1st Scene of my script

I just completed editing the movie, which has stirred up some debate in the SHOP TALK DIRETCORS forum. I thought I'd throw this out there for a few bites.

Since most of you will not be able to see my movie, which has spawned a lot of debate so far on these boards, I thought I'd put the first scene of my screenplay up so we can have a real conversation about film for a change, instead of trading jabs and one-liners.

Have at it!

"THINGS WE SAID TODAY"

FADE IN.

INT. THE OFFICE OF KATIE WALKER-AFTERNOON.

CLOSE-UP: Katie Walker’s degree in Psychology framed on the wall above her desk.

KATIE WALKER sits alone in a leather chair, opposite a lonely sofa. Behind her is a swivel chair and desk, above which her degree and citations are framed.

Katie opens her notebook and dates the top, right-hand corner ‘April 5th.’ On the top line to the left of the page, she writes ‘Michael.’ On the right, she writes ‘Laura.’

SOUND CUE: Door bell.

Katie looks at the digital clock on the wall, which reads 1:00:00. The door opens and LAURA and MICHAEL KINCAID enter timidly. Laura is dressed in nurse scrubs and wears her hair pinned up in back. She still has on her name badge. Michael is dressed in a smart looking sports coat and tie and looks like he is ready for a job interview.

KATIE
(Rising)
Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid, I’m Katie Walker.

LAURA
How do you do?

KATIE
Fine, thank you. Mr. Kincaid, how are you?

MICHAEL
Fine.

KATIE
Why don’t you both sit down and we’ll get started.
(They all sit.)
If you don’t mind, I’d prefer that we all call each other by our first names. I don’t like to think of the people who come to see me as patients, so it stands to reason they shouldn’t think of me as a doctor.
(Michael and Laura nod in agreement.)
So, where shall we begin?

LAURA
I don’t know. I-
(Takes Michael’s hand in hers.)
We’ve never done this, before.

KATIE
Michael, where do you think we should begin?

Michael is looking at Laura’s hand holding his, and then turns to Katie as if he didn’t here the question.

MICHAEL
Excuse me?

KATIE
I realize this is awkward for both of you, but you have to understand there are no wrong answers here. Once we learn to be honest and listen to each other without fear of criticism or judgment, we can make real progress resolving your problems and strengthening the love that brought you to me instead of an attorney.

Just as Katie finishes her sentence, Michael pulls his hand discreetly away from Laura’s grasp.

LAURA
(Dejectedly)
That’s what we’re hoping for.

KATIE
Good. Now, I’ve read both your questionnaires, and frankly, Michael, your answers weren’t as detailed as Laura’s. So, I’d like to ask you a simple question: Why are you here? And I don’t mean what do you hope to gain by coming here. That’s obvious. I mean what happened in your marriage that brought you to seek my help in the first place.

Michael looks as though he can't believe she's asking such a question.

LAURA
(Politely)
Honey, she’s asking you a question-

MICHAEL
I heard the question. Did you?

LAURA
Yes.

MICHAEL
And how do you expect me to answer it?

LAURA
Just be honest. Like she said.

MICHAEL
Fine.
(To Katie)
You want to know what’s wrong with our marriage? I caught her screwing some other guy.
(To Laura)
You said to be honest.

Beat.

KATIE
And you feel that’s what’s wrong with your marriage?

MICHAEL
If I had to narrow it down.

KATIE
And Laura, do you feel that sums up what’s wrong with your marriage?

LAURA
Well, it’s kind of hard for me to be critical after . . . after what I did, but I don’t think the affair was the only thing wrong with our marriage and that it was entirely my fault.

MICHAEL
How could it be my fault? I wasn’t in the shower with you and Dr. Love.

LAURA
Would you please stop calling him that?

MICHAEL
What else should I call him? That’s his name. Dr. Phillip Love.

LAURA
It’s the way you say it, Michael.

MICHAEL
You want me to call him Dr. Phil?

LAURA
You see how he acts, Katie? Like I did it on purpose.

