| Author | Post |
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solarcirclegirl
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 17th, 2007 |
| Location: | Conway, Arkansas USA |
| Posts: | 75 |
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Posted: Thu May 29th, 2008 03:03 pm |
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SCENE 3
Lights up on the driveway. HAZEL is sitting her father’s chair, drinking a glass of wine. Enter CARTER, who looks frazzled.
HAZEL
Finished already?
CARTER
More like I haven’t begun.
HAZEL
Then get back to your house and keep working.
CARTER
I need a break.
CARTER sits in his father’s chair and starts to open the cooler. HAZEL swings her legs over the arm of the chair and plants her feet on the cooler.
HAZEL
I don’t think so.
CARTER
Come on.
HAZEL
No. You can take a break, but no drinking.
CARTER
Fine.
Beat.
CARTER
Things could be easier.
HAZEL
How so?
CARTER
Things could be less complicated.
HAZEL
Yeah, your bride-to-be could have not changed the time table on us.
CARTER
That’s not what I’m talking about.
HAZEL
What could be simpler?
CARTER
If we had been able to go to Senior Prom together, this whole mess would have been avoided.
HAZEL
You’re thinking of something that happened 15 years ago? How is that even relevant?
CARTER
I was going to ask you, but what’s his Picassohead asked you first.
HAZEL
Raul?
CARTER
Yeah, that guy. I bet if we had gotten together it would be our wedding you’re planning.
HAZEL
Have you been drinking?
CARTER
No, I mean it! Haven’t you thought of it?
HAZEL
Oh, no. Not this again.
CARTER
What?
HAZEL
It’s common for bridegrooms to get cold feet. It’s just the jitters. It’s nothing to be tossed away by.
CARTER
Maybe it is.
HAZEL
Carter, stop it. Stop it right now.
CARTER
Haven’t you ever wondered?
HAZEL
This wasn’t funny at the wake, and it’s not funny now.
CARTER
Hazel.
CARTER takes HAZEL in his arms.
HAZEL
What are you doing?
CARTER
Tell me this isn’t the reason you’re not wearing Ryan’s ring.
They kiss. HAZEL pushes him away. She is visibly shaken.
HAZEL
Do you feel better now?
CARTER
Yes I do.
HAZEL
I hope that having one last kiss before you get married has helped you. Now go home and write your vows.
CARTER
Hazel.
HAZEL
Go. I want you to leave.
CARTER
Hazel, come on.
HAZEL
I’m done talking. Get out.
CARTER exits. HAZEL paces and touches her fingers to her lips. She sits and puts her head in her hands. Enter RYAN.
RYAN
Hazel?
HAZEL
Jesus, Ryan. You scared me half out of my skin.
RYAN
Sorry.
HAZEL
What are you doing here?
RYAN
I need to talk to you.
HAZEL
About what?
RYAN hands her an envelope.
HAZEL
The Associated Press?
RYAN
Yeah. Open it.
HAZEL opens it and reads it.
HAZEL
Oh, Ryan.
RYAN
I know.
HAZEL
Where did the Associated Press find you?
RYAN
I was browsing for jobs.
HAZEL
You were? I had no idea.
RYAN
I’ve been feeling restless. I’ve wanted to see the world, the sands of the Gobi Desert, the mountains in South America, the snows of Antarctica. Instead I’ve been wasting my time in gardens, churches and hotels, taking pictures of spoiled brats on their wedding day. I don’t want to be a wedding photographer forever.
HAZEL
You didn’t seem unhappy.
RYAN
That’s not the same as being happy.
HAZEL
This is an amazing opportunity.
RYAN
I know. I’m finally getting the chance to travel, take pictures, learn about things.
HAZEL
It’s a wonderful opportunity.
RYAN
But it’s going to be at least two years.
HAZEL
I see.
HAZEL folds the letter back up. Beat.
HAZEL
I just wish...you should have told me you were unhappy.
RYAN
How could I tell you that? I mean, this is your life, what you want to do. It just isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Beat.
RYAN
Why aren’t you wearing my ring?
HAZEL
Oh for God’s sake.
RYAN
Do you think it’s ugly?
HAZEL
No, it’s not that.
RYAN
Because I’ll get you a different ring if you think it’s ugly.
HAZEL
Ryan, I think it’s beautiful. It’s the most beautiful one I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of rings.
RYAN
Then why aren’t you wearing it?
HAZEL
For God’s sake, my father did just die and I have to deal with the wedding from hell, can I deal with one emotional trainwreck at a time?
RYAN
Emotional trainwreck?
HAZEL
Ryan, I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant.
RYAN
Our relationship is an emotional trainwreck to you? I’ve given you the best photographs of my life. I’ve suffered temper tantrums from the Brides of Satan, I’ve been decked by grooms thinking I was coming onto their wives, I’ve suffered in silence with my love for you sustaining me and now you tell me this whole thing is just one big emotional trainwreck?
HAZEL
No, I’m the emotional trainwreck. First our dads die, and my mind’s been playing tricks on me, and then Carter and this wedding to that beast. It’s ridiculous. He deserves something more than that...that...monster. Did you know that she bullied him into marrying her? Can you imagine their first date? She probably clubbed him and drug him home by his hair. Our parents must be rolling over in their graves right now.
RYAN
Oh my God.
HAZEL
What?
RYAN
How could I not see it before?
HAZEL
What are you talking about?
RYAN
You’re not wearing my ring because I’m not Carter.
HAZEL
What are you talking about?
RYAN
You’re in love with Carter.
HAZEL
Of course not. You’re talking crazy.
RYAN
It’s so obvious. How could I have missed it before?
HAZEL
Carter has nothing to do with this. I’m just in a really weird place right now.
RYAN
You have to know, I will do anything it takes.
HAZEL
Ryan--
RYAN
I’ll be more like Carter. I’ll be stable, reliable, loyal and dependable.
HAZEL
That sounds like a cross between a puppy and a station wagon.
RYAN
Exactly. I’ll be more like a dog and a car. I’ll do what it takes. I’ll cut my hair, I’ll--
RYAN tears the letter in half.
RYAN
I’ll turn down the job.
HAZEL
Ryan, no.
RYAN
I want to be with you. Don’t you understand?
HAZEL
But you just said--
RYAN
I would be gone for so long.
HAZEL
I do, but..look, a wise man once said it’s better to live a little wild for a short time than a lot of boring for a long time. Maybe it’s time you chose.
RYAN puts the ring box in HAZEL’S hand and closes her palm around it.
RYAN
Let’s take a night to think about this.
RYAN kisses HAZEL.
RYAN
Good night.
RYAN exits. HAZEL sits for a moment and opens the cooler. Finding nothing there, she grabs the wine glass and goes into the house. Lights down.
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Michaeltw721
Member
| Joined: | Wed Mar 5th, 2008 |
| Location: | NYC, New York USA |
| Posts: | 37 |
| Status: |
Offline
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Posted: Wed Jun 11th, 2008 06:00 pm |
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Does it feel like Carter's kiss comes out of left field?
Otherwise, this is progressing really nicely.
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Current time is 11:31 pm | |
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