connor105
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN.
EXT. L.A. SKYLINE - MORNING
Establishing shot of the sun rising, signaling the start of a
new day.
INT. G&C'S CONDO - KITCHEN - MORNING
CONNOR blearily rubs his eyes and yawns as he rummages
through the fridge.
He stands and looks around, making sure he's alone before
pulling out a gallon of orange juice and chugging from it. A
few gulps later, he replaces the jug in the fridge, again
checking to make sure he's alone.
He looks down to the floor and Lesi's water and food bowl,
still full.
CONNOR
(curious)
Huh.
He looks up at the clock. Ten in the morning. He squints, a
bit confused now and walks into:
INT. G&C'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
He looks around the empty room.
CONNOR
Lesi! Come here, girl. Breakfast.
(beat)
Probably still sleeping.
He picks up the cordless landline phone and dials a number.
CONNOR
(into phone)
Hey Pike, it's me. You got the-
(beat)
Cool. Yeah, she should be home for
her lunch break in a couple of
hours. Can you make it over before
then?
(beat)
Yeah? Sweet. See you in a bit.
He hangs up and puts the phone back on the charger. A small
red light is flashing on it, indicating a new message. Connor
presses 'play' on the machine.
MACHINE
(recorded female voice)
One new message...received today at
nine a.m.
(beep)
Hey Gabriella, it's Lisa. Listen, I
know we don't exactly talk at
work...come to think of it you
don't really talk to anyone.
Anyway, you haven't been in all
week and Tony's asking questions.
He's got a temp at your desk right
now. You might wanna give us a call
soon, okay hun? Oh, and happy
birthday. Bye
(beep)
End of messages.
Connor picks up a small stick of mail, thumbing through it.
Most of it's junk addressed to 'occupant'. There's a letter
to him with a return address in England and a stack of bills
addressed to 'Gabriella Robinson'.
CONNOR
(to himself)
Thought she said they'd fix this.
Connor walks over to Gabriella's door and knocks.
CONNOR
Gab? You home?
(beat; opens door)
Well, if you are, I hope you're
decent.
He sticks his head into:
INT. G&C'S CONDO - GABRIELLA'S ROOM - NEXT
Pan across the room. Bed immaculately made. No Lesi. No sign
of any recent inhabitant.
EXT. GRAVEYARD - MORNING
ON the dew covered grass. GABRIELLA's sandal covered feet are
accompanied by the four paws of LESI. Pan up to see the
ladies themselves.
Gabriella is looking pensive, like she really doesn't want to
be here.
She comes to a stop in front of two GRAVES.
ON the graves. The larger reads 'Paul Robinson: 1977 - 2001'
and the smaller is inscribed with 'Jennifer Robinson: 1995 -
2001.
Gabriella sighs.
GABRIELLA
Hey, you two. Sorry I haven't been
by in awhile.
(beat; rolls eyes)
God, I say that every year, don't
I?
Through a CAMERA POV, Gabriella continues her conversation.
Zoom in on her a bit before the shutter snaps a few times,
capturing her image.
Back with Gabriella. She kneels down and pulls out a few
weeds surrounding the headstones.
GABRIELLA
I swear, the groundkeepers here
should be fired.
She traces her fingers along the inscriptions on Paul's
headstone. There's a wedding ring plainly visible on her
third finger, one that's never been there before.
GABRIELLA
One of these days, I'm gonna figure
out what else I want to write on
these.
Her eyes are welling up with tears now. Lesi whimpers,
sensing the heavy emotion here. Gabriella reaches out and
hugs her neck.
GABRIELLA
Whenever I try to think of
something, the only words that
flash in my head are the byline
from that newspaper.
She pauses to wipe away the slowly trickling tears, her
bottom lip trembling, fighting the full on sob.
She looks over to her daughter's tombstone now.
GABRIELLA
You're being good for your Auntie
Alessia, right Jenny? What am I
saying? Of course you are.
Back on the camera POV, snapping a few more photos. Reverse
on the vantage point, a large tree about twenty feet from
Gabriella's position.
A well dressed, tanned, attractive man lowers his camera. He
steals one last look at Gabriella and walks away.
Back on Gabriella, still managing to contain her emotions.
She tearfully smiles, that sad combination of depression and
remembrance.
GABRIELLA
Remember when you used to be bad
and I'd threaten to send you to
Camp Alessia for basic training?
She turns back to Paul's grave.
GABRIELLA
(sniffling)
I'm sorry, baby. I keep trying not
to cry every year.
(shakes her head)
Last night, Connor and I were
watching some God awful movie and
he goes in the kitchen and comes
back with a pint of rocky road. I
just got up and went to bed.
