Passion Cove: Restless Spirits
written by Ira Nayman
INT. KITCHEN - DAY (BW)
ENID (early 20s, beautiful), standing by the stove, cracks an egg. It lands next to another egg in a pan on a burner. Using a long wooden spoon, Enid scrambles the eggs. WILLIAM (mid-20s, beautiful) walks up to her from behind and cups her breasts in his hands. Enid is momentarily surprised, but she starts to warm up when William nuzzles the back of her neck. Enid turns, and the couple kisses with increasing passion.
In a corner of the kitchen that is in colour, OLD WILLIAM (63, stooped) watches the young couple as they start taking off each others' clothes.
William, with a swipe of his hand, clears everything off the breakfast table. OLD ENID (60, walks with a cane), walks over to Old William's side.OLD ENID Tsk! It's a wonder I didn't burn the bloody house down!
(off)
Enid lays back on the table, a sensuous cat who wants her tummy rubbed.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) We were like gods.
OLD WILLIAM Were we ever so young?
Old Enid affectionately hits Old William on the chest. William bends over Enid's crotch to give her oral pleasures.OLD ENID I remember it like it was yesterday.
OLD WILLIAM I remember it better than yesterday.
Old William considers this for a moment, then playfully pokes Old Enid in the shoulder.OLD ENID You were so...manly...
He, William, enters his wife, and they develop an increasingly quick rhythm. Old William watches for a few seconds, then chuckles.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) Not that you're not now!
OLD WILLIAM I got a lifetime of experience being a man. What did he know?
William and Enid have a glorious orgasm. William collapses on top of her. Old Enid claps.OLD WILLIAM (CONTINUING) Well, he might have known a trick or two...
OLD ENID It might not have been exactly like this...
OLD WILLIAM What do you mean?
OLD ENID Remember the time you got my sweater caught on your watch?
OLD WILLIAM Ah. That was awkward.
OLD ENID Or, what about the time it took you so long to make me...you know, you fell asleep without?
OLD WILLIAM It had been a busy day at work.
OLD ENID Or, what about -
EXT. POOL - DAYOLD ENID (CONTINUING) Well done!
OLD WILLIAM Can I help it if I prefer to remember it this way?
OLD ENID It's a gorgeous day - shall we get some sun?
(smiling)
Old Enid and Old William lay on lawn chairs, basking in the sunshine. Drinks rest on the table between them. A copy of The Eyre Affair lies bookmarked on the end of Old Enid's chair. In a black and white patch of the pool, William (early 30s) is getting oral pleasures from MARJORY (early 20s). Old Enid and Old William are oblivious to this. Long pause.
Pause.OLD ENID You think the children know about your affair with your student?
OLD WILLIAM And it was such a lovely day...
Old William looks sharply at her.OLD ENID I oversalted your food for years. Why do you think you had that heart attack four years ago?
Old William rises.OLD WILLIAM You didn't!
OLD ENID Okay. I didn't. Still, can't say you didn't give me reason.
Old William walks into the house. Old Enid follows until her eyes rest, for the first time, on William and Marjory, who are intercoursing like rabbits.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) Where are you going?
OLD WILLIAM It's too hot out here!
INT. KITCHEN - DAYOLD ENID Oh, give it a rest!
Old William sits at the table. He is in the middle of a game of solitaire. After a couple of seconds, Old Enid enters and sits opposite.
Old William and Old Enid smile to themselves.OLD WILLIAM Had enough sun?
OLD ENID Don't you think we're beyond it, now?
(pause) Gin rummy?
OLD WILLLIAM Strip poker?
OLD ENID Don't you think we're beyond that now?
Old William gathers up the cards. He shuffles the deck. He deals out 10 cards to each of them and, as he and Old Enid put their hands together, he flips over the top card of the deck.OLD WILLIAM Gin rummy it is.
Nodding, Old Enid picks a card off the top of the deck. She and Old William start the rounds of picking and discarding cards.OLD WILLIAM (CONTINUING) Why did you -
OLD ENID No.
OLD WILLIAM Wha -?
(confused)
OLD ENID I don't want it?
OLD WILLIAM Don't want what, Enid?
