Another snippet

[3rdragon]

This one is just called Cinderella Man in my Scrivener document.

I have no idea where it's going.

A PARTY, NEAR MIDNIGHT

Clumps of people are standing and talking. Quiet jazz plays in the background. FELICITY is standing near the wall, holding a glass of grape juice and chatting. ELEANOR, dressed in a suit, stands among a group of businessmen. Their conversation is inaudible, aside from a word here and there: "market...futures...prices..."

ELEANOR
(voice pitched low)
Well, gentlemen, my wife is waving for me. Have a good night.
ELEANOR walks away quickly, footsteps loud. She rounds a group of speakers as FELICITY pulls away from her discussion. They collide. Most of FELICITY's juice winds up on ELEANOR's shirtfront.

FELICITY
Miss Harrowgate! I'm sorry, I didn't see you--

ELEANOR
(trying to hide fear with scorn)
Excuse me, Miss. I don't believe we've been introduced.

FELICITY looks at ELEANOR for the first time, startled.

FELICITY
I'm sorry... I didn't see you well... I thought--

ELEANOR
You didn't think. Now, if you'll excuse me.
The clock begins to chime.

FELICITY
At least let me help--

FELICITY looks around as if expecting napkins to materialize. ELEANOR pushes away her outstretched hand.

ELEANOR
I believe you've helped enough. Goodnight.

ELEANOR strides away, footsteps matching the tempo of the clock, until her steps falter at the stroke of 12. Her right shoe is stuck. She doesn't try to free it, just yanks her foot out and exits, her footsteps now tap thump, tap thump, tap thump.

FELICITY, mortified, still holding the empty wineglass, walks off in the opposite direction before she can attract more attention. She does not notice the loss of the shoe.

FELICITY
Oh, well done, Felicity! Dump your drink on a total stranger and then mistake him for a woman you barely met! I don't think you could have done something more embarrassing if you tried!
(deep breath)
I don't know how I could have mistaken... but that first moment, I was sure it was her.
(another breath, looks around, sees shoe)
And to make matters worse, Mr. Men's Eight, Right Foot has left his shoe.

Felicity walks over and picks up the shoe, then looks at the feet of the assembled guests.

FELICITY
Still warm, but he's gone. Probably made his escape while you were busy making an utter fool of yourself. Well, tonight's a wash, then.

-----------------------------------

AN APARTMENT

DELILAH is sitting at the table, writing.

The door bangs open and ELEANOR rushes in. She is still wearing the suit and missing a shoe, but is presenting female in voice and posture.

ELEANOR
We're dead. We're absolutely, completely, utterly dead.

DELILAH
Are you hurt?
(beat)
That's not blood. And that shirt is dangerously form-fitting when it's wet.

ELEANOR
(pacing, tap thump, tap thump, tap thump)
I know.

DELILAH
What happened?

ELEANOR
I don't know, but it's bad, it's bad, we are so dead.

DELILAH
Eleanor, sit down and tell me what happened.

ELEANOR sits and starts taking off the remaining shoe.

ELEANOR
I was recognized!

DELILAH
(puzzled)
But no one knows who you are.

ELEANOR
Not as myself, as Miss Harrowgate. That was last week! There's no way she could have known... different party, different house, different clothing, different damn gender...

DELILAH
Language, Eleanor.

ELEANOR
I'm being a man. Men are allowed to swear.

ELEANOR throws the shoe onto a pile of similar shoes.

DELILAH
Not a good habit to get into.
(beat)
Do you think your reaction told her anything?

ELEANOR
I hope not. I went all high-and-mighty, you-must-be-mistaken, and she got flustered and backed off.

DELILAH
That may be something.
(sets her paper aside)
Bring me a bowl of water, would you?

ELEANOR pours a bowl of water from a pitcher and carries it to the table. DELILAH lets a few drops of ink fall into the water and watches the bowl for a few minutes.

DELILAH
It may yet be well. The next time you see her, you should seek her out. Get an introduction and ask her to dance.

ELEANOR
I should WHAT? I don't want to seek her out, I want to stay as far away from her as possible!

DELILAH
Do you trust me, or don't you?

Silence.

DELILAH
Ask her to dance.

Comments

[mirawonderfulstar]

Ooh, intriguing! What made you choose the script format for this?

[3rdragon]

I honestly don't remember. I had the idea but didn't want to describe the characters or have to figure out which pronouns to use to make the situation clear to the reader? Also it meant I didn't need to really know what was going on in their heads beyond a sense of the general emotions.

I may also have had a reason why I was supposed to write something in script format and this seemed the plot bunny best-suited to it.

I wish I did know what happened next; the setup is interesting. I think it's during Prohibition, which suggests that illegal alcohol may be one of the irons in the fire, but I think it's bigger than that.

[mirawonderfulstar]

Yes that makes sense! It is an interesting set up, for sure. If you end up developing it further I hope you'll share on here.