I'm thinking of making a book out of an outline I once did for a script -- Robert's Wife. Thing is, I don't know what it's about, yet; I just have it written out. Here's the beginning of what I have...
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ROBERT Van WARREN (50, better looking than he thinks) wakes on a beautiful morning and rises to take a shower. After a moment, his wife, ANNE (a lovely woman twenty years his junior) joins him and they make love. They are gentle but intense with each other, the steam curling around them and adding to their excitement.
When done, Robert and Anne discuss their plans for their vacation. "Where do you want to go?" asks Anne.
"I've never been to Paris."
"Isn't that expensive?"
"Money means nothing when I'm with you."
They almost make love, again, but Robert has a lunch date with Smith Corley, an important client and must finish preparing for it.
"Isn't he beneath you?" Anne asks, joking.
Robert chuckles and says, "My father's very words...even after Smith placed twenty million with us."
Anne suggests he could still arrive late to the office, but Robert is adamant. "When your name is on the building, people expect a thousand times more."
She reminds him they are attending a gala art opening with friends, that night. Robert promises not to be late but only if they can leave early.
"The Van Warren Company" is an elegant but low-key building in Beverly Hills and the few employees are dressed to business-like perfection. Robert enters and his assistant, JACKIE (pretty in a "Vogue Big Girls" kind of way), meets him to discuss which clients are happy, which are unhappy, whose portfolio is in decline and needs attention, and an upset client named PENELOPE MARSH is on her way over.
"I couldn't talk her out of it," says Jackie.
"I know what it's about," Robert replies. "I'll see her soon as she gets here."
"And your father called from New York; he's been trying to reach you. Since eight a-m. Eastern time."
Robert nods, tosses off responses on how to handle the few problems without hesitation, takes Penelope's portfolio and enters his immaculate office. The instant Robert's door is closed, he goes to his desk, takes one of the five pencils perfectly lined up on it...and deliberately snaps it in half. He snaps another and another and another. Finally, he sits at his desk to caress a glamorous photo of Anne with a hairstyle that almost seems old-fashioned, then calls his father, STEPHEN AMBROSE Van WARREN, III.
Stephen never has time for pleasantries; he's "received word" that the Fed is about to raise interest rates, and he wants Robert to buffer some clients by shifting into bonds and certain securities. Robert already has; he anticipated the Fed's actions by a week. Without another word, dad hangs up so Robert buzzes Jackie, tells her he needs more pencils and she tells him Miss Marsh has arrived. She brings in both pencils and a very jittery young woman and makes sure everything in order before she exits (her actions showing she has a crush on her boss).
Penelope starts in, immediately, on needing an advance on her allowance (Robert manages a trust fund set up for her by her mother). Robert points out she receives her funds on a quarterly basis only, and draws out of her that she owes money for drugs; she had been clean but breaking up with her boyfriend sent her off the wagon. Robert agrees to float a loan if she returns to rehab. Penny (as Robert calls her) isn't sure that's the best idea, but Robert responds, "When have I steered you wrong?" and finally wins her over.
Lunch with SMITH, a hot young movie star, goes well. They are at a restaurant surrounded by shrubs and traffic so Smith can be noticed without seeming to want to be noticed. Robert is telling the younger man that a particular investment his agent recommended "is just like Enron, more of a Ponzi scheme than a real company," when he hears Anne's voice call, "Eddie." He looks around to find her meeting EDWARD PERRIN (same age as her, good-looking), and she is radiant. They kiss and she says, "It seems like forever," as they walk away arm in arm.
Robert cannot move, stunned, until Smith says, "Shit, no wonder you froze -- a babe like that." Robert just nods in response. Then Smith adds, "She kind of looks like that picture on your desk, the one of your wife."
Robert spills his wine then as the waiter cleans up the mess forces himself to keep talking to Smith, convincing him to stay away from the bad investment and ending with his pet phrase, "When have I steered you wrong?"
That night, Robert pulls into his driveway to find a new Mercedes parked by the front door. He stops behind it, envisions Anne leading Perrin inside and cannot make himself get out of his car until his housekeeper appears at the door and calls to him, "Mr. Van Warren, you have guests."
Robert heads into the house to find JUDGE and MRS. AMBERSON (a too-too distinguished older couple) in the sitting room with Anne. A huge portrait of Robert's father hangs over the fireplace. The judge and his wife are old friends of the family...and of Robert, of course. Robert greets them then goes upstairs to change.
Anne follows him and comments on how late he is. He responds it couldn't be helped and asks her about her day. She says nothing about meeting with Perrin. Robert tries to lead her into confessing, telling her, "I saw a young man on the street who looked familiar -- tall, dark-haired, good-looking, a scar on his left forearm. Do you remember ever meeting anyone like that?" Anne says no...but not in a definitive way.
At the opening, Robert keeps to himself, drinking too much wine, speaking only to people who come up to speak to him and watching Anne talk to an attractive man in the distance. She seems to flirt with him. Robert becomes more and more upset in his usual quiet manner...until he snaps the stem of the wine glass. It cuts his left hand. He hides it by wrapping the cut in a napkin and slipping it into his pocket. Then he goes to Anne and insists they leave. No one says good-bye to them.
At home, Robert and Anne argue. At first, she denies knowing Perrin but finally angrily admits they are lovers and casts questions on Robert's ability to please her. Her words turn vicious, dig deep into Robert. He hurries up the stairs to get away from her, but she paces him, belittling him until he lashes out at her. She tumbles down the stairs and lies there, motionless. Horrified, Robert races to her...and finds she is dead. He freezes.
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