Laura Riding - the muse

 

INT. 35A ST. PETER’S SQUARE(LIVING ROOM)-MORNING-FLASHBACK


As Robert, Geoffrey, and Nancy continue to argue, Laura gets up and looks at her two men.  The sounds of their conversation lessens as Laura voices over a CLOSE-UP of Geoffrey: 


LAURA (V.O.)

On one hand, the case of Geoffrey Phibbs who typified the extreme: a devilish handsome man whose physicality brought me much fulfillment.


CAMERA PANS to a CLOSE-UP of Robert.


LAURA (V.O.)

On the other hand, Robert Graves typified in the extreme, the mounted up cowardice of human beings before what they were and what they knew they ought to live by.


Laura walks away from them and enters...


35A. ST PETER’S SQUARE BATHROOM)-DAWN

...the bathroom and closes the door.  She stares with vacant eyes at her reflection through the mirror.


LAURA (V.O.)

I feel no conclusiveness as to myself that my being and doing was over. I felt myself trapped in an impasse. I saw no where else for me to go except to myself.


Laura opens the bathroom door and walks past the quarreling threesome and sits on the living room window ledge. She looks down at the courtyard below. 


LAURA (V.O.)

After this rush of perception came a fast decision. And I was very calm.


Laura gets to the edge of the window and stops.


ROBERT (O.S.)

Laura, please make them understand! They’ll listen to you! You can make them stay! Please say something!


Laura looks at them with unhurried and regal comportment.


LAURA

Goodbye chaps.


Laura leans back and falls out the window.  The others scream.  They hear the slap of her body as it hits the pavement.