moves

It's nothing personal.

int. living room - night.

A man and woman are sitting in the middle of the floor of a house that looks as if it has seen a large argument. The woman now seems indifferent to the situation, while the man is slightly confused.

WOMAN

It’s nothing personal.

MAN

I don’t understand.

WOMAN

I’m going to hate you eventually. It’s inevitable.

MAN (surprised)

Why? I didn’t do anything. This is clearly all your fault.

WOMAN

And I know that. More than anything, I know that. But six months down the road, when I’m racked with inconsolable depression over my inability to get a man interested, my friends will probably take me out to a bar.

MAN

So?

woman

They’ll buy me some drinks. I’ll complain of my romantic problems. They’ll tell me what a wonderful catch I am.

(beat)

At the end of the night, after roughly three or four shots of whiskey, I’ll bring up our relationship.

MAN

Why?

WOMAN

Because I’ll be drunk.

(beat)

And because I’ll still feel guilty about it. Because I’ll use what happened between us as an example of why I’m not fit to love, or be loved.

The man considers this for a moment, then speaks.

MAN

Do you believe that?

(beat)

I mean, that you’re not fit to be loved?

The woman pauses before answering.

WOMAN

No.

(beat)

But I will.

MAN

And what then?

WOMAN

Well, then I suppose they’ll proceed to completely vilify you. They’ll talk about how it was all your fault, how my only mistake was letting you get away with the shit you did.

(beat)

And I’ll believe them. My protests, weak even from the onset, will die out quickly, my instinct for self preservation kicking in.

MAN

Why though?

WOMAN

Well, I have to survive don’t I?

MAN

But if you know all of this in advance…

The man trails off. The Woman lights a cigarette and takes a deep drag, not looking at the Man.

woman

Anyway, I just wanted you to know that it’s nothing personal.

The man looks down at the dusty floor. The woman puts out her cigarette on it and coughs.1    

no facials

ext. night-pool

A woman and man are floating around in the water.  They are on familiar terms and flirtatious.

woman

…And he used to ask me to go into the wash to find scrap pieces of porn that bums would leave around so that he could sell them at his middle school.

man

Bums and their scrap porn.

WOMAN

…Yeah, he always told me ‘no facials.’

MAN

No facials?

WOMAN

Yeah, I guess little boys that age know about their wee-wees, but not about what they are really there for.  Anyway, I came home one day and was like, “come here, I’ve got some for you!”  And my mom heard me and asked what I had.  I must have looked really guilty, and my brother was like, “nothing, mom,” so she knew something was going on.  And she kept asking me and I started crying and finally broke down.  I remember feeling like I was putting my life on the line, sobbing and saying, “but it’s not his fault, he keeps it under his mattress.”

MAN

Oh man.

WOMAN

Seriously.  It sucked.  I can still remember the feeling of the little rips of paper, and how happy I was when I found a whole page.

MAN

I’m always happy when I get the whole page.

WOMAN

Shut up.

MAN

Come here.

WOMAN

(sighing)

I lost my innocence to shitty porn in a wash.  That’s probably why I’m here with you.

MAN

Shut up.

WOMAN

Come here.

Get her out of the house

Int. Night- bedroom

A woman is sitting on the edge of a bed uncomfortably.  She has a bottle of whiskey at her feet.  She is distractedly reading Revenge of the Lawn while in another room, two men are laughing loudly and talking softly.  One man enters the room.  He is drunk and merry.  He is holding a cup of Ramen in his hands.  The woman closes the book and looks up sheepishly.  During this exchange, the man is friendly and in high spirits; the woman is nervous.

MAN

What are you reading?

WOMAN

Revenge of the Lawn.

MAN

Can’t say I’ve heard of it.  Are you thirsty or anything?

woman

No, I’ve got my whiskey.

MAN

That shit is disgusting.

WOMAN

It’s delicious.

MAN

Are you hungry?

WOMAN

For that?

MAN

Yeah.

WOMAN

What flavor is it?

MAN

Beef or something.

