Winner!!!

Yay for me! I just finished a screenplay in time to beat the deadline for ScriptFrenzy 2009. The title is "Wake Me" and tells the story of a family's loss and how they coped. There is humor, pathos and a smidgeon of sex. Plus many descriptions of food which are essential to any story featuring an Italian. Here is an excerpt......

A Screenplay By
Patricia Divita
April 1, 2009

Wake Me


Scene One a funeral home
Mourners are arriving, they stop to shake hands with the family members and pass respectfully before the coffin. A good looking woman is on display. She is sixtiesh, with smartly styled hair and dressed in a soft sweater and wearing pearls. Her ample bosom is a bit distracting in the tight sweater. The camera follows each mourner as they view and then take their seats to await the service.
Bella, the daughter detaches herself from the small group at the door and approaches the casket. The few people there step away to allow her some time alone with her mother.

Bella
Aunt susie, don't go. Stay and talk to me.
Aunt Susie
My back is killing me, honey. I'm just gonna go sit down. We can talk all you want. Just you come and sit next to me, and we'll talk.
BELLA
In a minute. I just can't believe she's gone.
Susie takes a seat and Bella stares at her mother's body. She seems to see a wink in her mother's eye and hears her mother's voice.
Patty
I see you finally wore that dress I bought you ten years ago. Told you it'd come in handy someday.
Bella shakes her head as if to clear it and stares again at her mother.
PATTY
And what about a purse? You know you'll need someplace to stash your dirty kleenex. Make sure you take a purse to the funeral. I assume you plan to cry at least a little? You can use my small black one. It's plain enough for even you I suppose.
BELLA
Mom, I can't believe you're gone.(whispering)I can't believe you're finally gone
Bella walks back to stand next to her father and brother to greet the stragglers who are arriving. She shakes hands, squeezes her dad's shoulder and puts her arm around her little brother. As the priest arrives the family takes their seats on the comfortable couches arranged in the front row. Bella spies the tissue box on the table next to her end of the couch and stares so hard at it that in her mind it bursts into flame and disintegrates in a puff of white smoke.
Priest
Good evening. I am Father Paul. We are here to celebrate the life of (he flips his note cards looking for her name) Patty uh-Die Vita. (he draws the name out with long vowels).
Junior
That's Dee Veeta. Like Velveeta, you know,the cheese.
Junior looks around as he hears polite chuckles and smiles at his own joke. Bella inwardly groans as she recalls that awful taunting from her childhood "Bella Velveeta, Bella Velveeta" rings in her ears. Show an image of a child on a playground, surrounded by chanting kids. The priest acknowledges his correction and continues.
PRIEST
Before we begin, would anyone like to speak? Perhaps recall a moment that you shared with the deceased? Or tell an anecdote that lays out the true character of our Sister, uh, Patty?
Susie
I'd like to say something. I've known Patty and her family since our kids were six years old. We met at the bowling alley when she couldn't control Junior. I grabbed a hold of his ear and yanked him back to his seat and told him not to move till the game was over. Patty was so impressed that he listned to me that she invited me over for coffee, which I don't drink anyway, blah, blah, blah
Pan to casket and show Patty's body. Then her voice appears over a scene from twenty years ago. See a younger slimmer Susie grabbing a small boy by the ear and yanking him to his seat. Patty's voice says
PATTY
Yeah. I was impressed. With how mean you were to my kid. I almost tackled you, but you had twenty pounds on me. Besides it worked. All the reasoning and bribing I had tried never worked. You actually got the little monster to sit still and bowl. And he became a really good bowler too.
scene shifts to two women through the years, drinking coffee, fixing each other's hair and shopping together.
PATTY
You were mean, Susie, but I loved you. Are you gonna miss me?
Pan back to Susie standing in front of her seat, tissues in hand. She is gulping for air as she winds up her monologue.
SUSIE
Oh, Patty, I'm gonna miss you so damned much!
PRIEST
That was a shining example of Patty's life as a friend. Would anyone else like to offer their story of life with Patty?
