SCENE-1-INSIDE-HOUSE-DAY
LATASHA, a Thai lady in her 30s is in front of a mirror putting her makeup on. CRAIG, a medium-height white guy, around his early 50s, is staring at her with awe: She is really beautiful. Music playing in the background:-WONDERFUL TONIGHT by ERIC CLAPTON.
CRAIG
(Gazes at her, mesmerised).
(He gets closer and tries to kiss her. Latasha denies the kiss.)
LATASHA
-CRAIG!!! You are going to ruin my makeup!
Her English is not good at all. Her body language is showing distaste and loathing. She is not happy with Craig being around.
CRAIG
(Upset)
-Can’t you just pretend you are just like me? You are not around, and you are not supportive! It’s like I’ve been married to a ghost!
(He slams the door, and storms downstairs.)
House is really well decorated, with expensive furniture, acclaimed paintings and lush curtains. They are wealthy.
LATASHA
(Opens a drawer, takes out a framed picture of a young boy, kisses it gently and puts it back in; then slowly and gracefully she walks out and goes downstairs to reach for Craig. He sees him getting in the living room looking upset.)
-Craig love, you know Latasha is here for you. Latasha cares for Craig a lot.
CRAIG
-YEAH! RIGHT!
He sits on a large corner sofa and angrily turns his face towards the wall, raises his fist like he wants to hit someone but then quickly lowers it.
Latasha comes closer and sits on his lap and hugs his neck.
LATASHA
-Craig my darling, Latasha has made a tasty Thai meal for your friends coming. She will look after all of you. Just relax and enjoy!
She gives him a warm and juicy kiss. Craig initially doesn’t want to kiss back but he eventually surrenders.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
SCENE-2-INSIDE-HOUSE-AFTERNOON
The doorbell rings. Craig walks quickly for the door.
Behind the door, there is a man in his mid-thirties, tall, and athletic, along with a gorgeous blond woman next to him. They both look very smartly dressed.
CRAIG
(Door opens)
-STEVEN, my friend and…(Points his finger) NIKKI, am I right?
(He gives a warm handshake to Steven and a handshake-cross kiss to Nikki.)
-Give me your coats! I’ve given my butler a day off so my lovely wife and I will look after my lovely colleagues!!!
NIKKI
-Nikki it is… You can’t imagine how special we consider ourselves now!
STEVEN
(Trying to be formal)
-Thanks for having us, Sir! It makes you feel special when Craig O’ Brian, the world-famous architect, is accommodating you at his notorious mansion!
CRAIG
-The pleasure is mine! Come over! Let’s have a drink!!! Follow me!
He hangs the coats on a stand and waves at his guests to follow him.
They all walk down an impressive hall passing by a dining room and a massive sitting room only to turn into a state-of-the-art conservatory with comfortable leather armchairs, coffee tables and a large bar with a stand full of glasses and bottles of various spirits.
-Here we are!
STEVEN
(SITTING ON AN ARMCHAIR)
-Bloody hell! That’s fantastic!
NIKKI
-You know how to live your life MR!
CRAIG
-This room is very special to me… I lose myself here in a drink, only to find inspiration and peace…
(With quick moves he places on the bar, 4 large glasses, a crushing pin, limes, fresh mint, a jug of soda, a bowl of crushed ice, a bowl of brown sugar and a bottle of 8-year-old Bacardi, Millennium Rum Atlantis Special Edition)
-…Even though I’ve accomplished quite a few things in my life…
(Crushing in each glass the quartered limes along with the mint and sugar)
-I’m proud of a few of them: One is my glorious Mojito..
(Throws ice and pours alcohol gracefully into the glasses) .
-…And now… soda!!! Drinks are served!!!
(Passes Nikki a glass)
-Your drink is ready!!!
NIKKI
(Takes a sip and sighs with pleasure)
-That’s delicious!
CRAIG
-Only the best ingredients make the best outcome in life… Enjoy my friends!!!
(Shouts)
-Latasha, Darling, where are you?
-Our guests are here!!!
LATASHA
(Walks in slowly, looking a bit lost in her thoughts, still sorting out her left earring)
-Sorry my darling… I…
(Latasha, staring at Steeve, freezes for a moment. She looks really surprised, she is short of trips and loses her balance only to be saved by holding Craig’s hand. Steeve looks thunderstruck as well.
-L… Latasha was getting ready.
