EXT. CITY STREET – MID-DAY
GWEN-1
walks through the drizzle. She wears a
knee-length, black, wool coat, black tights, chunky black shoes, and a black,
winter beanie. She is twenty-something
and fairly pretty, in a non-descript way.
She kicks through puddles. Cars
pass her by.
She
arrives.
INT. THRIFTSTORE (DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH) – MID-DAY
Gwen-1
unlocks the door, enters, and sets off the bell over the door. The store is full of old clothes on
color-coded racks. Mannequins sport
fashions from seasons gone by, and the dingy, rainy light coming in through the
front windows sets off the store’s own gloom.
She
takes off her hat, puts it in the pocket of her coat, takes off her coat and
hangs it up. Under her coat, she is
wearing a loose black sweater and a black, pleated skirt. Her appearance is very neat, if drab. She walks behind the counter.
She
goes below the counter and comes up with a cash drawer. She opens the cash
register, puts the drawer in it, and begins counting the money.
The
bell above the door rings, and an old woman enters, wearing clothing that has
seen, if not better, then younger days.
Everything she is wearing is about twenty years out of date.
WORK-GWEN
Hi
Mrs. Markland. How are you doing today? Can I help you find anything?
Work-Gwen
is of a non-determinate age. Her eyes
are open wide, and she has a cheerful, but fake, smile on her face.
MRS.
MARKLAND
No,
sweetie. I’m just looking around. Have you put out the new merchandise yet?
WORK-GWEN
You’ve
hardly given me the chance! First one in
the door, as usual.
Work-Gwen
begins making tags. She writes the
prices on small stickers for the clothes.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Well,
you know I like to get here before everything is picked over. Do you think I could take a look in
back? See what treasures you’ve got
hiding back there?
Mrs. Markland fingers the material of the clothes
on one of the mannequins. She moves onto
one of the racks, and rifles through the garments.
WORK-GWEN
I’m
going to tell you the same thing I tell you every week, Mrs. Markland.
I can’t let you in the back room.
You’ll just have to wait for me to bring them out like everyone else.
MRS.
MARKLAND
When
do you think you’ll be doing that?
Work-Gwen
walks out from behind the counter.
WORK-GWEN
Right
now. I’ll be back in a minute. I’m just going to grab the new arrivals. You can look through them while I tag them.
Work-Gwen
exits. Mrs. Markland is still rifling through the
clothes. She occasionally holds things
up to herself. She cranes her neck,
looks back to see if Work-Gwen is coming back, then shoves a fairly nice blouse
in her purse. She goes back to browsing.
Work-Gwen
comes back up with an arm-load of clothes.
She dumps them on the counter, and sorts through them. She tags them.
Mrs. Markland comes over in a vulture-like
fashion. She pulls a skirt out of the
pile and holds it up to herself.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Oh,
this is nice. How much are you asking
for it?
Work-Gwen
takes the skirt and looks at it. She pulls
at the seams and studies it for stains.
WORK-GWEN
Well,
the seams are strong, and there’s not any staining. I guess five dollars.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Oh,
that’s way too much. And, look. The hem’s falling.
WORK-GWEN
Yes,
but this is vintage.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Oh,
it is not.
WORK-GWEN
Sure
it is.
MRS.
MARKLAND
I
can’t go above two for this.
WORK-GWEN
Give
me two-fifty and we’ll call it highway robbery.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Done. Thanks, Gwenny.
WORK-GWEN
No
problem. Anything else I can help you
find?
MRS.
MARKLAND
No
thanks. I think I’m done today.
Work-Gwen
folds the skirt up and puts it in a small, brown, paper bag. Work-Gwen hands the bag to Mrs. Markland.
Mrs. Markland starts to leave.
WORK-GWEN
Have
a great day.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Oh,
I plan on it. Don’t work too hard.
WORK-GWEN
I
never do.
Mrs. Markland exits. The bell rings after her.
Gwen-1
finishes tagging the clothes and puts them on racks.
INT. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH - AFTERNOON
Gwen-1
sits bored on a stool behind the counter. She reads a magazine.
The
bell above the door rings. TIM walks
in. He’s wearing a wheat-colored sweater
and baggy jeans. He looks very laid back
in a Birkenstock sort of way. His hair
is green, but he isn’t sporting clothing that would normally go with garishly
colored follicles.
Work-Gwen
watches him approach.
WORK-GWEN
How
can I help you, today?
TIM
Um-do you have any old band t-shirts?
Tim scratches his head and looks around.
WORK-GWEN
Possibly. You can check the rack of t-shirts against
the left wall in the back.
Work-Gwen
points.
TIM
Thanks.
Tim
walks to the back.
Gwen-1
watches him look through the t-shirts. Gwen-1’s
back is to the door. She leans against
the counter. The bell above the door
rings, startling her. Gwen-1 jumps and
turns around to see the new customer.
JOHN
enters. He is fairly tall and slightly
out of shape, in a way that indicates he used to take very good care of his
body-like a retired football player. He
is nearing thirty.
Tiny-Gwen’s
eyes are huge. She is about twelve and
she immediately stands up straight and puts the magazine under the counter when
she sees that John is there.
John
struts to the counter proprietarily. He
reaches it and leans toward TINY-GWEN.
He runs his fingers through her hair in a manner more appropriate for a
dog than a girl. Tiny-Gwen leans into
his touch, slightly.
JOHN
Hey,
I need some cash. Do you have any on
you?
Tiny-Gwen
walks out from behind the counter to where her coat is hanging up. She rummages through the pockets.
TINY-GWEN
What
are you doing on this side of town?
JOHN
Going
to the record store down the street to get a CD.
TINY-GWEN
They
take debit.
Tiny-Gwen
finds some money and hands it over. John
pockets it.
JOHN
Yeah,
I know. When are you going to be home?
TINY-GWEN
I
get out at six. I should be home at
six-twenty at the latest.
Tiny-Gwen
pulls at the hem of her sweater.
JOHN
All
right. I want steak for dinner. And don’t put garlic on it like you did last
time. I could barely eat it.
TINY-GWEN
OK. What do you want with it?
JOHN
I
don’t know. Baked potato and green
beans, I guess.
TINY-GWEN
We
don’t have any green beans. I’ll have to
stop at the store on the way home. Is
that ok?
JOHN
Yeah. Don’t buy anything else. We can’t afford it. And stop fidgeting.
Tiny-Gwen
straightens up.
John
kisses her quickly on the cheek.
JOHN
Bye.
TINY-GWEN
Bye.
Gwen-1
walks back behind the counter, and sits back down on the stool. She is slumped down and staring off into
space, despondant.
Tim
appears in front of her.
TIM
Sorry
to bother you, but there’s no sticker on this shirt. How much is it?
Tim
holds a slightly faded, black t-shirt out to her.
Work-Gwen
looks at it. She tests the seams and
looks at the printing on the front, which is slightly cracked.
WORK-GWEN
I’ll
take three-fifty for it.
TIM
This
is an original tour shirt. It’s still in
pretty good condition. Are you sure?
WORK-GWEN
That’s
the price I quoted. I can’t go back on
it now. I guess today’s your lucky
day. Sometimes you find treasure here
for cheap.
Tim
hands over the money.
TIM
I
could expound on that, but I won’t.
WORK-GWEN
What?
TIM
My
name’s Tim.
Work-Gwen
gives him change.
Tim
grabs her hand and shakes it.
Work-Gwen
smiles and pulls her hand back. She puts
the shirt in a bag.
WORK-GWEN
Okay.
TIM
Can
I take you out for coffee?
GWEN-1
Oh,
I… I have a boyfriend.
TIM
Yeah,
I saw that. What if I told you that I
didn’t care?
GWEN-1
Please,
don’t.
Gwen-1
hands over the bag. She smiles at him,
weakly.
GWEN-1
Thank
you for shopping at Diamond in the Rough.
Please come again.
Tim
sighs and leaves.
INT. STUDIO APARTMENT – KITCHEN – EVENING
Gwen-1
rushes around, checks in the oven and pan, and sets the table. The kitchen is dimly lit and somewhat shabby,
with appliances that are about 20 years old, but immaculately clean.
John
walks in and slams the door. He sits
down at the kitchen table.
Tiny-Gwen
gets him a glass of milk out of the refrigerator.
TINY-GWEN
How was your day, sweetie?
JOHN
They were sold out of the CD I wanted to buy.
TINY-GWEN
That’s too bad. Did you
get something else instead?
JOHN
I went out to eat, instead.
TINY-GWEN
Are you still hungry?
JOHN
No. Stick it in the
fridge.
Tiny-Gwen
begins putting things away.
TINY-GWEN
If
you don’t mind, Tina wants me to go out tonight.
JOHN
What
are you going to be doing?
TINY-GWEN
Probably
just drinking coffee.
JOHN
We
have a coffee pot. Why can’t you just do
that here?
TINY-GWEN
Please?
JOHN
Yeah,
fine. Whatever. Do what you want.
TINY-GWEN
I
won’t be gone long.
JOHN
Whatever. It’s fine.
I don’t care.
TINY-GWEN
Please
don’t be like this.
JOHN
I’m
not being any way. I’m going out. I’ll be back later. Will you be here when I get home?
TINY-GWEN
Yes.
JOHN
Good.
John
leaves.
Gwen-1
continues to put away the food and dishes.
INT. CAR – NIGHT
TINA
and Gwen-1 sit in the car in silence.
Tina
is about the same age as Gwen-1. She has
black hair and is dressed all in black, but in a more aggressive manner than
Gwen-1. Tina is wearing vinyl pants and
a long, black t-shirt that’s been slashed and safety-pinned back together (or
something similar).
Tina
drives with loud, industrial music playing in the background. Rain streams down the windows and the wipers quickly
swish across the windshield. Tina turns
the music down and turns toward Gwen-1 quickly, before turning back to the
road.
TINA
So, was he cute?
GWEN-1
It doesn’t matter if he was cute. I’m taken.
TINA
Let’s theoretically theorize that you’re not taken. In theory.
So, he was cute?
GWEN-1
He was definitely…
Acceptable.
TINA
So, cute guy with green hair trying to make sure he didn’t give
you the sour end of a deal on a shirt he bought, asked you out for coffee. And you said no so you could go home to your
brain-dead boyfriend and cook him a dinner that he didn’t even eat.
GWEN-1
He’s not brain-dead.
TINA
Yeah, well, he’s not exactly running on a full tank. Didn’t you tell me that he seriously believes
that everyone around him tells him that he’s an idiot under their breath.
GWEN-1
He just has some problems.
TINA
Yeah. Like
schizophrenia. You know what? Maybe he’s not schizophrenic. Maybe everyone does say it under their breath
to him because it’s immediately evident to people that he’s stupid.
GWEN-1
He’s not that bad. At
least he doesn’t beat me.
TINA
Fine. How late are you
allowed to stay out?
GWEN-1
He didn’t give me a curfew.
Just get me home at a reasonable hour.
TINA
Gwen, I’m really worried about you. I mean, not just you, but us. Ever since we were kids, it’s been you and me;
Tina and Gwen. Since you moved in with
John, I’ve been seeing you less and less.
I don’t like him, but if he’s making you happy,
GWEN-1
He is.
TINA
If you’re so happy, then why haven’t I seen you smile in three months.
GWEN-1
That’s an exaggeration.
TINA
Not much of one.
Tina
sighs and sneaks a glance away from the road at Gwen-1.
TINA
You know, I was so thankful for John when he showed up, because
he got you out of that abusive relationship you were in, but now I’m beginning
to think he’s just another asshole.
GWEN-1
Don’t start. He doesn’t
ever hurt me. We just have normal
relationship-y type problems.
GWEN-1
If we can not talk about this tonight, then I promise I’ll be
the perfect, smiling blossom you know I can be.
TINA
I guess that will have to do.
So, anyway, more about that guy.
Did he have big hands? Did you
notice his feet?
Both
Tina and Gwen-1 laugh and the music is loud while they talk animatedly (though
silently).
They
pull in front of a donut shop and get out of the car.
Gwen-1
is once again wearing her knee-length coat, but it isn’t buttoned and
underneath, she’s wearing a fitted, silky button-up blouse and a short, pleated,
black skirt. Tina and Gwen-1 are still
laughing as they walk inside.
INT. DONUTSHOP – NIGHT
PUBLIC-GWEN
walks up to the counter. Public-Gwen’s
shirt is unbuttoned fairly low and the bottom is unbuttoned high, past her
navel. She is pretty, in a very vibrant
way, and has a very polished appearance.
She has an extra sway in her walk.
Everything about her screams look-at-me.
She rests her elbows on the top, waiting.
