A Real Scene from a Fake Script: Part 1

Written by Amir SaleemFADE IN

EXT. CAFE REVERIE – EVENING

Its just after the rain; the sun hasn’t come out yet and the
streets are still wet. Some chairs are placed on the side
walk alongside the cafe window. A lamp post is just switched
on and is trying to wrap its hazy light around itself. A
fresh stream of fragrance flies in from the far side of the
street, followed by Maria dressed up in elegant gray.
She opens the door of the cafe and takes a look inside; all
the seats are occupied. She looks around and sees AMIR
sitting with his laptop in one of the chairs arranged
exquisitely on the side walk. She stands there for a while,
trying to make a decision.

NARRATOR

This is my favorite place in town
and this is my favorite time of
the day and I still cant write
anything. I am supposed to finish
this script in seven weeks and I
don’t even know how to start it.
May be she could help … May be
… If I stop staring at her…
She stares back at him and then looks at his laptop, a few
books and a journal lying on the table in front of him.

MARIA
You writing something on me?

AMIR
(smiles, squinting his eyes)
No. But seems like a good idea.

MARIA
(walking up to him)
And what would you write?

AMIR
Fragrance!

MARIA
Ahan!!??

AMIR
(waits a while trying
to understand what she meant)
Something like, “She walked in
the company of an unsullied aroma,
her hair wavered in the bouquet
of thriving breeze, her eyes
gleamed like drops of scent, even
her smile was fragrant …

MARIA
Ok, ok, I get the picture.
(she smiled)
So is that all you write about?

AMIR
Most of the times.

MARIA
Why?

AMIR
I don’t write for a reason.

MARIA
Because of lack of it?

AMIR
No, but because I don’t always believe in it.

MARIA
So what do you believe in then?

AMIR
Mental strength.

MARIA
Whatever happened to the heart?

AMIR
Its there. Silent, most of the times.

MARIA
Silence is the other side of fragility.

AMIR
Or may be patience; or may be too much strength.

MARIA
Optimist!

AMIR
Hopelessly.

MARIA
Romantic?

AMIR
Used to be.

MARIA
Pain?

AMIR
No more.

MARIA
Reason?

AMIR
Without one.

MARIA
Coffee?

AMIR
On me.

MARIA
Generous!

AMIR
Not always.

MARIA
Why now?

AMIR
You love finding reasons, don’t you?

MARIA
That’s how I find answers.

AMIR
Why try looking for them?

MARIA
Serenity.

AMIR
Answers is not the answer to it, I guess.

MARIA
Then what is?

AMIR
I don’t want to find out.

MARIA
Afraid?

AMIR
Sometimes.

MARIA
Of?

AMIR
Lacking.

MARIA
Like?

AMIR
Strength. Passion. Life… Words.

MARIA
Words? … Like now?

AMIR
Yes. Writer’s block.

MARIA
You are welcome.

AMIR
For?

MARIA
You just wrote your first scene.

AMIR
(smiles)
Thank you.

Maria stands up, gives him a smile and leaves.

FADE OUT.

The End

Continue reading part 2 >>

Tags: Dialogues, Romance, Scripts

Category: Short Stories