The City of Love
INT. FRENCH CAFÉ – DAY
The interior of the café is small, filled with mismatched chairs and tables. On each table is a glass jug containing a flower. Large windows fill the spaces between the raw stone and a large clock resides on a wall. An 8 year old kid, THEO, sits in a table, watching something on his phone.
The door to the café swings open and the small bell over the door rings. A young American tourist, Mira, walks in. She glances around the café for a moment, before she walks up to the counter. The CASHIER, sitting on a chair behind the counter, glances up from her phone and narrows her eyes at MIRA.
MIRA
Bonjour. Une café crème s’il vous plaît?
TICK
CASHIER
(with a heavy French accent)
Four Euros
MIRA hands over the money
TOCK
CASHIER
(points towards the end of the counter)
Wait there
MIRA walks over to where the CASHIER pointed. About a minute later, the CASHIER finishes making MIRA’s drink and pushes it across the counter to her.
CASHIER
Café crème?
TICK
MIRA
(as she grabs the cup)
Merci.
MIRA brings her café crème to an empty table and sits down. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a notebook and pen. She puts her headphones on and starts writing, occasionally taking breaks to sip her café crème. The clock is ticking all the while.
The bell above the door rings again but MIRA doesn’t look up. ELIOS walks into the café with sunglasses on.
TICK
CASHIER
(with only the slightest hint of a French accent)
Elios! It’s been like four weeks since I last saw you.
TOCK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
Where have you been?
ELIOS
You know me…
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
I’m more of a free spirit. Anything interesting happen while I was gone.
TOCK
CASHIER
Not really. Theo really missed you, though.
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
Next time let us know if you’re going to be gone for that long.
TOCK
THEO finally glances up from his phone and notices ELIOS. His face lights up and he gets out of his chair to hug him.
THEO
You’re back!
TICK
CASHIER
How long do you plan on staying this time?
TOCK
ELIOS
(shrugs)
I don’t know yet. Have you seen Jericho lately?
TICK
CASHIER
He stopped by about a week ago. If he comes by again…
TOCK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
…do you want me to let him know that you stopped by?
TICK
ELIOS shakes his head
ELIOS
I’d rather keep my arrival a secret for as long as I can.
TOCK
CASHIER
Makes sense. You want your usual?
ELIOS reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
(sighs)
Come on, Elios, you know you don’t have to pay for anything.
TOCK
ELIOS
Just think of it as a down payment for your loyal support over the years.
TICK
CASHIER
Just let me treat you. If Jericho finds out I made you pay for anything-
Both the CASHIER and ELIOS shiver at the same time and ELIOS quickly puts his wallet away.
TOCK
ELIOS
Fine. Seriously, though, thank you.
CASHIER starts making ELIOS’s drink and he stands there for a couple of seconds before he asks
TICK
ELIOS
Do you want me to pick up anything for you?
TOCK
CASHIER
Can you get me more rope? The Guest downstairs is going through it too fast.
TICK
ELIOS
Yeah, no problem. I can probably pick some up for you tonight.
TOCK
CASHIER
Thank you.
The CASHIER slides ELIOS’s drink across the counter. ELIOS hesitates before grabbing the drink and leans closer to the CASHIER.
ELIOS
I also want to pick up something small for Theo.
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
Do you know what he’s into these days?
CASHIER
(hesitates)
I don’t really know…
TOCK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
Recently, he keeps begging me to buy him a knife.
TICK
ELIOS
(laughs)
Really?
ELIOS grabs his cup
ELIOS (CONT’D)
Don’t worry, I’ll think of something.
ELIOS finally turns around and notices MIRA, who doesn’t notice him, too busy writing. ELIOS’s hand immediately starts shaking and he sets the cup back on the counter before turning to the CASHIER.
TOCK
ELIOS
(whispering)
When did she get here?
CASHIER
(Leaning closer)
Who?
TICK
ELIOS
The American in the corner
CASHIER glances up and notices who ELIOS is talking about, before she makes eye contact with him again.
