335. The Painted Lady - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. THE CLIFFSIDE - DAY


• The Cliffside is a cafe that lives up to its name.


• Perched on the edge of a beach-side cliff, it gives its patrons a generous view of the ocean through the massive picture windows on the side of the building that hangs precariously over the cliff.


• ELEANOR sits at a table by one of the windows, sipping a deliciously colored fruit concoction.


• She looks like she could have stepped out of a Good Housekeeping magazine from 1954, a flawless red luncheon dress and a matching red carnation tucked behind into her perfectly coiffed her, except for the fact that her upper torso is completely covered in colorful tattoos.


• A small silver ball protrudes above the left side of her mouth, an artificial beauty-mark.


• NATHAN, a young boy, no more than nine years old walks past with GINGER, his mother in tow.


• He tries to whisper to his mother.


• NATHAN
• Look at the painted lady mom!


• Eleanor laughs and Ginger turns red.


• GINGER
• Shhh. Apologize to the nice lady.


• ELEANOR
• Oh no, it's fine. You can come closer. See, they all tell stories.


• Nathan pulls his mom forward to look.


• GINGER
• I'm really sorry.


• ELEANOR
• Hey, are you about to order something?


• GINGER
• Yeah...


• ELEANOR
• I can keep an eye on him while you order.


• Ginger eyes her cautiously.


• GINGER
• Would you?


• ELEANOR
• Sure, it'd be my pleasure.


• Ginger lets go of his hand and Nathan ambles forward, shamelessly inspecting the tattoos as he gets closer.


• GINGER
• Thanks.


• She hurries off to stand in line.


• Eleanor pats the seat beside her.


• ELEANOR
• Here, I'll tell you one of the stories. Pick one.


• Nathan looks over the tattoos and jabs a finger at a small dragonfly wrapped in strange runes - a rose seems to grow from its torso upward.


• NATHAN
• What's that story?


• ELEANOR
• Well, once up on time, a young dragonfly prince was traveling to a far away land, for he was in search of a beautiful princess to be his companion. And one day, many months into traveling, he entered the might kingdom of the bee queen. He was granted an audience with her and told her of his quest. At the audience was the Queen's exceedingly beautiful daughter and the Queen noticed that the young prince and her daughter had fallen madly in love with a single glance. She promised her daughter's hand in marriage, if only he could finish three difficult missions for her.


• Ginger returns from the counter.


• GINGER
• Thanks so much for watching him.


• Nathan snaps out of his story-induced stupor.


• NATHAN
• But she's not done!


• GINGER
• Give the nice lady a rest Nate-darling.


• ELEANOR
• Next time you come, we'll finish it, ok?


• Ginger is already pulling him away, hot chocolate-to-go in one hand, and the keys to her car already in hand.


• Nathan turns back.


• NATHAN
• Ok!


• He leaves the cafe, smiling.


• Eleanor smiles back.


• RICH, one of the guys behind the bar yells out.


• RICH
• Your clock start ticking faster?


• ELEANOR
• You need to just hush, Rich. Just because I like kids...


• RICH
• Uh huh...


• ELEANOR
• Exactly, Shhhh! I could get used to this painted lady thing.


• FADE TO BLACK.

334. Mara's Muse - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. ALEX'S BEDROOM - NIGHT


• ALEX sits at his laptop, fingers hovering above the keys.


• He sighs and taps the desk, thinking.


• There's a large rap at the window and he jumps.




• He shakes his head and opens the window.


• MARA'S MUSE crawls through the window, all skirts and fishnets, somehow managing to seem dignified the entire time.


• MARA'S MUSE
• Hey Alex!


• ALEX
• I was hoping you weren't going to show up.


• MARA'S MUSE
• Dear boy, of course I was going to.


• ALEX
• It would be nice, just for once, to fall for someone without you showing up. I was going to really go someplace with this story, someplace new - different.


• MARA'S MUSE
• You hadn't even started.


• ALEX
• It would be nice, for once, to just enjoy the butterflies, the buzz, without you coming through the window.


• MARA'S MUSE
• But I'm Mara's Muse.


• ALEX
• Yes, yes, yes - goddess of all that is bittersweet. I know, I know.


• MARA'S MUSE
• Technically, I'm not a goddess. And you know very well you couldn't enjoy the butterflies without me.


• ALEX
• Sure...


• MARA'S MUSE
• Well, aren't you going to get me a seat?


• Alex jerks his hand over his shoulder indicating an empty chair by the wall.


• She shakes her head chidingly and pulls the chair over to him.


• She sits down primly and peers at the blank screen.


• ALEX
• Do you have to look over my shoulder?


• She ignores him.


• ALEX
• Fine.


• MARA'S MUSE
• You know you love me.


• Alex takes a deep breath and unexpectedly, his eyes fill with tears.


• He smiles, takes a shaky breath.


• ALEX
• Ah, there's that feeling.


• MARA'S MUSE
• Lungs get tight, room closes in, everything's painfully beautiful and hideous all at the same time.


• ALEX
• You know what you do. You don't need to brag about it.


• MARA'S MUSE
• You ready?


• ALEX
• Yeah.


• MARA'S MUSE
• Well, get started then, darling.


• He closes his eyes for a moment, steadies himself, then begins typing.


• FADE TO BLACK.

333. Infinite Worlds - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. WESTHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY - NIGHT


• SCOTT walks through the glass doors of the library.


• He strides past the the front desk.


• AMELIA sits behind the desk, small, square glasses perched on her nose, just behind a small nose ring which sparkles under the fluorescent lights.


• She watches him pass, then calls out.


• AMELIA
• Hey, welcome to the doorway infinite worlds.


• Her voice comes out just above a whisper, a little softer than she ended.


• Scott turns around.


• SCOTT
• Sorry.


• She clears her throat, embarrassed.


• AMELIA
• Eh, I said "Welcome to the doorway to infinite worlds." It sounded so much better in my head, I promise.


• Scott steps up to the counter.


• SCOTT
• Well, I appreciate the welcome. That's exactly what this is though, isn't it? You can step to the edge and pick a thousand worlds to explore.


• AMELIA
• Infinite worlds.


• SCOTT
• Right, right. I've been in love with books since I was a kid. I don't get here nearly enough.


• AMELIA
• But you always come at the same time. Um, I mean, I've loved books all my life too. I couldn't imagine doing anything else than working in a place full of books.


• SCOTT
• Wait, you're not going to get off the hook that easily. You mean you've noticed me every time I've come here? Flattering, but kind of stalker-y, no?


• AMELIA
• You haven't noticed me?


• She tries to sound flirty.


• Scott shrugs and she pauses and looks down at her feet for a second.


