Bird of Paradise 2-26-18 (Scene Numbers)

7/25/2019 Bird of Paradise 2-26-18 (Scene Numbers)

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Bird of Paradise on the Sunset Limited

by

Robbin Michael Wagner

&

Brooke Laurel Denman

Stream Train Productions

© 2016 Robbin Michael Wagner

© 2016 Brooke Laurel Denman

[email protected]

www.StreamTrainProductions.com

415-302-0389 WGA# 1755526

http://www.streamtrainproductions.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.streamtrainproductions.com/

mailto:[email protected]



1

ACT I 1) INT. SUBURBAN LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

We see an interior of a large living room. An Executive style

house. We see JOHN SULLIVAN, 50’s, sitting on a couch while

reading a newspaper. ECU of the sports page watching a laptop

computer. We slide by the couch and see a brief frame and catcha brief sound bite of the famous “Bruce/Harriet” diatribe of

JACK LEMMON in Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet.

LEVENE (OS)

"What we have to do is admit to

ourselves that we see that

opportunity...and take it.

(pause)

And that's it." And we sit there.

(pause) I got the pen out...

ROMA (OS)

"Always be closing..."

LEVENE

That's what I'm saying. The old

ways. The old ways...convert the

motherfucker...sell him...sell

him... make him sign the check.

(pause) The...Bruce, Harriet...the kitchen,

blah: they got their money in

government bonds...I say fuck it,

we're going to go the whole route.

I plat it out eight units. Eighty-

two grand. I tell them. "This is

now. This is that thing that

you've been dreaming of, you're

going to find that suitcase on the

train, the guy comes in the door,

the bag that's full of money. This is it, Harriet..."

ROMA

(reflectively)

Harriet...

LEVENE

Bruce..."I don't want to fuck



2

around with you. I don't want to

go round this, and pussyfoot around

the thing, you have to look back on

this. I do, too. I came here to

do good for you and me. For both

of us. Why take an interim position. The only arrangement I'll accept is

full investment. Period. The

whole eight units. Now I handed

them the pen. I held it in my hand.

I turned the contract around, eight units

eighty-two grand. "Now I want you

to sign."

(pause)

I sat there. Five minutes. Then,

I sat there, Ricky, twenty-two

minutes by the kitchen clock. (pause)

Twenty-two minutes by the kitchen

clock. Not a word, not a motion.

What am I thinking? "My arm's

getting tired?" No. I did it. I

did it. Like in the old days,

Ricky. Like I was taught... Like,

like, like I used to do...I did it.

ROMA

Like you taught me...

LEVENE

Bullshit, you're...No. That's

raw... well, if I did, then I'm

glad I did. I, well. I locked on

them. All on them, nothing on me.

All my thoughts are on them. I'm

holding the last thought that I

spoke: "Now is the time."

(pause)

They signed, Ricky

As we slide away from this scene, we pan around to a large bay

window with rain cascading down each pane as credits roll. We

slide over and see a woman, MARGEAUX SULLIVAN, 40’s, reading

her laptop computer screen.



3

MARGEAUX

Strictly Platonic - Woman For Woman

Intelligent and metaphysically enlight-

ened woman, 40's, finds herself cur-

rently trapped in suburbia. She seeks afellow Bird of Paradise to accompany

her on the Sunset Limited for a few

days excursion and back. Should be fun.

Email for details.

We see John throw a magazine at Margeaux and it lands on

Margeaux's laptop computer. Close-up reveals a travel magazine

with a train on the cover.

JOHN

Posting a classified for a track hobo?

(pause)

You're serious about this?

MARGEAUX

Track hobo?

(raising voice)

Are you kidding me? Where the fuck is

your mind at man? Track hobo? There is

no magic left in our life anymore John.

I need to get away for a while. Trackhobo! Where do you come up with that

shit? There is something seriously

wrong with your head. I’ve spent all

these years trying to figure your head

out. I’ve given you my best years. I

have loved you unconditionally. You

didn’t even give me children. We fucked

like rabbits for a majority of our mar-

riage and then one day; poof! No more

interest in me or sex.

JOHN

Oh! Don’t worry about me. I love sex.

Just.. not with you anymore.

Margeaux doesn’t react. She doesn’t speak and doesn’t move for a

lengthy pause. Then she stands up quietly and closes her laptop



4

computer. She puts it in her large knitted shoulder bag. She

looks at John who is bracing himself for a fusillade.

MARGEAUX

Well. . . there it is.

(long pause)

When I get back I expect you to be out

of the house. You’ll hear from Brian.

I’m not going to fight you on anything

John. I expect half of everything we

have right now. If you fuck with me or

any of our assets from this point on…

(looks at her watch)

…8:35pm on Tuesday night, then my wrath

will be the last thing you remember.

JOHN

Your brother Brian is a two bit lawyer

and a loser all at the same time.

You’re going to entrust that mental

midget with our mutual assets?

MARGEAUX

I’m emailing him now. Can I quote you

on that or is it best for you to shut

the fuck up? I don’t want to hear your

voice, smell your socks or look at yourugly face ever again. I don’t ever want

to hear from anyone in your family ever

again. Now that you and I have parted

ways you will be nothing but deleted

binary digits in my past.

(pause)

Kind of like that dark comedy movie

about infinitely sunny days with a spic

and span mind.

FADE

2) EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY

We see a birds eye view of a train station and its associated

activity. We see moving coach cars, we see ECU of tracks. We see

and hear the sounds of trains coming into the station. We see

trash and debris on the track. We see ECU of a wedding ring lay-



5

ing haphazardly against a single rail. We then see a macro ECU

of the inscription on the inside of the ring.

INSERT INSCRIPTION: J&M FOREVER

We see Margeaux, typing on her laptop computer as she sits on a

bench in a noisy train station. We see a close-up of her hands

as she furiously pounds the keys. A band of white skin encircles

her ring finger.

INSERT: ECU RING FINGER

We hear an announcement over a loudspeaker. It is inaudible.

Margeaux begins reading to herself from the laptop computer.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Hi Margeaux. See you at the train sta-

tion at 11:00am. Lets grab lunch at thestation before boarding. GWENETH

Margeaux looks at her watch; than looks up at the clock in the

station.

INSERT: ECU WATCH 9:23 > INSERT: ECU CLOCK 9:23

Margeaux folds her laptop computer; puts it in her large knitted

shoulder bag and proceeds over to the COFFEE SHOP.

3) INT. COFFEE SHOP DINER - ONE MOMENT LATER

Margeaux sits at a corner booth.

A waitress, ALICE, comes over to the booth.

ALICE

Coffee hon’?

MARGEAUX

Yes; thank you!

(pause) And lots of cream; please!

(pause)

Can you watch my stuff? I must use the

ladies room.

ALICE

Sure... Menu?



6

MARGEAUX

I’m meeting someone for lunch. She’s

running a bit late. Just coffee for

now... I’ll be right back.

ALICESure...you just take yer’ time hon.

I’ll get yer’ coffee.

Margeaux leaves the table and proceeds to the restroom.

4) INT. RESTROOM - ONE MINUTE LATER

The restroom is empty of people. Margeaux washes her hands and

takes a paper towel; wets it and pats her face with it. She

looks in the mirror and speaks. POV Margeaux.

MARGEAUXI hope I’m not making a mistake..

What are you thinking Margeaux? She’s a

complete stranger. You know nothing

about this girl. Be honest with your-

self!

(pause)

She’s the only one that responded and

then you deleted the posting. What is

that?

(pause)

Fate?

Margeaux leans over to pat her face with water and a woman en-

ters the restroom. She doesn’t glance at Margeaux and Margeaux

does not see her. The woman steps into a stall. Margeaux pats

her face and exits the restroom. A beautiful woman, GWENETH

WILDE, 30’s, wearing a sweater and jeans steps out of the stall

and heads over to the sink. She reaches into her leather back-

pack and pulls out a lipstick. She looks in the mirror. Shespeaks.

GWENETH

I hope I’m not making a mistake?

(applying lipstick)



7

I just want to know the truth about

him. Is that too much to ask? Can you

blame me?

(adjusting her hair)

I just want to know the truth!

Gweneth exists the restroom. It echoes the sounds of silence.

5) INT. COFFEE SHOP DINER-A FEW MINUTES LATER

Margeaux sits at her corner booth. Alice comes over to the ta-

ble. Coffee is already on the table.

MARGEAUX

Is there a signal?

ALICEThere sure is darlin’. Just go ‘n click

“Diner”.. The password is Chugga Chugga

Choo Choo Cafe.

(straight face)

An I ain’t kiddin’ either...

Margeaux breaks out in hysterical laughter as ALICE turns and

leaves the table.

ALICEBe right back in a jiffy to warm yer’

coffee hon!

Margeaux then pulls out a printed train schedule and checks her

watch repeatedly. She taps a few keys on her laptop computer

while speaking.

MARGEAUX

(slowly)

Chugga.. Chugga.. Choo Choo.. Cafe..

Margeaux chuckles and then frowns while looking at her email.ECU shows her eyes POV as she reads the screen to herself.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Hey Sis. No need to hurry back. John is

not contesting anything. The complete

inventory you asked for a few months

ago for the homeowners insurance was a

stroke of dumb luck. The recent audit



8

John went through after trying to hide

capital gains on your vacation rental

house gave us a complete listing as

well. Have a great trip. Stay out of

trouble and call me, text me or email

me anytime. I still think you shouldhave taken someone with you. I hate to

see you traveling alone. You’re hard

headed and always will be. Bon Voyage!

Brian

PS Do you remember MAX SAVITCH; our

P.I., that we use on divorce cases. To-

day was his last day tailing John.

You’re going to laugh your ass off. MAX

snapped a cell phone pic of a pissed

off woman macing John in the face in aparking lot. Too funny! I will email

you a jpeg as soon as MAX gets in.

ALICE returns with . Her curiosity is apparent. She looks at

Margeaux for an extended glance and speaks. Margeaux is intently

staring at her laptop computer.

ALICE

Can I ask you a personal question hon’?

MARGEAUX

Yes; of course.

(not looking up)

ALICE

Are you traveling alone?

MARGEAUX

(not looking up)

Yes. Well no; I am waiting for a per-

son; ah.. friend to visit. Why do you

ask?

ALICE

Oh. . . just curious.

(pause)

Well.. actually; the reason I ask is

because there is a woman sitting over

there who has been staring at you for

the last ten minutes like she might



9

know you or something. I was just won-

dering.

Margeaux looks up and turns to see GWENETH WILDE. The woman

looks at Margeaux and smiles. She gets up, dons a leather back-

pack and comes over to Margeaux’s table and holds her hand out.Margeaux does not respond, react or make any acknowledgement.

GWENETH

I can stand here all day and hold out

my hand or I can turn around and pre-

tend this never happened and leave.

Your choice. After all; I was very

clear in my response to your posting

that if you didn’t like me or the way I

looked we would nix the whole idea of

traveling together.

Margeaux slowly looks GWENETH up and down and then motions for

her to come closer. ALICE stands there and looks GWENETH up and

down as well. Margeaux then looks into GWENETH’s face and

smiles. She holds out her hand and shakes GWENETH’s hand.

MARGEAUX

Hi! My name is Margeaux. Margeaux Sul-

livan. I am very glad to meet you.

GWENETH

Hi! My name is GWENETH WILDE. I am veryglad to meet you as well.

ALICE stands there for a moment and then speaks to GWENETH.

ALICE

Coffee hon’?

GWENETH looks at Margeaux and then at ALICE.

MARGEAUX

Lets eat lunch. We got 45 minutes be-fore we board the train.

GWENETH looks at ALICE.

GWENETH

Actually; I would love a Bloody Mary.

Is the bar open?

(doesn’t wait)



10

Margeaux is having one too!

Margeaux looks at GWENETH with a long glance. She then pushes

her coffee cup over to ALICE.

