|
-->
|
|
6
|
PRIEST OF SALES
|
|
| Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1998, Dorian Scott Cole |
Sweet Temptation
|
|
INT. TRAVIS' APARTMENT - DAY
Travis is pacing the floor, looking at and touching thetelephone,
afraid to call, but inescapably drawn. He finallypicks it up and dials.
TRACY (V.O.)
Hello.
TRAVIS
Tracy, this is Travis.
Beat.
TRACY (V.O.)
(Formal)
How are you, Travis?
TRAVIS
I'm fine, except I miss you.
TRACY (V.O.)
(Uncertain of him)
I suppose you do, one way or
another.
TRAVIS
I'm sorry I let you down. Can we
get together for dinner and talk?
Just dinner.
TRACY (V.O.)
(Beat)
Can I pick the restaurant?
TRAVIS
Sure.
INT. FORMAL RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Travis and Tracy are being seated at a nice table. Both
are elegantly dressed. The maitre d appears, bows and exchanges pleasantries
with a formal, stilted accent. He hands them a winelist and leaves. Another
waiter fills their water glasses with bottled spring water. Travis studies
the wine list and offers it to Tracy. She passes and Travis lays it down.
Moments later a wine steward appears to take their order. Travis orders
a Frenchwine, properly pronouncing it with a French accent. The waiter
nods and leaves.
TRACY
Do you often order French wines?
TRAVIS
Only on business and formal
occasions. I prefer the California
wines.
TRACY
Then why the French wine? I really
don't care.
TRAVIS
Because you're worth it. Call it
penance.
TRACY
(Icily)
Just how much am I worth?
TRAVIS
(Beat)
Is that what this expensive
restaurant is about?
TRACY
I don't know. Is it?
TRAVIS
(Beat)
I'm not trying to buy my way into
your heart, if that's what you
think.
The wine steward returns with a bottle on a tray, approaching
out of Tracy's view.
TRACY
I don't know what to think. What
should I think about a man who screws
everything in a skirt just because
he can.
Travis looks very embarrassed. The wine steward does an about
face and leaves.
TRAVIS
I suppose you've never done anything
wrong? A pillar of moral rectitude?
Tracy bows her head, troubled about something.
TRAVIS (Continued)
Tell me, what can I do to apologize?
To make it up to you? To put us
back together?
TRACY
Maybe you could start by explaining
just what it was you thought you
were doing to me.
TRAVIS
I was enjoying your company.
TRACY
And you didn't enjoy those other
women?
Travis takes a deep breath and sits silently. The wine steward
approaches, shows Travis the bottle. Travis nods. The steward opens the
bottle, pours some in a cup on a chain around his neck, tastes, approves,
and pours a small amount in Travis's glass. Travis tastes and nods. The
steward pours both of their glasses and leaves.
TRAVIS
I was falling in love.
TRACY
We knew each other less than two
weeks. You sweep two or three
women off their feet every week.
TRAVIS
From the moment we met, I felt
very comfortable with you.
TRACY
You seem to get comfortable with
women very easily.
TRAVIS
You're not making this easy for me.
Why did you agree to see me again?
TRACY
I made a mistake once. A big one.
You're NOT going to be another.
The maitre d approaches the table and stands with the menus
folded before him.
INT. MARGO'S SALON - DAY
Tracy is doing a facial on a woman. Travis enters. Tracy
sees him and smiles, pleased but cautious. She directs him to a chair.
He watches her do the finishing touches on the woman. Tracy sees him watching
and they exchange glances.
The woman leaves and Tracy begins to gently clean his
face with a cloth. Their eyes meet, Tracy melts as she cleans, but gets
uncomfortable. She angrily grabs the mud, slaps it on his face and smears
it all over his face and clothes with a vengeance. After a moment she stops,
sees a clean spot on his nose, dabs some on his nose and they laugh.
EXT. BEAU MONDE ENTERPRISES HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Travis waits in his car. Tracy exits the building. She
gets in the car with Travis and he is beaming.
TRACY
OK, what's up?
TRAVIS
I have put together five corporate
accounts in five weeks. And that
got me promoted to Assistant
National Manager.
