| Cut to a man and a woman walking into Keskarel’s neighbor’s house. The house is decorated with crystals and exotic tapestries from exotic lands. Rocks line the windowsills; there are throw pillows on the ground and flowery multicolored striking scarves over all the lamps, making it dim. The two are lead into a living room by Keskarel’s neighbor, Zusa at night. Zusa is wearing a green head wrap and an ethnic print blue dress that almost touches the floor when she walks. Zusa points to a black leather couch that seems outside of the other decorations.
Zusa
Please sit down.
Cut to Jim and Jennifer as they walk over to the couch and plop down. The couple is in their thirties, dressed in casual business attire.
Cut to Jim and Jennifer as they sit, twitch and stare at the doctor until she interjects.
Zusa Okay I will start the introduction process, Jim I spoke with Jennifer over the phone, my name was once Linda, but I have changed it to Zusa, which means sweet in Yiddish, but you don’t need to know that.
Zusa is suddenly quiet again as she watches them. She turns to Jennifer.
Jennifer it is so nice to finally meet you.
Cut to Jennifer smiling. Jim is looking around squinting his eyes. There is a long silence and Jennifer tries to break it.
Jennifer What do you want us to start with doctor, do you want me to tell you about the problems Jim and I have been having.
Cut to the doctor as she puts her finger over her lip, SHHH—
Zusa No, No I do not start my first sessions like that we wait and see.
Cut to Jennifer looking at Jim, Jim is glaring at the doctor.
Jim What in the hell is that supposed to mean? I’ve never heard of any doctor waiting and seeing.
Jim looks at Jennifer who is looking at Zusa.
What the hell kind of place is this Jen I know you didn’t find it in the Yellow Pages?
Cut to Jim as he begins to yell.
Jim What the hell is this Jennifer I demand an answer.
Jennifer Sally told me about it Jim, now stop it, please for the sake of our marriage.
Cut to Zusa as she begins to laugh, cut to Jennifer with tears coming out of her eyes. They both look at her as her laughter resonates throughout the room.
Zusa Good. Good you both are already doing so wonderful.
Jim What in the hell is that supposed to mean? Damn it all to hell Jennifer what is this, this is one hell of a way to end my work day, the game was on and…
Zusa interrupts Jim.
Zusa Now Jim I am going to need you to shut up. We are going to try something else—
Zusa pauses and looks around her place, Jim, with a scowl, and Jennifer are waiting for her. Zusa stands up and paces around stroking her chin.
Jennifer interrupts Zusa thought process.
Jennifer
What’s our next step Zusa?
Zusa glances back at them.
Zusa When I say engage I won’t you to scream as loud as you can.
Jim
What the hell? No way.
Cut to Jim as he looks at Jennifer.
Jim Jen I want to leave. I’m in hell. Literally this is my worst goddamned night mare, if there was a hell I would be stuck there with you and her.
Cut to Jen who does not acknowledge Jim, instead she looks at Zusa.
Jennifer
Jim’s like this he doesn’t like to try anything new he’s afraid someone will laugh at him.
Cut to Jennifer as she looks at Jim.
Aren’t you darling?
Jim You’re the one that would rather rot in the depths of hell before you had sex with me.
Jennifer Well if you tried harder and were more…
Cut to Zusa as she laughs again, the two look over at her and she yells.
Zusa
Engage.
Cut to the two as they stop and stare at her.
Zusa
Engage.
Cut to the two staring.
Zusa
Engage.
Cut to the two staring again.
Zusa
Goddamn it I said Engage.
Cut to the two staring. Zusa Pounds her fist on the table, looks up and glowers at the two.
Zusa
Engage.
Jim and Jennifer look at each other and then both yell as loud as they can.
Cut to The Videographer in the morning with a faint light coming from the windows. She tries to turn on a light, but it flickers, Close up as its last remains dwindle. She staggers around then sits on her couch exasperated. She stares down at her camera. She turns it on and it greets her, we pan out and see her talking to it, she mumbles under her breath.
The Videographer You’re the only person. Thing—I got to talk to, my only goddamn friend. Goddamn it all my monies been taken, my good cameras gone and all I got is you and your preset message. You’re the only dam person in the world that will talk to me and you’re a fucking machine. No man…
Cut to The Videographer tugging at her hair and looking out the window.
