Vapors: The Essential G. Wayne Miller Fiction Vol. 2
Page 17
BEN
Thanks. But I think it would be better if—
SERENA (O.S.)
I’ll come by tomorrow at nine.
BEN
I’m busy all morning.
SERENA (O.S.)
Then I’ll see you at two.
BEN
But Serena—
SERENA (O.S.)
Two o’clock. Your studio. Toodles.
Before Ben can say more, Serena hangs up. He checks caller ID — but ‘unknown number’ comes up.
INT. BEN’S STUDIO - LATE AFTERNOON
Ben is closing shop for the day. STEVE has stopped by to chat.
BEN
Do you remember Serena Fisher?
STEVE
Serena Fisher... Serena Fisher... sounds familiar. Give me a clue.
BEN
I went out with her the summer we graduated from college.
STEVE
That’s right — your father made no secret of hating her. Sure, I remember her. Gorgeous girl, great figure, long brown hair. Kind of wild, right?
BEN
That’s her.
STEVE
Why?
BEN
She’s here on the island.
STEVE
Really. I don’t think she’s been back since you two broke up. At least I haven’t seen her.
BEN
She wants me to do her portrait. I don’t think I should. There’s something strange about the whole thing — I mean, apart from having someone from a previous lifetime dial
you direct. I saw her yesterday. Twice. At The Atlantic and then again out on the bluffs.
STEVE
Let me guess: Not so gorgeous any more?
BEN
No, that’s what’s so weird. She still is gorgeous. As if time stopped for her.
STEVE
You sure it wasn’t her niece or something?
BEN
I’m sure.
STEVE
So what’s the big deal? You take her picture, talk old times, and see-you-later. Or is it more than that? You got an old itch you maybe want her to scratch?
BEN
No.
STEVE
You used to tell me sex with her was better than cocaine.
BEN
It was.
(a beat)
But there’s more to life than sex.
STEVE
Really? Name something.
BEN
A good wife.
STEVE (laughs)
I wouldn’t know.
BEN
Anyway, it’s just weird. Seventeen years without a single word. And then boom, here she is.
STEVE
It’ll probably be another 17 before you hear from her again. I wouldn’t sweat it.
(a beat)
How about a beer?
BEN
Can’t. I’m meeting Steffie at the ferry. But I’ll take a rain check.
EXT. OLD HARBOR, BLOCK ISLAND - EARLY EVENING
Ben greets Stephanie as she disembarks the ferry. She is wearing a business suit and carrying a briefcase, which she drops before embracing Ben with uncharacteristic emotion. The kiss lingers as the crowd swirls past.
BEN
Boy — you’re unusually affectionate. Are you having an affair or something?
STEPHANIE
No, silly. But I do have something big to tell you.
BEN
Hit me with it.
STEPHANIE
Not here. Are you doing one of your famous island dinners?
BEN
Steamers, boiled lobster, corn on the cob, Chardonnay — of course we’re doing an island dinner.
STEPHANIE
Do we have reservations for the front porch?
BEN
Where else?
STEPHANIE
Then I’ll tell you there.
BEN
That’s not fair.
STEPHANIE
Who said life was fair? We wait ‘til dinner. But I should warn you: You may be drinking alone.
Stephanie runs ahead of Ben and hops into his Cherokee. Ben follows and they drive off down the main street.
CUT TO:
A shot of Serena on the balcony of The Atlantic Hotel. She has been watching everything through binoculars. Neither Ben nor Stephanie have noticed.
EXT. SUMMER HOUSE - PORCH - EVENING
CUT TO:
Stephanie has changed into a cotton dress and her hair is down, making her look more attractive. She and Ben are seated at the wicker table, which has the remains of their dinner.
STEPHANIE
Are you comfortable?
BEN
Never been more so.
STEPHANIE
Do you love me?
BEN
Of course I love you.
STEPHANIE
More than the moon and the stars?
BEN
Are you sure you’re not having an affair?
STEPHANIE
Cross my heart and hope to die.
BEN
Well, then? The suspense is killing me.
STEPHANIE
I’m pregnant.
BEN (a beat)
You are?
STEPHANIE
Is that all you can say — ‘you are?’
They kiss.
BEN
It’s great news!
STEPHANIE
I found out yesterday.
BEN
And you didn’t tell me? Steffie!
STEPHANIE
What kind of loser would break news like that over the phone?
BEN
This calls for a toast!
STEPHANIE
Only a taste for me.
Ben pours fresh wine. From inside comes the sound of a PHONE RINGING. Ben bolts from his chair.
BEN
It’s probably about my father. Hold that toast.
I’ll be right back.
INT. SUMMER HOUSE - BEN’S FATHER’S STUDY - EVENING
Ben is on the land line talking to Serena, who remains off-screen for this conversation.
SERENA (O.S.)
She’s not nearly as pretty as I imagined.
BEN
What are you doing calling here?
SERENA (O.S.)
Somebody ought to tell her that not even grandmothers put their hair up in buns any more. And that business suit. I don’t even know where to go with that.
BEN
I don’t want you to call here.
SERENA (O.S.)
She can’t possibly be any good in bed.
BEN
I’m hanging up now, Serena.
SERENA (O.S.)
Please don’t. I shouldn’t have said that. But seeing her brought back old feelings.
BEN
Why are you calling?
SERENA (O.S.)
To confirm my appointment for tomorrow.
BEN
I’ve been thinking a lot about that. I don’t think
we should do it.
SERENA (O.S.)
What are you afraid of, Ben?
BEN
Look, there are other photographers on the island. I can recommend someone.
SERENA (O.S.)
But I want you. Look — it’s not like I’m asking you to go out with me or anything. This is strictly professional.
BEN
It would be better if you got someone else.
