apartment 538
DESCRIPTION
The first day of a man's break-up is further complicated by the re-emergence of his ex's familyTRANSCRIPT
Apartment 538
Marlon Charles
FADE IN.
INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - EVENING
It’s Christmas time, with decorations half-heartedly strewn
across ROB’s mainly empty living room. The Christmas lights
hang loosely on the wall, with several baubles laid out
across the table and couch alongside scattered layers of
tinsel. A box full of decorations left sitting in the corner
tell a tale of an abandoned decoration attempt.
A KNOCK is heard on the door.
The sound of a running tap is switched off and after a few
moments, ROB emerges into the living room pulling a shirt
over his vest as he walks to the door. He lets out a small
puff of breath, to compose himself before he reaches to the
door and opens it to find HANNAH. His face immediately drops
upon seeing her as she stands at his doorway, with a strap
bag draped over her shoulder. He pauses and stares at her
blankly before speaking; he doesn’t hide his disappointment.
ROB
....Hannah?
HANNAH
Loving the hesitation.
ROB
What are you do-
HANNAH
Can I come in?
Rob hesitates again.
ROB
...yeah, sure.
He stands aside to let her in and she walks past him,
surveying the state of the room as she walks forward towards
the counter. Rob, standing in place, closes the door behind
her before he turns to face her.
ROB
Listen if Jenny has anything say to
me she can-
HANNAH
I’m not here to pass anything on.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
ROB
Oh...Well I don’t know what her
version of events were but-
HANNAH
I’m not here to yell at you either.
ROB
Oh. (pause) Well, that’s both my
speeches really...
Hannah turns to face him.
HANNAH
Oh yay. Do I get my chance to
speak?
ROB
(signalling towards the door)
Do you see why I hesitated.
HANNAH
I’m here to collect Jenny’s things.
ROB
Collect Jenny’s things?
HANNAH
Yeah.
ROB
Is this something I should know
about. Cause this feels like a
conversation that should’ve
involved me.
HANNAH
(looking around the room
again)
I think you had the conversation.
Rob instinctively grabs a piece of tinsel off the floor
after seeing her spot it.
ROB
No we had a conversation. But this
feels like an extension of the
conversation that didn’t involve
me.
HANNAH
It’s her decision Rob.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
Rob moves across the floor picking up the left over tinsel
as he talks.
ROB
Right, yeah and two years doesn’t
give me a say in this decision.
HANNAH
Oh personally, I think it does. If
anything I think your say is what
led to this decision.
ROB
Thank you Hannah.
HANNAH
What did you expect?
He stops at the other end of the room and turns to face her.
ROB
Oh, I don’t know a phonecall,
email, a tweet. Something nicer
than a proxy.
HANNAH
I’m going to stop you and remind
you I’m on her side.
ROB
And you came to that conclusion
after hearing both sides-
HANNAH
No.
ROB
Great, thanks.
He throws the contents in his hands into the box before they
awkwardly spill out. He tries not to give her the
satisfaction of seeing his building frustration as he looks
on dead ahead.
HANNAH
I’ll re-iterate that I’m not here
to yell at you.
He kneels over and begins to jam the content back into the
box.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
ROB
Yeah you’re here to collect her
stuff.
HANNAH
Back on track.
ROB
What does she want?
HANNAH
Just a few things she wants back,
you know to live and stuff.
ROB
Where’s she living?
HANNAH
She’s staying with me.
He stops again and turns to face her.
ROB
She’s staying at your house?
HANNAH
Yes...
ROB
Your house with a telephone, that
she could’ve rang me from.
Hannah idly moves over and begins to play with a bauble left
over on the counter.
HANNAH
And doors, windows, walls, I like
to think I have the entire set
ROB
Hmmm right.
HANNAH
Yerp.
Rob moves to his cabinet and leans on it.
ROB
What does she want?
Hannah begins to list them across her hand.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
HANNAH
She wants her clothes.
ROB
Right.
HANNAH
Her ipod.
ROB
Right.
HANNAH
The docks.
ROB
Okay.
HANNAH
The Wire boxset.
ROB
Seriously?
HANNAH
Her toothbrush.
ROB
This could all have been done by
phone.
HANNAH
She was worried you’d weasel out.
ROB
Is my dignity on that list?
HANNAH
You really feel this strongly about
keeping her toothbrush?
ROB
No, you’re missing the - and for
the record. it started as my
toothbrush, then she moved in and
it slowly transitioned into hers-
HANNAH
Right.