The room, brightly lit, is packed with
young adults. The non-smoking half is
nearly empty, while the smoking section is full. A curling cloud of smoke hangs
near the ceiling like an overcast sky.
Strains of a guitar playing are faint in the background.
SUSAN,
the counter-person, comes out from the kitchen.
SUSAN
Gwen! It’s been forever
since you’ve been here, you look great.
Public-Gwen
leans over the counter and hugs Susan.
PUBLIC-GWEN
I
know! I so need to get out more.
TINA
Two
coffees, please.
Public-Gwen
reaches into her pocket for money, but Tina stops her.
TINA
I’ve
got it.
PUBLIC-GWEN
Are
you sure?
TINA
Yeah. It’s not like I’m buying you a car or
something.
Public-Gwen
and Tina retrieve their coffees and walk over to a large table in the corner
where several other people are already sitting.
The two of them sit and prepare their coffee, both taking their coffee
the same way, their movements matching nearly perfectly.
A
guy in punk paraphernalia comes over and hugs Public-Gwen from behind.
PUBLIC-GWEN
Ow! Moody, your spikes.
MOODY
Serves
you right for abandoning us.
Moody
lets go, and drapes himself over a seat next to Public-Gwen.
MOODY
So,
what have you been up to for the past three
months?
Public-Gwen
takes a sip of coffee and puts more sugar in it.
PUBLIC-GWEN
Oh,
you know. This and that. Moved in with my boyfriend. Working at the Diamond in the Rough. That stuff.
MOODY
So,
work and home. That has got to be the
most boring life in the world. Obviously
you need to come hang out with me more.
I’ll fill your life up, baby.
PUBLIC-GWEN
You’d
have trouble filling a thimble up.
MOODY
You
can’t handle what I’ve got to give.
PUBLIC-GWEN
You
mean I couldn’t handle the boredom.
MOODY
You
won’t be screaming boredom when I’m done with you.
A
hand lands on Public-Gwen’s shoulder.
She looks up into John’s face.
TINY-GWEN
Hi,
sweetie.
JOHN
Hi.
Moody
stands up and holds out his hand to shake with John. John ignores it and sits down in Moody’s
vacated seat. Moody gives John a look.
MOODY
I’ll
see you later, Gwen. I’ve got to go back
to my table. I just wanted to say hi.
Moody
walks away and John glares at his back.
TINY-GWEN
What
are you doing here?
JOHN
I
thought you were going to be there when I got home.
TINY-GWEN
We
only just got here.
TINA
Lay
off, John. I haven’t seen Gwen in about
forever. Let us enjoy one night out, at
least.
Tina
smiles coldly at John, places her fingers on his wrist in a manner that is
gentle, yet intimidating, and says nothing.
John
looks down at his wrists and jerks his hand away. He pointedly turns his back to Tina and
continues talking to Gwen, as if Tina hadn’t said anything.
Conversation
in the shop lowers considerably, and nearby faces turn toward them.
JOHN
I
got bored. Going to a bar when you don’t
drink isn’t much fun. I came home early
expecting to see you.
TINY-GWEN
I’m
sorry. I’ll go back now.
JOHN
No.
It’s fine. Enjoy being out with your friends. I’ll be waiting for you when you get
home. We can talk then.
TINY-GWEN
No. I’ll go with you.
Tina
looks annoyed and sighs.
TINA
Gwen,
can I talk to you a minute?
Tiny-Gwen
looks at John and uneasily stands up.
Tina
stands up, grabs Gwen’s arm, and leads her to the nearly empty non-smoking
section. Tina leans in conspiratorially.
TINA
What
the hell is this? What kind of head
games is he pulling with you? If he
wants to be a spoiled brat, that’s fine, but you shouldn’t give into his petty,
little tantrums.
Gwen-1
looks at her feet, then meets Tina’s eyes.
GWEN-1
It’s
just better this way. I don’t want to
cause any trouble.
TINA
Do
you even see yourself? As soon as he
walked in the door, you became a completely different person. And, frankly Gwen, that person didn’t seem
very happy to see the love of her life.
GWEN-1
It’s
fine. He’s not always like that. He’s just had a rough week, what with looking
for a job and all.
TINA
Whatever. I’m going to make a suggestion, and I want
you to hear me out and actually consider it.
Leave him. Come home with me
tonight and never look back.
Gwen-1
shakes her head and looks at her feet again, holding herself in her own arms.
GWEN-1
He
loves me, and… I love him.
John
appears behind Gwen-1. He puts his arm
around her shoulder.
JOHN
I’m
glad to hear that. You ready to go?
TINY-GWEN
Yeah,
let me just grab my bag.
Tiny-Gwen
hugs Tina fiercely, and whispers in her ear.
TINY-GWEN
Thank
you so much for caring, but I’ll be fine.
I promise. Things will smooth
out. This is where I want to be.
TINA
You
ever need a hiding spot, you find me, ok?
TINY-GWEN
It’s
not like that.
John grabs Tiny-Gwen by the wrist,
pulling her from Tina. He leads her to
the table, picks up her bag and coat, and pulls her outside. Everyone watches.
EXT. PARKING LOT – NIGHT
As
soon as they are outside, he allows her to put on her coat, but remains
silent. They get into his car and he
starts it up, immediately squealing out of the parking lot.
INT. JOHN’S CAR – NIGHT
John
is driving, his jaw is clenched and his movements are all stiff and angry.
Tiny-Gwen
is sitting in the passenger seat, staring out the window. Her hands are folded in her lap, and she’s
pulling at the hem of her coat, fidgeting.
JOHN
Tina
doesn’t seem to like me much. Makes me
wonder what you’ve been telling her about me.
TINY-GWEN
I
haven’t told her anything bad about you.
Ever. She likes you just fine.
JOHN
Then
why was she trying to get you to leave me?
TINY-GWEN
She
doesn’t want me to leave you.
JOHN
Don’t
fucking lie to me.
TINY-GWEN
She’s
just worried about me because I’ve been so stressed out because of work and
stuff. I explained it wasn’t you at all.
JOHN
What’s
going on at work?
TINY-GWEN
Nothing,
really.
JOHN
Then
why are you stressed about it?
TINY-GWEN
They’ve
just been giving me more responsibility.
I’m opening and closing now.
JOHN
Did
they give you a raise?
TINY-GWEN
No,
but if I can prove that I can handle the responsibility, then I might get a
promotion.
JOHN
If
you’re doing more work, you should be getting more money. It’s not like we couldn’t use it.
TINY-GWEN
I
know. Did you go looking for a job
today? Coming up with rent is going to
be hard on me this month.
John
doesn’t say anything for a few moments, and continues staring at the road.
JOHN
If
I knew you were going to nag me, I wouldn’t have come to get you. You know, I thought we could have a decent
evening together, but I guess that’s not possible.
John
pulls into a gas station and begins turning around.
TINY-GWEN
What
are you doing?
JOHN
Taking
you back to your friends. I don’t want
you with me, right now.
TINY-GWEN
Please
don’t do this.
JOHN
I’m
just doing what you want. I’m taking you
back to your friends. I bet you don’t
nag them.
TINY-GWEN
No. Please, John.
I’d rather be with you. Really.
JOHN
I
don’t want you near me.
John
leans past her and opens her door.
JOHN
In
fact, get out now.
He
shoves Tiny-Gwen out of the car, and she lands on her butt on the ground. Tiny-Gwen is openly crying.
TINY-GWEN
Please
don’t leave me here.
Tiny-Gwen stands up and tries to get
back into the car. John SLAMS the door
shut, almost getting her hand with it.
Tiny-Gwen JUMPS BACK, and John spins out of the lot.
EXT. GAS STATION PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Tiny-Gwen
is crying and wipes dirt and gravel off of the back of her coat. She looks around, spots a payphone, and heads
toward it. She searches through her
pockets for spare change, finds some, and makes a phone call. While it rings, she wipes her eyes. When she talks, her voice is strained from
the tears.
GWEN-1
Hey,
Susan? Is Tina still there? Great.
Can I talk to her for a second?
While
Gwen-1 waits for Tina to get on the line, she sniffles and wipes her nose with
the back of her hand.
GWEN-1
Oh,
hey. Hi Tina. Can you come pick me up? Thank you.
I’m at the gas station on the corner of
GWEN-1
sits down and starts looking through the pockets of her coat. She pulls out a book and begins reading
it. She is shivering, and Tim comes
walking out of the gas station toward her.
TIM
Hey! Girl-from-the-thrift-store! What are you doing out here?
GWEN-1
looks up, shocked. She quickly stands up
and puts the book back in her pocket.
She wipes the smeared make-up out from under her eyes.
GWEN-1
Oh,
yeah. I’m just waiting for my ride.
TIM
How’d
you get stuck at the gas station? Are
you having car trouble? I could look at
it for you.
GWEN-1
No. I was just…
I was wandering around and I got lost, so instead of trying to walk
home, I called a friend to come pick me up.
TIM
Why
were you walking around in the winter?
Gwen-1
looks down at her feet.
GWEN-1
Exercise.
Tim
doesn’t look like he believes her.
TIM
Do
you want to go inside and wait? I’ll buy
you a coffee.
GWEN-1
shakes her head.
GWEN-1
She’ll
be here any minute.
TIM
Alright. Well, I guess I’ll see you around or
something.
Tim
walks toward his car, which is parked at one of the pumps. He turns around and shouts at Gwen-1.
TIM
You’re
really cute when your nose is all red from the cold.
Tim
gets in his car and drives off.
EXT. GAS STATION PARKING LOT – NIGHT
Gwen-1
is once again sitting on the curb, reading.
Tina
pulls up in her car.
Gwen-1
sees her and stands up, puts the book in her pocket, and starts walking toward
Tina’s car.
Tina
gets out of the car and meets Gwen-1 halfway.
TINA
Are
you ok? He didn’t hurt you, did he?
GWEN-1
No. I’m fine.
We just got into an argument. I
was nagging him about finding a job and he got pissed. He doesn’t hurt me.
TINA
Maybe
not physically. Argh! Fuck him.
You shouldn’t be supporting him.
You’ll come to my house and we’ll figure out what you’re going to do in
the morning.
GWEN-1
I’m
sure things will be smoothed over by then.
Tina
scowls at her slightly, but leads her to the passenger side door, and opens it
for Gwen-1, ushering her inside. Once
Gwen-1 is secured inside the car, Tina starts walking to the driver’s side.
At
that moment, John pulls into the parking lot.
He pulls up beside Tina’s car and gets out, walking to the passenger
side door.
Tina
intercepts him, and puts his hand on her chest.
John
backs up a step so she isn’t touching him.
JOHN
I
came back to pick her up. You don’t need
to drive her home. Thanks for coming,
though. I was beginning to worry that
she’d be stuck out in the cold.
TINA
Fuck
that. She’s not going home with
you. I’m going to take her to my place
for the night.
John
dodges over to the passenger side window, and knocks on it.
JOHN
Gwen,
I’ve come to take you home. Get out of
the car, now.
Tina
goes over to the car and yells over John.
TINA
No. Lock the doors and stay in the car,
Gwen. I’ll be in, in a second.
Tina
once again stands in front of John, making him step back.
TINA
Go
home, John. We don’t want an incident,
do we?
JOHN
What,
are you going to get into a fight with me?
TINA
Do
I have to?
John
backs up a step. Tina stares him down,
even though she’s much smaller than he is.
Tiny-Gwen steps out of the car, looking between the two of them. She hugs Tina.
TINY-GWEN
Thanks
for coming to my rescue. I think I
should go home, though.
TINA
Are
you going to pick up your stuff?
Tiny-Gwen
sighs and shakes her head.
TINY-GWEN
I’ll
call you.
Tiny-Gwen
gets into John’s car.
John
smirks at Tina. He gets into the
driver’s seat and they drive off.
Tina
leans against the hood of her car and starts crying.
INT. STUDIO APARTMENT – LIVING AREA – NIGHT
John
and Tiny-Gwen walk into the apartment.
Like
the kitchen, the furniture is old, but clean in the living room. Instead of either a bed or a couch, there is
a futon.
Tiny-Gwen
sits down on the unmade futon. She
carefully takes off her shoes and tights, puts her shoes under the futon and
her tights in a garment bag in the dirty-clothes basket, and rubs her feet. She walks over to a metal shelf holding their
clothes, takes a flannel nightgown out of one of the piles, and turns toward
the bathroom to change.
John
watches her.
JOHN
Don’t
wear that one. Wear the black, silky,
strappy thing.
TINY-GWEN
I
don’t want to.
JOHN
Then
don’t wear anything.