• SCOTT
• Hey, when does your shift end?


• AMELIA
• Eleven.


• SCOTT
• Well, I always thought your nose-ring was ridiculously cute, well, you too, I, uh, guess...so why don't you come find me when you're done. I'll be somewhere around modern Mexican lit. Maybe we can have coffee or something.


• AMELIA
• Hey, you can't get off that easy either. I thought you didn't notice me.


• SCOTT
• I didn't say that.


• AMELIA
• You shrugged.


• SCOTT
• And?


• AMELIA
• You're going to be difficult aren't you.


• SCOTT
• See, look at this, we already have witty banter; I predict good things. So?


• AMELIA
• Did you ever feel caught up in the drama of romance as a kid. Everything felt so urgent and deep and painful and beautiful?


• SCOTT
• I think that's a little personal. We're only now acting as if we notice each other.


• Just answer the question.


• Yeah, yeah I did. Wish I still felt like that. Wish something that romantic and urgent would happen to me. It'll never happen quite that way will it?


• AMELIA
• Ah, you make your own romance. 11.


• SCOTT
• So I'm approved?


• AMELIA
• Just go read your Octavio Paz or whoever it is you're tracking down.


• SCOTT
• Yes Ma'am.


• He backs up, a little grin on his face.


• She smiles back at him, self-consciously touching her nose ring.


• AMELIA
• Welcome to the portal...a portal that will open up an infinite universe of possibilities for you./li>
  
• SCOTT
• Still probably sounded better in your head, didn't it?


• AMELIA
• Oh, get out.


• He bows, then turns and disappears into the stacks.


• She watches him, bites her lip, smiling and unconsciously twirling her ring.


• FADE TO BLACK.

The carnival




• I'm wondering when this splintered wooden gazebo will collapse on my head. Since I'm a seer I'm supposed to know when it will happen. I'm supposed to know how old it is too, but I don't. All I know is it isn't going to hold up much longer under this crazy Georgian weather we're having. I'm under this death trap of a stupid thing because they don't think my act warrants them spending money on a new building or a canvas tent like everyone else has. They didn't even provide me with my own crystal ball. I picked one up last year for ten dollars at a New Age store in downtown Memphis. My wardrobe consists of a burgundy turban and long gold earrings inlaid with pearls. I wear a matching purple saffron robe. If I don't fit the stereotype people won't think they're getting ripped off. Don't get me wrong, they want to take me seriously, but not that seriously. It's their way of having insurance in case they don't like what I tell them. They can say, "Oh, that old crackpot with a crystal ball? She works at a carnival for a reason you know."
  
  There's enough eyeliner and makeup on my face to make me look twenty years older. My friends have always asked me when I would retire. They say I'm burned out and that this job has just about sucked the life out of me. I always tell them, when my real face catches up with my makeup-face, that's when I'll quit. The truth is I want to quit, but at the same time I can't.
  
  Earlier today I did a reading for a seventeen-year-old boy, still young enough to believe in the illusion of love and hope. He still believes that maybe, just maybe if he makes all the right choices his life will be good. He's still too young to realize that you can't cheat life. To quote a good friend of mine, Reagren Wright, "life fucks each and every one of us equally and indiscriminately". My job isn't to destroy anyone's naivety, or conversely, to coddle anyone. My job requirements are to simply state the truth, however tragedy-laden it might be. This boy wanted to know if Sarah were the one. He wanted to know what their futures held. I didn't want to tell him that she was a shameless junky. That he would spend almost a year in prison because of her. Or that he would contract a blood-born disease from sharing needles and having sex with her. How do you tell someone that? I took a sip of some bourbon, gnashed my teeth over the nasty tatse and just dealt with it.
  
  Not everything is so pitch-black around here though. Sometimes there are light-hearted cases that break up the monotony. Today, a man came in here flirting with me. He didn't look at my cleavage, which apparently turns all the heads. He just locked his eyes into mine and told me how interesting he thought I was and how beautiful. I didn't want to tell him that he was gay, and that he would finally admit it to himself three weeks and twelve hours and forty-five minutes from now. He would try to pick up a girl from Cleaner's Bar on 7th Avenue in Atlanta. He'd get her home and wouldn't be able to perform. At first he'd blame it on the rum. When she left he would finally come to terms with it. I don't have time to baby sit someone who doesn't know if he likes the hot dog or the taco. I only owe him the truth and I tell him. Lucky for him the crystal ball and the purple towel on my head can ease his conscience for a while. I'm just a carnie, a nut case. He can just think that I'm a little off. Until he goes to that bar and picks up that brunette and the humorous reality will come crashing down on his head like this wooden gazebo. Just his luck. Just my luck, that this strapping young man was as gay as a lavender butterfuly. I never said my job wasn't hard and it takes all kinds.
  
  Some futures are malleable. Some are not. Sometimes no matter what you do you're stuck with it. Other times you can avoid it. Either way, you can chose how to deal with it and therefore I've never believed in destiny. Funny thing, that I never believed in destiny being a psychic and all. You can always make lemonade, right? That's what I want to believe and that's the part of me that keeps me going. It keeps me from ending it. Until next time, I leave you with my wisdom. The daily grind of my day telling fortunes and taking people's money.
  

332. Haiku - Thanksgiving Songs

• 1.
  Half-drunk Mimosas
  Bright red with whole raspberries
  Blurry with laughter.


• 2.
  Neil Young sings away
  Stir in bits of laughter,
  Soft conversation.


• 3.
  Just one, one more bite
  Have to try that apple pie
  Stomach hurts so good.

331. Those Darn Little Lines - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. BEACH - DAY


• RICK, ANDY, and MARTIN walk comfortably along the crowded beach, bare and sandaled feet digging into the soft white sand.


• Ahead of them is a large plastic barrier cutting the beach in half, across which music blasts.


• ANDY
• Dude, this is the hottest party of the year, how in the world did you land tickets?


• RICK
• I ran into one of the organizers at the bar last night. Linda, I think. I mean how much better can you get? This is the way to end a weekend.


• Martin grins at Rick.


• MARTIN
• You used some of that famous charm of yours?


• RICK
• You are not going to bring that up again are you? Jerk.


• MARTIN
• I'm just saying.


• RICK
• I did not accidentally call her father a greedy pig and then proceed to dump my drink down her dress...accidentally. Seriously, I only did that once.


• MARTIN
• Once is enough.


• ANDY
• So true. Oh, the look on Amy's face when you did that.


• RICK
• Three years and you still haven't let go of that.


• MARTIN
• No reason to.


• They reach the party entrance and the BOUNCER eyes them.


• RICK
• Hey, we're on the list. Rick Jenner and two guests.