Tracy smiles, but is reserved.
TRAVIS
Is something wrong?
TRACY
Everyone thinks you're screwing
Gina. You spend more time with
her than you do with me. And
your promotion proves it.
Travis slumps against the steering wheel.
TRAVIS
It isn't fair. Gina is the one who
is putting my life back together!
Without her help.... I'd be lost!
Why are they doing this? I'm going
to end up losing you all over again.
Beat. Tracy sees he is sincere and puts her arms around him.
EXT. TRACY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Travis walks Tracy to her door. They stop by the door
and he kisses her. She takes out her key to unlock the door. He kisses
her again.
TRAVIS
Good night. See you tomorrow?
Tracy grabs him by the sleeve, unlocks the door and pulls
him in.
INT. TRACY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Travis and Tracy are in bed. Travis is holding Tracy,
strokingher lovingly. She cuddles closer to him. He begins kissing her,
covering her body, lingering briefly, tantalizing her. At her lips he kisses
lightly, teasing, until she can take it no longer and pulls him onto her.
DISSOLVE
They are laying side by side, embraced.
TRACY
Gina likes you. I can see it in
the way she looks at you.
TRAVIS
There is nothing going on between
us. Gina doesn't want a
relationship.
TRACY
You like her.
TRAVIS
Not like I like you.
TRACY
She's going to be your biggest
temptation.
TRAVIS
I think you're just jealous.
TRACY
I am jealous. You can't have a
close relationship with two women.
TRAVIS
You're awfully suspicious.
TRACY
(Beat)
I'm going to tell you something I
haven't told anyone. I told you I
made a big mistake once.
(Beat)
Half way through my Sophomore year
of college, my father lost his job.
I had no money coming in and my
financial aid was exhausted. There
was a men's college nearby, and
there was a professor who taught at
both campuses. Psychology. He
kept trying to get me to go to work
for him - he had a sex therapy
business, he said. I always said, no.
Then when my Dad lost his job and I
went begging, the professor asked me
to work as a sex surrogate.
(Beat)
There were a lot of professors who
had these problems - premature
ejaculation, and fear of women - all
kinds of weird things. I had to see
several of them once or twice a
week.
(Beat)
Then one day the police came and
arrested me - arrested us all. The
jerk was running a prostitution ring
with college girls. Some of them
knew it. I didn't - I was gullible.
I got a police record, my name was
in the paper - it was so
humiliating. Everyone on campus
knew. I had to go to a different
college my Junior year.
(Beat)
I'll never trust any man. Don't
expect me to trust you with Gina.
INT. BEAU MONDE OF NICHOLASVILLE - DAY
Mark is in the modeling studio explaining the program
to a prospect. Travis enters, carrying a book. Mark ignores him and continues
explaining the program. After staring at Mark for a long time, Travis takes
a seat and waits. Mark finally takes papers and has the woman sign them.
Mark shakes her hand and she leaves, with Mark following her up the aisle
past Travis. Mark stops by Travis, is less than friendly.
MARK
Sorry to make you wait. I can't
afford to let a prospect get away.
TRAVIS
It's OK.
MARK
So what's up, another new promotion,
or another promotion?
They begin walking into the atrium toward Mark's office.
TRAVIS
Nothing actually. I saw this book -
a new one on superstrings - I thought
you might like it. I was in town
so....
Travis gives him the book.
MARK
Is this supposed to make up for
something?
TRAVIS
No. I just.... You don't get to do
what you want to do. At least this
thing is good reading - supposed to
be.
MARK
Gee thanks. Life by vicarious.
Travis stops and pulls the book away from Mark.
TRAVIS
I didn't mean to insult you, I just
wanted to help.
You're responsible for your own
life, you know. You want to do
something, you do it.
MARK
Yeah, Mark the miracle worker. Who
told you that crap anyway?
TRAVIS
Gina.
Mark stops walking and looks at Travis.
MARK
I guess you should know.
Mark walks more quickly toward his office. Travis remains.
TRAVIS
(Beat)
We're not doing anything. Nothing
at all.
Mark quickly reverses and is back to Travis, assaulting him
verbally.
