Happiness Page #7

HELEN:

Yeah.

KRISTINA'S POV of ALLEN unlocking and entering his

apartment. The view is distorted.

CLOSE ON KRISTINA in her apartment, staring through the

peephole. She takes her eyes away and covers them with her

hand, overcome.

60.EXT. HELEN AND ALLEN'S APT. COMPLEX -60.

HELEN'S PLACE - LATER.

HELEN and her lover JAMAL's silhouettes can be seen going at

it next door to ALLEN.

61.INT. ALLEN'S PLACE - THAT MOMENT.61.

ALLEN, surrounded by a couple of empty liquor bottles, is

studying a Playboy centerfold. Faint but distinct sounds of

HELEN making love with someone.

The door buzzes. He puts down the magazine, rises

unsteadily, and walks to the door.

ALLEN:

Who is it?

KRISTINA (O.S.)

It's me. Kristina.

ALLEN opens the door.

KRISTINA:

Hey, how's it going?

ALLEN:

Okay.

KRISTINA:

I got some more info on Pedro.

ALLEN:

Pedro?

KRISTINA:

You know�the, uh�.

ALLEN:

Oh, yeah. What?

KRISTINA:

Well, um�

(sees ALLEN tottering)

Say, uh, are you alright?

ALLEN:

No.

KRISTINA:

Here.

KRISTINA helps ALLEN back inside, sets him down on his bed.

ALLEN:

�P*ssy� Need p*ssy�

ALLEN passes out.

KRISTINA goes to the door and locks it. She turns out the

light. Then she sits down and just stares at ALLEN,

pondering his face and body.

Finally, KRISTINA bends down and unbuttons his top a little.

She leans her head against ALLEN, half lying down beside

him.

Suddenly ALLEN awakens, rises, and rushes off to the

bathroom. He throws up o.s. Pause. When he reappears he

sees KRISTINA standing by the bed.

ALLEN:

What the f*** are you doing here?

KRISTINA is too petrified to speak.

ALLEN:

Get out!

KRISTINA leaves.

62.EXT. FLORIDA/ARIZONA REAL ESTATE 62.

OFFICE -DAY.

Sunny. Well-tended landscaping. Attractive parking lot.

63.INT. FLORIDA/ARIZONA REAL ESTATE63.

OFFICE - DAY.

MONA is sitting in the waiting room when, ANN, a young and

comely broker, appears.

ANN:

Hi. Ann Chambeau.

MONA:

Mona Jordan.

ANN:

Wonderful.

(shaking hands with MONA.)

Come this way. I'm sorry to have

kept you waiting so long.

ANN escorts MONA to her office. They sit down.

ANN:

Can I get you some tea? coffee?

MONA:

No, thank you.

ANN:

Okay. Now then. How can I help you?

MONA:

You said there might be something

available over in Elysian Fields?

ANN:

Actually, there are several places

we can see there. But first I need

a little information.

(starts typing into her computer.)

Now, you're looking for a one?

two? three-bedroom?

MONA:

Three.

ANN:

Wonderful. Is this then for you

and your husband?

MONA:

No.

ANN:

Just for yourself then?

MONA:

Yes.

ANN:

No children?

MONA:

My children are grown.

ANN:

No pets?

MONA:

No.

ANN:

So really just you alone then

all by yourself?

MONA:

Yes.

ANN:

Wonderful.

ANN resumes interfacing with the computer.

Suddenly MONA starts crying. Soon ANN looks up from her

terminal.

ANN:

Mrs. Jordan? Is something the matter?

MONA nods yes and no. Finally:

MONA:

My husband is leaving me.

ANN:

Oh, I'm so sorry.

ANN reaches her hand out in a vague display of support and

affection.

ANN:

You know, we have a lot of divorcees

in Phase IV. Would you like to see

something there, perhaps a bit smaller?

MONA:

Who said I was getting divorced?

64.EXT. ELYSIAN FIELDS - DAY.64.

ANN drives MONA through this scenic luxury village. They

pause at a security checkpoint before looking for a spot in

the parking lot.

