The Last Judgment
[Boston. Cheers]
(Just like the last two weeks, the bar is full and pretty lively. One can sense in the atmosphere that it is summer and much of the American population is on vacation. At the bar, young men flirt with attractive women they have just met, although only a few of them succeed. At the tables there are retirees having a coffee or a drink while playing board games or talking about life, as well as young people who are just finishing their college exams or enjoying their first summer as young adults before starting college or looking for a corporate job. Carla had gone home to have lunch with her kids a while ago and, of the regulars, just Phil, Pete and Alan are at the bar. While Lillian is pouring drinks, another old acquaintance enters, Harry "the hat" Gittes, who, after glancing around the bar, is surprised not to see any familiar faces)
Harry: Where's everyone? Cheers can't have changed that much in just three years.
Alan: (Laughs) Carla's having lunch, Frasier moved to Seattle and the rest are on vacation.
Harry: (Surprised) Norm too?
(Alan, Pete and Phil laugh)
Alan: Yes, he's in Hawaii with his wife. Cliff is with his mother in Florida and Sam and Diane are on their honeymoon in Europe.
Harry: (Surprised) They finally got married?! I heard Diane left years ago.
Alan: She came back about three months ago.
Harry: (Surprised) "Three months"? That's fast! (Smiles) Give them my congratulations. (With a mischievous grin, as if he is up to something) And speaking of speed, shall we play a game?
Alan: Nah, nah. I know you and I know what you're trying to do, you're not gonna get me that easy.
Harry: I'll play fair. If I lose, I'll pay for my beer. If I win, you're buying.
Alan: Okay. If it's just one beer...
(Harry smiles as he sees someone playing along, pulls three white plastic balls out of his pocket, opens them in half, and puts them on the bar)
Harry: Three for me, three for you. Now put three different bills, one in each. $1, $10 y $50.
Alan: $50?! Are you kidding me?! I don't have that much here.
Phil: I do. (Gives it to him)
Pete: You're gonna regret this, old man.
(Alan takes Phil's bill, folds it and puts it under one of the balls. He then does the same with the other bills. Meanwhile, Harry puts his three bills under the balls as well)
Harry: Okay. Now I'll mix them up. If you pull out $50, I'll buy you three beers; if I pull it out, you three buy me a beer. If you draw $10, I'll buy just you a beer; if I draw it, you buy me a beer; if one of us draws $1, he owes the other one a beer.
Alan: Okay.
(Harry orders the beer, moves the balls as he drinks it and pulls out the $50 bill with a smirk. When it is Alan's turn, he pulls out the $1 bill. Harry, seeing the result, laughs and hands the dollar to Lillian. As Harry removes the bill, he puts away his balls and bills, uncovers the other two and leaves while Alan and Phil put their bills back in their wallets. When Lillian sees them, she goes to the door, stands in front of it, grabs Harry by the waist, lifts him off the floor, hits him behind the knees and two bills fall to the floor. Seeing this, Alan and Phil check their bills and are surprised)
Alan: (Looks at Phil's bill) That thief switched the goods. They're both $1.
Pete: At least this time he left you a dollar each.
Harry: (To Lillian, very surprised) How did you know?
Lillian: (Smirks) Many years serving in English pubs and American bars.
(When Lillian puts Harry down and bends down to pick up the money, people in the bar applaud her and she puts the bills in her bra as Harry walks out the door)
Making your way in the world today
takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries
sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you wanna go
where everybody knows your name
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see
our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.
You wanna go where people know
people are all the same.
You wanna go where everybody knows your name.
[Cheers. Afternoon]
(Slowly, the bar is coming back to normal. Carla and Woody are behind the bar and Cliff is sitting on his usual stool drinking beer when Norm walks in)
All: (Raising a beer in his honor) NOOOORM!
Norm: (Happy) Home, sweet home.
Cliff: How was your vacation, Normie?
Norm: Great.
(Before they can continue the conversation, Sam and Diane come into the bar as well)
Carla and Norm: (Happy to see him) Sammy! / Woody: Sam!
Cliff: So, how are the bride and groom?
Diane: Sam is fine, but I'm better. I'm incredibly inspired, motivated and excited.