CASHIER
About five minutes ago.
TOCK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
She interest you?
ELIOS
(slowly)
I don’t know-
TICK
CASHIER
Why don’t you talk to her? Find out what’s so interesting.
TOCK
ELIOS
Fine.
ELIOS sighs as he grabs his cup again. The shaking is still somewhat visible, but better than before. He snakes his way through the café, ignoring the way that THEO perks up as he walks by him, until he is right behind MIRA.
ELIOS stands behind MIRA for a couple of seconds watching her, before he finally taps her on her shoulder. MIRA jumps a little at ELIOS’s hand on her shoulder before quickly turning around to face him and pulling her headphones down to her neck. ELIOS walks around the table to face MIRA
TICK
ELIOS
So, what’s an American tourist doing in the backstreets of Toulouse?
MIRA closes her notebook
TOCK
MIRA
I could ask you the same thing.
ELIOS takes a seat at the chair across from MIRA and leans back.
TICK
ELIOS
Guess I wanted to get off the beaten path. You?
TOCK
MIRA
Thought I’d try something new for a change.
ELIOS
(smirking)
Well, welcome to Toulouse
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
(dramatically waves his hands)
The City of Love
MIRA
(laughs)
Isn’t the City of Love Paris?
TOCK
ELIOS
(shakes his head)
You never know where love will find you.
The smile fades from MIRA’s face and she stands up.
MIRA
I’m afraid here…
TICK
MIRA (CONT’D)
...might not be the place
MIRA grabs her things and takes two steps away from the table
ELIOS
(suddenly serious)
Wait.
MIRA pauses and turns back around.
TOCK
ELIOS
I didn’t catch your name
MIRA hesitates and for a moment, it seems like she plans on just walking out of the café. But then, her answer just seems to slip right off her tongue.
MIRA
I’m Mira. You?
TICK
ELIOS
Elios.
MIRA
Well, it was nice to meet you Elios…
TOCK
MIRA (CONT’D)
…but I’d should get going.
ELIOS grabs MIRA’s arm and butterflies start up in her stomach, which makes her pause. ELIOS seems to sense it as he lets go of her arm.
ELIOS
(takes off his sunglasses)
Look…
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
I’m sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way. It’s just that you don’t often see strangers here…
TOCK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
…and I’m curious how you ended up in this cafe. Why don’t we start over?
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
I’ll treat you to a drink as an apology.
MIRA thinks for a couple of seconds before she walked back to her seat and sits down again
MIRA
Fine.
TOCK
MIRA (CONT’D)
But that drink better be good.
ELIOS stands up and puts his hand on MIRA’s shoulder before whispering into her ear.
ELIOS
Give me one moment.
TICK
ELIOS walks up to the counter and starts talking quietly with the CASHIER. MIRA doesn’t seem to notice what he’s saying as her gaze falls upon the view outside the window.
CASHIER
So, what do you think?
ELIOS
I’m not quite sure yet.
TOCK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
It’s hard to tell with her. It’s almost like whatever it is, it’s buried.
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had contact with Victor.
TOCK
CASHIER
You think she knows?
ELIOS
(slowly shaking his head)
I don’t know.
TICK
ELIOS
I was thinking of bringing her to E and seeing what she thinks.
TOCK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
I offered to buy her a drink
CASHIER
(sighs)
Really?
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
You want two more drinks on the house
ELIOS
I thought you said you didn’t want me paying…
TOCK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
…in case Jericho found out.
CASHIER
(groans)
You know I hate it…
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
…when you drag your little projects into my café.
TOCK
ELIOS
I wasn’t the one who brought her here. Please.
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
Just one drink and then we’ll be out of your hair.
CASHIER
Fine.
TOCK
CASHIER starts making the drinks but spends as much time facing ELIOS as she can
CASHIER
So, what’s you mess up this time?
ELIOS
What do you mean?
TICK
CASHIER
You’re telling me there’s absolutely no reason why you’re buying her a drink
TOCK
ELIOS sighs. For a couple seconds, it seems like he’s not going to say anything.
