ONCE A MONTH
Written by
J.F. Acosta
Pages: 3
Characters:
Alice, 20’s
Karen, 20’s
Synopsis:
Karen’s got a date, but she forgot that this isn’t a good time.
Copyright © 2019 by J.F. Acosta
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be presented, performed, reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the writer.
INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
ALICE is lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone. KAREN bursts into the living room, in a panic, an earring in her hand, the other in her ear.
KAREN
Oh, god!
ALICE
(not looking up her from her phone) I know I’m good but “god”? That’s a little —
KAREN
Is it a full moon? It’s a full moon, isn’t it?
ALICE
(still engrossed with her phone) So what if it —
(beat)
Oh.
ALICE gets up from the couch and approaches an increasingly agitated KAREN.
ALICE
Hey, hey, hey, it’s ok. We do this every month. We got this!
KAREN
It’s not ok! I totally forgot and now Eddy’s on his way!
ALICE
Why is —
KAREN
‘Cause I forgot!
ALICE
Just call him and cancel, then. Tell him you have a —
KAREN
A what?!
ALICE
A thing! Like a lady thing.
KAREN
A lady thing??
ALICE
Yeah, guys are scared of that stuff.
KAREN
Will you be serious?! He’s gonna be here any minute.
(beat)
Oh, god. It’s happening.
KAREN starts writhing and contorting.
ALICE
Ok, ok. Deep breaths.
KAREN
Those don’t help!
ALICE
For me!!!
KAREN
Do something!!!
ALICE
How about some Xanax?
KAREN
How’s that gonna —
ALICE
Valium?
KAREN
What, for you?
ALICE
For you! And me, sure. Yeah. But it might slow things down for you! Or stop it or something. It’s not like there’s a manual for this sort of thing. Worth a try, right?
KAREN
Yeah, ok.
ALICE leaves to get the pills. KAREN falls down on all fours and starts growling.
KAREN
Hurry!
ALICE rushes back in with some pills and a glass of water. KAREN takes one and pants. The transformation does not abate. Fur has covered her body and a tail is starting to sprout.
ALICE
Better take the other.
KAREN
Which one did I just —
ALICE
Does it matter?
KAREN’s hands have turned into paws so ALICE has to gingerly place the pill in KAREN’s mouth. KAREN falls over on her side, trying to tuck her nose to her tail. She starts moaning. There is a knock on the door.
ALICE
Stay here.
KAREN
(mumbling) Where else am I gonna go?
ALICE leaves to answer the door. KAREN continues whining on the floor, half asleep. Her transformation completes itself until she is a werewolf in a cocktail dress. ALICE comes back holding a bouquet of flowers that she sets on the coffee table.
ALICE
He’s sorry you’ve been puking your guts out but will call you later.
ALICE notices that KAREN has fallen asleep. She gathers up the blanket from the couch and drapes it over her friend. ALICE sits on the floor and strokes KAREN’s head.
(CON’T)
It’s ok. I never liked that dress anyway.
KAREN yips and twitches in her sleep.