Stephen Metcalfe - Writer and Director

A work in progress - well into second draft.

MAKING BABIES

EXT. DOWNTOWN HOTEL - NIGHT
One of the upscale chain hotels that all resemble one another in Pittsburgh or Chicagoor Dallas. A limo pulls to a stop. Four men men in suits and overcoats get out and move into the hotel.

SEVERIN
So we’ll hopefully finish up tomorrow, catch that 3 o’clock flight home.

PREEKMAN
I didn’t think we’d cover so much today. It was a great presentation.

SEVERIN
I think we know who to thank for that.

He glances at LOREN ROBINSON, handsome, mid thirties. African-American.

INT. HOTEL - NIGHT
The men come into the lobby and walk towards the elevators. They enter a waiting elevator.

PREEKMAN
Hey, you hear Loren’s going to be a father?
SEVERIN
What’s this?
LOREN
(embarrassed)
My wife called, day before yesterday. she’s pregnant.
SEVERIN
Congratulations.
KAPLAN
Better his wife than his secretary.

They all laugh. Loren, not because it’s funny but because it’s the kind of joke he’s supposed to laugh at. The doors close.

INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
A moment. Then, more to fill the silence than because he’s really interested:

SEVERIN
Your first?
LOREN
Yes.
SEVERIN
That’s great.
PREEKMAN
Kids are great.
KAPLAN
Until they become teenagers and than you’re fucked.

Another one of those jokes. Everyone politely laughs.

INT. HOTEL - NIGHT
The elevator doors open. The men come out.

SEVERIN
Well, let’s hit it. Big day tomorrow. Good work, Loren.
LOREN
Thank you.
The men all move in different directions down the hall. Severin, Kaplan and Preekkman one way, Loren the other.

THE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Loren comes down the hall and stops at his room. He unlocks the door and enters.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - CONTINOUS
Loren closes the door behind him. He sags back against it. He lets out a long sigh of relief. He loosens his tie.

LATER -
The room is dark; the only light in the bathroom. Loren in boxer shorts, brushing his teeth; spitting. The light goes out. Loren comes out; groping in the dark - moving uncertainly towards the bed.
The phone rings. Loren stops, mutters to himself, turns and moves towards the desk - and in the dark, stubs his toe on the coffee table. He cries out in agony. He hops and falls into the desk chair, whimpering. The phone still ringing. And ringing. Until finally, grabbing it:

LOREN
Hello!
(a beat)
Yeah, speaking, what?
(a beat)
Jesse? Jesus, baby, you know what time it is here? I got to be up in six hours, busting my butt for Jim Preekman and his goddamn jokes... what?
(a beat)
Jesse, stop crying a minute, I can’t understand a word you’re....

He hears it now. The news hits him in an odd way.

LOREN (cont’d)
You sure?

We almost hear the sound of her sobs now over the phone.

LOREN (cont’d)
Are you alone? Well, call your mother, have her come over, okay? No, I can’t come home, baby, it’s the middle of the night. No, I have to work, I’ll be home tomorrow night. I can’t. You know I can’t. Baby, you were only pregnant three days, it’s not like this is the end of the world.
(you can almost hear her abrupt silence)
Call your mother, okay? And I’ll call you tomorrow. And baby? Listen, I’m sorry, I know what this meant to you. I love you. Good night, okay?

He hangs up the phone. He doesn’t move from the chair.