• The bouncer scans the names, then nods and stamps their hands.


• The three saunter in, freshly marked with little red scorpions.


• EXT. THE SCORPION CLUB 2008 BEACH PARTY - DAY


• Past the plastic barricades, a few acres of sand are packed with young bodies moving to the music.


• A DJ spins on large stage at the center of the crowd.


• RICK
• Y'guys want something to drink?


• ANDY
• I'm good.


• MARTIN
• If they have Fat Tire...


• RICK
• Cool.


• Rick wanders off through the crowd to the bar.


• ANDY
• This is cool, kinda makes me feel like I've made it - living the life.


• MARTIN
• Something like that.


• He eyes a guy grinding with his bikini-clad girlfriend.


• MARTIN
• Look at that - I mean, I wouldn't mind dancing like that with my girl - but I'd want to be someplace private, that isn't something I need to share. Oh, go get a room.


• ANDY
• Oh, I think they're there.


• MARTIN
• Tell me about it.


• Rick returns, holding two Fat Tire beers.


• He hands one to Martin.


• Martin nods, clinking bottles with Rick.


• They watch the crowd move.


• Two scantily clad DANCERS work their way up to the stage.


• Andy nudges Rick, who elbows Martin.


• RICK
• Dude...


• The dancers climb up on stage, their cropped, black t-shirts emblazoned with a large red scorpion.


• ANDY
• Scorpion girls?


• RICK
• Mmmhm.


• They stare in awe.


• Martin sips his beer and shuffles uncomfortably.


• The girls begin dancing, moving towards each other.


• The crowd volume rises to a shriek as they begin grinding each other.


• MARTIN
• Guys, I can't stay.


• RICK
• What, why?


• MARTIN
• You know.


• ANDY
• Seriously, dude?


• MARTIN
• I'm not going to get on a soapbox, you've heard me do that enough.


• RICK
• Seriously though.


• MARTIN
• C'mon. I'm a feminist...and a Christian, some stuff just doesn't work well with that combination.


• RICK
• So what, you going to come at me from the sin angle or misogyny angle.


• MARTIN
• Neither. I'll see you guys at the hotel.


• Rick shakes his head and turns back to the stage, not really expecting Martin to leave.


• Martin pushes through the crowd working his way to the edge of the stage.


• Andy watches Martin reach the exit.


• Martin turns back for a moment, contemplating the stage, then disappears bast the barriers.


• Andy watches the exit for a moment, then turns back to the stage.


• FADE TO BLACK.

330. Haiku - Thursday Songs

• 1.
  Beat pounds like a heart
  Bodies twist and blur, opaque
  And the pulse goes on, on.


• 2.
  Hair like mud long-dried
  Bus stop, oasis of dry,
  Tap, tap of raindrops.


• 3.
  Gentle traffic hum
  Relax, melt into plastic
  Journey down Sunset.

329. Little Red - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. DESERT - DAY


• ISAAC walks wearily across the empty landscape, thirsty for a simple change in scenery.


• He walks with a slow and steady pace, his well-worn boots thumping rhythmically on the sand.


• A flask of water is flung around his shoulder and his carries a full backpack.


• A group of rocks rises out of the horizon and Isaac walks quicker, moving towards them.


• He blinks as he catches sight of red cloth billowing in the wind from the rocks for an instant, then it is gone.


• He moves even faster.


• EXT. ROCK FORMATION - DAY


• Isaac finally reaches the rocks.


• He looks around for the flash of color.


• RED steps out from behind a column of rock above him.


• She seems to tower above him from her rocky perch.


• She is wrapped in a red hood that shadows her eyes.


• She wraps the cloth around her, knee-high black boots peeking out from behind the cloth.


• ISAAC
• Was I sent here to see you?


• RED
• And who sent you?


• ISAAC
• God told me to come here.


• RED
• Well, it's time for you to leave. The wolf is coming.


• Isaac shakes his head.


• ISAAC
• But I'm supposed to be here. Where am I supposed to go?


• RED
• No, it's time for you to leave. You need to leave now. Think hard, who are you?


• ISAAC
• Isaac.


• RED
• Where did you come from?


• ISAAC
• I...I, God sent me.


• RED
• You can't remember.


• ISAAC
• God sent me.


• RED
• Hurry, think harder.


• ISAAC
• I, I really can't remember. Am I crazy?


• RED
• You're just shifted.


• ISAAC
• Shifted?


• Red holds her hands palms out in front of her face and moves them apart.


• RED
• No one's really crazy. They've just shifted dimensions. Bits of them in one, bits in the other. But you, you need to get out before it's too late. The wolf is coming.


• ISAAC
• I'm so confused.


• RED
• Please, concentrate. I can hear him, he's coming.


• Isaac closes his eyes.


• The very distant sound of snarling comes from beyond the rocks.


• ISAAC
• I can't.


• She reaches down and grabs him by the arm, pulling him up to her.


• RED
• You get behind me. Work on getting out of here.


• ISAAC
• How do I unshift if I don't even know what shifting is?


• RED
• You just look for that memory, that one memory beyond the desert.


• A large wolf appears beyond the rise of the hills, snarling, his teeth bloody as he charges for the rocks.


• Red pulls a massive gun from beneath her cloak and brings it to her shoulder.


• RED
• You get out now; as long as you're here, I can't hold him off forever.


• Isaac squeezes his eyes shut, concentrating hard.


• ISAAC
• I think, I remember, something...it's, it's all white.


• He begins to fade.


• Red glances back.


• RED
• Good! Go, go, hold that memory.


• ISAAC
• How about you?


• RED
• Go! I'll be just fine, I've killed the big bad wolf before.


• Isaac flickers.


• Red sights along the barrel and fires as the wolf prepares to leap.


• The wolf dodges and leaps into the air, fangs bared.


• Isaac disappears and Red fires again, the impact of the bullet freezing the wolf in midair before he collapses onto the desert floor.


• INT. SNAKE RIVER HOSPITAL - DAY


• saac blinks, inhaling sharply.


• He sits, straitjacketed on a cot in a white room.


• FADE TO BLACK.

328. Rites - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. NANCY'S BEDROOM - DAY


• NANCY, an eight year-old, sits cross-legged on her bed, carefully combing her doll's hair.


• LUKE, also eight, sits across from her, swirling pieces of a puzzle around on the bed spread.


• NANCY
• You know, you're never going to get it done like that.


• Luke shrugs and keeps swirling the pieces around.


• Nancy sighs and continues to comb.


• LUKE
• Next time we play dolls, we should have all the boys go through a rite?


• NANCY
• What?


• LUKE
• In doll years, they're old enough. They should have some kind of ceremony.


