244. Portraits: Mae - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. SUNSHINE CAFE - DAY


• MAE sits on the edge of the sidewalk, the edges of her cargo pants whipped back and forth by the passing cars.


• Her brilliant red hair obscures the massive, industrial-strength headphones she is wearing.


• She holds a cup full of steaming tea in her hand.


• Dipping a finger into the tea, she captures a drop of liquid on her skin, then holds it up to the light; the bead of tea shimmers for a moment before she dabs it on her tongue, with a little smile of satisfaction.


• She does this again and again, drinking her tea with excruciating slowness.


• JOHN, sitting at a nearby table watches her quizzically.


• ARNIE, a waiter dressed crisply in black stops by his table.


• ARNIE
• Is there anything else I can get you?


• JOHN
• No, everything was delicious. I do have a question. What in the world is she doing?


• ARNIE
• Ha! I wish I knew. She comes here every Tuesday, gets a different tea and sits on the curb, drinking just like that. I don't think she's homeless, but...


• John stands up and walks over to her.


• JOHN
• Excuse me, excuse me, I don't mean to bother you, but...


• Mae dips her finger into the cup.


• He taps her on the shoulder and she calmly turns to him.


• JOHN
• What exactly are you doing and why?


• She smiles at him, shakes her head, and puts a finger to her lips, then turns back to the street, drinking the droplet from her finger.


• John returns to his seat shaking his head.


• ARNIE
• I'm kind of glad she didn't answer, it would have ruined the mystery.


• The two men stare at her, watching in confused awe as she holds a bead of tea up to the light.


• FADE TO BLACK.