169. Dead Man Walking - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. METRO BUS - DUSK.


• AMANDA quietly watching the light slowly drain from the streets as the bus bumps along.


• She shares the bus with just one or two other travelers.


• The bus pulls sharply into a stop and the doors whistle open.


• DANNY walks on board, loose jeans swishing.


• His thin t-shirt is worn and his arms are covered with generic tattoos.


• He sits across from Amanda and scratches his arms nervously.


• His knuckles are scarred, his lips chapped, and his face an unhealthy pale.


• She turns away, pointedly staring through the windows at the street.


• DANNY
• Hey. Hey.


• She hopes he's not talking to her, then decides it has to be her


• She turns to him.


• DANNY
• Mind if I borrow your phone? You have a phone, right?


• Amanda nods, then digs into her purse and pulls out a battered phone, its silver paint chipped.


• Danny takes the phone and dials.


• He waits and waits.


• DANNY
• Guess I'll have to leave a message.


• He looks at the phone in disgust and scratches at a snake tattoo on his forearm.


• DANNY
• Hey, it's me. I guess it's over. I don't even know what to say. I don't know what's going on with you. Thanks for all your help, I guess. I'll call you every once in a while to let you know I'm ok.


• He waits for a second, then flips the phone shut and hands it back to Amanda.


• She looks at him and he just shakes his head.


• She tries to focus on the road again.


• DANNY
• Hey. Hey.


• She turns.


• DANNY
• I have to get on another bus at Santa Monica, could you help me with fare? I'm sorry, I really hate asking.


• AMANDA
• No, it's fine.


• She digs in her purse, finding a few dimes and nickels and a pile of pennies.


• She collects them and hands them to Danny.


• DANNY
• Thanks. Now I gotta figure out how to make some money by tonight so I can get a place to sleep.


• Amanda nods, hoping it is empathetic enough, as if she understands exactly how it is.


• He begins counting the change.


• Once again, Amanda tries to focus anywhere but on Danny.


• The bus stops again and again as it works its way up the avenue, filling up.


• She can't concentrate and looks back at him.


• He sits there looking straight at her with the eyes of a man who has profoundly given up.


• She looks him in the eye long enough to make her quick glance at the road feel natural...hopefully.


• The bus draws closer to the Santa Monica Blvd. stop and Danny stands, giving her a peace sign and shrugging.


• High school students crowd around him as they head for the bus doors, blocking her view.


• She looks back at the street and then suddenly she remembers.


• Her hands fly through her purse as she looks for her wallet.


• Finding it, she pulls out a $100 bill.


• The doors squeak open and she stands, pushing to try to reach Danny, she sees his shoulder and reaches out to touch him, but the crowd shifts, and the contents of her purse spill everywhere.


• High school students snicker as she goes to her knees to collect her belongings.


• She races then looks up, but he is gone.


• She sits back in her seat, looks at the bill, then crumples it up and tosses it in her purse.


• She puts her head back and stares up as the passing city lights flash across the ceiling.


• FADE TO BLACK.