Apartment 538

Marlon Charles

FADE IN.

INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - EVENING

It’s Christmas time, with decorations half-heartedly strewn

across ROB’s mainly empty living room. The Christmas lights

hang loosely on the wall, with several baubles laid out

across the table and couch alongside scattered layers of

tinsel. A box full of decorations left sitting in the corner

tell a tale of an abandoned decoration attempt.

A KNOCK is heard on the door.

The sound of a running tap is switched off and after a few

moments, ROB emerges into the living room pulling a shirt

over his vest as he walks to the door. He lets out a small

puff of breath, to compose himself before he reaches to the

door and opens it to find HANNAH. His face immediately drops

upon seeing her as she stands at his doorway, with a strap

bag draped over her shoulder. He pauses and stares at her

blankly before speaking; he doesn’t hide his disappointment.

ROB

....Hannah?

HANNAH

Loving the hesitation.

ROB

What are you do-

HANNAH

Can I come in?

Rob hesitates again.

ROB

...yeah, sure.

He stands aside to let her in and she walks past him,

surveying the state of the room as she walks forward towards

the counter. Rob, standing in place, closes the door behind

her before he turns to face her.

ROB

Listen if Jenny has anything say to

me she can-

HANNAH

I’m not here to pass anything on.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

ROB

Oh...Well I don’t know what her

version of events were but-

HANNAH

I’m not here to yell at you either.

ROB

Oh. (pause) Well, that’s both my

speeches really...

Hannah turns to face him.

HANNAH

Oh yay. Do I get my chance to

speak?

ROB

(signalling towards the door)

Do you see why I hesitated.

HANNAH

I’m here to collect Jenny’s things.

ROB

Collect Jenny’s things?

HANNAH

Yeah.

ROB

Is this something I should know

about. Cause this feels like a

conversation that should’ve

involved me.

HANNAH

(looking around the room

again)

I think you had the conversation.

Rob instinctively grabs a piece of tinsel off the floor

after seeing her spot it.

ROB

No we had a conversation. But this

feels like an extension of the

conversation that didn’t involve

me.

HANNAH

It’s her decision Rob.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

Rob moves across the floor picking up the left over tinsel

as he talks.

ROB

Right, yeah and two years doesn’t

give me a say in this decision.

HANNAH

Oh personally, I think it does. If

anything I think your say is what

led to this decision.

ROB

Thank you Hannah.

HANNAH

What did you expect?

He stops at the other end of the room and turns to face her.

ROB

Oh, I don’t know a phonecall,

email, a tweet. Something nicer

than a proxy.

HANNAH

I’m going to stop you and remind

you I’m on her side.

ROB

And you came to that conclusion

after hearing both sides-

HANNAH

No.

ROB

Great, thanks.

He throws the contents in his hands into the box before they

awkwardly spill out. He tries not to give her the

satisfaction of seeing his building frustration as he looks

on dead ahead.

HANNAH

I’ll re-iterate that I’m not here

to yell at you.

He kneels over and begins to jam the content back into the

box.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

ROB

Yeah you’re here to collect her

stuff.

HANNAH

Back on track.

ROB

What does she want?

HANNAH

Just a few things she wants back,

you know to live and stuff.

ROB

Where’s she living?

HANNAH

She’s staying with me.

He stops again and turns to face her.

ROB

She’s staying at your house?

HANNAH

Yes...

ROB

Your house with a telephone, that

she could’ve rang me from.

Hannah idly moves over and begins to play with a bauble left

over on the counter.

HANNAH

And doors, windows, walls, I like

to think I have the entire set

ROB

Hmmm right.

HANNAH

Yerp.

Rob moves to his cabinet and leans on it.

ROB

What does she want?

Hannah begins to list them across her hand.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

HANNAH

She wants her clothes.

ROB

Right.

HANNAH

Her ipod.

ROB

Right.

HANNAH

The docks.

ROB

Okay.

HANNAH

The Wire boxset.

ROB

Seriously?

HANNAH

Her toothbrush.

ROB

This could all have been done by

phone.

HANNAH

She was worried you’d weasel out.

ROB

Is my dignity on that list?

HANNAH

You really feel this strongly about

keeping her toothbrush?

ROB

No, you’re missing the - and for

the record. it started as my

toothbrush, then she moved in and

it slowly transitioned into hers-

HANNAH

Right.

ROB

Which incidentally is the story of

my dignity.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

HANNAH

I’ll tell her you want to keep the

toothbrush.

