Logline: Girl and Boy meet Girl. 

INT. KAIT’S KITCHENETTE – NIGHT.

Coffee drips into a glass carafe. The drips finish.

KAIT THORESON (shoulder length hair, 21, glasses, ‘Beam Me Up, Scotty’ T-shirt and jeans) pours five cups of coffee then places the mugs on a tray.

Kait places a sugar bowl and a cream container on the tray and exits to the living room.

KAIT’S LIVING ROOM

DON (22, sci fi geek), BRAD (19, crush on Kait, compugeek), GABRIELLA (25, granola-type) and DAVID (20, gaming geek) are huddled in conversation.

The table is covered in maps, writing paper, pencils, polyhedron dice, and snacks.

David, Brad and Don are seated on a couch, while Gabriella is in a chair. Dungeons & Dragon ™(“D&D”) books are everywhere.

BRAD Can we start now, Don?

Kait passes the coffee mugs out and puts the cream & sugar containers on the table. She sits in the empty chair.

Don glances at some papers (his gaming notes).

DON In the last session, Kait’s gladiator were killed, and Gabriella is also introing a new character.

BRAD Do we hafta listen to them generate their characters?

DON Patience, young Skywalker, they’ve already approved their characters with me. You are all in a tavern called The Thorny Rose.

KAIT My character is passed out under a table and he’s missing his left shoe.

2.

CONTINUED:

GABRIELLA Playing a dwarf, Kait?

DAVID It’s a nice change from gay minotaur gladiators.

KAIT David, I can still ask Don to let me roll for resurrection and Talesh Nagar will be more than happy to teach Ilsolth an interesting use for escape proof rope.

BRAD We never recovered Talesh’s body from the orc cavern. We need the body to resurrect a dead character.

GABRIELLA What if the orcs revive Talesh and she’s a undead minotaur gladiator?

DAVID For one, we’re playing DragonLance, not Ravenloft. For two, Ilsolth wouldn’t have sex with a living minotaur, never mind an undead one.

DON A-hem! This is getting gross. From his position at the bar, Dolph can see a dwarf passed out under a table. There are fifteen empty steins of Dwarvish Spirits on the table above him, each glass drained completely. What does he do, Brad?

BRAD My fighter wants him for the quest, anyone who can drink fifteen steins of Dwarvish Spirits and live has got to be tough.

Gabriella LAUGHS.

DON Farther down the bar, there is a female elf wearing a dark hooded cloak.

3.

CONTINUED:

GABRIELLA I don’t want to interrupt, but you forgot about my staff.

DON Sorry, Gabriella, the elf has a six foot staff with a silver dragon headpiece. Did anyone choose alertness as a speciality?

Everyone indicates ‘no.’ Gabriella grins.

BRAD I motion for David and Don to come over.

DAVID Ilsolth comes over to Dolph, but she’s not happy. People had better differentiate between character communication and player by using character names for characters and player for player, because this is the last time Ilsolth answers to David.

Kait gives Don a significant look. Don nods. Smiling, Kait picks up a twenty sided die and rolls it (anything above 14).

KAIT As Dolph approaches, Iron Swilldrinker projectile vomits.

DON Brad, roll under dexterity, there’s a penalty of minus two for surprise.

Brad wipes his hand on his pants, then selects a twenty sided die and rolls it (anything below 15).

BRAD Dolph jumps out of the way. Nice Kait, really attractive.

KAIT You try drinking fifteen tankards of Dwarvish Spirits. So I failed my constitution check.

4.

CONTINUED:

BRAD Dolph looks at Ilsolth and says `Are you sure you want this guy in our party?’

PAN from the players to the Elvis hip swinging wall clock. The hands wind forward to indicate 11 PM.

The SOUND of DICE ROLLING and GAME TALK SNIPPETS as the hands move. Fade voices on Gabriella’s plaintive ‘Owlbears like catnip?’

LATER

Kait and David sit amid the game debris.

KAIT Good game, huh?

DAVID Except for your character drinking everything even remotely liquid.

Kait clears the coffee table. David helps to clear the debris.

KAIT Hey, Iron’s a hardcore drinker, besides, Don gives experience points for role playing, not just the knock on the door, kill the monster grab the treasure routine. You aren’t still mad about Iron wasting that wishing potion, are you, David?

DAVID No, Kait, it’s every adventuring parties’ dream to have a clumsy fifteen foot alcoholic dwarf instead of magic weapons.

KAIT Yeah, well. It’s just a game. Want another coffee?

David picks up a twenty sided die and rolls it. He looks at the roll (anything above 15), and screwing up his courage…

5.

CONTINUED:

DAVID Can I continue gaming with the group?

KAIT Why wouldn’t you?

DAVID Because I broke up with Ginny, your best friend.

KAIT Two entirely unrelated things. Besides, we were friends before you and Ginny.

Kait throws a pillow at David.

KAIT (cont’d) I was the one who introduced you.

DAVID So, we’re friends no matter what?

KAIT Please, you sound like a bad buddy flick.

DAVID I just wanted to check because, well, I met somebody.

Kait sits in a chair opposite David.

KAIT Before you broke up with Ginny?

DAVID After, I met her at the last social. I mentioned that we go to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. . .

KAIT (unenthusiastic) So, she’ll be joining us?

DAVID Nnnnn..sorta. Greg the Creep got her; and I decided to let her find out what a geek he is herself.

6.

CONTINUED:

KAIT

(smiling) And how much better you are by comparison?

DAVID Ex-actly! I think she’s The One. I want you to like her, so it would mean a lot to me for my girlfriend and my best friend to get along. You’re a lot alike.

KAIT Then we probably won’t get along. How long is this The One gonna last? Ginny lasted four months.

DAVID I started with Ginny too soon after Gwen. Ellen’s different, really different. I’d like you to like her, I don’t want to have to choose who I’m gonna spend my time with.

KAIT Let’s go to Granville Street and wreak havoc in the arcades before we hit the theatre.

DAVID In costume? I don’t think so. (dismissive hand wave) Do my make up, wench.

KAIT You’re wearing a corset and nylons in public and I’m the wench? Don’t think so.

INT. THEATRE – NIGHT

TWENTY PATRONS sit in small clusters; most are not in costume, but some are dressed as Rocky Horror characters. Kait (dressed as Eddie) walks down the aisle. David (dressed as Frank N Furter) catches up to Kait and stops her.

DAVID There she is.

7.

CONTINUED:

Kait looks to where David points. GREG THE CREEP (32, no costume) is sitting arm around ELLEN (25, androgynous, no costume).

KAIT Where? I just see Greg the Creep with his arm around a guy.

(teasing) I had no idea that…

DAVID That’s not a guy. That’s Ellen. C’mon.

David goes to Greg the Creep and Ellen. Kait follows. David hugs Ellen. Greg the Creep scowls. Kait interrupts the hug.

KAIT Hi, I’m Kait. Greg, interesting lecture you did at the convention. Too bad about your video.

GREG THE CREEP I maintain beta is superior to VHS. It wasn’t my fault the convention didn’t have. . .

Gabriella (dressed as Magenta) waves at Kait and David.

KAIT David, let’s grab our seats, Gabriella’s waiting.

Kait drags David, looking back, away.

Ellen is surprised by the abrupt departure. Greg is relieved

ELLEN Yeah, nice to meet you, too.

Ellen sits down. Greg the Creep slides his arm around her.

Ellen leans forward and smiles to David. David waves back.

Greg the Creep withdraws his arm as the lights dim and the curtains separate.

As the OPENING FANFARE starts over a scratchy print of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, David hits Kait on the arm and points to Greg the Creep.

8.

CONTINUED:

DAVID See? He’s already striking out!

PATRONS Lips! Lips! Lips! Lips! Lips! Lips!

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW STYLE WIPE

INT. BINO’S RESTAURANT- NIGHT.

BACKGROUND MUSIC is MUSHY CONTEMPORARY.

David, Brad, Kait and Gabriella sit in a booth.

Full creamer containers form a pyramid at the centre of the table, a dozen empty containers are stacked in a tower nearby. D&D manuals are stacked to the side.

Kait absent mindedly plays with a pair of ten sided dice.

David is rolling four six sided dice.

Brad and Gabriella are reading D&D handbooks.

WAITRESS pours coffee, without asking. David smiles flirtatiously at the waitress. She shakes her head ‘no’, then leaves.

DAVID How do Dark Elves count their daggers?

KAIT I have no idea.

DAVID Dark Elves don’t count daggers, they count backs!

Brad laughs, Kait and Gabriella exchange exasperated looks. David grins, then rolls his dice.

DAVID (cont’d) Another eighteen! You hate me, Kait.

9.

CONTINUED:

KAIT I don’t hate you because you roll characters with high attributes, David. I’m just not into it tonight.

BRAD If it helps any, I hate you.

David sticks his tongue out at Brad.

GABRIELLA Bear it and share it, David.

David looks at Gabriella, then puts his arm around Brad.

DAVID I’d share with you, Gabriella, but Brad would be jealous.

Brad flings David’s arm off of his shoulders, then squeezes as far away from David as he can in the booth.

BRAD I hate that! I told you to stop pretending we’re fags. You’re really weird David.

DAVID But, darling!

David slithers closer to Brad to kiss him. Brad holds him off.

DAVID (cont’d) That’s not what you said last night.

BRAD Kait, can I change sides with you? Please?!

Kait shrugs, then looks at Gabriella.

KAIT Do you want to sit with David?

GABRIELLA I only like sharing people.

Kait gets out of the booth.

10.

CONTINUED:

KAIT Brad, you sit with Gabriella. David, can I talk to you at another booth for a minute?

Brad slides out of the booth and sits beside Gabriella.

BRAD Make him stop pretending I’m his boyfriend.

David and Kait move to another booth. Gabriella smiles at Brad, shakes her head and sips her coffee.

BRAD (cont’d) It really makes me uncomfortable, and he knows it.

GABRIELLA That’s probably why he does it.

BRAD His characters always flirt with mine. He really enjoys watching people squirm when he played gay fighters. I switched to women characters so at least the flirting would be more normal.

GABRIELLA Did it work?

BRAD No, he switched to women characters and just kept doing it.

KAIT & DAVID’S BOOTH

DAVID

(builds a creamer pyramid) What’s up? You know I’m just teasing Brad…

KAIT It’s not Brad. It’s…not easy, I’m usually the confidee, not the confider in these types of conversations.

11.

CONTINUED:

DAVID What type? Tell me. You’re my best friend, except for Brad and Don.

KAIT Close friend, you know I don’t rate people.

DAVID Yeah, yeah, okay, whatever.

KAIT It’s different from what we normally talk about.

DAVID Normal? We’re not normal. We play Dungeons and Dragons. We belong to a science fiction social club; an oxymoron if I ever heard one.

David reaches across the table and takes Kait’s hand, as if about to reveal devastating news.

DAVID (cont’d) We sit in Bino’s drinking coffee for six and eight hours at a stretch. So tell me what we do that’s normal. What haven’t we talked about?

KAIT Sex.

BRAD & GABRIELLA’S BOOTH

BRAD (summoning courage) How long have you known Kait?

GABRIELLA Just a couple of months, I met her at the social. Why?

BRAD

(disappointed) Do you think if I asked her out, she’d accept?

12.

KAIT & DAVID’S BOOTH

DAVID We talk about sex. I told you about me and Cynthia behind the bleachers, and me and Ginny in the tub, and Michelle in her office and Donna…

KAIT (picking up the creamer ‘capstone’) Have I ever told you anything?

DAVID Sure, you told me you and…. what about that date with, um, …Calvin?

KAIT I told you Kevin spent the night. Did I neglect to mention he spent it on the couch?

DAVID Yes.

KAIT (taking a deliberately slow sip of coffee) Oops.

DAVID Okay, this is a weird area. Kait, you’re 21, you can’t be a virgin.

Kait takes a long, uncomfortable swallow of coffee. David sits back to absorb this new information.

BRAD & GABRIELLA’S BOOTH

GABRIELLA I don’t think she’s dating anyone. Her and David have some interesting energy, but it’s not sexual.

13.

CONTINUED:

BRAD I’d ask David’s advice, but the last time I asked him about picking up women, he offered me flirting lessons.

GABRIELLA Interesting. Why didn’t you accept?

BRAD David is good at getting girls, but they never seem to last long. Besides, what if he told Kait before I got a chance to ask her out?

(elbows on table, face in hands) I’d die.

KAIT & DAVID’S BOOTH

DAVID I never would have. . . you teased Ginny about her virginity and all that time you. . .

KAIT First, Ginny wore her virginity like a badge of honour. I don’t need validation from anyone. Second, Ginny is sexually unsure of herself, I’m not. There’s a big difference between secure and active.

DAVID So, you and who did the dirty deed?

KAIT Just a guy from university. I thought I was above this shit. The first time a guy presses me. . .

The waitress returns.

WAITRESS Do you want new coffees or shall I top up the cups at your old table?

14.

CONTINUED:

KAIT We’ll be back there in a sec. Thanks.

The waitress leaves. David watches her.

DAVID Hey, sex is not a bad thing. I do it all the time. Tell me about it.

KAIT I gave him a ride home, he lives along one of the routes I can go. He invited me in for coffee and, well, you know me and a game of chicken. I just didn’t think it would really get that far.

DAVID Why didn’t you say stop?

KAIT I don’t know, after a point I felt obligated. I was curious. I was, flattered, that he wanted me.

DAVID You don’t sound happy about it. Wasn’t he any good?

KAIT I kept wondering if I’d left the lights on in my car and how soon afterwards could I leave. I made a lotta jokes. I can’t remember any, no, after, when I was getting dressed, I picked up my bra and said ‘Well, that’s the first thing I lost.’ I dunno. Something was missing.

DAVID Do you like him?

KAIT Yes, but not, not that way, you know.

David reaches across the table and holds Kait’s hands.

15.

CONTINUED:

DAVID That’s what’s missing, women need to feel emotionally connected to a guy to enjoy it. I enjoy sex better that way, but sometimes, it’s just sex.

KAIT

(hesitantly) I don’t think that it’s simply a matter of not caring enough. The whole…experience left me emotionally cold. It just…it just felt wrong.

JESSIE, (20, red hair waitress) comes to their table. Jessie is holding a pot of coffee and a fresh bowl of creamers.

JESSIE Coffee? Or should I bother to ask?

Kait grabs a cup and rattles it against the saucer.

KAIT There’s too much blood in my coffee stream.

DAVID Going to join us on your break, Jessie?

JESSIE Already had my break, I’m gone in three hours.

KAIT You’ll be gone and we’ll be here, missing you.

JESSIE (leaning in close) You’ll be back tomorrow.

Jessie leaves. Kait watches her. David studies Kait.

DAVID ‘Member that woman I introduced you to?

KAIT Which one?

16.

CONTINUED:

DAVID Rudeness! Ellen, at Rocky?

KAIT So she didn’t take to Greg the Creep?

DAVID It was a one time thing. She called me the next day and I didn’t get home for three days. She told me she’d never been multiple orgasmic before me. I’d always thought that that was a myth women made up to make guys feel jealous.

KAIT Oh, too much information.

Kait leans closer and kisses David on the cheek.

DAVID Why don’t I call Ellen and see if we can go over. I want you to like her.

KAIT So you keep saying.

DAVID You were really rude when I introduced you at Rocky Horror, but she’s still willing to meet you. Maybe she can join the gaming group?

KAIT It’s kinda full right now.

DAVID We’ll ask Don. And Kait, Ellen’s gonna make my genetically programmed sexual fantasy come true.

KAIT Genetically programmed sex fantasy? The one where you get to have someone?

17.

CONTINUED:

DAVID No, the one where I get to have two someones. Ellen’s bisexual. She says all writers should be.

KAIT Yeah, well, I’m a writer and I’m not bisexual; and I fail to see the connection.

DAVID So, let’s go to her place and she can explain it.

KAIT First, it’s midnight. Second, what about Brad and Gabriella?

DAVID They’ll manage, besides Ellen’s up all night.

EXT. ELLEN’S HOUSE – NIGHT.

STRAINS OF MUSIC can be heard. David KNOCKS.

As Ellen opens the door, the MUSIC volume increases.

David steps in and hugs Ellen. She returns the embrace, looking over David’s shoulder at Kait in the doorway.

Ellen is surprised at Kait’s presence, and scopes her out.

The front room is crammed with garbage bags, coats, and gardening tools.

Kait lingers uncomfortably in the doorway, embarrassed by her rudeness from their previous meeting.

ELLEN Come in.

ELLEN’S FRONT ROOM

They enter, David heads down the short hall. Kait waits for Ellen to close the door. Ellen smiles.

ELLEN (cont’d) It’s a bit messy, I wasn’t expecting company.

18.

CONTINUED:

KAIT Us vampires tend to keep weird hours.

ELLEN You too?

Ellen walks past Kait down the hall. Kait follows.

ELLEN’S KITCHEN

The MUSIC VOLUME INCREASES as they approach the living room. The kitchen is small and cluttered: unopened mail, coffee filters, hair dye package, and a black lace bra vie for counter space with a few days worth of haphazardly stacked dishes.

ELLEN Coffee?

KAIT We just came from a six hour Bino’s binge.

ELLEN Why would anyone sit in Bino’s for six hours?

DAVID Me ‘n’ Kait do it all the time to talk and try to pick up waitresses.

ELLEN Both of you?

KAIT We both sit there, he tries to pick up the waitresses. Oh, and build temples to honour the Coffee Goddess.

David leans in and kisses Ellen.

ELLEN Coffee Goddess? Is that a new geek ritual?

DAVID You must build temples to Caffina or else she makes your coffee cold.

19.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN Well, go sit in the living room and I’ll bring hot coffee. How do you take it?

KAIT Black.

Kait leaves the kitchen. David lingers in the kitchen with Ellen.

ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM

The bookcase overflows with hardcovers (fantasy novels, 30′s & 40′s film books) and sci fi paperbacks. Dragon figurines adorn a dresser.

A black and white poster of Errol Flynn hangs on a wall, and there is a birdcage with two lovebirds, a tank of goldfish and a caged hamster. On a desk by the only window is a typewriter and blank paper.

Kait makes a face at the record spinning on the stereo. She continues towards the couch, pausing at the desk. Kait looks at the page half ejected from the typewriter.

Ellen and David enter.

ELLEN David says that you write.

Ellen hands Kait a coffee cup. Kait glances into the cup. The coffee has cream in it. Ellen turns the stereo down.

KAIT Poetry mostly, rather, mostly bad poetry.

Kait sips coffee. Ellen sits at the typewriter. David sits on the floor, his back against Ellen’s legs.

KAIT (cont’d) God, you could melt a spoon in this coffee.

ELLEN I like coffee that bites back.

David pretends to bite Ellen’s leg. Playfully, she swats him.

20.

CONTINUED:

KAIT Lately I’ve only been writing for courses, I’m an English major at Simon Fraser University.

ELLEN Would you read my novel? It’s been a long time since I’ve met anyone else who seriously writes.

KAIT

(flattered) Sure. How long have you been writing?

Ellen picks up the manuscript.

ELLEN Can’t remember when I wasn’t working on this book.

Kait stands and takes the pages; their fingertips touch.

KAIT How come you’ve never finished it?

Kait sits back on the couch.

ELLEN Well, I get 95 percent done and something happens or I start to hate it so I begin a new version.

David gets up on his knees, facing Ellen, and leans in to kiss her. She blocks his attempt by raising her hand, and leans back in the chair. David sits back down, sulking.

DAVID (to himself) Fine.

KAIT What do you mean ‘something happens?’

ELLEN I’ve had a few destroyed by ex- boyfriends who couldn’t cope with being second to my writing.

21.

CONTINUED:

David uncomfortably squirms at Ellen’s statement. Ellen’s stopping David’s kiss suddenly registers on Kait, she runs her fingers through her hair. Kait focuses too intently on the pages.

ELLEN (cont’d) (intimately) Read it out loud, Kait.

David stands.

DAVID I need more coffee, Ellen.

David waits for Ellen to offer to get it. When she doesn’t, he exits.

Ellen looks over her shoulder, then at Kait. Kait shrugs.

KAIT I’ll wait for David to come back. I’ve never met anyone with this many pets.

ELLEN They’re not the pets, I am.

Kait laughs, places her cup down, and arranges the pages.

KAIT You’re really different, Ellen.

David re-enters.

DAVID (re-seating against

Ellen’s legs) I told you that you’d like Ellen, Kait.

KAIT Yeah, well, you assume I listen to you.

ELLEN (making a face at David) Why would anyone listen to him?

22.

CONTINUED:

KAIT Beyond me. I only do when we’re playing Dungeons and Dragons, otherwise, he tries to kill my character.

ELLEN I love playing D&D! Could I join your campaign? I have a seventh level thief/fifth level magic user.

DAVID That’d be great…

KAIT We’ll have to ask Don, the Dungeon Master. He thinks that five players is optimum and we do have a full party.

DAVID But I’m sure Don wouldn’t mind.

Kait looks at David, then back to Ellen.

KAIT Did David tell you about the first campaign that we played?

Ellen moves to the couch, sitting sideways facing Kait.

KAIT (cont’d) My sixth level fighter killed his fifteenth level magic user.

ELLEN No, how? He makes his characters so invincible.

David glares at Kait, then sits on the other side of Ellen. He pulls her back against himself, she disentangles herself and sits forward as Kait talks.

KAIT I rolled a one for my attack roll.

ELLEN No, wait, I thought ones are a critical miss.

David moves to the hamster cage, seething.

23.

CONTINUED:

KAIT They are, I was aiming at a goblin chieftain. I threw my sword and Charlie, the Dungeon Master for that campaign, rolled to see what happened to it, if it hits a wall and breaks or…

DAVID It hits my character.

Neither Kait nor Ellen look at David.

KAIT David’s wizard is in the middle of a spell and my sword flies right through his chest. The metal reacts with the spell energy and blam! Wizard nuggets all over the cavern.

Ellen and Kait laugh. David slouches lower on the floor.

DAVID Well, Freddie didn’t think it was funny.

ELLEN Freddie’s a furry poop factory. Kait, more coffee?

KAIT Um, sure.

Ellen places her hand over Kait’s, then takes her cup. Ellen exits. David looks at Kait.

DAVID I need more coffee, too.

David gets up and exits to the kitchen.

ELLEN’S KITCHEN

Ellen is making coffee. David embraces her from behind. She flinches a moment, and then slowly relaxes into the embrace.

DAVID

(kissing Ellen’s throat) How about sending Kait home and having fun?

24.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN I like her. Mmmm. I like that too. But right now, I am meeting your friend. You brought her over here. Another night. Next week.

DAVID (leering) Maybe I can convince you otherwise?

Ellen pushes David firmly away from herself.

ELLEN No, I have company. Besides, she’s your ride home and it’s not nice to ask your friends to wait in their car while you get laid.

David steps back, confused by this turnabout.

DAVID Well, I sorta thought I’d stay the night.

ELLEN You thought wrong. Kait’s nice, I’d like to talk to her, besides, we’ll see each other all the time, it’s not often I get to meet friends of the people I fuck. This might be my only chance to meet her.

DAVID I’ll let her wave at you the next time I get her to drop me off at your place.

David sulks back to the living room.

EXT. ELLEN’S FRONT ROOM – NIGHT – NEXT WEEK.

Ellen stands to one side as Kait enters. Kait smiles shyly, and offers Ellen a box of chocolates.

KAIT I guess I should have called first, sorry.

ELLEN It’s okay, come in. I love having company.

25.

CONTINUED:

Ellen peeks around the corner.

ELLEN (cont’d) Is David coming?

Ellen does not step back, so Kait steps sideways into the house.

KAIT No. I, uh, mean I haven’t seen him.

ELLEN That’s okay, I’ll make some fresh coffee and you can read my new pages to me, if you’d like.

Ellen locks the door then exits to the kitchen. Kait follows.

ELLEN’S KITCHEN

The kitchen mess has shifted, but not lessened. Ellen puts the kettle on the stove and turns the burner on.

KAIT I’ve been writing, too. I’d, uh, really like your opinion…

Ellen takes the coffee from the fridge and pours five heaping scoops of coffee into a filter.

ELLEN Sure, coffee’ll be ready in a minute, go sit.

Kait exits to the living room. Ellen glances at the dishes, and, shrugging, pulls two mugs from the stack and rinses them out.

ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM

The living room has laundry, books, and papers, over- spilling. The blank stack of paper is slightly lower. There is a portrait of an androgynous person on the wall. Kait does not notice it.

ELLEN (O.S.) You take your coffee with milk, right?

Kait sits at an end of the couch.

26.

CONTINUED:

KAIT (Nervously organises her pages) Yes.

Ellen enters with two mugs.

ELLEN Here, you can have the clean mug.

KAIT (taking the coffee) Thank you.

ELLEN By the way, I liked the way you read my story the other night.

Ellen sits in the middle of the couch, facing Kait.

KAIT Umm thanks. A lot of my classes require reading aloud.

Kait shifts uncomfortably away and sips her coffee a little too quickly.

ELLEN It helps to have someone else read, you know if it sounds right. Let’s see your pages. What are you taking in school?

Ellen takes the pages, her fingers touching Kait’s.

KAIT Right now, literature studies and creative writing classes. I want to be a writer.

ELLEN So what are you working on now? Pass the ashtray?

Kait gets the small glass ashtray from the end table and places it on the back of the couch within Ellen’s reach.

KAIT Outside of classes? Just this story.

(MORE)

27.

CONTINUED: KAIT (cont’d)

I haven’t written anything that

wasn’t for a class since high

school. Not enough time, I suppose,

or inspiration.

ELLEN

(lights a cigarette)

Want one? Y’know, Kait, if you’re

going to be a writer, you have to

write. And to do that, you have to

live. Experience as much as you

can, and that does not mean sitting

in some airless classroom with a

blowhard droning on and on about

dead white European men.

Kait looks hard at the extended pack of cigarettes and nods. Ellen lights a second cigarette, then passes it to Kait.

ELLEN (cont’d) Ready?

Kait takes a shallow drag on the cigarette, nods and suppresses her coughing fit. Ellen skims for a moment, turning the pages, a paragraph catches her eye.

ELLEN (cont’d)

I turn to look at her, my emotions

torn between passion and loyalty.

Rachel kisses me, and I am lost.

She pulls my shirt off, her tongue

circling my left nipple. Her eyes

plead longingly with mine. I

consent, closing my eyes. Her

tongue leaves my nipple and slowly

slides lower down my body…

Ellen takes a long drag on her cigarette.

ELLEN (cont’d)

Mmm, makes me want to have a

girlfriend again.

Ellen stares at Kait. Kait sips her coffee too intently.

ELLEN (cont’d)

So, are you writing from

experience, Kait?

KAIT

No. I’ve only, ah, once, this guy

that, uh, I know.

28.

CONTINUED:

Kait runs her hand through her hair and looks everywhere but at Ellen. Kait notices the drawing.

KAIT (cont’d) The story began as a man and woman, but you know how characters know more about themselves?

ELLEN Uh huh. And sometimes about you?

Kait bites her lower lip, and goes over to the drawing.

KAIT This is new.

ELLEN Yes. A friend of mine did it for me.

KAIT It’s very compelling, especially the eyes.

Ellen gets off of the couch and stands very close behind Kait.

ELLEN Do you want me to tell you male or female?

KAIT I’d rather decide for myself, besides, it adds to the drawing’s mystique, not knowing.

Ellen kisses Kait on the back of the neck. Kait turns, in shock.

KAIT (cont’d) Why did you do that?

ELLEN Isn’t that what you’re really here for, Kait? David must have told you I’m bi.

Ellen runs her hand through Kait’s hair. Kait steps to the wall.

29.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN (cont’d) I won’t make you do anything, Kait, but I think you want to. Search your feelings.

KAIT Isn’t that what Darth Vader said to Luke when he told him that he was his father?

Ellen backs away almost as if she’d been hit.

ELLEN You and David really are geeks.

Ellen goes back to the couch. Kait slumps against the wall.

ELLEN (cont’d) Why did you come here if it wasn’t for sex?

KAIT I’d like to be friends with you, I don’t know a lot of other people who write to be published. I think you’re different. You’re dating by best friend. I’m not sure, I just felt drawn.

ELLEN Correction, I’m fucking your best friend, not dating him. It’s about getting laid. Nothing else.

Kait returns to the couch.

KAIT But, David said…

ELLEN David doesn’t own me, I see who I want when I want and how I want. He’s not even the only man I’m fucking right now.

KAIT Does David know?

ELLEN I just said, David doesn’t own me. I never agreed to be monogamous with him.

30.

CONTINUED:

Kait sits back, considering Ellen’s words.

ELLEN (cont’d) Besides, I’ve never slept with a virgin before.

KAIT I’ve had sex…once…with a..man.

ELLEN Did you like it?

KAIT

(her need to talk overcomes her nervousness)

It felt like what was happening was happening to someone else. Weird, huh?

ELLEN No, but I do think you’re a lesbian.

KAIT What?

ELLEN It’s in the eyes. Lesbians have a certain independent fire, a defiance that straight women lack, even the feminist ones. Sometimes you can just tell by looking at a person, even if they don’t know themselves. It’s called gaydar.

KAIT

(excitedly) I never put words to those feelings. Ellen, I think, I mean, I…I’m attracted to you. And I don’t know what to do about it.

Ellen kisses Kait. Kait enthusiastically returns the kiss. Ellen removes Kait’s top and slips her bra strap off her shoulders.

ELLEN Besides, only lesbians keep processing feelings after the agreement to have sex has been made.

31.

CONTINUED:

Kait blushes. She and Ellen lock eyes for an intense moment, Kait reaches behind herself to undo her bra hooks.

ELLEN (cont’d) No, I want to, it’s been awhile since I took off someone else’s bra.

They kiss again. Ellen removes Kait’s bra. She lays back on the couch, pulling Kait on top of her. Kait opens Ellen’s robe and kisses her breasts.

ELLEN (cont’d) What did you do for excitement before you met me?

KAIT (kissing Ellen’s breasts) There was nothing before you.

ELLEN (smiles) That feels good, but do it lower.

Kait stops and looks at Ellen. Ellen places her hands on the sides of Kait’s face and pulls her to her. She kisses Kait softly.

ELLEN (cont’d) I forgot, you’ve never done this before, we’ll go slower.

INT. ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM (2 DAYS LATER) – NIGHT.

Kait is reading to Ellen. Kait gestures with her hand, knocking both the ashtray and Ellen’s coffee cup behind the couch. Kait is mortified. Ellen laughs.

INT. ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM (THE NEXT NIGHT) – NIGHT.

Ellen is on the floor sorting pages. Kait enters with an arm load of take out containers and two forks. Kait sits, barely managing to not spill the containers.

INT. ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM (FOUR NIGHTS LATER)- NIGHT.

Kait and Ellen are necking on the couch.

32.

INT. ELLEN’S KITCHEN (THREE NIGHTS LATER) – NIGHT.

Ellen pulls two crystal goblets from her cupboard. Kait opens the refrigerator and takes a jug of pink lemonade and a bottle of vodka out.

INT. ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM (TWO NIGHTS LATER) – NIGHT.

Kait and Ellen are “spooning” on the couch.

KAIT So, how many girlfriends have you had?

ELLEN Relationships or one night stands?

KAIT You’re terrible.

MUSIC fades out. Kait closes her eyes and breathes the scent of Ellen’s hair.

ELLEN No, I’ve just had terrible things done to me. I like the way you breathe in my ear.

KAIT What do you mean?

ELLEN I mean don’t stop breathing in my ear. I’m one of those statistics; absentee father, alcoholic mother, abusive brother, a string of abusive relationships, mostly with men. But I’m all better, now.

Ellen slides Kait’s hand onto her breast.

KAIT Oh, god! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…

Ellen turns and kisses Kait, pressing her against the couch.

ELLEN Shit happens. I’ve just had a lot happen to me.

33.

CONTINUED:

KAIT Do you want to talk? Maybe it would help.

ELLEN (angry, moves away from

Kait) Help what? Forget? Make years of bullshit disappear? Kait, you’re my friend, not my fucking therapist. Like therapists have ever done me any good. Don’t worry about me, I’m a survivor. I know how to take care of myself. I’m a battle scarred pit bull and you’re the puppy.

KAIT

(deeply shocked) I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that you can’t take care of yourself, it’s just…

ELLEN Kait, you’re very nice. Too nice.

KAIT I don’t know what to say, I like you a lot…

ELLEN

(smiling) I know, things were getting too cozy tonight and I don’t want to get seriously involved. With anyone.

Kait gets off the couch and stands near Ellen, but not touching.

ELLEN (cont’d)

(apologetic) Look, I’m sorry about yelling. I’m a little stressed lately. I’m almost finished my book, and I’ve got to do some writing tonight.

(trying to be reassuring) It’s okay, you can come back, I’m going to be here.

34.

INT. BINO’S RESTAURANT – NIGHT.

David is entrenched in the regular booth. Kait approaches. There is a small creamer temple and a tall empties tower.

DAVID Well, stranger. Where’ve you been?

Kait slides guiltily into the booth. Slowly she flips her cup.

KAIT How’ve ya been, David?

DAVID Horny. I haven’t seen Ellen for two weeks. You’re usually there doing writing stuff or her mother is over there. I never took Ellen for an apron string kinda girl. She seemed so independent.

Kait looks into her empty coffee cup.

KAIT I need coffee.

Kait looks around for a waitress, and, seeing none, gets out of the booth and picks up the pot of coffee at the waitress station. She brings the coffee to the booth and fills her cup and tops off David’s coffee. An OLDER WAITRESS sees Kait pouring her own and comes over to their booth. The waitress takes the coffee pot away from Kait.

WAITRESS You’re not supposed to pour your own coffee.

KAIT If you’d paid attention, I wouldn’t have had to.

WAITRESS I can’t just wait around to pour coffee.

Kait pours a creamer into her coffee and sits down in the booth.

35.

CONTINUED:

KAIT You’re a waitress, the operative word being ‘wait.’

The waitress leaves. David stares at Kait.

DAVID Since when do you drink coffee with cream?

KAIT At Ellen’s, she, uh keeps serving it with milk, and I just switched. Ugh! This is weak.

DAVID It’s the same as it always is. That carburettor cleaner Ellen pretends is coffee needs milk in it just so you can choke it down. You didn’t have to be that rude to the waitress.

KAIT I’m under a lot of pressure lately.

DAVID I know I told you I wanted you to like Ellen, but, I’m your best friend, you’re supposed to hang out with me, not my girlfriend.

KAIT David, I…

DAVID What?

KAIT I don’t know how to tell you. I know what was missing from my sexual encounter, with….

DAVID Kait, slow down. Take a breath. I have no idea what you’re talking about.

KAIT Sex. What I need, who I need, want, I mean.

(MORE)

36.

CONTINUED:

KAIT (cont’d) A revelation, and awakening. Everything makes sense to me now.

DAVID You met a guy? Where? Who? Anyone I know?

KAIT The person I want to be with is a woman.

David looks around.

DAVID Maybe this isn’t the best place to talk about this.

KAIT Why?

DAVID Because we spend a lot of time here, and I don’t think that you want your ..uh …this to be known.

KAIT What the hell is that supposed to mean?

David waves his hands at Kait to get her to quiet down. He leans forward in the booth.

DAVID I just mean have you thought this through? Have you told anyone else? We should go to Stanley Park so we can have some privacy. This is a walk and talk.

Kait stares into her coffee cup.

David slides out of the booth, extends his hand to Kait. She takes it, stands and they exit.

Kait stares at her feet as they leave, David carefully looks around the restaurant.

EXT. STANLEY PARK SEAWALL – LATE AFTERNOON.

An ELDERLY COUPLE are seated on a bench. Kait and David approach, David has his arm around Kait’s shoulders.

37.

CONTINUED:

The elderly couple hold hands and smile as Kait & David walk past them to sit on the next bench.

DAVID I know why I like women.

KAIT My reasons aren’t that different.

DAVID Oh, pluh-eze, Kait. You’re been heterosexual for twenty one years, you’ve slept with one guy and didn’t enjoy it.

The elderly couple get up and walk in the other direction.

DAVID (cont’d) What? For, a week, two weeks, you’re a lesbian? Pretty drastic. I thought you said you were confident in your sexuality.

KAIT (stands up and moves a

little away) So, I mistook confidence for unquestioning. We’re socialized to believe that everyone’s heterosexual, I never thought about it. All the signs that were there, I didn’t recognize them.

David bends down and scoops up some rocks

DAVID What signs?

KAIT I was a tomboy, I had crushes on all of my women teachers all through school. I faked crushes on boys my friends liked. At slumber parties, don’t laugh.

DAVID Laugh at what?

Kait sits down again. David throws a rock.

KAIT It was never my idea, okay?

38.

CONTINUED:

DAVID What wasn’t?

KAIT

We’d practice kissing, only.. it

felt…

DAVID Practised kissing?

KAIT We’d take turns being the boy.

DAVID I’ve never heard anything so silly.

David slips his arm around Kait’s shoulder.

DAVID (cont’d)

I guess this explains why all your

D&D characters are gay. I mean,

most people play the type of

character that they wish they could

be, but sexual orientation isn’t

really covered in the manual.

KAIT

I’m surprised it isn’t, it’s yet

another table to roll on! Table

2035, roll a ten sided die. If you

roll one to nine you’re straight,

if you roll ten, roll under table

2035a. On a four sided die, any

even roll you’re bisexual, roll one

you’re gay, roll three, you’re

transgendered.

DAVID

Hey, cheer up, we can really double

date now. Hey, maybe you, me and

Ellen could, umm. . .

(slaps Kait on the back)

Y’know, Get you some experience

before you get your honey.

Kait runs her hand nervously through her hair.

KAIT Um, no. I…

Kait looks defeated, stands and moves to the water. She scoops up bits of driftwood and sits on a log. David follows.

39.

CONTINUED:

DAVID What? Did I say something wrong?

KAIT (tossing bits of

driftwood) My younger sister was in love with this guy this week, another the next. I went to one school dance. Yearbook photographer. I shot one roll of film in 20 minutes and went home.

David sits beside Kait, cautiously slides an arm around her.

DAVID You never told me that before, and I’m not sure why you’re telling me now, either.

KAIT I didn’t know that I was missing out on anything. My plans never included dating, getting married. I wanted, want, a writing career. I thought that if I ever decided to have kids I’d adopt a ten year old, old enough to dust, y’know.

Kait removes her shoes and socks, one foot at a time, then rolls the socks, placing them in their shoes. Evenly rolling her pant legs, Kait stares at her shoes, then pulls out the socks, unrolls them, and drops them beside the shoes. Kait walks to the water.

DAVID It’s going to be cold.

Kait walks into the water.

DAVID (cont’d) Well, I’m glad you met someone who’s made you give up your plans of not getting involved, because that’s what was sick. Who is she?

KAIT I didn’t ever want you to get hurt, David.

David stands and enters the water, grabbing Kait roughly and spinning her around. Kait limply lets David shake her.

40.

CONTINUED:

DAVID (yelling, shocked) Ellen’s my girlfriend! Mine!

Kait breaks David’s hold. Kait walks forward, forcing David backwards out of the water.

KAIT

(yelling, defensive) I didn’t mean for it to happen, David! I never wanted to fall in love with anyone.

David stops moving. He walks forward, forcing Kait backwards.

DAVID You can’t! I love Ellen! She’s meeting my parents tomorrow night. You didn’t even want to meet her!

KAIT Feelings change!

David stops walking.

DAVID She’s my girlfriend, Kait.

Kait forces David backwards.

KAIT But you weren’t interested in her, she was just a prize to you! You said she was something for you to steal from Greg the Creep! You said as much yourself, David. Be honest.

David stands firmly at the water line, Kait is trapped in the water.

DAVID You’re infatuated. She’s not a prize to me now.

KAIT (running her hand through her hair) No, I’m not. (MORE)

41.

CONTINUED:

KAIT (cont’d) I feel like…Like the world was black and white and, when Ellen came into my life, she flipped a switch and suddenly the world was colour. I never knew what I was missing.

DAVID (stepping backwards) It’s called infatuation.

KAIT

(moving forward) I can see beauty in flowers, and I never gave a flying fuck for flowers before! Haven’t you heard anything that I’ve told you?

DAVID (stopping) Are you going to sleep with her?

KAIT

I. . .It’s not about that. She makes me feel so alive. I never knew I could feel happy like this.

DAVID

(advances) My girlfriend. Not yours or ours, but mine.

KAIT

(retreats) I know that! You don’t have to keep saying that! I’m sorry, David. I don’t want to hurt you, so I have to stop seeing Ellen.

(advances) Except I can’t stop seeing Ellen, because that will hurt me. I don’t know what to do anymore!

Kait stops and drops to her knees in the surf, crying.

DAVID (unsure) You’ll do the right thing, Kait.

He looks around, then slowly approaches her, kneels, and drapes an arm around her. Kait leans against him, crying softly. David holds Kait tightly against his chest. Helplessly, he looks out over the water.

42.

CONTINUED:

DAVID (cont’d) You’ll do what’s best for everybody.

INT. ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM – DAY.

The living room is tidy. Dresser drawers are closed, knickknacks are still ever-present, a new porcelain dragon dominates the dresser.

Kait, with a new and very short haircut, is drinking coffee. Ellen enters.

ELLEN Thanks for taking me shopping. It’s so much easier to get things done with a car. I really should learn how to drive.

KAIT I’ll take you anytime you want. I mean, I like shopping with you.

ELLEN Can you stay for dinner? It’s the least I can do for buying me that beautiful dragon.

KAIT You’re welcome. I’ll help with dinner. What should I do first?

ELLEN How about the dishes?

KAIT Oh, I guess I could.

Ellen playfully hits Kait, Kait grabs her and presses her down on the couch.

Kait hovers over Ellen for a long moment, then slowly lowers her lips to Ellen’s.

Ellen waits, then turns her face away at the last moment. Kait kisses the couch cushion. Kait sits up.

KAIT (cont’d) Well, I guess I’d better do the dishes if you’re gonna make dinner.

43.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN Do you want a kiss?

KAIT Yes.

Ellen motions for Kait to sit beside her. Kait sits. Ellen slides her leg between Kait’s.

Kait swallows, hard. Ellen runs her fingers through Kait’s newly shorn locks.

ELLEN I like it, it makes you look butch.

KAIT It makes me look what?

Ellen presses her lips against Kait’s lips. Kait pulls Ellen close.

Ellen pulls away, then rolls off of Kait, sitting beside her.

ELLEN Butch, I just love domesticated butches.

Kait rises and exits.

Ellen sits back against the couch, and looks at the new dragon. She smiles, very pleased with herself.

The sound of WATER RUNNING and DISHES CLATTERING are heard from the kitchen.

INT. ELLEN’S KITCHEN – 2 NIGHTS LATER Music STARTS PLAYING playing. Kait is washing dishes. A goblet of pink lemonade and vodka sits nearby. Ellen leans in the doorway between the kitchen and living

room with a goblet and a red rose. KAIT Ellen, when did you first, I mean, how did you know you liked women?

44.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN There’s no difference in a relationship with a man than there is with a woman, it all comes down to the same bullshit power games.

Kait pauses her dish washing, and turns to face Ellen.

KAIT That’s not what I meant.

ELLEN I know.

KAIT I’m sorry, is it too personal?

ELLEN From most people, I’d answer yes, but I feel. . . comfortable with you, Kait. Sheila and I were having full contact sex by the time we were fourteen. We figured that we were smarter than everyone and that no one would ever know. It was our downfall.

KAIT How did it end?

ELLEN Like all relationships. Badly. Her mom found out and they moved. She never wrote to me. At least I never got any letters. I’d rather blame her mother.

Ellen lays the rose down, then quietly steps beside Kait. Sliding her arms around Kait, Ellen kisses her on the back of the neck.

ELLEN (cont’d) I have some new pages, when you finish the dishes, I’ll let you read them to me.

KAIT Gosh, do I get to make the coffee too?

45.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN Only if you’re good. And if you’re really good, I’ll let you make love to me again.

Kait washes the dishes in greater earnest.

Ellen moves towards the living room, pausing to pick up her rose and goblet. She turns in the doorway for a moment and looks at Kait.

Kait runs a wet hand through her hair, then realizing that she’s wrecked her hair, looks around for a dish towel. She looks in Ellen’s direction, but Ellen has exited to the living room.

INT. KAIT’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT.

The living room is tidy. A lamp in the corner is on. The coffee table is still strewn with D&D paraphernalia. Kait’s notebook is beside a computer on a desk in the corner. Each page has a diagonal red line through them. The door unlocks.

David and Don enter. David turns on the lights. The answering machine light is blinking.

DON Why do you have a key to Kait’s?

DAVID Cause I’m Kait’s best friend.

David pokes around the D&D stuff, then notices her notepad. He flips through the pages.

DAVID (cont’d) Looks like Kait’s writing a les…novel. Do you know how to use a computer, Don?

DON Of course I do, when I’m not being a science fiction dweeb, I dabble as a compugeek. If Kait has passwords, it’ll take a couple of minutes to crack them, unless you a know a word she’s likely to use.

DAVID Nevermind then.

46.

CONTINUED:

David presses the play button on the answering machine.

DON You shouldn’t….

DAVID Kait hasn’t been talking to me much lately, and I want to find out what’s up. It’s lower tech than her computer, of course, but, in a pinch, sometimes that’s a bit more direct.

DON If you played thieves instead of fighter-magic users, I’d probably give you extra experience points for this.

ANSWERING MACHINE BEEP: Kait, it’s Mom. Don’t forget about dinner on Sunday. Call if you can’t make it, bye Sweetie. BEEP: Hey Kait! It’s Don. You gaming this week or what? I need to know if we’re playing at your place. Call me call me call me!!! BEEP: (Ellen) Kait, I’ve got more pages you can read to me, and pick up some coffee, I’m out. Can you get that flavoured one again?

DON Do I really sound like that?

DAVID Can you drop me off, Don? I’m going to Ellen’s. I’m sick of all this sneaking around.

DON Does this mean we aren’t going to the arcade?

DAVID You have a wonderful grasp of the obvious.

47.

INT. ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM – LATER NIGHT. Ellen is sitting against Kait; their dinner plates on the floor. The MUSIC TAPE ENDS. ELLEN One of us should get up and flip the tape. Kait smiles and kisses Ellen’s temple. ELLEN (cont’d) Maybe one of us could make coffee while one of us is up flipping the tape.

KAIT Your bitch is my command. Ellen sits up and twists around to face Kait.

ELLEN My what? KAIT (teasingly) You heard me. Kait leans forward quickly and tickles Ellen. ELLEN

Stop! Stop it! Unnoticed, David peers into the window. Kait tickles and kisses Ellen. David disappears. Ellen kisses Kait and mock flails at her. A KNOCK. They freeze.

KAIT Where you expecting someone?

ELLEN No, people just drop by, I keep telling them to phone first. It’s annoying. Kiss me quick, Kait!

Kait kisses Ellen, then Ellen goes to answer the door.

48.

CONTINUED:

Kait walks to the stereo, flips the tape, then moves to the typewriter and stares at Ellen’s manuscript.

DAVID (O.S.) I was in the neighbourhood, I thought I’d drop in.

ELLEN (O.S.) Oh, sure, come in David. Kait and I were just. . .

Kait picks up the manuscript, then sits on the couch and arranges the pages as if she and Ellen had been reading them.

David enters confrontationally. Ellen enters.

Kait picks up a goblet and drinks.

ELLEN (cont’d) That one is mine.

KAIT Sorry.

Kait places the goblet on the floor.

DAVID So, new haircut, Kait?

KAIT (holding the pages as a

shield) The haircut is almost two weeks old, David.

DAVID Missed you at the last couple of socials, people have been asking about you, Kait. I’ve told them you’re working on term papers.

KAIT (reshuffles the manuscript

pages) Well, that’s sort of true. I’ve been helping Ellen edit her manuscript for a competition.

David places the books on Ellen’s stereo cabinet.

49.

CONTINUED:

DAVID I haven’t heard any of Ellen’s new pages for a while, so I’ll join you. Kait can read for the technical writing angles, and I can read for the emotional impact and storyline.

Kait and Ellen exchange guilty glances. David becomes combative.

ELLEN Ummm.

KAIT You don’t have the patience for more than twenty pages, David, and we’ve hit a pretty good stride. Besides, you haven’t heard any pages in awhile, you’re too far behind, and backtracking at this point…

DAVID So I supposed you’d rather not catch me up on the story and stay in stride, huh?

KAIT The three of us can do something another night. Something we all enjoy.

DAVID Well, we could play Dungeons & Dragons. We all enjoy that. Give me a minute and I’ll…

KAIT Ellen and I are writing.

DAVID

(to Ellen) Yeah, well, I have a lot of friends who would be happy to include me, so I’ll just go see one.

David stomps out angrily. Ellen follows.

Kait picks up the goblet again and drains it, then follows.

50.

FRONT ROOM

David opens the door and Ellen grabs him. He turns to face her.

ELLEN Don’t leave mad.

DAVID How am I supposed to leave? You’re in there with my best friend, who, I might add, has a big crush on you; and you’re making me leave? Just whose girlfriend are you?

David crosses his arms. Ellen backs away.

ELLEN You don’t own me David. Nobody owns me or controls who I spend my time with. Kait is just a friend. Kait is helping me edit my manuscript for a competition. I won’t need her here after the deadline. You wanted me to be friends with her.

DAVID How am I supposed to compete?

ELLEN I’m not a prize. There is no competition here. I’m dating you and she’s helping me with my book.

Ellen snuggles up to David. He stiffens, then slides his arms around her. They kiss.

ELLEN (cont’d) Come back tomorrow night, okay, with strawberries?

DAVID And whipped cream?

ELLEN Okay. Nine? You won’t be sorry.

Ellen nods. David leaves. Ellen closes and bolts the door. She leans against it, eyes closed. She exhales loudly.

51.

ELLEN’S KITCHEN

Kait, after eavesdropping, creeps back to the living room.

ELLEN’S LIVING ROOM

Kait places the manuscript pages back. Ellen enters and plunks down on the couch.

KAIT Maybe I should go after him.

ELLEN Why? You’ll see him later.

KAIT I think I really hurt his feelings. David is used to us hanging out all the time. . .

ELLEN Kait, you’ve got more important things to do than drink coffee in coffee shops.

Ellen snuggles up to Kait. Kait does not move away, but she stares stonily at the manuscript.

ELLEN (cont’d) Look, what we get up to isn’t anyone’s business but ours. No one needs to know. Look, no one controls me anymore. Maybe you should go after David.

KAIT What? I’m not trying to control you, I’m just trying to make sure no one gets hurt.

ELLEN David and I aren’t dating. You and I aren’t dating. Craig and I aren’t dating. It’s all just friends. No one gets hurt.

KAIT Who is Craig?

52.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN The married man I see once in a while. I told you that David wasn’t the only guy I was seeing.

KAIT Oh. I’m thinking of telling my parents I’m a lesbian.

ELLEN Why?

KAIT Because they keep asking me what I’m doing. I’d like to be able to introduce…someone to them. If I tell them now, then when I introduce them to a woman it won’t be that big a shock. It’ll be easier on everyone. Besides, I’m close with my parents and I don’t like this having to hide something as important as being a lesbian.

ELLEN Well, if you’re that sure, then there’s some books you can get to help them and you. A good one for parents is called, “Now that you know”. Little Sister’s carries it.

KAIT What’s Little Sister’s?

ELLEN A gay and lesbian bookstore, it’s on Davie Street. The West End of Vancouver is gay central.

KAIT I didn’t know there was a gay area of town. Did you give your mom that book when you told her you’re bisexual?

ELLEN I never told her. She wouldn’t understand.

KAIT Why not?

53.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN Most parents, you might find this hard to believe, don’t want their kids to be gay.

KAIT I know that being gay isn’t socially approved of, but when it’s your own kid. . .

ELLEN Why should a fag or dyke be any more acceptable because it’s your own kid. Almost all of my gay friends were kicked out of their families.

KAIT I can’t believe parents can be like that.

ELLEN That’s cause you come from a nice family. At least until you tell your parents. They might not be so nice.

KAIT You don’t even know my parents.

Ellen softens a bit.

ELLEN Look, I don’t want to fight with you. I just think that you should hold off telling your parents. Besides, it’s not any of their business. Anyone’s business, really.

KAIT I want my parents to be a part of my life, that includes knowing who I’m dating. And having that person come to my families’ functions, Christmas, like that.

ELLEN Well, it’s been my experience that even nice parents aren’t so nice when they find out that their child is queer.

(MORE)

54.

CONTINUED:

ELLEN (cont’d) Parent’s don’t like when their kids aren’t what they think is normal. I’ve seen dotting mothers turn vicious on their lesbian daughters. I think you’d have a hard time not having mommy and daddy’s approval.

(a beat) Oh, never mind me. David’s really upset me. I don’t like people showing up hostile. It frightens me. I don’t mean to take it out on you.

Ellen picks up the fuller of the goblets and drains it. Kait smiles, the tension faintly dispersed. They kiss.

ELLEN (cont’d) Stay here tonight. I’m afraid that David might be lingering outside, waiting for you to leave. He might try to come back. I’ve never felt as safe with anyone as I feel with you. Please stay?

Kait reaches over and holds Ellen.

KAIT I’ll always be here for you, Ellen. But I don’t see David doing something like that.

Ellen stiffens for a moment, when Kait does not continue, Ellen relaxes into the embrace.

ELLEN Hard to know what people will do when they’re mad. Hey, why don’t you grab my pages and keep reading? Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted.

Kait blinks a moment, and then mechanically reaches for the pages. They settle back on the couch.

INT. KAIT’S LIVINGROOM – NIGHT.

The room is set up for the Dungeons & Dragons game as in scene one. Don, Brad, Gabriella are on the couch, David and Kait are in chairs.

55.

CONTINUED:

DON

Because we haven’t played in a

while, I’d just like to recap from

my notes. The party’s cleaned out

the orc tribe that was infesting

Cirel’s Citadel, overlooking the

small town of Beeblerville.

Ilsolth, Roeena and Aloe are lodged

at the hotel, while Dolph and Iron

Swilldrinker have spent the night

at Fanny Fucher’s Friction

Funhouse.

BRAD

(giggling, to Gabriella)

Have you ever had a Dungeon Master

name the town brothel before?

GABRIELLA

No, but I’ve had a Dungeon Master

who named his…

DON

A-HEM. To continue, Iron

Swilldrinker is now in the local

infirmary after drinking Fanny’s

perfume, and Dolph returned to the

hotel. Kait, raise your comeliness

points to eighteen for the next

four months of game time. Fanny’s

perfume was enchanted.

DAVID

You mean our party now has a

beautiful fifteen foot tall

alcoholic dwarf?

DON U-huh.