"NINTH STEP"

 

                           by

 

                     Charles Deemer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         


 

 

 

FADE IN:

 

EXT. CITY - STREET - DAY

 

A car is parked on the street. Standing next to it with a

city map is STU, 20s. He looks at a building's door in front

of him, then at his watch. He's dressed casually, for travel.

 

INT. BUILDING - ROOM - DAY

 

A meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous is wrapping up. A circle

of people have joined hands and in the background they are

reciting the Lord's Prayer.

 

The wall is filled with AA posters and slogans. We note

particularly a large poster of the 12-steps -- especially

steps 8 and 9:

 

"8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became

willing to make amends to them all.

 

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible,

except when to do so would injure them or others."

 

The group finishes the prayer and concludes with:

 

                         GROUP

             Keep coming back!

 

The circle breaks up. In the group is ROWENA, late 30s,

dressed casually. She starts for the door. A MAN stops her.

 

                         MAN

             You're new.

 

                         ROWENA

             Yes. I'm from out of town.

 

                         MAN

             Oh. Then we won't see you again?

 

                         ROWENA

             Probably not!

 

She hurries along her way.

 

EXT. STREET - BUILDING - DAY

 

Rowena comes out of the building and joins Stu. He starts

folding the map.

 

                         STU

             The church is on the way to the

             Inn. We could stop there first.


                                                            2.

 

 

                         ROWENA

             No, no way.

 

                         STU

             I just meant it would be

             convenient.

 

                         ROWENA

             I need to work up to this.

 

                         STU

             I thought you'd already decided.

 

                         ROWENA

             I have decided, I just don't have

             the nerve to actually do it yet.

             I want to soak in a bath.

 

She pecks him on the lips.

 

                         ROWENA

             Now be a good boy and don't ask

             me if it was a good meeting.

 

She gets in the car.

 

EXT. INN - DAY

 

Their car is parked in front of an Inn.

 

INT. INN - ROOM - DAY

 

They have a room with its own small bath.

 

Stu sits, looking through a brochure. Rowena calls from the

bathroom.

 

                         ROWENA

                  (O.S.)

             Stu?

 

                         STU

             Right here.

 

She enters, wrapped in a towel.

 

                         ROWENA

             Maybe I'll do it in the morning.

 

                         STU

             You're stalling.


                                                            3.

 

 

                         ROWENA

             I know. At least we're here.

             Since we are, maybe we should see

             some sites.

 

                         STU

             First the cemetery, second the

             tourist stuff. We already agreed.

 

                         ROWENA

             I'm not sure I'm up to it today.

 

                         STU

             You won't be any better tomorrow.

 

                         ROWENA

             I should have spoken up in the

             meeting.

 

                         STU

             What would that accomplish?

 

                         ROWENA

             I wouldn't have this knot in my

             stomach. I could go to a meeting

             in the morning, talk, and then we

             could go to the cemetery from

             there.

 

Stu shakes his head.

 

                         ROWENA

             You don't know how hard this is

             for me.

 

                         STU

             Then fuck it. Don't go at all.

 

                         ROWENA

             Of course I'll go.

 

                         STU

             What's the point?

 

                         ROWENA

             I have to forgive her. And

             forgive myself. It's part of my

             program.

 

                         STU

             Whatever.


                                                            4.

 

 

                         ROWENA

             Jesus. A lot of support I get

             from you.

 

She storms back into the bathroom. Stu lets out a long

exhale of frustration.

 

EXT. INN - DAY

 

Stu waits at the car. He's changed and wears a shirt and tie.

 

Rowena comes out. She's dressed for dinner out, looks great.

Still, the difference in their ages is clear -- she's about

a decade older than he is.

 

                         ROWENA

             I must look terrible.

 

                         STU

             You look terrific.

 

                         ROWENA

             The clerk called you my young

             friend. I feel like an old whore.

 

                         STU

             You're a long way from being an

             old whore. ... That didn't come

             out right.

 

                         ROWENA

             You'll dump me as soon as I turn

             forty.

 

                         STU

             Christ, Ro, must we do this again?

             Did he suggest a restaurant or not?

 

                         ROWENA

             Several.

 

                         STU

             We're going to the cemetery first.

 

                         ROWENA

             It's out of the way.

 

                         STU

             You're going to get it over with

             so we can have some fun here. Now

             get in the car and shut up.

 

Stu gets in behind the wheel. Rowena has to smile. She likes

it when he takes charge.


                                                            5.

 

 

EXT. VARIOUS STREETS - DAY

 

The car drives to the cemetery.