• NANCY
• Are you trying to replace your own need for ritual by creating a ritual for the dolls?


• LUKE
• I have my own rituals.


• NANCY
• Like what?


• LUKE
• My Mom and I go driving every week, find someplace new. On Fridays we make supper together.


• Nancy waves her hand in annoyance.


• LUKE
• That's not a real ritual. It's not the life and death ritual of the ancient world.


• NANCY
• Have you been reading Joseph Campbell again?


• LUKE
• So what?


• NANCY
• I think you're making the mistake of creating a noble savage complex. Humans back then were so much better, so much wiser... Meh, people are people; and people are poopy a lot of the time.


• LUKE
• Well, I think he's right. I think we don't have any real rituals in our society. And the rituals we do have aren't grounded in myth the way they used to be.


• NANCY
• Oh, blah, blah, blah. We have rituals, just not as many massive overarching rituals. We're a pluralistic society. We have rituals that are unique to families and sub-cultures.


• Nancy wrinkles her nose at him.


• LUKE
• Besides, Joseph Campbell had a massive chip on his shoulder against modern humanity. We're humans, we make myths and we make rituals - that's why the dolls should have a rite, not because we're so needy for ritual in our lives.


• Nancy is silent, still combing.


• Finally she stops and holds the doll out to Luke.


• NANCY
• I'll consider it. Want to play with Princess Twinkles?


• Luke takes the doll happily and Nancy grabs the puzzle pieces and squints, concentrating on her new task.


• FADE TO BLACK.

327. On the Brink - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. THE PRESIDENT-ELECT'S HOME - DAY


• Three aides, TEDDY SANCHEZ, RICK MCGRAW, and LIZ SANDERS, sit quietly at a large table stacked with notes and briefings in the living room.


• They watch the hallway expectantly.


• A door squeaks open and purposeful footsteps echo down the hall towards them.


• A SECRET SERVICE AGENT in a dark suit, stands near the table.


• He raises his wrist to his lips.


• SECRET SERVICE AUDIENCE
• Appleseed is on the move.


• ELENA DIAZ, a small, dignified woman bursts out of the hallway trailed by two AGENTS.


• The aides pop out of their seats.


• ELENA DIAZ
• Sit, sit. I'm not the president yet.


• RICK MCGRAW
• You'd have been upset if we didn't.


• ELENA DIAZ
• Furious.


• The four grin at each other and Diaz grabs a chair and joins her aides at the table.


• LIZ SANDERS
• How's it feel, your first security briefing?


• ELENA DIAZ
• We're all going to die.


• TEDDY SANCHEZ
• Just as I suspected.


• A newspaper hanging over the edge of the table shows a picture of Diaz standing at the podium at her victory speech.


• It has a one word headline, "Finally!"


• Elena leafs through a newspaper.


• She pauses, then lets off a frustrated sigh.


• ELENA DIAZ
• Why? Seriously why?


• LIZ SANDERS
• What?


• ELENA DIAZ
• The idiocy about the cabinet appointments. The trash from the right doesn't bother me, I mean, it's to be expected. But what's with all the anger from the left? Suddenly I'm betraying them.


• TEDDY SANCHEZ
• Ignore it. We'll show them when we change things.


• RICK MCGRAW
• Maybe, but it's still upsetting. They trusted us enough to throw their support behind us and get us elected. What's with all the second guessing?


• ELENA DIAZ
• You know, in my perfect world, I would have a cabinet full of progressives. This isn't a perfect world. Can't they understand that for me to get anything done, I need to have this team. They want all those progressive changes?


• LIZ SANDERS
• Then deal with the team we have, 'cause they're going to make it happen. They sound as dimwitted as the other side.


• ELENA DIAZ
• Exactly.


• TEDDY SANCHEZ
• Feel better?


• ELENA DIAZ
• Much, been wanting to go off about that for a while now. Alright, what's on our plate for today?


• LIZ SANDERS
• Well, let's start with what we're going to do about the treasury department, I'm not sold on any of our choices yet.


• There is a knock on the door and a Secret Service agent opens the door.


• MINDY, the president-elect's body woman slips in and whispers to her.


• Elena leans back and sighs.


• ELENA DIAZ
• Tell them.


• MINDY
• India just launched a nuclear warhead at Pakistan.


• TEDDY SANCHEZ
• God...


• ELENA DIAZ
• You ready for this?


• LIZ SANDERS
• Yes ma'am. We were elected just for this point in history.


• RICK MCGRAW
• I'll get the Pentagon on the phone.


• LIZ SANDERS
• Give the White House a ring after that. Let's see if we can coordinate something.


• Elena looks at all of them as they move into action.


• ELENA DIAZ
• So it starts. Guys.


• Everyone pauses.


• ELENA DIAZ
• Be careful not to tread on the White House's toes. It's guaranteed we won't like their response; but we're not in charge yet.


• They nod.


• ELENA DIAZ
• Well, go!


• Blackberries and cell phones appear from nowhere and the room is filled with a rush of energy as the aides begin to form strategies.


• Elena watches them with a quiet pride.


• She stands and walks to the large window looking over her yard.


• She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, then turns, and heads back to the table.


• FADE TO BLACK.

326. The Hollow Girl - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. THE MEDIOCRE - NIGHT


• The Mediocre is a club that is anything but. Flat couches hang above the heads of the guests sitting on low chairs and couches, and are accessible by rope ladders.


• ALAN watches in amusement as a girl in a tight skirt attempts to climb the rope ladder while maintaining some dignity.


• THEO returns with their drinks and sits down next to him.


• THEO
• Your cranberry juice, good sir?


• ALAN
• Why thanks. Oh, look, they even stuck a lime in for me. I can be a real boy too!


• Theo snorts and leans back into the couch, nodding to the beat and sipping from his glass.


• Alan taps his finger along with music and watches the DJ, who is dancing in her perch across the room.


• A girl with short, curly hair passes and something about her attracts Alan's attention.


• She turns, revealing that some of the hair on the other side of her head is cropped shorter.


• A small tattoo rests behind her ear, and rings cover her ear, in contrast to the other side of her head which is free of any type of modification.


• The effect is attractive and disconcerting.


• ALAN
• You should go talk to her?


• THEO
• Nah, she's just a hollow girl.


• ALAN
• Excuse me?


• THEO
• Not her really, I guess, but my expectations for her, she simply becomes a shell for the person I want to her be. I'll get to know her, and sure, I'll appreciate who she really is, but I'll be more disappointed by who she isn't?


• ALAN
• Good night, you've kind of set yourself up for failure.