The priest chuckles a little, warming to his task and the fact that he actually remembered her name without checking his notes. The room squirms as no one raises their hand at first. Bella gets a look on her face as if she is about to speak, then thinks better of it. The moment is saved by a man that no one seems to know. He raises his hand and then stands shakily. He is at least eighty years old, with thin white hair and a cane which he leans on as he prepares to speak. He clears his throat of a noisy glob and speaks.
Woody
My name is Woodrow Wilson. Yes I was named after the president of the same name. In my day they called me Woody and it wasn't just short for my given name, if you know what I mean?
He cackles lasciviously and begins to cough. A younger man sitting next to him renders assistance and hands him a handkerchief which he finally spits into, folds it over and wipes his chin and face. Camera rests on Patty in the coffin. She is seeing scenes of extreme carnal lust and lovemaking. Her eyes are filled with panic.
PATTY
Woody, you pig! Don't you say another word! So help me God, I'll murder you as you stand there if you say one more word about us. I never told Mario about you. So, ok. You were the best and biggest I ever had. You could make me scream louder than anyone before or since. But that was forty years ago and my husband and kids are in this room. For Christ's sake I am dead! Do you want to join me? Perhaps I could arrange that?
Woody gathers himself and as if he has seen a vision, his face relaxes into a beatific smile. He squares his frail shoulders and says
WOODY
I just wanted to say that Patty was the best assistant a man could have ever asked for. She was a great loss to the agency when Mario stole her away from us.
PRIEST
What a nice sentiment. Thank you sir. Would anyone else like to speak?
From the back of the room a woman stands and straightens her clothing before she speaks. She is dressed in a stylish manor and appears to be about the same age as the deceased.
Mary Lou
Good evening. My name is Mary Lou and I am an old friend of Patty's. We went to high school together and recently reconnected. On Face Book, you know. Patty was my best friend in high school and I can't tell you what it meant to me to find her after all these years. It was such a shock to me when I read her death notice in the Free Press. I just had to come. She is the tenth person to die from our class. That's frightening.
As Mary Lou drones on the camera catches Patty in the coffin. A fly settles on her closed lips. It is a female and she is attempting to lay her eggs in the wax that fills the space between Patty's lips. Pan to Patty's ghost watching from above. She purses her lips and blows a mighty gust at the fly.
PATTY
Get off my lips you dirty thing! Go lay your eggs elsewhere. Why don't you try that gaping mouth that's talking right now? Ye gods and little fishes! That girl never shuts up. If I had to spend eternity with her, I'd know I was in hell. I can remember one day in high school, we went on a double date.
Camera fades to a diner from the sixties. Four teens are seated in a booth. Three of them are eating. One of the girls is talking while her food just sits there. The other three wear pained expressions.
MARY LOU
So, as I was saying, if we can elect a Catholic as president, who knows what will happen next. Maybe the Pope will come to America and we can all go see him. Maybe we'll actually send people to the moon and find out just what's up there. I mean the possibilities are endless. Why, I think that I might consider politics. I'm a good talker, people like me.
The other three teens, a young Patty and two boys are finishing their food. Patty steals some of Mary Lou's fries and her date takes her burger. They wear pained expressions.
MARY LOU
So what do you guys think?
PATTY
I think your Mom will ground you if we don't get going. It's almost ten o'clock.
Bart
Yeah. I've gotta have the car back by ten thirty. My mom's on the night shift at the hospital.
MARY LOU.
Oh, Bart. Have I ever told you how much I admire your mother? She is such a fine example for all of us young women. Imagine having a career as a nurse and still raising four kids! Why I can only imagine what it must be like to help so many suffering people.
PATTY
Come on. We'll be suffering if we're late.
Mary Lou looks down at her plate and sees only crumbs. She blinks and smiles. Shakes her head and neatly picks up the lone french fry and dips it into a blob of catsup.
MARY LOU
I can't believe I ate the whole thing! I've never finished a whole Big Chief Burger before. I must have really been hungry!
The boys leave money on the table and they all slide out of their booth and Mary Lou can still be heard babbling on as they leave the diner. The camera pans back to the funeral home.
