by Giselle Galindo
INT. APARTMENT – MIDNIGHT
Mary is alongside her husband as she is drinking her champagne. They are both watching while everybody at the party counts down the seconds to the approaching New Year.
Mary watches one particular woman with short hair slip on a knitted sweater. The woman slips on a puffer jacket and turns to make eye contact with Mary as she leaves but very quickly turns away.
MARY
Hang on hold my drink I need to get some fresh air.
Mary hands over her champagne to her husband.
HOWARD
Wait you’re getting air now? It’s cold outside!
Mary tried to push past everyone and she grabs her coat from the coat rack. She exits and races downstairs to the street.
EXT.OUTSIDE APARTMENT – MIDNIGHT
As Mary is rushing, she trips over her own feet and falls on top practically toppling over the woman she’d intended to follow.
KAYLEY
WHAT THE HELL!
MARY
Kayley? Is this really you?
KAYLEY
Seriously?! What is your problem?
Kayley groans and gets up from the ground to face Mary. She shakes her head, she proceeds to take two steps, but turns around to pick up Mary.
KAYLEY (CONT’D)
So it is you. I knew it.
Mary is back up on her feet.
MARY
Yes, Kayley. It’s me… I didn’t notice you were here at the party…until just now.
KAYLEY
I see some things don’t change.
Kayley chuckles to herself. She is turns around to face the street, but let’s out a huge sigh and stops. She faces Mary again.
KAYLEY (CONT’D)
How have you been?
MARY
I’ve been…trying to get around. How about you? I haven’t seen you in years.
KAYLEY
I’ve been great. Anyways, I need to go.
Kayley shakes her head and proceeds to take two steps but Mary grabs her hand.
MARY
No please don’t. Listen, I’ve been thinking a lot about you. I’ve been thinking about what to say to you if I ever bumped into you.
Kayley turns around.
KAYLEY
Oh please Mary. What is there to say? What is so important to you? I am trying to leave! I had a feeling it was you in there so I couldn’t stand being in that room with you any longer.
Mary is building up tears in her eyes and she takes a deep breath in. She feels some tears coming down and wipes them away. Kayley’s tense shoulders drop a bit and watches as Mary cries. Mary finally let out an exhale.
MARY
It should’ve been you Kayley… I made a mistake.
Mary is still holding Kayley’s hand.
MARY (CONT’D)
I’ve been married for so long to Howard that I go to bed unsettled, every night feels as if I’m holding my breath.
(MORE)
MARY (CONT’D)
I feel the urge to scream lungs out every second. I love my children to death, but it hurts to know their own mother lives a terrible lie.
Mary’s tears are building up more and they slowly fall down her face again.
MARY (CONT’D)
You were the only one who brought me genuine love, and all I did was hide you away. Even from my own friends and family. I was too afraid and harsh on you, I hid you and you didn’t deserve that. It should’ve been you. All I did was hurt you. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you.
Kayley looks at the tears falling down Mary’s face, she decides to step closer to Mary, she wipes the tears away with her thumb holding her face. Kayley and Mary lock eyes.
KAYLEY
Mary…don’t do this…not again. Please.
MARY
I love you.
(beat)
But I can’t… I just can’t.
Kayley froze and closed her eyes for a second. She let go of her face. She chuckled again and shook her head.
KAYLEY
There you go again…
MARY
You need to understand-
KAYLEY
No I don’t! That’s okay, You know what I don’t think I can either. Not after the way you ruined me last time.
Kayley leaned in with her lips close to Mary’s ear.
KAYLEY (CONT’D)
I’m glad you are figuring out your feelings now. But from what I see, you can’t seem to still let go of the life you have.
(MORE)
KAYLEY (CONT’D)
You are still too scared. I told you many times before about the mistakes you have been making. I told you so Mary. But yet you would still go behind my back, kissing men trying to hide away who you really are. I told you that someday you would regret everything. And I was right.
Kayley steps back making direct eye contact with Mary holding her face again.
KAYLEY (CONT’D)
I hope that in the next life, you figure things out much sooner and you don’t hurt someone like me again. I can’t emphasize that enough.
Kayley walks away from Mary letting go of her face. She turns around to face her.
KAYLEY (CONT’D)
The last thing I will tell you, is good luck, Mary. Because you’re going to need it so damn much.
Kayley walks away, she walks down the streets as she lights up a cigarette. Mary watches her.
Mary turns around and finally head back inside.
INT. APARTMENT – MIDNIGHT
She walks back up the stairs she is uncontrollably sobbing.
Mary goes back to the party and quickly wipes away her tears. She sees her husband and grabs her champagne back from her husband. Mary forces a quick smile at him as she drinks it very quickly as he wraps her arm around her and looks down at her.
HOWARD
Is everything okay? What happened? What’s wrong?
Mary chuckles and shakes her head looking at Howard.
MARY
Everything is perfect, I am happy being with you.
“(1/365) Self Destruction” by Lala Photography at JoLi Studios Colchester is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