OLD ENID The top card, William.
OLD WILLLIAM Oh.
OLD ENID What did you think?
OLD WILLIAM Go ahead.
OLD ENID I'm sorry?
OLD WILLIAM I don't want it, either. Go ahead.
Pause. Old William smiles slightly.OLD WILLIAM (CONTINUING) You always knew?
OLD ENID Pretty much.
OLD WILLIAM Why did you stay with me?
OLD ENID I loved you.
Old Enid puts her cards on the table.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) Besides, where was I going to go with two children?
OLD WILLLIAM Oh.
(stops smiling)
OLD ENID I mean, I had barely finished high school and had never earned an income...
OLD WILLIAM Okay, I -
OLD ENID What man would be interested in a woman with two children and no prospects?
OLD WILLIAM Really, I get -
OLD ENID Besides, back then you just didn't leave your husband.
OLD WILLIAM Enid -
Old William throws his cards on the table.OLD ENID Gin!
OLD WILLLIAM I can't win!
(mutters)
INT. KITCHEN - DAY (LATER)OLD ENID I'm hungry. Want some lunch?
(cheerful)
Old Enid cracks open an egg. It drops into the pan on the burner next to another egg. Old Enid starts to scramble them with a long wooden spoon when Old William sneaks up from behind her and cups her breasts.
Old William backs off, hurt. He watches her cook for a few seconds.OLD ENID You're so predictable.
(kindly)
Old Enid reaches over and takes a plate off the counter next to Old William.OLD WILLIAM No.
OLD ENID No?
OLD WILLIAM The children didn't know.
OLD ENID You think?
OLD WILLIAM They were too young.
OLD ENID You slept in the spare bedroom for over three years. Didn't you think they'd be the least bit curious about it?
OLD WILLIAM Well, no, I -
(the shoe drops) What did you tell them?
OLD ENID Pass me your plate.
OLD WILLIAM Hunh?
Old Enid spoons eggs onto the plate, then hands it to Old William.OLD WILLIAM (CONTINUING) Oh.
Old Enid turns off the stove, then spoons the remaining eggs onto her own plate.OLD WILLIAM What did you tell them?
William, naked, sits on a chair. Enid, naked, sits on William. Their sex is, by turns, passionate and tender. And black and white.OLD ENID It was the best sex we'd ever had!
(dreamily)
OLD WILLIAM What!
Old Enid hands him a fork.OLD ENID When I let you back into the bedroom.
OLD WILLIAM You told the children...that?
Old Enid takes a fork and starts eating.OLD ENID Eat up before the eggs get cold.
Pause. Old William starts to walk towards the table. Old Enid stops him by putting a hand on his shoulder.OLD WILLIAM ENID!
OLD ENID Don't be demented, William. I told the children you had hurt your back.
OLD WILLIAM Oh.
OLD ENID They didn't figure it out for themselves until they were adults.
OLD WILLIAM Oh!
Old William looks at their younger selves.OLD ENID Where do you think you're going?
OLD WILLIAM You know I hate to eat standing up.
OLD ENID But we're having such a good time!
Old William looks at Old Enid. Then, grumbling, he starts eating where he is.OLD WILLIAM I could use a corner of the table. They - we - wouldn't even notice.
OLD ENID You will do no such thing!
EXT. POOL - DAY
Old Enid and Old William lounge on deck chairs, drinks on the table between them. Old Enid is shuffling the deck of cards.
Old Enid puts the deck of cards down on the table.OLD ENID How many?
OLD WILLIAM Oh, the usual amount.
OLD ENID There's a usual amount?
(astonished)
OLD WILLIAM Come on, Enid. You've played this game your entire life.
(friendly)
Old William looks at her, confused.OLD ENID You're the one who was playing games!
Pause. Old Enid picks up the cards and starts shuffling them again.OLD WILLIAM You...are talking about...gin rummy. Right?
OLD ENID Oh! Umm...no. I wanted to know how many women you...you...you know.
OLD WILLIAM Oh.
(pause) Don't you, err, think we're beyond that now?
