a note left on a bench

A NOTE LEFT ON A BENCH By M.c.M (Camera set from Judith’s point of view, interchanging from her view to the view of her body or shots of her kitchen. She is cleaning fidgeting with appliances and looking for her keys. The following is being voiced over while she does these things. Shots of her home as well as family portraits are interchanged.) Voiceover of an older Woman: It took two years to remodel her kitchen. She had immersed herself completely into it on account of being bored and having the rights to brag to her friends about how much James was letting her spend. “Very Modern” Judith had decided she wanted her kitchen to be. She was un happy. The way things had always been suited her just fine until recently. She felt the need to give her kitchen a couple nips and tucks as if it was just getting a routine facelift. Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and glass everywhere. She was happy in her beautiful kitchen she thought. It was perfect. Everywhere she turned she could see her reflection staring back at her. Against the black counters, the glass, the steel…she couldn’t escape herself. Everything was perfect. She appeared to be too. (Camera shoots to the answering machine. As the message plays you see Judith’s body and her hands holding a steeming cup of coffee. She is standing.) Ansering Machine/Megan: “ You’ve reached James and Judith Reeder we cant come to the phone ….” Voice over: She could hear her voice in the background. They had hung up. Nonstop ringing followed the recorded hang up. Again…the voice recording came up. Megan: “Mom!...mom ok I know I promised I’d come home early and we…. Her mind drifted. She could hear her daughters voice on the phone but she didn’t rush to pick up the phone. She was tired of excuses but she smiled. “Megan’s had a rough time patching things up with Trey” I’m sure we’ll get around to talking later. “…So anyway I’ll be home around 4 ish alright love you mom. Oh and don’t forget Jason’s over and Lauren’s for a bit I think there breaking up or whatever …you know them mom anyway love you see you around 4.” (Dog Barking. Every ting shot from Judith’s point of view never seeing her face.) Judith (directed towards the dog) “I know you want a walk huh?” Well let’s go than …(plays with the dog a bit ruffling his coat up. Picking up her purse and house keys she leashed her dog up and walked out the door.) Voice over: They began walking at a snails pace and Judith took her time soaking everything in. She arrived at her favorite Bistro and sat down at her special table outside on the front patio. She had her newest romance Jane Steel novel and her little dog that would occasionally burst into a fit of barking but as soon as his owner stared him down intensely settled down and rolled over. Judith :“I’ll have a cappuccino,” (said in a strong but quiet voice.) Waiter: “Anything else M’am?” (Judith contemplates.) Voice Over: She wasn’t really all that hungry but she had eyeballed the table next to hers tray of tiny French pastries and suddenly got the urge for something made of sugar ecstasy. Judith: “I’ll have a piece of tiramisu” ( said semi quickly). Voice Over: She hadn’t had a carb in a while do to being on her latest diet. Judith had always been heavier in her youth and as an adult had been determined to look like the Barbie’s she had played with as a girl. The waiter, one that knew her usual order of a garden salad with dressing on the side well stood a bit shocked but smiled. He came back with her coffee and an obviously large piece of cake. Judith: “Thank you” she said. “You’re my new best friend,” she thought to herself. Voice Over: She indulged herself with her treat slowly. She wanted to enjoy this…she had felt a bit out of it lastly. As she savored her spoon she observed the world around her. She began people watching. The street in front of the café seemed busier than usual. It was a Thursday. Mid afternoonish. Judith liked watching. Everyone she saw seemed to be the complete juxtaposition than that of who she was. Some had pep in their step like they walked with importance or as if they had somewhere more important to go. Others walked slow as if they we’re wasting time, having nowhere to go, they wondered a little window shopping killing time. Everyone was out today. Young Blonde: “ But you promised, you told me you’d tell her…” wailed the 20 something brat in her cheap shoes and blonde from a box hair. Voice Over: Obviously had the air of small town to her. Judith noticed the hunger in her eyes. A hunger that food wouldn’t stuff…but a hunger that would always be famished. Older Man :“Doll, baby, you know I want to” he cooed to her. “It’s just you know she’s been down lastly I don’t want to hurt her” he said somewhat caring as if some part of him still did…he kept trying to appease her. Voice Over: The couple kept on at it and Judith watched. He was much older than his blonde “doll” and it was a very evident she was too much for him. She was wearing him out a bit but he wouldn’t dare give her up…she was exciting. The thrill she had given him he hadn’t felt since he was in college. He didn’t want to let that go. So they both stood there arguing. Judith watched and smiled. How ridiculous they were. How out of place and miss matched they obviously were. She wanted to tell the blonde to go back to school and to her natural color and she wanted to tell him that his poor wife probably knew despite his being “careful” and how…well she didn’t know but her stomach turned. But she just sipped her cappuccino. She thought about her husband. Her and James had been together almost 12 years coming up this September. They had met in college. Always fighting and making each other jealous they had been just perfect for each other. Self destructive in all of their bliss they were perfect. He now worked in an office but than had enjoyed playing folk music and serenading her. They loved each other…even 12 years later. That’s what