MARGEAUX

Actually; I’ll have a Screwdriver with

an orange twist.

ALICE

Gee.. the bartender isn’t here yet. The

bar doesn’t open before 11:00.

(pause)

Let me see what I can do.

ALICE leaves.

GWENETH sits at the table and Margeaux folds her laptop comput-

er. They both start chatting. The sounds of the train station

permeates the air. ALICE returns to the table a moment later

with a glass of tomato juice and a glass of orange juice. From

her apron, she pulls out a bottle of unopened vodka and sets it

between the two glasses.

ALICE

Courtesy of the Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

Cafe.

Margeaux and GWENETH break out in hysterical laughter.

FADE

6) EXT. TRAIN PLATFORM - ONE HOUR LATER

We see and hear close-up of passenger’s feet climbing onto the

train. We hear sounds of the station. We see Margeaux and

Gweneth climb onto the train.

7) INT. TRAIN - A MOMENT LATER

Margeaux and Gweneth occupy a seat in the rear upper deck of

their assigned seats of the train. Gweneth is busying herself by

combing through the debris and contents of her leather backpack.

Margeaux opens her laptop and logs into blog account. She is

reading to herself as Gweneth is busy with her pack.

MARGEAUX (VO)



11

Restrooms

In the past, some train toilets flushed

directly onto the tracks.# Today, you

may still encounter train restrooms of

this sort; you can check by flushingthe toilet and watching where the water

goes.# If you are on this type of

train, do not use the restroom while

the train is in the station.#

Should

your train happen to have restrooms

with closed flush systems, avoid flush-

ing garbage or items that could block

the plumbing.#

Tip: Bring your own toilet paper.

Margeaux grins as she closes the book and opens her shoulder bag

and counts two rolls of toiler paper among its contents to her-

self. Gweneth looks up just in time to see Margeaux return the

two rolls back into her bag and hears Margeaux whisper under her

breath.

MARGEAUX

(whispering)

Failing to plan is planning to fail.

(pause)

MARGEAUX (VO)I’ll bet she didn’t bring any!

Margeaux looks up and catches Gweneth looking at her. In the act

of getting caught; Gweneth immediately glances away.

Quick on the uptake; Margeaux reaches in and pulls out a roll

from her bag. She looks at GWENETH and speaks as she hands a

roll to Gweneth.

MARGEAUX

Here. You don’t want to get caught without TP on the rails. I brought ex-

tra.

She hands a roll to Gweneth who takes it without hesitation as

she looks Margeaux in the eyes for a moment.

GWENETH

Caught on the rails?



12

(pause)

Are you some kind of train freak?

Before Margeaux can respond, the train suddenly lurches forward

and Gweneth loses her balance and steps backward on a male pas-

senger’s foot. We hear the passenger’s reaction off screen. Wedo not see him.

MALE PASSENGER (OS)

What the fuck!

GWENETH

Sorry!

(genuinely sincere)

Are you ok?

MALE PASSENGER (OS)

Stupid bitch!

(pause)

Watch where you’re going!

Gweneth is standing there in disbelief of this reaction.

Margeaux immediately sticks her head out into the isle and

speaks. We do not see the man; only the direction of where she

is speaking.

MARGEAUX

Sir! She said she was sorry? What more

do you want?

(pause)

Its a long ride. Control yourself!

The man gives no further response. Gweneth sits in her seat next

to Margeaux.

GWENETH

Jeez! Rough crowd. You told him!

MARGEAUX

I guess so?

(changes subject)

When I was in college; leather back-

packs were totally in vogue.



13

Margeaux reaches over and gently strokes the leather on

Gweneth’s backpack.

MARGEAUX

This one looks seasoned like it has

seen its share of adventures? Has it?

GWENETH

Oh yes! It just had another chapter in

its adventure log earlier this morning.

Gweneth reaches in and pulls out a .45 automatic 1911A and at

the same time pulls out a big bottle of antacid tablets and

starts to chew two of them. She quickly chews and swallows and

continues her story.

GWENETH (CONT)

Some creepy asshole in a Buick washeckling me on the way over here. I

hate to have to pull it out but a girl

has got to do what a girl has to do.

(pause)

When he started to pull his out, I

pulled mine out first and I made my

point!

Margeaux is in shock at the site of the gun.

GWENETH (CONT)

He had to mess with his zipper first

before he could get it out..

..my hand was on the gun already. I

beat him to the punch. He probably

would have pissed himself right there

accept he had a huge boner.

(merely stating facts)

Don’t worry. Its fake. Its made ofplastic.

(pause)

I got it from a friend of mine yester-

day when I told him I was making this

trip.

Margeaux is starring at the gun and at Gweneth with eyes wide.



14

GWENETH (CONT)

Don’t worry! It’s plastic. It isn’t

real!

(pause)

He works over at Prop World. This is a movie prop!

MARGEAUX

You say its not real?

(concerned)

Margeaux reaches over and gently takes it from Gweneth. She

holds it and then she hefts its weight.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

Looks real enough. What if you need topull the trigger?

Gweneth thinks about this for a moment. Suddenly the train

lurches forward and starts to roll out of the station. The train

is in motion. Margeaux is still holding the plastic .45. As the

train builds up forward speed, Margeaux poses the question

again.

MARGO (CONT)

What if you need to pull the trigger?

GWENETH

(slowly)

Then I would kill that mother fucker

with everything I got!

Margeaux is still in shock! As the train heads out of the sta-

tion with the scenery unfolding in time with the gentle cadence

of the train; Margeaux remains silent.

GWENETH

What kind of an actress would I be if Ididn’t listen to my director?

Gweneth puts the antacid tablet bottle back in her backpack.

MARGEAUX

Oh.. You’re an actress?

(pause)



15

I did a little acting myself when I at-

tended university.

At that moment; Margeaux sits forward on her seat, clears her

throat and recites Shakespeare while waving the .45 around.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

If we shadows have offended,

Think but this and all is mended, $

That you have but slumber'd here $

While these visions did appear. $

And this weak and idle theme,$

No more yielding but a dream,$

Gentles, do not reprehend:$

If you pardon, we will mend. $

And, as I am an honest Puck,$

If we have unearned luck$

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,$

We will make amends ere long;$

Else the Puck a liar call: $

So, good night unto you all. $

Give me your hands, if we be friends, $

And Robin shall restore amends.

Suddenly the train is slowing into a long sweeping curve.

Margeaux takes this opportunity to recite Sappho. She leans into

the curve and is inches from Gweneth’s face.

MARGEAUX

(slowly)

I spoke to you, Aphrodite, in a dream.

You, then became your mother, and she

scolded me for not protecting you from

what has gone before me.

GWENETH

I’ll tell you about my Mom sometime.

MARGEAUX

Is she anything like you?

GWENETH

Oh my God! I didn’t even think of that!

MARGEAUX

Don’t worry Gweneth. My mother was an

inspiration. Sadly, she’s gone now.



16

GWENETH

My mother was a warning. She’s dead.

She pickled her liver on Southern Com-

fort.

MARGEAUXI’m sorry Gweneth.

(pause)

Do you have other family members?

GWENETH

No.

MARGEAUX

Me neither.

(holding gun)

I guess it’s just us three?

Margeaux is about to speak again when suddenly she catches in

full view the slow sweeping majesty of the passing scenery. She

looks at Gweneth who is mesmerized by the same view out of the

window. Margeaux looks at Gweneth for a long while, hands her

back the .45 and then speaks.

MARGEAUX

I am glad you decided to come with me

on this trip.

Gweneth puts the .45 back in her backpack and glances over at

Margeaux and smiles and notices the white skin encircling

Margeaux’s ring finger. She turns her head and stares out the

window. Without looking at Margeaux, she speaks.

GWENETH

Yesterday I wasn’t sure I was going to

come on this trip.

(pause)

I threw up all day yesterday.

(pause)

Why aren’t you wearing your wedding

ring?

Margeaux, suddenly self-conscious, covers her hand and she looks

at Gweneth.



17

Gweneth doesn’t speak. She reaches into her leather backpack and

grabs her cell phone and flicks it on.

GWENETH

You seem like a married woman to me.

That is what shows. Not your missingring. So, I am asking you again, why

aren’t you wearing your wedding ring?

Gweneth holds up her cell phone and shows Margeaux a screen pho-

to of Margeaux sitting on a bench wearing a sweater. Further ECU

shows Margeaux wearing a wedding band partnered with a diamond

engagement ring.

INSERT: ECU OF CELL PHONE PHOTO OF MARGEAUX

GWENETH (CONT)

This is the photo you posted online.

Gweneth scrolls down on her phone and reads aloud.

Strictly Platonic - Woman for Woman

Intelligent and metaphysically enlight-

ened woman, 40's, finds herself cur-

rently trapped in suburbia. She seeks a

fellow Bird of Paradise to accompany

her on the Sunset Limited for a few

days excursion and back. Should be fun.Email for details.

(pause)

Ok. I responded. You accepted. Here we

are. Two birds on a train.

(pause)

What was it about my response that

grabbed you?

Margeaux says nothing. She reaches into her knitted bag and ex-tracts her laptop computer. She quickly and quietly flips it

open; hits a few keys and reads out loud to Gweneth. We now have

a POV of Margeaux’s face as she reads.

MARGEAUX

Dear Enlightened Woman. I too am a Bird

of Paradise. I find that I have been

collected, my feathers smoothed and cut

short. I suspect in the coming days



18

that I will no longer be able to fly

away. But, the train isn’t about flying

is it? I need a few days to think

things through. Here is a selfie that I

just took.

Margeaux turns her laptop computer so that Gweneth can see it.

We see a cell phone snap of Gweneth.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

I am looking for enlightenment as well.

What are the details? Looking forward

to hearing from you. Gweneth Wilde

Gweneth glances at her own selfie on Margeaux’s laptop computer

and then looks at Margeaux. She says nothing.

MARGEAUX (CONT)Ok..I’ll tell you.. you and I both

needed the midnight flight out of

Casablanca to Lisbon....but where I

just came from diamonds are a dime-a-

dozen. Diamonds, diamonds everywhere!

Margeaux pulls out of her large knitted bag two train tickets

and fans them out. At that precise moment the ticket porter’s

feet steps into the frame and speaks.

TICKET PORTERTickets!

MARGEAUX

And these are our letters of transit!

Holding up her hands, Margeaux displays her splayed ring finger.

Gweneth is completely engrossed with Margeaux. Margeaux gently

takes her seat and leans back and closes her eyes. Gweneth is

entranced by the passing landscape. The Train gently rolls on.

FADE

8) INT. TRAIN - SOMETIME LATER

It is the middle of the day on the Train. The sun is starting to

bathe the interior of the train with golden hues. The shadows

are soft. We see sweeping scenes of rolling paradise, the moun-

tains and the green forest covered hills piling up to follow

alongside the train barreling down to New Orleans. We track



19

along a window to see Gweneth snoozing while leaning on the win-

dow. Margeaux is sleeping on Gweneth’s shoulders.

FADE

9) INT. TRAIN - LATE AFTERNOON

Margeaux is knitting with bright yarn and two large knitting

needles. Gweneth is still curled up in the corner sleeping.

Margeaux looks over and sees that Gweneth is drooling. She

reaches into her bag and extracts a white folded kerchief and

with delicacy and care dabs Gweneth’s lips. Gweneth is startled

and awakens.

MARGEAUX

I am so sorry! Did I wake you?

Gweneth innocently shakes her head and says nothing. She sits upand stretches. She then pulls her sweater and blouse up over her

head to remove it and briefly shows herself from the back.

Margeaux glances at her. Gweneth turns and casually exhibits her

beautiful undressed self while quickly rummaging through her

leather backpack and pulls out an oversized man’s white dress

shirt and dons it and buttons it. Margeaux takes a second glance

at the shirt.

MARGEAUX

Nice shirt! I love wearing men’s

shirts.

(pause)

I haven’t put one on in a long time

though..

