The Emancipation
(AT RISE: SIDNEY is in the kitchen cooking, CARLOS walks in just getting home from work.)
SIDNEY
Honey?
CARLOS
Yeah, dinner ready yet?
Almost, honey, just ten more minutes.
CARLOS
What the fuck is taking so long?
SIDNEY
I’m sorry, there was a line at the grocers.
CARLOS
You should of gone earlier!
SIDNEY
I…I…didn’t think—
CARLOS
Exactly your fucking problem!
SIDNEY
It’s almost done.
CARLOS
Whatever, I’m going for a beer.
SIDNEY
But, dinner is almost done, and it’s your favorite.
CARLOS
I don’t give a shit! I don’t want to be around here right now.
SIDNEY
Why?
CARLOS
Because, you know what time I get home, dinner should be on the goddamn table!
SIDNEY
But, look it’s done; I’ll put it on the table now.
CARLOS
Too, goddamn late, keep that shit warm for when I get back, can you at least do that?
SIDNEY
Yeah, I’m sorry.
CARLOS
I bet you are.
SIDNEY
Why are you treating me like this?
CARLOS
I treat you exactly the way you deserve! Now get the fuck out of my way!
SIDNEY
Why do I deserve this?
CARLOS
Get the fuck out of the way!
(SIDNEY takes HIS keys.)
What do you think your doing? Give me that shit back!
SIDNEY
No, I’m getting tired of this. All I do—
CARLOS
All you do is sit on your ass all day! Give me back my keys, or else.
SIDNEY
I do not just sit on my ass! I work hard in this house!
CARLOS
You stupid bitch!
(HE pushes HER to the ground, and takes the keys, grabs her hair and pulls her head back.)
I warned your stupid ass! I’m not in the mood for your shit! Make sure that goddamn food is edible, and that it’s warm when I get back!
SIDNEY
I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
CARLOS
Don’t give me that shit!
SIDNEY
I didn’t mean it.
CARLOS
Shit the fuck up!
(CARLOS walks out the door; SIDNEY sits by the door crying.)
(Screaming.)
SIDNEY
You asshole! I hate you! You asshole! I hope you die!
(Phone rings, SHE picks up the phone after a few rings.)
SIDNEY
Hello…no mom, nothings wrong…no, just a little argument with Carlos…no it’s ok…it’s not his fault, it’s mine I provoked him. Mom please, I know what I’m doing…I have enough to deal with, without having to fight with you about this stuff too mom…I have to finish dinner before he comes back. Yes, I do, I made a mistake before because I didn’t finish dinner on time…I know it’s happened before, but he has reason to be pissed of. I’m out of work, and he’s working double shifts every day. It’s not his fault he’s just frustrated, we also have all these bills starting to pile up. Mom, stop it ok, I have to go…yeah I know I’ll do something all right? Good night, bye…I love you too, mom.
(SHE picks up around the area that she fell earlier, and then goes to
the kitchen to finish dinner. Fade out.)
(CARLOS, walks into the house, he’s stumbling, and cursing from drinking too much. It is extremely late, and SIDNEY is waiting in the kitchen.)
Why are you so late?
CARLOS
What the fuck?
SIDNEY
Why are you so late?
CARLOS
Because, I wanted to be you stupid!
SIDNEY
Don’t talk to me like that.
CARLOS
Ha…ha…ha…like what? That my dinner?
SIDNEY
The way you’re talking to me, I don’t deserve that. Yes.
CARLOS
Whatever; pass the salt.
(HE sits down to eat.)
SIDNEY
Here.
CARLOS
This shit is cold! I thought I told you to keep this warm!
SIDNEY
I told you not to talk to me like that.
CARLOS
Fuck you; you can’t even do one little thing!
SIDNEY
It took you six hours to get home! It’s 2 A.M.
CARLOS
I don’t give a shit, you should of kept this shit warm like I told you!
SIDNEY
I did!
CARLOS
Yeah then why is it cold?
SIDNEY
I don’t know.
CARLOS
Bitch, don’t you answer me like that!
SIDNEY
Or what you’ll push me again, and pull my hair?
CARLOS
Your really stupid, aren’t you?
SIDNEY
I did what you asked me to do, it’s not my fault you try to find excuses to go hang out with your stupid friends and those—
(CARLOS slaps HER SHE falls to the ground.)
CARLOS
You stupid bitch!
SIDNEY
Bastard!
CARLOS
You’ll see a bastard!
(CARLOS stands above her, slaps her a few more times. Then kneels on top of her. Pulls her hair back again.)
I’m getting sick and tired of your goddamn mouth! You have no idea when to just shut the fuck up do you? Well now you’ll start to understand, won’t you.
(Slaps her again, SHE passes out, HE gets up and walks to the
kitchen.)
Stupid bitch, I’ll show you to disrespect me!
(SIDNEY starts to wake up.)
SIDNEY
What’s wrong with you?
CARLOS
What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me? You really want to know what the fuck is wrong with me?
(SIDNEY gets up from the floor; CARLOS pushes her back down with his foot.)
Don’t get up!
SIDNEY
You’re scaring me please just leave me alone.
CARLOS
Right, about that.
(CARLOS gets up and walks around SIDNEY, she watches him as he walks by her towards the kitchen.)
SIDNEY
Carlos, I’m not in the mood for this, I just want to go to bed.
CARLOS
Bullshit, you’re going to learn to respect me!
SIDNEY
I do respect you, honey please.
CARLOS
Right, I’ll show you!