She can't fight it anymore. The tears and sobs are coming
freely now.
GABRIELLA
(sobbing)
It was my favorite.
She buries her tear covered face in her hands. Her body
shakes from the ragged sobs. Lesi just looks at her, still
whimpering.
DISSOLVE TO the parking lot of the graveyard. Just inside the
window, the photographer is removing the camera from around
his neck and placing in the passenger seat.
Right next to a large stack of candid photographs, all of
Gabriella!
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN.
INT. G&C'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Pan around the room to show streamers strung along the walls
and a large 'Happy Birthday' banner. Stop on Connor tying
strings to balloons.
INT. G&C'S CONDO - KITCHEN - NEXT
PIKE and KAIA are getting plates and silverware together. On
the table is an enormous cake (far too big for this group)
that reads 'Happy Birthday Gabriella' in red frosting.
They're stealing glances at one another, just barely catching
one another's eyes and smiling.
PIKE
Glad you could make it.
KAIA
Well, she's my friend too.
PIKE
I know, I just understand you've
gotta be busy lately, leading your
pack and all.
KAIA
(corrects him)
Clan. My clan.
(beat; hinting)
Not too busy to take a phone call
every now and then.
PIKE
Yeah, umm...I know. You know I
don't do well with this sort of
thing.
KAIA
(incredulous)
You've dated a werewolf before?
PIKE
No, just...I dunno.
She smiles and shakes her head. He missed the sarcasm. Her
expression quickly turns somber.
KAIA
I miss you, Oli.
Pike gives her a look, but doesn't respond. They continue to
go about their business, neither wanting to pry any further
until:
PIKE
Hey, what are you doing later
today?
KAIA
(deadpan)
Shedding.
Pike gives her a look that begs to know if she's joking. She
puts a stack of napkins on the table and turns back to him
with a grin.
KAIA
Joke. I'm joking. Remember, we used
to do that?
PIKE
Right, sorry.
KAIA
After this shindig, I got nothing
on the agenda.
(hopeful)
Is that an invitation?
PIKE
Well, I was gonna grab a beer and
shoot some pool and...yeah, it is.
KAIA
I'd like that.
Pike steps over and joins her standing over the table.
PIKE
I don't wanna jump back into it.
Still trying to...adjust, or
something.
KAIA
I know. Kinda weird, considering
it's you we're talking about here.
She looks down at the cake and gives him a mischievous grin.
KAIA
Should I?
Pike grins and nods. Kaia dips her finger along the edge of
the cake, getting a glob of icing on her finger tip. She
sucks it off, a bit more seductively than necessary.
Pike looks almost mesmerized.
PIKE
Uh...how is it?
KAIA
It's good. Sweet.
(dips her finger again)
Here, try it.
Pike hesitates, but Kaia gives him a look that says it's
okay. He tentatively licks the icing off her finger, getting
a bit of it on the side of his face.
Kaia reaches up and gently wipes the icing off his lip. They
hold a gaze for a spell before she closes her eyes and leans
in.
He immediately pulls back.
PIKE
Whoa, down girl.
(beat)
No pun intended.
KAIA
Sorry, I-
PIKE
No, it's cool. It's okay. Me? Still
adjusting though. I want to take it
a little slower.
KAIA
Right. Slower.
(beat)
Like beer and nine ball?
PIKE
You're on.
They share a smile, both filled with both hope and anxiety.
INT. G&C'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM - NEXT
The landline rings. Connor dashes over and picks it up.
CONNOR
Hello?
(beat)
She is? Okay, great. Thanks, dude.
He hangs up, a bit of anxiety in his expression now. He turns
to the kitchen and:
CONNOR
Hey, guys! Guys! She's on the way
up.
He picks up a cheesy noisemaker and gives it a test blow.
INT. HALLWAY - THE CHARON - DAY
Gabriella walks down the hall, Lesi on a short leash at her
side. She wipes her eyes with her finger, still a tiny bit
choked up.
INT. G&C'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM - NEXT
Pike and Kaia have joined Connor in the living staring at the
front door. Connor holds up two of those cheesy cone hats.
CONNOR
(grinning)
Hey, I got these.
Pike and Kaia look down at the monstrosities for a beat
before Pike SLAPS them out of Connor's hand.
PIKE
Grow up, dude.
Connor's face falls.
INT. HALLWAY - THE CHARON - NEXT
Gabriella gets to her door, unlocks it, and:
INT. G&C'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM - NEXT
Gabriella jumps in fright at:
ALL THREE
Surprise!
Gabriella looks at all of them, dumbfounded. Dead silence.
Connor meekly blows on his noisemaker.
