6. Skin and Steel - Leslie

FADE IN:

INT. PIERCING SHOP - NIGHT

A NEEDLE pierces a fold of skin, wiggling for a moment, then emerging on the other side of the fold.

A HAND quickly replaces the needle with a ring and skillfully snaps the captured ball into it’s small opening.

LEE exhales slowly. She is lying on a medical table, her back exposed.

Her back is dotted with short horizontal marker lines on either side of her spine. They form an odd V.

Several rings are already placed at some of these points.

LEE
How many is that?

REBECCA picks another needle up from a metal tray by the bed. She wears black rubber gloves and is dressed in a hoodie and a flowing skirt.

Her wrists are freshly henna’d and her left ear is covered in rings.

REBECCA
That makes four, and now I’m ready to start on the other side. Halfway done.

Lee nods and places her head back down.

The room is an odd mixture of sterility and comfort. A furry, purple mama-san couch sits in the corner, and the walls are a dark red. A packed bookshelf, with several Ann Lamott volumes prominently displayed, sits snugly next to the couch. Colorful posters and paintings hang on the walls and incense wafts in from outside the slightly open door.

This should be in sharp contrast to the medical table and equipment but it all blends into an odd melange.

Rebecca begins the next piercing.

LEE
You know, you’ve never told me how you got into this business.

REBECCA
Oh, a childhood fascination with sharp pointy objects, and a little dash of sadism.

LEE
Ha! Sounds about right.

She winces as the needle is replaced with the ring.

The captured ball snaps in with a metallic click.

REBECCA AND LEE
Five.

REBECCA
I think I got into this because it felt like a healthier alternative to a lot of the things I was trying, and I’ve always found it beautiful.

LEE
Been there.

She moves her right arm a bit. The forearm is covered in neat rows of white scars.

REBECCA
Yeah. And it’s something I like to share.

She finishes sixth and seventh piercings quickly.

LEE
One more.

Rebecca selects the last needle, swabs Lee’s skin with alcohol, then pushes the needle in.
When the ring is snapped in place, she cleans the fresh wounds, then removes the gloves.

REBECCA
Ok, and you wanted red?

LEE
Yes, please.

Rebecca thumbs through a drawer and pulls out a dark red ribbon.

She winds it through the rings, creating a strangely beautiful corset of skin, ribbon, and steel.

REBECCA
It’s ravishing. Thanks for coming here for this, I always love these.
Don’t get to do it much. You’re keeping it through the wedding?

LEE
Yeah, I’ll be back to take it out after the honeymoon.

She stands, pulling her shirt down in front, then peering into the mirror with a small hand-held one to get a view of her new artwork.

REBECCA
Sounds great. Man, a week in ancient desert monastery
...only you two would find something like that.

LEE

It looks great. You think he’ll like it?

REBECCA
He’ll love it. Remember how he loved that tattoo I did for you guys?

Lee grins.

LEE
Thanks kiddo.

REBECCA
Sure Mom, anytime. Now get to bed
...tomorrow’s coming soon...big day, etcetera.
And keep those holes clean!

Lee blows her a kiss, and leaves the room, her boots clapping cheerfully against the tile floor.

Rebecca smiles, shakes her head, then starts cleaning up her tools.

FADE TO BLACK.