185. Left Turns - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. SUBWAY STATION - DAY


• A train pulls to a stop spilling its contents into the station.


• MENA steps out of the train, her long dark hair spilling from a knit cap.


• Two silver lip piercings twinkle against her dark, red lipstick.


• She pauses, then finds a bench and sits down.


• She digs in her purse, retrieves her vibrating cell phone, and looks at the screen.


• The phone buzzes insistently; she studies the caller ID, pursing her lips, the takes a breath and answers.


• MENA
• Hi, Aaron.


• Two columns to the right of her, AARON leans against the shiny metal side of an escalator and waits, phone to his ear.


• AARON
• I remember how I first met you.


• MENA
• What are you doing Aaron?


• AARON
• You were slow-dancing in the rain, in the middle of the park. I remember the park lights making your hair glow.


• MENA
• You said something about me being an Angel.


• EXT. PARK BENCH - DAY


• Mena and AARON sit on the park bench HOLDING HANDS.


• EXT. PARK - NIGHT


• Mena stands soaked in the rain, grinning as she sees Aaron watching her.


• AARON
• Let me give you a ride home.


• MENA
• Ok.


• AARON
• Wait, you just trust me like that? You don't even know me.


• MENA
• You have a good face.


• EXT. PARK BENCH - DAY


• Mena and AARON sit further apart on the park bench their hands BARELY TOUCHING.


• EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT


• Aaron bikes through the rain, with Mena perched precariously on his handlebars as he weaves from the street to the sidewalk and back.


• INT. SUBWAY STATION - DAY


• AARON
• You said I had a good face.


• MENA
• You'll always have a good face, a great face.


• AARON
• That was the problem, wasn't it?


• EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT


• Mena readjusts herself on the handlebars.


• AARON
• Careful!


• They come to a stoplight.


• MENA
• Turn here.


• AARON
• Which way?


• MENA
• Left! Always turn left.


• INT. SUBWAY STATION - DAY


• Aaron looks out over the tracks.


• MENA
• I'm sorry Aaron. You are everything I should want; but I'm not really into what I should want. I know what I want.


• AARON
• And it's not me.


• MENA
• No. God, you're such a great guy, any girl would be lucky to have you.


• AARON
• Don't. I wanted you. I want you. Not any random girl.


• MENA
• Sorry. Aaron, I have to go.


• AARON
• I'll wait; I wish I could say I'd wait forever, but I not much of a romantic anymore. When you get tired of settling for jerks...


• MENA
• Maybe I'll bump into you then.


• Aaron hears her voice and spins to the left.


• He sees her and hesitates.


• He starts walking towards her, then turns back to the escalator.


• AARON
• Bye Mena. One day when you're ready, just turn right.


• He hangs up and walks to the escalator.


• EXT. PARK BENCH - DAY


• Mena and AARON sit at opposite ends of the park bench, their hands touching the wooden slats.


• EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT


• Aaron comes to a stop in front of an apartment complex.


• Mena hops off the bicycle handles.


• MENA
• Now you know where to find me. You should come by again and sooner rather than later. I won't wait forever.


• She gives him a long kiss on his cheek, smiles, and disappears into the building.


• INT. SUBWAY STATION - DAY


• Aaron watches Mena as he rises on the escalator.


• She slowly closes the phone, biting her lip.


• Aaron disappears as the escalator takes him higher.


• Mena glances right, hopefully, then seeing no one, stands, and walks left to the stairs.


• She turns back one last time, then walks up into the sunlight.


• FADE TO BLACK.