MARY LOU
She was the best friend I ever had!
She pauses to dab at her eyes with a lacy handkerchief and the priest quickly takes the floor.
PRIEST
Thank you for that kind memory of the deceased. It is getting late now and I really must start the scripture service.
The priest drapes a purple stole around his neck and opens a small prayer book. As he drones on Patty is seen sitting on a small settee off to the side. She is looking into the hearts of all the people present. She stops when she comes to Susie, her best friend for twenty years.
PATTY
What the hell!?! I can read your thoughts you treacherous bitch! You want Mario! You are plotting right now how you are going to get him! Watch it! Watch it! I can see that memory! Stop it right now! I don't want to know this!
As Patty is talking bits of action begin to form. She sees Susie bringing lasagna to her house after the funeral. She brings it in and cuts a piece for Mario. She pours him some wine and sits down across from him. The scene shifts to fifteen years earlier. It is a party in someone’s back yard. Everyone is drinking and Mario has gone off behind the garage to relieve himself. It is dark and you can hear a zipper, the sounds of urination, a sigh and then a zipper. Mario heads back towards the party and bumps into someone.
Mario
'Scuse me. Heh, Susie. What're ya doin in the men's room? ha-ha.
SUSIE
I saw you come back here, Mario.
She grabs him and shoves him up against the garage and kisses him as she rubs her body against his. For a split second he kisses her back, and then pushes her away.
MARIO
What's a matta with you? Doan ever do that again! I only kiss my wife.
SUSIE
You kissed me back.
MARIO
I was just surprised thas all. Go on get outta here.
Mario shakes her off and heads back around the garage to the bonfire where he quickly rejoins his wife and squeezes her ass just for reassurance.
The camera comes back to Patty in the funeral home.
PATTY
You bitch! I remember that party. When we got home Mario was so hard we would have made another baby if he hadn't been fixed. You kissed my husband and now you're plotting to steal him with your second rate lasagna! Well, I can tell you it won't work. He'll never eat your lasagna like he ate mine.
She smiles and the camera rests on her family as they respond to the prayers that the priest is saying. As the service ends, the mourners rise and make their way past the casket and one by one come up to the family and shake hands, give hugs and kisses and then file out.
Screen fades to black
Scene Two the family home
Bella is straightening up the house before going to bed for the night. She picks up a newspaper, looks at it briefly and then chucks it into the recycle bin. She rinses a few glasses and puts them in the dishwasher. Then she turns out the kitchen light and wanders into the family room. Her father is asleep in the recliner and she reaches for the remote to shut off the TV. Then she covers him with an afghan and walks away to the back of the house. She pauses before a closed door. She reaches for the knob, turns it and then hesitates as the door seems to swing wide open on its own. She reaches inside and flips on the light. The room is revealed to be cluttered and messy with the bed unmade and many articles lying around. There is a coffee cup and several wrappers lying on the nightstand along with a book lying opened to the last page her mother had read before falling asleep for the last time. Bella picks her way through several pairs of shoes that have been left where Patty kicked them off and reaches for the book. She closes it and turns it over to see what it is. It is a how to book, "How To Sell Your First Novel". Bella carefully replaces it face down on the nightstand just as she found it. She stands and looks around her. The room is not large and it is very cluttered, but she seems to be searching for something. Then she smiles as she spies the photo stuck with several others around the frame of Patty's mirror. It is of a smiling baby in red sleepers holding on to her crib rail. It is a photo of Bella from when her mother still loved her.
Bella reaches for the photo and places it in the pocket of her bathrobe, turns and walks to the door. She turns out the light and doesn't look back as she closes the door. She walks to her own room, places the photo in the frame of her own mirror next to several of her family and crawls wearily into her bed.
Scene Three family home, next morning
Bella is sitting up in her bed with a cup of coffee and a granola bar and talking on the phone.
BELLA
Honestly, Laura, it is so weird. My dad won't go in the room. He sleeps in his recliner. I mean, what is he gonna do? Sleep in a chair forever?
Laura
Give him time. He'll get over it.
