An unassuming middle aged orthodontist finds his life spiraling out of control at a conference on a Caribbean island.

SYNOPSIS:

Timothy Reynolds is an ordinary married orthodontist from Wisconsin. On a conference in Trinidad and Tobago, Timothy finds himself entranced with a complex island girl, Jamila. After their torrid affair leaves Timothy conflicted, he makes a ballsy decision with unforeseen consequences.

THE CONFERENCE

EXT. OUTSIDE A MID-SIZED HOUSE - MIDDAY

A man, in his early to mid forties, comes out of the house and walks down the path in the front of his house to the mailbox at the edge of the lawn.

He opens the box and takes the mail out. He quickly scans through the mail, stopping when he sees an invitation-sized envelope addressed to Dr. Timothy Reynolds from the American Association of Orthodontists.

Excitedly, the man rips the envelope open and reads the contents.

TIMOTHY

(muttering)

Trinidad and Tobago? Where is that?

(shrugging)

Must be in Africa.

Timothy trudges back to the house, mail in tow.

INT. IN A STUDY - CONTINUOUS

Timothy is sitting in front of the computer, browsing the internet.

He is looking up the country of Trinidad and Tobago.

TIMOTHY

(muttering)

Hmmm. The Caribbean? Nice!

SUSAN (O.S.)

Trinidad and Tobago? Where's that?

Timothy looks up and sees his wife standing over him with a basket of laundry.

TIMOTHY

(turning back to the screen)

It's in the Caribbean.

SUSAN

Why the sudden interest?

TIMOTHY

(back still turned)

That's where they're holding the annual conference.

SUSAN

Hmmm. Did you check the CIA World Factbook to see what they say about them? You can't be too creful these days.

Timothy continues to stare at the screen and he rolls his eyes.

TIMOTHY

No.

SUSAN

Well make certain that you do that before you go. And check the weather.

Susan walks off with the laundry.

INT. AIRPORT LOBBY - ONE MONTH LATER - MIDDAY

Timothy walks through the airport lobby, looking around at the colourful murals on the wall. He pauses in the atrium taking it all in.

JEFF

Come on, man!

Timothy feels a strong hand clap him on his shoulder, pulling him out of his reverie. He turns his head to the right and faces his friend and colleague Jeff. Jeff is looking at him quizzically.

JEFF

What’re you doing just standing in the middle of the atrium like that? The bus is waiting for us.

With a slight nod of the head, Timothy follows Jeff out the main doors of the airport to the colourful bus waiting for them outside.

INT. INSIDE THE MAXI TAXI - A LITTLE LATER

In the bus, known as a maxi-taxi (maxi for short), Timothy sits at the window, right behind the driver, staring straight ahead. Sitting next to him, Jeff is carrying on an animated conversation with the guy directly behind him. The maxi is full of mainly middle-aged white males, all with varying American accents.

JEFF

…and the kid had an overbite like you’ve never seen and the mother’s asking me to fix it without the kid having to wear braces and I’m like ‘Look lady…’

Timothy tunes everyone out again and focuses on his surroundings. From his shirt breast pocket, he pulls out a small notepad. He flips through the pages, stopping at a particular page.

TIMOTHY

(whispering)

Churchill Roosevelt Highway. Yes this must be it.

JEFF

Tim! Timothy!

Timothy's head snaps up abruptly. Jeff is staring at him intently.

JEFF

Timothy.

(gesturing)

Meet Tom Wagner. We went to the University of Michigan together.

Tom regards Timothy with a look of recognition on his face.

TOM

Reynolds, right? Yeah I think we met, a couple of conferences ago, maybe?

TIMOTHY

(quietly)

Three.

Both Jeff and Tom look at him strangely. Timothy clears his throat.

TIMOTHY

We met three conferences ago. In Maui

TOM

(nodding)

Yes that’s right…Maui. What a time, huh?

Tom winks at Timothy mischievously. Timothy flushes and doesn't respond.

