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By Savannah Haze Date: 2001 Jun 22 Comment on this Work [[2001.06.22.14.47.65]] |
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SCENE SIX (Still in past) (Michael and Allie are now walking down the street. It is the next day. Allie has an ice cream cone: Michael, a soda.) ALLIE'S VOICE OVER SCENES OF ALLIE AND MICHAEL "He was in town for only a couple of days. I told Seth that I had things to do at the school and spent my afternoons with Michael. Sure I felt kind of bad, but I justified it by telling myself that Michael would be leaving soon and I wasn't getting into anything. Just two old friends getting together. Two old friends who at one time had been the most intimate confidantes and lovers. We avoided the topic of my marriage, and I preferred to keep it that way." MICHAEL "Allie, tell me something..." ALLIE "No, let's not talk about it. We'll discuss it later." MICHAEL "How do you know what I'm going to ask you?" ALLIE "I know how your mind works. You're curiosity is going to get the best of you every time." MICHAEL "Well, then it just will. We can't avoid the topic. I want to know about you and... him." ALLIE (hesitantly) "Well, he's a lawyer for a big firm in the city but he's not from here. He's from San Francisco...no, San Diego. I always get those confused." MICHAEL "Not a biography. You and him. I couldn't care less about him, just how he is with you." ALLIE "You're not the least bit curious as to what he's like? Don't want to compare? MICHAEL (ignoring her)"Are you happy? Does he treat you right? (pause) Do you really love him?" ALLIE "Michael..." MICHAEL "I just want to know. No, I need to know. It's not just a curiosity. I have to know that you are happy. You deserve that." ALLIE "I'm happy. I mean, he treats me great. He has a great job and wants the same things in life I do. A family, security. My family loves him. MICHAEL (persistent) "Do you love him?" ALLIE (slightly irritated) "Yes, Michael I love him. Would I have married him if I didn't love him?" MICHAEL "Would you?" ALLIE (she is slow in answering) "It's fine, Michael. He's a sweet guy. Really, he is. You don't have to worry about me." MICHAEL (not satisfied) "Does he love you?" ALLIE "He must. He could have had so much better than me." MICHAEL (irritated) "See, there you go. I thought you'd outgrow that!" ALLIE "What?" MICHAEL "That juvenile self-depreciating bullshit, Allie. If there's anyone in the world that doesn't love you, it's not because they felt you didn't deserve their love. If anything, they didn't deserve you." ALLIE (defensive) "It's not bullshit. I've come a long way, Michael. So what, that I still have trouble believing that I deserve something good. At least I'm pretending. I do pretty fucking well with the whole "self love" thing. I know what it's like to hate myself, to truly hate myself. It doesn't just go away overnight. The way I feel is not juvenile, and I don't do it for attention like you always accused me. I'm too tired to put on a show. For you or for anyone else. As long as I'm accepting someone's love, why do I have to believe I deserve it? This is who I am, Michael. Some things don't change; they just become easier to cope with. Everyone has insecurities. Even you if you admit it or not. Maybe you can hide yours really well or maybe you're one of the blessed few that can truly with it, but I just take things as they come. So before you chastise me you need to consider you're not dealing with Mary-fucking-Sunshine." (Allie throws her ice cream cone in a garbage can. Michael is silent. Allie waits for a retort but there isn't one. Michael has a pained look on his face. He tosses his soda in the can and steps toward Allie. She tenses up slightly. He takes her face between his hands and looks at her until she finally meets his eyes. Her eyes tear up. Then he takes her in his arms, cradling the back of her head with his hand, his other arm wrapped tightly around her. She cries.) MICHAEL "Let it out, baby. It's okay, it's okay. You can feel however you want to feel. I'm sorry, shhhh, I'm sorry..." (Michael gently rocks her as she cries) MICHAEL (in Allie's ear) "I've never found anyone who could touch you. No one with your passion or your gentleness or..." (He pulls her back and looks at her) MICHAEL "...or anyone who made me feel even half of what I feel with you." ALLIE "You don't have to say things to make me feel better." MICHAEL "Yes, I do because they're true. Allie, I swear, there hasn't been a day go by in the past three years that I didn't wish I was back with you. There are still nights I wake up and for a moment I'll panic because you're not there. I've lived in the past because even though the past meant pain, it also held the memories off all the good times. God, if I could just make you see what I see you'd be in love with yourself." (Allie gives a slight smile.) MICHAEL (lightly)"I pour my heart out and you laugh at me." ALLIE "I'm not laughing at you." MICHAEL "I don't care if you are. It's worth seeing you smile." (Allie realizes they have been carrying on this conversation in the middle of a busy sidewalk. She looks a bit embarrassed.) ALLIE "People are looking at us, Michael." MICHAEL "They're looking at you. They see it, too." (Michael stops a man walking by) MICHAEL (gesturing to Allie) "You can see it, can't you?" MAN "See what?" (Michael gestures to Allie again.) MAN "Um, sure. I see it. I have to go now." MICHAEL "You scared him. See, you're a goddess." ALLIE "Okay, that's enough. I feel better." MICHAEL (loudly) "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention..." (Allie grabs his arms and begins to pull him down the street) MICHAEL (as Allie pulls him along, trying to put her hand over his mouth) "Isn't she amazing? She looks like an ordinary person, but..." (The two continue to scuffle. Michael finally gives up and grabs Allie. He throws her over his shoulder and begins to spin her. She squeals and playfully hits him. He finally sets her down in front of him. Both laugh as they try to catch their breath. One strand of hair falls in front of Allie's face. Michael pushes it back. Their eyes lock.) MICHAEL (just above a whisper) "Allie..." ALLIE "No, Michael. Don't say it." MICHAEL "I love you." |