GWENETH

This asshole I’m dating..

(pause)

..THE asshole.. I WAS dating gave it to

me.

Gweneth stands up and kicks off her shoes and unbuttons her

jeans and pulls them down around her ankles and kicks them off.

She is not wearing panties. Margeaux notices a tattoo that

Gweneth has. Gweneth notices Margeaux staring at it.

GWENETH

I got this when I was younger. Like it?



20

MARGEAUX

It looks good on you. I’m sure every-

thing looks good on you.

Margeaux is quietly taking this all in from behind the vortex of

her two knitting needles as they rapidly face off every halfsecond to nose into and under the stitch of the other for tex-

tile control. Gweneth proceeds to pull a bottle of red wine out

of her backpack. She holds up the wine and motions to Margeaux

with a little shake of the bottle and has a Swiss Army Knife

complete with cork screw at the ready.

GWENETH

Now.. if only we had glasses?

Margeaux reaches into her large knitted bag and extracts two

crystal clear wine glasses wrapped in a white linen dinner nap-

kin. Margeaux sets the glasses down on the seats dinette table.

GWENETH (CONT)

What else do you keep in there? By the

way; I have been meaning to tell you

how fascinated I am with your bag. It

is beautiful. Did you knit it yourself?

MARGEAUX

Fascinated? Why..thank you! Knitted my-self?.. I did..

(hurriedly)

..my turn! I want to ask YOU a ques-

tion.

Gweneth says nothing but waves at Margeaux with a permission

granted gesture. Gweneth then grabs the bottle; attacks it with

the aid of the Swiss Army knife.

MARGEAUX

Are you..

As Gweneth pops the cork; Margeaux speaks.

..with child?

Gweneth looks deep into Margeaux’s eyes. Tears, grief and aston-

ishment fill her every facial expression with the visual condi-



21

tion of being overwhelmed. Margeaux senses Gweneth’s pending

meltdown. She takes the bottle and cork still on the knife and

sets them on the dinette table. Gweneth bends over and puts her

face into her hands and quietly sobs. Margeaux does not expect

this reaction and immediately takes a comforting position and

draws Gweneth in closely with tender arms while cradling Gweneth with empathy, sympathy and apathy; all simultaneously.

As Margeaux is comforting Gweneth she notices a dry cleaners tag

on the inside collar of Gweneth’s white shirt.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Looking back, the signs were all there.

I chose to ignore the little voice of

reason and exposed my tender sensitivi-

ties to the little cherub with the bow

and arrow.

INSERT: ECU OF TAG

She is momentarily distracted from the sobbing Gweneth crying in

her lap. But only momentarily..

GWENETH

Yes.. and I can’t fucking believe it!

Not now! The timing sucks! The whole

thing sucks!

(pause)..the thing is.. its not the baby’s

fault.. I actually want this baby..I’d

agreed to this, but I never thought it

through..

(pause)

..its the only hope for

my..

(holding her belly)

..our future!

MARGEAUX

Oh my God!..

(sincerely)

..does he know?

GWENETH

Who? Does who know what?



22

MARGEAUX

The baby’s father! Does he know?

At that moment Gweneth sits upright and immediately dries her

eyes and braces herself for a kind but expected interrogation.

GWENETH

Yes.

MARGEAUX

And?

GWENETH

Its complicated.

MARGEAUX

Complicated?

Gweneth says nothing. She is now looking out the window. She

rises off her knees and sits next to the window. Margeaux is

turned towards Gweneth. Gweneth continues to look out the window

and is willfully avoiding looking Margeaux in the eyes.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

What do you mean.. complicated?

GWENETH

Its complicated..complicated..

(annoyed with question)

GWENETH(CONT)

..its complicated..because..I want this

baby..

(pause)

..and he doesn’t.

(pause)

Typical fucking married asshole. I was

so stupid. I can’t believe I didn’t see

the truth..

MARGEAUX

Married? What truth were you looking

for? Did the wife know about you two?

(judgmental)

Gweneth looks over at Margeaux to make sure she heard the tone

right.



23

GWENETH

Don’t you dare judge me as some typical

stupid woman who falls for a married

guy with hopes of breaking up his fami-

ly and living happily ever after!

(pause)

Don’t go there ‘cuz that isn’t it! That

isn’t what happened!

(pause)

..I did it..for the money..

Gweneth quietly pulls herself together. She steps back into her

jeans; unbuttons and removes the men’s shirt. She pulls the

sweater over her head. She fusses with her hair and then looks

at Margeaux.

GWENETH

You want to know more about my life?

(pause)

Tell me more about yours first. I’ll

see you in the dining car.

Gweneth exits the seating area and Margeaux sits and contem-

plates all this while chugging on the open bottle of red wine.

She then stands up; shoulders her knitted bag and proceeds to

exit the seating area.

FADE

10) INT. TRAIN DINING CAR - SOMEWHERE ALONG THE TRAIN ROUTE - A

FEW MINUTES LATER

Margeaux enters the dining car and Gweneth is nowhere to be

seen. Margeaux sits at a dinette table with two available set-

tings. She opens the menu; glances and puts it down. A dining

car waiter approaches the table. Margeaux motions for coffee and

puts up her index finger to inform him that the other person isone minute away. The waiter nods and leaves the table. At that

moment Gweneth enters, sees Margeaux and proceeds to the table

and sits.

GWENETH

Did you think I was going to jump?

(sarcasm)

MARGEAUX



24

No.

(factual reply)

If anyone actually jumps off a moving

train it would have alerted the Engi-

neer that a door was opened while in motion and would have been stopped al-

ready to ascertain next of kin facts.

And to announce dead at the scene in-

formation. Any delay and the paperwork

is horrendous.

(pause)

I figured you probably already knew

that and therefore I was not concerned.

(smiles)

Besides. I agree. I think you deserve

to hear a bit about me before we talk

about you, that baby and what’s his

name; “asshole” is it?

Gweneth slowly reaches over and takes Margeaux’s hand who is al-

ready reaching over for Gweneth’s hand.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

So.. questions? Or do I just email you

my online bio?

At that moment; coffee shows up and the waiter is motioned by

Margeaux to bring another for Gweneth. He leaves the table. The

two of them continue holding hands.

GWENETH

Lets have some coffee and order food;..

in..

(pause)

I don’t want to waste another minutegetting to know you.

Margeaux and Gweneth exit the dining car with Gweneth following.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Admittedly, the loping of the train and

the approaching blackness of night tin-



25

gled my senses. Sucking down that red

wine earlier sealed my fate.

10 A) We now see an undressed Gweneth just before she grabs her

large white shirt off the top bunk. Margeaux sits by the window

and is mesmerized by the oscillations of the train and the lumi-nescence that glistens off the bare ass of a porcelain Aphrodite

while she stood over Margeaux gazing at the approaching dark-

ness.

MARGEAUX (VO)

I knew that Gweneth was hiding some-

thing. And, I didn’t want to tell her

of my attraction to her. It was obvi-

ous.

Gweneth is still standing motionless and then, she carefully and

methodically puts on her shirt as she faces Margeaux’s POV.

Gweneth begins to slowly button the shirt from neck to tail.

Margeaux is in a trance.

The Train pierces the blackness and rolls along unseen.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Was I having a euphoric out-of-body ex-

perience?

FADE

11) INT. TRAIN - LATE NIGHT

Margeaux and Gweneth are both sitting cross legged on the bottom

berth facing each other and chatting a mile a minute.

MARGEAUX

What do you mean you did it for the

money?

GWENETH

Its like I told you. He ran a postingin the online classifieds looking for a

a surrogate.

MARGEAUX

You’re kidding me!

GWENETH

No..I’m not! He said she couldn’t have

kids..and that..



26

(pause)

..that she was ok with “natural cover-

ing”..and that “his seed would be sown

in the spirit of joy”.. and “not just

coming in a tube”..

(pause)

..I can’t fucking believe I went for

that..but.. $28 grand to fuck some

guy..

(pause)

..its tough to compete with twenty-one

year olds these days!

MARGEAUX

He said that? Oh my God! That sounds

like something John would say.

GWENETH

How did you know his name was John? I

don’t remember telling you that.

MARGEAUX

I was talking about my ex. His name is

John.

GWENETHReally?

(pause)

Actually; I never call him John. He

likes to be called Johnny.

(pause)

I told him two weeks ago I missed my

period. We’ve been together practically

every day since I met him which was

months ago. Then, I casually mention..you know.. I’M PREGNANT!.. and he has

been trying to ditch me since.

MARGEAUX

I can’t believe you didn’t recognize

him for the asshole he was the day you

two met!

GWENETH



27

I could say the same about you..and

your guy..

(pause)

..damn..I’m sorry I said that. That

fuck isn’t worth the grief!

MARGEAUX

Actually. I deserved that. I haven’t

been in your shoes and I don’t know

what life has done to you yet.

GWENETH

I had two choices. I was either going

to confront the wife.. or..

(pause)

..I was going to answer your ad.

MARGEAUX

Probably a good decision. I can’t see a

confrontation with an asshole like that

going well.

(pause)

Although...... I hate knowing that I

was your second choice.

GWENETH Actually, you were my first choice. I’m

such a coward. I hate confrontation.

MARGEAUX

Did you ever think that maybe this

woman has no idea what’s going on? We

owe it to her to track her down!

GWENETH

WE? ..Why?..Why do I want to have any-

thing to do with either of them? I gotthe baby. I didn’t get my twenty-eight

grand but I don’t care!

MARGEAUX

Actually, I care..

(pause)

..and I care for you..



28

(pause)

..and I care about this man’s wife and

so should you!

Gweneth swings her feet down off the berth and plants them firm-

ly on the floor and stands. She stretches. She unbuttons herlarge white shirt and stands unveiled and fully examines her

belly. She then slips into her jeans, fastens them and puts on

her blouse and sweater. She looks into Margeaux’s eyes.

GWENETH

He wasn’t interested in having a baby

and he wasn’t interested in doing any-

thing for his wife. He was only inter-

ested in fucking me while I’m holding a

his fucking IOU. He used it as leverage

every time he wanted to fuck which in

some cases was twice a day. When I

didn’t want to, out came the fucking

IOU that was yet to be paid.

(pause)

The thing is; I started thinking abut

my life with this child..without him.

(pause)

The thing is Margeaux..the thing is..I

actually do care about his wife..the

thing is.. if I were..like.. you

know..attracted to women..you’re..I

mean.. you would be.. you’re..like..to-

tally my type..

At that moment the train is slowing and the cadence is tem-

porarily interrupted as the Train settles into a slow approach

into New Orleans.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Love had a way of becoming a rule book.

An elitist doctrine that suburban womenlearn to live by. Gweneth burned the

doctrine before reading it.

(pause)

Then she told me I was her type.. Oh

Lordy.

FADE



29

ACT II 1) EXT. NEW ORLEANS TRAIN STATION PLATFORM - LATE NIGHT

Margeaux and Gweneth are loading their baggage into a TAXI. They

climb in. Margeaux instructs the driver.

MARGEAUX

The Frenchmen Hotel in the Marigny.

TAXI DRIVER

That’s a $45 fare lady.

MARGEAUX

That’s fine.

(pause)

But, my GPS here says, it shouldn’t be

more than $ bucks. Not much traffic.

Shouldn’t take long; right?

TAXI DRIVER

20 minutes. Tops!

Gweneth is trying to lay her head down in Margeaux’s lap.

Margeaux lets that happen. Gweneth falls instantly to sleep. The

Taxi Driver is a non-stop fusillade of raving lunacy about taxi

fares and Margeaux sits back and strokes Gweneth’s hair and

stares out the window into the hazy late night New Orleans foggy

mist. The Amber street lights are mesmerizing to look at.