ROB
Which incidentally is the story of
my dignity.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
HANNAH
I’ll tell her you want to keep the
toothbrush.
ROB
She can have the toothbrush.
HANNAH
This is a big win for dental
hygiene.
ROB
Thank you for coming Hannah.
Rob moves out of shot into his bathroom and Hannah walks
forward remonstratively.
HANNAH
Whoa remember that part about me
collecting her stuff.
ROB
I can send it to you.
He re-emerges again with a pair of socks in his hand.
HANNAH
See, with the weaselling.
ROB
I’m busy-okay, I’ve got somewhere
to be.
HANNAH
Then let me get the stuff and-
ROB
No, I’m leaving the house.
HANNAH
I’m not going to rob you.
The Christmas bauble from the counter is clearly missing.
ROB
(as he sits down on the couch
and pulls on his socks)
Don’t take it personally. I’m just
one of those strange people who
feel strongly about not leaving
other people alone in their house.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
HANNAH
Hmmm right.
ROB
You can swing by tomorrow and you
can collect what you need. I’m sure
she can go one day without my
toothbrush.
HANNAH
You’ve just set back dental
hygiene.
Hannah turns and moves and towards the door.
ROB
You should be worried you know. Her
transition phase kicks in pretty
early.
HANNAH
You keep goading me into this fight
I’m not here to have.
ROB
You know what I’d love, a reason.
Or maybe just closure.
HANNAH
(turning to face him)
Really? Again with this playing the
victim?
ROB
Was that another unbiased
conclusion?
HANNAH
I somehow feel like I’m less biased
than you on this.
ROB
(as he stands up and slightly
raises his voice)
Is her talking to me too much to
ask for, to at least tell me this
to my face.
HANNAH
(defiantly)
At this moment in time, for her,
yes.
He begins to move away towards the bathroom.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.
ROB
Oh wow, well I’m so sorry she’s
going through such a difficult
period. If there’s anything I can
do to help=
HANNAH
Rob, you’re dangerously close to
pushing it-
ROB
(stops in place to fully face
her)
All I want. All I’m asking for, is
one conversation, closure, that’s
it.
HANNAH
Well, as seems to be the case with
her toothbrush, I guess we can’t
all have what we want.
ROB
Jesus-
HANNAH
Look Rob, you want advice. Deal
with it. We all make mistakes, its
up to us to find out how to live
with them.
ROB
Wow, well thank you Hannah.
HANNAH
Anytime. Except you know, any other
time.
ROB
Hmmm.
He moves again towards the bathroom.
HANNAH
Tomorrow then?
ROB
(stops once again)
Tomorrow you can collect everything
you need.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
HANNAH
What time?
ROB
Couldn’t care less, any time you
feel like-
HANNAH
Weaselling.
ROB
Six, p.m. I’m busy in the a.m.
HANNAH
I’m sure you are. See you then.
ROB
Yeah.
Hannah walks up towards the door and opens it before she
turns once more to face him.
HANNAH
By the way. You know she’s not
leaving you because you’re an
asshole.
ROB
That’s.....a relief?
HANNAH
She’s leaving you because you’re
okay with being an asshole.
ROB
Thank you Hannah. I’ll keep that in
mind.
HANNAH
Mhmmm.
Hannah walks out the door and leaves.
He waits a few moments before he walks back into the
bathroom.
CUT TO:
10.
INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - EVENING (LATER)
Another loud knock on the door leads Rob to once again
emerge into the room, this time more dressed and prepared,
with a shirt with a tie hanging loosely around his neck and
smart shoes on. Another loud knock of impatience is heard.
ROB
(mostly to himself)
Jesus, I’m coming.
He opens it to find JULIE standing at the door. His face
immediately drops.
ROB
You’ve got to be kidding me.
JULIE
I’ll thank you to greet me better
than that.
ROB
Look Julie, Hannah already swung by
to collect her stuff.
JULIE
I’m not here to collect anything.
I’m here to yell at you.
ROB
(pause)
I’m not going to let you in.
Julie barges in past him and walks to his living room.
JULIE
I’ll also thank you to be better to
my daughters
Rob rolls his eyes and curses under his breath as he closes
the door before turning to face her.
ROB
Listen Mrs. Jackson.
Julie walks around the room kicking the strings of tinsel
around the room further dishevelling it as she does so,
surveying the room judgmentally.
JULIE
Was I done yelling?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
ROB
And why is no one interested in my
side of the story?
JULIE
(stops to face him angrily)
Do not. Play, the victim.
He stops mid-thought and takes a second to recompose himself
as she walks around again, this time to a picture frame.
ROB
I’m not interested in playing the
victim, I’m interested in getting
my side heard.
JULIE
(as she picks up the frame)
What good’s that going to do you?
ROB
Well it stops you making me look
like the asshole for one thing.
JULIE
(stops and turns to face him)
Did you give Hannah her things?
ROB
No.
JULIE
Why not?
ROB
It was-there were things still left
to discuss with Jenny.
JULIE
She wanted her toothbrush.
ROB
It was my toothbrush originally for
one thing. Which proves my point of
no one wanting to hear my side.
JULIE
(placing the frame into her
bag)
How petty are you?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.
ROB
I-urghh. Is she seriously going to
send everyone to do the talking,
but her.
JULIE
She didn’t send me here.
ROB
No, but I’m presuming she talked to
you about why this is happening.
Which, you know is a conversation I
was left out of.
JULIE
Should I go get my violin?
ROB
Thank you Julie.
JULIE
(as she starts walking around
again)
Mrs. Jackson.
ROB
No, yeah, feel free to demean me
inside my own house.
She continues walking, looking casually around the room as
if trying to spot something.
JULIE
You’ll know when I’ve started
demeaning you.
ROB
Is there no chance you can come by
later to do this? You can bring
Hannah, the two of you can-
JULIE
Where do you keep her whiskey?
ROB
Really, you’re staying?
JULIE
I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.
Julie walks to the end of the room to the CABINET and grabs
a BOTTLE and GLASS out.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.
ROB
Oh okay, no please help yourself.
Julie begins to pour herself a glass, not once looking up to
face him.
JULIE
Offer me permission one more time
to do something, and it won’t be
pleasant.
Rob freezes in stunned fear, as she moves across to his
couch and sits down, glass in hand.
JULIE
Now, I’m here to talk about
Jennifer-
ROB
Really?
JULIE
And how you’re going to make it
right.
ROB
How can I apologise if she won’t
even talk to me.
JULIE
I never said you were going to talk
to her. I said you were going to
make it right.
ROB
I don’t even know what that means-
JULIE
You have a talking problem. Which
directly leads to a listening
problem. Stop talking, and listen.
This entire conversation goes a lot
easier if you do that.
ROB
(pause)
Is that you starting to demean me?
JULIE
Why she ever settled for you is
beyond me.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.
ROB
Oh, wow, okay.
JULIE
Don’t act like you’re surprised.
The entire family would have
settled for her being gay.
ROB
Is no one taking into account that
maybe I’m not having the best of
times with all this.
JULIE
Not when you’re to blame.
ROB
I’m not the one to blame, if you’d
just list-
JULIE
Have you taken into account that
you’re to blame for this?
ROB
Oh right and there’s no bias on
your part saying that.
JULIE
I’m a lot less biased than you.
ROB
Look Mrs Jackson. I kind of have a
place to be.
JULIE
If you’re going to kick me out,
you’re going to look me in the eye
to do it.
Rob looks up at her, then nervously avoids her gaze.
JULIE
That’s what I thought.
ROB
You’ve made your point, I’m
worthless-
JULIE
That wasn’t my point.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.
ROB
That’s a relief-
JULIE
My point was you are worthless and
you’re going to make it right.
ROB
(pause)
How?
JULIE
For one thing, you’re going to give
the poor girl her toothbrush.
ROB
I have no intention of keeping it.
JULIE
Then why did you not give it to
Hannah.
ROB
I didn’t put up a fight to- It
wasn’t about the toothbrush, I said
she can come collect it tomorrow.
JULIE
Why not today? What are you
planning with it?
ROB
Nothing I-Jesus she can collect it
tomorrow with all the other stuff.
JULIE
Why not today?
ROB
I was busy-I’m going somewhere.
JULIE
Clearly, you’re not.
ROB
Do you not see me dressed? I don’t
kick about in the house like this.
JULIE
Give me her toothbrush.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.
ROB
What?
Julie reaffirms it with a stare and Rob lets out a loud
groan as he walks out of the room. He comes back a few
moments later and hands it to Julie who places it in her
purse as he walks back to the counter.
ROB
You all seem to be missing the
point, which was never the
toothbrush.
JULIE
Was it your last ditch attempt to
get her to come talk to you.
Holding on to her toothbrush?
ROB
I like to think I had better
bargaining chips than that.
JULIE
Like what?
ROB
Like maybe me and the last two
years.
Julie lets out a high pitched laugh.
ROB
Wow. I should never have let you
drink.
JULIE
First you’re going to give her back
all her things. Then you’re going
to leave her alone.
ROB
That’s how you want me to make it
right?
JULIE
Was I not clear on that? Is it your
listening problem again?
ROB
All I want is to talk to her. Am I
not entitled to that, one
conversation that’s not by proxy.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.
JULIE
You are.
ROB
Thank you.
JULIE
Just as equally as she’s entitled
to not talk to you, you’re her
mistake and she now has to live
with it. Leave her alone and let
her do so.
Julie takes a sip.
ROB
Wow.
JULIE
Hannah will come by to collect the
rest of her things tomorrow. All of
her things. I trust there won’t be
a problem.
ROB
Not from my end, no.
JULIE
Good.
Julie takes a big swig, leaving a quarter of the contents in
her glass behind as she stands up and heads for the door.
JULIE
Oh and Robert. This was nothing
personal. I just fucking hate you.
She closes the door behind her as she leaves.
Rob lets out another loud sigh and again leaves the room.
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)
A fully dressed Rob stands in the middle of his living room,
tying up the last of his suit buttons when another knock on
the door occurs. He scrunches his eyes in frustration and
lets out a loud groan, before sighing as another set of
knocks ring out. He finally crosses his fingers and heads to
open the door where he finds CHLOE.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.
ROB
Oh God, what are you the ghosts of
Christmases?
CHLOE
Hello to you too.
ROB
Look, Julie’s already been here to
yell at me and yes Hannah’s coming
to collect her stuff tomorrow.
CHLOE
That’s nice but I’m just here to
pass on a message.
ROB
(waiting)
....okay.
CHLOE
Can I come in?
Rob sighs again and stands aside to let her through and she
walks in past him.
CHLOE
Thank you.
ROB
Is there any chance you can make
this quick, I really can’t take
another row.
Rob closes the door behind her and turns to face him as she
stands a few feet away from him.
CHLOE
Maybe I bring good tidings.
ROB
Did a rock fall on Julie?
CHLOE
Not that good.
ROB
Okay. Go.
CHLOE
Offer me a drink?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.
ROB
I’m not really staying.
CHLOE
(signalling to the glass on
the table)
Yeah but you’ve already started.
ROB
That’s not mine, that’s Julie’s.
CHLOE
You offered her a drink?
ROB
I really didn’t. Look Chloe please,
just let it out.
CHLOE
Are you in that much of a rush?
ROB
Are there any more of you coming?
Should I just cancel going out
tonight?
CHLOE
Is that why you’re dressed up?
ROB
Yeah. Believe it or not, I actually
had things to do which didn’t
involve people yelling at me in my
own house.
CHLOE
I’m not here to yell at you.
ROB
Yeah, a message.
CHLOE
From Jenny.
ROB
I guessed.
CHLOE
(hesitates)
This build up doesn’t feel worth
it.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.
ROB
Is it that disappointing?
CHLOE
Well. You wouldn’t like reading it
on a Christmas card, no.
ROB
And why couldn’t she come give it
herself.
CHLOE
Various reasons. Mostly, you.
ROB
Wow, thanks.
CHLOE
Well you know what you can be like.
ROB
I’m really starting to wonder how
everyone’s coming to this
conclusion that I’m the asshole.
CHLOE
I was going to say difficult.
ROB
Thank you.
CHLOE
You did refuse to give back her
toothbrush.
ROB
That’s not-why is everyone-I gave
Julie the toothbrush.
CHLOE
Yeah, but Julie had to come get it.
ROB
I gave it- I had no intention of
keeping the toothbrush.
CHLOE
I’m just repeating what Hannah told
us.
ROB
Hannah told us? Wait Hannah told
Jenny I refused to give back the
toothbrush? Are you kidding me?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.
Chloe merely shrugs and Rob lets out another frustrated
groan before moving to his couch and sitting down as he
places his hand on his forehead and rubs it. He then lets
out a sharp whistle of breath.
ROB
You know what, I will have that
drink now.
CHLOE
It’s your house.
ROB
Thank you for recognizing that.
Chloe goes across to the cabinet and gets two more glasses
and the bottle and brings them to the table, where she pours
the both of them a glass, which Rob immediately starts
drinking as she takes a seat across from him.
ROB
What’s the message?
CHLOE
She said she’s asking you to
recognize that this isn’t easy for
her.