ELIOS
(mumbling)
Came on too strong.
CASHIER starts silently laughing and ELIOS gets mad.
TICK
ELIOS
(hisses)
Shut up
CASHIER
Why am I not surprised?
TOCK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
You really need to get better at talking to people.
TICK
ELIOS
I am good at talking to people.
CASHIER side-eyes ELIOS and makes it clear that she doesn’t believe him. She finishes making the drinks, though, without another word and slides them over to ELIOS. She keeps her grip on them, preventing ELIOS from taking them.
TOCK
CASHIER
I’ll give you ten minutes and then I want you out of here.
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
Got it?
ELIOS
I thought you liked it when I came and visited.
TOCK
CASHIER glares at ELIOS
CASHIER
I’m fine when you come but leave me out of your little war. Understood.
TICK
ELIOS
Fine.
CASHIER finally lets go of the drinks and ELIOS grabs them
ELIOS
What’d you make?
TOCK
CASHIER
Café au Lait. All tourists love it.
TICK
ELIOS
(Sighs)
… And you know I hate it.
CASHIER
(with a big smile on her face)
Enjoy your drink sir.
ELIOS glares at CASHIER before he brings the drinks over to the table with MIRA
TOCK
MIRA
What did you end up getting us?
ELIOS
I got us some café un lait.
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
It’s one of my favorite drinks. Have you tried it yet?
MIRA examines her drink
MIRA
Not yet.
MIRA takes a sip
MIRA
You know, this is actually pretty good.
Silence falls over the table as MIRA sips her drink.
TOCK
MIRA (CONT’D)
Do you come here often?
ELIOS
Not really. You?
TICK
MIRA
Nah, it’s my first time here. I just feel like there’s something special about this place.
TOCK
ELIOS nods slowly
ELIOS
Yeah, I see what you mean. There’s a certain charm to the antiquity of it.
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
So what brings you to Toulouse.
MIRA
(joking)
The air. You?
TOCK
ELIOS
(deadpan)
American tourists in the French coffee shops.
TICK
MIRA
(smiling)
Come on, there’s got to be something else.
ELIOS
(serious)
Nah, I’m here for my job.
TOCK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
I can see the world but I’m never really able to settle down.
TICK
MIRA
What do you do for work?
ELIOS
Antiques dealer.
TOCK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
You would be surprised the amount rich people will pay for pretty much garbage.
TICK
ELIOS (CONT’D)
What about you?
MIRA
College student. Needed a break and a change in pace...
TOCK
MIRA (CONT’D)
...and decided Toulouse was that break.
ELIOS
Well, I’m glad that you picked Toulouse.
TICK
Just then, the door slams open, drowning out the sound of the bell over the door. MIRA immediately shrinks back as two larger men, AMON and ANWIR march into the shop. ELIOS notices MIRA’s reaction to the man and moves to block her as best he can from the men’s view. Meanwhile, the CASHIER has made her way around the counter and is blocking the men from getting any further into her café.
TOCK
CASHIER
(absolutely steaming)
Get. Out. Now.
TICK
AMON
(sneers)
Just hunting for a girl.
ANWIR
You seen her?
AMON
Can smell her here.
TOCK
CASHIER
(each word carefully enunciated)
Do you remember what happened…
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
…the last time you stepped foot in my café?
TOCK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
If you do not turn around and leave…
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
…right now, I will make your life agony.
TOCK
ANWIR
Where is girl?
CASHIER
(voice low)
You do not want…
TICK
CASHIER (CONT’D)
…to make me your enemy.
AMON
You hide girl…
TOCK
ANWIR
…You accept con-SE-quence
ANWIR and AMON march out of the cafe, CASHIER glaring at them until they were halfway down the alleyway. Only once it’s clear that they’re not heading back, does she make her way back behind the counter and pick up the phone
ELIOS turns to MIRA and finds her missing, with the window next to where she was sitting, slightly ajar.
TICK
ELIOS
Mira?
TOCK
FADE OUT
