Apartment 538

Marlon Charles
FADE IN.
INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Its Christmas time, with decorations half-heartedly strewn
across ROBs 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 doesnt 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
Im not here to pass anything on.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
ROB
Oh...Well I dont know what her
version of events were but-
HANNAH
Im not here to yell at you either.
ROB
Oh. (pause) Well, thats 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
Im here to collect Jennys things.
ROB
Collect Jennys things?
HANNAH
Yeah.
ROB
Is this something I should know
about. Cause this feels like a
conversation that shouldve
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 didnt involve
me.
HANNAH
Its 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 doesnt
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 dont know a phonecall,
email, a tweet. Something nicer
than a proxy.
HANNAH
Im going to stop you and remind
you Im 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
Ill re-iterate that Im not here
to yell at you.
He kneels over and begins to jam the content back into the
box.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
ROB
Yeah youre 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
Wheres she living?
HANNAH
Shes staying with me.
He stops again and turns to face her.
ROB
Shes staying at your house?
HANNAH
Yes...
ROB
Your house with a telephone, that
she couldve 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 youd weasel out.
ROB
Is my dignity on that list?
HANNAH
You really feel this strongly about
keeping her toothbrush?
ROB
No, youre 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
Ill 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
Im busy-okay, Ive got somewhere
to be.
HANNAH
Then let me get the stuff and-
ROB
No, Im leaving the house.
HANNAH
Im 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)
Dont take it personally. Im 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. Im sure
she can go one day without my
toothbrush.
HANNAH
Youve 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
Im not here to have.
ROB
You know what Id 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 Im 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 Im so sorry shes
going through such a difficult
period. If theres anything I can
do to help=
HANNAH
Rob, youre dangerously close to
pushing it-
ROB
(stops in place to fully face
her)
All I want. All Im asking for, is
one conversation, closure, thats
it.
HANNAH
Well, as seems to be the case with
her toothbrush, I guess we cant
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
Couldnt care less, any time you
feel like-
HANNAH
Weaselling.
ROB
Six, p.m. Im busy in the a.m.
HANNAH
Im 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 shes not
leaving you because youre an
asshole.
ROB
Thats.....a relief?
HANNAH
Shes leaving you because youre
okay with being an asshole.
ROB
Thank you Hannah. Ill 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, Im coming.
He opens it to find JULIE standing at the door. His face
immediately drops.
ROB
Youve got to be kidding me.
JULIE
Ill thank you to greet me better
than that.
ROB
Look Julie, Hannah already swung by
to collect her stuff.
JULIE
Im not here to collect anything.
Im here to yell at you.
ROB
(pause)
Im not going to let you in.
Julie barges in past him and walks to his living room.
JULIE
Ill 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
Im not interested in playing the
victim, Im interested in getting
my side heard.
JULIE
(as she picks up the frame)
What goods 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 didnt send me here.
ROB
No, but Im 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
Youll know when Ive 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, youre staying?
JULIE
Ill leave when Im 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 wont be
pleasant.
Rob freezes in stunned fear, as she moves across to his
couch and sits down, glass in hand.
JULIE
Now, Im here to talk about
Jennifer-
ROB
Really?
JULIE
And how youre going to make it
right.
ROB
How can I apologise if she wont
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 dont 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
Dont act like youre surprised.
The entire family would have
settled for her being gay.
ROB
Is no one taking into account that
maybe Im not having the best of
times with all this.
JULIE
Not when youre to blame.
ROB
Im not the one to blame, if youd
just list-
JULIE
Have you taken into account that
youre to blame for this?
ROB
Oh right and theres no bias on
your part saying that.
JULIE
Im a lot less biased than you.
ROB
Look Mrs Jackson. I kind of have a
place to be.
JULIE
If youre going to kick me out,
youre going to look me in the eye
to do it.
Rob looks up at her, then nervously avoids her gaze.
JULIE
Thats what I thought.
ROB
Youve made your point, Im
worthless-
JULIE
That wasnt my point.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.