(From behind her, Sam signals them not to even think of asking her, even though he knows that Carla would never do it and that Cliff and Norm are unlikely to do it, but Woody, who is precisely the one to whom the signal is directed, does not see it because he is filling some beer mugs and does not even look up)
Woody: Why is that, Mi-, Diane? Sorry, it's habit.
(Diane laughs and Sam and Carla look at him annoyed)
Woody: (Seeing the look on Carla's face) I already said I need time to get used to it.
(Carla rolls her eyes in resignation and both Norm and Diane smile)
Diane: I just had a wonderful idea for a new project. A sitcom about a group of friends who open a bookstore. Each episode has the plot of a book, but they never relate what happens to them to the book. I will include the title of the book in one way or another in the title of the episode so the viewers can quickly identify which book it is. I may also take the opportunity to make social criticisms, although that often comes with the book. I'll probably only include something of my own when the book exalts values contrary to my own or to nowadays values.
Norm: It actually sounds interesting.
Cliff: Yeah, I'd watch it.
(Diane smiles, happy to see that her friends liked her idea)
Carla: (To Sam) Did she spend the whole flight like that?
Sam: (Laughs) No. Just the car ride home from the airport. She slept through the whole plane ride.
Carla: What a fantasy.
(Sam and Norm laugh and Diane looks at her with a smirk)
Diane: (Excited) Which book should I start with?
Cliff: Maybe it would be better to start with the oldest. Something like the Bible.
Norm: You could have an old lady buy it.
Carla: I can think of something better. How about Sam as Jesus? (Laughs)
(Sam, Diane and Norm laugh at the idea, and Woody and Cliff smile)
Sam: Carla (laughs). (Laughing) How are you going to make me Jesus? (Laughs) I'm a sinner (laughs).
(All laugh when they hear him)
Diane: I'm thinking I can write a celibate Sam instead of a teetotaler, and we can write twelve friends instead of twelve apostles and base them on old friends of yours and bar patrons.
Carla: Cliff needs to be Judas.
(Norm laughs and Sam and Diane hold in their laughter)
Diane: (Counting on her hands) Norman would be Noah, Clifford would be Caleb, Carla would be Carlos, Woody would be Woodrow, Coach would be Ernest, Dave would be David, Alan would be Adam, Pete would be Peter, Tim would be Timothy, Tom would be Thomas, Steve would be Steven and Paul would be Paul. That would make twelve. Sam of course would be Samuel. His first time would be with Eve at 15. After that he would be with many women, but only with four would he have serious relationships: Deborah, based on Sam's ex-wife; Diana, obviously based on me, who would be a multi-faceted artist; Joanna, based on Councilor Janet Eldridge, who would be the local mayor; and Shiloh, based on Sam's ex-fiancée. After Judas Thaddeus and Iscariot, i.e., Cliff and Paul, sleep with his lover Shiloh, Samuel decides to surrender to celibacy.
Norm: That's gonna be great (laughs).
Carla: For the first time, I agree (laughs). But changing the subject... Sam, how come you're so tan and Diane still looks like a corpse?
(Diane looks at her in disapproval)
Sam: Because I've been in the sun more and because she wears twice the amount of sunscreen as I do.
Woody: Do you have pictures from the honeymoon?
Sam: Yes. Look. (Pulls them out of his pocket) This one is on Teide. It's a volcano, but it's dormant. This one is in a forest on one of the islands and these are on the beach.
Woody: You both look very happy.
Diane: It was wonderful. I wish I could spend every summer like this.
Cliff: That reminds me of something I read recently. Did you know that, according to a study, people in sight of water are more creative and have calmer lives?
Carla: Why don't you try going inside of water and test your theories to see if they're true. But don't go out. That way we can have calmer lives.
Cliff: (Somewhat annoyed) That also reminds me of something I read in an article not long ago. It said that people complain on average 15 to 30 times a day and up to a full minute in the course of a conversation. Also, complaining sets up the brain to focus on the negative and makes you more prone to Alzheimer's.
Carla: Then I'll start complaining twice as much. Maybe I'm lucky enough to forget you.
Sam: Cliff, Carla... We haven't even been here ten minutes and you're already arguing. Let's change the subject to something more fun. Did anything interesting happen while we were away?
Carla: Yes, Lilith and Rebecca got sloshed and ended up giving the lesbian show of the year.
