About These 3 Words, webstory
Sandra is a contemporary, Melbourne woman exploring love and sexuality through her relationships with three women: a young lesbian, an older bisexual woman, and a married woman who is a smouldering flame from her past. A story of love for now.
Sandra and Karen enjoy a night of dance and sex. They tentatively agree to meet again but their busy lives keep them apart. One day they randomly cross paths but Sandra is now caught up in two liaisons: one is a sexual adventure with Gloria, a wealthy, older woman. The other is with an unrequited love, Mary, who ignored their strong attraction and found safety by marrying a man but now returns seeking to rekindle their relationship. Sandra and Karen traverse the expectations of commitment and find their way to love.
Written, directed and edited by: Demetra Giannakopoulos
Preview of These 3 Words
Drama 11minutes Melbourne, Australia English
Advice: Adult themes, Sexual references
Part 1: Lust and wild abandon
Dance club. Late in the night at a gay dance club. Sandra and Karen dance amongst a sea of sweaty, intoxicated men and women – into the music and into each other.
Later, Karen’s Apartment. Sandra and Karen – wild, giddy, completely lost in the lustful sex.
First light. Sandra awakens, hung over, orientates to her location. Sees Karen, watches for any awakeness. None. Sandra slips out of the bed, starts pulling on her clothes. Karen rouses, wants to get to know her better. Sandra is keen to go. They casually exchange mobile numbers. Sandra “Thanks. It was great”. Sandra leaves. Karen squeals “Great? That was awesome!”
Another day. Inside a Melbourne tram. Sandra gazes out the window. In another part of the tram Karen reads from her phone. The tram fills with passengers ending any chance they will see each other. We hear a voiceover of Sandra and Karen exchanging phone messages, trying to get together – unsuccessful. Their voices disappear into the white noise of life.
LATE into the night at an inner city club. Lust and wild abandon. A sea of men and women dance to a driven beat. Sandra and Karen are on the dancefloor illuminated by a pulsing light. Into the music and into each other.
CUT TO:
KAREN’S bedroom. A warm, golden light bathes Sandra’s and Karen’s naked, glistening bodies. Kiss, kiss, kiss. Body parts intermingle. Hands search out each other’s arousal. Intense, sweaty, trippy sex.
CUT TO:
FIRST light. Quiet, but for the gentle hum of early morning traffic. Sandra awakens. Groggy, hung over, not sure where she is. She sees Karen is still sleeping. She watches her for a moment then slips out of the bed, starts pulling on her clothes. Karen rouses.
KAREN: Hey.
SANDRA: Hey.
KAREN: You can stay.
Sandra continues dressing.
SANDRA: Gotta get to work.
Karen stretches like a cat.
KAREN: I’ll make you breakfast.
SANDRA: Can’t. (Lying) Meeting.
Karen sits up in bed, rubs the sleep from her eyes.
KAREN: Who makes a meeting for a Monday morning? I hate Mondays.
Karen watches Sandra finish dressing. Sandra avoids eye contact.
KAREN: (Hopeful) Do you want to hook up again sometime?
Sandra rubs her forehead (a nervous tick).
SANDRA: Sure.
KAREN: Alright! Gimme your mobile.
Sandra indifferently hands over her mobile to Karen. Karen punches in her number, text message. Karen’s phone buzzes on the side table that the text is received. Sandra reads the text to herself, smiles: “Karen is awesome. Sandra call Karen!”.
SANDRA: I need to go.
Sandra leaves. The door closes. Karen looks in the direction of the door.
FADE TO:
LIFE IS BUSY
Morning. A tram travels along an inner city street.
Inside the tram. We watch a Woman seated, checking facebook. Passengers get on, get off and obstruct our view of the Woman. Then there is a gap amongst the passengers – the Woman is gone. Against this background we hear the following exchange of messages.
KAREN: (Voice mail) Hi. It’s Karen…from last night. Just called to say “Hi”.
SANDRA: (Voice mail) Hi it’s Sandra. Hey I’ll call you next week.
KAREN: (Voice mail) Sorry I just missed your call. I hope last week was ok? Do you wanna catch up on the weekend?
SANDRA: (Voice mail) Hey Karen. Look sorry I can’t this weekend.
KAREN: (Voice mail) Hi it’s Karen. I’ll try again later.
KAREN: (Voice mail) Bloody messagebank. (Realising.) Fuck! Sorry I didn’t mean to leave that message! It’s Karen. Again.
KAREN: (Voice mail) It’s Karen. I’ll try again later.
We hear that someone has called but does not leave a message.
Again. We hear that someone has called but does not leave a message.
Part 2: Hello Goodbye
Collins Street. Mary is looking through the window of an upmarket suit and shirt shop.
Inside the shirt shop. Sandra is on her knees, pinning the sleeve of a jacket worn by a customer, Gloria. They face a full length mirror. There is a flirty rapport. We hear the shop door open. Sandra looks up to greet the new customer but on recognition her smile fades. Gloria notices the change, looks at what has affected Sandra. Mary stands at the door – she disengages and pretends to look through some hanging shirts.
Sandra completes her work with Gloria. Distracted, fumbles. Gloria is patient, knowing. Gloria leaves.
Mary approaches Sandra. As they talk they circle like prize fighting cocks sizing up the other.
They fill in the 7 years they have had no contact: benign facts until Mary announces that she has separated from her husband Nick, she has feelings for women. She misses Sandra. Sandra picks a fight. Claims she has “moved on” (we are not so sure) and doesn’t see any point to them being friends. Mary is sorry for the past(?), for marrying Nick(?) for now returning(?). A new customer interrupts. Mary exits.
Late morning. Collins Street, Melbourne CBD. Designer clothes shops, euro-style cafes, haute jewellery and leather goods line the street. Harried businessmen and their lawyers, cackling ladies-who-lunch and window-shopping Japanese tourists walk past.
Mary has her back to us as she is looking through the window of a stylish shirt shop. Beyond the mannequins we see that she is watching Sandra. Sandra is on her knees adjusting a jacket worn by Gloria. This tableau diffuses out of focus and is replaced by Mary’s face reflected in the shop window.
Inside the shop. Gloria is looking into a full length mirror, watching Sandra pinning the sleeve length.
GLORIA: Tonight is opening night of the MTC season.
SANDRA: Oh right.
GLORIA: Do you like to go to the theatre?
SANDRA: I’ve never been.
GLORIA: Oh? What do you like to do?
SANDRA: I like to go to restaurants.
GLORIA: Oh yes.
Off screen we hear the shop door open. Sandra looks up to acknowledge the entering customer. Her warm, welcoming smile fades to painful recognition. Sandra tries to hide it but Gloria discretely looks for what has troubled Sandra. Mary stands at the door, smiling tentatively. She disengages and pretends to check out some shirts. Sandra continues to adjust the sleeve while stealing glances of Mary.
SANDRA: (To Gloria) How is that length?
Gloria checks the length of the sleeve in the mirror.
GLORIA: Yes. That’s right. Can it be ready by Thursday?
SANDRA: Yes.
Sandra removes Gloria’s jacket/places it on a coat hanger/they move towards the counter. Gloria finds/hands over her credit card. Sandra fumbles the credit card reader and it hits the counter with a clunk.
SANDRA: Sorry.
Sandra punches in the price.
SANDRA: Credit or savings?
Sandra checks where is Mary?
GLORIA: Credit.
Sandra punches a key.
SANDRA: Oh. Sorry I hit savings. I’ll just cancel…
GLORIA: (Interrupting) Don’t worry. That’s ok too.
Sandra nods, completes the transaction/hands receipt to Gloria.
SANDRA: Thank you.
GLORIA: You have a lovely day.
Gloria lingers, looks towards Mary, looks at Sandra. Sandra politely waits. Gloria smiles then leaves. Sandra makes notes for the tailor/pins the note onto the jacket/steals a glance towards Mary. Mary is distractedly looking through hanging shirts.