CRAIG
(Trying to break the ice)
- Sorry, my wonderful wife is not used to having people in the house! My apologies!!!
NIKKI
-Awww! Don’t worry! We are here as friends and not as formal quests!
(Leans towards her and gives her hand. Latasha shakes it lightly)
-I’m Nikki!! And this… is my fiancé, Steven.
STEVEN
(Leans forward to give his hand, but regrets it; He just waves at Latasha. Looks a bit embarrassed trying to fix his voice he murmurs)
– Hi!!!
CRAIG
-Come on Steven! You seem way too shy now!
-That’s not the first time you come across a gorgeous Thai lady!
I still cannot forget the saucy story you told me the other day about that lady in Bangkok!!!
(laughs out loud)
- Sorry, Nikki!!!
(He is gently massaging Latasha’s right hand, who looks a bit lost and in despair)
NIKKI
-It’s alright!!! Everybody has a past in his/her life, as long as this past does not affect the present…
(Pauses for a bit like she had a glimpse of an annoying thought but then, out of embarrassment laughs a bit awkwardly)
CRAIG
-What was her name? Let me remember… Oh yeah, BEE? Is that it?
STEVEN
(Mystified)
-I’d rather not speak about it…
CRAIG
-He became a Farang boyfriend, a European boyfriend in the Thai language, to a local lady. Big privilege to her, as Thai ladies think European men are way too attractive, as well as their ticket to the western world. Our friend here had a hell of a party time with her and then he disappeared!!!
STEVEN
(Bit angrily)
-That’s not the truth! I had to leave Thailand for a while…
-And then… I met Nikki… I… I’ve never meant to hurt anybody!
LATASHA
(Almost shivering)
-Sorry, Latasha needs to serve food. I… have to go to my kitchen…
(She rushes silently out with her head down still looking upset.)
CRAIG
(Trying to justify her action)
-She has been upset since this morning, Sorry.
(Shouts out)
-OK, my darling! We’ll meet in the dining room then!
(Turns to Nikki and Steven)
-She will never ever let me help her.
STEVEN
-If you can excuse me, I’m going out in the garden for a quick cigarette
CRAIG
-Ok, see you in the dining room then!
-Nikki darling, please follow me.
NIKKI
-With pleasure!
-Steve love, be quick, if Craig carries on with his manners, I will be so spoiled that going forward I will not accept anything less than this!
They both start laughing and disappear from Steve’s eyesight.
—————————————————————————————————————
SCENE-3-IN THE GARDEN-NIGHT
Steven lights up a cigarette and he can hear Nikki and Craig in the dining room enjoying their evening.
He is nervously walking up and down smoking and swearing…
-We… I need to get out of here! I… need to find an excuse… How the hell did this happen to me? How did I get in so much trouble?
Latasha comes out into the garden and finds Steve.
LATASHA
(Crying her eyes out)
Hi Stevie!
(Her voice becomes sweet and tender)
-I’m I in trouble with my little Stevie? My Farang, the man I show to my family as my husband? You told me you love me and then Stevie left and the family was very angry with BEE!!!
(She comes closer and slaps Steven on the face, but then she hugs him. Steven looks thunderstruck. )
- …All this year Stevie was in my heart. I had to leave Thailand to find Stevie, I work in a Thai restaurant in England to find My Farang but Stevie disappear…
(She hugs him and cries tears of joy.)
STEVEN
-I’m so sorry Bee!
(He gently pushes her away).
-I… couldn’t move on! I… thought it would be just fine to be just a boyfriend and a girlfriend. Have a bit of a good time!!!
LATASHA
(Staring at Steven with affection)
-But you know Farang, Bee cannot be girlfriend only. The Bee needs to be a wife, and have a child with Stevie…
STEVEN
(APOLOGETICALLY)
-Sorry, Bee, I… just couldn’t commit at that time! I… I wasn’t ready… When I felt I was losing my mind because I had left you, I looked for you but they told me you were gone! I… I couldn’t find you… Then I met Nikki… I’m so sorry!
He opens his hands like he wants to hug Latasha, but he regrets it, he shakes his head in despair and shouts:
I’M IN HELL!!!
(He storms into the house leaving Latasha alone.)
Latasha kneels on the floor and starts a silent cry…
LATASHA
She reaches for her phone and looks at a picture of the same boy she kissed the photo of in the morning.
(In the Thai language, with tears coming out of her eyes)
-Daddy doesn’t love us any more…
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