INT. DEN - DAY
A fire is roaring in the fireplace. Old Enid and Old William sit in comfortable chairs on either side of the fireplace. Old Enid is reading her book. Old William is reading The New York Times. Pause. Old Enid puts her book down.
Old William puts the newspaper aside.OLD ENID Marcus is cheating on Debbie.
A patch of carpet in front of the fire fades to black and white. A naked young couple lying on the carpet, making out, begins to fade in.OLD WILLIAM Are you sure?
OLD ENID Debbie phoned me in tears - they had a terrible row over it.
The naked couple fades out, then the carpet fades back to colour.OLD WILLIAM Ahh...would you mind if we didn't imagine that?
OLD ENID Fine by me.
The fire goes out. Pause.OLD WILLIAM And while we're on the subject, could we please lose the cliched symbol of passion?
OLD ENID You always were such a romantic...
OLD WILLIAM Enid, please! It's sweltering outside!
OLD ENID Fine.
Old William is stopped for a couple of seconds.OLD WILLIAM Marcus.
OLD ENID Yes.
OLD WILLIAM Cheating on that sweet, sweet girl.
OLD ENID That's right.
OLD WILLIAM I should give him a piece of my mind - that scoundrel! I should give him a call and say -
OLD ENID Like father, like son?
Old William, uncomfortable, goes back to reading The Times. Old Enid watches him thoughtfully for a couple of seconds, then goes back to reading her book.OLD WILLIAM What about Henry?
(calmer)
OLD ENID What about Henry?
(amused)
OLD WILLIAM Is he...you know...
OLD ENID Faithful to Margaret?
OLD WILLIAM Right.
OLD ENID As far as I know.
OLD WILLIAM There you go! I must have done something right!
OLD ENID He's young. Plenty of time for him to make mistakes...
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Old Enid and Old William are sitting at a table, eating sandwiches and drinking from teacups. Pause.
Pause as Old William decides if he wants to bite into the crust of his sandwich.OLD ENID Do you still love me?
Pause. Old Enid thinks about this for a moment, then drops the sandwich she's about to take a bite out of on her plate.OLD WILLIAM Course I do.
The sink area of the kitchen fades to black and white. Enid and William, naked, lean on the counter next to the sink. They are eating bacon and eggs off plates in their hands. Drinks sit next to them on the counter. Enid has a splotch of egg on one cheek; William has some in his hair.OLD ENID But, Bill, what does love mean to you?
Enid looks at William with admiration.WILLIAM Romance? That's easy. Sitting on the beach, watching the sun rise after having spent all night talking.
ENID Nice...
(nodding appreciatively)
WILLIAM No. Wait. I can do better. Romance...is sitting on the beach, watching the sun rise after having spent all night talking...thirty years into your relationship.
(excited)
Old William looks at Old Enid with admiration. Pause. Enid and William grin at each other then, as one, drop their plates and rush to each other. They start kissing passionately.OLD ENID "To see a young couple loving each other is no wonder; but to see an old couple loving each other is the best sight of all."
OLD WILLIAM Thackery. Delightful.
William and Enid fade out. The sink area fades back to colour.OLD WILLIAM (CONTINUING) You wonder why I had a heart attack? You were insatiable!
(grumbling)
OLD ENID I don't remember you complaining at the time...
(amused)
Old William pushes his plate aside. He is done eating. Old Enid looks at him for a moment, then puts her own fork down. Old Enid stands up and takes Old William by the hand.OLD WILLIAM Must our time really be over?
OLD ENID Everything ends.
OLD WILLIAM So soon...
(sad)
Old William rises. Old Enid leads him by the hand to the door of the room.OLD ENID Come.
(affectionately)
Old Enid and Old William walk out of the room.OLD WILLIAM What about the dishes?
OLD ENID Oh, I think we're beyond that now.
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Old Enid is putting on makeup while Old William is shaving. They are both in their fanciest dress.
Old William nicks himself.OLD ENID Sweetie?
OLD WILLIAM Mmm?
OLD ENID Please put the razor down.
OLD WILLIAM Almost done.
OLD ENID I want to tell you something, but -
Old Enid hands Old William a piece of toilet paper. Old William dabs at his chin.OLD WILLIAM Oww!
