What Lies Beneath Page #17

There's an awkward pause.

CLAIRE:

Would you like some iced tea?

MRS. FEUR

Very much.

Claire leads her toward the house.

EXT. PORCH - DAY

Claire pours Mrs. Feur a glass of iced tea from a pitcher.

She's small and delicate looking with big, watery eyes.

MRS. FEUR

Your house is so beautiful.

CLAIRE:

Thank you.

MRS. FEUR

And these roses. They're much prettier

up close.

She regards Mrs. Feur for a moment. She seems skittish and

shy.

CLAIRE:

I... there's something I have to ask

you.

Mrs. Feur waits.

CLAIRE:

That day... at the fence. You seemed

terrified. I don't think I was

imagining that.

There's a pause. Mrs. Feur looks down into her lap.

MRS. FEUR

No.

CLAIRE:

Of what? What were you so afraid of?

MRS. FEUR

You're going to think I'm crazy or

something.

A tiny smile.

CLAIRE:

Not this week.

She looks away for a moment, then looks back at Claire.

MRS. FEUR

Love.

CLAIRE:

What?

MRS. FEUR

Have you ever felt so completely

consumed by a feeling for someone

that you couldn't breathe? That the

time together is so passionate and

consuming that you felt physical

pain when they would leave?

CLAIRE:

Um... sure.

MRS. FEUR

I couldn't catch my breath. That's

not a metaphor, that's... And I

panicked. I never dreamed anyone

would hear me back there...

(beat)

I tried to leave him. Went to my

mother's in Boston. He brought my

things up and pleaded with me to

come home.

Claire is mesmerized.

MRS. FEUR

You must think I'm pathetic.

CLAIRE:

No. No, I don't.

MRS. FEUR

I'm sorry that I frightened you like

that. But I was so touched by your

concern. I've been lonely here.

(beat)

Perhaps we could be friends.

Claire stares at this strange, passionate woman.

CLAIRE:

I would like that.

Mrs. Feur smiles at her.

INT. VOLVO - NIGHT

Claire pulls up in front of a large NEW YORK HOTEL.

NORMAN:

(on a cell phone)

...I'm pulling up, Yuri. I'll see

you for dinner.

(to Claire)

Sure you won't stay?

CLAIRE:

No, it's fine. I'm fine.

NORMAN:

(tempting her)

Really big bed.

She smiles and shakes her head. Norman kisses her goodbye,

then grabs his bag from the backseat.

NORMAN:

Do I have everything?

CLAIRE:

Yep.

NORMAN:

Call ya later.

He starts to walk into the hotel.

CLAIRE (O.S.)

And you glad you married me?

He turns. She's standing next to the car.

NORMAN:

What?

CLAIRE:

Are you glad? I'm glad.

Norman walks over to her and cradles her chin with his hand.

NORMAN:

(softly)

You know I am.

CLAIRE:

Good.

(She gazes at him,

then softly)

You sat in front... I saw you there...

Norman takes his cue.

NORMAN:

You were lost in the music... eyes

closed... your chest heaving...

CLAIRE:

I felt you... looking through me...

NORMAN:

We walked all night...

CLAIRE:

You told me that I was...

He gently cups her chin in his hand.

NORMAN:

(overlapping)

...that you were everything I'd ever

dreamed of.

She smiles, kisses him warmly, then gets in the car.

EXT. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - NIGHT

Claire stands outside Caitlin's Columbia dorm, watching young

lives in motion.

INT. DORM HALLWAY - NIGHT

Claire walks past a number of doors. Music booms out of one,

shards of a conversation out of another. Finally, she arrives

at a door that says "Fur is murder." She smiles to herself

and knocks. There's no answer.

DIFFERENT VOICE (O.S.)

She's out.

Claire turns to find an attractive YOUNG MAN standing at her

elbow.

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