Elle Page #2

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11 INT. MICHELLE’S HOUSE - BEDROOM -- LATER THAT NIGHT 11

Michelle is asleep in the light of her TV, the hammer on thepillow next to her.

12 INT. OFFICES OF A-V SOFTWARE -- DAY 12

Immaculately dressed for power, Michelle strides pastcubicles filled with busy employees, side by side with ANNA,

her Co-CEO, a well-put together woman her own age.

ANNA:

Have you seen this apartment

Vincent picked out?

MICHELLE:

Six months ago he was dealing weed

and getting into imbecilic fights,

now he's a family man?

ANNA:

That b*tch JOSIE is a menace. He

just doesn't see it...

13 INT. A-V SOFTWARE - CONFERENCE ROOM -- DAY 13

The group is watching a highly polished GAME DEMO projectedat the front of the room, software engineer PHILLIP KWANacting as "the player." On the screen: a Lovecraftiancreatures's tentacle penetrates the skull of a helplesslywrithing woman. She stops struggling as her eyes turn black.

7.

MICHELLE:

Phillip, weren't we going to dialback the orgasmic convulsions,

though?

ANNA:

These guys never heard of subtext.

Michelle smiles. There are some

murmurs from others at the table.

PHILLIP:

(defensive)

There was forty-five seconds ofanimation on that originally.

KURT:

Are we not going to address thewhite elephant in the room?

KURT, a German-born game designer with long hair and manytattoos, now stands and takes the floor.

KURT (CONT’D)

We get one shot at Activision butthe wonkiness of the controls make

this critical demonstration tool

almost unplayable. It doesn'tmatter how intricately rendered theenvironments of Thule are, if the

player's throwing his controllerthrough the f***ing screen!

MICHELLE:

It seems to me you're dodging theissue by blaming known glitches.

KURT:

I'm confronting the issue head-on.

The issue is you come from theworld of publishing and literaryfiction and that's a singularlyinappropriate background forevaluating playability.

Everyone in the room looks a littleshocked he said this. Michelle

takes it in stride.

MICHELLE:

It may well be that Anna and Ishould have founded a different

sort of company.

(MORE)

8.

MICHELLE (CONT'D)

It may be, as you suspect, thatKronos was a hit solely because ofyour innovations and we're bitcheswho got lucky - but the fact is Iam the boss and we're six months

behind here.

(to all as Kurt seethes)

We all know the goal: when theplayer guts an Orc, he has to feelhot blood pouring over his hands.

Kevin, a cherubic, red-haired youngman, turns to Michelle.

KEVIN:

I love you.

Everybody laughs. Even Michellesmiles.

14 INT. AV OFFICES - OUTER OFFICE -- DAY 14

Michelle and Anna walk together toward the elevators.

MICHELLE:

Sometimes, I think Kurt hates me.

ANNA:

He does hate you. They all hateyou. Except Kevin- who really doeslove you, even though he tries topass it off as a joke... This isn’ta shock? You knew all this, right?

Michelle shrugs. They share a little laugh.

15 INT. A DOCTOR’S OFFICE -- DAY 15

A NURSE draws blood. Michelle wears a lime-green gown. Sheturns to the young DOCTOR making notes in her chart nearby.

MICHELLE:

Does she know I want a full STD

panel?

DOCTOR:

Yes, she does.

(smiles, briefly)

If you’re concerned about a recentexposure, I can prescribe a PEP.

9.

MICHELLE:

I googled those. They have nasty

side effects and I can’t miss any

work. So, I guess I’ll just have to

roll the dice.

The Doctor disapproves but Michelle starts getting dressed.

16 INT. A CAFE -- DAY 16

Michelle looks over creature design sketches. Her phoneRINGS. She answers. A MALE VOICE (ROBERT) on the other end-

MAN (O.S.)

My evening just cleared up.

MICHELLE (INTO PHONE)

It’s not good for me... Actually,

I’m having Female Difficulties.

MAN (O.S.)

I’ll wear a condom.

MICHELLE (INTO PHONE)

I appreciate your willingness to

sacrifice but tonight’s not good.

As Michelle returns to her drawings, another cafe patron, abig, grey-haired WOMAN keeps throwing funny looks Michelle'sway. Angry looks. Now the woman rises from her table with hertray and, on her way out, makes a detour over to Michelle'stable. She proceeds to deliberately spill the contents of hertray - half-eaten food and paper products - right intoMichelle's lap. Michelle strangely, takes it completely instride. She doesn't even act all that surprised.

The woman, glaring at Michelle, sets her tray down and walksout. Michelle dabs a napkin in water, scrubs her blouse.

17 INT. MICHELLE’S MOTHER’S APARTMENT -- DAY 17

Michelle lets herself in. She's surprised to discover hermother, IRENE, having coffee in the breakfast nook with agigolo-esque guy in early middle age (RAFE). The man wears adress shirt and boxer shorts.

Michelle sighs heavily and shakes her head. Her mother, awoman in her late 70s with layers of plastic surgery, showsmild annoyance.

10.

IRENE:

If you’re going to come in withoutknocking, you’re going to betreated to gruesome sights like mehaving coffee with a friend.

RAFE:

But I did wish I had pants on.

The gigolo excuses himself, smiling. Michelle glares at him.

MICHELLE:

How much do you pay them? So

demeaning.

IRENE:

I have nothing to be ashamed of.

This is my life. My sex life...

You’re just a little b*tch.

MICHELLE:

All I’m saying is you’re on a fixedincome. You should be more

economical. Do you really need ayoung stud at your age?

IRENE:

Did you eat? I made spaghetti.

MICHELLE:

I’ll take some coffee.

Irene goes to get it as Michelle sits down at the table.

MICHELLE (CONT’D)

Did you have more work done?

IRENE:

You’re just going to keep going?

MICHELLE:

I’m sorry.

Irene brings over the coffee.

IRENE:

A little Botox.

MICHELLE:

It’s your business.

(sips her coffee)

Very good.

11.

IRENE:

You act surprised.

Rafe comes back in, fully dressed.

RAFE:

Well, that’s better. Michelle, I

hope we get a chance to meetproperly soon. I have to take off.

IRENE:

Not yet, you’re not.

She slinks over to him sexy for a lovers’ goodbye kiss.

Michelle, openly disgusted, has to look away.

MICHELLE:

Did my mother tell you she’s HIVpositive?

IRENE:

I already warned him you were goingto try that one.

Michelle shrugs. Rafe smiles at her.

RAFE:

Nice meeting you.

He takes off. Irene returns to the table.

IRENE:

I’m going to ask you a question. Iwant you to think before youanswer. What would you say if Iremarried? Think about it.

MICHELLE:

It’s simple- I’d kill you. No needto think about it.

Irene shakes her head, lights a cigarette.

IRENE:

You’ve always wanted some sanitizedversion of life, Michelle.

MICHELLE:

I would kill you. You asked. I told

you.

IRENE:

You’re so selfish, Michelle. It’s

frightening.

12.

MICHELLE:

I know. Here’s the check for yourmortgage payment by the way.

Michelle takes a check from her purse, hands it over.

IRENE:

You never give anything truly ofyourself. Like with your father.

How much effort would it take...?

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