Art class
Nick was walking around the room, surveying everyone's work.
Nick
Nice Job. ( To Henry Adams) Yes, I can see you're quite creative.
Henry
Thanks.
A student walks up to him.
Nicodemus
You are a great painter, no?
Henry
I like to think so.
Nicodemus
I think you are too. How you say? (groping for word) fantastico!
Henry
Thank you very much.
Nicodemus
Sono un artista di molto tempo.
Henry
I'm sorry.
Nick walks up.
Nick
Excuse me, Nicodemus is from Italy. He's trying to say, he's a long time artist.
Henry
Oh you've been an artist a long time.
Nicodemus
Si si I mean, yes.
Henry went over to look at his art work.
Nicodemus
Fantastico, no?
Henry
Yes, Fantastic!
The class ends.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------
Henry Adams' house
Bettina is sitting on the sofa, she is drunk.
Bettina
I see the great artist is home.
Henry
A lot of them like my work.
Bettina
Yeah, yeah you're a regular Rembrandt.
Henry
Shut up You! I can Paint!
Bettina
How bout getting a job Da Vinci?
She laughs, as he rushes up to his studio. Her laughter follows him all the way. He closes the door.
------------ --------- --------- -
In his studio, There are beautiful paintings, around.
Henry
I am an artist! I know Beauty!
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - ------------ -------
Three weeks later he's leaving, for his art class.
Bettina
Ah there he goes, the great artist, off to paint his latest masterpiece. Too bad you can't sell any of them, to pay for this dump!
Henry
Leave me alone!
He goes out the door, as the door closes, she throws the empty whisky bottle.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - ------------ --------- ------
Later when he comes home, his wife is sitting there.
Bettina
You know, I've decided, I might be too hard on you. Why don't you paint me?
Henry
Paint you?
Bettina
Yeah, let me see what you can do.
He leads her up to his studio, she looks around, she is secretly impressed.
Henry starts painting, after he sits her down.
At first it starts to look quite good he continues, even though the image is changing.
Henry
Let's finish this later.
Bettina
Let me see!
Henry
It's not right.
She rushes in front of him, her eyes widen in horror
Instead of her smiling face, she sees a grotesque portrait.
Bettina
A monster, You've painted me as a monster!!
Henry
I don't know, how it happened! I swear!
Bettina
Is that how you see me Henry? Answer Me!
Henry
I - I-
(He looks back at the painting. She turns to leave.)
Bettina, wait let me start over. Please! She turns to face him as she opens the door she starts to go down the stairs.
Bettina
No! I won't! You can forget it! If I could paint, You'd be the biggest pig, that walked the earth!! (She misses a step, and falls, screaming.) Henry rushes down the stairs, where he finds her laying, her neck at an odd angle.
He calls the operator.
Henry
Operator, there's been an accident. It's my wife, Bettina, I think she's dead.
My name? Henry Adams, 412 Bisbee lane.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - ------------ ---
(After the funeral), Henry returns home. He doesn't go into his studio for several days.
One day, he goes in, he's drunk. He looks at the portarait of his wife. Which is what it is.
Henry
No Monster, just Bettina smiling as she had been that night. Henry looks at it oddly.
He hears her laughing. And realizes it's coming from the painting. At first his voice is raspy.)
Henry
Stop- Stop it! ( Her laughter becomes louder. ) Stop laughing at me!!!!
Bettina's voice
What's the matter? Is the great artist stuck? Is he all dried up?
Her laughter continues, He can't take it any more. He picks up the painting and opens the French doors, leading to his balcony.
Henry
Your ridicule and jeering will haunt me no longer!!
He throws the painting over the balcony, with too much force, he goes over the balcony with it.
Fade out: end of First story.
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