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20130711

After the Shift, Nothing...

INT. MOTEL SIXTY SIX - NIGHT

There is no light on in the room, except the sheen of street lights shining through the window. The curtain is open two inches.

A man is sitting at the table near the window. He is playing solitaire. Flipping the cards in a weird pattern on the table. 

We see his chronometer sitting on the table beside him. Numbers are counting down.

10...9...8

Snow is falling.

7...6...5...

The man sits with a cup of coffee before him. The steam rising up.

4...3...2...

In the dim light, we see the face of MAX CUBE. It looks like he has been crying. 

1

There is a KNOCK on his motel door.

MAX walks to the door. He wipes his face before opening the door. Backlit by the streetlight is a WOMAN. She is standing there in a short fur coat. We can see that she is wearing revealing clothing.

ESCORT (WOMAN)
Hi. I'm your date for this evening.

MAX
Indeed.

MAX steps aside and lets her in. Her HIGH HEELS TAP against the floor as she enters. He tries hard not to directly stare at her.

ESCORT
I gather you like it dark...

MAX
Darkness and I are old friends.

ESCORT
I guess that's one thing we have in common.

He smiles.

MAX
Night is such an illusory beast.

ESCORT
How poetic. 

MAX
Thanks. It's something a dear friend of mine once told me.

She removes her coat and drops it.

ESCORT
Well, I will be your friend this evening.

She moves closer to him, the sexual confidence of her body radiating like heat. MAX takes a step back.

MAX
Umm. Sorry.

ESCORT
Well, how would you like to do this?

MAX is obviously uncomfortable.

MAX
Care for something to drink?

ESCORT
Of course.

She stands at the window, watching the snow fall from the heavens. MAX hands her a cup of coffee.

MAX
Triple sugar and cream.

ESCORT (surprised)
Thank you. That's how I like my coffee.

MAX
I guessed.

He hands her the coffee. Her smile is bright and perfect.

ESCORT
Here's to the holidays.

They clink their coffee cups. After a sip she puts down the coffee and steps close to MAX.

ESCORT
Well, sugar...

She touches his face, the caress and her expression of tenderness seemingly genuine.

MAX
Your touch is smooth as silk.

ESCORT (sighs)
You shall see. 

Her hand slides down his chest, but before it goes any further MAX turns away.

MAX
I know what you expect, but that's not the reason why I called for you.

ESCORT
That's okay, hon, in my line of work I've learned to expect all sorts of things.

MAX
I called because I just want... (long pause) I need to talk to you.

She sits on the edge of the bed. We can see her body language has changed from seductress to psychiatrist.

MAX
I've been thinking about my life, about things I have done, places I've been and people that I have met along the way. I've been thinking about life in general. Ever since I arrived here three months ago, I have been searching for someone so dear to me. Only to find out that she never showed up here at all.

ESCORT
How sad. Why is that?

MAX
I really don't know. Just that maybe fate and destiny is playing tricks with us. Or maybe I'm just deluded in thinking that what I have experienced was even real. I really don't know. But it was no dream, and I know that she is out there somewhere, and maybe one of the reasons why she didn't come here is that she wasn't really needed here in the first place.

He pulls a chair around to sit down.

MAX
Before I say anymore I'd like to introduce myself to you. I'm Max.

ESCORT
Well Max, I'm Margaret. But you can call me Maggie.

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