HAPPINESS

JOY

O-of course匢 want to do the right,

um, thing匢 mean, I believe in, um,

you know卋eing counted on?

SUPERVISOR

Do you know what these strikers are?

Spoiled brats. Trust-funded artistes.

They don't know the meaning of work,

of giving?But just remember, if you

hear the word "benefits," don't listen.

47. EXT. ESL SCHOOL - DAY. 47.

PICKETERS march along the sidewalk. JOY approaches and hesitates.

PICKETERS

(chanting)

Don't cross the line!

Don't cross the line!

JOY

You know, there are some people

in real need in there.

PICKETER #1

Fucking management is in there.

JOY

But what about the refugees?

PICKETER #2

What about my benefits?

JOY

I'm sorry. I think you're

making a terrible mistake.

As she crosses the picket line they shout epithets at her. Someone throws an egg at her. It cracks against her head. She runs inside.

48. INT. ELEVATOR - DAY. 48.

Strangers look askance at JOY. When the elevator arrives at her floor she gets out, relieved.

49. INT. ESL SCHOOL TEACHERS LOUNGE - DAY. 49.

Administrators welcome JOY, handing out general information. The air is festive.

JOY finds the other TEACHERS cleaning tomatoes and egg off their clothes. RHONDA, a teacher, pulls her aside towards the window from which the strikers can be seen.

RHONDA

It's so sad. I mean, it really is

pathetic. Such losers. Really,

I feel sorry for them.

There is a slight commotion across the room. TEACHER #1 is upset, crying a little. TEACHER #2 comforts her.

TEACHER #1

I'm sorry?It's nothing?Sorry?

TEACHER #2

It's okay.

TEACHER #1

It's just厀ell?

TEACHER #2

What is it? What happened?

TEACHER #1

匱hey called me a scab.

TEACHER #2

You're not a scab.

You're a strike-breaker.

The bell rings.

50. INT. CLASSROOM - DAY. 50.

JOY enters. The STUDENTS do not have welcoming faces.

JOY

Good morning. My name is Joy Jordan.

She writes her name on the blackboard.

JOY

I am your new teacher. Now.

JOY is about to do roll-call when:

STUDENT #1

You are scab.

STUDENT #2

Where Marsha?

JOY

Marsha? Well, Marsha卐r?

STUDENT #3

We want Marsha.

The STUDENTS start changing, "We want Marsha!" One student, however, does not join in. He shouts at his classmates:

BORIS

(in Russian)

Quiet!

They listen to him.

BORIS

(to JOY)

Please.

JOY

匢'm not a scab.

I'm a strike-breaker.

51. INT. HELEN'S PLACE - DAY. 51.

Intensity grips HELEN as she works on a poem at her desk. She rises, as if in pain, and starts pacing. Strange sounds emanate from her mouth. She pounds a fist against her head. Finally she leaps into bed, thrashing about as if possessed.

HELEN

I'm no good! I'm no good!

I am nothing! Nothing! Zero!?

The telephone rings.

HELEN

Hello?

52. INT. ALLEN'S OFFICE - DAY. 52.

ALLEN is on the other end of the line. His breathing is heavy, low, constrained. He is sweating.

HELEN (V.O.)

匟ello?

ALLEN

(voice disguised)

I know who you are and you are nothing.

You think you are fucking something,

but you are fucking nothing. You are

empty. You are zero. You are a black

hole, and I am going to fuck you so bad

you're gonna be coming out of your ears.

Pause.

HELEN (V.O.)

匯ichard?

ALLEN hangs up.

53. INT. HELEN'S PLACE - DAY. 53.

HELEN presses *69.

CUT BACK AND FORTH between HELEN and ALLEN.

ALLEN picks up.

ALLEN

Data Resources.

HELEN

Who are you?

ALLEN hangs up. He is shaking, sweating profusely.

A pretty young SECRETARY walks by outside his glass door and smiles. He smiles back, weakly.

The phone rings again. ALLEN resists answering it until he hears his answering service pick up.

ALLEN

What do you want?

Pause.

HELEN

I want you to fuck me.

Pause.

ALLEN

I卽m匢 don't think I can do that? I mean匢 don't think I can do that.

(a beat; a CO-WORKER

is approaching)

I gotta go.

HELEN

Call me tomorrow.

ALLEN

匫kay.

ALLEN hangs up. The CO-WORKER appears.

CO-WORKER

Hey, you see the play-offs last night?

ALLEN

(smiling/joking)

Yeah, pretty good! Pretty good!

54. EXT. LIQUOR STORE - EVENING. 54.

ALLEN hurries inside.

55. INT. LIQUOR STORE - EVENING. 55.

ALLEN buys some whiskey.

56. EXT. HELEN AND ALLEN'S APT. COMPLEX - 56.

EVENING.

ALLEN bumps slightly over the curb as he pulls into the parking lot.