FADE

2) EXT. THE FRENCHMEN HOTEL - TAXI STAND - A FEW MINUTES LATER

The taxi driver pulls up to the curb of the hotel. He hits the

button on the meter. We see him through the windshield. We do

not see what it reads. He turns to Margeaux and speaks. We do

not hear what he says. Margeaux says nothing. No one is on the

sidewalk and it is late. Gweneth exits the cab on the driver

side and proceeds to grab their baggage from the open trunk.

Margeaux exits on the passenger side and steps over to the frontopen passenger window while holding her cell phone. The driver

speaks to her.

TAXI DRIVER

I told you. $49 dollars and a tip would

be nice.

Margeaux holds up her cell phone and shows the driver.



30

MARGEAUX

My app on my cell phone here tapped

into your meter and it says $27 dol-

lars. What do you say to that?

Gweneth is bent over the trunk getting something out of herleather bag.

TAXI DRIVER

I don’t give one flying fuck about your

cell phone appitude, lady!. Its $49

bucks. End of story!

Suddenly a figure in a hooded sweatshirt appears next to

Margeaux and holds a knife in Margeaux’s face. Margeaux freezes

and doesn’t move.

TAXI DRIVER (CONT)Just give him that big bag you got and

there won’t be any trouble.

MARGEAUX

Do you know this..hoodlum?

(pause)

Are you two working together?

Suddenly we see a big gun stuck to the temple of the driver.

Close-up reveals it is Gweneth’s plastic .45 automatic.

GWENETH

How about I just shoot you and your

friend there and we call it even? Bet-

ter yet.. you pay me not to shoot you

both.

(pause)

Give me everything you got in your

pocket.

The driver slowly reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a

wad of bills. As he hands it to Gweneth, the hooded hood takes

off in a dead run up the street. Suddenly, the driver punches

the accelerator and burns rubber with the trunk lid still up.

Margeaux and Gweneth and their luggage now fill the void.

Gweneth is holding the plastic .45 and the wad of bills.

MARGEAUX



31

Now that you’ve pulled that off we can

extend our trip.

FADE

3) INT. NEW ORLEANS HOTEL - FRONT DESK - A FEW MINUTES LATER

We see Margeaux and Gweneth at the front desk. The hooded man

that robbed them comes to the front desk and quickly takes off

his hooded sweatshirt. He slinks along the wall and slips in un-

der the counter. The girls don’t see this. He is wearing a name

tag. He is now the night front desk man, FREDDY, late 20’s. He

is standing and speaking to them. We do not hear what they say.

ECU reveals FREDDY’S name tag has been temporality altered to

read: READY FREDDY. Freddy is pointing at this tag with his

thumb while speaking to the girls. ECU reveals Margeaux slipping

a crisp new $20 into the palm of FREDDY.

All three of them fold their arms rapper style and give each

other a wide smile.

FADE

4) EXT. FRENCHMEN HOTEL BENCH - A SHORT TIME LATER - NIGHT

Margeaux and Gweneth are sitting on a bench. It is late and

there are not many people on the street.

GWENETHI can’t believe they gave our room out

because we weren’t there by midnight!

That is such bullshit!

MARGEAUX

Grabbing your belly and bending over

got us the HoneyMoon Suite in just a

few hours. You were brilliant!

Gweneth contemplates this and smiles. Margeaux then reaches into

her knitted shoulder bag and produces a crumpled pack of ciga-rettes. She puts one to her lips and Gweneth immediately reach-

ers over and pulls it out and breaks it in half.

GWENETH

If I can’t..you can’t..

(breaking cigarette)

(lovingly sarcastic)

..bitch!



32

Margeaux and Gweneth settle into the bench. They surreptitiously

and subconsciously acknowledge the underlying tension that now

exist between them and now is as good a time as any to discuss

it.

MARGEAUXBreast fed or bottle?

(pause)

Cloth or disposable?

(pause)

Organic or Monsanto?

Gweneth is gazing at the nightlife. Margeaux continues…

MARGEAUX (CONT)

Lamaze or Epidural?

(pause)

Child support or working mom?

(pause)

Pink or Blue?

Gweneth finally comes unglued. She sits up straight.

GWENETH

Shit! Pink or Blue? How the fuck am Isupposed to know? I don’t even know if

I’m keeping it!

MARGEAUX

It!.. It? Of course you’re keeping

“it”! “It” is a part of you now. “It”

is relying on you. “It” is your future.

(pause)

We’ll work it out. I’ll be there for

you.

GWENETH

Be there for me? What do you mean? We

just met! You don’t even know me!

MARGEAUX

Oh..I know you. I asked for you. I

asked for a fellow Bird of Paradise to

travel with me.. and here you are.



33

GWENETH

We need to talk about that.

Suddenly we hear a phone ringing. Margeaux reaches into her bag

and pulls out her cell phone. She looks at the text. ECU of text

reads: Room Ready! READY FREDDY :)

INSERT: ECU CELL PHONE DISPLAY - ROOM READY! READY FREDDY :)

MARGEAUX

Incredible!

(smiling)

GWENETH

What?

MARGEAUX

The power of other people’s money.

Slow fade on Margeaux’s face which is lit up from underneath by

the cell phone display in ghostly and goulash fashion.

FADE

5) INT. NEW ORLEANS HOTEL - HOTEL ROOM - EARLY NEXT MORNING

We see a brightly lit hotel window with open shades letting in a

shower of gold morning light. We see Gweneth, vulnerable, face

down in bed. She is sleeping. We see Margeaux in a hotel robe with a cup of coffee and the morning paper sitting at a small

parlor table. Margeaux is entranced with the breathtaking lines

that nature gave to Gweneth. The only sounds are Gweneth’s occa-

sional snoring. On the sofa next to Margeaux is Gweneth’s back-

pack with its entire contents strewn about. Margeaux notices the

plastic .45 auto and reaches down and picks it up. She points it

straight out and takes careful aim on an imaginary adversary and

speaks.

MARGEAUX

You talkin’ to me.. mutha' fucka’?

Margeaux chuckles at her own whimsy and sets the gun down on the

table. She glances over at Gweneth and then proceeds to casually

pick up the strewn contents one at a time. A dogged ear copy of,

SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY with a paper clip marking a page. ECU re-

veals a hand written note in the margin. It reads: “This is how

I feel about my life.”

INSERT: ECU “THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY LIFE!”



34

Margeaux reads the marked passage to herself.

MARGEAUX (VO)

AMANDA BARKER

“HENRY got me with child,

Knowing that I could not bring forth

life

Without losing my own.

In my youth therefore I entered the

portals of dust. Traveler, it is be-

lieved in the village where I lived

That Henry loved me with a husband’s

love

But I proclaim from the dust

That he slew me to gratify his hatred.”

Margeaux closes the anthology and puts it down. She glances over

at the slumbering Gweneth. Margeaux continues her rummaging.

MARGEAUX (VO CONT)

That he slew me to gratify his hatred.

(pause)

Wow! .. a tingling sensation buzzed its

way to the back of my neck every time I

looked at Gweneth.

Margeaux is holding up a pair of white cotton panties. She exam-

ines them and places it on her previously viewed pile. She pulls

out a zippered wallet. It is unzipped and open. Margeaux exam-

ines the contents and pulls out Gweneth’s drivers license. She

looks closely at the photo. It looks like a cover for Vogue. ECU

of D.L.

INSERT: ECU OF D.L. PHOTO

MARGEAUX

(whispering)

Damn.. I wish I could look that good on

my drivers license.



35

Margeaux puts the drivers license back and then notices a few

bills in the money section. She pulls out the cash and counts

it. $51 dollars. She then looks through the rest of the con-

tents. She doesn’t find what she is looking for.

MARGEAUX(whispering

$51 dollars? No debit cards; no credit

cards?

Margeaux reaches down and picks up Gweneth’s jeans lying on the

floor. She goes through the pockets and pulls out a small wad of

$1 bills. She counts them.

MARGEAUX (VO CONT)

$19 dollars. I wondered how she was go-

ing make this trip with very little

money and no cash or credit cards?

Margeaux decides to put everything back as she found it. She is

busy tidying up the area when suddenly Gweneth is standing be-

hind her; in the all together. Margeaux is slightly startled. As

MARGEAUX turns to face her; Gweneth slips her left hand inside

of Margeaux’s robe and her right hand up behind her neck and

gives Margeaux a lip crushing kiss. At first Margeaux does not

respond. Then she does. They remain standing while gentle lips

explore. Margeaux prods and probes every curve, every mound and

valley of Gweneth. Gweneth reciprocates.

FADE

6) INT. HOTEL ROOM - THE BED - A SHORT TIME LATER

Margeaux and Gweneth are entangled and enraptured in each oth-

er’s essence. Their newly found passion of femme worship brings

cooing sounds of carnal joy and unbridled love; unleashed.

Margeaux is inches away from Gweneth’s tattoo. She is stroking

it with her index finger. ECU of finger making a circle on

Gweneth’s back and ECU shows goosebumps, sweat and the quivering

of her skin. Margeaux reaches over and extracts her camera fromher bag. She doesn’t remove her circling finger and with the

other hand she begins to snap fine art masterpieces of Gweneth’s

tattoo.

GWENETH

I got it when I was 15 years old. I

wanted to go to Juilliard but I did’t

get the scholarship. “My violin lacked



36

the necessary talent”. So I threw that

little bitch into the Hudson River but

I couldn’t toss the tattoo.

MARGEAUX (VO)

I imagined for a moment that Gweneth was the little girl in red walking

through the black and white ghetto

scene in Schindler’s List and that

Juilliard’s, Itzhak Perlman threw him-

self into the Hudson River trying to

save her violin.

FADE

7) EXT. NEW ORLEANS - EARLY AFTERNOON - SAME DAY

Gweneth and Margeaux stroll the Moonwalk gazing at the St. LouisCathedral. Not a word is spoken. They are side by side, close

and in sync with each other’s steps. They do not hold hands.

Their reservations out in the open hide their unabashed feel-

ings. They reach the end of their walk and stand while leaning

on the railing looking at each other while fixated on the

majesty of the St. Louis Cathedral.

MARGEAUX

Fate..

(pause)Everything in life happens for a rea-

son. There is no such thing as coinci-

dence. Every atom and every molecule in

my body helped me experience the mean-

ing of life today.

(pause)

In all the orgasms I’ve ever had with

men.. none of them came even close..

GWENETH

I’ll take that as comparative compli-

ment, not unlike the ones I have to use

on men.

MARGEAUX

What do you mean?

GWENETH



37

You know..

(mimicking)

..oh baby.. your so huge! You’re gonna

damage me..you big boy!” That kind of

shit. Know what I mean?

Margeaux seems unsure if she insulted or provoked Gweneth in

some way.

MARGEAUX

Kind of like Sally when she met Harry

and faked it for him in the diner? That

sort of thing?

(pause)

Is that what you think I was doing?

Faking it?

GWENETH

No..more like that Swedish actress in

that old black and white flick about

the chick who left that poor bar keeper

in Paris.. left his ass sitting at a

train station in the pouring rain..and

then tortures him with bad memories of

promises made and not kept..

(pause)..more like that kind of faking it.

Know what I mean?

Gweneth is tearing up. She starts to cry. Margeaux immediately

understands why. She embraces Gweneth. Gweneth hugs her back

like a small child clutching a stuffed bear. The humidity was

heavy and ever present.

MARGEAUX

Don’t worry Kitten . . .

(pause)

..nobody is leaving anybody. You’re not

leaving that baby, that baby will prob-

ably leave you though in about eighteen

years or so but not ’til then..and I’m

not leaving you.

We see a man, 40’s with a camera and telephoto lens taking pic-

tures of Gweneth and Margeaux from a distance. Gweneth does not



38

notice or see this. Margeaux clearly sees this and is distracted

by it.. Margeaux averts her eyes momentary and the man disap-

pears.

MARGEAUX (VO)

I had to check in with my tender sensi-bilities. This beautiful woman made me

feel wanted, needed, powerful and loved

all in one breath.

