counterpane

by bob chartain

THE TELEVISION Only Manny watches as Sherry endorses the latest beauty product.

     

  MANNY    

  Davy, there's that girl you    

  showed me a picture of.     

  Sherry something?

      

  DAVID    

  Yah.

      

  MANNY    

  Still seein' her?

      

  Embarrassed, David twists his glass. Manny's accent is now intermittent and more fatherly.

      

  MANNY    

  You goin' to make an honest woman     

  out of her or just sit there and     

  believe all that crap the company     

  hands you about relationships?

    

  DAVID    

  You know how it is, Manny.

      

  MANNY    

  No, I don't know how it is.     

     How is it?  

      

       DAVID    

  Can we change the subject?

  MANNY    

  Hell no. You're my partner, but I'm     

  the Senior on this job and when     

  something affects you, it affects me.    

  (David squeezes the glass)    

  You don't even write her, do you?

      

  DAVID    

  That's about the size of it.

      

  AT THE OTHER END OF THE BAR, CATMON'S HAND

      

  with a the very long little fingernail coils around a glass and squeezes till the knuckles turn white. In the b.g. David  and Manny continue their discussion.

  CATMON     

  (seeing David)    

  Carson. Shit, Mon!.

      

  Catmon pulls his hat down around his ears and walks past David  to the door.

      

  MANNY    

  You're afraid aren't you, amigo?     

  Afraid of a commitment.

      

  DAVID    

  Hell, Manny, I don't even know    

  where I'll be tomorrow. Or if    

  I'll even be alive. How can I    

  get married?

      

  MANNY    

  Who said anything about marriage?

  Manny swigs his beer like a sailor.

  MANNY     

  David, I'm married. The hell with the     

  consequences. You think that by ignoring     

  Sherry she'll just go away and disappear     

  and you won't have to face your feelings?    

  You just can't live that way, hombre --

      

  CLOSE ON A WOMAN'S BEAUTIFUL HAND AND NAILS

      

  JANE, a manicurist, paints the "latest" designs on long and  delicate fingers at a -

      

  FANCY BEAUTY SALON IN BEVERLY HILLS.

      

  JANE    

  You haven't even told

       the guy? I think you're nuts.

           

  Jane moves to the last finger as the hairdresser hands Sherry a mirror.

      

  JANE     

  You can't be a model forever, sweetie.    

  Besides, kids need fathers.

      

  Sherry sits nonplussed, covered by a cape and thoroughly enjoying the attention and pampering.

      

  SHERRY    

  I know.     

  It's something I always wanted.

  Sherry slowly rises from the chair, removes the cape and reveals her very pregnant state.

      

  JANE     

  Well at least call him or write him.    

  Do something ! You're too cool    

  for own good, sweetie. 

 

      

  DAVID AND MANNY ON A NONDESCRIPT SHRIMP BOAT OFF ROATAN.

      

  THE SMALL COASTAL TANKER BOBS IN THE DISTANCE -

      

  just beyond the reef. With Manny, David checks the  instruments, then points to the -

      

  SCREEN OF THE DEPTH FINDER, -

      

  it shows an indentation capable of handling a submarine.  The CAPTAIN of the boat walks toward them.

      

  DAVID     

  That's it - the only way in, or out.

      

  CAPTAIN    

  I can't maintain this position without    

  being spotted.

      

  MANNY    

  (raises finger)    

  One more minute.   

 

  SHERRY'S BEDROOM.

      

  Sherry's hair is tied back with a red ribbon and she holds her stomach in pain as she waddles carefully to the bed. She  looks at the phone with a longing glance.

      

  SHERRY    

  Call…damn it…Call.

      

  SMUDGE, HER IRISH SETTER, ENTERS THE ROOM -

      

  and nuzzles her as she sits on the bed. She pats the dog's  head with great affection. The baby kicks once again and  Sherry reaches for a glass on the bed stand and downs it like   

  A sailor. Painfully, she scoots herself up on the bed, rolls on her side and pets Smudge in nervous repetitive strokes. Tears well from her slowly closing eyes.   

      

  THE SHRIMP BOAT, -

      

  David quickly puts on a wet suit and diving gear.

  THE COASTAL TANKER, -

      

  Catmon hastily puts on a wet suit and diving gear.

      

  SHERRY'S BEDROOM: A DREAM SEQUENCE

      

  Sherry's eyes slowly open. A soft, warm, glowing smile covers her face. A new-born infant rests on her flat tummy.    

      

  SHERRY    

  Hi, Tommy. I'm so glad you're here.    

  We're going to have such a good     <
br />
  time together. There's so much to do.    

  (beat)    

  You're going to have a dog and play football     

  and have lots of toys. I bet you're going     

  to be really smart and grow up to be     

  a great man just like your father.

      

  TOMMY    

  Mommy.    

 

       SHERRY    

  Yes, Tommy.

      

  TOMMY    

  Where's daddy?     

      

  SHERRY AWAKES, COVERED WITH PERSPIRATION, -

      

  as Smudge licks her face. She looks at the clock; it's still early. Quickly, considering her condition, -

      

  SHERRY MOVES TO THE CLOSET -

      

  and rummages through some of David's belongings, looking for  some clue to his whereabouts. She pulls a business card from  a suit pocket, studies it, -

      

  PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS

      

  RECEPTIONIST'S VOICE    

  (flat and damnedly impersonal)    

  Mr. Benson's office. May I help you?

      

  SHERRY    

  Yes, I want to reach David Carson.

      

  RECEPTIONIST    

  I'm sorry. There's nobody here by     

  that name.

      

  SHERRY    

  But I'm his - ah - his wife.

 

            RECEPTIONIST    

  Just one moment, please.

      

  BENSON'S VOICE    

  Benson here -- 

  (fading into)