Jane, a thirty-something woman, sits in her home watching a movie.
Jane is obviously distraught but she watches the film intensely. A woman's
voice can be heard from the TV and as the woman speaks, Jane mouths the lines
she is hearing.
WOMAN
What do you know about love? You never loved me. You
can't love anybody.
The music swells from the movie and Jane is visibly moved by the
words she hears.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Well, you won't have to worry about me anymore. You
should worry about yourself.
As the end music plays, Jane speaks the words she
has just heard again.
JANE
You never loved me. You can't love anybody.
Jane reaches for a martini glass beside her and takes a big drink.
She wipes her face with a cloth and then goes back to looking at the TV screen.
She then notices a scrapbook on the table and picks it up. She opens the book. The
book is filled with reviews and pictures and memorabilia of her favorite
actress. It also contains headlines regarding the suicide of this actress.
ACTRESS COMMITS SUICIDE
SPURNED LOVE MOTIVE FOR STAR'S SUICIDE
TRAGIC STAR TAKES HER OWN LIFE
FORMER CHILD STAR COMMITS SUICIDE OVER FAILED LOVE
AFFAIR
Snippets from the stories about the suicide also are seen.
Alcohol and drug-fueled misery….
Her husband was the subject of rumors regarding a recent affair
with…
"She was never the same after that," said close friend
and confidant…
The word suicide appears large in front of Jane's face.
SUICIDE
But she looks away and puts the scrapbook down. As she tries to
focus her attention back on the TV screen, her mind drifts back.
She hears and sees fragments of the events of her recent past.
The first voice and image to assail her is of her closest friend
Andrea, an attractive 20-something woman.
ANDREA
You know, I really think you should get out more. It's
been two years since your divorce. I know it was a disaster but come on…
You have to take a chance again sometime.
It's really nice of you to let me stay with you. I
promise I won't be any trouble.
You're watching that movie again. Wow. That stuff
is so depressing and over the top.
It's time for you to meet somebody. Don't keep
living in the past.
Andrea appears to be in the house with her talking but the place is not easy to establish. These words
come to her from fragmented and strange views of Andrea including odd angles
and the image of only her mouth speaking. The lines vary in intensity and
repeat variously over top of each other as well.
After thinking about Andrea, Jane reaches again for her drink and
after taking a swig, her mind drags her back to the past again.
Andrea's words repeat
ANDREA (CONT'D)
Get out more
Take a chance
Meet somebody
EXT. STREETS – DAY
Then, Jane's mind goes back to an image of being outside walking
her dog when she suddenly sees another dog run up to hers. When she looks at
the man, Bill, a 30 to 40-ish guy, they look at each other and have an instant
connection.
Jane then begins to see other images of Bill in the same kind of
fragmented, disruptive style in which she saw Andrea.
EXT. BEACH – DAY
Bill and Jane are out walking together and talking and obviously
having a good time although Jane still seems shy. Slowly, as their hands brush
together, they finally end up holding hands. They look at each other and softly
smile and then look away but Jane is clearly happy.
INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Bill and Jane are drinking wine and sitting on her couch. Bill
finally makes a move and kisses her very tenderly. As they continue to kiss, a
shy, sweet kiss becomes more and more passionate.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Bill and Jane are making love. After they finish, they end up in
a very tender embrace with Jane nestling very close to Bill who also seems
totally into her.
BACK TO PRESENT
Jane is becoming increasingly upset and she seems to be
struggling against something as her mind goes to the next image.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Jane opens the door to her bedroom and finds Bill and
Andrea having sex. Bill looks very ashamed and can't look at her.
She then hears Bill speaking to her.
BILL
I've never met anybody like you. I love you baby. I'm
sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.
BACK TO PRESENT
Jane is tortured by this image and she pours more alcohol down
her throat in an attempt to kill the pain.
She returns to the scrapbook and for the first time, she looks
closely at photos of the actress, who is a glamorous, beautiful woman made up
and dressed in a 1950's or early 60's style. Then she goes to look at the
stories about suicide again.
The voices of Andrea and Bill continue in her head.
Finally, she can't take it and she gets up and goes to the
bedroom
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Once in the bedroom she takes a box from her closet and opens it.
Inside the box are a variety of objects that seem like a sort of suicide kit
involving bottles of pills, a straight razor and syringes. She closely regards
the items in front of her and then opens a pill bottle. As she looks up into
the mirror, she suddenly sees an image of the woman and drops the bottle. She
looks around but sees nothing. She tries to regain her composure. She picks up
the syringe and starts to inject herself but a hand grabs her wrist and she
can't do it. Once again looks around to try and understand what happened but
she is confused.
In her mind now, Jane is becoming very desperate. She finally
tries one more time to take up the implements of suicide and then, from behind
her, she hears a very audible voice.
WOMAN
You can't do that.
Jane is deeply confused and disturbed and she is slowly becoming
aware of a figure looming over her from behind. When she turns around, she is
stunned to see the actress from the movies she has been watching. The woman is
smoking a cigarette and looking directly at Jane. Finally, she speaks.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Suicide's not the answer.
JANE
What? I –
WOMAN
Too messy. Too ugly. Too complicated. It's not
cool.
JANE
Look, I wasn't --- I was only ---
WOMAN
I committed suicide and look where it got me.
Jane is still staring at her.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
There's no reason to be embarrassed. Lots of
people think about suicide.