(Hearing this, everyone's eyes widen in surprise and they look at Carla, as if they do not believe what they just heard)
Cliff: Why didn't we come a few days earlier...?
Diane: And did something happen between them? Are they now...?
Carla: No, they're not dating. They both went home with their men.
Sam: And why did Rebecca come here?
Carla: To drink and cry, as usual.
Norm: Is she okay now or is she still depressed?
Carla: She's fine. Although it's hard for any human being to be bad after such a kiss. I'll tell you the full version later if you want. But now to the important thing, do you have any funny anecdotes from your vacations?
Cliff: I tried crossing figs and guavas and adding strawberry extract to a mango, but we won't know if my hybridization attempts have been fruitful for a few months.
Norm: Are you still trying to mix foods? What for? Isn't it easier to make a smoothie?
Cliff: Of course, but the result wouldn't be the same. Who knows? I might discover something exciting. Believe it or not, we humans share 40% of our DNA with bananas.
Carla: What I can't believe is that I have to put up with this. The bar was so quiet yesterday.
Cliff: Don't be so rude. I brought you some presents. And also some letters telling you about Florida. (He takes them out of his pocket and hands them out)
Norm: (Taking the letter) Why did you write one to me? We talked almost every night.
Cliff: 'Cause you're my best friend. I wasn't gonna leave you out.
Diane: I feel you, Clifford. There's something special about letters. Thank you very much for the gift.
Cliff: Speaking of gifts. (Bends down, picks up a bag he had left on the floor and starts handing out gifts) A small surfboard for Sam, some sea glasses for Woody, Cuban coffee for Carla, a mug for Norm, and a blown glass ornament for Diane.
Diane: It's beautiful! I love the colors. Thank you, Clifford.
Norm: What am I going to use this mug for? We already have mugs at Cheers.
Cliff: For morning coffee.
Norm: Oh, yes, I didn't remember I don't drink beer early in the morning.
(Sam laughs and Diane and Carla look at him with a smile)
Cliff: Hey Diane, can I talk to you in private for a minute?
Diane: (Surprised and puzzled) To me?
(Cliff nods and asks her to please go to the pool room)
Diane: What's this about? Another postman's ball?
Cliff: No. It's nothing like that. For me... it's kind of embarrassing to ask you this, but... could you give me lessons on women?
Diane: (Very surprised) "On women"?
Cliff: Yes. During the vacations... my mother told me she didn't want to leave this world leaving me alone. I felt so sad that I spent a long time crying just at the thought. But please, don't talk about this with the others, they make fun of me enough.
Diane: Don't worry, I wouldn't. (Worried) But is your mother...?
Cliff: No, no. Ma's doing great. She said that because she has no hope.
Diane: Ah!
Cliff: What do you say, Diane, would you help me with this?
Diane: All right, but I refuse to be a guinea pig. If you need someone to practice on, ask Norman for help.
(Cliff nods)
(...)
(While Cliff and Diane talk in the pool room, Norm takes a package of crackers to go with the beer out of his pocket)
Sam: Since when do you bring your own snacks?
Norm: A colleague gave it to me at work. (He opens it and takes one) I always get the broken cracker from the package.
Carla: Maybe it's because you always eat the whole thing.
Woody: Or because you carried them in your jacket pocket.
Norm: They are both equally true and probable. (Offers to the others) Crackers?
Sam and Woody: Thank you. (Take some)
Carla: What do you think Cliff and Diane are talking about?
Sam: Another postman's ball?
Norm: Nah, I don't think so. They wouldn't take so long if that's all it was about.
(Before they can give any more options, Cliff and Diane come back from the pool room)
Carla: What were you talking about?
Cliff: Some private business.
Carla: Sure...
Cliff: I want you to know that, starting today, I'm going to start taking care of my body.
Norm: Are you outgrowing your pants too?
Cliff: No. I do it as a form of self-love. Our bodies are like temples.
Carla: Yeah? Then clean the presbytery. It reeks of aquarium.
(Cliff, surprised, blows his breath on his hand and is disgusted by the smell)
Cliff: Sammy, can I borrow a toothbrush?
(Norm and Diane, hearing this, are disgusted)
Diane: Leave that. I'd better go and buy you one. But always carry it in your uniform pocket.
(As Diane leaves, the phone rings and Sam picks it up)
Sam: Cheers.