Lesi looks at the three, then back at her master. She
WHIMPERS and trots off, head hung low, to Gabriella's room.
CONNOR
Uh, happy birthday?
GABRIELLA
(eyes brimming with tears)
How could you?
She runs off to the kitchen.
Connor looks back at Pike and Kaia, who nod at him to follow
her.
INT. G&C'S CONDO - KITCHEN - NEXT
Gabriella is chugging a glass of ice water. She finishes it
off and pinches the bridge of her nose just as Connor walks
in.
She whirls on him, good and angry. Connor holds his hands up
defensively.
CONNOR
Now, I know you didn't want to make
a big deal out of your birthday,
but I figured-
GABRIELLA
What, Connor? What part of "I do
not celebrate my birthday" did you
not get?
CONNOR
I know, I know. It's just...
He scratches the back of his head, trying to pick his words.
GABRIELLA
Just nothing. I don't care about
today, alright? I wish today didn't
exist! Is that clear enough for
you?
CONNOR
I'm sorry. I...look, when I was a
kid, my parents made it a point to
make our birthdays a big deal. It's
like you get crapped on every other
day of the year, so your birthday
should-
GABRIELLA
What the hell are you talking
about?
Connor gives her a confused look.
GABRIELLA
Connor, you never celebrated a real
birthday! That's all a bunch of
crap they jammed in your head.
Connor's taken aback, clearly hurt now and on the defensive.
CONNOR
(angry)
Point of fact, you said 'they' when
you meant 'we'.
GABRIELLA
(frustrated)
God, that's not the point.
CONNOR
What is the point then? What am I
missing here?
Gabriella starts to answer, but shakes her head instead.
GABRIELLA
Even if I told you, it wouldn't get
through that skull. Forget it.
She brushes past him. He doesn't try to stop her, knowing
it's pointless.
INT. G&C'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM - NEXT
Pike and Kaia are sitting on the couch, having heard the
whole conversation. Gabriella walks right by them.
GABRIELLA
Lesi!
Lesi comes running up to her, leash still dragging behind
her.
GABRIELLA
Leash.
Lesi twists around and grabs the leash in her mouth. She
stands on her hind legs, presenting it to Gabriella, who
takes it from her mouth.
Connor comes out of the kitchen.
CONNOR
Hey, where are you going?
GABRIELLA
Taking my dog for a walk.
CONNOR
(blinks)
You already walked her.
Gabriella shoots daggers through him with her eyes (not
literally). He didn't just say that.
She yanks the door open so hard it almost comes off the
hinges.
GABRIELLA
And you could've waited 'til I got
here before someone licked the damn
cake!
SLAM. The door's closed. She's gone. Connor looks at his two
friends on the couch.
CONNOR
Who licked the cake?
Kaia slumps down a little further.
EXT. PARK - DAY
Gabriella's stomping mad, walking much faster than she needs
to. Lesi is keeping up just fine, but obviously she's not
used to this pace.
Gab stops in a field of open grass and pulls a tennis ball
out from her small purse.
She reaches down and takes off Lesi's leash.
GABRIELLA
Alright, go get it.
She throws the ball. Lesi retrieves it at warp speed, getting
it back to her hand in no time.
Gabriella winds up again, this time her eyes SPARKLE a bit
before she hurls it as hard as she can. A short streak of
light trails off the ball as it sails out of frame. Lesi's
off like a dart.
Gabriella sighs, the aggression not quite worked out yet.
MALE (O.S.)
Go get it, boy!
Off to Gabriella's side, a frisbee whizzes by. A half second,
a large Great Dane zips by, going after it.
The photographer from earlier steps into frame!
He looks over to Gabriella and clears his throat.
Gabriella looks over at him, a bit taken aback by his looks.
She recovers pretty quickly.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hell of an arm you got there.
Gabriella half scoffs, half smiles and shakes her head.
GABRIELLA
Was that your version of a pick up
line?
The Dane returns with the frisbee. It gets thrown again and
he's off.
PHOTOGRAPHER
I prefer to call it breaking the
ice.
GABRIELLA
I call it a warning sign to get out
my mace.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Whoa, whoa, there. What's with the
hostility?
GABRIELLA
This is Los Angeles, honey. Men
don't break the ice here. They tend
to skip right to the date rape.
(beat)
You're obviously not from here.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hey, I'm just making conversation.
She scoffs, full on this time.
GABRIELLA
Like that ever happens.
Lesi finally returns. She drops the ball at Gabriella's feet
before falling over to her side, panting heavily. Gabriella
kneels down, now not facing the man, and strokes her fur.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Okay, mind if I try again?
GABRIELLA
(cold)
Yep.