ROB

She can have the toothbrush.

HANNAH

This is a big win for dental

hygiene.

ROB

Thank you for coming Hannah.

Rob moves out of shot into his bathroom and Hannah walks

forward remonstratively.

HANNAH

Whoa remember that part about me

collecting her stuff.

ROB

I can send it to you.

He re-emerges again with a pair of socks in his hand.

HANNAH

See, with the weaselling.

ROB

I’m busy-okay, I’ve got somewhere

to be.

HANNAH

Then let me get the stuff and-

ROB

No, I’m leaving the house.

HANNAH

I’m not going to rob you.

The Christmas bauble from the counter is clearly missing.

ROB

(as he sits down on the couch

and pulls on his socks)

Don’t take it personally. I’m just

one of those strange people who

feel strongly about not leaving

other people alone in their house.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 7.

HANNAH

Hmmm right.

ROB

You can swing by tomorrow and you

can collect what you need. I’m sure

she can go one day without my

toothbrush.

HANNAH

You’ve just set back dental

hygiene.

Hannah turns and moves and towards the door.

ROB

You should be worried you know. Her

transition phase kicks in pretty

early.

HANNAH

You keep goading me into this fight

I’m not here to have.

ROB

You know what I’d love, a reason.

Or maybe just closure.

HANNAH

(turning to face him)

Really? Again with this playing the

victim?

ROB

Was that another unbiased

conclusion?

HANNAH

I somehow feel like I’m less biased

than you on this.

ROB

(as he stands up and slightly

raises his voice)

Is her talking to me too much to

ask for, to at least tell me this

to my face.

HANNAH

(defiantly)

At this moment in time, for her,

yes.

He begins to move away towards the bathroom.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

ROB

Oh wow, well I’m so sorry she’s

going through such a difficult

period. If there’s anything I can

do to help=

HANNAH

Rob, you’re dangerously close to

pushing it-

ROB

(stops in place to fully face

her)

All I want. All I’m asking for, is

one conversation, closure, that’s

it.

HANNAH

Well, as seems to be the case with

her toothbrush, I guess we can’t

all have what we want.

ROB

Jesus-

HANNAH

Look Rob, you want advice. Deal

with it. We all make mistakes, its

up to us to find out how to live

with them.

ROB

Wow, well thank you Hannah.

HANNAH

Anytime. Except you know, any other

time.

ROB

Hmmm.

He moves again towards the bathroom.

HANNAH

Tomorrow then?

ROB

(stops once again)

Tomorrow you can collect everything

you need.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 9.

HANNAH

What time?

ROB

Couldn’t care less, any time you

feel like-

HANNAH

Weaselling.

ROB

Six, p.m. I’m busy in the a.m.

HANNAH

I’m sure you are. See you then.

ROB

Yeah.

Hannah walks up towards the door and opens it before she

turns once more to face him.

HANNAH

By the way. You know she’s not

leaving you because you’re an

asshole.

ROB

That’s.....a relief?

HANNAH

She’s leaving you because you’re

okay with being an asshole.

ROB

Thank you Hannah. I’ll keep that in

mind.

HANNAH

Mhmmm.

Hannah walks out the door and leaves.

He waits a few moments before he walks back into the

bathroom.

CUT TO:

10.

INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - EVENING (LATER)

Another loud knock on the door leads Rob to once again

emerge into the room, this time more dressed and prepared,

with a shirt with a tie hanging loosely around his neck and

smart shoes on. Another loud knock of impatience is heard.

ROB

(mostly to himself)

Jesus, I’m coming.

He opens it to find JULIE standing at the door. His face

immediately drops.

ROB

You’ve got to be kidding me.

JULIE

I’ll thank you to greet me better

than that.

ROB

Look Julie, Hannah already swung by

to collect her stuff.

JULIE

I’m not here to collect anything.

I’m here to yell at you.

ROB

(pause)

I’m not going to let you in.

Julie barges in past him and walks to his living room.

JULIE

I’ll also thank you to be better to

my daughters

Rob rolls his eyes and curses under his breath as he closes

the door before turning to face her.

ROB

Listen Mrs. Jackson.

Julie walks around the room kicking the strings of tinsel

around the room further dishevelling it as she does so,

surveying the room judgmentally.

JULIE

Was I done yelling?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 11.

ROB

And why is no one interested in my

side of the story?

JULIE

(stops to face him angrily)

Do not. Play, the victim.

