I've uncovered a short film script that I wrote for a performance writing classes at Vic Uni. This is loosely based on the events that happened to one of my closest relatives who I adore.
Hope you enjoy it.
JILLIAN looks deep in the mirror across from her bed, examining the lines of her face. She feels the events of the past week have already aged her. Tears start to well up in her eyes. She looks at her watch again. Her best friend RUBY should be here soon. She resists the urge to look out into the street for her car.
Soon car lights emerge from outside the house. JILLIAN looks over to see that RUBY’S car has pulled into the drive way. She lets out a sigh of relief.
INT – Hallway/Front Door – Evening
JILLIAN opens the door to see Ruby out the front. She welcomes her with a hug
JILLIAN
Thank God you’re here. I feel like I’m going insane
RUBY
I came as fast as I could
JILLIAN lets go of RUBY and they walk into the house
JILLIAN
Anyway come in. Do you want a drink? (wringing her hands)
RUBY
(flustered) No just tell me the latest. I was sick with worry.
JILLIAN and RUBY walk down the hallway quietly.
Int – Livingroom – Evening
JILLIAN and RUBY are sitting on the couch in the living room. There is a coffee table in front of them with a few magazines on it. The light in the room has a soft glow. JILLIAN pauses as she starts to recall the latest events to RUBY
JILLIAN
Well you know Max went to Japan and of course as usual he was being evasive about the itinerary and when exactly he was coming back. Then somehow we got back onto the subject of the receipt I found two weeks ago ...you know about the lingerie.
RUBY
(rolling her eyes) yeah yeah
JILLIAN
Well I went to ring the hotel in Japan to apologise and guess what (she breaks down)
RUBY puts her arm around JILLIAN and attempts to calm her down
RUBY
Breathe Jillian, breathe
JILLIAN calms down a bit and continues on with her story
JILLIAN
He’s not there. They’re not expecting him yet. He has been flying for what 20 hours? It doesn’t take that long. Where is he? (her face contorting in an expression of frustration)
RUBY
Well, maybe he was delayed. It can happen
JILLIAN
No my gut instinct is gnawing at me and not in a good way
There is a pause between the two friends. Then RUBY’S eyes go wide like she has just thought of an idea.
RUBY
I have an idea. Do you know the flight details? Has he given you an itinerary?
JILLIAN
Yeah, he e-mailed it to me. Why do you ask?
The door of the study opens and the two women walk in with JILLIAN leading the way. JILLIAN switches on the light, then goes to the computer and calls up the e-mail. Ruby then sits in front of the computer and examines the e-mail for a bit. She then looks suspiciously at JILLIAN.
JILLIAN
What? What’s wrong?
RUBY
It’s just that he has sent you an e-mail with an attachment in Word.
JILLIAN looks puzzled
RUBY
You know you can alter a Word document. This isn’t a proper itinerary. It says here, he’s coming back on the 11th.
JILLIAN
(not understanding where this is going) That’s right.
RUBY
(looks at Jillian)Do you have his frequent flyer pin number or his code or something?
JILLIAN
Yeah I think I can get my hands on it. Why?
RUBY
Just get it for me and I can find out the exact itinerary.
JILLIAN
(in shock) Shit. Do you mean that he has altered it?
RUBY
I’m not saying that but it is a Word document.
JILLIAN walks over to the filing cabinet with her hands trembling. She retrieves the documents and hands them to RUBY. RUBY then types away and peers unbelievably at the information before her. Tenderly she holds JILLIAN’S hand.
RUBY
Jillian I hate to tell you this, but Max is not even in Japan, he’s actually in Sydney and he’s staying at the Intercontinental. He’s going to Japan but not for another 2 days.
JILLIAN stares at the computer, her eyes darting across the screen, while RUBY slumps back in her chair crestfallen and awaiting the impending storm.
JILLIAN
Oh my god, no way. Fucking liar.
RUBY
Did he tell you he was stopping over in Sydney first?
JILLIAN
No, he said straight to Japan I think (She rubs her eyes, trying to remember, hoping that she might have forgotten).
But you’d think he’d ring me. At least to find out how
Peter is? He’s got the measles; you’d think he would want to know about his own son? (sounding hysterical)
RUBY
(comforting tone) I know, I know. Men just think about themselves sometimes
RUBY looks at her trying to conceal her suspicions about the situation.
JILLIAN
(her voice faltering) Do you think he’s with someone? That
Lingerie person?
RUBY
I don’t know darling, ring him
JILLIAN
I’ve tried, but I can’t get through. I usually always wait for him to call. He always tells me to wait for him to call.
Suddenly the phone rings and they both look at each other and then at the phone. Caller ID says Max. JILLIAN picks up the phone
RUBY
(whispers) Don’t let on yet. See if he tells you
JILLIAN nods and talks through the phone
JILLIAN
Hello?
MAX
(v.o) Hi it’s me
JILLIAN
Where are you?
MAX
(v.o) What do you mean?
JILLIAN
(regretting the question) I called the hotel in Japan and you’re not there
There is a pause
MAX
(v.o) How come you rang?
JILLIAN
(tense) I wanted to apologise for the fight and not trusting you (rolls her eyes)
MAX
(v.o) Forget it. The plane was delayed for 12 hours. I’m actually in Singapore still, it really pisses me off. We will be departing again soon. Can you believe it?
JILLIAN
(mouths to Ruby) Delayed
MAX
(v.o) You sound unwell. What’s wrong?
JILLIAN
Maybe I’m coming down with what Peter has, you know your son was sick when you left. You haven’t even asked about him.