He walks over and sticks out his hand.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Gray DeSouza.
He flashes her a smile. Despite herself, she can't help but
smile at his persistence, though he can't see her face.
She does shake though, still kneeling over her dog.
GRAY
Okay, now we're getting somewhere.
She stands back up to look him in the eye.
GABRIELLA
No, we're not. Points for effort
though.
Gray gives her another million dollar smile.
GRAY
Hey, I'll take points any way I can
get them.
(beat)
So can I parlay those points into a
hot dog?
GABRIELLA
Wow.
(beat)
You are so full of crap.
(to Lesi)
Come on, girl.
Lesi leans her head up and whimpers. She ain't moving anytime
soon. Gabriella kneels down and scratches her stomach.
GABRIELLA
(to Lesi; harsh)
You're supposed to be on my side.
GRAY
You know, there are such things as
nice guys in the world.
GABRIELLA
Mm hmm. They're all married.
GRAY
There are single ones too.
GABRIELLA
We call them gay.
GRAY
(beat; shrugs)
This is LA, not San Fran.
Gabriella laughs in spite of herself. She doesn't want to
like this guy, but his charms are working.
GABRIELLA
(sighs)
Gabriella Heron.
(beat)
One hot dog. Try anything funny and
I make you a permanent soprano.
GRAY
It's cool. I love that show.
Another winning smile. Smooth as silk. Gabriella laughs once
again.
JUMP CUT TO a hot dog stand in another part of the park.
Gray pays the vendor as Gabriella loads her (veggie) dog up
with every condiment in sight. Gray watches her pile on the
artery cloggers.
GRAY
(in awe)
That's a hell of a dog. Are you
from here?
They begin to walk, their dogs between them, playfully
nipping at one another.
GRAY
Most of the women I meet here eat
ice on a toothpick for lunch.
GABRIELLA
I'm not most women.
GRAY
Kinda figured that out for myself.
Gabriella blushes slightly. Her defenses are totally down
now. She takes a bite of her dog and gulps it down.
GABRIELLA
Seriously, if it ain't sloppy, it
ain't good.
Gray shakes his head at her.
GRAY
You're like...not of this world.
Gabriella smiles again. It's frighteningly becoming a
perpetual expression.
GABRIELLA
What about you, Mr. DeSouza? What
world are you from?
GRAY
One more foreign than yours, I'd
wager.
(off her look)
I'm a professional photographer.
Gabriella rolls her eyes. Now it makes sense.
GABRIELLA
No wonder you had such good lines.
GRAY
(eyebrow raised; wry)
I had good lines?
GABRIELLA
You gonna tell me I have a unique
look and you could make me a
superstar? For a price?
GRAY
Actually, my clients keep their
dignity. I'm from the Midwest. None
of the women I meet here are
related to me, so they're not as
attractive.
It's a crude joke, but it does manage to get Gabriella to
smile again and put her at ease.
GABRIELLA
Do they keep their clothes on
though?
GRAY
See for yourself.
He motions for her to follow him.
FLASH CUT TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
Gray hits a button on his keyless entry pad and the trunk to
his convertible penis mobile (sorry, BMW) pops open.
He ruffles through the contents, producing a large PORTFOLIO
and hands to Gabriella.
She leafs through it, seeing several different styles of
print ads. Lingerie, jeans, swimwear, a little bit of
everything.
GRAY
See anything you recognize?
GABRIELLA
(still looking)
Nope. I mean, I don't really read
any of those glamor mags.
GRAY
People actually read them?
She offers up a smile.
GABRIELLA
I don't even look at them.
GRAY
(blinks)
You're really not from LA, are you?
She doesn't answer, admiring what is admittedly some damn
fine work.
GABRIELLA
This is...quite good actually.
GRAY
Still considering the mace?
GABRIELLA
(smirking)
Slightly.
She closes the portfolio and hands it back to him.
GABRIELLA
Okay, I give. I'm impressed.
GRAY
Thanks. It's not as easy as it
looks.
(beat)
Listen, I've got a studio a few
blocks from here. Nothing fancy,
but I'd like to show you around if
that's okay.
Gabriella looks a little wary. Gray immediately catches this.
GRAY
Don't worry, there's other people
there. Plenty in fact. There's a
shoot going on right now with
another guy in my agency.
Gabriella considers the notion for a bit. She doesn't feel
like going home right now anyway.
GABRIELLA
Sure. I'll drive myself though.
GRAY
No problem. I don't mind riding
shotgun.
She shoots him a look. He holds his hands up defensively.
GRAY
Kidding, kidding.
She gives him a smile and heads off to her car. He watches
her leaves, more specifically her swaying hips.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.