BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

INT. RICHARDS HOUSE

ALICE is sitting at the dining room table which is set up
for a romantic meal. Cold food sits on its plates, an
unopened wine bottle is pictured in the middle of the table
and candles are burnt down to their bases. She drums her
nails impatiently on her book and glances at the clock. It
strikes half past three and Alice blows out the candles,
sighing.
RICHARD opens the front door and places his keys in the key
bowl as ALICE rushes to the living room door, standing in
the threshold.
ALICE
Youre late.
RICHARD
(Jumps slightly, looks sharply
to the right - Surprised)
Alice, I thought youd be in bed.
ALICE
(Folds her arms across her
chest)
Its my birthday Richard. You
promised wed have dinner. where
were you?
The camera jumps from ALICES hurt and angry face to
RICHARDS wide eyed shocked face for a reaction shot.
RICHARD
(Groans and walks up to ALICE
placing his hands on her
shoulders)
Im sorry sweetie, I was held up at
work, there was nothing I could do.
ALICE
(Laughs dryly)
What? you couldnt even pick up the
phone?

RICHARD sighs and brushes past ALICE and ALICE smells

STACEYS perfume.
ALICE CONT.
You were with her again? werent
you?!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

RICHARD
What makes you think that?
ALICE
I can smell her perfume on you.
RICHARD
(Loosing his temper
increasingly by the second)
Dont be stupid Alice, I was
working!
ALICES hand shoots out and slaps RICHARD across the face
ALICE
Youre idea of working is flirting
Stacey.
(ALICE points an accusing finger)
RICHARD
Stacey is just a friend now! What
happened between us is in the past!
(RICHARDS arms wave with
expression of his words)
ALICE
(Pause)
I dont trust you anymore, I should
never have given you a second
chance, youre still the same
selfish plRICHARD
(RICHARD cuts ALICE off,
Screaming)
SHUT UP!
ALICE flinches and recoils as RICHARD grabs her book off the
table and throws it at the wall, nearly missing her.
RICHARD CONT.
(Grabbing ALICES arm and
spinning her around)
Dont you dare speak to me like
that.
ALICE
(Upset)
No! Im tired of keeping my mouth
shut. Do you even love me anymore?
Do you even care about us?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.

RICHARD storms past ALICE and growls, he enters the kitchen

and leans again the work surface with his back facing the
camera.
ALICE CONT.
Or am I just second best to STACEY?
(Pause)
Will you answer me?!
RICHARD
(Calm)
You want an answer? Fine.
RICHARD grabs a picture frame of the couple and smashes it
against the work surface with force and throws it on the
floor at ALICES feet.
RICHARD CONT.
That is what I think about us.
ALICE
(Begins to cry)
I hate you... I hate you so much!
ALICE turns away and runs up the stairs crying. RICHARDs
hand reaches out as if to stop Alice but shes already gone,
his hand falls back to his side dejectedly as guilt washes
over him.
RICHARD
ALICE?
RICHARD Walks towards the stairs and looks up.
RICHARD
(Shouting)
ALICE?!
Shaking his head he starts to ascend the stairs and
approaches the bathroom calling her name as he knocks on the
door. ALICE emerges from the bathroom red eyed and angry.
ALICE
(Bluntly)
Its over RICHARD.
RICHARD
(Begging)
Dont do this...
RICHARD grabs ALICES arm in desperation trying to stop her
descent down the stairs. ALICE pulls her arm free with force
and the momentum sets her off balance down the stairs; ALICE
falls and hits her head on the banister, scene blacks out.

4.

SCENE THREE INT. RICHARDS HOUSE

RICHARD is sat on the bottom of the stairs, its been a week
since the accident he sits with his head in his hands the
scene still fresh in his mind like it was yesterday. RICHARD
is broken out of his daze by the door knocking. STACEY is at
the door. RICHARD opens the door and lets her in.
STACEY
(Places hand seductively on
RICHARDS chest)
How you holding up?
RICHARD
Im coping...
STACEY
You know Ive always been there for
you.
RICHARD
(monotone voice)
Yeah I know (pause) and it killed
ALICE.
RICHARD turns away from STACEY letting her hand drop off him
as he leaves the hallway and walks into the kitchen, leaning
on the work surface with his back facing her as emotions
wash through him.
STACEY
(Defensively)
That was never the intention... But
now we can be together.
RICHARD turns towards STACEY with a fake smile on his face.
RICHARD
I suppose youre right.
STACEY smiles happy with his response and turns around to
enter the living room. Meanwhile RICHARD stays in the
kitchen gathering his thoughts, his hand reaches into his
pocket and pulls out an engagement box, he caresses the ring
in side before snapping it shut and after a hesitation
throws the ring in the bin.
In the same movement he heads into the living room after
STACEY pulling ALICES necklace out his pocket as he
approaches her.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

RICHARD
Of course we can be
together...
RICHARD Caresses her hair as he places the necklace round
STACEYS neck, STACEY looks down and smiles as she notices
the necklace and lifts her hair for him.
RICHARD leans down and whispers into her ear.
RICHARD CONT.
(Maliciously)
If only I wanted you...
STACEY gasps as RICHARD pulls the necklace taut across her
throat and begins to choke her.