Tiny-Gwen
sighs and puts the flannel nightgown back, trades it for the black, silky
one. She walks into the bathroom, and
closes the door.
John
kicks his shoes off, walks into the kitchen, opens the refrigerator, takes a
swig of milk, puts the milk back in the refrigerator, walks back into the
living area, and lays down on the futon.
He turns on the television and flips through channels. He turns the television off.
Tiny-Gwen
comes out of the bedroom, wearing the black, silky nightie.
JOHN
Come
lay down with me.
Tiny-Gwen
walks over and lays down on the futon.
John
begins kissing her neck, and she turns away.
TINY-GWEN
I
just want to sleep.
John
pulls her so she’s facing him.
JOHN
Would
you be just sleeping if you’d gone home with your dyke friend.
TINY-GWEN
Tina’s
not a dyke.
John
stands up, then goes over to the stereo, turning it on.
TINY-GWEN
John,
please. I have to work in the morning.
John
speaks with his back to her.
JOHN
She
might not be a dyke, but she’s not far off.
I know you guys used to fuck.
TINY-GWEN
That
was forever ago. We were just
experimenting. Lots of little girls do
it. She’s just my friend.
JOHN
If
you’re just friends, then why does she want you to leave me so badly.
TINY-GWEN
She
doesn’t. She’s just making sure I’m
happy and safe.
JOHN
Why
doesn’t she think I make you happy?
TINY-GWEN
I
don’t know. Maybe because you left me at
a gas station.
John
turns around, angry.
JOHN
You
shouldn’t have been nagging me about work.
You know I’m trying to find a job.
TINY-GWEN
I
know. I’m sorry.
JOHN
You
were dressed pretty sexy just for coffee.
What was that about?
John
is nearly shaking with anger, but his words come out restrained. It is as if her were had a very tenuous grasp
on his rage.
TINY-GWEN
I
wasn’t sexy.
JOHN
Yeah
you were. Make-up, that shirt that shows
off your stomach and cleavage. Looked like
you were dressed to get fucked.
TINY-GWEN
I
was not. I wasn’t trying to be
sexy. I just dressed up because it’d
been so long since I’d been anywhere but here and work.
JOHN
You
were flirting with that Moody guy when I came in. Did he fuck you before I got there?
TINY-GWEN
Of
course not! He’s just a friend. How could we have had sex before you got
there?
JOHN
Tina
was just a friend, but you fucked her.
Tiny-Gwen
is near tears.
TINY-GWEN
That
was a long time ago. It didn’t mean
anything. Girls just experiment with
each other when they’re young. It’s like
practice or something.
JOHN
Do
the two of you still practice?
TINY-GWEN
Please
don’t. I love you. I don’t want to be with anyone else.
John
pulls down his pants.
JOHN
Suck
my dick. Prove to me how much you want
to be with me.
Tiny-Gwen
backs up in the futon and shakes her head.
TINY-GWEN
No. I don’t want to, right now. This isn’t the right time.
John
comes closer to her.
JOHN
Why? Already full of some other guy’s cum?
TINY-GWEN
No. It’s not like that. I just…
We were just fighting, and I don’t want to. Not like this. Not right now.
JOHN
If
you loved me, you’d want to do it for me.
You’d want to make me happy.
TINY-GWEN
That’s
not true. I do love you. I just don’t want to, right now.
Tiny-Gwen
continues backing up until she’s reached the wall. John leans over her, with his arms to either
side of her.
JOHN
I
don’t believe you. I don’t believe you
love me at all.
Tiny-Gwen’s
voice is small through the tears.
TINY-GWEN
I
do love you.
John
gets directly in her face, mere inches from her mouth. He speaks quietly against it in something
that could have been a kiss with just movements of a millimeter.
JOHN
Then
suck me off. Put that mouth around my
dick and swallow my cum.
TINY-GWEN
Please
don’t.
JOHN
If
you don’t suck my dick, I’ll know that you’d rather be fucking other guys. I’ll know that you don’t really love me.
Silently, Tiny-Gwen slides off the
futon. John sits back as Tiny-Gwen
kneels in front of the futon. Her head
disappears from view as John’s breathing quickens and gets heavy.
JOHN
Tell
me you won’t see Tina anymore.
TINY-GWEN’S VOICE
No…
John
pushes her head down and the back of Gwen’s head is seen, as she tries to come
up.
JOHN
Say
it.
John
lets go of Gwen’s head.
TINY-GWEN’S VOICE
I
won’t see Tina anymore.
JOHN
Ah… That’s right.
That’s a good girl.
INT. STUDIO BATHROOM-NEAR DAWN
Gwen-1
stands in front of the sink, staring at HER REFLECTION.
Her
Reflection bears little resemblance to her.
The reflection is pock-marked, fat, and quite ugly. She turns away from it and sinks down to the
floor.
She
cries like a child, unabashedly into her hands.
Her sobs slow, then stop. She
sits on the floor, then lunges in front of the toilet. She starts throwing up with loud retches.
John
calls out from the other side of the bathroom door.
JOHN
Make
sure you clean the toilet and brush your teeth when you’re done. You should take a shower too. You smell like smoke from the donut shop.
Gwen-1
grabs some toilet paper and wipes her eyes and mouth. She flushes the toilet, making sure there is
nothing on the seat or rim of the toilet, then stands up. Tears stream down her face and she leans over
the sink, Her Reflection is present, once again. She splashes more water on her face and gets
her toothbrush out.
She
walks over to the shower, turns it on, puts her fingers under the stream, then
adjusts the water. She goes back over to
the sink and brushes her teeth.
INT. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – MORNING
Gwen-1
rushes around putting sale signs up. She
is wears a black jumper and a charcoal shirt.
Her tights are grey and her shoes the same as before. It’s as if she’s dressing to blend into the
background. The light coming through the
windows is once again the white light of an overcast day. The bell rings above the door and she looks
over.
Mrs. Markland comes in, carrying her bag and
smiling.
MRS.
MARKLAND
I
love brown-bag days.
WORK-GWEN
Too
bad I can’t participate in the sale.
It’d be nice to be able to get a paper bag’s worth of clothes for five
dollars.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Can
I have one of those bags, Gwenny?
Work-Gwen
hands Mrs. Markland a large, paper,
grocery bag.
Mrs. Markland takes it and opens it up.
WORK-GWEN
Have
fun shopping. I’m just going to go grab
some more bags from the back room, before we get busy.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Got
any new merchandise back there?
Work-Gwen
heads back, but speaks over her shoulder to Mrs. Markland.
WORK-GWEN
Not
today, Mrs. Markland.
MRS.
MARKLAND
I’ll
mind the store while you’re back there.
Work-Gwen
laughs.
WORK-GWEN
You
do that.
Mrs. Markland shops putting items in both her
paper bag and in her carrying bag, making sure the items in her carrying bag
are well out of sight.
The
bell above the door rings, and Tim walks in.
He takes a moment to survey the store and nods at Mrs. Markland.
TIM
Is
that pretty girl who works here around?
MRS.
MARKLAND
Gwen’ll
be back soon. Don’t think, just because
she’s not here, you can swipe anything. I’ve
got my eyes on you.
TIM
I’ll
keep that in mind.
MRS.
MARKLAND
You
do that.
Tim
starts wandering around. He’s wearing
the shirt he had bought on his previous trip to the store and a pair of faded
jeans.
Work-Gwen
comes up from the back room looking around to see if there were any new
customers. She is carrying a large stack
of bags. She spots Tim, and her eyes get
big. She scurries into the back room.
INT. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – BACK ROOM –
MID-MORNING
Gwen-1
drops the stack of bags she’s carrying onto a folding table. The room has exposed beams and unfinished
walls with pink fiberglass insulation peaking out. She sits down on the table and proceeds to do
nothing, looking nervous while doing it.
Tim
enters the back room. He looks around, spots
her, and walks over.
TIM
I
saw you see me.
GWEN-1
I
don’t know what you’re talking about.
TIM
Don’t
tell me that you didn’t see me and rush back in here to hide. What?
Did you think you’d just hole up in here until I went away?
GWEN-1
Maybe.
TIM
That
plan was flawed from the beginning.
GWEN-1
How
do you figure?
TIM
You
didn’t take into account how tenacious I can be when I want something.
Tim
walks over to the table that Gwen-1 is sitting on. He sits down next to her.
GWEN-1
I
already told you…
TIM
I
know you have a boyfriend, but hear me out.
Let me take you out for coffee.
GWEN-1
I
can’t.
TIM
Come
on. I owe you some from the other night.
GWEN-1
What?
TIM
At
the gas station.
GWEN-1
Oh. Still, I don’t think so.
TIM
Just
coffee. If there’s no spark, then I’ll
never come back here again, regardless of getting such a kick-ass shirt for a
truly reasonable price. If there
is… Well, if there is, then maybe your
boyfriend isn’t the guy you ought to be with.
GWEN-1
I
can’t do that. You have no idea how
pissed John would be. And it’s just not
right.
TIM
Just
coffee. Think of it as payment for this
shirt. It’s worth at least 30
dollars. Three-fifty and coffee is a
great deal.
Gwen-1
visibly wavers.
GWEN-1
Just
coffee? And that’s it.
TIM
Just
coffee.
Tim
stands up and faces her. He takes her
hands and pulls her up.
Tim
takes a pen out of his pocket and begins writing on the palm of her hand.
GWEN-1
What are you doing?
TIM
Just writing down the name of the coffee shop I want you to meet
me at.
Gwen-1
looks at her hand.
GWEN-1
I
don’t know where this is.
TIM
It’s
right around the corner on Hill. It’s
tiny, so you’ll probably miss it. I’ll
wait for you out front. What time do you
get out of work?
Gwen-1
looks worried.
GWEN-1
After
work isn’t any good. I have to go home
and make dinner.
TIM
Alright. When do you take your lunch break?
GWEN-1
Twelve-thirty.
TIM
Great. I’ll see you at twelve-thirty, then.
Tim
walks out of the back room.
Gwen-1
continues to look worried, as if afraid she’s made a bad choice.
INT. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – MID-MORNING
Work-Gwen
walks back out, carrying the pile of bags she had previously attempted to bring
out.
Mrs. Markland is still looking through the rack,
her bag nearly full.
Work-Gwen
puts the bags behind the counter.
Mrs. Markland walks up to her, with her paper bag.
WORK-GWEN
Find
anything nice?
MRS.
MARKLAND
I
found some great things to give to the little kids who live downstairs. I’ll just need to do a few repairs, first.
WORK-GWEN
If
you tell me their sizes, I can pull out anything that looks like it still has
some wear in it.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Oh,
thank you so much, Gwenny. You’re such a
nice girl. Let me write them down for
you.
Mrs. Markland takes one of the business cards on
the counter, and a pen, and writes on the back of the card.
MRS.
MARKLAND
I
kept an eye on that guy who was here, while you were in back. I don’t think much of that one, I can tell
you. Green hair. Not respectable looking like your nice
boyfriend who comes in here. How is he
doing?
WORK-GWEN
He’s
fine.
MRS.
MARKLAND
Next
week I’ll have you both over for dinner.
Mrs. Markland hands the card over to Work-Gwen.
Work-Gwen
looks at it and puts it in her pocket.
She types in the cash register.
WORK-GWEN
That
will be 5 dollars, Mrs. Markland.
Mrs. Markland opens her change-purse and gets out
a five dollar bill, placing it in Work-Gwen’s outstretched hand.
Work-Gwen
takes the money, and deposits it in the cash-drawer.
WORK-GWEN
And
I would be delighted to come over for dinner.
Just let me know when.
Mrs. Markland starts walking out the door.
MRS.
MARKLAND
I’ll
do that. Have a nice day, Gwenny.
WORK-GWEN
You
too, Mrs. Markland.
EXT. SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF A TINY COFFEE-SHOP –
MID-DAY
Gwen-1
walks nervously down the sidewalk.
She
and Tim make eye contact, and he waves at her, smiling. He is standing in front of the small, brick
establishment that is carefully meshed between two larger buildings.
Gwen-1
walks the rest of the way to him and smiles at him.
TIM
You
made it. I kind of expected you to ditch
me.
GWEN-1
So
did I.
TIM
So,
why didn’t you?
GWEN-1
I… Don’t know, really.
TIM
I
know why.
GWEN-1
This
is just coffee. I gave you a sweet deal
on the shirt, and you’re paying me back.
TIM
That’s
right.
Tim
and Gwen-1 stand for a few seconds, awkwardly silent. Tim’s hands are thrust into his jeans
pockets.
TIM
So…
GWEN-1
So…
GWEN-1
So,
aren’t you cold without a coat?
TIM
Yes. Yes I am.
