Don't Throw It All Away
by
Cathy
(Cathy84@web.de)
Fran’s waking up in the morning – alone. Since a few month Max’s very busy and has no time for his wife, Gracie, Brighton or even the twins...
Fran: Morning, Niles. Have you seen Mr. Sheffield? He isn’t anywhere in the house and he also haven’t left a message for me.
Niles: Morning, I’m sorry to tell you but I’ve got no idea where he could be.
Fran: Okay... and Niles?
Niles: Yes?
Fran: You don’t have to prepare some breakfast for me. I’m not good... See you later! I’ve got some things to do.
Niles: Mrs. Sheffield? Is everything right with you and your husband? To be honest, you didn’t seemed to be very happy the past month...
Fran: I don’t know. I just know that something changed in our life. I mean, all the passion seems to be gone since Max produces his latest movie... He’s hardly at home and when, we’re only arguing about stupid things... Since the birth of the twins we hardly spent a lonely romantic evening together...
Niles: Oh, I guess it’ll turn right again. Why don’t you talk to him about your feelings and tell him that you want everything to be like in former times?
Fran: Oh, Niles, you’re a genius. Thanks... I think, now, I wanna a little breakfast. So, would you...
Niles: Sure, sure... (they hug each other)
While Max is at work, Fran thinks about Niles’ words and plans to tell Maxwell what’s bothering her, right when he’s coming home in the evening....
Max: Hello, Fran.....
Fran: Hi.... Max, we have to talk...
Max: Why? Is something wrong?
Fran: Yes, it is...
Max: Is something wrong with one of the children or any other member of the family?
Fran: I’m talking about us...
Max: Us?
Fran: Yeah, us. I mean, what happened? Where’s the romantic, where’s the love? We seem to be married for twenty years. A little kiss here, one there... nothing more...
Max: You know that I love you!
Fran: Being honest, sometimes, I really don’t know that. You have been so busy lately and not spent some time with your family. Whether with me nor the children.
Max: You know, I can’t believe what I hear. You’re reproaching me with having no time for my family, but you by yourself are not better.
Fran: What do you mean?
Max: Who spends twice a week a hole day at the beauty parlor or goes shopping nearly every free moment?
Fran: I wanna look good for my husband. Anyway, who’s joining the golf club every week or going on boring business diners?
Max: You know that I love you the way you are... no matter what you look like.... When we’re already playing this game: Where’s my lovely spontaneous wife I appreciated so very much?
Fran: What do ya mean?
Max: Remember when we were newlywed? In every single moment you told me I should get more spontaneous and I can say, I really became. But now, it’s the other way. You’re not spontaneous anymore since the twins were born. I can’t take you out because you’re too afraid of letting them alone. But you’re forgetting that we have two other kids who are old enough for caring for their baby sister and baby brother...
Fran: That was the only evening you wanted to take me out.
Max: What do you mean? Do you mean I never want to go out?
Fran: No, I just wanna say, you never have the time to take me out. Business, business, business. I’m really thinking it means more for ya than your family!
Max: Oh, really? And what do you think, how we have enough money for giving the kids a good education, or enough for having all the luxury that not everybody has???? (wants to go to his office)
Fran: Where do you wanna go?
Max: I still have some business to do....
Fran: Y’know, I ever thought the family is more worth to you...
Max: Don’t try the guilt, again. It doesn’t work!
Fran: Well, I think, we should go separate ways until you know what means more to you, your family or your damn business!
Max: Well, if you think so... Fine, I’m sleepin’ on the couch, tonight.
Fran: Fine!!! Tomorrow, I’ll go to Ma’s!
Max: Fine! (storms out of the room into his office and slams the door)
Fran, standing with tears coming into her eyes in the living room, realizes that she’s maybe gone too far. But she also realizes that it’d maybe be good for a while..... Maxwell, sitting at his desk, can’t concentrate himself on his work anymore and starts also thinking if he is gone too far.
In the night, the both of them are lying awake, Fran in the bedroom and Maxwell on the couch... They never spent a night without each other for months.
Suddenly, Max hears the front door slamming...... He switches on the light and can’t believe what he’s seeing.....
Max: Margaret, what are you doing here at this time?
Maggie: I think, my marriage is falling apart. I think, it’s over!!
Max: What happened? Want to talk about it?
Maggie: Well, I came to talk to Fran but I think I also could tell you. Maybe you can help me, you’re a man....
Max: Let’s go into the kitchen and look for some milk and cookies.
Maggie: Like in former times? (smiles into his face)
Max: So, what happened?
Maggie: Well, for three month, now, Michael’s modeling for Todd Oldham, right? So, during this time he’s hardly at home, doesn’t take me out anymore and we ...., well it’s a bit embarrassing to talk with you about it.
