Birthday Girl Page #7

He approaches the bed with immense trepidation, eases the

cigarette from between her fingers and drops it in the bin.

He stares at her bare hip, with the ash on it. Holding the

saucer under the ash, he blows on it gently. It takes three

careful breaths before it drops in the saucer. Unseen by

John, her eyes are wide open as he steals out onto the

landing. We stay with her a moment.

CUT TO:

A pot of stew, bubbling on the hob.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

John is stirring a pot on the hob. By his expression he might

be defusing a bomb.

His head c*cks, he stiffens. Nadia walks right into the

kitchen. She's changed, jeans and a tee shirt. Nadia takes

the spoon from him, says something in Russian, gestures for

him to sit.

She tastes the stew. Now she stirs the pot. He watches her.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

John and Nadia sit opposite each other. She takes a mouthful.

They catch one another's eye. And again.

On the wall across, six ants careen in crazy circles. John

can see them, but doesn't move.

He puts his fork down.

JOHN:

I don't know what to say. Your letters

were in English. Good English. You

said you'd studied English.

Nadia reaches down into her bag and pulls out a small box

wrapped in brown paper. She places it in front of him.

He warily unwraps a little wooden box. He opens the lid and

fishes out a simple gold ring. He holds it in his palm.

JOHN:

I can't take this.

He puts it back in the box, hoping it will disappear.

She fishes it out again and holds it on her palm for him to

take.

JOHN:

I can't take it. I'm not really a

ring guy.

She takes his hand. He automatically yanks it away like he's

been burned. She takes his hand again and to stop it becoming

unbearable, he allows Nadia to push the ring onto his ring

finger. It goes on easily.

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