The Astronaut’s wife

Jillian And Spencer won’t know?

Shelly Well, if he’s anything like the rest of them, he’ll think you had a miscarriage and he’ll go out and buy you a bracelet. Now, don’t beat yourself up about this, sweetheart. I mean, it’s not as if, any of this means anything.

Jillian There’s a little bit of pain, and then it’s over. Oh. God. I can’t. Oh, God. I can’t do it. It’s gonna be really bad. I’m so sorry. You. . . you’ll understand. I have to. Wait. Just. . . a little pain. Just. . . And then it’s over. Yeah. Okay. They’re just babies. I can’t do it. Oh, God. I can’t do it. Oh, help me! No. Don’t do that. Oh, God. Oh, God, stop it. . . He’s gonna. . . Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. They’re just, they’re. . . Oh, God, no.

Spencer What were you gonna do to ’em?

Jillian No. No. No, you heard them. Oh, God.

Spencer What were you gonna do?!

Jillian Nothing. No! No. No. No. No.

Spencer Jill. . . please. Let’s just calm down and talk about this, okay?

Jillian No.

Spencer Absol. . . Come on now, honey. Where are you gonna go, Jill? Huh? Where you gonna go? Sssh. Don’t talk. Don’t say a word, honey. You’re fine. You’re fine now. They’re still inside you, Jill. They’re right where they need to be, and we’re not ever gonna mention what you tried to do. . . what you tried to do with them pills, okay? Doesn’t exist. Never happened, Jillian. I don’t want to hear a peep out of you. You hear me? I love you so much. I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you or the babies. Now, you just keep quiet, and you rest. I’m here with you. I’m always gonna be here, Jill, always. You sleep. Good girl.

Jillian Nan.

Nancy Jilly. Hi. I don’t want to fight with you, Jilly.

Jillian There’s something wrong, Nan.

Nancy There’s not. The doctor says you can go home any day.

Jillian No. Something’s wrong. . . with Spencer. . . and the twins.

Nancy Hey, it’s just this place.

Jillian No. He did something to me, Nan, and I didn’t tell you.

Nancy Jillian, it’s just being in the hospital that makes you feel this way. I know, I know that you hate it here, but we’re gonna take you home soon and we’re all gonna take care of you.

Jillian You?

Nancy Yeah, of course me. Me, Spencer, all of us.

Jillian Oh, God. I’m so scared. Something horrible is happening. . . to me. . . and the babies. I don’t know what’s happening.

Nancy Tell me, Jillian, what is it?

Jillian Spencer. . . He. . . He’s hiding inside me. Spencer. . . hiding. . . inside me.

Nurse I think she’s awake, Mr Armacost.

Spencer Tell me something, Jill. If the doctors had any idea what you were thinking, you know, them awful, dark thoughts. . . what do you think they’d do?

Jillian They’d lock me up.

Spencer Huh?

Jillian They’d lock me up.

Spencer Lock you up? They’d chain you to the wall, Jillian. Yeah, put you back in that hospital. You want that to happen?

Jillian No.

Spencer No. I know you don’t want that. Uh-uh. Well, we ain’t gonna let ’em, are we? No.

Jillian No.

Spencer NO. ‘Cos we’re gonna be strong.

Jillian We’re gonna be strong. Together.

Spencer We’re gonna be strong for our family.

Jillian Yeah.

Spencer Yeah. We’re connected now. You feel me inside there where it’s safe, don’t you? See? I live here. We’re one.

Nancy Why do you have Sherman Reese’s bag? What did you do to my sister? Who are you? What. . . What the hell are you doing? Let go of me!

Jillian Nan.

Nancy Jillian! Help!

Jillian No. Nan. Nan. Washington Square Park. What? Go. Go!

Taxi Driver But it is red, missus.

Jillian I don’t care! Just go!

Taxi Driver But, missus, I cannot.

Jillian Will you go?! You don’t understand! Please.

Taxi Driver I cannot. (Shouts in native language)

NASA Guy Captain Alex Streck died last night at eight fifty-five. Cause of death has been determined to have been a massive stroke. . . what the surgeons are calling a severe insult to the brain.

Reese He’s not your husband any more. He’s not. . .

Doorman Hello. Welcome back Mrs A. Good morning, Mr A.

Jillian Come on. Nan.

Spencer Jillian! Jillian! Jillian! Jesus fucking Christ, Jill.

Jillian Stay away from me.

Spencer Why are you doing this to me?

Jillian I said stay. . . away from me. Who are you?

Spencer Who am I? I’m the only person in the world ever gave a fuck about you. I’m the one that gave you a reason to breathe. I’m every single fucking moment ever mattered in your life.

Jillian No, you’re not. I don’t even know you.

Spencer No? Well. . . I’ll tell you what. There was a time I remember when I was about to go up, and you begged me not to. You remember how scared you were? And I told you then, that I was gonna bring you back a little piece of heaven. Then you cried. You remember that? Well, fucking A! I did it! What do you think’s inside you? I gave you heaven.

Jillian No, you didn’t. You’re not Spencer.

Spencer It don’t gotta be like this, honey. Please, come on, now. Step out of that water. Please, baby, get out of that water. Come on.

Jillian Oh, my God.

Spencer Please.

Jillian Nan. Oh, my God. You killed my sister. You killed my husband.

Spencer Yeah. I did. And then I fucked his wife. I live there.

Jillian No.

Spencer I live there. . . For ever.

Jillian No, you don’t.

Spencer I live there.

Jillian No, you don’t!

Spencer Oh, yeah. Jillian!