(pause)

But.. .. she had issues.

FADE

8) INT. NEW ORLEANS FRENCH MARKET - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Margeaux is browsing the aisles while waiting for Gweneth tocome out of the bathroom. The man she saw earlier with the cam-

era and lens is standing across the street from the market and

pointing his camera at Margeaux through the crowd. Margeaux does

not like this. Margeaux moves sideways out of his view. He moves

trying to find a better view. He looses sight of Margeaux. He is

starring intently through the crowd. His name is MAX SAVITCH,

40’s and Margeaux knows him.

MARGEAUX

Max!

Max whirls around and almost looses his balance. He is startled

and humiliated to have been surprised.

MAX

Margeaux!

MARGEAUX

What are you doing here Max? Brian said you were tailing John

two days ago and now you’re here in New Orleans?

MAXI know.. .. I know. Brian said he sent

you the pic that I took of John

and,ah.. this female ..who maced him. !

(pause)

Did you get it?

MARGEAUX



39

I haven’t checked my email yet and that

still doesn’t explain why you’re in New

Orleans? Are you following me Max?Does

Brian know you’re here?

MAXMargeaux..I’ve got that pic that Brian

sent right here on my phone. Wanna see

it?

Margeaux says nothing. Max holds his phone up and shows it to

Margeaux. ECU of cell phone shows a photograph of GWENETH WILDE

spraying what appears to be mace in the face of John Sullivan.

INSERT: ECU CELL PHONE PHOTOGRAPH OF GWENETH SPRAYING JOHN

Gweneth is wearing the exact same cloths that she met Margeaux

in at the train station. Margeaux looks like she has seen aghost.

MARGEAUX!

What? What does that mean? Why are you

here? Did you and Brian know about this

woman before you took this photograph?

At that moment Gweneth exits the French Market, sees Margeaux

and heads straight for them. Margeaux quickly looks at Max.

MARGEAUX (CONT)Max! Say nothing. You’re a tourist.

Text me later tonight and I will meet

you in the lobby of the hotel and we

can speak then. 10:30pm.

Gweneth approaches and Margeaux waves good-bye to Max and he im-

mediately walks away and begins taking stills of the fruit

stands.

GWENETH

Who was that?

MARGEAUX

A guy I know that works for my broth-

er’s law firm. We ran into each other.

Small world.

Margeaux looks at Gweneth. Gweneth holds her belly. She gently

places Margeaux’s hand on her belly. Margeaux instinctively



40

jerks her hand away. Gweneth notices something has changed in

Margeaux.

GWENETH

Who was that man Margeaux? And don’t

bullshit me! I saw him photographing usearlier. I thought you saw him too. I

didn’t want to say anything. What

gives?

MARGEAUX

Lets take a walk and look around. Then

you can talk in circles all day.

(sarcastically)

Then when we’re all done walking in

circles and talking in circles we can

come right back here and play the cir-

cle game!

(pause)

..and as you always say..

(pause)

..know what I mean?

Gweneth has just been morally wounded by her new lover.

GWENETH

How could I tell you once I met you? I

needed to know the truth.

MARGEAUX

What truth?!

GWENETH

That guy..I saw him just before I got

to the train station. I think he is theguy who photographed me macing Johnny

in the face.

Margeaux is stone face and frozen into position. Her eyes stare

straight through Gweneth. Suddenly, a smile appears on

Margeaux’s face. She gently reaches over and kisses Gweneth on

the cheek. Her tenderness confuses Gweneth. Margeaux sees this

and begins laughing.



41

MARGEAUX

I’m just laughing at the bizarre absurd

randomness of life!

(pause)

Two things I want you to know rightnow. One. I am crazy, head over heels

in love with you. Two. Lets spend the

entire day telling each other the abso-

lute truth.

(pause)

You tell me yours; I’ll tell you mine.

In the meantime; there is three of us

that need to eat.

Margeaux gently puts her hand on Gweneth’s belly. She then takes

Gweneth’s open hand and kisses her palm. They stroll towards

Cafe Du Monde.

9) EXT. NEW ORLEANS - MULE BUGGY STAND - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Margeaux and Gweneth are waiting for a mule buggy. Gweneth is

eating beignets. A sketch artist enjoins Margeaux for a por-

trait. Gweneth suddenly appears to be nauseous and has to leave

the line quickly. She indicates to Margeaux to continue posing

and quickly runs across Decatur back to Cafe Du Monde. Margeaux

patiently holds still for the sketch artist. She stands looking

after Gweneth. Gweneth doesn’t quite make it and then suddenlypukes in the middle of traffic. As Gweneth finishes puking she

stops at the Cafe Du Monde entrance. Margeaux spots Max speaking

with Gweneth. He is sitting at a small table. Max invites

Gweneth to sit. Margeaux loses sight of them momentary and sud-

denly, Max is not there and Gweneth is waiting for Margeaux.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Small world. What are the odds?

Margeaux tips the sketch artist, gesturing that she’ll pick it

up later and strolls over to Gweneth. She approaches her with atearful stare and gets within an inch of Gweneth’s face.

MARGEAUX

You’re breaking my heart!!

GWENETH

Why? Because I spotted your guy..

Max, was it? I chatted him up a bit!



42

(pause)

You know what I found out?

Margeaux is fixed to her stance like a bronze statue. She says

nothing. She looks Gweneth right in the eyes. We see ECU of both

of their eyes.

FADE

10) EXT. MOONWALK- A FEW MINUTES LATER

Gweneth and Margeaux at the railing looking at the St. Louis

Cathedral. They’re standing side by side taking in the tourist.

We don’t see their faces.

GWENETH

I was going to tell you about John and

me.

MARGEAUX

When? After I crossed the entire coun-

try with you?

GWENETH

Why didn’t you ask me immediately when

you saw Max’s snap of me spraying lover

boy in the face?

(pause)You could tell by the way I was point-

ing the pepper spray directly up his

nose that I was pissed!

(pause)

Try and look at from my point of view

Margeaux. I didn’t know anything about

you until you posted that in the per-

sonals.

(pause)I would have never found you if John

hadn’t mentioned to me your search for

“the bird of paradise” for a train trip

buddy to New Orleans.

(pause)

Hell!.. I found you in two key strokes!

I needed to know the truth.



43

MARGEAUX

What is this truth you keep talking

about? What truth?

GWENETH

John said you were..barren and couldn’tconceive..

MARGEAUX

That son of a bitch used that line to

get you? Obviously you’re not easy? He

had to promise twenty-eight grand too?

(ranting)

What..his puny little dick wasn’t

enough for you? You can’t be serious?

You expect me to believe that?

Gweneth is starting to melt down. We still don’t see her face.

We only see them from behind as they speak and look the St.

Louis Cathedral. We hear her tears.

GWENETH

Margeaux..I’m sorry that your feelings

got hurt. I never intended anyone to

become damaged or.. I am so sorry.

(pause)

You’re wrong about me. Men aren’t allthat fascinating to me. The timing, his

line about you wanting a child..his

promises..and then he had the audacity

to demand I get rid of it now that you

weren’t in the picture. He just tore up

his promissory note right in my face. I

completely lost it and grabbed my pep-

per spray..

Gweneth pulls her keychain from her bag and shows the little can

of pepper spray to Margeaux. She forcefully hands it toMargeaux. Margeaux reluctantly takes it.

GWENETH (CONT)

Shake it! The damn thing is empty. I

let him have it right in the face. Max

was there..he’ll tell you how pissed I

was.



44

MARGEAUX

Why was Max talking to you?

GWENETH

You were noticeably upset after you ran

into him.

MARGEAUX

So?

GWENETH

I was prepared to kick his ass but he

turned on me for the same thing that he

thought I was taking you down with.

(pause)

I showed him my gun; and then he showed

me his. He said mine was plastic. Icould see that his gun was a blue steel

snub nose .38 caliber in a brown

leather holster. No prop; believe me!

Real cop gun!

(pause)

..at that point I gave him my undivided

attention..

(pause)

..know what I mean?

Margeaux has the same look on her face when first Gweneth intro-

duced her to the plastic .45 on the train.

GWENETH (CONT)

Hey Baby..

Gweneth can see that Margeaux is stupefied and in shock that all

this is taking place.

GWENETH (CONT)

..Margeaux? Margeaux!

(pause)

Snap out of it! I’m joking with you!

Max doesn’t have a gun. He’s a profes-

sional snoop that takes pictures of hu-

mans being human and then uses it



45

against them in a court of law or the

public forum..

(pause)

..know what I mean?

Suddenly Margeaux composes herself and takes a stance against

the coolness of the steel railing.

MARGEAUX

Gweneth; I have known Max for a lot of

years. He is loyal to my brother who is

loyal to me. John is Max’s current

case. That cell phone pic was nothing

more than Max doing his job.

GWENETH

Then why is he here?

MARGEAUX

We’ll find out tonight won’t we?

GWENETH

Just so you know..I’m not afraid of

anything..anything that you find out

about me..’cuz if you ask me now any-

thing you want..I’ll answer the same

now as I will tonight..

Margeaux says nothing. She reaches up and lovingly sweeps the

bangs from Gweneth’s forehead. They both turn and look out over

the Cathedral.

MARGEAUX (VO)

The roar of the crowd, the acrobats,

the street musicians and the gnawing

uncertainty of what was about to come

later was like a child about to put a

paper clip in an electrical outlet. I

couldn’t stop it. I was all in.

FADE

11) EXT. CAFE DU MONDE - LATE THAT NIGHT

We see Gweneth, Max and Margeaux sitting at a small table at

Cafe Du Monde. It is a slow night.. not many people around. They

are drinking coffee. The conversation is hushed but heated.



46

Max is looking over at Gweneth and starring her in the eyes

while speaking to Margeaux.

MAX

Your EX has been busy Margeaux.

MARGEAUX

So have you Max. Friend or not; you’re

nothing more than a professional snoop

that takes pictures of humans being hu-

man and then uses it against them in a

court of law or the public forum..

(pause)

Margeaux turns and winks manically at Gweneth.

..know what I mean?

Gweneth smiles and then grins from ear to ear. She now recog-

nizes that Margeaux has completely forgiven her and Margeaux is

now protecting Gweneth from any conclusions other than her own.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

So.. Max.. What do you have for us?

We’re all ears..

(huge long pause)Take your time..we’re not in a rush but

more like a big hurry. This woman and I

have got some life to live. Your input

one way or the other may effect that.

(pause)

..but either way, we’re getting on that

train tomorrow.

MAX

Ok.. here is what I got.. I got a$28,000 Promissory Note written by John

Sullivan to one Gweneth Wilde. For Ser-

vices rendered; acknowledgement herein.

Period. I got a $31,000 cashier’s check

written to and cashed by one Gweneth

Wilde.

Gweneth’s jaw drops from shock and dismay.



47

GWENETH

That son of a bitch!

(pause)

Margeaux; its true; I cashed a check in

my name and he gave me some song anddance that he was overdrawn in his mon-

ey management account and was taking it

from his Stupid Margin Call account or

some damn thing.

MAX

Yeah? So where’s the dough?

MARGEAUX

Dough?

(pause)Max..you’re watching way too many late

night Bogart movies.

(pause)

Ok Gweneth.. don’t panic. Just tell me

what happened.

Margeaux sees Gweneth looking sheepishly at Max. Margeaux slaps

Max on the hand like a small boy being scolded by his grade

school teacher.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

Play nice Max.

Max immediately retreats to a friendlier body language pose.

GWENETH

He told me at lunch one day a few weeks

after we met that he needed to pay for

his country club dues.

(pause)We were at that little French Restau-

rant right across from the bank. We sat

and ordered. John said he would be

right back and I ordered paté en croute

with a glass of Rosé. Couple of minutes

later he came back and we had lunch.

