Gina is sitting and morosely moving the food around in her plate.

DOORBELL

Gina opens the living room door. Margo is there.

 

GINA

Hi, Margo.
 
 

MARGO

I just saw Mark. I thought maybe 

you could use some company.
 
 

GINA

Please come in. I don't really

want to talk about it, though.
 
 

MARGO

That's fine. I wanted to talk to

you about some other things anyway.

 

GINA

How is Mark? I haven't been to 

see him.
 
 

MARGO

Physically, just broken legs. He's

pretty messed up mentally though.

He's complaining because he couldn't

even kill himself right. 
 
 

GINA

(Smiles)

Lucky it was only three stories.
 
 

MARGO

Have you ever considered leaving

Beau Monde? For something better,

I mean?
 
 

GINA

Not really. I haven't had any real

reason to.
 
 

MARGO

Beau Monde.... I've seen this year

after year, works the life out of

people then casts them off like

used food wrappers. 

I have some money saved up, and

I'm going to start my own beauty

business. Like Beau Monde, but 

without the.... inhumanity. I want

you to come work with me.
 
 

GINA

(Sighs)

Oh, Margo. I'm really honored. 

But I have a lot of responsibility

at Beau Monde. I'm needed there,

and it's not so bad.
 
 

MARGO

Not so bad? I can't believe you

said that. 
 
 

GINA

It's up to me to make it better.

That's my responsibility.
 
 

MARGO

You can't make anything better

with Kenrick running things.

 

GINA

I find ways to outmaneuver Kenrick. 

But I haven't tried hard enough. 

If I had, Mark would be OK. I have 

to stay and make sure Kenrick 

doesn't kill everyone.
 
 

MARGO

This sounds like the usual Gina

logic. Saving the company. Saving

Travis. Saving the people. Saving

Mark. 
 
 

GINA

But don't you see, Margo. I took

myself away from Mark in every way.

Sexually. I took away companionship

affection, caring. His last words

were, why don't I rate?! But 

Travis did care. He went to Mark

and tried to help. I've grown

callous - I don't try to help 

anymore. I have to stay and find

answers for these people.
 
 

MARGO

That's very commendable, Gina. I

admire you for that. But....

(Beat)

What more could you have done to save

Mark? Been a prostitute for him?

married him? You didn't belong

together. It was a selfish love, 

Mark wanted to own you, that's all 

he ever wanted. You didn't owe Mark

your soul any more than you owe the

company your soul. 
 
 

GINA

(Beat)

You could be right. But.... I just

can't Margo. I don't know why, but

I can't give up Beau Monde.
 
 

MARGO

Well, think about it anyway. A 

year from now my offer will still

stand.

But if I can't convince you about

that, listen to me about this. I'm

bringing this up because I don't 

know when I'll see you again. You

have to slow down a little, have 

some fun.... you need a lover - not

just for sex - and God knows you 

need that - but for companionship.

Stop going it alone.
 
 

GINA

It's the wrong time to talk about

that. 
 
 

MARGO

I know, Gina. All I ask is you

remember what I said. If it wasn't

really important, I wouldn't bring

it up.
 
 

GINA

Thanks, Margo, for caring.
 
 

Gina is asleep. 

TELEPHONE.

 

GINA

Hello.
 
 

TRAVIS (V.O.)

Gina, Travis. I just got back into

town. How are you?
 
 

GINA

I'm in bed at eight o'clock. Does

that tell you anything?
 
 

TRAVIS (V.O.)

Can I come over.
 
 

GINA

Yeah, sure. Maybe we could work on

my dream or something. It might 

cheer me up.
 
 

Travis and Gina are sitting on the floor. Gina is still in a nightgown.

 

TRAVIS

What have you figured out about

your dream?
 
 

GINA

The wedding dress: that's my need

for love and intimacy.

No one came to the service: that's 

my aloneness. I have few 

companions. 

Kenrick's black suit and hat: you

were right about that, meaninglessness

and hopelessness.

The open casket and open grave: 

that emphasizes my aloneness. At 

the last moment, no one came.

The darkness and candle: The 

feeling it's too late for me. 

The forced burial when I'm still

alive: I think that's the forced

retirement that seems to come at

thirty at Beau Monde. I'm really

afraid of that even though Kenrick

doesn't seem to want to let me go.

But you saw what he did to Margo.

Then there is Kenrick in my 

dream. I know now, he is the one

who is killing me.
 
 

TRAVIS

It sounds like you have it all

figured out.
 
 

GINA

Not really. I don't understand

why the people who finally came in

later dreams couldn't save me. 

