INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER
The same sad country music plays.
The sound of the front door opening and then closing.
ROSE (O.S.)
Bev.
No answer.
Rose enters the room.
ROSE (CONT'D)
Bev, you here?
The sound of faint crying can be heard.
Rose follows the sound down the hall.
CUT TO:
INT. VERA'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The room also has boxes stacked around it now. Bev lays in the bed crying with a plastic cup in her hand. There are stains on her dress from trying to drink while laying down. Cline scurries around next to her on the bed.
Rose enters.
ROSE
Bev?
She hits the alcoholic fumes and pauses for a second then regains herself.
ROSE (CONT'D)
What's going on?
Bev cries. She takes another drink spilling the rest of the mixture into her mouth as well as onto her dress. Drink pours down her chin and cheeks.
Rose sits down next to her.
BEV
It's not fair. Why did she have to leave me?
Rose takes the empty cup from her.
ROSE
Where did this come from? I searched through this entire
house for a drink.
BEV
My room. Vera never touched the stuff. Said she was
a little bit too familiar. Wouldn't let me keep it
out.
Rose accepts the explanation.
ROSE
Was she happy?
BEV
I don't know. I wish I did. Ask me if
I'm happy.
ROSE
Are you happy?
BEV
No.
Beat.
BEV (CONT'D)
Fill her up.
Bev points to a half empty bottle of whiskey sitting on the vanity dresser.
ROSE
That's gonna taste disgusting.
BEV
I don't care.
ROSE
Let me make you a real drink.
Bev sits up. She nods.
Rose stands, grabs the whiskey bottle, and exits the room.
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.
