[Nightshadow]: 82.Carla

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2008-05-25 09:01:08
 
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Note for [Mister Saint]'s Screenwriting Clinic Contest: This scene illustrates the uneasy relationship of Olivier and Carla, and introduced Carla's reticent eccentricity.


SCENE ONE
(The outdoor seating area of a thoroughly middle-class coffee shop. A few scattered customers sit isolated at their little tables, reading or tying on laptops. OLIVIER, a serious-looking fellow sporting a goatee and an all-black suit, sits largely unoccupied at a table in the outskirts, nursing an untouched coffee. A cowboy hat sits at the edge of the table. He glances up as CARLA, a nervous-looking young woman with her red hair tied into a wild, unusual style, enters the scene.)

OLIVIER
Hello, Carla. You’re three minutes early, as per usual. Would you like some coffee?

CARLA
(CARLA never looks away from OLIVIER as she approaches, even to watch where she’s going. She bumps her shin on another chair as she passes it, but recovers in an easy, practiced compensation step without any sign of being startled. She finally pulls out a chair without looking at it and seats herself across from OLIVIER.)

OLIVIER
(sitting back and uncrossing his legs)

Yes, well, it’s always a pleasure to see you, too. You’ve been doing well, Carla. You haven’t even been evicted this week. You’re making my life easy, you know.

CARLA
(stares at OLIVIER, remaining silent and just chewing intently on the nail of her index finger.)

OLIVIER
In any case, I have your stipend for the next month. It covers your rent, food, and those video games you love so incessantly.

(OLIVIER removes his wallet and removes a check from the billfold, and slides this across the table to CARLA, then replaces the wallet.)

CARLA
(CARLA’s eyes finally leave OLIVIER to travel down to the check, gazing at it for several moments, before looking back up to OLIVIER. Her non-chewed hand retrieves the check and shoves it, crumpled, into her front pocket.)

OLIVIER
Thank you, Olivier.

CARLA
(Voice is soft and strained, as though from a sore throat.)

Thank you, Olivier.

OLIVIER
(Sitting back)

Now then. I believe that entitles me to ask how things are going. Are they saying anything interesting? Have you learned anything new?

CARLA
(Says nothing, just stares at OLIVIER and bites her nail.)

OLIVIER
(warningly)
Carla….

CARLA
(Still soft)
No. Yes…no. They haven’t been saying much. They’re quiet. But they’re nervous…excited. Nervous.

OLIVIER
About what?

CARLA
(Sits silently for a few moments, just chewing. Finally…)

I don’t know.

OLIVIER
(Nods, considering.)

…Alright. Just keep listening, right? In the meantime, Carla, you’re bleeding again.

(Blood trickles thickly down the side of CARLA’s finger from her chewed nail.)

CARLA
(CARLA’s eyes travel down, though she doesn’t turn her head and probably can’t particularly see the finger at this angle. Her eyes travel back up to OLIVIER. She doesn’t stop or slow chewing.)

OLIVIER
I set some napkins at your place when I sat down, Carla. Please clean it up.

CARLA
(Eyes travel down again, just long enough to see the napkins. Her eyes travel back to OLIVIER. The other hand picks up a napkin, meanwhile, and presses it to the side of the bleeding finger. Meanwhile, she continues to chew.)

OLIVIER
Good enough, I suppose. Understand that I can’t pay another medical bill for you right now, Carla, so don’t do any serious damage. On that note, you need to be careful the next few weeks. The home now has the authorities looking for you officially. Stay out of sight, don’t attract attention to yourself. Now, what did I just say, Carla?

CARLA
(CARLA is silent for a few moments. Finally, softly…)

Careful….

OLIVIER
Good. Fine. That will do.

(OLIVIER stands up, picking up the cowboy hat but leaving the coffee.)

Remember that, Carla. “Careful.” And a minimum of the blood, while you’re at it. I’ll see you in two weeks, unless I need to check on you sooner for whatever reason. Now, pay attention to what the voices are saying, okay? You need to find out why they’re nervous. When you do, call me. You do still have my number, right?

CARLA
(nods)

OLIVIER
Show me.

CARLA
(For just a moment, CARLA looks faintly annoyed at this, the first expression change she’s shown. It fades, though. She reaches into the other front pocket. Gum wrappers, a battery, assorted pebbles, and paperclips of two colors rustle at the edge, a few falling, as she withdraws a cell phone, and holds it out.

OLIVIER
(nods)

Good. Thank you. Remember everything we talked about…be careful, and pay attention. We need to know what the voices are interested, as soon as possible. Have a nice two weeks, Carla. You can finish my coffee, if you like.

(OLIVIER walks past CARLA, and EXITs without another look at anyone.)

CARLA
(Eyes travel down to OLIVIER’s coffee cup the same way she’d been staring at him rather than follow him as he leaves. She stares for several seconds until finally, deliberately taking the cup and setting it slowly on its side, sending the entire contents therein pouring all over the table and trickling onto the floor. CARLA stares at it for another few seconds, before that bitten finger finally leaves her mouth and traces slowly through the puddle of coffee, as though tracing an unseen symbol, blood commingling with the drink and spreading slowly in a very dark red cloud.)

(CARLA stands, the fingers of her unbitten hand playing slowly and thoughtfully outside the pocket she’s put the check in. Ignoring the stares of onlookers, she turns and, walking slowly, EXITs as well, turning in the opposite direction OLIVIER had.)


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