(A few seconds after picking up the phone, Sam's smile vanishes and turns into a serious and thoughtful expression, as if he is worried about something. Noticing the sudden change, they all look at him intrigued)
Sam: No, she left a moment ago. But you can give me the information, I'm her husband. As soon as she gets here, I'll give her the message. (He covers the bottom of the phone and looks at Carla) Give me a pen and paper.
(Carla hands him her pen and a sheet from the notebook she uses to write down customer orders and Sam quickly jots something down)
Sam: Okay. Thank you very much. We'll be there. (Hangs up)
Carla: Are you okay, Sam? You're kind of pale.
Sam: Andy Andy is going on trial tomorrow afternoon. We all have to go to testify.
(Everyone is surprised to hear this. First of all, because they had already forgotten about that man and what he had done to Diane, but also because they thought that, after the police investigation, he had been found guilty on the spot and that he would be in jail by now)
Sam: Don't worry, the judge says it'll be short 'cause there is clear and objective evidence, but we still have to go 'cause it's protocol and 'cause Andy requested the trial.
Woody: (Concerned) You don't think he'll try to do anything to her, do you?
Sam: To be honest, I have no idea, but I'm kinda scared about this. Not just because of what this psycho might try to do, but because of how Diane might react. I feel bad having to give her news like this when we have just come back from our honeymoon. She looks so happy...
Norm: Does Andy Andy know about the wedding?
Sam: I don't think so. Why do you ask?
Norm: I'm afraid he could come after you.
Sam: (Worried) I hadn't thought of that. Should we ask for an escort?
Cliff: It wouldn't be a bad idea.
Carla: To be honest, I don't think he'll try anything. He would have to be very skilled to commit a crime in a wheelchair, with a broken arm and flanked by judges and police officers. And we're talking about a guy who tried to rob a bar with an unloaded gun and showed up with dynamite strapped to his body asking for his target. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.
(...)
Diane: (Entering) Clifford, I've got your brush.
Cliff: Thank you very much.
Carla: Diane, Andy Andy's trial tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.
(Hearing this, Diane screams and puts her hands to her mouth while dropping the bag with the toothbrush and toothpaste)
Carla: Well, she took it better than I expected (laughs).
Sam: (Leaves the bar and bends down to pick up the bag) I hope you didn't break it. (Opens the bag) Cliff, scrape it out of the bag. And use the tear in the tube as if it were the actual hole. If you try to pull it out through the regular hole, it's gonna come out of two different places and you don't have two or more mouths to clean.
(Hearing him say that, everyone looks at him funny)
Sam: What?
(...)
(Cliff and Diane are in Sam's office. Diane is leaning on the desk and Cliff is in front of her)
Cliff: All right, where do we start?
Diane: Good question... (Takes a deep breath and looks him up and down while thinking) Your socks. Tomorrow please go buy a couple of dark pairs. Your appearance itself is not bad, but you should wear a suit or casual clothes more often. Don't get me wrong, I know you take great pride in your profession, but it's not a good idea to talk about it too much. Take me as an example. Whenever I do, Carla gets nasty, and most people don't understand half of what I say. Besides, except for me and the staff, most people come here to forget about work.
Cliff: That will be hard for me, but I'll try.
Diane: It's not a good idea to overwhelm a woman with trivia either. You can comment on one or two facts that you find amusing or that have caught your attention, but for your sake and hers, leave out the unpleasant ones.
Cliff: All right. I'll be selective.
Diane: The next thing you need to improve is your values. If you want to have a partner, you can't be thinking about money, beauty or yourself. When you love a person, you have to accept them as they are. You can try small changes, but only if she agrees. And no being stingy or selfish.
Cliff: That will take a lot of effort and practice.
Diane: If it helps you, stop and think what would I do. That reminds me, unless your date sends you a clear sign, refrain from physical contact. That time in the car was not pleasant.
Cliff: That's 'cause you-
Diane: No, Clifford. It's true that I found it extremely uncomfortable because y-,
(makes a small pause) because I only see you as a friend, but any woman would have felt uncomfortable. It wasn't the time or the place, let alone the way.
Cliff: I know you said you didn't want to be a guinea pig, but couldn't we practice? I promise I won't make you feel uncomfortable. I just want us to practice some situations so you can correct my behavior.