 

EXT. CHURCH - CEMETERY - DAY

 

There's a cemetery near a church. The car pulls into it and

parks.

 

INT. CAR - DAY

 

Stu turns off the engine. He starts to get out.

 

                         ROWENA

             Wait.

 

                         STU

             Ro ...

 

                         ROWENA

             Two things. First, I want to go

             in alone. I don't want you to be

             my crutch. This is something I

             have to do myself.

 

                         STU

             Good for you. What's the other?

 

                         ROWENA

             This.

 

She takes a flask out of her purse.

 

                         STU

             Ro, no, you can't--

 

                         ROWENA

             It's not for me. It's for her.

 

                         STU

             I don't get it.

 

                         ROWENA

             To pour on her grave. It's the

             only thing I ever promised her.

 

                         STU

             You sure you're alright with this?

             I could come and carry it.

 

                         ROWENA

             I'll be fine. It's not a

             temptation.


                                                            6.

 

 

She leans over and kisses him.

 

                         ROWENA

             You can smell my breath afterwards.

 

She gets out of the car.

 

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

 

Rowena enters the cemetery. She walks from gravestone to

gravestone, reading the names.

 

EXT. CEMETERY - ANOTHER AREA - DAY

 

She still hasn't found what she's looking for. The cemetery

is larger than it seemed from the parking area.

 

She moves from grave to grave, looking.

 

Ahead, a man (TONY, 30s) kneels at a gravestone.

 

As Rowena passes, Tony looks up.

 

                         TONY

             Hello.

 

                         ROWENA

             Hi.

 

Rowena sees the name on the gravestone: a shock! It's the

grave she's been looking for.

 

                         ROWENA

             My God. You knew her?

 

                         TONY

             My mother.

 

Rowena looks weak on her feet. Tony gets up to steady her.

 

                         TONY

             Are you all right?

 

                         ROWENA

             You said, she's your mother?

 

                         TONY

             Yes.

 

                         ROWENA

             But she's my mother.

 

                         TONY

             Then are you ... Rowena?


                                                            7.

 

 

                         ROWENA

             I have to sit down.

 

Tony helps sit down on the grass. He sits beside her.

 

                         TONY

             Aunt Sara told me about you.

             You're my half-sister.

 

                         ROWENA

             Aunt Sara?

 

                         TONY

             She raised me. Mother's sister.

             You don't know her?

 

                         ROWENA

             No. I was eight was she abandoned

             us. She ran off with an actor

             half her age.

 

                         TONY

             That's mother. I was twelve when

             she left me with Aunt Sara. She

             got a part in Europe and didn't

             want to be bothered with me. Have

             you seen many of her films?

 

                         ROWENA

             I forced myself to miss them.

 

                         TONY

             I'm a real fan. I forgave her.

 

                         ROWENA

             I didn't. I mean, that's what I'm

             supposed to be doing here,

             forgiving her. Forgiving myself.

 

                         TONY

             Who's your father?

 

                         ROWENA

             Jason Daniels. He was a

             businessman. Too boring for her.

             And yours is the actor ... ?

 

                         TONY

             No, a director actually. I don't

             think they were together even a

             year.


                                                            8.

 

 

                         ROWENA

             I never knew I had a brother.

             Half-brother.

 

                         TONY

             I was going to hire a detective

             to find you. I'm serious. This

             feels really fated, don't you

             think?

 

                         ROWENA

             It's unreal.

 

                         TONY

             Yes, this must be quite a shock

             for you. Would you like a drink?

 

He takes out a flask.

 

                         ROWENA

             I have my own, thanks.

 

She takes out her flask.

 

                         TONY

             Then how about a toast? I'm

             really exited about finally

             meeting you.

 

He unscrews the top of his flask and raises it, waiting for

Rowena to join him in a toast.

 

                         TONY

             To miracles!

 

Rowena slowly unscrews her flask and raises it to touch

Tony's.

 

                         TONY

             Down the hatch.

 

He drinks.

 

Rowena hesitates.

 

                         TONY

             Is something the matter?

 

She shakes her head -- and drinks.

 

It's been a while, but the booze goes down comfortably. Tony

raises his flask again and drinks. Rowena drinks. And Rowena

drinks again.


                                                            9.

 

 

EXT. CEMETERY - PARKING AREA - DAY

 

Stu leans against the car. He looks at his watch.

 

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

 

Rowena and Tony are still drinking. Suddenly Tony takes out

some legal papers. He rests them on his leg and hands Rowena

a pen.

 

                         TONY

             You never got your part of the

             inheritance. I need your signature.

