Ava and her sycophants sip cocktails in the VIP booth. |
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Billy enters the bar, approaches the VIP. Greta watches. |
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GRETA (V.O.) When you lose the simple things, all you can do is try to get 'um back.
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As Billy nears her sycophants clear away.
AVA Hello Billy. Haven't seen you around in a while.
BILLY Haven't been around.
AVA Take a seat.
BILLY Where's Fred?
AVA (shrugs) Well, his girlfriend's serving cocktails, so he's probably passed out drunk at his garage. But I'm right here darling, and I'm a much better conversationalist.
She gestures to Greta.
AVA Get Mr. Speck whatever he wants.
GRETA Hi Billy.
BILLY Hi Greta.
AVA Oh cute, you two know each other. Get him a gimlet.
She brushes Greta away, |
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Greta heads for the bar. |
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Jack leans against the bar. Greta puts in her order.
JACK That's the ballplayer, Billy Speck.
GRETA Yeah, was.
JACK I wonder what business he has with Ms Blundt.
GRETA You'd waste a lot of time wondering what business Ava Blundt has with boys like that.
Jack watches Ava flirt with Billy, her legs weaving with his beneath the table.
JACK You don't mind what you say, do you?
GRETA No one seems to mind what I say.
JACK Don't be so sure.
He throws some cash down on the bar.
GRETA What's this for?
JACK His round's on me.
Jack makes eye contact with Ava. She stares back, cold. Jack sulks away, briefcase in hand.
JACK (V.O.) When you shoot for the stars, sometimes you forget you're not the only one. More often than not, you burn up before you leave the stratosphere.
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Ava flirts with Billy.
AVA And what were you hoping to find here tonight?
BILLY I need work. I need money. Ever since that game, I...
AVA Don't fool yourself Billy. Fred's made his bounty off you. He's done with you. He has nothing more to offer. (beat) I, on the other hand, see a man with so much more potential.
Jack watches Ava flirt with Billy, her legs weaving with his beneath the table. Ava places a FRED'S GARAGE POSTCARD on the table.
AVA I doubt it would surprise you to know my marriage to Fred is less than wonderful. Should something unfortunate happen to Fred it might benefit us both. (beat) He's at his garage now. The address is on that postcard.
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BILLY Then what happens?
AVA Nothing but wonderful things. Find me when you're done. |
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Greta returns with Billy's gimlet.
AVA Thank you darling, but Mr. Speck was just leaving. Weren't you darling?
Billy takes the hint, gets up.
BILLY Yeah, I'll come back for it another time. Goodbye Ms Blundt.
AVA Goodbye Billy. |
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Billy walks away. |
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Greta hurries after him.
GRETA Billy...
BILLY Yeah...
GRETA Whatever she wants of you... Don't do it.
BILLY I'm a big boy. I can make my own decisions.
GRETA Don't get yourself hurt.
BILLY Why not? What is it to you?
GRETA Leave with me, Billy. We can get away from all of this.
BILLY Where to?
GRETA It doesn't matter.
She holds out a TRAIN TICKET.
GRETA Leave with me. Tonight.
BILLY I can't outrun what I've done. There's nowhere to go.
Dejected, Greta walks away. Billy continues to the door. |
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AVA Suite yourself. You'll never know what could've been. |
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Greta returns with Billy's gimlet.
AVA Thank you darling, but Mr. Speck was just leaving. Weren't you darling?
Billy takes the hint, gets up.
BILLY Yeah, I'll come back for it another time. Goodbye Ms Blundt.
AVA Goodbye Billy. |
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Billy walks away. |
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Greta hurries after him.
GRETA Billy...
BILLY Yeah...
GRETA Whatever she wants of you... Don't do it.
BILLY I'm a big boy. I can make my own decisions.
GRETA Don't get yourself hurt.
BILLY Why not? What is it to you?
GRETA Leave with me, Billy. We can get away from all of this.
BILLY Where to?
GRETA It doesn't matter.
She holds out a TRAIN TICKET.
GRETA Leave with me. Tonight.
BILLY I can't outrun what I've done. There's nowhere to go.
Dejected, Greta walks away. Billy continues to the door. |
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