• THEO
• Well, when you approach someone at a club, it's understood that you're looking for a certain, ehm, level of relationship. I don't want to just pick up random people, no matter how cool. I want to get to know someone, and then hey, I know what I'm getting into, and no disappointment.


• ALAN
• You're a sad, sad man. I mean, you told me you used to daydream about how cool it would be to meet someone spontaneously.


• THEO
• And that's why it's a daydream; stuff like that doesn't happen.


• ALAN
• It can, darn it! But you won't know if you don't stop hiding behind excuses and actually meet her.


• Theo glances over his shoulder, scanning the room for her.


• ALAN
• Look at you, you need to just talk to her - even if that's the only thing that happens. You're so idealistic you've become paralyzed. Go.


• THEO
• You have to help me find an entry point.


• ALAN
• What?


• THEO
• If I'm going to go talk to her, I need to find a way to start a good conversation.


• ALAN
• Oh, for the love of Buddha!


• THEO
• Hey, you're the one who wants me to talk to her.


• ALAN
• You know you do too. Ok, ok, fine. Her piercings?


• THEO
• Nah.


• ALAN
• Hairstyle, clothes?


• THEO
• Too much potential for disaster.


• ALAN
• You're just trying to be difficult.


• THEO
• Yes.


• ALAN
• Ah, screw it.


• THEO
• Thanks for playing.


• ALAN
• Yeah, yeah. So, when I have kids, I'm limiting the time they have with you. I would very much like them to end up as balanced adults.


• Theo laughs, but his eyes are distant, still following the girl across the room.


• FADE TO BLACK.

325. Safe - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY


• HENRY wanders down the aisles in a crisp new suit that doesn't fit him quite right, staring in awe at the massive collection of potato chips.


• He tries to select one, and finally grabs one, almost in despair.


• He makes his way to the counter, his craggy face newly-shaven.


• He puts the bag on the counter.


• DALE sits in front of seemingly endless rows of cigarette cartons, his face worn hard with years and struggle.


• Their eyes meet and they nod.


• DALE
• That's it?


• HENRY
• Yeah, that'll be all. To many options. How do you even make a choice?


• DALE
• You're telling me, brother.


• Henry looks around the store again.


• DALE
• How long?


• Henry pauses, calculating.


• HENRY
• Two days.


• DALE
• Seven years, 3 months, 18 days.


• HENRY
• You never stop counting?


• DALE
• No. Funny, in there, you count down, out here, you're just counting back up.


• They pause.


• Henry eyes the cash register.


• Dale catches his eye and holds his gaze.


• DALE
• Don't do it, brother.


• HENRY
• I'm sorry.


• DALE
• Look at you, in that nice suit. There's somebody waiting for you isn't there? They've thrown a party for you. Go, go to your party, go be with your somebody.


• Henry pulls a gun from his waistband.


• HENRY
• Everything from the cash register.


• DALE
• Brother...


• HENRY
• Do it!


• Dale pulls bills from the register and puts them into a paper bag, sliding it across the counter and Henry grabs it.


• DALE
• Look, just go.


• HENRY
• You haven't pushed the button. Push it.


• DALE
• No, just got, please.


• HENRY
• Push it!


• Dale shakes his head.


• Henry puts the gun to his head.


• DALE
• Brother, there's no need for that.


• HENRY
• Push it, or you'll live with my face in your head for the rest of your life.


• Dale reaches under the counter.


• HENRY
• I can't do it. It's too much. I need to be someplace safe.


• Sirens sound in the distance, moving closer and closer.


• Henry puts the gun down, still clutching the bag of bills.


• HENRY
• Thank you.


• They stand in silence, waiting.


• FADE TO BLACK.

324. A Perfect Place - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. MELROSE AND CURSEN - NIGHT


• ANDI and EMILY walk past the lit windows of shops, bundled up against the cool night air.


• EMILY
• I'm just not a fan of the idea that art isn't beautiful. Art, I mean, to me, art is inherently something that is well-crafted.


• ANDI
• Isn't that a really shallow, mm that's harsh - narrow, isn't it a narrow definition of art. And who says that just because somethings ugly it's not well crafted?


• EMILY
• I dunno, all the dada, neo-dada, abstract, expressionist stuff...it's just - ridiculously hard to swallow. And half the stuff looks like people aren't really even trying.


• ANDI
• Maybe the trying is in the conceptualizing - maybe the final creation of it doesn't require painstaking effort - but was the thought that resulted in that creation painstaking.


• Strains of live Christmas music from behind a closed door stop them.


• A guitarist transitions from a gentle reggae-styled "Joy to the World" to a gentle, Spanish-styled "Silver Bells" while a violin accompanies it gently.


• Andi closes her eyes, listening.


• EMILY
• Can't they just wait? Its' not even Thanksgiving yet. Everyone's so eager to dive into the holiday madness.


• ANDI
• Shhh.


• Emily turns in surprise to see her friend standing by the door, eyes closed, and tears streaming down her face.


• EMILY
• Whoa. And you're the one who likes ugly art and doesn't do holidays.


• ANDI
• Not even going to...I may not "do" Christmas, but these songs take me someplace. I close my eyes and everything's perfect, and there are cobblestones, and stone, and smiling musicians.


• She chokes a bit


• EMILY
• I'm sorry it makes you so sad.


• ANDI
• It's not sad, it's not happy either. I think there are a thousand emotions we will never name. This is one.


• EMILY
• Let's go...it's getting colder.


• Andi almost whispers.


• ANDI
• Just a little more, please.


• She leans closer to the door, absorbing the music for a while.


• She is lost.


• Emily shivers and her teeth chatter a bit, snapping Andi out of her reverie.


• ANDI
• Sorry, let's go.


• She wipes the tears off her tricks, leaving tiny, silver trails and begins walking again.


• The two head away on the sidewalk to the strains of "What Child is This?"


• FADE TO BLACK.

323. Haiku - Red Riding Hood Songs

• 1.
  Little Red Riding Hood,
  Not so little anymore
  And she's grown fangs too.


• 2.
  Wolf-man came for me,
  But I was waiting for him,
  Little grin, big gun.


• 3.
  No need for woodsmen
  Red and her battle-scarred ax
  Oh, they'd do just fine.

322. Gummy - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. LITTLE SCOOPS YOGURT SHOP - DAY


• ROBERT sits glumly at table for two as EVIE sits across from him cheerfully digging into a bowl of Cinammon-Vanilla topped with butterfingers.


• She eats and watches Robert, contemplating his face.


• Getting up suddenly, she walks quickly to the counter.


• Robert watches as she gestures animatedly at the toppings container, grinning.


• The SERVER laughs and fills a plastic bag, then hands it to her.


