afiqah's script

Playwriting

Scene 1
It is a moderately sized hotel room, with 2 bedrooms at the far end, door-to-door and half opened. Outside, there is a television facing 2 sofas, upholstered and red in color. A mini bar nests snugly beside the sofa. A small kitchenette at the right corner of the room. The velvet drapes are pulled back, allowing light to fill the room. The sound of water from the shower is heard and then, rustling. Out comes a man, Julian, tall with dark hair wet. He strides to the sofa, plops down and starts channel surfing.
Bella: Shit Lizzie, just shut the hell up. [Enters room and heads straight to the toilet, slamming the door after her]
Lizzie: [enters, with 8 bags in her arms, grins at Julian half heartedly] Some help?
Julian: Sure.
Silence as they put the bags down on the sofa.
Julian: Did you get something to eat?
Lizzie: Crap. I’m so sorry Jules, i forgot. I’ll go get something for us. [Grabs wallet from one of the bags]
Julian: hey, it’s okay. [Grabs her arm]
Silence. They look at each other. He releases grip.
Lizzie: Em, I’ll...
Julian: What happened?
Lizzie: What?
Julian: Between the two of you. [Waits expectantly]
Lizzie: Nothing. It’s nothing. Really.
Julian: Don’t give me that Liz, i know you.
Lizzie: [defeated] It’s just, you know how Bella likes to shop. I’m just tired.
Julian: Is that all?
Lizzie: Yeah.
[Bella comes out of the toilet]
Bella: hey, babe. [Leans in to kiss Julian] so, do you wanna go grab lunch? I’m starved.
Julian: yeah, I’ll just get changed first. [Leaves into one of the rooms]
Silence
Lizzie: you’re shameless. How could you?
Bella: shut up Liz. It’s my life; my business and you can just shut the hell up or get lost.
Lizzie: you have the nerve to say that to me? After you kissed him like nothing was wrong? That you weren’t playing tonsil hockey with some goddamn stranger just a few minutes ago? How could you do that to Julian, Bella? dammit, he does not deserve this. he loves you. and you. you...
Bella: [slaps Lizzie] as I’ve said before, it’s none of your business. stop acting like you know me. i know all about your stupid , pathetic little crush on him and it is just so annoying that he invited you for our holiday.
Lizzie: Bitch.
Bella: yeah, i am. and you know what? you may be his best friend but I’m his girlfriend, so just don’t bother me again and we’ll get along just fine. oh, and stop clinging to him. as I’ve said before. it’s pathetic.
[Julian enters]
Bella: come on baby, let’s go.[pulls him to the door]
Julian: what about Lizzie?[stops Bella]
Bella: who? oh, her. she’s not hungry. let’s go.
Lizzie: yeah, go. I’m fine.
Julian: you sure?
Lizzie: yeah. [smiles]
[door closes]
Lizzie: I’m totally fine.

Scene 2
the time is late night. Lizzie is sitting on the sofa, watching heroes, in her hands, a cup of hot chocolate. she is dressed for bed, in Pokémon top and shorts.
the door opens.
Julian enters.
Julian: hey, you still up?
Lizzie: yeah, sylar is trying to kill peter. again.
Julian: [sits next to her] god. that is so lame.
lizzie: that is not lame. what is so lame about being able to fly, and kill people?
Julian: whoa Liz, you’re bloodthirsty. i better watch my back. [pretends to be frightened]
lizzie: yeah, you’d better be afraid. be very afraid. [starts tickling him]
Julian: ok.ok i surrender. white flag.
lizzie: hah! wuss. [suddenly realizes something] where’s Bella?
Julian: huh? oh, she’s at the massaging place. her muscles felt tense.
lizzie: oh. ok.
silence
Julian: yeah. so, did you get any work done?
lizzie: no, not really. you know me, procrastinator. but the article is due next week, so no problemo.
