Screenplay by Jeff Kesterson
Adapted from the forthcoming feature film “S/HE” [working title]
jeff@cafenoir.co
952-452-4471
INT. APARTMENT — LATE AFTERNOON
SHE and HE stumble excitedly together into a bedroom, falling over themselves, making out passionately. She tears off his shirt and helps him rip off his pants. “Reunion” by The xx fades gradually in.
In a more gentle, deliberate way now, he helps her recline back onto the bed. She’s breathing heavily, in nervous excitement, almost as if this is her first time. He helps her slip her pants off as well, and then he ever so slowly unbuttons her top and just begins to pull it open. Cut to them sitting up, straddled together and arms wrapped tightly around each other. Not kissing or making love, simply embracing.
INT. APARTMENT — NIGHT
We cut forward in time slightly, and we see her sleeping in bed, late at night. He watches as her breaths peacefully rise and fall. Cut forward again, and now they’re both sleeping. Cut forward yet again, and we see her watching as his sleeping breaths come and go. Cut forward once more, they’re both awake now. It’s still nighttime, and they’re lying right next to each other in bed, looking mostly upward but occasionally at each other. As “Reunion” fades to soft diegetic background music, he finally speaks, very softly:
HE
God, I was so shitty to you. I don’t really know what else I can say but to just keep saying it: I’m so sorry. God, that still sounds so inadequate.
SHE
(very raw, trying to justify this to herself as well)
Listen, I know you were wounded too. Something was taken from you, too.
HE
(he sits up)
But you don’t belong to me.
SHE
(she sits up as well)
That’s not quite what I mean. It’s more complicated than that.
HE
(intercut with this monologue are brief images of him angrily packing bags, rifling through drawers, a dropped picture frame shattering, etc)
More complicated? I let something terrible out of a box between us, and I don’t know if it can ever really be put back again. I don’t know how to explain any of it. Even to myself. Feeling…jealous? Protective? But protective of you, or…? It’s a hell of a fucking thing to feel like a failure and like a goddamn neanderthal.
INT. APARTMENT — EVENING
We cut abruptly to an earlier date. Though now they’re not in bed anymore but are standing instead, arguing heatedly.
HE
What the hell did he do to you? You don’t remember anything?
SHE
I don’t know! I think he…probably…touched me, I don’t know!
HE
(fighting back angry, disbelieving tears)
Did he fuck you?
SHE
I told you, I don’t know! Probably, I don’t know!
HE
Jesus!
He turns away from her. A pregnant pause. Finally, quietly:
HE (CONT’D)
Why did you stay there, that night?
SHE
Why did you leave? Why didn’t you stay with me?
HE
I told you, I was exhausted. I trusted him. I trusted you. I didn’t think anything would happen.
SHE
You think I thought this would happen?!
A pause. Dawning suspicion. She turns her gaze directly at him, pain and growing rage in her eyes.
SHE (CONT’D)
Do you think I wanted this to happen?
HE
(failing miserably to sound measured)
Well…you tell me.
SHE
Fuck you! Get the fuck away from me!
She shoves him away (into the camera).
INT. APARTMENT — NIGHT
We cut abruptly back, to the two of them in bed once more.
HE
(flinching)
Jesus, I’m sorry! How are you?
He reaches out to hold her, embrace her.
SHE
It’s okay. I don’t know. I just…
She recoils from his touch, brushing his hand away.
HE
(taken aback)
Oh…
He backs off and backs away.
HE (CONT’D)
(after a moment, delicately)
Do you want me to leave?
SHE
No. Just…stay with me…
She curls up, knees to chin. So does he, on opposite ends of the bed, turned away from each other. A band of moonlight cuts across the middle of the bed, separating them. “Reunion” swells to extra-diegetic, as the camera drifts upward and away from them. Fade gradually to rolling credits. Fade to silence, fade to black.