Diane: Okay, but if you try to kiss me, your teeth will end up on the wall like a painting. Shall we go to your place?
Cliff: (Nervous and surprised) Now?
Diane: I want to see what your apartment looks like to see if there's anything that might turn women off.
Cliff: All right.
(When Carla sees them leaving the office, she looks at them with a smirk)
Carla: (Joking, to Diane) Cheating on your husband right after you come back from your honeymoon?
Norm: (Joking, to Cliff) Don't tell me you're going to your place now.
Diane: Yes, we're going to his place.
(Hearing this, everyone is surprised. Clearly Norm had said that as a joke)
Diane: And before you start with your usual drivel, I'll tell you that this is nothing strange. We're going because Clifford has asked me to help him redecorate it.
Sam: Ah, that's what all the secrecy was about! Why didn't you tell us?
Norm: Yeah, Cliff. I'm your best friend. I'm offended you spoke to Diane before you spoke to me.
Diane: That was because he asked me about other things, too. Norman, why don't you come with us? You could be a great help.
Norm: Woody, three cans for the road.
[Cheers. Monday. Morning]
(The bar is fairly empty. Most of the customers are college students and retirees. Since it is pretty early, nearly everyone is drinking coffee. Sam is, as usual, behind the bar and Carla is cleaning some tables when Diane enters carrying some books)
Carla: (Looks at Sam, surprised, angry and outraged) What is she doing here?! Shouldn't she be working?!
Diane: Rehearsals ended last month. I'm now self-employed as a writer. And currently my only source of income is this job.
Carla: I knew my luck couldn't last long.
(Diane rolls her eyes at her comment)
Sam: (To Diane) You took much longer than I expected. Did you have problems?
Diane: No. I was late because I was talking to the library director. If they greenlight my new project, I will do it in collaboration with them. Movies and TV series based on or inspired by books are a good way to promote reading. By the way, Sam, I know I should start working now, but do you mind if I have breakfast first? I woke up late and didn't have time. And all the way back my stomach wouldn't stop rumbling.
Sam: Sure, eat first. You wouldn't work well that hungry, and you'd make more mistakes than usual.
Diane: (Looks at him with a smirk) Thank you.
(Diane sits down in the place where she used to read in the 80's and takes out a sandwich, some dark chocolate, a smoothie, a little box with figs and another with cherries from her bag. Carla, upon seeing her breakfast, is surprised)
Carla: If you keep eating like that, you're gonna have to leave your books and work double shifts.
Diane: What's wrong with having a healthy appetite? You eat the same or more than I do. (Takes a sip of her smoothie)
Carla: Yeah, but I work twice as much. And at least I don't come to work with a mustache. (Laughs)
(Sam, hearing Carla's comment, looks at Diane, laughs, and puts a napkin over her mouth)
Sam: Carla, let Diane eat. She needs a lot of calories to recover from all the exercise we did last night.
(Diane smiles at the comment and looks at Carla only to see her disgusted face)
Carla: By the way, where is Woody?
Diane: He's at the park with Oakley and Kelly.
Sam: (Surprised) You ran into them?
Diane: Yes. Oakley came running over to greet me (laughs).
Sam: (Laughs) He's so sweet.
Diane: Yes. He got the intelligence from his maternal family and the personality and heart from his father. Genetics played its best cards with him. By the way, Woody told me they were going to the library to get some books and he was coming over later.
Sam: Perfect.
(...)
[Afternoon]
(Cliff and Diane come out of Sam's office to the sound of laughter and are surprised to see Sam, Woody, Norm and Carla laughing so hard they are almost out of breath. Norm was with his head against the bar and Sam and Woody were straining hard not to fall to the floor. Cliff and Diane exchanged glances, quite confused)
Cliff: What's so funny?
(Diane goes to the bar and pours herself a glass of water)
Diane: How can you laugh like that with an encyclopedia?
Sam: (Cracking up) L-Look at this...
(Diane, seeing the book, steps to the side, spits out all the water and starts laughing too)
Cliff: What's it? What's it? I wanna see it too.
(Sam shows him the encyclopedia, but, without realizing it, he is covering up the picture)
Cliff: What's so funny about that? It's just a marine animal. (Reads) Sea star Choriaster Granulatus.
Norm: Have you said Choriaster or Cockriaster?
