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Push to Shove
a short script by Edward H. Bart IV
INT. TOPHER'S LIVING ROOM- NIGHT.
The living room has the standard
college student
furniture in it: couch, coffee
table, TV and TV stand.
Nearby is a small kitchenette.
A hallway leads off to
other rooms in the apartment.
The apartment door is near
the couch.
Two people are seated on the
blue couch, looking at each
other.
The blond young man, TOPHER,
is dressed in a t-shirt and
jeans.
The young woman, also blonde,
KATRINA, is dressed also in
a t-shirt and jeans.
KATRINA
I followed the directions. I peed on
the stick. A few minutes later, it
changed color.
TOPHER
Wow. Okay, we need to be sure.
KATRINA
I could get another one and do it
again.
TOPHER
No, that's not gonna help. You need to
see a doctor.
KATRINA
(apprehensively)
Oh, Topher... I don't think...
TOPHER
I know your fucking parents don't go
for that, but Katrina... this is
serious. Our lives could be changing
after tomorrow.
KATRINA
I know...
TOPHER
Uh, you could go to the student clinic
at school. They do free pregnancy
tests.
KATRINA
I'm not sure about that. They might
call home and my parents could find
out...
TOPHER
Not your parents again!
Katrina looks at Topher, frowning.
He holds his hands up.
TOPHER
Okay, I'm not gonna start another
argument.
KATRINA
Thanks.
TOPHER
How about Planned Parenthood? I'll find
one of their clinics in the phone book,
and you can go there.
KATRINA
Okay, I guess so.
She looks at her watch.
KATRINA
Well, it's getting late. I'd better get
home. I don't want my parents to worry.
Topher grimaces at the mention
of Katrina's parents. He
opens his mouth to say something,
but instead closes his
mouth, shaking his head.
KATRINA
So... I'll call you tomorrow.
Katrina stands up, picking up
her purse off the coffee
table. She walks out the apartment
door.
INT. KATRINA'S LIVING ROOM -
THE NEXT DAY.
Katrina is sitting on the couch
in her parents' living
room, holding a cordless phone.
A lamp is on a table next
to the couch. A coffee table
is in front of the couch.
Just beyond the couch is the
open doorway to the kitchen.
We can see MR. KRAUSE and MRS.
KRAUSE walking around in
the kitchen.
KATRINA
Hi?
INT. TOPHER'S APARTMENT LIVING
ROOM - DAY.
Topher is seated on his couch
with a phone book opened on
his lap, and his phone to his
ear with one hand.
He's holding a pen in his mouth
and looking at a sheet of
paper in his other hand.
TOPHER
Hi baby, it's me. I looked through the
phone book and found two Planned
Parenthood clinics in town. One's on
South Markham.
INT. KATRINA'S LIVING ROOM -
DAY.
Katrina looks back at her parents.
KATRINA
(very
softly)
Shh, my parents are around. South
Markham is too close to here. Where's
the other one?
TOPHER
(V.O.)
I thought you'd say that. The other
one's all the way on the other side of
town. 4110 Bergman Street. Close to
Parkhurst Mall.
KATRINA
Okay, I know how to get there. I'll go
later this afternoon when my parents
are out.
TOPHER
(V.O.)
Do you want me to go with you? Because
I will.
KATRINA
No, that's okay.
TOPHER
(V.O.)
You sure?
Mr. and Mrs. Krause start walking
out of the kitchen,
towards Katrina.
KATRINA
Yes. I gotta go, I love you. Bye.
She hangs up the phone, looking
up at her parents,
smiling.
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY.
Topher is sitting on the concrete
steps that lead up to
the apartment entrance. He's
chewing on his pinky
fingernail.
Another young man, JOSS, walks
up to the steps, then sits
down next to Topher.
JOSS
What's up? You look hungry.
Topher stops biting his fingernail
and sighs.
TOPHER
Condom broke a few nights ago.
JOSS
Aw, man. She piss on a stick yet?
TOPHER
Yeah. It says she's pregnant.
JOSS
Damn... really?