• She returns to the table and plops down a bag full of gummy bears.


• EVIE
• Here, this used to always cheer me up.


• She pulls gummy bears out of the bag and begins arranging them on the table.


• EVIE
• I used to do this when I was kid and I was in a bad mood.


• She looks at the formation of colorful bears for a second, then proceeds to pop them, one by one in her mouth.


• ROBERT
• That's probably unsanitary. Actually, now, not probably, it is, ridiculously unsanitary.


• EVIE
• Shhh, don't ruin years of tradition. Here, you try.


• She shoves the bag towards him.


• He ignores it.


• She sighs and pulls more bears out of the bag and starts arranging them on a napkin in front of him.


• EVIE
• C'mon, just try.


• ROBERT
• Fine.


• He half-heartedly arranges them into two lines, then eats them, one by one.


• Evie returns to her frozen yogurt, pretending to ignore him.


• He finishes eating the bears, then returns to his sulking.


• She keeps eating.


• He sneaks a glance at her, and satisfied she is distracted, he slips more bears out of the bag, arranging them into intersecting diamonds, then eating them.


• He tries another arrangement, then stops looking up and sees Evie watching him.


• A smile plays around her lips and he fights to keep a straight face as he pushes the bears around.


• Evie turns back to the window, smirking just a bit, while Robert eats his latest formation of gummy bears.


• FADE TO BLACK.

321. Moving On - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. MAMA B'S PIE HOUSE - EVENING


• ANTHONY sits comfortably in the window booth, lovingly contemplating a massive slice lemon meringue pie.


• LARNELLE sits across from him, his peach cobbler untouched as he stares out the window as students from the nearby university pass.


• A girl with big hoop earrings, an art portfolio, and a flowing skirt stops in front of the cafe to check something in the portfolio.


• LARNELLE
• Oh, look, she's absolutely your type. Mmm, and she's got an art folder thingy...portfolio? Anyway, yeah.


• Anthony glances briefly out the window, then takes a bite of his pie.


• ANTHONY
• Mmm. That's good.


• LARNELLE
• Dude, what's wrong with you? I mean, just based on looks, you need to run out there and take a knee, or at the least get her number.


• ANTHONY
• This pie is amazing, oh, wow...I love lemon, I love meringue. I love this pie!


• LARNELLE
• Seriously?


• ANTHONY
• Look, I realized a few weeks ago that I'm probably not ever going to meet the right woman and so I'm working on not caring anymore.


• LARNELLE
• Excuse me?


• ANTHONY
• Well, I used to think I knew what I wanted, and I guess I still do...but I know what it looks like in my head - not in real life, and I don't think I ever will. I don't think I'll ever know how what I'm looking for looks, seems, is, in the real world.


• LARNELLE
• Brother, you're messing with me aren't you? I mean, your "dream girl?" That's all you've ever wanted.


• ANTHONY
• I'm dead serious. I don't think she exists, and if she does, I won't know how to find her. And just as well, because the deeper issue here is if I really am sure that what I'm looking for is the right thing for me. I could be completely off, find what I thought was right, then end up miserable. Or, I could find the girl who seemed like she was the ideal I'm looking for, only to find out, she's missing something vital that I was looking for.


• LARNELLE
• Alright, now you're just making me depressed.


• ANTHONY
• My problem is, I want perfection. Not a perfect woman, a woman who will be perfect with me. And since perfection doesn't exist and since I couldn't live with anything less, I'm just letting myself off the hook. I'll be a happy old spinster.


• LARNELLE
• One, I don't think guys end up as spinsters and two, that's is a terrible image you've stuck in my mind - I may never forgive you.


• Anthony savors another slow bite of pie.


• LARNELLE
• You need help, and she looks like she could give you some. If you won't get her number, I will.


• Larnelle stands up, walks outside and approaches the girl, gesturing carefully inside.


• Anthony watches him mildly for a moment, shakes his head, then returns to his pie.


• FADE TO BLACK.

320. Gladiators - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. CAR ON 101 FREEWAY - DAY


• DANNY slouches thoughtfully in the passenger seat of the car, watching the flow of cars.


• LIZA taps her fingers on the steering wheel as they whizz along the freeway.


• The sky around them is thick with smoke from fires north of LA.


• The sun forces its way through the gloom, but visibility is terrible, the hills and buildings disappearing quickly into smog.


• DANNY
• I was driving here a few days ago and there was a whole fleet of fire engines headed up towards the fires.


• LIZA
• Yeah?


• DANNY
• Yeah. It was kind of moving, this army of guys going up to risk their lives and face one of the more terrifying elements. I mean...fire, fire is scary crap.


• LIZA
• Scary crap, yes, yes it is.


• DANNY
• Anyway, I was looking at their faces as they passed, and they all had these looks of quiet intensity. You know? They were prepared, stoic - there was a nobility to them.


• LIZA
• Isn't that romanticizing it all a bit?


• DANNY
• Who're you talking to? Of course it is, but that's what I do. I felt like declaring that I salute all those about to die, or something like that.


• LIZA
• My, my, aren't we over emotional?


• DANNY
• You should have seen it. Modern knights.


• Liza shakes her head and returns to tapping her fingers to the music.


• LIZA
• I think saluting those who were about to die belonged to gladiators, not knights. And the first isn't nearly as noble a calling.


• DANNY
• Look, here come some!


• A line of fire trucks is pulling past them in the lane left of them.


• Liza glances over and catches the eye of a fireman riding behind the driver.


• He looks focused, waiting patiently for his chance to dive into the flames.


• Her face softens as yet another truck moves past.


• The trucks pass, and Liza and Danny watch in quiet awe as the firefighters race north, deeper into the smoke.


• FADE TO BLACK.

319. Haiku - Sick Songs

• 1.
  Hammer to my brain
  Red hot needles through my eye
  And oddly cheerful.


• 2.
  Scratch that, feeling worse
  Washing machine in stomach
  Churn, pause, churn, pause, churn.


• 3.
  Sleep calls so gently
  Against the drum in my head,
  Painful lullaby.

318. The Ring - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. BOXING RING - DAY


• The old boxing ring is dark, sunlight pushing its way through windows thick with dust.


• The seats surrounding the ring are folded; they drip with cobwebs and the waste of years past.


• The sounds of thudding reverberate from the ring.


• EVAN O'MALLEY is a thick, intimidating man; even more intimidating in his boxing trunks and gloves.


• He glistens with sweat as he pounds away at JOSH PATRICK.


• Josh is an even larger man, with thick muscles.


• He stands in a bloodied t-shirt and jeans, doing nothing to fend off Evan's blows.


• Evan is staggering, but with a sharp yell, he launches a barrage of vicious blows against Josh.