(With Norm's comment, everyone laughs again and Sam's finger slips off, revealing the "peculiar" star. Upon seeing it, Cliff understands everything and starts laughing too)
Carla: Hey, wasn't the trial now?
(Realizing the time, everyone is startled)
Sam: Alan, stay in charge of the bar for a second! If new people come in and order something difficult, tell them to come back in an hour or go somewhere else!
(Nervously, everyone rushes out while untying their aprons)
(...)
[John Addams Courthouse]
(When they arrive at the courthouse, Andy is waiting outside the courtroom next to a policeman and is surprised to see them all running in)
Andy: Diane...
(Diane, hearing his voice, is startled, but Sam grabs her as if to try to calm her down)
Andy: (Surprised) You look... so different from last time I saw you... Your cheeks... they're full of color, almost red... And you look... very happy...
Norm: That's what happen when you have friends like us. (He puts a hand on Diane's shoulder in support and she looks at him and smiles)
Judge: Please, come in.
(...)
Judge: Today we are here to discuss the case of Mr. Andrew Schroeder, who is charged with the attempted murder of Diane Malone.
(Hearing Diane's last name, Andy freezes)
Andy: (Surprised, saddened and upset) "Malone"? You married Sam? When...? When did that happen?
Sam: About two weeks ago.
Andy: S-Sam is tall, handsome, funny, but... What does he give you that I don't?
Diane: (Raising an eyebrow) Two weeks at the beach instead of in the hospital and the certainty of starting my day alive?
(Norm and Carla smirk at the comment)
Judge: Calm down, everybody. We have to state the facts from the beginning. From the day you met.
Sam: (To Carla, quietly) They can't end up arresting me, right?
Carla: (Quietly) No. For that you need to have known he was a murderer beforehand.
(Sam, hearing her, remains calm)
(...)
Judge: All right, Mr. Schroeder. Now it's your turn to explain why you did what you did.
Andy: When Diane offered to help me fulfill my dream in '83, I... had the best week of my life. There was finally someone who treated me like a human being, who wasn't afraid of me and, most importantly, someone who believed in me. Diane was the only one who didn't laugh when I said I wanted to be an actor. Such a kind and sensitive soul is not something you come across every day. The more time we spent together, the happier I felt. Without realizing it, I had fallen in love with her. She's a beautiful woman now, but if you had seen her back then... She was so beautiful, so cheerful... She conveyed so much passion and joy, but at the same time peace and calm... Her bright smile, her beautiful eyes, her golden hair, her alabaster skin, her thin and slender body... Everything about her was perfect. She... was an angel fallen from heaven. I... had hoped that we would go further. I dreamed that we would do theater together, that we would have fun and laugh together every day. When I found out she was dating Sam, my whole world came crashing down. Deep down, I'm just another man who has succumbed to the beauty and charms of a woman. Now I ask you, Judge, is it a crime to love a woman?
Judge: To love her no, but to try to strangle her, to kill her in an explosion and to order her poisoning, yes. Mr. Schroeder, all of us here have gone through disappointments in love, but no one except you has tried to kill their ex or the person they like. It is clear that you have serious mental and behavioral problems, and I consider you're a dangerous person. (He bangs his gavel) The defendant is found guilty. The penalty will be four years in prison. At the end of this period, he will be sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he will probably remain for the rest of his life. End of the session.
(At the end of the trial, Sam and Diane exchange a glance, both very serious. Without saying anything, Diane stands up and goes to Andy)
Diane: Andrew... First of all, I want you to know that, almost ten years ago, I left Sam to focus on my career and since then I have cried many, many times; I have failed many more times than I would like to admit, and I thought I would never achieve my dreams, but when I came back to Boston a few months ago, all that changed. Just when my life started to get better, you almost took it away from me. It's true you didn't cause me physical pain, but you did cause me physical damage, and more importantly, mental and emotional damage. I don't wish on anyone the fear and uncertainty I felt those first days, nor that complete lack of energy. And the worst part is that what happened affected not only me, but my friends as well. Carla and Woody had to take double shifts and Sam and I had no income for two weeks. Secondly, I want to tell you that while I will never forgive you for what you tried to do to me and while I wish you never get out of the psychiatric hospital you will go to when you complete your prison sentence, I want you to reflect on what could have been. And I'm not talking about a romantic relationship, but about a friendship, about having been able to be one more of our group and to have been one of my closest friends as Woody is, for example. As you said, we could have enjoyed going to plays, acting or just having fun with all the crazy stuff going on in the bar. It's a shame psychopathy can't be cured with drugs.