(pause)



48

Then on the way out the door he said he

needed a big favor at the bank. We walk

in; a girl, Betty or something, knew

him and handed me an envelope full of

cash and had me sign a cashers check

for $31,000. I did and then John took$3,000 from the envelope and handed it

to me. That was it.

(pause)

Quickest $3,000 grand I ever made..

(pause)

..I remember this because she was a

preggo about ready to pop. She let me

put my hand on her belly. John was

rushing me..we blew out of there and I

never gave it another thought.

Max and Margeaux look at each other.

MARGEAUX

What John did was pay you $31,000

cash..Gweneth. It was tied to the Prom-

issory Note. Then you handed over

$28,000 cash without a receipt or any-

thing. Then he gave you $3,000 as a

smoke screen to the real scam he pulled

on you. He satisfied the promissory

note to you, you gave it back without a

receipt and then he paid you $3,000 to

look the other way.

(pause)

MARGEAUX (CONT)

Max. I’m thinkin’ tax fraud.

MAX

I’m thinkin’ the same thing.

(pause)

..anything else?

Gweneth looks at Margeaux. Margeaux reaches under the table and

gently pats Gweneth’s belly.

MARGEAUX



49

No. Nothing more. Is there Kitten?

Gweneth shakes her head.

MARGEAUX

Thanks Max! I’ll let Brian know that

new information has come to light. Will

you stay on the case for me..

(pause)

Margeaux has her hand on Gweneth’s hand on the table. Max sees

this.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

I mean ..us?

Gweneth and Margeaux look at Max. He says nothing for a very

long pause. He looks intently at Margeaux and then at Gweneth.

MAX

Friend or not Margeaux; I’m nothin’

more than a scumbag snoop that takes

pictures at a fuck fest..

(pause)

..and then I use that shit against ‘em

or for ‘em in a court of law so that

they get a rare chance to feel bad

about themselves.

(pause)

Max turns and winks manically at Gweneth.

..know what I mean?

Gweneth and Margeaux smile and then grin from ear to ear. They

now recognize that Max has just become their ally. Gweneth is

ravishing a beignet.

FADE

12) INT. NEW ORLEANS HOTEL ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

The room is dark; the only light coming through the window is

neon lights of the Quarter. Gweneth, wearing only her oversized

white men’s shirt is now standing in silhouette against the in-

truding slivers of bright light snaking through the window cov-

erings that she is attempting to close.



50

Margeaux is sitting up in the King size bed with the sheets up

round her neck. She is watching every move that Gweneth makes.

Gweneth pretends that she doesn’t notice this but we see that

she does. Gweneth carefully removes a small digital speaker from

her leather bag. She attaches it to her cell phone. She sets it

on the table next to the bed. She taps the screen and we hear agentle Bossa Nova. From Margeaux’s POV side of the bed, she

watches as Gweneth effortlessly drops the shirt to the floor.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Like Aphrodite emerging from the sea

foam, Gweneth levitated and floated to

me and leaned over and kissed me. The

Bossa Nova put me in a temporary state

of euphoric submission.

At the precise moment that Gweneth touches her lips to

Margeaux’s lips; we see leaping fire light. We slide over to see

a table application on Margeaux’s laptop computer with a fire-

place app emitting a beautiful blend of ambiance and passion

pulsating with every flicker.

Gweneth and Margeaux are entangled in the nuances of Sapphic

love. The Bossa Nova magically synchronizes itself to the

flickering digital flames. Gweneth reaches into her leather bag

and unwraps a chocolate bar and starts devouring it.

FADE

ACT III 1) EXT. TRAIN STATION-PLATFORM-EARLY MORNING

Gweneth and Margeaux board the Train. They begin to settle in.

Both of them appear agitated with each other.

GWENETH

(pause)

I can’t believe we’re going back!

MARGEAUX

We must take care of this right nowKitten! Living in denial is the subur-

ban way, So..our best offense is to be

highly offensive.

(whispers)

And our best cover is the element of

surprise.

GWENETH



51

Oh.

(bewildered)

Margeaux quickly changes the subject as this is elementary logic

to her.

MARGEAUX

After last night; I finally figured out

what that famous line meant in the

movie, LOVE STORY.

Margeaux stops and looks Gweneth in the eyes. She then turns and

goes back to settling in the dual seats. Gweneth is looking at

the back of Margeaux’s head.

GWENETH

What line?

MARGEAUX

Love means never having to say

you’re ..sorry.

GWENETH

Sorry?..Sorry?..sorry about what?

MARGEAUX

Nothing!

(a pouting lip)

Love has precluded me from having to

say ..I’m sorry.

GWENETH

You don’t have to say that Margeaux. If

you’re in love than you don’t even have

say that you don’t have to say that

you’re sorry to anyone.

(pause)..know what I mean?

(pause)

Where does all that sorrow go Margeaux?

Margeaux looks at Gweneth for a very long time.

MARGEAUX

Are you high?



52

GWENETH

I mean it! Where does all that sorrow

go?

MARGEAUXDon’t you think we should talk about

it?

GWENETH

Talk about what?

MARGEAUX

You know..last night .. what happened..

GWENETH

What happened?

MARGEAUX

We happened!

GWENETH

And?

MARGEAUX

Well..don’t you want to talk about it?

GWENETH

Why?..Why ruin it with talk?

MARGEAUX

Was I that horrible for you?

GWENETH

You silly woman! It was me.. not you..

MARGEAUX

Oh.. I thought it was me?

GWENETH

It wasn’t.. .. don’t worry.

MARGEAUX

Ok.. Gweneth; you’re exhausted. Get

some sleep. We won’t be leaving for a

bit. I’ll just sit here and knit and

watch you sleep..



53

Gweneth says nothing and drops down onto one of the convertible

seats and immediately falls asleep. We hear the sounds of morn-

ing departure activity on the Train. It is a glorious day and

Margeaux is knitting and smiling.

FADE

2) INT. TRAIN - ONE HOUR LATER

We see Margeaux putting away her knitting. She pulls out her

laptop computer. She immediately props it up and starts tapping

the keys.

MARGEAUX

Hmmm.. oh yeah. The letter,ah, article…

We now see Margeaux from the POV of the screen.

MARGEAUX (VO)

The train is trudging northbound

through its miles of maze, rails and

bayous as it leaves New Orleans.

The quiet swampy solitude completely

carpet the old growth Cyprus view and

the methodic indifference of the blend-

ing tree line from the billowing clouds

that gives solace to the sadness thatset in immediately after this thing of

beauty; the deep south. I just fell

madly in love with her, and she is now

shape shifting into motherhood with the

seed of a shallow and reckless man.

(still typing with VO)

My beautiful Gweneth, taken down by a

man I once thought I knew. His carnal

misogynistic megalomania was obviously

fortified with genetically modifiedcorn syrup on his bowl of “breakfast of

losers”.. everyday of his fucking life.

(quickly deleting)

MARGEAUX

..damn.. I can’t write that…

(retyping)

MARGEAUX (VO) (CONT)



54

..everyday of his life.

(still typing with VO)

The clandestine manipulation of

Gweneth. Then, disposing of me sexually

..just to rob Gweneth of money and wiselife choices for his own ego! Its just

plain diabolical. All in the interest

of..

(pause)

MARGEAUX

Tax Evasion!

(pause)

MARGEAUX (CONT)

I’m taking you down mother fucker!

Margeaux’s outburst awakens Gweneth.

..sorry Kitten! Did I wake you?

Margeaux sets her laptop computer aside and gets on her knees

and gently lays her head on Gweneth’s belly. Gweneth puts her

hand on Margeaux’s head and softly with minuscule flicking of

her finger, strokes Margeaux’s hair.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

Kitten.. I am so sorry about everything

I said earlier. I was being selfish.

Please forgive me. Last night was won-

derful and nothing you did or didn’t do

would have made one little bit of dif-

ference. I will say it here and gladly

yell it to the universe. You ripped my

heart right out my chest and left me

breathless. And brought us this child.

Gweneth has tears. They gently fall.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

If you’ll let me..if you’ll have me..I

want us to go house hunting together..

(pause)



55

I don’t want you to worry about one

thing. I will dedicate every waking

minute of my life to you and this baby.

(pause)

And when mother and child are peaceful-ly sleeping..

(pause)

I will relish how fortune shinned on us

Gweneth. On you, me and.. our baby.

Margeaux raises her head. Tears fill her eyes and she looks

Gweneth in the eyes.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

That baby is mine too..in a weird way..

you agreed to have it for me.. and forthat alone I will love you ’til the end

of time.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Gweneth moved into a fetal position and

didn’t speak. She and I peacefully co-

existed with each other’s mutual adora-

tion. The oscillation of the Train’s

panoramic view of the scene outside the

coach windows took on an intensity

where the time continuum momentarilysynchronized the heartbeat of all three

of us. Momentarily, anyway, I felt as

though me, Gweneth and the baby were

one.

FADE

3) INT. TRAIN - DINING CAR - AN HOUR LATER

Gweneth and Margeaux were seated facing each other at a booth.

The waiter comes and takes their order. They both order coffeeand Gweneth orders pastry.

Gweneth is staring through the windows as if it were a kaleido-

scope. Margeaux sees this and decides to engage her by drawing

her out.

MARGEAUX

Kitten?



56

GWENETH

Why do you call me Kitten?

MARGEAUX

Don’t you like to be called Kitten?

GWENETH

I do. But.. is it me you want or.. just

my baby Margeaux?

Margeaux is stunned and suddenly fear is in her eyes.

MARGEAUX

What are you saying, Kitten?

GWENETH

Nothing..

MARGEAUX

What..what..what are you saying?

GWENETH

I’m just saying..I don’t know what I’m

saying..but..I am so confused. What do

I do? Do I get rid of this thing grow-

ing in me which didn’t come from love

but..but..from..some bastard’s lies and

manipulation..?

(pause)

And you.. what was I thinking? You

swept me right off my feet! Who are

you? His personal manager? You were

married to that son-of-bitch..and look

at you now.. you want me because he

can’t have me and you want this baby

because you could’t have your own! You

and that suburban loser want to own me,

use me and then take my baby and total-

ly fuck up my life?..and for what?

(pause)

Really Margeaux..for what?

Margeaux appears calm. She gently reaches up as if to touch

Gweneth’s face. Suddenly she slaps Gweneth which momentarily

shocks Gweneth.

MARGEAUX



57

You know what..it was you who contacted

me. I didn’t know a thing about you or

John’s bullshit or anything about your

life..are you kidding me?..

(pause)..you spread your legs for the promise

of money..you let him use that young

friendly enticing little twat of yours

for tax fraud..then you get pregnant

and then cleverly use information that

he gave you to track me down.. and

you’re confused about me?

The waiter comes over to the table. Margeaux waves him off.

MARGEAUX (CONT)

..were you trying to get back at that

bastard by loving me and then leaving

me with threats of abortion?

Gweneth puts her face in her hands. She starts crying. She says

nothing and gets up quickly and exits the dining car. Margeaux

gets up immediately to follow and throws a $20 dollar bill on

the table.

FADE

4) INT. TRAIN - MOMENTS LATER

Gweneth is lying face down on a berth. She is sobbing. Margeaux

enters and immediately bends down and gently hugs Gweneth. She

too starts to cry. Gweneth sits up and throws both of her arms

around Margeaux. They embrace, they cry and hug each other with-

out another word.

FADE

5) EXT. TRAIN STATION - SCHEDULE STOP - ONE HOUR LATER

Gweneth and Margeaux are siting on a bench during a brief train

stop. They are chatting up a storm. They are laughing; sharing

fruit and tossing peanuts at the Pigeons.

GWENETH

What type of house are we hunting for?

MARGEAUX

A happy house for us and the baby.



58

GWENETH

What do we do about John?

MARGEAUX

Don’t you worry, Gweneth. I’ll take

care of John.

GWENETH

Will he hurt me or try anything.. I

mean.. the baby.. and everything?

