The Sessions Page #6

It was quite a lovely poem, really.

Nothing astounding...

...but it was heartfelt, and then...

Babe.

Everything's great.

I just need to get to sleep.

Okay.

Good night.

MARK:

Let me touch you with my words.

For my hands lie limp as empty gloves.

(WHISPERING INAUDIBLY)

Amanda.

(CHUCKLES)

I haven't seen you in a while.

I know.

I'm sorry.

I'm, um...

Well, I'm going to Germany...

...so I wanted to say goodbye

to you before I left.

Why are you going to Germany?

To study German.

For how long?

One or two years, maybe.

But, you know,

we should keep in touch.

Yeah, but why go to Germany?

It's the only place in the world

where humor is forbidden.

(LAUGHS)

What?

You could always make me laugh.

(SOBS)

I love you, Mark.

I really do.

Really?

"Yes, I love you, but not in that way."

"I love you, but I'm not in love with you."

Blah, blah, blah.

The same old story.

I'm sorry.

I think it's great what you're doing

with that surrogate lady.

Well, it could have been you.

(CHUCKLES)

Yeah, it could have been...

...but it wasn't.

MARK:

I had this...

...faint hope that she would show

the slightest bit of jealousy.

Shows you how naive I am.

The fact that I was no longer a virgin...

...that I was a made man, so to speak...

...it made no difference to her at all.

Want to go out sometime?

No. I don't think so.

What? Your boyfriend?

No. I'm busy. That's all.

What's wrong with this anyway?

We're having a nice time, aren't we?

It's okay.

Well, if you have stuff to do,

I can go take a walk...

...if you're busy, and come back later.

No, no. Stay.

Stay.

So come on, tell me.

What kind of therapist is she, really?

I told you the first time.

She's a sex therapist.

Today, they're working on

simultaneous orgasm.

What's that?

Boy, am I glad to see you.

Don't you say that to all the girls?

Yes, but I always mean it.

Remember about your breathing?

Concentrate on breathing out

rather than in.

CHERYL:

Mark was able to achieve an erection...

...as soon as I put my mouth on him.

He did the controlled breathing

as I suggested...

...and I was able to get on top

and guide him in quite easily.

Sh*t. Is it really in?

It's really in.

MARK:

I couldn't believe it.

I was finally there.

Too soon, I came.

But she kept holding me inside her.

Then a look of pleasure

brushed lightly over her face...

...as though an all-day itch

were finally being scratched.

(MOANS)

(GRUNTS)

She put her hands down

on the bed by my shoulders...

...and kissed my chest.

This act of affection moved me deeply.

I almost wept.

No one had ever done anything like that.

It was so unexpected.

So natural.

I love you.

I love you.

Did you come?

Yes.

CHERYL:

Mark is breathing well...

...learning to pace himself.

There is no real impediment

to a variety of sexual activities...

...given the right sort of partner.

His deeper emotional needs...

...are outside the scope

of my potential involvement.

What happens when...?

What happens when what?

When people become attached

to each other.

What people?

Just people.

What's the chemistry in it all?

When people are attracted to each other.

Are you attracted to me?

God, no.

Ha-ha-ha.

I'm just talking hypothetically.

Hypothetically...

...they write poems.

They have sex.

And what happens next?

After poetry and sex?

Nothing or everything.

The rest is by negotiation, as it were.

What do you mean?

I mean, you can leave

it at love and attraction...

...or you can make things complicated,

like most people do.

Have you?

Yes.

Then, afterwards...

...there was this...

...moment.

This glimpse of an awful sadness to come.

(SOFT MUSIC

PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS)

Can I use the phone?

Sure.

Will you call their room?

Hold on.

Thanks.

(PHONE RINGS)

What should we do next time?

Any requests?

Mark?

I'm thinking.

We have two sessions left

Is that correct?

That's right, or...

Or what?

Or we could stop now.

You mean make this the last session?

Yes.

What do you think we should do? It's not we.

It's you, Mark. It's up to you.

I want to know how you feel.

That doesn't come into it.

Yes, it does.

I don't just write poems to anyone.

Mark, what do you want me to say?

How much I was touched by that?

How special this has been for me?

That's not gonna help you.

It's gonna make it worse.

So you're saying that...

...the sixth session, that would be it?

That would be it.

If it's any consolation...

...it's also hard for me to think about it.

Then maybe we should

pull the plug now.

I think we should.

I guess you might as well save

that money. Buy yourself a futon.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Just a second.

Bye, Mark.

Bye.

(DOOR SLIDES OPEN)

VERA:
Everything all right?

He did great. See you.

Sorry. I have to run.

Okay.

You forgot this.

(GASPS)

(MOUTHS) Thank you.

(UTENSILS CLINKING)

I wanted to believe that because of Cheryl

my life had changed, but it hadn't.

I just kept thinking, "Is that it?

Is that all there is?"

I think you've done a great thing.

LADY:
So is this your first time?

It is. I'm converting.

Oh, wonderful.

Come here.

I need to look at your hands...

...your fingernails and your toenails.

So, what do you do?

I don't think you'd understand.

You can try me.

Okay.

I'm a housewife.

Why shouldn't I understand?

Maybe I was mistaken.

Turn around.

And drop your robe halfway.

I'm gonna check for any

loose hairs on your back.

That looks good.

I'll take the robe...

...and you can let your

hair down now.

I see you're very comfortable being naked.

It's never been one of my problems.

LADY:
Sometimes new brides

come with their mothers.

"Do I have to take this off?

Can I please leave this on?"

They've never been naked before.

"No, honey, it all has to come off."

And it does?

And it does.

They stand at the edge of this pool

with nothing to cling to but themselves.

Nothing to hide behind.

This is your body.

This is the body that God

crafted for you.

CHERYL:
Okay, Mark.

You can open your eyes now.

This is your body.

This is your body.

ANNOUNCER:
(OVER RADIO)

Here among the...

Oh, about 37,000 here tonight at the Stick.

Local boy makes good...

...first time back in a visiting uniform.

Runner on first with one out

to the lanky left fielder.

And the pitch.

And he struck him out!

I don't think he was expecting that.

Yeah, you can do it. Come on.

(MACHINE POWERS DOWN)

(LINE RINGING)

ANSWERING MACHINE:

The person you are calling is not in.

Please leave a message.

(MACHINE BEEPS)

Rod. I need your help.

The power's gone out...

...including the pump on the iron lung.

I'd say I got about three hours

before I start to turn blue.

I hope you get this in time.

It's Mark. I'll try 911.

Ohh!

Sh*t.

So this is how it ends.

DOCTOR:

Mark.

Can you open your eyes for me, Mark?

Can you hear me?

Mark?

Come on, Mark.

SUSAN:

They'll be letting you go today.

Whoever looks after you

will leave the portable respirator...

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