BELLA
He told me not to go in there, not to touch anything. But I did. I wanted her favorite picture of me, so I went in there last night and took it. He'll never miss it. She has so much stuff stuck around her mirror. It was like a giant bulletin board.
LAURA
You mean that one of you in the cute red jammies? With all your curly hair? She showed that one to me every time I came over. You were a really cute baby.
BELLA
Thanks, I guess. I wish things hadn't been so strained between us the last few years. You know what I was going through, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her anything. Now she's only been gone three days, but I want to tell her everything. When I woke up this morning, my first thought was that I wanted to tell her about her death. Then it hit me, 'she's dead. I can't tell her what it was like to find her stiff and cold and dead'
Bella begins to cry
LAURA
Oh, honey, cry it out. I know you hate tears, but tears are natural. You've lost your mother for god's sake. It must have been awful for you. I still can't believe that your dad just got up and went on his bike ride and didn't realize she was gone.
BELLA
(Hiccupping) Yep. Left it to me to find her. If the phone hadn't been for her, she'd have been there till who knows when. I was ready to leave for work when the call came. Oh, I guess it's better that I found her. It might have killed my dad too, if he had found her.
LAURA
Did they find out what happened to her yet? The autopsy?
BELLA
Yah. It was a stroke. Massive. Instant. Just the way she always said she wanted to go. Although I think her exact wish was to be hit by a speeding bus. (chuckles)
LAURA
That's better. Trust me, honey. It will get better. You can look back and remember little things like the bus and smile about them.
BELLA
I'm sure you're right. There were a lot more good times than the bad ones. I just wish I could forget the bad ones. We used to fight so much. We said awful things to each other. (She cries again)
Laura.
Ok. Now I have a direct order for you. Hang up this phone and go directly to the bathroom. Turn on the shower as hot as you can stand it. Stay in that shower and cry till the tears are gone and when they're gone you can get out of the shower. Even if the water runs cold, don't get out till the tears are gone. Ok?
BELLA
Yes mam, Sergeant Laura!
Bella hangs up the phone and starts to pick up her coffee cup and wrappers. Then leaves them where they lie and goes to carry out Laura's orders. She turns on the water and the room fills with steam. She strips off her nightshirt and we see a shot of her foot kicking the discarded garment into a corner. She opens the shower door and steps in. The tears that have been streaming from her eyes are washed away by the hot water but her face convulses in anguish. We can see her thoughts as she remembers a seen from the past...
PATTY
Bella, get out of that shower! Now! I have an appointment in exactly one hour. I told you that. You should have taken your shower long ago.
BELLA
In a minute.
Bella soaps her skin and grins. She turns to rinse and turns again to lather her legs and begins to shave them.
PATTY
Ok. That's it. You are so finished.
Several seconds go by and just as Bella has lathered her hair with shampoo, the water slows to a trickle. She screams
BELLA
You Bitch! Turn that water back on!
PATTY
Out! Get out of that bathroom now!
BELLA
Maa! Please turn it back on! I have shampoo in my hair.
PATTY
I will, but you have less than five minutes to rinse it out.
The camera comes back to the present and instead of increasing, the tears have stopped and Bella is smiling tentatively. She reaches for the soap and begins to lather herself. By the time she starts her shampoo, her father is knocking on the door.
MARIO
Hurry up, Bella. I gotta get in there.
BELLA
In a minute, Daddy.
Bella finishes her shower quickly, wraps a towel around her long hair and reaches for her mother's bathrobe which is still hanging on a hook on the bathroom door. As she wraps its ample size around herself, she looks into the mirror and through the steam, just for a minute, she sees her mother and smiles.
Bella opens the bathroom door and passes her father as he takes her place in the small room. Bella enters her own bedroom and sits on her bed for a minute. She smoothes the plush terrycloth of the robe and smiles again. An image forms in her mind. She is streaking through the house with only a towel wrapped around her bare torso.
PATTY
Damn it, Bella! How many times have I told you not to do that? You never know when your brother will walk in with his friends. The last thing those horn dogs need to see is a teenage girl running naked through the house!