JEFF

Oh shit, Tom! Maui!?! Why’d you bring up Maui? You know I was pissed I missed out! Fucking psoriasis!

Tom gamely claps Jeff on the back, grinning.

TOM

No worries buddy. We’ll make up for Maui on this trip.

(looking over at Timothy)

So Tim, you looking forward to some island flavour?

Timothy adjusts his glasses and looks at Tom.

TIMOTHY

Timothy, please. Um I suppose I can squeeze in some sightseeing in between workshops.

Tom and Jeff both look at each other and burst out laughing.

TOM

Yeah, sightseeing, sure.

All of a sudden their maxi stops short. The car in front of them, a Mazda 323, is almost hit by a Toyota Hilux driving on the wrong side of the road, trying to overtake. The Hilux swerves back into his lane and stops suddenly due to traffic.

GUY IN MAZDA

Yuh is ah ass, or what? You eh see it have chirren in de car here, eh, eh?

GUY IN HILUX

(calmly)

Fuck…you

GUY IN MAZDA

But yuh wrong…

GUY IN HILUX

Fuck…you

GUY IN MAZDA

Yuh coulda cause ah acci…

GUY IN HILUX

Fuck…you

The orthodontists chuckle at the exchange, then traffic begins to proceed once again.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - A LITTLE LATER

Timothy enters his room and takes in his surroundings. He walks over to the window and gazes out at the water. He heads back over to his suitcase, hoists in up on the bed and begins unpacking.

Knock, knock!

Timothy heads over to the door.

Jeff is standing on the other side, sweating profusely.

JEFF

Hey Timothy, we were going get a drink in the lobby. Interested?

Timothy shuffles his feet and looks back at the mess on his bed.

TIMOTHY

Well I’m still unpacking…

JEFF

Oh Tim, er, Timothy, come on! Live a little.

Jeff takes a step closer to Timothy and puts his hand on Timothy’s shoulder.

JEFF

Don’t worry, the clothes aren’t going anywhere.

(laughing)

I spoke to them.

Timothy seems to relax a little and he smiles slightly at Jeff. He takes one last look at his messy bed.

TIMOTHY

Yeah I guess I can do with one drink.

JEFF

Ada boy!

Jeff claps Timothy on his back a couple of times. Timothy quickly grabs his door key and they head down to the lobby.

INT. HOTEL LOUNGE - CONT'D

Tom Wagner is already at the bar, nursing a light drink. Tom seems to be trying to draw a young woman, a few bar stools away, into conversation. She doesn’t appear to be interested.

JEFF

(hollering)

Tommy!

Tom looks up and grins at Jeff and Timothy. He hits the bar stool next to him.

TOM

It’s about time man. Where you been? I’m already a drink and a half in.

Jeff walks up to a bar stool, (with Timothy in tow) sits and shrugs.

JEFF

Needed to unpack. How’s your room?

TOM

The view is fricking amazing, man. Kinda wish I booked a single room.

Tom regards Jeff and Timothy, who is hovering near the bar stool.

TOM

What about you guys? You rooming with anyone?

JEFF

Yeah I booked a double with my colleague at the office. He’s coming in tomorrow.

Tom and Jeff then look at Timothy, who finally perches himself, rather uncomfortably, on the bar stool.

TIMOTHY

I have my own room

Tom smacks the counter.

TOM

You lucky dog, you.

Tom leans towards the men.

TOM

(whispering)

I was, uh, trying to arrange a little company, if you know what I mean, with Ms. Dark and Lovely over at 9 o’clock

Both Jeff and Timothy cast surreptitiously glances at the girl on the other end of the bar.

TOM

But my charms don’t seem to be working.

TIMOTHY

Aren’t you married?

Jeff faces Timothy with a look of incredulity on his face. Tom, meanwhile, looks smug. He eyes Timothy sharply.

TOM

So.

Timothy flushes at Tom’s curt response and doesn’t say anything else.
Tom, once again, turns his attention to “Ms. Dark and Lovely”.

