What Price Would You Pay For Everlasting Devotion?
FADE IN:
INT SHOP NIGHT
ALAN AUSTIN shakes the rain off his coat.
He takes out a handkerchief and begins to wipe off his glasses.
He turns and looks around the room.
He sees a table, a few shelves, and an old man sitting in a rocking chair.
DAVID BONN, the old man, mixes two liquids in a bottle.
ALAN
Excuse me, sir...
David stares at the bottles.
DAVID
Come in please.
Alan steps closer to David.
ALAN
I came ...
David holds up the bottle.
DAVID
Do you know what this is?
ALAN
Ahh
DAVID
It is tasteless, colorless, and undetectable in milk, coffee, water, and any other liquid. It is also undetectable in any method of autopsy.
Alan takes a step back toward the door.
ALAN
Poison!
David stands up, holding the bottle in front of Alan's face.
DAVID
You may call it a glove cleaner if you wish. It may clean gloves. I prefer to call it a life cleaner after all life needs cleaning sometimes too.
David walks over to one of the shelves and sets the bottle on one.
DAVID
By the way do you know how much I charge for a spoonful of my life cleaner.
Alan shrugs his shoulders.
DAVID
Five-thousand dollars. Never a penny less.
ALAN
Do you charge that much for all you potions?
David laughs.
DAVID
Oh, no. Young men like you can not afford that much. You would have to save up for that. If I charged that much for a love potion I would go broke.
Alan walks over to David, looking at the potions on the shelves.
ALAN
So how much is a love potion?
David opens a drawer in the wall and pulls out a bottle.
DAVID
If you please a customer with one product then he will come back when he needs the other, even if it cost more.
David sets the bottle on the table. the liquid in the bottle shines with an eerie sparkle.
Alan stares at the potion.
DAVID
One drop of this and any women will love you forever. Undying devotion.
ALAN
Undying devotion!
Alan looks up from the bottle.
ALAN
How much?
DAVID
One dollar!
INT BEDROOM MORNING
Clothes are tossed all over the floor as well as the lamp, the chair and the dresser.
Alan and GENE, a blue eyed blonde haired beauty, are sprawled out naked, entangled in each others arms.
Gene kisses his chest.
GENE
You were wonderful last night baby. Why didn't we do this before.
Alan rubs his fingers along her cheek.
ALAN
You thought I was a jerk.
GENE
No, baby I was wrong. You're not a jerk. You're my knight in denim armor.
She kisses him on his chest, working her way up till their lips press together.
GENE
I love you.
ALAN
If you really love me than marry me.
Gene climbs on top of him.
GENE
I'll do anything you want. Now lay back and let me take care of you.
Alan lets out a small moan.
INT SHOP NIGHT
Alan sits across from David in his rocker.
Alan now has pure white, has gained fifty or so pounds, and looks extremely tired.
ALAN
How did you know?
David lights up a pipe, leaning back in his rocker.
DAVID
Mr. Austin when you're in the business of love as long as I am you finds these things out. Now tell me what went wrong.
Alan leaned back in his chair with a sigh.
ALAN
Well after we got married it all went down hill.
INTER CUTS
INT DINING ROOM NIGHT
Alan picks at his dinner.
Gene stares at him with awe.
Alan glances up at her.
ALAN
Do you have to stare at me?
Gene looks at the picture on the wall for a few seconds.
Her eyes wonder by to Alan.
Alan looks up at Gene again.
He throws down his fork.
ALAN
Do you have to keep staring at me like?
Gene slides out of her sit, walking over to him.
GENE
Don't be mad love.
She steps behind him, running a hand down his shirt.
Alan grabs her hand.
ALAN
Don't!
She slides her other hand down his shorts.
GENE
Come on baby you know you want it?
Alan jumps out of his chair, knocking her down.
ALAN
Give it a rest! I'm not in the mood!
Gene stares up at him laughing.
GENE
You are so cute when you're mad.
She stands up and starts to clear the table.
Alan watches as she walks into the kitchen.
INT BEDROOM MORNING
Alan and Gene are laying in the bed.
Alan suddenly bolts up, looking at the clock.
ALAN
Oh shit. I'm late for work again.
Gene pulls him back down.
GENE
Wait baby, just a quickie.
Alan throws her arm back, getting up.
ALAN
NO! That's why I've been late for the last two weeks.
Gene jumps out of bed.
GENE
Get up sleepy head I'll make your breakfast.
Alan watches here puzzled.
She walks out of the door.
INT SHOP NIGHT
ALAN
She didn't shout back at me. She's like a robot.
David lights his pipe again.
DAVID
So that's why you want it?
Alan leans forward in his chair, putting his hands over his face.
ALAN
She's not real anymore.
DAVID
But she loves you, is that not what you want.
David blows a heart out of smoke.
Alan cuts it with his hand.
ALAN
She doesn't really love me. I made her love me.
David laughs wholeheartedly.
ALAN
You think this is funny?
DAVID
I am sorry. but look at yourself. You look older then me.
Alan looks down at himself.
ALAN
You're right. It took me twenty years. But now I understand.
Alan stands up.
He pulls out a wade of bills from his coat.
ALAN
Five thousand was it?
INT 28TH STREET PUB NIGHT
Alan sits at the corner table of the half-empty bar.
A waitress walks up to Alan.
She bends down to talk to him revealing her cleavage.
She sits a shot glass and a beer in front of him.
WAITRESS
Here you go honey. A shot of Jack with a beer chaser.
Alan looks at the waitress her cleavage looks like it wants to jump out.
ALAN
Thank you, Gene.
the waitress shoots Alan a look of doubt and walks away.
Alan stares at the drinks.
He reaches in his coat and pulls out a small vial.
He breaks the seal and empties the clear liquid into the beer.
He picks up the shot glass, holding it out in front of him.
ALAN
I'm truly sorry, Gene.
Alan downs the shot and slams the glass on the table.
He picks up the beer, chugging it.
The glass falls out of his hand and hits the floor.