Julian: if only they knew “miss independent” is a lazy ass that likes to wear kiddy clothes. []grins as he looks at her Pokémon top]
lizzie: yeah, yeah, you can’t bring me down. hey, you smell bad. did you drink? go take a bath. you’ll stink up the whole place, stinky breath. go! GO! [pushes him away]
Julian: if i stink, than you my dear, will have to stink too. [starts tickling her]
lizzie:[laughing] stop. stop it Julian. seriously. ok. ok. I’m sorry. stop.
Bella enters
Julian and Lizzie jump up.
Julian: I’ll go take a bath now.[leaves hastily]
lizzie: [switch off TV] hey. I’m going to bed. night.
Bella: stop. you better watch it. don’t think for one second that Julian will fall for someone like you.
lizzie: [turns to leave. stops. turns to Bella] no. you better watch it. the only reason that i haven’t told him about the “little” incident this morning is because it will hurt him. so. have a good night.[leaves to her room]
Bella: arggh. [goes into room]
Julian is on the bed.
Julian: what’s the matter? hey, don’t look so sour. come on bell.
Bella: Julian, tell me the truth. do you have any feelings for her?
silence
Bella: shit. don’t answer the question.
Julian: don’t be like that.
Bella: just go to sleep. I’m going out. [grabs her handbag]
Julian: where?
Bella: none of your goddamn business. [storms out]
Scene 3
Lizzie is in her room. having just woken up from sleep. she stretches, and yawns. she moves out of the bed and advances to the door.
Julian: Mornin- [julian is standing outside her door]
Lizzie: crap. you nearly gave me a heart attack.
Julian: sorry. morning.
Lizzie: morning. is that coffee?
Julian: er-
Lizzie: yes. that’s coffee. gimme!
Julian: [laughs] old habits die hard huh? still the same Lizzie, can’t function properly without caffeine in the morning.
Lizzie: [too busy drinking]
Julian: I’ve been meaning to ask…
Lizzie: sorry, need a minute, wait, maybe more than a minute. [slams door]
Julian continues to the kitchen and takes the freshly made waffles, pours maple syrup and takes a fork. he continues to the sofa and sits there.
Lizzie: hey, sorry about that. I needed to bathe and feel human before talking to anyone.
Julian: I understand. I still remember that time during camp when you nearly blew of that guys’ head when he tried to talk to you in the morning. man. his poor heart was broken. no one dared crossed you after that.
Lizzie: that was so long ago. I can’t believe you still remember.
Julian: well. there’s some things you just never forget. and Liz, and you’re one of them, to be honest-
Lizzie: yeah?
Julian: em, nothing. there’s some more pancakes, eat.
Lizzie: you cooked?! today just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
Lizzie goes to take her food.
Julian looks at her wistfully.
Lizzie: hey, this is actually not that bad. I’m impressed.
Julian: I feel insulted. you doubted my abilities? be still my heart.
Lizzie: hahaha. cut the crap Jules. what’s your agenda for today, going to see the Eiffel tower?
Julian: hmmm, I’m actually not sure. Bella usually just drags me around.
silence
Lizzie: she’s out?
Julian: yeah.
Lizzie: this early?
Julian: apparently.
Lizzie: o.k.
beat
Lizzie: Julian, are you-
Julian: hey, do you want to-
Julian: go out together. for today that is.
Lizzie: I don’t kno-
Julian: come on, we could eat nice food. enjoy the weather. accompany poor julian…[puts on a puppy dog face]
Lizzie: I really don’t think that it’s appropriate.
Julian: come on Liz, you’re my best friend. we haven’t spent time together in ages.
Lizzie: still. [pause] I’ve got a lot of work to do anyways. you go and enjoy yourself. I’m sure you can find something to do that doesn’t involve-
Julian: do I need to spell it out for you?
Lizzie: huh?
Julian: I don’t want to spend time alone, nor do I want to spend time with Bella.
Lizzie: then?
Julian: dammit, I want to spend time with you.
Lizzie: oh.
Julian: yes. do you get it now?
Lizzie: get what?
Julian: [clenches his fingers] I love you!
silence
Lizzie: shit. this is not happening. Julian, you’re playing a joke on me right. come on, say April’s fool… anytime now.