He stops mid-thought and takes a second to recompose himself

as she walks around again, this time to a picture frame.

ROB

I’m not interested in playing the

victim, I’m interested in getting

my side heard.

JULIE

(as she picks up the frame)

What good’s that going to do you?

ROB

Well it stops you making me look

like the asshole for one thing.

JULIE

(stops and turns to face him)

Did you give Hannah her things?

ROB

No.

JULIE

Why not?

ROB

It was-there were things still left

to discuss with Jenny.

JULIE

She wanted her toothbrush.

ROB

It was my toothbrush originally for

one thing. Which proves my point of

no one wanting to hear my side.

JULIE

(placing the frame into her

bag)

How petty are you?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 12.

ROB

I-urghh. Is she seriously going to

send everyone to do the talking,

but her.

JULIE

She didn’t send me here.

ROB

No, but I’m presuming she talked to

you about why this is happening.

Which, you know is a conversation I

was left out of.

JULIE

Should I go get my violin?

ROB

Thank you Julie.

JULIE

(as she starts walking around

again)

Mrs. Jackson.

ROB

No, yeah, feel free to demean me

inside my own house.

She continues walking, looking casually around the room as

if trying to spot something.

JULIE

You’ll know when I’ve started

demeaning you.

ROB

Is there no chance you can come by

later to do this? You can bring

Hannah, the two of you can-

JULIE

Where do you keep her whiskey?

ROB

Really, you’re staying?

JULIE

I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.

Julie walks to the end of the room to the CABINET and grabs

a BOTTLE and GLASS out.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 13.

ROB

Oh okay, no please help yourself.

Julie begins to pour herself a glass, not once looking up to

face him.

JULIE

Offer me permission one more time

to do something, and it won’t be

pleasant.

Rob freezes in stunned fear, as she moves across to his

couch and sits down, glass in hand.

JULIE

Now, I’m here to talk about

Jennifer-

ROB

Really?

JULIE

And how you’re going to make it

right.

ROB

How can I apologise if she won’t

even talk to me.

JULIE

I never said you were going to talk

to her. I said you were going to

make it right.

ROB

I don’t even know what that means-

JULIE

You have a talking problem. Which

directly leads to a listening

problem. Stop talking, and listen.

This entire conversation goes a lot

easier if you do that.

ROB

(pause)

Is that you starting to demean me?

JULIE

Why she ever settled for you is

beyond me.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 14.

ROB

Oh, wow, okay.

JULIE

Don’t act like you’re surprised.

The entire family would have

settled for her being gay.

ROB

Is no one taking into account that

maybe I’m not having the best of

times with all this.

JULIE

Not when you’re to blame.

ROB

I’m not the one to blame, if you’d

just list-

JULIE

Have you taken into account that

you’re to blame for this?

ROB

Oh right and there’s no bias on

your part saying that.

JULIE

I’m a lot less biased than you.

ROB

Look Mrs Jackson. I kind of have a

place to be.

JULIE

If you’re going to kick me out,

you’re going to look me in the eye

to do it.

Rob looks up at her, then nervously avoids her gaze.

JULIE

That’s what I thought.

ROB

You’ve made your point, I’m

worthless-

JULIE

That wasn’t my point.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 15.

ROB

That’s a relief-

JULIE

My point was you are worthless and

you’re going to make it right.

ROB

(pause)

How?

JULIE

For one thing, you’re going to give

the poor girl her toothbrush.

ROB

I have no intention of keeping it.

JULIE

Then why did you not give it to

Hannah.

ROB

I didn’t put up a fight to- It

wasn’t about the toothbrush, I said

she can come collect it tomorrow.

JULIE

Why not today? What are you

planning with it?

ROB

Nothing I-Jesus she can collect it

tomorrow with all the other stuff.

JULIE

Why not today?

ROB

I was busy-I’m going somewhere.

JULIE

Clearly, you’re not.

ROB

Do you not see me dressed? I don’t

kick about in the house like this.

JULIE

Give me her toothbrush.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 16.

ROB

What?

Julie reaffirms it with a stare and Rob lets out a loud

groan as he walks out of the room. He comes back a few

moments later and hands it to Julie who places it in her

purse as he walks back to the counter.

ROB

You all seem to be missing the

point, which was never the

toothbrush.

JULIE

Was it your last ditch attempt to

get her to come talk to you.

Holding on to her toothbrush?

ROB

I like to think I had better

bargaining chips than that.

JULIE

Like what?

ROB

Like maybe me and the last two

years.