JANE
Just leave me alone. You're not real. You're dead.
You're only a –
WOMAN
A fantasy.
JANE
A fantasy.
Suddenly, Jane becomes scared. She runs out of the bathroom and
closes the door behind her. She looks at the door for a few moments and then
backs against the wall. She then listens at the door. When she hears nothing,
she opens it suddenly and turns on the light but the room is empty. Finally,
she composes herself and decides to go back in the living room. She first
notices the TV and hears the movie she was watching. Then she sees that the
Woman is sitting on the couch.
WOMAN
This is one of my best parts.
Jane jumps up. She backs away from the woman and stares at her.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Don't be afraid Jane.
Jane is surprised to hear her name.
JANE
You know my name?
WOMAN
Of course. Come and sit with me Jane.
After considering the situation, Jane finally relents and comes
to the woman. Jane sits down and the woman takes her hand.
JANE
It really is you.
WOMAN
It's me doll.
JANE
I never expected –
WOMAN
You should expect everything. Surprise is so
cliche -- and it makes you look naive. We're not naive Jane.
JANE
No, we're not.
WOMAN
We're not the type who falls apart when some
supposed friend betrays us and some man cheats on us.
Jane looks away.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Not anymore.
JANE
I can't help it. I can't –
WOMAN
There's a better way Jane.
JANE
What better way?
WOMAN
Better for both of us...Join me.
JANE
But you committed suicide.
WOMAN
I'm not talking suicide. I'm talking about -- Hey,
I could sure use another drink. What do you have around this place?
JANE
Stop teasing me.
WOMAN
Join with me. Change your reality.
JANE
That's it? That's your big --?
WOMAN
Don't fight it. I'm your fantasy. You know every
detail of my miserable, sordid life. The rape, the drugs, the one-night stands,
the cheating bastard husband, the asylum, the...suicide.
JANE
So why should I --?
WOMAN
Join me. I'm lonely Jane. I need you.
Jane
You're dead.
WOMAN
So are you - as far as the world is concerned. At
least Andrea and Bill seem to think so.
JANE
Stop it. Don't talk about them. Liars. Just dirty
liars and cheaters. You can't trust them. You can't trust anybody.
WOMAN
See Jane? That's what I mean. We understand each
other. I was betrayed just like you. A cheating husband lying naked on top of
some perfect young whore. Making me look like a - and I was famous and rich
with millions of fans. Big movie star.
She laughs derisively.
JANE
How could he betray you? How could anybody betray
you? You're the most beautiful, amazing, wonderful -- Who would do that to you?
The woman looks at Jane for a few seconds. She then touches
Jane's cheek.
WOMAN
You really understand Jane.
Jane stares at the woman for a few moments and she starts to give
in. She wants to just give in and let go of everything but again, she stops. Jane
begins to back away from the woman.
JANE
No. You're dead. You're dead. This is - you're
dead...this is just insane. I'm losing my mind. You're not real. You're just a
sickness inside me. I need to stop it. I need to get rid of this sickness.
I can't take it anymore. I just want it to end. Just
people. And lies and they hurt you and they say things they don't mean and they...I
just want to stop them from laughing at me and hurt them and make them feel bad
for what they did to me.
The woman smiles at Jane and starts to touch her again but Jane
is now breathing faster and she's feeling some kind of frenzy inside her and
fear and insanity and she finally just runs away. She runs to the bedroom and
closes the door.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Inside the bedroom, Jane locks the door and presses against it to
listen for any sounds. She has begun to seem increasingly disturbed. After she
feels that she is truly alone, she almost lunges for the suicide box and begins
to rummage around in it searching for an instrument of death that she can use
quickly. But once again, as Jane sits on the floor digging through he box, the
woman appears behind her.
Woman
Don't you get it Jane? Suicide isn't the answer. I
felt the same as you. I wanted to make them pay for what they did to me. But
that's not what happened. You start out taking a bunch of pills and dreaming
about punishing the people who don't love you enough and you end up falling
down on the way to the toilet and lying in a pool of your own tears and blood
and vomit and urine and that's how they find you. Suicide doesn't work Jane.
JANE
Why won't you just leave me alone? Let me just -
WOMAN
I need you Jane.
Only you can help me.
JANE
Me? How? What can I?
WOMAN
You're the only one who understands me Jane.
JaNE
Really? But I -
WOMAN
You're the only one who can keep me alive. Join me.
Keep me alive. I live in you now. I don't want you to die.
Jane is starting to fall under the woman's spell and she becomes
pathetically grateful.
JANE
You don't?
WOMAN
No. Hell no. You're my number one fan.
Jane smiles for the first time.
JANE
You want me to keep you alive?
WOMAN
You're the only one I trust.
JANE
Thank you so much. I –
WOMAN
It's nothing kid. Nothing at all.
JANE
What do I have to do? What do I?
The woman takes Jane's hand and Jane suddenly finds the bedroom
transformed with a beautiful dressing table.
Jane is sitting in front of a mirror at the dressing table
applying makeup. The makeup job is terrible. Her makeup is smeared and she
looks completely crazy. Suddenly, the woman appears behind her and Jane is
transformed. Her makeup looks the same as that of the woman and she is in the
same kind of elegant dress.
The woman looks at Jane admiringly.
WOMAN
You're doing wonderfully Jane.
