BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

INT. RICHARD’S HOUSE

ALICE is sitting at the dining room table which is set up

for a romantic meal. Cold food sits on its plates, an

unopened wine bottle is pictured in the middle of the table

and candles are burnt down to their bases. She drums her

nails impatiently on her book and glances at the clock. It

strikes half past three and Alice blows out the candles,

sighing.

RICHARD opens the front door and places his keys in the key

bowl as ALICE rushes to the living room door, standing in

the threshold.

ALICE

You’re late.

RICHARD

(Jumps slightly, looks sharply

to the right - Surprised)

Alice, I thought you’d be in bed.

ALICE

(Folds her arms across her

chest)

It’s my birthday Richard. You

promised we’d have dinner. where

were you?

The camera jumps from ALICE’S hurt and angry face to

RICHARD’S wide eyed shocked face for a reaction shot.

RICHARD

(Groans and walks up to ALICE

placing his hands on her

shoulders)

I’m sorry sweetie, I was held up at

work, there was nothing I could do.

ALICE

(Laughs dryly)

What? you couldn’t even pick up the

phone?

RICHARD sighs and brushes past ALICE and ALICE smells

STACEY’S perfume.

ALICE CONT.

You were with her again? weren’t

you?!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

RICHARD

What makes you think that?

ALICE

I can smell her perfume on you.

RICHARD

(Loosing his temper

increasingly by the second)

Don’t be stupid Alice, I was

working!

ALICE’S hand shoots out and slaps RICHARD across the face

ALICE

You’re idea of working is flirting

Stacey.

(ALICE points an accusing finger)

RICHARD

Stacey is just a friend now! What

happened between us is in the past!

(RICHARD’S arms wave with

expression of his words)

ALICE

(Pause)

I don’t trust you anymore, I should

never have given you a second

chance, you’re still the same

selfish pl-

RICHARD

(RICHARD cuts ALICE off,

Screaming)

SHUT UP!

ALICE flinches and recoils as RICHARD grabs her book off the

table and throws it at the wall, nearly missing her.

RICHARD CONT.

(Grabbing ALICE’S arm and

spinning her around)

Don’t you dare speak to me like

that.

ALICE

(Upset)

No! I’m tired of keeping my mouth

shut. Do you even love me anymore?

Do you even care about us?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

RICHARD storms past ALICE and growls, he enters the kitchen

and leans again the work surface with his back facing the

camera.

ALICE CONT.

Or am I just second best to STACEY?

(Pause)

Will you answer me?!

RICHARD

(Calm)

You want an answer? Fine.

RICHARD grabs a picture frame of the couple and smashes it

against the work surface with force and throws it on the

floor at ALICE’S feet.

RICHARD CONT.

That is what I think about us.

ALICE

(Begins to cry)

I hate you... I hate you so much!

ALICE turns away and runs up the stairs crying. RICHARD’s

hand reaches out as if to stop Alice but she’s already gone,

his hand falls back to his side dejectedly as guilt washes

over him.

RICHARD

ALICE?

RICHARD Walks towards the stairs and looks up.

RICHARD

(Shouting)

ALICE?!

Shaking his head he starts to ascend the stairs and

approaches the bathroom calling her name as he knocks on the

door. ALICE emerges from the bathroom red eyed and angry.

ALICE

(Bluntly)

It’s over RICHARD.

RICHARD

(Begging)

Don’t do this...

RICHARD grabs ALICE’S arm in desperation trying to stop her

descent down the stairs. ALICE pulls her arm free with force

and the momentum sets her off balance down the stairs; ALICE

falls and hits her head on the banister, scene blacks out.

4.

SCENE THREE INT. RICHARD’S HOUSE

RICHARD is sat on the bottom of the stairs, it’s been a week

since the accident he sits with his head in his hands the

scene still fresh in his mind like it was yesterday. RICHARD

is broken out of his daze by the door knocking. STACEY is at

the door. RICHARD opens the door and lets her in.

STACEY

(Places hand seductively on

RICHARD’S chest)

How you holding up?

RICHARD

I’m coping...

STACEY

You know I’ve always been there for

you.

RICHARD

(monotone voice)

Yeah I know (pause) and it killed

ALICE.

RICHARD turns away from STACEY letting her hand drop off him

as he leaves the hallway and walks into the kitchen, leaning

on the work surface with his back facing her as emotions

wash through him.

STACEY

(Defensively)

That was never the intention... But

now we can be together.

RICHARD turns towards STACEY with a fake smile on his face.

RICHARD

I suppose you’re right.

STACEY smiles happy with his response and turns around to

enter the living room. Meanwhile RICHARD stays in the

kitchen gathering his thoughts, his hand reaches into his

pocket and pulls out an engagement box, he caresses the ring

in side before snapping it shut and after a hesitation

throws the ring in the bin.

In the same movement he heads into the living room after

STACEY pulling ALICE’S necklace out his pocket as he

approaches her.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

RICHARD

Of course we can be

together...

RICHARD Caresses her hair as he places the necklace round

STACEY’S neck, STACEY looks down and smiles as she notices

the necklace and lifts her hair for him.

RICHARD leans down and whispers into her ear.

RICHARD CONT.

(Maliciously)

If only I wanted you...

STACEY gasps as RICHARD pulls the necklace taut across her

throat and begins to choke her.