Easy Listening or Classical Lite is on the car radio.

ANN (V.O.)

You know, I'm a divorcee.

MONA (V.O.)

Oh?

ANN (V.O.)

I live in Phase IV.

65.INT. ANN'S CAR - DAY.65.

MONA turns to ANNE as she pulls into a spot.

MONA:

I am so sorry.

ANN:

Mrs. Jordan?

MONA:

Mona.

ANN:

Mona. That's a beautiful name.

MONA:

Er�thank you.

ANN:

How long were you married?

MONA:

Forty years.

Pause.

ANN:

You know, Mona, I think we have a lot

in common. More than you realize. See,

I know what you're going through.

I've been there. But I'd like to share

a little secret with you: Divorce was

the best thing that ever happened to me.

ANNE reaches out and this time touches MONA, gives her a

squeeze.

ANN:

Really.

66.INT. CONDO LOBBY - DAY.66.

ANN and MONA walk across the expensively decorated space.

It is empty except for an OLD LADY with a walker tottering

by.

ANN:

(whispering discreetly)

Don't worry. She's the exception to

the rule. Most everyone here is

much more youthful.

67.INT. CONDO HALLWAY - DAY.67.

ANN leads MONA towards the door of the place for sale. They

passby a vase of flowers resting in an offset little

alcove.

While ANN searches for the right set of keys, a MAID

approaches with fresh flowers and a plastic garbage bag.

She dumps the old flowers in the bag and replaces them with

new ones.

ANN:

See how they change the flowers

every day. They don't wait for

things to go bad and rot here.

68.INT. CONDO - DAY.68.

ANN stands to the side while MONA wanders around. The place

is bright and sunny. A lot of mirrors and glass�

In each room she enters MONA sees her reflection.

ANN:

It was finished just a year and a half

ago and they've really hardly spent

any time here. Supposedly the third

bathroom's never even been used.

But I've flushed it, so I know it works.

MONA stands by the windows, looking out.

ANN:

The views are spectacular, of course.

But what's great is you can see

the whole world and at the same time

feel entirely alone. It's kind of a

double bonus:
you get the solitude

you need for reflection and

soul-searching and the thrill of

being "top of the heap."

MONA looks at a portrait of a couple hanging in the foyer.

The husband has been torn out of it, just as he has been

from all the other photographs lying around.

ANN:

Now they're asking 800. But I know

I can definitely get it down to 650.

I know this couple. They're also in

the middle of The Big D. He needs to

liquidate fast.

Pause.

MONA:

I'll take it.

ANN:

Wonderful!

69.EXT. MONA AND LENNY'S APARTMENT69.

COMPLEX - DAY.

LENNY lies on a chaise lounge, alone by the poolside.

DIANE, perhaps slightly younger than MONA, approaches.

DIANE:

Hi, Lenny. Mind if I join you?

LENNY:

No.

DIANE arranges herself in a chair beside him.

DIANE:

How's Mona?

LENNY:

Fine.

DIANE:

Inside on such a beautiful day?

LENNY:

I dunno.

DIANE:

Whadya mean you dunno?

LENNY:

I dunno.

DIANE:

Eh. Whatever.

(a beat.)

So how are your girls doing?

LENNY:

Fine, I guess.

DIANE:

And the grandchildren?

Coming to visit anytime soon?

LENNY:

I dunno.

Pause.

DIANE:

It's good to have a family together.

A close family�I know. And you know

how I know. 'Cause you know I know

what it's like when things aren't�

together. When there is pain and

loss and�separation. You know how

I understand these things.

(a beat.)

Lenny, I just think you should know;

I heard about you and Mona.

LENNY:

What?

DIANE:

About your�getting divorced.

I'm very sorry.

LENNY:

We're not getting divorced.

DIANE:

Divorced, separated, whatever.

It doesn't matter. You're alone now.

Two beautiful young women come to the pool and settle

themselves down opposite.

LENNY looks at them. He closes his eyes and turns away.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes