157. The Clam - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. ANDROGYNOUS CLAM - DAY


• The Androgynous Clam is a small coffeeshop with two lofts that hang at different levels above the first floor of the shop.


• It is lit primarily with ship lamps and highlights paintings of the shops "founders"; clams dressed in 19th century garb staring, as much as clams can stare, officiously down on the patrons.


• TIM sits at a table crafted out of the curved hull of an old dinghy and sips a morracan pomegranate tea.


• He spins his wallet slowly on the wood surface.


• SEAN slides into the seat across from him.


• SEAN
• Talk.


• TIM
• Whoa, slow down there. How about you get something to drink?


• SEAN
• Spill.


• TIM
• You don't want to get a drink?


• Sean waves his hand in irritation.


• TIM
• Fine...I don't really even want to talk about it now; it seems silly.


• SEAN
• Well, you have a tendency to say silly things, but better to say them than do them. Now please, stop with the hedging.


• TIM
• It's Meghan.


• SEAN
• Is she ok?


• TIM
• She's fine, she's wonderful. I just keep wondering.


• SEAN
• Wondering? Good grief, it's like pulling proverbial teeth from some stupid proverbial little chicken.


• A barista walks past with two nose rings and an arm covered in tattoos.


• Tim follows her with his eyes.


• SEAN
• Hey! You're engaged; none of that.


• TIM
• See, it's not her as a person, it's the idea she represents I guess. Meghan was...too easy. There wasn't anything epic. See, that sounds ridiculous; I should be happy about that.


• SEAN
• Yeah, especially after Joyce. You really want something epic after her?


• TIM
• Took me four years to get over that. But everything feels less intense, less real. Meghan's so great, but we just felt right and that was it. But there's no fire and that scares me.


• SEAN
• Wow, dude. First, I sympathize, second...you really want another Joyce?


• TIM
• No, and I think maybe it's just a different type of love. But I want that depth of feeling.


• The barista sets up behind the bar and Tim steals another glance at her.


• Sean grabs Tim's wallet and pulls Meghan's picture out of it.


• In the picture, she stands on an Irish cliff, staring out over the ocean, skirt whipping around her legs and a pageboy cap over her dark hair.


• He grabs Tim's chin and pulls it towards the picture.


• Tim struggles.


• SEAN
• Brother, She may not give you heartburn, but she's the nomad you've been looking for all your life; and she loves you more than anyone else you've been with. And ok, so not all the little details are right. Are they ever?


• Tim pulls Sean's hand away from his chin.


• TIM
• Ok, ok.


• SEAN
• I'm not done.


• Tim spots MEGHAN standing by the door.


• Sean keeps talking.


• SEAN
• You'll find out that you appreciate her nuances so much more than the nuances you had on your little list.


• Tim looks at the waitress and then at the door and smiles.


• Meghan walks in and scans the tables.


• TIM
• Shhh.


• SEAN
• What? Don't you shhh me.


• TIM
• Shhh.


• Tim stands and walks away from the table towards Meghan.


• Sean sits stunned then turns and spots Meghan.


• Tim turns towards him slightly, nods, then grabs Meghan by from the waist.


• She recognizes his hands and sinks into him.


• He kisses her.


• MEGHAN
• Mmm, pomegranate.


• He waves to Sean then leads Meghan up the stairs to a more secluded loft.


• Sean turns back, bemused.


• He considers the still steaming cup of tea across the table from him.


• He grabs it and takes a sip.


• SEAN
• Oh, that is good.


• He takes a closer look at the barista.


• He looks up at the loft where Meghan and Tim sit, then back at the barista.


• SEAN
• Hello drama.


• He grins, stands up, and walks over to the bar.


• FADE TO BLACK.