MARGEAUX

I know this is going to sound like a

male chauvinistic comment..but don’t

you worry your pretty little head about

it.. I’ve got a few long term plans for

dear ol’ John.

GWENETH

Thats funny! I was going to write a

Dear John letter to him. What do you

think I should do?

MARGEAUX

I’ve been thinking about that. How

about I write the Dear John letter for

you with him thinking it is from you?

GWENETHOh..my God! Would you? You are so sweet

to me Margeaux. What are you going to

say to him?

MARGEAUX

Me? Nothing. Its your letter. I am just

writing as if I were you.

(winking at Gweneth)

..know what I mean?

Gweneth notices that everyone is boarding the Train again. They

toss the remaining tidbits to the Pigeons and start a flight

path frenzy. The Train glistens in the mid-day sun. They both

proceed toward the train.

FADE

6) INT. TRAIN - A FEW MINUTES LATER



59

Gweneth is standing close behind Margeaux. Margeaux’s eyes close

as she lays her head back on Gweneth’s shoulder. Gweneth slips

her hand under Margeaux’s blouse. Margeaux is temporarily caught

in Gweneth’s sudden amorous fondling of Margeaux’s breasts.

Gweneth kisses Margeaux’s neck. A bristling sound of shrieking

metal signals the coming of life of the Train as it moans andjerks into a forward motion. Margeaux suddenly turns and faces

Gweneth and unbuttons Gweneth’s jeans. ECU of Margeaux’s hand

slips down Gweneth’s back side. Her jeans partially fall.

Gweneth’s beautiful pale ass glows in the early afternoon window

light. Their rapture suspends all concerns. Ecstatic love runs

rampant on the Train.

FADE

7) INT. TRAIN - A SHORT TIME LATER

Gweneth is unclad and lying on her back on a berth. She is

splayed out like a rag doll fresh from the wash and dry.

Margeaux deftly plies a blue terry cloth robe from her knitted

bag and dons it like Zorro’s Cape. She bends over and extracts a

small digital camera from her bag and climbs to a standing posi-

tion while straddling the spent Gweneth.

MARGEAUX (VO)

I methodically began to snap one handed

masterpieces of my precious Gweneth.

We see superimposed images of Gweneth that are shown at the ex-act same time Margeaux takes them. The clacking wheels of the

Train, much like the sound of a Kodak Ektagraphic slide projec-

tor. The stroboscopic light filtering through the trees provided

the accelerated heartbeat of carnal anticipation.

FADE

8) INT. TRAIN - LOUNGE CAR - SHORT TIME LATER

Margeaux is sitting in a comfortable salon chair in the glassy

canopy Lounge Car. She is alone. She is rapidly tapping her lap-top computer keys with a fervent interest in immediacy. We see

Margeaux from the POV of the screen.

MARGEAUX (VO)

B-

No time to chat. All is well. Get Max

to give you the skinny on the check/

promissory note fiasco with a one



60

Gweneth Wilde. As soon as you get that

done, have Max run me a copy of both of

John’s bank accounts, his Cash Manage-

ment Account, and also have one of your

Law Clerks do some research for me.

(pause)

Shouldn’t take too long. The research

should focus on cases of Surrogate

Pregnancy Fraud and all associated

scams relating to it.

See you in a couple of days..

M-

PS Call your buddy over at the DA’s of-

fice and find out if pregnancy fraud isrampant or rare? Don’t raise any red

flags with him. Tell him you’re writing

an article for the Girl Scouts of Amer-

ica. The title of the article being

considered:

“Things that older men offer Girl

Scouts as a way for them to earn their

merit badges.”

Just kidding..

Later, M-

At that moment Gweneth appears at Margeaux’s back. She puts her

right hand on Margeaux’s right shoulder. Without getting up

Margeaux kisses Gweneth’s palm. They both get up. Margeaux col-

lects her laptop computer. They go back to their seats. Gweneth

takes a seat facing Margeaux. Gweneth is wearing a cotton short

summer dress and black combat boots. Her hair is bobby penned

all over her head. She is wearing tortoise shell glasses. She

takes on an air of Lolita.

MARGEAUX

Did you get any sleep?

GWENETH

Yes.. I love sleeping on this train. I

don’t want to go home.

(excitedly)



61

Margeaux! Lets live on a train! Can we?

Margeaux smiles and Gweneth smiles.

GWENETH (CONT)

What are you working on?

MARGEAUX

The meaning of life. Just thinking

about how the years roll by like this

train. Just like you and me..We meet

and.. well.. just like the speed of

this train.. it is faster than human

beings will ever be.

(pause)

Know what I mean?

Gweneth is settling in her chair anticipating Margeaux’s poetry.

(pause)

If we lived on this train; we would

never age, really.

(pause)

But I don’t want that. I look forward

to aging graceful like.. with you and

this baby. Hey.. I’m still young and

you’re just a babe with a baby. Youhave no idea how that turns me on. But,

I’m still workin’ on the.. well you

know..the, “Why me?”..sort of thing.

(pause)

But, it really turns me on. The whole

thing. The family unit, and yet, the

one where we.. well..you know what I’m

sayin’.. right?

GWENETH(teasing)

No Margeaux I don’t have a clue.. what

the fuck are you saying? Are you saying

that you love me and that you want to

take care of me and John’s baby? my

baby…maybe try and own me.. possess

me..change me.. kill me..



62

Gweneth places her knees up in a playfully brief fashion reveal-

ing she is wearing no panties. Margeaux sees this seductive ploy

and gently pushes Gweneth’s knees together.

MARGEAUX

Gweneth?

GWENETH

Yes..

MARGEAUX

I will always love that about you. But,

use it sparingly.

GWENETH

Use what sparingly?

MARGEAUXThat visceral magnet that takes down

weak men like John from a mile off.

That thing you do when you flash that

cute little foregone conclusion at

them.

(pause)

What Siren are you anyway?

GWENETH

What’s bothering you? Is it our agedifference?

MARGEAUX

Since you mention it; yes! What about

our age difference?

GWENETH

What about it? Do think you’re too old?

MARGEAUX

No. I think you’re too young!

GWENETH

The problem with you really old people

is that you constantly rationalize con

formity. I thought you were an anar-

chist? You’re just another Stepford

wife programed to self-destruct when



63

hedonism and self fulfillment starts

sitting on your face and not his..

(pause)

..you mean, that kind of “too young”?

MARGEAUX

The problem with you really young peo-

ple is that you constantly rationalize

psycho meds as the answer to mental

Utopia.

GWENETH

What does that mean?

MARGEAUX

Are you high? I mean.. on psycho meds?

GWENETH

You know..

(sarcastically)

.. one other problem with really old

people is the vast amount of judgement

they have built up over the years.. or

worse..self judgement..

(pause)

..but, that is understandable. The oldtried and true mentality of salvation

through castration and all that. You

know what I think?

Gweneth jerks her knees open and again leans way back in the

chair and spreads her legs for Margeaux. We see this action only

from Gweneth’s POV.

MARGEAUX

No. Do tell.

GWENETH

I think you’re concerned about the pain

and suffering you’ll go through when I

get bored holding your bendy straw

while feeding watery canned soup to

you..

(pause)



64

..’course.. you look in.. pretty good

shape to me..so, yeah, you should worry

about that..but not for at least anoth-

er 40 or 50 years.

(pause)..but, by then you’re probably gonna’

be sick of me and most likely dump my

flabby fallen ass for a much younger

care giver.

Margeaux says nothing. She looks up from her laptop computer and

looks at Gweneth. Gweneth says nothing. She quietly rises up

sits on the arm of Margeaux’s chair. She plants a bone crushing

kiss on Margeaux. While still lip locked, Gweneth sprawls out on

Margeaux. They coo like two turtle doves.

MARGEAUX (VO)

From then on I promised her that I

would always release her to the destiny

of youth.

FADE

9) INT. TRAIN - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Margeaux is sitting on a berth typing on her laptop computer.

She has her reading glasses on and looking studious. Gweneth is

sitting on the floor in front of her like a child at a circleread in a pre-school. She has her chin cupped with her hand on

Margeaux’s knee.

GWENETH

Whattcha’ writing?

MARGEAUX

Its just a little travel recipe made

with two ingredients.

GWENETH(gleefully)

What’s in it?

MARGEAUX

“In our kitchen we cook with only two

ingredients. Hedonism and Lust! Every-

thing else is pure gravy.”

GWENETH



65

(sultry)

Mmmm.. I’m hungry already..

(pause)

Margeaux closes her laptop computer and takes off her reading

glasses and bends down to gently kiss Gweneth. Gweneth responds

in kind. Gweneth momentary breaks the seal and reaches over and

taps her phone screen. She reseals her lips with Margeaux.

We slide past the girls and see flashing window panorama.

MARGEAUX (VO)

The Train sauntered east to the sounds

of a slide steel guitar coming out of

Gweneth’s phone. We took turns sampling

our two ingredients. She then said shecouldn’t tell the difference between

Hedonism and Lust because she thought

both were important. I enthusiastically

demonstrated to her that I understood

her meaning and agreed with her whole-

heartedly while reliving every touch

since that very first handshake.

We see a montage of their touch as the slide steel guitar fades

and we hear the cadence of the train wheels.

DELETED SCENES 10 AND 11

CONT TO NEXT PAGE



66

MARGEAUX (VO) CONT

The intense pleasure of Gweneth’s

curves while I simultaneously focused

my wrath on the dissection of John was

just too much. I came a hundred times.

FADE

12) INT. SCHEDULED STOP. LOUNGE CAR - AN HOUR LATER

We see Margeaux and Gweneth reflection in the window as they

face each other.

MARGEAUX

Max just emailed me. John is in a shit

load of trouble and we haven’t even hitthe tip of the iceberg yet. His ass

will go down in a wave of worries and

the wave will toss his lifeless body on

shore..

(pause)

.. or worse.. toss him into Club Fed.

GWENETH

Am I in any kind of trouble Margeaux?

MARGEAUX

No Kitten.

GWENETH

I didn’t do anything wrong..did I?

MARGEAUX

No Kitten.

(pause)You poor baby.. this isn’t about you.

I’m taking him down because I couldn’t

standby any longer and watch a

man ..who did this to..my beautiful

girl..

GWENETH

(interrupting)

..am I your girl?



67

Margeaux looks at Gweneth with empathy and gently touches her

face.

MARGEAUX

Ok..I can no longer standby and watch a man who has duped us both and made

fools of us all! That is a no no.

(finger scolding)

..and because in the eyes of the law..

he willfully married me.. he made many

promises. He entered into..implied

obligations.

(pause)

Just like he did with you..and..our

baby!

Gweneth smiles and reaches up and gently touches Margeaux’s

face. The all aboard whistle blows. Margeaux kisses Gweneth’s

hand.

FADE

13) INT. TRAIN - AN HOUR LATER

Margeaux and Gweneth are both packed and dressed as the Train

makes its way into the train station. Gweneth is looking atMargeaux and Margeaux is looking at Gweneth. Suddenly, the train

lurches and they both fall into each other’s arms. Gweneth kiss-

es Margeaux. Then Margeaux remembers something.

MARGEAUX

Gweneth? Don’t forget. Max is meeting

us here and I will do all the talking;

ok? Don’t volunteer any information un-

less you check with me first. Ok?

GWENETHIsn’t Max on our side?

MARGEAUX

Yes he is Kitten. But, he is still ob-

ligated by law to disclose certain

things that he learns. Lets find out

what he has learned and then we’ll see

where everybody stands. Ok?



68

Gweneth nods.

GWENETH

I have an appointment tomorrow with a

prenatal clinic. I didn’t cancel it.

(pause)

I’m kind of nervous.

MARGEAUX

Don’t worry baby. I’ll be right at your

side.

GWENETH

So, am I going home to my place or what

tonight?

MARGEAUX

I booked us into a motel not too far

from Brian’s office. You can’t go home!

John may suddenly show up on your

doorstep. I’ll take care of him in the

morning.