SERENA (O.S.)
Just an hour. That’s all it would take. Please? I promise no more shitty comments.
BEN
I just think—
SERENA (O.S.)
Please, Ben? Don’t make me beg.
BEN
(after a pause)
I’ll see you at two o’clock.
SERENA (O.S.)
You sound funny, Ben. Like there’s an echo.
FLASHBACK
BEN
I’m in my father’s study.<
br />
SERENA (O.S.)
I remember your father’s study. We made love there one night. The irony of fucking in his favorite room was almost too much to take.
INT. SUMMER HOUSE - BEN’S FATHER’S STUDY - NIGHT
With the passion of twenty-somethings, young Ben and Serena are making love. They’re interrupted by Houghtie, calling his son from somewhere in the house.
BEN’S FATHER (O.S.)
Benjamin? Benjamin Houghton! Where are you? Is that girl here?
END FLASHBACK
INT. SUMMER HOUSE - BEN’S FATHER’S STUDY - EVENING
Ben is still on the phone with Serena. Stephanie, still on the porch, has become concerned.
STEPHANIE (O.S.)
Ben? Are you all right?
BEN
(whispers into the phone)
I have to go now.
SERENA (O.S.)
Sweet dreams, Ben.
Ben unplugs the phone and exits the study.
EXT. SUMMER HOUSE - PORCH - EVENING
STEPHANIE
Was it about your father?
BEN
Nope. Wrong number.
STEPHANIE
That was awfully long for a wrong number.
BEN
Some people can’t take no for an answer. Now, where were we? That’s right — our toast. Here’s to us — the three of us. Cheers.
STEPHANIE
Cheers!
INT. SUMMER HOUSE - BEN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Stephanie and Ben attempt love-making, but it doesn’t go anywhere. They lie next to each other, talking.
STEPHANIE
Is anything wrong? I wanted tonight to be wonderful.
BEN
It is. It’s just a lot to have happening all at once: my father, now you being pregnant.
STEPHANIE
You want this baby, don’t you?
BEN
Would we have gone through all that if I didn’t? But I can’t forget what happened before.
STEPHANIE
That was almost a decade ago. The doctor says there’s no medical reason for it to happen again.
BEN
I’m afraid, that’s all.
STEPHANIE
Don’t be. I have a good feeling. A great feeling.
FLASHBACK
INT. HOSPITAL LABOR ROOM - NIGHT
About five months after Stephanie and Ben married. Stephanie is in extreme pain as her contractions come closer and closer. Ben is doing the best he can with Lamaze.
Suddenly, the fetal monitor ALARM goes off.
STEPHANIE
What’s that?
BEN
The monitor.
STEPHANIE
What’s it mean?
BEN
I don’t know.
Two NURSES come running into the room.
FIRST NURSE
The heart rate is dropping!
SECOND NURSE
We’ve got to get her to delivery!
FIRST NURSE
Call a code!
The second nurse leaves the room, and barely an instant passes before a loudspeaker is summoning anesthesiology, surgery, neonatology, etc., STAT. Medical personnel rush about, and Stephanie is wheeled across the hall to delivery. Forgotten in the frenzy, Ben tags along.
INT. HOSPITAL DELIVERY ROOM - THAT NIGHT
An OBSTETRICIAN begins a Cesarean section.
OBSTETRICIAN
Hemostat... scalpel... cautery, please... where’s that pulse?... I can’t stop this bleeding... Damn it, where’s that pulse? I think we’re losing it... Goddamnit, I think we’re losing it...
CUT TO:
The delivery room, after the operation. Stephanie is clutching their son, who was stillborn, to her chest. She and
Ben are sobbing. The only other person left in the room is the obstetrician, who is on her way out.
OBSTETRICIAN (CONT’D)
Take as much time as you need.
END FLASHBACK
EXT. OLD HARBOR, BLOCK ISLAND - NOON
The next day. Stephanie and Ben are on the pier, awaiting the call to board. They are holding hands. Among those passing by are a younger, smiling couple with their baby.
BEN
It’s so easy for some people.
STEPHANIE
But we finally got here.
The ferry whistle BLOWS. Stephanie and Ben kiss one last time, and then Stephanie squeezes Ben’s hand. She seems less anxious about all this than her husband.
STEPHANIE (CONT’D)
Everything’s going to turn out fine. I promise.
BEN
Can I have it in writing?
STEPHANIE
In a sworn deposition, if you’d like.
Stephanie is no sooner aboard than the WHISTLE BLOWS again, the gangplank is thrown, and the ferry heads to sea, leaving Ben on the pier, waving.
INT. BEN’S STUDIO - JUST AFTER NOON
Ben comes in through an open door to find Serena, attired in a summery red dress. She is sitting at Ben’s desk. He is not amused.
BEN
What are you doing here?
SERENA
The door was unlocked. I let myself in.
BEN
I never leave the place unlocked.
(a beat)
It’s not two o’clock yet.
SERENA
No, but since you didn’t have anything else booked I figured we could get an early start. But if you’d like me to come back—Ben goes to the harborside window and looks out. The ferry is well out to sea.
BEN
I need time to set up.
SERENA
I’ve got all the time in the world.
Ben starts arranging flashes, tripods, cords, backdrops, etc. He started his career with Kodak film, but he has long since gone digital.
SERENA (CONT’D)
I don’t want digital, Ben. Bytes and megabytes — they take the magic away. Do you shoot real film anymore?
BEN
I haven’t in a long time.
SERENA
Do you still have the equipment?
BEN
Somewhere back there.
SERENA
Then use that. I want close-ups, candids, the works. A full portfolio.
BEN
What are you planning to do with it?
SERENA
I’m going to model.
BEN
You won’t find many modeling jobs on Block Island.
BEN
(a beat)