Touched

He stood there on the edge of the docks, looking over the water. The sun was setting and casting long dark shadows. The clouds had a reddish-hue to them; by old wives' standards it meant that it was going to be a beautiful day tomorrow. He closed his eyes and stretched his arms out as a cool breeze blew in over the water, comforting him like a long lost old friend.

"Max." A voice interrupted his meditation. He turned to see who it was.

"Hey Gabe," he replied. Gabriel 7 stood three meters from the water.

"What were you doing?" Gabe asked.

"Reflecting," Max replied. He reached for his pack of cigarettes and realized that he had left them on the pub table. "Shit," he said in a whisper.

Gabriel 7 waited til Max approached him before he stepped forward and handed Max his cellphone and smokes. Max cracked a smile and gave Gabe a shot in the arm.

"Now this is the start of a beautiful friendship," Max said.

Faux Blog

A journal excerpt from BloggityBlogBlogs
Subject: Strangers On The Line
Date: This Morning
Tags: subway, strange

I was standing on the subway platform this morning, waiting for the Red Line to pull in and take me to campus. This fellow and this young chick were standing there as well, and I couldn't help overhearing their conversation. The fellow was dressed in a black shirt with writing saying "You Think Your Day Is Shitty?". I noticed the torn jeans and the combat boots. I presumed he had seen combat duty, maybe in Iraq, since he had a few scars about his body and a bit of that stare in his eyes. The young girl was a tween, she was dressed in what looked to be a school uniform and holding a sling-bag.
Their conversation went like this:

Vet: Damn train. Why'd it drop us here? There isn't anything wrong or happening at the moment?
Schoolgirl: Maybe it sensed you needed a break.
Vet: Maybe.
Schoolgirl: You're looking edgy, is there something wrong?
Vet: I really don't know. I just need to find her.
Schoolgirl: Who?
Vet: Maggie.
Schoolgirl: She's the girl you dream about, right?
Vet: Yes. I really need to find her.
Schoolgirl: There's a phone over there. Why don't you use it?
Vet: I don't know if she has a connection.
Schoolgirl: The subway car dropped us here for a reason, didn't it?

And then they sauntered over to the phones. I had half a mind to step within earshot, but then my train was coming in. My first impulse was to step back and catch the next one, but I could see the fellow glancing at me with his soulless eyes, and that sent a shiver down my spine. I stepped onto my train.

Faux Blog

a journal excerpt from BloggityBlogBlogs: 

Subject: In The Subway
Date: September 26th 2008
Tags: Actors

if i were to assign actors to ppl i randomly notice, then this dude standing in the subway would be kinda like:

He was standing next to a girl (probably played by the girl from the live action KiKi's Delivery Service:

She sat on the seat beside the first dude, engaged in conversation with two other guys sitting next to her and a young cowboy chick (maybe she will be:

One of the guys would probably be the king from that movie 13th warrior:

and the other a man played by the guy who was the cool principal from Buffy:

anyways the reason i am writing is i caught a snippet of their strange conversation. you know i heard of geeks like these playing stupid ass roleplaying games well i gather this is just a group of them who do this for real you know... dress up in costumes and playact. 

each time i ride the subway i hook up with these geeks and freaks. can't they really get a life? well anyways the conversation went like this:

13th warrior: well what are we going to do next. sit on this train for a little while to figure out when it's time to get off?

24 guy: something along those lines.

13th warrior: and this is good because?

kiki: we are serving the greater good. we are aligned and comply to the cosmos. where the car stops and opens it's doors is where it wants us to be. i think that this is really exciting.

24: she's correct you know.

principal: oh crap. oh crap. I can see myself on this car for the rest of my life.

dakota: come on and snap out of it or I will bounce you head off the window.

principal: alright. but if i get killed i am coming for you.

dakota: bring it on. (laughs)

kiki: (beaming) isn't this just exciting though?

24: well i think this next stop is ours. 

Anyhow, it seemed like a strange intersection of personalities. I watched them file out into the platform station. that's when i noted that each of them drew out a weapon.

The Warrior Prepping

Her fingers danced over the computer keyboard like a pair of olympic skaters. Grace in motion. She had called up a web page and found what she was looking for. Her hand touched the monitor and a city map showed up.

A message bubble popped up and she didn't answer it. She wasn't in the mood to do any ambient talking. She pushed herself away from the computer and kissed her hand and placed it on top of the machine.

"If all goes well I may not see you again," she told the computer.

Mags walked through the dark apartment; she didn't need a light on because she knew the place like the back of her hand. She stopped by a jar and flicked it a few times; the insect in there just turned its back towards her and grumbled.

"Come on Mardi, buck up," she told the insect. "Any day now you will be free to do what you please. I just need you were I can see you for now."

Mardi grumbled. He had been imprisoned now for weeks and he didn't much care for it.

"Just squash me and get it over with?" the insect said.

"What? And ruin a beautiful friendship?" Mags said.

Mardi moved to the opposite side of the glass and lay down. Mags took an egg timer and set it for an hour and twenty-two minutes from now. She placed it right beside the glass jar.

"Oh crap, it's going to happen, isn't it?" Mardi said to Mags as she walked away.

She picked up the remote control and aimed it at the home stereo system. A tune came blasting out. Theme music.

She stopped at the poker table; instead of cards there was a massive array of weapons spread out. She picked up the two pistols and began to strap them on.

With the guns holstered she grabbed a knife and attached it to her left leg, then a sleeve of throwing stars onto a belt. Finally, it was the katana. It was in the middle of the table. Mags poured herself a warm liquid from a teapot, held it up towards the blade and took a quick swig from it.

"Time to kick ass," she muttered.

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.