EXT. GOLF COURSE - MINUTES LATER
The golf course is a large plot of green in the middle of a desert. It looks like an oasis, complete with palm trees and little sand traps.
Rose emerges from the dark stumbling out onto the grass. The bottle is still in her hand, but is now half empty. She removes the cap and takes another swig.
ROSE
She knew! She forgave me! Who the hell is she?
Beat.
ROSE (CONT'D)What is it with everybody?
CUT TO:
INT. FLASHBACK 2 (IRIS' CAR) - DAY
The car is a simple four door with black interior. Iris looks pretty much the same. A cigarette in her mouth as she drives.
Rose sits in the back, about 6 years younger. She's still Goth, but doesn't have all the piercings yet.
ROSE
Mom.
IRIS
What is it hon?
ROSE
There's something I need to say.
IRIS
Well?
Rose hesitates.
ROSE
I . . . I'm a . . .
She can't say it.
IRIS
I already know sweetie. I've known for a while.
RETURN TO:
EXT. GOLF COURSE - CONTINUOUS
ROSE
What am I, a fucking book? Everybody just reads all
my business right off my face.
Rose takes a swig and trips into a sand trap. She falls on her face, dropping the bottle. It spills a little, but there's not much left anyway.
Rose screams. She lifts up onto her knees and starts punching the sand.
ROSE (CONT'D)
Fuck!
Tears well in her eyes.
Her phone rings. You know who it is. She screams again and then answers the phone.
ROSE
(angry)
What?
IRIS (O.S.)
(from phone)
Hey sweetie. What's going on?
Rose says nothing.
IRIS (O.S.) (CONT'D)
(from phone)
Rose? You there?
ROSE
Yeah.
IRIS (O.S.)
(from phone)
Are you OK? Did something happen? Should I be there?
ROSE
Damn it mom. If you want to come then come.
If you don't then don't. But stop asking me.
IRIS (O.S.)
(from phone)
Don't let me choose. I'll just say no.
ROSE
Then I guess you don't want to come.
IRIS (O.S.)
(from phone)
I hated her. I hated her for a long time.
ROSE
I know.
IRIS (O.S.)
(from phone)
I was picturing you doing to me what I'm doing
to her. When I imagine you not caring, it's the
worst feeling in the world.
ROSE
That's not gonna happen mom.
IRIS (O.S.)
(from phone)
Just tell me what I should do.
Rose ends the call.
She cries for a while and then treks back into the darkness towards the house.
CUT TO:
YOU ARE READING
Mind the Gap
Short StoryThis is an adapted screenplay for a short film based on a story published in the New Yorker in 2011. The story is called "Sun City" by author Caitlin Horrocks. This screenplay was originally written in 2011.
