Missax 24 06 11 Rachael Cavalli Heartburn Pt 1 -

From the hallway, footsteps. Her husband, MARK (40s, handsome in a tired way, briefcase still in hand), stops at the kitchen entrance. He doesn’t step inside.

End of Part 1

Scene opens in a softly lit, upscale kitchen. The late afternoon sun pours through wide windows, casting honey-colored light across marble countertops. RACHAEL CAVALLI (40s, elegant, weary but sharp) stands over a stove, stirring a red sauce in a copper pot. She wears a cream silk blouse and dark trousers—dressed for a life she’s trying to hold together. MissaX 24 06 11 Rachael Cavalli Heartburn Pt 1

She reaches for the antacids in the cupboard. Three tablets. Chews them slowly. The bottle is almost empty. From the hallway, footsteps

“Get out of my kitchen.”

He leaves. The front door closes softly, a coward’s exit. She stands there a long moment, then sinks onto a stool at the island. She pulls out her phone. Scrolls past photos of Chloe, past recipes saved for dinners she’ll never make, past a calendar full of couples therapy appointments she canceled. End of Part 1 Scene opens in a softly lit, upscale kitchen