TOPHER
I told her that she needs to go and see
a doc and find out for sure.
JOSS
Yeah, probably a safe bet. You worried
she's really pregnant?
TOPHER
No, not really. I'm almost finished
with school so I could handle
supporting a kid. And my dad would be
the world's best grandpa.
Topher smiles at that thought.
JOSS
Worried about Katrina?
TOPHER
No... she'd be a good mom.
JOSS
What then?
Topher gives Joss a sidelong
glance, a "come on, what do
you think?" look.
JOSS
Oh...
Topher nods.
JOSS
Her parents.
TOPHER
Yeah. She's fucking 23 years old, and
she's never even seen an OB-GYN cuz her
parents don't believe unmarried women
need to see one.
JOSS
Serious?
TOPHER
Yeah!
JOSS
That's fucked up.
TOPHER
(exasperated)
I know! They're not even super-
religious or anything. Most of our
fights have something to do with her
relationship with her parents...
He sighs.
TOPHER
I dunno, Joss. I'm just sick and tired
of watching her bend over backwards to
appease her parents. I don't know if I
can keep this going with her.
JOSS
You love her?
TOPHER
I guess so... yes. Yes, I do.
JOSS
Well, I wish I had some really wise
advice help you out but...
TOPHER
That's okay.
(a
beat)
You know what?
JOSS
What?
Topher stands up from the steps.
TOPHER
She's gonna be at this clinic today.
I'm gonna go over there and be with
her.
JOSS
Good idea, man. Good luck with
everything!
TOPHER
Thanks, buddy.
Topher pulls his car keys out
of his jeans and walks down
the sidewalk.
EXT. STRIP MALL - DAY.
Topher drives up in his car,
stopping in front of several
parked cars. He looks out his
window to see the Planned
Parenthood sign over a glass
door.
He drives the car around, finding
a nearby parking spot.
Then he walks into the Planned
Parenthood clinic.
EXT. STRIP MALL - NIGHT.
Topher walks out of the nearly
empty clinic, frowning. He
looks around the darkened strip
mall, and shoves his
hands into his pockets, walking
to his car.
INT. TOPHER'S APARTMENT LIVING
ROOM - NEXT DAY
Topher sits on his couch, and
looks up to see Katrina
walk in.
She puts the door key into her
purse, and walks to the
couch.
KATRINA
I got your message to come over. What's
going on?
TOPHER
I went over to the clinic by the mall
yesterday. You didn't show up at all.
KATRINA
Well, I decided to just buy another
pregnancy test. I took it last night
and I'm not pregnant! Isn't that great?
Katrina forces a smile.
TOPHER
(flatly)
You didn't go to see the doctor.
KATRINA
It doesn't matter- I know I'm not
pregnant now.
TOPHER
It does matter! The first one said you
were, and the second one says you
aren't. Shooting for best two out of
three?
KATRINA
Well...
Topher waves her off, shaking
his head.
TOPHER
That's not even the real point. When
faced with the possibility you were
pregnant, you avoided seeing a doctor
because your parents wouldn't have
approved.
KATRINA
Topher, you KNOW that I...
TOPHER
Yes, I know. I KNOW!
Topher stands up from the couch
and turns away from
Katrina, walking towards a wall.
He turns back to look at her.
TOPHER
When push came to shove, you knuckled
under to your parents. I'm sorry. I
can't keep doing this. It's over.
KATRINA
You're breaking up with me?
Topher walks to the front door,
opening it for her.
KATRINA
They're my parents... I can't just-
TOPHER
Yes, you can! You just won't.
Tears start running down Katrina's
face.
KATRINA
But-
TOPHER
I love you. But if things keep going
like this, I'm going to hate you.
He closes his eyes and sighs
heavily.
TOPHER
Enough. Just go back home to your
parents.
He points out the door.
Katrina stares at him for a
beat, then rises from the
couch. Clutching her purse,
she walks to the door,
looking at her feet as she leaves.
Topher closes and locks the
door, then pounds it with his
fist several times.
He stops and covers his face
with his hands.
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