The Raccoon Wars - SimplyScripts
A Mojave Voter
Original Screenplay
By Josh Farris
“You should not see the desert as some far-away
place of little rain. There are many forms of thirst.”
—William Langewiesche—
“To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or
become better, it appears to me.”
—Abraham Lincoln—
Act I
PRESENT TIME
FADE IN:
[1] EXT. SAN FRANCISCO — DOWNTOWN — BUSY FRIDAY MORNING
CLOSE ON A FACE: THE STRANGER, an elderly man, well-dressed in an expensive baby blue suit, exhibits his trademark coolness in his gait as his face peers above the heads of the foot-traffic to look for DAG JOHANSSEN, the protagonist—the future President of the United States of America. THE STRANGER and DAG’s genuine character as a working man stand out in our early frames as THE STRANGER spots DAG, his task, walking the opposite direction. THE STRANGER’s past good looks are evident in a weathered, yet distinguished face. Cynically expecting a punk to whom a loose definition of God has assigned him to guide, THE STRANGER is surprised by what he sees in DAG, goodness, an edge, an old world male way of carrying himself; he looks presidential: he’s tall, handsome and in possession of broad, commanding shoulders.
THE STRANGER has been warned that he has just days to interact with DAG and make his set of impressions—his guidance and assistance is supposed to be only through words.
THE STRANGER’s POV: DAG approaches and THE STRANGER initiates a game of chicken: CAMERA SWERVES INTO DAG’s PATH. DAG is not afraid; more startled and annoyed…readies himself for possible altercation…acquiescing to the elderly man, he let’s out a deep breath—giving the elderly man the benefit of the doubt and athletically slides aside.
[REPLAY THE SAME SCENE BUT FROM] DAG’s POV: THE STRANGER, staring DAG down, aggressively walks directly at him with an eerie and disconcerting grin that widens with each step and the game of chicken with the same near-miss results happen again.
DAG loses the game of chicken within the foot-traffic on the busy sidewalk. THE STRANGER smiles in victory; DAG feels anger in defeat.
INT. VIEW OF STREET BEHIND SHADED OFFICE WINDOWS — SLOW MOTION — NO SOUND (Rewind to third view of same game of chicken; THE TERTIARY VIEW)
We view the same scene a third time, but this time from the side.
EXT. STREET — RETURN TO REGULAR SPEED AND SOUND
We now see Dag has a friend walking with him—TODD STAHL: handsome, short, humorous and outgoing; but, he is currently pensive over a political / business project he is deeply involved in. TODD notices how THE STRANGER seemed to intentionally cut Dag off. This snaps him out of his mood.
TODD
Hey old man, watch where you’re going!
THE STRANGER turns and, whilst skipping backwards, spryly shadow boxes in the boys’ direction (mainly staring at Dag), as if he were sparring with him.
DAG
He seemed like he knew me.
TODD
He seemed crazy to me. He’s got some moves though; look at that. A little geriatric Ali, no?
DAG
Yeah, right. One uppercut. The day I can’t take an old man…
TODD
(sarcastically)
No way, really? You think you could beat up that old man? (trying to enliven the mood, TODD initiates a pretend slap fight with DAG) I get inside on a tree like you and…
DAG
Don’t tempt me, son. (returns the pretend sparring) I’ll embarrass you in front of (stops and nods at four women, four abreast, approaching from a block away)…a gaggle of Miss Americas. Eleven o’clock.
TODD
(squinting)
I need my lasik redone. Apparently I have a refractive error.
DAG
People say that about you and frankly I agree with them. Um, by the way, what is a refractive error?
TODD
I think it means my eyes aren’t working.
DAG
What are they, early forties?
TODD
You mean like 40/20 or 45/20.
DAG
Noooo, guessing the age of the eleven o’clock ladies.
TODD
Oh. I’m seeing them now. Maybe…and that’s perfect: they’ll be looking to have fun, not be saved. We know I’m no savoir, and the prince role frightens you.
Genuinely offended, DAG shoots TODD a dirty look.
DAG
(flashing rare insecurity, self-doubt and vulnerability)
Have I ever said that? Do you actually believe that?
TODD
What are you so down about anyway? I’m the one taking on the ownership and re-starting, if you will, of an entire political party.
DAG
I told you I’d help. They’re getting close; what are we doing?
TODD
I need full time help. I need a can…duh…date. Sound it out. Those website ideas you drunkenly spewed out the other night were things I have already been told by a website company; whose main contact, by the way, is incredibly attractive Manhattan girl.
DAG
You met with your Manhattan hottie consultant?
TODD
Not exactly: found a pic on the web of her.
DAG
Stalking the help; nice. Seek counseling, not a (says the word very slowly) candidate for President of the United States.
TODD
Totally, dude. Where are our ladies?
DAG
They stopped to look in a window. And, uh, hey, 1981 just called, they’d like the use of the phrase “totally, dude”, back.
They stop and stand next to the women, pretending to be window shopping with them.
TODD
Tell 81’ that I’m a renaissance man.
DAG
Totally, dude.
TODD
(loudly)
Hey, let’s walk back the way we came and then make a u-turn so we can walk past those beautiful women.
THE GROUP OF WOMEN smile; DAG and TODD slowly stroll back whence the way they came. DAG looks around for THE STRANGER; he’s watching them but Dag does not see him.
TODD
That’s totally you, you just have no direction; which, of course, you would get from me.
DAG
What?
TODD
It’s a much better path than this clinically insane path of starting a handful of jobs at once. I still don’t get it. The cons are obvious; explain the pros again.
DAG
Within four days I could potentially be employed at four companies.
TODD
I can’t see over the crowd; where’d they go?
DAG
They’re looking in a shop window. They’re still on the radar. Do you want to hear about this or not?
TODD
Do you notice that we ignore each other’s questions about half the time?
DAG
How about answering a question with a question?
TODD
You talking to me?
DAG
Instead of picking the best offer, I pick the best company I am working for. You know much more about a company when it’s for real.
TODD
You think you are going to know that much after working there just one week.
DAG
Job is a week; a girl is one night; a dog takes about year, depending if you got it as a puppy or not.
TODD
Yeah, well…here they come…I’m trying to merger with a company that may create the third biggest political party since the Whigs. And we still need to talk about your crazy venture.
DAG
Good point—about your thing, not mine. Here we go.
A GROUP OF FOUR (30’s and 40’s) STRIKING BUSINESS WOMEN approach and the nonverbal flirtation between the two groups is immediate and obvious. DAG and TODD abruptly stop and pretend to be discussing business in a loud and mocking way. Neither seem to be the mature, depressed men lost in their occupational thoughts from one minute earlier.
TODD
(mocking a creative consultant)
Soooo, I pitched the idea in front of the old man and he loved it!: A thorazine-laced sippie cup!
DAG
(nodding with mock excitement; eyeing the women with
flirtation as they walk by)
Love it! Love it! Brilliant!
TODD
(loudly, so the women can hear)
With the kids all zombie-like all day, just think how much time women like these will have for, um, EXTRACIRUCULAR ACTIVITIES!
Charmed, THE WOMEN laugh as they pass by.
[2] EXT. DESERT – SUNNY DAY
CAMERA FOLLOWS ERICA DEBS, exceptionally attractive, short, very fit, 30 years old; LONG, FLOWING, WAIST-LENGTH, CURLY HAIR. She walks at a leisurely pace, apparently enjoying a footpath around a desert hill she often walks. She stops and looks behind her as the footpath wraps around the red rock mountain.
AERIAL VIEW
BLACK COUGAR is in a gallop and then speeds up, lowering it’s body into predator mode as its menacing gait expands…we anticipate ERICA will be attacked as the COUGAR is running on a footpath similar to the one ERICA is on.
ERICA’s POV: She is wearing a tight, yellow, sweaty, 70’s style t-shirt that says: “No woman can think clearly whilst her fists are clenched.” She has stopped walking, has her hands on her hips and is turned around facing the direction she had been walking. With no signs of fear, but plenty of annoyance and curiosity, she slowly starts to backtrack down the path. ERICA walks slowly back down the path with her head leaning out, so as to be able to see farther down the path. Her pounding intuition tells her something is coming after her. She increases her speed to a slow jog and is anticipatory of something undefined.
EXT. DESERT — DAY — MOUNTAINTOP
On the top of a red-rocked mountain a YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER, 30 years old, thin, wiry, dressed in 50’s or 60’s era, sweaty, working-man clothes, stands and watches something below him and in the distance. CLOSE ON THE FACE OF THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER: his face is intense with worry as something important to his assignment is unfolding on the desert floor below him. We do not see his POV; we assume the black cougar is about to attack Erica.
[3] EXT. SAN FRANCISCO — DOWNTOWN
DAG and TODD have walked further down the same street. DAG is unnerved as he notices THE STRANGER across the street.
DAG
That crazy old man is now across the street. He’s watching us. He’s following us.
TODD
He’s following you, Hero. I got enough problems; plenty on my mind; plenty to deal with. Hell, good; let him play foot-traffic chicken on the other side of the street. That should be our motto for life: Let the crazy run wild on the other side of the street; then when The Revolution—our political party in which you will be our leading candidate-
DAG
I truly wish you’d stop that.
TODD
When the revolution starts we’ll need that crazy guy and his friends and we’ll lure him everyone with political lightning in a bottle.
DAG
How trite.
TODD
Politics will be hip again.
DAG
Hey, that guy is really looking hard at me.
TODD
Just ignore him. I refuse to be intimidated by the clinically insane. One of those two-in-one drugs that makes you happy and kills your back pain. Whatever is in the news, there’s your hip.
DAG
You say it like it’s not now.
TODD
Whatever is hot in the news will be the simpleton bait; and then we change the system; and, my brutha, we don’t feel guilty about having some money and girls fall into our laps, either, ok? I want your overly ethics-ridden ass promising me on that now. What am I saying?: You’re the guy applying for four jobs at one time. Ethics, anyone, ethics?
(pause)
The more I think about it the more I think you should be President of the United States.
DAG
Did you see the type of class and, at least from the look of it, intelligence those four women had? The ones we just passed and flirted with.
TODD
Yeah, I remember one minute ago. They dressed smart; is that your point?
DAG
That’s the type of flash and substance you will need to lift Democracy Today off the ground. Those four woman…dressed nice…intoxicating…eye candy with brains. The type of women—not girls mind you—you meet on airplanes or at health food stores.
TODD
Are there health food stores in bad neighborhoods?
DAG
I’m trying to make a legitimate point over here.
TODD
It’s a legitimate question!
TODD
I’m lining everything up. I have all the parts in place except a candidate (playfully pushes DAG). You got the height, but you may need a nose job. We should probably get that handled soon before we caught up in the all the before and after pictures.
DAG
You are out of your mind. (pointing across the street) Hey, that crazy old man is mirroring us. He looks like he has on a different colored jacket.
TODD
(ignoring him)
The whole point to starting a new political, changing the world, uniting the frustrated with the carefree against the corporations would be all about NOT seeing value in people dressed like them.
DAG
I just said his jacket color changed.
TODD
I’m talking about the four women.
DAG
Oh.
TODD
Respect...the sales edge...I can’t even remember if that was you or I who just said something about an intoxicating beautiful woman. Regardless, those are all absolute necessities to get the ratings and TV interest up so the media coverage is intense. It’s our only shot.
DAG
Stop saying “us” so much.
TODD
I’m not saying 40 year old women in $700 blazers is the key to my…this…political,
um, foray-
DAG
It’s a third political party; a new party. Be bold.
TODD
Yes, but it sounds so ambitious—ambitiously daunting.
DAG
We can do it.
TODD
(get’s excited that Dag used the word “we”)
Ah ha!! You are on board.
DAG
A verbal slip.
TODD
So, you’re attempting to start precisely four jobs at once and then pick the best one.
DAG
Traditional is to get four offers and pick the best one; I’m just taking it one step
further. Because it is going to work so well, next summer there will be specialist
whom HR will have to hire to prevent people from doing this because it makes so
much sense: people treat you different once you’re hired. The ones who go lunar on you, you dump; the companies’ whose culture, promises, treatment of you, etc., you stay with that one.
TODD
What if they’re all like that?
DAG
Not in this lifetime. If a couple are good, I feel bad and pick the best. It’s just like dating except you have to actually say goodbye to one.
TODD
If God’s a girl, she heard that one.
DAG
She is and I’m going to hell anyway. Speaking of evil, I start a job in ten minutes and then have an interview this afternoon. How’s that for cart before the horse? And then I’m on a plane to Vegas for a bachelor party.
TODD
Wow. The folds of life.
DAG
The folds of time. Especially with you and I and, respectively, what we’re attempting in our little lives, our realms of idiocy…time should the determinate on whether our ambitious plans come to fruition.
TODD
That made no sense. I have no idea what you just said. You will make a wonderful candidate.
DAG
So is it the folds of time or life?
A youthful homeless man starts walking with DAG. Dag is agitated and reminded of The Stranger bothering him a little earlier.
DAG
I don’t have any money. Plus, I’m in the middle of a conversation with my friend.
HOMELESS MAN
I was just going to ask you for a quarter.
DAG
Well now you don’t need to.
The homeless man turns and walks away and Todd shakes his head but cannot help but laugh.
TODD
And you called me low.
DAG
My moods are swingy.
TODD
Back to the folds.
DAG
The folds.
TODD
It’s the folds of the only things that count: sex and money. I don’t know what that means either. I do know that nine out of ten times you give that guy a minimum of two dollars and I’ve never seen you rude.
DAG
And in my run for presidency you’d probably be my speechwriter. We’ll give guys like that a shave, some clothes pocket money and a motel for one week. Life is good. A month from now you will have launched a great third party that will set the youth of this country on fire again and I will have used revolutionary jerkwater tactics to secure the least of four evil jobs.
TODD
Pessimism will get you bad Karma. Karma will probably insist that you get three or five jobs, since this tactic is going to make some hiring managers look pretty silly.
DAG
There’s always a couple of really interesting people that I connect with at a job and it happens right away. A month from now I will have a half dozen, new, really cool people in my life where, if I’d have only accepted one job, I would only have two. Wait (pretending to do math on an imaginary chalkboard), carry the two…
Both men laugh.
TODD
I have a meeting with Democracy Today next week. I flattered them by telling them that I thought our collective forces could be powerful because they were the intellectual legitimacy that our experiment would need to succeed. I wanted to make sure I did not say “my” experiment. I’m doing everything on this and basically trying gobble them up, but I can’t let them know that. I need them to feel that this is not an abandonment of everything they’ve built. I shouldn’t feel bad: they do need me or they’ll just stay the same and that means eventually going away—in anything.
DAG
I do have some website ideas for you: online marketing applied to a political platform, if you will. You’re on your own after that.
TODD
The Eugene Debs one should be on the home page. How’s it go?
DAG
“While there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison I am not free.”
TODD
Yes, that’s it! How do you remember all those? Your quote recall powers amaze me. Won’t matter much with the stump speech as I’ll write that, but it will do wonders when you’re yelling at reporters from the back of the train.
DAG
Clearly, the words coming out of my mouth seem to have no effect on you, so let’s try this…um…
TODD
I know: if you can’t think of anything to say, let’s not.
DAG
I was just thinking about something.
TODD
Don’t hurt yourself.
DAG
You’re supposed to build your candidate up, not-
TODD
I’m just not sure I have all that it takes to start a party. You’d lose the first time.
DAG
What?! When have you known me to lose?
TODD
Whoooaaaa!!! Ladies and gentleman, the candidate has been affected, challenged…he’s alive!
DAG
The knew four-job Dag needs to cease from speaking to you, period.
TODD
You know, it hasn’t been done successfully in about two hundred years. It needs to be considered cool, hip and taken seriously at the same time—such as the peace movement in the 60’s. Every kid between the age of 15 and 24 needs to be on board. Before and after a speech, kids will be discussing it because they will have heard the speech via podcast; online saturation will be key.
DAG
Online saturation. That sounds nasty. You need a website where people have to contribute to the platform to join the party. You stroke the ego and you get their info all in one shot. It’s just like Tom Sawyer collecting goodies for having the ‘hood paint the fence.
TODD
Wax on, wax off?
DAG
Not that kind of paint fence. Sometimes I think you only half pay attention to me.
TODD
What? Seriously, that’s brilliant. Even if one kid—and he will become very popular—has to help a dozen with an original platform contribution, it will be a great way to get involved. See, you are a natural. I’ve been thinking that the anti-corporate, message, platform, what have you…the essence of the party…it, that anti-corporate essence, will have to be disguised as something that will draw people in and what you just brought up there…we could do something here, buddy.
DAG
Only because I despise repetition, I’m going to stop emphasizing that there is no “we.”
TODD
Hey, that’s good for us, too.
DAG
Oy vey.
THE STRANGER’s POV: He has been walking and watching TODD and DAG from across the street. Inexplicably to us, he has been able to hear their conversation. He almost seems disappointed that DAG has seemingly forgot about him and stopped looking out for his new stalker. Then DAG notices him, and this time stops; alarmed but not afraid, he stares down THE STRANGER; TODD, caught up in the website / new political party ideas walks on and talks thinking DAG is still with him. THE STRANGER stops and from one side of the street to another, THE STRANGER and DAG have an old-fashioned stare-down. THE STRANGER finally has DAG’s spiritual attention and he’s pleased with himself.
[4] EXT. DESERT — SOUTHWESTERN RANCH STYLE HOME — LATE MORNING
CAMERA FOLLOWS MOLLY WELLS, out-of-place desert girl turned Manhattan-type, from her limousine to ERICA’s front door. The limousine picked MOLLY up at the airport; she, or whomever was paying, could easily afford for her to pay the hefty price of a limo ride from LAX to the Mojave Desert. However repulsed we are by her ostentatious wealth, she visits ERICA once a year and ERICA refuses to leave the Mojave except for occasional work-related travel necessary to Los Angeles. ERICA and her friend are very different and even moreso since high school, but true friends nonetheless. We are immediately aware of MOLLY’s EXCITEMENT TO SEE ERICA; Molly is amazed that her friends from high school would not leave the Mojave immediately after as did everyone but Erica.
INT. ERICA’s HOME
DOORBELL RINGS
ERICA using an easel to sketch; her profession: illustrator for children’s books. She smiles as the excitement of girl talk (as much as she cannot tolerate a lot of it) awaits. We follow her to the door; she’s dressed casually and cool, but done up more than normal; she’s not completely without vanity, however much it has decreased from her high school days.
ERICA
(halfway to the door; affectionately yelling)
HEY TART!!!
Knowing for sure that ERICA is home, MOLLY waves to the limo driver who waves back and callously peels off. They are very happy to see each other.
ERICA
Wow, you’re still perfect looking.
MOLLY
Oh please, look a you!: no one will ever be as fit and “perfect looking” as you.
ERICA
OK, we’re both hot.
MOLLY
Agreed! You would not believe what would happen to you if you came to visit me in The City. Your hair! Oh my god, your hair alone would cause an uproar with the Manhattan boys in the bars.
ERICA
That’s all I need: A sliced back financial shark. The slicked back, financial sharks on the lower side would go ga ga over your beauty.
MOLLY
I just miss you. And, I want your confidence to be properly placed. I’m guessing the legitimate feedback you would get out here would translate to….squelch.
ERICA
You don’t even know what “squelch” means.
MOLLY
I spent 17 years with the dorks out here.
ERICA
Easy, I still a have my CB.
MOLLY
Oh my God; that’s frightening. Nevertheless, you have always been modest about that amazing mane of yours. Does it still get all crazy during storms?
ERICA
It’s got a mind of its own when lightning strikes close by. Let’s talk about something other than my hair. How’s work?
MOLLY
Real good. I’m working on something right now that should actually be in the news soon.
ERICA
Yeah, you excited?
MOLLY
It has to do with politics. I really don’t understand the political aspect of it; I understand my company’s role regarding the internet.
ERICA
I don’t understand politics or the internet, so you’re one up on me.
MOLLY
(genuinely excited)
I am so glad to see you.
ERICA
Yes, it is rude of me to never visit you but…
MOLLY
I wasn’t thinking about that…make it up to me by telling you me you have good wine.
ERICA
I have good wine.
ERICA pulls out a bottle from the wine rack and shows it to MOLLY, hoping for approval. MOLLY knows everything about wealth.
ERICA
(waves her hand to change the subject)
I want you to know something: I miss you so much.
MOLLY
You don’t have to feel like you have to say it back because I hate it when I say it and people just say it back like, you know, an automatic response.
ERICA
My God, what is it Sweetie?
MOLLY
I love you very, very much. (starts to cry) You don’t have to say it back.
ERICA
Ummmm, OK. But, can I if I want to?
MOLLY sobs and ERICA comforts her. They pause, looking at each other. THEY BOTH LAUGH and even the indomitable, indefatigable ERICA wells up.
A RACCOON SCAMPERS ACROSS THE BACKYARD FENCE.
They delight in the wine beginning to flow at midday. From the backyard, amidst their laughter, we hear sounds that one might hear in the desert: thunder, the buzz of electricity along high electrical towers, water rushing, the hum of cars flowing down a highway.
DISSOLVE TO:
[5] EXT. DESERT — DAY
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER strolls along a small desert canyon; he talks to himself as he sways aimlessly around bushes, plants and cacti. A superimposed clock rolls backwards. We suspect that TIME in his world is has no consistency; he may be on a different plane; he may be insane.
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER
I have the letter in my pocket (pats the pants pockets on his old school wool working man pants). My daughter, my daughter my daughter, the crown jewel atop a layer of gold, silver, iron, borax and other salines found in the Mojave earth. (kicks at the ground with anger and joy) Betrayed by her father, her father, her farther…what kind of man hits woman or a young girl. Women serve as delicious power that sustains this desperate man (pat his chest) and we punch them (he shadow boxes and skips backwards exactly as his older self did in the San Francisco streets in Scene 1). We punch them! We only punched the mother once. We deserve to endlessly walk these water-less streets until Mr. Jingle Jangles says the sandy glass has been satisfactorily filled. Ha! ARE YOU LISTENING NOW?! At least she did not need to be taught, or talked into…always the worst…adoring our neighbors and the bighorn sheep and the coyote our most majestic representative: the desert tortoise. Erica would tell you the viceroy butterfly, the mule deers, the rattlesnakes; she especially loved, or loves, the jackrabbits and my denouncements of the thieving eagle. My eagle inveigles made her respect the turkey vulture. No spirited desert woman could resist the adrenaline rush upon hearing a flashflood warning. So much beauty all around and you insist on exploring violence in the home. (choked up; fights back tears) Dig a shallow trench and heal in. A phrase to be revered. Where there is life there is hope.
[6] EXT. SAN FRANCISCO STREET
DAG’s POV: Across the street from Dag, THE STRANGER has suddenly become solemn. He waves at Dag and quickly scoots off and disappears down an alley.
TODD
Hey! You coming?!
DAG
(watching the THE STRANGER seemingly vanish)
I actually have to go, buddy. Sorry.
TODD
Don’t apologize, but…
(walking back to him)
What? What’s up? You alright?
DAG
I have to “start” one of my new jobs.
TODD
And then interview for your other one this afternoon.
DAG
(regaining his bearings)
Yes, and then interviewing and obtaining two more jobs next week.
TODD
Unbelievable. When I say good luck, I mean Vegas. (smiling) I’m not sure your current occupational pursuits benefit Democracy Today.
DAG
You’re removing me from the ticket before I accept the nomination?
TODD
Possibly. I need a beer and a shot to ponder it. You need a blonde sitting next to you on an airplane and…a beer…and a shot.
DAG
That sounds nice.
TODD
You get all maudlin on airplanes. There’s something romantically depressive, or maybe depressively romantic about you and your flights; staring out the window like a zombie.
DAG
Yeah, whatever.
TODD
Nevermind?
DAG
Yeah.
TODD
We, which is essentially my website talents and a couple of ideas is all your nascent party will be getting out of me, for you want me to be, you see…besides some Dr. Seuss-like rhyming. See ya. Before my first day I need to use the little boy’s room and go-
TODD
Tinkle? My grandma insisted we say that instead of-
DAG
I’ll see you next week; I may even text you some website and / or political platform thoughts from the plane because I like breaking those having your cell on rules.
[7] EXT. ERICA’s BACKYARD
ERICA
Forgot to ask: where’s your luggage?
MOLLY
I had it dropped at daddy’s.
ERICA
WHAT?! You’re not spending the night?!
MOLLY
I’m here. I’m due there, with you-
ERICA
Oooohhh no. I’m going to get verbally thrashed for…socially….or lack thereof…who I have socially non-become out here. I should stop by there more often.
MOLLY
When was the last time-
ERICA
The last time you were here.
MOLLY
(hides being truly offended)
Daddy loved…loves you.
ERICA
My God, all of a sudden I feel like a really bad person.
MOLLY
I know what you need!
ERICA
Yes, more wine!
MOLLY
Nope.
ERICA
Don’t attempt to get me another phone interview with an uptown publisher.
MOLLY
Midtown.
ERICA
That was sneaky.
MOLLY
Midtown agent for illustrators. You could be making seven times what your making, if not more. Oh, look at your face. OK, OK, I’m sorry. We’ll talk about something else.
ERICA
(being fairly stern with her friend as she remembers
how she set up a phone interview with her and had
several illustrators call Erica after showing them her
portfolio [children’s books] without her permission)
And that guy asked me out over the phone. He’d never even met me.
MOLLY
Speaking of irritating: are still rewriting some of the stuff that the actual author writes. You could never get away with messing with the artist in New York; for some reason California seems to allow that.
ERICA
When it comes to understanding the ego, I get frightened.
MOLLY
What does a publisher when you send back illustrations and unrequested-
ERICA
That’s not a word.
MOLLY
Unwanted—how’s that?—changes to the writing?
ERICA
They pretend to be really mad and tell me never to do that again; then, months later, I see all my changes in the book. I think there ego issues everywhere with that scenario.
MOLLY
Enough about work; let’s talk about boy. Describe what the guy looks like who will be hitting on you tonight.
ERICA
No.
MOLLY
You are hopeless and no fun when it comes to boys.
ERICA
Uh, how old are you?
MOLLY
(twirling her, imitating a dumb blonde)
Ummm, let’s see, last year I was 30, I think. I know that I was 29 for the longest time; like, it seemed like I was 29 for all of last year and the year before.
ERICA
(laughing) Stop.
MOLLY
We are going to a bar tonight. It’s Friday night. You are going to let me tease your hair early nineties style and we are going out.
ERICA
Where?
MOLLY
You’re supposed to know that. Where have all the cowboys gone? Where do all the cowboys go?
ERICA
I meant it to be a surprise, but, well, I have a helicopter to a brand new exclusive resort in Barstow.
MOLLY
Really?!?!
ERICA
No, but it was fun to watch your face.
MOLLY
Meanie.
ERICA
OK, thinking about “men” (uses hands for quote sign), I haven’t had a cowboy in…(startled look comes over her face) Did you hear that?
DISSOLVE TO:
THE YOUNG VERSION OF STRANGER’s POV: He’s mumbling to himself and walking slowly with noticeably less energy; his words are less coherent than earlier in the day when we heard his maudlin, rambling yet relevant diatribe. He turns to see a black cougar flying through the air—only several yards from pouncing on him. He does not seem stunned or frightened: camera’s stillness conveys his relief of pending death. The twilight sky spins clockwise and then counter-clockwise; Orion’s belt is brilliant and noticeable even though the sun has not completely set. We hear Erica:
ERICA (v.o.)
My Dad was violent. My Dad had a heart of gold. He would make a friend of mine, that he thought had potential, read a certain book. Some would ignore him; some, due to his strong presence and pierce eyes, some would let him influence them.
EXT. DESERT — ERICA’s BACKYARD
MOLLY
What’s wrong? You got one helluva a look on your face? (looking up at the sky) You see one of those thingies again? You’re not gonna go running after it are ya?
ERICA
I’m fine.
MOLLY
Psychic voodoo desert stuff again? All our lives you’ve-
ERICA
(attempting to change the subject although she definitely
feels something is not right in HER MOJAVE DESERT)
I have something that will surprise you: appetizers!
MOLLY
I LOVE appetizers.
ERICA
You don’t say. Expensive and extremely, extremely rare. Two words to entice and peek your curiosity: dry ice.
MOLLY
You had shrimp cocktails over-nighted?! (ERICA scoffs; Nooooo, caviar?! You’re not teasing me like the helicopter thing are you?
As before, Molly is excitedly on Erica’s heels following her to the kitchen.
ERICA
Yes! No helicopter or UFO jokes. (pulls fancy tin from the fridge)
MOLLY’s childlike curiosity and Manhattan glamour changes into one adoringly spoiled socialite pointed towards the latest and greatest; her excitement bubbles over as she is on the verge of being able to possibly tell her friends back in The City that she has had something they haven’t. Clapping daintily, she leaps and squeals Erica opens the tin with a heavy duty specialized can opener.
ERICA
(momentarily stopping)
Have you heard of Alexander Solzhenitsyn?
MOLLY
Don’t tease me! Finish opening it.
ERICA
Oooohhh, you’re cruel. OK, is this a test. Wait…yes. I do actually. Who is that? The Russian writer your Dad made me read.
ERICA
The book is ‘The Gulag Archipelago’? In high school you stayed with us for a week and daddy made you read it.
MOLLY
Yes!! He said I couldn’t have dinner unless I read it.
ERICA
Possibly the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen was you coming by the following week with an un-requested book report for him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him speechless; so touched.
MOLLY
He thought I was an airhead.
ERICA
He thought you had potential. I think he saw that you were secretly frustrated by the label the Mojave had assigned you.
MOLLY
Dumb blonde.
ERICA
On his death bed he told me something very special about you.
MOLLY
Oh dear, I’m probably going to start bawling.
ERICA
He said you win. He said you win because adore people unconditionally; you accept people for the way they are and that makes you as close to son of God as anyone he’s ever known. He adored you and he never would’ve insisted on you reading that book if he didn’t think that…
MOLLY
It would help me.
ERICA
When you brought by that book report a week later…it changed him. Maybe it was just the change that our generation needed, the hump we had to get over in his eyes to label us good and not a waste. Whatever…it did something. For a little while, the cynical aged had faith in the spirited youth.
MOLLY
I miss him.
ERICA
Me, too.
MOLLY
So, what about this caviar.
ERICA
This caviar was shipped in from a boat that caters to the richest of the rich. It’s from a river that flows into some gulf that is attached to the Kara Sea up, like, way north of Russia. This is caviar that goes for $14,000 per ounce. And, of course, I did not pay that, but…
MOLLY
Oh my god I need to write this down.
ERICA
I mean: Is it going to taste any better than Beluga? Who knows? But you will have a story to tell.
MOLLY
(scrambling for a pen and a piece of paper in her purse)
Go slower. How do you spell Kara? I’ll be the hit of the Upper West Side at my next cocktail party.
ERICA
(laughing to herself)
I guess I can’t bag on you for being a snob when I’m the one who pushed this scene to the forefront.
MOLLY
You bought so much! You know this doesn’t keep.
ERICA
Caviar for the masses! Over the fence, to the raccoons, turkey vultures and big nasty red ants—(creeps up to Molly and tries to tickle and scare her) the kind that swallow little girls whole who wander out of bed on moonless nights—the leftovers shall go.
Dipping a tiny spoon into the tin, she hand feeds are cherished yet vain friend the best caviar in the world. Clueless to whether it is good or not, Molly yelps in delight at the taste. Erica loves her for who she is even if she has many issues with her vanity and focus on class and stature.
ERICA
I need to run to the store. Make yourself at home. I’ll be back.
MOLLY laughs at how ERICA tosses a glob of caviar on the ground for her cat to eat.
[8] INT. OFFICE ROOM
DAG is the second person to arrive at a meeting at 10am that his new boss, who will not be present at the meeting, has instructed him to attend—his first day is to only last for this meeting one hour meeting and only a few attendees know these special circumstances surrounding his first day. Obviously, no one at this company knows that he has an interview to obtain a second (of hopefully four) job in the afternoon. The person who is on time for the meeting is KAREN. In an a room with 20 chairs, DAG boldly sits in a chair right next to Karen. Karen bristles at the oddness of a supposed coworker that she does not recognize sitting directly next to her, but she smiles politely and introduces herself.
KAREN
(she forces a smile)
You’re the new guy?
DAG
Dag Johannsen. Nice to meet you.
KAREN
Karen Silvaine.
DAG
(finding it odd that no one else is in the room)
Are we early?
KAREN
Nah. Dunno. (pause) I don’t want to bad mouth the work ethic of my coworkers on your first day.
DAG
In a reverse effort way it’d almost impress me.
KAREN
I don’t know what that means.
DAG
Me neither.
People begin to trickle into the room. As no one knows DAG, he draws a look and no words from each person who enters the room. In a hushed tone, DAG awkwardly continues his conversation with KAREN.
DAG
How would you define the culture here?
KAREN
That’s a loaded question.
DAG
Is it? If I was asked it, I could answer. I believe there are 16 attributes that define a, um, well-defined human.
KAREN
Uh huh.
DAG
(struggling; he had a plan to engage a person of
trust and it seems to be failing)
No no, it’s complicated. I’m not playing you. The coworker of choice must have really soft skin—and this is not a prereq of someone that you will need to make money with.
Karen is massively puzzled, but she has decided to indulge him; she’s through him; he knows she knows he’s up to something and he starts verbally winging it. He’s verbally winging it and she leans in to encourage him to continue; each person entering the room is transfixed by their secret conversation.
DAG
Humidity is important.
KAREN
To the person’s skin or-
DAG
Both.
KAREN
Both what?
DAG
Both whatever you were going to ask?
KAREN
I see.
DAG
She can’t be a gardener from the beach whose skin looks like a baseball glove.
KAREN
So, we are talking about a woman?
DAG
(with finally a little confidence in the ridiculous conversation)
No. Definitely not. I did say “both”or “whomever,” right?
KAREN
You might have said “whatever.” But, oh well, whatever, never mind.
DAG
Oh, very cool. OK. So, of that 16, SHE, or HE, needs to have skin like homemade plum preserves. Oh, I’m not gay.
KAREN
Kay, cuz that’s important.
DAG
I just wanted YOU to know.
KAREN
Kay. Oh please, I beg of you: continue.
DAG
’Kay. Skin that reminds one of expensive toilet paper or…maybe on an expensive cruise; maybe one of those exclusive ones where you actually lease a room per month for the rest of your life; a classy timeshare, if you will.
KAREN
OK. Now you are actually starting to bore me. I actually didn’t thank that was going to happen.
DAG
OK. Wow. I really didn’t expect you to…
KAREN CANNOT HELP BUT LAUGH OUTLOUD AND EVERYONE NOTICES. DAG stands up and introduces himself and then resumes his whisper conversation with KAREN.
[9] EXT. DESERT — THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE — DAY
CAMERA FOLLOWS THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER from a walk down the dusty street into the diner. He is the walking dead: he is bloody and mauled; he slowly walks past the bar; it’s crowded; he casually parades he wounds in front of all to the CUSTOMERS—it’s as if he is not sure if everyone can see him, so he tests whether others can see him. He takes a seat in the far corner of the bar and stares out the window.
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER’s POV: Through the window: Interstate 15; the desert look that surrounds the exit from the highway; partly cloudy sky; a gas station.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
The young version of the stranger has morphed, while we were looking outside as him, into THE STRANGER we know from the San Francisco street scene. He is no longer bloody, all can now see him, he’s dressed nice, as he was in the busy city, and he has aged. Now, he is noticeable to the CUSTOMERS; the BARTENDER seems to notice The Stranger’s appearance, and shakes it off. The WAITRESS is aware and puzzled; with suspicion and a cautious gait, she walks over to take his order.
WAITRESS
Where’d you sneak in from? It’s not seat yourself, but that’s just for future reference as this booth is fine.
THE STRANGER
Fantastic. I like the view.
WAITRESS
Did you come through the front door? I only ask because I thought the back was locked.
THE STRANGER
Today, I come from the depths of The Mojave. Tomorrow seems to depend on…this guy that everyone prays to.
WAITRESS
(walking away)
Uh oh, sounds cultish. We got it all out here.
THE STRANGER
(to himself)
At least with the ones on this plane, you have a choice, so to speak.
WAITRESS
(returns)
I need them to fix that backdoor. You’re all dressed up; you know, just being dressed up doesn’t mean you get to break the rules. What’ll you have?
THE STRANGER
Another chance.
WAITRESS
Good luck with that. Really. We all could use that—no substitutions. Sign me up, too. Hey, You look familiar. I’ve worked here for a long time. Did you used to-
THE STRANGER
Can I see a menu? I don’t have a lot of time.
WAITRESS
Yeah, sure. (returns with a menu) No, I know you. You get those shoulders out at China Lake Weapons Station? The ore mine? I know I’ve seen you before; maybe, it was a long time ago?
THE STRANGER
Nope. You must be thinking of someone else.
WAITRESS
Nope.
THE STRANGER
I see a catalogue of carbohydrates and grease here. Nonetheless, I’ll have a BLT. (hands her the menus and listlessly stares out the window; he pats his front pocket to ensure that a letter he wants to give to Dag is there)
WAITRESS
After you order I’ll remember you. That’s the way it usually works. I remember everyone by their orders, assuming they order the same thing or have some special…You OK? You got that far away look going on. Guys get that look in their eyes out here, and I kid you not, I NEVER see them again. I wonder if anyone does.
THE STRANGER
Do you have a children?
WAITRESS
A daughter.
THE STRANGER
How old?
WAITRESS
Thirty.
THE STRANGER
(smiles at her)
Cherish every moment with her and never treat her poorly.
WAITRESS
I got those two things down. I don’t see her but once every year or two; too expensive to fly out there, whether she comes or I go. We speak on the phone every single day, no matter where we are. She takes my advice now; she never did before.
THE STRANGER
The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, is to completely divorce yourself from whether the person follows it or not—and I mean immediately!
WAITRESS
Sounds difficult, actually.
THE STRANGER
When was the last time you got advice—about your life, especially at a crucial time in your life—and it was something you hadn’t already thought of yourself?
WAITRESS
Oooohhh, I don’t know. I’m a waitress! You tend to be pretty agreeable….I don’t know.
THE STRANGER
You’re humble…in possession of an impressive amount of humility. I can tell you are a good mother. I mean that.
WAITRESS
Regardless of how you came to that deduction, I thank you. I don’t get a lot of compliments.
THE STRANGER
Well, this could be the part where I mess it up because this could be preachy or may even be advice, but there’s something I need to tell you about parenting. It’s important you know this.
WAITRESS
I am open to your words. I’ve never said anything like that before.
THE STRANGER
I’m trying real hard to bring out the best in people.
[10] INT. SAN FRANCISCO — OFFICE ROOM — DAY
Whisper conservation continues and the annoyance / interest in the room is palpable; DAG is pushing the limits of office decorum and KAREN is so flattered by the attention from the handsome new guy that she is going with it. Enthralled by DAG and wanting him for the evening, she wants to close him before the meeting organizer (who is late) arrives.
KAREN
(lowers her voice to an even lower decibel; KAREN
PUTS HER MOUTH CLOSE TO DAG’s EAR; she’s
taking a chance: THE MEMBERS ATTENDING THE
MEETING THAT AREN’T NOW FULLY STARING
AT THE DUO HAVE THEIR RAPT ATTENTION
PERIPHERALLY)
Are you actually attracted to me or is this a game; one you’ve played before, without question? You’re far too good-
DAG
(DAG RECIPROCATES THE, UP CLOSE AND
PERSONAL, WHISPERING; under the table we see:
Karen’s knees knock as she feels Dag’s warm
breath on her ear)
No no no. That’s not the way it works: If I make advances towards you, you don’t get to be insecure. I hit on you.
KAREN
Oh, I wasn’t aware of this rule. Is this part of that 16 thing?
DAG
No, that’s attribute-related. But here’s something. (pulls out a newspaper clipping and reads at a normal voice level; people close by take interest and listen) “A violent attack by drunken elephants killed three people in a Northeastern India tribal village after the animals stormed into town to drink an illegal brew. The attack was the latest in a wave of such incidents where—at a time of year when the bootleg rice beer is kept in outside drums—the elephants went on a rampage, killing three people, including a woman. Elephants have killed at least 150 in the area during the past five years, according to official figures.”
KAREN
What in the world-
DAG
Not done. “Angry villagers have retaliated by slaying as many as 200 elephants during the same time period.”
KAREN
(whispers; for DAG’s ears only)
You could only get away with being this odd with those baby blue eyes and your incredible looks. I would like to hear more about this…tonight.
DAG
Shoot, I’m on a plane to Vegas tonight. Bachelor party.
KAREN
Tease. And, eeewww to that anyway. I hope you don’t misuse your trunk.
ANNOYED ATTENDEE
(blatantly hinting that she is vexed by Karen’s
behavior, she checks her watch and glances Karen’s
direction)
Who called this meeting anyway? Being late is passive aggressive.
DAG
Or just plain aggressive. I think I read that somewhere. But then, I’m new; the last thing I want to do is rub someone the wrong way on my first day.
MEETING ORGANIZER rushes through the door and sets a stack of presentations on each side of the table for each person to take one and pass it down.
MEETING ORGANIZER
Sorry folks. I called this meeting to get you folks up to speed on…
DISSOLVE TO:
Meeting ending. The ANNOYED ATTENDEE wants a private meeting with the MEETING ORGANIZER (we assume this is Dag’s manager’s manager since his manager was not at the meeting). The annoyed woman does not seem to care that everyone knows she has tattle-telling on the mind; she hurriedly walks against the flow of the exiting group to get to the boss to whisper in his ear all that went on with Dag and Karen before he arrived. Dag and Karen walk together down the hallway. CAMERA CLOSES on DAG.
DAG
Are we in trouble?
KAREN (o.s.)
She has problems with everyone.
DAG
One of those, eh?
KAREN (o.s.)
I met her husband at a Xmas part and I just stared at the sadness on his face. I kept wondering if she was always the angry “I need to get even with so-and-so” type and or that’s something that got worse with the time.
DAG
I would guess the latter. That’s usually they way it works.
KAREN (o.s.)
Wanna get some lunch?
DAG
Only if we have a bottle of chardonnay with it.
KAREN (o.s.)
Do you even have a cube?
DAG (o.s.)
Dunno. And you know what, I can’t remember if my 2pm is a job interview or I’m starting at a new company.
Puzzled, KAREN looks at DAG, unable to tell if he’s joking or not.
[11] INT…DESERT — THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE — DAY
THE STRANGER
Well, with that brand of willingness to listen, I-
OTHER CUSTOMERS are showing agitation with THE STRANGER and the WAITRESS’ extended conversation as their orders have not been taken and some have not been served when their food is ready.
WAITRESS
Sorry! Hold that thought. Let me rush around and get caught up and please, do not forget what you were going to say. Don’t get discouraged; I promise to be back. Smile for me.
THE STRANGER smiles broadly—the only time we see him smile. In his smile we view an unusual, almost other-worldly tooth: it is an oddly colored light blue, glowing, effervescent and it makes no sense that it is not noticeable when he speaks. THE WAITRESS is taken aback as it is such an odd, sky-colored tooth. It is beautiful and strange. THE OTHER CUSTOMERS squirm in their seats and this gets her attention but she has a difficult time taking her eyes off of THE STRANGER’S MESMERIZING BLUE TOOTH. He closes his mouth and winks at her; she smiles and rushes to take orders and deliver the waiting food. THE STRANGER checks his watch and resumes staring out the window and what appears to be a storm approaching.
