Carol Page #8

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The MUSIC broods slightly as THERESE looks straight ahead andthe car enters the Lincoln Tunnel. The car plunges into thesemi-darkness as if entering a cocoon, a delirious descent,

which binds them together. She watches CAROL’S fingers gripthe wheel, how CAROL squints slightly when she concentrates.

THERESE can barely suppress a tiny smile. But glancing back,

CAROL suddenly appears to be miles away. CAROL switches onthe car radio and Jo Stafford’s “You Belong to Me” comes on.

THERESE leans back in her seat as they continue, speedingthrough the dark tunnel.

AS WE RETURN TO:

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

“You Belong To Me” also plays as several COUPLES DANCE, amongthem RICHARD and a PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN who he clutches

tightly. THERESE, drinking a beer, watches them from ahallway just outside the living room.

RICHARD catches sight of THERESE, tensing slightly, beforespinning his partner up and away from THERESE’S view. THERESElooks down, pulling out a cigarette from her purse andlighting it. She spots an attractive dark-haired woman on theopposite side of the living room whose eyes are clearly onher. THERESE holds her gaze for a few seconds, but she canfeel herself blush, and she looks down. When she looks backup, the WOMAN has disappeared. THERESE saunters a bit,

glancing into the next room where she spots DANNIE and his

girlfriend LOUISE slow-dancing. They barely move, holding onto each other the way people do when they’re newly in love.

CUT BACK TO:

FLASHBACK:
DECEMBER, 1952.

INT./EXT. CAROL’S CAR. XMAS TREE LOT. NEW JERSEY. DAY.

At a Christmas tree lot, THERESE sits in the car loading hercamera with film. When she’s done, she spots CAROL outside asa TEENAGED BOY ties up their tree, a large Doug Fir. TheTEENAGED BOY has a bad cold and CAROL offers him tissues.

THERESE steps out of the car, aims her camera and takes a fewshots.

INT. CAROL’S CAR. RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY. DAY.

The car makes its way to Carol’s house, with the Douglas Firlaid across the front and back seats between THERESE and

CAROL.

THERESE loves the feeling of the needles against her skin,

the way it smells, the way she knows that CAROL is besideher, though she can’t see her. The car comes to a halt infront of CAROL’S house. It’s a big house, a bigger house thanTHERESE has ever been inside. CAROL turns off the engine.

CAROL:

You still with me?

THERESE:

Yes.

CAROL opens her door, pops out of the car. THERESE is aboutto get out of the car when she sees the front door of thehouse open and RINDY come tearing out to greet her mother.

FLORENCE stands in the doorway, ready to escort mother anddaughter inside.

RINDY:

Mommyyyy!!

CAROL:

Hello, my darling! Guess what I

brought you? I bet you’ll never

guess...

THERESE watches as mother and daughter proceed inside,

chattering away.

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

THERESE prepares a tray of tea and cookies. Through the opendoor we can see CAROL and RINDY in the living room,

decorating the tree. Almost finished, CAROL is setting up aladder beside the tree.

CAROL:

Where’s the star?

RINDY roots around in the pile of ornaments, finds it.

RINDY:

This one, Mommy.

CAROL:

That’s my girl.

THERESE watches as CAROL ascends the ladder and places thestar at the top of the tree.

CAROL (CONT’D)

Look how beautiful!

CAROL descends the step ladder and joins Rindy, taking her

into her lap.

CAROL (CONT'D)

Have you ever seen a more beautiful

tree? And now... what comes after

the star is placed?

RINDY:

More stars!

CAROL:

(tickling RINDY)

I don’t... think... so!

O/S FLORENCE

You find everything you need, miss?

THERESE, startled, turns to see FLORENCE standing at the rearof the kitchen, near a back door.

THERESE:

Gosh, you scared me. How silly.

FLORENCE:

(she’s not sorry)

I’m sorry, miss. (beat) I’ll take

that through for Mrs. Aird.

FLORENCE picks up the tray, walks through to the living room.

INT. CAROL’S HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.

A fire crackles in the fireplace as CAROL, seated under thetree, struggles to wrap the train set. THERESE sits at thepiano, improvising, jumping from one bit of a tune toanother. A half-empty bottle of white wine and a couple ofglasses stand nearby.

CAROL:

Were those pictures of me you weretaking? At the tree lot?

THERESE stops playing. A silence.

THERESE:

I’m sorry. I should have asked.

CAROL:

Don’t apologize.

THERESE:

I’ve been trying to... A friend ofmine told me I should be more

interested. In humans.

CAROL:

And how’s that going?

THERESE:

(after a small beat)

Well... actually.

CAROL:

I’m glad.

THERESE begins to play “Easy Living.” CAROL listens for a

moment, rises, walks over to Therese.

CAROL (CONT’D)

That’s beautiful.

She grazes her hand on Therese’s shoulder. THERESE freezes,

and CAROL tries to lighten the moment with two quick strokesto her cheek. THERESE continues to play and CAROL listens.

CAROL (CONT’D)

Is that what you want to be? Aphotographer?

THERESE:

I think so. If I have any talentfor it.

CAROL:

Isn’t that something other peoplelet you know you have? All you cando is - keep working. Use whatfeels right. Throw away the rest.

THERESE finishes the song. CAROL starts over to a table bythe couch, opens a cigarette box, takes one out, lights it.

CAROL (CONT’D)

Will you show me your work?

(she sits on the couch)

THERESE:

Sure. I mean, I haven’t soldanything. Or even shown a pictureto anyone who could buy one. Idon’t even have a decent camera.

But... they’re all at my place.

Under the sink, mostly.

CAROL:

Invite me round.

From outside, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.

Car door opens and slams. The moment broken, CAROL risesquickly, and marches toward the front door.

CAROL comes out of the living room and finds HARGE in theentry, restringing the mistletoe.

CAROL (CONT’D)

Harge. What’s wrong?

HARGE:

Nothing. Does there have to be aproblem for me to visit my wife?

HARGE approaches CAROL, reaching out to greet her, but stops,

spotting THERESE at the piano in the living room. He looks toCAROL and CAROL looks away. Then HARGE moves past CAROL downthe hall and into the kitchen. THERESE clocks it all.

INT. CAROL’S HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. LATER.

THERESE browses through a book, alone in the living room, asshe hears CAROL and HARGE conversing in the kitchen. Throughthe cracked door she catches glimpses of CAROL pacing to andfro, anxiously smoking, and hears the sounds of HARGErepairing a pipe under the kitchen sink. She tries occupyingherself, perusing titles of books from the bookshelf.

CAROL:

... that’s not fair, Harge. Weagreed that Rindy would stay withme until Christmas Eve.

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