MARK
She likes to meditate a lot. Get
to know a person deep down. Gets
in your soul. Then it's meditation
in the nude, and making love with
the mirrors reflecting. And going
into ecstatic trances in her hot
tub or her living room and ending
up in bed. Or screwing right
there in the hot tub. She likes it
best standing up, doesn't she. You
know what I'm talking about!
Travis looks shaken.
TRAVIS
No, I don't.
MARK
All that spiritual stuff is just
her foreplay. Just a prelude to
sex. Don't mess with me, Travis,
I know how the lady works.
Travis gives Mark a sick look and leaves.
MARK
Congratulations on your promotion.
You got it all.
INT. GINA'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
Gina and Travis are seated. Gina rises and begins clearing
dishes from the table.
GINA
I'll wash, you load.
Travis opens the dishwasher door and begins loading.
TRAVIS
Why do you always wash your dishes
before putting them in the
dishwasher?
GINA
That's not a dishwasher, that's a
marketing concept. It won't clean.
TRAVIS
Then why did you buy it?
GINA
The builder who built the house
recommended it. He said since I
was single I probably didn't need
the upgrade model. He failed to
tell me this model was just the
manufacturer's marketing concept,
it doesn't actually wash the dishes.
TRAVIS
So what are you going to do with
the thing?
GINA
Exchange it for their competitor's
model. It's the best advertising
their competitor has.
TRAVIS
Makes you think about our marketing,
doesn't it.
GINA
Jordan and I have an understanding.
If it isn't genuine, we don't sell
it. Believe me, a lot comes down
from Kenrick that's gold plated
bologna.
Travis closes the dishwasher door and Gina starts it.
TRAVIS
How important are your visions?
Do you hear voices from God?
GINA
(Laughs)
No. They're only my own internal
gropings. My subconscious breaks
through and tells me something, but
it's in symbols, like a puzzle.
It's like looking through a mist -
instead of seeing clearly, I see
everything disguised.
C'mon, I'm going to get
comfortable - I'll meet you in the
meditation room.
INT. GINA'S MEDITATION ROOM - NIGHT
Gina and Travis are getting seated in the meditation room.
Gina's clothing is sheer, revealing, sensual. Travis is drawn to her, but
at the same time fearful.
TRAVIS
Are you testing my mettle?
GINA
No, does this bother you? I'm
sorry, I'll change.
Gina starts to leave. Travis stops her.
TRAVIS
No, don't. You've helped me
understand I don't have to....
taste every sweet temptation.
Gina smiles at him, sits and switches on the computer. She
begins switching through images.
TRAVIS
People are talking about us. They
think there is more going on between
us than there is.
GINA
People will think what they want.
I can't live my life by other's
small minds.
TRAVIS
If everything you see is so veiled,
why do you do this stuff? It all
sounds like some voodoo ritual
straight from Africa. You know,
those dances where they get ecstatic
and everything ends in an orgy or
something.
GINA
(Really disturbed)
Hey!
TRAVIS
(Laughs nervously, sobers)
I just want to understand. This is
really weird for me.
Gina eyes him suspiciously.
GINA
I did misuse it once, with Mark.
But this is really important to me.
It's driving me crazy.
Dreams are your subconscious
knocking. They're a prod to get
you to start unraveling yourself.
TRAVIS
I suppose you're right.
GINA
I've had ecstatic visions since I
was a kid. But I've made very
little progress unlocking them.
And it's because I really haven't
grown - matured - very much.
TRAVIS
I doubt that.
GINA
Visions tell me more than a dream.
They stay in the back of my mind
and one day I understand - I see
life happening and the vision just
makes all the sense in the world.
TRAVIS
You have a lot of these visions?
GINA
I have ecstatic experiences maybe
once a month, but no vision. I
have a vision maybe on average every
.... five years.
I meditate to try and see within
myself to find the answers.
TRAVIS
But this sounds so.... hocus-pocus.
If you're having this dream, and
it's so important, why don't you
understand it?
GINA
Because it's painful. It's telling
me something about myself that I'm
hiding from, so it's telling it to
me in symbols.
TRAVIS
If it's painful, why do it?
