by Gary Kittle
DON (TO REAL MARY):
But you said you were invited?
STEVE:
Don't you get it? It doesn't matter who invited her. It's why she's here that's important.
STEVE glares at REAL MARY, who looks away uncomfortably.
STEVE:
Shall I tell you what I think?
REAL MARY:
Steve, I know you're hurt, but...
STEVE:
Mary's here because...
REAL MARY:
No, Steve! You don't have the right!
STEVE:
I'll be the judge of that.
REAL MARY stares at STEVE in dismay.
DON:
Mary?
DON tries to make eye contact with REAL MARY, who steadfastly keeps her gaze to the floor, crying.
DON:
Mary?
ANDROID MARY:
Tumbler. Large whiskey. Ice. Now!
DON:
I don't understand.
REAL MARY looks up into DON's face.
REAL MARY:
I found out days ago... about 'her'. I didn't - wouldn't - believe it. Then one night...
(HALF-BEAT)
ANDROID MARY (BRIGHTLY):
There's a phone in the bedroom, too!
DON looks from REAL MARY to STEVE, frowning.
DON (TO REAL MARY):
But I thought it was... You came here? To spy on me!
REAL MARY:
Once, yes, after I'd phoned here. I thought you'd be back from work, but you were out.
REAL MARY steals a glance at ANDROID MARY.
ANDROID MARY (BRIGHTLY):
There's a phone in the bedroom, too!
REAL MARY:
It wasn't Steve that invited me. I haven't spoken to him in months.
STEVE looks disappointed, his pride wounded. REAL MARY looks over at ANDROID MARY, who immediately looks over at DON, her head twitching occasionally.
ANDROID MARY (BRIGHTLY):
We have the same name, let's meet up for a coffee!
DON frowns, his mouth sets into a sneer.
DON (TO ANDROID MARY):
But I told you not to answer...
ANDROID MARY (BRIGHTLY):
There's a phone in the bedroom, too!
DON closes his eyes in exasperation. ANDROID MARY's twitching motions intensify.
ANDROID MARY (BRIGHTLY):
My warranty only covers accidental damage.
DON stares at ANDROID MARY in horror.
REAL MARY:
She told me everything, Don. And I mean everything.
STEVE:
But Mary, you should have stayed away. I could have...
REAL MARY:
Saved me the trouble? Protected me from harm? Kept me in the warm like a pet?
ANDROID MARY (BRIGHTLY):
I think you should spend some time in your box now.
STEVE:
But I love you, Mary. You know that! I'd do anything for you!
REAL MARY (CRYING BITTERLY/PROUDLY):
But that's the problem, Steve. I am not some pet to be groomed and cosseted. At least Don loved me enough to set me free. Can’t you see that?
ANDROID MARY (STERNLY):
I really think you should spend some time in your box now.
STEVE looks longingly at REAL MARY.
STEVE:
Mary... I...
DON (TO REAL MARY):
But if you knew what was going on... What I’d become... why?
REAL MARY (TEARFULLY):
There's as many ways to fight for love as there are to love.
DON crouches down in front of REAL MARY and strokes her tear-streaked cheek.
STEVE:
Mary, no!
DON:
You mean..?
REAL MARY:
I came here for the fight. Don, it's only machines that get damaged beyond repair...
DON issues a short hysterical laugh, rubs his eyes hard, and then becomes serious again.
DON:
Do they seem normal to you?
REAL MARY (CONFUSED):
Your eyes?
(BEAT)
When did you last sleep, Don? Or eat a proper meal?
DON issues a sharp little cry and shivers, then he laughs hysterically again and begins rocking from side to side with his fists to his mouth. His eyes are wide with fear and he titters like a child.
REAL MARY:
Oh, Don, you have to get help...
ANDROID MARY:
I absolutely insist that you...
DON (SHARPLY):
Oh, for God sake, will you shut the...!
DON turns angrily on ANDROID MARY with a fist raised but she grabs it in her own powerful grip and pushes DON off balance towards the nearby (opened) crate. ANDROID MARY attempts to force DON down into it, but he resists. STEVE finally breaks free from his restraints and helps REAL MARY out of hers whilst DON and ANDROID MARY struggle together.
REAL MARY:
Don!