Julian: I’m serious Liz.
Lizzie: what about Bella?
Julian: I don’t know. I really don’t know. shit.
Lizzie: omg. you need to get your thinking straight Julian.
Julian: shit. shit. I need to get some fresh air.
Scene 4
Lizzie is curled up in her bed. her eyes are red and puffy.
Lizzie: crap. what the bloody hell have you gotten yourself into Elizabeth Brown?
Lizzie hears shuffling outside and the bedroom door slamming. she gets up, wipes the tears from her eyes and starts outside.
Lizzie: Julian, is that you? [knocks on door]
Lizzie: hey, who’s inside? Bella? I need to talk to you.
no answer
Lizzie: hey, are you alright? I’m opening the door.
Lizzie: bloody-
Bella: get out bitch!
Lizzie slams the door shut.
Lizzie: shit. oh god.
The door opens, Bella come out, half dressed, only in a oversized t-shirt. her hair tousled and on the bed, there is a guy, only covered by the blanket. offering a huge grin to both girls.
Lizzie reaches out to close the door.
Lizzie: what the hell is your problem?
Bella: my problem?! you’re asking me what the hell is my proble-
Lizzie: why are you in bed, fucking some god knows stranger who-
Bella: Lizzie, you know what. I really need you to shut the hell up and stop giving me a fucking migraine.
Lizzie: shit Bella. you are so screwed up. you’re here on vacation, with your boyfriend, who is great, dammit. and here you are screwing some other guy. are you crazy?
Bella: yes. I’m crazy. I’m totally insane. are you happy now?
They stare at each other, breathing hard.
Lizzie: you know what. I don’t care anymore, go and screw some more guys till you drop.
Bella: oh, don’t worry. I will.
Lizzie: I just hope you won’t regret this.
Bella: you’re talking about regret now? fuck you. do you want to know what i regret the most? I regret ever meeting Julian, ever meeting you! I loved him! but I always knew he didn’t love me. every time he sees you, it feels like I’m so bloody insignificant to him. it’s always Lizzie this, Lizzie that and I’m bloody sick of it.
Lizzie: Bella-
Bella: shut up, you just shut the fuck up. he loves you dammit. YOU! not me. it has never been me. and I hope you’re happy now. you got what you wanted right? just leave me alone. [slams door]
Lizzie: Great.
Scene 5
The time is night. Lizzie is alone in the hotel room, in her bed, typing on her macbook.
Lizzie: [reads aloud]dear miss “miss independent” I just found out that my best friend is in love with me. the problem is though, he already has a girlfriend. what should I do? signed, troubledgurl.
Lizzie: [writes]dear troubledgurl, you should…. [pause] I don’t know what you should do. call the fire department. the cops. put yourself in a mental institution. just get yourself out of that situation. fast. before it’s too late.
Lizzie: oh yeah, and comfort yourself with the fact that his girlfriend is not cheating on him and you don’t know whether to tell him the truth or not.
Lizzie: shit. my life is a bloody mess.
Knocking sounds
Julian: hey, I thought I heard sounds coming from here.
Lizzie: [slams the laptop shut] yeah. just finishing some work you know. busy busy. haha.
Julian: yeah. hey. do you have a minute?
Lizzie: depends.
Julian: On?
Lizzie: what you’re gonna say.
Julian: [smiles] come on Lizzie.
Lizzie: ok. ok. let me have it. [sits cross legged on bed]
Julian: see, the thing is, I’m sorry if what I said made you feel uncomfortable. I realized that it is a shock for you. but Liz, what I said is still true. I’ll break up with Bella before I start anything though.
Lizzie: Julian-
Julian: I know you don’t like it. but even if you don’t return my feelings, I realized that I can’t continue on with Bella. I just can’t. I hope you understand.
Lizzie: Julian, I appreciate your honesty but I really think that Bella’s feelings will be really hurt-
Julian kisses Lizzie
Lizzie: shit. stop Ju-
Julian: shut up.