SANDRA: Hi Mary.
Mary turns towards Sandra.
MARY: Hi. Pretty shirts.
SANDRA: Yeah.
Sandra hangs the jacket behind the counter. Mary comes closer. Sandra starts tidying strewn clothing. They are circling each other like fighting cocks.
MARY: Is this a busy time?
SANDRA: Yeah.
MARY: Oh Ok. (A beat.) Do you do the alterations yourself?
SANDRA: No. I have a lady.
MARY: Oh.
Off Sandra’s indifference Mary makes a move to leave. Sandra’s voice stops her.
SANDRA: Do you work around here?
Mary stops, edges a little closer.
MARY: No. I, I work in Moorabbin.
SANDRA: How did you find me?
MARY: Your Mum told me. I would’ve called, but I knew you wouldn’t have called me back.
Sandra tilts her head: This is true.
MARY: I called the lab but?
SANDRA: (Shrugs) Funding dried up.
MARY: Oh. I didn’t think I’d end up working at an engineering factory either.
SANDRA: I like working in the city.
MARY: Yeah. I get that. I’m surrounded by factories.
Sandra looks at Mary curiously, wanting to know her intentions.
MARY: I miss you.
Sandra receives the information with doubt.
SANDRA: How does your husband feel about that?
MARY: We’ve separated. (Steps closer) I’m…
Sandra interrupts her.
SANDRA: Oh well. Shit happens.
MARY: (Retreats) Don’t be a bitch.
SANDRA: (On a roll) So much for the love of your life.
MARY: You haven’t lost your temper. (To herself perhaps) This was a bad idea.
SANDRA: Well go. Go! Like you always do.
MARY: I’m really sorry OK? I made a mistake. Are you happy now?
Sandra stands resolute.
A Man enters the shop. He notices the tension.
SANDRA: (To Man, barks) Can I help you?!
MAN: I’ll come back later.
The Man exits. Mary exits.
SANDRA: Ugh!
Part 3: Life in a closet(10mins) Watch
Sandra see Karen on a tram: it’s weeks after they hooked up. Karen has just come from her closeted lesbian aunt’s funeral and recalls loving memories about her, but also rages at living your life in silence. Is this fate that they met? Can Sandra and Karen be more that a one-night-stand? They smile to each other. A connection.
Advice: Adult themes, Strong language
Part 4: Take off your clothes(3mins) Watch
Gloria visits Sandra at her work in a dress shop. Gloria flirts with Sandra and it leads to an unexpected seduction.
Advice: Adult themes, Sexual references
Part 5: Let’s get it on
Collins St. Sandra is standing by the kerb. Receives a text – from Mary “I forgive you! Call me?” Sandra is affected. She saves the number. A late model Merc pulls up – it’s Gloria. Sandra gets into the car.
Gloria’s Bedroom. Gloria and Sandra enter Gloria’s opulant bedroom. Gloria amuses Sandra with her travails about online dating, older men, and their reluctance to give her oral sex. Gloria directs Sandra to a gift on the bed – its the shirt. Gloria asks Sandra to wear it. Sandra alluringly changes shirts. Gloria joins her, helps her button up, then undo. She asks Sandra to undress her. They kiss. Sandra drops to her knees. We watch Gloria receive the pleasure.
Morning. Sandra wakes up. The bed is empty.
Later. Sandra finds Gloria in the kitchen making coffee. Sandra is wearing the shirt Gloria gave her. Gloria offers coffee. Sandra can’t “has to leave”. Gloria thanks her for last night. Gloria’s daughter enters the kitchen, casually, says “Hi” to Sandra, compliments her shirt, winks at Gloria. Gloria’s husband enters, politely acknowledges Sandra, takes his freshly made coffee, leaves with his daughter. Gloria looks very pleased with herself. Sandra is bemused.
Early evening Collins Street. “Suits” rushing home. Sandra stands kerbside in front of her shop. Her mobile buzzes that it has received a text – it reads “I forgive you! Call me. Mary”. Sandra is affected. She saves the number “Mary”.
