Screenplay: A character has to tell another she has contracted herpes from her husband....

Is the person she's telling a love-interest? Opposite or same sex?

A non-love interest, same-sex.

How old is she? First you say she got herpes from her husband then from her ex-boyfriend. Is she with the guy or not?

Herpes and a kid - her life is ruined - she's never going to find a guy to love her?

Whoops! I said husband? Sorry, I was writing that in a hurry. It was a boyfriend. Oh, and you ask a good question, will she ever be in love again. Probably not.

Just wondeing if you could show us some of what you have down already, even if you arnt happy with it. It might give us something to work off ot throw ideas up to to you.
What is the goal of the scene, what impression do you want the audience to gain?

Direct research might be called for, actually talking to someone who has been in this situation or perhaps doctors (not about specific patients) at a communicable disease clinic. Possibly, the doctors could ask past patients if they would speak with you.

She could tell her friend that her ex-boyfriend was leaving a lasting impression in more ways than one: his sperm created life and his contaminant created blisters (herpes) and that the latter will probably stay around a lot longer than
the kid.

One approach is to have your "prop" character's desire in the scene be to convince the main character that herpes isn't that bad. To look on the bright side. That's just fundamentally humorous. For example this character could list famous and successful people who've contracted herpes (e.g. Robin Williams).

Maybe she is discussing the potential of having to tell any new partners about it? It's a very hard discussion to have. Too early in a relationship and the potential partner bolts. Too late and it doesn't set a good tone...no win.

"So...do you know of anyone who has had herpes? How did she approach a guy she was falling in love with? ...I mean..what does one say in a situation like that?"

When I sold advertising, I would go into small businesses/shops and bored owners or staff would tell me the darnest things - remind me to tell you about the jewlish girl whose psychologist husband had a foot fettish and their sex life consisted of him ejaculating on her feet. Or the two furniture salesmen talking about why they liked to watch two women making love together.

You just can't make this stuff up.

(I might have some suggestions, but need age of your character. )

Sorry for the delay in my response. I've been out on a job, and didn't have time to get back to the message board. Some interesting stuff has kick up here though. Thanks.



Here's some of it.
I think I know where I'm going after this I'm going to talk about how it effects her relationships. She'll say telling new friends isn't that bad because it's just setting a new expectations; but telling an old friend is difficult.
Also her relationship with Greg is up for grabs whatever makes this dialogue more interesting. Maybe she was going to break up with him before she even heard about the herpes. She was waiting until after Valentines day (because that'd be weird and then she got herpes.) Or maybe they were madly in love and then she got herpes. Honestly I hate the description of how she got herpes. So everything I pasted in I want changed to whatever/anything that makes it better.

I really think your idea of the friend trying to make light of the situation and discussing famous people with herpes sounds fun, though I haven't thought of a way to do it successfully. (I've been trying).
Did you have anything in particular in mind?

I agree, real life sometimes has those things that are like: no, nobody would have thought of that unless it actually happened. You happen to have any great STD stories made up or real?

Yeah, discussing the future of her sex life might help the end of the discussion, but I'm still stuck on even how to say "I got herpes." In an interesting way. It seems like it should be capable of grabbing the audiences attention, but I'm having a lot of trouble making it work!

he gave me a gift, a somewhat perversely personal gift.

The kind of gift that keeps on giving long after the giver has gone.

One that never goes away, and cannot be undone.

a blistering flower of love.

Just the statement itself is enough to draw attention. Often times people don't usually mention it unless it becomes absolutely necessary. It's normally followed by a long dramatic pause by both members of a conversation. One processing the implications...the other watching nervously to determine how the other is going to react to it.

Rockhead as an interesting way of approaching it....

(Maybe this will give you something to work with)

chick: I need the phone number of a sex disease clinic.

Friend: OMG! (pause) Why.... .... why er um why um why would i have the phone number of a sex clinic?

(chick gives the friend that look that says you know why you very naughty girl.)

Friend: dont be daft i'm not stupid enough to sleep with someone who has sex a sex disease... so.... why do you need the number of a sex clinic.

chick: for greg. (long pause) what? did you think for me?

friend: oh no no of course not. (obviouse white lie)

but then..... you are banging greg so....

chick OMG I never thought about that. How many times do you need to sleep with.... wait... he told me on wednesday (counts on fingers)
Oh ****...... **** **** **** bastard (etc)
wait maybe theres an incubation time, maybe you dont get it if you wash proberly (Insert other desperate reasons she might not have it)

Throws herself at friend for consoling hug
friend hugs, tentavily at first.
friends facial emotions range from ewww to compasion to pragmatic.

Well robin williams had it.

Why would the girl angst about telling someone she has herpes? It just doesn't go that way.

Better for her to ask her friend what's going on, considering all the "symptoms" she has. Let the friend break the news to her.

I don't understand your question actually. "angst" is not a verb. Do you mean "Why would the girl be anxious about telling her friend?" or "Why would the girl have angst about telling her friend?" The reason I don't understand is neither seem to fit with the rest of your statement.

She tells her friend because in an earlier scene she said something that implied her ex-boyfriend had herpes so now she's filling out the details. She wasn't walking around naked and everyone noticed.

Well then, now about:

Friend: Dang . . bummer your man has the surf herps. What's up with that?
Girl: Messin' around in the past, I suppose. But that's not the worst of it.
Friend: Oh no, don't tell me!
Girl: Yup. Just found out yesterday. I'm in a bad way.