The Videographer
No damn kisses—just you.
Cut to The Videographer looking back down at her camera.
The Videographer
Well good morning asshole.
Cut to The Videographer as she shakes the camera.
The Videographer
Good Morning fucker.
Cut to the power turning back on. The Videographer gets up, smiling, she runs to her light switch it flicks on then dwindles out again. She tries again and again, nothing. She claws at her hair and falls over her dresser. Cut to her stumbling out her front door into the hallway. Pan out The Videographer is about to knock on Keskarel’s door, but she hears crying. She puts her ear against her door and frowns. She thinks about knocking but, decides not to. She shakes her head and walks back into her house. Cut to a long shot of her silhouette as she sits on her couch playing with her camera. She watches as it slowly runs out of batteries.
Cut to wide shot into a close up of Keskarel at dusk going back to her old house, it is a white apartment complex with a red door. She stops by the front and paces around. She puts her keys in the lock and twist; she stops herself and takes them out. She shuffles around on the stoop, looks up at her old window and sighs. She looks up again, looks out onto the streets and the cars turns around and staggers back for home.
Cut to Keskarel in her living room looking at a necklace her husband once gave her, she strokes it and hums an old Russia folk song, we hear it come in like an orchraster as the camera pans out on Keskarel. Over the music we hear Mikael’s voice come in as we focus on the necklace.
Mikael
I will love you forever Keske, I really will I mean that, until the day I die.
We hear Keskarel laughing.
Mikael
Until my last dying breath.
Keskarel laughs again.
Keskarel
You are very silly, forever is too long to love someone.
Cut to Keskarel in the present as she takes a swig of vodka, pan around the room and make it spin like she sees it. Keskarel hums the same song louder and louder, music plays along, she takes another sip of her vodka. Then cut to the couple’s first fight at night when Mikael gets off of work. Keskarel is lying on a couch in a bathrobe, fade into a medium shot of her eating a tub of pop-corn, we hear Mikael walk through the front door.
Cut to Keskarel in the present drinking another sip of vodka. She gets up and staggers around her house as loud banging comes from the upstairs.
Cut back to the fight. Cut to the couple’s apartment, pan around the room. There is laundry, cups and food wrappers strewn across the floor. Cut to medium shot of Keskarel as she watches her television (A Russian soap) which we show then switch back to Keskarel. She waves to Mikael as he walks in. We switch to a wide shot of Keskarel as Mikael turns off the television. Medium shot of Keskarel.
Keskarel
Why did you do that I was enjoying watching it.
Cut to wide shot of Mikael as he paces around the room, he exudes exasperated sighs, masculine moans, ECT. Long shot of N as walks in front of the front of the television.
Mikael
You are…
Cut to Keskarel who is looking at Mikael wide eyed and pensive.
Keskarel
What am I?
Cut back to Mikael hand held medium shot shaking.
Mikael
You’re a disappoint. A complete and total disappointment.
Cut to Keskarel long shot as she crawls into a ball. Cut to Medium shot Mikael as he strides across the room looking out the window.
Mikael
When we first met— when I asked you to marry me, I would have never imagined you would be like you are now—lazy and self-obsessed and…
Keskarel
Self-obsessed?
Mikael laughs.
Mikael
Goddamn it Keskarel your English you have to get better—
Keskarel
I am trying. I am trying to be better wife I just take break because it is very hard trying to be good wife. It makes my body shake.
Mikael
Your body shake huh? Did it shake all day did it exhaust you?
Mikael comes in closer to her shaking his head. Keskarel is quiet.
Mikael
I am trying to be mean, but you’re a fucking disappointment. What am I supposed to say to the guys at the office when we talk about our wives? Am I supposed to lie and say you’re wonderful?
Cut to a medium shot of Keskarel as she curls into a tighter ball. Cut to Mikael as he walks away from Keskarel and paces around their place again. He pulls at his hair and sighs. We circle around the two, long shot of Keskarel.
Keskarel
I like our life very much together there is no need for us to be mean.
Cut to Mikael as he looks back at her, the living room is becoming darker. He laughs.
