360. The Borrowed Coat - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. THE SPOT SOUP KITCHEN - DAY


• The Spot is a small, cafe-like space, with 6 large, circular tables arranged neatly around the room and a few couches in the corners. Each table is decorated with Christmas candles and wreaths.


• The room is packed with a variety of homeless people enjoying Christmas dinner.


• A serving window connects the dining room with the kitchen, in which several volunteers are busy cooking.


• MIRI carefully monitors the turkey and potato wedges cooking in the oven.


• She bastes the potatoes with an herb butter mixture, watches for a moment more, then closes the heavy metal door.


• A box of clothes sits in a corner of the kitchen.


• Miri walks past it, to a stool over which her heavy wool coat is draped and feels around her pockets.


• She pulls out her cellphone and checks the time, then absently sticks it into her pants' pocket.


• MIRI
• Abby?


• ABBY, a tall woman busy searing chicken spins around.


• Miri jerks her head in the direction of the clothes.


• ABBY
• Oh, kids from one of the local churches...they're going to stop by and pick 'em up - take 'em to some of the shelters.


• MIRI
• Ah.


• She returns to the potatoes.


• The front door of the soup kitchen bursts open and a group of kids, wrapped tight in coats and scarves against the cold.


• The weave between the tables, talking and laughing loudly.


• FERNANDO, one of the group leaders grabs the box, spilling some onto the floor.


• He grabs them and grabs Miri's coat as well, tossing into onto the pile.


• FERNANDO
• Hey, thanks so much for letting use the space.


• ABBY
• No problem at all. How's it gone so far?


• FERNANDO
• Ah, it's been great, great. Some of the kids are going to head off and drop these off at a few places. Thanks again.


• Abby and Miri wave and he heads out, the flock of teenagers and young adults following him.


• Miri pulls the potatoes and turkey out of the oven, placing them on the serving window counter.


• MIRI
• Alright, Abs, I'm out.


• ABBY
• By darling, thanks for stopping by and helping - you and that fantastic turkey you make.


• MIRI
• You just want me for my turkey.


• ABBY
• All too true.


• Miri heads out of the kitchen and to the front door.


• She opens the front door and is hit with a blast of cold air.


• MIRI
• Oh!


• She closes the door and rushes back to the kitchen.


• Heading to the stool, she stops short, noticing that her coat isn't there.


• She looks around.


• MIRI
• Hey, has anyone seen my coat.


• ABBY
• Stool.


• MIRI
• Nope. I gotta find it - I've got my iPod in the pocket...and my keys! Oh, my keys...shoot!


• Abby turns around.


• ABBY
• Huh...you think that they?


• MIRI
• Nah, couldn't have, it wasn't close to that box.


• ABBY
• It was a bit.


• Miri waves her hand and turns in a circle, looking.


• She walks back into the dining room, searching.


• INT. CAR - DAY


• The box of clothes bounces along on the backseat of the car, a piece Miri's coat sticking out a few layers from the top.


• INT. THE SPOT SOUP KITCHEN - DAY


• The Spot is emptying quickly, its patrons bundling up and slipping out into the late afternoon.


• Miri and Abby washes dishes in the kitchen.


• ABBY
• Thanks for sticking around.


• She smirks.


• MIRI
• Not funny.


• ABBY
• Well, at least Fernando's looking for it.


• MIRI
• You know, the iPod doesn't really matter that much - I've got all the music on the computer anyway...but the keys. I need my keys. And it's cold! I'm not going out there without that jacket. It's my nice jacket. My hippie jacket from London.


• Abby grimaces sympathetically and keeps scrubbing at a pot.


• ABBY
• You did call him, right?


• MIRI
• I called - he's looking.


• MONTAGE


• 1. The car comes to a stop and clothes are grabbed from the box, Miri's coat gets shoved aside.


• 2. Miri sprawls on one of the couches in the now empty soup kitchen. She gets up and searches for the coat a bit, then goes the kitchen and grabs a broom and begins to sweep the dining room.


• 3. The car speeds off to its new destination, the box somewhat emptier.


• 4. Miri sits up straight on the couch, the broom leaning against the couch, inspecting her phone, then pacing.


• 5. The car is stopped in front of another shelter and more clothes are pulled from it.


• 6. Miri sits on the edge of a tabling staring off into space while Abby sits on the couch reading a magazine.


• 7. The car pulls into another shelter and the rest of the clothes are pulled out.


• END MONTAGE


• INT. MIRIAM'S HOUSE WOMEN'S SHELTER - EVENING


• Fernando stands in the corner of the shelter lobby speaking quietly into his cell phone.


• FERNANDO
• Hey, Hey Miri - Yes, this is Fernando. Ok, so I found your coat, but there's a problem.


• He looks across the room.


• LUCY is wrapped in the coat, enjoying its warmth.


• FERNANDO
• No, no - it's just that, it was given to someone. Um, I can get it for you.


• INT. THE SPOT SOUP KITCHEN - EVENING


• Miri sits on the couch, holding the phone sleepily.


• MIRI
• Oh, no, no, let her keep it. But just one favor.


• INT. MIRIAM'S HOUSE WOMEN'S SHELTER - MOMENTS LATER


• Fernando approaches Lucy awkwardly.


• FERNANDO
• Would you mind, um, could I see the coat for a second? I promise, I'll give it back.


• She looks at him skeptically.


• FERNANDO
• I just...there's something in the pockets, um, something that I have to give back to someone.


• She just looks at him.


• LUCY
• Well, I'm not taking it off.


• FERNANDO
• Umm.


• He reaches over gingerly and sticks his hand in one of the pockets - its empty.


• He tries the other one, but no luck.


• FERNANDO
• Is there an inside pocket?


• She contemplates for a moment, then slowly opens her coat.


• He carefully reaches inside and lets out a sigh of relief as he pulls out a tangle of keys, headphones, and the iPod.


• INT. THE SPOT SOUP KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER


• Miri holds the phone to his ear, half listening.


• She looks over at Abby, who waits expectantly, and whispers.


• MIRI
• He's so sweet, he searched all over East LA for that stupid coat.


• She smiles as Fernando says something.


• MIRI
• No, no, it's fine. I'm sorry you had to go searching - thanks so much, I really appreciate it. Ok, goodbye, you have a Merry Christmas too.


• She hangs up, slipping the phone into her pocket.


• ABBY
• So, did he find your jacket, is he bringing it back?


• MIRI
• Yes, no.


• She leans back into the couch cushions and closes her eyes, leaving Abby to stare at her, confused.


• FADE TO BLACK.