• Josh staggers, but won't even raise his bare fists.


• He shuffles towards Evan and tries to hug him.


• Evan pounds away and Josh falls to his knees.


• Evan doesn't stop, now kicking at Josh.


• Josh staggers up and despite a blow to the stomach, stumbles towards Evan again, attempting to hug him.


• Evan works to keep pouring his remaining energy into his devastating blows while Josh continues to stagger towards him attempting to hug Evan and being battered back.


• The strange, horrifically beautiful tango continues over and over again like an infinite loop.


• FADE TO BLACK.

317. Black - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. JERRY'S BOOK SHOP - DAY


• JERRY sits behind the counter of the book store, a cozy space which contains an even mix of rare titles and standard Barnes and Nobles' fare.


• He leans back on his stool, watching the traffic pass on the sidewalk outside.


• The door swings open and Cary walks in.


• CARY
• Yo, Jerry. Slow day...


• JERRY
• Yeah, it is.


• Cary leans against the counter.


• CARY
• You still on for the barbecue next week?


• JERRY
• You better believe, as long as no one has an issue with me bringing a few veggie dogs for the wife.


• CARY
• Picky that way eh?


• Jerry grins and rolls his eyes.


• JERRY
• Vegetarians...


• Cary chuckles.


• Two black guys pass the store, dressed in chains and pants that sag severely around their waists.


• CARY
• Hey, no offense, but why the heck do black guys dress like that? It just seems stupid.


• JERRY
• I don't.


• CARY
• Well, yeah, but you're not really black.


• JERRY
• Excuse me?


• CARY
• Aw, c'mon man, you know what I mean, you don't even sound black.


• Jerry exhales, then takes a deep breath, then exhales again.


• JERRY
• What does "being black" even mean to you?


• CARY
• You know, how most black people act?


• JERRY
• Wow, just...look, first of all, there is no "being black." It's not like all thirty-seven million of us get together in our monolith and plan what we're going to do.


• Cary looks at him blankly.


• JERRY
• Look, it's a class thing, not a race thing; and you've taken one particular class and stretched that to cover millions of people. It's as if I took a WASP from an old money family, then looked at and said, "You're not really white, because you're not like this." Or if you took a redneck from Appalachia and said "This is what all white people are like."


• CARY
• Ummm.


• JERRY
• We American blacks are descended from a thousand African cultures, mixed with Europeans and Native Americans...how could we possibly be all alike?


• Cary moves away from the counter.


• CARY
• Dude, was just trying to make conversation. Next Sunday?


• Jerry shakes his head and disbelief.


• JERRY
• Yeah, I'll be there.


• Cary slips out the door and Jerry throws up his hands in the air.


• JERRY
• Let those with ears, let them hear...and he obviously is missing that part of his anatomy.


• FADE TO BLACK.

316. How I'd Like to Go - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. CAFE EXOTICA - DAY


• ZIA sits on one of the many couches scattered around the large, but cozy cafe.


• Her pink hair is perfectly coiffed into graceful coils.


• A lock of hair spirals past the square frames of her glasses which highlight her small, oval face.


• The thin, unzipped hoodie she wears reveals a t-shirt with a print of a stylized dandelion.


• She flips idly through an old Newsweek.


• Samir sits next to her, his arm curving over the top of the couch as he sips his tea.


• He's dressed in pin-striped cargo pants, a button-up shirt, and a vest, an elegant anachronism.


• ZIA
• Awwww.


• SAMIR
• What?


• ZIA
• This lady was killed by her husband's casket on the way to his funeral.


• SAMIR
• Ok...one, this elicits an "awww" from you? And two...you're one sick little pyscho. And allow me to emphasize the word little.


• She slugs him and he smirks at her.


• ZIA
• C'mon. There's a kind of romantic irony to that.


• SAMIR
• I was going to say bitter irony, but sure, semantics.


• ZIA
• I'd love for that to be me.


• SAMIR
• Oh, you are sick. Well, as long as its me in the coffin in your little fantasy.


• ZIA
• There's just something complete about that, to have the day memorializing your husband's death be the day that you die. Mmmm, there's a satisfying finality to that.


• SAMIR
• Yes, dear.


• ZIA
• That's how I'd like to go.


• SAMIR
• Of course, dear.


• Zia narrows her eyes and glares at him, then whacks him again.


• He smiles and returns to his coffee and she drops the pseudo-anger and puts her head on his shoulder, a mass of pink against his dark vest.


• FADE TO BLACK.

315. Bobby and the Great Balloon Rescue: A Balloon Parable - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. BOBBY'S BEDROOM - DAY


• Bobby sits on his bed admiring the flock of balloons filling his room.


• They are every color imaginable and the light pouring in from the window filters through the balloons, casting colored light onto the floor - creating a small cathedral with buoyant stained glass.


• A slightly opened window gently pushes the balloons around.


• A small, red balloon bobs, floating towards the window, then with a quick motion is pulled outside.


• Bobby is on his feet in a moment, scrambling for his small tennis shoes.


• EXT. BOBBY'S STREET - DAY


• Bobby races down the street, the balloon far ahead.


• His feet pound the pavement and he gets closer and closer to the balloon, which has stopped its progression.


• It hovers tantalizingly close, then a draft of wind pulls it away.


• Bobby stops, panting, then continues running after it, past houses and bemused neighbors.


• He loses sight of the balloon and stops looking around.


• Bobby begins to walk slowly, looking around for the balloon.


• He swerves back and forth as he stares up at the trees around, not watching where he is going.


• Finally he spots a patch of read high in a tree.


• He circles the tree, plotting a strategy.


• Strategy completed he begins climbing.


• Bobby struggles up the branches, stretching to reach the ones high above him.


• He pulls himself up to the balloon and frees it, carefully tying it to his wrist.


• He slides and half falls back down the tree, finally landing, scraped, but happy, on the ground.


• INT. BOBBY'S BEDROOM - DAY


• Bobby unties the balloon from her arm, letting it go and watching it join the the rest of the balloons hovering by the ceiling.


• FADE TO BLACK.

314. Alanna and the Shared Balloon: A Balloon Parable - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY


• ALANNA sits on the swings happily, a yellow balloon tied around her finger.


• She swings back and forth, her eyes following the yellow sphere as it bobs back and forth.


• ERIC sits glumly at the base of the slide, scooping up handfuls of sand and tossing them back onto the ground.


• He looks wistfully over at Alanna's balloon.


• Alanna catches Eric's eye on the downswing.


• She slows the swing, looking at him, then following his eyes to the balloon.


• She makes a face and jumps off the swing.


• Alanna begins to walk away, then stops, and looks at Eric's wistful face.