Mikael
Maybe our life is good for you—but me, (he points to himself and then hits his chest) it’s fucking awful.
Cut to medium shot of Keskarel who is sobbing quietly. Cut to Long shot of Mikael with the hand held as he looks out the window again. He quiets his voice almost like a whisper as he goes on.
Mikael
I know you can get better Keske.
He raises his voice gradually.
Mikael
When we first got married I thought I was the luckiest guy in the world. I really did I even called my parents and told them so. I smiled a lot more then and now…Well I got to believe I can get back to that place.
He looks up. Cut to Keskarel tensing up getting out of her ball.
Keskarel
If you need change I can do it, but I cannot when you are mean. We are man and wife. We are friends and lovers. We are not enemies we are a team.
Mikael
If you don’t want me to be mean, don’t be such a disappointment it’s that simple—you don’t do anything, ever. What happened to you?
Cut to Mikael as he raises his hands in the air.
Mikael
You know what it really doesn’t matter what I say, you’re impossible.
Keskarel
I am not impossible. I will try harder, if you try to calm self.
Cut to Mikael, medium shot the house is almost all the way dark.
Mikael
I’m so frustrated with you baby.
He points at the dinner table.
Mikael
No dinner.
He points at the clothes on the floor.
Mikael
No clean clothes. What am I supposed to wear to work tomorrow?
Cut to circling around Mikael with a hand held, medium shot. Cut to Keskarel, close up of her face, she grinds her teeth.
Keskarel
If this is how you feel it is important. I will try much harder I promise, don’t be angry with me.
Cut to a long shot of Mikael as he looks at her, than back out the window. Close up of his face as he sighs.
Mikael
I had such big dreams when I was a child such big dreams and now look at me. For God sakes Keske don’t you have any pride? My parents would roll over in their graves if they were dead. Seeing me live like this, my mother always kept a clean house.
Cut to Keskarel as she watches Nidal collect his things. He does and then he begins to make his way to the front door.
Keskarel
When will you be back?
Mikael
I’ll come back when you realize how lucky you are to have me.
Keskarel
When will that be?
Cut to the present, medium shot of Keskarel as she takes another sips and lays her head onto the ground. The camera fades out.
Cut to another therapy session. The same couple is in the living room at night same setting as before, sitting in front of the Psychiatrist who is playing with her hands and staring at the two. Jim breaks the silence.
Jim
What the hell are we going to do today?
Jennifer sighs.
Zusa
Jim you have a propensity towards anger.
Zusa smiles.
A real hell of propensity towards anger.
Jim
I don’t. And if I do it’s because this (Jim puts his hands up to indicate parenthesis) therapy is bull shit it is the dumbest thing…
Jennifer interrupts.
Jennifer
Jim tries to dominate to show his (Jennifer puts her hands up to indicate parenthesis) male superiority.
Jim
What the hell that is not true.
He looks over at Zusa
I took a women’s lib class in college once and I…
Zusa interrupts.
Zusa
Silence!
Cut to Zusa throwing her hands in the air.
I think your scared Jim.
Jim
What the hell am I scared of?
Zusa
Women Jim. You’re so scared it keeps you up at night. I think you try to understand them, but you cannot and that is why you are so inadequate and you feel alone Jim. You feel like you are nothing and the world weighs down on you so hard that you are just a little shrivel of a man that only has a whisper of a voice.
Jennifer laughs. Cut to Jim looking at her, then back at the psychologist.
Zusa
Jim I want you to hit me like you want to hit Jennifer.
Jim
No what the hell I would never hit Jennifer. No hell no I don’t hit women and I…
Zusa interrupts.
Zusa
Hit me you pussy. You coward of a man.
Cut to Zusa standing up, she is wearing a multicolored Kimono it flaps, she spins in a circle, yelling.
Zusa
Hit me, hit me you coward, hit me, hit me.
Jennifer is laughing. Cut to Zusa glowering at Jennifer, while Jim shakes clutching his fist.
Zusa
Why are you laughing Jennifer. Misses weak little pathetic angry man. I haven’t seen anything between you two to even make me want to help you. Your pathetic worthless people who don’t know how to live.
Cut to Jim as he takes off his tie and rises up and tries to attack Zusa. He lounges forward and misses, our psychologist pushes him down on the floor.
