THE KISS

Written by Glenda Pearce

Based on the poems Louise Smith and Herbert Marshall from Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

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INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY LOU (22) walks down a cement corridor. She is pretty but her face is gaunt with dark circles under her eyes. She wears a hoody with the hood pulled over her head. She stops at door number eight, raises her hand to knock, then stops. LOU (sighs) Shit. She leans her head against the wall then steps back. INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY BEGIN FLASHBACK: Lou stops at door number eight weighed down by several large bags. She has wispy long blonde hair and dons a pair of black Ray Bans. Her complexion is ruddy. She KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. LOU (loudly) Kinky Escorts! The door opens by HERB (26) a handsome male with tousled blonde hair. He is barefoot. He squints and eyes up Lou. HERB No, you won’t do. Sorry. Herb SLAMS THE DOOR. Lou KNOCKS ON THE DOOR again. LOU Come on mister, I ain’t got all day, don’t waste your hour already! Herb opens the door with a big smile. He leans forward and slides Lou’s sunglasses up onto her head, she laughs. He takes the heavy bags off of her. HERB (laughs) You’re crazy, kid. Jesus, what are the neighbors gonna think? They enter and he uses his foot to close the door behind them. END FLASHBACK.

2. INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY Lou KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. It is opened by ANNIE (28) a beautiful brunette. She has a slight Spanish accent. ANNIE (gasps) Oh my god, Lou! Annie grabs Lou and hugs her, her BRACELETS JANGLE as she moves. Lou hesitantly stands frozen. ANNIE (CONT’D) You’re so cold, come in, my goodness. Lou follows Annie into the large warehouse apartment. INT. APARTMENT - DAY Lou slowly surveys the apartment whilst Annie chats. ANNIE Oh my, it’s been such a long time. Everybody was so worried about you. Lou walks past the long bookcase, she stops at a framed photograph of herself and Herb. They stand on a deserted sandy beach, Herb’s arm is wrapped around Lou’s waist. They are both tanned and smile at the camera. ANNIE (CONT’D) Lou? Why don’t I make us some tea, come. Lou silently follows Annie into the kitchen area. RAIN TAPS AGAINST THE LARGE WINDOWS. Annie FILLS THE KETTLE UP with water then places it on the stove. Lou watches Annie as she chats, her lips move without any sound. The KETTLE STARTS TO WHISTLE on the stove. INT. APARTMENT KITCHEN - DAY BEGIN FLASHBACK: The KETTLE WHISTLES on the stove. Sunlight streams through the windows. Herb picks up the kettle and POURS HOT WATER into two mugs on the counter. He shouts over his shoulder.

3. HERB Leylou, you up yet? Lou enters the kitchen, sunglasses in her hand. LOU (yawns) Yeah, coffee. Lou sits on the counter next to the stove, crosses her legs and puts on her sunglasses. She takes a sip from the mug and slyly smiles. HERB What? It’s not good? LOU Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that it’s not good. I think it’s more subtle disappointment, like watching a crappy movie, a bad date, a limp handshake. Herb stares at her blankly then walks over to the fridge. HERB You probably just need some cream in it. Herb pulls out a can of whipped cream and SHAKES IT as he walks over to Lou. He stops next to her then suddenly SPRAYS CREAM onto her face, she shrieks and jumps off the counter. No, don’t!

LOU

They both laugh as he chases her around the kitchen, her hands shield her face as he continues the onslaught. The FRONT DOOR SLAMS, they both stop and look towards the door. END FLASHBACK. INT. APARTMENT KITCHEN - DAY The FRONT DOOR SLAMS. Annie and Lou look over to see Herb rifle through a wad of mail, he idly THROWS DOWN HIS HOUSE KEYS onto the chair by the door. HERB Baby most of this is yours. He turns to face the kitchen area and freezes when he sees Lou.

4.

Oh. Hi, Herb. Shit, Lou.

HERB (CONT’D) LOU HERB

Herb walks towards them and stops in front of Lou. He slowly pulls down her hood to reveal her short bob. HERB (CONT’D) You cut off your hair. They stare at each other for a few moments, Herb’s hand rests on Lou’s shoulder. She hesitantly steps back. Excuse me.

LOU

Lou rushes down the hallway towards the bathroom and SLAMS THE DOOR. She leans back against the door, she breathes quickly and heavily. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT BEGIN FLASHBACK: Herb reads a book sprawled on the sofa. LOUD KNOCK ON THE DOOR. He closes his book, rubs his eyes and stands up. He opens the door. Lou slouches in the arms of a tattooed young male. TATTOO GUY Sorry dude. She just wouldn’t stop again. It was like shot, snort, shot, snort... Herb takes hold of Lou and lays her down on her side, her face slightly hangs off the edge of the sofa. He turns to Tattoo Guy. HERB What did she take? Tattoo Guy shrugs his shoulders. Herb turns back to Lou and gently begins to shake her. HERB (CONT’D) Lou, Leylou, you gotta wake up okay?

5. TATTOO GUY Dude you should give her some water. HERB Get the fuck out, I mean it man, get out before I really kick the shit out of you. TATTOO GUY (mutters) Chill man, I’m going. Jeez. Tattoo Guy walks out. Herb continues to gently shake Lou. LOU (slowly wakes) I’m gonna be sick. As Lou sits up her hair falls over her face, Herb lightly brushes it out of the way. INT. APARTMENT BATHROOM - LATER ON The bathroom is steamy and dimly lit. Lou lays in a bathtub in the middle of the room. She slowly opens her eyes and looks around. Herb sits on the floor against the wall. Lou turns on her side to face him. He stares at the floor. Hey.