 

                         ROWENA

                  (intoxicated)

             I didn't think she had anything

             left.

 

                         TONY

             That's what she wanted people to

             think. She left quite a bit

             actually.

 

                         ROWENA

             You want me to sign?

 

                         TONY

             So I can give it to the bank.

 

                         ROWENA

             I don't know what I'm signing.

 

                         TONY

             If you can't trust your brother,

             who can you trust?

 

Rowena signs. Tony taps flasks again.

 

                         TONY

             Down the hatch.

 

EXT. CEMETERY - PARKING AREA - DAY

 

Stu waits.

 

Out of the cemetery come Tony and Rowena. She's really

drunk, and Tony has to support her.

 

                         STU

             That took long enough.

 

                         TONY

             Let's put her in the back.


                                                           10.

 

 

Stu opens the door, and together they drop Rowena onto the

back seat, where she quickly passes out.

 

                         STU

             You get the Power of Attorney

             signed?

 

                         TONY

             Signed, sealed and witnessed.

             Very legal.

 

He gives Stu the legal papers. Then he gives him a set of

car keys. Stu, in return, gives Tony a key to the Inn.

 

                         TONY

             The car's about fifty yards up

             the road.

 

                         STU

             I'd better get going if I want to

             make the bank before it closes.

             Good work, man.

 

He starts off.

 

                         TONY

             Aren't you forgetting something?

 

                         STU

             Hey, the usual place, right?

 

                         TONY

             At eight. If I'm waiting at

             eight-fifteen, I call the police.

 

                         STU

             Where are you coming from? If you

             can't trust your bother, who can

             you trust?

 

He heads off.

 

EXT. ROAD - DAY

 

Stu comes to a parked car. He uses the key Tony gave him to

unlock it. He gets in and starts the engine.

 

EXT. VARIOUS STREETS - DAY

 

as Stu drives to the bank.

 

EXT. BANK - DAY

 

Stu parks at a bank and gets out.


                                                           11.

 

 

INT. BANK - DAY

 

Stu fills out a withdrawal form.

 

Then he waits in line for a teller.

 

His turn comes. He steps to the window. He hands the TELLER

the withdrawal slip and the Power of Attorney.

 

                         STU

             I'm closing my sister's account.

             I have power of attorney.

 

                         TELLER

             Just a minute, please.

 

The teller moves away.

 

Stu waits nervously.

 

He looks at his watch.

 

The teller returns.

 

                         TELLER

             Sir? That account was closed

             yesterday.

 

INT. INN - BEDROOM - DAY

 

Rowena and Tony in bed together, after making love.

 

                         TONY

             We'd better get moving. He'll be

             finding out about now. I expect

             this is the first place he'll come.

 

                         ROWENA

             I think we should fly to Paris

             tonight.

 

                         TONY

             It's short notice.

 

                         ROWENA

             What do you care? You're a kept

             man.

 

                         TONY

             That I am.

 

                         ROWENA

             And much more entertaining than

             your brother.


                                                           12.

 

 

                         TONY

             You're the entertaining one --

             for a while there, you had me

             convinced you really were drunk.

 

                         ROWENA

             I've had lots of practice.

 

They get out of bed and will dress.

 

                         ROWENA

             I have a confession to make.

 

                         TONY

             What's that?

 

                         ROWENA

             When you first told me this

             cockeyed plan Stu came up with, I

             thought the telling was part of

             the plan.

 

                         TONY

             That's too complicated for Stu.

 

                         ROWENA

             Then I was really angry.

 

                         TONY

             Of course.

 

                         ROWENA

             Not the way you think. I was

             angry he thought I'd relapse so

             easily. He just assumed so.

             Everything depended on it.

 

                         TONY

             Well, he's young.

 

                         ROWENA

             He knew how difficult my

             relationship with my mother was

             and took advantage of it. He

             assumed I'd go to pieces.

 

                         TONY

             Yes, that was the M.O.

 

                         ROWENA

             Why didn't you go along with him?


                                                           13.

 

 

                         TONY

             He showed me a picture of you. I

             was instantly jealous.

 

                         ROWENA

             I'm glad.

 

                         TONY

             So am I.

 

A pause, while they dress.

 

                         ROWENA

             How old are you?

 

                         TONY

             38.

 

                         ROWENA

             I'm 36. It's been a long time

             since I've been with an older man.

             I think I'm going to like it.

 

She smiles.

 

EXT. STREET - DAY

 

Stu's car races down the street.

 

INT. CAR - DAY

 

Stu is fuming.

 

FADE OUT