126
Continued from previous page…
CHARLOTTE
Yeah, what is all this? What
kind of a point are you trying
to make? I mean— I appreciate
your concern about my health,
but, honestly, Kath, if you just
want to know about the business
world, I’ll be happy to show you…
It’ll take a while, though… You
just don’t learn this stuff overnight.
KATHY
(at a loss for words)
I was just having some fun.
CHARLOTTE
Well, you’re good at it, I’ll give
you that… Hell, everybody knows
that you and Jane are the best
actresses out of all of us… I don’t
think there’s ever been a debate
about that… I’m completely shitty
at it… I’m not ashamed to admit that.
Kathy must
continue.
KATHY
Charlotte…
I’m torn.
CHARLOTTE
(saddened)
About what?
KATHY
About what
to do here.
There is a long, long
pause as Charlotte is
not sure what Kathy
is driving at.
CHARLOTTE
Kathy.. everything is
okay… Please.. I love
you to death for your
concern, but really…
KATHY
I’m worried about you.
CHARLOTTE
Well.. you needn’t be…
I’m doing fine…
I’m not gonna relapse, okay?
I know what I’m doing.
KATHY
It’s not just that…
It’s everything else.
CHARLOTTE
What else could there
possibly be? We’re not
gonna get caught for
Khudobin, Kath… You
just gotta’ let that go.
It’s time for
the final
bomb to be
dropped.
KATHY
Did…
Did Jane ask you about
the drugs?
CHARLOTTE
What drugs?
KATHY
The drugs at the mansion…
The pot and the coke.
CHARLOTTE
(trying to recall)
Uhhh…
the drugs at the mansion…
You mean— the stuff we got
stashed— for ourselves?
KATHY
Yeah.
CHARLOTTE
Yeah.. she asked about em’ …
She wanted to know where
I got em’ from.
KATHY
Did you tell her?
CHARLOTTE
No…
I didn’t think the time
was appropriate.
KATHY
Okay…
And when do you
think that time will be?
CHARLOTTE
Whenever I deem necessary…
Maybe never.
KATHY
Do you think it’s appropriate
to keep a thing like that a
secret from the rest of us?
Long pause.
CHARLOTTE
It’s business, Kath…
It’s not our personal lives…
You guys don’t need to
know everything.
KATHY
No, it’s not business…
It is our personal lives…
This is our own, personal
stash we’re talking about.
CHARLOTTE
What difference does
it make?
KATHY
It makes a big difference
in this case.
CHARLOTTE
What are you
getting at?
Extended pause.
KATHY
I know where you
get em’ from.
Charlotte absorbs
the information.
CHARLOTTE
What was that?
KATHY
I said—
I know where you
get em’ from.
Charlotte keeps
absorbing.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, you do, do you?
And how.. pray-tell…
do you know this?
KATHY
My private detective…
Mr. Anton Khudobin…
God rest his soul…
Knew more about you than
just some off-shore business
accounts… He knew everything.
Charlotte is
busted in every
sense of the word.
CHARLOTTE
Uh-huh.
Long pause.
KATHY
Charlotte…
When I said I was worried
about you before…
I meant it…
I love you.
CHARLOTTE
You love me…
Is that why you’re
drilling me like this?
KATHY
I’m drilling you because
I love you…
I want to know the truth.
I think I deserve that.
CHARLOTTE
Uh-huh…
So now… you think… I might
have killed your private detective…
because he knew about my
drug dealing, is that it?
KATHY
(desperately concerned)
Charlotte.. You say it like it’s such
a casual thing ! My God ! Drug
dealing ! How can you be
involved in such a thing?! This
isn’t just the guy on the street
corner ! Khudobin told me who
you’re involved with ! Milan Lucic—
The Dark Knight ! Charlotte, he’s
a dangerous man ! You could get
killed !
Charlotte is
starting to
droop her head
in defeat.
KATHY
Charlotte, please !
Let me help you !
I love you so much.
Charlotte hears
this and looks up
into Kathy’s eyes.
She gets up and
walks around to
the other side of
the desk. She grabs
Kathy and hugs her
with all her might.
CHARLOTTE
(crying)
Oh, Kathy !!
I love you too !
KATHY
(consoling)
It’s okay, baby…
It’s okay…
Just hold me…
Don’t let go, okay?
Just hold me.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, Kathy…
It’s not me.
After several seconds,
Kathy pulls back.
KATHY
What do you mean,
it’s not you?
Are you in some kind
of trouble?
Am I right? … Is it him?
Does he have some kind
of control over you?!
CHARLOTTE
No… It’s not Lucic…
It’s me…
I don’t have any kind
of control over myself.
KATHY
(confused)
I.. I don’t understand?
CHARLOTTE
Kathy…
I have a split personality
disorder…
I’m sick.. I need help.
KATHY
(shocked)
You mean—
You’re like..
SYBIL?!!
Copyright 2023
by Clark Wright