And I have this nagging feeling I

still don't really understand the

dream. You know, the night Mark

stayed here, the night before he....

jumped, I had a nightmare that I 

was escaping from Kenrick and he 

raped me and filled me full of his 

evil. Kenrick told me I had given 

myself to him.

I don't understand that either, 

it's sexual, but evil.
 
 

TRAVIS

OK, let's meditate on it.
 
 

 

GINA

How can sex be evil? 
 
 

TRAVIS

When it's used for the wrong things.
 
 

GINA

I am aching for sex so badly. But

I can't give in to it. But I've 

managed to make relationships a way 

to destroy my company. Travis, I 

can't do anything right.
 
 

TRAVIS

What is sex? 
 
 

GINA

Margo says it's a vital biological

function, something we all need to

stay healthy.
 
 

TRAVIS

Beyond that.
 
 

GINA

It's a communion between two souls.

A celebration of life.
 
 

TRAVIS

That's beautiful. What else?
 
 

GINA

What do you want? I don't know.

You know, two people come together

and make each other whole.
 
 

TRAVIS

You mean, like hot and cold come

together and you end up with 

something just warm. Like these

two people are made for each other

and when them come together, they

fulfill each other and that's it.
 
 

GINA

No! That's selfish love....

(Beat)

That's what Mark and I had.

People come together like pieces of 

a puzzle. They make each other whole

so they can become what they are

supposed to be.
 
 

TRAVIS

So, where are you going wrong?
 
 

GINA

I.... never complete a relationship.

I'm too busy working to let anyone

take that much of me. You know, 

Margo is right. I can't go on this

way, I'll just continue tearing up

the company. 

Travis, sex has been bashing at

us like surging flood waters

battering at a dam. I tore myself 

away from Mark - it was wrong. If 

you want me, then.... I'm not going 

to hide myself from you anymore.

 

TRAVIS

This is.... This is too much. Never 

in my wildest dreams.... I only

fantasized. 

I.... Gina, I don't know if I

can handle this right now. We're

.... friends. This is like....

stealing something I'm never 

supposed to have. 

I love you, but .... 

(Jumps up)

give me time to adjust.
 
 

 

GINA

Travis, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have

sprung it on you this way. 
 
 

They are both hesitant.

 

GINA

I had another dream. There were

several of us at the company in

Margo's salon and we were removing

one of your testicles. We were

fighting over it, like we all 

wanted a piece of you. But then

Tracy came in and she began to 

cry. She was the only one who

really wanted just you.

If it was me or Tracy, which

one would it be?
 
 

TRAVIS

Now I see how you destroy your

relationships. Forget Tracy, she

gave up on me. She's gone.
 
 

GINA

But who would you chose?
 
 

TRAVIS

You know how I feel about Tracy.
 
 

GINA

So I'm the wrong puzzle piece. If 

I was the right piece, we would be 

doing it, not warming up to it.

Travis, are we just going to shake

up the company and hurt ourselves

again?
 
 

TRAVIS

You know, making love to a woman as 

sexy as you would probably kill me

anyway. 
 
 

GINA

(Smiles)

Get out of here, you smooth talking

Casanova, before I realize what a

mistake I'm making.
 
 

Travis walks through toward the outside door. Gina is following him.

 

TRAVIS

I had better go visit Mark. God, 

what a thing.... Didn't your 

father commit suicide?
 
 

GINA

Yes, he never made it as a 

commercial artist. He was like 

Mark, he felt like the world had no

place for him.

(Beat. Enlightenment)

Oh, no! Travis, don't you see,

he felt like the world didn't have

a place for him. Mark felt like 

the world had no place for him - he

felt like he wasn't good enough.

Now look at me, clinging to Beau

Monde like it was the last job on

earth. Travis, that's it. That's

what I didn't understand. That's

why I surrender to Kenrick. That's

why none of those people in my dream

can save me. I won't let them. I 

won't turn loose of Beau Monde and 

it's destroying me and my 

relationships. Travis, I got it! 

Thanks!
 
 

Tracy is finishing with a woman in a beauty chair. Gina enters. Tracy nods to her courteously, then looks at the woman's hands.

 

TRACY

You need a better softener for your

hands. What are you using on your

cuticles?
 
 

WOMAN

A cuticle trimmer.
 
 

TRACY

Only on hang nails. Just soften 

them and push them back and you'll 

have better luck. See you next

week.
 
 

 

GINA

Can we talk?
 
 

TRACY

Not about Travis. 

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.
 
 

GINA

He just turned me down. I threw

myself at him, and he said no.

