Shallow Grave Page #5

David snatches the letter and leaves, closing the door.

Alex walks back across the hall, opening one of the letters and

reading it quickly.

JULIET:

(calling from the bathroom)

So we'll meet him, then?

ALEX:

What? Oh, yeah, sure, if you want. I tell you, every letter this

guy writes to you is the same: they all begin like pure love and

descend into open pornography. I dream of your thighs, the soft

touch of your white skin leading me in desire, while I, aroused

and inflamed --'

Juliet's hand and arm appear around the bathroom door. She

attempts to grab the letter. Alex plays at holding the letter

just beyond her reach.

ALEX:

(continued)

Aroused and inflamed.

JULIET:

Alex.

ALEX:

He even signs them, in his own name, can you believe it? I'd sign

someone else's name. I'd sign his name. If I wrote them, that is.

Which I don't.

INT. LIVING ROOM. EVENING

Alex, David, Juliet and Hugo sit round a table towards the end of

a meal. Alcohol has been consumed. Bowls containing the last of

the food sit on the table, being picked at occassionally. Alex

dispenses wine mainly into his own glass, alternating with

Macallan malt whisky, of which he pours generous amounts.

ALEX:

Interesting.

HUGO:

I see.

ALEX:

Yeah, well, that's what she said. Interesting. That's why you're

here, you see.

DAVID:

Normally I don't meet people, unless I know them already.

HUGO:

I see.

DAVID:

People can be so cruel.

ALEX:

So, uh...

HUGO:

What?

ALEX:

What?

HUGO:

You were going to say something.

ALEX:

What was I trying to say? Oh, yes, I think, we think, or at least

I suppose we think -- am I right?

JULIET:

Just get on with it, Alex.

DAVID:

Keep it going, Alex. You're unstoppable now.

ALEX:

We think it's fine.

Alex starts eating again. The others watch him expectantly. David

coughs.

ALEX:

(continued)

It's OK. There's no problem.

HUGO:

You mean I can have the room?

ALEX:

Well, that's what I said, isn't it?

DAVID:

He made it clear.

ALEX:

Why, thank you, David.

JULIET:

Yes, you can have the room.

Alex pours yet more alcohol.

ALEX:

I'm not usually drunk.

JULIET:

Not usually this drunk.

DAVID:

Only on expenses.

ALEX:

It's true. A newspaper is paying for all this. A newspaper...

With exaggerated scorn, Alex knocks over a glass of wine.

JULIET:

In a moment he's going to tell he could have been someone --

ALEX:

It was you, Juliet, it was you --

JULIET:

-- instead of what he is --

ALEX:

What I am.

JULIET:

-- which is --

ALEX:

-- which is a hack.

JULIET:

The man we know and love.

ALEX:

A miserable, burnt-out, empty shell of a --

Alex pauses, looks at his drink, then at Juliet.

ALEX:

(continued)

Know and love?

JULIET:

Yeah.

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