Sunday, November 27, 2022

Abraham's Son, Chapter 11

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY 

It's Sunday again. ABRAHAM and SARA drink coffee and talk after watching a movie together. 

SARA: So, this guy DAVE I told you about... turns out he's an OK guy. We had a great time Friday night. We watched An Affair to Remember, 1957. He really liked it. Maybe next time we'll watch a John Wayne flick. (pause) And then we fucked. 

ABRAHAM: Excuse me? 

SARA: You heard me. I enjoyed myself...and he had protection. So what? 

ABRAHAM: I'm glad it worked out. (pause) Well...I had a good time Friday, too. SANDY and I went to a concert at Lincoln Center. And then... 

SARA: And then? 

ABRAHAM: I'm not used to being so blunt... Okay, I spent the night at her place. 

SARA: Congratulation, ABRAHAM. 

SARA leans over and kisses ABRAHAM on his cheek. 

ABRAHAM: Say, you know, I'm not much of a cook, but I do my best. My cousin gave me a lasagna recipe and I wanna try it out. Do me a favor. Come to my house one day this week and share lasagna with me and tell me what you think. 

 SARA: Thursday works? 

INT. ABRAHAM'S OFFICE AT WHITE ROCK BEVERAGES - DAY 

ABRAHAM sits in his office, alone, in contemplation. 

INT. ABRAHAM'S HOME - NIGHT 

It's Thursday night and SARA arrives at ABRAHAM's home. She brings a bottle of wine and gives it to him. 

SARA: I hope the wine's okay, ABRAHAM. The guy at the store said it would be good with pasta. I'm more of a beer person.

ABRAHAM: It'll be fine. Welcome to my house. Please sit down. SARA: (looking around) Oh, you have a very nice place.

 ABRAHAM: Thanks. 

SARA: So, what do you think of my new dress. My friend MARIA helped me pick it out...at Macy's...Queens Center. 

SARA twirls around so ABRAHAM can see front and back. She seems so happy. 

ABRAHAM: Oh, it's very pretty. 

SARA: And what about my hair? You like it? 

ABRAHAM: Yes, I do. SARA, you must know you're an attractive woman. 

SARA: I'm starting to think so. 

ABRAHAM: Why don't I open the wine so we can relax before dinner? 

SARA: Good idea. 

ABRAHAM goes into the kitchen to open the wine bottle and pour two glasses. SARA looks around and notices wedding photo of ABRAHAM and HELEN from almost 40 years ago. ABRAHAM returns with the glasses of wine. 

ABRAHAM: Here we go. 

SARA: (referring to the photo) This is so beautiful. 

ABRAHAM: Yes...it is. That was a happy day for me...for Helen...for our families. A long time ago. You know, sometimes it's hard for me to remember her voice...let's drink some wine. 

SARA: Yeah. 

ABRAHAM gives SARA one of the glasses of wine and they sit down. They each take a drink. SARA waits for ABRAHAM to comment on the wine. 

ABRAHAM: Good. What do you think? 

SARA: I like it. 

They continue drinking the wine. 

ABRAHAM: You know, my life has changed recently...for the better. First, I met you...a vibrant, young woman. I hope we can become good friends, SARA. 

SARA: Me, too. 

ABRAHAM: And then, I think because of you, I permitted myself to be open to SANDY, a nice, older woman, who perhaps can be my companion in the future. 

SARA: That'd be good, ABRAHAM. 

ABRAHAM: And not only a companion, but a lover as well. I wouldn't have believed it, but I found myself wanting another woman, without guilt. 

SARA: I'm so happy for you, ABRAHAM. (pause) I'm having fun, too. DAVE's okay, but tomorrow MARIA and I are going to a bar in the city to look for some more cute guys. I want to feel the same things you do. 

ABRAHAM: Take care, SARA. I worry about you. 

SARA: Don't. 

ABRAHAM: (long pause) You know, because of you and SANDY, I've been thinking a lot about the rest of my life, what's most important to me. That day long ago, that terrible day, I lost not only my sweet, dear wife, but a child, my child. (pause) I believe the closest thing to immortality is having children. 

SARA: You're obviously not Catholic. 

ABRAHAM: Yeah. But, my desire to have a child is growing, not just because of that, but I want to pass on what I've learned to a child of mine own. 

SARA: Wonderful. 

ABRAHAM: (pause) I also want my family to continue. My folks had two sons. My younger brother died in Vietnam, like yours in Afghanistan. Neither of us had children. Our genes will end. You know, there's no one alive today from Abraham Lincoln. 

SARA: So what are you saying? You want a child, but no adoption?

ABRAHAM: Yeah. Forgive me, that may sound cold. It's just what I want to fill the rest of my life. 

SARA: And how ya gonna do this, to have your child? You gonna marry some young woman? I don't think SANDY qualifies.

ABRAHAM: You're right about SANDY. But, I don't need to marry anybody. This is the 21st Century. I just need to find a young woman who'll agree to help me, to have my child.

SARA: And where ya gonna find her? 

ABRAHAM stares at SARA who finally gets it and is shocked.

SARA: Are you talkin' about me? 

ABRAHAM nods. 

SARA: Are you crazy? And how do ya propose we conceive this baby of yours? What do they call it, in vitro something? 

ABRAHAM: No, I wouldn't ask that. I would make love to you.

SARA: (getting steadily angrier) I thought we were just friends. Now you want to fuck me? 

ABRAHAM: Please don't say that. I would make love to you till you got pregnant. We are friends, not lovers. 

SARA: We're friends, but you want to fuck me once or twice. Unbelievable! 

ABRAHAM: I know it sounds strange, but you're my only hope. I'm not about to go and look for some young woman to have my baby, somebody I don't know. But, I've gotten to know you, SARA, and you're a good woman, somebody I'd be proud to have as the mother of my child. 

SARA: You forgot something. Have I ever told you how much I don't want children, how I grew up in a bad home? That's not what I want. 

ABRAHAM: You've told me. But you don't have to worry about the child. I would take 100% responsibility. After the birth, you could help me or you could walk away. Your choice. 

SARA: Boy, you've got this all figured out. You fuck me...I get pregnant...I go through 9 months of torture...then you got your child and I can just resume my life as if nothing happened. 

ABRAHAM: I'll take care of everything. I'll be there for you. Whatever you decide, for the rest of my life, I'll help you in any way possible. That would be my act of kindness for your act of kindness.

SARA stands up. 

SARA: Act of kindness? Huh! This is bullshit. I don't want to have a kid. I don't want to get pregnant. I don't want you to fuck me. Get over this kid thing. I'm leaving. 

She heads for the door, but just before exiting she turns around and looks at ABRAHAM in a rage. He stays seated. 

SARA: You can stick your lasagna up your ass. And don't look for me at the cinema. I don't wanna to sit next to a crazy man. And stay the hell away from the Blue Bay Diner! 

SARA leaves house slamming door behind her. ABRAHAM remains where he is with his head in his hands. 

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