16.

39 INT. WHEELER CAR - NIGHT. 39

Frank flicks his cigarette out the window.

FRANK
I just don't want you feeling bad
about it, okay? Because it's not
worth it. I mean it's bad enough
having to live out here among all
these little suburban types - and
I'm including Shep and Milly in
that, by the way. Friends or no,
they're as bad as the rest of them.
It's bad enough living with these
people without letting ourselves
get hurt by every little half-
assed .•. What'd you say ... ? You
say something?
APRIL
I said 'yes.' All right. But
could we stop talking about it now
before you drive me crazy?
Frank clenches his jaw at the road ahead.

40 EXT. HIGH WAY - NIGHT. 40

The Wheeler car comes to a stop at the side of the road.

41 INT. WHEELER CAR - NIGHT. 41

Frank turns off the ignition. The road ·goes dark. Frank
slides over towards her and tries to embrace her.
APRIL
Please don't. Please, just leave
me alone, okay?

FRANK
Baby, it's okay ••.
APRIL
Leave me alone.

FRANK
April. ..
 17.

APRIL
What don't you understand? Just
leave me alone!
Frank slides back behind the wheel. A long pause.

FRANK
Jesus, April ..• It's not my fault
the play was lousy.

APRIL
No one said it was.
He turns the ignition.
FRANK
I don't happen to fit the role of
dumb, insensitive suburban husband
you've been trying to hang on me
since we moved out here •.• It's
not my fault you didn't turn out to
be an actress ...

She opens the door.

FRANK (CONT'D)
Where are you going?

She flashes across the headlights. Frank struggles with his

door.

42 EXT. HIGH WAY SHOULDER - NIGHT. 42

April stands at the side of the road looking over the dark
country. Frank comes up behind her.

FRANK
What the hell, April •.. ? Come on
back to the car.
APRIL
In a minute. Just let me stand
here.
A car approaches. Frank acts nonchalant. The car passes.

FRANK
April ••. ? Can we talk about it in
the car rather than running all
over Route 12?
 18.

APRIL
Haven t I made it clear I don't
1

particularly want to talk about it?

FRANK
It's just a play, April. I'm
trying to be nice.
APRIL
How kind of you.
FRANK
Hey, I don't deserve this.
April turns and looks at Frank.
APRIL
You're always so wonderfully
definite on what you deserve.
She walks past him b~ck towards the car.
FRANK
Now wait a minute.
He follows. Other cars whizz past, but he's past caring.
FRANK (CONT'D)
This is one time you're not going
to twist everything I say.
April leans against the grill of the car, arms crossed.
APRIL
God, if only you'd stayed h9me
tonight.
FRANK
You know what you're like when
you're like this? You're sick. I
really mean that. (taps.his head)
Like your parents. The play boy
and the flapper. Never took any
responsibility for their lives or
for you. Just blamed everybody
else.
APRIL
And you know what you are .•• ?
(looks him up and down) You're
disgusting.
 19.

FRANK
Oh I am, am I?

APRIL
You just love this don't you? The
poor husband by the side of the
road. Just because you've got me
safely in a trap you think -

FRANK
(quivering with anger)
You in a trap? You? Jesus don't
make me laugh.
APRIL
Yes, me! Me! You poor deluded
little boy. Look at yourself.
Tell me how by any stretch of the
imagination you call yourself a
man?

He raises his fist, she flinches away, and BONG he punches

the hood of the car. Then, silence. She calmly walks around
and gets in the car. Cars whizz past. Frank rubs his hand
and looks up at the sky dotted with stars.

43 INT. WHEELER CAR - NIGHT. 43

April stares ahead. Frank gets in.

FRANK
God damn you April.

APRIL
All right. Can we go home now?
He starts the engine.

FADE TO:

44 INT. FRANK AND APRIL'S BEDROOM - MORNING. 44

Frank lies twisted in sheets across a double bed. A

lawnmower BUZZES in the background. He opens his bloodshot
eyes ... An empty tumbler rests on the bedside table along
with an overflowing ashtray and a clock. It's 10:30 a.m.

Frank stands at the window looking out over the back garden.
The SOUND of the mower grows louder as April pushes the mower
past the window followed by JENNIFER, 6, and MICHAEL, 4.