A late model Mercedes Benz pulls up beside her driven by Gloria. Sandra jumps into the car and it drives off.
Later. Sandra follows Gloria into her luxurious bedroom. They are mid-way through a conversation and laughing.
GLORIA: …well I really enjoy oral sex! You have to ask. I’m not going to waste my time if he won’t do it. All they want to talk about is their credentials and what they want: Widowed or divorced. Working or retired. Where they live. That they want to travel, walks in the park, going to the movies. Like they are shopping for a wife. I had a wonderful husband. I’m not looking for another one.
Gloria drapes herself onto a lounge chair. Sandra stands in the middle of the room facing Gloria.
GLORIA: I have a gift for you. There. On the bed.
Sandra recognises the bag, she pulls out the shirt.
SANDRA: (Cheeky) Great shirt. (Sincerely) Thank you.
GLORIA: Wear it for me?
Sandra faces Gloria as she slowly takes off her shirt then wears the new one. Gloria approaches and helps her fasten the buttons. Sandra is enjoying being dressed by Gloria. Gloria fastens the last button, pauses, looks at Sandra as if about to devour her. Gloria unbuttons the shirt and takes it off. She runs her fingers across Sandra’s breasts.
GLORIA: Take off my clothes.
Sandra deftly removes Gloria’s clothes and caresses her body. Kisses Gloria’s neck, her shoulders, her breast, her stomach. Sandra drops to her knees. We watch Gloria receiving the pleasure.
MORNING. Sandra wakes up. The bed is empty. Sandra is surprised.
CUT TO:
SANDRA enters the kitchen, she has been searching for Gloria. Sandra is wearing the shirt Gloria gave her. Gloria is making coffee into a keep cup.
GLORIA: Good morning. (A beat) Coffee?
SANDRA: I’ve gotta go.
GLORIA: Ok. Thank you for last night. I had a wonderful time.
SANDRA: You’re amazing.
Gloria smiles.
A 20-Something Woman, Diane, Gloria’s daughter, enters. This startles Sandra. Gloria remains nonplussed.
DIANE: Hi Mum.
Diane grabs an apple from the fridge.
GLORIA: Good morning darling. This is Sandra.
DIANE: (Relaxed) Hey.
SANDRA: (Stiff) Hey.
DIANE: Great shirt.
SANDRA: Thanks.
Diane throws Gloria an approving look. Then Gloria’s husband Ted walks into the kitchen.
TED: (To Gloria) Good morning. (Sees Sandra. Politely) Hello. (To Diane) Ready sweetheart?
Ted is ok with the situation but keeps moving. Gloria hands Ted the keep cup. Diane exits.
DIANE: Bye.
Ted and Diane leave. Gloria nonchalantly continues to drink her coffee. Sandra looks at Gloria, intrigued.
Part 6: Suburban dreams(5mins) Watch
Mary invites Sandra to her home for an intimate dinner. Mary’s husband Nick arrives and Sandra learns that Mary has not told her the truth. Sandra must decide whether to follow love and take a chance with Mary, or to let her go.
Advice: Adult themes, Sexual references, Strong language
Part 7: Symposium
We are in someone’s lounge – maybe one of the crew’s. It’s been a night of drinking. The actors and the director talk about love, what is it, what about the characters – what are they doing, what do they hope for, what does it all mean?
Spoken performance for Midsumma 4 February 2016 performed at the Greek Centre, Melbourne
Based on Aristophanes’ Speech In Symposium
In a modern conversational style. Playful, humorous – comic relief. That was its intention.
Plato wrote a play about a drinking party set in Ancient Greece about 416 BC.
A poet, Agathon, just won first prize in a festival, and he thought he’d get some mates together to celebrate. The guests at this party were real people – the who’s who of Athens glitterati: amongst the guests you had Alcibiades – a general of the Athenian army, Eryximachos a doctor, and Socrates, the philosopher and Aristophanes, the comic playwright. It would be like if you had, say, Germaine Greer, Madonna, Barack Obama, Dr Phil, and Major Cosgrove come to your party…
We are hearing about this party, second, third hand. An unknown person heard it from Apollodorus, who heard it from Aristodemus, who was at the party. The unknown person hears about it from Apolloduros while they are walking from Pireus the main Port of Athens to Athens city centre. These days you’d catch the bus from Pireus to Athens.