TOM

Hi there. What’s your name again?

The mysterious woman turns her head and looks at Tom.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

I didn’t give it.

TOM

Well I’m Tom and this...

(he gestures at the men)

...are Jeff and Timothy.

She disinterestedly looks first at Jeff and then at Timothy.
Timothy’s eyes lock with “Ms. Dark and Lovely”. He inhales sharply. “Ms. Dark and Lovely” smiles ever so slightly. Then she looks away.

TOM

So ah, we were wondering, what’s there to do at night?

“Ms. Dark and Lovely” gets up from her stool gracefully, and sashays past the group.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

Check with the hotel’s tour guide.

She stops, turns and looks directly at Timothy.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

They’ll have everything you need.

She turns and then disappears around the corner.

TOM

Talk about ice princess. Hope all these Trinidadian women aren’t like that.

Tom shakes his head and continues working on his drink.

Just then, a cell phone starts to ring and all three men reach for their phones.

TIMOTHY

It’s mine. Excuse me.

Timothy walks away from the men and answers the phone.

TIMOTHY

Hello?

SUSAN (O.S.)

Timothy! Why didn’t you call me?

TIMOTHY

Susan. Susan honey…

SUSAN (O.S.)

I’ve been worried sick out of my mind…

TIMOTHY

I…

SUSAN (O.S.)

I started googling Trinidad and Tobago, and there are all these articles saying that they have one of the highest crime rates in the Caribbean.

With his free hand, Timothy rubs his temples as he rounds the corner.

SUSAN (O.S.)

I thought you were going to call as soon as you landed. I started to think you’d been kidnapped or shot or something. You know they kill Americans over there…

TIMOTHY

(forcefully)

Susan!

TIMOTHY

(inhaling deeply)

We just got in a few minutes ago. I’m still at the hotel just having a drink with the guys.

SUSAN (O.S.)

You’re drinking? You know you have a workshop early tomorrow…

Timothy rolls his eyes as his wife continues to lecture him. He looks up and spots “Ms. Dark and Lovely” a few feet away, staring at him.

TIMOTHY

Uh huh. Yes honey.

Face to face with “Ms. Dark and Lovely” Timothy takes in her medium dark brown, smooth skin, her full lips, her slanted eyes, her long, braided hair, her wide hips. Timothy stares at her openly, barely listening to his wife's ranting.

SUSAN (O.S.)

Timothy? Timothy are you still there?

His wife’s voice breaks the spell. Timothy shakes his head.

TIMOTHY

Yeah I’m here.

SUSAN (O.S.)

I said that I have to go take Katie to dance class.

TIMOTHY

Ok honey. I’ll talk to you later then. He nods. Ok love you. Bye.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY (O.S.)

How de madam going?

Timothy looks up and sees “Ms. Dark and Lovely” training her eyes on him.

TIMOTHY

(stuttering)

Ex-Excuse me?

Ms. Dark and Lovely smiles and saunters seductively towards him. His mouth goes dry as he gapes unabashedly at the movement of her hips. She stops within inches of his face and leans towards him.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

(whispering)

I said. Was that your wife?

Timothy closes his eyes and breathes in deeply, inhaling her scent.

TIMOTHY

Yes, um, that was my-my wife.

She puts a delicate hand on his chest.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

What you doing in Trinidad Timmy?

TIMOTHY

Timothy. I’m here for a conference for orth – I’m an orthodontist.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

Nice.

She walks off, then she stops and turns around.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

Later. Timmy.

She smirks and then is gone.

Timothy holds on to the wall, bends over and lets out a shallow, shaky breath. He makes his way back to the bar and finds that the guys have already left without him.
Timothy makes his way back to his room to finish unpacking.