Do you want to go inside?
GWEN-1
Um… yes.
Tim
takes the lead to the door, holding it for Gwen-1.
INT. COFFEE HOUSE – MID-DAY
Tim
leads her up to the counter.
TIM
What
do you want?
GWEN-1
Mocha-latte,
please.
TIM
Want
anything to eat?
GWEN-1
No,
I’m good. This is just coffee, remember?
TIM
It
could turn into coffee and brownies, though.
GWEN-1
You’re
trying to break my resistance with chocolate.
Do you really think this will work?
TIM
Do
you want a brownie?
Gwen-1
smiles.
GWEN-1
Yes,
please.
THE-WOMAN-AT-THE-COUNTER
looks at them expectantly.
TIM
We’re
going to have one mocha-latte and one house coffee. And I want two brownies.
THE-WOMAN-AT-THE-COUNTER
That
will be five-eighty-five and it will be ready in a few minutes.
Tim
hands over the money to The-woman-at-the-counter and receives his change.
TIM
Thank
you.
Tim
and Gwen-1 walk over to the receiving end of the counter.
GWEN-1
House
coffee? No frou-frou drink for you?
TIM
I’m
hard-core, yo.
Gwen-1
is looking around the room.
Tim
is looking at Gwen-1.
TIM
You
really are lovely, you know.
Gwen-1
blushes and looks at the floor, then up at him, only able to meet his eyes for
a second.
GWEN-1
Um…
TIM
So
how did you get such a sweet job?
GWEN-1
You’re
not winning any points by making fun of my job.
TIM
I’m
not making fun of you. I’m serious. I’d much rather work in a thrift store than
my job.
GWEN-1
What
do you do?
TIM
I
work in tech support for one of the factories in the park.
GWEN-1
Computer
tech job versus minimum wage second-hand store clerk. Hmmm.
TIM
It’s
not all about the money.
The-woman-at-the-counter
places their order on the table and they pick it up.
Tim
leads Gwen-1 to a table near the window.
Gwen-1
takes her coat off and drapes it over the back of her chair.
They
both sit down.
They
both eat and drink while they talk.
GWEN-1
Well, then. To answer
your question, I applied for the job, and since I didn’t have a great work
history, and they didn’t need someone with any skills or longevity of
employment, I got the job.
TIM
Alright. So, you work at
a thrift store, but what are you really?
GWEN-1
What do you mean?
TIM
Are you an actress but you work at a thrift store for now? Are you a writer but you’re living life so
you have something to write about? What
are you?
GWEN-1
I’m not anything, really.
I guess I’m just kind of falling through life. Do you know the tarot deck?
TIM
Kind of.
GWEN-1
I’m kind of like the fool.
It’s the first card of the deck.
Let me show you.
Gwen-1
rummages through the pockets of her coat, finally pulling out a drawstring
pouch.
Gwen-1
pulls a deck of tarot cards out of the pouch and begins shuffling through them.
GWEN-1
Here it is. See how he’s
smelling a flower and about to step off the cliff, not even noticing where he’s
going. That’s me. Just kind of tumbling through life.
TIM
Wow. Don’t you ever worry
about crashing onto the rocks below?
GWEN-1
That’s the point of the card.
Take the leap and don’t worry about the rocks below. Just think about the joy of the freefall.
TIM
So, are you enjoying the fall you’re on?
GWEN-1
So…
TIM
Here we are, back at so.
GWEN-1
Yeah. Um, when did you
realize you wanted to work with computers?
TIM
I don’t. I actually want
to be a musician, but I went to college for computer science so I’d have
something to fall back on. And since I
had something to fall back on, I fell back on it. Now I wish I’d never gone to college at all.
GWEN-1
Really?
TIM
Maybe if I didn’t have a fall-back career, I would have had more
motivation to actually make it.
GWEN-1
You’re still young. You
could still make it.
TIM
I don’t have time, anymore.
I’m too busy building up my career.
GWEN-1
Wow, you’re my age, but you’re, like, an actual grown-up with a
grown-up job and probably credit cards and stuff.
TIM
Yep. Sucks, don’t it?
GWEN-1
I don’t know. I guess
there’s a certain stability in that.
TIM
I’m young, I shouldn’t have stability.
Gwen-1
looks around the room and smiles.
GWEN-1
This place is really nice.
I didn’t even know it was here.
Tim grabs her hand.
TIM
Tell me something about yourself.
Gwen-1
laughs.
GWEN-1
What do you want to know?
TIM
Tell me about your family.
Where did you come from? What are
you parents like?
Gwen-1 takes a long draught from her cup.
GWEN-1
My mom was a hippy that missed
TIM
Was?
GWEN-1
She died when I was a teenager.
I moved in with my aunt after that.
TIM
I’m sorry to hear that.
GWEN-1
It was a long time ago.
Neither of them speak for a moment.
GWEN-1
Wow. It’s getting really
heavy in here.
Gwen-1
looks at her watch.
GWEN-1
I
really have to be getting back to the store.
Gwen-1
gulps the rest of her coffee and stands up.
Tim
follows suit.
TIM
Come
on. You just got here.
Gwen-1
puts on her coat.
GWEN-1
Yeah,
I know, but I only get a half an hour for lunch.
TIM
Alright. Can I call you?
GWEN-1
I
don’t think so.
TIM
Does
this mean I’m banned from the store?
GWEN-1
No,
I… Call me at work tomorrow. We’ll find something to do.
TIM
Really?
Gwen-1
hesitates, as if expecting herself to say no.
GWEN-1
Yes.
Gwen-1
rushes out of the café, and around the corner, back to the thrift store. She smiles slightly. She stops suddenly and frowns. She makes as if to turn back, then changes
her mind again and continues on to the store.
INT. STUDIO APARTMENT – KITCHEN – EARLY EVENING
Gwen-1
enters. John is in the kitchen, and
there are pots on the stove.
TINY-GWEN
Something
smells good.
John
stirs a large pot.
JOHN
I
made chili.
TINY-GWEN
Great.
JOHN
How
was work?
TINY-GWEN
Alright.
Tiny-Gwen
takes her shoes off and carefully removes her tights, putting them in the
delicates bag in the clothes carton.
Tiny-Gwen
walks over to John and wraps her arms around his neck.
John
hugs her back.
JOHN
Go get cleaned up and we’ll have dinner.
Tiny-Gwen
disappears into the bathroom.
John
goes back to stirring the pot.
Tiny-Gwen
returns and gets two bowls out of the cupboard.
John
ladles chili into the bowls. Tiny-Gwen
carries the bowls over to the table and sets them down. She then sits down in one of the seats. John sits down next to her.
They
eat while they talk.
JOHN
How
did the sale go?
TINY-GWEN
It
went alright. Got rid of a lot of our
spring merchandise.
JOHN
Do
you have any plans for tonight?
TINY-GWEN
I
thought I might read for a while.
JOHN
You’re
feeling alright from last night? You’re
not still sick, are you? Is the chili
upsetting your stomach?
TINY-GWEN
No. I’m not still sick from last night. I’m fine.
JOHN
Good.
INT. STUDIO APARTMENT – LIVING AREA – NIGHT
Tiny-Gwen
and John are laying in the futon in the dark.
She
is trying to sleep.
John
sits up and takes his shirt off. He starts
taking his pants off and his boxers.
TINY-GWEN
What
are you doing?
JOHN
Take
your nightgown off. I want to feel your
skin against mine.
TINY-GWEN
No. I’m tired.
I just want to close my eyes and fall asleep.
JOHN
Just
take it off. All we’re going to do is
sleep. I just want to hold you and feel
you close to me.
Tiny-Gwen
sighs and takes off her nightgown, then lays back down. John wraps his arms around her.
JOHN
It
scares me, how much I love you, Gwen. It
scares me that I can love so much.
Tiny-Gwen
stays silent.
John
kisses the back of her neck.
JOHN
Do
you love me?
TINY-GWEN
Of
course I do.
JOHN
Sometimes
I think about how sweet you are, Gwen. You’re
like sugar on teeth. I know you’re
rotting me, but I can’t give you up.
John
continues kissing her neck, lowering to her back. Tiny-Gwen has stiffened.
TINY-GWEN
John,
please. I don’t want to tonight. I just want to sleep.
JOHN
Shhhh.
TINY-GWEN
No,
really. I’m so tired.
John
stiffens, then shoves her toward the edge of the bed, then rolls over with his
back to her.
JOHN
Fine. Sleep.
But you’re not sleeping in bed with me.
Tiny-Gwen
sighs, picks up her nightgown, puts it on, and stands up. She goes to the closet, takes out an extra
blanket, and grabs her pillow off the futon.
She lays down on the floor and wraps herself in her blanket.
INT. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – MID-DAY
Work-Gwen
is folding clothes at the counter, while TAMMY-JO is looking around the floor.
Tammy-Jo,
Gwen’s boss, is a middle-aged woman with teased helmet hair. She is dressed appropriate and stylishly for
her age. She is an import from the
south.
Tammy-Jo
walks over to the counter where Gwen is still folding clothes and tagging them.
TAMMY-JO
The
place looks absolutely wonderful. You’re
doing a great job here.
WORK-GWEN
Thanks,
Tammy-Jo. I do what I can.
TAMMY-JO
You’re
so welcome, honey. Do you like the job
ok? Is there anything you need or that
you want to talk about? Anything you’re
having problems with?
Work-Gwen
shakes her head.
WORK-GWEN
No. Everything here is perfect. I love my job.
Tammy-Jo
leans in toward Work-Gwen.
TAMMY-JO
I
am so glad to hear that. There’s
something I want to talk to you about.
WORK-GWEN
Oh?
TAMMY-JO
I
know you’ve been taking on more and more responsibility here at the store. Opening and closing and being the only one
here, most of the time. I’d like the
reward you for that.
WORK-GWEN
Really?
TAMMY-JO
Yes,
really. I want to make you the store
manager. I haven’t ever had a manager
before, but since I don’t spend much time here, I really need one. That way, I can devote myself more to my
other stores. What do you think about
that?
WORK-GWEN
I… It’s wonderful. I’d love to.
TAMMY-JO
Great. Now, of course there’s going to be a
raise. I can’t afford a huge one, but
how does 2 more dollars an hour sound?
WORK-GWEN
It’s
incredible.
TAMMY-JO
Now
calm down, sugar. You didn’t just win
the lottery. It comes with some more
responsibility, you know. First, you’re
going to be doing most of the paperwork now.
I’ll need to spend some time here, just to show you how I like it done.
WORK-GWEN
That’s
fine.
TAMMY-JO
Good. Do you have any problem with coming in a
couple hours early for the next few days so I can show you the books?
WORK-GWEN
None
at all.
TAMMY-JO
Alright,
let’s plan on that, Gwen. I’ll see you
tomorrow, bright and early.
WORK-GWEN
Sounds
like a plan. And thank you again,
Tammy-Jo.
Tammy-Jo
leaves.
Gwen-1
turns around in circles, hugging herself.
She has a huge grin on her face.
The
bell rings and Tim walks in.
She
smiles and runs around the outside of the counter.
GWEN-1
You would not believe what just happened!
TIM
Try me.
GWEN-1
I just got a promotion and a raise.
TIM
That’s great. So, we
should go celebrate, right? I’ll take you
out to dinner.
Tim
hugs Gwen-1.
Gwen-1
stops smiling and immediately pulls back.
GWEN-1
I
can’t.
TIM
Why
not?
GWEN-1
You
know I still have a boyfriend. It was
just coffee.
TIM
Oh,
shut up. It wasn’t just coffee.
GWEN-1
Sure
it was.
TIM
Don’t
fool yourself. There were sparks.
GWEN-1
I
have a boyfriend.
TIM
If
you were happy with your boyfriend, you wouldn’t have even looked at me.
Gwen-1
looks up at him. She appears troubled.
Tim
suddenly leans down and angrily kisses her, grabbing her shoulders in the
process. He pulls away from her, keeping
his hands on her shoulders.
She
looks up at him again; her hand raises to her mouth.
TIM
Don’t
tell me there weren’t sparks.
Gwen-1
visibly pulls herself together.
Tim
takes his hands from her shoulders.
GWEN-1
There
are always sparks with a first kiss.
TIM
First
implies there are more to come.
GWEN-1
I
have a boyfriend.
TIM
I
noticed you didn’t argue with me about your happiness. Break up with him.
GWEN-1
I
can’t.
TIM
Then
come out for drinks with me.
GWEN-1
I
can’t. There’s no way I could get out
that late.
TIM
We’ll
go early. Right after work.
GWEN-1
I-
TIM
Don’t
say you can’t. I’m going to leave now,
and I’ll be back at – when does this place close?