And we become further removed because what non-Ancient Greek-speaking people have to rely on and trust are translations of the original version. Now translations are interesting – because they are often a product of their time. It can’t be a word for word explanation – often that doesn’t make sense – as you know if you use Google translate – but must be based on the intended meaning of the text – based on a word in one language having the exact same meaning in another language. For example the word “love”. You see the Greeks have three words for love:
“Agape” which means a deep, unconditional, self-less love, a love where you do not seek anything in return. What is the English word equivalent of this?
“Filia” which means a friendship, also loyalty to your friends, your family and your community – what is the English word equivalent of this?
And
“Eros” which means sexual, intimate love – (thinking) Ok maybe “lust” can be the equivalent English word for this.
So we can never be sure what was actually meant when you translate from Greek 416BC to now, Melbourne, Australia, 4 February 2016 – two and half thousand years after this play was written by Plato.
Now the guests at this party decided that they would each give a speech in honour of love. One of the guests, whose speech I am about to tell you about, was by Aristophanes – who was a very successful comic playright in his time – think the Tina Fey of his time. Some of his surviving works are The Clouds, The Frogs and Lysistrata – you know the one about the women of Ancient Greece who refused to have sex with their husbands until they stopped fighting wars – (thinking) maybe that’s a story we need to tell another time.
Each of the guests takes it in turn. Aristophanes had to wait to give his speech because he couldn’t speak straight away because he had the hiccups.
So the first guest Phaedrus talks about love inspiring you to do noble acts so that your lover admires you. The next speaker is Pausanias, a lawyer, who explains that there are two types of love: physical love for sexual gratification and love based on honouring your lover’s intelligence and wisdom.
Then it comes to Aristophanes’ turn –he has now recovered from the hiccups. Aristophanes explains:
Originally people had double bodies – they were made round – their back and sides forming a circle having four hands, four feet, one head with two faces on a round neck – with their limbs and faces turned away from one another – facing in opposite directions. They could walk upright, or backwards or forwards and when they wanted to go fast they turned on their hands and feet, like tumbling clowns performing cartwheels.
And there were three genders: One was all male, one all female, and the third gender was “androgynous,” [Greek word] who was half male – half female. The males were said to have descended from the sun, the females from the earth and the androgynous couples from the moon.
And these original people were very powerful.
One day they decided to climb – maybe roll – up Mount Olympus – the home of the Gods – to take on the Gods – to defeat them. This pissed off Zeus, who initially wanted to kill them with his preferred weapon of choice – the thunderbolt. But after thinking about it – and he was quite practical – he decided instead , to cut them into two – because he reasoned – it will make these beings half as strong and they can make twice as many offerings. So he cut them in two and asked Apollo – who was the god of healing – to rearrange the bodies and tie up the loose ends to create a knot – this is why we have a belly button.
And so what was one being, now became two.
Ever since then people run around saying they are looking for their other half because they are actually trying to recover their primal nature. The women who were separated from women run after their own kind, creating lesbians. The men split from other men also run after their own kind and love being embraced by other men. The beings that were originally androgynous beings are the men and women that engage in heterosexual love.
And when two people who were separated from each other find each other, they never again want to be separated. All they want is to be whole.
This feeling has perplexed humans for, well, thousands of years – it is a mystery and cannot be explained.
This feeling, this pursuit of the whole, we call love.
Part 8: Let’s go shopping(5mins) Watch
Karen asks Sandra to help her buy a bed at the local store. They banter about the expectations of a committed relationship which leads them to a tender moment.