BELLA
I'm not naked. I have a towel on.
PATTY
But they know you're naked underneath. Wear that robe I bought you two years ago.
BELLA
I hate that robe. You wear it!
PATTY
Ok, miss smarty pants, I will. It is a perfectly wonderful robe. I spent a small fortune for it. Don't you go asking for it back once I've used it, 'cause you won't get it.
BELLA
I can't hear you, but whatever!
The camera returns to Bella sitting on her bed hugging herself. She smiles and says
BELLA
I'm wearing the robe, Ma. I'm taking it back.
The funeral home
The family is greeting guests again as they prepare for the morning service. There will be brief prayers and then mourners will file past for the last time before closing the casket. It is a nice, sunny day.
SUSIE
There you are Bella. I was looking for you.
BELLA
I've been right here Aunt Susie. It's a beautiful day isn't it? Mom always loved a sunny day
SUSIE
Listen. I've got three pans of lasagna and a Texas sheet cake in my trunk. Gimme your keys and I'll run 'em over to your house right now. I can be back before the prayers start.
BELLA
Oh, you shouldn't have, Aunt Susie. We're having a catered lunch sent in.
SUSIE
But your Dad, and your Mom, always loved my lasagna. It's all baked. Just needs to be heated up a little. I'll take care of everything. Just give me your keys.
Bella walks over to where she has put the small black purse that she has borrowed from her mother's drawer. She retrieves her keys and gives them to Susie. On the way out she meets Brenda another friend who is carrying a cake.
SUSIE
Give me that cake, Brenda. I'm on my way over to Patty's now. I have some stuff to deliver. You can't take a cake into a funeral home!
Susie cackles and reaches for the cake. She almost drops it as she accepts it from Brenda.
Brenda
Steady there, Susie! Are you sure you've got it?
SUSIE
Oh, I've got it all right.
Susie has noticed that it is a Cassata cake. One of Mario's favorites. She realizes that she may have some competition with her plans to ease Mario's grief.
BRENDA
Maybe I should come too.
SUSIE
Nah! You go on inside. I'll be back in ten minutes.
Susie places the Cake next to her own food in her trunk. She has a brief thought of tossing it into the dumpster that she is parked next to, but reconsiders. She likes Cassata cake too. She drives the few blocks to Patty’s house and pulls in the driveway. She exits the car and unlocks the side door. Opening the trunk she sees everything is ok and again has brief thoughts of dropping the Cassata cake, but carries it dutifully into the house and makes room in the fridge. She places her own pans of Lasagna and cake on the counter. They will be fine for a few hours. She looks around and a tear forms in the corner of her eye as she thinks of all the times she has sat at this counter sipping tea while Patty drank her coffees and talked about their lives. She shakes off the sadness, wipes away the tear and straightens her shoulders. She sucks in her belly and takes a last look at the food.
SUSIE
Lasagna trumps cake any old time!
Susie hurries out of the house and returns to the funeral home. The service is about to start and she takes one of the few remaining seats as the funeral director steps to the front of the room
Funeral Man
Please take your seats as we say a few prayers and then all will file past the casket to say their final farewells.
The camera pans the room and takes in the faces of the mourners. The family is seated in the front row as is the custom. Junior can barely control his sobs, Bella is stoic in her comfort of Junior and Mario is silently crying. The prayers conclude and from the rear of the room the mourners file past the open casket. Susie notices that Brenda had grabbed a seat right behind Mario and was even now patting his shoulder and offering tissues. She takes comfort in the fact that Mario doesn't seem to notice she is even there. The crowd passes into the parking lot and Susie waits near the door for Brenda to emerge. Brenda is a redhead like Patty and she finally steps out into the sun with her shining hair catching the suns rays. To Susie she appears as a glamorous rival for Mario's attention.
SUSIE
You look like you're headed for a night on the town instead of to a funeral.
BRENDA
I thought to honor Patty by looking my best at her send off. I was never one for drab!