MAX
(v.o) Oh ummm is he getting better?
JILLIAN
I’m going to take him to the doctors tomorrow
MAX
(v.o) Anyway, I’ll call you when I get to Japan
JILLIAN
Max, you know I love you and when you get back, we should try and not fight. We’ve got two wonderful kids and I know I nag and that, but it’s just that you’re away so much and I have to integrate you back each time. Anyway, you know I don’t mean it.
MAX
(v.o) I know, I know. There’s nothing wrong with you it’s me. I’ve fucked things up.
JILLIAN
(renewed interest) What do you mean you’ve fucked things up?
MAX
(v.o) (stutters) Nothing, I just…..I just….it’s the pressure of the job. I’m gonna give it up. It’s ridiculous.
JILLIAN
(confused) Ok we’ll talk when you get back
MAX
(v.o) Kiss the kids for me – love you.
JILLIAN puts the phone down leaving her hand on the receiver for a moment staring. RUBY stares at her curious
RUBY
What did he say? Is he in Sydney?
JILLIAN
(looking desperately at Ruby) Sometimes, other people stay at the company’s hotel under his name and maybe it’s not him
RUBY
Yeah, you could give him the benefit of the doubt
JILLIAN
(crying head in hands) I can’t believe this is happening, he said he fucked things up. What do you think he means by that?
RUBY
Please don’t hate me for saying this but you could ring up the hotel and see if he’s there – just to make sure.
JILLIAN
(wipes away her tears and her eyes burrowing in to her friends) Fuck what if he is?
RUBY
At least you’ll know…if you want to know. Otherwise, just forget about it and he might be going through some kind of mid life shit.
JILLIAN
You mean quarter life crisis. He’s not even 40
RUBY
Ring Sydney then
Jillian picks up the phone again and presses the number for Sydney. She waits and starts breathing in and out to relax herself
JILLIAN
Hello…yes. I’ll hold
JILLIAN taps her foot nervously
JILLIAN
Oh hello, can you tell me if you have a Max Loring staying with you?
CONCIERGE
(v.o) Max Loring? One moment (pause) Yes, shall I put you through
JILLIAN
(clutching her stomach) Yes please
There is a pause as Jillian waits for confirmation
CONCIERGE
(v.o) I’m sorry, he doesn’t appear to be in his room. Shall I leave a message?
JILLIAN
(quietly) No, no message. Thankyou
JILLIAN hangs up the phone in disappointment. She starts to pace around the room
RUBY
He’s not there, isn’t he?
JILLIAN
May be it’s not him. Maybe it’s like I said, a client or a partner using his room.
RUBY
(looks worried) Ok then.
JILLIAN paces around for a few seconds then stops.
JILLIAN
Fuck this, I need to know. I’m going to get a private eye. I can’t sleep now. I can’t wait another 2 weeks.
RUBY
Well we can Google someone and you can at least just give them a call and see what they say?
JILLIAN
(looks defeated) Yeah just do it. This life is bullshit
RUBY Google’s names of ‘PI’s in Sydney’ and comes across a website that seems respectable. She turns to JILLIAN and without saying anything JILLIAN speaks
JILLIAN
You call please. I feel sick. I’m going to go lie down.
JILLIAN leaves the room while Ruby makes the call
Int – Bedroom – Late Evening
JILLIAN is lying on her bed staring out the window. She is afraid of the inevitable. She wishes that none of this is happening. A tear slides down her cheek but she don’t bother to wipe it away. The door opens and RUBY walks in quietly. She sits at the foot of the bed while JILLIAN turns to look at her.
RUBY
They want you to email a current photo and a copy of the itinerary. They were very relaxed about it. I suppose it happens all the time. They will let you know something in 24 hours or at least they will give you a progress report. You need to pay on line. It’s not cheap (she puts a hand on her back). You don’t have to go through with it you know.
JILLIAN
(stares at Ruby for a moment) I’ll go get my card.
She gets up from the bed.
Both JILLIAN and RUBY are sleeping next to each other on the bed. It has been a long night and they’re both really tired. The light shines through the curtains and the sounds of birds tweeting can be heard in the background. Suddenly the phone rings. JILLIAN wakes up, still tired, and picks up the cordless hone next to her bedside. She sits up and wipes some sleep from her eye.
JILLIAN
Hello….yes I understand…Are you sure it is him? When will you sent it? Now? Okay, I will wait. Thankyou bye.
JILLIAN hangs up and gets up from the bed. She shakes RUBY to wake her up. RUBY wakes up to see JILLIAN’S face.
RUBY
What? Was that the PI? What did he say?
JILLIAN knees start bouncing up and down nervously, while she purses her lips, feeling as though she can cope with anything at this stage of the game.
JILLIAN
He’s going to send me some photos in a separate email and they have got a fucking film too.
She races out of the bedroom to the study with RUBY in tow.
Both women are in the study in front of the computer with JILLIAN in the seat. Suddenly the inbox signals an arrival. JILLIAN nervously opens the mail. One by one pictures of her husband and another woman in an embrace feature on the screen. It appears on the screen like a frame by frame snapshot of events captured in the course of a day. JILLIAN is transfixed with what she is seeing, feeling a mixture of curiosity and nausea. RUBY breaks the silence at the end of the slide show.
RUBY
Oh my God, who the fuck is she?
JILLIAN falls out of the chair and crumples to the ground, clutching her stomach and vomits. She splutters and wipes her mouth and lies on the floor in fetal position. RUBY grabs a tissue and wipes her mouth and starts to weep in sympathy, holding her friend.
JILLIAN
(Through sobs and tears) My life is over.
