351. The List - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. SAM'S APARTMENT - EVENING


• SAM's studio is neatly decorated with a variety of shelves, a hammock in the corner, and a desk with his laptop and a mess of cables, put half-heartedly in some kind of order, that lead to his exterior hard drives.


• The walls are covered with his framed sketches and paintings of beautiful, stylized women.


• Sam sits on a bar stool, a small art desk angled up in front of him, a pencil sketch waiting.


• A collection of fine-tipped colored pens sits on his knee.


• The door bell rings.


• SAM
• It's open.


• He doesn't waver, still intent on his bristol pad, a blue pen hovering above the sketch.


• MARK sticks his head in, the enters, closing the door behind him.


• MARK
• Oh, nice, I haven't seen some of the new ones.


• He scans the wall.


• SAM
• Yeah.


• MARK
• Sam? Sam? C'mon man, we gotta get you outta here, meet some real girls.


• SAM
• I'm good.


• MARK
• Seriously, dude. Look, it's not my style, but I got you a blind date for tonight. You're going to love her.


• SAM
• Really, I'm good.


• MARK
• Scared she won't match up to your ladies?


• SAM
• She won't.


• MARK
• You're clutching that list so tightly to your chest that you're never going to give yourself a chance to meet someone who could be even better than you imagined.


• SAM
• Not gonna happen.


• He begins inking in the sketch, his new woman's hair turning a vibrant aquamarine.


• MARK
• They're just pigment and stiff paper, canvas, whatever. C'mon - I may not be able to find you the perfect girl, but I betcha I can find the girl you can reach perfection with.


• SAM
• You've been planning to say that for a while?


• MARK
• Even practiced on the way over.


• Sam spins around to face Mark for the first time.


• SAM
• I appreciate the effort. You go take her out, she won't know the difference, I'm good.


• MARK
• Sam...


• SAM
• Mark.


• MARK
• Man, ugh! I, grrr.


• SAM
• Oh oops, am I pushing your buttons?


• MARK
• I just don't understand how you can just not try - how can you know you won't find something special - someone - without trying?


• SAM
• I've tried.


• MARK
• So why give up, man...there are so many possibilities, why just quit?


• SAM
• Look, I'm quite happy.


• MARK
• You're settling. Not the way you think you will if you end up with flesh and blood, but you are settling. You're giving away your chance to meet someone who might...


• He waves his finger at the wall of illustrations.


• MARK
• Who might be as good as one of your woman; maybe even match up to your list.


• SAM
• Thanks for the pep talk.


• He spins back to his desk.


• MARK
• She's an awesome writer - has always wanted to meet an artist. Says she loves how you guys see the world in a unique way. And you know she's right - you have this amazing ability to see beauty in every person you bump into.


• Sam spins back around, tempted.


• He pauses, then looks over at his shoulder at the sketch and infatuation creeps back into his eyes.


• He spins back to the sketch and hunches over his pen case, looking for the right shade.


• SAM
• I'm good. Enjoy your date - sounds like you two will hit it off. Look, you're already completing her sentences.


• Mark lets out an exasperated sigh and waits, hoping Sam will change his mind.


• He waits for another moment, but Sam is hunched over carefully inking his sketch.


• Mark's shoulders relax and shaking his head, he turns and slips back out the door, closing it quietly behind himself.


• Sam is lost in his work, smiling back at the graphite smile of the woman in front of him.


• FADE TO BLACK.