128. Chip or Death? - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. PORCH - DUSK


• AUTUMN sits pensively on a rocking chair a bag of butterscotch baking chips balanced on one leg, and a bag of cinnamon baking chips on the other.


• She carefully pulls one chip from each bag, studies them, then tosses them into her mouth, chewing slowly.


• She closes her eyes, satisfied.


• AARON
• You and all that sugar. It'll kill you some day.


• AARON stands at the door of the house, an apron around his waist.


• His face is creased with laugh lines, and his thick, strong hands rest easily at his side.


• AUTUMN
• Dying is unavoidable.


• AARON
• Yeah, but I wouldn't mind you postponing your imminent demise a bit.


• Autumn shrugs.


• AARON
• Dinner's almost ready.


• He turns back to the house but Autumn grabs his hand.


• AUTUMN
• Just a few minutes.


• He consents, and lets her pull him into her lap.


• They sit, the chair squeaking as it rocks, looking out over the city.


• The setting sun picks up the gray hairs on Autumn's head and turns them a deep silver.


• She carefully selects two chips and pops them in his mouth.


• He closes his eyes and savors them.


• AUTUMN
• Screw death.


• AARON
• Mmhmmm.


• She pops another chip in his mouth; he chews.


• AUTUMN
• Hypocrite.


• AARON
• Mmhmmm.


• They rock for a long moment.


• AARON
• The food's going to burn.


• AUTUMN
• Screw the food.


• Aaron laughs.


• AARON
• This is why I said yes.


• AUTUMN
• Hmm?


• AARON
• When you proposed to me. Today is almost as pretty as that day was.


• AUTUMN
• Almost.


• She smiles and kisses him on the nose.


• AARON
• You think that we have this network of...something, something that connects us that's gotten broken somewhere along the way and this, this right here fixes the damage?


• AUTUMN
• Some metaphysical telephone line that connects humans?


• AARON
• Something like that.


• AUTUMN
• And we're the technicians working on fixing it?


• AARON
• Something like that.


• AUTUMN
• A little late in your life for deep thoughts, hmm? Keep it simple A. But...who knew fixing telephone line could be so complex...or fun?


• She grins slyly at Aaron.


• He squeezes her and she shrieks.


• They rock as the sun sets and as gray smoke begins to seep out from under the door, oblivious to the world.


• FADE TO BLACK.