CAROL AND PATRICK'S APARTMENT - EARLY EVENING
There are two chairs, a couch with some cheap cushions. Everything looks as though it was bought from St Vinnie's or Lifeline. CAROL has the air of someone desperately trying to get through life in one piece. She is dressed in a simple cotton dress and flat scuffs. She is nervously putting some finishing touches to the place, trying to make it look as good as it can. She seems anxious and yet there's a sense of anticipation too. She notices a speck of dirt and races over to wipe it with the rag and can of "no frills" cleaner. Spray ... wipe. Not quite right. Spray ... wipe again. Now she's satisfied. The old table is set simply for two, with knives and forks, cheap glasses, a bottle of mineral water and some cheap flowers in a vase. She looks around, checks her watch and looks at the door. Nothing. The timer on the stove sounds that dinner is ready. She goes to the oven and takes out two hot dinners on plates. After checking them she covers them carefully with aluminium foil to keep them hot and puts them at the back of the stove. CAROL sits on the couch and takes the opportunity to relax as much as she can. She sinks back onto a cushion and closes her eyes. She seems to be silently praying. She hears someone approaching. PATRICK: (O/S) Carol! She leaps up off the couch, heart pounding. She wipes her sweaty hands and straightens her dress. Too late she notices the cushion has fallen a bit. She starts to head for it ... she hears the door opening - she realises there isn't time to fix the pillow and heads for the door. PATRICK stands in the doorway. He's wearing a coat and carrying a small satchel over his shoulder. CAROL: Welcome home, darling. PATRICK is a man struggling with both the outside world and his inner self. CAROL gives him a hug, which he returns enthusiastically. PATRICK: I missed you, babe. CAROL: I'll hang up your coat. SHE goes to break the embrace to take the coat. PATRICK doesn't let her go, keeping the embrace so she's unable to move. PATRICK: (firmly) I said ... I missed you, babe. There's an almost imperceptible moment of fear in her body language, but she pretends it didn't happen. CAROL: I missed you too. She kisses him passionately. CAROL: I really missed you. PATRICK: That's more like it. You look nice. CAROL: Thanks. This is the dress we bought at the markets. PATRICK: Yeah. I like this dress. CAROL: That's why I put it on. They kiss passionately again. CAROL: Now, let me take your coat. PATRICK: I can do it. You just relax. He takes off his coat and hits her ever so lightly on the backside as he goes to hang it up. She smiles at him. As he turns his back she once again starts to make her way to the cushion to fix it up. But he turns back too soon so she moves towards him and embraces him to cover. PATRICK: So what has my adoring wife been up to while I've been ... "away". CAROL: (quickly) Nothing much. Waiting for you to come home, mainly. PATRICK: Well, I'm home now ... They kiss again. PATRICK: But surely you went out? CAROL: Not really 'out'. I stayed with mum and dad for a few days ... oh mum bought us some - She stops herself. There's a tense look between them. PATRICK: Some what? CAROL: Doesn't matter ... I'll show you later. PATRICK: Why don't you show me now. What did your mother buy us, Carol? CAROL: Just some towels and stuff. PATRICK: Let me guess - some nice new plates. Right? CAROL: Just cheap ones. She was just trying to help, darling. PATRICK again controls his instincts. PATRICK: That was nice of her. CAROL: Why don't you sit down on the couch and I'll rub your shoulders. You must be exhausted. Then we can have dinner. PATRICK notices the pillow is askew where CAROL had been resting. She notices that he notices. He gives her a silent, menacing look. CAROL: Sorry. I'll fix it. As she walks past him to the couch he moves his body in a threatening way - more out of habit than intention. She flinches for a second. He tries to soften his body language. She stares straight ahead. He smiles at her. PATRICK: Don't worry about it. END OF FIRST PAGE |