61 INT. TERWILLIGERS' BATH - DAY 61
Henry is pulling the painted drawers out of the dresser. As
he pulls the bottom drawer out, he notices some pills in it.
He reads the label. It's fertility drugs, made out to Arleen
Terwilliger.
HENRY
Nuts.
He puts it back and pulls the drawer out - stacking it on top
of the other freshly painted drawers in the middle of the
room. He picks up his paint can, but before he can start
painting the slats between the drawers, he finds a plastic
tray that was hidden under the bottom drawer. He looks behind
him, and then furtively lifts the tray out. It contains a
douche-bag, a bottle of vinegar, a tube of sperm-o-cide and
an applicator. Henry thinks.
62 AUDIO FLASHBACK 62
63 PHILIP KNOCKING ON THE BATHROOM DOOR 63
PHILIP
(O.S.)
Darling, I think it would be better
if you stayed on your back a while.
ARLEEN
(O.S.)
I'll be right out.
Henry comes out of his reverie looking amused.
HENRY
Oh, Arleen... tssk tssk.
64 INT. TERWILLIGERS' BATH - DAY 64
Henry is painting the baseboard behind the toilet of the
nearly completed bathroom, he's wedged into a narrow slot,
literally embracing the toilet. Arleen comes to the door and
watches him. She looks at the freshly painted dresser
apprehensively. The drawers have been replaced.
ARLEEN
When do you expect to be finished in
here?
HENRY
Oh! Uh, could you just hang on a
second?
Henry yanks the arm with the brush out from behind the toilet
and, without looking, dips it into the paint bucket behind
him.
HENRY
(continuing)
I just want to finish this spot.
Henry carefully bring the loaded brush back behind the toilet
and continues where he left off.
ARLEEN
I just wanted to know how much longer
you were going to be in the bathroom.
Henry finishes behind the toilet and starts to extricate
himself -- leaning his elbows on the seat, inching his torso
along the floor, getting paint on the tank, wiping it off...
talking the whole time.
HENRY
Well it depends on how many touchups
I have to do. Based on my experience
so far, I wouldn't even want to
hazard a guess.
This is a different Henry than she's used to. She bristles.
ARLEEN
And what does that mean?
HENRY
Well, I'll be finished any minute,
but I suspect that you're going to *
have to come through and find some
more things for me to do, won't you?
ARLEEN
Yes, unfortunately, that will
probably be the case. But I need you
to be out of here tomorrow.
HENRY
Nothing would make me happier.
Arleen pointedly throws his money down on the floor.
ARLEEN
Here's your money. If there's any
touchups you can do them next week.
She leaves.
HENRY
Oh! Mrs. Terwilliger?
Henry gets up and retrieves the money. Arleen comes back to
the door.
ARLEEN
Yes?
Henry puts the money in his wallet. And taps the bottom
drawer with his shoe.
HENRY
I was going to ask Philip, but, since
you're here... I noticed you've been
using that little space behind the
drawer quite a bit. Did you want me
to paint those wooden beams as well?
Arleen does a heroic job of appearing unperturbed, but she
blushes like a ripe peach.
ARLEEN
No, that's not necessary.
Arleen walks out. She turns on SOME SYRUPY BIG BAND MUSIC IN
THE BEDROOM. Henry starts picking up his stuff and folding
his drop cloths. He looks
INTO
65 TERWILLIGERS' HALL - DAY 65
Arleen is coming out of the bedroom with a magazine. She
shoots a wounded look at Henry and then goes out the back
door. Henry follows her
INTO
66 TERWILLIGERS' BACK YARD - DAY 66
Arleen sits on a deck chair and starts reading her magazine.
Henry lights a cigarette and tries to be friendly.
HENRY
So, I guess you're some kind of
writer aren't you?
ARLEEN
I studied English.
HENRY
Really? Where?
ARLEEN
Cornell.
HENRY
Ivy League, wow! You must be a smart
cookie.
Arleen thumbs her magazine.
HENRY
(continuing)
I was at Cornell back in... 53, I
think. Is that when you were there?
ARLEEN
Maybe. Yes.
HENRY
It's a pretty fun little town.
ARLEEN
I guess it depends on what you're
there for.
HENRY
Well, I went there for a party.
She feigns surprise.
ARLEEN
Really?
HENRY
Yeah. As a matter of fact, I met a
girl there from the English
department.
Arleen tries to hide a sudden surge of agitation.
ARLEEN
Really?
HENRY
I can't remember her name. But she
was a real cutie. Brown hair, varsity
sweater, kinda bookish.
Arleen stands up suddenly.
ARLEEN
That's really fascinating, Henry.
She quickly walks back into the house.