[12] EXT. SAN FRANCISCO RESTAURANT — PATIO — LUNCH
KAREN and DAG are laughing (talking about Dag’s list of 16 attributes or whatever [he’s making it up as he goes] list) and enjoying a bottle of wine (they have ordered but have yet to be served). The nonverbal communication leans towards mutual trust. DAG has told her his occupational plan yet he is now not exactly sure what his meeting or interview is after lunch; he just knows he is to ask for a woman at a company.
KAREN
You need to plan better. You can’t keep all this straight. Bad Karma. The Universe is going to slap you around for being so deceptive.
DAG
I think there is a Machiavellian nobility about what I’m doing.
KAREN
Hey, that’s an oxymoron and you can’t possibly justify the ethics of starting four companies at once and then picking the best one.
DAG
I wonder if I could be sued?
KAREN
That is something to think about; you may sign a non-compete with us. But that bores me. What number are we on?
DAG
Number four: she has to have a political opinion. I’m very turned off by the woman who is uncomfortable throwing down her ideology at dinner with her new boyfriend’s parents. Five: no cheek implants. That’s the thing in Hollywood that everyone does and everyone does no realize that. I know it is the main key to making someone’s face prettier, but leave the cheeks alone.
KAREN
At first I thought you were talking about the booty.
DAG
I’ve heard that that is popular now. I can’t imagine that. That disgusts and frightens me.
KAREN
Technically, is that derriere augmentation.
DAG
It’s taking JLO too seriously. Yeah, none of that. I’ll need to work on an addendum to the list. Six, and this is probably the most intriguing of the list. She needs to have a negative, messed up component to her childhood or she won’t be romantic enough.
KAREN
What?!
DAG
People from perfect childhoods aren’t terribly romantic. Romance and loss are closely related.
KAREN
You’re weird. Seven?
DAG
Ummm…
KAREN
You’re making this up as you go.
DAG
Absolutely not.
Their food is served. They start to eat and DAG writes the rest of the list on a napkin. KAREN tries to peak and DAG playfully shields the list so she cannot see it.
[13] INT. DESERT — GROCERY STORE — DAY
An ELDERLY WOMAN is so taken with the exotic and wild beauty of ERICA’s hair that she cannot help but run her hand through it as she stands in the grocery line behind ERICA. It has happened to Erica before; she’s cool about it.
ELDERLY WOMAN
I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself. You have the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen. You are so beautiful and to have that hair, too. It’s just not fair.
ERICA
Oooohh, you can’t fool me: you turned many ahead over the years. (runs her hand through her own hair) It’s a bit much to manage and you can get in real serious trouble with a tumbleweed; it makes gum in the hair look like a walk in the park.
ELDERLY WOMAN
You know what Elizabeth Taylor said about beauty?
ERICA
(genuinely excited; eyes uncharacteristically wide with anticipation)
No! Tell me! I love quotes.
ELDERLY WOMAN
She said, and I’m old with a fading memory so this will be me paraphrasing, OK?
ERICA
OK.
ELDERLY WOMAN
Oh no…oh gosh.
ERICA
Try to not remember it: then it will just pop into your heard. No hurry, either.
ELDERLY WOMAN
OK, got it: “The problem with beauty is that it’s like being born rich and getting poorer.”
ERICA
(clapping)
Wow. Nicely done. And, it totally makes sense. I’m impressed. I’m going to write that down and use it somehow, some way.
ELDERLY WOMAN
You’re sweet.
ERICA
Sweet nothing, I’m a female wolf out here.
ELDERLY WOMAN
(laughs)
I’ve lived her all my life and I used to have that beauty combined with the hard edge…afraid of no man. It’s the weather that is most dangerous to a gal in her thirties.
ERICA
Ya think?
ELDERLY WOMAN
Definitely. I can imagine that these days the climate threats would be even more challenging than in my day. I fear your kids are going to be running around the junior high school playground wearing SPF 900. It’s my skin that I need to watch on those dry fall days. Hope and moisturizers. Fall days in the Mojave used to be celebration…now we’re all told to beware. I am tired of being afraid, on watch, something’s coming to get me…blah blah blah and triple whatever.
ERICA
I know exactly what you are talking about.
ELDERLY WOMAN
At the risk of sounding like a name-dropper, let’s just say I knew someone who knew George Orwell very well.
The grocery line behind them is stacking up and patrons are becoming agitated.
ERICA
Ooooohhhh, scandalous.
ELDERLY WOMAN
That will be the title of my desert memoirs. You look familiar. Was your mother Lilly Debs?
ERICA
Yes!
ELDERLY WOMAN
I used to see her a lot at the nursery. We became acquaintances always discussing our respective gardens. She would speak of your Dad at war with these raccoons tearing up your garden. I always thought that was strange.
ERICA
Me too. Me too. (kisses the hand of the ELDERLY WOMAN) I aspire to be you.
[14] INT…DESERT — THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE — DAY
THE WAITRESS scrambles to get caught up with delivering THE CUSTOMERS their meals and taking their orders. She is anxious to hear what The Stranger has to say about parenting.
WAITRESS
OK, all caught up. Lay it on me.
THE STRANGER
The parent sacrifices for the child even though the level of power is unequal.
INT. DINER—CIRCLE PAN as we hear THE STRANGER off-screen:
THE WAITRESS is intrigued by what she has heard so far. Paying close attention and hanging on every word, she sits down across from THE STRANGER. The CUSTOMERS, COOKS and the OTHER WAITRESS all take notice to her sitting down and how enthralled she seems to be with what THE STRANGER has to say.
THE STRANGER (cont.)
The parent does this because they care for and love the child.
THE STRANGER (v.o.)
If they take advantage of their position and strength, the child is neglected and dehumanized. The same applies to a society. If only the government was strong enough to take a parental role instead of …well, whatever it is now.
EXT. DESERT — GROCERY STORY PARKING LOT
We hear a portion of THE STRANGER’s parenting diatribe as we follow ERICA out of the grocery store; she puts her bag of groceries in her sky blue Volkswagen bug. She walks back to the front of the store, opens the door for the elderly woman and helps her put her many grocery bags into the trunk of her Cadillac.
(Still with THE STRANGER’s voice over) ERICA’s POV: THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE DIVE BAR / DINER (diner by day; dive bar by night) is down the street and ERICA give it a long look and then at the blue sky. She starts to walk towards the diner. CAMERA FOLLOWS her as she is oblivious to traffic; SHE’S ROBOTICALLY FIXED ON WALKING TO THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE; she seems on a mission. A light blue animal truck (‘CIRCUS ANIMAL’ is written on the side) drives by ERICA; she does not notice the BLACK COUGAR barely viewable through the truck’s back window.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE — THE STRANGER AND WAITRESS
THE STRANGER
If God created man in his image—and so very many fathers leave their male sons and tomboy daughters, to be feminized by women—what would you guess would happen to a society scratching away like that?
To the waitresses back, A BRILLIANT BLUE LIGHT ENGULFS THE DINER as the front door opens.
THE STRANGER
(looking at the door)
Uh oh.
While thinking of answer, the WAITRESS sees ERICA’s illuminated silhouette in the open door. She turns back to THE STRANGER, but he is gone.
WAITRESS
(essentially talking to herself)
Hey, where’d you go?
The diner becomes paralyzed by the intensity of the odd blue light and ERICA’s presence in the doorway. The WAITRESS picks it up and holds up; ERICA watches the waitress for a few moments and then closes the door. The WAITRESS is stunned, looks around for THE STRANGER, puts the tooth in her apron pocket and then walks towards the bathroom, figuring THE STRANGER must have slipped off to the restroom while she was staring at Erica.
WAITRESS POV: The bizarreness of these peculiar moments shows on her face.
[15] EXT. SAN FRANCISCO RESTAURANT — PATIO — LUNCH
KAREN
So, you wrote them all down?
DAG
Yes, except I left out the one about the elephants.
KAREN
What?
DAG
Just kidding. Ah ha, now I remember! Writing these down jogged my memory: I have an interview at 2pm and then I start another job at 3pm. (pulls out pieces of paper out of his pocket) Addresses and times. I just can’t remember which is the job and which is the interview.
KAREN
I don’t know what to think of you.
DAG
Shoot. This is lame.
KAREN
May I read the napkin?
DAG
You may. No, I’ll read it to you.
KAREN
My goodness. Fine.
DAG
(reading from the napkin)
#7 She can’t have annoying giggle.
#8 No stripper friends.
#9 Must be adventurous.
#10 No hair extensions—ever! Not even on Halloween or a modeling shoot. This is non-negotiable.
#11 She likes her hair
KAREN
A lot with the hair.
DAG
Hair is important.
#12 She can have a cat but she cannot secretly, nor overtly, like cats more than men.
#13 She must have an artistic inclination.
KAREN
I got nothing like that.
DAG
Sure you do, you just might not be aware of it. I’ll help you figure it out; it’s something you’ve been semi doing for years.
KAREN
What is it?
DAG
How would I know?
KAREN
You just said.
DAG
It would take a lot of questions…some probing.
#14 She has to write down something political on this napkin.
KAREN
That confirms it: you were making this up as you go.
DAG
Nothing is ever confirmed. Always know that everything you think you know could, potentially, be wrong. What you write on the back of this napkin—a political something; the beginnings of our platform—will allow you to be the first member of a political party that is going to change the world. If I get talked into running for the presidency, and that’s just a matter of time, our lunch here today will be studied in classrooms 100 years from now. #15 She must know the difference between capitol and capital.
KAREN
You’re a sexist pig.
DAG
And you’re beautiful and there’s two types of beautiful women: those that know they are beautiful and admit it and those that know they are beautiful and pretend not to know it.
KAREN
Why don’t you get married, settle down? It will take away this edge you have, however sexy it may be, slicing its way out of your aura on a minutely basis.
DAG
Wow, that’s heavy. And there I think I could be even edgier, but you make it sound I’m on the edge; at the edge of something serious.
KAREN
So cynical.
DAG
So…your allusion.
KAREN
So how does a guy whose shredded aura, elusive date book—and I mean that literally—and cynical desire plan to find a soulmate?
DAG
He doesn’t. Finding a wife means trial and error, otherwise known as dating. On a Thursday night, I’d rather get a nice bottle of wine and watch the Thursday night shootout on ESPN2 between Idaho St. and Oregon St.
KAREN
Is that football?
DAG
Yes, west coast college teams usually throw the ball a lot. What you said was a perfect example of going against karma, the natural flow of the universe: you said “find.” Far too many women are like sea anemones: they lay down on the bottom waiting for some cat to land on them and then they grab hold for life. I do not want to be that guy.
KAREN
That is sad. Back to the list: Number sixteen?
DAG pays the bill, addresses an envelope and hands the envelope and the napkin to Karen.
DAG
Read number sixteen whenever you like; it’s really not that important. Mail it to me. I’m off to either start a job or interview for one.
KAREN
You’re being mean. So it’s Vegas and then the presidency? Presidents aren’t rude.
DAG
In private they are. (pause) When I’m president I will be cordial at all times—for you. (surprised at himself) Listen to me.
KAREN
Sometimes I get visions. That’s the closest I get to artistic. I see dark skies for you in Vegas.
DAG
What?! You joking? Where’d that come from?
KAREN
Do me a favor.
DAG
Anything.
KAREN
You mean it?
DAG
On my grandfather’s purple heart.
KAREN
You have it? You mean it?
DAG
Yes and yes.
KAREN
The Purple Heart is something that is genuinely important to you and if you swear on it….
DAG
I give you my word.
KAREN
Don’t fly back from Vegas. Rent a car and drive.
DAG
Ooooohhhh man. What, my plane is going to crash?
KAREN
I said this to someone once before and it saved their life.
DAG
If guilt projection on me is correct it is…I just don’t feel like going…anywhere along those lines. I do like the sound of that guilt. I know my grandpa would have like it in the Battle of the Bulge. He told me that even though he was disturbed by the death of his fellow paratroopers in war, he admitted that he would feel a special elation when they died as it wasn’t him. I looked into it and found that it’s a common psychological effect when a war buddy dies. I’m not sure how that’s relevant; I just thought of it. OK, driving it is…on the bruised heart.
[16] INT. OFFICE BUILDING — SMALL INTERVIEW ROOM
DAG introduces himself to the receptionist as she leads him to a small meeting room where he is interviewed by DONNA SIMKO, serious, business-like, cynical, mid-thirties business woman. He twiddles his thumbs as he tries to remember what this company does, or even what their name is. He’s having his doubts and has a much better feeling about starting the 3 pm job. He makes the decision he does not want to work at this company…she judges him quickly and they both are just going through the motions out of professional courtesy. She has a copy of DAG’s resume with her and she spends 20 seconds scanning it before speaking. She has made many notes on his two-paged resume along with multi-colored highlights. Donna starts with the most difficult and personal question she has in her interviewing arsenal; his body language screams smugness.
DONNA
(firm handshake)
Donna Simko.
DAG
Dag Johannsen. Pleasure’s mine.
DONNA
If you could be on the cover of any magazine, what would it be and why?
DAG
Are you serious?
DONNA
(patronizingly)
Yes. This is the part where you are supposed to be quick on your feet. It’s that kind test and I’m not sure I’m supposed to be telling you that because that’s help, right?
DAG
Right…or…correct. Um, I don’t know…how about National Geographic. The magazine is doing a cover story on my heroics. I save a pack of albino elephants from being spray-painted blue by a new political group in Africa that terrorizes elephants and donkeys. Get it?: elephants and donkeys?
DONNA
Maybe we just shouldn’t waste each other’s time.
DAG
Sorry.
DONNA
Thanks for coming in. I think I have a sense of who you are.
DAG
Wait…what? Now I might be offended. I will make the company money and I’ll make you look good for hiring me. Did you ever see Kramer vs. Kramer when Dustin Hoffman goes to the Xmas party and gives them a one-time chance to hire him?
DONNA
Yes, and you thought that would work in real life?
DAG
Not now.
DONNA
So, if I had not seen the movie and remembered the scene and you did it, it would be original?
DAG
Well sure…you know…to you.
DONNA
Dag, I won’t forget how…what’s the word?…fascinating this was.
DAG
Even though you hate me, can I tell you a quick story?
DONNA
OK.
DAG
You shouldn’t cuz I’m lying. I read the book out loud to my friends’ kids because I’m in love with the sound of my own voice, as any inside sales professional worth his salt should be. I was a hell for leather sales rep selling raffle tickets in 4th grade. I had no family in town and the town was Las Vegas. I went door to door. I just kept plugging away. I had heard some other kid had sold 100 tickets. I got to 110 and I bragged about it when I went to my last house for the night; the deadline was that night. I bragged to the older lady at this house that I made it to 110 when she told me that she bought some from her grandson whom I clearly went to school with. I find out the next day that he was the one with 100 tickets so she bought 15 from him so he would win. Point of the story: shut the hell up about your sales. I get confused with technical questions, and that’s why I buy my Systems Engineer, or whomever is my technical back-up, a breakfast burrito or a bagel around 10am every morning. Those types always skip breakfast and then get starving before lunch and technical people love free stuff—especially if a salesy type is paying. I know what you’re thinking.
DONNA
Oh, I bet you really, really do not.
DAG
Hmmm, tough read; maybe not. I was wrong once before and then I realized it was mistake and I actually had been right.
DONNA
I don’t think I know what you’re talking about, but I get the feeling you think you know.
DAG
I think you stumped me on the confusion sentence plane.
DONNA
Well, it was not my intention. Thank you and goodbye.
DAG
Buh-bye.
[17] INT. OFFICE BUILDING — RECEPTION — DAY
DAG
Hello, my name is DAG JOHANSSEN and I’m here for my first day. I’m here to see CHARLES KOLTERMAN.
RECEPTIONIST
Hi Dag. It’s nice to meet you. Please follow me. Did you get my email?
DAG
(lying)
Of course.
RECEPTIONIST
Good, because he’s expecting you to address those bullet points in the email.
DAG
Right. Wow.
RECEPTIONIST
You guys impress me. I could never do what you do. Would you like a water or some coffee. The meeting actually started one minute ago. We’re very punctual here. Down this hallway; second door to your left.
DAG
OK.
RECEPTIONIST
Welcome aboard.
DAG
OK
Stunned, he stands and stares at the receptionist, frozen in thought and indecision.
[18] EXT. DESERT — GAS STATION
AERIAL CIRCLE PAN OF THE STRANGER STANDING OFF IN THE CORNER OF A GAS STATION He’s away from the busy cars in and out gas pumping traffic. Music is dark; drums pump like a heart and dominate the sound as, at least in the beginning of the voice over, we struggle to hear THE STRANGER and THE STRANGER struggles to understand the other side of his telepathic conversation.
CAMERA CIRCLES THE STRANGER FROM ABOVE while we the one side of a conversation; we only hear THE STRANGER’s side and we assume the other entity he is speaking with is an angel or an otherworldly taskmaster that has a job for him to do regarding Dag. As we circle him (from just above the gas station, circling it again and again) his lips do not move and he stares off into the desert with a look of a man who is concerned for the future
THE STRANGER (v.o.)
Yes, I have changed and people can see me. I’m afraid I won’t be able to go back……If you say so…….I have been……..I spent all morning doing that…….That was just a conversation; she was a nice waitress……..I still get to be myself, right?…….Say again…….I don’t know; I’ve told you that raccoons are not supposed to live out here; if this cougar is our plane than who sent it………Well, maybe you should! My God, this is my daughter we’re talking about………No, I didn’t feel it; as if you care……..How will his meeting have anything to do with this?……..It’s everything or nothing with you; so cryptic; this whole thing seems to vacillate between stupid and important with the occasional dash of absurdity and romance…….if she is harmed, all bets are off……fine, you do that.
[19] INT….DESERT — ERICA’s KITCHEN
She returns with the bag of groceries. She is feeling strange just back from the blue light incident at The TORTOISE and the HARE. She is worried that Molly is going to sense something is not right with her and she does not want her desert weirdness to affect her once a year visit with her good friend, but her mind and intuition are wracked with a lack of ease.
ERICA
(pulls glamour magazines from a paper sack)
Thought this might give you something to drool over while I cook. I like your music choice. Your cd.
MOLLY
You didn’t turn it on? It just came on when you left.
ERICA
(trying to change the subject)
What’s the latest hot handbag?
(she wishes this was happening while Molly was visiting
she sighs at the timing; she’s dealt with and felt similar
experiences)
MOLLY
Oh what is it? I know it’s $1,400 and there’s a three week waiting list everywhere for it. Hey, you got that far away look in your eyes. Your hair isn’t bouncing, dah-leen. Everything OK? Have some more wine! (flipping through the pages of the magazines) What perfume are you wearing tonight? I can’t wait for us to meet some cowboys. I wonder if we’ll see any guys we went to high school.
ERICA
I see them all the time.
MOLLY
I imagine their tongues still roll out on to their chest every time they see you.
ERICA
They will never change…nor move.
MOLLY
Don’t you ever consider moving? The thought must cross your mind? What about going inland? You could live at the beach. I could so see you painting at a cool little studio in Laguna Beach.
The weather is changing rapidly. Thunder is heard in the distance and the supposed CD that was playing has stopped. ERICA turns on the radio in the kitchen and we hear FLASHFLOOD WARNINGS. ERICA is increasingly uncomfortable with desert voodoo, spiritual intuitive feeling that some unseen desert spirituality—good and bad—has something out of the norm planned for her and soon. Lightning strikes directly in the backyard and Erica looks at Molly feeling sorry for her because in about two seconds she is going to hear the loudest thunder of her life. BOOM!! Molly screams. The both laugh as frayed nerves become even more frayed.
MOLLY
Wow! That was so loud. Look at your hair: it’s sticking out.
ERICA
Electricity. That strike was in the backyard.
MOLLY
Oh my god! Your hair is slowly moving outwards and dancing on its own. So bizarre.
ERICA
(tying her hair in a ponytail)
Just some static electricity. This is when drinking in the afternoon makes sense.
MOLLY nods in agreement as she takes a healthy gulp of her glass and nervously looks outside as the rain all of sudden pours very hard. For Erica, the only positive is now she may not be dragged to a bar and forced to be social if the flashflood warnings continue. A few minutes previous Erica turned the oven on—it makes a funny hiccup-like noise and they both look at each other with raised eyebrows. Erica turns the radio volume up.
MOLLY
(emboldened by the courage of her wine buzz)
So exciting is the desert. I forget all that can happen so quick out here. And we’ll be out in the middle of it risking our very lives so I can tell my Manhattan social bunnies harrowing stories of rampaging waters, killer lightning, crazy raccoons that have haunted my friend’s house for years and aging cowboys madly in love with both of us.
ERICA
(shaking her head but with a smile, she raises her glass in a toast)
To the Mojave! (sips the wine) Buckle up.
[20] INT. OFFICE BUILDING — CONFERENCE ROOM
People trickle into the conference room. Dag glances up and offers a smile at person new person he encounters; but, he is uncharacteristically reserved and feels awkward for the only person his knows is his new boss whom he just interviewed with the previous. One woman, LESLIE COUCH, 60’s, grey hair, thin, tall, respected, well-liked, classy—has a trustworthiness and calmness to her. Dag watches her and overhears her speaking to a coworker about having to take a taxi to the airport; this catches DAG’s attention as he will be doing the same—plus, she looks very familiar. DAG’s new boss, CHARLES KOLTERMAN, 40’s, very friendly, spots DAG immediately, shakes his hand and says something to him in a low voice. DAG nods in agreement. DAG feels a little bit more at ease; still, the entire room stares at him, wondering who he is. Pockets of conversations flow around him as he buries in his head in reading and re-reading his own resume. A couple times he looks up, feeling the heat of an intense look from Leslie. He feels judged; it’s as if she is looking through him. He’s paranoid: he wonders if she somehow knows about his four job hiring ploy. CHARLES STANDS UP and launches the meeting.
INT. CIRCLE PAN OF MEETING
CHARLES
Good afternoon. All of you, thank you for your promptness; I appreciate it. We have a new employee
Anticipating the introduction and the mini-background speech DAG will have to give about himself, he searches his mind for what to say. LESLIE seems to take particular interest in his fidgety spirit; watching him from across the table she tries to place his face.. She feels an inexplicable motherly bond towards him.