She looks down her nose at Susie who is wearing her best navy blue funeral outfit. Susie's naturally curly dark brown hair is salt and pepper, but attractively styled and blowing freely in the breeze that has sprung up. She runs her hand through her natural do and comments
SUSIE
I hope your hairspray holds. There seems to be a wind coming up.
BRENDA
Never fear, I have extra in my purse.
Return to the interior of the funeral home. The three family members are holding on to each other. Bella is stoic. She has to maintain herself for her dad and her baby brother. They are crying piteously and the funeral director places a hand on Mario's shoulder.
FUNERAL MAN
It's time, Mr. DiVita. We have to leave for the church now.
Mario sucks in his breath and rubs his eyes. Bella hands him a box of tissues and Junior looks back over his shoulder as the Funeral man escorts them out a side door into a waiting limousine. The camera goes back to the front lawn of the funeral home where the Funeral guys are urging folks to their cars and placing flags on the cars as they line up behind the cortege. Finally all is ready and the procession begins.
Footage of the funeral mass, the priest and the mourners. The family is stoic during the mass and then the priest makes an announcement.
PRIEST
Due to the deceased's wishes for cremation, the service is now ended. Our celebration of Patty's life will continue at the family home at 310 E. Maplehurst. Everyone is invited to stop by for food and friendship. The family would like to thank you all for attending.
Mario, Bella and Junior are the first one out. Susie is right behind them. She is not about to let Brenda get ahead of her again. She sticks like glue till she sees Brenda get into her car and then she turns to Bella.
SUSIE
I'll just run ahead, honey and get the house opened up. I took the house key off your ring, so I'm all set. See you there.
BELLA
Aunt Susie, you're a doll. We shouldn't be too long. We have to sign some papers and then the limo will bring us home. See you in a few.


The family Home
The house is fairly crowded and more people are arriving. Susie is in the kitchen overseeing the caterers who have arrived with steaming pans of chicken and huge bowls of salad. When Susie sees a young man carrying in a pan loaded with mostaccioli she sends him back to the truck. Then thinks better of it. She will let Mario see how much better her lasagna is than the caterer’s pasta.
People are drinking in the living room and they begin to wander into the kitchen. Susie has just removed her apron when the limo pulls up. She hurries to the front door.
SUSIE
There you are! Everything's ready. You all need a drink. I had them set up a table between the living room and dining room for a bar.
MARIO
You are so right about that Susie. I need a drink for sure.
She puts her arm around the two kids and follows Mario to the table filled with wine bottles and a few half gallons of whiskey and vodka. They each take a plastic tumbler of wine and clink glasses
SUSIE
To Patty!
BELLA
To Mom!
JUNIOR
To the best Mom!
MARIO
To my wife!
The crowd realizes that the family has arrived and they gather around the Divitas. One by one each breaks off from Susie to form their own little groups. Junior gravitates to his cousins and they head outside where the wind has died down and a blazing sun peeks through the shade of the backyard trees. They go behind the garage and smoke a joint.
Bella is surrounded by her faithful friends and Mario is passed from group to group. Susie has brought him a plate of chicken, salad and Lasagna. She takes a seat next to him with her own plate.
MARIO
I didn't think I could ever eat again. Coarse that's stupid. I gotta eat. Everybody’s gotta eat. This lasagna is the best!
SUSIE
I made it. I'm the one who gave the recipe to Patty.
Mario looks stricken and lays his plate down on a side table. Susie's face shows her consternation.
SUSIE
Mario. It's ok. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. But you gotta know. There's gonna be lotsa times in the next few weeks and months that somebody's gonna say sumthin and it will punch you right in the gut. You can't just drop what you're doing every time it happens. You gotta go on. That's what Patty would want you to do.
Patty appears in a ghost like form behind Mario's chair. She seems to be fading slightly.
PATTY
That's exactly right Susie. He's gonna hafta grow a pair unless he wants to follow right behind me.
Susie feels a chill and shivers. She touches Mario's knee and draws her hand back sharply.
SUSIE
I got a shock. That is so weird.
PATTY
Try it again Susie. I still have a little electricity left in me.