WOMAN

I don’t eat meat.  Remember, I told you I was vegetarian?

MAN

But it’s good.  Good and meaty.

WOMAN

What, like processed, dehydrated, and then reconstituted meaty?

The man laughs like he can’t believe his ears.  He is still smiling.

MAN

(loudly and while laughing, presumably to his friend in the other room)

Who the fuck is this girl? Get her out of my house.

The man walks out of the room abruptly.  The woman sits silent for a while, looking mortified and unsure.  She starts to grab her bag, puts it on her lap, looks at the door like she is going to sneak out, but instead stays put.  She opens the book, but is not looking at it.  The man reenters much less jocularly, trying to act more sober.  He is taking off his shoes and belt.

MAN

Did you still want to watch that movie?

WOMAN

(repentedly)

I’m really sorry.  I wasn’t judging you…Did you want me to go?

MAN

…No.

They look at each other suspiciously like they don’t know what the other is getting at.

fugitive trailer

int. bedroom-night

RORY is sitting on a bed smoking a cigarette.  DILETTA is looking up FBI warrants on a computer.  He begins to breath heavily,jokingly, trying to get her attention.

RORY

Your obsession with a fugitive isn’t going to get you anywhere.

She pulls up CELLTX and begins to write ‘RORY:  “Your obsession with a fugitive isn’t going to get you anywhere.”’

Men and Women holding Weapons

int. bedroom - night.

A MAN and WOMAN are sitting in bed, fully clothed, facing each other, casting furtive glances. Both have had a bit to drink.

man

Are you a man eater?

WOMAN

No, I have only kissed (counts on fingers) four boys in the last three years.

MAN

Damn. I was about to kiss you until you said that.

A pause. They look at eachother.

MAN

But I’m going to do it anyway.

They start to kiss. Things start to heat up, getting more passionate.

MAN

Fuck me baby.

(pause)

I want you to fuck me.

(beat)

Do you have a condom?

WOMAN

I don’t think so. No. Do you have one?

MAN

If I do, my mom gave it to me.

The woman lays still with her eyes closed. The man rifles through his things, tries to get the condom on.

MAN (awkwardly)

I can never get these things on.

He succeeds finally, walks towards the bed. They start to have sex. It is rough. There is a lot of dirty talk from the man, and only awkward reciprocation from the woman; mouthing things quietly, but in a forced sort of way. The sex continues far longer than it should without the requisite passion. The woman is no longer enjoying it. She starts to make noises as if it hurts.

MAN

Does it hurt, baby?

She nods. He pulls out, snaps off the condom.

MAN

Where should I put this?

WOMAN

Just throw it.

He throws it.

cold showers

int. bedroom- night

A MAN and WOMAN are naked in a disheveled room.  The only light is coming from a T.V. that is paused.  The shot opens with the man standing up, grabbing a towel off of the floor, and going into the bathroom.

INT. Bathroom

The MAN is taking a shower alone.

INT. BEDROOM- NIGHT

The MAN emerges from the bathroom.  The WOMAN is sitting up holding her knees, still naked.  The MAN glances at her and drops the towel on the ground.  She picks up the towel and walks into the bathroom.

INT. BATHROOM

The WOMAN is taking a shower alone.

INT. BEDROOM- NIGHT

The WOMAN comes out.  The MAN is fully dressed.  She walks around the room, picking up her clothes and putting them on.  The WOMAN sits down next to the man, but there is about a foot between them.  The MAN gets up and presses play on the movie they were watching.  It is the rape scene in Straw Dogs.  They watch the movie in silence.  The WOMAN gets up and rolls a cigarette by the door.

WOMAN

Do you have a lighter?

MAN

Yeah.

He gets up and gives her one.  They are silent.

WOMAN

Can I ask you a straight forward question?

MAN

(Hesitantly) Yeah.

WOMAN

Is this healthy?

MAN

Probably not, but I think it’s mostly weird because you have to go home to be with your boyfriend.

There is a pause.  The WOMAN is weighing her words.

WOMAN

Are you using me?

