Leaving Las Vegas Page #15

Without speaking she takes out a twenty, leans forward and

drops it on the front passenger seat. He drives. Looks at her

in the mirror.

CAB DRIVER:

Oh, don�t wanna talk to me,

unh? Well, don�t take it out

on me, I�m just covering my

ass. What the hell do you

expect, stuttin� around like

that... dressed like that? You

oughta be glad the creep

didn�t nail ya.

CUT TO:

131 EXT. SERA�S HOUSE - MORNING

As the cab drives off, Sera walks slowly to the door.

Her Landlord�s wife passes and takes in her face.

CUT TO:

132 INT. SERA�S SHOWER - DAY

Sera is slumped on the floor of the shower, her arms hugging

her legs, the water pounding down on her.

CUT TO:

133 INT. SERA�S HOUSE - DAY

Sera opens the door and we see the Landlord. Behind him, on

the sidewalk, we can see his wife. He is embarrassed.

ANGLE:

Sera, wearing dark glasses. She looks terrible. Her mouth is

swollen and some of the bruising around her eye is visible.

LANDLADY:

I�m sorry... but we�d like you

out by the end of the week.

CUT TO:

134 EXT. WHOLE YEAR INN - DAY

Sera gets out of a cab and goes into reception. She is

wearing huge dark glasses to hide the black eye and the

bruising.

CUT TO:

135 INT. HOTEL - DAY

The desk clerk is wearing a shirt of Ben�s that we recognize

from an earlier scene.

DESK CLERK:

I�m sorry, ma�am. He never

checked back in.

CUT TO:

136 EXT. THE STRIP - NIGHT

Sera walks alone. She�s dejected as she looks for Ben.

137 INT. CASINO - NIGHT

Sera comes to an elevator and waits. She is wearing a thin

black top without a bra. Her bruised face makes her suddenly

very conspicuous and vulnerable. A big man in a white stetson

stands next to her. He looks at her and grins. She smiles,

coldly. He takes from his pocket two black, hundred dollar

chips, places one in each hand and deliberately places each

one against her nipples. Other people see this and stop and

watch. Sera looks down at his hands and stares until the man

becomes uncomfortable.

STETSON MAN:

What�s the problem,

honey?... You on strike?

And he walks away laughing.

CUT TO:

138 EXT. 7-ELEVEN - DAY

Sera is sitting on a freshly-painted red kerb. She smokes a

cigarette and doesn�t give a damn that her short skirt is

somewhat revealing. Opposite her a bum is sleeping on the

pavement. For a moment it looks like Ben. The camera comes in

tight on to her face. She looks more lost that we�ve ever

seen her. She drinks coffee from a styrofoam cup. The sun is

bright and hot and traffic is noisy.

139 INT. DOCTOR�S OFFICE - DAY

Improvised scene. (5)

140 INT. CASINO - NIGHT

Sera comes in and the camera follows her as she makes her way

to the bar. She has covered up much of the bruising with

make-up but it is still pretty obvious. In wide shot we see

her strike up a conversation with the man next to her at the

bar.

CLOSE SHOT - THE BAR

A hand comes in to shot and grips her arm firmly. We see that

it is a casino security guard.

SERA:

Let go. What�s the problem.

SECURITY GUARD:

We don�t want you in here,

that�s the problem. Let�s go.

And he jerks her arm. People are watching now.

SERA:

Don�t worry... If you don�t

want me in here, then I don�t

want to be in here. Just let

go of my arm and I�ll walk

out of here.

SECURITY GUARD:

Yeah... we�ll both walk out

now.

He steers her firmly across the floor.

CUT TO:

141 EXT. CASINO. NIGHT

They reach the sidewalk and, without relaxing his grip, he

grabs her between the legs with his free hand and says in her

ear:

SECURITY GUARD:

Next time it won�t be so

f***ing easy.

And he pushes her towards the street and walks back into the

Casino. Sera is shocked. She looks around and the group of

people who have stopped to watch the event move away.

142 INT. SERA�S HOUSE - DAY

Sera is throwing clothes into a suitcase. The phone rings.

She thinks about it for a long time and then it stops. She

carries on packing and then the phone rings again. She pick

it up.

SERA:

Hello... hello...

(suddenly alert)

Ben? Where the f*** are you?

Give me the address.

CUT TO:

143 INT. CAB - LATE AFTERNOON

The driver is black and friendly. The radio drones quietly -

a religious program. The Rev. Ike is taking listeners� calls.

BLACK DRIVER:

What in the hell happened to

you, Miss?

SERA:

Oh... it was an argument.

BLACK DRIVER:

Leave him, Miss. Pretty girl

like You could get any man

that You wanted.

144 INT. BEN�S MOTEL ROOM - DUSK

The door opens. Ben is naked. His body looks bad. Leaving the

door open, he retreats to the bed.

145 INT. BEN�S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Sera comes in, closing the door behind her. The shades are

drawn and the room is gloomy. Ben has got back into bed. She

comes to the bed and sits.

SERA:

Ben... I�ve been looking for

You. Have You been here since

You left? It smells bad in

here. It�s so dark.

She clicks on the bedside light and is truly shocked by his

face.

BEN:

I wanted to see you...

SERA:

Oh, Ben... you look so very

sick... my love... you�re so

pale.

She goes to the bathroom and returns with a wet face-cloth.

She wipes his face.

BEN:

I wanted to see you... you�re

my angel.

He sits up painfully and finds a bottle, summoning up some

last strength to drink. His entire body shudders as he drains

the bottle. He puts it down and focuses on her for the first

time. H sees her damaged face, touches her face, looks at her

questioningly.

SERA:

Something went wrong... I�m

OK.

Ben begins to cry and that sets her off.

BEN:

I�m sorry I put us assunder.

She shakes her head, unable to speak for the moment. She gets

into bed with him, kissing his face. She caresses his whole

body, which is shaking, possessed by an uncontrollable fever.

BEN:

See how hard You make me

angel.

She excites him with her hand, kissing his face gently. When

he is about to come, she straddles him and brings him inside.

As he comes, he opens his eyes wide and looks at her.

BEN:

You know I love you... yeah?

SERA:

(she comes)

Yes.

SLOW FADE TO BLACK:

FADE IN:

Sera is sleeping. A sudden gasp wakes her. Ben is having a

spasm. Suddenly his body relaxes. He turns his head, opens

his eyes wide and looks straight at her.

BEN:

Oh... I�m so sorry...

He smiles and turns his head away. He is very still.

SERA:

Ben... Ben... Ben?

CUT TO:

146 INT. BEN�S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

In the darkened room we can just make out Sera sitting on the

bed, looking at the still form of Ben.

CUT TO:

147 EXT. STREET NEAR MOTEL - DAWN

Sera walking. A paramedic van goes past with its lights

flashing. The soundtrack is empty - silent. We slowly fade in

theme music and titles start to roll.

FADE OUT:

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