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By Savannah Haze Date: 2001 Jun 14 Comment on this Work [[2001.06.14.18.21.24148]] |
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SCENE FOUR- PAST (During the voice over, there is no actual movement; only still frames in this order: Allie talking to a counselor, reading a book, writing in a journal, walking in a park, picture of Seth with BIG SMILE, Seth on his knee with ring, picture of Michael, wedding, house, ultrasound.) ALLIE'S VOICE "During those three years, I cleaned up my life, exorcised the demons the best I could, and met a man. His name was Seth. Seth was handsome, intelligent, and very goal oriented; he was everything my mother had ever hoped for me in a man. He wasn't very interesting, but I guess I was just looking for stability. We dated for a year and he proposed to me. In the back of my mind, I knew that I was still in love with Michael but I said 'yes' anyway. We were married the following spring. Things were actually going great. We had just bought a house and we were even trying to have children. Then as I was leaving work one day. . ." (Allie is walking out of a door with a group of her students, talking.) MICHAEL voice from behind: "I've been waiting for you." (Allie recognizes the voice and slowly turns around. The students continue walking.) MICHAEL (quietly) "Hey." (Allie just stares.) MICHAEL (trying to break the ice) "God, Al, have I changed that much?" (Allie turns and begins to walk off. Michael goes after her, realizing that this is going to be harder than he probably expected.) MICHAEL "Allie, wait! Allie! Please don't walk away." (Tears are already streaming down her face) ALLIE (screaming without turning around) "Don't talk to me about walking away, Michael." (Michael reaches out and pulls Allie to him) MICHAEL "Jesus, Allie, can't I at least get a hello? How ya doing? Kiss my ass.' Anything just talk to me!" (Allie turns abruptly, her face full of hurt and anger) ALLIE "What are you doing here, Michael?" MICHAEL "I came to see you." ALLIE (in disbelief with a touch of sarcasm) "To see me? It's a little late for that, Michael." MICHAEL "Look, I know you're married and all, and I'm not here to cause trouble. I just had to talk to you." ALLIE (meeting his eyes, coldly) "You are so unfair." MICHAEL "Unfair? Wait, what are you talking about?" (She is almost hysterical.) ALLIE "Do you think you can leave for three years and then come back all of a sudden? With no warning or anything?" MICHAEL "I didn't think it would be this much of a problem. I wasn't expecting this sort of greeting. Allie, what is wrong? Why are you so upset? (more gently) I thought, I thought you'd be glad to see me." (Her face as softened. He reaches for her and she pulls away, the anger returning.) ALLIE "Do you want to know why I'm upset? Do you really? Well, if you're that insensitive and, and IGNORANT then I'll tell you, Michael. (gathering herself) You leave for three years. Three fucking years. And just when I get my life completely back to normal and stop thinking about you every single day you decide to come back." MICHAEL "I'm not trying to come back, Allie; I'm just passing through and I thought it'd be nice to get together. You know, and just talk." ALLIE "Well, you thought wrong, Michael. (Regaining her composure; coldly) I have things to do. Goodbye, Michael. (She turns and begins to leave.) MICHAEL (softly) "I still think about you every single day." (She stops and turns around. They stare at each other. Jewel's "Absence of Fear" begins.) ALLIE (softer, the hurt and confusion coating her voice) "What do you want Michael?" MICHAEL "Just to talk. There's a lot we left unsaid and I want to fix things." ALLIE "It's too late, Michael. I fixed them myself. You weren't there." MICHAEL "Then just let me explain." ALLIE "I don't want an explanation. I don't want an apology. I just want you to go away. You've hurt me enough." MICHAEL "Can we just go somewhere and talk? Just for a while. I know you have things to do but it won't take long. (tears fill his eyes) Allie, I can't keep living with this inside me. I hate myself. You have to give me a chance." ALLIE (distant, paying more attention to his face than what he says) "A chance?" MICHAEL "You don't have to forgive me. Just let me say what I need to say." ALLIE "A chance. A chance. Alright, let's go somewhere and sit down. I'll hear you out." MICHAEL (relieved but cautious) "Yeah? Yeah. Good. Okay, well, I'm parked over there if you want to take my car. Or we can walk. It's all up to you." (Allie nods and allows him to lead her to the car. As they walk away, they are silent. She is still serious but the anger has ceased.) END SCENE |