SCRIPT

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.