Julie lets out a high pitched laugh.

ROB

Wow. I should never have let you

drink.

JULIE

First you’re going to give her back

all her things. Then you’re going

to leave her alone.

ROB

That’s how you want me to make it

right?

JULIE

Was I not clear on that? Is it your

listening problem again?

ROB

All I want is to talk to her. Am I

not entitled to that, one

conversation that’s not by proxy.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 17.

JULIE

You are.

ROB

Thank you.

JULIE

Just as equally as she’s entitled

to not talk to you, you’re her

mistake and she now has to live

with it. Leave her alone and let

her do so.

Julie takes a sip.

ROB

Wow.

JULIE

Hannah will come by to collect the

rest of her things tomorrow. All of

her things. I trust there won’t be

a problem.

ROB

Not from my end, no.

JULIE

Good.

Julie takes a big swig, leaving a quarter of the contents in

her glass behind as she stands up and heads for the door.

JULIE

Oh and Robert. This was nothing

personal. I just fucking hate you.

She closes the door behind her as she leaves.

Rob lets out another loud sigh and again leaves the room.

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)

A fully dressed Rob stands in the middle of his living room,

tying up the last of his suit buttons when another knock on

the door occurs. He scrunches his eyes in frustration and

lets out a loud groan, before sighing as another set of

knocks ring out. He finally crosses his fingers and heads to

open the door where he finds CHLOE.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 18.

ROB

Oh God, what are you the ghosts of

Christmases?

CHLOE

Hello to you too.

ROB

Look, Julie’s already been here to

yell at me and yes Hannah’s coming

to collect her stuff tomorrow.

CHLOE

That’s nice but I’m just here to

pass on a message.

ROB

(waiting)

....okay.

CHLOE

Can I come in?

Rob sighs again and stands aside to let her through and she

walks in past him.

CHLOE

Thank you.

ROB

Is there any chance you can make

this quick, I really can’t take

another row.

Rob closes the door behind her and turns to face him as she

stands a few feet away from him.

CHLOE

Maybe I bring good tidings.

ROB

Did a rock fall on Julie?

CHLOE

Not that good.

ROB

Okay. Go.

CHLOE

Offer me a drink?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 19.

ROB

I’m not really staying.

CHLOE

(signalling to the glass on

the table)

Yeah but you’ve already started.

ROB

That’s not mine, that’s Julie’s.

CHLOE

You offered her a drink?

ROB

I really didn’t. Look Chloe please,

just let it out.

CHLOE

Are you in that much of a rush?

ROB

Are there any more of you coming?

Should I just cancel going out

tonight?

CHLOE

Is that why you’re dressed up?

ROB

Yeah. Believe it or not, I actually

had things to do which didn’t

involve people yelling at me in my

own house.

CHLOE

I’m not here to yell at you.

ROB

Yeah, a message.

CHLOE

From Jenny.

ROB

I guessed.

CHLOE

(hesitates)

This build up doesn’t feel worth

it.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 20.

ROB

Is it that disappointing?

CHLOE

Well. You wouldn’t like reading it

on a Christmas card, no.

ROB

And why couldn’t she come give it

herself.

CHLOE

Various reasons. Mostly, you.

ROB

Wow, thanks.

CHLOE

Well you know what you can be like.

ROB

I’m really starting to wonder how

everyone’s coming to this

conclusion that I’m the asshole.

CHLOE

I was going to say difficult.

ROB

Thank you.

CHLOE

You did refuse to give back her

toothbrush.

ROB

That’s not-why is everyone-I gave

Julie the toothbrush.

CHLOE

Yeah, but Julie had to come get it.

ROB

I gave it- I had no intention of

keeping the toothbrush.

CHLOE

I’m just repeating what Hannah told

us.

ROB

Hannah told us? Wait Hannah told

Jenny I refused to give back the

toothbrush? Are you kidding me?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 21.

Chloe merely shrugs and Rob lets out another frustrated

groan before moving to his couch and sitting down as he

places his hand on his forehead and rubs it. He then lets

out a sharp whistle of breath.

ROB

You know what, I will have that

drink now.

CHLOE

It’s your house.

ROB

Thank you for recognizing that.

Chloe goes across to the cabinet and gets two more glasses

and the bottle and brings them to the table, where she pours

the both of them a glass, which Rob immediately starts

drinking as she takes a seat across from him.

ROB

What’s the message?

CHLOE

She said she’s asking you to

recognize that this isn’t easy for

her.