GWEN-1
Six.
TIM
I’ll
be back at six. Don’t tell me if you’ll
come or not. Just think about it until
then. If you decide to come, I’ll be
here. If not, then I’ll go alone.
Tim
leaves, and Gwen-1 sits on the stool behind the counter. She rubs her forehead and picks up the
phone. She dials it, waits for it to
ring, then begins talking in an excited voice.
TINY-GWEN
Hey,
guess what? I got that promotion!
Tiny-Gwen
listens.
TINY-GWEN
Yeah,
I know. Hey, I have to stay late
tonight. I’ve got to do inventory. But I got a raise.
I
should have rent money next week.
I
love you too.
Gwen-1
puts the phone in its cradle and goes back to tagging the clothes.
INT. BAR – EVENING
Tim
holds the door for Gwen, who ducks past him.
She is wearing her coat and hat.
The bar is slightly noisy, with voices, and it has dark wood
paneling. It is fairly crowded.
Tim
leads her to a table, helps her off with her coat, and holds her chair for her.
Gwen-1
sits down and Tim leans toward her. He
speaks loudly enough to be heard over the crowd.
TIM
What
do you want to drink?
Gwen-1
appears to think about it.
GWEN-1
A
diet cola.
TIM
Come
on. I invited you out for drinks.
GWEN-1
I
don’t want to go home smelling like alcohol.
TIM
It’ll
be fine. We’ll get food, too. It’ll cut down on the smell, alright?
Gwen-1
shakes her head.
GWEN-1
I
shouldn’t.
TIM
God! Your whole life seems to be can’t and
shouldn’t. You shouldn’t be here right
now, but you are. Don’t start doing what
you should do now.
Gwen-1
laughs and nods.
GWEN-1
Alright. I’ll have a whiskey sour.
TIM
That’s
the spirit.
Tim
walks up to the bar, and Gwen-1 takes a compact out of her purse, studying Her Reflection. She frowns and puts it away.
Tim
walks back with their drinks, hers in a small tumbler and his in a beer glass.
GWEN-1
What’re
you drinking?
TIM
It’s
a micro-brew. Pretty good. Want to taste it?
GWEN-1
No. I don’t do beer.
TIM
This
isn’t beer. It’s a little bit of heaven.
GWEN-1
Uhh
uhh.
TIM
Suit
yourself. I like beer. I guess I grew to like it in college. My friends call me a beer snob.
GWEN-1
What
are your friends like?
TIM
Just
people. Right now, they’re not nearly as
interesting as you.
Gwen-1
smiles and shakes her head.
GWEN-1
That
was so smarmy.
TIM
Yeah,
but it made you smile, so it served its purpose.
GWEN-1
What
do you like to do?
TIM
Soccer,
frisbie-golf, skating. Looking at
beautiful girls.
GWEN-1
There
you go again. You’re making me blush.
TIM
Good. I like it when you blush. I like knowing I can make you do it.
Gwen-1 sips at her drink and looks around
again.
TIM
How did you and your boyfriend meet?
Gwen-1 looks startled, and faintly disgusted.
GWEN-1
Do you really want to talk about that?
TIM
I’m just wondering about it.
I mean, it’s hard to imagine you with him.
GWEN-1
You don’t even know him.
TIM
I saw him at the Diamond.
I saw how he treated you.
GWEN-1
Well, I was his replacement at Diamond, actually. He was fired for stealing money out of the
till. He came in to collect his last
check, and we connected.
TIM
What did you see in him?
GWEN-1
I don’t know. I was in a
messy relationship and he was nice. He
was interested in me, which wasn’t something I could say about anyone else.
TIM
At the time.
Gwen-1 smiles and looks down.
GWEN-1
At the time.
I don’t know.
TIM
Maybe it’s time to move on.
GWEN-1
It’s not that simple. We share an apartment. We share a life. It’s… difficult.
TIM
Would you move on if it weren’t difficult?
GWEN-1
I don’t know.
Maybe.
We hear a screech in the background and see
Tina rushing toward Gwen-1.
TINA
Oh
my god, you bitch! I’ve missed you. Why haven’t you returned any of my calls?
Tina crashes into Gwen-1, staggering them
both, even though Gwen-1 is sitting down.
GWEN-1
I’m
sorry! I didn’t get your message.
TINA
Message-es. More than one. I’ve been calling all week.
Gwen-1 looks sheepish.
GWEN-1
I
guess I didn’t get them.
Tina seems to just notice Tim.
TINA
Well, hello.
Who are you?
Tim extends his hand to shake.
TIM
Hi.
I’m Tim.
Tina turns toward Gwen-1.
TINA
Who is this lovely gentleman?
Gwen-1 looks further embarrassed.
GWEN-1
This is just someone I met at work. He took me out to celebrate me getting a
promotion.
TIM
And to convince her to leave her boyfriend
for me.
TINA
Cute and smart. Wonderful.
Tina pulls an empty chair from another table,
causing the person who was previously sitting in it, but had been momentarily
standing, to fall when he tried to reclaim his seat.
Tina calls over her shoulder to the gentleman
who fell.
TINA
Sorry.
Tina turns back toward Tim.
TINA
So, what do you do?
TIM
I’ve got a computer tech job. What about you?
TINA
Um… I
hang out.
TIM
How do you get money?
TINA
I have my ways.
Tina stands back up.
TINA
I’m going to go get a beer. Anyone else want anything?
Tim looks into his cup.
TIM
I’m ok.
TINA
Gwen?
Gwen-1 shakes her head.
GWEN-1
I’m good.
TINA
Alright, then.
Tina walks away.
Tim leans into Gwen-1.
TIM
So, who’s that?
GWEN-1
That’s my best friend in the world, Tina.
TIM
She’s a character.
GWEN-1
Yes, she is.
She has enough character for ten people.
Tina comes back with a bottle of cheapish
beer and another whiskey sour for Gwen-1.
Gwen-1 looks dismayed.
GWEN-1
Tina, I told you I was fine.
TINA
Yes, but you’ll need this drink in a few
minutes after you gulp the last of that one.
Tina puts the glass to Gwen-1’s mouth and
tips it back, forcing Gwen-1 to swallow, but still getting some of the liquor
dribbling outside of the glass and down Gwen-1’s chin.
Gwen-1, shakes her head violently and
shivers, then takes a napkin and wipes her chin.
Tina places the new drink in front of Gwen-1.
TINA
See?
Now you need another drink. Good
thing I brought one back for you.
Gwen-1 speaks in a slightly strained voice.
GWEN-1
I guess all the alcohol was at the bottom.
Tim and Tina laugh.
TINA
Come on, Gwenny. We’ve go to celebrate. Did you say you got a promotion?
TIM
She sure did.
She’s the store manager.
GWEN-1
It’s not like I have any employees to manage.
TIM
Yet.
INT.
BAR – DOORWAY – NIGHT.
John walks into the bar, and looks
around. He goes up to the bar, and while
we can’t hear him speaking, over the sound in the room, we get the impression
that he’s ordered a soda, because that’s what the bartender has handed him. John gives the bartender money and John turns
around, surveying the room.
INT.
BAR – GWEN-1’S TABLE – NIGHT
Gwen-1, Tim, and Tina are all laughing.
Gwen-1 freezes and clutches Tina’s arm.
TINA
What’s the matter, Gwen?
Gwen-1 discreetly points toward John.
Tina makes a face.
TINA
So your ex is here. So what?
GWEN-1
Not my ex.
A look of amused understanding crosses Tina’s
face.
TIM
Should I leave?
Gwen appears to think about this.
GWEN-1
No, but can I ask you a favor?
TIM
Sure.
GWEN-1
Act like you’re here with Tina.
Tim looks like he’s about to object when Tina
stands up, walks over to him, and sits on his lap.
TINA
Fine, but he has to keep his hands to
himself. Is this too much?
Gwen-1 smiles, relieved.
GWEN-1
For you, nothing is too much.
Gwen-1 catches John’s eye and waves him over.
John seems shocked to see them, but walks
over and sits down in Tina’s vacated seat.
JOHN
What are you doing here? I thought you had to work late.
TINA
Well, I stopped by the store, just as she was
leaving, and she told me the good news, so I insisted she come out and
celebrate.
JOHN
You couldn’t call and let me know what was
going on?
TINA
We only now got here.
John looks unhappy, but shuts up.
From underneath Tina, Tim sticks his hand out
toward John for a shake.
TIM
Hi.
I’m Tim.
They shake hands, Tim’s handshake firm,
John’s weak.
JOHN
I’m John.
TIM
Nice to meet you.
JOHN
Gwen, what are you drinking?
TINY-GWEN
It’s just a whiskey sour.
JOHN
How many of those have you had tonight?
TINY-GWEN
Just this one.
John points to the other glass.
JOHN
Then what’s the other glass from?
TINY-GWEN
That’s from Tina’s first drink.
JOHN
Are you ready to go?
TINA
Come on, John. We just got here. Gwen hasn’t even finished her first drink yet.
JOHN
I’m hungry.
I want to go home.
TINA
Why don’t we just order some nachos or
something from the bar?
JOHN
I don’t want nachos.
Tina stands up, towering over John.
TINA
Can we not make a scene?
JOHN
Who’s making a scene? I just want to go home.
TINA
Then go home.
Who’s stopping you?
John stands up and holds his hand out to
Tiny-Gwen.
Tiny-Gwen hesitates and tentatively puts her
hand in his, beginning to stand up.
Tina gives Tiny-Gwen a look.
TINA
What, John?
Do you need Gwen to hold your hand the whole way home? I’ll make sure she gets home ok. Let her have a night out to celebrate her
promotion.
John angrily pushes his chair in and looks
down at Tiny-Gwen.
JOHN
Whatever.
Do what you want. I don’t care.
Tiny-Gwen looks at her hands.
Tina sits down in the vacated seat.
TINA
Jesus-fuck, Gwen! What are you doing with that guy? What are you still doing with him?
Especially when you have this gorgeous piece of man-meat sitting across
from you?
TIM
That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out.
Gwen-1 looks as though she’s about to cry.
TIM
Do you want to go home.
Gwen-1 adamantly shakes her head no, and
gulps her drink.
GWEN-1
Absolutely not. Anyone want to buy me another drink?
EXT.
SIDEWALK – NIGHT
Tim is holding Gwen-1’s arm as she walks
along. She is weaving, and he has to
catch her.
Tina is walking behind them, giggling.
Tim looks down at the girl in his arms, then
behind his shoulder at the girl following them.
He calls over his shoulder.
TIM
Is this normal for her?
Tina giggles.
TINA
Yes.
She normally has trouble walking.
It’s where she got her nickname.
It’s Trouble-Walking-Girl.
Tim turns his attention back to Gwen-1.
TIM
You had a lot to drink.
GWEN-1
Yes, I did.
And I’m much better for it.
TIM
If I stand you back up, do you think you can
walk?
GWEN-1
Probably.
TIM
Do you think you might puke?
GWEN-1
Nope.
I feel fine.
Tim stands her back up.
Gwen-1 loops her arm with his.
Tina catches up, and Gwen-1 links arms with
her, as well.
Tim talks over Gwen-1’s head to Tina.
TIM
Where should we take her? Home?
TINA
Absolutely not. Knowing John, he’d beat her.
GWEN-1
He has never raised a hand to me!
TIM
Should we take her to your house?
TINA
I live across town. I don’t even know how I’m going to make it to
my house.
TIM
I like a couple of blocks away. I guess we could all go there.
They continue walking, and Tina falls behind
again.
Gwen-1 looks up at Tim.
TIM
What?
GWEN-1
Just looking at you. You know, I think you could have been anyone?
TIM
I could have been anyone?
GWEN-1
I think just about anyone who was persistent
enough would have gotten me away from John enough to see how screwed up things
were.
TIM
That’s not very complimentary.
GWEN-1
But it’s true.
TIM
Not entirely.
GWEN-1
What do you mean?
TIM
You’re still with him.
TINA
He’s got you there, Gwen.
GWEN-1
It’s not out of choice, anymore.
TINA
Everything’s a choice.
Tim lifts Gwen-1 out of the way of a tree
limb in the middle of the sidewalk, and sets her quickly back down.
TIM
If you could choose, what would you do?
GWEN-1
I don’t know.
Going home with you is a good start.
Gwen-1 stops, takes a small step forward, and
kisses him, as if she’s surprising herself.
Tim steps into it and kisses her back. Tim looks up at Tina and beckons for her to
join in.
Tina smiles, looks confused, but shakes her
head. She steps away from them, and
pulls her cell phone out of her purse.
