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Love Amok
(excerpt)
by David Speranza
EXT. RITTENHOUSE SQUARE (PHILADELPHIA) - DAY
Dan sits on a park bench eating lunch with his friend SAM KAUFFMAN--a round, affable fellow who at the moment is frowning.
I don’t like it.
DAN
What’s wrong?
SAM
Nobody’s
that mature, I don’t care who you are.
Breaking up but still
living together? You might
as well book passage on the Titanic II.
DAN
Do you know anyone who’s ever tried it?
SAM
No one I know is that stupid.
DAN
Thanks, Sam, I’m glad to have such distinction
in your eyes. What does your wife think?
SAM
Lisa’s
still too upset to have a reaction. You
know she always thought
you guys should
be married by now. I’m a little confused,
myself. Are there other...people?
A beautiful woman walks by, momentarily distracting them.
DAN
No...no, it’s not about that. I mean, I think
there’s some guy Felicia likes at work, but
it’s not a big deal.
SAM
You mean now that you’re "only" living
together?
DAN
Sam,
she can see who she wants. Really.
It’s not like he’d be
anything more than a
transitional person at this point.
SAM
A fling, in other words.
DAN
Exactly. Oh my God...
Both men freeze as another lovely girl walks past. Sam shakes his head.
SAM
See, this is why I usually stay in at
lunchtime.
DAN
It
is now within my power to sleep with
that woman. I could actually
go up to her,
say hello, and we could end up in bed
together. And
I wouldn’t be cheating! Is
that amazing?
SAM
Amazing.
DAN
You don’t think I could go up and successfully
hit on a woman like that?
SAM
No.
DAN
(thinks, smiles)
Neither
can I. But it’s possible, which is all
I’m saying. The
potential is there. It’s all
about having the freedom.
SAM
Freedom
to get rejected. Freedom to meet
crazy women with strange
neuroses.
Freedom to catch new and interesting diseases.
DAN
Now that’s the thinking of a kept man. But
to the free man, the world is bright and new
and full of endless opportunity.
Yet another knockout saunters past, this one in a short skirt.
SAM
There’s another one.
DAN
Look at that. Will you look at that?
(beat)
Felicia
never wore miniskirts. I’d beg her to--
she has nice legs, you
know--but she always
thought her knees were too bony, or her
thighs
were too fat.
(pause, still looking)
I could sleep with that woman!
(turns to Sam)
You think I should start working out?
INT. DAN & FELICIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Loosening his tie, Dan sorts through the day's mail while the answering machine plays in the b.g.
MALE VOICE
(on machine)
Hi,
Felicia, this is Doug Meyer. Remember me?
Sorry to hear you
and Dan broke up. Give me
a call sometime, all right? I'm
at 922-4075...
Dan looks at the machine in mild surprise. It BEEPS for the next message.
2nd CALLER
Hi...um...I'm
not sure if this is the right number...
I'm trying to reach Felicia
O'Hara... This is Wade
Harris. We took some classes together in
college? I was just wondering if you wanted to
get together,
and...well, you know...talk about
old times or something... I guess I'm
babbling.
Dan nods.
2nd
CALLER (cont.)
...You can reach me at 652-2210--after six.
Call me. I hope this is the right number. Bye!
The machine BEEPS again. Dan is not happy.
GREG C.'s
VOICE
Hi, Felicia, it's Greg. Missed you at work
today.
Hope we're still on for tonight--
EXT. GREG COOPER'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
Felicia and Greg enjoy a lengthy kiss beside Felicia's car. As they part, Felicia seems dazed, unable to fully register what she is feeling. Greg looks at her with concern.
GREG C.
Maybe it's too soon?
FELICIA
No. No, it's just right.
She leans forward, they kiss again.
INT. DAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The room seems less warm now. The female touches are gone, along with the night table and lamp from Felicia's side of the bed--so the overhead light now provides the only illumination. The dresser remains, though, along with the large queen-size bed Dan is reading on.
A KNOCK on the door.
DAN
Come in.
FELICIA
(entering)
I just need to get some clothes.
DAN
Help yourself.
As Dan watches, Felicia closes the door to a crack, then goes to the dresser and pulls out some articles of clothing.
FELICIA
You sure you don't mind me coming in for
my stuff?
DAN
It's not your fault the dresser doesn't fit in
your room.
(pause)
So...how's everything going?
FELICIA
Pretty good. You?
DAN
Good, good... Date go all right?
FELICIA
(surprised)
Date?
DAN
With...what’s his name? Greg. I heard the
message.
FELICIA
Oh...
DAN
Quite the conga line of messages, actually.
What'd you do, put out an ad?
FELICIA
(blushing)
No, can you believe it? I don't know how
those losers found out so quickly.
DAN
Think
of our relationship as a large rock that's
never been moved--once it's
pushed aside, all
sorts of things are going to crawl out.
FELICIA
(considers this)
Dan... Are you sure you’re okay with all this?
DAN
Of course. Absolutely. I mean, we both
have
to get on with our lives, right?
FELICIA
I know, I just... I want to make sure we stay
friends, that’s all.
DAN
We
will. We are. Look, the only difference is
that
you’re in
the spare room and I need a smaller bed.
That’s all.
FELICIA
Okay. I just wanted to make sure.
(pause)
So what about you?
DAN
What about me?
FELICIA
Planning on dipping into any cookie jars I should
know about?
DAN
(laughs)
Me? No. Not unless you count my boss,
who’s
married and--
FELICIA
And she’s you’re boss.
DAN
Right. Conflict of interest and all.
Felicia smiles, moving with her clothes to the door.
FELICIA
(cont.)
Well, just be careful. And use a condom.
DAN
Yes, dear. You mind turning out the light?
FELICIA
...Good night, hon.
He raises an eyebrow. She smiles guiltily.
FELICIA
(cont.)
Whoops. I mean, Dan. I’m still not used to that.
She flicks the switch, the room goes dark.
DAN
Good night, Felicia.
She closes the door, her footsteps moving across the hall. Dan settles down into "his" side of the wide bed.
FADE OUT.
Please contact me if you would like to read the full screenplay.