Jennifer
What the hell are you doing? Stop it Zusa.
Zusa kicks Jim. Cut to Jim staggering back up to his feet. Cut to Zusa pushing him down again. Cut to Jennifer as she tries to intervene, she lounges then gets pushed onto the floor with her husband. Zusa kicks Jim, runs to his wife and kicks her too. dragsZusa Jim across the floor and sits him up under the window sill lined with quartz rocks. Cut to Jennifer looking up at Zusa and Jim with a bloody nose. Zusa clasped onto Jims bloody lips and squeezes them together as she looks at Jennifer. She lets go and smiles.
Zusa
That was perfect you too. You see you’re working together. You were beautiful there absolutely beautiful. You see that you still love one another.
Zusa stares at the two.
Zusa
Get up.
The two look at each other.
Zusa
Get up and sit your asses back on the couch.
Cut to Jim and Jennifer as they stagger over to the couch. Cut to Zusa as she takes a deep breathe, sits down and smiles as she sits across from the two.
Cut to Keskarel looking up. Cut to The Videographer doing the same thing.
Cut to The Videographer knocking on Keskarel’s door. It is mid afternoon. She is holding two metal chairs in her hand. She sets them down as she waits for Keskarel to answer. Keskarel opens the door.
The Videographer
I am sorry I…
She gives Keskarel one of the chairs. Keskarel takes it.
Keskarel
Thank you. What are these for?
Cut to The Videographer as she pushes her way through the door. She is carrying one of the chairs and her cameras.
The Videographer
You need some furniture. I found these in my storage just lying there unused—my damn fuses blew out again I need to recharge the batteries.
Cut to The Videographer as sets her chair down and her camera’s on top of it. Cut to The Videographer as she she plugs in her chargers. Keskarel sets one of the chairs down silently next to The Videographer and runs into her kitchen. We hear her shuffling in the background looking for something. Cut to The Videographer as she plugs her camera in the charger and sighs. Keskarel comes out holding a very poorly wrapped present for The Videographer. When The Videographer looks up at her, Keskarel is smiling.
Keskarel
We both buy each other presents, how silly is this?
The Videographer doesn’t say anything. Keskarel sets the box in her lap.
The Videographer
What the hell is this?
Keskarel
Unwrap and you will see.
The Videographer looks down at it before unwrapping it and laughs.
The Videographer
They don’t teach you people to wrap presents in Russia?
Cut to The Videographer as she tears open the gift.
The Videographer
This really is the worst wrapping…
Cut to The Videographer mouth opening as she stares at the box.
Keskarel
The man at video store said this is best camera, he has.
The Videographer gasp, she gets out of her seat and goes to hug Keskarel, but backs away before getting there.
Keskarel
It is charged already, you no need to plug it in. I thought we could go to park and you can film things like you like to do there where it is pretty instead of here and we can talk.
The Videographer
Is this black mail or something? I mean why on earth or anywhere else would you buy me a camera?
Cut to Keskarel smiling.
Keskarel
What is black mail? I don’t know what this means, but if it bad thing, no, I just trying to make things right that I made wrong.
The Videographer
You come from one of the most corrupt countries on the planet and you don’t know what black mail is?
Cut to Keskarel shaking her head.
Keskarel
Not all of my country is bad and corrupt. There are many good people and things. It is beautiful day I do not want to stay in home.
The Videographer
If there are good people there why did you leave… Oh never mind—what the hell did you mean make right the wrongs I don’t understand? Jesus now I sound like you.
Keskarel
I saw you get stuff stolen and I laugh at you and then I laugh at you when you outside of store. I was hurt that you always mean to me. I want to make peace and you no need someone not to laugh, you need friend. Now everything is okay.
The Videographer
Buying presents for me to make everything okay. You’re just like a damn man.
Keskarel
I can take back if you don’t want.
The Videographer
No, no, no.
Keskarel
Taking present to make everything okay is just like woman.
Cut to The Videographer smiling.
The Videographer
A lot of people laugh at me I don’t care, but no one’s ever gotten me a camera before.
Keskarel
It is meant for friend to enjoy. Let us go to park now and you can enjoy it.
