge, and Cy and Jennifer are moving through thedinner buffet with their plates.

JENNIFER hovers, tidying the display, and handing strayglasses and napkins to members of the staff.

JENNIFER:

We might hire a local boy to appearas Santa for Rindy, Christmasmorning. If only we could find away to get him down the chimney!

(beat; to CAROL) How’ve youarranged it in the past, Carol?

CAROL:

What’s that?

JENNIFER:

Christmas morning. With Rindy.

CAROL exchanges a brief look with HARGE before answering.

CAROL:

Oh, we... usually get up at dawn,

Harge and I, and we - we wrapRindy’s gifts together. Arrangethem under the tree and wait for

Rindy to wake. Which is - shenormally-

HARGE:

(helps CAROL out)

Usually, she’s down the stairs in ashot and barely notices us beforeshe’s ripped through all thewrapping.

CAROL:

(smiles, grateful toHARGE)

Yes. That’s right.

JENNIFER:

But no Santa Claus.

CAROL:

No.

JENNIFER:

Oh. Well. It is a production - May

I serve you?

JEANETTE offers CAROL a commiserating look: oh-brother.

EXT. CY HARRISON’S HOUSE. LATER.

CAROL and JEANETTE in the gardens. The party can be seengoing on through a row of French doors. They smokecigarettes. CAROL takes off her shoes, rubs her feet.

JEANETTE:

(takes a long deep drag onher cigarette)

Keep an eye out, will you? Cy’llscream if he catches me with this.

CAROL:

(laughs)

What’ll he do? Dock your allowance?

JEANETTE:

(very matter of fact)

He doesn’t like me to smoke.

CAROL:

So? You like it.

But they both know that it’s simply the way it is: wivesdefer to their husband’s wishes.

Rate this script:4.3 / 19 votes