Storytelling

S T O R Y T E L L I N G by Todd Solondz Final draft TITLE CARD: Fiction INT. MARCUS'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT The time is circa 1985. Vi and Marcus finish making love. Marcus has cerebral palsy. MARCUS Hey, you want to hear my short story now? VI Huh? MARCUS (lifts a MS from a shelf by his bed) I can read it to you. VI You mean, again? MARCUS Well, I changed the ending a little. VI Oh. What happens now? MARCUS Well, actually, it's the same, but longer. I think it's better. More...raw. VI Well then, maybe you should just read the ending. MARCUS But it won't make any sense if you hear it out of context. VI I think you should leave it the way it was. It was good. Pause. MARCUS So you don't want to hear my new ending? VI You'll read it in class tomorrow. Surprise me. (beat) Anyway, I have to go. I promised Melinda I'd help her with her oral. She rises, starts dressing. MARCUS You're tired of me. I can tell. VI Marcus, I'm tired. That's all. MARCUS You've lost interest...You hardly even sweat any more when we have sex. VI I was never much of a sweater. You know that. MARCUS Look, Vi, I don't blame you. You feel You feel pity now. The pleasure isn't there any more. The kinkiness has gone...You've become kind. EXT. CAMPUS GREEN - DAY It is bright and sunny. INT. MR SCOTT'S CLASSROOM - DAY Mr Scott, who is black, presides over his class. Marcus is reading from his story, Vi at his side. Catherine, a stunning intellectual, sits near the teacher. The rest of the students (Amy, Elli, etc.