She dials.
TINA
I need a cab for the corner of…
Tina reads the street signs.
TINA
Tina puts the phone back in her purse and
sits down on the sidewalk.
Gwen-1 breaks out of the kiss and walks over
to Tina.
GWEN-1
Don’t.
I thought you were going to come back to his place with us.
TINA
I’m fairly certain I’d be in the way.
GWEN-1
I don’t want to leave you like this.
TINA
No.
It’s fine. I encouraged this,
afterall. Go have fun. I’ll get home ok. If John calls me looking for you, I’ll tell
him I pumped you too full of alcohol and you’re sleeping it off.
Gwen-1 hugs Tina, then stands up.
GWEN-1
Are you sure?
TINA
Positive.
Just… Be careful. You’re drunk and emotionally vulnerable. That’s a bad combination.
GWEN-1
Thank you so much. I’ll be fine.
Tim’s a nice guy. He’ll take care
of me.
TINA
Right.
Gwen-1 starts walking away.
TINA
One thing, though?
Gwen-1 walks back.
GWEN-1
Yeah?
TINA
This whole lying to your boyfriend thing, it
reminds me of when we were in school and we used to cover for each other to our
parents. John treats you like a little
kid, and you let it happen. Now you’re
kind of acting like one. Sometimes I
wonder if I’m the only one who remembers that we’re adults now. It’s just something to think about.
Gwen-1 looks troubled and stares at Tina.
Tina smiles at Gwen-1.
TINA
Goodnight.
GWEN-1
Goodnight.
Gwen-1 walks back over to Tim.
Tim leads her away.
Tina watches them with a sad look on her
face.
INT.
TIM’S HOUSE – NEAR DAWN
Tim and Gwen-1 walk into his house. The ground floor is full of posters and there
is a guitar sitting on a stand in the corner.
His house has a lived-in, bachelor feel to it, but it’s not filthy, or
even overly cluttered.
Tim leads Gwen-1 to the couch, and gets her
settled on it before going into the kitchen.
TIM
Do you want some water?
GWEN-1
Nope.
TIM
You really ought to have some. It’ll help prevent a hang-over in the
morning.
GWEN-1
Why’s that?
TIM
Hang-overs are caused by dehydration and a
lack of vitamin B. If you drink water
before you go to bed, you’ll be less dehydrated and probably won’t have a
headache.
GWEN-1
Fine, then.
Bring me a glass of water.
SEXY-GWEN is sitting on the couch looking
comfortable, yet bored. Sexy-Gwen is
pouty and, right now, fidgety. While she
is as drunk as Gwen-1, it sits less silly on her. Her breasts and hips and any other womanly
part is emphasized on her.
Tim brings out a glass of water and hands it
to her before sitting down on the couch.
Sexy-Gwen takes a sip, putting it on the
coffee-table in front of her. She leans
forward and starts kissing Tim’s neck.
Tim scoots back.
TIM
What’s the hurry?
SEXY-GWEN
Don’t tell me this wasn’t the plan.
TIM
What plan?
SEXY-GWEN
To bring me back here and have your wicked
way with me.
TIM
I didn’t have an actual plan.
Sexy-Gwen goes back to kissing Tim’s neck.
Tim leans his head back, smiling. He is clearly enjoying it, yet gives token
resistance.
TIM
Come on.
We have plenty of time.
Sexy-Gwen closes in on him again, and begins
sucking his ear. She breathes on his
neck.
SEXY-GWEN
I don’t want to wait. Right now.
TIM
Are you sure?
SEXY-GWEN
I’m certain.
Tim stands up and pulls Sexy-Gwen to her
feet. He leads her up the stairs to his
bedroom.
INT.
TIM’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Tim’s bedroom is nicer than the living
room. It’s undecorated, but contains a large
bed and a decent dresser. The bed is
unmade, and his closet door is open. In
the corner, on a shelf, he has a stereo.
Tim leans down and kisses Sexy-Gwen.
Sexy-Gwen leans up into it, raising to her
toes and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Tim
leans down and kisses Sexy-Gwen. She
leans up into it, raising to her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck.
They
continue to kiss as they undress each other, passionate but unhurried. Half-dressed, Tim lowers Gwen onto the
bed. He lays above her, supporting
himself with his arms.
Sexy-Gwen
reaches down and unbuttons Tim’s pants.
SEXY-GWEN
Do you have a condom?
TIM
Right in the drawer beside the bed.
SEXY-GWEN
Alright.
Are you going to put it on?
TIM
Uh.
Yeah.
Tim sits up, gets into the bedside table, and
gets a condom. He puts it on while
Sexy-Gwen watches, her lips half-parted.
Sexy-Gwen slips her panties off, and Tim
reaches around her to undo her bra. She
slips out of that, as well.
Tim lays back over her, positioning himself,
and Gwen-1 stops him.
GWEN-1
Be careful, ok?
TIM
What do you mean?
GWEN-1
This is my first time.
Tim sits up, confused.
TIM
You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re 21 and you’re a virgin.
GWEN-1
Not exactly a virgin, but I’ve never done
this, before.
TIM
You’ve never been vaginally penetrated?
GWEN-1
No.
TIM
But you live with a guy.
GWEN-1
We’ve never done this.
TIM
Why not?
GWEN-1
Lots of reasons that I don’t want to either
talk about or think about, right now. I
just wanted to warn you to be careful with me.
TIM
This puts a lot of pressure on me, you know.
GWEN-1
Oh, god.
Nevermind.
Gwen-1 starts pulling her clothes together. Tim comes up to her and stops her.
TIM
All I mean is, I want your first time to be
special.
Gwen-1 looks at him.
Tim kisses her gently.
TIM
Lay back.
Gwen-1 lays back, as requested. Tim sits next to her, and his hand disappears
from view. Gwen-1’s eyes close and she
starts breathing slightly heavy.
TIM
Does that feel good?
Gwen-1 nods.
TIM
I want to make sure you’re nice and relaxed
before I enter you, so it doesn’t hurt, alright?
Gwen-1 nods again.
Tim once again climbs above her, kissing her. Gwen-1’s legs open up, her knees to either
side of him.
TIM
Are you ready?
Gwen-1 nods.
Tim slowly works himself in. He
buries his face in her shoulder, and he moans.
Gwen-1 winces in pain, but as Tim works himself in, she relaxes. Tim kisses Sexy-Gwen, and she moans.
Hijinks ensue.
INT.
TIM’S DOORWAY – MORNING
TIM
Are you sure you don’t want to stay for breakfast? I make a mean omelet.
GWEN-1
No.
I’ve got to get going.
Tim hugs Gwen-1, and kisses her. He makes as if to let her go, and pulls her
back, instead, ending up on the couch.
Gwen-1 giggles, and struggles to get up.
Tim hauls her down, tickling her. Finally, he lets her stand up.
GWEN-1
Seriously, I have got to get going. I don’t want to be late for work.
TIM
Are you going to wear what you wore
yesterday? Everyone will know what
you’ve been doing.
Tim raises his eyebrows at her.
Gwen-1 looks at her clothes and shakes her
head.
GWEN-1
I’m going to stop home to shower and change,
first.
Tim stands back up and walks her back to the
door. He hugs and kisses her again.
GWEN-1
Bye.
TIM
I’ll call you, alright?
GWEN-1
I’ll be looking forward to it.
EXT.
SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE STUDIO APARTMENT – MORNING
Gwen-1 is walking joyfully. She goes inside the apartment.
INT.
STUDIO APARTMENT – LIVING AREA – MORNING
John is sitting on the futon, waiting for
her. His arms are crossed over his chest,
and he looks extremely angry.
Gwen-1 walks in through the door. John stands up, rushing to her. He is shouting in her face.
JOHN
Where were you all night?
Tiny-Gwen shrinks in fear.
TINY-GWEN
I… I
spent the night at Tina’s.
JOHN
I thought you said you weren’t going to talk
to her anymore.
John grabs her arms in a vise-like grip.
TINY-GWEN
She ambushed me outside of work and I
couldn’t tell her no. Then I had to
spend the night because I was too drunk to get home.
JOHN
Why the fuck did you get that drunk?
TINY-GWEN
I didn’t mean to. Please let me go. You’re hurting me.
JOHN
Do you even know what hurting is? Hurting is not knowing where you girlfriend
is all night.
TINY-GWEN
I’m sorry.
Let me go, please.
JOHN
Did that guy go home with her too? Did you go home with them both?
TINY-GWEN
No!
JOHN
Did you fuck them both?
TINY-GWEN
Let go of me!
John lets go of her, only to slap her.
JOHN
You fucking cunt. I love you, and this is how you repay me?
Gwen-1 is looking at him with hate in her
eyes. She holds her hand to the cheek
that he slapped.
John slaps her again, and she hits him back.
GWEN-1
Fuck you, John. How dare you hit me?
JOHN
How dare you come back here when you’ve been
a fucking slut all night?
GWEN-1
This ends now. I have put up with two years of you degrading
me and making me feel so… small. At
least I could always tell myself that at least you didn’t beat me. It wasn’t really abuse. No more.
This is over.
Gwen-1 backs up, and gets into the
closet. She reaches in and pulls out a
duffel bag. She walks over to the shelf
and begins throwing her clothes off of it, into the bag.
John comes up behind her and spins her
around. He grabs the bag out of her
hands and tosses it on the ground. He
grabs her hair and pulls her face up to him.
JOHN
You think I’m just going to let you go? You think that I’ll just let you walk out of
my life because you want to? You used me
when you needed me to feel better about yourself. I wanted you when no one else wanted your
ugly ass, and now you think you’re just going to leave me? I need you, you bitch!
John pulls her up higher by her hair.
Gwen-1 speaks calmly and quietly.
GWEN-1
Let go of me, right now.
John moves his grip from her hair to her
neck.
Gwen-1’s eyes get big and her face turns red.
JOHN
You think I care about going to jail? If you leave me, what do I care if you’re
dead? You’d be dead to me, anyway. What do I care?
John starts shaking her back and forth.
JOHN
If I don’t have you, then I may as well be in
jail, because I’ll be dead anyway. At
least they’ll guarantee that I’ll get three meals a day and a place to sleep.
John lets go of her throat and takes control
of her hair, once again.
GWEN-1
Let go, let go, let go!
JOHN
Fuck you!
You fucking cunt. You fucking
cheating, dyke cunt.
TINY-GWEN
Please, just stop. Nothing happened. Nothing.
I’ll stay, just let go of me.
John slams her head into a wall.
Tiny-Gwen becomes dazed.
John slaps her again.
JOHN
Oh no, you don’t. Wake the fuck up. This has been a long time coming. You’ve been deserving this since the day we
met. You always treated me like shit. Always made me feel like I wasn’t good enough
for your life.
TINY-GWEN
Where is this coming from? I love you.
I’m sorry I made you feel badly.
Please just let me go and we’ll work things out.
John shoves Tiny-Gwen against a wall.
Tiny-Gwen’s head slams against it.
John holds her against the wall with one
hand, by her throat while fumbling with her panties with the other.
Tiny-Gwen moans.
TINY-GWEN
Oh, god.
No.
John finally manages to rip the panties off,
and holds them up.
JOHN
Your panties are all wet, Gwenny. Who got your panties all wet?
Tiny-Gwen is crying openly.
John rubs her panties in her face.
JOHN
Smell how rotten your cunt is, you
bitch. You fucking bitch.
John throws the panties down on the
floor. He slaps Tiny-Gwen, then drops
her.
Tiny-Gwen falls in a pile to the floor.
John pins her down onto the ground, using his
body. He grabs a handful of her
hair. He tries to kiss her, but she
turns her head away.
JOHN
You let someone in there
John shoves his hand deep inside of her.
JOHN
But you won’t even kiss me?
TINY-GWEN
No!
JOHN
You never wanted me inside of you. You said you didn’t want to get pregnant, but
I know it was because you never really loved me. You never loved me enough to let me in
there. But you let someone else in
there. Did you even know him? Did he give you money?
John is crying.
TINY-GWEN
There was no one. You know I’m a virgin. I didn’t do anything with anyone.
JOHN
Lying slut.
Did he cum inside of you? If I
stick my finger in far enough, will I feel his cum?
TINY-GWEN
Don’t do this, please don’t.
John starts beating her head against the
floor.
JOHN
Who did you fuck? Who did you fuck? Who did you fuck?
Tiny-Gwen screams.
John puts his hand over her mouth.
JOHN
Shut up.
Tiny-Gwen is dazed and her eyes are
unfocussed.
John continues pinning her down while he
fumbles with his pants.
JOHN
Do you like this? Do you like it this way? Would you have let me fuck you if I’d done
this a long time ago?