67 EXT. TERWILLIGERS' GARAGE - DAY 67
Philip's car is still gone. Henry is cleaning the bathroom
color out his brush. He looks
INTO
68 TERWILLIGERS' KITCHEN - DAY 68
Arleen is putting coffee into a percolator.
69 TERWILLIGERS' LIVING ROOM - DAY 69
The SYRUPY RADIO SHOW still plays in the bedroom, accompanied
by the OVATRON. Henry comes in the front door, takes off his
shoes and shakes himself off, like a fighter getting the
blood moving. Arleen is on the phone.
ARLEEN (O.S.)
...Because I don't want him in the
house... Philip, please. Just for a
week. Ok? ... alright -
Henry walks
INTO
70 TERWILLIGERS' DINING ROOM - DAY 70
Henry walks
INTO
71 TERWILLIGERS' KITCHEN - DAY 71
Henry comes in and SNIFFS LOUDLY around the stove, where the
coffee is percolating warmly.
ARLEEN
That would be better. Thank you...
Bye-bye... Yes, me too.
Arleen hangs up, and shoots an icy sidelong toward Henry.
ARLEEN
(continuing)
Would you like some coffee?
HENRY
Yes, I sure would.
Arleen pulls a coffee cup out of the cupboard and places it
beside the coffee pot - "Pour it yourself." is the unspoken
implication.
MUSIC
She goes to the sink and starts doing dishes. Henry pours
himself some coffee.
HENRY
So, I was going to start on the
living room next, but it sounds like
you might have other plans.
ARLEEN
Yes, Philip would like you to start
on the outside on Monday.
HENRY
Do you have sugar?
Without speaking Arleen gets the sugar bowl, THUNKS IT DOWN
by Henry's cup and goes to the drawer for a spoon. She holds
the spoon out for him. He takes it.
HENRY
(continuing)
Thank you.
Arleen goes back to the sink and resumes the dishes.
HENRY
(continuing)
Is Philip coming home at his usual
time? I wanted to ask him about a
couple broken windows.
ARLEEN
Actually, he'll be late.
HENRY
Well, I'll talk to him Monday.
ARLEEN
Yes. That's fine.
Henry slurps his coffee loudly and tries to plumb Arleen's
prickly attitude.
HENRY
So, how'd you and Philip get hooked
up?
ARLEEN
Just lucky, I guess.
HENRY
He seems a bit older than you.
A DISH CLANKS in her hand.
ARLEEN
Maybe you should get back to work.
Henry moves closer to her.
HENRY
I'm self-employed. I can take a break
when I need one.
ARLEEN
You mean Philip isn't paying you by
the hour?
HENRY
No, I'm getting five hundred for the
job. No matter how long it takes.
ARLEEN
You could lose money.
He laughs.
HENRY
I'll be lucky to get out with some
dignity.
He laughs again. Arleen flees
INTO
72 TERWILLIGERS' HALL - DAY 72
Arleen glides down the hall. Henry follows behind, leisurely
sipping coffee. She disappears into the bedroom and TURNS OFF
THE SYRUPY MUSIC. THE OVATRON SEEMS LOUDER WITHOUT IT. She
crosses the hall in front of Henry and goes
INTO
73 TERWILLIGERS' BATH - DAY 73
Arleen collects dirty towels. Henry looks in on her.
ARLEEN
So... how does a educated man like
yourself wind up painting houses?
MUSIC
Arleen walks past Henry, into the bedroom. Henry smiles. The
battle has been joined.
HENRY
Just lucky, I guess.
74 TERWILLIGERS' BEDROOM - DAY 74
Arleen is snatching dirty clothes from floor and the hamper.
She stops briefly.
ARLEEN
And what does a house painter who
can't afford a typewriter write about?
Arleen brushes past him with an arm-load of dirty laundry
INTO
75 TERWILLIGERS' HALL - DAY 75
Henry, who's getting a little prickly himself, turns and
walks after her - toward the study. She dumps the laundry
into the laundry room and comes back. He thumbs his hand at
her typewriter.
HENRY
Probably the same kind of things you
use that Touchmatic to write about.
Arleen is getting fresh towels out of a hall closet.
ARLEEN
Oh yeah? And what's that?
HENRY
Loneliness? A sense of being trapped?
There is some sincerity in Henry answer, but not enough to
stop Arleen's bile. She waves her thumb at the second
bathroom down the hall.
ARLEEN
Yeah? Well, when are you going to
paint that small bathroom?
She pushes past him again and disappears into the bathroom.
HENRY
Oh, I'll probably get to that right
after I paint the uhh...
Henry snaps his fingers in a theatrical attempt to remember.
HENRY
(continuing)
...the nursery.
He follows her
INTO
76 TERWILLIGERS' BATH - DAY 76
While Arleen stuffs towels into the built-in dresser, Henry
puts down his coffee and takes a step toward her.
HENRY
Why?
Arleen whirls around defiantly.