ROB
Thats a relief-
JULIE
My point was you are worthless and
youre going to make it right.
ROB
(pause)
How?
JULIE
For one thing, youre 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 didnt put up a fight to- It
wasnt 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-Im going somewhere.
JULIE
Clearly, youre not.
ROB
Do you not see me dressed? I dont
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 youre going to give her back
all her things. Then youre going
to leave her alone.
ROB
Thats 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 thats not by proxy.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.
JULIE
You are.
ROB
Thank you.
JULIE
Just as equally as shes entitled
to not talk to you, youre 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 wont 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, Julies already been here to
yell at me and yes Hannahs coming
to collect her stuff tomorrow.
CHLOE
Thats nice but Im 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 cant 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
Im not really staying.
CHLOE
(signalling to the glass on
the table)
Yeah but youve already started.
ROB
Thats not mine, thats Julies.
CHLOE
You offered her a drink?
ROB
I really didnt. 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 youre dressed up?
ROB
Yeah. Believe it or not, I actually
had things to do which didnt
involve people yelling at me in my
own house.
CHLOE
Im not here to yell at you.
ROB
Yeah, a message.
CHLOE
From Jenny.
ROB
I guessed.
CHLOE
(hesitates)
This build up doesnt feel worth
it.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.
ROB
Is it that disappointing?
CHLOE
Well. You wouldnt like reading it
on a Christmas card, no.
ROB
And why couldnt she come give it
herself.
CHLOE
Various reasons. Mostly, you.
ROB
Wow, thanks.
CHLOE
Well you know what you can be like.
ROB
Im really starting to wonder how
everyones coming to this
conclusion that Im the asshole.
CHLOE
I was going to say difficult.
ROB
Thank you.
CHLOE
You did refuse to give back her
toothbrush.
ROB
Thats 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
Im 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
Its 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
Whats the message?
CHLOE
She said shes asking you to
recognize that this isnt easy for
her.
ROB
As opposed to the cakewalk Im
having.
CHLOE
Youre having a cakewalk?
ROB
Dont say that to her.
CHLOE
Agreed. And shes 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
wasnt worth it.
ROB
She couldnt have done this by
herself. Even a text, she could
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.
ROB (contd)
have sent that as a text, she
didnt 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 shed just talk to me.
CHLOE
Im sure she would.
ROB
Then why wont she?
CHLOE
Because thats 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, Im her best friend. Thats a
foregone conclusion.
ROB
Right yeah, because my side of
events doesnt exist.
CHLOE
No Ive fully taken into account
your side-
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.
ROB
Thank you.
CHLOE
I just genuinely think youre in
the wrong.
ROB
Wow.
CHLOE
Yeah. You really shouldve let me
finish.
ROB
Thank you Chloe.
CHLOE
Rob honestly, youve 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
Id appreciate it, if she told me.
CHLOE
See, youd be like this. You
wouldnt even let her get her side
across, youd be too preoccupied
with why your sides right.
ROB
I-
CHLOE
And its not. Not that its any of
my business but Im just saying,
just because its your side of the
story youre seeing, doesnt make
it the right side of the story.
Consider where shes 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 Im guessing we wont 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 dont know how to put this to
you. But just cause its my night to
do dishes doesnt mean you can have
three glasses to yourself.
ROB
Guests.
STEVIE
(looks at Robs 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
Jennys left.
STEVIE
Whoa seriously? Ahhh, sorry man.
ROB
Yeah, its okay.
STEVIE
What happened?
ROB
I honestly dont 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 youve just made the
entire night awkward.
ROB
Yeah.
STEVIE
Theres like literally nothing else
on my mind.
ROB
Sorry.
STEVIE
Ah its cool. Probably a lot
tougher on you than me.
ROB
(turns his head to him)
Thank youuuuu.
STEVIE
What?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.
ROB
Dont ask.
STEVIE
Okay...
The two sit in silence again.
STEVIE
Ah youll be fine-
ROB
I know.
STEVIE
Let me finish here.
ROB
Im 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, its all Im 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, wheres my toothbrush?
FADE OUT