Human Nature Page #17

GABRIELLE:

(still giggling)

Dr. Bronfman's line. Yes. One moment

please.

(puts it on hold)

Lila.

NATHAN:

Sh*t.

(takes phone)

Hi, honey.

CUT TO:

INT. LILA AND NATHAN'S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Lila sits on the couch. Eyebrows are attractively drawn onto

her face. She wears a very femme blonde wing. Lots of make-

up.

LILA:

So, how's it going today?

NATHAN (O.S.)

Good. Making progress.

LILA:

Honey, can we talk tonight? You know,

about stuff? Things have been so

strained for the past three weeks,

since you know, and I just want to

talk.

CUT TO:

INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS

Nathan, phone cradled between shoulder and ear, puts his

face in his hand. Gabrielle rests a hand on his shoulder.

NATHAN:

Everything's fine, honey. We don't

need to talk. Besides I have to work

late.

LILA (O.S.)

Please, Nathan. I really need this.

You've been working late a lot.

Nathan looks up helplessly at Gabrielle.

NATHAN:

Okay, we'll have dinner tonight.

Gabrielle gets mad, exhales sharply, pulls her hand away.

Nathan gives her a pleading look, grabs for her. She moves

away.

NATHAN:

Yeah. Okay. Be home around seven.

Bye.

(hangs up)

What? I'm sorry. What was I supposed

to do?

GABRIELLE:

(disgusted)

I don't know, Nathan. What are you

supposed to do?

NATHAN:

You don't abandon somebody because

they have a physical problem.

GABRIELLE:

Funny. I thought that's exactly what

you did. You just don't have the

courage to admit it to yourself.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE SPACE - DAY

Nathan talks. A tear runs down his face, mingles with the

blood.

NATHAN:

Funny. I still feel guilt. Even dead.

One would've hoped... But alas. You

know, I really did love Lila. But

with her... problem... and then when

Gabrielle revealed her feelings. And

Gabrielle was so... conventionally

female. And she had an accent. I was

lost from that moment on. But

Gabrielle was right. I couldn't admit

it to myself, this shallowness of

character, let alone to Lila.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Lila and Nathan eat. Lila is in her new, very feminine make-

up, wig, and dress. Her table manners are impeccable, almost

robotic. There is an awkward silence

LILA:

Are you seeing somebody else, Nathan?

I just have to know.

NATHAN:

Of course not.

LILA:

It would just be helpful to know.

NATHAN:

No.

LILA:

Because, you know, you seem so

distant. And you work late every

night. And we hardly ever have sex,

and when we do, it's... I don't know.

It feels different.

NATHAN:

I'm just preoccupied.

LILA:

Do you like my new look?

NATHAN:

Yeah. It's nice. It's really good.

LILA:

I'm trying, you know.

(starting to cry)

I'm trying to be what you want. I

want to be what you want, Nathan.

All I want is to be what you want.

NATHAN:

(embarrassed)

Shh. It's okay.

(takes her hand)

It's okay, Lila. You're what I want.

You know that. You're exactly what I

want.

LILA:

(hopefully, sniffing)

Really?

NATHAN:

Sure. Of course.

LILA:

Because I'm really trying, you know.

Rosie says maybe only another two

years of the elctrolysis.

NATHAN:

(hard to stomach)

That's great.

LILA:

I've signed up for a ballet class.

And look at my nails! A real girl!

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