EXT. A HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAY
A brush explores the bottom of a swimming pool, picking up dead leaves and insects.
The pool cleaner is BILLY WINGATE, 20’s. Jeans, T-shirt. Scruffy hair, open, innocent face. Great tan.
The house is California upper middle class. Lots of house, not much yard. Palms trees and cactus. A well dressed, overly made-up middle aged woman calls out from the back deck of the house.
MRS. CALDERONE
Hola, Billy!
BILLY
Hey, como esta, Mrs. Calderone!
MRS. CALDERONE
Billy, the jacuzzi’s on the fritz again.
BILLY
You mind I check it out next week? I’m kinda running late here.
MRS. CALDERONE
You couldn’t do it today?
BILLY
Mrs. Calderone, you’re about two months behind on my bill. You think you can get to that today?
Mrs. Calderone glares and goes back inside.
EXT. THE HOUSE - THE DRIVEWAY - DAY
Billy throws his hoses and chemicals into the back of his pick-up. Mr. Calderone, a short, pot bellied man is on his heels like a a barking dog.
CALDERONE
What a’ you mean, talking to my wife like that.
BILLY
Dude, I don’t have time for this.
CALDERONE
You worried about your money, is that it?
BILLY
Should I be?
CALDERONE
You don’t think I’m gonna pay you your money?
BILLY
Look - Mr. Calderone, you’ve always been a good customer. And I gotta go.
He gets in the truck.
CALDERONE
You’re a fresh punk! Don’t bother coming back!
Billy backs out of the driveway.
CALDERONE (cont’d)
And don’t think I’m paying you for the last two months!
Billy hits the brakes, throws the truck into park. He gets out. Calderone immediatly starts backing for the house.
CALDERONE (cont’d)
I’m callin’ the cops!
He turns and runs. Billy stops. Disgusted with himself, he get back in his truck and drives away.
EXT. LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA - DAY
Billy’s truck moves through La Jolla, California - a wealthy, upscale beach community. Lot of expensive cars. Upscale shops and stores.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Billy drives down a shady tree lined street and stops in front of a small private school. Kids are running and playing in the playground area. Billy gets out of the truck and enters the school. Some of the kids see him and shout out his name. Billy grins.
BILLY
Hey, guys!
A LITTLE BOY
You gonna play with us, Billy?
BILLY
Not today, Travis. Tomorrow, man.
He starts to enter the building. And is met by his wife, FREDDY, as she comes out. Freddy is small, cute as a button. She and Billy are what you’d call a sweet couple.
FREDDY
Hi. I saw you pull up.
BILLY
Sorry, I’m late.
FREDDY
You’re not.
They start back towards the truck.
BILLY
Maybe I ought to wash up or change or something.
FREDDY
Into what?
BILLY
I brought a tie.
EXT. LA JOLLA - DAY
Billy’s pick-up passes the La Jolla Museum of Modern Art.
INT. MUSEUM - AN OFFICE - DAY
A window has a view of the cove and the water. A woman, LOUISE TAYLOR, early 40’s, sits behind her desk, staring out.
ANDY
Louise, how we coming on that inventory for the Gilleot exhibit?
LOUISE
Hmmm? Oh, uh... Andy, I haven’t gotten to it yet.
ANDY
Oh. Well, when you have a chance.
LOUISE
Sorry.
Andy exits. Louise starts to focus on her work. But again her attention wanders. To the photos on her desk - three children, two - twins - in their late teens, one in her early twenties.
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - DAY
The same photos in different frames.
Louise’s husband, DAVID TAYLOR, sits behind the desk. He wears a lab coat. He has some files in front of him.
DAVID
Any recent illnesses, infections? Any exposure to toxic chemicals?
Billy and Freddy are on the other side of the desk. Billy is wearing a garish tie with a polo shirt.
BILLY
I work with pool supplies.
David writes something down.
DAVID
Either of you ever had a sexually transmitted disease?
BILLY
... does crabs count?
FREDDY
Billy...
BILLY
What.
FREDDY
(embarassed)
You never told me you had crabs.
BILLY
I got’m from a toilet seat.
FREDDY
I’m sure.
DAVID
Crabs don’t count. Your periods are regular?
FREDDIE
Mostly.
(off his qustioning look)
Every now and then I miss one.
David writes something down.
DAVID
Any pain during menstruation?
BILLY
She’s a beast.
FREDDY
I am not.
BILLY
She blames me for letting her eat potato chips.
FREDDY
I get cramps.
David writes something down.
DAVID
No previous abdominal surguries. No pelvic inflammatory disesses. Any serious childhood diseases? Mumps? Scarlet fever?
They both shake their heads.
DAVID (cont’d)
And are either of you on any high blood pressure medications?
No.
DAVID (cont’d)
Okay, here’s what we like to. First, we get a semen analysis. If that’s normal, we can be reasonably certain the problem lies with the woman’s reproductive system. About a third of the time though, both partners contribute to their fertility problem. So Freddy, we’ll want to get you in here for a physical exam. We’ll do some lab tests, see if you’re ovulating and we’ll chart your hormone levels. We’ll also do a post-coital test to see what the chemistry between the two of you is right. Once we have some results, we can discuss your options.
Billy raises hias hand.
DAVID (cont’d)
You don’t have to raise your hand if you have a question.
BILLY
How much is this gonna cost?
Freddy looks away, embarassed.
DAVID
The initial work-up? Around twentyfive hundred. I should tell you right up fertility treatment can be expensive. You should talk to your insurance company about what’s covered and what’s not. Some policies exclude fertility treatments altogether.
Billy and Freddy glance at one another. Then:
BILLY
We’ll check.
DAVID