Cut to the two getting up, as they walk The Videographer turns and looks back at
Keskarel.
The Videographer
This still doesn’t make us friends.
Cut to Kekarel as she nods her head.
Keskarel
Of course we are friends now.
Cut to the two at the park. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing and the world is at ease with itself. The Videographer puts her camera together and begins to film stuff after she’s finished.
The Videographer
Okay now we are here were at the stupid park, what do you want to do?
Keskarel
We enjoy its beauty why the sunshine’s down on us. We make jokes and be normal like friends do.
Cut to The Videographer pointing the camera at Keskarel.
The Videographer
Don’t you people say comrade in Russia? You use the word friend so goddamned much I don’t get it I thought it was comrade this and comrade that?
Keskarel
We enjoy parks beauty and talk like comrades. We be normal.
Cut to The Videographer filming the people around her, dogs running children laughing, young couples kissing.
The Videographer
You can’t just snap your fingers and be friends with someone, no matter how hard you try it doesn’t happen like that, it’s not about proximity or what should be, it’s about what happens. It’s natural.
The Videographer stops filming and admires her new camera.
Although I got to say this camera sure helps with the whole friendship thing you love so much.
Cut to Keskarel smiling.
Keskarel
If what you say is true about friends then why you have no friends. You old and you have many opportunities for natural friendships to occur?
Cut to The Videographer as she sets her camera down.
The Videographer
Old—you’re not much younger than me. Watch out it sneaks up on you and bites you like a snake, and I used to have friends, but there all dead now.
Cut to Keskarel as she laughs.
Keskarel
All friends are dead did they all die at same time?
Cut to The Videographer as she laughs. Keskarel pulls out a flask, filled with vodka. The Videographer points her camera at her. Keskarel takes a sip then she hands it to The Videographer.
Keskarel
Drink.
Cut to The Videographer as she sets her new camera down and stares at the flask.
Keskarel
This is the way many friendships start in my country—comrade.
Cut to Keskarel as she smiles at The Videographer, The Videographer looks around as she goes to take a swig.
The Videographer
I can’t believe I am doing this. Drinking “wodka” in the park with a Russian, how cliché.
Cut to The Videographer taking a taste, she almost gags. Keskarel reaches for the bottle. The Videographer shoes her hand away and takes another. After she has finished she hands the flask to Keskarel. Keskarel takes a sip and wipes her mouth. The Videographer holds her camera in her lap and plays with its many features.
Keskarel
See it is good.
The Videographer
It ain’t good, but it’s doing the trick.
Cut to The Videographer shooting again. Keskarel has her hands behind her back, she’s leaning back and enjoying the closest star to earth’s wonderful rays as beads of sweat drip on to the table below the women.
The Videographer
I have had friends before.
Cut to Keskarel looking up at her and straitening her back.
The Videographer
I used to have a man and he was my best friend. We even lived together. He was the best friend I ever had. He was sweet and handsome and he liked me and I loved him. I mean he got angry sometimes that I was always filming things, but he loved me. And we laughed. Oh how we laughed and we made passionate…
Keskarel
Passionate what?
The Videographer
We had great sex.
Cut to The Videographer as she takes the flask from Keskarel and takes another sip.
The Videographer
I can’t believe I am telling you this.
Keskarel
Tell me more please don’t be embarrassed.
The Videographer
I am not embarrassed.
Cut to The Videographer, she pauses and picks up her camera again.
The Videographer
He took me out to dinner and he introduced me to all his friends and I liked his friends, they were interesting and funny and then…
Cut to The Videographer as she stops.
Keskarel
And then what?
Cut to the two being interrupted by a loud banging sound, something drops and it resonances like thunder. Both women jump back. Cut to them as they look at each other.
Keskarel
You tell me the rest later.
The Videographer
Maybe.
Cut to the bang. Both woman jump back again. There is silence and then Keskarel breaks it.
Keskarel
Have you heard something like? Um…something like that bang? It is like a walking on the roof, like a stomping, like thunder in a rain storm.
Keskarel stomps her feet.
Then there are screams. You hear?
Cut to The Videographer as she points her camera at Keskarel.
The Videographer
No I’ve never heard it.
Keskarel
It is very loud. It would be very hard not to hear.
