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Thursday, March 1, 2012

"The Microwave"




INTERIOR, DRAPER KITCHEN

Betty is KNEELING, her head deep in the oven. Don walks in, sees her, and RUSHES over.

DON
Betty don’t do it! Think of the kids! For God’s sake pull yourself together!

Betty withdraws, LOOKS UP quizzically. She puts her cigarette to her lips.

BETTY
Don — the oven’s on the fritz. What am I going to do? We have that big dinner party on Sunday.

Don leans against the counter, relieved.

DON
Maybe it’s time to get a microwave, Betts.

BETTY
I’m not so sure. Francine got one and the first thing she tried to cook exploded.

Don WALKS over to the telephone.

DON
You’re not Francine. I’ll call the dealer.

Betty RISES, looks forlornly out of the window.

BETTY
But we’re having roast beef, a standing rib roast and a pineapple glazed ham.

DON
So?

CLOSE-UP to Betty’s face as she TURNS to face Don.

BETTY
It won’t all fit!

Don HOLDS the phone to his chest and CLOSES his eyes.

DON
You’ll make it work Betts.

Don LOOKS at his watch.

DON
Look — I have to go to the office. I have a lot of work to do. Don’t wait up.

CAMERA PANS OUT as Don WALKS into the living room, PATTING Bobby on the head. He stops by the coffee table, PICKS UP his drink and DRAINS it in one go. Betty STANDS in the kitchen with a blank look on her face as she PUFFS her cigarette.

Microwave Cookbook, JC Penney





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