ROB
As opposed to the cakewalk I’m
having.
CHLOE
You’re having a cakewalk?
ROB
Don’t say that to her.
CHLOE
Agreed. And she’s asking you to
just make it easier on her and just
give her her stuff.
ROB
Seriously?
CHLOE
I-well I did say the build up
wasn’t worth it.
ROB
She couldn’t have done this by
herself. Even a text, she could
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.
ROB (cont’d)
have sent that as a text, she
didn’t need a proxy to tell me-
CHLOE
The first part. About recognizing
the lack of ease. This is where it
comes into play.
ROB
Why? Why is this meant to be so
easy for me then.
CHLOE
I never said it was.
ROB
She could make this a lot easier
for me. If she’d just talk to me.
CHLOE
I’m sure she would.
ROB
Then why won’t she?
CHLOE
Because that’s not easy for her.
Which funnily enough is still the
first part.
ROB
Urghhhh.
CHLOE
Look Rob, clearly you need someone
to you know-
ROB
Do you take her side?
CHLOE
Rob, I’m her best friend. That’s a
foregone conclusion.
ROB
Right yeah, because my side of
events doesn’t exist.
CHLOE
No I’ve fully taken into account
your side-
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.
ROB
Thank you.
CHLOE
I just genuinely think you’re in
the wrong.
ROB
Wow.
CHLOE
Yeah. You really should’ve let me
finish.
ROB
Thank you Chloe.
CHLOE
Rob honestly, you’ve spent all this
time being mad at everyone for her
not wanting to talk to you, have
you even considered why she might
not want to talk to you.
ROB
I’d appreciate it, if she told me.
CHLOE
See, you’d be like this. You
wouldn’t even let her get her side
across, you’d be too preoccupied
with why your side’s right.
ROB
I-
CHLOE
And it’s not. Not that it’s any of
my business but I’m just saying,
just because it’s your side of the
story you’re seeing, doesn’t make
it the right side of the story.
Consider where she’s coming from.
The two sit in silence as Rob stares off into the distance,
while Chloe awkwardly looks around the room.
CHLOE
Well. thank you for the drink.
Chloe stands up.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 24.
CHLOE
And, well I’m guessing we won’t be
seeing too much of each other but
erm, yeah keep well.
Chloe walks towards the door.
ROB
All I wanted was closure. Just one
simple conversation.
CHLOE
Yeah, I know.
Chloe leaves, closing the door behind her leaving Rob sat in
place.
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)
A short while later, STEVIE arrives home to find Rob still
sat on the couch as before. He shoots him a weird look as he
walks behind him to leave the room.
He comes back in a few moments later and sits next to Rob on
the couch.
STEVIE
I don’t know how to put this to
you. But just cause its my night to
do dishes doesn’t mean you can have
three glasses to yourself.
ROB
Guests.
STEVIE
(looks at Rob’s clothes)
Cool, cool. Where you headed to?
ROB
(looks at his watch)
Nowhere now.
STEVIE
Is there a new dresscode for the
house?
Stevie reaches across and grabs the REMOTE, switching on the
television.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 25.
ROB
Jenny’s left.
STEVIE
Whoa seriously? Ahhh, sorry man.
ROB
Yeah, it’s okay.
STEVIE
What happened?
ROB
I honestly don’t know.
STEVIE
How do you not know?
ROB
Steve, not tonight.
STEVIE
Ahh fair enough.
Both sit back on the couch in silence.
STEVIE
You know you’ve just made the
entire night awkward.
ROB
Yeah.
STEVIE
There’s like literally nothing else
on my mind.
ROB
Sorry.
STEVIE
Ah it’s cool. Probably a lot
tougher on you than me.
ROB
(turns his head to him)
Thank youuuuu.
STEVIE
What?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.
ROB
Don’t ask.
STEVIE
Okay...
The two sit in silence again.
STEVIE
Ah you’ll be fine-
ROB
I know.
STEVIE
Let me finish here.
ROB
I’m trying to end the conversation.
STEVIE
Pfft pissy much.
Stevie stands up and walks behind Rob to the back of the
couch.
STEVIE
Talk to you in the morning man.
ROB
Yeah thanks.
STEVIE
In the meantime you think about
what happened, it’s all I’m gonna
ask you about tomorrow.
Stevie heads out of the room and leaves Rob still staring
into the distance. A few moments pass before.
STEVIE
(off-screen)
Hey, where’s my toothbrush?
FADE OUT