made them so perfect. They had never stopped telling each other or trying to please one another. She smiled. She’d make him chicken potpie tonight. She knew that was his favorite. The couple continued to argue but engaged in her thoughts she hadn’t realized that they’d stopped fighting and now we’re kissing quick pecks and being giddy. Her stomach turned again. She was just glad James would never replace her with a new model. That no matter how old she got he’d love her. Just as he always had. She stared into her cup. But looked up again just to double check if they we’re still making up. But they we’re gone. This put her at ease. Waiter: “Would you like anything else?” Voice Over: Judith just shook her head and said she was fine. But changed her mind. She felt un easy and as usual sought comfort in food. She resisted though and asked for another cup of coffee. When the waiter had left her side Judith looked around at her surroundings. The streets were less crowded but still people were strolling along. Near were the former inappropriate lovers had been stood a large fountain. With Spanish tile and water spewing out of its top. On it sitting there were two girls. Both around her daughter’s age of 17. At first glance Judith believed the two girls to be just friends but at a closer more intense stare Judith could tell. She could tell by the subtle way one girls hand got close to the others or how they giggled that they were more than just friends, these two girl sat in a way that they inclined towards each other subconsciously. The mannerisms of true lovers, the body language and feel the first quarrelsome couple had clearly lacked. They couldn’t have been older than 17 or 18 but Judith could tell they knew they were in love. She was almost touched by this subtle yet obvious display of affection. Unfortunately this love that was so evident couldn’t help but lead Judith back to herself. These two girls were around her daughter’s age…they couldn’t possibly know what they wanted. How could they be so happy having so much adversity yet to over come? What did their mothers say about them being in love? She wondered. She wondered what she would do if Megan came out to her…she didn’t think such nonsense. She practically had to tare her daughter off of her boyfriend’s body whenever they were together. But yet she couldn’t help but envy the two girls. It was more than just a sexual yearning between them but a sincere and open love. Something she felt she had achieved because she had been in her relationship for 12 years…not what seemed like a phase or a few months of two girls experimenting. She smiled. Their poor mothers how upset they’d be when they found out. She would accept it eventually if it had been her daughter but it would take a lot from her. She felt bad for the two girls mothers. Her daughter was truly one of a kind. Sure they had their ups and what seemed like frequent downs but all in all Megan was a good kid. She loved animals, did her homework, and aside from her boyfriend being around Judith felt her daughter wasn’t flawed. That they could talk about everything… that she told her mother everything. Just like Judith had told her mother. She had always wanted that relationship with her daughter and she felt blessed she had it. She kept watching the two girls and her heart sank as she saw pass buyers stare or mumble an obscenity at them. She felt bad. If it had been her daughter …well she didn’t want to think about that. She turned her head so she was facing the other way. She was happy she did because something else caught her eye. It was a young man. He was sitting on a bench that was placed across the street and made of stone. He wasn’t doing anything in particular, just sitting, and yet seemed as if he was staring and had been staring at everything Judith had been observing. As if they were the only two people who had stopped and just watched. She thought she had had the pleasure of watching all alone…but he looked at her in such a way that she knew he had seen everything and thought everything she had. They just stared at each other. He smiled a crooked smile and bowed his head as if acknowledging her. After what seemed as forever but not an awkward forever…but an open silence, he got up. He left. “Wait” she wanted to throw at his back but she stopped herself. She couldn’t if she tried her body wouldn’t allow her to speak. He had left a small note folded on the bench on white stationary paper. She noticed it after the young man had left. She paid her check and abruptly ran to the bench to get the note. She picked up the note that was folded into fours. She didn’t open it. She was to scared to. She began walking home. The dog barking occasionally but she didn’t care. She walked fast as if she could only open the secret note in the comfort of her home. She finally got home. It took 15 more minutes than usual for her to walk the 3 blocks home. She unfolded the paper as she walked through her door and stood in her doorway. She smiled. Everyone was there. James, Meagan, and her son Jason. She held the note crinkled in her hand. She kept smiling. (Its evident that it’s the people she had seen all day. James is having an affair and Megan is a lesbian. Her son also knows) She throws the note away. Judith: “How was your day James?” said Judith James: “Oh you know hunny…uneventful” said James “I’m just glad to be home…and I see you’re being nice to me today. Chicken pot pie (he leans in to give her a sweet kiss on her cheek she lets him and smiles) I love you” JUDITH: “Anything for you James” she said softly. (Still clutching the note looking down at her reflection on the counter top. VOICE OVER: (shot of her quickly looking up but there’s glass. Everywhere she turns she sees herself…she can’t escape. She lets go of James to start serving dinner. She throws the note away. You see it in the trash) …it reads “See you at home, Mom”. (The young man, her son, knows about eveyrhting aswell.) The End.