57. INT. HELEN AND ALLEN'S APT. COMPLEX - 57.

LOBBY - EVENING.

ALLEN goes to the elevator, sees HELEN waiting. As usual, she pays him no attention. ALLEN smiles.

ALLEN

How's it going?

HELEN

Okay.

The elevator arrives and they step inside.

58. INT. ELEVATOR - EVENING. 58.

HELEN and ALLEN stand and say nothing during the ride, like before.

59. INT. HALLWAY - EVENING. 59.

The elevator doors open and HELEN and ALLEN come out, walking their separate ways.

ALLEN

See ya.

HELEN

Yeah.

KRISTINA'S POV of ALLEN unlocking and entering his apartment. The view is distorted.

CLOSE ON KRISTINA in her apartment, staring through the peephole. She takes her eyes away and covers them with her hand, overcome.

60. EXT. HELEN AND ALLEN'S APT. COMPLEX - 60.

HELEN'S PLACE - LATER.

HELEN and her lover JAMAL's silhouettes can be seen going at it next door to ALLEN.

61. INT. ALLEN'S PLACE - THAT MOMENT. 61.

ALLEN, surrounded by a couple of empty liquor bottles, is studying a Playboy centerfold. Faint but distinct sounds of HELEN making love with someone.

The door buzzes. He puts down the magazine, rises unsteadily, and walks to the door.

ALLEN

Who is it?

KRISTINA (O.S.)

It's me. Kristina.

ALLEN opens the door.

KRISTINA

Hey, how's it going?

ALLEN

Okay.

KRISTINA

I got some more info on Pedro.

ALLEN

Pedro?

KRISTINA

You know卼he, uh?

ALLEN

Oh, yeah. What?

KRISTINA

Well, um?(sees ALLEN tottering)

Say, uh, are you alright?

ALLEN

No.

KRISTINA

Here.

KRISTINA helps ALLEN back inside, sets him down on his bed.

ALLEN

匬ussy?Need pussy?

ALLEN passes out.

KRISTINA goes to the door and locks it. She turns out the light. Then she sits down and just stares at ALLEN, pondering his face and body.

Finally, KRISTINA bends down and unbuttons his top a little. She leans her head against ALLEN, half lying down beside him.

Suddenly ALLEN awakens, rises, and rushes off to the bathroom. He throws up o.s. Pause. When he reappears he sees KRISTINA standing by the bed.

ALLEN

What the fuck are you doing here?

KRISTINA is too petrified to speak.

ALLEN

Get out!

KRISTINA leaves.

62. EXT. FLORIDA/ARIZONA REAL ESTATE 62.

OFFICE - DAY.

Sunny. Well-tended landscaping. Attractive parking lot.

63. INT. FLORIDA/ARIZONA REAL ESTATE 63.

OFFICE - DAY.

MONA is sitting in the waiting room when, ANN, a young and comely broker, appears.

ANN

Hi. Ann Chambeau.

MONA

Mona Jordan.

ANN

Wonderful.

(shaking hands with MONA.)

Come this way. I'm sorry to have

kept you waiting so long.

ANN escorts MONA to her office. They sit down.

ANN

Can I get you some tea? coffee?

MONA

No, thank you.

ANN

Okay. Now then. How can I help you?

MONA

You said there might be something

available over in Elysian Fields?

ANN

Actually, there are several places

we can see there. But first I need

a little information.

(starts typing into her computer.)

Now, you're looking for a one?

two? three-bedroom?

MONA

Three.

ANN

Wonderful. Is this then for you

and your husband?

MONA

No.

ANN

Just for yourself then?

MONA

Yes.

ANN

No children?

MONA

My children are grown.

ANN

No pets?

MONA

No.

ANN

So really just you alone then

all by yourself?

MONA

Yes.

ANN

Wonderful.

ANN resumes interfacing with the computer.

Suddenly MONA starts crying. Soon ANN looks up from her terminal.

ANN

Mrs. Jordan? Is something the matter?

MONA nods yes and no. Finally:

MONA

My husband is leaving me.

ANN

Oh, I'm so sorry.

ANN reaches her hand out in a vague display of support and affection.

ANN

You know, we have a lot of divorcees

in Phase IV. Would you like to see

something there, perhaps a bit smaller?

MONA

Who said I was getting divorced?

64. EXT. ELYSIAN FIELDS - DAY. 64.

ANN drives MONA through this scenic luxury village. They pause at a security checkpoint before looking for a spot in the parking lot.

Easy Listening or Classical Lite is on the car radio.

ANN (V.O.)

You know, I'm a divorcee.

MONA (V.O.)

Oh?

ANN (V.O.)

I live in Phase IV.

65. INT. ANN'S CAR - DAY. 65.

MONA turns to ANNE as she pulls into a spot.

MONA

I am so sorry.

ANN

Mrs. Jordan?

MONA

Mona.

ANN

Mona. That's a beautiful name.

MONA

Er卼hank you.