Under the Stars with Connie and Duane

In this scene, Connie, a waitress at the local diner, and Duane, her soon-to-be ex-husband, are sitting on the front steps of her trailer. They are drinking beers, looking at the stars, and discussing Steve, the new plant manager. We hear crickets, a dog barking in the distance, and the occasional whoosh of a car on the nearby highway.

DUANE (LOOKING AT CONNIE): It's beautiful out here tonight.

CONNIE: Yeah, nice and clear.

DUANE: With all the lights out, it's cool how you can see every star in the sky.

CONNIE: Red's supposed to replace that bulb in the streetlight.

DUANE: It's better this way.

(PAUSE)

DUANE: So what's up with you and this Steve?

CONNIE: What do you mean?

DUANE: I don't know, I just thought I saw something in the way you two were lookin' at each other... I just thought I saw something.

CONNIE: Hmm.

DUANE: So, what? Do you like this guy?

CONNIE: I dunno. He's nice.

DUANE: Awww...

CONNIE: What do you have against him? You say his name like he's Satan or something.

DUANE: He's a weasel.

CONNIE: Oh come on...

DUANE: A snake in the grass...

CONNIE: You don't even know...

DUANE: You can't trust him... We can't trust him. You think that just 'cause he lives in a trailer like us he's one of us? Huh? Well think about it. Plant manager, he could get himself a place up in the Heights if he wanted to. And why doesn't he... I'll tell you why... cause this is just temporary for him.

CONNIE: So...

DUANE: So... if he doesn't think he has a future here, what does that say about our future?

CONNIE: What do you think he's gonna do?

DUANE: I think he's gonna sell us out. Close the plant and start making this shit in Mexico or Taipan or some other damn place like that were they pay people about a nickle an hour.

CONNIE: You don't know that. You shouldn't jump to conclusions. You ought to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

DUANE: Well, you can if you want. I don't trust him.

(PAUSE. THEY LOOK UP AT THE SKY. CONNIE STRETCHES HER NECK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DUANE REACHES OVER AND STARTS RUBBING HER NECK.)

CONNIE: Mmm. That feels good.

DUANE: You always get real tensed up right here.

CONNIE: Yup, that's the spot.

(CONNIE RELAXES INTO THE MASSAGE A LITTLE)

DUANE: I know some other ways to get you relaxed.

(CONNIE CHUCKLES AND NUDGES HIM)

CONNIE: Yeah, you do.

DUANE: You know I do, baby.

(DUANE MOVES A LITTLE CLOSER. CONNIE TURNS TO GIVE HIM A QUIZZICAL LOOK. DUANE MEETS HER GAZE.)

CONNIE: What are you thinkin'?

DUANE: Well, talkin' about giving a person the benefit of the doubt...

CONNIE: Oh, no...

DUANE: I was just thinkin', we've been getting' along pretty well lately...

CONNIE: Oh, no...

DUANE: ... so maybe it's time we re-think this whole splittin' up idea...

CONNIE: Duane, we are so way past that.

DUANE: Why do you say that?

CONNIE: Why? You need to ask why?

DUANE: Why can't you forgive me?

CONNIE: There are just some things that are unforgivable.

DUANE: With love, anything can be forgiven...

CONNIE: Unforgivable!

DUANE: It was a long time ago...

CONNIE: It was my mother, Duane.

DUANE: I was drunk...

CONNIE: My own mom.

DUANE: She was wearing your sundress...

CONNIE: Not even my stepmom, my real mom.

DUANE: She started it...

CONNIE: Don't even be so stupid as to try to make excuses for yourself. God, that just makes it worse. If you said, "I'm so sorry, I'm such an asshole, there's no excuse but please forgive me anyway... " If you said something like that you might have a chance...

DUANE: I'm so sorry. (WITH PAUSES) I'm such an asshole... There's no excuse... Please... forgive me.

(CONNIE SEEMS TO SOFTEN FOR A MOMENT, THEN PULLS BACK)

CONNIE: No. Nice try, but no.

DUANE: (A BIG SIGH)

CONNIE: It's all over and done with, with us. You know that. You know it. Just let it go.

(DUANE LOOKS AT CONNIE, AND NODS, THEN LOOKS BACK UP AT THE STARS)

(CONNIE STANDS)

CONNIE: Well you can stay out here howling at the moon all night if you want to, but I gotta be at the diner tomorrow morning.

DUANE: Yeah, I better get going, too. (HE DOESN'T MOVE)

CONNIE: Good night. (SHE TURNS TO GO IN THE TRAILER, BUT STOPS AND TURNS BACK TO DUANE) I did have a nice time tonight. I'm glad we're still friends.

DUANE: (HE LETS OUT AN IRONIC CHUCKLE, THEN SHRUGS AND LOOKS UP AT CONNIE) Me too.

CONNIE: (AS SHE EXITS INTO HER TRAILER) Go home and get some sleep, Duane.

(DUANE LOOKS UP AT THE STARS AND THE MUSIC STARTS, AND HE SINGS "LET HER GO")