John slaps her.
JOHN
Answer me!
TINY-GWEN
Please don’t do this to me. Don’t do this.
JOHN
God, do you know how hard this is making me?
Tiny-Gwen screams again.
John covers her mouth.
JOHN
Shhhh.
John thrusts.
Tiny-Gwen’s face is visible under John’s
shoulder. She is panic-stricken and
screaming past John’s hand.
JOHN
Shhhh.
John keeps his hand over her mouth but puts
his other one on her throat and begins squeezing.
JOHN
Be quiet.
INT.
HOSPITAL ROOM
Gwen-1 is laying in a bed. Her neck is severely bruised, and she has
some contusions on her face. She is
conscious and staring at a wall.
Tina enters with an overnight bag.
TINA
I brought some of your things.
Tina puts the bag in a chair and goes over to
Gwen-1’s bed, where she sits on the corner.
Gwen-1 looks away from her, her eyes tearing
up.
TINA
Gwen, I’m so sorry I didn’t get you out of
there sooner.
GWEN-1
I can’t believe I stayed there for so long.
Tina lays her hand on Gwen-1’s arm.
TINA
It’s over now. He’s going to jail.
GWEN-1
It’s not over. I’ve got to go to trial and be on stand and
talk about it. It won’t be over for a
long time. In fact, it will never be
over. I’ll always know how stupid I was.
Tina
doesn’t say anything, and looks at a wall instead.
TINA
They
gave you the day after pill?
GWEN-1
Yeah.
I don’t want to have a monster’s baby.
That’s something they only do in Greek myths.
Gwen-1 looks at Tina.
GWEN-1
Can I stay with you? Until I get on my feet?
Tina starts laughing.
GWEN-1
What?
Tina hugs Gwen-1.
TINA
I planned on taking you home with me whether
you liked it or not.
INT.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – DAY
Gwen-1 is hanging clothes on a rack. She has many of them on hangers draped over
her arm. She is no longer wounded, but
she walks with lingering emotional scars.
The bell above the door rings. Gwen-1 jumps, but quickly pulls herself
together.
Mrs.
Markland walks in.
MRS. MARKLAND
Oh, Gwenny!
I’m so glad to see you back here.
Are you feeling ok after your accident?
WORK-GWEN
Accident?
MRS. MARKLAND
The reason you were gone for so long? I tell you.
It’s not safe to walk the streets anymore, what with the maniac drivers
out there. But you look like you’ve
recovered nicely.
WORK-GWEN
Yes.
I’m fine now.
MRS. MARKLAND
Glad to hear it. That the new merchandise?
WORK-GWEN
Yes.
I’m going to put this stuff on the counter while I go get more
hangers. Feel free to look through it.
Work-Gwen rushes into the back room.
INT.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – BACK ROOM – DAY
Gwen-1 collapses on a table, and begins
shaking. She is holding herself and it
is an effort not to begin crying.
Finally, she gains control of herself.
Mrs.
Markland screams from the outer room and a thump like the sound of a
falling body is heard.
Gwen-1 jumps off the table and runs into the
outer room.
INT.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – DAY
Mrs.
Markland is slumped over the counter.
Her mouth is slack and her eyes are open.
Gwen-1 rushes over to her. She checks Mrs. Markland’s pulse and begins breathing into
her mouth after plugging her nose. She
does this several times, then listens to her heart. She continues doing this.
INT.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – EVENING
Flashing lights can be seen through the
windows. Gwen-1 is sitting on the stool
behind the counter, and she is weeping piteously. She is crying for more than just the death of
a woman who she saw daily. She is crying
because holding everything in has been too much for her.
Tina comes walking up in front of the
window. She is curious about the
flashing lights, and it’s evident on her face.
She walks inside the store, sees Gwen-1’s state, and rushes over to her,
hugging her.
TINA
Shhhhh.
No. What’s wrong?
GWEN-1
M-m-m-mrs.
Markland died.
TINA
Who’s Mrs.
Markland?
Gwen-1 can’t speak through the tears.
Tina continues to hold her, making shushing
sounds.
Gwen-1’s tears subside enough for her to
talk.
GWEN-1
She was just this nice old woman who came in
all the time. She bought clothes for the
kids downstairs from her whose mom couldn’t afford them and I was going to go
to her place f-f-for dinner.
TINA
How’d she die?
GWEN-1
They said it was probably a heart attack.
Tina hops onto the counter so she can sit in
front of Gwen-1.
TINA
This is hitting you pretty hard. You barely knew this woman. What’s going on?
Gwen-1 wipes her eyes with the hem of her
shirt.
GWEN-1
For so long, she was the only person I saw on
a regular basis who was always nice to me.
If John was being really bad, I knew that I was going to work, and
Mrs. Markland would be there with something
nice to say to me, or telling me about the kids downstairs from her and I’d be
reminded that not everyone is an asshole.
TINA
Of course not everyone’s an asshole.
Gwen-1 smiles through the tears on her
cheeks.
GWEN-1
I know they aren’t, but sometimes I needed to
be reminded of that.
Tina stands up and Gwen-1 follows suit. They walk out from behind the counter.
TINA
What do you want for dinner tonight?
GWEN-1
I don’t feel like eating.
TINA
You’re eating. I’m not going to get you out of an abusive
relationship just so you can be anorexic.
There are only so many statistics you can be. So what will it be? Pizza?
Chinese? Mexican?
Gwen-1 shakes her head.
GWEN-1
Can we just, for once, have something that
doesn’t come in a take-out container?
TINA
Look, I have an adamant rule about keeping
the kitchen virginal. No one’s ever
cooked in there, and no one’s going to.
It will remain unsullied.
GWEN-1
Are you sure?
I can make a mean chili.
Gwen-1’s face falls.
TINA
What?
GWEN-1
That was the last thing John ever cooked for
me.
TINA
So what!
It probably tasted like sewage, anyway.
Gwen-1 laughs lightly, wipes the beginnings
of tears from her eyes, and walks over to get her coat.
Gwen-1 puts her coat on and calls over to
Tina.
GWEN-1
Did Tim call?
Tina groans.
TINA
Gwen, it’s been three weeks. If he hasn’t called by now, he isn’t going
to.
GWEN-1
I just…
Nevermind. Let’s go.
Tina stands, starts to leave, and spots
something on the floor. She walks over
to it.
TINA
Hey!
What’s this?
Gwen-1 walks over and picks up the bag. She’s solemn.
GWEN-1
That’s Mrs.
Markland’s bag. I guess they
didn’t think to take it with her.
Tina begins looking in the bag.
GWEN-1
What are you doing?
TINA
I’m looking for an address book or
something. Maybe she has some family
this could go to.
GWEN-1
Oh.
Gwen-1 takes the bag from Tina and starts
pulling out items, looking through it.
Her mouth opens in shock. She
starts pulling out clothing items.
GWEN-1
Oh my god!
This came off the rack!
TINA
Maybe she stuck it in there after she bought
it and forgot to take it out.
GWEN-1
I just put it on the rack today!
TINA
Oh.
Gwen-1 takes more items out. There are random items with tags still on
them.
GWEN-1
She was a klepto.
Tina takes a moment, then shrugs.
TINA
I guess this sort of tarnishes your memory of
her. I kind of wish I hadn’t thought to
look in it.
GWEN-1
Why would it tarnish my memory of her? This has nothing to do with her being a nice
old woman. It’s a completely separate
thing.
Gwen-1 pulls out an address book and looks
through it.
GWEN-1
I don’t see any names in here. Just stores.
That’s sad. The only thing she
had in her life was shopping. I guess
I’ll take it to the downstairs neighbors.
She talked about them a lot.
Gwen-1 returns the items to the bag,
excluding the things that came from Diamond in the Rough, and hauls the bag to
her shoulder.
Tina leads the way out.
Gwen-1 follows and closes the door.
INT.
PIZZA PARLOR – NIGHT
The room contains a high counter blocking
view of the kitchen and a table with three chairs. There is a video game in the corner. All of this signifies that it services mainly
take-out/delivery.
The PIZZA BOY is taking Tina’s order.
Public-Gwen is standing off to the side,
smiling in amusement.
The Pizza Boy is flirting with Tina.
Tina is receptive, but in a somewhat
condescending way.
PIZZA BOY
You don’t want onions on it.
Tina raises her eyebrow.
TINA
Why not?
PIZZA BOY
Let’s just say onion breath might not be a
good thing for you, tonight.
Tina laughs.
TINA
So what’s a nice spic like you doing slinging
‘za?
PIZZA BOY
What should I be doing? Selling burritos?
TINA
Maybe.
Or maybe I should order a taco pizza to make sure you do a good job.
PIZZA BOY
I make a pizza so good your eyes will roll
back in your head.
PUBLIC-GWEN
You should take him up on it, Tina. From what you’ve told me, your eyes haven’t
rolled back in your head in far too long.
TINA
You shut up!
Tim walks in, with a GIRL.
Gwen-1 notices him enter, and her eyes get
big. She backs up into a corner, trying
to be unobtrusive.
Tina not only notices Tim come in, she
notices Gwen-1 noticing.
Tim is paying attention only to the girl on
his arm.
Tina moves out of the way so Tim can order,
but stares at him.
Tim sees Tina and nods at her. They are rather close to each other, and Tim
begins talking to her.
The Pizza Boy goes into the back to start
cooking, after making eye contact with Tina and nodding.
TIM
Hey…
TINA
Tina.
TIM
That’s right.
Tina. How’ve you been?
TINA
Fine.
You don’t remember me, do you?
It’s really odd, because we were just talking about you tonight.
TIM
Not really.
I mean, I know your face, but I just can’t place where I know you from.
TINA
Do you remember Gwen?
Tim smacks his hand against his head.
TIM
That’s right.
You’re Gwen’s friend. How is she?
GIRL
Who’s Gwen?
TIM
Just this girl I knew from way back.
TINA
It wasn’t so way back. I mean, it was just a few weeks ago that you
took her virginity then never called her again.
The girl looks at Tina in shock, then at Tim.
TINA
Are you a virgin too, sweetie? It’s ok.
From what I hear, he’s very considerate in the bedroom. Makes it easy for you to give your virginity
up.
Tim looks down at the girl, who is looking
somewhat confused, but a lot upset.
TIM
Can you wait outside?
The girl nods, uncertainly, then leaves.
Tim watches her go, then turns back to Tina.
TIM
What Gwen and I did has absolutely nothing to
do with you, so why don’t you stay out of it?
TINA
Hmmm.
Maybe because she’s my best friend?
TIM
You made it sound like I ripped her virginity
away from her. Truth is, that night she
came onto me. It’s not my fault if she
was too stupid to realize that it was just a one night thing.
TINA
Bullshit.
TIM
It’s true.
She was all over me.
TINA
No, bullshit about Gwen being stupid. You made her think she was special to
you.
TIM
She was for a little while, but I’m not ready
to be tied down to one girl. I didn’t
make her any promises.
Tina sighs and looks at him less angrily.
TINA
Just… why didn’t you call her? You could have at least let her know instead
of having her wait by the phone for three weeks.
TIM
You know, again that’s none of your
business. Now, I have to go convince the
girl I’m seeing that I’m not some sort of pseudo-raping bastard.
Tina nods and waggles their fingers at him
before flipping him off.
Gwen-1 rushes over to Tina.
GWEN-1
What the fuck was that?
TINA
I was just having fun with him. It’s not like he didn’t deserve it.
GWEN-1
Him deserving it wasn’t the point. The fact that he didn’t call me back… I don’t know what that was, but if anything
was going to be said, I should have been the one to say it. And I definitely wouldn’t have said it while
he was with someone else. You made me
seem pathetic!
Tina looks annoyed.
TINA
You wouldn’t ever have done anything.
GWEN-1
The choice should still have been mine to
make.
TINA
Fine.
Sorry. Can we just drop it now.
GWEN-1
Whatever.
Now he’ll never call me back.
TINA
God!
What teenage soap-opera did you step out of? What the hell would you want him to call you
for now? You can see what an ass he is.
Gwen-1 sits down in one of the chairs at the
table. She buries her head in her hands.
GWEN-1
ARGH!
I like him.
TINA
Why would you like him after all this? He was here with some tramp.
Tina comes over and sits with Gwen-1.
TINA
Gwenny, I know guys like that. I mean, come on. He took you home on your first date.
GWEN-1
Second.
And so what?
TINA
And you were drunk at the time.
GWEN-1
You encouraged it.
TINA
I was drunk at the time, too.
GWEN-1
I don’t want to be alone the rest of my life!
Gwen-1 stands up and heads over to the video
game. She starts searching through her
pockets and comes up with a couple of quarters.