REAL MARY tries to pull ANDROID MARY off, but the latter kicks out a foot that hits REAL MARY's thigh and sends her hobbling away, yelping like a puppy.
STEVE:
It's gone berserk! We have to get help!
Behind them DON is trapped in the crate with ANDROID MARY on top of him, tearing at his trousers.
ANDROID MARY:
You'll like this game!
SCENE 35) INT. Wallis hallway. Seconds later.
STEVE and REAL MARY emerge unsteadily from the cellar stairs. At the top REAL MARY stumbles and falls headlong onto to the hall carpet, rubbing her injured thigh.
STEVE (URGENTLY):
Mary, you can't seriously go back to him now. Not after this. Listen, I can change... I can be the man you want me to be!
REAL MARY (SHOUTING BITTERLY):
Can you? Then understand this: I don't need to be rescued. And I don't need to be saved or 'looked after'. I need to be free!
They stare at each other for a second, then they hear a crash from the cellar below.
DON (MUFFLED):
You fucking bitch! I'll kill you for this!
REAL MARY looks terrified and disgusted. STEVE reaches out for her hand and she stares down at it, then back up into STEVE's eyes. She fights back tears, refusing to show weakness. STEVE squeezes her hand and smiles.
STEVE:
Then get us out of here, Mary!
REAL MARY leads STEVE away from the cellar door, where they hear footsteps scampering up from down below.
STEVE:
Can't we lock it in?
REAL MARY:
There is no lock. Come on!
STEVE and REAL MARY head for the back door towards freedom.
(CUT TO: ANDROID MARY emerges from the cellar holding the revolver. She charges through the house and out into the back garden. Ahead of her STEVE/REAL MARY are escaping across the lawn.)
ANDROID MARY:
You can't go yet. I haven't had my turn!
ANDROID MARY drops to one knee and takes aim at REAL MARY.
ANDROID MARY (IN DON'S DISTORTED VOICE):
If I can't have you....
Just as she is about to fire something heavy crashes into the back of her head, sending her sprawling onto the ground. It is DON, wielding a golf club. ANDROID MARY turns over.
ANDROID MARY:
But, sweety, wasn't that a wedding present?
ANDROID MARY starts to get up, but DON grabs the gun laying between then and levels it at her.
DON:
Don't make me do it!
ANDROID MARY grabs the barrel and pulls it towards her face.
ANDROID MARY:
Spit?
DON (SHOUTING):
Wha..? Deactivate! DEACTIVATE!
In an instant ANDROID MARY has thrust the barrel of the revolver into her mouth and her strong fingers have
slipped over DON's.
ANDROID MARY:
Or swallow?
A split-second later the gun fires. ANDROID MARY's head jolts backwards momentarily, then her body falls heavily onto its back and the lights in her eyes go out.
(CUT TO: BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN)
In the distance STEVE and REAL MARY disappear from view, the latter leading the way.
(CUT BACK TO: TOP OF THE GARDEN CLOSE TO THE BACK DOOR)
DON slumps down next to ANDROID MARY and cradling her shattered head in his arms, strokes her smoking hair. DON rocks her, weeping pitifully like a child. As he stares into her face ANDROID MARY's eyes flash momentarily red, making DON gasp. But no sooner have the red lights appeared than they start to fade away, leaving DON with nothing more than a lifeless dummy in his arms.
DON:
Oh, Mary... Mary...
DON takes the revolver from ANDROID MARY's hand and lets her motionless body fall back to the ground. He stares at the revolver and wraps his finger slowly around the trigger and lets his lips part. He stares at the fleeing figures of REAL MARY and STEVE AINSWORTH. Then he looks back down at the gun.
SCENE 36) EXT. (Closing CRANE shot, rising) shows (foreground) DON/ANDROID MARY; with STEVE/REAL MARY running off into the distance (background).
DON is still cradling the revolver in his lap. He lets the body of ANDROID MARY fall to the ground and stares up into the heavens, the revolver slowly rising towards his mouth.
END.
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About the Author
Gary Kittle has written a dozen screenplays for short films, a full length stage play performed in London to critical acclaim, as well as countless short stories and flash fiction. He is also a member of the DT Film Productions team, whose work has already enjoyed over 70 million views on YouTube. He lives in Essex with his family.
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