all you can’t keep: a screenplay-in-progress by Angelita Biscotti

LOGLINE

A successful tattoo model refuses to remove a tattoo of her ex-lover's name on her chest despite his increasingly drastic efforts to persuade her otherwise. The story unfolds primarily through her conversations with her therapist. What is it like to wear someone's name and memory over your heart, and be forced to let that go?  

CAST

angela, 20s, alternative vibes, POC 

francis, 30s, alternative vibes, white

SETTING

therapist’s office, melbourne

~

ERIC 

what i don't understand is why you can't just get rid of it. you're no stranger to pain. you're tatted all over. you've got piercings in places i didn't even think you could put holes in. 

ANGELA 

the pain isn't the point. 

ERIC 

what's the point then.

ANGELA

i've got so many tatts. i've never got rid of any. no one would notice this little one. you can't even see it. 

ERIC 

i know it's there. you know it's there. francis knows it's there. 

ANGELA

only because i told you (sigh, roll eyes) why can't i just keep a tiny meaningless little thing no one can see? 

ERIC 

angela-

ANGELA

you know what, maybe i should just lie. i should tell him i've gotten rid of it. take a selfie and facetune the tattoo out. there, it's gone like you wanted. happy now? 

ERIC

angela-

ANGELA 

(curtly) what.

ERIC 

you could try lying, sure. why don't you try being honest for once.

ANGELA 

(indignant) excuse me 

ERIC

you said, a moment ago, 'it's gone like you wanted.' like francis wanted. you don't want it gone.

ANGELA

that's not what i said.

ERIC 

is that what you meant then.

ANGELA 

eric, i said what i meant.

ERIC

what did you mean then? 

ANGELA 

eric-

ERIC

angela. you've been coming in every week these past couple of months. you've spent 150 bucks each session, and we're making no progress with this tattoo removal decision. you're dancing around the edges of something you're not saying. i think you want to say it. 

ANGELA

classic old white guy assuming you could know what i want.

ERIC 

i don't know what you want! i was hoping you could tell me. and i'm not old.

ANGELA 

why does it matter so much to you to know what i'm thinking.

ERIC 

see maybe you're right and i'm just a sad old white guy, sure. i'm also just a guy trying to do a job, wanting you to not waste your money. you could have gotten rid of that tattoo two months ago with all the money you spent on me. now i don't mind that you've been choosing me this time. i'm also confused. 

i think you know what you want. with this tattoo. with francis. i don't know what that is. i think you do, and i think you've not told anybody, not even yourself, and that's the problem.

ANGELA

you talk too much for a therapist.

ERIC 

you're doing it again. deflecting. 

ANGELA 

you keep asking me what i want. what do you want from me.

ERIC

i want you to be honest with yourself. 

ANGELA 

are you calling me a liar? 

ERIC 

you're lying to yourself. but you don't have to. not here. 

ANGELA

i've never lied here. 

ERIC

(gently) you haven't told the whole truth either. look, you don't have to tell me whatever you're not saying, if you really don't want to. but you might find it helpful to say it out loud to somebody. to anybody. it doesn't even have to be me, but I hope there's someone in your life you can say this stuff to. If you like, when you're ready, I'd like to be someone you can say this stuff to. 

(long pause)

ANGELA 

i don't want to remove the tattoo. it's not about the pain. 

(Eric sits back) 

ANGELA

i can handle physical pain. but if i get rid of this tattoo, he's gone. gone from my skin forever. five years. why did i think we had so much time? 

ERIC 

five years is a long time to wear someone's name on your skin. it's understandable that would be hard.

ANGELA 

did you know he was the first? 

ERIC 

the first tattoo? 

ANGELA 

the first guy.

this screenplay (c) Angelita Biscotti 2022. no part of this may be reproduced, distributed, imitated or performed without prior written permission.

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