{"id":3207,"date":"2019-09-30T08:02:36","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T15:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/?p=3207"},"modified":"2019-09-30T08:02:36","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T15:02:36","slug":"going-out-into-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/archives\/3207","title":{"rendered":"Going Out Into The World"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Winter<\/a><\/p>\n

Going Out Into the World<\/em>: a screenplay for a short movie<\/p>\n

The film begins with a slow fade to a close-up of a foggy mirror transected by runaway drops of water.<\/p>\n

Now we see Margot\u2019s blurred form behind a steamy translucent shower curtain hanging down into a claw-foot bathtub.<\/p>\n

A woman in her forties, Margot turns off the water and reaches out from behind the shower curtain to fetch a large white towel hanging from a hook on the wall. She wraps the towel around her so she is covered from her armpits down to a few inches above her knees. She opens the shower curtain, steps out of the tub, and stands before the foggy mirror.<\/p>\n

Using a small hand towel, she clears a patch of the mirror, her expression revealing a subtle disquiet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can do this, Margot,\u201d she says, longingly. \u201cWe can go out. With Sara\u2019s help. We can. Please?\u201d<\/p>\n

The camera lingers on her reflection as she takes a deep breath and the scene dissolves to her bedroom where muted morning sunlight slants through a south-facing window.<\/p>\n

A large framed print of Picasso\u2019s Three Musicians<\/i> is centered on the wall opposite her queen-sized bed, the linens gray, the comforter white.<\/p>\n

Wearing a white blouse and black underwear, Margot stands at the foot of her bed and looks down at a trio of long skirts assembled there: black, brown, and red. She picks up the black skirt, muses for a moment, puts the black skirt down and takes up the red skirt as the scene dissolves to her standing in her tidy kitchen wearing the white blouse tucked into black trousers.<\/p>\n

Margot\u2019s two cats, a calico and a black, swirl around her bare feet.<\/p>\n

Margot fills two small bowls with dry cat food, sets the bowls on the floor by the back door, and as her cats rush to eat, she smiles for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cBon appetite, my darlings,\u201d she says softly.<\/p>\n

With slow deliberate movements, Margot fills a kettle with water and puts the kettle on the stove, opens a cupboard, and gets out a dark green teapot. She measures loose black tea into the teapot and the scene dissolves to her sitting at a small table in the dining nook of the kitchen. She sips her cup of tea and pets the black cat on her lap, the calico sitting on a nearby chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cSara is coming today,\u201d she says, speaking to her cats. \u201cWe might go to a caf\u00e9.\u201d She sets her cup down and clasps her hands to suppress her panic. \u201cBut maybe not. Next week might be better because\u2026 because by then\u2026\u201d She frowns and shakes her head. \u201cNo. I need to go out today. I\u2026 I\u2026 it\u2019s time. I need to.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doorbell sounds and Margot freezes for a moment before she picks up the black cat and sets him on the floor. Now she rises as the doorbell sounds again and the scene dissolves to Margot standing a few feet from her front door, waiting for the doorbell to sound again.<\/p>\n

Someone knocks. \u201cMargot? It\u2019s Sara. Are you there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not feeling well,\u201d says Margot, fighting panic. \u201cI have a terrible headache. I think I\u2019m coming down with something. I wouldn\u2019t want you to catch this, Sara. I think it might have gotten into my lungs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sara\u2019s Voice: Open up, dear. I won\u2019t catch anything.<\/p>\n

Margot: No, I\u2026 I think it would be better if we waited another week before we go out. I\u2019m still\u2026 I\u2019m still\u2026 I\u2019m not sure I can do this.<\/p>\n

Sara\u2019s Voice: Well whether we go out or not, you can let me in, can\u2019t you?<\/p>\n