Andy: If there's another life after this one... I hope I have just one voice in my head and find a girl like you, Diane. And I hope she'll reciprocate. Along with being on stage... it's my only dream.
(Diane looks him in the eyes for the last time, without saying a word, and leaves the room)
(...)
[Cheers. Late evening]
(The bar is considerably calm and quiet, as if not only for the staff and regulars, but for most of the people it were one of those summer nights that, because of its quietness, invites reflection. At the tables there are couples of all ages chatting quietly, some lonely souls have pulled out a book, and others, more sociable, enjoy games of chess or checkers in almost complete silence. At the bar, Cliff and Norm drink beer with Pete and Alan, Diane has been writing for a while now and Phil is less than three feet away enjoying a drink. Carla is serving customers in the pool room and Woody and Sam are behind the bar. While wiping some glasses, Sam looks at Diane, but she does not notice because she is focused on her work. After hanging the glasses in their place, Sam approaches her)
Sam: Are you all right? You've been quiet for a long time.
Diane: Yes, I was writing. And thinking. Mental health is much more important than most people think. And I'm not talking about problems like depression or anxiety, which can be solved with a qualified professional, going to therapy, often leaving part of the past or even the present behind in search of a healthier environment and occasionally using some drugs, but rather about disorders for which, at least to this day, there is no cure. Andy might have succeeded in theater and enjoyed cultural activities with Frasier, Woody and me. But his murderous impulses and actions have pushed him into a dark abyss. Reduced to being stuck in a chair and confined within four walls forever.
Sam: How can you have positive thoughts about someone who almost killed you?
Diane: They're not positive.
Sam: They are, compared to mine.
(Diane raises her head and looks him in the eye. She was so immersed in her own thoughts she had not stopped to think about how the others would feel. If it were not for Sam, she and Andy would never have met and none of that would have happened)
Diane: I'm sorry, I...
Sam: No, don't be. (Grabs her hand) The important thing is that this guy will never be a problem for us again and that you're here by my side, happy and healthy and wearing a ring on your finger (smiles).
(Diane, seeing that Sam has decided to focus on the present instead of being consumed by the guilt of the past, smiles and squeezes his hand)
Sam: How are you doing with the chapter?
Diane: I just finished the draft.
Sam: (Surprised) How fast! How does it end?
Diane: (Smiles at his reaction) With the Last Judgment, the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the flesh.
Sam: You're gonna have to explain what that means if you want me to understand.
Diane: (Laughs) The Last Judgment is marriage. After a long introspection, Samuel decides to take the plunge and marry his young love, Diana, which by the way means "Divine".
(Sam laughs at the comment)
Diane: The second coming of Jesus alludes to the person Samuel has become, and the resurrection of the flesh obviously talks about sex. Having heard on the news that there has been a gang rape after which the girl has died –reference to Levite's concubine; Judges 19-21– and how a woman has murdered her husband as betrayal because of disagreements between them –reference to the Book of Judith, from the Old Testament– Samuel reflects on how excess and depravity are what is wrong, how relationships should be based on love and respect, and how his "detox", his disappointments and spending so much time apart from the woman he never stopped loving, have led him to where he is now.
Sam: To where he's finally, after a long time, happy.
(Diane smiles when she hears this, looks at him and they kiss. Although it had been a rather hectic day, different from usual and full of emotions, Diane felt happy and at peace with herself, and she knew Sam felt the same way. For the past two days, she had been working on the chapter of her new series, and that writing work had allowed her to reflect on her own and Sam's life and how much they had changed. It was true that years ago Sam would also have been interested in a story in which the protagonist was based on him, he had been when she had taken him as a subject for a Psychology assignment, and that time it was an essay, but now it was different. In the past, Sam would have gone straight to the point and would have only been interested in the protagonist's sex life, but on this occasion he had been interested in how his wife was doing with this project she was so excited about, and not only had he not spoken scornfully about the literary references, but he had asked her to explain them to him. The relationship was definitely working now because they were doing things differently. They had both learned from their past mistakes and this time they knew they did not want to break up even if life did not make it easy for them)