Advice: Adult themes, Sexual references
Part 9: Don’t be ridiculous
Sandra’s apartment deep into the night. Sandra is obviously waiting for someone. An urgent knock on the door – it’s Mary. Sandra insists “We can have a life together”, Mary keeps repeating “This is ridiculous”. She is not going to leave her marriage. They argue what does a relationship look like for them? Mary has a diabolical proposal amongst the tears, lust and desperation – Nick must be included in any relationship, in any sex. Sandra is pussy-whipped. Sandra must choose.
In Gloria’s bedroom. Sandra makes love to Gloria urgent and rough. Sandra collapses in tears, interrogates Gloria “Could you love me or am I just your plaything?” Gloria doesn’t take the bait. Gloria knows there is something else going on. She gently teases out from Sandra the true reason for the outburst – Sandra loves Mary and wants her all to herself, but can’t have her and can’t let go. Gloria says it’s good to know what you want. Sandra is not so sure.
Later. Sandra arrives at Karen’s apartment. Karen offers her sanctuary. They fall asleep in each other’s arms.
First light, Karen offers Sandra coffee.
Morning. On a city street. Karen walks with Sandra to a tram stop. The tram arrives. They hug. Sandra gets on the tram. The tram leaves. Karen walks away.
Sandra’s apartment, deep into the night. Sandra is obviously waiting for someone. There is an insistent knock at the door. Without hesitation Sandra opens the door. It’s Mary, dishevelled from crying. Mary pushes past Sandra into the apartment. Mary flits around the room like a trapped bird. Sandra is insistent.
SANDRA: I love you. I’ve always loved you.
MARY: What does that mean for us?
SANDRA: We can have a life together.
MARY: Yeah and we’ll be the other lezzo couple in the street. Oh yeah, people might (Mary gestures talking marks) “support diversity” but you don’t hear what they say …”who’s the man, who’s the woman”? Are you the man? Am I the man?
SANDRA: Who cares?
MARY: This is ridiculous.
SANDRA: Do you love me?
Mary doesn’t have an answer.
SANDRA: Do you love me?
Mary fires point blank.
MARY: I’m not going to leave my marriage.
Sandra staggers.
MARY: Nick and I have made an understanding.
Sandra backs away, she doesn’t want to hear this.
MARY: I can have sex with women if he’s included.
SANDRA: What?
MARY: He’s ok with it – he doesn’t mind.
SANDRA: I’m sure he doesn’t. Did he see that it some porno?
MARY: No. It was my idea.
Sandra stops, stunned.
SANDRA: Is that all I am to you?
Mary makes an ambiguous movement with her head.
MARY: You don’t have to have sex with him.
Sandra can’t read her.
SANDRA: That doesn’t make it any better.
Sandra shakes her head, helpless.
Sandra takes Mary’s face in her hands/kisses her tenderly growing to intense.
SANDRA: I love you.
She pushes Mary hard against the wall. They reach under each other’s clothes. It’s rough and urgent.
Mary pushes Sandra away. Sandra falls onto the sofa, pussy whipped. She rubs her forehead. Mary remains standing strokes Sandra’s head – a master stroking her bitch. Sandra slaps Mary’s hand away.
MARY: I’ll text you the time and place. Come or don’t come it’s up to you.
Mary leaves. Sandra is devastated.
Later in Gloria’s bedroom. Sandra is using a dildo to fuck Gloria. It’s urgent and rough. Sandra and Gloria are on the verge of orgasm. They climax and release. Sandra is deeply moved, troubled even. Gloria notices, looks at her enquiringly, waits.
SANDRA: Could you love me?
GLORIA: Are you getting serious now darling?
SANDRA: Would you have a relationship with me?
GLORIA: I didn’t think you were the type of woman who… how does that joke go?… that brings a moving truck to the second date?
Sandra extracts herself abruptly, gets out of the bed, pulls on her clothes. Gloria remains calm and waits.
SANDRA: So I’m just someone to have a bit of fun with. Someone to fuck.
GLORIA: Now you are being offensive. I thought you were having fun too. There’s no point if we’re not both having fun.
SANDRA: I want to end this.
GLORIA: OK.
SANDRA: You don’t care?!