He continues to kiss her.
Bella: You Bitch!
Lizzie: fuck. [ pushes julian away]
Lizzie: it’s not what you think Bella. really, let me explain-
Bella: slut. that’s my boyfriend you’re kissing.
Julian: Bella, calm down, let me explain-
Bella: you shut the fuck up and you, you whore, boyfriend stealer-
Lizzie: Bella, I know you have all the right to be angry, but please listen.
Bella: [strikes Lizzie] you deserved it!
Lizzie: that was the last fucking straw. fine. you want to play it that way. sure, you’re some paragon of virtue. right? what was that you were doing a few hours ago? huh? in your bedroom, the one you shared with Julian? Bella, tell me. tell me now.
Bella: it’s none-
Lizzie: of my fucking business right? well since you don’t want to say it let me. Julian.
Julian: yeah?
Lizzie: I’m so sorry to tell you that your girlfriend for the past 2 years was fucking some Frenchman that she picked up during one of our shopping trips. fucking him hoarse.
Bella: [gasps] how could you. bitch.
Lizzie: YES! I’m a fucking Bitch and you know what, I’m glad that it’s all out. you, get your head straight and your priorities right first before talking to me again. I may have kissed your boyfriend, but that does not give you the right to have it at me. go to hell and you know what, rot there for all I care.
Julian: lizzie-
Lizzie: and you. I am your best friend and I swear to god I deserve to be treated better than this.
Lizzie: I’m leaving. both of you. Have a nice life.
[exits]

Scene 6
silence
Julian: I’m sorry-
Bella: I’m sorry-
Julian: I’m really sorry Bells. I don’t know what else to say. I should not have done that.
Bella: [sits on bed] you know what Julian, I think we’re equal. I cheated on you. you cheated on me. so, it’s even.
Julian: still-
Bella: the thing is, I’ve always known that you loved Lizzie. that you were in love with her, even before we got together. if was in your eyes every time you looked at her.
Julian: you knew? I did not realize it myself though-
Bella: but I was selfish, I wanted you. so, I guess I had it coming.
Julian: Bella. I’ll be honest when I say that I did not know that I was in love with Lizzie, I only thought of her as my best friend but-
Bella: I know. I think this is where our time together end.
Julian: are you sure?
Bella: come on Julian, let’s not kid ourselves. you have no more feeling for me and I don’t think that I feel the same for you too. it would be futile to continue.
Julian: thanks Bella.
Bella: I think that I’d better find another hotel to stay in. I don’t think that Lizzie would appreaciate me here.
Julian: you have somewhere to go?
Bella: yeah. that French guy is surprisingly sweet. and rich. [pause] I’m sorry Julian. I hope we can remain friends.
Julian: hey, same here. no hard feelings?
Bella: yeah. [she moves to hug him] thanks Julian. for everything. I’ll miss you.
Julian: me too. take care.
Bella: yes. I will. bye.
Julian: bye.
[Bella exits]
Scene 7
it is the next morning, Lizzie is packing her things. there is a knock on the door.
Julian: Morning. coffee?
Lizzie: is that a peace offering?
Julian: if you want.
Lizzie: I’ll take it.
Julian: Lizzie, the thing with Bella, it’s over.
Lizzie: and?
Julian: I’m sorry if I had hurt you. really.
Lizzie: Jules, just save it-
Julian: no listen. [grabs her lightly] hear me out Lizzie.
Lizzie: you have 5 minutes.
Julian: I was really stupid-
Lizzie: you don’t say-
Julian: shhhh. I was stupid. I didn’t see what was in front of me all this years. I didn’t see you. and I will forever regret it.
Lizzie: [stares at him]
Julian: Elizabeth Brown. I love you.
Lizzie: wha…what do you want me to say?
Julian: say you’ll forgive me. and say you’ll be my girlfriend.
Lizzie: geez. I don’t know Jules. you made me wait all these years, you big doofus-
he kisses her
Julian: say yes.
Lizzie: yes.
curtain