355. The Starlight Coast - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. AMTRAK COAST STARLIGHT TRAIN - DAY


• WILL wanders into the observation car of the train, marveling at the southern Californian coastline.


• He slides into a seat next to the massive window and stares as the train races north.


• He begins to doze off.


• LEANN walks into car and looks around for a free seat; she spots the seat next to Will and heads towards it.


• She stops in the aisle, leaning over to tap Will on the shoulder.


• He blinks sleepily.


• WILL
• Ehm?


• LEANN
• Hey, would you mind me sitting next to you?


• WILL
• Hmm? Oh, no, no, that's fine.


• She slides into the seat next to him and slips off her jacket, revealing a short-sleeved blouse with intricate button work.


• Cherry blossoms are tattooed across her right shoulder, the petals spilling onto her biceps.


• Will admires them.


• WILL
• Is spring your favorite season?


• LEANN
• Oh, no. I'm melancholy, and I think by definition we love fall - it's in our nature. The most bittersweet of seasons. I just need to remember, every once in a while, that spring is coming.


• WILL
• Cool. I'm a fall guy too.


• LEANN
• I suspected. I always daydream about meeting cool, like-minded strangers on the train. It doesn't happen nearly as much as it should. Thankfully, you were here today.


• WILL
• Well, I'm flattered. You travel the rails much?


• LEANN
• The rails?


• WILL
• Yeah, maybe shouldn't have said that out loud.


• LEANN
• It's ok. I live in Portland, but I do a lot of gallery shows in LA. It'd probably be faster to fly - well, I know it would, but trains, I'm completely in love with trains.


• WILL
• Oh, me too. Lived in Germany for a summer, was completely amazed at how easy it was to get around. Promised myself I'd use public transport as much as I could when I got back here.


• LEANN
• A man after my own heart.


• They smile at each other.


• LEANN
• Oh, look! This is one of my favorite parts of the coast.


• WILL
• You do do this a lot.


• LEANN
• Oh yeah.


• WILL
• It's beautiful.


• They watch out the window for a while in awe.


• Will relaxes into his sit again, content in the quiet.


• LEANN
• This might be a bit forward, sorry - would you mind if I used your shoulder as a pillow?


• WILL
• No problem.


• LEANN
• Thanks dashing train stranger.


• Will opens his mouth, attempting to find a response, then gives up.


• He gestures to his shoulder.


• WILL
• All yours.


• She puts her head down on his shoulder and he looks back outside at the world racing by.


• FADE TO BLACK.