• She makes another face and walks over to him.


• She pulls the balloon off her finger, ties it around his and smiles.


• He looks at her, then the balloon and breaks out into a huge grin.


• Standing up, Eric races off towards the jungle gym, balloon happily in tow.


• Alanna slowly makes her way back to the swing, kicking at the dirt.


• She passes a bush and stops suddenly.


• A yellow balloon is bobbing, tangled in the branches.


• She looks back - Eric is still playing happily with his new balloon.


• She frees the balloon, ties it to her finger and hops onto the swing, gazing contentedly at her balloon.


• FADE TO BLACK.

313. Alexander the Liberator: A Balloon Parable - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. CITY PARK - DAY


• ALEXANDER peddles gleefully down the park path, his small bike, a mass of color, with a dozen balloons tied to the back.


• He bikes past a small pond, whizzing past ducks who honk in protest at the little boy disturbing their peace.


• The path becomes steeper and Alexander works harder, his little legs pumping furiously.


• The path grows narrow as trees crowd in.


• Alex slows, working harder.


• He finally makes it to the top of the hill and lets out a long breath.


• He pushes his bike to the edge of the hill and looks over the edge.


• He grins as the sun sets over the park.


• A breeze tugs at the balloons and he looks over at them.


• His smile dims as he watches them pulling at their restraints.


• He watches for a moment, then sighs, his smile disappearing.


• They tug hopefully at the bike seat.


• He trods solemnly to the bike and pulls the balloons free.


• Walking to the cliff edge, Alexander purses his lips then lets the balloons go.


• They race away on the wind, colors racing upward.


• He turns away, walking slowly back to the bike.


• A lone blue balloon floats up, then stops, hovering as Alexander returns to the bike.


• The balloon wavers, then descends.


• It brushes Alexander's shoulder and he turns, his face lighting up.


• Taking the balloon, he sits at the edge of the cliff, and together, they watch the sun slowly sink.


• FADE TO BLACK.

312. The Commuter - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. THE DANCING BEAN COFFEE SHOP - day


• ABBY stands behind the counter in a light black hoodie watching the sun rise over downtown, light glinting off of glass of the buildings around the intersection.


• She grabs a local newspaper from the counter and stars flipping through, scanning the financial section.


• She is curvy, a few inches short of six feet, arms covered in tattoos.


• Each of her ears have matching plugs and matching silver rings.


• LENA, the other barista, is a tiny black woman, each piece of her uniform pristine.


• LENA
• What are you reading?


• ABBY
• Just the stocks...always good for a laugh.


• LENA
• You're not laughing.


• Abby gives her a look over the top of the newspaper and Lena smiles innocently.


• She checks the steamer.


• ABBY
• Heads up, first customer.


• Two sheriffs' deputies push through the doors of the shop.


• DEPUTY VINCE
• Hey girls, the usual for me. You?


• DEPUTY DEVINE
• Same, heavy on the cinnamon please.


• LENA
• Just like always. You guys ever think of branching out, trying new things?


• The deputies chuckle.


• Abby puts down the paper.


• LENA
• You're good, I got this one.


• She busies herself preparing the coffee.


• Abby snaps the paper back into position.


• She looks up for a second and hisses at Abby.


• LENA
• Your boy's back.


• Abby peers over her paper.


• TED is crossing the street towards the coffeeshop.


• He wears jeans, an untucked button-up shirt, and a pageboy cap at a slight angle.


• ABBY
• Every Thursday.


• LENA
• He's been coming here...how long?


• ABBY
• We're into month 5.


• LENA
• Think he'll ever ask you out?


• ABBY
• He'd better...spending money to travel 5 miles on the bus every week to see me? Yeah, he's going to get sick of that soon.


• LENA
• He's been doing it for five months...maybe he should grow a pair. Wait...5 miles? He told you that?


• ABBY
• Yeah, was asking him if he was from around. Said he liked the coffee here - was worth the commute.


• Lena snorts.


• ABBY
• It's kind of cute. Be nice.


• Ted walks into the store and Abby puts the paper down.


• ABBY
• Hey, what can I get for you.


• TED
• Ummm, let me grab a scone and get some black currant tea.


• ABBY


• TED
• Yeah, that'd be great.


• Abby tosses the scone in a small toaster oven and starts brewing the tea.


• Ted stands in front of the counter inspecting the selection of muffins.


• ABBY
• Here's your scone. I'll bring the tea to your table.


• TED
• Thanks.


• He sits down and slowly eats the scone while reading The Onion.


• Abby finishes the tea and slips around the counter placing the tea onto his table.


• She smiles and he smiles back, shyly.


• She returns to her station and returns to her paper, watching him.


• Lena looks over at Abby.


• Better luck next week eh?


• LENA


• Abby rolls her eyes at Lena and turns to the classifieds.


• FADE TO BLACK.

311. The Morning After - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. CATHEDRAL - MORNING


• ADA lies in a dark patch under a massive Rosetta the Cathedral wall.


• Colored sunlight recreates the pattern on the dusty floor.


• She wakes up with a start, her eyes popping open as she grabs her neck in panic.


• Two livid bites mark her neck.


• She looks around but sees no one.


• Slowly moving to her feet, she cautiously walks into the patch of light streaming from the stained glass.


• Her skin sizzles and she screams running out of the sunlight into the shadows.


• She looks at her arms as the burned skin smooths, healing.


• Ada looks around, then runs through the pew to the font of holy water in the back of the room.


• She looks down into the water.


• Her face is pale and when she opens her mouth, two fangs curve almost delicately where her incisors once sat.


• She backs away from the image in shock, stumbling into a pillar.


• Taking a deep breath, Ada tries not to panic.


• She goes back to the water and takes a second look, trying to slow her breathing.


• She pulls her hair back and slowly bares her fangs.


• Despite herself, she smiles a bit, almost shyly at first, then with a hint of pleasure.


• The flash of deviance frightens her and unexpectedly, a dark, red tear forms in the corner of her eye and falls into the font, creating red trails that radiate down into the water.


• She backs away and retreats to a windowless grotto.


• The door of the church opens and a young priest walks in.


• Instinctively, Ada licks her lips hungrily.


• She stops in the middle of the motion, realizing what she is doing.


• Horror seeps into her eyes.


• She blinks away more tears and interlaces her fingers tightly.


• Then without another thought, she dives into the sunlight.


• She screams as her skin bubbles and then she explodes in a fine mist of ash which falls gently through the colored sun beams.


• The priest stares in horror, staggers backwards before racing out the door, leaving the ash to fall gently like flakes of gray snow, onto the hard floor.


• FADE TO BLACK.