Read Online An Almost Perfect Thing by Nicole Moeller - Free Book Online Page A

public)
"Slut."
    I read every letter over and over till they're memorized. I press my ear to my dad's door. Listen for his breathing. In my mind, I say, "Dad, I'm sorry… Dad, I'm scared."
    MATHEW
    I'm terrified. That she'll leave me. She's been demanding so much lately. To go to the doctor, insists she needs to go to the dentist. Even talks about going to school.
    CHLOE
    Dad, will you help me?
    GREG
    She's pushed me into a corner.
    MATHEW
    I need to think of something else. If freedom is what she wants—
    GREG
    If a friend is what she needs—
    MATHEW
    Then that's what she should get.
    CHLOE
    I have to get out.
    GREG
    While I plan my next move… I search.
    CHLOE
    Walk.
    MATHEW
    Drive.
    GREG
    Hunt. For him.
    MATHEW
    For a house. In the country. Where we can live together. Far from everyone else. Where she can be free.
    GREG
    She said labour. Creative. I guess carpentry. I go to every shop I can find. Maybe—
    CHLOE
    I'll bump into him.
    GREG
    Be able to tell who it is.
    CHLOE
    I'll say I'm sorry.
    GREG
    Look into his eyes and know.
    CHLOE
    He'll say "I forgive you."
    GREG
    I'll have him.
    CHLOE
    People on the street stare at me. I walk faster.
    GREG
    I stop for lunch on my way home.
    CHLOE
    Turning down street after street.
    MATHEW
    Road after road… searching for our future house. Our new life.
    CHLOE
    I start running. Running from—
    GREG
    I check the magazine's website again.
    MATHEW
    It'll be an old house. Far away. I'll fix it up. Build new furniture. Paint the walls.
    GREG
    There it is. My face on the front page. The Man Behind the Girl.
    CHLOE
    I have to see Greg.
    MATHEW
    I'll make it perfect.
    CHLOE
    Get on the bus.
    GREG
    Click on it.
    MATHEW
    Absolutely perfect.
    GREG
    Read it as fast as I can.
    CHLOE
    Sit near the back. Hope no one will talk to me.
    MATHEW
    We'll live there for the rest of our lives. I'll go to work every day. She'll stay home. Clean the house. Cook. Take care of me. Have my kids. We'll be happy. I won't have to lock her up because she won't want to go anywhere. She'll choose to be with me. She'll finally be free.
    CHLOE
    Two girls sit across from me. I know what they're saying—
    "There's that girl. There's a bad man on the loose because of her."
    And then this woman beside me—
    "He could go after my babies. She wants to hurt my babies."
    A man in front of me—
    "What a waste. Such a waste."
    The way they're staring at me, I know that's what they're saying. Thinking. They're blocking the entrance. I can't get out. My teeth… my teeth start to ache so bad. Pounding in my head. I have to get out.
    GREG
    It's about my childhood, university, what I do on the weekend, my bad jokes, my opinions on the future of print media, and then… her. The interviews. Him.
    CHLOE
    Breathe… five… four…
    GREG
    I get to the end.
    CHLOE
    Three…
    GREG
    "After spending the day with Mr. Kalowitz, I can't help but wonder… did Chloe Evans choose him because she knew he was already attached to her? Did she look for someone who wouldn't question her too hard? Someone who'd accompany her to lavish parties and American talk shows. It's time for the police to—"
    I stop reading.
    CHLOE
    I can't get out.
    GREG
    They think I'm a joke.
    MATHEW
    I'm going to give her the perfect life.
    CHLOE
    I have to get out.
    MATHEW
    She won't complain, she won't demand anything.
    CHLOE
    I need Greg.
    GREG
    I need his name.
    MATHEW
    Because she'll have the perfect life.
    GREG
    I need his name.
    CHLOE
    I need Greg... I need Greg! I need Greg! I NEED GREG! I NEED GREG!
    SCENE NINE
    Shift. GREG's condo, MATHEW's house. GREG and MATHEW speak to CHLOE while CHLOE speaks to GREG.
    GREG
    That was fast.
    MATHEW
    Chloe?
    CHLOE
    I was on my way here when you called.
    GREG
    You okay?
    MATHEW
    Put your book down. I have a surprise for you.
    CHLOE
    Can we breathe together? Just for a minute? Sometimes he and I… when things were bad or he was feeling down, we'd drive all day to