ARLEEN
Because I like to see you down on
your knees, painting behind the
toilets!
Henry grabs Arleen and starts caressing her. She holds his
arms, and breathes heavily. As Henry speaks, his hands range
around her body.
HENRY
I can get down on my knees anytime
Arleen. As a matter of fact, maybe
you should bend over right now and
check out my baseboards. You have
such a talent for pointing out
holidays.
Suddenly Arleen pushes him away. She's panting.
ARLEEN
Get away from me!
HENRY
Well, look at you! You're more
frustrated than I am. You want this
as much as I do, but you just don't
have the guts.
ARLEEN
Tell me more about your little
college girl?
HENRY
Why?
ARLEEN
I'd just like to know.
HENRY
She was a cute little broad with
brown hair and a red sweater, I don't
know, I can't remember much else.
ARLEEN
Really? Did you have intimate
relations with her?
HENRY
Well, that's kinda personal.
Arleen suddenly takes a big interest in a bottle on the tub
behind Henry.
ARLEEN
What's that?
When Henry turns to look, Arleen kicks him viciously in the
groin. He doubles over.
HENRY
Oh God!
ARLEEN
What do you think? ...You think you
can just glide in and out of my life
like the summer wind? You have no
idea, do you?
She pulls the heavy porcelain lid off the back of the toilet
and swings it into his head and shoulder. CRUNCH!
FLASHBACK
77 INT. IVY LEAGUE FRAT HOUSE - NIGHT 77
It's 1953 again. Here's the college girl's point of view on
Henry, who jitterbugs adroitly to the SWING MUSIC. But this
time the College Girl is ARLEEN, SIX YEARS YOUNGER, with the
distinctive brown hair and sweater. Henry is goofing around,
being funny. Arleen is laughing hysterically at him.
78 INT. IVY LEAGUE FRAT HOUSE - NIGHT 78
Henry lifts a cup of beer to Arleen's lips and pours it down
her throat. She laughs, and beer spills.
HENRY
Oh no! Now we got to start all over
again.
Henry refills the cup.
79 EXT. CAMPUS NEAR SUSPENSION BRIDGE - NIGHT 79
Henry and Arleen are wrapped up in each other - passionately
groping and kissing. Henry puts his hand up her dress and she
stops him.
ARLEEN
Henry, I just met you.
HENRY
Yeah? Well...
Henry makes a goofy face. Arleen laughs.
HENRY
(continuing)
What do you think?
ARLEEN
I think you're pretty swell.
Henry grinds his groin into her hip.
HENRY
I think you're amazing.
She swoons and they kiss some more. He gets his hand under
her skirt.
END FLASHBACK
80 INT. TERWILLIGERS' BATH - DAY 80
Arleen shoves the dazed house painter away from her so she
can get another swing at him with the tank lid. Henry ducks
this one just in time and she spins off balance long enough
for him to grab her from behind and pin her arms to her
sides. But she swings up from the elbows and leans to the
side, clocking Henry in the forehead. Henry lets go and
staggers backward.
HENRY
I didn't know ...
Henry gets his arms up just in time to protect his head from
a deadly blow. CRUNCH!
FLASHBACK
81 EXT. CAMPUS NEAR SUSPENSION BRIDGE - NIGHT 81
Henry and Arleen are covered with dead leaves and twigs from
rolling around near the trail. Arleen's shirt is unbuttoned
and Henry's hands are busy below the belt.
ARLEEN
Wait.
HENRY
Why?
ARLEEN
I'm too drunk.
HENRY
OK. Can I do this?
Arleen tenses.
HENRY
(continuing)
Just relax.
ARLEEN
I've... I haven't...
HENRY
Just relax.
END FLASHBACK
82 INT. TERWILLIGERS' BATH - DAY 82
Arleen swings the tank lid again, but Henry, in one last bid
for survival, catches it and wrestles it away from her.
ARLEEN
I can't believe I let you touch me.
The tank lid BREAKS when he drops it from his bruised
fingers. He sits down and passes out into the bathtub.
FLASHBACK
83 EXT. CAMPUS NEAR SUSPENSION BRIDGE - NIGHT 83
Henry is fucking Arleen. She's clutching Henry's shoulders
and trying to relax, but she has a fixed expression of horror
and surprise on her face. He seems to think she's enjoying it
as much as he is.
END FLASHBACK
84 INT. TERWILLIGERS' BATH - DAY 84
Henry is rudely awakened by a cold torrent. He's laying in
the tub.
Someone has pulled the curtain shut and turned on the shower.
Henry clutches at the edges of the tub, involuntarily
grabbing the bottle Arleen pointed to earlier. He sits up and
turns off the water.
HENRY
Oh. Oh. Oh.
He looks down at he bottle in his hand. It's a bottle of
"Blondie" hair color.