OLD ENID I don't want that to happen.
Old William slaps water on his face and towels himself off. Then, he turns to face Old Enid.OLD ENID (CONTINUED) Let me see.
OLD WILLIAM I'm fine.
Old William looks at her, uncomprehending. Old Enid notices his stupefaction.OLD WILLIAM (CONTINUING) What was it you wanted to tell me?
OLD ENID I...uhh...you know how you...you know, cheated on me?
OLD WILLIAM Ye...es?
OLD ENID Well...you weren't the only one.
OLD WILLIAM Wha -?
(roars) I knew it!
OLD ENID You...you did?
OLD WILLIAM I most certainly did! Back when you started the boutique - I always thought you were spending more time with the Ellisons than you needed to!
OLD ENID William...
OLD WILLIAM If George Ellison hadn't had a stroke a couple of years ago, I'd -
(dark)
OLD ENID BILL!
OLD WILLIAM What?
OLD ENID I didn't have an affair with George Ellison!
OLD WILLIAM You didn't?
OLD ENID No.
OLD WILLIAM Then...?
OLD ENID I had an affair with Miranda.
The shower fades to black and white. Enid (late 30s) and MIRANDA (early 30s, skull in a top hat tattoo on one shoulder) are gently exploring each other's naked bodies as the water rains down on them. Old William watches them, fascinated and disgusted.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) Oh, see for yourself.
As the tattoo fades away and Enid and Miranda become increasingly impassioned, Old William turns to face Old Enid.OLD WILLIAM Uhh...
OLD ENID Yes?
(amused)
OLD WILLIAM I...didn't know...Miranda...
OLD ENID Yes?
OLD WILLIAM Had a tattoo.
OLD ENID A ta - oh, she didn't. That's just the way you're fantasizing it.
OLD WILLIAM I am?
Old Enid, done putting her makeup on, turns to face Old William.OLD WILLIAM (CONTINUING) Why, Enid?
OLD ENID Why what?
OLD WILLIAM Why do this?
OLD ENID You think I did it to get back at you?
OLD WILLIAM What other reason -
Old Enid takes his face in her hands.OLD ENID Why did you have an affair with one of your students?
OLD WILLIAM I...uhh...
OLD ENID You were looking for something you thought you couldn't find in our marriage. Sweetie...
Enid and Miranda fade out; the shower returns to colour.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) Maybe what we were looking for couldn't last. Maybe it was an illusion. Maybe we were just young and one relationship couldn't contain all of our love. All I know is, that was decades ago. Meanwhile, here we are. Here. Now.
Old Enid takes Old William by the hand.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) I love you. I always loved you. Now, more than ever, isn't that all you need to know?
OLD WILLIAM I...I...
(choked up)
OLD ENID I know you do.
Old Enid leads Old William out of the bathroom.OLD ENID (CONTINUING) Come on.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Old Enid leads Old William to the bed. They sit by its edge. Old Enid starts to kiss him on the face. After a couple of seconds, Old William begins to respond with his own kisses.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY (BW)
William and Enid sit on the bed, kissing passionately. They fall onto the bed.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Old Enid and Old William lie next to each other. Old William strokes Old Enid's breasts through her clothes.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY (BW)
William and Enid lie next to each other. William strokes Enid's breasts through her clothes.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Old Enid and Old William kiss hungrily, passionately.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY (BW)
Enid and William kiss hungrily, passionately, removing each other's clothes.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Old Enid and Old William eagerly undress each other.
SOUND: phone rings. Camera PANS from the bed to a CLOSE-UP of the phone on an endtable. Next to the phone is an upended, empty bottle of pills. PAN back to the bed. Old Enid and Old William lie still on their backs in their finest clothes. One of each of their hands lies on their chests. Their free hands grasp one another. They look at peace.OLD ENID We are like gods.
INT. SAMANTHA'S OFFICE - DAY
SAMANTHA stands by her desk, holding a ringing phone to her ear. He expression tells us that she doesn't understand why the phone isn't being answered. Soon, she shrugs pleasantly and hangs up.
The end of Passion Cove: "Restless Spirits"