180. Fragility - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. YE OLD MUSIC SHOPPE - NIGHT


• Ye Olde Music Shoppe is small, comfortable venue, with couches scattered across the floor along with little end tables covered with candles.


• Tiny paper lamps hang from the ceiling, strategically placed to accentuate the mood.


• A small bar is tucked into a corner in the back and patrons whisper their orders to the bartender as musicians play.


• ROBIN sits on a dark blue couch with ANDREW as they wait for the next musician to play.


• ALYSSA, a slight woman in a t-shirt and faded jeans, steps onto the stage and climbs onto a bar stool.


• Her guitarist slips into the shadows of the stage and sits behind her.


• Her dark hair wraps around her face and down her chest.


• She turns and nods to her guitarist and his fingers caress the strings.


• Alyssa closes her eyes and begins to sing.


• Robin freezes and stares at her caught within moments by her voice.


• The whispering at the bar softens.


• Andrew yawns and looks over at Robin.


• Alyssa's voice dances between delicate whispers, so small that any other noise might shatter it, and powerful harmonies, rich with passion.


• Andrew leans over.


• ANDREW
• Well look at that, I can now say I've been present as an infatuation of yours was conceived. I'm glad I've actually witnessed this.


• ROBIN
• Shhhh.


• ANDREW
• So what does it for you about her.


• ROBIN
• Look at her, she's looks like Lisa Hannigan; and sounds like her too, but the stories she's telling, it's like a female Counting Crows; how could I not fall in love?


• ANDREW
• Lisa Hannigan?


• ROBIN
• Sings with Damien Rice.


• ANDREW
• Ah, right. I tell you what else it is; she seems fragile.


• ROBIN
• Come on.


• ANDREW
• Dead serious; you may talk the talk, equality, all that, but deep down, you want to rescue some girl...you're just dying to do that.


• ROBIN
• Oh come on, maybe I know I'm fragile and I want someone who understands that.


• ANDREW
• Sure sure. You know, the thing is, we're the fragile ones, so I'm glad you get that.


• ROBIN
• We're all fragile. We all break when we're dropped.


• Andrew rolls his eyes.


• ANDREW
• Ok, now that the cheesy is out of your system. Your problem is that you live in here.


• Andrew taps Robin's forehead.


• ANDREW
• You fall in love, date, and beak up with hundreds of women all in your head. You're an emotional slut in a weird one-way street kind of way.


• ROBIN
• Nice, real nice. Dude, can I just listen?


• Andrew shrugs.


• ANDREW
• Fight your fear or whatever...you should go talk to her.


• ROBIN
• Ehhh.


• ANDREW
• She has a nose ring, you love nose rings. I get it, you're fragile. Get over it. Go be fragile together. And I'm sure you love the fact that every song she sings breaks your heart just a little...y'all would be perfect for each other.


• Robin leans back, attempting to ignore Andrew and listen to Alyssa's set.


• Alyssa finishes up her sets and the small crowd claps appreciatively.


• She steps off the stage and Andrew looks over at Robin and raises an eyebrow.


• ROBIN
• Fine!


• Robin take a breath, gets off the couch and walks over to her.


• Andrew watches as Robin introduces himself and they begin speaking.


• Alyssa's face lights up and they move to a corner to talk.


• Andrew watches them for a bit, his lips pursed, then shakes his head wistfully.


• ANDREW
• I'm one to talk about being afraid.


• He takes a long look at Alyssa, then sighs and stands up, slowly walking to the door.


• He turns back one more time, then steps outside, the darkness swallowing him.


• FADE TO BLACK.