Gloria wears her silk night robe and moves to sit on the loungechair. She is calm as she watches Sandra.
SANDRA: You’re very good at this aren’t you?
GLORIA: Let’s not end this with an argument.
Sandra completes dressing, she is ready to go. She stands and faces Gloria. A tear escapes. More tears fall, a cascade becomes sobs. Gloria, reaches to her, comforts her. Sandra falls into her embrace. Gloria guides Sandra to sit with her on the bed. They sit side-by-side.
SANDRA: I’ve met someone.
Gloria nods, knowingly. She guessed.
GLORIA: (Genuinely) Well that’s wonderful.
Sandra smiles, she’s not so sure. Gloria senses it.
GLORIA: Does she know how you feel about her?
SANDRA: Yes.
GLORIA: Does she feel the same way?
SANDRA: I don’t know.
GLORIA: Is she being honest with you?
SANDRA: Yes. She won’t leave her husband.
GLORIA: Is she being honest with her husband?
SANDRA: Too honest.
Gloria wonders about this comment, can you be too honest?
Sandra says with determination.
SANDRA: I want her.
GLORIA: All to yourself?
SANDRA: Yes.
GLORIA: It’s good that you know what you want.
Sandra shrugs, she’s not so sure.
SANDRA: Yeah it’s great.
Gloria waits if Sandra wants to say more. Nothing.
GLORIA: Wherever, however you find love. It might be crazy lust or deep understanding, full of drama, or easy as a summer breeze or all of these things at the same time. Cherish it for what it is and for as long as it lasts. But you must let it go when you know that it’s over.
Sandra nods, trying to take it in, trying to believe it.
Gloria rises. Offers Sandra her hand. Sandra takes it, rises. Gloria kisses her tenderly on her cheek.
GLORIA: Good-bye darling. Take care.
Sandra accepts, then leaves. We stay with Gloria.
Off screen we hear the door close.
Karen’s apartment, late. Karen opens the door to her apartment to reveal Sandra. Nothing is said.
CUT TO:
Later. Sandra is curled up in Karen’s arms, both are fast asleep. Both are fully dressed.
Morning. Sandra and Karen walking together arrive at a tram stop. They hug. Sandra gets on the tram and the tram leaves. Karen walks away.
Part 10: Three’s a crowd
A standard issue hotel room. Sandra, Mary and Nick attempt to get things started: vodka, porn – it’s awkward, they are all outside their comfort zone and a lot is at stake. With a heady mix of nervousness and bruvaro they engage in a menage-a-trois which turns into a battle between Nick and Sandra for Mary’s sexuality.
Morning. Sandra, Mary and Nick are asleep. Sandra awakens. She watches Mary asleep in Nick’s arms. Sandra takes in the situation.
Hotel ensuite. Sandra wipes steam from the mirror and stares deeply at her reflection. A tear falls and disappears amongst the water on her face.
Hotel room. Mary has just boiled the kettle to make coffee. Nick excuses himself to use the shower. Mary wants more of Sandra. Sandra says “It’s over”.
Hotel corridor. Sandra is waiting for the lift to arrive. She finds Mary’s number and messages. Deletes them. The lift arrives, the door opens and she enters into its light.
On a city street. Karen walks with Sandra to a tram stop. The tram arrives. They hug. Sandra and Karen get on the tram. The tram leaves. We stay and watch life carry on.
**** The END ****
A standard issue hotel room. A double bed dominates the room. Arty photos of Melbourne and Paris adorn the walls.
NICK (Off screen): Look we want to be discreet about this you know?
Sandra smiles faintly.
NICK: We’re not gonna judge you or anything. (Waving a bottle of vodka) Do youse want a drink?
Sandra nods.
NICK: (To Mary) You have one too babe. (To Sandra) She’s a bit nervous about all this.
Mary rolls her eyes. Sandra knows that’s not true.
SANDRA: (to Mary) So am I.
NICK: (Raises his glass) Yia.
Nick sculls his drink.
SANDRA: Yia.
Sandra sculls her drink, watches Mary. Mary sculls her drink – head rush. She steadies and focuses on Sandra.