GWENETH

Is everything going to be okay

Margeaux?

MARGEAUX

Don’t worry baby. I am never leaving

your side.. at least not for a while

anyway.

The Train is slowing its approach into the station and the seats

took on an air of empty solitude. The train stops.

FADE

14) EXT. STATION PLATFORM - LATE NIGHT

Margeaux is pacing. She is on her cell phone. She is talking to

someone but we do not hear what she hears. She puts away her

phone and turns to Gweneth.

MARGEAUX

Max will see us for coffee in the morn-

ing.



69

Margeaux flags a taxi. Gweneth quickly tosses her leather bag in

and then climbs in on the passenger side. Margeaux does the same

on the driver side. The taxi driver does not get out of the car.

They pull away from the train station. The night is still and

filled with tension.

FADE

15) INT. TAXI CAB - CHEAP MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE NITE

Margeaux and Gweneth are sitting in the taxi looking at the Mo-

tel.

MARGEAUX

Wait here. I’ll make sure we’re checked

in.

(pause)Driver!..Leave the meter running. I’ll

be right back.

The taxi driver waves over his shoulder nonchalantly. Margeaux

exits the taxi with her knitted bag and proceeds into the lobby

of the motel. Gweneth pulls a piece of paper and a pencil from

her leather bag and writes on it. She folds it and hands it to

the driver.

GWENETH

Driver. Please tell the lady when shegets back to just meet me in the usual

place.

The taxi driver waves over his shoulder nonchalantly. Gweneth

jumps out of the back seat and takes her leather bag. She walks

down the sidewalk next to the motel, turns a corner and disap-

pears into the night.

A few minutes later Margeaux exits the lobby and approaches the

taxi. She sees that Gweneth is gone.

MARGEAUX

Where did she go?

The driver puts his hands up over his head like he knows nothing

and hands Margeaux the note that Gweneth gave him. Margeaux

frantically unfolds it and reads it.

INSERT: ECU OF NOTE: MARGEAUX..I NEED TIME TO THINK THIS

THROUGH. DON’T WORRY. GWENETH.



70

Margeaux is stunned and in a panic and tries not to show it. The

taxi driver points to the meter and Margeaux agrees. She hands

him a stash of bills. He pulls away from the motel and Margeaux

is standing in the late night parking lot looking perplexed,

forlorn and sad. She looks at the room and the room card and

enters the motel room. She flips on the switch and shuts thedoor.

FADE

16) INT. MOTEL ROOM - LATE NIGHT

We see Margeaux in a fetal position on her side and fully

dressed. She is clutching a crumpled note. The small lamp is on

next to the bed and the T.V. is on and silent. She is sleeping.

(NOTE: 16A inserted here) Her cell phone is next to her face

while she sleeps. It RINGS.

Margeaux immediately awakens and grabs the phone and answers it.

MARGEAUX

Gweneth? ..

(panic)

Where are you?

GWENETH (OS)

I’m fine. I just needed to think this

through.

(pause)

I miss you already..

Margeaux is sitting upright and more alert.

MARGEAUX

Where are you? Where did you go in the

middle of the fucking night! Jeezus

Christ Gweneth; I have been sitting

here not knowing what to do! Baby..youscared me to death.. I don’t want to

lose you.. don’t do that again..do you

hear me..never again!

GWENETH (OS)

Relax sweetie..didn’t you read my note?

Margeaux is still clutching the note. She uncrumples it. She

reads it to herself.



71

MARGEAUX

I got it right here in my hand!

GWENETH (OS)

And? Did you actually read it?

MARGEAUX

Yes! Of course! So what?

GWENETH (OS)

Margeaux..how long do you think our re-

lationship will last if all you worry

about is..well..you!?

MARGEAUX

That is unfair Gweneth! I was just

thinking that..well..that maybe you

didn’t want this baby or..

(pause)

..or that you..didn’t want me?

GWENETH (OS)

Well; I wouldn’t worry too much about

that. I am a bit concerned though..

about your intelligence factor.

(pause)

I mean you’re pretty sharp and all,but, certain things don’t seem to click

in your head.

MARGEAUX

What do you mean Gweneth?

GWENETH (OS)

Well..its like that note. You said you

read it. Then you said you read it just

now and yet..nothing even remotely

tells me that you’re sharp enough toguide me and..our baby.

MARGEAUX

What do mean Kitten?

GWENETH (OS)

Well..read the note again Margeaux..

(pause)



72

..line by line..ok?

Margeaux is holding the phone to her ear as she reads the note

again.

MARGEAUX

Margeaux..I need time to think this

through. Don’t worry. Gweneth.

GWENETH (OS)

What part of “don’t worry” didn’t you

get?

MARGEAUX

That’s not fair! I’m just getting to

know you..

(pause)..besides. A note! I was only gone for

ten minutes.

GWENETH (OS)

And I’ve only been gone for 45 minutes.

MARGEAUX

Where are you Gweneth?

GWENETH (OS)

Open the door.

Margeaux opens the door and Gweneth is standing there with her

cell phone to her ear. Margeaux is simultaneously overjoyed at

seeing and pissed that Gweneth pulled a fast one on Margeaux.

GWENETH (CONT)

When I tell you not to worry about me..

(pause)

..listen. Do. And then just love me.

Margeaux throws her arms around Gweneth. Gweneth responds inkind. The night air in the hotel parking lot is still. The warm

lamplight from the hotel interior is inviting. Unclutched, they

move as one. Margeaux is moving backward while kissing Gweneth.

Gweneth gently pushes Margeaux onto her back on the bed. Gweneth

turns and shuts the door. She approaches Margeaux with a burning

lust in her eyes.

FADE



73

17) EXT. SUBURBAN COFFEE SHOP - EARLY NEXT MORNING

Margeaux and Gweneth are sitting at a small table. Margeaux is

drinking coffee. Gweneth is having a thick smoothie.

MARGEAUX

Don’t worry. He has no idea. Max is

watching the house and will call us on

his cell when he leaves.

GWENETH

Is everything going to be ok Margeaux?

MARGEAUX

Its like I said before Kitten. This has

nothing to do with just you darlin’..

Ok?..I can no longer standby and watch

a man.. forget the fact I have been married to this fucking misogynist..

but I will not standby and let this

asshole make fools of us just because

he thinks he can.

(pause)

..and remember.. he’s got a few “im-

plied obligations”.. and you’re one of

‘em.

(pause)

You know what I mean Gweneth.. you, me

and..our baby?

Margeaux’s cell phone rings. She looks at it. She mimes a lip

pronunciation to Gweneth as she is listening to the phone.

MARGEAUX

(barley whispering)

Max.

Margeaux listens intently. She does not say anything at all for

a minute; then..

MARGEAUX

Ok.

Margeaux immediately ends the call.

MARGEAUX (CONT)



74

Ok.. he is on his way here. You know

what to do..

(pause)

..keep your phone on and in your pock-

et. Ok?

Gweneth nods. She stands up, takes her leather bag and she exits

the scene.

Margeaux quickly cleans up the table and tosses Gweneth’s

smoothie bottle away. She tucks in the chair and gives the table

a sense of only one person having been there. She sits back

down. She pulls out her laptop computer and begins reading the

screen to herself.

A moment later, John Sullivan appears at the table.

JOHN

Couldn’t we have done this over the

phone? Why did you need to see me?

MARGEAUX

Good Morning to you as well asshole.

Sit down.

JOHN

I won’t be here long. I’ll just stand

here if you don’t mind? What do you want Margeaux?

Margeaux slowly closes her laptop computer. She puts it in her

large knitted bag. She stands and dons the bag on her shoulder

she appears to be leaving.

MARGEAUX

What do I want?

(pause)

Anything I want from you; I’ll justtake it. Got that?

John starts to put up his hand in protest and Gweneth appears

behind him. He turns and sees her. She looks at him without a

word. She then slaps his face so hard he falls back, stumbles

and lands in a potted plant on the coffee shop patio.



75

He starts to get up and she pulls out her little pepper spray

and holds it to his face. He remembers this and cowers and cov-

ers his face.

GWENETH

I’m pregnant!

She holds the little spray can inches from his face with her

finger on the button.

GWENETH (CONT)

You owe me $28,000. I want it right

now!

John starts to protest and Gweneth gestures feigned finger pres-

sure on the button. He flinches, cowers and whimpers with pa-

thetic insincerity. Margeaux sees this. She quietly reaches over

and gently takes it from Gweneth and resumes the aim inches fromhis face. Margeaux doesn’t take her eyes off John.

MARGEAUX

Go on Gweneth. He won’t interrupt you

again..

(pause)

..he may not fuck me anymore..but he

knows better than to fuck with me..

(pause)..know what I mean Kitten?

(pause)

..Go on Kitten. Continue.

John is laying in the big potted plant. He looks ridiculous and

humiliated. Margeaux without taking her eyes off of John reaches

into her large knitted bag and pulls out an envelope. She hands

it to Gweneth. Gweneth opens it. We do not see its contents.

INSERT: LETTER

MARGEAUX (CONT)

The front desk kid printed it for me

this morning.

(smiling)

Go on Gweneth. Read it to asshole.

He’ll be riveted with its contents.



76

Gweneth takes the letter and looks at it and begins to read it

aloud to John. He lies there like a beaten dog. He says nothing.

GWENETH

(clears throat)

To whom this may concern. My name isBethany Stratton. A few days before

Christmas last, I was employed as a

teller at an FDIC bank on Market

Street. I had one Gweneth Wilde sign a

$31,000 cashiers check for..

Gweneth’s voice fades as she read this.

MARGEAUX (VO)

Seeing John Sullivan laying in the dirt

while being outed by Gweneth was one of

the most glorious days of my life.

GWENETH (CONT)

..and a subsequent DNA test will deter-

mine that you are the father and the

timeline on said fraud as is laid out

by the Assistant District Attorney..

Gweneth’s voice fades again as she finishes the letter.

MARGEAUX (VO)

I warned him about my wrath. I realizedthat he had never seen it before. I was

so weak as a woman. As a person, real-

ly. The thought of being a co-mommy

with Gweneth poured over me like a

bucket of sunshine. At that precise mo-

ment John couldn’t deny fathering this

baby with intent to defraud Gweneth,

the IRS and me. It was a happy day in-

deed!

Gweneth finishes the last paragraph of the letter out loud toJohn.

GWENETH (CONT)

Per the settlement agreement with

Margeaux, you will immediately leave

the area..sign over all assets to

Margeaux..and without admitting guilt



77

acknowledge this letter by signing

here..

Gweneth is pointing to the area for John to sign and Margeaux

hands him a pen. He reluctantly signs. At the same time,

Margeaux hands the pepper spray back to Gweneth. Margeaux pullsfrom her large knitted bag a small tape recorder that is run-

ning. She speaks directly into the tape recorder..

MARGEAUX

..this concludes all matters with John

Sullivan.

Margeaux clicks off the tape recorder and then pulls out her

cell phone. She motions for Gweneth to stand next to John still

laying in the potted plant while pointing the pepper spray at

him. Margeaux snaps a picture of the two of them. She chuckles.

She motions for Gweneth to come with her. They proceed to the

curb and a taxi picks them up.

FADE

18) INT. LIVING ROOM - EARLY MORNING

We see the same living room as we saw in the opening scene. Rain

is cascading down the window. Margeaux and Gweneth are cuddled

up and lounging in front of the window. Margeaux is feeling

Gweneth’s belly. Margeaux hands an envelope to Gweneth. Gweneth

opens it slowly. She takes out two tickets for the Sunset Limit-ed.

INSERT: TWO TICKETS SUNSET LIMITED

MARGEAUX

You’re my fellow Bird of Paradise.

We’re going all the way this

time....know what I mean?

GWENETH

Bird of Paradise 2-26-18 (Scene Numbers)

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Transcript of Bird of Paradise 2-26-18 (Scene Numbers)