She inserts them and starts playing.
Tina follows Gwen-1 over and stands next to
her while she plays the game.
TINA
So, you’d rather go from rotten guy to rotten
guy for the rest of your life just so you’re not by yourself. God, if you keep this up, you’ll probably be
dead by the time you’re thirty.
GWEN-1
It’s not like that.
TINA
You know what, Gwen? You’re not alone. You’ll always have me.
GWEN-1
That’s not the same. You’re just my friend.
TINA
You’re so fucking blind sometimes!
Tina moves in front of Gwen-1, blocking her
view of the game. She stares at Gwen-1
for a minute, then kisses her passionately.
Gwen-1 stands there in shock.
Pizza Boy slides the pizza onto the counter.
PIZZA BOY
You’re pizza’s done.
Gwen-1 looks at the pizza, her eyes a little
wild. She walks stiffly over to the
pizza, picks it up, and carries it out, holding it like a shield.
Tina sighs and walks up to the counter,
pulling her wallet out.
TINA
What do I owe you?
INT.
TINA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Tina’s apartment is slightly cluttered with
computer bits and magazines, along with clothes. There is a television and vcr stacked on a
milk crate. There are Christmas lights
strung about that is the main source of light.
ROBOT-GWEN and Tina are sitting on the couch,
the pizza box between them.
ROBOT-GWEN is completely expressionless. Her hair is perfectly in place, and her
clothing immaculate.
Tina is looking at ROBOT-GWEN
ROBOT-GWEN is sitting stiffly.
The pizza is partially gone, but given that ROBOT-GWEN
still has an uneaten piece on her plate, it would appear that Tina is the only
one partaking of the food.
TINA
Do you want to talk about it?
ROBOT-GWEN
Talk about what?
TINA
Don’t play dumb with me, Gwendolyn.
ROBOT-GWEN
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
TINA
God damn it!
Snap out of it. Fuck. This is how you always get when you don’t
want to deal with something. You
retreat. You become an impenetrable
wall. Please stop. I think we should talk.
Robot-Gwen looks at Tina.
ROBOT-GWEN
I don’t want to snap out of it. I think we should go on as if nothing had
happened.
Tina puts her hand against her forehead in a
sign of frustration.
TINA
If I’d know I was going to lose my best
friend, I never would have done it.
GWEN-1
You haven’t lost your best friend.
Tina and Gwen-1 look at each other for a few
seconds, relief plain on Tina’s face.
TINA
Promise?
Can things not be weird around us?
GWEN-1
I don’t know.
Maybe you’re right. Maybe we
should talk about this.
TINA
Is there anything you want to know?
GWEN-1
Are you gay?
TINA
I don’t know.
I guess.
GWEN-1
Have you ever even been with a guy?
Tina blushes and looks away.
TINA
Well, yeah.
I mean, I’ve told you about it.
GWEN-1
Then you’re not gay?
TINA
It’s not like that.
GWEN-1
So, you hated it?
TINA
It’s not like that, either. I don’t know.
I just haven’t been attracted to guys like I have to girls.
GWEN-1
Have you ever been with a girl?
Tina looks pointedly at Gwen-1.
Gwen-1 blushes.
GWEN-1
I mean besides that.
TINA
I don’t know.
No.
Tina and Gwen-1 look at anything but each
other.
Gwen-1 slides her piece of pizza back into
the box.
TINA
I’m in love with you, you know.
Gwen-1’s face gets a pained look on it.
GWEN-1
You know, just once, I wish someone would be
exactly who I thought they were instead of throwing me for a loop just when I
got to know them.
TINA
I’m still me.
GWEN-1
But now you’re a lesbian and now you’re in
love with me and now everything’s different!
TINA
Everything always changes! That doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Gwen-1 closes the pizza box and takes it to
the small, adjacent kitchenette. She
puts the pizza in the refrigerator.
GWEN-1
I don’t know if I can even think of you like
that.
TINA
Can you try?
GWEN-1
I don’t know.
Tina stands up and goes over to Gwen-1. She tentatively puts her hands on Gwen-1’s
shoulders and kisses her gently.
Gwen-1’s eyes flutter closed and she kisses
Tina back.
Tina whispers against Gwen-1’s lips.
TINA
Was that ok?
Gwen-1 looks confused and slightly upset.
GWEN-1
I don’t know.
But I think I should move out.
TINA
What?
Why?
GWEN-1
It’s too soon to be living with someone I’m
going to be dating.
INT.
COURTHOUSE – MID-AFTERNOON
Tina and Gwen-1 are outside of a courtroom,
waiting. They are both dressed nicely.
John is walked out by a BAILIFF. John is wearing an orange jumpsuit and
handcuffs.
Tina quietly talks to the bailiff, and the
bailiff and Tina step a few feet away from John and Gwen-1.
JOHN
Why did you do this to me, Gwenny? I thought you loved me.
John is near tears.
Gwen-1 shakes her head.
GWEN-1
Yeah, and I thought you loved me, too. Until you decided that it was ok to hurt me.
Gwen-1’s voice falters around the word,
“hurt.”
John shakes his head.
JOHN
That was a mistake.
Aren’t I allowed to make mistakes?
GWEN-1
No.
JOHN
Don’t do this, Gwen. You
said you’d love me forever. God,
Gwen. I don’t know what I’m going to do
in jail. Will you at least come visit
me?
Gwen-1
shudders.
GWEN-1
I hate what you did to me.
I have nightmares about it, but at least you showed me I was too good
for men like you.
John starts shaking in anger.
JOHN
You are nothing without me.
You are nothing.
Tiny-Gwen looks up at him with big eyes, but
shakes her head, as if to clear it.
The bailiff and Tina come over.
BAILIFF
Everything ok?
GWEN-1
Everything’s fine.
Tina comes around and puts her arm around
Gwen-1’s waist and pulls her close. She
glares up at John. Tina kisses Gwen-1 on
the cheek. Gwen-1 nuzzles Tina’s neck.
GWEN-1
By the way, John? I’m
gay.
John lunges at them, restrained by the
bailiff. Tina and Gwen-1 walk away
holding hands. John screams to their
backs.
JOHN
You bitches. You dyke
bitches. I hate you.
INT.
DONUT SHOP – NIGHT
Gwen and Tina enter together. They are holding hands. The shop is crowded as it was
previously.
Susan comes out and smiles when she sees
them.
SUSAN
Hey girls.
What can I get you tonight?
Tina steps forward.
TINA
Two coffees.
Two waters. You should just start
getting out order when you see us come in.
Gwen walks over to the large table and sits
down. She takes her coat off and lays it
over the back of her chair. She is
dressed in a red shirt and a black skirt.
She is wearing makeup and smiling.
Moody walks over and slumps down into a seat
next to her.
MOODY
So, how’re my favorite lesbians tonight?
Gwen smiles at him.
GWEN
Just fine.
And yourself?
MOODY
I could complain, but not very fucking loudly.
Tina walks over, carrying the coffees in one
hand and the waters in another. She sets
them down on the table and lightly backhands Gwen in the shoulder.
TINA
You could have helped me instead of making me
bring them myself.
GWEN
Yeah, but then I couldn’t have watched you
walk over here.
Tina sits down on the other side of Gwen.
GWEN
You should go drinking with us tonight,
Moody.
TINA
Yes.
We’re celebrating.
MOODY
What are you celebrating?
GWEN
The trial is over.
MOODY
Rock on.
GWEN
Yeah.
It feels good to finally have that over with. I actually went over to talk to him
afterward. He actually had the nerve to
ask me if I’d visit him in jail.
Moody snorts.
MOODY
You told him that you hoped he got anally
raped with a barbed cock, right? Why did
you even bother talking to him?
GWEN
I guess I needed some of that new-age closure
bullshit.
MOODY
Did you get it?
GWEN
I guess.
They sit silently for a moment. Gwen nods her head to the music in the
background. Tina looks over to Moody.
TINA
Oh, and we broke up.
MOODY
We who?
GWEN
We, me and Tina.
MOODY
No!
Moody gets up and stands between Tina and
Gwen. He smacks each of their hands,
then puts his arms around their shoulders.
Tina and Gwen are laughing.
MOODY
You can’t do this to me! Bad lesbians!
TINA
It’s not like we’re not still going to fuck.
GWEN
We just changed the nature of our
relationship.
TINA
You can call us
non-romantic-but-mutually-sexually-beneficial-life-experience-partners.
MOODY
What the fuck does that mean?
GWEN
That we love each other because we’re best
friends but there’s not romance here and we’ll still fuck each other until
someone else comes along.
MOODY
So, you’ll still fuck?
TINA
Sure.
MOODY
Good.
Then my fantasies are in tact. God
you guys make things complicated. Now,
let me see the two of you kiss.
Moody pushes their heads together and they
kiss for him.
Susan calls from the counter.
SUSAN
Not in here!
Take it outside.
Moody walks over to the counter.
MOODY
You can’t discriminate against them because
they’re dykes!
SUSAN
I’m not.
I’m discriminating against them because they’re cute.
MOODY
Then you’ll definitely have to discriminate
against me.
SUSAN
I’ve been discriminating against you since
the day I started here.
Moody rolls his eyes and walks back over to
the table.
MOODY
So, you girls are treating, right?
TINA
At the bar?
While the money holds out. I’ve
got to pee.
Tina stands up and walks to the bathroom.
Moody sits down next to Gwen.
MOODY
So, why did you guys break up?
GWEN
Because I realized I was using her.
MOODY
What?
Gwen sits back, at ease.
GWEN
See, I’m not really attracted to her. I mean, the sex is good, but I don’t lust
after her.
MOODY
You’re ruining the fantasy again.
GWEN
Do you want to hear this or not?
MOODY
Fine.
GWEN
Well, anyway.
I was using her. I was being with
her and getting comforted and being loved while I healed from all that time
with John.
MOODY
That’s part of what being in love is.
GWEN
Yeah, but I don’t have those gooey feelings
about her. I don’t get the flip-flops in
my stomach when I think about her.
MOODY
She’s in love with you, you know.
GWEN
No she’s not.
She just loves me. I was just the
person she fixated on while she figured out she liked women.
MOODY
But, you’re still gay, right?
GWEN
Hmmm.
Maybe sometimes? Women are certainly
a lot less scary than men, right now. I
doubt it, though. I don’t know. I don’t need to think about it now. I think I’m going to spend some time not
pursuing a relationship.
MOODY
Man, you guys fuck everything up.
GWEN
Well, we were never really doing this for
your pleasure.
Tina walks back and sits down.
TINA
What were you guys talking about?
Gwen turns toward Tina.
GWEN
You.
TINA
It better have been all good things otherwise
I’ll kick your ass.
Gwen stands up.
GWEN
You want to take this outside, HomeGirl?
Tina stands up.
TINA
Oh, it’s on, now.
MOODY
I’ll forgive you guys for breaking up if you
get into a cat-fight.
Gwen rolls her eyes and sits back down.
Tim walks in from outside.
Gwen’s eyes get big.
Tina glances at Gwen.
Tim walks over to Gwen.
TIM
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Gwen raises her eyebrows and stands up.
GWEN
Sure.
Tim leads her over to the non-smoking
section.
They both sit down at a table, across from
each other.
GWEN
How did you find me?
TIM
I went to Diamond in the Rough. Your assistant told me you hang out here at
night.
GWEN
Alright, so why did you find me?
Tim starts fiddling with a sugar shaker.
TIM
I wanted to apologize for not calling you
like I said I would.
GWEN
Why now?
Tim puts the shaker down.
TIM
I was going through some stuff back
then. I’m coming through it now, but I
realized I was an asshole. I really am
sorry.
GWEN
Alright, I guess. I’m a long time over it.
Gwen stands up.
GWEN
Thanks for apologizing.
Gwen sits back down.
GWEN
I guess I should thank you.
TIM
For what?
GWEN
You were the catalyst for getting me out of a
bad situation.
TIM
Alright.
Good. I’m glad.
Gwen stands back up, and makes as if to
go. Tim stands up and takes her hand.
TIM
Well, you know, I still like you. I was hoping we could go out for a few
drinks. Maybe go back to my place and
talk for a while.
Gwen starts laughing.
Tim looks confused.
TIM
What?
Gwen stops laughing.
GWEN
Oh.
You were serious. No. Definitely not.
TIM
Why not?
GWEN
You’re only a virgin once.
Gwen walks back to her table.
TIM
What does that mean?
Gwen sits down. Moody comes up behind her and starts humping
her back. Gwen shoves him off and Tina
hands her some creamer for her coffee.
Tim watches for a minute before walking out.