MAN

(Off guard) What do you mean?

WOMAN

Well, in the way most expedient, I suppose.

MAN

Do you think I am?

WOMAN

No, but you know I don’t know.

MAN

No.  I honestly like hanging out with you and enjoy your company.  (pause) Are you using me?

WOMAN

What do you mean?

MAN

For a clean break?

WOMAN

No way.  I could never do that.

They are silent and she sits back down to watch the movie.

MAN

Do you think we should stop?

woman

Probably.  I don’t want to get attached.

MAN

You are getting attached?

WOMAN

Kind of a little bit.  And you’re not?

MAN

I just can’t attached to anyone right now.  I don’t know what to think of this.  It’s impossible.

WOMAN

(Looking at her feet)I know.  I’ve been banging my head against the wall trying to figure out if the reason why it is so appealing is because it is so impossible.

MAN

That’s probably it.

WOMAN

(disappointed)Yeah…

The MAN gets up.

MAN

Let me find my keys and I’ll unlock your bike.

The WOMAN follows him outside.

Ext. Front porch- dawn

The MAN is unlocking a bike, standing above the woman who isn’t looking at him.

MAN

Sorry if I sound really insensitive right now.

The WOMAN looks up and they make eye contact.  She looks hurt.  The MAN’s face visibly softens.

WOMAN

(quietly)  It’s okay.  I’m sorry if I sound dramatic.

MAN

Life wouldn’t be fun without a little bit of drama.

WOMAN

That’s very true.

Riding Shotgun

A WOMAN is standing with a shotgun looking straight into the camera. She has angry tears in her eyes.

WOMAN

I fake it.  I say it hurts.  And I love him more when he pretends to believe me.

Mother Magma

int. bedroom- Day

A MAN  and WOMAN are sitting on the edge of a bed.  The WOMAN is looking down, playing with the edge of a pillow case with her fingers.  The MAN is looking at her steadily.

MAN

Do you even think?  Do you even stop to think about what you are doing?  These are people that I have to see all of the time, that I like.

WOMAN

Well I’m sorry.  I still don’t know what exactly I did wrong.

MAN

You didn’t do anything wrong.  I just don’t get you.  You just don’t understand.  You’re acting like there are rules and I’m judging you by them.  I’m judging you by common sense.  About how much you think about how it’d make me feel, you feel….all parties feel.

WOMAN

I know.

There is a long pause.

WOMAN

Well I’m sorry.

MAN

Don’t be sorry.  I don’t even think you know what you want.

WOMAN

You’re right.  I don’t.

MAN

I just can’t imagine slipping into something right now.  You do the casual thing.  You walk casually around the perimeter.  You walk casually around, closer and closer trying to peer in, and you’re an idiot for that.  I’m sorry, Miss, but you are.

WOMAN

I know.  Don’t call me an idiot.

MAN

I’m sorry.

There is a long pause and the WOMAN slowly starts to lean into him and puts her head onto his lap.  Her eyes are closed and he strokes her head, looking down at her.

MAN

Jesus Christ.

Fade into a shot of a slow moving, firey hole.  Maybe the inside of a volcano.

Roots of Evil- by Miles Bartlett

EXT. FIELD- MIDDAY

Rows of MEN and WOMEN, all ages, are bending over with their asses in the air.  A FARMER walks through the rows, pulling carrots out of their behinds.  The de-carroted people slump over and fall to the ground.  The younger, more virile men and women have nicer looking carrots.  The farmer puts them into a woven basket and continues on endlessly.

Citrus Love

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT.

A woman sits in the foreground, distractedly curling her hair with curlers. A tropical head-dress is balanced atop her head, and tears are welling in her eyes. In the background, out of focus, a man can be seen wrestling with something or someone in a bed.

Slowly, the focus racks to the background and we see that the man is vigorously making sexual enterprises on a pineapple.

MAN (softly): Ow…

The woman sighs.

MAN (louder): Oh yes.

The woman puts her head down on her arms.

MAN (very softly now): Owch. Damnit.