“LAGOON POOLSIDE”

By

Alexander Lee-Rekers

EXT. POOLSIDE - DAY

The rooftop pool at the Lagoon. Celebrities and models laze

about, taking drinks from wait-staff sweating through their
long-sleeved shirts in the hot sun. Sitting alone is aspiring
actress DORETTA DUNNE, 20s, who is trying her best to look
like she belongs. She sips nervously from a fruity cocktail.

VOICE (O.S.)
There you are!

Doretta spots YASMIN LAMARR, famed gossip columnist. Yasmin

makes her way to the table in a serpentine fashion, taking
the time to speak to anyone of note. She sits and smiles.

YAMIN
Doretta Dunne? Yasmin Lamarr.
Please forgive my leisurely
entrance.

DORETTA
How did you know it was me?

YASMIN
(a glance at her clothing)
An educated guess. What are you
drinking?

DORETTA
Lagoon Tropicana? It’s, uh, it’s
very nice-

YASMIN
Is it sweet? It looks it. I can’t
stand a sweet drink. How are you?
(Pause.) Are you all right?

DORETTA
I’m fine.

YASMIN
You don’t look it.

DORETTA
I-
 2.

YASMIN
I don’t mean it like that, darling.
I mean you look kept. Ruffled.

Yasmin waves and mouths “Hello!” to somebody across the pool.

DORETTA
People have been very nice.

YASMIN
They have?

DORETTA
Mr. Donaldson’s people. His
assistant Gertrude, his lawyers-

YASMIN
I’ve know Gertrude longer than I’d
care to admit. She’s a good egg.
And I can’t speak personally for
Barry’s lawyers but I can assume
... I mean, he always surrounds
himself with the best.

DORETTA
(quickly)
Except for Trip.

An awkward pause. Yasmin gives a toothless smile and nods,

conceding the point with minimal commitment.

YASMIN
Except for Trip... Doretta? Would
it shock you to learn that Mr.
Donaldson is simply mortified by
what happened? He is positively ill
with worry. And not for himself,
but for you.

DORETTA
I called my mother back home. She
said I should talk to a lawyer. My
own lawyer, not one of Mr.
Donaldson’s.

YASMIN
Well, at least let him recommend
somebody. Or me: I’d be happy to!

DORETTA
I’ve found someone.

YASMIN
Good.
 3.

DORETTA
And I won’t be intimidated.

YASMIN
Darling: who is intimdating you?

DORETTA
You know Mr. Donaldson, you know
Gertrude, you know this town. And
I’m sure you know Trip.

YASMIN
I certainly do.

DORETTA
Did he send you here?

Beat.

YASMIN
There is a way to make all this
disappear. There’s security,
there’s ... discretion. But most of
all, there’s a future. For you.
Here.

DORETTA glances around her at the poolside.

YASMIN (CONT'D)
You have a choice to make. And far
more power in its making than you
might think.

DORETTA
What if I say no?

YASMIN
You’d be foolish, darling. But I’d
understand, I suppose.

A long pause. Yasmin sizes Doretta up.

YASMIN (CONT'D)
If it is a “no”, at least let me
help you. I want to help you tell
your story. Your version of events.

DORETTA
My version of events?

YASMIN
Something happened that day in the
office. Something young Trip has
done to upset you terribly.
 4.

DORETTA
My lawyer said not to-

YASMIN
Yes, yes. Lawyers will say these
things. They tend not to like
things getting messy. But young men
like Trip leave mess. And when they
do, the first thing they do is
talk. To whomever will listen.
Becasue the first story out there,
well, it’s often the one that
sticks like tar.

Doretta nods, sips her drink.

DORETTA
Why does Mr. Donaldson keep him
around in the office? Can’t he work
elsewhere?

YASMIN
You cannot choose your family.
Least of all your children.

DORETTA
Can I trust you?

YASMIN
No. No, that’s your weakness,
Doretta. Your weakness and your
virtue in a single, neat package.

From her clutch, Yasmin pulls a small notepad and pen.

DORETTA
Does Mr. Donaldson trust you?

YASMIN
It’s his weakness too, I suppose.
Shall we begin?