MICHAEL
What? It was an accident?

LAURA
That’s not what I meant.

MICHAEL
Has that ever happened to you, Katie? Slip on a bar of soap and land on a naked doctor?

Katie writes the word ‘hostile’ under Michael’s name.

KATIE
Michael, I think what Laura is saying is that the affair is a symptom of a much bigger problem that is growing in your marriage.

MICHAEL
A symptom? Like a sneeze is a symptom of a cold?

KATIE
Well, that’s a bit simplistic, but yes.

MICHAEL
So, instead of saying, 'Hey, *beep* Take your hands off my wife,' I should have said, 'Geshundet?'

LAURA
Why do you have to be so sarcastic?

MICHAEL
It’s a lot better than the alternative.

LAURA
The alternative? What is that supposed to mean?

Michael doesn’t answer, but the look on his face tells us the alternative is divorce.

KATIE
How long did the affair last?

LAURA
It was just that one time.

MICHAEL
And assuming I hadn’t caught you?

LAURA
I would have ended it whether you caught us or not. I know you don't believe this, but I feel terrible about what happened.

MICHAEL
About the affair, or about being caught?

LAURA
Oh, *beep* you!

MICHAEL
*beep* me? If you were *beep* me, we wouldn’t be here right now.

KATIE
Michael.
(Michael doesn’t look at her.)
Michael, please look at me.
(Michael slowly turns toward Katie.)
Obviously, you’re very hurt by what Laura did, and that’s completely understandable. But you wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t think that this was something you could work through.

LAURA
Oh, he’s not here to work through this. He just wants to hear you say what a horrible wife I am.

Katie writes the word ‘guilt’ under Laura’s name.

KATIE
Laura, I don’t think Michael would pay a marriage counselor $150 an hour for something he can hear for free from his friends.

MICHAEL
My friends don’t think that about her.

KATIE
I apologize. I was speaking hypothetically.

MICHAEL
And I’m speaking truthfully. I didn’t come here just to bash her.

KATIE
I’m sure you didn’t. However, if you’re willing to work with Laura to save your marriage, I don’t see how being hostile is going to help you to achieve that goal.

MICHAEL
Oh, so now I’m being hostile?

KATIE
I’m sorry Michael, but your responses so far have been very antagonistic.

MICHAEL
This is great! First, the affair was just a symptom of something else that was my fault and now I’m being hostile. Tell me something, Dr. Walker: Did my wife do anything wrong?

KATIE
So, Laura was right? You only came to hear me tell her she was wrong?

MICHAEL
(Rising)
Well, it’s obvious who’s side you’re on-

Laura grabs his arm to stop him.

LAURA
Michael, sit down, please.

MICHAEL
(Glaring at her hand on his arm)
Uh, excuse me.
(Laura lets go.)
This session is over.
(To Katie)
I paid for marriage counseling, not a woman’s seminar on how to blame the husband for your own mistakes.

Michael walks out. Laura takes a deep breath and looks at Katie.

LAURA
I’m very sorry.

KATIE
There’s no need to apologize.
(Beat)
We can continue without him, if you’d like.

LAURA
I don’t see the point.
(Rising)
If I can convince him to come back, are you willing to see us again?

KATIE
Of course.

LAURA
Thank you.
(Turns to leave and then stops)
And we’ll pay for the full hour.

Laura walks slowly out of the room. Katie pulls a tape recorder from her coat pocket.

KATIE
(Into recorder)
Kincaid, April 5, 2006. Mr. Kincaid is still deep in the animosity stage regarding his wife's affair. If they come back, separate them for a few sessions and start with him.

Katie shuts off the recorder and puts it back in her pocket. She rises, heads for the desk, and then stops suddenly. She pulls out the recorder again and turns it back on.

KATIE
(Into recorder)
Note to billing: Prorate the Kincaid account to reflect one quarter of an hour.

Katie shuts off the recorder and sits at her desk.

FADE TO BLACK.