NICK: (To Sandra) So you done something like this before?
SANDRA: No. Have you?
NICK: Yeah sure.
Sandra looks at Mary to check the truth of this statement. She can’t read her.
SANDRA: Have you ever done this with a guy?
NICK: No fucking way, I’m no pousti. Anyway Mary doesn’t need another man. (A beat) I’ve brought a porno, you know, to get us in the mood.
MARY: I don’t know about the porno.
NICK: You don’t like it [the porno]?
MARY: It gets a bit repetitive.
NICK: Well do youse have any other suggestions?
MARY: Some music maybe?
SANDRA: Yeah.
Mary finds a sound system and links up her mobile – she selects a slow groove. Mary sculls another drink/invites Sandra to dance/guides her into an embrace. They sway together.
MARY: (To Sandra) At Uni you didn’t care what anyone thought.
SANDRA: You’re wrong. I cared very much.
They dance in each other’s arms. Mary caresses Sandra’s cheek and gently kisses her lips. Mary yields to her sensuality. Nick watches – getting aroused – but their familiarity is unnerving him. Mary gazes upon Sandra as if she is about to dive into a deep pool. She kisses Sandra hard on the mouth to convince Sandra, to convince herself. Nick joins them/threads his arms around Mary’s waist. The three dance, kiss, caress while loosening each other’s clothes. Nick and Sandra compete for Mary’s attention. Mary balances her desires for Sandra and her duty to Nick. Nick pulls Mary from Sandra’s grasp. He cups her face with his hands, forcing her to look upon him, upon her reality. He kisses Mary hard on the mouth then disengages. Nick takes Sandra, almost throwing her off balance as he plunges his hand into her loosened pants. He loosens his belt. Sandra struggles to find the arousal. Mary pulls Nick away from Sandra.
MARY: (To Nick) Fuck me really hard.
NICK: Yeah!
They fall onto the bed. Nick fucks Mary hard and urgent. Mary answers in whimpers while looking at Sandra. Nick grabs her face to look at him as he climaxes. Nick climaxes and peels himself off Mary. He kisses whatever part of Mary’s body is closest to him. Mary pulls Sandra towards her and whispers close to Sandra’s lips.
MARY: Make me cum.
Sandra stares at her, thinking about every sex act that she knows. Their hands search out each other’s arousal. Their breathing quickens until they cry out as their passion is satiated.
CUT TO:
Morning. Sandra, Mary and Nick are asleep. Mary is in Nick’s arms. Sandra awakens. She takes in the situation. She looks somewhere into the distance, then refocuses on where she is. She slips out of the bed.
Hotel ensuite. Sandra comes out of the shower, wipes the steam from the mirror and stares deeply at her reflection. We hear the muffled sounds of switching TV channels coming from the adjacent room. Her expression deepens. A tear falls and disappears amongst the water on her face.
Sandra emerges from the ensuite, straightening her shirt. Mary stands by the servery watching the kettle complete its boil. Nick is lounging on the bed flipping though TV channels.
MARY: (To Sandra) Would you like a tea?
SANDRA: No. I’ll get going.
We stay with Mary and Sandra.
NICK (Off screen): That’s a good idea. Babe I’ll jump in the shower?
Off screen we hear the ensuite door close then the shower start running. Mary moves towards Sandra and kisses her. Sandra’s expression deepens, she withdraws.
SANDRA: It’s over now.
Mary scoffs.
MARY: Well you got what you wanted.
Sandra smiles faintly.
SANDRA: Goodbye Mary.
Sandra exits. We stay with Mary. Off screen we hear the door close.
Hotel corridor. Sandra waits for the lift to arrive. She holds her mobile finds Mary’s number. Considers it. Deletes the entry. The lift arrives, the door opens and she steps into its light.
Another morning. Sandra and Karen walking together arrive at a tram stop. They hug. Déjà vu of an earlier scene? A second chance? They both board the tram and the tram leaves. We stay here and we watch life carry on.
**** The END ****