The Grudge
Doug scene from The Grudge, practice script
- Men
- Playing age 20s–30s
- 4 pages
- Two-person scene
- Drama
A drama scene from The Grudge for an actor, playing age 20s and 30s, with Karen.
The Grudge: Doug scene
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
An international college in Tokyo. The autumn chill doesn’t deter the students from enjoying the beautiful day. Karen and Doug sit by a lone tree in a small grassy patch in the center of a thoroughfare. Doug, reading a newspaper, steals a glance at Karen--she’s sitting with her back to the tree, her face to the sky.
DOUG
Want another aspirin?
She shakes her head.
KAREN
What I want is my car. How much do you think it would cost to have her shipped over?
DOUG
Keep dreamin’.
KAREN
Imagine, no more trains. Never feeling like a sardine again. My own personal climate-controlled space--
DOUG
Public transportation is good for the environment. Climate control isn’t.
KAREN
Maybe not. But it’s darn good for my chi.
Doug lowers the paper, turns to her.
DOUG
Maybe you should get a bike. For when they start you on house calls. You wouldn’t have to deal with the trains anymore.
She gives him a skeptical look.
DOUG (CONT’D)
It’s a nice image. Riding down the sidewalk in your nurse’s uniform.
KAREN
Yeah. I figured that’s what you had in mind.
Doug seems to consider for a moment. Then:
DOUG
So, I was thinking. We’re both living alone now. And we’d have a lot more money for traveling and adventures and eating out and stuff if...
Karen glances over at him. Getting the gist.
DOUG (CONT’D)
...if we decided to save money by -
Karen slows to a stop by the doors of a Nursing Care Center.
KAREN
By what?
DOUG
By combining rent.
KAREN
Is that code for "moving in together"?
DOUG
Yeah. I think so.
KAREN
Hmmm.
DOUG
For fiscal reasons.
KAREN
Of course.
After a moment of leaving him hanging, she snatches Doug’s paper. Turns to the last page.
KAREN (CONT’D)
Wait- let me check my chart. (reading) "Scorpio: the coming autumn will bring about life-changing events, which will become charged by your actions and decisions." Huh.
Doug rolls his eyes.
DOUG
Come on, Karen--
KAREN
Hey, it’s a big step. Maybe I should go home and consult the I Ching first--
Doug grabs the paper and crumples it up:
DOUG
Like everyone in the world born in the same twenty-nine day period will have the exact same life.
KAREN
Doug.
DOUG
"A tall dark stranger will sweep you off your feet on Saturday." This stuff is such bullshit.
He tosses the paper in a nearby trashcan. Turns back to see Karen regarding him, her smile somewhat lessened.
KAREN
I was kidding, Doug.
DOUG
I know. I’m sorry, Kat. It’s just - you’re always reading that trash, and whipping out those damn Tarot cards, and you know how I feel about all that fortune telling psychic stuff. It’s just stupid.
KAREN
"Stupid," huh?
Doug takes her hand.
KAREN DOUG
Yeah. Stupid. And I’m trying to be serious here.
Karen can’t resist. She warms in the glow of his smile.
KAREN
Okay. Apology accepted.
DOUG
Tell me you’ll at least think about it. Then I’ll let you go to work.
Karen smiles, leaning in:
KAREN
I’ll take it under advisement.
DOUG
Good. Have your people call my people.
She kisses him back, and giving him a mischievous smile, heads inside the building. Doug can’t take his eyes off her.
Excerpt for study and audition practice. Watch the show or film for context.
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