Human Nature Page #15

LILA (O.S.)

I'm the same person I was before you

knew, damn it! Oh God!

NATHAN (O.S.)

I have to think! I have to think!

Footsteps and a door slam. Lila is near the phone now and

crying in desperate heaves.

LILA (O.S.)

Oh God, why... do... I... have...

to... be... like... Oh, no! Oh, sh*t!

(rustling sound, then

into phone)

Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? Who's

there?

Gabrielle calmly pops another cherry in her mouth and hangs

up the phone.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Nathan, in his pajamas, drives. His face is set in a furious

scowl and he drives fast.

CUT TO:

INT. ANOTHER CAR - NIGHT

Gabrielle drives leisurely. She is calm, a slight smile on

her face.

CUT TO:

INT. LAB - NIGHT

Nathan paces in front of Puff's Lucite case. Puff watches

suspiciously from the corner where he is huddled. The lights

are off. But there is a green glow from a couple of exit

signs.

NATHAN:

I don't get it. I don't get it. I

don't get it. How could I find myself

in this mess? This is a mess. This

is not a situation I understand.

This is a mess. How do I extricate

myself from this mess? Is my

girlfriend a man? I don't understand.

This is not part of any plan. She

deceived me. She has hair.

(beat)

But am I being fair? So what if she

has hair? Who am I to judge? I have

hair.

(beat)

But I'm supposed to have hair. I am

a man. Men are supposed to have hair.

(beat)

But poor Lila. Think of what she's

had to go through. The courage she's

had to have in the face of this

abomination of nature. I should love

her all the more. I should love every

hair on her body. I mean, she doesn't

mind that I have a mortifyingly

small...

The lights flick on. Nathan turns with a start. It's

Gabrielle. She's in an overcoat. She gasps.

GABRIELLE:

Oh, Doctor. I did not know. I'm sorry

to disturb you. I just came for some

papers I left.

NATHAN:

Gabrielle. No, I'm sorry if I startled

you. I came to think.

(beat, remembering)

God, Did I hang up on you?

GABRIELLE:

Oui. Perhaps I called at a bad time.

I am sorry.

NATHAN:

No. I just got distracted. I'm so

sorry.

GABRIELLE:

Is everything fine?

NATHAN:

Oui.

(laughs)

Now you've got me talking French.

GABRIELLE:

(laughs)

I was in my p.j.'s when I remembered

I left some papers I need to go over.

(opens overcoat to

reveal lingerie)

See? I rushed right out of the house.

I must look a mess. I'm so

embarrassed.

NATHAN:

(taken)

I'm in my p.j.'s, too. Funny, huh?

Puff is taken also. His eyes are wide.

GABRIELLE:

Coincidence, yes?

(beat)

And how is our son?

NATHAN:

Our...? Oh!

(laughs, out of control)

He seems fine. I guess we woke him.

The lights and all.

GABRIELLE:

I should turn them off.

(she does)

Maybe I sing him a lullaby my mama

sang to me when I was a little girl.

NATHAN:

(a little giddy)

When you were a little French girl?

GABRIELLE:

Oui.

NATHAN:

(back in control)

That would be good.

Gabrielle kneels by Puff's case. Puff crawls over, tries to

touch her through the Lucite. Gabrielle sings a French

lullaby. It's very sweet. Nathan watches her, looks at her

thigh, her hair, the delicate way the tip of her nose moves

when she sings. Puff gets drowsy. He curls up on the floor

and sleeps.

GABRIELLE:

(quietly to Nathan)

There.

Nathan stares at her, transfixed. She pretends not to notice.

GABRIELLE:

Shall we close up, then?

NATHAN:

Maybe we should just sit for a while.

It's very peaceful.

GABRIELLE:

It's nice, yes. I'm glad I ran into

you, both in our silly pajamas. It

is two happy coincidences, no?

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