LOU

HERB I can’t do this any more Lou. I’m not, helping you. (a beat) This whole thing, it’s just not healthy. This situation is so confusing. I can’t do it. Lou drapes her arm over the edge of the tub. WATER DRIPS ONTO THE FLOOR. She blankly stares at him, a slight smile creeps into the corner of her mouth. END FLASHBACK.

6. INT. APARTMENT BATHROOM - DAY Lou opens the bathroom door and tiptoes down the hallway. She peers around the corner. Herb and Annie sit at the kitchen table. Lou leans against the wall and listens. ANNIE Well you obviously need to talk to her, look at her Herb, she looks awful. She needs help. HERB What am I supposed to say? ANNIE (gently) I know you only met each other a few years ago, but you obviously have a bond. She needs you now. I think you both should have some time alone to talk, okay? Annie stands up, gives Herb a kiss on the cheek and leaves the apartment. Herb gets up and walks to the cupboard. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT BEGIN FLASHBACK: Lou tiptoes down the dark hallway. MUFFLED LAUGHTER can be heard in the distance.

No.

FEMALE VOICE (O.S.) (giggles)

Lou reaches the end of the hallway and peers around the corner. The apartment is dimly lit, MUSIC SOFTLY PLAYS in the background. Herb and Annie are cuddled up on the sofa, both clutch large glasses of red wine. Herb inaudibly whispers into Annie’s ear. ANNIE (softly) We can’t, she might hear us. Herb takes Annie’s wine glass and places it on the table. They start to kiss. Lou steps back, her chest heaves. She retreats back down the hallway. END FLASHBACK.

7. INT. APARTMENT KITCHEN - DAY Lou enters the kitchen area, Herb pulls two tumblers from the cupboard and pours a large amount of whiskey into each, his hands shake. RAIN RATTLES THE WINDOWS. He hands Lou a glass. HERB Annie went out. Here. LOU Bottoms up. HERB Is this amusing? You disappear for five months, we’re weren’t sure what happened to you. We even reported you as missing to the police. Is this a joke to you? LOU Of course not. HERB Well, where did you go? Lou sits down at the kitchen table. Herb sits across from her. LOU Everywhere. Nowhere. I took a bus, then another. I didn’t know where I was going. I just needed to be far away, from here, from you. HERB (softly) Is that why you left me that morning? LOU (sighs) You know why. What we did, I felt so, ashamed. It was wrong. Lou takes a sip of whiskey and sets the glass on the table. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT BEGIN FLASHBACK: Lou and Herb sit on the sofa, both are dressed in black and cradle glasses of whiskey. The lights are dimmed. Herb stares into his glass.

8. HERB (quietly) At least dad came to the funeral. Herb puts his glass on the coffee table. He places his head in his hands and softly begins to cry. Lou puts down her glass and moves closer to him. She wraps her arms around him. LOU (whispers) Shh, don’t cry. Your mom wouldn’t want to see you like this. Herb gently sobs into Lou. He leans his face into her neck and wraps his arms around her. She rocks him and gently strokes his hair. LOU (CONT’D) It’s going to be okay, I promise. She tilts her face down, he looks up. Slowly, their lips meet. END FLASHBACK. INT. APARTMENT KITCHEN - DAY Herb takes a sip of whiskey and looks up at Lou. HERB (quietly) That’s why you left? LOU How could I stay? What was I supposed to do? I panicked. HERB You panicked, right. LOU Did you presume that we would skip off into the sunset together? HERB Jesus, you don’t have to say it like that. This isn’t my fault, okay?

9. LOU Oh of course it’s not your fault. I’m the one to blame, crazy, unpredictable Lou. But not you, not Mister Perfect. HERB Please, don’t. LOU Don’t what? HERB (exasperated) I wanted you with me so I could help you get better! At least that’s what I told myself. LOU What do you mean? HERB From the first time I saw you, I just wanted to be with you. Before I even knew who you were. LOU (angrily) From the first time you saw me! And what about Annie? Was she just to hurt me, to make me jealous? Herb gulps down the rest of his whiskey. He stands up, refills his glass and sits back down. HERB At first Annie was a distraction, from you. Then my mom died, you disappeared and I was devastated. But Annie was here Lou, with me. Time passed and everything settled. With Annie, everything is just, easy. LOU Do you want to know why I’m here Herb? I want to make things right. I don’t want to run anymore, I’m not going to hide, you certainly haven’t. Let me make this easy for you too. Lou stands up, walks over to the sink and pours her whiskey down the drain.

10. LOU (CONT’D) I know you blame me, and you’re right, it is my fault. Everyone thinks you’re the strong one. I know your intention was to solve my life, save me, but you couldn’t. You couldn’t even control your love for me. You’re weak. And I knew that. That’s the difference between you and I. I’m strong, you’re not. I ended up saving you, I gave you Annie. Herb takes a long gulp of whiskey and avoids eye contact, his hands shake. Lou pulls up her hood and leaves the apartment. INT. MANHATTAN RESTAURANT - NIGHT Lou enters the restaurant with Sebastian (28). Lou’s DAD (60)approaches them. He hugs Lou and shakes Sebastian’s hand. LOU Cool place dad. Happy birthday! DAD I’m so glad you’re here, you’re absolutely stunning Lou, you look lovely with your hair long again. LOU (pretends to blush) Why thank you kind sir! DAD Oh, there’s Mark and Linda, I better say hello. Your brother is over there by the bar. You two should head over and save them from us old fogies. Lou and Sebastian walk to the bar, holding hands. Herb looks up, he softly smiles. Annie chats to the bartender. Hey, kid. Hey.

HERB LOU

Lou places a kiss on Herb’s cheek. THE END.