(CARLOS kneels by SIDNEY and unbuttons his pants, he begins to lie on top of her, and starts to kiss her roughly, and he then begins to rape her.)
SIDNEY
No, stop it! I don’t want this! No! I said stop!
(Fade out.)
(SIDNEY is sitting on the couch crying, CARLOS has stumbled into the bedroom passes out on the end of the bed. Scene starts with a close up of SIDNEY crying with legs on the couch, then pan over to bedroom and get a shot of CARLOS laying in the bed, then pan back to couch. SHE gets up from the couch walks to the bedroom, sees CARLOS sleeping on the edge of the bed. Focuses on her face. Light shines from below making shadows go in opposite direction. Room gets completely black. Cut to next morning.)
CARLOS
Hey wake up, want some coffee?
SIDNEY
Huh? Yes thanks.
CARLOS
Why didn’t you come to bed?
SIDNEY
Um…I just couldn’t, I uh…had a lot on my mind.
CARLOS
What was it?
SIDNEY
What was what?
CARLOS
What was on your mind?
SIDNEY
Uh, nothing, nothing at all…what time are you going to be home?
CARLOS
By eight, by the way, I’m sorry I overreacted about dinner last night. But I get home really tired and all I want is a nice hot dinner before I go to bed. I also had a really bad day at the shop.
SIDNEY
I know, you work hard, and I should at least have dinner if I’m not doing anything else but staying home.
CARLOS
I promise I won’t react that way anymore. Just please have dinner ready on time from now on.
SIDNEY
I will, I know you get very upset at work, and the last thing you need are problems at home.
CARLOS
You are wonderful you know that right?
SIDNEY
No I’m not, if I was I would have had everything ready for you when you got home.
CARLOS
Look, let me make it up to you, I’ll open the shop a little late and we’ll have breakfast together ok.
SIDNEY
No it’s fine, just go on to work, I don’t want to cause any customers to complain.
CARLOS
All right, then we’ll just drink coffee together for a bit.
SIDNEY
No, no, you should really just get going. I have your lunch ready; it’s in the fridge.
CARLOS
Tuna?
SIDNEY
Yeah, it’s what you always want for lunch.
CARLOS
Thanks.
(Kisses SIDNEY on the forehead.)
I love you; I’ll see you tonight.
(HE walks out the door.)
SIDNEY
Yeah, you’ll see a lot tonight!
(Mumbles to self)
I won’t let that happen again.
(CARLOS enters, SIDNEY is in the kitchen. Camera focused on CARLOS.)
CARLOS
Sid, I’m home!
SIDNEY
Hi, hon, how was work?
CARLOS
Fucking awful, I got there a few minutes late, and some cocksucker was bitching because he had to wait five minutes!
SIDNEY
I told you it was a bad idea to leave so late.
CARLOS
What the fuck, are you taking that asshole’s side?
SIDNEY
No I’m—
CARLOS
Hey, I was trying to be nice to you goddamn it!
SIDNEY
I know, you’re taking it the wrong way.
CARLOS
No fuck you; what the hell way am I supposed to take that shit?
SIDNEY
Look, I just meant that you shouldn’t of worried about me, that’s all.
CARLOS
Right, and that I should care about you, and that I shouldn’t do shit for you, right?
SIDNEY
No, you’re not listening.
CARLOS
Oh fuck yeah I’m listening!
SIDNEY
Carlos, I didn’t mean it in a bad way.
CARLOS
Just fucking forget it, where’s my damn dinner.
SIDNEY
The rice is still cooking, I took it out and it was still a bit hard.
CARLOS
What the fuck, again with this shit! Can’t you just one day have dinner ready when I walk through the door!
SIDNEY
I tried too!
CARLOS
And now you yell at me! Fuck this shit, I’m going out!
SIDNEY
Where are you going now?
CARLOS
Get a goddamn beer! Got a problem with that?
SIDNEY
Yes, you shouldn’t drink you know that.
CARLOS
Oh yeah, right it makes me too violent, right?
SIDNEY
Carlos, I love you but if you go out that door I won’t be here when you get back!
(HE walks back up to her, grabs her hair.)
CARLOS
You better fucking be here when I get back! And if your not you better hope I never find your ass, bitch.
(Lets her go and begins to turn around, SHE slaps him.)
SIDNEY
Don’t ever do that again.
CARLOS
What the fuck?
(HE turns to her and slaps her to the ground. Stands over her.)
Don’t you ever forget who wears the pants here bitch, don’t you ever fucking forget!
(Turns around and walks out of the house.)
SIDNEY
Ahh…fuck you!
(Gets up frantically looking for her suitcase and her clothes,
phone rings, runs to pick it up.
Hello?
(Walks back to bedroom, finds gun.)
No, mom, everything is fine.
(Study’s gun, thinks carefully, and holds it close to her.)
Yes, mom, sorry…I …I …was just thinking of something…yeah I had something on my mind. Look mom, I’m going to stay over for a few days, they’re fumigating the house and I have to get all of my stuff out. No, no Carlos isn’t coming, he’s going to stay with his parents tomorrow. Yes, mom, I’ll be there in half an hour. Okay, I love you, bye.
(Hangs up phone, continues packing. After everything is packed
she places her bags carefully in the center of the living room.)
(CARLOS walks in.)
CARLOS
What the fuck is that?
SIDNEY
I told you I was leaving!
CARLOS
Bitch you ain’t goin no where!
(SHE points gun at him.)
What the fuck!
(SHE pulls trigger.)