Pillow Talk

By

Martin Cox

MARTIN COX 2011 assatiates@gmail.com

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

A babys crib, a colored mobile glides effortlessly above,playing a sweet nursery rhyme. In the corner, a lone teddybear sits, eyes bright, patient, waiting expectantly.

Across the room MELANIE REYNOLDS, 30s, velour tracksuit,raven hair scraped back, tight, harsh, hums along tunelesslywhile rummaging around in a closet.

She turns, revealing a prematurely aging face and makes herway across the room to an armchair, inviting, also aging,cracked leather.

In one hand a bottle of Belvedere vodka and a glass. In theother an ashtray containing a pack of Marlboro and a Zippolighter carefully balanced. Stability in motion.

Her distended belly and stretched attire proudly announceimminent Motherhood. She eases herself into the chair.

MELANIEAahhh! Nice.

She places the ashtray on the chair arm, the glass andbottle between her legs as she massages her bump.

MELANIE (CONTD)I love these moments. Just the twoof us. Our secret time.

She pours herself a large vodka and gently places the bottleon the other arm, the glass back between her legs. Skilful,practised.

MELANIE (CONTD)Like Ive told you before, if Daddyknew I did this, hed get real mad.

Deftly removing a cigarette, she zippos it and inhalesdeeply.

Before exhaling she takes a huge slug of vodka, swallows,closes her eyes, savors the moment.

Twists of gray-blue smoke snake their way from Melaniesnostrils

2.

MELANIE (CONTD)But Daddies dont understand. Theyjust dont know what Mommies gothrough.

Another slug followed by the preordained nicotine hit.

MELANIE (CONTD)The sickness, the back ache, bloodpressure, raging hormones, God!...And worse of all the rejection.Too fat and ugly I guess. Not likebefore. Not hot!

One more huge hit of alcoholic nectar and a draw, so severeit propels sparks into the air. A veritable Vesuvius.

She examines her glass and then her smoke.

MELANIE (CONTD)No. I need this! In fact I deserveit!

The nusery rhyme stops. Melanies head snaps up toward themobile.

MELANIE (CONTD)You know we started decorating yourroom but had to stop...Didnt knowwhich color to use. Pink, blue,some said yellow! Uughh!

Slug, draw followed by a top up.

MELANIE (CONTD)Ysee, Daddies always want to know.Mommies dont. Just want asurprise. Boy, girl, no matter. Asurprise is all...Healthy.

Melanie leaves the sanctuary of her chair and walks acrossto the crib, drink in one hand, Marlboro in the other. Sherubs her belly.

MELANIE (CONTD)Maybe a girl?...Id dress you upevery day. Youd be so cute! Wedgo to pageants and then youd be amodel or a movie star. A realbeauty. Mend go crazy.

She reaches out and touches the crib.

3.

MELANIE (CONTD)A boy? Oh, then Daddyd be sohappy. Hed teach you to fight, todrive, to date girls, drink,fish....My God what fun youd bothhave.

She laughs as she spins away, slightly high and shufflesback to the chair. Reaching her resting place she bends downto stub out the dying remains of her smoke.

Suddenly, a light knock on the door. Melanie tuns quicklyspilling the ashtray and its contents onto the floor.

MELANIE (CONTD)Shit!

She places her glass on the vacant arm and stoops to clearup the ash-spill.

A man speaks.

MAN (O.S.)Mel?...Mel, you O.K?

Melanie panics, retrieves the ashtray and cigarette butt andblows away the remaining incriminating evidence, silently,guiltily looking over her shoulder at the door.

MELANIEYeah. Yeah, Im fine. Just in here,thinking, praying a little. Youknow, usual stuff.

She nimbly rises, grabs the glass and bottle and heads tothe closet on a mission of self-protection.

The door swings wide open. Melanie freezes. BRAD REYNOLDS,30s, muscular, tee shrt, jeans, sneakers, stands framed inthe doorway.

BRADWhat the hell are you doing?

Melanie desperately tries to hide the drink and cigarettes.

Brad makes his way across the room, stands behind his wife.

Melanie hangs her head.

MELANIENothing...

Brad angrily swings her around.

4.

BRADNothing? You call this nothing?

He smashes the ashtray from her grasp, grabs the bottle andglass and throws them across the room.

BRAD (CONTD)You bitch!...You promised me...youpromised me never again...God!Forget me...you promised our baby!

He roughly grabs her and throws her to the ground.

BRAD (CONTD)You are pathetic! A disgrace!

Brad stands over her, threatening. He prods her with hisfinger as she cowers and attempts to crawl into the corner.

BRAD (CONTD)Youre sick you know that?

Brad drags her back into the center of the room by her hair.

BRAD (CONTD)Oh no. Not this time honey. Youaint gonna hide this time.

Melanie screams.

MELANIEStop! Please stop! I promise...

Brad shouts in her face, spit spraying from his mouth.

BRADYou want to be a mother?...I pityany kid you bring into thisworld...you selfish...

Brad straightens up, regains some of his composure.

BRAD (CONTD)Now its my turn to make you apromise...I promise you that Imgonna walk outta that door andthats the last youll ever see ofme!

Melanie howls and throws herself at Brad clutching his leg.

5.

MELANIEDont leave...you cant, notnow...I need you...

Brad reaches down and prises her hands from his shin. Heglances at the broken ashtray, bottle and glass.

BRADLooks like you got all you need.

With one more disdainful look he leaves.

Melanie lies on the floor sobbing. The front door slams.

Now beside herself, she crawls to the crib, reaches up,grabs the guard rail and pulls herself onto her knees.

Rivers of tears course down her distressed countenance. Shepeers through the bars at the empty mattress, caresses it.

Slowly she pulls two pillows from under her tracksuit top.

Overcome with emotion she throws herself onto thedown-filled surrogates, buries her head and wails.

MELANIEForgive me! Please forgive melittle one...It was all my fault!...I still cant stop!

FADE OUT:

THE END