Luoyang
EXT. HOUSE PARTY- NIGHT
A house is lit with music faintly booming inside. It’s a dark summer night. The streets, slightly lit, seem extra quiet. A woman (Alex, 29, wearing a leather jacket and white maxi-dress) is smoking alone in the garden. Blue LED lights reflecting onto her face.
The door squeaks open and noises from inside the house crescendos. A woman (Kaia, 27, wearing casual business attire) walks into the garden.
KAIA
(chuckling, relaxed, to the room)
I’ll be right back.
She closes the door and it quietens. KAIA turns around and
freezes, as she sees ALEX leaning against the wall.
Silence. Muffled loud music still booming behind the walls.
ALEX sees KAIA’s face. Her smoking motion stops. She fixes her posture, and quickly stubs out the cigarette with her feet.
KAIA (CONT’D)
(awkward)
Mhm.
She looks away. Then not knowing what to do, she looks back.
She opens her mouth to say something but her words delay.
KAIA (CONT’D)
(uncomfortable)
Hey… It’s been a while. Didn’t expect you to be the type to show up at reunions.
Beat.
ALEX
I didn’t expect you to be hiding out in the backyard either.
(beat.)
how’s life?
KAIA
Nothing new.
Silence. ALEX takes out the cigarette pack in her pocket. She
offers KAIA a cigarette.
EXT. RURAL STREETS WITH FOOD CARTS - DAY - FLASHBACK
Young ALEX and KAIA walking together on the street, eating the street food in their hands. We watch from their back. They walk side by side, shoulders slightly brushing.
YOUNG ALEX
No they did NOT find out!
YOUNG KAIA
You deserve a sanction 1000.
YOUNG ALEX
Shut up! You deserve to not tell me
what to do.
WE GO BACK TO EXT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
KAIA shakes her head and declines the cigarette.
ALEX
Confirmed. Nothing‘s changed indeed.
They both chuckle softly.
ALEX doesn’t light her cigarette but puts it back into the
box.
ALEX (CONT’D)
Finance burning you out huh.
KAIA
Yeah. But I asked for it.
(beat)
I heard you got married?
ALEX
Yeah. Not what you expected huh.
KAIA
No.
(wryly)
You still hate children?
ALEX
Well, I’m not as obsessed as you
were but, no, I plan to have kids.
I/E. CONVENIENT STORE - DAY - FLASHBACK
Young ALEX and KAIA buy two ice creams from a street owned convenient store.
YOUNG ALEX
(to the shopkeeper)
Two Magnums please.
They unwrap their ice-creams and starts walking out.
YOUNG ALEX (CONT’D)
(taking a bite)
What you up to later? You got practice? I’m
going back to Shanghai tonight just so you know.
Silence. KAIA eats her ice-cream without responding for a
moment.
YOUNG KAIA
You should stop wasting your time
with those people.
(beat)
I mean what are you even doing with them?
YOUNG ALEX
(confused)
What are you trying to -
YOUNG KAIA
You think they’re smart,
interesting, cool people but really
they have no clue what they want.
(beat)
I mean unless you don’t either, but
I don’t know about that.
ALEX stops walking and KAIA continues.
YOUNG ALEX (O.S.)
The fuck is this about?
KAIA stops walking and turns around.
YOUNG ALEX (CONT’D)
I mean is this what you wanted to
say all along? Really, how -
YOUNG KAIA
You know who you are, Alex. But
someone needs to help you. Cuz it
doesn’t seem like you are.
ALEX nods with disappointment and laughs dryly.
YOUNG ALEX
(staring)
And who are you to think you’re
the one who can.
WE GO BACK TO EXT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
ALEX and KAIA stare at each other for a moment. KAIA looks away, glancing at the garden. There are no flowers or furniture in the garden, only a tree in the corner and wildly sprouting grass.
KAIA
(takes a breath)
I should go back, they’re probably -
ALEX
(cutting her off)
Want to go? My car’s outside.
ALEX looks at her contemplatively. KAIA looks back. Before
KAIA responds with anything, ALEX starts walking towards the door.
ALEX (CONT’D)
I’ll grab my bag.
She leaves and KAIA stands alone in the garden. Watching.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
YOUNG ALEX
Look at me. Look at me.
(silence, then angrier)
YOUNG KAIA
(defensively)
What? What do you want me to say?
YOUNG ALEX
(scoffs)
Really? You don’t know what I want
you to say? I asked four times to
speak to you and after you agree
you say nothing?
Silence.
YOUNG KAIA
I don’t know what you want from me
and what all this is.
YOUNG ALEX
(laughs)
Fine. Let me tell you. You don’t
just ghost someone after telling
them you care about them. You at
least have to tell me what the fuck
is going on.
YOUNG KAIA
Nothing.
YOUNG ALEX
I mean was it our fight? That was
almost a year ago and you never
mentioned it after.
YOUNG KAIA
(angry)
I said nothing.
YOUNG ALEX
You think I’m going to believe in
‘nothing’ after everything.
YOUNG KAIA
(cutting her off)
And the fight, that was my mistake.
We don’t need to talk about it.
YOUNG ALEX
I don’t believe you. I don’t
believe this is what you truly
think about what happened with us.
YOUNG KAIA
Well I can’t help you.
WE GO BACK TO EXT. HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
A car is parked on the street. ALEX walks out from the house and walks towards the drivers seat.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
ALEX ignites the car and KAIA sits down next to her, closing the door. They sit in silence for a moment. Then ALEX starts playing “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” - Billie Eilish.
KAIA
(smiling)
That’s old.
ALEX
Yeah. Still one of my favorites.
Where do you want to go?
Beat.
KAIA
You know, I never said sorry about
what happened.
Beat. Both not looking at each other.
ALEX
Kaia, you don’t have to -
KAIA
I guess I was too afraid to...
really think about how I felt.
(beat)
I really wasn’t used to being so -
ALEX looks at her. KAIA senses this and looks back too.
ALEX
It’s okay. I know.
KAIA smiles softly.
ALEX (CONT’D)
You know what, we should go get ice
cream. I mean its only like, 2 in
the morning.
They both laugh, feeling both close and distant.
End of scene.