INT. IN THE HOTEL ROOM - LATE AT NIGHT

Ms. Dark and Lovely is tracing light, sensual kisses along his temple and making her way down his face. He closes his eyes and leans into her touch as he feels her lips on his nose and then his mouth. Timothy’s mouth opens invitingly to her coaxing tongue and she moans melodiously. She presses her tongue deeper into his mouth, probing, tasting…

BEEP, BEEP , BEEP.

Timothy is rudely jarred from his sleep by the alarm clock. In one swift, reflexive motion, he silences the beast that pulled him from his dream. He glances quickly at the clock. It’s only 6 o’clock in the morning.

TIMOTHY

(mumbling sleepily)

Why are these workshops so darn early?

He sits up on his bed, with his feet dangling over the side. He recalls his dream and his eyebrows furrow in consternation. He closes his eyes and basks in the images of his dream. Then, Timothy's eyes snap open, he shrugs and heads for the shower.

INT - CONFERENCE ROOM - A LITTLE LATER

The conference room is fill of middle-aged white men. At the podium, is a woman, speaking to the crowd, while motioning to the powerpoint presentation behind her that is titled the Biometrics of Human Tooth Movement.

SPEAKER

As we delve deeper into the history of orthodontic tooth movement, it is relatively simple to identify the other factors that...

Timothy sits through his first workshop in a haze.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - AT THE REFRESHMENTS TABLE

Timothy is making himself a cup of coffee.

TOM (O.S.)

This shit sucks ass, huh Timmy?

Timothy looks over into the face of Tom Wagner, who is grinning broadly at Timothy. Timothy musters up a stiff smile, which ends up looking more like a grimace.
Tom helps himself to a croissant and then proceeds to make a cup of coffee with three Splenda.

Timothy clears his throat.

TIMOTHY

You know, er, Tom, studies show that Splenda isn’t really that good for you.

Tom shakes the last of his Splenda packet into his cup and looking at Timothy, he chuckles.

TOM

I smoke about five packs a day, Tim...

TIMOTHY

Er, Timothy, please.

TOM

…sucralose is the least of my problems.

Tom walks away.

EXT. OUTSIDE PARTY VENUE - LATER THAT NIGHT

Jeff, Tom and Timothy enter the packed venue and the entire crowd is moving to the sounds of a local artiste performing on stage. Jeff and Tom clumsily attempt to waltz to the beat of the music, with Timothy walking awkwardly behind them.

Timothy spots her from a distance. He watches, bewitched, as she dances provocatively on another man. His mouth goes dry. Suddenly, she looks his way and stares straight into his eyes. Her hips don’t miss a beat. Slowly, she disentangles herself away from the man and dances toward Timothy. As she moves, she stares. Timothy's face begins to flush. Two instances later, she is directly in front of him.

TIMOTHY

Hi.

She keeps dancing and doesn’t answer. She grabs his waist and begins a slow gyration against his pelvis.

TIMOTHY

How…old…are you?

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

Does it matter?

She puts her mouth to his ear.

MS. DARK AND LOVELY

It’s 18 to drink and 16 to fuck.

Timothy’s eyes widen at her words. She rears back suddenly and then bites his chin. He jerks away in surprise. She looks down and sees Timothy's arousal. She loosens her hold and then rubs herself over it. Timothy moans. She lets him go suddenly and then walks away. Thinking that this is an invitation, Timothy follows her through the crowd. She weaves through the jam packed venue smoothly and quickly, while Timothy keeps bumping into dancing patrons. She heads straight to the ladies’ room. Confused, Timothy stops short, making a young woman bump into him.

“Er, excuse me.” Timothy says apologetically.

WOMAN IN CLUB

Steups

The woman brushes past Timothy in irritation. He shuffles awkwardly, then stands askew to the door of the ladies’ room.

A few minutes later, Ms. Dark and Lovely walks out without a sideways glance at Timothy. Hurriedly, he lunges forward and grabs her arm. She jerks away and then sees that it’s Timothy. With her lips pursed, she looks him up and down without smiling. She grabs his hand roughly and pulls him behind her, out of the club.