YOU HAVE

sales lady (o.s.)

First buy it, then read it!

Ellen looks up.  The sales lady is standing in front of her:  a skinny woman with small eyes suspiciously beaming at Ellen.

ellen

Yes, of course... I’ll take it.

She places the book on the counter.  All of a sudden, the sales lady has turned into the world’s most friendly person.  Ellen follows her to the cash register and gives her the book.

The sales lady skeptically eyes the psychology book while she notes the price.

Ellen puts the money on the counter and turns to leave the store, when the sales lady speaks up again.

sales lady

You’re the wife of that author, aren’t you?

Ellen turns back to face her.

ellen

Martin Straub, yes.

sales lady

Used to write some nice books, your husband.  But that last one was awful.  A terrible book.  Didn’t sell, either.

Ellen really can’t think of an answer to that.

sales lady

I read it – violent trash.  My husband said so, too.

ellen

Well, I’ve got to get going... ‘bye.

Ellen walks out of the shop.  The sales lady keeps talking.  Her eyes are cold.

sales lady

            (loud)

It’s bad and it’s violent.  I don’t like that kind of stuff.  Tell that to your husband.

47.       outside bookstore – ext. / day

Clara is still waiting in front of the bookstore when Ellen comes back outside.

ellen

Come on, Clara.  Let’s get out of here.

Just as she sets out for her car, she discovers Karl Lindner and his wife.  He seems to want to pass by her without saying hello.

ellen

Mr. Lindner!

Lindner realizes he has no way out of this situation.

lindner

Oh, Mrs. Straub.  May I introduce you to my wife?

mrs. lindner

Just call me Elisabeth.

She seems like a truly honest person and very awake, despite her advanced age.  Ellen shakes hands with her.

ellen

Ellen.

mrs. lindner

You’re doing fine, aren’t you?  I mean... the two of you alone in that house, so far out in the moor.

Lindner nudges his wife with his elbow.

ellen

In the moor? What do you mean by that?

Mrs. Lindner wants to answer something, but her husband heads her off.

lindner

Stop scaring people.  Let’s go. 

We need to be on our way.

mrs. lindner

Excuse us.  But do stop by for a visit sometime!  You are welcome anytime.

Lindner manages a smile and leads his wife away by the arm.

lindner

Have a nice day.

As soon as they are out of hearing distance, Mrs. Lindner tells her husband with obvious anger:

mrs. lindner

            (quiet, reproachfully)

You didn’t tell her!

lindner

We should leave the past alone.

mrs. lindner

Well, it will never leave us alone as long as you ignore it.

Back to Ellen:  She watches the two of them go for a moment.  Then, she gets into her car and drives off.

CUT TO:

48.       study – int. / dusk

Martin is in the study, working at his computer.  He is in a writing frenzy, typing in the words like a madman.  Ellen comes through the door.  She is carrying the book about Goldmoor in her hand.  At first, Martin does not react to her.  He keeps on typing.

ellen

It seems to be going well for you.

Martin continues to type as he speaks.

martin

Where have you been?

ellen

In the village.  Look what I found.

She opens the book to a certain page and holds it under his nose.

Martin is annoyed for having to interrupt his work.

martin

Psychology, huh?  So, what side of the rainbow are we on today?

Ellen points out a certain passage in the book.

ellen

            (reads out loud)

“Events commonly interpreted as haunting apparitions often result from psychic disharmonies or undigested traumatic ordeals...”

martin

            (impatient)

Ellen, what are you trying to prove, anyway?  That we’ve created ourselves a ghost?  Come on!

Ellen persistently tries to get through to him.

ellen

It’s just a feeling.  Don’t you sense it, too?

martin

What? What am I supposed to sense?

ellen

The house – Tommi – something just doesn’t jive here...

Suddenly, Martin’s voice gets disproportionately loud.

martin

Now you go starting that again. 

We decided together, to build up something new here.  I, for my part, am working on it very hard.  But oddly, you seem to have changed your mind.

Ellen wants to reply something but just then, the doorbell RINGS.

martin

Who’s that?

ellen

I haven’t the slightest idea.

When she sees that Martin does not intend to answer the door, Ellen goes downstairs herself.

49.       entrance area – int. / night

Ellen opens the door.  Standing in the doorway are Paul and Claudia, both in the best of moods.

Paul and Claudia

Surprise!

Ellen hugs them, her mind still halfway on Martin.

ellen

Well, this really is a surprise!  Come on in!

Martin comes downstairs.  He seems anything but pleased by the company.

Paul gives him a jovial pat on the shoulder.

Paul

Hey, my man!  How’s the masterpiece coming along?

martin

Not so bad, if I could get some peace and quiet around here.

Paul understands the side-swipe.

Paul

Hey, hey, hey!  Say no more until you’ve seen what we brought:

He puts a wide grin on his face.  Ellen and Martin exchange quick looks.  Paul pulls something out from behind his back.

Paul

Scrabble!

CUT TO:

50.       living room – int. / night

Martin looks annoyed.  The four friends are comfortably seated around the living room table.  Each of them has a glass of wine.

While they play Scrabble, Paul tells a dirty story.

Paul

God, you should’ve seen him!  Elke Schneider enters the room and storms up to him.  She is tremendous.  Her breasts are so big that just recently, there was a discussion about whether they should be given country names of their own.

Laughter all around the table. Martin is the only one who is not delighted.  But Ellen is clearly relieved by this moment of normality in the house.

ellen

Paul, you and your stories... I’ve really missed you!

Claudia looks around the living room.  Apparently, she likes what she’s seeing.

Claudia

I’m impressed!  You two have really gotten quite a bit done, already.

The sack with the Scrabble-letters is passed on to Ellen.  She reaches inside.

ellen

What do you think?  We worked our fingers to the bone and now, we’re both about to have a nervous breakdown.

Ellen places the letters on the table in front of her and begins to shuffle them back and forth.

Claudia

I really wouldn’t have thought you two could stand it out here for this long.  To tell the truth, we even have some bets going with a couple of people...

But Ellen isn’t paying attention to Claudia’s words any more.  Terrified, she stares at her Scrabble-stones, which she has already put together.  The letters form the words:

T-H-R-E-E--D-A-Y-S

Everyone is waiting for her to make her turn.  Paul starts nagging.

Paul

Well?  Are you going to play?

Ellen feverishly gathers up her letter stones and throws them back into the sack.  She shakes it with special thoroughness and draws anew.

ellen

I pass.

Paul is pleased.  He puts down his word.

Paul

Triple word score, that makes 72 points.  Now what do you say to that, honey-bunny?

Claudia

My hero.

They kiss.

Ellen lines up her newly drawn stones in front of herself again.  Martin watches her.

Ellen cannot believe her eyes.  Again, her letter combination spells out:

T-H-R-E-E--D-A-Y-S

This time, the others notice the look on Ellen’s face, too.

Claudia

Ellen, what’s wrong?

It takes Ellen a moment to answer.