A Real Scene from a Fake Script: Part 2
FADE IN
EXT. CAFE REVERIE – EVENING
There is a hint of sun’s presence behind the clouds that
have started gathering over the murky evening sky. It might
start raining anytime. There is just one table and a couple
of chairs placed on the sidewalk just outside the
restaurant. The lamp post is still asleep and there is
humidity in the air awaiting a fresh gust of evening breeze
to inject some life into it.
NARRATOR
Only if life was stagnant I would
have written with all the peace
of mind in the world. She once helped me with
starting up this script and I
wrote many a scenes with her in
my mind, with her sitting next to
me. Today I am again stuck with a
scene … this time, the last one….
Maria appears from the far corner of the street and walks
towards Amir.
MARIA
Hey!
AMIR
Hey!
MARIA
(sitting in a chair
placed across the table)
I thought you would be here.
AMIR
Yeah. Its been long.
MARIA
Yes, its been long. How have you been?
AMIR
Just the usual.
MARIA
You done with your script?
AMIR
Almost … Stuck at the end; cant
figure out how to wind it up.
MARIA
What do you wanna go for, happy
ending?
AMIR
I don’t know, you tell me.
MARIA
How can I tell, its your story.
AMIR
I know, but you started it.
MARIA
Yeah, I did.
AMIR
So?
MARIA
I don’t know. There’s been too
much happening.Its been difficult.
AMIR
Really?
MARIA
Don’t you know?
AMIR
I do, but I thought that was part
of it all. I would never expect
anything to be trouble free.
MARIA
But I thought it would be.
AMIR
Disappointed?
MARIA
No.
AMIR
Hurt?
MARIA
I wish I could say no.
AMIR
Yeah.
MARIA
Can it be undone?
AMIR
I wish I could say yes.
MARIA
Yeah.
AMIR
Don’t meet me in my writings, I
told you that.
MARIA
I remember; I thought it was your
reflection.
AMIR
It is my living.
MARIA
But that passion?
AMIR
I write fiction, I am good at
creating things that don’t exist?
MARIA
But you did it to a real person
this time.
AMIR
I lost control I guess.
MARIA
Do you ever?
AMIR
I did.
MARIA
This is where you wrote your
first scene.
AMIR
This is where it all began.
MARIA
This is where it all ends.
AMIR
It doesn’t have to.
MARIA
But it will?
AMIR
I wont end it.
MARIA
But you wont carry it forward either?
AMIR
But this is the last scene.
MARIA
And not necessarily a happy one?
AMIR
A realistic one I would prefer.
MARIA
Yeah.
(She stands up picking
up her bag and starts
to leave)
Congratulations.
AMIR
For?
MARIA
You just completed your script.
Maria walks away as Amir watches her disappear into another street.
FADE OUT.
Category: Short Stories
