354. A Tomaszewski Christmas - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. WARSAW OLD TOWN (STARE MIASTO) - DAY


• ABEL walks the edges of the Old Town's market square, staring up in awe at the colorfully painted buildings that ring the cobblestoned area.


• He is so lost in the world above him that he doesn't notice KSENIA barreling towards him on her bike - and she, distracted by the the bags she is trying to balance on the bike.


• Abel steps right into her path and she slams into him sending the two of them sprawling.


• He scrambles up.


• ABEL
• Prosze...eh...przepraszam? Ehm...


• Ksenia sits up.


• KSENIA
• It's ok, I speak English.


• ABEL
• I'm really sorry.


• Ksenia shrugs.


• Abel rushes to help her put her bags back in order.


• She stands, righting her bike.


• ABEL
• Where are you going? I can help.


• KSENIA
• Just there.


• She points to a small shop at the end of the square.


• Abel hoists the bags and they walk across the cobbles, Ksenia pushing her bike.


• She parks the bike in front of the shop and Abel hands her the bag.


• ABEL
• Sorry again.


• KSENIA
• No problem.


• She takes a closer look at him.


• ABEL
• Have a good day.


• He begins to head off.


• KSENIA
• Wait, you - are you here in Warszawa alone?


• ABEL
• Yeah, just traveling around for my vacation.


• Ksenia tsks and shakes her head.


• KSENIA
• Come, have dinner with my family. It's no good to be alone for Christmas.


• ABEL
• It's not Christmas today.


• She tilts her head.


• KSENIA
• Of course - it is the whole...


• She waves her hands searching for words.


• KSENIA
• The whole season, the season is Christmas, it is Advent. Come.


• ABEL
• Well, when you use that tone of voice.


• KSENIA
• What?


• ABEL
• Nevermind.


• She opens the door, grabbing the bags from him and shoos him in.


• INT. TOMASZEWSKI FAMILY STORE - DAY


• She closes the door behind her and pushes Abel to the back of the store to a flight of stairs.


• They head up the stairs to first floor of the residence.


• INT. TOMASZEWSKI DINING ROOM - DAY


• They enter a large, comfortable living room/dining room area.


• MR. and MRS. TOMASZEWSKI and GRANDMA TOMSZEWSKI are seated around the dining room table.


• Mrs. Tomaszewski is a thin, open-faced woman, Mr. Tomaszewski a thick man with strong hands, and Grandma, a small woman with a face that is filled with stories.


• Ksenia drops her bags.


• KSENIA
• Czesc!


• MR. TOMASZEWSKI
• Czesc Ksenia!


• She turns to Abel.


• KSENIA
• To Jest...


• She looks at Abel quizzically.


• ABEL
• Abel, Abel Martyn.


• KSENIA
• To jest Abel. Abel, this is my Baba, my Mama, and that's Babcia. I am Ksenia, Ksenia Tomaszewski.


• She points to her father, mother, and grandmother.


• Abel waves.


• ABEL
• Dzien Dobry.


• The grandmother smiles broadly and thumps the chair next to her.


• MR. TOMASZEWSKI
• Come, come.


• They sit and in a moment, Abel has a large bowl of soup in front of him.


• He eats, savoring the warm food as the family around him laughs and talks.


• MRS. TOMASZEWSKI
• Soup with, eh...grzybowa i kapusniak.


• She motions with her hands.


• KSENIA
• Wild mushrooms and cabbage.


• ABEL
• It's really good...dobra, dobra.


• The family beams.


• MR. TOMASZEWSKI
• Dessert, sernik i makowiec!


• He grins.


• KSENIA
• Cheesecake and poppy seed rolls.


• ABEL
• Oh wow.


• MONTAGE


• They eat, moving from soup to smoked salmon, cabbage salad, and roasted chicken.


• Abel is surrounded by a swirl of polish words and food.


• END MONTAGE


• When they are finished, Mrs. Tomaszewski bustles about clearing the table and replacing the main course with the dessert.


• Abel samples the cheesecake and rolls while the family expectantly watches.


• ABEL
• Oh, wow, that's really amazing. Dobra!


• They laugh and smile, launching into their own helpings.


• Abel finishes the cheesecake and stands.


• ABEL
• Thank you very much, dziekuje. It was amazing. I'm sorry, I have to get going.


• Mr. Tomaszewski stands and claps Abel firmly on the shoulder, shaking his hand.


• Abel shakes Mrs. Tomaszewski's hand and Grandma waves him over, planting a wet kiss on his cheek - he grins at her and she flutters her eyelashes.


• KSENIA
• Babcia!


• Abel moves to the door.


• KSENIA
• Tch, I take you. Where are you staying?


• ABEL
• Ehm, right across the river, on Florianska street.


• KSENIA
• Oh, it is, as you say, the bad side of the tracks.


• ABEL
• Or river in this case. Well, the hotel price is right.


• KSENIA
• Ok, I take you.


• ABEL
• Thanks.


• KSENIA
• Baba?


• MR. TOMASZEWSKI
• Oh? Oh!


• He pulls keys from his pocket and hands them to Ksenia.


• KSENIA
• Come on.


• ABEL
• Thank you again!


• MR. TOMASZEWSKI
• Welcome, welcome.


• ABEL
• Bye, eh, do widzenia?


• MRS. TOMASZEWSKI
• Do widzenia!


• They wave and Abel and Ksenia head down the stairs.


• EXT. TOMASZEWSKI ALLEY - DAY


• Ksenia pulls a scooter onto the small alley behind the house and gets it started.


• She hands a helmet to Abel.


• ABEL
• How about you?


• KSENIA
• I'm ok. Get on.


• He obeys and they speed off, her hair blowing behind her.


• MONTAGE


• They ride through the square, exiting the old city across the Slasko Dajbrowski bridge that straddles the Vistula river.


• They cross the bridge, the skyline shimmering behind them.


• They enter the more modern part of the city, ancient cathedrals dotting the gray, communist architecture that dominates this part of the city.


• They wind through small streets until they reach Abel's hotel, a warm-looking five story building near a movie theater in the slowly gentrifying neighborhood.


• END MONTAGE


• Abel hops of the bike and hands Ksenia the helmet.


• ABEL
• Thanks - that was a pretty amazing lunch. It was nice to be around people again.


• KSENIA
• Yes, you need at least one good meal during Christmas. Otherwise...pffft.


• ABEL
• Thanks.


• KSENIA
• Ah, now you can go back to your friends in America and tell them about the, hot, hot yes? The hot girl you seduced on Christmas, no?


• Abel blushes.


• ABEL
• Ehm, no, not really my style. I will tell them about the beautiful polish girl who I nearly killed and who repaid me with a great meal.


• Ksenia laughs.


• KSENIA
• You have a merry Christmas Abel Martyn.


• ABEL
• And you too, Ksenia, Tomas, Tomaszewski.


• She smiles, pats him on the cheek and speeds off.


• He looks after her for a moment after she is gone, then smiles, shakes his head, and heads into the hotel.


• FADE TO BLACK.