DAG and LESLIE finally exchange a long and wordless stare. She has an enviable strength: dually suggests she could help in the boardroom or the minute you got home from school from a rough day. Her calmness and power, understated and relaxed, commands the room with reverse effort.
CHARLES
DAG JOHANSSEN, welcome aboard; please tell us a little bit about your background. Slightly awkward that we started you in the afternoon, and, on a Friday, but we are moving very quickly here and we are glad to have you be part of this rolling train. When the dot coms slid, we slid with them. However, we did not go under. I, um, I, I told Leslie-
LESLIE
He said, “The people here are our lifeblood; our employees are the lifeblood of the company. Going forward, if we find anyone that we think has that spark, that certain something—especially around the sales department, a natural capable of driving revenue, making things happen fast—we’ll hire them on the spot. That’s why you are here today and not Monday, Dag.
DAG
It’s for the best. Today I would’ve just been waiting for Monday if you had not hired me.
LESLIE
You would not have been depressed and preoccupied for the whole weekend would you?
DAG
Oh no, I would have eaten donuts in the morning and watched football in the afternoon.
LESLIE
And after that?
CHARLES
(laughing nervously)
Easy Leslie.
LESLIE
Read Alice in Wonderland whilst sipping on some hot cocoa; maybe some more pastries: a homemade bearclaw with extra sugar melted on.
CHARLES
Great! Dag, tell us a little about your background and maybe a sales highlight from your career.
DAG
(even though he addresses the room and looks around,
DAG cannot help but focus much of his visual attention
on LESLIE)
I have been with large companies. When my friends were bringing their pets to work and bragging about being paper millionaires—and doing other things at work that would not fall under polite conversation—I was exceeding quota at a couple large software companies that I am sure you have heard of. It is your type of company, one with huge growth potential, that which it excites me.
We just now notice THE STRANGER, again in his expensive blue suit, has slithered into the back of the room and found a seat against the wall. Dag notices him; stunned, he becomes silent.
CHARLES
Great.
LESLIE
(whisper to DAG)
Sorry you didn’t get a chance regale us with stories of big sales wins.
DAG
(whispering back)
Probably more than my ego needs. My ego needs pacing. But, no, I’m just kidding. Thank you. Before doing that, let me admit a flaw. For being in sales I should remember the people I’ve met and, Leslie, I know that I know you from somewhere and I just cannot figure out where. I will have it figure before I’m done.
DISSOLVE TO:
CHARLES
So, that covers overall company news and important items. Now the sales meeting starts. Engineering, I know you guys have another meeting. The rest of us we’ll get to know Dag and talk about quarterly revenue projections.
THE STRANGER melds into the exiting pack of engineers. DAG wonders if she should scrap this job and go after him. Dag decides that if The Stranger is waiting for him outside the building he is going to confront him and / or call the police.
CHARLES
Dag! You mind taking the floor and telling us about a successful win from your sales past?
DAG
The campaign was a success and is still in place. OK! (Dag raises his voice and focuses on LESLIE) Did you live in Las Vegas in the late seventies? (DAG tries to ignore THE STRANGER, but makes a mental reminder to confront him at the end of the meeting)
LESLIE
(glancing good-naturedly at the Human Resources person)
Dangerous Dag. Are you implying I’m a washed out showgirl dancer.
THE ROOM LAUGHS; Dag fervently apologizes.
LESLIE
Relax, Dag. I’m kidding.
DAG
Hey, I’ll admit another flaw. This is fun. Why, I have no idea. Sometimes I speak in movie quote code, so I apologize in advance if you hear some nonsequitur phrase. I’m not talking to you, it’s 12 Monkeys, Seabiscuit or Jaws that’s kidnapped my brain. (looks at Leslie) I sure wish I could place your face. Hmmm.
DAG and LESLIE’s charisma dominates the room.
LESLIE
You named all animal films. You an animal lover, Dag?
DAG
(thinks about the three films he named and realizes she is correct)
No, oddly. (flirtatiously) I had a hamster once. I named him It.
LESLIE
It?
DAG
It.
LESLIE
It, as in that’s it?
DAG
That was it. I mean, yeah. It.
The group is enthralled now. LESLIE and DAG sit directly across from each other and everyone else in the room is now a spectator. As their banter and discovery about their pasts unfolds, the room watches likes cats watching a game of ping pong. CHARLES is the only one in the room that seems uncomfortable with the open banter between Leslie and Dag. Dag racks his brain to try and remember where he knows Leslie from.
CHARLES
(checks his watch)
Well, thank you, Dag. We should-
DAG
Sorry, Charles. I know what you’re thinking. I’ve (looks and smiles at LESLIE) taken too much of your time. (with his eyes, DAG asks CHARLES for a little more time) I have done my homework on your company and I am impressed. YOU WILL see the pipeline dramatically increased in the next 30 days and revenue in the next 90 days—that’s on me. If I seem arrogant and, a little bit cocky, well, that’s because I am. That’s all I wanted to say.
The people in the room are charmed and taken by Dag’s confidence and charisma; they are anxious to get to know him.
CHARLES
Very confident. I like it. We’ll be holding you to-
DAG
(loudly interrupts CHARLES, jumps out of his chair pointing
at LESLIE; very excitedly)
Got it! Long Beach! You lived in Long Beach in the seventies.
LESLIE
(surprised)
Yes, I actually did. And now I’m nervous and mildly frightened (she jokes).
DAG
No no, no need for that. How old are you? (catching himself immediately) Whoops, you’re not supposed to ask that.
CHARLES
Can you guys take-
DAG
Whoa whoa, I take that back. (speaking quickly and realizing he should never have asked her age but he will make up for it with charm and quick-talking) I lived at Daisy and Magnolia in elementary school.
LESLIE
It’s not polite to guess age, so can you tell me what year that was, unless you don’t want to; but, I’m guessing….actually, I have no idea what to expect from you next.
DAG
First of all, regardless of anything, you look absolutely terrific right now. It’s important for me to get my HR file filled early. I lived down there from ’75 to ’78.
LESLIE
Oh sweetie I believe you. I lived at Daisy and Magnolia during that time.
Everyone but CHARLES (who checks his watch) is captivated with the conversation and most “ooohhh” and “aahhh” when the trustworthy Leslie confirms Dag’s recognition of her.
DAG
(obnoxiously)
I knew it!! (tries to calm himself) Sorry. I sold you raffle tickets. I remember you were the tall, prettiest Mom on the block. (looks at the HR representative) There’s another one; write that down.
LESLIE
Dag. Dag, yes I remember you clearly. Was your nickname Dagwood?
DAG
Uh oh. (looks around the room) That was a long time ago. You can call me Dag.
LESLIE
I’m glad Long Beach is the city and not Las Vegas, as I did live in Las Vegas at one time; it was surely before you were born.
DAG
Wow, this is an incredible coincidence. We used to always accidentally throw our football in your backyard and you never got mad. And, you would give us cookies.
CHARLES
Interesting coincidence. I’m sure you two can catch up off-line.
LESLIE
Didn’t you…sorry Chuck…didn’t you cut your chin up at an ice skating party.
DAG
(lifts his chin up to reveal long scar)
Eighteen stitches.
LESLIE
That’s a lot of stitches on a little boy; on your head to boot. Oh, that was awful. I felt so bad for you.
DAG
Well, I’m just dandy now.
LESLIE
I don’t know if I’d use the word “dandy” to describe you: you’ve turned out to be a fine, handsome young man, DAG. Geniunely, it is nice to see. We will need to talk offline…things may get much better for you…much better and in a hurry.
DAG
(it being a slightly odd thing to say, Dag ponders a response)
Things can only get better…you know…unless they get worse.
LESLIE laughs heartily as DAG turns his attention to a plane flying overhead about to land at SFO. They are close to the airport and Dag is disappointed that his reunion with Leslie will come to an end soon. She feels she has important information that she feels she must impart on to him—suddenly, it feels as if it is an assignment that must be completed quickly.
INT. LESLIE’s OFFICE
LESLIE
Sshhhhhh. Before you say anything more, let me enjoy this little quiet time with you before telling you what it is I seem I’m supposed to impart to you. (lost in a gaze at the night lights along the freeway) Don’t you think it is mildly exciting to go a on a trip?
DAG
Kinda. For me it all depends-
LESLIE
I’ve seen and been through too much, Dag. You were just a little boy when I was climbing the walls in Long Beach as a lost woman.
DAG
Was there a lost man in this jumbalaya?
LESLIE
There always is but they hide it better. The provider, the man of the house; they’re built to win and overcome. I think us women have our antennaes up a little higher but you guys are more prepared to defend, think quick on your feet and save—be a saviour. We are in need of one now. When I lean my seat back on my flight 20 minutes from now I will be doing more than praying for you—I really don’t like the word pray and I don’t expect you to understand what I will be trying to do for you—I’ll be trying to help your life in the same way I did when I pulled those little red-haired demons off of on the corner. When we say goodbye in the terminal, promise me a strong and masculine hug and I’ll need you to lend me your ear for a minute for I’ll have something to say, OK, handsome?
DAG
Yes. Of course. You have and will have my undivided attention. If you want to delay flights and talk-
LESLIE
Oh dear no, now is not the time to alter your path; that’s for sure; trust me on that one.
DAG
I trust you. Every ten year old boy back in the day had a crush on you. I know I thought the world of you. There’s something about a tall, pretty, all-american mom who lives right across the street—especially when you’re going through what I was going through. I felt comfortable and safe when I came home from school and saw you on the front porch or pulling your car into the garage.
LESLIE
I do you making a lot of excuses to come over. It flattered my soul. Hold on tightly, Dag: the good wind is coming your way. It’s only those that have had an intrinsic experience with the opposite that can say that with confidence.
[21] INT…DESERT — ERICA’s DINING ROOM
MOLLY
(to Erica as she returns from the grocery store; helping
her with the groceries)
Hey, have you been getting weird phone calls?
ERICA
What, like heavy breathing? They now have telemarketing that’s done with voice recognition.
MOLLY
No, not like that. I know a little bit about that: my company did some online work for a company like that.
ERICA
I don’t know if I’d admit that.
MOLLY
In Manhattan, money’s money.
ERICA
How profound. So, what kind of call did you get.
MOLLY
I just answered your phone thinking it was you; I know my cell doesn’t come in out here. Some guy was mumbling about being the President of the United States and black cougars and some other gibberish.
ERICA
The desert is always eventful.
MOLLY
You know what I say to that?
ERICA
What?
MOLLY
More wine!
ERICA
Here here.
MOLLY
Hey, were you joking a couple years ago when your Dad died?
ERICA
What do you mean?
MOLLY
You said you buried him yourself.
ERICA
(defensive and surprised by the question)
It’s legal. I got a burial permit.
MOLLY
(surprised by her Erica’s sudden agitation)
Oh. Sorry.
ERICA
He was a part of the hard, desert ground when he was alive; I figured he should dance on to forever with that same ground.
MOLLY
Where at?
ERICA
He’s buried under the guest bedroom—directly under the bed.
MOLLY
(spooked)
Really?!
ERICA
Nooooo. Just messin’with ya. He’s buried out by that old trail that wraps around that hill that we would always hike. You know the one?
MOLLY
Yes.
ERICA
I still go there.
[22] INT. TAXI CAB — FREEWAY
LESLIE and DAG are sharing a cab as they both have flights to catch at SFO. By now she has spent a few minutes with Dag and even though she is making small talk, she is resolved to tell him something she has been thinking about him for 30 years. As an intelligent, cool, psychology major, Leslie knew that she needed to provide some flattery and regain some of Dag’s trust if he were to take to heart what she HAD TO TELL HIM: it’s almost as if the message—and she was not even completely sure what it what the meaning behind what she had to say was—was bigger than her and it would flow out from some other place once she started explaining it to him. And, she was running out of time. She maintained her composure, measured all of the aforementioned and confidently felt she could get this mystery point across to DAG before they had to say goodbye at the airport.
LESLIE
(noticing DAG is in deep thought, she waves her hand in
front of his face)
I remember that little girl screaming at the sight of all your blood on the ice.
DAG
How tableau.
LESLIE
Somehow, I get the feeling you’re still a rascal.
DAG
Yes, but these days my rapscallion ways involve less sutures.
LESLIE
But you are special, Dag. As a child, your charisma would shine in that neighborhood much, much brighter than everyone else.
DAG
You saved me from getting beat up one time; those evil red-haired twins were beating on me, or starting to—sutures were in my future. You came out and shooed them away. Belatedly, thank you.
LESLIE
You are welcome. You turned out quite alright.
DAG
Thank you.
LESLIE
Gosh, do I remember that?
DAG
Red-haired twins; they lived a half-dozen doors down from me.
LESLIE
I don’t remember that incident, but I do remember them. Beware of young boys who torture animals.
DAG
And if there’s two of them…
LESLIE
Twice the trouble.
DAG
Don’t you think that, underneath, everyone is all the same? Weren’t you a therapist in Long Beach?
LESLIE
Yes, I’m impressed, Dag.
DAG
I’ve had some political aspirations of late. And when I say “of late,” I couldn’t be more literal. A few hours ago I was declining to even pursue what a friend wants me to pursue in this whole political realm. So nascent…where we’re at…the stage and all.
CAMERA CLOSES IN ON LESLIE’s FACE: We get in an intense sense of the pieces falling in to place. Also, Dag seems to be reverting to somewhat of a lost child with a complicated future. Leslie is all of a sudden a mother figure and a guide—she senses her immediate importance in his life whether she wants the role or not. Her intellectual capacity and motherly awareness have her combining cautiousness and boldness in her conversation with Dag.
DAG
Ideologically, politically speaking, it’s those—and this is me condensing stuff we could talk about all night into a few moments—at the top who are ruining the world through their greedy and manipulative policies.
LESLIE
Not justifying it, but it’s always been like that, right?
DAG
Totally.
LESLIE
Keep going.
DAG
Psychologically speaking, these fellas that I want to take down and replace, in the government…I think they have a very low sense of self. Their psychological awareness is low; they don’t get the—underneath we’re all the same—thing. This insecurity breeds a pompous, intolerant and wholly wrong attitude.
LESLIE
I’m a left wing gal; a New Dealer to the core, so you’re preaching to the choir.
DAG
I’m rambling, but all of a sudden…well, when I saw you this afternoon…I don’t know.
LESLIE
Life can be strange. Twenty years ago, on an airplane oddly enough, in the middle of the night a very religious person was reading the bible. I told him that if he came across a good quote or two in red to let me know, as I was writing a letter to my daughter and it was Xmas time; I was trying to be cute because I knew those were the Jesus quotes and it was a red-letter version of the bible. He fell asleep. He seemed like a very serious man, so it was funny when he started speaking in his sleep. He went on and on about remaking the movie Jaws with a yellow ocean and blue barrels. You remember the three barrels they shot-
DAG
Of course.
LESLIE
Well, later that week my daughter was kidnapped by a stalking, crazy ex-boyfriend. The family was all together at our house, police, FBI, etc. A whole big thing…kind of like a scene out of the movies where we are trying to find her. I even called an old friend from my psychology days as she had done some work on psychic detectives. Long story short: The guy, the kidnapper—(angrily) the man I cooked dinner for when they first started going out—abducted her in a blue car. I went to the lead detective and told him, very forcefully, intensely, to look for a car that was yellow and blue.
DAG
Your psychic friend?
LESLIE
No, I actually didn’t even end up getting a hold of her.
DAG
Wow. Joan of Arc type message.
LESLIE
Yes, it was pounding away at my soul. And, I bring this up because I feel I have something important to tell you.
DAG
(surprised; looks at Leslie intensely)
Really.
LESLIE
(unsure of what to say, she is forced to look away
from the intensity, surprise, genuineness, curiousity
and TRUST IN HIS GAZE; she must look away)
I love this Mark Twain quote.
DAG
Are you changing the subject?
LESLIE
Um.
DAG
Tell me. I’m big on quotes, too.
LESLIE
I just know this one. For me it’s like jokes: I can’t remember but one. He said, or maybe it’s written: “I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said, ‘I don’t know.’”
DAG
You’re stalling. Did you recognize that man in the blue suit in the meeting?
LESLIE
No, I just assumed he was an auditor. But I thought the light blue suit was odd.
DAG
I thought it was sky blue.
They exchange a peculiar glance at each other as isn’t sky blue and light blue…
DISSOLVE TO:
LESLIE and DAG are standing in different lines (about 30 yards away from each other) to check their bags in. DAG catches LESLIE talking to herself.
LESLIE
I just should’ve told him: I have a feeling you should go into politics. DAG (she notices DAG catching her talking to herself just as she says his name; she’s embarrassed; puts her finger to the ear he can’t see, pretending to be on a cell phone), go into politics. (turning away, hand on ear) I’m losing my mind.
Awkwardly, LESLIE and DAG look at each other from line to line and politely smile as the unsaid is palpable. DAG wants to confront Leslie as he feels as he wants to hear what she has to say. He leaves his place in line and walks towards her, but she gets an actual call on her cell phone; it’s from her daughter so she dutifully pulls the cell phone out of her purse and answers the phone. She embarrassingly waves to DAG who returns to the line he was in—at the very end. He checks his watch as his line moves slowly, Leslie’s line moves quickly and she walks on to her gate whilst on an important call with her daughter and a WAVE GOODBYE TO DAG. The frustration on his face is mitigated when a GROUP OF BEAUTIFUL FLIGHT ATTENDANTS all smile at him. His ego is flowing.
PAN TO LESLIE far down the airport corridor, still on the phone, she turns and walks off-screen towards her gate.
DISSOLVE TO:
DAG ogles the BEAUTIFUL FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WALKING AWAY as we hear:
LESLIE’s DAUGHTER (o.s.)
I don’t remember him.
LESLIE (o.s)
I knew when he was a little boy that there was something special about him. He would shine brighter than others—no offense, darling.
LESLIE’s DAUGHTER (o.s.)
None taken Mom.
LESLIE (o.s)
He was rebellious; but the good kind. I remember thinking he would be good in politics, and I was mildly involved in community politics at the time and it was his courage that I thought he had that adult men in the community did not. Now…
LESLIE’s DAUGHTER (o.s.)
What?
LESLIE hands her ticket to the gatekeeper.
LESLIE
He’s in danger or on the verge of something big…or both…something’s up.
INT. A HIGH CLASS CENTER FOR THE SEVERELY DEFORMED AND INJURED
Parapalegics and severely deformed individuals inhabit an expensive ocean facility that cares for these individuals and Leslie’s daughter, whom we assume was in a devastating car accident. The setting sun is visible outside
LESLIE’s DAUGHTER
(parapalegic in motorized wheelchair; angry look on her face, but her voice is controlled; her inflection is measured; rage is mainly evident in her countenance)
Your intuition is not always correct.
LESLIE’s DAUGHTER hangs up the phone with her chin.
LESLIE
(to an empty phone as her daughter has hung up on her)
The whole of life will make you hate everyone.
LESLIE’s DAUGHTER uses mouth to motor her wheelchair over to the window: a commercial plane flies over the ocean; setting over the ocean with a commercial plane visible at sunset. She speaks into a special recorder; microphone attached to her wheelchair. We do not know if this is a diary or message being left or sent to her mother or whomever.
LESLIE’S DAUGHTER
(into the microphone)
A young man on the verge of real change usually gets the message after being immersed for some weeks or months in abject depression, physical injury, a life-changing event and/or something tragic involving a woman. A bottoming out of sorts seems to be necessary; however, the physical body must remain strong—this is not negotiable, Karma does not have a heart with it comes to life or death. Watch out or die and one should be told to be very careful about one wishes for. Regarding the desert and this boy’s inevitable death: the light feel of the sand and it’s coldness would be tantamount to describing the color blue to Helen Keller. The dusk’s light rises coolly on nameless streets where there could be just someone over the hill in a truck or pig-faced man, a jet pilot, predicted to fly over and scare a hiker. The sedentary mind of the desert is no longer a sea of enchantment as this ancient interior sea has dried up. The occasional desert goat may stray into Joshua Tree National Park without reservations; escaping dues because he is animal does not mean that he should not be blighted along a PG&E surge protection access road. Look mother, even I misuse the desert. (laughs) Poignant and frequent encounters with spirit guides could be this boy’s misfortune or savior, mother dear. I can call him and tell him about becoming a hapless rabbit imprisoned…(starts crying)
Excerpt from 1984: “Not a bad chap in my way. Not
brainy of course, but keen. I tried to do my best for
the party, didn’t I? I’ll get off with five years, don’t
you think? Or even ten years? A chap like me could
make himself pretty useful in a labor camp. They
wouldn’t shoot me for going off the rails just once?”
—George Orwell—
“But headlong joy is ever on the wing.”
—John Milton—
Act II
[1] INT. DESERT — THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE — NIGHT
MOLLY walks in to the bar oozing confidence with head-turning sex appeal in tow. ERICA, just as sexy, reluctantly follows. Molly grew up in the desert, hence she still feels comfortable visiting “back home”, but she’s all New York. Her saucy Manhattan sophistication is obvious and, from a class perspective, dominates the room. The several female patrons (wives or girlfriends of the men in the room) feel a sting of envy as the MEN they are with cannot help but ogle MOLLY and ERICA.
Erica dreads the idea of Molly sparking up conversation and then bringing her in the mix for an introduction.
JEFF, The nighttime bartender at The TORTOISE and the HARE is the son of the daytime bartender. The older regulars leave the bar in the early eve and the younger, pool-playing, hard-drinking younger crowd creeps in between 7pm and 10pm to drink the night away. The place has become a popular watering hole for young Hollywood driving back from Las Vegas.
JEFF
Paris Hilton was in here the other night.
MALE PATRON
Really?
JEFF
(proudly)
Yep. I told Dad, you know, all that is good for business. He just grunted; he didn’t get it. If I told him Ann Margaret stopped in…
MALE PATRON
Who’s that?
JEFF
I actually don’t know; but, the old man is always talking about her. He has always said that a necessary part of our business has always been people stopping in to get drunk on the depressing trip home from Vegas. The Rat Pack used to stop in here for a drink.
MALE PATRON
To and fro, eh?
JEFF
Yes. You don’t know movie stars but you speak the language just fine.
MALE PATRON
I heard some of the hot and happening were dropping by here on their way back but I thought it was a wild pack of lies. Who comes here? This place, the desert in general, wears me down.
JEFF
Nah, it’s for real about these celebrities stopping in. Oh my god, look at Erica. Is that Molly Wells? Molly Wells from high school?
MALE PATRON
That’s about as attractive as women get…out here…you know, that aren’t celebrities.
ERICA
I want to go home.
MOLLY
You are going to be positive, drink a little and be open to conversation. I can’t believe I fly home tomorrow. I have a meeting with some guy starting a political party. He wants to hire us to do this complicated, interactive website. He called me on my cell, all excited; he called when you were at the grocery store.
ERICA
I thought you were going to stay a little longer this time.
MOLLY
My boss gave him my celly number, so he must be important. Duty calls. We Manhattan girls may love partying, boys and travel but our jobs are number one. I think it is good thing.
ERICA
Independence?
MOLLY
Yes, independence.
ERICA
This is my full nightmare: The bartender recognizes us; so , now it gets awful.
MOLLY
Oh my goodness Miss Cynical!
ERICA
Ten years ago I remember his name and delightfully say “hello”; two years ago I remember his name…and now?
MOLLY
You don’t get to be hermit tonight! In high school you would say: “Save the drama for your mama.” You were ahead of your time with that quote. (focuses quizzically on JEFF) I don’t recognize him.
ERICA
How would anybody from around here stand out to you?
MOLLY
I’m a child of the 70’s. Wherever I go, there I am.
ERICA
That’s right before the 80’s, right?
MOLLY
High school was silly out here.
ERICA
You got nothing to compare it to.
MOLLY
I’ll be nostalgic.
ERICA
Elitist.
MOLLY
Whatever.
ERICA
I need a drink.
MOLLY
Ooooohhhhh, I like what I hear.
ERICA
How would anybody from around here—from 12 years ago—stand out to you after you’ve been rubbing shoulders with the best looking men in the world for so long? There’s not one Manhattan type guy out here.
MOLLY
They’re not all that, trust me. C’mon, let’s have some fun tonight; work with what’s available.
ERICA
(acquiescing; genuine)
I…will try.
MOLLY
Sweet, I’ll get the Tequilla.
ERICA
(loudly, as MOLLY walks away)
Don’t bring back more than that!
ERICA’s face shows concern as Molly struts up to the bar. All the men in the bar notice her confidence and upper class strut.
ERICA
Umm…(to herself) oooohhh, man.
JEFF and MALE PATRON fall all about themselves to make conversation with her; she flirts, indulges them and, to ERICA’s horror, points her out.
ERICA
(to herself)
Ooohhh, no.
ERICA looks at the front door and flashes back to earlier in the day when the room filled with the blue light when she opened the door. Something extraordinary was going on in this place earlier, but she could not figure out what it was. She was perplexed by the incident then and now. She ponders how she seemed compelled walk over see who or what was inside—the same desert intuition that she has had, for better or worse, all her life.
After the flashback , ERICA HAS A VISION OF THE BLACK COUGAR STALKING HER and her POV goes skyward at a low-flying plane as off screen.
[2] INT. AIRPLANE — SUNSET
FLIGHT ATTENDANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Attention passengers: Please turn off all cell phones during take-off. Thank you.
DAG, at a window seat, is listening to his voicemails with a zombie-like stare out the window as the sun sets over the tarmac. He ignores, or maybe doesn’t hear, the FLIGHT ATTENDANT’s REQUEST TO SHUT OFF ALL CELL PHONES. GEORGIA, a very attractive, collegiate, naive southerner, occupies the aisle seat in DAG’s row (middle seat is empty). GEORGIA, wholesome, Miss America type beauty and charm, TAPS DAG ON THE SHOULDER (wearing an expensive [BLUE DIAMOND] engagement ring).
GEORGIA
I swear I am not trying to be rude. I’m not the type that…I just wanted to make sure you heard the flight attendant’s cell phone shut-off announcement.
DAG
(hangs up his phone)
The flight attendant’s?
GEORGIA
(puzzled)
Yes.
DAG
I just realized that A-T-T-E-N-D-A-N-C-E and the plural of “attendant” are pronounced exactly the same—even in a southern drawl.
They both start saying the words out loud to themselves. They start to laugh at each other as other passengers peek their heads over to there seats to look at them.
GEORGIA
Yes. (delighted) You’re right! Wait, are you making fun of my accent?
DAG
No, I am not. Cross my heart and hope your blue ring doesn’t end up in the yellow sand.
GEORGIA
What does that mean?
DAG
I don’t know. I been saying weird stuff all day.
GEORGIA
Tell Georgia what you could possibly be down about.
DAG
Is your name Georgia or…do you mean…um….tell the state?
GEORGIA
(offers her hand for an introduction)
Georgia.
DAG
(doesn’t shake her hand)
I’m not worthy of your touch.
GEORGIA
Oh my good ness!
DAG
Just kidding.
GEORGIA
I want my hand shook.
DAG shakes her hand. Her soft, feminine hand transports him to a melancholy place in his mind’s eye as he turns his attention back to the sunset.
GEORGIA
(cheerful; genuine)
I want to know: what is with you? I can’t sit next to Mr. Depression all the way to Las Vegas. You’re interesting. More than that, you seem to think highly of yourself—and I mean that in the best way.
DAG
(continues to stare out the window)
Look at that. Big storm already passed us. We are going to catch it.
GEORGIA
You’re avoiding what I said.
DAG
I’m not all that bold or filled with confidence…but I’m good at pretending I am.
GEORGIA
If it passed us, how could we catch it? That’s why you’re depressed?
DAG
What?
GEORGIA
The storm.
DAG
Oh, yeah. If anything, that’s a reason to cheer up. Ever slept on a cot in an airport?
GEORGIA
No. That sounds horrible.
DAG
They have doubles.
GEORGIA
Double whats? I believe this flight will be just fine.
DAG
That’s no fun.
GEORGIA
I’m not the type to stare all bleakly out at a sunset because a plane might…
DAG
(trying to goad her)
Crash?
GEORGIA
So cynical! Why are you like that, Dag?
DAG
I give up…why?
GEORGIA
I’m going to buy you a glass of wine. There’s a little bitty bottle of wine on this plane that has your name on it.
DAG
You’re one of those really, really happy people, huh?
GEORGIA
And proud of it. Now tell the truth: don’t you feel better just thinking about that?
DAG
Yes.
GEORGIA
(looks down the aisle as the plane taxis)
Gosh, I don’t think I’ve ever been on a flight this short. Do they even serve drinks?
DAG
You’ve never been on a flight this short? Never? Not once?
GEORGIA
Is that so odd? Lemme think. All of my plane trips have been from Atlanta to New York or Atlanta to San Francisco or, ummm, New York to Atlanta or San Francisco to Atlanta….ummm, or San Francisco to New York or New York to-
DAG
I get it. I need to familiarize you with the phrase “round trip.”
GEORGIA
I’m very positive. If you do not say another word to me the rest of this trip and you stare off into the doom and gloom that only you see in that sunset, I would still come away learning something new.
DAG
What…where did that come from? Nonetheless, in this case what would that be?
GEORGIA
The phonetic thing with attendance and the plural for attendant.
DAG
Wow.
GEORGIA
People are sometimes put off by my optimism, but I refuse to give in. My momma’s the same way. My daddy is clinically depressed.
DAG
I’m sure he loves you telling strangers that.
GEORGIA
I don’t want you to apologize after I tell you he committed suicide.
DAG
I’m sorry.
GEORGIA
Ah!
DAG
Sorry.
GEORGIA
And definitely not two, Dag. Hey, when I told you about the cell phone thing, did you think I was being rude or genuinely concerned that you didn’t hear?
DAG
You were probably a hall monitor in school.
GEORGIA
No! I didn’t want you to get in trouble. But, I don’t want you to think that I’m the hall monitor type. You know what I mean by that?
DAG
They take attendance in the hall.
GEORGIA
Flight attendant’s? Oh, wait. Hey, that’s funny!
DAG
And regarding your concerns: I think you might be the most non-rude person on Earth. Maybe a little ostentatious with that ring on your finger, but-
GEORGIA
I beg your pardon! This happens to be a very tasteful engagement ring from the most wonderful man on the planet.
DAG
Your father?
Up until that point, GEORGIA had addressed and reacted to DAG’s gloomy persona and barbs with cheer and acceptance.
GEORGIA
(serious; rebukes Dag)
That was very rude and impolite…not funny at all.
DAG
(feeling terrible; imploring her forgiveness)
I’m terribly sorry. That is not like me to say that. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that. I swear that’s not me.
GEORGIA
(tear forming under one eye as she looks at her ring)
So, you think it’s too much?
DAG
I’m jealous. You have love. And, I love the color; light blue is gorgeous. He’s classy you know. Your Mom, you, both of accept people for the way they are. That means you win; it’s the greatest attribute of all—it’s a virtue that’s lost on so many.
GEORGIA
(dabs her one watery eye with her finger; back to being cheery)
You really think? Cuz I like that; I like what you just said there. I don’t think I could repeat it, but I like it. Can you write it down on a napkin for me?
DISSOLVE TO:
CAMERA FOLLOWS FLIGHT ATTENDANT and her drink cart down the aisle. From twenty rows away we hear GEORGIA and DAG filling the cabin with laughter. It is 30 minutes later and they are each waiting for their second wine.
GEORGIA
Now put that napkin in your pocket.
DAG
You should put yours in your hope chest.
GEORGIA
What’s a hope chest? Are you being nasty?
DAG
It’s a generational thing. My Mom went to Charm School and had a hope chest.
GEORGIA
(looking at her ring again)
Huh. So, is baby blue really your favorite color.
DAG.
Yes.
GEORGIA
I like how you never say yep, yeah or uh huh. Your affirmations are always “yes.” You sound….almost….I don’t know…presidential.
DAG looks out the window into the pitch blackness of the sky night and the occasional set of lights scattered about the California desert below.
[3] INT. TODD’s OFFICE — NIGHT
TODD
(on the phone; looks tired; [….] indicates other person speaking)
Democracy Today finally gave in. It was sad. (pause; concern and weariness evident on Todd’s face as someone on the other line attempts to console and congratulate him) I know….Thank you….Yes….I’m not….I will….I know, I am relaxed; the brain is a muscle that is meant to be left alone (laughs)….I hear you, my brother….I just need more help….The website is overwhelmed; there’s guys on eBay and Craigslist that are selling an innovative platform line….I didn’t explain that?….OK, to join the party you must, you MUST write out—in a box, we actually have safeguards against cutting and pasting—a sentence that has some political consequence, something relating to politics; basically, contributing to the platform….sure, the good ones. Don’t you remember that one teacher in school that made you write? She made you write something. It didn’t matter what it was, you had to write something. This will be like that….Yes. We are going to change the world. I talked Democracy Today out of their candidate; the guy they had in mind is out….Well, I gave them another name….That’s the crazy part: the guy I gave them doesn’t even know I gave them his name….He actually has said he does not want to, but….I know….I know….When this thing takes off in a week, I think something magical will happen….You don’t know him. He doesn’t know himself—not yet anyway.
[4] INT. AIRPLANE — NIGHT
The most attractive of the flight attendants, MISTY—very tall, looks like a model, sexy, gorgeous, 30 years old, takes advantage of fun with strangers, adventurous—that had smiled at Dag at the airport.
MISTY
(flirtatious and very friendly)
Hey you guys, I know you’re having fun—and frankly I want to join—but I’m going to ask you to keep it down a little. Pretty please?
DAG
(tipsy and obnoxious)
See, this is precisely what I’m talking about. Look at that alliteration! Phonetics early in the conversation and now alliteration.
GEORGIA
(taken with Dag’s charm and looks)
We’ll keep it down. We’re sorry.
MISTY
Hey, you guys are having fun. I love it…and if I see you at the airport bar…(winks at both of them and walks on)
DAG
Wait, was she serious?
GEORGIA
I’m ready. Complete me. (giggles)
DAG
(looking out the window; only half paying attention to GEORGIA)
All these lights. Did you say something?
GEORGIA
(pulls DAG’s window shade down)
We have just a few minutes left. Pay attention to me. What could possibly be interesting about lights in the desert?
DAG
Everything! What’s going on down there? Don’t you wonder?
GEORGIA
Nuh-oh. No. Not at all. I thought you were going to complete me.
DAG
In front of everyone? Who brought that up? Plane violations go against everything I stand for.
GEORGIA
What do you stand for?
DAG
Truth, justice and flickering lights (points out the window). The color blue. (touches GEORGIA’s ring). The color yellow, but that’s just during the day (points out the window and down, emphasizing straight down: the desert floor).
GEORGIA
(adoringly)
You’re crazy, Dag.
DAG
You and I, we connect like Sloppy Lego Land.
GEORGIA
That’s not a real thing!
DAG
Winehead. That’s what I want you to call me from here on out. (looks back out the window) I have to watch out for aliens. Captain’s order. They take you while you sleep on airplanes.
GEORGIA
I don’t sleep on airplanes, but it’s not because of that.
CAPTAIN’s ANNOUNCEMENT
Folks, I have some bad news regarding reaching our Las Vegas destination this evening due to some serious weather conditions—mainly wind. We’ll be back on within the next ten minutes with an announcement are where we’re headed, but I’m sorry to say it’s almost for sure not going to be Las Vegas.
[5] INT. STRANGE, OTHERWORDLY ALL WHITE ROOM
THE STRANGER and the UNKNOWN PRESENCE (something mystical and blurred; gold blanket of chimes jingling and dancing) are in a room with no walls where the mysterious background is all white. The UNKNOWN PRESENCE questions and scolds the dejected (THE) STRANGER. We actually don’t understand the conversation but we are aware of the aforementioned through THE STRANGER’s body language, who can see the UNKNOWN PRESENCE dominating and commanding him. THE STRANGER is tired and running out of time to complete the task the UNKNOWN PRESENCE has given him.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
I told you: Any physical contact could change the future in a negative and irreparable fashion. Think of something good to say and do it fast.
THE STRANGER
I needed to get his attention. I bumped him. How could that change anything?
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
I do not have the time or patience to explain to you the delicacy of time and gravity. I explained your role and hopefully your concern is for all people and not just a family member
THE STRANGER
(restrained anger)
I get it. Anything else?
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
Don’t make me have to watch; just do your job. One of the reasons you owe is because you had a different set of morality when no one was watching; or worse: when you were drunk and in a position of power with your spirited daughter: you hit her and I was watching.
THE STRANGER is immediately humbled, speechless and feels terrible as he leaves through the mysterious, seamless, border-less room.
[6] INT. AIRPLANE — NIGHT
GEORGIA
What else do you stand for, Dag?
THE STRANGER (o.s.)
Good question.
MISTY seems to have heard both GEORGIA’s question and THE STRANGER as she walks down the dimly lit airplane aisle with a cool grin on her face.
DAG ignores the question, lost in a suspicious feeling and gaze at MISTY and the powerful nonverbal confidence she exudes.
[7] EXT. EARLY CHINA (500 A.D.-ish) — SMALL VILLAGE — DAY
Picturesque Asian village with intricate carvings on statues and architecture. Monks in long robes are walking on paths and foot bridges; some are meditating; pupils and masters are defined by robe color.
ELDERLY CHINESE MONK is walking down village street. He feels like he is being followed. He is nervous, checking behind him and starts to run. He is attacked and killed by a black cougar—his piercing screams wake the village. That mysterious UNKNOWN PRESENCE is represented as present for the attack as we hear:
DAG (v.o.)
Fifteen hundred years a very wise and well-respected philosopher—and don’t be fooled: when it comes to the old days, that’s code for politician—lived in a small village in China. I don’t remember the specifics of his life but it is his death that makes me want to stand for something. He was highly regarded as being in touch with the now. He was violently murdered and he was his screaming that sparked this huge debate about the man himself. Was he truly in touch with the now if he screamed so loud? Was he a false man for not accepting his fate like a man more in touch with uncertainty of The Universe? All of these stupid questions made a country forget about a man’s contributions and philosophical beliefs. He lost credibility because people are always asking the wrong questions. I think I stand for people asking the right questions. Nonetheless, I hope I don’t yelp when I’m dying.
GEORGIA (v.o.)
(her inflection is more serious; she sounds more intelligent)
Wouldn’t the obvious opinion be just to feel sorry for him regarding his obviously painful and difficult death?
MISTY (v.o.)
The political landscape does not have the best and brightest arguing about politics on the senate floor, they’re all making better money in corporate America where they are not allowed to have a public opinion and so much of the news has an agenda around persuasion. A lot more people are killed by wild animals than are killed in airplanes. Duh.
[8] INT. LAS VEGAS HOTEL ROOM — BACHELOR PARTY — NIGHT
We hear several intermingling conversations all casually interspersed with whether Dag and Todd will attend the party—a testament to their respective respect and popularity amongst their friends.
[9] INT. AIRPLANE — NIGHT
DAG
(whispers to Misty as she walks by)
Hey, do you know what’s up?
MISTY
(whispers back)
I think we’re being diverted to Calgary.
DAG
Stampede.
GEORGIA
Stampede? Is that why we’re being diverted. I don’t know what any of these airline terms mean.
DAG
I’m drunk…sports babble…word association...sorry, I’m in a strange mood.
GEORGIA
I think you’re just plain strange; but very handsome, so can get away with it. Did you know you passed out a minute ago and mumbled something about how teachers get you hot?
DAG
(slowly and deliberately, reaches into his pocket and
pulls out his a newspaper clipping about the elephants)
Let me read this to you.
MISTY
(walking back past them; whispers)
We’ll all be staying at the Hilton. The bar at the Hilton. Think you can remember that, Winehead? (winks at both them)
DAG
I thought I only told you that was my new name.
GEORGIA
(shrugs)
Hey, is Calgary in Canada? (checks her watch) We’ve been flying for an extra two hours. I mean, we were supposed to land two hours ago.
DAG
What? Are you sure? Was I really passed out a few minutes ago?
GEORGIA
My watch is acting funny.
[10] INT. OTHERWORDLY WHITE ROOM—BARSTOOLS AND A BAR ARE ALL THAT IS PRESENT
DAG and MISTY enter from off-screen. MISTY is confident and comfortable. DAG is confused and overly alert; nervous. MISTY ushers him into his seat.
MISTY
Ever had a flash forward?
DAG
Did you slip something in my drink?
MISTY
No. You were there, right?
DAG
Are we still headed to Calgary?
MISTY
Do you think I’m equating dalliances with the corporate sellout? Do you always ask questions that you already know the answer to?
DAG
What?
MISTY
I think I’m going for the politically argumentative jugular and you’re on a plane with a dumb blonde? Check your mind, baby. If you get thee call, pick up the phone.
DAG
(obviously, he is massively confused by seemingly being transported to the room, yet he maintains his cool and engages conversationally)
This is a conversation. (touches his own face) There are plenty of people that have my opinion and they have a higher level of integrity than I.
MISTY
(in baby talk; mocking him)
Oooohhhh, now we’re offended.
DAG
(it’s as if he is aware of someone speaking for him, within him)
If someone with my political opinion regarding commitment to a cause promulgates a theory using an old wiseman to illustrate…where’s Georgia?
MISTY
Forget about her. Are you afraid of change.
DAG
I embrace it. I haven’t freaked out in here have I. Are we in the future?
MISTY
Where would you like to be?
DAG
Where would you like me to be?
MISTY
(suddenly disappointed; walks away while talking)
Now you’re really ruining it.
[11] DAG’s POV: He’s back in the airplane and both MISTY (standing with a wine bottle in the aisle) and GEORGIA (still sitting two seats over from him) are staring at him, seemingly awaiting an answer from him but he does not now the question.
MISTY and GEORGIA
(in unison)
Are you OK?
DAG
(accepts the wine; bewildered look on his face;
still massively confused)
I’m fine.
[12] EXT. DESERT — THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE PARKING LOT — VERY WINDY NIGHT
Erica is standing outside, looking straight up and watching a plane fly overhead. She pulls a letter out of her pocket; it seems like she is surprised and we are not sure if she put it there or not. She puts the letter back in her pocket and fixes her stare on the plane as its light fade out of sight.
MOLLY
Hey…oh my god, when did it get so windy. Come back inside. I’m flirting with guys we went to high school with.
ERICA
How unusual.
MOLLY
You’re not mad are you? Don’t tell me the desert is acting strange again.
ERICA
No, but I may well be going mad.
MOLLY
Cool. I hear Tequilla helps and causes that.
ERICA
If I moved to Manhattan, would I have to live alone?
MOLLY
(excitedly; runs over to ERICA)
No! You could live with me! It would be awesome! We would take art classes together, I would get you interviews with the most powerful publishing houses, we’d eat pizza at 4am and stroll around arm and arm when the boys dry out—which they never do there. You would love Manhattan! However, you are speaking kind of strangely. Maybe this is a good opportunity for me to at least get a promise out of you that you will come and visit.
ERICA
(raises her right hand)
I, Erica Debs, will visit my friend—in Manhattan—Molly Wells-
MOLLY
(very excitedly interjecting; jumping and clapping)
Within one month from tonight!
ERICA
Within one month from tonight.
MOLLY
(hugs ERICA; together they walk back inside while hugging)
The bartender is cute.
ERICA
And dumb.
MOLLY
In other words: ripe for the picking.
ERICA
It is windy out here isn’t it? It’s unusually windy.
MOLLY
What do the poor owls do on nights like this?
ERICA
Draft out of here if they’re smart.
They laugh as they open the door to the bar. Music and—effervescent UNUSUAL BLUE LIGHT—pours out of the The TORTOISE and the HARE’s front door. The light envelops the parking lot until the wind blows it shut.
[13] INT. CALGARY HOTEL BAR — NIGHT
DAG and GEORGIA join MISTY and another flight attendant, CINDY, in a booth in the hotel bar. All of the FLIGHT ATTENDANTS are drinking tropical cocktails.
DAG
I’ve read that sugary drinks have some psychological effect men.
MISTY
Really? What’s that?
DAG
I guess unobtrusive or something; it makes us feel more masculine, hence more confident.
MISTY
So, our drinks signify that we should be hit on?
GEORGIA
I’ve never heard of that; is that true?
DAG
I read it. I’ll leave it at that. Seems to make sense though. I think it was a magazine article. Whomever wrote that…if he could only see me here with all of you. Georgia, Sugar, we need a fruity drink for you to complete the group.
MISTY
And what will you be drinking, Dag is it?
DAG
(leery, mistrusting and on guard)
Yes.
GEORGIA
I was surprised that we had to fly so far away from our original destination.
CINDY
So were we. I’ve never heard of us having to land so far from where we were headed. It makes no place to figure it out.
MISTY
It’s not our place to figure out. We’re just women on a plane getting good-looking guys drunk; indulging the male traveler.
GEORGIA
(uncomfortable and jealous)
I’ll get us some drinks.
MISTY
(to Georgia as she walks away)
They will be around. I’d like to buy you both one.
GEORGIA
(walking away)
I’ve got it handled.
CINDY
(to Dag)
What is your relation to her?
MISTY
They just met on the plane.
DAG
(to Misty)
Thank you. (to Cindy) What she said.
CINDY
Wow, she’s trusting. You must be big with first impressions, Dag. With us, because we meet so many people, it’s the lasting impressions that count.
MISTY
Servile.
CINDY
Servile ladies of the sky.
MISTY
Yes. Ladies of the sky. That will be the title of my memoirs.
CINDY
You mean your autobiography.
MISTY
What’s the difference?
CINDY
I don’t know.
MISTY
You’ll read it Dag. If you get famous I will chronicle meeting you. That will help sales of my, um, let’s just call it my book.
CINDY
She didn’t even ask you what you wanted to drink.
DAG
I was thinking the same thing myself but then it hit me: she’s a nurturer. Based upon that thought I was able to figure out, or at least guess, what she will order.
MISTY
More wine because mixing is bad?
DAG
Yes! Nice.
GEORGIA walks up with a tray of four shots and two tropical cocktails.
DAG
Or not.
CINDY
Because we’re positive-
MISTY
Positively stewardesses.
CINDY
Yes, call a spade a spade. We are stewardesses. Because we are positive we do not hold the airline industry in contempt for sexism.
MISTY
We just get creative in creating reasons why men aren’t horrible.
GEORGIA
Oh, that’s kind of awful.
CINDY
You two make a pretty couple.
GEORGIA
Look at my ring. I’m taken.
CINDY
OK, Misty and Dag look pretty, then.
DAG
I’ll drink to that.
They all do their shots. GEORGIA EYES HER BLUE RING with intensity as she drinks her shot.
MISTY and CINDY
(eerily in unison; very Stepford-ish)
Your indecisiveness when you eye your ring gives me pause.
DAG and GEORGIA are stunned by the simultaneous comment. Unnerved, they look at each other with “what have we gotten ourselves into” type looks.
[14] INT. LAS VEGAS HOTEL ROOM
DAG arrives to a big eruption of guys people who know and love him. DAG immediately starts partying. It’s an exciting room: alcohol, girls; obnoxious, successful, athletic and confident men are getting wilder by the minute. Todd is not present, but supposedly coming later.
BACHELOR
You OK?
DAG
I’m fine.
BACHELOR
You don’t have your normal look about you.
DAG
What does that mean?
BACHELOR
Man, I don’t even know myself. Are things truly copasetic with you?
DAG
(not judging, just surprised)
Copasetic.
BACHELOR
You want me to call room service and have them bring up a dictionary.
DAG
Remember when we were kids and you learned syllables? (claps four times as he repeats the word) Co-pa-set-ic.
BACHELOR
Yes. I’m going to talk to a stripper and wait for her to rub up against me; the reverse violates a bunch of the bride-to-be’s rules.
DAG
Go faster and harder than you’ve ever gone before.
BACHELOR
Ever?
DAG
Ever.
[15] INT. MAKESHIFT OFFICE ROOM
Cluttered office room, with young workers busy but eavesdropping. The people working in the background seem capable, dedicated and motivated—quality minds at work—but become worried as they know that Todd’s phone conversation is important. We only hear Todd’s side of the conversation.
TODD
I don’t care what they say: I’m in charge and I’ve saved their jobs, a new party is starting—if YOU had an ability to convince, en masse, then…well, that would be a different story. People like you make me wanna toss this whole thing away. This has got “Personal Sacrifice” in neon lights in brain. Sometimes I think the only thing I have that I am genuinely confident about is a candidate. (pause while other person speaks) Uh huh. (pause) What happened to Rachel? (pause) Well, Molly, I’m going to need some more dedication on your side; I feel like I keep getting handed off to a new person. (pause) Well, I didn’t know you were working behind the scenes before. I’m frustrated. I’ll call you tomorrow. (hangs up)
WORKER
(essentially admitting to eavesdropping)
Candidate?
TODD
(almost loses his temper; regains composure and then speaks)
Yes. I have a true winner in mind; even if he did get drunk at a bachelor party, collect a cell phone from every man in the room and then found a way to open a 20th floor Vegas window—without breaking it mind you—and threw every last one into the small man-made lake below. I think all of them actually might have landed on a fake wave. Is there irony there? (no one says anything; TODD looks around the room at each person) I guess that’s rhetorical.
[16] EXT. DESERT — GAS STATION — DAY
DAG, in his rental car, rear-ends ERICA in her baby blue Volkswagen Bug.
DAG
It’s my fault. I’m sorry.
ERICA
Yes, it is your fault. You hit me from behind.
DAG
Well, yeah, I just said that. I’m sorry. Hey, won’t happen again.
ERICA
Unless you’re one of those guys that initiates car wrecks with a women as a pick-up. I might be driving my truck later and…
DAG
Very possible.
ERICA
I think even my Mom warned me about this scenario when I got my driver’s permit, many moons ago. Guys like you cause a fender bender in an utterly pathetic attempt to use the accident as a vehicle, no pun intended, to make an introduction.
DAG
With a lady of the desert?
ERICA
Something like that.
DAG
I’m sure other men have used more clever and intriguing ways to capture your attention. I’m guessing that capturing your romantic attention is a tough task.
ERICA
You’ve known me 60 seconds.
DAG
And I’m right, huh? Pretty impressive of me.
ERICA
Do you have insurance? Just nod. I think it would be better if you didn’t speak.
DAG
I have insurance. You can count on me not to speak. How am I doing?
ERICA
Wow. OK, it is not a pleasure to meet you. Please give me your insurance info and then let us be on our respective merry ways.
DAG
It’s a rental; but, I got the max, insurance-wise that is.
ERICA
Splendid.
DAG
You like me, huh?
ERICA
No. You like yourself.
DAG
Both can’t be true.
ERICA
Whatever. Now, be a good boy and go over to your glove box…
DAG
I don’t keep my gloves in-
ERICA
I don’t have all day. I don’t want to verbally spar with you. Give me your insurance info you fool.
DAG
Wow. OK, that was compelling. Maybe “mean” is a better word.
DAG gets his information and hands it to ERICA. She takes it to her front seat and copies it down. The quietude is awkward. ERICA tries to ignore him and focus on the copying of the information but she is attracted to him and sneaks a look or two at him.
ERICA
(hands him back his info and another piece of paper)
Here’s my contact info. No late night calls, please. No heavy breathing. I’m pretty boring; probably wouldn’t do much for ya, Trigger.
DAG
Ah, you probably underestimate yourself. You do have a mirror don’t you.
ERICA
What does that mean?
DAG
I think it’s flattery but I don’t feel like explaining it. I’ve been through a lot lately. I’m probably not in any better overall mood than you are.
ERICA
Hmmm, fascinating. Yeah, probably not. OK, goodbye.
DAG
(noticing grocery bags in her backseat)
Had you been grocery shopping before I ruined your day?
ERICA
My goodness, you’re like a detective.
DAG
Like Magnum P.I. sans the mustache.
ERICA
Where did you hone that self love? Mother fond of you?
DAG
So much sarcasm…anger. Whatever happened to you along the way, you have my condolences.
ERICA looks at him the same way GEORGIA did when he was uncharacteristically and pointedly rude to her. It’s a familiar and uncomfortable look he gets back from her.
DAG
I’m sorry. That was rude.
ERICA
Don’t apologize. I thought it was wonderful. And there I was just starting to dislike you.
DAG is distracted as he sees a LARGE TUMBLEWEED heading down the street and it appears that it is headed right at both him and ERICA. His demeanor changes as he positions himself to shield her from it.
ERICA
(without looking at the tumbleweed)
It’s not going to hit us. Don’t worry, Lancelot. So, back to the conversation.
DAG
(still concerned with the tumbleweed; he’s not looking at her)
Conversation? I mean, where were we at with our delightful banter.
ERICA
Where we were at is what happens now regarding your insurance and then me driving away before you chop me up into little bitty pieces or something.
DAG
I’ll file a claim tomorrow admitting guilt. I’d say you should call my insurance company in two days and everything should be copasetic.
ERICA
“Copasetic”? Who uses words like that? Speaks in that fashion?
DAG
(watches the tumbleweed go past them, missing by a few yards)
I guess me. And there I thought I was going to get to save you from the killer tumbleweed.
ERICA
I don’t need saving; surely not by the likes of an L.A. face-jock like you.
DAG
(thinking about his “anger and sarcasm” comments;
concentrating, he refrains from responding negatively)
Yes.
ERICA
Just “YES”?! Oohhhh, you disappoint me so.
DAG
That’s how I roll with desert chicks.
ERICA
Spare me.
DAG
You’re spared. I absolve you. I know you don’t need absolving from the likes of…blah blah blah.
ERICA
I was being serious.
DAG
I was not.
ERICA
OK, once again, goodbye.
With general contempt for the label ERICA assigned DAG, she quickly walks back to her car, starts it and peels out KICKING UP GRAVEL IN DAG’s FACE. ERICA GRINS as, viewed in her rear-view mirror, she sees DAG being rained on by gravel; he skips around using his hands to cover his head and protect his face.
DAG looks at the piece of paper ERICA gave him. On one side it has her address and phone number. ON the other side she wrote: “Most people are focused on comfort, pleasure and wealth.”
DAG’s bumper is barely attached to the chassis; a strong gust of wind blows it off.
DAG
(to gas station attendant)
Can you reattach this?
GAS STATION ATTENDANT
Yeah. Give me an hour. You can go across the street, if you like, to The TORTOISE and the HARE and have a drink and a sandwich or whatever.
DAG
Thanks.
[17] INT. THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE — AFTERNOON
DAG sits at the counter and inspects a menu. THE STRANGER, sharply dressed in his blue suit, sits right next to him (plenty of open stools as no else is eating at the counter) and mimics his behavior. It’s not quite abnormal at first but then it seems like an I Love Lucy sketch as THE STRANGER MIMICS EACH GESTURE. Dag does not recognize him from the downtown San Francisco street scene where The Stranger was following him. Dag tries to ignore him. The Waitress is not the same that interacted with The Stranger in an earlier scene; she is not working on this day.
THE STRANGER
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
DAG
(waits)
Are you speaking to me?
THE STRANGER
Yes.
DAG
Say it again.
THE STRANGER
I don’t want to; mainly because I think you heard me. You remember brilliant advice.
WAITRESS
(to DAG)
Hey handsome, may I take your order.
DAG speaking goes into slow motion as we focus on this oddly dressed (out of another time: 30’s or so) and we are not sure if they are ghosts are not—they have an odd blue illumination about them and other conversations are muffled; DAG and THE STRANGER’s MOVEMENT IS IN SLOW MOTION FOR A FEW MOMENTS. DAG turns to listen to the couple’s conversation as it fascinates him and the blue light is odd and mysterious; THE STRANGER listens to the same conversation with cautiousness and concern; yet, he almost seems to expect it.
DAG (v.o.)
A BLT sounds good.
DAG’s POV: He overhears conversation; trying not to stare at the couple; he’s fascinated by them and especially their conversation.
WOMAN
Those creative outbursts that hit you…your fertile imagination…I don’t have to tell you this. My God, you have ran for President of the United States of America four times!
MAN
I know my own history, thank you. That does not help my current state. I do not have fear of not excelling; you can say that about me.
DAG is fascinated by the conversation, the couple’s attire and the austerity of the man’s mannerisms.
WOMAN
Cynicism is the murderer of talent.
MAN
(surprised)
Where did YOU get that?
WOMAN
What makes you think I didn’t make it up? You don’t think a woman is capable of that do you?
MAN
When I start hearing women come up with profound quotes I might be more inclined to believe they, you gals, are more capable…
WOMAN
Your talent—and probably that which is most important: your ability to bring out the best of others—is what will make you a great President. It’s not too late to try.
MAN
(astounded at the thought)
Try again?
WOMAN
Try again…and then again after that if necessary. Follow your heart, dear.
MAN
Life wears me down, my love. Now biscuits and gravy…there’s something you can count on; it’s not great; it’s never mediocre; that’s the type of middle ground I’m looking for.
WOMAN
(laughing)
Don’t try and change the subject on me mister. At age 15 you were already working as a machinist on the brutal Terre Haute Railway. Oh those railways.
MAN
Brutal work. Nothing, from a manufacturing and/or technological advancement perspective, doubles every 18 months. Never happen before; never happen again.
WOMAN
You worked as locomotive fireman and clerked in a store. Union man. Being elected by your peers, no matter what the situation, says something. It says something good. I just cannot figure out if your stubbornness is a gift, your downfall or-
MAN
Or just something in the middle that should not be discussed.
THE STRANGER
Those folks’ conversation affect you in some way, young man?
DAG
Me? No. Just eavesdropping.
THE STRANGER
They don’t know. They’re not here.
DAG
We’re all a little checked out when we’re in the desert. As a kid, a teenager, I would come out here with my friends and tear up a patch of land with guns, booze and youth.
THE STRANGER
You can’t hurt the desert. Eavesdropping doesn’t hurt too much, either. Mostly, it can’t be helped.
WAITRESS
(returns)
What would you like to eat?
DAG
(ignores her, assuming she is asking The Stranger; he does not answer)
She wants your order.
WAITRESS
Honey, I want your order.
DAG
You already took it.
WAITRESS
Funny; what would you like?
DAG
(puzzled)
BLT.
WAITRESS
You got it. (walks away)
THE STRANGER
That Erica Debs is one beautiful woman, huh? She is the prize of the desert; a gem amongst rocks. Goats roaming around with deformed horns, double caterpillars, cacti sliced in two—she has pity them all; she saves them, in a way.
DAG
I was not all that impressed.
THE STRANGER
Uh huh. You were as impressed as you’ve ever been.
DAG
You saw our accident in the gas station.
THE STRANGER
Accident? That’s rich.
DAG
Whatever.
THE STRANGER
If I swiped that sandwich from you, right when you got it, would you hit me?
DAG
I’m not sure what I would do. Not that I know much about stealing, but I can say with certainty you have a better chance of succeeding if you do not tell the person you plan on stealing from that you plan on stealing from them.
THE STRANGER
Hmmm, tough concept. I should write that down. You could always change your order to hold the tomato; I’d never steal a tomato-less sandwich. Most men will not fight. You did not answer the violence question with fight, but at least you did not admit that you’re weak. However, not just saying you would him if I stole from you…well, that conveys weakness.
DAG
Take it easy, pal. I guarantee you the egg on your face, post stealing anything from me, will be the least of your…whatever…are you trying to goad me into something? Plenty of open seats here.
THE STRANGER
Damn, son! I do love your awareness. Awareness: probably the most important thing.
DAG
Ya think? What about honesty, integrity, etc.?
THE STRANGER
You are quick, thoughtful, athletic, charming and The Universe is all over you right now about change. An unknown presence is watching.
DAG
Me or all of us?
THE STRANGER
Then there’s me.
DAG
I feel like I’m about ten minutes from being coaxed into joining a cult. I thought a cult recruiter would be eager to answer questions, not ignore them.
THE STRANGER
(preoccupied with the thought of the pressure from his task
given to him in the white room by the Unknown Presence
mystery figure [or non-figure] from an earlier scene)
What’s the question?
DAG
Forget it.
THE STRANGER
“Forget it” and the “whatever.” With global spotlight on you—right now—you should not be so dismissive. Everything that happens to you these days should be examined closely by you. Understand?
DAG
I think I understand that a relaxing meal at a diner is improbable.
THE STRANGER
Improbabilities. Now there’s a conversation.
DAG
Wow.
THE STRANGER
There we go: that’s not dismissive.
DAG
(sarcastically)
I’m all about improvement.
THE STRANGER
Some items are meant to conjoin: the sand and the sieve, the drawn and the quartered, the edge and the knife.
DAG
The edge and the knife? Are you a serial killer?
THE STRANGER
No, just a killer.
DAG
(laughs)
Way to take it down a notch.
THE STRANGER
That was an attempt at humor. Key word: “attempt.”
DAG
I get it. I laughed didn’t I?
THE STRANGER
Yeah cowboy, you laughed.
DAG
Old man, you don’t look like a killer, but I bet you could hold your own in your day. And that baby blue suit: that’s my favorite color; but overall, you are a little creepy.
THE STRANGER
Thank you.
DAG
Flattering the senior citizens of the world by telling them they are strange…it’s my gift.
THE STRANGER
That’s why I’m wearing it.
DAG
What?
THE STRANGER
Blue. I’m wearing blue because it is your favorite color.
DAG
Oooohhh kaayy. Just when I think we are going to have…creepy.
THE STRANGER
I’m mildly surprised you do not remember me. Just another suit in a big city to you is I guess all I am to you?
DAG
Now you sound like a chick.
THE STRANGER
Do you not want to contribute?
DAG
Do I not want to…who talks like that? Now you sound like Yoda. Want? Desire? I want…No, I am desirous of a BLT.
THE STRANGER
Hapless creatures, aren’t we? Leadership is needed. You have the leadership quality. It dances brilliantly in your flaring pupils.
DAG
Regarding cult initiation, do I give transfer my funds to yours now or do I need to go get you a cashier’s check. I’m sold.
THE STRANGER
You have the proclamation, the guts, your self-conscious. You definitely need some work in the latter but…that goes back to awareness. Self awareness. Being honest with your self is always a necessary and important exercise.
DAG
You are making me uncomfortable. You can have my sandwich if you like.
DAG lays $40 on the counter and exits The TORTOISE and the HARE. He walks down the street and finds a true dive bar; no food, just hard-drinking desert barflies. DAG walks in and THE STRANGER is in a corner booth. DAG is amazed. DAG orders a couple of drinks and shots. The bartender gives him a tray and he carries the set of drinks to THE STRANGER’s corner booth.
BARTENDER
What’ll you have?
DAG
(to bartender while suspiciously eyeing THE STRANGER
across the room)
Some guts.
BARTENDER
Too much of that and you end up in prison or long term care.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BAR — BOOTH
DAG and THE STRANGER have many empty shot glasses in front of them. They are conversational but the nonverbal communication suggests a lack of trust on Dag’s part as he gets drunk. THE STRANGER is drinking the same amount but he does not seem even tipsy.
DAG
Forgot to ask you: how did you get over here so quick from the diner? That was impressive. You ran around the back of the buildings and beat me to this place?
THE STRANGER
These people can’t see me.
DAG
I say the same thing about my family; usually at Thanksgiving or Xmas dinner.
THE STRANGER
I’m serious.
DAG
So am I. How would your invisibility make you that stealthy and fast a runner.
THE STRANGER
(losing his cool; suddenly frustrated)
You are making this tough. I’m new to all this.
DAG
I barely know you, but I do know that most of the time I have no idea what you are talking about.
THE STRANGER
The Universe punishes those, often in a terminal way, who don’t pursue their dreams.
DAG
What if you don’t know what your dream is? Punishment for not knowing? How could an infinite God punish a finite Man for anything anyway?
THE STRANGER
Take it easy. It’s All not that complicated.
DAG
A lot of strange things have been happening to me lately and I’m trying real hard to not to get excited. Special messages from strangers or people from my past. You know how when you are in a tough spot in life every song her incident seems to be intended for you? I’m trying to be aware of this.
THE STRANGER
You buy a new car and all of a sudden you see that car everywhere.
DAG
(mentally exhausted; almost sarcastically giving in)
OK fine. Do you have a special message for me? Somebody be plain with me, please.
THE STRANGER
Consider me a therapist from another plane. You cannot simply tell people what to do but you can help people figure something out. Help them with the puzzle pieces. I should have been able to do that with you a few days ago walking around downtown San Francisco.
DAG
That was you! The crazy old man! I don’t know whether to be incredibly frightened or intrigued.
THE STRANGER
It could be I’m just checking out the guy who has a thing for my daughter.
DAG
Erica’s your daughter?
THE STRANGER
Ha, I tricked you into admitting you like her.
DAG
Congratulations. She’s only one of the more beautiful women I’ve ever seen. You saw the accident from across the street. Is she really your daughter?
THE STRANGER
Yes. You ran into her. Your fault, right?
DAG
Yes, my fault. I’ll never see her again. She’s the type that would hurt a man.
THE STRANGER
(points his finger in Dag’s face)
Guys like you don’t get it.
DAG
(slaps THE STRANGER’s hand out of his face)
You wanna get dropped?
THE STRANGER
Is this the alcohol talking or are you genuinely tough?
DAG
There’s a parking lot right out that door. The answer to that question can be a surprise that you’ll find about with your face plastered about the pavement in one minute.
THE STRANGER
Regarding the development of humanity, a highly necessary task, many people have attempted it and failed. Then there’s others who don’t try and they just naturally are great humanists; always going forward. Not fair, really. It’s reverse effort. Being good just comes naturally to them.
DAG
So much of philosophy is just ridiculous notions that dumb people think…dumb people listen to smart people…someone’s always conning someone else. I’m not tired, but I’m not quite with it these days…these last few days…something is going on. If a plane from Vegas to San Francisco crashes today, well, I know who I’m getting my lotto numbers from.
THE STRANGER
Not sure what you’re talking about.
DAG
Finally. I turned the tables on you. How does it feel?
THE STRANGER
Not so bad.
DAG
Do you feel used, stupid?
THE STRANGER
Reason, God and Faith. Heaven is in your mind. I got a short time to convey something to you.
DAG
SO CONVEY IT!!
THE STRANGER
Let’s go for a walk. If you run into my daughter again, try not to try.
DAG
Oh, that’s brilliant. I’ll try that.
THE STRANGER
The pinnacle of winning.
DAG
Like the Super Bowl.
THE STRANGER
Go get your car and get out of here.
DAG
No one has ever encouraged me to drink and drive before.
THE STRANGER
You’ve yet to feel that elation that people feel when they overcome a difficult patch in their life. For you, it will be the decision to follow your heart—follow your LEADERSHIP QUALITIES that you know you have an abundance of. If they could measure courage…making a decision and sticking with it will positively instigate change in many, many others. Do the right thing in the name of doing the right thing, not because there is something in it for you. Don’t save yourself through being of service to society; be of service to society to save that core self within us all.
DAG
Alright. I’m good. Farewell.
THE STRANGER
(unaware of whether The Unknown Presence was listening in
or not; maudlin; sarcastic frustration)
How was that?
[18] EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY — DAG’s CAR
DAG is lost; he’s trying to read a map and drive back to San Francisco but he’s not on the main highway. He’s sobering up, not driving erratically, but unable to figure out which road he should be on.
INT. DAG’s CAR
He fumbles with a foldout map and hears flashflood warning over the radio. He laughs at the irony of how he should have been flying, but was warned not to and now there is danger—and then to top it off he runs out of gas. The sun is setting and menacing storm clouds are approaching from the west.
DAG tries to turn the radio to a different station but the same flashflood warning is impossibly on every station. Increasingly aware of larger forces and the paranormal, unable to turn radio and repeating message off, he punches the radio. Even though the voice over the radio is crackling, it sounds like The Stranger’s actual voice.
RADIO (voice similar to THE STRANGER’s)
Floods are necessary, at least relative to how the bible blows them out of proportion. This entire area used to be under water. We are getting off easy. What is needed, for humanity’s sake, is not a boat whisking away two of everything—that’s escapism! Be of service to humanity because it is the right thing to do; do the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing, not because…(words become unclear)…Understand?
DAG
(sarcastic, trance-like whisper to himself)
Yes.
RADIO (voice similar to THE STRANGER)
Your whole life has lacked focus, but you have been given a second chance. It is happening now. The political moment is upon you. There is no saving yourself.
Dag punches the radio again and this time it turns off. His fist is bleeding.
[19] EXT. DESERT ROAD — NIGHT — HEAVY AND VIOLENT RAINSTORM
DAG passed a small group of houses a minute before he ran out of gas. Amidst the driving wind and rain, he makes a 30 minute walk back to the grouping of houses he had just passed. He knocks on the door of the first home he comes to.
DAG
(rings the doorbell; yelling)
I ran out of gas up the road. I don’t expect you to let me in, but could you call a tow truck for me.
INT. ERICA’s LIVING ROOM
ERICA is in her underwear and a t-shirt. She creeps over to pick up a shotgun hidden behind an armoire.
DAG
Hello?! Anybody in there?!
ERICA
(with gun pointed at the door, she unlocks the door
with her free hand and kicks it open)
What are YOU doing out here?!
DAG
Oh my god. This is coincidence. I ran out of gas up the road.
ERICA
(perturbed but unafraid, she tosses DAG the gun)
Come inside. Let me put a robe on. (walking away) Coincidence, huh?
DAG, wet, shocked that he is at Erica’s home, stands quietly and awkwardly—stares down at the tile in the dimly lit foyer holding a shotgun.
Wearing a robe, ERICA slowly walks back in to the foyer wear DAG stands like a shamed and embarrassed child.
ERICA
(extends one hand out; other hand on her hip)
Give me that.
DAG obediently hands her the shotgun.
ERICA
What are you doing out here? This isn’t the way back to anywhere.
DAG
I got lost.
ERICA
I can’t believe you’re not shivering. Aren’t you cold?
DAG
I think I’m too embarrassed to be cold.
ERICA
Maybe that’s good; at the least a change of pace, eh?
DAG
I assure you that this is purely coincidental.
ERICA
My goodness, you’re a mess. I’ll call a tow truck and make some coffee. Do you know how close you just came to dying?
DAG
I’m sorry.
ERICA
I have a gallon of gas in my lawn mower. We can siphon that into a gallon can I have. Who knows how long a tow truck would take. Let’s wait for the rain to die down a bit and check the radio regarding the flashflood warnings.
DAG
Um.
ERICA
Coffee?
DAG
OK.
ERICA
You look terrible; not just from the rain; your spirit looks miserable.
DAG
(feeling exposed)
You can see my spirit?
ERICA
(hands him a cup of coffee)
This will make you feel a little better.
DAG
Thank you.
ERICA
(Takes a long, almost motherly look at him as he
sips the coffee)
You’re just a mess.
DAG
I don’t know what to say. Um, so you think a gallon of gas will get me to gas station?
ERICA
(perturbed; she feels rushed)
Yes, but we can’t go now until it’s safe: there’s flood potential out there. You should be thankful, not in some big hurry. You just almost got your head blown off and now you’re in a hurry to get looking for a water bank to take you out? Maybe you should chill out just a bit.
DAG
No no no. Take your time. I didn’t mean that.
ERICA
(walking away)
I will take my time, thank you. Have you ever heard of an airplane?
DAG
(whispering to himself in the dark)
Why yes, I have.
ERICA
(re-entering the room with an armful of clothes and a towel)
Why don’t you take a warm shower; these should fit; they were my father’s.
DAG
I don’t-
ERICA
(leads him by the arm into the bathroom)
I’m actually not asking. (slams the door behind him) Oh, and hand me your shoes. I’ll put them by the fire.
[20] INT. ERICA’s LIVING ROOM
DAG walks out like a new man: clean and warm clothes that fit perfectly. He sees ERICA in the backyard tinkering with a large lawnmower in the rain. He contemplates calling out to ask her for help but realizes that would be exactly the wrong course of action with her. A picture of the THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER (Erica’s father) is prominently displayed. DAG looks at it for a long time but does not connect the face with the elderly man he has encountered. In a bookcase are many books about the desert and a bible. DAG opens the bible to a page marked with a large bookmark with a picture of an owl on it. Highlighted is a quote from Jesus: “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.” DAG is startled by ERICA’s opening of the sliding glass door; he quickly puts the book back in its place, hoping she did not notice…
ERICA
(muddy and wet)
Now you look fine and I’m a mess.
DAG smiles politely; he still feels awkward, but pleasantly surprised that she does not suspect him as stalking her. He’s impressed with her lack of concern for him being there and her willingness to help.
ERICA
I siphoned out a gallon. You go back the way you came, stop at the first gas station and then go that way (points North). The only other options are going back to Vegas or coming back out here.
DAG
It’s a ‘T’? Three-way stop?
ERICA
Very good, Dag. Where was this guy an hour ago. Wow. Impressive. Math major?
DAG
Nope, just real good with small numbers.
ERICA
Ah. How’s the fire; warm enough? Your shoes should be dry. Now I need to get mine a little warmth.
DAG (o.s.)
You notice I did not comment on your sarcasm this time.
DAG admires her legs and beauty as she slips her shoes off and puts her shoes by the fire. She exhibits a natural fluidity and sexuality in even the simplest task. She’s very cool.
ERICA
Until now…this time.
DAG
This time seems much different.
ERICA
I’ll give you that. Are you hungry?
DAG
You’ve done too much. Your hospitality has-
ERICA
(speaking condescendingly slow)
Are…you…hungry?
DAG
Yes.
ERICA
Good. I have exquisite leftovers from a dinner I cooked for an out-of-town friend last night.
DAG
Where was he in from?
ERICA
She was in from Manhattan.
DAG
Is she unusually pretty, like you?
ERICA
Unusual? She looks quite out of place out here. I need to go turn my computer off. It froze up. Have you listened to or seen the news today?
DAG
No.
ERICA
You know, I’m going to say this just once and then I want to talk about something else.
DAG
Uh, OK.
ERICA
You and I are probably a lot more alike than you think.
DAG
If that’s true, my condolences.
ERICA
Just as I thought.
DAG
What?!
ERICA
No no, it’s cool. A political website is totally taking off. I don’t quite understand it, but it’s causing a big commotion. I only went on it because my friend—leftovers friend—is a consultant for the company’s website that’s got everyone all worked up. I don’t know much about it. You’ll hear all about it once you’re back amongst the living.
DAG
A political website?
ERICA
Yeah. You into politics? Going on my computer messed up my computer. I think it crashed it. Whenever it acts funny I cut the circuit breakers to the room to reboot. It’s my way of being hardcore. So, what about the politics? You didn’t answer.
DAG
You didn’t give me a-
ERICA
I’m all ears.
DAG
You’re all hair. I don’t even know if you have ears.
ERICA stacks all her long hair up and holds it up with one hand.
DAG
Oh. I uh…yeah.
ERICA
You look like the type that would have something to say about politics.
DAG
Me looking like I have something to say: is that good or bad?
ERICA
I think it depends on what you have to say.
DAG
Meaning, if I agree with you…
ERICA
Oh, look at you. I didn’t mean that. So, regarding food: you allergic to anything?
DAG
No.
ERICA fixes a plate of ribs and mashed potatoes. She serves DAG a healthy portion.
ERICA
Like a stray dog; all wet, alone, out in the middle of the desert…hungry?
DAG
Thank you. You’re not having any?
ERICA
So, how did you do this? People have trouble getting out here intentionally.
DAG
Kind of hard to explain…strange days lately. I had this encounter with this older guy.
ERICA
“Encounter”?
DAG
That came out wrong.
ERICA
Were you at a rest stop?
DAG
Oh no. I-
ERICA
You’re part of that network.
DAG
No!
ERICA
(laughing)
I’m just kidding.
“Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses
possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the
figure of man at twice its natural size.”
—Adolph Simon Ochs—
“It is much safer to be in a subordinate position than in one
of authority.”
—Thomas A. Kempis—
Act III
[1] INT. TODD and MOLLY’s RESPECTIVE OFFICES — NIGHT
Unbeknownst to Dag or Erica, Todd has hired Molly’s company to design, develop and maintain the Democracy Today website. Todd is still not aware of Dag’s whereabouts, but he has launched the website with pictures of Dag announcing his candidacy for President of the United States of America. Molly and Todd speak on the telephone.
MOLLY
This is bigger than big; this is huge. People are calling me from all over asking how to get through to the site. I’m getting all kinds of requests. Famous people are calling and wanting special access to add their sentence. I can’t imagine what it must be like for you. Your office must be crazy.
TODD
More literally crazy than crazy busy.
MOLLY
What?! Ooohh, stop. You’re funny.
TODD
I’m coming out there. I need to meet you and discuss this in person with your team. I’m worried about the NSA and the government listening in our conversation.
MOLLY
(mocking his paranoia)
Hello government.
TODD
I’m serious.
MOLLY
You make the rules. Right now, you are an online God, a political maven. Are you bringing Dag?!
TODD
Umm, not sure yet.
MOLLY
The media is going to go bananas if you don’t introduce him other than those pictures on the site.
TODD
Well, this is what we need to discuss. Democracy Today’s old guard is there in Manhattan; we’ll all meet. How about tomorrow?
MOLLY
That’s fine. You get to write your own ticket, Todd. The world is at your feet, but as your highly important website provider (giggles), I know this city; it’s the hub of the world and their attention span is short. They will punish you if you wait to long to introduce Dag. (pause) Hello?
TODD
I’m here. I’ll call you tomorrow morning.
MOLLY
Are you taking a red-eye?
TODD
Yes. I hate to fly. It seems like my flights always have some turbulence or something odd.
MOLLY
Don’t say that! Oh my goodness, everything is going to be fine and I’ll see you tomorrow. Democracy Today’s champion, the man behind the man, the hope for a new generation is this cynical. I refuse to believe it. I’ll see you tomorrow, OK?
TODD
OK.
[2] INT. ERICA’s LIVING ROOM
ERICA
I am sorry about the gravel in the face.
DAG
No you’re not. That was the highlight of your month.
ERICA
Yes.
DAG
I was a little obnoxious.
ERICA
Nah; but the humble, wet you, is more manageable.
DAG
What, you don’t like a challenge? Is this where we discuss the psychological projections regarding being either a dog or cat owner?
ERICA
Eeww, that doesn’t sound fun. (pretending to be an airhead) Like, serious smart talk sooooo bores me.
DAG
What do you do for a living?
ERICA
(modestly)
I illustrate children’s books.
DAG
Truly, that’s awesome. You work from home?
ERICA
Yes. I have to make some trips to L.A., but that’s bearable as long as it is just for the day. The concrete jungle makes me a little loopy after 24 hours. I need to be in the desert.
DAG
Seriously, having an artistic job…plus, you are entertaining and being a part of teaching kids. I’m in sales and nothing ever seems to really come from it.
ERICA
Except exciting deals, hero worship for big commission checks, etc. You can’t fool me. I know your type.
DAG
My type?
ERICA
Yes. You fit a typecast.
DAG
Is that why I have gravel indentations on my face?
ERICA
Yes…and no.
DAG
That clears it up.
ERICA
Ambivalent answers always do.
DAG
Clearly.
[3] INT. ERICA’s CAR
ERICA drives DAG to his car. They are both awkwardly silent for the drive over. ERICA pours the gas into Dag’s car.
DAG
I can do that.
ERICA
I got it. You clear on directions? (Pointing) Drive that way.
DAG
I got it.
ERICA
(Pointing the other way)
If you continue on that way, you’ll end up in a lovely little place, appropriately called, Death Valley. That’s a bad thing. It’s weird enough just out here. The only animal, besides man, that survives out there is asses—literally.
DAG
Thank you…for the conversation, too.
ERICA
Yeah. Sure.
DAG
I’m guessing you don’t need me to be gentlemanly and wait for you to go first.
ERICA
I think I might feel better watching you drive off in the proper direction.
DISSOLVE TO:
[4] EXT. DESERT — DAG’s CAR — NIGHT
DAG’s car passes ERICA’s house and then ERICA’s car peels off into her driveway; she had been closely following DAG
INT. DAG’s CAR
DAG sadly watches ERICA’s car turn off in his rear view mirror. He’s all alone again. Even though he knows where he is going, he feels lost. The monotony of the night road makes him feel even more alone.
[5] EXT. ERICA’s BACKYARD
A disappointed ERICA tries to call Molly but gets her voicemail.
ERICA
(leaving voicemail for Molly)
Hey you, it’s me. Just wanted to see if you had that big meeting and, um, I actually spent some time talking to a man—a real good looking one—out here in the middle of nowhere. Love you. Call me whenever.
ERICA leans back in her backyard lawn chair and takes in the view of the moonlit mountains and twinkling stars.
[6] DAG’s POV: The road ahead is monotonous: black road and yellow dashes in the middle, again and again. He turns on the radio and the message and voice is peculiar as before.
RADIO (voice similar to THE STRANGER)
Lack of attention to essential detail is the crime of the man being led by higher powers. How many chances should one fool have? At what point do those on a higher level trade in their patience for the mere mortal…(words become scrambled and unintelligible; Dag smacks the radio and the signal becomes clear)…except for the brand of truth he could quickly recognize by means of intuition. Do not question an infinite Universe when it gives little finite you massive hints. Heaven—defined by you—is directly in front of you. It’s a flood of service, not water, that you should be swimming in. (Dag turns the radio off)
DAG sees the figure of a man standing in the middle of the road facing him. He sees the man from far away and comes to a full stop; the man is 50 yards away. DAG gets out of the car and stands by his car, staring at THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER now walking towards him.
DAG is motionless and unafraid. He neither worries and jumps back in the car, nor boldly goes out to meet the man—he simply waits. We don’t know if he recognizes THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER for who he is, but he suddenly does not seem lost in the Mojave Desert as he awaits his fate.
SUPERIMPOSE DEFINITION OF “RACCOON”
Superimpose over THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER while walking (continuance of scene) or background could be a typical desert scene (night or day).
raccoon (ra koon’) n., pl. –coons’, -coon’: see PLURAL, II, D, 1 [< AmInd. (Algonquian) name, as in Virginian arakun, lit., scratcher] 1. a small, tree-climbing, chiefly flesh-eating mammal (Procyon lotor) of N. America, active largely at night and characterized by long, yellowish gray fur, black masklike markings across the eyes, and a long, lack-ringed tail 2. its fur
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER walks to passenger side of Dag’s vehicle and stops by the front tire and brandishes a large hunting knife. Both men’s calm eyes admire the gleam of the moonlight on the blade as he holds it up for both to view.
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER
(constantly glancing behind himself, as if he’s expecting)
(to Dag) You’ve had a vision of who you are and what will happen.
DAG
I don’t know what you’re talking about. What do you keep looking for?
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER
They’re coming. The chase will be on soon. You are at the beginning; you must should continue on with following this vision. These visions are like pieces in a puzzle leading to…leading on.
A rustling in the bushes consumes THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER’s attention as a family of raccoons charges out of the bushes and races across the highway, suspiciously close to the two men.
DAG
(sensing action coming and The Stranger…)
What are you doing?
THE STRANGER
Slashing your tire and then a chase will take place, methinks.
In one amazingly fluid motion, THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER stabs DAG’s tire (loud pop and then hissing sound of the slashed tire) and then somersaults out into the middle of the road and just misses grabbing a family raccoons racing across the street in front of him. He takes off into the desert after the raccoons.
Dag is transfixed by the oddity of the scene. Like an old west gunfight, the raccoons and The Stranger paused in the street, waiting for the other to make the next move. The raccoons scattered off into the bushes and The Stranger went off right after them.
DAG
(yelling into the direction of the fading commotion)
GOODNIGHT EVERYONE!!
A day earlier this scene would have shocked Dag, but it now seems like old hat. DAG is a calm observer; a man resigned to acceptance of how The Bizarre seems to be choosing to stalk him in the desert. He pulls the car over to the shoulder and walks back the way he came. We notice a slight grin as he has checks the trunk to see there is no spare tire—an excuse to see Erica again. As the chase sounds disappear an owl’s hoots follows DAG as he walks.
DAG
(to himself)
No spare tire, no cell phone, but gorgeous providence is less than a mile away. Mr. Owl, you actually sound like a friend. Let’s just hope I don’t get shot on Miss Providence’s front steps here in about 15 minutes.
[7] EXT. ERICA’s BACKYARD
She hears a knock at the door. She smiles as she knows it is Dag.
PAN TO LIVING ROOM AND THEN DAG’s POV:
CLOSE ON A PICTURE (nicely framed; the centerpiece of the room) of THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER—Erica’s father. DAG realizes that The Stranger and The Young Version of the Stranger are Erica’s dead father. He is shook to the bone. When it should be piecing it all together and rehashing the word’s of The Stranger, all he can think of is a decision of whether he should tell Erica or not.
ERICA
(enters the room and catches Dag tacit, pensive,
seemingly worried)
What’s wrong? You OK?
DAG
People have been asking me that a little too much lately. Sorry. I’m fine. Let’s talk about stuff and drink—in your backyard. I really like it out there.
ERICA
Me too. Boy, I’ll tell ya: I’m usually good with first impressions…but…you.
DAG
Thank you, I think.
ERICA
You know it’s a compliment. With your looks you must be used to it; you can’t fool me.
DAG
I’m not trying to fool anyone. Well…um…You ever run across any weird and / or dangerous people out here?
ERICA
Besides you?
DAG
It’s just…I don’t know.
DAG is exhausted and too emotionally damaged by the day to take on explaining the full, and especially the most recent happenings of the day, to Erica. The idea of relaxing one-on-one with her in the backyard seems like just the medicine he desires.
ERICA
Is there something you want to tell me? Guilt? That’s the worst one, right? Lemme guess: you’re no angel? Let’s go outside. Let Erica take care of you tonight. I get the feeling someone needs to be on your side. Let’s talk and if you get tired I’ll put you right to bed in a very comfortable guest bedroom with a soft bed that has a nice, heavy, comfy quilt on it. You’ll be glad you ran into me. Whatever it is that is weighing heavy on that thoughtful mind of yours will be lifted.
DAG
Occupationally, I’m a flawed man.
ERICA
And other than that you’re perfect?
DAG
Sure. No. Of course not. Angels. Do you use that term loosely or do you believe in angels. It seems that nearly all of my female friends have been to psychics who give them this number, maybe between five and 20, of angels that are looking out for them. Do you believe in angels; or just, even, another plane intersecting this one; metaphysical type stuff?
ERICA
Ummm, that’s a lot of questions. I’m not sure, really. I’ve had some things happen to me that, let’s say, if they were videotaped, would defy gravity, logic, what have you.
DAG
(thinking intensely about his experiences with Misty
and The Stranger; speaking slowly; choosing his words
carefully as he does not want her to think he is crazy)
These happenings; were they with people?
ERICA
I don’t know how comfortable I am telling you some of this: you’ll think I’m crazy.
DAG
I actually don’t think I will.
ERICA
People, animals, but mainly involving the desert itself. It’s difficult for outsiders to understand.
DAG
Outsiders?
ERICA
Let’s talk about something else.
DAG
OK. I’m all for a new topic.
ERICA
Let’s just say that out here, whether it’s flying, driving or whatever…what am I trying to say?
DAG
This isn’t something else.
ERICA
I don’t know, but whatever it is it seems like you are…what’s that word?…nonplussed!
DAG
Good word.
ERICA
I hope it’s nothing that I’ve done.
DAG
(glancing back at the picture as they walk out to backyard; Dag opens the sliding glass door for her)
Noooo, you’re a good thing.
Strange screeching sounds are heard maybe a hundred yards or so from behind Erica’s house. They both look out at the desert; Dag looks a little concerned.
DAG
What was that?
[8] INT. TODD’s CAR — NIGHT
Molly calls Todd on his cell phone.
TODD
(recognizing Molly’s number)
Hey, what’s up?
MOLLY
Are your flight reservations—your red-eye ticket, I should say—non-refundable?
TODD
I think so, why?
MOLLY
I just got off the phone with my boss and, well, he is really impressed. And, I mean not so much with the hoopla, the party, this movement that is blowing up—he’s impressed with you, Todd. Frankly, so am I.
TODD
Stop. You’re embarrassing me. This all common sense politics for me; stuff I’ve been thinking about for years.
MOLLY
Hey handsome, lemme finish. He’s an investor. I think you might have some financial backing. At the least, we got a private jet waiting for you at LAX and a nice suite at the Waldorf awaiting your sleepy head.
TODD
This is a non-profit endeavor. I am trying to change the world and make Dag Johanssen the next President of the United States.
MOLLY
We know. Todd, look at the website, the nightly news, etcetera. EVERYBODY KNOWS! You would have to be living in a cave to not know.
[9] EXT. ERICA’s BACKYARD
DAG
Are sounds like that common out here?
ERICA
One day when I was a little girl, I romped and stomped all around the garden, ruining everything sprouting. I was mad at my Dad for something. It was his garden; Mom and I knew not to mess with it. I think I wanted to get in trouble. My father thought the raccoons did it. It started a ten year war. He would get drunk and wait for the family of raccoons to come across the fence and then he would ambush them. They were interested in the food in other backyards, but they knew that Dad was their enemy and they took a liking to tweaking him by eating out of the garden—but, he drew first blood, because of me. He would wait out there with a stack of books and throw the books and miscellaneous items at them as they crossed our property. Many, many times I would gather up books, a pan, a broken plate, bottle of beer or whatever on the other side of the fence. He always picked up the stuff that landed inside the fence. My Mom never knew anything about any of this. She would go to bed at 8pm and sleep straight through until 6am.
DAG
People like that amaze me. Book hurlers, too. Tell me more.
ERICA
The war took a turn for the ugly when he killed one of the babies with a billiards ball. I saw that one. That whole family of raccoons took that one to heart. They are a very intelligent animal.
DAG
Do they still come by?
ERICA
Yes, I see them but they stopped bothering the property when Dad died a year ago. If Dad tried to chase them off, or got too close, the mommy and daddy raccoons, protecting the young, would climb down the fence and feign an attack. They would charge and bluff.
DAG
Charge and bluff?
ERICA
You know, take a run at him and then stop. They were trying to intimidate him. It half-worked. I think he loved the little war. After Mom died, during the rare dinner party, he would regale the table with the war tales and finish with some maudlin about the raccoon’s “spirituality, defiance, and profound lack of fear of man.”
DAG
What do they eat?
ERICA
Anything.
[10] EXT. DESERT — NIGHT
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER morphs into THE STRANGER. The morphing process is painful as he stops chasing the family of raccoons—focused on the pain. The chase has lead them close to a small grouping of homes. The morphing stops on a dime; THE STRANGER goes from the most unimaginable pain to being perfectly still and calm. He eyes the collection of lights with intensity as he has aged 50 years in front of us; even his clothes change from another era into the blue suit. In a leather sheath, tucked in the front of his pants, sparkles in the moonlight; it’s the only item that remains through the metamorphosis. The pain disappears and he stares at the lights of his old neighborhood. Eerily, he calmly talks to himself, mixing in impersonations of Dag and his daughter with his own thoughts.
THE STRANGER
What’s your story? Everybody’s got a story. Did you make that up or steal if from a TV show? You’re really pretty. I’m old fashioned; I just call it like…you see it? May the devil grip the whey-faced beard by the hair and beat bad manners out of his skin for a year. Who is this picture of? Asked the man who could rule all…(looks up at the night sky) if only those from above (screams) HAD A PLAN! Yea though walk in shadow of Death Valley, blah blah blah. Oh, you ARE a clever boy; not what I originally thought, that is for sure. Having breath in one’s lungs is the definition of hope. I keep my optimism in a special place…compartmentalization—code, for me, not her, does not like to think about it. (barely coherent; somewhat unintelligible) Whomever said a good beating changes a person for the better is…was…I have no idea what time it is. (looks as if he may pass out)
[11] INT. ERICA’s LIVING ROOM — FLASHBACK
THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER drunkenly punches his wife several times and a pre-pubescent ERICA jumps on his back to try and stop him. Spinning wildly and screaming, he throws her off his arm and she flies into the unlit fireplace. Stunning silence fills the room in that comfortable moment that follows heavy domestic violent scene. An owls hoots be can be heard very clearly from outside.
CUT BACK TO:
[12] EXT. DESERT — NIGHT
THE STRANGER pulls a letter out of his pocket and walks toward the lights. The lights become intensely bright and a path into another dimension emerges in the light. The UNKNOWN PRESENCE wants him to come back and not deliver the letter. The WIFE / MOTHER struggles to her feet to pull her daughter from the fireplace as she screams and cries. THE YOUNG VERSION OF THE STRANGER watches his wife pull his soot-covered daughter from the fireplace. ERICA’s blackened face is full of quiet rage, but no tears.
[13] MULTIPLE SCENES TO ERICA’s VOICE-OVER READING OF A LETTER
ERICA writes a letter that night; we flash forward to him reading it and then many scenes of them enjoying the desert: hiking, playing football (some snippets include Molly and other friends, but most are a father / daughter tandem; they are pals and especially enjoy recklessly riding motorcycles through the open desert. Scenes include Erica (as a teenager) sneaking out of her room and into the living room to watch her father in the backyard drunkenly hurling items (especially books) at a family of raccoons walking along the backyard fence. Cut to The Stranger’s wife / Molly’s mother lying sick and dying in bed; her eyes wide open, but she is too weak to get out of bed. We view all aforementioned scenes to a voice over of Erica reading the letter—we are led to believe that this is the letter that The Stranger mumbled about and that mysteriously appeared in Molly’s pocket (possibly flash back to that scene in the parking lot could be included in the visual montage). Another scene corresponding with her mother dying: Erica attends graveside service for her mother and she is the only one who is not crying; The Stranger eyes Erica and is intrigued and concerned by his daughter’s lack of emotion whilst burying the mother / wife. Freaking cutting to Erica writing the letter in her class and we see, from Erica’s POV, the nervous girl playing with her hair as she gives an oral presentation in front of the class.
15 YEAR OLD ERICA (v.o.)
(reading a letter; school project; we assume encouraged by a special teacher)
Dear You, A Day in Spring
Today—I do not know why—but I feel ridiculously nervous. I’m vexed to the max (this is me mocking you girly girls). Back to me: I’m overwhelmed with my life at home. My Dad is a jerk. My isn’t around (long story). Recently, I have been spending more and more time at my Aunt and Uncle’s. My Dad does not even ask where I was when I don’t come home. I love the calmness in their home. Or, I’m raising hell with my friends. Does this mean I’m schizo? At least that makes me something. Getting caught and talking / flirting our way out of whatever mess I have gotten us into is fun. Brilliant, huh? And we girls wonder why people bad mouth us. We get so offended and concoct voodoo death chants on these old desert women. Mean, huh? I guess meanness gets returned. Oh, and here’s another extreme: the old women either adore us and run their hands through our hair or spread rumors about us being heathens or whatever. The duplicity of the desert should be researched or something; something’s up out here. We girls are bored. I guess that is not a valid, progressive and mature way to think, but if you were young and out here…don’t get me wrong, I love this place more than my friends, but…whatever.
My Dad actually helped me this morning. Shocking. He got me out of a suspension. I think if I would have asked him for help he would have declined. He went to college with my Vice Principal and the veep called him and I guess they worked something out so nothing would appear on my transcripts. Do you mind if I say “whatever” again? And you don’t think you’re cool. Ha!
Until late, I was always a hard-worker and motivated to keep my life together. My Dad is always saying I am fat, ugly and worthless. The saving grace is he only does this when he’s drunk. Thank my lucky stars he’s never sober because I would hate to have an ounce of self esteem. I do not know where he learned to verbally abuse people like that, but it is wrong and I clearly do not deserve all that. Whom do I tell besides you? The father I adored as a little girl is has disappeared like a jackrabbit over a red mountain. Corny? Deal with it. You have not been dealt like I have, now have you?
I am writing this letter in econ. This girl is speaking in front of the class. She is trying to give a presentation and she is really nervous. It’s making me nervous. So, I’m nervous and feeling sorry for her. I’m feeling sorry for me because I feel sorry for her. I want to slap her. She is adding to the horrible way I feel right now. I need a shot of Southern Comfort, a 100 mph ride on my dirt bike on the salt flats in Utah or a new pair of shoes.
Earlier today in my health class, the teacher started talking about schizophrenia and I started to cry (mom stuff). I do not think anyone saw or heard me; I was in the back of the room and I covered my head with my scarf, and sort of melted into my desk. Plus, the boys are desert cowards and barely look you in the eye ever, anyway.
My mother died recently. The day she died we had to start this book in English and the book (The Stranger) starts out a mind trip on me. The first line: “Mother died today, or was it yesterday?” Thanks for the cruel joke, Universe.
They let my Dad sleep at the hospital but I could not. Staying with Auntie and Uncle was nice. I did not want to be home alone. Auntie felt sorry for me and made an extravagant meal every night. I guess that was her way of saying, “there, there.”
On the morning of her death I had a dream that I awoke from at 7am. The Dream: I was on a beach, similar to Huntington Beach; long, real long; you’re always pulling tar from between your toes, but it’s OK because it’s natural. However there was patches of green grass, but for some reason this was normal to the beachgoers and I. I was enjoying the heat of the sun on back and shoulders (my hair was short then). It was peaceful and calm; my mind and the beach milieu. I was sketching like an expert in between watching boys surfing and absorbing the sun, wholly. My Auntie suddenly appeared and took me by the hand and led me to this wooded forest that was right across Pacific Coast Highway. (Dreams are so weird.) The next thing I know, Auntie and I are laughing and clawing our way through this clear plastic-like wrap as we knew there was a party going on the other side—it was as if we passing through this plane and into another one, or a different dimension or something. Once we got through the funky barrier, I remember seeing this lush, deep blue banquet table with tons of food on it; all of my friends and neighbors were milling around, drinking and snacking from the table. One of these people was my Mom. She smiled when she saw me. I had not seen her smile even once the last month of her life. I’m not one of those people who can make people laugh or try and cheer them up; I slide into the same place they are. Does that make sense to you? As soon as I saw her smile, I ran to her and dove into her loving arms. Neither her or I cried, we just hugged and smiled. I stepped back and we held each other’s hands. Her hands were soft; oddly soft; too soft, but I didn’t suspect anything yet. She pulled me close and held me tight until I woke up. You know how you wake up and you want back in the dream so you try to go back to sleep? I could not go back to sleep. I tried for about ten minutes. I went to school and—this is quite unusual—I had a nice day in high school. When I got home my Dad was waiting for me in the doorway. That was a first. In the foyer, Dad told me Mom died that same morning. I asked what time. He said it was around 7am.
That girl is finally done with her presentation. I bet she is relieved. That was painful. She is sitting right next and she has perma-grin; at least she doesn’t have spittle on her chin. I cannot tell if she her smile reflects relief or embarrassment; she must know everyone could tell how nervous she was as her voice was cracking the whole time.
DISSOLVE TO:
[14] EXT. ERICA’s BACKYARD — (Voice Over Cont.)
The end of the letter is being read by ERICA to DAG. We are to assume she has read the whole thing to him and is finishing up. Dag is enthralled and touched by this side of Erica and that she would share this with him.
Did you know that most of my friends’ moms make lunch for them. Granted, half of them throw it out after the step out of the house, but that’s not the point. I am so bitter about that. They do not know how special and nice…how good they have it. You truly do not know what you have until it is gone.
Nervous girl is still smiling; I just hope my Mom is.
Love,
Erica
DAG
Thank you for sharing that with me. That was amazing. You are a great writer. I cannot believe you wrote something that deep when you were 15. And you went in to illustrations?! You should write AND illustrate these stories.
ERICA
I do, whether they like it or not. My publisher is sick to death of me insisting on changes.
DAG
Well, I’m impressed. You have a creative flare that is…soulful.
ERICA sashays over to Dag’s lawn chair and gently sits on his lap; wrapping her arms around him, she looks into his and smiles. They kiss.
DAG
I feel like I’ve won the lotto.
ERICA
Oh, c’mon: maybe out here I might stand out a little, but you live in the big city; pretty girls are a dime a dozen.
DAG
I have never spoken to someone as beautiful as you. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Of course, I mean, in person. You know, there’s a couple of supermodels.
ERICA
Shut up and kiss me.
With Erica sitting on Dag’s lap, they engage in a romantic kiss.
[15] INT. STRANGE, OTHERWORDLY ALL WHITE ROOM
The BLACK COUGAR paces and growls as THE STRANGER enters the room through a white door that fades away once he enters. THE BLACK COUGAR morphs into the UNKNOWN PRESENCE (reminder: gold blanket of chimes jingling and dancing).
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
Well?
THE STRANGER
Why do I even need to go through this preposterous dance?
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
What do you mean?
THE STRANGER
You pretend as if you do not know what is going on down there. It’s irritating.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
You are irritated with me? That’s rich.
THE STRANGER
I saw you stalking her in the desert. She knew.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
First of all, that is not the real me; I’ve explained that to you. Secondly, if there is anyone on Earth who can handle themselves—especially in that silly little desert—it is her. I’ve had serious issues to deal with in deserts where danger lurked in every cubic foot; deserts the size of ten Earths; death to the enemy having to occur ten times before the first step in the goal—of what you absurdly call humanity—is achieved.
THE STRANGER
Whatever.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
Do you have any idea how many of these I am managing?
THE STRANGER
Poor you.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
Where are we?
THE STRANGER
It comes down to the other two…and, in the big picture, the will of the people, I suppose.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
Don’t get ahead of us.
THE STRANGER
It’s out of my hands.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
You’re quitting on me.
LESLIE enters the room with blood-soaked clothes.
THE STRANGER
What happened to you?
LESLIE
Car accident. Died. Looks like I’m helping from the other side now, too.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
If it turns out you pushed it…
LESLIE
Is THE ALL threatening me?
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
Just a little Karma 101, my dear. Where’s Misty?
THE STRANGER
Lost in the fog. I ’m being realistic. I always try to be. Before her little fun and games ride with Dag, I told her straight up: “If anyone, any one thing, ever…you should know it’s not about you.” I told her it just like that. By the way, Leslie, I don’t know what to say about your presence here, but I got a letter you should read.
LESLIE
Does it involve elephants? If it is related to my daughter in any way shape or form, you and I are going to tangle on a scale tantamount to eternity. I’ve never liked you.
THE STRANGER
Take it easy! Don’t be mad at me; Dag Johanssen and his merry band that he is collecting are the ones whom may cost us all another 100,000 years on the astral plane.
LESLIE
He’s a sweet boy and I’m willing to do anything to protect him.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
The cougar sleeps so you can put your harmful, accusatory eyes—so obviously filled with warnings—away. Remember, wars come in all shapes and sizes and stamina and tactics are the mark of the winner. You just got here.
LESLIE
Please, that’s a laugh. That’s what all you men we’ll never understand: I’ve been here all along.
THE STRANGER pulls a letter out of his pocket and begins to read.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
What’s that?
THE STRANGER
A letter; an epistle, a missive.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
From whom?
THE STRANGER
My daughter.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
To whom?
THE STRANGER
None of your business.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
I think it is.
THE STRANGER
You think the letter is to you?
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
I know it is.
THE STRANGER
Then why did you ask?
LESLIE
Upon finally arriving here in whole, I think I probably expected it to be like a classy tea party or something.
UKNOWN PRESENCE
Not this?
LESLIE
Not this.
UNKNOWN PRESENCE
Just wait until our next assignment. You might want to check out some of the amenities around food and bedding: the next two Earth weeks, starting tomorrow, are going to be challenging on a scale, well, you’ll need to feel it to believe it.
[16] MOLLY’s OFFICE (MORNING, EST) and ERICA’s KITCHEN (SUNRISE, PST) — TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
ERICA
(groggy)
Hello.
MOLLY
Rise and shine, whistle britches, I need your help.
ERICA
You need counseling. Everyone in that city does.
MOLLY
I’m not sure I’d argue with you on that, girlfriend. I have been thinking about you all night. I did not sleep a wink last night.
ERICA
Maybe rehab, then therapy.
MOLLY
Remember that website I told you about-
ERICA
It crashed my computer.
MOLLY
Haven’t you been watching the news?
ERICA
I, uh, have something out here. A man.
MOLLY
What?!
ERICA
He’s pretty amazing. And now he’s out hiking. He left before I woke up. I’m making breakfast and hoping he went for a walk and didn’t leave. I choose to believe he’s exploring.
MOLLY
OK, slow down; I want details.
ERICA
I met a man, he spent the night and now he’s gone.
MOLLY
Go on the roof and find him with your telescope nest up there.
ERICA
I thought about that. I’m just going to cook breakfast, live the dream and pretend he’s coming back.
MOLLY
Oh, baby. This sounds…
ERICA
Go ahead, say it: pathetic? desperate? absolutely awful?
MOLLY
I don’t know what to say. I called with such good news.
ERICA
I’m sorry; go ahead. Why, prey tell, have you been thinking about lil’ old me all night.
MOLLY
I have a private jet on standby at Ontario airport waiting for you. This guy has started a new political party and we are in charge of the website. It’s taking off like nothing I’ve ever heard of. Washington D.C. has been shook to the core in the last few days. The Democratic and Republican parties are like a sinking ship scrambling to bail out the water. It’s hysterical. You haven’t heard of this.
ERICA
Just from you
MOLLY
So you went to the website and you know a little.
ERICA
I know it’s crashing computers.
MOLLY
That’s because of mega hits! This is a good thing. I’ve never been more excited in my life.
ERICA
That’s saying something.
MOLLY
People all over the country are embracing this thing.
ERICA
What thing? What people.
MOLLY
A third political party. You must submit an idea, a piece of the platform, a sentence, some kind of thought about something to join. High and college kids seem to be especially crazed—I do mean in a good way—over this. I’m feeling a blank stare over the phone. Is this making sense?
ERICA
Keep going.
MOLLY
They have many ideas and a solid platform already, but they want more—to join you have to contribute.
ERICA
The kids or the party?
MOLLY
Well, both…sort of. It’s all so new. I want to explain it all to you in person and I want to be a part of this at ground level. Your Dad would adore this! They even have a candidate to run for president in the next election. He’s gorgeous, too.
ERICA
(smiles as she sees Dag’s wallet on the kitchen table)
Oh my God.
MOLLY
I know; cool, huh?
ERICA
No, I just saw his wallet on the table.
MOLLY
Your guy?
ERICA
He’s not my guy, he’s a guy; and he could have just forgot his wallet in his early morning escape. He may have forgotten his wallet because he was in such hurry to get out of here.
MOLLY
I need the positive, creative, brilliant Erica Debs today. He’s around the house; I can feel it. This is so great. I can’t believe you met a guy so quick—and you actually like him?! He wasn’t at the bar the other night, was he?
ERICA
No and…I know. If I go on the roof and break out the telescope and start searching for him I will feel silly
MOLLY
It’s romance: you are going to fill silly regardless, silly. Bring him to New York—today! You know, if you find him.
ERICA
What in the world do you need me for?
MOLLY
For everything. Officially: web design. Truth: everything. This is the biggest moment of my professional life; things are crazy here; we are hiring like mad just to answer all the calls, fix the technical problems, etcetera. My boss and this guy, Todd, from Democracy Today-
ERICA
Democracy Today is the name of the new party.
MOLLY
Yes. Todd is wonderful. He just arrived. (whispers) His name is Todd and he’s cute. He took me to brunch this morning; very intimate; we were playing footsies under the table, just five minutes into the conversation.
ERICA
And he’s running for president?
MOLLY
No, that’s Dag. I’m not supposed to tell anyone this, but this guy Dag-
ERICA
Dag?
MOLLY
Dag. It’s Scandinavian, but he’s a U.S. citizen. Thing is: this guy lost his cell phone the other day and he thinks he’s camping or something. He doesn’t even know he’s running for president. Don’t tell anyone, OK?
ERICA
(opens Dag’s wallet and pulls out his driver’s license)
Dag what?
MOLLY
Dag Johanssen.
ERICA
(slowly)
The plane is waiting at Ontario Airport? That’s wild.
MOLLY
(overjoyed)
Yes! Gate 11 is the private planes. Ask for Misty. They’re expecting you anytime today, but the sooner the better. Bring an entourage! I’ll have a limo waiting for you at JFK. I have such a good feeling about…I don’t know…EVERYTHING!
ERICA
I’ll see you this evening.
ERICA sees DAG in the backyard walking towards the sliding glass door with a bouquet of roses in his hands and a broad, engaging smile on his face. She waves and returns the smile. DAG looks for and finds a vase for the flowers in the backyard.
MOLLY
You still there?
ERICA
More than ever. I’ll see you tonight. I’m brining someone I think Todd and you will like. Make late supper reservations for four; somewhere really, really special.
MOLLY
I’m so happy! I love you!
ERICA
I love you, too.
They both hang up.
[17] ERICA’s POV: DAG is in the backyard with his back to ERICA. He is looking at the awesome sunrise. She walks outside. Without turning around, he reaches his arms out behind him, beckoning her to hug him. She runs to him and hugs him from behind, burying her cheek against his back.
CLOSE ON ERICA’s FACE
She is genuinely content for the first time in a long time.
THE END
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