The Videographer
I have my head phones on a lot, so I’ve never heard it.
Keskarel
This sound is loud, you can hear from headphones?
The Videographer
Never have.
Keskarel
You have say you hear me before, how you hear me and not noise? I think you hear sounds like I do.
Cut to The Videographer as she raises her voice.
The Videographer
Those sounds, those bangs like thunder. What goes on in other people’s places is none of our business.
Keskarel
You do hear than?
Cut to Keskarel as she intently looks at The Videographer. The Videographer looks away.
Keskarel
We pay for quiet, we pay for peace, we pay for freedom, when we hear strange noises, it is our business.
The Videographer
No, it isn’t.
Keskarel
We are supposed to let loud violent sounds go on without helping and…
Cut to The Videographer interrupting. She sets down her camera and stares at Keskarel.
The Videographer
There is nothing we can do about it, there’s nothing. People that do that shit are crazy, what they do is…I can’t talk about this with you.
Keskarel
First you no want to talk about man you once loved and now this. You must talk about something. It is scary.
The Videographer
Yeah it’s scary, people that do shit are really scary. There monsters. That is why you stay out of the way and hope they don’t pay attention.
Keskarel
I know but sometime we must...
The Videographer
You don’t know. You don’t know like I know. Your parents…they didn’t just up and leave you, they didn’t die in a car accident when you were a little girl; did they?
She doesn’t give Keskarel time to answer.
Your parents didn’t leave you with a crazy monster that…
Cut to Keskarel as she grips onto The Videographer’s arm. The Videographer thinks about pulling away, but she does not, she leans in closer.
Keskarel
I am very sorry you suffer so much tragedy. Would you like more vodka?
The Videographer
Yes.
The Videographer takes the flask from Keskarel. She holds it up to her lips before she takes a taste then goes on and takes that sip. She nearly gags then she wipes her mouth and looks away.
The Videographer
When my parents died, I had to go someplace. My grandparents decided they were too old to take me. The only other family I had left was my aunt and uncle. The first thing I remember about my uncle is that he used to stick his head in my bedroom door every goddamned night and yell, “go to sleep.” I would lay in my bed shaking and waiting.
The Videographer stops and whispers
Waiting for...
Cut to the Keskarel interjecting after The Videographer is silent for a while.
Keskarel
What were you waiting for?
The Videographer
Would you stop asking me questions and let me tell the goddamned story.
Keskarel smiles and lowers her head after The Videographer glares at her.
The Videographer
Waiting for him to become a monster. I’d hear my aunt screaming and then I’d hear their door slam. Then I heard locks, he carried around keys and he locked their door from the inside. And I’d be waiting for it all to stop so I could do what my uncle wanted, but it wouldn’t stop and I could never get to sleep. My aunt would just keep screaming all night long. I would try and put my pillow over my head and I would bit down on it. And I’d hear the same sounds than that I hear coming from upstairs.
Cut to The Videographer pausing scratching her thigh.
The Videographer
The next fucking morning my aunt would walk past my door and she was always all banged up, but she’d act like nothing happened the night before. You never knew when or how it was going to happen. I was so afraid he might do it to me. So I never said anything and I can’t talk about that. Okay?
Keskarel leans in close and puts her hand on The Videographers shoulder.
Keskarel
When you talk you heal self—finish story.
The Videographer
No, no there is not enough vodka in the world to make me keep on talking about this.
Cut to The Videographer waving her hands in the air.
Keskarel
You must talk about problems. It is only way to combat bad things that happen to you in life.
The Videographer
No…cut, cut, cut, that’s the end.
Keskarel slips her hands into The Videographer.
Keskarel
This is why you are so strange, you afraid of people. The more you talk about things the less strange you become.
The Videographer
No, not today, not any day.
Cut to The Videographer rises up and walks away. tries to extend her arms out.Keskarel The Videographer pushes them away. Keskarel calls out after her.
Keskarel
No stay please, we were becoming friends it was natural good thing.
Cut to The Videographer as she turns around about twenty feet from Keskarel.
The Videographer
Thank you for the camera Keskarel. It is very beautiful, I mean that, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Cut to The Videographer as she turns around and walks away shooting the scenery around her.
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment