AUSTIN sits next to PEYTON for a minute in silence, then wraps his hands around her neck, but doesn't harm her.
AUSTIN: You called the police, didn't you?
PEYTON's eyes widen.
PEYTON: No! Baby, why would you think that?
AUSTIN: Your phone was sitting next to your bag and the screen was on. I opened your phone up and saw you had dialed triple zero.
PEYTON: I don't know what you're talking about!
AUSTIN tightens his grip on PEYTON's neck and she gasps.
AUSTIN: Bullshit!
PEYTON puts her hand up to AUSTIN's face and strokes his cheek.
PEYTON: Aus, remember, I'm just a woman. I'm weak, and wouldn't have the strength to call the police, let alone speak to them. Come on, lets just get in bed.
PEYTON tries to stand up but AUSTIN pulls her back down by her neck. PEYTON chokes and falls to the ground.
AUSTIN: We're not going anywhere.
PEYTON looks up at him in fear.
Sirens can be heard from offstage.
AUSTIN: You lying bitch!
AUSTIN slaps PEYTON across the face.
PEYTON: Austin! I didn't call them! Some neighbour must've heard the screaming and-
AUSTIN (slowly tightening grip on PEYTON's neck): I know you're lying to me, so just give up.
PEYTON (struggling to breathe): Austin, please, let me go.
PEYTON is about to pass out.
PEYTON (whispers): Please.
AUSTIN gives a sigh of annoyance. He releases PEYTON's neck and throws her to the ground.
PEYTON gasps and puts her hand to her neck.
AUSTIN: Fine. You're lucky I don't want to go to prison.
PEYTON (panting): What's wrong with you?
AUSTIN: What's wrong with me?
AUSTIN walks over to PEYTON and looms over her.
AUSTIN: I didn't want to do this, Peyton.
AUSTIN reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a knife. PEYTON's face turns pale.
PEYTON: Wh- what are you going to do with that?
AUSTIN: I'm sure you can guess. I'll only use it if I think you'll yell for help. Now, no screaming.
AUSTIN puts PEYTON's hands behind her back.
PEYTON: What are you going to do to me?
AUSTIN: Whatever I think up.
AUSTIN proceeds to handcuff PEYTON's hands to the towel rack.
PEYTON: Torture me? Tease me? Use me?
AUSTIN stays quiet.
PEYTON: Just tell me so I can prepare myself!
AUSTIN: All three. Maybe more.
PEYTON begins to sob.
AUSTIN: Remember – scream and you get this.
AUSTIN waves the knife.
PEYTON (looking at the ground): I remember.
AUSTIN kneels in front of PEYTON. He runs the blade of the knife along her cheek. PEYTON winces and turns her head away.
AUSTIN: You're a pretty girl, you know. I would hate it if something happened to this beautiful face of yours. Or your eyes, your nose. Your... lips.
He moves the blade down her neck.
AUSTIN: Or your neck. So many kisses have been planted there. It would be a shame to ruin it.
PEYTON: What are you going to-
AUSTIN puts his finger to her lips.
AUSTIN: Shh. Let me do the talking.
AUSTIN moves the blade down to her chest.
AUSTIN: What if something happened to this beautiful section of skin here?
PEYTON: Austin, just tell me what you're going to do!
AUSTIN: I won't hurt you.
PEYTON tears up.
AUSTIN: Now, stay still.
AUSTIN puts the knife to PEYTON's cheek.
PEYTON: Why can't you just let me go? Why can't we talk about this? I want to fix things with you. I just –
AUSTIN cuts a bit of skin off of PEYTON's right cheek.
PEYTON yells in pain.
AUSTIN: Shut up!
AUSTIN puts the knife to her left cheek.
PEYTON: You get pleasure out of causing me pain, don't you, Austin?
AUSTIN doesn't answer.
PEYTON (raising her voice): Don't you, Austin?
PEYTON (yelling): Don't you? You do! You bloody love seeing me bruised, crying. You're sick! What happened to you? You're not the same man you used to be! You –
AUSTIN cuts PEYTON's left cheek.
PEYTON yells in pain again.
PEYTON: Damn it, Austin! Why do you do this? What's wrong with you?
AUSTIN (calmly): You yelled.
AUSTIN stands up and walks to the sink. He wipes off the knife with a cloth while facing PEYTON.
PEYTON: I yelled at you, not for help.
AUSTIN: You still yelled.
AUSTIN places the knife on the sink. He walks back over to PEYTON.
PEYTON (cocky): What are you going to do?
AUSTIN crouches down in front of PEYTON.
AUSTIN (quietly): Kill you.
PEYTON (unafraid): Your precious knife is sitting on the sink getting cold with no flesh to cut. You have no weapon. What are you going to kill me with?
AUSTIN: My hands.
PEYTON: Yeah? How with your hands?
AUSTIN punches PEYTON multiple times. She gets thrown back and forth from the force of AUSTIN's punches.
AUSTIN (louder): Is this weapon enough for you? Huh, huh?
PEYTON (tiredly): Yes. You can stop now.
AUSTIN (scoffs): You think I'm going to stop? You stupid bitch.
YOU ARE READING
Toxic
Romance**NOT FOR UNDER THE AGE OF 13** Themes: Strong Violence: Strong Langauge: Mild This is a short script about a toxic and very dangerous marriage between Peyton and Austin. Austin is the old-fashioned thinking kind of man; he thinks only men should be...
