What Lies Beneath Page #19

TEMPLETON:

Must've been some paper. Your father

would be very proud.

This seems to strike a nerve.

NORMAN:

Uh-huh.

Claire notices this and squeezes his hand. Templeton leads

Norman into a large living room which is filled with

colleagues. Several of them turn and begin clapping. Others

follow suit.

EXT. PATIO - NIGHT

Claire stands at a small bar.

CLAIRE:

(to bartender)

White wine please.

She scans the party and spots the Feurs deep in some intimate

conversation with each other. She's speaking about something

astonishing. He's rapt. Claire locates Norman in a corner

listening as some AGED ALUMNUS holds forth. He sees her and

mouths, "I'm sorry." He points to his watch and flashes five

fingers. She smiles and nods.

VOICE (O.S.)

Guess I'm not much of a medium.

She turns to see Jody.

CLAIRE:

Jody...

They hug.

JODY:

Are you okay?

CLAIRE:

I think so

JODY:

I'm sorry for leaving, but I mean,

Jesus, Claire...

CLAIRE:

It's alright.

JODY:

I mess around with this stuff, but I

never thought anything would happen.

Claire looks uncomfortable.

JODY:

Does Norman know?

CLAIRE:

Jody, she's alive.

JODY:

What?

CLAIRE:

Mrs. Feur. She's alive. I met her.

She's really sweet.

JODY:

Then what was it?

CLAIRE:

Nothing. It wasn't anything. I've

been on edge lately. Maybe since the

accident. And I'd prefer, I really

would, to just --

JODY:

Something was there. You saw it.

CLAIRE:

Did I?

JODY:

Yes. Now I talked to Sela and there's

a guy, this Pakistani guy down in

Hartford...

CLAIRE:

Hartford?

JODY:

And he's the real thing. Specializes

in cases like this, like yours.

CLAIRE:

No. Jody, listen to me. You have to

listen to me. This is not something

that I can do right now. Whatever it

was, it's gone. I need it to be gone

now.

JODY:

But Claire --

CLAIRE:

Please.

Jody recognizes her fragility.

JODY:

Okay. Okay.

CLAIRE:

I've got to find a bathroom. I'll

call you.

Jody nods as Claire walks off.

INT. POWDER ROOM - NIGHT

Claire stands in the spacious powder room, checking her makeup

in the mirror. Mrs. Templeton enters from the bathroom.

MRS. TEMPLETON

How're you holding up?

CLAIRE:

Just fine. It's a lovely party.

The two women fix their makeup side-by-side in the mirror.

MRS. TEMPLETON

Norman was telling me the dream house

is finally finished.

CLAIRE:

(nodding)

Almost.

MRS. TEMPLETON

Wonderful. It's good to see you two

doing so well.

Claire looks confused.

CLAIRE:

I'm sorry?

MRS. TEMPLETON

I know how hard it can be sometimes.

Claire turns to her.

CLAIRE:

Uh-huh. What can be?

MRS. TEMPLETON

Well, I don't think I've seen you

since the reception at Dean Ackerman's

last year.

Claire's still in the dark.

MRS. TEMPLETON

For the Dupont Chair.

(off Claire's look)

I swear. I'm becoming the nosy old

lady I used to run from at Amherst.

CLAIRE:

No. I'm just not sure what you mean.

MRS. TEMPLETON

There was just... some tension. You

were upset. I remember being

concerned.

CLAIRE:

At the party.

MRS. TEMPLETON

Toward the end. You remember?

CLAIRE:

(recovering)

Ohhh yes. No, no. Just a little, you

know... We're fine.

MRS. TEMPLETON

Well, I'm glad. Pardon my

intrusiveness, but we do have to

stick together you know.

CLAIRE:

Who's that?

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