Some Alone Time

Fade in:                                                        

                                                                          

                                                                          

          INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MID AFTERNOON                        

                                                                          

          TOM, late thirties, sits on a couch watching a baseball game    

          on the television. He grabs a beer off of the coffee table      

          in front of him and looks at it for a second, then takes a      

          drink. He puts the beer down and sighs contentedly.             

                                                                           

          The sounds of a door opening is heard and a woman, ANN,         

          mid-thirties, walks in to the living room.                      

                                                                          

                              ANN                                         

                    Hey babe. I’m home. The kids wanted                   

                    to keep playing so Shelly offered                     

                    to take them to her house. We just                    

                    have to pick them up in a bit.                        

                                                                          

          Tom looks up from the television, toward his wife.               

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                    Wow. It’s been about six years                        

                    since we’ve had this place to                         

                    ourselves. Maybe I’ll be able to                      

                    actually finish nine innings.                         

                                                                           

          Ann looks at her husband with a devilish smile.                 

                                                                          

                              ANN                                          

                    Or... We could do something, I                        

                    don’t know, a little more fun?                        

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                         (chuckling)                                      

                    What exactly do you have in mind?                     

                                                                           

                              ANN                                         

                    Why don’t you go grab the video                       

                    camera? I’ll wait for you in our                       

                    room.                                                 

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                         (surprised)                                      

                    We haven’t done that since our                        

                    honeymoon! You go! I’ll be right                      

                    there!                                                 

                                                                          

          Ann walks off toward the bedroom and Tom walks toward the       

          front of the house to the study. As he is walking, the          

          doorbell rings. Tom looks at the door but then continues to     

          the study. The doorbell rings twice more and Tom looks up,      

          grumbles, and walks toward the door.

         

          He opens the door to find a smiling, middle aged, woman,        

          holding a bible in one hand.                                    

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                       

                    Hi there! Have you heard the good                     

                    news about our Lord and savior?                       

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                    What? Umm, this really isn’t the                      

                    best time. Thank you.                                 

                                                                           

          Tom tries to close the door, but the woman stops him.           

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                        

                    Nonsense! It’s always the best time                   

                    for Jesus!                                            

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                         (nervously and quickly)                          

                    I have someone, ahem, something                       

                    waiting on me. Chores. I need to do                   

                    somethings around the house.                          

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                        

                    That’s ok. I’ll just sit down on                      

                    the couch and talk to you while you                   

                    work. Jesus doesn’t have to impede                    

                    your day!                                             

                                                                          

          The woman pushes past Tom and takes a seat on the couch in      

          the living room. Tom follows her and sits down as well.         

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                    Ok. Can you just quickly tell me                       

                    what you need to tell me?                             

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                       

                    Oh there’s so much to tell! Jesus                     

                    was just the most interesting man!                    

                                                                          

          A ringtone goes off and Tom reaches in to his pocket. The       

          woman gives him a look of disapproval.                          

                                                                          

                              TOM                                          

                    Uhh, sorry.                                           

                                                                          

          Tom looks at his phone. On the screen, the text reads "Who      

          is that? Hurry up!" Tom sighs and puts his phone back in his    

          pocket.                                                         

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                        

                    Ok, where was I? Right! Jesus was                     

                    sent down by God, our father, to  save

      us from our sins and from the devil in Hell.                                        

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                    Right, right. I already know all                       

                    that!                                                 

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                       

                    You may know it, but do you truly                     

                    accept it?                                            

                                                                          

                              TOM                                          

                    Yes, yes, of course. Now please, I                    

                    have something I need to do.                          

                                                                          

          The same ringtone goes off again. Tom pulls his phone out       

          and lets out a tiny yelp. On the small screen there is a        

          picture of Ann in black lingerie.                               

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                       

                    Is everything alright? You look                        

                    like you just saw the devil.                          

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                    Yeah I’m fine, but I really,                          

                    really, need you to go. Jesus, he’s                   

                    number one. I get it. I accept it.                    

                    I’ll show you out.                                    

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                       

                    Hold on there, Samson! You may talk                    

                    tough, but can you back it up? Will                   

                    you follow the lord, or will you                      

                    let Delilah tempt you?                                

                                                                           

          The same ringtone goes off a third time. Tom pulls out his      

          phone and coughs nervously. On the small screen is the          

          lingerie tossed on the bed.                                      

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                    I won’t be tempted. I really won’t!                    

                    Now please! Just leave!                               

                                                                          

                              WOMAN                                       

                    Alright. I feel your conviction.                      

                    I’ll just leave this pamphlet for                     

                    the church here with you. I expect                    

                    to see you there on Sunday!                           

                                                                          

          The woman hands Tom the pamphlet as they both get up and        

          walk towards the door.

TOM                                          

                    Church. Right. Well, thank you.                       

                    Hooray God, or, umm, yeah.                              

                                                                          

          The woman leaves and Tom closes the door behind her. He then    

          smiles as he turns around. His smile falls as he sees Ann,      

          fully clothed, grabbing her purse.                              

                                                                           

                              TOM                                         

                    Honey! What are you doing?                            

                                                                           

                              ANN                                         

                    Sorry babe. Whoever that was sucked                   

                    up all our time. Shelly called me.                    

                    She said Ryan has a tummy ache and                    

                    wants to come home. I have to go                      

                    get him.                                              

                                                                           

          Ann walks out the door and Tom walks back over to the couch.    

          He slumps down, crumbles the pamphlet in his fist, and          

          throws it on the ground.                                         

                                                                          

                              TOM                                         

                    God damn it.                                          

                                
- J.R. Thal