GINA
We're not comfortable with a lot of
things about ourselves. Growth....
stretches us in painful ways. But
if you really try to understand and
help yourself, you unlock yourself
from the chains that hold you back.
Enough! Let's do it.
She has the image of a casket projected. She repeats over
and over like a chant.
GINA
Why am I afraid to live? Why am I
afraid to live? Why am I afraid to
live....
POV SHOT: Gina looking outward from the casket. Suddenly
Kenrick is standing by the casket holding a candle and looking down at
her.
KENRICK
Don't you laugh as the hearse goes
by, for you may be the next to die.
POV SHOT: Gina sees the faces of other people reflected in
the candlelight. Wells, Margo, and Tracy are among them, but the rest are
unknown. The vision fades as Kenrick continues.
KENRICK
The undertaker takes you in while
all of your relatives sit and grin.
Gina and Travis are staring at the image of the casket in
the mirror. Gina's attention returns to the present.
GINA
People were at the funeral this
time.
TRAVIS
What does that mean?
GINA
I have no idea.
TRAVIS
How do you solve the mystery?
GINA
Little clues.
I love color. Let's work on
that a little. I was wearing a
white dress.
TRAVIS
White wedding gowns are a symbol
of purity.
GINA
I'm definitely not pure.
TRAVIS
Were you mourning the death of
your virginity?
Gina hits him.
TRAVIS
Maybe not actual virginity, but
symbolically?
GINA
It's important how I feel about
the dream. How I feel about the
color.
TRAVIS
There are black colors in the dream.
The casket. Kenrick's clothes.
What does black mean? Emptiness?
Hopelessness?
GINA
Yes, I think so. That feels right.
When I think about the dress,
how do I feel? Like I'm burying
marriage. My chances for having a
husband are going. I'm lonely for
companionship.
Travis puts his hand over hers comfortingly. Gina sits looking
at the casket and the image of her wedding gown appears. Kenrick stands
beside the casket.
KENRICK
It's too late, Gina. Too late.
The casket is lowered into the ground. As Gina sits looking
at the image she says:
GINA
But I'm not dead yet!
DISSOLVE
Gina and Travis are still sitting and staring at an image,
which is now of a wedding. They are holding hands and sitting close together.
The image changes to a bride and groom kissing. Travis kisses Gina on the
cheek. She kisses him back on the lips. Travis kisses her on the lips and
lingers. She pushes him away and lays down. He lays down next to her. She
smiles knowingly and puts her hand on his chest keeping him away.
TRAVIS
Just one more.
She shakes her head no, serious but smiling as if teasing.
TRAVIS
Please.
She allows him to kiss her, then pushes him away, but he
is still close.
TRAVIS
Not fair, that wasn't long enough.
She smiles and gives in. Travis kisses her at length. The
two entwine and stroke each other sensuously. Finally Gina stops them and
pushes them apart.
TRAVIS
Come on, Gina, you're lonely.
What would it hurt. After all, I
know how to satisfy a woman like
she's never been satisfied before.
Gina shakes her head no, but Travis leans into her again
and kisses her again. He begins to push her clothes off. She pulls hem
back on, at first playfully, then helps take them off and begins undressing
him. Soon they are fully disrobed. She leans back, nude, and waves her
finger at him.
GINA
No, no, no, we can't do this.
You're learning to resist and I
have vowed to stay chaste.
Travis drags himself to her feet. He kisses her toes then
pulls himself forward and kisses her calves.
GINA
Look but don't touch.
Travis continues to her knees, then thighs.
GINA
You can't seduce me, Travis, I can
resist.
Travis kisses to her abdomen until he is laying on top of
her. She begins to ravish him.
DISSOLVE
They are making love and Gina is nearing a climax.
CUT TO:
INT. GINA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Gina sits up in bed, gasping for air.
GINA
Nooooo! Damn it, no! Not with
Travis.
Gina calms and takes her tape recorder from the stand by
her bed and talks into it.
GINA
I am so mad at myself.
I pretended in my dream that I
couldn't resist Travis and I let
him have me.
I am soooo damned self indulgent.
Next: 7 Despair
Main Page
Page URL: http://www.visualwriter.com/Priest/Tempted.htm
|