SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE

Written by Leigh Ittershagen

 FADE IN

OPENING

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

A vinyl record spins on the record player, filling the air with the smooth sounds of Etta James’s “A Sunday Kind of Love.”

Two half-drunk glasses of wine sit on the coffee table next to a bottle of red wine.

MELVIN (mid-50s) and PERRY (mid-50s) dance slowly in the center of the room, their bodies so close their heartbeats can be felt.

Melvin is a hardworking, salt-of-the-earth agricultural worker with dark salt and pepper hair with his soulful, deep-rooted brown eyes brimming with warmth, and carries a stocky build. He wears jeans, working boots, and a plaid shirt. Perry is a striking woman with long brunette hair, laced with natural strands of grey, loosely tied in a low ponytail. Her once vibrant green eyes, a defining feature of her beauty, are now overshadowed by an overwhelming sadness and grief, dimming their previous sparkle. She wears her pajamas; bottoms, tshirt, braless and barefoot.

As they dance, Melvin and Perry gaze into each other’s eyes, their faces filled with love and longing.

MELVIN

Melvin kisses the tip of Perry's nose—

Remember the day, oh, I don't know, a couple-three months after we had met, we went skinny dipping by moonlight in the creek close to that old farmhouse?

PERRY

As if it were yesterday.

MELVIN

Whose house was that anyway? We snuck into their barn that same night and made love, you remember?

PERRY

Perry presses her cheek up against his chest.

Oh yes, I remember.

MELVIN

I never told you that night, but that is when I first realized I had fallen in love with you. It was that very night.

FLASHBACK: INT. THE BARN - NIGHT, 1994

In the background, a soft glow of moonlight filters through the barn, casting a warm, rustic ambiance over Melvin and Perry after they’ve just made love.

MELVIN

Melvin kisses Perry.

(Whispers) I love you. I love you. I love you.

END OF FLASHBACK.

PERRY

I’m pretty sure you kissed me and told me repeatedly that very night.

Perry smirks as her ear rests on his chest.

 MELVIN

(Laughs) You're probably right. I was head over heels, but definitely not a fool in love.

PERRY

Perry remains close, her eyes soft.

 It was a beautiful evening.

MELVIN

We had so many more beautiful evenings just like that one.

PERRY

Yes.

ACT II

INT: LIVING ROOM - SCENE CONTINUES

Melvin and Perry continue to dance with their eyes closed, their heartbeats growing more robust in time with each passing second.

MELVIN

Melvin laughs hysterically as his eyes pipe open—

Or, or I'll never forget the time you put us on a diet, and I wasn't really on board, a-and then you came running in, remember this, (laughs) from the other room with the laptop in your arms stating that men can gain one inch of penis length for every 35 pounds they lose! Shit! You were too excited.

FLASHBACK: INT. KITCHEN - DAY, 2003

Perry excitedly enters the kitchen hovering her laptop, her emerald-green eyes sparkling with intrigue as she eagerly shows Melvin an article she discovered inside. Melvin’s eyes grow as wide as the room.

END OF FLASHBACK.

PERRY

(She smiles) You can't tell me that your eyes didn't light up a little bit, too?

She remains tight against his chest.

MELVIN

(Sighs) Okay, fine. I'm not gonna lie, I was intrigued. But I'm also a realist, and that’s gotta be some wishful thinking right there. (Chuckles)

Melvin's heartbeat begins to get stronger, Etta James's voice fades more and more into the background.

They continue to dance; Perry remains pressed against Melvin’s chest, her eyes closed. Melvin holds her close, his movements loving and longing.

MELVIN (CON’T)

His tone changes, his voice falters, choked with emotion.

I will never forget that you never left my bedside, Perry. I knew you were there. I could feel your hand holding mine and I heard every word you ever whispered to me during those long days.

Tears well up in both their eyes.

MELVIN (CON’T)

It was difficult to leave. I didn't wanna go, not without a proper goodbye.

Perry's face collapses as she gasps.

MELVIN (CON’T)

But you must know, I've never let go of your hand to this day.

FLASHBACK: INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - STARK, 2-WEEKS AGO

Perry squeezes Melvin’s hand as he lies unresponsive in the hospital bed. Her lips are moving as she speaks, but the sound of her words remains trapped in the past.

END OF FLASHBACK.

Perry squeezes Melvin's hand with a firm grip.

ACT III

INT: LIVING ROOM - SCENE CONTINUES

Melvin's pulse races, his grip tightens on Perry's hand, too.

MELVIN

The week before, you remember? You yelled, you were so angry with me –

FLASHBACK: INT. LIVINGROOM - DAY, 3-WEEKS AGO

Perry shouts something at Melvin, her face flushed with anger. Again, her words are swallowed in the past. Melvin stands remorseful.

END OF FLASHBACK.

PERRY

Perry quickly cuts him off, her hand desperately holds his face as determination sets in her eyes —

I didn't mean it, Melvin. I swear, I didn't.

MELVIN

I know you didn't. Ssshh. I was a pain in the ass sometimes. I just wanna say that I'm sorry.

PERRY

Perry slightly nods her head against Melvin's chest as her eyes tighten—

No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm so sorry, Melvin. If I could take it back, I would.

Perry’s hand clenches her fist at the back of his nape, as her other hand grips his tighter.

MELVIN

It's neither here nor there. It doesn't matter in the end, I want you to know that. My heart may have quit, but my love for you hasn’t, (pause) it never will.

Perry’s grip softens, and she remains pressed against him, a single tear traces a path down her cheek.

MELVIN (CON’T)

The life we shared together over the past thirty years were the best years of my life.

PERRY

Perry tightens her lips as they begin to quiver.

 Mine too.

 MELVIN

I will choose you again and again, over and over for lifetimes to come.

Tears silently stream down Perry's cheeks as she clings to Melvin as if she can get any closer. Her eyes shut against the world.

They quietly dance as the song nears its end. After a moment passes, Melvin whispers —

MELVIN (CON’T)

I heard this song, you know? I heard it when you played it in the hospital room.

FLASHBACK: INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - STARK, 2-WEEKS AGO

Perry flicks on her playlist from her phone, carefully selecting Etta James, and as the soulful melody continues to fill the air, a single tear rolls down her cheek, revealing the depth of her sadness and vulnerability as she glances at Melvin.

END OF FLASHBACK.

PERRY

(Whispers) It will always be our song.

MELVIN

(Whispers in return) Yes.

As the song ends, Melvin’s heartbeat is the only sound heard. We watch as they dance slowly and closely together, Perry remains pressed against Melvin with soft eyes. As this scene begins to fade, so does Melvin. He melts away slowly until all we see is Perry dancing alone in the living room with two glasses of wine on the coffee table, one full and the other is nearly empty. The heartbeat has stopped. Perry’s arms slowly fall limp; one around herself vulnerably as the other drapes over her face, her chin trembles and tears fall as she begins to fold, and only the vinyl record’s static end remains.

FADE OUT

 THE END

Feature Scripts

 I have two feature-length scripts ready to be optioned. I have transcribed them into novellas, available on Amazon — Beyond The Sun and of Niam & Josie. Check out my Publication page for details. Available for acquisition - contact LeighIttershagenpublications@gmail.com