Margot: You won\u2019t be angry with me if we don\u2019t go out?<\/p>\n

Sara\u2019s Voice: I will not be angry with you. I promise.<\/p>\n

Margot opens the door and here is Sara, a woman in her thirties, her hair tied back in a ponytail. She is wearing a black jacket over a blue shirt, a black skirt that comes to her knees, and running shoes.<\/p>\n

Margot: Come in. I\u2019ll make a fresh pot of tea.<\/p>\n

Sara: (entering) What about going out for tea? Like we planned?<\/p>\n

Margot: I don\u2019t think I\u2019m ready, Sara. I\u2019m sorry, I just\u2026 I\u2019m still too afraid.<\/p>\n

Sara: But that\u2019s why we want to go out. So you can get over your fear.<\/p>\n

Margot: I know, but\u2026 I\u2019m not ready.<\/p>\n

Sara follows Margot into the kitchen. \u201cHow about this? How about you get your shoes on and we walk to the end of the block, and if you don\u2019t want to go any further, we\u2019ll come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margot considers this. \u201cWe would just go to the end of the block?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s as far as you want to go, yeah.\u201d Sara nods pleasantly. \u201cJust a little going out into the world, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d says Margot, both excited and anxious. \u201cI\u2019ll get my shoes on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now we have a view of the front of Margot\u2019s house, a bungalow with a walkway leading from the front door through a garden to the sidewalk, the neighborhood composed of other small houses, the yards neatly kept.<\/p>\n

The front door opens and Sara emerges followed by Margot wearing a long black coat over her white blouse and black trousers. She hesitates for a moment before following Sara.<\/p>\n

Sara reaches the sidewalk when Margot is only halfway there.<\/p>\n

Margot stops, looks around, and says, \u201cIt\u2019s warmer than I expected. I think I might be a bit overdressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look fine, dear,\u201d says Sara, smiling warmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder if it might rain,\u201d says Margot, looking back at the house. \u201cShall we wait a bit? Have a cup of tea?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t look like rain to me,\u201d says Sara, gazing up at the sky. \u201cSeems like a fine day for a walk. Might even sit outside at the caf\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d says Margot, anxiously. \u201cOutside? I was thinking of a booth inside, near the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be fine, too,\u201d says Sara, nodding encouragingly. \u201cShall we?\u201d<\/p>\n

Margot hesitates, takes a deep breath, and joins Sara on the sidewalk. They walk side-by-side for a few steps before Margot stops again.<\/p>\n

Margot: You know, Sara, I so appreciate your encouraging me, but I honestly don\u2019t think I can do this. I think I might have a fever. Feeling a bit woozy.<\/p>\n

Sara: Of course you can do this. You\u2019re strong, Margot. You\u2019re a thousand times better than you were when I first started coming to see you. We\u2019re only just going to the caf\u00e9 and maybe the grocery store and then we\u2019ll come home. We\u2019ll be back before you know it and you\u2019ll be saying you wish we\u2019d stayed out longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margot: I doubt that. I can\u2019t wait to get home, and we\u2019ve only just left.<\/p>\n

Sara: Let\u2019s just go to the corner and see what we want to do from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now we are on that corner watching them approach. They are small in the distance, Sara forever getting ahead of Margot and slowing down to wait for her.<\/p>\n

Twenty feet from the corner, Margot stops again.<\/p>\n

Margot: I can\u2019t do this, Sara. I\u2019m so sorry, but I have to go home.<\/p>\n

Sara: (waits a moment before replying) Why can\u2019t you do this?<\/p>\n

Margot: I\u2019m too afraid.<\/p>\n

Sara: Of what?<\/p>\n

Margot: Of something bad happening.<\/p>\n

Sara: Like what?<\/p>\n

Margot: You know.<\/p>\n

Sara: No, I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Margot: (angrily) Yes, you do. You know very well why I\u2019m afraid\u2026 what happened to me.<\/p>\n

