Taboo

THE CAMERA PANS DOWN A BUSY STREET CAPTURING HAPPY PEOPLE SITTING WITH FRIENDS AT OUTDOOR CAFES, LAUGHING IN FRONT OF BOUTIQUES AND BOOK STORES...

                                                              VOICE OVER- BESS

I feel like a visitor in a foreign land most of the time. I pass by so many people who seem to be so happy, and I envy that they can relax and truly enjoy life, while I constantly get caught up in my own head, over-analyzing EVERYTHING.

THE CAMERA PANS THROUGH A BUSY PARK SHOWING EVERYONE, CHILDREN, PUPPIES, ALL HANGING OUT HAVING A BRILLIANT TIME- PLAYING VOLLEYBALL, LAYING ON BLANKETS, GRILLING, LAUGHING, AND SMILING ALMOST AS IF IN A STAGED PLAY FOR BESS.

                                                                VOICE OVER- BESS

 Lately I find it hard to really connect with people…no one seems to talk about anything of substance anymore, and if they do, it is to sell you on their Multi Level Marketing Company, or convince you that their dogma doesn’t stink, . . . and lets face it, all dogma stinks. 

I know that I just flew 2 hours to get here, but now it does not seem to be that great of an idea. I know everyone loves the holidays, and that you are supposed to look forward to spending with your family, but how many of you have actually MET my family?

WE HEAR A TEXT MESSAGE COMING IN AND SEE BESS’ PHONE REVEAL A MESSAGE FROM CALI

                                                                         CALI

Try to have fun today, honey…

Do it anyway…

VOICE OVER - BESS

At least this time I think I know who the mole is in my family.

BESS EXITS HER CAR AND WALKS TO THE PICNIC TABLE TO SIT WITH ELLA.

ELLA

Hi honey, HOW ARE YOU?

THE CAMERA PANS AROUND TO REVEAL BESS.

BESS

Doing well, HOW ARE YOU?

ELLA SHOOTS HER A LOOK RECOGNIZING THE SARCASM.

ELLA

Oh fine, honey, boring and uninteresting, but fine just the same….

(PAUSE)

You know you are slowly driving everyone here crazy, right?

BESS

Why is that?

ELLA

You don’t tell us ANYTHING about your life and you walk around playing the martyr all the time.

BESS

What do you want to know?

ELLA

Anything. How about - How is LA, work, your love life…or how things are with June.

BESS

I try to share details, it just seems that no one listens. Their eyes glaze over with disinterest, jealousy or trepidation to even discuss such things.

ELLA

You mean to discuss your other family?

BESS

I guess. It is all connected for me, so it is hard to separate things.

ELLA
We are your family, Bess, we will always be here for you, I know that it cannot be easy.

BESS

I know that you are, Ella, but the others treat me like a traitor.

ELLA

What do you mean by that?

BESS

Did Aunt Rachel tell you about the letter that she sent?

ELLA

No, what letter?

BESS

Oh, it was a fabulously worded letter dripping with wonderful sentiments… most of which were that I am a traitor and how dare I want to have a relationship with my birth family. How it is killing my mother, and how no one in the family understands why I need to bother myself with getting to know THAT FAMILY.