22. Drifting - Leslie

Recommended listening/viewing for this script - Innocence Mission's cover of "Moon River."






• FADE IN:


• EXT. FOREST STREAM - DAY


• ELLEN and SMITH lie next to each other on the stream’s bank.


• Autumn leaves float down from the trees on a warm Indian summer breeze.


• He’s dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, a dark blazer spread on the grass beside him.


• Ellen’s short hair lifts in the breeze and she pulls at her orange t-shirt trying to get a burr out. Her loose skirt spreads around her ankles revealing her bare, chocolate-colored feet.


• She looks over to steal a glance at him and catches him staring at her.


• His eyes dart away and she pokes him.


• ELLEN
• Ashamed eh?


• Smith laughs.


• SMITH
• You weren’t supposed to catch me.


• ELLEN
• We’ve been friends too long, I’m way ahead of you buddy.


• Smith rolls onto his stomach, making sure he doesn’t touch her.


• She notices and wrinkles her nose at him.


• ELLEN
• Keepin’ it platonic Smith?


• He ignores her, rests his chin on his folded arms and follows a leaf as it floats down the stream, causing fish caught under its shadow to scatter.


• Ellen looks over at him, starts to say something, then reconsiders and follows the same leaf.


• Smith glances at here again.


• SMITH
• How long have we been friends?


• ELLEN
• You know...


• SMITH
• Tell me anyway.


• ELLEN
• Ok...it’s been five years...Muse Cafe...you were talking about love and drifting


• SMITH
• Its taken me that long to realize something.


• He pauses, waiting.


• ELLEN
• What are you trying to drag out?
  


• SMITH
• Play along, will you?


• ELLEN
• What did you realize?


• SMITH
• That there's no one I'd rather travel the world with...than you


• Ellen turns and looks at him, serious.


• ELLEN
• That’s sweet of you. You’re my best friend too.


• SMITH
• Ellen.


• He grabs her hand and she looks down, startled.


• SMITH
• You are my best friend, I don’t really want anyone else. Will you travel with me. It’s a long journey, but I want to do it with you. Let’s drift away together.


• He pulls his hand away, leaving a ring with a tiny circle of diamonds at the center, in her hand.


• Ellen swallows, looks at the stream, then back at him.


• She closes her eyes for a moment.


• Smith looks at her, terrified.


• She opens them and laughs softly, then slides the ring around her finger.


• She touches his cheek, then laughs again, and grabs a handful of bright red leaves and tosses it above their heads.


• ELLEN
• Ok, let’s drift.


• FADE TO BLACK.