Max: What? Sweetheart, you know, you can tell me everything...
Maggie: Well, we haven’t made love since he started the job and I now believe that he’s dating someone else.
Max: Maggie, you know, this isn’t true.
Maggie: That’s exactly the point - I don’t know it. He’s never calling me nicely or bringing me flowers anymore. He was such a romantic.
Max: Darling, believe me, everything will be all right. Just talk with him and tell him that you’re feeling neglected.
Maggie: Well, I’ll try but can I spend the night or better said, the rest of it here?
Max: Sure, sure. We changed your room into the twins’, so why don’t you sleep in Fran’s old one?
Maggie: Apropos, why are you sleepin’ on the couch? Is everything okay?
Max: That’s another story you really shouldn’t worry about. I think, Fran and I need a little time out to get what we really want... We’re just arguing about stupid things and well, she wanna go to her mother’s tomorrow for a while.
Maggie: My god. You aren’t getting a divorce, are you?
Max: I don’t know. Don’t worry about this. Go sleep and tomorrow you’ll see the world in another point of view...
Maggie: Thanks, daddy. I love you.
Max: Night, sweetheart.
Maggie: Night.
After Maggie left the kitchen, Max realizes that his daughter has the same troubles in her marriage to Michael like he has with Fran. He never thought about divorcing from Fran and when Maggie mentioned this he felt a huge pain in his heart that aches so much he can’t sleep anymore....
In the morning, Fran’s coming downstairs and meeting Maggie in the kitchen preparing some breakfast...
Maggie: Morning.
Fran: Morning. Honey, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Michael. Is everything okay?
Maggie: Michael and I had a bad fight. I talked to daddy about this whole damn thing and he gave me the advice talking to Michael but I don’t wanna, yet.
Fran: So, what happened?
Maggie: Summarized, you can say: We’re a couple that seems to be married for fifty years. There’s no passion, no excitement anymore...
Fran: Oy, that’s hard. Shall I talk to Michael?
Maggie: Maybe... But don’t tell him I’ve sent you...
Max: Morning Maggie. Fran.
Fran: Max. (looking straight into his eyes - nearly crying) [to Maggie] I’m with the twins at Ma’s if you need me... (leaves)
After having loaded the twins at Sylvia’s, Fran went to Michael to talk to him. Afterwards he called Maggie to talk with her and they agreed with having made mistakes and decided to give it another chance....
Now, she’s taking a long walk at the beach thinking about her future with or without Max.
Meanwhile, Max is sitting in his office, writing a script for a movie, thinking about his marriage to Fran. Now, he realizes how Fran is maybe feeling because Maggie is in the same situation like her. He can understand that she maybe feels neglected by him and decides to fight for their marriage.
On the other side of Beverly Hills, at the beach, Fran’s now sitting in the sand, feeling the setting sun on her face that dries her tears.... After talking to Michael she also can understand how Maxwell feels.
The both of them, Max and Fran, are to proud to admit that they’ve done something wrong, so it’s very difficult to apologize.
Meanwhile, Michael called Max to tell him that everything is all right, again and tells him that Fran was going to take a walk on the beach.....
At the beach, a young man with a dog walking near the water, lays his eyes on Fran who’s still crying....
The dog runs over to Fran....
Jim: [to the dog] Jack! Come here, boy! Jack! (also goes to Fran)
Fran: Nice dog. [to the dog] Are you gorgeous.
Jim: (looks into her face and recognizes that she has been crying) Ma’am, is everything okay? Have you been crying?
Fran: Oh, .. sorry?
Jim: Do you want to talk about it?
Fran: Wha’ ?
Jim: I’m sorry. I know we haven’t met before but I’m a good listener...
Fran: I see. And why are you interested in my problems although we’ve never met?
Jim: Well, I thought, a pretty woman like you, sitting alone and crying at the beach, maybe needs some company. Do you want some company?
Fran: Well, why not.
Jim: Oh, my name’s Jim Elliot and this is Jack (pointing to the dog)
Fran: I’m Fran Sheffield.
Jim: So, why have you been crying?
Fran: I don’t wanna bother you with that.
Jim: C’mon. Talking about that helps more than you maybe can imagine.
Fran: Well, all right. You know, I’m afraid my marriage is falling apart. I mean, I don’t know what to do. I won’t give up the man I love about everything but I can’t go on the way our relationship turned. I’m so sick of this whole damn thing. I already do think of getting a divorce and I believe either does he.
Jim: What’s the problem?
Fran: You know, my husband works as a movie producer and produces a new one. But since he started, three month ago, something changed. I mean,...