MARIO
You're right as always, Susie. I can't stop living. I gotta go on. It's gonna hurt, but this is mighty good lasagna and the chicken ain't too bad either.
He picks up his plate as he says this and begins to finish his meal. Brenda makes a perfectly timed entrance with a huge slice of cassata cake. She has removed her jacket and as she bends over to serve him, she flashes her big boobs along with her smile. Patty's ghost is steaming in the corner. She attempts to do something to Brenda but discovers she is fading faster. She can no longer affect the living. She shoots a final telepathic message to Susie. Susie's foot snakes out and trips Brenda.
BRENDA
Oh! Oh my god! I ruined your cake, Mario!
There is frosting all over Brenda's chest and the cake is smashed beyond repair. Susie's face is bewildered. Brenda begins to cry and leaves the room.
MARIO
Did you trip her? I thought I saw your foot go out?
SUSIE
Shh! You didn't see nuthin. The devil made me do it.
Patty can be seen hovering nearby, smiling slyly.
People are starting to leave. One by one they come to say good bye and hug each member of the family. Junior is stoned and it's not a good high. He is sitting in the corner crying. Bella gets him to his feet and takes him up to his room.
Mario closes and locks the front door and makes his way to the back of the house. He stops to look in the dining room mirror and for just a second he sees Patty. She looks radiant before she is gone from sight. He touches his lips in salute and turns to go and pay the caterers.
MARIO
There you are Julio. Everything was good. Very good. How much do I owe you?
Julio
That will be an even three hundred, Mr. Mario.
MARIO
Are you sure? That seems too low.
JULIO
For you a discount, Mario. Every day you stop in my place and pass the time with my Poppa. It makes his day.
Mario sits down to write a check and Julio accepts it. As Julio steps out the back door, Mario sees Brenda coming up the driveway. He stays standing at the back door not wanting to let her in. He is tired and wants to take off his shoes and just rest. He's had too much wine and too much food.
BRENDA
Is everybody gone? I had to go home and change. You know, I don't want to sound paranoid, but I think Susie tripped me. She never has liked me.
MARIO
Brenda. What can I say? Would a grown woman trip you at my wife's wake? It was an accident.
BRENDA
Aren't you going to let me in? I hid another piece of that cassata cake behind the pickles in the fridge. I know you love it and it would be a shame if you didn't get any.
Mario shrugs and steps aside. Brenda enters and goes straight to the refrigerator. She manages to bend way over and show a lot of leg. Mario looks away, but then slowly his eyes are drawn back to Brenda's butt. She is moving it back and forth.
BRENDA
Now where did they put that cake? I'll just die if someone found it and ate it.
MARIO
That's ok Brenda. I'll find it tomorrow.
BRENDA
You know cassata cake is no good the next day.
MARIO
I always eat it the next day. It's good to me.
She finally finds it and turns with a flourish
BRENDA
Ta da! Here it is. It was behind the eggs, not the pickles.
Mario decides he can't fight it so he seats himself at the kitchen table and allows Brenda to set the plate in front of him. She gets a fork from the drawer and sits next to him as he takes a bight.
BRENDA
How is it?
MARIO
It is soo good, Brenda. It is the best. I'm glad I didn't miss out on this.
Mario finishes the last bite of cake and there is whipped cream on his mustache. Brenda just looks at him and bursts out laughing.
BRENDA
You look like one of those "Got Milk?" ads. Only in your case it's whipped cream.
She takes her fore finger and wipes it off. Then she licks the cream off her finger. She is wearing a suggestive top and Mario grabs her breast. She feigns surprise only for a moment. They begin to grapple on the floor, but a loud clap of thunder and flash of lightning brings Mario to his senses.
MARIO
Oh. My god! Brenda! Forgive me. I must be mad with grief. You are such a good friend and here I am taking advantage. Forgive me.
BRENDA
There's nothing to forgive, Mario.
She reaches over to where he is leaning against the stove and sits astride him. She opens her blouse and as he buries his head in her chest, the lightening flashes and the power is out in Ferndale. During brief flashes of light from the storm, Mario can be seen burying his grief in Brenda. Fade to black.