Sara: I\u2019ve forgotten. Tell me again.<\/p>\n

Margot: You haven\u2019t forgotten. You\u2019re just\u2026 baiting me.<\/p>\n

Sara: Why would I do that?<\/p>\n

Margot: I don\u2019t know, but you are.<\/p>\n

Sara: (after a moment\u2019s silence) You know what I think? I think you\u2019re afraid to not be afraid.<\/p>\n

Margot: What do you mean?<\/p>\n

Sara: I mean you\u2019ve got a nice hermetic life, don\u2019t you? Everything under control. Every day the same. No ups, no downs, no surprises. And no joy, because joy comes from this\u2026 what we\u2019re doing\u2026 going out into the world, mixing it up, talking to other people, experiencing things outside of what we\u2019re used to. You\u2019re just afraid of losing control, not of some bogeyman.<\/p>\n

Margot: (bitterly) There was<\/i> a bogeyman, and once you\u2019ve met him, you can\u2019t forget him.<\/p>\n

Sara: Speak for yourself, dear. I\u2019ve forgotten mine, and he was every bit the brute yours was, and then some.<\/p>\n

Margot: (stunned) You never told me.<\/p>\n

Sara: You never asked. And why should you? I\u2019m paid to listen to you, to encourage you, not the other way around. But I\u2019ve reached my limit. We\u2019re stuck, you and I. There\u2019s nothing more I can do for you. So if you won\u2019t walk to the corner with me, I\u2019ll walk you home, say goodbye, and you can call your therapist and get somebody else to come around once a week. I\u2019ve had it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Sara,\u201d says Margot, falling to her knees and sobbing. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry. Please\u2026 I don\u2019t want anybody else. Please stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sara understands this is a cathartic moment for Margot, so she does not immediately go to Margot and comfort her, but rather watches Margot weep for a time before she comes close and offers her hand. \u201cI\u2019m here, dear. I won\u2019t leave you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margot takes the proffered hand and rises.<\/p>\n

Now they walk on together and we hear piano music as the scene dissolves to Margot and Sara sharing a table on a caf\u00e9 terrace, the other tables occupied by men and women, some of them talking to each other, some of them gazing at their phones as they sip tea and coffee and nibble on pastries.<\/p>\n

The camera moves closer for an intimate view of Margot and Sara as they share a pot of tea. Margot is having a piece of pie, Sara a cookie.<\/p>\n

Margot: Would you like to try some of my pie? It\u2019s quite good.<\/p>\n

Sara: I\u2019d love a bite.<\/p>\n

Margot passes the pie to Sara and watches with pleasure as Sara carves off a piece and puts it in her mouth.<\/p>\n

Sara: Mmm, that is<\/i> good. Want to try my cookie?<\/p>\n

Margot: Yes, please.<\/p>\n

Sara hands Margot the cookie. Margot breaks off a small piece, pops the piece in her mouth, and has a sip of tea.<\/p>\n

Margot: I wonder if we could come here tomorrow. I know you\u2019re not scheduled to come see me again until next week, but\u2026<\/p>\n

Sara: But what, dear?<\/p>\n

Margot: I\u2019d love to meet you here tomorrow. Treat you to lunch.<\/p>\n

Sara gazes at Margot for a long moment before replying, \u201cShall we say noon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNoon,\u201d says Margot, nodding.<\/p>\n

Now our view of the caf\u00e9 terrace grows wider and wider as the scene slowly fades to darkness.<\/p>\n

fin<\/em><\/p>\n

And speaking of movies, you may enjoy the very first and very short music video I\u2019ve made all by myself. Eva Waltzing<\/i>.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Going Out Into the World: a screenplay for a short movie The film begins with a slow fade to a close-up of a foggy mirror transected by runaway drops of water. Now we see Margot\u2019s blurred form behind a steamy translucent shower curtain hanging down into a claw-foot bathtub. A woman in her forties, Margot […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5633,4554,5632,4272,581,5631,5626,84,5628,5630,5629,3968,5627,9,33],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3207"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3207"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3210,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3207\/revisions\/3210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}