91. The Purple Couch - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. CITY SIDEWALK - DAY


• A large purple couch sits at the edge of the sidewalk, cars whizzing past inches away.


• MARK and MIA sit on the couch, watching the traffic.


• Mia sits cross-legged, her army boots standing out in sharp contrast to her white skirt with ragged edges and fishnet stockings. She wears a graphic tank top which reveals the elaborate tattoo half-sleeves that run along both her arms.


• Mark's legs dangle over the edge, dangerously close to the road.


• He is dressed in a black t-shirt and loose asian pants, vegan boots peeking out of the loose legs.


• His dreads are wrapped tightly in a dark saffron cloth and hang down his back.


• MARK
• Ready?


• Mia nods.


• Marks pulls a book from his pocket and leafs through it until he reaches the page he is looking for.


• He holds his left hand out, cupping it, and begins chanting.


• The world around them seems to shudder for a moment, shifting.


• They still sit on the couch, but the world is grayer.


• A group of PRIESTS in dark robes, their faces covered in gas masks, walk past carrying standards that bear rich red flags.


• Mia looks around, drinking everything in.


• A SOLDIER rides past on his steed, his large-buttoned jacket half open, revealing thick body armor.


• His military-issued mask seems bonded onto his face.


• MARK
• Welcome to the Parallel.


• MIA
• Wow. So this is?


• MARK
• Possibility #32. We've documented just under one hundred now. Oh, you'll want one of these.


• He reaches into his pockets and pulls two small rebreathers out, handing one to her.


• MIA
• You have everything in those pockets of yours, don't you Poppins?


• She straps the rebreather into place.


• He smiles, barely acknowledging the rhetorical question.


• He looks over, and she is nodding slowly.


• MARK
• Mia, Mia?


• The world shudders again, and they are sitting on the side of the street.


• He looks over at her and sees she's fallen asleep.


• The world shudders a second time.


• INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING


• They are in Mia and Mark's living room, and Mia is fast asleep.


• Mark closes a book on his lap, titled "Parallel Travel: A Novel about Sideways Travel" and reaches behind the couch, pulling a blanket up, and placing it over Mia.


• He closes the book and places it on the coffee table in front of the couch.


• MARK
• We didn't even get to the end of the first chapter. It's ok, tomorrow night eh?


• He kisses her on the forehead, then looks down, and sees that she clutches a dusty rebreather in her hand.


• His lips twist into a small smile, and he sits down on the couch, and watches her sleep.


• FADE TO BLACK.