Why don’t we start with the semen analysis? Not only is it easy but it’s also the cheapest thing we do.
BILLY
Now?
DAVID
Why not?
BILLY
(a beat; to Freddy)
Wanna help?
FREDDY
Billy!
She blushes. David looks away, amused.
IN AN EXAMINATION ROOM -
Billy and Freddy standing side by side.
FREDDY
You should have told him that you don’t have insurance.
BILLY
You do.
FREDDY
I’m only part time.
Pause. Billy closing his eyes; starting to breath a little faster.
FREDDY (cont’d)
You think it’s you or me? Billy?
BILLY
Honey, I’m trying to concentrate here.
A moment. Then:
BILLY (cont’d)
Honey? Think maybe you could...?
He whispers in her ear. Freddy giggles. She looks down, a little excited.
FREDDY
Okay, but just for a second. And don’t you get all noisy.
She kneels, disappearing from view. Billy puts his hand between his teeth and gives a muffled groan.
LATER - IN THE OFFICES - A PLASTIC CUP
is put on the nurses counter. Billy and Freddy watch as they nurse takes it and labels it.
NURSE
That’ll do it.
She turns away.
BILLY
Not much, was there.
FREDDY
What were you expecting?
They turn and move down the hall.
BILLY
I could do better.
(then:)
You didn’t, uh... did you?
FREDDY
Oh - at least a quart.
He grins. They move on. They pass a bulletin board. On the board is a collage of baby photos sent by sucessful parents. Babies, babies, babies.
INT. THRELKEL HOUSE - KITCHEN EVENING
Another collage of baby photos is on a wall in the kitchen. Louise stares at them. She sips her white wine. She turns and moves back to the counter where she is preparing dinner. She looks up as David enters.
DAVID
Hey, babe.
LOUISE
Hey.
They kiss.
DAVID
Good day?
LOUISE
All right.
He sorts through his mail.
DAVID
Where is everybody?
LOUISE
Megan is studying for finals over at Julie’s and Don has an away game.
DAVID
What about dinner?
LOUISE
They say they eat.
DAVID
(smiling)
Look.
He’s taken a photo from one of the envelope’s. It’s a baby picture.
LOUISE
Are they offering that in lew of payment?
DAVID
(turning the photo over)
Rebecca Elliot. Elliot. I don’t remember’m. Cute kid though.
And moving to the collage of photos he pins it to the bulletin board.
DAVID (cont’d)
I have time for a run?
LOUISE
Mmm-hmm.
David exits. Louise, thinking of something.
LATER - AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE -
Louise and David eat alone and in comfortable silence.
LOUISE
David, do you get older people coming to see you?
DAVID
What’s old? Our age?
LOUISE
We’re not old.
DAVID
In terms of child bearing we are. Past 40, a woman’s chances of conception are one in 25 at best.
LOUISE
So when an older couple comes to you, wanting to have children, that’s what you tell them?
DAVID
No, I usually tell the guy to get a younger wife.
A moment. Louise rises from the table, tosses down her napkin and exits. David looks up in surprise.
DAVID (cont’d)
Louise? Louise, what did I say?
He rises to follow -
EXT. THRELKELD HOUSE - NIGHT
Establishing.
DAVID (O.S.)
Louise, it was a joke!
A town car passes the house.
EXT. ANOTHER STREET - NIGHT
The town car comes around a corner. Pulls to a stop in front of a house. Loren gets out. Tired. Not looking forward to this. The driver gets his suitcase from the trunk. Hands him something to sign.
DRIVER
Thank you, sir. Have a good night.
LOREN
I’ll try.
Loren walks up the steps to his house.
INT. LOREN’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Loren enters, puts down his suitcase, his briefcase.
LOREN
Jesse?
He can hear music playing. He knows where she is.
IN THE HOUSE -
One room, large with wood floors, is empty except for a grand piano. Loren’s wife, Jesse, sits at the piano playing. A beautiful woman, she looks like she’s spent a good part of this day crying. Loren enters, watches her play. She falters... stops.
LOREN
Don’t stop, it sounds good.
Startled, she turns. Stares at him a moment. Turns back and begins to play again. He crosses to her. Kisses her neck, from behind.
LOREN (cont’d)
Jess, I couldn’t just up and leave.
She stops playing.
LOREN (cont’d)
I mean, I am in there, every day, fighting for credibility, you know that.
JESSE
You don’t think they would have understood?
LOREN
They would have pretended to. I can just hear Jim Preekman. Go ahead, Loren, do what you gotta do, I’ll finish the presentation for you. And take all the credit for it while he’s at it. That was my baby, Jesse, I couldn’t just walk out. But I’m home now, sweetheart. And I’m going to make it all better. We’ll get you pregnant again, girl, I promise.
JESSE
Loren, I want us to see a doctor.
LOREN
(surprised)
...if that’s what you want. I don’t see the need but...
JESSE
Baby, I want you to just listen to me and not get mad or anything. You know how long it took to me to get pregnant this last time?
LOREN
I don’t know. About six months?
JESSE
No. Longer. A lot longer. See, for the longest time you said you weren’t ready to have a child, baby. But I was. And there’s no talking to you when your mind’s mind up, you know there isn’t, Loren, but I figured if it just happened, as if by accident, you’d be all right about it. So I stopped with the birth control.
LOREN
When.
JESSEE
Two years ago.
He is silent. And then:
LOREN
Two years?
JESSE
Uh-huh.
(starting to cry again now)
And when you said you thought it was okay we should try, honey, I was so thrilled and happy cause I knew I wouldn’t have to pretend anything anymore. I just wanted a baby, Loren. I want a baby so bad.
LOREN
Shush. It’s all right. I’m not mad.
You think you got a problem? Is that it?
JESSE
That’s what I want to us to find out.
LOREN
Okay. Let’s find out.