I asked him who he would choose, 

me or you - he said you.

Forget all the rumors and all

the evidence to the contrary, 

Tracy, we never even once touched 

each other. We were never lovers,

we were only friends.
 
 

Kenrick is talking to a business candidate, Paul. As he is talking, Gina walks in.

 

KENRICK

Paul, I can give you a real sweet

deal on this. We literally have

no competition and we're going to

have the entire U.S. sewn up before

we have any. I want you to come to

work for us - 

What is it, Gina?
 
 

GINA

Kenrick, you work people to death.

You couldn't care less about 

anyone's life, or death, all you

care about is making money. Well,

I quit. In fact, almost everyone

here at headquarters is quitting

today. They all asked to be part

of our organization and we're open

to them all. By the way, it's an

employee owned business so you'll 

never get your hands on it.

Bye.
 
 

 

CANDIDATE

Hey, uh, will you have any openings 

in the near future?
 
 

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING HALL - DAY

Tracy enters the hall from the elevator. Travis is standing in front of her door. She hesitates, looks back toward the elevator, but it is gone. She walks purposefully to her door to unlock it, but Travis stands in the way.

 

TRAVIS

Please talk to me. I know I'm the

world's biggest jerk, but I really

haven't dated or slept with another

woman since I met you.
 
 

TRACY

Get out of the way or I'll call the

police.
 
 

TRAVIS

I'm not going to give up on us.
 
 

 

TRAVIS

You're the only good thing to 

happen to me in thirty years. I

can't do anything to deserve you.

But I love you, Tracy and you're

the only woman I want.
 
 

TRACY

Have it your way.

TRACY

Did you know orange juice and milk

are good for your complexion? I

gave you a facial and you didn't

even thank me.
 
 

Gina and Margo are enjoying the hot tub. Suddenly Gina closes her eyes and looks calm. Margo becomes intrigued with her and watches her closely.

EXT. A PLEASANT MEADOW - DAY

Gina is standing in a meadow, in chains. A woman, who is slightly radiant and wears a hint of a nun's habit, appears before her. 

 

WOMAN

Hello, Gina.
 
 

GINA

Hi, Sister Abigail.
 
 

WOMAN

Just Abby.

You have learned well, Gina. 
 
 

GINA

Have I? I feel so confused.
 
 

WOMAN

You have acted very responsibly. 

Do you still need your chains?

 

GINA

Is this all there is?
 
 

WOMAN

(Delighted)

Still irrepressible! You were 

always so hungry for life. 

You have just begun. Enjoy!

ESTABLISH SHOT: BEAU MONDE HEADQUARTERS 

INT. HALL AT KENRICK'S OFFICE - DAY

Travis, Gina, Margo, Tracy and several others are in the hall. Travis removes Kenrick's name from the door and replaces it with Margo Beauchesne, Presiding Co-owner. They clap.

 

GINA

Congratulations, Margo, on the coup

of the year.
 
 

MARGO

I couldn't have done it without

your support. 
 
 

GINA

I wish I had been there when 

Kenrick crawled in and asked you

to buy Beau Monde. 
 
 

MARGO

I wish I had seen Kenrick's face

when you quit in front of that

candidate. That's when he caved in.

OK, everyone, it's five o'clock. 

Go home. Get lots of rest so you

can hit it hard tomorrow and we can

pay off the loan for this place.
 
 

GINA

I'm going to the beach. Anyone 

want to go?
 
 

TRACY

Isn't it a little cool for the 

beach?
 
 

GINA

It's personal. Kind of a 

celebration.
 
 

MARGO

This have anything to do with your 

latest vision?
 
 

TRAVIS

A vision? A real vision?
 
 

TRACY

Tell us, Gina! 
 
 

GINA

You see, I just couldn't get into 

this idea that God keeps narrowing 

down your life until he squeezes 

you out and only He is left. If God

is all, then what am I?

Everything in me kept saying, NO -

this isn't Gina. Life is growth;

not restriction, it's expansion. But 

I thought that was selfish, so I 

ignored it.

So, in my vision, I was in chains, 

and some angel came and I unlocked 

them. I faced my responsibilities 

and it's freeing - expansive. 

Each of us at Beau Monde took 

over the company. We took our

responsibility back and we got our 

lives back. And we're going to 

have more fun than ever.
 
 

Gina walks away from her car to the edge of the cliff. She extends her hands wide.

 

GINA

Here I am God, and I'm ready for 

life! But watch out, I'm Gina;

and sometimes I bite!
 
 

What is this story about?

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