Julieta Page #2

JULIETA:

Yes… I don’t know how she manages!

Do you have children?

BEATRIZ:

No… I’m not even married.

The woman in the group who is watching this meeting

with annoyance is showing signs of unease. Beatriz can

feel her eyes boring into her shoulders. The woman is

dressed with elegant, masculine sobriety, slim as an

ex-model who still maintains her aura.

Although Julieta and Beatriz are happy to see each

other, the conversation is a bit tense. Julieta is

forcing her to linger and Bea is showing signs of

impatience. Also, the masculine woman doesn’t take her

eyes off her.

BEATRIZ:

It’s such a pity… I’m in a

terrible hurry. (Sincere) You

don’t know how delighted I am to

see you looking so well!

The way in which she says this suggests that at some

point in their lives she had seen her looking very

unwell.

JULIETA:

Where are you living?

BEATRIZ:

In New York and Milan. I’m

accessories editor for Vogue. I

travel a lot. I went to Lake Como

for a photo shoot. Well…

Julieta tries to hold her back a little longer.

JULIETA:

That’s wonderful! Listen, say

hello to your mother…

BEATRIZ:

Mom died three years ago. My

brother lives here. We’re meeting

him and my nieces in a restaurant,

but we’re running late.

Julieta looks anxiously at the woman in the group who

is watching them in annoyance.

JULIETA:

I’m sorry… (Forced, but she wants

to know) What else did Ant.a tell

you?

BEATRIZ:

Not much. I asked about you and

she told me you were still living

in Madrid. And look, what a

coincidence!

JULIETA:

Yes, I’m still here. And I’ll be

staying here. And… Did she look

well?

BEATRIZ:

Yes… and she wasn’t even wearing

make-up. She’s very thin, but

pretty.

She gives her a kiss, obviously ending the

conversation. In a serious, sincere tone:

BEATRIZ:

I’m really happy to see you

looking so well, Julieta. Bye.

Beatriz runs off after the kiss and joins the group

waiting for her, while Julieta watches hungrily.

4. MADRID. A STREET JUNCTION IN THE CENTER. EXT. DAY.

CONT.

2016. SPRING.

Julieta remains motionless on the sidewalk. She watches

helplessly as Beatriz disappears round the next corner

with her group of friends. She would swear that the

woman dressed with masculine elegance is asking her,

intrigued, who she was. Beatriz explains to her. Juliet

can’t hear them.

5. MADRID. HOUSE 2. SITTING ROOM. INT. NIGHT.

2016. SPRING.

Julieta comes into her apartment with the plastic bags

containing her last purchases. Her face is no longer

that of the happy, tranquil woman in the first

sequences with Lorenzo. Now her expression is somber

and agitated. In her mind she hears time and again the

conversation with Beatriz in the street, like a

ritornello. She can’t get it out of her head.

She leaves the bags on the writing desk, picks up the

wastepaper basket and puts it on the desk. Julieta

rummages around in it, under the gaze of Lucian Freud

from one of the posters. In the silence of the night

and with the light from the lamp, Freud’s portrait

takes on an inquisitive presence. Julieta finally finds

the Christmas card-sized blue envelope that she threw

out in the morning. Her cell phone rings. It’s Lorenzo.

She doesn’t answer it. It rings again, she still

doesn’t answer it. Julieta can’t stop looking at the

blue envelope while her breathing grows more agitated.

6. MADRID. JULIETA’S HOUSE 2. INT. THE NEXT MORNING.

2016. SPRING.

Julieta puts some water in a saucepan to boil, to make

tea. Everything is tidy. She is wearing sports clothes

suitable for house wear.

Silence.

The entry phone rings. It’s Lorenzo. Julieta presses

the button to let him in.

Lorenzo raps on the door. Julieta opens the apartment

door, more rigid than usual and looking as if she’s had

a bad night. Lorenzo comes into the hall. From the

outset he notices that something is amiss. He just has

to look at Julieta. They greet each other with a

routine kiss on the mouth.

LORENZO:

Are you all right?

As an answer…

JULIETA:

I’m boiling some water…

She goes off to the kitchen, followed by Lorenzo.

LORENZO:

I called you last night and you

didn’t answer.

JULIETA:

I needed to be alone.

Lorenzo looks around as far as he can see. Everything

is tidy, there is no sign of suitcases or cardboard

boxes.

LORENZO:

What about the cases… and the

boxes? Don’t tell me you still

haven’t finished.

JULIETA:

I’ve unpacked everything. I’m

staying in Madrid, Lorenzo.

LORENZO:

Are you joking?

Lorenzo knows that she isn’t, he looks at her

questioningly. Julieta is concentrating on making the

tea.

LORENZO:

But that’s ridiculous!

Julieta looks at him in silence. It isn’t ridiculous.

JULIETA:

I won’t be able to go with you.

LORENZO:

(Alarmed) But what’s happened?

She fills her cup with hot water, the teabag is in

there. She sweetens it with agave syrup.

JULIETA:

I know you don’t deserve this, but

I beg you not to ask me any

questions. I’m not going with you

to Portugal. I’m staying in

Madrid.

Silence, broken by Lorenzo.

LORENZO:

And you’re not going to give me

any explanation?!

Silence. Julieta takes a deep breath.

LORENZO:

What’s going on, Julieta?

JULIETA:

I’ve given it a lot of thought

and…

LORENZO:

(Interrupting her) Don’t tell me

you hadn’t thought about it until

now! We’ve been planning this for

almost a year!

Julieta looks at him, mortified.

LORENZO:

Just yesterday you said “I’d like

not to come back to Madrid if I

can help it”! What’s happened so

suddenly?

Julieta is still struggling with herself. But it’s

obvious she has taken an irrevocable decision.

JULIETA:

(Weak and decisive) Don’t insist,

please.

He glares at her. Lorenzo’s mouth has gone dry, his

palate is sticky.

LORENZO:

Can I have a glass of water?

Julieta takes a bottle from the refrigerator and pours

him a glass of water in silence. Lorenzo drinks from

the glass, thinking about what to say to her.

LORENZO:

I don’t recognize you, Julieta.

You’re behaving like a lunatic…

JULIETA:

I know.

LORENZO:

(Powerless) I can’t believe we’re

talking about this!

JULIETA:

Last night I realized that I was

fooling myself, that I don’t want

to leave Madrid, and… that I

prefer to be alone. I’m sorry.

Lorenzo glares at her again, he knows that he won’t get

another word out of her.

LORENZO:

I always knew there was something

important in your life that you’ve

never shared with me. You never

wanted to talk about it and I’ve

always respected that.

JULIETA:

(After a brief pause) I’d like you

to keep respecting it.

Lorenzo looks at her, astonished and humiliated. After

looking at her for a moment he turns to the door and

leaves.

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