The Couple

FADE IN.

INT. CAR-NIGHT

A HUSBAND and WIFE sit in a running car outside of a white house. Snow falls gently outside. The wife in her early thirties, warms her hands with her mouth and pushes down her winter hat over her ears.

WIFE

            You going to turn the car off?

The husband turns off the car. He fidgets with his gloved hands and scratches his scruffy beard.

WIFE

            You ever shot a gun before?

He shakes his head. She glances into the backseat. A six shot revolver rest on the seat.

HUSBAND

            I don't want to look at it.

WIFE

            You want me to cock it for you?

HUSBAND

            Sure.

She reaches back, grabs the gun, and sitting straight in her seat pulls back the hammer. She hands it to him.

HUSBAND

            Bob put the bullets in there before we left, right?

She nods. The husband looks out the windshield at the white house.

HUSBAND

            And we're sure he's home?

WIFE

            Quit stalling and go kill the guy.

The husband turns to her.

HUSBAND

            You could try and be more supportive.

            I supported you the last time.

WIFE

            Support? You consider crying in the back seat support?

HUSBAND

            I drove, remember? I'm the driver, that's what I do.

She lifts her arm and reveals a white cast.

HUSBAND

            I know.

She pats his arm with her good hand.

WIFE

            You're going to do fine.

            Remember what I told you.

EXT. HOUSE-DAY

The husband sneaks up the stairs onto the front porch. He clutches the revolver with both hands.

WIFE(V.O.)

            Stay low.

            The smaller you make yourself the harder

            a target you are to hit.

HUSBAND(V.O.)

            That's disconcerting.

The husband approaches the front door.

WIFE(V.O.)

            Look before you touch.

The husband reaches for the door knob, but stops.

WIFE(V.O.)

            Are there any lights on inside?

            Where are you planning on entering?

            These are the sorts of questions 

            you need to be asking yourself.

INT. CAR-NIGHT

The wife stares at her husband.

WIFE

            Because that second you're not paying attention 

            could be your last and I don't want that.

HUSBAND

            Cause you love me?

WIFE

            That and I want a baby.

EXT. HOUSE-NIGHT

The husband leaves the door and goes around the porch. He stops at a window with no lights on inside. He tries to open the window with his bare hands.

WIFE(V.O.)

            Use the knife along the space between the top window 

            and the bottom. Work the latch.

The husband pulls out a butter knife and slides it between the windows. The latch opens easily.

WIFE(V.O.)

            This may take awhile.

Relieved, the husband opens the window. He casually enters the window.

WIFE(V.O.)

            As soon are you have access, stop and listen.

With his front half through the window and his other half out, the man stops to listen.

WIFE(V.O.)

            After a count to five, go in.

He counts with his hand to five and goes all the way in to the house.

INT. CAR-NIGHT

The wife looks at the house through the windshield.

WIFE

            And one more thing, this is the most important.

The husband's eyes are wide.

HUSBAND

            More important than staying low?

She nods.

INT. HOUSE-HALLWAY-NIGHT

Huddled over, the husband scurries down a hallway.

HUSBAND(V.O.)

            What is it then?

The husband turns the corner into the living room. A MAN in his bathrobe stands behind a couch. He raises a shotgun at the husband.

Nervous, the man FIRES a double barreled blast too high above the husband's head.

The husband raises his gun, aims as best he can, and closes his eyes.

INT. CAR-NIGHT

The wife touches his face.

WIFE

             Don't close your eyes when you shoot.

INT. LIVING ROOM-NIGHT

The husband remembers, opens his eyes, and fires his gun.

FADE OUT.

THE END.