Jim: Wait, you’re the wife of Maxwell Sheffield, the movie producer?
Fran: Yeah.
Jim: I’m such a big fan of him... Oh, sorry. I didn’t wanted to interrupt you.
Fran: Well, you know he was so romantic before. One and a half year ago I gave birth to twins and he became so parental and lovely. But now, it seems to be gone. I’m so afraid he maybe has another gal.
Jim: That can’t be true. Maybe he just has to work hard to get a new hit. It’s no easy business.
Fran: Ya think?
Jim: I can guarantee you, Fran, after the opening night all will be okay again. Don’t give up. Try to understand him. Maybe he’ll recognize how you feel and will also apologize. Don’t throw it all away. Don’t be too proud and don’t wait too long for apologizing. You’ll regret.
Fran: Boy, you’re talking like you have had experienced something like that.
Jim: That was the same thing I had in my former marriage to my wife Andrea. I have an own factory and invested a lot of time in it without recognizing that my marriage was falling apart. So, my wife got a new husband and I bought the dog not to be completely alone...
Fran: Well, Jim, you helped me so very much, so just lemme say this: You’ll find some nice woman again. But you have to know where you have to stop factoring and where to start living. Life is too short for working the whole time...
Jim: Thanks.
Fran: Oy, I gotta go. The twins need to be brought into bed and my mother wanted to leave with my father. They’re still so romantic although they’re married for 45 years... I’m sorry to leave now. Maybe I’ll see you at the opening night, again?
Jim: I’ll be there. I’m Mr. Sheffield’s biggest fan. Bye!
Fran: Thanks for listening and advising. Bye. (they give each other a hug)
Fran leaves the beach for going to Sylvia’s without recognizing Maxwell standing some feet away who had seen everything and thinks Jim and Fran are having an affair...
Sylvia and Morty are out and the twins in the bedroom so Fran is able to watch a bit TV... The door bell rings....
Fran: Maxwell. What are ya doing here?
Max: I wanted to see Jonah and Eve and I wanted to talk to you. May I come in?
Fran: Sure. They’re in the bedroom. They fell asleep half an hour ago.
Max: (after looking after the twins he sits next to Fran on the couch) Fran,...
Fran: Max, I have to tell you something... I don’t want to get a divorce! I mean, (starts crying) I...I’d like to give our marriage another chance. I understand why you’re working so hard. We couldn’t afford everything we have without the hard work you do in your business...
Max: You don’t want to get a divorce?
Fran: No, why?
Max: Wouldn’t it make it easier seeing your boyfriend?
Fran: My WHAT????
Max: Don’t act as if you don’t know a shit.
Fran: Are you insane?
Max: I mean the guy at the beach, this evening. You hugged each other. Remember?
Fran: You’ve been at the beach?
Max: Michael told me where you are. I wanted to talk to you and then I saw you hugging that guy.
Fran: Max, I guarantee you, I’m not having a affair. You know, you’re the only one I love, don’t ya?
Max: So, why did you hugged him?
Fran: Because he listened to me and gave me some advice. I also wanted to talk to you but didn’t know how because I didn’t understand. But afterwards I did. That’s why I hugged him. P.S.: He’s you’re biggest fan. Really!
Max: So, you’re not having an affair?
Fran: No, Max and neither are you?
Max: No, Fran. I know I’ve neglected you and the kids so very much the past three month but this movie was so very important. But now, I see you’re the most important.
Fran: (starts crying again) So, you also don’t wanna get a divorce?
Max: No, never! I love you so much.
Fran: I love you more.
Max: Come here! (she lays her head on his shoulders and can’t stop crying)
Fran: I missed you so much. I can’t believe I was about going to lose you.
Max: Let’s take the twins and go home, together. Okay?
Fran: Okay... (gives him a long passionate kiss)
Max: So, now, stop crying. You’re so much prettier when you’re laughing.
Fran: (starts smiling but still with tears in her eyes) I love you.
A week later:
It’s the opening night of Maxwell’s newest movie. After the movie was showed to the audience, Maxwell is holding a little speech...
Max: Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to say some words... The past three month were very busy. Making that movie showed me the most important things in life that we all should be lucky about to have. Those things are remembered in this film for helping people who haven’t recognized the problems yet. Now, I’m going to thank some people who helped producing the movie: First of all I want to thank my lovely wife (smiles at her), the actors, the directors, the cameramen and last but not least one guy I have to thank something very special. I think, only a few persons know what I mean. I found out that he’s my biggest fan... I never met him personally but my wife told me he’s a wonderful guy, thank you, Jim.
With that the night ended at the theater. At the after-party Fran introduced Max to Jim and Max invited him for a day on the set of his next production....
The End
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