ROB

As opposed to the cakewalk I’m

having.

CHLOE

You’re having a cakewalk?

ROB

Don’t say that to her.

CHLOE

Agreed. And she’s asking you to

just make it easier on her and just

give her her stuff.

ROB

Seriously?

CHLOE

I-well I did say the build up

wasn’t worth it.

ROB

She couldn’t have done this by

herself. Even a text, she could

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 22.

ROB (cont’d)

have sent that as a text, she

didn’t need a proxy to tell me-

CHLOE

The first part. About recognizing

the lack of ease. This is where it

comes into play.

ROB

Why? Why is this meant to be so

easy for me then.

CHLOE

I never said it was.

ROB

She could make this a lot easier

for me. If she’d just talk to me.

CHLOE

I’m sure she would.

ROB

Then why won’t she?

CHLOE

Because that’s not easy for her.

Which funnily enough is still the

first part.

ROB

Urghhhh.

CHLOE

Look Rob, clearly you need someone

to you know-

ROB

Do you take her side?

CHLOE

Rob, I’m her best friend. That’s a

foregone conclusion.

ROB

Right yeah, because my side of

events doesn’t exist.

CHLOE

No I’ve fully taken into account

your side-

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 23.

ROB

Thank you.

CHLOE

I just genuinely think you’re in

the wrong.

ROB

Wow.

CHLOE

Yeah. You really should’ve let me

finish.

ROB

Thank you Chloe.

CHLOE

Rob honestly, you’ve spent all this

time being mad at everyone for her

not wanting to talk to you, have

you even considered why she might

not want to talk to you.

ROB

I’d appreciate it, if she told me.

CHLOE

See, you’d be like this. You

wouldn’t even let her get her side

across, you’d be too preoccupied

with why your side’s right.

ROB

I-

CHLOE

And it’s not. Not that it’s any of

my business but I’m just saying,

just because it’s your side of the

story you’re seeing, doesn’t make

it the right side of the story.

Consider where she’s coming from.

The two sit in silence as Rob stares off into the distance,

while Chloe awkwardly looks around the room.

CHLOE

Well. thank you for the drink.

Chloe stands up.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 24.

CHLOE

And, well I’m guessing we won’t be

seeing too much of each other but

erm, yeah keep well.

Chloe walks towards the door.

ROB

All I wanted was closure. Just one

simple conversation.

CHLOE

Yeah, I know.

Chloe leaves, closing the door behind her leaving Rob sat in

place.

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT 538, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)

A short while later, STEVIE arrives home to find Rob still

sat on the couch as before. He shoots him a weird look as he

walks behind him to leave the room.

He comes back in a few moments later and sits next to Rob on

the couch.

STEVIE

I don’t know how to put this to

you. But just cause its my night to

do dishes doesn’t mean you can have

three glasses to yourself.

ROB

Guests.

STEVIE

(looks at Rob’s clothes)

Cool, cool. Where you headed to?

ROB

(looks at his watch)

Nowhere now.

STEVIE

Is there a new dresscode for the

house?

Stevie reaches across and grabs the REMOTE, switching on the

television.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 25.

ROB

Jenny’s left.

STEVIE

Whoa seriously? Ahhh, sorry man.

ROB

Yeah, it’s okay.

STEVIE

What happened?

ROB

I honestly don’t know.

STEVIE

How do you not know?

ROB

Steve, not tonight.

STEVIE

Ahh fair enough.

Both sit back on the couch in silence.

STEVIE

You know you’ve just made the

entire night awkward.

ROB

Yeah.

STEVIE

There’s like literally nothing else

on my mind.

ROB

Sorry.

STEVIE

Ah it’s cool. Probably a lot

tougher on you than me.

ROB

(turns his head to him)

Thank youuuuu.

STEVIE

What?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 26.

ROB

Don’t ask.

STEVIE

Okay...

The two sit in silence again.

STEVIE

Ah you’ll be fine-

ROB

I know.

STEVIE

Let me finish here.

ROB

I’m trying to end the conversation.

STEVIE

Pfft pissy much.

Stevie stands up and walks behind Rob to the back of the

couch.

STEVIE

Talk to you in the morning man.

ROB

Yeah thanks.

STEVIE

In the meantime you think about

what happened, it’s all I’m gonna

ask you about tomorrow.

Stevie heads out of the room and leaves Rob still staring

into the distance. A few moments pass before.

STEVIE

(off-screen)

Hey, where’s my toothbrush?

FADE OUT